A Week After Gardenia’s Disappearance in Eterna Forest

“Loony! Use Ominous Wind to create an enchanting sphere of radiant darkness, black as night and deep as the captivating abyss!”

“Mismagius, you help out too! Show off your charm and dazzle our spectateurs with Dazzling Gleam!”

“Drif, Drif!”

“Mismaggggius!”

Flying in artful loops around each other in the air, the two pokemon released a fascinating mix of onyx black and opal pink sparkles that upon meeting in the centre of the stage exploded elegantly in Umi (Japanese Apricot)-like patterns.

“Fantastique! Now, it’s time for the finale!”

“Loony, use Psychic to weave Froslass’s Frost Breath and Rotom’s Discharge together in a beautiful display of pokemon power!”

“Blooom!”

Hearing Fantina’s orders, Drifblim lowered its large body to the bottom of the stage and lifted two of its four arms while its eyes began to glow with incandescent blue light. Waving the two arms like a conductor it began to guide the electricity from Rotom’s Discharge against the crystals produced by Frosglass creating a grand network of electric discharge that took on the shape of a large pumpkin.

Knowing it was its turn to wrap up the performance, Mismagius retracted its body into its head while using Hex to create an illusion of a large witch’s hat around itself before resting slightly above the icy blue electric pumpkin.

“C’est fini!”

“Thank you for watching, I hope you all enjoyed the performance and please give a round of applaudissements for my pokemon!”

Clap Clap Clap

Taking the hem of her vibrant purple dress in one hand, Fantina put her other arm across her chest while bowing lightly to thank the audience for attending the special performance today with Drifblim, Mismagius, Rotom and Froslass all bowing elegantly alongside her.

After that magnifique challenger the other day, Fantina was feeling particularly inspired after her first defeat in so long and thus decided to return to her roots by putting on a special exhibition in the Hearthome Super Contest Hall.

Returning Froslass and Rotom to their balls, Fantina hopped onto Drifblim’s top to which the Pokemon gave a small noise of surprise unintentionally.

“Drif!”

Bending over the top of Drifblim’s head, Fantina looked suspiciously at the pokemon.

“And what was that supposed to mean Loony?”

“Drif, Drif!!”

Inflating itself up, Drifblim exaggeratedly used two of its arms to make the same pose as a Heroic Palafin but Fantina was not convinced and she looked down at her dress.

Surely, she couldn’t have gained that much weight to warrant such a noise from the Blimp Pokemon. As annoying as it was, as a Top Coordinator, Fantina worked diligently to maintain a certain level of fitness that was expected in the field but she had recently been preoccupied with other business and hadn't been able to focus on her health as much recently.

She had heard from that girl and the comedy duo that was tagging along with her, that Team Galactic had recently attacked the Celestic Town Ruins and with the news of Maylene and Crasher Wake’s disappearance, the Sinnoh Pokemon Association was only putting more pressure on Fantina to figure out what was going on.

And though Fantina hadn’t been able to discover anything yet, it wasn’t for a lack of trying.

She had reached out to every connection she knew from her contest days, elite four members, Cynthia and the Professors but it seemed Team Galactic was much more elusive than the League had anticipated.

Sigh

Floating alongside the duo on the way back to Fantina’s home, Mismagius sensed her trainers' discouragement and moved closer so as to comfort the worried gym leader but sensing a disturbance in the air the Magical Pokemon put up her guard.

“Mismagius? What’s wrong?”

Ignoring Fantina for a moment, Mismagius paused midair to use its psychic abilities to scan the area.

“...”

Sensing that it had formed a mental connection with another pokemon, Mismagius asked hesitantly,

“Who are you? Are you looking for help?”

“......”

Curious as to why the other pokemon wasn’t responding, Mismagius strengthened the psychic connection,

“....Help…Him…”

Confused, Mismagius looked around floating lightly in the wind, until it finally spotted the deep blue, scythe-like horn of an Absol.

