New Scene(Previously_On_Trigamon) { … }
New Scene()
Ash and company (+Misty) stand in front of the blimp airport. Some of the townspeople and some of the maids from the castle stand in a group down the street. Al and Princess Sarah stand facing Ash and company (+Misty), as wind blows from behind them, ruffling everyone’s clothes.
May: So what are you going to do now that there aren’t any more Togepis?
Al: You’re friend said it.
Al gestures to Benjy.
Al: We’ll have to choose our leader some other way. Where I come from, the people choose their leader by voting.
Coal: Yeah, that’s how they do it down there, too.
Al suddenly appears more relieved.
Al: As you can see, I’m not from around here.
Al now bends down to whisper:
Al: Back where I come from, the mere thought of choosing a leader via a ritual involving a pokémon would make people avoid you on the subway. (whisper)
Misty: Where is this place you come from?
Al shrugs.
Al: Not sure.
At this point, a pilot, wearing standard pilot gear, gets out of one of the hangars, and announces that the blimps are ready.
Brock: This is it guys, time to say goodbye.
Togetic and Pikachu take this opportunity to wave to the crowd, some of whom wave back.
Benjy: Wait a minute–
Benjy quickly takes off his backpack and rummages for something. After about two seconds, Benjy pulls out a stack of business cards, and removes two from their rubber band, handing one to Princess Sarah and one to Al.
Benjy: I’m not sure how useful these will be, but…
Sarah: What is this?
Benjy: It’s my father’s card. People count dot org. Transforming politics and democracy. If you decide that’s the kind of government you want–
May: Benjy!
Benjy looks around to see that everyone else has already boarded their MOAB. Benjy quickly zips up his backpack and puts it back on, checking the ground quickly to make sure nothing has dropped.
Benjy: Okay, got to go!
Benjy then hurries to the MOAB with the rest of Ash and company, while Al and Princess Sarah wave behind him. QST.camera follows Benjy aboard the MOAB, and the hatch closes behind him.
Pilot: Everyone ready?
Brock: Benjy?
Benjy: Everyone check your pokémon!
May wonders if it’s necessary, but Coal tells her it is. Ash and company quickly call on all of their pokémon, and then recall them, confirming that everyone is on board. The MOAB sags slightly when Coal’s pokémon are sent out, but perks up upon them being recalled.
Coal: We’re ready!
Pilot: Roger! We’re set for liftoff!
The MOAB’s engine revs and it starts to lift off, tilting backwards slightly in the process. Benjy, May, and Max run to the window, where the MOAB with Misty can be seen lifting off on the other side of the runway. Misty is already airsick, but Togetic waves to them from the MOAB’s window. Ash and company gather and wave back, and the MOAB starts to tip slightly, prompting Benjy and Coal both to dash to the other side of the MOAB.
Benjy: That’s a bad sign.
Refresh Scene()
The MOAB carrying Ash and company flies over the MOAB carrying Misty, moving away from the island and into the sky. QST.camera zooms into the MOAB’s cockpit, where Coal is sitting with the pilot.
Pilot: Fallarbor Town, right?
Coal: Right, but are we equipped to deal with sandstorms?
The pilot shrugs.
Pilot: Should be fine.
Coal: And if it’s not?
Pilot: We have parachutes under the seats if that makes you more comfortable, but these guys only fail one percent of the time.
QST.camera swiftly moves through the hallway to the main area of the MOAB where everyone else is listening to the conversation. Benjy stares towards the cockpit, speechless.
Ash: Ninety-nine percent is good, right?
Brock: It’s okay…
Max: I think Benjy would beg to differ.
Benjy gulps and quickly begins looking under the seats for parachutes, quickly finding them.
May: Benjy, no one likes a pessimist.
Benjy throws May a dirty glance and she recoils. Benjy also starts to say something but can’t seem to find the words.
Max: So there’s a one in one hundred chance we’ll actually have to use them?
Brock pulls out a backpack and opens it to make sure parachutes are in it.
Brock: It’s more like a one percent chance you’ll die if you don’t.
Benjy checks one of the backpacks, and discovers that the parachutes aren’t attached to the backpack. This prompts Brock to check his own. May picks up a backpack, only to discover that there aren’t any parachutes in it whatsoever. Ash hands her one that has parachutes in it.
May: Benjy looks silly with his backpack in front.
Max nods, and Benjy nods after this in agreement. Pikachu lifts up a tiny seat and finds a small backpack with parachutes in it, and quickly puts it on.
Ash: Looking good, Pikachu!
Pikachu: Pika-pi!
Pikachu gives Ash the thumbs-up sign, and QST.camera returns to the cockpit, where Coal has also equipped a parachute pack.
Pilot: You kids are scared so easily.
Coal: We’re heading into a sandstorm. I’d put one on, too, if I were you.
Pilot: I’m good, thanks.
Coal: Then just humor me.
Pilot: Will you let me wear the empty one?
Coal: Absolutely…
The Pilot pulls out a pack from under his seat as Coal rolls his eyes.
Coal: …not.
The pilot sighs, and puts the pack back under his seat, pulling out a different one.
New Scene()
The MOAB flies over route 111 with Benjy, Ash, May, Max, and Brock all looking out through the windows, marveling at the view.
May: The desert’s so clear. It’s amazing!
Max: Doesn’t look like there’s going to be a sandstorm…
Brock: Keep your packs on until we land.
May and Max nod in agreement, and Max glances back at Benjy nervously, but Benjy doesn’t seem to notice. QST.camera moves back out of the MOAB and zooms out a ways. The MOAB has now almost crossed the desert, and QST.camera zooms back in.
