Palletshipping and Rocketshipping, Together at Last
By Dave



INT. - DAY ASH'S HOUSE

MISTY and BROCK pound on ASH'S door. They've been waiting for quite awhile.

MISTY: Honestly, ASH, I think that Pikachu has gotten enough training for one day.

BROCK: Yeah, ASH, really. It's almost noon.

MISTY: And I haven't even gotten a chance to beat Psyduck once today!

ASH: (GRUNTING) Just a minute, you guys! We're almost done in here... it's just I really want Pikachu to be in good shape for the upcoming Pokemon Tourney... yeah.

MISTY: Okay ASH, whatever you say.

BROCK: (ASIDE) Isn't it kinda weird how ASH doesn't do his training in a Pokemon gym or in the field? I mean, c'mon... it's his room. Doesn't he worry that something will get broken or messed up?

MISTY: Yeah, really. I always make sure that I'm in a big, wide open area before I punt Psyduck around. I broke a lamp once when his big dumb head crashed into it. (YELLING) Hey ASH, who are you training against in there, anyway?

GARY busts down ASH'S door.

GARY: Why, that would be me... GARY Oak, Pokemon Master! And may I add that I've just totally dominated ASH once more...

MISTY: Oh, hey GARY. Are you doing something new with your hair? It looks different...

BROCK: Yeah...going for the "mussed up" look?

ASH comes out of the door, carrying PIKACHU on his shoulder.

ASH: (PANTING) You may've gotten me this time, GARY, but I'll come out on top next week!

GARY: We'll see about that, Ketchum! Well, Grandpa said that he's made something new and incredible, so I'll smell you all later.

GARY leaves.

MISTY: That kid sure has an ego...

ASH: Oh, yeah... I guess so.

MISTY: Hey ASH, where's your hat?

ASH: Uhm...

BROCK: And your jacket?

ASH: (FUMBLING FOR WORDS) Uh... Pikachu, did you hide my jacket again!? You silly Pokemon... heh heh, what will I do with you?

PIKACHU: (CONFUSED) Pika pika?

ASH: Well, why don't you guys meet me downstairs? I'm going to... um...do my hair. And take a shower.

MISTY: Oh, come on ASH. We've been here for a half-hour, you said that we'd go south to Cinnibar today for a little vacation!

PIKACHU: Chu!

PIKACHU jumps into MISTY's arms, next to TOGEPI.

MISTY: Jeez... well, we'll be waiting downstairs.

INT. - DAY ASH'S KITCHEN

BROCK: Well, he's certainly being weird today.

MISTY: He's probably just angry about getting beaten by GARY again.

BROCK: I guess. Who did you have to battle, Pikachu?

PIKACHU: (CONFUSED, THEN NON-COMMITTAL) Chu? Pika pika? Chuuu.....

BROCK: What do you mean, nobody? I thought that you were training with ASH and GARY.

PIKACHU: Pika pika! Pikaaaaaaaa....chuuuuuuuuuuuu!

MISTY: Um, whatever you say, Pikachu. I can't believe that we're still here, BROCK. We shoulda just gotten on Psyduck and surfed down to Cinnabar. Just imagine, we could be drinking margaritas and taking in the sun right now, if it weren't for that stupid ASH.

BROCK: Aww, give him a chance, MISTY. At least he was doing something good for his Pokemon...

MISTY: Oh yeah!? What are you implying, that my Pokemon are sub-par!? We'll see about that, mister...

BROCK: Oh, will we! Onix, I choose YOU!

MISTY: Psyduck, GO!

MISTY and BROCK are about to battle when ASH comes downstairs.

ASH: Hey, you guys! Come on, my mom just got the kitchen repainted. The last thing we need is a Pokemon battle in my kitchen. Besides, my mom has that strict no-Pokemon-battles rule.

MISTY: But weren't you just training in your room?

ASH: Uh... well, that's different.

MISTY: How?

ASH: It just is. So are we going to Cinnibar?

BROCK AND MISTY: FINALLY!

EXT. - DAY HOT AIR BALLOON OVER ASH'S HOUSE

JESSIE: (LOOKING THROUGH BINOCULARS) A little vacation for our little heroes?

