A Slippery Encounter

Alec's POV

The group was continuing on their way to Coumarine City that was taking them up a hill, and Serena seemed more excited to get there then Ash. "Alright, Coumarine City, here we come!" Serena shouted as she headed up the slope.

"Yay! Yay!" Bonnie shouted in agreement.

"Serena's really pumped up," Ash commented.

"You're ready for the Pokémon Showcase, aren't you?" Alec asked.

"You bet! I'm so totally excited I can hardly wait to get there!" Serena answered.

After continuing some more, Ash and Alec passed Serena and she didn't seem as excited as before. "Oh no, I'm so exhausted I can hardly wait to sleep," Serena said.

"Says the one who was so excited a few minutes ago," Alec commented.

"Isn't this hill ever going to end?" Serena asked like Alec hadn't spoken.

"I was thinking the same thing," Clemont stated.

"Don't make me send Soar down there for encouragement," Alec said.

"Don't you even think about it," Serena said in a low voice.

Alec merely smiled and threw out his Braviary. Soar flew and peaked at Serena and Clemont which sent the two sprinting up the hill to avoid him. Ethan burst out laughing at the sight while Alec chuckled as the two passed him. "Good work Soar," Alec said.

[Thank you. Happy to provide motivation,] Soar replied.

"That was cruel!" Serena shouted.

"Well you looked like you needed a second wind on your enthusiasm," Alec pointed out.

"Why are you my brother again?" Serena asked rhetorically as Alec returned Soar to his ball.

"Hey! From this point on it's downhill all the way!" Bonnie shouted from the peak.

"We're saved," Serena said.

"What a relief," Clemont added.

When the group got up to where Bonnie was waiting on the peak, she looked at something in the distance. "Look, a Pokémon," Bonnie said.

"What's that?" Ash asked. Alec turned and saw that it was a Swanna. Swanna flew over the group and something fell off it.

"What's that?" Alec asked. The thing landed on Ash's head causing him to fall to the ground. This gave the group a better look at what fell and Alec saw it was a Goomy, but something was off about it.

"Ash, are you okay?" Serena asked. Ash then got up and pulled Goomy off his head.

"It's so slimy," Ash commented.

"Is it a Pokémon?" Bonnie asked, poking it.

"It's a Goomy, which is considered to be the weakest dragon-type Pokémon. But what's it doing all the way out here?" Alec wondered.

"This is a dragon type?" Ash asked, looking at Goomy.

"Something's not right. Goomy's body is mostly made of liquid, I'm wondering if it got dried out somehow," Clemont pointed out.

"I've got some water," Serena said as she pulled out her canteen and poured out its contents on Goomy. Goomy opened its eyes and looked at the group, but still looked weak.

"I don't think that will be enough," Alec stated. Ash nodded and looked around.

"I'll just take it down to the river," Ash said, pointing out a river not far from the group. He then picked up Goomy and got ready to run down the side, which was very rocky.

"You're going to climb down there?" Serena asked in surprise.

"It's too dangerous," Clemont added.

"We'll be fine. It's gotta have water," Ash said, referring to Goomy. Ash then started to head down the slope but it quickly turned into an uncontrollable sprint. He had to jump over a few rocks and Pikachu destroyed one with Iron Tail. It looked like Ash had a clear path, but he tripped on a small rock and he and Goomy fell into the river.

While all that was happening, the rest of the group got down to the river much slower than Ash had. "Ash, we warned you," Serena stated with concern.

"And what made you think he would listen?" Alec asked Serena in a low voice so Ash couldn't hear.

"Goomy still looks weak," Bonnie noted.

The group started pouring water on Goomy and it was helping, but he still needed more. "Hang on. I've got someone that can help," Alec said as he pulled out a Poké Ball. "Voltier, come on out," Alec said as he threw out his Raichu. "Can you give Goomy some help?" Alec asked him. Voltier didn't say anything but nodded and used Rain Dance over Goomy.

The rain took effect and Goomy finally had the strength to move and looked at the group happily, particularly Ash. "Is that enough water for now?" Ash asked Goomy.

