Night Two
"Ufff! What the...?" Ash sputtered as he awoke when Pikachu landed on him. "At least you didn't thundershock me this time, like last night..." Pikachu made a low, humble coo and slinked off. Ash got out of his cot and looked around. Everyone else was still asleep. The alarm had about five minutes before it was set to sound at 11:30. Knowing this, he decided to have a little fun. He picked up a camera and scanned room with it. "I guess they aren't morning people" he commented as he zoomed in on Brock sleeping with his mouth open. Ash tiptoed over to Misty and began to tickle her foot that was hanging out from out of the covers. She began to stir in her sleep, but didn't wake up. Ash got annoyed and pinched her foot instead. Misty's foot shot out and kicked him square in the face. He landed on the floor with a great thud. Misty sat up and rumbled her eyes, "what a strange dream. I dreamt that something was biting my toes." Ash remained stunned on the floor, rubbing his sore jaw. "What happened to you?" Sydney asked, as she got up. "Misty's foot." Tracey buried his face in the pillow so to contain laughter. Brock was digging through the cabinet. "Ash Ketchum you weren't taping me when I was asleep were you?! Misty demanded, pointing to the camera on the floor. "With any luck, it'll all wind up on the cutting room floor" Sydney offered. "Looks like breakfast will be cereal, unless watcher wants me to whip up some eggs and...beacon." Tracey moaned, "if I never see pork again, it'll be too soon. I went through a whole roll of Tums last night, er, day." Misty stretched, "another day, another dare."
It was after midnight when a message popped up on the computer. Brock, still holding a half-eaten breakfast bar, called with a full mouth to the rest; "here we go again." He clicked to start the verbal directions. "Welcome to night two, the next dare is for Yellow, Purple with navigate." "Saw that coming", Misty wailed. "You are to take the box with the deer meat to Kitty's Cabin. A pokemon is allowed to be used, good luck." Misty lifted the box and turned to her pokemon, "let's get going." Tracey grabbed his walkie-talkie, "This ensures that I don't have to go out for a while. Ready?" He soluted Misty who did the same to him on her way out the door. Poliwag followed her along the path. "So I'm heading through the haystacks again?" "You know how to get there, then go straight till you see it." Misty came upon a firepit in front of a cabin similar to the one she visited before. "I guess this is it, well now what?" "Light a fire in the pit." Misty shrugged her shoulders, "one would think." She knelt next to the stone circle and lit a match. Poliwag helped fan the flames with his tail to the kindling fire. Tracey continued, "now that the fire is lit, take out the meat and cover it with the rosemary oil. This is a voodoo ritual for preparing the dead." Misty quivered, "had to add that didn't ya?" "I'm just reading what it says, sorry. Anyway, when you're done, put the flesh in the box. Chuck the box in the fire." She took a step back and dropped it carefully into the blaze. His voice echoed through the darkness, "now go inside the cabin and sit in the center with your back facing the fire." Misty sighed, " I really don't want to do this again." "Polly" the little pokemon cried encouragingly. She smiled, "at least you'll be with me think time. I won't be alone." The trainer and pokemon entered the cabin, "let me guess, radio silence now?" "I would have lost money on that one, yep, for a to-be-announced amount of time." Sydney called to her in the background, "you can do this chica!" Misty turned her radio off and laid it down next to her. She held her Poliwag closely.
