The Castelia Contest Hall stood before Mira like a beacon of possibility. Its grand marble entrance gleamed under the morning sun, flanked by massive digital banners showcasing last year's winners. The vibrant images displayed victorious Coordinators standing proudly with their Pokémon, ribbons shining under bright stage lights. A steady flow of Coordinators, spectators, and contest staff moved in and out of the building, their voices buzzing with excitement.
Mira stopped at the bottom of the wide staircase leading inside. She could feel her heart pounding—not from fear, but from anticipation. The sheer size of the Contest Hall made it feel more real than ever. This was where serious Coordinators competed—where careers began.
She took a moment to absorb everything. Street performers were playing music nearby, and a few vendors had set up stalls selling colorful contest accessories—polished Poké Balls, decorative ribbons, and glittering scarves meant to enhance a Pokémon's appeal. The excitement in the air was contagious, filling Mira with both thrill and nervous energy.
This was it. Her first official contest.
Taking a deep breath, she adjusted the Poké Balls on her belt. She felt their familiar weight, grounding her. "Alright, team," she murmured, more to herself than to them. "Let's do this."
The Contest Hall lobby was even more breathtaking than the outside. The ceiling stretched high, adorned with hanging crystal chandeliers that bathed the space in a warm glow. Floor-to-ceiling displays cycled through highlights of past performances—dazzling combos of firework-like Ember moves, elegant ribbons of Aqua Jet, and stunning flashes of Psychic energy.
The sheer size of the hall was overwhelming. Contest officials moved briskly between registration booths, carrying clipboards and issuing final instructions to participants. A few seasoned Coordinators stood by the walls, confidently chatting as their Pokémon preened themselves, clearly used to this environment.
Mira's gaze drifted to a large wall of framed portraits. These were the top Coordinators from past Grand Festivals, their confident smiles and polished outfits exuding expertise. One portrait, in particular, caught her eye—a woman dressed in an elegant white coat, her Roserade posed proudly at her side. Mira recognized her from contest history books—a legend in the Coordinator world.
She swallowed. One step at a time.
Just ahead, a long line of trainers stood at the registration desk, chatting excitedly. Mira joined them, scanning the crowd. Some Coordinators were practicing moves right here in the lobby, showing off their Pokémon's elegance, precision, and energy. A Butterfree fluttered in midair, releasing a faint, shimmering dust—a subtle yet mesmerizing move meant to impress without being flashy.
Then—her eyes landed on a familiar figure near the front of the line.
"Eliza? You actually got here before me? What, did you sprint all the way from the PokéCenter?"
Her best friend turned, her braided brown hair swinging slightly as she spotted Mira. Her face lit up with a bright, excited grin.
"Mira!" Eliza waved her over. "I thought you'd show up soon."
Mira laughed, stepping closer. "Of course! I wouldn't miss this for anything."
Eliza's Glameow sat perched gracefully on her shoulder, its fur sleek and pristine. It flicked its tail in recognition, then briefly glanced at Mira's belt, as if noting the presence of an extra Poké Ball.
Eliza tilted her head. "So, are you going for Individual, Team, or both?"
Mira hesitated for a moment, then took a breath. "I'm not sure yet."
The line moved quickly, and soon, Mira and Eliza reached the front desk.
A receptionist in a navy-blue Contest Hall uniform greeted them with a warm smile. "Good morning! How can I assist you today?"
"I'd like to apply for a Contest Pass and check the available times for Individual Appeal and Team Appeal rounds."
"Of course! I'll need to scan your Trainer ID to register you first. Once that's done, we can review the available slots."
Mira nodded and flipped open her Pokédex, displaying her Trainer ID. The receptionist scanned it, and the monitor behind her blinked to life, pulling up Mira's Contest Profile.
