GEEEEEEEEEKIRANGER!
IF YOU WERE GOOD ENOUGH, MAYBE SHE WOULD STILL BE ALIVE
A pink-haired young woman suddenly opened her eyes while she was sleeping in her bed wearing pink pajamas, her breath got heavy for a moment but it quickly returned to normal, she then got up and grabbed her Rotom Phone from a desk. "September 15." She said reading the date, the girl then slowly walked to her bathroom and washed her face to then stare at her reflection in the mirror. "It wasn't my fault." She said to herself to then close her eyes and take a deep breath, but once she opened them again her reflection was replaced by the image of a young Nurse Joy giving her a worried look. "It wasn't my fault..." The pink-haired woman repeated to then take a hair brush in her hand. "IT WASN'T MY FAULT!" She shouted to then slam the hairbrush onto the mirror and break it into pieces, but now each of those pieces showed her the young Nurse Joy, causing her breathing to get heavy again."IT WASN'T MY FAULT! IT WASN'T MY FAULT!" She shouted while holding her head.
"Mollie!" A voice called her from outside the bathroom while knocking the door. "Hey, It's me, Orla, everything okay? What was that?"
"I... I'm fine." Mollie answered while she trembled and looked at the pieces of the mirror, which only showed her reflection again, she then walked to the door and opened it to see her friend, who quickly noticed the broken mirror. "Sorry, about the mess, I'll clean it myself, don't worry."
"Nightmares again?" Orla asked and Mollie simply nodded to then walk away. "Hey, you know you can talk that out with us, right?"
"...I doubt that'd make me feel any better." Mollie answered. "But... today marks a year, that's as much as I can tell you." She said to then leave the room.
Some minutes later.
"So, a year, but a year since what?"
"I don't know, Murdock." Orla answered to the chef. "But those nightmares of hers have been growing more and more frequent and she doesn't want to tell me what they're about. How am I supposed to help if she just walks away to avoid the conversation?"
"Maybe she doesn't want that kind of help." Murdock said. "Perhaps all she needs is some time for herself, there's nothing wrong with being alone."
"I know, but she seemed really disturbed." Orla insited. "Whatever happened, it seems like it was pretty bad and if today really marks the anniversary of what happened... I think I'll stay here to keep an eye on her."
"You don't mean she could." Murdock pointed at his neck.
"What?! NO?!" Orla shouted. "I'll just try to convice her to talk it out."
"I told you, Orla, it's not a good idea to push her."
"I just want to help my friend!" Orla shouted again.
"And I just want you to understand that this may not be the best way to do it!" Murdock shouted back.
"And what do you know about helping people with their problems, huh?!" Orla shouted. "Why do you think Dot is always locked in her room?! Why do you think she doesn't even talk with you anymore?!"
"You leave my niece out of this!" Murdock shouted slamming his fist on the wall.
"How's the spirit, team!?" Friede asked arriving in the kitchen, only to find the two crew memebers staring angrily at each other. "Eh, sorry, didn't mean to interrupt, what's the matter?"
"Mollie's the matter." Orla answered. "She's been feeling really down and I just want to help her."
"Meanwhile I'm telling her that maybe Mollie just want to handle it on her own." Murdock replied. "What do you think would be the best, Cap?"
"Well, I don't think I'm in the right to decided such a thing." Friede answered. "Why don't you just ask Mollie directly?"
"Thanks a lot for speaking about me behind my back." Mollie said suddenly appearing next to them.
"GAH!" The three shouted.
"Sigh... Listen, guys, we're pretty much family." Mollie told them. "You all have no idea of how grateful I am for everything; and thanks for worrying about this too, but this is a topic I'll keep for myself... at least for now."
"I... fine." Orla sighed. "It's your choice, I guess."
"Thanks, so, Murdock." Mollie looked at him. "The Food Festival you've been mentioning is today, right?"
"Yup, I was just doing the final preparations." He replied. "Orla will come with me to help me with my stand, we'll be ready to leave in like half-an-hour."
"I'll go with you too." Mollie said surprising the three.
"You sure?" Murdock answered. "I mean, you're the one who's been saying it was a bad idea for weeks."
"I know, uh, sorry about that, but maybe this will help me clear my head." Mollie said.
"Sounds like a great idea." Friede said. "Ludlow, Dot and I will be taking care of the Brave asagi, you all go and have fun."
"Right, then let-" Murdock stopped when his Rotom Phone suddenly ringed. "Oh hang on... Are you serious?!" He shouted reading a message.
"What is it?" Friede asked.
"Eh, nothing that bad actually." Murdock admitted. "This is from the group chat I made with the other stand owners who will be in the festival, people from all the regions will be there, but apparently, due to an order Chairwoman Geeta gave just now, 75 percent of all earnings from the Festival will go to the Naranja Academy."
"What?!" Friede shouted."But you told me it would only be 25 percent!"
"That was the plan, but it looks like after the fire they need extra money to help rebuild it." Murdock said.
"What a joke!" Friede complained. "The League has enough money to rebuild 35 Academies but instead they want to leave it to the poor."
"Don't act like you're some kind of social justice warrior." Orla said.
"Does that mean we aren't going then?" Mollie asked.
"No, of course we're still going." Murdock said. "It's not like I can't just back down after all these preparations, I already made all of that curry."
"Come on guys, at least the money will be used in a good cause." Orla told them. "It isn't always about the money, let's do it for the funny."
"Fine, let's finish everything to take off." Murdock said.
"Let's make it showy." Mollie said raising a thumb.
"Hey, that's my catchphase!" Friede complained.
"Go and patent it then." Mollie replied.
Meanwhile in the Food Festival.
"Your Eyeballs are MINE! Caught in my Electroweb! It's Iono! The super-chaaaarged streamer!" She exclaimed while recording herself with her Rotom Phone as usual. "Welcoming here a new member of the Ketchum team! Say hello to Mela Koton!"
"I never agreed to do this." Mela replied as the Rotom Phone focused on her.
"Welcome to my life." Penny said.
"So now we got a 5-man team, isn't that lovely?" Iono asked to the camera. "Well, today we are in the annual Paldea Food festival! And I came up with a very interesting game! There's pleeeeenty of different food stands and we have pleeeeenty of different girls here, so this is how our game is going to be: Ash will take turns to take Penny, Nemo and me on 'dates', each going to a different stand, the rest of us will be watching from afar but we can not, must not, will not interfere; and once all the turns are done we'll have a little recap and Ash will tell us which one of the 3 'dates' he enjoyed the most."
"Hey, guys! I'm here too!" Dendra shouted running at the group while wearing a black kimono with golden details.
"Dendra! I thought you wouldn't make it." Ash greeted her and the woman hugged him.
"Oh, please, I wouldn't miss it for the world." Dendra answered. "I come to this festival every year; and aside from it feeling as my responsibility to support the Academy as a teacher I really wanted to spend some more time with you, it's a win-win situtation."
"Looks like it is." Ash replied. "I did agree to have a date with you... so, I guess I didn't have much time to process it back then with all that was happening, but... you said you liked me, didn't you?"
"I, uh, y-y-yes, I guess I did." Dendra replied while blushing to then separate from him a bit. "It was a prett straight-forward confession, wasn't it?"
"Well, I wouldn't know." Ash answered blushing as well. "That was the first time someone actually confessed to me."
"I was your first confession!?" Dendra shouted with a massive smile.
"Ok, enough! You'll get your turn later!" Iono shouted to then poke Dendra's breasts. "And what's with the kimono?"
"Oh, well, that's actually the reason why I'm so late." Dendra answered. "I came here earlier in my usual clothes, but I felt like it was a bit too simple and then I saw this girl with this green kimono and she looked so gorgeous and then I remembered I had this old-stuff in my closet so I returned home; and surprise! It still fits!"
"Barely." Iono said staing at the woman's chest.
"You look amazing, Dendra." Ash said.
"Awww, thank you." She answered blushing again and tried to hug Ash again, but was stopped by Iono.
"Let's just get this started." Iono said. "Penny, you go first!"
"I do?" Penny asked.
"Yup! The rest of the gang, follow me!" Iono said to then start to walk away. "Let's give them some privacy... while I record everything to then post it online."
"So, where do you wanna-" Ash was about to ask, but he stopped when Penny timidly squeezed his pinky with her hand.
"I, uhm, well... we're finally 'alone' since that first week of our travel." Penny said. "I may not always agree with Iono's ideas, but this is something I was actually looking forward to." As Penny talked, Ash noticed her grip of his pinky gradually moved to take his whole hand and Ash squeezed in return, leaving them both with a blushing and smiling face. "I, uh, yes, this is good." She continued. "My, you, uh... a friend of mine from Galar is, uh, here in Paldea and she has a stand in the festival, m-m-maybe we can go there?"
"Of course, lead the way." Ash told her and the blushing Penny squeezed his hand tighter to then guide him to the stand.
"Awww, so cute!" Iono exclaimed while they watched everything.
"I knew those two were up to something." Mela added.
"I'm glad to see Penny finally overcoming her shyness." Dendra said.
"Hmm..." Nemona simply stared at them in silence.
A few minutes later.
"And here we are." Penny said once they made it to the stand.
"Wait a sec, Team Yell?" Ash asked seeing two Grunts wearing aprons.
"Welcome to the home of the best Galarian chocolates!" One of the Grunts said.
"Now, please, somebody, anybody, everybody yell to greet our supreme leader, head chef and straight-up goddess, Marnie Sthingers!"
"Guys!" She complained while wearing a pink dress and a black apron, with her Morpeko and a Mawile by her side. "Ugh, I told you to stop it with that introduction, I'm really sorry, I... Penny! And Ash!"
"Marnie!" Ash exclaimed.
"Heh, yeah, Marnie here is Giacomo's sister." Penny said. "I got to know her a lot while I was studying in Galar and we've been in contact since I returned to Paldea, in fact, I first knew you because of your battle against her, I was there in the stands."
"You were?!" Ash asked surprised. "But you never told me about that!"
"Penny, you girl!" Marnie jumped over the counter of the stand and went to hug her. "I'm so happy to see you."
"Same her." Penny replied.
"Giacomo told me everything that happened yesterday." Marnie said. I'm honestly still in shock, but I'm so glad you're all safe."
"Thanks." Penny replied. "Also, I see you're smiling a bit more than usual."
"I guess you can thank him for that." Marnie said glancing at Ash.
"Uh, me?" Ash asked.
"Yes, you, silly." Marnie said to then approach him. "I've been wanting to call you, but I guesss I couldn't build up the courage, I... thank you so much, after our battle lots of people have been joining me to support Spikemuth, many visitors have come over and I've gotten plenty of new fans all over the world too, in fact, our battle is the 3rd most viewed from the lastest season of the PWC, only behind your battle against Leon and your third battle with Bea, everyone has been asking like crazy for us to have 6 vs 6."
"Well, you're welcome then. I'm happy to know I played a part in things getting better in Spikemuth." Ash replied. "And of course, we can have that 6v6, just tell me when and where."
"Hey, don't worry, there's no pressure, I wouldn't want to interrupt your Gym Challenge here in Paldea." Marnie said. "Though I wish you had also done the Galar one, maybe you and I could have gotten to know each other better."
"We can still do that." Ash replied. "I do want to know you better... so, wait, you're from Paldea?"
"Not at all, I was born in Galar." Marnie answered. "I've spent most of my life there but of course I come here to Paldea a lot to see Momo; and I know spanish too, Team Yell loves when I speak it, me llaman la lider de la manada alocada y descerebrada, get it?"
"I see..." Ash said.
"Either way, if we really want to know each other better, this seems like a good starting point." Marnie said to then return to her stand and return with a bag of chocolates. "Here, this one is on the house, Ash, as a thanks for the amazing battle and all your help."
"I told you, there's nothing-" Ash was about to take the chocolates, but Marnie suddenly grabbed him by wrist and pulled him closer to her so their faces would meet.
"Hey, I really mean it." Marnie insisted giving him a warm smile to then glance at Penny, noticing she was refusing to let go off Ash's hand. "Hmm... well, enjoy your the chocolates... I'll call you later, Ash.
"Uh, thanks." Ash stuttered and Marnie let go off his wrist only for Penny to drag him away.
"Well, that was... a bit unexpected." Ash said.
"Yeah, unexpected, sure." Penny sighed to then sit on a bench alongside Ash while they were still holding hands and Ash tried to open the bad with his free hand.
'Perfect, just perfect.' Penny thought. 'This was supposed to be my chance, it's the first time we've been alone in months; and it's not like I dislike being with the girls, but Ash finally knows the truth, I just wanted to make some progress... I really liked that forehead kiss... but what am I supposed to do now? Marnie totally stole the moment, of course she likes Ash too, what was I thinking when I took him to her stand? A-A-And then she grabbed him like that, she would have totally kissed him if I hadn't been there! How do these gils get so assertive? I can barely hug him and I'm losing my head just from holding his hand!'
"Hey, Penny, here." Ash called her back to reality the girl saw him with a chocolate in his hand. "Say aaah."
"EH?!" Penny shouted blushing so much that her glasses got foggy.
"Come on, don't leave me hanging here." Ash insited.
