ch 9: A full case Showcase
It was early in the morning in Cerulean city and Serena was up with her pokemon outside the pokemon center.
"Charla use Flamethrower and the Scratch through it!" Serena shouted. Charla opened her mouth and unleashed a jet of fire forward before dancing through it , using her claws to slash through the fire and caused it to be moved around her in.
"It looks beautiful, great job Charla. Alright Nidoran your turn." Serena said.
Her Nidoran opened her mouth and unleashed a barrage of poison stingers into the air before leaping up and slashing them with scratch, causing dozens of shining pieces of stingers falling around her.
"Yes, just like we've been practicing." Serena said. She turned around to Ash, Pikachu, and Charizard who were watching her performance.
"How did we do?" Serena asked.
"Amazing Serena, you and your pokemon are more than ready for your showcase today." Ash said.
"Pika."
"Grauu." Pikachu and Charizard said nodding.
"Char." Charla said blushing.
"Alright, how about we get some breakfast." Serena said.
"Ni!".
"Char!". Several minutes later Ash , Serena, and their pokemon were at the pokemon center with Brock having breakfast.
"So Serena, what time is your showcase and where is it at?" Brock asked.
"It's at a theater downtown at about 3:00." Serena said.
"So Serena who will you be using for the opening round?" Ash asked.
"Probably Charla, she volunteered to go first." Serena said.
"Do you plan on using Absol?" Brock asked.
"You're only allowed two in the showcase, Absol has been in plenty of performances and I want my younger two to have this one. I am a bit nervous though, this is the first time I've been performing in a competition." Serena said.
"You'll be fine Serena, your performances were always the best." Ash said.
"Thank you Ash, you make me feel more confident in myself." Serena said as she blushed. Moments later, the doors to the pokemon center opened as a young man walked in.
The young man had dark blue spiky hair and brown eyes. He wore a white and green long sleeved shirt with blue areas around the buttons coming up the center.
The young man walked up to the counter and placed two pokeballs on the counter.
"I need my pokemon looked at." He said.
"Don't worry, I'll take care of it." Nurse Joy said. They boy walked over to the table near the group and sat down.
"Charla's fire dance is going well. I think I'm going to have her use it in round one of the showcase." Serena said.
This caught the attention of the boy sitting next to them. He turned around and saw Serena sitting next at the table.
"Is it really her." He said as his eyes widened .
"I can't wait to see her on stage." Ash said.
"Serena Achille! Is that really you!?" The boy almost shouted.
"Yes, do I know you?" Serena said.
"If only, my name is Thomas Moore. " Tom said.
"How do you know Serena?" Brock asked.
"A year ago when my family was on a vacation in Kalos, we saw a performance in Lumoise city. You were the star of that performance and it was the most amazing thing i've ever seen. You and your Delphox were so elegant, graceful, and beautiful." Tom said.
"Oh well thank you." Serena said.
"So are you a performer too?" Brock asked.
"Well, not really."
"Not really?" Serena asked.
"The thing is my older brother is a pokemon trainer who's competing in the Indigo league and always trained me to be like him. A few weeks ago he took me to Professor Oak and picked out a starter pokemon from him. I thought I was going to compete in the Indigo league with him, but that was when I watched a showcase in Celadon city. After that it rekindled my love for performances. I told my brother that I needed some time to think about what I wanted to do and we parted ways."
"So you're just not sure of what you want to do?" Ash said.
"I guess, I mean I think like to be a performer like you Serena. But I'm not sure if I should just give up on being a regular trainer." Tom said.
"Well I wanted to have one more practice session with my pokemon before the showcase today. If you'd like you could watch and see in depth training for performers. Plus you could come to the showcase today." Serena said.
"Really, thank you Serena." Tom said.
"Let's go." Brock said.
"Char!" Charla shouted. The group looked down and saw the pokemon hadn't even finished half their breakfast.
"I suppose we should wait until they've eaten." Ash said as the others sweat dropped with him.
After the pokemon finished their breakfast the group went back outside the pokemon center.
"Alright guys time to show Tom what it's like to be a performer. Charla use your sparkling us cover." Serena said.
"Char." Charla said as she checked to see if Charizard was watching.
"Wait! I should let my pokemon watch this too." Tom said as he took out his two pokeballs.
"Come on out guys." Tom said. A Squirtle and Spearow came out and stood beside Tom.
"So you picked a Squirtle as your starter." Ash said.
