The next two days are spent between the Department Store, Pokemon Center, and Contest Tent. Luce is barred entry from the Gym, but Lopunny, Monferno, and Togepi go there every other day. He essentially finds himself a permanent escort in Snover and Golduck. Where is Duskull? Who knows.

Which brings them to the Beauty and Smart contest segments.

Honestly, Luce is on absolute cloud nine. Golduck's an absolute natural in the Smart contest and it's super jarring that his little baby Doozy of all people is in the Smart category but she's aceing it so well he just wants to cuddle her forever.

It was in the midst of that fawning that Snover walks up to him, apparently having individually signed up for the Beauty ranked Normal contest and won the ribbon all without Luce ever knowing.

To say Luce was impressed would be an understatement. If he weren't noodle-armed he'd have thrown Snover into the air like a baby squealing soundlessly and showing him off to everyone that passed by. He kind of was halfway through doing exactly that until he realized how jealous Golduck was getting.

In his defense, how did Maverick even learn how to write his own name? That's so cool.

The situation then turned into an absolute hog match between Golduck and Snover about who could be better, and then the timing of the Beauty and Smart Great ranks clashed, and then Luce had a slot for hosting with Fantina on the only other slot, which erupted into an argument.

Luce had to step in when punches started getting thrown.

"Awh, you're on a roll! I guess I should've expected that from the son of Contest Master Johanna," someone sets down a basket of Poffins before him, and the smell makes Golduck perk right up. "Need some help?"

Luce's head jumps up.

Dawn grins, and a surprised Snover hustles right over to bump her at her waist. She crouches down to meet him in a hug, giggling.

She's wearing the blue scarf Luce got her, her hair tied back in a bun. She's slightly sweaty, and her long sleeves are slightly smudged in dust and mud. She's still wearing gloves, which may perhaps indicate she's come here straight from the newly-opened Underground exit.

"Surprised? We finally managed to clear the underground of this area," she says. "Roark told me to thank you and Miss Fantina for the damage control up here. It really helps when the crowd's too busy watching contests to panic about the ground beneath them crumbling at any second."

That sounds backhanded, but maybe there's some honesty in there somewhere.

Luce is so flabbergasted that he barely notices the Cleffa diving into his arms until he's instinctively cradling it. He realizes, belatedly, that it's not Togepi he's hugging,

Meanwhile, Kadabra latches onto Golduck and since they're both big now, they go toppling unceremoniously and Golduck protests. Luxio jumps in to pin them all down and now they're all rolling. Snover moves to separate them, but Grotle's there first, pulling Luxio off by the tail as Golduck accepts her fate.

"Doozy's evolved!" Dawn dives down for a hug, "long time no see, baby! Aww you're so biiiig! I didn't get to see you clearly on the screen, but you're still huggable now!"

Luce is absolutely bewildered, but then there's a Shellos crawling up his pant leg and Kadabra is clinging to his back and oh—

He swats Dawn on the head for attention.

"What?" the girl wails, lifting her head.

"You really came here?!" the accusatory way he signed hopefully got his point across.

"What do you mean, why did I come here," Dawn struggles, "I said I was! Plus something came up for B, so he won't be able to make it. He sent these instead."

The Poffins in question are being gorged on by Golduck and Snover and Luxio.

"Plus, I really wanted to be here and make a costume for you for once," Dawn says. "It's not fair I don't get to help you on them, they look so fun!"

Luce can't help but sigh fondly at that.

Dawn dives in for a hug and he protests with a rumble in his chest, because she's sweaty and gross and honestly kind of sweltering. Dawn giggles anyways, especially when the Pokemon start yelling jealously at them for attention.

"So, what's this about Maverick wanting to go for contests, too?" Dawn says, "I can help if you need a body double!"

-

"Maylene isn't wrong. Have you thought about what it is you truly want to be doing out here, Luce?"

In the Pokemon Center, after a warm bath, Dawn nurses a cup of tea as the Pokemon hustle around getting the clothing out.

"I want to be a Researcher," Dawn says. I want to complete the Pokedex, find my field, and then keep journeying, discovering more about Pokemon on the way," Dawn says. "What about you?"

