A/N: Once again, your eyes do not deceive you. It's another chapter for this story, from yours truly! :D :D :D
And in this chapter, we could finally, finally, FINALLY begin with the Freestyle Performance for the Exhibition Showcase, at long last! For those of you who don't remember the finer details of this timeline (and I'm pretty sure that applies to all of you), this Freestyle Performance is meant to be unique and distinct from all the other Pokémon Showcases, in the sense that it features all of the Performers and their Pokémon performing onstage at the same time, with the Kalos Queen Aria herself. Naturally, that means a LOT of extra teamwork and coordination, not just between Performer and Pokémon, but also amongst the other Performer-Pokémon teams.
Now, whatever does this entail for Serena, Yancy, and all of the other Performers? Well, keep reading to find out! ;D
In other words...I've seen JN132. For everyone who hasn't yet, for everyone who's stuck with the Pokémon anime up to this point, even after all this time, you're going to find that this episode is a MAGNIFICENT PAYOFF of 25 years' worth of entertainment and inspiration from a certain Pokémon Trainer from Pallet Town and his ever-trusty Pikachu. There's just so much about that episode that stuck with me, but for the sake of spoilers, I am not going to go into the particulars. For those of you who have yet to see the episode, I strongly recommend checking it out! It's truly a spectacle for the ages! It honestly made me cry in some sequences.
For those of you who HAVE seen JN132, you all know what I'm talking about. :') :') :')
Anyway, you bet your top Poké Dollar that these newest developments will be a big influence on how this story goes and how I depict the future Ash Ketchum, because we all know he's going to show up when it comes down to the line! I don't care if I retcon some stuff that I set up in the story in the process; I just LOVE JN132 so much that it's just too darn hard to resist!
Alright, enough of this unnecessary, expository rambling! On with the chapter. ENJOY!
P.S. #1: For all FF users reading this who are unaware (and this is VERY IMPORTANT), there's a new account feature for this site called "Email Opt-in". It controls the site's ability to send out email notifications to you. It is disabled by default, so you need to go to your account settings and enable it by clicking "Yes". The site will disable the opt-in by default again after 90 days of activation; in other words, you'll need to return to your account settings about EVERY THREE MONTHS to manually reset it. Without the opt-in, you WILL NOT be getting email notifications on whether any of your favorite stories have been updated or not, or whether an author that you are following has posted a new story or not. Please heed these instructions! FictionPress announced this new feature on their Twitter account, but I doubt news of this has reached everyone!
P.S. #2: For any updates regarding progress on my writing and just life in general, please check out my profile! I try to update it as often as I possibly can with any status update!
P.S. #3: Due to the slowly improving situation regarding the coronavirus outbreak, I am going to have to remind you all about the basic steps you should take if you want to stay healthy, courtesy of my university's reminder emails:
-Wash hands often with soap and water for 20-30 seconds at a time, and/or use hand sanitizer
-Avoid close contact with people who are sick
-Keep your hands away from nose, eyes, and mouth (I can't imagine how difficult this part is probably going to be)
-Eat well, get adequate rest, and exercise regularly
-Get a flu shot if you haven't already and are able to
-Stay informed on the COVID-19 vaccines, get shots if you're able to, and try to get a booster shot if you're eligible
And if you ARE sick (I hope you get better if you are), please be a good sport and save other folks the trouble of getting sick. You can do this by:
-Covering your mouth and nose with your sleeve, elbow, or a tissue whenever you sneeze or cough
-Not sharing food and drinks with others
-Avoiding touching your mouth, nose, and eyes (Again, I understand this is probably going to be difficult)
-Avoiding close contact with others
-Cleaning and disinfecting surfaces and objects
-Staying at home if you're unwell (PRIORITY NUMBER ONE!)
-Staying calm and keeping yourself well-informed (My personal advice)
If you already know this, then great! If you didn't know any of this beforehand, please keep that information in mind as we all go through this trying time. It's a realm of unknowns at this point, and I wish myself and all of humanity well.
"Good afternoon, citizens of Kalos! I'm Mandy Buzzington, reporting live at the lovely, bustling Kiloude City! After a series of unexpected and unforeseen delays, the very first phase of today's Exhibition Showcase, the marvelous and dazzling Theme Performances, has now come to an end, unfortunately. But now, we proceed to the second phase, the most anticipated phase. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I'm talking about the Freestyle Performance!
"For those of you that don't remember, the Freestyle Performance is unlike any other Freestyle Performance that you've seen in past Showcase seasons! In an Exhibition Showcase's Freestyle Performance round, all of the participants share the stage and work together with each other and their Pokémon to deliver a dazzling, wonderful performance for their audience! That's right, all of the Pokémon Performers that you've seen here today will be performing together in one ultimate Freestyle Performance for the ages!
"And yes, that includes Yancy Gabena, the girl outed by Showcase producer Palermo as a crasher in what is perhaps one of the biggest twists in Pokémon Showcase history! And yet, the girl was somehow allowed to continue participating in the competition, by six votes! Six votes! Let me tell you, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, that's why I call...fishy. Or should I say...Magikarpy! HA HA HA! Heh heh heh... Ahem!
"Anyway, let's not dwell on that. This Exhibition Showcase is supposed to be held in the honor of Elle and all her accomplishments, so we should never forget what she used to teach all of us! And that's to always smile! So that's what I'll be doing as I bring this event to you all live, from Kiloude City! This is Mandy Buzzington, and now, here's a word from our sponsors!"
Laurier Maison
Northern Kiloude City
Yancy tore her eyes away from the overhead TV and faced Serena. The honey-blonde teen stared back and was quick to notice the glimmer of doubt passing through her future daughter's eyes.
"I still can't believe I managed to stay in the Exhibition Showcase with just six votes," Yancy said in a near-whisper. "I...I thought that my Theme Performance brought a lot more smiles from the audience than...that..."
"You did, Yancy," Serena replied reassuringly. "But, well, I guess some of those supporters felt betrayed when they found out you were a crasher. Or rather, they were led to believe you were a crasher, that is."
"Well, I was, in a way..." The pink-haired girl sighed. "I betrayed the trust of my audience, my fellow Performers, and the friends that I made in this timeline..." Then, her expression hardened with resolve. "Which is why I'm going to work hard for this Freestyle Performance. I've gotta make it up to everyone, and then some! That's what a true Pokémon Performer would do, and I need to prove my true worth as one! To the entire audience!"
"That's the spirit!" Serena patted Yancy's shoulder in encouragement. "But don't forget, you'll be sharing the stage with me and all of the other Performers. And you're not the only one who's trying to prove her true worth as a Performer. We are all together on this performance."
