Episode 468: One Team, Two Team, Red Team, Blue Team
It was now time for the final event to be held for the Pokémon Summer Academy, and Professor Rowan is making this announcement to the students over the intercom.
"Students, it is my honor and pleasure to announce our final activity of the Pokémon Summer Academy! Without a doubt our biggest program, it's the Pokémon Triathlon The things you've learned this week will play a key role!" Professor Rowan announced. Professor Rowan's assistant drew up the layout of thr event.
"The starting line is here at the Academy, and everyone will begin simultaneously! We have prepared a Pokéball for each one of you, but you'll have no idea which Pokémon it contains ahead of time!" Professor Rowan's assistant said.
"Like what we did on the first day!" Lucas said.
"So, we work with whatever Pokémon pops out," Dawn added.
"Piplup," Piplup said.
"Them's the breaks," Sora said.
"Pika," Pikachu said.
"You and your Pokémon will wind your way through the forest and head towards this lake!" Professor Rowan's assistant instructed.
"Excuse me, but is that where we get our next Pokémon?" Kairi asked, raising her hand.
"Right! You'll be using a Water-type Pokémon to cross the lake, and after that..." Profesor Rowan's assitant said.
"Then, it's marathon time!" Angie said.
"Shinx, Shinx!" Shinx said. Angie pets his head.
"From that point, each team will make their way back here to the finish line! Also, it's quite important to remember under no circumstances should you attack or battle with any other teams! First place earns fifty points, second place earns thirty points, third place, twenty points, and finally, all of our remaining players will receive ten points apiece!" Professor Rowan's assistant explained.
"That sounds simple enough," Lucas said.
"Some good news for the Red Team. The overall point total will be calculated using the points earned by all the Red Team players!" Professor Rowan's assistant concluded.
"Wow, then that means if we do well, we'll be able to overtake the Blue Team!" Angie said.
"Shinx, Shinx!" Shinx said.
"All we gotta do is beat them and we get the final score," Sora said.
"Pikachu," Pikachu said.
"No matter who in the Red Team wins it, we get the points," Kairi said.
"Eevee," Angel said.
"We'll show them up fast, their heads will be spinning faster than a Hitmontop!" Lucas said.
A little later, everyone gathered around to begin the final event.
"No matter which one of us makes it through the finish line, we beat the Blue Team," Sora said.
"Yeah, those fifty points are mine," Lucas said.
"It's good to be pumped up, but keep up that hot air,and you'll pass. For your information, Lucas, the Pokémon Summer Academy Triathlon is a lot more intense than you think," Angie said.
"She's right, Lucas. You don't wanna get too overconfident," Kairi said.
"Eevee," Angel said.
"You guys can say whatever you want, because I'm getting first place!' Lucas said.
"No, that'll be me! You're better off aiming for second place!" Angie argued.
"You got that backwards!" Lucas argued.
"I don't think so!" Angie argued back as sparks flew between them. Sora stepped between them.
"Knock it off, the both of you! It doesn't matter which one of us wins, we get the points one way or the other," Sora said.
"Sora's right, it's all the same," Kairi said.
"Chu," Pikachu said.
"Eevee," Angel said.
"It makes sense when you put it that way. May the best Trainer win," Lucas said, holding out his hand. Angie began blushing. "Angie, are you alright?"
"Uh, well, uh..." Angie stammered.
"Are you alright?" Lucas asked.
"I'm fine! Just fine! Come on, let's go!" Angie said, running off.
"That was weird," Lucas said.
"What's wrong with her?" Sora asked.
"I don't know. Ever since what happened at the ruins, she's been acting weird," Lucas said.
"Something does seem funny here," Dawn said as Conway showed up behind her again.
"Well, Dawn, it's almost that time," Conway said, making Dawn yelp.
"Ack! Conway!" Dawn gasped.
"You see, I've been spending a lot of time analyzing every last bit of data I've collected on you throughout the week. And I've come to the conclusion that you're going to be my most formidable rival in the Pokémon Triathlon!" Conway said.
"Your rival?" Dawn asked.
"That's right, Dawn. I've got you marked, see? Sounds exciting, eh?" Conway asked, chuckling.
