Chapter 148 Meloetta and Battle Wheel Part 1
Ash and Serena are now at the Counter inside the Night Club, and the one standing there is Cass.
Cass: So originally the circus' Ringmaster was here helping out with paperwork, but then we got this notice and she yelled something incomprehensible, tripped up the stairs, and ran away. So now I'm here again. With you. There's a Meloetta at the circus. I don't know if there's one of those New World portals or what, but everyone there is going apeshit over it. You gonna go check it out?
Ash: Meloetta? That sounds great. We'll go there.
Cass: Great. See you there. (Leaves the counter, much to Ash and Serena's surprise) What? I'm not gonna miss this.
Ash and Serena look at each other with surprise, and then they head to Agate Circus to see what's going on. But as they get there, they see a lot of crowds, and in front of the crowd are the Ringmaster and Samson, and behind them is Meloetta, much to their surprise is that it is glowing like it is an Anomaly.
Ringmaster: Hey, order! Down in front! (Meloetta tries to sing a song, but stopped by the Ringmaster) That means you too, princess! You're the least orderly and most in front of them all! (Meloetta is confused) Don't give me that face!
Percy: Give me that face instead!
Santiago: So fuckin' cute!
Samson: (Tries to stop the crowd) Hey now, everybody's gonna need to back off.
Bee: How much for an autograph?!
Break: Forget one autograph; how much for twenty? The resale's gonna be one heck of a profit.
Ringmaster: Hey, no scalping! The real deal's the only one that's any good anyway! Get it while it's hot, folks! But get first- get in a line or something, geez!
Mckrezzy: An autograph won't do you an ounce of good compared to that sweet song~ Say, Meloetta, would you be interested in a collab? (Meloetta is confused)
Ringmaster: Ugh, what's gotten into you all...
Lumi: Meloetta's just really cute!
Julia: It also has fantastic hair! Meloetta, you've gotta tell me what shampoo you use!
Ash and Serena are also surprised to see Lumi and Julia here as well.
Julia: Is it the magic song powers? I bet it's the magic song powers. I bet every morning you hop out of the shower and are just like "Meeee~" and then your hair goes all swoooosh and flows behind you and detangles like some kind of magical girl transformation like "Maybe she's born with it; Maybe it's Meloetta"- hey, I bet if I could get a bottle of that, I wouldn't have half the troubled boy problems I have! Wait a minute, do Pokémon even take showers?
Ringmaster: (Out of patience) Okay, enough! I get it... kinda... This must be some kind of New World Anomaly crap ...But that doesn't mean we can't use it to rake in the fanfare! Tell you what, everyone, let's make an event out of it! Queue up and we'll have a tournament! Winner gets an exclusive meet and greet autograph sesh with today's apparent star of the show, Meloetta!
Santiago: Fuck yeah!
Break: I'm sure this will make for an interesting diversion...
Percy: Let's go, Meloetta!
Ringmaster: (Mutters) And to think I pay my staff so much to draw even half this crowd...
Samson: You say something, boss?
Ringmaster: Nothing that won't be reflected on your paystub! All right, let's queue up and sign up! I'll take registry and entry fees up here! Samson, keep them in line, will you?
Attendee: What do you mean entry fees?! You trying to scam us?!
Ringmaster: It's for administrative costs! You're on fairgrounds after all! If you wanted to make the rules, YOU try ring-leading this clown fiesta! (Hears Meloetta's snicker) Yeah, yeah. I don't wanna hear it from you. Besides, where better to have a tournament than our newly-opened Battle Wheel!? Once upon a time, there was going to be a grand re-opening for it after SOMEONE trashed it again, but then the world sort of started half-ending? Or started half-starting... Whatever, Battle Wheel! Every gondola on the ride has a unique field, so you never know what you're gonna get! There's only room for three Pokémon each in there though, so pick your teams wisely! Come talk to me when you're all ready for your match!
After the crowd leaves to register, Ash and Serena decide to greet the Ringmaster and Samson.
Ringmaster: Hi, Ash! You seem to have arrived at an interesting time! Not that all of our times here at the circus aren't interesting! Come on by any day for a riled wide! I mean, wild ride- oh, forget it. It's nice that things are starting to get back to normal, and the people who had to basically live here for a while are getting a little less repulsed by the idea of ever setting foot in this place again, but then this one appeared and everyone just lost their mind!
Meloetta floats towards Ash as she greets the Pokemon, Ash tries to greet it, but the Anomaly white light is a little scaring him.
Ringmaster: So I'm making the best of the situation! I know you're the Legendary control crew, but... I already publically agreed to the tournament so I can't just hand it over at this point! But you're the Champion, right?! How about you just participate and win, and then it's no problem, right? Here! I'll even waive the entry fee for you, so try not to be too annoyed at me, okay? And maybe toss some of that good ol' Champion- endorsement our way sometime if you get a chance, eh?
Samson: You're pushin' it, lass.
Ringmaster: Please, it was just a joke! * Kinda.
Ash, Meloetta, and Serena chuckle a little, and Ringmaster turns to them.
