SOOOOOOO sorry about the wait! My internet was all wonky plus i just moved. Anyway I'd like to thank EVERYONE for reviewing and to answer some questions yes, I will be fully evolving Zeus and Athena and to kitsunelover300 thanks for the suggestions! i was actually gonna use 2 of those Pokemon you suggested and one of them will be showing up in this chapter! ^_^ READ ON VIEWERS!

Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon only Julie...WAAAAAAAAAAAA!

Chapter 7: Like it or Lup it!

Today, Julie, Ash, and Brock were getting ready for lunch again with the help of Zeus and Pikachu. Dawn and Piplup were practicing their contest moves.

"Alright Piplup, spin and use Bubblebeam!" Dawn commanded. Piplup jumped high into the air and spun and shot glowing bubbles out of her mouth. But, before she could land, she got extremely dizzy and fell on her head.

"Nice try." Ash said holding up a sign with an X along with Julie and Brock.

"But, not quite." Julie said sheepishly.

"Pichu." Zeus said smiling.

"Pika-Pika." Pikachu added.

"no one ever said it would be easy." Brock said smiling.

"We may have messed up, but we looked great doing it!" Dawn said enthusiastically.

"Piplup!" Piplup added.

"Piplup, use Bubblebeam and spin at the same time!" Piplup again span and used Bubblebeam, only for the same thing to happen and fall on her head. Dawn rushed forward worried about Piplup while Julie, Ash and Brock, with the grill held over his head, held up the X sign again.

"Just keep practicing Dawn, I'm sure you'll get it." Julie said walking over to her.

"Yeah. I hope you're right."

"Julie's right, you just gotta get into it and get in sync with your Pokémon!" Ash said enthusiastically.

"Why don't we have a battle Dawn?" Julie asked.

"Good idea. That might help her with contest battles." Brock stated.

"Alright. Let's go!" Dawn said happily. They got their Pokémon out and stood a few feet apart from each other. "Ready Piplup?"

"Piplup!" Piplup said.

"What about you Zeus?" Julie asked.

"Pichu-Pichu!" Zeus said excited.

"Alright, Piplup, use Bubblebeam!" Piplup shot a Bubblebeam towards Zeus and hit him.

"Zeus, use Quick Attack!" Zeus charged towards Piplup extremely fast.

"Quick, dodge and use Peck!" Piplup jumped out of the way and pecked at Zeus.

"Use Thundershock!" Zeus charged up his electricity and zapped Piplup. "Now use Sweet Kiss!" Zeus made a kissing motion with his hands and sent hearts toward Piplup confusing it.

"When did Zeus learn Sweet Kiss?!" Dawn asked shocked.

"He's known it for a while. Since I got him in the lab in fact. I just never use it unless I really need to. Now Zeus, use Quick Attack!" Zeus once more charged towards the wobbly Piplup and smacked into her and knocked her out.

"Piplup is unable to battle! Zeus and Julie are the winners!" Brock stated, then went back to get ready for lunch.

"Nice job Zeus!" Julie said smiling.

"Pichu!" Zeus said happily and went to play with Pikachu.

"Hey Dawn, is Piplup alright?"

"Yeah, right Piplup?" Dawn asked.

"Piplup!" Piplup said looking proud.

"Good."

"That was an awesome battle you two." Ash said walking over.

"Thanks!" Dawn and Julie said in unison. There was a sudden cry at the nearby lake they were at. "What was that?" Dawn asked.

"I don't know, but I'm gonna find out!" Julie said running along with Zeus, Ash, Dawn, and Pikachu. When they got to the lake, they saw a stray Mantyke floating in the water. "What's that?" Julie asked, taking out her Pokedex.

'Mantyke, the Kite Pokemon. Mantyke becomes very attached to humans. Using its two horns, it can sense even slight movements by changes in water pressure.'

"Mantyke huh? I'm gonna catch it!" Julie exclaimed.

"Really?" Ash asked.

