Episode 137: Dungeons and Dragon-Types
In a scene from back in time, a lively medieval marketplace outside a castle bustles with activity. Vendors sell their wares, knights joust on Rapidash-back, street performers juggle and sing, and people in old-timey clothes move joyously about.
The merriment is interrupted by a group of people who come running out from the castle screaming. One of the screaming people, a man dressed as a squire, grabs ahold of another man dressed as a nobleman, shakes him, and shouts, "Not cool, man! Totally not cool! You never said anything about real dragons!"
From inside the castle, a low and rumbling roar echoes out. The man continues to flee in terror.
"How do I look?" Ash looks himself over in a mirror. He's wearing the armor of a medieval knight. He holds the helmet in his arm.
Brock grins at Ash. "It's perfect." Brock is dressed in the robes of a wizard, complete with a conical hat.
Pikachu agrees. "Pika!" Pikachu is wearing a red sleeveless tunic with a Pokéball pattern on front, like one a squire might wear over chainmail.
Ash grins. "You were right, Brock. This is pretty cool. Hey, Brenda! You almost done?"
Brenda's voice responds wearily, "I don't know about this, guys. I feel silly."
Brock points out, "Of course you feel silly! That's the point!"
Ash encourages, "Come on, it can't be that bad!"
Brenda groans and steps out from a changing room. She's dressed in a frilly purple dress with golden trim. Her hair is braided and on top her head is a tall purple hat that comes to a point with a long ribbon flowing off. "Why can't I just wear my regular clothes?"
Brock seems offended. "Because that would ruin the entire point! We're about to be transported away to a time long past. If you just wear modern clothes, you spoil the illusion."
Brenda sighs. "Phones, holovision, the internet. I'm think I'm good with the time I live in, thank you very much."
Brock grins. "You say that now, but just wait until you see the fair. You'll change your mind."
Looks like our heroes are about to take a trip back in time. Let's join them and see what adventures await them in ye olde times.
They exit the building, and are transported back in time to the medieval marketplace. Despite the earlier scene of fear, everything seems back to normal, relatively speaking.
Ash looks around excitedly. "This is so awesome!" He notices a group of girls dressed similarly to Brenda. "You still feeling silly, Brenda? You'd look even more silly in regular clothes now."
Brenda shakes her head. "Just because I'm surrounded by people who dress weird doesn't mean it's normal."
Brock laughs. "The lady doth protest too much, methinks."
Brenda shakes her head in confusion. "What did you just say?"
"'Twas no hogwash about it."
Benda frowns. "Am I supposed to understand you?"
Brock nods. "Verily."
Brenda throws her hands up in frustration. "Okay, guess I'm done talking to Brock."
Ash laughs. "Just let him have his fun."
"I still fail to see what's so fun about the middle ages. It was full of disease and famine."
"Come, on, just lighten up a little. Let yourself get transported back, and maybe you'll change your mind."
Brenda sighs. "I don't think Brock will give me much choice."
Brock leads them through the fair, and they partake in various activities. Ash and Pikachu chow down on oversized portions of fair food. Brock keeps an eye on all the damsels. Brenda tries to dance around a pole with ribbon but ends up tripping on her gown. Ash partakes in a jousting tournament. They all browse the wares at the marketplace.
Brock suddenly stops and shouts excitedly, "There thou art!"
Ash asks, "What is it, Brock?"
Brenda sighs. "Only one thing can get Brock that excited."
Brock points ahead to a beautiful maiden in a flowing red gown, long braided hair, and wearing a golden crown. She walks through the marketplace, greeting those she passes. "'Tis the fairest maiden in yonder lands. The Fair Queen!"
Brenda ponders, "Is she the Fair Queen because she's fair and just? Or because she's the queen of the fair?"
Brock ignores the question and skips to the woman before taking her by the hand and proclaiming, "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate: rough winds do shake the darling buds of May, and summer's lease hath all too short a—"
His soliloquy is cut short by Meteorfight, who's dressed as a bard with a feathered cap, appearing in order to deliver its usual uppercut. "Meteor."
When Brock lands on the ground, he weakly raises an arm into the air and proclaims, "'Tis better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all…!" His arm collapses as he passes out.
Ash and Brenda run over to the shocked Fair Queen. Ash apologizes, "We beg thy pardon in stead of our compatriot." He smiles, proud of the sentence he put together.
The woman chuckles. "I'm used to it. You don't need to apologize."
Brenda breathes a sigh of relief. "Oh, thank goodness. Someone who speaks like a regular person."
