Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon
The Cherryblossom Festival is one of the most exciting events of the year for children and adults alike. For many young trainers, it was the last few moments they got to spend with their family and friends before they left on their journeys. Pokémon journeys typically lasted six to nine months and started the April after their tenth birthday, though some left a year before or after. Children had to be at least ten years old to receive their Pokémon license and Pokedex from the region's primary Pokémon researcher. Those who left on journeys as trainers or traveling companions could get a special note from their local Pokémon researcher that exempted them from school. Some children chose to wait before leaving on their journey or didn't go at all, and instead did internships at Pokémon breeding centers, gyms, or hospitals, or opted to attend Pokémon schools. Only registered trainers were legally allowed to carry Pokéballs, but most people in the Pokémon world just befriended Pokémon and did not opt to capture and train them for battle. Those who did leave to go train often took their jobs seriously. The Cherryblossom Festival symbolized for many the beginning of a whole new world, as becoming a trainer was a sacred rite of passage of hundreds of people every spring.
"Fresh spring air!" June Gaulle sang as she entered the festival grounds, her parents, sisters, and friends trailing behind her.
"I love this time of year so much!" Soledad exclaimed and she danced around with June.
"These flowers are gorgeous," said Annastasia. "Cherry blossoms are my favorite flowers."
"Really?" said Takeshi. "I thought roses were your favorite."
"They were at one time." Annastasia picked a bloom off the ground and sniffed it. "But something changed. I find these flowers give me better vibes."
"So, for you, cherry blossoms are the flowers of romance?"
Amber, Jay, Lily, Logan, and Jocelyn rolled their eyes. June pouted. She hated seeing Takeshi fawn over Annastasia. The others were also annoyed by it, knowing Takeshi didn't have even the slightest chance of becoming Annastasia's boyfriend. He was six years younger than her, and Annastasia was off on her own planet.
"Yep," Annastasia replied. "I think cherry blossoms are the most romantic flowers ever…"
Takeshi smiled and shoved handfuls of cherry blossoms in his bag.
"…not that I care much about romance," she added.
"Enough of dat romance talk! I hate hearin it!" Meowth complained. "Yere too young!"
"Seventeen Meowth. I'm seventeen. Don't forget."
"I rememba when dey were changin yere diapers and feedin ya baby mush." There was a hint of sadness in his voice. "Time goes by too fast."
"Way to go Annastasia, you made our dad cry," said Lily.
"I ain't cryin! I gots somethin stuck in my eye…."
Lucy, Jessie, and James mocked Meowth and ruffled the fur on the top of his head. Jessie put her arm around Annastasia. If it wasn't for their hair and eye color, they would look exactly like twin sisters. That was one reason Annastasia was grateful for her unusual blond hair. The last thing her mother needed was a third doppelganger as if Jessiebelle and Rumika didn't look like her enough. James came next to her on the other side so that Annastasia was sandwiched between them.
"Meowth, can't you see that Annastasia is a gorgeous young woman and not a little girl?" Jessie beamed. "Just look at her butt! And those eyes!"
"And those dimples," James added, pulling on her face. "And her smile."
Annastasia turned scarlet and pushed them away.
"This is so not right," she grumbled. "Because I know exactly where you are going with th—"
"—This is the year," Jessie interrupted as she re-rested her arm on Annastasia's shoulder. "The year you find a young woman…or man….to do. If you know what I mean…wink…"
"We can help you look," said James. "We have great taste."
"Really? With everyone here?" Annastasia moaned.
Everyone knew Annastasia wasn't really mad, though she was embarrassed. There was something about her they just didn't get, or they at least pretended not to get.
"I feel bad for you," Gary joked as he patted her back.
"Thanks," Annastasia replied.
"We are all really grateful to you for helping us out," said Brock.
"How do you mean?"
"You're pushing your own endeavors aside in order to lead Takeshi and the others through this dangerous new world."
"Well, it's no sacrifice. I'm looking forward to it. I've been working for TR for years and would like a break."
"You never went on your own journey," Iris recalled. "You're so nice for doing this."
"If you ever need us, we got your back," said Misty.
"Sometimes we wonder just where you came from," said May. "I mean, Jessie and James only do something responsible every few years."
"Yeah," Iris agreed. "The last time June was in Pallet—"
"Oh, shut it," Jessie snapped. "No one was hurt."
"Thanks to Annastasia," half the group responded in unison.
"One explosion and everyone flips out..."
"I'll be vigilant," Annastasia assured them. "As will my backup forces of Lexi, Nolan, and maybe even Rita, if she finds the time to drop in."
