Episode 186: Will the Real Oak Please Stand Up?
A few days came and went since coming to a field of fueding Vileplume and Bellossom, so they find themselves in a mountain pass that is boiling hot.
"Whew, it's hot," Sora said, while sweating.
"Pika," Pikachu said.
"Hotter than a Slugma's underbelly," Leaf said, wiping off some sweat.
"Better that than the sun," Ash said.
"Coming from someone named Ash," Tracey said.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Ash asked.
"I don't know. I guess I was just thinking out loud," Tracey said.
"Well, it made zero sense to me," Sora said.
"Slugma," a wild Slugma said, crawling by.
"Pika!" Pikachu said.
"A Slugma," Ash said.
"Not just Slugma, but also Magcargo, too. Look!" Kairi said, pointing upwards. And she was right. There a lot of wild Slugma and Magcargo in every corner.
"They all must live here," Leaf said.
"Well, this is a volcanic area, so it's not uncommon to see Slugma and Magcargo in such places," Tracey said.
"Say, Sora, didn't you catch your Slugma from a volcanic area before he evolved into a Magcargo?" Ash asked.
"Well, it was at a desert on the way to Olivine City, but there might have been a volcano near there," Sora said.
"I have a feeling this could be home to some hot springs," Leaf said.
"I think it's too hot to soak in one of those," Sora said.
"Pikachu," Pikachu said.
"Pichu," the two Pichu said.
"Not only that, there might be geysers here, too. So we should be careful," Tracey said.
Meanwhile, over to Team Rocket, Jessie is wearing a camouflage swimsuit while James wore navy blue swim trunks. Jessie happily sighed.
"Nothing like a hot spring to melt away your troubles," Jessie said.
"I can feel my stress just fading away," James said.
"Mother Nature got it right wit these things," Meowth said.
"Wobbuffet!" Wobbuffet said, popping out, again.
"Your blubbering blueness doesn't even bug me. I'll just lie here blissfully and ignore," Jessie said. Meowth spots the group over to a ledge.
"Hate to disturb your blissfulness but it's the twerps!" Meowth exclaimed.
"Not now," Jessie said.
"But we're soaking," James said.
"Well, we could just ignore them," Jessie suggested.
"They're the main reason for our stress to begin with," James said.
Suddenly, a geyser erupts near them
"This place is famous for these big old geezers," Meowth said.
"Yes. And they say the geysers are fairly renowned as well. Lucky we sat here," Jessie said.
Their relief is cut when they feel a rumbling, knowing what was about to happen.
"But, luck is fleeting, isn't it?" James askes.
"I think it's fleeting away from us right now," Meowth said.
"Wobbuuuuuufet!" Wobbuffet said.
The geyser Team Rocket finds that they're in erupts, sending them blasting off.
"Team Rocket's blasting off again!" Team Rocket shouted as they go flying.
Sora just stopped for a second.
"Hey, did you hear something?" Sora asked.
"No," Kairi, Ash, Leaf, and Tracey all said.
"Maybe the heat was getting to me, because I could have sworn I just heard Team Rocket just now," Sora said.
"Pikachu," Pikachu said.
"Or maybe it was from all the stress we've been having with Team Rocket, the Heartless, and the Nobodies, and it's putting us on edge," Leaf said.
"She's right, Sora. But we don't have to worry about Team Rocket, because we haven't seen them for miles. And it's starting to cool down the further we go," Kairi said.
"Eevee," Angel said.
"Toge, Toge," Togepi chirped.
"It does feel much better," Sora said.
"Pika," Pikachu said.
Just when they were closer to leaving the volcanic canyon, they came across a giant-sized Magcargo, sleeping right in their path.
"Do you see that?" Ash asked.
"Look at the size of this Magcargo! It's huge!" Sora exclaimed.
"It's much bigger than a normal-sized Magcargo," Tracey said.
"This is a strange place to take a nap," Kairi said.
"Okay, how are we supposed to get by this giant roadblock?" Leaf asked.
Sora then remembered the Poké Flute he got from Mr. Fuji.
"I have just the thing," Sora said. He took out the Poké Flute. "Good thing I had this with me."
"The Poké Flute. That's used to wake up sleeping Pokémon," Ash said.
"And Magcargo's going to have a soothing melody to wake up to," Sora said. He started to play the Poké Flute, but he's playing it very awfully. Everyone covered their ears, blocking out the terrible sound Sora was playing. Magcargo woke up as Sora stopped playing. He puts the Poké Flute away. "It does work."
"What was that you said about a soothing melody? That was the opposite of soothing," Ash said.
"I'm going to side with Ash in this, Sora," Kairi said.
"Pika," Pikachu said.
"Eevee," Angel said.
"Pichu," the Pichu both said.
"Magcargo's up, isn't it?" Sora asked.
"Yeah, but he doesn't look happy about it," Kairi said.
"Huh?" Sora asked. The giant Magcargo attacks with a Flamethrower, making them run for it. "Geez, talk about waking up on the wrong side of the bed!"
"Well, it was because you played that flute like you were dying," Ash said.
"I should have remembered Sora can't play a single instrument to save his life," Leaf said.
"Me too. Sora tried playing the trombone once, but his trombone solo just trombombed!" Ash said.
