Last time on "Pokemon: The Heart of the Cards"...

Gary has returned to challenge Ash again, only this time he's prepared with what he thinks is a foolproof plan: battle Ash's Pokemon with a spooky array of Ghost Pokemon. In fact, his lineup does more than scare the Pokemon, it even scares the audience!

But Ash sees through Gary's ghostly ploy, and defeats him again to claim the rare Rayquaza lv. 50!

Now, Ash and co. decide to take a moment and enjoy their hard fought victory!

What awaits our heroes today? Find out!

The Heart of the Cards, part 31: Opening Night Jitters

"Good morning, you guys..." Maya called as she and Michael entered the room, where Ash was playing with Pikachu, Misty was reading Togepi a story, and Brock was just finishing up preparing the morning meal: biscuits.

"Morning..." Ash called. "What brings you both here to wake us? Is there a challenge?"

"No, this is different..." Michael began as he sat down at the table. "Maya and I are in charge of planning this year's Summer Dream Festival....a two week long event filled with shows, exhibits, crafts, and other events..."

"Our dillema..." Maya continued as she too sat down at the table next to Michael. "is that the act that was going to perform in tonight's opening show had a conflict, so they can't play...so now we don't have any show to open the festival with! Many people look foward to the Summer Dream Festival every year, and we can't have it without an opening show!"

"I'll do it!" Brock laughed. "I could tell my best jokes and sing my best songs...all while strumming on guitar..." he mused as he set a platter piled high with fresh biscuits on the table.

"The only problem is...do you have enough material to last for a whole evening?" Misty asked.

"Let's see, how long is this show supposed to theoretically last?" Brock asked. "I could open with some jokes and stories from our travels, then sing a little--both solo and accompanied by guitar, then invite the audience to sing with me, then do some solo guitar playing..."

"...and you'd still be an hour short." Misty sighed. "I know you have a huge repetoire of songs, but do you think the audience would get bored after hearing you sing for hours?"

"So? If I got bored with the guitar, I could switch to the fiddle!" Brock protested.

"NOOOO!!!!" the others begged.

"We've heard you play..." Maya sighed.

"Why don't we all put on a variety show?" Ash suggested. Everyone glanced at Ash, eager to know more. "See, Brock could tell his jokes and sing, I could play my Pokeflute and dance....

"I'd dance, too!" Misty joined in. "Plus, I could tell a few jokes..."

"Yeah!" Michael cried. "We could get other people involved!"

"That's great!" Maya laughed. "I'll put an ad in the paper--auditions for Summer Dream Festival; inquire at the Titian Arts Center..."

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"So...how did the auditions go?" Misty asked as Michael and Brock collapsed on the couch, exhausted.

"Tiring..." Michael groaned.

"We did have a few interesting acts, though..." Brock assured Misty. "The day started with a kids' choir...they sang this really pretty song--which put Michael to sleep..."

"Then after that, we had a few more singers..." Michael continued. "Including this one girl who sang an original song called 'Isn't It Wonderful?'"

"She did really well..." Brock commented.

"Next came a girl with a group of Treecko acrobats...they were amazing!" Michael smiled. "All in all, we had so many great acts, it's going to be hard to choose which ones will perform..."

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A few days later...

"Here we are, guys!" Maya announced as the group walked inside the backstage area of the Titian Arts Center. "This is the backstage area..."

"Wow..." The others were impressed by the array of dressing rooms, props, and other items scattered throughout the area...

"We get to wear these???" Ash cried, holding up a sparkling purple jacket and a golden gown with a red and green layer underneath.

"Aren't I gorgeous?" Misty smiled, modeling a blue gown and feather boa. Ash snickered knowing he had probably been outdone...or Brock was about to come up with the craziest outfit in the world...

"How do I look?" Brock laughed as he modeled a brown trench coat and a fedora hat.

"Like a detective..." Maya mused. "but I think what we really need to be doing is rehearsing and setting up, not trying on costumes..."

"And if you DO need to try on costumes, only try on the ones you think you'll wear in the show..." Michael chided. With that, the group set to work checking lights, cleaning the backstage area, shepherding the other performers inside, and testing the sound...

