"Ahhhh!!! My Furfrou! My hair! How dare you!"
Princess Allie screamed, her mouth still spewing out black smoke.
Her once elegant noble demeanor had completely vanished, replaced by a furious, wild expression. She looked ready to pounce on Ash and Pikachu in rage.
"Furfrou is unable to battle! Pikachu is the victor! In a Pokémon battle, winning and losing is common, and accidents can happen—it's all part of the match. So, Princess Allie, as per our agreement, you've lost. That means you must return the Poké Flute to us."
Clemont spoke righteously, his voice steady and calm. Serena and Bonnie stood beside him, both secretly thrilled by what Pikachu had just done.
Just seeing Allie's ridiculous afro-shaped, electro-fried hairstyle was enough to make them feel fully avenged.
"Hmph! The Poké Flute is mine! I've changed my mind. You defeated me, and I'm unhappy about it. Therefore, I refuse to return it. In fact, I demand an explanation—how dare you attack me, a princess, inside my own palace? Such insolence!"
Allie's spoiled temper flared up again, acting as if throwing a tantrum was second nature.
Hearing this, Clemont clenched his fists. He had reached his limit.
He strode boldly toward Princess Allie.
Pikachu hopped back onto Ash's shoulder, and Ash smirked darkly.
"Clemont, don't look at me like that. I didn't trick you—this was all your choice. Enjoy your new 'life of luxury' here in the palace with the princess! Hahaha!"
Ash chuckled, clearly amused by the trap Clemont had walked into.
"You… what are you doing? I warn you, this is my family's palace!"
Princess Allie instinctively took a step back, intimidated by Clemont's sudden determination.
"Princess Allie," Clemont said firmly, "this palace may belong to your family, and here you may do as you please. But outside in the real world, that attitude won't work! If you continue acting spoiled, selfish, and unreasonable, you'll never have a real friend. You'll be stuck in a world of sycophants and flatterers, forever isolated and alone. Return the Poké Flute! Ash won the battle, and you should honor your word!"
With every step Clemont took forward, Allie retreated a step back.
Finally, she let out a frightened squeak.
Then, after a pause, she lifted her pink fan to cover her face, brushing her hair dramatically with her other hand.
"You… you're the first person who's ever dared speak to me that way. But you know what? I think you're right. You must like me, don't you? Very well then, I'll give you the Poké Flute… but only on one condition: Clemont must stay here with me!"
Her tone shifted instantly, her eyes now filled with a starry, lovestruck gleam as she gazed at Clemont.
"Wha—what?! No! You're mistaken—I don't like you! Not at all! Please, just give us back the Poké Flute!"
Clemont's face turned pale.
Oh no! What kind of nightmare situation was this?
But before Clemont could fully protest, his worst fear came true. His little sister Bonnie, whispering and giggling with Serena at the side, suddenly announced in unison:
"No problem! We agree!"
A-A-A-Agree?!
"Excellent! Then come with me into the palace. I'll return the Poké Flute, but Clemont will remain here. From today onward, we'll live happily together in this luxurious palace! Oh, this is wonderful!"
Beaming, Princess Allie clapped her hands, and the palace maids swarmed in to escort Clemont away.
Clemont, his face lifeless, allowed himself to be dragged along as though his very soul had left his body.
Ash nearly doubled over with laughter, while Serena and Bonnie gave each other a mischievous thumbs-up. They had successfully pranked Clemont, just like in the "original script."
After Allie reluctantly returned the Poké Flute, Clemont was left behind at the palace to suffer his "royal fate."
Back in Camphrier Town, the Town Lord was already waiting anxiously.
Taking the Poké Flute, he played a gentle tune. The Snorlax stirred, opening its sleepy eyes. After devouring the mountain of fruit the villagers had prepared, it happily lumbered back into the forested mountains.
When the next harvest season came, it would descend again, repeating the cycle once more.
The townspeople were overjoyed and grateful, showering Ash and his friends with delicious local delicacies in thanks.
That evening, they celebrated heartily in Camphrier Town.
The next day, Serena and Bonnie finally remembered something.
"Oh no! Clemont is still at the palace! We need to go get him!" Serena exclaimed.
"Heehee, I wonder what big brother is doing right now?" Bonnie giggled wickedly.
Ash pointed in the distance, grinning. "No need. Look—Clemont's already back."
Sure enough, Clemont trudged toward them, looking utterly exhausted. He had managed a clever escape, leaving behind a decoy robot version of himself to fool Princess Allie before sneaking away.
The group burst into laughter. After one more peaceful night in Camphrier Town, they resumed their journey the next morning.
-----
"Hey Ash, look ahead! There's a huge building on the map called the Radio Observatory. Let's check it out!" Serena said excitedly.
"The Radio Observatory? That place is capable of receiving signals from outer space. With advanced instruments, they can analyze those signals instantly. Sounds fascinating!"
Clemont adjusted his glasses, his interest piqued.
In reality, the structure looked like a cluster of giant solar panels gleaming under the sun.
But when they arrived, the group noticed something alarming—a police motorcycle parked out front. It was Officer Jenny's.
"Pikachu, stay alert," Ash warned softly.
"Pika," Pikachu nodded, also sensing something was wrong.
Just as they approached, they spotted Meowth lying unconscious on the ground.
"It's badly hurt!" Serena gasped.
Though Team Rocket often harassed them, Serena and Bonnie couldn't just ignore the pitiful sight of Meowth battered and bruised. They quickly treated its wounds as best they could.
Tears welling up in its eyes, Meowth spoke weakly:
"Thank you, nya… I'll tell you everything. Inside… there's a terrifying Malamar!"
The group's expressions hardened instantly.
"That Malamar… it can release a powerful hypnotic wave. Anyone caught in it loses their free will and becomes its puppet. Jessie and James… they're under its control right now, still inside the observatory…"
Meowth's claws trembled as it lifted them to its scarred face.
"When it unleashed its hypnosis, I clawed my own face to stay awake! Only the pain kept me from falling under… nya…"
Its voice cracked with desperation.
"Please, you've got to believe me! That Malamar is too dangerous—it's already enslaved powerful Pokémon: a Pangoro, a Scolipede, an Exploud… It says it's going to change the entire world, nya!"
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T/N:
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