victory_road | The Contest Spectacular!

The Contest Spectacular!

Who: Everyone attending the Contest Spectacular! (For more information about this event, check out the info post here!)
Where: Celadon City
When: January 18-20
Log:

It’s finally here… the Contest Spectacular! The whole city of Celadon has been bustling ever since the preparations for the contest began, but now with the addition of all the contestants, their friends, and the general crowds, the town is downright packed. Hotel rooms booked en masse (good luck getting into that big fancy one near the casino-- thank Arceus there's plenty of others!), the Center stuffed with younger trainers who are short on cash but couldn't pass up the opportunity to see the first ever Pokemon Contest in this region, and generally even more foot traffic than usual.

But nowhere is it moreso than in Celadon Center, where massive, colorful tents have been erected. Pink, orange, yellow, green, and blue! There's no missing what they're for-- enormous banners advertising the Contest Spectacular fly from every corner. The streets surrounding the square are packed as well-- food carts and merch stands line the sidewalks, eager to snag a bit of the glory. Teeny tiny portions of hoity-toity restaurant food usually too expensive to buy are being hawked to passersby right alongside Pokeblocks and Poffins of varying quality, in case your Pokemon need a treat (or a little extra oomph before the show starts!). In addition to the stands selling gobs of Hoenn contest celebrity memorabilia (contest nerds might recognize figures such as Contest Idol Lisia and her Altaria, Ali, featured quite prominently!), Celadon City's many fashion boutiques and clothing lines have gotten first dibs on available space, so any contestants still looking for an outfit for themselves or their Pokemon is in luck, because there’s absolutely everything you could imagine for sale if you find the right stall. Opportunistic photographers (some official, some... not) have also swooped in to set up booths with rentable costumes and fun backgrounds, for anyone who isn't performing but wants some cute souvenir pictures of their Pokemon being a contest star anyway.

But of course, for eager audiences and contestants alike, the real attraction lays within the tents themselves. Audience members will have to wait in line for the shows to officially begin at noon on Friday, but for those who entered the contest themselves, well, that's another story entirely!

Stages of all kinds have been arranged to suit most every type of act that’s been submitted, from the more traditional wooden stages to huge tanks to little fields (the oodles of hardworking staff making all of this possible are making good use of moves like Grassy Terrain!), and the Contest Hosts’ voices can be heard presenting acts and cracking jokes about said acts almost all day long.

After registering but before checking into their lodgings (prepaid rooms at the ritzy Celadon Hotel! Lucky you!), contestants and their Pokemon will be shown behind the scenes and made familiar with all the utilities at their disposal-- small refreshments, makeup stalls, a selection of props to make use of (although, as the harried-looking staff will tell them, bringing your own unique items is really the best way to stand out!), lights, camera, and of course action! Unsurprisingly, the entire back workings of the Contest is a flurry of activity-- it's a lot of people, Pokemon, and equipment to manage; and in true, bombastic Hoenn style, there are bright lights and flashy colors everywhere you look! But contestants will still find that no matter how busy or frantic they are, the staff will still find time to help them out with special requests or technical requirements for the act. It is, after all, their job!

But ultimately, the act is on you and your Pokemon. Don't get stage fright now-- the curtain's going up any minute!

~*~

[IMPORTANT: Please submit your contest entries here! For all other activities, feel free to make your own top-levels!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Everyone entering the Contest Spectacular, please reply to this comment with your entry using the template provided!

Contest Category: Tough
Trainer: Stanford Pines
Pokemon: "Douglas" (Abomasnow)
Move: Wood Hammer

Costume: Some contestants may have piled on the layers and fiddly finery, but Ford has decided that in his case the opposite is probably best. When you're showing off physical skill and raw power, you don't want what you're wearing to get in the way.

His outfit is simple: black combat boots (new and shiny, unlike the permanently-muddy brown ones he normally wears), forest green cargo pants and a white tank top. That's right: for the first time ever Ford has publicly ditched his heavy coat and thick turtleneck. The tattoos on his neck, arms and shoulders that he usually keeps studiously hidden are on full display. They're a mix of cosmic and fantastical imagery with a good bit of nerd shit thrown in for good measure (he's been getting the ones he has Regrets^TM about covered up with newer, better art, but there's nothing to regret about nerd shit). For those especially eagle-eyed viewers he also has all sixteen badges worked into his sleeves, though only twelve of them are currently in full color. The ones he has yet to earn are outline-only.

Where there aren't tattoos there are scars. It's a gamble showing them off like this but if no one in this world so far has batted an eye at his extra fingers then they likely won't be too taken aback by some old wounds. Mainly there are healed over bullet and stab marks, though a few are long and wicked enough that they may have come from claws.

On his hands he wears a pair of black hand wraps (the kind boxers wear) with red sweat bands around the wrists for the added color. These are the crux of the thing, and they match the red and black wrappings on his Abomasnow's arms just like his pants match the green parts of her body. Douglas herself isn't too dressed up: there simply isn't much clothing made that would fit an Abomasnow, and she's striking enough in simple attire anyway in Ford's opinion. It helps that she's a little bigger than a regular Abomasnow, clocking in at just a little over eight feet tall. Aside from the wraps on her hands there is also red and black cloth wrapped tightly around the outcroppings on her back and more red just shy of the end of her tail for the pop of color. The straight edges of her coat have been strategically cut into more jagged shapes to give her a sharper, rougher look, and the fur around her eyes has been dabbed with black makeup.

Act: Like their outfits, the stage is simple: wooden and bare save for their single prop, which is a large free-standing punching bag (generously donated by a local Celadon gym, just about the only place one can find a punching bag big enough for an Abomasnow). Its base is black and its main body is blue: it is, albeit minimalistically, meant to invoke a Wobbuffet. Douglas's Snow Warning adds a stark ambience: dark clouds gather above the stage so that the light shining on it from the stage lights is transformed into a steely gray. Little flurries of snow occasionally waft down.

Douglas positions herself in front of the punching bag while Ford stands a ways back so as not to get in her way. She shakes herself out, cracks the neck that is presumably hidden under all that fluff, and lifts her arms. She isn't nervous and neither is Ford. Really this is no different than the training they've been doing on their own for months, except that here she's punching a real punching bag instead of a tree or the side of a cliff.

"Alright, Douglas. Wood Hammer!"

Douglas's left hand glows with a green light that after a moment resolves itself into the shape of a tree stump. It's like a shining, bright green glove, and that's exactly how she intends to use it. But just using the move isn't enough -- she has to know how to hit, and that's where Ford comes in. He directs her, cross, cross, jab jab jab, hook, and each punch connects flawlessly.

But boxing isn't a one-handed sport. If you walked into a ring with just one glove you'd be laughed right back out of it again.

"Doubletime!"

This is a command Douglas clearly knows, because she nods and squares her shoulders. Her other hand begins to glow as well, and with a roar that's half exertion and half showmanship she manifests a second stump. This, too, is something they have been working on since long before this Contest was announced. It's just a lucky happenstance that this is the perfect venue in which to take it for a public test drive.

The punches come faster now, but Douglas keeps up with the shouted commands easily. She has a rhythm that comes with practice and though her breathing is heavy (and visible in the cold from her ability-induced weather), her eyes are bright. She has a big body to move and is slow by nature, so this kind of speed and precision is something it's taken work to achieve. The punching bag wobbles, scooting by miniscule increments across the stage. It wasn't positioned square in the middle to begin with and now it becomes obvious why: it was always meant to move.

Moving a punching bag across an entire stage would probably be impressive enough, but there's a more explosive finish planned because Stanford Pines is incapable of not pushing things just about as far as he can push them.

"Ready?"

Douglas huffs and pounds her two stump gloves together. Damn straight she is ready.

"Then the gloves are coming off!" He hooks one hand into the red band on his left wrist and pulls it off. That portion of his hand wrap is now bare, and set into the wrist is the mega evolution keystone he absolutely refused to wear as a chunky bracelet. Finally it's been reset into a form that's more suited to him. Douglas shakes out her fur and the corresponding Abomasite that hangs on a chain around her neck glints in the stage lights.

He begins to call punches again and this time he mirrors her motions. Jab, jab, cross, cross, uppercut, and as they move in sync she glows with a brilliant light. The weather from her Snow Warning grows in intensity, blowing cold air across the stage. Her form stretches and grows until with that final uppercut she stands as a Mega Abomasnow, an impressive ten feet tall. The shoots on her back have exploded into tiered spears of ice and in the process have ripped the fabric wrapped around them. In the wind the strips of tattered red and black fabric wave like the standards of an army making a final stand.

Alright. This is it. Big finish.

"Sweep!"

Her legs are shorter now and ill-equipped, but she doesn't need her legs for this. Instead she whirls and her thick, solid tail connects with the bottom of the punching bag and throws it off balance. It swings backward, then momentum carries it forward again. She completes the turn just in time for another uppercut as the bag lurches forward, knocking it up and into the air. She jumps to follow it, raises both glowing arms, and brings them down again just as Ford commands her to "Finish it!"

There is a tremendous flurry of snow and a resounding crash, then another as Douglas lands again. The wind blows the stage clear to reveal the punching bag on its side, outer casing ruptured, pouring its innards onto the wood. She turns to the audience, rears back to raise both arms, and roars.

Her evolution, her Wood Hammer gloves and the hail fade as she lowers her arms again. Her heavy breathing ruffles the fur above her mouth. She's glowing, or at least glowing as much as a giant fluffy tree yeti can. Nailed it.

Edited 2018-01-18 08:54 (UTC)

Contest Category: Cute
Trainer: Mari Ohara
Pokemon: Spinel | Staryu
Move: Water Gun so much water gun because staryus know nOTHING ELSE

Costume: Mari and Spinel are decked out in somewhat similar garbs-- mermaid-esque but to make up for the Staryu's lack of a body, Mari has done it up with flowing ribbons which match the top and her "tail". Around its arms are pearl-like beads and little charms similar to the ones in her hair. The flutter and sweep with each flip it will make while it shows off its acrobatics to Mari's song.

