OK so here is Chapter 3!
"Well done Ash!" Smiled Serena, happy to see that she had helped out her crush, "It's what you told me: Never give up until the end! We can totally prove those traitors wrong!"
"That's the way," smiled Brock, "Just because someone thinks you are weak doesn't mean it is true! Besides…" he continued, holding out his fist, which Ash bumped with his own, "…I would be very disappointed to see that my longest traveling companion gave up. That is not like you at all!"
"Come on," smiled the relieved Professor Oak, "Let's celebrate Ash's return home. I'm sure we could all use some cheering up! Besides, I believe we have some introductions to make. I'll put the kettle on!"
And with that, after the introduction of the Kalos group to the rest, everyone began to prepare for tea. During this time, Ash learned that after the Johto Grand Festival, May and Drew had been traveling together. Ash smiled at this, as the two always seemed to have a thing for each other. Gary had also come back from Sinnoh, looking learn from his grandfather about being a Regional Professor, and that Brock had gone to Johto to learn from a Pokémon Doctor. He was doing well, but still had a lot to learn.
Professor Oak was excited to hear about the new Pokémon that Ash had caught in Kalos, and was giddy to hear that Ash had captured a Noivern.
Everyone was having such a good time that they didn't smell the smoke or hear the commotion…
"Thank you professor." smiled Drew, as the group was settling down in the sitting area after tea, "That was good tea."
Ash was explaining to Gary and Brock about the Pokémon he had caught in Kalos, as well as what he had learned about Mega Evolution. Serena and May were talking about Pokemon Contests and what it was like to be a Coordinator, while Bonnie sat nearby petting her sleeping Dedenne. Clemont, Drew, Delia, and Professor Oak were talking about what it was like to be a researcher, while the rest of the Pokémon played out in the Ranch. All seemed to be going well…
…until Pallet Town's local Fire Brigade alarm sounded.
"Oh no," gasped Oak, as he jumped up, startled by the noise coming from the alert sirens outside.
"What is it?" Asked Clemont, who seemed startled and confused by the sound. Ash and Gary had gotten up, while Delia looked worried.
"That's the Fire alarm," Professor Oak explained. "It signals to the local volunteer Firefighters to come to the Fire Station." Ash, Delia and Gary, who knew about this of course, had headed outside to see what was happening.
"So this means that there is a fire somewhere in Pallet Town?" Brock deduced, with the Professor nodding his head solemnly.
"Scary…," muttered Bonnie softly.
A startled shriek from outside and what sounded like Pokémon running alerted the group to a commotion outside. Quickly getting up, Brock, Clemont and Drew headed toward the door to see what had happened, with Oak not far behind.
Upon reaching the doorway, they noticed Gary helping Delia, who appeared to have fainted, and what appeared to be the disappearing form of Ash and his Water Pokémon running toward some smoke, just as fire trucks roared past the corral.
"Mrs. Ketchum?" Gary was whispering, shaking her gently to try and wake her up, "Mrs. Ketchum what's wrong?"
As Brock, Clemont, and May, who had come out of the Lab with Serena and Bonnie, ran after Ash, the rest tried to help Delia up. Suddenly, Mrs. Ketchum's eyes shot open in panic.
"Pallet…House…" She muttered, struggling to get to her feet.
It was then that the Oaks realized where the smoke was coming from.
'This can't be!' Ash thought despairingly, as he hurried down the path toward the family restaurant, Pallet House. It had been in his family for a long time, and was the only source of the Ketchum's income.
As he ran into the parking yard of the restaurant, Ash could see police officers setting up a perimeter, and the firefighters jumping off their fire trucks, and begin preparations. They quickly pulled out hoses, thin aluminum heat shields, and breathing masks. Ash saw this, but knew he had to act as well, as it would take time for the firefighters to hook up to the hydrant and finish prepping.
His train of thought was interrupted by two of the firefighters running toward him, one shouting to him. "Hey, kid, get back!"
"I can't!"
"What do you mean!" exclaimed the second firefighter, "Can't you see the building is on fire!"
"I can't," Ash began, before gasping and getting some breath back. "It's my family's restaurant! I have to do something!"
