A Comedy of Pathetic Errors

By: Tyigra and Lioncat84

tygercat@hotmail.com & lioncat84@hotmail.com

(A strange adventure heavily influenced by Monty Python, Douglas Adams, and a touch of Dave Barry)

 

That Weird Narrator That Starts Every Episode: We join our heroes as they continue their quest to become great Pokemon Masters (and Breeders!) Ash, Misty, and Brock are camping out at a lake as they journey to… to… uuhh… actually, they’re not sure where they are. They’re lost, as usual. Big surprise there, huh? I mean, how often do they actually know where they are, honestly? Could you ever find a more hopeless, incompetent grouping of half-wit—OWWWW!!!

Ash: WHO YOU CALLING INCOMPETENT HALF-WI*…OUCH!

Misty: Don’t talk to the narrator!

Ash: Uaaggg!! Misty, that hurt!

Pikachu: (laughing) Pi pi pika!

Brock: Hi. I’m Brock.

Ash and Misty: Stop hogging the camera!

Todd: Come on, he only said three words!

Ash: How’d you get here?

Todd: (cough) Plot hole.

Brock: Can we get on with this?

Ash and Misty: (glare)

Todd: (snapping pictures) Aww, you two are so cute! It’s like you’re married!

Ash and Misty: WHAT!!!!!!! (blush)

Weird Narrator: Suddenly, a bright flash of light commences the actual plot.

Ash: What’s that bright flash of light?

Brock: Lets check it out.

Pikachu: Pikachu!

Misty: Wow! It looks like a space ship!

Todd: (snap snap snap) Or a time machine.

Ash: What? How can you tell?

Todd: Well, it says ‘Time Machine’ on the door….

Ash: Oh, right.

Brock: (whispering to Todd) He’s not good at noticing the obvious…

Misty: Don’t make fun of my ma-, I mean, of Ash!

Ash: Look! The door’s opening!

Todd: (sarcastically) Oh really? I thought it was singing! (mutters) Dumb lines…

Brock: Look! It’s…it’s…it’s…I don’t believe it!!

Ash and Misty: What!?!?!?

Brock: It’s….a gorgeous woman!!!! Awwwwwgh….. (drools)

Woman: Oh, hi Brock.

Brock: Awuwauwhg! Sheee knoooowwss my naaamme!!!

Man: Hi Brock.

Brock: Auwuw....huh? You look familiar.

Man: Really.

Brock: Of course! I’d know that hat hair anywhere!

Man: Waaaagh! (falls over)

Ash: You…you’re…

Man: That’s right! Your future self!

Ash: Wow!! I’m cool! I’m tall! I…I…I still have bad hair!

Future Ash: Waaagh! (falls over again)

Ash: Who’s the babe?

Woman: Heeheehee.

Misty: (jealous) Hey! Ash!

Woman: It’s all right Misty. You should be glad he’s flattering your future self!

Ash: Waaagh! (falls over)

Misty: Ha! I knew I’d be prettier than my sisters someday!!

Future Misty: Well, it helps that they had that disfiguring acc—

Professor Oak: It may not be wise to tell them what happens in their futures.

Ash, Misty, and Brock: Professor Oak! How’d you get here?

Prof. Oak: (cough) ‘notherplothole.

Pikachu: Pi!

Future Ash and Misty: That’s okay, we can tell Pikachu! (whisper in Pikachu’s cute little ear)

Ash: (whispers) Quick, Pikachu! What’d they say??

Pikachu: Pika! (translation: No! That could cause a paradox that would wipe out the entire universe. Granted, that’s a worse case scenario. The destruction could be localized to our galaxy.)

Ash: (in unexplained, inexplicable British accent) Aw, you’re no fun anymore…

Gary: Hey Ash! Still hanging around with loooosers?!

Future Ash: Oh yeah! Well, guess what happens in your future, Mr. Nappy Hair!

Future Misty: Calm down Ash. (pause) I’LL TELL HIM!!

Prof. Oak: a-HEM.

Future Ash and Misty: Aw, you’re no fun anymore…

Ash: Oh! Stop stealing my line! The next person does it I’ll throw them under a camel!