"We trust you," said Cilan. "It's just that the past twenty-something years have been...well, you've seen most of it, and you've heard the stories."
"I know. Everything's changed since the FS crisis."
"The what?" Jay asked.
"I'll tell you more later."
"Let's talk about something else," Rumika suggested.
"Yeah, like what we are going to do first now that we're here," said Ash.
"Pika pika pi," said Pikachu.
"Pi Pichu," said Pip.
"Dey wanna take Amber on de tilt-a-whirl like dey did last year," Meowth translated.
"I'm game," Amber responded. "I'm not gonna puke like I did last year. Anyone else wanna come?"
"Me!" Soledad, June, Takeshi, Lily, Logan, and Jocelyn replied.
"Just stick together," Misty called after the children as they ran towards the ride. "And answer your phone if we call!"
"I'm going to win the Pokeringer this year," said Annastasia. "Bleu and I've been practicing."
"Altarrria," Bleu affirmed.
"Lill lil!" cried Lil-G.
"Lil-G will be my assistant," she added. "The competition starts in an hour. Prepare to lose."
"You can't seriously think you'll beat me," said James. "I've won this competition the last six years in a row."
"Which is why I'm more determined now more than ever to beat you Ojiisan."
"How dare you call me old! I'll win just like I always do, Anna-chan."
"While you two argue over that, Jay and I are going to get some ice cream," said Jessie. "Want any?"
"I have to go get my balloon ready and Annastasia has to find a place where she can go to hide and cry after she loses to Ojiisan."
"Mmmm. I could use some of that ice cream," Ash said as he got that dreamy look in his eyes. "I can smell the waffle cones from over here..."
"Piiiii," sighed Pikachu.
"Well I didn't ask you," Jessie snapped as she walked away. Jay shrugged his shoulders and followed after her.
"Hey!" Ash called after them.
"We'll get you some," said Brock.
"Triple chocolate?" Autumn asked.
"You two are the best. Misty and I are going to go enter our names in the big raffle. We'll get you a few tickets too," Ash responded.
"Great. See you in a few."
"What would you like to do?" Rumika asked Mondo and James' grandparents.
"Let's help Annastasia and James set up those hot air balloons for the Pokéringer," Linda replied.
"Sounds good to me," said Mondo.
The rest of their group broke into smaller groups and went their own way for the festival. Delia and Giovanni later arrived, just in time to watch Annastasia and James compete in the Pokéringer. Nolan and Lexi, Annastasia's friend Rita, and some neighbors joined them as well.
XO
"Ahhhh! I can't believe it!" James complained.
"What's wrong, throw out your back, Ojiisan?" Annastasia teased.
Annastasia and her father were standing in front of a large screen in the center of the festival. It was here that the competitors assigned to the A-block section of the tournament were announced. Ash and his Swellow appeared on the screen.
"No," James replied indignantly. "I had no idea that Ash Ketchum was planning on competing".
"You're afraid you'll lose," Annastasia inferred.
"No! I…I don't think an amateur like him deserves to be in a serious competition like this. He has only ever competed in two Pokéringers, and the last one was over sixteen years ago."
"What's it to you?"
"Nothing I guess…I'm still going to win."
Annastasia pointed to the screen. "Looks like you and I are in the B-block section. We're up against May and Beautifly."
"We'll beat her for sure. I'm your only real competition."
James stared at the screen, eager to see which four individuals would comprise the C-block section.
"May, Drew, Clemont, Serena, and are competing as well," he noted.
After all the names were announced, James and Annastasia got into their respective balloons.
"Who should we cheer for?" Jocelyn asked as she and Jessie looked to the sky. "Onēsan or Papa?"
"Who do you want to win?" she asked as she wiped some ice cream off Jocelyn's face.
"I dunno."
"I'm cheering for Dad," said Jay. "If he doesn't win, he'll be crushed. Annastasia would just shrug it off like always."
"GO, PAPA!"
James smiled down at Jocelyn. Everyone was there. Jessie, Jay, Jocelyn, Meowth, Lucy, Lily, Logan, Rumika, Mondo, his grandparents, all the twerps, the twerps' twerps, Delia, Giovanni, and many of their neighbors from Pallet Town. James tuned out most of what the announcer of the competition was saying, but his ears hear loud and clear the final declaration.
"Begin!" the announcer shouted.
Annastasia sent out Bleu, James sent out Weezing, May sent out Beautifly, and the last competitor sent out a Fearrow.
"Weezing, Smoke Screen attack!" James ordered. "Then use Sludge Bomb on Fearrow!"