"Uh, sure." Penny slightly opened her mouth still blushing madly and softly gave her the chocolate, while Penny then closed her mouth and processed the whole situation as she ate it, once she was done, she took one of the chocolates from the bag and offered it to Ash in the same way, repeating the scene with him, although Ash wasn't blushing as much as her, while both laughed at their reactions, Ash took a third chocolate from the bag. Penny stared at it for a moment to then stare at Ash and back to the chocolate and in an unexpected the move she took both the chocolate and ash's index finger in her mouth.
"Uh, Penny?" Ash asked being surprised again, this time from a soft bite in his finger while Penny stared directly at him. "P-P-Penny, uh, you..." Ash found himself unable to talk only until Penny finally opened her mouth to let go his finger, not without giving it a quick lick as it left her mouth, Penny then sat on Ash's lap and placed a hand on his shoulder to push his back to the bech while she was still holding his other hand.
"I like to see you blushing for a change." Penny grinned at him. "Ash, do you think I'm pretty?"
"I... Of-of course I do." He answered.
"And why did you stutter that?" Penny asked while her face saddened.
"Penny..." By mere instinct, Ash placed his free around her wasit and pulled her even closer to him to the point their noses touched each other. "You're beautiful; and I don't want you to doubt that for a second.
"Really?" Penny asked with a small smile to then giggle. "Even though you thought I was a boy when we first met?"
"W-Well, wouldn't be the first time I make that mistake." Ash answered embarassed. "That's some kind of boyish charm you have, I guess."
"Ash..." She stared at him deeply for a moment. "You got chocolate in your lips, do you want me to lick it?" She bluntly asked making him them both blush to their limit.
"...W-W-Who are you and what have you done with my Penny?" Ash asked.
"Your Penny?" She asked with a wide smile. "I like how that sounds."
"W-Well, I just mean-" Ash stopped talking once Penny placed her free hand in his cheek and started to caress it.
"I love you..." She whispered a mere breath, but Ash heard her loud and clear. "I love you so much." She continued as her body leaned even more towards his, their foreheads now touching and their lips were a few centimeters away, with the feeling of each other's breath getting them even more nervous and excited. "I'm sorry it took me so long to tell you..." Penny whispered again as they both closed their eyes.
"AND CUT!" Iono suddenly shouted and both Penny and Ash stopped what they were doing to see her coming out of a bush while blushing madly alongside with Mela, Dendra and Nemona, although the later seemed rather angry with the situation. "Ok, that was a pretty good session." Iono continued. "But, uh, Wi-Fi is expensive and we have a lot of ground to cover so let's move on."
"I..." Penny stared at Ash for a moment and then looked around while her mind made a recap of the things she had been doing those last mminutes, and oce the rewind was done she simply blushed to the point her glasses got foggy again to then get off Ash and finally let go off his hand to hide both her hands inside the pockets of her jacket. "A-A-AAAAAAASH! I'M SO SORRY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO ME!"
"H-Hey, it's fine, you just surprised me a tiny bit..." Ash answered. "Or a big bit, actually."
"Ok! It's my turn now!" Iono said grabbing Ash's arm. "I thought about using my streamer clothes, but I'll stay with the casual to make the date more comfortable, now, come with me, I know the perfect stand we can go to."
"Sure, on it." Ash said to then look at Penny again, while the glasses girl simply kept blushing and looked away, so Ash approached her and planted a soft kiss in her cheek, leaving Penny in the verge of fainting while the other four girls' jaws dropped.
"I said I was surprised, I never said I didn't like it." Ash winked at her.
"OK! FINE! I'll be burrowing our friend!" Iono shouted to then drag Ash away.
"You okay?" Mela asked Penny.
"I don't feel my legs." Penny answered. "I don't feel anything besides my bumping heart for that matter... and I still can't believe I did those things, what did just come over me?"
"Oh, well, I hope Ash and Penny enjoyed those spicy chocolates." Marnie said to herself.
Later.
"Welcome to my sweet little bakery, Iono!"
"Miss Katy! Teddiursa! Good to see you again!" Iono greeted the woman and her Pokemon. "I... holy Mew, those are even bigger than Dendra's... anyway! I suppose you know my friend, Ash."
"Of course I do, I've heard lots of things from the other Gym Leaders and I've seem some of your streams too. Nice to meet you, sweetheart."
"Nice to meet you too." Ash answered. "So you're a Gym Leader too, right?"
"You bet! Name's Katy Araceli, Bug-Type Gym Leader of the Contordo Gym, though I'm not surprised you haven't heard of me, everyone says I'm the weakest Gym Leader, a total pushover, a massive failure, among other things..." She said to then look at the floor. "Uh, well, it's not like those are lies, but that's because most of challengers are beginners and I don't want to be rough on them, you see. I'll probably be the easiest battle you'll ever have."
"Don't look down on yourself so much, Miss Katy." Ash said. "If you give it your all I'm sure you can give me a real challenge."
"You really think so?" Katy asked with a light blush. "Why, thank you, I'll be looking forward to it! So, this is one of your videos, right, Iono?
"It is; and now your part of it!" Iono replied.
"Oh, that's great!" Katy replied. "Your fans are heads to be feed then we better get them all fed."
"Yup, we won't leave any appetite unwent." Iono nodded proudly. "So we'd like two slices of your finest cake."
"Very well, give me a second, Teddiursa?" Katy looked at her Pokemon who nodded and then jumped down the counter to quickly return with two plates that had two slices of green velvet cake with cream frosting. "Here you go, dig in, lil' ones! This one on the house as a thanks for the cheering up, Ash, I promise I'll train a lot for our battle, I won't disappoint you."
"Thanks a lot, Miss Katy." Ash replied. "I'm sure we'll have an amazing battle."
"And now, to the bench!" Iono guided Ash to the same bench he was with Penny and the sat together, while Iono instantly closed her eyes and opened her mouth, she stayed in that position for around half-a-minute and she felt nothing happened so she opened her eyes to see Ash with an embarrassed expression in his face. "Well, I'm waiting."
"Uh, sorry. but after what happened with Penny of all people, I'm afraid things could get out of control with you." Ash answered.
"Argh! I know I should've taken the first turn!" Iono complained. "Please, Ash, I promise I won't do anything!"
"Hmm...fine." Ash sighed to then take a spoonful of his cake and offer it to Iono. "Open up." He said and Iono opened her mouth again to let Ash feed her.
"Delicious!" She exclaimed while munching. "Now my turn." Iono took a spoonful of her cake and offered it to Ash with him eating it as well. "See? Totally PG." She added and they continued to take turns to feed each other, but by Iono's fifth turn she stopped herself.
"What's wrong?" Ash asked.
"Nothing, I just... this is cool and all, but a bit too monotone." She answered. "I wanted to do this because you did it with Penny first, but I still think I should give it my own style."
"And what's your idea?" Ash asked and Iono stared at him for a second to then grab a handful of her cake and toss it to Ash's face. "It's a bake off!"
"Oh, it's on!" Ash answered cleaning his face to then toss a piece of his cake to Iono's face, the two then got off the bench and began tossing cake to each other as they both laughed out loud. Half of the people walking around the festival gave them weird looks while the other half smiled at the scene. Ash and Iono continued their fight until they were both left with a final handful.
"Finish Him/Her!" They both shouted running at each other, Ash then tossed his cake but Iono avoided with a pirouette and then jumped to squash her cake right on Ash's face.
"I won!" Iono exclaimed while they both laughed and tried to clean themselves, until Ash made a quick movement and hugged Iono by her waist to then lift her in the air and spin with her, while Iono hugged him by his neck and the duo just kept laughing.
"Ash, put me down!" Iono told him between jiggles.
"What for? You seem to be happy up there." Ash answered laughing as well.
"Every moment I spend with you make me happy." Iono said hugging him closer to her. "Ash, you don't know how grateful I am for meeting you, for finally getting someone who cares about me as a person and not just as a streamer, you were the first person to actually do that for me, I thought I could never find someone to rely on because of my status, but I found it with you... and I love because of that."
"Iono..."
"You have no idea of how much I love you." She said grabbing both his cheeks. "Heh, that took me long enough, didn't it? ...well, I won our lil' fight, don't I deserve a price?" She smirked to then lock her legs around Ash's waist while he was still carrying her.
"Uh, Iono, y-y-you do remember we're in public, right?" Ash stuttered.
"Pfft, let them mind their own business." Iono giggled again." Pretty please, it's a bit too late to shy away, don't you think?"
"Well, if that's how you wanna play..." Ahs smiled at her again and placed their foreheads together, both were blushing because of the contact, the two stared deeply into each other's eyes for some seconds until Ash broke the peace and pulled out his tongue to then lick cake of Iono's cheek, leaving the girl paralyzed and blushing to her limits.
"...Y-You just licked me." She stuttered.
"Don't tell me this lil' dish I have here can't take a licking." Ash said with a sly smile.
"Y-Y-Y-You just called me a dish!" Iono just kept blushing and smiling as some drool came from her mouth and the pupils of her Magnemite turned into hearts.
"What's this? Some of it fell on you neck." Ash whispered to her ear.
"MY WHAT?!" Iono shouted a second before Ash softly licked her neck and she quickly covered her mouth to stop what would've probably been a moan. "T-T-That's not fair! I'm so supposed to be one teasing you..." Iono trailed off between small pants and giggles while she almost got lost in a trance and Ash simply smiled at her reaction. "B-But I think some of the cake also fell on my chest, so-"
"AND CUT!" Penny shouted coming out of the same bush from earlier, along with Dendra, Nemona and Mela, all of them blushing even harder than last time.
"Hey! I'm the middle of something here!" Iono complained.
"Well, I was in the middle of something too and you interrupted me so we're even."Penny replied.
"Those were totally different situations!" Iono shouted.
"Uh, sorry, Iono, I think I exaggerated." Ash said slightly embarrassed as he put her down.
"What?! NO! Exaggerate again! Exaggerate like that every single day for the rest of our lives!" She shouted grabbing his cheeks again.
"Sorry, but you said we had a lot of ground to cover, didn't you?" Penny continued. "It's Nemona's turn now."
"Sigh, fine!" Iono said and Ash finally put her down.
"Well, where do you wanna go, Nemo?" Ash asked her and Nemona simply stared at him in silence and walked away with her arms crossed, Ash looked at the other girls and they shrugged shoulders so he decided to simply follow Nemona.
Ash and Nemona walked through plenty of stand around the festival, Ash thought some of them were interesting, but none seemed to get Nemona's attention as she continued with her arms crossed, without making eye contact or talking to Ash.
"Hey, Nemo, what's the matter?" Ash asked and she simply pouted. "Hmm..."
"Hey, Ash! Nemona!" Someone called them from a stand. "Vaultin' Veluza! It's actually not a surprise to see you two here! How are my battle-and-food loving challengers today?"
"Mr. Kofu! Nice to see you too!" Ash replied as both Nemona and him approached the stand.
"Haha, indeed, very nice to see you two." Kofu answered. "But where's Penny, huh?"
"Well, it's a bit complicated to explain." Ash replied. "let's say we're playing a game, I had a turn with Penny earlier and now I'm with Nemona."
"Well, how about I play too?" Kofu asked.
"Sure, how about some sushi, Nemo?" He asked and the girl was still arms-crossed and refusing to look at him. "I... guess that's a yes."
"Here's the manu then!" Kofu said and Ash recieved it.
"I'll take the Magikarp sushi. What about you, Nemo?" Ash asked and the girl suddenly took the menu off his hands and pointed another type of sushi in the menu at Kofu, but Ash couldn't see which one was it.
"Well, here you go then, go to one of the tables and enjoy." Kofu offered them two plates of the sushi they picked, Ash paid for them and they both went to a table, sitting in opposite sides of it, Nemona was finally looking at him direclty, but she still had her arms crossed with a pretty angry face.
"Nemo, come on, I may have aura, but I can't read minds." Ash said. "Just tell me what troubles you!"
"I WANT A FOREHEAD KISS!" She suddenly shouted slamming her fists in the table.
"...You what?" Ash asked.
"I want a forehead kiss!" She repeated. "Iono showed us that picture of when you kissed her forehead that night we met Koraidon and now Penny told us that you kissed her forehead yesterday! And today you've been getting all lovey-dovey with those two! What about me?!"
"You're really so angry at me because of that?" Ash asked.
"...Maybe..." Nemona sighed. "Sorry about the drama, I'm really happy with being your travelling companion and battle partner, but I can be more than that! I'm tired of everyone thinking I'm just a dumb battle-loving girl! I don't want you to think that too!" She shouted to then nail her sushi with the chopsticks and eat it a single bite.
"Woah! Nemo, easy there!" Ash said worried.
"Don't you tell me how to eat -hic-!" Nemona replied suddenly having hiccups. "T-This all your fault! -hic- For being so kind and thoughtful and charming and handsome! You're always inspiring me to become a better person because I still feel like I don't derseve you! -hic-." Nemona continued shouting and having hiccups and then those things were suddenly joined by weeps. "Y-Yo... Yo te amo, si? Te amo mucho y quiero que sepas que nadie te amara como yo!"
"N-Nemo, you... uh, what kind of sushi did you asked for?" Ash asked slightly dumbfounded.
"The Octillery one -hic-." She answered.
"The one that comes with ink? Isn't that alcoholic?" Ash asked.
"Hey! I'm 20! I'm allowed to drink!" She answered. "Besides, it's not alcoholic, just a bit toxic -hic-."
"Alright, Nemo, I think you have to lay down a bit." Ash told her.
