Whee!

Disclaimer: Pokemon belongs to Satoshi Tajiri and Nintendo. This is non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfic written by me and guess what, it’s mine!
Notes: <> for telepathy, ** for thoughts, italics if a pokemon talks.

Chapter 8: Shimmer

The rounds were set, the matches decided, as Ash waited on the Rock Field for his opponent.

To his surprise, he was up against Kelly. Well, that would be quick then.

“Go! Venusaur!”
She thought he was using a rock pokemon? Ash smiled, he did not have any rock-types.

“Charmander, go.”
The tiny flame lizard looked completely cowed, next to the towering bulk of grass and flower.

Kelly laughed. “You haven’t even evolved your starter? That’s so stupid! Venusaur, Vine Whip!”
Venusaur grabbed Charmander, lifting it into the air. That was a mistake.

Charmander angrily shot flames from his paws, which burned down the vines all the way to Venusaur’s flower, dealing considerable damage.

Ash smirked, as Kelly stupefied, recalled her pokemon.

“Go! Poliwag!”
Who hadn’t evolved their pokemon again?
“Charmander, Flaming Thunder.”

Summon electricity, combine it with a flamethrower, and let the flames coat the lightning so it cannot be seen.

Poliwag disappeared under a sea of flames.

“Poliwag, Water Gun!”

A thin stream of water shot out, but it pierced only a small section of the flame barrier.

Trapped inside, the electricity hissed as it fried the frog.

“Two to the Red Trainer!” The announcer yelled.

Kelly gulped. “Seaking, go! Hydro Pump!”

Smart, very smart. * But you have to hit Charmander. * Ash thought. * If you just shoot water randomly, it won’t do much good. *

“Flaming thunder again.”

Same trick never hurts twice. Seaking fared even worse, already disliking battling on land, now with the added heat and shock it fainted.

“And the Red Trainer Ash Ketchum from Pallet Wins!”

Ash hugged Charmander tightly, as Charmander looked slightly abashed but also extremely proud.

He was proving his worth.

And he knew he was worth time and effort and money to his trainer, who loved him. wasn’t that the most important part?

Of course.

Lance and Ash sat together in the locker rooms after the round was over.

“Quite speedy, and your combination was well-executed.’

“Thank you.”

“I am only speaking the truth.” Lance said, as she held him in her arms, rocking him gently to relax him.

Ash leaned into her embrace, absorbing the comfort provided.

Ah…

He loved being held. It was not sexual, it was the feeling of security.

Ash wasn’t sure if he loved her.

Certainly, he did, but romantically? She was not human. However, it was not that aspect that deterred him.

After all, with his magic skills, was he human any longer?
The real question was time.

Dragons were immortal unless killed. Would she even consider loving him? He knew she was possessive and jealous, but… was that the same thing?

Love was so hard to analyze. You couldn’t put it in a box or graph it on a chart or use chemicals to react with it in a laboratory.

Not weighed on a scale, love was different.

Love could not be measured in inches or pounds, it could not be held or touched.

It was intangible.

Still, Ash believed that she loved him.

He waited for the next round complacently.

< You didn’t use your own magic, did you? >
< No >
< Good. >

Ash beamed, as she kissed him. It was just a gentle touch, nothing more. They stayed locked in that position, just absorbing each other’s life and vitality.

Waiting for the next round…

Good things in life come to those who wait. Ash found that the principle applied quite well to his own experience.

Rushing ahead blindly was not always a wise move.

And there was always time to lean back and smell the roses. Metaphorically, yes.

“Let’s play a game…”

Josh jumped, hearing a disembodied voice.

It turned out to be a little girl with red hair.

“How did you get here?”
“I’ll tell you if you play a game with me.” She said, holding up a doll.

Josh sighed. ‘Look, kid, bug off. I’m busy.”

“That’s not nice!”
“I’m not a nice trainer.” He glared. “Deal with it.”
“That’s all I needed to hear…” She giggled.

A wave of fire surrounded the girl’s body, and what looked like a Moltres appeared. Before Josh could attack, a beam of gold light shot out of the phoenix’s mouth and vaporized him.

Charlotte serenely flew back home.

Another idiot down, perhaps another stumbling block in Master’s way removed. Who wanted to waste time?

Besides, he deserved it. From her earlier mind-scan, she knew he had raped several unlucky female trainers and force-fed them amnesia pills to clear his name.

Smart of him, but it ended now.

She found Ash and Lance sleeping, the bed covers tangled around both of them, so she hopped back into her cage, shut the door, and went to sleep as well.

End Chapter!
Started 3/11/04, completed 3/12/04

Put up an extra chapter 4 you!