Chapter Four: Party Animal.
The school week is finally over and it has been a week since Ash started living with May's family. Since everyone accepted Pikachu as Ash's dog that can only say its name, Pikachu usually hang around in Ash's room since Ash kept full stocks of ketchup in his room.
"Hey Ash. We have to go out tonight." Said May while they walk home for school.
"Why?" said Ash.
"Dad was invited to this party. He said that the party would revolutionize the way humans will live." Said May.
Ash unlocks the door to see Max sitting on the couch.
"You guys can go. I will stay home." Said Ash.
"No Ash. I think this little party will be very interesting." Said Norman as he walks out in a tuxedo with an unfolded tie.
"…Is it that interesting?" asked Ash.
"Yes. Very interesting." Said Norman as he shot a stare at Ash.
"Well then. I guess I will go since I have nothing else to do." Said Ash.
Ash entered his room and walked into his closet. He looked around his closet to find his tuxedo. When he found it, he looked around for a bow tie.
"Going on a date with May?" asked Pikachu.
"No. A party." Said Ash.
"Is there ketchup?"
"I don't think so."
"I'm not going then."
"Just wondering. Have there been any aliens sightings yet?"
"Not yet. My sensors are not picking up anything active yet."
"Uh…how exactly will you help me catch your alien?"
"You carry me."
"Is there anyway for me to…I don't know…stick you inside a ball like the way I found you?"
"No. Never stick me inside a ball ever again! I hate being inside the ball."
"Why?"
"I am claustrophobic."
"Really?"
"Really. You don't know what its like inside one of those balls. I could barely breath inside it."
"Don't they just make you into data and when you want to come out, you just press a button?"
"No! They forcefully squeeze you down into the size of a baseball. How would you like to feel your head next to your stinky feet? It stinks. And. There are no ventilations at all. So if you fart, you smell it for days."
"Ok I get the point. How long were you in there for?"
"I don't know. Felt like weeks."
There was a knock on the door. Ash opens the door to see Max standing there in his tuxedo.
"Dad said to hurry up." Said Max.
"But it's only…" Ash looks at his watch. "6:13"
"We have to get there by seven."
"Ok then. Give me five minutes."
Ash went back inside his room and changed into his tuxedo. He grabs his bow tie and ties it. He ran outside to see Caroline wrapping her arm around Norman. May and Max were dressed formal and standing next to them.
"Why are you wearing a bow tie." Asked May.
"Yeah. Dad and I are wearing regular ties." Said Max.
"I wear bow ties. Bow ties are cool." Said Ash.
"Sure James Bond." Said Max.
They all got outside of the house and walked to Norman's car. They drove for 20 minute and reached the theatre. Caroline wrapped her arm around Norman when they begin walking. Ash Max and May were right behind them.
"Hey Ash, why don't you escourt my sister there." grinned Max. He begin to imitate Norman.
Ash looked at May and notice the large blush on her face. He ignored the idea and continues to follow Norman. The soon arrive to the entrance where a large security guard stod there.
"Your invitation?" said the guard.
"Here you go." Said Norman.
"There are only four names and five people." Said the guard.
"Oh sorry, here's my invitation." Said Ash. Ash lifts his wallet up to reveal a blank piece of paper.
"Very well. Welcome to the party." Said the guard.
May looked at the wallet Ash pulled out and compared it to the invitation her dad was holding. They were identical. They begin to look around. Ash looked at the center of the party. Waiters were walking around the party holding the food. Ash walked around and looked at what was in front of him. The experiment was huge with four pillars on the outside and a huge pillar on the center. There was a door so someone could enter. It was painted white all over. Ash looked beyond the main attraction to see scientists working on the computers.
"Wonderful isn't it." Said a man in his mid-40s.
"It looks wonderful. Hello I am Ash." Said Ash.
"Professor Nome. Kop Nome." Said Nome.
"So this is the experiment that will change lives?"
"Oh yes. I have been working on it for a while now."
"Wonderful. What does it do?"
