Hey, here's chap. 6 for y'all, there. The chum of Pen pal writes this as well, and all the others. Pen pal still has to write one...
With three badges (Change, HM and IQ) Ash, Ad & co. set off for another Gym. But they have to get around to the place first...
Sit back, fast forward over the Disclaimer, and listen to the story I call...

The Parties in the Park

Notes: I have not seen the Pokémon anime (Master Quest), as it is not shown on non-Sky, so it won't correspond. I do not own Pokémon, but I do own Ad, and some of the trainers of the various Parties.
Actually, I've seen the bug-catching ep, but I can't remember the girl's name. Tell me in a review, and I'll get it changed for ya.

"We gotta go to Ecruteak City next," said Ad, consulting the map. "I don't think there's any point in Flying; it'll just tire our Pokémon out."
Ash pondered for a moment, and looked at his Pokédex map. "Yeah," he said, "I don't mind passing through the National Park. It's Tuesday, so the Bug Catching Contest is on."
"BUG Catching!" screamed Misty. "I thought we'd stopped with the bugs in Ilex Forest!"
"Don't worry, you can watch from the sidelines while we have fun." said Ash sarcastically.

A while later, the gang reached the National Park. Ash walked up to the booth, with Ad, Brock and Misty.
"I'd like to register for the contest. My friends here would like too as well." He gestured to Brock and Ad.
"Are you sure you wouldn't like to be a Party, not individuals? You can work as a team instead of competing." The man in the booth pulled out a special form from underneath the table.
"Sounds brilliant!" said Ash, Ad and Brock in unison. The man started to sign, but then he hesitated.
"I'm afraid you need four people in a party." Ash & co turned to look at Misty.
"Oh no." she said. "You're not dragging me into this."

Minutes later, the Alternative Party...
("Who chose that? It sounds rubbish," whispered Misty.
"The author," sighed Brock.)
...of Ad, Ash, Brock and Misty strolled into the Park, and looked around. There were no individuals, just groups. One group was dressed in yellow and black. A member looked strangely familiar to Ash...
"Cassandra!" cried Ash as he ran towards her. The girl in yellow-and-black turned.
"Ash!" she cried in surprise. "Have you still got your Chikorita..." Ash started to ask, but Chikorita burst out of Cassandra's bag by way of answering first.
"Chiko!" it said happily.
"Are you working on your own?" they both asked each other at the same time. They immediately answered in unison "No."
"Who is in your Party?" asked Cassandra to Ash. He pointed to his friends, who where searching through the long grass for each other.
"The Alternative Party," he said dryly, "what about yours?" Cassandra turned to the huddle of people. They span around.
"Party Electabuzz will beat all the rest!" they chanted. As Ash's party stumbled out of the long grass, Cassandra's started dancing to the Electabuzz team song. Misty grabbed Ash and pulled him away from the Party, saying, "We need as much time as possible to catch," she shuddered, "bugs."

A Short Interlude by Dexter

There were about 4 other parties in the Park that day. Luckily, Brock was able to gather enough information to jot a quick scribble in the margins of his guidebook. We are fortunate to be able to take a peek inside.

A new rule has been introduced to the National Park: it is possible to work as a team, or 'Party'. Parties consist of four people, whose Pokémon are linked in some way (like a Fire Party). This means specialists at, say, wading through long grass, can do this while others do other things (we are definitely not specialists at wading through long grass). The prize is shared, as Parties generally travel together, if not before than after, hopefully becoming friends at the Park.

In the blank pages at the back, Brock has helpfully written a list of the parties in the Park. We shall meet them later, and I, Dexter, will supply you with the full list after the Voiceover Man has finished.

"We need a plan," said Ad, helpfully if not obviously. In his hand he had the map of the park. It was split into long grass, short grass, sides, and trees.
"I'll search at the sides," burst in Misty, adding quietly, "where there isn't any grass - or bugs."
Brock thought. "My Pineco can Headbutt the trees, so it leaves Ad with the long grass and Ash with the short."
"Alright!" said Ad and Ash, doing a high-five. "We can stay together. My long grass is near your short."
So, when they had all split up, Ad and Ash would meet up and chat in the middle of the grass. It didn't take long before Ash and Pikachu caught a Level 7 Caterpie, Ad and Misdreavus caught a Level 7 Kakuna, and Brock and Pineco caught a Level 6 Weedle.
(Misty, of course, caught nothing. However, this was about to change...)