“...Help…I’ll…Wish…”

“Mismagius?” asked Fantina quizzically but the Magical Pokemon was too preoccupied to notice her words yet again.

Help who? How? Where? Wish? What did any of that mean?

Left with more questions than answers, Mismagius began to fly towards the Absol but the closer she got the more she could sense a dangerous darkness emanating from the Disaster Pokemon until a wave of cold blackness overwhelmed her senses and terminated the psychic connection.

“Mismagius! Return!!”

Turning around upon hearing the urgency in Fantina’s voice, Mismagius felt itself being sucked back into its pokeball as an enormous tornado overtook Drifblim and Fantina leaving no trace of their presence anywhere…

***************************************************************************

Saint Laurent Fashion Show, Newest Creations by Saint Laurent Spring/Summer 2XXX Fashion Collection in the Carrousel du Louve

Disoriented but awake, Mismagius took notes of the surroundings from inside her pokeball and gave a look of concern at Fantina who was struggling to stand and now grabbing the hem of her dress in an attempt to reorient herself.

The surrounding area was eerily quiet save for a now rising wave of murmurs that could be heard from the collection of bodies that were staying directly at Fantina’s extravagant, vivid, royal purple attire. Those who had their phones out began to unleash flashes of blinding white light while those who did not, took their phones out immediately to record the spectacle of a woman appearing from thin air.

Click Click

“How gaudy…”

“Uncouth…”

“Low-life…”

“No class…”

“Hideous…Utterly Horrendous…”

Mismagius began to shake with a powerful energy hearing the harsh language being thrown at her trainer and she sensed the change in the air as tall, lithe models continued to walk past Fantina while certain crowd members could be seen waving over security to approach her.

Fantina was in no way gaudy or low class at all! She always held herself with poise that was expected from a Top Coordinator and worked tirelessly to show off the ‘natural beauty’ of her pokemon and Mismagius was always grateful to her for that.

How dare they!

How dare they disregard Fantina like this!

Mismagiussssss!!!

Mismagius didn’t know who these people were but no one was allowed to talk bad about Fantina like that! Then, releasing itself from its pokeball Mismagius’s eyes began to glow with an eerie, violet glow and fluttering its ribbon-like extensions, she unleashed a wave of multicoloured lights that covered the runway in a spectral glow.

Finally having time to pick herself up due to the resulting silence, Fantina managed to regain her bearings and began to process where she was. Having been to Lumiose City many times in the past, while it seemed familiar, she could also recognise that this place was in fact, not Lumiose City.

“C’est très bizarre…”

Well, regardless of where she was, Fantina knew that she had likely interrupted some sort of important fashion show and she of all people knew how much effort was put into these so it was understandable that they were a little harsh with their language. However, if there was anybody they should be mad at it should really be that horrible tornado that had appeared out of nowhere she thought slightly indignantly.

“Mis…mismagius?”

Fantina turned her head, hearing the slightly sorrowful cry of her pokemon who was currently floating in circles around Fantina’s head nervously. Giving Mismagius a small smile to assure the Magical Pokemon that she was alright, Fantina gently touched Mismagius’s ribbons and spoke up in a small voice.

“It was vraiment sweet of you to defend me like that Mismagius but it’s time to release these people from your Confuse R–”

“Oh Mon Dieu!!”

Grabbing Fantina’s gloved hands with excitement, she saw a man in a sleek, all-black outfit alongside a woman of similar stature to herself, both carefully examining her dress with fervent passion emanating from their eyes.

“This is it!”

“Oui c’est vrai! This is the design that will define the season! What is your name mademoiselle?”

“Who me? Oh!”

Regaining her usual, bubbly energy Fantina put her hand emphatically on her chest and declared in a resoundant cry,

“Fantina, the Gym Leader of Hearthome, is also a Top Coordinate who aims to show off the charm of all ghost-type pokemon! She is, how do you say, très fantastique! Fantina being myself, of course!”

