Wow, that sure was some ending last time, eh?... Well, time to ignore it for now as we go into some filler and gym badges! Enjoy!
Pokemon is owned by Gamefreak and all Pokédex entries are from Bulbapedia.
"Butts"- Humans speaking
"Butts"- Pokemon speaking
'Butts'- thoughts
"Butts"-Pokedex entries/TV commentary
Little Blob Of Horrors
After leaving Fuschia City and defeating their gym leader Koga, Ash and the group had discovered that the location of the 7th gym is on a distant island called Cinnibar Island, where the leader masters over Fire types. Though Ash mainly plans on using Azula and Aiden in the fight, he still trained his other Pokemon, which paid off tenfold as Cobalt had created more combo moves with his Aira Sphere but in his attempt of sparring against Joh and using Energy Ball, Green had accidentally learned Leaf Storm.
However, as they continued ahead through the sunny day, clouds suddenly shrouded the sky. Cobalt was the first to notice as a drop of water fell onto his head, making him look up in confusion.
Ash: What is it?
Cobalt: I thought I just felt… A raindrop just now.
Suddenly, Cobalt's theory was proven right as it suddenly began to harshly rain. Panicking, th group covered their heads and ran forth through the rain and fresh mud… except Azula as she savored the rain as she ran,
Azula: This is fine. I'm okay with what is happening.
Brock: We gotta get out of this rain!
Misty: How?! We're in the middle of nowhere!
Ash: Wait, what's that?!
He points over to what seems to be a large house, the roof resembling the top of a circus tent that stood not too far away.
Brock: What's a house doing all the way out here?
Misty: I don't like the look of it.
Green: Well, we don't have the time to be picky now, do we?
They began running before bursting through the door, revealing a darkened room with a tile floor. Cobalt shook himself off from the rain as they looked around, in front of them was a large stage with red curtains, a sign above reading "Imitahouse".
Azula: I don't think anyone's here.
Misty: What is this place?
Brock: It looks like some kind of theater…
Ash: Hopefully, if anyone lives here, they wouldn't mind us staying until the rain stops.
Misty: *points* Hey, look at that.
The others followed her pointing, spotting what seemed to be a Pikachu facing away from them.
Brock: A Pikachu? What's it doing here?
Ash: Probably lives here.
Green: Hey, buddy. *approaches* Sorry to barge in like this, but we had to get out of the rain. *grabs Pikachu's shoulder* Would it be okay if we stay for a while *turns Pikachu around* until the…. Rain… Stops?...
In his shock, the Grovule gasps and breathes in a odd way as his eyes widen in shock before Cobalt approaches, his eyes widening in shock.
Cobalt: Well… This is something you don;t see everyday.
Ash: What, what is it, guys?
Green: This… This thing ain;t right!
The others looked to see what Green was panicking about. The Pikachu looked normal enough… only for its face to be replaced by a pair of dot eyes and a simple line for a smile.
Pikachu?: …..Hi.
Misty: *grunts in shock* What's wrong with it?!
Brock: Could be a new kind of Pikachu..
Green: Impossible! There is no way Arceus in their hall up there look at this and thought it was okay!
Ash: *to Brock* Green heavily doubts your theory, Brock.
Azula: Uh, guys?... Anyone else gonna notice the other Ash over there?
Due to the Drizzile's directing, the others looked over, seeing what seemed to be… Another Ash. However, this one was a bit shorter with a noticeable chest bump and green hair peeking from under the cap.
Misty: Ash, that guy's dressed just like you.
Brock: Actually, I think they're a girl.
Misty: How can you tell?
Brock: Multiple noticeable differences.
Ash: Who are you?
?: *appraches* How about you tell me who YOU are.
Ash: I'm Ash Ketchem. Now, spill it.
The doppleganger smirked, raising their head to reveal a feminine face with brown eyes.
Girl: I'm Duplica. Duplica of House Imitay.
Ash: "Imitay"? Like… imitate? That's why you're dressed like me?
Duplica: Yep!
The girl then looked over to the Pikachu, noticing the face before walking over.
Duplica: Aw, still haven't gotten over that habit, huh?
Suddenly, the Pikachu glowed as its form shifted and moorphed, revealing a pink blob with the exact same face. Shocked at this, Ash scanned the blob.
