"And here we are, on the rock field once more, for Round One of the Indigo League proper! I hope you're as ready for an exciting battle as I am, folks, because we're starting off strong with a hometown favorite! Give a round of applause for Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town!"
Out on the main stage, Ash entered the fray, ready to begin his league campaign. But in the shroud of a bustling crowd, something far more sinister lurked under everyone's noses.
Sitting as close to the nearest exit as possible were three casually dressed fans. And, of course, those three fans were none other than Jessie, James, and Meowth.
"Wouldn't ya know it…? Even on our own grind, we're still out here watchin' the Twoip compete."
"It's not as if being spectators is against the boss's orders. He just said we can't confront him," James pointed out before taking a hefty bite into a fluffy, well-spun cloud of cotton candy.
"It's not our fault the stars aligned as usual and put him in our crosshairs," Jessie shrugged.
"And on the opposite end, his opponent! A trainer from the far-off Unova region is here to test his skills! Dwayne, from Castelia City!"
Down on the field, the blue-haired trainer that had become Team Rocket's golden goose approached the field. While Ash looked loose, relaxed, and focused on the high monitor, Dawyne looked far more stern and serious, as he rode the lift to the trainer's box.
"So who do we even root for?" James asked around a bite of his treat. "It feels odd rooting for the enemy… Then again, we're no strangers to twerpish team-ups."
"We ain't here to pick sides, Jimmy-boy!" Meowth replied. He held a large tub of popcorn in his lap, nearly eclipsing his line of sight. "We're here on a mission! Although… Part o' me feels like it'd be good karma to root for 'em. 'specially after what all went on, 'cause of us."
A bit of a gloomy cloud still hung over the Scratch Cat's head. The Dark Ball incident was ugly enough, but word of his scrap with Proton had made it back to HQ quickly. The fact that Ash was hospitalized shortly thereafter hadn't helped his already unclear conscience.
"Beckon to karma all you want. The fact of the matter is, rooting for the Twerp is just good business, in this case!" Jessie replied.
"Good business…? How do you figure?" James asked, wide-eyed.
"Didja place a bet on 'im?" Meowth asked.
"Of course I have to do all of the thinking," Jessie sighed dramatically and yanked on James and Meowth's ears to whisper into them. "Think about it! Our target is this Dwayne, right? So if the Twerp pummels him, he'll sulk off with a beaten team all by his lonesome. Dejected!"
"Aaah…~!" Meowth sported a growing, villainous grin. "So, that's when we jump 'im!"
"Precisely! Then that precious little fox will be all ours!"
"Well, color me impressed, Jess'!" James chuckled conspiratorially.
"Now, enough yappin', and let's get to watchin'!"
Ash had already taken his place in the trainer's box, focused and steady. After his preliminary battle on the same field, he felt comfortable and in the zone to compete. But he couldn't help but smile when he heard of his opponent's hometown, his interest properly piqued.
"Hey! You're from Unova, huh? I was there, not too long ago!" Ash called out to his foe, smiling all the while. "I can't wait to see what kind of cool Pokémon you've got!"
Dawyne tutted, cracking a smirk. "It's real nice of you to be curious, but my team is no tourist attraction. Forget that, and we'll walk all over you."
"Sheesh. Two real rays of sunshine in a row," Ash pouted.
"Not everyone can walk around with your charisma," Peeks consoled, patting Ash's shoulder.
Ash smiled, shaking his head. "It's fine. You want a fight? You've got one!"
"Now! Both challengers, please call your first Pokémon!" The referee raised both of his flags.
The Unovan trainer acted first, grabbing a Poké Ball off his belt. "Stoutland! Your turn to battle!"
"Kingler! I choose you!" Ash acted in the spirit of fairness and threw his own Poké Ball overhand before he could get a look at their opponent. The spinning sphere burst open.
"Kuu-ki!" Kingler appeared on the rocky terrain, snapping his mighty claws.
Opposite of him, an equally large Pokémon appeared. A large, shaggy canine bellowed a loud bark. His fierce expression was accentuated by fluffy brows that made him look awfully intimidating, and blue shades of fur coated his entire body, hiding his legs from view.
Ash excitedly pulled out his Pokédex, scanning them.
"Stoutland: The Big-Hearted Pokémon. Normal-type. The evolved form of Herdier. This extremely wise Pokémon excels at rescuing people stranded at sea or in the mountains."
"He sounds like a real nice guy!" Ash laughed, getting a second look at the Normal-type.
Meanwhile, Stoutland glowered menacingly at Kingler. Black, narrow eyes cast a shadow.
Kingler grumbled uneasily. A blue aura about him denoted a loss in attack power.
"Well, he certainly doesn't look nice," Ash said flatly as he glanced at his Pokédex, once more. 'So his ability is Intimidate… Okay. We may have less power, but we'll just have to hit harder!"
The referee raised his flag. "You may begin!"
"Stoutland! Work-Up!" Dwayne shouted. Stoutland barked loudly, and a red aura covered him.
With a quick glance at his Pokédex, Ash assessed the new move. It boosted attack and special attack. "Kingler! Crabhammer!"
Kingler lunged at Stoutland, bringing down his claw in a crushing blow. Stoutland leapt out of range, and he struck solid ground, shattering the terrain.
"Now, use Wild Charge!"
Stoutland stampeded towards Kingler, an electric veil crackling across his body. It looked rather similar to Volt Tackle.
"Use Mud Shot!" Ash countered, pointing forward.
Kingler aimed his smaller pincer at Stoutland. It was easier to wield, so it had a more precise aim. Masses of muck fired from his claw, blasting and slapping the incoming Stoutland.
The electricity coating Stoutland was doused. The normal type came to a halt, struggling to shake off the mud caking his coat. Even as he retreated, his movements seemed sluggish.
"Wow! Stoutland is stopped right in their tracks!"
"That mutt just got a whole lot slower," Jessie observed.
"That's Mud Shot," James narrated, reading off of a small gadget. "Not only did it put out Stoutland's spark, but it lowered his speed, too!"
"I nevah was a fan o' gettin' mud baths."
Dwayne grit his teeth and waved a hand. "Stoutland! Fire back with Shadow Ball!"
The ferocious canine howled and fired several huge Shadow Balls towards Kingler. Necrotic energy swallowed any light immediately surrounding it, quickly closing in with a pincer attack.
"That's nothin' Kingler can't handle! Knock them back with Crabhammer!" Ash instructed.
Kingler wielded both of his mighty claws, watching each of the Shadow Balls with a sharp gaze. Each incoming projectile met the fierce hide of his claws, bending and caving in before being slung back towards Stoutland. "Ku… Kiii…!"
"How'd you get to be a 'hometown favorite?'" Dwayne taunted. "You should know Shadow Ball won't work on Normal-types!"
The cluster of Shadow Balls converged on Stoutland, passing directly through him, before exploding violently in a cluster behind and around him. Despite taking no damage, Stoutland gasped.
"Yeah. I know!" A glint shone in Ash's eyes, accompanied by his signature grin as he punched the air. "Use Hammer Arm!"
Kingler had already lunged towards Stoutland in the confusion, grunting with effort as he drew back his larger claw. "Ku-iiiii!" He cried, smashing into Stoutland with a haymaker that sent the Pokémon flying.
Stoutland landed in a heap, groaning in pain.
