Whee! Another chapter!

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

“So you’ll take good care of Pikachu, right?”

“Of course I will.”

Pikachu yawned. I could use a break… I’ll see you in a few days, Ash.

“Good bye then.” Hopefully, it would keep Team Rocket away, if they were tracking Pikachu. He waved goodbye to her and then opened Krabby’s poke ball.

It made him smile as he remembered how he had captured the little crab. “So, Krabby, are you ready for some training?”

You bet!

“Great!” They ran out into the rain, found a Rattata, and began.

Krabby’s defense was incredibly high, so Ash developed a quick strategy. Krabby and Charmander trained together, Krabby hitting from a close distance, Charmander from a farther one… and Krabby also protected Charmander from the rain, and so it worked quite well… and Charmander was in no danger, and Krabby neither…

Ash watched as the two snacked on poke nosh together. Not bad…

So, where did Ash catch you?

Krabby smiled. Bill’s Lighthouse!

Really. I’ve never seen you around before.

Nope, I guess it’s because I went to Oak’s lab and he didn’t bother to rotate me back to team until now.

Well, I’m glad he did. I’m pleased to meet you.

Me too, ma’am!

“Go!”

Bulbasaur and Squirtle shot off, slipping and sliding on wet grass as they dashed across the field. Pidgeotto kept score and watched.

They were all training, ready for the League when it came…

They would win!

They would win…

However, their balance was certainly improving now…

Let me win…

“He’s doing fairly well.”

“I’m surprised you came to see me, Sabrina.”

The psychic shrugged. < Well, I owe it to Ash. What’s wrong? >

“We’re not quite sure.” Koga frowned. “We know that he hasn’t gone to fight Blaine yet – and that’s perfectly normal, considering the extra time the trainers have to prepare for the League now…”

< But…? >

Erika looked at Surge, who nodded grimly. “He’s been hanging around Vermillion a bit, training his new Krabby and all. Well, I couldn’t help but notice how he seemed so… unenthusiastic.”

“What do you mean?” Aya asked. She wasn’t a gym leader, but she tagged along with Koga and no one really minded her, since she was usually quiet.

“He trains his pokemon hard, and dedicatedly, I’ll say that.” Surge spoke. “However, it just seems to me that he’s lost his spark of light.”

< What? > Sabrina could not believe her ears. < You’re saying that he’s given up on life? Is it something like that? >

“Not precisely. It seems that – well, Bock and Misty was traveling with him, but they split up right after he got your badge for some reason. I’m wondering if he’s had an argument with them and that’s why he’s so moody.”

“It’s not in his nature to brood,” Erika frowned.

Aya coughed into her hand and then smiled. “Maybe he’s just grown up?”

“I hope so… but I can’t help feel as if we’re missing something…”

Koga took a sip of his cooling green tea. “Well, we’ll see…”

< I’ll take a look. > Sabrina said, closing her eyes. A few minutes later, they opened. She cast Surge a glare.

< I think you’re being overly paranoid, sir. He’s out there splashing in the water with his Squirtle and he looks happy enough. >

“Well, I suppose I am overreacting. Have any of you heard from Misty or Brock by the way/”

There was a pause, before shakes of the head came from all gathered.

“I thought not. And they haven’t sent in their reports for four months now, Lorelei mentioned it this morning when I turned mine in. Maybe something happened to them.”

“Let’s go ask Ash then.” Erika smiled.

“Good idea.” Koga approved. “Shall we all go?”

< That might be overwhelming. Which one of us does he know the best? I do not think I ought to approach him. >

“Mm, I saw him at the Pokemon Center a few days after his battle with you, Koga. He was still fine then.”

“Well then, I’ll go.” Surge said.

“You sure?”

“Sure. Vermillion’s my city, it wouldn’t make sense, really, if the rest of you were there.”

“Point taken.”

The gym leaders split up and retreated back to their respective gyms. Meanwhile, Surge went down to the beach and found Ash and his Squirtle still in the rapids, accompanied by his Krabby and Bulbasaur.

The absence of Ash’s famous Pikachu was what had truly caught his attention. “Hey Ash.”

“Lieutenant Surge! Hi!” Ash waved.

Surge waved back. “Hey kid, how are you doing?’

“Pretty good! We’ve been training hard, so now we’re taking a break today! Pidgeotto evolved into Pidgeot!! And Krabby’s a Kingler now too! And I caught this really cool new pokemon!”

“Oh, did you?”

Ash grinned. “Want to see? It’s an electric-type!”

Now that piqued his attention quite nicely. Certainly showing interest in a new electric pokemon was not suspicious. He smiled. “Love to see it, kid.”

“All right, I choose you!”

The ball burst in a spark of brilliant flame, revealing… what on earth was that?

It looked like a rabbit, with bright red eyes and transparent, pixie-ish wings. And it was obviously an electric-type…Sparkles of electrum skittered and danced over its form, and he had to shade his eyes as to avoid blindness…

Even if it was too girly and cute for his taste, it still seemed powerful.

“How did you find this pokemon?”

Ash grinned. “Found it washed up on the beach a few days ago. No trainer reported it lost in the database, so Joy said I could keep it.”

“Interesting…”

“I call her Aster.” Ash grinned. “Isn’t she cute?”

“Sure, sure.” Surge smiled. “Well, I’m glad to see you again, kid.” He waved and walked off, feeling better.

“Bye!”

End of chapter

Completed 6/13/05

Phantomness: Like I’m tired… *dead*

Lance: Dead authoresses can’t write!

Ash: …

Phantomness: Well, it’s true!