Morning light filtered through the tall windows of the Virbank Pokémon Center, painting soft patterns across the tiled floor and illuminating the gentle bustle around Mira's room. Trainers moved through the halls, their voices hushed as they checked their schedules or greeted Nurse Joy (Laura) by name. Mira stirred under layers of blankets, Scout curled at her feet, ears flicking at distant conversations. Petilil and Sewaddle nestled close, their gentle breaths blending with the hum of healing machines, while Servine rested on a nearby cushion, her eyes half-closed in serene repose.
With care not to disturb her friends, Mira slipped from bed and padded to the cafeteria, greeting fellow trainers with a quiet smile. At the tea station, Laura Joy poured steaming water into ceramic cups, chatting with a young trainer whose Growlithe yawned widely. Griffins of birds perched outside the window, heralding morning. Mira accepted her cup, carrying it back to her room, where everyone had woken up.
"Ready for fresh air?" Mira whispered. Servine inclined her head, and together they slipped out into the courtyard. Steam rose from vents in the pavement, mixing with the early sun. Nearby, two Caminas and a Machop practiced stretching exercises on the green lawn, guided by their trainer's gentle commands. Petilil paused to stare, Sewaddle hummed its approval, and Scout sniffed every gust of warm breeze.
Leaving down a narrow alley lined with posters of previous contests, Mira led her team, with Scout in front of course. The air grew heavy with industry—faint echoes of metal on metal and a distant drone of machinery. They arrived at a fenced-off shipping lot bathed in yellow lamplight.
Steel containers formed a makeshift arena. Across the expanse, a trio of trainers coaxed Raticate, Gurdurr, and Klang through synchronized drills, their rhythmic stomps echoing against corrugated walls. A small crowd of workers leaned against the fence to watch. Mira set her satchel on a crate and gathered her team.
"Let's adapt," she said softly. Servine coiled and slid forward, her vines tracing leaf-shaped patterns on the concrete. Flashing neon from a nearby billboard painted her form in alternating hues of pink and green, turning each movement into living graffiti. She transitioned into her signature twirl—slow as a falling leaf—then catapulted into her final pose, vines splayed in a living fractal.
Murmurs of appreciation rose from the onlookers. One worker tipped his yellow helmet; another clapped quietly. Servine's chest swelled with pride as she held the pose.
Off to one side, Petilil and Sewaddle peered through cracks in the asphalt, coaxing weeds upward with whispered encouragement. A passerby paused to admire the tiny blooms peeking through concrete. Scout, meanwhile, threaded through the shadows of stacked crates, tail held high. He paused under a neon-lit vending machine, sniffing at the faint tang of metal and salt. Then, with a happy huff, he rolled onto his back and stretched every limb, toes splayed against the cold ground.
A sudden shift of shadow caught Mira's eye: a lone Skorupi slipped out from beneath a container, pincers clicking. Scout rose smoothly, ears forward, unflinching. The Skorupi halted, inspected them with beady eyes, then receded. Scout watched until it vanished, then trotted back to Mira, bark quiet but certain.
Mira wrapped her hand in Scout's fur. "Perfect, Scout. You handled that beautifully." She glanced at the crowd, now dispersing.
By late morning, and the heat settled over the city like a blanket. Mira guided her team back to the Pokémon Center, where Nurse Joy was overseeing a flurry of activity: trainers arriving for mid-day healings, a chef unloading crates of fresh produce, and a technician testing new PokéBall prototypes.
"Laura," Mira called, "may I use the kitchen for a bit? I want to whip up something special."
Joy smiled. "Go right ahead—just be mindful of the time."
Inside the spotless kitchen, steaming rice cookers and simmering vats lined the counters. Mira spread her ingredients across a stainless-steel table as her team gathered around. Servine offered to help, extending her hands to stabilize a mixing bowl as Mira folded tomato and Pinap berries with oats and honey into poffin batter. Petilil and Sewaddle perched on stools by the window, their soft conversation mixing with the sights of Rotom deliveries whizzing by in the courtyard. Scout padded back and forth, pausing to sniff the coconut milk gently bubbling with diced egg, ginger, and a symphony of Bulk, Cheri, Lapapa, Spelon, and Pecha berries.
"Coming through!" called a kitchen aide, maneuvering a cart of fresh greens past them. Petilil offered a polite nod as he passed.
