Pokemon: Friends to the End
Chapter 62: Hot Springing A Leak!
Ash was training Turtwig to learn Energy Ball while Brock, Dawn, Denise, Pikachu and Piplup watched.
"Turtwig, Energy Ball now!"Ash ordered.
Turtwig charges the green sphere and proceeds to launch it, but the sphere dissipates beforehand.
"Ooh, so close."Denise admitted.
The Grass Type looks down in sadness.
"Hey don't worry."Ash assured. "Try it again."
"Pikachu!"Pikachu agreed.
"Ash, it's getting late."Brock reminded. "We better go, let's get to the first town before it gets dark."
"Yeah, okay."Ash replied. "I guess your right."
"Twig."Turtwig answered.
"We'll work later don't worry."Ash assured. "Don't you feel tired?"
Turtwig sighed sadly. "Twig."
"All right, Turtwig, return."Ash said and returned the grass type back in it's pokeball.
Dawn looked at Piplup.
"They're working hard and so should we right?"She asked.
"Piplup."Piplup responded.
"Okay Brock, I am so ready for a nice hot bath in the pokemon center and a good night sleep."Ash said.
"Problem is there isn't a pokemon center in the next town I see."Brock replied looking at his map book.
"What?"Ash said in disbelief.
"So why don't we all go to a hot spring?"Dawn suggested.
"We know one nearby that they allow pokemon in too."Denise admitted kindly.
"Cool."Ash remarked.
"How do you two know there is one near here?"Brock asked.
"Easy."Dawn answered. "One of mine and Denise's best friend happens to live in a hot spring hotel."
"Not to mention they also have exquisite lunch."Denise added with a smile.
"Talk about good luck."Brock remarked.
"Great, all right, hot spring here I come!"Ash said happily.
"Pika pika!"Pikachu agreed.
The four heroes then began to make their way to the hot springing hotel.
When they arrived they saw a girl talking to her three Swinubs to help her out.
"Leona!"Dawn and Denise called out in unison.
"Dee-Dee!"Leona responded. "Neecy!"
This caused Dawn and Denise to stop on their tracks.
"Please we just had enough of those names!"Dawn reminded.
"Yeah!"Denise scowled. "Don't forget, I've hated Amy's guts more ever since she called me, Neecy!"
"Okay, I get it."Leona answered with a nervous smile. "It's been such a long time, it's great to see you both."
"It's great to see you too."Dawn answered.
"Yeah, how is the hot spring hotel by the way?"Denise asked.
"To tell you the truth things have been a little bit slow lately."Leona said sadly and then smiled. "Anyway I saw you both on TV in competing one of your contests the other day."
"Oh..."Dawn chuckled with a tight nervous smile.
"You have seen that, huh?"Denise asked.
"Sorry that you lost the first round but no need to worry, you'll win the next contest."Leona assured. "When that happens I promise we'll all be there too cheer you onto victory."
"I'm afraid my next contest won't be for a while."Dawn answered.
"As a matter of fact, we're both taking a break to recharge our batteries."Denise explained.
"Really?"Leona asked. "That's a surprise..."
"So there's no better way to take a break to chill out in the hot spring in your hotel."Dawn remarked. "And you know our pokemon got to feel the same way too."
"Yeah, well, I guess it's okay..."Leona said.
"Would you two present us to your buddy already?"Ash asked.
"Oops sorry guys."Denise apologised. "This one of your childhood friends back in kindergarten, Leona and Leona, say hello to our friends, Ash and Brock."
"Oh hello."Leona replied with a bow. "I've been working hard to be a pokemon trainer."
"Awesome that's what me and Denise are doing."Ash admitted. "Hey, I know how about we have a battle?"
"A battle sounds great."Leona commented. "The thing is I really don't have time right now."
"You don't?"Ash said sadly.
"Come on, let's go jump on that hot spring."Dawn suggested.
"Umm, but the thing is..."Leona started.
"Please Leona, we're going now if that's alright."Denise replied.
"But it's not ready."Leona stated.
"No need to worry."Dawn assured with a smile. "I'm sure we can find it all by ourselves, come on, guys, let's go!"
Denise, Ash and Brock followed her inside the hotel.
"But Dawn, Denise!"Leona protested and looked down sadly.
A Moment After...
The four heroes placed on their swimming costumes on and found the hot spring with their pokemon.
