Cassie was watching Ash's battle unfold from a distance, they were on their way to Mount Moon, when Ash caught the attention of another trainer.
"Pikachu use Thundershock!"
"Machop use Karate Chop!"
Pikachu launched a short burst of electricity at the Machop, moments before it was slammed into the ground.
"Pikachu use Thunder Wave!"
"Machop use Seismic Toss!"
Machop grabbed Pikachu, spinning it around before launching it into the air as a spiral of electricity shot back at Machop. Pikachu landed just a few feet in front of Cassie after sliding to a stop.
"Pikachu use Quick Attack!"
"Machop use Karate Chop!"
As Machop tried to move, a series of sparks flew over it, keeping it from moving at all. With his opponent not moving Pikachu was able to slam into the fighting type sending it into a nearby boulder.
"Machop!" The other trainer said running over to it. "Come on back." He said after seeing the fighting type was knocked out.
"What's that?" Ash said, seeing something roll off the boulder. "Did Machop drop this?" Ash asked holding up what looked like a microphone.
"No, someone must have lost it." The trainer said. "There's a PokeCenter nearby, maybe you can ask there."
"Good idea, thanks." Ash said.
"Thanks for the battle, we definitely need more training before our next gym." The other trainer said.
"What do you have there?" Cassie asked curiously.
"Some sort of microphone." Ash said holding it up. "Not sure where it came from though."
"Don't microphones usually have speakers with them?" Cassie asked, looking at it.
"Making this all the more odd." Ash said.
At the Pokemon Center
"I'm sorry Ash, but you're the only trainer we've had stop by in a few days, other than that one over there." The Nurse Joy said.
"I'll go talk to them, thanks again." Ash said. "Hi I found something a little bit out from here, and was wondering if you might have lost it." Ash said approaching the booth.
"Well look who finally caught up, I was worried you'd never show." Gilbert said smugly.
"Gilbert!" Cassie said angrily.
"Look, whatever you found, we didn't loose." Gilbert said.
"Squirt!" Gilbert's Squirtle said, looking a fair bit angrier now than the last time.
"So if you didn't lose anything, why are you still here?" Ash asked.
"To prove I'm better." Gilbert said confidently.
"Didn't I beat you last time?" Ash recalled.
"Doesn't matter, I'm a stronger trainer now, let's go three on three!" Gilbert said, regaining his confidence.
"I, I don't have three Pokémon yet." Ash admitted.
"Wow, that really is sad, a lonely Pokemon for the lonely kid, you two were made for each other." Gilbert laughed. "Have fun being in second place." Gilbert said walking out of the Pokemon Center.
"He makes me so angry!" Cassie said.
"Just relax, he's not used to people saying no, or being better than him." Ash said.
"But he's so rude, and you've accomplished just as much with less Pokemon!" Cassie said.
"And I'll keep succeeding, eventually we'll battle again." Ash said. "For now we should get going through Mount Moon."
"Okay Ash." Cassie said. "But I still think you could've stood up for us a bit more."
Later, deep inside Mt Moon
"Hey Ash, what do you think caused this?" Cassie asked, seeing a large hole in the roof of the cave.
"Whatever it was, I don't think it's landing went that well." Ash said, looking at the crater below them.
"Pika." Pikachu said, his ears picking up.
"What is it? Is something there?" Ash asked, looking around a corner.
They turned a corner seeing a boulder pinning a Jigglypuff to the ground.
"Jiggly!" The Jigglypuff cried in pain.
"Hold on! We'll have you out in just a second!" Ash said, pushing against the boulder.
"Pi!" Pikachu grunted pushing up.
"Just a little more." Cassie said.
"Puff!" Jigglypuff exclaimed finally free.
"There you go, you're all free now." Ash said.
"Ash, can't you please catch it." Cassie begged. "She's so cute!"
"I guess it couldn't hurt." Ash said. "Pikachu use Quick Attack!"
Pikachu dashed towards the Jigglypuff, only for it to float out of the way.
"Jiggly!" Jigglypuff exclaimed. "Jig-a-lee-pufff-jig-a-leee-eee-puff."
"Careful!" Ash yawned. "That's Jigglypuff's sing."
"What happened?" Ash asked, stretching.
"Jigglypuff ran away." Cassie said angrily.
"Pika!" Pikachu exclaimed in frustration.
"Maybe it just didn't want to fight us." Ash said. "We should keep moving though, I think we were out for longer than we thought." Ash said, seeing the night sky from the hole in the ceiling.
A few hours later
"There it is." Ash said with a smile, seeing the city lights off in the horizon.
"The sun's already coming up!" Cassie exclaimed. "We spent all night in that cave!"
"But we did make it without a problem." Ash countered.
"You call being knocked out by a Jigglypuff for an unknown amount of time not a problem?" Cassie asked curiously.
"We aren't hurt, and we never got lost, I'll call that a win." Ash said.
"We have different ideas of what a win is." Cassie groaned.
"Come on Pikachu, if we run, we could make it in time for the gym to open up!" Ash said.
"Hey! Wait up!" Cassie said chasing after her brother and Pikachu.