Just as Gary was about to exit the gates, he stepped somewhere, and a rope tightened.

" Huh?!" Gary exclaimed.

Next thing you know Gary was hanging upside down with a frown and arms crossed.

" Get me down from here!"

Wisty and Eevee jumped out of the lab, excited. " Professor, we caught th-" She turned to the ropes and saw a very very very angry Gary.

" G... Gary?!" She shrieked. " The poacher is GARY?!"

Gary blinked. " What now?!"

Wisty grabbed her phone. " Oh well Professor. It's fine. I won't press charges."

Gary blinked. " Charge... what?"

" Now where's Jenny's number?" She muttered.

Ash grabbed Wisty's phone. " Gary's not a poacher!"

Wisty gave him an unimpressed look. " Then why's he hanging from the tree, huh?"

" Because he was walking out of the lab?!" Ash exclaimed. " It's common sense."

" Or is he? Maybe he's-"

" I just battled him, Wisty. Literally right now." Ash said plainly.

" Doesn't change the facts. Now, Gary, I'll have you know I've been taught 18 ways to restrain a criminal trying to escape."

" HE'S NOT A CRIMINAL!" Ash yelled.

Eevee gave Gary a disappointed look.

" And when did you learn 18?!" Delia added.

" Oh mom mom mom. Your dear Mimey."

" What?!"

Wisty ignored Ash's protests and dramatically whipped out a police badge. "Detective Wisty, Junior Ranger Division," she announced proudly, holding it up for everyone to see. "And I'll have you know, I'm fully certified to use these."

She reached into her bag and pulled out a collection of 56 handcuffs, rattling them like a set of tambourines.

Gary's face turned red as he struggled against the ropes. "For the last time, I'M NOT A CRIMINAL!" he shouted. "I just came here from Sinnoh!"

Wisty raised a skeptical eyebrow. "Oh, sure. That's exactly what a criminal would say. Nice try, Sinnoh Bandit!"

Ash smacked his forehead. "Wisty, Gary is my friend! He's Professor Oak's grandson! He's not a bandit!"

But Wisty wasn't listening. She had already climbed up to untie the ropes—only to arrest Gary immediately afterward. With an unnecessary flourish, she slapped one of her handcuffs onto his wrist.

"That's it, Gary. You're under arrest for suspicious behavior and tree trespassing!"

Gary stared at her in disbelief. "TREE TRESPASSING?! What even is that?!"

Ash groaned. "Oh no, oh no, oh no. This is bad."

Gary tried to explain himself as Wisty dragged him toward her bright blue police car parked at the edge of the property. "I didn't do anything wrong! I was just delivering research from Sinnoh! Ask Ash- he'll vouch for me!"

Wisty shot him a disbelieving look. "You expect me to believe that Professor Oak's grandson was just wandering around suspiciously? Do I look like I was born yesterday?"

Ash ran after them, flailing his arms. "Wisty, stop! You're making a mistake!"

Delia emerged from the lab, hands on her hips. "Wisty! What are you doing to poor Gary?"

"Oh, don't worry, mom!" Wisty said brightly. "This will all get sorted out at the station." She then turned to Mimey, standing nearby. "You're the one who taught me this, Mimey. You should be proud!"

Mimey waved his hands frantically, trying to signal no, but Wisty was already shoving Gary into the police car.

"Wisty, don't you think this is going a little too far?" Ash pleaded.

"Too far?" Wisty echoed. "Ash, the safety of the lab and the Pokémon is at stake! I can't take any chances."

"HE'S NOT A THREAT!" Ash and Gary shouted at the same time, but it was too late.

With a smug grin, Wisty started the engine and drove off, leaving Ash standing in the dust.

Ash turned to Delia, exasperated. "Mom, this is going to end in disaster."

Delia shook her head with a sigh. "I'll call Officer Jenny and let her know to expect... something unusual."

Ash groaned again. "This is why we can't have nice things."

Delia quickly grabbed her phone and dialed Officer Jenny. As the line connected, she explained the situation in detail, hoping to resolve the misunderstanding. Unfortunately, Officer Jenny's response wasn't what she expected.

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Ketchum," Jenny said. "But since Wisty is a registered junior officer, her arrest of Gary has to be processed formally. I'll look into it personally, but we have to follow protocol."

Delia blinked in shock. "Wait—protocol?! But Gary isn't a criminal, and this is obviously a misunderstanding!"

"I understand," Jenny replied. "But Wisty's status as an officer means we're required to treat her arrests seriously."

Delia hung up with a sigh and looked at Ash, who was staring at her, dumbfounded.

"Mom?" Ash asked hesitantly. "Why didn't Jenny just fix this?"

