New Scene()
Under a red evening sky, Ash and company set up camp.
Yami Benjy: What did they call themselves again? Team Plasma?
Benjy: Wasn’t really paying attention, with that much on the line back there.
Benjy yawns and lies down in the grass. Max also yawns, watching the sunset with Jirachi. Ash and May are already fast asleep in their sleeping bags.
Yami Benjy: Something bugs me. Why hasn’t Jirachi gone back into it’s cocoon?
Benjy: Who knows. But is it really more important than all the other unanswered questions we have?
Yami Benjy: Maybe… Let’s make a list…
Benjy: One: Why hasn’t Jirachi gone back into it’s cocoon?
Yami Benjy: Two: Big one: What’s happening to spacetime that allowed me to come here in the first place.
Benjy: Three: Why did Mikey suddenly fall into a coma?
Yami Benjy: Four: How does a coma get worse?
At this point Benjy falls asleep and Yami Benjy is left staring at the sky.
New Scene(@Temporal = Daybreak)
The noise of an engine running wakes everyone up. Benjy quickly gets to his feet with the rest of Ash and company, as they look around for where the noise is coming from. The noise gets louder, and Ash and company move towards the side of the road. Suddenly, a gigantic jeep with massive tires comes roaring up the path at them. May screams, terrified.
As the truck shoots towards them, it hits a bump in the ground and flips over, sailing right over the heads of Ash and company, and lands upside-down on the ground with a sickening crunch. Ash and company stare at the jeep in horror.
Totodile Hunter: Like a glove!
Max hears the sound of a second engine running, and soon a limousine pulls up alongside the jeep. Men with cameras suddenly jump out of the limousine and run up to the jeep.
Man: Mr. Hunter?! Sir, are you okay?!
The door to the jeep opens up and and a woodsman jumps out. The jeep is smack in the middle of Ash and company’s camp, but fortunately not on top of anything.
Max: Holy (bleep)…
The Totodile Hunter walks out of the jeep and stretches.
Man: Sir, your shoulder!
Totodile Hunter: It’s just a flesh wound.
Despite this, the man insists that the Totodile Hunter’s shoulder be washed and bandaged.
Man1: Make sure the next jeep has shatterproof glass…
Man2: I thought this one was shatterproof…
Man1: Well, shatterproof it again!
Totodile Hunter’s wound is never shown to QST.camera, only the bandage on his left shoulder.
Totodile Hunter: Hey you kids, you seen my knife?
Deciding to help out, Ash and Brock examine the inside of the flipped jeep. Eventually, Brock pulls a knife out from the dashboard and presents it to the Totodile Hunter.
Brock: Is this what you’re looking for, sir?
Totodile Hunter: That’s not a knife, kid.
May looks at the knife curiously.
May: Then what is it?
Totodile Hunter: That’s my beard trimmer.
Now that his injury is taken care of, Totodile Hunter goes back into his jeep and rummages through some junk.
Totodile Hunter: Kids… This, is a knife!
Totodile Hunter pulls a gigantic knife (approx. 2 feet long) out of his jeep. Max passes out (hyperventilates) just looking at it. Totodile Hunter looks at Max curiously.
Totodile Hunter: Never seen that happen before. (About Max fainting from seeing the knife)
Man: Hey, those kids look familiar…
Cameraman: How so?
A man in a black suit gets out of the limousine.
Director: You guys, get over here!
The three men huddle together, and QST.camera zooms in on them:
Man: I’m telling you, boss: those kids look familiar…
Lady (in limousine): They’re Norman’s children. You thinking of letting them guest star on the show?
Director: Yup. But who are those other kids with them?
Lady: Well, the older one looks like Brock, the old Pewter City gym leader. I think with enough make-up our viewers won’t know the difference.
Director: And the other two?
Lady: Not sure, but I might’ve seen them before somewhere.
QST.camera shifts back to Ash and company talking to the cameraman and Totodile Hunter. The cameraman begins to shoo away Ash and company, as they have a show to film, but the director calls him over and asks Ash and company to hold on a bit.
Director: You realize who those kids are? (whisper)
Cameraman: No, who are they? (whisper)
The director points out Norman’s children, and the cameraman’s eyes suddenly show dollar signs.
Cameraman: So can you get them on the show?
Lady: Easy, boys.
Director: Just follow my lead…
The director emerges from the other side of the limousine as Ash and company are putting their stuff together.
Director: Hey, you kids are Pokémon trainers, right?
