Chapter 4

Pathways to Performance Partnering

My friends and I were still en route to Coumarine City, where I hoped to find a potential Pure Heart as well as the Gym Badge therefrom. But it was such a nice day where we were: clear skies, comfortable temperature, cooling breeze… so we decided to have a break for lunch.

After finishing his dish, Brock gave Clemont a satisfied pat on the back. "Gotta say, your meals would give me a run for my money. You sure you weren't meant to be a chef?"

"Thanks," he replied while adjusting his glasses. "It's all about little adjustments."

Serena then pulled a basket out from behind her. "I hope you saved some room for dessert."

"Serena, there's always room for dessert," I smiled in reply.

She then opened the basket to reveal… nothing. It was empty save for a few crumbs, that were even too small for Dedenne. "What the…? This was packed full a minute ago."

Then she noticed one Pokémon in particular slowly walking away. Clemont turned his Chespin around to find his cheeks were stuffed full. "Not again..." he groaned as Chespin swallowed them all whole.

This made Pancham angry. He was really looking forward to them. He began angrily griping at Chespin. "Pancham, It's okay… I can always make more," her Trainer insisted.

But Pancham was as stubborn as a Bouffalant. He went so far as to tackle the little thief and pin him to the ground. Chespin retaliated to the point where an unnecessary fight was taking place. Their respective Trainers had to pry their Pokémon out of each other's grasp and then lecture them.

"Listen, both of you!" Serena scolded. "Don't you remember you're supposed to be friends! Now apologize to each other!"

They seemed to do so, but then… "Hey! I can tell them what you're saying, you know!" Cocoa intervened.

Then Chespin taunted Pancham in a rather rude manner and ran off, having an angry Pancham chase after him. Their respective Trainers then followed, wanting the bickering to end.

'Does this happen often?' Diancie asked Squishy.

'Eh… I'm sure you had disputes with that Pabi fella you talk about,' the green one replied.

As the chase continued, the two angry Pokémon dove into the bushes after one another, only to accidentally tackle a new Pokémon I never saw before… specifically, a Farfetch'd. As Serena and Clemont retrieved their own. Someone else appeared with a Smoochum. She had dark green hair, and wore a rather cute dress.

"Are these two ill-mannered brats yours?!" she asked angrily. "They just tackled my Farfetch'd for no reason!"

"It was an accident!" Serena told her, apologetically. "We didn't know you were back here!"

"Oh… well, in that case, I forgive you." She looked down at her own Pokémon. "Okay then, let's get back to training for the next Showcase."

This immediately caught Serena's attention. "Did you say Showcase?" she asked. "I have yet to make an appearance, but I was planning to enter one as well."

"Really?!" She replied with a twinkle in her eyes. "What a coincidence! I was practicing for my own debut as well. But I get no feedback practicing all by myself." Then our new friend had an idea. "Say… could you guys watch my performance and tell me what you think?"

While we did not want to say no… "But we don't really know enough about Showcases to give a proper critique," I replied.

"I just want your opinion. Anything is better than nothing."

"Well, if you insist…" Serena nodded in compliance. Before they could start, Serena examined each of our friend's partners through the Pokédex.

Smoochum
The Kiss Pokémon
Smoochum's lips are quite sensitive, so it uses them first to investigate objects.

Farfetch'd
The Wild Duck Pokémon
Farfetch'd uses the stalk it holds as a weapon, wielding it like a sword to cut a variety of objects.

"I wonder what they're performances will be like?" Serena asked aloud. "Oh! My name's Serena by the way. Serena Paschall."

"Nini Emm. It's nice to meet you!"

The lot of us sat down on a nearby boulder, ready for the show. Nini started her performance with her Smoochum. "Using Powder Snow!" The Smoochum twirled around, and a flurry appeared overhead, showering the field in ice crystals. Then, as she and Smoochum danced around, Farfetch'd flew up and used Fury Cutter to clear out the Powder Snow in a flashy manner before somersaulting back to the ground.

