Ep 16. A Gruff Act to Follow

Ash and his friends have finally arrived at Snowpoint City, and they're excited to explore the area and challenge the gym leader. After wandering around for a bit, they stumble upon a small theater. Curiosity gets the better of them, and they decide to investigate.

Inside, they meet a group of actors who are putting on a play called "The Legend of the Snow Princess." The lead actor, a gruff man named Marble, has a reputation for being difficult to work with, and tensions are high between him and the rest of the cast. Despite this, the play is set to debut in a few days, and everyone is working hard to prepare.

Ash and his friends are invited to watch a dress rehearsal, and they quickly become engrossed in the story of the Snow Princess. However, things quickly take a turn for the worse when an accident occurs on stage. One of the actors falls and injures himself, putting the play's debut in jeopardy.

Marble immediately takes charge, barking orders and trying to muddle through the situation. Ash and his friends offer to help in any way they can, and they soon find themselves swept up in the chaos of preparing for opening night.

As they work together, Ash and his friends begin to see a different side of Marble. Despite his gruff exterior, he clearly cares deeply about the play and its success. He's constantly pushing himself and his fellow actors to do better, and he's not afraid to make tough decisions when necessary.

Over the course of the episode, Ash and his friends help the theater group in various ways, from fixing costumes to finding a replacement actor. The tension between Marble and the other actors slowly begins to dissipate as they all work together towards a common goal.

Finally, opening night arrives. The theater is packed with excited patrons, and everyone is nervous but excited to see the play. As the curtains rise, Ash and his friends watch with bated breath, hoping that everything goes smoothly.

To their delight, the play is a stunning success. The actors all perform flawlessly, and the audience is rapt with attention from beginning to end. Marble takes a step back and watches with a proud smile on his face, clearly relieved and grateful for the hard work everyone put in to make the play a reality.

As the episode draws to a close, Ash and his friends say goodbye to the theater group and leave Snowpoint City with a newfound appreciation for the power of teamwork and determination. They may have come for a gym battle, but their unexpected detour into the world of theater ended up being an adventure they'll never forget.