Chapter 18: The Ball
The past eleven days seemed to past by in an instant: from the constant battle of the Poke'mon menace to the endless hours setting up the Ball to be ready on time, time just flew by.
But tonight was the big night, everyone was getting dressed up and ready for the Annual Team Rocket Anniversary Ball; a night unlike any other, a night where every member of Team Rocket is able to celebrate another year of protecting the people of Electric City from the Poke'mon.
"Come on, Ash," Brock called out into the bathroom while standing next to Max, both already in their tuxes and waiting for their roommate.
"I'm almost ready," he called out.
Max elbowed Brock. "Funny how the only one of us that did get a date is the one who is going to make us late," he pointed out, but Brock used his arm to stop his flood of tears.
"It's just so unfair, why couldn't I get a date?"
Max shook his head to his girl crazed friend just as Ash walked out. Everything looked in order except for his tie. "How do you guys get this to work?"
"You're a Field Agent and you don't even know how to tie a tie," Max mocked.
Ash glared at his young roommate as Brock walked over. "It's not that hard," then within a few seconds, he tied Ash's tie. "Well, now let's get going."
"Yeah," Max shot a sly grin, "wouldn't want to keep Misty waiting, would you Ash?"
Ash's face turned bright red. "It's not what you think; we are just going as friends."
"Oh I didn't mean that," Max replied, "I mean if you're late she will probably throw you into a Tauros stampede."
A sweat drop appeared on Ash's head. "Yeah, you're probably right."
The boys approached the entrance to the Girl's Dormitory. "Huh, I thought the girls would have been ready by now," Brock commented.
"Well just don't wait out here too long, Brock," Max added with a smirk, "or the other troops will think you are trying to sneak in."
"I'm not that kind of guy!" Brock shouted back as the other two got a laugh, but the boys could hear May and Misty talking on the other side of the door. "Hey, are you ready yet? We don't want to be late to find a table," Brock announced, knocking on the door.
"Just give us a minute!" May called out, focusing back on her roommate. "Come on, Misty, you look great in that dress; and we don't want to keep the guys waiting."
Misty groaned. "No way, I'm not going. They are going to think I look weird," she stated, turning around to walk back to her room.
But May grabbed her by the arm as she turned, her voice filled with concern. "Come on, I know you are probably scared at giving this a try," Misty shook from these words, "but you know we are your friends, and we will help you anyway we can."
Misty wiped her eyes with her free arm. "Alright, let's get this over with."
The door opened to reveal May, dressed in a pink one piece formal dress with matching high-heel shoes. She let hair down and walked out to where Misty was right behind her.
She wore a matching formal dress and shoes to May's but was a shade of ocean blue. She also wore gloves which ended at her shoulders as she looked at the shocked expressions of her friends. "You can say it, I look freaky don't I?"
The three shook their heads. "No, not at all," they all replied in awe.
May elbowed her roommate. "See, told you; you need to stop thinking so little about your looks," she then added in a whisper, "with just a little work, I bet you can be a real head-turner."
Misty blushed a bit from that comment, but noticed that May was already walking off with her brother and Brock. "We will go ahead and save a table, meet you there," she called out.
Misty turned to face Ash; his hand rubbing the back of his head and a small blush was clearly shown on his face. "You look really... nice, Misty."
She couldn't help but blush again from the comment, not to mention how well he cleaned up in a tux. "Why, because I look more like a girl," she asked, but not in an angry tone just a childish one.
Ash chuckled nervously, remembering how hard she hit that bouquet over his head. "Hehe, sorry about that; I didn't mean for what I said to come out like that."
She moved in closer, her face just a few inches away from his. Her eyes glaring into his shocked ones, but out of no where she moved her hand and flicked him in the forehead. "Well, glad to hear it."
He gently rubbed his forehead, but extended his arm. "Well, can I escort you to the Ball now?"
She smirked at the son of Akio and in a high class tone replied. "I would be honored if you did."
She intertwined her arm with his and with that, both walked down the hall.
But unaware to the Troops, a group of fifteen in a dark outfits and high powered automatic rifles snuck through the halls; using the Ball as a cover for their plans.
The smallest one seemed to be the leader, as she pointed ten to go down one of the halls and another four to follow her. "Agent 142, what's your status?" a voice asked on the leader's headphones.
"So far we have been able to avoid any Team Rocket agents; they are all at the Ball like as planned."
"Good to hear, please only shoot if you have to; for our mission to succeed we need the data from the central computer. We can't fail like last year."
"I understand, Captain M2, this mission will succeed. We won't let Team Rocket go through with the plan; Agent 142 out."
At the Ball, the group sat at their table, listing to the announcement from the head of the Organization himself, Giovanni. "Welcome all, to the year annual Team Rocket Ball. Tonight we are here to celebrate another successful year protecting this great Utopia from the Poke'mon menace."
The troops applauded as Giovanni used his hand to signal them to quiet down. "Now as you all know we have been through both good times and bad, not to mention we have lost and gained many great agents through this year. But right now, I would like for us to take a minute of silence in memory of the agents who gave their lives to protect the people of this fair city."
On the screen behind him, pictures of the DIA troops appeared. The whole room went dead silent with only a few coughs and chairs squeaking being heard.
But Ash's eyes focused directly on Melody; a feeling of depression started to fill his mind with the images of her torn body flashed before his eyes. His hands started to shake as he bit his lower lip.
The images disappeared and reappeared with the banner for the Team Rocket Ball 2257. "Now, let's celebrate the New Year and start off this Ball with a nice Waltz; enjoy."
