Fanfiction Pokemon Shine Diamond

(Rated E10+ for fantasy violence and frightening images)

Episode 1: Following A Maiden's Voyage

The sun shone down on the small town of Twinleaf, at the south end of the Shinou region. In one particular house, a black haired girl collapsed back into bed after shutting off a beeping alarm clock. "Mm...let's see what's going on in the world today..." she mused as she fumbled for the TV remote on her bedside table and flicked on the TV facing her bed.

"Despite the exploration team's best efforts, however, the rare, oddly colored Pokémon eluded detection." an announcer reported. "The rumored red Gyarados failed to appear, even fleetingly, to the crestfallen team."

This is boring... the girl sighed as she changed the channel to the weather report. After climbing from bed, she stretched and then opened the window, allowing her to see the many houses on her block, a few houses down the next street, and the fields at the outskirts of town. "What a beautiful day...a perfect day to receive my first Pokémon!"

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"Good morning Dawn..." the girl's mother, a woman with similar features to her, smiled as she arrived in the room. A gray cat Pokémon with a springy tail followed the woman, interested in the black haired girl pulling on some socks and tucking in her shirt.

"Morning, Mom...and good morning, Opal." Dawn smiled as she petted the small cat Pokémon rubbing against her leg.

"I can hardly believe you're already leaving on your own Pokémon journey, hon." the woman smiled as she put on a heart-shaped necklace with her name--Joanna--engraved on it in elegant letters. "Come on downstairs--breakfast is ready."

"Coming..." Dawn replied before assuring Opal "I'll feed you in a minute, okay?"

"Meow." Opal replied before jumping on Dawn's bed to snooze.

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"Have you thought about what you want to achieve on your journey?" Joanna asked as she and Dawn had their breakfast.

"Well, I still have the postcard from Prof. Rowan's lab that came in the mail last week..." Dawn explained as she pulled out a postcard lying near the remains of her scrambled eggs. "Dear Dawn, congratulations on reaching your tenth year! I cordially invite you to my lab to choose your first Pokémon."

Joanna smiled as she admired the pictures of small green turtle Pokémon with foliage, the small fire monkey Pokémon, and a small blue penguin-like Pokémon under Prof. Rowan's message. "They all look so cute...which one are you going to choose?"

"Okay, so the little leaf-turtle is Turtwig, the fire monkey is Chimchar, and the little penguin is Piplup." Dawn mused as she studied the postcard some more. "No matter who I choose, any of them would make a great partner in my quest to become a top coordinator like you, Mom."

She smiled as she looked across into the next room, where hundreds of ribbons, trophies, certificates, and other prizes Joanna had once earned gleamed in the sunshine streaming through the blinds. "Just seeing all your awards and prizes makes me want to have an award room of my own!"

After getting up from her chair, she struck an elegant pose. "If I chose Chimchar, we would really set the world on fire!"

In Dawn's imagination, Dawn, now in an elegant red gown, heaved a Poké Ball skyward. "Chimchar, create a burning mandala!"

The crowd in the stadium oohed and ahed as a Chimchar created a sparkling flaming orb in the sky...

Joanna just smiled at her daughter's pose. "All right, what would your dream of a Grand Coordinator look like if you picked a different Pokémon?"

"If I chose Piplup..." Dawn posed again. "we would make waves in the contest world!"

In Dawn's imagination, Dawn, now in a green costume, heaved a Poké Ball skyward. "Piplup! Show this crowd some real sparkling water!"

The crowd cheered again as a Piplup appeared and heaved hundreds of sparkling bubbles into the sky....

"Interesting..." Joanna smiled. "And what would your contest dream look like with Turtwig?"

"If I chose Turtwig, I would plant the seeds of inspiration for aspiring coordinators everywhere!" Dawn decreed, striking another pose...

In Dawn's imagination, Dawn, now in a lavender tap dancer's costume, heaved a Poké Ball and some Berries into the sky. "Turtwig, use Razor Leaf to cut all these Berries at once!"

A Turtwig emerged from the Poké Ball and heaved some spiked leaves at the flying Berries, cutting them all in half at the same time. The crowd roared with applause, maxing out the excitement meter in the arena as Dawn took a bow...

Joanna couldn't help applauding Dawn's performance. "I believe you could do all of that, and more...but first, you need to pack what you're going to bring on the trip."

"Okay!" After putting her dishes in the sink, Dawn hurried back upstairs to her room...

---------

"Okay, that's everything!" Dawn smiled, proudly gesturing to the two bulging suitcases, her bag, and the fiddle case she had lugged to the front stoop.

Joanna sighed. "I don't think you need quite that much stuff, hon...come on back inside, and I'll show you how to pack a bit more sensibly."

Once back inside the living room, Joanna first unloaded every bag Dawn had packed. "Now then...the key to packing sensibly is to know the weather before you go. Since Shinou has a wide variety of climates ranging from sunny beaches to snowy mountain peaks, it's a good idea to pack clothes suitable for those conditions. Besides, if you pack too much, you won't have much room for souvenirs on your Pokémon adventure."

"That's true..." Dawn realized her mother had a point. "I do want to bring you back souvenirs."

"Besides, most Pokémon Centers do have a laundry room, and failing that, most towns have a laundromat." Joanna continued. "That, and you can always buy a cheap outfit somewhere if you need it."

After sorting which clothes would stay home and which clothes would make the journey, Joanna and Dawn both beamed with pride at how they had managed to fit two week's worth of outfits and a few other odds and ends into her bag. "There...doesn't that look much better than trying to take your whole closet with you?"

"It does..." Dawn smiled.

She looked longingly at the dull pink fiddle case by her now empty suitcases. "Can the fiddle come too, at least? It would make some nice entertainment by the campfire..."

Joanna just giggled. "Of course your fiddle can come! Not only can you practice on the road, you may run into a guitar player or two to jam with."

"Pokeflute or whistle players would be nice to play with too..." Dawn smiled as she started back outside, where her bike was chained to a rack. "Good thing I can carry it on my back like a backpack." she mused as she set her bag on the bike's cargo rack and tied it down, then set her fiddle case down on the ground to put on her helmet.

"Before you go, let me give you one last thing..." Joanna dug a small metallic orange ribbon from her pocket. "This was the first ribbon I ever won in a contest...many many years ago, of course! I want you to have it, as good luck on your own contest journey."

"Thank you..." Dawn admired the ribbon for a moment before pinning it to her bag. "I'll keep it with me, so I know you're watching over me."

After slinging her fiddle case on her back and climbing aboard her bike, Dawn called "Well, I'm off! I love you!"

"Bye, hon!" Joanna called back, waving goodbye as Dawn pedaled away. "Good luck, and I love you too!"

---------

As Dawn rode down the path leading outside of town, she spotted a blonde haired boy waving in her direction. "Hey! Where you off to, Dawn?"

"I'm headed to Prof. Rowan's lab in Sandgem Town, Barry." Dawn replied as she pulled up by the boy's side. "And where might you be going?"

"You saw that news report about the red Gyarados on TV, right?" Barry smiled. "That show got me to thinking. I'll bet our local lake has a Pokémon like that in it, too! So, that's what we're gonna do. We'll go find a Pokémon like that!"

"But--!" Dawn protested, but Barry had already dashed down the road and onto the plains outside of town.

"Come on, it'll be fun!" Barry assured Dawn. "I'll fine you a million billion credits if you're late!"

Dawn sighed. If he wants to go to the lake without a Pokémon, that's his problem, not mine... "Okay, just wait for me!"

---------

The way to the lake was uneventful, and before long, Barry and Dawn had arrived by the western shore. "Okay...if I were hunting a red Gyarados, where would I look first?" Barry mused as he and Dawn passed by a sign that read "Welcome to Lake Verity."

"Anywhere there's Magikarp." Dawn smiled as she climbed off her bike and laid it against the sign, making sure to keep Barry in view as he strolled down the shoreline.

Just then, Barry heard voices in the distance. "Uh oh, someone's here! Hide!" he called as he dove behind some bushes, with Dawn not far behind.

After a few tense moments, Dawn watched from the bush as an older man with snowy white hair and a mustache and a brown haired boy about her age approached where they had been moments earlier. That must be Prof. Rowan... she thought when she saw the man. But who's the boy with him?

On the shore, the boy reported "Professor, there's nothing out of the ordinary on the other side, either!"

"Hm…I may have been mistaken..." Prof. Rowan mused. "Something appears to be different than it was before, but…it's enough that we have seen the lake.

He motioned for the boy to follow him. "Come on, Lucas--let's go."

The boy nodded, and hurried to catch up to Prof. Rowan. "Professor, you've been gone for four years now. How are you enjoying being back in Shinou?" he asked.

"There is one thing I can say." Prof. Rowan smiled, a note of happiness in his voice. "There are many rare kinds of Pokémon in Shinou. The region should serve us very well in regard to our studies."

Barry heaved a sigh of relief. "That was a close one..." he smiled as he and Dawn emerged from the brush.

"It was just Prof. Rowan and someone named Lucas, who I assume is his assistant." Dawn assured Barry. "So you had nothing to be afraid of."

Just then, she spotted a large brown object in the grass. "Hm..." she mused as she got closer, whee she could see the object was a briefcase. "I wonder who left this here?"

She balked when she saw the name "Rowan" on the briefcase's handle. "No way...Prof. Rowan left this here! We have to get it back to him!"

Barry, meanwhile, hurried to Dawn's side and opened the case, where he could see three Poke Balls nestled inside, with nameplates under the three Poke Balls explaining the name and gender of the Pokémon inside. "Which one do you want, Dawn?"

"Are you sure those are the Pokémon meant for us, Barry?" Dawn wasn't so sure.

She studied the three Poke Balls for a moment. If they are meant for us, it would save me the trip to the lab!

She closed her eyes and started to point at the different Poke Balls. "My mother told me to choose..."

When she opened them, she saw her finger was on the Poké Ball containing Piplup. "...Piplup."

"Great choice...I'll take the Turtwig." Barry grinned as he took the Turtwig's Poké Ball. "I'm gonna name her Flora."

"Come on out!" Dawn commanded, heaving her Poké Ball to the sky.

She smiled at the tiny blue penguin Pokémon before her. "Well, aren't you a cutie? I think I'll name you...Kori."

[I like that!] the Piplup smiled, giggling as Dawn hugged it...

---------

Elsewhere, Ash, Tintri, and Brock walked through a forest not far from Lake Verity. Ash just savored the singing Pokémon in the trees, the sun making the green fletching on Brock's prop arrows glitter, the wind in his face, the crunch of the grass beneath their feet, and Brock softly singing a nonsense Gaelic melody in time to their walking.

"I can't wait to take on the League here in Shinou." he mused, stopping Brock from his song.

"I know...it was all you could talk about on the trip over." Brock smiled. "It's so weird not having Misty here...but all the same, I still wonder what stories Shinou has to offer."

"You've built up a nice repertoire...maybe there's another storytelling competition you could enter." Ash suggested as he brushed a leaf from the blue Poké Ball design that adorned his new cap.

"Yeah...competing in the Lore Stage again, or something like it, would be fun." Brock agreed as the two boys and the Pikachu rounded the corner to the entrance leading to Lake Verity. "Welcome to Lake Verity..."

After digging through his bag and unearthing a guidebook, Brock flipped a few pages before beginning. "Here we are...Lake Verity."

[What's it say?] Tintri asked as he scrambled across Ash's shoulders to get a look at the book.

"It says here that the lake, along with its sister lakes Lake Valor and Lake Acuity, is tied to the myth of the creation of the world, specifically the creation of spirit." Brock began before showing Ash and Tintri a picture of a small pink pixie Pokémon. "Local lore says the lake is home to Mesprit, the guardian of the lake and the Being of Emotion."

"Cool" Ash cried before fumbling for his PokeNav. "Let's get a selfie by the welcome sign!"

Brock smiled as he admired the navy blue vest with a large gold stripe Ash was wearing over a white shirt. "You made a great choice in that outfit...I'm sure Delia and Taran would love to see you in it."

After posing for a picture by the lake's welcome sign, Ash noticed Dawn and Barry on the other side of the shore, looking for something. "I wonder what that girl and that boy are looking for?" he asked as he hurried to some bushes in an attempt to get a closer look without being seen. "Maybe we should ask them?"

"Stay put..." Brock instructed as he watched Dawn and Barry battle some black and white bird Pokémon. "Right now they look like they handling themselves just fine--we should only intervene if they really need help."

Ash nodded, but gasped when he saw Barry's Turtwig ram into a Starly, angering an entire flock of the black and white bird Pokémon, which the guidebook identified as Starly. I have to do something... he thought as he watched Dawn run for a nearby alcove, carrying a small penguin Pokémon that looked weakened. But what?

---------

"There's too many of them!" Barry reported as the flock closed in on the alcove where Dawn and Kori were hiding. "I can't send out Flora, because it's suicide to send out a Grass type against birds!"

"What CAN we do then?" Dawn nearly screamed, bracing herself and her weakened Piplup for the end...

Just then, a whistle and a thunk of an electrified arrow landing by the cave entrance caused the Starly flock to scatter in panic. "Hm...who could be shooting arrows out here?" Dawn asked as she quietly slipped from the cave with her weakened Piplup.

"Dunno--I don't know of anyone that's an archer." Barry confessed seconds before another electrified arrow landed near his foot. "Whoa!"

"Whoever's shooting, can you come out so we can see you?" Dawn called as a third arrow drove back the flock even further. "Are you friends or foes?"

After a few tense moments, Ash, Tintri, and Brock emerged from a rock overlooking the field. "We are friends, miss." he replied as Tintri hurried to retrieve the three sparking arrows in the ground. "Two travelers from a far away region who saw you and your friend in danger, and were called to help."

"Thank you..." Dawn heaved a relieved sigh.

"Yeah, thanks." Barry smiled before charging off into the grass.

Typical Barry... Dawn sighed. "I'm Dawn...might I know the names of my rescuers?"

"I'm Ash, and this is my partner Tintri..." Ash smiled as Tintri dropped the arrows at Brock's feet, then climbed back on his shoulder. "...and Brock, my companion, navigator, balladeer, and storyteller."

"Nice to meet you." Brock smiled before putting his arrows back in the quiver.

"I have to ask...how did you get the arrows to spark?" Dawn asked as she led Ash and Brock back towards a path.

"It's the same idea of making fire arrows in the movies." Brock replied. "Infuse arrowhead with elemental you want, and it imbues the arrow with that power. So if you can infuse arrows with fire, you can also do it with ice, or lightning too."

"Wow!" Dawn was impressed. "I wonder what other elementals you can infuse an arrow with..." she mused as Ash hurried to retrieve the briefcase.

She let the thought linger as she frantically looked for a way to cure the weakened Piplup in her arms. Kori, hang on for me... she silently pleaded as she rummaged through the grass, desperate to find a stray Potion or even healing herbs.

A pink flash on the water got her attention. Gatrandis favel, secret, edena... a ethereal female voice sang.
Emusto ronzen fine el balaziis...
Katoradis favel siicletu edena... At this line, a pale blue aura formed around Kori, healing her weariness.
Emusto koron zen fine, si...

Dawn snapped out of her awed trace as Kori woke up, good as new. "Whoever sang that song--thank you for healing Kori!" she called as she hurried to find Ash and Brock.

You're welcome, young one. the voice echoed back in Dawn's mind. We will meet again!

---------

Lucas arrived by the path as Dawn reunited with the boys. "Whew...You found this briefcase?" he asked, noticing the briefcase in Ash's arms. "The professor would've gone through the roof if he knew I forgot it here."

"You don't mind if Barry and I used two of the Pokémon in there, did you?" Dawn asked.

Surprisingly, Lucas was calm about Dawn's question. "Not at all...those Pokémon were for you and him anyway." he smiled as he accepted the briefcase. "Let's go back to the lab--I'm sure Rowan will want to get to know you and your companions, Dawn."

To Be Continued...

 

Episode 2: Two Degrees of Separation

"So, Dawn...what were you doing to get those bird Pokémon--Starlies, you said they were called?--all riled up?" Ash asked as he led the way through the forested path to Sandgem Town the next day.

"My friend Barry got the idea to travel to Lake Verity after he saw a news report about a red Gyarados on TV..." Dawn explained. "He wanted to know if Lake Verity had something just as amazing, if not more. I happened to be on my way to Sandgem Town to get my first Pokémon, and he effectively roped me into going."

"A red Gyarados, huh...reminds me of when we defeated Team Rocket at the Lake of Rage in Johto." Brock grinned, gently nudging Ash. "I'll never forget you using the Swanna Song to rain rainbow thunderbolts on a red Gyarados."

Dawn perked up at Brock's mention of the Swanna Song. Could it be...that the voice that healed Kori was singing the Swanna Song they always use for an ultimate attack or last ditch spell on TV and in video games?

"Is something wrong?" Ash's voice snapped Dawn back to reality.

"N-no...it's nothing." Dawn stammered. "I'll explain later."

She then changed the subject. "Are these Team Rocket guys anything like Team Galactic here?"

"Team Rocket are this band of hoodlums that seek to use Pokémon for their own gain." Ash explained. "That said, they do sometimes have some more ambitious plans. For example, a few years ago, they tried to capture and exploit a mother and child Lugia. When we thwarted that plan, then they tried to make all the world's Pokémon go berserk--a plan they called Project Reverse. Our red Gyarados encounter was meant to be Pokémon zero for Project Reverse."

"So, usually they are no different from your average criminal, but they have had grander ambitions..." Dawn mused. "I think Team Galactic could top that--they seek to reshape the world in their own image--but all they ever seem to do is your basic criminal-y stuff--steal things, kidnap Pokémon, and things of that nature. I mean, I haven't even encountered one of their goons before, but I know what they look like thanks to news reports."

She smiled. "But you guys must have a lot of courage and guts to take on a gang of criminals...and win!"

"Thanks..." Ash chuckled. "We'll be happy to tell you about our travels if you just ask."

Just then, Brock noticed a signpost overlooking a town in the distance. "Sandgem Town...the sandy town connected to the ocean, one mile."

As the group made their way into town, Brock thumbed to the chapter about the town and started reading as they made their way down the grid-like streets. "Sandgem Town, as its name suggests, is a sandy town that is located right next to a beach. The town's most famous landmark is Prof. Rowan's lab, where he conducts his studies on Pokémon."

"Prof. Rowan...is he connected to Prof. Oak at all?" Ash was intrigued.

"Yes!" Dawn smiled. "The two of them have been friends and colleagues for years."

She smiled when she saw the tower-like lab and the majestic windmill attached to it in the distance. "There it is...although, I do think he deserves to know what we were doing with that briefcase earlier--that is, if Barry or Lucas haven't told him already."

"Good call." Brock agreed as Dawn chained her bike to the bike rack near the entrance, and led the way inside.

Dawn's footsteps snapped Lucas and Prof. Rowan from examining a photo. "Dawn, you made it..." Prof. Rowan smiled. "...and I see you've already earned some traveling companions."

"These two are Ash, and Brock, of Kanto." Dawn explained. "They rescued me and Barry back at the lake...I thought you would like to know why we took those Pokémon from your briefcase..."

---------

"...and just when I thought it was the end, Brock here scared off the Starlies with an electrified arrow or three to support Ash's Pikachu." Dawn concluded her story some time later as Ash and Brock looked on. "If you'd like your Piplup back, I am willing to give her back."

"Oh my...Barry told me what happened at the lake, but not like this." Prof. Rowan assured Dawn before a smile formed on his face. "But then again, Barry was never one for details!"

Even Ash and Brock laughed at this. "I heard you battled very well, despite it being your first time." Prof. Rowan went on. "And, from what I can see, there is a growing bond between you and that Piplup, though she is still young. That's why I would like to entrust you with that Piplup...Kori, I believe?"

"Yes...her name is Kori." Dawn replied as Lucas made her a trainer card.

"A beautiful name." Prof. Rowan smiled. "So, what brings you two here to Shinou?" he asked Ash and Brock.

"I'm here to take on the Shinou League." Ash replied before gesturing to Tintri. "This is my partner, Tintri."

[Hi!] Tintri squeaked.

"I'm here because I want to explore the mythology and folklore of Shinou, and possibly learn and tell its stories." Brock replied. "My arrows are only props--so the Starlies from before were never in any real danger."

"Interesting--I only know of a few storytellers that use weaponry in their performance." Prof. Rowan smiled. "You may want to look into performing in the Fantasy Stage, if you fancy yourself a storyteller."

"The basic rules of the Fantasy Stage are still the same as any Lore Stage--a group of storytellers get together and share their best stories, and are judged based on how they do and how the audience reacts." Lucas explained. "The differences begin on what is won and a few tweaks to the mechanics."

"For instance, in keeping with the fantasy theme and more elaborate look of the competition, the competitors wear elaborate minstrel costumes that are colorful and nearly flamboyant." Prof. Rowan went on. "The competitors must tell a fantasy story in two different ways: on the fly while incorporating at least three items from a list of components--including more components adds bonus points--and a story from their repertoire."

