"I'm not saying no to doing this guys." Ash said.
"But you are saying you don't want to go, which is the same thing." Wally said.
"It's not that I don't want to go, it's that I can't." Ash said.
"It's being held at a Pokemon Gym, how can you not go?" Brendan asked. "And it's also just a class on grass types, you have a Grovyle, an incredibly rare and powerful grass type."
"Guys I'm banned from the Celadon Gym for life." Ash said.
"How'd you get banned for life?" Brendan asked.
"I'd rather not talk about it." Ash said.
"Well what about a disguise?" Wally asked.
"No that's how that started last time." Ash said, shuddering at the memory.
"What about magic?" Brendan asked. "More elaborate than a normal disguise."
"Not happening. You haven't had a great track record with using magic around me." Ash said.
"Look, it's been four years, I doubt they'd even care anymore." Wally said.
"I wouldn't put money on it." Ash sighed.
Inside the gym
"Loom!"
A green blur shot right between Wally and Brendan, launching Ash back out of the gym.
"Owww." Ash groaned.
"What are you doing?! You're still banned!" A girl said angrily.
"I know!" Ash said. "You didn't need to attack me though!"
"If you know then why are you here?" The girl demanded.
"They wanted to come not me." Ash said, pointing at Brendan and Wally.
"We're innocent I swear!" Brendan panicked, seeing the Breloom get back up.
"That's what the last ones said." The girl said angrily.
"Rose, stop!" A woman called out.
"Oh I've never been so glad to hear your voice Erika." Ash said happily falling backwards onto the ground.
"I'm not here to protect you Ashton." Erika said. "But a minor league champion isn't one to be turned away."
"Sweet." Brendan said.
"Yeah, I'm just gonna go." Ash groaned.
"Ash, come on." Wally begged.
"Wally, you heard them. I'm not welcome in there." Ash said. "You guys have fun, I'm going to work on a new appeal."
Later high up in the city
"Alright Swablu, let's give this a shot." Ash said.
"Blu." Swablu said, idly sitting on Ash's head.
"Use Heal Bell!"
"Blu Blu. Blu Blu." Swablu said, chirping along merrily.
"Yeah I didn't think that would work too well either." Ash admitted.
"Hey you, stop that thief!" A man shouted towards Ash.
"A thief? Up here?!" Ash said, seeing something rush towards them. "Swablu use Peck!"
Swablu dove at the speeding target, only to get swiped at, leaving some claw marks running across their face.
"What was that thing?" Ash asked, as the man ran up.
"A Meowth, I think." The man said. "I've never gotten a good look at it, but its always up to no good."
"Meowth? What are Team Rocket stealing this time?" Ash asked out loud.
"I don't think it's Team Rocket kid. If they're stealing from me, all they're getting is a roll a day." The man sighed. "You know it's not that I'm angry at the critter. I'd be more than happy to leave some out for it, I'm really just worried."
"And you think it's a Meowth?" Ash asked.
"Not too many Pokemon with claws like that." The man said.
"I wonder where they ran off too?" Ash asked, seeing there was no rooftop close to them that the Pokemon could have run too.
Back at the gym
"So if you don't mind me asking, why is Ash banned for life?" Brendan asked.
"Terrorist attack." Rose said angrily.
"Rose!" Erika scolded. "While she isn't necessarily wrong, that isn't the full truth. Your friend Ash insulted our line of perfume, and when he tried to come in to challenge the gym, some of the girls kicked him back out."
"But Ash was a registered challenger, they didn't have any right to kick him out." Brendan defended. "Or be banned!"
"And if he had brought that up, I would have made the same point and allowed him a gym battle, but not entry to my class." Erika said. "Instead he teamed up with Team Rocket, creating a disguise to make him look like a girl, and them like her parents."
"I mean it seems childish, but not terrible." Wally said. "He was ten just like we are."
"The problem was he burnt down the gym!" Rose exclaimed.
"Rose enough! Go back to manning the front desk!" Erika demanded. "Yes, Ash's actions resulted in the destruction of our gym, and loss of a lot of product." Erika said. "And while he did the right thing in the end, risking his own self for the sake of one of my Pokemon, he still has to be punished for helping Team Rocket get into the gym in the first place."