"Sure why not?" Julie said. "Ready Zeus?"

"Pichu!" Zeus said running in front of the Mantyke.

"Use Quick Attack!" Zeus sped at the Mantyke and rammed himself into it. "Now use Thunderbolt!" and Zeus lashed out with an incredible Thunderbolt. The Mantyke jumped out of the water and away form the Thunderbolt and used body slam. "Zeus! Come on use Thundershock!" With the Mantyke on Zeus, it got zapped by the Thundershock and landed in the water but, came back up. "Now go Pokeball!" Julie said turning her hat around and throwing a Pokeball. 1...2...3...CLICK! "Alright! I got a Mantyke!" Julie yelled holding up the Pokeball.

"Nice job!" Ash called.

"Thanks!" Julie started. "I think I'll call him Neptune!"

"Good name!" Dawn said.

"Pichu!" Zeus said jumping onto Julie's shoulder.

"Lunch is served!" Brock yelled, with the table set up. Once he said that, Julie and Zeus were instantly at the table ready to eat.

"Wow, you guys are fast." Ash said.

"Pika…" Pikachu said in amazement.

"Nothing can come between Julie and her food." Dawn said laughing slightly.

"Got that right!" Julie said with a fist in the air. Everyone laughed as they sat down and started eating. While everyone was eating and introducing Neptune to the group, Piplup heard some strange noises coming from the thicket and when to check it out.

"Pi-Pichu?" Zeus said while looking at where Piplup went and quickly tagged along.

"Pi. Pika?" Pikachu asked, looking around for Piplup and Zeus.

"Strange, Piplup and Zeus were just here before." Brock said also looking around.

"Huh?" Ash, Dawn and Julie said, before they started to look also.

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Piplup was looking around the thicket while trying to find where the noise came from, when she suddenly heard a rustling behind her.

"Pi?" Zeus said popping out of his hiding place, "Pichu-Pichu?" Zeus asked.

"Pip-Piplup! Piplup-Piplup!" Piplup said annoyed that Zeus followed.

"Pichu-Pichu." Zeus said trying to calm her down.

"Piplup! Piplup-Lup-Lup!" Piplup said, as she jumped in the air and did her Bubblebeam while spinning, only to fall on her head.

"Pichu-Pichu…" Zeus said with a sweat drop, "Pichu-Pi-Pichu!" He continued trying to encourage her.

"Pip! Piplup!" Piplup said about to try again when a group of Pokemon suddenly crash into her and Zeus. After some explaining as to why they were in such a hush, Piplup promised to help them get their food back.

"Pi-Pichu-Chu?" Zeus asked, a little unsure about this.

"Piplup!" Piplup said confidently. "Piplup-Piplup-Piplup." She said starting to lead them.

"Pi…" Zeus sighed and started to follow.

Meanwhile, with Julie and the others, they were in the bushes and saw the whole thing.

"I'm afraid to ask, but what are Piplup and Zeus doing with those Pokemon?" Dawn asked.

"Goin' on a march?" Ash suggested taking out his Pokedex.

'Golduck. The Duck Pokemon, it makes its home in lakes and is able to swim faster than a gold medalist.'

"Looks like Piplup is leading them all somewhere." Dawn said.

"Zeus doesn't seem to like this idea." Julie said laughing slightly.

"Let follow them and see where." Brock suggested.

"Right ." The others stated and started to follow them. While they were walking Julie started thinking about what could've happened.

'I wonder what caused those Pokemon to be in such a rush. I must've really upset them to not even notice Piplup and Zeus standing there.' She was suddenly pulled out of her thoughts by some singing Pokemon.

"Who're those Pokemon?" Dawn asked.

"They're Ludicolo." Brock answered.

"Let me see…" Dawn said getting her Pokedex out.

'Ludicolo, the Care-free Pokemon. When Ludicolo listens to happy music, its power grows stronger and it just has to dance."

"So what're Piplup and Zeus doing anyway?" Julie asked.

