"We are issuing this statement directly to our daughter, May. We want her to know we love her, no matter
what she's done. All we want her to know is to come home so we can talk. She's not in trouble or
anything, we just want her to come home. Please, May, come home. Come home safe to us.." Norman stopped
as he could say no more.
Norman and his wife, Carolyn, turned to go back inside as the police started firing questions.
Brendan turned the television set off. "Brenden, are you ready to go?" asked Professor Birch.
"Yeah. Kind of scary isn't it?" Brenden asked as he wandered into the kitchen. "You know, about Norman's
daughter?" "Yeah, and you better not be stupid enough to do the same thing, as I won't be as nice
as Norman when you would return," his mother said.
"You mean they'll find her?" Brenden asked. "Oh, sure they will. You have to get badges from gym
leaders to get into the league. Roxanne, in Rustburo, is the most likely to find her first," said Brenden's mom.
One last chopper flew overhead in the route May was in. She safely hid behind a tree nearby. May
knew very well everyone would be looking for her after her parents found the note. It was very dark; and it wasn't
a good idea to go to Oldale Town yet. Her stomach angrily rumbled. May sat down and rummaged through her backpack for a candy
bar. Instead, she found the Pokeball holding Torchic. It was probably hungry, also. So May let it out to let it look around.
"Just don't run away," said May. "Tor!" said Torchic. (Translation: Okay!)
May continued rummaging in the dark, while Torchic wandered off. Neither of them heard it until it was too late.
"Hands up in the air! This is a holdup!" a male voice said behind May.
May didn't even bother to look up. "You know, can you wait until I find my candy bar? I'm kinda hungry, ya know," she said.
"Grr. No," said the man. "Team Rocket does not let anything stand in their way!"
Who was this guy, rambling about? As far as May knew, there was only one person behind her. "You're a team? Where's
your partner? Your split personality? AHA! I found it! Patience pays off! Want some?"
"What kind is it?" he asked.
"Coconut dipped in chocolate."
"I'm allergic to coconut."
"Oh. Um.. was it you or your split personality asking me to put my hands in the air?" asked May.
"WHAT? I DON'T HAVE A SPLIT PERSONALITY!" cried the "team".
"Do you have any idea of who you're holding up right now?" asked May.
"No, and I don't really care. Now give me some money and I won't have to use my Koffing," said the man.
"You have a Koffing? Can I see?" May said, as if it was the greatest announcement.
"Uhhhhhh.." "Pretty please?" asked May. "Um.. okay.." he said, taking out the ball containing Koffing.
May took it from him. "Hey! I need that back!" cried the man.
"Well, I'll give it back for say... 20?" said May.
"NO! Just, give it back!" he cried, getting really angry.
Suddenly, Torchic came and jumped on top of the man. "You know, I have a rabid Torchic here. One bite from
it, and you will wish you'd been poisoned by an Ekans. Now, about this 20.."
"FINE! Just.. just get this thing off of me!" cried the man. Torchic hopped off and the man paid 20 dollars.
He got his Koffing back and said, "Owning a rabid Torchic is dangerous." "Not for me," May said as he ran off.
"Now, to eat this candy bar... you and I really deserve it, eh?" May said.
