Two beams of light collided midair and burst open, revealing the finalists' choices—
Ezra's Kirlia landed with ethereal poise, her gown-like body twirling ever so slightly as she bowed toward the audience. Her movements shimmered with elegance, the hem of her form flickering like stardust beneath the arena lights. Across from her, Mira's Scout burst from his ball with a bark and a flash of silver. His paws hit the floor in a confident rhythm, and his tail wagged once before going stiff with focus. The crowd erupted into cheers, the energy in the stadium lifting like a wave.
The timer above the field started its countdown: 5:00
From the very start, it was a match of contrasts—Scout's dark-type energy crackling with focused intensity, a grounded current of sharp motion, opposing Kirlia's graceful, fairy-like unpredictability. Mira called out for Leer and Bite, directing Scout to move quickly, to stay agile and outmaneuver the illusion-casting Pokémon. Kirlia responded with bursts of Dazzling Gleam and sudden Teleports, fading in and out like a spirit dancing on moonlight. The lights on stage flickered in harmony with their clash, each moment a dazzling push and pull of power and finesse.
Each time they clashed, Scout adapted—his rhythm evolving, his footing refining. He dipped under sweeping arcs of light, lunging when the shimmer faded. But Kirlia remained evasive, spinning out of range, flickering through illusion and elegance.
At the 2:20 mark, Scout managed a perfect feint followed by a clean Slash. The timing was instinctive—a spark of synergy between Pokémon and trainer. The blow landed squarely against Kirlia's side. She staggered, twirled mid-fall, and collapsed to one knee, unconscious before she touched the ground.
Ezra gave a subtle nod and recalled her with a glimmer of controlled emotion. "Sneasel, now." The Poké Ball cracked open, and Sneasel launched forward in a whirl of white claws and glinting eyes. The audience hushed.
Scout, still standing despite the intensity of his battle, faced the new threat with narrowed eyes and a growl low in his throat. Mira didn't flinch. "You've got this," she called, voice steady.
Dark-type met Dark- and Ice-type. Scout darted forward, his energy surging. Claw met claw. For a time, the battle blurred—sharp angles, blinding counters. But Sneasel was relentless. A vicious Ice Shard struck Scout in the side, followed by a fast Slash that sent him tumbling.
The referee raised a flag. "Scout is unable to battle!"
"Scout, return!" Mira called, her heart thudding. She grasped her second Poké Ball. "Petilil, it's your turn!"
In a swirl of light, Petilil pirouetted onto the field, her small frame glowing with determination. Her first move was immediate: Sunny Day. The golden beam shot upward, casting a warm, radiant hue across the battlefield. The light energized Petilil and brought tension to Sneasel's narrow eyes.
Petilil danced into motion, launching Sleep Powder and following with a wave of Petal Blizzard. The shimmering leaves spun like miniature blades, whirling beneath the sun-drenched spotlight. Sneasel darted through them, slicing through stray petals, but Petilil's Growth enhanced each move, her power rising with each breath of sunlight.
Sneasel struck back hard—quick jabs, icy swipes, a blur of offensive grace. But Petilil endured. She bobbed, weaved, and countered with fluid elegance. Her feet barely touched the ground as she swirled with another Powder burst, sunlight gleaming against her glossy leaves.
With mere seconds remaining, both Pokémon stood tense and focused, eyes locked. The final clash felt imminent—but the timer buzzed first.
0:00
The stadium was silent.
Then came the host's voice: "And the judges' decision is in!"
The scoreboard glowed, illuminating the hall.
Mira Rosemary: 90 points
Ezra: 89 points
A beat.
Then the Contest Hall erupted in celebration. Clapping, cheers, the burst of camera flashes—it all washed over Mira.
She blinked, stunned, before breaking into a smile. Scout's Poké Ball quivered at her waist, and Petilil beamed beside her, leaves gently fluttering. Ezra stepped forward. "Good strategy," he said, his voice respectful. Mira reached out and shook his hand firmly. "Thanks. You were incredible."
As the crowd settled, the lights shifted once more. The panel of judges returned to the stage with a velvet case in hand. The four finalists—Mira, Ezra, Reina, and Niko—were called to the front, all standing proudly beneath the bright Contest Hall lights.
The host stepped forward with a beaming smile. "Let's give a huge round of applause to all our Junior Team Appeal finalists!"
Reina and Niko were the first to be congratulated, each receiving a small pouch of rare berries as thanks for their creative performances and team spirit. The judge from the Pokémon Fan Club offered Reina a warm smile and said, "Consider emphasizing clearer transitions between appeal phases next time—you have great ideas, just polish the execution." Nurse Joy turned to Niko and added, "Your timing was delightful. Maybe focus a little more on using your Pokémon's natural rhythm to guide the pace of your routine."
Ezra stood stoically as he accepted a congratulatory handshake and a gift card to the Contest Hall gift shop—a gesture in recognition of his strong return to the competition. The Contest Official nodded. "Incredible precision, as always. Work on integrating more expressive moments—let your Pokémon show some personality between the structure." Ezra gave a small nod of thanks, already looking ahead to his next challenge.
Then the host raised his voice again. "And now, the winner of the Castelia City Junior Team Appeal—Mira Rosemary!"
The velvet case opened to reveal a gleaming ribbon shaped like a stylized 'C'—for Castelia City—with a golden star beneath it, a mark of distinction for Junior Bracket winners, while Diamond stars were reserved for the elite of the Senior circuit.
Mira stepped forward, her hands trembling slightly as the ribbon was pinned to her Contest Pass. In addition to the ribbon, she was handed a larger gift card than Ezra's, as well as a matching berry pouch to commemorate her team's performance. The Contest Official smiled. "Excellent synergy with your Pokémon, and the use of sunlight was inspired. Continue working on commanding attention between moves—the little pauses can have a big impact."
Scout barked. Petilil chimed with a joyful spin.
Pictures were taken. Applause echoed. Mira's cheeks ached from smiling.
Mira, now out of the spotlight, approached the front desk near the Contest Hall's exit. The receptionist greeted her with a warm smile.
"Hi," Mira said, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Is there any way I could get video clips of my performances today—and from last week, too? My Snivy competed in the Cool Appeal round, and I'd like to share both sets on PokéVision."
"Of course!" the receptionist chirped. "They'll be available for download within the hour—you'll get a notification through your PokéGear."
"Thank you so much."
Mira stepped outside, her team beside her, the sun beginning to dip toward the horizon.
She had won—but more than that, she had shared her vision with the world.