Part CLXVIII: Performer Mix and Mingle

"Woah this place is bigger than the one at Pierre's." Ash said as he looked around the grand ballroom of Gloire Chateau, the large castle atop a hill that overlooked Gloire City that hosted the Master Class as he, Misty who had her arm linked with his, May and Serena entered the large room that had a similar design and style to the one at Pierre's chateau only much larger. "Impressive."

"Well, it is the location that hosts the Master Class, the pinnacle of performing in Kalos." Serena said as they moved away from the door and headed over to an open area of the room to congregate and look around at the other performers who'd gathered for the event. "So, it has to be one of Kalos's best to receive that honor. We didn't do this last year though which was a bit of a shame because I feel like it's a good way to relax and have fun with the other girls so as to foster health rivalries before the competition itself."

"That was the idea behind starting the Grand Receptions for the Grand Festivals, a way to get everyone together for something lighter before the competition began even if Kenny annoyed us at the Kanto one last year." May said. "And with Kalos having its first of those this year, well the Showcase Committee couldn't let themselves be outdone by the Contest one after all."

"Such is the nature of those things, but I don't mind it, I always enjoy a chance to dress up and meet my rivals." Misty said as she looked around. "And see what everyone else is going with of course, so many beautiful fashion choices around here to enjoy."

Misty herself was wearing an ankle length royal blue, sleeveless ball gown, her locket clear on her upper chest though she wasn't showing any cleavage, with a bright pink sash around her waist and matching blue gloves that came to just past her elbows and low healed blue shoes with a pink bow on them to add to their cuteness. The one thing she didn't have, mainly because of the fact that she didn't have anything that matched her dress, was the holder for her Ability Symbol she usually wore but she'd have it for the Master Class.

Overall, it was a little more adult but also simpler to what Misty usually went for but for such an event she felt like it was for the best. Plus, it didn't look out of place at all as many of the other girls were in similar styles with plenty fancier than her.

Serena likewise was going with a fancy dress, in her case red as it was the color that looked best on her, though she'd mixed it up a bit as it was sleeveless it had a loop for around her neck, and she'd actually spent some time with May and Misty applying concealer to her back as few of the scars there were a little too high for the dress to hide. The dress itself was standard Kalos style with a slim waist and more flowing skirt part with slight ruffles and a white underskirt to create a hem at the base. She complemented it with white shoes, belt and gloves.

Lastly May had just done what Ash was doing and reusing an outfit though unlike Ash who was actually reusing the same strange medieval outfit he liked for some reason, May at least changed up the color scheme again. It was of course her usual Hoenn princess maiden outfit though this time the top part that covered her ample bosom, shoulders and upper arms was jet black with bold green edging and markings on her chest, the same with the belt of it that hugged her hips before the pale green dress part flowed down to her ankles. She kept her choker with her Key Stone in it on, however.

There were a few slight changes to it, however. For starters she wasn't wearing the head piece, rather her hair was unadorned but for a black and green bow to hold it all together, Misty was straight free flowing her hair while Serena opted for a headband to match her dress. However, the biggest change was that May had added connecting piece between the chest and belt parts in the same color and style of the dress part to hide her normally exposed midsection and wore simple black gloves in keeping with the predominate Kalos preference for gloves.

The reason behind May's need for a sudden addition to her usual outfit was because it wouldn't fit Kalos's unwritten proprietary standards to have her navel exposed. Sure, cleavage was fine, and a glance around showed a few of the performers were more than willing to accentuate their natural assets in ways that always made smaller girls like Misty and Serena self-conscious, but an exposed belly was too far apparently.

May hadn't minded that and gotten it sorted during the week to be in line with Kalos's expectations. Plus, seeing as she planned on reusing the outfit for the Grand Reception everything worked out for her.

"A good portion of the competitors are here already." Serena said looking around at the gathered girls, their dates, and friends who were accompanying them. "Many I recognize from the Showcases we've seen this year."

