Chapter 14: Propping a New Direction? Coronating Cure Flare!
N, despite his stomach growling just a few hours ago, can't seem to find the energy to dip his spoon into his dinner. There is nothing wrong with what he ordered. On the contrary, he so desperately wants a moment of normalcy within this chaotic day.
But his mind refuses to rest. It continues to think and worry; his thoughts accelerate to the point where he can barely understand them before they dash out of his grasp. He is the spectator at the finish line, watching a race where the runners are running at the speed of light, and he has lost count of how many laps they have completed.
Fidgeting with his glass of water, N turns his head from his cup to Touko, who is eagerly munching on her bowl of stew. She snatches a loaf of complimentary bread and tears a large piece off, dipping it into the creamy broth. The next time he blinks, half of her meal is gone. After gulping her next bite down, Touko notices N's untouched dinner.
"You're not hungry?" she asks, pointing a finger at his rapidly cooling bowl of soup.
N grabs his spoon but doesn't pick it up. "I am."
His stomach drops when Touko sets down her loaf of bread. She's not going to continue eating until he also takes a bite.
"N, tell me what's wrong. Is it because of what happened today?"
It must have been written clear across his face. Touko leans slightly forward, head resting on her fist, as she waits for his answer. N lowers his head and nods.
"It'll be okay," she reassures him, "We did all that we could. Now, we have to let Kyouhei do his job."
"Do you think he'll find anything?"
Touko confidently smiles. "I hope he does. We had an agreement, after all."
After a second of contemplation, N reaches for a slice of bread and slowly spreads a thick layer of butter over the sponge-like surface. He takes a large bite and swallows it with a large swig of water. When he sets his cup down, Touko's spoon clanks against her bowl as she scraps the remainder of her dinner.
"There's something that I didn't tell Kyouhei," N mentions all of the sudden. Touko lifts an eyebrow, and she straightens her posture, bracing herself.
"Touko, what kind of dreams do you have?"
She cocks her head. "You mean like when I'm asleep?"
"Yes."
"Hmm...I don't remember my dreams, so I can't really tell you."
"I have been dreaming of someone, a girl whom I should never meet. She was standing on a lake covered with thick fog, and she had wings that allowed her to fly."
N giddily smiles like a child ready to share his most treasured secret. Ignoring his now-cold soup, he leans forward, unable to contain himself.
"I've met her today," he whispers, "And she is just as wonderful and mysterious as she was in my dreams. Even her name is unlike anything I've heard before. Cure Flare...what a marvelous sounding name. Touko, when the Ferris Wheel was about to crush me, she stopped it with her bare hands. I must find her again. I have to thank her."
Touko retreats into her chair. It only makes N close in on her, even rising from his seat.
"Will you help me?"
Her spoon drops to the floor.
"This is bad! This is really bad!" Bianca's high-strung voice blasts against the ears of every other person in the Xtransceiver call. Cheren immediately reprimands her, but he's struggling to keep his calm tone. Touko's mom is the only one whose expression hasn't changed.
Touko frowns as she presses herself even further into the wall she is leaning against. Her figure prints a dark spot against the surgical white lights of the Pokémon Center. "I couldn't say no, not when he was looking at me so intently."
Cheren pinches the bridge of his nose. "I can't believe that, in a single day, the situation has changed so much. N's interest is piqued, and we have the International Police on our trail. We also haven't gotten any closer to understanding the Shadow Triad and their plans."
"I'm going to give you guys Kyouhei's Xtransceiver number," Touko says, "If he finds anything, it'll help us a lot."
"What about N? What are you going to do?" Bianca asks. The heroine slightly lowers her head.
"I'll think of something. At this point, it's impossible for me to stop him from digging deeper. We all know how he is. Once something catches his attention, he stubbornly tries to learn more about it."
"She's definitely speaking from personal experience," Touko's friends think to themselves as they stare with deadpan expressions.
"How about you guys? Find anything new?"
"That's right! I completely forgot!" Bianca exclaims, "I think I might know who Cure Bolt is!"
"Really?"
"I talked to Professor Kukui today, and he said that Fusion Bolt is a real Pokémon move and that the only Pokémon who can learn it is Zekrom. If that's true, then there's only one person that Cure Bolt can be."
"Mei," Cheren hesitantly says, "If we believe Cure Bolt's words, then she's the only candidate. However, we shouldn't jump to conclusions just yet. We don't have any physical evidence that can link her and Cure Bolt together."
"The name of her special attack could be a red herring," Touko's mom conjectures, "Maybe when Touko and Cure Bolt were fighting together in Accumula Town, Bolt changed the name of her move to Precure Fusion Bolt in order to match Precure Fusion Flare."
"True...there's nothing stopping her from doing that." Touko cocks her head.
"Do we know any more of her special attacks?" Bianca asks.
"Precure...Lightning Strike, I think."
"A completely generic name. Not much help at all," Cheren huffs. The blonde researcher exaggeratedly gasps.
"Cheren! Rude! What if she had spent hours or even days coming up with the names for her moves?"
"She should have spent more time, then."
Touko chuckles under her breath. "Yikes, poor Cure Bolt."
"Anyway," Cheren clears his throat, "we're going to need to collect more evidence. Unfortunately, the new semester begins tomorrow, so I'll have my hands full until the holidays."
"Then, you can leave Kyouhei to me," Bianca says with a bubbly nod.
"Thanks, everyone. Cheren, you should go get some sleep."
"I probably should. Good night."
After stifling a yawn, Cheren leaves the call. Bianca quickly follows suit after bringing up how she has to run an errand for Professor Juniper in the morning, leaving Touko and her mother to stare at each other.
"Things sure have escalated quickly," her mother says, "Are you going to be alright?"
"Yeah, nothing I can't handle." Touko tries to deliver a convincing smile, but her mom sees right through the small curve of her lips and her wandering eyes. Something is troubling her daughter, and in typical Touko-fashion, she's burying it deep within her.
Touko's mother closes her eyes. "I'm glad you were able to protect N from the Ferris Wheel. If he wants to thank Cure Flare for saving him, then you should give him the chance to."
"Mom…?" the heroine questions, understandably confused.
"I think you know better than anyone that you shouldn't leave things unsaid. Even if the worst-case scenario were to happen, it's better than having the possibility of it hanging over your head. Isn't that the reason why you searched for him?"
Touko can only widen her eyes.
