Disclaimer: I do not own pokemon nor do I own any of its characters

Here is chapter 17. Enjoy!!!

The Annual Boy Toy Contest

Ash emerged from the workout room, all sweaty and wet but alive and well.

"Ash!" Misty exclaimed as she rushed towards him.

"Hey mist!" Ash smiled at her and to his buddy Pikachu who hopped on his shoulder "Hey there buddy"

For a few moments, both parties just stood there, drinking the sight of their partner.

"Alright, enough with the staring contest" Brock broke in "Hey ash, what were you and the doctor talking about back there?"

"Oh, it's about the boy toy thing. It seems that he wants many to join the contest because it'll be donated to the orphanage"

"Whoa, so you're going to enter?" Brock was taken aback a little bit

"I don't know. What do you think misty?" Ash turned to the girl.

Misty put her index finger on her chin. Well, the boy toy contest will help the orphans and ash loves to help people in need. On the other hand, if she allows him to enter, then she may have some competition. Hmm, what to do, what to do?

"Well, while you're trying to make up your mind, I'm just gonna go wash up. I stink!" ash announced as he walked to the bathroom.

"Why are we at the orphanage?" Misty voiced out. She knows exactly how they got here; she just wants to know why they're here. While their waiting for ash to finish up his bath, a man from the contest approached them and asked them to come with him to the orphanage. It seems that all participants were requested to come. It's to persuade them on sticking with their decision to sign up and, if possible, to persuade their friends to sign up to.

"Okay, is everyone here?" an announcer yelled from the sea of children that crowded the orphanage lobby.

The participants turned to the announcer and, with much difficulty, tried to get close to the man as they strained to hear what is being said.

"Alright, now that we're all here, I would just like to show you guys the condition this orphanage is in and hopefully, to persuade some who have yet to sign up to join the contest" with that, the announcer started the lecture.

This orphanage was built 30 years ago and ever since then, it never had enough budget to support the children's health. Take a look at them..." the announcer pointed to the skinny, malnourished children that surrounded the participants "...almost 60 percent of them are malnourished. You could also see the effect of lack of budget on their clothes..." the participants looked at the tattered, grey (which was once white) clothes of the children. It had holes here and there and is very dirty "...lack of proper facilities is also a major issue. We've tried different fundraising but non were able to help. Until one study suggested that the new generation is more interested on...umm...on provocative topics hence the reason why the contest is so...rated. As much as possible, we do not want you guys walking up the runway wearing nothing but swimshorts but last year, it proved to be a success that is why only 60 percent of the children are malnourished. Compare that to last year's 90 percent. we hope that you guys will help these poor children of a lesser god, thank you"

Some of the audiences yawned while others started to cry in pity for the children when the announcer ended his speech.

"Well, what do you think guys?" Brock approached ash and misty who're in the corner "Joining this contest is for a good cause"

"Brock you just want to get a girlfriend" ash stated the obvious.

"Well, that's one reason but the other is still for the children" Brock crossed his arms over his chest "at least I have some compassion, unlike some I could mention"

"Hey! I have compassion too you know!" ash retorted, knowing that Brock was referring to him.

"Oh really? Then why aren't you in the contest?"

"Well…that's because…umm…because misty doesn't want me to!"

"Don't drag me into this ash ketchum!" misty butted in.

"So you're saying it's fine for me to enter?" the raven haired boy turned to misty.

"NO!!!"

"Hey mister, are you going to enter the contest?" a small girl tugged on ash's shirt before the boy had the chance to speak.

"Umm, no, but my friend Brock will be joining" ash smiled at the orphan.

"Who's he?"

"That's me, I'm Brock…" Brock entered the conversation. "…Don't worry, I'll raise tons of money for your clothes" he crouched down and patted the girls head.

Children, however, are frank creatures and they'll say what's on their mind. Unfortunately, Brock hasn't acknowledged that fact. "Your ugly mister, you won't raise a single penny"

0.0 (Brock's expression)

"Mister, are you going to leave us with tattered clothes and bad food?" the girl turned back to ash (and ignored the sulking figure of the man she insulted) and gave him a puppy dog look.

"What?! Umm…well…not really…." Ash stuttered, unable to get free of the puppy dog look. He looked at misty and gave her a 'help me out here' look.

Misty replied by giving him a 'don't look at me' stare.

"Umm, well…I'm still thinking about it" ash said haphazardly, turning back to the orphan.

"Are you saying that you won't help us?"

"No no no no no no no no!!!" the boy panicked. He looked back at misty only to see her glaring at him. Unfortunately, he doesn't know whether that glare means 'Say yes and I'll kill you' or 'If you make that little girl cry, I'll torture you' This is a classic case of being stuck in between a rock and a hard place.

He knows that Misty wouldn't want him to enter the contest but also knows that she is soft hearted (kinda). If he said no, the girl will cry and that'll definitely make misty furious. On the other hand, if he say yes, that'll semm like he's trying to get another girl and that'll make her furious too. What to do? What to do?

The orphan broke ash's mental debate."So you're going to enter the contest?!!!" the girl brightened up so much that ash had no choice.

"Yes" he said, almost guiltily as he lowered his head. If his answer did not match misty's desire, well, he might no be alive to enter the darn thing.

To be continued

Please review