"Smoochum, use Heart Stamp!" The Smoochum blew a kiss, and a large pink heart flew from her lips into the air. "One more time, Farfetch'd! Fury Cutter!" It diced the Heart Stamp into multiple hearts, concluding the performance.

A brief applause later, we supplied our feedback as promised. As we spoke, Nini wrote in her notebook. "Well, I was thinking you could coordinate your dance with your Pokémon just a little more," Serena suggested.

"You also might want to add a little flash to that Heart Stamp," I added. "All in all, I'd give you 4.5 out of 5 stars."

"Dancing and Heart Stamp, got it," then Nini had another idea. "Serena, I think it would really help if you showed me your performance!"

"Well, to be honest, I don't have very much to show right now," she replied. "I only made the decision to become a performer a week or two ago."

"I wanna see it too!" Bonnie declared.

"Same here," Ash and Misty added.

"We're all here to help, Serena," Brock stated.

Serena blushed in reply. I think she needed that nudge. She looked to her own Pokémon. "Okay. Ready, you too?"

Suddenly, Clemont's Chespin knocked Pancham out of the way, taking his place.

'Here we go again...' Squishy groaned.

Clemont sighed. "I guess he's still trying to show Pancham up."

The two started to butt heads, but Cocoa quickly intervened. "Break it up, you two! Break it up!"

"Chespin, would you like to be in the performance too?" asked Serena, which Chespin nodded in reply.

"I've got it!" Clemont grinned, a sparkle in his glasses. "The future is now, thanks to science! Clemontic Gear, ON!" From his backpack, a small robot appeared which seemed to look like a Chespin in a dress. "Presenting my Only Lonely Dancing Robo-Partner!"

"How many inventions do you have in that pack?" I asked out of curiosity.

But I do not believe he heard me. "Power on!" The robot then wheeled up to Chespin and proceeded to dance with him. However, the robot then started to throw him around like a wrestler.

Diancie looked to Clemont. 'That looks painful! You should stop that thing!'

"I'm trying! The power button's jammed!"

I looked at Nini. "You might want to take a couple steps back..."

"Why?" she asked.

*KA-BOOM*

"That's why..." I groaned after the dust settled.

"Sorry..." Clemont coughed.

A brief cleanup later, it was Serena's turn to show what she was made of. Nini sat with us on the boulders, while Serena explained the routine one last time to Fennekin and Pancham.

She stood up, took a deep breath, and her performance began. Her Pokémon jumped up, each one onto one of her hands. She launched them both into the air and instructed Fennekin to use her Flamethrower attack. Fennekin spun around in the process and created a series of fire rings, which Pancham daringly somersaulted through.

The two partners landed on their feet, and Serena made the next call. "Pancham, use Dark Pulse!" The panda Pokémon fired the projectile into the air. "Fennekin, Flamethrower again!" The Flamethrower spiraled around the Dark Pulse, and the fusion reaction caused a miniature firework spectacle. "And finie!" The three bowed to us as they received our applause.

"Excellent job, Serena!" I cheered for my best friend.

"So pretty!" Bonnie added.

"It was super good!" Nini stood up. "...but I think Pancham's acrobatics didn't quite fit well with the rest of the performance."

"I can agree with that," Ash added in the nicest way possible. "His movements were swift and strong, but… how shall I put it? ...they didn't quite mesh with what you and Fennekin had going on."

Serena fingered her chin. "I'll have to think about that..." as she was speaking, Smoochum tittered over to the one in question. This made Pancham slightly uncomfortable.

"Pancham, what's going on?" Nini asked.

Brock grinned. "Looks to me like Smoochum has a crush on Pancham."

"Really?" Serena looked a little closer to realize the doctor was right.

"Isn't that the cutest thing..."Nini swooned. "I think they'd make a cute couple." Then she had an idea. "Maybe the two of them should dance together."

Serena, who seemed slightly unsure, decided it was at least worth a try. We gave the two some space as they began. Surprisingly, their movements were fluid with one another. It was almost as though they were thinking the exact same thoughts as they went.

"Gotta say," Cocoa added as we applauded them, "that turned out better than I'd hoped."