Brock: (muttering) Assuming you can spot one…

Armored Knight: (slaps Brock with rubber chicken, then vanishes)

Gary: Well, while you’re hanging around loser-ville, I’m heading to the next town. There’s a battling contest; winner gets a million Poke-dollars! Not that I need the money, mind you. I have rich parents.

Fan club: And Nappy Hair!

Gary: Aw, you’re no fun anymore! …Augh! (gets thrown under camel.)

Todd: What a great picture! (snap snap snap!)

Ash: I want that picture for my wallet!

Future Ash: (sniffle) I remember that. (pulls out wallet)

Fan club: You hurt his nappy hair! Waaaaw! (pull Gary into his convertible, drive off to next town.)

Ash: Follow that car!!!!

Brock: Why? You hate Gary!

Ash: So? He’s not lost!!

 

Commercial Break: Who’s that Pokemon?!

Undertaker: Are you feeling unhappy? Depressed? Tired of life? Keep it up!

End commercial break: It’s Jigglyduck! (Misty: Psyduck? Is there something you want to tell us?)

 

Weird Narrator: Our heroes (and future selves of heroes) (and tag-alongs) have finally found their way to the next city, by following Mr. Nappy H—I mean, Gary. Unfortunately, the contest has drawn Pokemon trainers from all over, filling the town.

Ash: Man, I can’t find any vacancies anywhere!

Todd: All the first class hotels are taken! All the second-class hotels are taken! All the hotels up to the 163rd class are taken, and even some of the cleaner dumpsters!

Hobo: Hey! This is my dumpster! Go find your own!

Woman: Are you looking for a room?

Man: We happen to have an inn just over there!

Misty: Kinda small, isn’t it?

Brock: You look familiar…

Woman: Uh…I have some sisters that look just like me, maybe you’re just confusing me with them!

Brock: Like Nurse Joy and Officer Jenny!

Nurse Joy: Did someone say my name? Do your Pokemon need treatment?

Officer Jenny: Hey, you look familiar too! Have I seen you somewhere?

Woman: (covers up Wanted poster) Uhuahahah! Of course not!

Brock: Joy and Jenny!! You’re even more beautiful than the last sisters I saw!

Joy and Jenny: (menacing) We’ve heard about you. Aren’t you that weird boy who keeps stalking our relatives?

Brock: Uahg! Nope! Not me!

Woman: (shoves Joy & Jenny out of scene) Now, why don’t you come with us? We have a few rooms left, but not for long!

Man: You can go watch the contest while we pamper your Pikachu!

Ash: No way! He’s battling in the contest for me!

Misty: That hair looks awfully familiar…

Man and Woman: Uhhh…it’s the latest style! Now come with us!

Meowth: Yeah, we ain’t got all day!

Woman: Quiet Meowth!

Ash: That Pokemon looks awfully familiar…

Narrator: (sighs)

Todd: Lets hurry before the rooms are gone!

Misty: Shut up!

Todd: But it’s my only line!

Future Misty and Ash: So? We didn’t have any lines in this scene at all!

Narrator: Our heroes spend the night at the inn, oblivious to the large Meowth shaped balloon in the back yard and the innkeepers insistence on wearing Team Rocket costumes. Misty and Ash, determined to find out about their futures, sneak out to listen through the door and window, oblivious to each other’s presence.

Future Ash: It’s a shame we can’t tell them what happens in their futures.

Future Misty: Well, would they believe us if we told them?

F. Ash: What? I always knew I’d be the world’s greatest Pokemon master!

F. Misty: I’m talking about us being married!

Ash: (silently) Whoa….

Misty: (silently) Whoa….

F. Ash: Goodnight dear.

F. Misty: Goodnight dear.

Narrator: The two sneak back to their rooms, never knowing the other heard it as well.

Ash: (alone) Goodnight dear.

Misty: (alone) Goodnight dear.

Narrator: The next morning, our heroes awaken to find Pikachu missing!

Ash: Wuaaagh!! Pikachu’s missing!

Misty: Wuaaagh!! Pikachu’s missing!

Brock: Wuaaagh!! Pikachu’s missing!