The woman smiles at her. "I know, the constant thy's and ye's can be tiring."
"Tell me about it! And what about those -est's they throw on the end of words? They have to be making it up as they go!"
Ash asks, "If you're the queen of the event, why don't you get into character?"
She chuckles. "You try speaking like that every day for a living. It will grow tiresome to you too." She looks to Brenda. "What's your name?"
"I'm Brenda. That's Ash. And the royal pain is Brock."
"I am Elizabeth, but you can call me Liz. As you already know, I am the Fair Queen, the presider of this jubilant event. At least, that's what it used to be…" She suddenly seems more solemn.
Ash asks, "What's the matter? Nothing seems wrong to me."
She points to the large castle behind the fairgrounds. "That castle was supposed to be our main attraction. It was assembled as a perfect replica of an actual medieval castle. But there have been reports of an actual dragon living inside it, scaring off any visitors. Now we have to keep it closed."
Brenda asks, "An actual dragon? You mean a Pokémon?"
"If it is a Pokémon, then it's like none ever discovered. By the way people describe it, it's more like the giant dragons in fairy tales. I'm afraid if there's another incident, the fair may get shut down."
Brock is suddenly back on his feet, or rather knees, as he kneels before Liz. "Lady Elizabeth, I pledge to thee my complete support. I shalt rid thou of the beast that plagues thy fairest of fairs."
"Really? Will you try?"
Ash grins. "Taking on a medieval dragon sounds like it would complete the experience of the fair. Sounds like fun to me."
Brenda adds, "As long as it doesn't speak strangely, I'm in too."
Liz grins. "Then what are we waiting for? I'll show you to the castle.
The four of them walk through the castle gates. There's an ominous atmosphere about, completely removed from the jovial fair grounds they just occupied. Brock ponders, "What be the nature of thy foul beast? Be it real? Be it a trick? Be it all in err?"
Brenda groans. "Brock, we've left the fair. Drop the old timey speech."
"Nay, 'tis not conceivable. I beg thy pardon. Prithee grant me forgiveness."
Brenda sighs. "Hard to do that when I don't understand every other word you just said." Looking for a distraction, she points up to some statues on the roof of the castle. "What are those things?" The statues look to be based on a small dragon Pokémon with a large head, long bat-like wings on its back, and a slim, barbed tail. It stands on all fours in a crouched pose, with its arm-like front legs rested between its rear legs, and its head thrust forward. Their mouths are all agape.
Liz explains, "Those are Guardgoyle statues. They were designed to look like the Pokémon Guardgoyle, who was believed to protect a building it lived atop from evil spirits. Statues would be carved in its likeness in hopes that they would have the same effect. They also doubled as waterspouts, diverting rainwater away from the walls of castles and similar structures. They were built onto this castle to add to the authenticity."
Brock adds, "'Twas considered an honor if a noble Guardgoyle chose thy roof to perch upon. Thou canst imagine how safe it would make thou feelest."
As they enter the castle, one of the statues turns its head to track them. Unlike the other statues, this one has red eyes that almost seem to glow.
Who's that Pokémon!?
The six of them work together as one Pokémon. Teamwork is also their battle strategy, and they constantly change their formation as they fight.
Looking like a group right out of a medieval fantasy, Ash and the others walk through the elegant halls of the castle, dimly lit only by torch light. Ash observes, "If I didn't know any better, I would have thought this was a real castle for sure."
Liz grins. "There was a lot of painstaking attention to detail put into its construction. Of course, what you see is just surface level. It may look like medieval architecture, but below the surface it's all hollow, using modern architecture. There's also a host of secret passageways and trap doors too."
A powerful roar echoes through the hall. Brenda cowers back momentarily. "That sure sounded like a dragon…"
Ash notices some movement in the shadows ahead. "Hey! What was that?"
But before anyone can get a better look at it, something even larger moves straight ahead of them. From the shadows, a massive dragon head emerges. It's nothing like any known Pokémon, instead looking more like an actual medieval dragon with black scales and glowing red eyes. Its body is still obscured by the shadows ahead. It roars, causing the entire hall to shake.
Ash shouts, "No way! It really is a dragon!"
Liz shakes her head in disbelief. "How is this possible!?"
Brock steps forward and shouts at it, "Have at thee, foul beast!"
His bravery vanishes in an instant when the dragon breathes fire at him, forcing him to leap back in fear.
Brenda asks, "What do we do?"
Ash steps forward. "I don't care if it's a Pokémon or not, we can still battle it, right Pikachu?"
