Celestic Contest

*Twenty years ago...*

Johanna was battling someone named Lila back when she was a coordinator. Johanna was using a Glameow and Lila was using a Delcatty. Glameow used Iron Tail on Delcatty, but Delcatty used Substitute so Glameow only hit a copy. Then Delcatty fought back by hitting Glameow with Shock Wave.

"And the flowers have bloomed." Lila said, while fanning a stream of confetti from her hand with a smile.

This was Lila's famous habit called the tiger lily smile. The time was soon up and Lila had more points than Johanna. So Lila won the contest and the ribbon. This was a time Lila and Johanna would never forget.

Back in the present the gang was in Celestic Town and they were talking to Johanna on the phone in the Pokemon Center. Johanna was telling Dawn about the time she faced Lila in a Pokemon contest and Lila was the first rival to ever beat her.

"Excuse me, but who is this Lila person?" Ash asked.

"Lila is a top Poke stylist and she created styles for both humans and Pokemon." Dawn explained.

She was a fan of Lila and her styles like she was a fan of Paris.

"Did you ever battle Lila after that?" Dawn asked her mom.

"Lila retired from contests and coordinating." Johanna explained.

"I seem to remember reading Lila's store is in Celestic Town." Brock said.

"Yeah that's great." Dawn said excitedly. "We all have to go there!"

*'Figures.'* The three boys thought.

They knew Dawn liked fashion.

The gang soon came to Lila's store. Dawn couldn't stop smiling for joy when they entered the shop. There were clothes and accessories for men, boys, women and girls as well as many accessories for Pokemon.

"I have to admit, this is a nice shop." Ash said.

Tomo admired a pendant that was in the shape of a boomerang. Brock noticed some clothing that Wallace wore in the past. Dawn became more and more impressed with Lila's styles.

"Can I see Lila?" She asked the shop assistant.

"Sorry, she's out today." The shop assistant said.

Dawn was disappointed because she really wanted to see Lila.

Later that day it was time for the Celestic Town Pokemon contest. Ash wasn't entering so he sat with Tomo and Brock on the sidelines. Marian did her usual introductions and showed off the Celestic Ribbon. The ribbon was blue with three white stripes on each side. In the dressing room Dawn was sorting out her hair again. Her dress was back to it's normal form with only a red ribbon around the waist. But Dawn had decorated it with white daisies. However her hair wouldn't stay still. Suddenly a lady walked into the dressing room and did her hair for her.

"Thank you." Dawn said, happily.

When she turned around she realized she was Lila.

"Hold on, you're Dawn aren't you?" Lila asked.

"Yes, but how do you know my name?" Before she could answer Dawn's question, her co-worker came in and grabbed Lila.

"You need to hurry." The co-worker told her.

Dawn was confused about what happened.

It was now time for the appeal round.

"Our first coordinator." Marian said. "This lady is making her first contest appearance in twenty years. It's Lila."

Everyone was surprised to see Lila participating in the contest, especially Dawn.

"Cherrim, out you come." Lila said, throwing a Poke Ball.

At first Cherrim was in it's overcast form; a form that makes it look like a bud that's about to bloom. But then it changed into it's sunshine form; a form that makes it a fully bloomed flower.

Ash looked it up on his Pokedex.

"Cherrim, the Blossom Pokemon and the evolved form of Cherubi. It blooms during times of strong sunlight. It tries to make up for everything it endured as a bud."

First Cherrim used Magical Leaf and then it used Sunny Day. It created a image of a beautiful green flower shape.

"Wow Dawn's mom wasn't kidding when she said Lila was a good coordinator." Ash said.

Dawn thought Lila was amazing too, but she had to remember that Lila was her rival today.

After some more Pokemon did their appeals it was Dawn's turn. She released Wormadam with a white ling seal. First Wormadam released a Razor Leaf attack while spinning and then she released multiple Energy Ball attacks which turned into fireworks.

"Dawn really has got her contest spirit back after her victory at the Wallace Cup." Ash said.

"Definitely." Brock agreed.

After the appeal rounds were over, the boys went to the waiting room with Dawn.

"Your Wormadam certainly has grown since you caught it when you first started Dawn." Brock said.

"Yeah, I sometimes feel like you have grown together as she was my first capture." Dawn said.

Just then, they noticed Lila talking to Johanna on the video phone.

"Hi mom, Lila." Dawn said.

"Hi Dawn." Lila said. "That was a wonderful performance."

"Thank you." Dawn smiled. "Mom told us about you and her having a contest battle together. That must have been so amazing."

"It was." Lila replied. "As a matter of fact the battle between me and your mother was the most important battle in my entire life."

Lila explained that back when she saw how energized Johanna was at battling it made her question herself if she really wanted to keep performing in contests. She also explained back then she wasn't sure if she wanted to continue being a coordinator or become a Poke stylist. Then one day she got the chance to study and become a Poke stylist abroad and with not knowing what to do she asked Johanna for advice. Then she and Johanna agreed to work on what they really wanted to do and what they were best at. So she became a Poke stylist while Johanna continued being a coordinator. Dawn liked that story.