[It is, thank you,] Goomy said.

"That's such a relief," Serena said.

"Thanks for the help Voltier, return," Alec said, seeing his work was done.

"Goomy's better! Goomy's better!" Bonnie cheered.

[Hello,] Dedenne said, coming out of Bonnie's bag. Goomy looked terrified and jumped onto Ash's head, whimpering.

"Goomy, Dedenne scares you?" Ash asked in confusion.

"It might be because Dedenne is part fairy type and Goomy is weak to them," Alec theorized.

"That makes sense," Ash said as Bonnie pulled Dedenne out of her bag.

"Wow, Goomy's scared of cute little Dedenne? You're weird," Bonnie commented while Dedenne looked at Goomy in amusement. Goomy apparently didn't like that as he got off of Ash and started to hit Bonnie with his horns. Bonnie started giggling at that. "That tickles! You're all giggly!" Bonnie said. Goomy stopped and sunk deeper into the river looking like he was in pain.

"Goomy, what's wrong?" Ash asked.

"Goomy's horns have sensory organs in them. Maybe it's their weak point," Clemont wondered.

"Slow down. Take it easy," Ash advised Goomy.

"Maybe when you said Goomy was weird you hurt its feelings," Serena guessed. Goomy responded by jumping onto Serena's ear and started to nibble on it playfully.

"Looks like you're right," Alec commented.

"But it is a little gross that Goomy feels so slimy," Serena stated. Goomy stopped nibbling Serena's ear and slid down into the river.

"Now you've done it," Alec noted. Just then it started pouring rain on Serena.

"Looks like Goomy knows Rain Dance as well," Alec stated as Serena started protesting.

"I'm sorry! I won't call you weird!" she said. Goomy stopped using Rain Dance in response before he sunk into the river again.

"Now what's going on?" Ash wondered.

"Goomy looks just like you when you're hungry," Bonnie commented.

"Hey Goomy, want something to eat?" Ash asked him.

[Yes please,] Goomy said excitedly. He then got himself out of the river and headed to the forest as the group followed him.

Goomy then found a bush and started munching on it. [Is it that good?] Pikachu asked. Goomy didn't say anything as he kept eating.

[Food!] Chespin shouted as he released himself.

"Chespin! Not again," Clemont said in a panic.

[Look, fruit] Chespin said, pointing at the fruit in a nearby tree.

"Are you hungry too?" Clemont asked.

[Yes,] Chespin said bluntly. He then used Pin Missile on the tree causing some fruit to fall from the tree. Chespin grabbed one and started eating.

"Chespin sure enjoys eating," Clemont commented.

[Invaders!] someone shouted as an Ariados jumped down from the tree.

"It looks really mad," Bonnie said fearfully, hiding behind Clemont while Goomy hid behind Pikachu.

"Ariados, calm down. We're not here to hurt you or take your territory," Alec told him.

Ariados calmed down for some reason and headed back up his tree. Goomy was still panicking though. "Goomy, it's okay now," Ash said reassuringly, but Goomy was panicking so much that water was falling from his body. "What's wrong? It's all over," Ash questioned.

[He could have been one of them,] Goomy answered, his voice filled with fear.

"One of who?" Alec asked Goomy.

[Can you understand me?!] Goomy asked in shock.

[You get used to it,] Pikachu told Goomy, placing his paw on him reassuringly.

[Okay. The wetlands where I'm from was attacked by a bunch of Pokémon, and Ariados was one of them. I managed to escape on one of the Swana's that was flying away after I got sent into the air,] Goomy explained and Alec translated.

"It sounds like Goomy got caught up in some kind of territorial dispute," Clemont theorized. Goomy jumped on Clemont's ear and started nibbling affectionately.

"So that's why Goomy was so scared when he saw Ariados," Serena added. Goomy jumped to her and started nibbling her ear as well.

Goomy then jumped down to talk to Pikachu. [Can you help me train? I want to be able to go back and help my friends,] he asked.

[Sure,] Pikachu answered. That's when a device came out of nowhere and trapped the trainers to the tree.