Ash: Should we take them off when we get across the desert?
Brock: Lets not.
May and Max look back at Brock nervously.
Max: This is route one-thirteen, right?
Benjy nods.
May: What happened to route one-twelve?
Brock: I think it’s back by Lavaridge.
Brock looks to Benjy to confirm, and the later nods.
Max: You seem awfully familiar with geography for someone from another world.
Benjy: It’s only because we had these games where you could be a virtual pokémon trainer.
This comment draws the attention of everyone else in the room.
Ash: I’m not sure what you’re talking about.
Benjy turns towards Ash, and starts making hand gestures as he talks.
Benjy: Back where I come from there were no real pokémon, so we had to make do with virtual ones.
Ash: You mean like Porygon?
Benjy shakes his head.
Ash: I’m confused…
Benjy: As I was try to explain to you guys in Mauville–
Benjy gestures to May and Max.
Benjy: We knew what pokémon were, but no one thought they actually existed.
A strange noise suddenly starts coming from below the floorboards.
Benjy: It was the same with–
Brock: Hold that thought.
Benjy: Hoenn…
Ash, Benjy, May, Max, Brock, and Pikachu all suddenly fall silent, listening intently to the creaking below the floorboards.
May: What’s going on?
New Scene()
Coal is standing up in the MOAB’s cockpit, holding a microphone too close to his mouth. Next to him, the pilot is staring at the controls completely dumbstruck.
Coal: We’ve got trouble.
Revert Scene()
Coal.intercom: I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but we’ve been slowly loosing altitude.
May and Max turn towards the intercom.
Coal.intercom: It looks like–bear in mind this is just a guess–that bits of ash from Mount Chimney have been accumulating in the engine, and Johnson here doesn’t know what to do about it.
Ash clutches his parachute pack.
Coal.intercom: Don’t worry about the parachutes just yet, we’re going to make an emergency landing.
New Scene()
QST.camera looks upwards at the MOAB flying low over the ash-covered forest of Route 113, slowly loosing altitude. After about two seconds (real time), a gentle breeze displaces some of the ash and the noise of the MOAB’s engine becomes audible. Over the next fifteen seconds or so, the MOAB drifts closer to the trees until (after this period of time) it collides with the tops of them, and three seconds (real time) later crashes to the ground creating a large plume of ash.
QST.camera now moves inside main room of the MOAB.
Coal.intercom: Anyone hurt?
Brock quickly scans everyone.
Brock: Just a few scrapes and bruises.
Coal acknowledges this over the intercom, which then goes silent for a couple of seconds (real time).
Coal.intercom: I’ll be there shortly. Everyone prepare to disembark.
Ash and company take off their parachute packs, and re-adjust their bags. Coal now comes from the cockpit.
Ash: Everyone ready?
Ash quickly obtains consensus, and Max pushes the button to open the door, but the door doesn’t open.
Ash: Max, can you open the door?
Max: I’m trying! It won’t open!
May: Let me try!
May walks over to the controls and pushes the button several times, but the door still doesn’t open.
Ash: Maybe it’s jammed?
Brock: Try the emergency…
Ash walks over to the other side of the door and pulls a lever. The MOAB’s door starts to open, but then stops after a few inches.
Max: What’s going on?
May: Are we trapped?
Benjy: It might be an electrical problem, or maybe the force of the landing?
Benjy motions the others to move aside, and then starts to push the door. The door starts to budge, but slowly. After about a second Coal joins him, and both are able to force the MOAB’s sliding door open, scraping the framework as it does so. Ash and company all stare outside the MOAB.
May: Is it snowing?
Coal: That’s volcanic ash.
Ash: It was May who asked the question.
Yami Benjy: This is going to get annoying fast.
Refresh Scene()
Ash and company are all outside the MOAB, along with the pilot. Benjy, Ash, May, and Max are standing in a grassy field of soot, while Brock, Coal and the pilot are examining one of the MOAB’s engines.
Ash: What do you guys think about stopping for lunch while they get this mess sorted out?
Benjy: Honestly, it’s highly unlikely they will.
May: You’re always so pessimistic! Can you think positively for once?
Benjy: Look at it this way, the problem is soot in the engine. While they’re trying to get whatever is in there out, more is coming down as we speak, and based on my rough calculations, it’s filling up faster than they can get it empty.
Ash, May, and Max now turn to stare at the engine. Pikachu shakes the volcanic ash off of itself.
Max: He’s right May. It’s like bailing out a ship by drinking the water and peeing it out the side. Eventually you’ll suffer kidney failure.
Benjy now takes a puff on his inhaler, and holds his breath.
Max: Plus we need Brock to make food anyway.
Benjy nods, then exhales.
Ash: I wonder what they’re doing.
Max: You’d think that they’d notice the falling ash.
Ash nods. QST.camera now shifts over to where Coal, Brock, and the pilot are looking over the engine.
Brock: Surely you don’t mean to tell me you’ve never…?
Pilot: First of all, I just fly these things. Second, don’t call me Shirley!
Brock: I didn’t…
Pilot: You said, "Shirley, you don’t–"
Coal: Shut up both of you. Who’s bright idea was it to open up the engine while ash was still coming down.
Brock gestures to the Pilot, who beams.
Coal: Great, another one who doesn’t understand sarcasm.
Coal: Brock?
Brock: Yeah?
Coal: It’s dead, Jim.
#Star_Trek_Refrenece
Pilot: I thought you said his name was Brock?
Brock turns to Coal skeptically.
Brock: You have a weird sense of humor.
Coal starts to close the cover on the engine while the pilot chews on his own lip.
