The Princess Festival
"Alright today's the day of the Princess Festival which means that women rule today and you guys have to do whatever we say!" Jessie formed a wicked smirk while James and Meowth just stared at her with little to no reaction from her statement.
"How's that different from any other day?" James asked.
"So James, hand over your Pokemon!"
"What? Why?!" James defensively shielded his Pokeballs from her.
"Because I need three Pokemon for the festival and I've only got Arbok and Wobbuffet." Jessie impatiently explained before motioning for him to hurry up. "Come on, I've got to get properly dressed and registered before it's too late!"
"But Jessie, Weezing only listens to me and Gyarados still doesn't like the two of you much." James lightly sweated before looking regretfully towards Victreebel. "I suppose you could borrow Victreebel though, Victreebel let's go!"
"Treee!" Victreebel burst out and swallowed the upper half of James' body resulting in Jessie going pale as she felt her own head, her precious hair in particular! There was no way she was going to borrow that Pokemon and give her a bad hair day nor ruin her good looks which she believed was necessary to win!
"Meowth, would you?"
"Count me out Jess, I wouldn't be caught dead inside of one of those!" Meowth spat as he pointed at a Pokeball. "And according to da rules, the Pokemon must be inside them! Besides I already promised James I'd help him sell snacks! We got plenty of money from the boss but I'd rather be safer than nearly starving again!"
Jessie let out a reluctant sigh, she certainly wasn't going to force Meowth to go inside of a Pokeball nor did they really have enough time to make a device that'd make it appear as if Meowth came out of one! That left her with only one option remaining.
"Well then I guess I don't have a choice, I must capture a new Pokemon so that I can win those doll-that ribbon!" James and Meowth gave her a questioning look as she clearly said something else before switching. Jessie gave a quick look around the area and it appeared luck was on her side that day for a wild Lickitung just happened to be eating from their picnic basket while they were distracted! James and Meowth began letting out shouts of protest upon realizing Lickitung had began helping himself to their food!
"Hey there, stop it!" James shouted.
"Don't cha know it's wrong ta steal from thieves?!" Meowth hissed.
"Tung?" Lickitung gave them a lazy look before sitting on his rear, seeming to have had his fill for the day as he simply ignored them and went to sleep!
James and Meowth sweated before going red as they didn't like being ignored!
"That's it, Weezing use Sludge Bomb!"
"And I'll hit him with a Night Slash!"
Jessie held an arm out in front of them. "No need, he's already tuckered out so this should be fairly easy!" Jessie enlarged an empty Pokeball and lazily tossed it at the sleeping Lickitung, the ball opened up and sucked the sleeping Pokemon in before hitting the ground where it chimed out seconds mere seconds afterwards to signal the capture complete! James and Meowth narrowed their eyes as they weren't impressed by the newest member to their group, Jessie meanwhile grabbed the Pokeball and began rubbing it up against her face.
"Oh just think of all the Contests we'll win together, your beauty mixed with mine will truly be unstoppable?"
"Lickitung, beautiful...?" James questioned with a tilt of his head.
"I guess that Jessie must have hit her head when she woke up this morning!" Meowth shook his head.
"Wobbuffet!" Wobbuffet burst out to chime in.
"Made it in record time, only a couple of days since we left Saffron City!" Chloe exclaimed.
"Well now that we aren't catching Pokemon as much as we used to, we should be moving around faster than we were before." Ash remarked.
Brock's eyes were wandering towards multiple different beauties as they passed through town, his cheeks glowed bright red though he appeared to be in control of himself for the time being. "Please tell me we're just here for the competition, I can't stand being around all these beauties!"
"Don't worry Brock, that's it! I may be a bit girly but I'm not as obsessed with shopping as most girls!" Chloe laughed.
"Pika." Pikachu smirked upon knowing that he and his trainer wouldn't be dragged along on any long shopping trips when the two inevitably got together.
"Thank goodness, I can't stand the smell of perfume!" Ash wasn't shy on how he felt about the stuff. "It smells nasty and it just turns other girls into a drooling mess! No offense, Brock."
"None taken, Ash!"
Chloe always admired how Ash wasn't shy about saying stuff like that but she was sure that it'd get him into trouble sooner or later! Ash's eyes began looking the crowd over with a bored expression before doing a quick double take as he saw a figure that looked familiar, that rather beautiful figure was quite unmistakable as it could only belong to the Elite Four member known as Lorelei! Her long red hair was tied into a ponytail and flowed with the wind while her bright red eyes were behind a pair of glasses, she also had a rather noticeable asset that made her quite popular among certain individuals!
