New Scene(Night)
Lying down on the carpet floor in the living room at the house adjoining the Petalburg Gym, Benjy is fast asleep. Yami Benjy projects himself nearby.
Yami Benjy: Allergic to the sheets. Never saw that one coming.
Benjy suddenly wakes up on the floor sweaty, and looks around. Satolite is lying on the table, asleep. Yami Benjy is also asleep, and the room is silent. Benjy stares at the light from a streetlamp projected on the wall.
Benjy: Why did that feel so familiar?
Yami Benjy: Talking about your dream?
Benjy: M-hm.
A car goes by in the distance, and Benjy sighs.
Yami Benjy: What was it about?
Benjy: It’s part of the series that I usually have. Except…
Yami Benjy hesitates.
Benjy: I was in combat.
Yami Benjy: Combat?
Benjy now pulls out the duel disk that May bought for him the previous day, and takes it out of the box and looks it over, then puts it back in his backpack. Benjy now lets out a loud yawn, and falls asleep.
Cutscene(Benjy’s Dream) {
Note: Benjy’s staff is the Dew Staff
Benjy stands on some purple ground with a mysterious staff in his left hand. Shouts can be heard in the distance, but they are all obscured by thick pink-purple smoke that surrounds Benjy. Benjy looks up, and sees an orange-yellow spark far above him. Quickly, Benjy darts into the cloud of pink-purple smoke, holding his staff tightly.
As soon as Benjy is fully inside the smoke, turns left and zigzags forwards, waving his staff slightly to dispel the smoke somewhat. A scream echoes in the distance, and Benjy promptly shifts the staff to his right hand, then bends down and darts forwards, causing the orb at the end of the staff to start to glow. Suddenly, something behind Benjy explodes.
}
Yami Benjy: Do you have any other context?
Benjy: I’ve seen that staff lying around in other dreams, but…
Yami Benjy: Hmm. I need to think this over. How would you describe this staff?
Benjy: The shaft is made of smooth, green wood. On the top is mounted some kind of silvery metal, and it has four spikes attached to it, each goes out then in, shielding some kind of levitating magical orb… I’ll draw you a picture.
Yami Benjy: It was that vivid…
Benjy: Is that bad?
Yami Benjy: I have no way of knowing. My own memory is in tatters.
As Yami Benjy says this, Benjy opens his backpack and pulls out a notebook and a pen, then proceeds to make a quick sketch of the staff, while Yami Benjy eyes it carefully.
Yami Benjy: Interesting. It doesn’t ring any bells though.
New Scene(@Temporal = Morning)
Ash and company are sitting around the breakfast table while Benjy sleeps.
Max: Mom, when I first met Benjy, he said he was from another dimension.
Caroline: Well, judging by the way he sleeps…
Ash, May, Max, and Caroline watch Benjy turn in his sleep.
Brock: Now that’s just rude.
Max finishes his breakfast and gets up and goes into the living room. Caroline mumbles something about him forgetting to remove his dishes.
Refresh Scene()
Benjy awakens to find the TV blaring. It shows a picture of a cat and a mouse, the cat is orange with yellow stripes and the mouse is blue with green stripes. The mouse notices the cat
TV.Mouse: Hi, Crunchy!
TV.Cat → Crunchy: Hi, Chewy!
TV.Crunchy: Chewy, what should we do today?
TV.Mouse → Chewy: Let’s go to Candy Fountain, Crunchy!
A dog runs up.
TV.Dog: Wait for me!
TV.Crunchy,TV.Chewy: Dummy!
Benjy stares at the TV dumbfounded.
Benjy: What! What!
The TV now goes into the theme song for the Chewy and Crunchy Show.
Refresh Scene()
May: It’s the Chewy and Crunchy Show.
Max: You’ve probably never seen it, being from another dimension and all…
Benjy: It’s looks like a parody of the Itchy and Scratchy Show.
Max: You’ve seen Itchy and Scratchy?!
Benjy: Which is in turn a parody of Tom and Jerry.
May: What’s Tom and Jerry a parody of?
Benjy: I think it’s original content.
Caroline cracks up laughing in the kitchen.
Caroline: You really think it’s original content? In this day and age?
Caroline can’t stop giggling.
Benjy: I think it’s over sixty years old, so…
{
Crunchy, Chewy, and Dummy are on a bridge.
Skunk: Get off that, it’s not safe.
Crunchy: Gassy!
Chewy: Gassy!
Dummy: Gassy!
Skunk → Gassy: Yeah, it’s me alright, now get the (bleep) of that bridge!
Chewy: Gassy, were going to Candy Fountain!
Gassy: No you aren’t! You’re heading straight for the sewage treatment plant!
Show’s Narrator: Where are Chewy and Crunchy really headed? Will they make it out alive? Tune in next time for–
}
Benjy powers off the TV.
Benjy: A stupid show…
Max: Hey!
Max pushes the button to turn the TV back on.
TV: Crunchy and Chewy was brought to you by the number eighty-six.
Benjy: Max, if you don’t hurry, you’re going to miss the gym battle.
Realizing this, Max runs off, leaving the TV on. Benjy turns the TV off and follows Max. Brock then heads off after them.
New Scene()
Max bursts into the gym room, just as Ash and Norman shake hands before the battle. Max gets the impression that the battle is already over and falls to the floor limp.
