Bang!
The Poké Ball opened.
Azure musical staves streamed out like ribbons of light, circling the center of the stage and slowly outlining a round pink figure.
The light faded.
Blissey appeared, dressed like a muse.
Her adorable yet splendid outfit drew praise and laughter from the audience and judges alike.
Dressing up Pokémon was a basic part of Pokémon Contests. Some wore a simple hair ornament or scarf; others even had their fur and skin dyed different colors, making them look like Furfrou from the Kalos Region.
Blissey's officially approved outfit struck a chord with most of the people present. Miss Joy's eyes shone like searchlights, and she lifted both hands from her lap onto the table.
She clearly couldn't wait to see Blissey perform.
Baimu didn't disappoint them. A guitar had appeared in his hands at some point, and when Blissey gently closed her eyes and clasped her little hands before her as if about to burst into song, he began to play.
Ding~
A melody as soft as a passing breeze rang out, followed by a lilting voice.
In an instant,
everyone in the venue felt as though an unseen, gentle hand had brushed lightly past their ears. The lake of their hearts, stirred by anticipation, grew calm.
An ethereal voice...
The voice Blissey had trained so hard to develop captured nearly every heart in the audience and on the judging panel.
She wasn't a Pokémon born with a wonderful voice, like Jigglypuff or Altaria. But the experience she had gained through daily practice, combined with the sleep-inducing effect of Sing, elevated her singing to an extraordinary level.
It was like a kingfisher skimming water, like an oriole calling.
How utterly beautiful!
The audience—no, the listeners—gazed ahead in a daze, their hearts rising and falling with Blissey's