While on their way to Floaroma Town towards the next contests, Dawn and Ash were practicing only to be interrupted by some woman.
"Wow, incredible! That was the most amazing thunderbolt! If only I could borrow you for three days. Won't you please let me do that?" the lady says as she pets Pikachu's head as she glances up at Ash.
"I would!" Brock says his cheeks turning red making Harmony groan at his reaction.
"I'm sorry but I'm not following?" Ash says confused.
"Of course not, let me explain. I'm Theresa, and just down the road I run a cake shop with my Aunt Abigail." Theresa explains.
"My names Ash."
"Hi, I'm Dawn."
"I'm Harmony!"
"And I'm Brock!" Brock says hearts in his eyes once again causing a commotion with Crogunk coming out and poison jabbing him.
"I wonder where Corgunk takes him…" Ash questions confused.
"Far away from any women that's for sure." Harmony mumbles. "Sorry about our friend, he gets a bit love-struck.." she admits with a sigh.
Once they got walking towards the bakery Theresa explained further, "See my Aunt Abigail makes the greatest cakes in the whole world. She's been making all those cakes for years, with her partner." Theresa explains giggling, "A Pikachu she named Sugar. But something strange happened recently and Sugar disappeared. Poor Aunt Abigail. And I looked everywhere for Sugar and nothing. So when I saw your Pikachu I thought he could pretend to be Sugar. See?"
"Pretend?" Ash questions.
"See Aunt Abigail is going to be in a baking competition three days from now. I just know your Pikachu will really help her."
"But..won't she be able to tell the difference?" Ash asks glancing at Pikachu.
"And you're sure Sugar is a male Pikachu right? Because females have the heart-shape at their tail…" Harmony points out Chu turning a bit to show off her tail which was different than Pikachu's.
"I'm sure! All Pikachu has to do is scratch it's head with its tail every once in a while." Theresa explains.
Pikachu does the movement still confused really what was going on.
"That's it! That's what Sugar always does!"
"Then when your Aunt Abigail sees that she'll really think it's Sugar!" Brock pipes up.
"Wow, this just might work!" Dawn grins.
"It's a deal, let's give it a try!" Ash says nodding in agreement.
"Thank you both! I owe you!" Theresa says happily.
When they got back to the bakery Pikachu played his part earning the trust for Aunt Abigail thinking that it was Sugar, to begin with. Chu was trying to sneak glances at Pikachu through their time at the table and Harmony stroked her head. "It's only for a couple of days sweetie, he'll be back with us soon," she says softly.
After learning that Abigail used Pika-power to roast the berries Ash got that look on his face on wanting to see it, you could tell he was still worried about not being with Pikachu. "I'll go with you, Ash! I'd love to see it myself, maybe we could use roasted berries in our curry mix, right Chu?"
Upon getting closer to Aunt Abigail and Pikachu there were some unexpected guests nearby.
"Team Rocket!" Harmony growls out, Chu ready to fly off her shoulder to protect her mate.
"Teah whoit?" Theresa asks.
"They're the bad guys, not the smartest though…" Dawn says to Theresa.
"We gotta go help out Abigail," Ash says only for Harmony to grab his arm.
"Hold on, we can't do that Ash," Harmony points out.
"She's right, watch this, Aunty can take care of herself," Theresa says.
Abigail made quick work on Team Rocket, blasting them away rather quickly which shocked the three teens.
"Aunt Abigail! I see you haven't lost any of your battling skills." Thresa compliments as the five of them walk out of the bushes.
"Oh dear, were you watching me?" Abigail says nearly laughing.
Walking back towards the bakery Ash asked the question, "So was your Aunt Abigial a pokemon trainer?"
"She competed in the Grand Festival," Theresa explains.
"That's awesome!" Harmony and Dawn call out excitedly.
"Thank you, but those things are all ancient history as well," Abigail points out, "Sugar deserves all the credit for today." she says as Pikachu rubs his head, "That reminds me, you're going for the Sinnoh league aren't you Ash and Harmony?" she asks.
"Yes ma'am we are, and we both plan on trying to win." Harmony says, "Though I don't think Ash will beat me." she teases.
"Our next gym battle is going to be at the Eterna gym!" Ash points out with a wide grin.
"Then would either of you care to battle with me?" Abigail offers and Chu immediately shakes her head.
"I think I'll pass, but Ash here will!" Harmony says volunteering Ash by pushing him forward.
"Of course I'll be working with Sugar." Abigail points out.
