Well here it is, the fortieth part of the fourth installment in my 'Heart' series released on the right day as promised. This is the second of the trio of Coumarine event Parts for our heroes and y'all know what it is going to be so I don't have much to say here on this coming Part and for once no administrative stuff or side projects to announce at this point. I will say though that this is my first attempt at a Showcase so it may not be great and thus I apologize for that, they aren't as easy as the other events to write so it may take a Showcase or two for me to be up to my usual standard though I am a harsh critic of my own work at times. There are no guest reviews that need responding to this week but there is one question to answer that brought up something I've not really done so I will answer it and explain why.
Will Ash use Counter Shield? As of right now I don't know if he will or won't as I kinda forgot it but as I haven't drafted any of the coming battles yet it is possible if it fits with the moves and timing. Part of why I forgot about it was that as far as I can remember, the only time it actually comes up after the Sinnoh Conference is in Dawn's return arc in BW where she uses it against Cilan in their battle and Ash comments on it but that is it as far as I can recall. I have used it at least once in the 6th Supplement to Dreams but I really haven't seen much need for it as it was usually used to block a sleep inducing attack and they haven't really faced that yet. That's basically it with why I haven't used it.
Anyway, that is all for this pre Part note which means that it is time to sit back and enjoy the latest installment in Winning Takes Heart. Part CXIX: Performance Anxiety.
Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon.
Part CXIX: Performance Anxiety
"Welcome to ze Coumarine Showcase." Monsieur Pierre said to the gathered crowd as they cheered to opening of the Showcase. "Today we 'ave 15 lovely ladies competing for zis, ze Coumarine Princess Key."
With a jab of his cane to the air the crowd looked up to the jingling sound as Pierre's Klefki flew gracefully down from above, a light on him at all times before he came to a hover just above and in front of his trainer. Hanging from the bottom of his loop was an ornate, gold key with a large heart shaped loop at the top that was filled with a brilliant green gem. Once the crowd had seen it Klefki fell down and onto the cane where he usually resided when not active.
"Now for ze format." Pierre said as the light behind him turned on to show three gazebo things that were closed and on the stage behind him. "Behind me are ze stations for ze theme round. Inside is everyzing a performer would need to dress up zeir Pokémon as we would see in ze freestyle performance. Each performer will get 10 minutes to style one of zere Pokémon using ze materials provided. Afterwards, all 3 will walk down ze runway and show off zeir work. Ze audience will zen vote and ze winner advances to ze freestyle round."
Ash Pierre was speaking green floor lights lit up to show the runway in question as it extended before him and into the audience a bit. Ash, May and Serena were in the crowd watching this from the circle level above it. Although Ash didn't know, this was just like last years one that had ended in disaster for Serena but had given her the kick she needed to improve herself.
"So, wizout furzer ado, we shall commence with ze first zree performers." Pierre said enthusiastically. "Presenting…"
The first three performers appeared on stage from under stage platforms in front of their respective stations with the color lighting around them being the same as the special jeweled key they wore before they went into their gazebo thing with their chosen Pokémon for the round. Ash and the others weren't focused on this as Dawn was not in this group, but they still watch it intently as it would be a baseline for what to expect from the theme round.
It had been a few days since Ash's battle with Ramos that had ended in his comfortable victory at the Coumarine gym that had earned him his 5th Kalos badge. Since then, they'd been helping Dawn and Serena prepare for their respective competitions as best they could. Meanwhile the city began its festival as performers, coordinators, and in some cases both came in for the events, along with many other trainers and fans looking to enjoy the festivities.
This complicated things at the Pokémon Center, so they'd gone to the cliffs to train with the place bursting to capacity. It had been better for them as it helped Dawn and Serena keep their tricks to themselves for when they needed to show them off in their respective competitions.
However, that was all over now, now it was time for the Coumarine Showcase and Dawn's debut as a performer in Kalos. Dawn had arrived early so that she could register for the year and get her card to compete in any future Kalos Showcase she desired to compete in.
Her arrival had caused a minor stir when she did as it was the first time that a Top Coordinator showed up and registered to be a performer, along with some angry glares from performers present at the time but Dawn ignored them. Yes she was a Top Coordinator, but she'd never done this before, she was a rookie like most of the other girls present so she was just as new to this as they were.