"Yeah, basically every girl who made it to a final I was in has made it to the Master Class which is nice to see." Misty said looking around and recognizing several faces and styles from amongst the girls present. "Can't see any of the…"

"If you are looking for the other top favorites to challenge Aria, you're the second to arrive after me and from what I've heard Jessilee only comes to these to remind us she's around but then again she is the oldest woman competing so I can understand that." A new voice, one Misty had never heard before, said from behind her causing them to turn around. "As for the others, well it takes a certain level of skill just to make the Freestyle Round of a Showcase so as more and more girls get that third key or improve you tend to see the finalists from your past Showcases at this. I certainly see plenty from my two finals this year, yourself included Misty."

The girl, or more accurate to say woman as she was clearly in her early 20s, was immediately familiar to Misty from a past final even if she had a different outfit on this time and Misty had never spoken to her during their one Showcase together. The woman herself was a little taller than Misty with a slender physique and short green hair cut in a bob and under an orange hat thing some in Kalos liked that was set at a tasteful angle and matching green eyes.

She wore a simple orange dress that came up to her shoulders with a V cut in the center though she opted for a white thing there to hide any cleavage she may display, not that Misty would tell her that she didn't need to as she was noticeably flat. The dress continued to her calves and hugged her body the whole way down though there were slits on the sides allowing Misty to notice that her white, high heeled, boots came past her knees and her matching white gloves went up to her biceps.

It was an interesting style though it was clear that the woman wasn't fully comfortable with the formality of it, but Misty recalled her outfit in the one Showcase they'd been in together had been one that really suited her and looked great at the same time. She'd gotten fully dressed up for the event of course but Misty expected to see her in something cuter, peppier, and practical when the Master Class began the next day. After all, she'd expect no less from Kayleigh, one of the four favorites according to the fans this season.

"Kayleigh, a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance properly." Misty said taking her arm from Ash, who proceeded to go straight for the food because he was clearly hungry, and this was about to become a performer chat that he'd be unable to really contribute to, and holding out her hand that Kayleigh took with a firmer handshake than Misty would have expected. "I recall you in the Coumarine Showcase, that Furfrou of yours was very impressive."

"As was yours in the Anistar Showcase." Kayleigh said as she let go of Misty's hand. "Interesting to go with a different dye job than the traditional orange a Diamond Trim has. Why blue?"

"It's one of the colors that fits me best and Furfrou herself wanted it." Misty said with a shrug. "So, I obliged as the style was for her, so she had the right to choose it. I am surprised you watched that Showcase, didn't you earn your third key before then?"

"In Coumarine actually, only needed two as I got one last year before taking a break following an incident with a Pancham interrupting my freestyle." Kayleigh said and Misty noticed Serena squirm a little to her side for some reason. "But I couldn't not watch that Showcase, it was the one that everyone wanted to see after all. Both myself and Amelia were established and had reached the Master Class by that point and Jessilee was clearly the best newcomer going for a rare three for three year but, well, a battle between her and the shocker of the Showcase scene was one no one could miss. Or do you prefer being called the Prodigy of Sinnoh, Misty?"

"Just Misty is fine, especially in a Showcase setting." Misty said not surprised that Kayleigh was aware of the moniker she'd gotten stuck with as a coordinator. "That nickname was given to me when I was one of the favorites to become a Top Coordinator, I prefer that it stays in that arena even if my achievements there did earn me some notoriety in Showcases."

"It was a boost for sure and it will certainly help in the Master class, plus it brought you to the scene's attention when you debuted, but you were still just seen as a coordinator transitioning to a performer the way Serena, Miette, and Shauna were doing the reverse." Kayleigh said. "It was that first victory of yours that catapulted you into the spotlight and started the conversation around your potential this year. You shocked all of Kalos in the Dendemille Showcase."

"That was the goal of the performance." Misty said. "I failed in Coumarine because I was too rigid in my freestyle as I was treating it too much like a double appeal rather than what a freestyle actual is so I needed to shake it up, but I also needed something that would stick in the audience's mind. Thankfully, I had just the Pokémon for it, and it worked well in the end."

