"Now, let's welcome our next contestant!"
The MC's voice reached Kashiwagi's ears.
He stepped out from the tunnel, exposing himself to the gaze of every spectator and judge in the hall.
While a Pokémon Contest primarily judges the Pokémon, a visually striking Coordinator is always a highlight for the audience. Kashiwagi possessed a natural elegance, and when combined with the willpower forged in the battles of Pyrite Town and the commanding presence of a leader, he commanded respect the moment he stood still.
The roar of the crowd gradually hushed into an expectant silence.
"Let's go!"
He tossed his Poké Ball forward.
Pop!
Amidst a flurry of pink petals, Mawile slowly materialized in a flash of white light. The red silk ribbon at the back of its head fluttered in the breeze, accompanied by the crisp, melodious chime of a bell.
Ring-a-ling~
"Mawile~"
Its dainty voice melded perfectly with the chime.
The three judges leaned forward, their eyes lighting up simultaneously. Aside from Nurse Joy, the other two were seasoned breeders; they could tell at a glance that this Pokémon was in peak condition.
While its entrance wasn't the flashiest, every movement Mawile made was graceful. Its fur was supple and lustrous, and its soulful eyes were a testament to the meticulous care it had received.
Even the MC couldn't help but comment, "What an adorable Mawile!"
"Fairy Wind!" Kashiwagi commanded softly.
Mawile slowly raised its hands and began to dance with a feather-light step, looking like a mischievous sprite in a flower garden. The red ribbon swayed with its movements as the Soothe Bell emitted a continuous, comforting ring.
With every spin and light hop, soft breezes shimmering with pale pink light particles rippled outward.
The judges were initially entranced by the dance and the bells, but then a cool, fragrant wind reached them. It felt like a mental refreshment—a gentle hand caressing their heartstrings in the middle of a sweltering summer.
What a spectacular Fairy Wind!
Even with their vast experience, the judges had rarely seen the move executed with such finesse. Mawile had integrated it perfectly into its dance, making it both timely and soul-stirring.
As the gentle breeze reached the stands, the audience—despite trying to remain quiet to avoid distracting the performer—couldn't help but let out gasps of delight.
But Mawile wasn't finished.
Even without background music, the audience noticed the tempo of Mawile's spins and leaps increasing. It had been dancing in a wide circle, but that circle was now rapidly shrinking.
The gentle wind turned sharp and brisk; the bell chimes became dense and frantic, as if someone had pressed the fast-forward button.
Suddenly, faint sparks of electricity flickered beneath Mawile's feet. It actually began to step upward, walking onto the very air!
Now, it abandoned the traditional dance steps, spinning violently in mid-air in a single direction.
"Fire Fang—"
Kashiwagi's voice was drowned out by the bells, unheard by the crowd. Only Mawile knew the climax had arrived.
Its massive jaws slowly unhinged. Flames spilled from its teeth, mixing with the electricity at its feet to form a brilliant, orange-red ring of light. As the power intensified, the ring expanded outward.
WHOOSH!
A storm of flame and lightning completely encased Mawile, forming a spindle-shaped vortex of fire and thunder.
The judges' expressions shifted from admiration to pure shock. The transition from slow to fast, condensed into a performance just over a minute long, had seized their hearts. Every eye was locked on the storm center.
The vortex began to bulge, as if the energy had reached its breaking point.
Next came a sound like tearing silk.
Fwoosh! Fwoosh!
The storm split diagonally. The gap widened like a curtain being pulled back, revealing Mawile inside, its eyes sparkling with life. It reached out, "grabbing" the storm and hurling it forward with a violent flick!
BOOM!
The orange-red "curtain" exploded. Countless sparks scattered, transforming into "fire butterflies" entwined with tiny bolts of electricity that fluttered across the arena.
Chime... chime... chime...
The Soothe Bell rang softly, sounding like the beating wings of the fire butterflies.
Everyone was lost in the beauty. Some even reached out, hoping to touch a butterfly and keep it from fading. But before the embers could reach them, they vanished silently into the air.
Mawile landed lightly on its feet.
"Mawile~"
Kashiwagi locked eyes with his partner and gave a slight bow to the audience.
Silence.
Then, the stadium erupted!
Spectators leaped to their feet, showering Kashiwagi and Mawile with thunderous applause. Cheers and shouts filled the rafters as if all the built-up emotion had exploded at once.
This was a performance that made every ticket holder feel they had gotten a bargain. In just ninety seconds, the fusion of dance and moves, the harmony of cuteness and elegance, and the peak of visual and auditory experience had been achieved.
Was this the Grand Festival?
No. This was just a regular Contest!
"Beautiful! Simply beautiful! The moves evolved alongside the dance, the tempo building perfectly. That soft Fairy Wind... that dazzling dance of fire. Even though the footwork was a tiny bit unpolished, it actually added a sense of innocent, girlish charm to Mawile..."
Mr. Contesta was babbling, seemingly unable to stop. The MC eventually had to signal the booth to cut his mic to give Sukizo a turn.
"—RE! MAR! KA! BLE!"
Sukizo roared into the microphone. Usually tall and composed, he didn't care one bit how "out of character" he looked. He just had to express his feelings.
The MC took a deep breath and gave the final word to Nurse Joy, looking at her with pleading eyes. You'll be normal, right? Please?
Fortunately, Nurse Joy didn't disappoint.
"A performance that I will remember for a long time. Through the dance and the moves, I could feel the sweat and effort poured into every practice session. A Pokémon and Trainer working toward a single goal—it's truly moving."
Nurse Joy's praise was, as always, straightforward and focused on the bond.
"Judges, your scores please!" the MC prompted.
Beep-beep-beep.
9.8, 9.8, 9.9.
A total of 29.5. A guaranteed spot in the second round.
Kashiwagi held out his hand to Mawile.
"Mawile~!"
Mawile leaped up and gave its trainer a high-five, a sweet, triumphant smile lighting up its face.
They had nailed it!