Pilot: What are you doing?!
Coal: We’re not going to get the soot out while more soot is falling into it!
Pilot: No-no, I’ve got this. You see, sometimes less is more.
Coal stares at the pilot blankly.
Pilot: And thus, more is less.
Brock: So in order to get soot out of the engine, we have to put soot into it?
Pilot: Precisely.
Coal: You sir, are an irredeemable imbecile.
Pilot: Why thank you.
Coal: My pleasure.
As Coal says this, he takes a step back and suddenly looses his balance, nearly falling into a large hole under the soot, about two and a half feet in diameter. Brock and the Pilot both grab Coal to prevent him from falling in, and seeing this, Ash, May, Max start to run over to him. Benjy calls out after them:
Benjy: Careful! There might be more!
Ash, May, and Max stop running upon hearing this, but they are already only a couple meters from the others. Benjy picks his way through the field of soot after them.
Ash: Coal, are you okay?
Coal wipes the ash off of his shoulders.
Coal: I’m fine, Ash.
Brock: The question should be, why is this hole here?
Pilot: I hear there are ninja trainers in this area who like to sneak up on people.
Brock: I’m thinking more along the lines of a pokémon…
Max: Like a Trapinch?
Coal: Yeah, but usually their holes are more conical.
As Coal speaks, soot falls into the hole, and something inside sneezes. Ash takes out his pokédex and points it into the hole, but his pokédex fails to register anything.
New Perspective()
QST.camera looks upwards out of the hole at Ash and company. One of May’s poké balls suddenly goes off and Skitty lets itself out into the soot-covered grass.
Revert Perspective()
Skitty can only be seen by it’s tail (the rest of it is below the top of the grass). Skitty walks towards the edge of hole, and stares down into it curiously.
May: Skitty, that’s dangerous!
May starts to reach for Skitty, but something shoots out of the hole right at Skitty. Before it can grab Skitty, Skitty is snatched up by Pixielite who zips out of the way.
May: What was that?
Brock: Up there!
Brock points to a strange insectoid girl gripping the MOAB’s exterior, about five feet above the heads of Ash and company.
Insectoid_Girl: Tizkiz.
Ash: Alright, time for some data.
Ash points his pokédex at the insectoid girl, whom is staring down at Ash and company curiously with wide eyes.
Ash’s Pokédex: Information on this creature is only available in premium mode.
Ash: Premium mode?
Insectoid_Girl: Tizkizkizkiz.
Ash: What’s premium mode?
Ash’s Pokédex: Right now, this pokédex is in standard mode. Premium mode can be obtained with a paid subscription to Professor Oak’s mobile–
The Millennium Gameboy Advance glows.
Yami Benjy: It’s called a "Myrmeleo".
Max: You sure?
Yami Benjy ignores this question.
Yami Benjy: They make holes in the ground as traps to wait for prey to fall in.
The Myrmeleo continues to stare at Ash and company curiously. Ash and company stare back. The pilot meanwhile seems to be getting angry.
Pilot: Get off my blimp!
Myrmeleo: Blimp?
QST.camera split-screens to show the expressions of Ash, May, Max, Brock, Coal, and the pilot, who are all staring up at this creature.
Brock: It can talk?!
Myrmeleo: What’s a blimp?
Yami Benjy: It’s not actually a pokémon. Which is why your pokédex probably want’s premium mode to identify it.
Pilot: It’s that thing you’re on! Get off! You’re wreaking it!
Myrmeleo: Your "blimp" wreaked my nest!
May: That was an accident!
Coal: And two wrongs don’t make a right.
The Myrmeleo smiles mischievously. Suddenly, it leaps off the MOAB straight at the pilot, who stumbles backwards, right into the hole. With amazing reflexes, Coal catches the pilot by the arm as he starts to fall, and pulls him back onto solid ground.
Ash: Hey!
Myrmeleo: Tee hee!
The Myrmeleo looks around at Ash and company, and then leaps away from everyone, over it’s hole, and lands with a puff of soot. Myrmeleo then rummages in the soot for something, with a grin on it’s face.
Myrmeleo: You’re going to pay for wreaking my nest.
With this the Myrmeleo suddenly starts flinging rocks in the direction of Ash and company, aiming for their heads. It gets four shots in (with Ash and company dodging each time) before finally hitting Brock in the shoulder. The Myrmeleo smiles, and prepares another shot.
Ash: Pikachu, thunderbolt!
Pikachu: Pika–Chu!
Pikachu fires a thunderbolt at Myrmeleo, which attempts to dodge the hit as well, but is only partially successful; it is knocked out of the air into the soot-covered grass, which sends a large plume of soot into the air.
Ash: Poké ball, go!
Ash hurls a poké ball at the Myrmeleo, but the Myrmeleo catches it and chucks it back at Ash, striking him in the forehead as Pikachu leaps off of his shoulder.
Ash: Thun–
Brock: Ash, it’s my turn to try! Forretress, explosion!
Forretress goes spinning put of it’s poké ball, straight at Myrmeleo.
Coal: Wait, Brock–
Coal is cut off mid-sentence as Forretress lets out a powerful blast, knocking not only Myrmeleo, but everyone else off their feet. Brock quickly gets to his feet following this, grabbing a poké ball. Ash and May are next to stand up, as Brock spots Myrmeleo, whom now has been nearly knocked out, and is teetering on the ground back and forth with spirals on it’s eyes. Before Brock can even throw the ball however, Myrmeleo collapses, falling into another of it’s own holes.
Max: Brock, I think that attack was overkill.
Brock: Yeah, maybe.
Coal: I don’t understand, what did it think it had to gain by throwing rocks at us?
