"Alright! If that's the case, then it's time for me—Brock, the Love Magician—to take the stage!" Brock stood up confidently, striking a bold pose. "Let's go! Time to uncover the truth!"
Everyone stared at him.
Love Magician? Wasn't he better known as the King of Rejections? The guy who topped the charts for getting dumped year-round?
"Ahh, Brock, no!""Please don't cause a scene!"
But just as Brock was about to lead May and the others to the Pokémon Center, Ash held up a hand and turned his gaze toward a nearby thicket.
"Hold on. Before that, let's deal with the uninvited guests trying to cause trouble… Team Rocket!"
"What?!" Everyone immediately turned to the bushes.
"Uh-oh, Meowth! They spotted us!""Hmph! Who's afraid of a fair fight?" Jessie growled as the trio leapt into view.
"If you're so eager to interfere…" Meowth began."Then allow us to oblige—""Wobbuffet!"
"If you know what's good for you, hand over the Slakoth trio and that premium-grade Pikachu[1]!" Jessie demanded with a smug grin.
"You dare target Dad's Pokémon? Unforgivable!" May shouted, eyes blazing. "Go, Combusken! Beautifly!"
"Seviper, use Poison Tail!""Cacnea, Pin Missile!"
Seviper's tail glowed with venom as it lunged at Combusken. At the same time, Cacnea fired a barrage of glowing pins at Beautifly.
"Beautifly, Silver Wind! Combusken, Flamethrower!"
The shimmering wind collided with searing flames, forming a blazing cyclone that just barely pushed back the incoming attacks.
"They're tough…" May muttered, gritting her teeth. One of her Pokémon was just reaching the late-stage Advanced tier, and the other was mid-tier Elite. But Team Rocket's Pokémon were both at the peak of Advanced—they had the edge in power!
"Let's see you handle this—Sludge Bomb!""Solar Beam!"
Toxic sludge and a powerful beam of solar energy flew toward May's Pokémon.
"Everyone, dodge—!" she cried.
Just as Eevee prepared to raise a protective shield, a massive figure leapt into the fray, blocking the attack with its body.
"Slaking!" Max exclaimed. "That's Dad's Slaking!"
"Combusken, Beautifly—return!" May recalled her Pokémon. "Thank you, Slaking!"
Slaking gave them a nod. Then, without hesitation, white light gathered on its massive fist.
"It's Focus Punch!" Ash called.
"Oh no, Meowth! Slaking's really strong!" Meowth shrieked.
With a single devastating punch, Slaking launched Seviper and Cacnea straight into Team Rocket, blasting them all sky-high.
"This feels bad!""Wobbuffet~ (˃ʍ˂)!"
May watched in awe. "I never realized… Dad's Slaking is that strong."
Slaking gave a lazy grin, then laid down and began napping again, satisfied with a job well done.
With Team Rocket defeated, Ash and the group hurried to the Pokémon Center. And just as they feared—there was Norman, chatting and laughing comfortably with Nurse Joy.
"No way…" May and Max said, their hearts sinking. They already imagined their mother leaving, their father finding someone new, and their happy family shattered after their long journey.
But Brock stepped forward with rare seriousness.
May and Max looked at him with hope—could he be their saving grace?
He marched up, dropped to one knee before Nurse Joy, and took her hand dramatically. "Nurse Joy! In order to preserve this beautiful family's harmony, I—I'm willing to sacrifice myself—"
BANG!
A Spinda suddenly danced into view and hit Brock with a Teeter Dance, dragging him away in a spinning daze.
Everyone: (￢_￢) …Why did we even hope?
"Huh? May? Max?" Norman blinked in surprise. "You're back!"
The air turned awkward. May and Max didn't know how to respond, and Norman looked completely confused.
Ash stepped forward and quickly explained the rumors that had spread, hoping to stop the misunderstanding from getting worse.
"Me? Having an affair with Nurse Joy?!" Norman exclaimed, exchanging an awkward glance with her.
"This is…" he began, just as a voice interrupted.
"Dear!" Caroline walked into the Pokémon Center, suitcase in hand.
Norman instantly understood what had happened.
"I won't bother explaining here—come with me, Caroline. I want to show you." Norman took her hand and rushed out.
Ash and the others glanced at each other, then followed—along with a confused but curious Nurse Joy.
They arrived at a large machine in the Petalburg Gym greenhouse.
"What… is this?" Caroline asked in shock.
"This," Norman said, smiling, "was supposed to be your wedding anniversary surprise. I never thought it'd get so misunderstood…"
"I have a professional fireworks license," Nurse Joy explained sheepishly. "Mr. Norman asked me to design a special display in secret. I didn't expect it to cause a scandal!"
Everyone was stunned silent. The truth was far more romantic than they imagined.
All that was left was to wait for nightfall and enjoy the fireworks that Norman had lovingly prepared for his wife.
That evening, everyone helped prepare a feast outside the Gym.
"All ready!" Nurse Joy smiled, double-checking the launcher.
"Alright!" Norman raised the remote. "Let's enjoy the show together!"
He pressed the button—and with a hiss, the launcher fired.
Explosions of color lit up the sky. Fireworks bloomed against the stars, forming the shape of a Beautifly.
Everyone stared in awe.
Norman smiled. "When I proposed to Caroline, it was in the flower garden, and a Beautifly witnessed the whole thing. It's always been our symbol of love."
Tears shimmered in Caroline's eyes.
Later, after dinner, Norman approached Ash. "Ash—the Gym Battle is tomorrow. I'm really looking forward to seeing what you've got!"
Max had already told his father about Ash defeating former Champion Steven and former Elite Four member Flannery. Norman was stunned, and now he was more determined than ever to take the battle seriously.
Ash nodded, confident. "I'll give it everything I've got!"
"Pika!""Eevee~!"
The next morning, the battlefield at the Petalburg Gym buzzed with excitement. Ash stood opposite Norman, both ready.
Kinji stood in the center as referee. "This official Gym Match will now begin! Each side may use three Pokémon. The match ends when one side has no Pokémon left able to battle. Only the challenger may switch Pokémon!"
Max clutched the edge of his seat. "So tense… who's going to win?"
After traveling with Ash for so long, he already knew just how powerful he was. But his father—Norman—was known as a future Elite Four candidate. Neither trainer would use their aces in this match, but with their lineups so evenly matched, this was sure to be an incredible battle!
"Relax, Max," Caroline said warmly. "This is the first time you're watching your father's Gym Match live, right? I get it."
"Alright!" Norman raised his Poké Ball. "Let's get started. First up—Slakoth!"
[Slakoth – Mid-Level Elite Tier]
"As expected, he's starting with Slakoth!" Ash called. "Then I choose—Beautifly!"
"Beautifly!"
The battle had begun.
To be continued...
[1] nah, this pikachu is Arceus Grade!