Chapter 78

"No, no, no, not there!" Cara yelled at the human Machamp that was hauling the band's equipment, "the speaker's facing the wrong way!" She rubbed her forehead, wondering how somebody could make that mistake. The speakers face the crowd, not the band.

Cara was already planning out how she was going to spend the money they were making from this show. There were no tournament battles scheduled for the day. Alfred Silph had declared it as an off day. There was one at the start of each round that featured a special event. The outdoor performance of Serenade and the Triplets was one of those events, this year.

It had taken most of the afternoon to prepare their stage. For a large-scale outdoor concert, they needed more than the tiny platform Silph had given them the day of the opening ceremonies. The speakers and other pieces of electronic equipment needed more space, and thus, a bigger stage. As her band's manager, she decided to oversee the entire process.

While she stood outside, the sky turned darker and darker. So far, the rain had held off, but she was terrified that it would start pouring at any second. If she wasn't ready, all of the equipment could be ruined. The concert could be rescheduled, but replacing the band's equipment would not be easy or cheap.

She had to remind herself that she was almost done. Setting up was her job. The concert itself was up to Serenade and the Dugtrio-triplets. Once it started, she could fade into the crowd and try to enjoy herself.

This tournament was by far the biggest show the band had ever put on. For this one night, they could put on a real, live concert. After this, they would have to go back to tiny club showings, just to pay the bills. Cara promised herself to enjoy it while it lasted.

Though Cara had won her first match of the tournament, it meant little to her. The shows that the band put on were the real reason she was here. The tournament was just a diversion. It might even help to boost the band's popularity. If they did well in their matches, then they weren't just a band. They were a band that could fight.

In truth, even though Cara had four human Pokémon, she wasn't much of a trainer anymore. After the triplets evolved and Serenade suddenly had a band to back up her solo career, things changed quickly for Cara.

Evolving into a form that had hands made the triplets restless with them. Cara gave them instruments mostly out of desperation, but all three took to the job incredibly fast. They practiced as often as possible, favoring practicing over battling and training. They could read music before they could read words.

After a month and a half, Cara realized that she hadn't fought a single Pokémon battle since before they evolved. She had a fair amount of winnings saved up, but it was dwindling quickly. She had to look after not only herself, but six other people that had never worked a day in their lives.

Lucky for them all, the triplets' obsession with their new hobbies made them unexpectedly good in a short time. Cara had never managed anything in her life, but she soon found herself doing the only thing that made sense. She never expected things to fall into place, like that. Life was a strange thing, sometimes.

Still, Pokémon training was nothing like managing a band and her new life was filled with all sorts of responsibilities and obligations. She had no choice but to release the rest of her Pokémon. It was the end of an important part of her life, but she had to move on. She had her hands full with her new life.

Of course, her Pokémon weren't Pokémon anymore. They were people. She wouldn't have to face her new life alone. She had friends to help her. They might not be famous, but the band was theirs. It was fun and it brought them closer together. She didn't really want anything more out of life.

"Come on, come on, put your back into it!"

Cara turned to see Sparks hefting a speaker that would've required at least two strapping human men to move it. Behind him, Ebony taunted and mocked his every action. Whenever she did this to Sparks, her voice seemed to take on the sound of a crow's cawing.

"I don't…see you…helping," Sparks grunted.

"Sparks, let the human Machamp do it," Cara sighed "I'd rather not break anything before the concert starts."

Ignoring his trainer, Sparks set the speaker down with a loud thud that made Cara wince.

"Does that mean I can break it once it's over?" Sparks half-sneered.

"Only if you don't like eating," Cara shot back.

"Fine…" the human Luxray grumbled as he shuffled off of the stage.

Just a little bit longer, Cara reminded herself.

As afternoon turned into dusk, the sky grew so dark; it was as if the sun had set a full hour before it was supposed to. Cara held out her palm, checking for rain, more and more often. Yet, the threatening clouds, that she could no longer see, held back.

