I don't own Pokemon or it's characters, but I own Denise and my other OCs
Enjoy!
Pokemon: Friends to the End
Chapter 98: If the Scarf Fits, Wear It!
In Solaceon Town...
Ash, Dawn and Denise were getting drinks while Brock sat down, reading an article in the Sinnoh Star about a mysterious scarf monster roaming the town causing widespread rumours.
"Hmm...so the Scarf Monster is in Solaceon Town, wow."Brock complemented.
Ash, Dawn and Denise walked up to Brock.
"Hey Brock, what are you reading?"Ash asked.
"An article about a monster wearing a scarf spotted around town."Brock answered.
"Whoa, let me see that."Dawn suggested.
Brock handed Dawn the newspaper, but the three trainers couldn't see the picture.
"They really need to get a better camera."Denise mumbled.
"That picture is nothing but a big blur."Ash commented.
"If you look really closely, you could call it a Scarf Monster, I guess."Dawn suggested.
"Yeah, maybe."Ash agreed.
"Pika..."Pikachu responded.
"Well, let's keep in mind that the Sinnoh Star is not exactly the most reliable paper."Brock said with a sheepish smile.
Suddenly the lights were turning off, making the heroes realise night was approaching.
"Wow, where does the time go?"Dawn asked.
"Angie's family's daycare center is just ahead, so let's move."Brock suggested.
"Yeah your right, I wonder how Angie and her family are doing now."Ash said with a smile.
Denise frowned a little but didn't say anything.
Later that Night...
The four heroes walked their way to Angie's daycare center with Piplup, Pikachu and Kirlia.
But then the group spot a shadow of a mysterious creature that looks similar to the monster the article was referring to.
"You don't that could be..."Dawn started.
"The scarf monster!"Ash replied and ran forward. "Come on!"
Ash rushed ahead causing Denise, Kirlia, Dawn, Piplup and Brock to follow after him.
The heroes looked around and notice the mysterious creature was nowhere to be seen.
They then continued walking out of the forest.
"Guess our eyes must've been playing tricks on us or something."Ash said with his arms folded.
"You know I am starting to think that article story is actually a scam."Denise stated.
"Hey, look!"Dawn admitted. "Isn't that Angie's house?"
The heroes notice a house down the road.
"Yep."Brock agreed. "That's it."
The four heroes see Angie coming out with two buckets and her Shinx close to her.
Shinx smiled seeing Pikachu, Piplup and Kirlia causing it to rush up to them.
"Hey Angie!"Ash called out.
"Hey Ash."Angie responded and walked up to the four heroes. "It's great to see you guys again."
"It's great to see you too, Angie."Denise remarked with a small smile.
"Looks like you've got your hands full."Ash commented.
"Yeah, Mum and Dad are on a little trip right now, so now I've gotta take care of everything by myself."Angie admitted. "And to tell you the truth I've been running myself ragged."
"Okay then we'll just give you a hand."Ash stated confidently.
"Have you eaten?"Brock asked. "You just leave the cooking to me."
"Man, you guys are life savers."Angie chuckled.
Afterwards...
The four heroes and Angie went inside to have dinner.
Angie enjoyed Brock's meals so much and she ended up getting a big stomach.
"Ahh phew, that was good!"Angie remarked.
"Isn't Brock like the best gourmet chef in the world?"Dawn asked.
"Yep, too bad I never got to try his cooking at the academy."Angie responded and looked at Brock. "Thanks for making all this, Brock."
"It was my pleasure."Brock assured with a smile. "Angie, so please tell us what kind of pokemon your raising now?"
"Well, the truth is...all different kinds."Angie replied with a nervous smile.
"Hey Angie, have you heard about the Scarf Monster everyone's talking about?"Ash asked.
"Uh yeah, but those are just rumors."Angie answered.
"To me is definitely a fraud."Denise said simply.
"Well here's the deal, we actually saw it in the forest on our way here."Ash admitted.
