#firefest

A noise starts to build up, surrounding the audience with that same, familiar vibrating sensation, something is certainly coming! Without warning, those flailing lights lock onto the center where a pillar erupts from center stage. The loud drop of synth-style music vibrates the ground yet again. From the light rises a familiar, very tiny fox, dressed in glittery whites and golds, absolutely glimmering from the spotlights on him. For those that have never seen Kou, he’s certainly small even compared to his fellow Vulpera, yet his stage presence is larger than life. For once, he’s facing the audience upon his arrival and even offers a wink of greeting, his head equipped with a small microphone that auto-translates his words to every viewer’s personal native language. What a nifty little magic gadget! “YEEAAAAAAAEEEEEAAAAAAAH!”

Kou lifts a paw up to wave to the audience before paws start to clap. “HEY YEAH! FIRE FEST WHERE YOU AT?!” He calls out, beaming with a smile. The pop-lock motions of his arms and feet dance through the light, letting that waving arm be pulled down in motion. “I got myself a notion~ And one, I know that you’ll understand! We set the world in motion~ by reaching out for each other’s hand!” As he sings with fervour, Kou pushes a hand toward the audience, fingers splayed wide with a sweeping motion of his arm from side to side as if offering it to take.

The fox clenches that fist after to bring it back, twirling in a pivot to spin around to let his large, fluffed tail sweep and add in that beautiful dance motion. Gracefully, his feet plant firmly onto the ground after, patting his chest right above his heart. “Maybe we’ll discover what we should have known all alooooong! Yeah!” Bouncing with his knees to the rhythm, one foot kicks up and the other soon follows to glide across the stage in an upbeat walk. “One way or another, together’s where we both belooong~.” He coos out those lyrics, leaning toward the front row while walking back, the other way to sprinkle a bit of glitter as he passes by.

Kou returns to the center of the lights with a small shimmy of his hips but with an energetic jump, the moment he lands on his feet, two purple rockets shoot up on either side of the stage in a glittery explosion! “If we listen to each other’s heart! We’ll fiiind we’re never too faaar apart and maaaaaybe love is the reason why!” He sings with all of his might, bouncing as arms wave up and down to hype the crowd and join him. A shimmer of magic forms from his fingers and with an arching motion of a hand across and over him, a rainbow shoots through the light show above him, cascading down in flecks of glitter paint all over his fur, soaking his clothes in all colours of the rainbow above. “For the first time ever we’re seeing it eye to eye~.”

He smiles brightly and bounces to the edge of the stage from his spot to flop down and sit, kicking a leg up and across the other so that his elbow can rest on the knee. Looking out across the audience, the tiny fox sways to the thunderous synth, drawing in a deep breath. “If a wall, should come between us, too high to climb, too hard to break through…” With a wink, two tall pillars of purple flame erupt behind him, blazing in time with the beat. “I know that looove will lead us, and find a way to bring me to you~.”

With a twist of his midsection, Kou rolls to push off of the stage edge in a playful flip, landing it with a well-timed bounce. A pivot on his heel follows with the momentum, skipping to one edge of the front row. “So don’t be in a hurry, think before you count us out, oh~!” Golden glitter swirls along his feet, lifting the little Vulpera up so the crowd doesn’t tower over them. Cheerfully, he dashes across the front of the audience with his small paw out, high-fiving as many as he can in one graceful swoop. “YOU don’t have to worry! I won’t ever let you dooown!” Kou takes the time to blow a kiss, jumping back toward the stage to stand between the pillars of purple fire.

Kou motions to either side of himself at the fire pillars as two silhouettes that match his form appear dancing within the flames. At the same time, he reaches into the fire to grab the matching paws within to take their hands, igniting the shadows in magic. The fire itself spreads, running up his arms to consume his entire body but without any hint of pain, it seems the theatrics are simply illusionary magic! With a pull of his arms, he conjures the shadowy foxes to join him from the flames that fade away from his own body. Both foxes that step out from the fire may look like Kou, but they’re clearly sporting their own stylish designs of clothing. All three pause to look at each other briefly in confusion and surprise, even glancing at the audience a moment in shock!