"Everybody's a critic," Sora pouted. He stood up and took out a Pokéball and threw it. "Okay, Gyarados! You're going in!" The Pokéball opened. Stars swirls around Gyarados upon entry. Magcargo starts up with a Rock Slide. "Dodge and use Hydro Pump!" Gyarados fired Hydro Pump right at the giant Magcargo. He withdrew in his shell, so the water bounces right off. "Withdraw. Okay, use your tail to send Magcargo flying!" Gyarados smacked the shell, making Magcargo spin around like a top. Magcargo got dizzy from the inside. Magcargo came out of the shell in a daze. "Use Dragon Pulse!" Gyarados fired a Dragon Pulse, hitting Magcargo on the mark. "Hydro Pump!" Gyarados fired a Hydro Pump right at Magcargo, sending the giant magma snail Pokémon flying in the air. "That got him out of the way."
"Hey, you!" A boy's voice called out. They see a boy with brown hair styled with the yop in opposite directions and bushy eyebrows. He wore a black shirt under a red vest, dark green jean shirts and blue shoes. "What's the idea of sending that Magcargo flying like that?!"
"That Magcargo was blocking our way and we needed to get through," Sora said.
"You had no right doing that!" The boy yelled as he jumped off and fell on his face.
"Are you okay?" Kairi asked.
He quickly got up.
"What? That? That was nothing! Just a clever ploy to get my opponents to lower their guard," the boy said.
"If you say so," Kairi said.
"Eevee," Angel said.
"Look, um-" Sora said.
"The name's Egen! And I'm going to catch that giant Magcargo! Which way did you send it to?" Egen asked.
"Are you kidding? I sent him flying that way!" Sora said, pointing to the direction Magcargo went.
"And that's where I'm heading! Stay out of my way!" Egen yelled as he ran off after Magcargo. The group just tilted their heads in awkwardness.
"Oookay," Sora said.
"Well, at least he's full of energy," Tracey said.
"I just hope he doesn't burn out on it," Leaf said.
A couple of days later, Sora, Kairi, Ash, Leaf, Tracey, Pikachu, Angel, Togepi, and the Pichu made themselves a little stop in a small town for some burgers and fries.
"Stopping here for lunch was a great idea, Sora," Tracey said.
"It may not be Big Earl's cooking, but tasty," Ash said.
"Just don't let Big Earl hear you say that, because his feelings would be hurt," Sora said. He remembered when he was a little kid and he always loved Big Earl's burgers so much. He couldn't help but wonder what he was up to.
Kairi smiled when she remembered meeting him and the rest of the staff when she and Sora made their stop over to the beach when they met Sora's relatives. And she remembered how Big Earl is able to lift Sora and Ventus into his arms. Tracey looked at Sora.
"Um, who's Big Earl?" Tracey asked.
"He's the cook who works at my uncle's restaurant. He's just as big as a Beartic, but he's quite gentle as a Mareep," Sora said.
"If I remember right, he always had a soft spot for you and Ven," Leaf said.
"Yeah, he did," Sora said.
Just when Sora was about to take another bite of his burger a few girls in the place noticed Sora in the same place as them.
"Oh my gosh, girls! Look who that is! It's Sora Ketchum, the Indigo Plateau Pokémon League Champion!" The first girl said.
"Oh, wow! I can't believe that we're eating in the same place as him right now!" The second girl said.
"He's even more of a dreamboat in person than in the magazines!" The third girl said lovestruck.
"Maybe one of us should go ask for an autograph," the second girl suggested. "One for each of us. The girls were trying to decide who should go right over and ask for his autograph. It turned into a brief argument before they eventually came to an agreement.
"Arguing about it isn't going to help anything. We'll all ask for his autograph at the same time. And we're going to do it right at the same time. And no more arguing," the first girl stated. All of the girls agreed. The three girls stood up and went over to Sora and his friends. Pikachu, Angel and the Pichu's ears perked up and saw the girls approaching him. "Excuse me, Mr. Sora." Sora, Kairi, Ash, Leaf, and Tracey all turned to the girls.
"Yes?" Sora asked.
"We were wondering if we could have an autograph from you," the girls all said at once. Sora wasn't if he should, but he didn't wanna seem rude. He looked over to Kairi for an opinion.
"I think you should just give them an autograph; just as long as they don't ask you you out on a date," Kairi whispered.
"Okay," Sora whispered back. Sora signed his name for each of the girls and they were giddy having to recieve an autograph from the Indigo Plateau Pokémon League champian. Once he was done, the girls all fainted, but still conscious, having to recieve it.
"Now I can die a happy girl," the first girl said.
"Me too," the other two girls said.
Sora, Kairi, Ash, Leaf, and Tracey all looked at the three girls.
"You think they're okay?" Ash asked.
"I'm sure they are. Sora was always popular with all the girls. Sora was voted as the cutest boy in class by the other girls," Leaf said. That just made Sora blush as Kairi was feeling a little bit jealous.
"Didn't you have a crush on Sora, Leaf?" Tracey asked. Leaf just blushed at the question.
"No, I didn't. I only thought of him as a friend. Also, he was the funnest and the bravest kid we knew," Leaf said.
"It's true. Everyone in class liked him. I remember that it drove Gary crazy, because he thought that he was supposed to have all the attention because he's Professor Oak's grandson," Ash said.
And speak of the devil, they hear a familiar theme and a familiar voice to go with it.
"Hey kids! Get ready for Professor Oak's Radio Show!" DJ Mary spoke through the radio.
"Hello, boys and girls! Been catching lots of Pokémon lately?" Professor Oak greeted through the radio.
"Mary! Professor Oak!" Sora said, feeling his face light up.
"Wow. We were just talking about Gary, and we hear Professor Oak's voice," Ash said.
The group listened to the radio show being broadcasted. Professor Oak was giving some lectures about certain kinds of Pokémon.
