a/n: Much thanks to StarlightSteel for all her beta-reading and support for the past four-ish years. This fic has endured Mary Sues, shiny Eevees, waking up late, mid-paragraph tense switches and horrible anime-style chapter titles among many other things, but you've stuck it out with me through it all. Mad props. :)
Flawless; Prologue
The stage... It was almost his home.
A multitude of the intense beams flashed from above, rotating and wandering until a single spotlight landed upon the boy. The anxious faces of the audience members were dimmed, and their murmuring was hushed by the exuberant voice of the announcer - these elements were as common to him as his own mother and father.
The boy planted his feet firmly on the floor beneath him, silently hoping no one had noticed his hand had quivered ever-so-slightly as he'd lifted it to adjust his glasses...
Breathe. He inhaled - clasped his hand around the Pokéball attached to his belt - and exhaled, gingerly fingering the center button of the red-and-white sphere.
"And now, it is my pleasure to introduce to you our final coordinator... Simon Sinclair, of Lilycove City!"
His jaw tightened a bit at the sound of his name - that was his cue. There was no turning back now - of course, he had never turned back before. His heart pounded steadily, slowing a bit with every deep breath he took. He would always become so nervous upon taking the stage... But he couldn't afford to slip up now. Not here. Not when he's done this so many times before...
And he could never let his closest friend down.
And she's the center of attention. He smiled, unhooking the sphere from its strap.
"Alright, Regina, let's go!"
He tossed the ball into the air - almost casually, attempting to hide his uneasiness. A faint pop could be heard from above as it clicked open, and a flash of light began to emerge from the shell. He coolly lifted his hand as the ball plummeted, catching it without a flinch or a fumble. He had this, he had this... He had to have this.
"Shuppa, shup!" His Pokémon, a levitating, cloth-covered orb with a horn protruding from her head, twirled daintily in midair before assuming a gentle hover before her trainer. Her luminous oval eyes emitted a soft glow as she stared at the audience. She had done this before - she was ready to dazzle them.
And so was he.
"Regina, Will-O-Wisp!"
The Shuppet's eyes glittered, and plethora of blue flames ignited above the tiny puppet Pokémon's horn, seeming to have appeared from thin air. More and more of the flaming orbs materialized, two dozen, three dozen... And then they scattered, a wild mess, the flames hurtling towards the fearful, astonished audience members -
"Now, Psychic!"
- until the Pokémon's eye's glowed again, and the burning orbs assembled in a uniform pattern above the stage. It was almost a game for the little creature - the flames spun and whirled, an enormous chandelier above the adoring crowd. The glorious display was sure to overtake them - it had to. Too many hours were spent working on this one combination...
A thunderous applause erupted from the enchanted public. They begged for more.
Just as he had planned.
