A/N: Sorry for the long delay, been busy with real life and all that. Anyhow, here's part 2 of the latest episode.
Who's That Pokémon?: This Pokémon has the ability to predict when a storm is coming!
The answer: It's Swampert!
Later on, Team Rocket had landed their balloon near a lake with a clearing, and were doing maintenance on their balloon. The Water Pokémon they had stolen were all in cages, as were Pikachu and Shinx, whose individual cages were electric-proofed. And Ash, Alan, and April were all tied up with ropes and forced to sit away from the Pokémon.
As this occurred, Team Rocket continued to perform maintenance on their balloon… well, most of them were. James, Meowth, Wobbuffet, and Mime Jr. were all working, while Jessie per usual was "supervising" them, while lounging around in a chair and sipping a drink.
"Come on you bozos, put your backs into it!," she demanded from them.
"Well, excuse me, Ms. Fearless Leader, but this could go along a lot smoother if you helped out," James pointed out.
"Yeah, why don't you put your back into it a little, huh?!," Meowth added.
"Wobba Wobba!," Wobbuffet agreed.
"Mime Mime Mime," Mime Jr. chimed in.
"Because I'm supervising you boneheads, that's why!," Jessie snapped. "Plus I just got a manicure this morning and I'd rather not ruin it!"
"Hey, you crooks! Quit moping over your stupid nail job and untie us this instant!," April demanded angrily.
"And let these Pokémon go right now!," Ash agreed.
"Not a chance, twerps!," Jessie cackled. "We stole these Water Pokémon fair and square!"
"They're gonna make brilliant gift for the boss!," James added.
"And Pikachu and Shinx will be da grand prize!," Meowth threw in with a chuckle.
"You rotten jerks!," Alan growled at the trio, very angry at their plans.
"Rotten to the core!," James sneered. "Now be good little twerps and keep quiet while we fix this balloon of ours."
Team Rocket returned to fixing up their balloon, and Ash, April, and Alan continued to struggle against the ropes they were tied up with, but to no avail.
"It's no use these ropes are just too tight," Alan remarked, upset at this.
"We can't give up! Our Pokémon are depending on us! And so are everyone else!," Ash reminded them, determined not to let Team Rocket win.
"If only Kensi were here, she'd know what to do," April said somewhat despondently. "She always does."
"Sounds like you and her are pretty close," Alan pointed out.
"We are. We're the two oldest girls in our family. So we've always had each other's backs, for as long as I can remember…"
Flashback: In a huge mansion in Aspertia City, a younger April is with a younger Kensi, and the two are posing with their family for a portrait. Their family consists of their parents, a brother who is older than April but younger than Kensi, and three sisters who are younger than April, a butler and several maids.
"Our family is very rich, so we come from great prominence. My father used to be a Trainer and my mother a Coordinator, and nowadays they own and run Landors Energies, an alternative energy company based in Unova. It's been in our family for three generations now."
April and Kensi are then shown with their siblings, playing with the many Pokémon in their family.
"Kensi and I have a brother and three sisters, but being the two oldest girls, we've always had a special bond."
The two sisters are then shown spending time together, with April admiring Kensi and vowing to be as great as she is.
"I just couldn't help but admire how much she accomplished over the years, whether it was the Pokémon Leagues, the Contest circuts, or even the Showcases in Kalos. No matter what she did, I always was her biggest supporter, win or lose."
The scene then turns to the same montage from Kensi's flashback only from April's POV, as she watches all of her older sister's accomplishments (and failures) with eagerness and support. April then vows to be as great as Kensi is.
"I swore that someday I'd do everything she had and be just as great, if not better!"
"I can see why," Ash replied upon hearing this story. "But don't you think you're following a little too closely in Kensi's shadow?"
April then became confused as she asked, "Huh, what do you mean?"
"Well, you just seem to be intent on following all of your sister's dreams, and you don't seem to have any of your own," Alan pointed out. April became concerned at these words.
"Well, what's wrong with wanting to follow in Kensi's footsteps?"
"Nothing at all. It no problem wanting to follow the dreams and goals of someone you admire, but it's even better to make and follow your own. Like me following my dream to become a Pokémon Master!," Ash told her, with his passion burning in his eyes.
