novelraw Chapter 758: Triple Princess Satellite Contest! Meloetta’s Performance
Chapter 758: Triple Princess Satellite Contest! Meloetta’s Performance
Chapter 758: Triple Princess Satellite Contest! Meloetta’s PerformanceOn the second day of the festival came Bygone City’s preliminary "Triple Princess Satellite Contest."
Newcomers could debut in the preliminary performance contest, and the winner would be awarded a Princess Golden Key.
A performer who collected three Golden Keys could challenge the master-level "Triple Princess Contest," and the victor would claim the crown of "Kalos Queen."
Serena and Musashi were both debuting as newcomers.
Teacher Lu was very curious to see what performance styles these two rookies would display.
The morning after watching the fireworks, Master Fu invited Teacher Lu and Cynthia to visit his gym.
From the outside, the Bygone Gym looked like a luxuriant old tree, with a tower built inside its trunk and treehouses attached outside. One could ride an elevator or pull on the vines to climb.
To demonstrate the vines’ toughness, the eighty-year-old Master Fu slung a large pair of shears on his back, grabbed a vine, and climbed up to the third level of the treehouse.
Lu Ye and Cynthia expressed their amazement, then rode Latias and Garchomp up.
From outside the treehouse the view opened onto a sunny grassy meadow. Sunflora smiled in clusters, Oddish, Victreebel, Jumpluff, and Exeggutor wandered in small groups.Lu Ye sat in a vine chair outside the treehouse, gazed across the pasture, and could not help but praise it.
Cynthia, wearing a black trench coat, said, "Sitting here to read a book would be a unique pleasure."
"I, for one, am quite fond of reading, but buying books piles up like a mountain while reading them feels like pulling threads," Master Fu said.
Master Fu arrived carrying a steaming tray of tea, set it on the low table between three vine chairs, and smiled as he said, "Freshly picked this morning, please try some."
"Thank you for the trouble," Cynthia replied politely.
"Nonsense, it was my idea to host you," Master Fu said, hands behind his back, stroking his goatee with a smile. "By the way, Lu Ye, could I borrow your Blastoise for a bit? I want it to water the pasture."
"Oh, of course."
Turtwig and Master Fu were old friends as well. Lu Ye handed over a Dive Ball.
Cynthia glanced at Master Fu’s retreating figure and said thoughtfully, "Did you forget to remind Master Fu about something?"
"It's just watering..." Lu Ye stopped mid-sentence.
On the pasture outside the treehouse, Master Fu’s small figure appeared. He pressed the Dive Ball’s switch and a red light shot out.
Master Fu called out with force, "Turtle, water this area, use Water Gun—"
"Blastoise!" Blastoise braced and two cannon barrels on its shell glowed with a deep, cold light.
Bang, bang!
Roaring columns of water launched, washing across the pasture. Viewed from above, with Master Fu and Blastoise at the center, the great irrigation spread over several kilometers of grass.
The water stream smelled of the refreshing Purification Water Drop and carried the tea fragrance of the Revival Herb.
Oddish and Victreebel squinted their eyes, Gloom revealed a cheeky grin.
Master Fu was stunned: "This job… finished so quickly…"
"Blastoise." Blastoise casually gave a thumbs-up.
When it comes to farming, I’m a professional!
Lu Ye and Cynthia sat on the treehouse’s third level and exchanged a look.
"That was fortunate."
"Why's that?" Cynthia asked.
"If Master Fu had commanded 'Hydro Pump'…" Lu Ye said gravely, "I would have had to compensate him for an entire pasture."
The morning passed in leisurely tea drinking, and Master Fu chatted with the two about the duties of a league champion.
"A champion’s work must be very hard," Master Fu said with emotion, "Champion Karine balancing work and show business is truly admirable."
Cynthia: "In the absence of a legendary Pokémon incident, a champion’s affairs can be entrusted to trusted Elite Four members."
Lu Ye: "You’d have to ask the previous champion…"
Oh right, I am the previous champion… huh, asking Champion Shangren wouldn’t be wrong either…
The afternoon was the "Triple Princess Satellite Contest." Cynthia, lacking interest, returned to Masago Town to study mythology.
Teacher Lu would serve as a judge and headed to Bygone City’s glamorous venue.
The festival atmosphere persisted. Visitors entered the hall with excitement on their faces.
They hadn’t come just for the newcomers’ performances.
More importantly, rumors claimed that a champion would attend the Bygone City "Triple Princess Satellite Contest!"
Would it be Karine or Wallace?
The former had served as a guest at the master-level performances and had appeared in newcomer stages before.