JAMES: Maybe a little sunlight and water will help that silly little girl actually grow some...

JESSIE: Oh, James, stop it! You know how it gets to me when you talk about that little wench.

JAMES: (APOLOGETIC) Sorry, darling. She's just such an easy target.

JESSIE: Oh... how can I stay mad at you?

JAMES: But how could I ever be so uncouth as to offend you?

JESSIE: Oh, James...

JAMES: Oh, Jessie...

MEOWTH: Oh, please! We're never gonna catch that blasted Pikachu if you two keep fawning all over each other!

JESSIE: (STOMPING MEOWTH'S HEAD) Quiet, you ungrateful furbag! It's just... professional conduct, that'sall.

JAMES: Right, respect is an important part ofany team. And that goes for Team Rocket, too!

JESSIE: Now let's catch that little yellow rat and get this over with!

EXT. - DAY CINNIBAR BEACH

BROCK: Wow, look at all the chicks out here!

MISTY: Yeah, the sea sure is beautiful. I bet it's just teeming with water Pokemon for me to capture and beat into submission! Whee!

BROCK: Hey, look over there! Aren't those GARY'S cheerleaders? If they're here,then that must mean GARY is, too. Uh, well... I guess that you don't wanna sun and swim out by your arch enemy, huh, ASH? We can move...ASH?

ASH: (DISTRACTED) Huh?

BROCK: Jeez, you're really out of it today. I said we can move if you don't wanna sit so close to GARY...and I can just move over to where his cheerleaders are.

ASH: Oh, oh no! This is fine. I'll just...um, go swim.

BROCK: Whatever you say...

ASH and MISTY run off towards the coast, BROCK lays out a towel to sit on.

EXT. - DAY GARY'S ENTOURAGE

JAMES: Are you sure these disguises will work?

JESSIE: Of course! That Oak boy has so many followers that he could never remember what all his cheerleaders look like.

JAMES: I still feel silly...

JESSIE: Well, you know how much I like it when you wear a dress...

MEOWTH: Now cut it out! Remember, we've gotta get that Pikachu, and ASH never can refuse a Pokemon battle with GARY! So we just wait 'til he uses the little rat and we can snap him up in...this!

MEOWTH reveals a small black ball.

JESSIE: What's that supposed to be?

MEOWTH: It's the rare new Rocket Ball! One ofa kind, quite rare! Giovanni had it specially made just for me, you see? I'm quite the cat around town.

JAMES: Really? You actually talked to the Boss? And he...he gave you a Rocket Ball!?

MEOWTH: Sure! I told you, Meowths always get what they want!

JAMES: Well, then, that little boy doesn't stand a chance against Team Rocket!

GARY: Excuse me, ladies! I'm going to take a swim now.

GARYS ADORING CHEERLEADERS: Go GARY! Take a swim! Let's hear it for GARY!

JAMES: Um... excuse us, Mr. GARY. We just couldn't help but notice that your arch enemy, ASH Ketchum, is out there in the ocean! Shouldn't you do battle, as you always do?

GARY: Hey...are you sure you're acheerleader?

JESSIE: Why of course we're cheerleaders! Um...let's hear it for Mr. GARY! Hooray GARY!

JESSIE jumps about unrhythmically.

GARY: Whatever you say, you must've been the new ones that grandpa was talking about.

JAMES: Oh, yes! That's us.

GARY: So I guess that all of you can swim, now?

JESSIE: Oh yes, of course! We can do anything.

GARY: Great! Then we should all go out there...it's time to show everyone the old Oak style!

GARY'S ADORING CHEERLEADERS: Yay! GARY! Let's go fight!

GARY, JESSIE, JAMES, and the ADORING CHEERLEADERS all runtowards the tide.

GARY: Hey ASH! Get ready, it's time for another battle!

GARY'S ADORING CHEERLEADERS: Yay GARY! Go! Win that fight!

ASH: Huh? You mean...now? Here? But there's all these people...

GARY: (BLUSHING) Err, no... you idiot. I mean fight, a Pokemon fight!

ASH: Oh! Yeah... uh...of course!

