Type: Poison

Shipping: LeagueShipping

One-Shot 12: Win and Lose

It was a tough but well-earned victory for Ash. Not only did he defeat Jeanette Fisher, he won on all four fields: grass, rock, water and ice. The battle with Jeanette was fierce. It looked one-sided when his Bulbasaur drained her Beedrill with Leech Seed, and used Scyther's Double-Team against her with a well-aimed Vine Whip. When Jeanette summoned Bellsprout, Ash was in for a surprise when Bellsprout threw Bulbasaur for a loop, then stopped Pikachu with its own Vine Whip. In what seemed like a last resort, Ash brought out Muk to Jeanette's horror and Misty's surprise. One Body Slam later and the Ketchum smothered the Fisher. In the locker room, Ash, Misty, Brock, Oak, Delia and the Pokémon celebrated Ash's advancement to the main tournament. "I can't believe you won on all four fields, Ash," complimented Misty. "You definitely earned that victory the hard way."

"Gee thanks, Misty," Ash accepted.

"But if it hadn't been for Muk, you'd be out of luck." Muk comically retaliated by trying to Body Slam Misty. "Hey! Muk! I got it! Muk!" Everyone else laughed to Muk and Misty's reaction.

"I'm surprised all the times I've visited, you never did that to me, Muk," Delia giggled.

"That's because you haven't been around Muk as long as I have," Oak pointed out. Ash sighed with a smile.

"Soon, the Round of 16," he realized. "And I still haven't used Charizard, yet." Brock came to Ash's ear with advice.

"Ash, there's a good chance Charizard won't listen," he warned. Ash seemed determined to bring him out at some point.

"It'll work, Brock." Muk settled down, shedding Misty to Body Slam Ash. "Whoa, okay! I may use you again!" Misty glared at Brock and stood in front of him, her face directly at his.

"Now, why did you decide and cheer for Jeanette and not Ash?!" she argued. Brock stuttered at Misty's accusation during the battle.

(Flashback)

When Jeanette came out, she brought a cheering squad which Misty noted. "Jeanette has a whole cheering section, but Ash only has you and me," she pointed out.

"Yeah…" Brock awed while admiring Ash's opponent. "Jeanette… She should win." Overhearing the swoon, Misty lashed out while Togepi enjoyed the comedy.

"We're here to root for Ash! Which side are you on, anyway?!" When Bulbasaur tangled Beedrill with Leech Seed, Brock still wanted Jeanette to be on top. "Look, Brock… Leech Seed is sucking up Beedrill's energy!"

"Yeah! I see!" Realizing Brock still fawning over Jeanette, Misty lashed out again.

"You're suppose to be rooting for Ash! Not Jeanette!"

Brock seemed on the defense. "Well…" he stuttered. "You see… I-uh…" Ash and Pikachu sensed hostility and the trainer grabbed Togepi and left.

"How dare you root against someone you've been traveling with!" shouted Delia.

"I thought you two were great friends!" added Misty in her anger.

"Some friend you turned out to be!" Brock couldn't find a way to argue out of his backstabbing on Ash. Oak noticed that Ash wasn't around and followed him outside.

"Trust me, Togepi," Ash assured. "You don't want to hear that from Misty and my mom." Togepi blinked in confusion.

"I can understand taking children out of a heated argument, Ash," Oak bobbed. "And Pokémon should be treated the same way." Ash nodded to Oak's assessment.

"Not only that, but you can't beat my mom in an argument. I've tried a few times, lost them all." Oak laughed, understanding his take.

"I'm also winless against her." Another laugh but from a young woman. All turned to see Ash's opponent.

"Jeanette?" No cheerleaders by her side, Jeanette approached the two and the Pokémon.

"There are some women who won't back down from an argument," she pointed out. "You guys doing okay?"

"We are, Jeanette," Oak assured. "Are you heading back Crimson City?"

"Not yet. I wanted to give Ash praise for a well-earned victory against me. I retreated after losing to get my Pokémon treated by Nurse Joy." That's when she stepped to Ash. "Not to mention, congratulating Ash on making it to the Round of 16. No one has beaten my Bellsprout before. I've been so far on my winning streak, I almost forgot what it was like to lose."

"It's alright, Jeanette," Ash smiled. "I've been down that road myself a couple of times."

"And that's before he became a trainer," Oak added. Ash irked forward from the followup. Jeanette laughed, humored by the detail.

