Disclaimer: Pokemon belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. This non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfiction belongs to me under international copyright laws and taking it is plagiarism. Thank you. *Phantomness bows*

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

Chapter 3

Delia and Mimey were gardening when they saw him walking towards the house. “Oh Ash! You're home!”

His mother ran to hug him.

Ash nodded. No need to tell her about meeting Lance right? Unless she saw Kingdra... but that was okay.

He wanted to keep the Dragon Master secret a while longer.

“I'm so glad! What would you like for dinner tonight!” She grinned.

"Pizza?"

Delia smiled. “I'll make you your favorite chicken parmesan pizza.”

Ash cheered.

It would be nice to sleep in his bedroom again too! Maybe he could stay for a few days? The Championship trials were in two months... and the Elite Four Challenge could be taken at any time

He needed a break, both from training, and from those horrid memories of Misty.

Ash went up to his bedroom after dinner at a shower. He flopped down on his bed. * I miss you, Lance. * They hadn’t even been separated for a day yet! Why?

When he looked through his bag he found two... books...?

"Odd." Ash said. He flipped them open. They were full of cards. A strange sensation flowed through his body as he touched them.

"I... remember..." He brushed his fingertips across the Pidgeot card on the top. "Lance-chan."

He would have to remember to thank Lance-chan properly...

Pika-chan giggled.

But wait! That meant that Pikachu with him now was actually Pika-chan and not his starter. Good riddance to that faithless mouse!

“Pika-chan! Why are you here?”

The winged mouse frowned. "Your Pikachu is undergoing discipline."

Ash blinked. "That makes sense... But why you and not Pika?"

"Cause Pika's the one fixing her." Pika-chan giggled.

Ash could just picture it. * A Megavolt. *

“She should be glad it's him and not you or the Pikachu card…”

Ash nodded. "I miss Lance-chan."

Pika-chan patted him on the head. “I'm sure you'll see your Mate soon.”

“I think I will, actually.” Ash blushed cutely. “He's letting me take care of his Kingdra at the moment.”

She nodded. “Great! He must trust you a lot!”

Ash blushed. "Um, Pika-chan… Could you leave the room for a bit? I kind of need privacy."

Pika-chan grinned. "Sure." She went downstairs and helped herself to some of Delia's chocolate nut brownies.

The boy sighed. He locked the door, before closing his eyes and reaching down between his legs. "Lance-chan…!"

He really missed Lance now...

Ash moaned as he arched up into his hand. "Mmm…" He imagined that it was his Mate touching him like this.

Oh, how he missed that!

He came hard several minutes later.

Ash licked his hands clean and then changed into clean clothes. He'd challenge Giovanni tomorrow morning.

He nodded. That was a good plan.

The next morning, Pidgeotto flew him to Viridian City.

"I'm here to challenge Giovanni." He told the Black Belt at the entrance.

“Well, you'll have to beat me first! Go, Tauros!”

He smirked. He knew it was kind of cheating but... "Pika-chan!"

She hopped off his shoulder.

The Tauros charged forwards with Stomp. Pika-chan shrugged and used Thunderbolt. The Tauros was completely fried.

The Black Belt blanched and switched for a Machoke.

Should he use a card? * Hmm. Decisions, decisions... * Why not?

He flashed one of the new ones. “Kirlia dear, could you use Psychic?”

< Yes Master! > She was excited. Master wanted her to battle!

She smiled happily as she blasted the Machoke.

The Black belt had never seen that pokemon before. What was it? He sent out another pokemon.

Kirlia eyed the Primeape and took it down with another Psychic. Type advantage...

The man scowled and waved Ash on. There were still many more gym trainers waiting ahead. But the boy had a new pokemon? Better tell the Boss...

He went off to inform Giovanni of this development.

Ash easily made it through the rest of the trainers. His Cards were wonderful. Why couldn't he have them more often?

Maybe it was cheap? He shrugged.

When he got to the back of the gym, Giovanni was there. He had been expecting him.

“I’m here to challenge you for the Earth Badge, Giovanni.” Ash said quietly.

Giovanni nodded. "Send out your first Pokemon.

Ash smiled. "I choose you, Alakazam!"

He had decided not to use Houen, Johto or other new pokemon in this battle. It was better to hide his power for now.

Giovanni might be dangerous.

The Gym Leader blinked and sent out his Nidoking, but it was promptly defeated. Giovanni scowled, swapping for a Machamp.

Ash tried not to laugh. The Machamp went down faster then the first one.

Next, Giovanni used Dugtrio, but it fell to Ash’s Bulbasaur.

The three on three battle was over. With a frown, the Boss dug the earth badge out of his jacket and threw it at Ash, enraged.

Ash caught it wondering why Giovanni was so angry. How had he lost to some kid from the boondocks?

Good grief!

Well, at least he got a badge, Ash decided, and headed out with a smile.

End Chapter

Completed 11/5/07

Misty is a bitch and I hate her. I’ve got all the Kanto animanga, and she is very abusive towards Ash!

I mean, she’s not even *pretty*. Or a good trainer, or smart, or useful…

Her bitchy episodes outnumber the episodes when she is nice, at least in my opinion, and well, that Princess Day episode’s quite horrible anyway.