"Well?" Kayleigh asked with a laugh. "That's an understatement, it was the largest vote total of the year so of course it would stick in the audience's mind after what you pulled. Malamar is one thing, that's a Kalos Pokémon and there have been noted performers in the past who've done well with one, though they usually have a specific style to their work, but to bring in a Banette, that's almost unheard of here in Kalos and your normal style didn't lend anyone to expecting you'd use one."

"Part of the surprise of my Pokémon these days, started when my Swinub quickly evolved all the way to Mamoswine in the span of a week, that was a real learning experience, and became a Pokémon most wouldn't assume with someone like me." Misty said. "And since then, I've caught many more that most don't see coming, so I've come to like the surprise factor I have."

"Don't sell yourself too short Misty." Kayleigh said. "Because even that Banette wasn't the one that got all the talk, which is saying something, but rather it was your third Pokémon. I'd never seen anything like it, even Pierre had to actually look it up because he'd never seen one before. That's how most of Kalos learned what a Spiritomb was and how rare it is."

"He's magnificent, isn't he." Misty said with a smile. "He's one of strongest Pokémon and he's definitely my ultimate shocker. No one sees him coming as so few outside of my home region of Sinnoh even know what one is that you can't expect him."

"Unless they know you." May pointed out. "Nowadays your reputation is such that three regions know you on sight Misty and, well, you did use Spiritomb to win the Ribbon Cup, so it's become one of your notable Pokémon."

"True but he did his job in Dendemille." Misty said. "And that set the tone for me going forward on the Showcase scene this year."

"That it did." Serena said. "Put you out there for sure."

"Is he on you?" Kayleigh asked. "Your Spiritomb that is as I'd be curious to see him in the Master Class."

"No comment." Misty said with a grin. "All I'll say is that I own 20 Pokémon and all but one who is being trained by someone else as she has her own passions to follow are fair game for me to use in the Master Class."

"I expected as much Misty the unpredictable, you're just as I expected you yo be." Kayleigh said with a smile of her own. "I look forward to the surprises you have in store, a good challenge to rise to. The way you went full 180 in Anistar and did a traditional waltz with that Machamp, and your own beautiful Furfrou right after that creepy death dance thing you did in Dendemille, that's what got you to your position as a favorite. That and besting Jessilee in her first attempt at a third Princess Key thus handing Jessilee her only loss of the year."

"It was chance that we ended up in that Showcase together." Misty said. "But a good one, I like a rival who can really push me in a Showcase, and I got that in Anistar before blowing myself up in Couriway. This time though I got a few more rivals."

"And I don't intend on losing to you so I can't wait to see what challenge you bring me." Kayleigh said. "I took my time after last year's Lagoon fiasco but after watching the Master Class last year I was able to get back into it and take my game to this level."

"Is that the thing with a Pancham?" Misty asked. "The one you mentioned interrupted a freestyle performance of yours."

"Yup." Kayleigh said with a nod. "Last year's Lagoon Showcase, not the one that Jessilee won this season the one before it, was interrupted by a spirited, wild, Pancham that liked to show off to people and scared me during my freestyle. I had to take some time off, I was almost hit by some falling lighting thanks to that Pancham which frazzled my nerves a little, but I got back into it this year."

"That's good." Misty said. "What happened to that Pancham?"

"Yes, what indeed happened to that Pancham." Kayleigh said looking past Misty at a now bright red Serena. "Serena? I watched your stellar performance last year, even voted for you to face Aria in the final round, though I understand and won't take any offense if you vote for Misty over me this time around if we face off, but I did want to ask you about that Pancham of yours. It looked very familiar to me when I saw it in the Master Class."

"Serena?" Misty asked turning to her friend. "Your Pancham disrupted a Showcase last year?"

"He wasn't mine at the time." Serena said defensively before bowing slightly to Kayleigh. "But, um, yes, he is the one who disrupted you Kayleigh. I am sorry for that."

