To my readers-I decided that instead of making 2 huge volumes of A Ketchum's journey, I decided to make them into 4 separate volumes. Volume 1 will contain the Kanto and Johto regions, Volume 2 will contain Hoenn and Sinnoh regions, Volume 3 will contain Unova and Kalos regions, last but not least, Volume 4 will contain Alola and Galar regions. I want each and every one of you to know that if you personally don't like the way I'm writing the fanfic, then you don't have to read it. I will not reach through my laptop to force you to read any fandoms that I write for because you can probably find a lot better fanfics in those fandoms over mine. Even if you can't find what you're looking for and still don't like the way I write it, then I encourage you to write your own. Happy Reading!
I DONT OWN POKEMON. I ONLY OWN MY OC AND THE CREATION OF HER REGIONAL POKEMON TEAMS. ALL REGIONAL POKEMON TEAMS WILL BE POSTED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE CHAPTERS FOR MY OC.
Shoutouts:
Out by a stream, May and Max spot a Zigzagoon drinking from it. "Wow, it's a Zigzagoon." said Max.
"But you have to keep your voice down, or you'll scare it off." said May.
"Zig?" it said, looking up at the Petalburg siblings, then takes off. "Zigzagoon."
"Like that." said May, downhearted as it walks away.
"Hey, that wasn't my fault." said Max.
"Stantler." said a Stantler.
"Look up there." Max tells his sister.
"Huh?"
They looked to see a small herd of Stantler on a bunch of rocks. "Stantler. Stantler, Stantler, Stantler." said the trio. "Stantler!"
"A Stantler and its fawn." said Max.
"How cool." said May. Overhead, Beautifly were fly above the trees, chirping away as they went with the breeze.
"There are so many Pokémon in this forest." said Max.
"I know. I've never seen this many in one place before." said May as she and Max ran back to camp.
"Yeah." said Brock. "Everywhere you look is another one."
"You're right." said Ash as he wraps his arms around Hayley. "There's something strange about that."
"Pika." said Pikachu.
"Like what?" asked Hayley.
"Olu?" asked Meeko.
"Shroomish, Shroomish, Shroomish, Shroomish, Shroomish…." said a couple Shroomish as a Sudowoodo directs them.
"Sudowoodo."
"Hey, no. Wait." said Max, watching them walk away.
"You get too close to them." said May.
"Even I know better than to get that close." said Hayley.
"Riolu." said Meeko.
"Max, you might be scaring them a little bit." said Brock.
"I know, but the real-life Pokémon out here seem so much bigger than the ones in books or on the Pokedex." said Max, his eyes glistening with excitement.
"He should have been there the day Professor Oak met Meeko." said Hayley.
"She would've given him a black eye." said Brock.
"But she didn't." said Ash, scratching Meeko's back.
"Pika." said Pikachu.
"Meeko's met Professor Oak?" asked Max. "So cool!"
"What's the big surprise?" May asked her brother. "If you'd studied up, you'd know how big Pokémon are out here in the wild."
"I have so studied Pokémon, and I'll prove it." said Max, then recites what he read from memory. "Zigzagoon like the one we saw at the river are 16 inches tall and weigh 39 pounds. Shroomish are 16 inches tall and weigh 10 pounds. And Sudowoodo are a rock type and are 3'11" tall and weigh 84 pounds. I know all their statistics, but they just still look different now that I'm seeing them in person for the first time."
"Different how?" asked May.
"When you're close to them, you feel them and smell their scent, and you can even see them breathe." Max tells her.
"Hayley and I know what you mean." said Ash. "Up close, they're really alive, right? All the reading about Pokémon in the world isn't nearly as cool as the experience of seeing them or making friends with them or winning battles with your Pokémon at your side."
Brock scoffs at this, causing Ash to be confused. "Huh?" said Ash.
"Or losing battles, since you have some experience in that area as well." said Brock.
"We've seen that so many times." said Hayley.
Howling was heard nearby, causing them to look up. "Hmm?" asked Brock.
"What was that?" asked Ash.
"Sounded close." said May.
"Up there." said Max, pointing to where the howling was.
"Hmm?" the others asked, looking in that direction where three Hoenn dog like Pokémon howled into the sky before running over towards the quintet.
