Hello! I'm sure you're looking forward to reading this chapter! Though it took me a week and two days to plan it out, this'll be worth your time! I don't own any characters of Pokemon except my own. Enjoy!
Chapter 45: Lights, Camera, Quack-tion
"So Angel, where are we heading today?" Jeremy asked, walking along side the young girl as she rode her shiny blue bicycle.
Away from home and hiking down a dirt road, Angelina and Jeremy take stand on a cliff viewing a huge campground site. They can finally start their training for the Pokemon League at Indigo Plateau. Unless of course, something more interesting comes along.
"Don't know about you, but I'll just let the world surprise me because I'm ready for anything." Angelina smiled in confidence.
Once camp was set up and after they finished their lunch, Angelina scanned the area where she and Jeremy picked. It wasn't far from the trail, and there was a lake nearby.
"Perfect!"
"Ready for a couple practice battles?" Jeremy offered, spinning a Pokeball on his finger.
"Sure, be afraid to lose though," Angelina smiled acceptingly. "You know how good I am."
"Is that so?" Jeremy smirked; he walked into the grass and gave his space for the battle. "We'll see if you're right." He pulled back his arm to throw the Pokeball, but stopped suddenly in panic. "Oh no, he's here!"
"Who?" Angelina asked.
"My uncle, I got an email stating he'd be around this area." Jeremy sighed, pointing over his best friend's shoulder.
Angelina turned in the mentioned direction, her hazel eyes scanning the group of people. "I still don't know what you're- hey, Ash is here, too!"
"Great," Jeremy groaned in worry. "Now he'll try to help my uncle."
Angelina felt really concerned for her best friend. "You don't sound so thrilled. What does your uncle do?"
"My mother and Cleavon are un-identical twin siblings, they had different interests and hobbies growing up. Cleavon always acted out plays and watched movies, promised himself he'd become a famous movie director. Mother loved Pokemon dearly, and she delved into the study of breeding and researching at Celadon University, same place where she met and fell in love with my father." Jeremy explained. "Five years after I was born, my parents were killed on an expedition trip. If Cleavon was on my parents' will about taking care of me instead of my grandparents..."
"Then you would've been very famous in Hollywood and we might have never met!" Angelina finished, feeling very grateful that for what she had in her life.
"Well we would've ran into each other anyways," Jeremy said, thinking of their other friends. "I'd also have the same interest that my parents hoped I'd grow up to be, a great Pokemon trainer."
"And without you, I might've not been inspired to continue my dream also." Angelina added, placing an assuring hand on his shoulder. "You've taught me never to give up on anything I want to achieve in life."
Jeremy laughed half-heartedly. "Thanks, I'm flattered."
"What are friends for?" Angelina returned the smile.
Both trainers walked across the grass toward a group of people standing around. There was one person talking up a storm and waving his arms about dramatically. A short and burly black-haired man wearing a red long sleeved jacket, black bowtie, dark blue circular sunglasses, and a grayish-purple beret.
"What's Team Rocket doing here?" Jeremy said cautiously, spotting Jessie and James.
"Oh my gosh, no way!" Angelina gasped, her hazel eyes lit up in pure excitement. "I knew your uncle sounded familiar from somewhere! He directed that awesome movie I love!"
"'I know what you ate last Tuesday'?" Jeremy grimaced as his friend nodded happily. "Yeah, that's the movie, but it lost millions at the box office."
"Whoa, that's horrible!" Angelina sweatdropped in pity. "So what's your uncle doing here- in the middle of nowhere?"
"Don't know really." Jeremy shrugged. "Let's find out."
They stood not too far from a young teenage girl named Katrina. She had dark green hair in pigtails and was also a Pokemon trainer.
"I've been conducting a talent search for some fresh new faces to star in my latest film." Schpielbunk explained, which got Team Rocket's hopes up to think they could be famous.
"That sounds like fun! Is that why you don't wanna help?" Angelina giggled as Jeremy's face turned bright red.
"Keep quiet." Jeremy hissed a little too loud, for the movie director had heard him.
