Arc 4: Meloetta's Dazzling Talent Show

Arceus announces plans for a talent show.

"Alright, alright, listen up everyone!" Arceus announced, getting the attention of all present Pokémon. That was essentially everyone, as she had teleported them all to the huge dining room prior to this. "It has come to my attention that, well, some of us don't exactly get along."

"It's been like that since the beginning of time though," Dialga muttered.

"I'm sorry, what was that?"

"Nothing."

Arceus cleared her throat and spread her arms. "Therefore, inspired by humans and also prompted by Meloette herself, I've decided to announce... the upcoming talent show for our mansion's residents!" She cheered along with Meloette, whilst the others stared at them with confusion.

"...is it food?" Heatran asked.

Cresselia sighed. "No, Heatran. It's not food."

Arceus blinked. "You girls aren't as excited as I thought you'd be."

"Well, maybe on the account that none of us know what it is," Darkrai said, "it also sounds like something stupid."

"Hey!" Meloette said.

"Darkrai, that's rude," Arceus said. "Anyways, humans sometimes host these events called 'talent shows', where certain individuals display their unique abilities by performing for others to watch. It seems like something entertaining, so you all better be prepared for this! All of you are performing, tomorrow!" the Alpha Pokémon said.

"What if we don't want to!?" Reshiram exclaimed.

"You don't have to want it, you just have to do it," was the reply she got.

Latias and Latois exchanged glances. "Sis, this might actually be fun!" Latias chirped.

"Well... I'm not too keen on the idea," Latios replied, "but if it makes you happy, Latias."

Nearby, ignoring basically everyone else's dismays or excitements, Azelf and her group of friends were discussing the predicament they were now in. "Perform? What're we supposed to perform?" Azelf asked. "It's not like our techniques are anything special, and we're already pretty unique to begin with."

"I know, right!?" Mew wailed. "I can transform into anything, but there's no way Arceus would let that pass as a talent!"

"W-well, I think that's actually pretty impressive..." Celebi commented.

"Uh, thanks." The humanized New Species Pokémon quickly replied. "Anyways, what do I do!?"

"I-it's not that bad," Diancie said in an attempt to calm her. "I've seen something like talent shows before... y-you can use objects to help you too, not just your own abilities."

"What can you use to help though?" Mesprit asked. "I mean, it's not like you could just, I dunno, get on top of a ball and say that's a talent."

The Jewel Pokémon scratched her head and looked away. "Uh... I guess not..." she said. I was going to do that...

Azelf blinked. "Wait, do we have to perform in our human forms?"

"...I don't think anyone asked Arceus that," Celebi said. "Oh, Uxie's talking to her right now. Should we go ask her too?"

"Uh, sure," Azelf said. Just as they turned, however, Uxie floated back to them, eyes closed like always. "Oh, Uxie. We were-"

"Don't worry, I heard you from afar," Uxie reassured. "You're advised to use human forms, but if you can only think of something that requires your natural form, she'll allow it as long as you don't destroy the mansion."

"...guess that's that," Mew noted. "Damn, I don't have a single idea... hey, Maggy!" she called the Artificial Pokémon. "You're a robot or something, right? Help me think of an idea, or give me one of your talents!"

Magearna shyly hid behind Uxie. "...I'm not..."

"Magearna will not assist you with that," Uxie informed. "Think of something by yourself, Mew."

"Ugh, fine..."

Once more, Azelf looked at the duo of Uxie and Magearna, uneasy. "...you two sure are close."

"W-what's wrong with that?" Celebi asked, getting defensive for absolutely unknown reasons. "I-it's not like being close friends have anything to do with love!"

"Nobody here said a thing," Mesprit said with a sly grin. "Or could it be, Celebi, that-"

"S-s-stop talking!" the Time Travel Pokémon rasped.

Rolling her eyes, Azelf turned to her. "You're really funny nowadays, Celebi. By that, I mean weird. But whatever." She looked around the room, trying to think of who she can ask for ideas. Then Uxie raised a finger.

"By the way, Arceus says you can perform in groups as well, up to a maximum of four Pokémon."

Everyone in the small group froze.

Azelf blinked. "...group... performances..." While an idea hasn't take shape inside her head yet, she immediately jumped to a different thought- who should she ask to be on her team? Or rather... who should she be with? She promptly glanced at Uxie. "...say-"

"Celebi! Uxie! Magearna! You're in my crew!" Mew immediately shouted.

"Huh!?" Celebi cried. "What's that about!? B-but I'm not complaining!"

"Is that a demand or is that a proposal?" Uxie asked. "Because me and Magearna were thinking of-"

"I don't hear complaints," Mew said, "so we're all a group then!"