A bit baffled as to why Fantina had chosen to reference herself in the third person, the man and woman both looked at her with obvious puzzlement and she gave a look of abashment realising she may have been slightly over dramatic in introducing herself.

If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Ahem

“Apologies…force de l’habitude.”

Clap Clap

Ignoring her muttering, the duo that had walked up to her quickly summoned forth a ring of assistant designers and some security members to guide her to the back of the runway and Fantina asked in confusion to the woman standing aside her,

“Pardon, but where are you taking me?”

“To begin planning your next fashion show of course! You will be the lead designer for the next Saint Laurent Fashion Show in Milan! Oh and don’t forget that lovely floating hat of yours, it really is such a genius detail, it adds so much to your aesthetic Fannytina! Simply genius!”

“Mismagius?” the Magical Pokemon asked in complete bafflement, but Fantina hushed her and hurriedly interrupted the woman before she could speak any further.

“Non, non, non! You’re confused, Mademoiselle!”

“Confused? More like in love!” cried the woman with rapture in her voice.

Fantina was now convinced this woman was thoroughly confused, Mismagius obviously wasn’t able to learn Attract however before she could interrupt the woman, she saw two lanky youths shoved in front of her. Though they seemed slightly younger than her, they both were significantly taller and the woman slapped them gently on the arm while she introduced each one.

“This is Étienne and this one is Danielle. They’ll be your assistants from now on.”

“I’m Danielle” the woman who had been pointed out as Étienne while the man who had been pointed out as Danielle introduced himself likewise,

“I’m Étienne. Here’s your schedule for the next week, Miss Fantina. You’ve already met the Creative Directors and with initial approvals cleared we’ll have you in Milan next Wednesday so you can explore the venue. The theme is ‘Evolution’ this year so please prepare accordingly.”

Continuing to talk into her ear, Fantina’s eyes began to spin from all the information being thrown at her and before she knew it she was standing in front of a room of people who she had never seen before and was now apparently in charge of.

“Their names aren’t important so you can just call them ‘You’ Miss Fantina or whatever else suits your needs…”

Then a week later in Milan…

“Here’s the budget Miss Fantina. You can choose to bring your own team of stylists if you so desire or we can provide recommendations for you if you so wish…”

And another week later…

“If the theme is ‘Evolution’ then it would be natural to show the evolution of fashion from the past to now, no? The more gaudy the better.”

“Evolution can’t be equated with extravagance! Simplicity and elegance is timeless!”

“Why not both? A fusion of classical and modern ideals in the next revolution of Saint Laurent fashion could work, no?”

“No, no, no! We need something that will start the next revolution! We can’t play it safe!”

Fantina groaned, hearing her newly assigned team members arguing amongst themselves as they began to decide on the outline for the production, staging, sound, choreography and music. Though she was used to having to organise performances for Contests it was still out of her realm to lead her own Fashion Show and she was feeling rather overwhelmed at the moment. Twiddling with the strands of Mismagius’s extensions, Fantina wished she could contact her friend Valerie at this moment who was a master at making pokemon and people shine in the brilliantly creative fashion shows. But for some reason, ever since she had arrived in “Italy” her Rotom phone was refusing to cooperate with her, meaning she was on her own for this one.

Usually, Fantina’s first instinct would be to use pokemon and trainer duos as models for inspiration but whenever she asked the models brought to her by Étienne and Danielle to show her their pokemon they instead gave Fantina a look of befuddlement and proceeded to show her pictures of their Furfrou-esque pokemon on their phones which they called their pet ‘dog’.

While Fantina had never heard of these ‘Dog’ pokemon, though there was certainly variation in breeds, they lacked a certain ‘je ne sais quoi’ that would allow them to function as muses for her artistic genius.

And thus, Fantina was now left without designs or even a concept while her team members continued to squabble amongst themselves in front of her.

“Oh mon dieu…what are we going to do Misdreavus?” bemoaned Fantina while rubbing her temple in small circles in a futile attempt to settle the growing headache.