"Jeremy, what a surprise!" Schpielbunk exclaimed, pulling the blonde boy forward by his arm. "You're a true blue nephew, I just knew my email wasn't being ignored. So will you help me?"
"I'd like to, but uh-" Jeremy looked about quickly and then pulled Angelina toward him and had his arm around her waist. "I'm helping this girl train for the upcoming Pokemon League!"
"Well is that so?" Schpielbunk chuckled as he patted Jeremy on the back in encouragement. "All right, you go have fun training with your pretty girlfriend."
"Huh? B-but she's j-just my friend." Jeremy stammered, his face turning red again.
"And I'm very glad to hear that, now back to business." Schpielbunk waved dismissively. "My movie is a love story, but it has lot's of action and plenty of suspense! And here's a sneak preview! The star of my film will be Wigglytuff!" he introduced a pink bunny-like Pokemon with long pointed ears and a puffy pink swirled hair-style on its head.
"Wiggly!" the Pokemon blushed. Angelina took out her Pokedex to identify the Pokemon.
"Wigglytuff, the Balloon Pokemon. Its soft and supple skin allows it to expand like a balloon. When angered, it inhales and inflates itself steadily."
"How sweet!" Angelina cooed, kneeling down to admire the Pokemon. "Very good taste for choice of movie actress, Mr. Schpielbunk."
"Thank you, my dear." the film director beamed proudly.
"Yous gotta be kidding to use Wigglytuff, the movie is gonna be a snooze fest! Ha-ha!" Meowth laughed.
"Now that's mean!" Angelina yelled, watching the feline Pokemon being Double-Slapped by Wigglytuff.
"I'm star struck!" Meowth cried, its eyes had swirls and fell to the ground.
"With a Double-Slap Attack like that, I wouldn't step on Wigglytuff's lines." Brock chuckled and knelt down to the Pokemon. "Just look at that face, it's hard to believe something so cute can be such a brute."
"Oh no," Angelina said, watching Brock get slapped around repeatedly by Wigglytuff. She shook her head as the pink Pokemon walked off. "Worse than me, I'll say."
"A real prima donna." Jessie agreed.
"Takes one to know one." Misty muttered.
"Huh? Know one what?" Jessie pondered in confusion, while James caught on and sweatdropped.
"Abra was going to co-star, but Wigglytuff was too tough, and Abra teleported off the set. So now I have to find another Pokemon to co-star in the movie with Wigglytuff." Schpielbunk explained. "This movie will be seen by millions, the Pokemon I cast is going to become a major motion-picture star!"
"Oh Jeremy, can we help?" Angelina pleaded, tugging on his shirt. "Let's skip the training today, there'll be plenty of time later."
"Well I don't know." Jeremy said, not having much of an interest to assist his uncle, though it was difficult to refuse Angelina when she was pouting in innocence. He sighed and nodded. "All right, we can help."
"Yay! Thank you!" Angelina cheered and gave her friend a big hug, not noticing the slight blush on his face. "This'll be fun, huh Cocoa?"
"Pi, pichu!" Pichu agreed. (Lottsa fun)
People were standing around the outdoor performance stage awaiting the auditions of Cleavon Schpielbunk's new movie.
"There's no way I'm doing this." Jeremy muttered as other trainers brought out their Pokemon.
"C'mon Jeremy, you promised!" Angelina whined, she then resumed to choosing a Pokemon. "Well I can't pick Sparkette since there's another Raichu already. Flower is too shy, and Charcoal and Shadow are not the romantic types. So maybe Spritz?"
"Pi-pichu-chu, piii-chu!" Pichu jumped up and down. (You've forgotten me, Mommy)
"Sorry sweetie. With too many electric Pokemon, I don't wanna cause any problems." Angelina smiled in appology. "And I'm sure we don't want that, right Cocoa?"
