A/N - Hey everyone. Thanks for the votes and reviews. I'm still needing some more votes on my poll. Oh, one of the options is a Pidgeot. Yes I'm talking about the same Pidgeot he had. It was an idea I came up with while making the poll that I thought would be awesome.

Also this is kind of important. This story happens sometime after the Twinleaf Festival arc aired only in Japan as of this time. The contest Dawn is planning on entering is the one that was recently aired. This is also before they meet Kotone and Kazunari. I don't watch the Japan episodes (mostly dub for me) but I am familiar with Pokemon they have. Meaning if you aren't familiar with Ash and Paul's latest battle their will be some spoilers up ahead. Not only this chapter but also future ones.

Disclaimer - I don't own Pokemon. If I did then you'd see more PikachuxKetchup Bottle

"Hey Ash! Thought we'd find you here!" yelled Dawn as she, Brock, Pikachu, and Piplup entered the center's cafeteria.

Ash was scarfing down his second burger and quickly waved at his friends. He had made little progress with Tracey over which Pokémon to take. However the assistant did point out something important- Ash would be gone for maybe a week. Ash noticed Pikachu head over to the ketchup bottle with huge eyes. Dawn and Brock sat on the other side of the booth.

"Hey guys!" said Ash in between bites. "So what happened after I left?"

Dawn smiled, "Well Holly showed us all the berries they grown in the greenhouse! She let me take a few for my Poffins! Oh and she gave me one of these!" she grabbed her bag and pulled out an odd container. It was green on the bottom with little bumps for legs and a clear top. Ash peered in it and saw soil. "It's a Berry Planter! They're all the rage in Johto!" explained the coordinator.

Ash took a sip from his coke, "What does it do?" he asked.

"Exactly what you think it does! You plant a berry in the soil and add water. Soon a little berry plant will grow!"

Brock added, "Kanto and Johto have very little of the right soil for berries to grow, so with this trainer's will always have some with them."

"Oh that is cool, anything else."

Dawn thought for a bit, then snapped her fingers and said, "Rosa told us about some of the yearly events in the festival."

"Oh..." faltered Ash, but he quickly shrugged. "So what else is there?"

"Well early in the morning before the festival officially starts they spread honey on a bunch of the trees in the Floaroma Meadow," began the breeder. "Then the catching contest begins after the opening ceremonies. Everyone gets twenty PokéBalls and are given two hours to explore. At the end you can only keep one though; you pick the one you think will get a higher score."

"Oh! Like the Bug Catching Contest back in Johto!"

Dawn was a bit puzzled, but she was too happy about the next event, "Next is a Pokémon Contest! You don't win a ribbon but I'm definitely entering that one! It'll be great practice for the real thing!"

"That sounds great! Except..." Ash faltered. It was time to set his plan in motion. "I...don't think I'm gonna stay."

"What?!?" yelled Dawn. Piplup and Pikachu also seemed confused. "Is this about not being in the tournament?!? Ash Ketchum don't let that get you!"

Ash panicked, "N-N-No! I'm not m-mad or anything! I want to go to Jubilife! This isn't some plan to...!" he blurted out, then quickly bit his tongue.

Luckily Dawn didn't catch the last part. "Huh?"

"Um...I-I m-mean....training!! Yeah that's it!" exclaimed the Pallet trainer. "It'll be good training for my next gym!"

"Oh...but what about all the games and food? You'll miss it all!"

"T-That's fine with me," lied Ash. "And I was planning on letting Pikachu stay with you guys! He'll have fun for me, right buddy?"

"Piikaaa!" nodded Pikachu, hugging the ketchup bottle like a precious PokéEgg.

Brock smiled, "You must have thought of this for awhile, we won't stop you. Just take care of yourself."

"Of course. I'm gonna pack my stuff. Come on Pikachu."

Get Ash out of Floaroma - check. Getting Ashley into the tournament - not quite there yet. He remembered the incident in Celadon, Pikachu noticing him in the dress. So Ash planned to talk to Pikachu, and his other Pokémon, about the grand plan. The boy was taking extra precautions than back then, apparently he did learn from his mistakes.

Ash closed the door tightly and let out all of his Pokémon. The boy motioned everyone to huddle up, "Okay you guys listen up. This is really important and I can't mess it up," he whispered. "I've been banned from this year's Floaroma Festival Tournament, but I've got a plan. For it to work I'm going to have to send you guys to Professor Oak's lab though."

There were a few complaints but Ash continued, "I'm going to dress up as a girl." Now everyone tried to hold back their laughter. "Yeah, yeah laugh it up. If I use you guys then Brock and Dawn might make the connection, so I'm using my older Pokémon and hope Brock doesn't remember. I'm sorry but I promise you'll like the lab. All my other Pokémon are there so you can meet them." Then he turned to Pikachu, "I'm going to need your help. You stay with Brock and Dawn, talk to their Pokémon and explain the situation. I don't want my disguise ruined like last time."

Pikachu laughed but gave his owner a thumbs up. "Okay, I'm heading to Jubilife and I'll do the transfer there. Then I'll come back as Ashley. Since I can't use my PokéDex for registration, Tracey agreed to send me one for Ashley."

Meanwhile James and Meowth were getting jobs helping out for the festival. They were setting up some stands when Ash walked out of the center- he didn't have Pikachu.

"It's working!" whispered James as he added a coat of paint to a table. "He's really leaving Pikachu."

Meowth nodded, "An I bets he's a headin to do the ol' switch-a-roo."

James frowned, "Why do we want the twerp to switch Pokémon?"

"One- we gets some time to swipe them there flowers. Two- those Pokémon ain't ben out in a while. Probably a wittle rusty in the ol' battlin scene, get wat I'm a sayin?"

"But we lost to all of his Pokémon at least once. Whose to say we won't again?"

"..........Ya no wat? Don go a ruinin my plan!"

"Okay you guys, what ya think?" Ash stepped out of the little bathroom in his room. He was wearing his Ashley get-up again; now with the addition of a long brown wig.

Buizel started rolling on the floor in laughter. Gliscor chuckled and gave its trademark wink and sticked its tongue out. Staraptor and Grotle seemed to pity their trainer. Monferno, however, seemed puzzled and pointed to the skirt.

"What about it?" asked Ash as he went to the full length mirror. "I don't see any- oh...Girls don't wear boxers...."

Ash made a mad dash back into the bathroom. He changed back into his clothes and stashed some money into his pocket. "You guys just chill. I guess I need to go buy some girl underwear," he muttered and quickly ran out of the room.

He began turning a bit red after hearing the roaring laughter of his team.

Poor Ash. Having to go buy girl underwear. That actually didn't occur to me until after I posted Chapter 1. Decided to finish this chapter instead of my next Window Into The Soul chp. (Soul's at Route 32 in this one) Hope you enjoyed!