"I'm not sure that's a good idea, Aunty," Theresa says concerned.
"Why? I'm sure you're training hard for your next battle and that's just what this would be."
Ash got a look of dread on his face, "Uh...I guess."
"I mean I guess this is what we get for allowing this to happen." Ash mumbles
This made Harmony shrug, "Training is training, you never know you might learn something, I'm surprised you haven't had these kinds of training battles before?" she says softly, "Is it not common to lend a pokemon to another trainer to battle and practice? My mates and I did it all the time, it gives the pokemon a new way of looking at techniques, especially with people who focus on different types of pokemon." she tells him softly as they head back towards the back of the bakery to an open part for a battle.
As the battle happened it was sudden when Abigail stopped the match before it could go too far which confused Aipom and Ash.
"I'm impressed you're strong Aipom, no sense going on since we lost." Abigail points out making Ash look on in confusion.
"Huh?"
"Ash, I had a feeling about you dear, you'rea good kid, a very good kid," she explains making everyone look at her in confusion.
"Theresa, thank you for refereeing," Abigail says happily before turning to Pikachu, "Well then, Sugar shall we go?"
"But Why?" Ash questions.
"You don't think she knows about Sugar being Ash's do you?" Harmony asks after Abigail had left. "It is possible, right?"
No one answered her making her sigh.
Of course, that night Ash's guilt was settling in making Harmony sigh, "If you really want to tell her you can, but like I said I think she knows Ash, that's why you're so good, you're going along with it to make her happy." Harmony says softly and Ash nods before rushing out to tell her.
"Abigail! I have something I need to say." Ash admits to Abigail who was sitting with Pikachu on the deck.
"Now let me guess, this is actually your Pikachu Ash. Is that right?" she says and everyone but Harmony gets a shocked face.
"What gave it away?" Harmony asks, "We thought Pikachu was being pretty good at acting. Was it Team Rocket who blew the cover or did you know the whole time?" she asks softly.
Chu thankful the charade was over rushed to Pikachu's side to nuzzle him her tail wagging slightly as the two sat close once again.
"See, Pikachu did a fine job on these berries, but Sugar never did it exactly the same way." Abigail points out.
"Well, what do you know," Ash says almost in awe at that being the fact on how Abigail figured it out.
"To tell you the trust I know why Sugar disappeared," Abigail admits. "Sugar and I were talking about this year's bake of and how I wanted to use Asper berries, but Sugar couldn't crack them open with their thunderbolt," she points out. "And I asked Sugar to find a way to do so."
"And then Sugar left," Theresa says sadly.
"Wait...you wanted Sugar to break them open, but couldn't as a Pikachu, did you ever think that maybe Sugar went to go train in the forest or perhaps was attempting to figure out a way to get strong by evolving? It's not uncommon for some pokemon to want to be alone to go try and evolve themselves." Harmony pipes up.
"That could be the case, but thank you again for letting me spend the day with your Pikachu Ash, it was a great feeling I got today," Abigail says smiling.
"Glad to help?" Ash says a bit confused that she wasn't angry at all.
It was then two large rubber hands shoot out from the distance grabbing Chu and Pikachu o the table.
"Pikachu!" Ash calls out.
"Chu!" Harmony cries out, "Give them back Team Rocket!" she growls out.
"Not you guys again!" Theresa says.
"Pikachu quick thunderbolt!" Ash calls out only or the move to fail, Team Rocket had actually come slightly prepared.
"You're not getting away again!" Harmony and Ash call out running after and proceeding to jump onto Team Rocket's car bot.
As Team Rocket drove away with Ash and Harmony holding onto for dear life, Ash called out Staravia, "Staravia wing attack non-stop!"
"Pip! You try a stream of pecks back here!" Harmony calls out her penguin pokemon as it started pecking into the back of the car bot.
As neither was working Ash tried another tactic, "Staravia ma power Ariel Ace!"
"Pip you try using Bubble Beam!" Harmony cries out.
It was then that Team Rocket took a dive off the cliff causing Ash to end up letting go and Harmony to have to hoist herself up once more to keep being there. "Ash!" she cries out seeing him fall but was unable to grab his hand before he hit the ground as Team Rocket still sped off with her on the back. "Shite…" she grumbles looking at Pip, "Guess e got to get this done ourselves."
