Whee!

Disclaimer: I don’t own pokemon. Pokemon belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. This non-profit, non-copyright infringing, shonen-ai fanfic belongs to me under international copyright laws…

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

Ash is currently only 12 years old…

Chapter 2

“Clefairy, use Doubleslap!”

Clefairy smirked as he knocked Julie’s Paras around, before finishing off with Pound.

“Paras!” Julie gasped.

“See, I have gotten better.” Ash said, as he stroked the doll’s hair softly. It really was a lucky charm!

Too bad he had had a nightmare, but that changed nothing.

He still loved it – yes, he thought he loved it – very much. He had only owned it for two weeks, but it belonged.

There was no way to explain it.

“Lance… that’s a good name.” Ash said absentmindedly, as Julie sent out Bulbasaur.

Clefairy used Sing!

Bulbasaur fell asleep, and then Clefairy calmly used Metronome twice. The first time was Tail whip, but the second time turned out to be Ember, which was useful. Lucky!

Bulbasaur woke up again, but the third metronome was Slam and that knocked off the rest of its HP.

Ash smiled. * You really are my lucky charm Lance… *

And inside, the doll smiled too. Sooner or later, his Deus would remember and then everything would be fine…

Until then, he didn’t’ mind helping.

Not at all…

Besides, he loved his Deus unconditionally either way.

You will remember in time. I promise. And I’ll love you just the same… because you gave me life.

That’s all I ask.

I want you very badly, though… but I can control myself. Dolls aren’t supposed to have emotions.

But I love you, and I’ll fight all your enemies.

It’s a promise.

“You’re bringing _that_ to the tournament?” Ernest asked incredulously. “No way! I forbid it!”

“What’s it to you?” Ash asked, softly.

He wanted to tear him to shreds.

Ever since Ernest had stolen the heart of the girl he had liked – well, puppy dog love, eh was only nine – but that was enough to make him angry.

He hated him.

Hated him.

He would _not_ believe that force was right!
Ernest used to beat him up until he learned to run away fast enough. He said Ash wasn’t manly.

Was being manly hurting other people?

Was it hurting your pokemon?

Was it destroying love?

If that was it, he never wanted to be manly!
Never…

It was not worth it.

Besides, he could still run away if he had to. He would rather one than see needless hurt and suffering.

He had a heart, that’s what his mom said occasionally, but never in front of Ernest.

She was scared of him too, wasn’t she?

It wasn’t her fault. Machamp, Golem, Onix, and Scizor… Ernest’s team could strike fear into anyone.

His normal-types were bad against all those types.

He couldn’t help himself, much less his family…

Maybe even Lance wouldn’t help.

NO!

Some instinct told him to trust the doll. He didn’t know where it came from, but he decided to take the risk.

Somehow, he had the courage to.

Why?

It did not matter. If he could win, maybe, maybe…

Maybe things would be fine in the long run.

Maybe he wouldn’t have to be scared anymore.

Maybe… he could fly?

Fly instead of being chained to fear and despair?

Maybe…

Ernest laughed sarcastically. “You think you can beat me?”

“I’ll try my best.’ Ash said.

“Fine, little brother. And if you win, I’ll never tease you again.”

“You promised.” Ash said in an oddly detached tone.

“Yeah, yeah, whatever. Go, Golem!”

“Jigglypuff, Ice Punch…”

Ernest’s eyes widened as his Golem was frozen solid. Thus, it could not battle on. Ash let a small smile appear on his face.

“What the? Fine then, Machamp, pummel it into the ground! Low Kick!”

Jigglypuff inflated itself, floating high into the air out of Machamp’s way. Her eyes began to grow bigger as she sang.

Machamp couldn’t hit her, and after a few minutes of concentrated music became drowsy.

Fell asleep… that was good…

“Psychic.” Ash said softly. It took 2 hits, but sure enough, Machamp fainted. Ash smiled to himself. Use attacks your opponent doesn’t expect to win. It was very lucky that those two could learn so many TMs…

And of course, Lance’s ‘Gift’.

Apparently Lance could gift pokemon with special attacks, in a dream, but when he woke up the attacks were still there…

Nice dreams.

He waited impassively for Ernest’s next pokemon.

End Chapter

Completed 7/8/04