Ash: Uh, yeah…
Director: Perfect, perfect, we’re going to need a little bit of help filming this.
May: What kind of show is this?
Totodile Hunter: We all over the place catching various pokémon. We’re after an Arcanine this time, or so they tell me.
Ash: Arcanine…
Brock: Something’s not right with these guys, they don’t seem like your typical pokémon trainers… Or even researchers…
Brock: Normally we’d love to help, but we’re on our way to Petalburg, we’re kind of in a hurry.
Ash: Hurry? Why? (Whisper to Brock)
Brock: There’s something fishy about these guys, I don’t want to get involved with them.
At this point the lady emerges from the limousine.
Lady: It wouldn’t work anyway, we need stronger trainers.
At this, Ash shouts back that they have all the experience needed and would be happy to help.
Benjy turns to Brock
Benjy: Why are they doing this?
Brock: You know anything about pokémon hunter?
Benjy: Not at all, do you?
Brock: Only heard about it. They hunt down, and presumably capture, powerful pokémon, using somewhat unorthodox methods.
Benjy: Like what?
Brock: I don’t know…
Max: Really?! May, you could learn some awesome capture techniques!
Lady: I told you they weren’t experienced.
This comment earns a retort from Ash, and the lady throws a wink to the Director.
Director: So are you kids with us?
Benjy: Maybe…
Ash agrees.
The lady explains that, this time, they are hunting down an Arcanine, and tasks Ash and company with helping them flip Totodile Hunter’s jeep back over. Benjy stares into the sky while Ash and company work with Totodile Hunter and the cameraman at this.
Benjy: Something’s weird, why do they need our help? They seem like professionals to me?
Yami Benjy: They said experienced trainers, so I’m guessing this is one tough mission. I wonder if we know what we’re getting ourselves into…
Benjy: They only said that to get us to volunteer. That’s how adults work.
Yami Benjy: And you’re sure about that?
Benjy: As sure as a scientist can be.
Brock calls to Benjy to ask why he isn’t helping, Benjy replies that he’s not sure how. Brock replies that all he needs to do is push; the Millennium Gameboy Advance is glowing brightly.
Yami Benjy lends a hand pushing, and they push the jeep onto it’s side, then right side up. The jeep lands with all four wheels on the ground, and now it’s time to go off hunting. Totodile Hunter invites them into the jeep, however Yami Benjy expresses worry that the jeep will flip over again. Brock worries where the knife will go if the jeep flips. The only alternative is the limo, which Ash and company are happy to ride in, except there isn’t room for Yami Benjy. The director tries to remedy this, by using Yami Benjy as a base, but Yami Benjy tells him not to worry and that there’s plenty of room.
New Scene()
The jeep and limo move slowly and stealthily through the forest. Yami Benjy is riding on the top of the limo using a the energy of the Millennium Gameboy Advance to anchor himself. Even when the limo makes a sharp turn, Yami Benjy doesn’t leave the top of the limo.
Ahead of them, Totodile Hunter starts to flip his truck, so Yami Benjy has Satolite use it’s tractor beam to keep the jeep from flipping and crushing them, to the thrill of the camera crew. In addition, Yami Benjy is able to protect himself from branches with a golden shield. Totodile Hunter starts to flip his truck three different times (total) on this trip, all are stopped by Satolite’s tractor beam.
New Scene()
The limousine and jeep drive along a creek, with the jeep in front. This works for a little ways, but eventually the jeep provides too wide for the ground it’s on, and tumbles down the riverbank before crashing into the creek. Ash and company gasp in horror, but the director only checks to make sure the cameraman has this on film.
Down below, Totodile Hunter uses his gigantic knife to cut himself free of the truck, also to the horror of Ash and company. The cameraman then stops the camera and the man, lady, and cameraman run to help Totodile Hunter get back up on the riverbank. At this point Jirachi wakes up from his nap and looks around. The camera crew are unsure what to do with the fallen jeep.
The director wishes that the jeep would just appear back in front of them, all fixed. Jirachi hears this and grants the wish, teleporting and repairing the jeep in the process. The director is baffled, until Ash explains about Jirachi. The director then wishes for maximum ratings, but Jirachi is too tired, and goes back to sleep. As the director pulls on his own hair, Brock explains that Jirachi sleeps for 16 hours a day.
Director: Why? Why? Why? I could’ve wished for anything… WHY?!?!
Yami Benjy: If I were you, I’d be thanking my lucky stars that the stupid truck got fixed.
Director: I let the opportunity of a lifetime…
Yami Benjy: Did you hear me, ingrate?!
