Pokémon Black and White Chapter 41: Fishing Expertise in a Fishy Competition, a pokémon fanfic

Pokémon Black and White

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Fishing Expertise in a Fishy Competition

After they wished Professor Juniper and Doctor Fennel farewell, Ash, Misty, Iris, and Cilan continued on their way to Nimbasa City and Ash's fourth gym battle. On their way, the quartet stopped at a Pokémon Center in a quaint little city.

(So suffused were they with the euphoric accomplishment of witnessing not only the restoration of a prehistoric Pokémon, but its evolution that none of them, not even the punctilious Cilan, commented on the area's seeming fixation on fishing poles and aquatic Pokémon, a competitive kind of malaise over the citizenry.)

Given the excitement of their previous encounter with the two women of science, the cozy chambers of the Pokémon Center were a welcome relief. Refreshed after a good night's rest, Ash and his friends are ready to continue their journey along the many twisting turns to the Unova League.

"Ah," Cilan says, being the first one out of the Pokémon Center. His arms spread wide, he takes a deep breath. "Nothing quite like a night spent at a Pokémon Center to revitalize both body and mind!"

"I hear that!" Ash says, a satisfied smile on his face, Pikachu offering up a happy "cha…" of agreement.

Iris yawns, a residual display of exhaustion. "You're right, Cilan! I'm so refreshed, I feel like I could run all the way to Nimbasa City!"

"And then you'd have to find a place to sleep." Misty remarks with a thin smile.

"I guess." Iris replies, a short chuckle escaping her.

"Nimbasa City…" Ash murmurs, a gleam in his eye. Undoubtedly, thoughts of his fourth gym battle and subsequent gym badge racing through his head. He turns to Cilan. "Hey Cilan, how much longer until we get to Nimbasa City?"

"Excellent question!" Cilan asserts, already pulling forth his Town Map from a pants' pocket. "I'll find out. Let's see."

It doesn't take long for a topographical image to appear.

"Huh!" Cilan says, the screen displaying a red and white arrow path from their current location to another. Encouragingly, bright white script appears above that, displaying: "Nimbasa City". "Almost there. I'd estimate it'll take us roughly five days to reach Nimbasa City. Provided we don't encounter any trouble."

"Man, I can't wait!" Ash exclaims, thrusting his arms high into the air. He brings them back down to shoulder level in twin fists whilst Cilan stows his Town Map away. He looks at his faithful companion. "Pikachu, let's definitely win our next badge there, okay?"
"Pika Pikachu, Pikapi!"

"That's what I like to hear!" Ash asserts. "C'mon guys, let's get moving!"
"You wouldn't think you'd just woke up." Misty says, shaking her head.

Nonetheless, the quartet resumes their journey to Nimbasa City. Walking along the sidewalk, moderate skyscrapers to their sides, it isn't until they reach a point where the other side breaks off from buildings to reveal a river snaking through the city that Ash once again makes his excitement known.

"Oh, yeah!" he cries, racing forward a few paces. "We're gonna battle soon!"

"Out of the way."

"Careful Ash," Misty warns. "Try to save some of that energy for when we actually get to Nimbasa City."

"Out of the way!"

"Do you guys hear that?" Iris interjects, glancing around with confusion.

"Move out of the way!"

"I do." Cilan answers, coming to a stop right before Iris does. "It sounds like the acerbic flavor of someone's yell."

"Wait a minute." Misty says, coming to a stop as well. "That voice!"

Ash's friends turn around, regarding the force of nature barreling their way.

And Ash none the wiser.

"Look out!" Iris warns.

"Out of the way! Out of the way!"

Ash has just enough time to heed Iris' warning and turn around before discovering what gave his friends pause. Ash recognizes the familiar blur of orange, white, and yellow before the blur meets him in a violent collision. The force of the knockback sends Bianca to her knees, Pikachu flying from Ash's shoulder to the ground, and the young man himself into the river with a crash.

Those present gasp in dismay as Ash surfaces, having been sent several inches down into the aquatic depths.

"Pikapi!"

"Ash, are you alright?"
"Pika?!"

"Yeah." Ash answers.

"We'll pull you out of there!" Cilan says.

"We'll get you out in no time!" Misty adds.

"Thanks!"

As Ash's friends help the young man out of the water, the young woman from Nuvema Town regarding the scene with awe and remorse, none of them are aware of the entity regarding them from the relative darkness of the water a few feet away.

After retrieving their friend from the water, the first thing Ash does upon reaching dry last is release his Tranquill.

"Tranquill," Ash says, giving his Flying-type a wan smile. "Do you think you could use Gust to try and dry me off?"

"Tranquill." she says, flying up and behind Ash before starting to gently flap her wings.

"Thanks." Ash says.

"I'm so sorry!" Bianca interjects, walking over to Ash; bowing as profusely as her apologies. "I'm so sorry! Really sorry!"

"You really should watch where you're going." Misty points out, not unkindly. "Especially running so fast like that."

"Come on, Bianca." Ash says, spreading his arms wide in order to better help dry his clothes. "Why were you moving so fast?"

"Oh, that's easy!" Bianca exclaims with a decisive clap of her hands. The contrition clearly contained on her face morphs to that of clear delight. She begins rifling through her green pack, soon pulling out a simple flyer. "I'll show you right—" she smooths the edges of the paper, allows Ash and his friends a better view. "—now! It's because of this!"

At a glance, the piece of parchment doesn't reveal anything too exciting. Aside from green and yellow text scribbled across its surface, there's a simple outline of a dark orange fisherperson hooking what appears to be a Water-type with multiple spikes.

"I don't get it." Iris admits.

"What are we looking at?" Ash asks as, with one last flap of her wings, Tranquill finishes her task of air-drying his clothes. He returns his Pokémon soon after.

Cilan, however, is much more entranced by the imagery. A wordless gasp of exultation escapes him, a light hue of red seeping into his cheeks.

"I'll tell you!" Bianca asserts cheerfully. Lowering the flyer, she makes to read it. "It's a...Ah!"

Bianca's eyes widen, momentarily distracted and distressed as Cilan approaches her, grabs hold of the flyer, and lowers himself to better read it.

"They're having a fishing competition?!" he cries.

"That's right." Bianca confirms. Stunned by the Pokémon Connoisseur's antics, she blinks twice before all but pushing the flyer unto him. "I was in a hurry so I wouldn't miss entering it."

"I see." Cilan murmurs. Accepting the flyer, he turns around to regard it. "I see."

"A fishing competition?" Misty murmurs wonderingly, indelicately putting Marril into Ash's unsuspecting hands. He fumbles a bit before having a firm grip on his girlfriend's Water-type. As for Misty, she crouches down next to Cilan with much more tact and restraint than he displayed.

"Whoa," Ash breathes. "Sounds like you're pretty excited about this! Have you fished before?"

"Oh, no!" Bianca says. "My first time!"

"Huh?" Ash says questioningly with Pikachu tilting his head to the side.

"I could never do a thing when I was living at home." Bianca admits, stretching her arms high above her head, fingers interlocked. She turns around, gazing boldly at the horizon, her hands coming to rest at the small of her back. "Now that I'm on my own, I can do what I want, so I thought I'd try it at least once."

"Well, I've been out fishing before." Ash says. "Maybe I'll enter it, too, and catch me a bunch. Who knows, maybe I could even help you a little."

"Pika!"

"Oh, that would be simply incredible!" Bianca gushes, turning back around to face Ash with a grateful smile.

"Bet you can't catch more than me." Iris challenges; with a proud, fluid motion, she jerks a thumb at herself. "I may not know much about fishing, but it can't be that hard!"

"Mmm…"

Trembling in place, Cilan jumps to his feet with enough force to send Ash and Bianca off-balance. Their eyes wide, Ash and Iris look on in surprise at Cilan's antics. Feelings that are only exacerbated as Misty makes to jump to her feet too.

"Good!" Cilan declares, thrusting a hand high into the sky, pointing upward before directing it to Ash, Iris, and Bianca in turn. "Because it's Fishing Time!"

"It's been so long!" Misty remarks, a gleam in her eyes. A gleam that seems to mirror in Cilan's own. "To think, they're holding a fishing competition, right here in town!"

"Pika."

"Axew."

"Marill!"

Ash and Iris say nothing, wonderstruck.

"Fishing, it's not as easy as you think, no it's not!" Cilan proclaims, his voice becoming louder and more passionate as he goes on. "Only a slender fishing line connects you with the crafty Pokémon hiding beneath the waves! It's a battle of wits."

"Like a gym battle, fishing is a matter of skill and strength!" Misty adds. "Just as you would choose the right Pokémon and moveset, you would choose the perfect lure and fishing pole. Being able to coax a wonderful Water-type from the depths of the world's oceans." she takes a deep, shuddering breath, her cheeks flush with color. "Nothing can compare to that feeling!"

"I'm going to enter the competition," Cilan and Misty say at the exact same time. The two stand next to each other; a fist raised high in determination whilst the other lingers at their side. "and I'm going to win it!"

Ash and Iris share a glance as, too wrapped up in their passions, Cilan and Misty don't acknowledge their peculiar behavior. Iris merely shrugs as they lock eyes.

"Uh, Cilan," Ash ventures, reorienting his hold on Marill. "what's gotten into you?"

"You too, Misty." Iris adds. "Is everything okay?"

"What's gotten into me is the fact that I'm also a fishing connoisseur!" Cilan answers, turning around to face his two traveling companions. The fist he had raised moves to his heart.

"Everything is better than okay!" Misty asserts, turning around to face them as well. "If there's one thing I've always loved, it's fishing! And I'm not too bad at it, either!"

Ash dons a weary expression at Cilan's answer whereas Iris scratches at her hair, looking pensive.

"Really? A fishing...connoisseur?" Bianca says, looking from Misty to Cilan, then to Ash. "Is there such a thing?"

"Who knows?" Iris answers with a shrug, her expression beginning to look as weary as Ash's. "No matter what we seem to come across, Cilan always says he's a connoisseur of it."

"I am a man of many talents!" Cilan retorts, splaying his fingers against his chest. "Now let's move everyone! Before we miss the deadline!"

