~*~*~*~
The bright light blinding them eventually formed back into a visual. They were still motionless, unable to move thanks to the Premium Ball. Ash stood there squinting with the Premium Ball’s legs digging into his skin, while a frantic May was frozen in place trying to pull the ball off his arm. Max and Pikachu were standing nearby, unable to offer themselves as any more assistance to Ash.
A few more seconds went by until the light started to fade, and the group was able to move again. The Premium Ball let go of Ash’s arm and jumped to the ground, scampering away quickly and behind the feet of some familiar looking people. Ash slid to the ground and sat while clutching his arm in pain. Too preoccupied with seeing if he was ok, May, Max and Pikachu didn’t bother to take a look around at their surroundings.
“Those cuts look deep!” May gasped.
Blood dripped off Ash’s arm, but the pain wasn’t as overwhelming now that the Premium Ball wasn’t squeezing on it anymore. May quickly took her bandana off her head and wrapped it around his arm tightly, hoping to secure the wound.
“Your…bandana is going to get my blood all over it,” Ash grunted.
“I don’t care, keeping that wound from getting infected is more important,” she said, securing the knot.
Ash felt relieved with May coming to his aid, as the girl pressed her hands down on his cuts through the cloth. They exchanged warm smiles, how deeply she cared for him was noted. After watching May take care of Ash, Max looked around the area and came to a startling revelation.
“We’re back in Professor Latrommi’s laboratory!” Max gasped.
The group looked around in disbelief, but as they saw the various machines and conveyor belts in motion, they knew exactly where they were. It was in the lobby of the lab, right next to all the inventions and mechanical arms pumping away, the Professor’s lab without a shadow of a doubt.
“Pikachu, pi?” Pikachu asked.
“I’m ok, Pikachu,” Ash grunted, slouching himself up on his knees, “I just wonder what we’re doing back here…could the Professor have been the one who activated the Premium Ball to take the money? He was the one who gave the Premium Ball to me in the first place for helping him.”
“That could be!” May gasped.
She got up and looked around, and spotted the Professor sitting in a chair against the wall. Only he wasn’t sitting for leisure, Latrommi had several ropes tied around his chest and his feet which bound him to the chair. He also had a white handkerchief covering his mouth, preventing him from saying a word.
“Ash, the Professor is tied to a chair!” May exclaimed.
The Professor grunted and rocked in his chair rigorously once he saw Ash and the others, but he wasn’t trying to get himself free, he was trying to warn them of the others which stood in the shadows.
“Well look what we have here, that invention of yours sure worked well, Professor,” a blue haired male said, his arms crossed in a confident manner.
“Worked like a charm I’ll say,” his red haired accomplice added, “We have the twerps right where we want them, and the money too! We’ll be eating rich the next week for sure!”
“And da best part is that they have Pikachu with them! I’m sure da boss will be happy when we bring him Pikachu as an unexpected present!” a small cat-like Pokemon sneered.
The villainous trio emerged from the shadows with the Premium Ball standing by their side, waiting for its next command. Ash, May, Max and Pikachu gasped as they saw the familiar faces.
“TEAM ROCKET?!” they shouted in unison.
______________
I couldn't resist bringing them back sooner or later.
