Disclaimer/Notes: No, I don’t own pokemon. Wish I did? Well, ask Nintendo. And Shogakukan comics!

<> For telepathy, ** for thoughts, italics for pokemon speaking

Phantomness: *Waves* Hi, minna! Thank you for reviewing!

Lance: *Comes up behind her with a net*

Phantomness: Eek! *Runs off*

Chapter 6: Hopeless

The next morning, Anton found himself strangely reluctant to leave. It had been a long time since he had been able to breathe without a mask, but here, there was clean air and water, and sunshine.

Outside the window, pokemon tumbled and played in the surf.

He shook his head. It was like a paradise.

“That’s what a sanctuary is.” A voice snapped. Startled, Anton saw a winged pikachu eating a giant strawberry sundae.

Pika-chan flew off, to wreak more havoc.

“… What?”

Blastoise yawned and returned to its original slumber.

Strange things happened in the Smoky Island Chain. It was no surprise.

Charlotte stirred her fifteenth cup of coffee, laden with mint and whipped cream.

“Do you actually like that?” Ash asked.

“Well, it keeps me awake, and the caffeine actually helps suppress my crazy tendencies.” Charlotte said. “You know how guardians are different from normal humans.”

Ash nodded. “I see.”

“Just don’t give him any sugar…” Lance said from behind Ash, as she came out of the hall.

“Oh.” Charlotte said, casting a suspicious look at ash.

A while later, Anton, having eaten a substantial breakfast in bed, came out into the hall.

Ash watched him with wary eyes.

“What do you want know, brother?”

Anton growled. “Look, I’m leaving, okay?”

“Fine.” Ash said. “I mean; you are a guest in my house. Hope you enjoyed the stay.”

With that, he waved Anton off.

The return to civilization was a bump. Not a pleasant one, either.

For a while, the worm of jealousy gnawed at Anton, but he learned to ignore it.

Life was very unfair.

What had Ash done to warrant this special exemption from the rules? He had to find out.

With that, Anton set out on a quest. First, he headed to Whirl Islands, where Lugia was said to live.

He found the caverns easily enough; luckily, they were not as polluted as the other areas. But the water was still a murky blue color, instead of the clear ocean it was supposed to be.

He and Blastoise swam into the first one and began looking around, but to no avail. They did not actually hear Lugia until they entered the third underwater cavern.

< Who dares invade my sanctuary?! > This was a terrific roar from the air all around them.

Anton grabbed Blastoise tightly, hiding behind it.

< Who dares…. > the voice continued.

“EEK!”

Anton shrieked like a rattata and ran for the exit.

Lugia sank back into his underwater cave, satisfied.

Stupid trainers. Couldn’t they leave him alone?

He yawned and climbed into his bubble bed, before falling asleep.

Anton and Blastoise panted as they leaned against a rock up above. “That was not what I expected…”

Aren’t you the Chosen One though? Blastoise asked.

“Of course I am!”

Then according to the prophecy, you should be able to summon Lugia.

“I know!” Anton snapped. “Unless…”

Unless what?

“The prophecy is crap.” Anton muttered.

Blastoise looked horrified. That can’t be!

“Oh? I never liked mystic junk anyways.”

Except when it benefits you! Another voice cut in, laughing as it rocked along the wind.

Spinning around in fury, Anton found his assailant to be a Butterfree.

“You! How dare you speak that way to me!”

You fool. I am under the protection of the fire guardian. I do not fear your blustering. The bug replied arrogantly.

“Oh, shut up.” Anton said, ignoring it.

Butterfree shrugged and flew away without another word, not like he wanted to speak to someone who was ignoring him anyway.

Purple smoke billowed from Pallet Town when he landed.

“What?!”

Anton rushed into his house and found his mom with her gas mask on, huddled behind the sofa.

“Mom! What’s wrong?”

Delilah looked up, her voice sounding garbled. “Anton! The factories near pallet have finally overwhelmed the natural cleaning system with the sea fog! Too many pollutants in the air! It’s turning into very thick, poisonous smog.”

Anton yanked on his own mask. “What can I do?”

Delilah coughed, as he huddled with her. “I don’t know…”

Anton suddenly felt anger welling up inside of him again. * Ash… you can help, why won’t you!? Well, then, I’ll force you to! *

With that resolution, he headed back to Indigo the next day.

End Chapter

Completed 2/8/04