Well, let’s see how it goes

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 3: Friend

“Wow…”

Brock looked at the impressive edifice. “You live here?”

“Hai, with my parents.” Catelyn said, walking in. “Mommy? I brought some friends home for dinner.”

“Very nice, dear.” A voice echoed from somewhere in the house. “Dinner should be ready in an hour or so.”

“All right.”

Catelyn led them to the garden, where pokemon were running around. The group dispersed, Brock going to investigate the food being prepared, Misty by the pond looking at the water pokemon, while Ash and Catelyn sat together under a tree.

“I never knew there were this many pokemon.” Ash said in awe, staring at all the new species.

“Professor Oak has only documented the one hundred and fifty Kanto pokemon.”

“Oh.”

Catelyn grinned, although there seemed to a dark flash in her eyes. “It’s pretty, isn’t it?”

Ash nodded.

They watched pokemon until dinner was announced.

“So you’re a pokemon trainer, Ash.” Thomas said. “Well then! My company is in need of field tests for a few products. Would you mind testing them out?”

“Hmm?”

“Lab experiments just aren’t the same as actual circumstances in the wild.” Thomas explained. “We developed a type of poke ball geared towards catching fire pokemon, and we’re not sure if it works on wild pokemon yet.”

“Oh.”

“Yes, we also have one for electric types, but that is all we have developed so far.” Thomas looked at Ash. “I will pay you $2000 to test them both out.”

“Really?”

“Sure.” The man said, putting down his knife and fork and taking a checkbook out of his breast pocket.

“Then I’m game.” Ash grinned.

“Okay! I’ll get the balls tomorrow.”

“Dear, it’s not polite to discuss finances during dinner.” Elizabeth reproached. “That’s not a good example to set for your daughter.”

“Oh, sorry dear.”

Misty and Brock applied themselves to the food with a will, as Ash just tasted everything, his excitement overwhelming his hunger.

Wow!
He was being paid for testing poke balls? No problem!

The three trainers slept well that night in the guest bedrooms provided. They stayed for almost three weeks after that, before bidding Catelyn and her family good-bye.

“Hope to see you in Indigo, Ash.” Catelyn waved.

“You too!” Ash replied.

Misty felt relieved after they left though. Catelyn seemed odd…

Brock had refrained from hitting on her. She was too young for his tastes. That didn’t prevent him from chasing the maids though.

He might be a lecher, but he was not a cradle robber, at least not yet.

That thought was not too comforting for any girls near his age in Indigo.

“So, you two did some training?” Misty asked, when they were gone.

“Yep.” Ash grinned. “Bulbasaur and Squirtle evolved and so did Pidgeotto.”

“Oh.” Misty blushed. She had just watched water pokemon. It could be counted as a waste of time.

But, she had learned about the mating calls of different types of water pokemon, information that could prove knowledgeable because she wanted to become a Water Master.

Charmander had adamantly refused to evolve, so Ash had purchased an Everstone at a nearby shop.

Too bad it wasn’t a stone evolution like Pikachu. At least that was controllable.

So saying, Ash continued on his journey.

He felt much more confident for some reason.

Perhaps it was the fact that Catelyn remonstrated him instead of just calling him a stupid trainer.

Positive feedback always worked better than negative feedback.

Instead of ignoring him, she tried to help him improve his way of training.

Now, he was reaping the fruit of his work.

Lance’s eyes blazed with golden anger as the sparks danced over the remains of a cheese manufacturing plant.

“How dare you… using Bellsprout to power these machines, and then using them as kindling when they got too weak to fight…”

“You deserve this loss of profits. Be glad I am not after your lives right now.”

His wings glittered as he flew off to another region.

It was nearing the time of judgment. Lugia said five years at the most, before Thunder’s Child would join him.

Yes….

“Dear?”

Thomas looked at Elizabeth. “What?”

“Didn’t you notice how Catelyn seemed to take interest in Ash Ketchum?”

“So?”

“It’s a bit early to set up an omai, but maybe…”

“What do you think?”

Thomas scratched his chin. “Hold on.” His mind began to think back. “I think he is heir to Jonathan Ketchum the Sixth.”

“Really?” This caught Elizabeth’s interest. “Maybe…”

End Chapter

Completed 3/16/04