Talent Showdown

by Tracey West

  “We teleported!” Misty said. “I’m sure Togepi saved us from that light.”

  The baby Pokémon gurgled happily.

  Ash remembered that some mysterious power had transported them to safety before. It happened in the Orange Islands, when they were being charged by a fierce Rhydon. Misty was sure Togepi had rescued them then, too.

  Ash wasn’t so sure. But now he thought she might be right. He patted Togepi’s spiky head.

  “If that was you, then good job, Togepi,” Ash said. “You saved Brock and Misty.”

  Brock studied the ceiling. “I wonder how that light fell? It must have been an accident.”

  “Or maybe it was done on purpose,” Ash said as he saw Gary walk up to the stage.

  “What happened here?” Gary asked.

  “Why don’t you tell me?” Ash asked accusingly. “Where were you when our act finished? Maybe you were busy making sure we would lose the talent show!”

  “No way!” Gary said. “I was outside practicing with my Pokémon. I know we’re going to win the competition. I don’t have to waste my time trying to sabotage your lousy act.”

  Ash jumped off the stage and faced Gary. “It’s not a lousy act!” Ash said. “Everyone loved us. Just admit it. You’re afraid to lose.”

  “I don’t lose to losers!” Gary replied.

  “We’re not losers!” Ash said.

  Gary took a Poké Ball off his belt.

  “Maybe we should finish this argument outside,” Gary said.

  “Sounds good to me,” Ash said.

  Ash followed Gary outside. Brock, Misty, and Pikachu chased after them.

  “Ash, you know Pokémon Trainers aren’t supposed to use battles to settle personal grudges,” Misty reminded him.

  “This is more than that,” Ash said. “Gary and I have been rivals for a long time. This is a test of skill: one Trainer against another.”

  Ash and Gary faced each other on the sidewalk outside the rehearsal hall.

  Gary was first to throw out a Poké Ball.

  “Go, Arcanine!” Gary yelled.

  In a flash of light, a Fire-type Pokémon appeared. The doglike Pokémon had a bushy tail and black stripes.

  Ash knew that Gary’s Arcanine was pretty powerful. But he wasn’t worried. “I’ll fight fire with fire,” Ash said. “Charizard, I choose you!”

  Ash threw a Poké Ball, and a giant Fire- and Flying-type Pokémon burst out in a flash. The orange-red Pokémon had wings, and a hot flame burned from the end of its tail.

  Gary laughed. “Are you kidding? The last time I saw you use Charizard, it helped you lose the Pokémon League Tournament.”

  Ash cringed. Gary was right. Charizard had never wanted to obey Ash. But things were different now. They had learned to understand each other.

  “Charizard, show him what you can do!” Ash commanded his Pokémon.

  Charizard yawned and scratched behind its ear.

  Gary laughed harder. “Arcanine, Ember!”

  Arcanine charged at Charizard. At the same time, it opened its mouth, and let loose a rain of hot, fiery sparks. Ash thought Arcanine looked like an erupting volcano.

  Charizard flapped its wings and sailed up, dodging the Ember attack just in time.

  “Charizard, Flamethrower!” Ash called out.

  Charizard flew above Arcanine and shot a red-hot stream of fire at the Pokémon. Arcanine leaped out of the way, but not before the flame scorched its tail.

  Arcanine spun around and growled at Charizard.

  “Arcanine, don’t give up!” Gary called out.

  Arcanine bombarded Charizard with another shower of burning embers. This time, the attack was bigger and stronger than before.

  “Char!” Charizard cried out as the sparks stung its body.

  Now Charizard looked angry. It roared loudly, then swooped down. A huge stream of fire exploded from Charizard’s mouth.

  The flame raced through the air.

  Before it could engulf Arcanine, Gary threw out its Poké Ball.

  “Arcanine, return!” Gary yelled.

  The Pokémon disappeared into the ball. Charizard’s flame evaporated in the air.

  Ash smiled. So far, he was winning.

  “Think I’m a loser now, Gary?” Ash asked.

  Gary didn’t look shaken. “This battle isn’t over yet!”

  Gary threw another Poké Ball. A Pokémon that looked like a tall brown fox that stood on two legs exploded from the ball. It had long pointy ears and held a menacing spoon in each hand.

  “Alakazam!” Misty cried in shock.