Delia hesitated before responding, "Ash, you know Wisty... when she gets something in her head, it's impossible to stop her."

Ash's eyes narrowed. "Yeah, but why does Jenny have to treat her like a real officer?"

Delia's expression turned sheepish. "Well, technically, Wisty is a real officer. You know how she got into that Junior Ranger program last year?"

Ash's jaw dropped. "Wait, so you're telling me she's actually authorized to arrest people?!"

Delia gave a nervous laugh. "Um... yes?"

Ash groaned and ran his hands through his hair. "Mom, why does she have that much power?! She arrested Gary! And now you're saying there's nothing we can do?"

Delia sighed again, crossing her arms. "Well, I did teach her to stand her ground..."

Ash suddenly froze, his face turning pale. "Mom...?"

"Yes, dear?" Delia asked innocently.

Ash's voice dropped to a deadpan tone. "You're Wisty's mom."

Delia blinked in confusion. "Well, of course, I'm her mom! You're siblings—everyone knows that!"

Ash threw his hands in the air. "Then why didn't you stop her?!"

Delia gave him a helpless look. "Do you want to argue with her?"

Ash paused, groaned, and slumped against the doorframe. "This family is impossible."

Delia patted him on the shoulder. "Don't worry, sweetie. I'll make sure Gary doesn't stay in custody for long. Jenny will figure it out... eventually."

Ash buried his face in his hands. "Gary's never going to let me live this down..."

Two hours later, Professor Oak, Ash, Delia, and Tracey arrived at the police station to retrieve Gary. The group had spent the entire trip trying to figure out how to undo the chaos Wisty had left in her wake, but Ash still looked like he was bracing for the worst.

When they finally saw Gary, their fears were confirmed. Gary was seated in a corner of the station, wearing an orange jumpsuit, his hair disheveled, and handcuffs still on his wrists. His expression was one of pure exasperation.

Ash groaned. "Gary... what happened to you?"

Gary glared at him. "What happened to me? Your sister happened to me! I've been treated like a top-tier criminal, Ash. A POACHER. They even took my trainer card away for processing!"

Delia stifled a laugh. "Well, you do look the part right now."

Gary scowled, muttering, "Not helping."

Professor Oak stepped forward. "Officer Jenny, thank you for holding onto him, but I assure you, this is all a big misunderstanding. We're here to take him back now."

Jenny nodded sympathetically. "I figured it might be, but you know Wisty. When she makes an arrest, she makes sure it sticks."

Ash rolled his eyes. "Yeah, we know. Come on, Gary. Let's just go."

As they walked outside, Ash suddenly froze mid-step, his eyes widening in realization. "Wait a second..."

Gary looked over, suspicious. "What now?"

Ash turned to Professor Oak, his face pale. "Professor, Wisty works at your lab, right?"

Oak blinked, clearly confused. "Yes... why?"

Ash pointed toward the lab in the distance, his voice growing more frantic. "So, hypothetically, if she thought someone else might be a poacher—or maybe if she just wanted to... I don't know, practice, she could technically set up more traps there, couldn't she?!"

The professor's expression darkened. "Ash, you don't mean—"

"Oh, I do mean!" Ash interrupted. "You know her, Professor! She probably has ropes, nets, and fifty-seven alarms rigged all over the place by now! If we walk in, she's gonna treat all of us like we're criminals!"

Gary groaned loudly. "She's not even here, and she's still ruining my day."

Delia frowned. "Ash, don't be ridiculous. Wisty wouldn't do something so—"

"Mom, she handcuffed Gary and left without even waiting for Jenny!" Ash retorted. "She's absolutely the type to booby-trap the entire lab!"

Tracey chimed in nervously. "Uh... remember that one time she rigged the door to spray ink on anyone who wasn't her? I'm, uh... still scrubbing my shirt."

Oak sighed deeply, rubbing his temples. "Well, there's only one way to find out. Let's head back to the lab... cautiously."

The group cautiously approached Oak's lab, peeking around the entrance like they were sneaking into enemy territory.

Ash whispered, "Okay, everyone, step carefully. If we trip something, it's game over."

Delia sighed. "Ash, really, it can't be that bad—"

CLICK.

Delia froze. "...What was that?"

A loud WHOOSH echoed as a net dropped from the ceiling, narrowly missing Oak. A siren blared, and a pre-recorded message from Wisty's voice rang out: "Gotcha, poacher! You'll never get away!"

Gary threw his hands up. "Oh, for crying out loud! I JUST got out of jail!"

Ash facepalmed as Tracey slowly backed away. "Professor," Tracey muttered, "this is why you don't give her complete freedom to experiment."

Oak pinched the bridge of his nose. "Wisty... what have you done?"

