Under the moonlight, by the stream beside the bamboo forest.
“Bao Bao~~”
A Bao Bao bug bent a bamboo stalk into a slide.
It lay under a leaf and slid down the curved bamboo straight into the stream.
“Bao Bao~”
It was having a lot of fun.
The fully fed Roll-Ear Pokémon joined the game too.
One after another, they rushed towards the stream.
By the bonfire.
Ye Ling finished a bowl of rice and leaned back: "Finally, I'm alive."
Su Qian Qian patted her: "Hey hey, watch your image."
Ye Ling stood up, her hair loose: "Do I even have one left?"
"Chuan Chuan~"
The Mole Pokémon seemed to like Ye Ling. It served her another bowl of rice.
Ye Ling reached out to take it: "No, I can't eat any more."
Natsume smiled at the two: "It seems you've gotten the Mole Pokémon's approval."
Ye Ling, upon hearing this, looked at the Mole Pokémon with a moved expression: "You approve of me?"
"Chuan Chuan~"
The Mole Pokémon raised its arm.
Gurgling~
The Mudkip floated up from the water, looking at Natsume.
Natsume, seeing this, took out a Rolycoly and threw it towards the surface of the stream.
The Mudkip immediately leaped up and opened its mouth to catch the Rolycoly.
"Nice catch."
Natsume praised: "Let's do it again~"
"Awoo~"
The Houndoom also wanted to play.
"No problem."
Natsume said: "This time I'll throw it further."
"Blacklu!"
Blackluga immediately stood up.
Natsume forcefully threw the Rolycoly in his hand far away.
Blackluga and Houndoom both rushed out.
"Mr. Natsume."
Ye Ling, looking at this scene, suddenly said with envy: "Being able to pursue the life you want, that must be happy..."
Natsume looked at Ye Ling: "Isn't this the life you want now?"
Ye Ling said with a bitter face: "My family all hope that I will become a professional breeder in the future."
Ye Ling scratched her hair as she spoke.
"Of course, it's not to say that being a breeder is bad... it's just..."
Natsume looked at Ye Ling: "You have something you want to do even more?"
"Yes!"
Ye Ling nodded: "Honestly, I want to become a Contest Performer!"
"Contest Performer, that's amazing."
Natsume praised: "Have you participated in any competitions?"
Ye Ling shook her head: "Not really."
Su Qian Qian said: "Although she hasn't participated in any competitions, her performance with her Bulbasaur is really amazing."
Ye Ling said embarrassedly: "It's not that exaggerated."
Natsume was curious: "Can I see it?"
"Of course~"
Ye Ling stood up: "But, if the performance is bad, don't laugh, okay?"
"I won't."
The Roll-Ear Pokémon, seeing that Ye Ling seemed to want to perform a show, all focused their attention on her.
"Dana~"
Ye Ling's Bulbasaur stood beside her.
Ye Ling took a deep breath and looked at Natsume and the Pokémon: "Everyone, the performance I'm about to perform is called (Heartbeat)"
"Bulbasaur, use Vine Whip!"
"Chana~"
On both sides of Bulbasaur's body, the Vine Whip curled up.
Two Vine Whips formed a heart-shaped arch in front of Ye Ling.
"Next is Magical Leaf!"
"Chana!"
Green energy formed into a series of leaves, covering the heart-shaped arch.
Then, an amazing scene occurred.
These Magical Leaves, within the heart-shaped arch, actually began to vibrate like a heartbeat.
Natsume was surprised: "Such amazing energy control."
If the fighting styles of Pokémon Trainers are all violent aesthetics, then the battles of every Contest Performer are an art exhibition!
Next~
Bang~
The Magical Leaves suddenly burst open, turning into green starlight.
The starlight flickered.
Ye Ling, standing in the heart-shaped arch, stretched her body.
She was like a rotating doll in a music box.
Her toes tapped the ground, a radiant smile on her face, as she slowly rotated in place.
The light gradually faded around her body.
Ye Ling retracted her body, as if she was facing a countless audience, and bowed, taking a curtain call.
Clap clap~
Natsume gently clapped his hands: "Ten out of ten."
"Perfect harmony between human and Pokémon."
Su Qian Qian followed and shouted: "Ten out of ten for me too!"
Ten out of ten is the highest evaluation for a Contest Performer.
Because when Contest Performers compete, they are judged by judges.
Scores range from one to ten.
Ye Ling said happily: "So, I'm qualified?"
"Of course."
Natsume looked at Ye Ling: "But, you probably haven't performed in front of your family, have you?"
Ye Ling nodded: "Of course not."
"Because performing for my family, it just feels weird. Plus, they don't really approve of me becoming a Contest Performer."
Natsume said: "Actually, many Trainers are born from breeders."
"Like many Gym Leaders, they are also very good at breeding their Pokémon."
"Because they are good at breeding Pokémon, they understand the characteristics and abilities of Pokémon even better."
Natsume looked at Ye Ling, who was looking back at him: "So, I think you can use your identity as a breeder to stand on the stage of a Contest Performer."
"It might be a bit tough."
"But I believe that one day, no one will ignore the light in you."
Ye Ling stared blankly at Natsume: "Do you think I'll succeed?"
Natsume smiled: "Of course you will."
"I'm looking forward to seeing you on the world stage one day."
“Wow!”
Ye Ling suddenly started crying: "This is the first time someone has acknowledged my dream like this!"
Su Qian Qian said angrily: "Hey, I'm not a person?"
"Am I a person?"
Ye Ling looked at the angry Su Qian Qian and laughed again: "You're different."
"Dana!"
Bulbasaur jumped onto Ye Ling and patted her with its Vine Whip.
Ye Ling hugged Bulbasaur: "I've decided, Bulbasaur!"
"Let's go to the Contest together!"
"Dana~"
Pokémon are the most incredible creatures in the world!
Some people say: There are as many dreams as there are Pokémon.
There are as many Pokémon as there are adventures waiting for you ahead...