"Chu!"
But before they get their chance, a Pokémon leaps out from seemingly nowhere. The Pokémon is identical to the statues on the castle's roof. It's a Guardgoyle. The Pokémon swipes it claws at the dragon's face as it shouts, "Goyle!"
Brock shouts with surprise, "Hark! 'Tis a Guardgoyle! Huzzah!"
Ash is quick to pull out his Pokédex. "Guardgoyle, the Statue Pokémon, and a Rock and Dragon Combo-Type. It stands completely still during the day, making it impossible to tell apart from statues designed to imitate it. Evolves into Gargolem at level 35."
Guardgoyle doesn't stop. After rebounding back off the dragon, it leaps forward to attack once more. The dragon roars with anger and pain. As it retreats, it slams its head into the ground, causing the floor to collapse.
Brock is quick to notice that Guardgoyle will be caught in the collapse. Breaking character for the first time, he shouts, "Look out!" He runs to try to pull Guardgoyle out of the way but ends up over collapsed ground himself.
Brenda shouts, "Brock!" Before anyone can try to go after him, a trap door opens beneath, causing them to also fall, though in a different direction.
It's Falinks!
In a dimly lit room illuminated only by the glow of several security monitors, Team Rocket sits and watches the feed. Meowth groans. "Twerps. Why does it always have to be twerps?"
Jessie agrees, "It's as if they're attracted to wherever we try to set up base."
James announces, "Thou shalt pay no heed to the twerps, for they are already ensnared in our trap. 'Tis verily no problem for us."
Jessie crosses her arms. "I'm going to assume you meant that we shouldn't worry because they're already in our trap."
James nods. "Thou art correct."
Meowth considers this. "We could possibly use this to our advantage with our little 'project.'"
Jessie grins. "I like the sound of that."
James adds, "Aye."
Brock slowly gets up. He's in a lower level of the castle that's even darker than the room above. It looks like a dungeon level. He looks around and spots Guardgoyle ahead of him. "Guardgoyle, art thou fine?"
Guardgoyle suddenly gets up and retreats away from Brock. However, it seems to have hurt its leg and it stumbles.
"Be still. Thou hast hurt thy leg from the perilous fall."
Guardgoyle doesn't want to listen to him, but it doesn't have much choice given the pain in its leg.
"If thou remainest still, I can heal thy wound. I am an apothecary." He reaches into his robe and pulls out a Potion.
Gargolem stares suspiciously at Brock but makes no motion to stop him.
Brock slowly approaches the Pokémon and spritzes the Potion on the injury. "There thou goest. Thou shalt be healthy in no time. Especially if thou eatest this." Brock holds out an Oran Berry in the palm of his hand.
Guardgoyle observes its leg where it was hurt cautiously. Once it determines that it feels it better, it stares at Brock for several moments before taking the Oran Berry. The Pokémon eats the berry in one bite, without ever taking its suspicious eyes off of Brock.
Brock smiles and nods. "Huzzah! Guardgoyle, thou seemst to know this castle well. Could thou shareth thy knowledge and lead me out from this dark dungeon?"
Without giving Brock a proper response, the Pokémon turns around and walks towards a door.
Brock follows. "I shall take that as a yea."
The trap door has deposited Ash, Brenda, and Liz into dungeon cell, where they're trapped behind iron bars. Ash has a bar in each hand as shakes them furiously. "Let us out of here! I demand a lawyer! Where's my phone call!?"
Brenda points out, "Ash, this isn't that kind of jail."
Ash shrugs. "It seems to work in the movies."
"Not the medieval fantasy ones. In those ones they chain you up until you're nothing but a skeleton. Or even worse, they—"
Ash interrupts, "I don't really want to hear what's worse than the skeleton thing."
Jessie laughs and says, "But we do. Do go on. Give us ideas."
Jessie, James, and Meowth step into the room on the other side of the bars. James is dressed as a regal king, with red robes, a crown, and a scepter. Jessie is dressed as a majestic queen, with an elegant purple dress and an over-the-top crown. Meowth is a jester, face paint, silly hat, and all.
Jessie begins, "Prepare for royal trouble!"
James continues, "Thou shalt make it double!"
"To protect the world from devastation!"
"To uniteth all people in our nation!"
"To denounce the evils of truth and love!"
"To extendeth our reach to yonder sky above!"
"Jessie!"
"'Tis James!"
"Team Rocket blasts off at the speed of light!"
"Thou shalt surrender now or prepareth to fight!"
