Gah! Well, at least I caught a plotbunny.

Kairo: *eating a lollipop*

Emerald: *yawning*

Lance: *still angry at the recent rash of shonen-ai fics I’ve written*

Phantomness: It’s not a bad thing, and people like them!

Shoyko: *trying to calm Lance down*

Lance: And I happen to be insane in most of them? That’s just wonderful…

Phantomness: I can make you insane in het championshippy too if you want!

Lance: *sweatdrops*

Phantomness: But I think this one is shonen-ai

Disclaimer: I don’t own pokemon. I certainly wish I did, but it belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. Ah… this is non-profit fanfic, no copyright infringement is intended, and since I wrote it, it’s mine.

Notes: <> for telepathy, ** for thoughts, italics if a pokemon talks. I’m making Ash 12 instead of eleven.

Summary: This is an alternate version of Evolutionary Problems, which will probably wind up championshipping. Everyone has a secret weapon that they don’t use until they have to, and Ash is one of those… takes place during March of the Exeggutor Squad…with a Charmander out of energy and Melvin unable to call out fire, dire measures are needed.

Chapter 1: Last Resort

Ash stared in horror as the Exeggutor trampled his three pokemon. Bulbasaur and Squirtle’s attacks were no good against those rampaging trees, and Charmander…

Ash spared a glare for Melvin the useless magician as he ran over to his ailing pokemon.

“Ash! Do something!” Misty yelled.

“What? Charmander is trying his best and-!” Ash grabbed Charmander out of the way of another running tree, throwing them both off to the side. The Exeggutor that had not been shocked out of their hypnotized state kept running…

“PIKACHU!” Pikachu screamed, using Thunder, but that was no help.

None at all…

Ash shivered. * I … this is my last resort, and I wanted to keep this a secret forever, but… we have no more time. Pidgeotto’s still weak also, so I have to use this one… *

He remembered what she had said when she had given him the poke ball.

“Once you take this step, it’s the first step off the path of normality. That is the way of the Chosen.”

He could not fail.

He would not fail… sending pokemon to their deaths was not something he condoned. It was the only way.

Gomen nasai…

Recalling his pokemon, Ash winced and threw out the poke ball. It arced in the air, before bouncing to a stop and releasing the field of red energy within, revealing the pokemon.

The Flareon growled, black fur shining before it breathed out a Fire Blast, stopping all the Exeggutor, but…

Ash did not need to look to know that a few had been incinerated.

It had to be done, though. Sacrifice a few for the many… nothing was ever free. It wasn’t exactly equivalent trade, but…

It was the best he could do.

Flareon was a dark-type, not normal, Charlotte couldn’t control it, so she sent it to him. Ash had taken care of the pokemon and it had accepted him, because even though Shadow wasn’t dark it was close enough.

Still…

If you let one dark pokemon enter the world, the gates are opened for the rest. The dream realm was controlled by three Chosen, but even Chosen were not all-powerful. Since they only had two Chosen at the moment that made the situation even worse.

If only that incident with Clarissa had not happened! Still…

Sacrifice fire to bind ice and lightning. Serebii had agreed, and she had too. So really, it wasn’t that bad.

Bindings weren’t perfect, though.

Ash sighed, snapping out of the thoughts as Misty approached Flareon. “Misty… you really shouldn’t…”

Flareon lunged, trying to tear a chunk out of her hand.

“That’s why I said to be careful.” Ash muttered, as Flareon trotted back to him. “Good, good…”

The flames in its body reflected the flames in his eyes. Why not just give in to his anger and hate? Why not indeed?

Who would it hurt? Not the pokemon…

No! He couldn’t fall that easily! He had to keep fighting… if not for himself, for…

Ash’s eyes hardened as he gave Flareon a hug and then recalled it.

Misty stared at him. “Where did that come from?!”

“My father.” Ash said, lying effortlessly. It was true… from a certain point of view. Ash was not going to debate these things with Misty now, though.

There were much better things to do. Besides, a mallet to the head was never, ever pleasant.

With a smile, he walked onwards. “Come on, we should find a Pokemon Center.”

