Another chapter!
Disclaimer: Pokemon belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. This non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfiction belongs to me under international copyright laws. Do not take my work.
Notes: <> for telepathy, ** for thoughts, italics if a pokemon talks
Chapter 5
Ash waited three weeks before attempting the Mart mystery again.
Still, it wasn’t a good idea!
Swellow was knocked out quickly, and so was Sceptile…
Charizard hung on for a while, so did Blastoise and Snorlax, but… sure enough, Mewtwo knocked them out again.
< If he comes back again I shall seriously think of eliminating him… >
Did the boy never learn?
Well, if he came back _again_, then…
This time Mewtwo would make _sure_ he stayed out!
Lance turned on the T.V. with a yawn. Nothing interesting, really… he had proved he couldn’t do anything about the Smog.
In his words ‘it’s a highly-dangerous pokemon’.
He mentioned he couldn’t defeat it. That was only half a lie. The media bought it. So did hordes of arrogant trainers who stormed the Mart, only to be found dead or knocked out later.
Hmph.
Well, it was their faults.
He had nothing to do with it.
No, the Dragon Master harbored no illusions on that subject. His survival was only a matter of key connections.
Mewtwo wouldn’t have let him go… well, maybe. He said I was ‘amusing’…
Whatever that meant.
“Maybe I shouldn’t go back…”
I sense that’s a smart choice. Pikachu nodded.
“But what’s in there?”
Who knows?
“It must be some powerful pokemon!”
Yes, but you can’t beat it!
“I won’t give up!”
Then that would be stupid…
It was smoggy over Goldenrod. That was nothing new.
“You are not going in there, are you?”
Ash jumped. “Who are you?”
Lance sighed. * He really does have amnesia doesn’t he? *
Pikachu shocked Ash lightly.
“I’m Lance Dragyn…”
“Oh! I met you in Johto!”
“Yes…”
“You’re the Leader of the Elite Four!”
“That would be correct…”
“Hi!”
Lance gave a casual wave. “You aren’t going in, are you?” He repeated.
“Why not?”
Lance laughed. “Haven’t you seen the statistics? I’ve seen the dead trainers, haven’t you? Are you willing to risk your life?”
That stopped Ash cold. “What?”
“You don’t watch the news do you? So far, eight trainers have died in there. Fourteen have been found knocked out and their pokemon stolen.”
He paused to let the information sink in.
“I doubt you want to become a statistic.”
Ash shuddered. “No!”
Pikachu nodded. See? I told you it wasn’t safe!
“Er… thanks Lance.”
“No problem… I’m just here as a temporary guard to keep any more foolish trainers from wandering in – hey!”
A pink-haired girl was attempting to sneak in.
“This area is off limits.” Lance stated curtly.
“Oh yeah? I don’t believe you! You just want that powerful pokemon for yourself! Go, Goldeen!” Bridget shouted.
“Excuse me.” Lance said. “Hakuryuu, Twister.” A Dragonair darted down from the sky and attacked.
Bridget scowled. “A dragon? Go, Swinub! Use Powder Snow!”
“Such weak attacks won’t even dent my Dragonair.” Lance chuckled. “Thunder!”
“You idiot! Swinub is ground type-.” Bridget’s jaw dropped as Thunder hit the area around her, shattering all the concrete. She froze.
“To put it mildly, you are way out of your league here.” Lance smirked. “So, just leave peacefully and I won’t hurt you.”
“NEVER!!!”
Swinub leapt up… straight into Bubblebeam as Hakuryuu yawned.
“In that case…”
Lance flicked his fingers as Dragonite attacked with Wrap, before he phoned Officer Jenny.
“Another one?”
“Seems like it. They just ignore all the warnings.”
Jenny nodded as she escorted Bridget off.
Lance turned, just in time to see Ash disappear into the building. * Why that… he’s really in for it now… *
Mewtwo groaned as Ash approached yet again. * Must not kill… *
The boy had saved his soul before, but still!
This was too much for the not-very-patient psychic pokemon to handle.
“Bloody idiot!”
Ash blinked as Lance jumped on top of him, pushing him to the ground just as a Psychic attack soared overhead.
“Hakuryuu, Thunderwave! Kairyuu, Dragonbreath!”
The two dragons attacked en masse. Aerodactyl joined in with Supersonic.
_Something_ had to hit, right?
Something did hit.
Mewtwo staggered, feeling as if he had just been sucker punched in the gut. He had been too busy avoiding the three dragons in front that he had completely missed the Gyarados hiding in the back…
Hyper Beam is a _good_ attack, especially at close range.
“Pikachu, Thunder!” Ash said, not wanting to be left out of the battle. “That’s excellent!”
Lance got up, glared at Ash. “You were this close to being an imprint on the wall!” He turned back to the battle. “Now! Safeguard!”
Mewtwo’s Disable just bounced right off.
“Combination Hyper Beam!”
Ash and Pikachu ducked as Hyper Beams soared everywhere. Finally, Mewtwo slumped over in defeat.
Ash immediately threw a poke ball, acting on instinct.
“Happy now?” Lance snapped, before he turned. “That ought to take care of the problem.”
Indeed, already the Smog was disappearing into wisps of nothingness.
“Well, I’ll see you around then.”
Without another word, Lance turned and left, his dragons following.
Ash looked at pikachu, who shrugged.
“All right! I caught a rare pokemon! Cool!!!!”
End Chapter
Completed 9/29/04
Ash: …
Phantomness: I’m trying to keep you in anime IC
Lance: She’s right, Ash. You can be unbelievably… ignorant in the anime.
Ash: *cries*