EP 009: Towering Repairs

by SSJ04 Mewtwo

Beta/Assistant: Eclispe2025

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The group was taking a break from lunch beside a river. Cilan was cooking up a large pot of Vegetable rice.

'N...does he really want me, or is he just looking from someone like him so he's not lonely?' Anabel thought. She saw that Cilan was having problems with Ash and decided to retrieve him before Cilan went crazy.

"Keep away from those berries you bottomless pit of a trainer,” Cilan scolded.

"But I'm hungry," Ash complained.

"C'mon Ash, Cilan can't finish cooking if you are in the way," Anabel said and drug Ash away by his collar.

"Now then, Pikachu, Piplup, Axew, you can go ahead and eat," Cilan said and laid out three bowls of Pokémon food which the three Pokémon started to dig into

"Darumaka," a Pokémon greeted the group as it walked by.

"Well now, that's a Darumaka, Darmanitan's pre-evolved form," Cilan remarked.

"Aww, how cute,” Iris gushed and went over to the Darumaka and started playing with its eyebrows.

I wouldn't do that if I were you," Anabel warned.

"You wouldn't hurt me would you?" Iris questioned the fire type.

Darumaka, annoyed by the girl messing with its eyebrows, used flamethrower on her.

"That's an impressive flame thrower. I guess a flavor of good fortune will be with us. Darumaka are said to bring good luck," Cilan explained.

"I don't feel lucky," Iris whimpered in pain.

"Anabel warned you," May said.

Pikachu, wanting to get back to its food, turned to find that its bowl of Pokémon food was gone. It growled at Axew, thinking it had done it.

"Piplup!"

The humans turned from the sleeping Darumaka that they had been observing to see that Piplup and another Darumaka were having a tug of war with the bowl of food that Piplup had been enjoying. The Darumaka finally won, now having three bowls of food and Iris's berries in its possession.

The first Darumaka woke and used flamethrower to scatter the group. Ash threw out Oshawott to try and stop the two Darumaka.

"Water gun,” Ash ordered. Oshawott performed the move, but the two Darumaka returned with a twin flamethrower that knocked Oshawott out.

Wartortle!" May shouted. The turtle came out, but the two Darumaka ran off.

"We better get Oshawott to a Pokémon center," Cilan suggested and Ash nodded.

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After Nurse Joy had healed Oshawott and had informed the group about the two Darumaka and the Darmanitan, she had offered to fix dumplings for the group, Ash and company offered to help prepare them.

"Ahhhh!" Nurse Joy shouted. The group could see that the two Darumaka had gotten into the center's kitchen and had the dumplings in their possession… Seeing that they had been found, the two Darumaka escaped through the window.

"Pidove, follow those Darumaka,” Ash requested and Pidove flew out the window and the others followed.

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The group chased the two Darumaka until the pair split down a T-junction. Ash, with Anabel and May hot on his heals followed the one that was carrying the dumplings.

"Figures that Ash would chase after the one with the food, what a kid,” Iris said as she, Cilan, Dawn, and Angie ran after the other Darumaka.

"He's not a kid,” Angie growled.

"Just keep running,” Cilan advised.

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"Man, why are those Darumaka stealing so much food?" Ash asked.

"They can't be eating all that food on their own, they'd get sick,” Anabel said. Eventually, they met back up with Cilan and the rest and they chased the two Darumaka into the clock tower.

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The group ran up the stairs. Seeing that Ash was gaining on them, the two Darumaka picked up the pace and got to the top of the stairs first.

When the group got to the top of the staircase, they found themselves in a room that was dimly lit by the moon.

"Look out!" Anabel warned as the two Darumaka used flamethrower that was aimed for Ash. Ash moved, but the ladder that was in the room caught on fire.

“Oshawott," Ash called forth.

"Wartortle," May followed suit.

"Water gun," the two ordered and the fire was put out.

The two Darumaka prepared to attack, but they were stopped.

"We don't want to battle you. We just want to know why you've been stealing food,"

"Yeah, you can't be that hungry," May said.

The two Darumaka had a short, quiet conversation. Then the two came to where the ladder had been and pointed upward to an opening.

"Something's up there," Anabel reported, "and they want to get to it."

"Okay, Cilan," Ash said and Cilan helped Ash so that he was high enough to release Snivy. Snivy helped everyone to get up into the opening.

"Hey, that must be Darmanitan," Dawn said.

"Yeah, and it's in Zen mode," Cilan remarked.

"But why is it in Zen mode?" May asked.

"I think...its holding up that bell," Anabel said as she point at the bell that was above Darmanitan head.

"Why would it need to hold up that bell? And why is it so hot?" Iris asked.

"While in Zen mode, Darmanitan produces a lot of heat," Cilan answered as one Darumaka brought out the dumplings and Darmanitan floated it over while a second brought over a rod in the shape of a question mark.

“Oh, I get it," Cilan began, "Darmanitan has kept this bell from falling to the bottom of the tower."

"So, how do we fix it?" Angie asked.

"We've got to get this into the shape of an ’s’,” Cilan said. "Pansage," Cilan called and Pansage came out.

"Tepig, go!" Ash shouted.

"Okay, Pansage, throw this rod into the air. Ash, have Tepig use ember. Darumaka, if you two don't mind, use flamethrower. Then Pansage, use bullet seed on the hook so it can be shaped properly. Ash, that's when we'll need Oshawott and Wartortle to cool it down," Cilan said.

"Right, Ash quickly agreed.

Pansage threw the hook, Tepig and the two Darumaka super heated the rod, and Pansage used bullet seed. Finally, Oshawott and Wartortle cooled the rod and it feel to the ground. Pikachu looked at it and then took it over to Ash.

"How are we going to get that hook up there?" Dawn questioned.

That's how," Anabel said as Ash, Pikachu, and the hook were floated up to the top of the bell.

With the girls, cheering him on, Ash hooked the hook into the top of the bar and was about to grab the handle, but the bell, Pikachu, and Ash started falling, but Darmanitan caught the bell and performed several impressive leaps to get the bell hooked onto the bar. Once the bell was secure, Ash and Pikachu leapt back to the floor.

"What a strong flavor you have Darmanitan," Cilan comment as Darmanitan leapt down to the floor.

"Okay, now you two won't steal anymore food, right?" Anabel said and the two Darumaka nodded.

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'I think I know why my own Darmanitan won't go into Zen mode. It doesn’t want to feel weak. I'll have to help it get over that,' Anabel thought as they continued to make their way towards Ash's next gym battle.

'I've got to quit thinking about N. He's just being foolish wanting me. Besides I'm happy with being with Ash.'

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Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

original story is by author Ssj04Mewtwo, story is being continued with permission. if you see any areas that need correcting, feel free to message me