Cilan doesn't so much as wait for a reply as, consulting the flyer once for the necessary information, he runs off, presumably in the direction of the officials in charge of the competition.

"Guess we're entering the competition." Ash says.

He hands Marill off to Misty before they begin chasing after their friend.

The sound of chatter reaches their ears as they approach the colorful tent serving as the staging grounds for the competition. A large green sign peers downward, two interlocking black fishing poles on display.. Across from it - the building an explosion of stripes: yellow and pink to the walls, violet and orange to the roof - are several trappings necessary for the smooth progression of the competition. A makeshift pier, its wooden planks stretching out across the water for several feet, stands next to a large rectangular area, its three sides enclosed by netting.

And standing all around is a startling number of trainers and their Pokémon seeking to participate. Cilan himself stands a few paces away from the tent, buzzing with excitement.

"That must be the registration booth up ahead."

Cilan takes a deep, tremulous breath, turning around to face his companions.

Ash is the first to stop a few paces away from Cilan. He regards his friend before peering around him at the tent. And the rather considerable line stretching from its entrance.

"Sure looks that way." he remarks, his quiet voice sounding more a confirmation to himself.

The group of trainers say not a word more as they resume walking.

They come within earshot at the same time a trio of laughing young boys approach the counter as one of the officials - a tall man with lavender hair and green eyes behind twin thin lenses - speaks.

"Now," he says, delivering unto the three youngsters three individual forms. "everybody with an interest in entering the competition will need to fill out this brief form."

They proceed as such.

"Thanks," the bespectacled official says, accepting the three forms with a flourish. A hand free, he indicates the sweeping door close to the ground to his right, to the open, wide area just beyond. "you may now proceed inside and choose a fishing rod."

The young man, James of Team Rocket, chuckles pleasantly enough, watching as the three youngsters rush off to appropriate the supposed competition's stock of fishing implements. He smiles fondly, feeling a twinge of childlike exuberance and joy.

The left side of his mouth twitching upward in a smirk, that's when he notices a certain group of people falling into position at the back of the line.

Twerp alert? Complete with Pikachu, too.

"My, don't we all look quite eager to fish, hm?" James says. "To help ease the registration process, I'll have each of you fill out your forms while you're waiting! Now, please take a form and pen and pass them back!"

Jessie pulls aside the bright green curtain obscuring her and Meowth from prying eyes. The feline in question concerns himself with the perusal of a box filled with a prolific assortment of purloined Poké Balls.

"Looks like we've got quite a turn out out there." she remarks, allowing the fabric to glide across her fingers; falling into place it hides them completely.

"Cool," Meowth says. Adjusting his glasses, he picks up two random Poké Balls. A simple design of a blank, blue fish stares up at him from each. "first we get chumps to reel in lots of Water-type Pokémon. Then we stick them in these fishing Poké Balls."

"And go through them with a fine-tooth comb and pick the powerful Pokémon to send to the boss." Jessie adds.

"Of course," Meowth concurs, dropping the two Poké Balls back into the box. "as mission-leading squad members, it's our supreme duty."

"And before you know it, Unova will be ours." Jessie says.

Meowth laughs.

"Excuse me, we'd all like to enter the competition." Ash says, handing the form and pen to the fishing competition's official. "Here!"

After James had made his idea known, the process of registration proceeded much quicker and effortless than without. The sea of people between the official and Ash and his companions cleared at a remarkable pace.

"Let's have a look." James says, taking each of their pens first. Setting them to the side, he collects the form from Ash first before moving on to Misty, Iris, Cilan, and Bianca. Skimming the information displayed upon the parchment, he soon shuffles them together, turning a bright smile upon the young standing before him. "Everything seems in order to me."

"And here is your supply of fishing Poké Balls." an official with magenta hair tied up into her hat and adorable green earrings says, presenting Ash and his companions with a small box filled to the brim with fifteen Poké Balls, emblazoned with a nondescript dark blue, almost black fish; the young Pokémon trainers take one each. "Once you reel in, battle, and defeat a Water-type Pokémon, please use one of these fishing Poké Balls to catch it."

"Remember, it can be any kind of Water-type Pokémon." the official with lavender hair adds. "And whoever catches the biggest Pokémon will be the winner."

"As with other competitions of this ilk," the official with magenta hair continues. "There is but one simple rule: to have fun!"

"However!" the official with lavender hair shouts, thrusting an index finger high in the air. He drops it. "There are but two unspoken rules! There must be no foul play of any sort and you must use a fishing pole and only a fishing pole to capture your Water-type Pokémon!"

"And the prize?" Cilan interjects, a bright gleam in his eyes.

The official with lavender hair clears his throat, an amused chuckle escaping him as he and the official with magenta hair soon stand back to back.

"But of course!" the official with lavender hair says.

"And the grand prize is…" the official with magenta hair says.

"Ta-da!" the pair exclaim in unison. Drawing apart from one another, they indicate a case behind them with a sweeping arc of their arms. At first glance, the container is quite beautiful. Shining glass serves to protect its contents from outside elements, it stands affixed to gleaming dark wood. But it isn't the container that draws the eye, but that which lies within.

An instrument of radiant steel and fine cord, its elegant craftsmanship is quite befitting of an aficionado of the angling arts. Sturdy and bold, the instrument would make quite the statement.

"Made from state-of-the-art materials, this object is not a mere fishing pole!" the lavender-haired man declares with gusto, shoving a finger high in the sky. Lowering his arm, making to cross both of them over his chest, he nods his head. With his eyes firmly on the hopeful aspirants of the competition, he continues, "Ah yes, to do so would be a grave injustice, indeed!"

"And that's not all!" the official with magenta hair adds with a wink. "Equipped with a resilient cord and comfortable and powerful, catching a Water-type Pokémon—" she snaps her fingers, "Will be as such! Not only would you be the envy of your fellow fisherpeople, but it's our guarantee that you could capture any critter floating about the briny depths as you feel the need!"

"Either rain or shine!"

"Dawn or dusk!"

"Summer, Winter!"

"Autumn, Spring!"

"The Incredible Silver Super-Duper Fishing Rod is peerless in its class!" the duo declare in unison.

"The Old, Good, and Super Rods you're doubtless acquainted with are but pale imitations!" the magenta-haired official adds.

The lavender-haired official finishes their demonstration by saying, "Ah yes, this device is truly second to none!"

There exists a palpable silence as an awed hush falls over the competitors; from people already signed up to those waiting in the gills, perhaps even to people who have never fished before, everyone seems truly entranced by the praise lavished upon the reward for winning the fishing competition.

And none does that hold true for more than Cilan and Misty.

A hand cupping his chin, a gleam in his eyes and clearly deep in thought, Cilan stares, transfixed, at the prize in question. A soft, almost inaudible chuckle escapes him, clearly confident in the knowledge that he is most certainly the favorite to win such an auspicious item. That the fishing pole belongs to him and him alone.

As for Misty, she wears a wide smile whilst beholding such a beautiful instrument. Thinking she's a bit rusty - despite the free time she could sneak every now and again at the gym, she never gathered up quite enough to fish competitively, let alone much at all - she knows that her skills are still nothing to sneeze at. And with just one cast of the line, she'll regain her former skill level.

Not unlike riding a bike, she thinks with a hidden, self-assured smirk.

Despite their divergent thoughts however, there does lie a point wherein they coincide.

"Such an instrument is truly impressive…"

"I can imagine already how it'll improve my fishing…"

When Misty and Cilan catch the other's eye, they narrow in suspicion and the spirit of competition. With dual smirks of pride and determination on their faces, they boldly declare: "And I will be the one to win it!"

In response, Ash shares a confused look with Pikachu before blinking at his friends. "Whoa, déjà vu."

Iris, meanwhile, makes an inelegant noise of derision in the back of her throat. Crossing her arms over her chest, Axew mirroring his trainer's distress, she barks: "You two aren't the only competitors here!"

Miraculously, Iris' outspoken ire manages to subdue not only Cilan, but Misty too. With similar contrite smiles on their faces, it's clear that Iris' words managed to quell the competitive spirit ablaze in both their hearts.

For the moment.

"I guess I got carried away." Misty admits, chuckling.

"My apologies." Cilan adds. "It's untoward of me to behave in such a manner."

No one in Ash's circle of friends comments on, let alone notices the crimson hue smattering across Cilan's cheekbones.

"And by the by," the lavender-haired official speaks up at the same time the magenta-haired official utilizes a strangely familiar glare to discourage a young man from leaning over the counter to get a better look at the fishing competition's illustrious prize. "in case this bears mentioning, I'm afraid you're going to have to make your choice from these rods to my left."

A puff of air leaves Ash, his shoulders slumping in disappointment.

He opens his mouth to speak, only to close it upon hearing Iris' next words.

"You can't use the prize in the competition." Iris remarks, shaking her head in exasperation, her arms raised in a shrug. When she doesn't comment further, it leaves Ash to share another puzzled glance with Pikachu.

"Now!" the lavender-haired man shouts, both he and his magenta-haired associate raising and lowering their hands in rather rapid succession; a clear sign to move along. "I do suggest you find your fishing equipment posthaste!"

"After all!" the magenta-haired woman adds, an eerie smirk on her face. "The competition has begun and won't wait while you mill about!"

Without further prodding, the group of competitors disperse. Some take to the nearby parts of the river divided up for the competition whilst others chat amongst themselves away from prying ears and some search for their perfect fishing pole. As for Ash, Misty, Cilan, Iris, and Bianca, they join the group looking for the equipment they'll need. From what they can tell at a glance, the officials have lined up three cabinets - two along the back wall, one to the right - full of fishing poles for their perusal.

"There!" Bianca cries out, pointing at a dark blue fishing pole. "This one's mine!"

She doesn't get more than a step before the sound of someone clearing their throat captures her attention.

"No, big mistake!" Cilan asserts. Coming to stand at Bianca's elbow, he blatantly glares at the nautical implement. "My, my, to choose such a...device...offends my senses as a fishing connoisseur! This is quite clearly the worst possible choice for a beginner!"

"The...worst possible choice?" Bianca echoes. Looking up at the ceiling in dazed confusion, she lifts a finger to scratch at her forehead.