Pokedex: Ditto, the Transform Pokémon. A Normal type. Altering every cell in its body, Ditto can transform into a perfect copy of many different Pokémon. However, if it tries to change based on its memory, it will get details wrong.
Green: Oh….. So… This whole time, that was just your face?... *ashamed* Sorry.
Ditto: It's okay, I know my ability can be a bit off-putting.
Misty giggled at the blob Pokemon, findling a corner of its body with her fingers.
Misty: Squishy.
Brock: So, Ditto can make itself look like anything… But it's face stays the same. When it transforms, shouldn't it be able to change completely?
Duplica: Yeah, but they still can't change their face.
Ash: But doesn;t Zoroark also transform into Pokemon?
Duplica: That's true, but it's an illusion. No matter what Zoroark turns into, it remains a Dark type and keeps its own moves. That's what makes Ditto one of a kind.
Brock: A transforming Pokemon. Its only attack is to copy other Pokemon, that's all it does.
Ash: But where's the fun of teaching Pokemon other attacks if it can only use Transform?
Duplica: No need. That's one of the things everyone says, but those are people who don't understand Ditto's true potential.
Ash: True potential?
Duplica: And to prove it, let's have a battle, Ashy-boy.
Ash honestly looked hurt at the nickname, the only ones who had called him that were Gary and Green. At least Green said it to be playful, but even though he felt no hostility from Duplica's tone, it still kind of hurt.
Ash: Alright, I accept…. But can you please change clothes first? You're starting to creep me out.
Duplica: Oh, sorry.
As the two met on stage, Duplica was then seen in a different outfit, noe revealing her green hair in two pigtails, a red shirt with a yellow star on it, and light purple pants. Ash had released his other Pokemon to watch with Misty and Brock as Cobalt and Green joined him on stage.
Duplica: Pretty unique Pokemon you got here, but it won;t save you. I'm going with Ditto, of course.
Ash: Okay… Green, you want this one?
Green nodded as he stepped into the ring, fixing his vest before taking a battle stance as Ditto crawled into place.
Duplica: Go, little Ditto! Transform!
The Ditto then glowed and morphed, turning into an identical Grovyle, although this one didn't wear a vest… And the Ditto face remained. Ash and his party cringed at the sight as Green shieled his terrified face as he looked away.
Green: WHY?!
Ash: Transforming is one thing, but you'll have to try better than that.
Duplica: Uh-uh-uh. You haven't seen the best part yet.
Ash: We'll see. Green, use Leaf Storm!
Green raised his eyes and leapt as he spun, leafs beginning to surround him before he thrusted both arms forward, launching a volley of leaves towards the transformed Ditto.
Duplica: Ditto, Leaf Blade!
Ditto's arm leaves grew into green energy blades, slashing the leaves and deflecting the damage. Ash and Misty gasped in shock as Psi raised a brow at this.
Brock: It can copy attacks, too?!
Psi: Interesting.
Ash: *grunts* Green, Iron Tail!
Green whacks Ditto with his metallic head leaf, sending them back some.
Ash: Alright, now use X-Scissor!
Duplica: You use X-Scissor too!
Both Grovyle's crossed their arms to perform the move. However, when Green crossed his, he noticed his leaves started floating, coated in a blue and purple energy. This caused him to stop out of confusion, allowing Ditto to strike Green and knock him down. As Green tried to get up, Ditto held him down, their hands holding his wrists down.
Duplica: See what I mean now, Ashy-boy?
Ash: *sighs* Yeah, I do. I give.
Hearing this, Ditto got off of Green and changed back to normal. As Green got up, he looked at his leaves, remembering the energy that coated them just earlier as he looked in astonishment at the Ditto.
Green: I…. I lost to a fake?... But… But I'm me….. How can a copycat beat me at my own game?...
—-
Later on, Duplica showed off her own private costume room, where she had about thousands of costumes and showed herself to be not only a master of disguise, but also a master of imitation as she did perfect portrayals of Nurse Joy, Officer Jenny, and even Misty.
Misty: Wow, now I know why Ash was so creeped out earlier.
Ash chuckled at his friend's response, though he turned away to see Green sorrowly looing out the window, sighing to himself. Seing this, he walks over to his Grovyle and puts a hand on his shoulder.
Ash: Everything okay, Green?