"Great, I ruined our date." She sighed to then slam her face in the table. "Ouch." She complained to then start to jiggle. "PERDI MI MANO DERECHA Y ME DUELE TODAVIA! HAHAHAHAHA!"Nemona kept laughing until she finally fell off the chair.
"Alright, enough!" Ash shouted. "Nemona Xantho, I want you to put yourself back together this instant!"
"Leave me alone, Sis!" She shouted. "I told you I don't want anything to do with the company! I want to become a trainer and make my own path! No es ganar o perder! Solo hay que saber que camino seguir!" She exclaimed to then cry again. "I-I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to disappoint you, but this is what I want..."
"Nemo..." Ash tried to approach her.
"AND WHAT IF I DON'T WANT TO BE NORMAL?!" Nemona shouted out loud opening her eyes again to then look around. "Ash... I-It's you... it's just you..." She smiled at him to then cry again. "I... C-Can I have a hug?" Nemona crossed her arms to hug herself as she kept crying in the ground. Ash quickly reached out to her and brought her in a tight hug, Nemona then answered the bug and cried on his shoulder for a few seconds until she fell asleep just as sudden as the outrage started. Ash then softly planted a kiss on her forehead and he could feel Nemona hug him tighter in her sleep, the girl then let out a yawn and woke up again to look at Ash.
"Ugh, sorry about that, I'm back." She said speaking normally again. "I didn't do anything embarrasing, did I?"
"You don't remember?" Ash asked.
"Uh, no, my mind kinda blocked itself." She answered while she blushed again. "Last thing I remember was... telling you that I love you... and then nothing."
"I see..." Ash thought in silence about the things that Nemona was shouting. "Nemo, you know that if anything troubles you, you can talk about it with me and the girls, right?"
"Of course I know, silly, that's what friends are for!" She smiled again and Ash gave a half-smile, still worried about the things that Nemona said.
"So... if you don't remember anything then that means..." Ash softly placed his hands on Nemona's cheeks, cupping her face to then give her another forehead kiss, leaving her blushing even more. "I think I owed you that. You may be a dumb battle-loving girl, but you're my dumb battle-loving girl... y te quiero con limon y sal, tal y como estas." He talked leaving Nemona gasping and with stars in her eyes, she then threw herself over Ash to catch him in a strong hug and kiss his cheek as much as he could.
"I knew it! I knew it! I Knew it! I love you! Te amo!" She exclaimed while she continued to kiss him and all the movement ended up with her pinning Ash to the floor, while Nemona sat down on his lap and placed both hands in his wrists to keep him down.
"Uh... how did we end like this?" Ash asked.
"Hey, don't forget I'm the adult here." Nemona grinned to then plant a kiss on Ash's bottom neck while her breasts pressed onto his chest, leaving Ash without words again. "There... I think we should cut this now." She whispered. "But that's only because I don't know much I'll be able to control myself while we're in public... but the next time we're alone you and I will give this a follow-up, got it?" She stared at him in the eyes and all that the blushing Ash could do was nod. "Good." Nemona smiled to then get off him and stand up to then help Ash do the same and plant one last kiss on his cheek. "Alright, we're done, girls!"
"W-Well, that was pretty intense." Dendra said coming out of a different bush along with Iono, Mela and Penny. "Uh, it's my turn now, right?" The teacher asked.
"Yup, he's all yours, Miss Dendra." Nemona replied.
"Great!" Dendra adjusted her kimono and then went to grab Ash's hand quite confidently. "Let's have some fun!" She exclaimed while she thought. 'I really hope this works.'
Last night
"So basically, since we couldn't have that cooking lesson because of what happened with Team Star, Ash invited me to go with him to the food festival, I guess it'll be kind of a date, but the ther girls that travel with him are gonna be there too, so I'm totally sure about what I should do, should I just try to drag him and keep him to myself? Or should I cover my intentions and just spend time with him along the other girls? I'm just not sure."
"Well, that's always been your problem, Dendra." Tulip answered while she put on some make up on herself. "You're just never sure of you, you're never sure of what you want to do. If you really want to have an opportunity with Ash then you have to be confident, specially with all the competition you've been mentioning, you have to believe you're his best option and then he'll believe it too."
"I guess that makes sense." Dendra sighed. "I know I'm a mess, but I just get really nervous when I'm with him, partly because of our age gap."
"Oh, come on, that again?" Tulip asked. "Dendra, you said it yourself, he's already an adult; and most importantly, he accepted your invitation to a date and then invited you himself, right?"
"Well, yes?" Dendra nodded.
"Which means he doesn't mind the age at all." Tulip said. "So you shouldn't either."
"Hmmp, alright then." Dendra bumped her fists. "You're right, Tulip! I have to stop doubting myself so much! My name is Dendra Kihada! And Ash ketchum is going to be my boyfriend!"
"That's the spirit!" Tulip cheered on her. "And you better keep up on that because if you fail I'll take him for myself."
"Yeah, I... wait, what?" Dendra asked.
"Of course." Tulip smiled. "Like, come on, you know better than anyone that everyone who has tried to court me so far have been men who only care about my money, status or mere outer beauty. A young honest man like Ash is exactly what I need; And the fact that I'm lending him to you is probably the biggest proof of our friendship."
"So that's why you asked him to come to my class?" Dendra asked. "You knew I'd end up falling for him too?"
"Perhaps." Tulip winked. "But who knows how this will all end? Ash has two hands after all."
"Two hands? What do you mean?" Dendra asked.
"You'll get it later."
Back in the present.
'I still don't get that.' Dendra thought.
"So, where are we going?" Ash asked her while the two were still walking around the festival.
"Uh, have you met Saguaro?" She asked. "He's the Home Economics teacher of the Naranja Academy and a really skilled chef."
"Right, you mentioned that you took some cooking lessons with him."
"Indeed, so, we'll go to this stand which is... right there!"
"Hello, Dendra!" He greeted her. "And a friend, I see, Ash Ketchum, the legend in the flesh, a pleasure to meet you."
"Likewise, Mr. Saguaro." He answered.
"You know, Dendra? I was actually expecting you to show up." Saguaro said. "I got a call from Tulip and she mentioned you'd be coming to the festival with a date."
"Of course she did." Dendra sighed.
"Thought I'll admit I was expecting you to come with someone a bit more within your age-range." Saguaro continued.
"Great, I just got fancily called a pedophile." Dendra replied with blank eyes.
"Sorry if my words were a bit rough, it's not like I'm trying to judge you." Saguaro said.
"Well, I don't mind if Dendra is a bit older than me." Ash spoke out. "Having her around is really great."
"Heh, there, don't make me blush in front of my coworkers." Dendra replied to then softly punch his shoulder, causing them both to laugh.
"Bueno, es el amor lo que importa y no lo que diga la gente." Saguaro said.
"Don't you dare sing that." Dendra told him raising a fist. "We barely have a 7-year difference."
"Well, well, sorry, as an apology, this one is on the house." Saguaro turned around for a moment to then return with a single plate of spaghetti and two forks. "My special recipe, as per Tulip's suggestion."
"Why am I not surprised?" Dendra asked.
"Let's just enjoy the meal." Ash took the plate and they both walked to a table and sat together side by side, both started sharing the spaghetti, albeit Dendra was picking her noddles very carefully, doing her best to not take the same noddle that Ash could be nibbling.
"So, Dendra." Ash called her.
"Uh, yes? Something wrong?" She asked.
"Not at all, I was just thinking about something." Ash said. "I know plenty of things about Penny, Iono and... Nemona, since I've been traveling with them, but I don't know much about you."
"Oh! So you'd like to know more about me?" Dendra asked with a light blush.
"Of course, if that's okay, I mean." He answered.
"It's okay indeed!" She said with a wide smile. "Well, what can I say? I was born in Dewford, Hoenn, but my family moved to Paldea when I was very young." She started explaining while they both kept eating the spaghetti. "I was raised in Alfornada where I met both Tulip and Miriam and we three became friends, I actually got my starter, a Meditite, as a gift from Tulip's mom, I continued to live in Alfornada and I eventually became independent, Tulip and I both took tests to become Gym Leaders, but she always got the better results, she was waiting for me so we could become Gym Leaders together, but I didn't want to drag her down, so I eventually dropped it all together, then I studied to become a battle studies teacher and I passed the test in the first try, , I used to work in small schools at first until I was selected to be part of the new staff of the Naranja Academy."
"Right, now that I think about it, where are you all going to work while the Academy is being rebuild?" Ash asked.
"That's the thing with being a teacher, you always have a plan B." Dendra laughed. "Most of my coworkers will be working in the Uva Academy in the meantime, I'll also see if I can either go there or to my old school; and in unexpected turn of events, Tulip decided she'll finally pay me for helping her in the Alfornada Gym as a way of helping me, I'm really glad to have her as my friend." As Dendra got lost in the story, she stopped checking the spaghetti and before they could notice, they both ended up with opposite ends of the same noodle and they kept nibbling on it until they finally noticed their faces were a few centimeters away. Ash simply stared at her and Dendra blushed madly at the mere thought of what was supposed to happen next.
'My first kiss.' She thought. "I'M NOT READY!" Dendra shouted to then raise her right palm and make a strong and fast karate chop that cut in half the noodle, the plate and the table under it, with all of that falling into pieces on the floor.
"...That was actually quite impressive." Ash said.
"WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH ME?!" Dendra shouted. "I'm really sorry, Saguaro, I'll pay for everything!"
"Don't worry, Dendra, I'll pay for it." Ash said.
"Ash, there's no way I'd ask you to do that." She replied.
"That's why I'm offering myself." Ash smiled.
"B.-But I was the one who broke it!" She insited.
"And I am the man who took this beautiful woman on a date." He answered making her blush again. "Just leave it to me."
"Fine, Fine, but I'll repay you somehow." Dendra said.
"Don't worry about it, you... you're bleeding!" Ash suddenly shouted pointing at her hand.
"What? of course not." Dendra said looking at her hand. "I cut through spaghetti, it's only marinara... uh, no, wait, it is blood."
"Don't worry, I got it." Ash said. "Mr. Saguaro, can you give us some water?"
"Sure thing." He answered to then hand over a water bottle, Ash quickly cleaned the cut in Dendra's hand and pulled out a small first aid-kit from his pocket, taking some bandages from it and quickly wrapping Dendra's plam to stop the bleeding. "There, how does it feel?"
"Feels amazing." Dendra said to then toss some punches to the air. "So you're world-champion, chef and medic? You're really full of surprises."
"After you travel the world for 8 years you're bound to learn some things." Ash replied.
"I bet... but speaking of that, have you thought about the things we talked about the other day?" She asked.
"I have and... " Ash tought in silence for a moment. "Right now, the thing that my heart wants the most is to continue this journey, I want to explore more, to learn more, to fight more... and I want to spend more time with you and the girls."
"It makes me happy to hear that." Dendra smiled. "Well, I guess my date turn is over, right?"
"Just one more thing." Ash softly took her bandaged hand and planted a kiss on it. "That'll help you heal sooner."
"Thanks a lot, Mr. Doctor." She told while they both shared a laugh, Ash then paid Saguaro for the damages, despite him saying it wasn't necessary either, Ash and Dendra then walked back to the bush and Penny, Nemona, Iono and Mela came out of it, albeit they weren't blushing as much as the previous times.
"That was surpringsily wholesome." Iono said.
"Guess the game is over now?" Nemona asked.
"Not yet." Mela replied. "I'd like a turn too."
"Are... you sure?" Penny asked.
"I am, It's not like I'll stay behind after seeing all this." Mela said.
"Listen, Mela." Ash talked to her. "I don't want you to push yourself-"
"No, you listen, Ketchum!" She interrupted him to then sigh. "Ash... I know what you'll try to get at, but that's part of the problem, if you really want to help me then just treat me as you'd treat any of the other girls, I don't want any special treatment, got it?"
"...Got it." Ash nodded.
"Good." Mela walked to him to then grab his hand. "Now take me on a date, Ash ketchum."
"Sure, let's see what we can find." Ash replied.
IF YOU WERE GOOD ENOUGH, MAYBE SHE WOULD STILL BE ALIVE
"Hey, Mollie, you okay?" Murdock asked her while the girl stared at the void.
"Yeah... I'm fine." She answered.
"M-Murdock, do I really have to wear this?" Orla called him.
"Yeah, sorry, but after the 75 percent thing, we need to try and gather extra money and the best way to do that is to gather attention to the stand, now come on out."
"Ugh, fine." Orla said coming out of a dressing room wearing a maid outfit. "And why isn't Mollie wearing one of these too?!"
"Because you're the one with floaties." Mollie replied.
"I also only had one maid outfit in my closet." Murdock said.
"Speaking of that, the real question here would be, why do you have a maid outfit?" Mollie asked.
"You guys don't know everything about me." He answered.
"Do you really think this is gonna help bring more clients?" Orla asked.
"I do." murdock nodded. "So for now, the most important thing is that you stay in maid-character, you know, smile, sweet, sister-"
"SHUT UP!" Orla shouted. "Ugh, hey everyone!" She said playing a cute voice. "Come on over and taste some Pirate Curry! ...I swear I'll make you pay for this, Murdock."
"You can leave it to tomorrow." He replied.
.
"Uh, is that a maid?" Mela asked walking towards the crew's direction alongside Ash.