"Indeed!" Cilan confirms. "I—"

Cilan stops upon noticing the angry glares he's receiving from some of his fellow competitors, balking under their pressure. He coughs, clearing his throat again before turning to regard Bianca with gentle eyes and a soft smile.

"What I mean is, I'd be more than happy to help you find a decent fishing pole!" he declares, placing a hand on Bianca's shoulder. His smile widens, saying, "Both of us may be competitors in this contest, but I would be remiss not to allow you an equal chance at victory!"

"Really?!" Bianca exclaims, a hopeful gleam in her eyes.

"Of course!" Cilan asserts. "We may not have known each other long, Bianca, but I consider you a dear friend."

"A dear friend…" Bianca repeats in hushed tones, a slight hue of pink across her cheekbones.

"Now, which to choose from, hm?" Cilan wonders. Walking past Bianca, he leans forward to get a better look at the fishing instruments on display. His eyes pass over an unassuming pink fishing pole, an extremely insulting blue one, and a mediocre orange one before coming across a quaint red fishing pole. "Hm."

Without a word, Cilan picks the fishing pole up and begins miming fishing maneuvers.

"Hm!" Cilan says, a satisfied grin falling upon his lips. With a grunt, he casts the fishing pole over his shoulder one last time before turning to Bianca. "Here, the combination of bend and center of gravity makes this one perfect for the beginner."

"Okay!" Bianca cheers, taking the fishing pole from Cilan's waiting hands. "Thank you!"

A grunt preceding his appearance, Ash comes to stand behind Bianca. He gives the green fishing pole in his possession a simple forward strike before directing his attention to his friends.

"Nice." Ash remarks. "So, have you chosen a rod yet, Cilan?"

That elicits hearty chuckles from the young man in question.

"Have I?"

With a bright sparkle to his eyes, Cilan effortlessly retrieves a medium-sized cylindrical device from his pants' pocket. To the untrained eye, it looks like a simple pen.

"I sure have!" he declares. With one last chuckle, Cilan presents the purple device to his friends, the clip attached to it gleaming in the light. "This one!"

Ash and Bianca both give a curious gasp at the sight of it.

"Feast your eyes!" Cilan says. With a boisterous chuckle - the sound loudest it's been all day - he removes the cap from his supposed fishing pole. Its contents revealed, Cilan pulls the fishing pole up to its full stature. The cap, it turns out, also functions as the fishing reel when Cilan attaches it to the pole. "As a fishing connoisseur, I never leave home without it!"

Ash and Bianca exclaim once more, sounding more enthusiastic than before.

"Wow." Ash remarks.

"It's so shiny!" Bianca gushes.

"When you're an expert," Cilan says. Gazing upon his rod and reel with fond reverence, he sweeps in through the air in an elegant overhead arc before turning to his friends with a wink and a smile. "only a custom-made rod and reel will do!"

"That's awesome, Cilan!" Ash remarks.

"Truly amazing!" Bianca adds.

Meanwhile, having found herself a fishing pole long before Bianca ever approached them, Iris leans on a nearby counter, a sigh escaping her. As for Misty, she looks entirely enamored by the setup for the competition, at the thought of placing her wits against those of the Water-type Pokémon lurking nearby.

"No, duh!" Iris complains. "Why should fishing be any less annoying?"

"Axew." he murmurs in agreement.

"He's not wrong, though."

Having observed her fill of the competition's setup, Misty turns back to Iris, addressing her with a smile.

"Fishing can be a very delicate art that can very much depend on your choice of equipment." Misty continues, her Marill offering up happy titters of agreement. "Rods, reels, lures; all of it's very important."

"If you say so." Iris responds dubiously. Shrugging her shoulders, she stands up straight to better regard her friend. "Does that mean you have something obnoxious like Cilan?"

"Not really." Misty answers, chuckling briefly. Shrugging her shoulders, she glances over one at her backpack. "I just have an ordinary Super Rod; nothing too crazy."

"You sell the craftsmanship of those instruments short!"

Their conversation at an end, that's the first thing Cilan says to Misty and Iris.

"While even the most incredible Super Rod can be considered inferior to custom-made fishing rods," Cilan continues, Ash and Bianca coming to stand behind him. "Super, Good, and even Old Rods can possess a certain undeniable charm. Not to mention, each of them have to pass a certain test before they can be released to the public. Therefore, you can see that each one is properly constructed."

"Wow!" Bianca exclaims. "You know a lot, Cilan!"

"Can we get to fishing already?!" Iris demands; stepping away from the counter, she places the back of a hand against her hip.

"That's right!" Misty says, a startled look ghosting across her face. "Given what I saw from the flyer, this competition isn't lasting very long."

"Then what are we waiting for?!" Ash shouts. Pumping a fist in the air, he already makes for the entrance of the tent. "Let's get to fishing!"

"I'm right behind you!" Bianca cries, following after Ash.

Cilan, Iris, and Misty say nothing as they watch their two friends leave the immediate area.

"We should probably join them." Misty says.

"Right!" Cilan says as Iris gives an agreeable nod of her head.

After they emerged from the tent and Cilan, Iris, and Misty rejoined Ash and Bianca, they began looking around the grounds for the competition. Looking down the flight of stairs in front of them, they can better observe the area roped off for the competition. Given their close proximity, they can see three platforms next to the pier. White in the center, each of the platforms is rimmed in a different color; from furthest out to the pier, pink, green, and orange.

"That must be where we're fishing." Bianca surmises.

"Wow, look at all the competitors!" Iris remarks.

"I get it." Ash says. "Once you reel one in,—" he points to the wooden pier, to the six fisherpeople either engaged in fishing or preparing to fish. Ash then points to the roped off area next to it, to the three platforms sitting in the water. "—you battle it over there!"

"Right!" Bianca exclaims. "Time to catch some Pokémon!"

Bianca follows up her enthusiastic declaration by - to her four friends great surprise and concern - rushing for the staircase. Heedless of her surroundings, she flails about with her fishing pole, almost hitting Iris in the process.

"Watch out with that thing!" Iris demands. It's only by swerving down to her right in a crouch does she barely manage to escape being hit by Bianca in her overeagerness.

"Oh, yeah!" Bianca cheers, sprinting down the staircase down to the pier, narrowingly avoiding one of her fellow competitors. "Oh, yeah!"

"Bianca!" Cilan cries out with worry. "Oh, I'd better assist her before she hurts someone!"

Cilan rushes down after Bianca, leaving Ash, Misty, and Iris to regard them with apprehension.

"At least she's excited." Misty remarks, a wan smile on her face.

"That's one word for it." Iris grumbles

The trio watch as Cilan manages to not only evade Bianca's erratic motions, but also calm her down. Upon seeing the two move to the end of the pier - presumably to decrease the risk of incident - they move to join their friends.

"...In the world of professional fishing, there are two ways to cast a line." they hear Cilan say. Both he and Bianca stand on the edge of the pier, far and away from their competitors. "There's the overhead cast—" he brings his arm back, thrusting both it and his fishing pole forward in a demonstration. "and then there's the side-arm." As he finishes his demonstration, he sweeps his arm to his left and to his right exactly once.

Ash and Bianca observe their friend with clear interest, Misty with appreciation and no small amount of suspicion, and Iris jerks her head away from him, tapping the fingers of her free hand against her hip.

"But before you cast your line…" Cilan says; closing his eyes, he brings his fishing pole to his face, both hands around the hilt. "...calm your heart rate and concentrate."

Several moments pass between the five friends and their Pokémon in silence, interspersed with the distant sounds of their fellow competitors and their own efforts to capture a Water-type. Finally, his eyes open, a triumphant cry upon his lips, Cilan springs into action. With a gleam in his eye, he thrusts his fishing pole forward with a mighty shout of, "Overhead cast time!"

Cilan's lure lands in the water with a satisfying splash.

"And with a single stroke," Cilan says. "your Water-type Pokémon battle has begun."

"Oh." Bianca says as the other four present in their little group approach Cilan.

"Wow." Ash breathes, grinning. "It's been a long time since I've been fishing; I forgot that it can be kinda cool."

"Once your line is in the water, you wind the reel slowly to catch their attention." Cilan advises, proceeding to do exactly that. His lure surfs peacefully, enticingly through the blue expanse. "Think of it as aging a fine cheese. Perfect. Savor it."

"Wow!" Bianca exclaims, attention riveted. She clasps her hands together, swaying back and forth. "Oh, this is so amazing!"

"Geez." Iris mutters. "You're really getting into this, Bianca."

Cilan's line pulls taunt then. "Huh? A bite!"

"Did you catch it?" Bianca asks. "Did you catch it?"

"Great, reel it in!" Ash adds.

"Pika!"

"Hurry, hurry, quick!" Bianca demands.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk." Cilan chides; lifting a hand from his fishing pole, he waves a finger through the air twice. "Now, beginners, relax."

"Huh?" Bianca says.

"Beginners?" Ash repeats, his expression sour.

"It's not time just yet." Cilan explains. "You can't rush it even with a bite. Right now, the Water-type Pokémon is tasting the bait."

"Hmph." Ash mutters.

"Tasting?" Bianca repeats. "Wonder what it tastes like."

"Instead of reeling it in now, give it some time." Cilan advises. "Once it takes a real bite," he pauses, his lure submerging in the water when the creature on the other end pulls it down. "you strike! After it's been hooked, you gently lure it to you as you raise your rod like removing a souffle from the oven."

Cilan follows his words up by grasping both hands around the handle of his fishing pole and pulls. Grunting, it takes but that exertion to pull the Water-type Pokémon free from its aquatic domain. Revealed to be a green, blue-striped spiky Water-type, it dangles in the air. Shortly afterwards, it falls back to water, splashing around, its lips firmly around the lure of Cilan's fishing pole.

"So cool!" Bianca gushes the same time Ash pulls out his Pokédex with a cry of: "Oh, what's that?"

The Pokédex reveals two images of the Pokémon in question, the most significant (and only) difference being one has shining crimson eyes and stripes of red on either side of a single black stripe along its head whilst the other has piercing blue eyes, the stripes the same color.

"Basculin, the Hostile Pokémon. Male. Ability: Rock Head. A pure Water-type. Basculin can be very violent. And red and blue Basculin do not get along well, frequently resulting in battles."

