People from all over Kiloude City and fans of Showcases in general gathered round to see all the Performers and Pokémon in action. The crowd having taken their seats Ash had joined Amelia's parents in their VIP box. As much as he wanted a closer seat he couldn't say no to the offer. Amelia was in the back of the changing room in her own little world. When she prepared for a Showcase she purely focused on her own preparations not paying attention to others. Getting changed she only heard the theme Performance just now.
The stage area grew dark as a male voice with a very heavy accent was then heard.
"Ladies and gentlemen."
A lightshow played out as a man was raised in the middle of the stage. One half dressed in black and the other in blue a silver glowing outline formed a stripe over his entire costume. A blond goatee and blue eyes were carried on his face he was a common sight during these events.
"I am monsieur Pierre."
"So he's still presenting them?" Ash thought to himself. Never spoken to Pierre personally he always saw the announcers face on commercials and during the Showcases when he travelled with Serena. Over time the male became as known as the Kalos Queen and there wasn't a single Showcase he missed thus far since he started doing this.
As usual the announcer went through the motions before his Klefki detached itself from his staff and flew showing off the Princess Key that the fair maidens will be competing for. The base of the key was gold and in the handle a small blue stone is placed. Pierre went through the motions as Klefki came back to his staff.
"And without further adieu, our theme Performance!" He snapped his fingers. The curtain moved away and it revealed a large obstacle course taking up the whole stage. Different contraptions placed all over it Pierre continued to explain to the audience what the Theme Performance entailed.
"As you can see we have build this course for our contestants to traverse. This will show off the teamwork and cooperation between Performer and Pokémon. They will have a short amount of time to complete the course together and those who succeed will move on to the Free Performance."
"Looks like fun." Ash looking over the course wanted to try it himself as the host continued.
"But be wary. Each of the obstacles are rigged in some way. When that happens it is up to the pair to create a solution to pass it so every run will not be the same."
The rules explained for now the male moved to the center of the course.
"And now for our first contestant! From Fluerrh City, please welcome Amelia!" Standing at the start she choose her Espeon for this challenge. The Eeveelution light on its feet made for a great choice in nimbleness since Flying Pokémon weren't allowed.
"Alright, she's up early."
Ash couldn't help but watch her new attire. Having changed into an two piece purple and lilac workout set with white shoes it was light and didn't restrict her movement at all. Having done her long hair up on the back in two buns on top of her head it made the area smaller in which it floated around. Two long pigtails that were remaining on her back were tied up with a purple bow.
"I barely recognize her." He figured she choose this style cause of the pools under the obstacles. Performers weren't allowed to touch the water or it would count as a failed run. Still it was a look she made work and the outfit showed off she took care of her looks and physique.
"Do your best Amelia!" Ash shouted not caring if she heard her. The parents next to him Louise giggled over his support. Ash only having eyes on stage for her daughter she did peek to the side to her husband. To her he seemed indifferent about the whole thing and as much as she wanted to speak up didn't want Ash to hear into their call.
The black haired Performer and Espeon gave a bow. Getting into starting position the counter ran down.
Three, two, one…
"Begin!" The starting buzzer given Amelia ran to her first obstacle. A giant wall with colored rocks on it the climbing wall was the same as the one you'd find in Cyllage City Gym. Amelia moved close towards and had an idea to bypass the first obstacle without climbing it.
"Espeon, Psychic!" The red gem on the Eeveelutions head glowed and the pieces off rock used before to climb up were drawn out of the wall and mixed together to form rough platforms floating in the air. The duo jumped on them up high till they reached the top and 'scaled' the wall with the Psychic type releasing its grip on the platforms.
Sliding down a ramp on their feet Amelia and Espeon had to jump t the right moment or else they would fall in the pool not covering the distance to the end. Leaping at the edge of the slide they made it across on the landing pad.
The next obstacle was a balancing beam with a rope high out of Amelia's reach. Espeon climbed higher and sat in a basket which should use the Pokémon's weight to lower the rope making it reach Amelia. The rope didn't go down this time though as opposed to how it should go.
