Author's Note: Again, I find myself apologizing for the slow update. I try to keep them constant, I really do, but I'm just so busy, it's hard to write. Just be patient. I appreciate it!
Now then, Reviews! I have to say I was very pleased with the reviews for this chapter. I'm glad so many people took the time to review my story! What I did not predict was how many people would get so worked up over my Misty vs. May thing… I had quite a range of reviews for this chapter, so I'll take a couple moments to discuss them.
First off, I'd like to thank Cipher Admin Ein, john, Bizarre Psyduck, Nikooru-Chan, Marill Tamer, Raw19, hyper hippie, and advanceshipping fan for their reviews! I appreciate it so much!
Gatomon+Meowth: Sorry, but I didn't bother to include Brendan in my story. I wanted to stick to the characters in the show.
Marill Tamer: Wow. I'm gonna be honest. I got so wrapped up with the people I almost forgot about the pokémon! But fear not, they appear in this chapter. Oh, and as for Drew, I definitely intended to include him in my story. In fact, he might make an appearance in this chapter.
And now, I'd like to address the abundance of shipping conflicts. For those of you worried about Ash's immediate choice, I'll let you know that there are still quite a few chapters left to go. I have a lot of things I want the characters do, so I'm not quite ready to wrap things up yet. As for which shippings will prevail… Well, for now, shippings are fairly random. I just kinda see where they lead. As I said in several author's notes, shippings are kinda crazy in this story. That's because I like shippings so much. But even though I like all the shippings, it's near impossible not to have preferences. So, yeah. There are some shippings I like more than others, and those will probably be the ones that prevail in the end. I'd love to take the suspense off of you, but I don't want to give away the ending! So I guess I can't tell you... Sorry.
But don't worry so much about which shippings will or will not triumph. Just try and enjoy the story.
Oh, right, and read the other chapters before you read this one.
Disclaimer: I'm sad to report that despite my persistence, I have found myself unable to gain control of Pokémon. I am working on it, though.
Enjoy!
Chapter 5
As the sun set on the grounds of… The jail never had a name did it? How about 'The Jail.'
What? They got away with 'The Theatre'… Anyway…
As the sun set on the grounds of 'The Jail', Pokémon fans everywhere had seen something not yet witnessed in the show's history… Team Twerp and Team Rocket working together. Working together to break out of jail. But their efforts had been temporarily stopped by a battle of the shippings. Misty and May sat waiting for Ash's answer.
What am I gonna do? thought Ash. Misty's my best friend… but May's so nice… and Misty's smart… But May doesn't hit people with mallets… There's only one way to settle this… He sighed. Eeny, Meeny, Miny---
"May," said Ash, aloud, "I pick May."
Misty and James stared at him.
"Oh, Ash," said May, happily, "I knew you cared about me."
Misty avoided Ash's gaze.
Ash turned to her. "Are you okay, Misty?"
"I'm fine…" she said, quietly. She shook her head. "Let's just get back to work, okay?" She picked up her spoon, and went back to the hole.
James shook his head. "She's right. Let's get to work." He, too went back to work.
Ash and May shrugged and followed suit.
But something strange was happening. Not only were they digging with spoons and actually making progress, but it appeared as though they might actually get away with it.
"Wow," said Max, admiring the hole, "It looks like we might actually get away with this."
"Hey!" said James, turning to him, "Aren't you supposed to be the lookout?"
"Oh, right," said Max, returning to his post.
"Give a nerd a job…" said James, muttering.
"I heard that!" shouted Max.
"Yeah, yeah, get back to work."
And Max did. They all did. In a few hours time, Ash's spoon poked through the ground and found air on the other side.
They had done it. They had actually done it. Using no shovels, tools, or items of any kind except spoons, they had dug a hole under the prison wall and to the other side.
"We did it!" shouted Ash, victoriously.
Quickly and quietly, the group rushed out the hole and into the fresh air at last. Silently rejoicing, they made they're way away from the prison.
Later. Just Later.
Our heroes, or anti-heroes, depending on your outlook in life, are walking down the street, chatting happily about their plans.