"The storytellers are allowed to use any talent they wish to bring their stories to life--music, dance, acting, mimicry, props, and in some outdoor venues, stage combat and stage archery." Lucas continued. "So you can use your bow if you like."

"I have a few tales I like using stage archery on..." Brock was interested now. "So, what do you get if you tell the best story?"

"The winner earns a Miracle Jewel--small plastic jewels that are kept in a drawstring bag." Prof. Rowan showed Brock an example of a Miracle Jewel bag. "This bag is usually hung at the competitor's side or tied to their traveling bag. You can have this one, if you wish."

"Thanks." Brock replied, tying the small drawstring bag to his own pack.

"Those that earn seven Miracle Jewels compete in the Grand Fantasy Stage during League and Grand Festival activities." Lucas went on. The winner of this gets the Rainbow Diamond trophy and is honored as a Master or Mistress of Lore."

"Wow--sign me up!" Brock was getting more and more excited.

"Storytellers from around the world come to compete, but storytellers from other regions winning it all are not unheard of. Even if you don't win it all, the minstrel costume you use for the competition is yours to keep." Prof. Rowan assured Brock. "If you are as skilled as you claim, you should have no trouble at all winning."

Dawn looked over at Ash as Brock, Lucas, and Prof. Rowan continued talking. "Ash...you won't mind if Kori and me come along with you and Brock, do you?" she asked as she shepherded Kori to her side.

"Not at all." Ash smiled. "Whatever your goal is for your journey, I'll support you all the way--the League, contests, Pokethlons, Lore and Fantasy Stages--whatever."

"My mom is actually a famous coordinator." Dawn interjected. "So I wanted to embark on my own contest journey."

"I actually traveled with a coordinator on one of my previous journeys..." Ash explained. "Over in Kanto, they follow Houen rules--the parade of contestants, and then five appeals."

"Contests over here have slightly different rules." Dawn explained. "First is the Visual competition, where you dress up your Pokémon using a box of 100 different costume parts and accessories. You don't know what you get until you arrive in the dressing room. Next is the Dance competition, where all the competing Pokémon dance on this modified Dancing Star platform called the Bailatron that measures their dancing skill. Finally, there's the Appeal round, which of course is five appeals created from your Pokémon's moves. Whoever has the best score after all three competitions, wins a ribbon, which is unique to every contest hall."

"Interesting..." Ash mused. "I'll have to show you the pictures from that trip later."

He noticed the fiddle case on Dawn's back. "Oh, nice! Reminds me of one of my other traveling companions--in addition to being a Water Pokémon expert and a fine Pokethlete, she could play a great fiddle as well."

"Thanks...I've been playing ever since second grade, when everyone had to take violin lessons whether you liked it or not." Dawn began. "You could keep the instruments after the required year to play them, but that year was just torture. I loved hearing all the traditional fiddlers both from here in Shinou and across the world on TV and online--they always sounded so excited and happy, while I was sawing through one weepy classical dirge after another. Mom noticed how miserable I was and assured me that while I had to tough out the required year for school, I could play whatever I wanted at home. So I tracked down as many music videos and sheet music as I could find, and slowly taught myself traditional Shinou fiddle, with influences from Kanto and Houen."

"I'm more of a wind instrumentalist myself..." Ash explained before unearthing a well loved Pokeflute case from his own bag, which also had two whistles in a side pocket. "I too started playing at school--first the whistle in third grade, and then Pokeflute while on my first trip around Kanto. While I loved both instruments, I was bored with how slow we were going in class, so like you, I looked for as many music videos and sheet music as I could find, and taught myself a lot of traditional tunes. This culminated in bringing down the house with 'The Thunderbolt Reel' for the school talent show."

"Myself...I'm more of a guitar player." Brock began as he joined Ash and Dawn near the left end of the room. "Got my first guitar the second year of middle school, then after I got into high school, I started trying my hand at writing my own material. While many of my classmates took the electric route, I stuck with the acoustic guitar--very handy for storytelling, and you don't need to cart an amp everywhere. If you do need to go electric, you can get acoustic guitars with pickups built in--this is what I use when I'm performing in a theater, an arena, or a crowded outdoor space."

"Brock's written quite a lot of original songs, including setting lots of folktales to music." Ash explained as he zipped up his gig bag.

Dawn smiled. "I look forward to jamming with you guys as we travel...I can teach you some material from around here, and you can teach me what tunes, songs, and stories you know."

She suddenly remembered her Piplup was still out, and relaxing on the floor. "Kori, return." she called, recalling the small penguin Pokémon inside. "I have to ask you...doesn't Tintri have a Poké Ball?" she asked Ash. "How come he sits on your shoulder all the time?"

"Tintri doesn't like traveling in a Poké Ball." Ash explained. "He'd much rather be out seeing the world, so my shoulder does just fine."

"Cool!" Dawn was impressed. "I didn't know some Pokémon preferred to stay out of a Poké Ball!"

"You have to remember that different Pokémon have different personalities." Prof. Rowan added as he and Lucas met the group.

"Would you like me to run your bike home for you?" Lucas offered.

"Yes please..." Dawn replied as she retrieved her gear from her bike, then wrote down some directions to her house on an index card. "If you know the way to Twinleaf Town, here's the way to my house."

"Thanks." Lucas replied as he pocketed the index card and accepted Dawn's biking gear. "I'll do my best to be careful with it." he assured Dawn.

As Dawn went to unchain her bike for Lucas, Ash turned to Prof. Rowan. "Thank for all the info, Professor..."

"My pleasure--I'll send Oak your regards." Prof. Rowan replied. "I believe you have what it takes to go far in the League--you can register at any Pokémon Center, if you haven't already done so."

He embraced Ash. "I wish you all good luck on your journey."

Ash nodded. "I'll make you and Prof. Oak proud!" he vowed as he and Brock turned to leave, unaware of a dull purple haired boy watching them from a bush...

To Be Continued...

 

Episode 3: When Pokémon Worlds Collide

Ash froze as he saw the dull purple haired boy watching him from a bush. It's Kamon all over again... he silently worried as he led Dawn and Brock around the corner and away from the lab.

He sighed, and worked up the courage to ask Dawn "Did you see anyone hiding in the bushes near the lab's front walk?"

"I don't think so..." Dawn replied. "Why would someone be hiding in the bushes?"

"During one of my previous trips, I ran into a rival this way." Ash explained. "So who am I to think that a rival's following me now?"

"Rivals aren't necessarily a bad thing...remember Gary? And Brendan?" Brock asked as the group started down the road leading outside the town.

"That was different..." Ash replied. "Gary was blinded by pride for a while, but never forgot the friendship we had. Brendan was the kind of rival anyone would want--encouraging you to get better and stronger, but never humiliating you or putting you down. If he did criticize me at all, it was constructive criticism--gently telling me was I was not doing well on, and how I could do it better. This guy...I have a bad feeling about him."

He was about to say more when he noticed Tintri had disappeared. "Funny, where'd Tintri get to?"

Some Pikachu squeaks and squawking coming from a forested alcove spurred him to investigate. When he peeked down into the small forested grove, he found Tintri facing off with a Starly. "Hey!" he called as Tintri unleashed a Thunderbolt. "Leave that Starly alone!"

"This Starly doesn't appear to be owned..." Brock mused. "It may be wild, and free for the catching, if you'd like."

Ash's angry grimace turned to an excited smile as he consulted his Pokédex:

"Starly, the starling Pokémon. They tend to flock in great numbers. Though small, they flap their wings with great power."

Excited, Ash grabbed a Poké Ball. "If anyone owns this Starly, please say something now! Otherwise, I'm gonna catch it!"

[Perfect timing, Ash...] Tintri replied. [I just saw this little alcove, and decided to look for Berries. Then this Starly jumped me.]

Ash smiled. "You had me worried for a second, but I'm glad you're okay."

He turned business-like again. "Use Thunderbolt!"

"Great shot!" Brock smiled as the Thunderbolt hit the Starly. Despite being dazed from the powerful attack, it cleared the smoke and char away with a Whirlwind.

"Okay, now try Electro Ball!" Ash called.

Tintri started charging a yellow sparking ball of electricity in his paws. But the ball went flying off into the sky as the Starly rammed into him. [Ah! Ow! Oof!] he cried as the Starly battered him with its wings.

He finally managed to roll away from the Starly and dart back to Ash's side. After charging his second Electro Ball, he heaved it at the Starly, sending it fluttering to the ground in an electric explosion.

"Glad you finally got that off." Ash grinned before heaving his Poké Ball at the Starly. "Poké Ball, go!"

The group quietly watched as the Poké Ball shook. Please don't break... Ash pleaded as he watched the shaking Poké Ball. Please don't break...

"One...two...three..." Brock counted the wiggles before he saw the ball's center dim. "You got it, Ash."

Ash beamed as the Poké Ball's center dimmed. "Yeah! I got a Starly!"

Dawn applauded Ash's joyful pose. "What are you gonna name your Starly, Ash?"

"Estrella!" Ash replied.

"That's 'Eh-streh-yah'. Brock corrected Ash. "Not 'Eh-streh-la', like what you said--a double L in Spanish is pronounced like a Y."

"Like how a J is pronounced like an H?" Ash asked.

"Something like that." Brock replied before noticing the sun was setting. "Let's find somewhere to camp--it's getting late."

"Good idea!" Dawn agreed. "I want to see if your storytelling skill is as good as you say it is!"

---------

The next morning, the group departed from their camp in high spirits. "Here we go! Off on a new adventure!" Ash smiled.

"The closest city from here is Jubilife City." Dawn explained. "It's Shinou's communication and media hotspot. People come from all over the world to try and make it big in radio or TV. Mom also said there's a Contest Hall there, as well."

She was about to say more when she saw a familiar boy with dull purple hair blocking the road. "Is that the same guy you said was hiding in the bushes near the lab yesterday?"

Brock recognized the boy. "It is!"

"So you must be Prof. Rowan's new favorite..." the boy sneered as he approached Ash. "You're still just a kid!"

"I am NOT a kid!" Ash shot back. "I have traveled across three regions, and completed three Leagues! So I should know a thing or two about Pokémon..."

He realized he had not asked the boy's name. "Say, what's your name? Before I decide to call you something you may not like?"

"Name's Paul." the boy replied. "If you're as great as you claim, then let's battle--right here, right now!"

Ash did his hardest to suppress the anger welling up inside him. "Okay, we'll battle--name your terms."

"Three on three single match, with no swapping out." Paul began. "Best two out of three wins."

"That's fair." Ash replied as Brock hurried to draw a Poké Ball emblem in the dust to create a semblance of a battlefield.

"I'll referee, if you like." Brock offered before giving Ash one of his Poke Balls. "Ash--I'll lend you Hinata to support Estrella and Tintri, if you like."

"Thanks." Ash replied as he accepted the Poké Ball.

"Ash, huh?" Paul sneered. "Just what you're going to be after I set you ablaze with my skill in battle!"

---------

"Representing the Diamond side, Ash and Estrella!" Brock announced, making a grand gesture to Ash and his Starly.

Estrella cheered, happy that at least someone knew how to pronounce her name correctly. "...and representing the Pearl side, Paul and Aquila!"

[Bring it!] Paul's Starly taunted.

"Everyone ready?" Brock asked, to cheers from both sides. "And three, two, one..."

Both Starlies charged at each other as the whistle blew. "Estrella, use Quick Attack!" Ash called.

Paul just smirked as Aquila looped out of the way of Estrella's attack. "A hot shot trainer, and yet you can't say your Pokémon's name right..."

He turned business-like again. "Aquila, use Aerial Ace!"

"Estrella, try to counter with Wing Attack!" Ash called, aware of Paul's Starly streaking at his own Starly in a burst of white light. Thankfully, the Aerial Ace clipped Estrella for minimal damage.

[But which one's the real one?] Estrella asked. She watched in horror as what seemed like hundreds of copies of Aquilla looped back around the field.

He used Double Team to throw Estrella off! Ash grumbled as he watched Aquilla slam into Estrella, knocking her out. It's like he's cheating!

He sighed. "Estrella, return."

"Eh-streh-yah!" Brock corrected him.

Okay, okay, I'll work on getting her name right! Ash grumbled as he heaved the Poké Ball Brock had lent him skyward. "Hinata, let's go!" he called revealing a familiar six tailed fox Pokémon.

"Goku, here we go!" Paul heaved his own Poké Ball skyward. The flash of light revealed a familiar red monkey Pokémon with a flaming tail.

Piqued, Ash read up on his opponent:

"Chimchar, the chimp Pokémon. It agilely scales sheer cliffs to live atop craggy mountains. Its fire is put out when it sleeps."

This must be one of the starters of this region... Ash thought when he saw a "START" icon by the picture of the Chimchar on the Pokédex.

"Your move, Diamond." Brock's voice snapped him to reality.

"Hinata, use Ember!" Ash called as he pocketed his Pokédex.

"Goku, counter with your own Ember!" Paul commanded.

Both trainers braced themselves as the two attacks exploded in the center of the makeshift arena. [Now what?] Hinata looked to Ash for advice on how to beat the fire monkey Pokémon before her.

"Try Flamethrower!" Ash called.

He watched in horror as some flaming rings cut through the stream of fire, canceling out Hinata's attack! "Friendly reminder, Ash. Many attacks, including Flamethrower, fail if the Pokémon gets hit when the attack is charging up." Brock reminded Ash.

SAY... Ash thought. "Hinata, use Double Team!"

He gasped as an Ember incinerated all the Hinata copies, and the real Hinata screeched in pain as she was slashed by Goku's claws. "Hinata, Flamethrower if you can!"

[He thinks he's so high and mighty...] Hinata growled as she shakily stood up. [But I'll show him who burns the brightest!]

With that, she nimbly leaped over two more Flame Wheels. [HAAAAAAAH!!!] she screeched, unleashing a Flamethrower from the air, knocking the Chimchar out.

"Thanks, Hinata." Ash smiled as he recalled the Vulpix. "Tintri, you're up!"

"Surge, let's go!" Paul summoned a small yellow creature with a plug-like head and black stripes.

Oh, this is Elekid, the young form of Electabuzz! Ash thought, recognizing a familiar thunderbolt mark on the small Pokémon's stomach. "Tintri, use Thunderbolt!"

Paul was unfazed as his Elekid absorbed Tintri's attack. "Surge, use Thunder!"

Since we both have Electric types, let's try a different tactic... Ash thought as he watched Tintri absorb the massive Thunder blast without batting an eye.

Inspired, he called "Tintri, use Disarming Voice!"

"Surge, use Protect to stop the attack!" Paul countered.

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... Tintri sang, creating some sparking red soundwaves. Surge went flying back from the sonic wave, crashing into a tree.

"What was that strange melody Tintri sang to create that attack?" Dawn wondered.

"That song was Ash's Heart Song--a key component of Mega Evolution." Brock replied. "We'll explain more later."

"Tintri, try Iron Tail!" came Ash's next order.

"Surge, counter with Brick Break!" Paul commanded.

Dawn watched as Tintri leaped towards the Elekid, with both attacks connecting in a flash of light. They're evenly matched! she thought as the Pikachu and the Elekid traded blows. It's too close to call!

When the dust settled some minutes later, Brock saw that both Tintri and Surge had fainted together. After blowing his whistle to signal the end of the match, he announced "No contest! This match is a tie!"

[How'd...I...do?] Tintri wheezed.

"You did very well, bud." Ash smiled as he picked up his tired Pikachu and led the way back to the main road. "Even if it was a tie."

Just then, Lucas arrived. "Oh, did you guys finish a battle?"

"Yeah...it was a tie." Ash replied.

"Professor, that ruckus was only Ash battling someone." Lucas reported as Prof. Rowan arrived. "You didn't need to worry."

Everyone gasped as Paul heaved another Poké Ball skyward, revealing another Starly. "What was that for?" Ash protested. "We battled three on three like you requested, and it came out a tie."

"I know that." Paul replied. "But know that there will be other Starlies even stronger than this one."

He then bowed before Professor Rowan. "It was an honor to battle, sir."

Ash growled as Paul departed down the road. How dare he disrespect Pokémon like that? I wanna give him a piece of my mind!

To Be Continued...

 

Episode 4: Dawn of a New Era!

"There it is..." Dawn smiled as she observed a puffy brown rabbit Pokémon from a bush. "This Buneary's gonna be mine whether it likes it or not!"

"Hold your Ponytas..." Ash cautioned as Dawn pulled out a Poké Ball. "First rule of battling--know thy enemy." He then proceeded to show Dawn his Pokédex:

"Buneary, the rabbit Pokémon. Its ears are always rolled up. They can be forcefully extended to shatter even a large boulder."

"Oh my..." Dawn gasped, unaware that the Buneary she had been tracking was skittering off into the brush. "Cute and powerful..."

"Remember, while it's possible to catch a Pokémon in one try without weakening it, you're better off weakening it first." Ash went on.

[Ash? I hate to interrupt your Pokémon catching lesson, but it seems our quarry is gone.] Kori reported.

"Aw, man..." Dawn sighed as she and Ash emerged from the bush.

"I'm sure there's plenty of other Bunearies for you to catch out here." Brock assured Dawn as the trio and their Pokémon started across the grassy plain. "So it's not the end of the world if that one got away."

He was about to say more when a flash of bright sunlight got his attention. "Whoa! Bright!"

Ash shielded his eyes from the light as well, but was also intrigued by the notes of a harp in the distance. "Hm...wonder who's playing the harp out here?" he wondered as he started off towards a grove of Berry trees near the path.

Brock heard the music and smiled as a small sprout Pokémon danced out to greet the group. "Oh hello...was that you making that light before?" he asked it.

When the sprout Pokémon nodded, it hurried back towards one of the trees. A black haired boy in an elegant green, silver, and gold minstrel's costume stepped out to meet the group. "Hail and well met, travelers." he smiled as he played a soft chord on a gold harp with flower inlays and studded in emeralds. "It seems Meralda's Sunny Day worked well in leading you here."

"I am Ash of Kanto, Sir Minstrel." Ash replied. "And these two are my companions, Dawn, and Brock."

"Hello, from one musician and storyteller to another." Brock smiled.

"Hi! Dawn smiled. "Nice to meet you!"

"A pleasure to meet you all." the boy smiled. "My name is Nando, and this is Meralda, my Budew."

Piqued, Dawn found her own Pokédex to read up on the small sprout nuzzling Nando:

"Budew, the bud Pokémon. Sensitive to changing temperature, the bud is said to bloom when it feels the sun's warm touch."

"Budew, huh...may I have the honor of meeting you in battle, Sir Nando?" Dawn asked. "I want to show Ash how strong I am!"

"Is that so? Is your end goal the Shinou League?" Nando asked.

Dawn sighed. "Um, no, I actually want to reach the Grand Festival..."

"I plan to take part in the Fantasy Stage." Brock explained. "But I've always wanted to play a harp like yours, to help in my telling. I can already play the Kantonian and Johtonian vina...

"The traditional harp and vina may be part of the same family, but have different playing techniques." Nando explained.

He offered Brock a silver harp with ivy inlays studded in emeralds and sapphires. "If you would truly like to learn, please, take this harp. Consider it a gift from me."

---------

"I have told professionally for a long time, and won all sorts of awards and honors..." Nando began. "How long have you told for?"

"About five or six years. I started getting more serious about it three years ago, which I began traveling with Ash." Brock explained. "I want to make a career out of it one day."

Nando smiled. "It is never too late to discover your true calling. Have you considered joining the Global Storyteller's Association?"

"There's a governing body for storytellers?" Brock asked, surprised.

"Anyone with a passion for our world's lore can join, and all skill levels are welcome." Nando explained. "The Association oversees the gathering of lore, and all types of storytelling competition."

"Interesting. My main instrument's guitar, but I've always dreamed of learning to play harp." Brock smiled before taking the harp Nando had given him in his arms. "So, what's the difference between this type of harp and the vina?"

"For one thing, fingerpicks are optional." Nando replied. "Many traditions use fingernails. But if you prefer to use fingerpicks, I won't try and stop you. There are some fingerpicks in the harp's case, if you wish to use them."

Thank Arceus... Brock smiled as he found a set of ten fingerpicks in a small pocket and put four of them on his right hand.

"Go on, play a little." Nando coaxed. Brock nodded, and started plucking out a C major scale. Fascinated by the sound, he continued plucking notes. This is so cool he thought as he played, amazed by the various chords and harmonies he created.

"Not bad..." Nando smiled as the last note died. "Not bad at all...remember that the easiest way to remember proper plucking technique is to think of how a baby waves--the fingers, as a unit, open and close, and the thumb stays relaxed..."

---------

"Why?" Dawn sighed as Brock rejoined the group some hours later. "Why can't I catch a Pokémon? While you were off getting harp lessons, I didn't catch a thing!"

