"An' here we are… Back at th' Plateau."
The Indigo Plateau. The crown jewel of Kanto, where the best of the best gather to test their skills, in the venues of Training and Coordinating alike. While the Grand Festival would funnel in Coordinators and spectators alike later in the summer, the Indigo Plateau Conference currently held the region's attention captive in a storm of anticipation.
"It's nostalgic, isn't it…? Feels like we aren't a day over 25."
Stands and carts filled the streets, selling vitamins, TMs, and various memorabilia. Food vendors took advantage of the bustling crowds, running through their inventory in record time. Indigo Village, notably, was rather quiet, but that was hardly surprising.
"Well, I don't know about you, but I'm still the same age I was when I last arrived!"
The Registry Building, after all, was absolutely overflowing with trainers and their accompanying parties. The crowd and lines were practically spilling out the doors.
"Did the pushin' and shovin' through the crowds let all the air outta your head? You can't just stay the same age. This ain't a cartoon, ya know!"
"Maybe not to the layman, it isn't. But we know better!"
. . . Perhaps narration was a waste of time. There's little to say that our three favorite antagonists can't handle when they're already on the scene to be our eyes.
"You're goshdarn right, it's a waste! Now scoot over for the real stars of dis show!" One would draw their attention to a particularly demanding feline that practically yanked the story's focus towards himself. A walking, talking Meowth disguised himself in a baseball cap with a Poké Ball pattern and a sky blue t-shirt with a Dragonite print.
He stood on the shoulder of a scarlet-haired woman who had her 'do tied into a bun and sharp emerald eyes, hidden behind a pair of stylish round sunglasses. A cute pink sleeveless top with a Lickitung graphic and jeans completed her look:a cutesy, definitely mid-20's spectator. "Good. The focus is as it ought to be. Now we can get down to business."
The last of the inconspicuous three stood rather close to the other two, in the corner of the registration hall and out of the way of hopeful challengers. Lavender hair was tied back into a ponytail, peeking out over the back of a green visor, complete with a Cacnea t-shirt and black tights. While not the most fashion-coherent, he also blended in. "Down to business is right," he purred with silky-smooth confidence. "But first, I believe we should catch our adoring fans up on what we're doing here in the first place!"
"Of course, of course… How could any o' us forget?" The disguised Meowth stroked his chin thoughtfully, staring off at nothing in particular. "It feels like it was just yesterday…"
Any Team Rocket member of any significance knew that there was one scenario you absolutely wanted to avoid at all costs — being called on by Giovanni when he was in a bad mood.
It was almost paradoxical, then, that as Jessie, James, and Meowth stood before their leader, on the tail end of Operation Lightning Fall, they were struggling to hide their excitement. Postures stiff and shoulders straight, lips bitten to disguise any semblance of a sneer or smile. They were picture-perfect soldiers, solemn in the wake of defeat.
That wasn't to say they weren't nervous — no one in their right mind wouldn't be with this timing. But there was just one fact in their favor. They had done nothing wrong.
"We reported to you as soon as we were able, sir." Jessie bowed her head dutifully. It hid the smirk that she was fighting. "I hope it wasn't of any inconvenience."
The imposing man hissed sharply through his teeth, making Jessie jolt up. "You can take me at my word… This is the least of my inconveniences as of late," he snarled out.
"Indeed. We've heard all about it." James nodded. "We're terribly sorry about the outcome of Operation Lightning Fa—"
"Utter incompetence!" Giovanni's fist slammed into his desk. "Both of my Executives oversaw the mission. Two of my Administrators on security. Not a single one of them succeeded!" He gestured widely with his hand in a way the boss of Team Rocket rarely did. "Petrel ran with his tail between his legs and suffered brain trauma. Proton with several broken bones from an altercation with a child. Archer abdicated the operation…"
Giovanni composed himself, inhaling and exhaling heavily. Even so, his teeth gnashed together. "One of our highest ranking members was taken into custody. Executive Arianna's face is plastered all over the news. Apprehended by a Gym Leader, of all things! Do you have any idea what kind of legal weight we're going to have to throw around? Team Rocket has never before suffered a year of such humiliation."
"It's truly a tragedy, sir," James said and gave his condolences.
"With all of that said… We didn't achieve interregional dominance simply by culling our efforts at the first hint of failure. Team Rocket will rise again. I believe that letting the dust settle in Kanto is the best possible course of action. Besides… I have my eyes set on a different target."
"A different target, sir?" Jessie perked up, as did James and Meowth.
Giovanni snapped his fingers. Matori, who'd so far been quiet, tapped a few buttons on a keyboard before a holographic display appeared behind Giovanni. A large-scale map of a foreign region appeared, a mostly isolated mainland connected to cities, islands, and mountainsides by a multitude of bridges that stood out as prominently as the largest cities themselves.
"The Unova region. A faraway land in the western hemisphere, so far untouched by Team Rocket. We have yet to gain a foothold there, but that also means that they know little of us and our methods. As far as intelligence serves, they may very well have several… artifacts of interest."
Jessie, James, and Meowth only looked more attentive.
"Like, valuable treasure…!?" Meowth couldn't help but speak up with sparkles in his eyes.
"You're thinking too small," Giovanni corrected him. Meowth shrunk and found himself under Persians's sneering gaze. After his last encounter with that cat, he backed down. "Artifacts that provide perpetual energy… power. Perhaps even rare and mythical Pokémon!"
Meowth was immediately back at attention. "Now, dat sounds like somethin' worth the trip!"
"Indeed. However… There has also been word of a rivaling faction that could pose a problem to us. For the time being, our sources will gather intelligence to inform our next move. As things stand, you can expect to leave for the Unova region sometime in the next year."
"Um, we, sir…?" James asked, eyes widening.
Jessie leaned forward hopefully. "You don't mean…!?"
"As much as I regret to admit it… Despite your recent insubordination, you are the most reliable of my administrators, as of late. When the time comes, I will be sending you to scout the Unova region, prior to my arrival. That is… if you feel that you're up to the task."
"Y-yes, sir!" James affirmed immediately.
"We'd absolutely love to spread the glory of Team Rocket!" Jessie saluted Giovanni.
"Th' Unova region won't know what hit 'em!" Meowth boasted.
"Excellent." Giovanni nodded. "Although, with such a wide window for our preparations, I'm giving you the freedom to operate as you wish for the time being. You're free to do as you see fit."
"Thank you, sir!" James replied.
