literature

UBF 2011- Fireworks Event

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        Humid air settled on the crowded clearing, miming the fall of twilight a scant hour before. Hundreds of trainers lounged among the flowers, while still more roamed the fields, ill at ease; those who live the life of endless battle hate to be kept waiting. A cool breeze from the ocean to the east picked up, a prayer of benediction for the passing of the day. Relief was apparent in the jumbled commotion from the crowd. Sitting a fair distance from the raucous mass of humanity, Diora lifted a hand to brush brown strands from her eyes. Her one vanity, that hair; not an easy one in such weather, but she bore it with pride. Rhadamant lay at her side, her right hand nestled in the ample fur on his warm back. She felt, rather than heard, the murmur he made and glanced up to see a handful of petals caught in a zephyr, dancing along the verdant ground and disappearing into the descending night. A smile played on her lips; this transient beauty was beyond those who lingered in front of the stage.

        There was movement to the far left in her field of vision; Diora caught sight of several blue-tipped tails before they blended into the crowd. Ah, it starts, she thought. Her hands slipped into the lowest pockets on her pant-legs. Searching fingers found her other five pokeballs and withdrew them, tossing them to the grass around her feet. As the rest of her friends emerged, Diora steeled herself for the events to come. Her bros closed about her like a protective shield and she took comfort from them, cursing her folly once more.

        By now she was well acquainted with Charlie, styled Professor Eucalyptus. She'd completed the interview round in front of the Brain, and passed with flying colors. To her intense pride, she'd placed the ribbon into the same woman's hands when she'd won the Taillow Migration event. So that afternoon, when Charlie and the off-puttingly attractive Casper had approached her table and the gorgeous cake it held, Diora had been off her game. She felt familiar enough to chat shyly with the Professor as they sampled her entry, but she was discomfited such that she failed to notice until it was too late to refuse; she had agreed to the Professor's suggestion that she and her bros contribute to the fireworks display that night.

        Her face had burned and she'd clenched the table hard enough that she'd felt it might crumble. The two brains had moved on, their efforts to induce spontaneous diabetes far from finished, and Diora fought the urge to run. She wasn't given to reckless decisions, no matter the stress she felt, and admonished herself until she could think over it with more sense and less fear. Their Bake-Off entries judged, several groups of people wandered past her table, animated conversation seeming the most natural of human behaviours. Diora had soon learned that she herself was not required to be present on the stage, or even in the crowd at all for this fireworks display. Kicking herself, again, for the millionth time, for her continuous and generally pointless paranoia, she packed up the remains of her luscious cake and set off for the stage, Rhadamant, as ever, at her side.

        The rest of the sunny afternoon had been spent planning, picking moves and drilling until all of her bros had their timing and order right. They could tell that executing this well would mean a lot to her, but beyond that, sometimes her team just enjoyed showing off. Exhausted and hungry, Diora had bought them all onion rings and funnel cake to snack on, and they'd retreated to a shady spot within view of the stage. Two hours remained, and the other five had returned to their pokeballs to nap, while Rhadamant had curled up next to Diora under the tree and she had settled in to wait.

        There was a collective intake of breath as the grey ninetales finally made it to the stage. She commanded all attention as she pranced about, until she stopped in the center of the platform, tossed her head prettily and, with a low growl and white glowing eyes, shot three bright green balls into the warm night air. The spheres of energy swirled in place for a moment and then burst, leaves and flowers and the scent of cut grass drifted down to the audience. With a swipe of her paw and a flick of her supple tails, white-hot flames, edged in eerie blue drifted into the air, leaving incandescent trails. They caught the remnants of verdant power, and for a moment, nothing happened. The crowd gasped when the fire and the grass met, for brilliant light filled the clearing, rendering every detail as clear as day. When the newborn suns faded and darkness returned, the ninetales gave a shrill cry, a challenge, and leapt with every ounce of vulpine grace, vanishing into the eager press of bodies.

        Trainers impatiently waited to best each other, their pokemon displaying the heights of form and skill. Diora would gladly have let them all have this contest of wills, but even the glowing chaos of this night required organization. Every trainer had been given a number for each pokemon they wished to enter, and Diora knew hers were up soon. She motioned towards the stage and gave a nod to Rhadamant. He purred and turned about, marching off to the platform. The others followed him without question. Caina let her tail caress Diora's face as she departed, and she smiled and kissed it as it passed beyond her reach. With a sigh of relief, she collapsed back down to the grass. Her bros knew what to do, they wouldn't fail her.

        A number flashed on the screens to either side of the stage. She hadn't paid much attention as each pokemon performed, but now her breath caught in her throat. She grabbed fistfuls of her skirt and hugged her knees close. The last pokemon, a hyperactive minccino, bounced down the stairs and back to its trainer. The brilliant yellow stars from its last move languished in the air, but no newcomer appeared on the stage. A minute passed, and the whispers started. Everyone would be curious first, fading to impatience, possibly concern. Just as planned; let them wait. Judecca was to lead them off, and his timing was never wrong.

