First of all, thanks for all the reviews! They are much appreciated! We are happy to know we are finally making a place amongst the readers. This chapter is a short one, just because of the nature of it. Not much of admin stuff to discuss in this chapter. The duo re in Floaroma Town but that doesn't mean there's going to be a Contest to participate in. We hereby declare that May is now only going to enter PWCE (Our OC) Contests, and not the regional regular once. One she is vastly experienced, and two, wining a third Ribbon Cup won't get her anywhere. Let this benefit the rookie Coordinators.
So we have decided not to have a Contests on May's time in Floaroma, instead she can just channel all her focus for the Hearthome Contests – learning to cook and practice her appeals. Just a plain Advanceshipping romance! This is all the administrative stuff for now! Just warming up until Gardenia arrives!
Location: Floaroma Town
Storyline date: 8th January, 2023.
^^Please enjoy the fluffy chapter!
Making their way from the flat woodlands, their destination came into sight from the hilly atop. Ash hit the brakes before they could descend into the settlement below. Amid the chattering trees, amid the mirth of laughing meadows, lived the country town called Floaroma. The cheery settlement in Western Sinnoh that prided itself as the "town that smells vividly of flowers". And indeed, flowers were everywhere. In that meadow, there was a waving of the stalks, moving as if they were the very substance of this green and bonny sea. After every storm, after every fire, when all appeared so bleak - verdant carpets sprung from Mother Earth as if the "reboot" was merely a setback. The flora had a way of humbling the eye, of showing what God could create from such simple ingredients and in such abundance.
"Pi?" Pikachu piped up, noticing the unusual plants from atop Ash's shoulder.
"Hey, look at that! This place is still bloomed!'' Ash remarked, turning to glance at them as well.
"Even prettier than the last time I was here!" May answered excitedly, and not just because her stomach had begun rumbling recently as well. "They have even planted some rare ones!"
"You think so?" Ash mumbled back, his thoughts drifting back to the last time – well, the only time – he'd gotten May a flower. It had been supposedly picked from his garden in Pallet Town, with stubby, emerald-green petals to match. May had worn it in her hair every day until they'd left for Hoenn, and still did, from time to time. Amusingly, it took a long time to wither away.
"Well…you know. All these flowers remind me of something…" May added, looking back at Ash with a familiar glint in her eye. "Except for this one that this great guy gave me once. What was his name again…?"
Ash merely continued watching her with an unsure grin on his face, not totally sure where she was going with this.
"…Was it Drew?" She continued, when Ash didn't step in to say anything, a coy grin present on her face as she turned away from him. "No…"
Ash began to move faster, coming up behind her while Pikachu merely watched with amusement and Lucario looked utterly confused.
"…Brendan? No, where'd I get that name from?" May pressed on, chuckling to herself.
Ash reached his arm out to grab her shoulder, intending to spin her around on the spot. "May - !"
"Oh, yeah, I remember now." May said, with a sense of finality as she turned to face Ash before he could touch her. She locked eyes with him. "His name is Ash."
Before he could even lower his outstretched arm, she leaned forward and pressed her mouth to his, easing his hand down with her own in the process as a feeling of warmth surged through the two of them.
Ash was taken off guard for a second, but gradually leaned in to the kiss as well. And, for just a moment, all was still, save for a group of Combee eagerly buzzing around off in the distance.
"I love you." May whispered, pulling back a few moments later.
"Love you too." Ash echoed back, smiling down at her.
Upon their arrival in Floaroma Town, they found that the town was embodied in flowers. They were lined in rows between most buildings, they were sticking out of most of the noticeable windowsills, and the more important buildings even had archways twined with the brightly colored bouquets above the entrances.
The quaint town had a surprising amount of parks for its size. If that were even parks at all- even the spaces between the apartment buildings scattered here and there around Floaroma were lush of greenery and flora of all kinds and colors. Having a garden full of seemingly ever-blossoming flowers seemed to be the norm for every household in the town. As one walked the small but lively streets of Floaroma, they would surely notice the dozens upon dozens of front yards full of cheery flowers that surrounded probably every single fresh-painted house in the town.
Aside from the, oh so overlooked by many, priceless gifts of nature that had lovingly embraced Floaroma, the town didn't have any other landmarks. The most popular one was, surely, the Contest Hall. The cheery settlement was usually quiet for most of the year, save for the groups of passing-by tourists that always stopped by to enjoy the seemingly never ending flower-beds, both inside and around Floaroma. But every time when the contest circuit opened once again and the time came for the "Vivid & Scented" town to house one of these so popular events, the place just started to buzz with visitors like a Combee's hive.
People flocked from everywhere- the coordinators themselves that tended to arrive earlier than everybody, the usual contest crowd that followed close by the circuit, even just ordinary passer-bys that had stopped to watch and see what the fuss was all about. Another notable landmark was the Floaroma Meadow- a hill just north of the town that was, if possible, even more flowery and scented. After a nice stroll up the eminence covered whole by all kinds of cheery flora, you arrive in front of a well-kept cabin. There you could purchase the finest honey in Sinnoh from an always grumpy, if not downright eccentric, old man.
The last, but certainly not in importance, local landmark is the Pick a Peck of Colors Flower Shop. A relatively small, but always full of people, family shop that dealt with the distribution and cultivation of flowers and berries in the area. Various handy equipment was sold there as well so anyone visiting Floaroma Town was sure to stop by and at least walk around the scent-filled shelves. This shop was also the current destination of our well-known trio. After arriving in the early afternoon, the first thing that the adolescents had done was visiting the Pokémon Center. Their Pokémon needed some rest and no one wanted a repeat of their previous visit in the Jubilife City Pokémon Center, either.
There were no busy crowds like in Jubilife City or Oreburgh City. You could stroll casually here and don't bother to squeeze between the tsunamis of passer-bys heading in a thousand different directions. May couldn't help but compare it to the urban jungle of Jubilife and the industrial feel of Oreburgh. No matter how much he liked big cities, the bespectacled trainer had grown up in a historical town at the edges of the mighty Mt. Coronet.
"Oh! They're all so beautiful!" May squealed, her eyes lighting up like stars at the sight of the thousands of flowers. "And that smell…ohh, this town is amazing!"
"Yeah, you're right." Ash agreed, taking a whiff of the sweet-smelling air. He had never been one for flowers, but even he had to admit it was impressive.
"Pii-ka." Pikachu added, sniffing the air with a pleasant look on its face.
"It's quite nice." Lucario said as he sniffed the air as well.
They had come here not only because it was on the way to Eterna City, the site of Ash's next Gym Battle after his previous victory over Roark in Oreburgh City, but also because it housed one of the famed cooking classes in Sinnoh. Numerous shops showed off their various goods and services. The delicious odors of spas, restaurants, and home goods stores beckoned out to the travelers as well.
Ash's stomach rumbled. "Man, I could go for some chow… You wanna stop in somewhere?" Ash inquired.
"I really think we should go to the Pokemon Center first,'' May insisted. "We haven't healed up our Pokemon since Oreburgh City.''
"Won't kill us to get ourselves a snack,'' Ash pouted, reluctantly following May. After spending a few minutes walking through town and enjoying the fresh aroma, they managed to locate the Pokemon Center. After checking in and procuring their Pokemon a medical checkup, a process that had been actually become simpler without Brock constantly flirting with the nurses around, they dropped their belongings off and made their way to the café area.
After taking a hectic tiring time deciding their orders that annoyed the people standing at the back of queue, they loaded up on their goodies and took the nearest window table of the café.
"Oh man, this is delicious." Ash breathed in-between bites. It had only been a few minutes, and he was already on his third burger. "I don't think a hamburger has ever tasted so good!"
May would've said something about his repulsive mouth that was painted in sauces, but she was on her fourth burger herself, and was too busy inhaling the remains of said burger. It had taken them a bit longer to get to town than they would've liked, but they were more than making up for it now.
"Pi-ka-chu." Pikachu chimed happily from Ash's side of the booth, sitting in a space between him and Lucario and contentedly draining the ketchup bottle of its contents.
"Looks like Pikachu's enjoying himself." May noted after clearing her tray, chuckling.
"Yeah, sure does." Ash replied, his mouth stuffed full of the remains of his burger. "How's your food, Lucario?"
