Chapter 14: Night Falls and Rockets Take Off

Well I'm back. Sorry to keep you guys waiting. I had a good trip to Modesto though the girl ended up not being sincere. Word of warning to all of you… don't give anyone money before you actually meet them. The girl was just a scammer looking to use her looks for financial gain. Don't listen to sob stories like they are in pain or whatever. If they are looking for money they aren't sincere.

Night had fallen over Pallet Town and dinner was ready. Brock had gotten back in time to lend Delia, Caroline, and Mr. Mime a hand with the cooking. Which was good cause with all the kids there, Ash Misty, Tracey, May, Max, and Dawn plus Brock and the other four adults there were twelve of them all together. They set up a long table in the back yard of the Ketchum residence.

All of them ate their food though there wasn't much laughter as to be expected.

"So May, do you feel okay know?" Ash asked.

"Um… yeah. I think the poison effects are gone thanks to that Pecha berry," May said.

"That's good," Brock said.

"I'm glad you're okay sis," Max said.

"We all are," Caroline agreed.

Norman nodded. Though his daughter's earlier words still stung. He'd spoken with Ash and pretty much given his blessing, but he decided to not bring that up right now. It might cause some drama between May and Misty. He'd give her some time, which was what Caroline had told him to do after she ran off.

The conversations picked up, Max asking Tracy more about the various pokemon at the lab, Brock telling everyone of his newfound dream of becoming a Pokémon doctor, Dawn and May talked about their various contest experiences through Sinnoh and Johto after the Wallace Cup.

"Wow, I miss the days when I could travel fulltime," Misty said as she listened to those.

"You and me both Misty. I travel a lot for research but it's not as free as you kids," Professor Oak agreed.

As he spoke, Professor Oak recalled forty-three years ago, when he'd been Sammy Oak. He'd met that Celebi and been sent into future. He'd met Ash in this time just a few years ago in his youth now. Oak had meant to tell Ash about that at some point, but the young man was never in Pallet Town for long.

I'll have to tell him soon, Oak decided.

…

After dinner they went to go their rooms. Max had decided to take his sleeping bag into Ash's room while Brock slept on the couch in the living room so he could watch Jenny. That left Dawn, May, and Misty in the bunk bedroom. Norman and Caroline were in the guest room usually occupied by Mr. Mime who took the other couch. They all took their showers for the night, which quickly caused the hot water to run out. May had to settle for a cold shower. She shivered as she used some soap to wash some of the dirt off her body from the long trip through Digletts Cave and all the other stuff. May stepped and dried herself with a towel that was already damp from when Misty used it. She put her nightgown on stepped out into the room she was sharing with the two other girls.

"Your turn Dawn. It's gonna be cold though," May told her junior.

"No need to worry. As long as it cleans you," Dawn said.

She stepped into bathroom and closed the door behind her. That left Misty and May in the room alone.

"Hey May, do you think we can talk?" Misty asked the brunette nervously.

May looked at her friend… or could she call her that right now since they'd had a row in Ash's room? The coordinator gulped but nodded.

"Sure Misty," she said.

They faced each other. There was a moment of silence.

Then Misty sighed. "I'm sorry for getting mad at you earlier."

"Well, it's not like I didn't deserve it. I mean I did spy on your confession there," May admitted.

"I probably would have done the same to be honest," Misty said. "So how did you fall in love with Ash?"

"Well, I wouldn't call it love… but I did like him ever since I met him, I guess," May said. "It started when I walked in on him sleeping, I guess. He'd been taking care of Pikachu. I was coming to pick a bone with Pikachu since it fried my bike…"

"What?" Misty laughed. "Pikachu fried your bike? It did the same thing to me! Were you mad at Ash for that?"

"Mostly Pikachu. But I let it go when I saw how Ash had been up all-night taking care of him. Plus, how can you stay mad at such a cute Pokémon yeah?" May asked.

"True, Pikachu is pretty cute! I was friendly with him pretty quickly," Misty agreed. "But what about Ash?"

"Well, I thought he was kind of handsome, and he cares a lot for others. I was thrilled when he agreed to travel with me," May said recalling her triumphant fist pump. "He also protected me a lot when I was in danger."

"Well looks like you and him hit off better than we did back then," Misty said. "Me and Ash argued a lot back in our day, but we did care about each other even if we denied it."

May nodded. "I've fought with Ash a couple times too. One time when he got angry at me for looking in a mirror. I wanted to look good for him a little bit maybe. Also he tried helping me during one of my contests. Rubello town I think it was. I got a lot of praise from Pokemon fans. They told me I must have been a Pokemon Protégé and I guess it went to my head."

"Well, we all make mistakes, May. But we learn from them," Misty said before extending her hand. "Listen. Let's both do our best to win Ash and may the best girl win! Ha ha! MAY the best girl win!"

"Very funny Mist!" May teased as she shook the hand. "But deal! We'll both do our best!"

"Though I might be getting a bit of a head start in front of you since Jenny's made it clear you can't date him till, you're fourteen!" Misty said.

May nodded with an uncertain smile.

"Well, we'll see. But if you and Ash fight a lot like you used to maybe it won't work out."

"Hmm… maybe," Misty admitted. "But we'll have to wait till we deal with Team Rocket first."

Suddenly the bathroom door opened and the youngest of the three emerged in her nightclothes as well. Dawn yawned.

"Well, I'm tired, you guys ready for bed?" Dawn asked.

"Yeah, I agree," May said.

Misty had to agree as well. They got into their sleeping spots, which they'd determined through a couple games of rock paper scissors. Dawn had beat both of them and gotten the top bunk, while May had beaten Misty for the bottom. That left the water Pokémon Gym Leader to use her sleeping bag on the floor beside them.

…

In the woods outside of Pallet Town a group of a dozen men in black watched the house. They were led by a huge man with a blue beard, at his side were a familiar evil trio that had tried to double cross him before.

"You three better not try anything this time got it?" Phantom told them. "I may not have my Mech-suit anymore, but I can still pack a punch!"

"Right, we won't get in the way!" Jessie said nervously.

"Good. Now let's go pay the boy a visit!" Phantom said as he began to walk out of the cover of the woods and straight to the front door.

"Wait you're going straight at the cops!" James warned.

"Ha! There are two types of people in this world of ours! Those that are cowards, and those that are brave enough to face danger head on!" Phantom grunted.

So, the battle is about to begin. Will Ash and his friends make it through the night? Next Chapter: The Phantom Strikes Back.