"Okay Pip I want you to try spinning while using Peck, maybe we can do a makeshift drill peck," Harmony says getting desperate, but at this point, the car bot had stopped and a huge splur of electricity was coming from upfront. "What is that?" she questions. "Woah is that...that's a Raichu!" she says being able to get off of the bed part and onto the ground holding Pip in her arms.
"Harmony!" Ash calls out rushing to her side before gaping at the look of the thunderbolt.
"It's coming from the outside!" Dawn points out.
"It's a Raichu, that's why Dawn" Harmony points out gesturing to the Raichu.
"Sugar! It is you!" Abigail says happily towards the Raichu.
"Sugar?" Everyone else gasps.
"Sugar evolved into Raichu!?"
"I said that might be the case!" Harmony says with a grin.
Raichu is able to destroy Team Rocket's arm by using a focus punch.
"Woah! Now that's some serious power!" Harmony says in awe.
"Sugar go rescue the Pikachu's they stole!" Abigail says to Sugar.
Sugar goes using double Focus punch against the bot, eventually breaking a hole into it and easily getting Chu and Pikachu out.
"Chu! You're okay!" Harmony cries out rushing to her partner and getting the cage open.
"Sugar let's do this like old times use thunderbolt!" Abigail calls out and with ease the Raichu uses it exploding the bot and sending Team Rocket flying through the air blasting off again.
The next morning Abigail presented a beautiful and yummy cake to the teens making Harmony grin.
"Looks amazing! I bet Sugar was very helpful in this. It's surely got to win!" Harmony says happily taking a bite out of her slice.
"Thank you so much, Abigail! And Sugar!" Harmony says.
"I know for sure now I'll win my next contest!" Dawn says happily and her determination was super high.
"I'm sure you're going to do great now Dawn." Harmony says with a nod, "And I still think I'm going to take a small break, I have to plan a bit more and need to switch my team around. I really want to bring my Ampharos back into my team, she's been helping Professor Elm back in Johto because he was studying shiny pokemon." Harmony admits.
"You have an Ampharos? And a Shiny one?" Ash questions.
"Yeah, I actually helped hatch her back on a Mareep Farm, the right place at the right time. I spent a week helping the farm to study a bit about Mareep wool compared to Wooloo wool.
They ended up showing me the nursery where the eggs were and just as we walked in one hatched, that being my Mareep and it imprinted on me, little thing started getting upset when I tried to leave later that week after following me around everywhere I went so they offered me to keep her and train her well." Harmony explains to her friends. "I'll have you meet her when we find a pokemon center that I can call to get her sent to me. In the meantime let's enjoy this yummy cake!"
Once the group of four teens finally reached Floaroma Town and started to explore.
After hearing how the town came to be by a nice elderly lady Dawn spotted another poster next to the Contest one.
"Hey guys look! This says there's going to be a Poffin cooking class today!" Dawn points out.
"Oh that does sound rather interesting, all I've seen is how to make Pokepuffs, and I'm not the best at making them." Harmony says sheepishly. "I may be able to cook, but baking is a whole different thing."
"Poffin? What's Poffin?" Ash asks, confused by the two girls in their group's reaction.
"Huh! Don't tell me you don't know what Poffins are?" Dawn says with a gasp.
"I won't have' ta if you just tell me!" Ash says placing his hands on his hips a bit frustrated that Dawn was keeping it from him.
"Alright, just relax Ash, Dawn's just messing with you." Harmony soothes him a bit, making him relax as Dawn finally starts to tell him.
"Okay, okay, Poffins are a Pokemon treat made from tree berries. See I always helped my mom when she made Poffins, so that would make me an expert!" she brags.
"I uh..I don't think that's how that works Dawn, have you ever made any by yourself before? It's different when you have someone helping bake something." Harmony tells her gently.
"Soif Poffins are a Pokemon snack that would make it be like the Hoenn regions Pokeblock!" Ash says in excitement.
"Similar yes, but very different techniques, Poffins are harder to make because if you don't do it right they don't turn out, or worse get burned. Pokeblock you can't really mess up besides figuring out flavor combos," Harmony points out.
"And not only do Poffins keep pokemon super healthy, but they keep pokemon looking and feeling great!" she says before beginning Brock and Ash, "C'mon, please? Wouldn't it be cool to take a Poffin class?"
"Yeah please, Brock? There's still time before the contest, enough time for Dawn to practice," Harmony points out with puppy-dog eyes that seemed to melt Ash quickly.
"They do have a point…" Ash says, hoping Brock would agree as well.