Hiding behind the bench, the Butterfree stared with its big, round eyes at Misty, who was sitting on the adjacent bench. She floated behind her, and looked for a Pokémon.
Togepi slowly poked out from behind her, and the Butterfree, happy in the knowledge it would be a fair fight, darted out.
Misty screamed. Togepi, hidden from view, slowly waggled its fingers. A huge tornado suddenly swept in from the trees on the side. Misty ran out of the way, but the Butterfree was caught. It fell to the ground, almost fainted. Misty quickly pulled out a Park Ball, and opened it for Butterfree. It came in, and the Ball locked.
"You have caught a Level 16 Butterfree," blared Dexter.
Misty screwed up her eyes in confusion.
"Level 16? But I thought you could only get Level 15 or lower..."

Ash and Ad met up in the long grass. They were discussing techniques when the grass ran out.
"Oh no!" exclaimed Ash. "We've come out of the Park!"
"No you haven't." laughed a gruff voice from behind. A boy was wearing a leather jacket, and looking remarkably like Gary. "It's just the Fire Party burnin' up the grass."
Ash span around. The boy looked down at him. Three other boys emerged from the grass. It was looking tough, when another four people emerged, dressed in blue T-shirts. The Fire Party was occupied for a second, so Ad and Ash backed away.
"So, you're the Fire Party? Well, the Water Party is gonna crush ya!"
"This means war!" The leader of the Fire Party threw a ball, and a Charmeleon came out. The leader of the Water Party was not ruffled however, and threw a ball containing a Wartortle.
"I think it would be a good idea if we went now," said Ad, back to the grass. Wartortle was about to use Water Gun to enforce that suggestion, when-
"Parties, your time is up! Return to the registering points now!" The two Parties sighed, returned their Pokémon, and walked off.

At the registration point, Ash and Ad met with Brock.
"Catch anything?" he asked.
"I got a Weedle, Level 6," said Brock.
"Level 7 Caterpie," said Ash.
"Level 7 Kakuna," said Ad.
"I got nothing," said Misty, forgetting about the Butterfree.
There was a slight pause, and some music. Then, the loudspeaker continued.
"Third is the Fire Party, for a Level 10 Metapod."
"Aw..." said the boy in the leather jacket.
"Second is the Water Party, for a Level 12 Kakuna."
"Wahoo! We beat ya!" cheered the leader of the Water Party.
"And first is the Party Electabuzz for a Level 14 Pinsir."
"Alright!" said Cassandra.
Ash went up to her. "Well done."
"Please give in your Park Balls to the official," the loudspeaker blared.
Misty opened her knapsack and pulled out Butterfree's ball. She gave it to the man.
"Hey, there's summin' in there!" he said. "It's a Level 16 Butterfree! I gotta tell the boss!"
The official disappeared under the desk, and the loudspeaker came on.
"Er, folks we have a newsflash...the winner is actually, with a Level 16 Butterfree, the...whatya called again?" The announcer poked his head over the desk.
"The Alternative Party," said Ash.
"The Alternative Party! They win the Sun Stone!"
"I'll take it," said Ad, floating up to the stand, followed by the rest.
So our heroes go off into the sunset, where they will meet with their next adventure.

The En...
"Hang on! You can't end it! I haven't done my bit!"
"What on Earth is Dexter moaning about?"
Thanks for reminding me. May I borrow him?
"Sure."

The Parties in The Park

The Alternative Party: I think you know who these are. Ash and Pikachu, Ad and Misdreavus, Brock and Pineco and Misty and Togepi.
The Party Electabuzz. Ash's friend Cassandra and Chikorita, Electra and Pichu, Wasp and Beedrill, and Hornet and Elekid.
The Fire Party. The leader Jonathan and Charmeleon, Justin and Magmar, Hijack and Slugma, and Georg and Magcargo.
The Water Party. The leader Jennifer and Wartortle, Joanne and Kingdra, Hackleigh and Marill, and Georgina and Azumarill.
The Flying Party. We never saw this party, but Misty believes them responsible for the 'Gust' and not Togepi. It consists of Freda and her Pidgeot, Fraizer and Murkrow, Margiono and his Gligar, and Rika and Crobat.

That is the end of Chapter 6 (sweatdrop). So, fanficfans (is that right?) see ya again in 7!