Ash groaned, waving for everyone to follow him. "Come on. Let's get this over with before we end up back at the station."

As the group moved through the lab, carefully dodging tripwires and hidden snares, Ash muttered under his breath, "Why couldn't I have had a normal sibling?"

Delia patted his shoulder with a smile. "Oh, Ash. Where's the fun in that?"

As soon as they took another step, SNAP! A hidden rope yanked Professor Oak, Ash, Gary, and Tracey off their feet, leaving them hanging upside down. Meanwhile, Delia let out a startled shriek as a net whooshed down, trapping her like a cocoon.

"ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!" Gary yelled, flailing his arms. "THIS AGAIN?!"

Ash groaned, swinging slightly. "I told you this was gonna happen, but nooo, nobody listens to me!"

Delia, tangled in the net, sighed deeply. "I can't believe this. My own daughter..."

Just then, Wisty's voice rang out. "I KNEW IT!" She stepped into the room, arms crossed, her face a mix of triumph and extreme disappointment. "I knew someone would try to sabotage the lab! And to think... you four! Professor Oak! Ash! Even Gary?! I expected better from you all."

"We're not sabotaging anything!" Ash shouted, exasperated. "We're literally just trying to get Gary out of trouble!"

"Trouble?" Wisty gasped, pulling out her phone. "I'll have you know that trouble is exactly what this lab doesn't need! And look at this mess you've caused! Tripping every single carefully designed anti-poacher defense mechanism."

Tracey sighed. "Wisty, maybe—just maybe—this is your fault for setting up anti-poacher traps in the first place?"

Wisty gasped dramatically. "Are you saying I shouldn't protect the lab?! The lab is sacred ground, Tracey! SACRED!" She paced back and forth, muttering to herself. "And now... now I have to figure out how to process my own brother. The shame! The betrayal! Mom's gonna hear about this—oh wait, she's already here."

Delia, still tangled in the net, raised her hand weakly. "Sweetheart, maybe you've taken this... just a tiny bit too far?"

"TOO FAR?!" Wisty turned to her mother, eyes wide. "Mom, if anything, I haven't gone far enough. Criminals must be brought to justice!"

Gary groaned. "FOR THE LAST TIME, I'M NOT A CRIMINAL!"

"Not with that attitude," Wisty muttered.

Professor Oak tried to intervene, still dangling upside down. "Wisty, listen to reason! None of us are poachers. You need to deactivate these traps immediately."

Wisty squinted at him suspiciously. "You would say that, wouldn't you, Professor? A classic misdirection tactic." She pointed dramatically. "But I won't be fooled!"

Ash threw his hands up—or rather, down since he was upside down. "Wisty! You've already arrested Gary today! Isn't that enough?!"

"No," Wisty replied, resolutely. "Justice is never enough."

Delia sighed, her patience wearing thin. "Wisty Marie Ketchum, you are going to let us down right now, or I'll make sure Mimey hides all your snacks for the next month!"

Wisty froze, her eyes wide. "Mom... you wouldn't."

Delia raised a single eyebrow. "Try me."

With a defeated groan, Wisty stomped over to a hidden control panel and deactivated the traps. The nets and ropes released, and everyone collapsed to the floor in a heap.

Gary dusted himself off, glaring at Wisty. "You are the most annoying person I have ever met."

Wisty crossed her arms. "You're welcome, criminal."

Ash stood up and rubbed his forehead. "Great, now can we please have a normal day for once?"

Wisty tilted her head innocently. "Define 'normal.'"

Delia pinched the bridge of her nose. "Let's just go home before she decides to arrest the whole town."

As they all trudged out of the lab, Wisty called after them cheerfully. "If you see any real poachers, let me know!"

Gary muttered under his breath, "Next time I visit, I'm wearing armor."

As the group stumbled through the front door of the Ketchum household, they all froze. The air was tense, the floor suspiciously creaky, and the faint smell of fresh rope lingered.

Gary raised his hands. "Nope. Not doing this again. I'm not taking another step!"

Ash groaned. "Gary, it's just Mom's house. Relax—"

SNAP!

The floor gave way, and suddenly, nets sprang from every direction. Within seconds, Gary, Ash, Tracey, Delia, and even Pikachu were tangled and dangling in mid-air.

"SERIOUSLY?!" Gary yelled, thrashing like a Magikarp. "AGAIN?!"

Tracey just sighed, his arms tangled awkwardly. "Why... does she even need traps in her own house?"

Delia, who was suspended with remarkable poise, sighed deeply. "I knew I should've checked the broom closet. That's where she keeps her trap supplies."

Wisty emerged from the shadows, her trusty clipboard in hand and a victorious smirk on her face. "Gotcha! Just as I suspected. More intruders. You never learn, do you?"