Stars with varying colors of glitter have been stuck onto each of Spinel's arms and up Mari's shoulders. She did her best with her Staryu's lack of a face as a canvas by simply glittering it up and making sure it had all the possible adornments she could manage. There might be some shiny stars in the contests and the audience, but it's very, very hard to beat the glittering between the two of them.

Act: [ She holds her Staryu close in her arms to her chest with its gem glowing the faintest of dim reds which fade on and off slowly.

She appears to be the center of the show but that simply isn't the case, as all will see in a minute when the music begins to bubble up in rising, elegant tones. This prompts the gem to glow a little lighter and with the crescendo, Spinel is raised up and up over Mari's head like a beacon cast over its audience. The music bursts into a poppy tune as Mari throws the starfish up in the air, allowing it to do many cartwheels above with Water Gun sprays. THAT STARYU IS READY TO GO!! ]

♫ Watch as the curtains open! Hey, everybody! Welcome~! ♫ [ It lands perfectly on one of her palms on one leg-- and this isn't a small or light Pokemon, showing the strength of itself and its trainer. ] ♫ Now's the time to play! ♫ [ Spinel spins in her open palm before launching itself in the air for her to do a pirouette under. Another perfect catch follows. ]

[ She turns on her toe, surprised to see it on the ground, summoning itself up with another Water Gun to almost meet her eyes with its gem glowing yellow. ]

[ The puddles are no issue as she hops through them, mimicking Spinel's lead in the dance in a hop-hop in a big circle with his Water Gun jumps. ] ♫ As we splash and dance around! To the ocean's favorite song! There is a party about to begin~ ♫ [ They both turn toward their audience-- Mari blows a kiss and Spinel's gem turns pink. ] ♫ Won't you come along~? ♡ ♫

[ The hand by her mouth suddenly covers her lips in mock surprise as the Staryu cartwheels a big circle around her that she turns with to follow while in the middle of. ]

[ It approaches again and she leans to the side as if to listen to it ] ♫ Could it have been something magical in our afternoon tea? OH--!! ♫ [ Promptly, she is squirted in the ear with some water. Damp hair and all, she giggles out her next lines as rehearsed from Spinel's playful "secret" telling antics. ]

[ She holds out her arms, allowing Spinel to launch itself into them and make her twirl around once she catches him for a hug-- ] ♫ It'll be okay~! [ She punctuates her lyric with a big ol' smooch to its gem.

She tosses it up again, allowing it to Water Gun its way off of one of her hands and hold itself high in the air while she makes a careful turn. ]

[ Swapping hands, she turns in the opposite direction, showcasing how well Spinel is in the dexterity department through all this. It doesn't miss a beat, nor does it waver in the water pressure it is using. ]

[ When it allows the Water Gun to subside again, it cartwheels through the air and allows her to catch it again. She spins on a toe and while her skirts are soaked, it looks just as pretty as a real mermaid. When she stops, she widens her eyes, speaking right to the Pokemon. ]

[ Spinel spits a little bit of water at her again in a playful reply. ]

[ A gasp as she faces her audience, dropping the creature like a deadweight but grinning all the while when it catches itself as rehearsed, letting out a huge water sport in front of her that she proceeds to walk through soaking wet in the process. Her fingers tap her lips and she blows another kiss. ]

♫ When you are not around, oh I miss you! ♫

[ She places her hands over her heart, twirling about on a foot once in the water puddle and flipping her hair. Spinel leaps through the air forming an arch of water over its trainer. ]

[ Spinel uses the vast amount of water it has strewn across the stage for more arm to arm hopping, its gem dazzling in the lights while it uses its trainer as something to merely have as a prop for its acrobatics and gymnastics. It sparkles bright yellow on the word 'fantasy', making Mari's golden eyes light up. ]

[ She gasps with a pink sparkling gem allowing her to touch with an open palm-- Only briefly, as Spinel retreats and leaves her feigning abandonment for the sake of the performance, flitting away in a tumble through its own puddles. ]

[ She winks right at Spinel for it doing all the right things like they practiced and then some as they approach the finally of the act. Over her head it goes again but in an arch in the other direction; Mari's arm reaches up, following the whole thing but not being able to reach it. ]

[ Spinel hovers before her with its gem glowing in a rainbow-ish flicker for her to reach out. Her grasp falls intentionally short as it launches itself high, HIGH into the air for the finale. ]

[ Here they go-- Spinel appears to fall from the sky to do a bellyflop, caught just in time! ]

♫ Not another day will I push my love away!! ♡ ♫

[ And with that lyric, she hugs it to her chest and finishes her dance with some rushing through the puddles and spinning. She stops in a graceful pose that places her cheek to one of Spinel's arms while the lights fade, leaving only its gem red and pulsing like a heartbeat...

The music closes and she opens her eyes up to grin at the audience. ]

Thank you very muuuuch~!!

[ She curtsies and sets Spinel down to let it bow like a proper creature before they glide across the stage in all its... soaked glory. ]

Edited 2018-01-18 09:59 (UTC)

Contest Category: Beauty
Trainer: Ash Fox
Pokemon: "Scuabtuinne" (Lapras)
Move: Perish Song

Costume: Ash and Scuabtuinne's outfits are quite simple looking; Ash's logic being that Scuabtuinne is beautiful, and trying to doll her up too much would take away from their performance. That and he isn't the main focus, so he just needs to fit the mood and theme they're going for with her appeal.

Scuabtuinne is wearing a flower crown, made of water lilies and water hawthorns, brought from the shores of Olivine, with seaweed tying it all together securely. Another ring of water flowers is tied loosely around the base of her neck. Her shell has been delicately tended to by Ash, painting white celtic swirls over it in harmony with the shape and ridges it naturally has. As a finishing touch, a very small amount of soft green moss has been selectively added to her back; it doesn't cover up her old scars but flows with them to make it seem like the moss is natural and grew appropriately with her old injuries, and along wih the swirls painted on.

Ash himself is dressed to match her. For clothing, he's chosen a pair of well-made, weathered cloth trousers, tied around his waist with a strip of fabric decorated with celtic knots. Up top he's not wearing a shirt, but instead has a deep green cloak that comes down to his waist that is held together with a round, patterned pin over his left shoulder. The cloak has an ornate hem, decorated with celtic swirls just like Scuabtuinne's shell, and stylised waves. His visible left arm is also painted in those patterns, from his wrist up and over the curve of his shoulder, using white ink that stood out against the tanned colour of his skin. He's barefooted in addition to being shirtless.
Much like Scuabtuinne, his finery is in the painted patterns over his skin and natural 'jewellery'. A headband of flowers and seaweed, very much like the one she's wearing, sits on his head, where his wetted hair lies flat (for once). Another braid of flowers is tied around one of his ankles and there's a thread around his neck, forming a necklace with a vibrant pink conch shell as the pendent resting on his chest, over the cloak. He's brought his accoustic guitar with him, it's wooden look and burned in pattern adding to the natural aesthetic.

Act: The stage is set! There's a large pool of water with hidden depths that aren't on display to the audience. It's decorated with several rocks like hexagonal pillars around the edges and mood lighting; not overly harsh or in bright spotlights but with a softer kind of light, allowing the water to ripple and reflect off the tent walls.

Ash walked towards the pool, guitar in hand. and called out. "Scuabtuinne!" The water rose and parted and there she was, water rolling off her as she faced her trainer, clearly still a little self-conscious. He reached out and touched her neck, murmuring supportively. She nodded, her nerves eased as she listened to him. Ash stepped into the pool, taking a seat on one of the rocks placed along the edge for this appeal, and began to strum. The guitar played a soft, gentle song, almost like a lullaby, and Scuabtuinne turned to face the audience. She began to sing, matching the guitar's tone but with more complexity and depth. Despite her initial shyness her voice is steady and powerful, giving her all to the song.

As she sang, the water began to churn around her. Slowly it rose, rising out of the tank and lifting Scuabtuinne up slightly, before rising up over her and encasing her in a tank of pure water. Under the water her body floated and she shifted her weight as she pleased, more nimble in her element and spreading her flippers as she sang. Her flower crown and necklace swayed and lifted in the water, weightless. (Ash was safe on his rock, unconcerned about the rising tide as he continued to play the guitar for his Lapras, and none of it spilled towards the audience).

Under the water, her voice was transformed. It was still soft and powerful, but now far more ominous. It sounded deeper, more otherworldly, the shifting of the water adding to the song she sang. Her eyes glowed white and the water darkened, twisting around her as if pulled by a tide. She gazed out to the audience, the song reaching for them from the waters. For a moment, it might feel like she's singing words - not words that could be understood or translated, but words that certainly meant something.

As the song reached it's end, the water began to be absorbed into her body through her Water Absorb ability, the 'tank' around her disappearing and bringing the pool back to it's usual water level. Ash stopped playing, hand held over the strings to silence them. Scuabtuinne, resting on top of the water again, closed her glowing eyes and sang the last few notes - what sounded like a promise, a dreadful, heartfelt promise - before opening them again, now back to normal. Ash slid from his rock and took off his guitar, walking to stand beside her with a bright smile. Together, they gave the audience a bow - before Scuabtuinne immediately swam to Ash and nuzzled into his chest, hiding her face shyly now that the performance was done.

(This is the closest match to what I had in mind for the song performed, although Scuabtuinne doesn't use lyrics...for the most part!)