The Fox nods to his clones, motioning toward the audience with his head, visually attempting to convince them to dance along. The one on his right side nods in agreement, however, the one on his left seems to look distracted..! Enough that they turn around to watch the light show behind the trio. Kou nods his head, bouncing a few times in place before he finally sings out again, leading into another pop-lock of his arms. “If we listen to each other’s heart, we’ll find we’re never too far apart~!” The three foxes look nearly symmetrical in their dance–! Wait– is Left Fox dancing backward? Their arms just sort of flail about, but they are trying their best. Kou taps their arm to get them to turn back around, which is done with some luck, but they’re certainly too stage-shocked to keep up. ”And maybe love is the reason why, for the first time ever we’re seeing it eye to eye~.”

Kou and the clone to his right pause to watch Left Fox flail around in their own little world until both start to laugh. Kou shakes his head, motioning toward the audience - both clones ignite in a blur of rainbows and sparkles, shooting toward the gathering to weave in between the guests, splattering glitter in their wake. Waving the pair off, Kou claps his hands together to the beat, prancing in a circle of excitement.

“FIRE FEST! HOW WE DOIN’ OUT THERE TONIGHT?!”

“Every year I ask you to sing with me, and you should know the lyrics by now, so are you ready?!”

A hand lifts up into the air to show his pinky outstretched. “We have friends who maybe can’t hear my voice here tonight, so help me sing for them, too! We’re in this together, so lift your pinkies out, then turn your hand to make a two with your fingers, and turn it again for the i!” Demonstrating the swiveling motion of his wrist to spell I-2-I, stairs begin to rise up on the shifting stage behind him.

“I think we’re seein’ it–!” 

“SEEIN’ IT!–”

“Yeah, everybody’s seein’ it–!”

“Love is why we’re seein’ it–!”

Kou cheers loudly, letting out a sharp whistle for his clones to return from their running amok. Swirling around his form, it’s almost as if the power of the cheering and singing has ignited the fox’s magic even further! Golden sparkles swirl around his body, lighting up in flame once more while his arms lift up to form his own silhouette in the dancing flames. Both Left and Right Fox return to the stage to flank the swirling flames, both seeming far more in sync than previously before. They watch with an intent gaze, both lifting their hands out toward the fire to reach for the same paws that brought them to life.

Kou‘s paws are pulled from the flame, revealing shimmering black latex gloves accented with gold claws. As the fire swirls down off of him and retreats to his feet, Kou emerges in a new set of clothes. The tight dark booty shorts and thigh highs are on full display as the once gold and white outfit is replaced with deep reds, golds, and black with fiery motifs. The tight corset annunciates his body to a curvy, softened look to it, even the boldened makeup around his eyes is darker and more pronounced.

He takes the time to spin both of his clones, drawing in a deep breath to hit out a bellowing set of notes, it’s a bit of a surprise such vocals can come out of such a tiny creature. “IF YOU’RE EVER LOOONELLLLY! STOP!” He commands, causing all three foxes to pause in mid-movement, each paused in a unique pose. “You don’t have to be! After all, it’s only a beat away from you to meee~.” As he sings, the trio walks forward to the front of the stage, each step in perfect sync with one another and still hand-in-hand.

“Take a look insiiiide and see!”

All three foxes raise their right hand up, letting them slowly fall down as they begin to sing in harmony together. “If we listen to each other’s heart! We’ll find we’re never too far apart!” Just as the words are sung, an eruption of fireworks ignites across the stage, accenting the key shift and unison of the dancers on stage. Bouncing with their knees, one arm from each mimics the motion before they snap-kick a leg out in the rather whimsical choreography. All three jump again to click their heels in the air! With a graceful landing, the trio follows up the footwork with an arching swing of their arms, reaching across themselves before following through with a large circular motion. “And maybe love is the reason why! For the first time ever we’re seein’ it–!” All three point out to the audience in search of the answer, bobbing their heads to the beat!

Kou  lifts his arms, popping his hips from side to side to the beat, audibly laughing from enjoying himself on the stage with the pair of clones who playfully dance with him on the stage. “Whoaaah, for the first time!” Chirping out the lyrics, the small set of foxes all spin together, feeding off the shared energy, as well as the crowd vibe. “For the first time, we’re seeing it–!” Once more, the trio points toward the crowd, cheering them on to join in. “Eye to eye!!” A hand reaches up all the while, once more spelling out I-2-I in the hand choreography.

“YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH we’re seein’ it–!”