"Pi?" Pichu blinked in confusion, she looked up at the stage and pouted longingly to join the others. "Chu." (Huh? Guess so)
"Oh Cocoa, if there's another audition, you can attend next time. I promise." Angelina assured the little electric Pokemon with a gentle hug, then her eyes scanned the Pokemon on stage. She was sitting on a wooden bench in the back, but stood up and made her way toward the front.
"Pi-pichu?" Pichu peered up at her trainer curiously. (Where we going)
"You'll see." Angelina smiled, now standing beside the director's chair with a clear view of the Pokemon on stage. There was a Doduo, Tauros, Hitmonlee, Pikachu, Raichu, Vulpix, Psyduck, Arbok, Weezing, and Meowth. "Good luck, Meowth!" she waved.
"Huh?" Meowth stared at the girl curiously and realized she wasn't just one of the twerps. "Oh tanks, sweetcheeks!" he waved back.
"So what's your name? And how do you know my nephew so well?" Schpielbunk asked, making the girl jump slightly.
"I'm Angelina, I met Jeremy three years ago on my first Pokemon journey in Johto. We've been great friends ever since, and now his cousin April Jettison is engaged to my step-cousin Marcus Trainum." Angelina explained diligently.
"The Jettisons' of Ecruteak City, what a fine choice indeed." Schpielbunk agreed proudly, then grinned as a white light glinted off his black glasses. "Now is your Pokemon auditioning? I'll be sure to keep an eye on them."
"It's not a bother, Mr. Schpielbunk." Angelina assured gently. "There's too many on stage already, and I doubt mine would have a chance."
"Very well then," Schpielbunk nodded, and then he said loudly, "My star has to do more than act! Okay, start the music!" and with that said, the Pokemon Dance Remix blared through the stage speakers. "A real star's gotta be able to dance too!"
The journey's just begun
(Pokemon-mon-mon)
The more the better
(Pokemon-mon-mon)
Team Rocket's on the run
(Pokemon-mon-mon )
We're friends forever
You've got the power
Right in your hands
They'll evolve before your eyes
A world of magic
At your command
You can be a master if you try
Meowth grins, "I'm dancing!" he yelled confidently and starts off with some tap dancing moves.
"Arbok don't just float there! Break dance with your Wrap Attack!" Jessie ordered.
"Weezing, turn your Tackle into a Tango!" James said.
Pikachu and Raichu were doing a ballroom-tango dance, Arbok spinning about, Weezing and Vulpix were jumping and bouncing, then a Hitmonlee was moving his legs up and down.
"Way to go!" Angelina cheered, she looked over her shoulder to see Jeremy watching her sternly. She giggles, "Its ok, Jer, really. Just having some fun!"
Jeremy sighed at his friend's enthusiasm, then smiles, "I know, Uncle Cleavon looks estatic."
"I've narrowed the competition to these seven Pokemon!" Schpielbunk announced. "Pikachu and Raichu!"
"Yeah!" Ash cheered with Katrina.
"Arbok and Weezing!"
"Lucky!" Angelina smirked, glancing over at Team Rocket praising their Pokemon. James was crying and happily hugged his Weezing while Jessie cried out in pain as her body was being squeezed by Arbok.
"Vulpix and Psyduck!"
"Awesome!" Misty and Brock gave each other a high five, Angelina smiled for them.
"There should be seven, who's the last one?" Jeremy asked.
"He chose me!" Meowth cried and leapt at Cleavon Schpielbunk happily, licking his face.
"Yeeeooow!" Schpielbunk yelled.
"Well what'd ya know," Jeremy chuckled. "The Rocket Pokemon got picked!"
The chosen Pokemon now stand on stage awaiting what more they had to do.
"Next, let's hear you sing!" Schpielbunk told the Pokemon.
"Oow, can I pick the song?" Angelina asked eagerly, standing from her seat. "Huh, please, can I?"
"No Angel, sit down." Jeremy hissed, grabbing her arm and pulled her back just as a small, round, pink ball-like creature with large, blue eyes, small, cat-like ears, and a hair-like curl on its head appeared on stage.