Ash flailed in his net. "WISTY! It's your own family!"

Wisty gasped in mock horror. "Oh no, Ash! Criminals often use emotional manipulation to escape justice. I've read the manual."

Gary stared at her, deadpan. "What manual?"

She pulled out a worn booklet. "Trapping 101: How to Snare a Sneaky Suspect. It's an official guide."

Professor Oak finally lost his patience. "Wisty, you've already trapped us three times today. Enough is enough!"

Wisty nodded thoughtfully. "You're right, Professor. It's time for phase two."

"Phase two?" Gary asked, his voice cracking slightly. "What's phase two?"

Without answering, Wisty untangled the nets with expert precision and started dragging the entire group—one by one—toward her car parked outside.

Delia, still tangled in ropes, asked calmly, "Wisty, what are you doing now?"

Wisty grinned. "Taking you to the station, of course."

Tracey groaned. "We've been through this! We're not criminals!"

"That's what all criminals say," Wisty replied cheerfully.

Ash shouted, "MOM! Do something!"

Delia shrugged. "She's very stubborn. You'll just have to ride it out, dear."

Wisty shoved the last of them into the backseat of her car, slammed the door, and sped off down the road at breakneck speed. The group was thrown around like luggage.

"YOU'RE GOING TO GET A SPEEDING TICKET!" Gary yelled, gripping the seatbelt for dear life.

"Not likely!" Wisty called back. "I am the law!"

After a chaotic ride, Wisty screeched to a halt in front of the police station. She kicked open the car door, dragged everyone out, and left them in a confused heap on the steps.

"Wait here," she ordered. "I'll process you later. Justice calls!" She hopped back in the car, tires screeching as she sped off to who-knows-where.

The group sat in stunned silence for a moment before Ash groaned and facepalmed. "We should've just stayed at the lab."

Gary flopped onto the ground, staring at the sky. "When I get home, I'm building an anti-Wisty defense system."

Delia dusted herself off. "Ash, next time, you're walking Pikachu. I need a nap."

Tracey sighed, adjusting his hat. "Should we... call someone? Or just accept our fate?"

Professor Oak leaned back against the steps. "I vote for fate. It's easier than arguing with Wisty."

Thirty minutes later, the group found themselves in the local jail, dressed in ill-fitting orange jumpsuits.

Ash sat on the cell bench, head in his hands. "This cannot be happening. This cannot be happening."

Gary crossed his arms, glaring through the bars. "This is your fault, Ketchum."

Ash shot up. "My fault?! How is this my fault, Gary?! You're the one who got caught first!"

Tracey raised a hand meekly. "Uh, technically, we all got caught."

Delia adjusted the orange jumpsuit over her blouse and sighed. "Honestly, these jumpsuits are very unflattering. Orange is not my color."

Professor Oak was sitting in the corner of the cell, stroking his chin like he was analyzing a Pokémon habitat. "Fascinating. Wisty's efficiency in law enforcement tactics is truly something to behold. I might document this as a case study."

Gary threw his hands in the air. "Oh sure, let's praise Wisty! She's the reason we're in here!"

Ash groaned, flopping back down on the bench. "Why does she even have a jail cell in town?"

Delia leaned forward. "Ash, dear, I think this is part of Wisty's plan to keep Pallet Town 'safe.'"

"Safe from what?!" Ash yelled. "We're not criminals!"

The sound of high heels clicking echoed through the hallway. Everyone looked up to see Wisty approaching with a clipboard and a smug grin.

"Alright, everyone," she said cheerfully, "your crimes have been logged, and you've been officially detained."

Gary shot to his feet, gripping the bars. "Wisty, for the last time, we didn't do anything!"

Wisty raised a brow, tapping her clipboard. "Oh really? Let's go over the evidence, shall we?" She cleared her throat. "One: suspicious behavior at the lab. Two: suspicious behavior at the Ketchum household. Three: evading justice by attempting to explain yourselves—very suspicious."

Ash stood up, his voice dripping with frustration. "That's called talking, Wisty!"

Wisty shrugged. "Call it what you want. The law is the law."

Tracey tried to reason with her. "Wisty, don't you think this is a little... extreme? I mean, we're in orange jumpsuits."

She gave him a deadpan look. "The jumpsuits are standard procedure."

Gary groaned, slumping against the bars. "This is a nightmare."

Delia crossed her arms. "Wisty, sweetie, you're a very dedicated officer. But don't you think you're taking this a bit too far?"

Wisty shook her head. "Mom, you always taught me to stick to my principles."

Delia blinked. "Yes, but not to arrest your family!"

