Pokemon is owned by Gamefreak and all Pokédex entries are from Bulbapedia.
"Butts"- Humans speaking
"Butts"- Pokemon speaking
'Butts'- thoughts
"Butts"-Pokedex entries/TV commentary
"Butts"- Telepathy/Aura speech
The Little Drummer Ape
After taking the Sky Taxi to Hammerlocke, Ash and his friends decided to simply check in at the Pokemon Center and sleep in, since the battle with Greta was very… Strenuous to say the least. Gary, being the first to wake as usual due to a new sort of researcher lifestyle, was groggily getting up, reaching for his Pokedex.
Gary: *groans* Alright, Arceus…. Do your worst this morning, I need to get this new Pokemon info to Gramps- Huh?
Suddenly, it just occurred to the boy that something seemed to be gripping his arm. Looking down, he saw some kind of Pokemon he didn;t recognize latched onto his arm. Now seeing that this wasn;t a natural occurence for him and the fact he was trying to be more mature, he did the one thing one would do in this situation…
He screamed.
The scream being enough to wake Ash out of his bed as Cobalt, Azula, and Kestrel jolted out of bed and Green yelled as he fell from the other top bunk. From his bunk, Ash got up and climbed the ladder to Gary.
Ash: Gary, what's wrong?!
Gary: You're asking me?! I just woke up and I found this thing on my arm!
He then showed the Pokemon to Ash, the two of them seeing it more clearly in the light. It appeared to be a small, monkey-like Pokémon with a green body, a brown tail, brown wedge-shaped ears, and orange hands, feet, and snout. A lime green mask pattern frames its eyes, and extends towards its forehead in a small bump above its snout. It also had two leaves on its head that held a small stick.
Cobalt: What is that?
Ash: I'm not sure. Gary, do you…?
Gary: *facepalms* Duh, Pokedex. *scans Pokemon* Now, let's see who you are.
Pokedex: Grookey, the Chimp Pokémon. A Grass type. When Grookey uses its special stick to strike up a beat, the sound waves produced carry revitalizing energy to the plants and flowers in the area.
Ash: So, it's called a Grookey.
Azula: Hey, I remember Grookey. There was one from where I was born.
Cobalt: Really?
Gary: Hey, now that I see it, I think Grookey is the Grass-type starter here in Galar.
Ash: So if Sobble is Water-type and Scorbunny's Fitre-type, I guess we now know all the Galar starters.
Green: Heh, look at that. Another Grass boi.
However, as Green cheered, Serena had chosen just then to enter the room.
Serena: Is everything okay? I heard Gary yelling.
Cobalt: Everything's okay, Serena. Gary just found a wild Grookey when he woke up.
Serena: Oh…. Did you catch it?
Gary: Me? Catch it? Hmm… Thinking about it now, I really lucked out here.
Ash: Well… I don;t mind.
Serena: I say you've earned it.
Nodding, Gary climbed down from the bed and gently walked over to his bag, pulling out an empty Pokeball.
Gary: Alright, let's do this.
Witha hint of excitement, Gary tapped the ball on the monkey, but suddenly….
Pokeball: IT DOES NOT BELONG TO YOU! DON'T BE A THIEF!
Serena: A-A thief?!
Ash: It's a security measure for the Pokeball. That must mean Grookey belongs to someone else.
Suddenly, the small Grookey began to wake up, now cradled in Gary's arms.
Ash: Hey, he's waking up.
As the little chimp fully awakened, he looked up to see Gary looking down at him with a smile.
Gary: Hey there.
Grookey: Drum.
Cobalt: …..What?
Grookey then proceeded to climb up Gary before perching on his head, where he then proceeded to beat on the boy's head with his stick like a drum.
Grookey: Drum drum drum drum drum drum drum drum!
Gary: Ow ow ow ow ow ow- Stop that!
He then stopped proceeding to jump onto Ash's head and bang his stick on the boy's scalp.
Ash: Ow ow ow- Hey! Knock that off!
Green: Hey, quit banging my trainer's head! *Grookey bangs his head* OW! I didn;t mean hit me, dammit!
The Grookey kept this up before it slowly began to stop, slumping down as Gary caught him, leaving the boy confused before feeling a rumble coming from the little ape's stomach.
