Chapter 21- The Slateport Festival (REDUX)

Birch "Wow, you met Thor, he is really helpful, you're really luck he explained everything,"

Sara "He seemed nice,"

Birch "He was my top student, when I was a teacher. He also helped me study out in the field for a few months. Glad he is helping out trainers. Now I believe you two have arrived at Slateport on the right week,"

Hugh "Why? What's so special about this week?"

Birch "Slateport city holds a festival for a whole week, every month. Its fun for pokemon and trainers. There are competitions and everything. Slateport like to go all out,"

Sara "Sounds like fun,"

Hugh "Yeah, we'll check it out, call you later Professor,"

They logged off the call and turned to see Nurse Joy with their pokemon and a nervous Chansey behind her.

Nurse Joy "Your pokemon are all healed now. Could I ask a favour of you two please if it isn't that much trouble?"

Sara "What is it Nurse Joy?"

Nurse Joy "The festival has many events and I'm going to be really busy to go. Would you be able to take Chansey? She loves the festival,"

Hugh "No problem,"

Chansey jumped up and down and hugged Hugh and Sara. Everyone laughed.

Nurse Joy "You've made her day. Now you be good Chansey, have fun,"

Hugh, Sara and Chansey walked out of the pokemon center and walked over, to where there were balloons and ribbons tied and music was playing loudly. The music stopped for a moment and someone over the speaker came on.

Speaker "Welcome trainers and pokemon to the Slateport festival. I hope everyone is excited to have a fun time. Now remember its all about enjoying yourselves. Don't over work yourselves or your pokemon otherwise it wont be fun at all. Thank you and enjoy,"

Lots of trainers and their pokemon were all over the festival ground; all were excited and ready to start.

Ally "Hey trainers, come one and come all, and test your pokemons speed in 'Ally's Agility Arena'. So far we have three pokemon rearing to go, we have; a lighting fast Pikachu, a dynamic Ditto and an amazing Absol, we still have a few places left, just not much time,"

Sara "I'll put my Scyther in the race, Chansey do you want to have a go?"

Chansey "Chansey (No thanks)"

Hugh "Pidgeotto will go for me,"

Trainer "I'll let my Luxio give it a try,"

Pokedex "Luxio the electric cat pokemon. Luxio prefer the night as their body lights up like a light bulb. They live in small groups,"

Ally "Now the competition has gotten fierce people, we now have; a Scyther, Pidgeotto and a Luxio. This is getting exciting, if any more pokemon want to join, you have ten minutes,"

Ten minutes went by and no other pokemon joined the competition, a few trainers stopped to watch.

Ally "Ok the rules are simple, it's a ten lap race, and your pokemon can only use their agility move. When I blow the whistle that is the signal to go,"

Ditto trainer "Ditto transform into Absol,"

The trainers and pokemon eagerly awaited the sound of the whistle. Ally blew her whistle making everyone jump, including the spectators.

Everyone "Agility,"

With the command it was like watching a beautiful rainbow race by.

Ally "Scyther is in the lead, followed by Luxio who looks like a thunderbolt. Pidgeotto and Pikachu are neck and neck, while the two Absol, one being Ditto, are dead last,"

A red light went off to signal the first lap finished. The Absol that was the Ditto fainted and transformed back to its original state.

Ally "It seems Ditto has run out of energy, sorry to say that it is out of the race. Ditto use a lot of energy just transforming into another pokemon, I don't think it had a chance. Please return it into your pokeball and take it to the pokemon center. Now there are only 5 pokemon left in the race. Now Scyther is way out in front, Luxio isn't giving up its position as second, Pidgeotto is ahead of Pikachu, while Absol is still lacking behind,"

3 laps went by and more and more trainers watched the race, some were even taking bets on who was going to win or get knocked out.

Ally "It's the 4th lap and things have changed dramatically. Luxio has taken the lead, this lighting feline is a shocking opponent, but Scyther isn't too far behind. Absol has surprised everyone by making it 3rd, what a comeback; Pidgeotto and Pikachu are lagging behind. It looks like one of them may get knocked out,"

At the beginning of the 5th lap, Pidgeotto and Pikachu crashed into each other.