"You can't be serious?!"Angie snapped.
Ash sweat dropped and became nervous.
"I-It was more like a shadow of something wearing a scarf."Ash replied.
"Oh man, not again."Angie mumbled.
"Angie, what's wrong?"Ash asked.
"Oh, I just remembered I've got somewhere to go!"Angie assured with a smile. "You relax and I'll be right back!"
Angie ran out of the room with Shinx leaving Ash, Denise, Dawn and Brock completely confused.
"Why'd she start panicking as soon as we mentioned the Scarf Monster?"Brock asked.
"I guess she knows something that we don't."Denise replied.
"Maybe, let's go and see what it is."Ash suggested.
Brock, Dawn and Denise nodded in agreement.
Outside...
The gang follows Angie and Shinx to a cave.
"Angie!"Ash called out.
"How nice you followed me."Angie responded awkwardly.
"Angie, what's going on?"Ash asked.
Angie glanced at the cave behind her and then the four heroes.
"Nothing get passed you."Angie admitted and sighed. "See, it's about one of the pokemon I'm raising, but the thing is, it's actually inside that cave."
Angie put on a flashlight and led Ash, Dawn, Denise and Brock inside the cave.
"What's your pokemon doing in a place like this?"Ash asked.
"See for yourselves and then I'll explain the whole thing to you."Angie stated.
Angie and the group arrived in the part of cave with a pool in it.
"Umm...what is it we're looking for?"Denise questioned. "There is nothing here."
"I knew it!"Angie stated and looked at Denise. "Truth is...okay, you know that Scarf Monster you saw? Well that's the exact same pokemon I've been looking after."
This caused the four heroes to become stunned.
"What are you talking about?"Ash asked.
"I'll explain everything later, for now I need you to help me bring it back here."Angie instructed.
"Sure."Ash replied.
"Absolutely."Denise agreed.
Dawn nodded. "You got it."
At the Park...
The group set a trap to catch the creature using pokemon food before hiding in the bushes.
"Hey Angie, you don't really think this is the way to capture pokemon?"Ash asked.
"There it is!"Angie whispered.
Ash, Dawn, Denise and Brock see a creature coming closer and closer to the trap while eating the pokemon food.
"That's the same thing before."Ash admitted.
"It looks like it's taking the bait."Denise commented.
"It's the Scarf Monster for sure."Dawn responded.
"Not so fast, I recognize that shape."Brock stated.
The creature went into the light and revealed to be a Lickilicky.
"It's a Lickilicky!"Brock said.
"A Lickilicky?"Dawn asked.
Dawn pulled out her pokedex to scan Lickilicky.
"Lickilicky the Licking Pokemon."Dawn's pokedex said. "Lickilicky can wrap its enormous tongue around anything. Getting too close to this Pokémon will result in a saliva shower."
"Ew."Denise scoffed in disgust.
Lickilicky used it's tongue to eat the pokemon food in the bowl before pulling the bowl out of it's mouth.
"Guys, I'm afraid that Lickilicky that I just happened to be raising is the very Scarf Monster that everyone has been making such a fuss about."Angie complemented.
Shocked looks appeared on Ash, Dawn, Denise and Brock's faces.
"You can't be serious!"Dawn exclaimed.
"I think it's time you told us what's going on."Ash suggested.
"You see what happened was my parents decided to let me look after this Lickitung for a little while, just while they were away on vacation."Angie explained. "But I guess I over-trained it, I even taught it Rollout. The next thing I knew, it evolved into a Lickilicky!"
"It's never a good thing when a caretaker goes ahead and evolves another trainer's pokemon."Brock stated.
"I know."Angie mumbled sadly.
"And to make matters worse it also happens to hate being stuck in it's pokeball."Angie commented. "So I've been trying to keep Lickilicky in this cave I showed you, just to make sure my Mom and Dad don't find out what happened. But there's been the teensy issue of Lickilicky's appetite. It keeps sneaking out of the cave into town, searching around for food."