Future Ash: Wuaaagh!! Pikachu’s missing!

Future Misty: Wuaaagh!! Pikachu’s missing!

Todd: Wuaaagh!! I’m out of film!

Everyone: We’re in trouble!

Man: C-can’t…re-resist…

Woman: Must…sp-spout…poetry!

(throw off disguise, i.e. a pair of glasses and a mustache)

Jessie: Prepare for trouble!

James: Yes, and make it double!

Jessie: To protect the world from devastation!

James: To unite all peoples within our nation!

Future Ash: That is so old.

Future Misty: Can’t you think of something new?

Jessie: Grrr! Don’t interrupt!

Meowth: I’m tired of that one too.

James: Hey, whose side are you on?

F. Ash: Hehehehehe….who’s side are you on?

Jessie: What do you mean?

F. Misty: Hehehehehe…we know what happens in your future!

James: Are you one of those TV Psychics?

F. Ash and Misty: Augh! (fall over)

Meowth: What are you implying?

F. Ash: Hehehehe…wouldn’t you like to know…

Ash: Give me back my Pikachu!

Jessie: But first, a poem!

F. Ash and Misty: Let us give you a suggestion.

F. Misty: To protect the world from corny lines!

F. Ash: To unite all people with hefty fines!

F. Misty: To denounce the evils of Nappy hair!

F. Ash: To extend our reach to a world of care!

F. Misty: Jessie!

F. Ash: James!

F. Misty: Team Rocket, patrolling through the lonely nights!

F. Ash: Surrender now while we read your rights!

Meowth: Meowth! What the ****! Are you saying they start woirking for the wight side of the law???

Officer Jenny: Welcome aboard!

Jessie: No way! Not us! We’ll always be bad!

F. Ash: That’s true.

James: Hey!

Jessie: I already shoved you out of this story once! (shoves Jenny out of scene. Again.)

Ash: a-HEM.

Brock: This is my only line.

Everyone: (various groans of disgust)

Brock: But it’s my only line!!

Ash: Give me back Pikachu already!

Misty: Go, Staryu!

Psyduck: Psy!

Misty: Aguhg! Not you!

Jessie: Ha! What a pathetic Pokemon! (kicks Psyduck)

Psyduck: (headache grows) Psssy!

Misty: It’s headache is growing! Now it can use psychic attacks!

James: You know, as often as they keep saying that, you’d think we’d realize giving it a headache makes it stronger!

Psyduck: Psyyyyy! Duck!

Jessie and James: We…can’t…move!

Jigglypuff: Jiggly!

Everyone: AAAAAAAUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!! It’s Jigglypuff!

Jigglypuff: Jiiiiiiigaaaaalllyyyypuuuuuufff, Jigalyyyyyyyiiieeepuuuuuuffff!

Everyone except Psyduck: ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzz.

Jigglypuff: PUFF!!

Psyduck: Psy?

Jigglypuff: Jiggly?

Psyduck: Duck!

Jigglypuff: Puff!

Narrator: We are now going to skip this scene, but you already know what happened if you saw the commercial break.

Ash: zzz..uhag? What happened?

Pikachu: Pikapi!

Ash: Pikachu! You’re free! Hey everyone, wake up! Misty!

Misty: uuugg…hey, what happened? Our faces aren’t scribbled on!

Psyduck: Psyyyy…

Misty: You look awfully smug…

Togepi: Toge! Toge! Prrri! (translation: This is my only line)

Ash: Come on everyone! It’s almost time for the contest!

Narrator: Our, um, main characters and company enter the arena. Ash, Misty and Brock sign up for the contest, and so do Gary, Jessie and James.

Ash: Hey, why don’t you sign up?

Future Ash: That’s all right. I already know how it’s going to end.

Ash: Wahg! Tell me!!

F. Ash: Hehehehe…

Ash: Aw, you’re no fun anymore….

Announcer: Welcome to the first annual ‘Who Wants To Be a Millionaire?’ Pokemon Tournament! For the First round, we have Harry Oak—I mean, Gary Oak!—vs. Misty!!!!!

Gary: This should be easy! Losers always lose!