Realizing all eyes were on him now, Lucario slightly yipped as his companions found him munching like a Munchlax through his meal, with his fifth burger in one hand and his sixth bag of fries in the other. He wanted to add some ketchup to add a little taste to them, but with Pikachu around, that was a nigh-impossibility.
"They're, um, okay." The jackal nervously answered. While not a fan of sweets, Lucario was always a big foodie, always cheering whenever food shipments were brought to the Cerise Laboratory and eating his curry meals in one gulp when he was a Riolu, but it was something he was always too afraid to admit outloud.
May sat in silence as she let her food digest, watching Ash choke down the rest of his meal. When he appeared finished, she spoke up. "Hey, Ash?"
"Yeah?"
"Can I ask you something?" She asked softly, her eyes not meeting his.
"…Sure, May. What's going on?" Ash answered, eyeing her with concern.
"I know you hate talking me out of it, but this PWCE is starting to eat me up. I mean…this is like a competitive course with all this cooking and painting, I have never done this before. There's going to be tons of Pokemon Coordinators out there I've never even seen before, using moves and strategies I've probably never even heard of. What if I'm not good enough for this yet?"
"Ah, come on, May. Don't tell me you got another attack of blues." Ash remarked, grinning warmly at her. "You've won two Grand Festivals already. You got this!"
"…You really think so?"
"Yeah, of course!" Ash assured her confidently. "Take it from me. You have the Contest in the bag.''
May was silent for another moment. Then she looked up at Ash and smiled softly at him, grateful for his support. "Thanks, Ash."
Ash nodded, then jumped up from his seat. "No problem. Now, let's go find ourselves a crash course in cooking!''
"This is so stylish!'' May marveled.
"Has to be,'' Ash mumbled. ''Gave the lady quite a fat cash flow than her pension.''
For your money, you get a fully-kitted out chef's kitchen with top-of-the-line appliances, Alba Chiara marble countertops and custom sycamore cabinetry by Poliform. The kitchen embodied what every food passionate would love - – pristine surfaces, glossy and reflective finishes and a neutral palette. The designers cleverly fused the homeowners' sophisticated taste with subtle drama, through the contrast between the beige, grey and white. Recessed and under-cabinet lighting heighten the effect. The backsplash is lacquered glass. Doors are re-polishable acrylic polymer, and the countertop is made of 40 mm-thick artificial marble with a beveled edge. The trim, panels and niche were in solid recycled oak, while the fronts were made of easy-to-maintain, anthracite-coloured Fenix. The highlight of the 50-square-metre kitchen-diner was the counter. A separate zone, behind a veneered wall, provides out-of-sight storage, pantry and small appliance housing. This clever floor plan allows the eating area to flow seamlessly into the main living space. The decorative plasterwork on the ceilings, alcoves and this rather impressive French-style cooker hood make this an incredibly opulent space to whip up an omelette. Even the large fridge has been seamlessly integrated within the wooden cabinetry.
"Was it costly?'' May pleaded.
"Not at all,'' Ash waved her concern down. ''I got enrolled as well. Thought I would tune in my cutlery skills too.''
She smiled at him weakly. He frowned, as he saw her hand tightened on the counter to a vice like level. Her soft grin was diminishing into just a small grimace.
"Nervous babe?'' he asked, placing a hand on her shoulder. ''We don't need to do this if you don't want to.''
"No, Ash,'' she shook her head. ''I gotta learn how to cook.''
Ash smirked, recognizing that same fire in her eyes, and he knew there was more fire to come. Now nothing could stop May. They waited for some more time wondering where the chef could be. With just the two of them in the class, they were at least glad that the chef's attention won't be split. Her curiosity was sated when a lady in her fifties singsonged into the room, lightly slamming the door behind her. She beamed spotting the young man and girl standing next to him, and politely gave them a welcoming smile. The chef moved towards them as if she had her own personal opera playing within.
Delightfully cooing, she strolled towards them jubilantly. ''Oh hello, my children! I am Mrs. Harmony Spencer. I shall be your tutor for this course.''
"Hi, Mrs. Spencer. I am Ash!''
"And I am May!''
"Such sweet kids,'' she blushed. ''Is this your first cooking class?''
"I took up some in Kalos, and it's her first time,'' Ash answered for both of them.
"Not first time cooking though,'' May nervously giggled. ''My mother has passed me down some handful stuff. ''
"That's wonderful,'' Mrs. Spencer clapped. ''A fine young woman your age must develop a passion for cooking.''
"My mother doesn't allow me anywhere near the stove, or the oven or the blender…'' Ash sadly shrugged his shoulders.
"Figures,'' the chef coughed with just a displeased look.
"We just want to learn how to cook and make a habit from it.'' May stated.
"Oh, beginners,'' she squealed. ''Just the way I like it. So tell me dear, why do you want to learn cooking?''
"Mrs. Spencer, I am going to be honest with you. I am only taking this course because as a Coordinator I am expected to cook at the Contest,'' May formally admitted, however, changing demeanor she took Ash's hand in hers. ''but learning to cook has been on my mind for some time.'' She smiled at him which he returned.
Partially pleasant, the stout woman cupped the brunette's cheek, ''my child, no one is born a cook. Every one learns by doing it.'' The authority took a step back, and spread her arms. "Cooking is an art. An art everyone possesses but not everyone can perform! An art people think is easy, but it is not! Paintings, they just play with your eyes, but food – they attract your eyes, arrest your nostrils, capture your taste! Is that chef inside your rising?'' her voice was heavily inducing. "Wake them up! Explore that foodie in you! Smell the finest flavors! There is no sincerer love than the adoration for sustenance! Cooking food is a power! Do you want to learn this power?" she asked in a kung fu pose, with glowering eyes.
"Sure..'' Ash huffed.
"I said…Do you want to learn this power?''
"Yeah…?'' May sweatdropped. She hadn't expected a motto. But anything was better than a Team Rocket Motto.
"Great,'' Mrs. Spencer chimed, straightening up. Her fiery look had faltered. ''Let me just explain the course you have chosen and then we'll begin okay. This will be a four day beginners course. Each class will consist of six hours. In this course, our Thai, Chinese and Japanese, workshops enable you to cook signature dishes of Asia's finest cuisines by yourself. We will cover the basics, easy to cook recipes first. In our cooking workshops you will learn how to use and combine essential ingredients and create signature dishes, all by yourself. You'll learn about taste, fragrance and the history and use of key ingredients. We carefully select the ingredients for our classes and buy them at dedicated markets and Asian stores. All stages of cooking will be covered. Our course has been accredited and at the end of the course we will provide you the certificates of acknowledgement and two recipe books written by the chefs passed from this institute. Any questions?''
"Very well then,'' she chirped. ''But before we begin, we'll do a quick test to examine your skills. Can you show me an egg stir fry?''
"Right!'' May responded with a quick salute, sauntering over to the large lidded pot at one of the stations.
"We'll try,'' Ash nervously agreed, following May. Although it was easier said than done.
Wrapping up their aprons and tying the knots behind them, May surveyed all the ingredients in front of her. From a tray completely filled with eggs to the oil dispenser, everything was neatly organized according to the first rule. She filled the utensil halfway, while Ash lit the stove on a high flame. Surprisingly, all hazards were avoided this time. Mrs. Spencer watched closely as May swaggered back to the stovetop with the pot in her hand.
"Slow down the heat, Ash. You first need to control the hit before pouring in the ingredients.''
"Yes, Mrs. Spencer,'' Ash nodded, toning down the stove to medium heat.
"May dear, as the water boils, please pick the seasonings out. They are all in front of you.'' She instructed gently.
"Sounds fair,'' May muttered, scanning the assorted ingredients on the station. While she collected three eggs, chopped garlic, ginger, onions and tomatoes, Ash scooped some rice to toss in before covering the pot and setting the timer to twenty minutes. May slid all the necessary ingredients to the counter, before pursing her lips.
"Okay, now I need some frying pan or just a wok..''
A cough disturbed her as the older woman gestured to the stove with a not so pleased look. The couple stared at her, face twisted in confusion. May glanced at the stove, and noticed what was wrong in an instant. She subtly cupped Ash's cheek, directing his attention to the stove. Between the two of them, he figured out what they were doing, and turned to look over the rice.
"I put the lid on. It's steaming—Oh! The temperature! I forgot to turn it down, right!" he yelped, quickly dropping the burner to its minimum. "Aah! I was busy worrying about everything else."
"It can happen," the lady replied, though May could hear strain in his voice.