"Whoa. What's up with that guy?" Dawn asked.
"I don't know, but he seems determined," Kairi said.
"Pika," Pikachu said.
"Eevee," Angel said.
"Piplup," Piplup said.
"I can just feel the excitement building in everyone," Professor Rowan said as he approached the group along with Nurse Joy, a Chansey, and a Blissey.
"Hi, professor," Sora greeted.
"And you're the Nurse Joy from Hearthome City, aren't you?" Kairi asked.
"Yes, I am. It's nice seeing you again," Nurse Joy said.
"What brings you here?" Nurse Joy asked.
"It's my job to make sure all of your Pokémon are strong and healthy," Nurse Joy said.
"That's good to know," Sora said.
"So remember when anything goes wrong in the triathlon, I'll be right here," Nurse Joy said.
"Chansey, Chansey!" Chansey said.
"Blissey, Blissey!" Blissey said.
"We couldn't ask for any better nurse than you, Nurse Joy!" Lucas said.
"You're sweet," Nurse Joy said, blushing.
The final event is about to begin as Dawn took out Piplup's Pokéball.
"Until the marathon, why don't you take a good rest?" Dawn asked.
"Piplup," Piplup agreed as she called him back.
"Yeah, same to you, Shinx," Angie said.
"Shinx," Shinx said as Angie called Shinx back inside.
"Alright, let's put this Pokémon Triathlon in motion! Everyone on your marks," Professor Rowan said. Everyone got ready to race.
"Hold on tight, Pikachu," Sora said.
"You do the same, Angel," Kairi said. Professor Rowan gets a starters pistol ready.
"Get set!" Professor Rowan said, aiming it high. He pulls the trigger. "Go!" Everyone started to run. Sora, Kairi, Lucas, and Dawn ran up to the first stand and they each took a Pokéball. Sora is paired with a Rhydon, Kairi is paired with a Galarian Rapidash, Lucas is paired with a Spoink, Dawn is paired with a Dodrio, Angie is paired with an Ariados. They got on their backs and rode off.
The Pokémon ran off while carrying their human partners. Some of the other students came and each took a Pokéball as a hot air balloon floats up with Professor Rowan's assistant is holding a microphone and another staff member holding a camera.
"Alrightit's the last day of the Pokémon Summer Academy, and everything's on the line!" Professor Rowan's assistant said. Professor Rowan and Nurse Joy are watching it unfold on a TV screen.
They're off at the Pokémon Triathlon! With that kind of enthusiasm, the outcome can be anyone's guess!" Professor Rowan said.
"Well, I just hope that no one ends up getting hurt. Right, Chansey, Blissey?" Nurse Joy asked.
"Chansey!" Chasey said.
"Blissey!" Blissey said.
Back in the race, the Red Team ends up going neck to neck.
"Okay, run like the wind, Rhydon!" Sora said. Kairi got on Rapidash's back.
"Giddyup, Rapidash!" Kairi said.
"Let's bounce, Spoink!" Lucas said.
"Run for it, Dodrio!" Dawn said.
"Go for it, Ariados!" Angie said. Ariados shoots out silk from its mouth and swings to get ahead of the other racers.
"Hey!" Lucas said.
"They said we can't use Pokémon attacks on each other, they didn't say we can't use them to help us out!" Angie said.
"Well, two can play this game! Rhydon! Try a High Horsepower! Maximum burn!" Sora ordered. Rhydon began to run to catch up with Angie and Ariados.
"And Angie and Ariados surge ahead to take the lead, but Sora and Rhydon do what they can to catch up!" Professor Rowan's assistant announced.
"Sora and Angie are really making the most of Ariados and Rhydon's skills," Nurse Joy said, impressed.
"That's the main objective of the Pokémon Summer Academy, expading knowledge by exposing students to new Pokémon," Professor Rowan said.
"Here come our next batch of competitors!" Professor Rowan's assistant said as students each riding on a Blastoise, a Camerupt, a Drapion, an Ursaring, a Tauros, a Donphan, an Arbok, a Luxray, and a Shiftry. There's another student who is riding on a Garchomp, but having trouble controlling it. He screams.