"That's a problem."Ash said.
"Did you try and call your parents about this?"Denise asked.
Angie sighed and looked down.
"No."Angie responded as she stroked Lickilicky's back. "I would get grounded, if they found out."
"Why is Lickilicky wearing that thing that looks like a scarf?"Dawn asked.
"That well as you can see, Lickilicky's not the smallest pokemon and it doesn't like being in it's pokeball so…"Angie started.
Angie inflates the tube surrounding Lickilicky's neck with helium, which makes it float.
"I just blow up Lickilicky's collar and carry it around like a balloon."Angie admitted.
"Angie, you've got quite an imagination."Brock complemented.
"Cool."Ash said. "Then let's get Lickilicky back to the cave."
"Pika pika."Pikachu agreed.
"Let's hope a bunch of reporters from Sinnoh Stars doesn't come rolling in."Denise stated.
"Kirlia."Kirlia replied with a nod.
"Not so fast!"
The heroes panicked when they saw James, Jessie and Meowth disguised as reporters heading their way.
Dawn, Brock and Denise quickly brought Lickilicky out of sight leaving Ash with Angie.
"Being high-powered members of the mainstream media, I was hoping for a word."Jessie admitted.
Angie, Ash and Pikachu sweat dropped.
"Uh sure."Angie replied.
"What word do you want?"Ash asked.
"Pika pika."Pikachu said.
"Perhaps you don't realise we're Sinnoh Star reporters, we've got a super Scarf Monster scoop and we seem to have lost track of it somehow."Jessie commented. "Could you help us get back on track?"
"Sure, it went that way."Ash responded and pointed at a direction.
Ash and Angie notice Dawn shaking her head while Brock and Denise were angrily frowning at them.
Ash and Angie quickly blocked Jessie from seeing Lickilicky.
"No! No! No!"Ash and Angie panicked. "Right over there!"
Jessie went up to James and Meowth.
"Strange even for them."James said.
"You said a mouth full."Meowth agreed.
"Well alright, but be sure to let us know if you get any leads, now won't you?"Jessie questioned.
"Sure!"Ash and Angie said in unison.
Jessie looked at James.
"We're wasting our time."Jessie stated.
James, Jessie and Meowth ran out of sight.
Ash and Angie sighed in relief.
"That was way too close for comfort."Brock said.
"But all is well and ends well."Dawn commented.
"Next time Ash, try to look before pointing."Denise reminded with a frown.
"I will, Dennie."Ash chuckled sheepishly and became confident. "Now let's get going."
"Right!"Angie, Brock, Dawn and Denise answered in unison.
A While Later...
Angie and the heroes headed back to the cave to tie Lickilicky by a rope to prevent from escaping.
Brock tied the rope tightly on a rock.
"I know you don't like this and I'm sorry, but you're just gonna have to lay low for a while."Angie instructed.
"I made a snack to tie you over, see?"Brock asked holding a bowl of pokemon food.
Lickilicky stick it's tongue out sadly.
The Next Morning...
Brock, Ash, Dawn, Pikachu and Piplup yawned as they stretched.
"Morning, everybody."Angie greeted as she walked by.
"Morning, Angie."Ash said.
"Morning."Dawn replied.
"Pika pika."Pikachu giggled with a wave.
Then something dropped on the floor causing Brock, Ash, Dawn, Pikachu and Piplup to turn around and notice Denise rubbing her head while lying on the floor.
"Ow."Denise muttered in pain and rubbed her head.
"More rough sleeping, Dennie?"Dawn asked.
"Yeah."Denise mumbled and covered her mouth to yawn. "And seeing shadows."
Kirlia placed her hand on Denise's forehead to check if her trainer had a fever.
"Thanks again for all the great help last night."Angie remarked.
"No problem."Ash assured. "Glad to do it."