"Meowth, that's right!"
"Wobbuffet!"
"Mime mime!"
Ash says with surprise, "Team Rocket!? What are you doing here?"
Jessie chuckles. "Don't you think a queen and king such as ourselves deserve a castle that matches their royal status?"
James adds, "And know we hold ye knavish twerps in yonder cell."
Brenda groans. "Not him too…"
Liz shouts, "This castle isn't yours! It was built for the fairgoers to have fun!"
Meowth shouts back, "Do I look like I care about fun?" He looks down at his jester costume. "Okay, scratch that. I suppose I do. But that's beside the point!"
Brenda demands, "Let us out this moment, Team Rocket!"
Jessie cackles. "Privvy tell, why should we?"
Everyone stares at Jessie. Meowth asks, "Did you just say 'privvy?'"
"Yes. I was just trying to get into the spirit of things. It's how ye olde people said please."
Meowth and James look to each other and burst out in laughter. James corrects while laughing, "I do believe the word thou werest looking for to be prithee, not privvy."
"That's what I said!"
Meowth and James decide not to explain her mistake, and the three of them leave without any further words, but plenty more laughter.
Brenda slumps down. "Great, we're Team Rocket's prisoners. I'm not sure things can get any worse than that."
Ash shrugs. "I don't know. If I were to be anyone's prisoner, Team Rocket would be my choice. They always mess up somewhere."
Liz grins. "And they already have here."
Brenda looks to her with surprise. "They have?"
Liz reaches for a wall behind her. "Remember what I told you earlier about the construction of this castle? It looks real, but…" she rips a sheet of wallpaper down, revealing what looked solid stonework was actually a hallow wall, "beneath the surface it's all modern construction." She squeezes herself between the scaffolding of the wall and has soon made her way outside of the cell."
Ash and Brenda grin. Ash says, "Now we just need to figure out where Team Rocket is holed up."
Brenda points out, "That should be obvious. They said they wanted to be king and queen, so obviously there's only one room they would stay in."
Brock follows Guardgoyle up a spiral staircase made of stone. "Pray tell, noble Guardgoyle, what is a Pokémon such as thou doing in a place such as this?"
Guardgoyle continues to walk, paying no attention to Brock.
"I think I understand thy situation. Thou hast heard tales of the castles of days bygone. Thou wishest to live in them thyself, methinks. 'Tis much the same as me, donning this costume and playing the part. Alas, 'tis naught but a noble fantasy."
Guardgoyle continues to ignore him.
"As for myself, I find the times of yore alluring. People and Pokémon used to live in harmony with nature, and with each other. 'Twas a simpler time, where people led simpler lives. As a child, my father would take me to such fairs. He was always busy running his gym, but whenever the fair came, he made the time for us to go together. For just a day, we forgot of his busy life that kept us apart. Transported back in time, we forgot of all our troubles as we bonded. 'Twas a magical time. To experience such arcane times for myself would please me greatly, but alas, I am a man of the present."
Though Guardgoyle doesn't respond to Brock, and continues to look ahead, it's clear it's listening to him. Something Brock said seems to be striking a chord.
Jessie and James are sitting on thrones, while Meowth, Wobbuffet, and Mime Jr. put on a show. Meowth and Mime Jr. are performing a two-man juggling act, while Wobbuffet rolls around atop a large ball. While Wobbuffet and Mime Jr. look to be having fun, Meowth does not. He complains, "Remind me why you two lugs get to sit and relax while I work my tail off?" As he moves his attention from juggling to complaining, Mime Jr. picks up the slack and starts juggling the balls on its own.
James shouts, "Silence, fool! 'Tis thy duty as court jester to entertain the king and queen."
Jessie reminds him, "You're the one who wanted to be the jester. Now you've got to play the part."
"Oi vey. I thought being a jester sounded fun. Now I'm not so sure…"
The doors to throne room burst open and Ash and Pikachu, barge in like a knight in shining armor. "Team Rocket! We're here to put an end to your reign of terror!" Brenda and Liz run in behind him.
Startled by them, Wobbuffet loses balance and tumbles off its ball, crashing into Mime Jr. and forcing it to drop its balls. Mime Jr. shouts angrily at Wobbuffet, "Mime!"
James shouts with aggravation, "Thou hast ruined the show! Thou shalt pay for this impunity!"
Jessie chimes in, "What he means to say is, how in the world did you twerps escape our dungeon?"
Brenda mocks her by sticking out a tongue. "It's not hard when your dungeon is fake. You're literally sitting on a throne of lies."
