"You ready, girl?" Behind the stage, El would adjust the cherry blossom garlands that hung around Yggdrasil's tree; making sure that the Torterra looked every bit as festive as they did, in their own kimono.

In response, Yggy snorted, nodding. She was ready as she'd ever be; and though she had never gone into a contest like this before, she was eager to show the audience every bit the fervor that she had shown on the battlefield against Kyurem and the paradox pokemon!

And that same audience had been whipped up into an eager fervor - the cheers being able to be heard from here. Hearing it, El couldn't help a soft laugh - their excitement easily winning out over the nerves that lurked below. Looks like it was time!

With the help of their service pokemon Bibidi, they'd perch up on one of the branches of Yggy's tree; seated, legs idly swinging. "Let's go give them a good show!"

As Yggdrasil stepped out onto the stage - hooves thudding, bells hanging from her bough chiming, and looking every bit like a cheery blossom tree in full bloom, she would let out an eager bellow. Her tree had been decorated to the nines - and on her limbs and head, she was garbed in plating that resembled a samurai's armor.

And in turn, there was El - seated in Yggy's tree, dressed femininely in a matching pink kimono tied with a warm red sash, a prop katana sheathed at their hip, and with a carved wooden cane from Isaac Merlo in hand. With their free hand, they'd wave wide to to the audience. "Hello everyone! I'm El Sunderland, and this here is Yggdrasil - or Yggy, for short!" They'd greet the crowd, grinning wide and eager.

Carefully, they'd slip down from Yggdrasil's tree to stand next to her - their hand patting her side as they did. "We may have taken this as an excuse to pretty ourselves up a bit - but if any of you know my Nidoking Behemoth, then you know that this isn't the first time that appearances deceived with my pokemon; so don't think that this makes Yggy here any less tough!" They take a second to catch their breath and inhale, before continuing "In the Silent Icelands, when a swarm of mechanical Paradox Pokemon had emerged from what is now the Giant Chasm, Yggdrasil was able to take on multiple at once with her Earthquakes!"

As if with pride, Yggdrasil trumpets and stamps a foot, her head held high. There is the slightest of tremors - as if to tease the audience with just a taste of what she could do.

El laughs with this - scritching under Yggy's 'helmet' - before continuing "We hope that we can show you just how Tough Yggy here had been on the field, and give you a show to remember all the whilst. But while I'm here, I also wanna give a shout-out to a few faces I recognize and know - Gym Leaders Alexei Ivanov and Josh Devlin , as well as fellow Contest-goer mint frost and Champion kyle lopez ! With so many great folks here - and not just those four - I just know we're gonna have a great time here tonight!"

With that, El would let out an exhale- leaning back against Yggy a little to catch their breath. They were a lil nervous - but they were also really feeling the energy here tonight! They hoped that the others present would be able to partake in these good feelings as well; their beloved Hoenn was tough, and wouldn't go down easily.

The Mauville Gym Leader looked like a traditional Far Eastern Samurai as he walked onto the stage alongside Vitani, a large female Pyroar equipped with not only her normal saddle and bridle, but barding matching Josh's theme. Together, the two looked like a war general and prized mount, defending his nation's throne. Samurai weren't exactly known for use of powerful steeds, but those that did had to be very close to the throne, perhaps even serving as the emperor's personal guard in dire times.

It was a surprise to see so many Gym Leaders present, including Andrea Vaneau , who would be serving as head judge. All the competitors present looked tough, though he wondered if El Sunderland 's Yggdrasil might have been a better choice for a Beauty contest. He had an advantage over the other samurai: his sword training with Finnegan Yang long ago, as rusty as it was, might help woo the audience and judges. The Gym Leader's face beamed as they shouted him out.

Noel Parker and his tough-as-nails Shaymin were there, too; they had a bitter battle in the Vital City Tournament. This was going to be a rough-and-tumble coompetition, all the trainers serious.