"Oh no, it's Jigglypuff!" Jessie groaned, and the Pokemon held up a marker and started singing its lullaby. It stopped and looked around as everyone was lying on the gound asleep, then it puffed up in anger and drew on their faces with the marker it carried.
A couple hours flew by as Angelina hears voices yelling or laughing around her. She felt something soft beneath her; sitting up and rubbed her eyes, then blinked and looked about her surroundings. There were people wiping their faces from the black markings that had appeared.
"Angel, I'm glad you're okay, but could you please get off?" Jeremy asked.
"Huh? Oh I'm sorry, Jeremy!" Angelina blushed as she was laying on top of the boy. She got off and helped him up. "So what happened? All I remember is Schpielbunk asking the Pokemon to sing and then Jigglypuff appears."
"Yeah I know." Jeremy said, taking out a cloth and washing the drawing on his face. "You wanted to help, but I pulled you back and Jigglypuff put us all to sleep."
"I see," Angelina said, then she saw her Pichu was on stage playing with Pikachu and Raichu. "Cocoa, I told you not to be up there!" she scolded in a mother's tone. "Now get down!"
Pichu bumped into something hard, she shook off the pain and stared up at Arbok, who hissed and was about to strike with its fangs.
"Piiii!" Pichu cried and jumped off stage, right into her trainer's arms.
"Hey pick on someone your own size!" Angelina yelled.
"Den keep dat pipsqueak outta trouble." Meowth retorted.
Angelina laughed, "Like you can't on a daily basis, but I'd be glad to." she turned heel and walked off to stand with Jeremy, ignoring the flabbergasted looks shot her way.
"You really make a Flaaffy look innocent." Jeremy said as the auditions resumed.
"What's that suppose to mean?" Angelina asked, rocking her Pichu in a soothing manner.
"Well, a Flaaffy has its sweet side, but pull it the wrong way and you'll end up on its bad side." Jeremy explained without angering his friend.
Angelina stared with her eyebrow raised as she thought over his choice of words, then shrugged. "Sounds true, I guess." then her eyes contacted with the stage. "Oh, how's come Psyduck is the only Pokemon standing with Wigglytuff?"
"Since Psyduck is the only one left, Psyduck gets the part!" Schpielbunk exclaimed.
"Does that answer your question?" Jeremy chuckled at his friend's surprised expression.
"Yeah." Angelina nodded, watching Misty hug her Water Pokemon happily. "Thank Arceus it wasn't Meowth." she noticed Team Rocket was no where to be found and headed towards the front to stand next to Ash and his friends. "Congratulations, Misty!"
"Thanks, I don't actually regret catching Psyduck now!" Misty smiled.
"Maybe Psyduck isn't stupid, it's probably acting dumb." Brock suggested.
"Wouldn't be surprised." Jeremy agreed.
"We're ready to begin setting up our first big scene." Schpielbunk announced.
"Mr. Schpielbunk, how would you describe the movie in one word?" Brock asked.
"Brilliant!" Schpielbunk grinned, a light glinted off the corner of his sunglasses.
"Well okay." Brock said.
"Let me give you a little preview. This is my own original story about two love struck Pokemon." Schpielbunk said, showing pictures to the young trainers. "As the movie begins, Wigglytuff and Psyduck had just started going out. Psyduck brings Wigglytuff home after their first date. Psyduck serenades our heroine under a full moon! It looks like smooth sailing romance-wise. But their feuding family and friends want to drive them apart. "We love each other so!" "Why can't you live and let love?" Then heartbreak! As a stray arrow heads straight for Wigglytuff. Duck. Duck. Duck. Psyduck leapts into the arrows path in the neck of time. But Psyduck has been mortally wounded. It "pys" and weeps "psys" in Wigglytuff's arms. The tragedy brings the two families together and their feud ends at last." tears were streaming down his face and had his fist clenched. "Oh I can see it now! It will win tons of awards and clean up at the box office!"
Angelina and Jeremy agreed with Misty that the movie does not sound very original since it reminded them of Romeo and Juliet. Brock and Ash were amazed by Schpielbunk's brilliance, offering their assistance for the production in any way they can.