"Whoa those melons are huge!" Brock remarked.
"Oh my gosh, Brock you did not just-" Chloe turned around with a reddened expression only to see Brock actually was looking at melons!
"I'll take one please!"
"I didn't know Lorelei would be here, she's not competing too is she?" Ash asked.
"Hm? Oh!" Chloe shot Lorelei a quick glare. She'd always had a bit of a grudge towards the Elite Four member as she overheard Ash saying she was beautiful to Gary years ago. "I-I must have skipped over mentioning that part!" Chloe uttered a set of nervous laughter before continuing. "You see the winner of the competition doesn't just receive a Contest ribbon, they also win a complete set of Pokedolls along with a one on one battle against the Elite Four member Lorelei!"
"Seriously?! Man I wish I could compete, I'd love to battle an Elite Four member!"
"Pika pi!"
Chloe cautiously looked him over and felt a sense of relief that he didn't appear to have other motives nor did he appear to be checking the Elite Four member over, she supposed that he possibly grew out of it over the years. After all he'd never even met Lorelei in person!
"I should have known that you peasants would show up!"
"Oh no," Chloe groaned.
"Eevoi..." Eevee flattened her ears as the two turned to see Luna standing before them.
"You must be so desperate to be known as royalty that you're willing to settle for an unofficial title! Of course no doubt you're jealous of my success!" Luna cackled as she whipped out a ribbon case to show off three ribbons! "I bet you still have the same amount as last time, eh peasant?"
"Stop calling Chloe a peasant!" Ash irritably shouted out.
"Sure thing once she stops being a peasant!" Luna cackled. Ash gritted his teeth and growled out at her while Chloe calmly placed her hand upon his shoulder.
"I take it you're competing here then?" Chloe asked.
"Me?! Compete here?! You must be joking!" Luna tossed back her head while her two Furfrou howled out with laughter. "Unlike you peasants I don't need an unofficial title to appease my needs or make me feel better about myself! In fact obtaining that fake royal status would be an insult to my actual royal status! I'll be nice and let you peasants fight over this ribbon alone for my amusement!" Luna spoke with a wicked smirk.
It was Chloe's turn to get mad as the usual calm girl was now shivering from anger. She didn't even know it was possible for somebody to be so incredibly annoying!
"Chloe don't you need to get registered for the event?" Brock spoke while offering a good excuse to get away from Luna.
"R-Right, see you around Luna!" Chloe quickly turned around to head off with the others while Luna's cheeks burned from anger.
"It's princess Luna and don't you dare forget that you filthy peasant!"
"Good morning O-Hina Town and welcome to the annual Princess Festival!" Mr. Contesta shouted over a microphone while standing in the midst of a battlefield. "The competition will soon get underway so allow me to explain the rules. In the first round it'll be a quick elimination round where all trainers utilize a single Pokemon, the next round will then advance to utilizing two Pokemon in a classic one on one ruleset and it'll remain that way until the final round where our two semi-finalists will engage in a three against three match up! The winner will receive the Princess ribbon, eligible for this year's Kanto/Johto Contest circuit along with a complete set of vintage Pokedolls and the right to challenge the Elite Four member Lorelei in a one on one match if they so desire!" Mr. Contesta gestured with his arm, pointing towards the Elite Four member who stood alongside the Pokedoll collection.
Lorelei flashed the crowd a smile before waving at them as they cheered out her name.
"What a beauty!"
"Can you believe Lance and her are actually a thing?!"
"Now how about we get the competition underway?!" Mr. Contesta exclaimed with an eager grin. "First up will be the Coordinator known as Jessilina who'll be competing against Yumi!"
"Whose Yumi?" Ash questioned as he didn't recognize the name from the Contests they'd attended.
"Probably just a random trainer used to hype up the competition, now shut up twer-kid!" A disguised Meowth corrected himself as he shoved a bag of chips into the boy's arms. "And that'll be five Pokedollars!"
"Primeape let's go!" Yumi shouted out as she tossed a Pokeball into the air.
"Primeape!"
"Lickitung, go show them your beauty!" Jessie threw a ball of her own resulting in Chloe forming a brief look of surprise.
"Since when does Jessie have a Lickitung?"