Luce is mostly just being strung along. He fights, because it's a good challenge, and he participates in Contests, because he's good at it. He travels, because it's fun.

"Are you going to become a Contest Master? Or are you going to collect all the badges and go on to challenge the Elite Four? Or are you going to wander and find something to research?" Dawn asks. "We're already so deep in our pilgrimages. You've got to decide soon, you know?"

He doesn't really have an interest in the League. And conquering all the contests seem far-fetched. He's never been smart enough for extensive research.

It'd be nice if he could just wander and laze about, like Roy.

Many people don't finish their pilgrimages, but they always end up somewhere. Luce hasn't even found a direction yet, and that's honestly unspeakable. He'll need to at least get something done, in Sinnoh, getting your card colour changed is the only way to prove you're truly a legal adult.

"Barry and I are still mad at you, you know," Dawn says.

Luce stiffens. Is he in for another lecture?

But Dawn's expressions soften. "You always charge into dangerous situations, you're always the first to be reckless. You like the thrill of things, and you're first to stick yourself into problems," she says. "That's the best part about you, you now? We both love you for it. You're frustrating!"

Is he being complimented or scolded right now?

He's confused.

"But that's why I want to be here for you, you know," Dawn says. "If there's something you want to do, let me help. And if you get in trouble..." she chuckles, "let's make sure you don't have to deal with it alone this time, alright?"

Luce felt his cheeks heat up at that.

She pats him on the head and sings, putting down her tea and skipping toward the desk of their shared room. She sets down her bag, taking out the Manaphy Egg inside and cradling it in her arms.

"Let's go train for the Contests! I haven't seen it Live before and I'm definitely not missing it all, okay? Let's show this baby how awesome you are, too!"

When was the last time Dawn had time to hang out with Luce like this? They met briefly in the Pokemon Mansion, but aside from that it's all the way back in Oreburgh.

It's really been so long, isn't it? Yeah, they've really missed out on bonding time.

Dawn takes him by the wrist and he can't help but be drawn into her pace.

-

Lopunny's in the middle of a match with Medicham when the Gym doors open and an overexcited Luxio dashes into the room.

Monferno stands up quickly at the sight of Grotle reeling Luxio in by the tail, raising Togepi in the air with an exclamation of his name.

Maylene raises a brow at the sight.

"New friends?" she asks, when Monferno leads her over.

Luxio jumps at Monferno when Grotle lets go. Lopunny protests as Togepi gets smothered between fire and lightning and clearly looks uncomfortable, and Grotle sighs in defeat.

Maylene frees Togepi from their clutches, and Lopunny shoves Luxio away by the head, complaining about something.

Grotle grumbles back. Monferno snickers.

"What's this..." Maylene crouches toward her Medicham, "ah, I see... your trainer came to visit Luce, did they? So you guys came to say hi as well. Well, it's fine, everyone's welcome in this gym. Here to train?"

Monferno jumps onto Grotle's back and squeals happily.

Grotle scolds him and Monferno stands back up, chastised.

Lopunny huffs.

Luxio jumps on Lopunny, earning an offended shriek.

Maylene's honestly very speechless. Pokemon are hardly allowed this much autonomy in Sinnoh– wandering unsupervised is a sign of wild or untrained Pokemon, and Sinnoh trainers don't tend to walk in the open with more than one to two Pokemon at a time. They cause a disruption in the narrow roads of Sinnoh, and it's considered bad etiquette if they're not trained well.

Yet, here Luce and his friends were, with all of their Pokemon out of their balls at almost every given time. And yes, they're being quite a fair disruption at times, but not any more so than human children would be.

And if anything, they were very well-behaved human children.

Maylene had given Luce flak for not guiding his Pokemon right... but in truth, the relationship he had with them had been strange from the start.

They didn't conform to the norm of Sinnoh. And it wasn't as if they were trying to break barriers— they just genuinely didn't know. Monferno even spoke fluently to a gym challenger yesterday in sign language— it's just not a sight usually seen in non-psychic or psychic adjacent pokemon. It's bizarre.