Hugh "Quick get up Pidgeotto…what's going on?"

Ally "It seems that Pidgeotto is evolving into Pidgeot. This race is getting better each lap,"

Pokedex "Pidgeot the final evolution of Pidgey. Pidgeot is the fastest out of all the known flying bird pokemon. Pidgeot doesn't mind giving its trainer a ride on its back,"

Hugh "Show the rest how it's done Pidgeot. Agility,"

Ally "This is amazing folk, from equal last as a Pidgeotto, to becoming first as a Pidgeot anything will happen in this race folks. Luxio is a steady 2nd, Scyther is equal with Absol and Pikachu has run out of energy. Please return it and take it to the pokemon center,"

A few trainers moan, probably from Pikachu's loss. On the 7th lap, signs of fatigue started to show in the pokemon, except for Pidgeot who was way ahead of the others.

Ally "Pidgeot is way out in front, this fast flyer loves everyone eating its dust, Scyther has regained 2nd place, and Absol has passed Luxio and is now in respectable 3rd place. I can't believe how this race has ended up, we have had pokemon faint, evolve and now coming from behind to nearly 2nd? Oh this is just too exciting,"

Absol trainer "We were just warming up,"

The last lap came and lots of people were either excited and happy or surprised and angry with the results.

Ally "Yes, the race has ended, with amazing results. Over all Pidgeot came 1st, Absol and Scyther were equal 2nd and Luxio came 3rd. Gather around your pokemon for a picture trainers,"

Hugh "Wow, you are so much taller than me Pidgeot, you are really beautiful too,"

Pidgeot blushed "Oiiooi (Aww, thank you,)"

Sara "Congratulations you two,"

Ally "Yes, lets congratulate all our participants, even those who fainted; they made the race possible as well. 1st prize is this wing band; this makes the flyer who wears it, go even faster. Equal 2nd prize is a hyper potion each and Luxio for being last but very competitive, you get a super potion. I hope everyone enjoyed themselves, there will be another race when I get back,"

Hugh received his photo of him and Pidgeot and Sara got hers of Scyther. As they left the alley, Chansey started to jump up and down when they arrived at the next stall.

Kipper "Come test your luck with 'Kipper's Crying Critters'. The aim of is to stop a baby pokemon from crying without making it faint. Putting it to sleep or making it happy are the only ways you can win,"

Chansey "Chansey (I want to have a go,)"

Hugh "Chansey would like to enter sir,"

Kipper "Well folks we have another participant, a Chansey, I don't mean to be bias but I think we already have a winner. But I can't predict the future; if I could I would be rich hehe. So far we have a Jynx, an Illumise, a Duskull, a Haunter and a Chansey. To join in, you have 5 minutes remaining,"

5 minutes went by and no other trainer joined in, but like in Ally's area more trainers sat back and watched.

Kipper "Alright, each trainer will pick out one of these baby pokemon; Smoochum, Pichu, Bonsly, Happiny and a Magby. Trainers choose wisely now,"

Jynx trainer "Smoochum,"

Illumise trainer "Happiny,"

Hugh "Pichu,"

Duskull trainer "Magby,"

Haunter trainer "Bonsly,"

Kipper "Ok, start calming those pokemon down,"

A bell went and all the baby pokemon began to cry. Magby ran around in circles, Pichu was sending little electrical volts around it and Happiny was rolling around on the ground.

Jynx trainer "Do lovely kiss,"

Smoochum was too fast for Jynx and gave her a sweet kiss, making her confused, Smoochum continued to cry.

Illumise trainer "Shine it with your belly,"

Hugh "Sing to it,"

Duskull & Haunter trainer "Hypnotise,"

Illumise didn't notice Jynx coming up behind it and panting a huge lovely kiss on it, making it go to sleep; a few trainers watching laughed at the result.

