Pokemon Moonlight Silver (COMPLETE!!!)

[EmeraldSky]

@Scytherwolf;

Episode 23: Counting on an Ally

"Okay, chili's done!" Brock smiled as he checked a pot simmering over the camp stove. "I have chips and the trimmings if you wanna make nachos with it." he explained, gesturing to nacho toppings strewn across a large rock near their temporary campsite.

"About time! I'm starved!" Ash eagerly hurried to the stove to receive his share, than hurried over to assemble the ultimate nacho platter for him to share with his team and Tintri.

Misty smiled. "I'll just enjoy the chili by itself today...besides, we have a lovely view in the Lanas Hills."

After handing off Misty's share of the chili, Brock reached for his guidebook and thumbed to the appropriate chapter. "According to the guidebook, the Lanas Hills are named for the many Mareep farms and Mareep herders that live in the area. There's also a town named Lanas Town, where a big festival honoring the Mareep is held every year."

"Sounds fun!" Ash grinned as he put a spoonful of sour cream atop the mountain of chilli, chips, cheese, and vegetables he had created.

Misty rolled her eyes. "Better to list what Ash DIDN'T put in his nachos than what he put in there..."

"I have to feed my whole team as well as me, so best to have a variety." Ash explained as he heaved his three remaining Poke Balls skyward. "Mina! Brenna! River! Lunchtime!"

[Mmm...smells delicious out here.] a small blue turtle Pokemon smiled as it tottled over to the massive platter.

[Nice, you remembered the guacamole.] Mina smiled as she flew down to help herself to the platter.

"Remember, gang--it's all you care to eat!" Ash reminded the Pidgeot, the Squirtle, the Marill, and the Pikachu before him as he took the most chili and cheese filled piece he could find.

[Looks amazing!] River gasped before helping herself to a portion full of lettuce.

Just as Ash was about to take a bite, he noticed a small yellow sheep-like Pokemon wearing a plaid bow trotting towards the group's camp. [Hi--were you coming to join us for lunch?] Tintri asked.

"Maaaa!" the sheep Pokemon replied before Headbutting Tintri. [Hey, what was THAT for?] he protested as he charged a warning spark.

He swallowed hard as the sheep Pokemon absorbed some of his sparks, making it become even fluffier. Oh no... he thought as several more of the sheep Pokemon came bounding over the hills, eager to absorb some of Tintri's electricity. [Where's a dragon Pokemon when you need one?] he screeched as he scrambled to get away from the small flock of sheep Pokemon.

Piqued in the chaos, Ash retrieved his Pokedex to learn more about Tintri's pursuers:

"Mareep, the wool Pokemon. Its fluffy coat swells to double when static electricity builds up. Touching it can be shocking."

[NOW you tell me...] Tintri sighed as his warning Thundershock made a Mareep's wool puff up.

"Hey!" he heard a female voice call. "Leave that Pikachu alone!"

Tintri managed to get a glimpse of one Mareep hopping to greet a brown haired girl about six or seven years old. I see...these Mareeps probably belong to this little girl and her family.

Just then, he heard an older female voice call "Raika, Come bye!" and watched as a Raichu circled around his pursuers, and gathered them close to her. He watched the Raichu's owner, a young woman with neatly braided brown hair in dull teal work clothes call "Raika, look back.", prompting the Raichu to look and see if all the Mareep were safe and accounted for.

Once sure all the Mareep were together, the woman smiled. "That'll do, Raika."

The Raichu nodded, and obediently brought the flock to the woman. [Here y'are, Miss Ellen. They're all safe.]

He then saw the girl he had seem before approach the woman with a sullen look on your face. "Mary...remember that you need to be on guard at all times--predators can attack with no warning." she explained.

"I'm sorry, Mom...I was just so excited about the Mareep Festival, I forgot about the flock." the girl sighed.

"I know you want to enter Fluffy in the festival, but I don't think you're ready yet." the woman explained.

"But when CAN I be ready?" the girl protested.

"What's going on?" Ash asked as he retrieved Tintri.

