That night I dreamt about being on the stage with the few performers that made it to the Freestyle Performance round. My heart was pounding so hard in my chest, but instead of being as nervous as I was the last few times, I actually felt....warm. 

  As I watched the first glowing orbs make their way from the audience to my Glow Key, it felt like my entire body washed over with warmth. Then, completely relaxed, I watched even more green orbs fill up my key, until I couldn't even count them!

  Then I caught a glimpse at the Keyholes, and Bijou and Chloe were close on second place. Then my heart flooded with joy to see that I beat both of them, taking first place with the most votes. I clutch my Key Ring. Winning my second Princess Key.

  Just one more to go.... Then a random thought floated past me in my weird, dreamlike state. The kind where it's as if one is simply floating throughout the galaxy, and all they can see is themselves comfortably curled up. I wonder... Is the joy I get from the crowd greater than the joy I feel when I'm with my friends?

  I wake up to find my Key Ring on the floor next to my bed. I rub my face as I bend over to pick it up. "Clara?" Usually if I slept in, Clara would be standing over me, already up and ready to go. That's how it was whenever I just participated in a Showcase.

  But she wasn't here. Her bag, Clara herself, gone! Barely brushing my hair I hurry out the door while putting my hair into rushed pigtails. "It can't be! Not yet!" At that moment warmth flooded my body again, but the hot panicked kind that also felt like I just jumped into a frosty cold lake. To put it simply, it was conflicting.

  "Did you see a girl with a Frogadier and a Ponytail?" I don't even introduce myself when I reach the receptionist's desk.

  She stares at me for a moment, then looks me up and down. "I... assume you're Millie?"

  "Yes!" Clara and Clyde couldn't have left without saying goodbye! We're friends!

  "She and her brother told me to tell you that they went to the Anistar Gym."

  "Thanks so much!" I practically drop to my knees with a bow, feeling instant relief that cools my mind with composure.

  I go back to my room after that, properly preparing. Once I slip on my white thigh-high socks and put on my shoes, I tie on my light blue lucky ribbon on my chest. After giving my hair a proper brush, I grab my bag, deciding that it's finally time!

  I spent nearly all night going over the questions I'm going to ask! I hope Olympia is nice... 

  It's slightly chilly outside today, so I assume that it's some time before noon. I rub my eyes as the sunshine reflects off the great Anistar Sundial into my eyes. "It's so bright." But Anistar City is really beautiful. The scenery that the Sundial gives is-

  "I have to hurry!" I shake my head. There's no time to marvel at anything right now! I hurry in the direction of the Anistar Gym.

  It's a large sphere-shaped building with strange golden rings circling it. What's even stranger is the actual inside, which is pretty much nothing. There's a small entrance it seems in front of me, but the rest of the room looks entirely plain.

  "Challenger?" A man asks me just as I turn to leave.

  "Um... Sort of."

  He doesn't seem very patient, though. I doubt he'll just let me waltz in if I don't give him a response. "Well, which is it?"

  I clear my throat."I need to speak to Olympia. I'm also here for the challengers."

  "Go in, then." He nods to the small, dark entrance, his hands deep in his pockets as he leans on one of the two Poke Ball statues.

  "Um, okay." I hesitantly go in, and the sight of the Gym amazes me. It went from plain to absolutely marvelous in just a couple seconds!

  The Gym battlefield is some kind of celestial ground, neon blue. The ceiling is almost nonexistent, the sky a dark twilight color, stars and what looks to be several planets visible. "Did I go back in time?"

  In front of me is Clara and Clyde, their backs turned to me as they're completely focused on the battle. Far behind them and their Pokemon I see two Meowstic, one looking just like mine and the other mostly blue with light blue eyes and green pupils.

  Behind the Meowstic is a tan woman with odd purple hair, dressed in a black suit and a cape that hides her entire body when her arms are down. The battle seems to have been going on for a while, and I can't really tell who's winning, but I shrink back and keep quiet. I don't want to distract anyone.

  "Quilladin, Pin Missile!" Quilladin rolls forward, bracing its arms as it sends out six sharp thorns.

