And… another chapter!

Notes: Red = Ash, same person

Chapter 5

 

            Koga released his Venomoth, wondering what this young challenger would use. Red was about to use Charmander when something prompted him not to.

            With a shrug, he sent out Pidgeotto. “Wing Attack!”

            The flying attack hit the bug pretty hard. However, Venomoth retaliated with Poisonpowder…

            Ash winced. His Charmander was allergic to Poisonpowder, so that would explain his premonition. “Pidgeotto, use Wing Attack again!”

            That took out Venomoth’s HP, but Pidgeotto was starting to look green around the gills, so… maybe, he’d better switch pokemon.

            Koga sent out a Muk…, which used Toxic. Pidgeotto fell, coated in thick, black sludge. A quick recall and he swapped for Bulbasaur.

            Koga blinked. Poison beat grass… what was he playing at?

 

            “Bulbasaur, Sleep Powder!’ Muk yawned, succumbing… interesting. But what on earth would that help? He had to find out…

            “Now, Bulbasaur, Sweet Scent!”

            A cloying odor filled the area… Koga quickly protected his nose with his scarf. Muk continued to slumber on, unawares…

            “Perfect… start charging…”

            Bulbasaur took in sunlight!

            Koga suddenly realized what was going to happen and sprayed Muk with Awakening.

            “Solarbeam!”

            The grass attack smashed Muk into a wall. Unfortunately, as Muk was a blobby, gelatinous mass, scarce damage was done… except to its HP.

            Muk retaliated with Toxic…

            Bulbasaur shuddered, poisoned, but she bravely used Sleep Powder again, much to Koga’s dismay.

            Koga used another Awakening on Muk… this was getting repetitive…

            Razor Leaf became a critical hit! Muk fainted!

 

            Koga swapped for Golbat, as Red recalled Bulbasaur.

            “Golbat, use Wing Attack on whatever he sends out!”

            Ash released Squirtle, who ducked inside his shell as soon as Wing Attack started. Golbat’s wingtips glanced off the hard surface.

            Squirtle used Bite, tearing a gash in one of Golbat’s wings.

            Furious, Golbat retaliated with a supersonic. Squirtle began tottering around in ever-decreasing semicircles.

            Ash shook his head. < Squirtle, snap out of it! Use Water Gun! >

            Water gun wasn’t a strong attack, but it didn’t need to be. As Squirtle spat out cold water at Golbat, some of it landed on his face and he felt his mind clear.

            “Now use Ice Beam!”

            Golbat dodged the Ice Beam, double team filling the room with its copies.

 

            < That one. > Ash pointed.

            Psychic abilities came in handy quite often. Squirtle spat a Blizzard attack in the general area of the Golbat.

            Golbat was frozen solid!

            Koga laughed, recalling his pokemon. “You’ve trained them well, son. Here. The Soul badge is yours.”

            “Arigato!”

            After thanking Koga, Ash exited… one more badge down! Two left… Blaine and Giovanni. Blaine used fire-types, he might need more than Squirtle…

            Giovanni… he was allowed to use any pokemon type, but his favorite was ground. Hmm… he should train Bulbasaur a little more too then…

 

            Where to go next? H still had a day out. Ash headed into the tall grass outside of Fuchsia, hunting for pokemon. Soon, a Nidorina appeared.

            “Abra, go!”

            Abra slept on… Nidorina attacked, but crashed its head against a rock, knocking herself out. Ash threw a poke ball and Nidorina was caught!

            A few minutes later, a Nidorino came up. Ash caught that as well… both rodents were sent off to Professor Oak’s lab. That should make him happier…

            Ash hadn’t sent him any pokemon since Krabby…

            Well, now things would be different… he would try his best to catch all the pokemon! Smiling, Ash continued scouring the grass.

            A bellsprout popped out, only to fall prey to Charmander’s Flamethrower. It was sucked into a poke ball and mailed off to Oak as well.

            Let the old man think what he would.

            Gary… now Gary was an interesting variant. If they met again, Ash would have to take a good look at his thoughts.

            Why did Gary dislike him so much?

            All his life then had been a lie… it made no sense… why did they hate him so much? He had never done anything…

            Were they angry because he had just appeared out of nowhere, disrupting their peaceful farm community?

            That might have been it.

            Of course, he had false memories, so he didn’t understand their dislike of him. But children can be so cruel…

 

            Fourteen was not a child though, no matter what he looked. He had a mother who loved him, a kakkoii sister for a gym leader, and a team of pokemon that were uber-loyal.

            He was happy. That was enough for now.

           

            Another pokemon popped out of the grass.

            “Tangela, ne? Charmander, could you?”

            Charmander was getting plenty of EXP fighting the bellsprouts that kept on appearing. He flamed the tangela merrily as Ash tossed another poke ball.

            Tangela caught!

            Type advantage was a good thing to have…

 

            On the other hand, defeating a pokemon you had a type disadvantage to was cool too… yes that was cool.

            Ash yawned.

            Maybe it was getting late. The sun was starting to set, and it was 5 P.M. he had skipped lunch! No wonder he was so hungry!

            Ash consumed two granola bars procured from his endless backpack and then teleported back to Saffron.

            Dinner was waiting.

            Now, this was the real way a trainer’s journey should be, he thought happily, as he helped himself to the pizza his mother had made…

            < Good day? >

            < Hai! What about you, Oneesan? >

            Sabrina shrugged. < I fought a challenger. >

            < Who? >

            < Some girl named Purple… >

            < … strange name… > Red remarked, but then again, his name was a color also… still, Red was more ‘normal’.

            He poured himself another glass of milk and smiled.

            Cynthia smiled back, glad her son and daughter was happy. It was the least she could do as a mother.

 

End Chapter

Completed 2/16/05

Ash: So now what?

Phantomness: You mean the real plot?

Ash: Yes.

Phantomness: You’ll have to wait on that dear… ^-^

Shoyko: … *insert evil thoughts*