Carmen wasted no time in signing both herself and Rose up for the beauty contest. She was brimming with the utmost enthusiasm at yet another prospect to gain prestige but Rose was less concerned with such small matters. This was simply a more interesting way to pass the time than standing around; in fact she was more preoccupied with wondering about what her other friends were up to. Sia had to keep gently prodding her owner with a claw to bring her back to reality.

            “You seem busy,” Carmen joked as she walked ahead. Rose blinked in surprise and realised she had been unknowingly following the woman down a long immaculately polished corridor, a small ticket in her left hand. She wasn’t sure how it had got there.

            “Oh, I’m sorry” the woman continued, tightening her ponytail. “Did I disturb your train of thought?”

            Rose slipped the ticket from her hand into a pocket in her shirt and looked up at Carmen.

            “Well…” she began, then after a moment’s pause she continued with,

 

            “It’s ok. I wasn’t thinking about anything new.”

 

            Sia heaved a tiny sigh as she peered over Rose’s shoulder. She could tell her owner was somewhat concerned, although she wasn’t sure what about. Carmen, on the other hand, didn’t seem phased at all by the expression upon her companion’s face. In fact she had now drawn up to a bay window and was casually peering into it.

            “Hellooo?”

            “You hollered, ma’am?” a trivial voice emanated from somewhere inside the cramped room.

            “Me and my friend are here to enter for the Beauty Pageant!” Carmen replied in shrill tones, waving her own slip of paper in one hand while trying to see where the figure was who had spoken.

            “I expected as much,” the same voice remarked dully. Rose edged closer, feigning curiosity, as the sounds of rustling paper could be heard from behind one of the tall bookshelves. There then resounded a loud clunk as a drawer was irritably slammed shut and a stunted figure emerged clutching a thick black book. Carmen struggled to hold in a childish burst of amusement as the dwarfish bald-headed man scrambled onto a stool in front of the window and opened the book with regimental precision.

            “Your identity cards please,” he stated, removing a small pair of glasses from the front pocket of his pinstripe shirt and placing them on the end of his snub nose. Carmen was quick to oblige, placing her offering upon the window ledge for the man to examine and then snatching Rose’s card so that it could be approved also.

            “Mm-hmm…” was the absent acknowledgement. “Ok…now state your sizes, and be quick about it”

            “Sizes?” Rose spluttered.

            “That is correct,” the man replied dryly. “Saves me fetching out three different measurements of the same costume.

 

            Now don’t keep me waiting.”

 

            “Costume?” Rose repeated in semi-alarm. “I thought this was a beauty pageant, not a theatre production!”

            Carmen looked at her and gave a slight chuckle. “Heh. Same thing. They always expect you to flaunt some fancy gear. Surely that isn’t going to put you off entering, is it?”

            A wide smile spread across Rose’s face.

            “Hardly” she replied. “It’s just making things sound a lot more promising”

 

***~~***~~***~~***~~***

 

            “The next Ahnloka?”

 

            Caley’s eyes were wide with intent now. Only moments ago he had been overwhelmed with the immensity of Teiresias’ proclamation. Even now it echoed in the back of his mind as he awaited further fulfilment. But Teiresias had more to add - he reached into the satchel that was on the grass beside him and brought out a similar book to the one Kazira owned, flicking through the pages until he found what he was looking for.

            "The need for another Ahnloka is spoken of in the Sabai Prophecy," he explained. "Something transmitted to a great Agrarian Seer called Gado Sabai from Tajiri, via Mew, 3900 years ago. It reads:

 

‘cross boundaries from what eyes can see

A force takes all insufferably

No sanctuary has walls to keep

And even guardians shall weep

For it is beyond where freedom lies

In a subtle stranger’s eyes

Within the darkness, light is found

Light shall consume the dark around

 

Three times the boundaries shall be crossed

Three times must cease unreasoned pain

Three times to heal what was once lost

Until it need not heal again

First ancient stone that bring forth life

Which anger overthrows

And kings shall search for means of assurance

The shadowed spirit grows

 

A tainted virtue cultivates false trust

Devouring its own children

From its hands fall empty beasts

It strikes at Tajiri’s chosen ones

Seeking to feed on the peak of constituents

But its power will cease at the point of attack

As the Nexi of the seven continents unite

The Aura will flow, the channel shall sing

And Ahnloka Omega shall open the door to salvation

 

            "Tainted virtue..." Caley murmured softly. What Cew had said to him before it vanished was somehow beginning to make sense.           