Gary: Little guy's running on empty.
Serena: Well, seems like a perfect tie for breakfast.
Green: At least something good will come out of this morning…. Ow, my head.
—-
Later on, Ash and his human friends are seen eating at the Pokemon Cnter's restaurant as the Pokemon chow down on some bowls of Poke Chow. Hoever, Ash immediately grows concerned over the speed Grookey is eating.
Ash: Poor guy, he must've been starving.
Serena: Who in the world could he belong to?
Cobalt: Well, if he showed up in our room while we were sleeping, his trainer should still be somewhere in Hammerlocke.
Still hungry, Grookey reaced over for Kestrel's bowl, who frowned and slides it away from him. Infuriated, Grookey used his stick to smack the bow, sending it into the air and food pellets flying, causing the chimp to laugh.
Kestrel: Hey!
Gary: Grookey, cut that- OW!
The chimp smacked him on the head before giggling and scurrying off, causing more chaos as the group chased after it. After many minutes of hunting it down Gary was finally able to make Grookey settle enough to fall asleep on his arm.
Gary: There we go. Guess you needed to get that energy out. Now… How do we find your trainer?
Ash: If Grookey belongs to somebody, they're bound to be worried.
Serena: *checks PokeNav* I'm checking the local missing reports…. *saddened* None of them say anything about a missing Grookey.
Azula: Now what do we do?
The group brainstormed for a short time, trying to find out how to retrace the Grookey's steps, but that's when Gary got an idea.
Gary: I got it! Cobalt!
Cobalt: Yeah?
Ash: Why do you need Cobalt?
Gary: Ash, Lucario can read people and Pokemon aura, even at the smallest scale. If we can have Cobalt read Grookey's aura…..
Ash: *realizes* We can track down where he came from, of course!
Gary nods in approval as he then lowers his arm with the Grookey to Cobalt.
Gary: Come on, Cobalt. Get a read on him.
Nodding, Cobalt closed his eyes, causing his dreadlocks to float up and glow before walking out the door. The others follow him as he leads the way to the side of the Center, where it shows an open window.
Green: The window was left open last night.
Ash: Well, that explains HOW he got in. But what we're looking for is WHY.
Gary: All the way back to square one….
They then follow Cobalt as he walks throughout the town of Hammerlocke, still following Grookey's aura trail as the chimp Pokemon was now awake.
Cobalt: It's a bit weak. Must've been on the move for a while.
As they passed a large park, the Grookey looked over and chiirped excitedly, hopping off Gary's arm and running off.
Gary: Grookey!
Serena: Where are you going?!
As the Pokemon ran off, a young boy around Ash's age with tan skin and dark purple hair was walking through the park, a white sheep Pokemon hopping alongside him.
Boy: Man, what a nice day out, ey Wooloo?
Wooloo: You can say that again, Hop.
Grookey: Drum!
Suddenly, Grookey popped up, drumming his stick on Wooloo's side, much to the sheep's confusion.
Hop: Hey, a Grookey! Where'd you come from, little guy?
Ash: Grookey!
The group had just caught up to Grookey and the boy, the Grass-type immediately hopping onto Gary's arm.
Gary: Sorry about that.
Hop: No problem, he didn;t do any harm, mate. Is he your's?
Gary: Well…..
He then heard snoring coking from his arm, showing Grookey had once again falen asleep.
Kestrel: He fell asleep again. Man, guy must have a short charge.
The group is then seen taking a break, the Pokemon eating some Pokemon treats Ash had bought earlier as they spoke to the boy while Serena scanned his Pokemon.
Pokedex: Wooloo, the Sheep Pokemon. A Normal type. Its curly fleece is such an effective cushion that this Pokémon could fall off a cliff and stand right back up at the bottom, unharmed. If its fleece grows too long, Wooloo won't be able to move.
Hop: So, you just found that Grookey attached to your arm when you woke up and you don;t know who it belongs to?
Ash: Yeah, we have no idea where he came from or how to find his trainer.
As soon as he was done eating, the Grookey ran up to a wilted flower bed, much to the group's chagrin. However, the chimp then began to drum his stick on the flowerbed.