Maylene doesn't approve of Luce's recklessness, but their spontaneity certainly had its merits.

-

Maylene gets a call soon after, from Fantina.

"Dear? You really need to get to the Contest Tent. Like, pronto," Fantina sounds seconds away from combusting in excitement. "Bring Luce and Dawn's Pokemon, but bring the cuties training in the gym too if they wanna come!"

"Huh– Fantina what—?"

"I'll ask Jas dear to help you!"

She gets no answer as the call cuts off.

Ushering all the Pokemon onto Jasmine's Steelix— when did she even get here? She's dressed for contests but maybe she's here to judge— Maylene finds herself at the Contest Tents, where most of the population of Veilstone is currently congregating. TV stations are airing them out to the region, and it's so crowded Maylene wondered if it'd make more sense to watch from one of the roofs around.

Monferno's more than happy to play excitable tour guide, cheering the wild Pokemon into a single file as he takes the front riding on Grotle's back, Togepi in his lap. Lopunny is doing the headcount, and Luxio takes up the rear, making sure no one's left behind. A baby Chingling shrieks loudly as the last number of the count.

The train of Pokemon begin their march forward, led by Monferno as he starts some song that all the Pokemon somehow know. Grotle already looks tired of babysitting, but he's just the locomotive, so he just leads without another complaint.

Even Lucario and Medicham are impressed.

Maylene hears the flash of a camera— oh hey, only Xtranceivers have built-in camera click noises— it's Brycen, completely stoic-faced as he absolutely spams his phone with a million pictures of the scene.

"Oh, don't mind me," his voice is magnificently even as he tucks his phone away and follows the train of Pokemon into the Contest Tent. "This has just reminded me of some of my friends."

Maylene throws her hands into the air in defeat.

"And, if I may, Maylene," Brycen tucks his hands away into his sleeve before smiling warmly, "it's fair to be harsh on young Luce, but don't let it stop you from enjoying just how many surprises he may bring. Pokedex owners are a handful, but each time they come to our side, they bring forth a change."

Maylene frowns, skeptical as they follow the train of Pokemon into the crowd.

"A change?" then, "he's just a kid. I am too, but he's younger than me. I don't understand why Roark and the others keep making a big deal of it all."

Brycen nods.

"We know," he says, simply. He looks toward the sky, and solemnly adds, "we know. But there's so little we can do but watch. If they crumble, then yet again... it's all we can do to give chase and try to take responsibility too late."

Maylene thinks of Grimsley, who spent the past few days winning everything in the Game Corner, leaving the problem to her Medicham to deliver to Luce— and then, he went right off to Celestic, chasing after the shadow of someone that had presumably run off long ago.

"I don't want to regret," Maylene says. "I don't want to regret not looking out for them. But I don't want to encourage whatever they're doing. I don't agree with coddling them. Fate tells us calamity will befall them and there's nothing I can do about it. So, I'll support them and make sure they're strong enough, that's the duty of us Gym Leaders, right?"

Brycen sighs.

"It's different with Pokedex Holders, Maylene. They're just kids..."

"So am I!" Maylene says, "and no one stopped me from taking on the challenge of heading this town, heading this gym, taking my pilgrimage in a whole other region just to get a Keystone— What's the difference between me and them? We don't need to be coddled, just let us live."

Brycen acknowledges her point.

But he does not back down.

"I almost regret not coddling him more. We put too much on his shoulders, and in the end, he took nothing with him except his Pokemon," Brycen admits. "Grimsley was quite like you. That's why he's taking it the hardest."

"Taking what?"

Brycen melds into the crowd just then, and Maylene is left without an answer.

With a frustrated sigh, she moves on.

She'll find out one day.

-

Maylene quickly realizes why the Contest Tent is in an uproar.

Today's the last day of the Grand Contest Tent launch in Veilstone, (after today the tents will be set up across the region and Fantina will go back to Hearthome, thank the lord,) so to go full flamboyance Fantina sets up the Contest in free-for-all, battle royale fiesta.