"Hostile, huh?" Misty muses.

"Watch out, Cilan!" Ash advises, stowing his Pokédex away.

"Oh, no!" Bianca cries, the exclamation brought on by the violent, vigorous, vicious splashing of the blue-striped Basculin. "It's gonna get away!"

"Fear not." Cilan says. "It's only part of the dance that is fishing."

"The dance?"

In a frightful display of synchronization that would make the Team Rocket Trio envious, Ash, Bianca, Iris and Misty shout that out; two with confusion, one with weariness and one with great appreciation and pride.

"The dance, the ebb and flow while you match your partner's every move." Cilan explains. At the look reflected in Basculin's eyes, he cannot help but smirk. "Touché! The moment of truth has finally arrived in all its glory."

As he says this, putting his weight into his actions, Cilan pulls his fishing pole and the blue-striped Basculin through the air, dropping the Water-type Pokémon unceremoniously in the section of water separated off for the competition.

"Bas, Basculin!" Basculin cries, glaring over at Cilan.

"Hm, that lustrous body," Cilan muses, grinning in triumph. With practiced ease achieved only through great repetition, Cilan reduces his fishing pole to its penlike form. "that face, that steely piercing glare, those fearsome teeth." his grin widening, Cilan pulls forth Pansage's Poké Ball. "You're quite a prize! Now it's Catching Time! Pansage, you're up!"

With an elegant twirl, Cilan throws Pansage's Poké Ball high into the sky, releasing his closest confidante.

"Pansage!" Pansage cries, landing upon the circular platform outlined in orange with similar grace.

"Bascu—!" the Hostile Pokémon exclaims before jumping up out of the water, unleashing a powerful stream of water at Pansage. "Lin!"

The Water Gun manages to knock Pansage off the platform, sending him into the water behind it.

Cilan and his companions watch as Basculin follows up its onslaught by pursuing Pansage further. Closing the distance between them, Basculin soon leaps into the air with Pansage, its mouth firmly around one of the Grass-Type's legs.

"Basculin!"

Dropping Pansage back into the water, sneering, Basculin doesn't allow Pansage a moment's peace as he unleashes a powerful blast of water from his tail.

An incoherent groan of pain escapes Pansage. With eyes wrenched shut, Pansage is so overwhelmed by Basculin's relentless attacks that, for the moment, Pansage can do naught but linger in the water.

"Violent is right." Misty remarks.

"Water Gun followed by Bite and then using an awesome Aqua Tail." Iris adds. "Basculin's good."

"Axew."

"And Basculin's got the advantage in the water." Ash adds.

"Pika."

Cilan glances between Pansage and Basculin, noticing the Hostile Pokémon in pursuit of the Grass Monkey Pokémon. Gritting his teeth, both at Pansage's plight and Basculin's flagrant cruelty towards his Pokémon, Cilan lets out a breath before uttering a command.

"Now, Pansage, Bullet Seed!"

"Pansage!"

Acknowledging his trainer's order, Pansage jumps up into the air. Promptly turning around to face his foe, Pansage releases a stream of golden seeds at Basculin. Bathed in a green light, the Bullet Seed attack makes a direct hit to the side of Basculin's body. Outrage intermingling with agony, Basculin resumes his chase of Pansage.

Pansage, revitalized by the successful attack and not wishing to fall prey to a counterattack, starts swimming in the opposite direction of the angry Pokémon.

"Pansage, you can do it!" Cilan cheers.

"Pansage!" Pansage cries.

As Pansage and Basculin swim through the water, the distance steadily closes between them. Just as it would seem that Basculin will catch up with Pansage, will continue his barrage of attacks, Pansage manages to escape his foe by reaching the platform encircled in green. With Pansage jumping upon it, Basculin's fate is much different. With his speed and momentum, Basculin is helpless to prevent what happens next.

Slamming into the edge of the platform, the collision sends Basculin flying through the air over the platform. When Cilan sees the Hostile Pokémon soaring through the air, droplets of water around his body, it's with a grin that Cilan sees the opportunity presented before him.

"Perfect!" Cilan cries. "Now's our chance!"

With a beatific smile on his face, Cilan thrusts his arms high into the sky.

"Pansage, Solar Beam!"

A look of determination falling upon Pansage's face, he raises his own arms above his head. Bringing them close together, not quite touching, he channels the effervescent and powerful energy of the sun between his palms. A moderate sphere, its visage blinding, materializes in front of Pansage. Satisfied, Pansage unleashes the energy in a condensed stream of brilliant white light.

With Basculin still suspended in the air, flipping end over end, he's helpless to do naught but take the full brunt of the Grass-Type attack.

An anguished cry escaping him, the Basculin falls to the ground, landing on the platform encircled with pink. The Basculin continues to flop around, irate and crude, but beaten.

"Nice, Pansage, a job well done!" Cilan congratulates warmly, smiling at his Pokémon. Pansage gives a little bow in response to such tender adulation. Directing his attention away from Pansage to Basculin, Cilan quickly produces the designated Poké Ball provided for by the competition. Tossing it from his right hand to his left, he tosses it with a cry of, "Now go, fishing Poké Ball!"

Soaring through the air, it doesn't take long for the Poké Ball to reach its target, capturing Basculin in a flash of crimson light. The Poké Ball sways back and forth thrice with the accompanying soft tune before giving a satisfying click; the circle in the middle of the device glows red, signifying a successful capture.

Taking a deep breath after such a rigorous battle, Pansage swims to the pink platform, picks up the Fishing Competition Poké Ball, and returns it to his trainer. Cilan smiles, saying nothing as he takes the Poké Ball into his left hand.

"Mm…" Cilan hums, satisfied. He takes a long sniff of the Poké Ball. "a remarkable Basculin! And it's all mine!"

He gives a short, triumphant chuckle, thrusting the Poké Ball high above his head whilst snapping the fingers of his right hand once.

"Pan!" he cries, sharing in his trainer's enthusiasm by jumping into the air.

The onlookers of Ash, Bianca, and even Misty regard their companion with awed expressions. Quiet sounds of wonder escape from their lips.

"Now I'll allow you to mature in my fishing Poké Ball!" Cilan says. "Letting your many talents ripen into full bloom."

"Wow, Cilan caught a big one already!" Ash says.

"That's what a fishing connoisseur does!" Bianca asserts with three animated nods of her head. Her expression turns thoughtful, eyes skyward. "Although, I wish I knew what he was saying half the time."

"Fishing is a language all its own!" Misty declares. "Even if you can't understand the words, the actions are plain as day!"

"'Plain as day'..." Bianca repeats thoughtfully, soon giving Misty a bright, closed-eye smile. "Yeah, you're right!"

As for Iris, she regards the whole scene with a scowl, unaware of the feeling intermingling with her agitation. Wrenching her gaze away from Cilan and her friends, she shares a glance with Axew before focusing on her fishing pole.

"Well, he won't be ahead for long!" she declares in a hush. She nods her head thrice, emphatically. "I'll show him that I can speak this "fishing language" just as well as he can!"

"Axew ew!" he offers encouragingly, patting his trainer on the shoulder.

With this thought in mind, Iris clears her throat and loudly proclaims, "I'm gonna fish by myself!"

"Huh?" and "What?" are the verbose responses from Ash and Bianca as they along with Misty and Cilan regard their friend with puzzlement.

"I said," Iris continues, just as loud even as several onlookers take to giving her glares. "I'm gonna catch the biggest Water-type you've ever seen!"

She doesn't wait for a reply, sashaying past her friends. It's only when she reaches Cilan that she stops. Resting her fishing pole on her shoulder, she uses her free hand to poke Cilan in the chest.

"And it'll be way better than that small fry of a Basculin you caught!"

"Small fry?!" Cilan repeats, looking scandalized. The young man proceeds to go through so many moods in such a short span of time that it's dizzying. He looks puzzled, curious and concerned, confident then arrogant, before finally settling on an earnest grin. The Fishing Competition's Poké Ball still firmly in his grasp, he places his free hand on Iris' shoulder. "I'm looking forward to it! I can hardly wait to see the prized specimen you'll end up catching today!"

Iris only grits her teeth. She storms off, an aggressive stomp, but not before leaving her friends with these words.

"I'll show you, Cilan! Then we'll really see who's the master of the fishing language!"

Ash scratches the back of his neck whilst Misty and Bianca share a glance. Bianca looks to Misty, blinking twice to which Misty can only respond with a small shrug.

Cilan however, isn't the least bit perturbed by their friend's outburst. In fact, hearty laughter can be heard from the young man.

"It's delightful to see her so enthusiastic about this competition!" he remarks, turning to his friends with a grin. "Wouldn't you agree?"
"Oh?" Ash murmurs. "I mean, I guess?"

"She's got the right idea, though." Misty says. "We need to fish up some Pokémon of our own!"

"In the meantime," Cilan says, throwing his Poké Ball into the air before catching it. "I'm going to return to the competition's officials! Such a splendid catch requires an expedient appraisal!"

"Sounds like a plan!" Ash cheers, pumping his free hand in the air. "Alright! It's time to get going!"

With a wide grin, Ash turns away from his friends and casts his line into the water.

"Hey now, don't think you can get a headstart!" Misty cries, soon coming to stand next to Ash. Putting Marill down on the dock beside her, she adds, "Stay close, Marill, and watch a master at work."

"Thanks Misty." Ash says, his attention wholly focused on his fishing pole.

"I was talking about myself." Misty retorts, lifting her chin up. "After all, I taught you pretty much everything you know."

"I shall see you all once I return!" Cilan says, gives a dramatic bow, and starts to head for the direction of the fishing tent.

As for Bianca, she's mesmerized by the scene of two of her friends fishing, a hand lifted to her mouth.

As the competition continues in earnest, most of the competitors snagging a whole host of Basculin and Alomomola, Iris exists a few paces away from her fellow competitors. Staring out at the cerulean expanse before her, she nods her head exuberantly.

"Alright." she cries in a bid to psych herself up. "Alright!"

Throwing her arms into the air, when she brings them back down, she wraps her hands around the base of her fishing pole. She throws her line into the water, her nondescript purple lure landing with a satisfying splash.