            “The first fulfilment of the Sabai Prophecy occurred at the fall of Pokemopolis,” Teiresias explained, showing the pages of the book to the trainer.

            "The second fulfilment happened just twenty nine years ago. Now I feel the third fulfilment is almost upon us. Undoubtedly it is Team Rocket that is the 'tainted virtue' depicted within its texts, and stopping it requires a uniting of minds that has not been seen for millennia. For the past Ahnloka did not complete his task alone...

 

            ...neither can you."

 

            The trainer let out a tiny breath of disbelief.

            “I…” he began. “I can’t believe this is happening to me.”

            “Oh, it’s not just happening to you, Caley,” Teiresias told him. “Other Cho'moken-bearing individuals across the world shall soon feel the exact same shock and scepticism about this new responsibility that has been placed upon their shoulders. Those others are the Nexi, elementally-gifted youths with connections to Fire, Water, Forest, Earth, Wind and Electrical energy. These figures will have been instinctively drawn to the constituents as the time of realm alignment drew nearer, but it has been our duty to reveal to them the reason why.”

“And the constituents are...?” Caley inquired, utterly stunned by what his companion had divulged so far.

“The towers that will serve as the points of communication,” Teiresias explained. “They are sacred locations that hold the strongest connection to the world's energies that surround us. Each one has its own intricate story, and the Tomary Tower happens to be the constituent that bears the highest presence amongst them all. You see it has been prophesied in that very tower, Ahnloka Omega will call upon its continental allies to combine their energies before reaching out to Tajiri once again.”

 Caley bit his lip to stop his jaw from dropping open. He needed to confirm what he had first heard wasn't just a slip of his imagination.

“And you’re saying…” he began uneasily. “I’m…the Ahnloka Omega?”

 “That is correct,”  Teiresias nodded slowly. “The other Nexi are relying on you to make this journey. Why did you think the yearning to see the Tomary Tower was so great?

 

The time to make a difference is drawing close, and you have the task of bringing all together as one.”

 

Caley slowly released the breath he had been keeping in for some time. He hadn’t realised it until now but Teiresias was right. He had been longing to visit the far side of Tatto, to explore the inner mystery within the tallest building in the continent. In fact he had been so obsessed with it that at one point his mother had taken him to the Trancia Port doctor out of worry for her son’s health. It had been the sole reason his becoming a Pokémon trainer; to gain access to the tower by means of obtaining the required gym badges. He hadn’t been concerned with the other continents’ battle leagues and contests - there had been only one focus.  But he hadn’t really thought anything of it. He’d just considered it to be due to the fact he was innately curious about the Tomary Tower’s secrets.

Several minutes passed. The seer and the trainer sat side by side with their Pokémon, gazing out at the aquiline sky in faraway acceptance.

“I understand it must be hard for you to take in all at once,” Teiresias murmured. “Being thrown from the simple task of training into something like this.”

“Actually…” Caley began. “I’m pretty used to it by now. This isn’t the first major event that’s rocked my life since my journey began. First I discovered Team Rocket’s Pokémon enhancement scheme, then I found I had psychic powers. So I guess I’ve had a while to get used to it. Only now I’ve discovered I’m not the messenger to the person destined to help save life as we know it.

 

I am that person…”      

 

Teiresias made a noise of acknowledgement as Caley stood up.

“No more of this meandering,” he stated firmly. “If the Tomary Tower is the place I have to be, then I shall go there directly. Surely if the fate of the world is at stake there are ways I can enter the chamber without those badges.”

“Maybe so, but this journey bears a lot more significance than you imagine,” Teiresias remonstrated. “Your abilities must be honed, therefore you have to let things take their course. But do not fear - your inner self alone will know when the time is right.”

He was slightly confused at this statement but Caley did not object to the seer’s words. Instead he put on an expression of determination.

“I promise you,” he began. “I’m not going to let anyone down.”

“You are strong, Caley Wilson," Teiresias smiled. "But it is your bonds of friendship that make you an even stronger man.”

“Bwuh?” Caley spluttered, alarmed at Teiresias’ unexpected referral to the others. But he seemed unconcerned.

“Do not forget your companions. They are invaluable, both as confidants and fighters. That is all I have to tell you.

 

Now I must leave.”