"You'd all better get out of the way!" The boy cried as he held on. The student riding on Camerupt ends up alarmed and uses an Eruption. The fire attack barely misses the Mach Pokémon. Luxray sends out a massive electrical shock to some of the others and dog-piled on each other, pained.
"Whoa! We're looking at a multi-people-and-Pokémon pile!" Professor Rowan's assistant said. A few seconds later, a Dugtrio emerged from underneath and shows Conway is paired with the Mole Pokémon. He chuckled.
"I had a feeling that digging some holes and traveling underground was the only way to go. Yup!" Conway said as he chuckled.
Sora, Angie, and Pikachu were the first to make it to the lake. Sora and Angie got off their backs.
"You've been a big help, Rhydon," Sora said as Rhydon grunts.
"Thank you, Ariados," Angie said as she and Sora called back Rhydon and Ariados. They each took the next Pokéball after they placed the first Pokéball they retrieved in the tray. They threw the Pokéballs, letting out two Water-type Pokémon. Sora ended up with a Mantine as Angie ended up with a Lapras.
"Surfs up, Mantine!" Sora said as he got on Mantine's back. Angie got on Lapras's back. Not too long, Kairi, Lucas, Dawn, and Angel caught up to the second booth and called their rental Pokémon back.
"Thank you, Rapidash," Kairi said.
"Thanks, Spoink," Lucas said.
"Thanks, Dodrio," Dawn said.
They each took a Pokéball and threw the Pokéballs. Kairi is paired with a Gorebyss, Lucas is paired with a Mantyke, and Dawn is paired with a Sharpedo.
"Angie, Sora!" Lucas called out. Sora and Angie turned around to see Lucas catching up.
"It's Lucas!" Angie said.
"Now, we have a race," Sora said. He smiled. "I'm not gonna make it easy for you, Lucas. Mantine! Agility! Let's go!" The Kite Pokémon picks up speed and practically flew on the water.
"Full speed ahead, Mantyke!" Lucas said. Mantyke increased its speed to catch up with Sora and passed Angie. "Eat my dust, Angie!"
"You'll be eating my dust, Lucas!" Angie stated. "Ice Beam, Lapras!" The Transport Pokémon fired an Ice Beam ahead of itself, making an iceberg. Lapras uses the iceberg to slide up it. Once Lapras reached the top, it slides down and passes Sora and Lucas. "Hope you're hungry, boys, because that dust is really tasty!" Kairi, Dawn, and Angel rode behind them.
"Wow, they really know how to mix it up, don't they?" Dawn asked.
"They're just having some fun, Dawn," Kairi said.
"Eevee," Angel said.
"And I think we should have fun too, huh, Dawn?' Kairi asked.
"Yeah, we should," Dawn agreed as water erupted in front of the two girls as Conway came up in front of them, riding on a Floatzel. "Conway?!"
"Guilty as charged. Well, my dear, I'm going have to catch up with you later," Conway said, going down in the water. The balloon floats up above the lake as the rest of the students, each teamed up with Water-type Pokémon which consists of a Magikarp, a Gyarados, a Swampert, a Wailmer, an Azumarill, a Poliwrath, a Tentacruel, a Feraligatr, and a Staryu.
"We've made it to the second stage of the Pokémon Summer Academy Triathlon with each competitor teamed up a Water-type Pokémon as they cross the lake!" Professor Rowan's assistant announced.
"Go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go!" The students all cheered.
Up ahead, Sora, Lucas, and Angie are going neck-to-neck as they try to pass each other. They reach the shore and called back the Water-types back inside.
"Thanks, Mantyke," Lucas said.
"Great job, Mantine!" Sora said.
"You too, Lapras!" Angie said.
"Now, let's get going!" Sora said as he and Pikachu ran off. Lucas and Angie took out their Pokéballs and threw them.
"Come out, Shinx!" Angie called out.
"Go! Monferno!" Lucas called out. Both Pokémon and ran to catch up with Sora. "It's Crunch time!"
"You're the one who's getting crunched!" Angie said.
"And the marathon is underway with Lucas, Sora, and Angie leading the way! Coming in behind is Kairi, and Dawn from the Red Team and Conway from the Blue Team catching up! They're trying to cut that lead!" Professor Rowan's assistant announced.
