Birds of a Feather

Oh! Hi there, Scottie!

Can I ask you for a favor?

If you have some free time, would you battle me and Ali?

I'm usually around town, so it'd be great if you could accept my challenge!

Scottie accepted Lisia's challenge, and many people gathered to watch.

The audience roared with excitement as a spectacular battle unfolded before them.

Oh no! Ali?!

I knew it, Scottie! You're sooo strong!

*sigh* I need to get better at Pokémon battles...

Kinda... Let me explain.

Yep! I want to be able to hold my own against everyone here!

You see, a contest is going to be held on Pasio soon, and I was actually asked to help with the opening ceremony!

There'll be four sync pairs competing at once, just like in an actual contest....

but the Pasio contest will also include an onstage battle segment!

If we were just being judged on our appeal, I know I'd be fine, but I'm not confident in my battling. I don't wanna disappoint the audience...

Ali is working so hard, so I want to get stronger, too! That's why I have to battle a lot!

If that's the case, how about a battle with me?

Oh, Hilda! Hi there!

Sorry to butt in! I was on my way to ask if you wanted to get some Casteliacones when I overheard your conversation!

What do you say to grabbing some dessert and having a battle with me afterward?

Really?! I'd love to!

Except...after this, I have some contest idol work I need to take care of.

Can I take a rain check for tomorrow? Will you two be free then?

That Altaria... Ali, was it? He's so gorgeous and adorable! Grooming him must be a full-time job!

Between taking part in contests, battling, and being a contest idol, Lisia sure has a lot of irons in the fire!

I thought I had my hands full back in Unova, but she's definitely teaching me a thing or two about being busy!

Phew! Boy, is it getting late! C'mon, Ali, let's get some more battle training in!

We made a promise to that Trainer we met back in Hoenn!

We promised that we'd try to do a lot of different things together, Ali!

... ... ...

OK! It's showtime!

Yeah! Give us all you got!

Here we go, Ali! We can't let the audience down!

Oh no! Ali, are you OK?!

Gosh, you really got us there, Hilda!

Um, Lisia? Can I say something...

Not your most elegant performance, Lisia.

Uncle Wallace!

There's something different about the way you battle compared to them, Lisia.

I'm sure you know that better than anyone, don't you?

... ... ...

Yes, I know. That's precisely why she needs to hear this.

Yes, I know. But I'm not just talking about winning or losing. That's why she needs to hear this.

Thanks, Scottie!

But I know I'm still not good enough yet. I have to work even harder!

Thanks, you two! I'll see you later!

Lisia...

Sorry, Scottie. I have to go talk to her.

There's something important I need to tell her!

(What a wonderful friend you have, Lisia.)

(Though I was kind of hoping you'd be able to figure out what you're missing on your own.)

(I suppose what I was taught has since fallen out of fashion, huh?)

Lisia!

Hehehe! Boy, battles are really tough! I guess I just have to...

I need to talk to you about our battle!

Huh?

I wish you had been more focused on me and Emboar during our battle!

...!

It's great that you're always thinking about how to entertain everyone, Lisia.

But during a Pokémon battle, you can't be so focused on the audience!

I don't know a lot about contests or what it's like to be a contest idol...

but in battle, you have to be 100 percent focused! Not just on your opponent, on your partner battling alongside you, too!

I...need to focus on my partner...

Losing can be frustrating, but what's more frustrating is seeing you not reach your full potential in battle!

Especially because I've seen how hard you and Ali have been training!

I don't think it would disappoint your fans at all if you shifted your attention from them to the battle at hand!

Don't be afraid to give the battle your undivided attention! Face your opponent head on with everything you've got!

If we could have a match like that, I think people would really enjoy watching it, no matter who wins or loses!

...Hilda, would it be all right if I asked you for another battle?

OK... Take two! Here we go!

All right! We're not gonna hold back!

Here it comes, Ali! Use Protect!

He withstood Emboar's attack!

Yaaay! You're the best, Ali! Now it's our turn!

We're not done yet!

Ali! Swoop in and attack!

Whoa!

Aw, man... We lost.

No way! Did we really just win, Ali?

Yeah! Congratulations, Lisia! That was a fun battle!

Yaaay, we did it, Ali! We beat Hilda together!

I'm not sure how to feel right now! I'm so happy you won, but...I REALLY don't like losing!

Bravo! What a magnificent battle, Lisia!

Uncle Wallace?!

It seems you've learned a valuable lesson about Pokémon battles.

Superficial charm doesn't make for an elegant or appealing battle...

You have to display the power and skill you and your partner have honed together!

The collision of powerful wills between two Trainers in pursuit of victory creates such a wonderful illusion!

Lisia, you and your partner have become a strong sync pair here on Pasio.

I look forward to the day you come to challenge me to a battle!

Thanks, Uncle Wallace!

Okeydokey! Time to challenge more Trainers to prepare for the contest!

Oh! And if there's some promising talent out there, maybe I can scout them while I'm at it!

Hey, Lisia! I'm not gonna let you keep a winning streak on me, OK?

I'm gonna win next time! Let's battle again soon!

Sure thing! After we grab some Casteliacones first, OK?!

Scottie! Hilda! Thanks a bunch!

I'm gonna keep working real hard with Ali on lots of things.

