Battle
Chapter 2: Pants
Ash was getting worried. Three weeks and he still hadn't heard from the rival he used to dislike so much back when he was still just a regular old trainer. It was the same thing every morning now. Ash didn't have anything to do except the occaisional battle. Sure, there was the daily training to keep his team's fighting power up, but other than that, all he did all day long was sit and stare out into nowhere. For someone who had everything a guy could ever want, he sure wasn't acting happy.
It was the same thing for Misty as well. Every morning, Misty would wake up, after Brock, and find Ash asleep at a window, or facedown in his tent with the flap wide open. Even if it was raining. Especially if it was raining. And every morning, after Ash finally woke up, thanks to a little spark from Pikachu, Misty would tell him how Gary's fine, how Gary will show up any day now, how Gary's just shocked he could lose to such an awesome trainer like himself. Every morning, after Misty said all this, Ash would deny he was waiting for Gary to come back, he would say he was just wondering what amazing Pokemon Master stuff he could do now. And every morning, Misty would sigh and tell him how she really cared for him and didn't want him to worry about something he shouldn't worry about.
Tracey was still trying to figuire out what was ticking Ash. This was mostly because he was never really formally introduced to this Gary everyone kept talking about, but, considering he traveled with Ash for about a year in the Orange Archipelago, he knew Ash was ticked about something. Brock, though, knew what was going on and thought it was best to leave it to Misty. After all, they were quickly turning into an item now, so why not leave the guy's problems to his girlfriend? Brock sighed every time he thought this. He needed a girlfriend, if you can count losing your mother after your father goes missing then having to take care of a kindergarden class full of brothers and sisters a problem.
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"Three years, Umbreon. We've managed to stay on the run for three years." Gary sighed. Every day for those three years he had intended on slipping a note to his Gramps about him not coming back. And each of those days he had intended on slipping in the note, he saw an Officer Jenny pass by that he had to hide from, or a trainer that he wanted to battle, or he just didn't feel like doing anything that day. Maybe he was just a big scared fuck. He mentally slapped himself. It was obvious why he couldn't beat Ash.
"Bre?"
"No, Umbreon, we're not gonna go back. It's our third year anniversary, why not do a little shopping at the mall? I think I might need new pants, my old ones ripped yesterday when I tried doing that handstand on the tree branch. It got caught in that other branch before I fell, remember?"
"Bre breon breon."
"Yeah, you'll probably hold that against me for the next twenty years. C'mon, let's clean up the camp, we've gotta get a move on."
"Breon." Umbreon sprinted towards the tent and pulled out all the magazines and snacks the two of them had and stuffed them into Gary's oversized messenger bag.
Five minutes later, the camp looked as if it had never existed, exept for the burnt-out firewood lying in a pile where the fire used to be. "Geuss it's time for my disguise." Gary left the campsite wearing a black shirt, ripped black pants, and a pair of black sunglasses, whilst Umbreon left looking like...well...an Umbreon.
"Lesse...the nearest mall is..."-he flipped out a large map that was almost as big as him-"...Two miles away. Geuss we should get a move on, huh, Umbreon?"
"Bre."
"It should take us about an hour to get there if we walk. Not really that bad."
"Breon."
"Aww, c'mon, Umbreon, stop being a baby. Two miles isn't that much. Plus, we'll get some excercise."
"Breon bre umbreon?"
"Yeah, you're right, maybe we do get more than our fair share of excercise. But you can never bee too fit, ya know!" Gary ran off laughing. "You can't catch me if you're not fit!"
-
Team Rocket headquarters. Normally a very interesting place to be, but not right now. Not for Domino. It was a Sunday, there were no big missions to accomplish, and the whole place seemed like it was about to go to sleep. Plus, she had to take care of her younger cousin Kitty. You couldn't get any worse than that. Domino put her head down. This was going to be one very long week. "Domino! Hello?!? Domino? Are you deaf or something?"
Peachy. The psychotic cousin was here. "What is it, Kit?"
"Would you stop calling me that? It sounds dirty!"
"Only 'cause it rhymes with tit."
"Duh! Anyway, I was asking whether you wanted to go to the mall today."
Domino pondered her options for a moment. Go to the mall with a psycho cousin, or sit doing nothing all day and not even be able to sleep because of the same cousin. Not much of a choice there. "Fine, get in the car. I drive this time. I don't want to have to dock my pay because of your speeding tickets again."
"I told you I'd pay for that."
"What, three months after you were supposed to like on your first one?" Kitty simply glowered. That shut her up.
-
"What color, Umbreon? Black or kakhi? I also happened to like those camouflage ones in the corner, but they didn't have my size. Whaddya think?"
"Bre!"
"Black? Thought you'd say that."
"Well, I better put this one back on the rack." He hesitated. "You sure this doesn't look good? I mean, I thought it looked nice..." Umbreon stared. "Fine, fine, I'll put it back."
"Ooh! Those are some nice pants!" A brunette girl popped up out of nowhere, snatching the kakhi pants Gary was holding.
"Kitty, give those back! Those are not your pants!"
"Chill, Domino! This guy was gonna put them back anyway!"
"Kitty, you do realize those are boys pants, right?"
"Duh! Guys pants are more comfy!"
Gary and Umbreon stared nervously. After all, it wasn't often you get pants snatched out of your hands by a complete stranger of the opposite gender. Maybe the best thing to do right then and there would be to slowly walk away, then pay for his pants and get the hell outta there. Of course it's not like anyone ever uses their better judgement. So Gary just stood there like an idiot.
"I'm not a cross-dresser! I just like guys clothes 'cause they're comfy!"
"Hello?! That's called cross-dressing!!!"
"Shaddup!"
"No you shaddup!"
"Why don't you all shut up." Gary turned around to see a large man about twice Gary's size wearing a tag on his broad chest that read Pat Murphy, Manager. All three of them gulped, and Umbreon cowered behind Gary's legs. "And while you're at it, why don't the three of you please leave."
Muttering a silent "Yessir," the three of them walked out silently, all blushing a bit from embarrasment. Gary pouted. He didn't even get a chance to buy his pants.
Kitty began to walk away when Domino grabbed the collar of her shirt. "And where do you think you're going?"
Kitty gulped. "Erm...window shopping?"
"Go apoligize to that guy, now."
"Yessir, er, ma'am." She ran off after Gary while Domino trailed behind angrily. Maybe she should've stayed at Team Rocket headquaters after all.
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Author's Note: Yeah...about the whole "Those are not your pants!" thing...let's just say I've listened to Five Iron Frenzy's Wierd Pants song a few too many times. Hehe...^.^;;