"Riolu!" said Meeko, bringing her paws up to her face as she stood in front of Hayley.
"Uh-oh." said Ash.
"What are they?" asked May.
"They're Mightyena." said Max.
"Mightyena?" asked Ash and Hayley.
"Mightyena, the bite Pokémon. Mightyena is the evolved form of Poochyena. They move primarily in packs, working together to capture their prey." said Dexter.
The pack of Mightyena growled at the quintet. "They look pretty strong." said Ash.
"Like they would break one of our bones." said Hayley as Ash brings her close to him.
"Now's your chance, Ash." May said. "Use that real-life experience you were talking about and go make friends."
"Actually, my experience is telling me it might be a good time to run." said Ash.
"Chicken." said Hayley.
"No, Ash." said Brock.
"Okay, I guess we could give it a try." said Ash getting one of his Pokéballs. "You ready, Pikachu?"
"Pika." Pikachu replied, ready as he could be.
"Help me out, Forretress." said Brock.
"Forretress." said Forretress.
"Meeko let's go!" said Hayley.
"Riol!" said Meeko.
"Come on, Torchic." said May.
"Torchic." squealed Torchic.
"Pika. Forretress. Riol. Torchic."
The Mightyena trio continued growling at the four Pokémon until one Mightyena goes to bite. "Pikachu, use Thunderbolt." said Ash.
"Pikachu." shouted Pikachu, releasing Thunderbolt from his body, causing Mightyena to dodge and Headbutts him. "Pika!"
"No." said Ash.
"Meeko, use Force Palm." said Hayley.
"Riolu!" shouted Meeko, sending a shock wave from her palm. Before she could make contact, Mightyena bites her body and throws her at Hayley's feet.
"Meeko!" cried Hayley.
"Forretress, Tackle attack!" said Brock.
"Forretress." said Forretress, tackling Mightyena, only for it to dodge and a couple small puppy like Pokémon attacks Torchic.
"Hey, there's a Poochyena." said Max.
"And there's two of them." said Hayley.
"Why are you attacking us?" asked Ash.
"Chy!" growled both Poochyena.
"That's enough, Poochyena, both of you." said a woman, looking at both of them. "Do you mind telling me what you're doing here? This entire area is a Pokémon preserve."
"Really?" asked Ash.
"We did it again, didn't we?" Hayley asked Ash and Brock.
"Looks like we did." Ash tells her, before looking back at the woman. "We're sorry. We didn't know."
"We're just cutting through on our way to Rustboro City." May explained.
"Rustboro City?" questioned the woman.
"Yeah, I'm going there to have a gym battle." said Ash.
"Pika." said Pikachu.
"With his baby sister and her Pokémon partner as his cheerleaders." said Hayley.
"Olu." said Meeko.
"I didn't mean to sound suspicious, but we get poachers here sometimes, so I really have to be careful." she said. "I'm Katrina. I'm ranger for this Pokémon preserve."
"Hi, I'm Ash." said Ash. "It's nice to meet you."
"And I'm May."
"I'm Hayley."
"I'm Max, Katrina."
"And my name's Brock, but you can call me…." Brock said, getting in Katrina's personal space. "Sweetheart. Or Romeo, or whichever you prefer."
"Um, wow." said Katrina.
"It must have been fate that we would find each other here, Katrina." Brock continued, lovingly as Mightyena and Poochyena growled at him. "You're like a beautiful flower growing in the wild, and I'm….."
"Riolu!" shouted Meeko, giving Brock a strong punch in the back.
"Hey, no biting! No more punches!" said Brock as he fell to the ground.
"Yeah, Yeah. But I prefer to call you, lover-boy rather than sweetheart, Romeo and everything else that comes to mind." said Hayley, dragging Brock by his arm while Meeko sits on his stomach.
"Ow!" shouted Brock as one of the Poochyena follows her, growling at him.
"These woods are supposed to be full of Pokémon." said Jessie, walking on the preserve with James and Meowth. "We've been walking for hours and haven't seen a single one."
"No decent restaurants neither." whined Meowth.
"At this point, I'd settle for a chili dog stand." said James.
"A hot dog." said Jessie.