Totodile Hunter: And what could be better than getting the truck fixed? Would’ve taken a whole day.
May: You’re acting like a kid.
Director: Oh right, I still have the kids. I guess I shouldn’t offend them, the show needs the ratings…
New Scene()
Totodile Hunter’s truck and the limousine pull up at the edge of a dense forest. The cameraman announces that the camera is rolling. Everyone arrives at a clearing, and Totodile Hunter narrates what’s going on. The lady asks Ash which trail he thinks they should take.
Ash puzzles over this, and asks Pikachu, but Pikachu doesn’t smell anything. Brock states that he doesn’t see any traces of Arcanine around, especially since they are in swampland, and Arcanine are fire types.
Totodile Hunter: We’re looking for the fire swamp.
#Princess_Bride_Reference
May,Max: FIRE swamp?!
Ash: What’s a fire swamp?
Lady: A Fire swamp is a swamp with fire in it. Duh.
Giving the lady a concerned look, Benjy calls on Satolite to scan the area, looking for a fire swamp.
Benjy: One question: wouldn’t that mean that there’s lava right underneath the ground, meaning that if we put too much weight on one spot we might tumble into the lava?
Lady: The amount of weight you’re thinking of is about twenty-five tones. It’s why we left the cars back at the um…
Ash and company watch the lady fumble for the right words to say.
Brock: You mean on the trail?
Lady: Thank you, you are such a gentleman. I must have more! More!
Brock: And thanks, but you’re not my type…
The lady look dejectedly back at the director.
May: Brock has a type? (whisper to Ash/Max)
Yami Benjy: Observation number 67: Brock is not nearly as desperate as I thought.
#Yu-Gi-Oh_Zexal_Refernace (the numbered observation)
Cameraman: Back to the subject at hand: did your Trigamon locate the fire swamp?
Benjy: We’ll find out as soon as it gets back.
Refresh Scene()
Max: Man, this is taking forever.
May: No sign of Satolite anywhere. Think I should send Beautifly?
Cameraman: Sounds good to me, I had no idea that this fire swamp would be so (bleep) hard to find.
May calls on Beautifly to go search from the air, and Ash also sends Taillow. Totodile Hunter stares at them in amazement.
Totodile Hunter: Such majestic creatures…
Suddenly Beautifly and Taillow dive out of the way as Satolite jumps back like a rocket, it lands in Benjy’s arms, slightly injured.
Totodile Hunter: Did the ol’ fire swamp get ya.
Satolite slowly shakes it’s head. When asked Satolite does show them a map of where the fire swamp is.
New Scene()
As everyone walks down the trail, Benjy tries to figure out what happened to Satolite. Satolite opens it’s monitor and displays some pictures of Team Rocket’s balloon, eventually showing them blast off, when Satolite ignited some gas in the fire swamp. Ash is shocked to learn that Team Rocket is in the fire swamp, but Benjy corrects him, showing him a picture from Satolite’s monitor.
Benjy: …we’re in the fire swamp.
Benjy gestures to Satolite’s monitor.
Benjy: Who knows where they are now.
Up ahead is the majority of the fire swamp, although it looks calm at the moment. Only one fire is burning as far as anyone can see. Ash and company set off through the swamp, with everything going fine for about 15 seconds (real time).
Suddenly, the ground sputters next to May and a flame erupts from the ground about a foot away from her. May shrieks and falls to the ground in fright. Benjy and Brock help her to her feet.
Ash: So this is a fire swamp, huh?
Totodile Hunter stares at the flame.
Totodile Hunter: Well, trying to hurt my company are ya? Well take this!
Totodile Hunter pulls his arm back and punches the fire. When he removes his arm, his arm is on fire.
Totodile Hunter: Wow, this this one’s a fighter! See how he’s grabbing onto me eating away my skin? That means he angry!
Brock has Mudkip extinguish the fire with water gun, and Totodile Hunter’s arm steams.
Totodile Hunter: Thanks mate, but he was just trying to protect his young ones.
This comment comes off on deaf ears.
Yami Benjy: I wonder if he can solve a captcha.
Ash and company continue on, with the camera crew behind them. A fire flares up near the side of the road, and so everyone is careful to avoid it. Totodile Hunter passes gas as he passes it, causing the flame to flare violently.
Totodile Hunter: Hey, it’s for more! Take that!