Kipper "Only if this was a pokemon battle, or that Illumise was one of the babies, but unfortunately this isn't a battle, and Illumise isn't a baby. Duskull seems to be having trouble trying to aim its hypnotise attack on Magby, it won't stop running around in circles. It seems its mainly down to Chansey and Haunter,"

Pichu and Bonsly went to sleep at the same time, while Magby got tired from all the running around and fell asleep by itself. Smoochum lovely kissed Happiny making it fall asleep and leaving it the only baby awake and crying.

Kipper "Ok it is all over and my wasn't it interesting? Chansey and Haunter are equal 1st and both get a quick claw, making them attack first in battle. Duskull came 2nd, earning itself a mint berry, while Jynx and Illumise came last earning a regular berry. Trainer with the Duskull you may want to give the mint berry to Jynx so she can snap out of her confused state. I hope everyone enjoyed, another game will start in 10 minutes,"

Chansey was admiring her quick claw as she put it on her arm. Sara took a picture so she would be able to give it to Nurse Joy later in the day. Someone tapped Hugh and Sara on the shoulder and he and Sara were surprised to see who it was.

Sara & Hugh "Professor Birch?"

Birch "The one and only, so how are the two of you enjoying the festival, exciting isn't it?"

Sara "You bet,"

Hugh "What are you doing here?"

Birch "Well my boy, I always love studying pokemon, wild or trained, and this is a chance I get to see trained pokemon in a fun environment, my who is this?"

Sara "This is Nurse Joy's Chansey, she wanted to come to the festival, Nurse Joy was too busy at the pokemon center to come,"

Birch "My this is a fine Chansey indeed, I've always wondered about the Chansey's in the pokemon center. Do you mind if I take her off your hands for a little while?"

Sara "You have to ask Chansey that,"

Birch "Would you mind coming with me Chansey?"

Chansey "Chansey (Not at all)"

Birch "Excellent, I'll find you both later on and return her,"

Hugh "Ok, see you later professor,"

Professor Birch and Chansey walked away and Hugh and Sara lost them within the sea of trainers.

Pablo "Trainers one and all, come to 'Pablo's Psychic Pie Eating Competition', only psychic pokemon are allowed to enter other wise it wouldn't work, sorry but that is how this stall works, so far we have; Mr. Mime, Girafarig and a Spoink, there is still time to enter,"

Hugh "My Alakazam will enter,"

Pablo "Folks, the smartest of all pokemon has just entered the competition. Now we have an Alakazam, Mr. Mime, Girafarig and a Spoink. The rules of the game are confusion but keep up, first the trainer will taste one of these pies, there are many flavours here; regular fruit like bananas and pear, to berries of all sorts like Razz and Mago. Once the trainer has tasted a pie, the pokemon have to guess with their psychic powers and pull one of many possibilities. Then the pokemon eat a pie and their trainer has to guess. Everyone got the rules? Ok lets eat some pies,"

Even though there were only 4 trainers playing, there were 3 pies in front of each, same with the pokemon. Hugh decided to eat the pie that was closest to him, while the other trainers chose either the middle or the back pie. Grabbing a fork, Hugh sliced a chuck from the pie and ate it, instantly his tastebuds were working, telling him that it was the sweetest pie he had ever eaten. The trainer on his left started to scream as it was obviously was too hot and the other two trainer made faces, from eating a sour pie, the trainers watching were enjoying the spectacle. Sara took a few photos.

Pablo "Ok, trainers, you've tried your pie…um contestant number 2 you can stop eating the pie now,"

Hugh wasn't paying attention as he continued to eat his pie, he then looked up and everyone was staring at him, even his Alakazam.

Hugh "Sorry, it's so nice,"

Pablo "Well, we have plenty more and if you win I'll give you one, how about that?"

Hugh "Excellent,"

Pablo "Now pokemon, what was in your master's pie? Spoink you go first,"

Spoink's master was drinking a lot of water to try and get rid of the fowl taste in her mouth. Spoink began to glow and a berry floated out of the box, a red spiky berry.

Pablo "Spoink has pulled out a Tamato berry, one of the spiciest berries around, but is Spoink correct?"

Pie maker 1 "Yes, Spoink is right, all of Contestant ones pies were spicy berry pies, the one that she chose was Tamato,"

Pablo "Alright, we have a correct answer, now Alakazam, what did your master have?"

