Pokemon Moonlight Silver (COMPLETE!!!)

[EmeraldSky]

@Scytherwolf; @Soups;

Episode 66: Wobbu-palooza!

"Has it hit you that you've won two Color Stripes in a row yet?" Ash asked as he finished up a bowl of broccoli and cheese soup.

"It's starting to sink in." Brock replied as he admired the rainbow taking shape on his right vest flap. "But performing for Suzie was the best part--I finally kept my promise of performing for her."

He was about to say more when he saw a Wobbufett emerge from the brush and announce [A-a-all is well!] before waddling off.

"You're not gonna spoil our lunch today, Team Rocket!" Ash vowed as he set aside his dishes and angrily eyed the bush, as if expecting Jessie, James, and Meowth to appear at any moment.

Brock wasted no time in spritzing an arrow's head with a Max Repel. "If this Wobbufet is Team Rocket's, I'll just warn it away..."

He was just about to fire when he saw several more Wobbufetts emerge, all waddling to catch up with the first one. "Stand down, Brock--that first Wobbufett wasn't Team Rocket's at all." Misty replied as she watched more and more Wobbufetts parade by the campsite.

[So, where would they all be going?] Tintri was intrigued.

"Let's clean up and find out." Ash suggested before giving his dishes to River and Spritz to wash.

After cleaning up the remains of their lunch and breaking camp, the group followed the Wobbufetts down the winding road.

Eventually, the group discovered that the Wobbufetts had all been traveling to a festively decorated town. "Wow..." Misty gasped as she saw the line of Wobbufetts waddle to meet other Wobbufetts and people. "There must be a party or something going on to celebrate these Wobbufetts..."

"A party!" Ash gasped. "I'm always up for a good party!"

[Yeah!] Tintri agreed.

"Welcome, travelers, to Wobbufett Village." a man smiled as he met the group. "So named because, well, everyone owns either a Wobbufett, or its younger form Wynaut."

"I see..." Ash mused.

"In fact--you're just in time for the Wobbufett Festival." the man went on before gesturing to a large stage in the center of the town that overlooked a huge Wobbufett statue. "If any of you are musicians or storytellers, the Lore Stage that kicks off the first day is about to start."

"Really?" Brock gasped before motioning for Ash and Misty to follow him. "Where do I sign up?" he asked the man as they made their way into town...

---------

Meanwhile, Team Rocket heaved with exhaustion as they approached the hill leading into Wobbufett Village. "Finally, we've reached some form of civilization..." Jessie wheezed as she collapsed at the side of the road.

"Tell me about it--I feel like a hundred Growlithes have bitten my toes..." James groaned as he sat down to massage his aching feet.

[A-a-all is well!] Sahana announced as he emerged with pop, startling Jessie.

"Who asked you how everything was?" Jessie grumbled at the blue blob Pokemon. "Our feet are killing us!"

The endless stream of Wobbufetts streaming into the village piqued her interest. "Oh look, there's more Wobbufetts..." she mused, forgetting about her anger at Sahana completely.

"Oh, are you two travelers?" a brown haired woman in a Wynaut T-shirt and jeans smiled as she approached Jessie and James. "You have a fine Wobbufett, there."

"Thank you, ma'am." James replied with a little bow. "We indeed have traveled far, and could use the rest."

The woman smiled. "My name's Lulu...are you in town for the festival? If you and your Wobbufett need a place to stay, I have a spare bedroom in the house."

"Uh, sure." Jessie replied as she gingerly stood up. Why people would want to celebrate Wobbufetts is beyond me... she thought as Lulu led them into town, past the stage in the square where Brock was checking in for the Lore Stage, and Ash and Misty were tuning up to perform some pre-show music for the crowds that gathered.

"If you're hungry, I'll make you a roast Combusken with all the fixins'" Lulu offered, snapping Jessie and James back to reality.

"FOOD!!!" the three Rockets gasped, starry eyed as they pictured the spread their host would presumably make for them--the roast Combusken, the mashed potatoes, the casseroles, the baked vegetables, and of course, a dizzying array of cakes and pies for dessert.