Yancy nodded in agreement. "That's true..." She turned her gaze towards the other Performers, watching as they eagerly readied themselves and their Pokémon. "To be perfectly honest, Mom, I used to have such a simplified, idealistic view of Pokémon Showcases."
"Huh? What do you mean, Yancy?"
"From where I come from, Pokémon Showcases are just all fun and games at the end of the day. There's never any hard feelings about anything, no matter what the outcome is for each Showcase. All the Performers get along, if you exclude any banter. And I thought that Showcases were always this way, even back in the past. Whenever you or Auntie Shauna or Auntie Miette or Auntie Nini recalled your experiences back then, there was always this rosy look to the competition."
Serena blinked. "But...?"
"But...I was wrong. Look at all of them, Mom." Yancy gestured to the other Performers. "All these Performers, they're all so...cutthroat. All of them want to win in some way. Even you get all riled up whenever Clarice is concerned."
Serena blushed in embarrassment while recalling the Fletchling specialist. "W-Well...y-you know why..."
"Even so, this is unlike anything I've seen in my timeline! I've never seen so many Performers take a Pokémon Showcase two-hundred percent serious. It..." The pink-haired girl furrowed her brow in concern. "It makes me worried about what this Freestyle Performance will turn out to be like..."
Serena too furrowed her brow at her fellow Performers. Then, she laid her eyes upon Shauna, Miette, and Nini, who were engaged in playful banter while they compared their uniforms and the accessories attached to their Pokémon.
"Well, whatever happens, Yancy," the Vaniville Town native said, "we'll just have to work extra-hard to prove everyone's collective worth as Pokémon Performers. We are going to bring wonderfully radiant smiles to the faces of everyone in the audience, and we are going to remind all these girls what being a Performer is truly like! Together!" She turned her gaze towards her future daughter and beamed at her with kindness. "Isn't that right?"
Yancy looked back at her mother and smiled determinedly. "Right! I'm with you every step of the way, Mom!"
"Flo!"
"Brai-brai!"
Serena and Yancy turned their heads towards Braixen and Flo, who approached them while wearing equally determined smiles. The two female Pokémon were flanked by the rest of their respective teams, all of whom had optimistic looks of their own.
"And of course," Serena said, "our Pokémon are with us every step of the way too!"
"Can't disagree with that," replied Yancy.
All of the Pokémon barked, chirruped, garbled, and crooned in jubilant response, prompting both teenage girls to beam at their teams with pride.
Just then, the doors to the dressing room opened up with a resonant groan, attracting the attention of all the Performers inside. A split-second later, many of them squealed loudly while displaying blushing, glowing faces. Serena and Yancy too were breath-taken by the sight of the newest arrival.
"Are you all ready, girls?!" Aria announced cheerfully. She gave them all a graceful, majestic spin, showing off the dress she was now wearing; it was like a rainbow, colored in shades of red, orange, yellow, blue, indigo, and violet.
"YYYYYEEEEEAAAAAHHHHH!" many of the Performers cried thunderously, their clamor being so powerful that it shook the walls of the dressing room.
The redhead smiled at them. "Well, then let us all do what we do best, and that's giving our audience wonderfully radiant smiles!" She then gestured to the open doorway. "Shall we?"
Clemont noticed the movement at the corner of his eye, and he beamed at the newest arrival.
"Hey, Ash!" he cried. "You're back!"
The others turned towards the raven-haired Trainer and his Pikachu while they sat back down in their original seat.
"Sorry I'm late, you guys," Ash greeted. Then, his gaze swept through the entire group, and he gave them a proud smile. "Thank you all, for voting for Yancy. It means a lot to her."
"Of course!" Nate cried while giving the Pallet Town native a thumbs-up. "I'd do anything to keep Yancy in this Showcase, after all! Or in any Showcase, for that matter!"
"For all we know, you're probably gonna get together with Yancy too. I mean, you met her the same way as I met Serena, right?"
"What do you mean it wouldn't happen? Do you not want it to happen?"
"We're quite alike, and we even have friends who are girls who like Showcases and who happen to be, you know...pretty! Now, I know I'm going to have to m-m-marry Serena if we're going to have Yancy and Selene. Now, I do not know about you, but I see a little pattern..."
Upon recalling his conversation with Nate at the Laurier Maison's food court, Ash couldn't help but smile at him. This grin did not go unnoticed by the tennis visor-wearing boy, whose toothy, confident smile faded into a confused frown.
"Uhhhhh, Ash? ...Why're you smiling at me like that...?"
Ash shrugged. "Nothing, nothing." Then, he suddenly felt a surge of paternal instincts rush through him as he spoke his next words. "I just wanted to say, Nate, that...I approve."
"Approve?" Nate tilted his head in oblivious confusion. "Approve of what?"
"Nothing."
But in his mind, Ash was face-palming hard. "Was I really that oblivious too?!"
Fortunately for him, Ash's musings were interrupted when the entire auditorium darkened considerably. This triggered an astounded "Oooooh!" from the audience, all of whom looked around in an attempt to see what was going to happen next. However, the eyes of everyone in Ash's group were trained upon the stage, where they knew the real action was about to take place.
Indeed, a single, particularly bright spotlight activated itself, illuminating the front of the stage, which had silky crimson curtains drawn. A single person stood in the middle of the spotlight, someone that Ash instantly recognized.
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls," Palermo announced into her microphone. "The esteemed members of the Pokémon Showcase Committee and I would like to thank you all for your participation in the vote regarding Yancy Gabena's continued participation in the Exhibition Showcase. I understand that it was extremely close, and that there are some lingering...misgivings about the results, but I just wanted to assure you all that we're keeping the interests of you, the audience, deep in our hearts and souls.
"And it is this unrivaled dedication to your interests, and your happiness at seeing all of these wonderful Performers and performances, that motivates us to do better, to go beyond what Pokémon Showcases are capable of, all for the sake of bringing joy, wonder, and radiance to Kiloude City and all of the Kalos region. After all, that's what Pokémon Showcases are all about. It's not about the Showcase Keys, nor the elation of victory in a Showcase, nor the glory and prestige that comes with being a Kalos Queen, none of that. It's not even about making oneself look good on the stage as a Performer.
"No, it's all about you, the audience, and the happiness that we as Pokémon Performers bring through the performances we create with our Pokémon. That is why we left Yancy Gabena's fate all up to you, in spite of her status as a crasher, in spite of all the trust that she betrayed. Because, in spite of what she had to do to participate in this Exhibition Showcase, she brought you all a performance that brought wonderfully radiant smiles to your faces. If that's all that constituted her activity in this Showcase, then what was it that we could do about it, as members of the higher world in Showcases? It... It only felt natural to leave it up to you all.