"You will find out shortly."
The room dimmed as lights focused toward the pillars in the center. Norman and his family slowly gather to Ash. Ash was in front of them, looking at the professor.
"Welcome ladies and gentleman, to my latest revolution of life to humans." Said Professor Nome. "Today, using myself, I will show you how this will revolutionize the world." Nome signaled the other scientists as he enters the door large pillar in the middle.
The scientists begin to enter codes and the contraption came to life. The pillars begin to rotate in exponential speed. Everyone could feel a breeze coming in the center. Static begins to show up until screams were heard. Ash looked at the scientists. Sparks were flying from the computers and alarms were being activated.
"Move!" said Ash as he pushes the guests out of the way and ran toward the computers.
"Ash stop!" said May.
"What do you think you are doing." Said Max.
Screams could be heard inside the contraption as more sparks flew out. Everybody stepped back and shielded their eyes from the bright light. Ash looked at the computers. Data were off the scale and going critical. Ash quickly typed as fast as he can to stop the computer from overloading and to de-activate the contraption.
When the contraption stopped spinning. Ash ran toward the center pillar. He opens the door to see Professor Nome still alive.
"Professor. Professor. Are you ok?" asked Ash.
"Don't worry. I am fine." Said Nome in a horsey voice. He stood up in front with a little help from Ash. "Ash. Please step back." Ash stepped back. "Ladies and gentleman. My masterpiece."
"Water." He made his hand into a gun and shot out the water. The water landed on a person's drink.
"Earth." He stops on the ground and the building begins to shake.
"Fire." He snaps his finger as fire flew out of his hand.
"These are the things that will change humans for the better. Superpowers." Said Nome.
Everyone cheered to the showmanship as Ash stood there. Ash was frowning and May saw Ash's expression.
"What's the matter?" said May.
Ash walks away to the back door and began to look around the building. When Ash walked up to Professor's lab, he noticed three oversized test tubes. The far left contains an oversize frog with a flower on its back. In the middle was a dragon with a fire tail. The farthest right contains a tortoise with cannon sticking out of its shell. Ash took pictures of these and sent it to Pikachu.
Pikachu was sleeping on the computer when he heard his phone ringing. Pikachu looked at the phone and looked at the text message and quickly called Ash.
"Ash, these pictures you sent me. Where are they at?" said Pikachu.
"They are inside a professor's laboratory. Are they Alien?" asked Ash.
"They are. The dragon is Charizard, the flame alien from the planet Lizardon. It's generally competitive and can manipulate flames. The tortoise is Blastoise, the shellfish alien from the planet Kamex. It's a calm creature but have many powerful water attacks. The final one, the one that look frog is Venusaur, the seed alien from the planet Fushigibana. It has a loyalty streak and will protect people with its mighty earth attack. They are from the Kanto constellation and it look like they are hibernating. Are they alive? Can you bring them home?"
"They look alive. And how am I going to bring them home? They are huge."
"Since they are hibernating it is easy to get them. I upgrade your phone to store them inside. You have to aim the screen at them and hold the speaker button for five seconds but you can only keep six of them inside and will be kept there for about 3 days. I can transfer them back to their planet during those three days."
"Ok then." Ash took a few steps back and aimed his phone toward the aliens while holding the speaker button. A red beam shot out and hit the aliens. The aliens began to illuminate and retracted into Ash's phone. Ash suddenly remembered something. "Just wondering… is it possible to alter human DNA to have the same power as them?"
"Yes. It's just like you."
"Me? What do you mean?"
"Other then supercharging your brain, you can control some degree of power similar to me and other aliens."
"So I can use your electricity?"
"That and water, fire, grass and other. For now tell me what happened."
Ash tells Pikachu about what happened to Professor Nome and how he was able to manipulate fire, water and shake the ground.
"Flamethrower, water gun and earthquake. He was able to use some of those aliens move." Said Pikachu.
"Will it kill him?" asked Ash.
"Yes. He tampered his own DNA to accept some of the alien DNA. He has half an hour until he goes berserk. And about a week before he dies due to over exertion."
