Chapter 660: To Make a Musical
~Third POV~
[Unova Region, Next Day, Nimbasa City – Hotel]
The morning sun of the Unova Region didn't just rise over Nimbasa City; it seemed to explode against the glass and steel of the metropolis, shattering into a million shimmering reflections. Nimbasa was a city that never truly slept, but in the upper floors of one of its premier hotels, the hum of the city's electric soul was a distant, rhythmic thrum.
Inside a lavish suite, Black groaned, his eyes fluttering open as the golden light filtered through the sheer curtains. His head felt like it had been stuffed with Wooloo wool. This was the curse of a boy who dreamed too hard; when his mind drifted into the vast, competitive future of the Unova League, his brain often short-circuited, leaving him in a state of mental exhaustion that only a good night's sleep—or a Munna's appetite—could cure.
Black muttered, sitting up, "Ugh... where...?"
"Morning, sleepyhead! Bzzzt! You've been out for ten hours, six minutes, and forty-two seconds! Efficiency levels: Zero!"
Black jumped. Hovering near the foot of his bed was the Arc Phone, or rather, the Rotom currently inhabiting it. The orange, plasma-bodied Pokémon whizzed around his head, its digital eyes blinking with mischievous energy.
A calm, deeper voice resonated from across the room, "Pipe down, Rotom."
Azure was already dressed, sitting by the window with a cup of hot tea.
On his shoulder, his Pikachu was busy grooming its tail, while an Eevee sat perched atop Azure's head like a fluffy crown. Tucked into the fold of Azure's jacket, a Pichu (Mew) peeked out with a sleepy yawn.
Black asked, rubbing his eyes, "Azure? What time is it?"
Azure replied with a smirk whilst taking a sip of his tea, "Late enough for the world to move on without you, but early enough that the toast is still warm. White's already in the kitchen. She's been up for hours."
Black scrambled out of bed, his excitement returning as the fog in his mind cleared. He quickly changed into his signature outfit, the red and black vest feeling like a suit of armor for the day ahead. He stepped into the kitchen area, and the aroma of fresh bread and Moomoo Milk hit him like a physical force.
*Clink-Slurp-Munch*
White was sitting at the table, her brow furrowed in concentration. In her arms, she held a small, fuzzy Larvesta—Lavi—carefully tilting a bottle of Moomoo Milk. The little Fire-type nuzzled against her, its five red horns glowing faintly with warmth. Beside her, Gigi the Tepig was happily munching on some premium Pokémon food, her tail wagging like a metronome.
White said without looking up, her voice a mix of professional sternness and maternal warmth for the Larvesta, "Morning, Black! I bought those clothes for you on the chair. Wear them well; we have a big day."
She set the bottle down and handed Black a piece of thick-cut toast slathered in rich cream. She said bluntly, "Eat. We're going to make a dream a reality today."
Black took a massive bite, his muffled voice asking, "Whut dreem?"
White pulled a glossy pamphlet from her bag and slapped it onto the table. In bold, shimmering letters, it read: THE POKÉMON MUSICAL.
White explained, her eyes sparkling with the fire of a CEO, "The city's been building the Dome for months, but they lacked a vision. The BW Agency is stepping in. We aren't just providing the talent; we're producing the grand opening."
She whistled, and Gigi hopped onto the table. The Tepig was wearing a miniature pink ribbon behind her ear and holding a tiny, frilled umbrella in her mouth. Gigi chirped, spinning in a circle, "Tepi-pi!"
Black blinked, his toast halfway to his mouth. He said, trying to find the right words, "Whoa… She looks... fancy?"
White corrected, "She looks adorable!"
She then turned to the window and pulled back the heavy drapes. Below them, the Nimbasa Musical Dome stood like a giant, pearl-colored seashell, its neon lights flickering as technicians performed final checks.
White said, turning to the older boy, "Azure! Did you bring them?"
Azure nodded, standing up as his shadow seemed to flicker and lengthen unnaturally. From the darkness behind him, Gengar emerged with a low, raspy chuckle. Gengar rasped, "Kekeke... everything is ready, Boss!"
Unlike most Pokémon, this Gengar had learned to mimic human speech through sheer ghostly will and English Courses. Azure reached for two Luxury Balls on his belt as he said casually, "I called in a few favors from my time in Hoenn. If we're going to make this musical a legend, we need the gold standard of beauty."