Up ahead, Sora, Lucas, Angie, Pikachu, Monferno, and Shinx kept on running to make it ahead of one another.
"I'm not losing to the both of you, and that's final!" Angie said. Coming in behind, Conway has his Slowking out and he sees Sora, Lucas, Angie, and their Pokémon partners.
"With those three ahead of me, this is going to be much harder than I anticipated. This makes this race more exciting and interesting," Conway said.
"Slowking," Slowking said.
"You won't be thinking that once I make it to the finish line first!" Lucas said. They head right for a cave straight ahead of them.
"Sora, Angie, and Lucas are still going neck-to-neck, unopposed! The question of who will make it out of the tunnel first will be anyone's guess!" Professor Rowan's assistant said. They ran inside the tunnel where some Heartless appeared. The Heartless consisted of Red Nocturnes, Blue Rhapsodies, Yellow Operas, Green Requiems, Silver Rocks, Emerald Blues, Crimson Jazzes, and some other Heartless.
One has a smooth, conical body that is a dark shade of purple and has a Heartless emblem is emblazoned on its chest. The top of its body flares outward and forms a jagged "collar" below the Heartless's spherical, pitch black head. It also wears a conical, dark purple hat that has a jagged brim and a thin, curled tip. Like many Heartless, it has glowing yellow eyes. Its seemingly useless feet sport three small, thin toes. This Heartless is known as the Violet Waltz.
Another has a smooth, conical, black body with a Heartless emblem emblazoned on its chest. The top of its body flares outward and forms a jagged "collar" below the its spherical, pitch black head. It also wears a conical, dark red hat with a jagged brim and grey-white markings resembling kunai knives, a silver band around it, and a thin, curled tip. Like many Heartless, it has glowing yellow eyes. Its seemingly useless feet sport three small, thin toes. This Heartless is known as the Black Ballad.
Another has a smooth, conical body that is predominantly cyan with a white swirling pattern at its base with a Heartless emblem emblazoned on its chest. The top of its body flares outward and forms a jagged "collar" below the Heartless's spherical, pitch black head. It also wears a conical, blue white hat that has a cyan-colored, jagged brim and a thin, curled tip. Like many Heartless, it has glowing yellow eyes. Its seemingly useless feet sport three small, thin toes. This Heartless is known as the Spring Metal.
Another has a smooth, conical, body covered in vertical stripes that alternate from green to white. Its Heartless emblem is emblazoned on its chest. The top of its body flares outward and forms a jagged "collar" below the Heartless's spherical, pitch black head. It also wears a conical, black hat that is green on the inside and has a jagged brim and a thin, curled tip. Like many Heartless, it has glowing yellow eyes. Its seemingly useless feet sport three small, thin toes. This Heartless is known as the Emerald Serenade.
Another has a smooth, conical, black body that is red at its base and has a Heartless emblem emblazoned on its chest. The top of its body flares outward and forms a jagged, orange "collar" below the Heartless's spherical, pitch black head. It also wears a conical, orange hat that has a jagged brim and a thin, curled tip. Like many Heartless, it has glowing yellow eyes. Its seemingly useless feet sport three small, thin toes. This Heartless is known as the Scarlet Tango.
Another has a smooth, conical, dark blue body that is sapphire blue at its base and has a Heartless emblem emblazoned on its chest. The top of its body flares outward and forms a jagged "collar" below the Heartless's spherical, pitch black head. It also wears a conical, dark blue hat that has a sapphire blue tip, a turquoise inside, and a jagged brim and a thin, curled tip. Like many Heartless, it has glowing yellow eyes. Its seemingly useless feet sport three small, thin toes. This Heartless is known as the Sapphire Elegy.
Another has a smooth, conical body that is a dark shade of grey, bordering on black, and has a Heartless emblem is emblazoned on its chest. The top of its body flares outward and forms a jagged "collar" below the Heartless's spherical, pitch black head. It also wears a conical, olive green hat that is turquoise on the inside and has a jagged brim and a thin, curled tip. Like many Heartless, it has glowing yellow eyes. Its seemingly useless feet sport three small, thin toes. This Heartless is known as the Grey Caprice.