It was officially night time when the stage was ready and Cara could finally relax a little and enjoy the results of her work. The square had been roped off since mid-afternoon, but it slowly filled with tournament-goers eager to hear the only human Pokémon band in existence.

Cara slipped behind the stage to check on her band. The triplets were busy tuning their instruments, while Serenade nervously paced. It was always strange how she could be so calm and poised everywhere she went yet be a nervous wreck before getting up on stage.

"Cara! Cara, sweetie!" she walked straight over to her trainer and hugged her, "Where have you been? I missed you so much!"

"Calm down," Cara smiled, well-adjusted to the routine, "you know how it is. It's like a battle. Once you start, everything you were worried about stops mattering. You do this all the time."

"I know! But never like this," she peered out at the growing crowd, "a crowd this big…it means we're famous, doesn't it?"

Cara could only shrug, "probably not." It was a big crowd, to be sure. Not to mention that their paycheck would be a very nice, very healthy thing to see. But, famous? That was asking for a little much.

"Really?" Serenade's purplish skin turned a shade or two lighter, "I'm this nervous and we're not even famous?"

"Look on the bright side," Cara smirked, "if you screw up, it doesn't really mean anything."

The nervous, but still elegant Jynx-woman stared at Cara, unsure of what to say or do.

"You'll do fine," Cara assured her, "you always do. As soon as they hear you sing, you'll have nothing to worry about."

"Okay…" Serenade took a deep breath. It didn't help. "At least stay until it's time to start…"

"Always."

"Hmm…" Mark looked around the open Himitsu Island square. It was difficult to see through the crowd and getting close to the stage would be next to impossible. Even at normal times, the square was filled with people. But that was nothing compared to the concert. Nearly everyone on the island had shown up.

Cherry edged nearer to him, peering out at the crowd.

"Do you think you'll be okay?" Mark asked, remembering her fear of crowds and small spaces. She didn't answer, so he went on. "Alright, stay close and we'll see if we can find a table or…something." He doubted their chances, but it was better than standing in the back.

Maple stayed close behind, her eyes looking everywhere as she soaked in the experience. Neither of the Pokémon girls had ever been to a concert and they jumped at the chance to see one.

Mark didn't really know what to expect since he had never heard of the band. He assumed it was some sort of underground group anyway since each member was a human Pokémon. Still, it was something to do.

His plan of walking around the island with the two girls had backfired. It felt far too much like his disastrous date with Maple just three days ago. It was maddening that he still couldn't make up his mind about Maple while she loved him so completely.

Trying to forget about Team Deus was proving to be pointless, as well. What if they planned to attack during the concert? People would panic and end up hurting each other in the confusion. He felt like he had no choice but to stand back and watch the world burn down around him.

However, the afternoon, and hopefully the concert, had not been a complete waste. Maple and Cherry were becoming closer all the time. Though Cherry had been bored while doing it, she happily told Maple how quickly she had defeated fifty Bidoof that morning and learned Flame Burst. At the same time, Cherry watched in wide-eyed fascination when Maple retold how she had Surfed across a river with Teardrop and Quickstep. They delighted in catching up with each other, like true sisters.

Mark envied them both. Their relationship came so easily. They were relaxed and comfortable with each other even though they just met. Mark had never made friends, like that. It always took time for him to really count on someone as a friend.

He supposed part of that came from his life as a Pokémon trainer. Alone on the road, he often didn't see people more than once, even when revisiting a town. Building a relationship with someone who was in your life for such a brief time was not something he could do. There was no point to it. He always knew that whoever he met would leave and he would be on his own again.

Cheers sounded throughout the square, making Mark look up.

Through the sea of people, he could just make out the band members coming on stage. His eyes widened as he recognized the human Jynx and Dugtrio triplets he had met earlier that day. Small world, he thought.