"Wait... If I can do what you can do, then does that mean that I am like the professor? Am I going to end up like him too?
"No, don't worry. You did not forcefully tampered your DNA. Your DNA accepted the modification."
"Uh..."
"Did you see Spider Man? The movie with Tobey Maguire? It is kind of like that."
"Oh. Ok then. Is there anyways to stop him?"
"Reverse the process and get everyone out."
"Will do." Ash turns his phone off and pulls the fire alarm. "Always wanted to do that."
He ran down to the party and he watch people leave.
"Ash! There you are." Said May from behind him.
"Where's your family?" said Ash.
"They evacuated. Come on, the building is on fire." Said May.
"I pulled the alarm."
"What! Why?"
"Aliens are here and Professor Nome used it."
"Right you are, young man." Said Nome. He was standing in front of his computers with his hands in his pockets.
"Professor Nome, how nice to see you. How does your body feel?" asked Ash.
"I feel like a young man again." Said Nome.
Nome begins to groan as a Charizard's tail begins to form and plant started growing on his back equipped with cannons. He dropped down on the ground due to the weight of the transformation. May ran behind Ash as the professor finish his grotesque transformation.
"Wow, what a handsome devil" said Nome as he looked at himself.
"Ash? Lets run." Said May. May began to pull Ash but he did not budge.
Vines grew out of his back and shot toward Ash. Ash grabs May and jumped away from them with Ash on top. The whips turn toward Ash's direction, and began to whip Ash on the back. Ash endured the beating, facing May as May looked at Ash. The vines continues to lash at Ash but Ash face showed that the whipping did not hurt because a green shield starts forming from the back of him. Nome saw the shield and tries to break it. The shield breaks and begins to whip Ash again.
"I heard you jumped in and ruined my creation." Said Nome
"You mean I jumped in and saved your life." Said Ash.
"This wouldn't have happened it weren't for you medling twerp."
"Well, I was glad to have entered this party then. You were a great host."
"Thank you, now please rest for the rest of your life."
"I don't think so…your whipping is beginning to weaken."
"This is how students were punish back when I was at school." Professor Nome was grinning as he soon feel energy sapping away.
"Well, I guess you were a bad student." Ash pick up May and ran toward the pillar and closed the door.
"What do we do?" asked May.
"We reverse it." Said Ash.
Nome begins to active the machine. Inside the pillar, lights begin to spark.
"WHAT NOW! I don't want to end up like him!" said May.
"And I don't want to end up being like you!" said Ash as he shuffled around his pocket.
"What are you doing? We are about to turn into him and you are looking around your pocket?" asked May.
"Improvising!" said Ash as the light begins to brighten.
Ash knelt down on the floor and opened the floor panel. If I can use Pikachu's attack…then… Sparks begin to move around Ash's hand and Ash quickly picked the wires and reroute the wires to reverse.
Outside, Nome is laughing as he watches his masterpiece work its magic. Suddenly, the small pillars stop and begins to reverse. The ions in the air sent out shocks to the computers and huge plasma of energy strikes Nome in the chest. When the machine stops spinning Ash steps out and helped May down. Nome lied there without his transformation. Ash calls the ambulance to send Professor Nome to the hospital.
When Ash got out to find May's family, they all hugged. Ash turns around to see Professor Nome carried to the ambulance and sent to the hospital. Ash turned around and sees Max looking at him.
"Is there anything wrong?" asked Max.
"Nope. Nothing at all." Said Ash. He begins to walk toward the car.
They all got into the car and drove back to the house. When Norman and Ash were alone, Norman talked to him.
"Are you ok?" asked Norman.
"Not really. I think I will take a rest at my room." Said Ash.
"Good idea. After all you have been through."
"I am sorry your daughter was involved again."
"It's ok, I trust you with your expertise."
"But today was different, more different then usual."
"What do you mean different. I brought you along to relax."
"Really? What about the thing behind the school."
"What thing behind the school? Ash. Are you ok?"