"Oh what is it this time?" Alec asked in annoyance as a Meowth balloon appeared.

"Team Rocket! You guys again," Ash said in annoyance.

"Important work demands the best," Jessie stated.

"Meowth, do the rest," James told him. Meowth pressed a button in the balloon and a cage appeared under it and headed towards the Pokémon.

"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!" Ash commanded. The move hit the cage but the Thunderbolt suddenly fired from the cage and hit Ethan. The cage then captured all three Pokémon and went back up to the balloon. James then threw down a device that turned out to be a smoke bomb.

Once they were gone, Alec tried reaching for his Poké Balls but they were just out of reach thanks to the position of his left arm, curse him for putting his Poké Balls on the side of his throwing hand. "Ash, can you reach your Poké Balls?" Alec asked.

"Yeah," Ash said as one of them fell off and it opened to reveal Frogadier.

[Do I even want to guess what happened?] he asked when he saw the situation.

"Quick Frogadier, use Cut and slice threw this thing," Ash told him. Frogadier pulled out the white blade and cut threw the device holding the group to the tree.

Now that they were free, Alec and Ash reached for their Poké Balls. "Soar, come on out!" Alec said.

"Fletchinder, I choose you!" Ash said at the same time. The two flying types appeared in the air.

[What's going on?] Soar asked.

[Where are we needed?] Fletchinder asked.

"Fletchinder, go find Team Rocket's balloon," Ash told Fletchinder.

"Go with him Soar, it's a Meowth balloon," Alec ordered. Both Pokémon nodded and flew off.

Ethan's POV

Once Team Rocket's balloon had landed and put the cage on the ground, Pikachu was still trying to blast their way out with Thunderbolt, but it wasn't working. Ethan had tried to break them out as well, but it seems Team Rocket planned for that as his moves didn't work. "Please, you're wasting energy," James told them.

"Right, conserve your energy and be responsible," Jessie added. Her face then lit with fear. "There's a ghost standing behind them!" she shrieked.

[Nice shriek,] Ethan commented.

[You stay away from him,] Pikachu stated.

"Nah, it's just Goomy," Meowth said.

"Don't scare me like that," Jessie told Goomy.

"Pikachu and Umbreon alone would have been fine, but one more doesn't hurt I suppose," James stated.

[My name is Ethan,] he said, growling at James.

"And with those three trapped in my anti-move cage, they're as helpless as a Magikarp on land," Meowth said as if Ethan never spoke.

"Now it's merrily off to the boss," Jessie said.

"But first," James stated.

"Party!" Meowth shouted.

[Allllll right,] Wobbuffet said.

Team Rocket then headed off out of sight and Ethan looked at Pikachu. [I'm assuming you have a better understanding of Team Rocket's cages that you can get us out of here,] Ethan said.

[Well, since our moves won't work, we'll have to force our way out,] Pikachu said.

[But how? None of your moves work,] Goomy pointed out.

[Like this,] Pikachu said as he ran into the cage. Ethan saw what Pikachu was trying to do and ran into the cage at the same spot as Pikachu. It hurt a lot, but Ethan has felt worse. Pikachu and Ethan both took turns running into the cage as Goomy watched. Pretty soon however, the two were starting to get worn out from running into metal bars.

[It's hopeless, we can't get through,] Goomy stated.

[It's not hopeless. It's like Ash says, 'Don't give up till it's over',] Pikachu told Goomy.

[Come on Pikachu, it's got to be reaching its limit,] Ethan told him. The two ran together into the same spot and some of the bars bent, making a hole that looked large enough for Ethan to fit through.

[We did it!] Pikachu said excitedly.

[Goomy, you go first,] Ethan told him. Goomy nodded and started to slip threw the hole, but got a bit stuck. Ethan and Pikachu gave him a push and he slipped out. [You next Pikachu,] Ethan told him. Pikachu started to climb out but got stuck, but Ethan couldn't push him out.

[Hang on, I've got an idea. Let me back in] Goomy said.

