Chapter 2
After a boost from Buneary’s ears to help him reach the air, Piplup elegantly twirls into Drill Peck, aiming at the opposing Roserade. He can’t finish his attack when the coordinator on the other end of the battlefield calls for a Dazzling Gleam and Flash combination that not only blinds Piplup and Buneary, but makes Roserade and its partner Absol shine beautifully in the middle of the stage. Dawn wonders what to do when the timer that signals the end of the battle goes off.
“Time up!” Vivian announces immediately after the buzzing sound. Both coordinators turn their attention to the score, only for Dawn to see how close she was this time. Their point difference is so minimal... And yet…
“Congratulations to Drew! Hoenn’s newest Top Coordinator!”
...
“And here are the 12 challengers that will be battling on the second round of the renowned Wallace Cup!” Says Glorian, the hostess from Johto’s Contest circuit, before the screen changes from her to a list featuring the approved coordinators’ headshots.
Dawn watches unsurprised as the final picture pops on screen and hers is nowhere to be seen.
...
While the girls around her close their eyes and some raise their hands in a pray, Dawn keeps her gaze on the yellow gem of her Princess Key. It doesn’t shine nearly as much as the other girls’ keys, but she is somewhat thankful for it.
She wouldn’t want to make a fool of herself in front of this many people.
...
She regrets not doing Showcases properly.
The large screen of Jubilife TV streams Hoenn coordinators of her level and above challenging one another in the newest category of Contest Spetaculars.
With Showcases growing in popularity due to its close connection with the audience, Hoenn had since adopted Kalos style into their coordination circuit. And since then, Dawn had struggled to earn the needed 5 ribbons outside of Sinnoh.
Maybe it’s her own fault for not adapting.
Can she even be called a coordinator if she can’t do well in the most popular type of contest?
...
Again.
She lost again.
That’s the only thing in her mind as Marian announces Kenny as Sinnoh’s new Top Coordinator.
After waving towards the deafening audience, her childhood friend turns to her and offers a hand, but she doesn’t dare to let go of her dress or else she knows she will cry and ruin his moment. Instead she gives him her best fake smile and compliments him on the good battle.
...
She feels embarrassed for lying. Even more so for putting the blame on her pokemon and telling Kenny’s mother —the woman that felt like a second mother to her— that Piplup was sick when she asked Dawn to help with the surprise party that she was planning for when her son came back to Twinleaf.
The whole town was going to be part of it and she knows there will be talk about why she —his childhood friend, his crush, Johanna’s oh so talented daughter— didn’t go. But she couldn’t bear to have people pitying her for losing at the finals of another Grand Festival. She’d rather stay home, cry in her room without the need to pretend she is happy for losing.
...
When her mother comes back from the event, she finds Dawn curled on the couch watching nothing on the TV.
She talks about how she was missed in the party. How Kenny seemed the most hurt of all for not seeing her there. How acting like this is not getting her anywhere.
“Acting like a good sport didn’t get me anywhere neither.”
That’s her bitter reply. She is tired of putting up a cool front whenever she loses, she is tired of trying and trying and never succeeding.
“Dawn..” Johanna pats her daughter’s head before she falls crying in her lap.
Dawn complains mid tears. That she is happy for Kenny, but she thought that maybe this time she would make it. Complains how she always focused on doing good, on always looking at the bright side and never giving up and still… Still…
“Sorry for disappointing you.”
“You didn’t disappoint me, Dawn. You did the best you could.” Her mother strokes her messy hair, trying to cheer her up with honest but empty words.
Then why didn’t I win? Why is my best never enough?