Back at the safe house, Brock and Ash were arguing over the last of the Fruity Pebbles, which the box was swiped by Chikarita and Marill. That ended the dispute quickly. Sydney looked over Tracey's shoulder at his latest drawing, of the main house. She shivered, "hope I don't have to go there. It looks creepy." Tracey pointed at the picture with his pencil, "inside's worse." It had been a little over an hour since Misty had gone out. The computer beeped and a text box appeared. Sydney clutched the receiver, "Misty?" She dove for her radio, "here, can I return? I've had just about all I can take!" "One last thing, go back out to the fire pit. Rub the ashes on your face and neck." While she was doing this, she commented to Sydney, "another ritual no doubt. That's all I need is for the spirits to be closer to me." "It's done, Mist! Come on back!" "Gladly!" Misty ran with Poliwag in her arms all the way back. She rushed into the safe house and dropped onto the cot. "I pray that's my last dare, I can't take anymore of this being alone out there for such long periods of time." Ash nodded, "Brock and Sid didn't even go yet. That was almost definitely your last dare." He tried to lighten her mood, "I guess now you're ash" he joked, pointing to her face. She smiled. "Oh no, another message", Sydney hit the mouse. "The next dare is for Green, Blue will navigate. No pokemon is to be used. You are to go to the main house and await further instructions. Good luck." Sydney groaned, "I think I just jinxed myself. I don't want to go into that parlor, the headless spirit. Too creepy." Tracey tried to reassure her, "they wouldn't have a repeat dare." She gave her Chikarita one last hug before exiting the safe house.
Sydney gazed around her tentatively as she walked. "Can't see that far in front of me, not good. So this fence leads to it right?" Ash checked the map, "yep." As she rounded the fence and through the gate, she caught a glimpse of the house. It looked just as ominous as Tracey had drawn it. "Inside?" "Inside and up to the second floor" Ash confirmed. Sydney crept into the deteriorating house. The staircase was to the right of the parlor. She caught a quick look at the room, and the pig foot box on the floor. "Ewww" she thought as she ascended the steep flight. It led to a short narrow hallway with what seemed to be piles of books and furniture at the other end. "The first door on the right is the master bedroom, where Kitty was raped by her master. Footsteps have been reported heard in this room. You are to lay on the bed..." Ash was cut off by a frantic Sydney, "WHAT!? On the...oh man!" She took a deep breath and settled herself on the bed. "You are to maintain radio silence for almost half and hour..." Ash's directions were once again interrupted, this time by a screaming Sydney. "Aaahhh! The door just slammed and opened again! Guys, I can't do this! I have to get out of here...I can't stay...I can't do this..." Tracey took the receiver from Ash. "You can do this Sid, I know you can. All right? Just shut your radio off, we'll contact you when time's up, are you ready?" Sydney pulled the sheets over herself in a childish attempt at safety. She nodded, "yes." "You'll be fine"; Tracey clicked the walkie-talkie off. Ash looked at him, "you allowed to do that?" Brock shrugged, "I think so, I he was only helping her."
The half-hour was spent listening to music at the safe house. Sydney on the other hand was clutching the sheets in fear with her back to the door. Ash stayed at the computer waiting anxiously for the message for her to leave. When it popped up, he wasted no time in contacting her. "Sydney time's up, you're free to go!" "Hell yea!" she cried as she jumped off the bed and out the door. "Get me the $#&%*@ out of here!" she chanted as she ran back. Sydney startled everyone when she opened the door violently. She was panting heavily. "Alright Sydney! Coolness!" Misty ran over and hugged her. "Told ya you could do it" Tracey reminded her. Brock added his support, "way to go!" Sydney gulped heavily, "I'll probably need years of therapy now. But hey, isn't five thousand bucks worth it?"
Misty took the mouse and started clicking around to review the rules, when a message box appeared. "Dare up" she announced. The computerized voice started, "The next dare is for Red, Purple will navigate. Take the zombie potion to the cemetery. A pokemon can be used. Good luck." "Oh boy oh boy, my turn to wear the camera!" Brock ran over to his bin and grabbed the vest and camera. He examined the bottle as well, "it looks like a beer bottle. Hey booze! Now this is my kind of dare! Where's the peanuts?" Tracey grasped his radio, "kinda sorry about all the pork jokes now huh?" he said haughtily as he leaned back in the rolling chair. Brock glanced at him, "you better not get me lost watcher!" Tracey shook his head, "I was only kidding, I wouldn't do that purposely." "Well, I'm off, come on Vulpix." "Vul!" it cried happily as they walked out. "I'll be back," Brock said in a Terminator tone.
