A little later, Serena and the younger Ash went inside the tent Brock had brought with him for the night. Brad had explained that the device took time to cool down between time jumps and it was dangerous for the younger Ash to be left alone with Team Rocket around. Brock and Ash had laid out their sleeping bags beside the fire and given the younger Ash and Brad a few extra blankets they had. Brad sat up in a tree for the night and stayed up keeping a look out for any trouble. It wouldn't take long for Team Rocket to trace when Brad had run off to and come after Ash again. It was almost dawn before Brad dozed off. Pikachu was woken suddenly when Brad fell out of the tree after trying to turn over in his sleep after a few hours of sleep. The startled Pikachu accidently used a thunderbolt attack, electrocuting Ash. Ash's cries of pain woke the rest of the camp.
Brad rubbed his sore arm and apologised to Ash, the older, for the fifth time while they waited for Brock to finish cooking breakfast. "Brad, it's fine. Just don't sleep in the tree without a hammock next time," the older Ash laughed, scratching behind Pikachu's ear, who had also apologised to its trainer profusely. Serena set up the table again and the younger Ash helped her. "Brad, honestly, that thunderbolt was nothing to Ash. He's used to being shocked by now," Brock added from across the camp site stirring a pot of porridge. Pikachu shot Brock a look but didn't deny the fact. Pikachu had shocked Ash a lot over the years, especially during the beginning, but Ash didn't care as long as Pikachu was alright. Brock served up the porridge and they ate in silence. Then they broke down their camp and started their journey back to Pallet Town again. The older Ash walked up front with Pikachu on his shoulder and Brock, who had the map. Serena and the younger Ash walked behind them and chattered about Pokémon. Brad however didn't relax, he walked at the back but kept a close eye on everything going on around the group. He wanted to be ready if Team Rocket tried to hurt Ash again, either one.
Suddenly the ground beneath both Ashs, Pikachu, Brock and Serena gave way and they fell into a pit. Brad was the only one not to fall in. A smoke bomb was thrown next to the pit and the silhouettes of a man and a woman and a Meowth appeared through the smoke. "Prepare for trouble!" a female voice announced and a male voice continued with "Make it double!" The older Ash groaned. "Not them again," he muttered under his breath. "Hey, Twerp pay attention! We don't do this for you to ignore us!" Jessie snapped, hearing Ash complain. "Then get some new material. You say the same motto almost every day," Ash retorted grumpily as he got to his feet and helped Serena up. Brad watched the exchange in silent amazement. Team Rocket had just attacked their group and the older Ash was acting like it was a minor inconvenience from an annoying neighbour. "That's not the point, it's rude not to pay attention," James countered. Ash rolled his eyes and nodded to Pikachu. Pikachu leapt out of the hole and unleashed a fearsome thunderbolt attack, a much more powerful one than the one it had accidently used on its trainer that morning. Brad stood rooted to the spot until he saw the older Ash lift the younger Ash higher so he could climb out and Brock lifting Serena higher so she could climb out as well. Brad helped pull the two up to safety while Team Rocket screamed "We're blasting off again".
The older Ash then cupped his hands together to give Brock a boost out after a short argument finishing with Ash reminding Brock that he was a better climber. Brock, with a hand from Brad, pulled himself out of the hole. Then Ash scrambled out of the hole and Pikachu returned to his side with a smile. "Well done Pikachu," Ash praised softly and allowed Pikachu to climb onto his shoulder. "Come on let's keep going," The older Ash suggested and Brock and Serena nodded. They started to walk down the path avoiding the pitfall trap. They'd have to inform the next Officer Jenny of it so that she could have it filled in. It wasn't long before Pikachu nudged Ash and pointed behind them to Brad. Brad wasn't following but staring dumbly at the pitfall trap, thinking about the encounter. Ash informed the others and Serena, Brock and the younger Ash stopped and waited.
The older Ash walked back to Brad. "What's wrong? I thought you'd had dealings with Team Rocket before," he inquired, slightly annoyed. Brad looked at Ash and nodded. "Yeah, I've had a few dealings with Team Rocket. I was just surprised at the way you acted though. It was like you knew them and this wasn't an attack but an annoyance," Brad explained softly, almost like he was afraid someone was listening. Ash shook his head bemused. "So in the future, James, Jessie and Meowth don't attack me?" Ash asked. Brad paled. "No… er… yes… um I'm not sure. I was just surprised is all," Brad stuttered nervously, he knew he had messed up. Ash held up his hand. "It's fine Brad. Team Rocket attack me on an almost daily basis trying to steal Pikachu. So after all this time I guess we do know each other a bit. I'd never say it to Team Rocket, but this is probably good training because it teaches you not to get stressed when unexpected things happen. Come on, we won't be seeing them for a while now," Ash reassured, he motioned for Brad to follow him as they re-joined the others and continued down the road.
Not much happened in this chapter, I know but things get much more interesting in the next chapter, I guarantee it.
So, until the next chapter.