[color=orchid][center][h1]Sophia Danvers[/h1]
[h3]Mesalon Pokecentre[/h3][/center][/color]
[@Zanavy]

It wouldn't do any good, Sophia decided, to sit around moping. She had other, better things to do. Like finally get that gym badge as proof of her progress. 

She felt sick with nerves at the thought, but took a few slices of toast for herself and set out some bowls for her Pokemon. Once released from their capsules, her companions gathered round, Lacey squealing in delight and tucking right in. Grimalkin and Lumas followed suit, while Arcturus seemed to absorb the food into its body. Clarus didn't eat, instead floating above the other Pokemon and keeping watch, particularly over Fantoccino. [color=orchid]"Ready for a big day, all of you?"[/color] Sophia asked, the words coming out shakier than she intended. 

Despite a "Zor!" of protest from Clarus, Fantoccino drifted up, the eerie chill he brought intensifying as he took his own breakfast. Sophia's shoulders drooped, tension leaving them as the frustration from earlier ebbed away. It should have been a relief, but instead of feeling pleasantly calm, she just felt emotionally burnt out already. [color=orchid]"Well, you got quite a feast there,"[/color] she muttered. [color=orchid]"But seriously..."[/color] Refusing to show any vulnerability now the hustle and bustle of early risers began to fill the cafeteria, it was with her mind that she continued speaking to the Shuppet.

[i][color=orchid]"If... If I'd put on a better show earlier, I wouldn't have to feel like this. I shouldn't have to. So it's a reminder that I've gotta keep pushing myself until it pays off. And it will, believe me it will."[/color][/i]

Fantoccino tilted his head as he listened. Then, he billowed forward in a blur. Sophia pulled back, but all the Shuppet did was settle on the table, his cloak expanding like a tablecloth. The next second, he rose up, doing his own version of the classic tablecloth trick by phasing through all items and leaving them in place. He spun in the air, his fabric-like body flowing, and stopped, rolling his eyes around as if dizzy. As he laughed, Sophia couldn't help but do the same, partly out of surprise. [color=orchid]"Ok, now that was a show,"[/color] she commented, out loud this time.

Was Fantoccino actually trying to cheer her up? But... Weren't Shuppets drawn to negativity? Maybe he was only acting like this because he'd already fed, or maybe he saw her as a friend instead of just a food source.

It was then that someone else approached her - Ty, taking a seat at the next table. At his mention of contests, Sophia inwardly squirmed. Great. So she did have another contest competitor, just as she'd suspected. Someone else who knew more about them than she did. Nonetheless, she put on a grin.

[color=orchid]"Yep! Finally my chance to shine!"[/color] she announced as if she had no doubts she could pull this off. If only that were the case. [color=orchid]"And as you may have seen,"[/color] she added, gesturing towards the Shuppet as if presenting a performer, [color=orchid]"Fantoccino here sure likes to entertain people."[/color]

[hider=Notes]
[b]Pokemon Party:[/b] Gothita "Lacey" lv14, Purrloin "Grimalkin" lv13, Staryu "Arcturus" lv13, Darumaka "Lumas" lv11, Shuppet "Fantoccino" lv11, Bronzor "Clarus" lv11
[b]Pokemon in PC:[/b]
[b]Inventory:[/b] Pokeball x1, TM33 (Reflect), Oran Berry x3[/hider]