Brock walked quickly and confidently through the forest. "This is so cool, it feels like something out of the Blair Witch Project. Ahhhhh!" He began running and shaking the camera around. "Blair Witch, Blair Witch, Blair Witch!" Back at the safe house, the navigator wasn't amused. "Brock, do you know which way you're going?" "Yea, I directed Ash there, I can see it now." Tracey continued, "Past the grave with the cross on it is Isabella's grave. Do you see it?" Brock stopped at a stone tomb, "yep." "Now take a stone from inside the grave. Parts on graves are essential in connecting with the dead." Brock moved the lid slightly and put the bottle on top. He then removed a brick. "Shake the potion you have with you, a voodoo priestess prepared this. Now..." Tracey signaled with his hand to everyone else to look at the screen. Giggles erupted from the background. "Now what?" Brock asked suspiciously. He took it away from Vulpix who was sniffing it to see what was in it. Tracey tried not to laugh, "Drink the potion." Brock whined, "ewww, I thought I was to pour it on a grave or something, not drink it! Oh well, it can't be that bad." He opened the cap and chugged it down. "Whoa that's strong stuff! Burns my throat." "Maybe it is alcohol" Sydney suggested. "It's definitely not light beer," Brock concluded. "Lay down on the grave with the stone over your heart." Brock let out a belch as he positioned himself on the tomb. Tracey made a disgusted face, "Thanks Brock, I had the thing right up to my ear. Anyhow, radio silence till called to return." "No problem, I could use some quiet time." Vulpix yawned and laid down on the ground next to him. "Hey, I'm getting dizzy. What was that stuff?" Brock mopped his brow with his hand. Vulpix turned to see his trainer not looking so good. He cooed worryingly.
Chikarita sat in Sydney's lap on the couch. She was still shaking from her ordeal at the main house. Tracey noticed this and sat beside her. "You weren't kidding about that therapy stuff" he joked. "That door just scared the hell out of me, I'll be fine. Just gotta chill for a bit." He put his arm around her shoulders and gave her a supportive hug. Misty hit Ash on the arm and motioned to the couch with her head. Ash chuckled. "What?" Tracey asked. Misty smirked, "oh nothing."
About an hour after Brock had first cut off contact with the safe house, the computer instructed him to return. Tracey tried to reach him on the radio, "Brock naptime's over come on back." No answer. "Brocky come home now." Still nothing. "Brock? Hey dude, are you awake? Brock!" Brock slowly opened his heavy eyelids and grabbed the receiver. "I'm here, I can come back now?" "Yes, I've been telling you to do so for a while. Are you alright?" Brock groaned and rubbed his eyes, "yea, just dizzy." He slowly got up and staggered back to the base. Vulpix ran ahead and scratched at the door, Misty opened it. "Vulpix is Brock ok?" Brock stumbled into the room and onto the couch, not bothering to remove the camera gear. "That stuff made me sick" he announced. Ash got him a drink of water. Sydney shook her head, "what could be in it that'd make you sick?" "I think your about the find out" Brock grumbled.