"Wow! Ketchum went and redirected Shadow Ball on purpose to put Dwayne's guard down, using it to disguise Kingler's coming assault! That's just the sort of tactic that has come to be the young man's trademark! And it's super-effective!"
"Alright, alright. You're better than I thought." The blue-haired trainer took on a more stern expression, dramatically pointing forward. "But we've got an ace up our sleeve! Last Resort!"
Stoutland howled to the skies as a golden aura consumed him. He charged towards Kingler, propelled by a mighty power that took on the form of a bright yellow star, heading the charge.
"I don't know what that move is, but it looks really strong." Ash's eyes narrowed. "Iron Defense!"
Kingler braced himself, crossing both of his claws over his body. His entire hard outer shell was quickly coated in a lustrous metal sheen, sharply boosting his defensive prowess.
An earth-shaking explosion rocked the field as golden stars burst from the impact point.
"That's a powerful Last Resort…! But what's this!?"
Stoutland growled, digging himself into the dirt below. To his astonishment, though, the steely Kingler looked past his guard. He'd hardly moved an inch from where he'd stood.
"That's some nice power," Ash praised. "Take a look at ours! Crabhammer!"
Kingler wound up and swung. Stoutland was sent flying into the air by the impact.
"Now, Hammer Arm!"
The crustacean lunged at his airborne opponent, quickly catching up. "Kuuu…!" He wound up with his huge claw over his head. "Ki!" He spiked the other, sending them plummeting.
Rocky earth broke and erupted in dust, leaving a trail in the Pokémon's wake.
Stoutlands eyes turned to swirls, barely visible through their bushy brows.
"Stoutland is unable to battle," the referee shouted. "Kingler wins!"
"Kingler dished out the pain that he was able to take, and then some! Wow!"
"Kingler pounded that mutt into a pancake," Jessie observed.
"More like a houndcake, am I right, fellas?" Meowth added.
"I have a feeling this will be over sooner, rather than later," James wagered.
Dwayne recalled Stoutland in a huff. "Alright, alright. Time for round two!" The trainer slung a second Poké Ball backhanded. "You're up!"
A tall, looming Pokémon appeared, next; a huge, magenta centipede with a black underbelly and purple shapes along their body, standing on their hind legs. Scolipede towered over Kingler.
"Dwayne's next Pokémon is Scolipede! Another Unovan native, ready and raring to battle!"
"Another one of those guys," Ash said, eyes narrowing.
"Don't let your guard down," Peeks warned. "Their poisonous attacks are deadly."
"I know," Ash agreed, "and I've got just the answer! Kingler, return!" He held out his first Poké Ball, recalling the crustacean in a flash. He smiled upon the ball. "Great work, big guy. Get some rest, for now." He left it on his belt and picked another to throw out. "Gengar! I choose you!"
"Gehehehehe~!" Gengar appeared, orbiting Ash's side of the field with a ghostly cackle.
"It's time to turn things up… Gengar! Will-o-Wisp!" Ash ordered.
A circle of ghoulish flames orbited Gengar and fired at Scolipede.
"Use Agility! Dodge that!" Dwayne ordered. Scolipede was deceptively quick on their feet, zipping out of Will-o-Wisp's path, one after another. She dashed out of the way, flanking Gengar.
"As fast as I remember…! And that means they don't have Speed Boost," Ash concluded. "Let's lock 'em down! Gengar! Use Psychic!"
Gengar exerted a pulse of telekinesis, aiming to freeze Scolipede in place.
…And nothing happened!
"Use Sucker Punch!"
"Geh…?" Gengar's face twisted in confusion. Scolipede looked to be unfazed! Moreover, they could take the opportunity to dash past the ghoul. With a whip of their head, Scolipede sucker punched him with their horns. Gengar tumbled, bouncing off the field with a comical spring.
"That was weird," Ash muttered under his breath.
"Very," Peeks agreed.
Ash packed that away, and continued. "Will-o-Wisp!"
Gengar took to the air once more, floating towards Scolipede with a maniacal grin. Eerie blue flames rotated around his body, highlighting his face in a way that made it look terrifying.
"There it is," Dwayne shouted. "Fake Tears!"
Gengar was poised and ready with fright and fire, before the Scolipede started… sniffling.
"...Gen?" Gengar froze, frowning.
Scolipede sniffled, before tears started streaming freely down the Megapede's face. They shrunk and coiled into their form, cowering in fear under Gengar's theatrics.
"Geh…!?" Gengar exclaimed. He'd wanted to be frightening. He had no plans to make his opponent cry! "Gengar…!" He released his hold on Will-o-Wisp, seemingly summoning an umbrella. A single dark rain cloud hung over his head, pouring down upon the sulking ghost.
"Well, isn't this a sight!? The big, frightening bug is… sobbing! Fake Tears has totally disarmed Gengar, breaking his attack pattern and sharply lowering his special defense!"
"That move…" Ash muttered. "It has to be."
Peeks nodded. "I think so."
"Now!" Dwayne shouted. "Use Night Daze!"
Scolipede immediately abandoned their facade, standing up threateningly on their back legs. Their front hooves rotated in preparation to strike, coating themselves in crimson and violet.
"I knew it!" Ash barked. "Gengar! Dazzling Gleam, now!"
Scolipede's forelegs hit the ground, and a dome of cool, passionate colors tore through rock. Gengar's halo of colorful lights expanded just the same, meeting in the center of the field.
The collision exploded violently, flooding the stage with light and dark alike.
"A powerful collision of attacks…! But what is this!?"
The smoke started to clear, revealing a dusty and smoky, but mostly fine Gengar.
Down below the shroud, there was no more Scolipede. Instead, a Zorua sat upright on her bottom, dumbly blinking. She was coated in ashes from head to toe. She shook her fur out.
"That wasn't a Scolipede at all!" The emcee narrated, over the confusion and clamor of the crowd. "Scolipede was actually a Zorua, using their signature Illusion ability!"
"I knew it!" Ash exclaimed, smirking.
"Ohoo~! There's our star player~!" Jessie cooed, leaning on the back of the seat in front of her.
"A prodigy enters the fray," James said, nodding with folded arms. "And what a dramatic entrance!"
"She could probably work on her showmanship," Jessie said, "but that's what we're here for!"
Meowth grinned and shoved another pawful of popcorn in his mouth. "Let's see what dis little artsy fartsy fox can do!"
"Gen… gar…?" Gengar slowly titled his head. He floated his way over to the Zorua and orbited her inquisitively. He'd been fooled. Flabbergasted. He'd been had! That, combined with her comically ashen fur and wide eyes made him start to cackle!
Zorua blinked at Gengar, and then snickered mischievously.
"Alright, that's great, Zorua! Now enough playing games!" Dwayne shouted. "Use Night Daze!"
But Zorua didn't listen. She tilted her head, scrunching her little nose in thought. With a flash of violet, her face turned into that of a Scolipede's, with the rest of her body looking comically small.
Gengar hollered, slapping his knee!
Zorua took this as encouragement, before dropping the illusion to change her disguise, taking on the face of a clown, big red nose and all. "Zor! Zor!" She yipped happily.
Gengar was on his back, pounding the ground in laughter. Then, he was back in the air, and stuck out his tongue. It slid up to not only touch his nose, but cover his whole face. After retracting it, his eyes were completely missing.
"Zor!?" Zorua hopped up onto all fours, startled.
"Ge-haaah~!" Gengar stuck out his tongue again, balancing his eyes atop it.