 

Kota cast Caley a sideward glance as the seer made his way down the hillside, accompanied by the Xatu.

I knew there was something unique about you, Caley, he murmured in reverence.

“I’m…the Key…” the trainer repeated in disbelief. “This is all so…crazy”

 He crumpled to the grass and simply lay there, face to the clouds.

“Crazy yet understandable. Somehow it seems to answer all these unexplained questions in my head. I feel this sense of twisted excitement; like I’ve been longing for a purpose.”

And what a purpose… Kota remarked. I wonder who the other gifted ones are.

“Well whomever they are,“ Caley exclaimed, standing up rapidly. “They’re depending on me...just like Teiresias said. So I can’t let them down. I can't let anyone down. 

Tomorrow I won’t fail”

 

***~~***~~***~~***~~***

 

            “Neesee? Why didn’t you tell me Errol was Meowth?”

 

            Denise chewed slowly on her tortilla and gave Mondo the occasional guilty glance as he frowned at the floor. Morris and Neville were busy chasing after their Chinchou test subject, and so had no interest in the conversation whatsoever.

            “I didn’t want to reveal a secret that wasn’t mine to tell” she sighed.

            “But we’re friends!” Mondo exclaimed.

            “I know…” Denise replied miserably. “And if it had been me I’d have told you in an instant. But this is Errol we’re talking about”

            “Yeah …” Mondo groaned.

            “Now do you realise why he acts so weirdly toward you?” Denise asked

            “Degrading treatment, right?” Mondo returned. His friend nodded. “Hey, I was younger then!” the figure exclaimed. “I didn’t understand the true intelligence of Pokémon. Even in recent weeks I've learnt so much. Take Li, for instance - she was smart, not to mention considerate enough to write us a message before she left Pyra Laboratory!"

            Mondo lowered his head at this point.

            "It was all so abrupt, though," he sighed. "Somehow I feel responsible for her disappearing. If only there was some way of knowing where she ran off too. And why."

            "Actually..." Denise began to smile, reaching for her belt. "I may well be able to help you on that one."

            As Mondo watched with a confused expression, Denise pressed the release button on the D-Ball in her hand and unleashed a white glow onto the floor beside her. Seconds later, the smiling yet noticeably exhausted face of Li was poised a little distance from Mondo, together with the rest of her. Mondo uttered a cry of joy and the Tisker leapt into his arms in response, the two sharing a tight embrace. Soon afterward, the young man pulled back with a look of alarm.

            "What happened to her?" he spluttered, motioning to the hastily-covered gash in the mecha Pokemon's side.

            "Li got hurt while trying to help me save my little brother back in Mayni City," Denise explained sadly. Since ordinary Pokemon Centers would have no idea how to heal a Tisker, I was forced to do a temporary patch up job until better means of fixing Li came up.

            "So she decided to go off with you guys," Mondo smiled, almost admiringly. There was a note of sadness in his voice, however, as if he was disappointed that Li would prefer the company of his friends as opposed to himself.

            "For your sake, Mondo," Denise insisted. "Errol told me everything. Li found him and Cory-"

            "Cory?" Mondo butted in. "You mean that C0P1 project Pokémon?"

            "Yes," Denise confirmed. "Anyway, Li has been wanting to make you feel better so badly. That's why she joined us - to see if she could learn more about the world, things that might help you to understand yours."

            "Really?" Mondo blinked, turning to Li. The Tisker responded with a nod and loud purring. "That's so thoughtful of you, Li! In which case, you in particular may be very interested to see what I've been working on lately."

            "Trii?" the mecha Pokemon tilted her head to one side, before Mondo put her carefully on the floor.

            "And while we're at it, lets see about getting you fixed up properly," he grinned.

 

            "C'mon Denise, I bet you'll be blown away by this too!"

 

            “Here we are,” Morris announced as he guided his younger companions toward another piece of intricate apparatus. “This, my dear, is the Cyberspace Simulation Module. Now before I start explaining the properties of such marvellous equipment I’d better tell you what cyberspace is, hm?”

            “No need” Denise exclaimed happily. “I know all about it! Cyberspace is a corporeal, mostly misunderstood dimension theorized to have limitless potential. It was discovered a little over thirty years ago by a group of Orrean scientists who had been researching into easier ways of transporting and storing Pokémon and other items. A pocket of Cyberspace, known as Netspace, is now the most frequently used method of data transfer in existence!”

