"Max! What did I say about running off again? I swear, next time I'm not bringing you along!"
As she reached him, May gave her younger brother a light (but firm) bop on the head, scolding him with a half-serious glare.
"Ow! That hurt! You're so violent, sis!" Max muttered, rubbing his head and pouting.
"Hey, May—long time no see."
Rex stepped forward with a grin, catching her attention.
"Huh? Rex? Yuli? What are you guys doing here too?"
May blinked in surprise, finally noticing Rex and Yuli nearby. As for Koko, this was their first time meeting.
"We've been here the whole time, but you were too busy fussing over Max to notice," Rex teased.
"She wasn't fussing! She was bullying me! She hit me for real!" Max grumbled loudly.
"Hmph! If I wasn't worried about Mom and Dad freaking out if you got lost, I wouldn't even bother!"
Clearly, this was just how the siblings communicated—plenty of sarcasm and sniping, but no shortage of affection.
"May, your performance with Blaziken earlier was amazing!"
Yuli tried to steer the conversation to a more cheerful note, smiling warmly.
"Thanks! I trained super hard for it, and I'm so glad nothing went wrong on stage!"
May beamed at the compliment, but her tone betrayed how much pressure she'd felt.
This was her first official invitation to perform at a public celebration, and she had taken it very seriously—spending countless hours training with her Blaziken to ensure a perfect show.
Rex then introduced Koko to both May and Max.
When May heard that Koko ran a flower shop, her eyes lit up and the two instantly dove into a lively discussion about flowers. Yuli quickly joined in too.
With the women deep in their floral chatter, Rex and Max exchanged a look and shrugged, then quietly opened their snack bags and started munching.
Time flew by, and when the next performer was introduced on stage, the group turned their attention to the show.
Rex didn't recognize the next few Coordinators, but their performances were dazzling nonetheless. The audience in the plaza was clearly having the time of their lives.
"And now… please welcome tonight's grand finale—Top Coordinator, Mr. Robert!"
As soon as the emcee's voice rang out, thunderous applause broke across the plaza.
"The finale's Robert? No wonder they kept it secret from us performers!"
May's eyes widened in realization.
She had once competed against Robert, so she knew firsthand just how powerful and talented he was.
Soon enough, Robert appeared in an elegant formal outfit.
His partner tonight was none other than Milotic. When he released it from its Poké Ball, the crowd gasped as one—the majestic beauty of Milotic alone was enough to captivate them.
The atmosphere in the plaza reached a fever pitch. Everyone swayed and cheered in rhythm with Milotic's movements.
Under Robert's precise commands, Milotic unleashed a stunning combination of Water Pulse, Captivate, and Twister.
Each move intertwined and collided, merging seamlessly to create a breathtaking illusion of an underwater paradise, projected high into the night sky above the plaza.
"It's so beautiful…" Yuli whispered, entranced by the scene above.
"I've still got a long way to go. I'll train even harder from now on!"
May clenched her fists, her eyes full of determination.
As for Rex, he simply appreciated the level of mastery on display—Robert had clearly honed Milotic's abilities to a peak level of synchronization and precision.
Once Robert's performance ended, the giant bonfire beside the stage was lit, signaling the start of the night's dance.
"Let's go join in!" Koko suggested excitedly.
With unanimous agreement, the group rushed to the firelight, hands linked, smiles wide, dancing and spinning with the crowd.
In that moment, worries vanished and only joy remained.
"You all were fantastic dancers just now,"
Robert greeted them with a smile after they stepped away from the bonfire.
"Robert! Your performance was absolutely breathtaking!"
May exclaimed, her eyes sparkling.
"Thank you. Yours was excellent too."
Robert nodded graciously.
May introduced Rex and the others to him.
With his golden hair, elegant manners, and calm demeanor, Robert quickly made a strong impression—especially on the ladies.
Koko, in particular, was visibly inspired by Robert's performance and charm. As a lover of all things beautiful, his graceful Milotic routine had resonated deeply with her.
Robert spoke at length about his passion for the Coordinator path, offering insights into his daily training and his views on performance artistry.
It was clear: his grace, focus, and unwavering dedication were the foundation of his success. Even as a top-level Coordinator, he never stopped working hard, refining his skills day by day.
After spending a magical evening together, everyone returned to their respective paths.
May would head off to Johto to compete in the next Pokémon Contest. Max, on the other hand, returned to Petalburg City to resume his studies—until the day he was old enough to begin his own journey.
Koko, inspired by the evening, began experimenting with cultivating flowers more suitable for grand Contest stages, hoping one day her blossoms might shine under the spotlight.
The next morning, Rex and Yuli said their goodbyes and took to the skies on Swellow, returning to Rex Farm.
The Mauville City trip had not only lifted their spirits after Yui and Karen's departure, but also reignited the passion they'd had at the beginning of their farm journey.
Though there was much work to be done every day, they embraced it with joy.
And every few days, Yui would send stories of her and Karen's adventures, bringing laughter and a sense of connection back to Rex Farm.
(End of Chapter)