And… another chapter

DISCLAIMER: Who reads these? Anyways, pokemon belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. This non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfic belongs to me!

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

Ash is 7 in this chapter, and Lance is 12…

Chapter 5

 

            Accidents happen.

            No one could have predicted that Brendan would contract pneumonia so severe it killed him within forty-eight hours. Therefore, a new guardian was needed. But whom could they use? It would have to be a child, and adaptable. On the other hand, the rest of the guardians were nearing their teens, so…

            What to do?

 

            For Christmas that year, Delia got Ash a second pokemon. Another pet of course, but she was sure that this would be good.

            Wooper was pleased enough with his new trainer, and Ash was most delighted when a second pokemon joined his roster. But when he returned to school after winter break, he was shocked to find that the bullies had suddenly decided to make up for lost time. This did not make him happy.

            It was when Sibyl had started hitting him that Ash had snapped.

            “Chimecho, I choose you!”

            “A pokemon! That’s illegal on school grounds!”

            “But we’re not on school grounds anymore.” Ash said, his voice gaining confidence. He could feel his pokemon preparing for battle, and really, facing down this threat would be like those occasional wild mankey.

            Those people were just ugly fighting types that needed to be put down. There was nothing unique about that.

            “Hah! Fine then, this’ll be entertaining! First we’ll beat up your pokemon and then we’ll beat you! Go, Raticate!”

            Chimecho reacted in an eye blink, blasting Raticate away with Confusion. It went flying… as Sibyl gaped. Still, the fifth-grade girl refused to back down. With a kamikaze shout, she charged.

            Seeing their leader act this way, Brad and Dustin followed. They were brawn without brains mostly, so…

            Ash smiled as Chimecho teleported him out of the way. Then, she turned her attention to these intruders – Master didn’t like them at all, and they hurt him so they deserved to be punished – all this she could feel with her psychic powers. So…

            Take this! Psywave!

            Calm was Ash’s composure, as three bullies expeditiously became blurs flying into the horizon.

            “Great work, Chimecho!”

            Chimecho smiled as she hugged her master. I know.

 

            With some more training, she would be able to speak in telepathy, and then forge bonds between trainer and pokemon. That would be useful, although Ash didn’t know it. Basically what he considered was that he had to train his pokemon to get stronger. With that in mind, Ash released his Wooper and so began his daily stalk in Pallet’s grasslands.

            Wild Pidgey appeared!
            This I can do. Wooper said, using Water Gun. Pidgey shook off its wet feathers angrily and then dived again.

            Another Water Gun knocked it off course and into a convenient rock. Well, that Pidgey was down.

            “You’re a great pokemon too!” Sure, Wooper boasted a lower level than his Chimecho, but then again, this was training-to-level ratio.

            Plus, Wooper was leveling up faster as Ash had learned a bit about pokemon training. With a smile, they continued training.

 

           

            < Twenty-one seconds. > Lugia reported, as Lance slumped down tiredly.

            < Still need work… >

            < You’re getting better at least, child. Do not overexert yourself or else it may take months to heal. >

            < Hai, father. >

            < Why are you discouraged? If you are speedy enough, this will be adequate to soundly defeat your opponent. >

            < Really? >

            < Lying to you would serve no purpose. > Seeing the truth in that statement, Lance nodded and began training again.

            Father/lugia-san was right after all.

           

            < All right. What is four times six? >

            “Twenty-four.”

            < Two times eight? >

            “Sixteen.”

            < Seven times seven? >

            “Um… forty-seven? >

            < Forty-nine, Ash. > Chimecho put down the flashcard and picked up the next one. < Five times nine? >

            “Forty-five.”

            Ash was busy studying for the multiplication test he had the next day, so Chimecho was quizzing him…

            While he was busy doing sit-ups? Well, strengthen both the mind and the body. To run away like his mom always said, he had to be fit!

            Therefore, he could kill two birds with one stone by doing this.

            With a groan, Ash slumped down after thirty sit-ups. * Ow… my stomach… * He took a drink of water, and then began the push-ups.

            The quizzing and exercise continued for an hour, and then he took a break.

            Mom said not to overtax oneself.

            “It’s not that I want to get hurt.” Ash yawned. * But at least Sibyl’s left me alone for the last two weeks… *

            That was good.

            But what if she wanted revenge? Well, he’d deal with that later.

 

            < So have you found someone yet? > Lugia asked Ho-oh when the bird came to visit.

            < No luck. We’re all searching, but there’s no one with the aura to match the Yellow Flute. This could be a problem. >

            < Can’t you give it to Koga and Aya? Surely a third flute can’t hurt? >

            < Don’t you think we’ve _tried_? It zapped both of them. >

            < Oh dear. >

            < I know! > Ho-oh burst into flames for a second before he calmed down. < I don’t know what else to do. >

            < If it zaps people, maybe it’s meant for a trainer with electric-types. >

            < Maybe. > Ho-oh admitted. < After all, Koga and Aya are poison, Lance is dragon, and Whitney is normal… >

            < Then… > Lugia prompted.

            < I’ll send Raikou and Zapdos to look! That’s their area of expertise! >

            < True, true. > Lugia yawned and Ho-oh took that as a cue to leave.

 

            Lance walked out. < Father? Who was it? >

            < Do not concern yourself, Chosen. It was just Ho-oh. >

            Lance nodded respectfully. < Hai. I shall return to my training then. > He picked up the two daggers he had been ‘dancing’ with and resumed.

            It was a daring move, trying to teach Lance the Dragon Dance, but if he mastered it, then he could claim Dragon Mastery.

            That would be a very good thing.

            Lugia settled down on a large bubble and watched as Lance practiced.

 

End Chapter

Completed 10/19/04