"Looks like it." Ash replied. "Pirate Curry, would you like to try that?"
"Sure, I mean, I've never eaten curry before, let's give it a taste." Mela said.
"Hey, excuse, we'd like to have some of that curry." Ash said as the approached the trio.
"YASH! Our first clients!" Murdock exclaimed.
"Hey, hold on, you're Ash Ketchum, aren't you?" Orla asked him.
"Yes, that's me, and this is my friend, Mela." He said.
"Very nice to meet you, name's Orla Millfy; and these are my friends, Murdock Gibken and Mollie de Famille."
"Yup! I'm the chef here and I make the best curry you'll ever taste!" Murdock said.
"Ash..." Mollie whispered while she stared at him.
-IF YOU WERE GOOD ENOUGH, MAYBE SHE WOULD STILL BE ALIVE- A voice resounded in Mollie's head.
"I-I didn't..." Mollie stuttered as she took a few steps back.
-IF YOU WERE GOOD ENOUGH, MAYBE SHE WOULD STILL BE ALIVE-
"I... I tried." She whispered holding her head. "It wasn't my fault."
"Mollie?" Orla called her.
-IF YOU WERE GOOD ENOUGH, MAYBE SHE WOULD STILL BE ALIVE-
"I GOTTA GO!" Mollie shouted out loud to then run out of the scene.
"Wait, Mollie!" Orla shouted.
"DON'T YOU DARE FOLLOW ME!" Mollie shouted again and stopped Orla's run behind her.
"Hey, easy there." Murdock said. "Remember what she told us. Looks like another one of those episodes she's been having recently, just let her handle it on her own."
"Come on! It's obvious she wants help, but she's too stubborn to admit it." Orla said. 'But maybe we just met the right person to help.' She thought glancing at Ash.
"Hey, wait a second." Mela said. "Did you just say your last name was MILFy?"
"Uh, yeah, not the first time someone thinks that." Orla said covering her chest in embarassment. "It's not what you think, ok? It's M-I-L-L-F-Y, with double L, it's a totally different thing."
Meanwhile with the other girls.
"What the heck is this?!" Iono shouted looking at what her camera was recording of the date. "Those are bigger than Dendra's too! How is that even physically possible, how can her back support those?! It makes no sense at all!"
"You're taking that subject a bit too personal, don't you think?" Penny asked.
"Anyway, please take a seat." Orla told them as she offered them a table. "We'll serve you in a moment." She said to then leave them alone and go inside the stand.
"So, I heard a bit of your conversation with Dendra." Mela said to Ash."Would you like to know more about me too?"
"Of course, as long as it doesn't make you uncomfortable." Ash said.
"Eh, it's not like there's much to say." Mela replied. "I was born in Cabo Poco, rather normal childhood, met Charlos when I was 7, bullying started, Met Penny and the rest of the Anti-Terrorism Squad, bullying got worse and... we fought the bullies, Penny left Team Star and I took the leadership, we recruited more and more people and then I began to lost myself... Charlos left me... I tried to keep it together as I could, but then Penny returned and things didn't quite work, I got more and more frustrated... and then I met you; and God damn, did I hate you, I spent days and nights thinking about you... uh, about your way of battling, I mean, I had to find a way to defeat you, it just haunted me, I had been undefeated since I became Big Boss, only Eri could stand up to me, and then you came out of nowhere and swept me like I was nothing."
"Well, if it makes you feel better, you did defeated with Slither Wing." Ash said.
"Yeah, guess that counts." Mela said. "Hey... thanks again for giving me another chance."
"Thank you for accepting it." Ash said.
"Here's the dish!" Orla exclaimed returning with two plates of rice curry. "Hope you guys enjoy it."
"Thanks a lot, Orla." Ash said and both Mela and him took their spoons to get a taste of the food.
"Hey, this is great!" Mela said.
"It sure is, mate!" Murdock said from the stand.
"Yeah, pretty good." Ash added. "Why 'Pirate' Curry tho?"
"Well, to kinda go with our theme." Orla said. "You see, Murdock, Mollie and I are part of a crew of adventures called The Rising Volt Tacklers, we travel in a giant flying ship called The Brave Asagi."
"Wow, that sounds super cool!" Ash exclaimed.
"Yeah, quite awesome." Mela added.
"Uh, thanks." Orla replied quite surprised. "A lot of people don't believe is when we first tell them that."
"Trust me, I've seen weirder." Ash said.
"Ditto." Mela nodded.
"Well, as I was saying." Orla continued. "The other members of the team are our Captain Friede Marvin, his chief mate, Ludlow Dogoier, and our techmaster, Dot Ikari, Murdock's of course our chef, I'm the mechanic of the ship and Mollie is in charge of our infimary and healthcare."
"And what happened to your friend earlier?" Mela asked.
"Mollie has her story." Orla replied. "In fact, all of the members of our crew have our own story. Murdock has been in jail, for example." She whispered so the chef wouldn't hear her.
"Really? What for?" Mela asked.
"We don't know, he changes the story every time we ask him." Murdock said.
I defrauded Macro Cosmos Enterprises.
I robbed the second-largest bank in Kalos using only a Heavy Ball.
I created a hole in the ozone over the Sky Pillar.
Hice caer un poste con este pulgar.
"But trust me, as of now, he's one of the sweetest people I've ever met." Orla said. "So whatever was the reason, I'm sure he's totally redeemed, anyone can be a good person if they just try."
"That's something I'm counting on." Mela replied.
"Ash, sorry to ask this, but have you met Mollie before?" Orla asked.
"No, I'm pretty sure I haven't." He answered. "Though she did look at me like I knew her."
"Maybe you just reminded her of something or someone." Mela said. "It sounds like she has PTSD, and trust me, it ain't fun, even the smallest thing can make you revive that moment to its fullest."
-IF YOU WERE GOOD ENOUGH, MAYBE SHE WOULD STILL BE ALIVE-
"SHUT UP!" Mollie shouted while holding her head. "It wasn't my fault! It wasn't my fault! I did everything I could! You think I didn't want to save her?! NO, NO, NO! SHUT UP!" She shouted to then run away again.
"Thanks a lot for the curry." Ash said after Mela and her had finished with the food and he paid for it."
"Thanks a lot for coming." Murdock replied.
"Hope to see you guys again." Orla added as Ash and Mela left the stand.
"Thanks a lot to you too, Ash." Mela told him.
"I'm Glad you liked the 'date'." Ash said.
"Well, what do we have here?" A voice called behind them and they both turned around to find Geeta. "I see you're already making the most of your time together." Geeta said and caused Mela to notice she was once again grabbing Ash's hand so she quickly let it go.
"Uh yeah, I'm learning a lot." Mela replied. "Thank you so much for letting me go with Ash."
"You're welcome, but Ash is the one you should be thanking." Geeta said. "The fact that he was the one to ask for it influenced a lot my decision. I did tell Ash that I'd help him with everything I could while he was in Paldea."
"And I'm really grateful for that, Miss Geeta." Ash answered.
"Please, dear, just call me Geeta." She said with a giggle.
"Hey, Ash, why don't you take a turn with Geeta now?" Mela asked.
"A turn?" Geeta asked.
"Uh, yes, you see, I've been having 'dates' with the girls here in the festival." Ash explained. "And I just finished one with Mela, would you like to join?"
"Ash Ketchum, are you asking me out on a date?" She answered taking a step forward to him.
"I... guess I am." Ash smiled at her and Geeta answered smiling as well.
"Very well, then I'm honored to accept." Geeta said.
"I want you to bring him home at 10:01 or I'll hunt you down." Mela said offering Ash's hands to Geeta.
"That's a deal." Geeta nodded to then take Ash's hand.
"Welp, see ya, Ketchum." Mela said kissing her index finger to then press it on Ash's cheek before walking away.
"Huh... Well, do you have any idea of which stand you'd like to visit?" He asked Geeta.
"Of course, some friends of mine have a stand here, let's go with them."
Some minutes later.
"Mela, what the heck was that?!" Penny shouted once her friend arrived in the bush.
"What? I thought I'd be a good way to thank Miss geeta for what she did for me." Mela replied.
"But she's evil!" Penny shouted. "She's totally evil! Why does nobody else sees it?!"
Back with Ash.
"Welcome to the Medali's Restaurant Stand!" A toddler welcomed Ash.
"Name's Rika and this squirt here is Poppy." The woman said to then carry Poppy in her arms.
"And I'd be Larry, Leader of the Medali Gym and owner of its Restaurant and therefore of this extention of it. Very nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you all too." Ash replied by Geeta's side.
"Wow! Ash ketchum!" Poppy squealed. "I've heard that you're super strong, Sir!"
"Too bad for you this squirt, Larry and I are pretty strong too. you'll have to get through us if you want to become champ."
"That's right! We're three quarters of the Paldean Elite Four, the more awesomes out there!" Poppy exclaimed.
"The strongests of the strongests." Rika added.
"The World's Finest indeed." Larry nodded.
"So, wait, Mr. Larry is both a Gym Leader and an Elite Four?" Ash asked.
"Retirement ain't cheap." Larry replied. "So, La Primera, may we know the reason you've brought Mr. Ketchum here with us today?"
"Oh, nothing special." Geeta said. "Ash and I are just having a little date." She said surprising the three, albeit Larry's expression didn't change much.
"A what?" Rika asked.
"Quite unexpected." Larry said.
"Ooooh, does that mean you'll get married soon?" Poppy asked.
"Poppy, I already told you that topic is a bit more complicated." Rika said.
"Well, that's not something too crazy to say." Geeta replied. "I'll admit that Ash is among the highest of my prospect's list."
"Uh, I am?" Ash asked.
"You are." Geeta nodded with a smile. "Although that brings me to ask, have you thought about that topic? You seem to 'have fun' with the girls that follow you, but do you think any of them could be an actual girlfriend and eventual wife? With all the responsibilities that comes with?"
"I... honestly haven't." Ash replied. "I guess I haven't thought of anything that far in the future... but the one thing I'm sure of is that I want to stay with them, they're... different from my past traveling companions, I feel different with them and I'd like to... keep feeling that way, I guess."
"Hmm... very well." Geeta smiled again. "Now, I think you invited me eat something, didn't you?"
"Of course, Mr. Larry, what do you serve here?" Ash asked.
"Rice." Larry answered.
"..."
"..."
"...And?" Ash asked again.
"Water." Larry replied.
"...That's all you have?" Ash asked.
"They're both simple, plain, nutritious, delicious, easy and quick to prepare and most importantly... cheap."
"You get used to it." Rika said.
"The rice is really tasty and the water is very fresh!" Poppy said.
"Then I guess we'll be having two bowls of rice and two glasses of water." Ash said.
"Excellent choice." Larry nodded. "Please take a table while we prepare it."
"Fine then." Geeta led the way to the table and pulled out a chair. "After you." She said to Ash.
"Hey, I thought the gentleman was supposed to pull out the chair." Ash replied with a smile.
"As you may or may have not notice, I don't like to stick to gender roles." She answered.
"Thanks a lot then." Ash answered sitting on the chair.
"You're welcome." She said to then take a seat herself.
"So... I'm of your highest prospects?" Ash asked her.
"You are the highest of my prospects." She replied. "And the only one I'm actually considering at the moment for that matter."
"Wow, I-, uh, I don't know what to say." Ash replied with a slight blush.
"It's fine, you don't have to say anything." Geeta said. "I know it may sound a little rude, but I have been thinking a lot about you since you became champion, you have no idea of how excited I was when Brassius informed me you were here in Paldea, I was, in fact, quite nervous when we first met, I really wanted to give you a good first impression. Hope I did."
"You sure did." Ash said.
"That's good to hear." Geeta smiled again. "And, as I was saying, I really think we'd be a perfect match, the two strongest trainers in the world, the literal definintion of a power couple. As long as you don't mind our little age gap. I know you still see me as 'Miss Geeta'... but I'll be sure to change that." She said with a soft voice to then lift Ash's chin with her right hand, getting him to blush again.
"Here's the rice!" Rika said arriving next to the table with two bowls
"Here's the water!" Poppy joined her with the two glasses.
"And here's the paycheck." Larry added with the paper in hand.
"Ha! I love it when you do that Mr. Larry, you're always so tired." Poppy said. "Look at this, Mr. Ketchum, Ehem, Elite Four Poppy!" She exclaimed striking a pose.
"Elite Four Rika!" She joined the toddler.
"...Larry." He sighed without moving.
"I use Steel-Types!" Poppy continued with another pose.
"I use Ground-Types!" Rika exclaimed.
"...Normal and Flying." Larry sighed again.
"Wow, you three are really in sync." Ash said.
"Of course, as members of the Elite Four, we've gotten to know each other a lot." Rika said.
"And who's the fourth member then?" Ash asked.
"That'd be Hassel." Larry answered. "He's the Art Teacher of the Naranja Academy."
"Yup! Right now he is with his best friend Brassius helping him with his stand in the festival." Poppy said.
"Yeah... best friend." Rika smiled to herself.
"Hey, Miss Rika, are Poppy and you related'" Ash asked.
