Created 5/21/04

Disclaimer: I don’t own pokemon, as it belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. This is non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfic written by me, so I own all copyrights to my fanfic internationally. Don’t take it.

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

Chapter 5

The sun shone brightly as they walked into the Cerulean City gym together. Misty looked up.

“It’s about time you came, Ash.”

“Nani?”

“I’m the gym leader. If you wish for a cascade badge you must defeat me!”

“… Okay.” Ash said, after a moment’s pause. He had only seen Goldeen and Starmie on action before, but Goldeen was pretty much useless on land… and Starmie wasn’t that fast…

“Then let’s go.”

He followed her inside, as Lance-chan gave him the ‘V’ for victory, and the battle began.

It wasn’t too hard. Sure, they were facing each other across a pool of water, but he had caught his new pokemon she didn’t know yet.

“Pikachu, if you don’t want to fight, I won’t force you to.”

Strange, his pikachu seemed to have a crush on Misty? Ah well… it was none of his business, as long as it could fight.

Ash adjusted his black gloves, reddish brown eyes boring into hers as she sent out Staryu.

Pikachu shook his head.

Lance frowned, but it was gone in a fleeting moment before Ash even noticed. < Lance-chan? >

< Shh… don’t be nervous just because you don’t have type advantage… >

Ash nodded, willed himself to relax, and released Flygon. It gave a shrill cry as it appeared.

Misty backed up. “What in the world?”

“Obviously, he’s a pokemon.” Ash said, as if talking to a child. “Shall we begin?” A vein began to grow in Misty’s forehead, but she nodded.

“Staryu! Water gun!”

“Dragonbreath…”

The paralyzing blue ribbon of energy hit Staryu right in the core and it toppled into the water. However, unlike Stun Spore, Dragonbreath could not be washed off… so it stayed paralyzed.

“Recover, Staryu!”

“Oh, psychic-type.” Ash said, snapping his fingers. “Okay Flygon! Crunch!” Well, Staryu didn’t’ have the speed advantage, so it flopped a few times before blacking out.

‘Yatta!” Ash cheered.

Misty’s jaw dropped. “That’s it! Starmie, Bubblebeam!”

Flygon’s dragon-type canceled out its ground-type disadvantage to water, and quickly, a second Crunch finished Starmie.

Misty glared. “It’s not over yet…”

“As you wish.” Ash said, not bothered. “Flygon, you want to rest now?”

Flygon confidently shook his head, as Misty released Seel…

“Aurora Beam!”

The more agile dragon dodged, and then kicked up Sandstorm, filling the area with stinging dust.

Misty coughed, shielding her eyes.

< Ash, you all right? >

< I’m fine. > Ash sent, his gloves glowing, as a white-lined magic circle with seven posts picked itself out on the palms in a star-shape. A dome of white energy encased him as the attack went on.

By the time it was over, Flygon had somehow managed to knock out seel as well.

“You must be cheating!” Misty accused. “There’s no way a horrible trainer like you could beat me!” Veins popped all over her forehead in graphic red marks.

Ash’s eye twitched. “You’re calling me a bad trainer?”

“Yes!”

Lance smirked. * Well, if he loses control now, so much the better… *

The circles on Ash’s gloves began to glow again. Lance-chan said they helped focus his energy, whatever that meant…

But he could protect himself! He had learned he could heal minor wounds on pokemon, too.

That way, the little ones wouldn’t get hurt in the battles. It was a win-win situation. Lance was much, much more powerful, but Ash was sure he would get better with practice.

Yes, he would!

“I’m not!”

“Yes you are!” Misty shouted back.

“Am not!”

“Are too!”
“I just beat you!”

“You cheated!” Misty yelled. “That’s not a pokemon!”

“What?!”

Now I’m insulted. Flygon muttered. I am an elegant dragon-type, and yet this ignorant, stupid human female…

Tries to refute it? Lance asked in pokespeech.

Yes!

Don’t worry, I’m sure he can beat the truth through her thick skull.

You don’t say? Can I help?

As long as it’s discreet, I suppose… but first… Lance clicked his fingers, disabling the camera in this area of the gym and putting up barriers around the room, just in case destruction resulted.

Ash took four deep breaths, trying to remember what the yoga instructor had taught him during that six-hour class. * I must be calm, and reach for the center… *

It was not working very well.

“Misty, its bad enough you’re accusing me, but my pokemon didn’t do anything wrong.”

“Shut up! I won’t give you the Cascade badge, so there!”

Ash’s anger spiked again. “I beat you fair and square!”

“That’s not a real pokemon! You cheated!”

As Lance watched, Ash’s eyes turned completely crimson, and red lightning crackled over his fingers, as the transmutation circles on his gloves glowed…

The last wind generated by the reaction wafted through the gym.

Ash looked at Misty contemptuously. “I hope you’re satisfied now, _baka_.” He said angrily, collecting Flygon, as he took Misty’s badge and half her money.

No reply came from the fainted girl.

“Let’s go, Lance-chan.”

< Just a second, Ash. You can’t be so careless. > Lance said, as his eyes glowed bluely. < Amnesia wave…. >

Misty’s memory was wiped!

< You can’t let her remember, what if she tells someone? >

< That’s why I have you to look out for me. > Ash grinned. < Shall we go? >

Lance took the boy’s arm and nodded, and they vanished in the glow of teleportation.

When Misty awoke, she had a splitting headache, but no evidence.

End Chapter

Completed 5/21/04