"So how are you gonna take care of this?"Ash asked.
"No matter what you do, your parents are gonna find out."Dawn said.
"And no doubt they won't be happy that you were trying to hide Lickilicky from them."Denise reminded.
"Maybe you should bring Lickilicky out of the cave and tell them what happened."Brock reminded. "It'd be a big weight off your shoulders."
"Yeah."Angie said and looked down.
"Hey, we'll go and apologise with you."Ash assured with a smile.
"Yeah..."Angie responded and blushed. "Thank you, Ash."
A grumpy expression appeared on Denise's face causing Kirlia to sweat drop at her trainer's jealousy.
Afterwards...
Ash, Angie, Denise, Brock and Dawn go to the cave to get Lickilicky, but then they see no sign of the Licking Pokemon.
"Lickilicky?"Angie asked. "Lickilicky? Where are you?"
The group gasped when they notice the rope was broken.
Brock picked it up and checked the rope.
"It must've wandered off after snapping the rope."Brock admitted.
Denise sighed. "Here we go again."
"This is bad!"Angie panicked.
The group headed out of the cave and found Lickilicky liking a ball of pokemon food while a rope was tied around it.
"Lickilicky!"Ash called out.
The heroes notice Team Rocket on a mecha while holding the ball of pokemon food.
"Hey, who are those weirdos?"Angie asked.
Team Rocket began reciting their motto.
"Talk about the pod calling the kettle black."
"Twerps have that twerpish knack."
"On the wind!"
"Past the stars!"
"And off my back!"
"Bringing chaos at a breakneck pace."
"Dashing all hope, putting fear in its place."
"A rose by any other name's just as sweet."
"When everything's worse, our work is complete."
"Jessie!"
"James."
"Meowth's the name!"
"Putting the do-gooders in their place!"
"We're Team Rocket!"
"We're in your face!"
"Team Rocket?"Angie asked.
"They're an evil gang of pokemon thieves!"Dawn admitted angrily.
"Knock it off!"Ash growled.'"That's Angie's Lickilicky not yours!"
"Pika pika!"Pikachu agreed.
"You need an eye exam."Jessie insulted.'"It's as plain as the ugly on your face that this is the Scarf Monster!"
"Don't confuse us with facts!"James scowled.
"Summer School's over!"Meowth snapped.
"Looks like you creeps need a hint."Denise retorted.
"Kirlia."Kirlia responded with a nod.
"Not a problem!"Angie assured. "Quick Shinx use Crunch to knock some sense into those brainiacs heads!"
Shinx used Crunch on Lickilicky's tube to pop it.
"Uh oh!"Meowth gasped.
"That's just a standard issue Lickilicky like the twerps said!"James said in shock.
"I don't care if it's a One-eyed Purple People Eater!"Jessie snapped. "Just catch it!"
"Yes dear."James mumbled.
"But why?"Meowth asked.
"Because it's the scarf that makes the monster!"Jessie hissed dangerously.
James and Meowth shivered in fear.
"Pikachu use Iron Tail to take that robot down quick!"Ash ordered.
"Shinx, Quick Attack, let's go!"Angie ordered.
"Piplup, you use Peck!"Dawn ordered.
Pikachu, Shinx and Piplup moved forward to attack.
"Go ahead twerps, have your kicks!"Meowth laughed.
Meowth used the mecha to kick rocks towards Pikachu, Shinx and Piplup, sending them back.
"No fuzz-balls are gonna fuss with our robot!"Meowth chuckled.
"Now let's kick it up a notch."Jessie requested evilly.
"Okey doke, bam!"Meowth laughed.
Meowrh kicked a few more rocks.
"Pikachu!"Ash yelled out.
"Pikachu!"Pikachu assured with a wave.
Pikachu quickly moved out the way from being hit by a rock.
"Time for a slam down!"Denise stated with a glare. "Grotle, come on out!"
The pokeball opened and Grotle came out.
"Grotle!"