[What are you thinking?] Pikachu asked.

Goomy didn't say anything as he went across Pikachu and Ethan's bodies, coating them in his slime. [This should help,] Goomy stated.

[You are a genius!] Ethan said excitedly. The three then heard Team Rocket coming back and the Pokémon quickly put their bodies in front of the hole.

"It sounded as loud as a whiny twerp," Jessie said as they appeared with some stupid stuff on their faces and bodies.

"But everything seems to be in order," James pointed out, not looking at the cage but at the three Pokémon.

"Hey, I don't remember Pikachu and Umbreon glistering like that," Meowth stated. Pikachu and Ethan quickly shook their bodies to try to get some of the slime off, but Team Rocket didn't seem to give it much thought. "Well, whatever. Let's get back to partying hardy," Meowth said and Team Rocket went back to whatever they were doing.

[Now's our chance, let's go,] Ethan ordered as he grabbed Goomy and pushed him through. Ethan and Goomy then helped Pikachu from both sides and he popped out.

[Come on Ethan,] Pikachu said once he was out. Ethan put his front paws out first and managed to push his head through with some help from Pikachu and Goomy, getting the rest of him out of the cage.

[We did it!] Goomy said excitedly.

[Keep it down, Team Rocket could still hear us,] Pikachu warned.

The three then started moving, but Goomy quickly started to fall behind. [Goomy, can't you move any faster?] Ethan asked, trying not to hurt Goomy's pride.

[I'm… trying…] Goomy said between breaths.

Pikachu ran back and lowered his tail. [Hop on,] Pikachu told him.

[Th-Thank you,] Goomy said happily. Goomy got on Pikachu's back and he started running back when Team Rocket showed up.

"There! It's them!" James shouted.

[Let's move!] Ethan ordered as he gave Pikachu a quick push and they started running.

As they moved, he saw that only James was pursuing on foot and Ethan guessed the others were going to get the balloon. Ethan turned his head forward and saw two familiar shapes in the sky. [We're over here! Tell the others!] he shouted as loud as his lungs would let him. The shapes of Soar and Fletchinder turned around and flew somewhere else.

The two continued running on foot and Ethan hoped that Soar and Fletchinder got everyone here soon. "I'm faster than a speeding Thunderbolt!" James shouted as he started to gain ground on Ethan and Pikachu.

[Someone do something!] Ethan shouted. Goomy turned and used Rain Dance to slow James down and he tripped and fell.

[I did it!] Goomy said excitedly.

[Nice work Goomy!] Pikachu congratulated.

Ethan smiled and looked back just to be sure and saw Team Rocket's balloon. [These guys just don't know when to give up,] Ethan commented.

Pumpkaboo then appeared and fired Shadow Ball at Pikachu and Goomy. [Look out!] Ethan shouted as he jumped in front of the Shadow Ball. Before it could hit, something appeared over Ethan taking the Shadow Ball. The resulting blast knocked the Pokémon to the ground and Ethan saw Ash standing over them.

[Ash!] Pikachu shouted.

"You three alright?" Ash asked.

"Ethan!" Alec shouted as he ran up.

[Alec!] Ethan greeted him as he ran up.

"Team Rocket, you'll pay for this," Ash told them, their balloon hovering in place.

"Let's take this from the top!" Jessie shouted as she threw a device. Ash and Alec dodged it but Serena, Clemont, and Bonnie were caught.

"Oh the shame," Clemont commented.

"Caught by the same dumb trap," Bonnie added.

Team Rocket's cage then came out from the bottom of the balloon already repaired. "Iron Tail!" Alec and Ash shouted. Pikachu and Ethan managed to cut through the cage in its dormant stage, destroying it. James responded by throwing out Inkay.

"Shadow Ball!" Jessie ordered.

"Tackle!" James commanded.

"Fletchinder, use Peck!" Ash shouted.

"Soar, break threw that Shadow Ball with Brave Bird!" Alec shouted. Fletchinder hit Inkay with his beak, stopping him while Soar's Brave Bird sliced through the Shadow Ball and continued to hit Pumpkaboo.