"It's ok, seeing him in the Master Class with the winner of it helped me fully move on from that incident and he certainly is good." Kayleigh said with dismissively as Serena rose from her bow. "He clearly liked performing, with a little training he became a real pro on stage."

"Thank you, I saw his potential back then and as I only had Fennekin at the time I realized I should try to catch him." Serena said. "So, with May's help we tracked him down, told him off for stealing and I offered him some shades that I didn't need to give him something legitimately which he still wears all the time. After that I asked if he wanted to join my team as I was going to be a performer so could train him to show off what he clearly loved to show off. He agreed but only if Fennekin could best him in a battle which she did and so I caught my first new Pokémon."

"I thought so, he's clearly good." Kayleigh said. "And his battle in the Wallace Cup against that Hitmontop was impressive, I could see how your performing background helped his battle and allowed you to win it."

"That was actually the first time I myself understood how performing could aid in a Contest battle." Serena said. "Though I am surprised you watched the Wallace Cup what with the Master Class coming up."

"When the three finalists from last year all suddenly switch to Contests for the year and opt to compete in the premier Contest that Kalos is hosting this year, along with how one of the other favorites is also in it, well I couldn't not watch it." Kayleigh said. "Plus, another favorite is a Top Coordinator so understanding the art is something I've tried to do, even participated in a few Contests and gotten past the appeals in them as my own personal performance style really transitions well to appeals but I tend to lose in the first battle as I'm not good at those. I do get how they could be useful and may even try them next year like you if I fail to become Kalos Queen."

"I have May to thank for advising me to broaden my skills and understanding with Contests." Serena said. "And the Wallace Cup really helped me properly realize how they can help me as a performer. Now I'm ready for the Grand Festival, even if it's via the wildcard."

"You did win the Wallace Cup and earn at least that avenue to the Grand Festival." Kayleigh said. "A great moment for all of Kalos to see and really solidify Contests here so I'm rooting for you to make and win the Grand Festival."

"Please, she only won it because she got a lucky extra hit in that battle so don't waste your support on her of all people, Kayleigh." A new, this time familiar, voice said in a sickly-sweet tone. "But you are not as perfect as me so I guess I can understand why you'd rally behind a fellow bottom feeder like Serena."

"I knew you'd be here." Serena said with a sigh and turning to the voice to see the sweetly smiling girl in her usual formal purple dress that she knew was standing there. "Hello Amelia, it's been far too short a time between our meetings."

"Serena." Amelia said coolly. "Kayleigh and Top Coordinators, looks like all but Jessilee is here, and I don't care for that old woman, like you lot she's not a threat to my ascension this year."

"You do know that your one ribbon this year came in a Contest both Misty and I judged." May pointed out. "So, it's clear we don't have any animus towards you or stake in this stupid game you seem keen on playing."

"And for that I'm grateful." Amelia said glancing in May before looking at Misty. "And to Misty for advancing me in the Wallace Cup as I know her appeals score for me was in her top 8 so she could at least keep any bias that Serena may have planted in her out of her scoring back then, but that civility between us ends there because now you're on my turf and I will crush you. I am here to become the Kalos Queen and none of you will be able to stop me."

"I'm not in it this year." Serena pointed out.

"Good, you can't steal yet another victory from me like you did in my own hometown last year." Amelia said her rage barely under control as she spoke. "Now be a good girl and shut it while the competitors talk."

"As charming as ever Amelia." Kayleigh said looking over the raven-haired girl for the first time. "We may never have faced off, but I've heard of your personality and how rotten your core really is."

"I'm perfect and that's all you need to know, anything else is just lies made up by jealous insects." Amelia said. "And now that I am here this year, even if last year was my rightful year, I'm going to show everyone why I am the next Kalos Queen."

"You have talent, that I can't deny." Kayleigh said. "In fact, I'd even go as far as saying that on a purely technical level you can even rival Aria herself, but we all know that performing is more than technical talent. It's about how you make those watching your performance feel, about making them smile and enjoy themselves as well as seeing that talent and that is what you lack, Amelia."

