Chapter 25 A Battle by Any Other Name!
Ash and his family and friends are now at the forest, Bonnie asks, "So East, you want to be a Flying Type Trainer?"
"Of course. Flying in the sky is one of my dreams, and that is my goal." East says.
"Wow. I'll like to fly as well." Bonnie says.
"How about you, Mark? Golly?" Clemont asks.
"Well, I want to be a Ghost Type master while Mark wants to be a Fighting Type Master." Golly says.
"Wow." Bonnie says. "That is amazing."
"Hey, guys." Ash and Serena then come to them with a basket of food. Golly asks, "Are those Pokepuffs?"
"Yep. Serena and I have been made them." Ash says.
"Let me try some." Mark says as he takes one and eat. "This is great. This is the best thing I've ever eaten in my life."
Golly also takes one and says, "You're right. They are delicious."
Clemont asks, "Um...aren't these for Pokemon?"
Ash says, "As you know, they are my siblings. I am a Pokemon, so are they."
"I see." Clemont says. "I almost forgot about that."
Dedenne smells the treats and wants one. "Could Dedenne get one." Bonnie asks.
"Sure." Before Ash can give him, the Poké Puff glows baby blue, and floats out of Ash's hand. The gang then looks to see the Poké Puff floating to a Slurpuff and it eats it.
"Huh? A Slurpuff?" Serena asks as suddenly, the basket of Pokepuff floats away and all gets inside Slurpuff's body.
"Slurpuff there you are." The gang then looks up to see a girl with blue hair approaching them. Slurpuff then looks at her trainer with a somewhat satisfied look. Right way its trainer knew what it is saying.
"You see Slurpuff thinks your Poké Puff were decent enough." The girl says.
Ash and Serena look a little offended, but then she says, "I am Miette. Nice to meet you all."
Then the group also introduces themselves, while Serena's introduction is a little rude.
"I am sorry about that, I have some Pokepuffs as well." She then takes out the basket and then gives them to Pikachu, Sylveon and Dedenne.
"They sure look happy." Bonnie says.
"All Poké Puffs are made for a particular Pokémon in mind." Miette says.
"Well, we also made them like that as well." Ash says.
"Sure, but that is only the basics." Miette says.
"What's wrong with you?" Serena suddenly yells at her and the two start to have a stare down, ready to rip each other's heads off.
Clemont tries to control the situation, "Calm down you too. There no reason to be mad."
Then both girls just huff at each other and look away.
"Well, instead of fighting, how about we show whose Pokepuff are better by participating the contest today?" East asks as he shows a flyer on the holoboard.
"That's the reason I'm here in the first place, I'm competing." Miette says.
Ash says, "It sounds fun. Serena, why don't we take part in it as well?"
"Sure, Ash." Serena smiles. before having another stare down with Miette.
At the baking contest, Ash is making a orange colored Pokepuff with Sylveon and Glaceon's help. Serena has Fennekin and Amaura's help to make a pink one and says, "Finish." by placing a twig on it.
Miette looks at her and says, "I'll not lose either." Team Rocket also disguises themselves and trying to create a Pokepuff, but it turns out to be a disaster.
"Now the preliminary round is over, to judge who will get into the next round, we have our Poke Puff master Gina to help us judge them." The announcer says.
"Today we're here because because of what Poké Puffs do to increase the bond between people and Pokémon." Gina says.
"Gina excuse me." Bonnie says as she somehow makes her way on to the stage.
"I need you to take care of my brother." She kneels down and she starts to propose, only to be grabbed by her brother. "HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU TO STOP DOING THIS!"
Gina and the announcer sweat drop at the sight, and Mark asks, "What is that all about?"
Ash says, "You'll get used to it."
"By the way, " Miette asks. "Ash, do you have someone to take care of you?"
Ash knows what he is implying and he says, "What do you ask that?"
Miette looks at Serena, who is angry and jealous of her. Miette just smirks and say nothing.
"Now I'll announce the 3 winners that will go to the next round." Gina looks at the paper and says, "First, we have Ash Ketchum!"
Ash smiles and Golly says, "Way to go! Brother."
"The second one is Miette." Serena is surprised as Miette gives a smile.
"And finally, Serena Yvone!" Serena raises her head as Ash says, "We did it, Serena."
"Yeah." Serena says as the three get onto the stage.
"These three teams will be competing in the finals. Let them start gathering ingredients today." Gina says.
Once the priminlary rounds are end, Team Rocket is behind a corner and Meowth says, "We have failed..."
"Yeah, we couldn't win the next round..." James sighs.
Jessie then starts to boil in anger and says, "I should be the Poke Puff Queen! If they won't let me win...I won't let anyone win!"
Once they are gathering the berries, they are surprised that all the shops they've been to have run out of berries. Even after splitting up to cover more ground, they still can't find anything.
"That is strange..." Ash says.
Miette runs towards them and says, "Guys, all the berries and ingredients are missing."
Clemont says, "Does that mean someone wants to sabotage the competition?"
Serena yells, "Don't tell me it is you!"
"Why will I do that?" Miette yells back as they start to fight again.
Ash sighs and says, "I think I know who the culprit is."
"Huh?" Everyone looks at him. Mark asks, "Brother, you know who?"
Ash says, "In fact, when we were competing, I have noticed two people. A woman and a man, and a Meowth."
"Wait, you don't mean..." Serena says. "It is them?"
