Episode 261: Cheer Pressure
A couple of hours came and went since Brendan has retrieved his Keyblade. He practiced a bit with his magic, starting with fire, blizzard, thunder, and cure. Brendan got into some sparring matches with Sora and Kairi. After a while, Brendan fell on his rear, exhausted.
"Man, I never thought learning to be a swordsman could be so tiring," Brendan panted. "How do you guys do it? How do you handle having Keyblades and train Pokémon at the same time."
"Well, it wasn't easy, but we managed to get it down. And you will, sooner or later," Sora said.
"I hope so, because it feels like my arms are about to fall off if I take one more swing with my Keyblade. But-" Brendan said, summoning his Keyblade and held it."-it's totally worth it, right?"
"You bet it is," Sora said.
Over to Rei and Max, Max wanted to ask Rei about him having a Keyblade of his very own, but Rei wasn't easily going to allow it.
"What do you mean it doesn't work that way?" Max asked.
"Look, Max, you have to understand that not just anyone can become a Keyblade wielder. A Keyblade has to choose you, not the other way around," Rei said.
"It hers chose May, so why couldn't I be one?" Max asked.
"It's destiny, Max, and it is something that you can't try to get into just because your sister has one. Besides, even if you were capable of wielding a Keyblade, you wouldn't be old enough to be one, so you would have to wait until your tenth birthday to do so," Rei said.
"Aw, man!" Max cried.
"Sorry, but it's not my call," Rei apologized.
A little while later, Sora, Kairi, Brendan, May, Max, Lisia, Rei, Pikachu, and Angel are sitting around, discussing how to get to Lavaridge Town.
"Okay, the best way to get to Lavaridge Town is by going through this mountain region here, and over Mount Chimney," Max said, looking over his PokéNav.
"Mount Chimney?" Sora asked.
"The thing is Mount Chimney is an active volcano just outside of Lavaridge Town. Basically, it's the only way to reach Lavaridge Town," Brendan said.
"And that's where we'll be going," Sora said.
"Pikachu," Pikachu said.
"Before we do that, I suggest you train a bit, because you're going to need every inch," Rei said.
"Yes, Master," Sora said, taking out his Pokémon Box and exchanged Mightyena, Linoone, Nuzleaf, Seviper, and Zangoose for Corphish, Slakoth, Whismur, Wingull, Sableye, and Shroomish. Sora had gotten back to training his Pokémon. During the course of the training, Slakoth and Shroomish have evolved. Breloom's legs, seed clusters and torso are orange while his head, spores, frills, growths, and clawed hands and feet are yellow. "Not bad, guys! Your training is really paying off.
"Loom!" The newly evolved Breloom said.
"Vigoroth!" Vigoroth said.
"Okay, let's keep on going," Sora said. The Pokémon all agreed as they kept on training. Treecko swung his leafy tail right at Corphish, so he bats it off with his pincers. "That's the way, Corphish! Use Crabhammer!" Corphish swings his pincers right at the Wood Gecko Pokémon, but he ducks his head. Torchic pecks at Whismur, but he swings his ears right at the Chick Pokémon as Sableye came at Barboach with his claws, but the Whiskers Pokémon dodged and fired a Mud-Slap right in Nincada's face. The Darkness Pokémon wiped the mud off his face, feeling peeved. Back to Torchic and Whismur, the Whisper Pokémon started to use Uproar, hitting Torchic hard. He kept on doing it until Whismur started to calm down and he started to evolve. He was now a Loudred.
"Loudred!" The newly Loudred shouted.
"That was awesome, Loudred!" Sora said.
"Loud!" Loudred said.
Deciding to follow her boyfriend's lead, she decided to let her Pokémon train. She took out her Pokéballs and tossed them up in the air.
"Okay, Plusle, Minun, Beautifly, Surskit, Roselia, Swablu, Gulpin, Volbeat, Illumise, Kecleon! Come on out!" Kairi called out. Her Pokémon emerged from inside. "Let's get some training done, too!" Kairi's Pokémon all agreed and went to get their training started. Volbeat and Illumise often flirted with each other as they trained while Kecleon practiced his camouflage skills. Surskit practiced with her Water Gun and a newly learned Bubble Beam, aiming at Swablu, but the Cotton Bird Pokémon wasn't easy to hit, but Surskit didn't give up. Surkskit then used a Quick Attack and lands a hit onto Swablu. "Good job!"