“Magius?”

While Mismagius wasn’t completely sure what she could do to help, she decided to float atop Fantina’s head to comfort the fatigued gym leader and Fantina rolled her eyes up appreciatively upon feeling the ghost pokemon settle atop her hair.

Hmm…

Pausing upon feeling all eyes in the room turn to her, Fantina tilted her head in confusion wondering what they were all staring at. Then following the path of their eyes, she asked questioningly,

“Oh, have you never seen a Mismagius before? I suppose there must not be many in this region you call Italy? mused Fantina, whilst ignoring the strange looks her team was giving her.

“It’s beautiful Ms.Fantina” exclaimed a rather youthful girl whose exuberance was emanating from her being upon seeing the magical hat settle onto Fantina’s head lightly.

“Magiusss~” purred the Magical Hat, satisfied someone finally recognised its beauty and Fantina’s eyes curved into crescents with pleasure.

Clap

Opening her eyes wide, Fantina put her hands to her mouth causing the men and women in the room to hold in their breaths with anticipation while waiting for Fantina to speak.

“Voilà! C'est parfait!!”

Satisfied with her new vision for the show, Fantina looked around the room with a newfound resolution in her eyes that put everyone on edge, unsure of where this was going to go.

“Let’s get busy everyone! There is absolument no time to lose!!”

“Yes, Ms.Fantina!” shouted the team members but they gave each other side eyes as they observed Fantina hurriedly leave the room, leaving them with no idea of what she wanted from them.

**********************************************************

Saint Laurent Fashion Show, ‘Evolution’ Showcase by Saint Laurent Winter 2XXX Fashion Collection, Milan

Fantina closed her eyes and took in a deep breath to stop her trembling. This was unlike her. As a Master Coordinator she was used to standing on the stage but for some reason…today she felt more nervous than she had ever been. After months of deliberation, extensive coordination and arduous preparations it was finally the day of execution.

If she was alone she knew she wouldn’t be standing here today but hearing the speaker call her out to make the opening remarks she looked around at her pokemon who were floating in place, ready for her commands.

Feeling a sudden surge of emotion as she looked at her team, Fantina held back tears and fanned herself hurriedly to compose herself.

“Oh là là, what’s with me today?” wondered Fantina but sensing her emotions, Frosslass, Mismagius, and Drifblim reached out to wrap her arms in their cloth-like appendages while Dusknoir patted her signature buns with Rotom buzzing cheerily in the background.

“That’s enough silliness from me maintenant! Let’s show everyone the brilliance of the bonds between people and pokemon through fashion~~”

Frosssss~~~

Blim! Blim!

“Dusknoirrrrr~”

“Rotom!”

“~Magius~~”

Then, stepping from backstage, Fantina walked down the runway with her head held high, back straight, and eyes brimming with vitality while ignoring the blinding flashes of the cameras.

“Merci beaucoup for coming today everyone! As you all know, today’s theme is ‘Evolution’ and for many people and pokemon, evolution represents the culmination of experiences that trainer and pokemon share together! In other words, a celebration of the bonds between people and pokemon! However, like the esteem Professor Rowan has stated, the mysteries of pokemon evolution have yet to be fully understood…so today, my goal was to show a most fantastique display of Saint Laurent Fashion that builds on the experience of both myself and the brand while also pushing against the expected and I think you’ll find that the future evolution of Saint Laurent is something no one will be able to foresee, even myself!”

Then, returning the microphone back, Fantina gave a few small waves with a small smile on her face that betrayed her satisfaction with her speech, though few in the audience were able to understand her words. Watching the models lined up after she returned backstage, Fantina let out a sigh of relief that everything seemed to be in order but paused as she felt a nagging sensation at the back of her mind.

Looking around she saw Mismagius, Rotom, Frosslass, Drifblim and Dusknoir all in their appropriate positions for the show so she deduced it wasn’t her pokemon…

But what could she possibly be forgetting?

