So the Snagging Fest begins…
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
Chapter 5
“This isn’t right…” Ash said, as she watched Lance heal his pokemon at the Machine in the Colosseum Entrance.
“What do you mean?”
“All the trainers in this town have Shadow Pokémon… something odd is going on. Where are they getting them?”
“Well, why don’t we ask?”
Ashline blushed. “Oh… yes, that would work.”
Lance spotted a trainer he had not yet battled. “So,” He said casually, “Where are you all getting your strong pokemon?”
“Oh, that’s easy. Beat four trainers in the Colosseum, and you’ll win one. If you’re really lucky, or really strong, you can probably get more…”
“Many thanks…”
This would be easy…
If Team Snagem were really behind this, then they would recognize him. That wouldn’t do at all…
“Ashline?”
“Y-yes?”
“How good are you at pokemon battling?”
Ash gasped. “What? You want me to – you want me to battle in the Colosseum?”
“They’ll probably recognize me,” Lance didn’t bother to give further explanation. “You, on the other hand, perhaps not…” He steered her back to the hotel and then began digging through his pack. “Here.”
Ashline stared at the short blue dress with a surprised glance. “Um… Lance… how did you get this?”
“Clair’s of course,” Lance retorted. “She told me to get it dry-cleaned and I forgot to give it back to her. That’s why I still have it with me. Why?”
“I’m scared!”
“Look, Ash, you were the one who wanted me to help you save all the shadow pokemon, right?”
Ash sniffled. “Yes, but I’m scared…”
“Fine, fine…” * Useless girl… at least she can see Shadow pokemon… * “Turn around. Ah, never mind... Just close your eyes and don’t come into the bathroom.”
Ashline did as was told. A few minutes later, she heard the door open and peeked out. She gasped.
Lance’s hair – it had been dusty and rather dull, but now it was a bright, vibrant red, glittering with gold and silver streaks…. His black clothing had changed into a white jacket and pants, trimmed with dark blue…
The goggles were gone, and his eyes – well, she wasn’t sure what color they had been before, but now they were silver. Contact lenses? Had to be.
“I hope this fools them.” Lance muttered. * If they’re anything like Team Rocket though, it should… *
“I’m sorry.” Ashline sniffled.
“It’s fine. Look, just watch the other trainers while I’m battling, all right? And if you see any shadow pokemon, tell me.”
“O-okay!”
He wouldn’t use Meowth and Natu, that would give it away… they were down to about one-third or one-fourth darkness left each, after all that battling. So if he got their dark bars down to zero, would they be cured?
If it was that easy… no, it couldn’t be.
There was probably something he didn’t know yet. He’d try to find out then…
“We’re terribly sorry, but the Colosseum is closed right now.” The receptionist said, blushing at the sight of this handsome trainer. He must be new in town…
“That’s such a pity,” Lance purred. “Well, if you’re not busy, would you like to have a soda with me?”
Grace swooned. “Yes!”
Lance offered her his arm and steered her outside, where he treated her to cherry cream soda. Ashline seethed.
Was this what he meant by investigating? Grr…
But she was too scared to go wandering off alone… and she didn’t even have a hoverbike, so she couldn’t go home…
It looked like she was stuck with him.
Grace suddenly felt inexplicably sleepy as she finished her soda. A minute later, her head hit the table. Lance smirked.
“Ditto, could you?”
The shape-shifting pokemon smiled and turned into an exact duplicate of Grace. The real receptionist was left in a dumpster. She wouldn’t wake for several hours…
Now with ditto in tow, Lance easily got into the Colosseum. He saw about twenty trainers, battling amongst each other. They all wore beige scarves, indicating that they were Colosseum trainers…
“So,” Lance said, startling them, “I thought the challenge had started. Anyone want to battle me?”
At once, the area was full of ground pokemon. Lance hid behind Mysdreavus, watching as his Slowbro and Cloyster and Kingdra razed them all quickly…
Brian whistled to himself from behind a pillar. They ought to give this guy a few shadow pokemon. He was good…
Maybe they should give him a Shadow Mantine? They had a couple of those… water pokemon were rather easy to turn shadow…
Lance recalled his pokemon and grinned. “Well, well, I guess type advantage does count for something…”
“Excuse me,” Brian said. “But because of your battling skill, you have been selected to receive a special pokemon. Please follow me.”
Lance followed Brian into an abandoned warehouse. Ashline slunk after them, and neither seemed to notice. Phew!
At the front desk, the receptionist smiled at him and then Brian came back with a poke ball. “Here.”
“What is it?” Lance asked innocently, and as Brian began explaining, he secretly pocketed what looked like an important file lying there on the desk…
Lance opened the poke ball, seeing a Mantine. Lovely…
“That’s a shadow pokemon!” Ashline gasped, then eeped as all eyes turned to her.
“It’s the girl who can see shadow pokemon! We’ve got to capture her!” Brian said. “Yanma, Pineco, go!”
Ashline freaked and hid behind Lance.
Lance sighed inwardly. * There goes my cover… * “Charizard! Flamethrower!” No use pretending then…
Pineco and Yanma both went up in flames… the two other bug pokemon that followed met the same fate…
Brian was about to flee when he froze. Lance smirked. Mysdreavus’s Mean Look was working wonders…
“Ash, which one of his pokemon was shadow?”
“Y-Yanma…”
“Excellent.” Lance pocketed the poke ball containing Yanma, and then watched as Brian fled. Another shadow pokemon captured…
End Chapter
Completed 7/11/05