"So it is possible that Starmie's blinking crystal is being used to communicate with beings from outer space," Professor Oak said.
"I can't help but wonder if there is life on other planets," a random old man said.
"Why do you care? You don't have a life on this planet," Another old man joked. He just laughed at his expense.
"Now it's time for the professor's poetry pantry. Do you have a Starmie poem for us, professor?" Mary asked.
"I sure do, Mary. Put your fighting faith in Starmie, to make sure you're safe from harmie," Professor Oak recited. Sora sighed and shook his head.
"Just like the professor to recite some Pokémon poetry," Sora groaned. "And not a good one at that."
"It may sound terrible, but there is always some deep meaning when it comes to Pokémon poetry," Leaf said.
"Great news, kids! Check it out! Tomorrow afternoon Professor Oak will be doing a live outdoor show in Maroon Town; and admission is free!" Mary announced.
"That's right, Mary. And I'll follow up my lecture with a question and answer session," Professor Oak added.
"Recordings begin tomorrow on the Pokémon Stage fairgrounds. And I'll be there too, hosting the entire affair," Mary stated.
"Professor Oak and Mary are gonna be in Maroon Town? We're not too far from that, are we?" Sora asked.
"Let me see," Tracey said. He checks his guidebook. "Aha! Not too far! We can make it just in time!"
"Great! We can head right over to Maroon Town and see Professor Oak just to say hi to him," Sora said.
Everyone liked the idea very much; especially Kairi since she had a letter she wanted to send to her grandmother.
Up ahead in Maroon Town, Team Rocket stumbles into town feeling weak from hunger.
"It's about time we found a town; I could use a rest," Jessie said weakly.
"I could use a restuarant," Meowth added weakly.
"This is all your fault for losing the twerps, James," Jessie accused weakly.
"What do you mean? It was Meowth's dumb plan," James defended weakly.
"Sure, blame the little guy," Meowth said weakly. Wobbufett pops out of his Pokéball again.
"Wobbuffet!" Wobbuffet said still full of pep. Jessie growls and holds out Wobbufett's Pokéball.
"Get back here!" Jessie hissed. Team Rocket falls to the ground weak from hunger.
"I'm starvin," Meowth said weakly.
"Wobbuffet!" Wobbuffet said.
"I'm exhausted!" Jessie cried.
"I can't take another step!" James added. Meowth looked up and he noticed a poster featuring Professor Oak and DJ Mary.
"Hey, what's that?" Meowth asked. Jessie and James saw the poster. "What's with the poster?"
"That's Professor Oak, isn't it?" James asked.
"You're right, James," Jessie said.
"Look around and you'll see that they're everywhere," James said. Team Rocket looks around and saw the poster on every building they see.
"What's this all about?" Jessie asked.
"A public recording of Professor Oak's radio show taking place tomorrow," Meowth said.
"A public radio show? In this stinky town?" James asked.
"Unless there's a free lunch,I'm not interested," Jessie groaned.
"And after the taping there's a free lunch buffet for the stars of the show," Meowth said, reading the poster.
"A FREE LUNCH BUFFET?!" Jessie and James exclaimed.
"Salad!" Jessie cheered.
"And fruit cups!" James added.
"All we gotta do..." Meowth started.
Team Rocket finished, "is be the stars!" Team Rocket quickly got into character; James posed as Professor Oak while Jessie posed as Mary. Meowth's disguise was poor since it was just him standing on Wobbufet's head while wearing a trenchcoat, a fedora hat and a pair of orange sunglasses.
"Hi kids! I'm everyone's favorite DJ, Mary! Welcome to today's live show!" Jessie imitated Mary's voice. She switched to her regular voice, "Well?"
"Way too dramatic. Tone it down," Meowth said and James was skeptical.
"Wobbufet!" Wobbufet said, bursting through the trenchcoat. Meowth jumps back the Patient Pokémon.
"You idiot! I told you not to speak!" Meowth hissed.
"Just who are you supposed to be?" Jessie asked.
"I'm the big-mouthed overbearing producer. Every show has to have one, baby," Meowth explained, getting into character.
"Sad, but true," James said. Nurse Joy came along, not suspecting a thing.
"I couldn't help but overhear you talking; are you Professor Oak and DJ Mary?" Nurse Joy asked.
"I am Professor Oak, the one and only," James said, imitating Professor Oak's voice; and too good.
"And I'm Mary, the incredible DJ! It's so nice for you to have us, Nurse Joy!" Jessie said, using Mary's voice and shaking the nurse's hands.
"Welcome on the behalf of Maroon Town, but I'm surprised to see you since you originally said you weren't going to arrive here until tomorrow," Nurse Joy said. This caught Jessie and James off guard when they felt their cover was about to be blown. Meowth had Wobbufett move forward to make a big recovery.
"Uh, yeah. Let me explain that. I'm the big-top-cheese here and I told the professor that the town was full of loyal Pokémon fans and he said he wanted to meet them all as soon as he could," Meowth lied. James went along with it and nodded.
"Nice recovery, Meowth," James said in his thoughts.
"That was too close for comfort," Jessie said in her thoughts.
"I'm impressed, professor," Nurse Joy said. "In that case, let me take you to the stage right now." Nurse Joy began to lead Team Rocket to the fairgrounds without knowing that they're impostors.
Unaware, two Meowth were watching the scene and felt embarrassed for the Meowth with human speech.
"It's such a shame to watch a fellow Meowth sink as low as dirt to decieve a human into believing that he himself is a human." - Meowth 1 subtitle.
