Last Time On TMOM:
Pokemon stadiums, Ash's pidgeot, crashed hot air balloons and a thinly veiled threat.
Quote: "So mum's the word on the whole… license suspension so you can play trainer for a few hours. And you won't warn everyone that you invited a bunch of pokemon thieves to the party. I have to say, Ash, this goes south? You stand to lose a lot more than we do."
Chapter Four: Dress Up
There's only two types of people in the world
The ones that entertain, and the ones that observe
-Britney Spears
"You're barely touching your cereal, James," Jessie made a point of this fact by reaching over to swipe a bite with her own spoon. She grinned at him and James pushed the bowl over to her. She didn't question the free food, per usual. But Meowth was looking at him strangely.
"Yer talk with da twerp bother ya dat much, James?"
"You guys didn't talk to him," grumbled James. Why was he the only one who was bothering to keep his voice down? The hall was packed full of chattering trainers, with poke belts loaded with powerful pokemon. They might as well have been eating breakfast in a fishbowl of ravenous sharpedos. But his team members were perfectly content to count off their good fortune.
Although he had relayed Ash's warning, neither Jessie nor Meowth had quite taken it to heart. And why would they? They had crash landed into a golden opportunity for any pokemon thief; anonymity and an abundance of loot. Only a great fool would walk away.
"We should wait till the tournament is finished," said James, wiping the smiles from his teammates' faces.
Jessie pointed her spoon accustorily at James' face. "We already talked about this. That's stupid. You're stupid," She went back to digging in his bowl of corn flakes, content that she had sufficiently made her point. And usually, she would have.
"Jessie's right. Dat dere tournament is the best chance we have at getting our mitts on a butt load of pokemon. With everyone distracted, we can get away scott free. Why would we wait till it's over?"
Once again, James had to shush Meowth. A talking Meowth was enough of a novelty that he made heads turn in a room at the best of times. In moments like this, before a heist, he was a terrible inconvenience. Both Jessie and James could disappear from people's memory once they were gone. But a talking pokemon, no one would forget that.
James eyed the nearby trainers for any wandering eyes. Thankfully they were still absorbed in their own conversations. Tension was high in the air, with the majority of the room planning to take part in the competition. While the room was full of pleasant chatter, James could see how they were eyeing each other; sizing their competition up, trying to gleam some strategy from their peers without slipping up and giving too much information about themselves away. Shame for them- what with the twerp entering, they didn't stand a chance.
No one was looking their way. James let out the breath he had been holding. "Because," he said. "Ash told us not to."
Meowth laughed a little too loudly. Jessie was less pleased. "Since when have we started taking orders from the twerp?"
"Since he covered for us," James hissed. "We wouldn't be here if he had just told everyone who we were. But he lied."
"So he's stupid," Jessie shrugged and shoveled more corn flakes into her mouth. "His loss."
"Come on, Jess," said James. "Have a little heart. He did us a favor. Least we could do is do one back. There will be other chances to steal pokemon."
"If I didn't know better, I'd say dat youse were going soft for da twerp."
Both Meowth and Jessie were looking at him now. James shifted uncomfortably under their accusatory stares.
"We're the bad guys, James," said Jessie softly, taking his hand in her own. "We don't do favors."
James gave her hand a squeeze but couldn't meet her eye. "Why not?"
"Because we are the bad guys!"
"Really?" James laughed. "Cause last I checked, we really suck at that."
James stood up, knocking the bench back and nearly bumping Meowth off his seat. He pulled his hand from Jessie's and gave both his team members his best "I'm-serious" face. He was a bit out of practice though. The frown felt a bit wilted- more defeated.
"We aren't stealing any pokemon. Let's just enjoy the festival, okay?"
And with that, James left. Jessie and Meowth watched him go in bafflement.
"Did James just shut us down?"
"I dink so. Weird."
Jessie frowned but returned to her empty bowl. If they weren't going to steal any pokemon, then she was going to get seconds.
