Here we go!
Disclaimer: I don’t own pokemon! It belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics! This is non-profit fanwork, no copyright infringement is intended, and since I wrote it by myself its my work and thus mine under international copyright laws.
Timeline: 1 week
Chapter 6: Stay
It was raining buckets but he didn’t care.
Ai-chan was brushing his hair in smooth, long strokes.
Brush
Brush
Brush
He enjoyed the feeling of her fingers working out the tangles. She didn’t pull hard, and his hair stayed on his head, not being yanked out.
Thank
goodness!
Sure, it took a lot longer,
but the pain was greatly reduced.
Several pokemon romped around him. Dream realm creatures, but he still loved them.
Ai-chan said his memories would come back in time. But, she also promised to stay with him until then and beyond.
So he wasn’t worried.
Not at all…
He hummed as she finished brushing and his spikes flared out softly.
“Kirei…”
< Isn’t
it? > Ai-chan asked inside of his head. < So are you going off to the
Houen League now? >
“I’m not sure… for some
reason, I would like to go to Kanto.”
< Really? >
“Hai!”
< Well, then, go for it. >
Ash grinned. “K!”
He climbed on Noctowl’s back as they flew off into the expanse of blue air.
It was a long flight. Almost three hours, but Noctowl looked not exhausted, a good sign.
Endurance training did pay off in the long run. Most things did.
Ash landed
in Pewter City, and walked up to the gym. “Might as well… I mean, more badges
never hurts.”
< Of course. >
He rubbed his necklace, feeling the warm tingle of energy, and smiled. “Here we go!”
Inside the gym, a young boy with chocolate skin and spiky black hair waited. “Welcome to Pewter City gym. I am Shale, the gym leader.”
“Are you
one of Brock’s younger brothers?”
“Yes I am, my brother retired
last year.”
“I see.” Ash said. “Then I
challenge you for the Boulder Badge.”
“I expected as much. Go!
Geodude!”
Ash flicked his wrist, sending a poke ball flying into the ring and releasing Grovyle.
“Leaf Blade.”
Geodude Defense Curled, but that increase in defense wasn’t enough considering the level difference between the two pokemon
“Geodude Return! Onix, go!”
Grovyle filled the air with Razor Leaf, stunning Onix long enough to slash two Leaf Blades at its scaly hide.
Onix Screeched and then tunneled underground.
Grovyle hovered in the air, waiting.
Soon, Onix shot up, and Grovyle used Giga Drain.
Shale looked stunned. “You definitely aren’t a beginning trainer…”
“Nope.” Ash said, taking the badge.
He skipped off happily.
< Easy win? >
< Easy enough. > Ash said, admiring the badge.
< It’s not as pretty as some of the others. >
< Yes,
but I still like it. >
Ai laughed. * I know. *
I was
great. Grovyle said proudly. Wasn’t I?
Course you were! Mysdreavus called.
Great victory! Eevee added.
The pokemon all chattered as they walked along the sidewalk.
Ash beamed, enjoying himself.
Yes, it was nice indeed.
He wasn’t even sure if her name was Ai, but he didn’t care. She was always with him. A built-in friend and companion
Priceless.
He gave Grovyle a quick healing at the center, battled a few junior trainers with Aster and Noctowl and Ampharos, and was quite satisfied when he turned in for the night at the Pewter Motel.
Fairly cheap room prices and dinner.
Ai-chan didn’t eat, but he did enjoy his Shepard’s pie and fresh bread. And of course, the free lemonade was also quite delightful.
Ash slept well that night.
Dream Realm…
Pokemon scampered all over the place, playing, living, breeding, growing, healing, and battling…
It was a natural rhythm of life.
Why interrupt something old as time itself? Cycles of healing and destruction marred the real world, but the dream realm stayed safe.
Always safe for a refuge, the strong and the weak, sealed by the guardians, lived there.
That was the way of life.
Ash and Ai sat together, underneath a broad-leafed tree, just listening to the sounds of play and relaxing.
End Chapter
Created 3/10/04, completed 3/11/04
Ai-chan is what Ash calls Lance, in case it could not be figured out… and I have no idea why I picked it!