Brock and the Director hold Totodile Hunter back, while Benjy and May wonder if Totodile Hunter "is for real." They continue on, but not before Totodile tries to slay another fire with his knife, which becomes to hot to handle, and he drops it, stabbing himself in the foot. Totodile Hunter pulls the knife from his foot. As he does so, his shoe starts to turn red.
Totodile Hunter: That was a close one. Almost hit something important.
Ash and May shiver looking at Totodile Hunter’s wound. Totodile Hunter turns his back on the flame and suddenly the flame flares brightly. Seconds later, the ground explodes, throwing everyone into the air and about fifteen feet away.
Benjy lands hard on his feet, but everyone else lands on their sides. Totodile Hunter’s knife almost impales Ash, landing point-down in the ground a mere foot from his body. The lady’s makeup is messed up, and she calls to have the cameraman redo it, as everyone waits.
Suddenly, the Millennium Gameboy Advance glows brightly.
Yami Benjy: I don’t think you should be doing this.
Lady: Don’t be silly. That’s why you’re helping us.
Yami Benjy: I’m serious, lady. This is not a good place to be.
Ash and company voice similar opinions, but the Lady refuses to give up, as does Totodile Hunter. Brock and Yami Benjy move away from the group to talk. Yami Benjy suggests that they leave while they still can, but Brock informs him that if they do, Totodile Hunter will probably get himself killed. Yami Benjy thinks he’s faking it, and Brock says that that is his hope as well. Both turn around to find everyone gone, fortunately, Satolite locates everyone, and they catch up quickly.
Everyone else has backtracked a ways and gone a different route. As Yami Benjy and Brock move into a more swampy part of the fire swamp, Satolite reveals that Ash, May, and Max are in the middle of the group. Satolite flies out of Benjy’s arms to go cut the group off, as Yami Benjy and Brock fight their way through the undergrowth.
New Scene()
Satolite flies in front of the group and sparks violently. They turn around to see Brock and Yami Benjy approaching from the back.
Lady: I thought you two had given up?
Brock: Really now?
Yami Benjy: Liar, liar, pants on fire!
The lady shrieks as she realizes that her dress is indeed ablaze.
Brock: Stop, drop, and roll!
The lady doesn’t do this, instead she screams and panics, setting fire to herself, Ash, and Totodile Hunter, both of whom are smart enough to follow Brock’s instructions. The lady steps on Totodile Hunter’s backside, and he passes gas again, fueling the flames. She is knocked free by Mudkips water gun, and starts rolling in hysterics, which is enough to put out most of the flames, and allowing Mudkip to finish the job.
Refresh Scene()
Brock applies bandages and ointment to the lady’s burns, identifying them as mostly first-degree. Yami Benjy stares shaking his head.
Lady: What are you looking at?! (at Yami Benjy)
Yami Benjy: You are the most aerodynamic imbecile I have ever met…
Lady: You really mean that? (feeling complemented)
The lady looks at Yami Benjy with tears in her eyes.
Yami Benjy: Absolutely.
Totodile Hunter: He just called you a freaking moron.
Lady: The boys always notice my intelligence.
The lady now tosses her hair elegantly.
Ash: Or lack thereof… (whisper)
Lady: Even the kids.
Yami Benjy: Congratulations, you are actually too stupid to insult.
The lady looks back at Brock who is still applying bandages.
Lady: Thanks, that feels nice.
Ash begins to get impatient, and eventually his impatience gets everyone goes on the move again.
Yami Benjy: Promise us that you’ll leave this place once you find the Arcanine. We won’t be able to go with you much further.
Max agrees, stating that the swamp is a deathtrap. In the distance, a growling is heard from a bush. Ash and May take out their pokédexes, which identify the creature as a Raticate.
Max: That’s a Raticate?
Yami Benjy: Biologically yes, but I believe that it’s actually a R.O.U.S..
Ash: A what?
Totodile Hunter: A Raticate Of Unusual Size. Let me ‘andle this.
The Millennium Gameboy Advance glows brightly.
Ash and company part to allow Totodile Hunter access to the front of the group.
Totodile Hunter: Watch kids, you first poke the bush with a stick. Then…
Something roars, and a seven foot tall Raticate charges at them.
Ash: Pikachu, thunder!
Benjy: Satolite, thunder!
Totodile Hunter: This one angry!
The R.O.U.S. stops charging and looks around, then jumps at Totodile Hunter. Totodile Hunter dodges, and uses his knife to cut off the R.O.U.S.’s whiskers. Confused, the R.O.U.S. collides with a tree.
Benjy: Ash, I think you should catch that.