"You two were amazing!" Nini commented. She picked up her Smoochum and looked at Serena. "What do you say we trade? Your Pancham for one of my own Pokémon?" Farfetch'd looked shocked at this. Meanwhile, Clemont's Chespin looked supportive of the idea, as though he wanted to get rid of him. "I promise I'll take extra good care of him."

Fortunately for Farfetch'd, Serena refused. "Sorry, Nini, but Pancham was the first Pokémon I ever caught, and I already made a promise to him that we'd perform together."

Nini sighed a little. "I understand. No hard feelings..."

"But watching them dance together," Serena commented, "I understand how important choreography is."

Then out of nowhere, a car zipped right passed us and screeched to a halt. From within, a man and a woman emerged, dressed like they came here from 1985. "So, you kids are into Pokémon Performance?"

"Uh… yeah?" Nini asked.

"Perfect-o!" the man gestured to the woman beside him. "Meet La Grande Dame Brûlée, cream of the choreographer crop! She's choreographed countless Pokémon performances, and created dozens of top Idols!"

Then La Grande chimed in, "We were just on our way to our next job, when I noticed the way your Pokémon dancing. I just couldn't help myself."

"Really?" Nini asked. "We were struggling a little with the choreography for our next performance. It would mean a lot if you'd help us."

"I should warn you, my boss' handiwork is anything but cheap," said his assistant.

"But," La Grande rebutted, "I just love helping rookies like you out. I'll lend you a hand, and I won't cost you a dime."

She started by requesting that all participating Pokémon line up, including Clemont's Chespin for some reason. As she inspected them all, she seemed to lose it with Smoochum. "Such a cutie… Being exposed to those precious lips and saucer eyes makes me melt like butter..."

"Focus, boss!" her assistant stated, snapping her out of it..

"Right... of course..." she snapped back to her initial position. "Let's start with some basic exercises. Everyone, follow my movements." With her arms at her sides, she began lifting her legs up and out at ninety-degree angles, and everyone else followed. "Right… Left… Right… Left…" After a few of those, she began twisting her hips back and forth. "Right… Left… Right… Left… Excellent." She looked to her assistant. "Now for the main course."

"Right-e-o!" Opening a briefcase, the assistant threw a switch, and out from the case came a large purple balloon with a small opening near the base.

"I'd like for you to practice in here. In this condensed space,you learn to make your moves more economical." The Pokémon complied to instruction, and the opening sealed shut.

"Okay… now what?" Nini asked.

"Now we take off these stupid costumes!" They did just that to reveal their true colors.

"Prepare for trouble! A lesson this is!"
"And make it double! You're in the wrong biz!"
"To protect the world from devastation!"
"To unite all peoples within our nation!"
"To denounce the evils of two left feet!"
"Face it! Our footwork is frightfully neat!"
"Jessie!"
"James!"
"Team Rocket blasts off at the speed of light!"
"Surrender now, or prepare for a footloose fight!"
"Meowth, that's right!" called a third voice from a balloon.

"Team Rocket!" Ash snarled.

"I can't believe we fell for it again!" Misty facepalmed.

Meowth dropped a rope tied to a ladder, which James quickly tied to the balloon trap "Time to fly!"

Jessie and James clambered onto the ladder as Meowth reeled them all in.

"Hey! What are you doing?!" Nini asked in shock and anger.

"You see," explained Jessie in the process, "there's only one Kalos Idol, and that one is going to be me! So go ahead and practice until your faces turn blue!"

"We got what we want, so we bid you adieu!" James added.

Then Meowth threw a cube out of the basket. "Here! You can have this in exchange!" The cube exploded later than usual this time, catching us a bit off guard.

"Farfetch'd… Smoochum… What do we do?" Nini asked sadly.

"Don't worry," Cocoa stated with a smirk. "We have this thing where we chase them, we fight, they lose… it's a well-established dynamic."

"Yeah… Fletchinder! Let's go!" Ash released his featured friend into the sky. He began to survey the surrounding skies and the rest of us did so on foot.

