Plotbunny fic! What if Moltres hadn’t spared Ash of her own free will, not being on scene? Hmm… or, something else?

Disclaimer: I don’t own pokemon, as it belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. This non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfic belongs to me…

AU – spins off in Indigo League

Ash is 12, and I took the liberty of altering his pokemon team and changing a few episodes, just warning ya’ll since this is AU, Ash has been journeying for a year, has all 8 badges, and travels with Brock but not Misty.

Lance is a girl, but she shall be referred to by the incorrect gender at times.

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

*Dedicated to Ranma*

Chapter 1

Lance watched disinterestedly as the runners brought the Moltres flame to the torch in the Stadium.

“Don’t you care?”

“I’ve seen it thrice already.” The Dragon Master replied.

Lorelei smiled at her cousin. “Hai, hai.”

Bruno had fallen asleep while Agatha was busy playing Reverse Go Fish with her two Gengar.

Lance took off her sunglasses, letting the sun sparkle off blonde hair and blue eyes. “Well, soon we’ll have to go up there, make speeches, and watch mediocre trainers beat each other up again.”

Lorelei chuckled. “Yes, but if any pass, it will be fun to crush their pride.”

“Quite.”

All of a sudden, a giant balloon shaped like a Meowth head dropped out of the sky. “Prepare for Trouble!”

“And Make it Double!”

“Team Rocket!” Ash cried, holding the torch tightly to his body. “I won’t let you win!”

“Stupid kid! Meowth, show him what we’ve got!”

Pikachu leaped off Ash’s shoulder, her cheeks sparking in rage. THUNDERBOLT! You thieves! How dare you interrupt!

Team Rocket was blasted off before anything else could happen.

With a grateful sigh, Ash quickly ran up the last steps and handed the torch of Moltres flame to the ceremonial lighter who lit the torch.

Fireworks went off and the Indigo League Championships began.

“Hey Ash!”

“Hi, Brock.” Ash waved.

“So you made it! Good for you!”

Ash grinned. “What about you, Brock? Going back to Pewter as soon as this is over?”

“Most likely.”

“Cool, good luck to you then.”

Brock nodded, but was then distracted by the sight of a female trainer walking past, so he fled.

Ash went to registration and registered for the Pokemon League.

So we’re finally here…

“Yes, Pikachu.” Ash smiled. “We finally are.”

How cool!

“Isn’t it? I’m glad, really, that its here. And we’re going to win.”

Pikachu gave Ash the ‘V’ for victory and posed.

Afterwards, they had a good dinner at the Slowpoke buffet, and went back to the hotel.

It was nice.

Inside, Ash released his pokemon. “Well, guys, we’re finally in Indigo.”

We have to win. Squirtle said arrogantly.

Bulbasaur whacked him lightly with her vine. Show-off.

What? It’s perfectly true!

Whatever you say. Haunter yawned.

Ponyta was silent as she busily munched on poke chow. She was shy, quite shy. She had been since Ash caught her.

The last pokemon stayed silent as well.

Well, it had been a long journey, but now his goal to be a Pokemon Master was in sight.

Ash yawned, deciding to just hit the sack early tonight. After brushing his teeth and showering, he climbed into his blue pajamas and fell asleep before his head hit the pillow.

************************Flashback Mode *********************************

“So you’re my first pokemon.” Ash said, studying the female Pikachu with interest as he fed her a handful of acorns.

The tactic worked. One little known fact is that Pikachus adore acorns, perhaps even as much as Ketchup. So Pikachu was calm while he picked her up along with the pokédex and poke balls from Oak.

“Say, Ash.” Gary said, from the door. “How about a quick battle?”

“Maybe later, Gary, I don’t know my pokemon well enough yet.”

“True, true. Well then, I’m taking off. See you around!” Gary said, before he climbed on his speeder bike and took off.

Ash walked back to his house, grabbed his backpack and camping supplies, bid his mom farewell, and took off.

Pikachu was still ‘acorn-hazed’, so they fought several Pidgey and Rattata before getting to Viridian within two hours.

By the time the euphoric haze wore off, Pikachu had decided that her new trainer didn’t seem too bad of a sort, so she had decided to stay.

They rested that night in the Center.

The next day, they went fishing. She took great pleasure frying the various Magikarp, and then the occasional Tentacool.

It was a shock when a wild Squirtle emerged.

However, she was prepared and flung out Thunderwave, that trapped Squirtle long enough for her to charge up a Thunder, and that caught the pokemon for Ash.

He was happy and gave her apple slices with ketchup sauce that night, as well as another bowl of acorns.

She was happy.

As for Squirtle, he decided that he had been captured fairly, and stayed on as Ash’s second pokemon.

It turned out to be quite useful. He soundly whipped Pewter Gym’s leader two days later.

That was Ash’s first badge.

Brock decided to follow the boy on his journey though, because staying in a gym all day reading reports was no way to learn Pokemon Breeding.

That was how it had all started.

End Chapter

Completed 7/26/04