Zorua started to snicker, before turning her face into that of a Gengar's.
"Zorua! Come on! Be serious!" Dwayne complained, holding the sides of his head.
"Oh, come on…! Ahaha!" Ash laughed, fiddling with his cap. "Have a funny bone, won't ya? It looks like our Pokémon are having a blast."
"Oh, my…! Ahaha, it seems… Like Zorua and Gengar have turned their battle into a stand-up routine! Although there are strict rules around the use of Illusion, I suppose the infraction would be to imitate other Pokémon for the purpose of deception! And as far as we can see, that's simply one very silly Zorua!" The emcee laughed light-heartedly, struggling to maintain their stage persona. "One can hope they'll return to battling, soon!"
Dwayne, for his part, growled through his teeth. "That's it! Zorua, Sucker Punch!"
The Tricky Fox looked over and rolled her eyes, but she obeyed. She lunged at a leisurely floating and laughing Gengar, headbutting him to the ground.
"Sucker Punch hits! Although Gengar wasn't attacking, he was certainly off-guard!"
"Oh, that was low. Do you have to go and interrupt a nice moment?" Ash complained.
"Are you here to have fun or to win?" The trainer shot back. "I know my answer. You find yours."
"Oh, I know my answer," Ash countered, cracking a wry smile. "Gengar, into the ground!"
A miffed and sour Gengar rubbed a bruise on his head but immediately hopped back to attention. "Gengar!" He saluted Ash, before melding into the terrain below. A wide, expanding shadow ate up the rocky field, coming up below a confused Zorua.
"Oh, Gengar has sunk into the field! What is Ketchum up to!?"
"To answer your question," Ash continued. "I'm thinkin' a little bit of both. Grab 'er, Gengar!"
"Zor…? Ru-roh!?" The fox startled as she was suddenly snatched into a slimy grasp. Gengar's tongue emerged from his shadow, wrapping tightly around Zorua.
His wide-spanning smile and eerie eyes permeated the shadow he'd cast. "Gehehe~!"
"What the…!? What're you trying to pull!?"
"Throw 'er sky high, Gengar!" Ash threw a hand in the air. Gengar did so, flinging the fox into the air with a lash of his tongue. "Now, use Will-o-Wisp!"
Another gathering of ghoulish flames manifested, and this time, there was nowhere for Zorua to go. They all ambushed her, lighting her ablaze. She yipped, falling to the ground below her.
An eerie blaze consumed her. Zorua had been burned.
"Zorua!" Dwayne exclaimed.
"Now, use Hex!" Ash ordered.
An eerie eye spawned in front of Gengar with many nightmarish tendrils. They lashed out at Zorua, snagging her in their grip. Hex exploded in a blaze, disappearing as quickly as it'd come.
Zorua laid out, unconscious. Her tongue lazily hung out of the side of her mouth. "Ruroh…"
"Zorua is unable to battle! Gengar wins!"
"The brat went and lost with our prize," James huffed, looking sour.
"And it was deserved! How could he have such a poor eye for showmanship and talent!?" Jessie scowled, turning her nose up to the action. "She was performing, and he had no appreciation whatsoever. I hope the Twerp beats him, three-to-zip!"
"At the rate things are goin,'" Meowth replied, "I t'ink that's just reality."
"Aaaargh…!" Dwayne slapped a hand to his forehead, mashing his blue wavy locks afray against his face. "Unbelievable. If you'd just listened…" It took him until then to realize that he was being watched, and listened to, by a crowd. Taking on a deep shade of red, he quietly recalled Zorua. "I'll talk to you later."
Ash scowled from across the field. He knew that song and dance. "Hey, lighten up, would ya! No Pokémon deserves a sore loser for a trainer."
"And you don't deserve them!" Peeks barked in addition.
"You have no right to call me a sore loser until you beat me," the teenage boy countered. He threw his last Poké Ball into the fray. "Scolipede, your turn! I'm counting on you!
Once more, a towering Scolipede appeared on the field. This time, she was assuredly real.
"Good work, Gengar. Take a rest, for now!" Ash recalled his own ghost, grinning as he placed the ball on his belt. "You were a riot out there, big guy. But it's time to call it curtains. We have one more friend, raring to go!" He threw his last Poké Ball sky-high. "Pidgeot! You're up!"
The beam of light leaving the capsule soared sky high, taking the shape of a beautiful winged beast, her colorful head crest glimmering under the sun. She spanned her wings and shrieked.
"Tensions are rising on the rock field! With Dwayne down to his last Pokémon and Ash sitting comfortably at three, raring to go, he's facing an uphill battle!"
Damien wasted no time and gestured forth. "Now, use Pin Missile!"
Scolipede fired a barrage of explosive green needles, targeting Pidgeot.
"Charge in and slip under!" Ash waved a hand. Pidgeot cried affirmatively and dove towards her foe. The needles came close to clipping her wings, but diving belly down let her coast just above ground. As large as she was, she was an easy target to hit. Skillful weaves of her wings left explosions to go off behind her, giving her a quick path to Scolipede.
"Now, use Rollout!"
Scolipede coiled into a huge magenta wheel, crashing headfirst into the coming Pidgeot.
She flapped her wings, making a bit of distance for herself in the aftermath.
"Now, keep going!" With Dwayne's orders, Scolipede continued, grinding the rocky field under her to roll towards Pidgeot at breakneck speeds.
"Feather Dance!" Ash commanded swiftly.
Pidgeot beat her wings, showering the coming Megapede in a thick blanket of down.
"Now, grab the sides of that Rollout with Steel Wing!"
Pidgeot's metallic wings gripped each end of Scolipede's Rollout, bringing the feather clad wheel to a grinding halt. She came just short of being pushed out of the battlefield's boundaries.
"Rollout is rendered inert, by a combination of Feather Dance and Steel Wing!"
"Good job, Ketchum," Dwayne praised, sporting a smirk.
Ash raised a brow.
"You put your Pidgeot right where we want her! Poison Tail!"
Scolipede quickly uncoiled, stabbing Pidgeot with the two, glowing horn-like tails on her carapace.
Pidgeot squawked, backing off into the air. She dusted off her belly, boasting just a few scratches.
"That Feather Dance means that even a point-blank Poison Tail is merely a nuisance…! But oh, what's this!? Pidgeot seems to be poisoned!"
Blue discoloration marked Pidgeot's face, a few poisonous bubbles appearing about her. She panted and shook her head out. She suddenly felt sickly.
"Now!" Dwayne commanded. "Use Venoshock!"
"We're not falling for that," Ash shouted. "Block it with Steel Wing!"
Pidgeot was a hardy veteran of many a battle. Even with sickness clouding her senses, her mind and eyes were sharp. She guarded her hide at breakneck speeds, coating her vast wings in steel. Poisonous gunk slapped against her feathers, dripping harmlessly to burn the field.
Dwayne grit his teeth in frustration. "There's no way your Pidgeot's that fast!"
"Oh, there's a way. She's been battling as long as I have!" Ash punched the air. "Use Hurricane!"
Pidgeot furiously beat her wings. A howling storm tore across the rocky terrain, capturing Scolipede in its wake. The Megapede was lifted into the air, tossed about by strong winds.
"Now, finish it!" Ash threw both of his hands out to the side. "Heat Wave!"
Another shrill cry and flap of her wings sent scalding air into the eye of the storm, turning it into a scalding, orange twister of gale force winds.
