Want to read ahead. You know where
-----
"To give our contestants a taste of what excellence looks like…"
Vivian's voice rang out clearly across the stage, her excitement contagious.
"We are honored to welcome Champion Cynthia and Professor Samuel!"
A wave of anticipation spread through the crowd.
"They're here to bring us a visual feast!" she continued, gesturing grandly.
"Let's give them a big round of applause as they take the stage!"
Applause broke out immediately, loud and eager, echoing through the venue like a rising tide.
Backstage, Sam leaned in close to Cynthia and murmured, "Release your Roserade."
She gave a small nod, already expecting this.
After all, Sam had borrowed Roserade the night before, for what he called "a little warm-up."
She hadn't asked questions; she trusted him.
With a graceful flick of her wrist, Cynthia released Roserade onto the stage.
Sam, in turn, let out his partner: a small, elegant figure bathed in a silver-white glow.
The moment Lugia appeared, the atmosphere shifted.
Gasps erupted.
The applause halted as thousands of eyes locked onto the legendary Pokémon hovering just above the ground, wings folding slightly, its presence majestic even in miniature form.
"Wait… is that, Lugia?"
"No way… That's a real Lugia!"
"I thought they only existed in legends!"
"I'm seeing a Legendary, LIVE!"
"Oh my god, look at that aura…"
"He tamed a Lugia!?"
"Now it makes sense why Cynthia's into him…"
"He's not just some scholar, he's a hidden boss!"
Sam ignored the rising storm of reactions around him.
But beside him, Cynthia allowed herself a small, satisfied smile.
This was exactly why she asked Sam to take the lead in this exhibition.
With that rare Pokémon alone, he could turn heads.
Even if he just stood there and did nothing, the audience would be blown away.
She knew he wasn't a showman, but sometimes, the rarest treasures didn't need grand stages.
They just had to be seen.
"Silver, Safeguard," Sam instructed calmly.
"Liiilii~"
A soft white glow spread from Lugia's body, rippling outward in a protective aura.
The energy wasn't harsh; it was calming, almost like a lullaby made visible.
The crowd, once chaotic, began to settle.
The awe remained, but now it was hushed, reverent.
Sam nodded slightly toward Roserade, then to Silver.
They understood.
He turned toward Cynthia and met her gaze.
No words, just a quiet connection.
Then, softly, he began to sing:
"The wind begins to stir, Wrinkling the stillness of spring's reflection..."
Roserade moved elegantly.
Its red and blue petal-like arms swept upward as it cast Magical Leaf, but without any intent to harm.
Dozens of glowing green leaves spiraled into the air, catching the light as they floated upward, then began to drift gently down like early blossoms in the breeze.
As the leaves fell, Silver spread its wings wide.
"Whirlwind."
A silent gust lifted the leaves again, suspending them midair in a weightless dance.
The shimmering leaves caught the stage lights, scattering them like emerald confetti.
"The summer rains fall endless, Dreams float free, as weightless as petals..."
Sam's voice carried through the hushed arena, low and steady.
Roserade responded in kind, conjuring the brightness of Sunny Day, casting the stage in a golden hue.
But then, unexpectedly, Lugia answered with Rain Dance.
The two moves didn't cancel each other out.
Instead, the sunlight mellowed into a golden drizzle, like warm rain falling in the middle of a summer afternoon.
The Magical Leaves drifted between the soft raindrops, catching light and water alike, painting the air with motion and shimmer.
From spring's tender breath to summer's warm embrace, the scene shifted gently, like a memory unfolding.
The crowd sat silent. Not from boredom. From wonder.
And for that moment, under that rain of magic, nothing else existed but the performance.
"As dusk falls and the autumn haze settles, the crescent moon sketches her brows..."
Sam's voice flowed gently through the air like a breeze stirring fallen leaves.
In perfect harmony, Silver flapped its wings and summoned Sandstorm.
But this wasn't a wild storm; Sam had trained Silver well.
The saffron-colored sand rose gently, swirling into the air, latching onto the green Magical Leaves still suspended from earlier.
Their hue shifted, greens faded into gold and russet.
They looked like crisp autumn leaves caught mid-fall, fluttering across a painted sky.
The scene resembled a dreamscape from Fallarbor Town, touched by the first signs of frost.
"Winter blooms like spring's last flowers... under a sky heavy with snow and silence."
Roserade stepped delicately across the stage, guiding the transformed leaves with precise movements.
They floated toward the ground, drifting like fragile snowflakes.
Silver followed, its wings unfurling as it used Icy Wind.
A glittering chill spread across the leaves as they fell, layering them with frost.
A soft shimmer coated the stage, transforming it into a snow-kissed wonderland.
The warm colors of autumn blended into winter's silvery white, each season flowing into the next like notes in a melody.
At that moment, Sam stepped toward Cynthia.
He reached for her hand.
Their fingers intertwined effortlessly, no hesitation, no words needed. And then, softly, he sang to her:
"I'll send you the wind in March, the rain in June, the gold of September.
The snow that falls across the world 'll be your wedding dress.
I'll give you every dream, every heartbeat, every moment.
Let the rest of my life…
Be about you.
All four seasons, for you."
The words weren't dramatic. They weren't shouted.
But they were real.
And that made them powerful.
Cynthia stood still, her heart stirred by the quiet beauty of it all.
Emotion welled up in her chest before she even realized.
Tears shimmered in her golden eyes.
Unconsciously, she leaned her head onto Sam's shoulder.
The lights, the snow, the stillness of the moment, all seemed to freeze in time.
And then, together, they turned and bowed.
The illusion broke.
The audience snapped out of the dreamlike trance and exploded into applause.
Cheers rang out across the venue.
Some stood. Some wiped away tears.
Others just clapped until their hands ached.
Especially the women, many were visibly moved, some crying from sheer emotion and admiration.
"The spring's gentle bloom…The heat of midsummer…The melancholy of autumn frost…The golden sun in winter..."
"It was like watching a dream, one that shifts with every season…"
"And that last line… 'Four seasons for you', I'm done. I'm in tears!"
"Waaaah! Where can I get a guy like Professor Samuel?!"
"That wasn't just a performance… that was real love!"
"Their relationship is straight out of a fairytale…"
"That was the most romantic kind of dog food, and I'll eat it gladly!"
"I don't even need dinner anymore. I'm full from the wholesomeness!"
It took a while before the crowd even began to settle.
Eventually, host Vivian returned to the stage, visibly moved, but smiling brightly.
"What an unforgettable performance from Professor Samuel and Champion Cynthia!"
"I think I speak for everyone when I say, this left a mark on our hearts!"
"Let's give them another round of applause!"
Clap! Clap! Clap!
This time, the applause was thunderous, louder than before, waves crashing in celebration.
And through it all, Cynthia remained dazed, still caught in the moment.
She looked at Sam's profile, his calm, serious expression, the way he didn't seem to even care about the adoration surrounding them.
"…I just told you to handle it," she whispered, almost scolding, but her voice was soft, teasing.
"I didn't expect you to be so romantic."
Sam finally turned to face her, his tone low and private as he leaned toward her ear.
"Did you like it?"
Cynthia didn't reply in words.
She didn't need to.
Her eyes sparkled with something more than admiration, something deeply personal.
She leaned in.
And kissed him.
Just one soft kiss.
But the reaction from the crowd was immediate.
Another wave of applause surged, this time even more intense than the last, cheering not just for a performance, but for the real connection that had bloomed before their eyes.
The whole arena celebrated as if they'd witnessed something sacred.
And maybe… they had.