[CyberCubed]

(Part 2)

~*~*~*~

Norman’s family was given VIP treatment in the restaurant as soon as they entered. The staff recognized Norman, his wife and his children, but Ash was only considered to be a “guest” since he wasn’t related to the family but a friend instead.

Once the group sat down at the table together, Ash almost immediately ran up to get some food for his plate. Being a buffet, the food was all set aside for anyone to fill their plates with a few steps away from the tables. Pikachu didn’t bother to get any of the food being offered, it was content with just the ketchup bottle on the table of course! The electric Pokemon claimed the bottle of ketchup for itself, thus all the humans were out of luck if they wanted to add some ketchup to their food.

May got herself several bowls of ramen noodles, which were her favorite food. Using her chop sticks, she could scarf down filled bowls of ramen in seconds. Max had a hard time keeping track of who ate food faster, Ash could finish hamburgers in just three bites, and May could finish a whole bowl of ramen in less than 30 seconds. It eventually got to the point where Max just gave up, his sister and best friend both loved food…who really cared? He’d rather take his time eating and enjoy his food, rather than gulping down bite after bite while barely registering what the stuff tasted like.

“I would have said that I’m surprised with how much you’re eating, Ash, if I didn’t see you treat yourself to that humongous breakfast this morning,” Caroline said.

“So that’s where all the bread and eggs went,” May said, disgruntled by the fact that she only had a single banana for her breakfast.

Caroline inched over to Norman and whispered into his ear. “It was a good idea to bring the boy to a buffet, he would have cleaned out our refrigerator had I cooked a meal for him at home.”

Norman inched toward his wife and agreed. He whispered, “Indeed, this is why I decided on a buffet in the first place. At least here he can eat out the whole restaurant if he pleases, it’ll still be the same bill in the end anyway. You just went to the supermarket the other day, you might have to make multiple trips there depending on how long Ash and the children stay with us.”

Caroline chortled, “Makes me kind of hope they start traveling again soon, even with the salary of a Gym leader I don’t think we can afford to feed them!”

Norman and Caroline enjoyed their dinner as they watched Ash and their children eat happily. Aside from the fact that this saved them money, it was also nice to have a family dinner together since May and Max had been traveling for far too long. It was an enjoyable night, with the group chatting about past events and Brock’s whereabouts, as well as Caroline finally giving Ash and May a harsh scolding for frying most of the furniture in May’s bedroom with Pikachu’s electric attacks. Pikachu slid down in its seat and let Ash take all the blame, it was enjoying the ketchup far too much to bother.

~*~*~*

After dinner, Ash, May and Max wanted to stay behind and admire the night sky while Norman and Caroline returned to the Gym. The parents had to tidy up the Gym and get it ready for trainers the next morning, and had to get the battlefield looking in tip-top shape for tomorrows Pokemon battles. Ash and the others walked slowly while admiring Petalburg’s skyline, seeing the night sky almost made them yearn to start traveling again. The kids waved goodbye to their parents and promised to return home before 9pm.

May twirled the straw in her soda bottle, sipping what remained from her dinner. Pikachu still carried the ketchup bottle in its hands, which it wasn’t supposed to as it belonged to the restaurant, but since Norman was a Gym leader the staff let it slide much to Pikachu’s delight. Ash pulled on the brim of his nice new hat that May bought, it really did feel more comfortable than his old hat.

The trio spent around 20 minutes hanging around the main Petalburg plaza, walking lazily after stuffing themselves full of food back at the restaurant.

“I wonder if we should have walked back with Mom and Dad to the Gym,” May said, “We could have helped them clean up the battlefield for tomorrow.”

“I think you’re right, sis, maybe Dad would appreciate all the hard work I put into cleaning the Gym if we went with them. At this rate, I’m not sure if our parents will keep Kenny around much longer if they tidy up the Gym themselves,” Max said.

“They need Kenny for the referee, Max,” Ash reminded him, “Otherwise your Mom would have to be the judge, and I don’t know if she enjoys doing that or not.”

“Nah, I don’t think Mom would enjoy spending all her time refereeing Dad’s matches, its just too time consuming. I have to admire Mom for sticking so loyal to Dad throughout the years though, his job has basically become his life. I wonder if deep down, Mom ever gets tired of it all. Sometimes I wonder if she wishes that Dad wouldn’t be the Gym leader anymore,” May sulked.