Brock noticed the sun was setting. "We can always try again tomorrow, okay?" he assured Dawn. "Besides, according to the map of the region in my guidebook, there should be a Pokémon Center close by."

"Okay..." Dawn sighed. She followed the boys down the road, where a familiar red roofed Pokémon Center stood nestled in a tree-liked nook. "Although, what was the fox Pokémon you lent Ash earlier?" she asked as the group walked inside the Pokémon Center. "That one looked kinda cute..."

"Hinata, come on out!" Brock heaved a Poké Ball skyward, allowing Dawn to get a look at the small red fox Pokémon:

"Vulpix, the fox Pokémon. As its body grows larger, its six warm tails become more beautiful, with a more luxurious coat of fur.

"She's beautiful!" Dawn smiled as she pitted Hinata.

"Who else did you bring with you?" Ash wondered.

Brock retrieved his other Poke Balls and heaved them into the air. "Come on out, everyone!"

He smiled as he admired the massive steel snake Pokémon that almost took up the entire room. "This is Argent, my faithful Steelix..." he explained to Dawn. "and my main induceable Pokémon."

"I'll explain Mega Evolution later..." Ash assured Dawn.

Brock next gestured to a gold-brown shrew-like Pokémon. "Terra, my Sandshrew..." He paused to pick up a blue and orange fish-like Pokémon running to meet him. "...and Ripple, my Marshtomp."

"What about Tarina?" Ash asked. "You didn't forget her?"

"Actually, Tarina's back at home." Brock replied as he recalled his team. "She's in Pichu paradise with the kids there to play with her."

No one noticed the squirming blob inside a pocket of Brock's bag. [Whew...stowing away in Brock's bag is hard work!]

---------

"Call home." Dawn commanded a video phone near the front desk.

She waited a moment as the screen flashed "DIALING..." then smiled at the image of Joanna and the gray cat Pokémon that appeared on the screen. "Hello?"

"Hi, Mom, it's me..." Dawn began. "After a harrowing encounter at Lake Verity, two travelers from Kanto rescued me."

"I know, Prof. Rowan told me everything." Joanna replied. "Remember to treat your friends well, and they will take care of you in return."

"Well, Ash is more the battling type, and Brock's more of a storyteller and songwriter." Dawn went on. "Last I checked, they were both signing up for their respective competitions..."

---------

"Have you already registered for the Shinou League?" Nurse Joy asked Ash as she examined his trainer card.

"Not yet, but I would like to." Ash replied, offering Nurse Joy his Pokédex.

He waited a moment as both his Pokédex and his trainer card were scanned. "Okay...you're good to go." Nurse Joy smiled, just as Dawn completed her phone call.

"Is it possible to sign up for Contests here?" Dawn asked as Ash received his gear back.

"You can do that at any Contest Hall, as well as receiving a Contest Pass." Nurse Joy replied.

"What about the Fantasy Stage?" Brock asked.

"I need your trainer card for that." Nurse Joy replied.

She first scanned Brock's trainer card; then affixed a shining silver sticker of a book with a rainbow coming out of it over the old Lore Stage sticker. "Here you are--now all you need is a costume." she replied before going to assist some trainers that had arrived.

Dawn noticed one trainer had a larger blue penguin Pokémon, so she read up on it:

"Prinplup, the penguin Pokémon. Its wings deliver wicked blows that snap even the thickest of trees. It searches for prey in icy seas."

Hm...but then it wouldn't be cute anymore... Dawn thought as she pocketed her Pokédex.

Ash noticed Nando hurry off to a couch with his Budew. "Why was Nando in such a hurry to get away?"

"He is trying to decide whether to focus on winning Badges, Ribbons, or Miracle Jewels." Nurse Joy explained. "He has the talent for each path, but it's suggested that you only follow one."

"He'd do great in the League!" Ash smiled.

"Nah, he looks more like a contest kind of person to me." Dawn shot back. "Think of the pretty appeals he could make with his Budew."

"But look at Budew's evolution line..." Ash showed Dawn his Pokédex, which depicted Budew's evolution path. "He'll eventually get something powerful, so he should focus on Badges!"

"Power isn't everything!" Dawn protested. "I still say he focuses on ribbons!"

"Badges!"

"Ribbons!"

"Badges!"

"Ribbons!"

"But what if he wants to try for Miracle Jewels?" Brock interjected, bringing the argument to a screeching halt.

"You know, the fastest way to know what Nando would rather do is ask Nando directly!" Dawn suggested as she watched Nando leave.

"Good idea!" Ash was not far behind.

"Hey, wait for me!" Brock called as he hurried off after his companions...

---------

[No sign of him...] Estrella reported as she came fluttering back to Ash's side.

"I think we lost him..." Dawn signed as Brock caught up to her and Ash.

"Well, you guys were the ones that wanted to find him, so we'll have to camp out here." Brock sighed. "It's too dangerous to find our way back to the Pokémon Center this late..."

"What was this about wanting to find me?" a voice asked, startling Dawn.

Ash looked up and smiled as he saw Nando approaching the group's camp. "Nando...I've looked at Meralda's evolution line, and I really think you would do great at the Pokémon League."

"I believe you could perform lots of beautiful appeals with Meralda." Dawn explained. "So I think you should be a coordinator."

Nando thought for a moment. "You both make very good cases for your chosen path...but for now, I want you to calm down, and just take in the music around you..."

"Huh?" Dawn asked.

"What music?" Ash asked in confusion.

He decided to close his eyes and listen, as Nando had asked. He could hear Kricketots tinkling, Lotads calling, various Pokémon rustling in the brush, and the gentle hoot of a Noctowl in the distance. "You're right..."

"This is the music of nature..." Dawn agreed.

"See, all creation sings in thanks to the Legendaries above." Nando smiled. "They don't argue about which of them is the greatest. They know what role they play in the song, and when they all sing together, it unites in a melody of peace and love."

"Besides, if everyone played the same note, the song would be boring to listen to." Brock agreed. "Likewise, if everyone followed the same path on a Pokémon adventure, it wouldn't be so interesting."

"Now I feel stupid about arguing before..." Dawn sighed.

"Me too...I'm sorry for being pushy before." Ash began. "Will you forgive me?"

"Of course--Mom always says it's better to forgive and forget." Dawn smiled. "I'm sorry I was so pushy too." she smiled as she and Ash embraced.

As Nando retreated into the bushes, Ash looked up at the stars twinkling above him. "It's so peaceful out here...not unlike when I actually saw a Legendary on my first day as a trainer..."

"You saw a Legendary?" Dawn was intrigued.

Ash nodded. "It all started not long after I left my hometown of Pallet Town..."

---------

...as we collected ourselves, I saw a beautiful gold phoenix Pokémon--Ho'oh." Ash finished his story some time later.

"I may have had a similar experience while you were busy talking to Lucas." Dawn began. "When I came out of the cave I was hiding in with Kori, I saw a pink light over the lake. I also heard a female voice--a gentle, but powerful voice--singing this beautiful melody, which healed Kori. But for some reason, only I heard the voice."

"Do you remember how the song went at all?" Brock was interested.

"It was in this weird language, but I'll try to approximate what I heard..." Dawn cleared her throat and began "Katradis vavel, shicret, edena...emuste rozen fine el valaziis...gatoredis vavel siicletu edena...emuse toron zen fine, zi..."

Brock thought for a moment. "That sounds a whole lot like the famed Swanna Song, which the Legendary Pokémon are known to sing."

"You mean it's more than a last ditch desperate spell on TV or in a video game?" Dawn was intrigued.

Brock nodded. "The song actually goes like this..."

With that, he sang Gatrandis favel, secret, edena...
Emusto ronzen fine el balaziis...
Katoradis favel siicletu edena...
Emusto koron zen fine, si...

"That's it! That was the song that healed Kori!" Dawn cried.

In the bushes, Nando balked at the performance he had heard. Wow! Brock must be very skilled in music if he can sing the famed Swanna's song for real!

---------

"Thank you, Brock..." Nando smiled as he watched the group break camp the next morning. "My own love of this world's lore, and your inspiring performance of the Swanna's song last night...I have decided I will be taking part in the Fantasy Stage with you."

He smiled. "Consider me a mentor and a friendly rival."

"Thanks..." Brock smiled. "Although...where am I gonna get a costume for that?"

"Here..." Nando offered Brock a magnificent purple, red, and gold minstrel's outfit. "Another gift from me...I hope to perform with you very soon."

He smiled. "Oh yes--keep practicing your harp as well."

"I will--and thank you." Brock replied as he hugged Nando.

"Bye, Nando!" Ash waved goodbye as Nando disappeared over the hill. "Good luck!"

To Be Continued...

 

Episode 5: Feelin' a Jungle Beat!


"Have you heard of this Global Storyteller's Association before?" Ash asked Brock as the group continued down the path some days later. "After what Nando said a few days ago, I was floored to find out that a governing body of storytellers exists."

"I heard whispers about it back on our Houen trip and on our second trip through Kanto." Brock replied. "While Nando wasn't able to answer all my questions about it, he did answer a good number of them. It may be worth my while to learn more about it as I compete in the Fantasy Stage.

Ash was about to answer when he saw Tintri dart off. "Hey, wait! Tintri!"

He did not expect a Chimchar to leap between him and Tintri. [Hold it! Don't you dare lay a finger on this Pikachu!]

"Goku?" Ash gasped. He shuddered a little, silently hoping Paul wasn't anywhere nearby.

[I don't know of this Goku you speak of, expect that superpowered warrior on TV.] the Chimchar mused. [Now, are you backing off, or what?]

"I'm not gonna back off!" Dawn shot back. "Kori, douse this Chimchar's fire!"

Kori tried pecking the Chimchar, only to duck out of the way of an Ember. After scrambling behind a rock by the side of the path, she heaved a relieved sigh. [That was close...]

She gasped as the flames from the Chimchar's attack to hit a nearby bush, injuring a wild Oddish. Angry from being burned, the Oddish unleashed a cloud of blue-green spores into the air.

"I gotcha, Tintri..." Ash sleepily smiled as the Sleep Powder took effect on him.

The Chimchar watched as Ash fell asleep with a plop on the ground. [Come on...I'll take you somewhere safe.] it assured the sleeping Pikachu as it leaped off into the bushes.

"Follow that Chimchar!" Brock called, motioning for Dawn to follow him into the brush.

"But we can't leave Ash here!" Dawn protested.

Gentle laughter got both Dawn and Brock's attention. "You need not worry, you two--let's get your friend somewhere safe."

"Thanks." Dawn smiled as the woman gently picked up Ash...

---------

"Mm...where am I?" Ash yawned when he woke up some time later. "The last thing I remember was a Chamchar running off with Tintri..."

"Tintri is my friend's Pikachu, miss..." It occurred to Dawn she had not asked the old woman's name.

"Clara, please." the old woman smiled. "The Chimchar you three ran into is actually a friend and a protector of the community."

"No wonder it thought I was an intruder..." Ash mused as he climbed out of the bed he had been lying in and stretched. "How did you find that Chimchar?"

"I found it lost and injured on the path leading into this valley." Clara explained. "After working night and day to nurse it back to health, it seemed to bond with me. So it has stayed here ever since. As you can see, he is very much a leader in the community."

In the yard, the Chimchar returned to the tree Tintri was resting under. [Want an apple?] it asked, offering Tintri an apple from the large bag of fruit it carried.

[Sure.] Tintri replied. He bit into the apple, watching as the Chimchar swung off to go help and assist the other Pokémon residents.

[What seems to be the trouble?] he asked as he landed before a Geodude and a Mankey arguing over a pile of fruit.

[Rocky says he got more fruit than me!] the Mankey protested.

After studying the pile of fruit for a moment, the Chimchar added some of his own fruit to the pile. After a few moments, he found that he could give the Mankey and the Geodude four fruits each. [There...now you each have an even share.]

[Thanks!] the Geodude smiled as the Chimchar bounded off somewhere else.

Ash emerged from the house, where he found Tintri munching on the apple. "Where'd you find that, bud?"

Tintri was about to answer when he saw the Chimchar knock Ash to the ground! [Wait! Stop! This human is my master, not an intruder! He wouldn't hurt any of the Pokémon here!]

[Oh, so you're an owned Pokémon?] the Chimchar asked. [Well, why didn't you say so before?]

He watched Ash ease himself to his feet. [I'm sorry I attacked you--I didn't know the Pikachu was yours.]

"No hard feelings--you didn't know any better." Ash assured the Chimchar.

A rustle of a bush got his attention as a slender striped raccoon-like Pokémon limped into the valley. "Been a while since I've seen a Linoone..." he mused as he noticed the Pokémon's wounded left front foot. "Must've tangled with something huge to have its foot battered like that..."

Dawn decided to read up on the wounded Pokémon as the boys and Clara rushed to help the hurt Linoone:

"Linoone, the rushing Pokémon. It charges prey at speeds over 60 miles per hour. Because it can only run in a straight line, it often fails."

The Linoone yipped in pain as Brock gently pressed a leaf to its wounded foot. "Sh, it's okay..." he assured it as Ash prepared to help with cleaning and dressing the wound.

---------

"And on today's menu, we have homestyle meatloaf with all the trimmings." Brock explained as he delivered plates to both the humans and the Pokémon. "I even made a separate mini-loaf with Pokémon safe ingredients for the Pokémon to enjoy."

"This is wonderful...you have real skill." Clara raved as she savored the blend of beef, onions, spices, and a ketchup-based glaze. "It was very thoughtful of you to keep the resident Pokémon in mind as you were cooking. A lot of spices and ingredients humans enjoy are not safe for many Pokémon."

[You want mine?] the Chimchar asked as the Linoone finished its share of the Pokémon loaf. [I'm not really hungry right now...]

Ash smiled as the Linoone accepted the Chimchar's plate. "That was very nice of you to share your food, but just to make sure you don't go hungry later, have some more!"

[You really care about me as much as I do everyone?] the Chimchar gasped, starry eyed.

Ash nodded. "Every Pokémon is special, and worthy to be loved."

He balked as the Chimchar clambored onto his head. "I think that Chimchar likes you, young man." Clara smiled. "He was fond of jumping on my head too, but I managed to train him to climb onto a stick."

"We'll be takin' these off your hands, grandma!" a voice snickered as two punks in old T-shirts and leather vests hurried in the room. All Clara and the others could do was watch as they snatched the Chimchar and Tintri from the table.

"How on earth did those rogues get here?" Clara grumbled as she watched the punks dash off towards a river.

"Judging from how they're making off with the Chimchar and Tintri, they swam here." Dawn mused as she watched the two punks swim away.

"I'm going after them!" Ash removed his cap and his shoes and socks, and hurried off towards the river.

"Kori, go with Ash--we'll chase from the shore." Dawn instructed her Piplup.

[Okay!] Kori smiled before hurrying off after Ash.

"If there's one thing I hate more than Team Rocket, it's punks with nothing better to do besides cause trouble." Brock grumbled. "Just like the last time this happened on our first trip in Kanto."

"What happened there?" Dawn asked as she watched Kori paddle behind Ash.

"See, a couple of punks tried to mess up a Pokémon sanctuary, and Ash tried to stop them." Brock explained. "It took some help from the sanctuary's guardian, a Bulbasaur, to save the day. In the end, the Bulbasaur wanted to go with Ash."

"Sounds exciting!" Dawn smiled. "You can tell me more after we're done with this rescue mission."

Meanwhile, Ash had caught up to the punks, but he did not expect them to try and shake him off. "Whoa!"

[No go--I don't have enough power to break the glass.] the Chimchar told Tintri. He slammed against the glass in a desperate attempt to break the capsules. [Besides, I would be toast in the water!]

[Watch and learn.] Tintri smiled. After shattering the glass with an Iron Tail, he called. [Okay, get to the shore!]

[Right!] the Chimchar replied as it paddled to the shore, where Dawn was waiting.

Once sure the Chimchar was safe, Tintri unleashed a massive Thunderbolt, sending the delinquents flying into the sky...

---------

"Just like old times, bud..." Ash smiled as he emerged from the water. his clothing a little charred from Tintri's attack.

"I can't thank you enough for scaring off those rogues." Clara smiled.

"No need for thanks--we've dealt with a few punks on our travels." Ash replied.

[Wait!] the Chimchar gasped as he hurried to Ash. [After you and your Pikachu companion saved my bacon back there, I wanna come with you!]

"Really?" Ash smiled before fumbling for an empty Poké Ball. "Just touch this, and you can come."

Clara smiled as the Chimchar went inside the Poké Ball. "Come to think of it, I never thought to give that Chimchar a name. So what are you going to name him, now that he is yours?"

"His name will be Diddy!" Ash replied.

"Whatever you do, don't leave him unattended around a jetpack." Brock grinned, hoping Ash would get the reference.

"Where would he even find a--!" Dawn started before she realized the reference Brock was making. "Oh, 'Donkey Kong 64'! I loved Diddy, but I hated the jetpack challenges!"

"You're not the only one." Ash smiled as Brock, Clara, and the Pokémon laughed, glad that things had ended well...

To Be Continued...

 

Episode 6a: Different Strokes for Different Blokes! (part 1)


"Nachos are just about ready..." Brock reported as he tended to a mixture of beef, onions, and spices simmering over the campfire. "I've made a batch with Pokémon-safe spices for the Pokémon to enjoy."

"I'll go ahead and set up the topping bar." Dawn volunteered. With that, she went to work setting out bowls and tubs of various toppings on a line of rocks.

Kori looked up at Diddy swinging through the branches of an orange tree near the campsite. [I wanna have an orange too!]

[Okay then...catch!] Diddy replied. He then heaved an orange at Kori's direction.

Kori circled around the grass, and managed to catch the orange in her fins. [Thanks!]

"I'll peel that for you here in a minute." Dawn assured Kori as she finished setting out the toppings.

"That was very sweet of you, Diddy." Ash smiled as Diddy delivered the oranges to him. "Oranges would also make a nice dessert..."

"Ash!" a voice called in the distance, snapping Ash to attention.

"Paul?" Ash gasped as he saw Paul approaching the campsite. "What are you doing here?"

"I should ask the same for you, Wonder Boy." Paul smirked. "You were too easy to find with the smell of nachos cooking...are you gonna save me any?"

"I don't know if you deserve any after seeing how you treat your Pokémon!" Ash shot back. "And for the record, we're first gonna stop in Jubilife City before we head out to the first Gym!"

"That would be in Oreburgh City, tourist." Paul deadpanned. "I'm headed that way myself."

"Errgh...I am NOT a tourist!" Ash snapped. "I am here because I want to compete in the League, not sightsee! Let's duel, and I'll show you how strong I am!"

"You wanna duel? You got it." Paul replied before heaving a Poké Ball skyward. "Goku, let's go!"

"Diddy, I choose you!" Ash summoned his own Chimchar to face Ash's Chimchar.

"Are you sure you want to use Diddy?" Dawn asked as she sat down on an empty rock to watch. "Goku looks pretty tough..."

"I don't care about strength." Ash replied. "I'll prove Diddy can withstand a difference in power."

Brock transferred his meat mixture to a warming pot. "I hope Ash knows what he's doing..." he mused as he fished out his referee's whistle. "This Paul guy seems like he's even stronger than a Frontier Brain!"

---------

"You know, we don't even have to battle. We all know Goku will beat your wimpy Chimchar." Paul taunted.

[Come a little closer and say that!] Diddy shot back.

"I'm not backing down, and Diddy is not a wimp!" Ash agreed.

He turned his cap back as he heard Brock's whistle ring through the grove. "Diddy, try to Scratch Goku!"

"Goku, counter with your own Scratch!" Paul commanded.

Ash watched in horror as Goku leaped before Diddy. "Wow! He's fast!" he gasped as Goku scratched Diddy twice.

He called "Focus, Diddy! Use Ember!"

Dawn watched in awe as Goku somersaulted backwards over the small fireball. "Wow! I didn't know a Chimchar could do that!"

"Being a monkey Pokémon, they are quite agile." Brock replied as Goku fired an Ember of his own.

"Diddy, watch out!" Ash called to his Chimchar as the fireball came flying at him.

He watched as Diddy took the attack, sending him flying backwards against his feet. "What's wrong, Diddy? Why did you take that attack when I told you to dodge?"

Paul smirked as he watched Diddy get up. "Goku, use Flame Wheel!"

[HAAAAAAAHHH!!!] Goku cried as he leaped into the air. As he whizzed skyward, he used the flames in its mouth to surround its whole body in fire, creating a blazing wheel.

Ash watched in shock as Diddy made no effort to avoid the attack. "Diddy! Can you continue?" he asked his weakened Chimchar when the smoke cleared some moments later.

[I think so...] Diddy wheezed. [I took those attacks thinking I could withstand them, because I'm a Fire type too. But this Chimchar's way stronger than me!]

"I see..." Ash replied. "Try using Ember!"

