Alex Carter was full of questions, but there was no one to ask.
Considering it was already midnight, if he didn't return soon, he might be discovered and arouse suspicion. So, Alex went back to his room to rest, waiting for the beauty pageant the next day.
On the way back, Alex thought about how, although Ash was hosting the beauty pageant, he had contributed significantly, especially the opportunity to embarrass Team Rocket. Just the thought of it felt incredibly satisfying, considering how they once mocked him and called him a gigolo.
Alex was a vengeful person, yet patient, believing that revenge is best served cold. Team Rocket was in for some trouble.
The next day!
After a day of preparations, a huge runway had been set up at the entrance of the Sea Shop. The stage was lavishly decorated with a banner reading "Beauty Pageant."
Behind the T-stage curtain, a painting depicted a blue sky, green coconut trees, and a vast blue sea with sailboats. It looked truly beautiful.
Ash and Alex had Pidgeotto and Beedrill scatter flyers from the air among the beach crowds. Quickly, everyone on the tourist beach learned about the event.
By afternoon, a long queue had gathered at the Sea Shop entrance, all eager to participate in the beauty contest.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the Verdant Beach Beautiful Girl and Dressed-up Pokémon Beauty Pageant is about to begin! The Champion will receive a luxurious prize. Please participate enthusiastically!" Brock, acting as the Host, announced from the podium with a microphone.
"This is great! If I do this, I can pay off my debts!" Grandpa Lewis watched the bustling crowd, tears of excitement in his eyes.
Meanwhile, Granny June, hidden nearby, was so enraged she bit through her handkerchief, then turned and stomped back into her shop.
"Mom, why are you here?" Ash asked his mother, puzzled, from the audience.
"Oh, it's like this. I joined a community condolence trip, and Professor Oak was with me, so..." Ash's mother explained gently.
"Oh, I see! You scared me for a moment!" Ash said, a bit dumbfounded.
"Ash, it's rare for you two to be together. You should just charm a little," Professor Oak teased.
"W-what are you talking about? I wouldn't do something so embarrassing! I'm a big kid now, right, Alex?" Ash said to Alex beside him.
"It's okay, Ash, just charm a bit. Auntie will surely be very happy," Alex, in a rare moment of teasing, said with a smile.
"Why are you like this too, Alex?" Ash scratched his head, looking very embarrassed.
"Ash, you haven't caused any trouble, have you?"
"Of course not!" Ash replied, though he felt guilty, having recently broken Grandpa Lewis's boat.
"Ash is a very good kid. He's working hard to help my struggling little shop. He will definitely become an amazing Pokémon Trainer in the future," Grandpa Lewis said, defending Ash.
"Is that really true? Then I'm relieved," Ash's mother said, pressing a hand to her chest.
"Everyone, thank you for waiting! Now, the Verdant Beach Beautiful Girl and Dressed-up Pokémon Beauty Pageant begins!"
"Let's see our first contestant—this is a fair-skinned Beautiful Girl, Misty! She looks like a strong contender for the Champion title! What unique idea will her partner Pokémon come up with?"
"Oh, it's an alien riding a flying saucer, performed by Squirtle and Starmie! Squirtle sits on Starmie, floating and swaying, truly resembling an alien!" The audience reacted enthusiastically, applauding.
Next were Jessie and James, with James cross-dressing for the T-stage performance. The reaction was unexpectedly warm, leaving Alex in disbelief.
Jessie and James's Pokémon, Arbok and Koffing, formed the legendary Omastar, looking full of incongruity.
Suddenly, Arbok and Koffing were kicked off the stage by Gary and his entourage of older sisters.
The mature sisters cheered, "Gary, Gary is the best! Gary, Gary is the strongest!"
Brock, fond of mature women, praised them, while Misty shrugged helplessly. At this moment, Team Rocket Trio were secretly led away by Granny June.
Gary took the microphone on stage and taunted, "Ash, who's hiding somewhere, I'm not here to cause trouble. Just give up. I'm just showing off my girlfriends. Did you see that, Ash?" Gary smirked mischievously.
How could Ash tolerate such provocation? He rushed down from the audience to confront Gary, with Alex quickly following.
"Gary, let's have a Pokémon battle! If I stay silent after being provoked, then I shouldn't be a Pokémon Trainer!" Ash shouted angrily.
"Unfortunately, I only brought girls today, not Pokémon. Besides, you're such a rookie, you can't even beat Alex, can you? Even I might not match Alex," Gary said smugly.
"Because I will definitely defeat him, Alex! I will defeat him in the future too!" Ash was ready to fight Gary.
"Ash, don't be impulsive! This is the venue; we can't have a conflict here!" Alex quickly stopped the hothead.
At this moment, Team Rocket activated the repaired Gyarados submarine under Granny June's orders to destroy the T-stage show Alex and the others had created. As the Gyarados submarine came ashore, the audience was terrified and scattered.
Ash grabbed the microphone, "Everyone, please calm down! That's not a real Gyarados, it's fake! Please calm down, we'll handle it. Stay where you are and don't panic."
"Everything is under control now. Please rest assured."
The audience calmed down, and Professor Oak, Ash's mother, Misty, and Brock showed approval toward Ash. Even Alex felt a hint of admiration for Ash, knowing his opponent couldn't be too weak.
Team Rocket launched a missile, and Ash sent out Pidgeotto and Charmander. Pidgeotto carried Charmander, flying in front of the missile, and used Flamethrower, causing the missile's internal wiring to lose control.
Alex released Haunter and quietly ordered Haunter to use Psychic to guide the missile toward Team Rocket's own Gyarados submarine. The Psychic skill was something Alex had secretly bought from the system last night for Haunter to learn. Psychic-type skills were very useful.
The missile headed straight for Team Rocket's Gyarados submarine. Team Rocket quickly turned toward Granny June's hotel. Finally, the Gyarados submarine crashed into Granny June's hotel, and the missile struck, blowing up her hotel. Granny June's scheme backfired, and she lost more than she gained.
Watching this, Alex felt a surge of satisfaction: "I've long disliked that influential Granny June. Now she's finally getting her just deserts."
Afterward, once everything settled, Grandpa Lewis embarked on a round-the-world trip on his boat, while Ash, Alex, Brock, and Misty bid farewell to Professor Oak and Ash's mother, setting off on a new journey.
Even greater dangers awaited them, and this was exactly what Alex looked forward to.
Read Extra Chapter Visit My Patreon
patreon.com/Lempil
patreon.com/Lempil