"Actually, now dat you mention it, Boss…" Meowth twirled one of his long whiskers in thought. "Dat gives a window of opportunity for my latest genius idea! The Pokémon League's comin' up in just a couple o' weeks. We can use that opportunity to swipe some top-notch Pokémon!"
The Team Rocket boss closed his eyes, grumbling in thought. "...Not altogether a terrible plan. You may proceed. However! I have just a few words of caution."
The euphoric, elated trio quickly came down from their excitement. "...Words of caution, sir?" James echoed.
"First, be sure to stay inconspicuous. After all of Team Rocket's recent mishaps, we can't afford more embarrassments in the public eye. You are to steer clear of your usual colorful showboating and theatrics. Hide in plain sight and get to work."
"Understood, sir," Jessie agreed, albeit reluctantly.
"Ah, and one other thing… Should you see Ash Ketchum or his associates," he continued, his tone gaining a low gravel. "You are forbidden to engage them. Do I make myself clear?"
"C-crystal, sir!" James stammered out.
"We swear, we'll have nothing to do with him!" Jessie saluted him.
"We won't touch hide nor hair of dat Twoip, or his Twoipy Pikachu!" Meowth swore.
"I should hope so," Giovanni said darkly. "Then, you are dismissed."
The Rocket trio collectively shuddered.
"I still feel like I almost lost one o' my nine lives that day," Meowth complained.
"And I don't enjoy hiding our dramatic flare," Jessie complained, "but orders are orders. We'll tread lightly and carefully."
"So I suppose that nixes any large-scale schemes to steal a bunch at once," James whispered behind his hand.
"Right! The name of the game is quality over quantity! If we can find a simple, valuable target, that'll be our goal! Now, if we could just find one…" Jessie grumbled, as her eyes scanned the crowd. "...Ah?"
"What? What is it?" James asked, peering over her shoulder.
"Watch your head, I can't see!" Meowth complained, shoving between Jessie and James.
Among the crowd of trainers trying to make it in line to the registration desks, one young man with a blue bowl cut and a mean scowl stood with a hand in his pocket, idly browsing his Pokédex with the other. A flash of light escaped his belt, freeing a Pokémon by his side.
A dark gray fox with a tuft of crimson fluff atop her head, icy eyes, a dark collar around her neck, and a poofy tail. Curiously, the fox had two red marks under her eyes, like a clown.
"Hold on. What's that Pokémon?" Jessie asked.
"I'm… not sure," James trailed off. "I've never seen them before."
"It must be a rare Pokémon!" Meowth whispered.
The fox flashed a mischievous grin, her tail wagging erratically as she watched the line slowly move forward. The girl standing in front of his trainer stepped forward, leaving an open space.
His trainer, however, was too focused on his Pokédex to notice. The Pokémon took advantage, leaping before being swallowed in a wheel of violet. In just an instant, she transformed into the girl standing in front of him! Without her trainer's awareness, the illusion took a place in line ahead of him.
Team Rocket all cooed in amazement in unison.
"Did you see that!?"
"It changed, right before our very eyes!"
"Either dat fox turned inta a human, or dat's da most efficient costume work I've ever seen!"
The trainer looked up from his 'dex with a grumble. "What the!? I swear, this line hasn't moved in five or ten minutes… This is ridiculous." Though, he quickly caught on, looking over the illusionist's shoulder. The next two people in line looked exactly the same.
A fluffy tail stood out like a sore thumb on the person in front of him, however. With a grunt of annoyance, he squeezed it, and the illusion quickly returned to their foxy form.
The Pokémon snickered.
"Again, with this!?" The trainer pinched his nose. "I told you to stay in your ball while I'm getting settled in. Can't you take anything seriously…!?" He recalled the fox, placing the ball on his belt.
"A Pokémon who can disguise themselves on a whim… Oh, it's just perfect~!" Jessie cooed.
"Think of the schemes we could pull off," James grinned. "They'd fit right into Team Rocket's bag of tricks! Not to mention, we'd rarely have to pay for our own disguises again!"
"We just have to have that Pokémon!" Jessie added.
"Well, den that settles it!" Meowth declared. "Our next target is dat shapeshifting Pokémon!"
As luck would always have it, though, things wouldn't be quite as simple for Team Rocket as they would like. The line advanced once more, as did the fox-toting trainer.
"Hey, hey! He's getting further away!"
"Well, it's not like we can just steal from him now," James muttered. "Not with all these witnesses."
"Right! So, all we gotta do is keep an eye on.. Ack! Hey!" Meowth complained, as a couple of more trainers shoved past him. "Watch where you're goin', you imbeciles! Ain't your mommies ever teach you to wait your turn in line!?"
"It's not like we ever wait in line," James muttered.
"Well, that's because we're dirty, rotten cheaters! Now, quit your babbling and keep him in your sights! Now… Ugh! Out of the way!" Jessie shoved and squirmed her way through the crowd, or at least tried to. It was becoming too dense! "Unbelievable."
"There's no use shoving through this crowd," James complained. "It's the most prestigious event of the year, and we're right in the middle of it…"
"Then forget shovin'! We'll just lie in wait until our golden goose wanders on outta here!" Meowth decided. "Let's… just… get outta this joint!"
"I hate moving in crowds… I can't even tell which way is forward and which way is back…" James complained as he and Jessie shimmied by the edges of the closest line. Little did he know, he and his comrades were walking past a few very familiar faces. "It's like…"
"...Like there's no end to the line," Ash groaned. Just a few steps ahead of where the troublesome trio had slid through, the trainer from Pallet stood in line, accompanied by Peeks, Dawn, Misty, and Brock. Empoleon had returned to his ball due to the crowd. "I'm getting antsy!"
"If he stands in place any longer, I think he might explode," Misty teased.
"And who could blame him? I feel like my legs are falling asleep," Dawn complained.
"And my ears are ringing," Peeks complained from atop Ash's head.
"Try to remember, you guys. Even when Ash registers, the battle rounds don't start until after the opening ceremony," Brock added. "Getting through the line won't get Ash to his matches any faster."
"I don't care about that," Ash groaned. "I just want to move! Once we're out of here, I feel like we could run a mile and call it pre-league training!"
"I second that notion," Peeks agreed.
"I hate to interject, gentlemen, but I don't believe you'll have time for that!" Drawing the group's attention was the registrar at her desk; it seemed that they'd made it to the front of the line! A polite young woman manned the desk, smiling apologetically. "And, what you said, sir, isn't exactly true! As it turns out, your first match will take place today!"
"Huh!?" The group exclaimed collectively in shock.