Of course, she hadn't expected to hear that the theme round would be the very same thing as they year before, that had seemed strange to her, but she could ask Serena about it later. Still, she had to suppress a grin when Pierre had announced it as the theme. Poke styling was something she was not only good at but had done professionally briefly because she was considered that talented at it. Naturally she'd use Piplup for this, she had plenty of experience styling him and his gargantuan ego actually helped as he knew what he looked best in.
All she had to do was wait for her turn and then she could shine. A stage assistant had told her that she was in the 4th group of 5 with two other performers she naturally didn't know but they were all keeping to themselves as they prepared with their chosen Pokémon.
That did allow Dawn to get a sense of her competition for this round. She was up against a Combee and a Vanillite, so she just had to outdo them with Piplup, a Pokémon not as common to Kalos as the other two so already a potential advantage for her. Dawn was certain she could advance as she and Piplup went over the finer details in a corner.
The wait was nerve wracking and somehow worse than it was for an appeal. Maybe because it was the set time limit, the known competition in the round who you had to beat to advance, or the audience vote but Dawn was definitely more nervous than she had been before her first ever appeal. Still, she couldn't help but smile at Piplup as they prepared. This was the feeling that she knew that she had been missing and soon it would be her time to shine again.
"Group 4, places." The assistant said poking her head into the waiting room.
Dawn and the other two walked out and followed the woman to the spots that would take them up to the stage above them. Dawn carried Piplup to it but placed him next to her as she took her spot on the right-hand platform and smoothed out her dress so that she looked her best.
That had been one of the most comforting things for her in her preparation for her first Showcase. Dressing up and doing her hair with Serena's help had really soothed her and gotten her in the zone for the coming competition. It just felt right to be all dressed up and looking beautiful for this and Dawn knew why, it was what she was most at home in.
That was just how it went for Sinnoh coordinators, they had grown up with the pageantry of their region's Contests and most loved the fancy dress aspect of Sinnoh Contests, Dawn included. That was why, despite two years on the Johto and Kanto circuits were you didn't dress up except for the Johto Grand Festival, she never truly felt comfortable competing in her street clothes. However, put her in a dress, some correctly applied makeup and her hair done properly, and Dawn was in her element.
One thing she hadn't expected though was the massive wave of nostalgia she got from it. There was the confidence of it sure, but it also felt like home to her and for the first time in a long time she properly thought of Sinnoh and Twinleaf Town. She almost cried at that moment as it had been almost 2 years since she'd left for Unova after her stylist contract had ended.
That meant that it had been two years since she'd been home and so much had happened in that time. She's seen Ash in Unova, realized the depth of her feelings for him, ended up being that one lucky girl in currently 8 that she knew of including herself to land him, and subsequently stayed with him.
Next thing she knew she was in Kanto and competing there, along with a brief side trip to Hoenn, on her way to finally becoming a Top Coordinator. Now she was on the other side of the world in the Kalos region about to compete in her first ever Showcase. She hadn't been home in that time, but she knew that it would still be there, waiting for her when she finally did make it back to Sinnoh. She still had a lot more growing to do and Dawn knew it.
That growing started today as the platform began to rise and Dawn smiled knowing that she looked great. She was wearing a blue ankle length dress that was the same shade as her hair with slight ruffles on the dress part in the current preferred Kalos style that were done in white, a white belt, puffy sleeves and white gloves that came to just below her elbows and hid the scar on her left arm. She complemented it with low heeled blue shoes and her Pikachu clip holding her bangs against the back of her hair and the remaining in a strand beneath it.
She finished making sure that she looked good as the platform reached the top and she stood on the stage with the others. The Showcase Hall was larger than a standard Contest Hall and dark with cameras flashing at them. Still standing there on that stage, Dawn knew that this was what she'd been missing all year and that it was time to win again.
"Our next 3 performers will now 'ave 10 minutes to show us what zey can do." Pierre said with his usual enthusiasm as the doors to the gazebo things opened for them. "Take your Pokémon and make zem fantastique."
Dawn just let Piplup leap into her arms, turned and walked into the gazebo before the door closed behind her. The interior was more than large enough and had a table in the center for the Pokémon to stand on as the performer worked while all she would need was around her in clearly labeled boxes and cupboards.
It was more than enough for Dawn, and she grinned as she put Piplup down on the table where he waited patiently knowing that Dawn would make him as majestic as he was supposed to be. She had what she wanted to do in mind and instantly went to a small cupboard to find the items that she needed.