Another has a smooth, conical, bright pink body and has a Heartless emblem emblazoned on its chest. The top of its body flares outward and forms a jagged "collar" below the Heartless's spherical, pitch black head. It also wears a conical, light green hat that has a jagged brim and a thin, curled tip. Like many Heartless, it has glowing yellow eyes. Its seemingly useless feet sport three small, thin toes. This Heartless is known as the Pink Concerto.
Another has a smooth, conical body that is predominantly blue with a thick, horizontal, sky blue stripe along its midsection. It also has a Heartless emblem emblazoned on its chest. The top of its body flares outward and forms a jagged "collar" below the Heartless's spherical, pitch black head. It also wears a conical, sky blue hat that has a blue-white, jagged brim and a thin, curled tip. Like many Heartless, it has glowing yellow eyes. Its seemingly useless feet sport three small, thin toes. This Heartless is known the Turquoise March.
The last Heartless has a smooth, conical body that is covered in vertical stripes that alternate from pink to off-white and has a Heartless emblem emblazoned on its chest. The top of its body flares outward and forms a jagged "collar" below the Heartless's spherical, pitch black head. It also wears a conical, pink hat that has a jagged brim and a thin, black, curled tip. Like many Heartless, it has glowing yellow eyes. Its seemingly useless feet sport three small, thin toes. This Heartless is known as the Striped Aria.
"Heartless!" Lucas and Angie exclaimed in horror.
"Not not!" Sora said, summoning his Kingdom Key.
"They don't know when to quit, do they?" Angie asked.
"Even if they had actual minds, they still wouldn't know when to quit," Lucas said, summoning his Keyblade.
"We gotta get rid of them before the others get here!" Sora said.
"Pikachu!" Pikachu said.
"But the triathlon!" Lucas said.
"The safety of the others has to come first! We can't let a single one get pass us and out of the cave!" Sora said. Agreeing with Sora, they slashed the Heartless as they came out. Sora struck down a Spring Metal, a Violet Waltz, and a Scarlet Tango. Lucas struck down a Crimson Jazz, a Emerald Serenade, and a Turquoise March. Kairi, Dawn, Angel, and Piplup came running and they saw the Heartless.
"Heartless!" Kairi and Dawn gasped. Kairi summoned her Destiny's Embrace and Dawn summoned her Shining Pearl Palkia. They engaged the attacking Heartless along with the boys.
"Thought you could need some help, boys," Kairi said.
"The more, the merrier," Sora said. An Emerald Serenade approached Angie. She was horrified when it attempts to take her heart, but Lucas threw his Brilliant Diamond Dialga at the Emerald Serenade, destroying it. Pikachu and Angel slashed at the Heartless with Iron Tail as Piplup fired Bubble Beam at the Black Ballads, Green Requiems, and Emerald Blues.
"Lucas... You saved my life," Angie said.
"You're welcome," Lucas said as a Striped Aria came for him, but he slashed at it.
"Slowking! Water Gun!" Conway ordered. Slowking blew a Water Gun at the Grey Caprices, Black Ballads, Red Nocturnes, Blue Rhapsodies, Yellow Operas, Green Requiems, Pink Concertos, and Sapphire Elegies. Monferno lands some punches on the Silver Rocks, Emerald Blues, Pink Concertos, Spring Metals, Violet Waltzes,
"Lucas, Angie, you guys focus on the race! We can handle the Heartless before everyone else gets here!" Sora said.
"Sora, are you sure?" Lucas asked.
"Yeah, I'm sure! Now, go!" Sora said. Lucas dismissed his Keyblade as nodded. He and Angie ran off ahead.
"Right, the race. With all of the excitement, I nearly forgot about the race. Dawn and her two friends has it handled from here," Conway said. Outside, Lucas, Angie, Conway, Monferno, and Shinx came running.
"Well, look at that! It's Lucas and Angie from the Red Team, and Conway from the Blue Team coming out, but where could Sora be?!" Professor Rowan's assistant exclaimed.
Inside the cave, Sora, Kairi, Dawn, Pikachu, Angel, and Piplup disposed the last of the Heartless and dismissed their Keyblades.
"That's the last of them," Dawn said.