"Professor!" Delia came out to let Misty deal with Brock.

"Ash, Misty would like to have Togepi back," she told before noticing Jeanette. "Oh, Miss Fisher!" Jeanette smiled to Delia.

"I can give Togepi back to Misty," Oak offered. Ash handed the Spike Ball Pokémon back to Oak before Jeanette approached. Oak entered the locker room.

"There's something else I should be honest about," she spoke up. "There's a tradition within my family about honor and you're the first man to beat me in a Pokémon Battle." Ash jumped before scratching the back of his head.

"I think it's a little early to call me a man."

"Maybe… but it's still an honor since no man or boy has beat me before today. I've had fellow female trainers get the better of me, so you kinda understand the significance of someone like you doing such." Ash giggled, unsure how to act to this achievement.

"So, what's this tradition if I may ask?" questioned Delia.

"Of course you may… It's been long running but the first person of the opposite gender who defeats a Fisher becomes that Fisher's fiance." Ash, Delia and Pikachu gawked to the information. Misty and Brock heard this too, freaking out as they arrived to the doorway.

"Fiance?!" they snapped. "Ash?!" The information seemed too much to endure at once for Ash.

"All I'm doing is competing in a tournament," he muttered. "How was I suppose to know I'd end up with… this news?" Brock, unable to stand back, came to Jeanette with a proposal of his own.

"Jeanette, he's not ready to accept responsibility for such an important role like engagement," he explained. "But I, on the other hand, can become the Goldeen to your Seaking of love and passion that even-" Misty, still upset at Brock's betrayal, yanked Brock by the earlobe, breaking his hold on Jeanette.

"The only thing you'll be Seaking of is the Psychiatric Ward," she scowled as she dragged him away. Brock wailed in pain from the grasp. This made Ash's mother awe.

"What's up with that?" wondered Delia. Jeanette shrugged off the encounter and resumed her offer.

"Anyway, I'm aware that we're still years away from actually considering marriage," she briefed. "So, I wanna start it slow and have ourselves a dinner date. And since the trainers have a day-off tomorrow, we can have the night to ourselves before I return home." Ash thought about the invite brought on by Jeanette.

"Alright, I guess since it's a big deal for you, I'll join," he answered. Joyous, Jeanette clasped Ash's hands like Brock before.

"Thank you, my dear!" Delia laughed to the accepted invite.

"I saw a restaurant when I traveled with Professor Oak up here," she suggested. "We can have it there, and discuss the future." Ash, Jeanette and Pikachu accepted the idea. Apparently, so did Team Rocket, still in the vendor outfits they borrowed.

"The twerp's now engaged to that twerpette with the unbelievable Bellsprout?" replayed Jessie. "Not that I should be sympathetic to him, but love just doesn't seem like his forte."

"I know what you mean," James agreed. "Though, should you really consider mentioning that to the twerp?"

"If you're dat worried about him, go up and say something," Meowth suggested.

"I could, but we're enemies," Jessie pointed out. "It's not like what I say will matter to him… though, we could take their Pokémon as they dine together." They huddled to plan for the capture. That night, Ash, Jeanette and the Pokémon gathered at a restaurant at the roof of a building which Ash donned himself a long-sleeve sweatshirt. He and Jeanette sat at a table while Pikachu and Bellsprout enjoyed some Pokémon food nearby. By the kitchen door, Team Rocket had a claw ready.

"I don't like this plan, Jessie," James warned.

"Keep it down. It's an open opportunity for us." They aimed the claw at Pikachu as Delia saw the team and cleared her throat. James and Meowth turned to see the mother and freak out. Jessie never acknowledged her. "Listen, it doesn't bother you."

"It should!" the boys shouted. Delia pointed to the men and told them to clear. Jessie faced her.

"And what are you going to do to my son?" she scorned.

"Easy, ma'am… We're simply taking Pikachu and give it to our boss. If you have a problem, take it up with him." Her snicker didn't sit well with Delia as she delivered a massive right hook to the point of Jessie's chin. She fell unconscious before slamming the floor. She dusted her hands before a pair of chefs came to her aid.

"Mrs. Ketchum, what should we do with her?" one chef asked. All Delia did was thumb her over her shoulder. The chefs carried Jessie out of the restaurant. Delia now had James and Meowth to deal with.

