Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Performers of Harmony

[EmeraldSky]

Act 6: The First Show (part 3)

As the lights came up in the theater for intermission, Sakura met Lita in the wings. "How did I do for my fight scene?"

"You did very well." Lita smiled. "I tried to come up with challenges that fit you and your character's abilities for your set--both Rio's and Ruby's sets have challenges to suit their abilities, too."

"I can't wait to see my set in a few minutes!" Rio smiled.

"How am I doing playing Kitsune?" Charlotte asked as she approached Lita, her costume Delphox ears in her paws.

"You're doing great." Lita replied. "Remember that while she is a divine Pokemon, she is also playful. Try to keep both sides of her personality in balance."

"Right." Charlotte nodded before putting her costume ears back on and hurrying into position for Act 2...

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As the orchestra finished the overture for Act 2, a spotlight appeared on Brenna's nook. "Irvine rode to the rock on the shore and released Princess Ariana. He told her who he was, and kept watch for the six-headed Hydreigon." she narrated.

The audience gasped in fear and awe as Rio stared down a six headed Hydreigon puppet while a normal Vulpix playing Princess Ariana shuddered in a hidden nook on the set.

After a few tense moments, the lead puppeteer repeated the same Low Galarian song.

Boladh mé rud éigin go maith!
Beidh mé ag titim air agus a dhéanamh cothrom air!
Feicfidh mé pioc a chnámha agus deoch a chuid fola!

Rio drew his prop sword in defiance. "Stop boasting! You will have time enough to boast after you fight!"

"Oh, you want to fight, do you?" the Hydreigon puppet's shot back. "Very well! Blow then with your sweet breath, blow out a long level platform of silver, where we can meet and battle."

"No--you blow instead, and let it be a platform of steel." Rio retorted.

As if in response to Rio's request, the Hydreigon puppet blew, revealing a steel platform at the top of another temple set filled with ropes and spring platforms.

Lita watched as Rio quickly swung and bounced his way to the top of the set, then engaged the Hydreigon puppet in a mock sword fight. Building Rio's set was the hardest one--but he's pretty agile, so I knew he could handle this challenge!

Cheers from the audience snapped her to attention as a beautiful Lunala puppet flew majestically across the top of the stage, signalling Rio's character's victory. Now only Ruby's scene is left... Lita thought with a smile.

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"The king was awakened by the sound and looked out the castle window." Brenna narrated over the orchestra's victory theme. "When he saw Lunala had returned to her place in the sky, his eyes overflowed with tears of both sadness and joy--happiness that Lunala had returned and Princess Ariana was safe, and tears that his youngest, Princess Christina, was still in danger."

She went on "When the heroes heard of the king's grief, Eliana stepped forward and said..."

"This last battle is for me!" Ruby proclaimed from a spotlight, striking a heroic pose all the while.

Even Lita couldn't help smiling at the dialogue playing out on stage. Oh Ruby...even when we were little, you were always wanting to play the hero. Now that we have started our own little troupe of actors, you can play all the heroes you want. Just remember to let everyone else shine, too...

"Let the night come! I am ready for the monster!" Ruby vowed, to some laughter from the audience at her heroic pose.

Lita watched as Ruby used her archery skill to create a stairwell up to where the Alolan Vulpix playing Princess Christina was hidden. Thank Arceus those drop platforms worked! We had so much trouble getting them to drop in rehearsal!

Onstage, Ruby called to the Alolan Vulpix "Wait for me behind the rock!"

"Be careful!" the Alolan Vulpix called as Ruby defiantly stared down a nine headed Hydreigon puppet.

After a few tense moments, the lead puppeteer repeated the same Low Galarian song.

Boladh mé rud éigin go maith!
Beidh mé ag titim air agus a dhéanamh cothrom air!
Feicfidh mé pioc a chnámha agus deoch a chuid fola!

"Stop boasting! You will have time enough to boast after you fight!" Ruby called.

"Oh, you want to fight, do you?" the Hydreigon puppet asked. "Very well! Then blow out a long level platform of sunshine gold. There we can meet in battle!"

"No! You blow." Ruby replied. "Instead of sunshine gold, we will have a platform of moonlight silver."

"So the monster blew, and on the silver platform Eliana met him in battle." Brenna narrated as Ruby nocked a prop arrow, training her eye on the first of the six prop targets she had to hit.

The crowd cheered as the "battle" raged onstage. Nice work! Lita smiled as Ruby easily hit the first target. Remember that you don't have to hit the targets in a specific order--just so long as you manage to hit the one on its chest last!

She held her breath as Ruby fired the shot intended for the chest target. I know you can do this--we did well in rehearsal!

A triumphant stinger and the stage brightening as a majestic Solgaleo puppet roared in triumph signaled that Ruby's character had won...

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"Okay, everyone--Trista's review of our play was printed!" Lita called a few days later, prompting the group, all the other actors, and the crew to crowd around the table in a conference room.

"What did she have to say?" Charlotte was intrigued.

"Fledgling troupe of actors show great promise in debut play." Lita read the headline.

Tears of happiness welled up in her eyes as she looked out on her friends and the many others that had brought the show to life. "Everyone...let me just say thank you for your hard work, and for making overnight a success. Can I trust all of you to continue giving your best for a good show...no matter what happens, and no matter where we may perform?"

"I'm here all the way!" Ruby smiled.

"Me too!" Charlotte agreed.

"I'll go with you all the way to Luminous City...and beyond!" Rio smiled.

"The more good shows we perform here, the more likely we will be invited to perform elsewhere." Lita reminded the excited Pokemon as she found a knife to cut the beautiful sparkling cake congratulating the group. "But for today, let's celebrate!"

To Be Continued...