When Touko and N exit the Pokémon Center the next day, their gazes are immediately drawn to the amusement park. A barrier of yellow tape blocks the entrance and the surrounding area, separating the civilians from the cracks in the concrete sidewalks. The Ferris Wheel can no longer be seen in the distance; instead, the large wheel is leaning against its support.
"It's too bad we can't ride the Ferris Wheel for a while," Touko says.
N sadly nods, "To think that someone would target such a perfect contraption...it's unfathomable."
She snickers. Of course, he would take the sight of a destroyed Ferris Wheel as a personal insult.
"The city should have it fixed in no time! The amusement park is one of Nimbasa City's biggest attractions. By the time we come back here, it'll be up and running. I know it."
It still catches him by surprise that Touko is looking forward to riding the Ferris Wheel again. The thought sends a thrill of anticipation down his spine. "I'll be looking forward to when it is restored to its former glory. In the meantime, what should we do today?"
Touko turns to the Battle Subway, not at all surprised when she sees the entrance barred with even more yellow police tape. She does notice Touya standing nearby, looking at his Xtransceiver before fidgeting with the white bracelet on his right arm.
"Touya!" she calls. The amnesiac gives a small wave to the two. N flashes a welcoming smile, which Touya reciprocates.
"Morning, Touko, N. Looks like you guys caught me before I left the city."
Touko cocks her head, "You're leaving? Where to?"
"Not sure. Might just point in a random direction and go from there."
She suddenly straightens, a hand over her mouth. She then shuffles through the contents in her bag and pulls out the red gem that Uxie gave her. The heroine hands the jewel to Touya.
"If you're taking suggestions, try Nacrene City."
"What is this?" Touya takes a moment to examine the object in his hands, running a finger down its smooth edge.
"Think of it as a good luck charm. It's supposed to help you when you really need it."
Touya closes his hand. "Wow, Touko! Thanks! You're sure I can have it?"
"Of course! You're going to need it more than I do. Be careful, okay? Who knows when something like yesterday might happen."
"You, too. I'll keep my guard up."
With one last exchange of goodbyes, Touya enters Join Avenue. Touko turns to N, who had been silently watching their conversation. She notices a curious gleam in his stare as if he's observing a new species of Pokémon.
"Touya kind of reminds me of you," N eventually states, "He has a deep love for his Pokémon, and their bonds have been tested by trying ordeals. I enjoyed listening to his stories about Alola. From what he's told me, it is a wonderful place where people and Pokémon are integrated into each other's lives more so than any other region. I would love to visit in the near future and see for myself what he meant by that."
"Alola is pretty tropical from what I've heard," Touko mentions, "Maybe once our journey here is over, we can take a trip to Alola together. Oh, and we should get everyone else to come. Cheren, Bianca, Mei...maybe I can get my mom to join us, too."
"A journey with everyone...that sounds like a wonderful idea. However, a journey with just the two of us is equally as appealing. Let's get going, Touko. The day has only begun."
N slightly frowns when she covers her mouth with her hand again. Did he say something that shocking? Her face looks ready to erupt.
"Y-Yeah," she sputters, "Right behind you."
They head north, crossing the bridge over the artificial moat surrounding the main part of the city, towards three large venues: Big Stadium, Small Court, and the Musical Theater. While the first two buildings are mostly a bland shade of blue, the Musical Theater is exploding with color. A red radio tower, an orange shooting star, a black film light, and other neon-colored decorations sit on top of a teal rooftop. In bright purple letters, the word "MUSICAL" hangs over the entrance.
In front of the Small Court, there is a sign with some sort of notice on it, along with a familiar female trainer.
"What are you looking at, Mei?" Touko asks as she and N walk up behind her.
Mei turns around and answers, "Oh, good morning! I was actually looking for Kyouhei, but I saw this, and…"
As Mei steps aside, Touko takes a closer look at the notice.
"Due to the earthquake yesterday," she reads aloud, "we will be canceling all professional matches until the city deems it safe to host them again. In the meantime, our courts will be open to the public for free use. The Small Court will also be closing early starting today. Thank you for understanding."
N peers to his left and finds a similar-looking notice in front of the Big Stadium. "Shouldn't they close down altogether? If the city believes it's not safe to hold these matches, then it shouldn't be safe enough to let the public use their facilities."
Touko seems to agree with him, judging from the pensive look on her face.
Mei has a look of utmost concentration. "It could be because they want to prevent large crowds from forming while they're still assessing the situation. But at the same time, it looks like most of the damage is near the amusement park, so it's possible that nothing else has been hit," she concludes.
"Guess the city can't afford to shut everything down. They did lose the amusement park and the Battle Subway," Touko adds.
"Why are you guys looking at that sign so intently? Are the words that small?" Kyouhei's voice interrupts their brainstorming session, and three heads simultaneously turn back towards him. He's holding a half-eaten tamato berry and cheese sandwich.
"No, they're not," Mei retorts, "We were just talking about why the stadiums are still open. Anyway, if you're here, does that mean you're on your break?"
"Yep. Elesa, Ingo, and Emmet are still investigating the Battle Subway, but they said I should get something to eat."
"Have they found anything related to the culprit?" Touko questions.
A hint of frustration is visible in Kyouhei's half-smile. "Nothing yet. The subway network has suffered significant damage. Walls were blown clear off, and some of the train tracks have been melted off. Don't get me started on that giant hole in the amusement park or the sorry state of the Ferris Wheel."
N crosses his arms. "Does this mean the culprit set off explosives underground?"
"If they did, those explosions are stronger than what the Battle Subway can handle, and it's made to contain the chaos of Pokémon battles. They clearly have malicious intentions."
Touko struggles to not correct him. "I don't have malicious intentions! That was just me fighting the Kugeki! I held back!"
"Touko."
"Yes, they have to be targeting the city," N agrees, "Especially that explosion in the amusement park. They must have used a Pokémon to detach the wheel from the framework and then had the ensuing explosion cover their tracks. Forcing Pokémon to hurt others...it's unforgivable."
She visibly trembles, her efforts to restrain herself evident in her widened eyes. "T-That explosion was me using Precure Blue Fire! If I didn't, the Kugeki would have set the Ferris Wheel onto the city! I was trying to protect everyone!"
"Touko."
"What was my mom thinking? How can I tell N that I'm Cure Flare when I have a bounty on my head?! They think I'm a terrorist!"
"Touko."
"At this rate, they'll think I'm the same as Neo Team Plasma!"