A half-hour later, Brock was feeling more like his usual self. Just in time too, a message flashed onto the monitor. "The next dare is for Blue, Red will navigate. Blue, take the canvass bag to the cemetery and locate Kitty's grave. You may bring a pokemon. Good luck." Ash swung the bag over his shoulder; "man this thing is heavy! Wonder what's in it. Come on Pikachu." "Pika pi!" As they walked, Ash huffed and puffed under the weight of the sack. "Hey Pikachu, we're pretty lucky. I mean, I was able to so far take you with me on every dare. I'm not as scared with my best pal around." "Chu, pika pi" it cooed in an affectionate way. Ash struggled to the graveyard, a course he knew well from his last dare. "I'm at the edge, now what?" Brock read aloud to him, "on the left, past the zombie grave is Kitty's. You are now about to perform a voodoo grave ceremony to contact the voodoo lord of the dead Barensemity (spelled right?)." Ash swallowed hard. "First pour vinegar over the grave, this is often used to connect with the spirit world. Kneel in front of it and open the bag. Describe the contents to the safe house." Ash did just that, but as he did, he heard something. "Guys, I'm hearing stuff around me, like dogs barking or something. Hey! The bag moved! There's...ahhhh! There's...a giant...snake in here! Not even like an Ekans or something, a real snake!" Brock turned to the members of the safe house, "he's gotta pick it up." Misty covered her mouth with her hand. "Ash, now pick up the snake and...Ash?" His radio began to beep, "what's going on?" Meanwhile, Ash tried to contact them. "Brock? Hello? Hey Brock, why aren't you answering me?!" Brock looked at it closer; "the batteries are dead". By this time, Ash was in a panic. "Guys this isn't funny!" "Chu chu!" Pikachu was trying to calm him down. Brock put the final battery in and radioed him. "Sorry we lost the connection, my batteries died." Ash breathed a sigh of relief. "So can I leave yet?" "Nopers, not yet. Now you have to hold the snake over the grave for fifteen seconds. Just tell me when to start." "I gotta hold it? Oh man, I get the weird dares." Brock paused, "at least you didn't have to consume anything weird!" Ash begrudgingly lifted the creature out of the sack. Pikachu, who knew the food chain quite well, hide behind a nearby tree. "Holy miltank this thing is heavy! Ewww, and slimy and...hey! Trying to wiggle away. Alright, start counting." No sooner then had Brock finished counting, then Ash dropped the serpent. He directed it back into its bag with the side of his foot. "Get...into...the...bag...I'm not picking you up again. Now can I leave?" Brock nodded, "yep, return to the safe house." Ash raised the sack and headed back.
"Glad that's over" he announced as he entered. "Hey Misty, wanna meet my new friend?" She screamed and jumped in back of the couch. "You come near me with that thing and you'll be taken out of here in a bag, a body bag!" He laughed and threw it in a corner, making sure the string was tied tight to keep it closed. Brock clicked the mouse to signal the completion of the dare. "Congratulations, you have completed your final dare at La Guerre Plantation." A round of cries of joy and relief rang out. "Print out this map and go to the location marked with an X to claim your prize. But before you go, ask yourselves, is the plantation indeed haunted?"
The group walked across an open field, following the directions from the map. They carried the their packs and the cameras with the lights off. It was after six am, so the sun's early rays lit up the sky. "This place definitely haunted" Sydney voiced her opinion to the questioned inquired by the computer. "Nah" Brock argued, "they made us do stuff to gross us out and scare us. The plantation itself showed no signs of being haunted." She turned to him, "hello? The door slamming and opening again? Ash hearing barking dogs?" Brock shrugged his shoulders, "not enough to convince me." Misty spoke up; "there's unmistakably an... aurora of evil and negativity here." Ash, who was ahead of the rest turned around, "I think it's haunted." Tracey waved his hand, "You know what I think, it's the stories they told us that scared us. We used them to rationalize our fears." Brock spun around to face him, "hey watcher Freud, you mind picking up the pace? I want my prize, and breakfast!" Ash took one more look at the map, then pointed to something in the distance, "there it is!" Under an old house was an opening big enough for someone to climb in. Brock pulled a wooden box out of a hole. They gathered around and opened it. Inside was a slip of paper. Sydney took it out and read it aloud, "You've performed all dares, all goals met. However your prize is not earned quite yet. You must next investigate the occurrences on board the U.S.S. Hornet..."
Jessie listening attentively to the receiver in her hand. "That's it! The place where the money will be is a ship! James lets get the Magicarp sub! James?" He and Meowth were sleeping soundly on the couch. She smacked both of them on the back of the head; "this is no time for napping! We've got some cash to swipe!" James whined, "it's early I wanna sleep!" Meowth agreed, "besides, those MTV people don't put the dough out till the last day! We gots plenty of time!" Jessie re-awoke James, "you'll tap into their computer and read their messages. We're getting that money!"
Next Chapter Coming Soon!
