"We made it!" cried Yume "Dandemille Town!"
"Chespin! "
"Toge! "
"We came all this way for this," said Subaru "Better be worth it,"
"It will be once I win that Princess Key," said Aria
"Fat chance," said Yume "I'll emerge victorious!"
"We'll see about that,"
"Can we just head over to the stadium already?" asked Kanata "You know, before it's over?"
"Helioptile! "
"... Wanna race?" Yume asked
"Um ... no?" Aria responded
"Oh ... okay,"
~~~~~
"Wow," said Aria as they looked around the stadium "It's so huge. And to think soon it's going to be filled with hundreds of people ... I'm gonna be sick,"
"You don't need to worry Aria," said Yume "Everything will be okay,"
"You aren't nervous?"
"I'm terrified,"
~~~~~
Kanata and Subaru sat next to each other as they watched the showcase begin to get underway. "So who do you think is going to win?" Subaru asked
"I don't know," said Kanata "It's not like I can tell the future. But ... we did promise to cheer Yume on while she was on stage,"
"And we will, right guys?"
"Fro! "
"Heli! "
"Yeah, go Yume!"
"Go Tomato!"
Suddenly, the lights dimmed. "Bonjour people of Kalos," said a voice "I invite you all to join me on a journey to the world of Pokémon Performances. I will be your guide, Monsieur Pierre!"
As Monsieur Pierre continued talking about the wonderful world of Pokémon Showcases, Yume and Aria were backstage waiting to be called up on stage.
"I'm so nervous, Yume," said Aria as she held Eevee close to her chest "What if I mess up? What if I go blank? What if -"
"No more what ifs!" said Yume "No more negativity! You're going to be great!"
"Thanks ..."
"Performer Aria," said a stage hand "You're on stand by,"
"Right!" she said "Here I go, wish me luck,"
"Okay ... Good luck!"
~~~~~
"For today's theme performance, to start off today's showcase is ... Performing with Props! Each Performer will come on stage and performer with their chosen prop, if you like what you see then simply light up your glow stick to vote for the performer! First up on stage is Performer Aria with her partner Eevee!"
Aria was lifted onto the stage holding a three little balls and a big ball sitting next to her. "Alright Eevee, go!"
"Eevee! "
Eevee jumped up and started jumping up and down from the ball, posing perfectly n the air every time. Aria started juggling the three little balls while doing amazing tricks with them. "Get ready Eevee!" Aria then started to juggle two balls with one hand and toss Eevee the third ball at the same time. Every time Eevee was in the air she bounced the ball back to Aria. "Now finish it with Swift!" Eevee spun around and the Swift turned into fireworks.
The crowd went crazy as Aria took a bow. "What an amazing Performance from Performer Aria! Now take out your glow sticks! Trois ... deux ... un!"
Glowing lights floated into Aria's charm. "And Performer Aria passes onto the next stage!"
"Yes! We did it Eevee!"
One after another, performers went on stage, then ... "It's time for our final performer! Performer Yume and her partner Chespin!"
"Go Yume!"
"You can do it Tomato!"
"Here we go," said Yume as she clutched her hula-hoop "Chespin use Vine Whip!" Yume tossed him the hoop and Chespin began to spin the hoop around with his vines. Chespin tossed it into the air and Yume caught it with ease. "Now use Pin Missile!" Yume threw the hoop into the air and the Pin Missile hit the hoop and started making it float and glow. Chespin started jumping thru the hoop over and over. "Yeah! I got this!"
Then Chespin tripped over the hoop, he started falling and the Pin Missile exploded. "Chespin!" Yume grabbed her partner, she starred at the crowd as the hula-hoop hit the ground. "I'm sorry,"
~~~~~
Yume didn't pass to the next round, not even close. "I'm so sorry, Yume," said Aria
"It's fine," Yume said as she held Chespin close to her "I'm just sorry that I couldn't make it to the next stage for my partners,"
"Chespin"
"Fennekin"
"Toge! "
"Thanks guys," Yume took a deep breath "I better head over to the guys,"
~~~~~
The showcase carried on, then when it all ended Aria was victorious and earned her key. "I'm really sorry you didn't win, Yume," said Aria before the she left the three friends
"Forget it! Your performance was amazing! I think you would have beaten me even if I did make it to the next stage,"
"But she'll beat you next time," said Subaru "Right Tomato?"
"It's Yume!"
Aria chuckled "Never change you guys," she said "Bye!"
"Eevee! "
"Togepi! "
Aria started walking to her own path. "So we're heading over to your next gym tomorrow?" asked Kanata
"Yep! We're getting our second gym badges!" said Subaru
"And we won't give up!" added Yume "Well ... I won't if you don't,"
"And I won't if you don't ... Tomato,"
"YUME!"
~~~~~
That night, Yume didn't sleep much. She thought a walk would help clear her thoughts so she went out to the Poke center's battle field. She thought about her performance.
The hoop blew up, Chespin could have really gotten hurt or worse. "I'm a failure!" Yume broke down into tears. "I can't perform! I can't do anything right!"
"Fletch? " Piped a small voice. Yume looked up and saw a Fletchling standing in front of her.
"What do you want?" Yume asked
"Fletchling! "
"Just leave me alone. I want to cry until the pain stops,"
"Fletch! Fletchling! " Fletchling flew onto Yume's knee. It was like he was telling her not to give up. Like it wasn't the end of the world.
"And it's not the end of the world!" she said "I messed up so I need to try again and again and again!" Yume stood up "Thanks Tiny Dude!"
~~~~~
"Hey Subaru!" said Yume as she poked her friends face as he laid in bed.
"What?"
SPLASH!
"AH!!" he screamed "Wha ... What was that for?"
"What was what for?" she asked
"The bucket of water! I was awake ... a little,"
"Can I battle you?"
"Huh?"
"I want to battle you,"
"Now? It's 5 in the morning!"
"Yes, now!" Yume replied "Please?"
Subaru looked at her like she was crazy. "Fine," he said finally
"Yes!"
~~~~~
"Fennekin I choose you!"
"Froakie I need you!"
The two battled until the sun rose, and Yume never felt so alive.