"The healing water in this hot spring are supposed to be good for anything and everything to heal you no matter what."Denise explained.
"I'm in first!"Ash remarked.
The Pallet Town Trainer jumped in followed by the others but much to their surprise they find the pool shallow and cold.
"This is it?"Dawn said in surprise.
"It's shallow."Brock complemented.
"And cold."Ash added.
"Weird."Denise stated.
"I tried to warn you."Leona commented as she rushed forward. "I'm so sorry, but the hot spring is not flowing right now."
The four heroes gasped in shock.
Afterwards...
The heroes placed back on their usual clothes and went out of the spring so that Leona can talk to them.
"I guess you can tell how embarrassed I am right?"Leona chuckled weakly.
"What's wrong with the hot spring?"Dawn asked.
"Last week out of no where, the water just stopped flowing."Leona explained. "The hot springs are located at the top of that mountain, the water runs by a huge pipe right down the mountain side and when it stopped, mum and dad went to investigate."
"I see that's why your here by yourself."Denise admitted.
"Right."Leona said. "I'm really wish you could check it out for yourselves how relaxed the hot springs can make you heal, but at this rate if things don't change for the better we would have to close up the hotel for good."
"Wow, I was so looking forward for a little aroma, well what can you do?"Dawn asked.
Piplup sighed. "Piplup."
"Hey no need to worry."Leona reminded.
"Exactly."Denise chuckled.
Brock looked at Ash.
"There's no doubt those three grew up together."He remarked.
"Like three peas in pod."Ash added.
"But that's when I worry the most."Dawn admitted.
"Dawn, I'm serious."Leona commented and looked at her three Swinubs. "My Swinub are on the case, they promised to find another hot spring to tap into."
"Aw, they're so cute."Denise remarked sweetly.
"Those are Swinubs?"Dawn asked.
She took out her pokedex.
"Swinub, the Pig Pokémon."Dawn's Pokedex said. "Swinub love mushrooms that grow under the dead grass, searching for them by smell and often discovering hot springs in the process."
"Oh I get it."Ash said. "That means your Swinubs can really find hot springs."
"Right."Leona agreed. "On top of that, I can teach my Swinubs how to learn Dig too."
"Awesome, just what me and Dennie expect from you."Dawn commented.
"That reminds me..."Denise said.
Flashback...
In kindergarten, Dawn was crying while Denise was comforting her.
"Don't cry, sis."Denise said sadly.
She glared at Amy who was chuckling proudly on the jungle gym with two other kindergarten girls.
Then Leona walked up to the twins.
"Is that bully Amy still picking on you two?"She asked.
"Yeah!"Denise replied with a frown. "She says neither of us don't have what it takes to be pokemon coordinators."
"Hey, no need to worry."Leona assured.
"Really?"Dawn sobbed.
"Sure!"Leona answered. "You two won't be able to stop her and her gang by yourselves but if we do it together we can't lose!"
Back in Reality...
"What we need to do is work as a team!"Dawn suggested.
"That's right, sis."Denise agreed. "That we can find the hot spring sooner."
Leona nodded with a smile.
"Sounds good."Ash agreed. "I wanna help too."
"Yeah, me too."Brock commented.
"Pikachu!"Pikachu said happily.
Piplup smiled. "Piplup."
"Okay, let's go!"Leona remarked.
The three Swinubs take the lead as they pike up a scent of a hot spring.
"I'm certain there's gotta be another source of the hot spring hidden somewhere else on this moutain."Leona said.
The three Swinubs paused for a little bit before rushing ahead.
"They picked up a scent of the hot spring!"Leona remarked.
The four heroes smiled at each other.
"What do you know, well that was easy."Ash admitted.
"Yeah."Denise responded.
The four heroes followed Leona and the three Swinubs.
"Swin!"the three Swinubs answered in unison.
"Swinubs, found something?"Leona asked.
"Swin!"the three Swinubs called out. "Swin!"
Leona and the four heroes looked up and saw a source of steam not far from where they were.
"I see steam!"Dawn said.
"I can smell that hot spring too."Leona commented.
"And it smells great as well."Denise admitted.
The three girls smiled at each other.
When the group get there, they notice that a new hotel was being built with a freshly dug hot spring.
"What?"Leona asked in disbelief. "They're building a new hotel?"