(Ok for all you pokemon fans who demand a cheesy pun title once again... "The Little Ship of Horrors")
"Ufff! What the...?" Ash sputtered as he awoke when Pikachu landed on him. "At least you didn't thundershock me this time, like last night..." Pikachu made a low, humble coo and slinked off. Ash got out of his cot and looked around. Everyone else was still asleep. The alarm had about five minutes before it was set to sound at 11:30. Knowing this, he decided to have a little fun. He picked up a camera and scanned room with it. "I guess they aren't morning people" he commented as he zoomed in on Brock sleeping with his mouth open. Ash tiptoed over to Misty and began to tickle her foot that was hanging out from out of the covers. She began to stir in her sleep, but didn't wake up. Ash got annoyed and pinched her foot instead. Misty's foot shot out and kicked him square in the face. He landed on the floor with a great thud. Misty sat up and rumbled her eyes, "what a strange dream. I dreamt that something was biting my toes." Ash remained stunned on the floor, rubbing his sore jaw. "What happened to you?" Sydney asked, as she got up. "Misty's foot." Tracey buried his face in the pillow so to contain laughter. Brock was digging through the cabinet. "Ash Ketchum you weren't taping me when I was asleep were you?! Misty demanded, pointing to the camera on the floor. "With any luck, it'll all wind up on the cutting room floor" Sydney offered. "Looks like breakfast will be cereal, unless watcher wants me to whip up some eggs and...beacon." Tracey moaned, "if I never see pork again, it'll be too soon. I went through a whole roll of Tums last night, er, day." Misty stretched, "another day, another dare."
It was after midnight when a message popped up on the computer. Brock, still holding a half-eaten breakfast bar, called with a full mouth to the rest; "here we go again." He clicked to start the verbal directions. "Welcome to night two, the next dare is for Yellow, Purple with navigate." "Saw that coming", Misty wailed. "You are to take the box with the deer meat to Kitty's Cabin. A pokemon is allowed to be used, good luck." Misty lifted the box and turned to her pokemon, "let's get going." Tracey grabbed his walkie-talkie, "This ensures that I don't have to go out for a while. Ready?" He soluted Misty who did the same to him on her way out the door. Poliwag followed her along the path. "So I'm heading through the haystacks again?" "You know how to get there, then go straight till you see it." Misty came upon a firepit in front of a cabin similar to the one she visited before. "I guess this is it, well now what?" "Light a fire in the pit." Misty shrugged her shoulders, "one would think." She knelt next to the stone circle and lit a match. Poliwag helped fan the flames with his tail to the kindling fire. Tracey continued, "now that the fire is lit, take out the meat and cover it with the rosemary oil. This is a voodoo ritual for preparing the dead." Misty quivered, "had to add that didn't ya?" "I'm just reading what it says, sorry. Anyway, when you're done, put the flesh in the box. Chuck the box in the fire." She took a step back and dropped it carefully into the blaze. His voice echoed through the darkness, "now go inside the cabin and sit in the center with your back facing the fire." Misty sighed, " I really don't want to do this again." "Polly" the little pokemon cried encouragingly. She smiled, "at least you'll be with me think time. I won't be alone." The trainer and pokemon entered the cabin, "let me guess, radio silence now?" "I would have lost money on that one, yep, for a to-be-announced amount of time." Sydney called to her in the background, "you can do this chica!" Misty turned her radio off and laid it down next to her. She held her Poliwag closely.