"Forget da big meal we're about ta get--if dat's good, den dere has ta be more food where our big spread came from!" Meowth sighed dreamily as he pictured an array of meat and seafood for him, with Nanab Berries for dessert.

After tying on a yellow souvenir headband to Sahana, Lulu pointed out a large stone statue of a Wobbufett in the distance. "If you look to your right, you'll see our festival symbol, a statue made by a local artist named 'Enduring Hope'..."

Neither the Rockets or Lulu were aware of three hoodlums looking down on the village. "Look at'em, blissfully unaware of our yearly visit..."

"Let's do this!"

"Leelee, Chika, Fury, let's go."

---------

The crowd applauded as Ash and Misty took a bow as thanks for the two tunes they had just finished. Granted, they had no time to practice, but despite a few minor mistakes, their Pokeflute and fiddle duo act had gone over very well. "Now that we're done, it's time to watch Brock kick off the competition." Misty smiled, giddy over what Brock would tell for this Lore Stage.

"It may be no competition--Brock's a pro!" Ash smiled as he put his Pokeflute case away and invited Tintri aboard his shoulder.

"Number K-93098, telling 'Golden Jack'." the emcee announced as Brock arrived on the stage to some applause.

"Thank you." Brock acknowledged the applause before beginning his tale. "Once upon a time--as all good stories are supposed to begin--!"

A girl crying got his attention. "Mama! Someone hurt Kibou!" a teal haired girl sobbed as her mother consoled her, then tended to her wounded Wynaut.

"Some hoodlums did a number on my Wobbufett too!" a brown haired man reported as he did his best to ease a wound on his Wobbufett's head.

"First someone made Annie cry, and then wounded Yahichi's Wobbufett...could any of our Pokemon be next?" another man worried.

"Should I try and continue?" Brock asked the emcee.

"Not while everyone's on edge like this...if you want to help, you can find who's injuring our Pokemon." the emcee replied.

Brock nodded, and reunited with Ash and Misty near stage right. "I didn't expect my performance to be ruined by festival crashers..."

"Let's go find out who made that little girl cry and hurt that guy's Wobbufett!" Ash suggested.

"No one makes a sweet little girl cry and gets away with it on my watch!" Misty agreed as the group hurried down a street.

They discovered Team Rocket--in disguise as maintenance workers--near the festival midway. "Ah-ha!" Ash cried. "I never thought you'd stoop so low as to make little girls cry..."

"But we were nowhere near the stage at the time!" Jessie protested.

"Yeah, we were fixing up the games on the midway and performing any needed repairs!" James lied to keep up their ruse.

"I wouldn't judge a book by its cover, young man--these two and their Meowth have shown considerable character." Lulu added as she joined the disguised Team Rocket.

Ash was about to protest when he heard more and more of the townsfolk gasping and crying over their Wobbufetts and Wynauts--so many that the commotion grew unintelligible. "Okay...so maybe Team Rocket didn't hurt all the Wobbufetts and Wynauts..."

"Well, if they didn't, who did?" Misty asked. "Let's go find out!"

Meowth heaved a sigh of relief as the group hurried off around a corner. "Dat was close..."

"You three go on back to your work, I'll help keep the crowds calm." Lulu assured Team Rocket before hurrying to console a boy.

Jessie smiled. "Your ruse was perfect, James--now to keep looking for the food storage!"

---------

After making a circle around the village, Ash spotted the young men in leather jackets, old T-shirts, and ripped black jeans near the Enduring Hope statue. "So! You guys must be the one that crashed the festival!"

"Yeah, we did...what are you gonna do about it?" one of the punks smirked as another Wobbufett limped away in pain.

He noticed Brock aiming an arrow at his Hitmonlee. "I wouldn't be shooting if I were you, Robin Hood--Leelee's so quick, she could snatch your arrow right outta the sky!"

"Really? Try me..." Brock shot back.

"Brock, don't!" Misty gasped. "What if the guy's claim is true, and his Hitmonlee can catch arrows?"

"I wouldn't recommend engaging with these three..." a woman cautioned, prompting Brock to stand down. "They attacked the village a year ago. Rather than training their Fighting-type Pokémon normally, they instructed them to attack the village in order to build up their strength."

"So that's why they've been beating up all the Wobbufetts and Wynauts..." Misty mused.

