Chapter 10 – Time to Shine

"This is it – our time to shine." Wallace said dramatically, the trademark smirk playing on his lips. He and Althea were standing backstage, waiting for the cue to begin their proper show-off, co-op routine. Althea smirked back.

"At least it's Rosemary's and Milotic's time to shine." She agreed, casting a glance at herself in the mirror once more to see to it that every last strand of hair lay exactly where it needed to, and that her kimono was spot on and correctly fastened.

"A Pokémon's time is its trainer's time and vice versa." Wallace said, doing the same thing Althea was doing, and perfected the angle of his pearl-white beret. He then turned his gaze to her. "Do I need to tell you?"

"Thank you most graciously for the compliment, and now let me return it." Althea smiled, curtseying. Wallace chuckled and bowed elegantly.

"Thank you, indeed. You do look stunning though, rosebud."

"So do you, dewdrop."

The tailors had worked really hard on the host's outfits for the finals, seeing to it that they would really shine and remind everyone, competitor and spectator alike, what they should be looking forward to when the four finalists were going up against each other. They had really taken their nicknames into consideration when they planned their outfits and looks together with the hairdressers and make-up artists, as well as Rosemary and Milotic, and the results were mind-bogglingly amazing.

Wallace, The Morning Dew, was dressed in an eye-watering, pearly white beret and cape. The inside of the cape was colored turquoise to match his hair, and had a water-droplet pattern. The suit he wore was also an eye-watering pearl-white, but the collar and the belt was turquoise, as were his shoes. On his right arm he wore a silver bracelet, reaching from his wrist to his elbow, elegant and decorative, with small sapphires and aquamarines creating water-droplets here and there.

The Radiant Rose, Althea, had her lush, green hair loose and wore a tiara of deep red roses. Her kimono was pearl-white (to match Wallace and Rosemary's cape), with a green leaf pattern along the seams and red roses around them. Instead of a ribbon on her back, she had a giant, red rose. She wore earrings in silver with a ruby rose each, and her uchiva (hand fan) was, of course, shaped like a red rose, with green leaves that matched her hair and the pattern on her kimono.

The noise from the crowd inside told them it was soon time to start. Althea cast a glance over to the judges, sitting by their table, watching the monitor, waiting. They were all dressed to perfection, and Lisia was most certainly glowing in her blue and white, light kimono. Althea smiled. Ali the Altaria had certainly inspired the tailors in their choice there. Suddenly, she heard a voice in her ear:

"Hosts: Althea, Wallace, one minute to your routine."

"Copy." Both of them mumbled in their well-hidden staff microphones. Althea signaled to Rosemary to be ready any minute, and Wallace did the same to Milotic on the other side of the stage. Rosemary nodded and disappeared under the stage, taking her position. Milotic blinked and flew upwards, above the stage, well hidden. They were ready.

"Let's give them our best and more." Wallace said, kissing his co-hostess on the cheek. Althea smiled.

"We will, literarily, blossom." She murmured, winking at him. Wallace chuckled, but she was right. They would.

"Twenty seconds, hosts."

"Copy."

Althea reached for Wallace's hand and gave it a light squeezed. He returned the squeeze, flashing her a smile. This was exhilarating.

"Ten, nine, eight…" The voice began counting down. Althea breathed in and out, slowly, before parting with Wallace and placing herself on the right side of the stage, while he went left.

"…five, four, three…"

Althea lift her hand, making eye-contact with Rosemary, who was hiding under a patch of grass in surrounding the pond they had made for the routine. No one else could see the Pokémon, all was carefully planned. In the corner of her eye, she could see Wallace lift his hand as well, making eye-contact with Milotic.

"…one. Action!"

Althea flicked her hand. Rosemary created a breeze and sent petals and leaves flying over the pond. Milotic cast a hazy mist down from above, freezing the leaves and the petals, still dancing in the breeze. They landed smoothly on the now frosty water. Rosemary cast Sunny Day, starting to melt the ice, and made her presence known by rising up on vines, twirling, dancing. She moved around the lake, creating a huge rose from the petals and leaves that now twirled up from the surface of the pond. Finally, she took a leap from the rose upwards as it suddenly froze again and shattered into several, smaller ice-flowers. Milotic lowered herself from the ceiling, and the ice flowers hooked onto the Aqua Rings around her. She landed elegantly on the lake and started to swim, creating the most beautiful patterns of ice and water in a stunning choreography. Rosemary landed on the stairs of vines she had created earlier and joined Milotic in the routine. Together, the two Pokémon combined their powers to make the already awestruck audience stare, mouth open, as water and grass came together in something truly… spectacular. Fit for the finals of the Contest Spectacular.

Finally, Milotic landed on the lake, and as Rosemary lowered herself through the air on a giant rose, she did Dazzling Gleam, and for a second, everything turned white and shiny, making it impossible to see for a brief moment of time. That second over, Rosemary had landed on her rose on the pond beside Milotic, and their coordinators had appeared on the pedestal of vines and roses the grass-type had created.

The ear-shattering noise from the audience made it clear that today the stakes were high. This was what they were expecting, something worthy of the finals of the 50th annual Contest Spectacular. Wallace and Althea smiled and waved, as their Pokémon took their bows with grace. Althea lifted her microphone, time to get started.

"Welcome!" The cheers were never-ending, but they had to break through. "Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the Grand Final of the 50th annual Contest Spectacular!" More cheers. Oh, sweet Arceus the noise… Althea felt the adrenaline pumping in her body. She was on a thrilling ride, indeed.