The two combatants and the audience did not expect Diddy to overestimate the size of his Ember. The large unstable fireball eventually exploded, sending Ash, Paul, and Goku flying over the edge of a cliff!

---------

Okay...I need to find something to steady myself... Paul thought as he and Ash hurtled to the ground.

He reached out and grabbed onto one of the tree branches protruding from the cliff. Once he and Goku were stable, he carefully hopped down between the branches.

As he reached safe ground again, he smirked as he heard a splash in the distance. And Wonder Boy had a not so graceful splashdown. he smirked.

He shepherded Goku to his side. "Come on, Goku...let's find the way out."

The splash alerted Dawn and Brock to where Ash had gone. "Ash? You okay?" Dawn called down to the large pond far below their camp.

"Can you hear us?" Brock called, hoping that Ash had survived the fall.

Ash surfaced from the water some moments later. After blowing a stream of water out of his mouth, he waved at Brock and Dawn. "I'm okay! Nothing hurts!"

"As soon as you get back up here, I'll check you over just to be sure." Brock called back

"Goku, return." Ash heard Paul saying in the distance as he climbed from the water and dripped dry.

He spotted Paul walking into a forest near the pond, and hurried to catch up. "Paul, wait! I want to know why you treat your Pokémon like you do. Maybe we can learn to respect our differences, and work together to get out of here."

"For your information, I have intention of being nice to, or cooperating with you, Wonder Boy." Paul snapped. "If you wanna get out of here, you're on your own."

---------

"Okay, here we are...Green Mist Forest, popularly called the Forest of Illusion." Brock mused as he arrived on the guidebook page detailing the area.

"I've heard many a campfire story about how the Forest of Illusion is more than a video game area..." Dawn shuddered. "It is the name shared by many forests across the world that many say are haunted."

"I know one exists in Johto as well--and you need a Pokémon that knows Foresight to get through." Brock explained. "I'll see what I can find about this one."

After reading a little farther down the page, Brock found something intriguing in one paragraph. "In this particular Forest of Illusion, the Stantlers are the ones that create the illusions. It is commonly believed this phenomenon keeps intruders away..."

---------

"Hm...now which way is the way out?" Ash asked as he can Diddy walked through the forest. "I wish Goldie was here, or Aina..."

A Stantler popped its head out of some nearby bushes some moments later. "Well! A Stantler!" Ash smiled. "Reminds me of the time Brock rescued a fawn from Kamon."

He did not expect the orbs in the Stantler's horns to glow, sending him and Diddy into a deep sleep...

---------

"Where are we..." Ash wondered as he woke up to find himself in a large plain that seemed to stretch as far as the eye could see.

He nudged Diddy awake. "Come on, Diddy."

After walking for a while, Ash balked when he arrived back at a familiar pond....

"WHAT???" Ash gasped. "How come I'm back where I started?"

He motioned for Diddy to follow him. "Let's see if we can find some other way through the forest."

No sooner had he and Diddy arrive did they find the same Stantler with glowing orbs...

"Water..." Ash gasped as he can Diddy trudged through what seemed like a hot and vast desert.

An idea occurred to him as he and Diddy trudged through the sand. "Wait a second...the desert is a Hypnosis induced dream. If I keep on walking, we'll end up right back where we started."

He looked over at Diddy. "Somebody pinch me..."

Diddy was more than happy to comply. "OW!"

Ash's cry of pain snapped him back to reality. "Thanks, Diddy..." Ash replied before noticing a herd of Stantler had surrounded him. "Uh oh..."

Paul giggled from a bush as the Statlers hypnotized Ash into believing he was flying. "For such a hot shot, he has a weak will to be fooled by all those illusions."

He heaved a Poké Ball into the grass. "Goku, use Ember on the Stantler!"

The rain of fire and the running Stantler snapped Ash back to reality. "Huh?"

He smiled when he spotted Paul in the distance. "I can't believe it...Paul snapped me out of it!"

He watched as one of the Stantlers tried to hypnotize Paul. Paul seemed unfazed by the hypnotic light. "Goku, use Flame Wheel!"

Ash watched in awe as Goku rolled into a flaming ball, knocking the Stantler backwards. As the deer Pokémon howled in pain, Paul heaved a Poké Ball. "Poké Ball, go!"

"Uh..thanks for saving me?" Ash stammered as he approached Paul.

But when the Poké Ball broke open and the Statler ran off, Ash was puzzled. "Why did you just let it go?"

"It was too weak for my tastes." was all Paul said before disappearing into the forest.

---------

"...In all the Forest of Illusion campfire stories I've heard; whoever or whatever goes into a Forest of Illusion often doesn't come out." Dawn shuddered. "I'm scared Ash is gone forever..."

"He's not--you've got Kori, I have my team, and I have my bow to protect us." Brock assured Dawn. "Illusion or no illusion, we should go in and look for Ash."

He smiled. "Besides, it wouldn't be the first Forest of Illusion I've been through."

A smile formed on Dawn's face. "You're right--we can't run and hide like scared Bunearies. If we're going to find Ash, we have to work together."

"That's the spirit!" Brock grinned. "Come on!"

"Come on Tintri--let's go find your master." Dawn motioned for Tintri and Kori to follow her as she hurried after Brock into the forest...

To Be Continued...

 

Episode 6b: Different Strokes for Different Blokes! (part 2)

Previously, on "Pokémon Shine Diamond..."

"...In all the Forest of Illusion campfire stories I've heard; whoever or whatever goes into a Forest of Illusion often doesn't come out." Dawn shuddered. "I'm scared Ash is gone forever..."

"He's not--you've got Kori, I have my team, and I have my bow to protect us." Brock assured Dawn. "Illusion or no illusion, we should go in and look for Ash."

He smiled. "Besides, it wouldn't be the first Forest of Illusion I've been through."

A smile formed on Dawn's face. "You're right--we can't run and hide like scared Bunearies. If we're going to find Ash, we have to work together."

"That's the spirit!" Brock grinned. "Come on!"

"Come on Tintri--let's go find your master." Dawn motioned for Tintri and Kori to follow her as she hurried after Brock into the forest...

In the forest, Ash returned from a nearby apple grove with an armload of apples. "At least we won't starve in here..." he smiled.

He offered an apple to Diddy. "Want a bite?"

[No thanks, I'm good for now.] Diddy replied.

Both Diddy's and Ash's stomachs growled at about the same time. "Are you SURE you don't want any?" Ash asked. "I mean, I love how you give all you have to help others, but there are times you need to help yourself, too."

After finding a knife in his bag, he carefully cut another apple in half. "Here--now we both have a share."

[Thanks...] Diddy smiled.

He nibbled on his half of the apple for a moment. [This was why I wanted to go with you on your adventure. You're brave, know how to battle well, and know how to take care of us Pokémon.]

"Well, I can't say that I'm perfect..." Ash confessed. "But I do my best to make sure you and all your teammates are loved, respected, and taken care of."

He paused to bite into his half of the apple. "I don't expect you guys to be perfect either. It's okay to make mistakes."

[Yeah, how can we learn if we don't mess up?] Diddy agreed. [That's what rubs me the wrong way about this Paul guy. It's as if he wants all his Pokémon to battle 'perfectly'.]

"Perfect for one person may be quite different to another." Ash smiled. "But for me, there is no such thing as perfect. All I ask is that you work well as a team, building on each other's strengths and covering your weaknesses. That goes for my human friends, as well."

He was about to say more when a Stantler emerged from the bushes. "Uh oh! Cover your eyes! Quickly!"

Diddy nodded, shielding his eyes as he hurried after Ash. Both human and Pokémon hoped they could avoid the Stantlers' Hypnosis. Follow Ash...he knows the way.

In their rush to get away, both of them slammed into a tree. [OOF!]

"You okay?" Ash asked as he stepped away from the tree and examined his bruised arms.

He gasped as the hum of Beedrills approaching got his attention. "Oh no..."

[RUN!!] Diddy squawked as the Beedrills flew after them.

---------

In another part of the forest, Dawn saw a flash of red and white in the brush. "Ash!" she smiled as she spotted Ash's cap in the midst of the treetops.

She waved in Ash's direction. "Over here!"

Brock mimicked a Fletchling whistle to get Ash's and Diddy's attention. "There you are!" he smiled as Ash hurried into his arms. "Thought you were a goner for a minute there..."

"We're gonna be goners if we don't run!" Ash replied, pointing out the Beedrills flying straight for the group!

"Let's go!" Dawn lead the way through the forest.

The group ran through brush, climbed over tree roots, and ducked under branches in an attempt to elude the Beedrills. But, Brock did not expect Ash to end up cornered by an Ursaring! "Talk about out of the frying pan, and into the fire!"

"I'll say!" Ash agreed, a note of fear in his voice as he cowered in the Ursaring's shadow.

[Don't you DARE hurt my master!] he heard Diddy cry before the Ursaring howled in pain. Inspired, he hurried back by Dawn's side as Diddy bit the Ursaring again and again.

"That was close..." Dawn mused as the Ursaring attempted to shake the young fire monkey off.

She gasped as the Ursaring threw Diddy off, sending him flying into a bush. "Now would be a good time to use your bow, Brock..." she stammered as the Ursaring stomped in their direction. If this is the end...Mom...Opal...I love you...

"I'm on it." Brock spritzed an arrow with some Repel. Once sure the arrowhead was ready, he aimed at the approaching Ursaring.

Ash and Dawn held their breaths as Brock fired into the ground. "Great shot!" Dawn smiled with relief as a cloud of Repel billowed before the Ursaring.

Ash smiled as the Ursaring started to run away from the cloud of Repel. "Tintri, use Iron Tail! Diddy, use Ember!"

[HAAH!!!!] Diddy heaved a wave of fire at the Ursaring. The flames also ignited Tintri's glowing silver tail with sliver flames!

"NIce shot..." Dawn smiled at Brock as the silver flames from Diddy and Tintri's attack made the Ursaring stumble backwards.

"And nice job, you two." Ash smiled at Diddy and Tintri.
The Ursaring's roar alerted Brock that the group was not safe yet. "Hit the dirt!" he called as the Ursaring charged a familiar orange beam.

As the group dove to the ground, Dawn saw a way out of the forest "I see an exit!"

"Not just that, I see Paul on the road leading out of here!" Ash pointed out Paul as the group dashed from the forest and onto the road.

About then, Paul spotted the group and the Ursaring chasing them. " Goku to use Flame Wheel!"

Dawn watched from the safety of a bush as the whirling rings of fire surrounded the huge bear Pokémon, allowing Paul to capture it. "Wow! I'm impressed he caught something that powerful!"

"Knowing Paul, even though he caught it, he probably won't keep it." Ash sighed, more out of exhaustion then frustration.

The group watched as Paul scanned the Poké Ball. "Well! I like this..." he smiled as he set the ball on his belt. "This Pokémon will do very nicely.

[All right!] Goku smiled, dancing happily around his master's feet. "Now's not the time to celebrate, Goku!" Paul growled, making the Chimchar shudder in fear. "We've got a long we to go..."

"Paul!" Ash called as he caught up to Paul. "Aren't we gonna finish our match?"

"No." Paul shot back. "After you got us into that mess; I don't care about anything anyone as weak as you wants to say."

Hot tears of anger ran down Ash's cheeks as he watched Paul and Goku continue down the road. Okay...if you don't want to play nice, I'll do everything I can to show you that your style of training isn't the answer. I tried offering to be friends, but I'm done playing nice for you!

To Be Continued...

 

Episode 7: Like It or Lup It!

"Number J-92806, Dawn Solberg and Kori!" a contest announcer called. "First appeal!"

The audience in the Contest Hall cheered as a spotlight appeared on Dawn, who wore a sparkling green gown. "Showtime, Kori!" she called as she heaved a Poké Ball into the air, revealing Kori in a burst of blue light. "Start with Bubblebeam!"

The crowd oohed and ahhed as Kori twirled about the room. Glittering rainbow bubbles filled the hall as Kori spun, making many in the audience gasp in awe. But Dawn's confident smile turned to horror when she saw Kori collapse to the ground, swirly eyed.

Screams filled the air as Kori got up and continued to spin, sending the bubbles flying at the audience...

"Kori!" Dawn was snapped from her daydream by Kori hitting the ground with a thud. "Are you okay?"

[I think so...] Kori wheezed as she eased herself to her feet. [I would be more concerned about your friends' feedback, though.]

Dawn looked over at Ash, Tintri, and Brock, who were watching from a large rock standing in for the judge's table. "So, how was that?" she giggled, a note of nervousness in her voice.

She balled as Ash, Tintri and Brock displayed scorecards. Ash's read an orange 3.5, Brock's read a yellow 5.0, and Tintri's read a bright orange 4.5. "Care to elaborate on why you give the scores you did?"

"You have a good idea for an appeal, but Kori needs to control the attack better." Brock explained.

[Agreed.] Tintri added. [You were doing so good until Kori got dizzy.]

"It might help to scale back the appeal until Kori can spin that fast for that long." Ash explained. "Understand, your appeal idea was not bad at all--it just needs some more practice."

Dawn nodded. "Thanks guys--maybe now I know how to approach this."

She called "Kori! Use--!"

"Actually..." Ash got up from the grass and pointed out the skyscrapers of Jubilife City in the distance. "Jubilife City's not very far from here."

Brock thumbed to the chapter in the guidebook about the city. "Says here that there's a trainer's school in the area..."

"What a great idea!" Dawn smiled. "We'll ask the experts how I can improve my appeals!"

"We can kill two bird Pokémon with one stone." Ash went on. "Dawn gets appeal help, and Brock gets some practice in for the Fantasy Stage."

"Besides, if a class of thirty kids doesn't like my material, a crowd of three thousand won't either." Brock smiled as he pocketed the guidebook.

Dawn smiled as the group made their way into the city. "I want to see you in that costume Nando gave you."

---------

"Of course, I'd be happy to give you a lesson for the day in Contest appeals." the trainer's school principal told Dawn. "And I'm sure the kids would be a good audience for you to practice for the Fantasy Stage." she told Brock.

"If you have a tale you want to practice, I'll be happy to assist." Ash told Brock as he received a guest pass and Dawn and Brock received student day passes.

"Now then--the mock Contest Hall is down the hall on the right, and the auditorium is on the left, past the cafeteria." the principal went on.

"Thanks." Dawn replied. "If you need me to assist in your tale, I'll come join you as soon as I finish my appeal lesson." she told Brock as the group went their separate ways.

---------

"Dawn Solberg...daughter of the famous Joanna Solberg." a pale brown haired woman began as Dawn found a seat in an empty classroom some time later. "It is quite fitting you wish to follow in your mother's footsteps."

"I know I have some big shoes to fill." Dawn began. "But I believe I can make my own mark on the Contest world."

"All right...you know well what an appeal is--using a Pokémon's moves in creative ways to impress the judges and the audience." the teacher began. "In olden times, Contests were divided into different types based on appeal themes. But today, the lines between these themes can and often do blur."

She asked. "Before we go into the mock Contest Hall, do you have any Pokémon you can use?"

"I have my Piplup, Kori." Dawn replied before heaving a Poké Ball skyward. "Come on out, Kori!"

Kori yawned as she materialized on the desk. [Huh...desks, books, a chalkboard...we must be in a school.]

"This is the Jubilife Trainer's School." Dawn explained. "We're in one of the classrooms at the moment. Hopefully, we can perfect the Bubblebeam appeal we were practicing this morning. and get some more appeal ideas for the Contest in a few days."

The teacher studied Kori for a moment. "If you plan to use Piplup in the Contest, you can choose to focus on Beauty or Cuteness. Having a unified theme for your appeals will help you score high."

"I have an appeal for Bubblebeam already..." Dawn mused.

"Bubblebeam is a Beautiful themed move, so it may be best to focus on Beautiful appeals this time." the teacher replied. "Let's go into the mock Contest Hall, and see what appeals you have..."

With that, Dawn and her teacher made their way into the elegantly decorated mock Contest Hall. But they did not see a purple frog-like Pokémon with orange cheeks eying them for a moment, intrigued.

---------

"All right, let's see your Bubblebeam appeal." the teacher began as Dawn stepped on a large wide platform meant to mimic a Contest Hall stage.

Dawn nodded. "Kori, use Bubblebeam!"

The teacher watched as Kori twirled about the room, spraying bubbles all the while. But her impressed look turned to worry when Kori hit the floor in exhaustion. "It is a good idea, but it's possible the spinning is too much for your Piplup. Luckily, there are many different ways you can create an appeal from a move."

She went on "Why don't we try an aerial approach, and have Kori rain down the bubbles from above?"

"Okay..." Dawn waited for Kori to collect herself. "Ready to try a new approach, Kori?"

[Oh, we're trying a new appeal?] Kori asked.

"A new twist on what we were practicing this morning--without the spinning." Dawn explained. "This time, I want you to use Bubblebeam from the air."

[Got it!] With that, Kori leaped into the air, heaving a whorl of sparkling bubbles around her as she fell to the ground.

"Yes!" Dawn cried. "That's what I wanted to see!"

The teacher applauded. "Nicely done! Practice this until your Piplup feels comfortable with spraying the bubbles from above. Then, you can incorporate props to better refine control and create interesting effects."

"Thank you." Dawn smiled.

"For now, let's continue practicing this appeal." the teacher instructed.

[That was actually easier than before!] Kori smiled as she hurried back into position...

---------

Ash gasped as Brock emerged from a dressing room. "Wow! Look at you!" he gasped as he admired the majestic purple, red, and gold minstrel's costume.

[You look like a minstrel from a fantasy land!] Tintri gasped, starry eyed at how beautiful Brock looked.

Dawn arrived in the backstage area and gasped at how beautiful Brock looked. "Oh my...how may I be of service, Sir Minstrel?" she asked as she bowed before Brock.

She did not expect the purple frog Pokémon from earlier to bound out before her. "Oh, ew!"

"What the...?" Brock gasped as the odd Pokémon leaped up to him. "Well, hello there!"

Ash, meanwhile, decided to read up on the purple frog Pokémon eying Brock:

"Croagunk, the toxic mouth Pokémon. Its cheeks hold poison sacs. It tries to catch foes off guard to jab them with toxic fingers."

"Interesting..." Ash mused before a yelp of pain got his attention. "Brock, you okay?"

"Yeah...our Croagunk visitor decided to jab me in the...sensitive areas...to show me it likes me?" Brock groaned, discretely rubbing where the Croagunk had jabbed him in pain.

He looked over at the Croagunk. "If you wanna come with me, you'll have to behave yourself...can you do that?"

The Croagunk nodded. "Okay..." Brock thought for a moment about what to name his new Croagunk. "I'll call you...Kage. How's that?"

The Croagunk let out a happy sigh, pleased with its new name. "Kage it is." Brock grinned, aware of the children's applause in the auditorium. "Can you stay back here while I go out and perform?"

He smiled when the Croagunk nodded. "Okay."

With that, he took his guitar and made his way onstage. After playing a relaxed melody to compose his thoughts, he started his planned tale. "A long time ago, in a land far away, there lived an old man and his wife who had three sons; the youngest of which was named Jack. One evening, as they were having dinner, the old man told the eldest brother that he believed his time to die was drawing near. As the eldest, he would inherit the house; but he had to be be good to his mother and brothers, too. The eldest brother agreed to this, helping himself to all the best parts as he spoke.

A sad melody quieted the nervous giggles. "A few months went by, and the father caught a terrible disease." Brock went on. "Despite the healers' best efforts, the disease ravaged him to the point where not even their strongest spell would do anything. They sent for his sons, so they could say their final farewells. After giving good advice to the two eldest, he turned to Jack. He told Jack that while he wasn't the sharpest tack in the drawer, his kind heart more than made up for it. He implored Jack to always listen to his heart, and the words of his mother and brothers."

Even Dawn couldn't help brushing away a tear as Brock continued the tale. "The old man clung to life for a few more days before joining Arceus in the heavens. The two elder brothers wept, but Jack remained by the bedside of his father, as if he were dead too. He finally got up, ran into the garden, hid himself in some trees, and cried."

Brock waited a moment for the sniffles to quiet, then started a happier song. "Not long after the funeral, the eldest brother and the middle brother agreed that they would go out into the world together to seek their fortunes. Jack, meanwhile, would stay home with their mother. Jack would have liked nothing better than to sit and dream by the fire. But the mother, who was very old herself, conceded that there was no work for him to do."

He went on "So the next morning, all three set out. The eldest brother and the middle brother carried two bags full of food, but Jack carried nothing. This made his brothers very angry, for the day was hot and the bags were heavy. About noon they sat down under a tree and began to eat. Jack was as hungry as they were, but he knew that it was no use asking for anything. In fact, this frustrated him so much, he couldn't help but cry."

"Aw"s fill the room as Brock continued "The eldest brother taunted Jack for being so lazy. Jack countered that they weren't doing any better by carrying every bit of food left in the house and leaving their mother to starve."

Laughter rippled through the auditorium as Brock went on "After an awkward silence, they offered their brother some of their food, and when they were done eating, they went on their way..."

