We practiced a little more after that, showing Lotus our performances as well, and as a couple months went by, we kept practicing to perfect our performances.
Finally, the day had come of the master class.
As we made our way to the venue, I could see other performers here with their pokemon, who had worked as hard as I had with their pokemon, all of them with the dream of becoming Kalos queen.
As if sensing I was getting a little nervous, Lotus reassuringly put a hand on my shoulder, and said, "You can do it. If any of them can get to the finals and become Kalos queen, it will be you, Yui."
I nodded, and we headed into the venue, with Lotus heading in the direction where the audience would be sat, and I headed in the direction of the dressing rooms.
Once I was changed, I waited for the staff to call us all on stage, so we could present our princess keys, and so the audience knew everyone who was performing.
After what seemed like an eternity, we were all called on stage.
As we all came out of the chambers we appeared in, using our princess keys to unlock the door, the audience cheered as the announcer explained the format of the master class.
To my dismay, I was in the last group, which meant I had to wait longer than everyone else, which only made me even more nervous.
Especially after I watched as performer after performer got eliminated, each of their faces clearly showing disappointment and sadness, and it only made me realize how tough it was to even get past the first round in the master class, especially since ultimately it is the audience that decides their fate as a performer, whether they continue in the master class, or have to earn their princess keys all over again to get back here.
Eventually, I was called on stage, and I called Sawsbuck out of her pokeball.
"We can do this Sawsbuck, just like we practiced." I say, petting her nose as she nuzzled against me, and we made our way on stage.
I was stood in the middle, so the performer to the right of me performed first, and I couldn't help but admire her performance.
I had to mentally reassure myself that we could only do our best, and let the audience decide who went onto the next round.
"Next, Performer Yui!" The announcer said, and the spotlight was on me.
"Just as we practiced Sawsbuck." I whisper to her, as she nods.
Sawsbuck starts by using energy ball into the air, without me even saying anything, and uses horn leech, hitting the energy ball, making it into a cloud of smoke which soon turned into small green crystals that turned into sparkles as they hit the ground.
"Leech seed and then energy ball Sawsbuck!" I say, using the moves we added as we practiced more, and just like in training, the leech seed hitting the energy ball turned it into a small green flower, which dissipated into sparkles after a few seconds.
After, the spotlight appeared on the third performer, and as I watched her performance, I could once again feel my nerves building up as I couldn't help but admire her performance too.
Then, we could all perform simultaneously, so I decided to use the move we had planned for our finale.
"Ready Sawsbuck?" I asked her, and she nodded as I climbed on her back.
Once I did, she bucked me into the air, using leech seed to create a platform that I landed on in an one handed handstand, and she used energy ball twice, just like we had practiced, hitting both with a double kick, creating fireworks just like we had practiced as well.
Once she had, I jumped back onto my feet, as we all said "finished!"
Now was the most nerve-wracking part.
The audience vote.
I watched as multi coloured orbs came towards the performer they corresponded with, and it was hard to tell which performer would win.
I closed my eyes, bracing for the worse, bracing for the fact that we may not even make it past the first round.
"And the performer moving onto the next round is Yui!"
As soon as I heard that, my eyes snapped open, and I couldn't help but smile and throw my arms around Sawsbuck's neck, hugging her, as she nuzzled against me, also happy that we made it past the first round.
"We did it Sawsbuck, thank you." I say to her as we walk off stage and back to the backstage area.
"Thank you so much Sawsbuck, you were amazing." I say as we get back to the dressing room, leaving her out of her pokeball so she could watch the other performances.
I call out my other pokemon, so they too could watch our performances.
"Luvdisc, you're up next." I say, and Luvdisc nods, then turning towards the screen so we could watch the performers perform in the second round.
Unlike waiting for our turn for the first round, our time to perform in the second seemed to come a lot quicker, and I had just finished getting luvdisc ready just in time.
Also unlike the first round, I was the first performer to perform.
"Ready to go Luvdisc? Spin and use Water gun!"
Luvdisc carried out the command like we did in practice, creating a spiral water barrier around her.
Luvdisc used water pulse immediately, and as it hit the water, it created small droplets of water that surrounded luvdisc.
As I caught Luvdisc from the air, the water droplets surrounded us, essentially creating rain that sparkled slightly.
"Water pulse again, then use water gun!"