Contest Category: Beauty
Trainer: Jane Crocker
Pokemon: "Dinah" (Audino)
Move: Heal Pulse

Costume: Jane decided to go "simple and elegant" for her performance costume, and is wearing a champagne colored dress, the bottom layer stopping just at the knee while strapless and sleeveless, and a top layer over it of lace that comes up to give the dress "sleeves". It would look like this, specifically. She has on a pair of matching low-heeled shoes, lace gloves that end at the wrist, stud pink pearl earrings, and a pink pearl necklace. Her makeup is subtle, and it gives her a maturity that matches the dignity with which she carries herself onstage. She's also wearing a bracelet on her left wrist with a Key Stone in place.

Dinah, at first, does not seem nearly as adorned. Her fur has been groomed impeccably, yes, and she sports a pink pearl bracelet on each wrist, but that's all one sees at first glance until they see the lace "choker" around her neck - and the Audinite set in the center. That's right - the naturally fae-like appearance of Mega Audino will be incorporated into the "costume" and the act.

Act: The lights on stage slowly fade on, revealing a keyboard wrapped in a curtain of lace, as two figures enter from opposite sides - Jane on one, steps measured and hands folded in front of her, and Dinah on the other, somewhat outwardly curious about the audience and the setup of the stage, but reining it in for now. When Jane reaches the keyboard and Dinah stands a few feet away, the pair curtsy to each other in respect.

"Are you ready, Dinah?" Jane asks.

"Au-di-no!" Dinah nods, and Jane smiles.

"Oh, you're so right-" Her right hand finds the keys and plinks out the beginning of a song, while her left hand reaches up, revealing the Key Stone set in her bracelet. The audience holds its breath. "We can't forget that, can we?"

Dinah begins to spin, slowly, as the glow and power of Mega Evolution surrounds her - and she's doing so in time with the music. Her ears perk up, her fur lightens and extends to form something coat-like, and a tuft of fur with feelers appears on her chest, almost as if by magic. When finished, she lets out a triumphant trill, and Jane pauses the music to let it ring out as the audience gasps and applauds. Only when they settle down does Jane speak again.

"Now...would you mind showing everyone your Heal Pulse?"

The Pokemon nods, and the song starts up again. The tune is slow and graceful at first, and so is Dinah, sending out a halo of Heal Pulse with every fourth beat as she spins, sways, and hops to the music. But there's much more to the Heal Pulse than just that - as the song begins to pick up speed, the move begins to eminate from the tuft of fur on Dinah's chest as she concentrates it into shapes, stars and hearts and flowers that grow and float out into the audience, dispersing into sparkling pinks that fill the audience with a rejuvinating energy. Both trainer and Pokemon look to be in their element, united by the music and focused solely on the performance, and when the song finally reaches its end, Dinah lets out one more call as she sends out a last burst of Heal Pulse. Both Jane and Dinah are breathing hard and smiling as the applause roars in, taking a moment to curtsey to each other, then to the audience, before Dinah takes Jane's hand and excitedly half-drags her trainer off the stage. Jane's shout of surprise quickly becomes a laugh, and she grins and waves to the audience as they depart.

Edited 2018-01-18 15:55 (UTC)

Contest Category: Tough
Trainer: Lust
Pokemon: "Amoz" (Houndoom)
Move: Fire Fang

Costume:

Lust is aware of expectations and reputation. Including her own. She's told very few people what she's doing, assuming she'll be looked for in the 'cute' or 'beauty' categories.

Instead, she's out in the 'Tough' category. Utilizing Amoz's mega-evolution stone, their costuming plays to the Pokemon's natural design. Around his neck is a black leather collar, detailed in a silver flame pattern. Black leather plating extends from the collar down over the natural bone growth over Amoz's chest, with the same silver flame scrollwork. A matching black leather helmet, with openings for his horns, is on the large Pokemon's head. While not a complete 'costume' exactly, Amoz's natural bone armor has been accented with futher black leather and silver flame decoration in bands and cuffs. He gives the impression of some great war beast on the dawn of battle.

Lust herself is also in black leather 'armor'. Knee-high heelless boots and form fitting pants display her legs in ways they're rarely seen. The tops of her boots end in sinuous strips that mimic flames, as though the leather is dissolving into fire. Her top is half tunic, half corset, the hem and neckline similarly calling to mind dancing licks of fire. The neckline is low, showing her oroborous. Great shoulder plates, spiked and in the same sort of design as Amoz's, jut up from Lust's shoulders. Black leather gloves cover her arms to above her shoulders. The same scrolling fire accents her outfit, along the outsides of her pants, over her bust. Her hair is pulled into a sleek, tightly woven side braid. Around her brow is a black leather and silver circlet with wings of flame at either temple. Her makeup is dark and severe, lips red and shadow the dark gray of fire smoke.

The theme of this act is in no way left to the imagination.

Act:

The pair emerges onto a stage that's already prepared to the sound of heavy drum music. Cloth, hay-stuffed targets are set up in something of a circle. They give a vague impression of a person-shape, but lack any sort of detail or limbs, just sacks stuffed and tied in two places - a division of 'head', 'torso', and 'legs'. Both move with purpose, Lust's shoulders drawn back and her chin lifted. Amoz struts ahead of her, tossing his head and his tail, snorting in anticipation. Lust strides behind him, no sensual or playful movements in her walk today. She's all business, giving the appearance of a soldier entering a duel. They take their positions on the stage, Amoz in the center of the loose circle of targets and Lust at the edge.

She raises one hand, palm out, as she drops into a battle crouch.

"Amoz!" Lust flicks the thumb of her upraised hand over her palm and a small lick of fire shoots out from her glove. "Yere es!" She closes her fist over the harmless spray of flame, extinguishing it. As her fingers snap close, Amoz leaps into action.

He lowers himself into a crouch similar to his trainer's, then bursts out of it in a roar of flame. He twists and leaps, a disciplined elegance to his movements that matches the pounding of the drums. He strikes the targets with horns and paws, kicking and lashing out as commanded. As wild and manic as the movements seem, they aren't the unrestrained leaps of an animal in battle, they're precise steps, paws hitting the stage in time with the heaviest drum beat. As feirce and frightening as Amoz's movements are, it's more a dance than anything else, even as he attacks the targets. At the height of his leaps, he tosses back his head and utilizes Fire Fang, spitting impressive looking bursts of flame into the air. The same is repeated when he lands.

Lust moves just outside the circle, using hand and body signals that look like martial arts movements. The two are in perfect sync, Lust leaping and kicking in time with Amoz, striking at the air with her hands, guiding the Pokemon but keeping the focus on him. As the dance intensifies, Amoz's attention turns to the targets. Weaving between them in an elegant formation, he refrains from burning any targets until he's leapt around and over and between them, displaying his raw strength and agility. At Lust's command, a thrusting of her opened palm, Amoz twists and jumps and lands in the middle of the circle, eyes blazing. He darts his front half forward, then back, hind feet pounding along with the drums.

Then he gathers his flames and produces an extended Fire Fang, shooting upwards and backflipping to land and whip his head around, missles of flames licking each of the eight targets as he whirls on one hind foot. The effect of the Fire Fang while in a twisting motion makes the licks of fire seem to be dancing themselves, spinning out of him in a blazing spiral. By the time he completes his rotation, the circle of targets is on fire. The drums are racing to their climax now, and Lust gives one further command, standing ramrod straight and holding one fist above her head.

"Gada es!"

As the targets burn and the drums reach what has to be their fiercest, Amoz strikes a standing pose, throws back his head, and lets loose another large Fire Fang, straight up, a fountain of fire lighting the stage before flickering out as it falls and the music crashes to an end.

Both trainer and Pokemon take a bow before exiting.

Contest Category: Beauty
Trainer: Ignis Scientia
Pokemon: "Dahlia" (Audino)
Move: Misty Terrain
Costume: Ignis is wearing a very sharp, hand tailored tuxedo with long tails and pink accents to match his Audino. It’s straight forward, much like Ignis. He has his hair styled down, sweeping over his scarred eye in a homage to the ‘character’ he’s playing. Dahlia is wearing a pink gown that flows nicely around her petite body. She has a crown of flowers around her head, pinned neatly behind her ears so it doesn’t fall.
Act: Ignis walks Dahlia to the center stage, where she brushes herself off gently and hands her glasses off to her trainer. They had practiced very hard, since there would be a lot of sound and Dahlia would have trouble seeing and Ignis wouldn’t be able to see at all. It wasn’t as if Oleander could join them after all.
In Ignis’s hands is a violin, which he’d been a bit out of practice before finding some private time. Dahlia was so excited about the contest, he had to put the time in. Dahlia uses Misty Terrain, setting up the atmosphere as Ignis draws the bow across the strings to start the song.
Though she couldn’t sing the words she sang the notes, little hands held before her chest as she walks cautiously through the newly misted terrain. Ignis was walking in a mirror to her, still playing, her searching and just missing him here and there.
As the song continues Dahlia begins to twirl and dance, the gown kicking up the mist so it swirls around her as she becomes more of the focus. Little petals are carefully fluffed from her sleeves as she dances and as it reaches the crescendo she turns as the mist splits. Ignis is there, and they circle one another. Dahlia still clearly chasing after him, just missing him, Ignis even stepping over her but they were getting closer.
Finally at the last note of her song she grasps the tails of his coat and and belts it hard. Ignis turns to her as the bow draws off the strings the same time her note ends and the lights drop.

Contest Category: Cool
Trainer: Noctis Lucis Caelum
Pokemon: "Quay" (Popplio)
Move: Echoed Voice

Costume:
Noctis and Quay made sure to go all out for their performance, the Popplio having been totally in charge of costuming as well as the performance itself.

