Pokemon - Odyssey

As Brock and Pinkie set to work setting up a Charcoal Grill that Pinkie had pulled out of her hair, the trainers and ponies split up into teams to gather food and needed supplies for themselves and their Pokemon partners. As the clearing depopulated, Brock grew ever more confused and amused by Pinkie pulling various foods and seasonings out of her hair.

"How is it that you're able to do that?" Brock asked, as he roasted a few hot dogs, for the humans.

"Silly! It's because I'm me!" Pinkie replied. "Well, there is my Pinkie Sense, but that's a whole other story!"

"Pinkie sense?" Brock asked.

"Yeah! I can sort of get these weird feelings that tell me what's happening! Like you need to stop those hot dogs from burning!"

"Oh, thanks!" Brock said, taking the meat off the grill and setting several patties onto the grill.

"Not a problem, Brockster! Or Brocko! Or Brock the Rock!" Pinkie said.

"Strangely, I think I've been called two of those." Brock said.

"Really? Eh, minor detail." Pinkie said, dumping a load of sprinkles onto a fresh batch of prepared cupcakes, using a bag of sprinkles she pulled out of nowhere. Brock sighed and returned to cooking the hamburger patties.

===========

Steven and Twilight paired up to find the folding chairs they'd need to seat everyone. Several ponies gave Steven curious or odd looks, but Twilight shrugged them away.

"So, Steven?"

"Hmm?" Steven replied.

"You're the Hoenn Champion, right?"

"Yes?"

"What's it like, being a Region Champion?"

"It's quite a challenge, indeed." Steven said. "Constantly training so that no one can surpass you in battle. But, in a way, it's a nice reason to have fun."

"I see." Twilight said. "Anyway, Barnyard Bargains should have the chairs we need."

As they stepped into the store, they were surprised to see Filthy Rich buried underneath a pile of crates. Steven sent out Metagross, who used Psychic to levitate the crates off the pony.

"Thanks for that." Filthy said.

"You okay?" Twilight asked.

"Well, having ordered about thirty excess folding chairs with no hope of selling, well...not so much, Princess."

"We could use them." Steven said. "We need them for a cookout."

"Take 'em, then." Filthy said. "Keep 'em, too. Don't need them, anyway. Wasn't like there was anypony who would buy them."

"Thank you. Metagross?" Steven said. Metagross nodded and levitated the crates to the top of his body, using Psychic to keep them in place. Steven and Twilight walked back to the cookout site to see an amusing scene. Brock was watching an attempt by Pinkie to beat his Croagunk in a staring contest. Neither side was giving in, as Croagunk's unwavering stare knew no limits. Until…

"GAH! YOU WIN!" Pinkie yelled, wiping her eyes with a wet cloth. Croagunk gave a weak smile in response.

"Alright, that's enough." Twilight said, helping Steven unload the chairs. "Where are the tables?"

"Right here." Applejack said, coming back with Nate, along with five tables stacked on the back of Nate's Torterra. "Took us a while. Folks didn't seem to feel safe around Nate's Torterra."

"With good reason." Nate said. "It beat my Infernape. Anyway, what's next?"

"Alain and Spike should be back with the silverware, and I left the tablecloths to Abigail and Rarity." Twilight said. "So, we wait after that."

=========

Alain and Spike walked out of Twilight's castle, two bags of silverware being carried by Alain's Charizard. Spike seemed a bit uneasy around the orange fire lizard, but he sighed, knowing he was safe.

"Spike?" Alain asked.

"Yeah?"

"You okay?"

"I'm fine." Spike said. "Just..a bit nervous around that Charizard."

"You do know that he won't hurt you, right?" Alain said.

"Yeah, I do. Thing is, I once hit a growth spurt due to greed and I nearly destroyed Ponyville. He's big, just big enough to scare me." Spike said.

"There's nothing to be scared about." Alain said. "You know why?"

"Why?"

"Just because you're big doesn't mean you're bad, if you know what I mean." Alain said. Spike smiled and sighed.

"Maybe you're right, Alain." Spike said. "Thanks."

"Don't mention it." Alain said as they arrived at the cookout site. As they handed over the silverware, Rarity and Abigail arrived with several bolts of cloth. As the table was set, the remaining trainers and ponies sat down to dish after dish of Brock and Pinkie's cooking.

"That was good." Ash said.

"Really good." Serena said.

"I only wish there was someone who could match your food, Brock." Steven said.

"Cilan, maybe. Clemont, well, maybe as well." Ash replied.

"Cilan? As in the Striaton City Gym leader?" Chase asked. "Last I checked, they retired a while ago. Probably the reopened the Gym at some point after I left Unova for Kalos."

"Really?" Ash said. "Interesting."

As they all began to clean up, Gravee noticed a bush moving and shaking. She walked over to it, and moved it aside to reveal something she did not expect.

"A Swablu?" She said to herself, recognizing the Cotton Bird Pokemon. She picked it up, then she saw several burns and wounds covering the weak Pokemon. She carried it over to the cookout site and called for help. Brock rushed over and helped set the injured Swablu onto a blanket.

"Seems this Swablu took a beating." Brock said, taking his backpack and withdrawing several Potions. "I've have her fixed up in no time."

"You're a Pokemon healer?" Twilight asked.

"Well, the correct term is Breeder." Brock said as he sprayed the Swablu's injuries with Potions. "I've had to take care of Pokemon on multiple occasions. Alright, should be good. Let's give it some rest. and it should be fine when it wakes up."

"Thanks, Brock." Grace said. As she and Brock took the Swablu to Twilight's castle, the heard the familiar sound of rushing air. The trainers turned to see Chris and Hau walk up.

"Hey, guys." Chris said. "How're you all doing?"

"Hey, Chris!" Ash said. "Hey, Hau?"

"Who are you?" Matthew asked.

"Name's Chris, that's Hau. We're from the Alola region." Chris said.

"Alola Region?" Matthew said. "I don't think I've been there."

"Well, I could tell you about it." Chris said. "Let's get this place cleaned up first, though."

"Sure." Matthew said. As the two Alolan trainers helped clean up, and Grace and Brock returned from dropping off Swablu at the castle, Twilight was surprised to see her Cutie Mark glowing. She teleported to the castle to see the map focusing on the small port town of Bristail, to the south of Ponyville.