"The hot spring is already dug out."Ash said.
"I guess we're a little too late."Brock commented.
Then a small builder, who was actually Meowth in disguise, walked up to them.
"Alright kiddies, this is no saying box we've got work to do."Meowth retorted. "Move to another spot."
"Excuse me that's my hot spring from the hotel down the mountain."Leona stated with a glare. "Are you saying this hot spring belongs to you three?"
"You are perceptive."Jessie admitted.
"And I tell you we worked hard to build this spring."James commented.
"Yeah, what he says."Meowth agreed. "See we've been doing more digging than a group of music lovers or a rock concert."
"Hold on."Leona said with a thoughtful look.
"What is it, Leona?"Dawn asked. "Something wrong?"
"I know our hot spring water like the back of my hand."Leona stated. "The way it smells, it's looks and this water is the same."
She placed her hand on the water.
"I knew it!"Leona admitted. "It feels the same too!"
"Swinub!"the three Swinubs chirped.
"Seems like your Swinubs agree to that."Denise commented.
Leona glared at the three builders.
"I'll tell you what I think I think you tapped into our pipe without permission!"She said angrily.
The three builders freaked out with nervous looks.
"So taste, feel or touch but I don't see any possible truth!"Jessie remarked.
"What do you mean?!"Leona questioned.
"Like I said."Jessie replied. "You got some nerdy nerve."
"Opportunists!"James chuckled.
"Looney toonists!"Meowth added with a smirk.
Suddenly a Wooper appears from the pipe with a transponder on its tail.
Ash picked up the Wooper and checked it.
"Hey guys check it out."He said. "This Wooper has something stuck on it's tail."
"Wooper wooper."Wooper replied.
"Whoa that Wooper belongs to mama and papa."Leona said.
"Is that Leona?"A male voice asked.
"I think so."A female voice answered.
The group turned around and saw Leona's parents.
"Look it is Leona."Leona's mum said.
"Whoa what a coincidence."Leona's dad admitted.
"Hi, mum and dad!"Leona greeted. "Come on down."
Leona's parents mention that when they checked their pipeline, the found another pipe attached directly to theirs, diverting water away from their hot spring.
"We put a transmitter to our Wooper to go directly into the other pipe."Leona's mum explained.
"And if the Wooper came back in this hot spring, we know what that mean!"Leona commented with a smirk.
Leona and her parents looked at the three builders.
"You liars!"Leona snapped. "This is our hot spring and you know it!"
Team Rocket remove their disguises and recite their motto.
"Looks like this court sides with the twerps."Jessie remarked. "But we object, of course!"
"You're twerps, consider the source."James added.
"On the wind!"
"The stars!"
"The Force!
"Bringing chaos with a spring in our step,
"Dashing hope with vigor and pep!
"A spring by any other name is just as hot!"
"We need to relax, we want what you've got!
"Jessie!"
"Jolly James!"
"Meowth's the name!"
"Putting me at ease and you in your place!"
"We're Team Rocket!"
"In your face!"
"Wobbuffet!"
"Mime, mime, mime!"
"They're an interesting group for sure."Leona's Father said.
"And that seems a lot of fun."Leona's Mum remarked kindly.
"Well, maybe for you but for me it's complete annoyance!"Denise retorted angrily.
"Team Rocket are bunch of criminals who steal pokemon!"Dawn admitted with a glare.
"Piplup pip!"Piplup agreed.
The three Swinubs chriped and went next to their trainer.
"Criminals or not, you three are going to bring our hot spring back!"Leona commented.
"Well, why didn't you say so in the first place."Jessie said sweetly and looked at Meowth. "Meowth give them a shower, they'll never forget."
"You want water?"Meowth asked and took out a remote. "Here's a flood! Presenting the supreme number 6!"
"Strange we didn't stop after 5."James mumbled while sweat dropping.
Meowth pressed the switch on the remote and summoned a mecha, firing water blasts at Ash and his friends.
Pikachu began to power up to use Thunderbolt.
"Pikachu, hold on!"Ash reminded. "Electric type moves can be dangerous when everyone is soaking wet but Iron Tail will do fine!"
Pikachu tried to use Iron Tail, but the Mouse Pokemon slips on the wet mecha and was unable to make contact.
"Pikachu!"Ash shouted.