However, hearing the music start, Fantina was jolted from her inner contemplation and held her hands together in front of her while the models began to catwalk on the runway in plain black dresses and conspicuous, pointy, witch hats.

Fantina’s greatest desire from this show was to show off the mystery of evolution that she had first felt when Drifblim had evolved from Drifblim after winning their first contest together. Ecstatic from their victory, Fantina’s cheeks were flushed red with excitement as she eagerly anticipated what Drifblim would evolve into and wanted everyone in the audience to be able to relive the excitement of their pokemon’s first evolution.

Thus, she had come to the conclusion, in the end it all came back to Pokemon!

And so, she had decided to enlist her team’s help to make this wish become reality.

Flying discreetly at the top of the room, Froslass had spread tiny ice crystals throughout the room which Rotom had energised with small bolts of electricity from Eerie Impulse while Dusknoir had covered them in a faint Ominous Wind that created an uncanny lighting in the room. Using the lighting as a distraction, Fantina observed as Mismagius’s eyes began to shine brightly as she cast Hex on the dresses of the models causing the spectators in the audience to all see widely different designs that boggled the mind.

“Oh mon Dieu!”

It hit her.

She had completely forgotten to have Mismagius release the ‘Confuse Ray’ from Directors and other audience members at the Summer/Spring Fashion Show!!!

Fantina had been so immersed with this project she had completely forgotten that she wasn’t even supposed to be working on this in the first place!!

“Oh mon Dieu!”

This was vraiment horrible! She was a complete fraud!

Now beginning to pace agitatedly in her dress, Fantina zoned out while reporters, her team members and even people she didn’t know came up to her to congratulate her for putting on the ‘greatest fashion show of the season’.

Somehow able to make some closing remarks she couldn’t remember, Fantina said her goodbyes rather listlessly while Drifblim floated down onto the balcony of her apartment. Stepping off lightly, she didn’t even bother to change out of her clothes and instead sat on the couch in silence much to the worry of her pokemon.

Feeling strangely unable to breathe, Fantina removed her gloves and scratched at her throat but no matter how hard she scratched, she wasn’t able to relieve the pressure. Continuing to scratch harder she didn’t even notice she was bleeding until Mismagius had wrapped one of its arms around her hand while Frosslass breathed icily onto her now red throat.

Sensing her disquiet, Drifblim nuzzled closer to Fantina and feeling the familiar rotundness of the Blimp pokemon she closed her eyes to allow the call of Morpheus to distract her from the guilt.

******************************************************************************

Yawn

Bzzt Bzzt

Groggy from crying herself to sleep, Fantina pushed the strands of hair out of her face and wiped her mouth in a daze.

Bzzt Bzzt

Bzzt Bzzt

Wanting to put a stop to the incessant buzzing of her phone, Fantina reached out slapping the table in front of her causing the phone to fall off causing her to hold back a groan. Just as she got up however, a cloth-like arm reached out to hand it to her and she squeezed Drifblim’s tendril in thanks while answering.

“Allô?”

“Ms.Fantina! Have you seen the news?”

“News?”

“Turn on the TV! You’re a hit!” exclaimed Danielle, causing Rotom to quickly dive into the TV and turn it on to the news channel.

“Fantina of Saint Laurent’s latest Fashion Show is being dubbed the ‘Fantastic Witch of Phantasms’ in an astonishing display of fashion that has left audience members and viewers alike mystified! When asked to comment, Saint Laurent’s representative has stated Fantina will be leading the next ‘evolution’ of Saint Laurent—”

“Rotom, turn it off please.”

“--Tom?”

Bzzt

Confused as to why Fantina wasn’t more animated like she usually was, Rotom muted the TV and joined the other pokemon as she massaged her temples in distress.

This wasn’t supposed to happen…

She hadn’t been selected for her position because of her talent or skill. She wasn’t even sure if the Creative Directors even liked her! If she had been more responsible, as Mismagius’s trainer she should have reversed the confusion right away but instead had allowed herself to be swept away by the sudden surge of events.

