Chapter 50: From Shy To Confidence!

Last time on "Pokémon Sinnoh Journey", Ash and the others had finally arrived in Floaroma Town for Dawn and Hikaru's next Pokémon Contest, with Hikaru's broken left arm recovering nice and fast. Dawn suggested to the group that they should all enter the Poffin Class in order to test their Poffin cooking skills. There, they meet Forsythia and her shy Roserade, while taking the chance to make their own Poffins!

Ash's was the zero percent favorite, since his Poffins were all burnt. Dawn's was the least favorite above Ash, since her Poffins didn't go well for the tasting buds for her Pokémon. Brock's was liked with Sudowoodo and Croagunk liking the Poffins. For Hikaru, his Poffin tasted the best for his Pokémon! Even Ash's Pokémon wanted to eat some of his Poffins, too! After the snack, everyone took a break, with Roserade still being shy as it is.

Roserade gave the last tea to Ash, before hiding out of the room! "Man! Roserade is acting like she is pretty scared of me!" Ash sighed, annoyed with the Bouquet Pokémon's shyness. "Maybe she's scared because you were acting very scary!" Dawn scolded the Pallet Town trainer. "I really am sorry. Roserade can get scared quite easily, so it spends most of the time hiding out!" Forsythia explained. "Roserade's always like this before?" Hikaru asked, curious.

"As long as I remember, even when Roserade was still a sweet little Budew!" Forsythia answered. She recalled the time when she and Roserade met when she was a bit younger, and when Roserade was a little Budew!

Flashback

It was a snowy night at Floaroma Town's Pokémon Center. Young Forsythia walked in, with Nurse Joy greeting her! "Welcome back! Would you like to come with me to the examination room?" Nurse Joy asked. "Thanks!" Forsythia agreed. She was about to move, until she spotted a Budew looking at her! Once it saw that she was looking at her, the Budew shrieked, and went into hiding!

"I've been watching, non-stop, tending to the injuries received, when that wild Budew picked that awful fight! Thankfully, the physical wounds seemed to have all healed up, but Budew's never bonded with any of the Pokémon here!" Nurse Joy explained. She and Forsythis checked the Budew, who was hiding in a corner of the wall! "Budew, dear! Isn't it time for you to go and have some snacks with the other Pokémon?" Nurse Joy asked. The Budew turned and spotted Forsythia's bouquet, filled with colorful flowers!

"Budew!" The Budew exclaimed, happy to see such flowers! "Really? You like these?" Forsythia asked. Budew nodded with a sweet chirp! "Hey! I know! If you like to see, I have lots and lots of flowers at my house!" Forsythia explained. That made Budew very happy as she nodded happily, wanting to see more flowers! "Would that be alright?" Forsythia asked. "Yes, of course it would! Whatever makes Budew happy!" Nurse Joy answered.

So, Forsythia had her examination checked up at the Pokémon Center, as she took Budew out in the snow! She wrapped her red scarf around the Budew to keep her warm! "Yes, it is cold outside!" Forsythia giggled. Budew felt happy, getting to see new flowers and a warm hearted girl!

End Flashback

"Budew loved caring for the flowers. And before I know it, Budew evolved into Roselia! And finally, into my beautiful Roserade!" Forsythia explained. The group was amazed to hear such memories and stories about her and Roserade! "Now, Roserade and I have made quite a team!" Forsythia explained. Out the room, Roserade blushed with Lotad smirking at her! Suddenly, there was a shake in the house!

"Hey! What was that!?" Ash snapped, opening the window. Outside, there was a giant machine that was sucking up all the berries and plants in the garden! Forsythia was very shocked, and upset that all her bloomed and grown berries and flowers were being crushed and take way by some thieves! "Stop it!" Forsythia pleaded. "Knock it off!" Ash called. Then, the machine stopped, revealing the familiar evil trio!

"Is that... A voice... That I hear?"

"It's speaking to me loud and clear!"

"On the wind!"

"Past the stars!"

"In your ear!"

"Creating utter chaos at a breakneck pace!"

"Dashing hope, putting fear in its place!"