"Ah, you suddenly want to know about me?" Rika giggled to then take Ash's chopsticks and grab a bit of his rice. "Poppy was left in an orphanage a few days after she was born." She started to explain while eaating Ash's rice. "No one has ever met her parents, she grew there in the orphanage and with the time she proved to be a really skilled trainer, I met her there while the Elite Four was doing an exhibition, we grew closer, spent more days together and we both took a liking of each other, so with some help from Geeta I got her custody and became her legal guardian. of course, our relationship is more sister-like, but I'm legally her mother, so be warned, ketchum, if you hit on me, you'd be hitting on a single mother."
"I think you mean I'd be hitting on a milf." Ash replied while Rika was still eating his rice and the surprise caused her to choke on it.
"Hey, nice comeback there." Geeta laughed at the scene.
"It was still a bit embarassing to say." Ash said. "It just pinged on my head because of someone I met earlier today."
"I still think it was great." Geeta insisted. "Rika loves to act tough, but if you get her with her guard down, it's very easy to fluster her."
"That's not true!" Rika coughed while still choking as Larry gave her soft pats in her back; and Ash eventually offered her his glass of water. "T-Thanks." She replied after drinking it.
"Hey, Rika, what's a milf?" Poppy asked.
"I'll explain you in 10." Rika replied.
"Minutes?" Poppy asked.
"YEARS!" Rika shouted.
"Oh, wait, it's one of those acronaymo thingies, right?" Poppy asked. "What does it mean? Married In Love Forever?"
"Uh... yeah, that's totally what it is." Rika replied.
"Does that mean you'll marry Sir ketchum too?!" Poppy shouted.
"What?! NO!" Rika shouted blushing.
"Does that mean I'll marry him then?"
"POPPY!" Rika shouted again.
"Well, to change topic..." Ash talked embarassed by the situation. "This rice is very tasy, Mr. Larry."
"It sure is." Geeta agreed.
"I'm glad you both think that." Larry said.
"Well, as much as I'd like to extend this, today's a very busy day or me." Geeta sighed to then stand up from her chair. "I should be taking my leave."
"Thanks a lot for giving some of your time then." Ash replied.
"Thanks to you, Ash." Geeta said. "And I hope this little shot of me motivates you 'consider me' as well, see you soon and keep having fun here in Paldea."
"Until next time, Geeta." Ash replied and she smiled one more time at him.
"Hmm... hey, wait, I almost forgot something." Geeta said. "Do you know anything about that strange Volcarona that Mela was using?"
"Slither Wing?" Ash said. "Well, from what we've guessed, Slither Wing is a regional form from an island in the center of Paldea."
"In its center?" Geeta asked. "You mean inside the Great Crater?"
"I guess, that's what Professor Sada and Turo told us at least."
"I see... well, Sada and Turo are both good friends of mine, so I imagine I should believe that." Geeta said. "Does Mela still has that Volcarona?"
"She doesn't." Ash replied. "Slither Wing was stolen by someone named Amethio Ta Jolokia, I've been trying to inform the professors about it, but they aren't answering my calls."
"I'll try calling them as well." Geeta said before walking away. "Thanks a lot for the information, see you soon."
"But Miss geeta, you and I would have so much fun together!" Poppy said to Rika.
"Listen, squirt, being married involves much more than just having fun." Rika replied. "It's full of responsibilities and adult things, and you seem to be missing another important point, one person can only marry one person."
"But what if someone loves two persons and two those persons love that first person?" Poppy asked.
"It's 'people'." She corrected her. "And squirt, that kind of things only happens in books, real life is not no simple, that kind of relationship comes with way too many troubles and everyone is going to judge them.
"S-So they won't get a happily ever after?" Poppy asked again with tears in her eyes.
"Yes, more or less." Rika said. "Hey, Larry, you think you can help me explain this to her?"
"I'd rather not." Larry said.
"Well, what about you, Ash?" Rika called him.
"Eh, I'm not sure, that's a very complicated topic." Ash said. "But I think that if everyone involved is willing to make it work, then it could work."
"You're seriously telling me you'd give that a try?" Rika asked.
"I'm not sayind that, but..."
"Ash Ketchum, I really like you!"
"I love you...I love you so much...I'm sorry it took me so long to tell you..."
"You have no idea of how much I love you."
"Y-Yo... Yo te amo, si? Te amo mucho y quiero que sepas que nadie te amara como yo!"
"I... Miss Rika, Mr. larry, Poppy, thanks a lot for the meal, but I'll be leaving now." Ash said to ten pay the check and walk away. 'It could work, right?' Ash asked in his mind. 'Penny, Nemona, Iono, Dendra... can I really? ...And what about Mela and Geeta, they also seem to... what am I supposed to do?"
"Uh, hello there." Someone called Ash and he turned to see a stand attented by a pink-haired girl, she was wearing a white and pink hat with a bow and a white blouse with short sleeves, along with a long-sleeved blue dress underneath. "Uhm, sorry if I'm bothering you, but you sem a bit down, m-maybe I could offer you a Casteliacone to cheer you up?"
"I... yeah, thanks, I could use one of those." Ash replied.
"Take a seat, I'll serve you in a moment." She answered and Ash approached the stand and sat down in one of the seats in front of it while the girl went under the counter to the return with a vanilitie-shape ice cream. "One casteliacone, as promised." She said with a smile while Ash paid for it.
"Thanks a lot, uh..."
"Oh! M-My name is Yancy." She answered. "Excuse me for not introducing myself, it's a pleasure to meet you."
"Pleasure's mine." Ash smiled. "So, if you're serving casteliacones, I suppose you're from Unova, right'"
"I am, from Nimbasa, in fact." She replied. "And I suppose you're from Pallet Town, Mr. Ketchum."
"Gosh this 'being famous' thing really gets a bit annoying." Ash sighed.
"Heh, yeah, tell me about it." Yancy replied.
"How so?"
"Uh, well... I-I-I got a friend who's an idol, you see?" Yancy stuttered. "She's always complaining about how hard it is to maintain that kind of life, she kinda wants a break, but she still doesn't want to disappoint her fans."
"Her fans, huh?" Ash asked. "Well, I'd like you to tell your friend something that I told to a friend of mine that was having a similar problem. As important as her fans may be, she can't let them decide her fate, she has to ask herself what does she really want, her life is hers and only hers."
"I... wow, thanks." Yancy replied with surprised expression. "Uhm, I'll be sure to tell all that to my friend, I'm sure it'll help her a lot."
"Hope it does." Ash said. "So, what's your idol friend's name?"
"Uh, her name is... Nancy." She said.
"...Nancy?" Ash asked.
"Yup." She nodded.
"Her name is Nancy... and your name is Yancy?" Ash asked again.
"Yup, we, uh, we both laughed at it when we first met, quite a crazy coincidene, don't you think?" Yancy kept stuttering as she started to sweat. "Uh, w-well, in exchange for that advice you gave my friend, if it isn't a bother, would you like to tell me why you were feeling down a moment ago? Maybe I could help you too."
"I dunno, it's a bit complicated." Ash replied. "But... I've been traveling with some girls, you see? And they... they all seem to like me and... I think I like them all too... and I have no idea of what I'm supposed to do next, it's either rejeting them all, choosing one and breaking the other's hearts or-"
"Or choosing them all." Yancy interrupted him. "Wow, what a dilemma."
"Yeah, that's where my inner conflict is coming from..." Ash sighed. "That third option, choosing them all... I've considering it more than I'm proud to admit, I want to belive I can make it work, but what if it doesn't? Does my will to do this really comes from genuine feelings of love? Or am I forcing myself to love them because I don't want to hurt them? Or... or maybe is that I'm just being selfish for not wanting to choose? What would the girls even think when I tell them about this? They could even be disgusted by the idea, I mean, they're the ones that'd be in the hardest spot for having to share me; and the last thing I want for them is to suffer... then why am i still considering this?"
"...Wow." Yancy said in a whisper.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to drop such heavy stufff, but I guess I needed to let that out." Ash said.
"D-Don't worry, it's fine." Yancy said. "But if you want my opinion, the fact that you're doubting youself so much sems like the perfect proof that you're doing this out of genuine feelings, you must really love all those girls."
"If I really loved them, I wouldn't be thinking about this." Ash replied. "They deserve something better than that."
"They deserve to be happy." Yancy continued. "And you deserve to be happy too. If you love those girls and they love you back, what else do you need?"
"What else? ... I... Thanks for the talk, Yancy, but I'll be leaving." Ash said to then stand up from his seat.
"Of course, hope you make up your mind soon." Yancy said. "You shouldn't let the opportunity to love to walk away from you."
"...Until next time." Ash said taking his leave.
Some minutes later
"There you are!" Iono said while Ash made it with the girls. "My Rotom Phone lost track of you after the date with Geeta, where were you'"
"I just did a little stop in another stand and ate some ice cream." Ash said relieved to know the girls didn't hear her conversation with Yancy. "So... Penny, Iono, Nemona, Dendra, Mela... did you all enjoy the dates?"
"Oh, right!" Iono replied before the other girls. "Now that the game is done, it's time for our little recap, let's see what Ash has done so far, play some flashback music, Maestro!
.
"So, first off, we started the game with Ash and Penny's date." Iono started narrating to the camera. "They got some chocolates from Marnie and things a got a tad bit spicy."
"Yeah, I'm still not too proud of that, but I'l admit I liked it." Penny said.
"Huh, me too." Ash replied while they both blushed. "Like I said, you just surprised me a bit, but I enjoyed it."
.
"Next up was my turn with Ash." Iono continued. "We got some cake from Katy, and I mean literal cake, not what you guys are thinking, followed by a classic fodd fight and aside from the cake, Ash got a very nice taste of me." Iono sid to then stick out her tongue. "Who knows? If I don't edit that correctly, this might be our first NSFW."
"Don't say it as if you haven't spent half of our travel teasing me." Ash replied while blushing.
"That's why it surprised me so much when you did that!" Iono blushed as well shile she smiled. "Again, really wouldn't mind to repeat it.
.
"Next up was Ash and Nemona." Iono kept narrating. "They got some sushi from Kofu, with Nemona picking one that got her just a little drunk, but after some ranting she got the forehead kiss she's been wanting for so long.
"Hehe, yeah, it was embarassing, but I still enjoyed it." Nemona laughed.
"Glad to hear that." Ash smiled at her to then glance at Iono and she gave her a nod.
.
"Next up was Ash's date with Dendra. Who I still don't understand why her boobs are so- er, I mean, why she's wearing a kimono, continuing, they got some Spaghetti from Saguaro and thank God it didn't end with that cliche scene, so Dendra, as the responsible adult she is, destroyed the whole table with a karate chop like a totally normal person would do." Iono explained while Dendra covered her face in embarrassment and Ash did his best to comfort her.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry for being such a wreck." Dendra replied.
"Dendra, seriously, don't worry about it." Ash said.
.
"The fifth date was for our new member, Mela; and they got themselves some pirate curry from the Rising Vot tacklers."
"Yeah, it was fun." Mela said. "And that curry tasted really great."
"I still wonder what happened to that girl Mollie though." Ash said.
.
"And out of nowhere, we got a sixth challenger!" Iono exclaimed. "Top Champion Geeta Omodaka made an special appearance and took Ash to eat some rice with the Elite Four, or should I say Elite Three?" Iono asked to then laugh out loud. "And that's pretty much it."
"Well, I also ate a Casteliacone on the way here." Ash said.
"And he also ate a Casteliacone on the way here." Iono repeated. "So that'd be it. Now, the quetion that arises, which one of those dates, did our honorable judge Ash Ketchum enjoy the most?"
"And this again." Ash sighed. "Listen, I enjoyed all of those dates, I loved to spend some time alone with each one of you and I feel like I learned something from each of one you today and I'd gladly repeat this game another time. Does that answer satisfies you?"
"Will do."
"Yup!"
"Si, Señor!"
"I guess."
"Indeed!" Dendra exclaimed. "I'll be waiting eagerly for our next shot!"
"I'm glad you say that, Dendra." Ash said. "Because I got one more thing I'd like to do with you."
"Huh? What is it?" Dendra asked.
"Well, the main reason why I invited you here to the festival was because I still owed you that cooking lesson, so I thought we could do that now, you in?"
"YOU BET!" Dendra shouted.
"Alright then, you saw plenty of food here in the Festival." Ash continued. "What would you like us to cook?"
"Well, let's see..." Dendra thought. "Chocolate, cake, sushi, spaghetti, curry, rice, ice cream... I'd like to cook... a sandwich!"
"After all we've seen all you want to make is a sandwich?" Mela asked.
"Well, I really know absolutely nothing about cooking and this is my first lesson, so I think I should focus on doing something simple first." Dendra replied. "Besides, it was thanks to a sandwish that I could get closer to Ash and confess to him, so I'd really like to finally make a good one for him."
"A sandwich it'll be then." Ash said. "Actually, I was expecting you to choose that, which is why I invited an expert."
Meanwhile with the Tacklers.
"And that's a Super-Mega Victory!" Murdock shouted with a V-sign in his hand.
"That sounded kinda cringe." Orla replied.
"Who cares?! Our Pirate Curry was a total success! We sold out!" Murdock celebrated along his Rockruff.
"Which means I can finally get this stupid thing off." Orla said to then go the dressing room and take off the maid outfit to then return with her usual clothes. "That feels better." She said ajusting her gloves.
"Thanks a lot either way." Murdock said.
"Uh, guys." Mollie called them as she returned to the stand.
"There you are, girl, you just missed it!" Murdock said.