F. Ash and Misty: Oooh, if this were the future, Team Rocket would have fined him within 2 seconds! Corny lines are their specialty!

Misty: Is that your best line? When I’m through with you, I’ll make you EAT that Nappy Hair!

Gary: What? GO MAGIKARP! If you think my Na--, I mean, my hair is bad, you haven’t seen your boyfriend’s!

Misty: (blushing) WHAT?? GO STARMIE!!

Jigglyduck: Jigglyduck!

Gary: What’s that?

Pokedex: No information available.

Gary: So, you actually managed to get a rare Pokemon, huh? Well, it’s no match for my….what? Dang, I wasn’t thinking!

Misty: That’s nothing new. Go…uh, Jiggly..Duck!. Use your…uh…attack!

Jigglyduck: Psypuff! (runs up to Magikarp and baps it across its face.)

Gary: Ha! That’s pathetic! Magikarp, use your splash!

Magikarp: Karp! (splashes three drops of water on Jigglyduck)

Jigglyduck: Duuuuuuck! (groans in pain)

Misty: Aaauhg! It’s even worse than Psyduck! Wait a minute…

Jigglyduck: DuUUUuuuuUUUuuuk!

Misty: It’s headache is growing worse! Now it can use psychic attacks!

Jigglyduck: (eyes glowing) (beautifully) Jiiiiiiigaaaallliiiiiieeee (sour, off-key) DUUUUUUUUUCCKK!!!!

Gary: Aaauuug! Magikarp passed out in horror!

Announcer: And the winner of this match is Misty!!

Misty: Yeaaaaaah!!!

Ash: You did it, swee—I mean, Misty!

Announcer: Next up; Brock Vs. Nurse Joy!

Brock: Uaawwwwaaaww! Nuuurseee Joooooyyy!

Nurse Joy: GO CHANSEY!

Chansey: Chansey!

Brock: Go Vulpix! Show off how beautifully trained and smart you are so she’ll liiiiiikeee meeeeee!

Vulpix: Vul! (trots around looking cool and composed)

Brock: Look Nurse Joy! Isn’t it the healthiest and best bred Vulpix you ever saw?

Vulpix: Vulpix! (fluffs up tails)

Nurse Joy: Uh, sure. CHANSEY, KILL!

Chansey: CHAAAAAAANSEY! (crushes Vulpix)

Brock: Uaaaagh! Its an evil Nurse Joy!

Vulpix: Vuuuuuuuuuuuuuuullllll!

Announcer: And the winner is Nurse Joy!

Narrator: The battles continue, narrowing down till there are only four contestants left.

Announcer: Next up! Misty Vs. Jessie!

Jessie: Go Lickitung!

Misty: Go Goldeen!

Lickitung: Tung!

Jessie: Alright Lickitung! Use your lick attack!

Lickitung: Tuuung! (starts to unroll tongue)

Misty: Actually, did you know Lickitung never learns Lick attack?

Jessie: Huh?

Misty: And there’s no TM for it either. Only Ghost Pokemon use that attack!

Lickitung: Tuuuung… (suddenly can’t use Lick attack)

Jessie: Urrrrrg! How dare you correct the errors in this show!

Misty: Goldeen! Use your peck attack!

Goldeen: (laughs like Woody Woodpecker and taps Licky with its horn) Peck peck peck!

Jessie: (laughs) You call that an attack? Licky! Disable!

Lickitung: Licky! (glows blue)

Goldeen: Goldeen, deen! (slams Licky with its Horn attack)

Jessie: What? Lickitung, which attack did you disable?

Lickitung: (pecks ground)

Jessie: (slaps Licky) You long tongued buffoon! You’re supposed to disable the attacks that could’ve stopped you, not the pathetic ones!

Lickitung: (in pain) Tuuuung…

Misty: Ha! Goldeen! Use your Waterfall attack!

Goldeen: Gold! (water pours from no where, and falls. Hence the name. Get me?)

Misty: Hey! The action descriptions aren’t supposed to be sarcastic! (she said, her head bigger than Ash’s ego)

Misty: Stop that!

Announcer: And the winner is…Misty!

