Might wrap up the series here… might not

DISCLAIMER: Pokegenie belongs to Disruptor. Pokemon belongs to Nintendo. This non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfic belongs to me.

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

Started 9/11/04

Chapter 15

< So you’ve won. >

Ash smiled. “I owe it to you.”

< Perhaps, I was just there to advise. > Lance shrugged. < I’m proud of you. You kept my secret, despite… well, dangers. >

“It was hard.” Ash admitted. “But I didn’t want to break my promise.”

Lance smiled. < So now what? Shall we follow the legend and go to Mirage Island? >

“Are you feeling drawn there?”
< Absolutely not… >

“I’m not sure… maybe we can tough it out for a few more years until the Surge ends. Will you be back to normal then?”
“I hope so.”

Ash admired his shiny new trophy. However, he really owed it to his pokemon. If they hadn’t spent so much time together and earned the necessary trust, then he would never have won.

“I owe it all to you guys…”

His pokemon smiled. We know you love us Master Ash.

Yes, yes!

Butterfree hugged him gently. You’re a good trainer, and now the whole Kanto region will know the truth.

Hopefully… oh well, optimism was always good. So he reached, and believed… the next day, they went home to Pallet.

Gary greeted them at the entrance.

“Ash?”

“What is it?”

Gary sighed. “Look what Grampa sent me.” A flick of his wrist, a poke ball opening, and – Misty?
“… No way!”

“Strider, strider.” Misty muttered. Beady red eyes stared vaguely in Ash’s direction. “Strider.”

“Has she completely snapped?”

“I think so!”

“So what is she? Bug and water?”

“Yep.”

“I feel sorry for you.”

“So you went for Kanto?” Gary smiled. “I went to explore the Orange Islands. Guess what, I’m Champion!”

“Good for you!”

They shook hands friendly enough. It looked like Gary was doing fine on his own, and their rivalry had just about dissolved.

Well good! It was better to have a friend…

He unclipped Lance’s poke ball when they got home and let her out. “Lance… I’ve been thinking, and I think we’re more than friends.”

Lance raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”

“Um… I think I like you?” Ash stammered. He wasn’t sure how to say it, but he did think of Lance as more than a friend. Maybe it was because she was one of his pokemon and he had to take care of her…

Said Dragon Master shot him a sharp look. “Are you certain?”

“I could wish you to love me but I won’t!”

“Well, you’re honest at least.” Lance concluded. “Why?”

“We’ve spent a lot of time together… don’t think I forgot the time you saved me from that rampaging Nidoking.”

“I was just doing my duty as one of your pokemon.”

“But I want to be friend! Maybe more…”

Lance took Ash’s hands as she sighed. “I’m a pokemon, Ash.”

“But… it’s my fault! I wish… I wish the Thunderstone incident had never happened! Then you wouldn’t – oh no!”

Ash stared in disbelief as Lance began to glow with blue light.

“…. Wish … granted…” She whispered softly, before disappearing.

Time shifted. Reality shifted. Time… froze.

Pity the poor fools…

Be careful what you wish for…

THE END

Completed 9/11/04

Implied championshippy, if you want I’ll write a sequel!

ALTNERNATE ENDING – the HAPPY ENDING

He unclipped Lance’s poke ball when they got home and let her out. “Lance… I’ve been thinking, and I think we’re more than friends.”

Lance raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”

“Um… I think I like you?” Ash stammered. He wasn’t sure how to say it, but he did think of Lance as more than a friend. Maybe it was because she was one of his pokemon and he had to take care of her…

Said Dragon Master shot him a sharp look. “Are you certain?”

“I could wish you to love me but I won’t!”

“Well, you’re honest at least.” Lance concluded. “Why?”

“We’ve spent a lot of time together… don’t think I forgot the time you saved me from that rampaging Nidoking.”

“I was just doing my duty as one of your pokemon.”

“But I want to be friend! Maybe more…”

Lance took Ash’s hands as she sighed. “I’m a pokemon, Ash.”

“But… it’s my fault! I wish… I wish the Thunderstone incident had never happened! Then you wouldn’t – oh no!”

Ash stared in disbelief as Lance began to glow with blue light.

“…. Wish … granted…” She whispered softly, before disappearing.

Ash watched frantically, clutching at her, but nothing held in his fingers. Slumping down to the floor, he cried.

Days passed, listlessly.

She was gone, and it was his fault.

Wasn’t it?

Then one day, Ash received an email…

Ash,

What on earth are you doing sulking around as Champion? You should come explore Johto! I guess I didn’t tell you that were where I wound up, eh? Baka~! Do you really think I’d leave you?

Ash stared.

The picture of Lance stared back.

“Mom! I’m heading to Johto!” Ash cried, jumping on his Pidgeot. “I’ll see you later!”

Delia waved goodbye, laughing. “Have fun, Ash! Find a new adventure.”

“I will!”

The End

Completed 12/17/04