*Fennekin's POV*

Meanwhile, those of us in the trap were trying to escape. I for one was getting claustrophobic in that condensed space. But it only got worse when Chespin and Pancham started fighting.

"Stop that down there!" Meowth demanded. "You're rocking the balloon up here!"

Then there was trouble. I guess the coupling was loose, or the knot slipped. Whatever it was, we fell to the earth and began bouncing all over. I felt like I was going to throw up, until the balloon popped on a low branch. Luckily, nobody was hurt, but we were all lost.

(Now what do we do?) Smoochum asked.

(Let me try,) Farfetch'd stood his leek up straight. (This technique almost never fails me.) After releasing it, the leek fell in one direction. (This way.)

(I'll take point,) said Chespin.

(No, I'll go first,) argued Pancham.

(No, I will!)

(No, me!)

(Well, this is getting us nowhere fast...) I sighed.

Before they could stop, however, Inkay appeared. (Found them!)

His Trainer James caught up with him as well as the rest of Team Rocket. "The jig is up! You're coming with us!"

(I'll take you down easy!) Chespin stated.

(I'll take them down, you watch!) Pancham argued back.

This bickering left an opening for James. "Use Psybeam..." he called, awkwardly, and the Inkay fired a projectile that would have smashed into them. But they fell over, and the Psybeam struck Nini's partners.

(Are you guys okay?) I asked in concern.

"Shadow Ball!" Jessie called and her Pumpkaboo struck me therewith.

As I lay there, I was beginning to think we were not seeing our Trainer's anymore. But then, (Truce!) Pancham and Chespin called with a hand slap. This made me smile.

"Dark Pulse!" Pumpkakoo fired another beam, but they dodged. Then Pancham used an Arm Thrust to distract Pumbkaboo while Chespin struck her from behind with a Pin Missile.

"Inkay! Use Tackle!" Inkay charged ahead, but Chespin used his Vine Whip to grab the nearby trees and force a headbutt onto the enemy. Team Rocket tried their best, but with very attack, our friends launched an immediate counterattack until finally…

"You all okay?" a familiar voice asked. We quickly saw our Trainers coming our way. Apparently, Fletchinder saw the battle and alerted the others.

I jumped into Serena's arms like a child. I was just so happy to see her again. Smoochum and Farfetch'd did the same with Nini.

"I knew this would happen… it's a well-established dynamic," growled Jessie. "Shadow Ball!" Pumpkaboo launched several, but Pancham and Chespin dodged them all. Then Pancham slingshotted Chespin behind Pumpkaboo, and the Spiny Nut Pokémon wrapped the enemy in a Vine Whip and spun her around. Before she could recuperate, Pancham fired a Dark Pulse into her face.

"Looks like they're finally on level terms with one another..." Misty smiled.

Serena looked to Clemont. "Shall we?"

He smiled and replied, "Let's."

"Dark Pulse!"

"Pin Missile!"

The two fired their attacks in perfect sync and caused the opponents to crash on their Trainers' heads.

"Pikachu/Cocoa! Double Thunderbolt!" Brianna and Ash called. The two fired a strong electrical fusion that sent the enemies flying.

"WE'RE BLASTING OFF AGAIN…!"

Misty looked to Brock. "Time?"

He looked at his watch. "3 minutes and 47 saeconds… just barely missed our personal best!"

"Aw, nuts..."

*Brianna's POV*

Everyone, especially Smoochum, was sorry when it was time for us to part ways. Serena shook hands with her new friend. "Next time we meet, it will be on stage," she stated confidently.

Nini nodded. "Then I guess we're rivals, huh?"

"Well, just because we're rivals doesn't mean we can't be friends."

"True that."

"Good luck with your debut!" Ash added. "I doubt you'll need it though."

"Thanks! Keep in touch, everybody!" and she began down the path on the right. The rest of us took that on our left.

A chance encounter with a n aspiring Performer has made Serena's desire to enter the Pokémon Showcase grow even stronger. And so with hopes and dreams shining brighter than ever before, our journey continues...