The Freezing Effect

Baimu and Mawile went over the sketchbook together.

"Chi-do..."

Mawile studied the drawings page by page, then nodded after a few seconds to show she understood.

Dawn and Piplup leaned over to admire the sketches. "These are really good. Do you always draw out a performance before you try it?"

"No."

Baimu shook his head and smiled. "This is just a rough draft."

"A rough draft?"

"A sequence I drew up without testing it. What Mawile actually does will be more complicated, and it might not look like this at all. Basically, it's the first version."

"The first version..."

Dawn rested her chin on her hand, thoughtful.

In some ways, she was a lot like Ash: the type to dive straight in. She planned everything in her head and adjusted it as she went.

That approach demanded a strong understanding between a Coordinator and their Pokémon.

From what Baimu had seen so far, though, it suited Dawn perfectly.

"Let's test it."

Baimu took two small fans from his pocket and handed them to Mawile.

The Pokémon Contest officials allowed props, so long as they weren't excessive. Jessie's rainbow-making machine, for instance, had crossed the line.

Her Dustox had seemed to produce a rainbow with every move, but the rainbows had actually come from a machine attached to her.

Jessie's entry had been disqualified.

Mawile took the fans and deftly snapped them open, then shut.

She had used them before. She had wanted to buy them in the first place after becoming fascinated by the kimono girls' dancing at the Ecruteak Dance Theater.

She hadn't had a chance to use them in the last contest.

"Chi-do~"

She caught Piplup gazing at her in admiration and tried to look composed, though she couldn't help feeling pleased.

"Piplup! Give them some room!"

Dawn