I hope to end this series soon…

Disclaimer: I don’t own pokemon. ‘Nuff said!

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

Chapter 8

 

            “Elekid, use Thunderpunch!” The tiny lightning pipsqueak jumped high up and slammed a fistful of electricity into the startled Murkrow.

            Ash tossed a poke ball. One dark down!

 

            “Mysdreavus, use Mean Look! Okay, Growlithe, Flamethrower!” Growlithe had originally been another pet. After all, they were very loyal and protective and were deemed good pokemon. Also, very handy as guard dogs…

            Flames engulfed the surprised Houndour, but fire to fire/dark wasn’t terribly effective. Still, a burn was caused.

            Mysdreavus stayed by, keeping Mean Look on so Houndour couldn’t run away.

            “Good! Now, Wooper, use Surf!”

            Houndour barely hung onto consciousness, and as it were, it was soon ‘balled and added to the pack.

            Now Ash had _two_ dark-type pokemon. He wondered if he should catch any more, but left it alone for now.

 

            A week was spent training in Celadon before to Saffron he went again. This time, the Abra was no match for Murkrow. He didn’t even need to pull out Houndoom. Satisfied, Ash continued on his way.

Sabrina was not happy.

 

            So she stalked him. Ash could be amazingly oblivious to some things, but being stalked wasn’t one of them. So that night, the first of many, he sent Murkrow and Houndoom out to stalk. He was unpleasantly surprised when the gym leader – who he later learned was only three years older than he was – clambered out of the bushes speedily to avoid the dark pokemon. She hated dark types!

            “Why are you following me?” It was a perfectly reasonable question, after all…

            “I’m intrigued. How did you defeat my pokemon?”

            ‘If I answer your question, you answer mine.”

            “Fair enough.” Sabrina demurred, although she honestly had no reason to comply. She could just teleport away afterwards. “Ask away.”

            “How did you beat my pokemon with your Abra? Chimecho said she felt a special force. What was it?”

            < What?! >

            The normally unflappable, coolly distant gym leader was startled.

            Ash blinked.

            < How did you know? >

            “She felt it, as I said.”

 

            < Fine. It’s the power of the Yellow Flute I carry. > Sabrina ground up, then wondered why she had told. That was dangerous!

            She’d better alter his memory immediately.

            However, Houndoom blocked her way, growling and baring his teeth. Don’t you dare hurt our Leader! Dog pokemon had a pack mentality, so Ash was the alpha in a sense. Sabrina backed down.

            Powerful psychic or not, she didn’t like darks!

            Therefore, beating the boy into submission to crack his head and forcibly extricate the valuable information she had unwittingly exposed was not an option.

            Ash tensed. “Don’t…”

            Mysdreavus drifted around him, forming a protective shield with her ghost body. < Don’t you dare! >

            In the face of such adversary, Sabrina relented.

           

            < Fine. I won’t do anything. However, if he tells anyone, the punishment will be severe. > She spat.

            < As you will… > Chimecho nodded.

            “Are you going to stop stalking me now?” Ash pointedly inquired.

            < Perhaps not. You amuse me. >

            “Huh?”

            < She wants to travel with you. > Mysdreavus translated.

            “Well, why didn’t she just say so? This could be interesting…”

            And so, they did.

 

END

Probably will be a sequel with Ash x Sabrina…

Completed 10/20/04

Although it is tempting – very tempting, to wrap up with a kiss, I know that won’t work. I don’t believe in the love at first sight deal, really, so I need to have Ash and Sabrina work out their currently nonexistent relationship. Sabrina also has to lose her attitude…