"I know that talent isn't enough seeing as Serena won it last year and she lacks it." Amelia said. "But this year the rest will see it from me though, those who can't are just ignorant plebs who are beneath me."

"There are four of us expected to be make a real run at the shot at Aria this year." Misty said. "So, one of us won't make that round at least, maybe more if someone comes from nowhere because anything can happen on the day."

"And that will probably be you." Amelia said simply. "You're a coordinator Misty, a talented one given your accomplishments in that arena, that I can't deny, but still a coordinator not a performer. Your cheap tricks, unpredictable freestyles with no set style, and strange Pokémon won't win the Master Class. They may work for an audience or two in some backwaters town, but they'd never work nationwide."

"Oh, how I really want to face you before the semifinal that decides the challenger." Misty said not intimidated in the slightest, compared to someone like Kenny and his obsession with her, Amelia was nothing more than a spoiled brat who didn't understand her own shortcomings while expecting everything to be handed to her just because she had talent. "I've got something special just for you."

"Bring it, I'll show you what a performer can do, it will be a pleasure to knock you out before the final challenger round." Amelia said with a twist of her lip. "You saw a bit of my perfection in the Wallace Cup, you saw how far I went in just my third ever Contest and how good I was at them, but that is just a taste of what I bring to the Master Class where my true talents lie. I'll bring that full weight to bear when we meet in it."

"What I saw was a girl with excellent coordinator talent, you have Top Coordinator potential but only because of your technical skill which does mean more in a Contest where that kind of ability is what is needed rather than what is needed for a Showcase." Misty said calmly. "Your appeal was great and against Miette and Serena you showed your potential in battle though Serena bested you because she understood the subtle nuances of a Contest battle better than you did. Shauna, that battle wasn't graceful."

"I had the full advantage there and Serena was on the line, I had to demonstrate my power especially after Miette dared defy me the day before and crush a false performer like Shauna where she stood." Amelia said her smile not reaching her eyes that were blazing with anger. "And I'll show you that soon and no tricks will win it for you. I just came to tell you that and see who the peons of Kalos have deemed to be my other rivals, the rest are even further beneath me than you two are, so I'll take my leave. See you two tomorrow when you kneel to the new Kalos Queen."

With that Amelia turned and walked away, right to the exit and past Ash as he returned with plate piled high with food. Amelia just ignored him as she swept out of the room and back to the Pokémon Center. She was here to win not socialize with those who were lesser than she was, she just had to make sure the few upstarts also knew that their rightful place was beneath her.

"What was that about?" Ash said through a mouthful of food as he returned to them. "She looked familiar, wasn't she the girl that seemed to have issues with Serena, Miette, and Shauna back at the Wallace Cup."

"Sorry for my boyfriend's terrible manners." Misty said to Kayleigh who was blinking at Ash, she knew who he was from watching the Wallace Cup but didn't know of his lack of manners at times. "And that, Ash, was the typical pissing contest from the bitchy favorite before she stormed of and yes she is the same girl as you remember from the Wallace Cup."

"We didn't have that last year." Serena said. "As heated as Miette and mine's rivalry is we are still good friends, just really intense rivals who always pushed each other to be better but still supported each other in the end."

"True you two are rather intense." May said before letting an impish grin spread across her face. "If I didn't know about your other rivalry I'd say there was some other unresolved tensions between you two."

"May!" Serena exclaimed going bright red at the subtle drop of her crush on Ash as May and Misty laughed while Kayleigh just looked perplex and Ash was as oblivious as ever.

"Sorry, couldn't resist." May said sliding up to Kayleigh to whisper. "Miette and Serena have another rivalry over the same guy they can't have, same with me actually, so I it's fun to tease them on how intense their rivalries are."

"Really, w…" Kayleigh began but May just subtly pointed at Ash who was now fully engrossed with his food while Misty tried to get him to at least eat in a more dignified manner in this setting compared to his usual eating habits. "Oh…"

"Yup, long story there." May said. "Many long stories in fact that often involve legendary Pokémon and Ash almost dying."