"Yeah. I think I am."
Ash got into his room to see Pikachu sleeping on the computer. Ash picked Pikachu up and placed him on his little pillow on the floor in his room. Ash changed into his pajama and looked at his phone. There was a text message.
So. Tomorrow, meet at the theatre at 11?
I will wait for you outside. We can pay
together and have lunch.
Ash placed the phone on the ground and fell asleep.
Ash woke up at 10am the next day and still dazed. Oh right. Movie today. He walked out of bed and changed into his street cloth, passing by Pikachu and walked out to the kitchen. May was eating already as she watches saturday morning cartoon.
"Good morning." She said as she continues eating her eggs.
"Morning." Ash said as he begin making an instant noodle as well. He walked into the dining room and begins eating. He looked at the watch from time to time as he begins reading newspaper. When it was 10:30, Ash begins to walk to the front door.
"Where are you going?" asked Pikachu when he jumped down the stairs.
"Going to the movies." Said Ash.
"Ok then. Have fun." Said May.
Ash left and May continues to turn the channel and suddenly stopped. Pikachu looked at May.
"Movies?" said May. "Did Ash say movie!"
Pikachu nodded his head as he closed the TV and ran up the room. A few minutes later May came down and open the door to see Dawn and Misty.
"What!" said Dawn in a shocked manner.
"Ash is going to the movies?" asked Misty.
"With who?" asked Dawn. They all look at Pikachu as Pikachu begins running upstairs and closed the door.
"We better follow." Said May.
May closed the door and they all ran toward the movies. When May got there, Ash was standing around waiting for someone. The mysterious girl finally arrived.
"Hey, I know her! She is Anabel from my second period class. She is a nice person and since Thursday, she was more happy then usual." Said Dawn.
"I have her in my third period class too. And Dawn is right. She talked about going to the movie with someone." Said Misty.
All the girls began to run toward the theatre where Ash and Anabel entered. The girls went in line to get tickets and see what they were up too.
"Hello, what movie would you like to watch?" asked the ticket seller.
"Three tickets for the same movie those two kids have. The one with the raven haired and the lilac haired." said May.
"That will be 32.50" said the ticket seller. The girls paid up and looked at the ticket.
"Scott Pilgrim vs the World! Didn't we plan that out for May and Drew!" asked Misty.
"I knew it! You guys did set me up. Good thing I ditch last minute." Said May.
They wait until the movie was dark so Ash does not see them. When they sat down, May looked around to find Ash and Anabel until May look at her right. May was sitting next to Anabel. She was eating popcorn as she continues to watch the movie. May waited until the middle of the movie where May nudged Dawn to get out now. Dawn and Misty followed her and went outside to wait for Ash and Anabel to get out. When the movie was over, Ash and Anabel walked out and went to the mall. They went to the food court while Dawn, May and Misty watch from afar.
"It looks like they are having fun." Said Dawn.
"Yeah." Said Misty.
May begin to shake and tears were beginning to form.
"Yeah. Hey, they are leaving."
"Yeah. We should follow."
Dawn, May and Misty followed Ash and Anabel. When Ash got to Anabel's house, Ash continued to walk home. When Ash was far enough, Ash stopped.
"Ok you guys, stop following me now." Said Ash. Nobody responded so Ash turns around and walk toward them and pulled them out from behind the car.
"Hey Ash, didn't see you here." Said Dawn.
"Yeah. We were playing hide and seek." Said Misty.
May got up and began to walked away. Dawn and Misty followed her. May has not talked since the movie.
"You guys should go home." Said May. "It's getting dark."
"Are you ok?" asked Misty.
"Yeah. Fine." Said May.
Ash got home and gave Pikachu his phone to transfer the alien back to their home planet.
"Have you seen May?" asked Pikachu.
"I thought she came home already." Said Ash.
"Nope." Pikachu attached a cable to the phone and checked on the aliens status. "They look alright. They will be back to their home planet in an hour." Pikachu looks at Ash. "Here." Pikachu tosses the phone to Ash. "Go look for her."