"Touko! Calm down! They do not know the full story. Panicking will not help."
N notices Touko's tense expression, trying her best to hold back her anger. It's something he has seen many times, but this time, he's not the one to provoke the reaction. Knowing this makes him feel a bit more at ease.
"Hold on, something doesn't quite add up," Mei intervenes, "If the culprit did plant explosives, why did only one penetrate the surface?"
Everyone falls silent at Mei's question. Kyouhei's face scrunches as he struggles to come up with an answer. Eventually, he groans once and concedes defeat.
"That's a good question. If we assume that their goal is to destroy the city, it doesn't make sense that only one of their explosives was strong enough to break the surface. Then, maybe it's something else…"
"Well, you can worry about it later," Mei says, "You're on your break right now, and that means you need to think about stuff other than your job. And I have the perfect distraction!"
N cocks his head. "What might that be?"
Mei dramatically points her finger at the Musical Theater. "Let's do a Pokémon Musical! With the four of us, we don't have to worry about other actors trying to take the spotlight."
"I think the one we need to worry about is you," Kyouhei muses, "You're the one with the most experience out of all of us."
"That's not true! My expertise is Pokémon movies. Touko's actually the one who knows more about Pokémon Musicals."
Touko is startled by the sudden spotlight cast onto her. Both N and Kyouhei are staring with open mouths, while Mei is nodding eagerly as if waiting for her to verify her statement.
"I've done a few Musicals before," Touko answers.
"A few?!" Mei exclaims, "You were the theater's biggest superstar! They still have pictures of your Lillligant and Samurott up in their gallery!"
"T-They do? But it's been three years! I don't even…"
Touko trails off, hesitant on finishing her sentence. Mei grabs her hand and begins dragging her to the theater.
"I'll show you! Oh, the owner is in for a treat today! Their superstar has finally returned!"
"Don't call me that! Wait, Mei! We can't leave N and Kyouhei behind!"
N observes them with an amused expression, clearly used to Mei's shenanigans, before turning to Kyouhei.
"We should catch up to them," he says. Kyouhei shrugs and then walks with N to the theater hall.
The multi-colored, arcade-like exterior of the Musical Theater gives way to an utterly cutesy, magenta interior. A red carpet is spread from the entrance to the reception desk, adorned with an embroidery of a Poké Ball and a musical note fused together. Two Kangaskhan statues and two stone pillars serve as a gate into the lobby. There are two entrances to the stage behind the receptionists.
When the four trainers enter the theater, an elderly man with a beige fedora stands in front of the reception counter, ready to greet his new visitors. Once he lays his eyes on Touko, his wrinkled face lights up.
"Ohhh! I didn't think this day would come. Touko, our superstar, have you decided to come out of retirement?"
"It's good to see you again," Touko sheepishly runs her fingers through her ponytail before pulling out a Poké Ball, "Lillil, come on out."
When Lillil pops out of her ball, she immediately recognizes the familiar lobby and the faces of some of the staff members. As she announces her return with a twirl and a curtsy, the owner and his staff marvel at her simple gesture.
"Lillil, you're as beautiful as ever," the elderly man then notices Mei and the rest of the group, "And Mei, too? This is quite the star-studded return! As for our new visitors, welcome to the Musical Theater. I'm the owner of this establishment."
"The name's Kyouhei. Nice to meet you, sir."
"My name is N. Pleased to meet you."
"Pleasure to meet you both! Hmm...yes, you...Kyouhei, was it?" the owner hums as he observes the intern, "Your aura resembles that of an aspiring young prodigy. How exciting."
"You can read auras, sir?" Kyouhei asks. The owner lets out a short guffaw.
"I'll leave that to your imagination. As for you-!"
When the elderly man finally focuses on N, his posture straightens, and he has to resist the urge to bow.
"Oh my. You have a certain charisma about you, like a leader who demands attention. Yes, very similar to Touko and Mei."
N's gaze turns pensive. "Is that so? I've been told that developing my leadership skills would be useful in the future. It seems I am making decent progress if you are able to see that."
Touko thinks he's full of Bouffalant, considering how he's been raised to become a king, until she catches the hint of mirth that belies his thoughtful grin. "Wait...is he cracking a joke?"
"You claim we have the potential to excel at Pokémon Musicals," N nonchalantly carries on, "What is the formula for success here?"
"It's easy, really," the owner answers, "Here, four Pokémon take part in a musical and compete for the coveted spotlight. And the way to snag the hearts of the audience? Why, with Props! Dress up your Pokémon with them and then use those Props for flashy displays that'll leave lasting impressions on the people watching the show!"
"Fascinating. An equation for competition that does not involve battling."
"This doesn't sound like my thing," Kyouhei admits with an uneasy grin.
"That's because you're spoiled," Mei pouts, making sure to exaggerate the last word of her sentence, "Addicted to the Battle Subway."
"The thrill of battling plus the unsteadiness of a train barreling at high speeds...that kind of feeling is irreplaceable. Plus, you kind of dragged everyone here..."
"I'm not passing up on the chance to perform in a Pokémon Musical with Touko! I have to see how she dresses up her Pokémon for myself! The experience will greatly improve me and my team's acting skills!"
"I don't see how it will, but sure…"
"What a lively group," the owner chuckles, "Unfortunately, we were ordered by the city to halt production of any Pokémon Musicals until further notice. The theater was this close to suffering damages from the earthquake, you see."
Mei hangs her head down, visibly defeated. "No way…"
"However, we are open to doing photoshoots," the owner quickly adds, "It won't be as thrilling as a musical, but you'll still experience the joys of decorating your Pokémon."
"Will you be supplying Props for us to use?" Touko brings up, "I think Mei's the only one here who has them."
"Of course. Kyouhei, N, if you are interested in performing in a Pokémon Musical in the future, then I can prepare a Prop Case for you. You're going to need something to hold all of the Props you're going to get."
"You mean we don't get all of the Props for free?" the intern questions.
"That's right. You start out with some starter Props, like ribbons and flowers, and you build your collection from impressing our patrons."
"So, that's the incentive to keep performing. Yeah, I'm going to pass."
"I will share with Touko," N replies, "One Prop Case should be enough for the both of us. Right, Touko?"
"H-Huh?!" she sputters.
"Since we're on a journey together, I can only see myself being in a Pokémon Musical if you're also participating. If you're worried about us wanting to use the same Prop, I'm sure we can compromise."