"Surskit, Surs!" Surskit said as she suddenly started to evolve. Kairi and Angel were surprised by the sudden evolution. Sora, Pikachu, Brendan, May, Max, Lisia, and Rei saw the evolution taking place.
Surskit has become a light blue Pokémon with two pairs of rhombus-shaped wings on each side of its body. Its head is shaped like an elongated teardrop with a pink face and round, black eyes. On either side of its head is a large antenna that resembles an angry eye. The antennae are white with pink along the lower rim. White lines along the rim resemble eyelashes, while a large, dark pink dot in the middle represents the pupil or iris. These eyespots are used to intimidate enemies.
"Look at that!" Brendan said.
"Surskit has evolved into a Masquerain!" Max exclaimed.
"Masquerain, huh?" Kairi asked, taking out her Rotom Phone and scanned her newly evolved Pokémon.
Masquerain, the Eyeball Pokémon
The evolved form of Surskit
Type: Bug/Flying
Masquerain's antennas have eyelike patterns that usually give it an angry look. If the "eyes" are droopy and appear sad, it is said to be a sign that a heavy rainfall is on its way.
"I would say you're a Pokémon with a very good eye," Kairi said.
"Eevee," Angel said.
"I guess it's a good day for Pokémon evolution," Sora said.
"Pika, Pika!" Pikachu agreed. His ears then perked up when he heard something. "Pi?"
"Pikachu, what's up?" Sora asked.
"Pika," Pikachu said, pointed forward.
"You want us to go that way?" Sora asked.
"Pi," Pikachu said.
"Okay," Sora said. Sora and Kairi called their Pokémon back as the group started to follow the sound. It grew louder the further they went. It turns out that the sound is the sound of drums being banged. And it was coming from the top of a set of stone stairs.
"Cool drums, but who would be playing them in the middle of the forest?" Brendan said.
"The sound is coming from up there," Rei said, pointing to the top. "We should follow the source."
"Okay," Sora, Kairi, Brendan, May, Max, and Lisia all said in unison. They climbed up the stairs and saw a dojo. They followed the source of the sound of drumming as they looked past the tents. They saw there was a group of kids and teens, but there was a very familiar face to Sora, Kairi, and Lisia. He spotted them and ran up to the group. He was wearing a dark blue uniform with a white bandana and white gloves.
"Great to see you! Remember me?" Thatcher asked.
"Thatcher?" Sora asked.
"You know him?" Brendan asked.
"Yeah. Sora, Kairi, Tai, Kari, their friends and I met them back in Misty Village. His older sister accused us of stealing their Light Stone, but we just gave it back to her. The real thieves tried to take it, but we stopped them," Lisia said. "Thatcher thought Sora was a legendary hero in some kind of a legend, so Sora was teaching him about working with his Pokémon in battle. And was right until another thief tried to get away with the Light Stone and Thatcher foiled him."
"It's good to see a familiar face," Kairi said.
"Eevee," Angel said.
"So who are they?" Thatcher asked.
"We should introduce ourselves. I'm Brendan," Brendan introduced himself.
"My name's May, and this is my little brother, Max," May introduced.
"Hi, Thatcher, it's nice to meet you," Max greeted.
"And I'm Rei Sakura," Rei said.
"How are your Plusle and Minun doing, Thatcher?" Kairi asked.
"They're good, thanks," Thatcher said, turning his head. "Plusle, Minun!" And as it was perfect timing, Plusle and Minun came running up to Pikachu, happy to see him again.
"Hey, it's good to see you guys again. You both look great." - Pikachu subtitle.
"Thanks a lot, Pikachu." - Plusle subtitle.
"You do, too." - Minun subtitle.
Pikachu, Angel, Plusle and Minun went off to play with each other.
"Thatcher, right? What brings you all the way out here?" Brendan asked.
"Yeah, what have you been up to?" Lisia asked.
"Uh, a pep squad," Thatcher answered.
"You joined a pep squad?" Sora asked.
"Yeah. But where are Tai, Kari and the others?" Thatcher asked.
"They went off on their own way, and they said they were going to meet up with us later. Anyway, how did you end up in a pep squad?" Sora asked.