"I'm sure you've noticed that we've taken on a larger crowd of challengers than usual," the officiate replied, gesturing to the full house surrounding them. "As it turns out, we're estimated to have double our standard number of challengers!"
"Double!?" Dawn exclaimed. "I wonder how that could've happened."
"I believe I can explain that one, Dawn." Brock swooped in, managing to squeeze past a few complaining waiting contestants to lean his arm on the employee's desk, putting on his most charming grin. "As it just so happens, Indigo's League has been notorious for safety and conduct complaints among the Gym Leaders, which lead to discouragement among challengers, and thus, smaller sample sizes that resulted in smaller Pokémon Leagues than other regions! Isn't that right, Miss…?" He flashed his most picture-esque smile at the woman behind the counter, recounting each embarrassing and concerning detail, even, in his most suave tone.
"Erm… I wouldn't want to frame the issue in that light, but yes!" It was hard to tell whether the woman's awkward laughter was due to Brock or the PR nightmare he was currently spinning.
"Oh, silly me — I didn't finish the story!" Brock exclaimed, standing upright. "In the past several years, the Pokémon League Association has made some sweeping changes and reforms to Indigo's Gym Circuit, thus resulting in a healthier influx of Gym Challengers over the past several years! I was actually once a Gym Leader myself, you know…"
A rambling, captivated Brock left four very exasperated companions lingering behind him.
"I think she's already seeing that misconduct, face-to-face," Dawn muttered.
"Are we ever going to get around to what's going on with my battle?" Ash grumbled.
"Leave that to me," Misty replied, reaching for Brock's ear. Before she could get her hand on it, a flash escaped Brock's belt. "Eh…!?"
"Croa…!" Croagunk materialized at Brock's feet, already readying a glowing Poison Jab. Before he could swing though, he looked up to meet Misty's eyes.
The Gym Leader and the Poison Dart Pokémon held each other's gaze, moments away from apprehending their lovestruck friend. It lasted long enough, really, that Brock caught on before either of them could strike.
"Er…! But, I think I've said enough! It's been nice meeting you, Miss, but I believe my friend has a competition to register for, so let me stay out of your way! Have a pleasant day!" Brock rambled at a mile a minute, backing off to the back of the group.
Misty smirked. "Well, well! Looks like I have a partner in crime."
Croagunk tutted, looking off with his never-changing grin.
"Finally," Ash grumbled, stepping up to the counter. "You said I have a battle today?"
"That is if your battle takes place today, but yes! Just hand me your Pokédex, and I'll give you your assigned number." Ash handed her his Pokédex, and she placed it into a computer at her desk. "Now the problem is, not only do we need to account for an extra round of battles, but there are only so many open cabins and homes available to challengers! So, through today and tomorrow, we'll be conducting single elimination preliminary 1v1 battles with a time limit. After, or if you win your preliminary match, you can return here and receive your voucher for your cabin!"
"You're kidding…" Ash blinked. An elimination round before the tournament would even formally begin, then. He smirked. "That's fine! Hopefully I get to battle sooner rather than later because I'm all fired up!"
"Well, as luck would have it… I believe you'll get your wish! You'll be in the thirteenth match today!" The attendant smiled sweetly, offering Ash his Pokédex and a slip with his number.
"25," it read.
Ash laughed excitedly, holding the slip up to the fluorescent light. "Alright!"
"Make sure to stay close to Indigo Stadium for the next couple of hours, and listen closely for your number to be called!" the attendant instructed. "And good luck, Ash!"
The group of five had made a unanimous vote to relocate from the noisy and crowded registration center. The courtyard outside was plenty spacious, luckily. It'd allow for some fresh air without anyone wandering too far; particularly Ash.
The teenager was already out in the grass just off the round walkway, executing a variety of stretches. "About time… we got out of there! My legs were starting to fall asleep."
"Pi… pi… pi!" Peeks stood next to his trainer, stretching out his arms and legs in tandem.
"Remember, Ash, your Pokémon will be the ones battling out there, not you," Misty pointed out.
"Yeah, relax for a bit!" Dawn agreed. "You have some time before you have to get in the zone."
"I know, but… how can I not get revved up?" Ash frowned, standing upright. "Then again… It could be a few hours. Even if they're timed, that's still twelve different battles before mine." He folded his arms in thought. His eyes lingered on Dawn, who seemed to catch on quickly.
"Uh, Ash?" She asked. "What're you staring at?"
What was that he'd said to Erika after their battle? 'Nothing you experience is pointless?' Ash smiled, shaking his head. "Right! Sorry. If we've got a few minutes to kill, let's go get somethin' to eat!" He gestured his thumb over his shoulder. "There're some food carts right over there! Come on, Buddy!" He held out his arm, which Peeks quickly boarded.
"Oh! Right!" Dawn lit up, quickly releasing Empoleon from his ball. "C'mon, Empoleon!" She gave hardly a word of warning before jogging ahead to take Ash's hand in hers.
"Pol! Empol!" Empoleon cried, waddling after his trainer.
This left Misty and Brock behind to watch them run off.
"...I think we've become third and fourth wheel," Misty said with mild exasperation.
"They grow up so fast…" Brock sniffled, wiping tears from his eyes.
"Yeah, well, you have fun blubbering. I don't want to be caught at a match on an empty stomach."
While Misty and Brock played catch-up, Ash and Dawn found themselves face-to-face with a small crowd lined up in front of the closest food stand. The closest to the front were squabbling and complaining, seemingly hurrying the foremost customer along.
"Uh, what's going on here…?" Ash's curiosity won out over his desire to grab a place in line.
At the front of the line was a brunette clad in red with a Poké Ball patterned headband tied in a neat bow, eyeing her current order with ravenous hunger. "Oh, and I think I'll add a little extra relish… No, no, that'll be too sweet. Mustard! I'll have extra mustard on the first hotdog, and horsea radish on the second…! Oooh, and can I get a large order of fries? Or, make it chili fries-"
On the other end of her rambling was an exhausted-looking vendor, balancing a small carton that contained two hotdogs that were topped with a ludicrous volume of condiments. "Ma'am, please…! You're holding up the line! If this would all be well and good, I'll get your chili fries…"
"Oh, but I'm almost done!" She pouted, much to the chagrin of several shouting, waiting customers. This didn't seem to phase her, though, until she felt a hand yank on her shoulder.
"Come on, May. You're going to form an angry mob, at this point!" Max scolded.
"They're going to see an angry mob if I don't get my order, Max! A one-woman mob!"
"And to think you're supposed to be the older sibling…" Max pinched his nose in second-hand embarrassment.