Ash: Max, what’s wrong?!
Max: I missed it–
Ciri: The battle? It’s just about to start, silly.
Norman: Ciri, why don’t you go help Caroline in the kitchen?
Ciri: Me?
Norman nods.
Norman: Someone has to keep an eye on here.
Ciri: Uh–I guess–
Max: Nope!
Norman: Problem Max?
Max: There’s a reason why we call her cooking "the cooking of last resort."
Ciri looks slightly embarrassed by this comment, but also slightly pleased by it. May now enters the room, and goes over to sit down on a backless bench by the side of the battlefield. Caroline now enters the room.
Norman: Caroline, do you know where Kinji went?
Caroline: He’s in North Petalburg looking for a new dumpster.
Norman: I told you I’d buy one from Littleroot.
May now beckons to Max to come sit down, and Max goes and hurries over, then suddenly get up and runs to the door.
Max: Hey, Benjy! They’re about to begin.
Benjy: Max, I was in the restroom.
Max: Well hurry!
Max runs back to his seat, and Benjy now enters the battle room, looking a little bit uneasy. May doesn’t seem to notice this, and pats the bench between her and Max, in invitation for Benjy to sit down. QST.camera now shifts back to Norman and Caroline.
Norman: We’re down a referee then! (whisper)
Caroline gestures to Brock as he sits down on the other bench.
Caroline: He’s a certified ref. (whisper)
Norman: Brock? (whisper)
Caroline: He was the leader of the gym in Pewter. He’s fully qualified… (whisper)
Norman: He’s a guest though, that wouldn’t be polite. (whisper)
Caroline: Don’t be this way. I don’t think he’d mind. (whisper)
Norman: I mind! (whisper)
Norman gestures to himself with his thumb.
May: What are you guys whispering about?
Norman and Caroline both turn to May, as does QST.camera. Celebi and Torchic can be seen under the bench playing with a coloring book.
Norman: Kinji had to run to North Petalburg to get a new dumpster. So it looks like we have to postpone the battle for a few hours.
Brock: Um, I can be the ref…
Norman: It’s okay, Brock. You’re our guest.
Brock: Seriously, I don’t mind–
Norman: It’s okay–
Ciri now pokes her head into the gym room.
Ciri: Should I go get him?
Caroline: It’s fine, Ciri. We need to take care of this before the homeowners association complains.
Caroline throws a dark look at Norman.
Brock: Are you sure?
Norman nods.
Caroline: Ciri, why don’t you take over the referee’s position for Kinji.
Before Norman an reply, Caroline walks away and goes to sit down next to May. The bench creaks under their combined weight, to Benjy gets up to go sit next to Brock. Ciri seems a bit shocked at first by the request, but then agrees.
Norman: You’re playing with fire!
Caroline now throws Norman a wink.
Max: Why’s Dad so nervous? He’s clearly going to win easily.
May: I don’t know, I think Ash has a pretty good shot too.
Max looks a bit more than put off at this comment. Ash, Norman, and Ciri now take their places, and Caroline winks at Ciri, which confuses the latter slightly.
Max: What are you talking about?! Of course Dad’s going to win!
The Millennium Gameboy Advance pulses with light, and Yami Benjy projects itself.
Yami Benjy: Based on what I saw of Vigoroth, it seems split 50-50, but I feel silly talking about statistics like this.
Max: You just haven’t seen Dad’s true power.
Max: If you think that that was his only Slaking…
Norman now gestures to Max to be quiet.
Norman: Ciri, are you ready.
Ciri looks nervous for a second (real time), then nods that she’s ready.
Brock: Hey Max, has Ciri ever been a referee before? (whisper)
Max: I don’t think she’s ever been in a battle that had one. She’s probably read about them though. (whisper)
Brock: Hmm…
Refresh Scene()
With everyone in positions, the battle prepares to get under way. Ciri stands in the referee’s position, looking nervous. Ciri clears her throat with several coughs.
Ciri: This is a single battle, with both parties using three creatures each. Unless the challenger uses an unexpected creature, the gym leader is not allowed to switch pokémon. I’m going to place a time limit of three hundred, no, sorry, three hundred and sixty minutes. Now please begin.
Max: Those don’t sound like the rules I’m used to… (whisper)
Brock: I think she’s reading straight out of the book. (whisper)
Norman sends out Slakoth and Ash calls on Treecko. Ash starts off by having Treecko use pound. Treecko slams into Slakoth, and Norman calls to Slakoth to counter. Instantly, Slakoth hits Treecko back and sends it skidding across the floor to near Ash’s feet, as Ash considers what to do next.
Ash has Treecko use quick attack, and Norman has Slakoth prepare to counter. Immediately after Norman does, Ash instructs Treecko to get away. Treecko jumps over Slakoth. Norman tells Slakoth to use facade, but Slakoth is loafing around. Treecko now hits Slakoth with tail slap. Then jumps over Slakoth again to avoid a counter. Counter hits despite this, and Treecko lands by Ash’s feet.
Norman: Slakoth, slack off.
Slakoth seems to heal, surprising Ash. Norman assures Ash that he’s not going down that easily. Ash decides to heal Treecko, and begins to look for his backpack for a super potion.