"Well, it's like this. After we met, I set off on my own journey to become a Pokemon Trainer, like you. Then, one day, we were practicing our moves when we drew the attention of Sheridan, the head of the pep squad and his students. They recruited me just so I could be a cheer master, and so here I am," Thatcher explained.
"Cheer master?" Max asked.
"What's that?" May asked.
"Well, I'm still in training, but I'm learning the ancient art of cheering and pep," Thatcher said.
"What of training?" Rei asked.
"Well, we use the moves of Pokemon to affect Pokemon in a battle. Just like Helping Hand," Thatcher said.
"Wait a minute. Isn't that against the rules to use Helping Hand to affect a battle?" Max asked.
"I agree with Max in this one," Rei said. "It doesn't sound fair."
"The way Sheridan explained it to me, all the power's in the Pokémon's cheers. The cheering helps revitalize the Pokémon. And so, there's nothing about it that's against the rules," Thatcher said.
"I suppose that's true," Rei said.
"And that explains the drumming we heard when we got here," Sora said.
Over to a tent, a muscular young man is sitting gym style while two teens enters inside. One being a boy with blonde hair and blue eyes while the other is a girl with brown hair and green eyes. The teen boy wore a blue shirt and blue shorts while the girl wore a lime green blouse and a navy blue skirt. The girl wore white sandals. The boy wore dark blue sneakers.
"Master Sheridan, we have a problem," the girl said.
"Lately, we have been having a trail of losing streaks lately, and we've been hearing rumors about your pep squad, so we could use your help," the boy said.
"To help the underdog in battle, that is the single purpose of cheerleading," Sheridan said.
"Yes. Thank you for your help," the boy and girl said.
"In fact, we saw some Pokémon Trainers come in here, so how about we have a battle against one or two of them?" The girl suggested.
"Maybe. Certainly with the power of my cheering, even you two might win," Sheridan said. "All right. But before I agree to help you, there's still the small issue of my payment. Nothing comes for free."
"Name any price you want, because we'll be willing pay anything just for one victory," the boy said.
"We would even blow our entire college fund to pay for it!" The girl said. Sheridan just grinned.
"Then, you got yourselves a cheerleader," Sheridan said.
Back to the group, Thatcher a female cheerleader approached them as they were resting their feet from all the walking and training they have been doing.
"Excuse me. I know you're tired from your walk, but I could use your help," the female cheerleader requested.
"Sure. How can we help?" Sora asked.
"Sheridan has two new students who are starting today, and they want you to he in a test battle to show them a cheering demonstration," Thatcher said.
"I guess it wouldn't hurt to lend a hand, would it?" Brendan asked.
"I would like to see it for myself," Rei said.
Thatcher leads his friends over to Sheridan who is standing, facing the battlefield.
"Master," Thatcher said, getting Sheridan's attention. "Everyone, this is my master and pep squad leader, Sheridan."
"Welcome to my cheering academy," Sheridan said.
"Master, Sora and his friends have decided to take your offer for a test battle," Thatcher said.
"Well, that is very much appreciated. What I'll demonstrate as pep squad leader, is the amazing power of Pokémon cheering," Sheridan said.
"Okay," Thatcher and the female cheerleader said.
"The question is, who's first?" May asked.
"I might as well have a shot. I wanna test out Masquerain's abilities in a battle," Kairi said.
"Come on out, two. Are guests have generously agreed to battle with you," the female cheerleader said.
"Looks like our time to shine," the boy said.
"You go first since you're so eager," the girl said.
"Humph, so much for lady's first," the boy said.
"Kairi, let me know when you're ready to battle," the female cheerleader said.
"I'm ready," Kairi said.
"Okay. And what name should I announce?" The female cheerleader asked.
"Just call me Wesker," the boy said.
"Okay, Wesker. Got it," the female cheerleader said. Kairi and Wesker got into position for their battle.
"Kairi and Wesker, this is a one-on-one battle with no time limit! Let the cheering test battle begin!" The female cheerleader announced. Wesker took out a Pokéball and threw it.
"Go! Numel!" Wesker called out, letting out his Numel. His Numel has a taller hump than Sora's does. Kairi took out her Pokéball and threw it.
"Go! Masquerain!" Kairi called out. Her Pokéball opened and Masquerain fluttered upon entry.
"Numel! Use Flamethrower!" Wesker ordered. Numel fired Flamethrower right at Masquerain.
