Eliza led Mira into one of the spacious training rooms inside the Contest Hall. The walls were lined with mirrors, allowing Coordinators to observe their Pokémon's movements from every angle. Soft, padded flooring cushioned each step, and overhead lights provided bright, even illumination. The air smelled faintly of polished wood and the lingering scent of Pokémon techniques being practiced throughout the facility.
Mira took a deep breath, letting the reality of the moment settle in. Tomorrow was the big day.
"Alright," Eliza said, stretching her arms. "We've got work to do. We need to refine Glameow's and Snivy's routines and make sure we can both pull off a strong Introduction Stage in just one minutes."
Mira nodded. "Yeah. That's barely any time at all. We need to make every second count."
She unclipped her Poké Balls and released her team into the open space. With flashes of light, Snivy, Scout, Petilil, and Sewaddle appeared before her. Snivy stretched with practiced elegance, while Scout barked excitedly, tail wagging. Petilil chirped happily, spinning in a small circle, and Sewaddle blinked up at Mira, still taking in the unfamiliar surroundings.
Mira knelt beside her newest teammate. "I thought this would be a great chance for you to watch how we train and get to know everyone better."
Sewaddle's small eyes darted between the others, then settled on Snivy, who regarded her with quiet curiosity.
Eliza smiled as she released Glameow, who landed gracefully, flicking its tail as it assessed the space. "Okay, before we get started, let's go over the official rules. I'm guessing you haven't read through all of them yet?"
Mira pulled out a pamphlet that the receptionist had handed her earlier. "Nope. I was too busy registering to really look at it." She unfolded it, scanning the neatly printed text as the Pokémon gathered around.
Unova Contest Rules
1) Individual Appeal (Solo Pokémon Performance)
Pokémon perform alone on stage, competing in one of five appeal categories:
Cute
Cool
Tough
Beautiful
Clever
Two scored rounds:
Introduction Stage – Pokémon's natural appeal and conditioning are judged in a one-minute showcase.
Talent Round – Pokémon uses one or more moves in a performance to fit the chosen category, often as a storytelling appeal.
Contest Ranks:
Normal Rank (★) → 1 StarSuper Rank (★★) → 2 StarsHyper Rank (★★★) → 3 StarsMaster Rank (★★★★) → 4 Stars10 Stars total are needed for a Pokémon to qualify for the Grand Festival Individual Competition.
2) Team Appeal (Coordinator & Pokémon Performance + Battle Stage)
A team performance, where Coordinators are on stage alongside their Pokémon (can be one or multiple Pokémon).
Two scored rounds:
Performance Stage – Pokémon showcase moves in a choreographed appeal, scored on style, synchronization, and creativity.Battle Stage – Coordinators engage in 5-minute battles while continuing to showcase grace, control, and creativity in combat.
Points are deducted when:
A Pokémon is hit by an attack.An attack fails or looks awkward.The opponent's Pokémon uses the attack against them.The opponent performs an exceptionally well-executed move.
Battles can also end early if one Pokémon is knocked out.
Unova's Contest system is divided into Junior and Senior Brackets:
Junior Bracket – For trainers in their first five years of travel.Can participate up to five times. Top 4 winners of a Junior Grand Festival can choose to move to the Senior Bracket early.
Senior Bracket – Open to experienced Coordinators. Grand Festivals happen once every five years, making the competition fierce.
Mira folded the pamphlet, tucking it into her pocket. "Alright, that clears a lot up. The one-minute Introduction Stage is just as important as the Talent Round. We need to make Snivy's presence stand out from the moment she steps on stage."
Snivy lifted her chin, clearly up for the challenge.
Eliza nodded. "Exactly. First impressions matter. We need to show the judges and audience why our Pokémon fit their chosen category right away."
Mira turned to Snivy, considering. "Before we start planning, let's take a look at what we have to work with." She pulled out her Pokédex and scanned Snivy, bringing up her updated move set.
Snivy's Move Set:
Tackle (Expert), Leer (Expert), Vine Whip (Master), Glare (Proficient), Grassy Terrain (Expert), Mega Drain (Proficient), Petal Blizzard (Proficient), Grass Knot (Proficient), Grassy Glide (Beginner), Agility (Novice), Leaf Blade (Beginner)
Mira smiled as the data loaded. "Looks like all that running through the forest helped you get develop your agility into the move, and all the extra Vine Whip and Petal Blizzard training led to Leaf Blade." She turned to the team. "Now that we know Snivy's full move set, let's brainstorm how we can make the best first impression in just one minute."
Eliza grinned. "Good thinking. For Glameow's Clever Rank, I want to emphasize her grace and intelligence, so I'm working on incorporating a trick with Assist to make it look like she's planning her moves ahead of time."
Mira looked at her team. "I want all of you to watch, support, and give input. Sewaddle, this is a good chance for you to see how we train and work together."
The small Bug-type chirped softly, settling beside Petilil, who gave her an encouraging nod.
Eliza clapped her hands together. "Alright, let's get to work! I'll take Glameow over there to practice our routine while you focus on Snivy." She gestured to the far side of the room, where she and Glameow moved away to train on their own.