...that basically means the entire hall is open, for every category to appeal at once. The ranks are separated, but otherwise it's an elimination system. There's an entire panel of judges, and they can whistle off any contestant at any second. It's a survival out there.

"To become a Contest Star, you must be able to survive in the pressure of stardom! To stand out in the crowd, to become a sensation!" Fantina is so into her emcee role it's dangerous. She twirls on that large tower podium made just for a spotlight to shine on her, "be alluring, soulful, and fantastic!"

Maylene is flabbergasted when the crowd roars so loudly around her, she feels the wave of sound just blow her forward.

The large open stage— it's almost like a magnificent circus troupe at this point, with all the variety of acts occurring at the same time. Judges are perched all around the overhead areas, either riding flying or levitating Pokemon, Onix or Steelix. Jasmine sits on an electromagnetic barrier between two of her Magnemite, smiling dearly, raising her megaphone every once in a while to make her judgments. A Chingling and Chatot travels to ensure the disqualified ones leave the stage.

It's a magical sight. The TV crew soar around on their Girafarig, and the footage they capture must be the sight of miracles.

"How are they judging like that...?" Maylene gasps.

Each contestant seemed to have ribbons tied around their arms and numbers on their chests, indicating which contest they were participating in. Some had more than one, and upon closer inspection, they had multiple Pokemon participating as well in any category they wanted. It seemed it was up to the judges if things were allowed or not.

Maylene's absorbed.

In one corner, a Karate Man with a Machoke was performing a judo routine with a Karate Girl and Veteran, their Hitmonchan and Mienfoo keeping up splendidly. They grinned at each other, almost competitively, focused on no one but themselves.

On another end, a Painter, a PokeManiac, and a Collector were competing between their Smeargle, Ditto, and Unown. It was definitely an intriguing battle— Sketch, Transform, Hidden Power— even looking at it confused her.

She was particularly interested in the way the Water-type trainers in the Beauty Segment were competing— they seem to have decided against rough battles or tricky tactics, instead indulging in a way to make the most glamorous water show of all time. Surfers got their surfboards out to ride the wave of their Mantine. A female Swimmer ducked around chasing after her Vaporeon as if the rivers of water trailing across them were obstacles, and a Clown somersaulted in tandem with his Milotic, drawing opposing arches across the skyline.

There was, then, the Psychics competing in the Smart Category, and most of them have found a way to use the airspace as their field. Abra and Bronzong kept their trainers in the air, Meditite keeping the peace while Mr Mime and Mime Jr helped anyone that fell.

One competitor in that group was wearing a mask— a Seaking and Empoleon-inspired mask— wait, isn't that Luce? That's Crasher Wake's old mask that he wore in the previous contest—

That outfit. Woah.

A cloak that seems to end with the waves, an ombre of gold to marine blue that was so calm, yet abruptly sharp where the metal accessories punctuated his wrists and vital points. When he threw out a sign, for his next command, it was easy to see when the buckle of his belt lit up pink together with Golduck's psychic in action. His hair's woven in with pearls and red orbs, threads of white and red woven together at his waist. It matches the embellishments strung around Golduck's arm. It's harmony, when Luce raises the command for Disable and Golduck does the exact same motion in unison.

His grin's wide and proud.

The Psychics spun through the air in a double helix, spiralling enchantingly in a battlefield only they could stand in. And the judges of the Smart Category pursued, entranced by that magical battlefield made just for them.

In that battle, there can be no judgment that would be satisfying.

The spiral breaks apart at the peak, and the one in the center of that climb is Luce. It takes Luce a moment to realize they've willingly backed down— and so, when he leans back and finds Golduck grinning smugly back at him, and he lets out breathy laughter.

"THERE IT IS!" Fantina exclaims, "loud and proud, the first winner of the Ultra Rank fiesta— the Smart Category! It's LUCE AND DOOZY!"

Luce knocks his head gently against Doozy's. Maylene stares, and stares, and stares at the sheer happiness they have. How could you not adore that sight?

Maylene's line of sight is quickly overtaken by a burst of snow, a shimmering blizzard shuttering the weather condition of that segment of the field into a pristine winter wonderland.

