"Alright, let's hear the judges' scores!" the host announced, as Yuna and her dressed-up Pikachu awaited feedback.
The first breeder judge raised his score card. "9 points. It's very creative to dress up a Pokémon. The costume matches Pikachu's dance beautifully and really brings out its cute features."
"I'll also give a 9," the second breeder agreed. "This Pikachu has great energy. Its steps might be unusual, but they're surprisingly graceful."
The third judge chuckled. "I'm giving it a 10. Beyond the cuteness and creativity, watching Pikachu's performance makes me want to get one myself. For me, that's the best reason of all."
Two 9s and a 10—an impressive start for Yuna, and the crowd murmured with excitement at the high scores. All eyes turned to John, who seemed to be lost in thought as he regarded Yuna and her Pikachu with a slight smile.
"Hm… Yuna, what made you decide to dress up Pikachu like this?" John asked instead of immediately giving his score.
Yuna blushed, lowering her head slightly as she explained. "Well, I love trying out different outfits myself, and one day Pikachu seemed really curious when I was changing. So I thought I'd try dressing it up—and it loved it! After that, I even had some custom outfits made just for it."
"PiPikachu" the little Pokémon chirped, as if in agreement.
John's eyebrows lifted slightly, a bit envious. Wait… you changed outfits in front of it? He quickly cleared his throat, trying to stay focused. "Ahem, that's a bold idea," he said, schooling his expression. Recently, he'd noticed his own thoughts wandering, and he needed to stay professional.
John then turned back to Yuna, straightening up. "You know, this choice was not only bold, but it's actually had some interesting side effects. Did you notice that Pikachu's abilities have changed?"
"Changed?" Yuna tilted her head, puzzled. "Um… I guess it seems… cuter?"
"Not just that." John nodded. "The dance Pikachu just did is actually a move called Quiver Dance, and that final move it used—a kiss blown to the audience—is a Fairy-type move called Draining Kiss."
The crowd murmured in surprise, and John addressed them, smiling. "A lot of players might have noticed that with the recent update, we added a new type. The game's original 17 types have now become 18, with the introduction of the Fairy type."
Originally, Second World had only the first generation of Pokémon types, but with this latest update, John had added Fairy-type Pokémon and abilities. However, the Fairy type hadn't been fully integrated, so Fairy moves were rare and hard to learn. This was part of what made Idol Pikachu's debut so special.
The audience was buzzing with excitement as they processed the news.
"Yes! Fairy type is finally here, and it can actually block Dragon-type moves!"
"I saw someone using a Marill the other day, totally thrashing a Dragonite! Looks like I'm getting a Marill for the national competition. True Dragon Slayer!"
"Wait, is John secretly nerfing Dragon types? Not that I'm complaining; Dragons are OP!"
John nodded, waiting for the chatter to die down. "So, Draining Kiss is a Fairy-type move. Right now, there isn't a formal way to teach Fairy-type moves, so the fact that Pikachu picked it up might be tied to its costume. I'd say your idea worked out even better than you expected."
Yuna's eyes widened. "Wait, really, Brother John?"
John chuckled at the title. Brother John? I like that.
"That's right. Dressing Pikachu like this may have unlocked its potential for new moves," John said. Then, with a playful grin, he added, "And by the way, your Pikachu is actually male."
The audience gasped.
"What?! A male Pikachu in a dress? That's… amazing!"
"Who cares if it's male? It's adorable!"
"You guys are missing the point! This is the Fairy type! Don't you realize what this means for the national tournament?"
The conversation in the audience turned toward strategy. The introduction of Fairy-type moves was game-changing, especially since Dragon-types had been one of the most powerful types until now. Fairy-types could not only withstand Dragon moves but also counter Dragons effectively. This was bound to shake up the competitive scene.
Once the chatter settled, John held up his score card with a smile. "Given everything I've seen today, I'm giving you a 10."
The audience erupted in cheers, and John added, "For our first Beauty Contest, you've set an impressive standard. And by the way, if you ever learn to dance with Pikachu, I'm sure the audience would be even more entertained."
"Can she dance with Pikachu right now?" someone yelled excitedly.
"Oh yeah, I want to see Yuna dance too!"
"Let her try it!"
Blushing furiously, Yuna lowered her head. "I… I can't really dance," she stammered.
John chuckled, noticing her gaze flicking toward him repeatedly. Is she… stealing glances at me?
Next to him, Adam smiled and raised his score card with a "10" as well. Yuna's total score was an impressive 48 points, almost securing her a win.
"Wow! It looks like John gave a perfect 10!" the host said, taking the microphone. "A big round of applause for Yuna! And now, it's your turn to vote!"
As the crowd's applause filled the venue, Yuna and her Pikachu took a graceful bow and made their way to the rest area.
"Our second contestant has set a high bar with 48 points," the host said, watching Yuna's score display on the screen. "It's going to be a tough act to follow!"
"Definitely," his co-host agreed. "Let's see if our next contestant can rise to the challenge! Please welcome our third contestant, Ethan from Seaside City, who has chosen the Grass Field for his performance."
John's eyes lit up—finally, a contestant choosing a different venue.
The host's voice echoed across the arena, and a young trainer, Ethan, stepped onto the Grass Field. At his side was a Venusaur, and in his hands, he held a stack of Frisbees.
John quickly guessed what was coming, recognizing the potential for a skillful display.
As expected, Ethan's performance involved throwing Frisbees high into the air, with Venusaur using Razor Leaf to slice through them with precision. Each Frisbee was cleanly hit, demonstrating Venusaur's accuracy and control.
"Now that's creativity!" John thought, admiring the blend of skill and strategy. It was clear Ethan had put effort into choreographing a performance that balanced aesthetics and athleticism, showcasing Venusaur's abilities in an elegant yet powerful way.
Seeing the level of creativity and preparation these contestants brought, John couldn't help but feel impressed. This Beauty Contest was turning out to be even more engaging than he'd anticipated.
A/N: Thanks for reading, donate some power stones for extra chapters.
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Enjoy ✌️.