Pilot: Eureka! The engine’s fixed!
Ash and company all turn to the MOAB’s engine, which is now sparking.
Yami Benjy: Doesn’t look fixed to me…
Pilot: Don’t you see it sparking?
Yami Benjy: It’s not supposed to–
Pilot: And you know, how?
Coal: Don’t just stand there, run!
Ash and company stare at the sparking engine as it shoots out a giant flame, then immediately take off through the ash-covered meadow.
Yami Benjy: And watch for holes!
The MOAB’s Pilot smiles as he watches Ash and company hurrying to put distance between them and the burning engine.
Pilot: Bunch of wusses.
New Scene()
Ash and company are walking through the soot-covered fields of route 113. Max is holding his head as if he has a migraine. Ash has a damp cloth wrapped around his head, which he is using as an eyepatch
Ash: Do you think he survived that?
Coal: Only if he went blasting off.
May: Max, is your head still…
Max nods slightly.
Coal: Told him not to look…
At this point Max stumbles, and May has to catch him so that he doesn’t fall over and hit his head.
May: Max!
Max groans in pain, but doesn’t say anything that can be understood. Coal quickly bends down to see to Max.
Coal: Ash, how’s your eye doing?
Ash: Still hurts, even though the cinder is gone.
Brock: Benjy, how about you?
Benjy: What?
Brock: Are your ears still– (louder)
Benjy nods, then shivers.
May: How far until Fallarbor?
Brock: A couple days maybe?
Coal: In this condition, I’d say a week. Benjy, I’m concerned about you too, surely the ringing should have faded by now…
Benjy: I hit my head, Coal…
Coal: It’s been an hour though…
Brock: It hasn’t been that long.
May: Yeah, I’m still sore…
May stares down at her leg which is wrapped in a bandage.
Brock: I think we should probably stop for lunch, what do you think?
Coal: Lets stop under that ledge over there, otherwise we’re going to be eating this falling soot.
Coal gestures at a rock overhang about 200 feet away. Brock nods to signal his agreement, and everyone starts walking with Coal carrying Max.
New Scene()
Ash and company arrive under the overhang.
Refresh Scene()
Ash and company have now gotten themselves comfortable under the overhanging ledge and Brock is making stew in his pot. Coal finishes tending to Max, and then starts changing May’s bandage. QST.camera moves back to Benjy whom is cutting carrots, when the pot next to him starts to tip. Benjy quickly stops it from tipping, and then calls to Brock to be careful.
Brock’s voice from offscreen: Benjy, I’m over here!
Benjy: Then…
Benjy looks up to see a Camerupt sniffing the pot of stew, and nearly falls backwards almost slicing his fingers instead of the carrots. The Camerupt backs away nervously, wagging it’s tail nonetheless. Ash takes out his pokédex and points it at Camerupt.
Ash: If you tell me I need to subscribe to "Professor Oak’s Pokémon Services" again, then I’m–
Ash’s Pokédex: Camerupt, the eruption pokémon. Normally found in the craters of volcanoes. It spews out molten magma of 18,000 degrees Fahrenheit out of the humps on it’s back when it gets angry.
The pokédex’s entry startles everyone, save for Camerupt.
Ash: Eighteen thousand Fahrenheit…
Coal: Ash, that’s a load of (bleep). It’s off by an order of magnitude.
May: How do you know?
Coal: Because Eighteen thousand degrees is hotter than the center of a star. Camerupt would be instantly incinerated if that was the case.
Ash: That’s still hot though… And I need a fire type. Alright Pikachu, lets catch it!
On Ash’s shoulder, Pikachu starts to spark eagerly.
Brock: Hold off, Ash!
Ash: Why?!
Brock: One, Camerupt is a ground type, so electric attacks won’t work. Second, it’s got a collar on, I think it belongs to somebody.
Pikachu stops sparking and Ash walks over to Camerupt and checks it’s collar.
Ash: Property of Vicky Winstraight…
Ash cringes reading the title.
Ash: Winstraight? Win-straight? That can’t be her real name, can it?!
Refresh Scene()
An old lady (Vicky Winstraight) carrying a parasol is walking through the soot-covered fields. In the distance she sees Camerupt with Ash and company. As Ash and company eat lunch with their pokémon, she walks up to them.
Vicky: So that’s where you’ve run off to…
Camerupt looks up from it’s food at Vicky.
Camerupt: Rupt?
Brock: Are you Vicky Winstraight?
Vicky nods, and looks over at Brock, and sees May’s bandage and Ash’s injured eye.
Vicky: Oh, my! What happened to you?!
New Scene(@Temporal = Early Evening)
Benjy is sitting on the foot of a bunk bed in a small, dark room. Max is lying on the bed, with a blanket over his head. A young girl tiptoes into the doorway.
Girl: Um? (whisper)
Benjy gets up and walks to where the girl is.
Benjy: ? (whisper)
Girl: Is his migraine better yet? (whisper)
Benjy: Maybe a tiny bit… (whisper)
Benjy gestures with his hand, holding it horizontal and shaking it slightly.
Benjy: My mom gets migraines from time to time. I don’t know how long they’re supposed to last. (whisper)
The little girl nods.
Girl: Um… Grandma Vicky told me to bring you to dinner.
Benjy: I’m… I’m watching Max right now.
Girl: I’ll watch him for you.
Benjy looks back at Max, then turns to the girl and nods.
Benjy: Thanks Vivi.
The girl (Vivi Winstraight) nods, and tiptoes over to the bed where Max is lying while Benjy leaves the room. Vivi then walks over to Max and strokes his hair gently, Max recoils, and Vivi does too.