"Just follow my lead, Ash…'' she deadpanned, nudging him with an elbow.
May found herself a wok a moment later, and tossed some olive oil in. She then headed off to the chopping board, grabbing a meat cleaver, and began to chop of the vegetables. She started with the ginger, and then the carrot.
"Mom said she usually adds two or three cloves to her cooking," May remembered, picking up one of the heads of garlic she'd gathered. "That seems like a lot... well, her food's tasty. So it's got to be right."
Ash's eye twitched as he realized May had mixed up heads and cloves, and proceeded to dump a good 10 or 12 cloves of garlic into the wok. A glance over at the chef revealed the blue eyed chef was looking deeply concerned.
"Please don't be another Misty," the lad muttered under his breath, May just barely able to hear standing right beside him.
She, meanwhile, was slicing up the eggplant she'd grabbed and stirred them into the wok (finally actually stirring the food frying there in). This was followed by the egg proper, which she cracked open into the wok. She slightly stirred the onions and peppers until it softened and browned.
There was a bit more stirring before the timer for her rice went off. After jumping slightly, Ash took the lid off and looked down into the rice.
"Oh... I put too much water," May muttered, examining the insides of the pot. "I... I'm sure it will cook out."
With that she dumped the rice into the wok and stirred some more.
"Hmm... I'm missing something," May muttered as she poked the dish she was cooking. "Right, some soy sauce."
Mrs. Spencer horridly watched as May poured far too much into her stir fry, at this point well past worrying about the dish. After a few more minutes of frying, she seemed satisfied enough moisture had cooked out and turned the stove off. She then turned to grab a plate and scooped some of what she'd prepared before turning to Mrs. Spencer.
"It, uh, it probably isn't all that great, but... I hope it's okay?" May entreated, forwarding the dish over to the tutor.
"A good cook tests their food before serving it," the chef replied hesitatingly.
Ash could tell she was trying not to look scared.
"Oh, um... but I cooked it for you?" May reasoned.
"She's right May. We gotta taste it ourselves,'' Ash defended, an eyebrow raised. He wanted to tease, but... May also seemed so genuine right now she couldn't bring herself to needle any worse than that.
The prime Coordinator swallowed nervously before grabbing a mouthful with some chopsticks and tried it. The look of disgust as the garlic hit her was almost comical. Her face blackened as the vegetables melted in her mouth. Tears began to run down her face, at first seeming to be a response to the flavour. Then, however, May half dropped the plate onto the counter and had her shoulders slump.
"Oh…that was the worst food I ever put in my mouth," she muttered, staring at the floor. "I can't cook!"
"You can and you will," Ash denied, walking over and putting a reassuring hand on May's upper arm. "You don't have to try ta prove anythin' here."
She looked up at him and the cursed teen felt her heart fall a bit at the sadness in her eyes. "But I do. I swore I'd master this skill. I've got honor at stake."
"Babe, don't drive yourself crazy," he replied, trying to sound kind rather than judgmental. "You'll learn soon. You can't expect to become a good cook just in a day…''
She was about to open her mouth to reason but her reply was interrupted by a sudden reddish glow. They turned, finding the prominent chef glowing with a competitive red chi.
"Impossible means nottin' to me," Mrs. Spencer declared, a fist raised confidently. Two quick strides had her in range to take May's hands into her own. "I swear, I will teach you to cook. And not just cook, you'll be the master of cuisines by the time I am done teaching you!''
May stared bewilderingly into her sparkling azure eyes, flustering. ''Really?''
"That would be really appreciated, Mrs. Spencer.'' Ash expressed.
"Definitely, we begin you intensive training now, sweetheart.'' Mrs. Spencer promised. ''Let me just get this stuff on the side and I'll show you how we cook a proper egg stir fry!''
The duo were amazed by the quickness of the chef as she cleaned the counter up. "Work Stations must always be clear." She explained, wiping the counter. ''The mark of a good chef is to keep his kitchen clean. The only stains allowed are on the apron.'' She giggled.
Ash and May feverishly nodded as the tutor handed them multiple tips on cleaning and organizing. Sadly, nobody expected first lessons to be too lengthy.
"Very well,'' Mrs. Spencer hung the rubber gloves on the hook, before directing her attention back. ''So children, let's begin by covering the basics of the stovetop. Here' let me show you how we heat a pan.''
She withdrew a skillet and placed it on a medium flame on the stove. Grabbing the oil dispenser, she poured a few tricklets of the oil into the skillet and gave it a gentle swirl. "The key is to first get the wok hot enough before pouring in the ingredients. While sautéing, it gets food crispy and crunchy, and tender on the inside. If the pan isn't hot enough, the ingredients will soak up the oil, and get all soggy."
She once again swirled the skillet, oil drifted around and shimmered, "An easy way to tell when the pan is hot enough, is to take a look at the oil. Pick up the pan and give it a little swirl. If the slowly drifts around the pan, it's not hot enough. If you see smoke coming up from the oil, it's too hot.'' She elucidated, setting the pan back on the stove. ''Any questions?''
"No,'' May shook her head sideways. Lesson one was tightly gripped. Ash however, was less sustained. Having bested by his curiosity, he irked the two women in the room. ''Yes, when do we learn to flip the food on the pan?''
While his girlfriend shot him a daggering look, Mrs. Spencer chose an expression between exasperation and pity. ''No dear, we will not be learning an informal style of cooking today.''
"Oh ok,'' Ash obediently nodded. ''Sounded fun in my head.''
"Lesson Number two: learn you oil types. Olive oil is versatile, and it is susceptible to burning at higher temperatures. Virgin oils are for salad dressings. Canola oil on the other hand, is our hands-down go-to for cooking; It is affordable, neutral in flavor and has a high enough smoke point to handle everything from pan frying to steak searing. I don't recommend using flavored oils or the finishing ones on a gas stove."
"Which oil are we using for the stir fry, Mrs. Spencer?'' May asked intrigued.
"This is vegetable oil. Has a very high smoke point. This will not emit smoke or unpleasant flavors.''
"Ah okay,'' she bobbed her head.
"Now the oil has begun to sizzle. Now we add the eggs.'' She took four eggs from the crate, carefully studying the portable protein packages. "the first thing to understand is do we really know our way around an egg?''
"We wouldn't know. You are the eggspert!'' Ash blustered, one hand on the hip. May, standing besides him, groaned dismally. You had to Ash…
Eye twitched, the elder continued. ''Conduct a visual test. If you find any slime of the egg, discard immediately. Slime may indicate bacteria. Or you can perform a float test,'' she immersed the egg into a glass of water. The egg was anchored to the bottom of the glass. ''If the egg floats, it is old. And it the egg sinks it is fresh.''
"That is a helpful technique!'' May beamed at the aspect of learning it.
"Now the next step is to crack the egg. Many novices fail terribly here. Without warning, a membrane doesn't puncture quite right, the shell breaks into a million pieces, and you're left holding a jumbled mess with broken yolk and white dripping everywhere. While I can't guarantee to find the right spot to break on the egg, we have other ways.'' She gave the egg a confident tap on the flat surface on the counter that resulted in a small crack. Next she held the egg over a bowl, and dug her finger nail lightly into the crack, until the membrane was broken. And then she gently pulled apart, with the yellow yolk neatly falling into the bowl. Soon, she repeated the process until three more yolks made a disgusting yellow pool.
"I have a question, Mrs. Spencer. Normally I have seen people crack the egg on the edge of the wok. But you cracked the egg on a flat surface.''
"Trust me, dear. That method is just okay. But the word 'okay' is a taboo word in a kitchen. The flat-surface method is far less likely to result in broken yolks, or in egg shell ending up in the bowl or pan."
"Oh, thanks for clearing that up.''
"Now that our oil is sizzling and our pan is hot,'' Mrs. Spencer poked a tongue out and started to beat the eggs faster. "When we beat the eggs, we aren't just mixing the yolk and whites, but also the air in it. When you're beating eggs for a scramble or an omelette, or to incorporate into a dish, if you want them to be light and fluffy, beat them thoroughly for a while. For even a basic scrambled egg, this can make a huge difference in the quality of the food."
"How long, Mrs. Spencer?'' Ash posed.
"Just one minute suffices. We have to be in coordination with the oil,'' she paced faster. "Every second counts. Every food must be prepared at exactly the same time, hot and perfect!'' she poured the eggs into the skillet, and began scrambling them. "Ensure the egg doesn't overcook. Use lower temperatures. And to keep your eggs from sticking to the pan."