Luvdisc aims the water pulse into the air, and used water gun immediately after, bursting the water pulses into sparkles.
With that, the spotlight was of us, and onto the next performer.
"We can do it Luvdisc, I believe in you." I say reassuringly to her, as I noticed her get a little nervous as she watched the other pokemon perform.
Once again, we could all perform simultaneously, and this was where I was going to use our finale.
I threw luvdisc into the air, and once high enough, she used hydro pump towards the ground, creating a splash of water, as I danced around it.
"Take down Luvdisc!"
Luvdisc used the move immediately, making the water splash into a barrier. Once it did, she immediately used hydro pump again, creating the same droplets of water and that created sparkles as they hit the ground.
"Finished!"
Although I was confident we would get through to the third round, I couldn't help the nerves that were starting to creep through as the audience voted.
"The performer moving onto the third round is... Yui!"
I had no words, knowing I was one step closer to my dream of being Kalos queen.
Walking back stage, I was greeted by my happy pokemon, and by their faces, I could tell they were proud as well.
"We can win it, I know we can!" I say, and they all cheer simultaneously.
"Braixen, Pachirisu, I'm counting on you guys."
Our time to go on stage for the third round seem to come all too quick, and before I knew it was already on stage, watching the other performers perform as I waited my turn.
Soon enough, the spotlight was on me, and it was our time to perform.
"Ready to go?" I ask my Braixen and Pachirisu, and they nodded.
"Braixen, spin and use flamethrower! Pachirisu, use Electro ball towards Braixen!" I say, and both pokemon carry out the commands immediately, and the electro ball hit the fire shield, resulting in it creating a cloud of smoke.
Shortly after though, the cloud of smoke dissipated into yellow, orange and red sparkles.
Soon after, Braixen spins and uses flamethrower, while Pachirisu uses discharge. As the moves collide, and just like in practice, the fire and electricity blend together.
"Pachirisu jump and use swift on the shield!"
Pachirisu, using its tail as a spring, jumps into the air and uses swift, hitting the shield, creating a firework effect.
"Let's finish this up, Braixen, Fire blast, Pachirisu, use super fang and spin through the fire blast!"
Both pokemon carry out the command flawlessly, breaking apart the fire blast into sparkles, and Pachirisu lands on its tail.
"Finished!"
"The performer moving onto the finale round is Yui!"
I couldn't help the lone tear that fell down my face as soon as I heard those words.
I had done it, I had made it to the final round of the Master class showcase, where I would be facing off against the Kalos queen Aria.
After what seemed like an eternity, it was time for me to go stage again to face the Kalos queen Aria.
"Our first performer is Performer Yui!"
"Ready to go you guys?" I ask Braixen, Sylveon and Vivillon, and they nod.
"Braixen Flamethrower! Sylveon swift!"
Both pokemon use their moves, and when they collided, it created a fire star that exploded into sparkles, covering the stage.
Vivillon soon used gust, lifting us all into the air, as Braixen used fire spin and Sylveon use moonblast, creating a pink swirl.
"Psybeam Vivillon!"
Vivillon uses the move immediately, and it hits the pink swirl, turning it rainbow coloured and once again exploding into rainbow sparkles.
I danced together with my pokemon for a little while, before it was time to use our finale move.
"Braixen Flamethrower! Sylveon Fairy wind!"
Both Braixen and Sylveon nod and use their moves, creating an outline of a flower.
Vivillon looks at me hesitantly, probably scared it was going to mess the move up, but I gave her a reassuring smile and mouthed to her "You can do it"
After that, Vivillon nodded, and used struggle bug.
I could see her eyes light up as the move worked, creating a gracidea flower in the sky, that soon dissipated into multicolored sparkles.
"Finished!"
I did all that I could, now to just wait to see what the audience decides after Aria's performance.
I watched in awe of Aria's performance, as she danced around with her pokemon, clearing showing the bond between them.
"The time has come to see who will be the Kalos queen! Everyone, please cast your votes!"
Unlike other rounds, no orbs came towards us, and we would only know who won at the end of the voting.
"And the Kalos Queen is..."
Please please...
"Aria!"
To my surprise, I wasn't upset. Maybe a little disappointed, but not upset.
Subconsciously I knew I wouldn't win, but at least I tried my best.
I knew this was being broadcasted on the TV, and I knew my parents would be watching.
However, what I didn't know, was that the master class could be watched from other regions,