"Dodge and use Bubble Beam!" Kairi ordered. Masquerain dodged Numel's Flamethrower and lands a hit with Bubble Beam. "That's the way! Use Quick Attack!" Masquerain dashed right at Numel and lands a hit with her Quick Attack.
"Numel!" Wesker gasped.
"Yes! Kairi has definitely won this one!" Brendan said.
"Don't be so sure, Brendan," Thatcher warned. They all turned to face him.
"Why not?" Lisia asked.
"Wait until you see the power of cheer," Thatcher said. Sheridan placed a medical mask over his mouth.
"Drum number 1, start with a 3-3-7 count!" Sheridan unstructured. The drummer bangs on drum number 1 and tapped the 3-3-7 count. The other female cheerleaders did poses to indicate the count. Unknown to anyone, there is a small microphone in the collar on his left. He whispered, "Helping Hand."
Blue electricity emits from the drum, hitting Numel, but it didn't escape Rei and Max's notice.
"That was weird," Max said. Brendan and May looked at him.
"What was weird?" Brendan asked.
"I thought I saw something," Max said. Numel then stands back on its feet, recovered from its previous injuries.
"Okay, Numel! Use Flame Charge!" Wesker ordered. Numel charged right at Masquerain, surprising everyone.
"No way!" Sora exclaimed.
"Masquerain got hit just by a Numel getting revived?" Lisia asked.
"That's right," Thatcher said.
"Numel! Use Sandstorm!" Wesker ordered. Numel unleashed a sandstorm from its hump, hitting Masquerain. "And now, use Flamethrower!"
"Use Water Gun to block!" Kairi ordered. Masquerain fired Water Gun to block Numel's Flamethrower, but Numel's Flamethrower overpowered Masquerain's Water Gun and got hit.
"Wait, that move was stronger than before," Rei said, knowing something was off. Masquerain was knocked out from Numel's Flamethrower.
"Masquerain is unable to! Numel wins! The victory goes to Wesker!" The female cheerleader announced.
"Yes! I did it!" Wesker cheered.
"Good job, Wesker!" The girl said. Kairi picked up Masquerain.
"Are you okay, Masquerain?" Kairi asked with concern.
"Rain," Masquerain weakly replied.
"I can't believe Kairi lost to that guy," May whispered.
"That was really weird. I don't get how things can get and turn around like that," Max said, crossing his arms.
"Me neither. That shouldn't have happened," Rei said. She turned to Sora. "It's your turn now, Sora. You figure it out."
"Okay," Sora nodded, standing up. "I'm up next."
"Then it's my turn," the girl said.
"And your name is?" The female cheerleader asked.
"Call me Jessica," the girl said.
Unknown to anyone, Max snuck around, suspicious.
"Okay, I know I saw a light come out of that drum," Max said. He noticed the other jackets and put one on just so he would disguise himself.
"Round 2 of the match will be Sora from Pallet Town and Jessica! Same rules as the last match! Let the cheering test battle begin!" The female cheerleader announced. Jessica took out a Pokéball and threw it.
"Go! Houndoom!" Jessica called out, letting out a Houndoom with smaller horns than Sora's Houndoom.
"Go right in, Pikachu!" Sora said.
"Houndoom! Use Fire Fang!" Jessica ordered. Houndoom charged right at Pikachu with its teeth emitting fire.
"Dodge with Quick Attack!" Sora called out. Pikachu avoids Houndoom's Fire Fang with his speed. "Use Thunderbolt!" Pikachu fired Thunderbolt, hitting the Dark Pokemon on the mark. "Use Iron Tail!" Pikachu swings his tail and lands a hit onto Houndoom.
"That Pikachu isn't just fast and strong, but it's also scary. I could use that cheering right about now," Jessica pleaded.
"Don't be so impatient. The secret to an effective cheering is waiting until a minor league opponent starts to think he's in the major," Sheridan said, placing his medical mask on. "Pep squad, are you ready?"
"Yes!" The pep squad answered.
"Here we go. I'm getting to the bottom of this," Max said.
"Use Thunderbolt, Pikachu!" Sora ordered. Pikachu fired another Thunderbolt, shocking Houndoom, ending up being paralyzed from the shocks.
"I've been patient long enough, so I could use it now!" Jessica said.
