Chapter 14: The Cheerfully Electrifying Man Part I

It was late when our heroes arrived in Mauville City. Since nothing was open, they decided to get two guest rooms at the Pokémon Center. Per Brock's request, Max stayed with Ash and May in one room, and Brock and Roxanne got the other room. Ash walked into Brock and Roxanne's room, a little angry,

" Hey Brock, why do we have to deal with Max?" asked Ash not wanting to deal with Max's expected sexual jokes that he most likely learnt from Brock.

" You always leave him with us, and besides maybe you forgot that I too have a girlfriend that I want some alone time with," said Brock.

" Fine fine, you're right," said Ash acknowledging all the times he and May sent Max to the couple. Then Ash went back into his room. There were two beds, a double bed for him and Max, and a single bed for Max. They wanted to head straight to bed because Ash had his gym battle the next day. Ash turned off the lamp by the bed so that the room was pitch black.

" Hey guys, keep your clothes," said Max giggling. May threw a pillow at him, hitting him in the face and knocking his glasses off.

" Ow! I'm telling Mom!" yelled Max.

" Good night brat," said May before falling asleep.

The heroes woke up the next morning feeling reenergized. They left the Pokémon Center, went to eat breakfast, and then started to head towards the gym. When they got there, the inside of the building looked dark.

" That's strange, the gym isn't open yet?" questioned May.

" I guess not, but it's noon," said Ash.

" Let's go inside and see if anyone's there," said Brock, but as he went to open the door, it was locked.

" Locked? That's strange," said Ash. Just as he said this, a smiling old man walked up behind them.

" Hello can I help you?" said the old man.

" Um yes, we need to get..." Ash began to say then he recognized the old man was the gym leader, Wattson.

" Oh hey Wattson, you're still the gym leader," said Ash.

" Of course young man, I wish I could battle you right now but I'm in a bit of a pickle," said Wattson chuckling.

" What's wrong?" asked May.

" Well, a couple of thugs from Team Rocket showed up and said we didn't pay our dues to their leader. So they smashed up the gym's interior and shut off the power to this part of the city," said Wattson.

" They can't do that! We'll take care of them, where's the power generator?" asked Ash.

" It's underground in a power plant called New Mauville. You can get to it by looking for a cave southeast of the city," said Wattson.

" Don't worry Wattson, you'll have your power back soon enough. I hope those Team Rocket thugs are still there so I can teach them a lesson! It might be dangerous, so May, watch Max and Roxanne and Brock and I will go," said Ash.

" But...?" May began to say. Ash put his arms around her waist, pulled her close, and kissed her passionately.

" Don't worry May, I'll watch myself," whispered Ash before kissing her again and running to New Mauville's entrance with Brock. They walked into the cave and they noticed that the door to New Mauville was forcibly opened.

" Stick close," said Ash as he entered the power plant with Brock following close behind. New Mauville was a creepy place. It was dark and quiet except for the occasional sound of an electrical spark. The walls were made of metal and it was designed to look like a labyrinth. Ash and Brock easily became lost since they didn't know what room the generator was in. They searched room after room without success. They entered the last room where a bright light illuminated the room. They saw the power generator on the other side of the room and they heard two voices.

" Prepare for trouble," said one of the voices.

" Make it double," said the other voice.

" To infect the world with devastation,"

" To blight all people in every nation,"

" To denounce the goodness of truth and love,"

" To extend our wrath to the stars above,"

" Cassidy,"

" and Butch,"

" We're Team Rocket, circling the Earth all day and night,"

" Surrender now or you'll surely lose the fight,"

" It's Cassidy!" yelled Ash.

" and Bitch!" added Brock.

" Fu-, it's Butch not Bitch, are you freaking deaf?" asked Butch with steam coming out of his ears.

" Whatever, why do you guys shut off the power?" asked Ash.

" The old man wasn't showing us respect by letting us build a hideout under his gym, so a little extortion never hurts," said Cassidy.

" Well looks like you need to find another place for a hideout because I'm restoring the power!" yelled Ash.

" Oh yeah? Over my dead Butch!" yelled Cassidy.

" Yeah! Wait...what?" asked Butch confused.

" Go Raticate!" ordered Cassidy.

" Pikachu quick, use Iron Tail!" ordered Ash. Pikachu's tail started to glow white and hit the Raticate just as it exited its Poké Ball, and sent it flying into some frayed cords, shocking it. The Raticate fainted from the amount of damage.

" Cheap shot kid! Raticate, return!" ordered Cassidy, as the injured Pokémon returned to its ball.

" Go Hitmontop!" ordered Butch. It exited its ball and awaited more orders.

" Hitmontop, use Rolling Kick!" ordered Butch.

" Pikachu, use Thunder!" ordered Ash. One thing the young trainer forgot though, is that everything was made of metal.

" Ash no!" yelled Brock, but it was too late, Pikachu had already discharged a large amount of electricity. It bounced off all the walls, shocking everyone in the room but sending the Rocket Duo through the ceiling and into the sky.

" Damn it Botch, we're blasting off again!" yelled Cassidy.

" My name's not Botch, it's Butch, Butch, Butch!" yelled Butch as the duo disappeared in the sky.

" Ash are you crazy!" yelled Brock.

" Sorry Brock, I forgot," said Ash trying to calm him down. Ash walked over to the generator and turned on all of the switches and levers.

" The power should be back on, let's get back to Mauville," said Ash as the two exited the underground power plant and returned to Mauville City.

" Well, well, well Ash, it seems that you succeeded," said Wattson laughing.

" Yeah, it was a piece of cake," said Ash arrogantly. Roxanne looked and Brock and noticed a burn mark on his neck.

" My God, what happened to you hun?" asked Roxanne.

" Oh nothing, it was just a shocking experience," responded Brock. Ash had to bite his tongue so he didn't giggle at his stupid pun. Ash then walked over to his girlfriend.

" You see my love? I am alive and in once piece," said Ash smiling. She smiled in return and put her head on Ash's chest as they embraced. Wattson then exited his gym, carrying four Poké balls.

" Hey Wattson, where are you going?" asked Ash.

" Well those thugs destroyed my Pokémon before they trashed my gym so I have to make a quick run to the Pokémon Center," said Wattson chuckling.

" Why is he always laughing and chuckling? Oh well, if Cassidy and Butch can beat him with their pathetic excuse for Pokémon, then I should have no problem," though Ash to himself. He waved to Wattson and he kissed his girlfriend on her forehead. Then they went into the gym's lobby to wait for Wattson to return...

To Be Continued...