"Where have you been?" Orla asked.
"We sold all of the curry! We got so. Much. Money!" Murdock continued. "It was far more than I first expected, might be enough to make the 75 percent thing worth it."
"...Where is my backpack?" Mollie asked ignoring what they were saying while her grey eyes stared at the nothingness.
"Uh, over there, next to rest of our backpacks, just where you left it." Orla pointed at the corner of the stand and then picked up Mollie's red backpack to give to her. Mollie took the backpack and then opened it to pull out a fully-white Nurse Joy outfit, with only the cross in front of its hat being pink.
-IF YOU WERE GOOD ENOUGH, MAYBE SHE WOULD STILL BE ALIVE-
"Is that... yours?" Orla asked.
"Not anymore." Mollie replied to then hide the clothes inside the backpack again.
"Anymore? How so?" Orla asked.
"Orla, remember." Murdock whispered to her.
"I'm leaving." Mollie said carrying her backpack. "I'll return to the Brave Asagi on my own later."
"Wait! Where are you going?!" Orla shouted.
"Orla!" Murdock shouted.
"NO! SHUT UP!" Orla exclaimed to then jump over the counter of the stand and face Mollie. "You! Stop acting like you don't want help! Just tell us what's going on!"
"Orla..." Mollie stared at her in silence for what felt like an eternity for both of them. "This is my life... my mistake, my burden, my weight...just..."
-IF YOU WERE GOOD ENOUGH, MAYBE SHE WOULD STILL BE ALIVE-
"JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!" Mollie shouted to then run away
"Oh, no, you won't!" Orla shoiuted running after her.
"Hey, girls, wait!" Murdock called them to no avail.
"Drifblim!" Mollie exclaimed releasing the ghost which had a small red balloon tied around him. Mollie then grabbed two of Drifblim's arms and he rose up in the air along with her.
"Metagross!" Orla called her Pokemon as well and jumped to his back while Metagross lifted itself in the air to chase after Drifblim.
"Unburden!" Mollie shouted to then pull out a syringe from her backpack and toss it to the Air Balloon that was tied around her Drifblim, the balloon exploded and Drifblim was outlined in white light to then have a sudden surge of speed.
"That's how you wanna play? Agility!" Orla ordered and her Metagross' eyes illuminated to then boost his speed as well.
"Sigh, women." Murdock said still in the stand while watching the air chase along his Rockruff. "I can only hope Dot doesn't become like them. Oh, well, let's start packing things up, pal."
Back with Ash.
"Happy to be here!" Arven said to Ash's group while being in front of a table full of ingredients. "Everything ready, Juliana?"
"Yup, this is the last one." She replied placing a small bowl of lettuce in the table.
"Perfect, here you have everything you could need to make a good sandwich." Arven said.
"Thanks a lot fot the help, guys." Ash told them.
"Hey, it's nothing." Juliana said. "We owed you one, after all, Arven and I wouldn't have defeated the Open Sky Titan without your help."
"I'm also kinda flattered to know that someone who has been in so many places and eaten so many food considers me a 'Sandwich Expert'." Arven added.
"Very well, Miss Dendra and you can go ahead." Arven said. "After you're done, Juliana and I will play the roles of the judges."
"We won't be rough, promise." Juliana said. "But please, Miss Dendra, try not to intoxicate us."
"Well, that's very motivating." Dendra replied with dead-pan eyes.
"Here, Dendra, this should be simple." Ash said taking two slices of bread. "Just do what I do."
"Hai, Sensei." Dendra nodded taking two slices as well.
"There, now let's soften the bread a bit." Ash took some butter in a knife and applied it in both slices while Dendra kept following his movements. "Now, what will we make the sandwich of?"
"Meat!" She exclaimed. "Lots of meat to keep you healthy and strong!"
"Good intentions, but we need a better execution." Ash replied. "Remember that was one of the problems with your last sandwich, it had too much meat and too much of something isn't good, you need to find a balance."
"Wu Ji Bi Fan!" Dendra exclaimed. "Just like in Karate, firm as an oak, yet soft as a cloud."
"Exactly, now look here, Arven and Juliana brought us lots of ingredients." Ash continued. "Let's try a bit of everything."
"Alright then, I'll start with a ham slice and then some tomatoes and cheese and- and lettuce, how does that sound?"
"Sounds Great!" Ash replied. "Now give it a try."
"On it." Dendra exclaimed to then take a kinfe and cut all the ingredients with an impressive speed and precision to then spread them on the bread slices and close them. "It's ready, Sensei!" Dendra exclaimed with a light blush. "I hope my works makes you proud! Osu!"
"Don't you think she's taking this a bit too seriously?" Juliana asked.
"You can never take sandwiches too seriously." Arven replied. "Now, show me what you got."
"Fine then." Dendra nodded to then take the knife again and cut the sandwich in four equal triangles
"Here goes." Juliana took the first triangle slightly scared to then give it a small bite. "Hey... this is actually... pretty good!" She said to then eat the rest of the triangle in a single bite. "Wow! Congrats, Miss Dendra! You finally made something edible!"
"Uh... Thanks." Dendra said.
"Yeah, it turned out pretty good all things considered." Arven said while he ate another part of the sandwich. "Of course, it's an extremely simple recipe, but for beginners is an amazing start."
"Thanks a lot." Dendra smiled. " Dendra answered to then grab another pieces of the sandwich and eat it. "Hey, not bad, even if I say so myself. But there is one more person who has to eat this." She said to then offer the last part of the sandwich to Ash. "It would be really important to me."
Ash simply smiled to then take the sandwich and eat it in a single bite. "Dendra..." Ash gave her a serious look. "This is delicious!" He shouted.
"You think so?!" Dendra exclaimed.
"Of course! It was a perfect sandwich!" Ash continued. "See? I knew you could do it!"
"I can cook!" Dendra shouted to then take Ash in a tight hug. "I don't care if it was a small step, it was big for me! I finally made a good sandwich, this will be a starting point! There's so many things I want to cook, I'll learn as much as I can. iIll cook some delicious meals for you and... I'd like to cook for our family too!"
"O-Our family?!" Ash stuttered blushing again.
"Y-Yeah, I... when we have one, I mean." Dendra parted form the hug to then take Ash's hands. "I... I-I know I've said it before but I love you, I really do, I've never felt this way before, I can't stop thinking about you, about how much I want to spend my days with you, about how much I want... to have a family with you, a really, really big family, I know I'll be a total mess of a mother, but I think that with your help I can become a good one, cause I know you'll be the best dad this world has ever seen. I have no doubt about it. But... just in case you don't think I'm being seious..." Dendra let go off his hands only to cup Ash's face and bring their foreheads together.
"Uh, shouldn't we stop her?" Nemona asked.
"Don't worry, it's gonna be just another fake-out like those times we were close today." Penny said.
"I love you, Ash Ketchum." Dendra whispered to then softly pull Ash's face closer to hers, landing a warm kiss right on his lips.
"WHAT?!" Iono, Penny and Nemona shouted.
"Oh my..." Mela said.
"Well, that escalated quickly." Juliana said.
"That's what happens when you believe in the power of sandwiches." Arven said with a tear in his eye.
Ash at first had his eyes wide open as he processed what was happening, but he eventually closed them to answer the kiss, which lasted 15 seconds that felt like an eternity to Penny, Nemona and Iono. Dendra then separated from him, both letting out a small gasp and blushing madly as they stared into each other's eyes.
"T-That was... my first kiss." Dendra said with a wide smile. "I trusted you my first kiss and I'll trust you everything because I know you'll take care of me... thought I suppose someone like you has already kissed a bunch of girls, right?"
"...T-T-That was my first kiss too." Ash replied.
"IT WAS?!" Dendra shouted.
"YOU!" The doomed trio shouted to then tackle Dendra to the floor in unison.
"You kiss thief! You scoundrel!" Nemona shouted at her.
"How dare you steal his innocence like that?!" Penny shouted as well.
"We won't let you lure him with those god-given airbags!" Iono added.
"Uh... maybe we can talk this out like ladies?" Dendra asked nervously.
"Okay, I think we've seen enough, we should be leaving." Juliana said to Arven.
"Seconded." He replied. "I'll start cleaning the table, hope you guys can help us in the next Titan battle thought."
"Hey, Ketchum, you okay?" Mela asked him while the other three girls were busy with Dendra.
"Uh, yeah, I-I... I think I just need a bit of air." Ash replied still blushing. "I'll leave for a second, you, uh, tell the girls when they finish what they're doing." He said to then start walking away without the other girls noticing. "...Uh, Mela."
"Yes?" She asked.
"Tell them to... not follow me or call me for the moment." Ash said.
"Got it." Mela nodded and Ash left the scene with plenty of thought in his head.
"What makes you think you have the right to steal his first kiss?!" Iono continued shouting at Dendra.
"Tu maldita asaltacunas!" Nemona added.
"You've barely met him for a few days!" Penny shouted. "We're the ones who've been traveling with him for months!"
"S-Sorry, I just wanted to show Ash... hey, where did Ash go?" She asked and the other girls finally noticed his absence.
"Yeah, he left." Mela said. "He said he needed some air and he doesn't want you guys to look for him or cal him."
"See?! This is what you cause!" Iono shouted at Dendra. "YOU BOOB MONSTER!"
"Ya me hartaste, hija de la chingada!" Nemona continued ranting.
"If you even try to get close to him again, I swear we'll-"
"Hey, wait a second." Mela interrupted them. "Where's Pikachu?"
"Huh? What do you mean?" Penny asked. "Wasn't he with Ash?"
"No, he wasn't." Mela replied. "Ash left alone, I'm sure of it."
"Pikachu disappeared too?!" Iono shouted. "We were supposed to take care of him while ash focused on the dates!"
"Uh, alright, let's recap." Penny said. "Pikachu was on my shoulder when we arrived to the festival, but then when I went to my date with Ash, he jumped to Iono."
"And then when it was my turn he went with Nemona." Iono replied.
"And then I left him with Dendra." Nemona added.
"And then I gave him to Mela." Dendra answered.
"And then he went with Iono." Mela replied.
"And then I... lost track of him." Iono admitted. "I was too focused on the videos."
"We lost Pikachu!" Penny shouted.
"Ash is gonna kill us!" Nemona added.
"He'll surely be disappointed at least." Mela said.
"Alright, we need to go round the festival and find Pikachu." Dendra said.
"And if we happen to find Ash, let's leave him alone." Mela said. "He looked... really confused."
"Fine, let's split up." Penny said. "whoever finds Pikachu first will call the others so we can meet again. Let's get moving."
Meanwhile with Ash.
"I just got my first kiss stolen, huh?" Ash asked to himself while he walked in circles around the festival, still blushing madly. "I just kissed a girl, a woman, for that matter, a bit older than me... and I liked it... she wants to have a family with me... and I guess I want that too... but it's not like I'm ready to be a father, ugh, I'm going way too far on the future, focus on the now, Ash Ketchum, do you want Dendra as your girlfriend? ... as your wife? ... And what about Penny, Nemo and Iono? They all like me and I like them too, I love them, but I can't just ask them to-"
"Hey, red face." A female voice called Ash and he turned around to find a girl with long black hair wearing a green kimono sitting in one of the seats of a stand. "How about you sit down for a moment?" She asked pointing at the seat next to her.
"Uh... thanks." Ash said to then sit by her side. "Name's Ash by the way."
"Carmine." She replied moving her hair with her hand to show the red highlights on the inside of it. "Nice to meet you."
"Oh! Another client!" A blonde girl with a waitress outfit and red glasses greeted Ash. "Hi! I'm leah! Welcome to the Pokemon Cafe Mix! What would you like'"
"Give this partner here an iced tea." Carmine replied. "He needs to chill out."
"Yeah, that sounds good." Ash replied.
"I'm on it!" Lead replied to then leave the two.
"So..." Carmine stared at Ash to then giggle. "Excuse my boldness, but I heard most of what you were saying from here, I don't have all the context, but it sounds like you want to... make a harem."
"Don't you say that word." Ash replied.
"Why not? Isn't that your plan?" carmine asked.
"Not saying I'm not considering it, but-"
"Here's the iced tea!" Leah shouted coming back to them with a cup.
"Uh, thanks a lot, Leah." Ash replied to then then drink the whole cup in a single sip.
"Better?" Carmine asked.
"Better." Ash replied.
"Better!" Leah exclaimed. "Oh, sorry, you guys keep talking." She said to then go under the counter.
"So, as I was saying..." Ash sighed again. "I don't want to think I'll be 'making a harem', that makes it sound like I'm forcing them in a group and not letting them be individuals."
"Then how would you like to call it?" Carmine asked.
"...A family." Ash replied. "I want to believe I can make it feel like a family, even with all the hardships and problem that will come because of that decision."
"Hey, normal families are full of hardships and problems." Carmine said. "That's what makes us humans, there's no reason to be ashamed of it. Now, the question is, when will you tell those girls the plan?"
"I'm not even sure if I should tell them to begin with." ash said.
"Well, I think you should tell them." Leah said. "Oh, sorry, I was overhearing. I do that a lot actually, heh..."
"If I had to guess, our dear Ash here is scared of rejection." Carmine said. "He's afraid the girls could reject the idea, which could end up ruining the relationship he already has with them.
