Chloe stood at the boat’s rail watching it pull into Sunnyshore. The city certainly lived up to its name, with bright clear skies and the sun beating down onto sandy beaches and clean city streets. It was sleek and modern, with solar panels covering most available surfaces.

  She bounced excitedly on her toes as the dock drew near. After so much time spent in the ice and cold, Chloe couldn't wait to feel the sand beneath her toes.

  “If you fall overboard, I’m not helping you,” Fiona remarked dryly from where she stood a few steps back.

  “I won't be falling, I’d be jumping,” Chloe replied, gazing down into the clear blue waters. She yearned to swim. As much as she had been enjoying seeing the sights of Sinnoh, the beach was where Chloe belonged.

  The last few days had been productive. Growly had improved remarkably fast when Chloe had applied the tips given to her by the captain. She couldn't quite pull off the same level of authority. She always immediately caved the moment her precious little dino baby started crying, but she managed to hold firm enough that he began to be able to spar. She might even have him ready for the tournament.

  Noodle, naturally, was already amazing. Fiona’s new dragon was determined, dedicated and obedient, if a little willful. Chloe could see Fiona warming to him a little more every day, her friend relishing the challenge of raising a dragon.

  The boat pulled up to the dock, ropes were thrown ,and a pair of Machoke hauled it in where it was secured.

  Chloe gave the captain a big hug before practically bounding down the stairs.

  “Fi, we’re here!” Chloe said, twirling in place and breathing in the sea air.

  “Easy Princess, we’ll be here for a few weeks. You’ll have plenty of time to enjoy it.”

  “Mmm, what's first? Hotel or Tournament?”

  “Hotel? You mean the Centre.”

  Chloe rolled her eyes in response.

  “Fi, we’re in Sunnyshore! I’m willing to bet you that the Centre is out of good rooms.”

  Fiona thought about that for a moment, before conceding the point.

  “Yeah, you’re probably right. It'll be packed with the Tournament as well.”

  Chloe nodded.

  “So, you're going to go book us into a resort.”

  “Oh, I am, am I?” Fiona challenged.

  “You are,” Chloe confirmed.

  “And what makes you so sure about that?”

  Chloe simply responded with her best Lillipup eyes.

  “That doesn't work on me,” Fiona told her.

  Chloe let her lower lip begin to wobble.

  An hour later, they were checked in to a seaside hotel with direct beach access.

  “Right!” Chloe declared when they deposited their bags in their shared room, “It's time for shopping!”

  “Shopping?” Fiona asked with the weary tone of someone entering an already lost argument.

  “Shopping. We need swimsuits,” Chloe confirmed.

  “Right, of course,” Fiona agreed immediately.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  Chloe smiled, pleased that her friend was learning. She completely failed to notice how red Fiona had gone, being too busy grabbing her phone and wallet out of her bag.

  “First we register,” Fiona replied, having composed herself.

  “Sure! Where do we do that?”

  “The Arena. It's usually used for contests, but they host the tournaments there too.”

  “Alrighty, let's go!”

  Sunnyshore was just as gorgeous on the streets as it was on the docks. Clean, wide streets lined with cafes, boutiques and little stalls selling hand crafted trinkets at truly outrageous tourist prices.

  The arena was located on hill overlooking the bay, a large modern structure surrounded by a number of smaller fields where a number of trainers could be seen practising with their Pokemon.

  “The early rounds will be out here,” Fiona explained as the girls made their way to the entrance.

  Chloe frowned, “How come?”

  “Because if the qualifiers were held in the arena, we would be here for months. There's only two main fields, one of which is in the Contest Hall.”

  “Oh, that makes sense,” Chloe replied, looking over at the smaller, ornate building that housed the contests.

  “I want to try contests at some point,” she said wistfully, “They look fun.”

  “I’m honestly surprised you're in the Challenge instead of the Circuit,” Fiona confessed, “Seems more like your scene.”

  Chloe shrugged, “Contests look fun, but I’m here because the girls wanted to battle.”

  “Well, there's nothing stopping you from doing both,” Fiona pointed out.

  “Other than time,” Chloe responded, “I want to make sure I get the badges first. Though, if we're going to be stopping so you can do tournaments…”

  “I’ll probably do a couple,” Fiona agreed, “Or you can do a Contest while we wait for Gym slots. They're going to get crowded later.”