Back at the safe house, Brock and Ash were arguing over the last of the Fruity Pebbles, which the box was swiped by Chikarita and Marill. That ended the dispute quickly. Sydney looked over Tracey's shoulder at his latest drawing, of the main house. She shivered, "hope I don't have to go there. It looks creepy." Tracey pointed at the picture with his pencil, "inside's worse." It had been a little over an hour since Misty had gone out. The computer beeped and a text box appeared. Sydney clutched the receiver, "Misty?" She dove for her radio, "here, can I return? I've had just about all I can take!" "One last thing, go back out to the fire pit. Rub the ashes on your face and neck." While she was doing this, she commented to Sydney, "another ritual no doubt. That's all I need is for the spirits to be closer to me." "It's done, Mist! Come on back!" "Gladly!" Misty ran with Poliwag in her arms all the way back. She rushed into the safe house and dropped onto the cot. "I pray that's my last dare, I can't take anymore of this being alone out there for such long periods of time." Ash nodded, "Brock and Sid didn't even go yet. That was almost definitely your last dare." He tried to lighten her mood, "I guess now you're ash" he joked, pointing to her face. She smiled. "Oh no, another message", Sydney hit the mouse. "The next dare is for Green, Blue will navigate. No pokemon is to be used. You are to go to the main house and await further instructions. Good luck." Sydney groaned, "I think I just jinxed myself. I don't want to go into that parlor, the headless spirit. Too creepy." Tracey tried to reassure her, "they wouldn't have a repeat dare." She gave her Chikarita one last hug before exiting the safe house.
Sydney gazed around her tentatively as she walked. "Can't see that far in front of me, not good. So this fence leads to it right?" Ash checked the map, "yep." As she rounded the fence and through the gate, she caught a glimpse of the house. It looked just as ominous as Tracey had drawn it. "Inside?" "Inside and up to the second floor" Ash confirmed. Sydney crept into the deteriorating house. The staircase was to the right of the parlor. She caught a quick look at the room, and the pig foot box on the floor. "Ewww" she thought as she ascended the steep flight. It led to a short narrow hallway with what seemed to be piles of books and furniture at the other end. "The first door on the right is the master bedroom, where Kitty was raped by her master. Footsteps have been reported heard in this room. You are to lay on the bed..." Ash was cut off by a frantic Sydney, "WHAT!? On the...oh man!" She took a deep breath and settled herself on the bed. "You are to maintain radio silence for almost half and hour..." Ash's directions were once again interrupted, this time by a screaming Sydney. "Aaahhh! The door just slammed and opened again! Guys, I can't do this! I have to get out of here...I can't stay...I can't do this..." Tracey took the receiver from Ash. "You can do this Sid, I know you can. All right? Just shut your radio off, we'll contact you when time's up, are you ready?" Sydney pulled the sheets over herself in a childish attempt at safety. She nodded, "yes." "You'll be fine"; Tracey clicked the walkie-talkie off. Ash looked at him, "you allowed to do that?" Brock shrugged, "I think so, I he was only helping her."
The half-hour was spent listening to music at the safe house. Sydney on the other hand was clutching the sheets in fear with her back to the door. Ash stayed at the computer waiting anxiously for the message for her to leave. When it popped up, he wasted no time in contacting her. "Sydney time's up, you're free to go!" "Hell yea!" she cried as she jumped off the bed and out the door. "Get me the $#&%*@ out of here!" she chanted as she ran back. Sydney startled everyone when she opened the door violently. She was panting heavily. "Alright Sydney! Coolness!" Misty ran over and hugged her. "Told ya you could do it" Tracey reminded her. Brock added his support, "way to go!" Sydney gulped heavily, "I'll probably need years of therapy now. But hey, isn't five thousand bucks worth it?"
Misty took the mouse and started clicking around to review the rules, when a message box appeared. "Dare up" she announced. The computerized voice started, "The next dare is for Red, Purple will navigate. Take the zombie potion to the cemetery. A pokemon can be used. Good luck." "Oh boy oh boy, my turn to wear the camera!" Brock ran over to his bin and grabbed the vest and camera. He examined the bottle as well, "it looks like a beer bottle. Hey booze! Now this is my kind of dare! Where's the peanuts?" Tracey grasped his radio, "kinda sorry about all the pork jokes now huh?" he said haughtily as he leaned back in the rolling chair. Brock glanced at him, "you better not get me lost watcher!" Tracey shook his head, "I was only kidding, I wouldn't do that purposely." "Well, I'm off, come on Vulpix." "Vul!" it cried happily as they walked out. "I'll be back," Brock said in a Terminator tone.