"Sauerkraut and mustard." said Meowth when suddenly Murkrow flies in front of them, making Team Rocket scream in fear.
"Murkrow." said Murkrow.
"Whats that, Meowth?" Jessie asked.
"Just a lousy Murkrow." he answered.
"Hmm? Hey, look over there." said James.
"Huh?"
They then see a Hoothoot on a tree branch, chilling with an Aipom. "Hoothoot." Jessie said, then looks at Aipom. "And an Aipom. And a Furret, and a Spinarak."
"This is great." said Meowth. "There are Pokémon coming out of the woodwork."
"Wobbuffet." Wobbuffet said, holding a sign.
"No one asked you, all right?" Jessie said to Wobbuffet.
"What's that sign its holding onto?" James asked, curiously.
"Does it mention hot dog?" asked Meowth, then gathered around the sign.
"Let's see now: 'This marks the boundary of the Pokémon Preserve, so no trespassing. This means you'." said Jessie as she read the sign aloud.
"Pokémon preserve?" asked Team Rocket.
"How interesting." Jessie said, smirking.
"A Pokémon hodgepodge." said James.
"A whole group to scoop." said Meowth. On Katrina's ranch, an injured Tauros was grazing as it mooed.
"Welcome to the Preserve center." said Katrina, showing the quintet. "This is where we nurse sick and injured Pokémon back to health."
"I can't believe how many different Pokémon you're taking care of, Katrina." said May.
"Yeah, this little one got injured when it was lost in the woods, but it's almost better now." said Katrina as she held a water Pokémon in her hands.
"Azurill. Azurill, Azurill." it said and hops away.
"You're great." said Brock. "You're the girl I've been looking for to work alongside and share my dream of caring for and healing Pokémon."
"You're a doctor? What kind?" asked Katrina.
"Well, all kinds: M.D., CD, DJ…." said Brock, listing of what he claims to be a doctor of when both Poochyena knocked him to the ground.
"Good aim." said Hayley.
"Riolu, Riolu." said Meeko, nodding in approval. Poochyena #1 blushed and beamed as Poochyena # 2 growled at Brock.
"Poochy." said Poochyena #2.
"Poochyena!" scolded Katrina, causing both of them to have sad faces. "What kind of behavior is that, huh? Now no more tackling, or you both get a time-out."
"Pika?" Pikachu asked, then hops onto Hayley's shoulder. "Pika, Pika."
"I agree. I thought only I could do that." said Hayley.
"Riol." agreed Meeko.
"You could learn a lot from her, you know." said Ash as both Poochyena whimpers.
"She even knows how to scold beautifully." said Brock.
"Poochyena, the bite Pokémon. Poochyena is the pre-evolved form of Mightyena. Its biting strength is superior to other Pokémon and has the endurance to chase opponents down until completely exhausted." said Dexter as they see both Poochyena curled up.
"It probably won't be long now before the both of you evolve into a Mightyena." said Max.
"I'm not so sure." said Katrina.
"Huh?"
"Those Poochyena were born at the same time as those other three, but they all evolved into Mightyena together, and that was a while ago." Katrina explained to Max.
"So, these Poochyena are way behind schedule." said Max. "I wonder why."
"Well, my guess is that their habit of using Tackle attack on everyone has kept them out of too many battle." said Katrina. "But I wouldn't worry about it."
"Why not?" asked Max.
"It's really not a problem, Max." said Katrina. "When you've seen as many Pokémon as I have, you know that each one evolves at its own pace. And when the time is right, Poochyena will evolve, too. It's also possible that it may never evolve at all, and that's okay too."
"No, it's not!" shouted Max, waking up the two Poochyena. "Everybody knows when a Pokémon evolves, it gets much more powerful. That gives it advantage in battle and confidence to take care of itself. Poochyena, you both want to become more powerful, right?"
"Poochy." said Poochyena #1, then trots over to Hayley, jumping into her lap while Poochyena #2 tilts its head and sighs.
"Just think about how cool it'll be once you've both evolved and you can run through the woods and mountains with the other Mightyena." said Max.
"I have to admit, he makes evolving sound pretty good." May thought to herself. "Just imagine my Torchic evolved." May daydreams about her Torchic being bigger, stronger and having a six-pack abs.