Ash: You sure?
Totodile Hunter: Let’s see what happens when I poke it with a bigger stick!
Benjy: You can send it to Professor Oak, right? (Whisper to Ash)
Totodile Hunter grabs a giant branch, and Ash grabs a poké ball, which he throws at Totodile Hunter approaches the cornered R.O.U.S. with fake stealth and the stick. The R.O.U.S. growls, and as it does Ash’s poké ball makes contact and the R.O.U.S. disappears inside. The pokéball wiggles, and the R.O.U.S. is captured.
Totodile Hunter: Son of a gun you made it disappear! Now we’ll never know what happens if we poke it…
Brock: I don’t think you want to find out.
Lady: But that’s the whole point of the show!
Max: I don’t think there would be a show if–
Following Totodile Hunter, Ash and company walk on a solid path around a gigantic swampy mess. The path ends, with no Arcanine in sight. Everyone stares into the swamp curiously.
Brock expresses regret that they didn’t get to see any Arcanine, and the Lady says that she thought that surely they would have sensed the trainers’ toughness.
Benjy: I don’t think it works like that.
Totodile Hunter: It always worked that way before.
May: Hey, what’s that?!
Ash takes out his pokédex which identifies the pokémon as an Arcanine. It’s down in the swamp however, despite this, the main cast of Totodile Hunter’s show gets excited.
May: You’re not really thinking of going down there are you?
Benjy: It would be suicide.
Totodile Hunter: Crikey, why does everyone keep saying that?
The lady explains that Ash and company can stay on solid ground if they want to, and that this is a job for Totodile Hunter and the cameraman only. At this, Totodile Hunter and the cameraman begin to walk down into the fire swamp. Fires flare up behind Totodile Hunter, and the cameraman has trouble passing these flares.
Satolite lifts off of Benjy’s head to get a closer look from the air.
New Scene()
Totodile Hunter and the cameraman approach the sleeping Arcanine.
Totodile Hunter: Crikey, it’s a big one.
Totodile Hunter: The thing with Arcanine is that they’re really dangerous if you get on their wrong side. Capable of breathing fire. They’re used to being treated with a great deal of awe I’m told. What they don’t like is to be woken up, especially not with accordion music. Also they aren’t too fond of sharp objects.
Totodile Hunter: Hmm. Let’s see what happens if I poke it with this sharp stick–no wait, that’s my beard trimmer.
Totodile Hunter pokes the Arcanine with a sharp stick, but the Arcanine doesn’t move. He uses the sharp stick to move the Arcanine’s lips, showing it’s teeth.
Totodile Hunter: It’s got some mighty teeth, looks like it could bite off an arm.
The cameraman suggests that perhaps the Arcanine is dead. Totodile Hunter says that there’s only one way to find out, and pulls an accordion out of his bag and begins to play.
Back on the path, Ash and company wince at the sound. The lady appears to be enjoying it, and May wonders aloud if they can reverse lobotomies. Back with Totodile Hunter, the Arcanine snaps awake and growls at him.
Totodile Hunter: It’s alive!
The Arcanine glares at him and roars.
Totodile Hunter: Whew, nasty breath. Let’s see what happens now if I poke him.
Totodile Hunter pokes the Arcanine and it blasts him with fire but Totodile Hunter just shrugs it off.
Totodile Hunter: Ooh, ‘es mad now!
@Contraction: {"Totodile Hunter" TO "TH"}
Totodile Hunter grabs the Arcanine’s lower jaw, and it blasts him with fire, and they begin their battle. The camera goes back to Ash and company, who watch from a distance, confused at what is going on, as they didn’t see Totodile Hunter call on a pokémon.
Back in the battle, Totodile Hunter battles the Arcanine with punches and kicks, eventually knocking it to the ground, all while the cameras roll. At this point another Arcanine jumps onto Totodile Hunter from the back, digging it’s claws into Totodile Hunter’s shoulders. Totodile Hunter pulls a claw forwards for the camera to view.
Totodile Hunter: See these nails, Arcanines have razor sharp nails, capable of slicing through bone.
Ash: So when’s he actually going to catch it?
Brock: I’m not sure, but he’s got to be skilled to weaken it himself.
Eventually, Totodile Hunter and the cameraman emerge from the swamp, and Totodile Hunter, has a 2 x 2 x 2 cage in his hand. As he walks up the hill, Ash and company realize that he’s crammed an Arcanine into it. The Arcanine whimpers, trying to scratch at the cage, but it can’t move much.