"Hold on," said Ash, stopping, "What ever happened to Pikachu and Meowth?"
"They probably got sent to the Pokémon Center when we went to jail," said Max, knowingly.
"Oh," said Ash, "That makes sense."
"No it doesn't…" said Jessie.
"Let's just go," said Ash.
So the group made there way down the street and walked into the local Pokémon Center.
"Hello?" shouted Brock, looking around, "Anyone here?"
"Hold on!" came the voice of Nurse Joy, "I'm taking care of a pokémon. I'll be out in a couple of minutes."
"Nurse Joy!" said Brock, excitedly.
"Give it a rest," said Misty, grabbing him by the ear.
"Look!" said Ash, pointing to the corner of the room, "It's Pikachu!"
"Pika, Pika!" said Pikachu happily, making its way onto Ash's shoulder and nudging him affectionately.
"Hey, buddy," said Ash.
"And Meowth!" said James, excitedly.
"That's right!" said Meowth, entering the scene as well.
Finally, the pokémon were with their owner's again…
"That's convenient…" said Brock.
Misty nodded.
"TV!" shouted Max, spotting the television in the corner. He grabbed the remote and turned it on.
"Wow," said Misty, focusing her attention to the TV as well, "It's been a long time, hasn't it?" She watched as the news reporter on the screen talked briefly about the recent events.
"And lastly," the reporter said, "Police are still on the lookout for the seven convicts that escaped from "The Jail' not long ago. If anyone has any information on any of these people, their asked to notify the police immediately. Be on the lookout for… Ash Ketchum…"
Ash whipped around to face the TV. As he watched, he saw a picture of himself light up the screen.
"Misty…" the announcer continued.
Misty watched in terror as her face flashed across the screen just as Ash's had.
"Brock…"
"Hey," said Brock, gazing at his picture, "I look good."
"May… Max… Jessie… And Jim."
"Oh, that's just not fair," said James, shaking his head.
"In other news, chocolate bunnies are taking the nation by storm---"
Max turned off the TV and sighed.
"Cheer up, Max," said Brock, patting him on the back, "You're picture didn't look that bad."
Everyone turned to stare at him.
"Well, granted, it didn't look as good as mine, but---" Brock paused. "You're staring at me because I'm worried about the pictures, right?"
"Yeah," said Misty.
"Okay then!" said Brock.
The group froze as they heard the sounds of footsteps approaching.
"Oh no!" whispered Misty, "Nurse Joy is coming!"
"She is?" said Brock, excitedly.
"Let's get out of here!" said Misty. She turned and stormed out of the Pokémon Center, the others right behind. They didn't stop until they were well away from the place.
"Wow," said Max, shakily, "That was scary."
"Yeah," said Ash, "Good thing we all got out."
"Yeah," said Misty, looking at the others… "All six of us… six of us? Weren't there seven us?" She looked around at the group trying to recall who was missing. "Of course…" she said, comprehension growing, "Brock."
"Oh no," said Ash, shaking his head.
Back at the Pokémon Center…
"Good morning," said Nurse Joy, entering the room.
"It is now," said Brock, rushing towards her, "Now that I'm with you." He paused. "Wait a second…. It's 10pm."
Nurse Joy shrugged. "It's morning in China."
"Is it?"
"How should I know?" asked Nurse Joey, "I don't live in China."
"Witty as always," said Brock, smiling.
"Hey," said Nurse Joy, "You look familiar…"
"Uh… No I don't."
"Yes you do… weren't you on that cereal commercial?"
Brock stared at her. "Um… okay."
"I knew it!" said Nurse Joy, happily. "Would you like to sign my cereal box?"
"Yeah!" said Brock, "That sounds like fun! So… uh… what cereal brand is it I work for again?"
"Lucky Bombs!" said Nurse Joy, "Shouldn't you know that?"
"Lucky… Bombs?" repeated Brock, "that can't be FDA approved…"
"No, I imagine not," said Nurse Joy, looking for her box, "You know what they say…"
"Uh… remind me."
Nurse Joy laughed. "You don't know anything about the company, do you? Well, they say… or rather, you say, 'Lucky Bombs. They're magically exploding!'"