"Anything can slip and twerps works for us."James remarked with a shrug.
"This box is so slippery from that water and that means..."Meowth said.
"YOU LOSE JERKS!"Team Rocket laughed.
"Those crooks!"Leona said angrily.
Then an idea came to Dawn's head causing Denise to notice.
"What's is it, Dawn?"Denise asked.
"You remember our kindergarten days?"Dawn asked. "That time that we worked together to take down Amy and her gang."
"Oh yeah."Leona commented.
"Of course, no need to worry!"Dawn, Denise and Leona said in unison.
Leona looked at her three Swinubs.
"Use Dig quickly!"She ordered.
Then the three Swinubs dig and cause the three-legged mecha to tumble and spill its water all over itself, heating it up.
"Alright, Dawn and Denise, now's our chance!"Leona commented.
"Leave it to us, Buneary use Ice Beam!"Dawn ordered.
Buneary came out and uses Ice Beam to quickly chill the mecha, causing it to crack.
"Okay Kirlia, come out and use Magical Leaf!"Denise stated.
"Kirlia!"
Kirlia began to twirl around while sending magical leaves at the mecha causing it to tumble backwards into Team Rocket and explodes, sending them blasting off.
"Badda bing and Badda boom and boom!"James remarked.
"Big, bam, boom, then bang, zoom and wham."Jessie mumbled.
"Our Supreme Soaker Badda Bing sure made a big blam."Meowth commented with a smile.
"Are you aware of the end results like I am?"Jessie asked.
"WE'RE BLASTING OFF AGAIN!"Team Rocket shouted as they disappeared in the sky.
Leona, Dawn and Denise hugged each other.
"We did it, guys!"Dawn said happily.
"Just like old times."Leona giggled.
"We were unstoppable!"Denise chuckled.
"You know, those were some great combinations"Brock complemented.
"You bet, awesome."Ash agreed.
"Pika Pika!"Pikachu said.
"Now, you all promise me to stick around to try our hot spring."Leona's mother suggested with a smile.
"Oh, we insist just as soon as I get that pipe fixed."Leona's father commented.
"You got it."Ash answered in excitement.
"Pika Pika!"Pikachu cheered.
Later that Evening...
"Now about that battle?"Leona asked. "How about a little of a tag battle workout before we take a dip?"
"Yeah now your talking."Ash agreed.
"And what better Tag Team partner for me than Dawn?"Leona asked.
Dawn smiled. "Awesome, I'd love to."
Ash looked at Denise.
"Dennie, would you like to be my partner?"He asked.
"Sure, why not?"Denise asked kindly.
"I'll be the referee for the battle."Brock admitted.
Then the battle began with Ash's Chimchar and Denise's Luxio against Leona's Swinub and Dawn's Piplup.
"Swinub use Tackle on Luxio!"Leona ordered.
Swinub rushed up to Luxio.
"Quick Luxio, dodge it!"Denise ordered.
Luxio dodged Swinub causing the Pig Pokemon to hit the ground.
"Piplup use Peck on Chimchar!"Dawn ordered.
Piplup rushed up to Chimchar.
"Chimchar use Scratch on Piplup!"Ash ordered.
Chimchar scratches Piplup down.
"Yeah, way da go, Chimchar!"Ash stated with a smile.
Leona and Dawn looked at each other and nodded.
"Now Piplup use Bubble Beam on Luxio!"Dawn ordered.
"Swinub use Ice Shard on Chimchar!"Leona ordered.
Swinub used Ice Shard against Chimchar with Piplup's Bubble Beam at Luxio.
"Chimchar, dodge it, let's go!"Ash ordered.
"Luxio, dodge as well!"Denise ordered.
Chimchar and Luxio dodge the incoming attacks.
"Chimchar use Flamethrower!"Ash ordered.
"Luxio use Spark!"Denise ordered.
Chimchar fired Flamethrower at Swinub while Luxio throws an electrically charged tackle at Piplup.
"Piplup, dodge it!"Dawn ordered.
"You too, Swinub!"Leona ordered.
Swinub and Piplup went down as the fire and electric attacks hit them, which caused smoke to form.
"Yeah, Chimchar!"Ash said happily.
"Nice work, Luxio."Denise remarked.
Chimchar and Luxio smiled at each other.
However when the smoke cleared it revealed, Piplup and Swinub were gone.