With the help of some Pokemon safe paint, Quay's tail/fins have been painted with streaks of black and hot pink, some of her normal blue showing through in outlines of the pink lightning bolts decorating her sides. Her fore-fins are painted black as well though only about a third of the way down where it seems to taper off into the blue. Cover the majority of the blue, though, are hot pink fishnets stretched over her fins, the same color as the lightning bolts on her flanks. Underneath the fringe around her neck, which has been painted pink stars and skull + crossbones all over it, are black pointed shoulder pads that jut out from underneath it. The last addition to her costume is a bright pink skull and crossbones over her left eye that's outlined in black against the blue of her fur.

The skull and crossbones motif was inspired by Noctis who is wearing his normal outfit from home with a few new additions. The skull and crossbones design on his shirt is much the same though many of the skulls have been outlined in a hot pink to match Quay's choice in colors. His black glove is in place and on the opposite wrist is a pink fishnet glove like his Popplio's. The bottoms of his boots are the same hot pink and there is a lightning bolt in Popplio blue on the side of each. His hair is more mussed than usual and streaked with pink and blue against the black of his hair. The final addition is a lightning bolt over his right eye to match the bolts decorating Quay.

Act:
The stage is dark when they first take it, Noct sticking close to Quay as her nerves get the best of her. He gets her center stage and up onto a platform that has a microphone sitting before it, ribbons tangled around it that are barely visible in the dark. He whispers something to her and then moves back to stand behind her a few feet, lifting a hand in the air and waiting. There's another moment of silence before the music starts and the lights go up then swing to the sides, the rays of pink and blue swinging across the audience in time with the music.

"Echoed Voice, Quay~!" Noct's arm comes down to point at her as she pushes herself up on her back fins, holding the mic with one of her front flippers, as she breaks into the song, her voice echoing and growing as the move takes effect.

Only Pokemon watching will be able to understand the words but the humans present will practically feel the music as her words flow with the beat, the little Popplio putting her all into it as her trainer rocks out on air guitar behind her. At certain points their movements would sync up in practiced choreography and another call of "Echoed Voice!" will have her voice growing louder and stronger as she does a spin and slashes downward with a flipper as if she was playing a guitar as well.

As the end of the song approaches only the beat of the drum plays with her words and behind her Noctis urges everyone to clap along, Quay embolden by his support and the support of the people getting into it. The end of the song approaches and Quay throws her head back as Noctis calls out a new command and a burst of bubbles speeds upwards and showers over the stage and the front row as Quay strikes a final pose, flipper thrust upward as she dips the mic with the other, her pose matched by Noctis who has a fist thrust upwards.

A moment later the shy little Popplio seems to realize what just happened and with an excited and terrified squeak darts to Noctis who scoops her up, waving to the crowd as they exit.

Edited 2018-01-18 21:02 (UTC)

Contest Category: Clever
Trainer: Fiddleford McGucket
Pokemon: "Buddy" (Trubbish)
Move: Rain Dance

Costume: Fiddleford McGucket is wearing a robot. It’s made of junkyard parts, and its edges aren’t the smoothest, but he threw it together in an afternoon, so give him a break. A bulbous body sits atop two chicken-legs, if chickens were ten feet tall and made of scrap metal (think an AT-ST), and crude pincer arms nearly as long as the legs extend from the sides of the body. It’s got speakers mounted in its sides. The top is open, and McGucket can be seen sitting inside in his usual overalls, hatless, nestled amid about a dozen levers and buttons and pedals. (His beard is wrapped around one of them. It’s probably best not to ask how he’s doing that.) The top part of his beard has been waxed into a Villain Mustache.

Buddy the Trubbish is also in a costume: between his little trash-bag ear-flaps is McGucket’s hat, and a pair of overalls made for him covers the squat bottom third of his body. He looks real excited to be here. Clutched in one of his little trash arms is a pair of musical spoons – that are really just two spoons stolen from a kitchen and taped together.

Act: Buckle yourselves in, it's gonna be a wild ride.

After McGucket and Buddy’s names are announced, there is a long moment of silence. The crowd begins to murmur, wondering what’s going on, and why the stage is still empty.

Then, from behind the curtain, comes a screech of mic feedback. It’s awful, but mercifully brief.

“Sorry, sorry,” comes the voice of McGucket, amplified by the speakers he’s built into the robot. He clears his throat and begins again.

“Ladies an’ gentlefolks!” McGucket crows from backstage into the microphone, and his voice booms out into the crowd. “Yeeheehoo, have we got a show for you! Now, some of you may have heard of this fella before. Tales of his darin’ deeds and heroical hoop-dee-doo get whispered round campfires far and wide! He’s got a song in his heart and musical spoons in his hand, and he wanders the land rightin’ wrongs, savin’ innocent Pokemons, and kissing babies! Why? I don’t know! Sometimes a baby just needs kissin’, I guess!”

What on earth is happening.

“Anyway, here he is: the Poke-man, the legend, the one and only Toot-toot McBumbersnazzle!” Then, in a whisper the mic still pics up: “Go on, just like we practiced! You’re gonna do great!”

From behind the stage, McGucket uses his robot’s arms to gently launch Buddy into the air. The trash Pokemon sails over the curtain and lands neatly on his feet in the center of the stage. He clacks the spoons together a few times and strikes a pose as an upbeat banjo riff plays from backstage.

“Trubbish!”

The audience applause—scattered, polite and more than a little confused—falls away when they hear a boom. Boom. Boom.

The curtain falls away to reveal the source: McGucket’s giant robot, with ponderous echoing steps, is bearing down on Buddy, pacing with the same deliberate unstoppability you usually see on monsters in horror movies. Buddy’s trash arms fly up to his cheeks as his face becomes an oh! of horror as McGucket, driving the robot with his feet alone, plays a frightening, ominous tune on his banjo.

Once the robot reaches center stage, McGucket laughs, shrill and grating, and the claw-arms make a flexing motion. “Gyeh heh heh, well, I’ll be! If it ain’t a crowd of unsuspectin’ horn-swogglers!” The robot leans out over the crowd, menacing. “We’re gonna make this nice and easy! You hand over your Poke-wallets, and I won’t blow you all to smitheroons!”

It takes Buddy a moment, but he remembers his line. He flings himself between the robot and the audience, courageously throwing his garbage arms wide: if this robot wants to get to the audience, it’s going to have to go through Toot-toot McBumbersnazzle.

“Trubbish!” he growls, heroically. McGucket plays the heroic riff from his initial entrance to underscore the heroism.

“Bumbersnazzle,” McGucket growls back. “I should have known you’d try to get in the way of my plans! This is the end for you!” McGucket hollers, bringing one claw-arm back in a wind-up to a punch.

Then, Buddy coughs, like a cat with a hairball. He coughs again, and this time, he spits up a banana peel. Just in time, he throws that banana peel in front of one of McGucket’s robot-feet. Deliberately, McGucket’s robot steps on it, and whup! Down the robot goes, falling onto its back.

“Aaagh! I’ve been off-balanceified!” McGucket yells from his seat in the robot, still playing a banjo accompaniment. “This is it! This is the end! But if I go down, then so do you!”

Whoosh. Flamethrowers, their nozzles cleverly concealed in boxes that just look like backstage junk, shoot eight-foot jets of fire into the air behind McGucket. It’s some pretty impressive pyrotechnics, but – is it really safe having those go off inside a tent?

No. The answer is no. The stage is catching fire. The crowd pulls on each other’s sleeves and murmurs: is this part of the show? Should they get out of here?

“Trubbish.” Buddy holds up a trash arm. It’s okay, y’all. Stay calm. He’s got this.

Then, he shuts his eyes, and solemnly, he begins to play the musical spoons. It turns from a slow rhythm to a quick jig that would fit right in at any hoedown. As he performs Rain Dance, rain begins to fall, putting out the fires and sending up great clouds of steam. It’s great – except the rain’s a little stinky, and everything it falls on looks like it’s got a kind of a film on it. ...maybe you shouldn’t touch it.

"Well, I'll be! He’s saved the day again!” McGucket cries from the fallen robot, grinning broadly. “Three cheers for Toot-toot McBumbersnazzle!” Buddy waves merrily at the audience.

By this time, security has made it to the stage. They grab McGucket under the arms and haul him away from the robot, banjo and all, and a pair of Machamps pick up the robot and carry it offstage. Buddy waves at the slightly-shaken crowd one more time and bounces his way offstage, proud of a job well done.

The PA system crackles. “We apologize for this incident,” one of the judges says. “We’d like to call a brief intermission while our cleanup crew sanitizes the stage. Please exit the area in an orderly fashion while we review Fiddleford McGucket's qualification to participate in this contest in light of his reckless endangerment of humans and Pokemon."

He's...probably going to be disqualified.

Contest Category: Cool
Trainer: Jinx
Pokemon: “Miss Fortune" (Incineroar)
Move: Darkest Lariat

Costume: Miss Fortune’s thick and shiny coat of white and orange fur pops against the slick black Suit Jacket, costume tailored for the muscular feline by her trainer. A pair of dark glasses rests on the end of her muzzle allowing just a glimpse of her fiery eyes. A classy and simple black tie runs down the front of her broad grey chest. Finally a pair of spats rest over her hind paws, because she is a classy girl.

Her trainers costume blends well with hers. A black dress with orange highlights, and a belt that glimmers with fake stones that look similar to the flaming waistband all Incineroar sport. Her gloves are a darker shade of blood orange to evoke a similar match to Miss Fortunes paws. Peeking out from her fluttering skirt that ends just below her hips are white and orange striped stockings and dance flats.

Act:

The music starts and only Jinx can be seen at first, hips swaying gently to the rhythm. Just when it starts to seem like something might be wrong a shadow darts in front of the spotlights. From the rafters a massive form flips and tumbles speeding right for Jinx. Those in the front row might catch sight of her breath hitching as she braces herself for what looks to be a crushing blow.

