Chapter 33: Meowtastic Magic

The group had reached the end of the river, and were now back on the path. Ash in particular was keeping a sharp eye out, as he had heard that a large concentration of Team Star grunts were common here, and he also noticed Penny looking a bit... shifty. However, he didn't want to come off as judgmental so he decided to keep it quiet.

"So how far until we get to this supposed 'Team Star' base?" Vanny said with her hands behind her head. "Who knows, they are known for scattering like Wimpod whenever they feel like they're losing" Nemona said while looking at her map. "I just hope that we can at least get them to come to their senses" Ash muttered under his breath.

Ash had encountered his fair share of evil groups in the past, some more than others. However, ever since his run-in with Team Skull, he noticed how they were more like misguided kids lashing out. And he can see the signs in Team Star as well, and he hoped that he can help them find a better path to follow than the one they're currently going thorugh right now.

Nemona's Sprigatito was currently sniffing some of the flowers that were around the path, until she then noticed a floating flower that struck her curious.

"What is that?" Nemona said, similarly vexed by the flower, until it began to emit a sparkling smoke of sorts that obscured everyone's view.

Everyone coughed as they tried to fan away the smoke and clear their surroundings, until they managed to get a view of a bipedal feline creature.

It was a pale green color with blackish-green legs and a similarly colored 'mask' of sorts. Flowing behind it was a leafy cape, and its arms had three digits each. The feline looked suave and confident, but not so much that it could be considered arrogant.

"Meeoooooww"

"Who's that Pokemon" Ash said as usual whenever he encounters a new Pokemon and pulls out his Rotom Phone.

Meowscarada, the Magician Pokemon, a grass and dark type. These Pokemon use misdirection to attack, its main method being to use its pollen-packed flower bombs to surprise them.

"Y'know, it looks like the evolved form of Sprigatito" Ash mentioned "Actually, they are" Nemona answered "Meowscarada are also very skilled battlers, isn't that right Sprigatito?"

"Sprig sprig!"

"Meowscarada!"

Nearby came a voice, which belonged to a woman, she then revealed herself to be a magician of sorts, wearing a magenta and blue magician's leotard and magenta top hat, with shiny leggings and magenta high heals. Next to her was a sort of wind chime Pokemon

"Hold the phone, Francesca? That you?" Ash said aloud.

"Oh my goodness, Ash it's so good to see you again" Francesca said with a smile on her face. Their happy reunion was interrupted however when Gus coughed.

"So uh, Ash, can you tell us about your 'girlfriend'?" Gus said, which earned him a bonk on the head, curtesy of Carla. "You know that's a ruse question to ask" Carla said with a tick mark on her head.

"Umm, who are these guys?" Francesca asked "Oh these are my students" Ash said while pointing to them "What are you doing here?"

"Well, I decided to take my magic act around the world, being stuck in Sinnoh was getting pretty boring, plus I've caught quite a few Pokemon along the way" She said while pulling out some pokeballs. She then sent out her Pokemon, and they were a Mr. Mime, Hatterene, Braixen, and Ninetales.

"Wow, look at them" Was the general reaction from the students, and Ash couldn't agree more, as they looked like they were trained really well.

"And I guess this Meowscarada is yours?" Ash asked. "Yep, she's my most recent addition, though she can be a bit of a handful" Francesca said with sweat dripping down her head.

"What makes you say that?" Ash said, only to see that his upper torso is missing. "WHAT THE!?" It was then revealed that Meowscarada used her cape to block his torso and bend the light shining down on them, making it look like his torso had disappeared. "Oh now I get it" Ash muttered before he turned his attention to Nemona's Sprigatito, who was looking up to the magic feline.

"That's what you will evolve into Sprigatito, isn't that amazing?" Nemona said with a smile on her face, and Sprigatito's eyes began to sparkle as she was eager to reach that stage and become such a trickster.

"I'd take that as a yes" Nemona giggled while Pikachu greeted Francesca's newly evolved Chimecho.

"So Ash" Arven asked "How did you meet this Francesca girl?" "Oh, it's a long story, but to make it short, I was in Sinnoh, she was having trouble, me and a couple of friends helped her out" Ash said rather dismissively.

"That seems to be a running theme with you" Arven said, satisfied with the answer. "Now then, about your Meowscarada?" Nemona asked, gesturing to the bipedal feline.

"Oh, well she's my latest capture, but I already told you that, the thing is, she's a tad mischievous" Francesca explained. "How mischievous?" Nemona questioned.

"Well..." Francesca then pulled out her phone, which then displayed a recording of her Meowscarada making flower bombs explode nearby people. "Oh, now I see" Nemona then sees her Sprigatito chasing after Mewoscarada's flower, and the fully evolved cat constantly pulling it away from her like one of those light pointers.

"How about you try and find an outlet for her?" Nemona suggested "Like what?" Francesca asked. "Well, I like to keep Sprigatito busy with her favorite ball" Nemona then pulls out a velvet ball that Sprigatito was immediately antsy upon seeing.

"Hmmm..." Fransesca brainstormed some ideas as to how she can manage Meowscarada's antics, until a light bulb caught up in her mind. "Hey Meowscarada!" The feline then rushed over to her trainer.

"I think I have something that can make you more focused" Francesca said with a smile, which caused Meowscarada to cock her head in confusion. She is then presented with a spare magic wand that the magician fished out of her bag "I feel this will help you with performing and not getting carried away with your pranks."

Meowscarada took the wand and then waved it around a bit until she let loose a Magical leaf through her movements. Meowscarada soon found herself getting the hang of it, and she was casting her attacks like she was in a magic act, which resulted in her pulling off a spectacle to behold.

"Wow!" Everyone marveled at the performance and Fransesca cheered at her successful attempt.

"Thanks for your help guys" Francesca said while waving goodbye "Hope we see each other soon" And soon enough, she and Meowscarada left until they were out of sight. "Welp, that ends that" Ash says, and they continue off with their field trip.

"So where do you think Team Star is hiding?" Gus asked "I dunno, but I hope that we can find them soon" Nemona said, as they all went onwards, with Penny trailing behind with a frown on her face.