A minute passed as the eggs were scrambled and their composure had changed. Transferring them into eggs into a separate dish, and turned off the stove. She placed a wok on another burner on measurable high flame. She drizzled a few tablespoons of oil into the wok.
"Now we add the vegetables.'' The tutor chirped. ''May dear, can you assist me in dicing the vegetables?''
"Sure, Mrs. Spencer.'' She obliged, picking up a knife. However, the chef objected the manner.
"No dear,'' the lady shook her head. ''It's all in how you hold the knife.''
"Am I holding it wrong?'' May blinked, sizing up the knife.
"Yes honey. The grip is everything. You want the knife to feel completely in your control while cutting. You don't want it to slip around. The blade is far from your hand. You wouldn't have any precision that way. Here, watch closely."
Mrs. Spencer lifted a chef's knife, pinching the blade with her thumb and forefinger, wrapping her hands around the bolster, and having her fingers curled around the handle. "Here children, pick up the knife and hold it like this. Holding your knife right and pinching the blade like this can be absolutely revolutionary to your speed and confidence in chopping quickly! This will give you the most power and control."
She sliced an onion, continuing with her teachings. ''Stabilize your cutting board! Your cutting board should be on the countertop, at a comfortable height, and it should be stable. This means that if you place your hand on the board you shouldn't be able to slide it around. Next, ensure you knife is sharp. A dull knife is a dangerous knife. Dull knives require more force to cut through food, and are more likely to slip, meaning that you're more likely to cut yourself. And on top of that, they're just not going to do as good of a job. The goal when cutting ingredients is first and foremost to achieve an even size. This will make sure that everything cooks evenly and is done at the same time, and will help avoid having undercooked or overcooked elements of a dish. When practicing cutting, start slow and focus on this. Speed will come with time and practice, but if you can achieve uniform slices you're already ahead of the game."
May mirrored her actions, instantaneously achieving proficiency in cubing the peppers. They smashed the garlic cloves with the back of their cleavers. Once the onions were stirred and browned and the aromatics released the fragrance in the oil, they added the chopped cubed vegetables that they seasoned with a pinch of salt and pepper.
"A quick stir-fry is one of the fastest, easiest, tastiest ways to make a last-minute vegetable side dish to suit any meal. The technique for a vegetable stir-fry is the same no matter which vegetables you use. When stir-frying anything from snow peas to lettuce, it's important that the vegetables are very dry. Otherwise, the vegetables will steam and braise in the pan and lose their crisp texture. Giving the vegetables a whirl in a salad spinner is the easiest solution, but you can also pat them thoroughly with kitchen towels."
"Got it Mrs. Spencer,'' she grinned.
"Now we add the cooked rice into the wok. I'll fill you on a secret. Freshly cooked rice is moist and steamy, and that may yield fried rice with a mushy texture. The solution is to cook the rice overnight. It takes out all the air from it. You can also use a fork to loosen the rice before you add it to the wok. This will make it easier for you to break apart any large clumps of rice."
While the rice was heating, Mrs. Spencer added a little Teriyaki sauce into the rice as it boiled. The rest of the cooking lesson saw similar levels of secrets at several points as she showed May how to stir the wok from flipping the whole thing. Finally the stir fry was prepared.
Glad that the dish was made enough for three, they took a seat in the dining room, while Mrs. Spencer brought the stir fry in a stewpot. Taking a first bite as soon as the rice was served on his plate, Ash found himself struck in amazement before taking another bite. ''Man, this is incredible! Just like my Mom makes it!''
"It really is," May agreed before taking another bite herself. She squealed, as the flavors of rice and egg mixed inside her mouth. "This is one of the best stir fries, Mrs. Spencer.''
"Yeah, I totally forgot Cilan's cooking!'' Ash wolfed down another spoon.
"You helped too, dear.'' Mrs. Spencer declined. "We'll be repeating this tomorrow. And you'll have to prepare it yourself.''
"I... I will," May agreed, lighting up with her knockout grin that Ash loved so much. She was giddy to help in that delicious meal they were enjoying.
An entire day was spent in learning and practicing simple oriental dishes. The evening sun cast long shadows on the ground. The slanting rays of the setting sun gave a warm orange tinge to the sky. The last few minutes of the final hour was nearing.
"So, I think it'd do you good to have some homework for tomorrow's class," Mrs. Spencer dropped the stress bomb. "Just chopping would do. I want to see a lot of improvement tomorrow okay?''
May had been very attentive today. "Oh. yeah, that sounds like good practice. I'll try to stick to those techniques you taught me," she replied.
The elder smiled. "And remember: cooking is about doing your best. Don't compare yourself to anyone else."
"I... I'll try," May replied.
"Thanks Mrs. Spencer for the class today. We had a lot of fun,'' Ash praised.
The chef giggled…''I should be thanking you too Ash.''
"For what, Mrs. Spencer?''
"For staying far as away from the stove…''
Day second, Ash and May's current rosters hanged out in Floaroma Town's vast meadows as their trainers participated in the class. Apparently, Pokemon weren't allowed in due to risks of contamination, cheating through moves, or utter destruction, so Ash and May released their teams outside until they were done.
Aside from the usual Pikachu and Lucario, Ash also had Venusaur, Feraligatr, Floatzel, Krookodile, and Noivern with him while May had Blaziken, Beautifly, Skitty, Munchlax, Wartortle, and Glaceon. After watching their trainers leave for their class, Venusaur was the first one who spoke, turning towards May's Pokemon.
"Well, it looks like we're all alone for the time being. And to all of you on May's team, it's quite nice to see you all again."
Venusaur then faced Wartortle, recognizing him when he was a timid Squirtle back at Oak's lab.
"Ah, Wartortle! I've seen you've grown since your days at the lab."
"Heheh, thanks." said Wartortle as he rubbed the back of his head. "I can see you have grown as well."
"Indeed I have." Venusaur happily stated before he started to scan May's team as if he was looking for someone.
"Something wrong, Venusaur?" asked Blaziken.
"Oh, nothing too serious. Just checking if dear May had brought her own Venusaur with her, too. Hmm, oh well. Perhaps some other time…"
"Well, guys," Pikachu started, getting everyone's attention, "since Ash and May will be busy for a while, how about we just take this time to relax?"
"Yeah, but what can we even do in a boring place like this?" asked an impatient Skitty.
"Well," began Krookodile as he took a few steps towards some flower fields. "If I've been hearing from my Pokeball correctly, you contest-dudes have some performances ahead of you, and if there's one thing an audience loves, it's a show that's absolutely full of…"
Before he finished his sentence, Krookodile activated Stone Edge and sent the rocky projectiles straight into the air before instantly using Aerial Ace to catch up with them and then destroy most of them with a swing of his tail as he somersaulted back down, revealing him holding two stones as daggers.
"...pizzazz. So, who'd be down for a little lesson?"
Enormed by Krookodile's coolness, Beautifly, Skitty, Munchlax, and Glaceon quickly ran towards the desert predator in order to learn from him. Before the group could take off, Feraligatr quickly stepped forward to gain Krookodile's attention.
"Hey, wait up, Krookodile!" called out the Johto Starter. "I wanted to show you some of my cool new dance moves!"
"Sorry, pal." Krookodile sincerely apologized. "Normally I would take up that offer to see your wicked steps, but our trainer's gal could really use all the help she can get for her team in order to win that Grand Festival thing. Maybe back at Mt. Silver, bud."
"Awww, alright. That's cool with me."
"Glad you understand, pal. Well, see ya later, Feraligatr!"
"In a while, Krookodile!"
So then Krookodile and his group took off for a few lessons in swag. Feraligatr pouted to himself, as he really wanted to show off his dancing skills to Krookodile. And his best friend, Garchomp, wasn't around either, so he was BEYOND bored until he felt something tap his leg.
"Hey, Feraligatr?" asked Wartortle, getting the gator's attention. "If you'd like, I could use some lessons myself for water moves. Maybe you and Floatzel could help me out with that."
The aforementioned weasel was initially standing a little away to himself with his arms crossed while enjoying the familiar Sinnoh air until he heard his name.
"Wait, what?"
"PERFECT!" shouted Feraligatr. "Floatzel and I can DEFINITELY show you some AWESOME ways you can use Water-type moves with! C'mon!"