"It does sound like a good idea, so yes! Let's go!" Brock says which made Pikachu and Chu cheer happily.
"Anybody home?" Ash calls out as the group got to where the poster said the class was.
"I'm surprised that no one is here…" Harmony says, glancing around in confusion, "We did go to the right place, right Rotom?" she asks her phone floating near her.
Bzzt of course we are at the right place! Would I steer you somewhere else?
Her Rotom replies sarcastically. "Right, sorry Rotom," Harmony says sheepishly, "Thanks for getting us here, you can go back to rest."
My pleasure Harmony!
It replies before quickly stowing itself back in her pocket.
"Ash keep it down, I think you're scaring that Roserade over there," Dawn points out after Ash kept calling out.
"Oops, my bad," Ash says sheepishly.
"Sorry about that, just because he's loud now doesn't mean he's rude all the time!" Dawn says, trying to fix it.
"Dawn! That was an insult, rather than trying to help," she says glancing at Ash who sent a playful glare towards Dawn.
"Let's check out Roserade," Ash says, tugging his Pokedex out.
Roserade the bouquet Pokemon, Roserade is the evolved form of Roselia, it lures enemies with its sweet aroma and attacks with dancer-like elegance.
"So it evolves from Roselia," Ash says with a grin.
"Did you say you were here for the Poffin cooking class?" the group hears from in front of them.
"Uh-huh!" the group responds.
"I made you wait, I'm terribly sorry," she responds only for Brock to go all lovey-dovey on her, making Harmony groan.
"Doesn't matter who, always the pretty ones that he goes after." she grumbles as Crogunk takes him away, "Never learns…"
"Uh...well won't the rest of you come inside please?" she offers.
After learning the woman's name to be Forsythia she started to show the group how to make the Poffins.
It wasn't long before each one of them were making different batches, Harmony and Dawns turning out really well. "Oh I bet my Pokemon will love these," she says happily, "And I'm glad we went and switched out some of our friends because now we have Alice back on our team and Braviary," she says to Chu as she gets her pokeballs out.
Quickly everyone was releasing their teams. Ash brought out Turtwig, Aipom, and Staravia, Brock brought out Sudowoodo as Crogunk was already out, Dawn letting out Pachirisu, Piplup, and Buneary while Harmony let out Alice, her shiny Ampharos, Lyn the Shinx, Pip, the shiny Piplup, and Braviary.
"Alright, guys! I hope you enjoy these, I picked a bunch of similarly flavored berries that you like. But we can adjust if you don't like them." Harmony offers as they quickly make way to grab one before trying it. Braviary did not seem to like it all that much while the electric and water types seemed to love it. This made Harmony frown, "Huh, maybe it's not the right flavor for you, I know you don't prefer the spicier berries so I should make some bitter ones next time. How does that sound Braviary?" she says earning a happy cry from her flying type. "Great, I'll write it down so I make sure to make different batches."
On the other side of the kitchen, Dawn's pokemon were all crying unhappily about the Poffins Dawn made.
"Uh, Dawn is everything okay?"
"I don't understand, these are the ones my mom makes for Glameow! Why don't they like them?" she says with a frown.
"Well, they all have different tastes than Glameow has, though I'm surprised Buneary doesn't like it as she's also a normal type…" Harmony says. "They could like different flavors, it's experimenting what they like, you know, Dawn. Braviary here doesn't like these all that much either, so I'll have to rework another recipe for him," she says, trying to reassure her friend.
On the other side, Ash's pokemon swamped Forsythia for Poffins as Ash's were solidly burnt. "Good try Ash, but uh, best leave cooking and baking to Brock, Dawn, and I," she says, "at least you did try and put in the effort to make them?" she says again trying to reassure the other friend that everything would be fine.
"You're probably right Harmony, I'm surprised you know so much seeing as you said this was your first time," Forsythia says as they were putting the dried dishes away.
"Uh well, I'm used to figuring out what my Pokemon like. I learned pretty fast while camping on my own with them what flavor profiles they prefer, surprisingly most like a spicy with a hint of sweetness to it. It gets the electric types sparking up happily and the water types get that bit of heat that warms them up because they're usually cooler." Harmony admits. "I just wish Dawn figured that out sooner rather than learning the harder way." she says sheepishly, "I'm still surprised I didn't burn them, I may be a good cook, but baking I tend to mess up or get distracted."
It was later when they were having tea that they learned of why Roserade was so shy in the first place.
