Yes, know I need a plot. A villain… poor abused generic character.

Hi! *Waves*

Disclaimer: I don’t own pokemon. It belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. This is non-profit fanwork by me, and I’m not infringing on their copyrights.

Chapter 6: The Plot finally arrives

Monroe was a sixteen-year-old dropout. He smoked, kept a team of Meowths, and above all else, wanted to marry a rich heiress one day.

That was when he had heard of the Vongard fortune.

Their daughter, Catelyn, had gone missing seven years ago. She was blonde-haired, blue-eyed, and rumored to be beautiful even as a girl.

Now, Monroe desired to make the girl his. After all, once the marriage was set, he was set for life.

But first, he needed help…

Pryce laughed scornfully at the trainer. “What’s it to you?”

“Please! I’ll do anything!”
“Anything?” Pryce looked speculative. “Well… in that case…”

“Yes?”
“I want to win Lorelei’s heart! And to do that, I need the legendary ice star.”

“The what?”

“It’s a magic item. It belongs to the guardian of ice-type pokemon. However, Lorelei has been able to use it on special occasions. It’s not hers for real though. If I give her the ice star as a gift, she’ll have to accept my proposal.”

Monroe coughed. * Old pervert… there’s got to be at least twenty years difference in their ages… *

“All right! If I give you the ice star, you’ll give me the information on Catelyn?”

“Gym Leader’s honor.”

“Consider it done!”

And with that, Monroe and his five meowths set off.

Elsewhere…

Lugia put a wing over his still-slumbering Chosen. * Those mortals want to meddle in the balance again? Let them face the consequences then. *

Lance stirred in her sleep, but did not wake.

And finally…

“Hi again, Cousin Erika.” Ash said, walking in the gym. “I came to see if you needed any help.”

“That’s very kind of you, Ash.” Erika beamed. “Sure, you want to help me weed these flower beds?”

“Sure.”

Xatu flew down and began eating the weeds. Shrugging, Ash and Erika knelt down in the dirt and pulled out the life suckers until the flowerbeds were clear.

“Thank you again, Ash.”

“No problem.” Ash said, as he washed his hands up to his elbows and brushed the dirt off his blue jeans. “I like gardening.”

“It must be from your mom.”

“Maybe!”

Still, he knew Lance-chan was okay. That was important.

Ash smiled brightly as he and Erika sat down for cream sodas afterwards.

It would turn out okay in the end. He always clung to that strand of hope. Hopefully the trials in the middle wouldn’t be so bad though…

A child’s hope

Monroe began his search. Unfortunately, he found absolutely zero information.

Poor guy.

He had searched all the major cities, with no luck. He even went to Lavender. It was only later that he realized he should have known not to ask people.

This was a secret well kept by pokemon.

Pity about Pryce though…

Ash got the Soul and Volcano badges, before flying to Viridian to obtain the Earth Badge as well.

Cyndaquil did not evolve, choosing to remain in his first form.

Xatu grew in power, and her sight began unveiling mysteries to his team. She looked into the past instead, showing them previous stories.

It also helped Ash with some of his earlier memories.

So he was very grateful to the psychic bird. When Xatu flew off to find a mate, Ash did not stop her.

Now, he stood on the platform opposite Giovanni, and waited.

“I have heard of your talent, Ash.” Giovanni said. “Surely, a six on six match will not tire you out?”

“Bring it on.” Ash grinned.

“Nidoking, go.”

“Ground/poison… Sneasal, Blizzard!”

The black cat moved quickly, freezing Nidoking before a move was called.

“Very impressive speed.” Giovanni said. “Electrode! Explosion!”

< Protect. >

Sneasal nodded, and the ring of stars did their work. So as Giovanni recalled his fainted Electrode, he was shocked to see Sneasal still up and moving. Shrugging, he took to playing type advantage and tossed out a Machamp.

“Shall we switch?” Ash mused. “Yes, let’s. Sneasal, Return.”

Giovanni narrowed his eyes. * Now he’ll use that psychic bird, probably… *

“Espeon…”

No, that looked like an eevee. Was it a psychic evolution? Possible. “Machamp, Fissure!”

“We’re faster, Espeon! Psychic!”
One more down…

Giovanni felt quite impressed. “You’ve obviously done a good job training. What a pity.”
“Hmm?”
“If you get my badge, you’ll go on to the Indigo Plateau and take on the Elite Four. Everyone does.”

“So?”
“Oh, my poor child… you have no idea what waits there.”

End Chapter

Created 3/14/04, completed 3/15/04