Green: I… I just can't believe I lost the match to some shapeshifter. I got beaten by a fake! A Leaf Blading fraud!
Misty, Brock, and Cobalt walked over, seeing the Grass type fuming. Cobalt tried to comfort his brother, trying to calm him down by bringing him to a hug and rubbing his back, starting from his head and going all the way down his neck, a thing that always worked when they were younger.
Misty: What's wrong with Green?
Ash: He's upset Ditto won and he lost to a fake.
Misty: Green, don;t think of it as losing to a fake. Ditto battled you as another Grovyle.
Brock: I'm more interested in the knowledge Duplica had.
Green: "Knowledge"?
Cobalt: Brock has a point, actually. Why do you think she had Ditto use Leaf Blade instead of Leaf Storm like you did? Plus, how did she know you knew Leaf Blade if Grovyle aren;t native to Kanto?
Brock: I think Duplica's been doing her research on every known Pokemon out there, learning their abilities and moves to use the strongest move depending on the form Ditto takes.
Green: So…. It's more than just copying?
Ditto: Of course! It's just like… Playing pretend, in a way.
Misty: I think Ash might have another rival. Knowledge like this would make someone a great Poemon master.
Duplica: *changes to normal attire* Oh no, I'm not really a big fan of battles. I actually want to be the greatest Ditto master.
Ash: Ditto Master?
Duplica: You got it!
As they walked back to the center stage, Duplica explained that her dream was to make it big as a performer with Ditto by her side. Her Pokemon imitations had been a huge success for House Imitay, however she explained she couldn't achieve this goal because her Ditto is unable to mirror other Pokémon' faces and always retains the face of a Ditto, much to the disappointment of her audiences.
Duplica: And that's what happens. When people watch Ditto, they want to see them completely transformed. But this poor little guy is trying their hardest to perfectly master Transform, but their face still stays the same.
Ditto melted a little, gaining a guilty expression as Duplica petted the Ditto to comfort them.
Ash: I guess… Being a Ditto trainer is harder than it looks.
Suddenly, the lights in the room went out as the stage lights then shone, revealing three familiar figures appearing out of nowhere.
Meowth: That sure was a sad story.
Duplica: What the- Who are you?
Jessie: Prepare fo-
Ash: They're Team Rocket, guys who steal people's Pokemon and they have this stupid motto they say all the time. *to Team Rocket* Can you guys just say who you're gonna steal from so we can fight and get this over with.
Jessie: *frowns* You're a real buzzkill, you know that, twerp? Besides, you'll be happy to know we're not after your Pokemon today.
James: We're more interested in that little Ditto.
Wobbuffet: *pops up* That's right!
With a yell, Meowth leapt onto Ditto, the blob yelling in fright as Meowth grabbed him and leapt back to his compatriots.
Duplica: Stop!
James: Time to make our getaway! *throws Pokeball* Weezing, Smokescreen!
As Weezing was released, it released a thick smoke, causing the group to cough and gag as their sight was obscured. However, as the smog clears, they see that Team Rocket, along with Ditto, have disappeared.
Duplica: Oh no! Ditto's gone! They took Ditto!
Ash: *growls* Team Rocket… Just what are you up to?
Misty consoled Duplica as they made it back to the girl's costume room, with Ash and Brock releasing Yami and Nightwing.
Nightwing: What's up?
Ash: Guys, Team Rocket stole Duplica's Ditto and I have a suspicion that they aren't too far from here, if you know what I mean.
Yami: Yeah, I do. Dont worry, we'll find them.
Both Poison types flew out of the house, allowing Ash, Cobalt, and Green to jon the others.
Misty: It's okay, Duplica. We'll all help find Ditto.
Brock: We already sent our Gengar and Zbat out for surveillance.
Misty: There we go. See?
Dupluca: Yeah… *softly smiles* Thanks, you guys.
Psi looked deep in thought as they mediitaed while floating, eliciting Cobalt to pipe up.
Cobalt: What's on your mind, Psi? That presence again?
Psi: No, it is simply about Ditto's Transform. Though hard to train, the trainer's ability has to be taken in consideration, as well. It is not the Pokemon, but the trainer who decides what attack to use when, am I correct? So, by that logic, if you were to raise a Ditto… its progress and power are only connected directly to the trainer.