"Yo, do I at least get a say in this or-"
But before Floatzel could even finish, Feraligatr had already placed Wartortle on his shoulders and, like a charging Tauros with the speed of a Ninjask, trampled his way over to Floatzel to hold him with one arm and take off somewhere else in the field.
"...That Feraligatr of Ash's certainly is an interesting fellow." Blaziken pointed out.
"Yeah, but that's why we love him." added Pikachu.
Wanting a snack, Noivern used some ultrasonic waves to find some food, soon detecting some delicacies in a nearby tree only a few feet away.
"Oi! Berries!"
Noivern took flight and roosted on a branch at the near-top of the tree, picking out berries that he happily munched on. Now all who were left were Pikachu, Lucario, Venusaur, and Blaziken, and the Fire-type soon turned towards Lucario.
"Say, Lucario, would you care for a friendly spar? A light one, that is. Don't wanna ruin the meadow or anything."
Lucario was normally shy when conversing with unfamiliar Pokemon, but since he kinda knew Blaziken to an extent and that he enjoyed training and sparring, he happily accepted.
"Alright," Lucario said as he summoned a Bone Rush staff, "you're on."
Blaziken and Lucario stepped forward a bit to get a good enough space for their match as Pikachu and Venusaur shared a smile before they settled down where they were at. Being some of the leaders among Ash's Pokemon, it was about time they finally caught a break in life.
The Lairon from the Oreburgh Mine panted as he made his way into the Floaroma meadows. After he left the mines, he saw the human and jackal he fought enter some sort of vehicle with a female human and a Pikachu, so he tried his best to keep track of it. The whole trip made him completely exhausted, so he slowly stepped towards a nearby lake for some water.
As he took his sips, he soon heard a voice just on top of a nearby incline.
"Excellent job, Skits!"
Lairon perked his head and turned towards the direction of where the voice came from. Looking up, he saw it belonged to some anthro crocodile with maroon scales, a while underbelly, and black stripes. He also wore a pair of red and black sunglasses.
"But there's still room for improvement."
"Nyyaaawwwwww, really?!"
"Yeah, Skits. Your Double Slaps gotta be faster than that if you really wanna overwhelm your opponents."
"Alright, so what can I do?"
"You just gotta have the right amount of speed, precision…"
The crocodilian Pokemon then swung his tail around, sending a boulder that was right behind off the ground and into the air. As it fell, Krookodile readied Dragon Claw on both of his claws, before quickly turning around to slash at the boulder when it was right behind him, reducing it to mere pebbles.
"...and focus."
May's Pokemon were once again enormed by Krookodile's level of skill and so was Lairon. He didn't know this Pokemon at all. In fact, he felt this Pokemon wasn't even from Sinnoh, but he couldn't help but to admire it from a distance. Everything about him just seemed so cool!
At another section of the meadow, two spirals of water (one small and one big) erupted into the air before both of them started swaying around in a circular motion. At the surface were the sources for those water spirals, being the Aqua Tail attacks from Wartortle and Feraligatr.
"That's it, Wartortle! Just gotta shake your tail around to the inner beat."
"Oh, you mean my heart beat?"
"NOPE! I mean the inner dance beat within your soul. Feel the groove. Give in to the rhythm."
Floatzel just couldn't help but to roll his eyes and groan from Feraligatr's style of mentoring. If he had to be honest, he never really liked the fully-evolved Johto Starter. Ever since the two met at Oak's Lab after Ash's first Sinnoh adventure, Floatzel, as a Buizel, was always annoyed with Totodile's enthusiasm and immaturity. Things only became worse when Totodile became best friends with Gible during Ash's Unova travels, and even over the years of training at Mt. Silver, Floatzel still couldn't see eye-to-eye with Feraligatr. To him, he was just too childish to take seriously.
Eventually, Wartortle stopped his Aqua Tail in order to move onto something else.
"Thanks for the Aqua Tail lessons, Feraligatr. They were quite interesting, but now I want to see what Floatzel has to offer."
Hearing this, Floatzel smirked. Finally, Wartortle can now take some cues from a real Water Warrior.
"Fine with me!" shouted Feraligatr as he ceased his own Aqua Tail and stood back up. "Alright, bestie, what can you teach our little homie here?"
"First of all, I am NOT your 'bestie'." Floatzel started, though this only made Feraligatr chuckle to himself, thinking the weasel was only joking. "Secondly, Wartortle, would you know Hydro Pump by any chance?"
"Actually, I do!"
"Perfect. Now, whenever you want to deliver an especially powerful one, you must always focus a lot of might into it. It's like punching something; if you don't give it all your might, your fist won't do that much damage, but if you do put some focus into it, then it's bound to become a devastating blow. Watch and learn."
Floatzel then diverted his attention to a nearby boulder before closing his eyes and letting loose a short breath. He then opened them back up and unleashed a powerful Hydro Pump that completely pulverized the boulder, earning a round of applause from Wartortle.
"Wow, that was amazing, Floatzel!"
"Thanks, squirt. Just goes to show how crucial it is to have immense focus, concentration, and-"
"BORING!" Feraligatr interjected. "You can't just stay in some kind of tidy-widy Nirvana-ish state for the whole battle! It'll take away all the fun!"
"Battling isn't supposed to be 100% fun, Feraligatr!" Floatzel argued back. "For the entire duration, you need to maintain focus, concentration, and precision to win! Same goes for training, gym battles, league matches, and even contest performances. Trust me, I've been in one."
"Really?" asked Wartortle.
"Uh, yeah. Don't know if you were out of your Pokeball during the time, but during our first journey through this region, Ash used me for the Wallace Cup at Lake Valor. I sadly couldn't help Ash win the whole thing as I lost to some cheating Lanturn, but eh, it's whatever now. But seriously, using a half-electric for a water-themed contest? There's gotta be something in the rule book for that."
"Aww, don't be so down over it, bud!" Feraligatr sincerely assured as he patted Floatzel's back, unaware that his strength was causing the weasel to double-down with each pat.
"I didn't even sound sad about it-"
"Maybe you lost because you just weren't having fun. Gotta be fast and frisky against electric-types, after all!"
"Feraligatr, again, battling is not always about having fu-"
"You just gotta keep feeling the beat and stay on your toes!"
"That has to be one of the most dumbest things I've ever hea-"
"Feel the groove! Dance to your heart's content! Let the rhythm take you!"
"How did Ash, Pikachu, and the other Johto Pokemon ever survived a whole journey with yo-"
"Like this!" And with that, Feraligatr started doing his usual dance routine. "Y'see! Dancing can make everything in life better!"
"When will it get through your thick skull that NO ONE CARES FOR YOUR STUPID DANCING?!"
After a few seconds, Feraligatr stopped his dancing, having heard what Floatzel just said.
"Wait, 'stupid'?"
But before the gator could question it further, he suddenly got punched right in the chest by the agitated Floatzel, sending him to the ground.
"Y'see," Floatzel began in a somewhat mocking tone, "that's how good a punch can be when you actually put focus in it."
Feraligatr looked up towards Floatzel and snarled. No one insults his dancing AND ruins his flow.
"Umm, guys?" Wartortle nervously said. "Maybe we should get back to-"
"You think you're so tough, hot shot?!" Feraligatr shouted as he stood back up, him and Floatzel making direct eye contact with each other. "Tell me, throughout your time here at Sinnoh, how was your track record? I can already tell it wasn't perfect because of that Lanturn you mentioned!"
"Oh, look who's actually being serious for once!" Floatzel yelled back. "For one thing, I am already sure my track record is a lot more impressive than some goofball Totodile's!"
Wartortle could only sigh to himself. He could already tell where this was going.
Back with Lucario and Blaziken, the fire chicken attempted to strike the jackal with rapid punches, but each hit was blocked by the Bone Rush staff almost effortlessly before its wielder used it to push his opponent away. Blaziken then leapt into the air and attempted to axe kick Lucario, but the Aura Pokemon merely caught his leg (after getting rid of his staff) and threw him to the ground behind him.
"And that's another point for Lucario!" cheered Pikachu from the side.
"Making the overall score 40 to 3." added Venusaur.
"Heh, sounds like a good time to call it quits then." Blaziken lightheartedly said as Lucario helped him back to his feet. "Gotta say, you're pretty good, Lucario. Even though I'm older, you really know how to hit hard."
