The first thing I notice is the water. Coumarine City appears to be a beautiful port-town! It's full of people, just like in Lagoon Town! Actually,on that note, a lot of Coumarine City reminds me of Lagoon Town.... But this time we'll pass! I have to be confident if only for today.....

  "Coumarine City!" Clara runs up behind me, gently leaning on me." This is where the Showcase is, right?"

  I point at a huge building, my heart pounding at the sight of it. "Uh-huh. That's the building." Deep in the corners of my mind I'm hoping that I can put on a great performance, and the thought it all makes my stomach churn. I have yet to have that ability, but if all I can do is try, then I simply have to do that to get to the real thing; an accomplishment.

  "So this is where you'll be performing," Clyde observes.

  "Petilil!" Petilil jumps in my arms, not seeming to share the samd thoughts. I wish I had her giddiness."Lil, Lil!"

  "Espurr...." Espurr seems nervous to see another Showcase building, and it's strange because I would think she wouldn't relate to me as well as Petilil, my first Pokemon, but right now we're in the exact same alley.

  "It'll be okay, because I'm confident that we can pass this time!" Please don't let the Theme Performance have anything to do with baking. I'm not very good at that. What does baking have to so with performing, anyway.....
  My thoughts are all over the place, but they all trace back to one thought only, don't look like you did last time.

  A sharp nudge in my shoulder puts my thoughts in order, breaking me away from my mental chaos."Move it." I look over my shoulder with a nervoys rub to see the owner of the harsh voice, and I gasp at the sight of silky, blue hair.

  "Matinee!"

 There she is, with her long blue hair, and perfect posture. The one thing that stands out the most is her confidence, the confidence I'm always pretending to have. Next to her is her Dratini, just as glamorous and just as ready to enter the Showcase.

  "Who the heck is this?" Clara eyes her closely, obviously not amazed by her as I am, and clearly offended.

  "This is Matinee," I breathe. "She won the last Showcase in Lagoon Town."

  "So you aren't a complete fool," Matinee says with a smirk." I'll be winning this one, too."

  "Don't be so sure of that!" I put up a confident front. I can't let her unnerve me!"Things won't go like last time!"

  "When you didn't even make it past the Theme Performance? All anyone remembers about YOU is the girl who failed, if anyone cares that much."

  "Step off, Queeny!" Clara defends me." You can't be so boastful when you haven't even entered! "

  Matinee scoffs and brushes past me, and I feel a jolt of static. She's a tough customer. Hopefully.... I can put up a good fight.

  "You'll crush that ego of hers once you win!" Clara pats my shoulder. "Right, Clyde?"

  Clyde agrees with a nod." Don't get disheartened so early! You can do it if you don't give up!"

  I'm glad to have such friends." Petilil! "

  "Purr! Espurr!" I'm glad Espurr isn't so nervous, too.

  I nod with vigor. "You're all right! I'll do my best!"

  We have to win this time! We've trained hard and have even tried new things together! We've experienced just a little, but I'm confident we can do it! I really am this time! Now...we must win in the first round!

  "Ladies and gentleman, welcome to the Coumarine City Showcase!" Monsieur Pierre riles up the audience. "Get ready to be dazzled by all of our lovely Performers!"

  I look around the dressing room. Matinee isn't my only rival. Other girls are here as well, ready to be put to the test. I don't exactly know their stories, but I do know that they won't be taking this lightly.

  "Our Theme Performance this time around is Pokemon Styling!" I draw my attention back to the screen. Pokemon Styling?

   " Three Performers at a time will be brought up on stage to dress up and style their Pokemon. Once ze time is up, all of you will pull out your Glowcasters to vote for which Performer's design you enjoyed the most! Our first group will be up shortly."

  "Millie, Candace, and Illiana? You three are up first." Right from the get go?! 

  I turn to Espurr."Petilil and I will take on this round ourselves. Then we'll all perform together!"

  "Espurr!" Espurr jumps in excitement, then accidentily wobbles over and bumps into the side of the table."Esp!"

  "Are you okay, Espurr?"

  Espurr takes a few deep breaths, then looks up and forms a pained smile. "Espurr...."

  "Are you sure you're okay?"

  Espurr gives a small nod, and Petilil bounces up and down."Petilil, Lil! "

  We have to go! "O-okay!" Please be okay, Espurr. Even though she acted like she was.... I hope it's nothing too serious. If it is....

  We reach the stage and go up. My heart's speeding, and my stomach begins to churn. It's our second time taking the stage. Like last time, I'll have to compete against the other girls sharing it. Me and Petilil walk into the small room with stained glass, and the other girls go into their rooms.

  "Time to start!" Monsieur Pierre snaps his fingers, and the hourglass tips over. 

  "Everyone can see me..." I stand looking around the room nervously. "I'll have to begin soon or else they'll notice."