  "Frogadier, Bounce!" Frogadier dashes across the sky, targeting the female Meowstic. It manages to grab her, turning her towards Clyde's attack. A super effective hit!

  But before things go any further, something in the air opens, some sort of dimensional portals. The portals release iridescent spheres that hit both Frogadier and Quilladin.

  "Dang it!" Could they be losing? Clyde and Clara seem to be giving it their all, and I don't recall ever seeing them lose when they're doing their best. I want to cheer them on, but what if that makes them lose their focus?

  "Helping Hand and Future Sight!"

  The male Meowstic closes its eyes, holding into the female's paw, and a bright golden light passes from one to the other. The female Meowstic's ears lift, revealing red symbols that I've seen on my own Meowstic. In the air in the exact same spot it was before, the dimensional portals open and the spheres go inside them, and everything closes back up, no trace of the move in the air.

  "We have to defeat them before that move hits!" So Future Sight was what I saw.... It hits after a few turns? Can they win in that amount of time?

  "Psyshock!" Both Meowstic act as one, summoning a huge glowing pink beam that rushes forward towards Frogadier amd Quilladin. The two Pokemon are swift and dodge to the best of their ability, but the Psyschocks are then controlled by psychic power to chase them. 

  Frogadier jumps and twists around, fighting back the attack with Hydro Pump on Clara's command. Quilladin, still on the ground, is ordered to spin while holding its arms up while using Needle Arm, which works, stopping Psyshock from landing.

   "Water Pulse!" Frogadier launches an attack from mid air, but Olympus orders her Pokemon to use Light Screen, deflecting the special attack.

  "Grr!" Suddenly the portals reopen, and the spheres come crashing down on Frogadier and Quilladin.

  "Whoa!" The move hitting causes tons of smoke to erupt, and I use my collar to cover my face. When I pull it away the battle's results come into view.

  "Quilladin and Frogadier are unable to batlle!" The referee gleefully announces. "The winner is Olympia!"

  "Man..." Clyde sighs in disappointment.

  "Dang it!" Clara kicks at the floor beneath her, all while I stare at the two Meowstic in awe. I've never seen my friends lose before! They must be extremely powerful!

  "Ah, yes, the girl who brings out the potential of her two Pokemon."

  "Hm!?" I catch Olympia looking at me, and I nearly fall over. Clara and Clyde turn around, surprise overtaking the looks of defeat they had before.

  I suppose there's no use in hiding now. "Me?" I ask, even though it's obvious she's talking to me.

  Olympia calmly nods."I foresaw your arrival to my Gym."Her gaze is strangely enticing, like being hypnotized."The girl with a Petilil of great endurance, and a Meowstic with unending spirit."

 "Me?" I repeat, not sure if I understand what she's talking about. Potential? Endurance and spirit? But doesn't everyone's Pokemon have that?

  Olympia begins slowly walking closer, across the mysterious battlefield."Every Trainer has the ability to bring out their Pokemon's potential, as do you. "

  "Potential? Are you sure I do that for MY Pokemon?"

  Olympia nods once more."Yes, in a very unique way, like all Pokemon Trainers."

  That's sort of contradicting... Does she mean that all Trainers have a unique way of bringing out their Pokemon's potential?

  "You seek answers." But she's so spot on! She knew I'd be coming here! Is she a Psychic-Type Pokemon or something?

  I can't lie. "Yes."

  She gets closer, then stops, turning back towards her side of the battlefield. "Then you shall face me in a battle to get the answers you seek."

  "What!?" All three of us exclaim in shock, and Olympia nods.

  "But there's no way!" Something about Clara's surprise, which is the same as my own, stings. I know it's impossible to win against Olympia, but some sweet nothings of encouragement wouldn't have hurt.

  "You doubt yourself. Come, you have nothing to fear."

  Nothing except losing and looking foolish. Clara sighs, a hint of exasperation in her voice. I must be getting in the way of her rematch. I hold my two Poke Balls, embarrassed. Why did I even come here?

  "No need to worry," Olympia says reassuringly. Then she smiles in a slightly creepy way as my name comes out of her mouth. "Millie."

                    Chapter 16..... End! :O