"Yup, my brother picked a Squirtle as his starter and I always liked his Squirtle." Tom said.
Charla slid her claws across the ground causing a cloud of dust to form around her before igniting the dust with a burst of fire. As the dust lit up, it sparkled and fell around Charla as she caught some with her arms and brought it around her in an elegant manner.
"Amazing." Tom said.
"Great work Charla." Ash said as Pikachu and Charizard nodded.
"Char." Charla said blushing.
"Alright Nidoran use Double kick on the ground into Furry swipes." Serena said.
Nidoran smashed her feet into the ground causing several rocks to fly above her. Moments later she leapt up and slashed the rocks into smaller pieces falling around her.
"She's amazing." Tom said.
Serena and her Pokemon continued to show Tom their performances for the next 15 minutes.
"Well that's all we have so far." Serena said.
"They were all so amazing, how did you get them down?" Tom asked.
"Lot's of practice, speaking of which why don't you have your pokemon try something." Serena said.
"Well, I'm not so sure. I mean we've never practiced anything like that before." Tom said nervously.
"Don't worry we'll start them off with simple things." Serena said. Ash and Brock sat down a table as Tom and Serena stood in the center of the battlefield with Squirtle and Spearow beside them.
"Alright we'll take this one step at a time, have Squirtle use Water gun straight up." Serena said.
"Straight up?" Tom said confused.
"You'll see." Serena said.
"Alright Squirtle, use Water gun straight up." Tom said.
"Squir." Squirtle said as he opened his mouth and let out a jet of water. The water flew several feet into the air before it started to fall down and around Squirtle like a fountain.
"Oh I see it's like a fountain." Tom said.
"Now have Squirtle move around in it." Serena said. Squirtle slowly moved around under the water as Tom looked on in amazement.
"Hey Squritle's actually doing it."
"Good job Squirtle, now have him move faster like a dance." Serena said.
Squirtle began to dance around the water which started off ok, until Squirtle slipped on some of the water on the ground.
"Uh oh." Tom said as Squirtle fell back onto his back.
"Squirtle." Squirtle said as he tried to get up.
"It's alright, that sometimes happens early on. You just need to keep trying. Why not have Spearow have a go." Serena said as Tom helped Squirtle up.
"Start off with him flying straight up." Tom ordered his Spearow to do so and the bird flew straight up.
"Alright now have him come down and spin." Serena said.
Spearow began flying down as he spun.
"Good Spearow." Tom said.
Moments later Spearow came to close to the ground and slammed his wing into the dirt before crashing into the battlefield and tumbling across the ground.
"This all seems a bit familiar?" Brock said.
"Ohhh." Tom groaned.
"It's ok, this happens with younger pokemon. We just need to keep trying." Serena said.
For the next 40 minutes Serena helped Tom and his pokemon practice performing. By the end , they had made as much progress as Serena had back on route 4 a few days ago.
"It's ok, it wasn't that bad." Serena said sweat dropping as Tom's Squirtle got up.
""Sigh" It's hopeless, I knew I didn't have what it takes to be a performer." Tom said.
"Tom you need to keep your head up, performing is an art. You can't expect yourself and your pokemon to get it right away. I mean I've been performing for years, and just a few days ago my Charmander and Nidoran were messing up just like your pokemon." Serena said.
"What?" Tom said as his pokemon gave just as surprised expressions.
"No one is perfect and everyone goes through this stage. You need to find the right way to train them." Serena said.
"Serena, it's time." Ash shouted. Serena looked at her watch and saw the showcase started in 20 minutes.
"Oh shoot Ash is right, we need to get to the performance hall." Serena said.
"Hey, would you mind if I came to your showcase?" Tom asked.
"Of course I wouldn't." Serena said. Ten minutes later Ash and the others reached a large theater building near the lagoon.
"This is it, the showcase performance hall." Serena said before they entered. Inside the lobby they saw two areas, one for contestants and one for spectators.
"I'll going to check in, see you guys after the performance." Serena said.
"Good luck Serena." Ash said to her.
"Pika!."
"It's been a while since I've been to a showcase. This should be exciting." Brock said.
"I know, I've been to her performances before, but now seeing her compete." Ash said.
"Compete against other lovely young ladies." Brock said as he blushed at several female performers walking by him.
"Is he alright?" Tom asked Ash.
"He's acting completely normal." Ash said as he sweat dropped with Pikachu.