The Fearrow was blinded, just as James had hoped for. Everyone else was lost in the smoke, except for Bleu.
Annastasia was expecting Weezing's smoke screen. She had Bleu fly below her father's Meowth balloon so that he could sneak up behind it and avoid the smoke.
"Sludge Bomb on Beautifly!" James commanded.
"Oh no you don't", said May. "Beautifly, blow away this smoke with Gust."
"Beau!"
Weezing dodged it and used Hidden Power on Beautifly. While Weezing was battling May's Beautifly, Bleu headed for the ring.
"Annastasia is winning!" Jocelyn cried.
"Huh. I wonder if he has a plan…," said Jessie, mostly to herself.
"Use Sludge Wave on both of them!" James yelled.
Weezing's attack was effective; Bleu and Beautifly were poisoned. Everyone in the audience covered their noses as the scent drifted towards them.
"Dat's stuff is stinky," Jocelyn complained.
"Fla Flaaaafy."
"I wish he used Dustox instead of Weezing," said Jessie. "She and her family are here with Astin, I saw them over by the ice cream tent. They would have totally volunteered to help him out!"
Weezing emerged victoriously. The four competitors landed their balloons so that the next block of trainers could enter the skies.
"Hahahaha!" James laughed. "No surprise here. I knew you could do it, Weezing."
"Oh well," Annastasia shrugged as she healed her Pokémon. "Let's go get some ice cream."
"Anna-sama is so caring and beautiful," Takeshi sighed as Annastasia headed toward the dessert tent. "Look at how much she loves her Pokémon!"
Amber flicked him in the middle of his head.
"What was that for?" he asked, rubbing the area where she flicked him.
"A's almost seven years older than you," said Amber. "She isn't going to go out with a little kid like you, ever."
"I was just admiring her is all! Although, if she did ask me out..."
This time Lily and Logan were the ones who flicked him in the head.
"Just let it go," said Lily. "Annastasia doesn't go out with anyone, ever, so let it go for good."
XO
Both Ash and James made it to the semi-finals, and then to the final round of the Pokéringer contest.
"Prepare for failure," James taunted.
"I wouldn't be so cocky if I were you," Ash responded. "I did defeat you the first time I ever even tried Pokéringer, and the last time I competed, I came in a really close second."
"Pika pi!' yelled Pikachu.
"Are the contenders ready?" the announcer asked.
Both Ash and James gave him a thumbs up.
"Then begin!"
"Go, James! Cream that loser!" Jessie yelled.
"Hey, my dad's not a loser!" Amber complained.
"Yes, he is. Once a twerp, always a twerp."
"Come on, Ash! You can do it!" Misty cheered.
"Azu azu!" cheered her partner Azumarill.
Acorn and Aliyah were out of their Pokeballs and were rooting for James. The rest of his and Jessie's Pokémon did the same. They were all dressed in cheerleading uniforms and were waving around little flags as they shouted with glee.
"Swellow, doge those attacks and go straight for that ring!" Ash commanded.
"Weezing, wait until the wind is steady, then use Sludge Bomb on Pikachu," James suggested. "Then use Smoke Screen and take that ring home."
"Weeeezing."
Weezing and James' plan worked perfectly. Together they scored a perfect victory over Ash. The whole thing happened so fast that Ash didn't even have time to figure out what he was trying to do. Before Ash could get the sludge out of Pikachu's eyes, the ring was already in the goal.
"That was sneaky," said Ash. "Was it even legal?"
"How dare you accuse me of cheating!" James exclaimed as they landed their respective balloons.
"The rules say that they could use any attack on their opponent's Pokémon as long as it is used to help them win the competition," said Misty informed them. "Even though the strategy was sneaky, it was not illegal."
"That's my James," Jessie said proudly. "Master James, fulfilling his destiny."
Tears of joy filled James' eyes as he and Jessie hugged. The spun around happily.
"Our parents are such dorks," said Jay.
"Uh huh," Annastasia, Lily, and Logan agreed.
"Dey may be dorks," said Meowth. "But dere our dorks."
AN: Thanks for reading! I will continue to give more character profiles in the next few chapters. I know that many of them, particularly the 'twerps', seem OOC, but keep in mind that they are supposed to be much older in this fic compared to the anime, plus I base their personalities off what is portrayed in the Japanese version (I think I forgot to mention that last time). Please leave a review if you have the time or just want to say hi or yell at me or ask me a question or tell me what you like/hate :) thanks!
