I shall be patient and wait for Serebii.net to put up manga summaries! That way I can figure out what’s going on…

Disclaimer: I don’t own pokémon, as it belongs to Nintendo and of course Shogakukan Comics! This is non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfic written by yours truly, so taking it is a violation of international copyright laws. Ask for permission if you’d like to archive it.

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

Chapter 10

           

            It was so nice being back in the dream realm, being able to access it really happed cut time.

            Ash and his pokemon were playing tag, with somewhat of a twist, attacks flew everywhere as they dodged and fought, for no one knew who it really was and better safe than sorry!

            It helped him work on accuracy and speed.

            Power was an issue he could deal with later.

            He dodged an Ice beam, teleported away from a Mega Kick, got hit by a Grasswhistle, turned and tagged Skarmory with Swift, as well as Gloom, and then got hit again with Pound.

            Clefable giggled and flew off.

            Ash healed with Softboiled just in case, and the game began anew.

 

            Nearby, Lance and Lugia watched.

            < Still so young… >

            < I know Lugia. >

            < Chosen, I am strictly bending rules by saying this, but beware the trainer with the blue-eyed Alakazam. That’s the only hit you’ll get. >

            < It’s appreciated. > Lance said, hugging his Chosen pokemon. Lugia purred.

            < What serebii doesn’t know won’t hurt her. >

            < Indeed. >

 

            So the time wheels rolled, and at age fourteen, Ash took the Indigo League Championships.

            It didn’t really change much.

            Lance-chan was still as nice as ever, the older masters still taught him how to improve, he still worked on training, and really, nothing was different…

            Except the challengers…Idiots who had just gotten their pokemon, convinced they would be the ones to bring down the reigning Champion.

            What a waste of time.

            He knew he was making money, but he donated most of it to charity, after all, magic took care of a lot.

            Plus, he could heal in the dream realm while others could not. It was an unfair advantage. However, everything had a price.

            The fates liked to sacrifice realm guardians to keep peace, or in any case, stability. That was just the way things were.

 

            Ash looked bored as Jason threw out his Tyranitar. “Well, at least you did some training…”

            “Tyranitar, crush that pokemon!”

            Sandshrew dove underground as the huge pokemon approached. Ash nodded, before Fissure struck.

            Perfect.

            It was kind of cheap, but he wasn’t hurting the pokemon on purpose. Really! He smiled winningly as Jason cursed.

            “Kuso!!! Charizard!”

 

            “Sandshrew, return.” Ash said, the pokemon vanishing in a beam of blue light. “Hmm…”

            “Charizard, Flamethrower on whatever appears!”

            The Flamethrower hit Quagsire, which looked mostly annoyed, before Surf and Body Slam ended that round.

            Jason went off into another round of cursing while Ash plugged his ears and hummed ‘Masquerade’ loudly.

            And over… and over… until fifteen minutes had passed and Jason finally sent out another pokemon.

            < Another psuedo-dragon? > Lance observed. < Looks like someone wants to be a dragon master. >

            < Maybe. > Ash replied.

            The Aerodactyl screeched, showing sharp teeth as it dove for Quagsire. Quagsire shot off an Ice Beam in reply.

            The prehistoric pokemon was forced to swerve to avoid, and then it began to rain….

            “Aerodactyl, Rock Slide!”

            “Surf!”

            Both attacks hit, but Quagsire’s good defense was on its side as a Body Slam finished off Aerodactyl for good.

 

            Ash faced the next pokemon, a Flygon.

            “Definitely dragons.”

            < A pity they’re so disorganized. > Lance sent. < He’s brainwashed them, but that’s convenient also, because they can’t fight without him. >

            < You’re not suggesting I attack the trainer?! >

            < Only if he turns out… wrong. >

            Lance began to scan, eyes going silver. < He’s just ignorant at this point; he hasn’t crossed the line as of now. But, the potential is there… and it shall grow if he loses to you. >

            < You want me to lose on purpose?! >

            < Lugia, no! >

 

            < Just checking. > Ash said, recalling Quagsire. So he had three more slots to use, and Jason only had one pokemon left after Flygon.

            Yes, Flygon was a Ground/Dragon, hmm?

            Well, that would be very vulnerable to ice moves. Smiling, Ash released Dewgong. “Let’s go, girl. Blizzard!”

            “Counter with Sandstorm!”

            The two weather moves raged for three minutes, before the dust cleared, and Dewgong proudly dragged over a fainted and partially frozen Flygon.

            “Done.” Ash said, as Dewgong also took out Jason’s horsea quickly.

 

            “No ___ way!” Jason said, beginning a scatological rundown on Ash’s sexual life, his ancestors, and good lord knows what else.

            Lance pointed and banished the trainer to a beedrill-infested forest somewhere in Houen.

            “That was mean, Lance-chan.”

            ‘Was it really?”

            “… Point taken.” Ash said, as the cards healed themselves and he jumped off the platform, landing next to the older boy.

            “What now?”

            “Well, I don’t have another match until tomorrow, let’s just unwind.”

 

End Chapter

Complete 5/14/04