She really shouldn't feel this self-conscious. It's easy to see that she and N are sharing things; their hats are clear proof of this. But just the thought of people bringing it up in public-!
"Y-Yeah, we can share," she hastily says, "But that's not the problem. I don't have my Prop Case anymore."
N slightly frowns. "What did you do with it?"
As Touko guiltily looks down, the owner glances at Mei and says, "If you would. It's time to return things to their rightful owner."
Mei rummages into her bag and pulls out a medium-sized pink box with white lace surrounding the bottom of it. There should be a heart-shaped clasp that keeps the box closed, but when Touko sees a Blue Flower in place of it, she immediately realizes what's going on.
"Y-You had my Prop Case?"
"The owner wanted me to have this, but I felt like this didn't belong to me. You'd worked so hard to collect these Props, so I decided to hold onto it until you came back."
When Mei hands the box to Touko, she watches as the heroine grasps the case with uncharacteristic gentleness. Touko opens the lid and quietly scans the contents. Every single Prop she had earned, from the simple Red Barrette to the wacky Wig, is still there, albeit a bit dusty.
She feels ready to cry, so she keeps her head down as she says, "Thank you. I left this case here because I thought I wouldn't be needing it. I'd rather have it be used by someone who's really passionate about Pokémon Musicals than for it to be stashed away and forgotten. But...my Pokémon did work hard to earn these."
"Then you be sure to dress up your Pokémon lots," the owner says, "Spread the joy of Dress Up to the ends of Unova. And if not that, create new memories with your hard-earned Props."
Touko quickly swipes her arm across her eyes. When she looks up, her smile is blinding. "I will. Come on, everyone! Time for a crash course in Dress Up!"
After being led to one of the dressing rooms, Touko opens her Prop Case again and sorts her Props into four piles with Lillil's help. The other trainers marvel at the sheer number of Props before them.
"Wow, there's so many of them!" Mei exclaims, "How long did it take you to get all of these?"
"About a few months. I almost collected all of them, but there was one I couldn't find anywhere."
"Oh, you must be talking about the Tiara," the owner pipes in, "It's a gorgeous Prop that highlights a Pokémon's sparkling aura. Normally, you would need to perform in a Pokémon Musical with a friend, but I'm willing to give one to you after this photo shoot."
"So that's why I could never get one," Touko sighs, "I've always done Pokémon Musicals alone."
"Hold on. I think you're also missing another Prop," Mei brings up, "You don't have all of the instruments."
"Oh, that's because I let my Pokémon use my trumpet as a Prop."
"You can play the trumpet? When did you start playing?"
"I think I was ten when I first started. I only played it for a few years."
"You weren't afraid that your Pokémon might damage your trumpet?" Kyouhei questions, "Real instruments are pretty expensive."
"No, not one bit. And even if an accident did happen, I had enough to buy another one."
"Are there any benefits to having your Pokémon use a real trumpet?"
Touko cocks a cheeky grin. "It always catches everyone off guard when Ritsu starts playing it in the middle of someone else's spotlight."
"That's amazing!" Mei cries out, sparkles twinkling in her eyes, "I want to see that now! I don't think I can teach any of my Pokémon how to play an instrument."
"Do you play one, Mei?"
"Nope, not at all. How about you guys?" she asks, turning the conversation to both Kyouhei and N.
"I played the drums back in trainer school," the intern says. N takes a bit longer to respond. His face scrunches in concentration as he tries to formulate his answer.
"My sister Anthea taught me to play the piano. It was part of my...early education."
N turns to Mei and tilts his head, looking like a child who's silently asking his mother if he's doing something right. The actress eagerly nods, pleased with his answer, and she attaches the Gorgeous Flower onto his head, the closest thing to a gold star.
"Doesn't this look good on him?" Mei shoots her question to the two other trainers watching. N tries to take off the Prop, but it has somehow gotten tangled in his bushy hair. And as Mei attempts to unravel the cage of hair surrounding the Prop, Touko observes how Mei's fingers are so casually intertwined in his hair, easily diving in and stroking the soft strands, and she feels a weird tug in her heart.
"Alright, everyone! Say cheese! Wait! Touko, scoot a bit closer to Mei. Yes, now pose! Kyouhei, I need a more involved pose! Give us something with a bit of oomph! Okay, now say cheese!"
Snap! Snap! Snap, snap!
The photographer hands one of the photos to Touko, and the group swarms around her, eager to see what's on the photo paper.
On the left are Kyouhei and his Emboar. The intern is pointing a Poké Ball at the camera. The Mega Fire Pig Pokémon is sporting a Santa costume, complete with a Scarlet Hat, a white Fluffy Beard, a white Big Bag in one arm, and a Gift Box in another. Emboar has his head thrown back, small puffs of fire billowing from his nose as he lets out his best "Oh-ho-ho!"
Next to him is Mei, who has linked arms with Touko. She's holding a Poké Ball of her own, which she has raised above her head. In front of her is her Serperior, dressed in a Beret and a Paintbrush in his mouth. He stares at the Emboar as if he's waiting to paint his face.
Touko is standing back-to-back with Mei, Lillil's Poké Ball in her left hand. She's full-on beaming, eyes closed shut by the lift of her teeth-filled smile. Her Lilligant, who is wearing a Frilly Apron, a Dressy Tie, and a Lace Cap, is presenting a Toy Cake to the cameraman.
Out of the four of them, N is the only one who isn't holding a Poké Ball. Instead, he has his arms outstretched as if to showcase his masterpiece. N's Zoroark points a Toy Sword to the ceiling as his Scarlet Cape seemingly flows in the air.
All four trainers laugh at the silly picture. Mei immediately orders more of the pictures and dumps a large amount of Pokédollars into the owner's hands. Touko carefully places the image into her bag as N asks for another copy.
"It's always a joy to see trainers and their Pokémon having fun with Dress Up," the owner says, "Before I hand Touko the Tiara, I would like to ask you all a question. As you know, Unova has grown over the past three years. There are now many other ventures that trainers can explore. And so, I was wondering how we should adjust Pokémon Musicals so that we can attract a larger audience."
"A way to draw more people in..." Kyouhei mumbles to himself. "How about Pokémon battles?"
The owner furrows his eyebrows, and some of his enthusiasm disappears behind a low hum.
Kyouhei continues on with his suggestion. "It's the easier direction. Pokémon battle each other, but instead of trying to make their opponent faint, they try to make the flashiest moves. It'll leave the audience on the edge of their seats."