*POP*
He tossed the balls. In two bursts of white light, a Milotic and a Gardevoir appeared. The Milotic coiled gracefully across the floor, her scales shimmering like iridescent oil on water. Gardevoir bowed elegantly, her psychic aura radiating a sense of profound calm.
Gardevoir's voice echoed directly into their minds with an excited smile, 'I shall lend my grace to this endeavor. It is a far cry from the usual battle training, but art has its own merits. And the experience…!'
Suddenly, a shimmer appeared in the air next to Azure. A small, slender Pokémon with hair like a musical staff materialized. Meloetta looked at the Milotic, then at White, and then crossed her arms, turning her head away with a huff.
Meloetta's telepathic voice sounded in Azure's head, 'I suppose I can help, but don't think I'm doing this because I want to dance for people! I just... I just don't want your little 'musical' to be a total disaster without a real performer.'
Azure chuckled, reaching out to pat Meloetta's head. She swiped his hand away but didn't move far as he said, "We appreciate the 'charity,' Meloetta."
*CLAP*
White clapped her hands as she declared in an excited tone, "Alright! Trio, move out! We have a Dome to conquer!"
/////
[Unova Region, Nimbasa City – Musical Dome]
The walk to the Dome was a sensory overload. The air in Nimbasa tasted of ozone and popcorn. Everywhere they looked, there were flashing billboards, the roar of the Small and Big Stadiums in the distance, and the high-pitched whirring of the Gear Station's trains.
White explained as they bypassed the long lines of tourists at the entrance, "The Mayor is obsessed with this! He wants Nimbasa to be the cultural capital of Unova, not just the sports capital."
Inside the Dome, the scale was even more impressive. The ceiling was a massive dome of LED screens currently displaying a starry night sky. The stage was a rotating disc of polished wood, surrounded by a runway that extended into the audience.
A frantic staff member cried out, running over with a stack of clipboards, "President White! You're here! The lighting rig for the second act is flickering, and the props for the 'Starlight Forest' set haven't arrived!"
White said casually, her voice dropping into a commanding, low register, "Take a breath. Black, keep Musha close. If she starts eating the 'dreams' of the staff, we're going to lose our momentum. Azure, can you have Rotom interface with the lighting board? It'll be faster than a manual repair."
Rotom dived into the nearest console, his digital face appearing on every monitor in the room. Rotom buzzed excitedly, "On it. Bzzzt! Moving at the speed of light! The Great Rotom is in the house!"
White didn't wait. She began barking orders, reviewing music scores, and adjusting the placement of floral props with the precision of a general. Black watched her, mesmerized. He had seen White be bossy before, but this was different.
She was in her element.
Black whispered, "She's incredible."
Azure remarked, leaning against a pillar, "That's the power of a specialist. The world is full of young prodigies, Black. Some are born for the battlefield, others for the stage. White is a master of the latter."
White shouted as she pointed, "Alright, rehearsal starts now! Gigi, to the runway! Gardevoir, Milotic, take your marks!"
The music began—a sweeping, orchestral piece with a heavy rhythmic beat. Gigi hopped onto the stage, her little umbrella held high. She began a choreographed dance, her tiny feet clicking against the wood in perfect time.
*Click-tap—click-tap*
Then, the beauty.
Gardevoir glided forward, her movements so fluid they looked like slow-motion film. She used Confusion to lift shimmering petals into the air, swirling them around Gigi. Milotic followed, weaving through the petals, her tail glowing with an Aqua Ring that caught the stage lights, creating miniature rainbows that danced across the walls.
Meloetta whispered telepathically, hovering near the rafters, 'Hmm… Not bad. But they lack... soul.'
With a sigh that sounded like a flute note, Meloetta dived from the ceiling. She shifted into her Pirouette Form mid-air, her hair wrapping around her head like a cap, her dress shortening into a tutu. She landed on the runway with a silent thud and began a series of rapid-fire spins that left an afterimage of orange and brown.
The staff stopped. The construction workers froze.
Even Black forgot to breathe.
White suddenly yelled, waving her arms, "HOLD IT!"
*SCREEEE*
The music cut out with a screech.