James shouts angrily, "Such impudence demands retribution! Off with thy head!"
Pikachu steps forward, sparks flying from its cheeks. "Pika!"
Before any battle can start, another set of doors burst open as Brock and Guardgoyle run in. Brock shouts, "Team Rocket! Why dost it not surprise me to discover ye knaves are behind this!?"
Jessie grins. "You made a mistake in bringing that Pokémon here, Big Twerp." Suddenly adopting an old fashioned dialect, or at least an attempt at one, Jessie commands, "Guardgoyle! Serve thy king and queen! Rid of us that pesky Pikachu!"
Guardgoyle lunges at Pikachu, attacking it with Dragon Claw. Pikachu jumps back, just barely avoiding the attack.
Brock shouts, "Guardgoyle, what art thou doing!? Pikachu is an ally!"
Meowth laughs. "To you, maybe! But any enemy of ours is an enemy of Guardgoyle!"
Guardgoyle leaps at Pikachu for another Dragon Claw. Ash shouts, "Pikachu, use-!"
Brock cuts him off. "Nay! Guardgoyle is friend, not foe! Do not harm it!"
In the confusion, Guardgoyle's attack lands, knocking Pikachu away. It moves in for another attack.
Brock leaps between the statue Pokémon and Pikachu, forcing Guardgoyle to hesitate. "Wherefore art thou doing this, friend Guardgoyle!?"
Jessie laughs. "And they say I can't speak ye olde dialect properly. Guardgoyle is clearly doing this here. Where else would it be?"
Meowth asserts, "Now who's the fool!? Wherefore means why, not where!"
Jessie looks perplexed. "That makes zero sense. What fool came up with that idea?"
Meowth groans. "I don't think you understand how language works, Jessie."
Answering Brock's original question, James announces, "Guardgoyle obeys the lord and lady of the castle, for it is most chivalrous. We are the lord and lady!" It looks to Guardgoyle. "Guardgoyle! Yonder mage is our foe, and therefore he is thine enemy as well!"
Guardgoyle looks at Brock and says quietly, "Guardgoyle…" as it decides what to do. Then it lunges forward and attacks with another Dragon Claw.
Just inches from hitting Brock, Guardgoyle's Dragon Claw is blocked by Pikachu's Iron Tail. Brock looks back to Ash. "I thank thee."
Pikachu and Guardgoyle continue to trade blows, but Guardgoyle is brutal, and Pikachu has trouble keeping up with it.
Brock pleads, "Guardgoyle, thou hast to cease this behavior at once! We are thy friends!"
Guardgoyle shouts, "Goyle!" as it overpowers Pikachu's Iron Tail with its Dragon Claw, flinging Pikachu back. It walks slowly towards the downed Pikachu, prepared to finish the job.
Team Rocket laugh with glee.
Brock continues, "Prithee, friend Guardgoyle! Stop thine actions! Team Rocket has lied to thee! They aren't the lord and lady. They are the knaves! Don't believe them!"
Guardgoyle pauses momentarily. Noticing this, James asserts, "Guardgoyle, perform thy duty! Obey the commands of thy monarch!"
Guardgoyle looks from James to Brock, back to James, back to Brock. It looks torn.
"Guardgoyle, thou…" He lets his sentence trail off as he stands up straight and clenches a fist. He takes off his wizard hat. "No, this is serious. This is real. Guardgoyle, you're living a fantasy. I was too. But this is real. We have to rip ourselves from the fantasy, no matter how badly we want to remain in it. I know you want to protect a real castle with a real king and queen, but the fact of the matter is that there just isn't anything like that anymore. This castle is fake. Just as fake as this costume. Just as fake as Jessie and James. Don't listen to them. Please."
Guardgoyle stares at Brock with wide eyes. "Goyle…?"
James stands up and asserts, "Guardgoyle, cease this treasonous thought at once! Thou art a loyal protector of this castle! Thou best rememberst that!"
"Guardgoyle!" The Pokémon leaps at James, preparing to attack him with Dragon Claw.
Meowth shouts, "Time for plan B!" He slams his paw down on a remote and the floor between Team Rocket and Guardgoyle opens up. A lift raises the dragon from earlier into the room. In an open room with good lighting, it's now easy to tell that the dragon is fake, as it lacks any body. Instead, its head and neck are connected to a mechanical frame. It's a robot.
The robot dragon breathes fire at Guardgoyle, forcing it to stop its attack.
