Lillie's Idea

Preparations for the winter party seem to be coming along smoothly!

I can't wait to see what sort of entertainment's planned this time.

Looks like Primarina's excited for her first party, too!

You two sure became friends fast!

I'm glad I gave you that Egg, Lillie. Thanks for raising her with such care!

No, thank YOU! I'm so grateful I got to meet such a wonderful Pokémon!

My own Primarina seems happy to have someone to sing with!

They really do have beautiful voices...

Yeah, it seems a waste for only us to hear them!

Oh! I just had an idea!

Why don't we put on a show at the winter party with some music?

It'd be nice to sing and play music with our Pokémon.

Ooh! That sounds SO fun!

Let's find more people to join us so we can really liven things up!

Great idea! We can invite Pokémon with nice singing voices like Primarina's, and some folks who can play an instrument.

Oh, right! Speaking of instruments, you play the flute, right, Lillie?

It's been a while since I've heard you play. I'd like to again!

Me too!

Ahaha! Sounds like both Primarina want to hear you play, too!

Eheheh... In that case, I'd better start practicing.

Anyway, now that that's settled...

Let's go find more members for our ensemble!

Huh. So you're puttin' together an ensemble for the winter party, eh?

Is that why you're wearin' that getup?

Yeah. I thought I'd start with a clear visual.

Nice! Sounds fun!

I can tell how much spirit you're all putting into this!

S-so...does that mean you'll join us?!

Sorry, but we gotta say no.

Wha, ?! But why?!

Well, you seem to have a certain style of music in mind...

and I get the feeling it won't mesh too well with ours.

Yeah, and we're what you might call "stars," so if we join your gig, we might steal the show, y'know?

Musical fusions can be cool an' all...

but I don't think it'd work with what you're going for with this event.

I see... You may be right.

I'm real sorry. It was kind of you to ask.

No, don't apologize! Thanks for considering!

But what should we do now? Do we know anyone else who'd wanna join?

Want us to introduce you to some people?

Yeah, we know some sync pairs who share your spirit!

Really?! Yes, please!

Got it. We'll get rollin' on that.

And as for your performance...we're lookin' forward to it.

Piers told us you were looking for people to join your musical ensemble!

I'd love to! Please let me join!

Yeah, let's make some amazing music together!

Of course! It'll be great to have you!

So you're the ones who share our "spirit," huh?

This should be plenty of people for our ensemble!

So let's get right down to practi...

Huh? What's that sound?

A Pokémon cry? Or was it an instrument?

Where's it coming from?

The melody was coming from over here.

Oh! Look!

Great job, Kricketune! Just like that!

Now let's try something more playful.

So it was Kricketune making that lovely melody!

That was fantastic! Just like a Vespiquen controlling her Combee!

Kricketune is adjusting his melody based on your movements. It's clear you trust each other, or you wouldn't be able to pull that off!

Heh heh. Thanks!

Isn't that nice to hear, Kricketune?

So it was Kricketune making that lovely sound!

That was a wonderful performance!

Lillie? And all the rest of you, too. What are you doing here?

Actually, Bugsy...would you be our conductor?!

Huh? Me? A conductor?! What's this about, all of a sudden.

We're putting together a music group to perform at the winter party.

And when I heard you and Kricketune performing just now, I had to ask!

Huh, sounds fun!

B-but we were just playing around. We're not experts or anything.

No need to be shy!

This is an opportunity to show everyone how great Kricketune is!

Besides, they approached you just to say how much they enjoyed your and Kricketune's performance. Right?

Won't you? Please?

...OK!

I'm not sure how well I'll do, but I'll be your conductor!

Thank you!

With the help of Bugsy's conducting, Lillie and the others began practicing for their performance.

Our harmonies are really coming together thanks to your conducting, Bugsy!

That's right! And it seems Primarina and the others find our music easy to sing along to!

Our conductor sure looks the part, too!

At this rate, I'm sure our performance will...

That was amazing, Kricketune!

Your melody was completely different from when you were performing alone.

Let's practice once more! From the top!

Oh, I get it! You're changing your melody to match the sounds around you!

Um...Bugsy? Would you mind conducting for us, please?

Oh, sorry! I was so wrapped up in what Kricketune was doing.

Well then, let's try again.

They continued to rehearse for a bit, but...

(Ohh! The melody changed again!)