WHAM!   The incineroar narrowly misses crushing her trainer flat as Jinx does a quick spin. Now completely obscured from view by her massive partner Jinx has effectively vanished. Miss Fortune rises up and looks to the left theatrically, while Jinx peeks out from behind her back on the right. As Miss Fortune twists to the right Jinx appears on her left.

With surprising agility Miss fortune suddenly bends at the knees and flips backwards landing behind Jinx who strikes a pose, arms spread to the left and right. Miss Fortune wastes no time in scooping her up and tossing her into the air as if she weighed no more then a baton.

Jinx spins in the air, her skirt flailing out and belt glittering giving the appearance that her waist is a fire and her skirt the smoke coming off it. As she plummets back to the stage Miss Fortune snags her out of the air inches before impact, and twirls her before letting her trainer light on her feet. Jinx continues to spin faster and faster till she gracefully slides to a knee and smirks up at Miss Fortune.

Miss Fortune knows what to do next, the big finale to their little dance. Her paws shift with a lightness one wouldn’t expect from someone so big and she springs over Jinx, racing for the edge of the stage. Just when it looks like she’s going to go racing off the side she spins smoothly, skidding to a stop at the edge of the orchestra pit.

With a running start that she clears in three powerful bounds, Jinx barely has time to brace herself against the floor as Miss Fortune plants a foot on her back and uses her trainer to springboard into the air. If you’re still watching Jinx at this point you’ll see the pain and determination in her eyes as she barely manages to keep from getting flattened.

“Darkest Lariat!”  And Miss Fortune begins to spin. Embers and sparks flying off her waist, turning into a spiral of flames following her journey upwards in a coil of heat that the audience can feel.

At the hight of her leap she is halfway between the stage and the floor, spinning like a top sending embers drifting through the air like fireflies. But of course Gravity will do what it must and she falls back through the coiling flames she’s created scattering them like confetti as she lands just like how she started, practically onto of Jinx who gracefully backflips out of the way.

As the smoke settles into a knee high cloud around Miss Fortune, she pushes her sunglasses up the bridge of her muzzle and folds her arms acting as if it was all no big deal. Jinx appears on her shoulder with a coy smile and the music ends.

Contest Category: Cool
Trainer: Cecil Harvey
Pokemon: "Eblan" (Greninja)
Move: Fling

Costume: For her act, Eblan needs only two accessories: a black headband placed over her eyes thick enough to completely block her vision, and a set of long beaded bracelets on her wrists and forearms. The bracelets have red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet glass beads; each color is of a different size and weight, and the beads make a pleasant clinking noise when they touch.

Cecil wears a simple black suit with tie and dress shoes and his usual matching cosmetics, nothing fancy; however, the same glass beads are loosely threaded in his hair. He also holds the props necessary for the act, and thus wears white gloves to avoid smudging them with fingerprints.

Act: The act begins when Cecil enters the stage bearing seven glass jars. The first, he leaves on the ground in the left back corner of the stage. The second, he places on a table in the front right corner. The third he manages to hang from the second light fixture to the left, about two meters off the ground. The fourth he offers to a little girl in the front row. The fifth he gives to a woman in the rightmost seat of the fifth row. The sixth, to a very tall man at the back of the audience. The seventh he keeps for himself as he returns to the center of the stage.

Enter Eblan, stage right. Her eyes are already bandaged, but she finds her way to her trainer without issues. She turns to face the audience, bows.

That is when the music starts.

Immediately she grabs at two of her bracelets, rips them off, flings all the beads in the air. She grabs each one before it touches the ground, and flings them all the jars; none miss their mark. The moment the last one hits its target, she removes two more bracelets and keeps going, her pace increasing with each round. When she runs out of bracelets, after nearly a minute and a half, she turns towards Cecil. He bows his head slightly to allow her to grab the beads threaded in his hair. They, too, are flung into the jars as the music dies down.

Once that is over, Cecil returns to collect all seven jars and sets them on the table. Each contains a single color of beads, with no other accidentally mixed in. With that, both Pokémon and trainer bow.

Contest Category: Clever
Trainer: Yuri Plisetsky
Pokemon: "Potya” (Glameow)
Move: Play Rough
Costume: Yuri has on skin tight pants with good flexibility and comfortable flat sneakers. He’s wearing a loose tank top that hangs loosely around his frame. A few necklaces, simple enough and spiked bracelets.
Potya’s collar has silver studs with lace and a sporty little leather jacket to her kitty elbows.
Act: [To the tune of Caravan Palace - Lone Digger]

The song opens to the 2 of them walking out from opposite ends. Yuri tosses a small fragile egg to Potya who catches it on her head. She rolls it down along her back in a stretch then lifts her butt so it rolls back, down one leg to be caught in her paw. She produces a marker from her jacket and makes it with a P. As this is happening, Yuri is marking another egg with a Y, showing it to the crowd before closing it into a deactivated Pokeball and sets it in the middle, forward a bit.
The egg is balanced between Potya’s ears as trainer and Glameow stand next to each other. They match each other’s steps, Potya sitting up on her back legs to better imitate the movements. Some nice, basic easy steps, passing across the Pokeball here and there which was left alone for now.
Then the chorus hit. Potya flips the egg back and it is caught in her twirly tail which she whips about to keep up momentum and maintain the egg. At the same time she’s leaping up onto Yuri’s leg as he pirouettes across the stage, shifting herself forward and back as he balances himself out.
She turns to scramble up his back as he bend’s forward and she does a winding twirl up the leg he lifts straight up into the air in a vertical split. Her tail flicks the egg up into the air and she catches it on her nose before the next bridge.
Which Yuri continues the movement of his leg, hands planting on the ground as he lits his other off, Potya balancing the egg as she walks across the length, then over, climbing up Yuri’s other side until she was on his shoulder. She tosses the egg up and jumps down, rolling onto her back to catch it with her back paws. She kicks it into the air a few times, before sending it back up into the air and rolling over, tail over head to get back up.
She and Yuri both moved forward in another few fast twirls, positioning her to catch the egg again in her tail. She gives it a little whip, sending it rolling across the stage and she gives it a chase, between Yuri’s legs. She bats it back around, where Yuri was kneelnig with his palm flat enough for the egg to bounce onto it and Potya continues batting it up onto his shoulder, across to the other end, until She was balanced on his opposite hand.
The instrumental takes and he tosses her now into the air, and she poses mid air, the egg flying up, just off her. Balanced on ear, tail, paw, nose. Different poses as she’s tossed, doing little somersaults and twirls.
The last she does a flip so she lands away from Yuri and he reaches out to catch the egg-- And misses. It splats onto the ground.
Potya doesn’t pay any mind, trotting to the Pokeball, still where it was, untouched and taps the button. Out pops the P egg and she sits proudly in front of it as behind her Yuri picks up a bit of shell that is very clearly marked with a Y.

Edited (I'd link the video but its a little graphically violent]) 2018-01-19 01:09 (UTC)

Contest Category: Cute
Trainer: Rakka
Pokemon: "Kaen" (Alolan Vulpix)
Move: Powder snow

Costume: For the sake of her act, Rakka's taken a very winter-appropriate approach to her costume, and is overall trying to go for that look with her and Kaen.

She wears a special white coat, sleeves pulled up to her elbows. Along with that, she has a long, long scarf made to look like a Furret wrapped around her neck, with matching fingerless gloves on her hands and black, shiny winter boots. She chose to get her hair done up in a tight bun for this, held in place by a couple hair clips styled after the Glacier Badge of Johto.

Kaen is more sparsely dressed, with the fur atop his head combed back into a neat coiffe. He's been groomed from head to toe, and a red ribbon is tied into a cute little bow around his neck.

Act: The stage has been set up simply with a raised platform in the center, winding stairs wrapping around it. The intro is fairly simple, with Rakka and Kaen entering from either side and meeting together in the middle where Rakka waves to the audience.

"Hello, everyone! I hope you're all ready to chill out with us."

She giggles as Kaen jumps around her, quickly taking the position they trained for at the center of the stage while Rakka backs up a couple steps.

"Okay, Kaen. Powder snow!"

The little fox raises his head up, and up, until he's looking up into the sky above the stage, and opens his mouth. A strong gust of cold air and volumes of snow come flying up into the sky, only to start raining down on the stage, Rakka and Kaen, and even the audience if they're close enough. By the time Kaen finishes, the stage has been coated in a fine layer of pure white snow. Rakka quickly joins him again.

"Wow, n-ice job, Kaen! With great powder comes great responsibility I guess."

Yes, that is how it's going to be. And the young Pokemon is all too eager to get to the next part of the act, which starts as Rakka bends down to gather some of the snow into her hands. "With all of this, we could make some amazing snowmen, or maybe our very own Avalugg, or even-"

As they trained, Kaen once again uses the Powder Snow move, but he makes it smaller, more percise, so focused that when he does it, he manages to fire a single snowball out of his mouth... that his Rakka square in the face.

For a beat, both of them are frozen, Rakka calmly wiping the show from her face to reveal the grin hidden underneath. She lifts her own snowball. "Taking the frost shot at me, huh?" She tosses her snowball at him with not that much force, but he still easily side steps it, wagging his many curled tails in anticipation.

And now the real battle has started, and it's about time where the music finally kicks in. A jaunty tune for two friends having some simple fun that turned into a test of skills. And puns, of course. The two of them square off on opposite sides of the stage and Rakka immediately gets to work on making more ammo for herself, while Kaen continues to do what he does best: fire snowballs out of his mouth. "Vul!!"

"Ack! Alp! I'm under attack!"

It continues like this, they dart back and forth trading blows, Rakka with an arm-full of snowballs, throwing them not-too-hard at Kaen who enjoys simply pelting his trainer with them. It's neither a serious match or mostly an act. It's a game, one that they both know how to play. Rakka knows how to throw just so that she doesn't hit him, and he knows better then to lob the hard snowballs at her. Those are for hitting the snow and sending up puffs of glittering snowflakes.