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"Okay..." Brock sighed as he finished setting up the last wire mike, then pressing the button on his own mike. "Testing, testing, one, two...can you hear me okay up there, Michael?"

"Loud and clear!" Michael called back from the sound booth. "All the mikes are on, and functioning!

"Great!" Brock smiled as he triggered the video screen. "Next on the agenda...screen test!" At this, the image of Brock on the stage appeared on the screen...only in an oddly colored and twisted form.

"How is it down there?" Michael called from the sound and video booth.

Brock looked up at his red-green-orange-yellow-blue likeness on the screen and winced. "Whoa...did I just walk onto another planet or something? Everything looks all weird and fuzzy, like a horror movie...I can see it now...'The Gym Leader That Wouldn't Die'" At this, Michael played a thunder sound effect, followed by a scream.

"Well, at least the sound effects are working..." Ash laughed as he walked onstage, only to look up at his wildly colored self on the screen and gasp "What the..."

"Technical difficulty..." Michael assured everyone as he adjusted the video settings...until the colors began to disappear and return to normal. "There..."

"Perfect!" Ash flashed a thumbs up at Michael, then returned backstage.

"How's this for an emcee's outfit?" Maya asked, modeling a pinstripe shirt and small hat...but before Brock could answer, a great crash came from backstage followed by choruses of 'Gotta catch'em all, gotta catch'em all, yeah!', and running feet.

"What happened?" Michael called.

"Kylee's here with her Treeckos...and they're getting into--yipe!--everything!" Misty called from backstage as she struggled to catch a pile of costumes that were tumbling to the floor. No sooner had she gotten the costumes back on the shelf, a Treecko pushed them off, back onto Misty!

"Ooooh..." Misty grumbled as she threw off the costumes and joined Ash and Kylee in chasing the mischevious Treeckos. "Come back here!"

"Gotta catch'em all, gotta catch'em all, yeah!" the Treecko called back.

"Gotta catch'em all, gotta catch'em all, yeah!" chorused the other Treeckos as they skittered about the backstage area.

Ash sighed. "Remind me not to rehearse the PokeRap in front of Pokemon that mimic..."

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Several hours later...

"Nervous?" Ash asked Maya as he led her out towards the auditorium entrance, where a standing room only crowd had gathered.

"Yeah..." Maya replied. "You go on and direct the audience inside, I'll be getting ready..."

"Okay..." and Ash stepped outside and addressed the crowd. "Hi, everyone! It's good to see all of you here tonight...before we get started, there are a few things for you to be aware of: First..." Just then, an odd beeping noise resonated through the crowd, causing some to stare...

"Sorry..." a boy stammered as he struggled to turn his cell phone off.

"Anyway...if you have a cell phone or pager, please turn them off or put them on vibrate, please." Ash began. He waited as some people in the crowd began shuffling around in their bag and purses for their cell phones, followed by bleeps and bloops of power being turned off. "Next, if you have babies or small children, please take them outside if they start to get fussy...and finally, when we open up, please try and enter the theater in an orderly fashion." At this, the auditorium doors swung open, and the crowd rushed inside--nearly trampling Ash in the process.

"Ready?" Misty smiled as she escorted Ash backstage.

"Ow..." was Ash's only reply...

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The crowd cheered as a steady drum beat began playing over the speakers, and a troupe of dancers an a wide array of colorful costumes appeared, swaying and swirling with the music...

Ee-ay-ah-ei... the girls sang.

Hunnn... the boys continued, making a drone for the girls.

Ee-ay-ah-ei... the girls continued, stepping to one side to reveal a stairway...where Maya appeared in a spotlight. The dancers gave Maya a flourish as she jogged to the stage front, waving to the crowd.

"Thank you, and welcome to the Summer Dream Festival!" Maya began. "We have a great show planned for you tonight, one filled with music, dancing, drama, and some of our own local talent! But without your help, we wouldn't be able to do this...so again, I thank you and hope you'll enjoy the show!"

Ee-ay-ah-ei... the girl dancers continued as Maya walked toward stage left, where she reappeared after a few moments.

"Now...I'd like to introduce a few friends of mine..." Maya began, as the girl dancers began a new chant: Pata Pata, Pata Pata... "First is the undisputed queen of Water Pokemon, Misty!"

