Does Ash need more pokemon?

DISCLAIMER: Pokemon belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. This non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfic belongs to me under international copyright laws. Do not take my work!
Notes: <> for telepathy, ** for thoughts, italics if a pokemon talks

RECAP: Ash rejected Serebii’s offer and met Lance, who captured Serebii. Saffron was locked so Ash went back to Vermillion and got the Thunderbadge from Surge

Timeline: 2 weeks later

Chapter 11

“Hey, Ash. Nice to see you again.”
“Hi, Lance.” Ash waved from where he was currently sunbathing on a towel. His four pokemon slept next to him in a protective ring.

“What are you doing here?”

“Oh, well…” Ash blushed. “I’m waiting for Saffron City to be reopened to the public again…”

“Interesting.” Lance sat down next to Ash, which made the trainer flush uncomfortably, though he affected nonchalance. “How’s your training quest going?”

“Er… I have five badges…”

“That’s excellent.” Lance recalled his Dragonite with a spark of ruby. “I assume Blaine’s gym might be a problem, if you only use bugs…”

Ash nodded slightly miserably. “I wish there were bug and water type pokemon…”

Lance looked thoughtful. “Ash, when’s your birthday?” The Pallet Town trainer had left almost two months ago, in June…

“Oh! In three days.”

“Interesting.” * Then this will come in handy… * “Well, Ash. You seem like a nice enough trainer so... would you like to be friends?”

The Book had recommended taking things slowly to lower your target’s evasive thoughts and make them comfortable around you.

Then, you went in for the kill.

Ash dropped his hot dog in the sand. “A-are you sure?”

“Why not?”

“O-okay!” He was trying hard not to stammer, but it was just so hard… * He… he wants to be my friend? Uber-cool! *

Vulnerability just added a cute touch.

“So, tell me about you.” Lance said, flopping down on the sand inches away from Ash. * This should work… I will not fail this mission. *

“Um… my name’s Ash, as you know. I want to be the first Bug Master ever! My birthday’s August tenth… I’ll be thirteen!”

“A bug master?”

Ash nodded. “People don’t like bugs, but I do! I’ll teach the world not to underestimate insects!”

Scyther chuckled.

“A noble goal,” Lance smiled. “Masters of any one type are rare, except for gym leaders.”

“Yes! So I want to promote the fact that bugs are not just for pokédexes!”

“To each their own, I suppose…”

“I like ice cream and pokemon battles and having fun. I spent a year working as an aide in a small Pokemon Center.”

“Community service?”

“No, I wanted to learn more about pokemon. That’s when I first started thinking about Bug Mastery. My starting pokemon was Caterpie.”

Lance’s eyebrows shot up. “Really?”

“Hai! I woke up late that day…” Ash blushed. “So, tell me about you!” He tried to change the subject.

“I’m Lance Dragyn, I was born in Blackthorn City in Johto, but when I was three I moved here to Vermillion… my father is a gym leader.”

“Kakkoii!!”

“I like ice cream too, my favorite flavor is… hmm, vanilla. I love pokemon training and I like dragon pokemon because they’re mysterious, almost legendary…” Lance closed his eyes for a few seconds, feeling Ash’s eyes quickly dart to his face and leave again. * It’s working… *

“My starting pokemon was Charmander, but then I caught a Dratini…” And so it continued…

They spent the day comparing histories, although Lance’s were almost completely false – or true, depending on one’s point of view.

Spinning, and spinning, the web was winding its prey tighter. Strange how the bug trainer couldn’t’ see the trap.

Ah well…

He couldn’t be blamed. He was too much in adoration.

Lance treated Ash to pizza for dinner that night. Then, he dropped the question. “May I travel with you?”

‘H-hai!” How cute, he was turning pink…

This child was rather cute, Lance decided. He didn’t feel guilt for his actions. After all, without him, no one would protect the little one from Team Rocket. The _true_ dark version of Team Rocket; not the bumbling idiots…

No one save his father would argue with him. His father had ordered him to win the child, so he would.

It didn’t matter if he actually fell in love, right?

Ash nibbled on a slice of pepperoni pensively. How things had just changed in a day! It felt… nice.

His pokemon were approving of the match.

But how to get to Saffron? Well, the League met once a year, he had at least six months left to prepare…

Surely he could train in that time.

“How is it going?”

Ash was fast asleep in the bunk bed in the pokemon center next to his, or rather, on top of. Lance had turned on his cell phone to give a report.

“I’ve found him. I think he has a crush on me.”

“How long will it take?”

“Father, how much time do you need? I shall try to work as fast as possible.”

“Very well, take care, son. It must be done before the Indigo League meets.”

“That is plenty of time. I won’t fail you.”

“I know.” Giovanni hung up. Lance turned off his phone and secreted it back in the small black carrying case he took with him.

Subspace did wonders…

Ash stirred in his sleep. Lance quietly changed into his pajamas, climbed underneath the covers, and let sleep claim him.

He had a mission to accomplish and by Mewtwo, he would not screw up.

I won’t fail. Ever.

End Chapter

Completed 9/22/04

Lance: Interesting – the seduction technique

Phantomness: In a way, although Ash might drag you back into humanity instead of you bringing him to TR

Shoyko: Ahh…