Started 2/13/04

Disclaimer: Pokemon belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. This is non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfic written by me and I own it.

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

Chapter 7

“So, why are you here? I mean, you’re the Champion.” Ash whispered.

“I keep an eye on things.” Lance said.

“Oh.”

Ash couldn’t restrain his fluttery pulse though. His childhood hero was actually going to battle with him! Wow!

Insane!
This was so cool!

Team rocket, watch out! You don’t know what will hit you!
They snuck in successfully, and then split up. Ash found two rockets playing video games, so he had Bulbasaur use Sleep Powder and off they fell.

Strange, but it made his task easier.

The next floor was a bit harder. First, there was a rocket with Raticate, but Muk made quick work of him.

Then, there was a girl with a Vileplume. Charmander’s easy win.

Finally, a boy with two Ekans…

Pikachu fried ‘em both in no time at all.

The only problem was trying to get the passwords. Finally, Ash had Pikachu shock them and they told.

It was good.

He found Lance waiting on the next floor.

Ash quickly opened the door to the boss’s room and called up the floor plan. “There’s the machine causing the signal.”

“That’s good.” Lance said.

Ash grinned.

“Are your pokemon okay?”

“Hai!”

Concerned blue eyes checked them over, and then Lance nodded. “All right. Now we just destroy the lab.”

“What?!”

“What did you expect, Ash?”

“B-but all the rockets, won’t they die?”

“No, they have ways out. In any case, the Officer Jennies will clean up afterwards.” The Dragon Master said. “Kairyuu! Hyper Beam!”

There went the lab…

Lance shielded Ash from the falling rubble, but he was untouched as well. Dust lay around them.

What good was it to be a guardian without quirks?

Beneath the fringes of his bangs, the kanji glowed briefly, but faded away before Ash noticed.

It was done.

Afterwards, Ash reflected that it had been quick, but he had _liked_ battling. Well, having someone was better than being alone.

Maybe that’s why he had allowed Brock and Misty to join him.

Was it?

People don’t’ like to be alone. No man is an island, as John Donne says. Whatever that meant.

Maybe people needed other people?

“Are you leaving now, Lance?”

“My work here is done.”

“Oh.” Ash nodded. “Well then, I hope we meet again.”

“Yes, I as well. Oh wait…”

Ash watched as Lance took out a package. “For you.”

“Really?”

“Open it after I’m gone.”

“All right. Thank you Lance!”

“No problem, I enjoyed your help.”

Ash smiled shyly. * Really? My hero took interest in me? Wow! *

They shook hands, and then Lance flew off into the sunset on Dragonite.

Ash willed his heartbeat to go back to normal, then sighed. * Don’t tell me I have a crush on him. I only just met the guy! *

Didn’t he love Misty?

That seemed oddly dulled, for some reason…

Maybe he didn’t anymore.

After all, he hardly thought of her and worked hard to erase her from his mind. It was working very well.

Soon he would forget her completely.

The rocket gone, Ash walked into the Mahogany gym. He immediately slipped and fell on the ice.

“Ow! My head!”

“Careful!” A junior trainer warned.

“Could have said that earlier…” Ash released Pidgeot, and instead of walking on ice, flew over to the gym leader.

Pryce looked up in surprise. “Well, that’s different.”

“I challenge you for the Glacier Badge!”

“You’re a young one, but I won’t go easy on you. Seel!”

“Pikachu.”

Pikachu happily fried Seel and Dewgong. No contest!

“Hmm… you have skill indeed.” Pryce said wisely.

Ash nodded.

“Well, can you defeat my Piloswine as well? Use Rollout!”

Pikachu dodged, and then dashed back to Ash, signaling him to switch pokemon. Ash nodded, swapped for Muk.

Piloswine used Icy Wind!

Muk used Poison Gas!
Enemy Piloswine was poisoned! Enemy Piloswine is hurt by Poison!

“Piloswine, use Blizzard!”

“Sludge.”

Piloswine took more damage from poison, as well as the toxic sludge. It teetered on the edge of life and death – no, winning and losing.

Sighing, Pryce recalled his pokemon. “Well, you have some skill. That is very good. Here, take my Glacier Badge.”

Ash grinned.

Outside, he opened Lance’s package. Inside was a black notebook. “Cool! I can use this.”

Maybe diaries weren’t boyish, but in case he had any strong thoughts or battling notes he could jot them down.

Ash smiled, found a pencil stub in his backpack, and began writing.

Today I met Lance of the elite four…

End Chapter!
Completed 4/25/04