Chapter 87: Sing Me a Song
Ever since leaving the mainland on the back of Nikki's newly caught Lapras the group had been telling her tales of their journey so far, and as expected the young Pokémon was enthralled with each and every story told. She seemed particularly interested whenever Nikki would speak about her Contest challenges, further emphasizing the fact that she had made the right choice in bringing Lapras in.
"(I can't wait for the day I compete in my first Contest with you,)" Lapras said.
"Well as soon as we get the opportunity we'll have to start working on some Contest routines so we'll be ready whenever that day comes," Nikki stated.
"You'll probably have the opportunity whenever we get to the island we're heading for," Ash said. "Speaking of which, do you have any idea how much further it is?"
"(It shouldn't be much further,)" Lapras said. "(We should be just about there pretty soon.)" As soon as she said that the island in question came into view.
"(There it is,)" the Transport Pokémon announced.
"Yup, just like you said," Ash agreed. "Does the Pokécomm have any information about it?" Nikki had already grabbed her Pokécomm and was checking.
"Let's see… it's apparently called Anders Island, and it looks like there's a Pokémon Gym there," she reported. Hearing that there was a Gym there got Ash a bit excited.
"This is great! I get to go for my fifth badge," he cheered. He could barely contain his excitement as the island grew closer and closer.
"(So what Pokémon type do you think you'll have to use for this Gym?)" Pikachu wondered.
"I don't know, but whatever it is I'll be ready," Ash declared.
"(If what my mom told me about you is true then I'll believe that,)" Lapras commented. As they approached the island Ash's excitement at the thought of having his next Gym battle could be felt by everyone. Within a few short minutes the group made landfall on the island.
"Thanks for the ride, Lapras," Nikki said. "I'll call on you when we're ready to leave."
"(I'll be ready,)" the Transport Pokémon replied. Nikki recalled her and the group headed into the town on the island. At first glance it appeared to be just like any other costal town they had seen. Eventually they arrived at the Pokémon Center. Stepping inside they found it surprisingly empty.
"I wonder where everyone is," Nikki said.
"Maybe Nurse Joy will know," Ash suggested. Left with few other options they headed to the front desk to speak with Nurse Joy.
"Hello, and welcome to the Anders Island Pokémon Center," she greeted. "What can I do for you today?"
"We were just wondering why it's so empty in here," Ash told her.
"Where is everyone?" Nikki asked. Before answering Nurse Joy took a look at the clock on the wall. It read 2:45 in the evening.
"Well, based on the time of day, I'd say they're all at the performance," she said.
"Performance?" Ash questioned.
"Oh, forgive me. Let me explain. The Gym Leader here periodically puts on a special performance with one of her Pokémon every so often. Today just happens to be the day of one of those performances," she explained. Hearing this seemed to pique Nikki's interest.
"I wouldn't mind seeing this performance. It might give me some ideas for my next Contest," she said. "Do you think we could go watch?" Ash took some time to think about it.
"I suppose it couldn't hurt to go. It may give me some insight on what to expect in my Gym battle," he said.
"In that case you'll want to head to the town center. Just head right from the Pokémon Center and you'll be there in no time," Nurse Joy instructed them. Ash and Nikki thanked her and left the Pokémon Center on their way to the town center.
A few minutes after leaving the Pokémon Center Ash and Nikki arrived at the town center. They were expecting a few people, given the size of the town. However, when they arrived there were quite a few more people there than they expected.
"Would you look at this crowd," Nikki commented. "These performances must bring in people from all over."
"I wonder what Pokémon she'll be performing with," Ash said. He would soon get his answer as moments later the crowd began to cheer as a pink haired girl walked onto the stage that had been set up.
"She must be the Gym Leader," Nikki assumed. Ash's attention, however, was on the small Pokémon that walked onto the stage with her.
"(A-Ash, that's…)" Pikachu stuttered.
"I know buddy. I thought we had seen the last of her," he said. Nikki looked at the two of them, confused by what they were talking about.
"What are you two talking about?" she wondered. "It's just a Jigglypuff."
"You don't understand. That Jigglypuff has been following me for a long time now," Ash explained. "The last time I saw her was in the Hoenn region. What in the world is she doing here?" Before he could come up with an answer the girl began to speak.
"Thanks for coming to our performance here today," she said. "For those of you who don't know my name is Patty, and this is my very special Jigglypuff." Jigglypuff then took a bow as the crowd cheered once again.
"The two of us have been working on a new song we'd like to sing for you today," Patty announced. As soon as she said the word song Ash and Pikachu shared a nervous look with each other.
"This could be bad," Ash said.
"What do you mean?" Nikki asked.
"(In the past Jigglypuff would sing for people and Pokémon, wanting them to hear her song. But whenever she sang she'd put whoever listened to sleep,)" Pikachu explained.
"And whenever that happened she'd take out a marker and draw on the faces of the sleeping people and Pokémon," Ash added.
"Well it doesn't look like you have to worry about that now. She doesn't have a marker on her," Nikki pointed out. As soon as she said that Jigglypuff took out her microphone.
"T-That's it! That's the marker!" Ash panicked. He was about to suggest that they leave before suffering humiliation by face drawing, but it was too late. Patty had picked up a guitar and was beginning to play. It was only a matter of time before Jigglypuff would start singing and pt everyone to sleep, and then she would leave her mark, quite literally, on the sleeping faces of her victims.
