Unbroken Rythym [Nicole, Eira, Zan, Maleko]

Zandrophin left the stage with a bow. He went into the entrance hallway and slumped against the wall, his confident expression cracked slightly as he took in the pain. He took his knife and cut some of the fabric from his undershirt to make a crude bandage to staunch the bloodflow. After tying off the wrapping, he put his overshirt back on buttoned it up, and tucked it back in. He heard the call for Maleko and saw the boy walking through the hall. He stood up more straight as his fellow competitor walked past him. He said with a confident grin on his face,

"Get to it, kid....I got them all warmed up for you. Good luck."

Zandrophin walked back to his room to further address his wound and to begin his meditation.

It was his turn. He was not ready for this, not at all, but he would have to do this. Looking between Shard and Mistletoe, he thought about who he should choose. Mistletoe might have some of the flashier moves, but Shard was the one he had had the longest. Shard was the first Pokemon he had gotten, and it was all because of… his flute! Of course! Why had he not thought of it? Looking at Mistletoe he gave her an apologetic smile. “Mist, I’m sorry, but can you wait back here for me and Shard?” The small Deerling gave a small pout but nodded. Maleko gave another apologetic smile and looked at Shard who was now perched on his shoulder. “Ready to go?” Shard looked at him confused, but he nodded.

---

The two entered onto the stage, Maleko going towards the back, while Shard jumped off his shoulder to head to the center of the stage. At that moment, Maleko could only hope he was not going to get disqualified for this. Reaching into the pocket that didn’t have his Pokeballs, he pulled out his flute and lifted it to his lips. Taking a deep breath, he nodded to Shard and then began to play, his eyes sliding closed as the music score began to form in his mind. It was the generic tune he had come up with when his father had first given him the flute, but it was the tune that had brought him and Shard together.

Shard started to sway to the music, his eyes sliding closed as well. Maleko then began to move, any commands he would have made coming out in the music instead of through his mouth. Yes, Zandrophin had used music in his performance, but that was created by his Pokemon (which was beautiful in its own right), this was from his heart and through his flute. Slowly he began to move towards Shard, not once stopping the music, his movement’s fluid and matching the pace he was playing. Shard, at that point, had the vines for a Vine Whip start spreading out on both sides of him, both of them swaying with the music as well. The vines then moved into the formation for Wrap in the air as Shard began to spin making the Wrap formation spin with him. Maleko, though it would have been easier without his dress shoes, began to spin as well, his motion being that of a well trained dancer, his eyes still closed.

As Shard started to move out of the motion, Maleko too, stopped this time moving to the side, one leg crossing in front of the other, while Shard began to produce Leech Seeds, and then juggle them gently with an actual Vine Whip. He directed them around the stage, making them fall like leaves at fall time, changing their paths every so often with a slight breeze caused by the vines.

Soon the song began to come to a finish, and Maleko opened his eyes and moved once more to where he could stand behind Shard. Shard also opened his eyes and took that as the moment to jump up (this time in a back flip like motion), as he normally did, onto Maleko’s shoulder, but not before he let a spray of toxic out in a final curtain formation a ways out in front of them. When the curtain finally fell, Maleko and Shard were both in a bow, having timed it when they saw the curtain nearing the top of Maleko’s head. Rising up from the bow, the two shared a look and a nod before making their exit from the stage.

Chazz glared at Mr. Doom. The Pokemon, looked at him with eyes, that said, "She made me do it man." Chazz smiled and threw him a bone. He ran off to chomp on his prize. As Akane stood up Chazz struck back. "So, you like to play dirty?" He turned away from her to the crowd. Touched the pendent above his armor and two more guards shadowed Akane. Chazz started spinning his sword and moving in different motions, releasing it in the air, then catching it while spinning.

He couldn't believe he had made it through the performance!  He also couldn't believe that he hadn't fainted yet.  He was currently in his backstage room watching Shard and Mistletoe play.  The two of them seemed at ease while he felt knots forming in his stomach.  He really did need to calm down.  Seriously, he was going to be sick if he continued to stress.  Maybe playing his flute some more?  Yeah, that sounded good.  Pulling his flute from his pocket he began to play softly, waiting until he was signaled to come back out by the guard outside his door.  His flute always made him feel a lot better, so this was hopefully going to make the knots go away.

Eira allowed herself to be escorted to a waiting room where doctors were waiting to examine her. After reassuring them that it wasn't anything too bad, especially nothing for them to be so stressed out about, she was bandaged up for a severe sprain that she was apparently lucky didn't turn into something worse like a fracture. Grace started to cry loudly at the idea that she had hurt her mama during their performance, but Eira was quick to reassure her that everything was fine and that Grace had done a fantastic job. It wasn't on her if Akane didn't think their bond was strong after witnessing a Return that sent them so high into the air.

After some time to rest, Eira was escorted back to the stage to receive Akane's judgement on the performances, the younger queen trying to hide her slight limp as she walked.

Zandrophin reacted as soon as the guards basically came out of the walls. He saw the Alakazam and he locked out his mind, as part of his training back in Saffron.

Sir...it's not here for you...but for the guard.

Zandrophin relaxed a bit, but not too much. After Chazz basically cut the moronic guard out of the military, Zandrophin couldn't help but grin a bit...it was about time. He'd had enough of this man. The guard who was now posted was not terribly necessary, as Zandrophin was already on his way out, heading towards the arena before the end of the intermission. He appreciated the gesture, all the same.

Fourth place huh?  Well, he was a beginner, what did he expect?  Still to have his second performance complimented did make him feel better.  Nodding back to the Houndoom, he gladly accepted the prize money and gave a small bow of thanks to the queen.  On his shoulder, Shard was looking at the package with the prize money, knowing that it would be a big help to Maleko's, his, and Mistletoe's, travels.  Maleko then placed his hands to the side, holding the package with the prize money to his side as he politely waited for the rest of the results to be announced by the woman in front of them.  This kind of reminded him of when he was told he was old enough to work in the fields by the elders, a right of passage, only it was a gauged by performance and not age.

Still though, for him to do as well as he did at a beginning level, he was pretty satisfied.