Now, she couldn’t even tell whether the people who liked her show were actually interested in her fashion or whether they simply liked the name ‘Saint Laurent’...

It was too late now however, and Fantina could only wallow in regret while her pokemon stood by her silently, casting the house in a sombre darkness despite the first rays of sun peeking through the windows.

“Dusk?”

“Not now Dusknoir” lamented Fantina, wishing to wallow in dramatic self-pity for a while longer.

“Dusk! Dusk!”

Curious as to why the other pokemon had begun clamouring as well for her attention, Fantina looked up at the muted TV and her magenta eyes bulged looking at the screen.

“Is that–”

“Fossil Maniac Roark has received yet another reward for his development of the ‘Fossil Reviver’ and has just finished his acceptance speech here in Tokyo. Live at the scene is Reporter…”

“It IS Roark!” squealed Fantina as she saw the red-head walk off the stage but not before she spotted the red Rotom-etch she had gifted him at the last Sinnoh Leaders Summit.

Seeing the red-headed gym leader, Fantina felt a wave of relief wash over her. Like her, Roark must have lost contact with the Sinnoh region after teleporting here and she rushed Rotom to establish a connection with the Rotom in his Poketch so they could make a call with the missing gym leader.

Roark was like a younger brother to her as the newest member of the Sinnohian gym leaders so she felt at least one of her worries dissipate, realising he was doing fine in whatever region was being projected on the TV. Not only that, but Roark was also quite sensible and dependable so she was sure he would have some ideas about her current plight.

“Rotom! Tom!” buzzed Rotom as he hopped in circles around Fantina to let her know the connection had been formed.

“Is it working? Allô?”

“Hello?”

“Roark? Is that you? It’s me! Fantina!! You must help me! C’est une disaster!!”

“Fantina???” cried two voices in unison from the other side of the call and Fantina swore she could recognise the second, female voice.

“Oui! C’est moi! Did you not hear me the first time? This is no time for chit-chat Roark!”

“Fantina? I can’t believe it! What are you doing here?” cried out the familiar, female voice and Fantina scrunched her brows trying to recall whose it was.

“Gardenia? You’re here aussi?!”

“Yup! Been vibing in Japan since yesterday so I could surprise Roark tonight! Mr.Fancy Pants Researcher here got another reward tonight–”

“Japan? Where’s that?” interjected Fantina, barely able to keep up with Gardenia’s usual fast-paced speech.

Hearing the confusion in her voice, Roark and Gardenia looked at each other with suspicion dripping from their eyes. They knew Fantina could be a bit of an airhead at times when she became immersed in her Contests but surely even she couldn’t be that oblivious…right?

“Fantina…” began Roark hesitantly looking to Gardenia for support, neither wanting to confirm their suspicions.

“You do know that we’re on Earth right?”

“Earth? Is that some sort of region?”

Groaning behind him, Gardenia smashed her hand onto her forehead while Roark began to patiently explain the current situation of the three gym leaders.

“Don’t be silly, Roark! Of course there are pokemon here! Why just yesterday, my assistant brought Priscilla over to battle Drifblim and Mismagius!”

“Priscilla? Who’s that?”

“Oh some sort of strange pokemon, resembles a Herdier but très plain… and much weaker as well…”

Realising that she was likely describing a pet dog, Roark ignored Gardenia who was now falling over in her chair from laughter and continued to explain while Fantina gave simple “mmms” in acknowledgement, though whether she was actually following him, he couldn’t be certain.

“So neither of you know how to get back to the Sinnoh Region?” asked Fantina.

“No…I was hoping you might know something.” admitted Roark, neither he nor Gardenia finding any leads despite their searching.

“Ah well. Nothing we can do about that then. There’s a much more grand problem, maintenant!”