Pata Pata, Pata Pata... the boys joined in.

Come on everybody, let's all sing 'Pata Pata', oh-ooh-ooh-oh... the girls sang, with the boys still singing Pata Pata, Pata Pata... in the background...

"Hi!" Misty called to the crowd as she ran onstage. "It's great to see you all here tonight! Are you enjoying this song?" The crowd cheered. "Okay! Now it's you guys' turn to sing with us! Your part is easy, just keep singing 'Pata Pata', okay? Let's try it!" She waited as the music began again, then joined in the boys' chant of "Pata Pata, Pata Pata...Pata Pata, Pata Pata...Pata Pata, Pata Pata... Now you guys try it!"

Pata Pata, Pata Pata... chanted the audience. Pata Pata, Pata Pata...

Come on everybody, let's all sing 'Pata Pata', oh-ooh-ooh-oh... the dancers continued to sing over the chant of Pata Pata, Pata Pata... They applauded as Misty left the stage, causing the spotlight to appear on Maya again.

"All right!" Maya called. "Next is the rockin' master of Rock Pokemon...here's Brock!" The audience applauded as the music suddenly turned tropical...and the dancers began singing Más que nada, más más que nada....

"Samba... some dancers chorused.

Más que nada, más más que nada.... sang the other dancers as they gestured to the stairway again, which now had a set of a beach behind it...

"Hello out there!" Brock called to the audience as he descended the stairway. "Don't you just LOVE this island beat?"

"YEAH!!!" cheered the audience.

"I do too...makes me just wanna dance along with the dancers!" Brock laughed, twirling a little to illustrate his point. "In fact...sing with me now! Just repeat after me..." and he joined in the chant of Más que nada, más más que nada, más que nada, más más que nada...

Samba... some dancers sang.

"Help me here!" Brock announced before continuing his chant of más que nada, más más que nada...

Más que nada, más más que nada... the audience joined in. Más que nada, más más que nada...más que nada, más más que nada....más que nada, más más que nada....

"I can't hear you..." Brock replied to the audience in a sing song voice, causing the audience to half-scream más que nada, más más que nada... The audience continued the chant as Brock slipped offstage, making Maya reappear in her spotlight.

"Yeah!" Maya called as the music changed to another tropical beat. "Finally, one of my greatest pupils, multi-instrumentalist, dancer extrordinaire, and budding Pokemon Master...give it up for the one and only Ash!"

Iko...iko... chanted the dancers as Ash jogged onstage to the cheers of the crowd. Iko, iko...iko!

Iko...iko...iko, iko...iko! the boy dancers began.

Iko...iko...iko, iko...iko! the girl dancers echoed.

"Hey, guys!" Ash called to the crowd. "Enjoying yourselves so far?" Cheers erupted from the audience. "Great! Now, it's my turn to give you guys a chant...it goes 'iko iko'. I'll do it a few times to get you started..."

Iko...iko...iko, iko...iko! the dancers chanted.

Iko...iko...iko, iko...iko! Ash joined in with the dancers. Iko...iko...iko, iko...iko! Iko...iko...iko, iko...iko!...now it's your turn!

Iko...iko...iko, iko...iko! chanted the audience yet again. Iko...iko...iko, iko...iko!....

Iko...iko...iko, iko...iko! Iko...iko...iko, iko...iko! Iko...iko...iko, iko...iko! Ash chanted a few times before he too slipped offstage, allowing the dancers to dance solo...

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The crowd cheered as Ash, Misty and Brock returned to the stage. "All right!" Everybody clap your hands!" Misty commanded as a rock beat began playing over the speakers.

"We just wanna see just how well you know your Pokemon..." Brock smiled. "so pay attention! Here we go...." and the music picked up as he danced offstage.

I want to be the best there ever was.
To beat all the rest, yeah that's my cause... Misty sang as she danced across the stage.

"Electrode, Diglett, Nidoran, Mankey, Venusaur, Rattata, Fearow, Pidgey, Seaking, Jolteon, Dragonite, Gastly, Ponyta, Vaporeon, Poliwrath, Butterfree..." Ash chanted, each Pokemon he named flashing on the screen behind him and the dancers.

Catch 'em, catch 'em, gotta catch 'em all...Pokémon! sang some dancers.