"Justice is blind," Wisty said proudly. "And so am I when it comes to favoritism."

Ash let out a loud groan, leaning against the wall. "We're never getting out of here."

Wisty smirked. "Oh, don't worry. You'll be released... eventually."

"Eventually?!" they all yelled in unison.

She waved her clipboard. "Good behavior might speed things up. Have a nice day!" And with that, she turned on her heel and strutted off.

Ash looked at Gary. Gary looked at Tracey. Tracey looked at Delia. They all sighed in unison.

Professor Oak, however, was still pondering. "This might make an excellent lecture on overzealous law enforcement."

Gary slumped into a corner. "This is officially the worst day of my life."

Ash groaned again. "Yeah, and it's not even over yet."

At dinner that evening, the group was seated at a long, metal table inside the jail's surprisingly spacious mess hall. The atmosphere was far from appetizing, with a dull hum of fluorescent lights overhead and the faint smell of something... questionable.

Ash poked at his plate with a fork, staring at what appeared to be a pile of brown mush. "Uh, what is this?"

Gary squinted at his own plate, which had the same unidentifiable substance. "I'm pretty sure it's supposed to be mashed potatoes. I think."

Tracey, who had taken one bite, grimaced. "If this is mashed potatoes, they've... evolved into something else. Something... dangerous."

Delia sniffed at her food and then pushed it away, shaking her head. "It smells like it's been through a few generations of questionable kitchen experiments."

Professor Oak, ever the optimist, gave his food an experimental poke. "Well, it's certainly an interesting texture. It could be some kind of high-protein... blob food. Maybe it's a new scientific breakthrough?"

Gary snorted. "A breakthrough in making people lose their appetite, maybe."

Ash raised an eyebrow, trying to muster some optimism. "Well, it could be worse. It could be jail gruel... which, technically, it might be."

Delia grimaced. "I've had better meals at a fast food place. And that's saying something."

Just then, Wisty marched into the room, wearing a satisfied grin. "Well, well, well, looks like everyone's having dinner."

"Is this... food?" Ash asked, pointing at the mush on his plate.

Wisty gave him a thumbs up. "Yep! It's what we call 'protein-rich slop.' Really gets the nutrients into your system. Might not look like much, but it does the job!"

Gary blinked. "Slop?"

"Sure," Wisty said, casually sitting down next to Oak. "It's a tradition here. Keeps you... well, 'ready' for the next stage of your detention."

"Which is what?" Tracey asked warily, eyeing the food like it might spring to life.

"Oh, you know," Wisty said with a grin, "more questions. More tests. Maybe a few more traps—just to keep things interesting."

Ash sighed, poking at the food again, then looked at Gary. "This is your fault, you know."

Gary shot him a glare. "My fault? How is it my fault you ended up in jail, Ketchum?!"

Delia leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms. "Wisty, sweetie, can we at least have some... normal food? Just once?"

Wisty gave her a stern look. "This is normal food around here, mom. You'll get used to it."

Oak nodded in agreement. "Yes, Delia, this is technically edible, and as long as it gives us the nutrients, that's all that matters."

"Technically?" Ash and Gary said at the same time, looking even more skeptical.

Wisty stood up and gave them all a thumbs-up. "Well, I have to get going. I'll check in with you guys later. You've got a lot of thinking to do."

After she left, the group stared at their plates in silence for a moment.

Finally, Ash broke the silence with a groan. "I can't do this. I think I'm going to be hungry for the rest of my life."

Gary nodded, eyeing the mush with equal disdain. "Yeah, I think this might be worse than being stuck in a cell."

"Worst... dinner... ever," Tracey added, taking another bite as if it were the last meal he'd ever have.

Delia sighed, shaking her head. "I never thought I'd have to endure this, but here we are. At least... at least we're together."

Professor Oak looked up from his food. "Well, I suppose it's an experience. And you know what they say—what doesn't kill you..."

"Makes you wish it did." Gary finished with a dry look.

Everyone laughed weakly, except for Ash, who pushed his plate away and muttered, "I think I'll survive. Barely."

Back in their small, dimly lit cell, the group stood around awkwardly, realizing that the room, though spacious enough for them to move around, came with a rather interesting detail: there was only one bed. The mattress, barely big enough for one person, was neatly tucked in the corner, and that was the only place to sleep.

Ash, having already had enough of the whole "being trapped" situation, stood with his hands on his hips. "Wait... this is it? One bed? Really?"

Gary raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms. "I thought I was the one in trouble here, not you. But hey, looks like we're all getting a little close tonight."

Delia, ever the mom, looked at the bed and then at the others. "Well, looks like we'll have to make it work. There's no way we're all fitting on that tiny thing."