(Kricketune sure plays a lot of different melodies for me.)

(If we grow even closer, I bet I'll hear even more...)

Bugsyyy! You stopped conducting!

Oh... Sorry!

I got totally absorbed listening to Kricketune's playing...

Hee hee! You really love Kricketune, don't you, Bugsy.

Yeah, you've been watching Kricketune the whole time we've been practicing!

Why don't we take a break?

Yeah, we'll tire ourselves out if we keep practicing forever.

Great work so far, Primarina.

(The rehearsal's come to a standstill because of me.)

(At this rate, I'll be no good as a conductor.)

Huh?

Bugsy?

Kricketune...

This isn't working, is it.

What's wrong, Bugsy?

Things not going as planned?

Aaron, Lillie...

Was there a problem with our performance?

No, not at all. You've done nothing wrong.

I'm actually worried about how I act around Kricketune.

What? But you get along so well!

That's the problem.

I love Kricketune SO much!

Ummm...?

What's wrong with that?

I love Kricketune so much, I keep getting distracted by him.

That's why the rehearsal ground to a halt earlier. I keep causing problems for everyone.

Problems?! No!

And it wouldn't be good for Kricketune if I spoiled him too much.

I think I should put some distance between us, before I end up hurting Kricketune.

Bugsy...

This is just my opinion, but I think things are just fine.

Huh?

It's kind of you to think of what's best for Kricketune.

But as long as you can spend time with him and spoil him, you should!

At least, that's what I think!

Lillie...

Besides, Pokémon are stronger than we give them credit for!

I agree with Lillie!

If you really love your Pokémon, then show it!

No need to suppress that affection!

You...really think so?

Thanks, both of you. That's a relief to hear.

To tell you the truth, I want to become even closer friends with Kricketune!

Lillie! Bugsy! Come on, let's practice!

Let's put all that aside for now...and concentrate on this rehearsal!

Sorry I kept you all waiting!

And so Bugsy and the others resumed their practice.

Bugsy!

Think about how best to draw out Kricketune's strengths!

(How to draw out his... Oh, I know!)

(Kricketune changes his melody based on others' music around him!)

(What if I got everyone to sing even better? But how can I do that?)

Hey, you two Primarina! Try singing with fuller voices! Imagine you're puffed up like a balloon!

Yeah, that sounds great!

And then...

Thanks, everyone!

Practicing over and over like that really helped us pull this together!

Yeah! Let's go all out at the real performance, too!

Deep breaths...

Nervous?

A little... What about you, Lillie?

Me too. Just a bit.

But more so, I'm excited!

Yeah, same!

Let's put on the best performance we can!

Yes! And as conductor, I'll lead everyone!

OK, let's go! We're gonna give the gift of music!

And so the performance began.

... ... ...

... ... ...

(This part should sound like the flutter of Ribombee gathering honey in a field of flowers.)

(But then this next little passage is sharp, like a Scyther's slash.)

(I can sense what Bugsy's picturing through his conducting.)

(Like this part: firm and bold like a Heracross!)

(All of our notes coming together to form one sound... This must be what music's all about!)

This is great. I can tell they're having fun.

Yeah! It's different from our music, with its own kind of charm!

What a spirited sound. It warms the heart!

They sound great. I bet they practiced a lot.

Why don't you learn from them and practice the flute yourself, Adaman?

Nah, I'll pass. I don't have the talent for the flute.

But I gotta say...this music really takes me back.

Yes... It makes me think of the vast land of Hisui.

It just goes to show some things never change, no matter how much time passes.

Hey, everyone! Great job! That performance was perfect!

You all had such wonderful expressions. I got some fantastic photos!

Oh, Aaron and Viola!

Thanks to you, I'm sure everyone got to see just how wonderful bug Pokémon are!

And I'm a huge bug Pokémon fan myself, so that makes me happy! Thank you!

Oh, but I was only able to do it because of your support, Aaron!

And because Lillie invited me in the first place! Plus, everyone worked so hard together!

So I'd like to thank you all!

Oh, no, no! I'm the one who should be grateful!

It was just something I thought up on a whim, but you were all kind enough to join me. I can't thank everyone enough!

Right, right, thanks all around!

But more importantly, come on! We're gonna take a group photo!

There's no way I'm missing a photo op like this!

Say cheese, everyone!