Disclaimer: I don’t own pokemon, ok? It belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. This is non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanwork written by me so I own it.

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

 

Lance:…

Phantomness: Well, at least I found a plot, right?

Shoyko: Bring on the darkfic!

 

Chapter 9: Fear and Realization

 

            Ash quickly reacted, Alakazam’s Reflect blocking the attack. If used carelessly, Dream Eater could take a person’s soul, and as a Ghost Master Agatha definitely knew that. So why was she trying to kill him?
            “What’s going on!?” Ash demanded, as Alakazam blasted Agatha’s second Gengar to nothingness again.

            “I’m only trying to save you, child. I’m an old soul and it doesn’t matter to me.”

            “What are you talking about? You were trying to kill me!”
            “It was for a good cause.” Agatha said, as her Arbok and Golbat charged.

            Espeon and Alakazam together wiped out Agatha’s team.

            “Agatha, what is going on here?”

            “If I tell you, you’ll try to run away.”

            “Isn’t it better for me to be alive?”

            Agatha sighed. “Very well. Gary will enjoy the company anyway.”

            “Hmm?”

 

            “Six years ago, the Governing Council decided to create the Elite Four. You know that.”

            Ash nodded.

            “But only last year, they decreed that the winners must stay.”

            “… Stay?” Ash asked in horror.

            “Yes, stay. Why else have you not seen Gary since he left on his journey? It was his misfortune to challenge us, and so, now, he waits here for more challengers…”

            Agatha shook her head. “I wished to spare you, but it is too late now…and you will not lose. Lance is still absent, and I know you can beat Gary…”

            Ash could only look around him in despair as he slowly walked to the next room.

 

            Gary waited, staring dully at the arena on the floor. “Let’s battle.”

            Ash winced, nodding.

            Pidgeot.

            Alakazam.

            Rhydon.

            Ninetails.

            Arcanine.

            Gyarados.

            Exeggutor.

            Kingler.

            Nidoqueen.

 

            All nine, defeated…

 

            “You do know what you’ve just done.” Gary said listlessly.

            Ash nodded.

            “It was foolish of you to take the Elite Challenge.”        

            “I didn’t find out until just now.”

            “Well, at least I’ll have a friend stuck here with me.”

            “Gary, where did Lance go?”

            Gary blinked. “No idea. Just up and disappeared one day. Boy, was the Council pissed. They’re going to kill him.”

            Ash smirked. * Let them try… *

 

            3 weeks later…

            Monroe showed up in Lorelei’s room.

            “What do you want? Its not a challenge.’ Lorelei said.

            “I have a present for you’
            “What?”

            Monroe opened his dirty hands, showing a fishbowl, sealed, with an orb of silver light dancing in it.

            “Not interested.” Lorelei said. “Leave. Now.”

            “B-but!”

            “You idiot, that’s not the Ice Star.”

            Monroe burst into tears.

 

            Ash came out, hearing the commotion.

            “Then I’ll use this power myself!” Monroe yelled. “And I’ll force you to love me!” With that, he broke the fishbowl.

            The orb of light flew out, but instead of going to Monroe, it flew towards Ash.

            Ash picked it up in his hands, eyes going wide.

            “This is-!”

 

            That was when a furious Dragon Master on a Lugia crashed into the room.

            “GIVE THAT BACK!”

            The expressions of the people in that room varied.

            Lorelei looked somewhat amused.

            Ash’s eyes popped out as he realized that Lance was wearing a skirt. * Wow… *

            Monroe and his meowths leaped at Lugia, seeing the opportunity to capture a rare pokemon.

 

            “So.” Ash said, tossing the Dragon Orb to Lance. “How did he get his hands on it?”

            Lance glared. “He felt me up. I don’t know if he’s a professional pervert, but it sure seems like it.”

            “… What?!”
            “I can say I was in enough shock to react badly, and that’s when he ran. Of course, Lugia got me out of my comatose sake a few minutes later, so we chased him all the way here.”

            Lugia calmly flattened a Meowth with a wing.

            Lance tucked the Dragon Orb into subspace and then calmly proceeded to beat Monroe over the head with her Ice Blade.

            Those cuts in his head really couldn’t help. Oh, she took off an ear there. Well, the Dragon Master had high standards of modesty.

 

            “Hold on.” Ash said. He went over to Monroe. “Stop, Lance-chan.”

            “And why?”

            “Because now I want to hit him!”

            Lance looked amused as Ash took out his own Lightning Blade and simply chopped off Monroe’s head.

            “Stupid! Bloody! Pervert!” Ash yelled, enunciating each word with a slash.

            “You’re getting blood all over the floor, Ash.”

            “Oops.”

            “And his limbs are going everywhere…”

            Lorelei looked at Lugia, who shrugged.

            < I pity anyone who comes between them… they’re both jealous in their own ways… >

 

End Chapter

Created 3/15/04, completed 3/20/04