King Roman hadn't been joking about the outfit requirement. Ash was less than thrilled when the staff led him to one of the costume galleries in the castle. It seemed they rented out outfits year round- but during the competition, the costumes became mandatory.
"If you need any help with dressing, you need but call," said the dignified man holding the door.
"Th-that won't be necessary," sputtered Ash, perhaps a bit too hastily. He suspected the man knew so too, as he closed the door behind Ash with a knowing smile. This wasn't as simple as tee shirt and jeans. These costumes had laces, buckles and even codpieces- something Ash only vaguely understood how to wear. At least he knew enough to know he didn't want anyone helping him wear one.
Ash walked along the clothing rack, letting his hand run over the intense variety of fabrics. From canvas, cotton to silks and satin, Ash had no idea where to even start. This was way outside his comfort zone.
"What should I wear, Pikachu?"
Pikachu tottered along at Ash's feet, showing far less interest in the range of costumes than his master. Having had his fill of both dinner and breakfast, the pokemon was content now just to explore the odd limestone encased establishment they had found themselves in. The floor was pleasingly cool despite the summer heat blaring down outside the walls. He found a comfortable bit of floor out of range of the clothing racks to curl up into, ignoring Ash's question. Ash watched him wander off with some disapproval.
"Some help you are, Pikachu."
Pikachu's ears twitched in response. But he didn't get up. Ash sighed and returned to the doublets and jerkins with some reluctance. If he were a few years younger, he would have immediately jumped on the opportunity to dress up. When he was a kid, he loved everyone looking at him. The more goofy the get-up the better. Oh and capes, he loved those. It made him feel like a superhero.
And if Misty were at his side, he would have wanted to impress her. Only the most heroic looking outfit would have sufficed; a cape and a feathered cap would have been essential. Something that would have made her stop seeing him as the goofy kid brother for just a little while.
Ash couldn't help the smile that had crept across his lips. It was as fleeting as the memory of her, abandoning him back in front of the intimidating racks of costumes. He wasn't ten years old anymore. Dressing up now just felt embarrassing. He didn't want anyone looking at him, depending on him. He had no one to impress. And he didn't want to be anyone's hero.
Ash's hand reached instinctively towards a tricorn hat that was feathered in the back. It was rather dusty and somewhat trampled on. Perhaps it hadn't gotten as much attention as some of the more colorful headpieces. He pat off the dust as best he could before straightening on top of his head.
With a big false bravado, Ash turned towards his napping pokemon. "Ta dah!"
Pikachu squinted open one eye and snorted.
"Always the critic," Ash said. But he didn't return the hat. Even without Pikachu's approval, Ash felt like he could make something work from a hat like this as his base.
He pulled a few doublets from the rack just to toss them aside if they had too much flourish or pattern. Ash eventually settled on an ivory shirt and blue jerkin combo that had been stuffed in the back. It wasn't too hard to find matching breeches though he did scramble to find boots to fit his oversized feet. It was one thing trying on shoes. Each boot he sampled, Ash had to cram his feet into and lace up before he could tell if it was cutting off circulation to his toes or not.
After having properly hopped about in the pair of cured-leather navy boots he had settled on, Ash stripped off his modern shirt to trade it for one of laces and buckles. He had only grabbed the cotton shirt off the chair he had laid it on when the whole castle shook.
Team Rocket, Ash thought. He rushed around his slumbering pokemon and to the open window, just as something swung inside. Ash lurched backwards into the racks of clothing, just avoiding the young blonde who had awkwardly landed in front of him.
She was covered in soot and grime, gripping a makeshift rope of bedsheets- obviously strung together in duress. For the amount of agility it must have taken to swing down from the floor above, she was wearing clothing that would have done little to help the cause. Her clothes were overly large and heavy overalls with a grungy looking workshirt. The woman rose to her feet, pigtails bouncing. She pushed back the goggles from her sweaty face and treated Ash with a bright disarming smile.