To Be Continued...

 

Episode 8: Setting the World on its Buneary!

"RAAAUUUGGHHH!!!" Dawn screamed in frustration, sending Starlies fluttering off into the morning sun. "Why won't this stupid tangle come out????"

"What's the matter?" Ash peeked in Dawn's tent, where Dawn was struggling with a matted wad of hair. "Do you need any--!"

"I don't want any help right now, thanks." Dawn angrily muttered. "I've dealt with stubborn tangles before..."

"You may want to try washing it, then detangling it while it dries." Brock suggested as he cubed some potatoes for a hash brown casserole.

"But where am I gonna get a shower--!" Dawn started before she spotted Kori looking at her. "Oh, of course! I have my shower in Kori!"

She looked at Kori. "Kori, can you get my hair just wet enough for me to comb it?"

[Okay!] Kori replied, heaving a flurry of bubbles into the tent, allowing the troublesome tangle to come out.

Even Ash was impressed. "Well, that's one way to get rid of a tangle..."

"Oops..." Brock noticed the second potato he had intended to cut had rolled out of his hands and onto the ground, near where Kage was watching him cook. "Kage, may I have that back?"

[You want it? Come and get it!] With that, Kage heaved the potato into the air.

"I got it!" Ash called as he and Dawn raced to catch the falling potato. However, Ash only ended up tripping Dawn, sending them both tumbling down a hill!

Tintri leaped to catch the potato some moments later. [I got it.] he smiled as he watched his master and Dawn untangle themselves at the bottom of the hill.

"I'm okay!" Ash called back.

"Me too!" Dawn agreed. "Thank goodness my style wasn't ruined from that tumble!"

As Ash and Dawn started back up the hill, a small brown rabbit Pokémon watched from the brush. [That Pikachu was so brave...I've got to learn more about him!]

---------

"And voila!" Dawn smiled as she emerged from her tent a few moments later, all nice and neat.

She grinned. "If you like, I can do your hair up nice..."

"Uh, that's okay..." Ash stammered. "I'm okay with a quick brushing and my hat, thanks.

He did not expect Diddy to snatch his hat off his head. "Hey!"

[You want it? Come and get it!] Diddy chattered as he romped away.

"Oh, Diddy, not you too!" Ash groaned as he hurried off after his giggling Chimchar.

[Right behind ya!] Tintri used a Quick Attack to dash ahead, ramming into Diddy and sending Ash's hat flying.

"Good thinking..." Ash smiled as the hat landed on Tintri's face.

Some soft giggling snapped Ash to attention as he reclaimed his hat. "That Buneary again...wonder why it's interested in Tintri?" he mused as the Buneary dashed away.

---------

"...and right as I reclaimed my hat, I saw that Buneary again." Ash finished explaining what had happened over lunch. "It seems to be interested in Tintri, so the next time we spot it, I'm gonna catch it!"

"But I still need to catch a Pokémon, mainly for the Contest in a few days!" Dawn protested.

[Hate to interrupt your little debate...] Kage interjected. [But I think you might be interested in what's in the brush over there...] He gestured to a rustling bush not far from the group's campsite.

Ash and Dawn both balked as the Buneary they had both seen emerged from the brush. "That Buneary!" Dawn gasped.

"Follow that Buneary!" Ash motioned for Dawn to follow him into a nearby forest, making sure not to lose the Buneary.

"But what about the dishes...." Brock started, but Ash and Dawn were already gone.

[Let it go--this catch is important ta them, so they'll be back to help clean up soon enough.] Kage assured Brock.

---------

"Okay...Kori, attack Buneary with Bubblebeam!" Dawn commanded.

As Kori heaved a flurry of bubbles at the Buneary, Dawn watched in horror as the Buneary countered with a blue white beam. "What's that?"

"Ice Beam!" Ash called, moments before the cold beam left them both shivering.

"Br...I will admit, that would make a neat c-c-combo appeal if I ever get to use two Pokémon in a Contest." Dawn shivered as the frozen bubbles clattered to the ground. "Icy bubbles..."

She gasped as the Buneary knocked Kori senseless with a flurry of fists. "Kori!"

[Look, Dawn...FIVE Torchics!] Kori wheezed as she stumbled around the grass, Torchics spinning around her head.

"That Buneary seems to be trying to impress Tintri..." Ash mused. "But the more pressing matter is Kori's confusion..."

"Persim Berry to the rescue!" Brock announced as he arrived in the clearing with several deep pink berries. "They clear up confusion. Barring that, you can always swap a Pokémon out." he explained as he gave Kori one of the Berries.

"Since Kori's effectively out, I'll take a crack at this Buneary." Ash offered. "Ready, Tintri?"

[I am, but I don't think Miss Buneary is.] Tintri replied as the Buneary smiled cutely at him.

Ash growled a little as he grabbed a Poké Ball. "Let's see if I get it!"

But the Poké Ball went rolling away into the bush as the Buneary fired another Ice Beam. Talk about an icy personality..." Brock shivered as the Buneary and Tintri danced around, giggling at the frozen humans.

[Actually, she's not cold hearted at all!] Tintri smiled as the Buneary spun him around. [She's actually a real sweetheart.]

Dawn watched as the Buneary danced over to her. "You can dance all you want with my friend's Pikachu if you come with me."

This seemed to please the Buneary, so it nuzzled her as Dawn touched her with a Poké Ball. "Since it's very obviously a girl, any suggestions for names?" she asked as she let the Buneary out again.

"I have one--Lola." Brock suggested. "After Bugs Buneary's girlfriend. That, and she is very much a tomboy, like her namesake."

The Buneary squeaked in approval of the name. "All right...her name is Lola." Dawn smiled as Lola and Tintri danced across the grass. Ash joined in on his whistle some moments later, making a joyous reel ring through the forest as the sun set...

To Be Continued...

 

Episode 9: Not on MY Watch, Ya Don't!

Episode 9: Not on MY Watch, Ya Don't!

"Let's see...Fantasy Stage due to enchant Jubilife as well as the Contest..." Dawn mused as she paged through an issue of Shinou Today she had picked up at the Jubilife Pokémon Center. "Coordinator profiles...Poketch v. 2.0 rolls out today?"

"What is a Poketch?" Ash asked as the three friended rounded a corner onto one of Jubilife's main streets. "Is it like a PokeNav?"

Brock watched as a large video billboard started displaying an animated Poketch commercial. "Here we are..." Dawn mused as she arrived in the magazine's technology section. "Yes, it is a PokeNav that you wear like a watch. Since most every trainer in Shinou has one, I need to get one too!"

"Wait for us!" Ash protested as he hurried to catch up to Dawn.

---------

"What?" Dawn gasped in disbelief at the sign on the electronics shop's front window. "Currently sold out? After we came all this way, too..."

"New shipments won't arrive till Monday, as per the Pokebook page." Ash reported.

"Isn't there another store that has them?" Dawn pleaded as the group made their way down the street. "Does Pearlstone have them?"

"Nope--sold out." Brock reported.

"What about the Leppa store?"

"Sold out." Ash reported.

"You'd be better off getting a universally compatible Poketch." Brock cautioned. "If you get one from Leppa, you have to use Leppa branded stuff if it ever breaks."

"Good point." Dawn admitted. She thought for a moment. "What about Wonderaid, Apexi, or Corenite?"

"Nope, nope, and nope." Ash reported as he showed Dawn the Corenite page that displayed "We are currently sold out" under the Poketch 2.0.

"Not even Orinoco has it?" Dawn pleaded in desperation. "Orinoco has almost everything!"

Brock winced when he brought up Orinoco and searched for "poketch 2.0". "Hate to say it, but yes, even Orinoco is sold out."

"NOW where am I gonna find a Poketch?" Dawn screamed in frustration.

"We can try to find somewhere that has it over lunch." Brock suggested.

"How can you think of food in a time like this?" Dawn snapped.

She was snapped from her anger and frustration by the bleeps and bloops of an arcade. "Okay--you talked me into it." she grinned as she saw the menu of the snack bar inside. "Let's go get lunch, then vent my frustration a little."

---------

"Mm...that chili cheese dog was great!" Dawn smiled as the group departed the arcade snack bar some time later. "Now, what to play first..."

A machine with speakers and lights near the snack bar got her attention. "Dancing Star?"

"Not just Dancing Star, but Dancing Star Ace, the newest mix that combines a lot of past songs into one mix. Of course, there's some new stuff too." Ash replied as he jumped aboard the left dancing pad for player one and inserted two coins.

"No charge to join in!" the machine assured Dawn.

"Go for it, Dawn!" Brock coaxed. "I can give you a few tips."

"Okay..." Dawn hesitantly stepped aboard the right pad and inserted two coins.

"Now--each pad has its own game, so what Ash is doing on his won't affect you." Brock explained. "It's best to start on Light mode, although some songs will have a Beginner mode available too."

Once Dawn had selected Light mode, she was impressed by the massive song list. "Whoa..."

"In picking a song, how hard they are are measured in feet." Brock explained. "If you're starting out, one or two feet should be okay, three or even four if you're feeling confident."

"Okay..." Dawn replied as she perused the song list, grateful there was no time limit in picking a song.

"When you have a song picked, you'll see a line of blinking arrows at the top of the screen." Brock explained. As the song plays, you'll see differently colored arrows rising up to meet the blinking arrows. When the colored arrows reach the line of blinking arrows, touch the corresponding arrow on the pad with your foot. It might seem natural to return your feet to the middle of the pad; but this will slow you down once you go on to harder songs. You will not lose points for stepping when there is no arrow, you only lose points for missing an arrow."

"I think I get it..." Dawn replied as she landed on the song "Hero". "I'll try this one first."

"Good choice." Brock smiled as he watched the song begin on both screens--Ash playing Standard mode, and Dawn playing on Light mode...

---------

A-la-di-da-da, you are my hero.... Dawn sang as she danced down the street some time later. <i>A-la-de-da-da, ohhhh...[/i]

She was snapped from her song by a large crowd gathered around a trio of clowns. "Poketches! They're giving away Poketches!" she cried as she watched people hurry off with large cards.

After working her way through the crowd, Dawn asked one of the clowns "May I please have a Poketch?"

"Sure! If you guys can find all the other clowns and answer all their trivia questions to complete a stamp card, you'll all get one!" the clown replied as he gave Dawn a large card with seven locations for jewel shaped stamps.

"Remember that they could be anywhere in the city, but they won't be in a building." the second clown cautioned as he gave a family a stamp card.

"Here's your first question..." the third clown began. "What component of herbal medicine can also start a cooking fire?"

"Charcoal!" Dawn smiled.

"That's correct!" the clown smiled as he made a red stamp on the first space. "Now, go find the others!"

---------

After weaving down the main drag, the group arrived in the city park. "There he is!" Ash spotted a clown near the park square, waving and doing simple magic tricks to get people's attention.

"You found me!" the clown smiled as the group approached. "Riddle me this...which Pokémon is sometimes known to throw two Iron Balls to intimidate opponents?"

"It's obviously a Fighting type..." Dawn mused. "Lucario, perhaps?"

"Nah, probably one of the Machop family..." Ash mused.

"Good idea!" Brock agreed before telling the clown "We're gonna take a wild guess and say Machamp."

"Your wild guess is correct!" the clown announced.

"I never would've thought of that..." Dawn confessed as the clown stamped their card.

---------

"Clown ahoy!" Dawn pointed out a third clown near the Jubilife TV plaza.

"Put on your thinking caps, then!" the clown giggled. "What ability originated in the Trading Card Game before being confirmed as a real life ability?"

Dawn looked over at Ash. "I have no idea...care to wager a guess, Ash?"

"I know what it is!" Ash cried. "I'm gonna guess Poison Point."

"Good guess, because that's correct!" the clown announced as Ash handed over the card to receive a yellow stamp.

---------

"You'd think the questions would be easier..." Dawn mused as the group hurried down a street overlooking a large building with a large spinning globe statue. "What's that place?"

"According to my guidebook, that is the Global Trading Station, or GTS for short." Brock explained as the group approached the building. "People come from all over the world to trade and battle Pokémon."

"There's a clown!" Ash interrupted, pointing out a clown in the GTS plaza dancing to the music from the outdoor intercoms.

"Nice work finding me!" the clown giggled. "Here's your question--what are the ranks of Contests named for?"

"Poke Balls!" Dawn confidently answered.

"You're absolutely correct!" the clown replied as she gave the group their fourth stamp.

---------

As the group returned to the town square, Ash found a clown dancing to the music coming from a shop. "There!"

"Get ready, cause here's your next question!" the clown giggled. "What Nintendo accessory was originally meant to read Trading Card Game cards?"

"Ooh, that's a toughie..." Even Brock was stumped.

"Wasn't that the e-Reader?" Ash wondered.

"Yes!" the clown smiled as she accepted the group's card. "You're so close to a Poketch--only two more stamps to go!"

"Thanks!" Dawn called.

----------

The group arrived by the Trainer's School to find a clown playing with the younger students. "You found me!" he grinned as the group approached. "Here's your question. Which group of Legendary Pokémon were the mascots for the Neo Revelation expansion of the Trading Card Game?"

"No clue--never played the TCG." Dawn sighed.

"The Legendary Beasts!" Ash grinned.

Dawn gasped in awe. "How'd you know?" she asked as Brock gave the clown their card to stamp.

"Both Brock and me like playing the TCG." Ash explained.

"We can teach you how to play, if you like." Brock mused before checking his map of the city. "Okay...we've hit all the major landmarks in town except for the Contest Hall..."

"The last clown has to be there!" Dawn suggested as she lead the way down the street.

---------

As the group approached the Contest Plaza; Dawn spotted the the seventh clown passing out Poketches to those with completed cards. "There!"

"You're almost done!" the clown smiled as she inspected the group's card. "Here's your last question...what is Bronzor is able to do, even though it can't technically learn the move?"

"Hm..." Dawn thought for a moment as Ash showed her a picture of a Bronzor on the Pokédex. "Teleportation, maybe?"

"That's absolutely correct!" the clown called as she gave the group their final stamp with a flourish. "And with that, you've got yourselves the brand new Poketch 2.0!"

But as the clown tied on the watch-like device to Dawn, the group was unaware of two shadows in the bushes watching them...

To Be Continued...

 

Episode 10: Mastering a Coordinated Assault

As crowds began filling into the Contest Hall the next day, they did not notice a red haired woman and a purple haired woman in futuristic silver, white, and black garb watching them from behind a small grove of trees. "Admin Mars to Supreme Leader Cyrus, we are here in Jubilife City now." the red haired woman said into a watch-like communicator on her left arm.

"Excellent--remember that your only goal for now is to observe in the city, and find any threats to our goal of a new world." an older male voice crackled back through Mars' communicator. "It would be wise for you and Jupiter to have a disguise to avoid detection."

"We already have disguises and some alter egos in mind." the purple haired woman assured the image of a blue haired man on the tiny communicator screen. "Mars is going undercover as a Coordinator, and I'm going undercover as a Loremistress."

"A wise choice. Jubilife has its own Contest Hall, and the Fantasy Stage is often held in conjunction with Contests." the man explained. "So you should have no trouble blending in."

He added. "In case you do find threats to our plan, you have my permission to pursue them, if they manage to outwit you or get away."

"Understood, boss--Mars out." Mars replied before her transmission ended. "Well, let's get into our alter egos' costumes."

"Here's mine..." Jupiter paused to dig out a majestic white, blue, purple and green minstrel's costume from a plastic bag.

"And here's mine." Mars showed her partner a lovely red and white costume with silver diamond patterns. "If you look at it at the right angle, the diamonds form Mars symbols."

"Very clever." Jupiter smiled before ducking into a comfort station to change.

Once both admins emerged in their costumes, Mars told Jupiter "Remember--my alter ego's name is Marta Bryant."

"Haven't thought of a last name for mine yet, but my alter ego's first name is Juno." Jupiter replied. "Let's move out."

With that, both admins went their separate ways. Mars hurried into the Contest Hall, and Jupiter towards the outdoor theater where the Fantasy Stage was taking place.

---------

Meanwhile, in the Pokémon Center, Dawn emerged from a dressing room. She finished tying a pink ribbon in her hair, then addressed the boys. "What do you think?" she asked as she revealed the pink gown she wore to the boys and Tintri.

"Wow!" Ash cried, impressed at Dawn's look.

"You look beautiful!" Brock smiled.

"Can you turn a little bit for me?" the image of Joanna on a nearby videophone requested.

Dawn nodded, and performed an elegant twirl before the videophone. "Thanks so much for rushing this costume here, Mom." she began.

"You're welcome, sweetie pie." Joanna replied before noticing something. "Although, I see you're missing the matching choker."

Dawn felt around her neck and discovered nothing was there. "That's funny...it was there when I took it out of the box..."

A meow got her attention. "Opal?" she gasped as a Glameow approached the group.

"Opal?" Ash asked, intrigued in the gray cat Pokémon with a coiled tail.

"My pet Glameow at home." Dawn explained. "But this one's a bit darker compared to Opal."

Piqued, Ash read up on the gray cat Pokémon:

"Glameow, the catty Pokémon. When it's happy, it demonstrates beautiful movements of its tail, like a dancing ribbon."

He smiled as the Glameow swished its tail before Dawn. "Well! Seems this Glameow found your choker." Joanna smiled as Dawn took the tourmaline choker from the Glameow's tail.

"Can you tell me where your master is, so I can thank them?" Dawn asked the Glameow.

The Glameow looked up and meowed as a girl with a pair of sunglasses perched in her short wavy hair arrived. "Oh, you found the choker's owner, Sylvie?" she asked as she brushed some sandwich crumbs from her shirt and vest.

"Yes--that choker was mine." Dawn replied as she put it on. "Thank you..." She realized she had not asked the girl her name.

"Name's Zoey." the girl smiled. "...and my partner, Sylvie." she added, petting the Glameow. "Sylvie found that choker on the floor last night, and you were the only one wearing anything that would go with it."

"Thanks for finding it, Zoey." Dawn smiled. She wanted to get to know Zoey more, but balked when she saw both Zoey and Sylvie had departed.

"Don't worry--you'll get a chance to see her again." Joanna assured Dawn. "Good luck in the Contest!"

It dawned on Ash that if the Contest and the Fantasy Stage were taking place at the same time. I can't be in two places at once...

"How am I gonna cheer both you and Brock on if both events are happening at the same time?" he asked.

"If you need to miss one of the events to see Brock, I'll understand." Dawn replied.

"Well, I'm on after this lady named Juno, and then Nando is on after me." Brock replied.

"So if you time it right, the Dance part of the contest should be over or be close to ending." Dawn explained. "Let's go!"

---------

..."Entry number J-495901--Dawn Solberg and Kori!" the emcee announced as Dawn and Kori emerged from the entry tunnel for the parade of contestants. "Dawn is the daughter of legendary Coordinator Joanna Solberg. It will be exciting to see how she carries on the family legacy!"

In the stands, Ash looked over the other contestants. "Okay, we have Marta, who has a Bronzor..." he mused as the disguised Mars passed by the left end of the stands. "Some guy with a Mightyena..." he mused as the second contestant passed by. "Zoey, from earlier..." he noted as Zoey, now in an elegant pantsuit, walked by with Sylvie. "...and Dawn." He waved as Dawn passed by.

Once all four contestants had returned, the emcee explained the rules of the Visual competition. "Our first event today is the Visual competition. In the dressing rooms, where you'll find a fashion case filled with a hundred random accessories. Your job is to choose up to five of them that creates a coherent look based on a theme in sixty seconds."

He added "The order that you finish here will determine the order for the next event."

Once sure the four contestants had no questions, he revealed the theme. "You're aiming for a colorful look this time."

---------

"Colorful, huh?" Dawn mused as she opened the fashion case. She balked at the various puffballs, feathers, jewels, scales, and other trinkets inside. "How am I supposed to get a coherent look out of this?"

Her heart raced when she saw a clock in the room blip to life with sixty seconds. "Ready...set...GO!" she heard the emcee say.

[No one told me we were being timed!] Kori panicked as she watched the numbers tick away on the clock.

"Come here, Kori...I have an idea." Dawn motioned for Kori to come to her. She then proceeded to stick a blue puffball near Kori's head, some white ones near her stomach, and some blue ones on her fins. "There..."

[I look like a clown...] Kori sighed as the clock expired.

"Well, a clown is colorful, right?" Dawn assured Kori as she watched the crowd ooh and ah over Mars' glittering Bronzor. "This Marta girl knows what she's doing."

[Zoey's not too shabby herself.] Kori smiled as Zoey emerged from the dressing room next to her, the jewels in Sylvie's fur glittering in the lights.

"Next is Kori!" she heard the emcee announce, to laughter and "aw"s over Kori's look when she emerged from the dressing room.

[Not bad for her first try.] Tintri smiled as Kori posed cutely for the judges.

