It was almost noon.
The long-awaited Lisia made her dazzling entrance.
The bright, youthful girl stepped out with her right arm raised high.
"Hey, everyone~! Good afternoon~! It's me, the Pokémon Contest idol, Miracle Star☆Lisia~!"
The crowd erupted!
Those few words were like a shot of adrenaline, instantly reviving the weary spectators.
"Lujia!"
"Lujia! Lujia!"
The fervent fans roared so loudly that they soon drowned out everyone else. Their chants filled the venue.
"Geh?"
Shiny Gengar jolted awake from its doze and looked around in alarm. Seeing swathes of spectators in strange clothes performing strange dances, it looked utterly lost.
Wh-what was going on?
At the same moment, Hoopa woke up in its arms and shouted excitedly, "It's Xiao Lu!"
"Not Xiao Lu! Lujia! Lisia!"
Someone nearby seemed to hear Hoopa and stopped to correct it.
Hoopa blinked and dutifully repeated, "Xiao Lu!"
"Lujia! Lisia!"
"Xiao Lu!"
"Lujia!"
"Xiao Lu!"
"Lu... Forget it! Call her whatever you want!"
The person waved a hand in exasperation.
Hoopa giggled like a victorious general, then spun around on the spot, shouting, "Xiao Lu! Xiao Lu! Xiao Lu!"
Meray swiftly pulled Hoopa into her arms and pinched its cheeks, twisting them back and forth with a stern look.
Barza, meanwhile, nodded apologetically to the spectators around them. They looked at Hoopa strangely, but most said nothing.
Hoopa meant no harm, and it was fairly familiar with Lisia, even if the feeling was one-sided. But who knew what her fans would make of that nickname?
Fortunately, there weren't many die-hard Lisia fans near the seats Baimu had given them.
Just then,
the background music began.
At center stage, Lisia tossed a Poké Ball high into the air. A burst of dazzling light became Altaria, whose melodious cry rang out.
She placed three fingers beside her