"Yeah, that's pretty much it." Ash nodded. "The mere thought of it terrifies me, I don't want to offend them and screw up what we've built so far, I can't afford to lose any of them like that."
"Aww, that's so sweet." Leah said.
"A bit too chintzy for my taste." Carmine asmirked. "But I'll admit you're hearts in the right place."
"Listen, I appreciate a lot the kind words, but why does every girl I've told this so far thinks this is a good idea?" Ash asked. "Shouldn't you be saying I'm some kind of misogynist playboy?"
"Uh, no." Leah said. "Like, you're Ash Ketchum! You've saved the world!"
"Several times." Carmine said.
"Any girl would be honored to be your girlfriend." Leah continued.
"I still don't think that justifies what I'm trying to do." Ash said.
"Listen, Ash, you're the only who can convice himself that this is a good idea." Carmine said. "So if, or rather, when you make up your mind, make sure to visit me in Kitakami." She said booping Ash's nose with her finger. "I'll be happy to join the mess." She smiled to then walk away. "See you later, red face."
"Whatever choice you take, I'm sure it'll be the right one, Ash." Leah said. "You just have to listen to your heart, that's what has brought you so far, isn't it?"
"It sure has..." Ash sighed again. "Guess I'll get back with the girls before they start worrying, can you give me the check?"
"Of course! In a moment." Leah replied to then go under the counter and instantly return with a piece of paper.
"Thanks." Ash replied to then take the check and read it. "Uh... Two slices of cake, two coffees, two glaced donuts and three ced teas? What is all this?"
"Well, those are the things that Carmine ordered." Leah explained.
"And she didn't pay for them?" Ash asked.
"Uh, no, I thought you two were together." Leah said. "I mean, she mentioned that she was waiting for someone that would pay her stuff."
"Well, I doubt she was waiting for me in specific, I literally met her here." Ash replied while he looked around, but Carmine was nowhere to be seen.
"Oh, guess she was just expecting to trick someone then." Leah said to then facepalm herself. "And I fell right onto it. You dumb Leah!"
"Hey, don't worry, I'll pay for it anyway." Ash said. "What a sly Thievul this girl is, but she's got quite the appetite, I respect that... boy, I still can't believe Dendra just kissed me like that."
"I still can't believe you just kissed him like that." Liko said to Ann while they were both along with Roy in a stand of the festival, where he was preparing soup with the help of their Quilava, Dartrix and Dewott.
"What's the matter?" Ann asked. "You were the one who told me I'd end up becoming one of his girlfrends."
"I know, but it's not that simple." Liko replied. "You know he isn't aware of that yet, not to mention that if you try to push it that could end up changing the outcome, like we did with Mela."
"Guess you're right." Ann pouted. "But I still liked to do it."
"Yeah, speaking of Mela." Roy sighed and stopped preparing the soup. "Listen, I'm all in for the good ol 'nadie morira, seguiremos de pie', but Liko, you were the one who told us at the beginning that we shouldn't intervene."
"I know, but... I also knew what would happen to Mela." Liko stopped talking and thought in silence for a moment. "Roy, you don't understand it, it haunted Ash so much, I had to do something."
"Yeah, come on, Roy, what were we supposed to do?" Ann asked. "Just let her die?"
"Maybe..." Roy trailed off.
"ROY!" Both girls shouted.
"Hey, listen, I know I'm sounding harsh, but we're messing with things we don't understand at all." Roy defended himself. "Time is something very complicated, but the one thing that's almost for sure is that changing the past will affect the future in one way or another, what if saving Mela causes some kind of Butterfree effect that ends up in a war or something worse? It'd be our fault!"
"I DON'T CARE!" Liko suddenly shouted surprising Ann and Roy. "It's just... having this..." Liko looked down at her pendant before sighing. "Roy, what's the point of knowing something bad is going to happen if I can't prevent it? We had the chance to save a life and we saved it! THAT'S WHAT A KETCHUM WOULD DO! ...and if I... and if I want to be worthy of that name then I can't just stand by when I know I can do something to help!"
"I... sorry." Roy sighed. "Again, I'm really glad Ann and Ash saved Mela, but I'm worried about the consequences it could cause."
"Maybe nothing will happen at all, Roy." Ann replied. "Listen, you need to ground yourself a bit and don't think of high-scale outcomes like a war, I mean, aside from Mela joining Ash's family, what could come out of her surviving the fire? You're taking this way too seriously."
"Or maybe you two are taking it too easy." Roy said.
"Time isn't what you think..." Liko told them.
"What?" They both asked.
"Uh, that's what that weird Pokemon told me when he gave me the pendant." Liko said. "I may not fully understand this whole thing yet, but... I want to believe I made the right decision."
"Well, I'm sure we did." Ann said.
"I'm just saying-"
"Enough." Liko stopped him to then sigh. "We won't discuss this further, we saved Mela and we're not going to undo it. If any kind of consequence shows up we'll just fix it however we can."
"How? We're Academy Students!" Roy said crossing his arms. "What are we supposed to do? We shouldn't even be messing with this kind of things to begin with."
"At least we can ask Ash for help if it gets too big to handle." Ann said. "I guess I'll need a more subtle way to lure him. Still, what about you, Liko? Won't you tell Ash the truth?"
"I dunno..." Liko said.
"Well, I personally think you shouldn't." Roy replied. "We should focus in understanding how your pendant works so we can send you back."
"We don't have to focus so much on that." Liko said. "I like it here and I like to be with you two; and also... I'd like to spend more time with Ash like this." She said with a light blush. "That's the main reason why I don't want to tell him the truth just yet, I'd like to be sure that he likes me for what I am now and not because I'm his... you know."
"Hey, I'm sure he'll like you either way!" Ann said.
"Until we agree." Roy sighed. "Heh, he's gonna love you..."
"I hope you guys are right." Liko said. "Guess the best I can is be prepared for the next time we meet."
"Liko?" Ash called her.
"EEK!" She shouted and turned around to see him in front of the stand. "H-Hi, Da... da... da-ash... Ash, Ash, mi Rapidash, hehe... how long have you been there?"
"I was just passing through right now." Ash replied. "Good to see you three again."
"Hello there, Mister." Ann told him with a sly look.
"Uh, hi, Ann." Ash greeted her.
"Ann Iizuka." She replied. "Be sure to remember it, it'll be useful in the future."
"Uh, sure, I'll remember it." Ash said.
"Oh, come on, don't tell me you're still embarassed about that kiss." Ann continued.
"Well, I'll admit I've been thinking about it." Ash replied.
"Hehehe." Ann grinned.
"How's Mela?" Roy asked.
"Doing good so far." Ash replied.
"And... how are you?" Liko asked.
"I'm... honestly a bit conflicted." Ash answered.
"Oh! It's about your girls, isn't it?" Liko asked to then jump over the counter so she could be face to face with Ash and take both his hands. "Ash, you need to stop doubting yourself. You're gonna be the happiest man on earth and they'll be the happiest women too, I'm sure of it, but you have to take the first step."
"Liko..." Ash stared at her for a moment. "How do you know what I'm talking about?"
"I... I know you more than you think." She replied. "I'm your... biggest fan after all."
"What kind of fan are you?" Ash asked. "How could you possibly know that? Why did that hug you gave me when we met... felt like it wasn't the first time I hugged you?"
"Well-"
"How did you know in which classroom of the Academy Mela was?" Ash asked again.
"Uh, I-I told you, my Dartrix-"
"There weren't any windows in that classroom." Ash interrupted her and Liko started to sweat. "How did you know?"
"A-Ash, you said you'd trust me." She said.
"I know, but... why do I?" Ash asked. "I barely know you and yet... it feels like we've been together for a long time..."
"It's... complicated." Liko smiled to then squeeze his hands tighter and get a bit closer to him while they both blushedd. "But the one thing you should know is that..." Liko softly pressed their foreheads together and then closed her eyes. "Is that I... I..." Liko suddenly opened her eyes before her lips could met, she then stared at Ash's eyes and then looked back at Ann and Roy, both with surpirised expressions in their faces. "I-I-I..." Liko looked at Ash again as she let go off his hands and took a few steps away from him. "I... W-What was I just about to do?!" She shouted to then cover her mouth.
"L-Liko..." Ash stared at her until he came out of the surprise. "I-I'm sorry, did I do something wrong?"
"What?! No! No, no, no, it was my fault!" Liko said. "I'm really sorry, I shouldn't have tried to do that!"
"But I-"
"Watch out!" Liko shouted and Ash saw Mollie and her Drifblim flying at high speed towards their direction and they barely had time to duck and avoid them.
"Mollie?" Ash asked.
"Phew, that was close one, wasn't it?" Liko asked, but Ash was suddenly rammed by Orla's Metagross, which took him away as it still followed Mollie and her Drifblim. "Uh..."
"So, Liko." Ann stared at her. "Quite the interesting kink you got there."
"IT'S NOT WHAT YOU THINK!" Liko shouted out loud with a massive blush.
"Ash!" Orla shouted.
"Hi there." He replied doing his best to not fall, until Orla grabbed his wrists and pulled him up to then get him on top of her Metagross as well. "What are you two doing?"
"I'm trying to help this idiot!" Orla shouted.
"You leave me alone!" Mollie shouted back while her Drifblim flew higher.
"Like hell! Flash Cannon!" Orla ordered and her Metagross shot a silver beam from the X in his face, hittng right onto Mollie's Drifblim and knocking them out of the skies.
"YOU BITCH!" Mollie shouted as she fell.
"Didn't think that through!" Orla shouted.
"Koraidon!" Ash shouted and released the dragon to then jump on his back, Koraidon quickly dashed in the air caught Mollie and her Drifblim to then descend and leave them softly in the ground, with the chase ending in the outsides of the Food Festival.
"You guys okay?" Ash asked.
"Yeah, thanks." Mollie said as she stood up. "Drifblim?"
"Fwsssh." The balloon answered as it started floating again.
"He's okay." Mollie said.
"Mollie!" Orla shouted while her Metagross landed in front of them. "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to-"
"Just what the hell is your problem?!" Mollie shouted. "What part of 'this is a topic I'll leave to myself' wasn't clear enough?!"
"I just want-"
"I don't want your help, Orla!" Mollie kept shouting. "So for the love of God, stop making everything worse-"
"But-"
"JUST SHUT UP!" Mollie continued. "I swear I... is that?" Mollie looked up and Ash and Orla did the same to see a Skarmory soaring above them, with a woman flying on his back. "Conia..."
"You think-" Orla was about to talk, but she was interrupted by a ring form her Rotom Phone and she quickly pulled it out to then answer a video call. "Yes, Dot?"
"Orla, are you guys still in the Food Festival?" Asked a purple haired girl accompanied by a Gimmighoul.
"Yes, Mollie and I are in the outskirts of it." Orla replied. "We left your uncle in the stand."
"You remember the Tera Key Tracker I've been working on, right?" Dot asked. "It's still experimental, but I think it spotted a signal at your northeast."
"Conia was flying in that exact direction." Mollie said.
"Can't be a coincidence." Orla said.
"I'm still not done with you, but that key is priority here." Mollie replied.
"We're on our way, Dot." Orla said.
"Great, I'll send you the exact coordinates." Dot said. "Inform uncle Murdock too, I already told Captain, we'll go there to help as well."
"Very well." Orla said and Dot cut the call to then quickly made another one.
"Orla and Mollie are on their way, Cap." Dot said while talking to Friede through their Rotom Phones. "I'll send you the coordinates too, it seems like the explorers will also be there."
"There's no time to lose then." Friede replied putting on his flying glasses while he took the helm of his ship, accompanied by an Alolan Raichu with a captain hat, a Garchomp and a golden plumage Squawkabilly on his shoulder. "Let's make this showy!" He shouted spinning the helm, meanwhile on top of the ship, Ludlow was simply sitting with his rod in hand, finishing between the clouds.
"Tera Keys?" Ash asked to Orla and Mollie.
"It's a long story." Orla replied. "But we could use some big guns like you until the rest of the crew arrives. How would you like to join us in a little treasure hunt so we can explain?"
"I..." Ash glanced for a moment at Mollie, who was avoiding eye contact with him. "...You know what? I'm in. Show me the way."
"Let's do it!" Orla shouted to then jump on top of her Metagross again and lead the way, while Ash followed her with Koraidon and Mollie with her Drifblim.
"Yeah, that's right. Come and get me." Conia smirked as she looked at the three following her.
Meanwhile with the girls.
"Guys, I found Pikachu!" Penny told the other in a group call. "He's in the east wing of the festival."
"On our way!" Iono replied and Penny cut the call.
"Hey, Pikachu!" Penny shouted, but the mouse seemed to ignore her as he smelled in the air to then jump to the roof of a stand and then start to jump form roof to roof. "Wait! Where are you going?" Penny complained to no avail and she kept chasing Pikachu until she met with the other four girls.
"You got him?" Iono asked.
"I don't." Penny replied pointing at Pikachu still jumping between roofs. "He isn't even listening to me."
"It kinda seems like he's looking for something." Dendra said.
"But looking for what?" Nemona asked.
"There's only one way to find out." Mela said and the five girls continued to chase Pikachu until he finally landed in the floor to then jump inside a stand and land in the shoulder of a brown-haired woman accompanied by a Mr. Mime.
"Hmmp, thank you for bringing them here." She said to Pikachu.
"And who are you supposed to be?" Mela asked while the five girls arrived to the stand.