Grookey: Drum drum drum drum drum drum drum drum!
Suddenly, as the Grokey drummed his stick, energy waves ventured from his stck and hit the flowers, causing them to revitalize.
Serena: Wow….
Green: Woah, would you look at that?
Gary: Oh yeah! The Pokedex said something about Grookey's drumming being able to revitalize plants.
Hop: A lot nicer than you thought, ey?
Gary: Maybe so, Hop… Then again, it could just be playing around.
The little chimp then jumped onto Gary's head and drummed onto it again, causing the older boy to squabble and make him stop as Hop chuckled before walking off with Wooloo after a farewell. Later on, Grookey had once again fallen asleep on Gary's arm as they followed Cobalt. The Lucario ran ahead a few feet, his dreadlocks floating as he stood in front of a store before they stopped.
Cobalt: Huh, that's odd.
Azula: What is it, Cobalt?
Cobalt: The trail stops here.
Ash: Guess we've hit the end of our rope.
Serena: Maybe we can ask the shopclerk.
The group thn entered the shop, where Ash then questioned the cashier on the Grookey.
Cashier: You know, maybe you can find something on the CCTV recordings from last night.
Gary: Can we check them out?
Cashier: *shrugs* Knock yourselves out.
The clerk then stepped aside, allowing the small group to huddle around a laptop displaying four recordings fromlast night. However, the one that caught everyone's attention was the outside cam where a familiar machine fell into view.
Serena: Huh?
Cobalt: You don;t think…
Ash: That's Team Rocket's prize master machine. *to Gary and Serena* I'll explain later.
Back on the recording, a Pokeball then tumbles out of the machine and much to their surprise, Grookey pops out of the Pokeball and runs off just as a Pideotto comes by, puts the ball back inside, and flies off with the machine.
Green: No way…
Gary: So, Grookey…
Ash: Belongs to Team Rocket.
Grookey: *starts waking up* Hmm?
The group then walk outside the store, where Gary sets the Grass-type on the floor.
Gary: Grookey….. Do you really belong to Team Rocket?
Grookey: No! No no no no!
Green: He can;t be in Team Rocket, he seems too young.
Grookey: Hey, no little! I only level 3!
Green: Your point being?
Ash: Calm down, you two. Maybe Grookey has a point. Maybe he really isn;t a Rocket member.
Gary: Makes sense. My guess is Team Rocket caught him when he was just born.
Serena: That's horrible! But what can we do?
Ash: Well…. Maybe we can-
Cobalt: Get down!
Ash was then pushed to the ground by Cobalt as a net narrowly hit them while Green sliced it to ribbons with his arm blades.
Serena: Where did that come from?!
Suddenly, three familiar figures jumped down from above, landing near the group with a smirk. Gary and Serena were confused while Ash and his Pokemon glared at the trio with hate.
Ash: You!
Cassidy: Prepare for trouble...
Butch: ...and make it double!
Both: Here's our mission, so you better listen!
Cassidy: To infect the world with devastation!
Butch: To blight the people in every nation!
Cassidy: To denounce the goodness of truth and love!
Butch: To extend our wrath to the stars above!
Cassidy: Cassidy!
Butch: And Butch, of course!
Cassidy: Team Rocket, circling the Earth all day and night!
Butch: Surrender now for you will surely lose the fight!
Sableye: Got that right!
Gary: …..What?
Ash: Careful, guys. These three are with Team Rocket. *to Cassidy and Butch* Are you two following us like those last guys?
Cassidy: Well, seeing as though your Pokemon seem to be powerful enough to take down our's, we thought it'd be a good idea to take them.
Butch: Along with any rare Galar Pokemon we could find.
Sableye: Yeah, go bundling!
Ash: You're not getting our Pokemon, not if we can help it!
Serena: Yeah!
Cassidy: Well then… Maybe it's about time we put you in your place.
Butch sneered and nodded as he pressed the button on his pager, causing a Pidgeot to cry out and swoop in, dropping off the Prize Master as it then flew off.
Cassidy: Sableye, do your thing!
Sableye: Got it!
The Darkness Pokemoninserted the coin around his neck into the coin slot and turned the dial, only dispensing one Pokeball, which Cassidy took.