Misty: Yeah!

Announcer: And the next battle is between Ash and James!

Ash: Hehehehe…prepare to lose!

James: I’m quite practiced at it, thank you.

Ash: Go Pikachu!

Pikachu: Pi pi ka!

James: Victreebel! I choose you! Oohoohoohoohoo! I always wanted to say that!

Victreebel: (shrieks) AAAAAAAA! (Slams Ash, sending him flying in the air)

Ash: Waaaaah! You’re supposed to attack the Pokemon, not the trainer!

James: Oohoohoohoohoohoo! You’re finally obeying me!

Victreebel: AAAAAAAA (swallows James’s head)

James: Stop that! Letmegocutitoutquititknockitoff!!

Pikachu: (sweatdrops) Pika…

Ash: (slowly falling down, laughing in Nelson Muntz style) HA HA! ….huh?

 The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy has this to say on the subject of flying. There is an art, it says, or rather a knack to flying. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss. Most people fail to miss the ground and if they are really trying properly, the likelihood is that they will fail to miss it fairly hard. One problem is that you have to miss the ground accidentally. It’s no good deliberately intending to miss the ground, because you won’t. You have to have your attention suddenly distracted by something else when you’re halfway there so that you are no longer thinking about falling, or about the ground, or about how much it’s going to hurt if you fail to miss it. If, however, you are lucky enough to have your attention momentarily distracted at the crucial moment by, say, a Victreebel eating it’s trainer, or a bomb going off in your vicinity, then in your astonishment you will miss the ground completely and remain bobbing just a few inches above it in what might seem to be a slightly foolish manner. Do not listen to what anybody says to you at this point because they are unlikely to say anything helpful. They are most likely to say something along the lines of “Good God, you can’t possibly be flying!” It is vitally important not to believe them or they will suddenly be right.

Ash: Wha…? I’m….flying!! Yippieeee!

Misty: Huh? You can’t…that’s not possible!

Ash: It’s not? (CRASH!)

Misty: Oops…sorry. (thinks for a moment) You know, this explains how Brock can float after Nurse Joy and Officer Jenny!

Nurse Joy and Officer Jenny: Did someone call for u—

Jessie: (immediately shoves them out of the scene)

Announcer: And the poke--, uh, the trainer is unconscious! Ash is the winner!

Ash and Misty: Yeaaaah!

Announcer: And the final match, the one that will determine who wants to be a millionare, is between Ash and Misty!

Ash and Misty: Huuuuh!!!

F. Misty: (sighs) I hate this part…

F. Ash: But you love the next one…

Misty: Alright….I choose Starmie!

Psyduck: Psy!

Misty: AAAAGH! NOT YOU!

Ash: Hehehehee…I choose you….Tauros!

Narrator: What? You don’t have a Tauros, Ash!

Ash: Ha! Actually, I have a whole herd! You guys just don’t know because the WB never aired that episode for some reason!

James: (regaining consciousness) Yeah, just like that episode with Porygon! And the one where I’m in a bikini with explodable br—

Ash: Actually, they finally aired that one, as the Lost Episode.

James: Yes, but they cut out my and Jessie’s part in the beauty contest!

Misty: (muttering) Thank goodness…

Ash: Anyway…Tauros, leer attack!

Tauros: Mooo! (glares at Psyduck)

Psyduck: Psyyyy! (falls over, eyes spinning)

Announcer: And the winner of One MILLION POKE-DOLLARS iiiiiis…AAAASH! KEEETCHUUUUUM!

Gary: Waaaagh! (falls over)

Ash: Yeah, yeah, YEAAAAH!

Pikachu: (holds up two fingers) PI PIKA CHUUUU!

Gary: (sulking) Come on girls, we don’t need to hang around with the losers.

Ash: Hehehehe. You mean winners….

Girls: (cheering) Don’t worry Gary, you’ll get there! At least you still have Nappy Hair!

Gary: Waaaagh! (falls, leaps in convertible and drives off)

Narrator: Our heroes, admiring Ash’s Poke-dollars, continue on their journey. But what’s that rustling in the bushes?

Brock: Did you hear something?

