TW: DEATH

Back then, there is also a little girl Valerio used to carry on his back whenever they scavenge the Hammerlocke streets for spare foods. She can walk but her legs are wobbly; malnutrition has disabled her from basic life functions that she depends on her big brother to do the things for her like walking. It is the very same reason that when almost all of his siblings got out from the fire, only her remained on the camp they used to sleep in.

Which is to say, he understands very much how it is difficult for this child, too, to feel what they are experiencing right now.

Vanessa rotates the child's chair and squats in-front of her, enveloping their tiny hands with hers.

“I'll make sure you have so much fun today that you will carry it with you even with the toughest of times.”

Her eyes become watery but no tears flow from her face. Instead, she huffs a breath of confidence before she stands up and turns back Yullia's face into the mirror.

“So, what is your favorite pokemon that you want to dress up as?”

#Billi Marsh

“Darling, the first thing you need to do is to embrace what you have. And then start from there!”

She brings her make-up kit form her satchel and begins picking a color or two. Vanessa starts by scrubbing her face with a cleanser, dragging the cotton gently onto the face. Her hands are characteristically heavy, due to the fact that Valerio is a muscular lad. But this time, she attests that it is the most careful and gentle attempt ever from her to prep someone for a drag show.

“I mean, you can be bald for the rest of your life but there are remedies for that! And besides, who says bald isn't beautiful?”

She takes a look at her face and realize there is no need to change anything. Yullia's features are already giving a personality. There is just a need to put life to it considering the paleness of her skin due to her sickness.

“Yes. I love pyroar. Both masculine and feminine. I will make you a very elegant dress.”

#Billi Marsh

“Honey, I'm not saying you shouldn't wallow in sadness when it's what you're feeling.”

After the blush plops onto her skin, Vanessa proceeds on getting the pens to contour her face into that of a pyroars. The sharpness of the eyes, of the jaws are further exaggerated to give a strong facade to her weakened personality.

But she knows it is not enough.

“They're all valid. What you're feeling is valid. But would you rather let yourself get defeated when you know you're only living in borrowed time?”

She turns her chair back to her face, then squats so she can see Vanessa's face eye-to-eye.

“Pyroar is a strong creature. I want you to borrow some of its strength; moreover, draw the strength that's within you all this time that you keep reserved for so long. Bring out your inner pyroar. Roar for me!”

#Billi Marsh

“That's good. That's good. Keep it going.”

Vanessa plops down beside Yullia as they go full on the acting workshop. She grabs her note pad in her satchel, sketches a few lines as she continues to bring out the girl's roar. Her messy lines start making out details, and Signal, the rotom hovering her since the start, has been receptive of the design its trainer is trying to make. He then finishes, pulls the paper out and gives it to the electric ghost-type and allows it to conceive the dress she is making the girl.

“Now, listen girl. I want you to do that again when you walk up the stage. Look into their eyes, vanquish them, own them. And them hear you 'roar.'”

GYM CHALLENGE: NON-TRADITIONAL

#Billi Marsh

Signal is onto the last stitches of the pyroar outfit it is creating. Vanessa is thankful the sewing machine, despite the old model that it is, still allows for a rotomization that the only thing she has to consider are the make up and the props.

From Billi Marsh's stashes of wigs, she takes the time to a cut a few strands from the orange and yellow ones and attach them to the red wig to imitate female pyroar's hair. She then puts it on Yullia, taking the hair iron to curl the edges a little bit.

“Oh, I think the dress is ready! Should you try them on now?”

#Billi Marsh

“Perfect! Now strut for me, baby girl.”

Vanessa clasps her hands at the majesty she created for Yullia, who is seemingly happy with the dress that she has made for her. The redhead leans on the girl to give a little whisper.

“Then when you walk down the stage, don't forget to ROAR for me!” There is smugness in the way she talks to her. “And once you gain the courage, please lift the wig for me. And for you, and for everyone who is feeling a little down. I have a little surprise!”

And then she pushes her to the catwalk, enough for the audience from the Hoenn Cancer Institution to see that the girl is finally ready. Vanessa calls Signal, who then shifts from its position to hack the nearby radio. Then the music starts.

#Billi Marsh