New Scene(@Spatial = Dining Room)
Benjy arrives in the dining room as everyone else finishes eating, instantly impressed at the amount of food there.
Benjy: Um…
Benjy is informed by May that he can help himself to anything, which is confirmed by Victoria Winstraight, who mentions that Brock was a great help in preparing it.
Benjy: Maybe I’ve read too many tales of little kids being trapped by this kind of thing.
Ash: Is Max better?
Benjy: Vivi’s with him.
Brock: You guys, I found the aspirin. Ash, can you…
Ash: …
Benjy: I’ll handle it, thanks.
Benjy puts his plate down and takes the tray of aspirin and coffee from Brock, then hurries off towards Max’s room.
Yami Benjy: When you think about it, we’re getting hurt a lot more than they did in the original pokémon show.
Benjy: Maybe because it’s real life and not some kind of anime?
New Scene()
Team Rocket are moderately injured, and walking through the soot-covered fields.
James: I don’t understand… That blast off was painful!
Jessie: That twerp–somethings not right about him. He shoots electricity? Is he even human?
James: You think he’s a…
Jessie shakes her head.
Jessie: Not with the articles active. He’s probably some kind of pokémon. He stands back, and only gets involved when things get serious.
QST.camera shifts down slightly to show Meowth, whom seems to be running on fumes, dragging his tail on the ground.
James: Meowth, what do you think he is?
Meowth says nothing, and at that moment trips over a pebble, landing flat on his face.
Jessie: Uh-oh…
James: Hey Meowth…
Meowth doesn’t respond to James, so James reaches down and picks him up. Meowth is limp in his hands.
James: Meowth, say something…
James puts Meowth next to his ear.
Jessie: Is he alive?
James: I think so. He’s drooling in my ear.
Jessie: Thank goodness, but that’s disgusting.
#Get_Fuzzy_Reference
James: It actually feels kind of nice…
Jessie: Really? Can I try?
Narrator: Now that’s what I call disgusting…
Refresh Scene()
Jessie and James are sitting on the ground with Meowth and Seviper. Both pokémon are unconscious. In the distance, a male trainer has spotted them.
Jessie: This isn’t good, what do we do?
James: I don’t know! Maybe there are some herbs or something somewhere?
Trainerm: Excuse me…
At first Jessie and James don’t hear the trainer, but then the trainer comes closer.
Trainerm: Excuse me–
Jessie and James look up.
Trainerm: Are you all right?
Jessie and James now look at this trainer.
Jessie: Um…
James: We’re okay, but Meowth…
The trainer now asks to take a look at Meowth, and Jessie and James let him. The trainer quickly puts his backpack down and checks Meowth.
Trainerm: I see.
Jessie and James look on curiously as this trainer wraps Meowth’s paws in bandages.
James: ?
Trainerm: His paws appear to have been burned somewhat, so walking was probably painful.
Jessie now asks this trainer what’s wrong with Seviper, and the trainer gives Seviper a small chiropractic adjustment and Seviper seems to regain consciousness, but quickly goes back to sleep.
Trainerm: Wow, you guys seem to have had some serious battling.
James nods.
James: By the way, what’s your name?
Trainerm → Vito: Oh sorry. I forgot to introduce myself. I’m Vito Winstraight, when I saw you guys, you looked as if you were in serious trouble.
Jessie and James now introduce themselves, neglecting to mention that they are part of Team Rocket.
Jessie: Yeah, we weren’t prepared.
James: Out of curiosity, what are you doing?
Vito suddenly looks saddened, shocking Team Rocket.
Vito: I’m on my way home. I left a year ago to become the champion, but that didn’t work out so well.
Jessie and James seem to sympathize with Vito’s attitude.
Jessie: What happened?
Vito: I lost in the second round, to an extremely powerful trainer who used water, ice, and electric types. I had never seen anyone like him before. My team was completely wiped out, and he went on–
James: To be the champion?
Vito: No, he became number two, he lost in the final match to a trainer named Xenon. Surely you’ve heard of him?
Jessie and James shake their heads, and Vito proceeds to explain how it’s a bit embarrassing coming home without achieving his objective, and to his surprise Team Rocket agree to help him explain what happened to his family.
New Scene()
Vivi is watching Max when Benjy enters the room carrying the tray of Aspirin and coffee. Vivi steps aside to allow Benjy to deliver the medicine to Max. Max appears to be feeling slightly better, and is able to sit up so he can take the medication.
Benjy: How are you feeling?
Max says nothing as he drinks the coffee, then quickly puts it down clutching his head.
Max: Like my head’s on fire… How long does this stuff take… to work?
Benjy: Not sure. Maybe fifteen? Twenty minutes?
Max puts his head back against the pillow and moans, placing the tray with the rest of the coffee of the nightstand beside his bed.
New Scene(Winstraight’s Kitchen)
Benjy is washing dishes in the kitchen, alone, while Vicky’s voice comes in from the other room. (Note that everyone aside from Benjy and Yami Benjy are offscreen in this scene)
Vicky: Of course, now that you’re here, we have to ask you guys for a little favor?
Brock: Favor?
May: What kind of favor?
Vicky: Oh nothing, we just…
Vicky’s voice is drowned out by the crash of a pile of dishes falling over, and Benjy quickly works to sort out the mess, carefully extracting dishes and putting them into the dishwasher.
Ash: Now that’s something I can get behind!
Yami Benjy: What did she say?
Benjy: Not sure… But Ash seems to like the idea.
Benjy extracts another dish and places it in the dishwasher, dropping silverware into the right place as he does.