"Now, the results have been made public, official, and uncontested as of ten minutes ago. No matter what agreements or disagreements you have with this decision, it's now a matter of public record. The only thing that we can do now is move forward on this new path with smiles on our faces. And that's what we're going to do, because to do otherwise would be a stain on the institution of Pokémon Showcases, a stain that would last forever and ever. And we don't want that at all. Not when we've been through so much as humans and Pokémon. Not when the point of this institution is making you all smile with beauty.
"So that's what we're going to do here today. We'll instill the most beautiful performances of all, day after day, year after year, season after season, until the very end of time, for the sake of your smiles. Because happiness and beauty only last as long as we want it to. And we will bring you all wonderfully radiant smiles, just as the late Kalos Queen Elle would've wanted from all of you. So..."
Her voice trailed off, and the producer closed her eyes, stunning the audience. For the first time in what seemed to be a while, it was clear that Palermo was struggling to hold back her emotions.
"Without further ado, I, Palermo, present to you..." She opened her eyes with a determined finality. "All of our wonderful, beautiful, and exceptionally talented Pokémon Performers and Pokémon!"
The audience burst into thunderous applause and cheering as Palermo stepped away from the perimeter of the spotlight. This allowed the crimson curtain to part and reveal the mighty stage. At first, it was shrouded in darkness, but the only spotlight activated was soon joined by two others, along with an assortment of flashing multicolored lights and disco balls that brought the stage into further relief.
And then, sweet, serene music, synchronized with a catchy, feminine beat, started to fill up the auditorium and the ears of everyone in the audience, captivating and enthralling them in ways that completely transcended words.
"What color would suit the future me?" a feminine voice echoed sweetly yet mightily. "Let's try a palette of colors together! One, two, three!"
"Whoa!" Clemont cried in awe.
"What's this song?!" exclaimed Grace.
"I dunno, but I like it!" Selene replied.
"Same here!" Bonnie yelled excitedly
"Pichu, pichu!" Pichu squeaked in agreement.
"Dedenne!" Dedenne chirped.
"Bi!" Celebi concurred.
Squishy simply garbled in amazement.
"I think of my wishes upon the shooting star in the night sky," the song continued. "Where had it gone to when I was lost in my thoughts?"
And then, all of the spotlights activated at once, illuminating the Showcase stage with the brightest of lights. Everyone in the audience immediately exploded with roars of joy and delight, Ash and the rest of his group in particular, upon seeing who was already standing there.
Serena, Yancy, Aria, Shauna, Miette, Nini, Blanche, Kazalie, Shulin, Sara Lee, Concetta, Jessilee, Amelia, Alouette, Elma, Kayleigh, Lily, Odette, and all of the other Pokémon Performers from the past Showcase season, accompanied by every last one of their faithful Pokémon.
"NINIIIII!" Tierno roared.
"SHAAAAAUNAAAAA!" Calem and Trevor hollered.
"YAAAAANCCCCCYYYYY!" Nate screamed.
"SEREEEEENAAAAA!" Ash, Grace, Clemont, and Bonnie all yelled at the top of their lungs.
"MMMMMOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMYYYYY!" Selene called while flailing her legs and rocking back and forth within her chair in uncontrollable excitement.
"But now, I have finally thought of one!" the song declared.
"Alriiiiight, girls and Pokémon!" Aria called determinedly. She effortlessly procured a small stick from her skirt pocket and pressed a button on it, causing it to extend outward into a staff, not unlike Monsieur Pierre's. "Just as we practiced! Let's show everyone in the audience and at home what we can DO!"
And so, with a stylish, well-coordinated twirl of Aria's staff, the Freestyle Performance began.
"My true self is swirling up in my chest..."
First, Aria took a few steps backward, allowing the other Performers to shine onstage first. They all split off into groups of three, with one trio – the Honchkrow Trainer, the Vanillish Trainer, and the Trainer with the Teddiursa and the Ducklett – stepping up to become the center of the stage first.
"Honchkrow!" the Honchkrow Trainer cried.
"Vanillish!" squealed the Vanillish Trainer.
"Teddiursa, Ducklett!" hollered the third Performer.
"Dream Dream Dream Power! DreamDream Power! We are the power of a miracle!"
And then, their respective Pokémon acted in unison, requiring no further commands at all. Honchkrow flew high in the air and used Gust, sending Vanillish, Teddiursa, Ducklett, and all three of their Trainers into the air.
With a cry, Vanillish used Icy Wind, which merged with Honchkrow's Gust. The minuscule ice particles from the Icy Wind glittered from the shining spotlights and caused the stage to sparkle rather brilliantly, strongly captivating the audience. Honchkrow then proceeded to fly in circles above the stage, stopping the Gust from straying from the stage. This created a miniature tornado of glittering, chilled, sparkling winds.
As for the airborne Teddiursa and Ducklett, they employed perfectly synchronized coordination in the first Performer trio's next move. First, Ducklett used Bubble Beam, sending a large flurry of blue bubbles that instantly started to move along with the tornado. As soon as its partner employed the Water-type move, Teddiursa used its momentum to propel itself to each and every bubble. With Fury Swipes, the Little Bear Pokémon popped the bubbles, one by one, and the wind hurled the glittering droplets out onto the stage so they could sprinkle the audience.
"Dream Power! DreamDream Power! It had began from my dreams..."
As soon as the last of the droplets disappeared into the sea that was the audience, the tornado started to die down, thus allowing the three Performers and their Pokémon to slowly and safely land on the stage floor. This allowed the next trio of Performers to confidently step forward: the Nidoqueen Trainer, the Honedge Trainer, and the Kirlia Trainer.
"Kirlia, you know what to do!" the Kirlia Trainer called.
"Let's do this, Honedge!" exclaimed the Honedge Trainer.
"I believe in you, Nidoqueen!" the Nidoqueen Trainer cried encouragingly.
"The smiles and tears are decorations for tomorrow!"
Kirlia proceeded to use Psychic on the weakening tornado, maintaining and then strengthening its energy. With deftness and ease, the Psychic-type Pokémon redirected the twister towards its Trainer, her fellow Performers, and their Pokémon. Just like with the first group, the second group was picked up, but they knew there was a different strategy in mind, and Kirlia employed it.
With a serene croon, Kirlia pushed its palms outward, causing the tornado to explode in a shower of small, icy sparkles. As the others fell to the stage floor, the three Performers calmly joined hands, and at the same time, Honedge began to use its Swords Dance. Eight blue, glowing swords materialized and circled around the Sword Pokémon, before scarlet and orange lights shot upwards from them, illuminating the entire stage. Then, spheres of the same aura appeared in front of Honedge, providing further light before slowly dissipating like fading spotlights.
