Chapter 5: Vacation's Where I Wanna Be...Or Not (Part 1)Ash and friends have boarded the next flight to Alola in order to evade Team Rocket. Professor Oak is keeping in touch with updates about the Rocket situation.
Ash: So, what's happening right now?
Oak: You might want to listen to this. I'm detecting a large cluster of Rocket agents gathering outside their headquarters. They must be planning something big.
Brock: Thanks for warning us, Professor. We'll be sure to keep an eye out for them.
May: Hopefully, we won't have to. There's no way they'll find us here!
Max: Oh, I don't know, sis. With Team Rocket, you never know...
Upon landing, our heroes are greeted by Professor Kukui, who has agreed to house them during their stay in Alola.
Kukui: Glad you could make it, Ash. Professor Oak has filled me in on everything.
Ash: Nice to see you too, Professor Kukui. How are my Pokémon doing?
Kukui: I want to surprise them, so I haven't told them you're coming, yet. But I did bring along someone...
Rotomdex: Boop beep beep boop! Ash! I am so glad to see you again!!!
Ash: So am I, Rotom! What have you been up to?
Rotomdex: [puts on wig] Solving mysteries! Alolan Detective Laki has been showing new episodes all week, and I'm not going to miss a single...wait...IT'S ON IN TWENTY MINUTES!!!! WE HAVE TO GET HOME RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!!
Kukui: Okay, Rotom! No need to worry. We'll get back in time.
May: Your Rotomdex is weird, Ash.
Ash: He's not weird, he's just...enthusiastic.
Later, at the Kukui household...
Kukui: Guess who's here, everyone!
[Ash's Alolan team, who have been sleeping on the floor with Kukui's son, immediately wake up and smother their trainer with affection]
Ash: Guys, not so hard!
Max: Looks like Ash's Pokémon really missed him.
Ash: I'm sure you guys know Brock, but these are my other two friends, May and Max.
Max: Nice to meet-OW!
[Rowlet starts pecking Max]
May: What's the matter?
Max: This little guy is pecking my foot!
Ash: That's my Rowlet. I guess he's really happy to meet you, Max.
[Ash's Melmetal approaches May and points to his back]
Melmetal: Metal?
May: Say what?
Ash: Melmetal wants to know if he can give you and Max a ride on his back.
May: That won't hurt him, will it?
Kukui: Of course not! Melmetal's a Steel Type. He can handle it.
May: Well, okay.
[Melmetal lets May and Max climb on]
Max: Wow, I've never rode on a Steel Type before! This is fun!
May: Yeah, you're a really cool Pokémon, Melmetal!
[Melmetal blushes]
Brock: I hope you won't mind me asking, Professor, but, whose child is that?
Kukui: Oh, that's our son, Lei. He loves when we have visitors.
Ash: Where's Professor Burnet?
Kukui: She's been helping out at Aether Paradise for a few days. You'll probably see her tomorrow.
Brock: Wait, who was watching him when you came to pick us up?
Kukui: Ash’s Pokémon did, of course! They’re really close with him.
[Incineroar winks at Lei]
Lei: Kitty!
Max: Whoa, the baby just said something!
Kukui: Yeah, he’s been learning how to say the Pokémon’s names lately. Now if only I could get him to learn my name…
May: Hey, guys, is it just me, or did we forget something back at the airport?
Elsewhere, Jessie (who was on a different plane) makes her way through town trying to find the twerps. It’s not easy, since Ash didn’t bother giving her directions to the house.
Jessie: This is exactly what I was afraid would happen. Those twerps aren’t going to hear the end of it when I catch up to them!
Suddenly, a familiar face lands in front of Jessie and grabs her.
Jessie: Bewear? I never thought I’d be happy to see you again. Can you take me to the twerps?
Bewear nods her head and runs off towards a nearby beach.
Meanwhile, Ash and the others are relaxing by the shore. Brock and his Swampert are enjoying the cool ocean water. Kukui prepares a nice barbecue, while Lei plays with Ash’s Pokémon. Their peaceful gathering is suddenly interrupted by an out of breath Jessie and Bewear.
Jessie: [panting] Finally…I’ve caught up with you.
Kukui: What’s she doing here?!? She’s one of those criminals from Team Rocket, right?
Jessie: For your information, Professor Kahuna, I’m a good guy now. And I expect to be treated like one!
Kukui: Is this true?
Brock: Yeah. She couldn’t take their increasingly violent attacks anymore, so she left.
Kukui: Well, if you guys say so. But, I still have my doubts.
Back at the airport, another plane lands. This one, however, has James, Meowth, and Harley on board.
Harley: Ooh, we’re finally here! I can’t wait to see those beautiful beaches!