(Jigglypuff, Jiggly)
Any time, any place, anywhere
With trouble brewin' or laughter in the air
With a smile, with a sigh, with all the right stuff
There are so many times when the song is just enough
Magical powers
In the lush grass in the shade of Mount Moon
Make the song soothe you (Jigglypuff)
The power of the melody moves you (Jigglypuff)
(Jigglypuff, Jiggly, Jiggly)
When it all seems lost, out of control
The struggle breaks down and fear takes its toll
You can count on a friend who's just tough enough
And the song that's alive in the heart of Jigglypuff
Hours and hours
In the lush grass at the base of Mount Moon
Make the song soothe you (Jigglypuff)
The power of the melody moves you (Jigglypuff)
The Sing attack grooves you (Jigglypuff)
The power of the melody moves you (Jiggly, Jiggly)
Defense Curl, think again
Pound hard, you'll never win (you'll never win)
Double Slap, that's nothin' new
Double Edge, you're bound to lose (Bound to lose)
Body Slam, it's all wrong
The real power's in the song
Any time, any place, anywhere
With trouble brewin' or laughter in the air
You can count on a friend who's just tough enough
And the song that's alive in the heart of Jigglypuff
Magical powers
In the lush grass in the shade of Mount Moon
Make the song woo you
The song soothes you (Jigglypuff)
The power of the melody moves you (Jigglypuff)
The Sing attack grooves you (Jigglypuff)
The power of the melody moves you (Jiggly)
(Jig Jigglypuff)
The power of the melody moves you (Jigglypuff)
The Sing attack grooves you (Jiggly)
The power of the melody moves you (Jigglypuff, Jigglypuff)
The power of the melody moves you (Jigglypuff, Jiggly)
The power of the melody moves you (Jigglypuff, Jigglypuff)
The power of the melody moves you (Jigglypuff, Jiggly)
(Jig Jigglypuff)
Ash and Pikachu expected to be sleeping right now with an angry Jigglypuff drawing on their faces, but to their surprise not only did they stay awake but everyone else did as well. Not only that but they were all cheering as Patty and Jigglypuff waved to the crowd and thanked them for attending their performance.
"(Um… aren't we supposed to be sleeping by now?)" Pikachu questioned.
"That's what I thought," Ash answered.
"You two worry too much," Nikki told them. "I knew things would be fine."
"You may have been right, but I'd still like to know how Jigglypuff managed to sing without putting anyone to sleep," Ash stated.
"(Well, you could always ask Jigglypuff how she did it,)" Pikachu suggested. The crowd was beginning to thin, giving them to perfect opportunity to ask her about her and Jigglypuff's performance. As they approached the stage the Balloon Pokémon saw them approaching.
"(Hey! I know you two!)" she exclaimed.
"Yeah. It's been a while, Jigglypuff," Ash greeted. "How have you been?"
"(I've been great,)" Jigglypuff replied. "(What did you think of our song? Pretty good, right?)"
"It was," Ash confirmed. "Actually, I wanted ask you about that. In the past whenever you sang you'd put everyone to sleep, but this time everyone managed to stay awake. How did you do that?"
"(It was all thanks to Patty. She helped me work on that,)" Jigglypuff answered. Patty, who had been listening in the background, decided to join the conversation.
"She's right. I did help her get over that particular problem of hers," she said.
"(But how?)" Pikachu asked.
Well, it all began when I found her while I was traveling through the Hoenn region. She had just tried to sing for a group of Pokémon. Naturally they all fell asleep, and this made her quite angry. When I approached her and asked her what was wrong she said she just wanted others to hear how beautiful her song was, but whenever she sang they would fall asleep. That's when I told her if she came with me I could help her get over that little problem," Patty explained.
"Wow. That must have taken some time," Ash commented.
"It did," Patty confirmed. "Eventually we discovered that there was something in the frequency of her song that made others fall asleep. After that was just worked on training to only utilize that frequency during battles and not whenever she just wanted to sing for fun."
"(It took a while, but as you can see I figured it out,)" Jigglypuff said.
"And I must say you have a lovely singing voice," Nikki praised. Jigglypuff blushed at the compliment.
"So, did you just come here to hear our song or was there something else you wanted?" Patty inquired.
"Actually, I came here to challenge you to a Gym battle," Ash said.
"Ah, so you're my next challenger. Well I hope you don't think this will be easy because I plan on giving you everything I've got," Patty stated with a smirk.
"I wouldn't want it any other way," Ash replied with a smirk of his own. "I assume we'll be battling with Normal type Pokémon then?"
"We will," Patty confirmed. "Come to the Gym in an hour. I'll be waiting for you."
"See you in an hour." With that Patty and Jigglypuff headed towards the Gym to await Ash's arrival.
"You have your Pokémon team planned out for this?" Nikki asked.
"I've got an idea on who I want to use," Ash told her. "If everything goes my way that fifth badge will be as good as mine." With Ash's Gym battle on the horizon he and Nikki headed back towards the Pokémon Center so Ash could make the appropriate changes.
Their arrival on Anders Island not only ended with Ash and Pikachu meeting an old friend (or nuisance, depending on who you ask) but also lead to Ash having a chance at his fifth Gym badge. Will he be successful? Find out in the next chapter of Search for Power!
Author's Note: The song Song of Jigglypuff is from the Pokémon Soundtrack.
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