"All I can honestly say is that it's shameful." - Meowth 2 subtitle.
Once Nurse Joy had led Team Rocket to the fairgrounds, they didn't waste time helping themselves to the buffet. "Om my, you three must have been hungry." She was unaware of how poor their table etiquette was.
"It has been a long journey for us," Jessie said.
"Got any more grub with ya?" Meowth asked.
"All this food was supposed to be for the after show buffet, but I'll go see if there's any more backstage," Nurse Joy said.
"That's the plan. You just bring more out," James said, laughing.
"Fine, but in the meantime, do you mind answering these children's questions?" Nurse Joy asked. James wasn't prepared for that.
"Q-Questions?" James asked.
"Of course, of course. Feel free to ask the professor anything," Jessie said.
"Jessie, what if I don't know the answers?" James whispered, fearing he'll accidentally blow their cover.
"Hey, that's for you to figure out. You're Professor Oak now, aren't you?" Jessie whispered back. All of the kids started begging him to answer their quesions that may come.
"This is horrible! They're They're staring wholseome at me with those sweet non-suspecting eyes!" James exclaimed. Meowth took out some books containing useful information on Pokémon.
"Don't sweat it, James. I got all the answers in here with all of these books," Meowth said.
"You're a great producer, Meowth," Jessie praised the scratch cat Pokémon.
"I try," Meowth said. One little boy stepped up to ask the first question.
"Hello professor. I'm a really huge fan of yours," the boy said.
"That's always good to hear," James said.
"Um, the question I have is what is that leek thing Farfetch'd is always carrying?" The boy asked.
"A fine question. What is that?" James said, going into thought. Meowth frantically searches for the answers for the intel on Farfetch'd.
"Fartfetch'd, Farfetch'd, Farfetch'd. There's nothing in here about Farfetch'd this book. Better check another one," Meowth said, grabbing another book. Something caught his eye. "Wow, I always thought tomatoes were vegetables, not fruit."
"Who cares if a tomato is a fruit or a vegetable? Get the answer to James and fast!" Jessie snarled.
James was in trapped in a really tight squeeze because he didn't know the answer to it at all.
"Oh crap. I knew my failures at the Pokémon Academy was going to come back to haunt me again one of these days. Calm down, James. It'll be okay. When in doubt, fake it!" James said in his thoughts.
"Professor?" The boy asked. James cleared his throat and he regained his posture.
"Yes! What is the leek Farfetch'd is always carrying?" James regained, using Professor Oak's voice again. "Farfetch'd has a hockey stick!" The faces of the kids all lit up when they heard that.
"I never would have guessed that. If I heard it from you, then it must be true," the first boy said. Another boy raised his hand.
"How come Electric-type attacks don't work on Pokémon like Quagsire even though they're Water-types?" The second boy asked.
"Um," James said, not knowing the obvious answer. Meowth flipped the pages to Quagsire and he whispered into James's ear. "That is because Quagsire is a Ground-type as well as a Water-type. And Electric-type attacks won't work on Ground-type Pokémon like Sandshrew, Cubone, Geodude, and of course Quagsire."
"Wow! You really do know everything, professor!" The second boy said happily.
"It comes naturally, my boy," the fake Professor Oak said. "Any more questions?"
"Is it true that Clefairy are aliens?" The first boy asked.
"How soon should I evolve my little Eevee?" A girl in a red dress asked.
"Is there really such a Pokémon as Celebi?" The second boy asked.
"What do I do to get my Tyrogue to evolve into a Hitmontop?" A third boy asked.
With so many questions coming their way, Meowth frantically skidded through all the books to give James the answers.
"You need to slow down, James! I don't think I can be able to catch up!" Meowth said.
"Settle down, everyone! One at a time! One of a time!" James stated. Jessie took a look at some the nerdy photographers and she she swallowed what food she had in her mouth.
"As president of the DJ Mary Fan Club, I'm pleased to welcome you to our town, DJ Mary," the fan club president said.
"I find it hard to believe that I'm meeting you in person," another photographer said.
"Um, how nice," Jessie said, in her Mary voice.
"You don't mind if take some pictures of you, Mary?" Another photgrapher asked.
"Um, well," Jessie said, not sure what to do. Meowth scoops right in.
"A star never says no to her fans," Meowth whispered. "Absolutely boys! Take all the pictures you want!" Jessie did some poses just as the fan boys took so many pictures.
"A girl can used to this," Jessie said in her thoughts.
Later that night, Team Rocket using the guises of Professor Oak, DJ Mary, and the over-bearing producer all stayed in the local hotel. They are relaxing in the hot spings as Jessie is wearing her army camouflage colored one piece swimsuit.
"It went better than I thought," Meowth said happily.
"Maybe so, but that was so close. I thought for sure, they were going to figure out that we're phonies," Jessie said. "And here we are, stuck in this fabulous hotel getting the star treatment.
"Hot springs are always so relaxing," James said.
"Hey, I've got an idea. I'll go find a phone and call us some room service," Meowth said. Before Meowth could go further, Jessie grabs the Scratch Cat Pokémon by the tail.
"Wait a minute!" Jessie said. Meowth turns around. "We've got a good thing going on and we don't wanna get found out. If that hotel staff sees us out of our disguises, they'll tell Nurse Joy and kick us out in the streets to starve."
"Jessie's right! Just think about the other freebies coming our way!" James added.
"Then we'll keep riding this gravy train," Meowth said.
"All hail the impostors!" Team Rocket said.