Mira turned back to Snivy and the rest of her team. "Alright, let's build a strong routine for the Introduction Stage. We have just one minute to make an impact."
Scout barked in encouragement, while Petilil swayed eagerly beside Snivy. Even Sewaddle seemed intrigued, watching attentively.
Mira tapped her chin. "Since this is the Cool Rank, we need to showcase Snivy's poise, control, and intensity. We should start with something that grabs attention immediately."
Scout let out a short bark, then narrowed his eyes and demonstrated Leer, his expression sharpening with intensity.
Mira nodded. "Good idea. A strong, commanding Leer right at the start could set the atmosphere, making Snivy look confident and in control. Then, we could follow up with Agility to show off her speed and precision."
Snivy flicked her tail, standing taller as if already visualizing the routine.
Petilil spun in place, her leaves fluttering as she released a brief swirl of Petal Blizzard, reminding Mira of how she had once used the move to help during the Eindoak Harvest Festival.
Mira grinned. "How about Leaf Blade? Snivy can execute it with sharp precision, holding the pose just long enough to let the judges see her form before transitioning."
Snivy twirled a vine in excitement.
"And for the big moment," Mira continued, "we can have her use Vine Whip to shatter the Leaf Blade mid-air, sending sparkling fragments flying. That should create a really striking effect, making her look cool and composed."
Sewaddle let out a small chirp, clearly impressed. Even Scout gave an approving nod.
Mira smiled, looking at Snivy. "What do you think? Ready to give it a try?"
Snivy smirked confidently, stepping forward. It was time to put the routine to the test.
Mira took a step back, giving Snivy space to begin. "Alright, let's go for a first attempt. Start with Leer."
Snivy narrowed her eyes, channeling her presence into a piercing Leer. The air around her seemed to thicken with intensity, just as Mira had envisioned. It was a strong start, but Mira noticed that it could be held a moment longer to maximize the effect.
"Good! Now into Agility."
Snivy dashed forward, weaving smoothly through an imaginary course, her movements quick and fluid. However, she stumbled slightly at the end, recovering quickly but not seamlessly.
Scout barked, wagging his tail in encouragement.
"Not bad, but let's refine that transition," Mira noted, making mental adjustments. "Now, Leaf Blade!"
Snivy focused, summoning the glowing green energy of Leaf Blade. The edges of her tail sharpened, and she executed a clean slash, but Mira could tell it lacked dramatic impact.
Petilil swayed, releasing a small gust of petals as if offering silent support.
"Now, Vine Whip to break it apart!"
Snivy lashed out with Vine Whip, striking her own Leaf Blade mid-air. The effect was decent, but the fragments didn't spread as dramatically as Mira had hoped.
She clapped her hands. "Alright, good first attempt! But we need more polish. The Leer could hold a second longer, and the Agility transition needs to be smoother. When you use Vine Whip, try hitting the Leaf Blade at an angle so the light catches it better. Let's run it again!"
Snivy nodded, already adjusting her stance, determined to perfect the sequence.
After a few more rounds of refining the Introduction Stage, Mira wiped her brow. "Okay, that's looking better. Now, let's brainstorm for the Talent Round. We need a sequence that builds up naturally and highlights your best traits."
She studied Snivy's move list again. "Vine Whip, Petal Blizzard, and Grass Knot all have great visual appeal. But we also have Leaf Blade, which we already know can look really sharp—literally."
Snivy flicked her tail, eager to hear more.
"What if we start with Grassy Terrain to set the stage, making it look like you're drawing energy from nature? Then, we can use Grass Knot creatively—maybe have it tangle into a shape, like a symbol or pattern?"
Sewaddle chirped, watching with interest.
"After that, we bring in Petal Blizzard," Mira continued, "letting it swirl through the space, like controlled chaos. And finally—a dramatic finish with Leaf Blade and Grassy Glide, ending with a perfect landing pose."
Scout let out an excited bark, clearly liking the sound of it.
Mira smiled. "What do you think, Snivy? Ready to try?"
Snivy smirked again, stepping forward, ready to bring the routine to life.
After a long and productive training session, Mira and Eliza gathered their Pokémon and made their way back to the PokéCenter. The streets of Castelia were still bustling, illuminated by the soft glow of streetlights. The familiar scent of the ocean drifted through the air, mixing with the warm aroma of food stalls still open late into the evening.
Mira stretched, feeling the exhaustion settle in, but she couldn't shake the growing excitement in her chest. "Tomorrow's the real deal."
Eliza grinned. "And we're going to own that stage."
Stopping just outside the PokéCenter, Mira pulled out her C-Gear and held it up. "We need a picture to mark the occasion."
Eliza laughed but leaned in without hesitation. "Alright, but only if you put something good in the caption."
Mira snapped a quick selfie of the two of them, both smiling with determination. She tapped a few words onto PokéChirp before posting:
@MiraRosemary: 'Tomorrow's the big day! Eliza and I are both competing—Snivy and Glameow are ready to shine! Let's do this! #ContestDay #RivalsAndBesties'
She locked her C-Gear and looked at Eliza. "No turning back now."
Eliza smirked. "Wouldn't dream of it."
With that, they stepped inside the PokéCenter, ready to rest before their first real contest battle.