        The murmur of the crowd increased in tone and tempo, and some trainers even moved to approach the stage. Had the show ended? Was the next pokemon late? Perhaps it was hurt? Three streaks of glittering, lemon-hued energy crashed down from the sky, shattering as they hit the stage. The gathered people gasped, some shouted and jumped back. Had anyone been watching the lone figure crouched near the edge of the clearing, they'd have seen that her eyes narrowed and her lips pursed in a smile, almost cruel. Had they been watching; but no one had been watching Diora. Every head had turned, all eyes focused on the stage, all ears tuned to the sharp crackle of electricity.

        Where the bolts had struck the stage, a golden sphere of plasma whirled, too strong yet to dissipate. Hair flew into faces, clothes whipped about crowded bodies, and countless petals rose into the air, following several sudden, sharp gusts. Ten spectral sabers, glowing brilliant emerald, appeared as if summoned from the far corners of the clearing, the trailing winds slicing past people that the blades didn't touch. They hung suspended for a moment, then plunged into the heart of the compact storm. The ball of energy vanished in a cloud of white and yellow sparks, and the swords rose and spun as if in triumph, slashing at the night sky, spilling leaves as blood falls from a wound.

        Their victory was short-lived. A crystalline ray of light cut across the field, its origin in the blackness to the right of the stage. It passed through the cloud of weapons, and then back again. Breath hung in the air before the faces of the closest spectators, and tiny shimmering lights crept up the length of each blade, stilling their dance. When the frigid beam returned, it settled at last upon the glimmering pillar of ice, pulsed thrice, and faded. Several people gulped for air, releasing breaths they hadn't realized they had been holding.

        Diora had been kind to allow the audience a pause, but the second half of her display was yet to come. From the left of the stage, opposite where the frost had come, sounded the rush of flames, countless tongues of fire clamoring to be heard. A wave of heat fell upon the crowd as a small inferno blasted into the frozen pillar. The ice resisted only a moment, then began to drip, finally vanishing in a cloud of steam, the captive blades burning into ash. Nothing but fire remained, roaring in fury as it engulfed the stage. Over the sound of fire, no one heard the rumble of the earth at their feet. A small, round shape burst from the ground and into the air, silhouetted against the curtain of flame. It gave off a growl, a cackle even, and before it could be clearly seen, it slashed its arms and fell, swallowed again by the dirt below.

        The blaze shook and faltered as a red fissure broke it from top corner to bottom. It gasped and guttered entirely when the second red line crossed, forming a 'v' with the first. A few clouds of smoke lingered, frail witnesses to a burst of sparkles, which was all that remained of the searing heat. There was a bright flash, rosy-hued, momentarily blinding the crowd. When their vision returned, the whole scene was blurred and the stage tilted from left to right. While they were still disoriented, a violet-clad shape dashed across the stage, too quick for their eyes to see. It passed twice, and where it traveled, orange globes of light appeared. Just as suddenly as it had appeared, any trace of the moves previously used was wiped away by a final rush of black energy. The natural darkness returned, and the night became still. The next trainer's number flashed on the screens, and though no pokemon bowed or left the stage, it was clear that the act had ended.

        Applause followed Diora as she stole away from the crowd, loping alone into the night. There was a rustling at her side, and her hand dropped with practiced ease to the head of her most beloved companion. Rhadamant nuzzled her leg, and when they were all alone in a forested clearing, verdant, flower-filled, but entirely free of humans, Diora turned. Her bros crowded around her, and Diora reached out to them in turns, caressing chins and trailing her fingers over scaled and furred brows. She kissed them each on the forehead, and one by one they bowed, returning to their pokeballs, until only Rhadamant remained.

        “Well done, my loves,” Diora whispered, burying her face in the warmth of her leafeon's shoulder. After several moments, she let her eyes inch open and sat up, arms lingering about his neck. His own eyes, pools of dark, liquid amber glistened in the moonlight and Diora's lips curved into the most peaceful of smiles. She stood then, finally, and made her way through the trees, until she could see nothing on the horizon. They emerged on the beach, and Diora found her place at the water's edge. Rhadamant settled beside her and they passed this night, as every night, dreaming beside the endless sea.

Diora's entry for UBF 2011 Event 2: The Spring Festival Fireworks.

Figure I'll do art for the mini-contests and comics for the main rounds (of course), then write some for the other events. I'll try and do everything :D Quite a challenge. Gotta finish the other event and my Bake-Off entry in a couple days >.<

:iconpokemon-ubf:
Diora's App: [link]
© 2011 - 2024 shironami
Comments3
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eldritchrach's avatar
:heart: I really like this :D You're a wonderful artist and a fantastic writer!
I also like how you linked it back into the mini-contest. Best of luck with the other events and mini-contests :D