The main event comes fast. Rakka's supplies are running low, so she hurries on up to the raised platform. At that signal, Kaen stays on the ground floor, circling around the platform and following her with more snowballs. She lets out a short laugh as she reaches the top, looking down at him. With one last snowball clutched in her hands, she raises it.

"Icy you! Now I have the high ground, and it's time for you to- wha!"

In mock surprise, Rakka "slips" and basically hops off the platform, arms flapping in suspense as she falls. But Kaen is ready for it, the most important part of their rehearsals. He turns his head up at her, like he did before, forming a flurry of chill wind so strong that it blows up to Rakka and slows her descent. For a moment, she even seems to float as she's lowered down.

"...Oh, thank goodness! I thaw-t that would be-"

That is, until Kaen spins around and redirects the flow of the air. That small change causes Rakka to flip over and cancel the wind out entirely, sending her to fall... a foot or so, right into a snowbank nestled at the bottom of the platform. It's a soft landing, like all the snow on stage, and sends up a small cloud of flakes.

As everything settles, Rakka sits up in the snow, face covered in the white powder and still wearing a smile. Kaen hurried over and hoped up onto his trainer's head. It was a simple matter to lean down just enough to brush the snow from her face with his tail. All better! The most impressive part of the act was over, now it was time for the punchline.

"...I guess there's snow way to beat an Ice Pokemon in a snowball fight."

Nailed it. Exit stage left.

Contest Category: Cute
Trainer: Bertolt Hoover
Pokemon: "Doodle" (Trapinch)
Move: Mud-Slap

Costume: It's no secret that Bertolt would do just about anything for his Pokemon, and this contest is no exception. With some persuasion from a certain somebody and an upset Trapinch, he decided to bite the proverbial bullet and try to cheer the little guy up.

Granted finding the right outfit had been a pain in the neck, because while finding something to fit a Machamp was easy enough, finding something for a Trapinch was even harder. Thankfully with the plethora of stalls and vendors around Celadon, a matching pair of suits were found. One tailored to fit Bertolt's tall six-foot-plus frame, and the second to make Doodle fit right in at the next fancy gala - top hats and canes included. Bertolt may not look the most comfortable in it (and his tie knotted a little awkwardly), but Doodle looks more than happy to be dressed to the nines.

Very, very happy. Just try not to judge Doodle too hard for gnawing on the cane! He doesn't exactly have hands, so he has to make due with his mouth.

Act: However unlike the fanciness of their outfits, the stage is much simpler; if it was any more flashy than it already was, Bertolt may have lost his nerve. (In reality, he already did lose it more than once, but he had to do it. For Doodle, of course. If he tries to ignore the cameras, he'll Fine. Everything Is Fine.)

When the curtain parts, the stage is empty - up until some playful chirping and clicking sounds out from the right side of the stage and Bertolt stumbles out with his Trapinch play-snapping at his heels. Doodle gets a little too enthusiastic shortly after coming into view and trips over his own feet and onto his back, but he's not bothered by it at all for once! He just waits for Bertolt to gently roll him back onto his little feet, and he's prancing to the middle with another cheerful series of clicks. Who said a weird little ground bug can't be cute?

"O-Okay, Doodle... W-Whenever you're ready."

Bertolt is very not ready, but This Is Fine. Do it for Doodle.

Doodle on the other hand is more than ready; he was hatched ready! Giving the stage a healthy coat of sand from a well-placed Sand Attack, he gives the signal for the music, and although Doodle isn't anywhere close to human, he does his best to mimic his parts when needed. Bertolt, though as uncertain and shy as he is, manages to push the stage fright down for the little Pokemon's sake and sings his lines;

Most of the dancing he leaves up to Doodle (mostly so he doesn't accidentally step on him), but he's able to move around him with relative ease and taps his cane down when needed. Do either of them know who Gary Cooper is? Nope, but if anyone can speak Trapinch, he's obviously Super Duper. Since Bertolt doesn't have Doodle's sort of feet (and the sand can only do so much), he needs some extra help in the big 'finale'. Giving his Trapinch a shaky smile, he takes a step back and spreads his arms out in a go ahead gesture.

That's when the act starts to get a little... messy.

With an excited trill of chirps, Doodle prances, his little feet tip-tap-tip-tap-ing against the stage for a few seconds, then he starts to use Mud Slap. It gets over both his and his trainer's suits, but it's something that neither one seem to mind. Being in his own little element now, Doodle throws his entire being into the dance and with a few sharp snaps of his jaws, he grabs his little cane and slaps it against the mud puddles while he tip-taps away.

He even trips Bertolt too (with the aid of a particular patch of mud), but near the end of it he can't help his own laughter, and once the Trapinch finishes his trainer scoops him up in muddied arms and plants a small little kiss to the top of his head.

Bertolt's a mess, Doodle's a mess, the suits are more or less ruined and the clean-up crew might not be happy about all of the mud and sand on the stage, but Doodle's happy. That's all that matters, right?

Contest Category: Tough
Trainer: Vanitas
Pokemon: "Undertaker" (Ribombee)
Move: Aerial Ace

Costume:

Putting his usual attire aside, Vanitas has gone for a well fitted suit in black. Actually, almost everything he's wearing he's black sans for the white undershirt and the cuffs of his jacket. (He's a try-hard okay.) He's also got on a pair of black leather gloves and honestly looks like he'd be someone's hired body guard. (x)

Undertaker is also sporting some black attire, the little Ribombee wearing a wide brim black hat, black scarf around his neck and a black vest with a..yes, that is a tombstone on the back.

Act:

When the pair take the stage there's already what looks to be a wrestling ring set up, Vanitas heading over to it with his Ribombee perched on his shoulder. Music plays faintly as they approach the ring, slowly getting louder as Vanitas hauls himself up onto the side and hops over the ropes. He bounces slightly as he lands in the ring before reaching up to offer a flat hand to the Ribombee who steps on it as a mic lowers from the ceiling. Vanitas reaches out to take it, smirking lazily as he holds his hand and Undertaker up.

"Ladies and gentleman~ Are you ready to rumble?!"

As soon as he says it the music blasts louder and the Ribombee flies off his trainer's hand, thrusting his fists together as he glares out at the crowd.

"Double-team!"

Undertaker immediately follows the direction and zips around the ring, blurred copies of the little Ribombee appearing--ten of them all around the ring. The original appears in the center of them, wings flickering wildly as he pumps himself up.

"Undertaker, take them down with Aerial Ace!"

Thrusting his fists together again the little Ribombee flies straight up into the air faster than he'd moved moments before he let's himself fall backwards into a dive. He gains more speeds as he falls and seems to sync with the music as he slashes into the first copy of himself, flipping himself around as he slashes as if he's slamming the copy into the ground. He hits one of the ropes and uses it to propel himself towards another copy, still using the speed of his Aerial Ace to slash into the second before hitting the ropes again. This time the Ribombee stands on the uppermost rope and launches himself into the air, building speed again then diving fast to take out another three copies all in time with the music.

He continues his assault as Vanitas runs commentary in typical wrestling MC fashion, even mock wincing as the little guy seems to use a 'Piledriver'--really it's just a modified air slash--on another clone.

The song comes to an end as Undertaker finishes off the last clone with a slash-choke slam, landing hard in the middle of the ring as he takes heavy breaths.

Vanitas calls out the winner of the match, trying his best not to snicker as he does, moving over to lift the Ribombee up on his palm as Undertaker strikes a pose.

Contest Category: Cute
Trainer: Maurice Hutch
Pokemon: "Rattatertot" Rattata
Move: Tail Whip

Costume:
Rattatertot has been bathed in the most expensive Pokemon shampoo that Maurice could find and her purple coat shines because of it. Her little whiskers have been carefully smoothed out and even her teeth have been brushed. Her attire is simple for two reasons--the first being less is more and the second being that she's like the size of an orange and there isn't a lot of room on her body for decorations. Around her neck is a mint green bow that is larger than her entire head and at the end of her tail are two simple jingle bells attached with a much smaller bow.

Maurice himself has put his hair back in a ponytail with a mint bow to match his precious purple avocado of a daughter but otherwise hasn't bothered to dress up too much, wearing a clean t-shirt and his jeans.

Act:
When Maurice first appears on the stage, it seems as though he's alone. He wears a big grin on his face as though he knows a really awesome secret and holds his hands out in front of himself, closed carefully around something. When he reaches center stage he turns to the audience with that same knowing grin and opens his hands.

There, sitting in his palms, is her. Rattatertot. The tiniest Rattata you have probably ever seen. She sits facing away from the crowd but peering over her shoulder and that enormous bow. For a long moment neither of them do anything.

"You ready, Tater?" Maurice asks. The little rat face him and nods. "Okay. Rattatertot, do Tail Whip!"

Ring ring ring ring ring ring...

Rattatertot swishes her tail back and forth with strong, controlled motions and causes the bells she wears on the end of it to play out very clear notes--it is the Happy Birthday song. She plays it all the way through and when she finishes, Rattatertot stands up in Maurice's hands and turns to face the crowd before dipping her head in a bow. Maurice follows suit.

Your Defense stat has been lowered by one level!

Contest Category: Beauty
Trainer: Henry Townshend
Pokemon: "Flotsam" (Lapras)
Move: Ice Shard

Costume:
Flotsam's shell has been painted in shimmering opalescent pinks and blues. From her curly ears hang a pair of clip-on crystal earrings that dangle like icicles. She wears a fluffy pastel scarf around her neck and the tassels also end in little ice crystals.

Henry accompanies her wearing a puffy blue winter coat and a pastel scarf that matches Flotsam's. He's also wearing a pair of earmuffs with a swirly pattern that resemble Flotsam's ears. He's thankful he actually gets to bundle up in the January chill and match his Pokemon.