By the time the spheres faded, it was Nidoqueen's turn to act. She grabbed the three Performers and wrapped them into a motherly embrace. Her body briefly flashed with bright yellow energy, and once she landed on the ground, she created glowing yellowish-gold cracks that traveled across the stage. This new light joined the scarlet and orange lights brought by Honedge's earlier Swords Dance, thereby giving the powerful illusion of a brilliant, beautiful evening sunset.
"Thank you! Just the two of us together!"
While the illusory sunset continued to shine and woo the audience with its hypnotic quality, the second trio of Performers disappeared into the light and were soon replaced by the next trio of competitors: the Trainer with the Plusle and Minun, the Marill Trainer, and the Vileplume Trainer.
"Plusle, Minun, let's shock 'em good!" the Plusle and Minun Trainer yelled.
"We're going to give the audience a show to remember, Marill!" declared the Marill Trainer.
"Time to grace everyone with your lovely scent, Vileplume," the Vileplume Trainer said serenely.
"Let's head on! In pursuit of a new interest!"
As the light of the illusory sunset faded away, the audience noticed the third trio for the first time, and they put their own strategy into action. First, Marill formed a Whirlpool, which grew larger and larger, until it reached a size that seemed to be too difficult for the tiny Aqua Mouse Pokémon to contain. But its composure never wavered, not even once, and with a final cry and earned strength, it tossed the Whirlpool across the stage floor, allowing to spin around upon its surface like a dreidel.
Then, it was Plusle and Minun's turn to act. They both used Discharge, firing off many bolts of yellow electricity that were directed at the spiraling Whirlpool. All of the bolts found their target, and the water conducted the strong electricity, thus coating the Whirlpool in a sparkling layer of electric energy. The electrified Whirlpool proceeded to spin around the three Performers and their Pokémon while they danced in coordination.
And then, Vileplume made its move: it used Moonblast, gathering energy from the distant Moon to launch a beam of pink energy at the electricity-covered Whirlpool. The Fairy-type attack hit the combination of Water- and Electric-type moves, causing an explosion of glittering droplets and crackling electricity. Finally, with a spin of serene elation, Vileplume used a second move, Petal Dance; the flurry of plentiful pink petals swirled around the electrified droplets, effectively containing them and stopping any of them from straying away and hitting anyone.
"What does it take to be a girl? Do you know?"
With their turn now done, the Performers and their Pokémon quickly withdrew, allowing the next team to take the stage: the Dragonite Trainer, the Lickitung Trainer, and the Swirlix Trainer.
"It's time to conquer this stage together, Dragonite!" proclaimed the Dragonite Trainer.
"Wrap them in your love, Lickitung!" the Lickitung Trainer squealed excitedly.
"Let's go and show them what we're truly capable of!" yelled the Swirlix Trainer.
"What happens when an unbeatable smile is added to an unlimited heartbeat?"
With the swirling vortex of Vileplume's Petal Dance still on the stage, containing the electrified droplets, Dragonite acted first. It flew right through the vortex with a burst of energy and dispersed the petals and droplets throughout the stage; by that point, the electricity had lost its energy and died out. Then, Dragonite used Dragon Rush, covering itself in a veil of light-blue, dragon-shaped energy that seemed to have a life of its own. With astounding power and speed, the Dragon Pokémon flew around the stage, right above the heads of the Performers, all the while leaving behind a trail of energy.
As for Swirlix, it started using Cotton Spore, creating particularly large, cotton-like spores that floated in the air. Lickitung reacted, shooting its massive, elongated tongue outward and using it to slather the spores in a fair amount of spit. Then, Dragonite flew circles around the spores, with the bursts of air left behind by the Dragon Rush drying said spores off.
Once they were sufficiently dry, the Performers acted. Guided by Lickitung and Swirlix, they leapt onto their own spores, and then they started to bounce from one spore over to the next. To everyone's surprise, none of them got stuck on any of the Cotton Spores; Lickitung's saliva had wiped the stickiness of them. Finally, the Performers, Lickitung, and Swirlix reached the topmost Cotton Spores and held their arms out, gesturing their love and compassion to the audience, whilst Dragonite flew over them and released the energy of its Dragon Rush, illuminating the stage.
"The 'desire to know' and such is beside 'uselessness'..."
The spores eventually landed safely on the stage floor, allowing the Performers and Pokémon to hop off of them and then make way for the next team: the Scizor Trainer, the Sneasel Trainer, and the Psyduck Trainer.
"Let's cut our way to beauty, Scizor!" the Scizor Trainer cried.
"You've got this, Sneasel!" the Sneasel Trainer yelled encouragingly.
"Show them all your love, my lovely Psyduck!" exclaimed the swooning Psyduck Trainer.
"Hidden like love and jewels."
Sneasel was first. It jumped in front of the others and activated its Beat Up, empowering the others to attack the Cotton Spores in front of them. Sneasel used Metal Claw, Scizor used X-Scissor, and Psyduck used Aqua Tail on each and every spore, eventually obliterating them into small tufts of cotton that softly fluttered down to the stage floor, all around their respective Trainers.
With that display created for them, the three Performers began to dance underneath the falling cotton tufts, acting as if they were snowflakes. Their Pokémon quickly joined them, with each of them using a variety of moves to enhance their performance: Sneasel used Agility to whip up a moderate but breathtaking wind all around its Trainer, Scizor activated its Iron Defense to make its body glow brilliantly, and Psyduck fired a weak Water Gun up in the air to create a soft, shining drizzle.
"Today is also full of heart-pounding sensations..."
Once the wonderful, well-coordinated dance died down, the current team withdrew, and the next trio of Performers and Pokémon took their place: the Smeargle Trainer; the Trainer with the Pansage, Pansear, and Panpour; and the Heliolisk Trainer.
"Paint a pretty picture for them, Smeargle!" the Smeargle Trainer cried.
"Let's do this, you three!" the second Trainer yelled.
"We'll end this season with a banger!" the Heliolisk Trainer declared.
"So, let's look for the next fun thing!"
While Psyduck's Water Gun-generated drizzle continued to die down, the trio of Pansage, Pansear, and Panpour sprung to action first. Firstly, Pansage used Seed Bomb, pelting the ground and dispersing the remaining droplets. Then, with a cry, Pansear used Incinerate on the Seed Bomb, essentially reducing Pansage's launched seeds to ashes. And finally, Panpour used Water Gun on the Incinerate, extinguishing the fire and creating a cloud of steam.
Taking advantage of the steam, Heliolisk activated its Wild Charge, enveloping its entire body with yellow electricity and then running around the stage. Its swift movements dispersed the steam with a storm of electricity and revealed it and the rest of its team, illuminated by the glowing yellow light of its electricity.
