Disclaimer: Shadow does not own pokemon, but this is her fanfic so she owns this. Nintendo owns pokemon, this is non-profit fanwork and no copyright infringement is intended, ok?

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

AAMRN is seriously annoying me… *sighs* it’s like a boiling point. Anyways, I’m going to calm down and not ran and just write.

Shoyko: *pats Phantomness on the head*

Kairo: *offers a lollipop*

 

Chapter 3: I hate fluffy pink balloons

 

            Jigglypuff.

            It sat oh-so-innocently in the middle of the grassy field on a tree stump.

            “It’s so cute!” Misty squealed, making a beeline for the pokemon.

            Ash repressed a sigh. Life was not turning out well.

            True, he had his new pokemon, and he supposed misty and Brock had their own right to capture more – of course they did – but why a Jigglypuff?

            It was not that he didn’t like them. Jigglypuffs could make powerful allies under the right circumstances. However, that was not the point.

            The point was that it was… not cute and innocent.

            Ash carefully averted his eyes and put cotton balls in his ears as he groomed Sneasal, and then Pikachu, and then Growlithe, and then Charmander.

            Jigglypuff was still not singing. So much for the better!

            No! Misty, don’t try to make it sing…

            Ash took a flying leap and ran off the stump, running for his life.

            The notes of the sleeping song drifted by seconds later.

           

            Jigglypuff was naturally enraged that the two she had sung for had fallen asleep, so she took a ripe berry, dipped her paws in the juice, and scrawled patterns over their faces.

            Misty and Brock were quite unhappy when they awoke. Sure, it had been a good night’s sleep, but still…

            “Where did Ash run off to?”

            “I have no idea.”

            “Let’s go find him then…”

            The two of them took off. They soon found Ash fishing by another stream.

            “Hey Ash! Why’d you run off without us?” Brock asked.

            “I didn’t want to fall asleep and get scribbled on.”

            ‘Huh?”

            Misty looked over the water and shrieked as she discovered that Jigglypuff had tattooed the words ‘Ugly chick’ on her forehead.

            “Eek!”

            With some furious scrubbing, the criticizing stains were removed, but Misty still smarted under the attack.

            At the very least, her pride had been wounded.

 

            Brock felt bad, so he made crepes for Misty. She didn’t complain, surprised at the gesture.

            Maybe… maybe?

            Ash hid a chuckle. * Well, at least it’s not obvious… *

            Ash?

            Can we go out?

            Ash nodded, as his pokemon scattered into the woods. They liked wild, natural food better than processed prepared mixes in any case.

            He finished his bottle of Gatorade and then watched Brock make the crepes.

            “Can I have one with eggs?”

            “Sorry, no eggs left.” Brock said apologetically. “Honey ham?”

            “Cool. I’ll take that.”

            Misty enjoyed her dinner very much that night.

            It made her a little fluttery too, the fact that Brock might care. Who knew? In any case…

            Why not make the best with what you’ve got?

 

            Sneasal purred as she groomed her shimmery pretty black fur.

            I am special.

            I am one of the Chosen pokemon, and thus I will do my best because for duty and country, and for him…

            I won’t fail.

 

            She curled back into a ball and yawned. Time to rest while she had the chance. That wild bird’s nest had been full of yummy eggs, and now she was content.

            Master would wake her if he were in trouble.

            Of course he would…

            She turned around and yawned. Well, it was time. Bed awaited!
            Zzzzzzzzzzzz….

 

            Ash brushed his teeth by the stream and looked up at the stars twinkling overhead. Starlight, Starbright, first star I see tonight…

            But he didn’t really need wishes.

            The only thing he could do was to live fully and excitingly before the others came for him.

            Why not? You take what you have.

            After he finished brushing, he flipped open the compact, just in case…

            Yellow mounted a mirror backed with clear glass. Unfortunately, no image shimmered to life.

            Still… I can wait.

            Ash went back to the campsite and found Misty and Brock playing gin rummy, so he didn’t bother them.

            He silently unrolled his sleeping bag, after clearing a good swatch of ground of twigs and rocks.

            No air mattresses, it wasn’t the lap of luxury but as things went, it wasn’t too bad.

            No. He was content enough. With that thought in mind, he fell asleep.

 

            The portals of the dream realm welcomed its Chosen.

            Ash happily walked around, introducing his new pokemon as the old ones swarmed and filled the area with laughter.

            Of course they all loved him.

            They were love, respect, loyalty… three truths that tied one world together. Because even if love came first, you needed hope for love… and then loyalty and respect would evolve to it over time…

            Not always romantic love, but why not? Variations are always fun to play with.

            He laughed as he played tag through the grassy meadows with them. Even if he didn’t have power, at least he had this.

            Companions who were true were hard to find, but over time he had acquired them. It was never easy…

            Nothing good ever comes easy, isn’t that a saying?

 

            He fell back into normal sleep a few hours later, and woke to another new day.

 

End Chapter!

Complete 4/25/04, started 4/19/04

And, in case you wanted to know… I write all my depressing fics while listening to Yu-gi-oh ‘genki no shower’, a shame since it’s a happy song.