Totodile Hunter: We caught them.
Ash and company stare at this in horror.
Lady: We don’t need some fancy-shmancy poké ball to stick a pokémon in a smaller space than it’s used to.
The lady is looking rather pleased with herself, and around Benjy’s neck the Millennium Gameboy Advance glows brightly.
Yami Benjy: Something’s wrong…
Panic sweeps Ash and company as they realize that the cage has both Arcanine crammed into it.
Ash: Son of a Bidoof!
Max: What?!
May: Let them out! You’re hurting them!
Totodile Hunter: Btu we caught ‘em, just like you kids do…
Lady: Our cage is much bigger than your pokéballs.
Brock: Sure, the outside is, but the inside isn’t, and that’s what matters.
May: Let them out!!!
May rushes at Totodile Hunter, who catches her and restrains her with one hand.
Totodile Hunter: Calm down, you girls are so emotional…
Max: Let my sister go! Jirachi, confusion!
Jirachi is fast asleep. The director comments that he didn’t expect this kind of reaction.
Ash: I’m giving you two seconds to let May go! Scratch that, Pikachu thun–
The director jumps in the way, and Ash shoves him away. Jumping back in the way, the director grabs Pikachu and is knocked flat on his back by a massive thunder attack. Brock orders Totodile Hunter to let May go, and he does. May collapses an Ash runs over to her.
Ash: May!
May struggles to get her breath, but she is too angry to speak, although physically unhurt
Ash: To think we helped you with this…
Yami Benjy: We know better now…
Max picks Pikachu up off of the fallen director.
Max: You should be ashamed of yourselves.
Director: This is Reality TV. There is no shame.
A panting sound comes from behind Brock, and Max looks around to see a pair of baby Growlithe.
Director: Now what should do about this?
Totodile Hunter: Stuff them in the crate too!
Lady: Juggle them!
Limo Driver: Or you could just let them go.
The director looks at the driver expectantly.
Cutscene() {
The director pushes a button on a remote control, which ejects the limo driver through the roof of the limo into the sky.
}
The Growlithe begin to approach the camp curiously, and Totodile Hunter prepares to grab them. The Arcanine in the cage seem to be trying to tell them (the Growlithe) to run. However the Growlithe just stare at TH curiously.
Ash: Run!
The director lunges in the way of Brock, who knocks him backwards giving him a bloody nose. The Lady begins to beckon the Growlithe, but Pikachu shouts a warning. Totodile Hunter approaches one from behind, but Ash snatches it out of the way.
Brock: Shame on you!
Yami Benjy is now holding the other Growlithe. Confused, Totodile Hunter instructs them to hold still, and starts preparing his cage. Instead, Yami Benjy kicks the cage away into the fire swamp. Ash and company then run off through some dense forest, leaving TH and crew to hack their way through. The Growlithe help by setting fires, but this doesn’t slow TH much. The path is diagramed below:
(In this map, the gray-green is the fire swamp, the green is dense forest, the blue is Ash and company, and the brown is pathway)
As Totodile Hunter and crew chase them, the Lady accuses Ash and company of being from a rival TV show trying to destroy their ratings, and decides that she won’t forgive them. Ash and company reach a dead end, and with Totodile Hunter and crew approaching, a battle breaks out. Pikachu, Torchic, Satolite, and the Growlithe drive them back repeatedly with fire and electricity, but ultimately not even Forretress's explosion is able to drive them back completely, forcing Ash and company to take off into the fire swamp, which the Growlithe help them to navigate.
The lady states that she won’t let them get away, and Totodile Hunter and crew run back to their cars.
New Scene()
Ash and company have arrived at an island (note, this is an island in the sense that they are surrounded by swamp) in the fire swamp, but can’t believe what they’ve helped Totodile Hunter and crew accomplish. Yami Benjy comforts Ash, saying that now that they know, they’ll be sure to make Totodile Hunter and crew pay for what they did.
Max: You sure?
Brock: They’ll be coming back for the Growlithe…
Yami Benjy: And that’s when we destroy them.
Satolite makes a noise, indicating that it has detected some vehicles on its radar. Soon, Totodile Hunter’s jeep and the limo come into view, rolling across the fire swamp. Ash and company hide behind some trees as Totodile Hunter and crew disembark onto the island.
Ash: Now…
A barrage of electric, fire, water, and grass attacks smash into Totodile Hunter and crew, who begin hacking at the jungle. Totodile Hunter bats things away with the cage (with the Arcanine still inside; they whimper slightly), as him and his crew force their way to where Ash and company are.