Finally, Smeargle used Sketch, replicating Heliolisk's Wild Charge and running in the opposite direction as its temporary teammate. The two Pokémon's movements generated an electric vortex that surrounded the three Performers, as well as Pansage, Pansear, and Panpour.
"Dream Power! DreamDream Power! We won't give up!"
Eventually, Heliolisk and Smeargle both stopped, leaving the air crackling with leftover electricity. With that, the current team left the central stage in favor of the next team: the Furret Trainer, the Litleo Trainer, and the Mightyena Trainer.
"We're gonna prove to them who we are, Furret!" declared the Furret Trainer.
"Show them your beauty through your ferocity, Litleo!" cried the Litleo Trainer.
"Leave the audience howling, Mightyena!" the Mightyena Trainer hollered.
"Dream Power! DreamDream Power! Let's go overboard!"
Furret was first to initiate its team's performance. First, it used Quick Attack, running in circles in front of its team until it generated another vortex of air that dissipated the remnants of Heliolisk's and Smeargle's Wild Charge-fueled electricity. Then, while it was still in the middle of its Quick Attack, it used a weakened version of Hyper Voice, creating an echoing cry that rang through the entire auditorium and melded with the vortex. Because of that, instead of the howling of wind, the audience could only hear Furret's gentle, serenading voice coming straight out of the vortex.
Then, the Performers and the rest of their Pokémon stepped into the vortex and were carried along with the winds fueled by Furret's voice. Once they were in midair, Litleo and Mightyena acted simultaneously: they used Fire Fang and Crunch, respectively, to literally chew right through the winds. This broke the vortex apart and spread the air outward, and with it, the voice of Furret, until it passed through the entire awestruck audience.
"So blow away doubts with a G-force!"
While Furret's voice continued to echo in the Showcase Theater, the three Performers and their Pokémon landed on their feet and quickly made way for the next team: Alouette and her Furfrou, which was now sporting a fresh Debutante Trim; Odette and her Swanna; and the Sylveon Trainer.
"Give 'em everything you've got, Furfrou!" Alouette hollered.
"This is our last chance to prove ourselves, Swanna!" Odette cried, her voice breaking a little with desperation.
"Show them your inner beauty, Sylveon!" the Sylveon Trainer exclaimed lovingly.
"Oh yes! As long as you're there, let's hurry!"
Furfrou employed Cotton Guard, covering itself in a thick coating of cotton, which allowed Sylveon to act next. With a cry of sweetness and excitement, the Intertwining Pokémon leaped onto Furfrou and bounced high in the air using the cotton covering. Once it reached the peak of its jump, Sylveon utilized Fairy Wind, which spread through the air and entertained the audience with its sparkling pink spirals of energy.
Then, before Sylveon could make its descent back to the stage floor, Swanna swooped in and grabbed its partner by the back. Finally, the White Bird Pokémon began to soar above the stage while the Performers danced below. With their new teamwork and strategies sealed, Sylveon used its next move, Swift, which sent dozens of star-shaped energy projectiles spinning through the air with them.
Once there were enough Swift projectiles in the air with it, Swanna began using Air Slash on each and every one of them with Sylveon still in tow. They all exploded in flashy displays of sparkling energy.
"Establishing this feeling of mutual trust with you..."
Eventually, Swanna and Sylveon landed, allowing the entire team to leave the stage. Taking their place was yet another new trio of Performers: Elma and her Roserade; Kayleigh and her own Furfrou, which was sporting a Pharaoh Trim; and Lily and her Solrock.
"Roserade, let's go!" Elma exclaimed.
"Let's show everyone here and at home a good time, Furfrou!" instructed Kayleigh.
"Time to shine brightly and brilliantly, Solrock," Lily said calmly.
"Even if every day is disappointing, it can still be repainted with complete freedom."
Roserade acted first. With a graceful spin and a calm, soothing cry, it used Magical Leaf, throwing multiple glowing leaves into the air and soon creating a literal rain out of them, which joined the leftover sparkles from Sylveon's Swift. Acting in unison, Elma, Kayleigh, and Lily walked underneath the fluttering, glowing leaves while they slowly fell all around them. The three Performers held their arms out and danced underneath them, smiling and enjoying the sight and sensation of them like they were dancing in the rain.
Then, Furfrou jumped into the air and started to fall back to the stage floor just as quickly. But before its four paws could make contact, the Poodle Pokémon utilized Sucker Punch, triggering a small shock-wave that blew the leaves outward. In the meantime, Solrock had already begun to spin its body around at great speeds until it produced a great, blinding light, at the exact same time Furfrou's Sucker Punch made contact with the stage floor.
It was as if Solrock had triggered a miniature supernova of light that was responsible for blowing the leaves outward. The audience fell for the visual trickery very quickly, reacting with awe at the flash of light from the Meteorite Pokémon.
"Meeting you by chance in this wide world..."
Then, as soon as the flash of light burned out, the audience realized that Elma, Kayleigh, Lily, and their Pokémon weren't present onstage anymore. Taking their place was the next team: Jessilee and her Wobbuffet and Gourgeist, Sara Lee and her Glaceon and Leafeon, and Concetta and her Scraggy.
"This performance is for you, James and Meowth!" Jessilee hollered conspicuously while overdramatically blowing kisses to the audience.
"GO, JESS!" two certain voices hollered boisterously in response. "YOU CAN DO THIS!"
"We can do this, Glaceon, Leafeon!" Sara Lee proclaimed.
"Let's shine together, Scraggy!" yelled Concetta.
"We are linked more strongly than words, together rather than alone!"
Glaceon and Leafeon simultaneously fired Ice Beam and Razor Leaf, respectively, at Wobbuffet. But the Patient Pokémon knew what to do. Instead of trying to flee, it used Counter, which sent both attacks flying backward towards their points of origin.
However, Gourgeist hovered in front of Glaceon and Leafeon and used its Dark Pulse to intercept the Ice Beam and Razor Leaf. This caused a small but resounding explosion of dark electrical energy that crackled throughout the stage. The bolts seemed dangerously close to getting off the stage and striking members of the audience, but the Performers didn't waver in their postures as Scraggy reacted quickly.
With a strained groan and a furrowed brow, the Shedding Pokémon jumped high in the air and launched a Focus Blast. It absorbed the dark electricity and then was close to hitting the stage when Glaceon fired another Ice Beam, freezing it in midair. The frozen attack hit the stage floor and exploded in a more controlled burst of energy, lighting up the stage with glittering, crackling energy.
"Dream Dream Dream Power! DreamDream Power!"