Brock walked quickly and confidently through the forest. "This is so cool, it feels like something out of the Blair Witch Project. Ahhhhh!" He began running and shaking the camera around. "Blair Witch, Blair Witch, Blair Witch!" Back at the safe house, the navigator wasn't amused. "Brock, do you know which way you're going?" "Yea, I directed Ash there, I can see it now." Tracey continued, "Past the grave with the cross on it is Isabella's grave. Do you see it?" Brock stopped at a stone tomb, "yep." "Now take a stone from inside the grave. Parts on graves are essential in connecting with the dead." Brock moved the lid slightly and put the bottle on top. He then removed a brick. "Shake the potion you have with you, a voodoo priestess prepared this. Now..." Tracey signaled with his hand to everyone else to look at the screen. Giggles erupted from the background. "Now what?" Brock asked suspiciously. He took it away from Vulpix who was sniffing it to see what was in it. Tracey tried not to laugh, "Drink the potion." Brock whined, "ewww, I thought I was to pour it on a grave or something, not drink it! Oh well, it can't be that bad." He opened the cap and chugged it down. "Whoa that's strong stuff! Burns my throat." "Maybe it is alcohol" Sydney suggested. "It's definitely not light beer," Brock concluded. "Lay down on the grave with the stone over your heart." Brock let out a belch as he positioned himself on the tomb. Tracey made a disgusted face, "Thanks Brock, I had the thing right up to my ear. Anyhow, radio silence till called to return." "No problem, I could use some quiet time." Vulpix yawned and laid down on the ground next to him. "Hey, I'm getting dizzy. What was that stuff?" Brock mopped his brow with his hand. Vulpix turned to see his trainer not looking so good. He cooed worryingly.
Chikarita sat in Sydney's lap on the couch. She was still shaking from her ordeal at the main house. Tracey noticed this and sat beside her. "You weren't kidding about that therapy stuff" he joked. "That door just scared the hell out of me, I'll be fine. Just gotta chill for a bit." He put his arm around her shoulders and gave her a supportive hug. Misty hit Ash on the arm and motioned to the couch with her head. Ash chuckled. "What?" Tracey asked. Misty smirked, "oh nothing."
About an hour after Brock had first cut off contact with the safe house, the computer instructed him to return. Tracey tried to reach him on the radio, "Brock naptime's over come on back." No answer. "Brocky come home now." Still nothing. "Brock? Hey dude, are you awake? Brock!" Brock slowly opened his heavy eyelids and grabbed the receiver. "I'm here, I can come back now?" "Yes, I've been telling you to do so for a while. Are you alright?" Brock groaned and rubbed his eyes, "yea, just dizzy." He slowly got up and staggered back to the base. Vulpix ran ahead and scratched at the door, Misty opened it. "Vulpix is Brock ok?" Brock stumbled into the room and onto the couch, not bothering to remove the camera gear. "That stuff made me sick" he announced. Ash got him a drink of water. Sydney shook her head, "what could be in it that'd make you sick?" "I think your about the find out" Brock grumbled.