  Ash gasped. Alakazam was a powerful Psychic-type Pokémon. It was hard to beat. The last time he faced an Alakazam he had defeated it with Haunter, a Ghost-type Pokémon which had agreed to help him out. But Haunter wasn’t here now.

  Ash guessed that his best shot was a quick, fierce attack.

  “Charizard, blast it!” Ash shouted.

  Charizard shot a huge blast of flame at Alakazam.

  The Psychic-type Pokémon didn’t move. It closed its eyes. A white glow surrounded its body.

  Charizard’s flame smacked against the glowing light. Then it bounced back, hitting Charizard.

  “Char!” roared the Pokémon.

  “Alakazam used Reflect to turn Charizard’s attack back on it,” Brock remarked from the sidelines.

  “Charizard, return!” Ash cried.

  Ash knew he’d need a special Pokémon to defeat Alakazam. But which one?

  “Pikachu!” Pikachu tugged at Ash’s sleeve. It was eager to go into battle.

  Ash didn’t hesitate. Pikachu was his most determined Pokémon. It was his only chance.

  “Okay, Pikachu,” Ash said. “Do your stuff!”

  Electricity sparked from Pikachu’s red cheeks as it approached Alakazam. But before it could attack, Alakazam struck.

  “Use your Psybeam!” Gary called to Alakazam.

  Beams of blue light came out of Alakazam’s eyes. The light hit Pikachu.

  Pikachu got a strange look on its face. Then it began to dance around in a circle.

  “Oh no!” Ash said. He had seen this before. Alakazam was controlling Pikachu with psychic energy.

  “What are you going to do now, Ash?” Gary taunted.

  Ash had no choice.

  “Pikachu, return!” he said.

  Alakazam stopped the Psybeam, and Pikachu ran to Ash’s side.

  “I guess you lose, huh Ash?” Gary laughed.

  But Ash wasn’t finished yet. He turned to Misty. “Can I borrow Psyduck?” he asked.

  Misty looked at him like he was crazy.

  “Are you all right, Ash?” Misty asked. “Psyduck isn’t the best Pokémon to use in an emergency.”

  But Brock’s eyes lit up. “Give it to him, Misty. I think I know what he has in mind.”

  Misty released Psyduck from its Poké Ball. The orange Pokémon waddled up to Ash.

  Gary laughed harder. “A Psyduck? You’re more of a loser than I thought.”

  “Pikachu, give Psyduck a little shock for me,” Ash said.

  Pikachu nodded. Then it touched Psyduck with one finger. The Water-type Pokémon sizzled with the electricity. Psyduck held its head with its feathered wings.

  Ash smiled to himself. This is just what he wanted. When Psyduck got a headache, its Confusion attack kicked in. A Confusion attack could take down any Pokémon. Even Alakazam.

  Alakazam studied Psyduck, waiting for it to make a move.

  Misty knew how to help Ash and Psyduck. “Ash, maybe if you sing a song it would help Psyduck,” she said.

  “A song?” Ash said. “But I’m a lousy —”

  Then Ash got it. He sang in a loud voice. “Misty had a little Psyduck, little Psyduck, little Psyduck …”

  Psyduck started to sway back and forth. It held its head and moaned.

  “This isn’t the talent show,” Gary said. “Are you going to battle, or what?”

  “Just wait,” Ash promised.

>   Ash kept singing.

  Psyduck’s Confusion attack kicked in. Waves of pent-up mental energy hit Alakazam. The Psychic-type Pokémon reeled back and forth. Its eyes rolled around in its head.

  “Alakazam, use your Confusion, too!” Gary said.

  Alakazam sent Confusion energy to Psyduck. Now Psyduck started to spin around dizzily.

  Ash and Gary held their breath, each waiting for the other’s Pokémon to fall.

  A loud voice shattered the silence.

  “Stop this ridiculous battle right now!”

  Mr. Sullivan, the show’s manager, stood between Ash and Gary.

  “This competition isn’t about battling,” he said angrily. “It’s about talent. About entertainment. You should be ashamed of yourselves.”

  Ash’s first reaction was anger and impatience. He was so close to beating Gary! Why did this guy have to intefere?

  But deep down, he knew Mr. Sullivan was right. “Misty, recall Psyduck!” he said reluctantly.