"Thanks. To tell you the truth, I'm actually quite experienced in fighting fire-types who specialize in kicks. Well, one, anyway. He was always out of his league."
After sharing a chuckle, Lucario and Blaziken rejoined Pikachu and Venusaur at the side to sit down and enjoy Floaroma's fine air and beautiful scenery.
"Hey, Venusaur," said Lucario after a few seconds of peaceful silence, "you mentioned earlier that May has a Venusaur herself, right?"
"Yeah, indeed. We knew each other as Bulbasaurs and I met her not too long after May first caught her in Hoenn. She was always very kind and sweet and we became such great friends. May even allowed her to stay with me at Oak's Lab when she and Max decided to join Ash for his Battle Frontier journey. May took her back when she left for Johto and that was the last time I've ever seen her, though, some of Ash's Sinnoh Pokemon did tell she had evolved into a Venusaur by the time May participated in the Wallace Cup. I do have to ask, how is she doing these days, Blaziken?"
"She's doing fine. She has helped our trainer in a pinch on numerous occasions, but whenever she's not battling, she's helping May's parents tend their greenhouse, whether it be helping them keep the garden alive or solving any conflict the visiting Wild Pokemon get into."
"Really?" Venusaur asked, sounding impressed. "I am quite proud to hear that, as I gave her lessons in solving conflicts and issues when she was at the lab. And with such a beautiful garden like this, it would've been nice to see her again…"
"Venusaur," started Lucario, "it seems you two have quite the strong bond."
"Heheh, that's one way of putting it."
"Just as a reminder, I have telepathy and so does Ash. If you want to see your friend again, you could just tell either of the two of us to ask May for you."
"Oh, no-no, that's quite alright." Venusaur reassured while blushing a bit. "For now, I think I'll just allow fate to decide that. I don't want to come off as too strong or anything."
"'Too strong'?" questioned a confused Lucario. "But you're one of Ash's first Pokemon. Of course you're strong and formidable."
Letting out an awkward chuckle, Venusaur replied, "That's not what I exactly meant, but thanks anyways for the compliment."
"Then what did you mean by 'too strong'? I don't get it."
"I'll explain it to you later." Pikachu said with a slight shake of the head. When it came to anything romance related, Lucario was just about as dense as Ash was when he was 10, possibly even more so.
Still not getting what was going on, Lucario only shrugged and said to Venusaur, "Well, Venusaur, even though I don't seem to understand your bond with May's Venusaur, I can tell you that she would most definitely enjoy seeing you again. You're a strong fighter and a great leader who possesses a welcoming aura to anyone he meets. Trust me, I can sense it."
"Lucario's not wrong." added Blaziken. "She also wonders how you're doing too."
"Ah, really?" Venusaur asked as he rubbed the top of his head with a vine. "Good to know. And thanks for the extra compliments, Lucario. It's really nice to see you opening up more to others."
"No problem." Lucario simply said. The last time he ever interacted with Venusaur was during their time at Mt. Silver. Venusaur was an Ivysaur at the time and he tried to introduce himself to Lucario, but the jackal only hopped away. Now that he was getting to know Venusaur, he could see why many of Ash's other Pokemon, even Charizard, respected him so much. He was a born leader with a humble soul.
Pikachu smiled at Lucario. He was proud of him for becoming friends with Venusaur and Blaziken. He then spotted Noivern still munching on berries on top of a tree and that gave him an idea.
"Say, Lucario!" said Pikachu, gaining the jackal's attention. "Why not try becoming friends with Noivern up there!"
"Noivern?"
"Yeah! I feel you two would get along as you both have so many things alike! You were both raised from eggs, have a fighting-type bird as your main partner, and you both LOVE eating a lot!"
"Don't say that last part out loud…"
"Sorry, but still, I think you should give it a shot. He's very friendly, y'know?"
Lucario looked up towards the bat-wyvern who didn't take any notice of their conversation about him, too busy munching on the tree's berries. While he didn't know Noivern that much, many have described him to be extraordinarily kind and cheerful, which is actually saying a lot for a Noivern in general, as they're mostly known for their aggressive behaviors.
"Um, okay. Sure, I guess."
Lucario stood up and made his way towards Noivern's tree.
"Ash sure knows how to find the most interesting ones." commented Blaziken.
The jackal approached the tall berry tree and cleared his throat.
"Umm, Noivern?" he started, getting the bat dragon's attention. "Mind if I, uhhh, hang out with you up there?"
"Sure! Want me to help you up here?"
"Oh, that's no problem. I can do it myself."
With only a few hops, Lucario made his way towards Noivern's level, sitting beside him afterwards.
"Umm, hi?"
"Heya, Lucario! So, got something you would like to talk about?"
"And that's how I defeated that Kingdra. Yep, a Kingdra! Half-water, half-dragon, and I still came out on top anyway!"
"You really think that's something? I took down a Lucario while destroying the gym's whole roof in the process! And anyone with a brain would say that's way more impressive."
"Tch, ANYONE can take down a Lucario! Just ask Charizard!"
"Actually, I have done some asking with some of your old teammates. Apparently, you're so dense in the head that you took romantic advice from Brock! Who in the right mind thinks that could ever work?!"
"You're not so perfect either, weasel! Apparently, as I've heard from YOUR teammates, you're so petty, and I mean, SO SO petty that you held a grudge against Pikachu during an entire gym battle for a misfired Thunderbolt! Way to almost screw up our trainer's chances of winning, you moron!"
"Yeah? Well guess who defeated the Gym Leader's own Floatzel afterwards!"
"I defeated a Charizard!"
"You lost to a Miltank!"
"You lost to an Empoleon!"
Wartortle just laid on his stomach and fiddled with a stray leaf.
Hiding in a flower patch was the Oreburgh Mine Lairon. At some point, Krookodile and his group moved to a wider location and Lairon secretly followed them, wanting to keep an eye on its leader. The steel type just couldn't fathom enough on how cool the Krookodile was. Given his sunglasses and how he was training the smaller Pokemon, the crocodile just had to have a trainer, but who?
"Wow, Krookodile, you're an amazing teacher!" said Glaceon.
"Thanks. As obvious as it sounds, I get it from Ash."
"Ash"? He could've sworn he heard that red-head human call the human he fought that in the mines. Did this Krookodile share its trainer with that Lucario?
Lairon was just about to step out of his hiding spot to ask the Krookodile about his trainer, but quickly stopped himself when a Munchlax stepped forward in his direction, albeit, not noticing his presence.
"Yeah!" the pre-evolved shouted. "I can feel Krookodile's lessons coursing through me! Next contest I'm in, I will show the audience my spirit and determination through a single Focus Punch!"
Munchlax then charged forward towards a tree, just barely running by the hiding Lairon.
"That's it, Munch-Man!" encouraged Krookodile. "Show them who's boss!"
Munchlax delivered his attack onto the tree, giving it a good shake. Krookodile applauded him while Beautifly, Skitty, and Glaceon cheered. However, all celebration ceased when a bunch of Combee flew down from the tree's crown, looking absolutely pissed.
"Uhhhh, Krookodile?" Munchlax called out, staring nervously at the angry swarm behind him. "Got any pointers for angry Combee swarms?"
"Just one." said Krookodile as he scooped Munchlax in his arms. "Run!"
Krookodile then ran away, scooping up Beautifly, Skitty, and Glaceon along the way as well. Lairon could only duck and cover his eyes as the Combee swarm flew right over his hiding spot in their pursuit for Krookodile. Once he felt they were gone, he opened his eyes back up to see Krookodile long-gone in the distance, causing him to become sad.
"I defeated Paul's Gastrodon!"
"I defeated Harrison's Sneasel!"
"I helped save an important Riolu from Hunter J!"
"I blasted off Biff and Cassidy and blew up their helicopter!"
Just then Wartortle heard something rumbling right towards them.
"Hey guys, do you hear something?"
Floatzel and Feraligatr stopped their arguing and looked around until they saw Krookodile holding May's other Pokemon in his arms, running towards their direction.
"Hey, Krookodile!" Feraligatr excitedly called out. "Wanna see my new dance moves now?"
"Not now, buddy! Grab Wartortle and run!" Krookodile shouted as he ran right past the three water types.
"From what?" asked Floatzel before he turned his head to where Krookodile ran from, seeing the angry Combee swarm.
The three water types gasped before the two bigger ones both picked up Wartortle and followed Krookodile away from the angry bugs.