Here are the character profiles for Michio, Soledad, Lily, and Logan:
Full Name: Michio Kai Kapule
Nicknames: N/A
Birth Date: December 22, 2015
Age: 17
Current Home: Alola Mainland
Parents: Keaka and Makoa Kapule
Career: former Alola League Champion
Siblings: Older brother (Koan)
Other Relatives: Maleku (uncle), Lani (aunt), Tua (uncle), Ululani (aunt), Leala (cousin), Teso (cousin), Wailola (grandmother), Peni (Grandfather), and Puanani (great-grandmother).
Friends: none
Pokémon: at home in Alola (more to come later)
Appearance: 6'3", dark hazel eyes, henna skin, and passed shoulder-length light brown hair that he usually wears pulled back.
Personality: "INTJ" (Introverted, Intuitive, Thinking, and Judging). At his best, Michio is competent, confident, strategic, and curious. At his worst, Michio is condescending, arrogant, hot-headed, and grumpy.
Relationships: Michio has a hard time bonding with people, which has had a negative effect on his ability to socialize and connect.
Other interests: Pokémon battling, watching Pokémon competitions, and caring for/spoiling his rare Pokémon back in Alola.
XO
Full Name: Soledad Grace Berlitz Oak
Nicknames: N/A
Birth Date: May 25, 2022
Age: 10
Current Home: Pallet Town
Parents: Dawn and Gary Oak
Career: Junior Rocket in Primary Training, currently going on her first Pokémon journey.
Siblings: None
Other Relatives: Misty (aunt), Ash(uncle), Tracey (uncle), Daisy (aunt), Serena (aunt), Clement (uncle), May (aunt), Drew (uncle), Iris (aunt), and Cilan (uncle).
Friends: Jay, Annastasia, Jocelyn, Amber, June, and Takeshi.
Pokémon: Charmander (nicknamed Chary, starter and main partner).
Appearance: taller than Amber, Jay, Takeshi, and June, she has sienna eyes, light fawn skin, and long blue and brown hair. She usually wears a custom-made Team Rocket uniform and often has accessories in her hair. When she is not in uniform, Soledad often wears V-neck tops and miniskirts.
Personality: "ESTP" (Extroverted, Sensing, Thinking, and Perceptive). At her best, Soledad is sociable, compassionate, brave, and curious. At her worst, Soledad is impatient, vengeful, abrupt, and aloof.
Relationships: Soledad was popular in school and had many friends. She is protective of Jay, who lives in the same town and briefly attended the same school as her, as he was bullied and she wasn't.
Other interests: Pokémon research, battling, new adventures, and various sports.
XO
Full Name: Lily
Nicknames: N/A
Birthdate: March 4, 2015
Age: 17 years
Current Home: Pallet Town
Career: Team Rocket Special Agent
Parents: Meowth and Lucy
Siblings: twin brother Logan
Other Relatives: lives with Annastasia, Jay, Jocelyn, Jessie, James, and all their Pokémon.
Friends: Lexi, Nolan, Amber, Soledad, June, and Takeshi.
Pokémon: befriended Squirtle.
Appearance: Shiny Meowth, smaller than average, sometimes walks on two legs instead of four. Unlike most Meowth, she wears a ruby charm and her fur is light tan instead of white. Her paws are also a darker shade of brown.
Personality: "ESTP" (Extroverted, Sensing, Thinking, and Perceptive—same as Soledad's). At her best, Lily is understanding, curious, sociable, and quick-witted. At her worst, she is mischievous, inpatient, and judgmental.
Relationships: She spends most of her time with her twin brother, and the two of them like to hang out with younger kids and Pokémon more than teenagers and adults.
Other interests: Fashion, hunting, collecting shiny objects, and sleeping.
XO
Full Name: Logan
Nicknames: N/A
Birthdate: March 4, 2015
Age: 17 years
Current Home: Pallet Town
Career: Team Rocket Special Agent
Parents: Meowth and Lucy
Siblings: twin sister Lily
Other Relatives: lives with Annastasia, Jay, Jocelyn, Jessie, James, and all their Pokémon.
Friends: Lexi, Nolan, Amber, Soledad, June, and Takeshi.
Pokémon: befriended Squirtle.
Appearance: Shiny Purrloin, smaller than average, sometimes walks on two legs instead of four. He has alternating shades of navy blue and baby blue fur and brown eyes.
Personality: "ENFP" (Extroverted, Intuitive, Feeling, and Perceptive) At his best, Logan is thoughtful, loyal, and fun. At his worst, Logan is lazy, childish, and unrealistic.
Relationships: He spends most of his time with his twin sister, and the two of them like to hang out with younger kids and Pokémon more than teenagers and adults.
Other interests: Logan likes to stargaze, chase bugs, and sleep.