James: No, Harley. That’s not why we’re here! We’re supposed to be taking over, remember?
Harley: But how are we doing to do that when there’s only three of us?
James: Don’t ask me, ask Dr. Mambo! He’s the one who assigned us to this place!
[James’ Rotom Phone rings]
James: Hello?
Namba: IT’S NAMBA!!!!!
Harley: Um, how did he hear you?
Namba: I have eyes and ears everywhere…
And he’s right. A nearby person turns “his” head around to reveal a secret spy camera.
Back at the beach, Kukui’s barbecue is ready. All of the Pokémon dig in while Ash prepares to eat his food.
Ash: Down the hatch!
Kukui: Do you always have to say that before you eat?
Ash: No…but it sure is fun to say it!
Max. Eh, not really.
[May prepares to eat her steak, but Incineroar takes a huge chunk out of it]
May: Hey! What did he do that for?!??
Kukui: I guess I should’ve warned you, May. Incineroar loves to eat, especially when steak is on the menu.
May. Tell him not to do it again! I refuse to eat anything that has cat fur in it!
Suddenly, a strange round object falls on the table. It has a big letter “R” on it, which then disappears and is replaced by a ticking timer, accompanied by a poorly-accented English voice saying, “Bye-bye!” over and over.
Kukui: BOMB!!! GET AWAY FROM THE TABLE, EVERYONE!
Everyone gets away from the table just as it goes KA-BLAMMO!!!!!! Dinner plates and burnt pieces of food litter the beach, and Kukui’s glasses have been blown off by the force of the blast.
Kukui: Is everyone okay?
Brock: I think so. Where’s Ash?
Ash: [muffled] You’re sitting on me, Brock.
Brock: Whoops. Sorry, Ash.
Max: Who would ruin our dinner like that?
In the midst of the smoke, they can just make out some familiar voices taunting them…
Harley: Prepare for trouble, we’ve ruined your dinner!
James: Make it double, now you’ll all be thinner!
Harley: To protect the world from devastation…
James: To unite all peoples within our nation…
Harley: To denounce the evils of truth and love…
James: To extend our reach to the stars above…
Harley: It’s me, Harley!
James: And James, too!
Harley: Team Rocket blasts off at the speed of light!
James: Surrender now, or you’re in for a brutal fight!
Meowth: Dat’s right!
Mime Jr: Mime mime mime!
James: Hmmm, it doesn’t work as well without Jessie and Wobbuffet.
Ash: What do you guys want? We specifically came to Alola just so we could get away from you!
Jessie: Go away, you two! I told you I’m not part of Team Rocket anymore. How did you find us anyway?
Harley: Look, it’s just a coincidence that you guys happened to be here. Our new boss, Dr. Namba, sent us to take over!
Kukui: Dr. Who?
Brock: He’s a messed up scientist who tortured an innocent Lugia and her baby!
Max: And he tried to fuse Pokémon together so he could sell them to the public at a high price!
Kukui: Whoever this guy is, he’s not welcome here, and neither are you. Get off of my property or I’m calling the police.
Harley: Did you hear that, James? He’s gonna call the cops!
James: Ooh, I’m soooo scared! What next, you’re gonna tell your mommy?
Harley: Speaking of mommies, who’s that young man over there?
[Harley is referring to Lei, who’s hiding behind his father]
Kukui: I don’t know what you two are planning, but leave my son out of this.
James: Your son??? Hmmmm, maybe the boss would like an extra prisoner once we capture all of your Pokémon.
Kukui: If you put a single hand on Lei, I’ll make sure to rip your arm off!
Ash: Wow, I’ve never seen the Professor get so angry before.
Rotomdex: He is very protective of Lei, just as a good father should be.
Kukui: Since it doesn’t look like you guys are going to leave willingly, what do you say we have a battle?
Harley: That can be arranged! Go, Cacturne!
James: Go, Carnivine! [CHOMP!] Eeeee!!!! How many times do I have to tell you not to bite me??
Kukui: I could use some help here, kids.
Ash: We’ve got your back, Professor! Go, Pikachu!
Brock: Go, Forretress!
May: Go, Blaziken!
Ash: What about you, Jessie? You’re on our side now, right?
Jessie: I choose Gourgeist!
Lycanroc: Roc! Roc!
Brock: Ash, I think your Alolan Pokémon want to help out, too.
Ash: Sure, guys! It’s been a while since I battled with you.
Harley: Are you ready to lose, kiddies?
Ash: I’m always ready!
Author’s note: This is such an eventful chapter that I had to split it into two parts. The next one will see the actual battle, and its horrific consequences.
I should also point out that I initially wrote this story back in 2019, before Sun and Moon’s finale aired. Some parts of it have been updated slightly to reflect that, but you hopefully won’t notice.
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