As they started to play, Mark focused on cutting a path through the crowd. Cherry still clung to him, but not with the death-like grip she usually used. She was getting better, but even Mark found the enormous crowd suffocating. He dreaded seeing Kim somewhere in that crowd. He would have to apologize to her sometime, just not tonight.

While he was thinking that, he missed someone else he knew pass by them, going in the opposite direction.

Instead, it was Maple who caught sight of Silver and Aroma, their hands locked together, weaving through the crowd. Her eyes lingered on them for a bit as she began to wonder where Lily was. If two of her human Pokémon were there, surely Lily would be as well. But neither Lily nor Shinobi were anywhere nearby. Realizing that she missed Lily and wanted to see her again, Maple decided she would point it out to Mark when she had the chance.

The longer they pushed through the crowd, the more pointless it seemed. Mark wondered if there were any chairs and tables left, at all. With a crowd this big, they had most likely been cleared away to make room for more people. He was about to give up entirely when another familiar face appeared through the crowd.

"Hey! I remember you!" Cara shouted through the crowd, "Having a good time?!"

"Uhh…sort of…" Mark shouted back.

"Huh?!"

"I said SORT OF!" Mark yelled.

Cara glanced down at Cherry and realized what the problem was.

"I know what you mean!" Cara shouted, "Follow me!"

Unexpectedly, the crowd parted for Cara much more easily than it did for Mark. He took full advantage of it, though, and followed as close as possible. In just a few minutes, she led them to the far end of the square, where a few tables were roped off. A hanging sign said that they were reserved for special guests. Most were empty, but a human Luxray and Honchkrow sat at one of them. They were bickering loudly, even with the concert blaring around them.

Cara lifted the rope up and allowed Mark, Cherry and Maple to pass underneath.

Cherry released Mark's leg as she relaxed and Mark breathed a sigh of relief.

"We won't be able to see them, from here!" Cara shouted, "But I think we can hear them just fine! We may have gone overboard!"

"This is great!" Mark shouted back, "Thanks a bunch!"

"No problem!" Cara answered. She started to settle back into her own seat, but she sat up again, as if forgetting something.

"Hey! I wanted to apologize for earlier!" It was hard to sound sorry while shouting, but Cara gave it a shot anyway. "I mean, I know somebody should fight those guys! I just don't think that's us!"

"Why not?!" Mark had to ask. Who else was there?

Cara shrugged before answering. "I don't know! But we're just normal people!"

Mark nodded. That was certainly something he had to agree with. He had just started learning more about human Pokémon. He was still a stranger and a newcomer to everyone here. He wasn't even an especially skilled trainer, either. So, why think that it was his job to bring down a group as powerful as Team Deus? Now that was stupid. Childish, even.

He looked at Maple and Cherry. Protecting them was the true reason he wanted to fight Team Deus. He had made new friends at this tournament, as well, and he wanted to protect them all. But now he knew that attacking would only put them in harm's way.

There was only one option left. Whenever Team Deus showed their faces again, he needed to be ready. He had no idea when that day would come, but he knew it would be soon. He couldn't explain it, but he had a sixth sense that told him something big was happening beneath their feet.

Sighing heavily, he leaned back in his chair. He knew worrying would accomplish nothing. Instead, he sat back and tried to think about nothing but the music. When he did, he started to realize just how beautiful it sounded.

AN: back again. Still alive, still writing.

I missed my two-year anniversary, though. Which sucks.

But, anyway…

I know that there's obviously going to be some severe pacing issues with Day 6 (I think there were about 10 chapters dedicated to just the morning and now just a handful spent on afternoon and evening) but, unfortunately, it's going to have to stay that way for a while. After nine months spent on ONE DAY I really, really, REALLY want to move on.

So…let's just get on with it and I'll try to fix it…sometime. Maybe when the whole monster is finished…which will be, like, six years from now…

So…yeah…I guess that's everything. I'll be back as soon as I can.

Thanks for reading!