"I'll show him and everyone else what I've got!" Iris proclaims. "No way anyone's going to catch a bigger fish than me."

"Axew!" he cries in cheerful agreement.

However, as the minutes drag on without a single bite, Iris' confidence fades and her agitation grows. At first, she yawns, stretching her arms above her head. Then, making sure her fishing pole is supported, the line still submerged, she lies down with a groan. Her eyes narrow in dismay as she can plainly see several shadowy blobs moving beneath the water's surface. Eventually, her irritation reaches its apex as she throws her arms into the air and screams.

"This is way more trouble than it's worth."

"Axew."

"At this rate, Cilan's going to wipe the floor with me." Iris says, soon sharing a glance with Axew. "Maybe I should catch me a big one the way I always do!"

"Ew Axew!" he shouts cheerfully. Then, seeming to think better of it, shakes his head with a cry of, "Axew Axew Ew!"

"What do you mean that's a bad idea!"

"Axew Axew."

Iris sighs, clearly exasperated. Taking her fishing pole into her hands, she shakes her head twice.

"I guess you have a point." Iris concedes begrudgingly. "If I got disqualified, then Cilan would really wipe the floor with me."

"Axew." he nods.

"Welp, here goes." Iris says, throwing her line into the water once more.

Several minutes past, several nearby competitors cry out in triumph, and Iris has felt not a single nibble.

Iris sighs once more, pulling her fishing pole free from the water. Reeling her line into place, she rests it against her shoulder.

"Cilan made this look so easy." she grumbles. Shaking her head, she begins walking. "Maybe Ash and the others have had better luck."

"I caught a blue-striped Basculin!"

Once the last person has left, having just delivered their own capture, Cilan stands at the front of the line and those are the first words out of his mouth.

Currently, only one of the officials appears to be on duty: the woman with magenta hair.

"Mm-hmm," she murmurs appreciatively. "I'll take that."

"Huh?"

Taking the offered Poké Ball, the magenta-haired woman passes it between her hands twice and - to Cilan's bafflement - doesn't hook it up to a machine, release the Pokémon inside, or even write anything down, but instead drops it into a box filled almost to the brim with similar competition Poké Balls.

Cilan's eyebrows raise up all the way to his hairline.

"Say, aren't you gonna weigh my catch?"

"We'll weigh them at the end of the competition," the magenta-haired official says with a pleasant smile and closed eyes. "so please keep fishing."

"But my catch is a champion Basculin!" Cilan declares, even slamming a hand down on the counter separating them. The action causes the woman's eyes to open. He smirks, self-satisfied, as his own eyes fall shut. "I see no need to continue."

"Huh?" the magenta-haired official murmurs, a brief, almost unnoticeable twitch in her left eye. "...'no need to continue'..."

The comment earns more than a few disdainful glares from the nearby competitors, but none seem quite as outraged as the woman in charge.

"Oh?" the magenta-haired official says, the picture of rage as it begins to bleed into her voice. "Perhaps such confidence is warranted in the far-flung region of Unova that you come from, but this competition has no need for such an unpleasant upstart!"

"Upstart?!" Cilan exclaims, his eyes narrowing. "Unpleasant?! Using such rude epithets against your contestants is quite unprofessional! And you dare cast such aspersions on me?!"

"Indeed I do!" the magenta-haired official confirms and she's snarling now, her teeth bared. "Your behavior is most obnoxious! Now I would appreciate it if you rejoined your friends and ceased hindering our plans you-"

At that moment, as if by magic, the lavender-haired official appears. Wearing a placating smile, he places a hand on his coworker's shoulder. "I believe what my associate is trying to say is that we're quite pressed for time today! In the heat of competition, where tensions run high and the pursuit of victory seems absolute, we all have a tendency to get a little carried away! So, I think what we all need to do is take a deep breath and take a step back, okay?"

Neither Cilan nor the magenta-haired official say anything, but both of them visibly relax in light of the lavender-haired official's wise advice.

"Excellent!" the lavender-haired official crowes, even clapping his hands together. "Now please, relax until we announce the results for the competition!"

The magenta-haired woman glares at Cilan for a moment longer before she smiles. "Quite right."

Cilan frowns deeply, nodding his head once, then twice. "I agree completely!"

Cilan smiles, saying no more before departing from the tent.

The magenta-haired official shares a glance with the lavender-haired official, both of them saying nothing whilst the former collects the Poké Balls from the remaining three people in line. After depositing the Poké Balls into the same box, the two officials enter the back room of the tent.

And as they do, their professional veneer fades away leaving Jessie and James in their place.

"That young Twerp certainly is something else, huh Jess?"

Jessie scoffs, allowing James to take the box from her possession. He sets it down on the ground. "You're telling me. I don't think I'll ever understand how someone like that spends time with someone like the Twerp."

James nods his head.

Jessie exhales slowly, smirking at her cohort. "Anyway, they're handing over Unova Water-type Pokémon in droves just like we planned."

"It appears we're going to reach our quota even quicker than we thought." James remarks.

Jessie grins at the thought. She turns sharply to Meowth, a serious expression on her face. "Meowth, are you sure you can get us out of here fast?"

Meowth, dressed just like an official of the fishing competition with his blue cap and orange and gray vest, nearly drops the Poké Ball he was analyzing. He sets it down before turning to Jessie with a smirk and a claw up.

"Hey, don't sweat the small stuff." he advises, waving his paw up and down. "See, I've mapped out the perfect escape route."

"Hm." Jessie and James share a conspiratorial smile at that.

"Although," and there's something distant in Meowth's tone. "We won't have to worry about an escape route if someone doesn't end up blowing our cover."

"What are you saying, Meowth?" James asks with narrowed eyes the same time Jessie says, "The Twerp was being annoying; someone needed to put him in his place."

"In any case," Meowth is saying, the distance gone from his voice. "Youse two's got nothing to worry about."

Jessie and James nod at that.

"Come on, come on!" Ash enthuses, his eyes never straying from his fishing pole. "I want a bite! And, boy, will Cilan be surprised!"

"You can't rush this, Ash." Misty says, just as focused on her fishing pole. "And Water-type Pokémon won't bite just because you ask them to."

Ash pushes against Misty's shoulder in response; a fleeting, gentle movement. Misty does the same and they're both grinning.

"Man!" comes an aggrieved utterance as Iris comes to stand next to Ash and Misty. She sighs, tossing her line into the water. "What a bummer. We've been here forever and I haven't caught a thing!"

"Forever?" Ash echoes, and here he looks up at his friend with curious eyes and impish grins. "Don't be such a little kid, Iris."

Iris glares at him, but doesn't speak.

"Gosh, it looks like you're all having so much fun!" Bianca gushes, clapping her hands around her fishing pole. With a smile so bright it could make a Flash move look like a dim flicker, Bianca skips forward and in one, energetic motion, tosses her line into the water. "Then I will, too! Let's fish!"

The four stand there for several heartbeats in silence when something happens.

As Ash, Iris, and even Misty's lures remain half-submerged, something pulls at Bianca's lure, obscuring it from sight.

"A bite!" Bianca shouts, sounding more surprised than excited.

"How in the world did you get a bite so soon?" Iris says.

"Not even I manage to catch something that quickly!" Misty remarks the same time Ash lets out a low whistle, saying, "That's pretty lucky, Bianca!"

"I have no idea, but it's a big one, it's a big one!" Bianca exclaims, too swept up in the euphoria of actually getting a bite to focus on reeling it in. "Oh!"

Bianca's eyes go wide, the Water-type on the other end of her fishing pole becoming increasingly vicious. It appears to tug at the fishing line, the momentum of which sending Bianca off-balance and one of her hands off the handle.

Iris and Ash are quick to react. With a cry of "Look out!" from Iris, the two of them take to grabbing onto Bianca's sides. Misty merely watches from afar, lips slightly parted, as her two friends succeed in keeping Bianca from tumbling into the water.

The Water-type doesn't relent.

And honestly, as her eyes fall shut once more and she holds her fishing pole high, neither does Bianca.

"I'll bet this is the biggest one of all!" she cries, triumphant. She deepens her voice by the faintest margin. "'The winner is Bianca', that's me!"

Meanwhile, as the three friends are engaged in a literal three-on-one tug of war, Cilan begins his approach. His head bowed, he is entirely focused on the material that makes up the boardwalk. No matter how hard he tries, the words of the magenta-haired official run circles inside his head.

He lets out a breath in a huff, coming to a stop just a few paces away from Ash and the others.

"She's ridiculous." he mumbles. "I am perfectly polite! I always behave myself in accordance with proper society!"

He breathes once more, this time on a sigh.

"And yet…"

Whatever introspection Cilan strives for is unceremoniously vanquished when he hears an enthusiastic cheer ripple through the air.

"Oh yeah!" comes the familiar cry. "Oh yeah!"

"Huh?"

Cilan watches the scene unfold before him with wide eyes. A few paces away, Bianca is cheering in her loud, characteristic manner. At the same time, Ash and Iris are on either side of her, appearing to keep her in place. A cry escaping past Misty's lips, she rises to her feet to latch on to her three friends.

But what truly captures Cilan's attention, is the fishing pole vibrating violently in Bianca's hand.

The fishing pole that is perilously close to slipping out of Bianca's grasp.

"I'll take it!"

Cilan makes his way to his friends in a few easy strides, pushing his friends aside and grabbing hold of Bianca's fishing pole just as it is loosed from her grip.

"Huh?" Bianca murmurs, sways back and forth on her feet but once.
"Don't reel it in just yet!" Cilan advises, even as his are the only hands on the fishing implement. "You have to work with the Pokémon! Feel it move!"

"Uh, okay?"

Cilan swerves to the left just as the Water-type Pokémon moves to the right. This continues for two more cycles before, with a laugh that sounds more panicked than joyous, Cilan begins to reel the Water-type in.

"Uh, alright, now!"

With a mighty two-handed pull, Cilan yanks the Water-type up and out of the aquatic abyss seeking to obscure its identity. And as it emerges, its body catching the rays of the sun, not only is Cilan mesmerized, but so too are Ash, Misty, Iris, Bianca, and their Pokémon friends.