Brenda gasps, "The dragon was just a robot all along!"
Liz realizes, "So it was Team Rocket who were scaring all the fairgoers!"
Jessie explains, "When we found a castle fit for a queen, I knew a true queen such as myself had to inhabit it. This castle was to be Team Rocket's new Tenno headquarters! But first we had to get rid of those pesky fairgoers."
Meowth continues, "So we scared them off with our mechanical dragon."
James adds, "What caught us by surprise was yonder Guardgoyle. We were prepared to rid ourselves of the beast, but instead it pledged fealty to us. It promised to defeat the dragon that terrorized our fair castle. So, we allowed it to think the dragon was real, in order to gain further loyalty from it."
Guardgoyle shouts angrily, and tries to attack the dragon, but the robot takes no damage from the Dragon Claw.
Brock shouts, "Ash, that dragon is fake!"
Ash doesn't understand his meaning. "Yeah? So?"
Brock grins and readopts his medieval mannerism. "So, brave knight, that means 'tis not a Pokémon and thou canst slayeth the foul beast."
Ash grins. "I like the sound of that." He draws the prop sword from his belt, lowers the visor on his helmet, and shouts, "Have at thee!" He runs to the dragon's head, dodges around a flame breath, and shoves his sword into the machine's forehead. The sword may be fake, but it's still solid metal and able to penetrate into the robot by sheer force. Ash leaps back, leaving the sword embedded in the forehead, and orders, "Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"
"Pikaaaaa chuuuuuuuu!" Pikachu's bolt of lightning moves right for the sword, which acts as a lightning rod that conducts the electricity past the insulating skin of the machine and into its delicate innards.
Team Rocket gulp, knowing exactly what comes next. The machine explodes, the blast from which sends them hurtling through a window and into the sky.
As they fly off, James holds Mime Jr. in an outstretched hand, looking at it contemplatively as he announces, "To be, or not to be: that is the question. Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, or to take arms against a sea of troubles, and by opposing end them. To die: to sleep."
Jessie answers, "Not to be is the answer for sure, as in not to be blasting off."
Meowth, knowing the meaning of James' lines, groans. "Forget dungeons and dragons, I'm stuck in a world of dunces and dragons."
They shout together, "Hark! Team Rocket doth be blasting off again!"
On the ground, Liz exclaims, "Thank you! Thank you all so much! You've saved the fair!" She walks to Guardgoyle and leans over. "And fair Guardgoyle, if thy wishest it, thou can remain here in this castle. Thou couldst even join the fair if thou desirest it."
Guardgoyle smiles at her. "Guard."
Liz announces, "Now come one and all! Let us partake in the joy and merriment of the fair, so proclaims Fair Maiden Elizabeth!"
Brenda exclaims excitedly, "Verily!" Everyone looks to her with surprise, then they all laugh together.
Together they all partake in the remainder of the fun and activity the fair has to offer, this time with Guardgoyle joining in. Even Brenda seems to be having fun now. It truly is a day of joy and merriment.
At sunset, the time comes for Ash, Brock, and Brenda to depart. Guardgoyle stands next to Liz as they say goodbye. Liz says, "Fair thee well, brave travelers. Know that I will be forever in thy debt."
Ash grins. "You don't owe us anything. We're always happy to help, especially when the enjoyment of so many people was on the line."
Brock kneels down. "And fair thee well, friend Guardgoyle. I shall see you anon."
Guardgoyle looks to be contemplating something. "Guard…"
Brock stands up as he and the others turn to depart. Then Guardgoyle shouts, "Goyle!"
Brock turns around. "Guardgoyle?" The Pokémon stands in front of him, looking up to him.
Brenda asks, "What is it? What does it want?"
Brock grins as he pulls off his hat. "I think Guardgoyle is done living in a fantasy. It wants to try things out in the real world. Is that right?"
Guardgoyle nods. "Guardgoyle."
Liz grins. "I had a feeling."
Brock pulls out a Pokéball. "Would you like to travel with me, Guardgoyle? I can show you the real world."
Guardgoyle nods. "Goyle."
"In that case…" He tosses the Pokéball at Guardgoyle, pulling it into the ball. It wiggles several times on the ground before clicking.
Brock puts his cap back on, picks up the Pokéball, and announces, "Huzzah! I got a Guardgoyle!"
Guardgoyle reemerges from its Pokéball to add, "Goyle!"
Huzzah, indeed! 'Tis verily a beautiful day when new friends are made! Hail and well met! Prithee, stay tuned!
To Be Continued…
