Phantomness: I don’t own pokemon! It belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics.

Lance: However, she does own this non-profit, non-copyright fanfiction under international copyright laws.

Ash: Be thankful that she owns this and not pokemon, otherwise good lord knows what we’d see on T.V.

Kairo: And please review, it makes the authoress happy so she’ll write more!
Shoyko: I warn of darkfic, but anyways… phantomness uses ** for thoughts, <> for telepathy, and italics if a pokemon talks

Pika-chan: And… last time, we left our hero with his newly evolved Venomoth, he’d just won Koga’s badge, and our second main character is introduced!

Chapter 9

 

            “Should we go back to Vermillion, or keep going?”

            Either way I don’t mind. Venomoth buzzed. It’d only been a day since evolution, but this new form was _great_!

            Butterfree and Beedrill were sharing nectar from a flower. Kawaii!

            “Still need to figure out what to do for Blaine…” Ash mused. * I can’t walk there since it’s across the sea! *

            His poor bugs wouldn’t do well against fire.

 

            Lance put down his binoculars, frowning. He couldn’t especially see anything special with this person…

            However, he wouldn’t disobey father’s orders.

            Bug Mastery? Not that special, but bugs were common and useful and… excellent for spying. Was that why?

            Interesting… Father was always planning ahead. He checked his reflection and considered making his appearance.

            Fortunately, Fate intervened for him.

 

            “Prepare for trouble!” The first one said, a girl in a black team rocket uniform with short blue hair called.

“And make it double!” The second shouted. A boy? Yes… He had dark blue hair that was tied back in a short ponytail.

“To protect the world from devastation!” Ooh, nice shot of crumbling earth, but did it fit with their theme?

“To unite all peoples within our nation!” And there were free chocolate and marshmallows for all…

“To denounce the evils of truth and love!”

“To extend our reach to the stars above!”

“Amy!” The blue haired girl proclaimed. She crossed her arms and gave a very triumphant grin.

“Jake!” Said the pony tailed blue boy. He held up a poke ball that seemed to have fallen from the sky and looked ready to throw it.

“Team Rocket blasts off at the speed of light!” This ended with Amy doing a flip in midair.

“Surrender now or prepare to fight!” Jake smiled goofily, at odds with his words. Now he was holding the poke ball out and it was starting to open. Ash could barely make out a shape forming out of red fog…

            “Ninetails!” A deadly looking, white fox pokemon jumped out from between the two and posed.

 

            Lance cursed inwardly. Those two worthless trainers were spoiling his mission… well, that was just great.

            “Hakuryuu! Twister!”

            Before the two could make a move, Twister sent them flying into the air, blasting off without even a single blow being exchanged.

            Lance smirked, recalling Hakuryuu. “Good, good…”

 

            Ash blinked at the empty spot on the path where the Rockets had been. “Wow, that was a strong freak wind!”

            His bugs all sweatdropped; recognizing an attack when they saw one, albeit new.

            Maybe we should go to Saffron.

            Yes, to see if it’s true about Team Rocket.

            Confusion reigned triumphant on Ash’s face. “Hmm?”

            They say Team Rocket has a base in celadon. Should we check it out?

            “Um… I’m not sure. I don’t want to get into trouble.”

            That’s different. Venomoth remarked.

            Scared? Butterfree asked kindly.

            Heh, we’ll protect you! Beedrill vowed grandiosely.

            “Well, in that case… let’s go!”

 

            This time he _had_ to do something. Ash’s skills were above those of the Black Rockets, most of them…

            To his surprise, Ash suddenly vanished. He identified it as a Teleport attack, but where had it come from?

            Cursing, Lance released his Dragonite. “Looks like we’ll be doing some flying to find him.” His eyes glowed brighter gold as he began to scan…

            Who dared… interfere?

 

            “AAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” Ash landed on the floor in an ungraceful heap.

            < My apologizes for this intrusion. > A voice said.

            Turning, Ash saw… a pokemon. Yes, it _was_ a pokemon… right? It was small and green and white and kind of cute, but…

            < I am Serebii. >

            “Um… hello?” Ash asked, not sure if it was the right thing to say.

            < You are Ash Ketchum, correct? >

            Ahs blinked and nodded.

            < I need your help. >

            “…?”

 

            Seeing as Ash was still in semi-shock, Serebii waited for him to regain his bearings before she began.

            “Why me?” Ash asked in confusion.

            < Because, this is a task only a bug master can accomplish! I’ve waited eons, but so far you’re the first person to seriously consider training only bug-types. >

            “… Oh.” * who knew that being different would cause this? * Ash cleared his throat. “So what do I have to do?”

            Serebii placed a paw on Ash’s forehead and what looked like a movie began to play. It showed Indigo Island overrun with bug pokemon, buildings destroyed, humanity degenerating into apelike cannibals…

            Bugs could do that?

            “H-how did that happen?” Ash asked, still in shock.

            Serebii sighed. < After centuries of being ignored and looked down upon, the bug-types’ anger caused them to evolve to new and powerful forms. >

            “Um…”

            < Do you accept? >

            “Hold on! You haven’t explained yet!”

            < Fine. I need you to go and calm the bug pokemon. >

            “What? That’s insane! I saw those giant poisonous spiders! I saw those moths that can swallow people in one bite! I saw the paras-like things so poisonous going within twenty feet of them was suicide! How exactly am I going to do anything in those conditions?”

            < You will find a way. > Serebii said helpfully.

            “I don’t want to die!” Ash might be somewhat naïve, but he wasn’t that stupid…

            < Then I’ll make you a little deal… >

 

End Chapter

Completed 9/22/04