Act:

Flotsam is eager to get on stage though you wouldn't know that due to Lapras not being the most graceful Pokemon when moving over land. Nevertheless they have chosen an outdoor stage, one without a tent cover. She flip-flops her way into the spotlight with Henry keeping her between himself and the crowd. Realistically, he knows everyone is looking at her but standing in front of a crowd like this is so different from seeing the bustling crowd of the Pokemon Center. Either way, he's not going to get any show points himself for how much he's keeping his head down.

Meanwhile, Flotsam just looks placidly over the crowd and gives them a few slow, almost coy blinks. She turns her head so that her earrings catch the stage light. She is soaking this up. However, as she shows herself off, Henry is can't keep behind hid her head. He straightens up, finally approaching the microphone.

"Um. Hello. I--this is Flotsam and we're going to be using Ice Shard..." Henry glances back to her as though double-checking that's what they're actually doing but the Lapras's gaze has drifted upward. She's watching the clouds.

Henry shuffles his feet. "When...whenever you're ready."

Flotsam doesn't respond at first. She watches the clouds with slow, serene blinks. But then, suddenly, her whole demeanor changes. As a gap in the clouds appears and allows a little pale sunlight to stream down over Celedon, Flotsam rears her neck back and tucks in her chin. Brilliant icy blue light blossoms around her horn and in a burst of energy, a spray of glittering shards sharp as daggers fly upward in an arc. When they reach the peak of their ascent, they burst into smaller particles of ice and a rainbow shimmers through them, bathing the stage in swirling colorful light. The effect only lasts for a moment. The rainbows fade and the remnants of the Ice Shard attack fall down to the crowd soft and harmless as snow.

Back at the mic, Henry has stopped trying to hide behind it and is smiling almost as brightly as his Pokemon's display had been. While Flotsam basks in the applause, Henry just blushes. "Thank you."

Contest Category: Beauty
Trainer: Elsa
Pokemon: "Skadi" (Alolan Vulpix)
Move: Blizzard

Costume: For herself, Elsa has kept it moderately simple. She's chosen a blue dress with lighter blue trim at the bottom and some fancy embroidery along the chest. Her hair is done up in a loose braid wrapped around her hair, a bit more of a modern take on her usual fancy updo's from Arendelle. Listen, she looked at a lot of magazines to achieve this look.

Skadi is the real star of the show today, though.

The little Alolan Vulpix is wearing an outfit very similar to the one Elsa wore back home, right down to the gloves she's wearing on her front paws. The sheer, light blue cape she's wearing flows behind her, but the real star of her outfit is the actual, real, Arendelle Crown she's wearing that Elsa received as a christmas present. Elsa has replaced the jewl in it with an icy blue stone that catches the light just right and really fits the Elsa cosplay she has going on.

Not only that, Skadi's curls are On Point and her fur is shiny and combed to perfection. If a Pokemon could look like a queen, Skadi is managing it with her ensemble.

Act:

[The lights flicker on to Skadi standing in the middle of the stage as music begins to play.

Elsa herself is standing off to the side so as not to detract from Skadi, because for her Skadi is the star here. It's her moment.

Skadi raises her head an opens her mouth, letting out a flurry of snow into the air that begins to whirl around overhead, creating a cold, snowy atmosphere to set the mood. Elsa grips the microphone she's holding and closes her eyes.]

The snow glows white on the mountain tonight, not a footprint to be seen...

[The song begins and Skadi begins acting it out, just as Elsa instructed. Skadi is putting as much emotion into it as her trainer had, as if she herself feels the song on a deep level as well.]

Conceal, don't feel, don't let them know.. Well know they know!

[Skadi pulls the little gloves she's wearing off her paw and tosses it into the air where an updraft from her blizzard whisks it away, where it flutters somewhere into the audience as Elsa continues her song.]

Let it go, let it go!

[Skadi is bouncing around the stage now, really feeling it, letting out bursts of snow with in tandem with Elsa's lyrics. Elsa can't help but smile as she sings, watching her little girl so carefree and enthusiastic.

She gets to 'turn away and slam the door' and Skadi hops around so her back is facing the audience, before kicking hard with her hind legs to spray snow that had settled onto the stage at them and Elsa beams. Just like they practiced.

It continues on like that, Elsa singing and Skadi bouncing around the stage enthusiastically creating snow, until the song starts picking up. This is it. This is the moment that has Elsa's heart beating quicker, because she know what's coming and try and she might she's still nervous about it. But Skadi is ready. They're both ready. It's time.]

I'm never going back-

[Skadi flicks her head so that the crown she's wearing falls from her head and she catches it with her mouth. In one fluid motion, she tosses it into the air and jumps up to meet it. Skadi presses her nose against the stone Elsa set into it and suddenly she's enveloped in a pure, bright light.]

-the past is in the past!

[Skadi hits the ground as the light breaks away, now a fully grown, majestic Ninetales. She flicks her head and tosses the crown into the audience, absolutely glowing with excitement and pride- which is nothing to how Elsa looks. She's absolutely beaming, her bottom lip quivering as she fights back tears. This is a big moment, but the performance isn't over yet.

It's then that Elsa steps fully into the spotlight, strutting to Skadi's side as she sings the final notes.]

Let the storm rage on!

[As Elsa hits that last high note, Skadi lets loose an Aurora Veil to blanket the ceiling in flowy rainbow lights. The stage lights fade, leaving nothing but the aurora to illuminate the room, and as the darkness settles, Elsa whispers the final lyric into the mic, voice quivering lightly.]

The cold never bothered us anyway.

Contest Category: Cute
Trainer: Kazuki Hihara
Pokemon: "Honky Tonk" (Brionne)
Move: Disarming Voice

Costume: Brionne is already known as the Pop Star Pokemon, so Kazuki takes his visual cues from his Pokemon rather than the other way around. And man, he isn’t afraid to get REAL cute. The two of them are wearing matching sparkling yellow vests, and identical treble clef pins on their breasts. Honky Tonk already has his own little dress thing going on with the ruffles on his tail, so that’s all that he’s wearing. But Kazuki’s gone all-out.

He looks like a Korean idol. Aside from the vest, yellow newsie hat, slick shoes with white spats and white fingerless gloves, he’s all decked out in various shades of blue. His pants are a navy hue, almost mistakable for jeans with how form-fitting they are, and on top of that he’s wearing an armless powder-blue duster that has a distinct ruffle at the ends that’s meant to emulate the same ruffle on Honky Tonk’s tail. It honestly looks a lot like a skirt! But hey, if his Pokemon is going to challenge gender norms, Kazuki is totally willing to follow his lead.

He wears the costume like a pro, unafraid to really flounce all the girlish aspects of it. Going shopping and putting outfits together is one of his favorite past-times, so he obviously had a lot of fun organizing this for both himself and his Pokemon. And so did the seamstress that did all the tailoring for them. They both know they have at least one fan rooting for them out in the stands!

“You look like a pro,” Kazuki reassures ‘Tonks as they wait in the wings for their turn up next. He gets down on one knee to straighten his Pokemon’s pin. “We practiced really hard, so I promise it’ll be great! Remember what I always say—if we have fun, and everyone has fun with us, we’ll always be winners, no matter what!”

Act: Before the performers enter the arena, the stage is set for their act. If you’ve ever seen one of those cheesy night time family shows from the 60’s or 70’s (looking at you, Laurence Welk), their set up is going to look familiar. Blue curtains are draped around the rafters, and a circus-y obstacle course of platforms, hoops, and in the middle, a big tank of water are arranged in a semi-circle. At the forefront, one last, elaborate blue-and-gold platform is assembled.

Kazuki and Honky Tonk enter the stage with a bouncy, energetic gait. Both of them wave to the crowd with cheerful enthusiasm, making sure to give attention to every part of the audience before they make their way to the center, where Honky Tonk leaps up onto the fancy platform with impressive agility. Kazuki stands next to him, his only prop being the silver trumpet held loosely in his hands.

Once the perfunctory greeting cheer from the crowd ends, Kazuki gives one last wave, and subtly motions for quiet.

“It’s great to see everyone here today in the Cute Contest tent! Haven’t the acts been super adorable? We’ve been having so much fun backstage watching everyone, we almost forgot it was our turn!”

He pauses for a moment to let a hum of chuckles pass through the audience.

“My name is Kazuki, and my act has always been tooting my horn here! But ever since I became Pokemon Partners with my friend Honky Tonk here, and learned all about how much he loves to sing and dance and do acrobatics, I’ve been thinking up new acts to share with everyone! This is one of our first collaborations, and we’re really, really proud of it! Thank you all for coming to see it!”

“Before we start—‘Tonks, do you mind setting the mood?”

Honky Tonk nods enthusiastically. He then takes a deep breath into his chest, and blows out a hearty Bubblebeam around the stage and into the seats. There are oohs and ahhs as the bubbles, shining with a pinkish hue, hang like sparkling stars in the air.

“There, perfect! I think we’re ready now!” Kazuki and Honky Tonk turn back to the audience. “This is an old jazz routine where I’m from, and we picked it because of its title. Everyone, please enjoy Cute by Count Basie!”

Kazuki taps his toes three times, then raises his trumpet to his lips. That’s the signal. A percussion track begins to play from the speakers, and he then starts the song.

For the first part, the trumpet is the focal point. Kazuki shows an impressive range of tones, and an incredible ability to improvise and make the jazz sections really shine. While he’s the spectacle, Honky Tonk simply dances in place and occasionally makes gestures towards his trainer to let him take the lead. But the first part of any act is just a warm-up. Kazuki pulls his lips away from the trumpet and does an under-handed high-five with his Brionne, and spins in a tight circle as he begins his Disarming Voice.