"...Oh! Ehehe…" May nursed a scarlet blush once self-awareness clocked her over the head. She turned to the vendor, laughing bashfully. "What I asked for will be just fine, please!"
"May!? Is that you?" Dawn exclaimed.
"And Max!?" Ash echoed.
"Oh my… Ash!? Dawn!?" The Princess of Hoenn spun around, just as she was taking her order into her hands. Her eyes and lips started to tremble, before she threw her food into the air to throw herself at the two of them.
"H-hey!" Max yelped and stumbled, just barely managing to catch the hot dogs and fries in their containers. "If I wasn't so quick, you would've just wasted fifteen minutes in line," he grumbled.
Meanwhile, Ash and Dawn found themselves pulled into a crushing hug, with May burying her face in their shoulders. Ash was the first to react, awkwardly patting her back. "Uh… May…? Is everything cool?"
"What's gotten into you?" Dawn asked, not quite so sensitive as to comfort her.
"What do you mean, is everything cool!?" May scrunched her nose, looking up to meet the two of them, as she was notably shorter than both. Moreover, she wore a pout, with tears streaming down her cheeks. "I… heard what happened on the news from Max! You both had me worried, you big meanies!"
"Ahaha…" Ash awkwardly rubbed his neck, smiling. "I'm sorry, alright? But hey, we're fine now. No need t-"
"No need to worry!" Dawn rushed to finish, reclaiming her catchphrase. "We've had it pretty rough, but we're better than ever — especially Ash, here!"
"Well, if you say so… Oh!" May had pulled back from the two, only to point right at Ash. Or rather, she poked his cheek, right where a band of peachy scar tissue ran up his jawline. "I heard you were hurt, but I didn't know you got a scar! Wow…"
"It's… a long story," Ash laughed nervously.
"Give them some room to breathe, won't you? Sheesh." Drew stepped out from around the line, running a hand through his green hair. He exhaled through his nose in frustration. "They've already been through enough. They don't need the third degree."
"There's nothing wrong with being curious," May huffed, but relented.
"Oh, my… Drew!?" Dawn exclaimed, holding her hand over her mouth.
The teenager, rather on the short side like May, winced at the sudden attention. He knew the sound of a fan when heard it. "No autographs, please."
"Oh, no, no! It's just… Aha, wow! I used to be a really big fan of yours." Dawn giggled, waving her hand flippantly in the air. "It's kind of embarrassing to say, but you were one of the big names I got to follow before I became a Coordinator."
"Is that so…?" The look of discomfort on Drew's face softened when he realized that Dawn wasn't a crazed fan. Little did he know that he'd just caught her on the tail-end of growing out of just that behavior. "For what it's worth, you're no slouch yourself. I watched your battle with May at last year's Wallace Cup. I was too busy to catch this year's, but I'm sure it's on demand somewhere…"
"Oh, you totally should…!" Dawn clasped her hands together, a little starstruck that her admiration was mutual. "There were some amazing appeals and clashes this year…"
While the Coordinators were occupied, Max slipped by them, accompanied by Koda. "Hey, so…" He slid a hand into his maroon jacket pocket, staring down at his shoes. His eyes were trembling, even as he tried to look unaffected. "...You're still in shape to have our battle, right? It'd… be pretty lame if we didn't get to keep our promise just because of some losers, y'know."
Ash smiled as he put together what the youth was asking. He placed a hand on Max's shoulder. "Listen to me, Max. I'm a-okay. Better than ever, even!" He tightened his other hand into a fist. "I'm going to be fighting in this tournament all-out with the aim to enter the Champion's League, so I want to see you doing the same so that we can meet in the ring. You hear me?"
Max wiped at his eyes, disheveling his glasses in the process. He looked up at Ash with a bright smile, proudly adjusting his spectacles. "Yeah, okay! You'd better watch out for me, Ash!"
"I'll hold you to it, squirt." Ash grinned.
"Hey, when's your match, anyway?" Koda asked, not caring much for the sentimentality on display. "Mine probably won't be until later today, so we're stuck hanging around out here."
"It probably won't be long! Mine's match #13." Ash replied, flashing his ticket that read '25.'
"Mine's #40. I'll probably be waiting for hours," Max grumbled.
"Ughhh! That's so unfair!" May whined, leaning over to rest her hands on Max's shoulders with a pout. "We won't even have a place to crash until later today. No one told us we'd have to stay outside!"
"Tell me about it! I don't even have a place to wash my hair until then," Dawn pouted.
"Well, in that case, it's a good thing we've got Ash here to hold us over! I'll just crash with you guys, until Max or Koda have their rounds! So be sure to win~!" May sing-songed, winking.
"She just invited herself along," Misty noted flatly.
"If nothing else, she has initiative," Brock laughed to himself.
"Better keep that in mind," Peeks sassed. "We're covering everyone's room and board."
"Yeah, sure. No pressure at all," Ash quipped sarcastically.
"Hate to break it to you, but you all better keep your bags packed…" An unfamiliar voice chimed into the conversation. A teenaged boy strolled over with a strut in his step, with spiky green hair, sharp eyes, and a stylish red-orange tracksuit. He flashed his ticket. 26. "Because there's no way he's making it through."
Max gasped, pointing at the stranger's ticket. "Hey! You're Ash's opponent!"
Ash smirked, taking the boast in good humor. "So we're gonna face off in the prelims, huh? Sounds fun, but we're not gonna go easy on you! I'm Ash, and this is my partner, Pe-"
"Yeah, you're Ash, and that's your partner Pikachu. I actually research my competition. But I'm willing to bet you don't have a clue who I am, do you?"
"Should he know who you are?" Misty butted in, resting her hands on her hips.
The stranger looked over at the Gym Leader, blinked, then grinned. "Well, you should. I battled you for your badge a while ago."
Misty hummed thoughtfully, holding a thumb to her lip. "...Nope. Must not've left an impression."
"It's fine, it's fine." He waved his hand, brushing Misty off. "I know my opponent likes to hop in blind and ride by on pure luck. But that's not going to work for him today."
"Oh yeah?" Ash's brow furrowed. "What makes you think I'm gonna do that?"
"Don't be modest. Your record's pretty extensive; before you get flattered, that includes all of your bad calls. I don't want to babysit any of your fresh, first-stage Pokémon."
Ash's eye twitched, and he stayed silent.
"And I thought I was harsh." Max hung back by Misty's side.
Brock scowled. "I don't like this."