Brock stared at her. "Catchy."
"You know who you kind of look like?" she said, still searching for the cereal box, "That kid who escaped from The Jail. What was his name...? Brad, or something…"
"Brock," said Brock, without thinking. Nurse Joy stared at him.
"He's my evil twin," said Brock, nodding.
"Oh, wow," said Nurse Joy, impressed, "You look just like him."
"He is my twin…" said Brock, "Except he's evil. And I'm not."
"That's good."
"Right. Because he electrocutes people, and I just work with exploding breakfast cereal. Completely different…."
"Here's that box," said Nurse Joy, bringing up a cereal box with the words Lucky Bombs written across the top. "Here," she said, handing it to Brock with a pen.
"To Nurse Joy," said Brock, writing, "My number one fan."
"Thanks," said Nurse Joy, as Brock handed the box back to her. "Oh!" she said, glancing at it, "You accidentally signed this 'Brock'. That's your brother's name, remember?"
"Oh, right!" said Brock, taking the box back, and scratching out the 'B'. "Even I mix us up sometimes!"
"Well, thanks--- Rock," said Nurse Joy, glancing at the box. "Rock, huh? That's a nice name."
"Yes, thank you," said Brock, "I like the name Rock. It's MY name. My brother's name is Brock, but my name is Rock."
"Yes," said Nurse Joy, "I get it."
"Oh, good!" said Brock, "Can you explain it to me?"
Nurse Joy stared at him.
"Uh… I was kidding…" said Brock, "Brock's a joker. I mean--- Rock's a joker--- I mean, I'M a joker. Yeah. That one. It's me."
"Rock?" said Nurse Joy, uncertainly, "Do you think maybe we could go out this Friday?"
Brock froze. He couldn't believe what he was hearing…
Back with the gang…
"Where are you, Brock?" said Misty, under her breath.
"I, Rock," said Brock, walking towards them, "Am the luckiest man in the world."
They all looked up to see Brock approaching.
"Okay," said Misty, "First off--- what?"
The group listened as Brock told them all about the macro-adventure he had just had.
"Wow," said Max, "You almost got us all thrown in jail…"
"Yeah," said Brock, "But I'm a famous cereal spokesperson who has a date with Nurse Joy."
"Congratulations," said Ash sarcastically.
"Pika, Pika," said Pikachu.
"Fascinating as all this is," began Jessie, "We need to find a place to hide. Every policeman in the area is looking for us."
"Jessie's right," said James.
"Look!" said Meowth, pointing, his Jersey accent as thick as ever, "Another twoip!"
They all turned to the direction where Meowth was pointing to see Gary walking towards them, his head down solemnly.
"Gary!" said Ash, running towards him, "I've never been so happy to see you!"
"Ash?" said Gary looking up, "I thought you guys were in jail!"
"We got out," said Ash, "And we need a favor. Can we stay at your place for a couple of days?"
"Sorry, Ash," said Gary, looking down again, "I can't go back to Pallet ever again…"
"Why not?" said Misty, concerned.
Gary sighed. "They shunned me."
"They shunned you?" repeated May, "Why?"
"Yeah!" said Ash, "And what does 'shun'---"
"It means they won't let him back," said Misty.
"Oh," said Ash, "Why'd they shun you, Gary?"
Gary avoided his eyes. "Well," he began, "I kinda got a job doing stand up there. My first gig… well, it wasn't pretty. The people of the town were so embarrassed, they kicked me out."
Ash stared at him. "You told the briefcase joke, didn't you?"
Gary looked at him. "Ash, it's been four chapters. Let it go."
Ash sighed.
"What are we gonna do?" May asked. "Where are we gonna go?"
Just then, a rose fell at May's feet. The group turned to see none other than Drew staring down at them.
"Looks like you guys could use some help," he said.
To Be Continued…
Author's Note: Well? What did you think? I'm sure you have some kind of an opinion… so write it! In a review! You know the drill. I take everything from suggestions to insults, from comments to threats! So do me a favor, and write a review. They make me happy. : )
Thanks for Reading!