It's a niche of the Beauty segment, where contestants coming in from Snowpoint have chosen to present their own magical presentation of the harsh winters. Among them is someone— huh?

"Wait, are there two Luces?"

Maylene's very sure there's only one of those atrocious Seaking-Empoleon themed masks out there, and yet, the one wearing it in the snow area is decidedly not Luce. (He's still miles in the air.) In fact, they look up and wave widely at Luce, who waves back.

It's not until Monferno clambers up to Maylene's shoulder and starts shrieking jealously, and Luxio starts squawking and pointing— that Maylene realizes that's Dawn, the third Pokedex owner.

She has her hair tied up, but other than being clearly tilted toward a more feminine presentation, they looked so uncannily similar they could be siblings.

(But they aren't, right?)

She's wearing the same cloak as Luce, but in the theme of snow rather than water, and in Snover's colours— and, it's hard to catch, but she's wearing a skirt rather than pants. She raises her hands and gestures, up, up, and the blizzard obeys.

In response, a Glaceon sends a rail of ice beam to descend upon them. Snorunts bounce on the snowflakes as Froslass leave icy roads behind them. A Piplup frees itself from the water group to dive down a spray of ice beam, sliding down with all the glee of a chipper child. It doesn't take long for Chingling and Azurill to join the endless ice slide of dreams.

And at the center of the snowy wonder, Dawn commands them all like a symphony. She's elegant, dancing in the midst as her Snover stands around her like a loyal sentinel.

When Luce descends from above, streaming past the ice and across the Pokemon with such a bright smile blooming at his lips— he dives right into a scooping hug of Dawn catching him, spinning him around, and setting him down as if he were a princess.

They regain their balance and burst out laughing, though even Dawn's audible happiness all goes completely unheard in the music and the madness.

Watching it all Maylene couldn't help but feel warm inside.

It's innocence, dear youthful joy. Something they're indulging so fervently.

Maylene wonders if someone once saw all that in her, too, and she wonders when she'd lost it. When she was stripped of it, who took it from her— and when she'd had to become someone who took those things away from children, too.

"It's a unanimous vote! The winner of the Ultra Rank fiesta— the Beauty Category! It's MAVERICK!"

"What the hell— Fantina," Maylene's bewildered, "no trainer name? What is that Snover, participating as just himself? That's allowed?"

Hand in hand Dawn and Luce present themselves to the crowd, Snover huffing proudly behind them, and Golduck finally dropping in in front to join them.

They're picturesque.

"It's not over yet!" Fantina roars, "anyone can be a winner! Late entrants are very, very marvellously welcome to join!"

Maylene doesn't have time to stop the Monferno as he screeches his voice hoarse, throwing Togepi into the air in excitement. Luxio was bouncing on the ground and shrieking something to a very patient Lucario. Grotle sits on the ground calmly, but his eyes are very open to watch.

Lopunny, on the other hand— the very same Lopunny that has been decimating the competition for the past few days in her gym— vaults right over the banister.

Luce catches her only to get swamped underneath because he's a twig.

With laughter they get up, and Dawn engulfs the Lopunny in a hug. There's an exchange of words and signs and Lopunny's eyes light up with recognition. This lasts until Dawn fits a matching mask, glove and scarf on the bunny— and then, they're running off into the Tough area. They don't notice it yet, but there's a little Cleffa clinging to Luce's cape, excitedly clambering his way up to Luce's shoulder. They'll then invade the Cute area, but that's not for a while yet.

Dawn turns up to the crowd, catching sight of Maylene and grinning.

She couldn't stop Monferno and Luxio from launching right off too.

This is really the Grand Contest Fiesta of dreams, and Maylene understands now she's witnessing Pokemon Contest history. She's having the privilege of seeing something like this happening in her own town.

She doesn't think her way of running the town is wrong, but the way Fantina does it, full of love, fun, and glamour, stretching existing rules and going through hoops just to achieve something so wondrous— it's fine, too.

It's wonderful.

It's not the type of Leader Maylene will ever be, but it's not bad at all. It's the kind of leader she wants to grow closer to.