"Frillish!" the Water-type, very, very distinctly pink in the young Pokémon Trainers' eyes cries with a wide smile. That wide grin never faltering from its face, it descends with purpose. It descends and descends before finally, it slams right into Ash, tackling him to the ground. Pikachu is sent flying from Ash's shoulder, collapsing on the ground with an agonized "Pika…".

Ash has just enough time to cry out a panicked "Huh? Whoa!" before he finds himself enveloped in the unknown Water-type Pokémon's pink tendrils.

"Ash!" Misty cries, even as her eyes dart around the pinkness of the unknown Pokémon. "Are you alright?"

With great, bubbly giggles, the Water-type Pokémon rises to its full height. Ash is still securely in its grip.

Cilan and Iris look on with dumbfounded expressions.

Bianca is the one to speak, saying "Huh? What is that?" as she rummages around her pockets. Eventually, after a good thirty seconds have elapsed, Bianca moves on to her messenger bag. She pulls out her Pokédex, the pastel pink device lighting up.

To her wonderment, the Pokédex does not show only the thin pink Pokémon before her. In actuality, it shows a similar blue Pokémon right below the pink one. Not unlike the Basculin from before.

"Frillish, the Floating Pokémon." the Pokédex recites. "A dual Water- and Ghost-type Pokémon, this Pokémon is well-known for its unique attributes. Female Frillish are famous for their delicate eyelashes and pink coloration whilst male Frillish for their rigid eyelashes and blue coloration. Frillish numbs its opponents with its poison as it binds its victims with its thin veil-like tentacles. This particular Frillish has the ability Damp."

"Hey!" Ash shouts, struggling against the confines of his current prison. "Let go of me now! Aah! Oh!"

Frillish, it seems, has no intention of obeying such requests. Instead, still laughing that happy little laugh, falls backwards onto the wooden planks.

"Ash!" Cilan cries; lifting a hand to his mouth, his fingers graze his bottom lip. "Oh, my!"

"Get off of my neck!" Ash demands, struggling with greater intensity. "And get off of my back, too! Knock it off! Aah!"

There's a brief pause.

"We've got to help!" Cilan says.

"Yeah, this has gone on long enough!" Misty agrees as she and Cilan share a determined nod with Bianca and Iris.

Their show of solidarity preludes a display of teamwork. The four of them rush to Ash's aid: Cilan and Misty to his immediate left and right; Bianca and Iris to Frillish's lower half.

"Let go of Ash right now!" the four cry at varying times.

"Come on, Frillish!" Cilan demands only to cry out as Frillish wraps one of her tentacles around Cilan's neck. She brings him in close, laughing.

"Yeah, you've had your fun now—urk!"

As with Cilan before her, Misty is rendered helpless as Frillish wraps one of her tentacles around Misty's neck. She brings her in close and still, she laughs.

"Oh dear!" Bianca cries. Recognizing the situation for what it is, both her and Iris retreat. Standing up, they exist but a pace away from Frillish and their struggling friends.

"She's so excitable!" Iris complains.

"You've got to let go of me this instant!" Cilan shouts.

"Me too!" Misty cries. "This isn't okay, Frillish!"

Ash continues to groan, moving this way and that, anything to release Frillish's hold on him. He does this for a few moments more before straining to look over at his Pikachu.

"Pikachu!" Ash grunts, one eye closed in a wince. "You've got to use Thunderbolt!"

"Pika?" he murmurs, jumping from one paw to the other. "Pikachu Pika Pikapi?" he examines the scene before him for but a moment. "Pikachupi?"

"Do it, Pikachu!" Cilan insists. "It's okay!"

"We'll be fine!" Misty adds. "Just get this thing to let go of us!"

"Pika Pikachu." he says before he shrugs, lowers his head and - as his body crackles with electricity - discharges a Thunderbolt attack upon Ash, Misty, Cilan, and the intruding Frillish.

All four cry out in various stages of alarm and pain before falling to the ground. As they twitch and mutter, all four of them are a most comical shade of black.

"Oh, dear!" Bianca exclaims. A fist to her mouth, she regards all four of them with clear emotion on her face. "You okay?"

Cilan is the first to recover, letting out a cough. "That was most unpleasant. I hope I never have to experience that ever again!"

"Still," Misty adds, grinning over at Pikachu. "It's better than being hugged by an aggressive Frillish. Thanks Pikapal!"

Pikachu, whose ears were previously drooping in dismay, perks up at that with a hopeful, "Pika?"

"Uh," Ash groans, rubbing at the back of his head. Even so, he turns with bright eyes and a wan smile to Pikachu. "Yeah, Misty's right. That was great." a bit of his usual pep returning to his smile, he adds, with a thumbs-up, "Thanks, Pikachu."

This time, Pikachu's reaction is much more pronounced. His eyes shut in clear bliss, he utters only a simple, "Cha~!"

"Uh, guys?" Iris speaks; she looks around, the motion frantic. "I don't think it's over yet."

As Ash and the others look around, it doesn't take them long to determine what their friend is talking about. Two things capture their attention.

The first is how most, if not all, of the nearby competitors are staring right at them. While there are a few that regard them uneasily, a great deal of them look at them with either concern or amazement. A low murmur spreads through the crowd.

"Hello!" Bianca greets brightly, just as the second thing that gives Iris pause makes itself known. It makes its presence apparent, unleashing a deluge of water directly at Bianca's back. Thoroughly drenched by the sudden attack, she falls to the ground with a yelp.

"Hey, what was that for?!" Ash demands the same time Misty helps Bianca to her feet with a kind smile. Though his bravado doesn't fade in the slightest, Ash feels a chill down his spine.

The Frillish from before stands on the edge of the pier, anger and just a touch of pain in her eyes.

"That is one angry Frillish." Iris remarks.

"Huh." Cilan murmurs just as Misty ensures Bianca is okay. "I had anticipated that Pikachu's attack would've caused Frillish to flee."

"Well, I don't know about you, but I'm glad she didn't!" Misty proclaims boldly, shooting Bianca an apologetic smile.

"I'm perfectly fine!" Bianca cries, clapping her hands together.

"Wait, you're not seriously going to battle it, are you?" Iris exclaims incredulously.

"You shouldn't expect anything less." Ash advises wisely, nodding his head in much the same manner. Pikachu mimics the gesture. He grins at Misty. "She could be facing down five altogether and she still wouldn't back down!"

"You're right about that!" Misty says, giving Ash a smile and a thumbs-up. She focuses on the Frillish, the smile turning into a smirk. "Since I plan on becoming the greatest Water-type Pokémon Master, I won't allow myself to get intimidated by one no matter how angry or threatening it may seem. Never again."

His heart swelling with love and pride, his arms crossed over his chest, Ash says nothing.

Bringing her arm up high, a sparkle in her eye, she cries out, "Misty calls Marill!"

As her most precious companion bounds in front of her, taking a more aggressive stance as a frown marks her face, Misty stares Frillish down with a smirk.

"I hope you're ready, Frillish," Misty says to the tune of the nearby crowd. "I won't hold anything back!"

"Such confidence."

"Water-type Pokémon Master?"

"Somehow, I'm more worried about the Frillish."

However, not everyone who watches the scene unfold is as enthusiastically invested in the match. There is a lone individual who regards Misty, Frillish, and the others with a great apathy. Despite his lack of interest, Meowth of the Team Rocket Trio would be lying if he weren't the least bit intrigued by the scenario.

In fact, as a devilish grin begins to pull at his lips, it gives him a perfect idea.

"Maybe the Twerps can be useful for once, afta' all!"

It's just as they're transferring the latest batch of Fishing Poké Balls into a duffel bag that Jessie and James hear a loud crash followed by agonized yelping and then, silence.

Sharing a glance with her compatriot, Jessie is the one to investigate. Standing up, ever mindful of the water tank and scale hybrid serving as their method of weighing their aquatic prizes, she walks over to the curtain separating their dubious room from the official-looking tent of the competition.

James sets aside his clipboard detailing their findings - information meant only for Giovanni's sharp eyes - to watch her.

"Oh?" she murmurs when she can hear the sound of indistinct chatter picking up. Excited indistinct chatter. "Do you hear that? It sounds pretty crazy out there."

"Indeed." is all James says just as Meowth emerges into their small, secret space.

"Meowth." Jessie says.

"What's all the hubbub?" James asks.

"The Twerp got attacked by a Frillish and now everybody's going totally wacko!"

"Perfect!" Jessie remarks, smirking. "Now's our chance to get out."

"Jessie and I just finished organizing the last of the Poké Balls!" James announces, patting the side of the duffle bag proudly before closing it. "The odds are we're sure to please the Boss with this many Pokémon in our possession."

"Then I suggest we pack the Pokémon up and get out." Jessie says.

James nods, but says nothing.

"Hold on a sec!" Meowth says.

"Meowth?" James says.

"What is it, this time?" Jessie asks.

"I just had a thought." Meowth explains. "Those Twerps may be distracted, but there's bound to be a few stragglers interested in cashing in their Pokémon."

"So?"

"I think I understand what Meowth means, Jess." James says. "If one of those competitors returns to this tent, how do you think they'll react if they don't find anyone inside?"

Instantly, realization appears on Jessie's face. "Ah, I see. If there's no one here, that's sure to cause a fuss."

"And with the Twerps involved, that can only mean one thing." Meowth says.

The trio share a grim smile, knowing full well the implications.

"Very well." Jessie says. "In that case, James, you'll stay behind and manage the competition whilst Meowth and I deliver these Poké Balls someplace secure."

"I like the way you think, Jessie." Meowth remarks, grinning.

Jessie returns it, preening, but says nothing.

"Hold on a moment!" James exclaims, a hand raised in protest. "Why must I be the one to stay behind?!"

"It's really quite simple James." Jessie asserts, not unkindly. "If someone like that uptight Twerp were to return, I don't believe I could keep my cool."

"You could say that again!" Meowth cheers, earning a glare from Jessie. "Besides, look at me!" he spreads his arms out. "Those goons'll take one look at me and get all suspicious."

"I suppose you have a point." James concedes with a sigh. In the same breath, he stands at attention. He even gives a little salute. "I will gladly undertake this burden; I shan't let either of you or the Boss down!"

"Hear, hear!" Jessie and Meowth say.