Hugh looked at Alakazam and directed his thoughts to it. Something sweet, the sweetest berry of all, Hugh thought. Alakazam pointed his spoons at the box and a pink berry floated out and into Pablo's hand.

Pablo "We have a Pecha berry, but is Alakazam correct?"

Pie maker 2 "Alakazam is correct, I cant blame contestant two for not wanting to stop, this is the sweetest berry in Hoenn,"

Pablo "Ok, Mr. Mime, what did your master have?"

Mr. Mime looked bored and wasn't really interested in what was happening, it randomly pulled a berry out of the box.

Pablo "We have a Mint berry, is this correct?"

Pie maker 3 "No, unfortunately Mr. Mime is wrong. What was in the 3rd pie was an Iapapa berry, very sour,"

Pablo "Bad luck Mr. Mime, you and your trainer are gone, sorry about that, Girafarig, what did your master eat?"

Girafarig began to glow and pulled out a spotty yellow berry and made it float to Pablo.

Pablo "It looks like an Aspear berry, another sour berry, is this right?"

Pie maker 4 "Yes, Girafarig is correct,"

Pablo "Ok, round one is down, now time for the trainers to guess, this maybe harder,"

Like their trainers, there were 3 types of pies in front of the pokemon. Alakazam picked up a bit with its spoon and ate the pie, while the others drew the pie up to their mouths and psychically ate them. Spoink made a face, Girafarig was breathing hard and Alakazam was enjoying the taste.

Pablo "Ok trainers, what is your pokemon eating, Spoink trainer, come and choose a berry from the box,"

Spoink's trainer went to the box and look at her pokemons face. She picked up an Iapapa berry.

Pablo "Is she correct?"

Pie maker 1 "Unfortunately no, Spoink was eating a Rawst berry pie, much different, as they are bitter not sour,"

Pablo "Bad luck, I'm afraid you are out, Girafarig trainer come and choose,"

Girafarig's trainer pulled out a red berry.

Pablo "A cherry? Um…is he correct?"

Pie maker 2 "No, that was a Wiki pie, a very dry berry,"

Pablo "Oh better luck next time, now Alakazam what berry did this pokemon eat?"

Hugh went to the box and looked hard at all the berries, then something flashed in his head, a spotty blue berry, he dug around in the box and found the berry that he saw.

Pablo "An Oran berry, one with many flavour, is this pie lover correct?"

Pie maker 3 "Yes, he is correct,"

Pablo "Congratulations you have earned the Pecha pie as promised, as well as a focus sash, helps your pokemon focus more in battle, not that Alakazam needs it but you never know. Ok thank you for playing,"

Hugh "Did you help me then?"

Alakazam nodded "Ala (Yes,)"

Hugh "You did well, want some pie?"

Alakazam helped Hugh eat the pie, while Sara wondered around seeing all the different pokemon and the types of trainers. A tap on the shoulder made her jump, it was Professor Birch and Chansey.

Birch "Chansey has been a great help in my study, they are very interesting female pokemon. This one loves to heal pokemon, while I was studying, an Oddish with a sore leg crawled towards us and she healed it completely. Fascinating,"

Sara "Glad you had fun, what are you going to do now?"

Birch "I'm going to do the 'Poke-questions' a professor needs to be up to date, even if I may know all the answers. See you later,"

Hugh "Chansey's back,"

Sara "Yeah, she healed an Oddish, not too long ago,"

Hugh "Alright, hey check that out, it's a balloon popping contest, you and Corsola should have a go,"

Sara "Ok,"

The competition didn't go for long as the competitors didn't even reach the balloons, like Corsola did. For a prize Sara got a water pail.

Sara "That wasn't much fun, but Corsola enjoyed itself,"

Hugh "Yes, I thought that Qwilfish would have given more of a fight than that, oh well,"

They walked to a food stand and ordered 3 burgers. While eating, they noticed a guy with a camera and a weird bird on his head heading towards then.

Pokedex "Natu the psychic bird pokemon. Natu can't fly, but it can avoid being attacked, by hopping around everywhere,"

Camera guy "Excuse me, would I be able to take your picture?"