"Inkay, Psybeam!" James ordered. Inkay fired and hit Pikachu, Fletchinder, and Soar. They appeared fine at first, but soon it was clear that they were confused.

"Pumpkaboo, Confuse Ray!" Jessie commanded. Six gold orbs then surrounded Ethan and hit him, his vision disoriented.

Alec's POV

"Ethan! Soar! Cut it out!" Alec shouted as his two Pokémon started to attack each other as Ash's did the same. Alec grabbed Ethan as Soar attempted to hit with Superpower, but Alec sidestepped and jumped onto one of Soar's wings, pinning him to the ground. "You've both got to snap out of this!" Alec shouted, hoping to get through to them. It did seem to work as Ethan hit Alec with his paws wildly and Soar was trying to get Alec off his wing, but he wasn't budging.

"Finish this off with Dark Pulse!" Jessie shouted.

"While we use Psybeam!" James added.

The two attacks fired at Ash as he was struggling to get to his Pokémon as well. "Ash! Look out!" Alec warned. He wanted to release another Pokémon to stop the attacks, but if he did Ethan could slip out of his arms and attack at random.

Goomy suddenly jumped in front of Team Rocket's attacks, the moves going around him like water from a stream hitting a rock. The two attacks fired again and Goomy continued to tank them. They stopped as Goomy was surrounded by red energy. [I'm not running away!] Goomy shouted as a white beam formed in his mouth and fired, hitting both Pumpkaboo and Inkay hard.

"That was Bide!" Alec realized.

[What… what happened?] Ethan asked.

[Uh, why are you on my wing?] Soar wondered. Alec looked and saw that the confusion had been broken.

"Good to have you two back," Alec told them. Ash seemed to have the same luck as Pikachu and Fletchinder broke their confusion as well.

"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!" Ash shouted.

"Ethan, Dark Pulse!" Alec shouted as well. The two attacks fused and caused Team Rocket's balloon to explode and send the occupants and their Pokémon into a blastoff.

"Alright! You were so amazing Goomy!" Ash told him.

"That Goomy has some power. With a bit of training it could be really powerful," Alec told Ash as Soar got the rest of the group out of Team Rocket's trap.

"He's right, Goomy. With that Bide there is no way you could be weak," Ash told Goomy.

Goomy looked at Ash with a big smile and a tint of pink on his checks. [You mean it?] Goomy asked happily.

[Yeah, you know it,] Dedenne said. Goomy jumped, or what counted as jumping, and hid behind Pikachu.

"Even if he's weak to fairy types there's no reason he should be that scared," Serena said.

"Perhaps there's a deeper hidden reason for that behavior," Clemont theorized.

"Maybe, but it could just be his normal reaction to fairy types. I've seen fire types that are so fearful of water they would only drink from ponds or water their trainer gave them even if they didn't have a bad experience with a water type," Alec pointed out.

"I suppose," Serena said.

Ash listened before continuing to talk to Goomy. "When you got us out of that jam with your Bide, I felt it. Your real power," Ash told Goomy.

[Agreed,] Pikachu said.

[Really?! Then, can I come with you so I can be as strong as Pikachu and Ethan?] Goomy asked. Ash looked at Alec, wondering what Goomy said and Alec told him.

"You bet Goomy. You ready?" Ash asked him.

[Yes,] Goomy answered.

"Alright then, go Poké Ball!" Ash shouted. Goomy tensed up, thinking Ash was going to throw it, but Ash lightly tapped Goomy on the head with it and went inside. The ball clicked after three shakes, signaling the capture. "Yeah! I caught a Goomy!" Ash shouted excitedly.

Ash let Goomy back out and Goomy jumped onto Ash's ear immediately. "Glad you could join us, Goomy," Alec greeted.

"We know you're going to be great," Serena told him.

"Glad you're here Goomy!" Bonnie greeted.

"Welcome aboard," Clemont said.

"Stop, that tickles," Ash told Goomy and he let go of Ash's ear. Alec couldn't help but chuckle at Goomy's show of affection.