Togepi: Toge! Toge! Prrrrri! (translation: It’s Team Rocket, numbskulls!)

Misty: Awww, are you hungry Togepi?

Pikachu: Pi! Pi pika chu! (points at bush)

Ash: What’s the matter Pikachu? Are you saying there’s something in the bush?

Pikachu: Chaaa… (sighs little onion cloud)

Todd: I’ll go look! (walks over to bush)

Bush: (high-pitched, inexplicable British voice) There’s somebody out there!

Todd: Aaaaaah! It’s Team Rocket!

Jessie: (leaps from bush and takes Todd hostage) Hand over your money or the photographer gets it! (Todd squirms)

James: And just to show how serious we are….(takes Todd’s camera)

Todd: (slow motion) NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

Ash: I don’t think so! Pikachu, thundershock!

Pikachu: KA CHUUUUUUUUU!

Team Rocket: Eehhehaaheeeeaaah! (James flings the camera into air, and they all collapse in a burnt heap. The camera s l o w l y spins and begins to plummet…)

Todd: (looks up weakly) No…not my c a m e r a . . . . (it falls to almost certain doom on the trail below, when suddenly…)

Pikachu: Piiii Ka! (catches camera!!!)

Todd: (stumbling to his feet and running to Pikachu with arms outstretched) You did it!!! (grabs camera and hugs it)

Everyone: (sweatdrop)

Meowth: Me…owth…that was…shocking…

James: I think I my heart stopped!

Jessie: And the electricity started it up again!

Todd: What were you two doing, anyway?

Jessie: We were hiding to ambush you, of course!

Todd: Was that it?

James: What do mean?

Todd: I mean, it looked to me like…I mean, you two were together, alone…I mean, uh, you know what I mean!

Jessie and James: (stare blankly)

Meowth: Hee hee. It always does look like that!

James: Huh?

Meowth: Oh come on, don’t tell me you don’t think about it. You’re always hanging on each other and hugging and crying on each other.

James: So? What are you saying?

Jessie: (glares) Are you insinuating what I think you’re insinuating?

Meowth: (steps a few feet back, grinning) I didn’t say anything. Why, what are you thinking about?

Jessie: Don’t put words in my mouth!

James: I don’t understand…

Meowth: Remember the Ghost of Maiden’s Peak? What exactly were you doing when you were locked up in the cabin?

James: (Turns red) I don’t remember! I was hypnotized! And besides, Jessie doesn’t think of me like that!

Meowth: (mocks James’s voice) I don’t remember! (voice returns to normal) Why James, how come you didn’t say “I don’t think of Jessie like that?”!

Jessie: (still glaring) Yes…why didn’t you say that?

James: (blushes and laughs, one hand behind his head bashfully)

Future Ash: (grinning) Lets leave these two alone, shall we? (Ash and company slip away. In the background, they can still barely hear Jessie, James and Meowth arguing)

Meowth: (laughing) Ha! James likes Jessie!

James: (glumly) And Jessie doesn’t like James…

Jessie: (softer) What did I say about putting words in my mouth?

Meowth: Hah hah ha—huh?

Jessie: Oh look, Meowth, a ball of yarn…

Meowth: Ooooh, yarn!  Meowth, meowth, meowth! (fades into distance)

Future Misty: I remember that! The beginning of the end of our Team Rocket troubles!

Misty: How romantic!

Ash: (looks thoughtful)

Narrator: Our heroes successfully reach the next town without getting lost once, and Ash and Misty’s future selves rematerialize their time machine.

Ash: I guess this is goodbye…

Future Ash: Not really. You’ll become me sometime soon.

Misty: Are you sure you can’t give us a hint about our futures?

Future Misty: I know what you’re wondering, and the answer is: “Not much longer.”

Misty: Thanks.

Ash: Huh?

Brock: Can’t you tell me if I ever get my own gorgeous woman?

F. Ash and Misty: (exchange glances. The bend down and whisper in his ear)

Brock: (ecstatic) ALL RIGHT!!!

F. Ash: (boards ship) So long, but not goodbye!

F. Misty: (joins him) Farewell!

Ash, Misty, Brock and Todd: Byeeeeee!!!

