As our heroes continue their way to Shaulour City, they encounter through the forest have they encountered a Hawlucha which Ash caught despite its draw with Froakie with learning how to battle in the sky Ash's Fletching evolved into Fletchinder.

Our heroes had stopped to do some training near a waterfall and Ash was training with Froakie. Froakie then used Pound on the waterfall for a brief moment.

Nice work, Froakie. Pikachu said.

"Awesome stuff, just like that," Ash told Froakie.

"Wow, they're really pumped up," Bonnie pointed out.

"Looks like Froakie moving faster than ever," Rainbow commented.

"They're really pumped up for their battle with Korrina," Rarity stated.

"As they should, knowing Korrina well, she won't it make for Ash to win," Sunset said.

"No matter, I'll beat Korrina," Ash proudly said.

"Confident are we?" Rainbow smirked at him.

The group then heard something come down the waterfall and look up to see a massive log about to fall on Pikachu. Froakie reacted quickly and formed a white blade in his hand and sliced through the log.

"What move was that?" Applejack asked.

"That was Cut," Hilda explained.

"Wow, Froakie you learned how to use Cut!" Ash cheered.

"Froakie must have learned that move trying to save Pikachu," Twilight theorized.

"It's not uncommon for a Pokémon to find a new power in a stressful situation," Rarity said. "When we were in the Bamboo forest, Chimchar had learned Inferno."

"Yeah, the first time we met Froakie, it jumped in and saved Pikachu," Jaden explained.

"Hey Ash, a double battle would be a way to see how far Froakie has come," Clemont suggested.

"Good idea, Up for it, Jaden?" Ash asked.

"You bet!" Jaden answered. Then two stood across from each other and got ready for battle.

"Ready Marshstomp?" Jaden asked.

I'm always ready for a battle. Marshstomp was raring to go.

"And for next Pokémon, Magmar, go!"

Alright, who am I battling this time? Magmar asked then saw Marshstomp next to him. You got to be kidding me? A double battle?

Jaden, I don't think this a good idea. Marshstomp stated.

"Come on, there's nothing wrong with double battle and besides its training, and Magmar don't try to burn down the forest like you did last time," Jaden said.

I'll try, but no promises.

Ash meanwhile sent out Hawlucha and before the battle Froakie and Hawlucha fist bump on working together.

"With that out of the way, Marshstomp. Brick Break on Froakie, and Magmar Flamethrower on Hawlucha."

"Hawlucha, Froakie, dodge!"

Froakie jumped clear over Marshstomp's attack, but Hawlucha stood in place and allow Magmar's Flamethrower to make contact just as Froakie landed.

"Now it's our turn. Froakie, Bubble. Hawlucha, Karate Chop, rapid-fire!"

"Counter with Water Gun, Magmar, Hyper Beam!"

Marshstomp stopped the Bubble with Water Gun, and just as Magmar prepared to use Hyper Beam, Hawlucha did a barrage of Karate Chops that send Magmar back then got hit by Froakie's Water Pulse.

Are you okay?

Yeah, I have taken worse hits before.

That Hawlucha is not only strong but fast since was able to strike before Magmar's Hyper Beam was launched. Time to step it up. Jaden thought it and then noticed some tension between Froakie and Hawlucha.

What were you doing?

Procecting us from unnecessary damage?

"Hawlucha, what's wrong?"

"I think Hawlucha doesn't want Froakie getting in his way," Applejack theorized.

"Is that true, Hawlucha?"

More or less.

Are you kidding me?

"Let's finish this, Rock Tomb to blind them, and Hyper Beam to close it out."

Masrhstomp blinded both of them with Rock Tomb then Magmar's Hyper Beam made contact knocking both of them out.

Nice going.

Your welcome, by the way.

"Okay, Magmar, won't don't you take a breather," Jaden return to its Pokéball. Looking over Froakie and Hawlucha were going at it with each other. Thankfully Ash was able to stop them before it got worse.

"You two are supposed to be on the same team! You're supposed to help each other out!" Ash snapped at them.

Sorry, Ash. Froakie and Hawlucha said in sync then glared at each other. Hawlucha then bonked Froakie on the head.

What was that for?!

For getting in my way.

What!?

You heard me! Ash then stepped between the two and pulled them apart.

"I told you two to quit it!"

"Yikes, I guess Froakie and Hawlucha are not seeing eye to eye," Sunset said to the others.

"I know where this is going, Pokémon bonding time," Twilight said.

Hours later...

"Alright, try Super Flying Cut once more!"

Hawlucha then jumped into the air with Froakie right behind him. Froakie, however, landed badly on Hawlucha's back and one of Froakie's hands got in Hawlucha's eye making him unable to maintain control making them slammed into the ground.

"That's not good, that fifth time you tried it," Fluttershy said.

Watch where you going! And keep your hand out my eye!

It's my fault you can't fly in a straight line!

Will both of you quit it!? Pikachu shouted.

"And can you try to be friendlier," Ash advised just as Froakie and Hawlucha's stomachs then rumbled. Fluttershy gave both of them an Oran Berry.

And just about to try the combo move again, then out of nowhere a Vine Whip came out of threes and grabbed Ash, and pulled into the trees. Fluttershy, her Pokémon, and Ash's Pokémon ran after him. Suddenly a Confuse Ray slammed into Fluttershy and the last she felt was vine wrapping around her feet. Then the Pokémon followed them.