"Alright Piplup let's begin." Dawn said placing the first things on the table next to him. "Just like in the past, let me know how it fits so I can adjust it and keep an eye on the mirror so that I can make you look amazing."
"Piplup." Piplup said with a nod ready to be shown off so that all could bask in his splendor.
For the next 10 minutes Dawn and Piplup worked in sync as they styled the Penguin Pokémon how Dawn felt he should be and then altered the clothes so that it was perfect. It took 7 minutes to style Piplup just how Dawn wanted, though she knew that his ego was about to get a massive boost with her current style, before she moved to the accessories.
Thankfully, the gazebo had what she wanted, and she put them on Piplup who was now in love with himself in the mirror though that was usual given his vanity, though it was well earned in Dawn's eyes. The final stage was getting him to walk without a problem and that was key to winning as Piplups weren't the best on their feet.
"Time." Pierre said and Dawn sighed knowing that she was as ready as she could be in the allotted time. "We shall begin with Performer Dawn."
Dawn knew she'd be first up as the stage right one always started and helped Piplup out of the gazebo before they began walking down the runway to show off to the crowd. This was something they'd done in the past so they could do it, but Piplup had to be careful to not stumble. Of course, he knew that if he tripped he'd not look as good and Dawn used that to make sure he was careful as he strutted next to her, head held high and basking in the adoration that the crowd was giving him in that moment.
Of course, Piplup had every reason to bask, he looked fantastic and knew it. Dawn had paid homage to his final form being known as the Emperor Pokémon, as well as playing into Kalos's noble culture, by dressing Piplup up as a king or, well, an emperor. It also fit with Piplup's enormous ego as he already saw himself as one, now he looked the part too.
The small water type wore a full royal garb complete with a royal blue and white doublet and poufy blue pants that Dawn had made sure he could move in and which both worked with his coloring. To top it all off Piplup wore a blue cape that trailed slightly behind him, a gold and blue velvet crown and he even carried a small golden scepter that the gazebo surprisingly had in it. It really had everything it seemed.
Piplup was naturally milking the attention for all it was worth. He was a king of his kind and finally Dawn had allowed him to show that to the world. He was not going to mess this up as he strutted next to Dawn while she waved to the crowd matching his slower speed. He was extra careful on the turn at the end and the walk back, Serena and Braixen had been really insistent on avoiding this and made his way back to their starting space without falling over once. It was flawless but then again Piplup knew it would be as it was him.
As soon as they reached the spot, the other two went. The Combee performer had gone with an expansion of Combee's hive appearance that looked good but showed how heavy it was as Combee barely managed to stay aloft the entire time they were on the runway.
Meanwhile, the Vanillite performer had gone all out with an ice cream Sunday look that would have done well if it weren't so over the top as to detract from Vanillite underneath it. Well, that and Vanillite's natural coldness caused problems for it as frost began to appear on the costume as they walked down the runway.
"Alright, now zat you 'ave seen ze three performers and zere Pokémon it is time to vote." Pierre said. "So, get zose glowsticks lit and cast your vote for who should advance to ze freestyle round."
Dawn looked out to see a swarm of light balls coming towards her and the other two. Her special key was clipped to her left breast to be easily visible and had a royal blue light crystal showing her color, the clear choice for her when the keys had been presented as it went with her outfit. Her competitors had light blue and yellow respectively and which matched their own outfits.
As Dawn watched the lights come she was a little nervous, but she saw plenty of royal blue lights in the onslaught. The only concern was that it seemed the light blue were almost as much as hers so it would be between Piplup and the Vanillite. Then, almost as soon as it had started, it was over.
"And ze winner is…" Pierre said as thermometers filled with their corresponding lights above the coordinators. "Performer Dawn. She 'as advanced to ze freestyle round."
Dawn just smiled to the crowd before turning to her competitors and shaking hands with them on stage and exchanging pleasantries to show good sport, which they also did, and then they took their places and left the stage. Dawn picked up Piplup as soon as she could and hurried back to the dressing room to join the other 3 who had advanced so that she could begin getting Piplup and Vulpix ready for the freestyle round. The other two would go to the changing room and get ready to return to the crowd or go home, whatever they preferred.