"Isn't Dress Up a huge part of Pokémon Musicals? How would that fit in with Pokémon battles?" Mei questions.
"I mean, you could still battle while your Pokémon are wearing Props, right?"
"Then the Props would get destroyed! Imagine what'll happen if one of the ribbons catches fire from a measly Ember!"
"She has a point," Touko pitches in, "And even then, the idea of a Pokémon battle centered on flashy moves has already been done before. In the Sinnoh and Hoenn region, there are these competitions called Pokémon Contests, and they focus on a Pokémon's appearance and its ability to perform. Actually, they have something similar to Dress Up where trainers─actually they're called Coordinators─decorate their Pokémon with Accessories, but that's only a small part of the Contest."
"I see," the owner muses, "Then, are you suggesting that we should have something similar here in Unova?"
"It would attract trainers from other regions, for sure," she answers, "However, the main appeal of Pokémon Contests is the battles. If you are not prepared for what that entails, it will get messy fast. Especially if you're jumpstarting a Contest circuit for the first time."
"It sounds like you've been in one before, Touko," N says.
"Yeah, I did a Pokémon Contest in both Hoenn and Sinnoh. Here, hang on."
Touko digs through her bag and pulls out a thin, pink case. When she flips it open, there are two ribbons, one blue and one orange, sitting on a sheet of velvet. The blue ribbon is kept together by a circular gold emblem, while the orange ribbon has a pentagon-shaped emblem.
"They're so cute!" Mei squeals, "Is this what they give to the winners of a Pokémon Contest? Can I take a closer look at them?"
"That's right, and go ahead. The blue one is a Beauty Ribbon from the Hoenn circuit, and the orange one is a Cool Ribbon from Sinnoh." As Mei gently lifts the Cool Ribbon, Touko starts to giggle, "So, funny story. In my first-ever contest, when we got to the battle round, my Pokémon were so strong that we fainted our opponent's Pokémon before we could do any of the combos we came up with. I almost got booed off the stage!"
N lets out a hearty chuckle, and soon, the other people in the room join in with their own incredulous laughs. Lillil sheepishly looks down when she realizes that Touko was talking about her debut in the Contest scene.
The owner, upon seeing the eagerness of the people in front of him, eventually steels himself and says, "Touko, I would like to see for myself what a Contest battle entails. Care to give us a demonstration?"
Touko doesn't miss how he says his words deliberately, almost as if he has to force them out. She can tell that he's trying to see a decision through, even if he doesn't like it.
That feeling is all too familiar to her. And if he's not willing to disclose that to them, then she'll respect his wishes for now.
Touko instead faces the other trainers. "I'll need a volunteer."
Mei instantly raises her hand. "Me! Pick me!"
"Let's move to the Big Stadium," Kyouhei suggests, "We're going to need more room than a theater stage."
They relocate to a corner of the large soccer field inside of the Big Stadium. Touko is on one end with her Lilligant, while Mei is on the other side, her Serperior poised for battle.
N crosses his arms as he observes the two trainers. "If this was a normal Pokémon battle, neither side has an advantage."
"I think their choice to use the same type is intentional," Kyouhei says, "That means the way they use their moves is what will determine the victor."
"You have the first move, Mei," Touko shouts.
"Serperior, Leaf Storm!" Mei's Pokemon whips up a blizzard of glowing leaves and hurls it at Lillil. From Touko's perspective, the attack has an indistinguishable shape: a mess of tumbling leaves swirling in the midst of an uncontrollable wind.
Just before the Leaf Storm hits the Lilligant, Touko exclaims, "Dance, Lillil!"
A light-green aura coats Lillil's body as she twirls to a rhythm only she knows. From the flower on her head, a whirlwind of red petals begins to encase her form, intensifying the longer she dances. When Serperior's Leaf Storm finally reaches the Lilligant, instead of blasting away Lillil, the leaves are sucked into the cocoon of red petals. The vortex surrounding Lillil expands to the sky and blooms into a vibrant scarlet flower.
N can only gasp. He's seen Lillil use Petal Dance many times against him, and he vividly remembers the hurricane of petals that viciously swept away Ghetsis and his team. To him, Petal Dance is a terrifying move.
But now, with the way Lillil mixes Serperior's Leaf Storm and Petal Dance together to create a sight akin to fireworks, N is awestruck by the beautiful display before him.
He's not the only one who's enthralled, though. Mei also has her mouth open, amazed at how her Serperior's Leaf Storm was reduced to becoming a decoration for her opponent's attack. Even some of the visitors are starting to pay attention to their battle.
"Woah...how did you do that?!"
"This is just the bare minimum of what Contest battles are like," Touko explains, "Now, see how you handle this! Quiver Dance!"
The Lilligant steps forward, performs a small curtsy, and begins to twirl again. Her journey to reach the Serperior is slow. Each of her bouncy steps is akin to flowers landing on a lake's surface. Serperior tilts his head back to his trainer and sharply hisses when he catches Mei staring at Lillil.
"R-Right! Okay, Serperior! Glare!"
Serperior waits for the Lilligant to come closer before his eyes flash red. He lifts his body so that he's double Lillil's height and poses over the Lilligant. Lillil catches a glimpse of the Serperior and immediately stops in her tracks.
"Yes, now Dragon Pulse!" From Serperior's mouth, a concentrated beam shaped like a purple dragon descends onto the dainty flower. Its maw opens and swallows Lillil whole before the field is shrouded with a cloud of dirt.
"D-Did we…?" Mei doesn't finish her question, for the dust cloud disperses with a breath of flower petals. Lillil wipes the dirt off of her skirt and then skips her way to Serperior. The Lilligant places her hands onto Serperior's neck and releases a whiff of flowery aroma.
Serperior's eyes slowly droop. First, it's a longer-than-usual blink, then three seconds of total darkness. Lillil summons a tornado of pink wind and red petals around them both, cradling the Serperior's head as she lays him onto the turf. She finishes her performance with a well-practiced bow.
"T-That...was a conclusion," Kyouhei shakily says, his hands coming together to clap. N, on the other hand, may as well have laid his eyes on Arceus's elusive form.
"So this is a Contest battle," the owner mutters, "A clash of two characters. The intent to outshine each other. Hmm..."
Mei runs up to her Serperior and strokes his back. When she next looks up, Touko is by Lillil's side, rewarding her performance by gently patting her head.
"How did you put Serperior to sleep?" Mei asks, "You had to know Sleep Powder doesn't work on other grass types."
