Chapter 8 The Sinnoh Iceberg Race
Ash and Serena are now at the coast of Vermilion City. They are looking at the ocean and Ash says, "Amazing...There really is a massive pack of Tentacool..."
Pikachu, Sylveon, and Scorbunny are surprised at the amount of Pokemon, Serena says, "I told you so, didn't I?
Ash decides to poke one of the Tentacool and he says, "It's so soft and squishy..." The Tentacool is angry at Ash as it lashes out at Ash with a Bubble Beam to the face.
"Well, I guess we should catch one right away!" Serena says as she readies a Pokeball, "Though which one is the strongest one?"
As they search the Tentacool, they decide to find the strongest one and they throw the Pokeball, capturing the Pokemon in the end. "Tentacool's data will be added to the Pokedex."
"Well, it worked out anyway." Ash says.
Just then, the Tentacool are swimming away as Ash and Serena seeing something that is heading straight to them. "Looks like something is coming..." Ash says.
As they look close, Serena says, "Wow, look at it go...is it a Sharpedo...no, it might be a Gyarados!"
"Anyway, it is a big one, and we're gonna catch it." Ash says but turns out that it is actually a Piplup.
"A Piplup?" Ash and Serena exclaim as Piplup collapses from exhaustion. They quickly bring it to the Cerise Laboratory, where it proceeds to gorge itself on food. Serena scans the Pokemon and it says, "Piplup, the Penguin Pokémon. A Water type. Piplup is a proud Pokémon and an excellent swimmer, and it has a layer of down that keeps out the cold."
"I wonder where it swam from..." Ash says, "It can't be far away from Sinnoh, right?"
"That will be ridiculous...but it sure is eating a lot, though." Serena says.
"It must have something going on." Cerise says.
"I'm home." Chloe enters the room and she asks, "What are you doing?"
"We're watching Piplup, Chloe." Ash says.
"Piplup? Where is it?" Chloe asks, and then they realize that Piplup disappears with the bowls of food become empty.
"Hey, where did it go?" Serena asks as they search everywhere, and Mimey rushes in and he calls for help. He is panicking and Ash asks, "Don't tell me..."
As they rush into the bathroom, they are shocked to see Piplup swimming in laps. Ren says, "Everyone, can you please go to the main room?"
The others are confused as they go there, with Ash picking Piplup as they go there, they see a screen with a woman saying, "Piplup! You're okay!"
Piplup is surprised and the woman says, "What a relief!"
Serena asks, "Who is this?" Chrysa says, "I was searching for information on Piplup, and then I got in touch with this lady, who had put out a missing Pokemon report online."
"Are you the guys who saved Piplup?" The lady asks. "Thank you for helping me. I am Lauren from Snowpoint City."
"Snowpoint City in the Sinnoh Region?" Ash exclaims in surprise.
"No way...it swam all the way from there?" Chloe asks.
"I was worried since it disappeared all of a sudden..." Lauren says. "It was a real shock to hear you found it in Vermilion City."
Ash turns to Piplup, "Hey, aren't you glad we found your trainer?"
Piplup just turns away, and Serena asks, "Are you perhaps embarrassed?"
Cerise says, "Now that we know, we should return it as fast as possible." Ash and Serena nod as they volunteer to go to Sinnoh for the task, Serena asks, "What about you, Chloe?"
Chloe just turns around and says, "I would just do my homework at home."
Ash and Serena frown as Chloe is still not wanting to talk to them, Cerise says, "Snowpoint City is the city of snow and glittering ice. You should see, interact with, and catch plenty of rare Pokemon."
On their way to the Sinnoh Region, Ash and Serena are taking the ship. On their way, they notice two Shellos with different colors climbing up to the ship, and Serena says, "Are those the same Pokemon? Why are different colors?"
"They are Shellos, the reason they are different is because of their residing location." Ash says. "The pink one lives in the west while the blue one lives in the east."
"It will be great if we capture them." Serena says as both Ash and her ready their Pokeballs and throws at the two Pokemon, capturing them in the end.
"Shellos has been added to the Pokedex." After it is done, Serena asks, "So Snowpoint City...Ash, you have gone there before, right?"
"Yeah. There is a Gym there and of course, I have been there." Ash says. "It is the northern place in Sinnoh, so it is obvious that the type of the gym is Ice."
"I see...you would have much trouble with it considering you battled against Wulfric back in Snowbelle City, right?" Serena asks.
Ash says, "Yeah...I remembered how I used Chimchar to defeat the leader's Abomasnow. Come to think of it, they both use Abomasnow as well."
"I wonder why." Serena says, "Maybe it is a perfect Pokemon to train."
Ash says, "But speaking of which, look at all the people here, though..."
Pikachu, Sylveon, Piplup and Scorbunny are playing with each other on the deck as they are moving. Serena notices a poster and says, "Hey, Ash. Look at this."