BROCK: Hey, he brought the cheerleaders!

BROCK rushes up to hug one of the ADORING CHEERLEADERS.

GARY'S ADORING CHEERLEADERS: Error... water immersion... unable to comply. Incompatible environment. Shutting down...

GARY'S ADORING CHEERLEADERS all explode, leaving only JESSIE and JAMES. BROCK flies backwards into the water.

GARY: Aw, jeez! I thought you guys said that the Cheerleaders were water-compatible now!

MISTY: They're... robots?!

GARY: Well... a guy has to have his cheering section somehow... and seeing how grandpa is a famous scientist and all...

MISTY: Now that's just cheap!

JESSIE: (THROWING OFF DISGUISE) Oh, enough of this! I think it's high time that Team Rocket cuts the bull and catches that Pikachu... and of course...to protect the world from devastation.

JAMES: To unite all people within our nation!

JESSIE: To denounce the evils of truth and love.

JAMES: To extend our reach to the stars above.

JESSIE: Jessie!

JAMES: James!

JESSIE: Team Rocket, blast off at the speedof light.

JAMES: Surrender now, or prepare to fight!

MEOWTH: (BRANDISHING ROCKET BALL) Meowth, dat's right!

JAMES: Now, Meowth!

ASH: Hey, what's that?!

PIKACHU: Chu...?

GARY: Hey, c'mon. This is my battle...right, ASH!? Where'd you find these goons?

JESSIE: GOONS!?! How dare you!?

JAMES: Team Rocket are no mere goons... why, we're the poets of battle!

JESSIE: The true heroes of the Pokemon world!

JAMES: Call us goons and I'll personally make you pay the consequences!

JESSIE pulls a gun from her cleavage.

JESSIE: Prepare to die, you annoying little brat!

ASH: (THROWING HIMSELF IN FRONT OF JESSIE) No! GARY! I can't lose you! Not now, not like this!

JESSIE fires anyway, not even noticing ASH. The shot hits him in the shoulder.

JESSIE: Serves you right, little brat. Now hand over that Pikachu! MEOWTH, hurry up with the Rocket Ball!

MEOWTH: I... I...I can't figure dis thing out! It's not opening up. I can't get it to work!

JAMES: You incompetent feline! Give it to me!

JAMES wrestles the ball out of MEOWTH's paws. It accidentally opens, sucking in MEOWTH.

MEOWTH: (O.S.) Now look what ya did!

JAMES: Quiet down, you lousy...!

JESSIE: James, darling... I think we have some company.

GARY: Darn straight you do! Go, Hitmonlee!

BROCK AND MISTY: Psyduck! Graveler!

JAMES: Oh dear...this isn't a winning situation.

JESSIE: I think it's time to make one of our famous Team Rocket exits!

JAMES: That's right! Team Rocket, blasting off once more.

JAMES and JESSIE jump onto a conveniently appearing hot air balloon and sail off.

GARY: Oh, God! ASH!!

MISTY: Hey, I thought you guys were supposedto be arch enemies.

BROCK: (ROLLING HIS EYES) Oh, come on, MISTY.

MISTY: What!?

PIKACHU: (CONDESCENDINGLY) Pikaaaaa....

GARY: We have to get him to a Poke center. Nurse Joy will know what to do!

MISTY: But ASH isn't a Pokemon!

BROCK: I know, but it's not like there are any hospitals in any of these towns anyway.

MISTY: Good point.

BROCK and GARY pick up ASH and begin to walk away. PIKACHU jumps on MISTY'S shoulder and they follow, leaving MEOWTH trapped in the Rocket Ball.

MEOWTH: Jessie? James? Um...anybody?

EXT. - NIGHT TEAM ROCKET HOT AIR BALLOON

JAMES: So we didn't get that blasted Pikachu...again.

JESSIE: And we lost Meowth, too.

JAMES: What a shame. Now who will be there to...um...order us around. And think up horrible plans. And tell us to behave...wait, I think I see a silver lining to this cloud.

JESSIE: (SMILING AND PUTTING AN ARM AROUND JAMES) I think that we'll find some way to deal with it.

EPISODE END.