"Torchic, Torchic." it said.
"Maybe not." she said to herself. "Oh, I know. I'll check it on my Pokedex."
"Combusken, the young fowl Pokémon. Combusken is the evolved form of Torchic. Its quick, powerful kicking legs can deliver as many as ten kicks per second." said Dexter.
"Well, that would be totally awesome, right?" May asked.
"So, a Combusken, huh?" asked Max.
"Yeah, so?" she questioned.
"Well, you want a Combusken, and I want to see a Pokémon evolve." said Max. "So give it a try. There must be something you can do to help Torchic evolve."
"Okay, yeah." said May, looking through her Pokedex.
"You can't." said Ash.
"Huh?" said May and Max.
"You can't get a Pokémon to evolve just because you want it to." He then explained. "Your Pokémon has to gain experience first through battling, and it takes a while."
"Great." huffed Max. "Why does stuff take so long?"
"Because its apart of life. That's why." said Hayley.
"Hayley's got you there, Max." said Brock. "Don't get all bummed out about it. If evolving Pokémon was quick and easy, it wouldn't be any fun anyway."
"What do you mean?" asked Max.
"Just think. Pokémon only evolve after they've battled and traveled with you for a long time." said Ash. "All those wins and losses and getting to know each other on the way are part of the experience. That's the thing that so cool about evolution. Right, you three?"
"It's true." said Hayley.
"Pika, Pika." said Pikachu.
"Riolu." said Meeko.
"Speaking of Pikachu and Meeko, why haven't they evolved after all this time?" asked May.
"Yeah, Pikachu should've become a Raichu a while ago and Hayley, do you know if Meeko has an evolutionary line?" said Max.
"Well, as strong as Pikachu and Meeko are, if they haven't evolved yet, then I guess I can forget about my Torchic evolving anytime soon." said May.
"That's not true, May." said Ash. "You can't compare Torchic, Meeko and Pikachu 'cause the three of them evolve in different ways."
"Pikachu." said Pikachu, smiling at May and Max.
"Are you saying that there are different kinds of evolution?" asked May.
"There is." said Hayley.
"Allow Hayley and me." said Brock. "When Poochyena evolve into Mightyena or Pineco evolve into Forretress, for both of them, it's all a matter of the level they've reached. Other Pokémon such as Pikachu need one of a group of special stones to shape their evolution."
"Like that Ninetales over there." said Hayley, looking in the direction of Ninetales. "It probably found a fire stone to help its evolution."
"I didn't know that." said May.
"That's right." said Brock, then shows May and Max a Thunderstone. "Pikachu will only evolve into a Raichu if a Thunderstone is the one that's used. Probably the most famous Pokémon when it comes to the concept of branched evolution is Eevee. The very same Eevee depending on whether a Thunder Stone, Water Stone or Fire stone is being used, can evolve into a Jolteon, a Vaporeon or a Flareon. And depending on the skill of its trainer, it could also evolve into an Espeon or an Umbreon."
"So you see, what we call evolution can actually mean a lot of different things." said Brock. "Ready for the test?"
"What test, Brock?" asked Hayley.
"Define Pokémon evolution in an essay of 9,000 words." said Brock. "Just kidding, that's all for today, class."
"Wow." said May. "Thank you, Brock."
"Yeah, I think I understand now." said Max. "And since I know how cool it is, I'm even more determined to see a Pokémon evolve. Let's do it. It'll be really great. Come on, May."
"But, Max, didn't you hear what Ash, Hayley and Brock just told us?" asked May. "You can't make a Pokémon evolve just because you want it to."
"Why do you always have to be a big bummer when it's something that I want to do?" asked Max. "All we need to do is give both Poochyena a little push, and they'll evolve."
"Huh?"
"What are you talking about?" asked Ash.
"Since we know these Poochyena's friends have already evolved into Mightyena, and since all five of them were born at the same time, these two are obviously ready to evolve any minute now, and I don't want to miss it." said Max. "We've just got to stay here till it happens, please."
"Yena!" said Poochyena #1, pressing its body into Hayley's.
"Max, this Poochyena doesn't want to evolve right now." said Hayley, holding the one in her lap.