"Togepriiii!" Togepi cried out.
"Tung!" Lickitung burst out, while not appearing the least bit intimidated by his opponent.
"Primeape use Thrash!"
"Lickitung use Wrap!"
"Tung!" Lickitung wrapped it's long tongue around Primeape, locking it's arms and legs in place as the monkey struggled to break free.
"Now use Rollout!" Jessie gleefully shouted.
Lickitung curled itself into a ball and dragged Primeape along with him as he began rolling across the field, flattening Primeape!
"P-Primeape..." Primeape slowly rose to his feet, this one didn't appear to be as feisty or angry as Ash's was as he didn't glow red or shout!
"Rollout again my beauty!"
"Did she just say beauty?!"
"Eevoi?!" Chloe and Eevee stared in shock as Jessie certainly had quite the odd taste in 'beautiful' Pokemon!
"Tung!" As soon as Primeape was on his feet he was flattened beneath the rolling Lickitung once more!
"Primeape..." Primeape laid in a collapsed heap once Lickitung finished his attack.
"Unbelievable, Jessilina finished without taking a single hit! We may be looking at this year's winner folks!" Mr. Contesta exclaimed.
"Wow that Lickitung sure is strong..."
"Eevoi..."
"Haha, those Pokedo-er that ribbon will be mine!" Jessie laughed. James gave her a suspicious look before shrugging as he resumed his snack vendor duties.
Chloe anxiously watched on as round after round she just barely managed to overcome other trainers in battle, she was sure it'd be easier to just use Sappy Seed repeatedly but that wouldn't feel in the spirit of things besides it'd been awhile since Sakura and Nidorina battled so she was giving them a chance while saving Eevee for the finals! Jessie however was quite literally flattening the competition with her Lickitung without breaking a sweat, neither Wobbuffet nor Arbok were even released from their Pokeballs! She hated to admit it but Jessie was quite skilled when she wasn't trying to steal Pikachu and Eevee from her and Ash!
Eventually it all came down to the finals and she'd soon find herself face to face against Jessie's Coordinator persona. Jessie flashed Chloe a gleeful smirk before speaking. "Oh I've been waiting months for this moment, time to crush myself a twerp! Lickitung let's roll!"
"Tung!"
Chloe debated over her choice for a brief moment before grabbing hold of a ball and tossing it into the air. "Nidorina, let's do this!"
"Nido!"
"Rollout!" Jessie cried.
"Dig!" Nidorina began hastily burrowing into the ground but Lickitung proved itself faster as the rolling Pokemon soon flattened Nidorina into the dirt, Nidorina's legs twitched beneath before going limp as she fell unconscious.
"Tung!" Lickitung pulled out of his roll to showcase purple tainted cheeks, revealing he'd been poisoned! Jessie gasped before waving it off.
"Oh it doesn't matter, we're still winning!"
"Tung!"
"Nidorina, I'm so sorry!" Chloe hung her head before returning Nidorina to her ball.
"Tung!" A bright burst of blue light suddenly engulfed Lickitung as the Pokemon grew taller and even more roly-poly than before while his skin turned to a dark shade of pink!
"Licky!"
"Whoa what's that Pokemon?!" Ash eagerly exclaimed while the Rocket trio, Brock and Chloe all simply stared off in shock as they didn't know Lickitung could evolve!
"Lickilicky the Licking Pokemon, Lickilicky's strange tongue can stretch to many times the length of its body. No one has figured out how Lickilicky's tongue can stretch so far!"
Jessie shivered before letting out a shout of glee. "Oh you're even more beautiful than before!"
"Licky lick!" Lickilicky's eyes scanned the crowd before spotting a cotton candy vendor up high in the bleachers. "Lick!" Lickilicky fired off his tongue before reaching the cotton candy, the vendor let it go with a yelp of surprise while Jessie let out a gasp of her own!
"T-That had to be over 100 feet!" Lickilickly licked his lips upon swallowing the cotton candy whole.
"Licky!"
"Heh, you'll definitely come in handy for our schemes!"
Chloe clenched her fists as she thought over her next move. Lickilicky was still Poisoned so it'd take damage over time but her mind constantly flickered between Sakura and Eevee as it wasn't the best idea to fight Rollout with Omastar's own Rollout, Omastar was much smaller than Lickilicky and would get easily flattened! 'Of course, what am I thinking?! Sakura can fly!'
