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EVERYONE: Pokemon Shine Diamond (on hiatus)

So the Pokeball failed. That's typical Pokeballs for ya. Knowing Paul, he probably checked the Stantler on his Pokedex before attempting to catch one.
 
LightningTopaz said:
@Charles Legend; @Mia Blaze @Kirby4ever @Robert Ketchum

(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 Pokemon 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!"

---------

"Good morning Dawn..." the girl's mother, a woman with similar features to her, smiled as she arrived in the room. A gray cat Pokemon 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 Pokemon rubbing against her leg.

"I can hardly believe you're already leaving on your own Pokemon 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.

---------

"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 Pokemon with foliage, the small fire monkey Pokemon, and a small blue penguin-like Pokemon 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 Poke 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 Pokemon?"

"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 Poke 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 Poke Ball and some Berries into the sky. "Turtwig, use Razor Leaf to cut all these Berries at once!"

A Turtwig emerged from the Poke 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 Pokemon adventure."

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

"Besides, most Pokemon 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 Pokemon like that in it, too! So, that's what we're gonna do. We'll go find a Pokemon 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 Pokemon, 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 Pokemon 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 Pokemon inside. "Which one do you want, Dawn?"

"Are you sure those are the Pokemon 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 Poke Ball containing Piplup. "...Piplup."

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

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

She smiled at the tiny blue penguin Pokemon 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 Pokemon 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 Poke 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 Pokemon. "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 Pokemon. "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 Pokemon, 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 Pokemon 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 Pokemon in there, did you?" Dawn asked.

Surprisingly, Lucas was calm about Dawn's question. "Not at all...those Pokemon 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...
Click to expand...

Small nitpick, but Dawn's hair is blue, not black. Her mother's name is "Johanna", with an "h".

I guess you changed the time line so that the Red Gyarados incident happened when Ash was in Sinnoh and not in Johto.
 
@SinnohEevee

I chose to make Dawn's hair black because that's what it looks like in the games (to me, anyway).

I chose to spell Joanna without the H because I felt it looked nicer that way.

In this timeline, the Red Gyarados report was a separate event from what happened in GSC--this is why the boys bring up the GSC incident later.
 
@Charles Legend; @Mia Blaze @Kirby4ever @Robert Ketchum

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

Previously, on "Pokemon 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 Pokemon.]

"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 Pokemon 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 Pokemon 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, use Flame Wheel!"

Dawn watched from the safety of a bush as the whirling rings of fire surrounded the huge bear Pokemon, 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 Pokemon 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...
 
Last edited:
@Charles Legend; @Mia Blaze @Kirby4ever @Robert Ketchum

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 Poke 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 balked 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 Pokemon 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 Pokemon'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 Pokemon you can use?"

"I have my Piplup, Kori." Dawn replied before heaving a Poke 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 Pokemon 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 Pokemon from earlier to bound out before her. "Oh, ew!"

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

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

"Croagunk, the toxic mouth Pokemon. 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...
 
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Brock has Crogunk already? Let's hope it doesn't always strike him in the sensitive area.
 
@Charles Legend; @Mia Blaze @Kirby4ever @Robert Ketchum

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 Pokemon 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 Pokemon 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 Pokemon 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 Poke Ball. "Let's see if I get it!"

But the Poke 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 Poke 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...
 
@Charles Legend; @Mia Blaze @Kirby4ever @Robert Ketchum

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 Pokemon 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. A-la-de-da-da, ohhhh...

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 Pokemon 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 Pokemon."

"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 Pokemon 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 Pokedex. "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...
 
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The trading card game? It exists in the world?! That's something I wouldn't guess ever being there. Or any knowlege on the trading card game.
 
@Charles Legend; @Mia Blaze @Kirby4ever @Robert Ketchum

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 Pokemon 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 Pokemon 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 Pokemon:

"Glameow, the catty Pokemon. 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...
 
Last edited:
@Charles Legend; @Mia Blaze @Kirby4ever @Robert Ketchum

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 Pokemon 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 Pokemon 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 Pokemon 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...
 
@Charles Legend; @Mia Blaze @Kirby4ever @Robert Ketchum

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 Pokemon 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 Pokemon 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 Pokemon, 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 Poke 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 Pokemon 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 Pokemon into some cages.

"Remind me how this can help Team Galactic?" Mars asked, unimpressed. "What does collecting bird Pokemon 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 Pokemon have a lot of energy." Jupiter explained. "So every Pokemon 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 Pokemon are there." Rosebay suggested.

"Come on!" Ash led the way down the hill. "Estrella might be in trouble!"

To Be Continued...
 
Oooooh no! Team Galactic has Estrella.

Brock: I said it's Eh--streh-yah.

Whatever. Will our heroes be able to find Team Galactic, stop whatever they're doing and save Estrella?
 
Team Galactics reason is because of something to do with energy. What reason would Team Rocket have for doing something like that? Probably none.
 
Please note: The thread is from 4 years ago.
Please take the age of this thread into consideration in writing your reply. Depending on what exactly you wanted to say, you may want to consider if it would be better to post a new thread instead.

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