I have a kind of counter-plot!

Lance: Oh? And when am I showing up?
Ash: Interesting…

Disclaimer: Pokemon belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comic. This non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfic belongs to me. Do not take my writing, I own it under international copyright laws and you stealing it will be plagiarism.

Notes: <> for telepathy, ** for thoughts, italics if a pokemon talks

Started 9/19/04

Recap: Ash beat Samurai, and then Samurai attacked him, Weedle evolved to Kakuna…

Chapter 5

Samurai glared at the whitewashed stonewalls around him. Great. Just great. That stupid, stupid trainer!
He had to spend a week here, and then do community service. It was lucky he was only eight…

Otherwise, the punishment would have been worse.

Grr… who did that trainer think he was?

He couldn’t even remember his name. Darn.

Well, he’d get out of here and bide his time and make him pay for it! He would! * How dare he humiliate me! *

Ash sneezed.

You okay? Butterfree asked.

“I think so.” A pause, a caesura * did I just understand that? *

Butterfree blinked. Did you…

“Can I understand you?”

I think so! Odd!

Very odd indeed… well he was glad he had the ability now. “That’s great, Butterfree. I wonder how Kakuna’s doing?”

I … fine… Kakuna sounded distant. That meant the metamorphosis to Beedrill was in its final stages.

Ash carefully kept an eye on kakuna while he munched on a hamburger. Butterfree was eating honey straight from a can.

Wasn’t as good as nectar, but still quite tasty. Mm…

For the rest of the day, they rested in the Center. By nightfall, Kakuna was still morphed, so they stayed most of the next day as well.

On the third morning, Ash woke up to a humming noise.

“You evolved!”

Finally! Beedrill buzzed his wings. I was getting tired of sitting there doing nothing.

“Does it hurt anywhere?”

No! I am fit as a fiddle!

“Excellent!” Beedrill accepted a hug and congratulations from Butterfree as well as Ash, and they set out happily for the gym.

It wasn’t too hard of a win. Butterfree bested Onix with her Psybeam, and Beedrill’s Fury Attack sent Geodude falling back down to earth.

W-I-N-!

One badge his, and Ash set out to become the best bug master of all time.

The next gym was in Cerulean. In mount moon, he had been tempted to snare a Paras. Unfortunately, theory does not always equal reality, and he rued the fact no Paras had come out during his trek.

Beedrill was sympathetic, but they did not know how to force one to appear, so they passed the chance.

Strangely enough, Mount Moon was empty of trainers – completely empty. However, circumstances are never the same day after day, so perhaps they were all busy. After all, who wants to live in a cave 24-7-365?

Compassion strikes for the fool who does, willingly.

Cerulean was a bit different. Color scheme dark blue, and it was painfully obvious. Every roof except the pokemon center and gym was done in that vibrant hue. Forsooth, it was not damaging to the eyes nor blinding.

Why did the gym look like an oversized circus tent?

Ash rubbed his eyes and blinked. “Are you seeing what I’m seeing?”

It looks like a flower. Butterfree said.

Ugly. Beedrill’s sole comment was curt.

“TO the next badge!” Ash proclaimed, and inwards the trio journeyed. First of all, though, a short girl in a blue bikini accosted them.

“Misty can wait! I’m more than good enough for you!”

“… Junior trainer.” Ash deduced.

“I’m Maura! Go, Goldeen!”

Goldeens knew peck, which would be quite effective against his bug pokemon, but he would try his best.

“Beedrill! Pin Missle!”

Goldeen could not get close enough to peck with her horn, as Beedrill’s stingers whirred madly, bursts of purple poison flying out in little needles.

Stay away, the color proclaimed! Goldeen obeyed nature and did just that.

“What? Why aren’t you attacking?” Maura demanded.

Scared! Goldeen wailed.

Hm. Beedrill said, giving a buggy smile. Twinneedle!

Cinched the deal, that move won the match. Maura sighed and left.

Misty climbed off her mock ‘throne’, constructed of sparkly blue rock. Maybe it was meant to resemble an underwater cave?

Ash saw orange hair and a pouty expression. It was not judged as beauty of any form in his eyes, simply annoyance.

“Well?”

“I’m the gym leader, not you, and I make the rules, not you! Let’s battle! Misty chooses Staryu!”

Beedrill charged.

Misty screamed. “AHHH! I hate bugs!” She began jumping up and down in hysterical tears. Bizarre.

“Discriminating against a pokemon’s not going to help you win the match.” Ash intoned, smirking.

Staryu was so full of poison stings it now resembled a pincushion. Ouch. That must have been painful…

“No! Starmie, Bubblebeam!”

“… Beedrill, avoid the bubbles, and use Swords Dance for now.” Beedrill nodded, flying around agilely. The streams of foam mostly missed him. He got hit once, but he was still up and not down.

“Now! Twinneedle!”

All that souped-up attack power was enough to overcome Starmie’s good defense. The purple star sighed, before fainting.

“I win.”

Misty sniffled. She threw the Cascade Badge at him. “Leave! Now! And take those icky bugs with you!”

“?” Shrugging, Ash exited. Temperamental girl, that one… but now he had two badges! Yay!

They rested that night, added another week to fight against the many trainers roaming Cerulean, and the next week.5 later, set out for Vermillion through the underground tunnel. It was a half-hour walk, but worth it. Saffron was too dangerous to travel through at the moment. There were rumors Team Rocket had taken control there…

End Chapter

Completed 9/20/04