AN: This chapter was updated/revised on July 14, 2019.

Lucy, Meowth, Bata, and Magnezone trained near a stream behind the forest surrounding the city. Lucy sat eating and watching while Meowth struggled to perfect his routine for the contest.

"Give up," Lucy suggested.

"I ain't no quitter," he retorted.

"Since when?"

She popped a stolen Poképuff into her mouth. Meowth didn't bother to look at her, he was too focused on training.

"Bata, try one more time," he instructed. "Den weeze can take a break."

The Pokémon used Swift on a log they found in the forest. Their plan was to carve a Butterfree into it, but Bata was struggling to get it to look right.

"You said that one time you made on ice sculpture using Fury Swipes," said Lucy. "Why don't you just to that again?"

"Because I believe in Bata," Meowth replied. "I'm not givin up until he does."

After a short lunch break, they kept on going at it until he finally succeeded. Then they headed back to the Pokémon Center for some spa treatment.

"Hanging out with you all isn't so bad," Lucy said as she admired her fresh manicure. "And Jessie and James don't treat you so bad, though they could who you a little more respect."

"Jessie, James, and I have been togetha fer a long time. Weeze understand each otha," he replied. "Like a family."

"About the other night…were they always mushy?"

"Oh yeah. I rememba when dey started bein friends. When weeze first joined Team Rocket dey hardly ever spoke to one another, and den as time went on dey really started to click. And I could tell dat dey liked each otha."

"What do you mean, you could tell?"

"Dey did lots of weird tings togetha…makin deir own uniforms, bein all theatrical…dey would always do dis ting where dey would act all romantic and den de next time dey were together dey would act like nuthin happened. It wasn't until bout a year ago dat dis all changed. Now dey're finally a real couple."

"And then there's you…alone."

"I like bein alone. Besides, Jessie and James are neva gonna leave me. Even before dey were a couple weeze said dat weeze were gonna buy a big house and live togetha."

"Hm. You're…different, from what expected when I first started following you around."

"The good different or de bad different?"

"The good."

Meowth blushed. Lucy stepped back.

"Don't push it," she admonished.

"Okay, den. Let's go back ta dat clearin where we saw dose twerps," he replied. "I'd ratha eat more of the twerps' food den dis Pokéchow."

XO

The next day everyone got up early and met for breakfast in the cafeteria of the Pokémon Center.

"I am so excited for my first contest!" Bonnie announced as she dug into her scrambled eggs.

"Juuuuu!" Jerry exclaimed with equal enthusiasm.

"I have a feeling you're going to do great," said Misty.

"Agreed," said (most of) the rest of their table.

"I bet everyone here will make it at least to the top ten," said Ash.

Jessie, James, Meowth, Lucy, Wobbuffet, Acorn, Aliyah, and Growly sat on the far end of that same table, mostly ignoring the twerp chatter.

"Are you going to finish that piece of bacon?" Lucy asked James.

"No, you can have it," he replied.

"Thanks." She delicately placed it on her plate then rubbed against James. "You're so sweet—a real catch."

"I think you are really sweet and a catch too," James responded.

Jessie and Meowth gave him a dirty look. James just shrugged his shoulders and nibbled on his toast.

"Why are you always flirting with James?" Jessie inquired.

"Why are you?" she countered.

"Because I'm his type. A snobby Purrloin isn't."

James started to realize what was going on.

"Oh, Lucy, I hope you didn't…" he began.

'Why do I have to have this conversation with all my female Pokémon?' he thought.

"I think you are very attractive," James continued. "But…I… "

"You what?" Lucy asserted.

James lifted his now-empty lunch tray. "I'm all done now…see you soon!"

James was out of the cafeteria within seconds. Lucy and Jessie huffed.

"That was weird," several of the twerps noted.

Several minutes later, May and James inadvertently met one another on line at the Poké Drink Bar.

"Two medium coffees with two ounces of skim Moo Moo Milk please," May ordered. "James?"

