After the battle ended, because many Coordinators asked her where this outfit was custom-made, she immediately sent this good news to Emily.
But unexpectedly, Emily on the other end of the phone didn't seem very happy.
After repeated questioning, Emily instead asked about her travel life these past days.
Learning that roughly half the time was spent camping outdoors, Emily on the other end couldn't help but frown tightly.
"What's wrong?" Abigail couldn't help asking.
Emily on the other side looked from afar at Haley, who was still sitting in her chair, staring unblinkingly at the television. After a while, she turned her head and said: "Nothing—oh right, about the dress customization, if it's convenient, have them contact Ron, okay? He'll relay it to me."
"Oh, sure, no problem." Abigail hung up the phone, pondering for a long while before realizing that Emily's behavior at this moment was exactly the same as Caroline's back then.
Perhaps Haley was also preparing to come.
Of course, if Haley really wanted to participate in Pokémon Contests later, she would completely welcome it.
As for Abigail herself, she had discovered that she really had no talent for Pokémon Contests. In other words, if it weren't for Gengar's overwhelming strength, she might have been eliminated just now.
Whether it was her or Amber, they both really found it difficult to make their moves look gorgeous during battles.
Thinking that she might face Serena later, Abigail silently removed the rings from Gengar's claws.
"Ah, it's almost my turn." Serena stood up, greeted Abigail, and jogged toward backstage.
Meanwhile, in Pelican Town.
Emily sat in her chair with a worried expression. She turned to examine the longing on Haley's face, opened her mouth, and after a while asked: "If, say, your future journey in Kalos—ah, I'm not trying to discourage you, I'm serious."
"What?" Haley was startled, struggling to tear her attention away from the television, then turned to look at Emily: "What did you say?"
"I want to have a serious talk with you." Emily lowered her voice.
At this moment, the television still had the host's commentary, so the two's voices didn't attract everyone's attention.
"If the price of participating in this kind of competition is needing to live outdoors half the time, can you take care of yourself?" Emily paused, then added: "I don't mean to underestimate your self-sufficiency abilities. I just think that even I might not be able to endure it."
Haley hadn't recovered her senses yet. She thought with difficulty for a moment before understanding Emily's meaning: "—You mean—you agree to let me go to Kalos?"
"If this is your wish," Emily said.
Haley hesitated.
It wasn't about living outdoors—she had already overcome most of that during her previous foraging trips with Leah.
She just felt that if she went, Emily might be very lonely.
Realizing Haley's hesitation, Emily suddenly smiled: "Of course, if you're going, you must wear clothes I designed for every single Contest—I guarantee none of them will be the same!"
"Really?" Haley looked at Emily with a face full of surprise.
"Of course."
Haley immediately hugged Emily tightly.
"But you have to work hard too," Emily whispered in Haley's ear. "No matter what difficulties you encounter, calling for your sister won't help then. You have to overcome them yourself. Don't make me worry, okay?"
Haley agreed muffledly.
By the time Haley had composed herself, it was already Serena's turn to appear.
Compared to Abigail's overwhelming power, Serena deliberately chose Pokémon with levels similar to her opponent and with appropriate types.
She enjoyed Contest Battles and treated them as another performance, so there was no reason to exit early.
"Ah, this is the girl traveling with Abigail, right?"
Hearing Caroline say this, Haley raised her head to look.
A gorgeously dressed, confident and dignified girl stood at one corner of the battle field.
Then, she threw out her Pokémon.
"I choose you, Sylveon!"
Saying this, a pink Pokémon she had never seen before jumped out from the Poké Ball.
The beautiful pink bow and its ribbon-like feelers that moved with the wind—just upon appearing, it captured many hearts.
"To think there could be such a beautiful Pokémon."
The opponent fielded an Azumarill.
"Sylveon, use Swift!"
"Sylveon gorgeously used Swift, scattering countless stars! Azumarill is surrounded by Swift! Swift gorgeously hit Azumarill!"
As the commentary ended, the opponent was deducted five points.
"Azumarill! Use Aqua Ring!"
"Water gathers beside Azumarill—ah, Sylveon's Swift was enveloped by Aqua Ring! Azumarill gorgeously broke through!"
Serena was immediately deducted ten points.
The battle became intense for a moment. Even though no one really knew Serena, everyone was still sweating for this beautiful girl.
Haley watched unblinkingly as Sylveon leaped around the field following Serena's commands, releasing moves. She then looked down at the Sunkern in her arms.
"Sun?"
"You want to go too?" Haley lowered her voice.
"Sun!"
She curved her eyes into a smile at Sunkern: "Then we need to evolve quickly. Let's go find a Sun Stone together then."
"Sunkern!"
Emily listened from the side, feeling somewhat reluctant on one hand, yet happy for Haley on the other that she had found something she wanted to do.
She then said with a joking tone: "Then next year's Queen of the Flower Dance will have to change hands."
"Then it's yours for the taking," Haley smiled and said. "I permit you to take my laurel crown."
Emily also liked dancing, but only as a respite for leisure. Her only dream was to become an amazing tailor.
Now, if she could also help her younger sister shine on stage, that seemed pretty good too.
Thinking this, she turned back to the television.
"Final strike! Sylveon, use Moonblast!"
Light burst forth from Sylveon's body, instantly colliding with the water stream Azumarill released. Under the collision of Moonblast, the water stream instantly transformed into mist filling the sky, refracting Moonblast's light outward. For a moment, the entire venue was enveloped in dazzling light.
Along with the water mist, Sylveon slowly landed on the ground, and together with Serena behind her, bowed to the audience in a spectacular curtain call.
------------------------------------------------------
40+ Chapters Ahead: patreon.com/EphemeralShadow
There's something for free patrons too! Free Patrons receive 1 chapter in advance :)