"Maybe I won't have to, if they get bored and decide the match for me," the stranger continued. He only remembered bits and pieces, specifically, but his Charizard throwing his first league for him? That detail was pretty hard to forget. "Or, should I prepare for you to use Pikachu against one of my Ground-types?"
"Poor Ash," May muttered. "He might pop a blood vessel, at this rate."
"Maybe…" It was no secret that Ash was hot-headed; Brock knew that better than anyone. "And right before his first match, too."
Dawn, meanwhile, was looking ready to bust a vein, herself. She clenched a fist, teeth grit and bared. She stepped forward. "Listen here, you…" Before she could finish, a stray bolt of electricity flickered in the air in front of her. She gasped, turning her attention to its source.
While his friends worried for him, Ash found his partner to be of a hotter temperament than anyone; his cheek sparks splashing against his own skin. "Oh, I don't think he wants this, Ash."
Ash's eyes flicked to Peeks. "I don't know, Buddy. I think he does."
The provocateur's face twisted in confusion. "Are… you talking to me, or your mouse?"
"I don't like him talking that way about you, or about me," Peeks said, frowning. "If this guy wants to play hardball… I say we play ball."
Ash nodded. "Alright, then. Let's try it. It's a one-on-one, right? Bring one of your Ground-types. I'll bring Peeks." He narrowed his gaze, holding a hand out to his opponent. "That's a promise."
The other stared at his hand, a perplexed look written over his features. It gave way to a smirk. "You're serious? Man, you're even dumber than your reputation suggests. Alright, Ash. It's your funeral." He pointedly did not shake Ash's hand, walking off with a shrug.
The group of trainers and companions all seemed relieved to be free of the young man's presence. "Well, good riddance. Better keep your bags packed for a quick trip home!" May taunted, sticking her tongue out at him. "Bleh!"
Drew shook his head at May's antics and walked over to Ash, sliding a hand in his pocket. "So that was insufferable and all, but do you really think giving him that match-up is a good idea?"
"Yeah, I'm concerned too," Brock agreed. "I know you'd regret it if you let your pride knock you out of the preliminary round, Ash. Think about what you're doing here."
"Don't worry." Ash smirked, adjusting the brim of his cap. "It's true that I couldn't just let him talk about Peeks like that… but I decided months ago that I wasn't gonna let any shame over my past decide the here and now. He tried to embarrass me, and it's not going to work."
"I get it! You're going to show them that no disadvantage is enough to keep you down! Right?" Dawn asked, bundling up her fists.
"You've got it," Ash agreed. "We're going to win this Pokémon League our way!"
"And, here we are on the Rock Field, for the Preliminary Rounds' 13th match! We have a hometown favorite, Ash Ketchum, up against another returning competitor, Blake!"
The introductions were short and sweet, with daylight ticking on yet another battle being wedged into today's long schedule. One of the Indigo League's five stadiums was packed with spectators down to the last seat, buzzing and chattering with excitement.
Down on the field, a rocky terrain stretched from one Trainer's Box to the other. Dirt, gravel, and boulders made for an uneven battlefield with clear boundaries spray painted at its ends.
Ash could only barely make out Blake's sneer from across the way. Despite it, he only smiled.
"Ready to show 'im what we're made of, Buddy?"
"Naturally. We didn't come all this way, just to lose!"
"Both trainers, send out your Pokémon!" The referee ordered.
"Okay… Let's do it! Peeks, I choose you!" Ash outstretched his arm, allowing his partner to run across his shoulder and down to his wrist, springing off into a somersault.
Peeks landed on the rocky field on all fours. "Pi-ka!"
"Hah! So you stuck to it, after all…" Blake scoffed, tossing a Poké Ball. "Quagsire! Go!"
The pale blue Aqua Fish pokémon appeared on the other end of the field.
"A Quagsire!" Max exclaimed from the audience, leaning forward in his seat. "Now, that's a bad match-up…"
"Them being a Water-type is totally canceled by that Ground-typing," Drew added.
"Not good," Brock grumbled. "If it'd been a Rock-type Pokémon too, at least Iron Tail would've been effective. But, being a Water-type, they resist that move, too. Ash is in for an uphill battle."
"It's not good, but they're far from out!" Dawn smiled, leaning forward in his seat. "You'll see!"
"It's Pikachu vs Quagsire! An unfavorable match-up for Ketchum… But, only time will tell!"
The referee cleared his throat. "This will be a one-on-one match, until either Pokémon is unable to battle, or the trainer surrenders! There will be a time limit of ten minutes! Should the time run out, the victor will come down to a judgment call!" He raised his flags. "You may begin!"
"This battle was over before it started!" Blake shouted. "Quagsire! Use Earthquake!"
Quagsire shifted his hefty weight around, somersaulting to smack his huge tail into the earth. Shockwaves rippled through the Rock Field's surface, heading towards Peeks.
Ash and Peeks smirked in unison. "Use Magnet Rise!"
"Pi-kaaaah!" Peeks smacked his cheeks, and a surge of lightning expanded across the entire battlefield. Some of its prongs dug into the ground, making the entire field rumble twofold.
Just as Earthquake passed through, chunks of rock and earth were yanked out of the field, suspended atop a buoyant magnetic charge. This included the land under Peeks, lifting him to stand on an elevated platform that just narrowly avoided Earthquake's rumble.
"This is a new move from Ash and Pikachu— Peeks!" The commentator corrected himself. "Magnet Rise suspends all Electric-types for a short while, making him immune to Ground-type damage!"
"Tch…!" Blake's brow twitched. "You've wisened up a little. But you still won't be able to use any of your Electric-type attacks against Quagsire!"
"You talk a big game, Blake," Ash replied. "But, if you really did your homework, then you'd know the real thing to be afraid of with Peeks isn't his electricity." The trainer grinned, punching forward. "It's momentum! Peeks, use Quick Attack!"
The platform Peeks had taken to started to chip under his feet, dipping under the duress of the mouse springing forward and off its surface. A silver streak shot across the field, kicking up clouds of dust in his wake.
"Pi-kahh!" Peeks smashed into Qugasire, making his large, sturdy body bend and wobble. With a grunt of effort, kicked off of the other's belly, somersaulting onto another nearby floating rock. With another exertion of effort, he shot back towards Quagsire, smashing into his side.
"While Electric attacks may not work, Peeks is overwhelming Quagsire with his dizzying speed!" The narrator spoke, as quick streaks of light ricocheted across the field to batter Quagsire, again and again. "I would not want to be on the other end of that barrage!"
"Hooray! Go, Peeks, go! Show that creep who's boss!" May cheered, waving her fists.