"Hello? I'd like to turn in a Pokémon?"

Jessie, James, and Meowth share a glance. With the sudden interruption serving as their cue, Jessie and Meowth head for their getaway vehicle with the Poké Balls in tow whilst James emerges from behind the curtain with a hearty cry of: "Good afternoon!"

"Nice ride, Meowth!" Jessie remarks. Setting the duffel bags full of Poké Balls down on the floor, she gives her surroundings an appreciative once-over. With a simple white exterior, few controls, plush upholstery, and wooden floors, the boat Meowth had acquired is charmingly quaint.

"Thanks, Jessie." Meowth responds with no small amount of pride in his voice. "One beautiful getaway boat on tha' double!"

"Almost as beautiful as our haul." Jessie says, giving one of the duffel bags a pat as she takes her seat behind the controls. "Now, I'll get us out of here while you contact the Boss."

"Already on it!" Meowth says, pulling out a communications device no larger than a Poké Ball. At the same time, Jessie hits the ignition. The boat roars to life.

Whilst Jessie navigates the waterways of the city, the screen of Meowth's device flickers on. Displaying the face of Giovanni, he utters only a curt: "The mission proceeds smoothly."

"It went better than smooth!" Meowth cheers, coughs, then smirks. "Those trainers caught more Pokémon than I know what to do with!"

"I'd say we have four dozen, easily." Jessie adds.

"Excellent." Giovanni remarks. "Those Pokémon will prove invaluable in our understanding of the Unova region. Perhaps we shall find some worthwhile recruits amongst the rabble."

"Pardon me, sir." Jessie says. She continues when she spots Meowth giving her a curt nod out of her peripheral vision. "Speaking of worthwhile, is that fishing pole you delivered to us truly worthy of so much praise?"

"When you mentioned a sham competition, I thought we would just paint an Old Rod golden!" Meowth adds.

"Indeed." Giovanni answers. "The fishing pole serving as the prize for this little...competition is the genuine article."

"Surely that must've cost quite a pretty penny." Jessie says.

"You needn't worry about the financial status of Team Rocket." Giovanni assures. "Now, I expect those Pokémon to be delivered on the double! Excellent work."

Jessie and Meowth don't get a chance to respond as Giovanni immediately ends the transmission. The two continue along their way in silence.

Despite her exuberance and her Pokémon's own willingness to fight, it's actually Frillish that initiates combat.

With an elegant twirl that earns a raised eyebrow from Misty, wide eyes from Ash and Pikachu, and murmurs from everyone else, Frillish bellows out her name. Spinning around once more, Frillish lifts her arms to the air before swiftly bringing them back down.

She stares resolutely at Misty and Marill, a single droplet falling onto Misty's face. Frillish's actions soon become clear as several dark clouds appear overhead and open up, unleashing a mighty downpour.

Iris groans. "Now I'm gonna get all wet!"

"This leaves a sour taste!" Cilan agrees. "Frillish is using Rain Dance!"

Iris and Cilan aren't the only ones intent on verbalizing their discontent as the nearby bystanders take to complaining as well.

Ash chuckles, mildly amused at how Bianca has her arms raised high over her head, a huge smile on her face. "Well, at least someone is having a good time."

"Rainstorms are always so pretty!" she cries, mostly to herself.

"Rain Dance, huh?" Misty says, smirking. "I like the way you think, Frillish."

"Frillish." is the noncommittal response.

"In that case," Misty says, thrusting her arm out. "Marill, use Water Gun!"

"Marill!"

Puffing her cheeks up, Marill heeds her trainer's commands by unleashing a spiral of water at Frillish. Frillish remains unharmed, dancing out of the way of the attack.

"Whoa, this Frillish has some moves!" Ash remarks.

"With the elegant poise of a practiced ballerina!" Cilan adds, giving a swift nod.

Frillish quickly goes on the offensive, unleashing a Water Gun of her own. Spewing forth a narrow torrent of water, the boosted attack hits its mark. The resulting momentum sends Marill falling backwards with a cry.

"Marill!"

"Frillish is tough." Iris observes.

"Indeed." Cilan agrees. "To deliver such a mighty blow is one thing, but with Rain Dance in play, its power is only magnified!"

Frillish continues her attack, firing off another Water Gun.

"Marill, you use Water Gun too!" Misty shouts.

Jumping to her feet, Marill fires off a Water Gun.

The two attacks collide and after a moment, they cancel each other out.

Frillish and Marill stare at each other for a moment, a silent understanding, before the former launches yet another attack. This time, Frillish's eyes become outlined in a dark red. Waving her arms out in front of her, a strange purple wind blows at her back.

"That's Ominous Wind!" Ash shouts as Marill struggles to keep her balance.

She grits her teeth, Frillish insistent on pushing her backwards. However, she is not one to falter. Puffing up her cheeks, she unleashes yet another Water Gun attack. This time, Marill's attack manages to make contact.

"Frillish!" she cries. Her Ominous Wind at an end, she staggers backwards.

Misty, wishing to capitalize on her Pokémon's success, presses the attack. "Alright, Marill! Use Water Pulse!"

Marill wags her tail first to the left, then to the right. Taking a deep breath, an orb of blue energy soon coalesces in front of Marill's mouth. When the orb begins to rival Marill's face in size, that's when she acts. With a cry of her name, she unleashes the Water Pulse.

The attack soars through the air, exploding on contact.

The momentum of the attack is so great, it nearly sends Frillish tumbling back into the water. Though Frillish looks weary from such powerful attacks - their might only increased from the Rain Dance - she is not beaten just yet. Taking deep breaths of her own, Frillish advances on Marill the same time the Rain Dance move begins to unwind.

"Yay, the rain's stopped!" Iris cheers.

"Yes!" Cilan cries, voice strangely high. "It is most fortuitous indeed."

No one, lest of all Iris, comments as the battle between Misty's Marill and the wild Frillish continues.

Frillish unleashes another Water Gun attack. However, with her battered state, it is a simple matter for Marill to dodge the attack and fire off a Water Gun of her own. Frillish recoils in the aftermath of the attack, but she stands strong.

"I like your spirit, Frillish!" Misty praises with a wide grin. "But only one of us will win this battle!"

"Frillish." she nods.

"And this," Misty shouts, thrusting her arm high into the air. "is the finishing blow! Marill use Water Pulse!"

At the same time Marill sends the sphere through the air, Frillish puffs her cheeks out and unleashes a grand torrent of water. Both Marill's Water Pulse and Frillish's Hydro Pump end up colliding. The two attacks struggle for dominance for a few moments before it soon becomes clear which attack will reign victorious.

Despite the raw strength of Frillish's Hydro Pump, her weakened strength is no match for Marill. With Marill's own skill and desire for victory on display, the Water Pulse cuts the Hydro Pump neatly in half. Continuing along its path, Marill's Water Pulse explodes as soon as it hits Frillish. It hits Frillish, sending the Pokémon to the ground.

She lays there, well and truly beaten.

"Yes! Yes! Yes!" Misty cheers, bringing forth an empty Poké Ball. With a magnificent side-arm throw, the Poké Ball hits Frillish, absorbing her in a flash of red light.

Misty, Ash, Iris, Cilan, and Bianca as well as the nearby crowd watch the scene unfold with bated breath. The Poké Ball sways back and forth thrice before a triumphant chime cuts through the air.

"That's amazing!' Ash cheers as Misty picks up Frillish's Poké Ball.

"Yep!" Misty agrees, a dusting of salmon on her cheeks. She presents Frillish's Poké Ball to the sky as Marill jumps up and down twice with joy. "I caught a Frillish!"

The shrill sound of a whistle prevents further jubilation or anyone from noticing the bemused expressions on Cilan and Iris' faces.

Those gathered in the immediate area look around, soon finding the source.

Standing near the middle of the staircase leading to the fishing competition's area, silver whistle in hand as he blows it once more, is the lavender-haired official.

"Attention all competitors!" he exclaims, blowing once on his whistle for good measure. "Though this competition has been truly astounding, I'm afraid that it's nearing the end."

That earns no small amount of complaints from the gathered crowd.

The lavender-haired official nods his head sympathetically. "Indeed. Those of you who have caught and delivered a Water-type Pokémon may mill about at your leisure. However!" he adds, thrusting a hand high into the air. "For those of you who haven't quite yet, you have fifteen minutes to do so! Once the time period has elapsed, all competitors must return to the main tent for the results!"

"Fifteen minutes?!"

"That's hardly enough time!"

"Right!" the lavender-haired official exclaims, clapping his hands together exactly once. "Now then, good luck everyone! Happy fishing!"

The lavender-haired official doesn't linger, returning to the main tent in a blur of movement and dust.

Immediately, the group of people that had gathered around to witness Misty's battle with the wild Frillish dissipated. Some merely take to wandering around, talking to their friends. Others, with furrowed brow and shaking hands, nearly trip over themselves in their pursuit of a last-minute catch.

"Fifteen minutes!" Iris shouts, staring forlornly at her fishing pole in her hands. "I spent one hour trying to catch something with no luck! How am I gonna catch anything now?"

"It's quite simple!" Cilan remarks, earning a sour expression from Iris. He holds his index finger and thumb in the air at a ninety degree angle. "All you need is a sprinkling of confidence, a splash of determination, and a pinch of luck and you'll be able to reel something in the moment your lure hits the water!"

"That's easy for you to say." Iris grumbles.

"It's not that bad." Ash interjects with a smile. "But we can't just stand here talking; we need to get to fishing again!"

"Ash is right!" Bianca cheers. "Cilan and Misty already caught a Pokémon and it didn't take them long at all! Ooh, I hope I can catch something!"

Ash and Bianca move back onto the edge of the pier. Throwing their lures into the water, they simply stare at the water.

"That's certainly one approach." Cilan remarks.

"All I know is I'm glad I competed!" Misty admits, cradling Frillish's Poké Ball close. "Now I have a brand new Pokémon!"

As she falls silent, her gaze still on her Poké Ball, there's something speculative shining in her eyes.

"And what a fine catch, indeed!" Cilan asserts, smiling warmly. He looks at Misty before shifting his eyes over to Iris, his lips parted. "I'm positive that you—wait," he pauses, the space where Iris was previously occupying vacant as an outline lingers in her place, three bars above her head. "Where did Iris go?"

