Piplup, Empoleon, Ambipom

Brass instruments were trumpeting, woodwinds were fluting, percussions were drumming and clanging and ringing… it was a grand parade and the Glacier Bay High School Marching Band had come all the way from Canada to participate. They all wore bright costumes of sea blue, pale blue, and golden yellow, with tall hats and lots of pompoms. This was a huge event, televised all over the world, so the band students were all focused on doing their best.

With them were two Pokemon: the school's mascot in an Empoleon named Missy and her son Piplup, called Jim. Jim was so excited about the parade that he wouldn't let anybody carry him. Nope, he was going to march the entire way himself, just like the band. It was a long way, over a mile, and the pavement felt weird under his webbed feet.

But worst of all was when he tripped. It happened a lot, as he was trying to keep up with the band's pace. However, he was much smaller than they, and his waddle wasn't conducive to marching. As he felt right on his beak for the hundredth time (so it seemed), Jim did his best to get right back up and keep marching. He pushed his hat up off his face, then walked into the drummer he was right behind. Thankfully, that didn't cause a big disaster. Jim backed up while the students began a routine for stopped moments like this. Knowing that his mother was watching close behind him, the Piplup stood up straight and proud. His kind were noble Pokemon, so Missy said, so he was going to be a good example of that.

A rude honking noise interrupted the band's song. Jim turned around to see that one of the members of the group behind them had pedaled past the banner carriers. Wearing clown makeup, a big curly green wig, and a round red nose, the Ambipom was riding a unicycle while holding six green batons with shiny ribbons in the two hands on its tails. He pushed one of the batons into his nose, making it honk again, and grinned.

Show-off. Jim turned back to the band while the Ambipom wheeled around and started juggling his batons. He was good at keeping pace with the band's beat and baton twirlers, but he was completely the wrong color for the school. When the parade got marching again, the Ambipom did not go back for some reason. It staying pedaling alongside the band.

"Pretty good kids you got in this band," the Ambipom said in the Pokemon language.

Jim nodded in approval. "They're the best."

"I don't know about that." He wheeled around to the other side of Jim. "So little ole you thinks he can march the whole parade route, huh?"

"Of course I can," Jim said. But as he started to look at the Ambipom, he slipped on a large piece of pink confetti and stumbled once again.

"Oh really?" he asked sarcastically. "You'll end up with lots of bruises."

Getting back up, the Piplup bushed his pale blue chest off, then continued marching. "I can do it and I will."

"You aren't as dexterous as I am," the Ambipom boasted, twirling a baton while continuing to juggle the other five and controlling the unicycle. Oddly enough, the only thing he was doing with his actual hands was keeping balance. "I'm doing a lot more work than you, but I won't be bruised and battered by the end of this."

"I finish everything I start," Jim stated. "And I'm proud of it." No matter how tough it was, now matter how rough the bruises would get, he would finish. And for a Pokemon of his size (and lack of grace…) to make a mile plus march, that was tough.

"Hmm." He turned his unicycle about, but instead of leaving the band, he started pedaling backwards. "Perhaps we ought to trade costumes, as you would be more fitting as the clown."

At that, Missy clapped one of her flippers against her side. "Watch yourself, Ambipom," she snarled. "I don't want to start a fight in this parade, but if you continue to insult my son, I will not let it go unpunished."

The Ambipom laughed nervously as he looked up at the taller Pokemon. His curly wig trembled. "Heh heh, just having some fun with you guys. I am the clown, after all. But the little guy might find this parade too much to handle."

"He can finish it," Missy stated, as confident as Jim. "Whether Piplup or Empoleon, we will not stoop to looking helpless."

"Even if it makes you look foolish?' Then he laughed again, trying hard to make it a joke. "Okay, okay. I get the picture." After catching his batons, the Ambipom honked his nose twice, then pedaled back to his group.

Jim was quite bruised and sore by the end of the parade route. But he had made it the full way on his own two feet. For that, he got the special treat of a bubble bath.

...

Piplup Platinum entry: A poor walker, it often falls down. However, its strong pride makes it puff of its chest without a care.

Empoleon HG/SS entry: It avoids unnecessary disputes, but it will decimate anything that threatens its pride.

Platinum entry: Split in two, the tails are so adept at handling and doing things, Ambipom rarely uses its hands.

If Glacier Bay High School is a real place… I wouldn't know it.