I think I’ll do a time jump, so I can write a shorter fic. It’s a trade secret!

Ash: *frowns*

Phantomness: Well, hopefully the shipping will arrive now

Shoyko: *eats an apple* me too

Phantomness: Sorry, this one isn’t darkfic. And Emerald is on vacation, with Kairo…

Lance: So it’s just us?

Phantomness: Yep!

 

Disclaimer/Notes: See an earlier chapter

 

            He was on his way to being the champion.

            But really, that didn’t mean anything. He hadn’t stopped training, slacking off was such a waste of time!
            Plus, there was always more to learn.

            Ash focused, Psywave crashing into the center of four targets but missing one completely.

            His eyes were closed, and he wasn’t scanning. This was just using innate ability now. He tried again, as the targets replaced themselves thanks to Return.

            This time, he only hit three.

 

            “I think you’re stressed, Ash. Relax and just flow.” Lance instructed him soothingly. Ash nodded, opened his eyes to grin at the trainer, and tried again. Eighteen tries later, he finally hit all the targets.

            “You’re doing great, little one.”

            Ash drank a Hyper Potion and stretched languidly for a few minutes. “What’s next on my schedule?”

            “Well, it depends. Do you want to tackle the Geometry first?”

            The expression Ash’s face said it all.

            “Well then, let’s hit elementary Physics.”

            It wasn’t easy, being Chosen, but he managed. And he worked hard, and got better.

            That was just normal life. You reap what you sow, right? So putting in work and effort pays off.

            The cards hadn’t come until two weeks ago, but he was glad they were there at last. All the spirits kept him company.

            It was nice.

            The only thing that might detract from his current state of bliss was the fact they had no idea what task faced the Chosen this time.

            It could be easy or hard, whatever card drawn had to be played.

            Hopefully he could have some more peace first.

            He wasn’t even that old yet!

 

            Lorelei came in, followed by Lapras who balanced four trays of muffins on her head.

            < I brought a snack, would you like some? >

            “YAY!” Ash cheered. His pokemon cards applauded, and Pika-chan immediately dive-bombed the carrier.

            Muffins flew through the air as pokemon appeared through vortexes and began eating. Lance smiled, activated the Duplicate card, and made sure there were enough for all. Ash grinned.

            “Do you like them?”

            “They’re very tasty, Lorelei-san.” Ash said, respectfully. He wasn’t close enough to call her –chan yet, he didn’t’ even call Lance that yet.

            “Well, I’m glad you liked them.”

            “Can we train a little tonight?”

            “Of course.”

 

            “Lessons first, Ash.” Lance reminded the boy, whose face pulled into a half-scowl. “I know…”

            “Well, physics is helping you speed up your teleportation, isn’t it?”

            “Hai.”

            “There we go then.”

 

            Ash struggled through a lesson on sound waves, the basics, but it was all right. Maybe he could learn to use Supersonic more accurately…

            So it was applicable to life!
            Then, he and Lorelei went swimming. They had a breath-holding contest, which Lorelei won, since Ash didn’t use his gills, he couldn’t remember the spell and hadn’t learned it anew. Plus, she was already a full master.

            They also had a water fight, which Lance and Claire joined later on, as everyone splashed in a no-holds-barred-war.

            Ash spent a few minutes showing her his water attraction again, and Lorelei expressed surprise that he could call from the land as well.

            It was still easier to do air, but Ash was trying hard, and that was what really counted. It was lucky Chosen didn’t age.

            Normally they passed into Sleep of death before thirty years were up, though. Well, that was the way things worked.

            Fighting would do no good.

 

            You can’t tangle with fate.

 

            “Let’s spar.” Claire said, afterwards.

            ‘You still have energy?”

            “Well, Horsea’s benefits carried over.” Claire said, smiling. “So water does refresh me.”

            “Just a second then.” Ash said, drawing in the starlight with the help of an energy amplifier and the starshine potion he had drunk earlier. Then, they both changed into more convenient fighting outfits and got ready. Ash smoothed down his dark blue pants and jacket; glad they were spelled.

 

            < Don’t worry about anything, Ash. >

            < I’m not. >

            He gripped his staff and grinned, facing her. “Ready!”

            “Let’s begin.” Lance said, bringing the flags down.

            Claire and her Dragonair immediately attacked with Dragonbreath, their favorite move. Ash dodged one but couldn’t move fast enough to escape the other, so he was hit and his speed dropped.

            His fingers twitched, spores of faint blue drifting down towards them.

            “Too slow!” Claire said, a Flamethrower downing the ice spores. Ash shrugged, used Refresh to cure the speed, then teleported behind her and used Thunderpunch.

            But as soon as he became visible, Thunderwave from Dragonair hit him.

 

            “You’ll have to learn to deal with two on one, being outnumbered is quite common.” Lance said from the sidelines.

            Ash refreshed again, used Recover to regain HP from a hyper beam, blinded Claire with Spore while Dragonair was recharging, got knocked out of the arena as his Psywave shield crumpled under Dragonair’s attack, and decided to forfeit.

            “You’re still early on in the stage, Ash.” Lance said, healing him with Full Restore. “Don’t fret.”

            “I’m not.” Ash grinned. “Is Claire okay?”

            “Sure, just rinsing her eyes out should solve the problem. If not, I can use the Viridian Power.”

            “Well, you didn’t do too badly.” Claire told Ash with a half-smile of her own, returning from the bathroom.

            Ash nodded.

 

End Chapter

Completed 5/14/04, created 5/13/04