"Hmmm?" he asked.

"What do you want?"

"Oh, I usually get a medium hazelnut blend with maple syrup and a dash of cream," he responded.

May ordered and paid for both their orders.

"I didn't expect you to buy mine," James said before they returned to the table.

"It's a favor for all those times you let me ride in the balloon," she replied.

"Oh. Thank you and…good luck at the contest today. Truly. I hope you place."

"Good luck to you too. I heard the judges gave you a 9.4 in the qualifying round. You and Jessie are sure going to be tough to beat."

"I'm glad you think so. It's because of you we started doing contests anyway. We didn't know much about formal Pokémon Contests until Ash started traveling with you…It's weird to think of how much has changed since those days."

"I like things better like this way."

"Ditto."

XO

"Finally, here!" Bonnie said enthusiastically.

"Dee!" Dedenne squealed.

"Juuuulip!" Jerry exclaimed.

The Pokémon danced around Bonnie. She giggled and gave them high-fives.

"I remember my first contest," said May. "I was so nervous. Drew was giving me a hard time, saying that I would never be good enough to win. But I managed to win anyway, though it took me a few tries."

"I knew she could do it all along," Drew replied.

"Yeah, right."

"How do these things work?" asked Lucy.

"Each coordinator has to choose two Pokémon. Then they do a performance in front of the judges. The point is to show off the Pokémon's' abilities," said Bianca.

"The judges give them points based on how well they use their powers," said Dawn. "And for these types of contests, both the coordinator and the Pokémon are judged."

"The highest you can get is 30 points," Bonnie explained.

"This contest has several rounds and multiple classes since there are so many people competing. About two hundred people enter, but only fifty make it to the second round. The second round is like the first except you can only use one Pokémon," said Serena. "The third round is a five-minute double battle. You are randomly matched with your opponent."

"Pokémon lose points based on the damage that they receive. After the five minutes are up, the trainer that has the most points left over is the winner, unless both of one of the trainers' Pokémon faint. Then the winner is declared sooner," said Shannon.

"Each contests' rule vary a bit, but that is the general idea," Iris added.

"Do Pokémon enjoy this sort of thing?" asked Lucy.

"It really depends on the Pokémon," said Cilan. "Some love it, some don't. That is why communicating with your Pokémon partner is essential."

"I'm getting some grub while dey gets dressed fer de contest," Meowth told Lucy. "Wanna come with?"

"Sure," she responded.

As Lucy and Meowth ran off, the competitors went to the changing areas inside Contest Hall, their goal to look their best for the upcoming events.

XO

Ash and Pikachu were exploring the area when they were reunited with a familiar face.

"Ash Ketchum, is that you?" she asked.

"Erika!" he said enthusiastically.

"Pikachuuu!"

"And Pikachu, of course. You've grown up so much since the last time I saw you," said the Celadon City Gym Leader. "I've heard so much about you over the years: visiting all those leagues, discovering new species, encountering legendary and mythical Pokémon, your nomination for Kantonian Frontier Brain…"

"Yeah, I've been around…" he replied.

"Are you entering this contest?"

"No, but some of my close friends are. We're traveling together. This year I'm competing in the Indigo League. Since it's been over three years, my badges expired so I need to re-earn them all."

"Then I suppose you will be visiting me soon."

"Totally."

"So…why are you here? Are you a judge or something?"

Erika shook her head. "My cousin Serena is performing. I haven't seen her in such a long time and I never even got to see her perform live so I just had to come."

" Serena Yvonne?"

"Yes. Do you know her?"

"Totally! She's one of my best friends. We traveled together all throughout Kalos and now she's in Kanto traveling with me and my other friends."

"What a coincidence."

Ash and Erika headed towards the bleachers. They saw Delia and several of Ash's friends waving to them.

"Mom!" Ash exclaimed as he ran up to her, Brock, Tracey, Richie, Sakura, Gary, and Duplica. "Hey!"

"Mime, mime!" said Mr. Mime, hugging Ash.