"We're here to help," came the sudden voice of Brock, as he, May, and a panting Clemont rushed onto the scene.
"Help how?" was the skeptical reply of the first firefighter.
"We've got Water Pokémon," Ash explained as he indicated to his water Pokémon: Kingler, Totodile, Corphish, Buizel, Oshawott, Palpitoad and Greninja. Brock responded by sending out Marshtomp, and May sent out Wartortle.
The firefighters thought about it for a few seconds before nodding "Very well. We will go tell the Chief."
With one of the two firefighters staying to supervise, Ash, Brock and May all ordered their Pokémon's most powerful Water-Type attacks, directing them toward the blaze, while Clemont rushed to aid the firefighter's final preparations.
As May watched her Wartortle attack the flames with Aqua Tail, she noticed that despite the assistance of the Water Pokémon, the flames were still burning at a dangerous rate.
'This isn't good,' May thought to herself, 'We need more Water-power. If only…'
At that moment, Munchlax once again emerged from its Poké Ball.
"Lax" Muchlax commented.
'That's it!'
"Munchlax use Metronome!" May called, hoping it would luckily turn into a Water move.
Much to her horror, however, a great mass of flames shot out of Munchlax's mouth, instead of a Water-type move.
"NO!" she cried, "stop! That's Overheat!"
Munchlax immediately stopped, but the damage had been done. A portion of the restaurants kitchen, which had previously been okay, was in flames.
Ash was in shock when he saw the kitchen go up in flames. He was about to say something to May, but when he saw the look of horror on both her and Munchlax's faces; Ash realized it wasn't their fault.
Instead, he and Brock set back to combating the fire.
It took a long time to get the fire under control, but eventually the blaze was out. As the police set to work with an investigation as to how the fire started, the group could only stare at the smoldering remains of the building. It was clear that the restaurant was unsalvageable.
Mrs. Ketchum had arrived with the Professor and the rest of the group, and all were clearly shaken. Delia had tears streaming down her face, and Professor Oak could only stare in shock. May was crying in Drew's arms, while Brock, Gary, Serena, Bonnie and Clemont stared at Ash, who had a distant look in his eyes.
One thought was going through everyone's mind.
'What are the Ketchum's going to do now?'
Indeed, it was a serious dilemma. Pallet House had been the only thing keeping Ash on his journey, and while Mrs. Ketchum had some money saved, in addition to the inevitable insurance, things would be tough for the Ketchums no doubt.
May was feeling especially ashamed. She had inadvertently contributed to the fire by using Munchlax's Metronome.
'Perhaps things would not have been so bad had I not relied on luck so much…'
Serena hated seeing Ash like this. Just hours ago, he had been betrayed by some of his closest friends, and now this. It was truly tragic.
'No matter what…' Serena thought 'Please. You cannot give up Ash! For everyone…for me…
At that moment, Pikachu, who had previously been nuzzling Ash's leg in a comforting manner, heard something, and his ears twitched.
"HELP!"
'Smack'
"What was that?" exclaimed Gary, as everyone started looking around for the call for help.
Ash was looking around as well, albeit at a much slower pace than the others. It was then that he recognized the voice, at the same time spotting a nearby Officer Jenny's Herdier sniff what appeared to be a pile of charred red plastic in the charred remains.
It couldn't be…could it?
He suddenly saw a policeman walk toward his mom, with serious look on his face.
"Mrs. Ketchum, is there anyone wishing to do harm to you or your family in this town?"
"Not that I'm aware in this town…why?"
A pause. "Officer Jenny and Herdier have located what appear to be the remains of gas canisters. We are suspecting arson."
At that moment, what appeared to be the smell of smoke alerted everyone to a commotion off in the forest. Officer Jenny bolted toward the smell with a Poké Ball in hand.
At that moment, Ash ran after her with Pikachu, Kingler, Greninja and Oshawott.
'I know that voice,' Ash thought to himself, as he ran to the rescue. 'I've known it for so long! Since my journey began. Would they?'
OH HO Cliffhanger! Who set fire to Pallet House? Who screamed for Help? What is going on?
I hope you all enjoyed the third Chapter. Please Leave a Review!