Green: Hm… You might have a point there. But wouldn't that be the same for all Pokemon? When I used X-Scissor in the battle against Ditto, I didn;t exactly feel the same. Like I had some kind of…. Menace.
Ash: *whispers* Menace? Like a Dark-type move?
Green: No, not Dark… But more like some kind of magic or something.
Psi: Hmm… Very incaptivating. It would seem we would need further analysis.
Yami: *off-screen* That'll have to wait a bit, Psi-guy!
The group turned, seeing Yami and Nightwing flying in through the window, the Gengar landing next to his trainer as he informed them.
Yami: We found TR's stupid looking balloon, it's parked in some shack in the forest.
Ash: *whispers* Alright, I'll tell her. *outloud* I think they found them, guys! Come on, let's save Ditto!
Misty: We're gonna need a plan first if we're gonna pull this off.
Cobalt: Hm…. Hey, Yami. Does Duplica have any Team Rocket costumes?
Yami: *checks room* Yeah, a whole lot of them, actually. They're even some in Pokemon sizes.
Ash: Why would she have those?
Cobalt: No clue. Ash, I need you to write down what I'm gonna say so they'll understand. *smirks* I got an idea.
—-
As it turned out, Team Rocket were hiding out in a shack in the woods, trying to interrogate Ditto to force them to transform.
Jessie: Cute little Ditto, OUR little Ditto. Now we're invincible!
James: Right. Now we can take our names off the loser list and write them in the winning column.
Meowth: And the boss'll get rid of dat Persian and make me top cat again.
Wobbuffet: That's right!
Jessie: Alright, little Ditto, we got a little favor to ask you.
Ditto: Oh… What'll that be?
Even though she couldn't understand the question, Jessie got out a book on Kanto Pokemon and pointed to a picture of a small blue serpent Pokemon.
Jessie: This is a Dratini. Won't you turn into it? Please? Pretty please?
James: Become a Dratini. It's the Pokemon we've always wanted to capture, but we've never been able to since it's so rare. It'll make an amazing gift for the boss.
Meowth: Yeah, do it! Do it now!
Jessie: What's the hurry?
James: Hm?
Jessie: Since Ditto is… *blushes* still outs, let's have some fun before handing it over.
James: "Fun"?
The woman then took out a picture showing it to Ditto while keeping the back facing James.
Jessie: Now Ditto, what would the person in this picture look like if they were an adult? Transform and show me.
James: Who's picture is that? Let me see.
James playfully tried grabbing the picture, only for Jessie to hol him back and keep the photo out of view.
Jessie: No way, this is personal!
James: Come on, let me see!
Jessie: James, stop it!
Meowth: *spots photo* Let's see… Ha! It's a little girl!
James: Oooh! Jessie has a girlfriend?!
Jessie: *dreamily* She was my first true love. *to Ditto* Show me?
Ditto: Um…. *nrvous* Alright.
Ditto morphed, getting Jessie excited… Only for them to transform into a copu of that picture with Ditto's face replacing the girl's. Jessie stood in shock as James and Meowth laughed their heads off.
James: Your first true love sure has an interesting face!
Meowth: Especially if you're into Ditto!
Growling, Jessie smacks both of them across the face, giving them both black eyes and leaving them in pain while lying on the floor.
Jessie: Is this your idea of a joke?! Now do what I say! *holds up book* Transform into this! Now!
Ditto then began changing again… But now they turned into an opened book ith its face in the pages. Jessie growled in rage, before taking a breat in through her nose and closing her eyes.
Jessie: Okay…. I admit. That one's on me.
James: I'm starting to see an error in this plan. Maybe we should try something… straightforward?
Meowth: Yeah, like *hopefully* Maybe a cute friend for me?
Ditto: Okay, I'll try.
They then morphed again, this time into another Meowth, though they still retained their original face. This caused Meowth to become angered at the sight, pointing at the Ditto in accusation.
Meowth: What?! I look nothing like that!
The camera zooms out to show a newspaper article of Meowth doing that same pose, the headline reading "He really doesn't".
Jessie: What's wrong with you?! Why can't you get it right?!
Ditto: I-I-I don;t know. It's always been a problem with my Transform.
James: *threatening* Get it right, Ditto. Or you'll regret it.
Meowth: *unsheathes claws* That's right.
