Started 11/22/04

WHEE!

Disclaimer/Notes: See an earlier chapter

Lance: Oh dear me, hyper authoress…

Chapter 7

“Lance, I feel like I’ve known you before.”

“You have.” Lance said, before cursing for that slip of the tongue.
“Really?”

“Yes… I knew you a long time ago… before your real parents died.”

“Hah! I knew it!”

While Ashline triumphantly jumped up and down in the air, Lance thanked Lugia for his gift of cleverness.

Aye, a slippery snake, that trainer.

“So… um, who were my real parents?”

Lance couldn’t very well say Ho-oh… but…

“I don’t really know, I mean, you were only four or five when they died. I never knew them. Your mother, I think she was actually green-haired, but your father had black hair like yours.”

“Oh.”

“Sorry.” Lance apologized.

Ashline sniffled a bit. “It’s not your fault.” * Right! He’s the only friend I have right now! I don’t’ want to drive him away by being a crybaby! *

Her eyes shimmered as she hugged Lance.

Lance repressed the urge to vomit. * Oh Lugia… what am I going to do? Please regain your real memories as soon as possible… *

It was just so frustrating! But he had to keep his temper under control.

Otherwise, Ashline – Ash – might not return when he did remember.

Well, all right. So the love had been completely one-sided and nonexistent in their last life. This time though, Ashline liked him.

Love would take time though…

< Father, what do I do? >

< Court her. >

< How? >

< Don’t ask me… please? >

< How did you get my mother? >

< I paid her to bear you. >

< Ah… well, I don’t care. I still love you father! >

Lugia gave Lance a mental hug. * I know. *

Ash fell asleep in Lance’s arms roughly ten minutes later, so Lance wrapped her in her sleeping bag for warmth.

“Sweet dreams…”

Lance watched the sun rise as he pondered. So… Lugia meant seduction, right?

Had to be.

Well, he would find out how to do that then!
First though, he needed time to prepare…

“Bye, Ash. You’ll do well on your journey. I’ll see you again, I promise.” Lance waved goodbye as he dropped Ashline off in Cerulean.

“Bye Lance!” Ashline bit her tongue. * Ack! I was about to say ‘I love you’! But I’ve only known him for two weeks! He’s pretty nice though… *

She blushed faintly.

How nice…

Lance went home with two armfuls of videos from Blockbuster. “I really hope this works…”

With that, he popped the first romance tape in and began watching.

“Hi!”

Ash cringed as she walked into the Cerulean City gym. * Oh no! It’s her! *

Misty smiled sweetly. “I’m so sorry…”

“EEK!” Ash backpedaled in midair. ‘You-you hag!”

Misty’s sweet innocent look suddenly vanished. “WHAT?!”

“You lying, conniving trainer! I won your pokemon fair and square, but you wouldn’t give them, so I had to steal them!”

“You didn’t have to!”

“Why not?”

“Grr…”

So much for the ‘i’ll pretend to be her friend and steal back *my* pokemon’ ploy Misty had been attempting.

Sucker.

“Who gives? I won’t give you a badge then!”

“What?”

“Hah! I’m the Cerulean City gym leader! Scared now?”

“How could they let such a weak girl be gym leader?”

Smoke poured from Misty’s ears at that comment. “DIE!”

“Not so fast! I choose you, Arbok!”

Arbok wrapped Misty tightly in her coils.

“Good! Wrap!”

“Let’s make a deal…” Ashline said, sweetly. “Give me the badge, and you can have one of your pokemon back.”

“I want Starmie then!”
“Fine…”

Ash gave Misty the Staryu she had caught in Whirl Islands and evolved with a water stone. It wasn’t her Starmie, but misty couldn’t tell.

Oh well, it served her right.

In any case, the Cascade badge was now hers!
Ashline happily recalled her Arbok and walked away.

Ekans loved her Mistress. She would do anything for her. Arbok… well, she was the same pokemon, just evolved.

It made sense. Ashline had freed Ekans from a Shellder’s confines. Free to move, although slithering wasn’t the best form, who cared?

It was so much better than being cramped in a shell all day…

I love you.

Ashline hugged her Arbok. “I know. You’re a great starter!”

If not for Arbok, she wouldn’t have gotten away with the Misty escapade. Glare was a good move!

In any case, it was much better than a Shellder!

Ash knew she had sent a Shellder caught in Seafoam as a cover (in case he asked about her starter) back to Oak’s, so it was fine.

Yes…

Everything would be just fine! Now on to the Thunder badge!

End Chapter

Completed 11/24/04

Ash: I’m naïve

Lance: I think it’s cute

Shoyko: ^-^

Kairo: You’re quite anti-Misty aren’t you?

Phantomness: How could you tell?

Pika-chan: *eating a strawberry-banana muffin*