The troops applauded once again as Giovanni left the stage, handing off the microphone to Lt. General Norman. "Now the first dance will be with the lucky girl you brought with you, drinks and snacks are now being served. So now all I can say is, enjoy."
The stereos around the auditorium started to play a calm music, causing some of the agents to step from the tables and head to the dance floor. Brock already headed out to the other tables, asking any girl, from privates to generals, to dance. But with his record he was shot down many times.
May then elbowed Misty; she looked over to see her pointing to Ash. "Go on, I know you want to," she whispered.
Misty swallowed what felt like a large ball in her throat, looking over at Ash still staring at the screen. "A-Ash?"
He snapped out of what ever daze he was in and focused on the red-headed agent. "Yeah, Misty?"
All of a sudden her mouth became dry and the moisture seemed to transfer over to her hands. "D-Do you, want to dance?"
He nodded. "Sure, but I'm not that good."
He then stood up, offering his hand to her. She smiled and accepted, taking his hand in hers as he led her out to the dance floor. May could only smile.
They stopped when they got to the dance floor; the first thing Misty noticed was how Ash was nervous trying to get his hands around her for the dance. "Here," Misty said, grabbing onto his wrist to put it around her waist then grabbed the other hand to put on her shoulder.
Both of their faces were a deep shade of red as she placed her hands on his shoulders. As the music played they let their feet do the talking, dancing in small circles.
But before they knew it, the song ended. They stepped back from each other, both faces completely flustered. He rubbed the back of his head. "T-Told you I wasn't that good."
She looked down at her dress shoes. "No, not at all, you were good."
Another song started to play, but before Misty could ask him for another dance. She saw May tap him on the shoulder.
He looked over to see her smiling. "Hope you don't mind if I cut in."
Ash looked over at Misty, who shook her head. "I don't mind, I was just about to get some punch anyway."
May then pulled off the troop as Misty's mask faded away, slowly walking over to the snack table.
At the main Computer, a thin layer of blood could be seen sprayed on the screen and the keyboard. Two Team Rocket agents dead on the floor as Agent 142 and the four others searched through the computer.
Misty and May sat back at their table as it seemed like all of the girls wanted to dance with the son of Akio. "Our friend is way too popular," May commented, drinking her cup of punch.
"Yeah, it's nearly been two hours and I don't think I've seen him sit down once," Misty added as she ate some of the fruit she had on her plate.
Brock then stumbled over, tears streaming down his face like two rivers. "That's just wrong, even Max found a dance partner."
The three looked over to see Max dancing with Warrant Officer 1 Ran Luckmolde; it was amusing to see a girl nearly twice his size and age dancing with him. The girls couldn't help but giggle. "It was rumored that she has a shota-conplex," Misty replied.
"A what?" Brock asked.
May giggled. "Never mind."
(A shota-conplex is where an older woman/man has an attraction to people of child-like actions/looks. Also Ran Luckmolde is not a character of the Poke'mon series, she is in Infinite Ryvious.)
Ash stumbled over to the table, looking completely exhausted. "How... long, have I been... dancing," his head then collapsed on the table.
"About two hours," May replied. "I bet you've had a great time."
Ash didn't seem to have the strength to reply, instead tapped the table twice for no. "You just need a break, Ash," Misty replied.
But before even a minute could pass, Misty's three sisters latched onto the Team Rocket agent. "Come on, Ashy, you haven't danced with us yet," Violet stated.
"That seems a bit unfair," Lily added.
"So come on, let's have some fun," Daisy commented, each one trying to pull him out of his chair.
Misty grinded her teeth at her sister's actions; her body again reacting before her brain as she pushed them away and grabbed him by the arm. "Sorry, but he already promised me the next dance."
"No fair, sis; you got to dance with him first," Daisy replied. "We want to have our turn."
"Too bad," Misty whined, pulling off a barely conscious Ash.
Ash and Misty relaxed on the balcony; the air was warm, the moon was in the middle of the sky as the stars were seen clearly through the barrier which protected their fair city. A cool breeze brushed against the two agents as they looked over their beautiful city lit up like the sky.
"Thanks, Misty," Ash spoke to break the silence.
She looked over at him. "Sure, no problem; what did I do?"
"You got me out of there, I was so exhausted," Ash replied, turning to rest his back against the railing.
She smiled. "What are friends for?"
"But I am glad; to see you and your sisters are finally getting along; maybe there is hope for me and Gary to be friends again," he let out a sarcastic chuckle, "but that's just wishful thinking."
She giggled. "Well who knows, two weeks ago I thought my sisters where nothing more than selfish stuck pains in the neck, but now I see them as selfish stuck up pains in the neck that can actually be tolerated."
Ash rubbed his eyes. "But it's getting late; I probably should get some sleep now."
If there was a better time, Misty didn't know it. "Wait Ash," she called out as he was about to walk off.
He stopped, turned around to face the red-headed agent. "Yeah, Misty?"
But even being all alone with him, bathing in the light of the full moon; she still couldn't tell him. "Never mind; let me walk you back to your room, you look pretty beat."
He smiled. "Thanks."
The group of five walked down the empty halls back to their dorms, but out of no where they were surrounded by ten people, each pointing their rifle at the troops. "Agent 142, we've come across Team Rocket Troops, shall we eliminate them?"
"Great timing, Ash," Max snapped.
To Be Continued
Will this be the end for Ash and the gang, or a whole new beginning? Read and review to find out.