---

Meanwhile, both Ash and Fluttershy woke and saw a Pokémon has carried them.

"Who's that Pokémon?" Ash asked then scanned it.

Trevenant. The Elder Tree Pokémon. A Ghost and Grass Type. Trevenant is able to control trees. It traps those that cause harm to the forest and never lets them escape.

"Wait, we'd never hurt the forest," Fluttershy pleaded then Froakie and the other Pokémon arrived in time.

"Guys, look out for the Confuse Ray!" Ash said.

Froakie used Frubbeles to blind then both Pangoro and Hawlucha prepared to attack but it went right through.

"Trevenant is also a Ghost-Type, fighting-types won't work on it."

Trevenant prepared to use Shadow Claw at both of them.

"Lunatone, Use Ice Beam!"

Lunatone fired Ice Beam from behind which made Treveant lose its grip on both Ash and Fluttershy.

"Thanks," Fluttershy thanks as Hawlucha gave Ash his hat back.

"Okay, all together! Let's work together! Super Flying Cut!"

"Pangoro, Crunch. And Lunatone, Ice Beam!"

Just then Treveant hit them with a Will-O-Wisp sending them all to the ground and Trevenant prepared to use it again but instead, Ash got attacked when he stepped in front of it.

"Ash, are you okay?!" Fluttershy asked.

"I'll be fine," Ash assured her just asTrevenant yielded.

"Wait, I have a question, what did you want from us?" Fluttershy asked then Trevenant answered with Fluttershy somehow understanding everything he said. "Trevenant said he needs our help."

Much later after a bit of walking, they saw the problem. A Sudowoodo and a Bonsly are trapped in an electrical net.

"No wonder why your friends are trapped in and you our help to get them out," Fluttershy theorized then the rest of the gang showed up.

"Are two okay?" Bonnie asked.

"Yeah, we're fine, Trevenant just needed our help with to get those guys out of that net," Ash explained.

"What an awful thing to do," Rarity said.

"Why do I get the feeling that a certain group of people was behind this?" Rainbow thoughted. "We'll get you down, Ninjask, Fury Cutter!"

Ninjask used Fury Cutter and cut down the net freeing both of them, then out of nowhere another net appeared and caught Pikachu.

"Ooh, I caught me a big one!" Everyone saw Team Rocket on a nearby cliff.

"Prepare for trouble, you don't know by now."

"Make it double, we'll tell you anyhow."

"To protect the world from devastation."

"To untie all people within our nation."

"To denounce the evils of truth and love."

"To extend our reached the stars above!"

"Jessie."

"James."

"Adagio."

"Aria."

"Sonata."

"Duke."

"And Clyde!"

"Team Rocket Blasts off at the speed of light!"

"Surrender now or prepare for a forest fight!"

"Meowth that's right!"

"Wobbuffet,"

"Murkow!"

"Houndour!"

"Team Rocket, not you brutes again!"Rarity shrieked.

"Well the same goes for you," Adagio replied.

"It's all part of our groundbreaking, patent-pending rare Pokémon stealing strategy," Clyde stated.

"Of course. You guys set the trap for Sudowoodo and Bonsly," Jaden realized.

"How low can you go?" Hilda asked.

"We can all of kinds of low, and besides that net was insulated, for any given scenario," Jessie said. "Pumpkaboo, let's get rid of that crew!"

"Inkay you too!"

"Let's have some fun, Venipede!"

"Froakie! Hawlucha! Let's work together!" Ash said.

"Pumpkaboo, Shadow Ball!"

"Dodge it!"

Pumpkaboo fired Shadow Ball forcing both of them to dodge.

"Froake, use your Frubbels!"

Frokaie blinded Pumpkaboo with its Frubbles then allow Hawlucha to use Flying Press on it but it right through.

"Did you forget that Ghost-Type Pokémon cannot be damaged by Fighting-Type moves!"

"I'm one step ahead of you guys!"

"Uh-oh!"

"Water Pulse!"

Froakie fires the Water Pulse that knocked out Pumpkboo.

"Inkay, use Tackle!"

"Venipede, Venoshock!"

"Dodge one more time!"

Froakie and Hawlucha dodged the Venoshock with Froakie landing perfectly on its back with Inkay tailing them the Hawlucha flew to avoid Inkay's Tackle.

"Inkay, use Psybeam!"

Inkay fired at Froakie but only to find out it was a Frubble decoy.

"Now Super Flying Cut!"

Froakie descended and gave devasting Cut attack to Inkay followed by Hawlucha doing a Flying Press, knocking it out.

"Inkay return!" James returns Inkay to its Pokéball.

"I got that 'we're screwed' feeling again," Sonata gulped. "Maybe we should beat before things go really bad!"

Then a Vine Whip was wrapped around Duke's arm that holding the remote was yanked out of his hand then Trevenant smashed it with Wood Hammer freeing Pikachu,

"Oh, Magikarp!" Duke exclaimed. "Let's scram while the scramming is good!"

"Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!"

Pikachu fired Thunderbolt which Team Rocket got shocked and then sent flying.

"WE'RE BLASTING OFF AGAIN!"

"Murkow!"

"Houndour!"

Team Rocket disappeared in a white flash!

"So long, losers!" Rainbow said as everyone cheered.

Hours later as dusk approached, the group waved goodbye to Trevenant and the others and continued to walk.

Next Chapter: Chapter 30-Pokémon Summer Camp! Enter the Shadow Five! Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 9 Minutes