Lin Mo pressed the button on the draw machine in the contestant passage. A ticket marked "47" slowly slid out.
He put the ticket away and led the two little Vulpix into the waiting room.
Plenty of contestants were already there. Some groomed their Pokémon, while others quietly rehearsed commands. A mix of nerves and excitement hung in the air.
The large screen in the center of the waiting room had begun showing a live feed from the arena.
In less than half an hour, the audience seats were packed.
Even the standing area at the back was crowded. Colorful balloons and glow sticks swayed above the crowd like a flowing rainbow.
"Vulpix..."
Seeing the dense crowd on the screen, Fire Vulpix trembled slightly on Lin Mo's lap.
Little Ice Vulpix pressed close beside Fire Vulpix, her paws instinctively clutching Lin Mo's clothes. The bell around her neck gave an occasional faint jingle.
"Don't be afraid. When you go onstage, just watch me and follow my commands. Don't worry about anyone else."
Lin Mo gently stroked their heads, keeping his voice soft.
Just then, cheerful music burst through the arena.
On the waiting room's screen, a line of round Marill ran onto the stage. Every one of them wore a grass skirt.
They wiggled their hips left, swished their tail balls right, and occasionally jumped in unison to the lively beat. They were adorable.
Leading the dance was the beautiful woman in the floral dress who had posed for photos beneath the coconut tree a few days earlier. She swung her arms along with the Marill, her smile bright and radiant.
"Wow! They're so cute!"
Someone in the waiting room let out a quiet cry.
"They're so perfectly in sync! They're adorable!"
The audience cheered, clapping and whistling. The somewhat