Yes, this is Episode 200. Wow, this is my longest series too, and a base for a lot of my other fanfics. In case anyone did not know. *Juggles watermelons*

 

Disclaimer/Notes: Please, see an earlier chapter.

 

Episode 200: Sudden Deja Vu

 

            “I am reminded of Lt. Surge.” Ash muttered as he deactivated the electric doors. “The only difference is that he doesn’t hide electric switches in trash cans.”

            “Ah…” Lance replied.

            “HALT!” A junior trainer screamed, flinging herself in front of Ash. “I challenge you! And if I win, you’re taking me out on a date!”

            “Seldom have I seen a more pathetic way to snare a man.” Lance remarked, sotto voce.

            Ash rolled his eyes heavenwards as his Sandslash soundly whipped her Manectric. Then, Dugtrio wiped the floor with her remaining three magnemites.

            “Can I go now?” He demanded in violent exasperation.

            Lance jabbed two pressure points on the junior trainer’s neck, temporarily knocking her out.

            “Let’s go.”

 

            “… Lance-chan, where did you learn that?”

            “Trade secret.” The dragon master replied with a sly wink.

            Ash tackled her with a burst of energy. “Can you teach me?”

            “Of course I will. Later.”

            “Yay!”

            As Ash finished off two more trainers, he finally stepped across the now sizzling blue gate that barred off Wattson from the world.

            Apparently there were generators in the gym in case of a blackout. Ah well. He had tried.

            “I challenge you.” Ash said simply. “One on one.”

 

            Wattson coughed. “Oh? All right. Magneton, go!”

            Ash’s eyes flashed once as Sandslash was called forth again. An earthquake attack quickly finished the battle and Ash left Mauville. It was then that he ran into Wally.

            “Who are you?” Wally asked.

 

            “I could be asking the same question.” Ash replied, looking at him oddly. “It’s not me you’re looking for, right?”

            “Have you seen Brendan?” Wally asked hopefully.

            “Sadly not. I believe he is probably in Lilycove already, knowing his skills.”

            “Darn…” Wally said morosely. “See, May’s dad helped me catch my first pokemon. But, I’m still a horrible trainer.”

            “Oh, Norman the gym leader.” Ash nodded in understanding.

 

            “It’s a ralts!” Wally said proudly. “It’s smart, pretty…”

            “Psychic type…” Lance said. “You used it against Brawly, right?”

            “Um… actually, I used Chimecho.’ Ash explained in a little voice.

            “Perfect, Warm, Cuddly…”

            “Kind, Powerful, cool… Ooh! Let’s fight our pokemon!” Wally shouted loudly.

 

            Lance winced at the decibel increase. “Ash?”

            “Fine, just one on one though.”

            Wally grinned. “Yay! Go, Ralts!”

            And lo and behold, from the poke ball came the ralts he had talked about so much. Ash was reminded of the pokemon fan club.

           

            “Oddish, you look like you need some exercise.” Ash said, tossing out the little grass type, who stretched languorously.

            Nice! Ooh, psy-type… I’ll try my best!

            “That’s all I ask.’ Ash said. “Let’s use Sweet Scent.”
            Oddish nodded and made it impossible for Ralts to evade, while Ralts used Psybeam, intending to KO the plant immediately.

            To Wally’s surprise, that didn’t happen.

 

            “Oddish! Mega Drain to replenish your HP, and then cut.”

            Oddish nodded and drained off some of Ralts’ already low HP bar, before taking advantage of its low defense to cut it.

            Ralts yelped and used another Psybeam, but Oddish used another Cut, and won the battle that way, before hopping back to Ash on his little legs. Say it! I’m the best!

            Yes, you are very powerful, I know.

            Oddish beamed.

            Ash picked up oddish and petted his leaves affectionately, before recalling him to his poke ball.

            Lance hid her chuckles behind a convenient book while she peered at Ash.

 

            Wally looked devastated.

            “Crime and Punishment?” Ash asked, looking at the title, shocked.

            “Very boring.” Lance replied. “I hate the book.”

            Ash frowned. “You’re that bored?”

            “It’s a good thing in my case Ash…”

            “Right.” The trainer nodded in acknowledgement of the other’s work.

            “Hey! How did you win?!” Wally demanded. “I had a type advantage!”

            “And I had a level advantage.’ Ash said sarcastically.

           

            Lance yawned slightly as she flipped a page and frowned as she was presented with another long summary of Raskolnikov’s depression over having killed the old pawnbroker. “Man… I hate reading this sometimes.”

            Sighing, she waited for Wally and Ash to settle their dispute.

 

            “I hate you!” Wally cried as he hugged his fallen Ralts tightly.

            “I wouldn’t use such a strong verb.’ Ash muttered.

            “Well, why didn’t you go easy on me!”

            Ash rolled his eyes. “I did. I could have used Umbreon, or Skarmory, or Zapdos, or Suicune, or…”

            He continued ticking off on his fingers while Wally sobbed. Finally, the boy left them alone.

 

            “Nice, Ash.” Lance said, albeit slightly sarcastically.

            “Lance-chan?”

            “Do me a favor will you? Dispose of this book.” Lance said, tossing him Crime and Punishment. “More than half an hour of solid reading tends to make me an emotional wreck.”

            “… Okay.” Ash said in some puzzlement.

 

            Lance nodded as she pulled on her sunglasses. “So… how’s life?”

            “I don’t’ know. Relaxing at the moment, no strange overdose of the world’s problems to handle.”

            “That’s good, little one.”
            Ash beamed.

            Lance smiled back as she kissed him lightly.

            “Nani?” Ash suddenly turned tomato red. “Lance-chan… we’re in the middle of the street…”

            Lance rolled her eyes and used Amnesia wave. “Sorry about that.”

            Ash continued to blush for a little bit. “I see…”

 

            “You just looked kawaii when the sun hit you like that.”

            Ash could have sworn he saw a wink from the sky, but it was most likely his imagination. At least, he didn’t think Charlotte would be playing matchmaker. But one never knew…

            Besides, what did bored guardians do?

 

            Perhaps that wasn’t the case. Still, he couldn’t help feeling a little cautious. He still preferred taking things slowly.

            But she was patient. She would always be there for him, unless she- Ash cut that train of thought quickly and derailed it.

            He didn’t want to think of the alternative.

           

***************End Flashbacks********************************************

 

            Ash was surprised to find himself crying as he left the zone of memories.

            They had been calming, but he could not live in the past forever. No, he had to move on, and to move past the past, but it was so hard!
            There was no doubt about that, none at all.

 

            Getting up, he resolutely showered and dressed, before heading out to face another day without her by his side.

            Even though it was another day of his life, he could not say he felt prepared.

 

            “Ash?” Lorelei asked. “The battles are almost over. You want to take the last few?”

            Ash nodded and smiled.

            Getting up, he dried his tears on a napkin and walked to the field where Phyllis waited.

            “I challenge you!”

            “Start.’ Ash said, not bothering to make a speech. Two skiplooms and a Raticate later, Ash still weren’t impressed. Pidgeotto continued to hover over the area.

            Ash smiled at his pokemon and waited.

            Phyllis shivered at his emotionless stare towards her and summoned Haunter.

            “Pidgeotto… Faint attack.” Ash purred, as Haunter was also KO.

            Out of pokemon, Phyllis escaped.

            Ash waited for the next challenger.

 

End Chapter!

Created 1/22/04

Completed 1/27/2004

*Rifling through a deck of Yu-gi-Oh! Cards* If there’s Reborn the plotbunny, I need a multiply card!