It didn't take long.
Dawn appeared on the giant screen, clad in her elegant light-blue gown. With a surge of confidence, she raised her right hand and tossed her Poké Ball into the air.
"Pachirisu, spotlight!"
Pop!
White light burst forth, and two sleek, aqua-blue ribbons of light drifted upward, spiraling around shimmering white specks of light.
The aqua bands intertwined and fluttered, eventually forming a massive, glowing bow in mid-air.
Pachirisu tumbled through the center of the bow. The moment it stopped spinning, it raised its tiny paws and gave a spirited cry to the audience.
"Chi!"
Bang!
Countless bolts of blue electricity surged outward at its call, instantly shattering the blue ribbons into a massive, magnificent blue firework display!
Pop-pop-pop-pop—
A rain of fireworks filled the sky—a sight of pure beauty. Pachirisu used its soft, fluffy tail as a cushion to buffer its descent, landing perfectly and gracefully.
"Pachi!"
It waved its little paws with a grin.
"Look at that! Pachirisu's electricity perfectly utilized the Ball Capsule effect!" Vivian praised.
The audience broke into cheers. This was far more engaging than the purely interactive performances from earlier; the visual effects alone were enough to satisfy.
Dawn's smile widened as she issued her next command.
"Sweet Kiss!"
"Pachi~"
Pachirisu blew a kiss into the air. Several hearts flew out and rapidly expanded. It then began swinging its large tail, batting the hearts high into the sky!
Boing~ Boing~ Boing~
Accompanied by adorable sound effects, the giant hearts split into a multitude of tiny hearts, drifting upward like balloons until they filled the sky.
"Now, use Discharge!"
"Pachi!"
The blue pouches on Pachirisu's cheeks crackled with electricity. It tilted its head back and shrieked, sending thick bolts of blue-white lightning surging toward the heavens!
"Is that—"
Vivian's eyes lit up as the dancing snakes of lightning caught up with the hearts.
The crackling current shattered the tiny hearts instantly, turning them into a multicolored rain of sparks.
Boom-boom-boom—
But the performance wasn't over.
As Pachirisu continued to release electricity, the sky-wide lightning formed a network of branches, gradually shaping itself into a shimmering blue "World Tree".
For a moment, even the leaves at the tips seemed to take form, each glowing "leaf" of lightning flickering like a lantern.
Paired with the exploding fireworks in the background, it revealed an indescribable beauty. In that instant, it was a forest of fire and silver flowers under a starry sky!
The audience was stunned by the scenery, their faces lighting up with instinctive smiles.
After a few moments, the fireworks faded, and the tree of lightning receded back into Pachirisu's body.
Dawn and Pachirisu bowed in thanks.
The stadium erupted in thunderous applause, with waves of cheers and screams echoing through the hall—a clear testament to how much they loved the show.
Mr. Contesta had a look of pure delight, as if he had just watched a show he didn't want to end.
"A marvelous performance. Pachirisu's cuteness and mastery over electricity were showcased to the fullest. You could see the joy in its every movement, and that fluffy tail was utilized brilliantly. Though only two moves were used, the combination successfully—"
Before he could finish, the broadcast studio cut his microphone.
It wasn't out of disrespect, but rather because once Mr. Contesta got started on a critique, he could go on forever.
Beside him, the dapper Mr. Sukizo picked up his mic, unbuttoned his collar, and leaned back with effortless style.
"Re... mark... able—!!"
A lion-like roar tore from his mouth.
Though it was only one word, it carried the weight of his absolute adoration for the performance.
Dawn looked a bit embarrassed; she had never encountered a judge quite like him before. Finally, it was Nurse Joy's turn.
"A truly moving performance. Pachirisu's charm has been deeply etched into my mind!"
She remained as dignified as ever, whether facing a Coordinator or a Trainer with an injured Pokémon.
"Judges, your scores please~" Vivian gestured.
Beep-beep-beep.
9.8 / 9.8 / 9.8
A total of 29.4 points. While a hair's breadth away from perfect, the score left Dawn immensely satisfied.
"Pachi!" Pachirisu looked at her excitedly. The two shared a smile and a high-five.
...
...
Waiting Room
Kashiwagi welcomed Dawn back with a round of applause.
"Incredible! Pachirisu's performance was nothing short of exquisite, and it didn't drag at all."
Many Coordinators used a vast number of moves to create a flashier effect, but that often led to longer routines and a higher chance of error.
Kashiwagi personally preferred a more concise beauty. In his own designs, he strictly limited his Pokémon to three moves; if the routine was too short, he used other methods to extend it.
Like dancing.
"Thank you~" Dawn was beaming, clutching Pachirisu while Piplup trailed beside her.
In Sinnoh, Contests generally don't use a scoring system, meaning contestants often have to wait hours in suspense to find out if they've made the cut.
In Dawn's eyes, Hoenn's scoring system was a great, encouraging rule.
As of right now, she had the highest score in the room. Unless a swarm of 29-plus scores appeared, she was a lock for the next round.
"Good luck, it's up to you next!" Dawn cheered for him.
Kashiwagi gave a helpless shrug.
"You're cheering a bit early. Looking at the order, it'll probably be an hour before my turn."
"Eh—" Dawn hadn't expected him to be so far down the list.
In large Contests, going early is usually an advantage; the judges aren't tired yet and are in a better headspace.
With the hot weather and the long event, human judges tend to be stingier with high scores as the day drags on.
When Kashiwagi saw his slot, he almost thought his second Contest run was doomed. However, he believed Mawile could bring a fresh surprise to the weary judges.
"Are you hungry? It's lunch time, and I brought some food," Kashiwagi said to Dawn.
Dawn's eyes lit up, then she looked a bit bashful. It felt a little heartless to dig into lunch while her friend hadn't even competed yet.
"Go ahead and eat. I made it, so someone has to. Besides, I'm not nervous. All I have to do is show the judges the hard work Mawile has put in these past few days. That's all." Kashiwagi laughed easily.
Seeing his relaxed state, Dawn happily began eating the sandwiches he'd prepared. Piplup and Pachirisu followed suit, burying their faces in their portions.
"Pip-lup, pip-lup..."
"Pachi-pachi..."
Kashiwagi released Mawile and asked if she wanted a pre-match snack. She shook her head decisively.
"Ma-wile~"
It was best to dance on an empty stomach.