The part of the song that would normally be played by the flute is instead sung by Honky Tonk in a sweet, tinny tone. He too is an excellent jazz artist, and has a flair for improvisation. He dances a little as he sings, and Kazuki follows him with a little shimmying of his own. When his part is over, they both slap hands again, and then launch into the next bit of their act.

They run back to the obstacles while a percussion solo plays, and Honky Tonk deftly follows Kazuki’s hand through each of them, jumping from platform to platform, over hurdles and through hoops, sometimes flipping, sometimes spinning, and always landing on the beat of the music. When he dives into the water tank, he uses Aqua Jet for some extra speed, enough to do some impressive maneuvers and even clear the water for a full breach, leaping high in the air and splashing back down dramatically. He jumps out one last time to follow Kazuki’s hand back through the remaining obstacles and up to the main platform again before the next bars of music.

Kazuki and Honky Tonk play and sing together this time, Honky Tonk using a full-throated Sing this time rather than his softer Disarming Voice. They really seem to have the most fun when they’re working off of each other! While the acrobatics were a spectacle, this feels like the best part of the show. If it weren’t for time limits, and the timing of the percussion track they got a hold of, they would have continued jazzing off of each other for some time.

But all good things must come to an end. The percussion takes over once again as the music softens, and Kazuki tries his hand—or rather, his foot—at a simple tap-dance, and Honky Tonk uses Bubblebeam once again to suffuse the air with pink sparkles, then does a flip, and lands squarely on one flipper with his flukes high in the air, while he flourishes to the crowd with the other. Kazuki simply tips his hat, not wanting to steal the show from his Pokemon.

Kazuki believed that it was best to leave the audience applauding, so they finished their bows and waves while claps were still ringing in the air. Honky Tonk launched himself into Kazuki’s arms, trilling happily, and Kazuki laughed heartily as he carried him off stage. Kazuki meant what he said. As long as they had fun, they would always feel like winners.

Contest Category: Tough
Trainer: Anna of Arendelle
Pokemon: "Sif" (Bunnelby)
Move: Superfang

Costume: Anna's gone full-on woodsy for this display; she's got her hair in braids like always, with a pair of plaid bows topping off each one. The bows match her plaid shirt, which is rolled up to her elbows, and tucked under a pair of denim overall shorts. Completing Anna's outfit are a pair of grey thigh-high socks underneath tall hiking boots.

Sif the Bunnelby is looking equally woodsy; she has a matching plaid bow tied around each ear, and a denim overall skirt around her middle to match Anna's overalls. She's bouncing from foot to foot, looking just as ready to go as Anna is.

Act: Anna and Sif come onstage in their woodsy outfits; Sif does a sweep of the audience along the edge of the stage, flexing and showing off, as Anna brings out a large log with surprisingly little difficulty for a girl her size, and sets it front and center. She grins at the audience and waves, then snaps her fingers to cue the music; a fast-paced banjo-heavy song starts to play, and Sif takes that as her cue; she starts hopping in circles, and then side to side, pumping herself up as she advances toward the log in time with the music. Anna herself does a little side-to-side step in the background, shouting words of encouragement to Sif over the music:

"Yeah! That's the spirit!" She claps her hands in time, and then lifts her hands, beckoning the audience to join in, which only gets Sif that much more pumped up. The Bunnelby has a look of intense concentration on her face now; her gaze is hyperfocused on the enemy right now: that log.

When the music reaches its climax, Anna knows it's time; she grins, and calls out:

"Ready to show that log who's boss, Sif?" The Bunnelby jumps a couple of feet into the air, letting out an excited "Bun! Bun!"

Laughing, Anna does a fist pump. "Alright! Sif, use Superfang!"

With that cue, Sif lunges forward, facefirst, and begins to tear up the log with her long, sharp incisors; wood chips fly out into the audience like confetti as she goes to town on that log. When the dust settles and the last strums of banjo echo forth out of the speak, Sif bounces back, looking triumphant, and shows off her work: where the log once stood onstage, is now a finely carved statue of a Lickitung.

Contest Category: Cute
Trainer: Prompto Argentum
Pokemon: "Pryna" (Eevee)
Move: Charm

Costume: Prompto is dressed in some of the nicest clothes he's worn in a while. From head to toe, it's a whole new look for the blond. He wears a worn, brown cabby hat over his blond hair. On his neck is a white bow-tie with brown spots, artfully tied in the collar of his cornflower-blue button down. Brown suspenders hold up navy slacks, causing white socks to peek out between the cuff of the slacks and the tops of his brown leather shoes. The shades of brown and white match those of Pryna's fur almost perfectly, which is no coincidence.

Pryna herself is beautifully brushed out, fur gleaming in the light. Around her head is a woven crown of blue bellflowers, the same blue as her trainer's shirt in fact. Her little paws all have chains of alternating daisies and blue harvestbells and her fluffy white tail is dotted with a myriad of petals ranging in hue from the purest white to the deepest violet and every shade in between. Where her bandanna usually is now rests a carefully crafted necklace of baby blue eyes flowers, the closest thing Prompto could find to sylleblossoms. Her eyes shine and shimmer with excitement and she gives a trill of happiness as they prepare to start.

Act: Their set is fairly simple, a wooden catwalk painstakingly painted a soft off-white and a boom-box made to look like an old record player. Before their act starts, and in full view of the gathered crowd, Pryna weaves between Prompto's legs and chirps until he gently lifts her. He tries to hold her without damaging her adornments, and without dropping his camera, and he smiles brighter than the sun when she daintily tugs a flower out from one of her paw chains to drop into his hand.

Laughing, he gives her a quick kiss to her forehead before placing her on the far end of the catwalk. He casually strides over to the end nearest the crowd and tucks his gifted flower into one ear before crouching down to press play and quickly squats into position as photographer.

Once the music begins, Pryna uses Charm and her eyes are sweeter than ever as she dances around while walking the catwalk, striking super cute poses every now and then. She's bopping along with the beat and at certain points in the music she does a special moveset.

~"Wave those paws in the air"~ has her standing on her back legs and throwing one of her many paw flowers into the air.

~"Spin around like Fred Astaire"~ sees the adorable Eevee pirouetting while the flower falls, twilling joyously as she tries to catch it on her nose.

~"Lift those puppies off the ground"~ has Pryna leaping into the air and then doing a little flip.

~"Swing those hips, shake 'em down"~ is when she uses Tail Whip to toss flower petals out of her tail so that they rain around her while she dances and shakes her head to the beat (it's also where she tries to right the flower crown that likes to slide a little during her flip).

As the song continues she gets closer and closer to the end of the catwalk, where she strikes her final pose before leaping onto Prompto's shoulder and using Tail Whip mid-air so that flower petals fall around them both as she gives him a gentle head-boop.

The music cuts out and Prompto cradles Pryna gently, smiling and laughing and scratching her ears as he plops her back onto the catwalk so she can take her bow. While she bows, Prompto secures his camera to his person via the handy camera strap he totally didn't forget about so that the Eevee can jump into his arms again. He gives a little wave and shouts a nervous, but sincere, "Thank you!" to the crowd before the two of them walk out of the arena, leaving a trail of petals in their wake.

Contest Category: Cool
Trainer: Riku
Pokemon: "Flare" (Charizard)
Move: Flamethrower (Sunny Day for flourish)

Costume: While Flare may not be Riku's starter, he is Riku's favorite Pokemon by far, thus for this contest, he's opted to pick a costume to match his trusty partner. The costume of choice is a suit of armor (minus the tail), fashioned after Mega Charizard X. For added flourish, he's fashioned himself a blue cape. Could it catch on something? Perhaps, but he's going for rule of cool, not practicality.

The knight and armor theme extends to Flare, who comes clad in a threatening helmet, spiked plating along his neck down to his tail, along with his own chestplate. The armor is painted black, both to contrast with his default orange scales and to compliment his natural coloration once he Mega Evolves.

Act: The stage starts in near darkness. A haunting melody plays. There are five scattered torches, currently unlit. They form a circle with one larger torch seated at the center. If spectators look up, they'll notice a glint of light circling above, from the tip of Flare's tail. There's a soft whoosh from the beat of his wings...

The figure swoops down. Streaks of fire strike the torches, casting dark shadows. As the fourth torch lights up, the Charizard ascends, higher and higher. Away from the light and back into the darkness...

Only to abruptly dive back down, spewing further flames from his mouth... forming the letter F. He continues to duck and rise, forming subsequent letters, L, then A, then R, then E...

He finishes it off with a bit of a swish before once again ascending, then stopping. Hovering. A bright light surrounds him, as he transforms into a Mega Charizard X, and unleashes Sunny Day to bring forth one last, even brighter burst of fire, which he shoots high above his head, like a living fountain before moving once more to form a ring of fire that he dives through. As as he makes this move, Riku plunges off of Flare's back, falling down, down, down...

It seems like he's about to become a human pancake until, just in the nick of time, Flare swoops under Riku, catching him on his back, and on their way down, Flare strikes the center torch, lighting it up in one brilliant burst of flame, even brighter than the last. The two then hit the stage with a resounding THUD. Riku hops down, and the two share a glance before taking a bow and ending the act.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

The Contest Spectacular!

CONTEST ENTRIES

hello naughty trainers it's time for Punch Grandpa

jesus christmas this was so much

Sing me a song~

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Second hand embarrassment for myself.

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team rocket, please come collect your grunt before he burns the place down

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Participates in the Cool contest, uses the Beauty icon.

I wrote this on my phone so I hope its less than a 1000 lol

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super-duper

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Maurice and Rattatertot

Henry and Flotsam

little trainers everywhere will now be playing this song on repeat

Just squeaked under the word limit!

it's about to get real butch up in here

Dancing Darling

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