"But….does it want to be strong?" asked Max. Poochyena #1 starts growling at Max as it wiggled in Hayley's lap. Out of nowhere, one of Hayley's empty Pokéballs falls to the ground. It then hops out of Hayley's arms, runs over and presses it, letting it be captured.
"You know….I was kinda hoping to battle it before I capture it." said Hayley as the ding was heard.
"And I wanted to watch you battle it too." said Ash.
"What? It's letting Hayley train it?" asked Max, pouting.
"Yeah and that means I'm not going to force it to evolve right away." said Hayley, picking up the Pokeball. "I want it to tell me when it's ready, not by force."
"When it's ready?" asked May.
"Hayley has always let her Pokémon decide when they want to evolve." said Brock, smiling as May nodded.
"Earlier, you've asked if Meeko had an evolution line. I know that Meeko has an evolution line and that's without a doubt." said Hayley. "Meeko will evolve into a Lucario one day and she'll learn all new kinds of different attacks."
"Riol!" Meeko said, nodding.
"Really?" Max asked as Hayley nodded.
"Yep. Until she's ready to evolve, Meeko's going to stay the way she is and I don't mind." said Hayley, bumping her head against Meeko's.
"Oh…." said Max, then turns back to Poochyena #2, still eager to help it evolve.
"We're supposed to be on our way to Rustboro." Ash said, reminding Max about his first Gym Battle.
"And remember, there's no guarantee it'll evolve soon, but I do have room if you want to stay here for a while." said Katrina.
"But I have a gym battle that…." Ash started to say when Brock interrupts.
"We accept, Katrina." said Brock, taking her hands. "I agree we should be together, and if you need any help with the housework."
"Uh, okay." she said, laughing nervously.
"Poochyena, don't you worry." Max said, picking up Poochyena. "I'm gonna do everything I can to help you evolve, 'kay?"
"Yena." whimpered Poochyena.
"You're gonna be a big Mightyena before you know it." said Max.
"Torchic." said Torchic as they were behind the center.
"Okay, Poochyena." said Max. "Try it once more."
Torchic squawks as it was knocked back into the ground and rolled into a bush. "No, you used Tackle again." said Max. "You've got to start using Bite instead, Poochyena. It does lots more damage."
Poochyena sighs as it looks up at Max. "Try again and use Bite this time." suggested Max.
"Chy!" said Poochyena.
"Go, Poochyena." shouted Max.
"Chy!" Poochyena cried out, trying to use Bite but made the decision to use Tackle.
"No, not again." said Max.
"Tor, Torchic." Torchic said, standing its ground and uses Ember. "Tor!"
"Chy." said Poochyena, then coughs out a small puff of smoke.
"Hey, ae you all right?" Max asked Poochyena.
"Torchic." said Torchic, still using Ember as its attack hits Max, making him groan and fall to the ground. "Torchic."
"You used Ember." said Max as Torchic turns its head and walks away.
"You know, I give this round to Torchic." said Hayley, standing over Max and holding her newly named Poochyena in her arms.
"You do?" asked Max.
"I do." said Hayley.
"Poochy." yipped Rex.
"I thought we agreed that you weren't gonna use Ember attack." Max said to Torchic, letting out a small puff of smoke. "Oh, boy."
"Pik. Pika." said Pikachu, eating some Pokémon food. "Pika."
"Pretty good, huh, Pikachu?" asked Ash.
"Ash, can I borrow Pikachu for a minute?" asked Max with Hayley behind him who was shaking her head and mouthing 'No'.
"Huh?"
"Or maybe Treecko to Taillow would be better, or maybe all three." said Max.
"Okay, I guess." said Ash as Hayley face palms.
"Oh, good." said Max.
"Don't do it, Ash." said May, walking up to Max. "He's gonna make them lose on purpose so that Poochyena will evolve, aren't you?"
"Tor, Torchic." said Torchic, glaring at Max.
"Max." said Ash. "Is that what you've been doing?"
"Yeah." said Max, resigning in defeat. "Hayley wouldn't let me use Meeko or Ziggy, so I thought I'd asked you. How else can I get Poochyena to evolve?"