A half-hour later, Brock was feeling more like his usual self. Just in time too, a message flashed onto the monitor. "The next dare is for Blue, Red will navigate. Blue, take the canvass bag to the cemetery and locate Kitty's grave. You may bring a pokemon. Good luck." Ash swung the bag over his shoulder; "man this thing is heavy! Wonder what's in it. Come on Pikachu." "Pika pi!" As they walked, Ash huffed and puffed under the weight of the sack. "Hey Pikachu, we're pretty lucky. I mean, I was able to so far take you with me on every dare. I'm not as scared with my best pal around." "Chu, pika pi" it cooed in an affectionate way. Ash struggled to the graveyard, a course he knew well from his last dare. "I'm at the edge, now what?" Brock read aloud to him, "on the left, past the zombie grave is Kitty's. You are now about to perform a voodoo grave ceremony to contact the voodoo lord of the dead Barensemity (spelled right?)." Ash swallowed hard. "First pour vinegar over the grave, this is often used to connect with the spirit world. Kneel in front of it and open the bag. Describe the contents to the safe house." Ash did just that, but as he did, he heard something. "Guys, I'm hearing stuff around me, like dogs barking or something. Hey! The bag moved! There's...ahhhh! There's...a giant...snake in here! Not even like an Ekans or something, a real snake!" Brock turned to the members of the safe house, "he's gotta pick it up." Misty covered her mouth with her hand. "Ash, now pick up the snake and...Ash?" His radio began to beep, "what's going on?" Meanwhile, Ash tried to contact them. "Brock? Hello? Hey Brock, why aren't you answering me?!" Brock looked at it closer; "the batteries are dead". By this time, Ash was in a panic. "Guys this isn't funny!" "Chu chu!" Pikachu was trying to calm him down. Brock put the final battery in and radioed him. "Sorry we lost the connection, my batteries died." Ash breathed a sigh of relief. "So can I leave yet?" "Nopers, not yet. Now you have to hold the snake over the grave for fifteen seconds. Just tell me when to start." "I gotta hold it? Oh man, I get the weird dares." Brock paused, "at least you didn't have to consume anything weird!" Ash begrudgingly lifted the creature out of the sack. Pikachu, who knew the food chain quite well, hide behind a nearby tree. "Holy miltank this thing is heavy! Ewww, and slimy and...hey! Trying to wiggle away. Alright, start counting." No sooner then had Brock finished counting, then Ash dropped the serpent. He directed it back into its bag with the side of his foot. "Get...into...the...bag...I'm not picking you up again. Now can I leave?" Brock nodded, "yep, return to the safe house." Ash raised the sack and headed back.
"Glad that's over" he announced as he entered. "Hey Misty, wanna meet my new friend?" She screamed and jumped in back of the couch. "You come near me with that thing and you'll be taken out of here in a bag, a body bag!" He laughed and threw it in a corner, making sure the string was tied tight to keep it closed. Brock clicked the mouse to signal the completion of the dare. "Congratulations, you have completed your final dare at La Guerre Plantation." A round of cries of joy and relief rang out. "Print out this map and go to the location marked with an X to claim your prize. But before you go, ask yourselves, is the plantation indeed haunted?"
The group walked across an open field, following the directions from the map. They carried the their packs and the cameras with the lights off. It was after six am, so the sun's early rays lit up the sky. "This place definitely haunted" Sydney voiced her opinion to the questioned inquired by the computer. "Nah" Brock argued, "they made us do stuff to gross us out and scare us. The plantation itself showed no signs of being haunted." She turned to him, "hello? The door slamming and opening again? Ash hearing barking dogs?" Brock shrugged his shoulders, "not enough to convince me." Misty spoke up; "there's unmistakably an... aurora of evil and negativity here." Ash, who was ahead of the rest turned around, "I think it's haunted." Tracey waved his hand, "You know what I think, it's the stories they told us that scared us. We used them to rationalize our fears." Brock spun around to face him, "hey watcher Freud, you mind picking up the pace? I want my prize, and breakfast!" Ash took one more look at the map, then pointed to something in the distance, "there it is!" Under an old house was an opening big enough for someone to climb in. Brock pulled a wooden box out of a hole. They gathered around and opened it. Inside was a slip of paper. Sydney took it out and read it aloud, "You've performed all dares, all goals met. However your prize is not earned quite yet. You must next investigate the occurrences on board the U.S.S. Hornet..."
Jessie listening attentively to the receiver in her hand. "That's it! The place where the money will be is a ship! James lets get the Magicarp sub! James?" He and Meowth were sleeping soundly on the couch. She smacked both of them on the back of the head; "this is no time for napping! We've got some cash to swipe!" James whined, "it's early I wanna sleep!" Meowth agreed, "besides, those MTV people don't put the dough out till the last day! We gots plenty of time!" Jessie re-awoke James, "you'll tap into their computer and read their messages. We're getting that money!"
Next Chapter Coming Soon!
(Ok for all you pokemon fans who demand a cheesy pun title once again... "The Little Ship of Horrors")
