Inspired while looking at fake cheats on a pokemon website. Well, who am I to deny plotbunnies?

Disclaimer: I don’t’ own pokemon, Nintendo does. I only have Blue, Silver, and Crystal version on my GB. I do own new characters, pokemon, and things that show up in my ficcies, as well as the writing itself. No copyright infringement is intended, and I do not have any money I’m making from this.

Notes: <> for telepathy, ** for thoughts, italics for pokemon talking.

Summary: When Misty unexpectedly receives more power than she could have dreamed of, her friendship with Ash dissolves.

Timeline: Post-Cerulean City, pre-Lavender Town, Indigo Arc

Title: Brittle Strength

Chapter 1: Awesome? No

Misty stared at the sight. “Oh my god… it actually worked!” She cheered, as the Gambler she was fighting faded away to be replaced with a Mew. Fumbling for the free master ball she had gotten from Silph’s president as a gift, she threw it at the rare pokemon. Two twitches later, the legendary was hers.

“See Ash? I was right.” Misty smirked. “So now I have Mew. I’ll be unbeatable as a gym leader! Can’t you see? You’re a pathetic trainer! I’ve always been better than you! In fact, you only got my badge because you rescued my Seel!”

Ash looked at Brock tearfully. The future breeder shook his head. “Ash, you should use your head more. I’d have to agree with that.”

“What about friendship, misty?”

“What friendship?” Misty scowled. “I’m only following you around because you still haven’t paid me for a bike yet!”

“So, you don’t like me at all?”

Misty laughed. “You are more dense than I thought!” She laughed. “Oh, and I’ll be taking Pikachu as payment.”

“You can’t!” Ash said frantically.

“I can and I will.” Misty said, as she grabbed Pikachu off Ash’s hat and vanished in a glow of Mew’s teleport.

Ash stared at his empty hands in shock. “S-she…”

Brock tried to comfort him, but it was little use. Finally, he had Onix tunnel them back to Pallet, where he left Ash in care of his mother and went on his own way.

All the while, a pair of golden eyes watched. Calculations were made and chess pieces moved, while a month passed in stony silence.

At last, the game was set, and smiling, the figure set off to play.

Ash groomed Pidgeotto’s fur as she preened.

“Pidgeotto… is it true that I’m a bad trainer?”

Pidgeotto fixed a beady eye on him. What brought this up?

“I mean Misty… and Pikachu was my strongest too.”

Pidgeotto laughed as she shook her head. You’re wrong, Ash. Pikachu was strong only because you were. I guarantee that if you put that frame of heart in me, I would be better as well. It’s no secret it was your favorite.

Ash frowned. “Really?”

Trust me. Pidgeotto coaxed, as she looked into his brown eyes. Ash was surprised to see wisdom peering out of them.

Almost as if she were more than a pokemon, he mused.

Dismissing it as inconsequential, Ash finished brushing her feathers out neatly and walked inside on padded feet.

Delia sighed as she watched him. Her poor baby… his dream had been vanquished by one careless stroke.

He loved too much.

He was too kind to others, not knowing how easily it was to be betrayed.

Jaws tightening slightly in anger, Delia remembered when her boyfriend had left her pregnant and ran off with her best friend.

Stephanie had been a lot prettier, with flowing blonde hair and gorgeous amethyst eyes, dressed in scandalous dark blue leather.

Life wasn’t fair, but it had to be dealt with.

Still, there was one thing she hadn’t told Ash.

She should tell him. Foresight ran in her family, and she didn’t want him to kill himself off one night in despair.

She had to let him go on his own way with a new hope.

Otherwise… hell could break loose again.

But it was so hard! She didn’t’ want her little boy to grow up so quickly. She didn’t’ want him to leave home without looking back once.

It had to be done though, partially.

She could tell him half the truth, she decided. She knew he wasn’t really hers, that he was a child of more power than she could ever imagine, but he was not ready to bear the cross of guardianship.

Charlotte still carried the power, and she would for another ten years, before Lance took her place. And then a hundred years would pass before Ash would be required to act.

She could wait and tell him about his duty.

But she could give him some of his power back.

The next morning, Ash found a key on his desk.

Next to it sat a little locket and pendant. Shrugging, Ash slipped all three items over his head on the gold chain provided.

Instantly, a flood of sealed memories assaulted his head.

He fell senseless onto the floor. Well, it wasn’t as bad as it could have been…

Downstairs, Delia picked up the phone.

“He’s done it.”

“Ah.” The voice on the other end spoke. “Any peculiar circumstances yet?”

‘No. I think he fainted.”

There was a slight pause, as the girl tapped her fingers on the phone. “I see…”

“Careful.”

“I will be, don’t worry.”

A swirl of ice sparkles surrounded her and she vanished.

Meanwhile, Ash’s blank eyes flickered through the rainbow as his memories sorted themselves out.

End Chapter

Started 1/18/03, completed 1/19/03