Several minutes later Serena was in the back waiting-changing room with her pokemon. Serena had changed into the same dress she wore in her last performance in Kalos.
For all the experience she had, Serena still felt nervous about the showcase. It was still her first time in one.
"Char." Charla said as she looked up at her trainer and smiled.
Serena could see the confidence on Charla's expression, and smiled herself.
"You're right Charla, we're going to do great." Serena said.
"Char!" Charla said. Back in the main theater room, Ash, Brock, and Tom were sitting in an upper level of the auditorium.
The lights in the room dimmed as 4 spotlights shined onto the center of the stage. Standing there was a man in a black and blue suit and top hat.
Sitting on the man's shoulder was a Pidgy.
"Welcome one and all to the Cerulean city pokemon Showcase. I am your master of ceremonies Roger Thames." The man said into a microphone before spinning his entire body around. Ash and the rest of the crowd noticed that once the man had stopped spinning the Pidgy on his shoulder was gone, instead there was a Pidgeotto on his other shoulder.
"What the?" Tom asked.
"Today we welcome several very skilled performers to showcase their style, grace, and skill, and in the end we will have one winner." Roger said as he spun around again.
When he returned to facing the crowd the Pidgeotto was gone. Not a moment later A Pidgeot flew up from behind him and above the crowd.
"Wow this guy is good." Brock said.
"Now presenting our first performer, Anna Louis." Roger said as the spotlights focused away from him and onto a young woman who looked about 22 years old.
She was tall with tan skin like Ash and long brown hair with red eyes. She wore a blue dress with white stripes across it and her hair done up in a bun. Standing beside her was a Ponyta.
"She's beautiful!" Brock said as his face turned red.
"Get ready for a lot of this." Ash said.
"Anna will now perform the first round of the showcase. The glamour round, here the performer will have a chance to adorn their pokemon with props and beauty supplies. Then your pokemon will do a routine. It will then be up to our judges if you move onto the final round." Roger said before he backed up out of the light and seemly vanished.
Moments later a small changing room appeared in the center of the stage.
Anna and her Ponyta entered the changing room and remained in there as a timer on top of the changing room counted down from 2 minutes.
"This is a bit different than performances in Kalos." Ash said.
Once the timer hit zero Anna stepped out with her Ponyta beside her. The Ponyta had gold ribbons adorned across her body and a bow done up on her tail.
Many in the crowd were impressed with Ponyta's appearance.
"Let us begin Ponyta my dear, start off with Ember across the ground." The Ponyta opened her mouth and let out several small bursts of fire that formed a pattern across the ground.
"Now use Stomp." The Ponyta majestically leapt and danced across the stage, using her hooves to extinguish each small flame and create a small amount of smoke around her.
Once all of the fire was all out Ponyta came to the center of the smoke.
"Fire spin.". The Ponyta raised her head and unleashed a spinning torrent of fire. As the fire circled around Ponyta it drew the smoke back in and around the fire forming a pattern.
"Now!" Anna shouted.
The Fire spin burst out and around Ponyta in a very organized manner.
After all the fire and smoke cleared Ponyta and Anna were standing beside each other. The crowd burst into applause as Anna and her Ponyta bowed.
"Well done Anna and Ponyta." Rogers said as he reappeared.
"Our judges will mark your performance Anna." Roger said as Anna and her Ponyta walked off the stage.
"Now presenting our next performer, all the way from the Kalos region. Serena Achille!" Roger shouted.
"Yeah Serena!" Ash shouted.
Serena stepped onto the stage wearing her dress with Charla beside her. Tom noticed Ash blushing a bit as he watched Serena.
"Hey why is he blushing, aren't they already dating?" Tom asked.
"If I were dating a girl as pretty as Serena I'd still blush around her too." Brock said.
"Alright here we go." Serena said as she and Charla looked out at the crowd before walking into the changing room.
Once inside Serena sat Charla down and took out the accessories.
"Time to show them just how beautiful you are Charla." Serena said.
"Char." The timer on the changing room hit zero before Serena and Charla stepped out of the changing room.
Charla had a blue bow on top of her head with sparkles put around her body. She also wore 3 ribbons across her body that connected to her tail , but didn't restrict it. Serena also put something in Charla's tail flame that temporarily turned the fire blue. She had also done up Charla's eyelashes.
"Wow her Charmander looks great." Tom said.
"Serena did a wonderful job." Ash said.
"Pika."