"I'm sorry, he didn't tell us." Brendan apologized.
"It's fine. I'm sure it's not his proudest moment to bring up." Erika said calmly. "But his choices do not reflect onto others. You both are more than welcome to join my class today." Erika said, leading them into the garden, while taking a mental note of what Ash said when he left.
Back in upper Celadon
"Come on, where'd you go?" Ash asked, looking around the rooftop.
"Pi." Pikachu said, sniffing around and finding an opening into a shed on the roof.
"What'd you find Pikachu?" Ash asked, opening the door the rest of the way.
"Mrow!" A cry was heard, as things moved rapidly and shakily.
"Whoa!" Ash said, grabbing a few tools that almost fell on him. "Seriously, who keeps a rake and shovel on a roof?"
"Did you find something kid?" The man asked.
"Yeah, it's in here." Ash said, reaching into his bag. "If they're stealing rolls, maybe they're hungry."
"And you think those will fill them?" The man asked, seeing Ash pop out a few Pokeblocks.
"Haven't met a Pokemon who doesn't like them yet." Ash said, placing a few on the ground.
After a few moments, a cat like Pokemon came out from behind the clutter, sniffing the Pokeblocks before hesitantly eating one.
"Well, it's definitely not a Meowth." Ash commented, noting the spring like tail on the Pokemon.
"Blu." Swablu said, looking angrily at the Pokemon.
"Relax, she was probably starving before we came along." Ash said. "Here, have one yourself."
"Blu." Swablu said, plucking the Pokeblock from Ash's palm, knowing it had gotten what it was after.
"Mrow." The Pokemon meowed, looking at Ash.
"Yeah, hold on." Ash sighed, only to notice his Pokeblock case was empty. "Okay, no need to get angry."
The cat Pokemon lunged at Swablu, who swallowed the Pokeblock whole, before rising out of the way of the attack.
"Ow!" Ash yelped, feeling the claws dig into his shoulders. "I said I was sorry!"
"Mrow!" The Pokemon cried out, leaping at Swablu, only to get buried in the supplies.
"I can't just leave them like this." Ash said, digging the Pokemon out.
"What are you going to so then?" The man asked.
"At least take them to Nurse Joy, maybe they can tell me what Pokemon this is." Ash said. "And maybe where I can make Pokeblocks here in the city."
Back at the gym
"Over here is our berry garden, one of the biggest prides of the Celadon Gym." Erika explained to the group.
"Woah, this is even more well maintained than the Berry Master's farm." Wally commented.
"Interesting you should mention him. The irrigation and harvesting techniques we use here are based on his own styles on his farm." Erika explained. "We even have an off site location where you can purchase berries to make snacks for your Pokemon."
"Man, if only Ash could go there, he'd be in heaven." Wally commented.
"Ash took up gardening?" Erika asked in surprise.
"No, but he's a master when it comes to Pokeblocks." Wally said. "He knows just how to combine them for ultimate satisfaction."
"Interesting." Erika commented.
Back in the city proper
"Okay, Nurse Joy said that this entire store was for selling berries and making Pokeblocks." Ash said, walking up to the building.
"You!" Rose exclaimed.
"How many places do you work!" Ash shouted.
"I was demoted to berry shop duty because of you!" Rose said angrily.
"I haven't done anything in four years!" Ash argued. "Besides I'm here as a paying customer!"
"Likely story." Rose commented.
"I ran out of Pokeblocks and was told I can make more here." Ash commented, pulling out enough money to buy two crates of berries.
"Wait you're really here as a customer?" Rose asked. "No schemes or plots at all?"
"None whatsoever, I just want to refil my case." Ash said, pulling out his Pokeblock case.
"Well, I suppose Pokeblocks are better with help from another trainer." Rose sighed. "And you aren't technically banned from here."
"So I can stay?" Ash asked.
"As long as you continue making Pokeblocks today." Rose said.
"Then lets get started." Ash said.