"It's good to see you," Delia said as she reached to give Ash a hug.

"Why are you here? You didn't think I was competing, did you?" he asked.

"Nope. I came to support your friends…I needed to get away from Pallet for a bit and I hadn't been in Celadon since you were a toddler."

"Professor Oak said it was no trouble for me to catch a ride with her," said Tracey.

"It's down season so I took advantage to come see Dawn," said Gary.

"I have the week of Taiiku no Hi off from school," said Brock.

"And I don't have another show for a week," said Duplica.

"We were in the area already," Sakura said on behalf of Richie and herself.

"Cool. It's great ta see you all," Ash responded. "Mom, this is Erika, Leader of the Celadon City Gym. I met her a few years ago when I first went to earn my Rainbow Badge. Erika, this is my mom and my friends Brock, Richie, Sakura, Gary, Duplica, and Tracey."

"It's nice to meet you," Delia, Duplica, Sakura, and Tracey replied.

"You too," she responded.

"Erika, it's been a while," said Gary.

"Ditto," said Brock.

"Gary Oak and Brock Harrison," Erika said thoughtfully. "I remember you both. Word on the street is that you decided to become a Pokémon researcher and Pokémon doctor respectively. Is that true?"

"Yep," said Gary. "I decided to do research instead…think it's my true calling."

"And I'm training to become a Pokémon doctor," said Brock. "Almost halfway through my schooling."

"You, Richie, you also battled my gym," said Erika. "Several times. How are you?"

"I'm doing great. I'm still battling but also looking into other Pokémon-related activities such as Pokémon Archery, Pokéringer, and Pokébase," he replied. "I'm loving it."

"I'm traveling alongside Richie and a few other friends who are competing in the contest today," said Sakura.

"Good for you," said Erika. "I always wonder what happens to those hundreds of young trainers that come to my gym and other gym leaders too. Not everyone ventures one path. I came to see my cousin Serena Yvonne perform. Ash told me that you know her."

"We sure do," said Brock.

"We're here to see her along with other friends," said Sakura.

Meowth and Lucy sat in the empty seats beside Delia. Each had a large bag of kettle corn and cotton candy in their paws.

"Yous wouldn't believe dat line," Meowth commented. "If I ta wait any longa ta pay I woulda just stolen it instead…only reason I didn't was cuz dere were loads of people watchin."

"The talking Meowth! I remember you!" Erika gasped.

"It's okay Erika, he's on our side now," said Ash.

"Yer side?" Meowth sniggered. "I'm still me, kid, I'm just not inta yer Pokémon no more."

"You aren't in Team Rocket anymore?" said Erika.

"Nope."

"It's a long story," said Brock. "We trust Meowth, Jessie, and James and you should too. Plus, he, Jessie and James are competing in this contest and we will be cheering them on too."

"The tides sure have changed," Erika murmured.

"That's what we keep saying. Funny how it is?"

Erika didn't say it aloud, but she noted personally that unlike the last time she saw him, Brock wasn't infatuated. He was looking at her and talking to her normally. That fourteen-year-old did mature.

"Meowth, shouldn't you be getting ready for the contest?" asked Delia.

"I'm already ready. I don't need ta do nuthin else," Meowth replied.

"You are entering in a Pokémon contest?" asked Erika. "Who' your trainer?"

"I don't got a trainer, I work on my own. I'm number 100, so I gots plenty of time ta relax and eat."

Meowth handed some snacks to Bata and Magnezone, who Ash explained were his Pokémon.

"Unless you get distracted again," Lucy told Meowth.

"A talking Purrloin too?" Erika said as she rubbed her eyes.

"So, what?"

"It's surprising. I've never encountered any Pokémon that could speak a human language yet right now there are two right before me. I wish I knew how to teach my Pokémon to talk."

"It's nice to finally meet you," Delia said as she extended her hand to Lucy. "Jessie and James told me all about you."

'They did?' Lucy thought. 'Why?'