Max: Wait, is using items allowed?
In response, a sphere of green light appears in Ciri’s left hand.
Brock: Ciri, just use your green flag…
Ciri: Green flag? I thought that was a metaphor.
Brock, face-palms, and the green light fades. And Ash searches desperately for some healing item. Caroline smiles at Brock.
Caroline: We all know what she means.
Brock: I guess…
Norman: The chance is now! Slakoth, quick attack!
Ash turns his attention fast enough to tell Treecko to dodge. Treecko avoids the hit and uses mega drain on Slakoth, damaging it and healing slightly.
Brock: I didn’t know Treecko had that attack…
Yami Benjy projects himself.
Yami Benjy: It may have just figured out how to do so.
Ash has Treecko bombard Slakoth with bullet seed, and Slakoth counters, hitting Treecko with one of it’s own seeds, before healing with slack off. Treecko (again, not on command) uses mega drain on Slakoth, and Ash watches confused as Slakoth does not counter the hit.
Norman: Slakoth, facade!
Ash: Dodge and use mega drain!
Treecko zips out of the way, leaving Slakoth to crash into the ground.
Ash: I think I now get it why Ciri put a time limit on the battle. Unless we stop slack off, trouble is, I don’t know what can do that… Maybe if I…
Ash: Treecko, quick attack!
Norman: Counter!
Ash: Change direction!
Treecko avoids Slakoth, and counter fails.
Ash: And with that, we have an answer.
Ash: Treecko, can you use metronome?
Treecko isn’t sure what the attack is, so Ash shows it quickly. Treecko copies Ash’s movements, and it’s fingers glow. Slakoth attacks with facade, but Treecko dodges. Facade hits Ash, knocking him down. In the palm of Ciri’s hand, she creates a red sphere of light.
Refresh Scene()
Benjy and Brock help Ash to his feet, as Norman looks on worriedly.
Ash: Don’t worry, it’s nothing.
Max: Didn’t look too serious.
May glares at her brother.
Ciri: If the challenger ’s ok, we can resume.
Ash nods that he’s fine.
Ciri: Then resume!
Ciri creates a green spherical glow in her palm.
Ash: Treecko, metronome.
Brock: (whisper) Odd choice…
Metronome becomes heal block, sealing slack off, but leaves everyone else confused as to what happened.
Ash: Treecko, mega drain!
Mega drain hits Slakoth, which is loafing around, and manages to cause significant damage by the time Slakoth is able to slack off again. But for some reason, slack off doesn’t work, leaving Norman confused as to the reason.
Ash: You see, metronome turned into heal block. Heal block is an odd move that prevents the opponent from healing.
May: (whisper) But how did you know you were going to get heal block?
Ash: Now, since Slakoth can’t heal–
Norman: Facade now!
Ash: Dodge and use mega drain!
Treecko dodges, and uses mega drain while in the air. Slakoth collapses in a faint with it’s energy drained. Ciri watches Slakoth for a couple seconds, before making her call:
Ciri: Slakoth is unable to battle, Treecko is the winner!
Norman recalls Slakoth, and Ciri bends down to tie her shoe.
May: How did you know you were going to get heal block?
Ash: What do you mean?
Max: You got heal block just when you needed it…
Ash: Actually I was going for something like flail…
Norman: Relax you guys, it’s not over yet.
Ash: That’s good, I’m just getting warmed up.
Norman sends out Girafarig. Girafarig stomps on Treecko, but Treecko dodges. Treecko hits hard with bullet seed striking Girafarig on the side. Girafarig turns and Treecko runs behind it. Girafarig’s tail head uses bite scoring a critical. Girafarig now kicks Treecko with it’s back legs. Treecko faints.
Ciri scans Treecko carefully before making her call:
Ciri: Treecko is unable to battle, Girafarig is the winner!
Ash calls on Pikachu. Pikachu thunderbolts Girafarig. Girafarig stomps on Pikachu’s tail but Pikachu uses discharge, sending a large amount of electricity into Girafarig. Girafarig appears to faint.
Ciri: Woah… Girafarig is unable to– no never-mind…
Ash: You sure about that?
Girafarig’s eyes open, prompting Pikachu to thunderbolt on Girafarig, but Girafarig jumps out of the way. Norman now has Girafarig use agility, then take down on Pikachu, Ash counters by having Pikachu use volt tackle on Girafarig. After slamming into each other intensely, the pokémon move apart. Norman has Girafarig stomp on Pikachu, who dodges with agility. Norman tells Girafarig to concentrate, and it focuses on Pikachu, but Pikachu is a bit too fast, and all it gets is Pikachu’s tail.
Ash: Pikachu, thunder!
Girafarig takes the massive electric bolt and collapses.
Ciri: Girafarig is unable to battle, for real this time. *sigh* Pikachu is the winner.
Norman recalls Girafarig, smiling.
Norman: You’ve gotten better, Ash.
Ash: So have you.
Norman: Let’s go, Slaking!
Norman calls on Slaking who towers over Pikachu, and suddenly both Yami Benjy and Ciri appear to be slightly worried. Norman has Slaking use shadow ball, but Pikachu avoids it with a matrix style dodge. Slaking then punches at Pikachu and Pikachu dodges again, however the wind knocks Pikachu across the gym floor. Ash looks over at it worried, and asks Pikachu to get up. Pikachu manages to stand without too much difficulty.