Swinub and Piplup spring out of the ground to hit Chimchar and Luxio.
"We used the Swinub's Dig to dodge!"Leona chuckled.
"Quick Piplup use Whirlpool on Chimchar!"Dawn ordered.
Piplup hits with Whirlpool, soaking Chimchar.
"I see you two are using the same technique we used to take down the bullies."Denise commented.
"And becoming a strong team too."Ash added.
"Well we were warriors raised in the playground."Leona reminded.
"All right, Piplup use Bubble beam on Chimchar!"Dawn ordered.
Piplup fired Bubble Beam at Chimchar.
"Swinub use Blizzard on both of them!"Leona ordered.
Swinub launches Blizzard toward Chimchar and Luxio.
"Quick Luxio use Night Slash!"Denise ordered.
Luxio hit Swinub with Night Slash causing Blizzard to hit Chimchar.
"All right, Chimchar use Ember!"Ash ordered.
Chimchar fired Ember at Piplup causing the Penguin Pokemon to get a little bit of damage.
"Piplup use WhirlPool"Dawn ordered.
"And Swinub, Ice Beam!"Leona ordered.
Piplup and Swinub fire their attacks on their opponents.
"Chimchar use Flamethrower!"Ash ordered.
"Use Spark, Luxio!"Denise ordered.
Chimchar and Luxio fire their attacks causing them to combine with Piplup and Swinub's making an explosion.
However when the smoke cleared, the four trainers were shocked to see all four Pokemon have been beaten, resulting in a tie.
"Neither side are unable to battle!"Brock announced. "So it's a tie!"
"Well, this is a surprise."Denise said with awkward smile.
"Yeah."Ash chuckled.
"Aw, we were just being nice."Dawn answered.
"Hey guys, thanks for giving us a great battle."Leona remarked.
"No, thank you both."Denise commented.
"You four worked great as teams."Brock admitted.
"Hey Dawn now it's a great time to get in our hot spring is the least we can do for our tired pokemon."Leona suggested.
Dawn and Denise smiled happily.
"All right!"Ash cheered.
"Pika!"Pikachu giggled.
A While Later...
With the hot spring repaired, the four heroes as well as the Pokémon enjoy the hot spring with Leona.
The Pokemon play and rest, Chimchar sitting with its tail above water while Sudowoodo sits near the steam without soaking its body and Luxio relaxed on the warm rocks.
"Ah there is nothing like a nice hot spring."Ash commented.
"The perfect thing to recharge the old batteries."Brock agreed.
"It makes you feel giving it all to everything you do."Dawn said kindly.
"Not to mention it's very relaxing as well."Denise remarked with a smile.
"After our battle, I'm going back to the gyms again."Leona stated. "Good luck with your gym battles, Ash and Denise."
Ash nodded. "Thanks."
"And good luck with yours, Leona."Dawn admitted.
"Thanks Dawn and no need to worry."Leona assured. "Things will get better."
"Thanks."Dawn answered quietly.
"Now that you've been in my hot spring, there'll be no stopping you, I'm sure."Leona stated.
"Wow, you think?"Dawn asked with a smile. "Sounds great."
Brock looked at Denise and Ash.
"You know, it looks like Dawn got her confidence back."He said.
"You're right about that."Denise answered.
"Hey, Leona."Ash responded. "There's something I wanted to ask you about."
"Fire away."Leona suggested.
"Why do all of Dawn and Denise's old friends call them Dee-Dee and Neecy?"Ash asked.
Denise got annoyed and pinched Ash's cheeks to shut his mouth once again.
"What part of don't ask about those names didn't you understand?!"She questioned angrily.
Leona, Dawn, Brock and the pokemon burst out laughing at the sight they were seeing.
Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter
Feel free to review of what you think so far:)
Denise's Team:
Grotle (Male): Solar Beam, Heavy Slam, Razor Leaf and Bite
Eevee (Female): Water Gun, Shadow Ball, Attract and Thunder
Luxio (Male): Spark, Night Slash, Wild Charge and Ice Fang
Kirlia (Female): Psychic, Double Team, Magical Leaf and Confusion
Hoothoot (Male): Silver Wind, Reflect, Aerial Ace and Supersonic
Drifloon (Female): Ominous Wind, Thunderbolt, Will-O-Wisp and Astonish