"Ash and Misty told me and Sakura about how you're living with Jessie and James and learned to speak," said Richie.

"And I heard about you from Delia," said Duplica, Tracey, and Gary.

"Let's get something straight," Lucy asserted. "No human taught us how to speak, we taught ourselves, by ourselves, because we're smart and determined. We don't have trainers, we don't have obligations—we're just free Pokémon being free."

"Noted," several of them responded.

Eventually, everyone except for Jessie, Bonnie, May, and Drew had joined them. Jessie was number 12, Bonnie number 14, May number 21, and Drew number 26 out of nearly two hundred contestants.

"Go, Jessie!" James called from the stands as Jessie took the stage.

"Mime mime mime!" Mime Jr exclaimed.

"Serrrrrviper!"

"Yannnn!"

"Gieeeeeest!"

"Wobbbbuffet!"

Jessie released her Frillish in the same manner she did earlier. Then she called out her Swoobat. As Swoobat emerged from her ball in slow motion, she generated a warm glow. Frillish and Swoobat flew high up above the crowd and danced. As they spun around each other, they released heart and star-shaped lights.

"That's amazing!" Misty exclaimed.

"I sure didn't see that coming," said Ash.

"I didn't know Pokémon could do such a thing," Gary murmured as he took some notes.

"Me neither," said Tracey. "I gotta draw this…"

"That's Jessie for you. Always full of surprises," James said proudly. "Go, Jessie!"

He clapped and cheered for her. Jessie saw him in the stands and waved his way. Soon the audience joined in applause. Jessie and her two Pokémon bowed. The scoreboard flashed 30 points.

'She's incredible,' Bonnie thought nervously. 'I hope the crowd loves my intro too…'

"Bonnie's up next!" Max exclaimed after the other Coordinator finished his routine.

Bonnie did some of the warmup breaths Serena taught her and looked to her big brother. Clemont gave her a thumbs up. The youngest of the bunch took the stage.

"Go, Jerry!" Bonnie announced as she threw her Pokéball over her head.

Jerry did his signature backflip and landed gracefully on one foot. He shot a stream of water across the stage and then froze it. Bonnie released Dedenne. Dedenne, Bonnie, and Jerry skated across the stage. They held on to each other and spun around, then Jerry lifted the small electric rodent over its head and the three of them ended in a dramatic pose. They bowed as the audience roared with nothing but praise for the beginner trio.

"She's amazing!" Tracey exclaimed. "What an intro!"

"This is only her first contest," said Clemont. "Good for you, Bonnie! You did it!"

The rest of their team joined them, except for Lucy and Meowth, who continued eating.

"Dat mini twerpette is really startin ta get on my nerves," Meowth grumbled. "She don't work dat hard yet she gets all de luck."

"Are you afraid she's going to kick your ass?" Lucy teased.

"No! I just believe dat some people deserve ta win more den she does."

Lucy rolled her eyes. They looked up at the scoreboard.

"30 points!" Misty exclaimed in disbelief. "She got a perfect score too!"

Bonnie exited the stage and was bombarded by Jessie, May, Drew, and a crowd of strangers who were all waiting for their turn to perform.

"Wow twerpette, I'm a little impressed," said Jessie.

"You were great out there. Good for you!" said May.

"You are a force to be reckoned with," said Drew. "After this season you'll be ready to move up a class for sure."

"Wowy, thanks, everyone," Bonnie responded. "It was all thanks to my awesome Pokémon!"

"Dedenne nay!"

"Julip juuuu!"

Next up was James.

"Go...Inkay!" he began. "You too, Aliyah!"

Inkay shot a series of Shadow Balls at the Eevee. Aliyah laughed and caught each of the glowing purplish blobs in her teeny paws. Then she juggled them for a bit and tossed them back to Inkay, who tossed them high into the air. They dissolve as they soared upward. Inkay and Aliyah took a bow. Everyone in the crowd cheered.

"That went better than expected," Jessie murmured. 'If I don't win this, he will.'

