The ferry ride from Canalave City was smooth, but the moment the boat pulled into the harbor of Floaroma Town, the air changed completely. It wasn't just the smell of salt anymore; it was an overwhelming, intoxicating wave of floral fragrance.
Floaroma Town—often called the "Garden of Sinnoh"—looked like someone had accidentally dropped a giant bucket of colorful paint over a hillside. Every balcony, every rooftop, and every spare inch of soil was covered in flowers. Legend says this place was once a wasteland where nothing would grow, but after a sincere prayer of gratitude, the Mythical Pokémon Shaymin blessed the land, causing a permanent, miraculous bloom.
As a researcher, I knew Shaymin's power was real, but as a tourist, I was just stunned by the sheer beauty. I stepped off the boat in my blue tracksuit, feeling the soft breeze ruffle my hair.
"Okay, first things first," I muttered, checking my watch. "Registration."
I checked the time. There were only two days left until the Floaroma Contest began. If I wanted to get Sylveon on that stage, I needed to get our names on the list. I headed straight for the Pokémon Center, expecting a quick in-and-out.
I was wrong. Dead wrong.
The line for the Contest registration stretched out the door, wound around the fountain, and ended somewhere near the local bakery. I stared at the crowd of Coordinators, all holding brushes, glitter cans, and fancy Poké Ball seals.
"Are you kidding me?" I groaned. "Is the whole region here for one ribbon?"
Left with no choice, I joined the back of the queue.
The Great Registration Slog
Two and a half hours later, my legs felt like they were made of overcooked noodles. I finally reached the counter, signed the digital waiver, and received my entry number.
"When is the Alliance going to invent online registration?" I grumbled, tottering away from the desk toward a nearby park bench. "I've only done two of these, and I've spent more time standing in lines than actually performing. Why is there only ever one person working the counter? (╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻"
I sprawled out on the bench, ignoring the strange looks from passersby. After about ten minutes of acting like a human rug, I managed to stand up and began the hunt for a hotel.
It was harder than the registration. Because of the flower festival and the Contest, every "No Vacancy" sign in town was lit up like a Christmas tree. It was getting dark by the time I finally found a small, slightly dusty hotel on the very edge of the town woods that had one room left.
I climbed the stairs, fumbled with the key, and the second the door opened, I performed a perfect, Olympic-level faceplant onto the large, soft bed.
"Ugh... so tired. Why is being a Trainer 90% walking and 10% actually doing stuff?"
I lay there for a second, then remembered my companions. I reached for my belt and tossed the three balls into the air.
"Floe~! (Food! Is it food time?!)" Floette zipped out, already looking for her bowl.
"Fly-ah... (Finally, some space.)" Sylveon stretched her ribbons, looking around the room.
"Togi-pri! (Mommy, hug!)"
Togepi wobbled over and climbed onto the bed, patting my cheek. I scooped the little one up and gave him a gentle squeeze. "Just a second, guys. We're doing Pokéblocks tonight. It's too late to go berry shopping, but I promise we'll hit the market first thing tomorrow."
I rummaged through my bag and pulled out the custom tins I'd prepared.
Floette's blocks were infused with high-grade nectar—the sweet, flowery scent hit the air, and she practically did a backflip into her bowl. Sylveon's were a specific sweet-and-sour blend that she loved, and Togepi got the "baby formula" blocks—softer and easier to digest.
Sylveon didn't start eating immediately. She padded over to the edge of the bed and tapped my hand with a ribbon. "Fly? (Did you eat, Julian?)"
"I'm fine," I smiled, patting her head. "I grabbed some artisan bread from that bakery while I was searching for the hotel. You eat up. You've got a big training day tomorrow."
Sylveon nodded, satisfied, and began eating with her usual elegance. Togepi, meanwhile, was treating a single Pokéblock like a lollipop, licking it slowly while watching the flickering streetlights outside.
A Night of Quiet Support
Once the bowls were licked clean and the residue was wiped from Floette's messy face, I tucked them into the padded travel beds I'd set up on the floor.
"Rest well, everyone. Sylveon, tomorrow we start the routine for the Contest. I want to see those ribbons dancing!"
"Fly! (I'm ready!)"
"Floe~ (You can do it, sis!)"
"Togi-pri! (Go, big sister!)"
I climbed back into the big bed and was out like a light within minutes.
In the middle of the night, Sylveon opened one eye. She saw me shivering slightly as the night air turned chilly. Usually, she'd just hop up and use me as a heater, but seeing how exhausted I looked, she stayed quiet. She used her ribbons to gently hook the edge of my blanket and pull it up to my chin. Then, with a soft purr, she curled up at the foot of the bed and went back to sleep.
Morning in the Garden
Chirp. Chirp. Chirp.
The local Combee were already buzzing outside when I woke up. I stretched, my joints popping in a satisfying way. "That was a top-tier sleep."
I looked down. Sylveon had, at some point, moved from the foot of the bed to my side, her head resting against my hip.
"I caught you," I teased.
Sylveon's eyes flickered, and she looked away, pretending to be very interested in a piece of lint on the carpet. "Sylv... (I don't know what you're talking about.)"
"Right. Anyway, breakfast time!"
The word "breakfast" acted like a physical trigger for Floette. She went from snoring to hovering in 0.5 seconds. "Leafeon! (BRING ON THE SWEETS!)"
"I really need to look into your family tree, Floette," I muttered, pulling out the remaining supplies. "I'm convinced there's a Snorlax in there somewhere."
After a quick meal and a visit to the local market to restock on fresh Pecha and Bluk Berries, we headed to a secluded clearing just outside the town limits. The grass was vibrant green, and the air was still, perfect for practice.
"Alright, Sylveon," I said, my voice shifting into 'Coach Mode.' "We've seen Floette do the stage. Now it's your turn. In a Contest, it's not just about hitting hard; it's about the flow. I want to see you use your ribbons and your Fairy energy to create something the judges have never seen."
Sylveon stood in the center of the clearing, her ribbons unfurling like silk banners. Her blue eyes were focused, sharp, and full of a competitive fire I hadn't seen since the Gym battle.
"Let's show Floaroma Town what a real Fairy-type specialist looks like."