Sara "Sure, what for and why though?"

Kodak "I'm sorry for being rude, my name is Kodak…"

Hugh "So you want a Kodak moment then (laughs),"

Kodak "Yes actually, I am with the magazine 'The Daily Pokedex', I have a few parts in the magazine, even a column I call 'It's a Kodak moment',"

Sara "I'm Sara and this is Hugh. Sweet, I think I've seen a few of your pictures, did you take one of a Charizard that smelt some flowers in a beautiful rose garden?"

Kodak "Yes that is my work,"

Hugh "I'm sorry, I didn't even realise, you do 'The top 10 Poke-couples of the Year' don't you?"

Kodak "I see you're a fan,"

Hugh "Would you be able to take a photo of my poke-couple?"

Kodak "Sure, I love seeing different poke-couples. The best I saw a few years ago was a female Azumarill with a male Numel, the Azumarill always teased the Numel by spraying water on him, but only lightly, it didn't want to hurt it,"

Sara "That is so cute,"

Kodak "My bad, I didn't mean to steal your thunder, show me the poke-couple,"

Hugh "Ok, come on out you two,"

Hugh threw both his pokeballs down on the ground and Cubone and Larvitar popped out, hugging each other and laughing. Kodak was smiling and knelt down to their level.

Kodak "I've seen many Cubone in my line of work and most are aggressive or shy, I have never seen one this love stricken before…and this Larvitar, she cares for him deeply you can see it in her eyes,"

Cubone and Larvitar were looking at each other, then at Kodak, they didn't know what was going on and turned to Hugh.

Hugh "This is a photographer for 'The Daily Pokedex', he is interested in you two as you are a couple aren't you?"

They both nodded and hugged each other once again.

Sara "That is so cute,"

Kodak "Would it be alright if I took your picture?"

Cubone nodded "Bone (Of Course)"

Larvitar nodded "Larvit (Defiantly)"

Kodak "Ok give me the bets pose as a couple as you can,"

Cubone stuck his bone in the ground and held Larvitar, while she leaned back and smiled at the camera, Sara even took a photo herself.

Kodak "Excellent, plus can I have a photo of the both of you with your pokemon who have won prizes?"

Sara "Sure,"

Kodak waited as Scyther, Alakazam, Corsola and Pidgeot came out of their pokeballs and posed around Hugh and Sara.

Kodak "Excellent, this will go in my column 'Slateport Festival Winners', the new magazine will come out in a few days, I hope you buy it,"

Hugh "Of course we will buy it, we're in it and it will be awesome,"

Kodak laughed "Very good, we'll I have to find more winners and take their pictures, I may also get to interview Professor Birch, I hope to see you both later on,"

Sara "See ya Kodak,"

Kodak walked towards Professor Birch and Hugh and Sara recalled back their pokemon. Sara noticed that Chansey was on the ground fast asleep, holding her quick claw tightly against her egg.

Sara "I reckon its time to go, its getting late,"

Hugh "How are we going to get Chansey back?"

Sara "Use your Alakazam,"

Hugh "Great idea, Alakazam can you teleport yourself and Chansey to the pokemon center? We'll meet you there,"

Alakazam "Zam (Will do)"

Alakazam and Chansey disappeared and Hugh and Sara slowly began to walk towards the pokemon center. They were greeted by Nurse Joy and Alakazam.

Nurse Joy "Thank you for taking Chansey to the festival, I was just so swamped here. She is resting in bed, as should the both of you, I'll heal your pokemon while you rest,"

Sara yawning "Thanks Nurse Joy,"

Hugh "See you in the morning,"

Hugh and Sara were woken up by an excited Chansey, who brought them breakfast in bed.

Sara "Thanks Chansey, I hope you had fun yesterday,"

Chansey "Chansey (You bet I did,)"

Nurse Joy "She just couldn't wait to serve you breakfast, plus all your pokemon are healed,"

Hugh "Thanks Nurse Joy, thank you Chansey,"

Chansey smiled at them as they ate their breakfast. When they left she waved goodbye with the quick claw attached to her arm.