Pikachu: Pika chuuuuu!

Togepi: Toge toge prrrrrrri!

Narrator: The ship vanishes, leaving for a bright, if secretive, future. Our heroes stand in silence, then turn to each other and smile.

Ash: So, what did they say to you, Brock?

Brock: (smugly) Just one word.

Misty: Well? What was it?

Brock: (grins ecstatically) “Several!”

Ash and Misty: (fall down) Waaaaaagh! (The group find an inn, and suddenly Ash takes his money bag and runs off.)

Misty: Where are you going?

Ash: I’ll be right back! There’s just something I gotta do!

Brock: (stares)(?) I wonder where he’s off to…

Narrator: Ash hurries into town, where he stops at a certain store. Making a large purchase that costs him his entire winnings, he requests to have it delivered to his inn for the next morning. Brock, Misty, and Todd are curious when he returns without the money, but Ash refuses to say anything. He retires early for the night, to avoid questions.

Dodrio: (crows) urrrrrr URRRRR URRRRRR!  Ur UR ur UR ur URRRRRR!

Ash: Wake up Misty! I have a surprise for you!

Misty: (wakes with a start, then yawns) All right, all right, just let me get dressed. (Ash exits and waits, till she emerges a few minutes later. One suspender is hanging and her hair is brushed, but still down. Ash stares for a moment, then leads her to the front room of the inn. There is no one around)

Ash: (covers her eyes and leads her to a certain spot in the room) Stand here, and don’t open your eyes till I say.

Misty: (yawns) Gladly…

Ash: (moves something out of hiding and places it in front of her) Okay, you can open your eyes now!

Misty: All right…(eyes open sleepily, then shoot open all the way) A BIKE!!!

Ash: Yup! I finally got your bike back!

Misty: I…I don’t know what to say…

Ash: Well, you always said you were only hanging around so you could get your bike back…

Misty: Oh…right.

Ash: But I thought you might like to stay with us. With…me.

Misty: (eyes widen, now to the size of the Powerpuff girls’) What are you saying?

Ash: It wouldn’t be the same without you. You’ve always been there for me, cheering me on, or putting me down when I need it. (Even if I didn’t appreciate it at the time) I’d really miss you if you left…

Misty: Ash…

Ash: The point is…(blushes) …the point is…I…lu..I lu-lu-lu….I luuu…(stutters badly) I, uh, have a feeling for you that’s more than like! (laughs bashfully)

Misty: (blushes) When did you finally realize this?

Ash: Well, I guess it kinda snuck up on me, but I realized how much you meant to me when I accidentally heard our future selves talking about being married.

Misty: (sly look) Accidentally, huh?

Ash: (laughs) Well, maybe not completely accidentally!

Misty: (laughs too) I snuck around to eavesdrop as well. It was great to know that at least someday you’d come to like me the way I like you, but I hated the wait! When my future self said it wouldn’t be much longer, I didn’t realize it would be this soon! (They laugh and move closer, each on one side of the bicycle)

Misty: (blushing harder) It—it’s a really nice bike…(shaking hands feel the smooth handlebar)

Ash: (blushing harder as well) I thought you m-might like it…(reaches for the handlebars, but touches her hand instead. They look tremulously into each other’s eyes.  They lean a little closer)

Misty: Oh, I forgot something! (reaches for his other hand)

Ash: What? (leans a little closer)

Misty: ….To say thank you… (shaking, their lips touch, then spread into an electric first kiss)

 

* SNAP! *

 

They break apart with a start, and turn as one to the door. Brock and Todd are there, Todd’s trusty camera descending from his face.

Misty: HEY! What do you think you’re doing!

Ash: You guys were supposed to still be in bed!

Brock: I sensed romance in the building. My romance detector never lies.

Ash and Misty: (exchange glances, then pounce) OUT!!! (They shove Brock and Todd back into the hall and slam the door)

Todd: (muffled) Hey! You should thank me! You’ll be able to treasure this moment forever!

Ash: (turning to Misty) I will anyway…

Misty: (cuddling into his arms) Now, where were we?

 

The End

 

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