(Maylene is still young, too. She still has more to learn, too.)

(And that's fine, for both herself, for Luce, and for everything that's soon to come.)

-

Luce walks out of the best day of his life with way too many ribbons. He's utterly exhausted.

With all the fun and fantasia today, it's almost as if that earthquake didn't happen at all. People have put even the strange explosion behind them, but Luce knew better that it was only ever just starting.

But that's fine— he's enjoying the hell out of this current moment, and it's worth it just to get his mind off the horrible previous days.

"That was so fun!" Dawn sighs dreamily, settling down on the bed opposite him. "I can't believe they let us participate just like that."

Since Luce's leg is alright now, they got a room in the Center as they recollected their progress for the day. The Pokemon swamped the upper bunks, showing off their new ribbons and accessories in excitement.

It's rather amusing how Monferno, who didn't really have a desire for Contests outside of curiosity, took to the Cool Contest so firmly, he wore the ribbons proud. Snover and Golduck looked awfully haughty at the moment. Cleffa and Togepi brandished their Normal Rank cute ribbons side by side, and Luxio nuzzled up to Lopunny with all the adoration in her heart.

Luce reckoned not all of them wanted to go for Master Rank contests like Lopunny— but this was a fun experience either way.

"Ohhhh! Fighter is so fluffy!" Dawn hasn't stopped hugging her yet. There's a Shellos stuck to the left side of her face but she hasn't noticed that either. "Who's the prettiest prettiest Lopunny I've ever seen? You are!"

Luce is not going to address that.

He connects the cords of their Pokedexes together so the data could be shared, but it's only when he does a proper headcount that he realizes he's missing Pokemon again.

Again.

Why do they keep wandering off? They're so hard to keep track of. Is this why the League considers six to be the golden number? Luce is trying his best to love them equally, he swears with all his heart.

"[I'm going out for a bit,]" he signed to Dawn, who took a moment, but understood.

"Did you have anywhere else you needed to go today?"

"[Rascal and Kazza aren't here.]"

A pause.

Dawn looks toward the top bunk.

"Oh! You're right!" she gasps, turning around to realize Kadabra wasn't floating behind her like he always was. "When did that happen? What about Quart— oh, Quart's still on my face. We're not missing anyone else, right? Right??"

Luce sighs. Glad to know he's not the only one. One day she's going to not have that weird Shellos on her cheek and she wouldn't notice that either.

"[Quart?]" he questions.

"Short for Quartermaster!" Dawn clarifies, "B came up with it, isn't it kinda funny?"

In what way? Luce decides he won't question that. It's much more suited to Barry's nickname theme than hers, but he supposed whatever floats her boat's fine.

"Do you know where they could be?"

"[Yeah. Take the Pokemon to the bathhouse?]"

"Absolutely. Would you take care of the egg, then?"

It's really nice to have someone to split duties with. Luce might have just realized how much he doesn't like travelling alone. Maybe when they meet up with Barry at Lake Valor, he can suggest everyone to go together the rest of the way.

He's so tired of travelling alone.

-

Kadabra and Duskull were, and apparently have been for the whole day since Dawn arrived, at the rainy Route 205, battling trainers.

Specifically, an Ace Trainer couple near the end of the route, who seem to have taken up these two honing their tactics together. They were more than happy to indulge.

Luce is morbidly embarrassed as they notice him, Kadabra communicated that he was their trainer (and trainer's friend), and the Ace Trainers lit up with a sort of nervousness a child would when meeting the parents of their friends for the first time.

He held the incubator firmly in his bag, but he supposed it would rain.

"Oh we uh, taught them Shadow Ball. Hope that was okay, they just really wanted to do it after they saw our Driftblim do it. I hope that won't be trouble hereward," the girl clarifies, while the boy is still crouched over to Kadabra nodding along to whatever was being explained over there.

It's not until the boy Ace Trainer turns toward him with a casual sign of "[Nice to meet you]" that Luce's entire world lights up.

Luce has never been so enthusiastic about finding someone else fluent in sign before. Mainly because it rarely ever happens.

"[Deaf?]"