Ash sees the poster and says, "The Drift Ice Race? So it is a Pokemon Race, huh?"
"Yeah...maybe we should check it out after we're done with the mission!" Serena says.
Unknown to them, Team Rocket is now following them using their usual Magikarp submarine, and they are hoping to kidnap Pikachu and all the competition Pokémon.
Arriving at Snowpoint City's port, Ash and Serena are trying to find Lauren. Ash says, "Lauren told us that she'd be waiting for us at the port, didn't she?"
"Yeah..." Serena says. Scorbunny is kicking a snowball as it accidentally splashes into the water, causing a Mantyke to jump out of it. Serena says, "A Mantyke. Let's capture it!"
Serena throws the Pokeball and then the Mantyke is captured. Ash also spots a Lumineon and he also has Pikachu to battle it, capturing it in the end.
"Mantyke and Lumineon's data is added to the Pokedex." Their Pokedex says as the crowd claps for the successful catch.
"Oh, there you are!" Lauren notices them and Ash says, "Lauren, we finally found you."
"Sorry, I dropped my glasses on the way here. It took a while to find them." Lauren says. "Piplup, I am so happy to see you."
Piplup is unhappy as he turns away, and Lauren asks, "So you are Ash and Serena, right? Thank you so much." As the lady bows, she drops her glasses, "Oh no! My glasses! Where are they?"
Piplup sighs as he picks it up, putting it in Lauren's eyes. "Thank you, Piplup."
"It's really dependable." Ash adds.
"Now Piplup, let's go home." Lauren picks Piplup up, only for it to wriggle out of her grip, still mad.
"What's wrong, Piplup? Why are you angry?" Lauren is confused with sadness, and Serena asks, "It's not happy to be back?"
Just then, a Croagunk appears and it starts to show affection to Lauren. Ash asks, "So this Croagunk is yours?"
"Yes." Lauren says, and Serena scans the Pokemon. "Croagunk, the Toxic Mouth Pokémon. A Poison and Fighting type. Croagunk inflates the poison sacs in its cheeks to make croaking sounds. If an opponent flees, it attacks with poison."
"It came with me because it was so worried about Piplup." Lauren says, but Piplup is mad as it and Croagunk immediately exchange glares.
"Looks like the sparks are flying..." Ash says, shocked at the two Pokemon's expression.
"Could this Croagunk have had something to do with Piplup disappearing?" Serena asks.
"Lauren, why did Piplup leave?" Ash asks with confusion.
"What? Well...I don't know, either..."
She explains that she met Piplup a year ago, after it returned her glasses to her. The two quickly became friends, and Lauren won last year's Iceberg Race with Piplup. Lauren adds that she only encountered Croagunk a month ago after she dropped her glasses into the ocean. Piplup and Croagunk became competitive for Lauren's attention and developed a bitter rivalry, which led to Piplup's disappearance.
"And there you have it." Lauren says.
"I see. Piplup wanted your praise for its swimming." Ash says. "But it lost to Croagunk."
"It may have swum to Vermilion City to train so it could beat Croagunk." Serena adds. "It was swimming back at our Lab as well."
"What? Is it true? Piplup?" Lauren asks, only to find it missing. Just then Piplup waddles back and it gives an Iceberg Race entry sticker to Croagunk, while he has one sticker for itself.
"Does that mean it wants to settle the score with its rival, Croagunk, in the Iceberg Race?" Serena asks.
"Oh no...settle a score?" Lauren frowns. "I just wanted us all to be friends..."
"The Sign-ups will close soon! Any participating Pokemon, please hurry!" The announcer says.
"I know, how about I sign up with Mantyke?" Serena asks, and Ash says, "Sure, as for me, I decide to use this Pokemon."
Ash takes out a Pokeball and then a Buizel appears. Serena says, "Buizel?"
"Yeah, I know this guy and he can swim very fast as well." Ash says as Buizel folds his arms, showing that he is capable.
Soon, the Iceberg Race competitors are all lined up at the starting mark, while their Trainers watch from aboard a ship. The announcer says, "Contestants must swim between the two icebergs and back here to reach the goal! But many drift ice pieces lie in the Pokemon's way. This year's race is harsher than ever before! Which Pokemon will come out on top?"
As they are on the ship, they see several Chinchou use their light-emitting antennae to mark the course, while an Octillery waves its flags for the race to begin.
As they start swimming, Buizel immediately takes the lead with Croagunk and Piplup chasing behind. While Mantyke and the other Pokemon are right behind them.
"Wow, your Buizel is very strong..." Serena says.
"I know, it has been training ever since I caught it back in Sinnoh...well, not technically caught as I was traded for this one though..." Ash says.
"Traded?" Serena asks, and Ash says, "My Travel companion in the Sinnoh Region, Dawn, captures the Buizel, and I traded my Aipom for it because Aipom likes to do contests."