Norman has Slaking use earthquake, but Pikachu finally stands up, and jumps on Ash’s instruction. Slaking slams it’s paws into the floor, shaking the whole gym, and collapsing both benches.
Max: Wow.
Benjy: Ow…
May: Evolving made it really strong!
Ash looks up from a sitting position, then struggles to get back to his feet.
Ash: Pikachu, thunderbolt!
Thunderbolt strikes Slaking, doing mild damage. Norman now orders Slaking to use earthquake again, but Slaking doesn’t appear to be listening, which embarrasses Norman.
Ash: It’s just like Charizard. Doesn’t want to listen now that it’s evolved.
Norman turns bright red. Brock now comments that he thinks it’s Slaking’s ability, truant. Just as Brock says this, Slaking starts to smash the floor again, and Pikachu leaps into the air. Slaking then pounds the ground, sending out a shock wave, that shoots under Pikachu, and leaves only Norman left standing. Ciri quickly jumps to her feet holding a sphere of yellow light.
Ciri: Stop it! You’re going to destroy the gym!
Brock: Ciri, the referee can’t tell either player that they can’t use certain moves.
Ciri: They can if it’s putting people nearby in danger!
Benjy excuses himself, as he isn’t feeling well, he leaves Yami Benjy with Brock, since Yami Benjy wants to watch. Max bites his nails nervously. Benjy exits the gym and walks into the house, where he lies down again on the rug in front of the TV, which is powered off.
Benjy: I think I’m going to be sick.
Revert Scene()
Ciri: No earthquakes, got it!
Brock: Ciri, you can’t say that!
Ciri: First you look at where the walls meet the ceiling. Look closely.
May, Max, Brock, and Caroline all stare at where Ciri is pointing.
Ciri: Do you see? It’s crumbling.
Max: You should be focused on the battle!
Ciri: I noticed it when I was knocked off my feet, wise guy. I don’t want to be crushed!
Norman: Max it’s okay. We won’t do that anymore.
Norman: I thought the reinforcements were stronger than that…
Ciri: Okay. Then now resume the battle.
Norman: Slaking, double-edge!
Slaking rushes at Pikachu, who zips out of the way, and lands on all fours. Then Ash has it deliver a massive shock to Slaking with thunder. Slaking starts loafing around, allowing Pikachu to deliver another massive shock with thunder. Slaking uses double edge on Pikachu, but misses and smashes into the wall, causing the gym to shake. Ciri makes a large red light appear in her hand.
Ciri: Collateral damage! Everyone evacuate now!
Caroline: Ciri, relax.
Yami Benjy: You should be following her directions. Slaking’s stronger than you think– (urgent)
Yami Benjy is cut off as May grabs the MGBA and darts over to the door.
Ciri: Everyone…!
Norman has Slaking use focus punch, but Pikachu dodges and uses thunder. Thunder misses, and Slaking punches Pikachu’s into the wall. Pikachu falls to the ground, having taken massive damage. Slaking now walks over to Pikachu, as Norman tells it to use focus punch again.
Ciri: Pikachu is unable to–
Suddenly, a steel beam crashes through the ceiling, striking Slaking in the shoulder and doing heavy damage.
Norman: Slaking, lets use that beam to end this!
QST.camera goes into a split-screen on Ash, May, Max, Caroline, Ciri, Brock, and Yami Benjy.
Ash: He’s really going to–
The entire building shakes as Slaking walks towards Pikachu.
Ash: But metal conducts electricity.
Ash: Pikachu, thunder!
Pikachu: Pika-CHUUU!
Slaking prepares to swing the steel beam, and Pikachu fires a large bolt of electricity at Slaking, which arcs towards the beam. In a split-second, this launches the beam out of Slaking’s hand, straight through the wall between Norman and Ciri, and knocking Slaking off-balance in the process.
A split-second later Slaking hits the ground, an impact that jars the walls and causes the ceiling to suddenly start to crack along the middle, dropping debris onto the battlefield below. Ciri shrieks and drops to her knees, using her hands to cover the back of her neck.
Caroline: Ciri, there’s nothing to be w–
Caroline is cut off as the walls suddenly buckle and the ceiling suddenly falls inward. In a split-second, everyone is teleported away as the gym collapses in a cloud of dust.
Revert Scene()
Benjy is now feeling well enough to stand up, and opens the door to the gym, which collapses as Benjy stares speechless.
New Scene(Outside)
Ash, May, Max, Brock, Ciri, Norman, Caroline, Slaking, and Pikachu are suddenly teleported onto the lawn next to the gym. They all look around, confused.
Caroline: How did we get out here?
Ciri: Slaking is unable to battle, Pikachu is the winner, the victory goes to Ash Ketchum.
Ash: What?
Ciri points to Slaking, who is lying on the grass, out cold. Pikachu is lying against Slaking, not looking too good either.
Ciri: I’ve made my declaration. (upset tone)
Max’s eyes suddenly start to fill with tears.
Caroline: Ciri are you sure ab–
Caroline cuts herself off, realizing Ciri is shaking. Ciri starts to say something, then stops and begins to walk away. Ciri doesn’t get very far before she trips on some grass and goes sprawling.
