Timeline: 2 weeks

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 4: Fiancée

The meeting with Delia Ketchum had gone quite well. She had revealed that her husband was dead, and thus, Ash would be made heir to the Ketchum fortune when he came of age.

This was good news.

The boy was kind enough, a bit dense, but Catelyn was smart enough for both of them. He had a fortune, and he seemed to like her as well.

It was perfect!
They could announce the betrothal, let the two adjust for a few years, and then marry them off.

Oh, two sets of proud parents mused happily on the future. It looked bright and sunny.

< How Interesting. >

Lance looked at Lugia sideways. < Oh? >

< I mean, if you are engaged to him… isn’t it good? >

< I suppose. I just hope he won’t take it as an order to fall in love with me. >

< Ash would never do that, Chosen. You know. >

< True… >

Lugia smiled. * Do not worry… *

Lance nodded, before flying off again. At Catelyn’s window, he changed back.

Catelyn climbed into bed and fell asleep peacefully.

Life was good.

No Misty competition in this one.

“Wartortle, use Surf!”

Kelly groaned as her Diglett fainted.

“Four Digletts?” Ash asked, recalling his water-type.

“I like them. So there!”

“Wasn’t accusing, just asking.” Ash muttered. * Stupid trainers… *

His pokemon team smiled at him. They were training in the forest, early every morning.

More success at the Indigo Finals depended on hard work.

There was no shortcut to take. Using rare candies would only wind up making them weaker.

Ash smiled as he collected his team. Charmander, pikachu, pidgeot, wartortle, and Ivysaur… he had finally found a pokemon to add to his sixth slot.

Mysdreavus.

Ash honestly had no clue what it was doing in Kanto, but he wasn’t about to look a gift horse in the mouth.

Good things were meant to stay somewhat mysterious. You can’t explain everything.

Mysdreavus hummed, sending out her psychic waves in search of new pokemon.

“Found one?”

Mysdreavus nodded. Fire type… why don’t you try out your new ball?

Ash grinned. “Let’s go see!”

He clutched the inferno ball as he waited. There were four, and he was expected to catch four different pokemon.

“Go, Wartortle!”

The wild Magmar immediately used Smog. However, Wartortle sent it to fainted pokemon land with Hydro Pump.

Ash threw the inferno ball. As it captured the pokemon, it healed Magmar back up to full health.

“Woah!”

Pretty cool! Charmander said.

Magmar blinked his eyes in confusion. So I’m captured… I feel fine!

However, Magmar was not sent to Oak.

“Inferno balls are just a test product, I guess they aren’t wired to the pokédex yet.” Ash mused, as he walked on.

Soon, he found a Vulpix, and successfully captured her with the Inferno ball as well, to the same result.

Then, the next day, he caught Magnemite and Voltorb with the Zap Ball. After another week, Ash had bagged a Growlithe and Pichu as well. Satisfied with the results, he and Pidgeot flew back to talk to Mr. Vongard.

“Do they work?”

“Yes,” Ash said, proffering the six balls he had used. “The beneficial side is that the balls act as a healing agent as well. It heals the pokemon you just caught.”

“Good, good.”

“Also, it helps pokemon heal faster after battle.”

“Very good.”

Pichu flipped her ears as she was released. Growlithe yawned showing his teeth. A few other pokemon stretched out.

“Thank you very much, Ash.” Thomas said, taking the empty balls back.

“No problem.”

“Hmm… well, you want to stay the night here?”

“Sure, but I need to be in Cinnabar by this Friday.”

“Oh, it’s only a day or two rest.”

Thomas immediately went back to his company, and the next day they received the patent for the Inferno and Zap balls.

True, these would sell for a higher price because of their value… but it was a guaranteed profit in the future.

Lucky.

The next day, Elizabeth popped the news to the two kids. They took it rather well.

Ash said that since they didn’t need to marry immediately, he could deal with it.

Catelyn asked if she could travel with him to get to know him better.

There seemed to be no problems, so the parents agreed.

“Oh, I’m so happy.” Delia said.

“Thanks, mom…” Ash smiled. “I could have been married to Misty instead. At least this I can deal with.”

“You don’t like her, do you?”

“No, don’t worry.”

Catelyn smiled shyly at him, and Ash found himself smiling back. It looked to be a good journey ahead.

End Chapter

Completed 3/16/04