Mira arranged the dishes: a golden poffin disk streaked with emerald strawberry puree, two frosted poképuffs dusted with liechi and enigma powders, and steaming bowls of curry. In a small corner, her secret berry kipple, for when Scout started to feel peckish.
Retrieving a tray, they found a shaded bench where other trainers lingered. Nearby, a Furfrou stood at attention beside its trainer, ears perked at the curry's spiced aroma.
"Excuse me," the trainer said, voice warm. "That curry smells amazing—could I get the recipe? My Furfrou and I both adore it."
Mira beamed. "Certainly. It's a coconut milk base with egg, ginger, and a mix of berries. I'll write it down." She fetched a scrap of paper and scrawled the list of ingredients. Furfrou lowered its head respectfully as she handed over the note.
Returning her attention back to her team, Mira watched as Servine savored the poffin, Petilil and Sewaddle nibbled the puffs with humming contentment, and Scout devoured the curry.
After the meal, Miranda slipped her Poké Balls onto her belt and slipped back into the lively streets. Contest chatter swirled around them: trainers traded tips on costume lighting, vendors handing out icy fruit cups, and a pair of Conkeldurrs gave each other mock flexes. A group of fans recognized Servine's emerald silhouette and passed their phones for selfies.
As they arrived at the Contest Hall under a blaze of spotlights and fluttering banners. Mira queued beside a seasoned coordinator who regaled her with tactics—"Balance energy with poise," he advised—while cameras clicked at the entrance.
When her turn came, Mira stepped forward, pen in hand. She wrote Servine's details and chose the Cool Appeal - super category. The attendant, with a practiced flourish, clipped the stamped entry slip to her form. "Good luck. You're 0473."
Mira thanked her, sliding the slip into her pocket. Contest No. 0473, Performance Time: 10:15 AM. She lifted her PokéGear and snapped a clear photo.
"Got it," she murmured, sending the image to Eliza.
Quick with her reply, Eliza wrote: "Congrats on Servine evolving—she's stunning! I'm up today for my second ribbon; wish me luck! When's your slot?"
Mira tapped back: "We're at 10:15 AM tomorrow. You'll do great!" She opened her gallery and selected the triumphant evolution photo—vines unfurled, eyes bright—.
Eliza quickly hearted the pic, alongside a shot of her and Glameow practicing their routine under Nacrene City's lights. Mira's lips curved in a smile; from city to city, her friends carried their hopes onward.
Later that afternoon, Mira found Servine coiled on the practice mats back at the shipping lot. Waving her PokéGear, Mira showed Servine the new ribbon picture. "Looks like the competition's fierce—and rewarding," she said, tucking the message away.
Servine nodded, then flowed into a series of new maneuvers, her moves crisp and bright against the steel backdrops.
"Alright, everyone," Mira called after a few runs. She recalled Servine, then summoned Petilil and Sewaddle to her side before lifting Scout from his rest. "That's enough for today—time to turn in early."
With a final stretch and a collective yawn, the team packed away, ready to rest before tomorrow.
Before dawn, Mira wrestled between sleep and excitement. She gathered her team. Servine stretched luxuriously, Petilil and Sewaddle followed with gentle nods, and Scout landed solidly on all fours, his eyes bright. They all went down to the cafeteria and ate breakfast before Mira recalled her team in their balls to make her way over to the contest hall.
By 9 AM, the hall's plaza thrummed with energy: reporters gathered near the entrance, vendors sold last‑minute props, and contestants offered good‑luck waves. Mira guided her team inside. She placed her Poké Balls neatly, unlocking them enough for her team to survey the crowd.
A hush fell as Contest No. 0473 lit on the board as the first contestant up. Behind the velvet curtain, Mira's hand tightened around Servine's shoulder. "Show them your grace."
The curtains parted, and Servine floated into the spotlight. Soft blue lights highlighted every elegant curve as she struck her opening pose—hand raised, gaze unwavering. The audience leaned in, captivated.
With no fanfare, Servine began, her movements seamless, vines drawn in leaf‑shaped arcs. The lights shifted to emerald green, tracing her path like living ribbons. She spun slowly, then leaped into a flourish, vines curling overhead in a delicate arch.
A single beat of silence held the hall spellbound, then applause rippled outward.
To be continued…