"And mine to become a Pokémon League champion and Master Pokémon chef!," Alan added in agreement, with the same level of passion showing in his eyes.
April started to consider their advice. Her own dreams? She'd never even thought of that before. It sounded promising to her, except for one thing…
"Well, that sounds great," she said with a small smile. "Except… I'm not sure what my dreams should be."
"You don't have to decide right away. Just take sometime to think it over," Ash advised her.
"Sure."
"But first, we need to get out of here and rescue everyone's Pokémon," Alan pointed out. "But how?"
The three all thought hard. Suddenly, April's eyes widened as she got an idea.
"I got it!," she declared as she took out a PokéBall, and popped it open, letting out her Cubchoo. "Cubchoo, use Ice Beam on these ropes, please."
"Cubchoo," Cubchoo said with a nod as it used it's Ice beam attack to freeze the ropes binding April, Ash, and Alan. The three then used their strength to break the froze ropes, freeing themselves.
"All right! We're free!," Ash exclaimed happily.
"Yeah, thanks, Cubchoo!," Alan thanked the Chill Pokémon.
"Cubchoo-choo," Cubchoo said with a smile.
"Now to free Pikachu and the others," Ash reminded the others. But before he and his friends could make their way to the nets, they heard a noise coming from the lake. The three glanced over at the lake and saw three silhouettes hovering over the water. Alan and April didn't realize what they were, but Ash gained a familiar feeling about them.
"Could it be…?," he said as he started at the silhouettes before they vanished.
"Were those Pokémon?," Alan asked, curiously.
"I think so, but who were they?," April asked, in wonder at what they'd just witnessed.
"I think I know… but first we need to get everyone's Pokémon," Ash reminded them, at which Alan and April nodded. The three trainers and Cubchoo crept over to the nets where Pikachu, Shinx, and all the Water Pokémon were being held captive.
"Pika Pika/Shinx," Pikachu and Shinx exclaimed, happy to see their trainers.
"Don't worry, we're gonna get you all out of here," Ash assured them.
April turned to her Cubchoo and said, "Cubchoo, Ice Beam on the nets."
As Cubchoo froze the nets with another Ice Beam, Team Rocket had finally finished their maintenance on their balloon.
"Finally, we're finished," Meowth panted, exhausted from all the work.
"Wobbuffet," Wobbuffet exhaustedly panted as well. Jessie got up from her chair and stretched.
"Ah, nothing like a hard day's work, eh?," she yawned. This, however, did not sit well with her friends, especially James.
"What are you yammering about?! WE'RE the ones who did all the work while you sat on your keister!," he bellowed.
"Mime Mime Mime Mime!," Mime Jr. echoed. Jessie, however, did not take kindly to being yelled at, even if it was justified.
"WHEN I WANT YOUR CRITICISIM I'LL ASK FOR IT! GOT IT?!," she screamed.
"YOUR GONNA GET IT FROM US, WHETHER YOU WANT IT OR NOT!," Meowth snapped.
"And you're get a lot from us, too Team Rocket!," a familiar female voice yelled. Team Rocket looked to see Ash, Alan, and April along with Pikachu, Shinx, Cubchoo, and all of the now-freed Water Pokémon all looking very angry at them.
"The twerps free?," Jessie exclaimed.
"And we're mad as heck as I'm sure you can imagine!," Alan snaps.
"Shinx!," Shinx barked in agreement.
"You guys gonna really get it this time, Team Rocket!," Ash declared with vigor.
"Pikachu!," Pikachu snapped in agreement with his trainer.
"Oh, we'll just see about that! Go, Yanmega!," Jessie called out as she tossed a Poké Ball and let out her Yanmega.
"You too, Cacnea," James called as he released his Cacnea from its PokéBall. Of course no sooner had he done so, that Cacnea flew back to and hugged him, causing him much pain with it's spiky arms. "Not now, Cacnea! Not now!"
"Yanmega, Silver Wind," Jessie commanded. Yanmega's wings glowed white and she flapped them, releasing a wind with silver crescents in them at the heroes' Pokémon.