"Oi, so that's how you hatched?" asked Noivern.
"Yes, indeed. You see, my line has a strong connection to aura, so there are times where we can only hatch if we feel a strong aura presence from a human."
"Oi, that's cool! No wonder you and Ash were gone for so long to become those Aura Guardian things. Oi, Ash is such a great father, isn't he?"
"F-father?"
"Yeah! He did hatch us, after all. Plus, he's, like, the GREATEST caregiver ever! Always watching out and making sure we're in tip-top shape. Helping us get stronger to take down tough opponents and evil people everywhere. Wouldn't you agree?"
Lucario thought to himself for a moment, but then smiled.
"Yes. Ash is indeed a great father."
Noivern gave Lucario a friendly smile before he reached up to the crown above him to pick out two Sitrus Berries, giving one to Lucario. They simultaneously both gave their treats big bites, which Noivern quickly noticed.
"Heheheh, a foodie as well, I see?"
"...Maybe…"
"Oi, don't be afraid to admit it, bud! Food is food, after all! No shame in eating, it keeps us all alive!"
Thinking of what Noivern said, Lucario nodded and continued to eat his berry to his own leisure. The dragon was right, no shame in scarfing down food if it's what keeps the body alive. The two soon finished their snacks.
"Oi! Those Sitrus Berries were muy deliciosa!"
"Was that spanish?"
"Si! I get it from my big brother, Hawlucha!"
"Hawlucha? I believe I've seen him around Mt. Silver. Sirfetch'd has told me he's quite the formidable warrior."
"You bet he is! And to me, he's just the coolest brother anyone could ask for!"
"'Big brother', huh? I'm guessing he helped Ash raise you when you hatch?"
"Oi, totally! He and Talonflame helped me learn how to fly, too. Yeah, our Kalos group was just one big happy family. While I'm glad we're all together at Mt. Silver and Ash still see Clemont and Bonnie a lot, I really do miss Serena. She was like the team mom of our group."
"Yeah, I remembered her when she and Ash were together. She always displayed a serene and benevolent aura. It's a shame of what happened to her and you and the rest of the Kalos Pokemon have my condolences."
"Thank you so much, Lucario. But we shouldn't cry on it for too long. Serena wouldn't want us to do that! We just gotta keep doing our best for her and live life to the greatest!" Noivern happily declared, standing up and spreading his wings out, just like how Hawlucha would.
Lucario couldn't help but smile at Noivern. He was quite friendly and optimistic, and it was at a level that Lucario just had to admire.
Just then, the both of them detected something coming right towards their direction.
"Noivern, I sense something." / "Hey, can you hear that?"
The two then stared at each other for a bit in short surprise.
"Oi! You have good hearing, too?"
"N-no, not really. It's a power my line has, being able to detect auras from far distances."
"Oi! That's so cool! What do you detect?"
"Well, now that they're getting closer, it's the auras of… everyone else…"
"Yeah, I can hear their footsteps. Along with their screams and some… buzzing?"
"Oh-no…" / "Esto es malo…"
The two jumped off the tree to see Krookodile, Feraligatr, and Floatzel holding all of May's Pokemon (sans Blaziken) running towards them with a swarm of angry Combee behind them.
"Oi! Guys!"
"What happen-"
Unfortunately, the sprinting Pokemon couldn't stop themselves in time and crashed right into Lucario and Noivern, causing all 10 Pokemon to start tumbling towards Pikachu, Venusaur, and Blaziken, who had all fallen asleep. The three woke up when they saw their friends sliding towards them, and without a second to react, were sent crashing away with the rest of them, ultimately creating one big pile of Pokemon.
"What just happened?" moaned Pikachu.
"It's a long story…" moaned back Krookodile.
The angry Combee were still making their way towards the gang, causing some of them to scream. Meanwhile, Blaziken had fallen face-first into a flower patch, and once he got up, the pollen was starting to have an effect on his nostrils.
"Bla-blaziiiiiiiiiiii….."
"KKEEEEENNNNNN!"
And with that, Blaziken unintentionally sneezed a powerful torrent of flames towards the swarm's direction, frightening the Combee and making them buzz off…. and causing the entire meadow to spontaneously combust into flames.
As walls of fire engulfed the meadow, the 13 Pokemon could only stare off in disbelief, flabbergasted on the sudden turn of events their break day took.
"How did this even happen?" questioned Wartortle.
"Heheh, stuff like this happens everyday at Mt. Silver." Noivern lightheartedly said, trying to lighten up the mood.
However, he and Lucario soon became worried when they both detected cries for help within the flames.
"Oi! I can hear Pokemon trapped within the meadow!"
"I can detect their auras, too. We gotta save them!"
Pikachu then stepped forward, his skill for leadership kicking in.
"Alright, here's what we will do! Lucario and Noivern will scout for all the trapped Pokemon who will need rescuing!"
"Understood!"
"Oi, gotcha'!"
"Krookodile and Blaziken, you two can dig or leap through the flames and help get the Pokemon out of there!"
"No problem!"
"Right!"
"Wartortle, Feraligatr, and Floatzel, once the Pokemon are freed, you three can then put out the flames. We don't want you to dowse them out first because your attacks may accidentally push the Pokemon trapped into another flame. You can also put out any standalone flame that gets in our way!"
"Roger!"
"Alright!" / "Got it!"
Hearing that they answered simultaneously, Feraligatr and Floatzel briefly shared a glare with each other and then decided to temporarily let their grudge go, prioritizing the trapped Pokemon over their petty dispute.
"And Beautifly, Skitty, Munchlax, and Glaceon, once Blaziken and Krookodile bring the Pokemon over here to the safe zone, it'll be your job to heal and comfort them."
"Okay!"
"N'yawesome!"
"Sounds good!"
"But what about Mr. Venusaur?" asked Glaceon.
"Don't worry." assured the grass starter. "Once the flames are all cleared out, that would be when I step in."
"Alright, team, let's move out!"
With a little war cry, Pikachu, Lucario, Noivern, Krookodile, Blaziken, Wartortle, Feraligatr, and Floatzel charged towards the meadow. The water types used Hydro Pump to douse flames out of their path. With aura detection and super hearing, Lucario and Noivern were able to track down Pokemon trapped between flames, pointing towards their location for Krookodile and Blaziken to rescue them. As the jackal and dragon detected hostages from both the east and west, the two split up to rescue them, with Krookodile digging under a flame wall while Blaziken flipped over the one in his way.
Out from his hole, Krookodile soon re-emerged, holding three Sunkern to his chest while a Caterpie sat on his head. Blaziken flipped back out to his allies, holding two Burmy and allowing two distressed Aipom to hang on his head feathers.
"All clear!" Blaziken yelled as he and Krookodile ran back to the safe spot to drop off the rescued Pokemon.
Hearing their cue, Wartortle, Feraligatr, and Floatzel all used Hydro Pump to put the flames out before they could spread. Thanks to their combined efforts, the surrounding flames were gone in no time. Blaziken and Krookodile soon returned to the gang and they continued the same routine until a good half of the meadow was cleared out. As flames disappeared, Krookodile and Blaziken's job of bringing Pokemon to the safe zone back and forth became easier and easier by the second, speeding up the whole process. As the gang approached the last of the flames, Blaziken was able to rescue a group of Wurmple and he took off to the safe zone.
"Okay, were those the last hostages?" asked Pikachu.
"No… I can still detect one more being's aura. It's… strangely familiar."
"Yeah! I can hear them, too! They're over there!"
Noivern towards a giant fiery wall to the gang's west.
"I got this." said Krookodile as he started digging underground.
Lairon sniveled up some tears as the surrounding flames slowly got closer and closer. One moment, he was enjoying the smell of flowers, and then the very next moment, the entire meadow exploded into flames. Believing the end was near, he started to full-on cry. He never was able to find a true family…
That was, until the sunglasses-wearing Krookodile from before suddenly popped out of hole in front of him. The croc looked around until he saw the cowering Lairon behind him.
"A Lairon in a meadow of all places? Weird." said Krookodile before bent down to the steel-type's level. "Hey, don't worry, little guy! I'll protect ya!"
Krookodile was about to dive back into his hole with Lairon in tow, but the two saw a tree suddenly falling towards their direction, causing Krookodile to push Lairon out of the way. By the time the tree landed, no one was hurt, but now Krookodile's hole was blocked.