"Grotle use Heavy Slam!"Denise ordered.
Grotle charged forward and used Double Hit on Team Rocket's mecha to send them down.
Team Rocket shrieked as they hit the ground.
Brock looked at his other companions.
"Ash, let's free Lickilicky while Denise and the others distract Team Rocket."Brock suggested.
"Right."Ash agreed.
Brock, Ash, Dawn and Angie rushed forward to free Lickilicky.
Team Rocket's mecha went back on it's feet.
"We'll make you pay for this, contest twerpette!"Jessie snapped.
Denise returned Grotle in his pokeball and sticked her tongue out at the evil trio.
"Good luck with that cause we're leaving!"Denise remarked.
Denise ran off causing Kirlia, Pikachu, Shinx and Piplup to follow after her.
Jessie notice Brock, Ash, Dawn and Angie were escaping with Lickilicky.
"Come on, let's get out of here!"Brock protested.
"Look!"Jessie scowled. "Twerps running off with Lickilicky!"
"Hey!"Meowth complained. "Get back here!"
The group headed back to the daycare but Team Rocket's mecha landed in front of them.
The Team Rocket mecha picked up a large boulder with it's hands.
"Dig it dimwits!"Meowth laughed. "Hand over dat tongue-meister or I'll convoit you into twerps unda glass!"
"Man, you guys are pushy!"Angie complained. "Lickilicky use Rollout!"
Lickilicky uses Rollout to destroy the boulder in the mecha's hands.
"Now use Wrap!"Angie ordered.
Lickilicky used it's tongue to wrap Team Rocket.
"I'm feeling tongue-tied!"Meowth panicked.
"And we're wet too!"James commented.
"Now I know what suckers feel like!"Jessie admitted.
"Now top it off with Slam!"Angie ordered.
Lickilicky used it's tongue to throw Team Rocket's mecha into the ground.
Jessie, James and Meowth lied on the ground in pain.
"Pikachu, how about a Thunderbolt?"Ash asked with a smirk.
"And Kirlia make it pretty with Magical Leaf."Denise insisted smugly.
Pikachu used Thunderbolt while Kirlia used Magical Leaf to sent Team Rocket blasting off.
"I hate to admit it but those tongue towing twerps licked us but good!"Jessie complained.
"All because of the silly scarf scoop."James muttered.
"Hey, cheer up!"Meowth suggested. "At least we're clean!"
"Wobbuffet!"Wobbuffet agreed.
"WE'RE BLASTING OFF AGAIN!"Team Rocket screamed as they disappeared in the sky.
The group laughed in victory as Ash looked at Angie.
"I tell ya Angie, you did a great job raising Lickilicky."Ash admitted.
"Thanks, but I would've done a better job by not letting it evolve, you know?"Angie asked with a smile.
Angie froze in fear and saw her parents standing not so far away.
"Mum!"Angie panicked. "Dad!"
Inside the Daycare Center...
After Angie told her parents what happened, her father became furious.
"I'm so sorry!"Angie apologised as she bowed down.
"Angie, didn't I tell you to be extra careful?"Angie's father questioned.
"Dear, you don't have to get so angry."Angie's mother instructed gently.
"Honey, it's not like this is something that can just be undone."Angie's father reminded.
"Excuse me?"Ash asked as he got up from his seat. "I'm really sorry too."
"You're Ash, right? Sorry for what?"Angie's father asked. "After all, you didn't do anything wrong.
"We're sorry you've all been dragged into this."Angie's mother apologised.
"Look, I want you to understand Angie didn't do it on purpose."Ash admitted. "It only happened because she was trying way too hard that's all."
"Oh Ash…"Angie said quietly.
"That's so sweet."Angie's mother commented. "We're both quite aware of that."
"But the fact remains since it's a care taker's obligation to take complete responsibility for her actions."Angie's father said. "We had no other choice but to request it'a trainer come here this afternoon."
