Title: CPI
Author: Shadow/Phantomness
Pairing: None
Fandom: Pokémon
Theme: #20, CPI (Consumer Price Index)
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Pokemon belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics.
This non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfiction belongs to me under international
copyright laws and taking it is plagiarism. Thank you. *Phantomness bows*
Notes: <> for telepathy, ** for thoughts, italics
if a pokemon talks
Warnings: AU, OOC
The glint of sun off gold and gems almost blinded him as he walked down the hall, shaking his head at the ostentatious display of wealth. In contrast, his suit was stark black only broken by a glimmer of red at the throat. As he threw the double doors open, the boy glanced up guiltily while the scantily clad girls surrounding him scattered.
“Ah… hi Lance,” Ash said sheepishly.
Lance nodded curtly. “Champion.”
“So, I know I said you could drop by anytime, but what’s the purpose of this visit?” The Orange League Champion asked.
Lance shrugged. “I’m resigning from the Indigo League, so I was wondering if you would mind stepping in.”
He stared at the older Trainer for a long moment. “What?”
“You heard me.” Lance said. “You have enough ranks for Indigo, and with your Orange Championship and your gains from the Battle Frontier, I think it will not be a problem. The Gym Leaders will vouch for you, if need be, and I seem to recall that you met Prima in the Orange Islands?”
“…” Again, Ash blinked. “Are you serious?”
“Of course I am serious, Champion.”
“But why are you retiring? It seems so sudden!”
“That is a secret.” Lance said quietly. “I should be leaving now.”
He was sick and tired of the politics that went on at the Plateau, in the boardrooms, the bedrooms, and everywhere in between. There was no place for integrity there, and he had learned it the hard way.
Even being a G-man did not take him away, most of the time. Moreover, it was lonely. No, retirement was looking better and better.
The League was rotten, and he was sick of trying to fix it. President Goodman could have his empire. He would leave, and finally, be left in peace.
Ash waved goodbye, but when Lance had gone, he dismissed everyone and went to his room, brooding.
Was it because of him?
He shook his head as he glanced around, suddenly realizing, as if for the first time, just how gaudy it was, and how utterly worthless, because no matter how much money he had, he couldn’t buy love. He could not buy friendship either. How long had it been since he had seen Misty or Brock, or even Mary or Dawn?
It shocked him when he could not remember.
Power had gone to his head, and now, was it too late to go back? He did not know, and that was frightening. What should he do? What could he do?
Ash decided that maybe, he could at least try to apologize for his absence, and so, he went to his videophone, and dialed the number so he could talk to his Mom.
Finally, there was a step in the right direction.
End Fic
Completed 1/10/07
Edited 9/9/09
Consumer Price Index is the measure of the overall cost of goods and services bought by a typical consumer. (Brief Principles of Macroeconomics, 4th Edition by N. Gregory Mankiw)