"Shit, this complicates things…" mused Krookodile before he saw the scared, teary-eyed look of Lairon.
"Hey, don't be scared, little guy." comforted Krookodile. "Life is full of scary shit, but the only way to drive it all off is to be brave and scare all that shit right back! Now, let's get out of here."
Krookodile wiped off a tear from Lairon's cheek and dug up another hole for him and Lairon to retreat into, just in time as the flames started to increase. Lairon held onto Krookodile's tail as the croc dug themselves to the opposite area of where Krookodile first dug to reach Lairon.
"Krookodile!" Pikachu yelled worriedly. "Are you okay in there?"
"Yeah, I'm fine and I got the Pokemon out! Do your thing, water bros!"
However, after saying that, Krookodile realized he and Lairon were in a bad position.
"Crap, should've thought of this through..."
He then instinctively threw his body over Lairon.
"Watch out, little guy. Things are about to get wet."
Three bursts of Hydro Pumps were fired into the flames, with some of the torrents unintentionally hitting Krookodile, but the desert predator stood his ground to keep Lairon safe.
"M-m-mister?"
"Eh, don't worry, ouch, little guy. Yow. Trust me, I've taken, oof, worse."
Lairon just stared starry-eyed at the protective reptile. He was so strong, so brave, and so awesome!
Soon enough, the flames that once trapped Lairon started to die down. As they dispersed, Lairon peeked over Krookodile's body to see some of his friends, as well as the… MEANIE LUCARIO HE FOUGHT AT THE MINES. Frightened by the oncoming jackal, Lairon turned around and headed straight for the forest (that was fortunate enough to not get touched by any of the flames), leaving Krookodile confused until his friends showed up.
"Hey, didn't you say there was a Pokemon with you, Krookodile?" asked Pikachu.
"There was, but he was a nervous little scamp and he just ran away into the woods. Guess all that stress was just too much for him."
"Well, glad to hear he made it out safely then. Lucario, Noivern, is that all of the hostages!"
"Yes!" / "Si!"
"Great! Wartortle, Feraligatr, Floatzel, finish off those flames!"
After a few Hydro Pumps, the meadow was completely free of flames, albeit, at the cost of its once beautiful scenery. With the rescues all finished (with thankfully no casualties), the group sprinted back to the safe zone, meeting up with Venusaur and the rest of May's Pokemon, comforting the former hostages and healing them with Sitrus and Rawst Berries. Seeing the gang return, Blaziken ran up to them.
"All the flames doused?" he asked Pikachu.
"Yep! Everything's all safe now!"
"But what about the meadow?" questioned Glaceon. "It's all ruined now. Because of us, too…"
"Do not pout, young one." comforted Venusaur as he stepped forward. "Just like I said before, this is when my part starts."
Stepping into the meadow, Venusaur started focusing his power on the nature around him. Serene sparkles were seen flying off from his flower like streams of air and then the plant monster gave off a loud "SAAAUUUUURRRRR!" before life slowly started returning to the meadow. Grass has grown, flowers bloomed, and the tall and proud trees regained their royal crowns. Seeing their home returned back to its former state (only a lot more beautiful), the meadow residents happily cheered and ran back into their home.
Meanwhile, some of May's Pokemon stared flabbergasted at Venusaur.
"How did you do that?" asked Munchlax.
After giving a small chuckle, Venusaur said "It's an ability my line gets after evolving into Venusaur. As guardians of the forest, we become one with nature itself."
"But our Venusaur has been fully evolved for a long time now and she has never shown to be able to do that." commented Beautifly.
"It varies upon Venusaurs. As I was always raised as a leader and a protector, even before I joined Ash, it was always something that grew within me. But I'm sure her own ability will tap in soon."
"Well, guys." started Pikachu. "Even though the fire was technically our own fault, we managed to save the day before our trainers showed up! Good thing, too, as we would've been in huge trouble because of it."
The whole gang then went into one big group cheer. While everyone celebrated, Noivern turned towards Lucario.
"Oi, I know I said this before, but your aura powers are seriously amazing! They really helped us out in a pinch!"
"Heheh, thanks. But we all couldn't have done this without your hearing, as well. Even with all those flames, they really did their job and helped us out."
"Awwww, you're too kind! Oi, say, next time we're all at Mt. Silver, wanna hang out with me and Hawlucha sometime? Oi, you can even invite Sirfetch'd and Dragonite too!"
"Yeah, I would love to."
"Yay!"
At another part of the group, Floatzel rubbed the back of his head as he stared at the cheering gator next to him through his peripherals. With a sigh, the aquatic weasel decided to let go of his pride for the moment and turned towards Feraligatr to face him.
"Hey, Feraligatr?"
"Hm?"
"I just wanna say that I'm sorry for insulting your dancing and your track record. I kept an eye on you when we were putting out the flames, and your enthusiastic approaches really helped us take care of the more persistent ones. Guess I'm just a little bit too obsessed with brute force then I'd like to admit. Soooo, uh, yeah, sorry… again."
Floatzel then sheepishly offered his hand for a handshake and Feraligatr smiled at the weasel.
"Hey, I'm sorry too, pal! And even I can agree that my dancing can be a little too much at times. But don't beat up your tactics like that, man! Your super powerful Hydro Pumps really did a number on those big boy flames over there! You should be proud! But yeah, apology accepted, chum!"
With that said, Feraligatr shook Floatzel's hand, signifying their new friendship.
"Heheh, 'pal', 'man', 'chum'? I'm surprised you didn't call me 'bestie'."
"...Do you want to be besties?"
"Heh, yeah, Feraligatr. We can be besties."
Hearing this, Feraligatr's face lit up.
"Aw, yeah!" The Johto gator cheered as he did his iconic dance.
"Glad to see you two make up!" said Wartortle at the side.
"For real! I'm so happy that I could just…. just…."
"Just what?" asked Floatzel, but his question was answered instantly when Feraligatr leaned forward to chomp on his head out of pure affection.
"AAHHHHHH! STOP! OW! LEMME GO!" Floatzel shouted as he tried to squirm away, but those efforts were for naught when Feraligatr also started hugging him, preventing escape.
"OKAY, OUCH! I FEEL THE LOVE NOW, FERALIGATR! AND IT'S PAINFUL! OOWWW!"
Everyone else just laughed at the whole scene. It was just an overall good day. Friendships were build, lessons were learned, and no one had to eat Ash's cooking.
Okay, we all have watched the Episode 77, and it was an absolute ride! These are the one in a ten episode that give you an absolute jolt through the body. While I don't have a slightest clue wh were taken off, I was delighted on seeing such a battle. While partially it was pure plot armor based, the battle itself shook Sunyshore. While I am still a soldier in gaining some justice for Gengar, his losing streak just doesn't sit well with me. For a Pokemon of highly mystical and mysterious capabilities, they are just too busy powering Dragonite and Lucario. Gengar is just benched and they are repeating history with Torterra and Noivern. Expecting big from Gengar.
It just looks like they wanna make Lucario a second Greninja. Its move set is absolute Garbage like the one Lucario have in Pokemon Glazed. Bone Rush was the perfect offensive maneuver against Electric types and Extremespeed can totally replace Double Team. Why ain't the franchise seeing that? And for those who thought Ash wouldn't be using Z moves outside Alola, well how do you feel now? It's just that since Sun and Moon showed that Pikachu's Z-Move is capable of overpowering Tapu Koko, there's just kinda no excuse for that same Z-Move to fail against weaker Pokemon. Yeah, Volkner's Sinnoh strongest Gym Leader, but Tapu Koko is honestly like 10 Volkners in one.
Ranked 64 is just awesome. I was fearing that if Ash beat Volkner he would be placed above the number 27 in the ladder. That's just logic. But I am glad that he claims the 64th spot cause now there will be more challenges his way. Funny, how a Gym Leader is the World's Top 30 while Iris, the Dragon Master in training and now a Unova Champion is now still in the Super Class. And now that Cynthia is returning, the show is hinting at a battle between them. Now don't boo me, but I am largely rooting for Cynthia, because if there's any trainer that can take Leon down, it's her. Even if Ash can go against her in a three on three, the best Team he can put is Dragonite, Pikachu and Lucario. And after Cynthia return is official, I have no fears that Greninja won't be returning. Just for once and forever, please Anipoke (pleading face)
Thank you all again, and we'll see you shortly in a week.