"When they reached Lulu's house, however, her Wobbuffet Taemasu's skillful use of Counter and Mirror Coat proved to be their undoing, and they fled the village, vowing revenge." the woman explained.

An idea occurred to her. "Wait there, you three--let me see if I can find Lulu and Officer Jenny. They should know what to do to chase those hoodlums away!"

The hoodlums laughed as the woman dashed off. "Our Pokémon are much stronger than they were last year, and we intend to beat up every Wobbuffet and Wynaut in the village to prove it!" the second punk sneered.

---------

"Dere...dat's da last box." Meowth smiled as team Rocket finished moving every last box of food into the brush.

He noticed Lulu, Officer Jenny and Lulu's Wobbuffet Taemasu hurrying to the festival grounds. "Funny, what's all the ruckus about?"

"Let's just stay put for now. " James suggested as he watched the group run to engage the hoodlums. "We'll make our move when the time is right."

"Luce, I choose you!" Ash called, heaving a Poke Ball skyward to reveal his Flaaffy before the owner of the Hitmonlee.

"Spritz, I need your help!" Misty called, summoning the Seadra before the Machoke's owner.

"Hitomi, showtime!" Brock heaved a Poke Ball of his own skyward. "You have an advantage, so make that Primeape and its cohorts pay for bothering the townsfolk and ruining my performance!" he called to the Golbat.

A whistle interrupted the impending clash. "I understand how angry you three are right now, but Pokémon battles are forbidden during the festival, in honor of Wobbuffet's characteristic of never attacking first." Officer Jenny explained.

"Okay...come on, Luce." Ash sighed as Luce trudged along behind him.

"Sorry, Spritz..we'll have to find another way of helping the town." Misty was equally dejected.

[But how are we going to teach those hoodlums a lesson if we can't fight? Singing a song isn't gonna help...] Hitomi sighed as she fluttered beside Brock.

"As much as I wish that playing my guitar and singing a song would help, I don't think it's going to here." Brock agreed. "These guys don't look like the kind to just gather 'round and sing 'Kumbaya' along with an acoustic guitar..."

The hoodlums, meanwhile laughed as the group trudged away. "See? You three are a bunch of wimps!" the third punk called. "You won't even lift a finger to stop us!"

"So we're gonna make ya watch as we tear down your precious statue brick by brick!" the second punk went on.

---------

"Why are da twerps not fightin' back?" Meowth watched, dumbfounded, as the group trudged away.

"Or the rest of the village, for that matter?" Jessie was equally confused.

James thought for a moment. "I think I know where the villagers are coming from, here...they are truly dedicated to their Wobbufetts and Wynauts to the point where they will wait to attack second alongside them."

The lightbulb went off in Meowth's head. "Dat makes poifect sense!"

"So we should do something to help the villagers--exactly what, I don't know." James went on.

"Do we have to?" Jessie asked.

"Rememba how well the villagers have treated us so far?" Meowth asked Jessie. "It's only fair we help dem in retoin."

"Hm...you do have a point, Meowth." Jessie sighed. "If it means that much to you two, let's help out our hosts."

---------

Ash watched in horror as the Hitmonlee, the Machoke, and the Primeape did everything they could to try and put a dent in the Wobbufett statue. "We have to do something to stop those jerks!"

He turned his cap back. "I'll go give them a piece of my mind!"

"Hold your Ponytas, young man." Lulu gently scolded as she pulled Ash back. "Remember the way of the Wobbufett--do not attack unless you have been attacked first."

Ash was about to protest when he saw a familiar Meowth balloon. "Team Rocket!"

"Did I actually hear a note of joy in Ash's voice?" Brock wondered. Ash had seemed almost ecstatic that Team Rocket had arrived.

"Well, what have we here? Three punks causing trouble..." Jessie smirked as she looked down on the frightened punks and their Pokemon.

"If you don't stop this right now, your pain will be double!" James warned as he joined Jessie in looking down on the punks.

"To protect the world from devastation..." Jessie began.

"And unite all peoples within our nation..." James smiled, twirling a rose in his hand. Ash just watched and growled in annoyance at the familiar motto he, Misty, and Brock had heard a million times before:

"To denounce the evils of truth and love!"

