Even though she lost, Crystal didn’t feel bad. On the contrary, she’d given it her all and finally felt a sense of…closure about that chapter of her life. Of course a part of her was still itching to travel and maybe collect badges for another League.
But that was for future-her to decided. After the Conference, Crystal just wanted to return home with her family for a well deserved rest. She got into a groove of training in the morning and helping out around the restaurant in the evenings. She occasionally mused with what the next step of her journey might be, but didn’t make any hard and fast decisions.
In early May, Crystal received an invitation to a fancy party aboard the SS Anne along with the other Top 32 competitors. This was a normal tradition and Crystal didn’t even consider NOT going. When the day came she took a train to Vermillion City and attended the party dressed in her best.
She was excited to meet Diantha, who was not only a famous Kalosian Champion but a movie star and actress. She was someone Crystal had come to look up to and she was excited at the opportunity to talk to her about that.
The party was, in fact, very fancy with lots of stuffy rich people. But Crystal was used to this by now; she wore a beautiful dress, mingled like a pro, and was surprisingly comfortable here. During the party she happily spoke with a few of the other Top 32 members who made the party, including Mikki and another trainer named Mige Fjord, who’d made it to the Top 4. Crystal had actually been present in the audience for the battle where Mige’s Pidgeot seemed to evolve, and was awestruck along with everyone else on the planet who witnessed it.
Crystal and Mige spoke and they really hit it off. They shared a dance on the main dance floor, and later in the night spoke over drinks. Crystal asked Mige what his plans were for the summer and he wasn’t really able to answer the question. She told him about her own plans to go to Kalos—her conversation with Diantha had gone well, and Crystal had a shoot scheduled in Kalos for July. Mige asked if she planned on collecting badges and while she played coy about it, Crystal had made up her mind and had every intention of doing just that. She encouraged Mige to do the same, even suggesting that they could meet up at some point while they were in Kalos. Mige said he’d think about it.
She didn’t expect him come back that night, but he sougth herout and asked her about Kalos. It turned out that not long after they spoke he received an offer for work with Professor Sycamore. Crystal was happy to hear that he’d be headed over and they exchanged numbers in case they wanted to meet up.