"What a terrifying combination! Hurricane and Heat Wave for a very effective assault!"
Hurricane died out, dropping the Megapede on her back. The earth rattled upon impact, and the Pokémon laid out slack and unresponsive. Swirls in her eyes concluded the match at hand.
"Scolipede is unable to battle!" The referee shouted. "Pidgeot is the winner, as is Ash from Pallet Town!"
"And that's all she wrote! A valiant effort, but Ketchum's Pokémon were on an entirely different plane! Swift and consecutive strategic attacks have put him forth to Round Two!"
Ash smiled and planted a hand on the guardrail to vault himself over the trainer's box, landing on his feet. He approached Pidgeot, affectionately ruffling her feather crest. "You were awesome. Let's get you healed up in just a minute, alright?"
Pidgeot cooed happily, leaning into his hand. "I could hear his obnoxious bluster from my Poké Ball. I was more than happy to lend a wing." She winced as poison bubbled under her skin but refused to show her ailment, pardoning a slightly strained smile.
"I know, I know. C'mon, now." Ash lightly tapped her with her Poké Ball, recalling her. He approached his opponent, holding out a hand.
"You did what you could. Let's get going," he muttered after recalling Scolipede. He looked up to see Ash and frowned, but he was still in front of a crowd, so he reached to shake his hand. "You better not be here to brag."
Ash rolled his eyes at the remark. "I know it got tense out there, but it was real cool getting to see Pokémon from far away. It was fun, y'know?"
"Yeah, I'm sure you feel that way," he said sarcastically. "Good match and all." He pulled his hand away, slipping it back into his pocket to retreat to the stadium.
Ash scowled. "Hey, while you're still in earshot, make sure to be nicer to your Zorua!"
Dwayne didn't acknowledge him, leaving through his corridor.
Peeks watched the trainer and shook his head. "What is it with you getting the sore losers?"
Ash shrugged. "Guess I just have that kind of luck. Let's go, Buddy!"
"Now, are you sure this is the way he went, Meowth?"
"Sure, I'm sure! I did a whole survey o' the inside of the Pokémon League infrastructure the other day! Unlike you bums, I actually did my homework!"
"Who are you calling a bum!?"
Meowth rolled his eyes at the squabbling that he himself had started and shushed Jessie and James. Rounding one of the many bends of the stadium interior, he and his two companions crept with caution and care. "Keep ya feelings to yourself an' focus. It just so happens the interior of each stadium's gots a miniature Pokémon Center for the competitors! So if we keep…"
"There you are! Your Pokémon are fighting fit." Nurse Joy's charming, recognizable voice echoed from around the next corner. "Thank you for waiting, Dwayne!"
Around the corner, three heads poked out; Meowth's first, James above him, and Jessie leaning her weight on James.
Nurse Joy handed Dwayne his three Poké Balls, but not before one of them burst open! The light took the shape of… well, not quite a Zorua. Or any Pokémon, actually! A second Nurse Joy spawned next to the first and snickered into her hands.
"Ugh! Come on, Zorua." Dwayne grimaced, gesturing with his thumb. "Haven't you fooled around enough?"
The illusion rolled its eyes before turning into a colorful spiral that landed atop the counter. "Zor! Zor!" She barked.
"Translation, Meowth?" James asked.
"She's sayin' there ain't no point in battlin' if it ain't fun," Meowth replied.
"Losing is one thing, but the least you could do is try to win," Dwayne scolded. "We got folded out there, three-to-nothing."
Zorua tilted up her little head. "Rua-roh."
"She says, 'Dat sounds like a 'you' problem!''
"You know, I've really had it with your attitude!" the trainer fumed. "If this is how-"
"Excuse me!" Nurse Joy clapped her hands together, startling trainer and Pokémon alike. She looked as stern as a Joy had ever been, shooting a glare at Dwayne. The teenage boy was quiet, as was his fox.
"This is not becoming behavior of a competitor of the Pokémon League, or of any proper Pokémon Trainer, for that matter! If this continues, I may have to look into filing a motion to bar you from any future entries," Joy threatened. "Now, are you going to treat your Pokémon with respect, or am I going to have to go forward with this?"
The teenager shrank under her scolding. "...Sure thing, Ma'am." With a scoff and a roll of his eyes, he recalled the Zorua and retrieved the other Poké Balls. He slid a hand into his pocket, walking away from the small station and towards the three snooping bystanders.
Jessie, James, and Meowth all stood up straight, pointedly looking away as he passed them. Dwayne didn't seem to notice anything amiss about the lurking spectators, walking on by in a huff.
All three let out a sigh of relief as he left them behind. Jessie waved her hand and they gathered for a group huddle.
"It seems like there's trouble in paradise," she whispered.
"That Zorua and her trainer go together like ice cream and a hot summer day," James added.
"Well, luckily for us, a bad fit for dat blue-haired bozo means a good fit for us! Now, all that's required is a lil' convincin'... And I think I've got just the plan!"
"Oh? A plan? You've hatched a scheme?" James blinked.
"Well, don't just stand there twiddling your paws," Jessie demanded. "Tell us!"
"Shut ya mouths and open ya ears." Meowth grinned menacingly. "Here's the dealio…!"
Indigo Village contained many sights and amenities for trainers and spectators alike. One of the more popular among those was the public park, off to the furthest corner of the gathering.
Ordinarily, it would be bustling with people and Pokémon enjoying some fresh air and sun after a long day of battling and strategizing, but it was currently the middle of the afternoon on the first day of proper matches, meaning a majority of trainers were either battling or preparing to battle. A few children and Pokémon played, but there was still relative solitude.
This was perfect for a competitor who'd fallen out of the ranks immediately. Dwayne sat on a park bench in a relatively secluded spot, enjoying the shade of the nearby trees. He slurped on a soda, his opposite arm slung over the back of the bench. Some good ol' sulking.
"Excuse me, sir!"
Dwayne looked up from his moping, only to find himself being addressed by a trio of strangers.
There was a pair of tall and slender humans in gray suits with red ties. One was a man with lavender hair, face paint resembling the markings of Dwayne's slightly unique Zorua. The other was a woman with a crimson mane styled and dyed like a Zoroark's own with face paint to match. Accompanying them was a small… well, either a Pokémon or a very strange-looking child, dressed up in a Zorua onesie.
The blue-haired trainer quirked a brow at the three. "What do you want?"
"What do we want?" the woman echoed. "Oh, we want nothing at all! In fact, we have something to offer you!"
"We are here from the Zorua-Zoroark Zenith Association!" the suave man explained, "or, if you want to save your breath, the ZZZA."
"And we're here 'cause we saw that performance of ya darlin' little Zorua out in the ring!" the onesie-sporting third added. "We just couldn't look past all o' her illusory talent!"
Dwayne squinted. "Look, if you want an autograph, she's not interested. I can't even get her to listen to what I have to say, let alone a band of weirdos in face paint. Just leave me alone."
"Ah-ah-ah…!" The woman wagged her fingers, barely restraining the fury under those gorgeous features. The nerve to insult her costume design…! "But you don't understand! We're not here for autographs. We're here to offer your little furry friend the deal of a lifetime!"
"You see," the man continued, pulling a huge whiteboard out of seemingly nowhere. "We here at the ZZZA believe in drawing out the illusion-crafting potential of all Zorua and Zoroark. And that's not something a loser—" He cleared his throat. "Ahem, a trainer without proper coaching can handle~" He gestured to the board with a pointer stick, pointing out various keywords.