The Pokémon halted.
White pointed at the rafters as she began to explain, "The lighting is too warm! It's clashing with Milotic's scales. Shift the hue to a cool blue, 2700 Kelvin! And the tempo... it needs to be 5% faster during Meloetta's solo. We aren't putting on a lullaby; we're putting on a musical revolution!"
Black blinked. He muttered, "She's terrifying."
Azure corrected, though he was smiling, "She's a professional."
"Excuse me? Is that boy your employee?"
A new voice entered the fray—rich, melodic, and humored. Black and Azure turned to see a woman standing near the stage entrance. She was tall, with striking blonde hair styled into two long, electrified-looking bolts.
She wore an oversized yellow coat that looked like it was made of pure static. Beside her stood a Zebstrika, draped in a high-fashion coat and a matching fedora.
The Pokémon looked remarkably dignified, its hooves tapping the floor with a rhythmic clack-clack noise around them.
*Clack-clack*
The woman said, walking toward them with the grace of a cat, "I was at the meeting with the city biz people. They were all lost. They had this beautiful building and no soul to put inside it. Then this little girl—your 'President'—walks in and tells the Mayor his ideas are 'boring.' I thought he'd have a heart attack. Instead, he gave her the keys to the city."
The woman looked at White, who was currently arguing with a sound technician. She praised lightly, "She's adept. She doesn't just manage; she inspires. I haven't seen that kind of fire in a long time."
She then turned her gaze to Black and then asked curiously, "And you must be Black. I've heard about you. The boy who uses a Munna to clear his head so he can play detective. A very... unique methodology."
Black blushed, feeling the heat rise to his ears. He muttered, a bit embarrassed about the praise, "I—uh—yeah. That's me."
She said, stepping toward Azure, "And you…"
Her eyes sharpened, scanning him from head to toe, continuing, "Azure Sky. The 'Uncrowned Champion.' The man who conquered the Hoenn and Sinnoh Frontiers and Championships but then... just walked away."
Azure didn't flinch. He casually shrugged his shoulders, stating, "I didn't walk away. I just went for a stroll. The world's a big place."
The woman chuckled, stepping into his personal space. She didn't look at Azure's face, however. Her eyes were locked on the Pikachu on his shoulder. Slowly, she reached out and ran a finger over the Pikachu's cheek.
*Zzzzt*
A small spark of electricity jumped between them. Pikachu chirped happily, leaning into the touch. She whispered, "Oh, how soft."
She then moved to the Eevee on Azure's head, giving its ears a gentle rub, and finally reached for the 'Pichu' in his jacket. She rubbed its belly, her eyes half-closing in delight as she commented, "Your Pokémon are beautifully maintained. Fluffy, healthy, and brimming with power. I can feel the voltage lurking under the surface."
Azure said proudly, leaning back slightly, "They like the attention. But I think my Gengar is getting jealous."
From the shadows, Gengar's head popped out. She exclaimed, "Hey! Where's my head-pat? I'm fluffy too, in a gaseous sort of way!"
The woman laughed, a bright, electric sound.
She then said in a curious tone, "A talking Gengar. And a Meloetta. You really do attract the legends, don't you? People spend their whole lives searching for a glimpse of a Mythical, and you have them acting as stagehands for a musical."
Azure shrugged as he said dismissively, "Luck of the draw. Or a curse, depending on the day. Usually, when a Legend shows up, something is about to explode."
The woman announced, stepping back and striking a pose that belonged on the cover of a magazine, "I'm Elesa. Gym Leader of Nimbasa City, and part-time model. Seeing White work like this... It's made me want to get involved. I've decided to volunteer as a model for the opening show."
She looked at her Zebstrika as she said fondly, "What do you think, darling? Shall we show them what true Nimbasa style looks like?"
The Zebstrika let out a low, confident cry, "Neigh!"
Elesa turned back to Black, her smile becoming a bit more mischievous as she said teasefully, "Don't look so dazed, Black. I've heard everything about you. Girls talk, you know. Nothing stays a secret for long in the show biz world."
Black felt like he was losing his mind. He couldn't help but ask, "Wait, who told you? What did they say?"
Elesa said, winking, teasing him, "Oh, just that you're very... intense."