"Looks like Piplup's not very happy about something the three of them did." Ash stated.

"Piplup. Piplup-Piplup-Pip." Julie heard Piplup say.

"Ludi-Ludi-Ludi. Colo-Colo." The three Ludicolo said, "Coloooo." they said using Water-gun.

"Piplup! Piplup! Pip-Pip-Pip-Pip-Pip-Pip." Piplup said attacking with peck. The three Ludicolo suddenly used Supersonic, making Piplup fall to the ground.

"I think Piplup's trying to help the other Pokemon by acting as their leader." Julie observed.

"Pichu-Pichu-Pichu!" Zeus said stepping up, "Pichu-Chu-Pichu-Pi!" Zeus continued glaring at the Ludicolo.

"Colo-Ludicolo." The Ludicolo said attacking with Water-gun again, only for Zeus to counter using Thundershock. The Thundershock traveled up the Water-gun and struck the Ludicolo. "COOOLLOOOO!" They suddenly got back up and just stood there.

"PLUP-PLUP-PLUP-PLUP-PLUP-PLUP!" Piplup said charging another Peck attack only for them to dodge and send her tumbling into a telescope that was sticking out of the water. The telescope suddenly started spinning around in a circle and knocked Piplup into the water.

"Piplup!" Dawn exclaimed as her and the rest of the group ran out of their hiding place. Suddenly the waves started to get worse as a giant Magikarp popped out of the water. "What's going on out there?!" The hatch on the back started to lift up and tossed Piplup back into the water.

"Listen closely, is that a voice I hear?"

"Oh great…" Julie muttered.

"Well it's speaking to me loud and clear!" James continued.

"On the wind-"

"Past the starts-"

"And right in your ear!"

"Bringing total chaos at a neck breaking pace!"

"Dashing hope and putting fear in its place!"

"A rose by any other name's just as sweet…"

"When everything's worse our work is complete."

"Jessie!"

"And James!"

"Meowth, now that's a name!"

"Putting all those do-gooders in their place."

"Team Rocket!"

"We're in your face!"

"WAAABUFFET!"

"Mime-Mime-Mime!"

"Do you seriously have to do that every time you show up?" Julie questions.

"Whatever you guys are doing here, it can't be good!" Ash says ignoring Julie.

"You're so selfish. Stealing all your Pokemon will be good for US!" Jessie said.

"Think of someone else for a change!" James exclaimed making a fist.

"Piplup. Piplup." Piplup said swimming to shore.

"Pichu-Pichu?" Zeus asked.

"Pip." Piplup said nodding then suddenly turned around and pointed at Team Rocket. "Piplup! Piplup! Piplup-Piplup." Piplup said tapping her chest.

"It looks like Golduck's got that pipsqueak on the Poke-Payroll eh?" Meowth stated.

"Some bodyguard." Jessie said sarcasm dripping from her voice.

"I get it. They need someone to fight for them and Piplup agreed." Dawn said face palming.

"Well, that's Piplup for ya." Julie said smiling. Piplup suddenly jumped from the shore and started frantically pecking at the sub. Once she got to the tail, it shook her right off.

"Piplup! Stop!" Dawn yelled, worried.

"Pikachu, quick use Thunderbolt now!" Ash commanded.

"You too, Zeus!" Julie said beside him.

"PIIKACHUUUUUUUUUUUUU!" Pikachu yelled out.

"PIICHUUUUUUUUUUU!" Zeus shouted beside him. Team Rocket screamed and bolted right back into their sub. While they were shooting, the sub suddenly turns to face them and shot two mini Magikarps with rope attached. One circled around Zeus and the Water Pokemon, while the other circled around Pikachu and the Ludicolo.

"Piplup!" Piplup said when she saw that they were being dragged towards the sub. She quickly scurried over to the rope with Zeus and tried to break it. Once she stopped, she went back to attacking the sub. After getting thrown off again, she jumped back on and started pecking again.