"That's such a sweet story! I love those kinds of stories. Harmony says with big happy eyes. "It shows how much people and Pokemon can bond over specific things and that bond makes them grow stronger!"
It was then an explosion was heard from outside.
"What was that!?" Ash calls out as he and Harmony push the windows open to try and see.
"Surprise Surprise...it's Team Rocket," Harmony says in a bored monotone voice. Thankfully some of the pokemon were still out and trying to get them to stop, but they were causing too much destruction.
"Stop it!" Forsythia cries out.
"Knock it off!" Ash cries out.
Listen, is that a voice I hear?
It's speaking to me loud and clear.
On the wind!
Past the stars!
In your ear!
Bringing chaos at a breakneck pace!
Dashing hope, putting fear in its place!
A rose by any other name is just as sweet...
When everything's worse, our work is complete!
Jessie!
James!
And Meowth, now that's a name.
Putting the do-gooders in their place!
Team Rocket!
WE'RE IN YOUR FACE!
"Come on!" Ash calls out in anger.
"These berries aren't yours and you know it!" Harmony growls out Chu angrily calling out as well.
"So get out now!" Dawn states.
"Twerpier words never spoken. We're going to make a vast fortune selling Poffins and not you" Jessie calls out sticking her tongue out at the group.
"Pikachu!"
"Chu!"
"Thunderbolt let's go!" Harmony and Ash call out.
Unfortunately, it did nothing making Meowth laugh.
"Hahaha, I know you're more shocked than we are!"
It was then Team Rocket engaged in a battle with the group, ending up nearly winning and was starting to plan to get away when a stronger Magical leaf shot at them from what looked to be Roserade in a scarf.
"Isn't that your Roserade?" Harmony asks Forsythia.
"Roserade protects this orchard?" Meowth asks after having a conversation with Lotad.
"These berries are better than any others, and these flowers are more beautiful than any others too." Forsythia states, "And it's all because of Roserade," she admits with her eyes watering. "But how could my Roserade be so forceful?"
"Roserade has the confidence with the scarf more than likely." Harmony tells her softly, "It's something that it can use to prove itself, but that means it's always had that kind of spirit inside it just needs a push." she says to Forsythia.
With Team Rocket slightly distracted Harmony and Ash nod to each other telling their Pikachu's to use Quick Attack on the wheels of Team Rocket's basket robot.
With that happening the group of teens were stopped by giant baskets getting thrown onto them.
"Are you fucking kidding me those bloody asshats!" Harmony growls pounding at the wall of the basket trying to either break it or get it to fall over.
"Harmony calm down! We'll get out of this," Ash says having been trapped with her making her shoulders fall a bit and relax.
"You're right, we'll figure it out...but how?" she asks him softly.
It was then that Meowth had stolen Roserades scarf and Team Rocket had nabbed it as well, while Forsythia had had enough and was trying to stop Team Rocket herself by blocking their path and giving Roserade the boost it needed from its trainer.
The group of teens were freed when Roserade used Petal dance in order to free them but also stop Team Rocket by blowing out one of the tires of their machine.
"Go get them! Piplup use bubble beam!" Dawn calls out.
"Crogunk use Poison Sting!" Brock calls out.
"Pikachu!"
"Chu!"
"Double Iron Tail!" Harmony and Ash call out together the combined attack breaking open the machine and letting the berries flow out.
"Quick Roserade use Petal Dance!" Forsythia calls out.
The moves combined allowed for the machine to explode and sent Team Rocket blasting off again.
"Talk about an overwhelming victory," Brock says as they look at the mess.
It was then that Roserade used Sunny Day and Lotad used Water Gun to help repair the damaged garden, fresh plants sprouting in place, much like the legend of Floaroma Town.
Eventually, Dawn finally was able to figure out a recipe that her pokemon liked, it just took her time to really assess what her pokemon would really enjoy. And enjoy them her Pokemon did.
"See? Now time to prep for that contest of yours Dawn, I am really sure about sitting this one out, I'll compete in the next one for sure, I want to train Pip up a bit more hopefully we'll be able to get him closer to learning Drill Peck or even get him closer to evolve as I noticed he seemed to be closer." Harmony points out. "Tomorrow we can do more practicing if you want to? I have a good feeling about this contest for you," she admits to Dawn earning a grin.
"Well I'm super pumped about it! So whoever stands in my way bring it on!"
A/N: Sorry it took a few days, I got distracted while trying to get to The Rise of Darkrai, which I am in the midst of writing and loving it!