Whenever Karine appeared, hordes of fans would follow, boosting the contest’s popularity.
Historically, Wallace had once appeared at a performance event, promoting friendly exchanges between performers and coordinators!
Whichever champion appeared, seeing their radiant presence alone was worth the price of admission!
Seating for Bygone City’s "Triple Princess Satellite Contest" hit a record high.
Media, tourists, and passersby crowded around the venue.
A luxury car stopped at the red carpet, spotlights flashed, and a silver-haired woman wearing sunglasses stepped out.
Her air was sharp and efficient;
there was no sign of age-induced decline, and her nasolabial lines gave her a stern look.
This contest judge, Ms. Yatsu, was indeed famed in the industry for being unsentimental.
Yatsu had groomed the "Kalos Queen" Ai as a student and had herself won that title, making her a respected senior.
She attended the preliminary newcomer contest because a champion had agreed to judge. The organizing committee took this event seriously and aimed for a high-standard contest.
"Ms. Yatsu, can you tell us which rookie you’re eyeing?"
"Hello, there's a rumor a champion will visit, is that true, Ms. Yatsu?"
Ignoring the noisy media outside the press line, Ms. Yatsu walked coolly into the venue and whispered into her Bluetooth, "The media can stay at the front entrance;
let Mr. Lu in."
Among the current league champions, the youngest one was the East Region champion, Lu Ye! (Alice had not yet won.)
Although rumors said he had retired, this champion still enjoyed immense popularity across regions.
That was partly due to his handsome looks, rivaling Pokémon Hollywood male stars.
But more importantly, it was his powerful strength, exquisite tactics, and outstanding performance across many fields!
Cooking, breeding, business, and even coordinating…
Yatsu inhaled deeply, feeling respect as she pushed open the large door before her.
Behind the door in the viewing hall sat the rumored champion—
Yatsu’s pupils contracted.
On the sofa by the floor-to-ceiling windows a broad figure sat, surveying the crowd.
He slowly turned, the sofa rotating with him, revealing a sharp, angular face.
He cradled a lazy Sylveon in his arms, its fur as white as snow, eyes deep blue as gems, ribbon flowing at its bows.
Yatsu instinctively held her breath.
Though she had judged performers for years, she had never seen any Sylveon more beautiful than this one.
"Ms. Yatsu," the man smiled, "a pleasure, please sit."
"Mr. Lu Ye."
Yatsu grew more respectful, no longer staring at the Sylveon. She sat in the single chair beside him and said with deference, "I heard there are rookies you favor in this preliminary contest?"
"Yes," Lu Ye said with a slight sigh.
Serena and Musashi were both debuting, but only one could win the Princess Golden Key.
As a judge I can only guarantee there’ll be no foul play.
Ultimately, it will be the on-site audience vote that decides the winner.
Musashi has a big heart;
even if she loses she’ll recover quickly.
As for Serena… Lu Ye shook his head. Let’s wait and see.
Yatsu guessed inwardly.
A rookie worth a champion’s attention…
First, eliminate Musashi and Serena.
Both are debuting;
if their performances cause no accidents, that would already be a blessing!
…
"Serena is so beautiful!"
Bonnie lifted her little chin, eyes sparkling, praising.
"Thank you, Bonnie~"
Serena smiled softly. Today she wore a pink princess gown, her chestnut hair tied into a high ponytail with a ribbon. She cuddled a cute Vulpix.
Staff called the contestants to gather backstage, and the well-dressed performers walked together. Ash and the others took their seats as audience members.
Serena grew nervous, hugged Vulpix tighter, and whispered, "It'll be fine. Even if I have to eliminate an opponent…"
"Even if you eliminate an opponent, you must not be eliminated!" a sharp voice cut in.
Serena looked up in surprise.
A beautiful red-haired woman in a purple, luxurious dress held a purple crystal fan, looking very haughty.
She reminded Serena of a wickedly beautiful queen from a fairy tale…
"Out of the way, little girl, let the Kalos Queen pass first." Musashi swept her skirt and walked toward the backstage.
Serena inexplicably relaxed, eyes flickering as she hugged Vulpix tighter.
Ash and the others were all looking forward to my performance;
I must work even harder…
Inside the main venue, low murmurs filled the dim, packed hall.
Before the performances officially began, the audience held voting sticks.
Pressing the button for a contestant’s number would release that contestant’s corresponding color.
James sat in the audience wearing a casual jacket and said seriously, "Musashi will definitely make it."
"Musashi is very strong on the performance stage," Meowth said with burning eyes.
Elsewhere, Ash and friends listened attentively.
"I’m so excited, Pikachu."