            “You sure know your stuff, Rita” Neville chuckled as Morris blinked in surprise, noticing the small metallic shape positioned uncertainly behind Mondo's leg.

            "Well well!" the scientist raised an eyebrow. "Is that a Tisker model 2.6.33.9 I see with you there, young lady?"

            "I'm guessing 'yes'?" Denise chuckled awkwardly, having absolutely no idea.

            "Rita's just watching over her while I take care of business," Mondo spoke up. "In fact, Li could really use some maintenance - would you two be willing to demonstrate my work to Rita while I attend to her?"

            "Certainly, Tate!" Neville and Morris responded cheerfully in unison, as the Tisker sighed in relief that it would be Mondo doing her repairs and not a pair of bumbling, absent-minded overgrown children. Neville returned his attentions to Denise at this point.

            "Cyberspace is not just one vast void, Rita. Do you also realise that it actually consists of layers?

 

            Step forward, and I will elaborate.”

 

            Denise moved closer, toward the appliance’s embedded monitor. Upon it was displayed a blue wire frame structure, surrounded by line upon line of programming code. Moving across to another display screen, Denise squinted to focus at what was shown upon it. The slightly pixelated image seemed to resemble a large body of water.

            “That…” Morris began. “Is part of a simulation created within Mindspace, a layer of Cyberspace which is somehow connected to the collective human conscious.”

            “It’s simple really” Neville took over as Denise looked on in amazement. “We have taken the same technology that was used to store Pokémon and expanded upon it. By altering the programming just enough we are hoping to make it possible for humans themselves to enter Cyberspace without their molecular structures becoming corrupted.

 

            For now, this particular reality heavily relies on information from human minds.”

 

Pulling back a small door, Neville motioned toward an adolescent female figure sat within the machine, her grinning face covered with pieces of complicated headgear.

“This girl has been assisting us with our testing procedure,” Neville smiled. “By aligning her cerebral impulses with that of the Mindspace network, the Simulation Module can manifest three dimensional realities using her thoughts and desires.”

Denise pulled a face

“And she’s thinking of an ocean?”

“Seems to be the case,” Neville replied matter of fact-ly. “I know…we couldn’t figure it out either. She’s been manifesting that reality for almost an hour now. Before that it was some seemingly endless road crammed with vehicles, then a horrific scene in which fantastical creatures were confined in cages and stared at by crowds of people, then a giant statue of a woman holding what I can only assume was an ice cream.”

"She certainly has quite the imagination!" Morris stated brightly, while Denise leaned nearer to the screen. The view of the ocean she could see was one of that from above - closer inspection had led her to notice a curious misty sheen and a thin yellowish frame bordering the beautiful sight. It was almost as if Denise was peering through a window of some kind.

While Denise and the twins watched in awe, Mondo gathered interest and approached the simulation module. As he did so, the view moved up from the sea to the cloud-graced blue sky beyond. Sounds could be heard now - the subtle thrum of voices rising and falling as the moments passed.

"There it is again," Neville scratched his chin. "That weird audio feed."

"Maybe its some kind of memory," Mondo blinked. "It is being sampled from her mind after all. What are they saying?"

"It's hard to tell," Morris shrugged. "Most of the speech is undecipherable, however we did manage to pick out the words 'captain' and 'Atlantic'."

"Intriguing..." came the response. Denise looked on curiously while Mondo studied the screen with furrowed brow as if trying to work something out. Then there was a massive blast from the Simulation Module's speakers. At the same time, the picture on the screen shook. The image was an unearthly purple now, flickering with electricity and oddly-coloured squares.

"What's happening?" Denise spluttered as the girl within the machine began to cry out fearfully. Neville ran to the machine's console in a panic.

            “It's not important now!” he exclaimed. “The shutdown sequence needs to be activated before her cerebral impulses get too erratic and cause a flux in the fabric of Cyberspace.”

            "Too erratic?" Mondo cried as he ran over upon hearing the loud noise. "You mean you put someone with already unstable impulses inside the Cyberspace Simulation Module?”

            Neville and Morris looked at the ground in unison.

            “She was the only one who willingly volunteered,” they murmured guiltily. Mondo groaned before turning towards Denise and smiling sheepishly.

            “At least that explains all that kooky stuff appearing onscreen,” he began. “Oddities aside, what do you think of the C.S.M?”

            “It’s amazing,” Denise replied with a grin. “I see you’ve been putting your past knowledge to good use here. This device has so much potential.”