The Ditto yelled out, rubbing their face thoroughly before taking their paws away, revealing a real Meowth face.
Ditto: I… I did it!
James: Success!
Jessie: Yay! You really can do it if you try!
Meowth: Now… About that Dratini….
Ash: *off-screen* Show's over, Meowth!
The four operatives looked up, seeing Ash, Misty, Brock, Duplica, and even Ash's Pokemon wearing fake Team Rocket uniforms as they dexcnded from an opened skylight.
Jessie: The twerps?! How did you find us?!
Cobalt: *strikes pose* You ask us this question, how foolish indeed.
Green: *strikes pose* The answer to come, as we feel the need.
Cobalt: Bringing forth the blinding white light of evil into the future!
Green: Thrusting the hammer of justice upon the rich darkness of the universe!
Psi: And carving our names upon the rock of eternity!
Cobalt: The aura destroyer; Cobalt!
Green: And with natural emotion, I am Green!
Psi: Wisest of the wise; Psi!
As the four watched in utter astonishment, they failed to notice Azula sneaking behind them invisibly and trying to grab Ditto…. Only to realize there were two exact looking Meowths. She looked in shock and retreated back to the group just as Aiden, Yami, an the humans did an overdramatic pose to finish it off.
All but Azula: Now gather under the name of Team Rocket!
Meowth: …Did you just make that up? Cus that was good. Mind if we use it if the old one gets old?
Jessie: *angered* I didn;t understand any but one line of that and I still feel insulted at this mocking mimicry.
Aiden: Wait… Azula, where's Ditto?
Azula: Guys, we have a problem.
Duplica: We're taking Ditto back now.
Both Meowths: No way.
The crew looked in shock at the pair of Meowths all the while Jessie and James smirked tauntingly.
Brock: I… I can't tell which is which.
Ash: I thought Ditto couldn't imitate faces.
Duplica: They can't….
Jessie: That's true, but Ditto was able to perfect it under the expert care and training of Team Rocket.
Wobbuffet: That's right!
Duplica: Oh, thank you!
James: That's right, thank us an- Wait, what?
The green-haired girl looked at the pair, tears in her eyes as she smiled.
Duplica: I've tried everything I could to get Ditto to imitate faces. Now they can become the Pokemon and performer I always knew they could be.
Ash: Aw, Duplica.
Misty: That's beautiful.
Jessie: *tears up* That's beautiful, I can't stand it.
James: Neither can I.
Ash: Hey, this whole thing doesn;t have to end in some giant battle, you know?
James: You're right, Okay… We'll just give you Ditto.
James took one of the Meowths and handed them to Duplica where he, Wobbuffet, and Jessie made their way to their balloon basket behind them, Jessie carrying Meowth inside.
James: We'll be on our way now.
As the walls of the shack lowered, Duplica gave a nod to Cobalt, who spring and hit the Meowth in Duplica's arms with a Force Palm sending it careening and screaming into the now ascending balloon.
Ash: Cobalt! Why did you do that?!
Duplica: That wasn't my Ditto!
Ash: What?
Jessie: Impossible, how could you have known?
James: It was a perfect transformation.
Duplica: Lucarios can sense aura, so Cobalt knew that was a Meowth! Plus, I wouldn't be a good Ditto master if I couldn't rcognize my own Pokemon, right?
The Meowth in Jessie' , confirmed to be Ditto, but the woman's hand, making her yell and release them as they shifted back and were caught by Duplica, who hugged them tight.
Meowth: You dimiwts! How could you screw this up?!
James: Don't pin this one on us!
Jessie: Seems we'll have to go with plan B.
In the balloon, Jessie pressed a button on a remote, causing the bottom of the balloon to open up and reveal a cannon.
Ash: Are you crazy?!
Jessie: Call us what you want, because we're gonna win after all!
Wobbuffet: That's right!
Duplica: Ditto, use Transform!
Ditto nodded as they leapt up, once again transformin into… A civil war cannon…. What?
Ash: How can they even do that?!
Duplica: Don;t ask questions you're not ready to know the answer to.
Green: *tears of uniform* Alright, I'm going in!
The Grovyle climbed in through the opened hatch on the cannon's back, it closing as the Groyle climbed in.
Ash: Green, aim with Leaf Storm and X-Scissor!