"A round of applause for Rosemary and Milotic!" Wallace announced, letting the audience let off some steam. Milotic and Rosemary took another bow, as professionally as ever. "And now, ladies and gentlemen, another round of applause for our honorable judges. You know them!"

The curtains opened and revealed the three judges, standing by their table, waving and smiling.

"All the way from Hearthome city in Sinnoh, Miss Casey!" Althea announced, continuing. "Hailing from Lilycove City itself, Mr. Chaz! And of course, originating from Sootopolis City, Miss Lisia!" The audience was on fire. They had waited weeks, months even, for this moment, and it was finally here. The hosts couldn't have them wait any longer. They were still on schedule. Perfect.

"And without further ado, let's meet our four finalists and their prized Pokémon!" Wallace said, as the vines stretched them over the pond to the contestant stage. He offered Althea his hand as they walked from the platform to the stage. "My darling Althea, would you do the honors?"

"Of course, dearest Wallace." Althea smiled back at him. They hadn't really been able to contain themselves even on camera, but still hadn't let anything slip. People hopefully just thought they were playing out the manuscript. "From Lavaridge Town in Hoenn, Olivia and Ginnie!" Olivia and Vulpix entered the stage through a flame wheel, as the coordinator smiled her broadest smile and waved excitedly.

"From Undella Town in Unova, Hayden and Lily!" Wallace announced. Through a veil of flower petals a handsome young man walked in, waving and smiling, together with a stunning Lilligant.

"From Snowbelle City in Kalos, Nicholas and Orion!" Althea said, greeting the contestant riding in on his Aurorus through a veil of diamond dust-like snow and ice.

"An last but certainly not least, from Littleroot Town, Hoenn's very own Pokémon League Champion and her companion, May and Phoenix!" The cheers from the crowd now reached an absolutely mind-boggling level as May and her Blaziken did a coordinated karate kick, their feet blazing with flames. They did their standard pose, as May waved and smiled to audience before they took their place next to Nicholas and Orion.

Wallace and Althea proceeded to interview the contestants, asking for strategies and personal goals as they were supposed to. It was clear that all four finalists had their own fan-bases, and it was also clear that many of May's fans that normally weren't interested in contests had joined in to cheer for their idol on this special day. Finally, the finalists returned backstage, and it was truly time to get the show started. Althea glanced at the clock. Still on schedule. Good.

"I think there is only one thing left for us to do now, don't you think, Morning Dew?" Althea said, sending Wallace a meaning look.

"Indeed you are correct, Radiant Rose." He said, offering her his hand, which she accepted gracefully.

"Let the Grand Final…" Althea said.

"…of the 50th annual Contest Spectacular…" Wallace continued.

"…begin!" Both of them finished.

While the crowd cheered, the hosts headed backstage, immediately surrounded by hairdressers, make up-artists and tailors, checking that their creations still looked absolutely perfect.

"I'll head to the green room." Wallace said, making sure he remembered correctly.

"Yes, I'll have to be back on stage in twenty seconds when the theme song is finished." Althea confirmed. Wallace took her hand and gave it a squeeze.

"See you later." He said as Althea took her place behind the curtain, waiting for the director to call "action!" She smiled and nodded to him, focusing on the task at hand. No screw-ups during the final. They had been doing brilliantly so far, and she would have to properly thank Rosemary and Milotic later on. Right now, there was no time for that.

This was going to be a very long, but exhilarating, day.

~Break before the final battle~

"So, our Champion against the Snow Crystal from Kalos. What do you think, rosebud? Exciting battle ahead?" Wallace said, as he accompanied Althea backstage. They would both now be on the arena for the final battle, no more green room interviewing. Althea pondered for a moment.

"Tricky. Blaziken has the definite type advantage, granted, but we also know by now that Aurorus actually knows moves like Earth Power, Zen Headbutt and Aqua Tail, which Blaziken are weak against. They are both strong coordinators and trainers, and pretty close in score from earlier today, May leading by only a point. It could go either way."

"My thoughts exactly." Wallace agreed. "It'll be an interesting face-off, this last battle."

"Hosts, enter the stage in one minute."

"Copy."

"Rosemary, you ready?" Althea asked her Pokémon, who twirled around and nodded. Althea smiled. Always claiming the spotlight.

"Milotic?" Wallace asked his companion, who nodded and blinked to show she had understood. Humble and composed, like her trainer.

"Hosts, twenty seconds."

"Copy."

"I can't wait till tonight." Wallace murmured.

"For what? For everything to be over? For the party?"

"You know what I'm waiting for, rosebud, and I know you're too." He winked at her. Althea's heart skipped a beat. Sure they would get to spend more time together in the evening, but was there something he was planning? What was that?

"Ten, nine, eight…" Althea mentally slapped herself. Focus!

"Right, let's go." She said. They went to stand in the dead center of the curtain, Rosemary by Althea's side and Milotic beside Wallace.

"…three, two, one. Action!"

The curtains were drawn and Rosemary and Milotic quickly cast their now trademark mist, petals and leaves combination in front of their trainers and themselves, so as not to reveal them all just yet. Milotic and Rosemary took the stage, and Rosemary created an arch in the mist made of flowering roses. Milotic filled the arch with water, revealing the image of their trainers behind the water arch. Wallace offered Althea his hand once again and their walked on stage through the arch, through the water, without getting wet.

Waving to the audience, the hosts cast a glance at each other, briefly. One battle left, then the prizes… and then Mr. Rouge would officially call the Contest Spectacular over for this year. Wallace smiled and bowed to the audience, but his mind was now on the woman beside him. The Radiant Rose. His Radiant Rose. And tonight, he would announce them as an official couple. That was the only way to go, and deep down he knew Althea was aware of this too.