"Yeah, and not a single one went after anyone," Kairi said.
"Yeah, but we might as well get back in the race," Sora said.
"Right!" Dawn said.
With that said, Sora, Kairi, Dawn, Pikachu, and Angel went back in the race, just in time for the other students to catch up.
Up ahead, Professor Rowan's assistant is standing at the finish line, waiting for the competitors to come.
"And here we are, at the finish line! And I see three of our competitors coming ahead! It's Lucas and Angie from the Red Team and Conway from the Blue Team!" Professor Rowan's assistant announced. Conway pants.
"Maybe," pant, "cutting," pant, "some," pant, "cardio," pant, "training," pant, "was," pant, "pretty," pant, "dumb," Conway said between pants.
"Slowking," Slowking panted. He and Slowking fell, exhausted.
"First place is going to be mine and that's that!" Lucas and Angie said in unison. Monferno and Shinx kept on running along with their partners. And it was Lucas who reaches the finish line, hitting the tape. Professor Rowan waves the checkered flag.
"And we have a winner! And it is Lucas from the Red Team, and coming in second place is Angie also from the Red Team!" Professor Rowan's assistant announced as Lucas and Angie panted.
"Made it," Lucas and Angie panted.
Running up, Sora, Kairi, Dawn, Pikachu, Angel, and Piplup came running up and passed Conway and Slowking, reaching the finish line.
"Third place is Sora, fourth place is Kairi, and fifth place is Dawn!" Professor Rowan's assistant announced as Conway and Slowking stumbled over to the finish line. "And sixth place is Conway! The Red Team has taken first, second, and third place! The Red Team has overtaken the Blue Team for the victory!"
"Who won?" Sora asked.
"That was him," Angie admitted. "Congratulations, Lucas."
"Thanks, Angie," Lucas said.
"A shame. My Pokémon expertise was unassailable," Conway said.
Later, everyone is gathered before Professor Rowan as he addressed the students.
"So this brings the Pokémon Summer Academy to an end! First, congratulations to the Red Team on their victory!" Professor Rowan said.
"And of course, the Blue and Green Teams were wonderful, too! And I'm extra specially overjoyed that not one student was injured!" Nurse Joy said.
"Chansey, Chansey!" Chasney said.
"Blissey, Blissey!" Blissey said.
"No student, but the Heartless were hurt," Dawn whispered.
"Shh," Kairi shushed her.
"And so I say goodbye with you my one wish for all of you. That the friendship you have with all Pokémon deepens, and you always learn from each others," Professor Rowan said.
"Right!" All of the students said. Plaques are handed out as everyone each retrieves one.
"I know I'm going to be remembering this for a long time," Sora said.
"One more thing! You're all invited to the annual final night bonfire!" Professor Rowan announced.
That night, everyone participated in the bonfire as they had a meal to celebrate the occasion. Angie sat alone as she stared at the stars. Lucas noticed her.
"Angie, what's up?" Lucas asked.
"Oh, just thinking about how it's all over," Angie said.
"Yeah, it's been an amazing week, that's for sure," Lucas said.
"I must've gone to the Pokémon Summer Academy a million times before, but this year was hands down the best one yet," Angie said.
"I had a lot of fun, too," Lucas said.
"You know the most amazing thing that happened to me was that you saved my life two times. The first was being sucked in that portal at the ruins, and from those Heartless back at the cave," Angie said.
"Hey, that's what friends are for," Lucas said.
"We are friends. Right?" Angie asked as she looked down to the ground. Lucas held out his hand.
"You bet we are," Lucas said. "And we'll meet again." Angie smiled at that.
"Yeah," Angie said.
"And when I come by Solaceon Town, we might have that battle," Lucas said.
"And that'll be nice. Can't wait!" Angie said.
As the next morning has come, Sora, Kairi, Lucas, Dawn, Pikachu, Angel, and Piplup decided to seperate for a while. Lucas and Dawn decided to go see if they could find some more Pokémon to catch around Mount Coronet as Angie is returning home to Solaceon Town. An experience like attending the Pokémon Summer Academy doesn't come along every day, but our young friends along with so many new friends took full advantage of the opportunity. And so, the exciting Sinnoh region journey continues.