A Double Dilemma

            The gang is almost at Petalburg City.  But first a brief stop in North Petalburg.  Apparently the entire town is one big Norman fan club.  That's alright, until a lady at the pokemon center tells everyone that May and Max are in town.  People flock to them in droves; a newscaster even comes!  They want to know everything May has done since she started traveling.  She shows them her ribbons and finally resorts to having her pokemon perform.  She's loving the attention, but she's getting a bit worn out.

            On the other end of town Team Rocket has decided to capitalize on the Norman craze.  James and Jesse disguise themselves as Norman and his wife, while Meowth and Wobuffet pose as May and Max.  The townsfolk are a little skeptical, but a man who lived next door to the family declares them real.  They begin selling buttons and autographs, and then run off once they have enough cash.  But the crowd finds them again.

            Meanwhile, Ash and Brock have been pushed out of the crowd.  They end up in a park where every kid in town wants to battle Ash.  They want him to prove that he's worthy of battling Norman.  Ash defeats challenger after challenger wearing himself and his pokemon out.

            The kids are getting worried, as Ash is beating them all, so they run to tell the townsfolk still swarming around the real May and Max.  The reporter and the lady from the center decide that it would be great for May to put the bratty kid (Ash) in his place.  They parade her to the park where she and Ash are 'introduced'.  They're a little confused, but they both agree to battle.  Because Ash is very tired, and so are his pokemon, and May's Torchic is fine, May somehow wins the battle.  Just then a man runs up and says that he just saw Norman and his family on the other end of town.  The woman and the reporter are outraged and decide that May should go stop the imposters.  Max and May are again paraded around town.  Ash and Brock follow behind.

            Once they meet up with Team Rocket the woman and the "neighbor" begin arguing over whose Max and May are real.  A gust of wind sends Team Rockets disguises flying away and they are revealed as the imposters.  Pikachu has recovered, so Ash has him send Team Rocket blasting of again.  The townspeople are suitably impressed - with Pikachu that is...  poor Ash never catches a break...  but he's learned to take it in stride.  Besides the Petalburg Gym is just around the corner.  

        Location:  North Petalburg

        Notes:    Why is Norman so popular?

                Those people are pretty dumb if they thought Meowth and Wobuffet were May and Max.

                 May should never have won against Ash...