While the controlled explosion of Focus Blast energy continued to occupy the audience's attention, Jessilee, Sara Lee, and Concetta quickly made way for the next trio: Blanche and her pair of Meowstic, Kazalie and her Lilligant, and Shulin and her Escavalier and Accelgor.
"Let's give 'em an encore, Lilligant!" Kazalie cried.
"Bring the audience to their knees, Escavalier, Accelgor!" Shulin yelled.
Blanche took a deep breath of elation before exclaiming, "Meowstic, show everyone the beauty of love!"
"We are the power of a miracle!"
Both of Blanche's Meowstic used Psychic to lift the rest of their team high in the air. The three Performers and the other three Pokémon began to dance through the air, looking like angels flying in a heavenly sky. As they soared in circles over the stage, Lilligant released a croon and made the first move, using Sweet Scent and directing it through the stage. One of Blanche's Meowstic then partially refocused its Psychic on the Sweet Scent, dispersing it all across the auditorium and allowing the audience to be calmed by the aroma.
Meanwhile, Shulin's Escavalier and Accelgor sought out their turn. Accelgor fired Swift at Escavalier, which activated Iron Head in response. At that moment, Blanche's second Meowstic partially refocused its own Psychic on Escavalier and the Swift attack, allowing Escavalier to employ the illusion of using Iron Head to harmlessly, effortlessly deflect every Swift in the milliseconds. The star-shaped energy constructs then moved on their own with the aid of the two Meowstic's Psychic, flying through the air in increasingly elaborate directions and patterns, wowing the audience.
And then, Blanche's Meowstic put their team's round to an end by arranging the Swift stars into the shape of a heart. As the audience gasped and cheered at the display, the Constraint Pokémon triggered the Swift to explode beautifully like a miniature firework show.
"Dream Power! DreamDream Power!"
The team promptly landed back on the stage and withdrew, thus allowing the next team to take over the stage while the effects of the improvised fireworks started to die down. They were none other than Shauna and her Ivysaur, Miette and her Slurpuff and Meowstic, and Nini and her Smoochum and Farfetch'd.
"WHOO, GO NINI!" Tierno roared at the top of his lungs. Hearts were literally blossoming in his eyes at the sight of her.
"LET'S GO, MIETTE!" Ash and Clemont hollered encouragingly.
"YOU CAN DO THIS, SHAUNA!" Trevor cried.
"SHAAAAAUNAAAAA!" Calem yelled, his voice nearly breaking from the stress upon his vocal cords. "I BELIEVE IN YOU!"
Upon overhearing the shouts and cries of praise from all their friends, Shauna, Miette, and Nini reached their right hands outward in unison.
"Blow them away, my darlings!" Nini yelled.
"We can do this, Slurpuff, Meowstic!" Miette declared. "One last time!"
"Our hearts beat faster when in love than with anything else, Ivysaur," Shauna said. "So...let's lay our hearts bare to our audience!"
"It had began from my dreams!"
Smoochum immediately fired a Heart Stamp, larger than any other Heart Stamp seen before. It floated outward, growing in size with every second, before Farfetch'd propelled itself high in the air and used Fury Cutter to bifurcate it. But before the halves could fully fall apart, Meowstic calmly used Psychic to reunite them and restore the heart. Then, Slurpuff used Fairy Wind on the restored Heart Stamp, giving it a sparkling, wondrous quality. Next, Ivysaur used Vine Whip to turn the heart fully downward.
What happened next stunned the entire audience. Shauna, Miette, Nini, and their Pokémon joined hands and hopped on the Heart Stamp like it was a platform. Propelled and guided by Meowstic's Psychic, the Heart Stamp began to fly directly over the audience, not above the stage, all the while leaving behind a trail of sparkles generated by Slurpuff's Fairy Wind. In that moment, they looked like they were riding a heart-shaped comet.
But it all had to come to an end soon. So, Meowstic guided the Heart Stamp back to the Showcase stage at great speeds, but before the inevitable collision could happen, the entire team somersaulted off the improvised rocket. A mere second later, the stage exploded in a shower of Fairy Wind-generated sparkles and leftover energy. Shauna, Miette, Nini, and all of their Pokémon landed at the same time, their hands still united.
And then, the final trio took the center of the stage.
"YOU CAN DO THIS, YANCYYYYY!" Nate screamed, so loudly that his voice gave out right afterwards.
"BIG SIS YANCYYYYY!" Selene yelled.
"G-Go, Yancy!" Evelyn squeaked.
"SSSSSEEEEERRRRREEEEENNNNNAAAAA!" Clemont, Bonnie, and Grace hollered at once.
But Ash didn't say anything. Instead, he watched with widening eyes of captivation while Serena, Yancy, Amelia, and all of their Pokémon commenced with their own performance.
"The smiles and tears are decorations for tomorrow!"
"It's time, everyone!" Serena cried. "Let's show them a performance they'll never forget!"
"I believe in all of you!" yelled Yancy. "We'll show everyone the beauty of teamwork!"
"Time to show everyone once and for all why I should be the center of adoration!" Amelia exclaimed haughtily.
And so, their Pokémon sprung into action.
"Thank you! Just the two of us together!"
Serena's Braixen and Amelia's Dragonair used Flamethrower and Ice Beam, respectively, at the same time, with the Fire-type and Ice-type moves barreling across the stage. Reacting quickly, Yancy's Tundra Pattern Vivillon, Vivi, used its Light Screen on Braixen's Flamethrower, while Amelia's Espeon employed Psychic on Dragonair's Ice Beam; both of the newest moves contained their teammates'. The Light Screen barrier pulsated and undulated just a little, as if it was struggling to contain the bursting fire within, but Vivi's composures did not waver in the slightest. Once the move combination's safety was affirmed, Yancy glanced at her Spinda, Ditzy.
"It's your turn, Ditzy," she whispered. She then flashed the uncertain, fearful Spot Panda Pokémon a fond, motherly grin. "You can do it! I know you can!"
"Spin!" Ditzy replied with a shaky but confident nod.
Then, the Spot Panda Pokémon followed Serena's Sylveon atop the Light Screen-constrained Flamethrower, while Espeon and Yancy's Quilladin, Chestnut, hopped on Dragonite's suspended Ice Beam. As soon as the two pairs found their place upon their respective moves, Vivi and Espeon released their hold on the Flamethrower and Ice Beam.
Once they did, this triggered two magnificent, fiery explosions that sent Sylveon, Ditzy, Espeon, and Chestnut flying. But all four Pokémon did exactly what they were instructed to do: somersault gracefully and intrinsically through the shining air before landing on their feet on the stage. All the while, the fire and ice from the dual explosions was swiftly reduced to embers and shards of ice that fluttered to the floor, taking on the form of improvisational snow, glowing and glittering in all of its magnificence.