Don't forget to keep cheering us on!

Scottie and Lisia were practicing showing off their appeal in preparation for the upcoming contest.

You've got the basics down! Now it's time to test your skills!

How about you try appealing to those people over there?

But first, a word of advice!

Different people have different tastes! You have to take a good look at your audience...

and pick a style that you think will best appeal to them!

Maybe something good will happen if you can put a smile on the faces of the people here!

Take a good look at your audience and pick the style that you think will best appeal to them!

Take a good look at your audience and pick the style that you think will best appeal to them!

Scottie's Appeal Eruption! Look at all these people cheering for you!

You kinda remind me of a really amazing person I met in Hoenn!

Hehehe! Now you're a real contest idol yourself!

A successful performance!

Oh no! That didn't go so well...

A successful performance!

Oh no! That didn't go so well...

A successful performance!

Oh no! That didn't go so well...

Scottie was invited to a fan event with Lisia and her fans.

Dazzling, dizzying, doldrums defying!

Dazzling! Dizzying!

Check me out! I'm the most dazzling and dizzying one here!

H-hey! I can do that, too!

You're really shining, everyone!

Look at your enthusiasm! This reminds me of the Talent Round in a contest!

Hey, hey! Which of these fans do you think has what it takes to be the most dazzling, dizzying, and doldrums defying?

Let's pretend to be judges and check out the appealing performances of all our fans here!

Let's pretend to be judges and check out the appealing performances of all our fans here!

I'm always spinning around when I'm playing, so this is no sweat!

H-hey! Where are you going, partner?!

Uh-oh... I was so dizzying, I ended up making myself dizzy!

Wow! What a dizzying display!

Composed yet passionate... That's exactly how a fan should be!

It looks like everyone agrees!

The award for best appeal performance goes to... this sync pair!

Thank you all for coming today! I'm so happy you could be here with me! It was really exciting!

Let's take a picture together to end the event! Show me your best smiles, everyone!

Ready? Say cheese!

Dazzling, dizzying, doldrums defying!

Hey, Iris! Do people really call you the girl who knows the hearts of dragons?

They sure do! Though it's really more like a general sense of what dragon Pokémon are feeling.

I'd say all Trainers can understand their Pokémon to some degree!

What did Haxorus just say?

Um... I think she said she wants to battle!

"Let's have a great match!" or something along those lines!

Oh! I didn't realize your Haxorus was a girl!

Yep! We've been together for ages! She's like a big sister to me!

Though, I guess I'm the one who actually takes care of her...

That's great! Ali and I have been together since he was a Swablu, too!

I wonder if Ali also wants to battle Haxorus.

I can tell exactly what Ali is trying to say!

"Yeah! Bring it on, sister! I'mma tear you down!"

That's what you said! Right, Ali?

A-are you sure? He doesn't look too happy with that interpretation...

Phew! That was some great training!

Thanks for the battle, Scottie.

That was a wonderful battle, Uncle Wallace!

Yes, and elegant, infuriatingly so!

And yet!

Utterly glorious!

Oh, I guess I forgot to mention that! I'm Uncle Wallace's niece!

Hahaha, I guess they do! They are uncle and niece, after all!

I suppose those two will be rivals in beauty in both battles and contests here on Pasio.

Haha, you could say that! In our family, beauty is an ongoing source of rivalry!

In the past, I was always the one trying to catch up to everyone else...

Maybe now it's my turn to be a role model! Right, Lisia?

Tee hee! I'll do my best to catch up to you!

But it's true, we do have a lot of gorgeous people in our family!

It must be in our genes!

Elesa is obviously the prettiest in Pasio!

No way! Lissi is absolutely the cutest! She's the best!

*sigh*

Hiii! What's going on?

Whoooa! Lisia! Elesa!

Funny you two should show up at a time like this! Those fans of yours have been arguing since this morning about which of you is prettier!

Really? I see...

Excuse us, you two.

E-Elesa?!

L-Lissi?! What are you doing here?

We're both grateful that you're such fans of us... but please stop fighting!

Lisia's a contest idol, and I'm a fashion model...

We're both doing our best in different fields!

It's not about who's the best or who's prettiest, so why not cheer us both on?

Pretty please?

Y-yes, of course!

O-OK!

Time to make up! Say it with me now! Dazzling, dizzying...

Doldrums defying!

Doldrums defying!

Whoa! That was amazing! When a model and an idol combine their influence, they can do anything!

You used to battle with an Altaria on your team, didn't you, Winona?

I'd love to meet it in person someday!

You should come visit me at my Gym in Hoenn, then!

Altaria is my secret weapon, but I have soared the skies with my other bird Pokémon, too... I would be happy to introduce you to them.

Awesome!

But why isn't Altaria your partner Pokémon?

Well, it was a tough decision, because no matter who I chose, all my Pokémon can soar through even the most difficult battles.

But Pelipper is always trying to fly farther and higher than anyone else...

That's why I decided to go with her!

From one Flying-type Pokémon Trainer to another, I can totally relate to that!

Thank you!

Also...if possible, would you be willing to have a battle with me?

I'd love to!

How wonderful! It's the start of a beautiful story of friendship!

I know! I'll call it...

"Soar to Tomorrow! Our Memories Are in Flight!"

How's that?