Duplica: Ditto, fire!
The Ditto cannon fired Green, who crossed his arms as he summoned another Leaf Storm.
Jessie: Fire!
The balloon's cannon fired, launching a net as Green rapidly approached, filling Ash's heart with the possiblility of Green getting captured. As Green kept going, he felt the familiar feeling from the earlier battle fill him as his leaves glowed with the ame blue and purple energy. However, instead of stopping, he embraced the feeling. The energy coated Green as he yelled out in primal might, causing the leaves to scatter away as the energy morphed around Green, taking the form of a giant dragon, leaving the others in shock.
Ash: That doesn't look like an X-Scissor.
Psi: That would be because it is not, that move is Dragon Rush!
Aiden: Dragon Rush?!
Green slammed into the balloon full force, sending the rockets flying. As they said their usual line, Ditto changed back to normal, gaining a hug from Duplica.
Duplica: Ditto, you did it! You learned how to completely transform!... Would you mind turning into a Pikachu?
Ditto: One Pikachu coming up!
Ditto set themself onto the ground, changing into a Pikachu once more, the face being completely like a normal Pikachu.
Misty: That's amazing, I wouldn't be able to tell that was a Ditto!
Ash: Look at that, Team Rocket was actually GOOD for something.
Brock: And how Ditto could turn into objects. That was incredible!
Duplica: Oh, Ashy-boy~. I don;t think my Pokemon's the only one transforming.
Despite cringing at the nickname, Duplica pointed over to see Green landing as he was still coated in the energy from Dragon Rush. However, inside the energy, Green is heard screaming as his body grows taller, his head leaf sinks into his head, and his twin tail leaves merge into a long tail resembling a pine tree. Green lets out one final scream as the energy dissipates, showing that Green finally evolved into Sceptile.
Green: *pants* Man… That was crazy….
Cobalt: Dude…. Look at yourself.
Green: Huh? *looks down* Holy Arceus… Holy freaking Arceus, I did it! I managed to evolve into a Sceptile!
The others congratulated Green on his evolution, just as Ditto and Duplica snuggled together. Duplica felt a little bit of hope shine in her heart… She was finally getting coser to her dream.
—-
Back at House Imitay, Duplica is seen ahmmering a new sign to the front of the building as Ash canned Green wth his Pokedex, showing what exactly he now was to Brock and Misty.
Pokedex: Sceptile, the Forest Pokemon and the final evolved form of Treecko. A Grass type. The seeds growing on Sceptile's back are brimming with vitamins that can revitalize trees. Its agility and reflexes allow them to swiftly leeap from branches and strike with the raor sharp leaves on their arms. This Sceptile is level 45, Male, and has the ability, Overgrow. It knows the moves Leaf Blade, Dragon Rush, Leaf Storm, and Iron Tail.
Misty: Now Green knows a Steel type move AND a Dragon type move?!
Green: Well, look at me! I'm just full of surprises!
Duplica: There! House Imitay is finally reopened for busines.
Ash: Congratulations.
Duplica: Thanks a ton for your help, guys. I was about to lose this place. Come back and see the shows anytime, okay?
Ash: Take care! And good luck on your way to becoming a Ditto master!
As they said their goodbyes, our heroes began their trek to Cinnibar Island, where the journey of Ash Ketchum would continue. Green had not only gained a new evolution, but also a newfound for Transform, and thinking about the battle now, mimcry often is the sincerest form of flattery as they continued on with hopes set for the future….
Except for Meowth, who had gotten an infected rash on his bum after Jessie and James tried shoving him into a Dartini costume.
TO BE CONTINUED…..
—-
Ash's Team
Lucario: Cobalt
Sceptile: Green
Alakazam: Psi
Gengar: Yami
Charmeleon: Aidan
Drizzile: Azula
Rotom: Sparky (at Oak's lab)
Misty's Team
Staryu
Psyduck: Perry
Gyarados: Mel (Malestrom)
Squirtle: Loki
Wimpod: Harold
Goldeen: Bella (at gym)
Horsea: Jeff
Starmie (at gym)
Butterfree: Alex (at gym)
Tentacool: Charles (at gym)
Brock's Team
Onix
Geodude
Zubat: Nightwing
Bulbasaur
Croagunk
Mankey: John