Ethan sat comfortably on a cushioned seat, his Bulbasaur sprawled lazily across his lap. Around him, the competition area buzzed with excitement.
Trainers and spectators were gathered, and the atmosphere was charged with anticipation. Ethan, however, looked as indifferent as ever, idly patting Bulbasaur's head while scanning the crowd for familiar faces.
Professor Oak took to the stage with his characteristic enthusiasm. He tapped the microphone, his voice booming across the area.
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the grand Pokémon Performance Competition!" Oak's voice carried a mix of authority and warmth. "Today, we celebrate creativity, teamwork, and the bond between trainers and their Pokémon!"
The crowd erupted into cheers, and Ethan nodded slightly in approval. Cool intro, I guess, he thought.
Professor Oak continued, "The competition will test our participants' creativity in showcasing their Pokémon's talents through unique performances. They will be judged on style, innovation, and overall impact!"
Ethan raised an eyebrow, mildly intrigued but still confident in his decision to sit this one out. He leaned back in his seat, feeling like the smartest guy in the room for avoiding the hassle.
"And now," Oak's voice turned dramatic, "let's reveal the prizes for today's competition!"
Ethan's ears perked up slightly. Probably some basic stuff, like berries or a trophy, he mused.
Professor Oak gestured to a large screen behind him, where images of the prizes appeared one by one.
"For the first-place winner, an Aerodactyl fossil!"
Ethan blinked. His casual demeanor cracked for the first time, his body stiffening as the image of the ancient fossil filled the screen.
Oak wasn't done. "For second place, a Kabuto fossil! And for third place, an Omanyte fossil!"
The words hit Ethan like a Thunderbolt. His jaw dropped, and his mind spiraled into chaos. Wait… WHAT?! Fossils?!
A single tear welled up in his eye as he stared at the prizes. He had grossly underestimated the competition. His initial arrogance now seemed like the biggest mistake of his life.
Fossils?! Freaking fossils?! Ethan's mind screamed. I thought this was just some random performance thing! Why didn't anyone tell me?!
Green and Pink's earlier questions about his participation echoed mockingly in his head. They knew. Oh, they definitely knew.
Bulbasaur, sensing his trainer's internal turmoil, gave him a side glance, its pout as pronounced as ever.
Professor Oak, oblivious to Ethan's existential crisis, continued his speech. "For those of you who may still wish to participate, we are keeping registration open for another ten minutes! This is your last chance to join!"
Ethan froze, the temptation hitting him like a tidal wave. I could still join… His gaze flickered toward the registration desk, where trainers were eagerly signing up.
His mind raced. If I join now, I could win that Aerodactyl fossil! I'll just tell Green and Pink that I changed my mind! They'll understand, right?
He was about to stand when he felt a sharp tug on his arms.
"Bulba…"
Ethan glanced down and immediately froze. His Bulbasaur had skillfully used its vines to bind his wrists to the armrests of his chair. Its eyes narrowed, and it fixed him with a ferocious glare that screamed: Don't even think about it, you idiot.
"Bulbasaur, let's not be hasty—" Ethan began, but Bulbasaur tightened the vines in response, its expression growing darker.
Ethan swallowed hard. Oh no. It knows.
The grass-type leaned closer, its face inches from Ethan's. Its glare carried a silent but deadly message: You promised. You swore on me, you bastard.
Ethan's mind screamed in panic. How did it become this scary?! It's just a Bulbasaur!
Bulbasaur's glare intensified, daring him to defy it. Ethan felt sweat bead on his forehead. Finally, he slumped back into his seat, defeated.
"Fine, fine! I won't register!" he muttered under his breath, the words tasting bitter.
Bulbasaur huffed in satisfaction, releasing his hands before settling back on his lap, still pouting but visibly triumphant.
Ethan sighed deeply, his pride and dreams of owning an Aerodactyl fossil crushed. As the crowd cheered for the ongoing event, Ethan leaned back, arms crossed, muttering, "Why did I even leave my room today?"
Bulbasaur gave him another side-eye, as if to say, Because you're an overconfident idiot.
The final call for registration had passed, and Ethan sighed in resigned defeat. Bulbasaur, visibly pleased with its victory over Ethan's wavering resolve, gave a satisfied grunt before happily retreating into its Pokéball.
With Bulbasaur out of sight, Sylveon gracefully jumped onto Ethan's lap, nuzzling him affectionately. Its soothing presence was a balm for Ethan's bruised ego as it wrapped its ribbons around his arms in a comforting hug.
"Thanks, Sylveon," Ethan muttered, scratching the Pokémon's ears. "At least you're on my side."
The stage lit up as Professor Oak returned to the microphone, his voice booming across the venue. "Welcome, everyone, to the start of our Pokémon Performance Competition! Each trainer will showcase their Pokémon's talents, and the winner will be decided by your votes online!"
The crowd erupted into cheers as the event began.