If her math was correct, Dawn had about 40 minutes to get ready and as soon as she was in the dressing room she went to where her stuff was, took out Vulpix of his Poke Ball, and began getting to work. The other 3 who had advanced were already working so she had to catch up to them though she did take a moment to look at them to see what she was up against.
One was perfecting her Furfrou that had a dandy trim while laying out several items that Dawn presumed would be used for tricks or props in her performance. Another was making final adjustments to her male and female Jellicents and making sure that they were properly matching. The last was going over her plans with her Wormadam trio which all had different coats but were listening to her intently.
Dawn only gave her competitors a once over though before she got out the outfits for Piplup and Vulpix, both male cut and style outfits that matched and had a fire and water theme like the Pokémon themselves. She knew she'd get some looks for Vulpix, he was rare in Kalos, possibly the only of his kind, but that wasn't why he was here. This was her first freestyle, and he deserved the honor with Piplup as he hadn't been in a Contest but predated her time in Kalos. She just had to get it right.
They had a routine in mind and had been practicing it since Dawn had first decided to try performing. It played to their contrasting types, and she hoped that it would work but of course everything came down to execution on the day. Dawn was nervous but as she got her Pokémon ready those nerves faded, and she got into the zone she did for a Contest appeal. She had this and she would do her best.
It was as she was preparing that the last performer appeared, a woman a few years older than Dawn by the looks of her with a Crawdaunt that was apparently her only freestyle Pokémon as well. Again though, Dawn paid her little attention as she finished getting ready and running through her routine with her Pokémon one last time in her head. They would be going in the same order as they did for the theme round to allow the latter ones as much time as possible to prepare, so Dawn knew she was fourth up.
She was so lost in preparations that she didn't even know that the freestyles were about to begin until the assistant came in to get the Furfrou trainer for her performance. After that Dawn just watched the TV to check.
The woman was clearly good with Furfrou, and it was well trained to deal with various tricks and jumps using mainly Double Team to show off coordination as the performer moved with the Pokémon and used herself at times in conjunction with Furfrou's moves. Dawn had to admit the bar had been set pretty high, but she felt that she could match it.
The second performer, the one with the two Jellicent, did a romantic number with them playing off the gender differences and showing off their ghost type well, though not their water type at all which was strange. Dawn thought it was good, but it seemed to put a lot on the Pokémon and not the trainer herself as she seemed to be more of a third wheel during it but then again if the audience loved it then it didn't matter.
After that, the third one was up but Dawn didn't get to see her as she was summoned to the wings at that moment to get in position for her own performance afterwards, getting a surprised look from the attendant at her Vulpix as it was clear the attendant had never seen one before in the process. Well, summoned to the bowls not wings as she'd come up on a platform like the others and be introduced by Pierre but that was a technicality.
All Dawn could do though was stand on the platform in nervous anticipation for her pending routine. Piplup and Vulpix seemed to sense this, and both patted her legs to make it clear that they were here with her and would trust her instructions. This was as much for them as it was for her and with their comfort Dawn calmed down and nodded at them. They could do this; they would do this, and they would have fun doing it.
"Our next performer is not a Kalos native." Pierre said as the platform moved showing that it was Dawn's turn. "She hails from Twinleaf Town out in ze Sinnoh region. It's time for Performer Dawn's freestyle."
As he finished Dawn saw him back out off the stage as her platform came to a stop and the music she'd chosen for her freestyle and submitted when she registered should she advance began to play. It was a catchy number that had certain crescendos that she needed to time the moves too.
"Now." Dawn said holding her arms out wide as she smiled and got into her freestyle. "Vulpix Fire Spin around me, Piplup, prepare that Whirlpool."
This was her signal and her Pokémon moved at once. Vulpix scampered to his side while Piplup ran to his to give themselves room. This was done to time with their different speeds as well as Vulpix reached his point first and opened his mouth while Piplup was still moving. Then Vulpix let out a stream of fire that shot at Dawn. At the last minute it broke off and spun around her in a flaming vortex with Dawn at the center still smiling to the crowd.
As soon as the spin had begun, Piplup had reached his spot and lent back to form the large whirlpool of water over his head. He held there as the fire finished forming the vortex around and above Dawn, not dying at all thanks to the nature of the move.
"Now Piplup." Dawn said. "Throw the Whirlpool on top."
"Piplup." Piplup cried as he threw the Whirlpool up and at Dawn.