"Hi."
"Uh… Hi?"
"Sorry about that. Had to abandon ship, as it were. My carbontinker exploded," She gestured to the open window where sure enough, smoke was puttering out into the sky. Ash looked between the young woman and the window uncertainly, still gripping his shirt tight to his naked chest.
"Uh… what?"
"Should be fine. It will burn itself out," She blinked as if just realizing what room she had swung herself into. Her eyes roamed the racks before settling back upon the half naked young man in front of them. "Oh! You must be a pokemon trainer, right?"
Pikachu was awake now. Ash spied his pokemon looking at the intruding woman with some alarm. But he didn't abandon his post, instead just sharing a baffled look with his trainer.
The woman spotted the pokemon and melted into the appropriate level of adoration. "Oh! A Pikachu! She's so cute!"
"He," said Ash automatically.
"He," She corrected herself with a stiff nod. "And a very handsome one too." She tickled the pokemon beneath his chin instantly winning him over. Pikachu cooed at her and Ash scoffed in disapproval. Pikachu was always a sucker for a pretty face.
And then the pretty face returned its attention back to him. Ash used the shirt as a shield to ward off her approach.
"So you're entering the pokemon competition?"
"Um… yeah," Ash swallowed, fighting back the furious blush burning at his cheeks.
"Ohhhh! That's so cool! I've always wanted to join myself!" She continued to be too close. She had backed Ash into the opposite wall now, completely heedless of the discomfort she was causing him.
"Then why don't you?" Ash grumbled.
She smiled at him and Ash ducked behind the shirt again.
"My dad won't let me," She sighed. She turned to wistfully look out the window giving Ash just enough time to quickly shove the shirt over his head. "I wanted to go on my own pokemon journey. But now… I'm afraid I'm too old."
"How old are you… if you don't mind me asking?" Ash asked, ducking around her to reach the chair where the rest of his abandoned clothes laid.
She laughed, unnerving Ash further. He hastily busied himself with his jerkin to avoid looking at her. Apparently he was a sucker for a pretty face now too. Ash just hoped he wasn't turning into Brock.
"I'm seventeen. How old are you?"
"Fif-fifteen." Ash stumbled with the laces. He was quite alarmed when the strange girl had pulled the laces from his hands. And with an expert grace, she quickly weaved the string through the holes.
"See," She smiled, giving the laces one last firm tug before neatly tying them up. "I'm too old."
"You're not too old," Ash squeaked, sure he must be red as a cherry now. He spoke without thinking, perhaps in just a desperate pitiful attempt to get her to smile at him again. Maybe he really was becoming just like Brock.
"You're not too old," Ash said again, pulling away from her now that he was appropriately attired. "You can start pokemon training whenever you want. Age doesn't mean anything."
He got what he was hoping for. She smiled at him again and Ash felt like his cheeks were going to burn off his face. He hadn't been this bothered by a girl since he had kissed Misty. And maybe that was it. Her cute short pigtails and smudged face with baggy clothes, reminded him of the scruffy red-head.
"Hm," She gave him a once over. "Something's missing."
Ash helpfully tried to fetch the hat he had claimed before. But the girl had returned to the racks, flipping through with a no-how that Ash himself had lacked. She wasn't just browsing, she was looking for something in particular.
And then she found it, pulling out a dusky looking cape. "All heros need a cape."
Ash couldn't help the chuckle that escaped from his lips. It seemed he was destined to dress the hero after all. As he took the hanger from her, she pushed something else into his hands.
"These too," She said with a knowing smile.
Ash looked down at the curiously ornate gloves she had handed him. They were inlaid with gold and a strange opal like crystal. Ash instantly disliked them.
"I don't want-"
"Trust me," She said, pushing the gloves back on him. "They go well."
Ash frowned down at the gaudy handwear but begrudgingly pulled them on. Once he had swung on the cape, she clapped in approval. Even Pikachu was beaming at him from his place by the window.
