Another chapter

 

Link masters – well, I have my ways

SS2 Megami-sama – thank you! *grins*

Incomplete13 – oh don’t worry, Lance will be here in a few chapters…

 

Chapter 3: VS Rattata

 

            Sunlight, Ash decided, was highly overrated.

            The strange new pokemon he was fighting was so bright that he could hardly see it, as he clung onto Aerodactyl tightly.

            Luckily, Aeroy’s echolocation bursts were doing a good job of finding the target. Soon, a good burst of supersonic managed to confuse the pokemon long enough for it to stop shining.

            Red blinked. “It’s just a Rattata? But then, why is it that color?”

            Don’t ask me. Aeroy said, as he grabbed Rattata with Bite and Red caught it in a poke ball.

            The rattata was pink.

            “Maybe Professor Oak-san will know. I’ll send him this one specially.”

            Ash opened his pokédex, shifted to the transfer option, and dropped the poke ball in. “Professor Oak-san?”

            “Hm?” The man asked, still not awake, as he had not yet brewed his morning coffee.

            “I caught a Rattata that was pink today, instead of purple. I’m sending it to you now.”

            ‘Interesting.” Oak muttered. “Thank you. I will study it carefully. How are you doing on your pokédex completion?”

            ‘Almost seventy.” Red said proudly. “But that’s not that much.”

            Oak nodded. “Pokemon are almost four hundred species in number. You still have a long ways to go. Any badges yet?”
            “No, I’ve only been exploring the routes.”

            “Very well. But you need the badges before December, because the championships start then.”

            “I know! Thank you.”

            Oak nodded again and then hung up.

 

            “I wonder why he wasn’t that excited?” Ash mused, before realizing that it was approximately five A.M. and no sane person would be up so early, especially if they went to bed around one every night.

            At least he tried to get eight hours a night.

            Sometimes though, there would be night time ambushes that Jigglypuff couldn’t take care of by herself and she would wake him up to deal with them.

            That was the Rattata scenario. Only it had been a swarm of rattata, and the leader had been this strangely colored one.

            Venus had evolved into Ivysaur. She and Lapras had taken down most of them, with Aeroy picking off a few from the air.

 

            Going back to bed?

            “Probably.” Ash said, yawning. “Wake me up in about an hour.”

            Can do!

            Lapras stayed out to chat with Aerodactyl.

           

            So, Aeroy, how have you been? She asked shyly.

            Ah, same old, same old. The aerodactyl replied brashly, cracking a grin and showing several rows of serrated teeth. You’re looking lovelier every day, milady.

            Lapras paled pinkly. Aeroy!

            What?

            That’s not nice to tease!

            Who said I was teasing? The aerodactyl asked. We’ve known each other for at least a year, and I admire you.

            Y-you do?

            ‘Course! You survived an incompetent trainer before you got Red.

            A-a… I-I see…Lapras stuttered, still bashful.

 

            Precisely fifty-seven minutes later, Poliwhirl woke him up with the usual morning splash to the face.

            “C-cold…” Red said, grabbing a towel and wiping his face and hair dry. “But at least it works.”

            Poli beamed.

            So, are we off to a gym at last?

            “I don’t see why not. Off to Pewter it is!”

            Red looked around for other trainers, but saw none, so he switched off the excruciating dizziness.

            People always overlooked him, which is why he put on the semi-arrogant and stupid façade.

            His pokemon could see through it, but strangely, no one else.

 

            “Come on, if I was that stupid, would I have a 99% saving record as an intern?” He asked no one in particular.

            Blindness is a common ailment among all species. Poliwrath reminded him.

            “Guess you’re right…”

 

            A few hours later, they reached Pewter. Ash hit the pokemon center first, as always, and then, with healed pokemon, headed to the arena.

            A row of junior trainers was waiting in the individual rings.

            Ash hid a smile. * Time to battle… let’s go. *

 

            He walked into the first ring. Immediately, the junior trainer released a Graveler. Both members of the team charged.

            Ash jumped up into the air, throwing out Poliwhirl in midair. “Ice Beam!”

            The Graveler froze in mid-jump, landing on his trainer’s leg.

            “OWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!”

            Seeing as the trainer was pinned, and his pokemon was in no shape to continue, the referee waved Red onto the next ring.

 

            Ten battles later, Poli and Venus were shining like stars in a clear sky. Brock, who had been watching it all from a window, was quite impressed.

            “They haven’t even landed a hit, his water pokemon has speed, and he obviously taught his grass pokemon those vine whip techniques to keep the others away.”

            Think he’s worthy of you? Onix asked.

            “Looking forwards to it.” Brock said.

 

            “You two all right?”

            Heh, compared to the wild, this is easy. Poliwhirl said cockily.

            I am fine. Venus added, as they sat in the sunlight outside and waited for the judge to call Ash in.

            She liked photosynthesis.

            “That’s great.” Red grinned. “I can’t wait to fight Brock.”

            We’re cheering for you!

            Yes, we are!

            “Now, the only question is who to use…”

 

End Chapter