"And, dat's where we come in!" the smallest of the trio chimed, hopping up on Dwayne's shoulder. "All we require from you is dat lil' ball of talent! In our hands, she'll be a master of her craft in no time flat!"
"I'm sure it'll be tough to convince you to part ways with your Zorua," the man continued, "but if you just listen to our twelve-point plan…!"
"Take her."
"...Eh?" The trio came to a screeching, wide-eyed halt.
"You can have her. I'm done." Dwayne picked her Poké Ball off his belt and casually tossed her towards the taller duo. The man juggled it between his hands, staring in disbelief.
"Um… Sir." He cleared his throat. "You sure you don't want to hear our pitch?"
"Getting rid of her is the only pitch that I need!" The teenager got up from the bench, shrugging a startled Meowth off, and slid his hands into his pockets. "Look, we clearly don't get along. She doesn't take battling seriously, and she doesn't want to cooperate."
The youth started to walk away and waved a hand. "Look, tell 'er I said to have a nice life, or something. You have fun with her. I'm done."
The trio of troublemaking criminals watched the trainer depart, stiff with disbelief.
"It… worked," James muttered.
"Just like dat," Meowth muttered. "She's ours."
"Were we too good…? Too convincing?" Jessie blinked and tugged on her suit. "Was it our elaborate costume work?"
"I didn't even get to explain my twelve-point plan!" James whined.
"You guys!" Meowth exclaimed, waving his paws. "You're missing the bigger picture here."
"We are?" Jessie asked.
"And what's that, Meowth?" James prodded.
"Dat no-good suckah… He didn't give one heck of a damn about his Pokeymon!" Meowth started to sob. "Not nuthin' of a struggle. Not an argument, or even a blast-off! He just handed her over!"
"But wasn't that the point of our plan?" Jessie asked.
"Well, sure it was!" James replied. "But Meowth's right! It wasn't supposed to be that easy!"
"...You know, it really wasn't," Jessie mulled, cupping her chin. "...You're right! We were supposed to win her over with our charisma, our costumes, and our conniving scheme!" With fiery fury in her eyes, she closed her fists. "It was supposed to be a triumph of evil over good!"
In her mind's eye, she imagined a dramatic recreation of their mission's success. A broken and sulking trainer reluctantly handing over his prized partner. Looming over him were Jessie, James, and Meowth in full costume, maniacally grinning over their hard-earned victory. Even Zorua would be atop her shoulder, snickering evilly along with them.
But that image shattered. Shattered as if a Tauros had charged into a china shop.
"It's a tragedy…!" James sobbed. "A poor, lonely Zorua, left out in the rain of our schemes!"
"It's an outrage!" Jessie barked. "We'll have to be better to that prized Pokémon than he ever could!"
"An' that's exactly what we's gonna do!" Meowth agreed with vigor and determination. "Now, let's go ahead an' greet our new friend. But let's do it with care and sensitivity!"
"Right!" Jessie nodded vigorously.
"Sensitivity. Got it!" James agreed. He lightly tossed the Poké Ball.
Zorua appeared, blinking slowly. She didn't seem to recognize her company.
"Ahem… Zorua. We have something to tell you." James sat down in front of the fox, solemnly hanging his head. "You might want to sit down because you're in for a bit of a shock."
"It's ya trainer," Meowth added. "He went an' left you in our care!"
"We tried to protest his abdication, truly," Jessie swore, "but he wouldn't hear a word of it!"
"He left ya high and dry." Meowth shook his head. "But don't go bawlin' ya big blue eyes out yet! 'Cause you got us, now!"
"And we'll be sure to help you through these trying times!" James swore. "With Arceus as our witness, we…!" He stopped. "...Eh?"
Zorua was currently digging into the black collar of fur around her neck. With a muffled bark, she yanked something out of it between her teeth. She threw it at their feet.
Jessie reached for it and picked it up. "...A wallet?" She opened it to check its content. "It's the brat's wallet! It's got his face, his cash… His gym membership…"
"It's even one of those fancy ones with access to massage chairs," James added, leaning over to see.
"...But I don' understand," Meowth stammered. "Whaddya have that on ya for?"
"Zor!"
"She stole it!?" Meowth exclaimed.
"Well, what do you know," Jessie said. "A thief in training!"
"She learns fast," James remarked.
"Zorua. Zor Zor! Ru-rah! Roh, Zor."
"Zorua says she went along with 'im for the free food and hopefully have some thrills on the road!"
"Ru-Ruh. Zo-zu. Roruah! Zorua rah!"
"But this guy was boring! A total snoozer. All he wanted to do was battle, battle, battle! She wants t' cause problems. She's a Zorua, for pete's sake!"
"Oh, she's a natural," James said, grinning.
"Ruroh. Rah!"
"She said she don't give a flying— Hey! Easy on the language there, lady! This story's only rated T, ya know!" Meowth balked.
Zorua only snickered into the back of her paw.
"Well, well, well… Then I believe we have good news for you, Zorua," Jessie purred. She nodded to James and Meowth. "We may have introduced ourselves to your trainer as the ZZZA, but in reality, we're dirty rotten liars too!"
All three disposed of their disguises in unison, standing proudly in their uniforms.
"We're not Zorua enthusiasts. We're actually Team Rocket~!" Jessie said, striking a pose.
"We're thieves. A criminal organization, aiming to take over the world~!" James cooed.
"And we was lookin' to recruit you!" Meowth pointed at the fox. "With your quick wits an' disguises, the four o' us could make a dynamite team!"
A flash appeared from Jessie's belt, manifesting in the forefront. "Wooooobbuffet!"
"Okay, okay, five of us. But, who's countin'!?"
Zorua stared at the criminal gang, wide-eyed. Then, she grinned. "Zooooorua~!"
"What'd she say, Meowth?"
"She said she loves the idea! Looks like we made our first big heist of the league, fellas!"
"With that, there's many more to come~!"
With that proclamation, all five criminals cackled deviously; old and new.
The following day of the Indigo Plateau Conference came, and with it, the second official round. This particular battle brought Ash to the water field, a large, circular pool with five floating platforms arranged throughout. A central platform was surrounded by four others.
Ash had sent out Muk first, who occupied the platform closest to him.
His opponent, a brunette named Rolando with a deep navy jacket, had sent out a Starmie.
"Ash Ketchum, in the red box, has sent out his Muk, a glutton for punishment in several previous conferences! Rolando, in the green box, claims the field and type advantage with Starmie! How will these factors affect the coming battle…!?"
The referee raised his flags. "You may begin!"
"The first to move is the first to win! Muk, use Sludge Bomb!" Ash declared.
Muk opened his mouth, firing a bombardment of densely packed sludge.
"Starmie! Deflect it with Rapid Spin!" Rolando countered.
Starmie started to spin like a top. The spinning spires repelled Sludge Bomb, sending wads of sludge flying across the water and platforms. Furthermore, the Water-type started to pick up speed, orbiting the perimeter of the waterbound platforms.
"Starmie has repelled Sludge Bomb and even seems to be picking up speed!"
"That movement…!" Ash's eyes widened. "It's just like-"
"Just like your Torkoal, right?" Rolando finished, smiling. "Believe it or not, your adjustment to Rapid Spin has gotten around! Some of those Gym Battles of yours are the talk of the town these days, so we thought we'd try it for ourselves!"