"I know this means a lot to you." Ash said to Max. "But it won't mean anything to Poochyena if it ends up evolving in some battle that was just faked anyway. You don't want that."
"No." said Max.
"That's why I gave the round to Torchic." said Hayley, scratching the side of Torchic's head.
"Torchic!" squealed Torchic.
"Chy?" asked Poochyena. Outside, Poochyena was using Tackle over and over again on the Mightyena Trio.
"There's got to be some way I can help you." said Max. "But what? I'm stuck."
"Max." said Ash as he, Hayley and May walked up.
"Huh? Hi, guys." he said, looking up.
"Something else I thought of." said Ash. "Lots of Pokémon are happy the way they are, and they don't even want to evolve. Pikachu has learned lots of ways to be just as powerful as it would have even if he had evolved into a Raichu. Right, pal?"
"Pikachu." Pikachu said, smiling.
"Pikachu's ways of being just as powerful has even rubbed off on Meeko." said Hayley as she motioned them to watch Meeko, punching the air.
"You understand?" they both asked.
"Yeah, I get it." said Max. "You don't want me to cheat. Don't worry."
"Max, where're you going?" asked Ash.
"Come on, Poochyena." said Max as it follows him out into the forest.
"That was weird." said Ash.
"Well, he's a weird kid." said May.
"Believe me, I've already lived with weird." said Hayley.
"Who's weird?" asked Ash, making Hayley give her brother a look.
"What's up?" Katrina asked the trio.
"Hmm?" they said.
"Still trying to help my brother." said May.
"What's going on in the Preserve, Katrina?" asked Ash.
"Any poachers yet?" asked Hayley.
"I found this." she said, showing them a piece of a net. "It's part of a trap for catching Pokémon."
"A trap?" Ash asked.
"That means…." said May.
"There are poachers out there." said Ash.
"Pika." said Pikachu.
"Oh yeah. We rock. We rock." said Team Rocket.
"This is gonna get us that promotion for sure." said Jessie.
"Or at least a good, hearty thank you." said Meowth.
"I can buy a new house." Jessie said to James.
"I can move out of Mom's." said James.
"Let's partay!" they both said cheerfully.
"Guys." said Meowth.
"Huh?"
"Things only keep getting better." he tells them as he sees Max with Poochyena.
"This looks like a good spot, Poochyena." said Max. "Now remember, you can't evolve with fake battles, but we can at least make sure your first opponents are easy ones."
"Yena." said Poochyena.
"Let's see." said Max. "We should probably avoid flying Pokémon because they're hard to hit with direct attacks. And we don't want to battle Pokémon that have special attacks like Stun Spore either. Anything else is fair game."
"Chy!" yipped Poochyena.
"Well, it's the little mini-twerp." said Jessie.
"Our lucky day." said James.
"And isn't that a Poochyena?" Jessie asked.
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" asked Meowth.
"I know you like to use Tackle, and you're really good at it," Max said to Poochyena. "but remember, it'll only be effective against an opponent that's your size or smaller."
"Yena." said Poochyena, saddened that Max wants it to use a different attack.
"So you're gonna have to start using Bite." said Max. "Pay attention to me, and you're gonna evolve. I promise."
"I get it. He's trying to evolve it into a Mightyena by playing coach." said Meowth.
"What do you say we give the little twerp a helping hand?" asked Jessie.
Poochyena yawns, tired from all the fake battling that it was doing as Max looks around the forest. "Hmm. Now let's find a good opponent for you to battle." said Max. He then sees something behind him and Poochyena.
"Hmm? Wow, what's this?" He asked as Poochyena gasps. "Nah, walk away."
"Red alert." said Jessie.
"Huh?"
"Our secret laboratory has been discovered. Whatever will we do?" Jessie asked, as she and James threw on disguises as scientists.
"It's a disaster." said James.
"Can you be trusted to keep our research a secret?" Jessie asked Max.
"Strictly hush-hush?" asked James.
"I guess so." said Max, annoyed. "What exactly is your research?"
"If I told you, it wouldn't be top-secret Pokémon evolution research anymore, wouldn't it?" questioned James.
"Evolution research?" asked Max, shocked at what James was telling him.