            A chuckle of amusement arose from behind. Mondo and Denise swung round to see a tall figure standing there, his arms folded and a sneer spread across half his face.

            “You really think such a petty excuse of a machine could honestly do anything in our technological system?” he inquired dryly. “It certainly proves how small-minded you are. Of course, Cyberspace is a theoretically limitless medium. But such a medium requires intelligence to function in a productive manner”

            Denise’s brow furrowed immensely as Mondo showed signs of disinterest.

            “Who are you?” she snapped

            “Have I not been introduced, young lady?” the man asked, loftily flicking the auburn hair from his dark eyes. “But of course. Tate is such an absent-minded amateur. I wouldn’t expect anything less of him. My name, is Brett Collan. I’m the top research and practice technician in the field of Pokémon Pseudostudies. And I believe Cyberspace has much more in store for us than the virtual games Tate and his clone clowns are producing.”

            Mondo gave a bored little yawn. It looked like he had experienced this man’s hot air before, but Denise was having none of it. She opened her mouth to tell Brett what she really thought of his words but the scientist continued before she had a chance to do so.

            “Creating worlds serves no purpose, but entering others does. You see even bodies are realms of their own. Mindspace holds the passport to exploring such realms, and examining the contents within them.”

            At this point Denise had stopped giving Brett evil looks and was now staring, wide-eyed, at the scientist as he spoke. Even Mondo had begun to pay attention.

            “Just think of what good we could do if such technology was accessible,” Brett spoke. “We could grant people better health without the need for long and painful procedures. All it would take was a simple manifestation of the required area and then…”

            The two adolescents nodded in unison.

            “Now can you understand my reasoning?” Brett told them. “I respect your work Tate but seriously, I think you should stick to vehicular inventing.

           

            It’s what you were born to do, not this complicated Cyberspace jargon.”

 

            A shrill wailing cut through the air, causing many of the people within the Intel Marquee to squint and turn toward the source of the horrendous noise. Mondo, Denise and Brett also searched for the origin of the sound and discovered it to be coming from the Smarpache display area. Mondo gave out a yelp of dismay as he saw the blades of his prized machine begin to rotate as the high-pitched siren continued to complain. Within the cockpit of the Smarpache sat a red-haired female, her hands grasped firmly on the steering column and a triumphant gleam on her face.

            “How in Taj's name did she activate that vehicle?” Mondo exclaimed in exasperation. “I personally locked the inner controls with a high-security protocol!”

            “Hah!” the girl cried above the whirring of the Smarpache’s rotors. “I’ve seen more security on a cookie jar! I could have breached that program in my sleep!”

            And to some unknown figure in the distance she yelled,

 

            “Look at me, Shadow! I’m the queen of the sky!”

 

            “Take me home, Susan! Take me home!” an excited voice yelled from over Denise’s shoulder. She stepped back, startled, as the girl leapt into her line of vision.

            “You again!”

            “Me again?” the girl inquired. “Have I been someone else?”

            “Huh?” Denise pulled a face as Mondo made a leap toward the slowly rising Smarpache, only to be grasped and pulled back by Brett whose common sense didn’t happen to be overridden by a fear for the vehicle’s safety.

            “Someone stop that Smarpache!” Mondo screamed as Brett groaned from the strain of trying to keep the frantic figure under control. Denise gave the demented looking girl a sideways glance.

            “Are you Shadow?”

            “Nope!” the girl grinned. “I’m not a shadow. I’m a human being!”

            Denise sighed heavily.

            “If you’re a human being, you certainly are a pretty odd one” she remarked, then ducked in panic as the blades of the Smarpache made impact with the building’s glass roof, sending translucent shards cascading onto the crowd below.

            “It’s raining, it’s pouring, it’s completely boring!” Shadow sang flatly as the glass showered around her.

            “I want Marquee security after that girl now!" Mondo cried in an exasperated manner, watching helplessly as the machine climbed ever upwards toward the almost cloudless sky. "Bring her down, and don’t you dare scratch the paintwork on my Smarpache.”

            "Your Smarpache?" Shadow's face took on a suddenly accusing look. "I'll have you know the bottom of that belongs to DaimlerChrysler! It's naughty to take credit for other people's work, ya know..."