"Serperior technically didn't fall asleep," Touko answers with a cheeky grin, "Lillil can release an aroma from the flower on her head that relaxes whoever smells it. That storm you just saw was really a mixture of Petal Dance and a failed Dream Eater."
"And it worked."
"I'm just as surprised."
As the two share a short chuckle, the owner suggests that they all head back to the theater now that the demonstration is over. While Mei and N walk on ahead, the latter giving his insights on the battle, Touko lags behind and carefully observes the elderly man.
Halfway to the Musical Theater, they bump into Elesa, who seems to be heading in the same direction. She scans the immediate area in front of her before she turns around, face lifting into a grin when she spots Kyouhei. Upon seeing her, Kyouhei grimaces and checks his Xtransceiver.
"Ah, there you are," the gym leader calls out, "I was beginning to think you were chasing a lead out of the city. Did something catch your attention?"
"Sorry, I lost track of time," he answers, "It was just one thing after another."
"No need to apologize. It's important to balance your time between work and leisure."
Elesa's gaze then lands on Touko and stays there for a few seconds too long. The heroine meets Elesa's stare with a confused and slightly peeved frown. Touko's expression must have been what she was searching for because the moment she gets a good look at Touko's narrowed eyes, she smiles with relief.
"I'm glad you've found a spark more radiant and passionate than before," Elesa remarks, "Once my gym is all fixed up, I want to see just how brightly it can shine."
Without missing a beat, Touko says, "Challenge accepted, Elesa."
"Wonderful. Kyouhei, ready to go?"
"Yeah. Give me a status report." As Kyouhei and Elesa head towards the Battle Subway, Mei picks up pieces of their conversation. When the gym leader mentions how they found a strange object somewhere down the Super Single Line, she pats her hand against her bag.
"Actually, I have to go, too," Mei suddenly announces, "I should really check up on Join Avenue. My managers might need help implementing the city's new restrictions."
The owner and Touko share a look of amazement as she frantically books it towards the southern exit of the city.
"There she goes," the heroine dumbly points out as she stares at Mei's retreating form with a hint of worry, "Does she ever slow down?"
"I've learned that it's best to let her go at her own pace," N says, "Trying to contain her is a formula for chaos and disaster."
The owner comes back from his office holding a silver tiara fitted with carefully cut Ice Gems. Touko gently takes the Prop out of his hands and admires the way the light reflects off the jewels to create a kaleidoscope of icy blue sparkles.
"My collection is actually complete," she breathlessly states, "I'm going to borrow your dressing room for a bit."
The elderly man gives a curt nod. Touko disappears into the back room, leaving just N and the owner in the lobby.
"Tell me more about Touko's time here," N begins, "She is a gifted trainer, with an innate talent for Pokémon battles, so it's hard to imagine her taking part in a Pokémon Musical."
"She does give off that impression," the owner mumbles, his eyebrows furrowed in thought, "It makes you wonder what her reasons are for joining our productions. When we first met, she was with a friend, a girl with blonde hair. They played Dress Up for a bit, and I saw the potential that both of them had. I never did see her blonde friend again. She must have found something else she wanted to pursue."
With a thin frown on his face, N questions, "What was your first impression of Touko?"
"She was...curious. Even though it was her first time with Dress Up, she placed great care into decorating her Pokémon. It was this attention to detail that caught my eye. I had thought she would perform in a few musicals, but the next time I saw her was after she became the Champion."
The owner notices N's expression sour and realizes that maybe this man is the key to answering one of his long-standing questions. He carries on with his story. "It was unexpected, having the strongest trainer in Unova suddenly deciding to perform within our halls, and we all believed that she would help spread the ideals of Pokémon Musicals and Dress Up to all of Unova. Indeed, we all thought that...until we noticed that something was wrong."
The elderly man gestures for N to follow him, and together, they head upstairs to a set of pictures next to his office. The one closest to his office is an image of Touko and Ritsu. The Samurott is standing on his hind legs, holding onto a polished trumpet, while his trainer glances down with a prideful smile. The picture next to this is of her and Lillil, who's dressed with the same Props as the ones she wore during their photoshoot earlier today. N notices right away that her smile in this photo barely reaches her eyes. In fact, she seems to be struggling to maintain her expression. He pulls out the photo from today and finds that this smile makes the other images on the wall pale in comparison.
"That one with Ritsu was the first picture we took of her," the owner explains, "While the one of her and Lillil was from her last musical."
"The difference is staggering," N notes with a pained frown, "I did not think she had this kind of smile."
"The longer she and her Pokémon performed here, the more we saw that smile. Did she really enjoy Pokémon Musicals? Or was it a temporary distraction from something else that was troubling her?" The elderly man glances at the picture with Touko's Lilligant, "The day after we took this, I found her Prop Case behind one of the pillars in the lobby. I've never met anyone who would leave their Prop Case behind. Did she leave it here on accident? On purpose? Ever since that day, I've been thinking about the relationship between Pokémon Musicals, people, and Pokémon. What Pokémon Musicals should mean to our audience...and to our performers."
N takes another glance at the photo in his hand and remembers the way she held her Prop Case, cradling it like she would hold a baby Pokémon. How shocked she was when Mei returned it to her...and how her true feelings shone through a breathtaking smile.
"She really enjoyed Pokémon Musicals," the former king confidently concludes, "I'm sure that's the truth."
The owner's expression softens at N's words, "You might be right. Well, I think I should check up on our superstar. If you want to continue looking at our gallery, feel free to do so."
As the elderly man heads back downstairs, N turns his attention to the pictures on the wall. He places a hand next to the image of Touko and Lillil and mumbles, "It's all coming together, the formula that explains Touko's decision to search for me. Elesa's words, these pictures, her dream...I see now what she was going through."
He now understands her words from their final battle, the ones that roused Reshiram from its slumber.
"I can't speak for everyone, but I do not want to be separated from my Pokémon, and they feel the same way. We have a dream we want to fulfill! That's why, even if Reshiram doesn't choose me as its hero, I will stand against you and show you the strength of our bonds! N, I want you to listen to our voices!"
"If I had realized what their dream was…" He halts his thoughts with a shake of his head and backs away from the gallery. He takes one last look at the pictures on the wall and the image in his hands and vows, "I must not tread down that path. I should focus on making the most of this second chance. That's how I can help her achieve her dream...and how I can bring forth this joyful smile of hers."