"Pikachu, use Iron Tail and cut right through it!," commanded Ash. Pikachu ran and jumped and his tail glowed silver and cut right though Yanmega's Silver Wind. "Now, Quick Attack!"
Pikachu then ran at rapid speed in a zigzag formation at Yanmega and tackled her, knocking her away.
"Cacnea, Pin Missle that Cubchoo," James ordered. Cacnea aimed its glowing white hands at Shinx and unleashed a barrage of white, arrow-shaped streams of pins at Cubchoo.
"Cubchoo, dodge and then cool them down with Blizzard!," April coached. Cubchoo opened its mouth, forming a light blue orb, which it fired a powerful wind of snow at the Pin Missle, canceling the attack and covering Cancea with snow.
"Yeah, let's see you take on my Fury Swipes, twerp!," Meowth yelled as he jumped in, extending his claws and causing them to glow white and he ran at Shinx for an attack.
"Shinx, give that Meowth a Thunder Fang!," Alan commanded. Shinx then charged at Meowth, dodging his Fury Swipes attack. He then opened his mouth, and it glowed yellow with electricity as he then flew in and bit down on Meowth, shocking him and sending him flying back, much to Team Rocket's dismay.
"We're not going down that easily! Go!," Jessie sanpped as she tossed two more Pokéballs.
"Right, come on everyone!," James said as he too tossed two more PokéBalls. With that Seviper, Carnivine, Gourgeist, and Inkay were all let out to battle as well. And with Yanmega, Cacnea, and Meowth all recovered, Team Rocket was prepared to push back with all that they had.
"Hey, that's cheating!," April protested angrily at the criminal's use of so many Pokémon in a battle.
"They're Team Rocket, what'd you expect?," Ash reminded her.
"You got that right, twerp! Now everyone, attack!," Jessie cackled, and all of Team Rocket's Pokémon flew in for a massive attack. Ash, April, Alan, and their Pokémon could only look on at this.
"Everyone get ready!," Ash said to Pikachu, Shinx, and Cubchoo, who then took battle stances. But before they could attack or dodge…
"Dragon Rage!"
At that moment, a blast of blue energy came out of nowhere and hit the path in front of Team Rocket's Pokémon, knocking them back, much to Team Rocket's shock and anger.
"Okay, who dares?!," Jessie snarled.
"I do!," said the voice again from the left. Everyone turned to see a man in an all grey-blue uniform with a black G emblem on it. Landing in front of him was a Garchomp. "If you crooks are gonna battle, at least make it a fair fight!"
"I'll give you a fair fight! Everyone, get him instead!," James commanded.
"With pleasure! Charge!," Meowth shouted as he and all of Team Rocket's Pokémon then charged at Garchomp in another group attack.
"Draco Meteor!," the man said. Garchomp's body glowed orange and an orange ball of energy formed in it's mouth. It then shot the ball into the air and the ball exploded, releasing many energy orbs at Team Rocket's Pokémon, who ducked and dodged for a while, before being bombarded and knocked back to the feet of Jessie, James, Wobbuffet and Mime Jr. who all looked horrified at this.
"I'll leave the rest to you kids!," the man said to Ash and his friends.
"Right. Shinx, Discharge!," Alan commanded.
"Cubchoo, Ice Beam!," April ordered.
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt! And everyone else pitch in too!," Ash called out. Pikachu, Shinx, and Cubchoo launched their attacks, and all of the Water Pokémon pitched in, letting out Water Guns, Water Pulses, Bubble Beams, Hydro Pumps, and all other kinds of Water-type attacks at Team Rocket, who could only scream and brace themselves as they were hit by all the attacks at once, resulting in an explosion that sent them and their Pokemon flying into the air.
"So much for our Water Pokémon haul," James groaned.
"Well, we might've had a chance if it wasn't for that mystery meddler and his Garchomp!," Jessie snapped still angry at the aformentioned's interference.
"Seems we've got some new kids on da isle's block. Who knew?," Meowth moaned.
"And we're blasting off again!," the three said as they and their Pokemeon disappeared with a twinkle.
"And there they go," Alan said with a smile as they disappeared.
