Singing Stars
By: Aubrie1234
"Who's going to go next?" Misty asked. All the girls instantly looked at the boys. Ash, Gary, and Drew stepped away. That left Paul, who scowled.
"No. I'm not singing." he told them. The girls and Palm glared at him and Palm brought out her vines for emphasis.
"You're singing or else." Palm told him.
"'Or else' what?"
"I'll lock you in a room and make you watch a Ghost Stories episode. I'll also make it repeat over and over until you sing." she replied.
"Ghost Stories? What kind of show is that?"
"You'll see if you don't sing. It's a show I watch sometimes at night after Leaf goes to sleep."
"I'd rather watch that than sing."
"Okay, but don't come crying to us when it's over!" She then led him into a room and turned on the TV, turning on a recorded episode, then closed and locked the door.
"He won't like Ghost Stories. It's really scary." she explained, smiling. After thirty minutes went by, she opened the door. And everyone peered inside. They didn't see Paul.
"You don't think he escaped, do you?" May asked.
"No, there's no way out of this room except for this door."
"I think he's hiding, then." Gary said, "You did say it was supposed to be scary."
"Paul, hiding from a show? I doubt it." Ash and Dawn said in unison. While they all talked at the entrance, Drew and Leaf went inside and found Paul. He was in a ball, hiding behind the couch. It was backed up against the wall, so they wouldn't have been able to see him if they hadn't searched. He was shaking uncontrollably, his eyes wide and whispering something about "Ax Murders." He also seemed to not notice anyone, just stared ahead at something.
"Guys? I think we found him." Drew called, but still concerned for the once cold-hearted trainer. From the time he had know Paul, he knew the trainer didn't get scared easily, especially this scared.
"...Wow. Palm, you weren't kidding when you said that it was a scary show." Misty said after they had come over.
"You think? Anyway, who's going to coax him out of there?"
"Dawn and Ash have known him the longest, so I guess they should." Gary suggested, "But it doesn't look like it'll be easy."
"He's been scared out of his wits! Do you think it'll be easy?"
"Well, while we try to get him to come out, how about some of you guys sing? In the living room, though." Dawn suggested.
"Sure. Will do. Just try to get him to stop muttering and get him back to his old, cold self." Drew told her as he went out the door. Ash and Dawn were left in there, and the others thought about who would go in Paul's place.
"How about you, May?" Leaf suggested.
"Alright, but what song should I sing?"
"How about..."
"9 To 5 by Dolly Parton?" Gary interrupted, asking.
"Alright. Start the music!" Leaf started the song, a piano filling the air.
"Tumble outta bed and I stumble to the kitchen, pour myself a cup of ambition. And yawn and stretch and try to come to life. Jump in the shower and the blood starts pumpin'. Out on the street the traffic starts jumpin'. The folks like me on the job from 9 to 5." May sang.
"Wow. She sounds as good as you did, Misty." Leaf whispered. She sniggered when she saw Drew looking at May in admiration and (maybe) love.
"Workin' 9 to 5, what a way to make a livin'. Barely gettin' by, it's all takin' and no givin'. They just use your mind and they never give you credit. It's enough to drive you crazy if you let it! 9 to 5, for service and devotion. You would think that I would deserve a fat promotion. Want to move ahead but the boss won't seem to let me, I swear sometimes that man is out to get me. They let you dream just to watch 'em shatter, you're just a step on the boss-man's ladder. But you got dreams he'll never take away. You're in the same boat with a lotta your friends, waitin' for the day your ship'll come in. 'N' the tide's gonna turn and it's all gonna roll your way.
"Workin' 9 to 5, what a way to make a livin'. Barely gettin' by, it's all takin' and no givin'. They just use your mind and they never give you credit, it's enough to drive you crazy if you let it! 9 to 5, (yeah) they got you where they want you. There's a better life and you think about it, don't you? It's a rich man's game no matter what they call it, and you spend your life puttin' money in his wallet! 9 to 5, (whoa) what a way to make a livin'. Barely gettin' by, it's all takin' and no givin'. They just use your mind and they never give you credit, it's enough to drive you crazy if you let it! 9 to 5, (yeah) they got you where they want you. There's a better life and you dream about it, don't you? It's a rich man's game no matter what they call it..." she finished.
"Good job, May!" Palm cheered.
"Thanks, Palm. Anyway, I think we should check up on the others." May suggested. They all nodded, then went and opened the door. This time, no-one was in sight. The TV, though, was on. It was showing commercials right now, near the beginning.
"You think they escaped or something while we listened to May?" Leaf asked.
"Maybe, or..."
"'Or' what?"
"They could have coaxed him out, but he might have asked them to see why he was hiding by watching the show. That would explain why the TV's on right now."
"Makes sense, which would mean they would be hiding behind the couch with him right now." Gary said, grabbing the remote and shutting off the TV. Misty looked behind there and saw Ash, Dawn, and Paul huddled together, hugging each other with their eyes wide and shaking.
"Bad... Very, very bad..." Dawn whispered.
"Horrible..." Ash whimpered.
"Ax Murders...Everywhere..." Paul whispered and whimpered. They all seemed not to even notice anyone's presence as well, like Paul did earlier.
"I think I found them. They're scared out of their wits, though." Misty told the others, not taking her eyes off her poor, scared friends.
"I think this might take a bit more coaxing than last time." Gary said as soon as he saw them.
The poor guys! Warning: DO NOT watch Ghost Stories unless you're thirteen or so! It is rated T or more, so NO WATCHING UNLESS YOU WANT NIGHTMARES! Review, please!