"Sakura let's do this!"
"Freee!" The pink Butterfree burst out followed by cheers of the crowd. Luna scowled at the sight though jealousy was briefly visible within her gaze.
"Lickilicky use Rollout!"
"Licky!" Lickilicky rolled back into a ball before shooting across the field!
"Sakura fly up above him!"
"Freee!" Sakura flew safely out of his reach resulting in Lickilicky continuing to roll before crashing against a nearby wall!
"L-Licky..."
"We don't need Rollout to beat you, Lickilicky let's use your tongue, Wrap!"
"Licky!" Lickilicky fired out his tongue, grabbing onto Sakura with surprising speed before pulling the butterfly towards him, trapping her in his embrace!
"Now use Rollout!"
"Use Psychic!"
"Hm?" Jessie tilted her head before gasping out as Lickilicky's rolling body was hoisted up into the air, Sakura along with it as the two spun about the air.
"F-Freee!" Sakura grunted before flinging Lickilicky off her using her telepathy!
"L-Licky!" Lickilicky cried as he dropped to the battlefield below like a falling meteor! A loud crash could be heard before smoke covered the battlefield, obscuring Lickilicky from view. Chloe and the other twerps watched with anticipation before sighing out from relief upon seeing Lickilicky laying on his back, eyes turned to swirls!
"Licky..."
"Lickilicky is unable to battle, it appears as if Chloe's evened the field! Perhaps the tide is changing!" Mr. Contesta eagerly exclaimed followed by the cheers of the crowd.
"Ha, more like the filthy peasant just got lucky!" Luna remarked.
"Furfro!" Her Furfrou barked in agreement.
"Lickilicky return," Jessie appeared upset but quickly regained her confidence! "Wobbuffet time to shine!"
"Wobbuffet!"
"Alright Sakura use Psychic once more!" She didn't dare try a physical attack on account of Wobbuffet's Counter!
Jessie let off a smirk as she threw an arm forward. "Mirror Coat!"
"What?!" "Oh of course, Wobbuffet must know moves to counter both forms of attacks!"
"Wobbuffet!" A rainbow aura surrounded Wobbuffet as Sakura's Psychic energy reflected back and hoisted her upwards before slamming her down against the ground!
"F-Freee..." Sakura groaned as she laid at Chloe's feet.
"Butterfree is unable to battle, this round goes to Jessilina and her Wobbuffet!"
"Alright Wobbuffet!" Jessie gleefully laughed while pulling the blue blob in for a hug!
"Wobbu!" Wobbuffet blushed.
"Sakura return, you were great out there." Chloe returned Sakura to her ball before giving Eevee a look. "Alright Eevee it looks like it's up to y-"
"Priiii!" Togepi sprung from Chloe's arms and leaped out onto the field!
"Unbelievable it appears that Chloe's third choice is the incredibly rare and mysterious Pokemon known as Togepi! I wonder what she has in store for us!" Mr. Contesta's eyes filled with genuine excitement and curiosity.
"Togepi don't!" Chloe squealed before hastily waving her hands at Mr. Contesta. "No no there's been a mistake, Togepi's not competing she's-"
"Toge toge toge!" Togepi began wiggling her fingers, her fingertips glowing a bright blue color before a series of purple meteors began crashing down from the sky above!
"W-Wobbu!" Wobbuffet panicked and attempted to run from the attack but soon found himself launched into the air upon a meteorite striking him! Wobbuffet flew through the air before landing in a collapsed heap as swirls filled his own eyes. "Wobbu..."
"Too late..." Chloe let out a defeated sigh while Togepi gleefully cried.
"Toge Togepriiii!"
Luna's eyes enlarged. "Just what are you, Togepi?" She narrowed her eyes before looking the baby Pokemon over. "I must have one of my own..."
"Wobbuffet get back in the ball," Jessie returned her defeated Pokemon before reaching for her final Pokemon. "This should be easy, Arbok use Crunch!"
"Sarbok!" Arbok cried before lunging forward, his sharp fangs on full display as he flew at his opponent!
"Toge toge!" Togepi disappeared without Chloe having to issue a command!
"Sar?!" Arbok let out a gasp of alarm before crashing against the ground!
"T-That was Teleport... Togepi knows Teleport?!" Chloe gasped. That was surely the case as Togepi didn't wiggle it's fingers like it had before activating Draco Meteor!