"Oh oh! It seems that this time the trap in this round is the scale of the basket being rigged. With Espeon not heavy enough how will she get across?" Pierre build suspension in the crowd.
"Espeon, Rain Dance!" The water gathering in the bucket was heavy enough now for it to drop and allow Amelia to swing over safely. Espeon got off as well from the high ground and rejoined its trainer. The next obstacle in their way was a breakable wall. Nothing too special but a test to see if a Pokémon was strong enough to break it.
"Hyper Voice!" Espeon opened its mouth and a wave of sound came out smacking the wall down. Running through the rubble they ran to the next one. Following up were large yellow balls which were difficult to get a footing on located in a basin of water. Amelia and Espeon jumped from one to the next without difficulty showing off their agility.
"And now she's on her way to the final obstacle!"
Amelia and Espeon were faced with a spinning balancing beam. Stepping on it quickly and crossing her legs fast so she wouldn't slip, she and Espeon crossed the obstacle, reached the finish line and a loud buzzer went off.
"Success! Amelia and Espeon have reached the end with more than 40 seconds to spare! We'll see her back for the free Performance!"
"Yes, she made it in." Ash happy with Amelia booking her place in the finals. She made the course look easy to him.
"Excellent dear." Louise also glad her daughter made it. Now she can focus on the part of Showcases she actually loved doing.
A few more Performers did the course with various success. Some were caught off guard by the random hazard while others were too cautious and missed the end time.
"Please welcome Stacy!" The host introduced a new Performer which drew a huge reaction from the crowd.
"Interesting." For the first time since they got here Charles Valuer spoke up. Ash wondered why he began to talk now when he didn't even say anything during Amelia's course run. Her long red hair which reached down the middle of her back, deep green eyes dressed in a red outfit like Amelia's workout clothes. Accompanied by a Boltund the two stood at the start of the course.
"You know her?"
"You don't?" Charles finding it peculiar the boy didn't know her.
"He's a traveler. He doesn't stay long enough in a region to get know every celebrity." The wife told Charles before continuing.
"She's an idol that made the intent to transition to Showcases just recently. Bit like the current Kalos Queen but she has a bigger following then when Aria made the change."
The rookie began to tackle the course with her Boltund. Agilely passing obstacles and solving the puzzles with her Pokémon she crossed the line under a loud applause which made everyone look at the timer at the end.
"Unbelievable! With more than a minute to spare Stacy will move on to the final performance!"
Monsieur Pierre proclaiming as it is Stacy is the quickest one so far well below the times of everyone that came before her.
"A faster time than Amelia." The father commented.
"It's just the first round. It's the last Performance that matters. She'll win then." Ash defended his friend which the mother noticed. He seemed much more confident in Amelia's ability then they themselves were.
"He's right. Let's wait till then."
After a short intermission the qualified Performers were all ready for the Free Performance. Pierre went on stage again and was ready to introduce the girls to do their routine. A few passed by until Pierre announced the next one.
"Please welcome Amelia!"
Dressed in her outfit Amelia got raised on stage on the platform. By her side were Oricorio and Alcremie dressed in purple accessories like her dress. Ash hasn't seen the latter Pokémon perform before but his sweet tooth itched at seeing the small pile of moving whip crème. Amelia and the Pokémon bowed eager to get started.
"Go!"
Amelia gave the sign to start as she twirled in place with her Pokémon.
"Alcremie, Misty Terrain!" The cream puff raised its tiny stubby arms and around them a pink glow mist came to cover the stage. The glow bouncing of her skin she continued to move using her feet to drag some of the mist and use it to her will.
"Oricorio, Captivate! Alcremie, Attract!" With a smooch and wink Alcremie shot out pink hearts into the air. Oricorio unleashed hearts in a purple color as they floated over the stage and crowd some of them popping in the younger audience face.
"Air Slash!" Using the fans on the tip of its wings Oricorio cut up the hearts with a blade of air. The pink and purple mixed together creating a sparkle effect which Amelia and the Pokémon exploited by dancing in it, showing their figures but not covering them up fully.
Ash seeing it was happy she didn't overdo it on the attacks and effects. The old Amelia might blinded the crowd with bedazzlement so it was great she still took his advice to heart.