Butch: Hey, where's mine?!
Cassidy: No need, Biff. We probably only need this one really strong Pokemon. Now let's see what I got…
As Butch was about to complain about her getting his name wrong, Cassidy threw the Pokeball…. Only for it to simply open and reveal a leaflet.
Butch: What the- It's empty!
Cassidy: *reads lealfet* The Chimp Pokemon, Grookey?
Butch: *spots Grookey* Chimp Pokemon?
Sableye: Wait a minute…. You have our Grookey, don;t you?!
Cobalt/Green/Azula/Kestrel: Uh…. No?
Cassidy: No way that thing is part of Team Rocket. *pivks up Pokeball* So if I point this ball at it and say "Grookey, return", it'd go "Clin-clin-clin and click" back into-
Suddenly, a beam came forth from the Pokeball, recalling the now fleeing Grookey back inside much to Casidy's surprise.
Cassidy: …Here?
Sableye: Told ya!
Gary: Grookey!
Seeing the boy's reaction, Cassidy gave an evil smirk as she then threw the Pokeball again, releasing Grookey.
Cassidy: Alright, Grookey, show these brats business! Use Branch Poke!
However, instead of listening, Grookey just frowned, crossed his arms and looked away.
Grookey: No!
Cassidy: Wha…? *growls* Then use Slam!
Grookey: *shakes head* No!
Butch: It ain't listening to you, Cass!
Cassidy: I can see that!
Serena: Don;t you get it, you witch?! Grookey's not gonna listen to you because he doesn't like you! If anything, he really belongs to Gary!
Gary: Is… Is that true, Grookey? You wanna be my Pokemon?
The little monkey nodded and smiled at the boy, excitement building up from the little guy.
Cassidy: Complain all you want, but as long as I have your Pokeball, you're mine! Well just have to send you back to Matori, she'll set you straight.
Cassidy then tried to recall Grookey, only for him to jump out of the way of the beam. She was about to try again, but Gary tackled the woman, fighting against her as he then ripped the ball out of her grasp and threw it.
Gary: Ash!
Ash: Right! Cobalt, use Force Palm!
Cobalt slammed his paw into the ball, shattering the ball and releasing Grookey from its hold. Smiling, Gary got out a Pokeball.
Gary: Alright, Grookey, let's do this for real. *throws Pokeball* Go, Pokeball!
Cassidy: Oh no you don't! *throws Pokeball* You're mine!
As the two balls careened towards Grookey, the Chimp Pokemon frowned and used his stick to whack Cassidy's ball away before letting himself get sucked into Gary's. Th ball rocked only twice before locking.
Ash: Alright!
Green: Way to go, Gare!
Cassidy: *growls* …This isn;t over, brat! We'll be back! *to Butch* Butch!
Nodding, the man threw something onto the ground, eliciting a smoke cloud to appear and cover the area, allowing the three to escape.
Serena: They're gone…
Ash: Don;t worry. We'll get them next time.
Gary: And more importantly, I got Grookey out of that hellhole of a Team.
He then opened the ball, releasing Grookey, who chiddered and smiled before climbing onto the boy's shoulder and nuzzling his face.
Gary: *chuckles* Good to have ya, Grookey.
Ash: Hey, guys, let's get going. The train station's not too far from here, if we hurry, we can make it to the one heading to Circhester!
Nodding, the others quickly follow Ash and his released Pokemon as they run to the train station, where Serena's next Pokemon Contest for the Contest World Tour lies in wait. But the only question is, "Can she truly win this one"?
TO BE CONTINUED…..
—-
Ash's Team
Lucario: Cobalt
Sceptile: Green
Alakazam: Psi
Gengar: Yami
Charizard: Aidan
Inteleon: Azula
Togetic: Kestrel
Lycanroc *Dusk form*: Hunter
Marowak: Kabu
Dracovish: Jaws
Rotom: Sparky (at Oak's lab)
Umbreon *shiny*: Blacky (at home)
Serena's Team
Fennekin: Kyubi
Murkrow: Lucky
Oshawott: Oliver
Gary's Team
Blastoise
Jolteon
Arctozolt
Grookey