            "Dymler who?" Mondo spluttered, temporarily distracted from his frustration by the utter absurdity of Shadow's statement. Denise let out a tired little breath and began to wonder if the events her companions were partaking in happened to be as eventful or bizarre as this one had been. One thing was for sure. Despite the unexpected ‘after effects’, Denise had certainly learnt some important aspects about Cyberspace.

            Aspects she truly hoped would come in handy later on.

           

***~~***~~***~~***~~***

                       

            Rose looked up in puzzlement as the throbbing of the rotors passed above. It was so loud that it penetrated the ceiling of the dressing room she was in, causing a murmur of panic to arise from the other entrants within their cubicles.

            “What was that?” Carmen hissed as Rose examined her reflection in the full-length mirror with a lopsided expression. It seemed Coalef’s chosen theme for its beauty parades was ‘Look-alikes’ and as a result of this, trainers had to dress in outfits that resembled the appearance of their chosen Pokemon partner.

            Rose currently bore a creamy Lycra bodysuit with a wiry curled tail. An accessory complete with black felt feline ears and metallic gold foil charm adorned the top of her head. Sia looked up at her owner with shiny eyes. It was more than apparent that the Meowth thought this look was most befitting.

            “Probably just a Police helicopter or something” she replied absently. There was one thing Rose couldn’t stand, and that was skin tight clothing. But if it was a requirement of the pageant then she would oblige. But only this once.

            “Sounded pretty close for a Police ‘copter” Carmen exclaimed, a slightly nervous tone in her voice.

            “Don’t worry yourself about it” Rose sighed, arranging the felt accessories upon her hair. “The security guys are more than likely on the case if it’s anything bad. Just relax”

            “Yeah, you’re right” Carmen murmured. “I’m here to win, and that’s what I shall do.

 

            Make way for the pageant prize winner!”

 

            Rose resisted the urge to chuckle as the door of Carmen’s cubicle unlocked. The woman slid into the open, a wide smile on her face. She now wore a wide-bottomed, yellow dress with black sleeves and long delicate wings made from lace that had been carefully sewn to the back. Upon her head was an obscure yellow and black headdress with a red jewel in the centre.

            “What do you think, cat lady?” Carmen chirruped. Rose scratched her chin slowly.

            “Hmm. Not bad. What Pokémon are you meant to be though?”

            “Oh!” Carmen clapped a hand to her face dramatically.

            “I can’t believe I never introduced you to her before” she exclaimed, retrieving a purple and blue striped Pokéball.

 

            “Come on out, Mimi!”

 

            A slender figure emerged from the light of the spherical device with a graceful twirl. Once the light had faded, the figure was revealed to be a type of insectoid creature with an orange, red-eyed face that could have been considered quite fearsome had it not currently borne a happy expression.

            “This is Mimi, my beautiful Vespiquen,” Carmen told Rose. “Do you still think you’ve got a chance?”

            “I like a good challenge” Rose returned the expression. “And as for ‘being in with a chance’ we shall find out whom the judges see fit to take first prize.”

            “That’s right” Carmen agreed.

 

 

            “Onward, Mimi…to victory!”

 

 

            Meanwhile, in the decorated parade hall, preparations were almost complete - the seats were filled with an excited audience, cheering and jostling in an impatient manner as they awaited the first contestants to appear. In the rows of chairs nearest the catwalk a panel of five judges arranged their scoreboards and took occasional glances at the twenty year old male figure with unkempt cinnamon brown hair that was seated not too far away.

            “Welcome fans!” he began with as much jollity as he could muster. “To the hundred and seventh Coalef Compendium Beauty Pageant, brought to you by Lapras Lather Cream – It keeps your skin as cool as ice! I’m your host, Todd Hammond, and this afternoon is bound to be one colourful cavalcade of cuteness and charming countenances that you could ever wish to envisage!           

            Try saying that after a few drinks…”

            Todd rearranged himself upon his chair, brought the microphone closer and took another deep breath.

            “Twenty five entrants hope to make the grade this month, each of them donning a specially themed outfit that matches their Pokémon companion. And according to my inside sources this is one heck of a line up!

            The judges’ panel is decked out with some of the most famous faces in the Pokémon fashion and beauty industry. From Celadon City, Kanto, we have Erika Arom, the owner of the Perfume Palace Corporation and the leading exporter of scents across the world.”

            A woman with blue-violet hair and a long flower print dress waved politely from the far end of the judging table.