"Perhaps you're right. Pep squad! Prepare for a cheer!" Sheridan said. And this was the moment Max was waiting for. "Drum number 2! Give us a 3-3-7 count!" The pep squad did the exact same thing as they did with drum number 1. Sheridan whispered into his microphone, "Aromatherapy."
Max clearly heard it that time.
"Aromatherapy? That's a move that helps a Pokémon recover from a status such as paralysis and poisoning. It also removes confusion. Grass-type Pokémon uses that move. But why? Who's he telling it to?" Max whispered.
Inside the second drum is a Vileplume and a Roselia and they were wearing headphones.
"Roselia, Vileplume, I'm waiting. Aromatherapy now," Sherian ordered. Green powder sprinkled from the two of them and seeps out of the drum. Max saw the green powder seep from inside the second drum as it heads over to Houndoom and recovered from the paralysis.
"How did she recover so fast?" Kairi asked.
"Eevee?" Angel asked.
"Because healing is a part of what we cheerleaders do," Thatcher answered.
"Did you say healing?" Rei asked, raising a brow.
"Healing? Then the glow I saw was Aromatherapy. But where was it coming from?" Max asked.
"Drum number 1! Give us another 3-3-7 cadence," Sheridan said. The drumming starts up again as the pep squad does the same thing again. He whispered into his microphone again, "Helping Hand."
"He just said Helping Hand. It increases a Pokémon's attack power. Plusle and Minun can use that move, but they're not the only ones. Who is he telling it to now?" Max asked.
Inside the first drum is a Shroomish and a Makuhita wearing headphones just like Vileplume and Roselia.
"Shroomish, Makuhita, Helping Hand, now," Sheridan said.
Makuhita and Shroomish unleashed blue electricity from their bodies and sends it right to Houndoom, increasing her attack power.
"So it's a Shroomish and a Makuhita. So they're not restoring those Pokémon by cheerleading at all. They're just doing it by using Pokemon moves," Max confirmed.
"Houndoom! Use Headbutt!" Jessica ordered. Houndoom lands a Headbutt onto Pikachu.
"That Headbutt was stronger than normal," Lisia said.
"Now you see what the power of cheering can do," Thatcher said.
"Pikachu! Use Thunderbolt!" Sora ordered. Pikachu uneashed Thunderbolt, hitting Houndoom on the mark, resulting in another paralysis.
"Aromatherapy," Sheridan whispered. Aromatherapy seeped from the second drum, curing Houndoom's paralysis.
"Let's try this again!" Sora said. Pikachu fired another Thunderbolt, hitting Houndoom.
"Aromatherapy," Sheridan whispered. Aromatherapy showered onto Houndoom again, but Houndoom is hit by Pikachu's Thunderbolt. "Helping Hand." Helping Hand boosts Houndoom's attack once more. Houndoom is hit by another Thunderbolt. "Aromatherapy." Roselia and Vileplume sprinkled Aromatherapy on the Dark Pokémon once again. Sheridan kept telling the Pokémon in the drums to use Aromatherapy and Helping Hand again and again until Pikachu ends up being exhausted.
"Man, that Houndoom's tough," Sora said.
"When the hearts and the minds of the Trainer and his cheerleader are united, power can be restored to the Pokémon without using any moves at all," Sheridan said. Max climbed up to the first drum.
"That guy's just a big, fat liar. And I'm gonna make sure everyone finds out," Max said, having enough. Sheridan placed his medical mask on again.
"Helping Hand," Sheridan whispered.
Makuhita and Shroomish unleashed Helping Hand, giving Houndoom another boost.
"Houndoom! Use Fire Fang!" Jessica ordered.
"Dodge it!" Sora called out. Houndoom came too fast for Pikachu to dodge.
"Pikachu!" Sora gasped.
"Pikachu's too tired to even dodge anymore," Brendan said.
"I know," May said.
"Even Sora can't defeat great cheering. Nobody can," Thatcher said.
"No, you're wrong. Sora can beat it. Somehow," Kairi said.
"Use Headbutt!" Jessica ordered. Houndoom charges right at Pikachu with a Headbutt, ready to finish Pikachu off.
"Another 3-3-7 rhythm. Faster this time," Sheridan said. He whispered, "Helping Hand." Just when the first drum was about to be banged, Max springs into action.