"A rose by any other name is just as sweet!"

"When everything's worse, our work is complete!"

"Jessie!"

"And it's James!"

"Meowth, now that's a name!"

"Putting the do gooders in their place!"

"Team Rocket!"

"We're in your face!"

"Come on! Those berries aren't yours, and you know it!" Ash snapped. "So, get out, now!" Dawn demanded. "Twerp, your words are never spoken! We're going to make some fast fortune selying Poffins, and not you!" Jessie laughed. She and Meowth made funny faces to the group and Forsythia, taunting them! "Pikachu! Use Thunderbolt, let's go!" Ash called. "Monferno, use Fire Spin!" Hikaru shouted. Both Pokémon shot their attacks to the machine!

Team Rocket his inside, only to come out and show the group that no damage was taken! "Hee hee hee hee hee! I know you're more shocked than we are!" Meowth cackled. "Now, it's Dustox's turn to do the attacking honors!" Jessie giggled. The Poison Moth Pokémon appeared, preparing for battle! "You too, Carnivine!" James called. Again, like always, Carnivine bit onto James' head once it came out! James gasped as he also sent out Cacnea!

Like Carnivine, Cacnea embraced James, but its arms were spiky, causing James to flinch! "Can't you see that there's not enough to go around!?" James snapped. "Dustox, use Poison Sting!" Jessie called. Dustox shot poison needles at the group! "Croagunk! Poison Sting on the Poison Sting!" Brock called. The Toxic Mouth Pokémon shot its needles, destroying the other Poison Sting Attack!

"Piplup, use Bubblebeam!" Dawn shouted. "Turtwig, use Razor Leaf!" Ash called. "Eevee, Shadow Ball!" Hikaru called. The three small Pokémon unleashed their attacks at Team Rocket! "Carnivine, use Bullet Seed! Cacnea, you use Pin Missile!" James called. Both Grass Types caused the two move to collide and explode! There was a big war between Team Rocket's Pokémon, against the heroes' Pokémon! It was Eevee, Luxio, Turtwig, Aipom, Piplup, Buneary, and Croagunk against Carnivine, Dustox, and Cacnea!

Behind the heroes, Roserade looks as the battle continues! Roserade then made its decision and ran back to the house, without everyone noticing, except maybe Lotad, that is. Roserade went into Forsythia's room, and found the red scarf inside the drawer! It was the same scarf that Forsythia gave her as a Budew! Roserade wrapped it around her head, looking herself like a ninja!

Back at the battle, the heroes kept fighting the evil trio! "Aipom, use Swift, let's go!" Ash yelled. Aipom unleashed the Swift Attack! "Luxio, use Hidden Power!" Hikaru called. Orbs flew to Team Rocket, along with Swift! "Oh, Wobbuffet!" Jessie giggled. The Patient Pokémon went in front of Team Rocket, and deflected all the Swift and Hidden Power attack! "Buneary, use Ice Beam, quick!" Dawn shouted, "Quick, Cacnea! Use Sandstorm!" James called.

Sandstorm blew the Ice Beam away, blinding everyone by the strong wind! "Well, this turned out very nice!" Jessie giggled. "Our Berry catchers are very plumbed!" James sneered. "Why don't we act like a tree Berry, and leave?" Jessie giggled. "Whatever you say!" Meowth agreed. The robot began to move away from the nearly crushed garden! "They're getting away!" Ash gasped. Just then, a Magical Leaf blew through the evil trio!

Team Rocket screamed as they were attacked by the Grass Type move! "Who is that masked man!?" Jessie snapped. "Wait a moment. That's not the masked man!" James stated. "It's the Pokémon with the Magical Leaf meister!" Meowth exclaimed. Forsythia knew who was behind the mask! "That's Roserade?" Forsythia asked. "Lotad, Lotad!" Lotad cheered. Just then, Forsythia noticed the scarf wrapped around Roserade's face!