Ash only smirked and crossed his arms as he said, "Yeah, but we'll see them again. They never give up."
"Pika," Pikachu said in agreement as he crossed his arms too.
"Thank you for the help, sir," April added as she and the boys turned back to the man, but noticed that he and his Garchomp were gone. "Huh, where'd he go?"
"He was here just a second ago," Alan added, puzzled.
"Shinx!," Shinx barked in agreeement.
"Well, I'm sure we'll see him again too," Ash said as he turned to the group of Water Pokémon. "In the meantime, let's get all these Pokémon back to their trainers and finish this race."
The three then gathered their Pokémon and the others and started to make their way back to the raceway. As they did, the man who helped them watched from behind a tree with his Garchomp. He then called the unknown party from before and said, "It's done. All the Pokémon are safe. Those three kids are bringing them back as we speak."
Later on, Ash, Alan, April and their Pokémon had all returned to their friends and rivals, and all the other participating trainers, who happily reunited with their partners. At the same time, the spectators at the start/finish line had gotten the camera drones up and running again, and everyone, including Delia, Oak, Megan, Leo and their Pokémon saw the reunion happening.
"Well, everyone, I've just received word that the race was interrupted by a small gang of criminals who tried to steal the racers' Pokémon," Burke announced to everyone. Delia, Oak, Megan, and Leo all glanced at each other upon hearing this.
"It must've been Team Rocket's doing," Delia speculated.
"Indeed," Oak agreed with her.
"Those guys just don't give up, do they?," asked Leo exhasperated.
"Tell me about it," Megan said in agreement as she rolled her eyes.
Delia then smiled warmly as she then said, "But knowing my Ash, he stopped them and saved everyone's Pokémon!"
As she said this, Burke finished his announcement, "But now the Pokémon have all been recovered and now the race can resume!"
The spectators then cheered loudly at the news that the race would be finished. Back at the checkpoint, many of the racers had finished re-attatching their Water Types to their chariots. As Ash started to climb onto his chariot, Seamus rode up along side him via his Swampert.
"Hey, Ketchum, I just wanna say…," he said. Ash looked at him, puzzled.
"Um, yeah?," he asked. There was a few moments of pause between them. Then, Seamus suddenly kicked Ash, knocking him off his chariot and into the water, much to the shock of all the other racers and Pokémon, and all the spectators too.
"See ya at the finish line sucker!," Seamus cackled as he and Swampert sped away.
"That… rotten jerk! And after all we did to save his dad's Pokémon too!," Alan snarled in anger.
"Pika Pika!," Pikachu snapped in anger at what Seamus had done to his trainer and best friend. He then started to charge a Thunderbolt, before–
"Pikachu, no!," April called, causing Pikachu to stop charging. "You know the rules: if you use an attack on him, you'll get Ash disqualified!"
"Pika-pikachu," said Pikachu, realizing that April was right once again.
"Well, don't let him get away!," Ellie yelled as he pointed towards the still-speeding chariot.
"Right!," Ash said as he quickly climbed back onto his chariot. "Pikachu, Buizel, let's go!"
"Pika!/Bui-Bui!," Pikachu and Buizel agreed as the latter took off after Seamus, pulling Ash and Pikachu behind them in their chariot.
"And don't forget about the rest of us!," Flynn said as he and Feraligatr took off as well. The rest of their friends and the other racers followed suit and the drone cams followed behind them, broadcasting the race.
"Go get 'em, Ash!," Leo cheered on.
"Yeah, show that dirty cheater what for!," Megan cheered as well. The Pokemon all cheered as well, as Delia and Oak looked on proudly.
Back in the race, Ash and his Pokémon raced to catch up to Seamus and Swampert. His friends and the other racers weren't too far behind, but he was determined to beat his hated rival. And so were the other racers.
"Go Ash, get him!," Kensi cheered.
"He's all yours!," Raynard added in. Ash nodded and pushed forward on.
"Come on Buizel, pick it up!," Ash instructed. Buizel pulled forth with all his strength and speed and eventually got Ash neck-and-neck with Seamus, who was shocked that Ash had actually managed to catch up to him.