She bombarded him with hugs and kisses after he exited the stage.

"I'm so proud," she said as she tangled her fingers in his hair. She kissed his lips even though there was an audience for it. "I love you so much. Then again, even if you sucked out there, I'd still be proud."

"Thanks, and ditto," James replied with a histrionic bow. "Beat that, Meowth."

"Count on it," the cat retorted.

The crowd grew confused when Meowth enter the stage without a trainer. They were even more confused when he opened his mouth and addressed the audience.

"Folks of all ages, races, gendas, and regions, allow me ta introduce...Bata!"

As soon as he called Bata's name, the Butterfree flew from behind Meowth and then when all around the stadium, dusting the audience in a light Sweet Scent as he went. Meowth put a log down in front of the crowd.

"Do what yous gotta do!" he told Bata.

"Freeeee!" Bata asserted.

The Butterfree used his Swift attack on the log until it became a carving of a Butterfree. It was a bit shabby, but the crowd was impressed anyway. They applauded until their hands and voices were raw.

"Dank yous all!" Meowth said proudly as he and Bata bowed.

The contest continued until nightfall. Jessie, James, Bonnie, Drew, May, and Cilan made it to the top twenty in their respective categories. Everyone else had slowly dropped off. Next up was Bonnie versus Jessie for the battle round.

"Begin!" the official declared.

"Use Swift and Calm Mind both of you," Jessie told Swoobat and Frillish.

"Dedenne, dodge the Swift and use Thunderbolt. Jerry, use Ice Beam!" Bonnie countered.

"Use Misty Ball and Swift!"

"Oh no! Try Light Screen!"

"Add a little Light Screen to our side too!"

"Frillll!"

"Swooo!"

"Julip ip!"

"Deeeenay!"

Dedenne's Thunderbolt barely afflicted the Frillish and Jerry's Ice Beam missed while Swoobat's Swift attack hit both opponents and cut their HP to nearly half of their max.

"Huh?" said Ash. "That Thunderbolt did almost no damage on Frillish!"

"How?" said Shannon.

"Isn't that impossible?" Bianca inquired.

"It's because our Pokémon built up a *mild* resistance to electric attack due to Ash's continuous use of electric-type attacks and Hypertraining at Team Rocket HQ," said James.

"Good job, Swoobat, now use Sludge Bomb on Dedenne!" Jessie commanded. "Frillish, use Freeze Dry on the Julip!"

"I-I can't believe Team Rocket taught their Pokémon all these moves…" Ash murmured.

"They're as good as you," Misty said, her only intention to fluster Ash.

"No way! I'm better than them and Bonnie is too!"

"Shush, I can barely hear Bonnie," Serena scolded him.

"Yeah geeze kid, chill," said Lucy. "It's just a fucking battle."

'If special attacks won't work, we gotta try other tricks,' Bonnie thought.

"Use Volt Tackle on Frillish!" she instructed. "Jerry, use Double Team, then try Shadow Ball."

While both moves were impressive, Bonnie's Pokémon had little experience using them. The recoiling effect of Dedenne's Volt Tackle did more damage to the electric mouse than it did to Frillish, and that on top of the poisoning effects of Sludge Bomb fainted him. Jerry's Shadow Ball wasn't half as powerful as his Ice Beam move, and the Frillish's Freeze Dry had him all but frozen in place.

Frillish and Swoobat basked in defeating their greater weakness and didn't realize that their Light Screen had faded. Jerry's Shadow Ball fainted Frillish.

"One minute left on the timer and both sides are down one Pokémon!" the MC announced. "A water and ice-type versus a psychic and flying-type!"

"Bonnie has the type advantage, but as a young trainer, lacks experience," Clemont murmured. "But's she's come so far…grown so much in just a few weeks. Come on Bonnie, you can do it!"

Soon everyone in their party—even Lucy—was cheering for Bonnie, with James, Meowth, and their Pokémon the only ones hooting for Jess.