"Yeah...she'll get better at this the more Contests she competes in." Ash agreed.

---------

Awed chatter filled the hall as a large black platform with lights and smoke jets around it rose up from the floor. "Wow...I can't believe they were able to put that beneath the floor..." Ash gasped, amazed at the platform's size.

[Looks like a Dancing Star platform turned up to 11...] Tintri was equally impressed.

"Next is the Dance competition." the emcee explained. "Before you is the Bailatron, a state of the art dancing platform inspired by video games such as Dancing Star. But rather than stomping on pre-determined arrows to the beat, you'll be making up your own steps."

This got the crowd excited. "The order our contestants will dance in is determined by how well they did in the Visual competition."

He reminded the coordinators "Remember, the Bailatron will record every stumble and fall, too. Mess up too often, and you're out of competition."

He then told the audience. "Let's give our coordinators a minute to choose the songs they will dance to..."

---------

"Hm..." Dawn mused as she perused the massive song list. Every so often, she glanced at the screen displaying what was going on in the Contest Hall. "What song would Kori like most..."

The familiar introduction of the Macarena and the crowd cheering snapped her to attention. [I didn't know the Macarena was a Dancing Star song!] Kori gasped. On the screen, hundreds of people did the classic dance in the stands as Mars' Bronzor spun, whirled and warped about the platform in time to the pounding beat.

"It's on some of the console versions, most famously on 'Dancing Star Disney Beat'." Dawn explained. She stiffed a giggle at Ash and Tintri doing the dance in the stands before turning her attention to the music player holding the song list.

She smiled as the Bailatron reset for Sylvie to dance. "Wonder what Zoey picked for Sylvie to dance to?"

A blaring rock melody answered her question. The crowd roared as Sylvie elegantly twisted and jumped across the platform. Granted, she didn't understand a word of the Japanese lyrics, but Sylvie looked like she was having the time of her life grooving to the beat.

[Dawn...] Kori whispered. [May I have the song selector? I know exactly what I want to dance to!]

"Here." Dawn handed Kori the song selector. "What song do you want to dance to?"

Kori smiled as she showed Dawn the song she had picked--"Hero". [I want to dance to "Hero"--you did great on that song on the Dancing Star machine yesterday.]

"Okay...you can dance to 'Hero'." Dawn assured Kori as she watched Sylvie strike a confident pose as her song ended...

---------

"Dawn's up next..." Ash mused as the Bailatron rest for Kori's performance. "Although Sylvie did great with 'Break Down'..."

[Come on, Kori!] Tintri called as Kori hopped aboard the platform. Ash whistled in encouragement as the lights dimmed, signalling Kori's performance was about to begin.

Kori struck a cute pose, then skipped and twirled across the platform in time to the song...

In the middle of the night my hero comes to rescue.
He's so fine, I'm gonna make him mine.
He's sincere, I know his heart is beating
just for me, only for me.

But at the break of dawn he is gone.... Kori posed in time to the singer on the phrase "he is gone."

The wind has carried him awa-a-a-y... Kori did a graceful aerial twirl at this line.
And like a comet on the sky
he will return someday!

[Kori's doing great down there!] Tintri smiled. He watched as Kori twirled and swayed through the rainbow lights whorling around her.

"I think I know why Dawn picked that song..." Ash smiled. "She wanted to evoke our own dancing to it on the Dancing Star machine yesterday." He let that hang as he returned to watching Kori, who was enthralled by jumping, twisting, and twirling through the wave of rainbow lights around her...

A-la-di-da-da
You are my hero.
A-la-di-da-da
Ohhhh..
A-la-di-da-da
You are my hero.
A-la-di-da-da
Ohhhh..
A-la-di-da-da
You are my hero.
A-la-di-da-da...

The crowd roared as Kori struck a triumphant pose at the song's end. [Way to go, Kori!] Tintri called as he applauded. Kori took an exhausted bow for the cheering crowd, then hurried off to reunite with Dawn.

Ash was stunned as Kori's results appeared on the leaderboard. "Wow! Kori's the best one so far!"

[She even beat Sylvie.] Tintri agreed.

With the lull in the competition, Ash motioned for Tintri to follow him to the exit. "Come on, bud--let's go see how Brock is doing in his Fantasy Stage debut so far."

To Be Continued...

 

Episode 11: Arrival of a Rival!


"...It was only then that she revealed herself as the shining Goldeen!" Jupiter--in a white, blue, purple, and green costume--concluded her tale. She took a bow for the cheering crowd, just as Ash and Tintri arrived in the outdoor theater.

Tintri noticed Brock was next to perform. [We made it just in time--Brock's about to tell!] he smiled. He watched as Brock--now in his costume--stepped onto the large round stage.

"Number K-42207, telling 'The Rescue of Princess Daisy'. an announcer told the crowd. Brock, meanwhile, took a few breaths to ease the Beautiflies in his stomach.

After he saw the cue to begin, Brock started his tale. "Once a young prince named Lucas was riding through a meadow. The meadow stretched for miles as far as the eye could see, until he came to a deep ditch. He was turning to avoid it, when he heard someone crying for help in the ditch. He dismounted from his Ponyta, and hurried in the direction the sound came from."

Concerned murmurs wafted through the crowd as Brock went on. "To his astonishment he found an old woman, who begged him to help her out of the ditch. So Prince Lucas bent down and lifted her out of the ditch, asking her how she had managed to fall in to begin with."

"My son, I am very poor, and not long after midnight I set out for town to sell my eggs in the marketplace. I lost my way in the dark, and fell into this deep ditch, where I would remain forever if it were not for your kindness." he explains in character as the old woman.

"You can hardly walk; I will put you on my Ponyta and lead you home. Where do you live?" he asks in a mimic of Ash for Prince Lucas.

Tintri grinned at the real Ash. [Brock mimicking you has yet to get old!]

"I'm still amazed he learned my voice in a single day." Ash grinned. He giggled as he savored the memory of Misty's shocked face when Brock mimicked his voice for the first time.

"Prince Lucas lifted her onto his Ponyta, and soon they reached the hut." Brock goes on. "The old woman dismounted, and said to Prince Lucas..."

"Wait a moment, and I will give you something." he instructs as the old woman.

He narrates as himself. "She disappeared into her hut, but returned and said..."

"You are a mighty prince, but at the same time you have a kind heart, which deserves a reward." he explains as the old woman. "Would you like to have the most beautiful woman in the world for your wife?"

"Would I ever!" he cries as Prince Lucas, to the delight of the crowd.

"The most beautiful woman in the whole world is Daisy, the daughter of Rosa, the Queen of the Flowers. She has been captured by a Hydreigon." Brock explains in character as the old woman. "If you wish to marry her, you must first set her free, and I will help you do this. I will give you these three magic jewels: if you sing 'Karuto, iichiida shou...' to the emerald, Arashi, the King of the Braviaries will appear. If you sing 'Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul...' to the ruby, the holy Delphox Kitsune will come to you. If you sing 'Rou iitsa ron selga vichii' to the sapphire, you will see Undine, the Queen of the Sea, by your side. They will help you if you are in any danger. Now farewell, and may Arceus' favor be on your undertaking."

[Spellsongs!] Tintri sparked in excitement.

"Yeah, those are easily my favorite parts of a tale." Ash smiled.

Brock shows three prop jewels to the crowd. "So she handed him the three jewels, and the hut and everything around it disappeared, as if it was a mirage. It dawned on Prince Lucas that he had been speaking to a light fairy in disguise."

"Oh"s go up at this. "After putting the three magic jewels in his pocket, he rode home and told his father the king that he planned to set the daughter of the Flower Queen free." Brock explains. "He intended on setting out the following day in search of the maiden."

He continues "So the next morning, Prince Lucas mounted his fine Ponyta and left home. He roamed around the world for a year..."

He looks up at Ash and smiles. "The adventures he had during that time are stories in themselves."

Giggles ripple through the theater at this. "...but he had found no trace of her at all." Brock continues. He came at last to a hut, where a very old man lived, and asked him..."

"Do you know where the Hydreigon lives who keeps Princess Daisy prisoner?" he asks as Prince Lucas.

"The Hydreigon lives there on the mountain, and he has begun his year of sleep." he explains in a gentle older voice for the old man. "For a year he is always awake, and the next year he sleeps. But if you wish to see Princess Daisy, go up the second mountain. The Hydreigon queen lives there. She has a party every night, and Princess Daisy attends them often."

As himself, Brock continues "So Prince Lucas went up the second mountain. At the peak, he found a castle made of gold with diamond windows. He was about to walk in when seven Hydreigons ambushed him and asked him what he wanted."

"I have heard so much of the beauty and kindness of the Hydreigon queen, and would like to enter her service." he explains as Prince Lucas.

"Well, you may come with me, and I will take you to the queen." he replies in a guttural voice for the Hydreigon.

As himself, he continues "They entered the castle and walked through twelve rooms, all made of gold and diamonds. In the twelfth room they found the Hydreigon queen sitting on a diamond throne. She was the biggest and ugliest dragon Pokémon under the sun, and larger than her seven attendants put together. Her appearance was an understandable shock to Prince Lucas, and so was her voice, which was like the croaking of many Murkrows all at once. She asked him..."

"Why have you come here?" he asks in a Murkrow-like voice for the Hydreigon queen.

"I have heard so much of your beauty and kindness, that I would very much like to enter your service." he replies as Prince Lucas.

"Very well, but if you wish to enter my service, you must first lead my Rapidash out to the meadow and look after her for three days." he replies as the Hydreigon queen. "But if you don't bring her home safely every evening, we will eat you for dinner."

The crowd shudders at this. "Prince Lucas agreed, and led the Rapidash out to the meadow." Brock continues. "But no sooner had they reached the grass, she vanished. Prince Lucas looked everywhere for her in vain. He finally sat down on a big stone and contemplated his grisly fate. As he sat there lost in thought, he heard a Braviary cry off in the distance."

He shows the crowd the prop emerald. "Then he remembered the three magic jewels, and taking the emerald out of his pocket he sang..."

He then sings as Prince Lucas Karuto, iichiida shou.... The crowd whispers with excitement as the prop emerald glows in response to his voice.

As himself, Brock narrates "The emerald glowed, and he heard a mighty rushing wind. In moments Arashi, the King of the Braviaries, landed at his feet.

"I know what you want of me." he assures the crowd in a strong voice for Arashi. "You are looking for the Hydreigon queen's Rapidash, who is galloping about among the clouds. I will call all the Braviaries of the air together, and order them to catch the Rapidash and bring her to you."

As himself, Brock continues "With that, Arashi flew away. That evening, Prince Lucas heard a mighty windstorm. When he looked up he saw thousands of Braviaries driving the Rapidash before them. They all landed before him and gave the Rapidash over to him. Prince Lucas returned to the Hydreigon queen, and told her that his task was complete. The queen was stunned when she saw him, and invited him to that night's party. She gave him a cloak made of gold, and led him to a huge room where millions of dragon Pokémon were dancing together. But the only human there, it seemed, was Princess Daisy."

He continues "Her yellow and orange dress was woven out of the most beautiful flowers in the world. Her face shone like the dawn. As Prince Lucas was dancing with her, he managed to whisper..."

"I have come to set you free!" he whispers in character as Prince Lucas.

"If you succeed in bringing the Rapidash back on the third day, ask the Hydreigon queen to give you the Rapidash's shining foal as a reward." he replies in a mimic of Dawn for Princess Daisy.

As himself, Brock continues "The party ended at midnight, and early the next morning Prince Lucas led the Hydreigon queen's Rapidash out into the meadow..."

---------

Number S-50396, telling 'The Minstrel Queen'. the announcer explained as Nando took his place on the stage some time later.

[Brock did great!] Tintri raved.

"He usually does, but what's Nando's telling style like?" Ash asked as Nando took his harp and played a gentle melody to compose his thoughts.

"Once upon a time, there lived a king and queen who lived happily and comfortably together." Nando began, playing a soft melody to go with his words. "They were very fond of each other and had nothing to worry them, but eventually the king grew bored. He longed to go out into the world, try his strength in battle against some enemy, and win all kinds of honor and glory--although not necessarily in that order."

Ash chuckled at Nando's quip. "So he called his army together, and told them they were going to a distant land. There a king ruled who mistreated or tormented anyone and everyone he could get his hands on." Nando continued. "The king gave his parting orders and advice to his ministers, bid his queen farewell, and set off with his army across the sea."

Some in the crowd clapped along to the harp's adventurous melody. "Whether the voyage was short or long, I don't know; but at last he reached the realm of the young king. He marched on, defeating all who stood in his way." Nando went on. "Before long, he came to a mountain pass, where a large army was waiting for him in an ambush. What soldiers that did not flee were either captured or killed, and the brave king was taken captive."

[Oh no!] Tintri gasped.

"He was carried to the prison where the young king kept his captives. Saying the conditions were harsh is putting it nicely." Nando sighed over a sad melody. "The prisoners were chained up all night, and in the morning they were yoked together like Tauros and had to plow the land until dark."

"That's not very nice!" someone gasped.

"This went on for three years before the king found any means of sending news of what had happened to his dear queen." Nando continued. "He somehow managed to send a letter asking her to sell off everything they owned, in hopes that would be enough of a ransom to set him free."

He next started a hopeful melody. "The queen received the letter, read it, and wept as she said to herself, ‘How can I rescue my husband? If I go myself and the young king sees me, he will take me to be one of his harem. If I were to send one of the ministers...I hardly know if I can depend on them."

As the last chord fades, Nando interjects "She thought, and thought, and thought some more...until an idea came into her head."

Ash giggled at the high note Nando played to simulate an idea lightbulb. "She cut her hair to resemble a boy's hairstyle and dressed herself in a minstrel's clothes. Then she took her favorite harp and without saying anything to anyone, she went forth into the world."

He started a "traveling" melody for effect. "She traveled through many lands, saw many cities, and went through many hardships before she got to the place where the brash young king lived. But that is a story in itself. When she got there, she walked all around the palace and at the back she saw the prison. She went into the great court in front of the palace, and taking her harp in her arms, she began to play all manner of beautiful melodies. All who heard her felt as though they could never hear enough."

[Pretty!] Tintri smiled as Nando played a beautiful dance for effect.

"After she had played for some time, she began to sing the following..." Nando began before singing for the crowd:

I come from my own country far
Into this foreign land,
Of all I own I take alone,
My harp in my hand.

Oh! Who will thank me for my song,
Reward my simple lay?
Like lover’s sighs it still will rise
To greet thee day by day.

I sing of blooming flowers
Made sweet by sun and rain;
Of all the bliss of love’s first kiss,
And parting’s cruel pain.

Of the sad captive’s longing
Within his prison wall,
Of hearts that sigh when none are nigh
To answer to their call.

My song begs for your pity,
And gifts from out your store,
And as I play my gentle lay
I linger near your door.

And if you hear my singing
Within your palace, sire,
Oh give, I pray, this happy day,
To me my heart’s desire....

---------

..."The queen took the short way home, got there before the king, and changed back into her royal robes." Nando continued his tale. "An hour later, all the court was celebrating the king's return. The king greeted everyone very kindly, but he would not so much as look at the queen. But then another problem arose--the court had feared the worst for the queen, and no one knew where she was."

He assured the antsy crowd "Whilst the king was debating with his council, the queen found time to disguise herself. She took her harp again, and slipping into the court in front of the palace she sang the following, clear and sweet..."

I sing the captive’s longing
Within his prison wall,
Of hearts that sigh when none are nigh
To answer to their call.

My song begs for your pity,
And gifts from out your store,
And as I play my gentle lay I linger near your door.

And if you hear my singing
Within your palace, sire,
Oh give, I pray, this happy day,
To me my heart’s desire.

The crowd applauds the song's end. "As soon as the king heard this song, he figured out that the minstrel that had rescued him was his queen!" Nando announced, to more cheers.

He smiled at the enthralled crowd. "Who can tell how happy the king was? In the joy of his heart he gave a great feast to the world, and the whole world came and rejoiced with him for at least a week."

The crowd roared as Nando took a bow, but Ash was shocked to see that Nando had beaten Brock. While Brock's bar was three fourths of the way across, Nando's stretched across the entire scoreboard. Wow! Nando wasn't kidding when he said he's performed for years!

---------

"So, how was the Contest?" Brock asked as the group reunited in the Pokémon Center that evening.

"After Kori made a strong showing in the Dance competition, Zoey edged me in the Appeal round with all these cool combos." Dawn explained. "The finale being this quick Double Team and Quick Attack combo that electrified the audience."

"Wow...I have my work cut out for me in beating Nando." Brock sighed. "He wasn't kidding when he said he was a pro."

He smiled. "Although, he was nice enough to let me learn the story he told." he assured his companions as he unfurled a piece of paper filled with Nando's elegant writing.

"'The Minstrel Queen'...sounds interesting." Dawn mused.

"Well, I will say you both did a great job, even if you lost." Ash assured his companions. "Every trainer, coordinator, and loremaster had to start somewhere..."

"Thanks." Dawn smiled. "Mom didn't win all her prizes and awards overnight--I only have to work hard and come up with creative appeals."

"I didn't become a master storyteller overnight, either." Brock agreed. "It still is a lot of work learning new songs and new stories."

He looked over at Ash. "You still have your competition left...our next stop is Oreburgh City and your first badge."

"Whatever happens on our roads to glory, let's face both the highs of victory and the lows of defeat together!" Dawn vowed.

"Yeah...and no great hero--or heroine--ever fought alone." Brock smiled.

To Be Continued...

 

Episode 12a: A Staravia is Born! (part 1)

The wind rustled as Estrella dove down into a clearing somewhere in a forest. "Estrella, use Aerial Ace!" Ash's voice echoed as the small bird Pokémon trained her eyes on a target hanging from a tree.

"Eh-streh-yah!" came Brock's voice, breaking Estrella's concentration on the attack!

[Uh oh!] Estrella cried when she realized she was too low to hit the target.

"Pull up, Estrella!" Ash called, hoping all the while his Starly would have time to avoid a crash.

"Eh-streh-yah!" Brock corrected him as Estrella crash-landed in the brush.

Dawn was first to arrive, with the boys not far behind. "You were lucky Estrella didn't crash into that tree." Dawn assured Ash.

[Yes, better the brush than that tree.] Estrella agreed as she eased herself to her feet. [But now my left leg hurts...]

Brock examined the tiny gash on Estrella's left leg. "The good news is, it's a minor injury. A little medicine on the wound and a Band-Aid and we're good to go."

"I've got the first aid kit!" Dawn volunteered as she set down a white box and set out some ointment and the Band-Aids.

"We still need to do some more practice on Aerial Ace." Ash mused as Brock cleaned and dressed Estrella's wound.

"Once her wound heals, you can do all the practicing you want." Brock replied. "Preferably away from thorns and burs."

Some rustling in the brush snapped Ash to attention. "Who's there? Friend or foe?"

A lavender haired girl in the familiar red garb and wide brimmed hat of a ranger stepped from the bush. "Friend, traveler." she assured Ash. "Is everything all right?"

"Uh, yeah--my Starly and I were practicing Aerial Ace and she went at the target too low." Ash explained. "I'm Ash, by the way, and my companions, Dawn and Brock."

"Hi!" Dawn smiled. "Nice to meet you."

Ash facepalmed as Brock approached the girl, guitar in hand. "Judging from your attire, you must be a ranger!" he smiled before playing an expectant D chord. "Allow me to sing a little ditty chronicling your exploits!"

[Save it for the stage, Mr. Teen Idol!] Kage scolded after jabbing Brock in the sensitive areas.

The girl laughed at Brock's pained look. "While it would be nice to have a sing-along, it can wait for the campfire at the end of the day."

Then it occurred to her she had not introduced herself. "Oh, listen to me chattering on like a Starly and forgetting my manners! My name's Rosebay, of the Midori Forest Research Corps. Part of our job is to observe, document, and research Pokémon activity in the forest.

"So, what are you researching now?" Dawn wondered.

"At the moment, I'm documenting nest activity." Rosebay explained as she motioned for the group to follow her. If you need any pocket money for your travels, you're welcome to volunteer!"

---------

"Right there..." Rosebay pointed out a Swablu nest in the distance. "...is a nest I've been observing. A pair of Swablus made that nest a few weeks ago. Since Swablu are non-native Pokémon, it is in our best interest to observe them."

"That makes sense--wouldn't want to damage the natural ecosystem." Ash grinned.

"That's right." Rosebay agreed before offering Ash a pair of binoculars. "Here--you may have a look at the nest."

"Let's see..." Ash took the binoculars. "I think I see five eggs in there, but no mama or daddy Swablu."

"Let me see!" Dawn pleaded.

After accepting the binoculars from Ash, she too observed the nest. "Well made, five eggs, but no mom or dad anywhere!"

"That's strange...usually one or both parents are at the nest by now." Rosebay mused. "This may tie into the missing Hoothoot colony last week, and an alarming decrease in overall activity..."