"Oh no you don't!," he sneered as he then steered Swampert and his chariot into Buizel and Ash's trying to knock them off course. However, Ash and Buziel pushed back and soom managed to get the two cheaters off them.
"Nice try!," Ash responded with a grin.
"Pika Pika!," Pikachu snapped as well. Seamus growled as the two racers continued on neck-and-neck around the second half of the course, with the others following close behind, as the spectators watched and cheered from the start/finish line. Seamus continued using one dirty tactic after another to try and impede Ash, but the benevolent trainer held his chariot steady and continued on.
Soon, the racers neared the line and Ash and Seamus were still neck-and-neck, neither willing to back down. As they drew closer, Seamus, determined to win at all costs, then thought of a new dirty trick. He then steered his chariot into Ash's once more, forcing Ash to hold him off. But this time–
"Now Swampert!"
Swampert then swatted Ash's Pikachu, sending him flying into the air, to everyone's shock!
"Pikachu, no!," Ash cried as he saw his parter fly up and behind him to where the other racers are. With Ash distracted, Seamus then pressed on to take the lead and head for the finish.
But then before Pikachu could hit the water or any of the other racers or Pokémon, Shinx suddenly used Quick Attack and butted Pikachu right back into Ash's arms.
"Pikachu, are you okay, buddy?," Ash asked his Pokémon.
"Pikapi Pi," Pikachu responded, confirming he was fine.
Ash turned to see Shinx land on Alan's chariot, and called out, "Thanks Shinx, Alan!"
"Shinx Shinx!," Shinx barked as Alan gave a thumbs-up. With that problem resolved Ash turned his attention back to the race.
"Now lets finish this, Buziel! Aqua Jet, full speed ahead!," he commanded. Buizel surrounded himself with a jet of water and pushed full speed at Seamus and Swampert, carrying Ash, Pikachu, and their chariot with him. Seamus, smugly looking back, was shocked to see them actually catching up to them. As they drew closer and closer to the finish line, Seamus tried to extend his lead last-moment, but Ash managed to catch and pull ahead of him, crossing the finish line just before him and Swampert, much to the delight of his mother, Professor Oak, his friends, and the other racers and spectators, sans Finley and the Power Players, who were stunned that Seamus lost.
"And Ash Ketchum pulls ahead for the win!," an announcer declared as the other racers crossed the line as well, with April coming in third behind Ash and Seamus.
As Ash and Pikachu demounted their water chariot, they quickly found themselves swarmed by family and friends/rivals alike.
"Ash, you did it!," Megan cheered in delight. "You won!"
"We did it!," Ash corrected her. "Me, Pikachu, and all the rest of you guys!"
"I'm so proud of you honey," Delia said as she hugged her son tight.
"Aw, Mom!"
"You really showed Seamus what for I'll say," Erald said. Meanwhile, many spectators were booing and jeering at Seamus for his cheating and dirty tactics. Seamus just brushed them off as he left with his father and the Power Players, as Mayor Stone awarded Ash his winner's trophy.
Later on, back at the Ketchum/Landors villa, everyone was celebrating Ash's victory in the race.
"That was some finish! The way that Shinx just swooped in and saved Pikachu was awesome!," Leo recounted.
"Yeah, I gotta say, you really trained Shinx well," Kensi complemented. Shinx barked happily at her words.
"Why thank you, Kens," Alan replied with a smile. "Besides I couldn't just let that douche Seasmus get away with his dirty tricks."
"Yeah, you should've seen the look on his face when he saw Ash was going to beat him," April snickered. She was still very happy about Seamus's loss, as was everyone else.
"And how everyone booed him, his dad, and the other Power Players out of the area!," Ellie added in.
"Well, serves him right!," Megan said as Eevee yipped in agreement.
"It just goes to show that true winners never cheat, and true cheaters never win," Flynn snarked with a smug smile on his face.
"I hope he learns that, as well as that brains will triumph over brawn everytime," Oak added as well. With that, everybody laughed as they continued celebrating.
After pushing through the dirty tactics of Team Rocket and Seamus, Ash has won his first ever Densetsu Isle pre-tournament event, and gained a bigger resolve for the upcoming tournament. So stay tuned as the isle adventure and training continue!