"Swoobat, use Hyperbeam!" Jessie instructed.

"Dodge it!" Bonnie shouted.

The attack missed Jerry by an inch.

"Hyperbeam again!" said Jessie.

"Swoobat must recharge before using another move," Lucy said as she finished James' drink. "I don't even have Hyperbeam in my moveset and I know that."

Swoobat dodged several of Jerry's attempts, and with ten seconds left on the clock, issued a second Hyperbeam. It collided with Jerry's Ice Beam move. A powerfully bright light emerged.

"It's beautiful," said Misty.

"I never saw anything like it," said Iris. "Not bad for an ice-type."

"We won't know what happened until that light stops and the dust settles," said Clemont. "But only one will come out on top after such an aggressive display."

When the light finally faded, Jerry lied on the ground, clearly defeated.

"Coordinator Jessica Tonaka and Swoobat take the round!" the referee announced.

"Yes! I knew Jessie could do it!" James cheered.

"No yous didn't," Meowth remarked. "As soon as you saw de type disadvantage de look on yer face said it all; yous dought she was doomed."

"Perhaps…but don't tell her that."

The rest of their Pokémon cheered.

"I'm so proud of Bonnie. She really did a great job," said Clemont.

"Considering Jessie's twenty years older than her too and had loads of practice, she did amazing," said Max.

"Experience often outweighs type advantage for sure," said Ash.

"I am not 'twenty years older' than the mini twerpette," Jessie snapped as she joined their circle. "Just over ten years, at most, and I can deceive anyone!"

Lucy noted the flames in her eyes. "Why's she so angry?" she asked Meowth.

"Dese lugs hate bein called 'old'. Call dem old or ugly and dey'll eitha beat yous up or cry fer de rest of de week," Meowth explained. "Sometimes both. Dey'll complain bout it nonstop too."

James heard all this but ignored it. He handed Jessie red and white roses to match her contest dress and heels. She once again beamed with joy.

"Well, not this time," Lucy noted.

'Maybe cuz now dere grown-ups,' Meowth thought. 'Finally.'

Most of the praise from the traveling group of misfits went to Bonnie. She was praised even by strangers, some of whom were rivals. According to Bonnie, the greatest compliment came from Drew, the most seasoned coordinator in their party:

"Fourth place is amazing for a first-timer. Sometimes it comes down to luck; this was one of those times. I can see you winning the Grand Festival."

"Hold up, there's still more to go," said Iris, drawing their attention to the stage. "Cilan versus that dude with the Slugma and Torkcoal."

"Ethan," said Misty. "Back again…"

"Fire trainer versus grass trainer…darn. Just his luck. At least he has some other types he might've picked."

"Cilan's gonna do great anyway," said Ash. "Go, Cilan!"

Cilan ended up defeating Ethan using Crustle and Stunfisk. Next, he versed a rock-type Pokémon trainer and won again. Jessie faced off against two more trainers, both specializing in steel-types. Drew, Delcatty, and Absol won their class and Jessie with Swoobat and Frillish won theirs. James and the other finalists in their party dropped off during their first battle round.

"Jessie didn't just win, she won despite type disadvantages and all this stress we've been under," James said breathlessly.

"I didn't think she was gonna do half as well," said Dawn.

"Yeah, she barely made it the last time," said Shannon.

"I suppose she actually can train Pokémon," said Iris.

"It's about desire," said Misty. "I've noticed this about The Rocket Gang: if they want to do it, they usually can and will. It's when they don't want to that things fall apart."

"I've had the same theory for a while," said Brock. "Still…safe to say this contest was a turning point for many of us."

"I gotta get better at knowing my rivals if I ever want to win a contest," Bonnie mumbled.

"There's a lot you don't know about me," Jessie said as she joined their party, her grandiose ribbon tucked in her braided magenta hair and congratulatory flowers in hand. "And even more you'll probably never know."

"Not that we would want to," said May. "But, congrats."

"Congrats," said the others.