"Wait, then that means…" Kayleigh said some of it hit her, the latter part was beyond her understanding, so she just decided to ignore it.

"The Wallace Cup final was a rather big dilemma for Misty's presentation at the end." Serena said recovering. "Her boyfriend and her friend and rival were battling it out and she had to present the first Misty Ribbon to the winner. I am glad I won it though and it was an honor to follow Misty's legacy by winning the Wallace Cup."

"Her speech was good." Kayleigh said. "You lot are all close then?"

"Very, we travel together after all, but I met Ash when I was a rookie starting out in Hoenn many years ago." May said. "Misty did the same two years after me only in her home region of Sinnoh."

"I met Ash before them back before he was a trainer at a summer camp in Kanto I was sent to, but he forgot me." Serena admitted. "I learned of him through May when I met her last year and we traveled Kalos together while she prompted Contests and I found my calling as a performer. Then I was reunited with Ash when I went to Kanto to watch the Grand Festival and that's where I met Misty for the first time. When they decided to come to Kalos for various reasons, well it made sense to travel with them."

"It does mean that we have to be selective with Contests due to judging conflicts, so some Serena competes in while some she just watches us judge, usually the latter is the snap Pierre hosted Contests that are either before or after a Showcase Misty entered." May said. "They made an exception for the Wallace appeals but that was it."

"I see, well that just adds to the rivalry then." Kayleigh said as Misty rejoined them while Ash went off for more food as he'd finished his plate while Misty was lecturing him on manners. "A girl trained by the second-best performer in Kalos right now, how can I not rise higher to face you."

"And you're a native with experience, skill and home region support on me so I look forward to that challenge." Misty said. "And Amelia's but that's also because I just want to defeat her."

"Likewise." Kayleigh said. "May the best performer win."

Misty nodded and they quickly devolved into small talk at that not noticing that a few feet way with her back to a wall was Jessie in her Jessilee getup with a haggard James and Meowth who was enjoying a plate of food by her side. She just smirked at the Sinnoh twerpette and the other favorite she didn't know personally but kept track of as she was a legit threat to her ascension as Kalos Queen. The best performer would win only that performer was her.

As with the party at Pierre's, Jessie wasn't going to miss this but only to show that she was the best around and scout out the competition. She wasn't going to bother with any petty banter or idly chat with the girls around her, she was going to win this and show them all the skill a real woman had when it came to performing.

Suddenly the lights dimmed, and all talk died down as a set of floodlight light up the half balcony from the stairs at one end of the ballroom that drew everyone's attention to it. Standing there was Pierre with Aria next to him, both in their usual attire for such an event, though this wasn't an escort entrance it seemed, just a normal one.

"Bonjour et welcome." Pierre said to the gathered crowd. "Zank you for coming to zis little mixer for our lovely performers in ze Master Class, past et present. Zis is ze first of its kind so I 'ope you 'ave a good time et relax. Zat is all I 'ave avec vous et now I shall 'and over to Aria to open zis event properly."

"Thank you Pierre." Aria said with a small curtsy first to Pierre and then one to the gathered girls and their dates or friends. "And thank you all for coming to this little event that the Showcase Committee planned for all of those who are in, or have been in, the Master Class. I hope that in years to come this will become a staple for the Master Class, a way to deepen our kinship as performers and further the competition for generations to come. However, that is for tomorrow, tonight is for friendship so let us all mix and mingle and generally have a good time."

With that the lights rose again, and Pierre offered his hand to Aria which she took, and he guided her down the stairs as the party resumed. Aria was joining them though not as their Kalos Queen but as a fellow performer and the party really kicked off.

Misty just smiled as Kayleigh bid them farewell to go see and congratulate some other friends of hers who'd made it to the Master Class, and they all decided to go join Ash at the food area to get a bite to eat and really enjoy the event because that was what it was for. Tonight, was all about comradery and fun, tomorrow the Master Class began, and Misty couldn't wait for the competition. The title of Kalos Queen was now on the line and there was one question on all the performers lips; who would get the right to challenge Aria for it?