"He's like a bullet train," Brock marveled. "I'm a bit surprised that Quagsire's still standing."
"Quagsire are very bulky, and their bodies bend and flex whichever way the wind blows to absorb impact," Misty explained. "As long as they can redistribute their weight, those Quick Attacks won't do half the damage that they're capable of."
"So , is Ash screwed?" Koda asked. "Because , that'd be really anticlimactic."
"Not quite… Ash has trained with my Quagsire before," she explained. "If he can take what he learned and find a workaround, then he can win. And Ash is great at problem-solving."
Back in the trainer's box, Ash's observant eyes were catching onto the same dilemma. Quagsire was getting knocked around, but it looked more like Quagsire was stumbling around dizzily than taking a beating. Not to say it was doing nothing at all, but…
'It's not enough. Quagsire's just rolling off our attacks. As long as they have their footing, we're leaving ourselves open.' Ash watched his partner skid to a halt, stopping atop a large boulder. "Change of plans, Peeks! Aim for the legs, with Iron Tail!"
"Got it!" Peeks nodded. He launched himself on all fours towards the middle of the field, sliding on the magnetic charge he'd created towards Quagsire's feet. He leaned his weight back while sliding on his hind legs. His tail gained a silver sheen. "Chuuuuuu…!"
Across the field, Blake smirked. "Quagsire. Use Yawn!"
Quagsire opened his mouth, letting out a loud yawn. A large bubble appeared from his maw, slowly floating towards the quickly approaching Pikachu.
"Shoot!" Ash hissed. "Dodge that, Buddy!"
"Way ahead of you!" Peeks was as keen to the coming threat as Ash was. He leaned his weight onto his tail, coasting on the intangible magnetic force. A jolt of electricity shot down his spine and through his tail. The charge launched him like a spring away from Quagsire and Yawn.
"Oooh, that was a close call! So far, Ash and Peeks have held the advantage in speed, but one wrong move could bring their efforts to a screeching halt! They'll have to watch out for that Yawn!"
"He's not kidding," Ash muttered. ~We'll have to be careful, from here on out. Let's watch their moves carefully and wait for an opening. Okay, Buddy?~
Peeks found footing on a floating rock nearby. ~I hear you, Ash!~
"What did I tell you? A lot of good that 'momentum' will do you when you're just banging your head against the wall." Blake taunted from across the field, planting his palm against his forehead. "But since you're sitting tight… Quagsire! Use Rain Dance!"
Quagsire cried towards the heavens, quickly summoning a shroud of storm clouds overlooking the battlefield. Rain began to pour, pattering down on a wary Peeks and a content Quagsire.
~That's weird. This is a single battle, so there's no other Pokémon to set up for,~ Ash relayed in his mind to Peeks. ~And he's already used Earthquake and Yawn. It must be for a water move.~
Peeks nodded in affirmation. ~Definitely. But, that does give us better aim with 'that' move. It won't do any damage, but…~
~It's at least worth keepin' in our back pocket, just in case. It's not as if we're using any other electric attacks.~ Ash finished the internal conversation with his partner, just in time to hear his opponent's next order.
"Quagsire! Use Muddy Water!" Blake commanded. Sequentially, a huge wave of muddy, mucky water ascended over the battlefield. Doubled in potency by the rain, it was quickly eclipsing the floating slabs of rock that made up Ash's higher ground.
"Oooh, and there's a nasty Muddy Water, powered up by Rain Dance!"
"Ash!" Peeks cried out. "Trust me to handle this!"
Ash grinned and nodded. "You've got it, Buddy! It's all you!"
The mouse's beady eyes darted across the available field behind him. There were a few larger slabs of rock to find footing on; boulders and floating elevations, alike. He darted between several in quick succession towards Ash's end, planting himself on a boulder, before eyeing a flat piece of rock above. His sharp hearing was consumed by the crashing wave quickly approaching.
His next elevation was moments from being consumed by the grimy wave. With narrowed eyes, he sprung upwards, and kicked the underside of the slab with the back of his heel. "Pi…!" His weight nudged it up to a horizontal angle, just in time for him to spin his body around. "Chua… Pika!"
Iron Tail crashed into the flat surface, immediately toppling the land vertically. The shift occurred just in time for Muddy Water to crash into its surface, crashing and distributing its force skyward.
The many battles with Moltres had taught Peeks all he needed to know about tenuous footing. His shield finally broke under the pressure of Muddy Water, but he himself had been spared. He grabbed onto the nearest broken rock, and dashed to the next above in several leaps.
"Look at that! Peeks protects himself from Muddy Water using the terrain! Oh, but it looks as if that Magnet Rise is petering out…! His footing is falling, and fast!"
Indeed, the rock Peeks clung to was falling towards the muddy field, as were those around him.
"Tch… We're going to need a moment to set up Magnet Rise again!" Ash lamented.
Blake, for his part, looked triumphant. "No fancy footwork is going to save you, now! Quagsire, use Earthquake as soon as he hits the ground!"
"Two can play at that game! Peeks, let's shake up the field, too! Iron Tail!" Ash cried, waving a hand.
Peeks vaulted off his crumbling footing and somersaulted towards the center of the battlefield. "Chua….!" His tail coated itself in steel, just in time to strike. "Pi-ka!"
Just as he did so, Quagsire smacked his heavy tail against the earth, reverberating violently.
Unlike Quagsire though, Peeks didn't distribute the shock as he liked. In fact, he found his tail wedged in the ground… or rather, stuck in the mud. "Pika!?" He squirmed and shifted his weight to pull himself free, to no avail.
Earthquake rolled through, rattling him through his tail, all the way up his spine.
Ash tutted under his breath. "No luck… The mud absorbed all the shock and trapped him!"
"Oooh, and that's a super-effective Earthquake, taken head-on! Ketchum's Iron Tail strategy didn't seem to work, with the aftermath of Muddy Water! Is this the end…!?"
"That's bad…!" Max exclaimed, as he gripped the edge of his seat. "A direct hit from Earthquake!"
"We all told him he shouldn't've sent out Peeks." Koda huffed, folding his arms behind his head. "How lame. We didn't even get to fight him."
"Now, I wouldn't go counting your Torchic just yet, guys." Brock leaned back in his seat, wearing a confident smile.
The two boys turned back to the battlefield to watch.
"And, that's the end of that. I told you that using your Pikachu was a bad idea… But some people just can't listen to reason." Blake tutted mockingly, shaking his head. That coolness only lasted a moment, though, before the mud started to settle. "Say, what!?"