"Wait, really…!?" Ash's eyes were wide. He laughed, bashfully brushing his index finger over the bridge of his nose. This was a new feeling! "Well, I can't say I'm not flattered."
"You should be. Try not to take it too hard when I beat you with your own moves!" Ronaldo laughed, clearly in better humor than Ash's previous opponents. "Starmie! Use Swift, now!"
The spinning star unleashed a barrage of golden stars in their orbit of Muk. The Swift attack pummeled the stationary sludge from all directions, ambushing him. "Muk…!"
"Hey, hold on," Dawn said from the audience. "How were people watching Ash's Gym Battles!? Apart from the Gym staff, we were the only ones there!"
"Don't you know, Dawn? Most Gym Battles are recorded on site and aired throughout the season," Brock explained.
"Even ours was put out there!" Misty explained. She was suddenly quietly grateful she'd taken Ash out of sight and earshot when they'd had their little talk. "It's part of the data that you can check out on someone's trainer file! A lot of people like to scope out their competition."
"So this guy saw Ash's Rapid Spin technique and made it his own." Dawn smiled. She felt a bit of secondhand pride. "But that won't be enough to stop Ash… Ah! Wait a minute!"
"What's wrong, Dawn!?" Misty asked.
"If the matches were being aired, then I must've been in the footage, too… Oh, Blaine's Gym had my hair on the frizz!" she exclaimed, rapidly patting down her hair. "Oh, I hope no one saw that…!"
Beads of sweat dripped down Misty and Brock's foreheads, alike.
"That's a nice spin you've got on my move," Ash praised. Pun intended. "But we're not folding that easily. Muk, use Acid Armor! Melt out into the water!"
"Muuuk…!" Muk acknowledged Ash while he was under fire. Suddenly, his gooey body started to melt, expanding into a thinner layer of slime that dripped off of the platform he occupied. His grimy body melded into the water between the sturdy platforms, leaving the golden stars to bounce what was left of his body harmlessly.
"What's this…!? Muk has all but melted with Acid Armor! That Swift isn't doing any damage, and it's hard to tell exactly where he's going to come up!"
"Be careful, Starmie!" Rolando warned. "And stay on the move!"
Starmie beeped out an affirmative answer, using their accumulated speed to orbit and survey the pool.
"Now! Use Body Slam!"
Muk's massive, mucky form rose out of the slime directly in Starmie's path. "Muuuk~!" He roared and tackled Starmie with all of his weight, pinning them to the small circle of land.
"Starmie!" Rolando shouted. "Throw him off you with Psychic!"
"Muhhh…?" Muk found himself outlined in a blue glow. Tried as he might to maintain his stance, he was launched sky high by Starmie's super-effective move. The starfish was freed.
"Now, Hydro Pump!"
Starmie aimed and fired a torrent at Muk, striking his belly.
The Poison-type rose and melded around the Hydro Pump, hanging around the point of impact. He groaned in discomfort at the unrelenting jet.
"Hang in there, Muk!" Ash encouraged his Pokémon. "Use Screech!"
Muk spat a horrific sound, barraging the firing Starmie with a harsh noise.
Starmie released Hydro Pump and recoiled. Even without a face, they looked uncomfortable.
"Now, Body Slam!" Ash punched forward triumphantly.
Muk was now in a freefall, his opponent too stunned to react. He crushed Starmie beneath his weight, sending ripples of force throughout the pool. With a nod from Ash, he pulled away.
Starmie laid out with their gem flashing intermittently before it went dim.
"Starmie is unable to battle! Muk wins!"
"Screech put an end to Starmie's assault and left them defenseless for Body Slam! What a quick and ruthless combo from Ketchum!"
"Return, Starmie!" Rolando recalled the Water-type with a grimace. "Thanks, but we're not done yet! Victreebel, it's your turn!"
The Flycatcher Pokémon appeared with an unpleasant screech, flexing his leaves.
"Good work, Muk!" Ash recalled his own partner and substituted him. "Tauros, it's your turn!"
Tauros appeared closest to Ash, bellowing and eager to battle.
"Let's go! Megahorn!" Ash shouted, pointing forth.
Tauros leapt across the stage, aiming two glowing green horns at Victreebel.
"Use Sunny Day!" Rolando countered.
A glowing orb fired out of Victreebel's mouth, casting harsh sunlight overhead.
Just as Tauros lunged to stab at Victreebel, the Grass-type's leaves took on a healthy glow, and he spun nimbly out of the way. Tauros skidded to a half, snorting in frustration.
"Now, use Leaf Blade!"
Still at Tauros's side, Victreebel lashed out with a razor-sharp leaf, slashing his hide.
"Oooh! Sunny Day has activated Victreebel's Chlorophyll, doubling their speed!"
"We've gotta make some distance," Ash muttered. "Use Double Team!"
A group of copies spawned around the water field, taking up each of the elevations.
"Victreebel! Take them out with Power Whip!"
Victreebel hopped back to the central platform with ease and lashed out with a pair of glowing vines. Spinning quickly, he struck at the entirety of Tauros's shroud with a cracking strike.
Double Team was cleared out, and Tauros cried out, as both vines belted him one after another.
He snorted angrily, expelling steam from his nostrils. "I don't know about you, but this is pissin' me off, real quick."
"Yeah, I figured as much." Ash smirked. "Let's put that hot temper to work! Fire Blast!"
"Roger, boss!" Tauros whinnied before snorting out a giant, five-pronged blaze.
Worry was written across Rolando's face. He'd made a super-effective move stronger! "Dodge it, Victreebel, quick! Duck in between the flames!"
Victreebel lunged towards the nearest opening in the blazing star. A nimble dive forward just barely avoided scathing his leaves. Though, he could feel the ambient heat simmering on the water field. He'd just slipped through.
"That was close! Victreebel just barely avoided that Fire Blast!"
"There's more where that came from," Ash boasted as a smile picked up on his lips.
Just as he did, Fire Blast began to ignite the pool's surface. Naturally, the water itself wasn't flammable… But the bits of poisonous goo still floating about from Muk's presence were.
The pool lit up, then detonated violently in a sequence of bright explosions.
Rolando guarded himself from the blaze, hiding behind his arm and jacket. "What kind of…!?"
"Wow! Either Ash was extremely careless, or he premeditated Fire Blast setting off the poisonous residue from his own Muk! With his reputation in mind, I'd put money on the latter!"
"If I know Ash, it was definitely the latter," Brock remarked. He could feel the heat from the stands.
"You know," May said, "Ash has gotten kind of scary… To pull off a move like that!"
"He got that one from me," Dawn boasted, puffing out her chest. "Lighting poisonous attacks up into explosive finishes was an idea he grabbed from one of my Contest appeals!"
May giggled behind her hand. "Well, let no one ever say you're not a power couple!"
Meanwhile, the explosive blowback knocked a wide-eyed Victreebel forward and off-balance. Singes and superficial burns touched his leaves and body, but worse yet, he was face-to-face with a ferocious Tauros. He'd been ambushed.
"Don't lose your head there, Victreebel!" Rolando encouraged his Pokémon. "Use Flash!"
"What!?" Ash exclaimed.
The trainer had just enough time to grab his cap and use it to shield his Pikachu's eyes and duck his eyes behind his arm. Victreebel's flash was blinding, lighting up the entire field.