"Wait, you mean Dawn? Tell me, does she have blue hair and she also has a Piplup?" Serena asks.
"Yeah, you know her?" Ash asks, and Serena says, "She was my rival back in the Hoenn Region. But I never thought you two have been friends..."
"Well, it has been years." Ash says, but then, their conversation is stopped as Team Rocket's giant Magikarp submarine appears right after Buizel, Piplup and Croagunk past by.
"What the?" The Announcer says, "What is that?"
"Prepare for trouble!" "And make it double!"
"To protect the world from devastation." "To unite all people within our nation!"
"To denounce the evils of truth and love!" "To extend our reach to the stars above!"
"Jessie!" "James!" "Team Rocket blasts off with the speed of light!" "Surrender now or prepare for a fight!"
"Meowth! That's right!" "Wobbuffet!"
"Team Rocket, you guys again?" Serena yells.
"We would go to the ends of the earth or the ends of the sea for our boss!" Jessie says.
"We'll be taking Pikachu and the other Pokemon in this race!" James says.
Meowth pushes a button and the net appears, capturing most of the Pokemon, including Mantyke.
"Mantyke!" Serena yells in horror. "They've ruined the race..." Ash says in anger and he yells, "Buizel! We need your help!"
Buizel notices Team Rocket and he is glad to stop them once again, he gives up being the lead as he goes to help out, meaning Piplup and Croagunk are still rushing for the finish line.
"Buizel! Use Sonic Boom on the net!" Ash yells, and the attack causes the net to break.
"How dare you..." Jessie yells. "We are not going to let you get away! C'mon, Rocket Prize Master Machine!" James yells.
Pelipper appears and he drops the machine, and they use Meowth's coin again and this time they send out a Machamp and Beartic.
"Get them! Machamp!" Jessie yells, and Machamp picks a chunk of ice and throws at the Pokemon. While Beartic is using Icicle Crash on Mantyke and Pikachu, who was asked by Ash to jump on it to stop Team Rocket.
"Mantyke! Agility!" Mantyke is dodging the attacks, and Ash yells, "Pikachu! Thunderbolt! Buizel! Aqua Jet!"
Both Pokemon charge at the Machamp and Beartic, and Jessie says, "You have some nerve..."
"Beartic, use Thrash on that ship!" James yells, and it starts to attack the ship, causing the ship to shake, and Lauren is about to fall off.
"Lauren! We have to help her!" Serena says.
Piplup and Croagunk hear the voice of Lauren calling for help, and the pair rebounds from the finishing mark to help their Trainer. Piplup uses its beak to free an inflatable lifeboat, while Croagunk knocks it in time to save Lauren from the icy waters with a Poison Jab.
"Thank you, you two." Lauren says as she hugs the two Pokemon.
"Now let's focus on the Pokemon now." Ash says, "Buizel! Ice Aqua Jet!"
Buizel uses Ice Beam to freeze its Auqa Jet, and then it knocks Beartic to the water.
"Now we got them cornered." Serena says. "Pikachu! Thunderbolt!"
Pikachu fires the attack and it causes the Magikarp submarine to explode and Team Rocket to blast off. But much to their surprise, two Pokeballs fall into Ash and Serena's hands, and Ash looks at the Pokeball.
"Those are Machamp and Beartic's Pokeballs..." Ash says as he recalls Machamp and Beartic.
"Ash? What are we going to do with them?" Serena asks, and Ash says, "I am not sure, but we should take them to Professor Cerise so that we can know about this." Afterwards, the commentator announces that the race is immediately cancelled because of Team Rocket's interference. But no one seems to mind as Lauren is glad to see Piplup and Croagunk finally getting along.
After getting back to Kanto, Professor Cerise is examinating the two Team Rocket Pokeballs with Machamp and Beartic inside. Ash asks, "So how is it? Professor?"
Cerise says, "After releasing the Pokemon inside, they have no thought of what happened, if I have to guess, I must say that these Pokeballs are made to control the wild Pokemon against their will..."
"How cruel..." Serena frowns. "How could they do that..."
"That's why we are going to free the Pokemon from Team Rocket no matter what." Ash says. "But what are we going to do with Beartic and Machamp?"
"I think you should keep them as they are confused with everything." Cerise says as the two nod. When they are looking at the other Pokemon, they see that Buizel is starting to glow as it becomes stronger.
"Now it is a Floatzel." Ash says in awe, and the Pokemon just gives him a thumbs up.
Here is a new chapter, and I decide to change something, that is to have Ash and Serena take Team Rocket's Pokemon after they were blasting off. I hope you will not hate me for this, but when I watched the anime, I just feel like how the hell did Team Rocket get those Pokemon and they must have controlled them. Even though we don't know the truth, but I just want to do this.
New Pokemon: Tentacool, Shellos (West), Shellos (East), Mantyke, Lumineon, Machamp, Beartic, Floatzel