New Scene(@Temporal = Late_Evening)
Benjy exits the Winstraight's house into the garden where everyone (aside from Max) is waiting for him. Benjy rolls down his sleeves as he walks into the garden, towards a medium-sized battlefield in the dirt (although it’s hard to tell in the dark).
Brock: Benjy!
Benjy turns to see Ash and May waving to him in the twilight, and hurries over to them.
Vicky: As I was telling your friends–
Benjy quickly turns to face Vicky.
Vicky: Our hospitality isn’t completely free.
Benjy: This is bad!
The Millennium Gameboy Advance glows brightly in the darkness, and QST.camera spins around to show the looks of surprise on the faces of the Winstraights, which are illuminated by the emitted light.
Yami Benjy: And exactly what do you want in exchange?
Victor: You owe us a battle!
Yami Benjy: I see.
Victoria: May tells us that you’re aiming for the grand festival.
Yami Benjy: Not exactly…
Ash: Benjy, you have a ribbon though…
Yami Benjy: Only one.
Vicky: You know what they say, everyone has to start somewhere.
Yami Benjy: I think you guys have the wrong idea.
Yami Benjy looks at May curiously. Vicky chuckles to herself.
Vicky: Well, then, are you giving up?
Yami Benjy: You seem to be somewhat, no, significantly misinformed.
Vicky chuckles to herself again, louder this time.
Vicky: Okay, so who’s up first?
Refresh Scene()
Brock and Victor stand at opposite sides of the battlefield, while insects buzz in the background. Victoria (acting as the referee) stands a few feet from Benjy:
Victoria: Sorry, my mom was just trying to have a little bit of fun.
Vicky: Concentrate on the battle Victoria.
Victoria: I would be able to if you didn’t confuse our guests.
Vicky chuckles to herself again.
Victoria: And that’s one unusual tale.
Vicky now claps her hands.
Vicky: And… Let’s start!
Victor sends out a Zigzagoon and Brock calls on Mudkip, which waggles it’s fins upon being sent out.
Brock: Mudkip, water gun!
Victor has Zigzagoon dodge the attack.
Victor: Now Zigzagoon, thunderbolt!
Zigzagoon sparks, catching Brock by surprise. Brock quickly orders Mudkip to dodge the attack, and Mudkip tries, but it only manages to avoid about two thirds of the attack, taking a large chunk of damage.
Brock: How does Zigzagoon know–
Yami Benjy: It’s a technical machine.
Ash: Brock!
Zigzagoon fires another thunderbolt at Mudkip just as Brock orders Mudkip to dodge, again. Mudkip tries to leap out of the way, but can’t seem to get it’s legs to work properly and is hit straight on with thunderbolt, and knocked out with a yelp. Brock gasps and runs over to Mudkip.
Victoria: Dear, I think that was a little too strong.
Victor turns to his wife and nods, as Brock scoops Mudkip up into his arms. Vicky appears to chuckle, and Brock shoots her a nasty look.
Victoria: I’ll go now.
Victor now tries to apologize to Brock, saying that it was a miscalculation on his part, but Brock doesn’t seem to notice as he glares at Vicky. Vivi also seems pleased with the result, and Victoria addresses her daughter as she walks up to the battlefield.
Victoria: The point of battling is not to hurt your opponent’s pokémon.
Coal: It looks like that thunderbolt is going to need a bit of fine tuning.
Victor: I’ve been trying to do that for the last three months. It’s been unusually painful for water, and strangely, psychic and dark types.
Coal eyes Victor curiously.
Victor: It’s not very powerful either, just causes pain…
Coal: Hmm…
Coal scratches his head as May approaches the other side of the battlefield to face Victoria, turning her head away from Benjy with an expression of frustration.
May: Hmph.
Victoria: Hey everyone! Let’s go, Roselia!
Victoria’s Roselia pops out of it’s ball, landing by it’s trainer’s feet.
Brock: A Roselia?
Ash: It’s going to be good practice for battling Drew.
Something about Ash’s comment or the fact that Victoria sent out a Roselia seems to make May a bit frustrated.
May: The stage is yours! Beautifly!
From the above comment, May seems more frustrated than excited, however it’s unclear if Beautifly notices the change in May’s voice.
Victoria: Roselia! Razor leaf!
Roselia shoots a stream of razor leaves at Beautifly, but only the first of these hit Beautifly, and May has Beautifly blow the rest back at Roselia with a gust attack. The gust seems to do more damage to Roselia than the razor leaves.
Victoria: Switch to magical leaves!
Roselia’s magical leaves suddenly break through the gust, striking Beautifly for moderate damage and forcing it to stop using gust.
Victoria: And razor leaf again!
May: Dodge and use string shot!
Victoria: Jump!
Roselia leaps out of the way, ceasing razor leaf as Beautifly fires string shots at it. The first two miss, but the third strikes Roselia’s arm, knocking it it the ground as it struggles to break free.
May: Now you can’t escape! Beautifly, gust!
May’s tone of voice is now starting to change for the more positive, but Victoria has Roselia fire a volley of poison stings at Beautifly, forcing Beautifly to at first dodge, then cease gust and let go.
Victoria: Now solarbeam!
Roselia seems to be having trouble charging solarbeam without much sunlight, which prompts May to make her move:
Coal: Solarbeam at night?!
May: Now Beautifly! Silver wind full power!
Beautifly blasts silver wind at Roselia who continues to charge sunlight.
Ash: May, be careful!
Brock: You need to get Beautifly out of the way!