Meanwhile, Sora, Kairi, Ash, Leaf, Tracey, Pikachu, Angel, Togepi, and the Pichu have all arrived to Maroon Town
"Okay, the Pokémon Center should be nearby," Tracey said.
"Professor Oak would be surprised to see us though," Sora said.
"Pikachu," Pikachu agreed.
"Well, let's surprise them," Kairi said.
"Yeah!" Sora, Ash, Leaf, and Tracey agreed.
Over to the Pokémon Center, the fake Professor Oak and DJ Mary along with the quote, unquote producer pigging out on the buffet table as the real Professor Oak and DJ Mary had arrived. Nurse Joy had told them that they had already arrived.
"What do you mean the professor and Mary are already here?" Professor Oak asked.
"They are," Nurse Joy said.
"But, that's impossible, because this is Professor Oak right here; and I'm DJ Mary," Mary said.
"Then who's over there having breakfast?" Nurse Joy turning to the impostors.
"How's that?" Professor Oak asked. He and the two women saw Team Rocket in their disguises eating like Munchlax, but with even less table manners.
"She's gotta be kidding with that hairdo right?" Mary asked skeptical.
"And their table manners are terrible," Professor Oak added.
The kids from the day before all walked up to the Pokémon professor with some doubts about some of the answers the fake Professor Oak had given them.
"Professor Oak, I have been thinking about what you've said yesterday, and I'm sure that's not a hockey stick Farfetch'd is holding, but some kind of a root," the second boy pointed out.
"Well, you're on the right track, but the stick you're talking about isn't actually a root; it's a stem of a plant. It uses it as a weapon and not for sporting goods," Professor Oak said.
"That's funny, you something different yesterday, Professor Oak," the first boy said in an accusing tone.
"You said that it was a hockey stick," the second boy answered.
"Just because we're kids, doesn't give you the right to lie to us with fake answers," the first boy said. Professor Oak was letting off a little sweat.
"Wait, wait, wait. It is believed to be a stem just like I said," Professor Oak assured the children.
"Tell me, professor. Is it a stem or a root?" The girl in red asked.
"Can you prove Clefairy are aliens just like you said they are?" The third boy asked.
"No, I can't prove that. Someone said Clefairy are extraterrestrial Pokémon, but there haven't been any proof of it in Pokémon science," Professor Oak said. The girl in red leaned over to the third boy.
"Something is wrong. I don't trust this professor at all," the girl in red whispered.
"I think they're trying to fool us all with a phony Oak," the third boy said.
"Professor Oak, what is going on?" Mary asked.
"I'm afraid I don't know, Mary," Professor Oak said.
"Professor!" Sora called out and the Pokémon professor turned to see the familiar group.
"Ah, Sora, Kairi, Leaf, Ash, Tracey, I didn't expect to see you here today," Professor Oak said.
"And I didn't expect to see you again so soon after what you did for us back in Goldenrod City," Mary said.
"Not a problem, Mary," Sora said.
The kids all looked at Sora and they were awestruck when they all saw him.
"Are you Sora Ketchum? That Pokémon Trainer who won the Indigo Plateau?" The first boy asked.
"Yeah," Sora answered. The faces of the kids all lit up when he came. Nurse Joy came before the kids could dogpile on him for an autograph.
"Could you identify those people over there?" Nurse Joy asked. The group all turned to Team Rocket as they stopped eating and saw the group.
"Either I'm seeing double or that Professor Oak is an impostor!" Sora said. Team Rocket winced and hid behind the table.
"Crap, it's the twerps!" Jessie said.
"What the hell are they doing here?" James asked.
"With the luck we had with them, our cover is gonna be blown!" Meowth added.
"Get up here!" Sora told them.
"Why are you pretending to be Professor Oak, DJ Mary, and whoever and whatever you are?" Tracey asked.
"W-What do you mean? What are you talking about?" Jessie asked using Mary's voice.
"I mean who are you?" Tracey asked.
"Tracey is right to ask you that question," Leaf said.
"Why, I'm DJ Mary," Jessie lied.
"And it's barely obvious that I am Professor Oak," James also lied.
"Or an impostor!" The real Professor Oak shouted, making the disguised villains fall over.
"What do we do now? The real deal is here! The jig is up!" Meowth said.
"Just who are you? And why are you impersonating us?" Mary asked.
"You're impersonating me, sweetheart!" Jessie shot back.
"Oh, I'm impersonating you? You're impersonating me and I ought to know," Mary said. "Tell her, Professor Oak that I'm Mary."
"This isn't going down so smooth," Kairi said.
"Gotta admit, the fake Mary is more real than the real Mary," Leaf said.
"And the real one is more fake," Ash added.
"You've got a lot of nerve showing up here like this and ruining my good name, whoever you are!" Professor Oak said.
"Professor Oak, this is outrageous! Don't let this phony talk to you this way!" Jessie said before leaning over to James to whisper. "Our only shot is to play this bluff for all this worth, James."
"That's right, keep it going," Meowth added. James nodded and went along with it.
"You'll never beat be in that haircut!" The fake Professor Oak taunted. The real Professor Oak growls.
"I like this cut!" Professor Oak countered. Both men glared at each other with sparks literally flying. Sora had stepped right in.
"Okay, that's enough!" Sora said, breaking them up. "It doesn't look like neither of you will back down. I have a pretty good idea how to settle this argument once and for all."
"What kind of idea?" The real Professor Oak asked.
"We'll be having a contest to decide who's real and who's fake. The contest will have a series of questions about Pokémon and whoever can answer the most correctly is the real deal. And the rule to the contest is no coaching from the peanut gallery and no books," Sora proclaimed. "Not that the real Professor Oak needs any coaching since he is the world's leading authority in Pokémon research."