"Oh! It looks great! You wear it well," she exclaimed.
Ash felt oddly self conscious. He tugged down on his hat. "What's 'it'? The hat?"
"The hero's costume."
Ash blinked and the girl continued on undaunted. "It's actually rare that anyone would want to wear it. It's cursed after all."
"Cursed?"
"Ah, don't worry about that. I'll tell you about it after you win."
Ash had to resist the urge to pry the outfit off again. Except he was afraid he wouldn't know how. He felt better wrapped up than a birthday present. How on earth did people in the past manage to get dressed like this every day on their own?
"Oh, this is so exciting," She giggled, bouncing up and down on her toes. "I can't wait to see you battle this afternoon… um..."
"Ash."
"Ash," She smiled again and Ash felt his heart melt a bit more. "I'm Aileen."
Ash almost fell over. "Aileen… as in Princes-"
"Yup," She grinned even wider. Aileen climbed back up on the window sill, yanking free her makeshift rope. She offered him one last wink, "Good luck in the competition, Ash."
And with that, she had swung back out. Both Ash and Pikachu lunged for the windowsill, watching anxiously as the princess, (Princess!) swung her way down to the floor window two stories down. Once she was safe inside, Pikachu gave his trainer a smirk.
"You would pick the cursed outfit."
Ash didn't need to understand to not like that look. "Shut up, Pikachu."
Ash had stuffed his clothes into a cubby in the far corner of the room where several trainers had already come and gone. He added his sneakers to the mess of other sneakers already lining the floor, feeling very odd. It was like he was a time traveler, shedding his future clothes for those of the time period.
Thankfully time traveling was actually one thing he hadn't ever experienced. And hopefully it wasn't possible or else he would run into a pokemon who could do it.
"Ah wait. Celebi," Ash said to himself. "Never mind."
Although technically he hadn't been the time traveler at that time. So maybe he could count it.
As Ash pondered through his extensive experience of the extraordinary, Pikachu had happened upon something rather extraordinary himself. He had been minding his own business when he felt a sudden tug on his tail.
Pikachu spun about, cheeks sparking dangerously, eying the only hiding place behind him. The heavy window drapes that hung low to the floor swayed softly in the summer air. A small yellow head with large ears peeped out at him. A pichu, and an obnoxious one at that. No amount of familial empathy would improve Pikachu's mood.
"Hi there!"
"Don't 'hi there' me!" Pikachu snapped. "You grabbed my tail."
"Well maybe you shouldn't leave it unguarded," chirped the cheeky pichu. It ducked behind the drapes and when Pikachu lunged after it, it had gone. Pikachu whirled about on the spot and then poked his head back under the drapes uncertainly. No, it was definitely gone. Where did it go?
"Lose something?"
Pikachu looked up startled, drapes still cloaked over his head. On the window sill crouched a Treecko lizard, where there hadn't been one before. It licked its yellow eyeball at Pikachu, causing the mouse to shudder. Not able to fully look at the disgusting reptile, Pikachu directed his question to the lizard's feet.
"Where did you come from?"
"Nowhere. Where'd you come from?"
"Pallet Town."
"Sounds boring."
"So does nowhere," Pikachu snapped.
"Nowhere is better than Nowhere Pallet Town," Treecko flicked his tongue out at Pikachu giving him the distinct feeling that he had already been talking to his pokemon somewhere before. Before Pikachu could really get a handle of the odd feeling, Treecko had already dropped itself out the window.
Pikachu leapt up onto the window sill, watching as the rude lizard crawled away up the castle walls.
"Catch you on the flip side, Nowhere Pallet Town scrub!" Treecko called back to him. Pikachu made a rude gesture back that he quickly hid as his trainer wandered up.
"Who you talking to, Pikachu?" Ash asked, looking curiously out the window, too late to see the Treecko shimmy up the roof.