Tauros whinnied painfully, overwhelmed by the flashing lights.
"Ouch! That was an unexpected Flash attack; obstructing Tauros's sight in a big way! And with Sunny Day hanging overhead, that assault was amplified! We're seeing some nasty weather and field combos today, folks!"
"You're not kidding…!" Ash shut his eyes tightly. He was still seeing spots, despite it. But he had more-or-less avoided the worst. "Tauros! Can you hear me!?"
"Loud and clear! But I can't see a damn thing!" Tauros complained, stomping his platform angrily.
Ash squinted, making out the field to the best of his ability. Victreebel was right in front of Tauros, ready to strike with another Leaf Blade. "Yeah, well, just trust me! Stomping Tantrum!"
A very furious Tauros candidly followed through, stomping the foundation he stood upon with a vengeance! Part of the solid footing started to crumble and quake, ricocheting chunks of solid material right into the attacking Victreebel. The pool itself rolled and quaked, upset by the Normal type's violent fury.
Victreebel, more importantly, was sent flying into the air.
"Now, fire up diagonally! Ahead and above of you!" Ash pointed towards Victreebel. "Fire Blast!"
Tauros reared his head back and fired. A roaring blaze consumed Victreebel immediately.
The Grass-type fell from the fire, landing on the water, unconscious.
"Victreebel is unable to battle! Tauros wins!"
"That Stomping Tantrum was exactly what Ash needed," Drew observed, crossing his arms. "After that Flash, he was primed for a counterattack, as long as Tauros could follow orders."
"That was going to work no matter what," Max added. Sitting near Drew and May, he rubbed his spectacles since they had fogged over in the heat. "Either that first Fire Blast was going to hit, or his ticked off Tauros would've thrown a tantrum. That Flash just prolonged the inevitable."
Koda nodded, leaning back in his seat. "...Ash is one messed up dude. He's too strong."
"Victreebel… Thank you." Rolando exhaled and recalled his Pokémon with haste. "I've got to hand it to you, Ash. This has gone your way so far! But this is the end of the line!" The well-dressed teenager threw his last Poké Ball into the fray. "Rapidash! I choose you!"
A proud Rapidash appeared. His mane blazed proudly, particularly white-hot under the sun.
"Yeah, we'll see about that! Take a rest for now, Tauros!" Ash recalled his own partner, substituting him with his third. "Alright, Primeape… You're up!"
"Ooshi! Oosh!" Primeape hopped from foot to foot, shadowboxing. He was sporting his signature Championship belt.
"Primeape, the P1 Champion, makes his Pokémon League debut! Let's see how this last bout goes, folks!"
"Rapidash! Solar Beam!" Ash's opponent ordered without delay. Rapidash opened his mouth and fired a blinding beam of light without any charge time.
"Use Detect!" Ash countered. Primeape analyzed his opponent's movements and eyesight with a surge of fighting intuition. With quick evasive steps forward, he danced around the beam as the water rippled and the platforms quivered. He floated like a Butterfree…
"Power-up Punch!" Ash shouted.
…And stung like a Beedrill. Just as Solar Beam ended, Primeape lunged, clocking Rapidash in the jaw. The equine cried and stomped, trying to keep his footing. Primeape backed off in the process, taking to the center of the field. A red aura washed over him.
Rolando grimaced. "Use Flare Blitz!"
Rapidash stampeded across the field; Flare Blitz was amplified to white-hot flames under the sunlight.
"Detect, again!" Ash urged.
This time, there was no room to duck, with angry flames licking at the hissing waters. Instead, Primeape lunged into the air, clearing Rapidash's path entirely.
"Primeape dodges with a magnificent jump! What can Ronaldo do about that Detect!?"
"Oh, I'll show you," the youth replied. "Smart Strike!"
Rapidash craned his neck over his shoulder, eyeing the falling Primeape. A glint shone in his proud, ruby eyes, and his horn took on a silver sheen. Suddenly, his horn shot out and jabbed directly into a squealing Primeape's torso. Precise and instantaneous, it knocked the Pig Monkey off guard.
"What was that move!?" May asked.
"That one was Smart Strike," Max explained. "It's a Steel-type move that strikes in an instant, so it's basically impossible to miss with it! It's a lot like Aerial Ace in that way."
"So that's their workaround for Detect," Brock surmised. "Ash better watch out."
"Rapidash lands a clean hit on Primeape with that Smart Strike! Detect just wouldn't cut it… Oh, but it seems the harsh sunlight is dying out! So much for that Solar Beam and Flare Blitz!" the emcee narrated as the sun shining over the battlefield returned to normal.
Rolando tutted in disappointment, baring a grimace. "We may have lost our bonus, but we can still hit you hard! Rapidash! Flare Blitz!"
Rapidash whinnied and charged, wrapped in a slightly less volatile but still fierce coat of flames.
"Using Detect again will just hurt his focus…" Ash's eyes narrowed. "Roll and dodge!"
Primeape ducked under Rapidash's charge, rolling toward the other end of the platform.
The stallion's eyes glimmered. The Pig Monkey was within his sights. Still blazing, he kicked both of his hind legs out with violent precision. The blazing hooves clocked Primeape.
The P1 Champion tumbled back onto the center platform. His fur was singed and he sported several bruises. But he was no quitter. Snorting angrily, Primeape righted himself and dusted his fur off. "Oosh! Ooshi!"
"He's on the backfoot! Let's finish this!" Rolando waved a hand. "Use High Horsepower!"
Rapidash charged and leapt high into the air above the pool. Crying with valor and pride, he let gravity do the rest, and aimed to stomp Primeape into the pool with his hooves.
"Now! It's been long enough!" Ash waved a hand. "Detect!"
Primeape's fighting spirit took over his body. Judging exactly where the hooves would land, he pivoted and sidestepped the stomp. He felt the already crumbling platform start to break under his feet, splitting into segments under the pressure.
"Oooh, it looks like the Water Field is going to need some repairs! But, that crushing High Horsepower missed its mark!"
"Now!" Ash grinned, gesturing up. "Reversal!"
Steadying his stance directly below Rapidash, Primeape drew back his gloved fist. A blazing valor overtook it with its glow, channeling the pain he'd suffered from Smart Strike and Flare Blitz. Although it was far from enough damage to take him down…
"Oosh… Oookiiii!"
…It was more than enough to power a fierce uppercut into Rapidash's stomach. The Fire-type was sent soaring, launched above the water field from the impact.
"Now, let's finish it!" Ash declared triumphantly. "Seismic Toss!"
Primeape nodded and lunged up towards his airborne opponent. He wrapped one of his arms around the stallion's back and shoved his face away with the opposite paw. With Rapidash shoved away, he secured his grip around Rapidash's back.
"Primeape goes in for the Seismic Toss! Ooh, this could be iit…!"
"Ooki…!" Primeape leaned all of his weight back, wielding Rapidash's entire body over his head. He dropped into a freefall, bringing his opponent down with him, upside-down.
The audience watched with bated breath. Primeape and Rapidash crashed into the central structure in the middle of the pool, shattering what was left of it in a titanic splash.
"What a devastating takedown! Seismic Toss stuck the landing!"
Primeape pulled himself out of the pool, shaking out his fur. He looked bruised and irritated but altogether full of fighting spirit.
Rapidash, for his part, surfaced amongst the rubble. He floated atop the pool's surface on his side, completely unconscious.