Tracey scratched his head nervously. "So... do we just, like... take turns?"

Oak stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Hmm. Maybe we could create some kind of rotation system—like a... sleeping shift. You know, so we're not all cramped up at once."

Ash glared at Oak. "Really, Professor? You're already making strategies for sleeping arrangements? What's next, a battle plan for the food?"

Tracey raised his hand. "I volunteer to go first. Just... just for the record."

Gary snorted. "You? I thought you'd be the one to make an escape plan or something."

Delia smiled gently. "We're stuck here, honey. No one's escaping right now. But... let's not fight. It's just one night."

But as they all stood there, trying to figure out how they would fit on the tiny bed, it became clear that they had no choice but to get really close.

"Alright," Ash said reluctantly, "I guess we'll have to pile on. It'll be... cozy."

The bed was barely big enough for one person, so they had to improvise. Gary climbed onto the bed first, glaring at the others like he was claiming it as his own. "I'm not sleeping on the floor. No way."

Ash rolled his eyes. "Fine, fine. I'll be the human pillow on the floor, then."

Tracey stood there for a moment, hesitating, and then climbed onto the bed, squeezing in next to Gary. "This is... okay, I guess."

Delia tried to squeeze in, but there wasn't enough room. "Alright, so I'll be the floor for tonight, I suppose."

"Mom, no!" Ash exclaimed, but there wasn't much room for argument. "It's fine. I'll sleep on the floor!"

"Don't make your mom sleep on the floor, Ash," Gary muttered, rolling his eyes.

Delia just smiled, sitting on the edge of the bed. "I'll be fine. You all get some rest."

Oak, who was now on the very edge of the mattress with his legs hanging off, sighed in exasperation. "It's like a puzzle. Who knew a bed would be the toughest part of this whole ordeal?"

As the room filled with a strange mix of snoring and soft grumbling, they all tried to make the best of their cramped situation. There was a bit of shuffling, a few awkward arm stretches, and a lot of "sorry, I'm stealing the blanket" from Gary. The bed creaked with each movement, and Ash was pretty sure it was going to collapse any second.

"Do we really need to sleep this close?" Tracey whispered, his voice muffled by the proximity.

"Yes," came Gary's flat response. "I'm this close to making an escape plan... but only after we get some rest."

Ash groaned. "Yeah, well, if I don't get any sleep tonight, I'm coming up with a plan of my own. I'm just saying."

It wasn't exactly comfortable. But as the night wore on, with Gary's feet practically in Ash's face and Delia giving up on even trying to sleep, they realized that being trapped together wasn't so bad. They might have been forced into awkward, uncomfortable situations, but they were still together. And that, at least, made it bearable.

"Tomorrow," Ash mumbled into the pillow, "we're escaping. And I'm taking the bed this time."

Gary's muffled voice came from somewhere beneath the blanket. "Sure, kid. Sure. Let's just survive tonight."

And with that, the strange little group, all piled together on the tiny bed, tried to make the best of a bad situation. Because, at least for one night, they could still count on each other—even if it meant a lot of squishing and a lot of discomfort.

At exactly four in the morning, a loud, blaring alarm shattered the silence of the cell, causing everyone to jolt awake. Ash's eyes snapped open as the loud beep echoed through the room, and he groaned.

"WHAT IS THAT?!" Gary grumbled from beneath the pile of blankets, his face squished against the mattress.

"I swear if that's another one of Wisty's traps..." Tracey muttered, his face half-hidden in the pillow.

And just like that, the door to the cell slammed open, and in strode none other than Wisty, looking entirely too chipper for the ungodly hour. Her police uniform was crisp, her badge gleaming in the dim light.

"TIME TO MOVE, TROOPS!" Wisty bellowed. "We've got a ten-mile run to get through! Let's go, go, go!"

The entire group blinked, stunned into silence. Delia, still half-asleep, rubbed her eyes and mumbled, "Ten miles? Are you serious?"

Ash, still groggy from the weird sleeping arrangement, shot out of bed and waved his arms in exasperation. "Wisty, it's FOUR IN THE MORNING! Why are you doing this?!"

Wisty grinned. "You all need to stay in shape! How else are you going to escape from all those traps I've set up?"

"WHAT?!" Gary yelled, springing up from the bed and nearly knocking Tracey off the edge. "We've been trapped, and now we have to run ten miles?! This is INSANE!"

Tracey looked at the floor and then at the ceiling. "I should have known... I should have known you were gonna make us run for it."

Delia, still trying to process what was happening, stood up slowly, her hair a mess and her eyes barely open. "We're running ten miles at this hour? Why?"

Wisty crossed her arms and gave them a smug look. "It's a training exercise. You didn't think you'd be let off the hook that easy, did you?"