May appears to ignore Ash and Brock as Beautifly continues to bombard Roselia with silver wind for 15 seconds (real time), all while Roselia charges solarbeam. After the fifteen second mark, Beautifly’s silver wind quickly drops off leaving Roselia with a large amount of charged-up starlight. May swallows hard, and as she does, Roselia falls forwards in a faint, discharging the solarbeam in a blast between May’s legs. May turns around as the solarbeam strikes the ground in the garden about ten meters behind her, triggering an explosion of roughly a yard in radius. Beautifly lands on May’s head nervously.
Coal: Looks like it worked.
Brock: Still, that was not smart… If that had hit…
Yami Benjy says nothing, but stares at the place that solarbeam hit.
Coal: Eh, solarbeam would only do a quarter of the normal damage to Beautifly anyway. Roughly a thirty. Probably wouldn’t have been fatal.
Yami Benjy: Fatal?!
Coal: Relax, fatal as in knocked out Beautifly.
May: You sure know how to get my nerves in knots.
Yami Benjy still looks at Coal nervously.
Coal: Benjy, you’re up!
Refresh Scene()
As Yami Benjy and Vivi take their positions on at the edges of the battle field, Ash calls out to Yami Benjy that his match is critical.
Yami Benjy: I’m aware.
Yami Benjy now turns back to face Vivi.
Yami Benjy: I’ ow do you like battling at night?
Vivi shrugs.
Vivi: I’m still going to win; you know that right?
Yami Benjy: We’ll see.
Vivi: I’ll start! C’mon Griggle!
Vivi throws an ultra ball and a strange, Oddish-like creature pops out.
May: What’s that?
Vivi: It’s a Griggle.
Ash: What’s a Griggle?
Ash takes out his pokédex and points it at Griggle.
Ash’s Pokédex: Information on this creature is only available in premium mode. This pokédex is currently in standard mode. An upgrade to premium mode can be obtained free with a subscription to Professor Oak’s pokémon services.
Ash: Again?
Coal: It’s not a pokémon.
QST.camera shifts to Yami Benjy as he reaches for a capsule.
Yami Benjy: Bayleef!
Bayleef appears at Yami Benjy’s side in a flash of light.
Ash: Wait, Benjy, that’s got to be a grass-type right? So wouldn’t Pixielite have an advantage?
Yami Benjy: If Griggle was a pokémon, then yes.
May: What do you mean?
Yami Benjy: Vivi told me that they had a lot of flying types coming through here, and so they had strategies for dealing with them. Flying types are normally strong against grass types, but that isn’t always the case.
Brock: Okay, now I’m really confused.
Yami Benjy: Griggle is a duel spirit. Grass-type duel spirits resist flying type attacks. And thus, I’m guessing many trainers with flying types mistake Griggle for a pokémon, are have a nasty surprise as a result.
Griggle: Grig! Grig!
Bayleef: Bay!
Victor: I didn’t think anyone else knew that…
Ash: So…
Coal: So basically sending out Griggle flips weaknesses and resistances, at least in regards to the flying type. What we think of as a 2-dimensional chart is really a 4-dimensional–oh! They’re starting!
Vivi starts by having Griggle use razor leaf, and Yami Benjy has Bayleef counter with magical leaf. Magical leaf pushes through razor leaf, but only deals slight damage to Griggle, nonetheless, the duel spirit recoils upon being hit.
Refresh Scene()
Griggle and Bayleef are firing volleys of leaves back and forth at each other. Bayleef seems to have take more damage than Griggle from this battle. Vivi has Griggle use leaf storm, and Yami Benjy has Bayleef leap out of the way–only to get hit with a second leaf storm from Griggle.
Vivi: And K-O!
Yami Benjy takes a deep breath, clenching his teeth, as Bayleef emerges from the leaf storm having taken a good amount of damage, but isn’t close to knocked out.
Yami Benjy: Tackle!
This instruction catches Vivi off guard. Bayleef rushes towards Griggle and Vivi in a panic has Griggle use razor leaf on Bayleef. These attacks do very little damage, and Bayleef jumps into the air despite the attack, then lands squarely on Griggle. Vivi gasps, and Bayleef climbs off of Griggle, whom is now knocked out.
Vivi: Griggle!
Vivi runs onto the battlefield and picks up Griggle, who begins to regain consciousness in her arms, then runs towards Vicky.
Vivi: G-grandma!
Vicky: It’s okay dear. I’ll take care of this.
Vicky throws Ash a quick glance and smiles mischievously.
Vicky: I didn’t think it would come down to me to bring this fight to a draw.
Ash and Vicky now take their places on the battlefield, Pikachu on Ash’s shoulder.
Vicky: I’m using Camerupt.
Ash nods as Camerupt walks up to Vicky’s side.
Ash: Pikachu, are you ready?
Pikachu: Pi-ka!
Pikachu jumps down from Ash’s shoulder and sparks eagerly. Victor and Victoria turn to each other nervously.
Victoria: He’s using Pikachu against a ground type? (whisper)
Victor: Yeah, it’s surprising. (whisper)
Brock: Ash! You know that Camerupt is a ground-type, right?
Ash nods, and QST.camera moves to focus on Vicky.
Vicky: What’s he going for? Does he think I’m that much of a pushover? Or is he just that good? He said he’s aiming for the league, but he seems like a total lightweight!
QST.camera now shifts to Ash, and synchronizes with his gaze for five seconds (real time) while Ash surveys the garden. After this, Vicky’s voice snaps Ash back to the battle:
Vicky: Ready? Go!
Vicky: I don’t know what he’s planning! I’ll make this quick!
Vicky: Camerupt! Fissure!
Camerupt slams it’s front feet on the ground, sending a shock wave across the battlefield that takes Ash by surprise, causing him to flinch for a split-second before giving Pikachu direction.