"Not that that's going to help because of course once a pokémon's evolved there's no turning back."Angie's mother reminded.
Ash and Angie looked down in sadness.
Suddenly Ash, Angie and Angie's parents hearing a cooing outside causing them to go out.
"Looks like the trainer has arrived."Angie's father stated.
Surprised looks appeared on Angie and Ash's faces.
Ash, Angie and Angie's parents headed outside where Brock, Dawn and Denise were and saw that the man liked Lickilicky.
"Oh yes! Bello bello!"the man remarked in joy. "Such a magnificent creature like I've never seen before!"
"Any idea of what is going on?"Ash asked.
"Well, Ash looks like that must be Lickilicky's trainer."Brock responded.
"But instead of being upset about it evolving, the guy seems thrilled."Dawn commented.
"I guess that turns the tables around."Denise replied kindly.
The trainer walked up to Angie's father and shook his hand gratefully.
"Ooh! Wow! I can't thank you all enough!"the trainer remarked. "Evolving my Lickitung into such a bello bello Lickilicky has made me the most happy trainer in the whole Sinnoh Region! Thank you!"
"Okay, you don't mind that I evolved your pokemon?"Angie asked.
"Are you kidding?"the man said with a smile. "I wanted it to evolve as soon as possible and you saved me the trouble! Grazie mille!"
The heroes and Angie's family smiled in approval.
"Well honey, as long as he's happy…"Angie's mother started.
"Yes, it does look like we all got off easy this time."Angie's father commented and looked at Angie. "From now on, please make sure you're a whole lot more careful young lady."
"I will, dad."Angie assured. "Thanks."
"That turned out good."Ash commented.
"Yeah."Angie chuckled. "Thank you too."
Pikachu looked at Shinx.
"Pikachu."Pikachu remarked.
Shinx nodded. "Shinx shinx."
Later that Evening...
It was time for Ash and his friends to leave.
"Thanks a lot for letting us stay over."Ash stated with a grateful smile.
"Sure, sorry that things didn't go smooth as they were supposed to."Angie's father apologised.
"No problem."Ash assured.
"Hey Ash and Denise?"Angie asked. "I'm going to be working hard at the center, you two be sure to work hard on your battles, deal?"
"Oh we will without stopping."Denise remarked confidently.
"Kirlia kirlia."Kirlia responded.
"You can count on it, Angie."Ash assured.
Pikachu nodded. "Pika pika."
The four heroes waved Angie and her family good-bye as they left.
"So that's the Ash Ketchum you've been going on and on about right after you got back from the Summer Academy?"Angie's mother asked sweetly. "Now I see why you like him so much."
"Huh?"Angie said in confusion.
"You know, I was just thinking, that if you two got married, then you two could take over the family business, couldn't they, dear?"Angie's father asked.
"Hey that sounds like a great idea."Angie's mother agreed.
Angie grew nervous at her parents joke as the two adults smiled at her.
"Now just because you're my parents, you can't go saying things like that!"Angie reminded in embarrassment. "Beside Ash already got a girlfriend and that's Denise!"
Denise's face became bright red of what she just heard.
"Dennie, what's up with your face?"Dawn asked. "Your turning all red."
"Nothing!"Denise assured quickly as she covered her face with her hands. "I'm totally fine!"
Kirlia giggled quietly as Ash let out a sneeze.
Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter:)
Denise's Team:
Grotle (Male): Solar Beam, Heavy Slam, Razor Leaf and Bite
Vaporeon (Female): Water Gun, Shadow Ball, Attract and Aurora Beam
Luxio (Male): Spark, Night Slash, Wild Charge and Ice Fang
Kirlia (Female): Psychic, Ice Punch, Magical Leaf and Confusion
Hoothoot (Male): Silver Wind, Reflect, Aerial Ace and Supersonic
Drifloon (Female): Ominous Wind, Thunderbolt, Will-O-Wisp and Astonish