"A fine idea, Sora," Professor Oak said, accepting the terms. "And there will be another addition to the contest. Whoever loses will leave the battle with no further argument."
"Leave the argument?" Tracey asked.
"But Professor, what if you lose?" Kairi asked.
"Don't worry, there's only one Oak in this world, my friends, so it should be easy to spot a fake. And if somehow I lose, that only proves that I haven't studied sufficiently and know when to start over anyway," Professor Oak said. Kairi, Ash, and Leaf smiled.
"That's good to know," Leaf said.
"Only the real Professor Oak would say something like that," Kairi said.
"Well? What say you 'Professor Oak'?" The real Professor Oak challenged.
"Um, well, I," James stammered not sure if sure he should go along with it. Jessie and Meowth pushes him on the back.
"Accept!" Jessie whispered.
"Ooh! Ow, I mean, wow, wow! I accept! Yes!" James accepted the challenge. Jessie wrapped her arms around James's neck into a hug.
"Oh Professor! You are so confident!" Jessie praised.
"So, who is going to be the judge for this contest?" Ash asked.
"Good question," Kairi said.
"I suggest it should be Sora," Mary suggested.
"Thanks, but I must decline. None of us can judge since we already know who the real Professor Oak is. So, I have someone else who is more qualified already in mind. Nurse Joy," Sora said, turning to the nurse.
"Huh? Me?" Nurse Joy asked.
"I agree. Nurse Joy should be judging the contest," Tracey said.
"I guess from all the game shows that I watched, I could probably fake it," Nurse Joy said, accepting the position.
Kairi, Ash, Leaf, and Tracey went all over town for a surprising and unusual event on the fairgrounds. Not long after, the whole town started to show up. DJ Mary and Jessie took the stage just so Jessie can convince everyone she's the real Mary. The two Professor Oaks sat in their podiums. The real Professor Oak sat in podium A and the fake Professor Oak sat in podium B.
"So, why do we have two Marys?" Leaf asked.
"She just wanted to convince us she's the real deal. But, I'm not fooled one bit," Sora said.
"Me neither. I mean she's just too tall for the role," Leaf added.
"And she looks like she's wearing too much makeup," Ash said.
"Hi everyone! I'm Mary!" Mary announced.
"And I'm Mary," Jessie announced.
"And we have a very unusual show for you today," Mary said.
"A contest to to reveal the real Professor Oak," Jessie added.
"Our test will consist of three questions," Mary said.
"First contestant to answer two questions correctly will be judged as the real Professor Oak," Jessie added.
"Our first question requires a speedy response and if you get an wrong answer then you may not respond at al, so listen closely and be careful not to hit the buzzer too soon," Mary instructed.
"Now take it away, Nurse Joy," Jessie said.
"Right, here's the first question," Nurse Joy said. She began to read the card. "What evolved form of Slowpoke th-" The real Professor Oak presses his buzzer.
"That was quick," James said.
"Yes, I got hooked onto some video games. And I was known as Flying Finger Sammy," Professor Oak said.
"Give us your answer now please, Professor Oak A," Mary said.
"The answer is Slowbro," Professor Oak answered. A buzz is heard to confirm his answer is incorrect. "Huh?"
"Ha! Oh, but so sorry, Professor Oak A, but that was your final answer," Jessie gloated.
"Sorry, but there was more to the question. You were right that Slowpoke evolves into Slowbro, but the answer was Slowking," Nurse Joy said.
"Oh, I guess Flying Finger Sammy jumped the gun," Professor Oak said.
"Next question. This Psychic-type move is a non-damaging move, so it raises the user's special defense by two stages. What is the name of this particular move?" Nurse Joy asked. James pressed his buzzer and he he was even more nervous.
"Hurry up and say something, James," Jessie said, gritting her teeth.
"I got amnesia," James responded.
"We're screwed," Jessie groaned. A bell rings to confirm it was correct.
"That is correct! The move is Amnesia," Nurse Joy said. The kids cheered as the fake Professor Oak had answered out of luck.
"Well, that was lucky," Leaf said.
"Yeah, but his luck will run out," Sora said.
"I'm right and he's wrong," James said.
"Yes, yes, yes!" Jessie cheered.
"Now let's move on to question 2," Mary said.
The image of a hand-like appendage is seen on the screen.
"This round is a silhouette challenge. Examine this silhouette carefully and and give your answer," Nurse Joy said.
"What is supposed to be, a mutant footprint?" James asked to himself.
"Professor B will have the privilege of answering first," Mary said.
"Uh, it's a Sudowoodo's hand," James answered.
"Ha! Good answer!" Jessie praised.
"Professor A?" Mary asked.
"It is clearly the tail of an Aipom," Professor Oak responded.
"Nurse Joy, has either one given the correct answer?" Mary asked.
"The answer is: Aipom's tail. Professor Oak A's answer is correct!" Nurse Joy said.
The crowd cheered. Team Rocket was in a real slum as the contest was now tied and they knew one answer was the moment of truth. Sora, Kairi, Ash, Leaf, and the Pokémon were all confident that the real Professor Oak was going to win and prove he was the real deal.
"No surprise here," Sora said.
"Way to go, Professor Oak!" Leaf cheered.
"Only one answer to go," Tracey said.
"Now the impostors are going to get exposed when they answer the question wrong," Kairi said.
"Both Professors A and B are tied with one point each," Mary announced.