  "Petilil!" Petilil smiles at me, and a thought runs across my mind. It's just like when I used to dress up my Petilil doll when I was younger! Before I had Petilil!

  I search the nearby accessories, and pick out two pretty pink flower petals. "These will do!" I decorate her head with them."So cute!"

   I scan another basket and find a lacy white piece of cloth. I compare it to Petilil and cut it to fit her size. After draping the wrap over her body, I examine it. "You can move around in it."

  Then it's time for some ribbons! I find a cute blue ribbon and gently place it on Petilil's head. Time for some paint. I find several small red beads and place them around the dark leaves on her head. After that, I paint the tips of the leaves a lighter green. "Time for the secret finishing touches!" 

  We're almost out of time! I dab a bit of glitter on her little legs and adjust the ribbons."Time's up! First up, Millie!"

  I put Petilil down beside me as the door opens, and we walk out. I'm kind of stiff at first, but then my body relaxes. The audience cheers as we walk down the runway, and I smile. We're doing so well! In my happiness I lift Petilil and twirl with her to show off even more. The audience cheers even louder, and I turn to walk back as the next Performer appears with a glammed-up Joltik.

  After all three of us have gone up, the audience begins to vote. I don't see Clyde and Clara among them, but I'm sure they're somewhere in there, voting for me. Orbs of light are emitted from the Glowcasters, and I smile even wider as some go into my key. Lights of purple, orange, and green for me are everywhere, until the last orbs enter our keys.

  "The voting is all finished!" Monsieur Pierre announces. The tall man uses his scepter to point at the hologram keyholes. Orange is filled halfway, purple some, and green.... Why, green is over halfway full!

  "The Performer moving on to the next round is Millie!"

  "Ahhhh!! We did it, Petilil!" I do a happy dance with my Pokemon.

  "Petilil!"

  "Now we get to move on!" Tears of joy form in the corners of my eyes. "We can now show everyone our performance!"

Back in the dressing room, I notice the other two girls who were onstage with me. They seem discouraged at their loss. It saddens me a bit, but.... We can't all be winners. That being said.... I look up at the television screen to see Matinee appear. She'll win, no doubt. Then we'll have to compete in the Freestyle Performance round.

  I shake the thought from my mind for now. I search for Espurr, who greets us with a happy face. "Espurr!!"

  "Did you see us? We actually won!"

  Espurr grins and nods." Purr!"

I observe her more closely. "Let me see your side."

  "Esp..." Espurr's expression quickly shifts.

  I gently move her fur our of the way and examine the skin. There's a bruise! "Espurr... You should have told me that you were hurt! Is it still painful?"

  She can't fake it anymore."Esp..."

  "Then...will you be okay to perform?" I could perform with only Petilil. After all, Matinee won with just her Dratini. But I want the three of us to win our first Princess Key together. However, Espurr's health is more important.

"Espurr!" Espurr roughly shakes her head, then continues to meow."Espurr, purr purr!!"

  "You want to continue?"

  Espurr nods."Espurr."

  "I guess...." I can't forget that Espurr is strong, and couldn't let a small thing bother her too much. But this here is a big thing, so I'm still hesitant." Let's at least get a potion on that."

  "Millie? You're the first to perform in the Freestyle Performance." I pause at the woman's call. But...

  "Espurr!" Espurr hurries me to put on her clothes, so I do, but still... She then hurries in the direction of the platform. 

  "Petilil...."

Monsieur Pierre watches from a distance, out of our way, and it's time to perform. I gulp."Okay! Petilil! " I spin towards Petilil's direction. She jumps into my arms, and I toss her up high into the air. We made some adjustments that we'll include.

  She lands back into my arms and I throw her up again until she lands perfectly onto my right arm. Espurr takes the left. I toss the both of them up, and Espurr lands on my right, and Petilil my left. "Petilil, Petal Dance!" Petilil hops and twirls, spreading about the pink petals.

  Espurr hops onto the stage floor."Psybeam, and Petilil, use Energy Ball!" The moves clash and form an amazing mixed glitter. The crowd cheers.

  "Psychic!" Espurr lifts all three of us up into the air, and we all float around. We're doing so great! I'm confident- Suddenly I feel the mysterious energy loosen and then fade. 

  For some reason, the crowd gasps, and I notice Petilil below me, falling. Her face is full of shock. Everything is happening so slowly. I glance up at Espurr, who looks pained. I expect her to quickly recover. Maybe it's just a mistake, but no. The bruise was too much, and Petilil crashes to the stage floor, followed by me and finally, Espurr. 

  I slowly look up at the crowd. Their expressions are full of shock. There's no way we can win now. Now Clara and Clyde...know that I'm not really a good performer. 

  Once we arrive back into the dressing room, several girls ask if we're all right, but I ignore them and hurry out of the building.

                      Chapter 3.....End : (