by Mishakal
Part 1: A Not-So-Tempting Offer
A/N: My first ever Pokemon fic. *sweatdrop* How many people think that I might own Pokemon? Anyone? Good. Why would I write fan fiction if I owned the characters? If I did, you'd all be watching this on the show.
Anyway, on with the fic.
"What!?" Ash Ketchum stared at the sign in front of him with an expression that was half shocked, half horrified. "I... don't believe it! How could they do this?"
"All right!" Brock and Misty shouted at the same time. Ash scowled at them.
The sign read:
As part of our summer's-end celebration, this town is hosting
an outdoor semi-formal ball with an admission charge of $25 per
couple. Admission rates include dinner and refreshments available
throughout the evening. The ball begins tomorrow night at 7pm sharp.
In accordance with this, a race has been organized for this
afternoon. ALL MALES IN THE AREA BETWEEN THE AGES OF 10 AND 30 MUST
PARTICIPATE. If caught by a female, the male must accompany her to
the ball. Female participation is optional.'
"That's not fair!" Ash grumbled. "What if some guy doesn't have $25? He couldn't take a girl to the ball then, could he?"
"Well, do you have $25?" Misty asked pointedly.
"...yeah..." Ash admitted reluctantly.
"There you go," she said smugly. "And even if the guy doesn't have any money, the girl might."
"Maybe." Ash frowned. "Well, we should get out of here quick, before they make us go in this race!" He turned to leave but was brought up short by Misty's hand grabbing the collar of his shirt.
"Not so fast, Mr. Pokemon Master," she said, grinning. "Don't tell me you're afraid of a group of girls!"
"I'm not afraid!" Ash protested. "But there's no way I'm taking some dumb girl to a ball!"
"I will!" Brock was grinning like an idiot. "I'm hoping that some beautiful, lonely young lady will catch me! It'll be great!"
"Great?" Ash repeated. "It'll be horrible! I bet they even make you dance! And wear a suit!" He shuddered.
"I'm glad you like the idea!" Misty said cheerfully to Brock, ignoring Ash. "Because we're going in. Come on." She marched toward the city, not releasing Ash's shirt collar.
"Hey!" Ash protested. "Wait! No fair! LET GO!!!"
Misty let go, and sighed. "Now what's the matter?"
"There's no way I'm getting hooked into taking a girl to a ball!" He crossed his arms over his chest. "I'm not going into that city, and that's final!"
"Welcome to the city!" Officer Jenny smiled at the travelers. "You're just in time for our end-of-summer ball. We'll enter your names for the race right away."
Misty beamed. Brock grinned. Ash scowled.
"Is there any way I can get out of this?" he demanded. Misty frowned and poked him.
"Nope," Officer Jenny replied cheerfully. "Have a nice day, folks!"
"She's really pretty," Brock commented, watching Officer Jenny move away. "I wish she was in the race."
"I don't think she'd be chasing Brock if she was," Misty said, behind her hand.
"I hope no one chases me," Ash said fervently.
"Oh, come on," Misty teased. "I'm sure there must be someone who wants you as their date. Just because I've never met them doesn't mean they don't exist."
"Very funny," Ash grumbled. "And I hope you're wrong. The last thing I want is to be caught and dragged off to some dumb ball!"
"Pika?" Pikachuu asked.
"Don't ask, Pikachuu," Ash sighed. "A ball is just so that girls can torture guys by making them get all dressed up and dance all night."
"Kaa." Pikachuu flipped one of its ears.
"Oh, I almost forgot!" Officer Jenny hurried back, and handed Misty a rope. "You'll need this for the race."
"What's it for?" Misty asked.
"Catching your guy, of course." Officer Jenny smiled. "You just use it like a lassoe."
"A lassoe?" Ash repeated incredulously.
"She can lassoe me any day!" Brock sighed, watching Jenny.
Ash looked back toward the road leading out of the city. "I wonder if it's too late to make a run for it."
"AAGGHH!!" Ash screamed, as he felt a rope tightening around his upper body, pinning his arms to his sides. "NO!"
"Well, there's no need to scream, Ash!" Misty said calmly, recovering her lassoe. "Anyway, I need the practice. HAH!" She threw the rope again, catching Brock from behind. "Gotcha!"
Ash grumbled and brushed himself off. "Why are you always practicing on me? You only lassoed Brock twice."
"You move around more than Brock," Misty explained sweetly. "So it's better practice." She seemd to be taking a kind of twisted pleasure in the whole business, Ash noted grouchily.
"What time does the race start?" Brock asked, pulling Misty's lassoe over his head.
"In about 15 minutes," Misty said. "We should start heading over there now."
"I think I'm sick..." Ash started to say in a quesy-sounding voice, but Misty cut him off by grabbing his arm and pulling him after her.
"Too bad. I guess that makes you easy meat, huh? Come on, guys, let's go!"
"Well, well, look who's here." An auburn-haired boy smirked at the approaching trio. "Didn't think I'd see you around here, Ash."
"Gary?" Ash blinked. "What are you doing here?"
Gary grinned. "Finding out which one of my cheerleaders is lucky enough to catch me. How about you? Are you here by choice or did your followers have to force you?"
"I -- "
"The cheerleaders are here?" Brock looked around. "Where? Where?"
"Oh the girls' side, which reminds me..." Gary raised an eyebrow at Misty. "You don't belong here. The girls are over there." He pointed.
Misty frowned, but left without commenting.
"Do you think it's too late to run?" Ash asked Brock, but the second the words were out of his mouth, a gate slammed shut behind them.
The race was about to begin.
So, who do you think is going to catch Ash and Brock?
Who do you think Misty will catch?
Is anyone interested in finding out?
Did you like the story?
Then review, for gosh sakes!!!!!
Because the number of reviews determines whether or not I post a sequel...
~Mishakal~