Norman congratulates his pokémon for putting up a touch fight, and wonders why they were teleported out of the gym in time. May and Max look at eachother nervously.
Ciri: Just be glad you’re still alive. (angry)
Caroline wonders aloud about the steel beam.
Brock: I get it, she was being a technical ref.
Brock: She is the referee. So what she says goes.
Norman reaches into his pocket to hand Ash the balance badge.
Caroline: You’re getting stronger too, now we just need a stronger gym, right Max?
Max just stares at the gym in tears.
May: Uh, Max?
As Ash reaches to accept the balance badge, Max snatches it away and runs away, crying to hard to avoid tripping over a root. He goes sprawling, but doesn’t seem to mind, and gets back up and keeps going. Ciri stares after him, confused.
Refresh Scene()
Benjy and Kinji have now arrived on the yard; with Kinji horrified to see the gym’s destruction. Kinji’s truck is parked in the background, and a green, metal dumpster is in the back of it.
Norman: …And that’s what happened. Ash, I’m going to have to find you another badge.
Brock: And we'll also have to fix the gym.
Benjy: I wouldn't.
Brock: Huh? Benjy…
Benjy: The more you fix something, the weaker it gets. That needs to be professionally redone from the ground up.
Brock: That's actually a fair point…
New Scene()
In the greenhouse, Max sits with the badge in his clenched fist, figuratively crying his eyes out. Jirachi begins to climb out of his backpack.
Jirachi: Max, are you hurt?
Max doesn’t respond, so Jirachi flies in front of his face. QST.camera shifts to Max’s view, covered in tears. Jirachi wipes some of them away with it’s arm.
Jirachi: Surprise!
Max: Jirachi…
Max continues to cry. Jirachi once again inquires if Max is hurt, and Max shakes his head.
Jirachi: Why are you crying then?
Max unclenches his fist and shows Jirachi the badge.
Jirachi: Pretty pretty shiny shiny!
Max: Jirachi?
Jirachi: Pretty pretty shiny shiny! Pretty pretty shiny shiny!
#Reference to: My Gym Partner is a Monkey
Max closes his fist.
Jirachi: Something wrong?
Max: You see, this is a badge. A trainer earns this when they beat a gym leader. If a trainer earns eight or more of them from a single region, they can compete in the pokémon league. The trouble is, this wasn’t earned properly.
Jirachi: ?
Max has now stopped crying, and wipes away the rest of his tears, but his voice is still sore.
Max: See, this was supposed to be Ash’s, but…
QST.camera goes into a flashback of Slaking being hit with the steel beam from the gym ceiling. And the gym starts to collapse. Then everyone is teleported away as the gym caves in. After about ten seconds, QST.camera reverts and Max starts talking.
Max: Wait! Jirachi, did you–
Jirachi nods, and Max hugs it.
Max: Thank you.
Jirachi also embraces Max.
Max: There was also another problem, Ciri wasn’t even an official referee.
A soft sobbing sound comes from through the vines as if in response to Max’s comment. Max suddenly turns.
Max: Sorry Ciri, I didn’t mean–
Ciri: I know what you were trying to say.
QST.camera follows Jirachi’s gaze as Jirachi looks into a center of some bushes.
Ciri: I also felt something was wrong with that battle.
Max: They why didn’t–
Ciri: We nearly died!
Ciri falls over, exhausted, and suddenly sees Jirachi.
Ciri: If not for you…
Ciri rolls onto her side and closes her eyes.
Max: Um…
Ciri: Max, if you don’t give him that badge, then they might bring down this greenhouse in the rematch!
Jirachi lifts off of Max’s head and floats between him and Ciri protectively.
Jirachi: Not your business!
Max: Jirachi, it’s alright. She’s just worried.
Jirachi looks over Ciri curiously.
Jirachi: Well, she doesn’t seem like a bad person!
Max: Jirachi, I know that. She did the best she could.
Jirachi: Then why are you so angry at her?
Max: I’m not… Angry…
Max breaks into tears again, while Jirachi puzzles over what Max said. Jirachi lands on Max’s head.
Max: Ciri, why didn’t you call the match invalid?
Ciri gives Max a strange look.
Ciri: You need to read the room better.
Ciri sighs, and wipes away some of her tears.
Max: You're just worried they'll destroy the greenhouse in the rematch!
Ciri sighs.
Ciri: That, and more. I tend to like this greenhouse.
Max: It doesn't matter what you like or don't like.
Ciri: Slakings are a lot stronger than Vigoroths. I don’t think Norman understands their true power yet. You, on the other hand, are an adorable idiot.
New Scene()
Norman sits at his kitchen table, with his head in his hands. Brock and Kinji stand nearby.
Norman: That’s a pretty expensive proposal Benjy had…
Brock: Well, to be fair Slaking’s pretty strong. If you look it up on the pokédex, even with truant, it’s got a base attack power of 160. That’s…
Norman: But bringing down the gym…
Kinji: Honestly, think what would have happened if Ciri hadn’t warped us out of there…
Norman: Adamantite is heavy though, I hope Benjy knows that.
Brock: It’s also strong though.
Kinji: You think she’s testing us?
Yami Benjy now enters the room, wearing the Millennium Gameboy Advance.