"If you want, we can help solve this mystery for you." Ash offered.

"Of course--maybe an outside pair of eyes may catch a clue we missed." Rosebay suggested. "I'll give you all some pocket money as a reward."

Ash heaved a Poké Ball skyward. "Come on out, Estrella!"

"Eh-streh-yah!" Brock corrected Ash as the Starly flitted on Ash's shoulder.

"Can you do a flyover of the area and see what bird Pokémon you can find?" Ash asked Estrella. "Or any clues about why they're disappearing?"

[You got it!] Estrella chirped as she fluttered off into the sky.

When Estrella returned some time later, she reported. [No sign of any birds anywhere! Or who could be taking them!]

Ash sighed. "You leg holding up okay?" he asked, aware of the bandage on Estrella's left leg.

[Yeah...] Estrella replied.

"Could you do a second flyover to be sure you didn't miss anything?" Dawn requested.

[Okay!] With that, Estrella fluttered away again...

---------

Meanwhile, four Swellow squawked in surprise as they flew into a large net. "It was a good idea to put a trap here, as all the bird Pokémon in the forest come through the valley." Jupiter mused. She studied the two admins' latest catch for a moment. "Okay, these will do." With that, the net deposited the captured blue, red, and white bird Pokémon into some cages.

"Remind me how this can help Team Galactic?" Mars asked, unimpressed. "What does collecting bird Pokémon have to do with creating another world?"

"It's as Lord Cyrus says--we need a lot of energy to form a new world, and many bird Pokémon have a lot of energy." Jupiter explained. "So every Pokémon helps. The ones we can use, we keep, and we let the rest go."

"Makes sense..." Mars mused as three more Swellow and Estrella landed in the net.

She noticed the bandage on Estrella. "You sure you want to keep this one? It's been wounded..."

"Yes, I want to keep it." Jupiter replied as she analyzed the energy counts of their latest catch. "Wound or not, its energy level is through the roof!"

---------

"What's taking so long?" Ash wondered as he paced the grass. "Estrella should've been back by now..."

"Maybe she got lost?" Brock suggested.

All the bird Pokémon use the valley path, so it's possible that your Starly and the other Pokémon are there." Rosebay suggested.

"Come on!" Ash led the way down the hill. "Estrella might be in trouble!"

To Be Continued...

 

Episode 12b: A Staravia is Born! (part 2)

Previously, on "Pokémon Shine Diamond"...

"What's taking so long?" Ash wondered as he paced the grass. "Estrella should've been back by now..."

"Maybe she got lost?" Brock suggested.

"All the bird Pokémon use the valley path, so it's possible that your Starly and the other Pokémon are there." Rosebay suggested.

"Come on!" Ash led the way down the hill. "Estrella might be in trouble!"

Meanwhile, Estrella waved a wing at another cage, where a Hoothoot sulked. [Hey...]

[Hm?] the Hoothoot looked up. [Who are you?]

[A fellow captive.] Estrella explained. [Only, I have a master.]

[Really? Wouldn't he--or she--be worried sick about you?] the Hoothoot wondered. [If I had a human master, they would likely worry.]

[I know my master and his friends are coming to save us all.] Estrella smiled. [But for now, I may have an idea on how to get out of here...]

---------

"Okay...out of all the bird Pokémon we have thus far, which ones do you think Cyrus would like?" Mars asked as Jupiter took inventory of the cages. "The little Starly whose energy is off the charts, or something bigger and more powerful?"

"Good question...both of those are intriguing options." Jupiter mused. "So why not settle the matter with a good old game of 'Rock Paper Scissors'? Winner decides what we take to Cyrus."

"You're on!" Mars smiled.

"Okay..one, two, three!" Jupiter called. But both admins sweatdropped when they discovered they had both displayed scissors.

"So, what if we do if it's a tie?" Mars wondered with a sigh.

"A tie or a loss is not the end of the world." Jupiter assured Mars. "Let's rig another trap for now."

---------

The group arrived at the top of the hill some time later. Ash noticed Mars and Jupiter checking their trap, which had caught a Pidgeot. "Those two don't look friendly at all!"

"No normal person would catch any Pokémon in a net." Rosebay agreed before noticing a familiar insignia on Mars' uniform. "Those two are two admins of Team Galactic--Mars and Jupiter."

"Admins, huh?" Dawn mused. "Why would they be doing something that's grunt work?"

"Perhaps the boss trusts them that much." Brock replied. "These Galactic guys definitely sound worse than Team Rocket..."

"Yeah--they have bigger Magikarp to fry than going after Tintri all the time." Ash agreed.

With Brock occupied telling Rosebay about Team Rocket, Ash motioned to Tintri. "Tintri...think you can go save that Pidgeot in the trap?"

[Okay!] Tintri replied before darting off towards the net. After gently charring the knots that held the Pidgeot, he smiled. [Are you okay?] he asked as the Pidgeot fluttered free

[I think so...thank you for releasing me from those hoodlums!] the Pidgeot replied. she flapped her wings a little to ease the stiffness of being trapped.

She noticed Ash on the hill. [Is the hat-human your master?]

[He is--he asked me to save you.] Tintri replied. [He'll know what to do to save the other captured birds!]

[Climb aboard, then.] the Pidgeot smiled.

Ash smiled as the Pidgeot arrived with Tintri aboard her. [This is Avis.] Tintri explained. [She's willing to help us save the other birds.]

"All right...I want you and Avis to gather as many bird Pokémon as you can find." Ash instructed. "We'll infiltrate the base to free the Pokémon Mars and Jupiter already captured."

---------

"Easiest spy mission ever--those Galactics left the door wide open." Dawn grinned as the group climbed into the base. They made their way into an underground tunnel containing monitors for the security cameras.

Ash froze when he saw Estrella directing the other bird Pokémon in digging an escape route. "There! There's Estrella!"

"Eh-streh-yah!" Brock corrected Ash. He retrieved his bow in preparation to shoot down any appealing targets.

Back outside, Jupiter gasped when she saw a very large group of bird Pokémon flying towards their base. "What on earth? Who could've rallied this many bird Pokémon in so short of time?"

Mars was stunned when she saw Tintri riding Avis. "That Pikachu! He's leading the birds!"

[Bombs away!] Tintri cried, prompting the massive flock to swoop in and attack the net, ripping it to pieces.

"Come on!" Jupiter motioned to Mars to follow her underground, away from the flurry of beaks and talons. "Someone must've messed with the security cameras!"

"You work on those, I'll go see if the rest of the base is secure." Mars replied before hurrying off to the cage area.

She smiled when she found Estrella watching the other Pokémon leave through the escape tunnel. "Well well, what have we here?" she smirked.

"Don't you dare lay a finger on Estrella!" Ash warned as he led the others into the room.

"All right, I will honor your request." Mars replied before pressing a button on a small remote marked "CALL BOT".

Ash watched in awe as a humanoid-shaped wooden mecha rose up from the ground. "Whoa...that's way more complex than any Team Rocket mecha..."

"I'll say..." Brock agreed as he watched Mars' and Jupiter's Pokémon climb the ladder into the mecha. "They even Tintri-proofed it by building it from wood."

"This way!" Dawn led the way into the escape tunnel. The mecha transformed into a miniature tank to pursue the group.

A large game of Meowth and Rattata ensued as the group and the Galactic admins chased each other. After what seemed like an eternity, Ash heaved a sigh of relief when he saw sunshine in the distance. We did it! We're home free! he thought.

The group emerged onto an overlook, where the captive bird Pokémon had gathered.

He gasped as the mecha emerged from the hole some moments later. As he watched, it broke apart because of damage it had sustained from the rocks, roots and thorns in the tunnel.

---------

"So, does Team Galactic have some kind of a motto?" Ash taunted as Mars and Jupiter emerged from the wreckage of the mecha.

"You're not in Kanto anymore, hat-boy." Jupiter shot back as she summoned a Zubat. "Besides, actions speak louder than words, so we don't need to say a dumb motto."

[HAH!!!] Estrella cried as she flew to meet the Zubat Jupiter had summoned with a Wing Attack.

"Algol, use Gust!" Jupiter commanded.

Ash watched as the Zubat flapped up a powerful wind gust. "Whoa, that Zubat is powerful..." he noted as Estrella went flying into a tree.

"Leona, aim a Hyper Beam at the Pikachu!" Mars called as she summoned a large gray and white cat Pokémon.

"Argent, I need your help!" Brock heaved a Poké Ball skyward, revealing the massive Steelix. Tintri leaped away from the familiar orange beam seconds later.

"Algol, try Gust again!" Jupiter commanded

She smiled as the wind gust drove the huge Steelix backwards.

Brock flashed an emerald ring with ivy inlays at Jupiter. "You forget I have a secret weapon!"

With that, he held the ring to the sky. Imultaos, ame no hao bakezo...

"What in the..." Mars gasped as Argent was engulfed in a burst of green light, sparkles, and leaves. "How could your Steelix evolve even further?"

"Never underestimate the power of Mega Evolution!" Brock smiled as he looked over at his now Mega Steelix.

Dawn looked at the massive crystalline Steelix in awe. "Wow! Mega Evolution is AMAZING!!!!"

In all the confusion, a blob squirmed inside Brock's bag. [What's going on? Is there a fight? Put me in, Brock! I wanna fight too!]

---------

"Algol, use Confuse Ray!" Jupiter commanded as the battle raged on some hours later.

"Argent, use Ice Fang!" Brock commanded. He watched as his Mega Steelix lunged to bite the tiny Zubat with sparkling teeth, engulfing it in ice.

The groups started charging toward each other, each side intent on destroying the other. But Ash stopped in his tracks as Estrella flew up high and started to glow bright white. "No way...Estrella's evolving!"

He smiled. "Estrella, use Aerial Ace!"

Dawn, meanwhile, read up on Estrella's new form as the aerial Ace sent Mars and Jupiter flying:

"Staravia, the starling Pokémon. They maintain huge flocks, although fierce scuffles break out between various flocks."

[Bye!] the Hoothoot called as it waved to Estrella. [And thank you!]

[Anytime!] Estrella waved back to the departing bird Pokémon.

"I can't thank you enough for saving the birds here." Rosebay smiled. "Anything you need on your travels, and it is yours."

"It's okay--just the fact that Estrella evolved is a reward enough." Ash smiled as he hugged his new Staravia.

"Eh-streh-yah!" Brock corrected Ash, prompting the others to laugh as Ash blushed in embarrassment...

To Be Continued...

 

@LordEevee2005

In this remixed version of the show, he does!

Be warned, this is not the D/P you remember.

 

Episode 13a: Leave it to Brocko! (part 1)


"Our next stop is Oreburgh City..." Brock read from the guidebook. "It is a hotbed for mining coal, metals, and gems. Nestled in the shadow of Mt. Luster, it is known as the City of Energy thanks to its thriving coal industry..."

He looked up and balked at the silvery mountain that loomed in the distance. "Whoa...that has to be Mt. Luster."

"Don't tell me we're going to have to climb that mountain..." Dawn groaned.

"I'm sure there's a pass, or trails we can use." Ash assured Dawn. "Let's keep going!"

"Actually, I need a place to stop and rest before we venture across the mountain..." Dawn sighed, gesturing to a Pokémon Center at the foot of the mountain.

[How much further do we have to go?] Brock heard a voice say. [I'm starved!]

He noticed his Sandshrew Terra glancing up at him with sad Growlithe eyes. "Okay, I suppose there's no harm in having a snack." he assured Terra as he found a container of walnuts in his bag.

"That's a clever idea..." Dawn smiled as Terra went to work cracking open one of the large nuts with her claws.

"Walnuts are one of a Sandshrew's favorite foods in the wild. Getting the thick shell open is also a game for them." Brock explained.

A breeze snapped the group from their conversation. "Over there!" Ash pointed out Nurse Joy in the distance, attempting to help a humanoid Pokémon with a long nose and a leaf on its head.

Dawn, meanwhile, decided to read up on the odd Pokémon:

"Nuzleaf, the wily Pokémon. They live in densely overgrown forests. They occasionally venture out of the forest to startle people."

She gasped as Nurse Joy scrambled to avoid the flurry of Razor Leaves the Nuzleaf had created. But her fear turned to frustration as a guitar chord got her attention. I will twine, I will mingle her raven black hair... she heard Brock sing. With the roses so red and the lilies so fair...

[Go sing in a garden, country crooner!] Kage snapped as he delivered a jab to Brock's sensitive areas, creating a discordant Eb chord. [Nurse Joy is in danger, and the best you can do is sing a song?] he muttered as he dragged Brock away, guitar and all.

"Whoa!" Dawn cried as she and Ash leaped away from a gust of wind.

After rolling away from the brunt of the gust, Ash led her back by Brock's side. "Everyone okay?" Ash asked. "Although, save the ballads for the stage or the campfire next time."

"Yeah..." Brock replied as he shakily stood up. "Nuzleaf are generally afraid of people, but I wonder why this one has decided to venture out..."

"I'm open to suggestions--it believes me a threat." Nurse Joy mused.

The group watched as Brock approached the Nuzleaf and stooped to its eye level. "Sh...it's okay...we're not gonna hurt you." he assured it.

Inspired, he picked a blade of grass, shaped it into a whistle, and proceeded to play a familiar three note melody that rang through the foothills. "Epona's Song!" Dawn gasped when she recognized the tune.

She did not see a blob squirming in Brock's bag. [Is that what I think it is? Are you telling 'Jack and Epona'?]

The Nuzleaf smiled and danced a little, pleased at Brock's song. "You like that, huh?" Brock grinned before offering the little Pokémon an Oran Berry.

[No.] the Nuzleaf turned away.

"Maybe it would be willing to accept food from a fellow Pokémon?" Nurse Joy suggested.

[I'll do it!] Terra volunteered, forgetting about her walnuts completely.

"Okay, go see if the Nuzleaf will accept a Berry from you." Brock replied, giving Terra another Oran Berry

Nurse Joy smiled as the Nuzleaf accepted the Berry from Terra's claws. "Leave it to a musician to tap into a Nuzleaf's innate love of music to gain its trust."

"But isn't the Nuzleaf family native to another region?" Ash asked as Brock used a Potion on a large scrape on the Nuzleaf's right leg.

"That is in fact true. But somewhere in the Lustrous Hills stands the Millennium Tree, so named because it was planted a thousand years ago." Nurse Joy explained. "The Millennium Tree is the only place in this part of Shinou where you can find the Seedot family."

"If you'd like; we can take the Nuzleaf back to the Millennium Tree." Dawn offered. "I'm sure its family is worried sick!"

---------

"Aw...I think the Nuzleaf likes Terra..." Ash smiled as he listened to Terra and the Nuzleaf chatter to each other.

"You believe the Nuzleaf thinks Terra is a Grass type?" Dawn suggested. "But when you think about it, the grass comes from the ground, so a Grass type befriending a Ground type is not completely unheard of..."

"You actually bring up a great point--Sandshrew do rely on Grass types to help them find food in the wild." Brock explained. Sandshrew tend to eat bugs, berries, nuts, and nectar..."

The group didn't notice Mars and Jupiter spying on them in the bushes. "There they are--now we can have our revenge for a few days ago." Jupiter mused.

As the two admins climbed through the brush, Mars spotted a silver hot air balloon in a clearing. "Well! Someone left this here. If we can't follow the hat boy and his pals on the ground, we can always chase them by air!"

"Good idea!" Jupiter replied before bringing over some tracking devices and weaponry. "Seems that balloon training when we were humble grunts was good for something after all!"

---------

"Some flight this is..." Mars sighed as she and Jupiter floated over the forest and the mountain hills. "But on the bright side, when we do find Hat boy, we have the element of surprise...

"Hat-boy ahoy!" Jupiter pointed the group out as they made their way across a stream.

Mars scrambled to get a look. "See any interesting Pokémon they have?"

Jupiter analyzed the group's Pokémon. "Hat-boy's Pokémon has a huge amount of energy. I'm more interested in the Sandshrew and the Nuzleaf they're escorting."

After finding a net-gun from the clutter, Jupiter instructed Mars. "Go find a good spot to land somewhere on Hat-boy's route. I'm gonna see if we can ambush them from above!"

With that, she fired a net, capturing both the Nuzleaf and Terra. "I've got the net, you try and scare of the admins." Brock instructed Ash as he worked to get Terra and the Nuzleaf free.

"Estrella, we need you!" Ash heaved a Poké Ball skyward.

"Algol, use Haze!" Jupiter called as she summoned her Zubat.

The gray haze cleared some moments later. Ash and Dawn gasped in horror when they found the Galactic admins, Brock, Terra, and the Nuzleaf were gone!

---------

"There--let's see you get out of this, Mr. Balladeer." Mars sneered as she finished tying Brock to a tree. Jupiter was nearby, locking the cages holding Terra and the Nuzleaf.

After a few moments struggling to pull his arms free, Brock sighed. I don't like having to use the Swanna Song here, but you do what you have to do...

With that, he sang Gatrandis favel, secret, edena...
Emusto ronzen fine el balaziis...
Katoridis favel siicletu edena... At this line two rainbow auras appeared on the ropes.
Emusto koron zen fine, si...

Mars whirled around in time to see the ropes snap in a shower of rainbow sparks. "Wow! How'd you manage to do that?"

Brock paused to slip the tattered remains of his bindings off his arms. "I can do it again if I had something to eat first." he wheezed as he gingerly stood up.

"You got it!" Jupiter smiled. "Name it, and Chef Jupiter will have it cooked up in no time at all!"

"Need I remind you that all our ingredients are back at the base?" Mars interjected. "So what are we going to cook with?"

Inspired, Brock replied "If you two would like, I can show you what recipes I know--and a show to go with dinner."

"Well! Never thought I'd get dinner theater in the middle of nowhere." Mars smiled as she and Jupiter watched Brock start a cooking fire...

---------

"And here we are! Mountaintop Chili." Brock smiled as he delivered two bowls of chili to Mars and Jupiter.

"Mm...this smells wonderful!" Mars raved before taking a bite. "Nice and hearty, with a bit of a bite from taco seasoning...I think?"

"It is taco seasoning!" Jupiter grinned as she took a bite. "Tell you what, Rock Star--give us a show to go with our dinner, and we'll set you free."

"Deal!" Brock replied as he tidied up his work area.

He next pondered the longest, most adventurous story he could think of. The longer I can keep these two occupied, the less likely they'll notice me making off with Terra and the Nuzleaf.

He started the first story that came to mind. "In a certain kingdom there lived an unmarried king. He had many archers in his army, and the bravest of them all was named Andreas."

"Mm-hm..." Jupiter mused.

"One day Andreas went hunting." Brock explained. "He wandered in the forest all day, but fortune was unkind to him, and he didn't catch a thing. The sun was setting, and Andreas decided to return home. On the way, he saw a Pidove sitting on the tree and shot at it. However, the arrow missed its mark, and the Pidove spoke to Andreas in the words of humans...

"Please, don't kill me!" he pleaded in a mimic of Dawn for the princess. "Take me home and put me on the windowsill. When you return at nightfall, you will find your happiness."

As himself, he continued "Andreas was surprised. He concluded the Pidove had to be someone under a spell, or a Legendary in disguise. He returned home, put the Pidove on the windowsill, and went to prepare his dinner for the night. That evening, he was shocked to see that the Pidove had turned into a beautiful princess, whose name was Marla."

"Thank you, young hero." he smiled in character as the princess. "An evil wizard cursed me to live as a Pidove unless someone showed mercy on me, and took me home. I love you, and wish to marry you."

He went on as himself "And so, Andreas and Princess Marla were married, and lived happily for a time."

"Aw..." Mars smiled, unaware Brock was sneaking towards the cages.

"One day, Princess Marla said..." Brock interjected before switching to his "princess" voice. "Andreas, we live in want. I have an idea to make things better. Buy different colors of silk cloth, and I'll make something everyone will be amazed over."

As himself, he continued "Andreas agreed. He went to the marketplace, bought as much silk as a hundred pieces of gold would allow, and brought it to his wife. Princess Marla wove all night and made a beautiful carpet."

He started towards the clearing's exit with the cages, still weaving his tale all the while. "The next morning she showed it to her husband. The carpet depicted the whole of the kingdom: towns, villages, forests, fields, the sea, the sky, Pokémon, the sun and the moon. Marla gave the carpet to her husband and said..."

"Take this carpet to the market and sell it." he instructed as the princess. "Don't ask for any price, take the money that people give you."

Once sure Mars and Jupiter were still listening to him, Brock went on "The next day, Andreas took the carpet and went to the marketplace. Many people wanted to buy the carpet, but no one knew how much it was worth, because Andreas never told them how much he was asking for..."

---------

[Did we lose them?] Terra asked. Brock had finished retracing his steps back to where the Galactic admins had ambushed them. I hope we can find the others soon!

"I think so, but it's only a matter of time before they figure out we've escaped." Brock replied. "Try Double-Edge on the cage."