Jessie let out an agitated growl. "We won't let you make a fool out of us, Arbok use Bide!"
"Sarbok!" Arbok lashed out with his tail, wrapping it tightly around the egg Pokemon. Togepi didn't appear the least bit worried or frightened however as it began wiggling it's fingers with a joyful expression! Soon Arbok found himself face to face with another Arbok! "Sarbok?!"
"Sar!" Togepi sank fiery fangs into Jessie's Arbok causing the cobra to let out a cry of alarm before releasing Togepi and racing off across the field! Togepi then returned to normal before joyfully crying as she wiggled her fingers yet again! Her body began glowing brightly as an orange orb appeared in her hands before being launched into the air!
"What attack is that?" Ash questioned as it didn't appear to be any attack that he recognized. The orb then exploded high in the air causing multiple pink meteors to soar towards the field where they exploded upon impact, tossing Arbok's body back and forth as the explosions were set off!
"S-Sarbok!"
"Judgement, an attack said to be used in legends by the mighty Arceus himself!" The Rotom Phone read out as Ash scanned the attack.
"Judgement?!"
"Pikapi?!"
"Togepi are you okay?!" Chloe anxiously cried out as Togepi disappeared while the explosions went off! She soon felt a tug at her look before looking down to see Togepi smiling up at her!
"Togepriii!"
"Sar..." Arbok groaned as he laid in defeat. Jessie quietly returned him to his Pokeball before hanging her head as she dropped to her knees.
"...Chloe wins! I can't explain what just happened but Chloe is the clear winner here, folks!" Mr. Contesta shouted out. Lorelei quietly watched on with a look of interest while Chloe pulled Togepi in for a hug and spun around!
"We did it!"
"Togepriii!" The two laughed before pausing as they could hear the distinct sound of somebody crying.
"I'll never get those Pokedolls now!" Jessie sniffed as she kept her head lowered in an attempt to hide her emotions from the twerps and her team mates. "Ever since I was a little girl I dreamed of having Pokedolls to call my own but we were just too poor!" Her mother just disappeared while on the job one day leaving her father to work while also simultaneously raising her as Jessie was still fairly young at the time! The only toy she had was a sack with a rag covering it to resemble Pikachu while all the popular girls had actual Pokedolls and relentlessly mocked her!
Chloe frowned as she felt bad for Jessie, she took a quick look at the dolls before approaching her rival and occasional pest. "You can have those Pokedolls, I have no use for them and you clearly have a need for them." While they weren't friends she didn't like seeing Jessie suffer, besides she could use some kindness!
Jessie sniffed and quickly wiped away her tears as she gazed up at the twerpette. "Y-You're seriously? This isn't a trick?"
"Why would it be a trick? People can be nice simply to be kind, you know!" Chloe rolled her eyes lightly before offering her a genuine smile. "They're yours!"
Jessie gazed at her for a moment before forming a smile of her own. "Thanks twerpette, perhaps you aren't so bad after all!"
Lorelei gave a nod of approval from where she stood before approaching Chloe. "That was quite admirable what you did, giving away your prize to your rival like you did. Sometimes people who've lived a bad life just need a bit of kindness to give them the push they need to become a better person!"
"Wait you know?" Chloe cast a questioning look towards Jessie as the older woman gleefully raced towards the Pokedolls.
"That Jessilina is actually Jessie of Team Rocket? Of course I know, my boyfriend's with the International Police!" Lorelei laughed. Chloe couldn't help but smile as it was nice having somebody else know the truth instead of thinking she was crazy! "They don't consider her and her friends a threat so they just let them be in the hopes of catching bigger fish while also allowing them to wipe out Team Rocket's funding. I'd like to congratulate you on your win, you did great out there and it was quite the delightful and rather alarming sight seeing Judgement! Allow me to present you with your winnings and an extension to battle if you-" Lorelei was interrupted as she handed the ribbon to Chloe.
"Actually Lorelei, I'm not that much of a battle person but my b-best friend is!" She pointed towards Ash and Pikachu whom could be seen cheering for them in the crowd.
"Go Chloe, you were amazing!"
"Pika pi!"
"You think that you could-"
"Battle him instead?" Lorelei guessed before quickly nodding as a smirk crossed her lips. "Of course, it'd be an honor to battle the son of Red Ketchum!"
Jessie meanwhile attempted to escape with the Pokedolls unseen before James and Meowth suddenly appeared.