  Misty held out a Poké Ball. “Psyduck, return!”

  The Pokémon vanished in a flash of light.

  Alakazam snapped out of its confused state. It stood firm, poised to continue its battle.

  “Come on, Gary,” Ash said. “Call off Alakazam. Mr. Sullivan’s right. If we want to battle each other, we should do it on stage, not out here. That’s what this competition is all about.”

  Gary hesitated. Then he held out Alakazam’s Poké Ball, and the Psychic-type Pokémon disappeared.

  “We’ll finish this later,” he told Ash.

  “It’s sooner than you think,” Mr. Sullivan said. “The show starts promptly at seven. I expect to see you both there — and no more battles!”

  “Yes, sir,” Ash and Gary muttered.

  Gary headed back to the rehearsal hall. Misty and Brock approached Ash.

  “You did the right thing,” Misty said. “Besides, how can you be so sure that Gary is the one who tried to hurt Brock?”

  “He wants to win, no matter what it takes,” Ash said.

  “That’s true,” said Brock. “But he’s never hurt anyone before. I think it might have something to do with that strange music we’ve been hearing.”

  Ash had to admit that Brock was making sense. “Maybe we should check it out,” he said.

  “But the contest starts in a few hours,” Misty said. “We’ve got to feed and groom our Pokémon.”

  “You and Brock can take care of that,” Ash said. “Pikachu and I will do a little investigating. If somebody is trying to hurt us or our Pokémon, we need to find out before the show starts.”

  Brock agreed. “You’re right Ash. We’ll meet you and Pikachu back at the campsite at six-thirty.”

  Misty and Brock took off toward the park.

  Ash turned to Pikachu. “What do you think about all this?” he asked his Pokémon.

  “Pika pika chu. Pikachu,” Pikachu said.

  “So you think this has something to do with that flute music, too?” Ash asked.

  Pikachu nodded.

  Ash thought. “Misty said there was a music store near here. Maybe we could ask them if anyone has bought any flutes lately.”

  “Pikachu!” agreed Pikachu.

  It didn’t take long for Ash and Pikachu to find the store. A bell jingled as they walked inside.

  A teenage boy and girl stood behind the counter. They wore long, blue coats and thick, black glasses. They seemed startled to see Ash and Pikachu.

  “Sorry, we’re closed,” said the girl, pushing Ash toward the door.

  “We’re getting ready for the Pokémon talent show,” added the boy.

  Ash spun around. “That’s why we’re here. We think somebody is planning to do something to ruin the talent show,” he said. “It has something to do with a flute. We thought you could help us.”

  The boy and girl looked at each other.

  “I don’t know if we can help you,” said the girl. She casually walked to the door, locking it shut. “But you can help us!”

  At the same time, the boy and girl took off their glasses and threw off their long coats. Underneath, they wore white uniforms, emblazoned with a red letter “R.”

  “Team Rocket!” Ash cried. He grabbed Pikachu. “So you’re behind all this!” He scanned the room, looking for a way to escape.

  Jessie laughed. “I’d say you were clever, if you weren’t so stupid,” she said. You won’t be able to stop us now!”

  “Why not?” Ash asked.

  “Meowth! Because you’re going to be tied up tonight!” Meowth cried, popping up from behind the counter. The Pokémon held thick cords in its hands.

  Before Ash could protest, Jessie, James, and Meowth quickly tied Ash and Pikachu in the cords.

  “Big deal,” Ash said. “Pikachu, blast us out of this!”

  “Pika!” Pikachu let loose a blast of electricity.

  Pikachu sizzled, but the cords didn’t. They were still trapped.

  Meowth laughed. “Those cords are made of rubber. They’re Pika-proof!”

  Ash struggled to get free. “Help! Help!” he yelled at the top of his lungs, hoping someone outside would hear him.

  “That sound is music to my ears,” Jessie said. She turned on a nearby radio. “Too bad no one else will be able to hear you!”

  “No!” Ash cried.

  Team Rocket walked to the door.

  “Sorry we can’t stay,” James said. “But we’re off to the talent competition. We’re going to steal the show.”

  Meowth grinned. “Meowth! And all of the Pokémon, too!”