"Char." Charla said looked at the crowd, almost disappointed Ash's Charizard could not watch her.
Serena took a deep breath.
"Here we go, Charla give it everything you've got." Serena said.
"Char!" Charla opened her mouth and let out a jet of fire around her. Once the fire was all around her , Charla began using Scratch through the flames causing streaks of fire to be moved out in patterns.
"It's so pretty." Tom said.
Charla kept this up until she tripped up on one of her foot claws.
"Oh no." Brock said.
Charla nearly fell flat on the ground, but Serena didn't freak out. She stayed calm and knew what to do.
"Scratch on the ground!".
Charla quickly dug her right claws into the ground , this caught herself and allowed her to remain on her feet.
"Whew." Serena said in relief.
"That was a close one." Brock said. Charla continued to scratch her claw across the ground making a circle as bits of the stage came up and around her.
"Flamethrower." Serena said.
"Char!" Charla shouted as she let out another jet off fire that lit up the bits of stage around her, making them sparkle.
"Wow, she almost messed up but was able to recover." Tom said.
"I'm so proud of her." Ash said.
"Scratch!" Serena shouted. Charla burst out of the front of the sparkling fire with her claws. When she came out she had the sparkling fire all she slashed around her in a beautiful manner.
The crowd let out an uproar of applause as Serena and Charla took a bow.
"Quite a fiery performance." Rogers said as he appeared beside Serena.
"We'll leave the rest up to our judges." Rogers said as Serena and Charla walked back into he other room.
"That was incredible, even when something went wrong Serena was able to do a great performance." Tom said.
"She has learned to stay calm and collective even when a situation is bad." Ash said. Several other performers came through and did their routines before Rogers stood alone on the stage.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we've seen several outstanding performances today. Unfortunately, only 3 of our performers will get to move on to the final round. Our judges had made their decisions and the following trainers will be moving onto the final round are." Rogers started before a spotlight shined behind him revealing Anna.
"Anna Louis."
The spotlight shined behind Rogers again revealing a young man who looked about 21. He had dark skin, very short black hair, and blue eyes. He was wearing a blue and black suit similar to Roger's.
"Michel Wilkerson."
"Only one spot left." Tom said. Ash and the others watched anxiously as the spotlight shined on the third spot.
Standing there was none other than Serena.
"Serena Achille." Rogers said.
"Alright Serena!" Ash shouted.
" Each performer will use another pokemon to do one more performance. This time without any props. At the end, the judges will decide who our first, second and third place winners will be. First place will win gold prestige, second silver prestige, and third bronze prestige." Rogers said.
"Prestige?" Ash asked.
"Prestige, it's points each performer has. When they collect enough prestige they are allowed to move onto the next level of showcase." Brock said.
"Next level?" Ash asked.
"There are 3 levels, beginners, intermediate, and performers." Brock said.
Serena and Nidoran stood at the doorway to the stage as Michel and his Wartorle did their performance.
The Wartortle was inside his shell spinning around as a jet of water flew from each of the holes, making the shell spin around as the water spun in like a cyclone.
"Hydro pump." The Wattle got up and unleashed a massive jet of water straight up through the center of the cyclone.
"Now Aqua Jet!".
"Torltle!" The Wartortle shouted as he shot up through the Hydro pump. Each time he passed through, the water burst out of the cyclone until Wartorle reached the top and burst out of the top.
After doing so he did front flips as he came towards the ground. Just before hitting, the Wartortle smashed the ground with Aqua tail causing water to go everywhere.
"Tortle!" The Wartortle shouted as he raised his arms.
The entire crowd lit up in applause as Michel and his Wartorle bowed.
"Wow this guy is good, Serena's got her work cut out for her." Brock said.
"She can do it." Ash said.
"Now for the final performance by Serena Achille and her Nidoran." Rogers said as Serena and Nidoran came out and took the stage.
"Alright Nidoran , just like we practiced. I know we can do it." Serena said.
"Ni!".
"Double kick on the ground." Serena said. Nidoran smashed her feet into the ground, causing pieces of the stage to fly in the air above her.
"Scratch."
"Ni!" Nidoran shouted as she leapt up and scratched the pieces causing them to get cut into smaller pieces that sparkled as they fell around Nidoran.
"Now use Poison sting." Nidoran opened her mouth and unleashed a barrage of poison stingers into the air.
"Scratch!". Nidoran leapt up and slashed each of the stingers into smaller pieces.
