Though the Trainer insisted it was very cute, with a body like this... it couldn't possibly perform the kind of graceful dance that Mawile does, could it?
Don't force yourself to do something you're not good at.
Blissey, fully aware of its own limitations, suggested that it should sing while Mawile danced, "happy~"
"Singing and dancing, huh... that does add a sense of combination to it, so let's build on this and conceive a more advanced performance,"
Baimu knew that always having Mawile dance might seem a bit old-fashioned.
But that's exactly what defines Mawile; like how Piplup uses Tide Spin from start to finish, binding the term 'dance' tightly to Mawile is what he should do.
Instead of changing tactics on stage to seek other performance styles.
As for the problem of being old-fashioned… it could completely be alleviated by having other Pokémon perform at times. If one show isn't enough, then every other show; the audience will never think it's old-fashioned; they might even look forward to Mawile's dance.
After all, dance forms are never just one kind, and the dances it performed in the first two competitions were the completely distinct [Spinning Dance] and [Fan Dance].
"The dance we need to perform this time..."
Baimu thought deeply with his pen, realizing that deciding what song Blissey would sing was more important than thinking of the dance first.
The tune of Blissey's song would decide the dance style.
Though the star of the performance would still be Mawile, who is more endearing to the audience, the performance, after all, was to be completed by the collaboration of two Pokémon, and Blissey's presence shouldn't be diminished, creating the impression that it's merely a supporting character to highlight the former.
The audience might not mind.
But the judges would definitely focus on this aspect, where the roles of primary, secondary, or joint performers are all crucial.
"The song… what song can you sing?"
Baimu suddenly realized that Blissey only knew one song—
The song of Hypnosis.
"Happy~"
Hearing the Trainer's voice, Blissey started singing, with barely noticeable soundwaves spreading from its mouth, colorful notes rising up.
"Chidor!"
Seeing this, Mawile's eyes sparkled slightly and it quickly rotated in the middle of the notes. Soft pale pink breezes moved the notes without breaking them, blowing them into the sky.
Pop! Pop! Pop!
The notes rose to a certain height and burst like balloons...
Mawile was a bit disappointed. If fireworks had appeared after the balloons burst, Fairy Wind and singing might have made a good combination.
But with such a promising prelude, the follow-up fell flat… the anticlimactic performance method obviously didn't suit the Gorgeous Competition.
However, more than anything else, what caught Baimu's attention was the tune of Blissey's song.
"It's just the simplest and plainest tune… it's fine to sing alone, but it's not quite suitable for integration with dance. It seems you need to learn how to perform a real 'song'. "
He said to Blissey.
"Happy?"
The latter felt a bit confused.
"You'll know tomorrow... I have to find you a 'music teacher'." He laughed.
In fact.
Baimu knew long ago that Fallarbor Town's Gorgeous Competition was a doubles event, and during the time in Verdanturf Town, he had already cultivated the synergy between Mawile and Blissey.
That's why Mawile could handle the situation so easily just now, without destroying the notes and sending them skyward.
In other words, they had already established a basis for collaboration.
Similarly, it wasn't just those two. Shiny Feebas, as a future potential mainstay of the Gorgeous Competition, though considerably weaker, had also collaborated with Mawile and Blissey under Baimu's firm insistence.
Gotta say.
Shiny Feebas found team battles with its companions even more discomforting than being beaten solo. It wasn't that it had any issue with Blissey and Mawile, but the psychological burden was just too overwhelming.
It was very much like the Blissey of the past, quite self-conscious due to its own shortcomings, afraid of being a burden to others.
And there's no way that Blissey and Mawile could be completely unaware of Shiny Feebas's condition, as they're very sensitive Pokémon, especially the former—
Having been in the rain itself, it always wants to hold an umbrella for others.
From self-pity to compassion, Blissey knows all too well how self-infliction can torment a Pokémon, so when assisting or guiding Shiny Feebas, it often puts in special effort.
So does Mawile.
The three form a Gorgeous Competition besties group, supporting and progressing with each other.
This is also one of the main reasons Shiny Feebas is reluctant to return to its old place. Besides its most idolized Aggron, Blissey and Mawile are its best friends.
They're all so adorable and don't mind how ugly it is.
——
Da Wu studied from evening until midnight.
When he finally lifted his head, he realized it was already 3 AM.
In the courtyard.
His Metagross and Aggron were snoozing together, and not far away was Porygon, looking like a toy rocking horse, carrying the Galarian Corsola.
Baimu rested on Hydreigon's body, with Mawile and Blissey at his sides, and the Shiny Feebas sleeping in a small tank.
Everything looked extremely peaceful and harmonious.
"Becoming more and more like an ordinary Trainer."
Da Wu smiled.
He felt comfort in Baimu adapting to this way of life; Pyrite Town is definitely not a place where a normal person can survive, with many of its younger generations holding twisted views that are quite heartbreaking.
Da Wu recalled once meeting a young child who had come to the mining area with his parents. During their conversation, the child curiously asked him: "Is the world outside where everyone can eat white bread? Where anyone can become a Trainer?"