The audience roared with delight at this latest performance, and their celebration was only amplified when Aria took the center of the stage. The redhead stepped in front of Serena, Yancy, and Amelia and held her arms outward in a glorious gesture of acceptance.
"And now," the Kalos Queen announced happily, "it's time for the encore!"
"YOU GO, ARIA!" Foster's voice echoed from somewhere in the aisles.
"Dream Dream Dream Power! DreamDream Power! We are the power of a miracle!"
The other Performers and Pokémon rejoined Serena, Yancy, Aria, and Amelia on the stage.
Shauna and her Ivysaur, Miette and her Slurpuff and Meowstic, and Nini and her Smoochum and Farfetch'd.
Blanche and her pair of Meowstic, Kazalie and her Lilligant, and Shulin and her Escavalier and Accelgor.
Jessilee and her Wobbuffet and Gourgeist, Sara Lee and her Glaceon and Leafeon, and Concetta and her Scraggy.
Elma and her Roserade, Kayleigh and her Furfrou, and Lily and her Solrock.
Alouette and her Furfrou, Odette and her Swanna, and the Sylveon Trainer.
The Furret Trainer, the Litleo Trainer, and the Mightyena Trainer.
The Smeargle Trainer; the Trainer with the Pansage, Pansear, and Panpour; and the Heliolisk Trainer.
The Scizor Trainer, the Sneasel Trainer, and the Psyduck Trainer.
The Dragonite Trainer, the Lickitung Trainer, and the Swirlix Trainer.
The Trainer with the Plusle and Minun, the Marill Trainer, and the Vileplume Trainer.
The Nidoqueen Trainer, the Honedge Trainer, and the Kirlia Trainer.
The Honchkrow Trainer, the Vanillish Trainer, and the Trainer with the Teddiursa and the Ducklett.
Together, they began to dance to the beat of the blaring song.
"Dream Power! DreamDream Power! It had began from my dreams!"
The audience roared mightily and applauded at the performance. It was unlike anything the Showcase Theater had ever seen before. In fact, the audience's jubilation was so loud that it made the walls vibrate a little. But of course, no one in the auditorium was paying attention. Instead, they wanted to see more of this final, climactic performance, more of the wonderful beauty that was being radiated from the girls and their Pokémon.
And as for the Performers and their Pokémon, they wanted to see more of the wonderfully radiant smiles on the faces of everyone in the audience.
"The smiles and tears are decorations for tomorrow!"
The dance was meticulously synchronized and coordinated, all the way down to the last detail. The Performers moved at the same beats and waited for the same cues, and the same applied to their Pokémon. It was like watching an idol group performing at a live concert.
And as they all performed in perfect unison, Serena kept her sapphire-blue eyes trained on one certain spot in the crowd of onlookers, no matter where she was standing, no matter where she had to move, no matter what angle her body had to take for the sake of the performance.
Those eyes of hers could never look away, for the burning auburn pupils of Ash Ketchum were the most beautiful she had ever seen.
And up in his seat, Ash felt the same. His eyes were glued to every movement that Serena made, as if tearing away for a simple second would spell doom for everyone and everything. Seeing her on that golden stage, performing with all of the effort that she had cultivated for the past Showcase season, was perhaps the most beautiful sight of all. He was never an expert in determining beauty, but in that moment, he might as well would be.
"Thank you! Just the two of us together!"
"I hope you see me from up there, Ash," Serena thought. "This performance is for you, because you're beautiful."
"I see you, Serena," Ash thought as well. "I see all of you, and now...I know how you feel about me. There's no question about it."
"Let's head on!"
"Because..."
"In pursuit of a new interest!"
"I'm in love with you."
Mt. Kiloude
"HUFF! HUFF! HUFF! PHEW! This is hard work!"
Nick straightened his back with a grunt and wiped the copious beads of sweat off his forehead. Around him, Floyd, Lloyd, Cecile, and many more of his construction crew were busy at work repairing the mecha they found Kay in. Some of them were patching together the mecha's metallic chassis, while others were examining the internal gears and wiring and then making the necessary repairs. All the while, Sid stood at the top of the mecha, surveying the hard labor and jotting down notes every several minutes or so.
"Well, what'd you expect, Nick?!" Floyd asked. "We've got next to no idea what the heck we're doing here! I mean..." He gestured to the mecha. "What year is this supposed to be from? 'Cause I dunno if I'm doing the right thing or not!"
"Knowing you," Lloyd replied with a smirk, "you're probably not doing the right thing either way."
Floyd shot his twin brother a nasty look. "Hey, hey, who's the one who's just doing nothing but aiming a blowtorch at the metal panels?" Then, he pointed at the blowtorch in question. "Look at that! You're starting to melt that thing at the nuts and bolts!"
"I know this is all for the sake of getting that Celebi and using its time travel powers and everything," Cecile interjected, "but don't you think that Parker and this-this Kay gal are just messing around with us? I mean, we've been doing all their dirty work with nothing to show for it from their end! No real rewards, no pats on the back, nothing!"
"Have faith, Cecile!" Nick cried valiantly while thumping a fist over his heart. "Soon, we'll get that Celebi, and THEN we'll be seeing the veggies of our labor!"
Cecile sighed in disbelief. "It's fruits of our labor, Nick. Fruits. How the heck did you get THAT phrase wrong?!"
Suddenly, the group's increasingly heated exchange was interrupted by a loud, abrupt ringing, which startled Nick.
"Oh, dear!" he cried. "What is that?!"
"You don't recognize the sound of your own Holo Caster too?" deadpanned Cecile.
"My Holo Caster?" The Dedenne-like man immediately pulled out the device from his pocket and checked it. "Oh yeah, it is my Holo Caster!"
Floyd, Lloyd, and Cecile all slapped their foreheads in disbelief.
"Unbelievable..." Cecile muttered.
Then, upon inspecting it closer, Nick's eyes widened in surprise. "Hey, it's Adam!"
"Adam?!" Floyd exclaimed.
"Well, answer it!" cried Lloyd as he and the others assembled around the device in eager anticipation.
Nick pressed a button, triggering the holographic image of their longtime benefactor. Adam scowled at them unpleasantly even as he looked around the scene of repairs.
"Well," Adam greeted, "judging by what I'm seeing in your background, your operation has failed miserably, Nick."
"Ohhh, ye of little faith!" Nick replied overconfidently and overdramatically. "In fact, we've done with Parker has asked us to do! And we did it with flying colors!"
"If you call blowing out the side of a mountain flying colors..." Floyd muttered under his breath.
"I heard that."