Yami Benjy: If she is you already failed.
Kinji: Not talking about the gym. I’m talking about her trying to end the battle quickly. If we throw out the match, we look like flaming (bleep) holes for even asking her to…
Yami Benjy: And morons for ignoring standard safety procedures.
Brock: Um, Benjy, I don’t think you’re helping.
Kinji: He does have a point.
Norman flicks his pencil at the blueprint nervously.
Yami Benjy: That said, the results of this match have left both parties feeling upset. There will come a time and place for Ash to learn that he can’t always have things go in a way that makes him comfortable.
Norman is now looking squarely at Yami Benjy.
Yami Benjy: In regards to a rematch, the only thing you have to worry about is whether Ash should learn that lesson now or later.
Yami Benjy turns to go, and Norman sighs.
Norman: What do you suppose we do?
Yami Benjy: That’s up to you.
New Scene()
Ash enters the greenhouse to where Jirachi and Max are sitting.
Ash: Max are you, okay?
Max: I’m s… s…
Ash: It’s okay Max, I can’t really accept the badge anyway.
Max and Jirachi look at Ash nervously.
Ash: Well, since…
Ash cuts him off upon seeing Ciri lying in the grass.
Ciri: It was eating at you too huh?
Ash: Well…
Ciri: I know.
Ciri pulls herself into a sitting position.
Ciri: …Just promise me you’ll have the battle outside. Oh my gosh, I sound just like Caroline.
Ciri pulls herself to her feet, shivering slightly.
Ash: I don’t mean to hurt your…
Ciri: It’s fine Ash, ignore my body language, it doesn’t reflect how I’m feeling.
This comment leaves Ash a little off-balance, as a tear appears to form in Ciri’s eye.
Ash: I’m sure you did the best you could… I-mean–
Ciri suddenly notices this tear, and quickly turns her back to Ash, wiping it away.
Ciri: It’s bugging you. And unless you do something about it, it’s going to keep bugging you for the next few decades. I can tell you from personal experience. I’m not crying because of the match.
Ciri’s voice turns scratchy.
Ciri: I’m crying because I still remember!
Ash backs away nervously.
Ash: Remember what?
Ciri: Things that… I’d rather not talk about it.
Ash: But they say talking about it makes it better…
Max: Not with Ciri it doesn’t!
Ash shudders. QST.camera shifts to where Benjy and May observe this from the corner of the greenhouse.
May: So, about Jirachi. How will we…
Benjy: If Max keeps traveling, it might not come up until it's moot.
May: I don't like the idea of Max being an unofficial trainer. Him being in danger…
Benjy: Danger?
May: The (bleep) Ciri went through… Max could never navigate it.
Ash's voice wafts across the greenhouse.
Ash: Ciri, it wasn't you! It was that beam that I…
May: You think it can stay a secret for three years?
Benjy: At least. I don't exactly plan on making it public once Max turns ten.
May: You've thought about this?
Benjy: A bit.
May seems slightly relieved.
Revert Scene()
Caroline: Ash is taking care of it for you Norman. Disaster averted.
Norman: What? But–
Caroline: Ciri thinks a little different than we do. This isn’t the kind of thing she’ll take personally.
Norman sighs, and wonders if it is the right thing to do.
Brock: It’s better to take care of it now.
Caroline nods in agreement.
Norman: I have to go talk to Max…
Brock: Any idea of what you’re going to say?
Norman sighs again.
New Scene()
At the edge of Petalburg, a very tall cloaked man stands with his cloak blowing in the wind. He does nothing for a little while, then looks up with glowing green eyes.
New Scene()
Norman enters the greenhouse, and sees Ash, Max, and Ciri. Benjy’s Celebi lets itself out and points to Norman.
May: It’s just supposed to be a gym battle right? Why is it turning into such an emotional rollercoaster? (whisper)
The Millennium Gameboy Advance glows brightly.
Yami Benjy: Perhaps this is why Norman didn’t want you to watch him battle. (whisper)
May: Why’s that? (whisper)
Yami Benjy: Because you wouldn’t be able to handle seeing him lose. (whisper)
This comment throws May (figuratively) off-balance, but she says nothing. QST.camera shifts to where Ash, Max, and Ciri are. Ash turns as Norman approaches. Yami Benjy and May watch this from afar. Jirachi stands atop Max’s head protectively.
Norman: For Ciri to be able to forgive Ash is one thing. For her to be able to forgive me is another entirely. Then again, there’s a good chance she doesn’t care whatsoever.
Norman: Ash, Max, Ciri, are you kids feeling alright?
Ash and Max turn around, but Ciri has disappeared. Max starts to return the badge to Ash, who looks at it and says he can’t accept it. Norman can’t accept it either, so they decide to leave the badge on the bench in the greenhouse. Then they all turn to look for Ciri, but she is nowhere to be found. May rushes to join them as they head into the house. Yami Benjy looks over to where Ash, Max, and Ciri were sitting, and Celebi lifts off his shoulder.
Yami Benjy: Huh?
Celebi flies over to the badge and picks it up.
Celebi: Cele Cele Celebi bi!
As Yami Benjy walks over to Celebi, and Celebi presents Yami Benjy with the badge. Yami Benjy accepts it.