  Chloe nodded, “That's a good idea, I’ll do that.”

  Then, with a wicked smile, she added, “I’ll have to find a doubles Contest for us to enter.”

  “Not happening,” Fiona replied immediately.

  “Too late, I decided. Besides, I’m doing this tournament for you, you can do a Contest.”

  “Fine, whatever. Let's get inside, it's too fucking hot out here.”

  They headed inside and up to the counter where they were greeted by a man.

  “Afternoon ladies, here for tournament registration?” he asked as they approached.

  “Yep!” Chloe replied, already digging out her trainer ID.

  “Doubles, please,” Fiona added, presenting her own ID.

  The man nodded, taking their IDs and scanning them, before turning to his computer.

  “Both Ace, both with two badges,” he mused out loud. He hit a few keys before turning back and returning their trainer cards.

  “You're registered. You’ll get an email confirming soon. It's likely you will be seeded, given Miss Abernathy’s ranking and your combined Ace status.”

  Chloe frowned.

  “Seeded? What does that mean?”

  “It means we will get an easier early draw, and maybe even skip a round depending on format,” Fiona told her.

  “That doesn't seem fair,” Chloe replied.

  “It actually is,” Fiona said. “It helps prevent situations where the best trainers face each other early. The top seeds shouldn't be encountering each other until the late rounds. It's also better for the spectacle.”

  “Oh, that makes sense. I guess I’m just not used to thinking about myself in terms of ‘the best’, you know?”

  Fiona snorted, “Fuck no, I don't know that. I’m the best and always have been.”

  “Except for when it comes to being humble,” Chloe countered.

  “Bitch, I’m the most humble.”

  “Mhm,” Chloe agreed. She spotted the guy behind the counter smirking at them and blushed.

  “Thanks,” she said quickly, “Is that everything?”

  “Yes, you’re ready to go. The draw will occur at a later date. Good luck,” he agreed.

  “Luck is for people who aren't fucking awesome,” Fiona replied as the girls turned to go.

  “Why do you do that?” Chloe asked as they emerged back into the sun.

  “Do what?”

  “Start acting so macho every time you talk to a stranger. He wasn't anyone you needed to impress, just a guy doing his job.”

  Fiona paused, stopping just outside the entrance.

  “Do I have to answer that?”

  Chloe shook her head.

  “No, just curious.”

  Fiona sighed.

  “It stops people from getting too close to me,” she said after a moment.

  Chloe hugged her.

  “Well, your big and scary act doesn't work on me,” she said.

  Fiona awkwardly pushed her away.

  “Please, not in front of the terrified masses.”

  Chloe laughed before releasing Fiona and stepping away.

  They headed away from the arena, moving back into the clean streets of Sunnyshore, making their way towards the shopping district. Then, Chloe had a thought.

  “I forgot to ask, what's the prize for this?”

  Fiona blinked, “You know, I didn't check. One sec.”

  She pulled out her phone and tapped away briefly.

  “First prize is our choice of evolution stone,” she said after a moment.

  Chloe froze.

  “Wait, really?”

  “Yeah?”

  Chloe spun, turning to point dramatically at Fiona.

  “We are winning. I need that stone.”

  Fiona rolled her eyes, “We were planning to win anyway, and it's not like it's that good of a prize.”

  “Maybe not in rich bitch world, but for us mortals stones are super expensive. My entire wardrobe costs less than a Shiny Stone.”

  “Right, yeah. Though, are you sure you want one?”

  Chloe frowned, “Why wouldn't I?”

  Fiona gave her a pointed look.

  “Maybe because your precious little Jigglypuff will be bigger than you?” she pointed out. “Your precious, battle obsessed and bratty Jigglypuff who you have to physically wrangle?”

  Chloe blanched.

  “I… hadn't considered that,” she admitted, before she bristled.

  “She listens! Eventually.”

  Fiona laughed.

  “How you got this far with your army of little shits is beyond me.”

  “Says the girl with a sassy unicorn that judges you with every look!” Chloe countered.

  “Touche,” Fiona admitted.

  Fiona stretched, “Well, let's win this thing then. I could use a stone myself.”