"You two will help me cook for my son," Delia ordered. "You don't want to end up like her." James and Meowth stood and saluted Delia to follow her if not to end on the ground like Jessie. Given instructions, Delia helped James and Meowth prepare the special dinner for Ash and Jeanette. Seeing Bellsprout, Ash had questions.

"Where did you pick up Bellsprout?" he asked.

"Bellsprout caught me, actually," Jeanette corrected. "I was leaving Celadon City after I defeated Erika when this little guy showed up. I liked how fluently it moved. Bellsprout and I traveled the rest of the way through our Gym Battles and were on our way to the top… until today." Ash shrugged to knowing who stopped Jeanette in the league. "When I saw your battle against 'The Astounding' Mandi before our match, I thought you'd be able to take the blowhard down, just not in the fashion you performed with Krabby, or Kingler."

"Believe me, even I underestimated what Krabby or Kingler was capable of. Then again, Bellsprout is something else. It's a wonder that I couldn't land anything before I used Muk."

"That's Bellsprout for you. By the way, where did you teach Pikachu how to fight like that, throwing punches like a boxer?"

"That? We came across a Hitmochan and taught Pikachu some boxing. It didn't end well…" Jeanette pondered about Pikachu's prowess.

"It may be possible to teach Pikachu Thunder Punch." Ash blinked to the suggestion.

"Thunder Punch?"

"Sure! Combine Thunder Punch to... let's say Quick Attack. It would deliver a great closeup blow and rattle any Pokémon it falls victim to."

"...Except for Bellsprout, of course. Knowing how strong Bellsprout is, I'm surprised it hasn't evolved to Weepingbell, let alone Victrebell."

"I like Bellsprout as it is. I'd argue the same thing for your Bulbasaur." Ash giggled to the compliment.

"We share a unique bond for sure." Delia, James and Meowth came by with food.

"Your dinner is served," James announced. Ash gawked to who served them on their first date.

"Team Rocket?"

"Relax, sweetie," Delia assured. "They know what happens if they make any attempt on my son… and my future daughter-in-law." Showing her warning, she balled a fist and scrunched it with her other hand, knuckles crackling.

"Trust us," Meowth shuttered. "After what she did to Jessie, we ain't trying anything around her." Ash and Jeanette could only wonder what the two meant. After being served their dinner, the two ate. The food given didn't last long.

"Thanks for the meal!" the couple praised. The Pokémon acknowledged as well. That's when Jeanette noticed a little morsel on Ash's lips.

"Let me get that," she offered as she circled around their table. She reached Ash and licked the morsel before going for a full lip-to-lip kiss. Ash looked stunned. Jeanette made most of the kiss as she tangled her tongue with Ash's. Pikachu and Bellsprout awed the scene as they brought faces back.

"Whoa…" he hushed. "That was my first kiss!" Jeanette giggled to the news.

"Well then… I'm glad that I'm the right girl to break the mold for you!" Both shared a laugh. They exited which Misty, Brock and Togepi watched as the two stood under a streetlight. "Thank you, Ash. I finally got to know you more and am glad to accept you as a member of the Fisher family… as am I being a Ketchum in the future." Misty snarled to the compliment.

"Jeanette Ketchum?" she figured before fake heaving in disgust.

"Misty, I'm more than sure you enjoyed my food," Brock murmured. A few extra exchanges later, Ash and Jeanette sealed the night and their lips to commemorate their first date. This made Brock whine. "Not only do I not get a chance to ask her out but she's engaged to Ash after his win?! What could be worse!?" A groan turned the Gym Leaders to Jessie, now stirring after the knockout punch.

"I want that mommy arrested for defending that twerp," she moaned. The Gym Leaders weren't sure how Jessie wound up in the trash, let alone who she referred to.

"On second thought… never mind." To Ash, his love life is Bellsprout-ing as he has a Fisher soon to be in his family… hook, line and sinker.

END of POISON, END of VOLUME 7

(Once again, these 12 Elements couldn't have been done without your help. Some of those who weren't selected will be back next year. When 2018 starts, I'll be back to the One Piece and the multi-anime to wrap up before I do new ones. Those who wanted Digimon Frontier will note that will not be in the poll post-Christmas. There's still a lot to plan for that crossover. Meanwhile, prepare for some good stories in the new year. So, this is Pete the Rock, wishing all of you a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, whatever holiday you celebrate… and a Happy New Year.)