Pokémon: Above the Top

"To everyone here and all the viewers watching at home, after a series of dazzling performances, our very first performance competition is slowly coming to an end…

And now entering the stage is the third-to-last contestant of the event. Mark, all the way from the distant Kanto-Johto Region!

Word is he only learned about performance battles for the first time last night. So is he here to make a 'spectacle' himself? Or to… make a spectacle of himself?"

Hearing it was just a "rookie", the audience members all shook their heads, not even bothering to watch.

But the host's deliberate sarcasm actually got a few laughs, making people more curious to see how Mark would mess up.

Either way, those words certainly caught everyone's attention… except for Mark, who was fuming backstage.

"If you've got guts, get down here instead of yapping in the broadcast booth. Let's see how deep I have to stab to shut you up~"

Hmph

"Alright, let's welcome our newcomer… Mark!"

Clap clap clap...

In the end, the audience still gave Mark a few scattered, pitying claps out of basic decency.

Thankfully, Mark was thick-skinned, and had a "mysterious" confidence in himself.

He tossed his Poké Ball with what he thought was his most handsome pose. A flash of red light later, Reuniclus wobbled its way onto the stage.

As a unique Pokémon from the Unova Region, Reuniclus immediately drew attention just by appearing. Its presence alone sparked interest among the audience.

'Great start!' Mark was thrilled and immediately shouted his first command.

"Orb-Orb, use Psywave!"

"Lus~"

Reuniclus slowly brought its jelly-like arms together. A mass of purplish-pink energy rapidly gathered, then -pop- it launched it straight into the sky.

Psywave was naturally unstable, and in battle its damage could fluctuate greatly.

But because of that, unless Reuniclus deliberately restrained it, Psywave would automatically begin to disperse wildly in all directions.

In just moments, the entire dome ceiling was tinted in a wave of… purplish-pink? Backed by Reuniclus's strength, creating such an effect wasn't hard at all.

The audience looked up at the glowing energy washing over the venue.

Absolutely stunned!

'A rookie? Are you kidding?'

"Orb-Orb, now use Hidden Power!"

"Luuus~"

Thirty-two flaming red Hidden Power orbs orbited Reuniclus in a crisscrossing pattern, then were launched upward once more.

The Hidden Power burst apart. The contained Fire-type energy exploded fiercely, and instantly ignited the spread of Psywave energy across the sky.

A sea of flames!

Some of the more timid audience members shrank back and closed their eyes, nervous at the blaze spreading overhead.

But when no danger came after several seconds, they cautiously opened their eyes again, exchanged glances, and gave awkward little laughs.

"It's psychic power!"

Someone cried out, and everyone looked up again, only to see that every flame was encased in a layer of blue psychic energy.

The massive "flaming sky" covering the dome had been completely and precisely controlled… by that jelly-like Pokémon?

What incredible psychic power!

Before anyone could even react further, the sea of flames began to change again.

A huge vortex formed in the center of the blazing sky. All the flames spiraled inward like a funnel cloud, gradually descending straight into Reuniclus's jelly-like hands.

A flaming vortex!

All the fire compressed into a giant sphere, which Reuniclus then levitated above its head.

Then, Mark's voice rang out again. "Orb-Orb, charge in, Safeguard!"

"Woaaah!"

"Did that psycho just say what I think he said? He's sending that cute little Pokémon into the flames? Is he insane?!"

But by now, no one could stop Reuniclus.

Under countless shocked gazes, Reuniclus swung its jelly-like arms with resolve and dove straight into the "fireball" with a pop.

Everyone in the audience gasped. Their minds went blank, they didn't even know what to say.

Then, the fireball suddenly erupted outward. At its core, a faint mysterious blue light began to shine. It grew stronger and stronger, until it dyed all the red flames into a deep purple.

"Cluus~"

The same adorable cry from the beginning echoed once more. In the center of the fire, Reuniclus slowly emerged, completely unharmed.

Dazzling and dreamlike, as radiant as the stars!

Only when all the light faded and Reuniclus wobbled back to Mark's side did the audience seem to snap out of their trance.

Thunderous applause and wild cheers erupted. People stood up and shouted at the top of their lungs.

Gradually, the cheering grew unified and rhythmic, so powerful that even the host couldn't get a word in.

"Mark! Orb-Orb! Mark! Orb-Orb! Mark! Orb-Orb…"

The chants lasted over a full minute before slowly dying down.

Mark was just as overwhelmed, dazed by the synchronized cheers. He kept waving nonstop, his smile frozen on his face.

"Who would've thought? This so-called rookie Trainer just delivered such a brilliant performance…

Now it seems I'm the one who was trying to show off. So Mark… my apologies! You're truly an outstanding Performer!"

The host's words riled up the crowd again, and his straightforward apology immediately won over the audience's approval.

'This host isn't just some trash-talking loudmouth, he's actually decent!' they thought.

Even as Mark stepped off the stage, he still couldn't believe he had received such overwhelming applause and cheers.

Even Sato had looked at him with surprise and gave his shoulder a congratulatory pat.

At that moment, Mark felt like he was chilling in the middle of a blazing summer, holding an icy-cool Smoochum in his arms: relief straight to the soul.

The truth was, Mark had been suppressed for too long. So long, in fact, that even he had forgotten, he was once considered a "genius" Trainer in others' eyes.

…It was just that, compared to Joseph and Sato, he had always felt one step behind.

So now, when Mark was suddenly hit with so much applause and recognition, he was stunned.

"Boss… all that cheering… was really for me?" Mark asked, needing to confirm it again and again.

"It wasn't for you."

"Huh?"

Sato gave a soft smile. "It was for you and Orb-Orb, as a duo. A very impressive performance."

Mark blinked. Once he confirmed Sato meant it, he suddenly gave a weird little grin. "So… does that mean you're going to lose to me this time? hahaha…heh…HEHEHE"

"…We'll see. That little bag of tricks you've got still has a long way to go." Sato shook his head and brushed past Mark, slowly making his way toward the stage.

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150 PS=Chap