"Rapidash is unable to battle!" The referee raised his flag. "Primeape wins the match, which makes Ash the winner of the battle!"
"Wow! That's the sort of takedown you could only expect from a P1 Champion! Ash has gone on to win his third battle with absolutely zero losses! Is this the first glimmer of a rising star…!?"
"Great work, Primeape!" Ash vaulted over the railing of his trainer's box, offering an open hand to his Pokémon. Primeape met him in a swinging handshake, and Ash pulled him for a hug and a pat on the back. A 'brohug,' as some would call it. "I don't know what you think, but I don't think that was the work of someone way past their glory days. Do you?"
Primeape blinked, pulling back from his trainer. Then, he snorted in amusement. "Well, when you're right, you're right. I guess I've got a few more bands to win in me."
"You know you do. Now, get some rest, champ. You deserve it." He recalled the Fighting-type, and hopped across what was left of the pool's structure. "Hey!"
Ash waved and jumped up to pull him over the railing to the green box. He grinned, holding a hand out to Rolando. "Thanks for the battle!"
The well-dressed trainer blinked dumbly at Ash, then laughed awkwardly, reaching to shake his hand. "Ahaha, you know, it's not normal to jump into the other trainer box for a handshake."
"Yeah well, you're the first sporting opponent I've had in this conference," Ash said. "It was fun!"
"Y'know, even though I got steamrolled… I had fun too. I feel like I learned a thing or two!" Ronaldo managed a sincere smile. Ash could see the slight glum of disappointment in his eyes, but he masked it well. "You're really an amazing trainer, you know that? We just couldn't keep up!"
"Well… I don't know about that!" Ash rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, nursing a blush.
"Hey, see for yourself." Ronaldo gestured to the crowd. "You've got a cheer squad going on!"
Looking up at the audience, Ash expected to see his friends. Surely they were out there, too, but instead, he saw a full crowd with no sign of them. Or rather, he heard them. Cries of excitement and cheers of his name. It was a cloud of overlapping noise, but it was definitely for him.
"I think I see a sign that says 'Go, Pallet Town!' out there," Peeks pointed out.
Ash smiled and exhaled heavily. It was humbling. At the same time, it lifted his spirits.
The lingering crowds still left much to be navigated. Rather than residing upon his favored shoulder for riding, Peeks sat atop Ash's head. A flick of the tail or an Aura-understanding aided instruction helped Ash avoid the thickest parts of today's eager audience. Though, with their bond, a simple "Pika" or "Chu-chu" would have sufficed for direction.
Peeks was just guiding Ash past a thick cluster of battle fans when a voice called out to the duo.
"It is him! He's always got that Pikachu at his side!"
In short order, the wall of people shifted to engulf him, too. Peeks clung on as Ash looked around. Where had these reporters come from? He ducked a boom mic. Why was that light so bright?! And why was Deidra standing in the middle of all of the action, one visible eye dull with judgment as she stared Ash down?!
"Oh, let's get them both! It'll be a killer segment!"
"Hey, watch it!" Ash yelped, finding himself dragged by his wrist to stand beside Deidra.
Now that he was so close, she crossed her arms and looked away from him. Ash couldn't help but frown. If his brim hadn't been in the way, he would have looked up at Peeks. He settled for a quick mental exchange instead.
~What's eating her?~ the teen asked.
Peeks slipped back onto his partner's shoulder. ~Beats me,~ the Electric-type thought back.
A woman held a microphone close, clearly glad to have the opportunity to lead this little media frenzy. "Our top two contenders in one spot! This is just perfect!" She winked, gesturing between the two of them with her free index finger. "Talk of the town says that you two are who everyone's angling to beat! How's it feel to have all of these people looking up to you? Or, at you, with envy?"
"It doesn't matter," Deidra quickly answered, finally returning her gaze to the interviewer. "They'll recognize my Pokemon's strength in the end, and that will be all the understanding needed."
Ash cocked his head. Something about that phrasing sounded both worryingly familiar yet also comfortingly idealistic. What was her angle? "Well, I'm here to go for the gold, so everyone better bring their A-game!" Ash answered, trying to keep the mood light.
"Pika!" Peeks added.
"That's right! I've got a lot of great Pokémon to show off, so I mean it when I say A-game! I wanna share the spotlight with everyone!"
As the reporters and gathered audience ate up Ash's enthusiasm, Deidra rolled her visible eye and shifted her weight away from him.
The woman reporter offered the microphone in Ash's direction. "This is your second time competing in Kanto, right? Everyone's saying they've seen massive growth from you! Gym Battle fanatics are all over the 'net talking about your stat differences!"
That took Ash off guard. Oh, right, some people got really into looking into professional trainers online, like Conway and Barry. That wasn't quite Ash's speed. "Uh… Well, if you think the numbers on the screen are good, wait until you see how all our hard work pays off!"
He laughed, hoping that would satisfy the reporters. While he adored the praise and recognition, he had to admit he still didn't quite know what to do with media attention. That much hadn't changed since he was younger.
"Oh, I love how you say our hard work!" the woman cooed. "That's really the attitude in a conference champion that people love to see!"
A short, clipped groan of irritation rumbled from Deidra before she turned away. The jacket eternally on her shoulders fluttered as she parted the crowd in her wake. "If your intentions were to focus on him, you could have dismissed me."
"Oh, no! We wanted… both of you…"
Seeing the reporter so disappointed, Peeks did his best to pull in cute energy. While he didn't like playing too much into people's assumptions about his demeanor due to his species, he couldn't resist the pout the woman sported. "Pi! Pika! Pikachu!"
Though she couldn't understand, the reporter turned her attention back to Peeks and his trainer. "What a sweetie! Thanks for giving a word to your fans, too, Peeks!"
Fans? Too? Warmth flooded Ash's cheeks. He had fans? Him and Peeks both? That made sense, but still.
The woman looked to the side. "Oh, the time's gotten away from us. One last thing before we let you rest up for your next round of battles tomorrow: should we expect to see you looking out for the region more, too? Rumor has it that you've turned into a bit of a local hero in the eyes of some!"
Best not to make that focal, Ash thought, especially when he couldn't afford to have his heroics blow up in his face again. He shared a glance with Peeks to make sure they were on the same page before nodding to the reporter.
"Right now, we're just focusing on the league, y'know?"
As the interview concluded, some of those watching burst with glee and adoration at the conclusion.
"Oh, he's so humble!"
"No way, that was such a heroic way to put it! Focusing on the league! That wasn't a no, you know!"
"Hm… Reminds me of Lance back when he was first rising in status…"
Speaking of Dragon-type trainers, Ash looked in the direction Deidra had departed off into. She was gone, now, but her moodiness lingered in Ash's mind. What was up with her? She was okay to talk with the press one moment, but the instant he showed up, she ran off. She obviously didn't like him, but why? Did she not like sharing the spotlight? She'd been upset when Lance was talking with Ash, too.
No, he decided, thinking of how purposefully she spoke of her team during the interview. She didn't mind if the attention was on someone other than her. So, what was it?
Knowing Ash was thinking it over as the crowd dispersed, Peeks tapped Ash's other shoulder with his tail. "We should get going. I wanna eat and rest."
"All you had to say was eat, buddy," Ash said aloud, answering what he'd heard with his sense beyond hearing. "Yeah… A good meal and a good rest's just what we need!"