He proceeds to walk back downstairs, but as he passes the window overlooking the stage, he catches an orange glow engulfing the darkened room. The light lasts only for a second, receding away to unveil its source: a girl with the brightest shade of orange hair.
N urgently bolts to the lobby towards the dressing room. He has to find Touko; she said that she would help him search for Cure Flare. Once he arrives at his destination, the room is empty, untouched.
"Where did she go?" he ponders, his eyes widening as he guesses, "What if she's already inside the theater hall? I have to hurry!"
Flare feels like she's a Swanna trapped in a cage of vines.
None of her attacks are really affecting the Kugeki, aside from budging it a little. She did consider lifting the entire thing and chucking it to the sky before reverting it back in one fell swoop, but it has spread its roots too fast for her to act on it. Burning the vines away is a definite no-go.
So Reshiram proposes a plan, and it sounds easy enough. Flare needs to get the flower to bloom and then strike before it's too late. In order to do that, she has to convince the Kugeki to open up...literally.
The bud is closed shut, stubbornly keeping itself quiet. Clenching her fist, the Precure thinks about her time with the people here. Even though she had first participated in Pokémon Musicals because of her Pokémon, she found herself enjoying her time performing on stage. She loved teaching Ritsu how to play the trumpet. She was so proud of Lillil whenever she pulled off an uninterrupted dance sequence. The joy they felt, she felt, and for the brief moments when they were performing a musical, her despairing heart was quelled by their happiness.
She places those feelings into her closed hand, and it ignites a low, orange flame. Enough to warm, but not burn. The vines slither to her feet, but she unfolds her wings and flies onto the stage. Her fist connects to the bud, and the vines snap violently, shuddering from the heat of her attack.
"I get it. You don't like the idea of bringing Pokémon battles into your musicals," Flare states, remembering the barely-concealed discomfort he's been trying to hide the entire day, "Pokémon Musicals are supposed to be a way for trainers to compete without having to battle. That's why you were so hesitant about considering it. It would go against what you wanted Pokémon Musicals to stand for."
She presses her hands against the folded petals and injects a burst of heat. Some of the petals begin to peel open, and Flare takes this as a sign to keep going. She conjures a fireball, pouring the weight of the truth into it.
"You want to have more trainers understand the appeal of Pokémon Musicals, but you don't know what direction to take. People must have suggested adding Pokémon battles so many times that you were starting to wonder if that's the only way. Especially after seeing for yourself what kind of battle you can get if they're all about impressing the audience instead of defeating your opponent with brute strength."
Another layer folds out. She's about to fire her attack when she hears the last thing she wants to hear.
"Cure Flare!" N calls out. His breath is ragged; he must have run here. The flame in her hands extinguishes immediately.
"N," she hopes her voice sounds calm because her heart is pounding with dread.
"You remember my name. I'm glad you do."
N notices the giant, half-opened bud on the stage and the many vines that have intertwined themselves into the walls and the seats. "What is that? And Touko's not here, either. Where could she be?"
Flare turns to the flower and hesitantly says, "I don't know. It's only been me and this Kugeki. A monster created from fusing people and Pokémon together."
"So that's the name of these specters. I've seen some of them before. Fusing people and Pokémon together against their will...it's as awful as forcing liberation onto them. Is there a way to change them back?"
The vines start to crawl their way toward N. A few branch out to seal the exit shut, while the rest continue to claim more of the theater hall. Flare glares at the Kugeki; she needs to finish this quickly before the vines leak out into the lobby.
N must be thinking the same thing because he digs a hand into his pockets. He then grimaces and pulls his hand out. "That's right. The last time I encountered one of them, Pokémon attacks had no effect. Cure Flare, please tell me how we can save them."
She doesn't have the heart to refuse his help, not when he has that steely gaze, staring at the Kugeki with evident distaste. But the thought of revealing the true nature of her powers is enough to get her to hesitate for a second.
Is this an inkling of what N felt when he revealed that he was the king of Team Plasma to her? When he told her he was in Unova this whole time?
And yet, he had told her the truth directly. He had trusted her to listen to him.
Now, she needs to do the same.
"The culprit who created this Kugeki," Flare explains with a firm tone, "fused the owner of this theater and a grass-type Pokémon together. I need this flower to open up in order to convert them back, but in order to do that, I have to reach his heart."
"His heart…?"
"Whenever a Kugeki is made, they draw out a person's inner darkness and use that energy to wreak havoc. But I have the power to counter this. By placing my feelings or even other people's feelings into my flames, I can revert them back to normal."
She demonstrates this by igniting an ember in front of her. After letting N marvel at it for a moment, she extinguishes it and asks, "Do you know anything that might help get the Kugeki to open up?"
N's conversation with the owner about Touko immediately springs to mind. "Yes, I have something. What do I need to do?"
"Tell it what you think it needs to hear. I'll protect you from anything it throws at us."
N takes a moment to collect his thoughts. What is the most important thing that the owner needs to hear? The core of his inner struggles...it has to be-!
"The ability for Pokémon to express themselves through Props," he begins, "The ability to compete against others without battling. The ability to create an unforgettable spectacle. The ability to let Pokémon shine bright on a stage only for them. That is what Pokémon Musicals should mean to both people and Pokémon."
With each sentence, Flare launches a small fireball at the Kugeki. The bud blobs once as if to inhale and then slumps back down. The vines thicken around them, coiling closer and closer to N's feet. Cure Flare lands next to him and summons a barrier of heat. He gives her a small look of appreciation before turning back to the Kugeki.
"The direction you should take should not require you to abandon your original ideals. Instead of limiting one Pokémon to stand above the rest, Pokémon Musicals should find new ways to have Pokémon stand out! To help each other reach that spotlight together!"
Flare gasps when the Kugeki inhales once again and finally blooms. The petals cover the stage, almost reaching the stage lights above. And in the center, where its stigma should be, is the owner. His eyes are blinded by ribbons, and his mouth is stuffed with a random assortment of flowers. There's a walking cane in one hand and a magic wand in the other. Bow ties and other colorful pieces of cloth wrap around his upper body.
Anger surges through Flare. How dare the Shadow Triad warp the owner's passion to such a horrifying degree.
As she drops her barrier, a shiver runs down N's spine at the sight of the Kugeki's true form. Its dark aura is now visible, spreading from the flower to the vines around them. Flare takes flight and takes a deep breath.
"Thank you," she says, "Now leave the rest to me."
