The crowd vibrated with vigor as an image of each contestant flashed onto the screen, with Iba's harrowed frown stabbing Iba right where it hurt. At the time the picture was taken, she was so distressed on what type of expression to make for the photo, that she ended up looking much angrier than anticipated. Just like looking at bad ID photos.

She didn't have much time to get acquainted with the Pokemon they assigned her. There was a brief meet and greet before they got up on the stage, but it was hardly enough time to get a basic idea on their fighting styles. The tournament staff basically handed her a couple of note cards with each Pokemon's basic info and waved her on with a quick 'break a leg'.

And now here she was, nails digging deep into her arms as her steely stare locked onto the opposing trainer. According to the name on the screen, this was 'Yuka'. Their teams appeared to be well-matched. Of course they would be, she reasoned. This was meant to be a tournament battle to test the trainer's abilities, not strictly the Pokemon's.

"Let's give them a show." She forced herself to smile through the piercing roar of the crowd and their never-ending stares. Public speaking was always awful, but by now, she knew how to suck it up and bare with it when she absolutely had to.

Besides, somewhere in the crowd, her wife of her life was cheering her on with a tiny Chingling wrapped around her arms. Her wife wasn't the only one tuning in though; some of Iba's step-children were joining Liv in the crowd today for the added support. One even held up a custom sign that said 'Grandma Goes Hard!' with a picture of Iba's face photoshopped over Dwayne the Rock Johnson. Whoever that was.

Her family was a hoot.

"I'm ready to see what you all got." With her first Pokeball readied in her hand, she lightly tossed it into the air. Mid-air, a whirling ball of fire spiraled towards the ground with a flashy Flame Wheel. Instead of smoothly catching the Pokeball like she wanted, the Chimchar's Pokeball instead skipped across the ground, flattening the Chimchar's dramatic entrance like a damp towel.

All Iba could do was smile the awkwardness off as she carefully bent over to pick it back up for safe keeping.

"Chimchar, you're looking great today." Her compliments did nothing to smear away the Chimchar's grumpy grumbles, but the crowd's excitement made up for it. Upon seeing the crowd, the Chimchar lit up and immediately began blowing kisses back to her adoring audience.



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The other Pokemon that flashed on Iba's screen:

@luna

hi!! you can make the first move idm