Taking the stage proper, Josh took a seat on Vitani's back, bracing himself for the worst when the Appeals round came. They had a great plan to wow their onlookers, but it relied on Josh's strength holding out, too. "Gym Leader Josh Devlin , and this is Vitani. She's the wildest, meanest Pyroar of my pride of eight." As to prove Josh's point, her jaw opened up, exposing her vicious-looking PSYCHIC FANGS that looked like they could crunch through an entire tree trunk.

This was one tough field; anyone could win.

Oscar had grown fond of contests. When he first tried them he was rather underwhelmed, but over time he has fallen in love. The pageantry, the drama, all of it began to grow on him. So when this Tough Contest came around again, he would not hesitate to throw himself into the competition! After all, he possessed one of the toughest pokemon out there.

When it came time to introduce himself, Oscar prowled onto the stage like a devious ghoul. He wore a black Montsuki Kimono, his pale hands lingering over his face. Pulling his hands away would reveal the white mask covering his face, depicting a smiling creature with great tusks and curved horns. Oscar chuckled lowly as he turned sharply with a flourish, revealing the bizarre pokemon that was hiding behind him.

It was a naganadel, dressed up in red samurai breastplate and with a traditional samurai helmet fashioned onto its head. Its body and face had been painted red, causing it to resemble one of the legendary Oni from Far Eastern folklore. It gnashed its mandibles, which resembled the tusks of the mighty demon ogres of old.

Oscar finally spoke as he stood beside his demon warrior. "Ladies and Gentlemen, I come from the deepest reaches of The Border between worlds to present to you a truly wretched monstrosity. Spoken about only in hushed whispers, this fearsome fiend preys on the careless and haughty. Those who do not respect the spirits will face the full force of this demon's wrath!"

The naganadel whipped around its stinger, wielding it as if it were a katana. Oscar slowly removed his mask, showcasing his equally ghoulish but still more attractive face. "I am Oscar Clayton, and with Robbie the Rotten by my side we shall show you the true meaning of TOUKON!"

The two struck a striking pose, as if they were prepared to personally fight every single member of the audience.

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Josh had gone from one of the most likeable Gym Leaders in Hoenn to one of the most controversial after word had gotten out that he was the one responsible for Eris being brutalized. Though it wasn't his strength, his Shalin Nariya impression would showcase just how tough this lioness was. He took a deep breath, buried his hands in Vitani's fur, and held on with everything he had.

"Vitani, FLARE BLITZ!" the Pokémon racer called out, shutting his mouth and looking focused afterward. The lioness' claws and mane glowed a bright red as she began to buck and writhe like a rodeo Tauros, leaving a line of floating embers on stage with every kick and swerve. Josh did his best to look tough alongside his Pokémon, but even he couldn't help but let out a hiss when Vitani thrust her body weight upward, right beneath where her rider sat. How did the wild child do this so regularly? That hurt!

For El and Yggdrasil's first real performance, the stage would be set up like that of a martial arts display - a number of boards of varying materials and thickness set forth. El stands at Yggdrasil's side, smiling bright to the audience. "Drednaw are known for their powerful bites - having large jaws that can break through even the largest of boulders!" They'd begin, eyes lighting up with visible joy in getting to nerd out a little bit about pokemon. "It's the one thing they're known best for - but they aren't the only pokemon with a scary bite to them."

Here, they now turn and gesture to Yggdrasil. "Lots of turtle pokemon - particularly those that come onto or are primarily suited to land - can deal a good bit of damage if they bite down on something, and Yggy is no different. Her own powerful jaws were but one of the weapons she used to fight off the horde of Paradox pokemon, who emerged from the chasm that Kyurem tore into the earth!"

And as El spoke, they'd gesture to Bibidi - eager to demonstrate this. The Alakazam, using Telekinesis, would lift the boards up to Yggdrasil one by one - whereupon the large Torterra would bite down with Crunch to split it in two! First wood, then stone - Yggy was eager to show off her strength to the audience in splitting each of the materials in twain.

The only ones that gave a bit of potential trouble was the thicker metal pipes - but even those, Yggdrasil would saw through with a little elbow grease. And as she split them, she'd briefly shake herself out to let off her excess energy, before letting out a spirited bellow! She thrived in showing off to the audience like this!