  “My name is Gary and you can see, that I’m the best Trainer there will ever be …”

  Back at the auditorium, Misty and Brock watched Gary’s act from backstage. Geodude, Horsea, and Togepi gathered around them.

  “Where are Ash and Pikachu?” Brock whispered. “The show started fifteen minutes ago.”

  “Don’t worry. I’m sure they’ll show up,” Misty replied. “This is too important to Ash. He wants to beat Gary very badly.”

  “That might not be so easy to do,” Brock said, a little nervously. “Gary’s act is pretty good.”

  Gary stood on a glittery platform in the center of the stage. As he sang, his cheerleaders jumped and cheered. Behind him, some of his best Pokémon were lined up, dancing in a chorus line. Rhydon, Exeggutor, Charizard, Blastoise, and Venusaur stood side by side, kicking their legs in the air.

  When the song ended, Gary’s Charizard roared, shooting fireworks into the air.

  The crowd clapped and cheered wildly.

  Brock turned to Misty. “Any sign of Ash?”

  “No,” Misty said. “And now I’m worried, too. Something must be wrong. We should go look for him.”

  Misty picked up her guitar and Horsea’s chimes. She and the others headed for the stage door.

  “Where do you think you’re going?” asked Mr. Sullivan anxiously. “You’re on next!”

  “But our friend Ash isn’t here,” Misty protested. “We have to find him.”

  “Trust me, I’ve seen your act, and you don’t need your friend,” said the emcee. He pushed Brock and Misty toward the stage.

  “But — ” they protested.

  “You’re the real talent in this act,” Mr. Sullivan said. “Now get out there!”

  With one final powerful shove, Mr. Sullivan pushed Brock, Misty, and their Pokémon onstage. The audience burst into applause.

  Brock and Misty looked at each other and shrugged.

  “I guess we have no choice,” Misty said.

  “But I don’t have any dishes to wash,” Brock said.

  “You can do it, Brock,” Misty said. “I know you can.” She quickly set up Horsea’s chimes. “Okay Geodude,” Misty said. “Hit it!”

  Brock, Misty and the Pokémon plunged into the song. Togepi danced. When they were finished, the crowd went wild, just like they did for Gary.

  Mr. Sullivan came out onstage.

  “Let’s hear it for
Brock’s Rockin’ Band!” he shouted.

  Brock and Misty led the Pokémon offstage.

  “Thank goodness that’s over,” Brock said. “Let’s go find Ash.”

  “Sure,” Misty said, then she stopped. “Look at that next act. There’s something familiar about that girl.”

  A tall, teenage girl with red hair waited to go onstage. She wore a glamorous, blue evening dress. In her hand, she held a gold flute. Lickitung stood by her side.

  Mr. Sullivan’s voice blared over the microphone. “Our next act is Felicity and Her Fabulous Flute!”

  “Flute?” Misty said, surprised. “Brock, are you thinking what I’m thinking?”

  “I think so,” Brock said, walking closer to the stage. “We’d better keep an eye on her.”

  Back in the music store, Ash struggled to untie himself and Pikachu.

  “We’ve got to get out of here!” Ash said. “We have to save those Pokémon.”

  “Pika,” Pikachu said sadly.

  “I know,” Ash said. “We’ll never untie these cords. Unless — ”

  Ash’s hands were held tightly to his sides, but he could still reach some of the Poké Balls on his belt. Stretching as much as he could. He pulled one off. The Poké Ball dropped to the floor.

  Pidgeot, an orange-and-brown Normal- and Flying-type Pokémon, flew out of the ball.

  “Pidgeot, use your sharp beak to bite through these cords!” Ash shouted.

  Pidgeot squawked, then flew over to Ash and perched on his head. It bent down and started to chew on the cords.

  In a few minutes, the cords fell apart. Ash and Pikachu were free!

  “Good work, Pidgeot!” Ash said, calling the Pokémon back into its Poké Ball.

  He turned to Pikachu.“Let’s get out of here,” Ash said. “We have to stop Team Rocket!”

  Ash and Pikachu dashed down the street. They ran up to the theater.

  “We made it!” Ash said, panting. “Let’s get in there and stop them, Pikachu — Pikachu?”

  The little yellow Pokémon ignored Ash. It began walking toward the theater as though it were in a trance.

  Then Ash heard it. The strange, spooky, sound of Jessie’s flute.