"Uh, g-guys..." Penny stuttered while she pointed at the sign with the name of the stand.
'Ketchum Family Restaurant.' The five girls read in her mind and felt their blood freeze while the woman stared at them, expelling quite an intimidating aura.
"Penny, Nemona, Iono, Dendra and Mela, right?" She asked in a slightly annoyed tone. "My name is Delia Ketchum, I'm Ash's mother."
"...I've never felt so scared in my life." Dendra whispered while she trembled.
"Uh, nice to meet you all, I guess." Delia continued. "I actually wanted to talk with you all and I asked Pikachu to guide you here earlier, listen, I don't tend to get in the way of my son's travels, I want to believe he's mature and responsible enough, but I've been watching those little videos that Dionysia here publishes, I thought I'd be a good way to keep track of him and see if he needed anything."
"T-That's very kind on your part, Mrs. Ketchum." Dendra said while still trembling.
"Wait, who's Dionysia?" Nemona asked.
"Uh, dIONnysia? Hello?" Penny said.
"Yep, that's my real name." Iono said nervously. "H-How did you know that, Mrs?"
"That's none of your business." Delia replied.
"Wait, so Iono isn't your real name?" Mela asked.
"You really think someone would actually name their child 'Iono'?" Penny asked. "What kind of name is that?"
"It's a name with spark, thank you." Iono said.
"As I was saying." Delia got the girls' attention again. 'I watched those videos, at first it was interesting to see how much fun you had and how your relation with Ash developed, he's always been close to his traveling partners, but there was something different about you all... still, you know what caught my attention the most in your channel? Those little polls you make about your... 'harem ending'."
"Uh, with due respect, Mrs. Ketchum." Penny talked. "That's only a joke between Iono's fans and nothing more."
"A Joke, huh?" Delia asked. "Will you two tell her or should I?" She asked to Nemona and Iono and Penny looked at the two girls as well.
"Tell me what?" Penny asked.
"Uh, w-w-well." Iono looked around for a moment. "Since we three like Ash so much and we've gotten to know each other quite a bit, Nemo and I have been talking and we've been considering to... share Ash with you."
"YOU WHAT?!" Penny shouted.
"P-Penny, please, just think about it." Nemona said. "It'll be the perfect way to get things further with him while still keeping the team as it is."
"Yeah! Maybe Mela can join too." Iono said.
"Don't you drag me into your cult!" Mela shouted blushing.
"Uh, What about me?" Dendra asked.
"Sorry, but we have a 'no first-kiss thieves' sign nailed in the door!" Iono shouted.
"Nemo! Iono! What the hell are you thinking?!" Penny shouted. "That would never work!"
"It can work!" Nemona answered. "We can make it work!"
"Yeah, if Mrs. Ketchum is bringing it up it must be because she thinks is a great idea, right?" Iono asked to the mother. "It's very nice to get your aprobation, I bet you just can't wait to see your son surrounded by his loving wives so you can have a bunch of grandchildren!"
"...I'd appreciate it if you all kept silence for a moment." Delia sighed and the five girls stood in attention. "Thanks... now, as much as I want my Ash to finally have that special someone, this isn't the way... I saw those dates you had with him with some help of Mimey's barries and... I won't let you use my son like that, so I'll be as clear as I can with you five, I want you all to stop traveling with Ash, get away from him and never approach him again."
And that's it! The heck?! 21k words! That's within Fighting Dreamers' range! Guess I'm finally fully coming back! Or at least I'm doing far better than I was previously, so, after next chapter of this to finish the introduction of the Tacklers I'll finally get back to Fighting Dreamers!
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Ash finally got some alone moments with the girls and Dendra got the first kiss! Did you guys expect her to do it?
Well, those were plenty of characters introduced, we even got Leah from Cafe Mix and as you can imagine we'll have more of the tacklers next chapter.
Speaking of that, decided to change Friede's Pikachu and Charizard, for an Alolan Raichu and a Garchomp, feels more unique and fits more with the Pirate theme, I mean, a surfer and a flying shark, come on.
And like I mentioned, some non-Paldean girl will be here too, I think I'll keep it at one girl maximum per region, we got Marnie for Galar, Cerah for Alola and Yancy from Unova so far, I also think Drasna could be a good choice for Kalos but we'll see.
Now back to this.
What is Mollie hiding?
What exactly is Liko?
What was Nemona talking about?
Will the girls get to convice Delia?
Will Ash get to convice himself?
We'll see next time in 'Take a Wrench to go to the Dentist'
Can anyone guess where that title comes from?
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Reviews!
Rezenov
Dendra is so officially busty is almost hilarious.
Dragonkeeper10
Expect more of Ann and Liko (And Roy) next chapter!
TheOfficialLieDetector
Glad I didn't make it that obvious then
Zarc4d
I'm almost done! Almost! I think that I'll be free by July, but I'll have to wait and see.
Scooby Doo 150
I got something big in store for Liko, trust me.
KGBeastBoy
I was actually planning something similar with Orthworm and Dudunsparce, look forward to it!
And your comment actually gave me the idea to relate the food festival to the Academy, so thanks.
SilentWitness09
Maybe, maybe.
UltimateCCC
We'll get there.
AndyKurosaki98
Como dije, esta es la primera vez que escribo directamente sobre ese tipo de temas, espero haber hecho un buen trabajo.
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References!
So, first off, as I mentioned previously, my take on the Tacklers will be based on the Gokaigers, so let's cover the references to said series first:
-This chapter's title 'Osu-Osu! Cooking Lesson!' is a reference to the 7th episode of Gokaiger 'Niki-Niki! Kenpo Lesson!', that episode is a tribute to Juken Sentai Gekiranger (Gokaiger, being an anniversary season, featured lots of tribute episode from previous seasons, which included the return of a cast member from said past season) anyway, Gekiranger is both animal and martial arts-based so I thought it'd fit with Dendra, this was also first written as the 7th chapter of this fic, but since the Team Star arc extended a bit, it ended up being 8th.
-Some throwaway lines are also the titles of some Gokaiger episodes, those being:
What are friends for? (ep 4)
The Most Important Thing (ep 6)
Show me the way (ep 13)
How? We're Academy Students! (ep 39)
-The Tacklers' last names are all taken directly from the six Gokaigers.
Friede Marvin - Captain Marvelous, Gokai Red.
Murdock Gibken - Joe Gibken, Gokai Blue.
Orla Millfy - Luka Millfy, Gokai Yellow.
Ludlow Dogoier - Don Dogoier, Gokai Yellow.
Mollie de Famille - Ahim de Famille, Gokai Pink.
Dot Ikari - Gai Ikari, Gokai Silver (reason why I thought of giving her a Gimmighoul since I already gave the Quaxly line to Nemo)
-Friede's catchphrase "Let's make it showy!" is of course Captain Marvelous' catchphrase.
-Friede mentioning '35 Academies' is a subtle reference to Gokaiger being the 35th Sentai team.
-The Tacklers serving curry is a reference to how said food has appeared plenty of times in Gokaiger, most importantly, in the 1st episode, in the finale and when they return 5 years later in Doubutsu Sentai Zyuohger.
-Orla wearing a Maid Outfit is alo a reference to the 6th episode, where Luka wears a Maid Outfit as well, which is why Murdock tells her that is 'The most important thing'
"And that's a Super-Mega Victory!" - Not a Gokaiger reference, but from Power Rangers Super Megaforce, Gokaiger's not-quite-good Adaptation.
-Friede's Golden Plumage Sqawkabilly is a reference to Navi, a robot parrot that accompanied the Gokaigers.
Now, here are the rest of the references:
IF YOU WERE GOOD ENOUGH, MAYBE SHE WOULD STILL BE ALIVE - Spider-Man: Far From Home.
"There's nothing wrong with being alone." - Lyrics from 'My Own Way' from The Lion Guard.
"It isn't always about the money, let's do it for the funny." - Lyrics from 'Straight Buggin' from Teen Titans Go!
"We can not, must not, will not interfere." - What If...?
Penny squeezing Ash's pinky to then grab his whole hand is a reference to Meido Mei from 100 Kanojo.
"Somebody, anybody, everybody yell" - Lyrics from 'Squirrels In My Pants' from Phineas and Ferb.
Marnie's last name 'Sthingers' is a mix of the last names of the 4 current members of the band KISS, Paul Stanley, Tommy Thayer, Eric Singer and Gene Simmons
Meanwhile, her outfit and her Mawile are of course a reference to her Palentine Alt from Pokemon Masters EX.
"Me llaman la lider de la manada alocada y descerebrada." - Lyrics from 'Somos los Malos' by Keyblade, translates to 'They call me the leader of the Crazy and Brainless pack'.
Katy's last name 'Araceli' is her spanish name.
"Your fans are heads to be feed then we better get them all fed." "Yup, we won't leave any appetite unwent." "Don't tell me this lil' dish I have here can't take a licking." "Besides, it's not alcoholic, just a bit toxic." - Lyrics from 'Best Served Cold' by JT Music.
"Finish Him/Her!" - Mortal Kombat.
"Te amo mucho y quiero que sepas que nadie te amara como yo!" - Lyrics from 'Te amo y mas' by Diego Luna, trasnlates to 'I love you so much and I want you to know nobody will love you like I do!"
"PERDI MI MANO DERECHA Y ME DUELE TODAVIA!" - Lyrics from 'Ya te vas a mejorar' by El Cuarteto de Nos, which is probably my 2nd or 3rd favorite song in spanish, it translates to 'I lost my right hand and it still hurts!' and I've been wanting to use it with Nemona since the very first chapter.
"No es ganar o perder! Solo hay que saber que camino seguir!" - Lyrics from 'Negro Y Blanco', the latin-american dub opening of the first season of the Pokemon BW anime, translates to "It's not win or lose! You just have to know which way to go!"
"Y te quiero con limon y sal, tal y como estas." - Lyrics from 'Limon y Sal' by Julieta Venegas, translates to 'and I love you with lemon and salt, just the way you are.'
"Bueno, es el amor lo que importa y no lo que diga la gente." - Lyrics from '40 y 20' by Jose Jose, translates to 'Well, is love what matters and not what people think'
Of course, the good old 'Spaghetti Kiss' trope with Ash and Dendra is from The Lady and The Tramp.
"It's only marinara... uh, no, wait, it is blood." - Lyrics from 'Now Hiring at Freddy's' by JT Music.
"Because you're the one with floaties." - Amelia Wattson.
"Smile, sweet, sister-" - Lyrics from 'Bon Appetit' by Blend-A.
Murdock's jail stories and a reference to Horst from Ratatouille, while the last line 'Hice caer un poste con este pulgar', is from the Latin-American dub of the movie, which censored the 'I killed a man with this thumb' and changed it to 'I brought down a pole with this thumb'
"Anyone can be a good person if they just try." - Undertale.
"I want you to bring him home at 10:01 or I'll hunt you down." - Bad Boys 2.
"Elite Four Poppy!" "Elite Four Rika!" "...Larry." , "I use Steel-Types!" "I use Ground-Types!" "...Normal and Flying." - Parody of the lyrics from 'Los Rulos' from Junior Express.
"Too much of something isn't good, you need to find a balance." "Wu Ji Bi Fan!" - The Karate Kid (2010).
"Firm as an oak, yet soft as a cloud." - Lyrics from 'Lesson Number One' from Mulan II
"I don't care if it was a small step, it was big for me!" - Translated Lyrics from 'Pequeños Grandes Pasos' by Alacta.
"Well, that escalated quickly." - Anchorman.
"You kiss thief! You scoundrel!" "How dare you steal his innocence like that?!" - Nerd and Jock.
"We won't let you lure him with those god-given airbags!" - 100 Kanojo.
"Ya me hartaste, hija de la chingada!" - Lyrics from 'Me harto el Pendejo' by Los inquietos del Norte, translates to "I've had enough of you, daugther of a bitch!"
"Nadie morira, seguiremos de pie." - Lyrics from 'Dragon Soul' by Mario Heras, from the Latin-American dub of Dragon Ball Z Kai, translates to 'No one will die, we'll stay standing."
"What were we supposed to do? Just let her die?" "Maybe..." - Man of Steel.
"What's the point of knowing something bad is going to happen if I can't prevent it?" - Lyrics from 'To be Human' by Sia.
"Time isn't what you think..." - Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania.
"H-Hi, Da... da... da-ash... Ash, Ash, mi Rapidash." - From the Latin-American Dub of Zootopia.
Ann's last name 'Iizuka' is a reference to Misty's voice actress, Mayumi Iizuka, to complement Liko's last name, Matsumoto, being from Ash's voice actress, Rica Matsumoto, so Roy's last name will be Ueda, from Yuji Ueda, Brock's voice actor, to complete the trio.
Iono's real name 'Dionysia' is a reference to Dionysus, Greek God of wine, festivity, insanity and theatre, among other things.
And finally, the spanish lines:
"Y-Yo... Yo te amo, si?" - "I-I... I love you, fine?"
"Si, Señor!" - "Yes, Sir!"
"Tu maldita asaltacunas!" - "You damn craddlerobbler!" That'd be the literal translation, 'Asaltacunas' is a word used to refer to a person who's in a relationship with someone far younger than them.
And the japanese line too:
"Hai, Sensei!" - "Yes, Master!"
That's all for today!
Holdonlupin is out!