"Pika~"
"I heard a champion might show up. Could it be Wallace?" Clemont guessed, "After all, coordinators and performers share the same roots."
Swoosh, swoosh!
Suddenly the stage lights blazed bright.
Host Pierre strode onstage in a dazzling outfit, holding a staff and doffing his hat: "Good evening, everyone, welcome to the performance site of the Triple Princess Satellite Contest!"
The audience erupted in enthusiastic cheers as the highly anticipated moment approached.
Pierre spread his arms.
"Now, please welcome our mysterious guest judge for this Triple Princess Satellite Contest!"
The elevator platform rose slowly.
"This kind of entrance—"
James and Meowth looked up and daydreamed of Sinnoh scenes: Wallace in a white robe appearing with Milotic.
"Could it be that guy?"
But soon James and Meowth widened their eyes in surprise.
It was not that figure at all—what rose on the platform was a Meloetta!
Under the lights Meloetta’s sea-green hair and ocean-like eyes shimmered, the green gem on its forehead glowing as it smiled faintly.
Meloetta stood slender and delicate on the stage, one hand on its chest, slightly bowing.
"Melo~"
Needing no adornment,
this melody Pokémon, by virtue of graceful posture and ethereal voice alone, captured the hearts of the audience!
Ash said in a daze, "That Pokémon is…"
Clemont’s eyes widened: "Could the champion they mentioned be—"
"Teacher Lu?!"
The audience soon noticed a man in black stepping out from between the curtains.
He wore a black tuxedo, stood straight, expression calm, like a conductor walking to lead a grand symphony.
Every move radiated a powerful confidence, the glamorous aura of a coordinator.
He held a Pokémon Flute behind his back, a gift from Bamboo Lan.
At the sound of the instrument’s beautiful tone, even a sleeping Snorlax might involuntarily awaken.
The audience on all three sides held their breath and stared at the performer on stage.
When he walked to the center and bowed to the audience,
the hall fell into uncontrollable excitement, then burst into applause!
Behind the second-floor window, Ms. Yatsu said, "Won’t this put too much pressure on the contestants?"
"Rather, it will inspire them," Melisa said with a smile, "This is the art goddess Meloetta’s performance, after all."
Teacher Lu and Meloetta’s performance formally began.
Under Meloetta’s artistic resonance, Lu Ye played the Pokémon Flute to accompany Meloetta’s song.
Meloetta sang while projecting illusionary lights that formed a giant golden orb.
The audience looked up to see the golden orb slowly roll toward the stands. They reached out to lift and pass the orb along.
Bang.
When the melody reached the chorus, the orbs shattered, and fireworks bloomed in the dimmed hall!
More golden orbs appeared, and the audience fell into a frenzy, lifting, touching, and breaking the orbs.
Golden beams of melody crisscrossed the stage.
"The stage effects are incredible!"
"Teacher Lu must be an old rhythm-game player."
"Watch this, girls, let Teacher Lu show you how it's done!"
The first half of the song was the "Awaken Snorlax Song," which made people tap along to the beat.
The latter half seamlessly transitioned, via synchronized chords, into the "Ancient Song."
For a moment, the dazzling Evolution Light blossomed on stage.
The audience roared again. There is nothing more beautiful than the Evolution Light!
Meloetta shifted into a dance stance like a passionate flamenco dancer, tapping and spinning across the stage.
The audience’s emotions were pushed to a peak.
Under the control of Psychic, Meloetta floated, spreading its arms with both strength and beauty—
With a heavy accent, the performance concluded perfectly!
The audience erupted;
everyone applauded, and subsequent performances suddenly felt less important.
Backstage, the young girls stared at the big screen in a trance.
Meloetta and Teacher Lu’s performance… flawless!
This was precisely why Meloetta was sought after by all artists.
Like a muse goddess—the trainers recognized by Meloetta would never be failed by art!
"Why is there only a Kalos Queen and no Kalos King?"
"Strongly demand Teacher Lu become a performer!"
"As a retired champion, I can only debut as an idol now. (laughs)"
Behind the windows, Ms. Yatsu could not hide her amazement.
This kind of performance could only be arranged by a few masters like Wallace or Adam.
Watching this show live would greatly benefit the rookies backstage.
The artistic resonance left by Meloetta on the stage, that intangible "atmosphere," would help them deliver better performances.
Applause from the audience continued without dying down, and Yatsu joined in clapping.
For the first curtain call Teacher Lu did not leave the stage immediately.
After bowing again, he slowly exited to the audience’s laughter.
Host Pierre returned to the stage.
"Now— I hereby announce that this Triple Princess Satellite Contest is officially begun!"