Whee!
Disclaimer/Notes: See previous chapter

Lance: Interesting, you’re back to het?

Phantomness: I’m trying…

Ash: *yawns* As long as I don’t have to write a fic…

Fic Timeline: Takes place after ‘Deceptive’!

Chapter 3

The Rock field beckoned.

Ash shrugged. “Well, whenever you’re ready…”

Alex frowned. “All right then, face my Machamp!”

“…”

Haunter happily took the field, watching as repeated Low Kicks and Karate Chops missed.

Machamp began to pant and sweat tiredly.

Alex sprayed his pokemon with Super Potion, but as it continued to trip and fall, it was clearly not going well.

“I think its tired enough, let’s finish it.”

Haunter used Psychic! Well, that was a one-hit KO.

“Oh no! Dugtrio, go!”

“I am reminded of a Hiker.” Ash said, swapping for Bulbasaur.

Hey pretty lady. Dugtrio said. I don’t want to hurt you, but this is a battle.

Shut up. Bulbasaur muttered.

Feisty? I like ‘em that way!

Dugtrio then proceeded to use Earthquake, trying to topple Bulbasaur. He hadn’t expected resistance of any sort.

Bulbasaur brought down two of her vines hard on two of the heads, before spitting out a mouthful of Poisonpowder.

Dugtrio coughed, in the smoke, and didn’t notice the Stun Spore that fell next. It was paralyzed, and therefore slow…

A final Tackle – one of the worst taunts possible – felled the mole.

Alex’s mind raced furiously. * What to do? What to do? *

With a grim look, he threw out his Arcanine.

“Well, that’s smart.” Ash said. “Wait… I know! Squirtle, why don’t you handle it? I’m sure that’s more than possible.”

Squirtle waved as he flooded the ring with Surf. Arcanine jumped onto a lot of rocks, but then Squirtle used Headbutt to knock Arcanine into the artificial lake. The fire-type panicked, and… well, didn’t drown, but it did faint.

Afterwards, Squirtle and Bulbasaur hugged each other.

They had both won.

No damage!

Hah, me neither!

I’m glad you kept your temper though.

Yes, I wanted to guillotine that Dugtrio. How dare he!
Rudeness is everywhere, my dear. Squirtle said, hugging Bulbasaur.

Bulbasaur sighed. Unfortunately.

You two were great! Pikachu cheered.

We’re glad you think so.

Ash gathered up his pokemon and was on his way home when he bumped into Gary. “Hey, Gary, long time no see.”

Gary nodded. “Same to you. How have things been?”

“Oh, so-so. I wonder what you need to become Champion?”

“Oh, I’ll beat you!”

Ash smiled. “Maybe.”

Pikachu waved to Gary’s Squirtle, who waved back.

It was a nice day.

“Anything yet?”

Lance put down an armful of scrolls. “Unfortunately not.”

“My dear cousin, you seem to be having problems.”
“Oh?”
“If you need love advice, I’d gladly dispense with some.”

“Lorelei-chan, you don’t even have a boyfriend yourself.”

“So?”
Lance flipped open another scroll, before tossing it. “These are all fakes…”

“Really?”

“Most unfortunately yes.”

“Why are you bothering with them?”

“Well, hopefully there will be a relevant prophecy, but the probability of that event occurring is quite unlikely.”

“Pity then.”

Lance flipped open the desk drawer. “Would you like a slice of walnut cake?”

“Thank you.”

Lorelei took the cake and exited quietly.

Lance closed the windows and door a few minutes after she left. Blue eyes snapped open, replaced by silver.

The silver alchemy symbols on her hands glowed in time with the golden symbol for Dragon Mastery over her heart.

< Lugia-san… >

< Greetings, Chosen. >

< Is there darkness on the horizon? >

< Yes… in two years time it will break loose. >

< Thank you. >

Lugia did not say more. They both knew it was against the code.

Two years?

Well… there were ways around that, ways around everything… and there were ways that had to be taken soon.

Let him win, then, and they would continue on.

Day X of Championships… Stadium Field, Sixth Round

Ash sweated slightly as he faced Hank. Gary had just lost to him, and he did not feel reassured.

Especially on seeing Hank’s first pokemon…

“Moltres, go!”

How in the name of Mew did he get a Moltres?

Well, he couldn’t back down now!
“Squirtle, go! Hydro Pump!”

“Too slow!” Hank called, as Moltres swiftly avoided the blow and breathed out waves of Ember.

Squirtle ducked into his shell, and then dug underground, waiting.

A few minutes passed and Moltres had still not exhausted its supply of flames. This was not looking good…

“Scared now?” Hank ridiculed.

Ash gritted his teeth. Pikachu looked nervous. The ground was starting to turn to glass, and she hoped Squirtle was still alive…

He couldn’t die… could he?

Squirtle shot out, managing to hit Moltres with a Shell attack.

“Humph.” Hank said. “Fire Blast!”

The flames hit Squirtle squarely in the shell and he dropped down, looking boiled.

“Squirtle!”

“Can’t win now, can you?”

Ash looked down at his one poke ball that had remained closed during the matches while the others fought on…

It was time.

Even Pikachu could not defeat the legendary bird…

This was his last resort then.

End Chapter

Completed 7/26/04