Freely Frustrated

Good morning, Astral Ash Ketchum... Loran smiled. You have 1 new message, priority rank D--would you like to view it now?

"Not at the moment, Loran..." Ash sighed. "I couldn't sleep because of a dumb piece of a song stuck in my head!"

Loran thought for a moment. I can try and identify the song that is bothering you, if you wish...

"Okay, then identify this line..." Ash cleared his throat and sang Kokoro goto, karada goto...

After a few moments, Loran reported I have found 1 match in my song databank--Miku's new song, "Freely Tomorrow".

"Oh believe me, that song is everywhere..." Ash groaned. "Don't get me wrong, I like almost anything Miku puts out, but this new song is just so insanely catchy!"

That's just how most idol droids are programmed, unfortunately. Loran sighed as Ash got dressed.

Then, an idea occurred to Ash. "Is Brock out flying right now?"

Brock is currently in the dining area having breakfast before his first patrol of the day. Loran replied.

"Great! Maybe he knows what to do to unstick this stupid song!" Ash grinned before gathering his starbow, 30 unlit luminarrows, his reader, his shipscanner, some etude books, and a few flutes.

In the dining area...

"A song stuck in your head, huh?" Brock mused as Ash joined him at the table.

"Yeah--Miku's new song, "Freely Tomorrow". Ash replied. "Specifically the part where it goes Kokoro goto, karada goto...

...zenbu kioku no naka no maboroshi... Brock joined in, mangled Nihon and all. "It's stuck in mine too...and my usual surefire tricks haven't worked. I've tried doing the Galaxy Daily's crossword puzzle, I've tried listening to the whole thing--which made it worse in this case. I've tried telling myself one of my stories, and tried making up stories, but that didn't work either."

Then an idea occurred to him. "Try holding the last Bb in 'kokoro goto' as long as you can--make it the most beautiful note as possible."

Ash nodded Kokoro gotooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo...

Just then, Misty singing along with the song on her mini radio snapped him from holding the note, ...kokoro knock knock knock fushigi trick trick trick, umarekawareru wow! wow! freely tomorrow...

"You too, Misty?" Brock groaned.

"We both have it stuck in our heads!" Ash agreed.

Misty paused to turn off her mini radio, then draped her headphones on her shoulder. "I'll admit, it has a very danceable beat, but I haven't got it stuck."

She saw one of Ash's etude books. "Why don't you try playing one of those?"

"There's an idea...you, me, flute and guitar duet?" Brock grinned.

"To the Resonance Chamber!" Misty announced....

Later, in the Resonance Chamber...

Misty smiled as the boys played their duet--Brock providing a driving guitar rhythm, and Ash playing a confident melody on a Pokeflute that weaved and whirled through the guitar's hypnotic droning chord progression. This sounds great--much better than a teenybopper idol droid song. Of course, even Miku and 'Freely Tomorrow' would still sound good in the Resonance Chamber...

She applauded when the last notes died. "Wonderful, as always!"

"Thank you..." Brock bowed first, than then Ash.

Both boys froze when they heard a female voice singing Kokoro goto, karada goto, zenbu kioku no naka no maboroshi... "Great, Serena's singing with it too!" Ash sighed as he facepalmed.

"What's wrong with 'Freely Tomorrow'? Serena asked as she removed her PowerDrive headphones.

"We've spent the last hour playing in hopes it will unstick in the boy's heads." Misty sighed.

Brock sighed and played an expectant G chord. "Quick, another duet before it re-sticks!"