Totodile Hunter: Crikey, they’ve gone ballistic! We’ll it’s just teenagers in their natural habitat…
Ash’s Treecko uses pound on Totodile Hunter’s face, but Totodile Hunter just grabs it by the tail, and attempts to shove it into the cage too. However the Arcanine take this opportunity to spring out from the cage, taking Treecko with them. Watching from the limo, the director presses a button on the limo and a rocket launcher emerges from the roof of the limo, and it fires a missile at the escaping Arcanine, KOing both of them, and sending Treecko flying. Ash orders Pikachu to thunderbolt the limo in retaliation, but nothing much comes of the attack.
Yami Benjy now faces off against Totodile Hunter, using his blade-mittens to block Totodile Hunter’s fists. Yami Benjy’s speed is enough to block Totodile Hunter attack power, but neither can land a hit on the other.
Back in the limousine, the director decides to fight fire with fire, and launches a missile at Ash and company (minus Yami Benjy who is not in the targeted area). Pikachu destroys the missile with a thunderbolt, but Ash and company are forced to dodge two more subsequent missiles.
Brock: I knew something was rotten about these guys–
Ash: That’s really helpful now mister 20-20 hindsight–
Another missile hits and knocks everyone flying a few feet. Pikachu blasts away another missile as Ash, May, Max, and Brock get to their feet.
Max: How dare you launch missiles at us!
Max charges towards the limo.
Max: You’ll pay for that!!!
Max rushes the limousine, and angrily attempts to crush the windshield (and thus get at the director) by stomping on it. When this fails, Ash sends Corphish to use crabhammer on the windshield, but still nothing happens to the limousine. Inside it however, the director turns the rocket launcher towards Max.
Ash: MAX, watch out!!!
Refresh Scene(QST.Sound = Off, slow-motion)
Max now realizes that the missile launcher is pointed at him, but it’s too late. The missile fires and something explodes. May leaps forwards with tears in her eyes, calling out Max’s name. Yami Benjy and Totodile Hunter stop fighting to stare in horror at the explosion. May now crashes to the ground with tears in her eyes, and Ash and Brock stand horrorstruck as the smoke is everywhere.
Refresh Scene(QST.Sound = On)
May: MAX!!!
Max’s voice: Um…
QST.camera now split-screens to show the shocked expressions of Ash, May, Brock, Totodile Hunter, the Lady, and Yami Benjy. QST.camera now switches to Max, unhurt, along with Corphish, protected by a glowing yellow barrier. The rocket launcher on the limo is shown to have been what exploded.
Lady: (bleep) thing is defective!
The lady now starts to storm over to the limo, but screams after taking the first couple steps.
Lady: OW!
Totodile Hunter: It’s the spirit of the swamp!!!
Brock: Spirit of the swamp?
Totodile Hunter now falls to his knees.
Totodile Hunter: Oh great spirit, please–
Lady: Hot! Hot! Hot! Hot!!! Ooo… pretty fire! Ow-hot!!
Totodile Hunter: Stop it, you’ll–
???: Oh, sheesh.
Totodile Hunter: Sheesh?
???: May! Max! How in the world did you–
Ash and company stare into the sky at a black silhouette of a girl riding on a Flygon is staring down at them.
Lady: So hot, but also so beautiful…
With this, the girl jumps down from the Flygon, gaining color as she does so, and proceeds to strike the lady in the chin with a well-aimed punch. The Lady falls to the ground on the side of her body which is on fire (the side further from the limousine) which smothers the fire, effectively putting it out.
The director now opens the door and steps out of the door, glaring at the new girl angrily.
Director: And who do you think you are?!
Totodile Hunter: Don’t anger the spirit of the swamp!
The director now starts to walk towards the girl.
Director: She’s not a spirit, she’s just a dump school kid–
With this, while the director’s attention is turned to Totodile Hunter, the girl lands a powerful punch in the director’s stomach. The director recoils then attempts to grab the girl, whom easily sidesteps him and holds out her hand repeatedly bombarding the director with flashes of energy, knocking him to the ground.
Director: Elp–
Cameraman: He needs your help!
Totodile Hunter: I’m coming!
Totodile Hunter now rushes towards the girl and the director.
May: Ciri, lookou–
Before Totodile can reach the girl (Ciri), or before even May can finish her warning, Ciri turns towards Totodile hunter making an odd series of movements with her hands. Suddenly an invisible force catches Totodile Hunter by the neck and holds him in midair, making it hard for him to breathe.