"To extend our reach to the stars above!"

"Jessie!"

"James!"

"Team Rocket! Blast off at the speed of light!"

"Surrender now, or prepare to fight!"

"Meowth! Dat's right!"

"Bring it, Team Rocket goons!" the Hitmonlee's owner challenged.

"But, battles are not allowed in town!" Officer Jenny protested as Meowth balloon landed and the Rockets climbed from the balloon's basket.

"So? Rules were made to be broken!" Jessie retorted as she summoned Arbok.

Meowth watched James summon Victreebel, but gasped as the large pitcher plant Pokemon came for him. "Hey! I'm ya pal, not dinner!" he screamed.

Misty watched as the Hitmonlee used Rolling Kick against Arbok. "I can't believe it...Team Rocket's actually helping people..." she mused as Arbok responded with a Tackle.

"Maybe some of them have a shred of honor, at least." Brock agreed as in the distance, the Machoke uses Karate Chop on Victreebel. Victreebel, however, tried to counter with Razor Leaf, although this was blocked by the Primeape.

Ash watched as Arbok tried to use Wrap against Hitmonlee, but was knocked out by a Hi Jump Kick. "That had to hurt..."

Jessie growled as she watched the Machoke finish off Victreebel with a Seismic Toss at the same time. "Okay, let's see what you can do, Sahana!" she called as she heaved the Poke Ball with her Wobbufett inside to the sky.

"He looks stupid in that headband..." the first punk chucked as Sahana materialized before them, making his companions chuckle.

He then called to his Hitmonlee "Leelee, use Jump Kick!"

"Chika, use Seismic Toss!" the second punk called.

"Fury, use Fury Swipes!" the third punk called.

But neither the punks, the group, Team Rocket, or the onlookers knew what was going to happen next. "Wow..." Ash gasped as Sahana Countered the Hitmonlee's Jump Kick, followed by the Machoke's Seismic Toss, and then the Primeape's Fury Swipes.

In a last desperate move, the punks tried to combine their Pokémon's attacks in order to beat Sahana, but only went flying off into the sky with a ping.

---------

"I can't even begin to thank you..." Lulu smiled as the townsfolk cheered for Team Rocket.

"While you did save the town, that does not excuse the fact that you still broke the festival rules, and so I must ask you three to leave." Officer Jenny reminded the Rockets.

Ash, meanwhile, noticed that the Meowth balloon was carrying a very large cargo. "Wait a second...Team Rocket's making off with all the food for the festival!"

"Let's follow them!" Officer Jenny led the way out of town and up to a nearby hill. "Unless one of you has a sharp object, we're not getting the food back..."

Misty grinned. "We DO, in fact, have some sharp objects!"

She looked over at Brock. "You've got a clear shot from here, so show us your archery skill!"

"I'm on it, Misty!" With that, the others watched Brock aim at the balloon as it drifted by the hill, then fired, a POW! confirming that Brock's shot had hit.

Ash was the first to arrive near the punctured balloon. "You have nowhere to go now!" he called as Team Rocket sent out Arbok and Weezing.

"Ah, but remember that you can't battle us, as battling is forbidden during the festival." James sneered.

"Actually, now that you guys are outside the village, battling is okay." Officer Jenny smiled.

Ash looked over at Tintri. "You know what to do, bud?"

[Yeah!] Tinri smiled before firing a Thunderbolt, sending Team Rocket flying off into the sky with another ping.

---------

"Due to all the chaos, the Lore Stage is cancelled--all other first day events will still go on as planned." the emcee announced, to some "aw"s from the crowd as many of the competing storytellers chose to leave.

Misty noticed Brock was unusually calm. "You're not mad about not getting to try for a green stripe?"

"Not really." Brock confessed. "How were we to know those punks were going to crash everything?"

"That is true..." Misty mused as the group returned to the Enduring Hope statue, which was miraculously unscathed, despite the chaos a few hours before.

"Besides, if it hadn't been for Team Rocket, the mess could've been much worse." Brock went on.

"Yeah, and at least they still have their Wobbufett!" Ash smiled. Misty and Brock couldn't help laughing in agreement as the sun sank below the trees...

To Be Continued...