As for Adam, he arched an eyebrow with interest. "I see... Well, either way, I wish to speak with Parker, posthaste."
"Uhhhhh..." Nick scratched his cheek in confusion. "Toothpaste?"
"I've got some toothpaste in my knapsack if you need it, Adam," Lloyd volunteered.
"NO, YOU DIMWITS! I SAID-!" Then, Adam caught himself in the middle of his outburst and calmed down with a clearing of his throat. "Just...bring the Holo Caster over to Parker."
Nick shook his head. "Nuh-uh, no can do."
"And...why not...Nick?" Adam asked in a strikingly ominous tone.
This startled Nick immensely. "W-We-Well, w-we're under n-new management! S-S-So to speak..."
"New management? What in blazes are you-?!"
His inquiry was cut off when the Holo Caster was snatched straight out of Nick's hands. He yelped, and everyone's skins crawled when they saw Kay standing right in front of them. Though she wasn't any taller than them, her very presence, menacing and assertive, was already looming above the group. With narrowed eyes and a wrinkled brow of fierce focus, the Pokémon poacher stared into Adam's holographic image.
"Who is this?" she hissed.
"Wh-Who is...is this?!" Adam stammered. He quickly regained his composure and unflinchingly glared at Kay. "How dare you question who I am! I am-"
"Adam Glazing," a new voice interrupted.
Nick, Floyd, Lloyd, and Cecile looked behind Kay to see Parker approach them, followed closely by Sid.
"This is the man I've been telling you about, Kay," Parker explained with a sleek voice. "He's the one responsible for your recovery operation."
"Hm?" Then, Kay understood immediately. "Ahhh, yes. The hotel owner."
"Future hotel owner," Adam corrected. His chest swelled with pride, and he jabbed a thumb into his own heart. "And now that I've got you two by my side, Parker, Kay, I can see to it that my future becomes a reality! After all, what is the point of the future if things aren't set in stone?!"
"How insightful," Kay replied dryly. "Why'd you call?"
"Well, I regret to inform you that my original plans of meeting your colleague at the pre-assigned rendezvous point have been postponed." Adam suddenly grimaced with evidently bitter discomfort. "It has come to my attention that I am to be the 'date' for my 'beloved' niece Amelia. Long story."
"Likely for that silly Pokémon Showcase that they're holding over at the Maison," Parker clarified, before Kay could voice her confusion. Then, he gave the holographic image a malevolent sneer. "Worry not, Adam. I think I can make good use out of you regardless..."
Adam blinked twice, then he returned the sneer with one of his own. "I'm listening..."
Laurier Maison
Northern Kiloude City
A brief but ferocious flash of pain, followed by a feeling of dark discomfort.
Yancy had to restrain her entire body from reacting to that feeling, right in the middle of her Freestyle Performance with Serena and the others. Flo noticed her Trainer's sudden emotional change, and she struggled to maintain her momentum while she danced step by step alongside the other Performers and Pokémon. Serena and Shauna noticed this within their peripheral visions as well.
"Hey, Yancy?" Serena asked in a whisper, once she got close enough to her future daughter.
"What's wrong?" asked Shauna in an equally hushed voice.
"Something's..." Yancy briefly stopped midsentence, struggling to communicate her feelings. "Something's wrong... I...I can feel it..."
Serena and Shauna stealthily swept their gazes across the entire auditorium, but neither of them could see any traces of a threat anywhere.
"I don't see or hear anything wrong," Serena remarked.
"Yancy," Flo said, unheard by everyone else, "do you think it's-?"
"I don't know what it is..." replied Yancy, "but...I need to let Nate and Summer know about it, quickly-"
"Aaaaannnnnd FINISH!" Aria proclaimed.
The Kalos Queen's voice brought Yancy, Serena, and Shauna back to their original senses. Together, they and the rest of the Performers and their Pokémon stepped close together and concluded the unique Freestyle Performance with a single, united pose. Real fireworks erupted behind them, showering the entire stage with light and sparks, thereby bringing the Exhibition Showcase to an end. The audience's uproarious cheer and applause had never been louder.
And unbeknownst to everyone, a Hoppip, Skiploom, and Jumpluff, all a part of Parker's posse, were silently observing in the corners of the expansive auditorium...
A/N: And that marks the end of this chapter! Sorry if it felt shorter than the others, and I really don't have an excuse for that. I think I wrote what I needed to write here, and besides, no more lollygagging on my end, remember? I know why you're all here: for the juicy stuff, and that's AmourShipping, AmourShipping, and more AmourShipping! Which we'll get starting in the very next chapter... ;D ;D ;D
That aside, that was one heck of a Freestyle Performance! I made sure to get all of the Performers involved, even all the nameless, faceless background characters that we'd see in every Showcase episode. I hope I didn't miss anyone or leave anyone out! I had to consult the list that I made of them in Chapter 14. In the process, I almost forgot all about Amelia! D'OH! DX
But yes, the Exhibition Showcase is officially over, unfortunately. No more Theme Performances to go through, no further Freestyle Performances, nothing. The Performers are not out of the woods yet, though! There is one last event that they have to get through, but I'm not going to spoil it! If you still remember the lore that I set up in this story, I think you will know what I'm talking about... ;D
Now, I'd like to thank the following for reviewing:
-DragonicFireLord: Hey, for the next time you review this fanfic, would you mind leaving behind some feedback on the current chapter that you're reviewing for? Praise, constructive criticism, miscellaneous comments, anything? And not just one or two sentences of feedback. I would like some higher-effort reviews, please. I mean, at least some remotely high-effort ones, so I could easily crack down on what I am doing right, what I should improve on, and what I should probably drop. It'd be highly appreciated. Thanks! :D :D :D
-Ander Arias:
1) Indeed, a welcome surprise for you, and for all of you! :D :D :D Hope you enjoy this newest welcome surprise as well!
2) I mean, I guess lying about your Showcase credentials and knowingly play in a Theme Performance as an unlicensed Pokémon Performer would do that to a girl. But yes, enough people were swayed by her performance to allow her to get another shot at stardom in this timeline. HOORAY!
3) Yes, she's certainly going to regret unlocking their romance now. XD XD XD
4) Fortunately, the Exhibition Showcase has concluded without further incidents! Next comes...well, I suppose you'll find out in the next chapter. ;D
-Dragon King Ryouga:
1) Obviously that seems to be the case!
2) Heh heh heh, good catch! It makes one wonder how she got to that point in the future, and whether this will have an effect on her past self should everything finally be exposed...
3) Yep, Miette's not going to let this one slip-up go AT ALL. This will haunt both Ash and Serena for the rest of their days. XD
Well, hope you enjoyed this chapter! TheCartoonFanatic01 is out. PEACE!