Pokemon Indigo League Stories Part 2

Camping

Ten year old Gary looked up at the stars and turned to Ash. " Do you possess the tarp, Ash?"

Ash raised a brow. " T.... Tarp? Is that some typa new Pokemon?"

Gary moaned. " Aaaaash!"

" Can I catch it?"

" No."

" Oh." Ash looked disappointed.

" Can you just hand me the tent?"

" What tent?"

Gary groaned, rubbing his temples as if trying to stave off an oncoming headache. "Ash, please tell me you packed the tent."

Ash shrugged, his ever-present cap tilted slightly to the side. "Gary, I thought you were the responsible one. You know, the one who actually plans stuff. I’m the guy who just… tags along."

Gary’s jaw dropped. "Tags along? We’re in the middle of nowhere! You’re telling me you didn’t think to pack the one thing we actually need to survive the night?"

Ash scratched his head, clearly unbothered. "I packed snacks."

"Snacks?!" Gary threw his arms up. "Oh, great, Ash. If a storm rolls in, at least we’ll have chips and candy to keep us warm!"

Ash frowned, crossing his arms. "Hey, don’t knock snacks! You’d be starving without me."

"Starving, maybe," Gary retorted, "but at least I wouldn’t be soaked to the bone and shivering under a tree!"

Pikachu, perched on Ash’s shoulder, gave an exasperated "Pika!" as if agreeing with Gary.

Ash blinked, looking at his partner. "What? You think I should’ve brought a tent too?"

"Pika-chu!" Pikachu’s nod was firm.

Gary sighed and plopped down on a nearby rock, staring up at the stars again. "This is exactly why I insisted on teaming up for this trip. I knew you’d forget something."

Ash grinned. "But you forgot the tarp, so it’s not just me!"

Gary shot him a look. "I didn’t forget it. I trusted you to pack it because you said you had it covered!"

Ash paused, scratching his cheek awkwardly. "Oh, yeah. I did say that, huh?"

Gary buried his face in his hands. "We’re doomed."

Ash knelt beside him and clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Don’t worry, Gary! We’ll make it work. We’ve got snacks, we’ve got each other, and—"

"And no shelter!" Gary snapped.

Ash shrugged. "Hey, if worse comes to worst, we’ll just use your jacket as a blanket and cuddle up. You’re the smart one—you’ll figure it out!"

Gary glared. "You are not using me as your personal pillow, Ash."

"Suit yourself," Ash said cheerfully. "Pikachu will share with me, won’t you, buddy?"

"Pika!" Pikachu replied with an enthusiastic nod, leaping off Ash’s shoulder to start gathering sticks.

Gary blinked. "What’s he doing?"

Ash grinned. "Making a campfire! Told you we’d figure it out."

Gary stared at Pikachu, then at Ash, and shook his head. "This is going to be the longest night of my life."

As Gary sat on the rock, trying to figure out how he ended up camping in the wilderness without proper supplies thanks to Ash, his phone buzzed. He hesitated, glancing at the caller ID.