Absolute Zero is the Japanese name for the attack ‘Sheer Cold’. You know, the one-hit KO ice-type move?

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
Timeline: Time-What-Time, AU, slightly based on Pokemon Colosseum… okay, quite a bit based on it. Championshipping (Ash x Lance), het!

I play absolute havoc with names because I don’t pay attention to names while I play Colosseum… yes… plus all the trainers have random names… so I’ve taken some of the GSC/RBY/FRLG/RSE characters/gym leaders and put them here instead.

Title: Absolute Zero

An explosion sounded in a desert canyon. A lone figure in a black cloak sped away, accompanied by his pokemon. A smile touched his lips for a second, as he jammed his blue goggles on over his eyes, the vehicle taking off for the small gasoline stand at the edge of Orre’s desert…

Lance jumped off his hoverbike, leaving it there as he walked into the restaurant. Outskirt Strand…the owner looked up at him.

“Hey, Lance.”

“Hi, Brawly. How’s business?”

“Oh, you know, same old, same old… I sell supplies all day, and food, since no one else seems to supply it… did you want something?”

“Blue-eyes Special.” Lance grinned.

“I look the other way if I get paid.” Brawly laughed, as he handed the drink over. “Buying any supplies?”

“I doubt I’m heading off into the desert again. I’m flying home to Johto in a few days. I’m only here to train.”

“Have you been to Pyrite Town?”

“Pyrite?” Lance frowned. “No, I don’t think so… why?”

“Well, there’s a Colosseum there, and also one in Phenac City – I hear Phenac is really nice, an oasis in the desert.”

“I’ll check it out later.”

“There aren’t any wild pokemon around these parts… you were off fighting trainers?”

Lance half-smiled. “Yes.”

Suddenly, the T.V. began to beep. “We have just received breaking news! The abandoned building in Sandstone Canyon turned out to be the headquarters of an organization known as Team Snagem. The larger Snag machine actually has the power to steal a trainer’s pokemon, but it was destroyed. The smaller Snag machine was lost in the explosion, and it is rumored that one of the Team Snagem members has it! The smaller Snag machine is compact enough to be carried by a single person. All trainers should be on the lookout for suspicious characters….”

Lance finished his drink, ordered a BLT and fries, and bought a few more Paralyze Heals and Antidotes from Brawly.

“You’d best be careful out there, Lance.”

“I will.” The trainer grinned. “You know, I never figured out why you moved here from Dewford. You can’t surf in the desert…”

“I know, but with these busted legs, it would hurt too much to live by the sea.” Brawly wheeled his wheelchair closer. “Besides, there are plenty of other fighting trainers out there.”

“I see…”

“Lance, if you’re going out there, I’d like you to take him with you.” Brawly handed over a poke ball.

“What? I can’t take your Makuhita! It’s your only pokemon!”

“He hasn’t been out of the poke ball for almost two years, Lance. Not since my accident…. He’ll just waste away…”

“Brawly…” Lance sighed, “No.” He handed the poke ball back. “You’ll need a pokemon to protect you. What if Team Snagem attacks this … town?”

Brawly hesitated. “I suppose you’re right…”

“Just because you’re in a wheelchair doesn’t mean you can’t battle, right?”

Brawly shrugged. “I don’t know. I just kind of let myself go after… you know.”

“Well, don’t. There are a couple of junior trainers living here. Why don’t you challenge them? Who knows, it may take your mind off things.”

“Thanks, Lance. I’ll be seeing you around.”

Lance nodded. “I’m off to Phenac City then.” He was about to leave the Outskirt Strand when a Junior Trainer ran up to him.

“Wait! You’re a trainer, right? Let’s battle!”
Lance sweatdropped. “All right…”

“Go! Zigzagoon and Zigzagoon!”
Lance sweatdropped again. It seemed that in Orre, there were only double battles… but he wouldn’t lose this easily. “Tempest, Darkstar, go!” Two Dragonair emerged from their poke balls.