"I know that scarf!" Forsythia gasped. She remembered the time when she gave her warm scarf for Roserade when it was a Budew! Roserade glared at the evil trio, pointing at them! "If we don't want that flower bully to picking our roots, then we'd better slam out of here, and quick!" Meowth translated, angered with the Roserade! "Roserade!" Roserade snapped, glaring at the Team Rocket again! "Oh yeah!? As long as I'm kicking, no ninja nut job is going to bully me!" Meowth snapped.

Ash grew very excited about this! "Your Roserade is awesome!" Ash complimented. "Pika!" Pikachu agreed. "Lotad! Lotad!" Lotad exclaimed. Meowth grew shocked and angry when he heard Lotad's words! "What!? Who put that Roserade in charge!?" Meowth snapped. Lotad explained of what Roserade does to thieves and intruders! "You know, there's a Team Rocket rule of beating up bad guys!" Meowth snapped.

"Lotad Lotad!" Lotad continued. "Yeah!? And Pokémon who loves the fruit gets the berry boot!?" Meowth snapped. "Lotad Lotad!" Lotad finished. "So, Roserade protects this orchard from mugs like me!?" Meowth growled. "These berries are better than any others! And these flowers are more beautiful, too! And it's all because of Roserade!" Forsythia exclaimed. She was touched by Roserade's bravery for the flowers and the garden protection!

Jessie grew annoyed and turned to Meowth! "She makes me sick, so do something!" Jessie demanded. "Just one of Roserade's Magical Leaf is one too many!" James snapped. "Tell me something that I don't know." Meowth groaned. "But, how was Roserade so brave and forceful?" Hikaru asked, staring at the masked Roserade! "Lotad Lotad!" Lotad explained. "Lotad says that as soon as Roserade puts on that scarf, it's superhero time! Get it?" Meowth translated.

Then, Team Rocket made a smug looking face! "Course we will!" Team Rocket sneered. "Well, we're gonna help Roserade! Pikachu, Quick Attack!" Ash yelled. "Monferno! Use Flame Wheel!" Hikaru called. Both Pikachu and Monferno slammed into the robot with their physical moves! Team Rocket screamed as they began to topple, but they got back into balance! Meowth had enough with this! "Time for some baby baskets!" Meowth snapped. He pressed on the remote, sending five baskets to imprison everyone!

The five baskets caught Ash, Hikaru, Dawn, and Brock, with their Pokémon, but Lotad saved Forsythia by pushing her out of the basket's way! Roserade turned back with surprise! "Quick, Dustox! While they're out of the way, use Gust!" Jessie called. The Poison Moth Pokémon blew strong wind at Roserade, only for her to brace herself, and she jumped out of the roof, landing on the ground! But, that became a trap!

Meowth grabbed the scarf of Roserade and began to pull! Roserade resisted the pull, trying to get the scarf back! "Ha! We know that without that scarf, you're but a schlump!" Meowth snapped, pulling. Roserade refused to let go of her scarf and kept pulling! "I know that you superhero types have always some kind of weakness in you so you can be just nothing!" Meowth snapped, pulling harder! Roserade kept pulling on her side!

"Give it up!" Meowth demanded. "Rose!" Roserade snapped, pulling harder! "Loser!" Meowth taunted. "Rose!" Roserade growled, refusing to let go! After for a while, Jessie and James started to get really annoyed! "Oh, come on! Why is it such a wart!?" Jessie shrieked. "Now! Mime Jr., Tickle!" James called. Mime Jr. ran her way and began to tickle the Bouquet Pokémon! Roserade tried to resist, but it was too much!

Roserade was forced to let go! "You're mine!" Meowth yelled. The scarf was off! Roserade fainted on the ground, too afraid and weak to move! "Roserade, no!" Forsythia gasped. Meowth and Mime Jr. laughed at the fallen Roserade as they made their way back to the machine! "Yeah! Now that the Roserade's scarf is gone, we are enemy less!" Meowth laughed. "It's been very interesting, but, time to bug, bye!" Jessie giggled. A machine arm went and grabbed Roserade!

