I assume inspiration comes on its own schedule…

Disclaimer: I don’t own pokemon, it belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. This is non-profit fanwork by me so its mine, and I’m not infringing on their copyright with this. I don’t own pokemon.

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

Chapter 6: Tumbling

His head hurt.

Honestly, it was enough that his head was only hurting, because of what had happened.

One did not tumble off a cliff every day and emerge unscathed. Frankly, he hadn’t even known Psychics could learn recover.

Well, that was useful.

In any case, his head still throbbed.

It hurt. A lot!
Ash opened his eyes as Lance fed him another aspirin to kill the pain and more orange juice. “Cat, I’m fine…”

“Like hell you are.” Lance replied. “What were you thinking?”

< I wasn’t, really. >

She sighed, shaking her head. * Lucky is not the word… do you know how much healing I had to do before you were awake enough to use recover? *

She didn’t mention it though, some things were better kept secret. It was also an edge, in a way.

I’m more powerful than you, little Chosen, but I learn to hide it. You have to learn to do the same as well…

She smiled.

Power is a powerful thing, at the risk of sounding redundant, but oh, it’s so hard to weave.

Tapestry of fate is not mine to draw completely, but the item is powerful.

I will do my best.

Xatu nuzzled him, concerned about his master.

< I’m fine… >

< No it’s obvious that your body is still in pain, so don’t talk! > The bird scolded.

Ash winced. < Yes, Xatu. >

Lance wove another invisible layer of Softboiled over him. That would work slowly. Still, damage took time to repair.

All damage…

“Get some rest.”

“Yes, mother…” Ash said, avoiding a pillow that collided into his head.

Lance faked a scowl and then began setting up their campsite.

Ah… he was so unbelievably dense sometimes, but it was advantageous in this case at least.

She hid another smile.

Xatu and the rest of Ash’s pokemon escaped from their poke balls and scattered into the woods to enjoy some repose.

Perfectly normal!

The little one didn’t know how strong she was yet, but that was safest. She didn’t want him to scare him away. Stupid societal restrictions were always being placed on women, no wonder she didn’t mind playing a boy or being one in some lives. Really. It was a stupid double standard.

C’est la vie.

Es la Vida. [1]

It had been great fun, traveling with him. It had only been five months or so, but… time would tell.

Time was an ally in this case.

She checked him over again, just to make sure. It wouldn’t do if he was hemorrhaging or something.

No, everything was fine.

She finished with her tent and then made him some vegetable soup for dinner, and that was okay.

Ash took it easy for a few days after that, though. Smart of him. He also managed to net a new pokemon.

Did he pick specifics? Only the best would do or something? Because they had fought a lot of pokemon and he hadn’t really captured any…

Lance admired the Sandshrew’s shiny pelt, it was obviously healthy and had battling experience.

It had almost KO’d Ash’s Bulbasaur even with type advantage…

Nice!

The sky began to pour, overhead, as the two sat in the pokemon Center that night.

“Cat?”

“Hmm?”
Ash sighed. “Do you think I’m a stupid trainer?”

Lance coughed. * Sometimes… *

Out loud, she only said that he should be more careful and try not to fall off peaks. Ash nodded.

She wouldn’t lie to him. Xatu said she was special.

… Whatever that meant…

Still, why argue with a psychic pokemon? He couldn’t really mind-read yet, plus it was an invasion of privacy.

He sighed.

“What’s wrong, Ash?”

“I…I’m not sure.”
“Are you sick?”

“No! Its just there seems to be a missing part of me…”

“Ah…” Lance thought quickly. Thirteen was a bit young, but…he would turn fourteen this year. So why would it not be?

Hormones always were never perfect.

“Is that wrong?”

“Ash…” Lance tried to think of a way to approach the subject tactfully. “You know that your mom and dad love each other.”

“Hai!”

“I think… what you really feel is lonely.”

“But I have you!”

Lance hid a smile. “Yes, but you want someone to love you too, like them, somewhere deep down…”

“Honto ni?”
“That’s my best guess.”

“Hmm…” Ash looked into his bowl of soup. “Maybe you’re right…”

End Chapter!
Created 4/5/04, completed 5/3/04

[1] That’s life… in Spanish that I hope is correct

Lance: … The trap is set

Phantomness: So now we wait for prey!