This had been the hardest part of training and had required multiple attempts to get right. Attempts that usually ended in Dawn getting wet or slapped by Malamar for making some mistake that could have burned her on Vulpix's fire. However, in the end they got it right and the timing was now down so that Piplup was able to land the Whirlpool on top of the Fire Spin.
There is reason for this was simple. The water would quench the flames but not before steaming and creating a cool mist above them while also putting some rain onto Dawn for added effect as the fire was steadily quenched in a reverse of how it had formed. Of course, they could just stand here, they had to do something during, and Dawn already had a plan for that.
"Vulpix, Feint Attack, Piplup, Drill Peck." Dawn said. "Swap places!"
The Pokémon did that without questing. Vulpix ran across the stage and to the other side before punching the air in his version of Feint Attack. At the same time Piplup launched himself across the stage, his beak extended and spinning, showing off his avian features.
Both Pokémon timed it just right and passed each other right in front of Dawn and finished their moves as they reached the other side and the Fire Spin/Whirlpool had canceled each other out without drenching Dawn but rather highlighting her as well. That meant it was time for the grand finale.
"Hydro Pump, Flamethrower." Dawn said, there was no need to be specific as it was clear which Pokémon would use which move and pointed up to the roof. "Connect them above me."
Piplup and Vulpix leant back and opened their mouths. Then, at the same time, they unleashed their moves. A blast of powerful water shot out of Piplup's beak while an intense gout of flames burst from Vulpix's mouth showing off his newest move. They had again timed it right and collided in above Dawn and exploded in a misty shower to end it.
With that done, Dawn looked out as Piplup and Vulpix turned to the crowd in their places. She then curtsied for them as her Pokémon bowed before they quickly joined her, and the platform descended. There were no parting words from Pierre, he seemed to not do that thing here, which was fine with Dawn. She'd done her first freestyle and had fun with it. It would be up to the audience to decide if she was worthy of winning the Princess Key.
"Dawn was brilliant." Ash said enthusiastically as the last performer took the stage. "Right?"
"She was good and if that was a double appeal I'd say that was an easy advancement as she wouldn't be in the center of it, and it worked well." May agreed. "And she was certainly better than the second and third ones I think but something felt off about it."
"How so?" Ash asked confused. "I thought it was great."
"Yes but you're biased, well so am I but I can be objective having watched Serena in these things last year." May pointed out. "You would be for all of us as is only natural, more so for Dawn probably but still all of us would have your support regardless, so you wouldn't be able to tell. I'm not saying I'm not voting for her, of course I am, but I've seen more of these than you have. Something was missing. Serena? You're the expert here. I am correct in that something was off about it, right?"
"Dawn is certainly better than I was at this stage." Serena said thinking on the freestyle critically. "And I will vote for her, she deserves that, but I don't think she'll win. May's right, something wasn't quite right with it. That felt like a double appeal and not a freestyle performance. Forget the ability move the audience, that is something so rare that only Aria seems to truly have at the moment, and it is likely learned through experience. No, what was missing was the fluidity of a proper freestyle performance."
"What do you mean?" Ash asked confused.
"Look at the current performer." Serena said nodding to where the current performer was actively dancing with her Crawdaunt and moving with its moves around the stage, occasionally holding its claws to help as she smiled with it. "Look at how she and Crawdaunt are in sync with each other. That is a performance and if it weren't for that first performer I'd say she'd win. Dawns was good and well balanced, she showed off her Pokémon, their moves, and how they worked together despite opposing types but she herself was too rigid. She was the weak part of the performance."
"That's it." May said with a nod realizing it now, her coordinating experience had hindered her but Serena, who knew how a freestyle worked, had figured it out. "That was what was missing. Dawn barely moved. While she did adapt to do the moves around herself to make sure that she was part of it as would be expected, but in the end she still treated this as an appeal. In an appeal everything is on the Pokémon not the coordinator but in a freestyle it has to be both."
"Exactly, it's all about the way the performer works with the Pokémon, not just how the Pokémon work together." Serena said. "I know Dawn will easily learn from this and winning first time is really hard, I don't know anyone who managed that, so she won't feel bad. After the Contest I'll go over things with her and show her some moves I've used with my trio from last year. She can help me with how to coordinate like that though. She used Vulpix and Piplup, two rare Pokémon in the Kalos region, in perfect harmony there. That is what will carry her, but she has to be one with them as well if she wants to win."