"And now it is time for the final question to determine once and for all to decide which Professor Oak is the real Professor Oak!" Jessie proclaimed.
"This is both good and bad. Good because if I win, then everyone will think I'm the real Professor Oak; bad because if I lose, then everyone will know I'm a sham and get the boot faster than a Rapidash," James said in his thoughts.
"Okay, Nurse Joy, it's time for the final question," Mary said. Meowth walks on stage.
"Wow, winner take all. Pretty dramatic stuff, huh?" Meowth asked.
"Um, who are you?" Mary asked.
"Why I'm the producer of this here show, kiddo," Meowth lied. Jessie leans forward to Meowth.
"Listen Meowth, if you don't do something about this now, we're going to lose," Jessie whispered.
"Just leave it all to Meowthy, baby," Meowth said. "Everyone is known for his poetic ability as is his Pokémon knowledge, so we don't we don't we decide the final round with a poetry contest?" Everyone all liked the idea since they wanna hear what kind of poem Professor Oak has for the occasion. "I'm sure the true professor can come up with an original Pokémon poem will knock the socks off of those who have some, huh?" Both Professor Oaks stood up.
"I like that idea," Professor Oak seconded it.
"I have no problem with that at all," James said.
"A poetry battle, huh? The real Professor Oak should have this in the bag," Sora said. Jessie leans to James.
"A really bad move, James. You don't know a thing about Pokémon poetry," Jessie whispered.
"That's where you're wrong, dear Jessie. Back in grade school, I was the champian stand-up poet three years running," James whispered back. "And those three years in a row, I was rewarded the golden tongue reward."
"I didn't know that," Jessie said, amazed.
"A round of Pokémon poetry to decide this poetry one and for all. Now all we need is the audience to suggest a theme for us," Mary said.
"Wobbufet," Wobbufet said under the trenchcoat. Meowth shushes him from underneath.
"Um, sorry, I have a bad habit of saying Wobbufet for no reason," Meowth fibbed, trying to maintain his cover. "Wobbufet." Jessie felt her heart jump in her throat when she heard that.
"What was that?" Tracey asked.
"Am I going crazy or did I just hear someone just say Wobbufet?" Sora asked.
"You're not going crazy, because I heard it too," Kairi said.
"Alright, then Wobbufet will be the theme for our two poems," Nurse Joy said.
"So, we're gonna do Wobbufet, huh?" Professor Oak asked.
"No problem, I can spin a beautiful line of verse," James said. He clears his throat as he got started. "In an inflated Psychic self, but life will put on the shelf; Wobbufet." Everyone was awestruck to hearing the poem, but Nurse Joy wasn't moved by it and she began to suspect something. She had to wait until after the next poem.
"Okay, that wasn't bad," Ash said.
"I don't get it, but it did sound rather pretty," Leaf said.
"Not bad, but let me show you how it's done," Professor Oak said. He began his poem. "Wobbufet. When life is a mystery, it's your answer."
"That's how you know that's Professor Oak," Sora said.
"How?" Tracey asked.
"No one can do a Pokémon poem like he can," Sora said.
"I agree. It sounded like it had more meaning than the one we just heard," Kairi said.
"This verse supplies to both one small element of a Wobbufet's life and on another level to struggles to all people to make the most of their lives," Professor Oak stated.
"Give it up. Your poem went over like a led balloon," James taunted.
"I could have done better than that," Jessie said. "if I said Wobbufett wore a hair barriet, then it would have rhymed," Jessie said.
"It's time to announce the winner!" Meowth said.
"Now, Nurse Joy, who's the winner?" Mary asked. Nurse Joy shut her eyes for a moment with her face in a stern look. The same stern look as Professor Oak while James was grinning expecting to win. Sora, Kairi, Ash, Leaf, Tracey, and the Pokémon waited for the nurse's final decision as do the townspeople. Nurse Joy opened her eyes.
"Contestant A is the one and only true Professor Oak," Nurse Joy announced. Sora, Kairi, Ash, Leaf, and Tracey smiled since the argument is settled once and for all.
"I never doubted you for a second, professor," Sora said. Team Rocket winced when the real deal was decided.
"How can you say that?! It's so obvious that my poem is far more superior to his pompous dribble!" James exclaimed, refusing defeat.
"Not true. Your work showed no understanding of Pokémon poetry," Nurse Joy said.
"HUH?!" Team Rocket exclaimed. They all knew they were truly screwed.
"I ought to know since I'm a fifth level master of Pokémon poetry," Nurse Joy said.
"Hey, that is impressive," Professor Oak said.
"Wow. You were right, Sora. That is how you know it's the real Professor Oak, even if we already knew that," Ash said.
"Told you," Sora said.
"How did you know that poem would win it?" Tracey asked.
"If you knew him for as long as I have, you would tend to pick it up," Sora said. Team Rocket leans into one another.
"You didn't know that?" Jessie asked.
"What do you want? I was in grade school!" James said.
"All of Professor Oak's poems all have one thing in common. The ability to reassure and relax people, such as," Nurse Joy said as she started to recite a poem. "'Blastoise fight or hide way to fight again some other day'." Everyone was impressed by that poem. "Obviously one meaning is literally is be careful. But the deeper messages is for all people to save their strength for those difficult times in life when they really need it." Professor Oak nodded in agreement. "And to give another example: 'Sandslash rolls into a spiny ball three meals a day and eats them all'. On the surface, this poem sounds like a description of Sandslash and its lifestyle. But it also carries a lesson for us, that we should enjoy a balanced life and try all the new experiences life offers us. So the professor has clearly proven that he is a master of Pokémon poetry and sometimes gets into rhyme!"
