I will defeat Writer’s Block!

Disclaimer: Pokemon belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. This is non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfic written by me and I own it. Do not take my writing.

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

Note: A year in glitch city is only about 4 months in actual life… so 5 years of Ash begin there would be roughly 1.5 year… so he’s actually 16, but everyone thinks he is 13

Chapter 4

 

            He didn’t know how it had happened. Everything just kind of seemed to… vanish, for lack of a better word.

            When the dust cleared, he and his parents were standing in Pallet Town. Well, it was Pallet…

            But their ‘house’ had changed.

            Interesting…

 

            “How did this happen?” Professor Lithium asked in shock.

            ‘I have no idea.” Delia said. “Looks like your lab plus the house we were using.”

            “It does, doesn’t it?”

            While his parents checked the house, Ash busily checked his poke balls, and was relieved to see all his pokemon were still there.

            Good…

 

            A quick scan using Professor Lithium’s special device revealed that only about a year, maybe a little more, had passed in this world.

            Interesting…

            They all quickly got to work, readjusting. By the time the police noticed the house was there a few days later, they had the paperwork completed at supersonic speed.

            So they were not evicted.

            Ash decided to tell Misty and Brock that he was home. After all, they were friends… sort of.

            It didn’t matter.

            He still _looked_ like a kid, he had only grown 2 inches, that was sad…

 

            “I suppose it was bound to happen sooner or later, since Glitch City doesn’t technically exist.”

            “Ah.”

            Delia smiled at her husband and son. “I’m just glad both of you are safe.”

            They shared warm smiles.

            Yes, it _was_ nice…

            Well, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad.

 

            “Ash! Where have you been?” Misty asked. “Why’d you just vanish in Fuschia?”

            “I was called away.”

            “By who?”

            “My uncle in Houen.” Ash lied.

            “Oh! How cool! You went to Houen?”

            “Yep, but only for a few weeks…”

 

            “Then what?”

            “Then? I had to go to summer school.”

            “Oh I feel sorry for you.” Brock whistled.

            “Did you get any better? Are you doing Indigo League this year?”

            Ash grinned. “Hai!”

            “That’s great!”

            But they had to admit; not traveling with Ash had been much safer…

            Brock and Misty hung up their videophones.

 

            “Prepare for Trouble!”

            “And make it double!”

            “To protect the world from devastation!”

            “To unite all peoples within our nation!”

            “To denounce the evils of truth and love!”

            “To extend our reach to the stars above!”

            “Jessie!”

            “James!”
            “Team Rocket blasts off at the speed of light!”

            “Surrender now or prepare to fight!”

 

            Pikachu yawned and then used Thunder.

            It’s a one-hit KO – er, not that, but in any case…

            “LOOKS LIKE TEAM ROCKET’S BLASTING OFF AGAIN!” *Ping*

            “How do you think they found me?”

            I swear your clothing is bugged or something… Squirtle said.

            Bulbasaur and Bubblesaur were grazing on a convenient patch of grass, as warm sunlight filtered down from above…

            How nice!

            Ash thought back to his travel in Indigo, it seemed like so long ago, even though it wasn’t really…

            Six badges…

            That left… Blaine and Giovanni.

            Very well then, he would get the badges in time to compete for the Indigo League in two weeks. It couldn’t be that hard.

            How oddly time shifts work.

 

            “That could be it, but I’ve worn lots of clothes.” Ash said. Thoughtfully, he took off his League cap.

            There!

            How had they gotten that wire so tightly into the lining? It was barely visible…

            < Allow me. > Mewtwo said, before blasting it with a psybeam.

            No more wire…

            “Ah! My League Cap!”

            < Mew, use Frameshift. >

            < I know, I know! >

            The cap reappeared, looking brand new.

            Smiling, he placed it on his head and then Mewtwo teleported him to Cinnabar.

            The gym was nowhere in sight.

            Hm….

 

            < Mewtwo? >

            < I don’t see it, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t here… >

            Still, he was not going to use his ‘legendary’ pokemon. Otherwise, people would want to steal them.

            Grr…

            With a smile, he released another pokemon with a flick of his wrist.

            Charmander blinked his eyes sleepily. Yes?

            “Charmander, how deep does the volcano run?”

            They walked over to it, as Charmander touched the rocks in a few places and knocked a little.

            Not too deep…

            “Good. I think we’ve found our gym.”

            Really? How?

            Ash switched out Pidgeot and climbed on, and then they flew above the volcano, before diving in.

            Blaine blinked as they landed on the platform. “You found me?”

            “Hai! I challenge you for a Volcano badge!”

 

End Chapter

Completed 7/31/04