Low grumbling is the answer as Iris stands next to Ash and Bianca, her lure in the water.

Amused, Cilan turns to Misty again only to find that she too has disappeared.

It doesn't take long to find her, Misty standing next to Bianca with her own lure in the water.

Cilan merely laughs before joining them. Standing next to Misty, his lure falls in the water with a satisfying splash. With laughs soon erupting from the quintet, their eyes falling shut in bliss, each of them are delighted by the presence of such splendid company.

Once the fifteen minutes have elapsed, Ash, Misty, Cilan, Iris, and Bianca as well as their Pokémon friends and fellow competitors stand inside the main tent as the lavender-haired official zips around. He races hither and yon, a clipboard in one hand, a pen in the other, and a pen behind his ear.

"Alrighty then!" the lavender-haired official cries. "To those of you unable to catch a Water-type, I apologize. But to those that caught a Pokémon, I congratulate you! My colleagues are hard at work in our office measuring the attributes of the Pokémon you've caught!"

"I still can't believe I spent all that time fishing and not a single bite!" Iris complains.

"Me either." Ash says with a shake of his head. "But I had fun!"

"I did too!" Bianca cheers.

"Figures you would." Iris remarks with a sideways glance.

"Thus!" the lavender-haired official says, thrusting his clipboard out. The paper on it shows not only a list of all the competitors but the Pokémon they've caught as well. "Given the Pokémon we've analyzed so far, Cilan of the Striaton City is in the lead!"

Misty and Cilan share a smile at that.

"Now," the lavender-haired official says, adjusting his glasses by the bridge. He uses his other hand to indicate a nondescript brown box sitting atop the counter. "For those of you who have yet to deliver your Pokémon, please place them in this box!"

(Although Misty had caught a Pokémon as well, she decided against presenting it.)

At first a bit chaotic - five Poké Balls going into the box at once - the competitors calm down long enough to drop the remaining sixteen Poké Balls in one at a time.

The lavender-haired official nods his head approvingly. "Excellent!"

Quite a few of the competitors look proud at the praise.

"We shall compare these Pokémon at once and determine the winner!" the lavender-haired official informs. He places the clipboard and pen on the box before picking it up. Once he's confident his grip is secure, that neither the clipboard or pen are in danger of falling, he offers the competitors a close-lipped smile before entering the back room of the main tent.

"Oh, this is so exciting!" Bianca cheers with a clap of her hands. "I can't wait to see who wins!"

"This is quite thrilling!" Cilan agrees amiably. "Though I firmly believe the Basculin I caught is second to none!"

"I don't know, Cilan." Misty challenges, giving her belt a pat. "My Frillish is pretty amazing."

Ash nods his head in agreement. "Maybe you can start training her by battling against your Palpitoad. That'll give both of them tons of practice!"

"Maybe." Misty smiles, patting her belt again. Her hand lingers. "Just maybe."

Ash and his friends aren't the only ones as the gathered throng of competitors around them talk amongst themselves as well. The dull din of many voices speaking at once persists for quite some time before a loud explosion cuts through the air. Smoke begins to billow out from beneath the back room's curtain.

"An explosion!"

"That can't be good!"

"Should someone investigate?"

Before anyone could move, the lavender-haired official stumbles out from behind the curtain. He's a little singed, his face covered in soot, but unharmed.

"Apologies," he says with a bright smile. "I was weighing the Pokémon you've all caught when, as the machine was calculating that of the last Pokémon, it simply couldn't! The machine broke down on the spot!"

"That's convenient."

Cilan's shoulders slump. Even so, his eyes sparkle in reverence. "To render a machine inoperable...that Pokémon must be truly astonishing!"

Misty sighs, her only agreement.

"It is with greatest honor that I can announce the winner!" the lavender-haired official says. Producing his clipboard, he adjusts his glasses by the side and clears his throat. "First off, in third place we have a mighty Swanna with a wingspan that could rival a small plane! Next, we have a blue-striped Basculin caught by Striaton City's very own gym leader, Cilan!"

Cilan's spirits are not at all hampered by this news; he smiles, gives a slight, respectful bow of his head.

"And now," the lavender-haired official drawls, bringing his clipboard close to his face. He brings it down, placing it in the crook of his arm. "In first place, the winner of both the competition and the Incredible Silver Super-Duper Fishing Rod is the owner of an equally incredible red-striped Basculin!"

A loud cheer precedes the sight of a young girl with pigtails running up to the counter. Fixing the purple hat atop her head, she beams up at the lavender-haired official.

"Congratulations!" the lavender-haired official cheers, his eyes on the victor before moving to encompass all the competitors. "You have all done admirably well! I hope you had fun and may you have good luck in your journeys!"

"Man," Ash says. With his arms crossed behind his head, he shares a smile with Pikachu. "It felt good to kick back and just relax with some fishing, huh Pikachu?"

"Pikachu!"

After the lavender-haired official declared the winner, it didn't take long for the crowd to disperse. Well wishes were exchanged and the young girl was given her prize, and that was that. The competitors went their separate ways. This left Ash and his friends the chance to rejoin the path to Nimbasa City and Ash's fourth gym battle.

"It would've been exciting to win such an illustrious prize," Cilan admits cheerfully. "But all in all, I too am glad I competed."

"Not only did I have a fun time, but I caught a new Pokémon too!" Misty adds, holding Frillish's Poké Ball high.

"Marill!" she exclaims, walking beside her partner.

Misty and Marill share a smile.

"Surely you must agree as well?" Cilan says, turning to Iris.

"I guess it was nice." Iris admits. Nonetheless, she crosses her arms over her chest with a huff. "Next time, I'll beat you no matter what!"

"I look forward to it!" Cilan replies, even giving a low bow.

Iris looks away sharply, Bianca choosing that moment to interject. She comes to a stop, and soon, so do Ash and his friends.

"So, where are all of you headed to next?"

"We're going to Nimbasa City." Cilan answers.

"And once we're there, I'm gonna challenge the Nimbasa Gym!" Ash declares.

"Pika Pika!"

"Nimbasa City." Bianca repeats. Lifting a hand, she taps her finger against the side of her cheek. "Nimbasa City? Oh! That's right! That's where my next gym battle is too!"

"You should join us, Bianca!" Iris says.

"Yeah, the more the merrier!" Misty adds.

"I have no complaints!" Cilan adds with a smile as warm as his voice.

"It'd be awesome having another friend with us!" Ash asserts.

"That'd be so awesome!" Bianca says, her sentence punctuated by a low beeping sound. "Ah! My Xtransceiver!"

Bianca's Xtransceiver beeps once more before she activates it.

Ash and his friends don't see who's on the other end, but they do see how Bianca's eyes light up and her cheeks become suffused with red simultaneously.

"Oh!" she cries so loud and sudden that no one can speak. "Hi there, Cheren!"

Iris and Cilan keep their eyes on Bianca whilst Ash and Misty look at each other. 'Cheren' Ash mouths to which Misty only shakes her head.

"Hello Bianca." comes the terse reply. "It's good to see you."

Bianca beams. "I'm so happy to see you! Have you been getting stronger?"

"Dewott and Pansear are training as we speak." Cheren answers, sounding unperturbed by Bianca's exurberance. "Tranquill is busy perfecting his Air Slash attack."

"You sound so busy!" Bianca remarks. "Say, have you heard from Hilda and Hilbert?"

"I have." Cheren admits, a certain warmness in his voice. "Both of them just defeated Clay and got their fifth gym badge."

"Wow." Bianca says.

"If we're not careful, they'll leave us behind." Cheren says.

Bianca hums thoughtfully. "Hey Cheren, do you think we could do some training?"

"That's why I called." Cheren says immediately. "We would catch up much quicker if we worked together."

"That's a great idea!" Bianca cheers. "It's time for some intense training!"

"I'll send you my location and we can begin as soon as you arrive."

Bianca nods her head twice. "Yep, I'll be there before you know it!"

"I'll be waiting. Goodbye."

"Catch you all later!" Bianca says with a wave to Ash and his friends. With a spring in her step, she takes off in the opposite direction. She doesn't get too far before jumping into the air with both hands raised in farewell. "Bye-bye, guys!"

"She moves fast." Misty says.

"There she goes." Ash says. A sad note to his voice, it doesn't dull the smile on his face. "And after I was thinking of battling her Pignite again, too!"

"Pikachu, Pikapi." he says with a comforting pat on his trainer's neck. His meaning is clear.

"No dilly-dallying for her." Iris remarks.

Ash, Misty, Iris, and Cilan share a fond giggle.

"That's for sure!" Cilan agrees.

"We should follow her lead." Misty suggests.

"Right!" Ash shouts, both arms raised above his head. "Nimbasa City, here we come!"

Ash, Misty, Iris, and Cilan take to friendly chatter, resuming their journey to Nimbasa City.

In the darkened interior of a police station - one of many dotting the landscape of Unova - all is quiet and calm. The gentle atmosphere is perfect for Officer Jenny. With no distractions, she's afforded ample time to review all the information on her computer screen.

And the more she sees, the more uncomfortable she becomes.

"I knew there was a reason that that seemed familiar." she remarks. She blinks five times in rapid succession. Looking away from her monitor, she rubs at her eyes. "But what could they possibly be doing here?"

Officer Jenny's movements are quick and greedy when she picks up her nearby mug. She downs the last of her drink in one gulp, the beverage providing a much needed boost of energy to her system.

When she places the mug back down, she catches the eye of her Herdier.

"I know, Herdier." she says, placing a hand on her head. The action comforts Herdier as much as it does Officer Jenny. "It's rather concerning. Who knows what those criminals will do next?"

Herdier barks in agreement.

Officer Jenny smiles, frowning when she turns back to her monitor. She doesn't say anything, taking in the sight of a woman with magenta hair, a man with lavender hair and rose in hand, and a Meowth with a most sinister smirk.

And in the background, surrounded by various blurry pictures and news stories, are two words. In dark crimson lettering, not unlike the insignia she saw during the curious case of the disappearing Audino, are the words Team Rocket.

Originally Added: February 2nd, 2022 as Part of a Two-Part Special.