Trainer Name: Mira Rosemary
Contest Experience: Junior Bracket (Honorary Ribbon from Striaton)
Registered Pokémon: Snivy, Petilil, Lillipup (Scout), Sewaddle
The receptionist pulled up the event details. "Would you like to enter the Individual Appeal, Team Appeal, or both? I can also explain the star system if you'd like."
She continued, "In Individual Appeal, you can choose from five categories: Cool, Clever, Tough, Cute, and Beauty. Each appeal type is judged differently, so picking the right category for your Pokémon's strengths is important. Pokémon earn stars based on their rank—Normal Rank wins earn one star, Super Rank gives two, Hyper Rank three, and Master Rank four. A Pokémon needs 10 stars to qualify for the Individual Grand Festival."
Mira glanced at Eliza, then looked down at the Poké Balls on her belt. Her gaze lingered on the newest addition—Sewaddle. She was still just a fresh capture, and they hadn't had the chance to truly bond yet. This contest would be for the ones she knew best.
Snivy was confident, skilled, and poised—the perfect Pokémon to handle a solo performance.Petilil had been waiting for her chance ever since the Striaton Contest. Mira had promised her this.Scout had trained hard with False Swipe, showing incredible precision and control—he would be a good partner for Petilil in a team performance.
Mira exhaled. "Alright. I'll enter Snivy into the Individual Appeal Cool Rank, ★. What time slots are available for Individual Appeals?"
The receptionist nodded, checking her screen. "Individual Appeal competitions are held three times a day per appeal type since we have multiple smaller stages running simultaneously. The open slots for Cool Rank are 9 AM, 1 PM, and 5 PM. The Team Appeal rounds, however, only happen twice a week in the big stadium, and you've secured a slot for next week."
Mira considered it for a moment but stuck with her choice. "Then 9 AM works best"
The receptionist nodded. "Great choices! I'll get you registered." She typed in the details, then handed Mira a sleek silver Contest Pass, embossed with a delicate floral pattern. "Your Individual Appeal in the Cool Rank is scheduled for tomorrow at 9 AM, and your Team Appeal will take place next week on Friday at 3 PM in the main stadium.
"This is your Unova Contest Pass. It will track your stars, rankings, and wins. Also take this pamphlet, it walks you through the Unova Contest rules" The receptionist added with a little wink.
Mira ran a finger over the engraved design, excitement thrumming in her chest.
She was officially entered. The weight of what lay ahead settled in—a structured path, with clear goals and challenges. She wasn't just participating. She was stepping into a world where every ribbon, every star, mattered.
Mira stepped away from the registration desk, making sure not to linger too long and block the line for other participants. She gave Eliza a small nod, leaving her to register on her own, before letting her eyes wander across the Contest Hall, soaking in the energy around her. She watched as a coordinator practiced a synchronized ribbon spin with their Milotic, while another polished the final movements of a dazzling Fire Spin appeal.
A wave of self-doubt flickered in her chest.
These people look so… experienced.
Could she really compete at this level?
Eliza nudged her playfully. "Hey, don't start overthinking. You're here, aren't you?"
Mira blinked, snapping out of her thoughts. She turned to Eliza, who was giving her a knowing smile.
"You trained hard for this," Eliza continued. "Snivy's incredible, Petilil's got heart, and Scout's improving every day. You belong here."
Mira exhaled, a small smile creeping onto her lips.
Eliza grinned. "Besides, we're both competing in the Individual Appeal category tomorrow morning, but in different divisions."
Mira's eyebrows shot up. "Wait, what?"
Eliza winked. "Yep! I entered Glameow in the Individual Clever Appeal."
Mira laughed, shaking her head. "So I guess we're both aiming for ribbons"
Eliza linked her arm through Mira's, tugging her toward the practice rooms. "Rivals and best friends. Now, let's get to work."
Mira felt a wave of warmth wash over her. The nerves weren't gone, but Eliza's words settled something inside her.
She wasn't alone.
She wasn't out of place.
She was here to prove herself, and she would.