"Magical Leaf!" Alcremie summoned a wave of green spinning leaves which caught some of the sparkles. The green mixed with purple created little pieces of wind dancing in the air.
"Revelation Dance!" Oricorio did its signature movement sending out a purple wave while dancing. The leaves and glitter burst apart creating a slow shower effect as she and the others finished up their act.
"Finish!"
She finished up with a huge smile as she took in her applause. Satisfied with her showing Amelia took a quick glance to where her parents and Ash were sitting. Ash and her mother were clapping quick while her father gave a slow clap for the effort. Looking at Ash again he had a smile a mile wide. She was in great shape thanks to all the practice but her heart rate did not slow down at all.
"He looks happy. I'm glad."
"Please welcome Stacy!"
The former idol got a warm reception. She wore a red dress and golden accessories displaying her beauty that captured the men in the audience and the envy of the females. To her sides were the Boltund she used earlier and a Ninetails which coat and tails shone beautiful even under the artificial lights.
"Step it up!" Saying her phrase the music began to play as both quadruple Pokémon raised their heads.
"Use Howl!" Both Pokémon began to howl and their furs began to glow. Touching back into her former career as an idol the two wolf like Pokémon sounded as if they were singing. The girl started to dance in between the two of them.
"Ninetails, Will-o-wisp!" The nine long tails stretched out like a peacock showing its feathers nine tiny purple orbs began to float upwards over the stage. The flames all moved independent from one another like they had a will of their own, creating shapes and leaving a tiny trial behind.
"Boltund, Thunder Wave!" The Electric type unleashed an Electric current that connected with the Will-o-wisp. The flames stopped moving as the electronics raced between them. The flames acted as anchor points as the Thunder Wave created lines making a constellation on the stage itself in the form of a Furfrou's head.
"Energy Ball! Electro Ball!" Ninetails fired up a green sphere in the middle of the constellation with Boltund making a yellow one. The green and yellow shine from it reflected of the earlier creation making a prism of rainbow colors that shone and sparkled through the entire building.
"Final step! Mystical Fire!" From its jaw Ninetails formed a ring of fire, from the middle of a huge streak of flames shot upwards mixing with the sparkles still floating. The rainbow sparks mixed with the orange flames created an effect that showed of the skill, beauty and talent as the Performer and Pokémon struck their pose.
"And done!"
Her Performance got accepted with a loud roar. Setting the bar high he showed she came into Showcases and wasn't going to play around getting to the Master Class. Leaving the stage Pierre came out introducing the next Performer. A few girls came through showing promise till it was time to count the votes.
Pierre had gathered up the remaining contestants. The voting procedure was the same as it always has been. The crowd would be allowed to vote for their favorite and it was time to count the votes. The lights flew over the arena as Amelia watched a lot of green going her way. By the floating lights you can usually make an estimation without the final result being in. Multiple colors were mostly were red belonging to the rookie that put up the constellation Performance.
The final votes counted the keyholes above the Performers filled up and it showed Pierre who won so he can finally make it official.
"The winner is…Stacy!"
Amelia's heart dropped. Out of all the showcases she ever participated in this one she wanted to win this one the most. Under Ash's and her parents eyes this should've been the one she proved she belonged to the best of Performers and was good enough to dethrone Aria. Glancing at Ash she recomposed herself. Amelia did not want to appear like a sore loser in front of him and clapped at the winner like the others did.
She had to do even better next time as the perfect Performance still wasn't hers. Peeking over to the VIP box again she saw Ash let down too. Her mother still had a faint smile but she could not get a reading on her father. She just had to deal with the fallout during dinner in which she probably would get a chewing out from her father at failing getting her third key again.
"I'm not that hungry after all."
No. No Serena for those who were wondering if I would bring her in. It's a bit too early for her and some of the others we know.
Yeah, the obstacle course is an idea I grabbed from ninja warrior. Comimg up with Theme Performances isn't a strenght of mine but I wanted something new than from the anime.
And Amelia lost. Let's hope dinner won't be awkward.
Later.