"Them?" Miette asks. "Who are you talking about?"
Ash says, "Team Rocket."
"Aren't they a famous research group? Why do they do that?" Miette asks.
East says, "Simple, those three are idiots and they doesn't think they are research groups, so the boss wants us to kick their butts over and over."
They then get to the forest to see branches holding the berries were cut. Ash says, "Damn it...we are late..."
Serena says, "I'll go check over there." Then she leaves.
Miette says, "Getting impatient won't solve anything."
Mark asks, "Miette, do you have a plan?"
"My Slurpuff's nose is extremely sensitive, so if something sweet is in the air, Slurpuff can smell it, right Slurpuff?"
Slurpuff nods and Golly says, "And we can also capture Team Rocket before they even take the berries away once more."
"Good idea." Bonnie says, but then they hear a scream. Ash says, "Serena!"
He rushes towards the sound and sees Serena and Fennekin cornered to a big tree by several Swirlix.
"Serena." Ash says as he uses Telepathy and says, "Leave her alone. She isn't your enemy."
Then the Swirlix leaves and Ash asks, "Serena, are you okay?"
"I am fine Ash. But why do they attack me?" Serena says.
"See, this is what happens when you let your guard down." Miette scowls Serena, which agitates her.
"Stop fighting." Ash says as they stop. "Miette, let's get started with your plan."
"Oh, okay." She says as Slurpuff starts smelling the scent, they follow it and gets to a cliff.
"Up there!" East says as he sees a berry tree.
"You're right. Team Rocket hasn't yet to take those." Ash says. "Let's get it before they come."
"But how are we going to get up there?" Miette asks.
Golly says, "Trevanant. Come on out." She sends out the Pokemon and says, "Can you use Forest Curse to grow trees to get us up there?"
It nods and then it starts to grow trees until it becomes like a staircase.
"Good thinking, Golly." Ash says as they rush up to the cliff.
Once they reach there, they see hundreds of berries growing on trees. "Wow, they all look very great." Serena says.
"But before we get them, we still need to make sure Team Rocket isn't nearby." Ash says as they start to look around. Bonnie notices a group of Swirlix being chased by the robot and says, "There they are!"
They turn to Bonnie's direction and the robot stops. Mark says, "You finally arrived, Team Rocket."
(Insert Team Rocket Motto)
"Geez...I wonder how the other members of Team Rocket put with those idiots?" Golly asks.
"Hey! Who are you calling idiots?" Jessie yells.
"The two people and a talking Meowth, the losers who didn't win the contest and tried to sabotage by taking the berries away." Ash gives a yawn.
"How dare you..." Jessie is now in fury. "Meowth, take care of them!"
"With this new Berry Absorbing Machine, you have no chance against us!" He yells. "It is called Sweeping Sweets Machine!"
Clemont says, "Wow...good name."
"It is just a description." Serena says as Clemont flinches.
"Now switch on!" Meowth says as it starts to suck everything, Pikachu, Sylveon and Swirlix all get sucked inside the machine.
"Oh no, what should we do?" Bonnie asks as she tries to stand on.
East asks, "Clemont, is there any weakness to that robot?"
Clemont says, "Well, basically their machine is a giant vacuum. It has to suck in air in order to function, if you guys can stop the air flow. It'll cause the machine to overheat."
Ash says, "I'll stop it." He then charges and used his body to block the air flow on Team Rocket's tube.
"What?" The Rocket's are shocked.
Ash says, "If I use the Flame Plate, you know what happens." He smirks as the machine starts to heat up.
"Ash!" Serena yells in worry, while Miette is amazed at how Ash is willing to help others.
Just then, their machine finally stops, and suffers an internal meltdown. Ash gets all Pokemon out of the machine. Ash asks all of them, "Are you alright?"
They all nod as Ash tells them to attack, it then blasts them off to the sky.
"How did it come to this?" Jessie says in anger.
"We were too sweet to them..." James sighs.
"I hate sweet stuff." Meowth says.
"Mind you Sugar intake! We are blasting off again!" They then disappear.
Without Team Rocket's interference, the three of them gather their ingredients and then gets back to rest. In the next day, they all prepare their Pokepuff and they are being judged bY Gina.
"Now it is decided. The winner will be...Ash Ketchum!" Gina announces as Ash cheers with Glaceon and Sylveon.
"We did it!" He says as Serena and Miette are a little sad that they lost.
Ash is then rewarded a brand new Pokepuff container and a trophy, he thanks Gina and then goes to show off to his friends and family.
"So this is it, huh." Serena says.
""Yep, you just wait, next time we see each other, my treats will be even tastier." Miette says.
"Same here." Both then shake hands, and Serena heard Ash calling her. "Well, goodbye."
"One more thing." Miette then comes closer to her ear.
"Ash is a great guy, if you lose him, I'll get him." She says, causing Serena to blush.
"You..." Serena glares at her before she goes to others as they take off.
Ash asks, "So Serena, what did she tell you?"
"Eh? Nothing." Serena says as she shakes her head furiously.
"Relax." Ash whispers, "I won't ever dump you for her. You are my Eve and I am your Adam. I won't choose another woman unless you use Double Team."
"Ash..." Serena blushes as she gives him a little peck on the cheek before they catch up with others.
Well, this chapter is a little bit short, but here is Miette. I hope you like the rivalry between Serena and Miette. But you all know who is the real one Ash loves. The next chapter will be a self original chapter for Chespin.