Talent Showdown: Difference between revisions

''The stage is set for and explosive Pokémon Talent Showdown.  There's a juggling Exeggutor, a singing Charmander - even a dancing Farfetch'd.  Ash wants to beat Gary but he doesn't have an act.  And that's not all he has to worry about.  Team Rocket's grand finale has the audience glued to their seats and all the Pokémon under their spell!  It's curtains for the Pokémon - unless Ash can steal the show.''

The book starts with {{Ash}}, {{an|Misty}} and {{an|Brock}} walking into a town in search of food and a place to sleep, confused as to why the town is so crowded. Both Ash and Brock agree to find out what all the commotion is for. Ash approaches a nearby trainer and asks if there is some kind of Pokémon competition occurring. In reply, the trainer points to a large building down the street and says there is something like that going on. Excited, Ash charges down the street while Misty sighs. A sign above the building reads REHEARSAL HALL, and Ash notes that is an unusual place for a Pokémon battle. Stepping inside, he finds trainers and their Pokémon singing, dancing and performing tricks. Soon, {{Gary}} along with a group of [[Gary's cheerleaders|cheerleaders]] greets Ash and asks whether Ash was entering the Pokémon Talent Show, sneering that Ash should enter the Talentless Show. Ash frowns, and asks why Gary was still treating him hard despite beating him at the [[Indigo Plateau Conference|Pokémon League Tournament]]. Laughing, Gary says that Ash is still a loser since he didn’t win the tournament. Ash begins to flush with anger, and so Misty jumps in and asks Gary what the talent show is about. Gary responds by saying that both trainer and Pokémon take part in an act and proudly boasts that his is the most spectacular, with him singing ‘Gary is the Greatest.’ Gary then sneers at Ash and asks what his act is going to be. Boiling with anger, Ash rashly remarks that he had an act that surpasses that of Gary’s. Gary said he’ll believe it when he sees it and walks away. Misty shakes her head saying that Ash hasn’t even got an act!