Backstage, the Contest Hall buzzed with lingering excitement from the Performance Stage. Mira crouched beside her team, brushing a thumb gently under Petilil's chin as the small Grass-type let out a pleased chirp. Her petals were still faintly dusted with shimmer from their final move, glinting in the backstage lights. Scout flopped down beside them, still wearing his moss-colored leg band, tongue lolling in pride. His silver leaf charm gave a soft chime as it tapped against the floor.
"You were both incredible out there," Mira said softly, her voice still breathy from the thrill. She rummaged through her satchel and pulled out a pair of fresh berry snacks—a plump Pecha for Scout and a juicy Sitrus for Petilil. They accepted them eagerly, tails and leaves twitching in delight.
A soft ding from the overhead speakers caught everyone's attention.
"All Junior Coordinators, please remain nearby. Battle Stage match-ups will be announced in thirty minutes. Feel free to rest or review your strategy during the intermission."
Mira nodded to herself. That gave them time.
She gently unrolled her notebook and flipped to a page marked with colorful tabs. On it were diagrams of combo ideas, cue symbols, and practice notations. Her finger traced a set of sketches labeled "Battle Coordination: Petilil + Scout," reviewing tactics they had only tested a few times. Nearby, a soft rustle signaled Petilil curling up in Mira's lap while Scout stretched out into a relaxed sprawl, paws twitching faintly.
As her Pokémon munched contentedly, Mira leaned against the wall and subtly turned her gaze to the monitor overhead. The footage still showed the final moments of the eighth and final team's performance—a Dunsparce and Roselia who had put on a surprisingly graceful and humorous garden-themed routine. The Roselia had juggled flower petals with vines while Dunsparce burrowed beneath the stage in rhythmic pulses. The judges were just finishing their comments, and Mira watched with polite interest as the final score appeared: a respectable 24.8.
With that, the list of all eight scores updated on the screen. Mira scanned them quickly, noting their place near the top. Relief bloomed in her chest, but she kept her celebration quiet. There was still the battle stage ahead.
Other Coordinators nearby sat with their teams, some feeding their Pokémon, others speaking in low tones about strategies and combinations. One Coordinator tossed Poké Puffs into the air for a Swinub to catch mid-leap, while another carefully cleaned a Starly's wings with a tiny grooming cloth. The buzz was calm but electric—a shared anticipation of the challenge yet to come.
Scout rested his head on Mira's leg. Petilil had finished her berry and now stretched languidly, her little flower accessory bobbing with each movement. Mira reached down and gently brushed a few stray crumbs off Scout's muzzle, who looked up and blinked gratefully.
"Let's enjoy the break while we can," Mira murmured. "You both earned it."
She let her head rest briefly against the wall, eyes watching the soft light patterns across the ceiling. The background noise faded into a calm hum as she soaked in the quiet moment of togetherness.
And in the back of her mind, she counted down the seconds to the match-up reveal.
The intermission passed quickly. Coordinators began drifting toward the main announcement screen, some chatting quietly, others focused and silent. Pokémon trotted or hovered beside them, mirroring the rising anticipation in the air. The mood had shifted—there was less glitter and more grit now, the start of a new challenge.
Scout stood alert at Mira's side, ears twitching, his paws braced as though he were already poised to run. Petilil hopped gently to keep pace, her leaf accessory catching the overhead lights and casting tiny shadows on the polished floor. Mira rested a steadying hand on her Poké Balls, feeling the smooth surface as if it could anchor her. Her heart thudded, not with nerves exactly, but with charged awareness. The time for performance had passed. Now came the test of tactics.
The overhead screen flickered once, then again—drawing the gaze of everyone in the room. A second later, the Contest Host's enthusiastic voice filled the hall, buoyed by a swell of soft fanfare.
"It's time! Congratulations to our top four scoring teams, who will now move forward into the Junior Bracket Battle Stage!"
The screen lit up with the final rankings, each name appearing with a glimmering star effect:
Mira – Petilil & Scout – 26.9
Ezra – Kirlia & Sneasel – 26.4
Reina – Shinx & Swablu – 25.3
Niko – Munna & Deerling – 24.8
Gasps and excited whispers swept through the room. Some Coordinators cheered quietly with their partners, while others accepted the outcome with nods and good sportsmanship. Mira offered a quiet clap to the other finalists, her eyes calm but focused.
A new visual appeared—a bright, spinning wheel with all four trainer names color-coded and highlighted. Each section pulsed with a soft glow as it rotated.
"And here are your randomly selected battle pairings!"
The wheel slowed, clicked into place, and then split into two colorful banners:
Match 1: Mira vs. Reina
Match 2: Ezra vs. Niko
A quiet murmur rippled through the crowd as the pairings registered. Mira let out a slow exhale, narrowing her gaze toward the list. Reina's performance had stuck with her—the grace of Swablu's wingbeats and the precision in Shinx's footwork. It had been a soft and clever routine, full of contrast.
Mira rolled her shoulders gently, as if loosening invisible tension. She knew Scout's instincts were fast and Petilil's control was steady. They had practiced enough to know how to cover one another, and now they'd get to show it.
Scout barked with excitement, tail thudding lightly against the floor. Petilil tilted her head, then looked toward the battlefield entrance, her body leaning forward slightly, ready.
Mira smiled, a glint of energy in her eyes. She glanced down at her team and lowered her voice.
"Looks like we're up first. Let's do as we have practiced"