"Now Joy, that's laying it out a little thick," Professor Oak said, scratching the back of his head. Nurse Joy points her finger at the impostors.
"And you on the other hand are obviously an amateur and your clever rhyme doesn't change the fact that you're wearing a bad wig," Nurse Joy said.
"Amateur?! How dare you!" Jessie hissed, using her real voice.
"I paid a fortune for this disguise!" James added, using his real voice.
"Wobbu!" Wobbufet said under the trenchcoat. Team Rocket winced when they herd that.
"So, it was Team Rocket all along!" Ash said.
"That figures," Leaf said.
"I knew this had their stink all over it!" Sora exclaimed.
"Stink?! What is that supposed to mean?!" Meowth exclaimed.
"Drop the act! I know it's you three losers!" Sora said.
Team Rocket threw off their disguises and recite their motto.
"Prepare for trouble, you're all a bunch of saps!" Jessie started.
"Make it double, we faked it with a zap!" James added with a rhyme.
"To protect the world from devastation!"
"To unite all peoples within our nation!"
"To denounce the evils of truth and love!"
"To extend our reach to the stars above!"
"Jessie!"
"James!"
"Team Rocket blasts off at the speed of light!"
"Surrender now, or prepare to fight, fight, fight!"
"Meowth! That's right!"
"Wobbufet!"
"Mime, Mime!"
"You are not gonna get away with this," Sora said, taking out a Pokéball.
"Oh, yes, we will! Especially when we do this!" James said, taking out his Pokéball. "Weezing! Smokescreen!" Weezing emerges from his Pokéball and covers the whole stage with smoke. Everyone covered their moves not wanting to breathe in the smoke. Team Rocket manages to get away in the cover of smoke and take all the food in their balloon.
"We've decided to take all our food to go!" Jessie taunted.
"Oh no! The catered lunch!" Nurse Joy gasped. Sora was about to send in his Gyarados when Professor Oak stepped in and threw his own Pokéball. Out of it came a Pidgey.
"You have a Pidgey?" Sora asked.
"Yes. I caught on the way. You will never know when it'll come in handy," Professor Oak said. Pidgey flew right towards the hot air balloon.
"Look out! It's a Pidgey!" Meowth exclaimed.
"Go get em, Pidgey! Quick Attack!" Professor Oak ordered. The Tiny Bird Pokémon flew right at the rope holding the stolen food, causing it to fall. Sora, Ash, and Tracey manages to catch the falling food.
"Hey! All my snacks!" Jessie gasped.
"Got it!" Sora said.
"Now Pidgey! Use Gust!" Professor Oak ordered. Pidgey starts flapping its little wings as fast as lightning. Team Rocket starts laughing.
"That puny little bird couldn't even blow out a birthday candle!" Jessie taunted.
"Couldn't even blow out fifty candles!" James added.
"How about you come back when you grow up!" Meowth added. The wind starts picking up, creating a huge tornado. Pidgey's Gust blows the balloon away.
"WE'RE BLASTING OFF AGAIN!" Team Rocket shouted their balloon went flying.
"That sent them flying," Sora said.
"Yes, they made the classic mistake of judging their opponent just by its appearence," Professor Oak said. He held out his arms as his Pidgey perches on his arm. "Terrific work, Pidgey." Pidgey coos having to be praised by the Pokémon professor."
"Gotta poem for that?" Kairi asked.
"In fact, Kairi, I do. 'If it's a big Gust you attend, then it's a Pidgey you must befirend'," Professor Oak said. All of the kids all went up to the professor.
"Professor Oak, we're all sorry we all thought you were a fake," the first boy apologized. Professor Oak smiled and chuckled a bit.
"Forget about that. Now gather around and let's talk Pokémon," Professor Oak said.
Sora felt proud to seeing how the kids held on to the lecture on Pokémon science. All of the kids all wanted autographs from both Sora and Professor Oak and they both oblidged them. Since, Sora and his friends all know Professor Oak so well, he invited them to partake in the catered lunch as the professor's and Mary's guests.
Once the whole ordeal was over, everyone got ready to set off for their journey once more. But, just so she wouldn't forget, she handed the letter to Professor Oak, just so she would get it.
"It was good to see all of you again," Mary said.
"You too, Mary," Sora said.
"And I do appreciate that you had confidence in me," Professor Oak said, gratefully.
"It's the least I could do, professor. You've been there for me and my mom for a long time, so I wanted to repay you in someway," Sora said.
"And I am very grateful, Sora. Your father would praise you for the idea you had," Professor Oak said. He rubs Sora on the head. "I am looking forward to hearing from you once you have won your final badge."
"I'll call you as soon as I do," Sora said. "We should be going."
"Take care," Mary said.
Sora, Kairi, Ash, Leaf, Tracey, Pikachu, Angel, Togepi, the Pichu took their leave of Marron Town and continued on their way to Blackthorn City for Sora's upcoming Gym battle.
Over to Team Rocket, their balloon had deflated and they're hanging on to dear life to a large tree branch.
"Someone! Anyone! Get us down from here!" Jessie shouted for help.
"Hey, I thought of another poem," James said.
"I think we all had enough of your poems," Meowth deadpanned.
James began reciting the poem, "'Those little twerps don't seem so tough.'" The branch then starts to break and they all fell towards the sea of trees below.
Team Rocket finished, "'BUT WE ALWAYS END UP BLASTING OFF!"
We'll just leave them right here for now and move right on to the next one.