"You okay, Jess?" James asked with a concerned expression.
"Yeah that Judgement attack sure was powerful!" Meowth remarked.
Jessie let out a surprised shriek as she attempted to hide the Pokedolls from them.
"Rather jumpy today, aren't you? You're not sick are you?" James asked while Meowth simply walked around her.
"Pokedolls? Is that what you're hiding from us?"
Jessie hung her head while clenching her fists. "Yes, I like Pokedolls so what! It's not wrong for a grown woman to like Pokedolls!" She defensively shouted though it was clear that she didn't fully believe those words based on the tone of her voice.
"You're right Jess, there's nothing wrong with that!" Meowth remarked causing Jessie to look towards him with surprise.
"Yeah I collect bottle caps and I heard Bill collects action figures, we aren't going to-" James stopped as he felt their Rotom Phone going off. "Hello?"
"It's Butch!" Butch angrily shouted before hanging up.
"We won't judge you Jess, you're our friend!"
"Wobbuffet!" Wobbuffet chimed in agreement as he burst from his ball.
Jessie's eyes grew watery before she pulled her friends in for a tight hug. "You three are the best!"
"Wobbuffet!"
"You're serious? I actually get to battle Lorelei?!" Ash eagerly exclaimed as Chloe led the way towards the battlefield later that same day after the crowd had dispersed.
"Of course, I asked if she'd be willing to battle you instead and she agreed. I'd never lie to you!" Chloe explained with a bright smile while her cheeks glowed a light pink color. Ash smiled back as he gave her an appreciative look.
"Thanks so much, I can't wait to see how Pikachu does against her!"
"Pika pi!" Pikachu and Ash clenched their fists as looks of excitement spread across their face.
Lorelei could be seen waiting for them as they made their approach, the Elite Four member looked Ash over before quietly smirking to herself. "It's good to finally meet you, Ash. Lance and the others have told me a lot about you!"
"T-They actually talked about me?!" Ash was caught off guard as he hadn't been expecting them to bring him up in their private conversations.
"Mhm, they seem quite confident in your ability to reach us and I'd like to see if they're right or perhaps mistaken." Lorelei twirled a Pokeball atop her finger. "This will remain a one on one battle and you're free to use whomever you desire! As for me, I'm going to use Lapras!"
"Laaaaa!" A melodic cry could be heard as a purple Lapras emerged from the Pokeball!
"Lapras, eh? Alright Pikachu let's do this!"
"Pika!" Pikachu leaped onto the field followed by a beckoning of Lorelei's hand.
"You may have the first move," She politely offered as she wanted to see what he had in store for her!
"Volt Tackle!"
"Pika pika pika!" Golden electricity covered Pikachu's body as he shot off across the field! "Pika!" Pikachu slammed against Lapras causing her to grunt out and get knocked back! Lorelei raised an eyebrow as an impressed smirk briefly appeared.
"Rain Dance!"
"Laaaaa!" Lapras cried before a heavy rainstorm poured down upon the field!
"Splishy Splash!" Lorelei watched on while not looking remotely surprised in the least. Chloe narrowed her eyes lightly as she suspected Lorelei ordered Rain Dance to test Ash and not help her own strategy.
"Pika!" Pikachu lifted up his arms as a wave of electrified water formed beneath him. The wave towered over Lapras before it was brought crashing down upon Lapras, electrifying him as he felt the heavy weight crashing down upon him! As the water faded several black scorch marks could be seen across Lapras' body, signaling that significant damage had been dealt to her!
Lorelei watched on with a smirk of amusement before shortly returning Lapras to her Pokeball. "I've seen enough," She turned her back to Ash before raising her hand in farewell. "We'll continue our battle at the Pokemon League!"
"That Rain Dance doubled the strength of that attack... if Splishy Splash did that much damage just imagine how strong it'll be when Pikachu grows even stronger!" Chloe gasped out.
"Heh, I can't wait to find out!" Ash eagerly grinned before turning his gaze back to Pikachu. "Of course we still have no idea just how he learned that move in the first place, you sure you don't know?"
"Pika!" Pikachu shook his head. "Pikachu pika pika!" Pikachu explained as he just woke up and happened to know the move the day after they'd met!
"Hm... well I guess that's a mystery for another day, eh buddy?" Ash smirked.
"Pika!"
"Mew!" Mew giggled as she watched from the safety of a nearby rooftop.