"I know Piplup promised to help them out and all," Dawn started, "But I hope it wasn't a big mistake." Piplup was thrown off once again but, when she was in the air, some mechanical Remoraid hit her sending her skidding on the ground. Once she got up, she was knocked to the ground again by the Remoraid. "Pip-Lup-Lup-Lup!" She said using Bubblebeam. The Bubblebeam collided with a few of them making them explode.

"Look at 'em all!" Ash said.

"They're all over the place!" Julie said looking around. The Remoraid kept knocking Piplup everywhere. Piplup sat up but didn't try standing. If you looked closely, you could see tears in her eyes.

"Piplup." Dawn said. "Piplup! You've got to get up!" Dawn started running towards her Pokemon, "You promised to help everyone! So you can't stop now!"

"Piplup?" Piplup said looking up.

"Yes! You can-YOU CAN DO IT!"

"Piplup! Piplup-Piplup!" Piplup said shaking her head. She stood up with new confidence and jumped into the air with the Remoraid surrounding her. She closed her eyes and started using Bubblebeam while spinning!

"AWGH!" Brock, and Ash said.

"Oh my…" Julie started.

"PIPLUP!" Dawn said excited. Once Piplup got done destroying the Remoraid, she spun in the air and did a flip and stumble before she landed. "That's showin' 'em Piplup, Yeah! But, you're not done yet so keep it up!" With that, Piplup did the same thing and surrounded Team Rocket's sub, creating a whirlpool. As the sub started going down, the ropes snapped, releasing the Pokemon from the rope.

"Is everyone here okay?" Brock asked. They got various answers from the Pokemon.

"Pichu!" Zeus said, jumping on Julie. Team Rocket's sub suddenly came up and they opened the lid.

"Sometimes air is as good as food." Jessie said.

"Especially when you haven't been breathing much." James said next to her.

"Pikachu now! Thunderbolt, let's go!"

"PIIKACHUUUUUUU!" Pikachu yelled, releasing his Thunderbolt.

"AHHHHHHHHHH!" Team Rocket screamed as they were shocked. Their sub suddenly exploded and berries started raining down.

"Man, this is weird." Ash stated, picking up some of the berries.

"How did Team Rocket get all these berries?" Julie asked.

"Golduck!" Golduck said turning to the Ludicolo.

"Ludicolo!" They all said waving. Julie and the others watched as they shook hands. Team Rocket suddenly showed up walking on shore, gasping for breath.

"And to think I loved swimming as a girl." Jessie said and looked up to see the Water Pokemon and Ludicolo glaring at them. "You're probably wondering where we got all those berries. We were actually holding them for you for safe keeping! Really!" Jessie said nervously.

"Yeah Right!" Julie yelled out.

"Shut up twerpette!"

"You can't blame us for want to have a snack!" James said just as nervous.

"Waabuffet." Wabuffet said.

"Mime-Mime-Mime." Mime Jr. copied. All the Pokemon attacked with Water-gun sending Team Rocket flying.

"WE'RE BLASTING OFF AGAIN!" They all shouted.

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"You were awesome Piplup!" Dawn said to Piplup. "Now come on! Let's use that move of ours one more time!" Piplup got ready in front of Dawn, "Now Piplup, use Bubblebeam!" And Piplup did the same move she used to defeat the Remoraid.

"That's it!" Ash said.

"Hey Dawn! Piplup's looking strong for sure!" Brock said.

"Yeah, You got this contest in the bag!" Julie said

"I don't know about that but, I know we're ready!" Dawn said, "Great Piplup! You're looking good!"

"Piplup!" Piplup said once she landed.

"Hey! Race you to Jubilife city!" Dawn said running ahead.

"You're on!" Julie said running to catch up with her.

So, it was the result of coming to the aid of some Pokemon in need that ended up putting Piplup's contest skills over the top, and into competitive form! And armed with the knowledge and some impressive moves, our heroes journey continues!

I will try to update every week so plz keep reading! R&R PLZ :D