Welcome Back Contest [Akane][Prasha][][] Cancelled.

"My, my, the first to arrive, am I? Well that's no surprise. This isn't my first visit." The Red Lady stroked her beloved Rapidash's long and slender nose, it's sunny pelt very soft in the face; she took great care to avoid the intense flames that seemed to almost reach out for her hand whenever she got too close to the horn that adorned his head. Now leading him, to give him a rest, Akane found a clean pool of water in a shady corner of the mountain side. Pyrois greedily slurped the water after the long journey. She could clearly see the opening to the Zorua's Den, and she was smart to wear hiking boots, so the two finished the rest of the long journey to the crevice. Once inside, she recognized the familiar chandelier she handed down to the Den's owner.

Quite fond of the crimson and obsidian dress she wore, Akane happily greeted her long time friend. Noting not much had changed in the last few months in her or her impudent pokemon. Showcasing her importance, she neither bowed nor curtsied to the inferior positioned duchess, but she also showed no ill will or disrespect either. Instead she extended a pleasant expression of thanks for the invitation to her remodeled home.

"Duchess Nicole, so good to see you. I read your invitation, and I just couldn't resist the challenge. I mostly hoped I'd also see a few more friends here as well, but it seems I'm the first to arrive. I wouldn't worry though. Your clumsy map was detailed enough." She smiled sweetly, and her eyes couldn't help but wander around the shadow-chilled cavern. It was very easy on the eyes, unlike some places she had been recently, one being a literal tent for a gym, but who was she to outwardly judge other's life choices?

"As for my visit, judging by my Pyrois' saddlebags and wide array of pokeballs, I assume you know the main reason why I am here?" she chuckled. She actually had two reasons for being here, the latter reason being she was on the hunt for a rare pokemon found only in these rocky wastes. But of course, a visit with Nicole was always interesting and worthwhile. "Now tell me, is there a place my Pyrois may rest and drink?"

Sir, we've received a flyer which speaks of a contest being held by Miss Everfield!

Zandrophin gave a small chuckle before responding,

"It's Nicole, Mentus...just like my name is to be kept secret, so too must her's...she requested it."

My apologies, Sir...but still, a contest!

Zandrophin groaned to stand up, holding his telescopic staff in his hand. His injuries had still not healed, and Doctor Yamada would be most upset with him when she caught wind that he'd gone and played the showman.

"Unfortunately, I'm in no real shape to compete...but perhaps I can attend just to see who else arrives. Perhaps we may even get to help judge."

Always a possibility, Sir.

Zandrophin put on his desert attire: a tan button-down shirt with a brown overcoat to keep the dust off. The only outstanding feature was Zandrophin's staff and silver Psychic ring. Mentus then teleported them to a location a few meters away from the entrance where the contest was to be held. Zandrophin shook his head and waited for the buzzing to subside before beginning his short hike up towards the entrance.

I wonder if anyone's arrived before us? I'm even more interested to see who arrives after us...

”Ah, yes, I remembered Nero. Such an exquisite creature. His pelts really grown glossy, he must be very happy here, even with so little things to burn.” Akane laughed, still admiring the creature.

She was pleasantly surprised at Nicole’s Zorua’s skills, to transform into a flawless replica, was truly remarkable. She noticed a small necklace dangling from the phantom Nicole’s image. The red queen noted that must be helping it. As they walked, Akane noted how clingy Nicole’s pokemon were; it was endearing, but a queen such as herself could never let her poekmon interfere with her in public. But then again, they were friends right? Perhaps this was alright for them to do…

Once they arrived to a prime spot, Pyrois delicately dipped his elegant nose into a cool pool of refreshing water, much clearer and cleaner than the pool they encountered outside. As Pyrois drank, Akane released Amir the medicham and Undine the Milotic. Amir was never one to show off, and he got right to work, assembling the queen’s gowns and accessories she brought for the contest. Undine on the other hand, released a small shower of dewdrops to refract the light and showcase her recently groomed scales. Upon noticing Nicole, the duchess, she seemed more showoff than usual, preferring to wait when Nicole looked away to steam and de-wrinkle Akane’s fabrics; obviously a royal pokemon couldn’t be seen working.

Amir noticed something odd, two incredibly powerful psychic resonances outside the cave. With one of the auras being so powerful, it could only mean one thing. Amir paused his work and whispered to Akane that Zandrophin had arrived. Excitement filled the red queen’s chest, it had been awhile since she had competed against one of her greatest contest archrivals and the challenge she welcomed. Again Amir felt another presence, this one, a more normal feeling power, approached the cave. Yet it was unfamiliar to the Medicham so he simply alerted her to a male’s presence and she accepted it.

Though she dreamed of a pokemon as powerful as Mentus for herself, she loved Amir. She respected the time and effort Zandrophin had put into Mentus, and the fact he had a gift for it made their bond even stronger. Amir, a stray, could never be as strong as Mentus. But, she rescued him from a life that reflected her past, and to that they had an underlying, unbreakable bond. It was weird though, Akane had never raised a pokemon with such limited abilities and normally by now she would have given him away. Maybe it’s his heart, or his alcohol tolerance that made him more valuable to her than any other psychic pokemon.

"Pleasure to see all of you. Pardon my dust. The hike got very dusty toward the end.”

Not only a friendly face, but a familiar one. The Red Lady flashed a faint smile; she was pleased to see so many friends here-though the snack he began to feast upon smelled unpleasant. She dared not say anything about it and it would soon fade as it was consumed. After that, she would personally greet him and Zandrophin she would greet when he inevitably approached her. She was a bit behind in sending some official paperwork to him with the recent influx of housing issues from her citizens saying their houses are haunted and wanting to move. 'Damn ghost types.' Though he should have known he had nothing to worry about for it was all on her shoulders.

Zandrophin managed his best bow in his current condition before replying; it wasn't terribly flashy, but it got the point across, despite his limited movement.

"The garden is doing quite well, Miss Nicole. I'm sure Rose would thank you for your concern, but it's still a bit too dry here for her to come out right now. As for the incident with Phaedra, think nothing of it; we sorted it out and everything's come back together."

Then the question of his participation came into play. At this, the man simply shook his head.

"Unfortunately, while my injury has healed slightly, a few more weeks of rest are still required, lest I incur the wrath of my physician...an outcome I can assure you, ironically enough, would be detrimental to my health."

He cracked a small smile at his own joke, before clearing his throat to continue, taking a firm grasp of his staff,

"In light of this, I am in no shape to compete at my best, and therefore, I choose not to compete at all; t'would be a disservice to myself and to my Pokemon, who work so hard to impress those we perform for. I hope you all will forgive me for this, but I am willing to help in any capacity I can for the duration of the contest. This is your home, Miss Nicole, and as your guest, I place myself and my team at your disposal."

So she had two contestants now and one extra observer.  Akane's Pokemon were hard at work to get ready for the contest.  Prasha has said he would like to take part.  Zan was out because of his injury, but had offered his services towards helping the contest.  So far so good.  Now there was just a need for a few more people to proceed.

"I think it would be best to wait until all contestants are here.  I think it would be better for me to explain everything all at once."  She responded to Prasha easily, a small smile on her face.  She then turned her attention to Zan and also gave him a smile as well.  "I would appreciate the help.  It might be crowded in my box, but you're welcome to join me in it for this contest."  She offered in understanding.  Finally she turned her attention back to Akane to address her.  "Your Pokemon seem hard at work.  Is Pyrois better now?"  She asked, glancing over briefly at the two Pokemon hard at work, and the Rapidash she was asking about.