"Do you have the antidote ready?"
"Here is the pill. It latches onto the professor and neutralize the alien DNA."
Ash grabs the pill, dashes out of the room and ran out of the house to find May.
May was shaken in fear when she saw Professor Nome in his monstrous form.
"Your little boyfriend would be really sad if he sees you dead." Said Nome.
"He would not." Said May as she runs away and bump into Drew.
"Hey, Ma-" said Drew as May grabs his hand and ran away.
"Don't look back!" ordered May. She dragged Drew to her house.
"Aww. Your going to run away." Said Nome.
"Hey professor. Am I the one you were looking for?" said Ash as he forcefully drove his kick into the back of the professor.
"Ash, my boy. How nice to see you. I didn't recognize you without your bow tie." Professor Nome turn around to see Ash.
"Like I said, bow ties are cool. So what brings you around here?"
"I came here to find you. I want to thank you for ruining my reputation."
"Well… I will patch things up when we finish this thing up." Sparks begins to blanket his arms.
"I see we both think alike."
Vines begin to appear and began to attack Ash. Ash quickly grabs the vine and sent off electricity toward the vines and into Professor Nome's back. Professor Nome quickly detracts the vines and opened his mouth as a great amount of fire flew out. Ash backed up quickly before the flames hit him but the flames burned some of his cloth. The flame begins to envelop Ash but stopped before any more damage could be done.
"I like this shirt, you know." Said Ash.
"The shirt looks tacky" said Nome.
Particles begin to form around Professor's Nome's back. When the energy was built enough, he fires a powerful beam toward Ash. Ash quickly crossed his arm as a thin shield protected his arm and absorbing most of the beam.
"How did you like the solar energy that I absorbed?"
"It stings but it looks like you have gotten a little sluggish."
Ash dashed toward Professor Nome when Nome opens his mouth and energy began to form.
"This will kill you for sure."
"And this will heal you!" Ash shoves the pill inside Professor Nome's mouth. Professor Nome swallowed the pill and groan in pain.
"What is this?" said Nome as the tail, cannon and tree begins to retract to the body.
"Your medicine. Doctor's order." Said Ash.
Ash calls the ambulance to pick up Professor Nome. Ash begins to walk back home with his clothes burnt and his arms stings from the solar beam. When he opens the door, he sees Drew and May sitting on the couch. Ash had enough for the day and sat on the chair and fell asleep.
Ash woke from his sleep and look at the living room. Pikachu has already curled into a ball and sat on his lap. Ash pet Pikachu and sees his arms were bandaged. He looked around and sees May sleeping on the couch. Ash soon saw Drew sitting on the other couch next to her. Ash got angry and pet Pikachu harder.
"Ow!" said Pikachu as he woke up. "Well. Well. Well. Finally awake from your little battle?"
"What happened after I passed out?" asked Ash.
"May saw you were not moving and noticed the burned cloth. She also saw you were burnt a little on your arms too."
"Ok. The pill you gave me worked. He reverted back into his human form and stayed that way for an hour."
"That's good to hear."
Ash's stomach growled as he looked around.
"You might as well wake up Drew and May. They didn't eat as well." Said Pikachu.
"Sure thing." said Ash. "By the way. Lock the room once you enter. I will sleep out here."
"Ok then."
Pikachu jumped out of Ash's lap and walked toward his room. Ash began to stand up but feels began to buckle and that some of the burns have also reached his legs as well. The pains hit him and he falls down to the ground. May hears the thud and woke up from her sleep.
"Ow." said Ash as he used the coffee table to get back up. May ran to him and helped him up.
"What happened to you!" said May "You had burn marks and your pants were tattered."
"I will tell you everything when I get something to eat." Said Ash as he, with a little help from May, walked into the dining room. Ash created a paper ball and hit Drew with the ball. Drew woke up and lifted his eye cover. "Hungry?"
"Yeah." Said Drew as he walked up toward Ash.