"Ever since my daughter Mary received a Mareep of her own, she's had her heart set on entering this year's Lanas Festival." the woman explained. "But I fear her constant training is becoming an obsession, to the detriment of her other responsibilities."

She looked over at the group. "Are you three traveling, by chance?"

"We are...I'm Ash...and these are my companions Misty and Brock." Ash replied, gesturing to Misty and Brock as he introduced them.

"Nice to meet you." Misty replied.

"Pleased to meet you." Brock agreed.

"And this is my partner, Tintri--who you guys rescued." Ash explained as Tintri shyly waved hello.

"My name's Ellen, and this is my partner Raika." the woman smiled as she petted the Raichu. "She can herd Mareep better than any Growlithe..."

"That I have to see!" Misty was intrigued.

"Hi, I'm Mary!" the girl smiled as she shepherded a familiar Mareep wearing a plaid bow to her side. "And this is Fluffy." she grinned, unaware that Tintri was nervously sparking.

"If you need a place to stay for the night, our house is not far from here." Ellen offered. "Otherwise you'd have to travel through the night to get to Lanas Town."

"We'll take you up on that offer." Ash replied as he followed Ellen, Raika, and the flock of Mareep up a hill towards a large sprawling farm overlooking a forest.

---------

"Fluffy, use Thundershock!" Mary commanded as Ash and Tintri arrived in a smaller field near the house later that evening.

Ash applauded as Fluffy fired a tiny thunderbolt at a makeshift ball target. "Not bad." he commented. "Want to try battling against a real opponent?"

"Sure!" Mary smiled as Brock arrived on the dusty hill overlooking the house and the farm, where Mary and Fluffy had been practicing.

After drawing a Poke Ball shape in the dusty ground, Brock asked Mary "Which side of the Poke Ball do you want?"

"Left!" Mary replied as she led Fluffy to the Poke Ball's left side.

"Okay, so Mary's on Gold, and Ash is on Silver." Brock replied before explaining to Mary "Since this is just practice and no one's really watching us, I'm not gonna introduce the sides like real referees do."

"You will count us down and blow the whistle, right?" Mary asked, her eyes shining excitedly.

"Of course." Brock replied as he retrieved his own whistle and hurried to the line dividing the Poke Ball drawing in half. "Are both sides ready?"

Mary cheered in reply. "On your whistle, Brock." Ash calmly replied.

"Okay...and three...two...one..." Brock counted before blowing his whistle to start the match.

Tintri immediately jumped to avoid Fluffy's opening Headbutt, before powering around the little Mareep with Agility. "Fluffy, use Thundershock!" Mary called, but gasped as Fluffy collapsed on the ground with a plop. "Oh no...Fluffy!"

Another whistle blast confirmed her worst fear. "Gold is unable to battle." Brock announced. "Silver wins!"

Tears welled up in Mary's eyes. "How could THIS happen? I worked so hard getting Fluffy ready for her first ever battle..."

"Come here..." Ash knelt down to Mary's eye level and wiped her tears away. "Maybe the reason why Fluffy fainted right out of the gate was because you've been working her too hard--and every Pokemon has their limit. Good trainers understand what this limit is for each Pokemon they own, and try not to push them past that limit."

"So I reached Fluffy's limit?" Mary asked.

Ash nodded. "While time in the arena and practicing moves is all well and good, you also need to give your Pokemon a chance to rest. A rested Pokemon will do much better in battle than a tired one."

Mary pondered what Ash had said as she, Ash, and Brock started back towards the house, with Mary carrying Fluffy in her arms. "You're right...maybe I do need to let Fluffy rest for a while."

"Come on--let's head back inside and have dinner." Ash suggested.

"And after dinner, we'll sing some songs and hear a tale or two." Brock agreed, gesturing to the group's instrument cases in the living room as they arrived in the house.

"Stories?" Mary gasped, excited. "Can you tell one with princesses and magic and dragon Pokemon and adventure in it?"

Brock nodded. "I'll see what I can come up with."

To Be Continued...