"Double Kick!".
"Ni!" Nidoran shouted as she kicked half the stings into the ground forming a pattern around her.
The rest of the stingers fell around Nidoran in a beautiful manner.
"Tail whip!" Serena shouted. Nidoran smashed her tail into the falling spikes, making them go back around the air before he leapt into them and had them land on her back, making her sparkle as well.
The crowd applauded as Serena and Nidoran bowed.
"Alright Nidoran!" Brock shouted.
Inside a private box above the rest of the seats sat none other than Elle and a man around her age.
"Serena and her pokemon certainly don't disappoint." Elle said.
"Does that mean you think she's the winner" The young man asked.
"It's a hard decision, that Michel and his Wartortle were also very good. Still I'm very proud of the way she's improved herself and her pokemon." Elle said.
"I wonder if she'll be as good as you someday."
"Maybe." Elle said.
"That was a joke, no one is ever as good as you." He said before giving Elle a short kiss on the cheek.
Several minutes later Serena, Michel, and Anna stood behind Rogers on the stage.
"Our judges have made their decision. All three of you have performer very well and will all receive prestige for doing so. Now the first place winner of gold Prestige is none other than." Roger started 3 the three performers were anxious to hear who won.
"Michel Wilkerson!" Rogers shouted.
"Huh?" Anna said.
"Yes! we did it!" Michel shouted.
"Tortle!".
"Kada!" His Kadabra shouted.
"She didn't win." Tom said.
"It's alright. She still did her best." Ash said.
Serena's Pokemon felt knots in their stomachs form. They had given everything they had and it had not been enough.
Serena had already had experience in not winning, she was able to get past this, but she knew she would have to help her pokemon.
"Now our second place and silver prestige winner, is Serena Achille!" Rogers shouted.
"Char."
"Ni." Serena's Pokemon said in surprise.
"We got second." Serena said.
"Alright Serena!" Ash shouted.
"Char!".
"Ni!" Serena's Pokemon shouted as they jumped into her arms.
"I'm so proud of you guys." Serena said.
Rogers walked over to Serena and opened a box. Inside was white ribbon.
"This ribbon will mark your progress." Rogers said as he took a silver metal symbol and put it on the ribbon.
"Thank you." Serena said.
After Serena left the stage she changed back into her normal cloths and met with the others.
"Serena congratulations." Brock said.
"Thanks guys, I may not have won but second place for a first showcase is still good." Serena said.
"I'm proud of you Serena." Ash said as he came in and kissed her. Brock personally didn't like this, being reminded that he was alone.
"Maybe we should get to the pokemon cent." Brock started before Serena kicked his leg.
"Ouch." Brock said. After Ash and Serena withdrew they left the hall to go to the pokemon center.
"Silver prestige, that's a very good start Serena." Brock said.
"You and you're pokemon did amazing." Ash said.
"Thanks guys, Charla, Nidoran you two really pulled through." Serena said.
"Char!".
"Ni!".
"Hey Serena, I just wanted to thank you again for all the training you gave me and most of all for helping me realize that I do want to be a performer." Tom said.
"Wait I did?" Serena said a bit confused.
"I saw how even when Charla messed up, you stayed calm and made the best of it and puled through. Plus in the end you didn't win the whole thing , but you still were proud of what you accomplished. That is the kind of trainer I want to be." Tom said.
Serena couldn't believe she had actually inspired someone. It felt good.
"So I guess this means we part ways as rivals." Tom said.
"I guess so, good luck." Serena said.
"Thanks, you too." Tom said before he walked off.
"Well I'd say our time here in Cerulean city has been time well spent. I got a gym badge and Serena got a silver prestige in her showcase." Ash said.
"Where to next?" Serena asked.
"Vermillion city. Route 5 should take us right there." Ash said.
"Let's go." Serena said.
"Maybe we should wait here at the pokemon center a little longer. You know with nurse Joy and." Brock started before he saw Ash and Serena walk out.
"Hey wait up!" Brock shouted as he ran after them.
Author's note
So that was the first showcase, no battling I'm afraid. That would be too much like contests.
Tom is not Sam, I want to make that clear, he does not have a thing for Serena.
Anyway expect to see Tom again a few times,
Now expect the next few chapters to be a mix of anime based, and my own creations.
Also expect to see a few familiar faces, not all from pokemon though.
So until next time please review, comment, suggest, or ask (via PM)