He braced himself as Terra whacked the bar with her claws. [I got a bar to bend, at least...] she told Brock.

"It's okay. Let's try that again." Brock assured Terra.

[HAH!] Terra whacked the weakened bar a second time, creating an opening large enough for her to fit. [We did it!] she cried as she danced in the grass. [I'm free!]

To Be Continued...

 

Episode 13b: Leave it to Brocko! (part 2)


"Brock, where are you?" Ash called into the brush.

"If you can hear us, sing something!" Dawn called into the trees. "Even if it's a sappy love song!"

[No go, Ash--haven't seen or heard anything from him.] Estrella sighed. She fluttered on a tree branch near a stream, in hopes of seeing any sign of Brock.

"That's weird..." Ash mused. "I could've sworn I heard Brock sing the Swanna Song..."

"I'm not gonna say you were hearing things, but we'll keep looking, just in case we hear him." Dawn assured her companion.

---------

Elsewhere, Brock led Terra and the Nuzleaf towards the forest edge. "Okay...this was the tree where the Galactic admins got us." he reminded Terra and the Nuzleaf, pointing out a familiar maple tree near a rushing river. "So to find everyone, all we have to do is cross this river."

He smiled as he found a sturdy log that was holding firm in the rushing water. "Terra, return." he commanded, recalling the Sandshrew.

A loud cry snapped him to attention. "What's the matter?" he asked the bawling Nuzleaf on the ground.

[Bring back my friend!] the Nuzleaf sobbed. [I'm scared of that rushing water...]

"Okay, I'll let Terra back out." Brock assured the Nuzleaf as he summoned Terra again. "Terra, the Nuzleaf needs you!"

Terra motioned for the Nuzleaf to climb on her back. [Climb on my back, and hold on tight, okay? We'll take it one baby step at a time.]

Minutes ticked by like hours as Brock and the Pokémon carefully walked across the log. While Brock felt confident the log would hold, a sudden swell made Terra stumble. [Whoa!]

"Everything okay?" Brock looked back to see if Terra and her passenger were in one piece.

[I'm okay!] Terra reported. [A wave made the log wobble, but I used my claws to brace myself. Nuzleaf's okay too.]

"We're almost there, so keep going." Brock assured the Pokémon as he led the way to the other bank. After stepping back onto dry land again, he set the Nuzleaf back on the ground. "There we go...we should be safe here."

Terra gasped as he heard the hiss of a balloon landing. [I think the Galactic goons found us!]

"Thought you could dine and dash, Mr. Idol?" Jupiter smirked as she and Mars landed in a clearing. "Now we're gonna duel for your freedom!"

She heaved a Poké Ball skyward. "Algol, let's go!"

[AUGHHH!] Terra yelped in surprise as Jupiter's Zubat materialized in front of her.

[Hey, coach...] Kage whispered. [Let me go a few rounds with Mr. Flitter-flutter there. No one scares my friend and gets away with it!]

"All right, Kage, you can duel." Brock replied as Kage leaped into the battlefield.

Jupiter's Zubat swooped in to Bite Kage, but Kage didn't even flinch at the Zubat's fangs. [Is that all you've got?] he taunted as his rubbery hand turned purple. [Take this!]

Jupiter winced as her Zubat went flying backwards from the force of Kage's Poison Jab. "Algol, use Poison Fang!"

Brock watched as Jupiter's Zubat rushed at Kage with glowing purple fangs. Kage, meanwhile, blocked the attack with a Poison Sting. He also noticed Mars and Jupiter were inside a balloon's basket. This will be too easy... he grinned as retrieved his bow and nocked a shot.

After a few tense seconds, he fired, sending Mars and Jupiter tumbling into the brush below. [Nice shot, Robin Hood.] Kage smiled. [Now's your chance to croon the superpower song they always use on TV.]

Brock nodded, and started the familiar melody. Gatrandis favel, secret, edena...

---------

Emusto ronzen fine el balaziis... The song rang through the forest and over the mountains, alerting Ash and Dawn. "Brock! That's Brock's voice!" Dawn gasped.

"Let's follow the song!" Ash led the way into the clearing, making sure to follow the haunting melody as it continued...

Katoradis favel siicletu edena...
Emusto koron zen fine, si...

Ash was the first to arrive, where he saw Kage's hand glow white in preparation to use Brick Break. "I'll tend to Brock, you wait on standby in case his team needs help." Dawn instructed as she helped Brock over beneath a tree to rest from using the Swanna Song. "That was a very brave thing you did..."

"I had...to do something...to guide you to me..." Brock wheezed. "I'd do it...again...many times...over."

He heard a THWACK!, signalling Kage had gotten off Brick Break. "Kage, well done!"

[I did my best, coach...] Kage wheezed. [But that Zubat...was...too...] This was as far as he got before collapsing on the ground.

"It's okay...you did great." Brock assured Kage before recalling him.

"Leona, use Fury Swipes!" Mars summoning her Purugly snapped him to attention.

"Don't you dare hurt the Nuzleaf!" Brock warned as he stepped in front of the Nuzleaf. He was still a little tired from using the Swanna Song a second time. But, his anger fueled courage had given him new strength.

Terra watched as Brock and Mars stared each other down. [I have to help my master now...] she mused as she hurried across the river towards a rock on the other bank. [Maybe, I can reach that fat grey cat-Pokémon from the rock! Water or no water, I'm gonna help you, Brock!]

Just as she arrived on the shore near the rock, she rolled away from a Bite attack. Then, she slammed into Leona with Double-Edge. Leona tried again and again to scratch Terra, but Terra countered with a rain of Swift.

Ash watched in awe as he watched Terra fight. "Wait, Kage was knocked out?"

"It looked like Jupiter's Zubat was too much for him." Dawn explained. "Terra's answered the call in his place."

"Let me know if I need to step in and help." Ash assured Brock.

"Not for now--Terra has the situation under control." Brock assured Ash as he watched Leona lunge a second time. Terra blocked the attack, and charged forward with another Double-Edge.

[WAAAUGH!!!] she yelped as Leona bit her, pinning her to the ground. In a desperate attempt to get free, Terra rapidly spun around, throwing her attacker off!

Annoyed, Leona tried another Fury Swipes attack. Terra rolled away and stomped the ground hard. [Hang on--Earthquake!] she smiled as the ground began to rumble, knocking the Purugly out.

---------

"Tintri, Brock needs you." Ash whispered to his faithful Pikachu.

But before Tintri could join the fight, he felt a gust of wind rippling his fur. [Look!] he squeaked, pointing out a brown humanoid Pokémon with a long white mane gliding down to the ground with a pair of leaf fans.

Piqued, Ash decided to read up on the odd Pokémon:

"Shiftry, the wicked Pokémon. It is a mysterious Pokémon that is said to live atop towering trees dating back over a thousand years. It creates terrific windstorms with the fans it holds."

"No fair with reinforcements!" Mars protested as she and Jupiter fled back to the waiting balloon.

"You forget that the one you tried to capture uses a bow!" Ash shot back as he watched Jupiter grab the Nuzleaf with a mecha arm. "And you know what happens when a balloon meets a sharp object?"

The Shiftry noticed Brock's bow, and hurried over. [Warrior of the bow, allow me to enchant your arrow with the sacred wind of the Millennium Tree.]

"Sure." Brock offered the Shiftry the arrow he planned to shoot. He watched as the Shifty's wind gust turned the arrowhead a bright purple with a tornado around it.

Dawn watched in amazement as Brock nocked the enchanted arrow, then fired. "That was so cool!" she raved as the Galactic balloon went flying off with a ping.. "It's like how you saved me and Kori back at Lake Verity!"

"Look at it this way...if you can infuse an arrow with fire, you can infuse it with any element you'd like." Brock replied as the Shiftry glided to the ground with the Nuzleaf in its arms.

[Thank you, warrior of the bow.] the Shiftry smiled. [The residents of the Millennium Tree will never forget your bravery and kindness in bringing back this little one to us.]

"Aw, it was nothin'!" Ash smiled.

"It was my pleasure to help." Brock agreed.

[If you need anything on your journey, we of the Millennium Tree stand ready to help.] the Shifty smiled as hundreds more Seedots and Nuzleafs came to bid the party farewell....

To Be Continued...

 

Episode 14a: The Shapes of Things to Come! (part 1)

"I'm glad that the Nuzleaf made it back to the Millennium Tree in one piece." Dawn smiled as the group made their way down the mountain road. It had been a few days since the group had undertaken a daring rescue mission to save a lost Nuzleaf. Along the way, Brock had managed to escape Team Galactic.

"I will say that using your gifts of music and storytelling to escape was very clever." Ash smiled. "Just like in the tales you tell."

"I was just doing what I had to do to survive." Brock smiled. "I hope those Galactic admins understand not to approach in a balloon."

He decided to change the subject. "We should be approaching Oreburgh City at any time now..."

Dawn gasped as the rooftops of buildings appeared inside the canyon in the distance."There it is!"

"Last one there's a rotten Exeggcute!" Ash called as he raced down the road into the city.

---------

Later, the group approached a large building made out of stone that stood on the north end of town. "This must be the Gym..." Ash mused before looking over the entry sign. "'Call me Roark the Rock!' Must be pretty confident in himself..."

The door opening snapped Ash to attention. He growled when he saw Paul with a young man in hiking gear. Him again...

"Calm down, Ash." Brock cautioned. "As much as you don't like Paul, it's still a good idea to be cordial around him."

"I'm gonna try..." Ash replied before taking a deep breath to dispel the anger and nervousness welling up in his chest.

He strolled over to Paul as he and the hiker rounded the corner. "Hey...have you challenged the Gym Leader yet?"

Paul sighed. "Why do you wanna know, Wonder Boy? The Gym Leader isn't even there."

"Yes--Roark is away at the moment." the young man agreed. "If you plan to challenge Roark, the Gym features the Rock type."

"Really?" Ash gasped. First Brock...then Roxanne...and now this guy!

He noticed Paul walking down the hill towards the city Pokémon Center. "Good luck in your match!" he called, unsure if Paul even heard him.

---------

"Which color do you want?" the young man asked, offering Ash three different badge cases in different colors.

"The red one!" Ash replied before taking the red badge case on the left. "Thanks, mister..." He realized he had not asked the young man his name.

"Cole, please." the young man smiled. "That case will keep any badges you earn safe."

"Do you know where Roark is at the moment?" Ash asked.

"He said something about going to the mine at the east end of town." Cole replied. "So your best bet would be to look there."

"Does the mine offer gem mining to the public?" Dawn asked as the group departed the Gym.

"Keep in mind that the Oreburgh Mine's primary purpose is coal and metal. So I doubt they'd open it to the public often, if at all." Brock reminded Dawn as the group made their way towards a large cave complex near the east end of town.

---------

"Hard hats and gloves are required in the mine, okay?" the mine foreman smiled. He gave the group three human sized hard hats and mining gloves, plus a Pikachu sized hard hat and gloves for Tintri.

"Got it." Ash replied as he stashed his cap in his bag and put on the hard hat. "Nice, it even has a light..."

"How do you even turn on the light?" Dawn asked as she traded her own hat for the hard hat.

A click got her attention. "All you have to do is press the palm of the left glove." Brock explained, gesturing to the glowing light on his hard hat.

"All ready?" the foreman asked as he came to check on the group.

"Yeah!" Ash replied.

"Anywhere with workers and tracks is safe for visitors." the foreman went on. "I've made sure to mark dangerous areas."

"We'll be careful, sir." Dawn assured the foreman as she turned on the light in her hard hat. Once sure the boys were ready, she led the way into the mine.

---------

"Some job this is..." Jupiter wheezed as she and Mars, in disguise as mine workers, chipped away at a large rock with blue crystals inside. "It takes forever to get to the jewels!"

"I know, but this will be worth it for our mission." Mars assured Jupiter between strokes. "Lord Cyrus believes jewels my have some sort of connection towards the creation of a new world."

"True, but jewels have long been revered as having magical abilities." Jupiter mused as she watched a team of Machokes carry out a large ruby for the foreman to examine. "So who am I to think that same energy could benefit our mission?"

"You have a point there..." Mars smiled before retrieving her pick. "So we can start with these sapphires!"

About then, the group approached the admins. "Forgive me for interrupting your conversation, but have you two seen Roark anywhere?" Ash asked.

"Roark, huh?" Jupiter thought for a moment, then lied to Ash "He's deep within the mine, hoping to find a vein of jewels."

Thankfully, Ash bought Jupiter's lie. "Okay--we'll keep looking until we find him."

"Nice distraction." Mars grinned as she worked.

Dawn, meanwhile, pointed out some workers leading a minecart out to the mine entrance. "Look!" she called, pointing out a dull red haired man in mining clothes following the cart. 'That's Roark!"

"Wait, guys..." Roark told the workers. Once the cart had stopped, he rubbed a design in the ore that somewhat resembled a face and smiled.

He noticed the group watching him. "Oh, hello! How may I be of service?"

"Are you the Gym Leader? Ash asked. "I've come to challenge you for a Gym Badge."

Roark chuckled a little, as if he was almost embarrassed to admit he was the Gym Leader. "Yes, I am the Gym Leader, which means I must be available to take Gym challenges. However, I was so excited about my latest discovery that I just forgot..."

"What was it?" Dawn asked, curious.

"The ore we took out could actually have contained a real Pokémon that had been fossilized a long time ago." Roark explained. "Which one, I don't know for sure."

---------

Back at the Gym, the group watched as Roark told Cole about the ore and the possible Pokémon inside it. "Got a minute?" Brock asked, snapping Ash to attention.

"Sure--what is it?" Ash asked.

Brock showed Ash a Budew. "I found this little lady following us around town when we got back from the mine. After asking around and confirming she had no owner, I decided to offer her to you."

"I'll take her." Ash replied. He took the Budew in his arms. "I think I'll call her...Gaia."

"That's a pretty name!" Dawn smiled.

About then, Paul arrived in the room. "I'm here for my challenge, Sir Roark, as we agreed."

Dawn watched in awe as the floor opened up to reveal a large rocky field. "Wow...it's like the Bailatron in the Contest Hall..."

"As a former Gym Leader myself, I can tell you that Gym Leaders often have fields that suit their Pokémon of choice." Brock explained. "Roark is no exception."

"This will be a three on three match, okay?" Cole asked both Roark and Paul. "Are both sides ready?"

"Let's do this!" Roark smiled.

"Bring it on!" Paul countered.

"Diana, here we go!" Roark summoned a Geodude onto the Pearl side of the Poké Ball.

Ash nudged Brock. "Reminds me of Raquel..."

"Well, Raquel is at home, Poke-sitting Tarina." Brock replied as Paul summoned an Azumarill. "And Paul's choice brings back fond memories of River..."

"That's a Water-type, which makes it the perfect counter to a Rock Pokémon." Ash remembered.

He was snapped from his memories of River by Paul calling "Nerida, use Hydro Pump!"

He gasped as Diana deflected the huge spray of water with a flurry of leaves. 'What in the..." he gasped as his Azumarill went flying into the Diamond safety barrier.

"Diana, use Rollout!" Roark called.

Ash winced as he watched Roark's Geodude smash right into Paul's Azumarill. "Bad memories of Johto..." he stammered as the Azumarill went flying into the safety barrier again.

"Nerida is unable to battle--this match goes to Roark and Diana." Cole reported.

"What?" Dawn gasped at what she had seen. "How could a Water type lose to a Rock type? That doesn't make any sense!"

"Maybe Roark was prepared for people to try to beat him with a Water type." Brock explained. "So he probably trained his Pokémon to throw Water-type users off."

"If that's true, then who am I to think he did the same for the other types Rock is weak to?" Ash worried, looking down at his new Budew. "What if Gaia gets hammered like that?"

To Be Continued...

 

Episode 14b: The Shape of Things to Come! (part 2)



Ash growled as Paul berated Nerida. "I can't believe he'd rip that poor Azumarill for circumstances beyond his control! How was he supposed to know Diana knew the Grass form of Hidden Power?"

"This is Paul here--he'll stop at nothing to win." Dawn explained as Paul summoned Surge.

The group watched as Surge smashed his tiny fist right into Diana. The force of the attack sent her flying against the Pearl safety barrier. "Diana is unable to battle. Paul wins." Cole announced.

"Okay..." Roark prepared a second Poké Ball. "Say hello to Sterling!" he called as a massive rock snake formed on the Pearl side of the arena.

"Is that the pre-evolved form of Argent?" Dawn asked.

"Yeah, that's an Onix, all right." Brock smiled as he admired the huge Pokémon Roark had summoned. "Don't let the size fool you--they can be gentle giants if you treat them well."

Piqued, Dawn opened her Pokédex to read about the huge Pokémon:

"Onix, the rock snake Pokémon. As it grows, the stone portions of its body harden to become like a diamond, but colored black."

"That must look beautiful..." Dawn mused as she watched Sterling veer away from Surge's attempt at Brick Break.

She gasped as Sterling swung his tail around in an attempt to smack Surge with Iron Tail. But Surge created a dull teal aura around himself, stopping the attack. "I wouldn't rely too much on Protect..." Brock cautioned. "Use it too often and it will fail. Even then, it's not foolproof." He let that hang as Sterling smashed through the Protect aura.

"That had to hurt..." Ash mused as Surge went flying into the Diamond safety barrier.

"Sterling, use Stealth Rock!" Roark commanded.

Dawn watched as shards of rock flew to the edges of the arena and implanted themselves into it. "That looks so cool!"

"I believe it is a Cool themed move, so keep that in mind for your next Contest." Ash replied. He showed Dawn the move's entry on his PokeNav, where the word "Cool" blinked in orange writing.

"Whoa!" Brock cried as Sterling slammed right into Elekid with his tail. He suddenly reared back in pain. "I see--Elekid has the Static Ability." Ash remembered. "That means any Pokémon that touches Surge is paralyzed."

"Maybe Paul is rendering his opponent helpless, then pounding away with raw power..." Dawn suggested.

"Great theory." Brock smiled as Paul recalled Surge and sent out Goku.

The group winced as Goku was immediately attacked by the Stealth Rock. "Focus, Goku! Use Dig!" Pual commanded.

"Sterling, be careful!" Roark cautioned his Onix. "The Chimchar could appear at any moment."

He gasped in horror as Goku burst from the ground beneath Sterling! "What?" Roark gasped as Chimchar dove back underground.

"Since Sterling's already paralyzed from earlier, Goku can hypothetically attack again and again." Brock explained as Goku kept bursting from the ground, and diving back under.

---------

"Sterling is unable to battle." Cole announced. "Pearl has one Pokémon remaining."

"it's been a good battle so far..." Roark smiled at Paul. 'But let's see how you do against my star Pokémon, Crystal!"

Ash decided to read up on the small gray reptilian Pokémon with a sapphire head:

"Cranidos, the headbutt Pokémon. It lived in jungles around a hundred million years ago. It used its skillful headbutts to combat Aerodactyl."

"Fascinating!" Dawn smiled as Goku burrowed underground again.

"Crystal, focus and use Headbutt!" Roark commanded.

Paul winced as Crystal smashed into Goku with Headbutt. "Goku, go underground again!"

"Time to take my strategy to the next level..." Roark smiled. "Let's evolve Headbutt to Zen Headbutt!"

"What?" Paul gasped as Crystal smashed into Goku with her glowing blue head.

"Do that again, Crystal!" Roark called.

"Goku, try to dodge with Dig!" Paul countered.

"Fun fact--Zen Headbutt has the side effect of making a Pokémon flinch." Brock explained. "If this happens, the Pokémon that flinched is unable to attack or dodge."

"Then that means Roark could come back and win!" Dawn concluded as Crystal attacked Goku again and again.

Ash watched as Goku glowed a bright red. "Whoa! Super Saiyan Chimchar!"

"Not quite..." Brock chucked. "Goku's ability, Blaze, just kicked in."

He went on "Blaze powers up a Fire-type Pokémon's attacks when they are low on energy."

I have to finish this fast... Roark thought as he watched Crystal and Goku heave with exhaustion. "Crystal, try Zen Headbutt!"

"Goku, use Flame Wheel!" Paul countered.

The group watched as Goku ran towards the oncoming Cranidos, turning into a blazing ball of fire. "Paul must be desperate..." Dawn mused as Goku performed the attack again.

"Crystal, try Headbutt!" Roark called as Goku burrowed underground again.

He gasped in horror as Crystal fell to the ground, just as Goku emerged. "Crystal is unable to battle--by a miracle, the match goes to Diamond." Cole announced.

---------

"That was a great battle." Roark smiled. "I'm not mad I lost--you were strong, and I was weak. That's all there is to it."

He offered Paul a small grey badge that resembled a rock. "Here--you've earned this Coal Badge as a sign of your miracle victory."

"Thank you, sir." Paul replied before departing.

Ash confidently strolled into the arena. "I'm not letting him get all the glory! I'm getting my first badge next!"

To Be Continued...