Ash, who was already halfway to collapsing just from the thought of running, groaned. "You've got to be kidding me. First, the bed situation, then the food, and now... running? Wisty, what happened to 'rest'?!"

Gary grumbled from the back of the room. "I don't even do running. This is torture. Pure torture."

"Well, too bad!" Wisty shot back, pointing toward the door. "If you want to get out of here, you've got to keep up! You're all coming with me!"

Ash looked at the others. Delia looked as though she was ready to faint. Tracey was already trying to stretch his legs, preparing for the worst, and Gary... Gary looked like he was ready to argue again, but then sighed deeply.

"You know what? Fine. But if I pass out on this 'training exercise,' it's YOUR fault."

Wisty grinned. "That's the spirit! Now, everyone line up!"

Ash, shaking his head, put his hands on his hips. "I can't believe I'm about to do this. I should be still sleeping right now. This is insane."

"Hey, no time for complaints!" Wisty snapped, sounding far too excited for the situation. "If you all want to live another day, you better run fast!"

Reluctantly, the group shuffled out of the cell and into the yard. The moment they stepped outside, the cold morning air hit them like a brick wall. The sun hadn't even come up yet, and there was Wisty, bouncing on the balls of her feet, ready to make them run.

"On your marks!" she shouted.

"Are you serious right now?" Ash grumbled, but there was no escaping it. They were already getting ready for a run.

"Get set!"

Delia stretched her arms. "I didn't sign up for this..."

"GO!" Wisty yelled, and just like that, she took off, leaving the others stumbling behind her.

Ash, Gary, and Tracey groaned in unison as they started their "ten-mile run" under Wisty's watchful eyes. And though they grumbled, complained, and wished for a time machine that could fast-forward the entire process, the one thing they couldn't escape was Wisty's determination.

"Keep up, or I'll add more laps!" Wisty called from the front.

"This is ridiculous," Gary muttered, his legs already aching. "I'm going to need a lot of water after this."

Ash, trying to keep pace, called out, "Wisty! I think we're all going to die! Can't you just give us a break?!"

But Wisty's response was just as loud and cheerful as before: "No breaks! This is what happens when you get trapped, people!"

As they slowly trudged along, the only thing that kept them moving was the sheer absurdity of the situation. Ten miles. Four in the morning. They'd never hear the end of it.

When the ten-mile run finally came to an end, the group stumbled back to their cells, their legs aching and their breath ragged. Each step felt like it took everything they had, and by the time they reached their cells, they were all practically crawling.

Gary flopped onto the floor with a loud groan. "That... was... awful..." he wheezed, wiping sweat from his forehead. "I'm pretty sure I'm never running again."

Delia collapsed next to him, her face flushed and her hair a wild mess. "I'll never look at Wisty the same way again. She's... she's a maniac."

Tracey just collapsed onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling, utterly defeated. "I didn't even know a human body could hurt this much..."

Ash, on the other hand, slid down the wall and plopped onto the floor next to them. "I should've stayed in bed... this is torture... absolutely torture."

As if on cue, the door to their cell swung open with a loud creak, and in strolled Wisty, looking fresh as a daisy. She was carrying a small bowl of water, the contents sloshing around as she walked.

"Well, well, well. Look who's still alive," she said, smirking as she stepped inside. "I thought I might need to add a few more laps, but I suppose this will do for now."

Ash glared up at her. "You're insane."

"Insane?!" Wisty chuckled, sitting the bowl down in the middle of the cell. "I was just making sure you're all in peak condition. How else would you survive my training?"

Gary groaned, his eyes narrowed. "If this is 'peak condition,' I don't want any part of it."

But Wisty wasn't listening. "Alright, you know the rules," she said, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "One bowl of water. Share it."

The group stared at her as if she'd just told them they'd won the lottery—except it wasn't a prize, it was a punishment. The bowl was small. Very small. And they were all completely parched from the run.

"You're kidding, right?" Tracey said, voice hoarse.

Wisty raised an eyebrow. "Nope. Drink up."

Delia, looking half-dead from the run, sat up slowly. "We have to share this tiny bowl?"

Wisty nodded, still grinning. "That's right. Share and be merry."

Ash rubbed his forehead in disbelief. "This is ridiculous."

"Hey, I didn't make the rules," Wisty said, crossing her arms. "I just enforce them. Now, who's going first?"

Gary glared at the bowl as if it had personally insulted him. "I'm not drinking out of that thing first. You're the one who made us run ten miles."

Tracey groaned in exasperation, his voice sounding like it had been run through a blender. "Are you serious? Who's going to drink first? We're all dying of thirst!"