Amidst the broken earth and mud was Peeks, but he was not lying unconscious or sporting swirls in his eyes. In fact, he'd just finished yanking his own tail out of its wedge in the earth. He experimentally shook out his tail, and blew on its flat end. "I think my tail fell asleep there. I've got a serious case of pins and needles here, Ash."
Ash failed to hide a grin, and snorted. "You think you're gonna be alright there, Buddy?"
"I think I'll manage." Peeks flicked his tail experimentally. "I've had worse cases spending too long on the couch, sitting on my-"
"Well, it seems that despite cornering Peeks, Quagsire's Earthquake didn't take! Is it possible that the mud diluted the shock, just as it did Iron Tail? Or is the tiny titan simply too tough to go down to such an attack?"
Peeks smirked, leaning forward onto all fours. "I'm going with 'all of the above.'"
Blake's brow twitched, and he looked damn near close to popping a vein. Seemingly realizing they were making fun of him, he cut their banter short. "Quagsire! Use Muddy Water!"
Another rising tide was of immediate concern. Ash waved a hand. "Magnet Rise, again!"
Lightning danced across the fray in conjunction with the Muddy Water, giving Peeks a series of platforms to scale. Lightning picked up under his feet, bouncing him towards the closest.
"Another round of Muddy Water comes in! The nimble Peeks is scaling as high as he can, but it doesn't seem to be enough…!"
Indeed, even with a magnetic charge, the minerals in the earth were only so buoyant. Peeks came close to leaping over Muddy Water, but the wave's high crest just barely captured him in its shadow. He braced himself for the worst, before the muck clapped against his entire form.
"He couldn't clear it…!" Ash frowned, as his partner tumbled through the air back towards his trainer box. Peeks unfortunately skipped off of the dropping wave, flipping a few more times off the brine before Magnet Rise's charge caught him. "Well, that attack was no pushover, but we've still got plenty more fight left in us! Right, Peeks?"
"We do! But, there's just one problem…" Peeks whined, pawing at his eyes. "I can't see a darn thing."
"What!?" Ash squinted at his partner through the rain. His face was covered in mud and grime, and his eyes were tightly shut. "The Muddy Water got you. Just wait for it to wash off!"
"Already trying that," Peeks replied, tilting his head towards the heavens. Rain continued to pelt his fur. "The rain's smearing it into my eyes. You're going to have to be my eyes!"
"Roger," Ash agreed. "Well, in the meantime… We've got a whole new look for the battlefield."
"It seems Muddy Water has blinded Peeks, reducing his accuracy!" The announcer narrated for the crowd. "And what's more, the combination of Magnet Rise, Earthquake, and Muddy Water have created a whole new terrain!"
The second barrage of Muddy Water had flooded many reserves dug into the field over the course of the short match, creating something of a swamp under Peeks's feet. Furthermore, Quagsire had disappeared into the filth, completely out of sight.
"Talk about a double whammy." Misty frowned. "Quagsire's underwater and right in their element. It's nearly impossible to spot them in a swamp. And even if polluted water conducts electricity better, none of it is going to hurt Quagsire."
"And to top it off, Peeks can't even see!" May huffed. "So both of them are fighting blind!"
"So you can't see Quagsire, and I can't see anything," Peeks relayed. With Ash's guidance, he'd found his way to one of the slabs of rock hovering above the swamp. "We're going to have to rely on our instincts until we can figure something out, Ash!"
"Sounds good," Ash nodded. "I'm as stumped as you are right now, but where there's a will, there's a way!"
"You can keep telling yourself that," Blake mocked. "Quagsire! use Yawn! Rapid fire!"
A single, large bubble surfaced from the mud, hovering towards Peeks.
Peeks's ears stood on end. "I can hear it!"
"Good, then close in!" Ash ordered. "There's more footing, at ten o'clock!"
Peeks responded to the direction of the buoyant attack, springing onto the next platform and out of Yawn's path. Before he could launch himself towards the source, though, the sound of Yawn hit his ears again. It was coming from behind him.
"Right behind you!" Ash coached. "He's on the move, and there are more on the way!"
A muddy bubble hovered right behind Peeks. He leapt into a high backflip, narrowly avoiding it.
Meanwhile, a barrage of bubbles appeared to Peek's left.
"Off to the right!" Ash urged, as his partner sprung out of harm's way. In the meantime, small air bubbles surfaced just under Peeks, moving further right past him. He grit his teeth. "He's on the move…"
"Quagsire continues to confound with their problematic Yawn attack, moving about underwater! But Peeks continues to stay one step ahead, despite his lack of sight!"
"This is crap," Koda complained, folding his arms. "How is Quagsire keeping up with him?"
"While Quagsire can't be seen in contaminated water, the opposite isn't true," Misty explained. "They have membranes over their eyes that allow them to see clear as day."
In the meantime, Peeks was flipping and dodging at Ash's behest in an earnest effort to stay awake.
"With that said… Blake's also in a race against time. You can only use a move so many times, even if it is Yawn. If he wants a chance in hell in this match, he'd have to land it soon."
Peeks skidded onto another available rock, sliding to a quick halt. His ears stood at Ash's call.
"Hang tight! They're coming from the other side!" Ash warned. From both his left and right, Peeks was being boxed in by Yawn bubbles. "We're cornered… unless…!" Sporting his trademark grin, he threw a hand forward. "Slide along the charge, on top of the water!"
"Ka!" Peeks sprung on all fours towards the muddy reservoir, landing on his feet to glide across the magnetic repellant, as if he were skating. Yawn was closing in on him from both left and right.
"Now, dip your Iron Tail into the water!"
Peeks leaned his weight back onto his hindquarters, and dipped a shimmering steel tail into the muck. Gliding through at high speeds, Peeks sent waves crashing on either end of his body, as if he were a motorboat splitting the waves down the middle with its bow.
The crashing waves doused and popped the Yawn ambush in its wake.
"Iron Tail cuts through the water and rains on Blake's parade…! Oh, but what's this!"
Squinting at the fray, Ash gasped. "Oh, no!"
Iron Tail split the waters right down the middle, behind and ahead of Peeks. Unfortunately, that revealed a smug and content Quagsire right in his path.
"What!? What is it!?" Peeks asked.
Quagsire opened his mouth, and spat a rather large bubble.
Peeks felt a distinct 'pop,' and bounced back, instantly feeling drowsy. "Pi… Pika…!"
"The ambush worked! Yawn hit its mark, which means Ash and Peeks have very little time to act before they're defenseless! What will they do!?"
