Chapter 59: Catch that Slowpoke!
Since Chloe and Lillie weren't there to train, Mustard asked if they would be willing to help Honey with the house cleaning duties. They didn't mind it, and got along well with her.
"So how long has Mustad run this dojo?"
"Oh my, it's been so long I've lost count! After he lost his championship title, he opened this dojo to help others reach their full potential."
Lillie and Chloe were astounded.
"Really? He used to be the Galar Champion?"
"He sure was! The only reason Leon is the champion now is because Mustard retired. I guarantee that if he hadn't, Leon's unbeatable streak wouldn't exist."
"Wow, that's so cool! Your father is a really awesome trainer."
The older woman chuckled.
"My father? Oh no, dear, Mustard is my husband."
The two girls gasped in shock.
"What? Bu-But he's at least 50, and you don't look older than 30."
"Oh, you're too kind! I'm actually 53."
Chloe and Lillie were speechless.
Meanwhile, Ash and Goh had joined the rest of the disciples in the training area. They each had changed into the dojo's yellow uniforms, stretching while they waited for the training to begin.
"The best thing about these uniforms is that they're not just stylish, but comfortable too!"
"Totally! I can't wait to find out what kind of training he has in store for us."
Just then, Mustard stepped into the training room, all of his students standing at attention the moment he cleared his throat.
"Good, you're all in uniform. Now then, here's how things will work here. Over the course of the week, I will put you through three trials. These trials will test your intellect, your integrity, and your bond with your Pokemon. However, know now that not all of you will pass."
A shocked murmur ran through the crowd, the students wondering what that meant until Mustard raised his hand to stop it.
"By the end of the week, only one of you will pass all of the trials. And the one who does shall receive the Island's Secret Armor!"
This got his students excited, and a loud cheer echoed through the dojo. Mustard had to cover his ears until it had died down.
"Now then, any questions?"
It was then that Avery spoke up.
"Excuse me, but I never received my uniform! How can I, the star pupil of this dojo, properly represent it without the proper attire?"
Mustard slapped his forehead, laughing at his own thoughtlessness.
"Oh, I knew there was something I was forgetting? My apologies, Avery, I have it right here."
Avery smiled, and reached out to happily accept his uniform…
ZOOM!
Only for it to be yanked away by a pink and yellow blur, which dashed out the door faster than anyone could react. Five more of the same blur dashed out after it, leaving everyone shocked, except Mustard who just chuckled.
"Well, that's one way to segway into your first trial! Catch those six Slowpoke! And if you happen to find Avery's uniform, do bring it back for him, please?"
Avery scoffed, believing the challenge was beneath him.
"Is that it? This will be so easy, I won't even have to try."
Mustard chuckled knowingly.
"Oh, I wouldn't be so confident. You should never judge a book by its cover, after all. Now, go!"
With that, all of his disciples took off running after the Slowpoke. All except for Goh and Ash, who stayed behind for a quick talk.
"Ash, if only one of us can pass the trials, then its entirely possible it's going to come down to just you and me."
"Right?"
"So, if that happens, promise me that you won't hold anything back!"
Ash smiled, and gave him a thumbs up.
"Count on it!"
As it turned out, catching the Slowpoke was harder than any of them had thought. Somehow, no matter how fast they would run, the Slowpoke managed to stay one step ahead of them.
One of the Slowpoke stopped to bend down and drink some water from a pond. Three of the students were nearby behind a bush, having decided to team up and take them down.
"Alright, on three. One…two…three!"
With a mighty battle cry, the three lunged towards the slowpoke, ready to grab it. Unfortunately, the Slowpoke at that moment had finished its drink and sped off, leaving them to land in the pond with a great splash, leaving them nothing for their troubles.
"Well, that could've gone better."
Avery, meanwhile, had decided on a more underhanded approach. He'd rigged up a trap using a rope, some Pokemon food, and a tree branch.
"Perfect. Now all I have to do is wait for one of them to get hungry, and they'll be mine! That'll teach them to steal from me."
Right on cue, he saw a Slowpoke speeding towards him. Not wanting to seem suspicious, Avery ducked into a nearby bush and waited. Sure enough, the Slowpoke stopped and began eating. But instead of the rope getting caught around its tail, the Pokemon just sped away the moment it was done, leaving Avery shocked. Enraged, his stepped out of the bush and began stomping the ground.
"Ooh, you stupid rope! Why won't you work?"
Unfortunately, it was at that moment that karma decided to kick in, for the rope wrapped around his ankle, dragging him into the air until he was dangling from the branch upside down. Avery took the situation in, and sighed wearily.
"Well, at least it can't get any worse."
And then the branch snapped, sending him tumbling to the ground.
"Ow."
"Come on, buddy! They've got to be around here somewhere!"
"Pika Pika!"
Sure enough, the moment Ash and Pikachu turned round a corner, there was a Slowpoke wading in a pond. When he saw the two approaching, he tried to flee, But Ash was a step ahead of him.
"Electro Web, now!"
Before Slowpoke could speed away, a web of electricity got in his way, preventing him from escaping.
"Alright buddy, use Thunderbolt!"
Before the Slowpoke could counterattack, the thunderbolt hit him, knocking him out. Quickly, Ash took out one of the Pokeballs Mustard had provided and threw it, capturing it easily.
"Alright, that's one down! Come on, buddy, I bet there's more nearby!"
"Pika Pika!"
Goh, meanwhile, had found a Slowpoke lazing around on the beach.
"Perfect! Scyther, use X-Scissor!"
Before the Slowpoke could react, Scyther had already pounced and made his mark, leaving the slowpoke too weak to resist being caught.
"Alright! One down, six to go!"
And Goh rushed off after another Slowpoke in the distance, his Scyther flying after him in an attempt to keep up.
By the end of the day, the students returned to the dojo, dirty, bruised, and exhausted, and with nothing to show for it. Mustard couldn't help but laugh at their sorry state.
"Not so easy, eh Avery."
The resident psychic scoffed, but said nothing. It was only then that Mustard noticed some of his disciples were missing.
"Wait a minute, where are Ash and Goh?"
On cue, the two missing people strolled in through the door, dropping three Pokeballs each into Mustard's outstretched hands, much to their fellow students' , ash walked over and handed Avery his uniform.
"I believe this belongs to you."
Avery grumbled, and snatched it out of Ash's hands without so much as a thank you. Mustard, on the other hand, was quite pleased with their productivity.
"Well, that explains why no one else could catch any? Good work you two. Now, ordinarily this would mean you two would be the only ones moving on, but given the circumstances, I think it would be more fair to allow everyone else to pass for their effort."
A collective sigh ran throughout the room.
"Now then, onto the second trial!"
"WHAT?!"
Mustard laughed, and slapped his knee.
"Gotcha! Its time for dinner, after that you all can rest."
Everyone just collapsed to the floor in exhaustion.