            “Next we have, direct from Goldenrod City in Johto, one of the most influential fashion designers of our generation. Worth over 11 billion Pokedollars and counting…

            …it’s Santania Raigucci!”

             “So glad to be here” the figure next to Erika cooed, lowering her tinted sunglasses a fraction and giving Todd a wink. He coughed nervously.

            “Heh heh…and third on the judges rota, originally from Lilycove City in Hoenn and currently on a continental showcase with her latest cosmetic range…

            …please give a warm welcome to Lianne Olay!”

            “Remember this,” Lianne announced brightly, holding up a powder compact. “Daily applications of Solrock 24 will make your face shine like gold!”

            “Well there’s a woman who’s not afraid to advertise” Todd murmured under his breath as Lianne sat down again. “Judge Number four has travelled all the way from Jubilife City, Sinnoh. Her perfect dieting plan is used by women everywhere and her fitness clubs serve over five thousand customers a week.

            Say hello to Rachel Taylor!”

            The figure with the blonde hair and a light coloured shirt to match smiled shyly and gave a nod of acknowledgement.

            “And last, but far from least, our very own master of the arts. He’s been given the title ‘Stylist of the Millennium’ by Kanto’s Gardevoir Magazine and during his short term in the business has already received three prestigious awards. I hung around this guy a couple of times…

 

            …Brock Harrison!”

 

            The audience awaited a response, but they weren’t going to get one. It seemed the young man had his attentions firmly affixed on the countenance that was nervously placed next to him.

            “Hey there, Slimfast Girl” he drooled. “Just say the word and I’ll diet for you.”

            “Take the ‘t’ out of your ‘diet’ and you have yourself a deal” Rachel muttered with great distain.

            “Sure…” Brock grinned goofily. “Anything for you. I hardly drink that much tea anyway.”

            Rachel groaned.

            “Why’d I get stuck sitting next to this guy?”

            Todd leant over his table so he could get a better view of the director’s hand signals from across the hall.

            “We’re just seconds away from- ah! The curtains are being hoisted!

 

 

            Get ready, people!”

 

 

            “Now Mandy…you’re sure you know what you’re doing?” Carmen hissed in Rose’s direction as the fabric screen began to rise and the immense glare of the stage lights filtered upon them.

            “Of course I am. It’s not quantum physics now, is it?” the woman replied in strained tones. “All you have to do is stroll to the end of the catwalk, pause for the judges and come straight back again. Simple.”

            “Simple, it might sound,” Carmen remarked. “But delivery gets you extra points, and I’ve seen a lot of people mess up at the final hurdle.”

            “Final hurdle?” Rose exclaimed. “There is only one hurdle!”

            Carmen rolled her eyes.

            “Details, details…” she muttered, only to be silenced by the floor manager who was concealing himself in the shadows at the edge of the stage.

            Here goes nothing, Rose thought to herself. Now there’s no need to be nervous. All I got to do is smile, be graceful and-

            …WHAT THE…? 

            At this point she had spotted a familiar spiky-haired figure sat eagerly at the table nearest the catwalk, dressed in a white t-shirt with a denim jacket, some corduroy trousers and a distant grin accommodating his tanned face.

            Oh no! Not Brock…not now…     

            The upbeat music took to the airwaves, dancing between the lively verbal expressions of the audience as the first three slender contestants made their way into the open. Rose gulped deeply and looked the opposite way in an attempt to hide her petrified expression.

            “We’re up next” Carmen murmured. Mimi shot a smug glance in Sia’s direction. “Hope you’re prepared.”

 

            “Well actually I…” Rose began, and was consequently pushed out into full view of the awaiting public.

 

            “Hmm” Erika commented as contestant number one poised at the head of the catwalk. “I do like that Bellossom outfit. And her Pokémon is so full of life.”

            “Bell! Bella!” cheered the grass type creature as its owner swivelled on one foot and strode back toward the stage.

            “The Butterfree really catches my eye” Santania remarked, leaning her head on one hand and rearranging her necklace with the other. “So vibrant. So……kinetic.”

            Rachel nodded, her eyes sparkling.

            “The Mudkip evening gown is to die for” Lianne drawled as she absently applied polish to her nails. “Its shimmering quality is only matched by the delightful sheen on the skin of the Pokémon itself. And the owner certainly has a marvellous taste in cosmetics. Lunatone Lip Balm is one of my personal favourites”

            “I think the Togekiss shell pattern mini skirt and wing bikini is a true expression of fun and happiness,” Rachel said.