Yami Benjy: Thank you.
Celebi: Bi!
Yami Benjy begins to take off his backpack.
Benjy: You shouldn’t do that Yami me! That could get us into trouble later.
Yami Benjy: But if we leave it here, some pokémon is likely to eat it. Which won’t be good for their digestive system.
Benjy: That’s not really why, is it?
Yami Benjy: Well, duh. I should know better than to hide things from you. I just get the feeling that it will be useful later.
Yami Benjy takes out the badge case and opens it.
Benjy: Wait! Yami me! Don’t!
Yami Benjy pats Celebi on it’s head, and Celebi meows.
Yami Benjy: It’s alright.
Benjy: Don’t put it in the badge case though! They’ll think we–
Yami Benjy: Hmm.
Yami Benjy quickly puts his badge case away, then pulls a small box out of his backpack and puts the badge inside.
Yami Benjy: That may be a good call. There will come a time when we fight Norman on less-than-friendly terms. I’ll save it until then.
Benjy: Because of Jirachi?
Yami Benjy: That’s what I’m thinking, too.
It is starting to get dark outside as Yami Benjy sits in the greenhouse. Benjy’s spirit is projected nearby.
The Millennium Gameboy Advance glows brightly.
New Scene()
Ciri stands somewhere underground, with her head against the wall. Water flows behind her.
Ciri: And now I’m going to have to tell him.
Ciri: Stupid human emotions. Stupid stupid human emotions.
QST.camera zooms a little ways through some pipes and out of Norman and Caroline’s kitchen sink, before returning back to Ciri.
Ciri: Why can’t I just turn it off?! It’s in the past, so it shouldn’t bother me anymore!
Caroline’s Voice: You’d better not be in the water supply!
Ciri: Stupid stupid human emotions…
A clunking noise reverberates through the pipes.
New Scene()
Benjy approaches the dinner table as everyone is finishing eating. May wonders what took him so long, and Benjy just sighs. Some get up as Benjy sits down and looks around, not very hungrily. Benjy gets some food, and some vegetable is teleported away by Jirachi.
A chewing sound comes from Max’s backpack, and Kinji wonders what’s in Max’s backpack. Caroline picks up Max’s backpack, and although Max objects, she pulls out Jirachi. Norman, Caroline, and Kinji stand awestruck.
Caroline: …
Kinji: That’s a legendary pokémon!
Jirachi jumps out of Caroline’s hand and lands on the table, where it goes right to a bowl of fruit. Max tries to tell Jirachi not to do that, but Jirachi just flies back to Max’s head to eat the fruit it picked out.
Caroline wonders if Jirachi teleported them out of the gym when it collapsed, and Jirachi confirms that it was its doing. Brock decides that they need to get Jirachi some pokémon food, and Max and Brock go out to feed the other pokémon. Norman follows to feed his pokémon. (There is no mention of whom Jirachi belongs to)
Benjy has now almost finished his food, and is now prompted by Yami Benjy to follow them into the greenhouse.
New Scene()
In the greenhouse, Brock sets out the pokémon food and returns to the house, on his way inside, Brock passes Benjy, and wonders where he’s going. Benjy responds that his pokémon are hungry too. And Brock goes to the kitchen to get more pokémon food.
Norman: Jirachi’s yours, isn’t it?
Max: Yes, I mean sort of. Not really.
Norman: Max, you’re too young to have a pokémon of your own. You know that.
Max and Norman stare at each other for a couple seconds.
Max: What difference does it make?
Jirachi is now done eating and flies over to Max’s head. Benjy now steps out into the greenhouse where Norman and Max are talking.
Yami Benjy: Not yet, don’t make a move just yet. I have this all planned out.
Norman tells Max a story of when was denied a pokémon when he was younger, trying to show Max the he understands how Max feels. [This is shown in a quick cutscene] Max wonders why Norman would then put him through this, if he knew how it felt. Norman explains that to fully appreciate pokémon, Max needs to be older when he starts his journey. Max then swears an oath not put his own children through this, and Norman face-palms.
Norman: Max, I’ll let you go wherever you want with Jirachi, just as soon as you turn ten years old. For now, please…
Jirachi: No!
Norman: Max!
Max looks at Jirachi nervously. Jirachi suddenly knocks Norman backwards with a blast of psychic energy, and Max turns to Jirachi slightly worried, with tears in his eyes.
Max: That’s my father!
Jirachi: Then why’s he like this?
Max: It’s just the…
Max: Wait a minute, Jirachi’s doing this out of it’s own will! What does that mean?
Norman: Uh, Jirachi, please. He's still be here, so there's nothing to fight over.
Jirachi: My friend!
Norman: Max, I’m sorry it has come to this…
Norman grabs a poké ball and calls on Girafarig. Jirachi glares at it.
Benjy: Now?
Yami Benjy: Not yet.
Norman tells Girafarig to use shadow ball, the attack hits Jirachi, dealing medium-light damage.
Max: Jirachi!
Jirachi strikes back with psychic, sending Norman and Girafarig flying. They collapse in a heap. Norman has Girafarig use shadow ball again, but Max blocks the hit, yelling at Norman to stop it. Norman yells to Max to get out of the way. Jirachi levitates above Max and launches another psychic that hits Norman and Girafarig hard. Norman has Girafarig use take down on Jirachi.