"Peeks, Buddy! Stay with it!" Ash urged. "We'll find a way out of this!"
"I'm… trying…" Peeks yawned rather loudly. He was beginning to feel foggy and, regrettably, at ease. He smacked and pulled at his own cheek pouches, trying to keep himself awake. "I… Pika… Pikachu…"
Ash grimaced. He couldn't even hear his partner's thoughts anymore, which meant he was barely cognizant. "This is bad… If I don't think of something quick to jolt him out of it…!"
The teen's eyes snapped open. Tilting up the brim of his cap, he looked up at the rainclouds crowding the field and smirked. "Peeks… Use Thunder."
Blake laughed, clapping a hand against his forehead. "Against Quagsire? That's your last move!? I guess I shouldn't have expected anything le-"
Ash pointed his index finger towards the heavens. "...On yourself!"
"Say, what!?"
Peeks stumbled atop the magnetic charge; the buzz of electricity under his feet was all that was keeping him awake, when Ash's voice hit his ears. "Pi… Pika…!" He stood upright, hoisting his paws above his head. His vision was blurry, and each of his limbs felt like deadweights.
A deafening thunderclap rolled through the clouds. Gold slipped through their veil before a pillar of lightning shot down from above, embracing the bolt-tailed rodent who teetered on the edge of slumber.
"What's this!? Ash has commanded Peeks to use Thunder on himself!"
Lightning shot through Peeks's every nerve, from his head to his tail. A lively, vitalizing jolt shook him from his dreamy spell, making his paws buzz and tingle. Furthermore, he felt the mud clinging to his face and body cook in an instant. Grimy water and mud had been superheated into solid, brittle earth.
A revitalized Peeks tilted his head back and felt the dirt crumble and break off of his furry form. Finally, he blinked the grime out of his eyes, allowing the rain to wash his troubles away.
He smirked, meeting Blake's gaze dead-on. Lightning danced off his body. "That's more like it!"
"Alright!" Dawn clapped her hands together. "That's the Ash I know. He used Peeks's own electricity to give him a little jumpstart! Like an alarm clock!"
"And, that's not all. Heating up the mud clinging to his body solidified it, clearing up his vision!"
"It's a lot like Thunder Armor!" Max exclaimed, slapping his hands against his knees.
"Thunder… Armor?" Koda enunciated, raising a brow.
"...It's a long story."
Just as Peeks freed himself from the Yawn's fog, the clouds cleared from the fray to reveal Kanto's sunny skies. Magnet Rise faded at about the same time, allowing Peeks to drop onto all fours. Due to Thunder's ambient heat, the particular area he stood upon was bone dry.
"You're… You're nuts!" Blake stammered, staring down the mouse before him with a look of bewilderment. "Where do you even come up with stuff like that!? Who brings Thunder to a battle where it can't hurt their opponent!"
"Well, Blake, if you really want to be a Pokémon Master, you'd know that there's more to a battle than just going by the book. I know my Pokémon like the back of my hand; Peeks, most of all! If all you can work with is what should be happening in a battle, then you'll never beat us!" Ash smiled, brushing his thumb over the bridge of his nose.
The loudmouthed trainer tilted his head, muttering something indecipherable in a plain-as-day breach in composure. Lacking any smart remarks, he waved a hand. "Quagsire! Rain Dance!"
Dark clouds gathered overhead once more, dousing the muddy field in another downpour.
"That's just what I was hoping you would do!" Ash declared triumphantly. "Peeks! One more Thunder!"
A bewildered silence struck Blake as Peeks gathered lightning about his body and cried out.
"Pikaaaaaaaaaaaa… Chyuuuuuuuu!"
This time, the flash from the sky crashed down upon Quagsire. The mudfish showed no signs of pain, even in the eye of the storm. He stood unmoving, while the lightning faded away.
"...Hah! I guess you can't put lightning in a bottle twice," Blake scoffed, shaking off his unease. "Just because you found an unorthodox use for Thunder doesn't mean it'll do damage!"
"Yeah, that's the fun part," Ash laughed. "I wasn't tryin' to."
The green-haired teenager blinked, assessing the field. He gasped. "Quagsire!"
Quagsire stood in the same spot he had, moments ago. But, he was no longer half-submerged in muddy water. Like Peeks, he was surrounded by dry rock. Or rather, he was submerged in it.
"What's this!? Quagsire is quite literally trapped in rock! What exactly did Peeks do!?"
"Alright!" Dawn clapped her hands together. "He's got Quagsire locked down! But, how…?"
"I think he took notes from what just happened to Peeks," Brock hypothesized. "When the heat of Thunder touched the mud on his body, it got dried and solidified. So Ash took note of that and placed his bet on the same happening to all of the mud surrounding Quagsire!"
"Well, what do you know, Ketchum? You've figured it out." Misty smirked to herself. "At the bottom of the barrel of problems you'd gotten yourself into was the issue of Quagsire redistributing the shock of your attacks. And with them completely grounded…"
"...There's nowhere to shake off the brunt of our attacks!" Ash concluded, triumphantly sweeping a hand to the side. "Finish it, Buddy! Use Iron Tail!"
"Roger!" Peeks dashed towards the grounded Pokémon, leaping into a high somersault. Steel coated the entirety of his lightning bolt tail, coming down at lightning speed. "Chua… Pi-ka!"
A loud, bone-rattling 'clang!' rang through the arena. Quagsire had been struck squarely on the head, unable to move. Peeks leaned his weight away and backflipped to gain some distance.
The referee stepped carefully onto the field, spotting swirls in their eyes. He raised his green flag. "Quagsire is unable to battle! The match goes to Peeks, which makes the preliminary winner Ash, from Pallet Town!"
"Wow! In an exciting conclusion of twists and turns, Ketchum pulls out the victory! Pulling against all conventions and odds, he and Peeks will advance to the Conference!"
"Yes!" Dawn and May turned to one another, celebrating with a double high five.
"See? I told you all he'd make it," Dawn said, grinning.
"Hey, hey, you were right! I just couldn't help but worry," May giggled. She then turned to Misty, who sat next to Dawn. "Well? Aren't you going to get in on celebrating, too?"
"Huh?" Misty raised a brow, then laughed. "No, thanks. There was no way he was going to get knocked out by that bozo. If Ketchum wants my praises, he's gonna have to do better than that."
Drew snorted at the girls' antics, brushing it off to look back to the field, where Peeks had scaled the trainer box to bump his tail against Ash's fist. The two exchanged a hearty laugh before the entire audience. "Well, gotta hand it to the guy. He put his money where his mouth is."