"Some loser," Pikachu shrugged, acting more nonchalant than he felt. There was something odd about both rude pokemon he had just met. Was it just a coincidence that both Treecko and Pichu wanted to mess with him? Or did he just have one of those faces?
"We are gonna need to get you a costume too, I think," Ash said more to himself than to Pikachu. His pokemon blanched just the same.
"Hey, I didn't agree to that!"
"Don't give me that look. You were the one who wanted me to enter this stupid competition," Ash shot back, heading back over to an assortment of pokemon sized costumes. "If I have to wear a stupid outfit," He grinned rather evilly while holding up something that looked like a pink tutu. "So do you, little buddy."
Thankfully, the door opened- interrupting whatever torture Ash could commence with. And the three least appetizing people wandered in, cementing Ash's sour expression.
"Look at all of the beautiful gowns! It's like a dream!" Jessie exclaimed, brushing past the other two in her eagerness to reach the clothing racks. She stopped dead at seeing Ash glowering at her from the other side of the rack.
"Oh wow, Twerp," Jessie smirked, eying him up and down. "Very dapper. Nice choice."
"Get out," Ash groaned, trying to hide his embarrassed blush behind his hand.
"Can't. Sorry, Twerp," She playfully tipped his hat over his face. "We need to wear costumes too. If anything, you need to leave. I can't get dressed with little boys peeping on me."
Ash clumsily straightened his hat and made a disgusted face that Jessie ignored. She had already happily set herself to the task of finding the perfect outfit. James and Meowth entered the room with far less enthusiasm. As Meowth started awkwardly shuffling through the pokemon costume rack, some costumes placed comfortably at his eye level- Ash rounded on James.
"You guys better not be thinking of this as a chance to grab extra disguises for yourselves."
"Cool it, Ash. We made a deal," said James, hand held up defensively just in case Ash decided to lunge for him again. "We aren't up to anything sneaky."
Jessie made a distinct "uh huh" sound from where she had dug into a pretty colorful menagerie of ball gowns. Despite her affirmation, she sounded far less sincere than James did. Ash cast James a look that the older man nearly quelled under.
"I mean it. No funny business."
"Depends on what you mean by funny," Meowth grumbled, holding up a pinstriped jester outfit to himself. "These outfits are terrible!"
Ash sighed and yanked the outfit from Meowth's hands.
"Come on, Pikachu. Let's get going." Pikachu obediently leapt down from the windowsill and followed his trainer from the room. As he moved to close the door, he heard Jessie call out from the racks.
"Yes yes, goodbye Twerp. So long and good riddance."
He shut the door just as Jessie's squeals of delight reached a new fever pitch. "If only," Ash muttered under his breath.
To Be Continued…
Please Read and Review!
Four chapters in and I'm actually getting past the ten-minute mark in the original movie. Ah well, this was a chapter I've been looking forward to writing to writing since I first came up with the idea.
It was actually brought to my attention recently that I've been using the Japanese version of the movie as my source with names and with the mention of "wave" instead of "aura". In the Japanese movie, the Guardian of Aura is called the Hero of Wave. I actually didn't realize I was doing this- having watched both versions. I apologize for any confusion this caused. I will probably still use the Japanese version in reference to "wave" energy. But I hope this clears up any confusion people might have had.
Hope everyone likes my version of Aileen. Don't see her as a replacement or competition for Misty, as she really isn't. I just didn't think I could have a preteen Ash in this story without him having a puppy dog crush on a tomboy princess. If anything, this will only help sort out his feelings for a certain red-head. *wink wink*
I also didn't plan to write this chapter so soon. But I was super inspired after rewatching the Mystery of Mew movie. So here's another chapter way too soon. Enjoy!
I've only had one review since I last updated, probably because it's only been a day or so. Thanks to Shaveza for the speedy review! As always, you're awesome. And this time you get a shout out all to yourself! Congrats!
Next time, I swear we will get to the pokemon competition at last. Really not looking forward to writng a bunch of pokemon battles... ah well. I did it TBA, I can do it again.