Ringmaster: Why must everyone around me call me out?!
Samson: She's been talking to that thing more and more all day. I'm starting to think it's not healthy.
Ringmaster: I'm perfectly healthy! I'm the healthiest person on the planet!
Samson: Wouldn't be surprised if she eventually started hugging the Pokémon and calling it her precious.
Ringmaster: Ew, no! I'm lightyears away from that creepy! Anyway, I'll sign you up, Ash! Just talk to one of the clown guys over by the Battle Wheel when you're ready to start the match. The brackets will also be posted on the signboards on the right. Make sure to check them so you can see who you're up against first!
Samson: All these years and she still hasn't thought of a better name than 'Battle Wheel'.
Ringmaster: That's just what these things are called! You have to put 'Battle' before the noun otherwise it's not even a real thing! Ask anyone!
Ash: Sure. Meloetta, what do you think? (Meloetta just shrugs)
Ringmaster: No, don't do this to me...
Ash: (Turns to Meloetta) But what happened to you? Why have you become an Anomaly?
Meloetta: (Talks to Ash with Telepathy) I don't know, some green portal opened and I'm like this. I was just trying to find you and help you defeat them, I didn't think that I would be them.
Ash: It would be fine, after this tournament, you'll try to attract some Pokemon to you. After defeating them, you'll be back to normal.
Meloetta nods as she floats back to the seat, then Ash decides to greet Lumi and Julia.
Julia: Hi Ash! I wasn't originally gonna come to the circus today, but then I suddenly felt a calling. Like I had to be here... Like there was missed screen time to make up for! Do you ever get that feeling? Is that just me? Or did someone misplace a wall somewhere?
Ash: I'm not sure, so I guess you're going to the tournament?
Julia: Of course, hope I battle you again cause we're going to make a great explosion.
Ash and Serena sweatdrop and then go talk to Lumi.
Lumi: This is the first time I'm really fighting on my own! I've learned a lot from my sister, and- Well, even from Zero too. But do you really think it's enough to stand among the best of them?
Ash: Of course you can, just do your best and I'm sure we can both advance.
As they look at the matchups, Ash realizes that he is going to face against Mckrezzy, he knows that he has battled him back at the Spinel Town, after he returned his Roggenrola. Then they go to the Battle Wheel as they're ready.
Clown 1: The two of us guard the Battle Wheel, but one of us only tells the truth, and the other one always tells lies!
Clown 2: Hey, you don't need to bring our personal life into this...
Clown 1: One of us will let you into the Battle Wheel when you're ready to begin, but how will you ever figure out which?!
Clown 2: (Sighs) If you're ready to begin, pick 3 Pokémon and we'll get this proverbial show on the proverbial road!
Ash nods as he decides to pick Victini, Pikachu, and Goodra for the battle, since he wants to diverse his team a lot.
Clown 2: You got it, pal. Now you know how the Battle Wheel works, yeah? Every car's a different field! Round and round the wheel goes, which field you get, only Arceus knows! Don't worry about space, it's bigger on the inside! Now get in there.
After getting inside, they find Mckrezzy already on the car as well.
Mckrezzy: (Sings) Once we board, we run aground~ A Flame Wheel of Fortune is all abound~ Turning, yet burning- unspoken sound~ As fate ever moves us around and round~ (Talk) Flame Wheel of Fortune- from my latest album. I assume you know it. It only seemed fitting here, even if we aren't in the Burning car. Probably for the best; I can't imagine that one passing safety regulations. Well, shall we begin? We've a date with destiny- though I fear there won't be a second one. Meloetta will be the perfect accompaniment for my next single! I can't allow anyone to stand in the way of my career. Therefore, you must prepare yourself!
The field is the Corrosion Mist Field, and Mckrezzy goes for Leavanny first, so Ash goes for Goodra, and he has Goodra goes for Ice Beam, and Leavanny dodges the attack and goes for Acid Spray. Goodra decides to change into Bide and takes the X Scissor and Leaf Blade, then returns the damage to Leavanny and knocks it out with the Ice Beam again.
The next Pokemon is Kommo-o, and Goodra is defeated by Clangorus Soulblaze, so Ash sends out Victini. Mckrezzy is surprised to see a Mythical Pokemon, and Victini goes for Psychic, defeating the Kommo-o with ease. And the final Pokemon is Exploud, which Ash goes for Searing Shot to change the field into the Burning Field, damaging the Exploud each turn, and defeating it with V-Crate.
Mckrezzy: Ah, it seems I struck a flat chord. (Recalls Exploud) I see. Just as well! If this is what fate has decided, it simply means that my duet with Meloetta was not meant to be! I shall rise above her and create a single solely on my own talent as I always have! I hope you will still consider picking it up when it eventually hits stores. Until then!
After getting down the Ferris Wheel, Serena, Julia, and Lumi come to greet him and congratulate him on his victory. After that's done, they decide to cheer for Julia and Lumi next until the first match is over.
And this is the first chapter, as you can see, Ash is now participating another tournament for Meloetta. I hope you like this chapter and the tournament continues in the next chapter.