“Problem? What kind of problem?” asked Roark with rising concern in his voice. If Fantina thought this was a bigger problem than it could even have something to do with Team Galactic.

Finally able to explain the events that had happened to her since arriving in ‘France’, Fantina began to detail an exhaustive outline of the past months of her life with Roark listening sympathetically while Gardenia listened slightly less attentively alongside Torterra.

“And that’s when it hit me like Un Nosferalto in Victory Road! I had completely forgotten to have Mismagius undo the Confuse Ray after all this time! And it’s even worse now! It’s impossible to tell if people actually like my fashion, my ideas, my art…for me or for Saint Laurent, C’est juste terrible!”

“Why don’t you just quit then?” asked Gardenia while popping a Mikan slice into her mouth that she had grabbed while Fantina was storytelling to Roark.

“Quit?! Moi?” asked Fantina with bewilderment, but after overcoming her initial shock at hearing the word ‘quit’, she began to mull it over. While Fantina was in no way a quitter, there was no way she could remain at her current position in good consciousness.

“You don’t have to quit forever Fantina! We know how important Contest Spectaculars are to you!” comforted Roark, understanding how difficult it would be to leave such a golden opportunity to rise in the public eye at Saint Laurent.

“Fashion would be too constrictive for you anyway Fantina.” continued Roark.

“In fact, why don’t you bring Contest Spectaculars to life here in Japan? Japan is always receptive to new types of performances so it would be the perfect opportunity to start over fresh!”

“Hmm….”

Settling back on her coach as she mulled over the possibilities, feeling Drifblim’s arm resting on her head, she moved her eyes up and looked into Loony’s cute, red eyes that were shining with the same determination they had after their first contest performance.

“C’est bon! Let’s do it! Get ready Japan! Fantina and her fantastique pokemon are coming for you!”

****************************************************************************

Six Months Later, Tokyo, Fantina’s Flat

“Mmmm”

Stretching her arms out behind her, Fantina put down the book she had been reading and let her hair down for the first time in months.

Ever since quitting her job, it had been a constant rollercoaster of events as she began to plan out the first Contest Spectaculars in Japan. And though it had been more strenuous than anything she had done before, knowing the first Spectacular would be happening tomorrow she could finally allow herself to relax, even if only for a moment.

She could tell even her pokemon were tired as Drifblim was beginning to sink in the air to lie down next to her while Rotom, who had occupied a light bulb was flickering on and off. In order to convince the sponsors that these Spectaculars were worth it, she and the team had made sure they showed off the most impressive performances in their life.

Faith never wavering in each other, Fantina trusted her pokemon to perform and her pokemon trust her to guide them and together they were going to make dreams into reality starting tomorrow…

The thought of bringing Contest Spectaculars to Japan filled Fantina with a strange excitement but even this was not enough to resist the sweet call of sleep, and she closed her eyes surrounded by her pokemon and soon enough even Rotom had fallen asleep casting the room in a soft darkness.

****************************************************************************

Another six months later, Tokyo Dome

“Bonjour Mesdames et Messieurs!! I am the Fantastique Fantina and I am vraiment contente to announce the Finale of this Year’s Contest Spectaculars! Making it to the Master Class this year are six shining youths who are ready to show you everything they’ve got on tonight’s stage! Singing, Dancing, Fashion, Baking, Cooking, Mountain Climbing, Puzzles, Magic…anything is possible on stage!”

Sighing with content, Fantina floated down from the platform she was standing on, hanging from Loony’s arms and hopped gracefully to stand in front of the boys and girls who had gathered from across Japan to participate in her last Spectacular of the year.

Though it was a shame these children weren’t able to stand on stage alongside their partner pokemon, Fantina was content that she and her pokemon were able to push the stages of these children to new heights and she turned to face the cameras once more ready to let the dreams of the six stars shine in ways they had never been seen before.

“And let it begin in Trois!”

“Deux!”

“Un!”

Part 3, The Fantastic Witch of Phantasms

Fin