Misty and Brock followed, amused at his rapid character change.

Maybe there was more to Ash, they hadn’t known him for that long…

Maybe.

Ash healed all his pokemon and then bid Misty and Brock good night in the middle of the afternoon, vanishing upstairs.

“What is with him?”

“How should I know? I met him after you did, Misty!”

“Hmm…” Misty rolled her eyes. “Well, he wants to do everything on his own, right? He probably has a few aces up his sleeve to help.”

“I bet you’re right, Misty.”

“Well, since he’s not here, let’s go get dinner. If I have to eat another tin of Spam I’ll die.”

“Me too.” Brock said. “Say, I spotted a Crepe stand that looked pretty good when we walked into this town, want to check it out? My treat.”

“Really? Let’s go!”

Brock grinned and offered his hand, he might as well brush up on his feminizing skills. “Let us be off, mademoiselle.”

They left Ash alone in the Center.

Ash put down his binoculars. “Finally… I thought they would never leave.”

Really? Why?

“Because those two are quite blind to their feelings for each other.”

I can understand Brock’s reluctance since Misty is still young…

She’s ugly too!

“Pikachu!” Ash said, quite startled. “I thought you liked her?”

Are you kidding? She was only preferable until I realized you liked me more. Plus, while you made the sacrifice, she didn’t.

“Ah…”

Pikachu flipped her ears. While you will let me go… she will not.[1]

Ash’s remaining five pokemon were stuffing with the poke center’s free food. Bulbasaur, being somewhat of a lady, managed to eat slowly, while Squirtle and Charmander just dived in.

Pidgeotto ate little, feeling slightly ill at ease. That sense of nausea was quite forbidding.

Ah… the problems of being female. At least Ash had the necessary equipment on him. Thank god for resources.

Flareon didn’t eat much either, but as a dark pokemon he had extra perks.

Food wasn’t a necessity, more like a treat.

Ash showered and changed into his pajamas with the dancing Clefairies on them, before climbing into bed.

Sleep was good… plus, the dreams could bring the future. He had to learn what he was supposed to do quickly.

Wasting time and energy was not only annoying, but it was just that – a waste.

His eyes closed seconds after his head hit the pillow. Centers certainly had pretty good accommodations.

Dream Realm

Ash wandered around, marveling at the scenery and the pokemon. He had only seen this place a few times before in his dreams, but it was always wonderfully pretty. Different.

He looked around.

A boy with dark red hair stood near him, looking into a mirror.

Ash blinked. He’d never seen other people here before… unless. Something in the back of his mind clicked.

His eyes shut and then reopened, distilling their brown to molten gold.

Of course… what better place to regain lost memories than the originator?

Initiation over, he touched Lance on the shoulder. The Dragon Master was not tense, simply slightly unnerved. Worry shone.

“You have woken this early, little one?”
Ash nodded.

“This will be a dangerous path to walk, you know.”

“I have no choice. It was needless death and suffering or the ability to unseal. You know what choice I made.”

“I do indeed.” Lance said, placing his hands on Ash’s shoulders. “But you are still young. I have many years as Realm Guardian left to fulfill.”

“I know.”

“Then you know why I must do this.” Lance said, before Ash cried out in pain. The pressure increased, building towards a crescendo of agony before he awoke.

Checking himself over, Ash noticed that there were no scars, no bruises, nothing. The pain was purely phantom.

No, that was not quite true.

The seals of darkness shimmered on his arms, locking off most of his magic. He understood, of course. Thrusting power on a child was strictly against the laws. And since he had not woken from Sleep of Death… wielding this power this early was unwise.

Still…

Crimson tinted his cheeks as he tried to banish a certain lascivious image from his mind. Maybe that wash of memories wasn’t a good thing.

Unfulfilled, but he could wait, or at least try.

Ash closed his eyes and went back to sleep, the last of the pain ebbing away in silence.

End Chapter

Created February 2002, finished April 19, 2004

1 = since this takes place after ‘Pikachu’s Goodbye’, I thought I’d make a reference