Whee! *waves*

Disclaimer: I don’t own pokemon.

Chapter 7: The Counter-plot?

“Are you threatening me?” Ash asked, Espeon protectively standing guard in front of his master.

“Oh, no…”

“Then what? Let’s just finish this battle.”
“As you will, but you may not like the future.”
“Future’s never been pretty for me anyways.’ Ash said, as Espeon knocked out Giovanni’s Venusaur.

“Strange, pessimism in one so young.”

“You get used to it.” Ash snapped. What was Giovanni talking about? If he didn’t go to the Plateau it would be so much harder to find Lance-chan. So of course he would go!

Giovanni’s Magmar swooped down, as Espeon teleported and then used Baton Pass to bring out Ash’s Quagsire, not even needing to spend time switching. So another speed drill?

Quagsire flung Magmar away with Earthquake, and then Surfed.

Magmar floated to the surface, washed out.

“You are very good.” Giovanni said. “I normally don’t use this pokemon on beginners, but I doubt you are one.”

A trapdoor slid open as out came an armor-clad mew clone. Ash wasn’t sure which species it was, but that did not matter. Much.

“Umbreon…”

Sneasal had already done a good job, now it was Umbreon’s turn.

As Mewtwo? Mewthree? Mewfour? Mewfive? Mewsix? Ash wasn’t sure how many clones had been made, but he didn’t care that much.

Anyways, say Mewtwo for convenience’s sake, and the psychic waves just went through Umbreon.

Umbreon’s eyes glowed yellow, Confuse Ray.

The attack bounced off the armor.

Giovanni looked satisfied. “Ah, this is more like it.”

“We could be at a stalemate though.” Ash said, as Umbreon tried to Bite through Mewtwo’s armor. “Your pokemon’s attacks don’t affect mine, but as long as yours is wearing that armor, I seem to be at a loss.”

“Will you hear me out while they battle then?”
Ash shrugged nonchalantly. “Very well.”

“I have heard that a bounty hunter named Monroe is searching for an item known as the legendary Ice Star, capable of boosting ice powers to an incredible amount.”

“What does that have to do with me?”

“Strangely enough, it does.” Giovanni looked quite puzzled. “When Monroe asked a Jynx for information, it was told that only the Child of Shadowed Light or the Dragon Master could hold it.”

“And you think I’m one of these people?”
‘No,” Giovanni said calmly. “I’m quite sure.”

“You have no proof.”
“Are you sure, my son?”
Ash froze. “What did you call me?”

Giovanni didn’t look concerned. “When my scientists brought me this new pokemon, I was startled… to see when I approached it, it seemed to trigger something. And for the weeks after, I began to have memories of a life I had never seen before…”

< It must have been when I was a Card Captor… > Ash thought in telepathy to Sabrina.

Sabrina nodded inside her gym. < I am listening in as well. This is important. >

“And you happened to be in them. Quite strangely enough… and again, when I paid a visit to Pallet Town to see your mother, she was pleased to see me…”

“You obviously did realize something.”

“Yes.” Giovanni nodded. “I’m still not quite sure, I never learned your whole secret. Oh, don’t be alarmed, I won’t broadcast it to the world.”

“What do you want?”

Giovanni laughed. “Suspicious, now, are we?”
“I can’t join Team Rocket.”

“I wasn’t expecting you to.” Giovanni took a sip of a mug of coffee conveniently placed on his platform. “However, I do wish to court your mother again.”

Ash nearly fell off. “B-but that’s so sudden!”

Giovanni chuckled. “So I wanted to ask for your permission.”
“Honto ni?”
“Yes. What do you say, Ash?”

“Um…” Ash shook his head. “I’m not going to determine my mom’s emotions. But! If you make her sad or break her heart, I will punish you!”
“I expected something like that.” Giovanni said, tossing Ash the Earth Badge. “Well then. I’ll count this as your win.’

“Arigato, Giovanni-san.”

“Now, now. You don’t need to be so formal.” Giovanni laughed. “I don’t think you can call me father, but…”
“Can I just call you uncle for now?”

“Certainly.”

“Oh, and by the way.” Ash said, as he walked outside. “I won.”

Giovanni stared in shock at his fallen Mewthree. Someone, somehow, Umbreon had gotten the armor off. How!

He didn’t know, but… now he seriously needed to do repairs.

And quickly…

Giovanni called his scientists, and they went back to work. It was not until later that Giovanni realized he had forgotten to tell Ash the second part of the story.

<What do you think, Ash? >

< I’m not too sure, Sabrina, but I’ll be careful. >

< Good… >

End Chapter

Completed 3/15/04