"But, what good is a scarf without a superhero?" Jessie laughed. Forsythia refused to let this go. She went in front of the machine's way! "Forsythia, quick! Look out!" Brock called. "Alright! Give back Roserade right now!" Forsythia demanded. "Well well! Aren't we brave! What are you going to back that bark?" Jessie laughed. "Roserade, please! You don't need any scarf!" Forsythia called. Roserade weakly woke up to see Forsythia! "You're just as powerful without it!" Forsythia exclaimed.

Roserade groaned as it couldn't move at all! "You've worked so hard protecting this orchard! You can't just give up now! You can't give up on me, either!" Forsythia called. The last response gave Roserade the meaning to get her strength back and to fight back! The Bouquet Pokémon broke the machine arm and used Petal Dance! It destoyed the left front wheel of the machine and the five little basktes imprisoning the four heroes!

As the heroes were freed, they ran to Forsythia and Roserade. They all nodded to each other and smiled. "Go get them, Piplup! Bubblebeam!" Dawn called. "Croagunk, use Poison Sting!" Brock called. Both Piplup and Croagunk shot their attacks, damaging the robot severely! "Pikachu! Iron Tail, now!" Ash called. "Monferno, use Mach Punch!" Hikaru shouted. The two Pokémon attacked, destroying the basket carrying all the stolen berries! Forsythia saw her chance!

"Quick, Roserade! Use Petal Dance!" Forsythia called. Roserade shot the pink, sharp petals at the robot, causing it to explode! Team Rocket once again were sent blasting off into the air! "One blast off is a pain... But two?" Team Rocket groaned. They were all silent, except Wobbuffet when they reached the sky! They disappeared out of sight! "Roserade! You were great!" Forsythia complimented. "Roserade!" Roserade thanked.

The group looked around that the damage that have been caused. "Talk about an overwhelming victory!" Brock chuckled, looking around. Roserade took a deep breath and shot a move into the sun! Sunlight sparkled down everywhere! "Whoa! What move was that!?" Dawn asked. "This is Roserade's move, Sunny Day!" Hikaru answered, clearly surprised as well. "Monferno!" Monferno agreed, amazed with the light. Roserade nodded to Lotad, who sprayed Water Gun towards the soil!

"Now! Watch this!" Forsythia exclaimed. Everyone gathered around, seeing the new plants starting to grow! A rainbow glowed over the new plants! "It's just like the legend of Floaroma Town!" Dawn exclaimed. She then held onto Hikaru's right arm. Hikaru grew startled and blushed lightly. "Isn't this a miracle, Hikaru?" Dawn asked, putting her head on his shoulder. "I guess it is." Hikaru chuckled.

That evening...

"Come and get it!" Dawn called. She placed a new bowl of Poffins in front of her Pokémon. "You're going to love this!" Dawn exclaimed. Piplup, Buneary, and Pachirisu grew very reluctant, remembering the first Poffins didn't taste well for them. Both Buneary and Pachirisu turned to Piplup, telling it to try the Poffinfirst! Piplup immediately refused. They all sighed, realizing that they had no choice. They all ate one Poffin. A moment later, they all liked it with a cry!

With that, Dawn made a cheer for herself, for making the Poffins as a success this time! "Hey, Dawn! Guess you were right!" Ash exclaimed. "Nice work, Dawn." Hikaru complimented. "Thanks, Hikaru." Dawn replied, blushing. Dawn thanked also to Forsythia and Roserade, saying that she learned that Roserade is a beautiful Pokémon. Dawn says that she'll get a beautiful Pokémon as well to win the Contest. Forsythia smiled and gave her a good luck to her!

With that, after the cooking class was over, Forsythia offered some tea again, to which the group accepted.

So, with Dawn and Hikaru mastering the recipes for their Poffins for their Pokémon, they are both even more determined to win the Floaroma Town Pokémon Contest! Stay tuned for more events coming up!

To be continued...

Changes:

Hikaru's Team

Monferno (M): (Mach Punch, Fire Spin, Flame Wheel, Fury Swipes)

Luxio (F): (Spark, Hidden Power, Iron Tail, Bite)

Eevee (F): (Shadow Ball, Hidden Power, Iron Tail, Double Team)