"Oh, dear." said James, pretending to be in shock. "Did that really slip out of my mouth?"
"Well, now that he knows, let's just show him a little bit." said Jessie.
"Keep this under your hat." said James.
"I don't have a hat, but I can keep a secret." said Max.
"Okay." said Jessie as she held up Meowth. "Here we have your basic Meowth. I simply place it gently inside the machine."
"And pull the lever thingy." said James, pulling the lever. The doors closed before Meowth, who then made distorted noises and puts on a costume.
"Behold." said Jessie as Meowth sat there with a Persian costume on.
"Persian." said Meowth, mimicking his evolved form.
"That's incredible." said Max, believing that Meowth had actually evolved. "You evolved a Meowth into a Persian in like five seconds."
"Yena." said Poochyena, confused by Team Rocket's machine.
"Usually faster." said Jessie. "We call it the, 'You got it, we evolve it Mark One Machine'."
"So, what do you think?" asked James.
"That was so cool." said Max. "Can you do it some more?"
"Well, I don't see why not." said Jessie. "We'll use the same Persian, but this time…."
"We'll reset the controls for something else." said James.
"One, two, three, four, five." said Meowth, as the doors closed once again and when they opened, Meowth was now wearing a Sunflora costume. "Sun, Sun, Sun, Sun."
"Wah!" Max said, now weirded out. "Persian evolved into a Sunflora? But that's not possible."
"Oh, sure. That's what they all told Albert Einstein before he invented the light bulb." said Jessie. "I guess he showed them what's not possible, didn't he?"
"Edison invented the light bulb." said Max, skeptically.
"He certainly did." said Jessie. "Shall we move on?"
"Stand by. Here goes." said James, pulling the lever again and Meowth puts on a Marill, an Aipom, and a Murkrow costumes.
"I'm pretty good." said Meowth, switching into another costume. "They're going a bit quick for my motivation to really kick in. Ah, but my fans need me." Then there was a knock from outside. "Ah! Wait! I'm not ready yet."
Once the doors open, Meowth had put on three different costumes. "Per-meow-sun?" Meowth asked, looking at the costumes he mistakenly put on.
"Hmm." said Max, looking closely at Meowth as James and Jessie gasped, before blocking his view.
"What do you say we give your Poochyena a try?" asked Jessie.
"We'll turn it into any Pokémon you'd like it to be." said James.
"I knew it was rigged." stated Max. "Let's go, Poochy…."
"Wait." said Jessie, grabbing Poochyena before Max. "Let's just give it a try."
"No. Give it back." Max demanded.
"No need to worry." she tells Max. "We do this all the time. Here goes."
Poochyena whimpers as it was placed inside Team Rocket's 'Evolution' machine. Jessie and James held Max back from helping. "Ah! No!" screamed Max.
"Go ahead, Meowth." said Jessie. Meowth snickers as the machine finally explodes, causing Max to cover his eyes and groans. When he looked up, Max finally sees what was going on while Team Rocket laughs at him.
"Thanks for your cooperation." said Jessie.
"Off we go to the lab." said James. Poochyena whimpers, calling out to Max for help.
"Give it back to me." said Max.
"We can't." said Jessie.
"All in the name of science." said James and Max growled at them.
"Max." May called out.
"Huh?"
He then turns to see May and the others run towards him. "Are you okay, Max?" asked Ash.
"Are you hurt?" asked Hayley.
"Pika, Pika! Riolu!" said Pikachu and Meeko.
"Hey, you guys." said Max, smiling as they arrived. "I'm so glad you're here."
Jessie chuckles as everyone joins Max. "So are we." said James.
"You must be the poachers, aren't you?" asked Katrina.
"Prepare for trouble as we blind you with science." said Jessie.
"And make it double while we show our defiance using something more simple than a kitchen appliance." said James.
"Shall we reveal who we are?" Jessie asked James.
"Whee!" squealed James as they threw off their disguise.
"To protect the world from devastation!"
"To unite all people within our nation!"
"To denounce the evils of truth and love!"
"To extend our reach to the stars above!"
"Jessie!"
"James!"
"Team Rocket blasts off at the speed of light!" said Jessie.
"Surrender now or prepare to fight, fight, fight!" said James.
