Whee! Another chapter! Please live a long and useful life plotbunny of mine! *nods*

Disclaimer: Pokemon belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. If I owned pokemon like I own this non-profit, non-copyright infringing piece of literature, the episodes would probably be chock full of shonen-ai, and Misty would be long dead…

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

Chapter 7

While Ash was healing his pokemon at the Center, Lance dropped in on Giovanni quickly, left Pikachu for investigation with a yellow sticky taped to the poke ball, and was back before Ash noticed his disappearance.

They stayed at the Center that night – free dinner for trainers, yay – and the next morning, set out for Pewter.

Ash enjoyed showing off at the Pewter City gym very much. Poliwhirl and Bulbasaur happily defeated the nine junior trainers before it got to Brock.

< He has potential… > Lance agreed, as he and Charmander watched. < The question is, can he utilize it in an emergency? >

I believe that is the most likely answer. If not, I believe they will rescue him of their own free will.

It’s a very strong bond… you’d think that since he just acquired Bulbasaur nary a week ago, it wouldn’t be this close to him. Still…

< I think he’s a worthwhile investment. > Lance said, typing on his miniature computer.

Where did you get that?

< Birthday present from father. >

I see.

“Onix, Headbutt!”

Ash and Poliwhirl jumped, twisted in midair, and then shot off Blizzard. Well, Poliwhirl did, Ash just kind of clung on.

Still, it looked cool.

Lance clapped softly. * He does have good gymnastic skills, I guess that goes under Speed… *

Maybe he could be persuaded to join Team Rocket.

Then, they’d have to be careful. First, Lance would keep him from seeing the other side. Like the blue teams.

Giovanni didn’t like them, but he couldn’t just knock off people randomly. So those who weren’t useful were reprogrammed and became the blue teams. Those were the ones sent out on suicide missions and to do the dirty work.

Still, it had to work that way for the organization to run. Sprouting happy thoughts and peace was no way to win. Or, to gain power…

Unless you used it properly…

Then, that was a formidable weapon.

“That was wonderful, Ash. Was it really your first gym battle?”

Ash beamed under the praise. “Yes.”

“You must have natural talent as a trainer then.”

Poliwhirl sighed as Ash began to shimmer happily. “Wow! You can tell?” He began to gush while Lance listened politely.

For fifteen minutes.

“Come on, Ash. You should get your pokemon healed.”

“Hai! Maybe we’ll make it through Mt. Moon tonight!”
“You want to go there in the dark? Aren’t there swarms of blood-sucking zubats there?” Lance asked.

“Oh! Yes…” He deflated slightly, but was undeterred. After all, nothing could let a cheerful, hyper-sunshine trainer down so easily. “Then, let’s go see the museum.”

“That sounds good to me.” Lance agreed. They bought pretzels from a vendor and ate them while walking to the museum, passing a girl who was crying on the sidewalk.

“What’s wrong?”

The girl sniffled. “My Rattata ran away…”
“Oh, that’s horrible!” Ash said sympathetically.

Yellow nodded. “I’m so lonely…”

Lance narrowed his eyes as she suddenly grabbed Ash tightly. “Please, help me!”

Ash looked confused. “Okay… um, Lance, I’ll meet up with you later.”

Lance nodded curtly and walked into the museum. So, _she_ had showed up. He could tell at first glance what she was.

She had the Viridian Power like him, but…

It was so disgustingly light! Horrible. She was one of those naïve idiots who defend mass-murderers by saying it was an accident.

He wouldn’t want to spend time with her anyways.

Is she a danger to us? Ptera asked.

< Not yet… but we must watch her carefully, and if needed, kill her before she matures. >

Hai.

We understand.

Like trainer, like pokemon…

Dark lightning flashed in Lance’s eyes, but went unnoticed. Even if it were noticed, Kabutops statues and moon rocks could not exactly do anything.

He stopped before an Omanyte fossil, and frowned, pondering. Pretending to study the placard, he noticed out of the corner of his eye a very familiar head of green hair…

We meet again, Marie. But I will not fight you here. You would still gain defeat, and these priceless fossils must stay untouched.

Lance stayed out of her line of sight as she hung on the arm of a tall, dark and handsome man, giggling winsomely as he fawned on her.

How sickening.

Maybe thought, that would be a good incentive…

He slipped into the gift shop, bought a few pencils as a cover, and then left.

“Here you go.” Ash said, presenting Yellow with a Spearow.

“Wow! Thank you!”

“No problem. Just remember to treat your pokemon kindly, or it will hate you.” Ash said, before he left.

Why had it been so hard?

Catching pokemon was easy, but she clung to him and tripped him on more than one occasion. And then, she had tried to take his Plusle.

He was not in a good mood.

He was really trying to keep his temper under control, but it was hard, very hard, and…

Ash’s eyes lit up as he saw Lance leaving the museum. At least he still had a friend, right? Even if he had just met Lance, something, _something_ told him to trust the other trainer. He didn’t’ know what.

But it was fine.

“Lance! Wait for me!”

End Chapter

Completed 6/21/04