Ash: Pikachu, jump!
Pikachu leaps out of the way, first with a normal jump, then with an electrically charged jump (similar to Pikachu’s [up + B] attack from Super Smash Bros™); rolling over out of the way and landing on all fours. Pikachu then sparks at Camerupt.
Ash: Thunderbolt!
Pikachu launches an electric attack at Camerupt, but Camerupt is unfazed.
May: If he knows it’s a ground-type then why…
Yami Benjy: Probably wasn’t listening.
May swallows.
Beautifly: Beau?
Vicky: So he is a lightweight! My instincts are never wrong!
Vicky: Earthquake!
Ash: Dodge and iron tail!
Camerupt looses an earthquake, and Pikachu leaps rightwards and then leaps at Camerupt with it’s tail glowing. Earthquake passes under Pikachu, but nearly knocks over everyone else as well as causing a small amount of damage to the garden. Following this attack, Pikachu lands an iron tail on Camerupt’s nose, causing it’s face to turn bright red. This confuses Ash.
Vicky: Hehe! You just activated anger point.
May: What’s that?
Coal: It’s one of Camerupt’s abilities–
Vicky: Now eruption!
Ash: Pikachu, dodge–!
Vicky: We’re covering the entire field.
Suddenly Camerupt blasts a gigantic amount of lava out of the volcanoes on it’s back into the air. Victor slaps his palm to his forehead while Victoria pulls him out of the way. Vivi retreats as well, along with Coal and Yami Benjy. Brock has to pull May out of the way as lava comes raining down all over the battlefield, causing the ground to shake simultaneously.
New Scene()
Vito is with Team Rocket sitting behind a pile of rocks by the edge of the yard, while Team Rocket is watching the battles through binoculars when suddenly the first earthquake hits all of them, causing Team Rocket to drop their binoculars. Jessie quickly picks the binoculars up but suddenly gasps after about two seconds of looking through them (real time).
Jessie: Did I just see a…
Meowth: Look up!
Jessie, James, and Meowth look up to see the lava from Camerupt’s eruption attack in the air, and freeze for a minute, before Jessie and James both grab Vito by the shoulders (Jessie=left, James=right) and, along with Meowth, start to run away dragging Vito with them.
Vito: Wait! You guys promised me you’d help me talk to my family.
Vito starts to drag his feet.
James: Survival is more important!
Vito: It’s just grandma’s Cam–
Vito suddenly cuts himself off and turns around to see Team Rocket has let go of him, and are running for their lives into the distance.
{Jessie, James, Meowth}: Team Rocket’s blasting off again!
Vito stares after them nervously.
Vito: I guess I can’t blame them for being scared…
Revert Scene()
Ash and company (including Max in the doorway of the house) as well as Victor, Victoria, and Vivi all stare horrified at the destruction that Camerupt has caused to the garden and the battlefield. Vicky seems quite pleased however, but Pikachu is nowhere in sight. Camerupt still looks enraged.
May: Where’s Pikachu?
Vicky: And it’s over.
Ash now grins.
Ash: Iron tail!
Something suddenly strikes Camerupt from it’s underbelly, nearly knocking Camerupt over backward. On Ash’s command, while Vicky stares speechless, Pikachu strikes Camerupt with another iron tail.
Ash: And that’s…
Camerupt suddenly regains it’s balance, simultaneously shooting lava out of it’s volcanoes and appears to land, hard, on top of Pikachu.
Ash: Pikachu!
Camerupt now tries to stomp on Pikachu whom runs out from underneath it. Camerupt gives chase through the garden (without instruction from Vicky) spewing smoke and chunks of soot out of it’s volcanoes. This chase lasts about 30 seconds (real time) before Camerupt corners Pikachu on a straightaway, looking irate. Two seconds later, Pikachu stumbles and Camerupt runs right over Pikachu (not actually stepping on Pikachu); on a trajectory straight towards the Winstraight’s house.
QST.camera zooms around showing everyone’s looks of horror, and then QST.camera shifts back to Camerupt, who now looks like a firework in the darkness.
New Scene()
Vito stares as Camerupt runs towards the Winstraight’s house in the darkness.
Vito: Now that I think about it, I’m surprised they lasted this long without me.
Vito takes out a Poké ball.
Vito: Alakazam! Rain Dance!
An Alakazam pops out of it’s Poké ball and looks at Vito curiously. Vito points to Camerupt urgently.
Vito: Now!
Alakazam shoots a beam of blue light from it’s eyes into the sky.
Revert Scene()
Rain suddenly starts to fall, and then starts to fall on hard on Camerupt, which slows it down significantly. With it raining hard on Camerupt, Camerupt seems to forget what it’s doing and look around curiously. It sees some vegetables, and quickly goes over to much on them. QST.camera shifts back to the humans watching (minus Vito)
Victoria: Wow, a freak rainfall… We really lucked out.
Coal turns to where Vito is situated, watching them in the rocks.
Coal: That wasn’t luck.
Coal doesn’t point, but the Winstraights suddenly turn towards where Coal is looking.
Revert Scene()
Situated on the rocks, Vito takes a deep breath and recalls Alakazam.
Vito: This is it. I’ve just got to make the right entrance.
Revert Scene()
In the distance, Vito begins to climb down from the rocks, eventually landing in the garden.
Vito: Coal.
May: Who’s that?
QST.camera now zooms in somewhat on Vito, enough to see him clearly despite the darkness.
Vito: It’s Vito. You owe me a rematch!
...///To Be Continued///...
© September 15, 2005 to July 29, 2015 by Benjy Strauss