"[No, just speaking.]"

"[And you come out on the pilgrimage? Did you go Trainer School?]"

"[Nope! That's why I'm a mess.]"

Even with Barry he's never had such an easy conversation before, and it's fascinating. Ace Trainer Dennis is a trainer that's just barely past his pilgrimage, because he started his pilgrimage late as most Deaf children do.

(Most Deaf trainers don't go on to become Ace Trainers, either.)

"[Your Duskull taught my Drifblim Psychic, so we taught it Shadow Ball. Fair trade?]"

"[More than!]"

It's fascinating. They had a Kirlia, but since she'd learned it naturally, they couldn't quite help Driftblim figure it out. Duskull learned it from a Technical Machine, so it was much easier for him to convey the idea to his fellow Ghost type Drifblim.

Luce holds Duskull by where his cheeks would be if he had flesh, and smiled warmly as Duskull made dreamily proud noises at his new achievement. He pats Kadabra on the head, earning a contented huff.

"Hey, I know it's getting a little late and all," the girl Ace Trainer calls out to them, tapping on Dennis' shoulder to make sure they were both heard, "but could we have one last battle? You and Dennis! I'll just watch."

She winks.

And Dennis understands, setting a hand on Driftblim's side. He releases a Floatzel too, and the challenge is clear.

Luce's smile curls up in excitement. He's excited, and the rain's cold— but one last battle for the day is just what he needed. He'd had fun with all his other Pokemon— of course, these two should get their time, too.

With a look at Duskull, and eye contact with Kadabra— he nods firmly.

A snap of his fingers, and all trainers, threw themselves back to gain distance.

Luce whistles, and Dennis whistles. Luce already had tactics penned down in shortforms with Barry, so all he needed was a quick letter and affirmation from his Pokemon. This tended to simplify his tactics to the equivalent of the simple four-move format as the game Cece played.

But Dennis conveyed a series of signs so quickly Luce had trouble catching them all. And it wasn't just Drifblim paying attention, so was his partner, Ace Trainer Maya. And when they began the battle, Dennis stayed on Driftblim's arm the entire time— Luce notices soon that he's making signs and cues for attacks and defenses.

Isn't that dangerous?

(Drifblim isn't letting a single attack touch him. And when they endure a strong gust together, their grins are wide with excitement, adrenaline consuming them as their next attack comes with a refrain before they dive right into the fray with a burst of thunder.)

(Floatzel bursts through right beside them, and Dennis leaps from one Pokemon to the next as Driftblim rushes in for a particularly direct explosion. He rides Floatzel like a surfboard until Driftblim scoops him up again, Floatzel plunging into Kadabra side with a burst of Aqua Jet.)

They're gallant, magnificent, and Luce barely pulls him out of admiration before commanding, Defend.

And with the amount of joy on Dennis' face, he's entranced. It doesn't take Luce long for him to rush in to his Pokemon, too. Sure, it was reckless with the Manaphy egg on his back, but he was overflowing with adrenaline, and he couldn't stop himself.

Just like it is in Contests, he stands right beside them, Duskull latching onto his wrist as he charges up a Shadow Ball. Luce can't help but giggle as he leaps past an attack to find Kadabra giving him platforms in mid-air with Psychic, and as they float further upward, Luce greets a recovering Driftblim with Duskull at his chest, a blast of Shadow Ball in their faces.

The tactics are simple— attack, wait, pull back– not yet, now! And yet, just by putting himself beside his Pokemon, just like Dennis, he's found a way to communicate so smoothly, it's almost so silly how he's never noticed it until the contest.

He could join them, have fun, be gallant and fabulous as Fantina would say. Don't let the danger join you— be a part of the performance!

Because this isn't a game with strict rules and competitive boards. This isn't a restricted format where you could only pick between a set of four choices. This isn't the game Cece was playing—

—this is the world of Pokemon, and a world where Luce stands side by side with Pokemon, and they fight every battle together.

Maybe he'll figure out how to live as truly just 'Luce' one day.

But until then, he's going to keep stumbling forward.

(The Manaphy Egg on his back is warm.)