"May's making some instant noodles. It's the only thing she can make." Said Ash. "Can you turn the light on?"
"Sure." Said Drew.
"Noodles done. Hi Drew, woke up?" Said May as she puts down two bowls.
"Don't worry. Her food isn't that deadly." Said Ash. May dropped the bowl of noodle on Ash. The noodle stayed but some of the hot water jumped to his bandages. "Agh."
"You ok?" said Drew.
"Yeah. Skins are still sensitive." Said Ash as he looks at the watch near by. 2:09
"So what happened?" Asked Drew.
"Biker gang attacked me and stole my money." Said Ash.
"Really? I bumped into May and was dragged here. She ran into your room and looked around your house. She sat down on the couch and I sat down to see if I could confort her until you opened the door and sat down on the chair." Said Drew. "I didn't know you were related to May."
Ash shot May a glare and stared back to Drew.
"Well… it looks like I am fine then." Said Ash. "You must be staying here."
"Yeah, I already told my parents about staying over at a friends house." Said Drew.
"Good to hear that." Said Ash as he grabs his fork with his right hand. The bandages made holding the fork harder then it should be but Ash soon got use to it. When he is finished, he began to stand up and walked back to the living room.
"Hey, Drew. Why don't you go into the first door to your left and sleep inside there? It's the guest room." Said Ash.
"Sure. Thanks." Said Drew as he opens the door and entered the room.
"So Professor Nome attacked you too?" Asked May as she sat on the couch.
"Yes." Said Ash. "I think you should stop hanging around me at school. You will get into dangerous things if you continu-."
"No." Said May. "It was only a coincidence that Professor Nome was there."
"I know but what if you die the next time?"
"No, I will not. Don't worry. I trust you will save me. So… The movie. When did you notice us?"
"After I found you guys snooped around."
"Why did you watch a movie with Anabel and not me?"
"She's moving at Monday."
"So…"
"She was the first friend I made at school and she asked me on Thursday. I agreed to do it as a way of making her happy. I didn't expect you to take it that serious."
"Oh. Yeah. It wasn't a big deal. Dawn and Misty wanted to watch it as well anyways."
"Oh. Ok then. Why don't you go back to your room and sleep? I will sleep down here tonight. Legs are still a little weak to walk upstairs."
"No, I will stay down here in case you need anything."
"Ok then. Get a blanket this time. It is getting cold."
May got up and walked into her room to grab two blanket to sleep on. When she grabbed the blankets and walk back down, Ash has already gone to sleep. May covered him with one of the blanket and walked toward the couch. She covered herself with the other blanket and went to sleep. When May woke up the next morning Ash was not seen. She stood up and looked around when he saw Drew on the dining room.
"Morning May." Said Drew.
"Morning. Have you seen Ash?" asked May.
"In the kitchen cooking."
May walked into the kitchen and sees Ash cooking breakfast. Ash changed his cloth and making pancakes.
"Give me five more minutes." Said Ash as he continues flipping the pancake.
Once the pancake was done, Ash brought the pancake over to May and Drew. He went back inside to get his. Ash was sitting in one end as May and Drew sat across from each other.
"Mmmm, these pancake are delicious." Said May as she continues eating the pancake.
"I have taste better pancakes then this." Said Drew. Ash shot Drew a stare.
"Well, this is all I could do with my injuries." Said Ash.
When they finished their breakfast Drew got up.
"Well, see you guys." Said Drew as he walks home.
"Goodbye" said May and Ash.
Ash walked back into his room and removed his bandages. He looked at his arms and noticed it was not burnt at all. His arms were healed up just like how his legs were when he changed his clothing.
"Fast healing?" said Ash.
"Ash! You are not supposed to remove tho-" said May as she bardged into his room and grab his arm. "What! Your arm was tattered and bleeding. How could it heal that quick!"
"Your cells must have healed faster then expected but that doesn't make you invincible though." Said Pikachu. He sat up from his little pillow on the corner.
"Seriously!" asked May.
"Yes." Said Pikachu.