Blue embers bounce from her fingertips to the Kugeki, and when enough of them have surrounded the flower, they summon a pillar of azure fire. Flare gathers the rest of the embers and converts them into a beam that she then uses as a finishing attack.
"Precure Blue Flare!"
N uses one hand to hold onto his hat while his other arm serves as a shield against the shockwave coming from the attack. Even though he's squinting, he's able to see the Kugeki being engulfed by her flames. He can clearly feel the power behind her attack, but at the same time, its warmth wraps around him like a thick blanket on a cold night.
The monster splits into two separate beings, a human and a Pokémon, as the blue fire flickers and dissipates. The owner and a Lilligant now lay unconscious on the stage, with only a patch of black soot under them as the only piece of evidence of the Kugeki existing. N rushes to their side, Flare right behind him. He inspects the Lilligant first and notices how she's clutching onto a Prop Case for dear life.
"Lillil…" N mumbles, "She doesn't seem to have any physical injuries. That's good."
Flare finishes inspecting the owner and gently lays him back down onto the stage. Now that the battle is over, she can only think of escaping as inconspicuously as possible. She begins to run to the emergency exit.
"Wait!" N exclaims. The panic in his voice causes her to stop just before she can walk off the stage.
Without turning around, she says, "I want you to forget about everything you've just seen. It's already bad enough that you got involved."
N frowns. "I don't want to forget. How can you ask that of me when you saved me and my friends?"
"I can't let anyone know of my powers. There are some who don't approve of my existence and are actively looking for me. You've seen it for yourself, the threat that my powers pose. But I won't stop. I have to defeat the people who are using Kugekis to harm Unova. If anyone tries to stand in my way, I will make them back down."
"But-!"
"I am the only one with the power to revert Kugekis back to their original forms," Flare continues, "I can't involve anyone else. So, please. Forget about the Kugekis. Forget about me. You'll only put yourself in grave danger if you don't."
He feels his heart break a little. Her conviction is resolute, but even he can hear the sadness permeating her words. "The sense of isolation that comes from being tasked with a mission only she can fulfill, with the world against her...this is a feeling we both share."
And it clicks then and there. What he believes he needs to do.
"You and I are the same."
She predictably turns around, her mouth opening in shock. "W-We are?"
N nods, "I, too, have a special power that no one else has. In the past, I used that power to try and bring forth a world where black and white are clearly distinct. But that kind of world would only bring suffering to my dearest friends. Even now, it is not separation, but cooperation that is the formula to changing the world for the better. That's why I cannot do as you ask. I cannot allow you to believe you are alone in how you feel."
By his feet, Lillil begins to stir. Flare takes a step back, ready to flee, but N urges her to stay as he bends down to help the Lilligant up.
"Are you alright?" he asks.
Lillil quickly inspects herself and then tells him that she's okay. When she spots Cure Flare, a sudden flash of panic crosses her face.
N doesn't seem to notice. "Lillil, this is Cure Flare. She's the person who saved you just now."
The Lilligant takes a moment to really study Flare. When the magical girl flashes a conflicted smile, Lillil walks up to her and tilts her head up. As if struck by a burst of inspiration, she opens the Prop Case she is holding and pulls out the Tiara. She tries to place it on Flare's head, but since the magical girl was almost twice her height, her arms can only reach her shoulders. Lillil hops back to N's side and hands the Prop to him.
"Are you sure?" he questions, "Wouldn't Touko get upset if we gave this away without asking her?"
Lillil eagerly nods and gestures to the stage, saying how they can always get another one by doing a Pokémon Musical together. After another minute of back-and-forth, N nods and then turns his attention to Flare.
"The owner of this theater only gives this Prop to the trainers who perform in a Pokémon Musical with a friend. Perhaps by making this Tiara the reward, he wants trainers to see how wonderful it is to share the stage together. Lillil and I want you to have this as a token of our gratitude. Whenever you feel your burden is too much for you to take, and you begin to doubt, remember what you've done for us. Remember that there is someone out there who believes in you."
He approaches her cautiously, his steps relaxed but with purpose. She reminds him of his childhood, of the Pokémon who were afraid to open up their hearts but also seeking someone they can trust.
His hand brushes against one of her long hair antennas as he gently tucks the Tiara into her vibrant hair. He's never felt hair this smooth and warm; it's like melted chocolate. As he pulls his hands away, Flare reaches up to lightly touch the Prop.
Lillil cheers and starts cooing about how pretty Flare is. With a light chuckle, N says, "Getting Lillil's seal of approval is no easy feat. I have to agree. It really suits you."
Flare closes her mouth and eventually lets out a giggle of her own. "Thank you. I'll take good care of this."
A comfortable silence hangs over them. N peeks at the back entrance of the theater from the corner of his peripheral vision. Right now, he can only see darkness, but he knows that won't be the case soon.
"You should go now," he suggests, "The theater staff are probably searching for the owner, and it'll only be a matter of time before they check here."
"Yes, I should get going." She turns around and takes a step towards the emergency exit.
"One more thing before you go, though."
She tilts her head back. "Yes?"
"I want to be your friend, Cure Flare. So, let us meet again."
Flare finds her way back to the dressing room. Her heart is thumping wildly, and the weight of the tiara makes it hard for her to focus on anything. When she catches a glimpse of her appearance in the mirror of the makeup vanity, all of her attention is drawn to the small headpiece.
"What will you do now that you have been given this truth, Flare?"
She smiles so big and bright that her eyes are closed shut. There's so much warmth flowing through her; she wants to bask in it for as long as she can. So lost in her joy that she doesn't notice the single white ember forming at the end of her pointer finger.
"I want to give him a chance."
Profile: Serperior
Mei's Serperior and the Regal Pokémon. The final evolution of Snivy. Serperior's original trainer is actually Kyouhei. When Kyouhei and Mei first met, both were experiencing a falling-out with their starter Pokémon. After swapping starters for one battle, Mei decides to trade her Pignite for Kyouhei's Servine, and the two have been inseparable since. At first, Serperior excelled at binding his enemies into submission, but after joining Mei, he realized his hidden potential as a powerful sweeper. Serperior prefers to observe and then take action, a stark contrast to Mei's personality. He is easily startled by sudden noises and hates thunderstorms.
Type: Grass
Nature: Modest
Characteristic: Alert to sounds
Ability: Contrary
Move set: Leaf Storm, Dragon Pulse, Glare, Giga Drain