"I'd never thought you would be a coordinator again." Johanna said.

"Well it's all because of your sweet daughter." Lila said.

She explained that she saw Dawn on TV in the Wallace Cup and the memories of her days as a coordinator flooded back into her head.

"It made me think how wonderful it would be if I won my fifth ribbon in a contest battle against you Dawn." Lila said.

"If you win, you will be able to enter the Grand Festival." Brock said.

But the real reason Lila wanted to battle Dawn was so she could learn something about herself if she battled Dawn the same way she battled Johanna. Suddenly the results were up and Marian announced only eight coordinators were going to make it to the battle rounds. Both Lila and Dawn made it to the second round. Lila and Dawn couldn't wait to face each other in the finals and Johanna couldn't wait for that either.

Lila and Dawn defeated their opponents one by one; Lila used her Delcatty and Dawn used Ambipom. Finally it was the last round and Lila and Dawn were up against each other. Dawn was a bit nervous because her mom wasn't able to beat Lila, but she reminded herself that if she did lose she could just try again in the next Pokemon contest. Lila sent out her Delcatty and Dawn sent out Ambipom. Ambipom started off with Swift, but Delcatty used Substitute. Then Delcatty used Shock Wave on Ambipom; the same moves she used against Johanna 20 years ago.

"And the flowers have bloomed." Lila said, flashing her famous tiger lily smile.

Ambipom attacked next with a combination of Double Team and Focus Punch. But Delcatty's ability Cute Charm kicked it after being hit by Focus Punch and Ambipom was infatuated with Delcatty.

"That's not good." Ash muttered.

"Yeah, especially because Ambipom won't be able to attack." Brock said.

Delcatty used Sing and Ambipom fell asleep.

"Oh no." Dawn said.

"Delcatty, Iron Tail." Lila said.

"Oh Ambipom, use Sleep Talk." Dawn said.

While still asleep, Ambipom dodged the Iron Tail attack. Lila was impressed by this and so was Johanna.

"Sleep Talk is something I never came up with." Johanna admitted.

Dawn told Ambipom to use Sleep Talk, which became Fury Swipes, but Delcatty dodged and used Shock Wave on Ambipom.

"The second flower has bloomed." Lila said, doing her famous tiger lily smile again.

Ambipom woke up from her sleep.

"Alright Ambipom, use Swift." Dawn said.

Ambipom fired Swift, but Delcatty used Substitute to dodge. Ambipom then managed to hit Delcatty with Double Slap. Unfortunately, Ambipom became infatuated again.

"If this keeps on happening, I fear Dawn will lose." Ash said, worried.

Brock and Tomo were worried too. Dawn decided to go for broke.

"Double Team." She told Ambipom.

Luckily it worked.

"Sing." Lila told Delcatty.

"Double Hit." Dawn told Ambipom.

Sing managed to put Ambipom's copies to sleep, but it was able to strike Delcatty with Double Hit. As she was still infatuated Cute Charm had no effect on her. Just then she snapped out of the infatuation.

"Alright use Swift Ambipom." Dawn said.

Ambipom created a big diamond shape with her Swift attack. Delcatty did use Substitute to get away, but because the diamond shape was so big it was still hit by the stars.

"Quick, use Shock Wave." Lila said.

Delcatty's Shock Wave and Ambipom's Swift collided with each other, creating a Milky Way shape. Everyone was amazed by what was going on, even Marion and the judges were surprised. Finally the Swift attack broke through and Delcatty was struck. Suddenly time was up and the one who ended up winning the contest was Dawn.

Dawn was happy that she won and hugged Ambipom, thanking her. The boys were happy for Dawn and so was Johanna. Delcatty felt disappointed after losing, but Lila told him he was great. She congratulated Dawn for her victory and they shook hands with each other. Dawn was given the Celestic Town ribbon and she did her pose.

As a treat for Dawn's victory, Lila allowed her to pick out whatever outfit she liked for free. The boys were allowed to as well. Dawn picked out an orange dress. Ash picked out an Hawaiian themed outfit for himself with sunglasses and an open topped hat, Tomo picked out a jungle themed outfit for himself with the pendant he liked earlier and Brock picked out an orange T-shirt, brown vest top, pink hat and scarf and green trousers. And Piplup, Pikachu, Growlithe and the rest of Dawn's Pokemon picked out some jewelry for themselves.

"Everything in your shop is wonderful Lila, thank you." Dawn said.

Lila was happy and said she felt enthusiasm and excitement she hadn't felt in a long time thanks to the contest battle.

With the Celestic Town contest over it was time for the gang to think about getting to Hearthome City, so Ash and Fantina could battle for her badge.