 

            “The Pokémon is in an excellent state of health too; look at the brightness in its eyes”

 

            Brock had not spoken a word for the past few minutes. He had been previously besotted with the entrants upon the catwalk but now his narrow eyes were narrowed even further still as he focused his attentions upon the figure that had stumbled, rather clumsily, into the spotlight.

            “Hmm,” Erika muttered as her view alighted upon the same figure. “Not bad for a non-floral theme, I suppose”

            “Her figure is a perfect match for her outfit” Santania smiled with approval. “It’s almost flowing over those curves. I’ll give this one top marks”

            “The cosmetic attire is nothing special” Lianne sniffed without regard. “But that Meowth bears such incredible fur. It almost seems like it was touched with the essence of Solrock 24.”

            The other women groaned at yet another plug by their judging companion.

            “I am impressed by both the owner and Pokemon’s level of fitness,” Rachel exclaimed. "Certainly looks like they’ve been running on one tough regime.”

            Brock’s brow furrowed further and further as he struggled to salvage a name from the back of his mind.

 

            “Why does she look so familiar?”

 

            “The judges seem to have mixed opinion” Todd stated. “Having come from different backgrounds in the industry, it was bound to happen. If I were given a chance to vote I’d place my top score firmly on the good-looking Meowth lady, Mrrrrrow! Woo. Better calm down there, Todd my boy.”

            She was hoping desperately she would get away with it. She was hoping her true identity would escape Brock’s female saturated brain. But no, Rose had run out of luck this time. As she continued to move toward the pinnacle of the catwalk, the spiky-haired figure’s mouth dropped open and he gave an amusing little squeak of recognition.

            “I knew it…”

           

            “Rose!” the man yelled above the music as he clambered onto his chair.

            “You came back to me!”

 

            The woman took a deep breath and moved over to the opposite side of the catwalk. Maybe if she pretended not to recognise Brock then the others would simply think the man was mistaken in his remembrance. Carmen pulled a face as she walked behind.

            “What’s that guy on about, Mandy? Is he shouting at you?”

            “Uh…um…” Rose didn’t know what to say. Either answer was going to drag her into some kind of trouble. She flashed Brock an icy glare, hoping it would stop his pathetic advances. But it didn’t work.

            As the female judges exchanged puzzled looks, Todd watched the stage manager frantically gesticulating in their direction. The security guards stirred, their attentions fixated upon the squinty figure as he waved at Rose. It was at this point that Sia came to a complete standstill, her eyes wide and her mouth open in a rush of elation. It seemed she had spotted someone in the audience and before anyone knew what was happening the Meowth cried out in excitement and stumbled forward, colliding with Rose’s legs and causing her to topple from the catwalk and onto the judges’ table.

            Not being used to bearing such a weight, the legs of the table groaned and crumpled. Brock, who had been leaning on the table’s surface until now, lost his grip and keeled directly into Rose’s vision as she lay dazed upon the floor.

            “Well isn’t this quite a set up” he murmured with a naughty grin as Rose struggled to focus.

 

            “I never thought I’d see you again, but I guess you couldn’t get enough of the Brockster after all”

 

            Coming to and finding yourself being leant over by a man who was almost drooling is not a pleasant experience to say the least. Brock reeled backward as the palm of Rose’s hand made impact with the side of his face. Todd and a large majority of the audience gasped in shock.

            “He had that coming” Rachel remarked. Erika shook her head sorrowfully.

            “I disagree. Such a nice young man should not be subjected to such treatment” She stood up angrily. “I demand that this entrant be disqualified for such terrible behaviour!”

            The audience began to boo; it seemed none of them had heard Brock’s demeaning conversation. Rose quickly clambered to her feet.

            “Buh-but…” she stammered. Brock was wearing an expression that was something crossed between coldness, confusion and upset.

            “Whuh-oh” Todd grimaced. “Seems there’s a little controversy going on over at the judges’ table”

            “Take her away!” Erika shrieked in an unusually intimidating manner. The security guard was temporarily stunned by such a loud voice coming from such a small woman but he promptly obliged and took Rose by the arm.

            “I’m sorry miss.”

            “It’s ok” Rose muttered.

 

            “I’ll show myself out”

 

***~~***~~***~~***~~***

 

“You need what?”

            James tapped his fingers on the desk of the Coalef Pokémon Centre rather impatiently