Disclaimer: No, I don’t own pokemon. ‘Nuff said. Destiny, Hope, new pokemon, CCA, etcetera are mine though.

Notes: <> for telepathy, ** for thoughts, italics if a pokemon talks.

 

Chapter 2: Its really useful having a Meowth

 

            Ash walked leisurely along, fighting the occasional Rattata that dared to approach with a Persian following him, but not really paying attention to his surroundings.

            Meowth was certainly opening up nicely, but it would take some more time.

            A few more Rattatas bit the dust.

           

            It was late afternoon when Ash and his small group camped by the river, with a meal of freshly caught fried fish for dinner.        

            Yummy. Meowth said appreciatively as it ate heartily. Persian and Pidgeot didn’t eat much, as well as Chansey, but he didn’t notice.

            Ash ate a few fish himself, seasoned with rosemary and lemon, and once again thanked his lucky stars that he had his Fruit basket…very useful, that magical item.

 

            The next day, trouble reared her ugly head.

            The day had started off pleasantly enough. Ash had woken up, fixed pokenosh for his pokemon and pancakes for himself, and then they had headed towards Viridian again, keeping a steady pace and not rushing.

            Meowth proved himself quite an adept fighter, and with a good range of special attacks to boot.

            Pidgeot had beaten off the few bugs that had approached.

            And Persian had just slunk along, not minding the world much.

 

            Of course, he hadn’t known that Gary would show up…

 

            “Hey, Loser!”

            Ash looked up. “Oh hello, Mr. High-and-mighty-and-I-don’t-care-about-pokemon Oak.”

            Gary glared.

            Ash shrugged. “What do you want?”

            “Let’s battle!” Gary ground out.

            “Fine.” Ash replied. He watched impassively as Gary sent out a snarling Golem.
            “Meowth, use Surf.” Ash said.

            Meowth nodded, and Golem dropped like a rock. Interestingly enough, there was no pain inflicted from the genetic mutations, but the catch was that Meowth was diurnal, not nocturnal, and therefore could not stay with normal Meowths.

            “WHAT?!” Gary demanded. “Arcanine, go! Bite that puny thing to shreds!”

            “Meowth, Reflect.’ Ash said, watching as the clear shield went up. “Now Lock-On.”

            Meowth struggled to stay conscious while Arcanine attempted a bite, but the Reflect held, shakily, and Meowth Locked on.

            “Now. Guillotine.”

            Meowth made two vertical slashes with his claws and Arcanine fell.

 

            “That’s enough.” Ash said, walking over and giving Meowth a good looking-over to see if he was hurt.

            Gary’s jaw was on the ground.

            “Y-you cheater! You must have stolen that pokemon! There’s no way a normal pokemon would be this good!”

            “As if.” Ash retorted. “I got him from your Grandfather’s lab. You can ask him.”

            Gary immediately summoned his Pidgeot and raced for Pallet.

 

            Ash next had the misfortune to run into a carrot-top, who made some fuss about a bike he had no clue whatsoever about, so he ignored her ranting and continued on his way.

            It was two days later when he reached Viridian City.

 

            “Hello, Ash.” Joy greeted him cheerfully. “I see you’re setting out on your own journey.”

            “Yes, Nurse Joy.” Ash replied, as she healed his pokemon quickly. “I don’t want to stay at home anymore. And it’s a fairly decent way to support myself.”

            Joy nodded. “Just be careful, all right?”

            “I’ll try to be, don’t worry.”

            Joy nodded as she waved goodbye to the trainer. “I hope you know what you’re doing…”

 

            Six weeks later…

 

            A pair of golden eyes stared contemptuously at the bloody, mangled mess that had once been a group of team magma agents.

            “Baka. Trying to hurt the dragon pokemon without my noticing? Did you think you could get away with it?”

            Faint, sardonic laughter rippled through the air as a pair of wings carried the figure away.

 

            Another pair of golden eyes smiled.

            “So, you didn’t expect me to show up, did you? And you actually think you can win?”

            The lead Rocket fidgeted nervously. He’d heard rumors…

            “You know, I hate to disappoint you, but it won’t work out that way.”

            And then the world exploded in a million flashes of agony and white-hot pain.

 

            The last pair of golden eyes focused on a far point in the distance.

            “Don’t worry, I’ll carry the flame and come find you when the time is right.”

 

            One day later…

 

            Ash was lying on a branch about ten feet high in the tree, ignoring the yapping down below and wondering just why one Misty Waterflower was following him around. She seemed to be confusing him with someone else.

            “Would you quit calling me Jack?’

            “But that’s your name!” Misty said, pulling out a mallet.

            Ash sighed inwardly. * Baka… *

            Meowth leaped up, and, in an amazing display of agility, sliced the mallet into many tiny pieces.

            Misty growled. ‘That’s it! I challenge you! If you lose, you’re paying me back!”

            “Oh, spare me the theatrics.” Ash said dryly. “All right then. Meowth, you ready?”
            The feline stretched and sharpened his claws.

 

            “Misty chooses Starmie!”
            “Thunderbolt.” Ash replied, not even batting an eyebrow as Starmie was fried.

            Misty gulped like a codfish for a few seconds as Ash walked on. “Leave me alone.”

 

End Chapter!

^_^