"C'mon Angel, I don't think there's much we could do." Jeremy nudged the girl lightly.
Angelina sighed, realizing her companion was right. "Okay fine." They decided to watch Schpielbunk's filming from a safe distance watched Schpielbunk filming a scene for the movie which consisted of the Water-types and Normal-types facing each other and preparing to battle. The mood was set with Staryu providing rain effects, Pidgeotto providing wind effects, and Pikachu and Raichu their Thundershocks for lightning effects.
"No business like show business." Jeremy chuckled as the two groups started to fight with Pikachu and Raichu at the head. Psyduck and Wigglytuff approach on cue but Pikachu is thrown into Wigglytuff's face, and the Pokemon was about to attack adversely when smoke fills the area and Team Rocket appears to recite their motto. The Pokemon attack them while Ash and friends become star-struck and pose in front of the camera, but Katrina screams when Team Rocket rounded up all the Pokemon with a large magnet on a crane except Psyduck. Misty and Wigglytuff start yelling at Psyduck to take action as it was running around and its headache gets worse. It uses Confusion in the brief moment of psychic powers, freeing all the Pokemon and sends Team Rocket flying.
Psyduck falls over in exhaustion, but Wigglytuff runs over in concern until the Water Pokemon opens its eyes.
"Psyduck, you're the big hero!" Misty exclaimed.
Wigglytuff hugs Psyduck in delight, everyone laughs.
"Let's here it!" Ash yelled. "Hip hip! HOORAY!" everyone cheers with him.
"PRINT IT!" Schpielbunk yells, then approaches Ash and shakes his hand vigorously. "That was a fantastic finale. I'm glad I thought of it!" Everyone laughs and sweatdrops.
Later that night, everyone is gathered around the campfire relaxing after the day's events.
"How romantic." Angelina sighed as she noticed Wiggilytuff and Psyduck sitting along the lake. Her thoughts were interupted when Ash was complaining about missing another day from training. "You're not the only one."
"Yeah, but making a movie is a chance in a life time." Misty consoled her friend.
"Plus you met somebody who shares the same dream you do." Brock added, refering to Katrina sitting beside him.
Ash nodded. "I bet we're gonna have some great battles at the Pokemon League."
Katrina smiles. "Don't expect me to go easy on you just because we're friends."
"Okay Katrina." Ash said.
"Great concept! It could be my next epic. A boy and girl who share the same dream to train Pokemon!" Schpielbunk announced. "And the first week alone it could gross fifty million!"
"Oh wow, it's so original!" Angelina said.
"I'd sure love to star in that movie!" Brock said.
"Brock would be great!" Misty said.
"Well its a tough job. The actor I chose will be swarmed by millions of female fans." Schpielbunk offered, which Brock says he could handle that and everyone laughs.
Ash and friends learned that making movies can be lots of fun and lots of hard work. And speaking of hard work, Ash and Angelina need to start some hard work of their own. The Pokemon League is only a few weeks away. They've gotta get moving!
§To Be Continued§
*This chapter is based off the episode "Lights, Camera, Quack-tion!"
*The episode aired in the USA October 8th, 1999, which was my twelfth birthday.
*"I Saw What You Ate Last Tuesday" is a reference to the movie "I Know What You Did Last Summer"
*The episode title is a reference to the popular movie phrase, Lights, Camera, Action!
*Cleavon Schpielbunk is a parody of Steven Spielberg.
*The premise of "Pokémon In Love" is based on William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, with Psyduck as Romeo, Wigglytuff as Juliet, and their respective types being the Montagues and the Capulets, though the two differ on how they end (Romeo and Juliet commit suicide and the double tragedy ends the family feud).
*Cleavon Schpielbunk is Jeremy's uncle.
*The Pokemon Dance Mix plays as background music when the Pokemon were dancing.
*Jeremy's quote, "There's no business like show business." is based off the 1954 musical film borrowing the famous song in the stage musical "Annie Get Your Gun."
Thanks for your time, the next chapter will be up soon!