Lance smirked as his dragons decimated the Zigzagoons in seconds.

Fritz paled.

“I’m out of here…”

Fritz glared. “I’ll – I’ll challenge you when I’ve trained some more!”
“You’re digging your own grave, kid.” Brawly said.

“What do you mean?”

“Well, I’ll answer after you battle me.”

“What? You’re on! Zigzagoon, go!”

“Makuhita, Bulk Up!”
“Woah, you have pokemon?”

“Yes, I do.” Brawly smiled. “Now use Cross Chop!” Zigzagoon went down… as he only had one pokemon, Brawly couldn’t double battle… well…

Wait…

He had his Machop, too… he had forgotten all about it. Suddenly, to Fritz’s surprise, he smiled. “Machop, go!”

Machop and Makuhita easily polished off both Zigzagoon between them.

“You see,” Brawly, said calmly, “I used to be a gym leader – I was second in the Houen League. Lance, on the other hand, is probably still Kanto or Johto League Elite Four and Champion, although I can’t remember which one. So the chances of your victory are slim to none…”

Fritz gulped.

Lance parked his bike in front of Phenac City. It had been a fairly short ride. He took his goggles off and tried vainly to brush the dust and grit off of his black bodysuit. Hmm… maybe he shouldn’t wear black in the desert…

But it felt safer…

Still, his hair was an absolute wreck and if he didn’t wear full-body coverings, he’d be covered with dust.

He was about to enter the City when he saw two men carrying a struggling bag… that he couldn’t ignore.

What if they were kidnapping a pokemon?

“What are you doing?”

“Who are you?”

“Doesn’t matter,” The second man said. “Here’s interfering in our business! Let’s knock him out of the way. Go, Koffing and Whismur!”

Lance’s smile was decidedly evil. “I don’t even need two pokemon… Tempest, you need some more experience. Dragon Rage!”

The female Dragonair was more than happy to knock out these pokemon. The man paled. Sharp teeth that should not belong on such a peaceful looking pokemon flashed brightly in the sun.

His partner hurriedly stepped up, almost shaking with rage, or maybe fear. “I won’t let you get away with this! Magmar, Muk, go!”

“Interesting….” Lance purred. “Well, if they’re going to be pushy – these are higher level, Hakuryuu dear, so just hyper beam them both….”

Joe’s jaw dropped as the Dragonair easily knocked out his two pokemon. Lance smirked. “Well?”

“Let’s retreat!”

“Good idea!”

They both took off running, leaving the wriggling sack behind…

Lance walked over and began to pull at the cords, but they were deadly knotted. With a sigh, he summoned his Aerodactyl out of his poke ball.

“Ptera dear, could you?”

Aerodactyl’s wings glinted as he gave a fanged grin in response. His sharp wings made quick work of the bag, but what tumbled out was not a pokemon.

It was a girl…

She had reddish eyes and black hair in two little spiked ponytails, wore white short-shorts and a red t-shirt with a Charmander and Pikachu on it. “Oh! Thank you for saving me!”

Lance blinked. “You look familiar…”

“I’m Ashline Ketchum from Pallet Town!”

“Ah, I remember now. I met you at the Kanto League a few years back. You were still a kid then.”

Ashline blushed. “Yes… thank you for saving me.”

“No problem. Are you vacationing in Orre as well?”

“Y-yes…”

“Well, why don’t we travel together? You can’t be more than twelve… it’s not safe for you to wander around alone…”

“I’m thirteen, not twelve!” Ashline sulked. “But sure, I don’t mind…”

And so the partnership was formed….

End Chapter

Completed 7/10/05

Yepyep, new fic!

Lance: Ash is the girl this time?

Phantomness: *Evil grin* Ashline rides again.

Ash: Oh…

Shoyko: Please, please don’t be darkfic…

Kairo: *nods*

Pika-chan: Fluff maybe?

Phantomness: We’ll see…