Magearna frowned. "...fine..."

Seeing the Artificial Pokémon reluctantly agree, Uxie shrugged. "Very well then."

Grinning, the New Species Pokémon sent an ugly smirk at the other unclaimed Pokémon. "Soz soz, suckers! Mew's off to rock the world! Come on, let's practice, girls!" She grabbed Celebi by one hand and Magearna by the other, the latter grabbing Uxie in turn. Before anyone could complain, the group was pulled by Mew somewhere far away.

"...h-hey!" Azelf finally yelled after them. It was too late, though. "Geez, what's up with them?" she muttered.

"In hindsight, we should've just caught Mew before she left," Mesprit said.

"...and what's with Uxie, geez?" Azelf didn't know, but she was pouting with an obviously irritated look. "Pisses me off a bit, somehow..."

"Oh? Is someone jealous?" Mesprit asked with a grin.

The bluenette raised an eyebrow. "...of what?"

Her Emotion counterpart's grin got wider. "Of 'who', you mean?"

She thought about it. "...of who?"

"...you're stupid."

"...Diancie, what's she talking about?" Azelf asked.

The Jewel Pokémon shrugged. "Um... I don't know..."

Sighing, the bluenette looked around once more. "Great. What should I do... have you two thought about who to perform with?"

"Uhh..." Mesprit droned off, looking at Manaphy and Shaymin. "...I mean... I wouldn't mind being in your group..." she said, "but I kinda..."

"Right, right, you're like a big sister to them," Azelf muttered. "It's fine, I won't mind."

Smiling, the pink haired humanized Pokémon nodded. "Thanks, Az. You're a sweetie. Good luck with your group."

Turning to Diancie, Azelf stared at her as she fidgeted with her hands.

"...n-not really," Diancie finally replied.

Azelf sighed. "Well, I guess we can group up then. Any ideas on what to perform?"

"N-no..."

"Drats." The girl then set her sights on Meloetta, who was chuckling as she observed everyone fretting about what to do. "...hey, why don't we dance? Meloetta's good at that, I'm sure that's a talent that's not too hard."

Diancie tilted her head. "Dance... I- I'm okay with that."

"Okay!" Azelf pulled her towards Meloetta. "Hey, Meloetta! You're the one who gave Arceus this talent show idea, right?" she asked.

Meloetta snickered. "Yep! I thought it'd help everyone get along!"

"Well, I'm not sure about that, but whatever. You're good at dancing, right?" Azelf asked, to which the girl nodded. "Okay, and dancing is definitely a talent, right?"

The Melody Pokémon scratched her head. "Well... I mean, anyone can dance if they try, so I'm not sure if that's a talent. But you definitely can perform dances at a talent show!" she said. "I mean, to be honest, the humans call it a 'talent show' but it's more like an event to just perform whatever to impress everyone. Doesn't have to be something extremely special."

"Oh, that's nice to hear. Then, Meloetta," Azelf paused and grabbed the girl by the hand, "you'll be helping us!"

"...what."

Grinning, Azelf patted herself and Diancie. "You're an expert at talent shows and dancing. You're going to be teaching me and Diancie how to dance, so that we can perform tomorrow and be the best duo!"

Meloetta blinked. Then she smiled. "I like that enthusiasm. Alright then, I'm up for that!" She turned to the room's door. "Training starts now, no slacking off! Follow me!"

"Let's go, Diancie!" Azelf said.

"R-right!" the Jewel Pokémon replied.

Kyogre cowered in the corner of the room. "Oh no... what should I do..." she mumbled. "I don't have anyone who'd help me out..."

She briefly glanced up in a final attempt of finding someone who might help her.

She saw Azelf running out the room with Diancie and Meloetta.

"...aaahh..."

Then she looked to another group, where she saw Groudon being invited by Terrakion and Landorus.

"...nnooooo..."

Sighing, Kyogre was about to stop looking and give up, but then she saw someone sitting almost alone, not too concerned with the whole fuzz. Almost like her, somehow. The Sea Basin Pokémon's eyes widened in recognition.

"That's...! I can ask her!" She immediately got up and ran over to the almost-lone humanized Pokémon, a certain bat of moonlight who was listening to a lion of sunlight make comments about other Pokémon in the room. She went and grabbed the bat's hands, surprising both of them. "Y-you! Please! Pair up with me, I don't have anyone!"

The humanized lion raised an eyebrow. "...you know this Pokémon?" she asked her acquaintance.

Said humanized bat was about to shake her head, when she realized she faintly remembered Kyogre. Specifically, from a certain crappy murder mystery that turned out to be fine. "You're... Kyogre..."

"Y-yes! Please help me, Lunala!" Kyogre wailed.

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