NOVEL NEXT Chapter 53: Ash and Squirtle's Performance
Ash stepped onto the stage, exuding confidence, with his Squirtle striding beside him. The little Water-type adjusted its iconic pair of sunglasses before giving the crowd a cheeky grin. The audience cheered loudly, excited to see the charismatic pair in action.
"Alright, Squirtle, let's give them a show they'll never forget!" Ash declared.
Squirtle nodded enthusiastically, flipping its sunglasses into place with style, ready to dazzle the crowd.
As upbeat music filled the arena, Squirtle started the performance by leaping into the air, twisting its agile body with a playful spin. It landed gracefully on its feet, striking a pose that made the crowd erupt with cheers.
Squirtle began spinning rapidly, using its signature Rapid Spin technique. With precise timing, it released a jet of water from its mouth, creating beautiful arcs of sparkling water around it.
The water jets formed shimmering ribbons that danced in sync with the rhythm of the music. As Squirtle twirled, the water reflected the stage lights, creating a mesmerizing light show.
Ash clapped and shouted encouragement, keeping the energy high. "That's it, Squirtle! Keep up the rhythm!"
Squirtle ended the sequence by sliding across the stage on its shell, the water ribbons trailing behind like a comet's tail.
Next, Squirtle stood tall and took a deep breath. It unleashed a flurry of glowing bubbles with its Bubble Beam. The bubbles floated upwards, catching the light and creating a rainbow effect that left the audience in awe.
"Let's show them what you can do! Burst them with Water Gun!" Ash commanded.
Squirtle nodded and used Water Gun to pop the bubbles one by one with incredible precision. Each burst created a small, sparkling shower, adding to the spectacle.
For the grand finale of this segment, Squirtle spun in place while firing a continuous Water Gun into the bubbles, creating a fountain effect that sprayed glittering droplets across the stage.
For the climax, Ash stepped forward and pointed dramatically to the center of the stage.
"Time for the big finish, Squirtle! Whirlpool, let's go!"
Squirtle crouched low, focusing intently, and spun rapidly while unleashing a spiraling stream of water. The water twisted into a perfect whirlpool, rising into the air like a miniature tornado.
As the whirlpool stabilized, Squirtle leapt high into the air, flipping mid-jump, and dove straight through the vortex. The impact caused the whirlpool to explode outward in a burst of glittering water droplets, drenching the stage in a magical, shimmering mist.
Squirtle landed gracefully in front of Ash, sliding to a stop and striking a victorious pose with its sunglasses glinting in the light.
Ash ran up to Squirtle, lifting it onto his shoulder as the crowd erupted into applause.
"You were amazing, Squirtle! The best performance out there!" Ash exclaimed.
The stage lights dimmed briefly as the announcer's voice echoed through the arena, signaling the next performance.
"And now, ladies and gentlemen, let's welcome our next contestant, Lila from Cerulean City! Known for her creative approach to Pokémon coordination, Lila will be performing with her energetic and dazzling Vaporeon!"
The crowd clapped politely as a young girl with wavy blue hair stepped onto the stage, dressed in a flowing aquamarine outfit that matched her Pokémon's sleek and watery aesthetic. Her Vaporeon followed, its fins glimmering under the stage lightings.
The performance began with Vaporeon stepping into the center of the stage, striking a graceful pose. Lila commanded softly, "Vaporeon, Aqua Ring!"
Vaporeon released a ring of sparkling water that circled its body. With a flick of its tail, it launched the Aqua Ring high into the air, where it burst into a shimmering curtain of droplets.
As the water fell, Vaporeon used Quick Attack to dart through the droplets, creating the illusion of a gliding spirit in the rain. The audience gasped in awe as the water caught the stage lights, forming a dazzling rainbow.
Lila raised her hand dramatically, and Vaporeon responded with Bubble Beam, releasing dozens of gleaming bubbles into the air.
"Vaporeon, show them your elegance with Acid Armor!"
Vaporeon's body shimmered as it used Acid Armor to temporarily vanish from sight. The crowd held their breath, watching the empty stage filled with floating bubbles.
Moments later, Vaporeon reappeared inside a large bubble, gracefully spinning as it floated upward. It manipulated the other bubbles around it, creating a mesmerizing dance of orbs.
Lila clapped her hands twice, signaling the final act.
"Time for the big finish, Vaporeon! Use Ice Beam!"
Vaporeon leapt gracefully into the air, firing a precise Ice Beam at the falling droplets from the Aqua Ring earlier. The water froze instantly, forming sparkling icicles that hung in the air like a chandelier.
"Now, Water Pulse and Hydro Pump together!"
Vaporeon unleashed a powerful Water Pulse, shattering the frozen droplets into a fine mist, and then followed up with Hydro Pump to create a magnificent cascade of water that reflected a dazzling spectrum of colors under the stage lights.
The final result was a radiant display of light and water that resembled the northern lights, earning cheers and applause from the captivated audience.
As the performance concluded, Vaporeon landed gracefully in front of Lila, who curtsied deeply. Vaporeon struck a proud pose beside her, its tail swishing in delight.
The crowd erupted into applause, with some fans waving glowing water-themed banners.