Kou spins around in his spot, the pivot is followed through with a graceful shimmy of his hips and a jump that is landed by dropping down to his knees. A last set of fireworks shoot off, causing the ‘FIRE FEST 2023’ in the smoke screen to switch to ‘LOVE IS LOVE’. The final note of the synth hits and fades away, rendering the three to strike their final dynamic posing together with Kou pushing his arms upward and both Right and Left Fox arching their limbs to form a heart between them.

“THANK YOU FIRE FEST! WE LOVE YOU!!”

Perchedon steps out onto the stage where two braziers sit on either side of him, though he is almost unrecognisable tonight. His normally vibrant green tattoos that spiral down his body have been glammered into a fiery red glow. The only thing he wears on his chest, a red coaker with draping gold chains, shimmers with the source of this illusion. A red scarf with metal sequin adorns his hips over black leggings, finished off with black leather boots and red gloves. Another new, unusual addition tonight were two long scimitars sheathed under his hip scarf, polished and reflecting the firelight.

Perchedon signals for the start of the music and flashes a brilliant smile out into the audience as he places a hand on his hip and shifts his weight to cause the sequin on the scarf to jingle. “Anyone who’s seen one of my performances knows I love people to get up and dance with me. Normally I’d come out there and join you, but for your safety, I’m going to have to stay up here tonight.” He gestures to the braziers beside him with a sly smirk. “But I don’t want to see any butts on the ground tonight, you all hear me?!” Perchedon’s next words purr out in a smooth, sultry singing voice. A sound that can ensnare or break hearts. “Don't think about it, just move your body. Listen to the music, sing, oh, ey, oh!” He moves his shoulders and hips to the rhythm, the later causes jingles from the metal sequin. Truly he enjoys the beat even with the swords that bump against his legs. “Just move those left feet. Go ahead, get crazy. Anyone can do it, sing, oh, ey, oh!”

Perchedon beams as he takes a few springy steps forward and slightly to the side of the stage. “Show the world you've got that fire~” He holds out his hands and the fires in the braziers grow higher as if at his command. “Feel the rhythm getting louder!” Long black hair bounces on his shoulders with his fun, excited movements. “Show the room what you can do, prove to them you got the moves.” One hand grips the scimitar on his left. “I don't know about you..”

Perchedon pulls one of the scimitars from his hip in a lightning fast arch in front of him that ends with the blade straight out to his right over the brazier. Fire catches on the steel and licks up the blade until it is entire consumed. “But I feel better when I'm dancing, yeah, yeah. Better when I'm dancing, yeah, yeah.” He brings the sword over his head in a fast arch around himself, leaving a ring of fire around himself for a moment before it burns out. “And we can do this together, I bet you feel better when you're dancing, yeah, yeah.”

Perchedon rolls his hips from side to side to cause the metal sequin at his waist to jingle as he twirls the sword in his hands to accentuate his movements. The fire sparks and flares around him, as if dancing with the Illidari. “When you finally let go, and you slay that solo. 'Cause you listen to the music, sing, oh, ey, oh!” His body twists around, one arm behind his back as he twirls the blade about on either side of him in a movement reminiscent of nunchucks while his hips move with the beat. “'Cause you're confident, babe, and you make your hips sway~ We knew that you could do it, sing, oh, ey, oh!”

Perchedon draws the other curvy sword from his hip and holds it over the nearby brazier, this blade catches on fire the same as the first. He now wields two fiery swords, one in each hand. “Show the world you've got that fire~ Feel the rhythm getting louder!” With the flick of his wrist, he twirls the swords on either side of him fast enough to create wheels of fire as he continues to sing. “Show the room what you can do, prove to them you got the moves. I don't know about you…”

Perchedon raises the swords over his head and spins while holding them stationary. The movement of his body creates the illusion of a fire halo over his head. “But I feel better when I'm dancing, yeah, yeah. Better when I'm dancing, yeah, yeah.” He then brings the swords downwards while he still spins, creating an almost double helix design around himself. “And we can do this together, I bet you feel better when you're dancing, yeah, yeah.”

Perchedon holds both of the scimitars out at arm’s length and takes a wider stance. He crosses one foot over the other, then uses to the twist to spin himself around. The fire along the blades creates a beautiful bent disk shape around the Illidari as the small metal disks that adorn his hips create beautiful, light sounds. “I feel better when I'm dancing.I'm better when I'm dancing, aye, oh ey oh. Feel better when I'm dancing, yeah, yeah. Better when I'm dancing, yeah, yeah.”