"Meowth, that's right!" said Meowth.
"Wobbuffet!" shouted Wobbuffet.
"Team Rocket." said Ash.
"What are you up to now?" asked Brock.
"Just this." said James.
"Look. Up there." said Jessie as James makes a grab Pikachu.
"Pika!" shouted Pikachu.
"Pikachu." said Ash.
"I've got to hand it to myself." said James.
"So long, fools." said Jessie as Team Rocket takes off in their balloon.
"See ya." they called out.
"Don't it feel good when you get everything on your shopping list?" asked Meowth.
"Next time we'll get Meeko." said James. In the net below, Poochyena whimpers as it watches its pack follow them. As the Mightyena trio barked at Poochyena, it whimpers again, wondering what it should do.
"You won't get away, Team Rocket." said Ash.
"Give us back our Pikachu!" screamed Hayley.
"Taillow, let's go!" shouted Ash.
"Rex, help us out!" shouted Hayley.
"Taillow."
"Chy!"
Taillow flies up and starts pecking Team Rocket's heads, causing them to lower the balloon. "Way to go, Taillow." said Ash. They then hear Rex's high-pitched howl in front of them.
"Hang on." said Max, running ahead of them. "Poochyena. Remember what we worked on. Use Bite."
"Poochy…" whimpered Poochyena and shakes its head at Max.
"Don't be afraid." Max assured Poochyena. "Just bite through the net. If you do, you can save all your friends." Poochyena looks at its friends, as they encouraged Poochyena to bite through the net.
"Bite it, Poochyena. Bite." said Max. "You can do it. I believe in you."
"Poochyena!" yipped Rex. Poochyena was now determined to use Bite and starts chewing through the net, ripping it apart. Katrina and the others were shocked and amazed that it learned a new move as Max was proud of Poochyena.
"Way to go!" said Max. All the Pokémon that were in the net, fell towards the ground, causing Team Rocket to look over the wicker basket.
"Now that's taking a bite out of crime." said Meowth. James continued to whimper as Taillow pecks his head, causing the man to let go of Pikachu.
"Huh?" said Team Rocket.
"Pika." said Pikachu, landing on the side of the basket.
"Taillow." said Taillow.
"Now, Pikachu, Thunderbolt." said Ash.
"Pik, Pikachu." shouted Pikachu as Thunderbolt leaves his body and Team Rocket screamed in pain.
"Looks like Team Rocket's blasting off again!" shouted Team Rocket.
"Wobbuffet." added Wobbuffet.
"You did it, Poochyena." Max said, praising Poochyena. "You saved the day."
"Yena!" howled Poochyena, smiling at Max.
"Ash and Jordan were right." said Max. "You're already a great Pokémon whether you ever evolve or not."
"And that goes for you too." Hayley said to Rex.
"Poochy!" yipped Rex, wagging his tail.
"Pooch!" howled Poochyena when suddenly white light surrounded its body.
"Ah! What's wrong?" asked Max.
"Why is it glowing?" asked May.
"It's beginning to evolve." said Katrina.
"No way." said Max.
"Guess who's seeing their first evolution!" sang Hayley, smiling as Poochyena gets bigger, becoming Mightyena.
"Awesome." said Max. "Look, May."
"Yeah." she replied.
"Mightyena!" howled Mightyena.
"Amazing. It's a Mightyena." said Max. Mightyena's packmates and Rex gathered around, cooing at it as they were proud.
"Evolution's such a cool thing." said May.
"No doubt about that." said Brock.
"Way to go, Poochy….I mean, Mightyena." said Max. "You're the greatest Pokémon I've ever, ever known."
"And I promise to take care of this one." said Hayley, picking up Rex.
"Mighty!" barked Mightyena, nodding at Hayley.
"I betcha that Poochyena really understood how you felt, Max." said Ash.
"Pika, Pika." said Pikachu.
"And it evolved for you." said Katrina.
"Yeah." said Max.
Narrator: Thanks to trust and a little persistence, Max and May witness Pokémon evolution for the first time.
Hayley: And it won't be the last.
Meeko: Riol.
Narrator: Yep. And as their journey continues, they're sure to experience many more secrets from the world of Pokémon.