"All right, here goes!" Max exclaimed. Before the drum could be banged, Max pushes the drum, making it fall over and knocking the other one. Sheridan gasped when he saw the drums falling.
"My drums!" Sheridan gasped in shock. The drums hits the battlefield, interrupting the battle and creating a dust cloud. When it cleared, Makuhita, Shroomish, Vileplume, and Roselia are seen knocked out of the drums and unconscious, surprising everyone.
"What the? A Makuhita, a Shroomish, a Roselia, and a Vileplume? What in the name of light is going on here?" Sora asked.
"That whole cheering routine is a scam!" Max answered, surprising the entire pep squad. He took off his disguise. "Cheerleading didn't revive those Pokémon! It was that Shroomish and Makuhita, and Vileplume and Roselia, using their moves from inside the drums the whole time!" Everyone gasped in shock, even Thatcher was shocked. Lisia, Rei, and her apprentices were appalled by the whole thing.
"I knew there was something fishy here!" Rei said.
"That's totally against the rules!" May said.
"I can't believe it was all a scam!" Brendan exclaimed.
"This is unforgivable!" Kairi growled.
"How disgraceful!" Lisia hissed.
"What?! Tell me this isn't so! Are you a fake?" The first female cheerleader asked.
"My beautiful scheme is ruined!" Sheridan exclaimed.
"Master, everything you said is a lie?! How could you?!" Thatcher exclaimed. The rest of the pep squad all ganged up on his, appalled by how he abused their trust in him and how they payed a lot of money to him.
"You mean to tell me, I only won just because you were cheating?! I should knock your teeth out for that!" Wesker growled.
"I should go!" Sheridan said just when he started to run, but Rei jumped and gets in his path.
"Not so fast," Rei said, pinching his shoulder. He loses consciousness as he fell backwards.
"That cheering was more annoying than helpful anyway," Jessica said.
"Yeah, I can't believe we fell for it," Wesker said. "This wasn't how we wanted to win battles."
"You're right, Wesker. All we wanted was to win one battle, and that liar took advantage of us," Jessica said, calling Houndoom back. "I forfeit the match."
"I'm glad you two have seen the error of your ways," Rei said, approaching Wesker and Jessica. "You don't need to rely on the power of cheerleading to win Pokémon battles. What you need to win a Pokémon battle is a good bond you have with your Pokémon. It's the friendship you share with the Pokémon that truly matters. You will win or you will lose, but either way, you do your best. You share a strong bond with your Pokémon, do you not?"
"Yeah, we do," Jessica said.
"We really do," Wesker said.
"And that's all you need. Having support and being cheered on from your friends or peers is a good thing, but it's not enough. Being strong yourself is more important than relying on someone else for support. Both Pokémon and Trainer must make an effort to accomplish their goals," Rei said. Wesker, Jessica, and the rest of the pep squad all took what Rei just said to them to heart and they all knew she was absolutely right.
"Yeah, she's right. All this time, I had it backwards. After learning this important lesson, I'm going to start over again from scratch," Thatcher said.
"So am I. I'm going to start all over again," the first female cheerleader said.
"I'm glad to hear you say that," Rei said.
"So what do we do with this guy?" Sora asked.
"Leave that to me," Rei said, taking out her Rotom Phone and called the police. Officer Jenny arrived and arrested Sheridan for fraud and placed him in the back of her police car.
"Don't worry, everyone. I'm sure Sheridan will be serving time for his crimes," Officer Jenny said, before driving off.
After the group said their goodbyes to Thatcher and the now disbanded pep squad, Rei, Brendan, May, and Max stood in one path as Sora, Kairi, Lisia, Pikachu, and Angel stood in another path.
"You sure you can't stay with us a little longer, Master?" Kairi asked.
"I'm sure. Brendan has just begun his training as our newest Keyblade wielder. But we will give you our support for your Gym battle, Sora," Rei said.
"Thanks, Master," Sora said.
"Sorry we won't be able to watch it, but I hope you win it," Brendan said.
"I appreciate it, Brendan," Sora said.
With that said, Sora, Kairi, and Lisia said their goodbyes to Brendan, May, Max, and Rei as they continued on their way for Lavaridge Town for Sora to win his fourth Hoenn Gym battle and for more adventures coming their way. Stay tuned if you want to see what happens next.