I’ve already got a plot! Yay!
Disclaimer: Pokemon belongs to Satoshi Tajiri, Nintendo, and Shogakukan Comics. This non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfic belongs to me under international copyright laws and taking it without permission is plagiarism.

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

Chapter 6

 

            Summer dawned warm and golden.

            Ash was getting acquainted with his newest acquisition, another pet from Delia. Well, she thought pokemon were a good investment. Besides, Ash didn’t demand loads of toys and so she could use the money saved – which was quite a bit, considering how high-tech and expensive toys were nowadays, really, they were much too costly and shoddy – for a possibly ‘rainy day’ in the future. Some of the rest went into his college fund. After all, it was never too early to start planning!

 

            Doduo wasn’t a good battler, but it was more than adequate size for him to ride. That was good! So Doduo trained some, but mostly just became Ash’s ‘steed’. After all, he could run and fly!

            But as summer drew towards a close, Ahs was faced with another problem. Who would he invite to his birthday party?

            Delia was a bit disappointed her child had not become more social, but for some reason, even after her precautions, he was still being picked on mercilessly. Not physically, just emotionally and with rude words. It broke her heart to see it, but what could she do?

            Somehow, home schooling was becoming more and more appealing.

            “You aren’t going to invite anyone?”

            “Don’t know who.” Ash sighed.

            “Well, how about that nice trainer with the Dragonite?”

            “Lance?” Ash had seen him a few times around Pallet, fishing, and had always gone over to say hi and strike up a conversation.

            They weren’t exactly friends, more like friendly acquaintances, but… “Well… maybe. I don’t know where he lives.”

            “I’m sure the Post Office does.” Delia said helpfully. Seeing as arguing with his mom would brook no good, Ash obediently went to the post office and mailed off a birthday invitation.

            The postal service really is an amazing thing. They managed to deliver the letter to Whirl Islands in four days.

            … Although it had taken a diver…

           

            < So are you going to go? >

            < I doubt it will blow my cover, Father. >
            < Indeed. Have fun, Chosen. >
            < I will! >

 

            Luminous sky sprinkled with a few fluffy clouds heralded the day when Ash had arrived in the world. Lance arrived a few minutes before the time specified on the invitation, and knocked on Ash’s door.

            “Hi!” Ash said. “I’m glad you came, Lance!”

            Frowning at the absence of any other people, Lance pondered whether or not to pose a question that could be taken the wrong way.

            “Um…who else did you invite?”

            The boy deflated. “Just you.”

            The first thought that came to Lance’s mind was * don’t you have any friends? *. However, he did not make any other comments.

            Delia bustled out in a cheery white apron, hands in red-and-blue checked oven mitts and holding a plate of muffins. “Oh! Welcome dear!”

 

            Wincing a little at the level of saccharine in that tone – albeit genuine, Lance nodded politely, placed Ash’s gift-wrapped present (blue paper with Magikarps) on the table, and went outside with Lance to play. They wound up swimming in the creek, and when Delia called them in both were muddy and drenched, but happy.

            Swimming was nice!

            “To the shower, and get that mud off.” Delia said. Ash didn’t object, they were both boys, so they soaped each other off – nothing sexual about it, just semi-friendship, and dressed in dry clothes. Lance had luckily brought his ‘trainer’s backpack’, so had some spare changes.

            Then, he enjoyed a delicious meal of honey ham and greens and baked potatoes. Ash’s mom was more than a decent cook; she had superb culinary skills! A pity he couldn’t hire her to cook for him…

            Ash smiled at Lance’s excited flush. “My mom’s a great cook, isn’t she?”

            Delia blushed as Lance nodded energetically. Then, after dinner, they played Monopoly, which was fun, and Uno, and a few rounds of Gin Rummy.

            Finally, around eight, Delia brought out the cake, deep succulent chocolate lightly frosted with strawberries and vanilla pudding, and lit the candles. They sang Happy birthday with vigor, cut the cake, and began eating it. Lance discovered that the cake was even better than the earlier meal, as unlikely as it may seem.

            Apparently her scope of talents was deeply entrenched in food.

 

            Lance was halfway in his second slice of cake when Ash began unwrapping his presents. A six-pack of unbleached cotton underwear was revealed, much to Ash’s extreme embarrassment. The other two packages contained three poke balls in one, and a Charmander poke doll in the other.

            Lance silently gave his approval. She wasn’t frugal to the point of insanity, but neither was she a mother who spoiled her child.

            “Thanks mom!” Ash said, hugging her tightly. Delia smiled.

 

            Next, he turned his attention to Lance’s present. Cute wrapping paper, although he hoped Lance hadn’t given him a Magikarp…

            They were pretty useless pokemon after all…

            Frowning as he discovered a box taped shut, Ash borrowed a letter opener from the coffee table and began trying to rip off the tape.

            He did not have much success.

            Lance was smiling as Ash put away the letter opener and took out a pair of large scissors. Maybe this would work…

            The cardboard tore. Seizing his opportunity, Ash pulled…

            Unfortunately, that only succeeded in sticking the tape to his fingers. Ash carefully pulled the sticky side off, rolling the tape into little balls, which Delia tossed in the wastebasket, and then kept cutting.

            When the present was finally freed from its bulky packaging, Ash gasped.

            It couldn’t be…

            A set of three evolution stones sat there. True, he didn’t _have_ any pokemon that would evolve by stone, but still!
            “Thank you!”

            Lance was slightly taken aback by the hug, but relaxed. Ash wasn’t attacking him after all! “Do you like it?”

            “I love it!”

            Children were so cute, Delia decided, as she carefully put them away. She’d deposit them in the back, and Ash would get them back when he started his journey. Those were worth quite a bit…

            After a few minutes, Lance hastily announced he had to get home before it was too late, so Ash bade him farewell and he left.

            What a great birthday!

 

End Chapter

Completed 10/19/04

Ash: I’m a star!
Shoyko: No darkfic as of now! Yay!
Pika-chan: *drooling at the descriptions of food*

Phantomness: I’m trying not to give Ash the same pokemon in every single fic, but it’s hard…