??? → Ciri: Flygon, dragon pulse!
Flygon now descends on Totodile Hunter, hitting him in the head with a massive pulse of energy, which is enough to knock him unconscious. Ciri then turns her attention back to the director, whom she is standing over, and is consequently able to look up her pants, as evidenced by his expression. Ciri also turns a bit red, then smacks the director with a bolt of energy, knocking him unconscious.
Ciri now turns to the cameraman with disapproval, and he trembles she stares at him.
Cameraman: P-please have mercy…
Refresh Scene()
Totodile Hunter, the director, the cameraman, and the lady are all tied up with string shot lying on their backs on the ground. Ash and company (which now includes Ciri) stand around them
Cameraman: W-what are you going to do with us?!
Director: This is illegal! As producers of a televised show, we have diplomatic immunity!
Ciri: Do I look like an officer of the law to you?
Director: What kind of a dump comeback is that?!
Ciri now smacks the director with a bolt of energy.
Ciri: I can’t even hear myself think…
Max: Ciri, how did you know to find us?
Ciri: I spotted you from the sky. The real question is what did you get into? I thought you guys were headed to the grand festival?
Ash: I still need to challenge Norman for the balance b–
Ash is cut off by Brock.
Brock: We were on our way you see, when we were abducted by this horrible band of rouge hooligans.
Director: Hooligans!?
Brock: Shut it! They tried to trap them but we failed, and that’s when you showed up. Like an angel sent from heaven, you descended from the sky to rescue us…
Brock is now down on one knee in front of Ciri, who is staring at him completely dumbfounded.
Ciri: Um… Thanks, I guess… It wasn’t much though…
Brock now grabs Ciri’s hands, startling her.
Brock: Oh but it was, I’ve never seen such a powerful and beautiful magical girl in my entire…
Brock is cut off as Ciri starts shaking uncontrollably and her eyes roll back into her head. May and Flygon quickly grab Ciri before she can fall over and hit her head. Brock stares at Ciri completely confused. Max grabs Brock by the ear.
Brock: Wh-what’s going on!?
Max: Our friend is having a seizure.
Brock whimpers as Max drags him away by the ear. Ciri’s arm now breaks free of Flygon’s grasp and smacks it in the face.
May: Ash, I need you to grab her arm! Gently!
Ash quickly does, and slowly they lay Ciri on the ground, where her shaking begins to subside. The director begins to laugh, but Yami Benjy stomps on his back, the Millennium Gameboy Advance glowing as he does so.
Ash: May, what’s happening…
May: It’s just one of her…
Benjy: Looks like a seizure to me, not that I’ve ever seen one.
May nods.
May: They don’t last long, she’ll be okay in a couple minutes.
Benjy closes his eyes and swallows.
Benjy: So what do we do with these guys?
Benjy gestures at the crew of the "Totodile Hunter" show.
Brock: If they have diplomatic immunity and we turn them over to the police, then they’ll just release them…
May: After what they did, it will probably be revoked, right?
The director grins hearing this, while the cameraman just looks hopeful.
Brock: That’s a long process though…
Brock now notices someone tapping him on the shoulder.
Brock: Hey, Ash you got an idea.
Ash: That’s not me tapping you on the shoulder…
Brock looks back in surprise to see a pair of Slaking.
Slaking: Slaking slay. King.
Pikachu: Pikachu.
Flygon: Flygon fly?
The Slaking now gestures for Brock to step aside so it can get through.
Refresh Scene()
Ash and company stare as the Slaking drag the tied-up crew of the "Totodile Hunter" show into the fire swamp. Ciri is now awake, with her head elevated in Flygon’s lap.
Ash: Wow…
May: I wonder what they’re going to do to them…
Benjy: I don’t even want to know.
Ciri: Your friend has the worst case of Nightingale Syndrome I’ve ever seen (whisper to Max)
Max: No, he also does that to the girls that don’t rescue him.
New Scene()
Ash and company, followed by Ciri, walk through the swamp. In the distance is solid ground and the exit to the fire swamp.
Revert Scene()
Totodile Hunter and crew look out from the metal cage in which the pokémon have stuffed them. Breloom, Exploud, Slaking, Primape, et cetera stand around the cage looking amused.
Totodile Hunter: See these metal bars? They won’t break even if I use my full body strength–and my beard trimmer!
Director: Will you shut the zark up!
…///To Be Continued///…
© September 22, 2012 to December 1, 2015 by Benjy Strauss