Black blushed at her words. Then she looked at Azure, asking curiously, "And you. I expect a battle after the grand opening. I want to see if the rumors of the 'Uncrowned Champion' are true, or if you've gone soft playing producer."
Azure's eyes sharpened. For a moment, the atmosphere in the room shifted. The playful banter vanished, replaced by the heavy, oppressive weight of two high-level trainers acknowledging each other.
They both stared at each other intensely. Azure said firmly, his voice dropping an octave, "I'm never soft, Elesa. But let's get through the musical first. I'd hate to ruin your Gym floor before the fans get a chance to see you."
Elesa laughed, turning on her heel, stating, "A bold claim! I like it!"
As she walked away, Black leaned over to Azure. He asked, feeling dizzy in a nervous tone, "My head is still hazy. Did a Gym Leader just ask us to be part of a fashion show and then challenge us to a fight?"
*Slap*
Azure slapped Black's back, nearly knocking the wind out of him. He said calmly with an eager grin, "Welcome to Nimbasa, Black. It's the city of dreams and lightning. Now, quit gawking. White's looking at us, and she looks like she's about to throw a prop if we don't get back to work."
True to his word, White was standing in the center of the stage, hands on her hips. She shouted aloud, "Azure! Black! The 'Starlight Forest' set needs to be moved, and the Sewaddles we hired for the costumes are on strike! Get over here!"
Black shouted, his own competitive fire finally catching up to White's, "On it, President White!"
Azure saluted along with his Pikachu, Eevee, and Pichu. They all said, "Aye! Pika! Eevoi! Pichu! (Aye!!!)"
/////
[Unova Region, Hours Later, Nimbasa City – Musical Dome]
The hours that followed were a blur of motion.
*Whirr-clack-thud*
The stage moved.
*Flash-spark-glow*
The lights were tested.
Azure found himself using his Pignite and Braviary to lift heavy equipment, while his Cinccino worked with the Sewaddle to ensure the silk costumes were of the highest quality and cleanliness.
Even the tsundere Meloetta eventually gave in, her voice rising in a hauntingly beautiful melody that echoed through the Dome's acoustics, testing the soundboard to its limits. Meloetta projected to Azure, 'I'm only singing so I can hear myself. The acoustics in here are... acceptable. Barely.'
Azure thought back, smiling as he watched her hit a high note that made the crystal chandeliers vibrate, 'Sure, Meloetta.'
Black was tasked with coordination. He ran back and forth between the sub-basement and the rafters, his boundless energy finally being put to a non-combat use. He felt a strange sense of pride as he watched the empty shell of the Dome slowly transform into a dreamscape.
In the center of it all was White.
She was the conductor of this chaotic symphony. She didn't have a Pokémon team that could level a mountain like Azure, and she didn't have the obsessive battle focus of Black, but she had something else.
She had the vision to see how a hundred different pieces could fit together to create something beautiful.
As evening began to fall, the Dome was finally quiet. The staff had gone home to rest before the big day. The only ones left were the trio and their Pokémon.
White sat on the edge of the stage, her legs dangling. She looked exhausted, her hair a bit messy, but there was a smile on her face that Black hadn't seen before. She whispered, "We did it. Well, we're ready to do it. We just need a few days left."
Azure said calmly, handing her a fresh bottle of water, "You did it, White. The BW Agency is going to be the talk of the region."
White said calmly, leaning her head on Azure's shoulder for just a second before snapping back into professional mode, "I hope so… Black! Don't think you're off the hook. Tomorrow, you're in charge of the stage-left Pokémon entries. If a single Patrat misses its cue, it's coming out of your paycheck!"
Black yelled, but he was grinning. "I'm not even getting paid!"
As they walked back toward the hotel, the neon lights of Nimbasa flickered to life, painting the city in shades of electric blue and hot pink.
Behind them, the Musical Dome glowed like a beacon. Inside, the dreams of a young president, the grace of a champion's team, and the hidden power of a boy who dreamed of the League were all waiting for the curtain to rise.
Azure glanced back at the Dome, his hand instinctively touching the Pokéball containing his Kyurem. Nimbasa was a city of lights, but lights always cast long shadows. For now, though, he would let White have her moment.
The battle could wait. The music would soon begin.
/////
A/n: Hope you like the chapter!