“If Dad ever acknowledges me and lets me become the Gym leader some day, then he and Mom would have all the free time in the world. Of course, I still don’t know if Dad will ever offer me the position anyway,” Max frowned.

“Geez, you two sound so depressed,” Ash said, “Why don’t you guys cheer up? Your parents just took you out to a buffet so we could eat out together before we travel again. Max, I’ve told you before, your Dad is already looking for options to the successor of the Petalburg Gym, since I…uh…declined, I’m sure you’re on the top of the list now.”

“You what? Dad asked you over me?” Max gasped, “Now that makes it sound even worse.”

“Seems like Dad really likes you a lot, Ash,” May said, taking another sip of her soda.

“And Caroline always looks happy when we see her, she doesn’t look stressed out or anything because of your father’s job,” Ash continued.

“No, but Mom’s are good at hiding stuff so their children don’t feel bad,” May said, “Dad made her wait for 14 months while he traveled around to get Gym badges so he could get control of the Gym, and I’m sure that was far more agonizing than what she let on, especially since they were deeply in love at the time.”

“Do…do you think Dad will ask me to do the same thing? When I become a trainer that is, and if he chooses me, do you think he’ll make me travel around the region collecting Gym badges to prove myself too?” Max asked, anxiously.

“Dad isn’t nearly as strict as grandpa was, so who knows,” May shrugged, “You’re…not going to travel by yourself though, right?”

“No, I made up my mind that I’m going to continue traveling with Ash. He agreed to mentor me!” Max said cheerfully.

“Yeah, I guess I did,” Ash chortled, scratching his head.

May smiled and continued to twirl her straw in her soda bottle. “Looks like I’m going to be traveling with Ash and my darling little brother for a long time then,” she said, “Sounds like a lot of fun.”

“Hey, you don’t have to rub it in, May! I may end up being taller than you someday!” Max pouted.

“Maybe someday, but for now you’re still my darling little brother,” May teased.

The group were approaching the Petalburg Gym, but something didn’t feel right. May caught whim of it before the others did.

“I’ll make you eat those words one day, sis, you know that, right?” Max asked. She didn’t answer for a few seconds, so he repeated it, “Right, May?”

He looked at his sister but was aghast at what he saw. May stood there trembling, with a look of intense fear on her face. Her hands shook as her soda bottle dropped onto the floor. She looked petrified, and Ash, Pikachu and Max followed her fearful gaze.

The Petalburg Gym ahead of them was completely covered in flames. The entire structure was ablaze in a red and orange hue, flames were shooting out from the windows as thick black smoke filled the sky. The Petalburg Gym, their home, was a burning inferno.

“How…?” May gasped, as she desperately ran torward the towering inferno.

“May, wait!” Ash yelled.

Pikachu dropped the ketchup and ran after the girl with Max trailing weakly behind. In front of the Petalburg Gym, a man was on the ground motionless. May shrieked fearfully when she recognized the clothing on the man, it was her father!

“DAD?!” May cried, as she turned the man over on the ground so she could see his face. Ash and the others hovered over him.

Norman’s face was bruised and bloody, he had a black eye as well as a stream of blood trickling from his mouth. May and Max were terrified, they began screaming to their father to see if he was alive. Luckily, Norman was conscious and was able to speak with them.

Norman struggled to sit up on the ground as May supported his back. Max was trembling, seeing his once proud father completely beaten and the Gym in flames scared the boy silent. Norman tried to speak while May was frantically shouting in his ear.

“Ugh, May, calm down,” Norman panted, “It was just a fist-fight, I’m…I’m ok.”

“WHO DID THIS TO YOU?” May gasped, “You’re bleeding terribly!”

“Never mind that!” Norman grunted, spitting some blood from his mouth, “I’ll live, the more important thing is that you’re all ok, I shudder to think what might have happened if you were walking with us back to the house.”

“Where’s Mom? What happened to her?” Max blurted out in fear.

Norman wiped some more blood off his face as he struggled to catch his breath. He looked at the trembling faces of his children, he was almost afraid to tell them.

“Damn it, she’s not here,” Norman said, angrily.

“Then where is she?” May gasped.

“Your mother’s been kidnapped!” Norman exclaimed.

_______________

Things have been going a little too smoothly for Ash and the others, time to shake things up a bit!