Max: Get out of the way!
Take down misses, but Girafarig manages to use crunch on Jirachi, Jirachi flinches, and lands on a tree branch, injured.
Norman: Now!
Yami Benjy: That’s our que!
The Millennium Gameboy Advance glows brightly.
Norman: Ultra ball go!
QST.camera goes in slow motion. Norman hurls an ultra ball at Jirachi past a horrified Max. As the ultra ball gets two-thirds of the way to Jirachi, a blue blade strikes it and destroys it. Norman turns his attention to Yami Benjy in the middle of the greenhouse is a state of shock.
Yami Benjy: Don’t be a thief.
Norman stares at Yami Benjy speechless, and fumbles for the right words.
Norman: And just who do think you are‽
Yami Benjy: Good question. Who do you think I am? Legally, Jirachi is my pokémon. Now that you know that, any further attempts at capturing Jirachi will be reported to the police.
Norman steps backwards speechless. Now Ciri, Brock, Ash, and May pour out of the house, wondering what’s going on.
Yami Benjy: I’ll treat this as an N on M battle. Celebi, water pulse.
Water pulse knocks Girafarig to the ground in a faint. A knock is heard on the door of the greenhouse, and the door opens, revealing the man from earlier.
Man: He got you pretty good Norman.
Norman: Hey Zetar, what’s it this time? (friendly, nervous)
Man = Zetar: I suggest you accept your defeat gracefully.
Norman: What are you doing here? (friendly)
Zetar: I’ve just come to share my wisdom. Separating people and pokémon, nothing good will ever come of it. I saw everything.
Norman collapses to the ground in an anime fashion.
Norman: Great, just great…
Zetar: You've got to stop with those assumptions.
Norman: I know…
Zetar: And you still have a something to resolve, by the looks of things. I’ll be waiting in the front.
Yami Benjy: And that how we earn our balance badge.
Benjy’s spirit is seen going through a head-desk animation repeatedly.
New Scene()
In the front yard, it’s pitch black outside, and Norman and Ash face each other at opposite ends of the yard.
Kinji: Sudden death you said? We haven’t done one of those in how long?
Zetar now volunteers to take over the referee’s position. Kinji is surprised, but agrees. On the sideline, May wonders what Ash is going to do, now that Norman knows how his pokémon fight. Ash tells her that he’s got a special surprise for Norman. Norman smiles from across the battlefield, letting Ash know that he heard the comment.
Norman: Don’t worry, I’m also using someone new.
Zetar takes the ref stand next to Ciri and Kinji.
Zetar: This rematch is sudden death. The battle will be one on one with a thirty minute time limit. When the time limit is reached, the pokémon with a larger percentage of it’s the health remaining that it had at the start of the battle will be declared the winner. In the event of a draw the challenger will still be given the badge in question. Begin!
Norman: Linoone! Let’s go!
Ash: Alright then! Totodile, I choose you!
Totodile and Linoone face each other in the dark garden. Brock is surprised that Ash got one of his old pokémon. Ash responds that Norman saw all of his Hoenn pokémon, so he decided to mix things up a bit.
Linoone starts by using quick attack, and Totodile counters with water gun. Linoone can’t get to Totodile since water gun keeps pushing it away. Norman has Linoone use hyper beam, blowing apart the water gun. Hyper beam strikes Totodile and sends it flying a couple feet. Norman then has Linoone use quick attack. Ash counters by having Totodile use crunch. Both attacks hit, and both pokémon take moderate damage. They sit panting at each other.
Norman calls to Linoone to use hyper beam, and it launches a beam at Totodile. Ash tells Totodile to dodge, but it’s too tired. Hyper beam hits Totodile and everyone gasps, but Totodile manages to get to it’s feet as it’s taking the hyper beam. It absorbs the beam and glows white, illuminating the night.
On top of the greenhouse, Max, Jirachi, and Celebi observe in awe as Totodile evolves into Croconaw. Croconaw finishes taking the hyper beam, slightly tired but determined. Ash now has Croconaw use hydro pump, dealing massive damage to Linoone and sending it flying.
Linoone is also exhausted, but uses quick attack on Croconaw (without waiting for instruction); knocking Croconaw over. May wonders if that’s a KO.
Zetar: That’s not a KO…
Croconaw jumps to it’s feet and grabs Linoone by the tail and uses seismic toss on Linoone. Linoone crashes to the ground at Norman’s feet, knocked out in the darkness.
Zetar: This is a KO. The victory of the sudden death battle goes to the challenger!
From the top of the greenhouse, Max sighs, then smiles, before lying down and falling asleep. On the ground, Caroline turns to Ciri.
Caroline: I’m sorry I didn’t say this earlier, but I’d like to thank you for teleporting us you of the gym in time. That was a close one.
Ciri: That wasn’t me though. I can’t cast that kind of a teleport spell.
Caroline: Then…
Ciri: Thank the Jirachi.
Caroline: Is it Max's?
Ciri: It's Benjy's. Max is too young for a pokémon.
Caroline: So where is Jirachi?
Ciri shrugs, and then starts giggling to herself.
…///To Be Continued///…
© October 5, 2012 to December 6, 2015 by Benjy Strauss