I'll search across the land, look far and wide,
release from my hand the power that's inside... Misty continued, holding a Poke Ball in the air to prove her point.

Ash began listing more Pokemon: "Venomoth, Poliwag, Nidorino, Golduck, Ivysaur, Grimer, Victreebel, Moltres, Nidoking, Farfetch'd, Abra, Jigglypuff, Kingler, Rhyhorn, Clefable, Wigglytuff..."

"Gotta catch'em all, gotta catch'em all, yeah!" called the dancers.

"Gotta catch'em all, gotta catch'em all, yeah!" the Treeckos echoed as they skittered on the stage.

"Huh?" Misty was confused. "It's not even time for the Tumble Treeckos yet!"

"Yeah!" Ash grumbled, annoyed that his PokeRap had been spoiled. "Go on, Treeckos, shoo!" he called, leading the Treeckos backstage.

"Gotta catch'em all, gotta catch'em all, yeah!" the Treeckos chanted, paying no heed to Ash's call as they romped about the stage. The dancers stopped and watched, agape, as Ash tried to shoo the Treeckos backstage.

"Okay guys...let's calm down..." Brock called as he came onstage, piqued by the commotion. However, he was ignored as the music to the PokeRap kept playing over the speakers, complete with pictures of Pokemon flashing on the screen in the places where Ash was supposed to be rapping. "Hello...I said calm down..." he tried again, this time a little more stern. The dancers took their leave from the stage, leaving only Ash and Misty to chase the Treeckos.
"Can you tell the sound operator to turn the music off?" Misty begged. "I don't think we're going to get the PokeRap done..."

"Hey!" Brock called up to the sound booth. "I...want....QUIET!!!!!" At this, the music turned off, the Treeckos hurried offstage, and Ash came to a screeching halt in his tracks, wondering if Brock was going to yell at him.

"Well?" Ash asked, returning to his place next to Brock.

Brock smiled, apparently enjoying the total silence in the auditorium. "Thank you...now, to make up for being so rudely interrupted...how would you like to hear some solo talent?" The audience cheered with excitement. "Okay...just to be a bit more specific...how would you like to hear a Pokeflute solo?" Even louder cheers came from the audience as Ash slipped offstage for a moment, then returned carrying his Pokeflute. "This little number is an original composition of Ash's entitled 'Rolling Thunder, Rising Hero'...enjoy." With that, Brock left the stage, and the lights dimmed, save for a single spotlight on Ash.

Ash nervously sighed, lifted his instrument to his lips, and began a soft and haunting melody...

Oh...ei-ah-un-da-o... some vocals echoed back.

Ash repeated the same melody, only this time with a few flourishes and trills.

Oh...ei-ah-un-da-o... replied the vocals. Ash took that as a sign to continue, so he continued his song, with the vocals softly singing behind him as a backup: Oh...ei-ah-un-da-o, o-do-do, ei-ah-un-da-o...hai...ei-ah-un-da-o....o-do-do, hai di di do, oh-ooh-oh...

"Wow..." Misty whispered as she choked back tears. "I never knew the Pokeflute could sound this beautiful..."

"Yeah..." Maya agreed as she brushed away tears...

When Ash had finished, the entire auditorium had fallen completely silent, save for the sniffling of people fighting back tears. Wow...I never knew they liked my flute so much... he thought...He was about to return to his place on the stage until applause begin to drift through the auditorium; softly at first, then gradually getting louder until the noise was the deafening roar of a standing ovation.

"Great!" Maya smailed as she applauded.

Just then, the audience began to chant "Encore! Encore!..."

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"Whew...what a night..." Brock sighed as he trudged in the kitchen the next morning.

"Weren't Kylee and her Treeckos amazing?" Michael smiled to Maya. "I mean; they did a pyramid, and awesome flips..."

"They were, but Ash and his Pokeflute were probably the highlight of my evening." Maya smiled as she got some toast for herself and settled in at the table. "You know guys...I can't express how much I owe you for saving the Summer Dream Festival..."

"The pleasure's all ours!" Brock laughed. Everyone else laughed as well as they continued to enjoy their breakfast...

What lies ahead for the Pokepals? Stay tuned!