After a long, awkward pause, Ash finally sighed. "Fine, I'll go first." He grabbed the bowl with both hands, looking around to see who was watching. "But after this, I'm putting in a complaint. I don't care who hears it."

He took a long gulp, and the cold water felt like heaven going down his parched throat. He wiped his mouth and handed the bowl to Gary.

"Your turn," Ash said, leaning back against the wall.

Gary eyed the bowl suspiciously, then sighed in resignation. "Fine." He took a small sip, then handed it to Tracey, who did the same.

Delia took the bowl next, looking at it like it was a piece of treasure. "This is the worst punishment ever..."

And so, one by one, they all took turns drinking from the tiny bowl. By the time it reached the last person, it was barely half full.

Wisty watched them with a satisfied look. "See? That wasn't so bad, was it?"

Ash narrowed his eyes. "You're enjoying this way too much."

Wisty laughed. "What can I say? It's fun watching you all squirm. But hey, you survived, and that's what matters."

The group all slumped back, exhausted, their bodies sore from the run and their spirits deflated by the bizarre, torturous routine they'd been put through.

"Next time," Ash muttered, "I'm staying home."

"You've learned nothing, have you?" Wisty said with a sly smile before turning to leave. "I'll be back for your next 'training session.'"

As the door clicked shut behind her, the group sighed in unison.

"Never again," Gary muttered.

"Agreed," Tracey added.

"Yeah," Ash said. "Tomorrow we're sleeping in."

Delia nodded, looking around at the tiny cell. "Or maybe we can just escape."

But for now, all they could do was lay back and wait for the next round of Wisty's unique brand of 'training.'

At exactly 10 AM, the sound of keys clinking and a door unlocking echoed down the hallway of the cell block. Everyone's ears perked up, and for the first time in hours, there was a glimmer of hope. The door creaked open, and standing in the doorway was none other than Misty, looking both relieved and annoyed.

"Finally!" she huffed, stepping into the cell with a set of keys in her hand. "You guys look terrible."

Ash's face lit up the moment he saw her. His whole body seemed to relax, and without a second thought, he bolted up from the floor. "Misty!" he said, rushing toward her.

The moment Ash was out of the cell, Misty didn't waste a second. She threw her arms around him and pulled him into a tight hug. "I'm so glad you're okay!" she said, her voice full of relief and affection.

Ash, smiling brightly, wrapped his arms around her too. "I'm fine, I'm fine now that you're here."

The group in the cell stared at the scene in shock. Gary, who was still rubbing his sore legs, raised an eyebrow. "Well, this is a nice development," he muttered, clearly not expecting Ash to be so... affectionate. Tracey looked as though he was about to say something, but Gary cut him off.

"Weren't you guys in here for training?" Gary asked, glancing around at the others. "This looks more like a reunion."

Meanwhile, Delia watched the pair with a bemused smile. "Ah, young love," she sighed, then turned to Gary. "We don't all get to be as lucky."

Tracey raised his hands in mock defeat. "I'm just glad we're out of there."

Misty pulled back from Ash but didn't let go of his hands. She shot a pointed look at the rest of the group, her tone playful yet slightly stern. "So, you guys really thought you were going to get away with that?" she asked. "I can't believe Wisty got all of you, especially Ash, into such trouble."

Ash rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "Well, to be fair, I didn't think we'd be trapped like that." He shot a look back at the others. "It was... a pretty rough day."

Misty chuckled, squeezing his hands. "Sounds like it. Don't worry, I'm getting you all out of here."

With a few more clicks of the keys, the rest of the group was set free. Delia gave Misty a quick hug, and Gary gave a small nod of thanks.

Misty led them all out of the building, a sense of victory in the air. As they walked out into the daylight, Ash turned to her, his smile not fading.

"I can't believe you came to get us," he said, glancing at Misty with a mixture of gratitude and affection.

"Of course I did," she replied with a grin. "You're my Ash Ketchum, and I'm not letting you get stuck in prison... again."

Gary snorted from behind them. "You mean the second time this week?"

Ash shot Gary a look, but Misty laughed, giving Ash a playful shove.

"Hey, hey, I'm not perfect," Ash said, raising his hands defensively.

Delia sighed, shaking her head. "I'm just happy we're all out. Let's never do this again."

"Agreed," Tracey said, still rubbing his sore arms. "I think I'm done with any more of Wisty's training for... well, forever."

"Let's get some food," Ash said, still smiling at Misty.

Misty grinned back, linking her arm through his. "Sounds good. You can buy me lunch."

Ash's grin widened. "Deal."

As they walked off into the bright daylight, leaving behind the chaos of Wisty's training, one thing was clear: the day had been tough, but at least Ash had someone to come home to.