"Oh, I see." Ash said as the final performer wrapped up though he was still a little hazy on what made a freestyle great rather than just good. "Well then we will just have to wait and see what the audience thinks. I know that Dawn will push to be better and improve if she loses though, that's who she is."
"That she is." May said as she prepped her glow stick and the other performers filed onto stage for the vote with their Pokémon present. "But now let's vote and see who won. After that we can support Dawn but she's resilient, she'll bounce back with ease. This won't be like her rookie year in Sinnoh, she won't be pushed to the brink by a small setback."
Ash and Serena just nodded as they gripped their own glow sticks. They were going to vote for Dawn regardless, but it would all come down to the audience to determine the winner. That meant that it was out of their hands and all they could do was support Dawn as much as possible as her first Showcase ended.
"Well, zat is zat." Pierre said to the crowd as Dawn stood fourth in line awaiting the final vote to determine the winner of the Coumarine Showcase. "Now it is up to you to decide which lovely lady takes home ze Princess Key. It's time to get out zose glow sticks and vote for you zink is ze best performer today."
Dawn just stared nervously as a swarm of multi colored lights appeared from the crowd and shot towards them and the keys the girls wore. Dawn saw a fair amount of blue but there was also a lot of green for the first performer and red for the last one showing that they were well liked by the crowd as well.
The other two not so much. There was a little pink for the second and yellow for the third but as the balls hit the receptors and began counting Dawn was certain she was in the running. However, she wasn't confident she'd won as she had a feeling there were far more greens than blues or reds in the swarm.
"And zere are ze votes." Pierre said as the final balls vanished. "And ze winner is…Performer Kayleigh."
Dawn looked up and saw that it was true, Kayleigh, the Furfrou trainer currently wearing what looked like a showman's outfit in white and green but a female version of it and saw that her green thermometer that matched her hair was over 40% full. Dawns was at around 20 % and the Crawdaunt woman at 30% showing that she was third but had done respectful in her performance. The other two were around 5% each which Dawn felt bad for, but the audience had final stay so there was no way to doubt the results.
Still, Dawn clapped and smiled as Kayleigh stepped forward and took her new Princess Key from Klefki as Furfrou barked and celebrated with her. Dawn was a little upset that she hadn't won but she knew that it was just her first Showcase, so she hadn't expected to win but rather to gain the experience she needed to improve and become a better performer.
She fully intended to win one at least as she was having a great time in them, and this was what she had been missing this year, she had missed this thrill of competition. She just had to talk with Serena to find out her mistakes, so she knew what she needed to work on.
However, that would come later. First Dawn had to get back to her friends and shift their focus to the Contest in few days and helping Serena do well in that, well that and setting up as she and May had to help convert the Showcase Hall into a Contest one for it.
Dawn may have lost the Showcase, but they could help Serena win the Contest. That was all that was on Dawn's mind as she left with Piplup and Vulpix to change and find her friends after her loss.
They had done two of the three things they had come to Coumarine to do and were 1 and 1 in them. It was time to focus on the third and see if Serena could get her second ribbon as she took on the Coumarine Contest next.
There it is, Dawn's first Showcase and as expected she is a little stiff and nervous, not yet able to grasp the subtler differences between a freestyle and an appeal and showing which transition is harder. Plus, no one wins their first time with these things except James and Salvia, but they were competing (cosplaying) as Jessilina and Dawn respectively, so no one knew. Anyway, for those interested, the performer who won is in fact the performer in XY who's performance was ruined by Pancham before Serena caught him and I chose her simply because she was the only performer I could find who was not in both a regular Showcase and the Master Class in the anime with the possible exception of that girl with the shiny Dragonair but that's for a reason. Dawn will have a rival on the circuit in time, those this girl may appear again, so stay tuned for Dawn's next showcase. Hopefully, this one turned out alright, this is a new thing for me to write so it will take a bit of time, but I've already planned out Dawn's next two Showcases and am really looking forward to getting to them. Anyway, that is all I have for the is Part so I will end it here. As always please favorite (both this story and me in general to be notified of any new content I post), review as I really like hearing what you think of my work and your suggestions that help complete this story (and respond as best I can) and just in general keep enjoying my work. Until next time.
Stringdog