Plotbunny, don’t die!

Started 6/9/04

Disclaimer: I really, really, really wish I owned pokemon. Really! However, pokemon belongs to Satoshi Tajiri, Nintendo, and Shogakukan Comics. This is non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfic written by me and it’s mine!
Notes: <> for telepathy, ** for thoughts, italics if a pokemon talks

Chapter 3

Ash woke up the next morning to find Lance already awake and drinking a glass of milk. “Aniki? Why didn’t you wake me up?”

“You need to sleep well on your journey.”

“Demo, what about you?”

“I’m not the one training, Ash.” Lance smiled. “We should be able to get to Viridian today.”

“Okay!”

Charmander finished eating her pokenosh and jumped up and down happily. An energetic pokemon, she loved battling.

How cute.

Ash quickly brushed his teeth and changed into jeans and a t-shirt before he ate a quick breakfast himself (milk and a cereal bar). “Let’s go!”

“Ash… that can’t possibly be healthy! I hate those cereal bars.” Lance said. “At the very least…”

Ash caught the flying banana. “You want me to eat this?”

“Hai.”

“Why?”

“Because you need four or five servings of fruits and vegetables a day to stay healthy, and if I don’t keep an eye on you you’ll forget!”

Ash frowned a little, but nodded. He should listen to his older brother. “Okay, Lance. But only because you said so.”

Lance smirked. “Knew you’d see it my way. Let’s go.”

They began walking.

Charmander attacked all the wild pokemon, which seemed to increase in number until they got to Viridian. There, Ash let his little pokemon rest for two hours at the pokemon center.

He and Lance went sightseeing. Alas, there was little to see in Viridian. A pity, really… finally, Ash challenged a few junior trainers to battles, using…

“Ash? And when did you get that?”

“Oops.”

“Ash! You took Hakuryuu’s poke ball without my permission!” Anger sparks began to grow on Lance’s head.

“But aniki!!!”

Dragonair laughed and nuzzled them both. It’s okay, I don’t mind.

Lance sighed. * All right… *

“But I get half of what you made, since you used my pokemon.”

Ash nodded and handed Lance half his winnings. “Aniki, can we stay at the Center tonight?’

“Certainly. It’s a pity Viridian gym won’t open until all seven other badges are obtained, so you’ll have to wait.”

“I see…” Ash nodded.

They sat outside on the sidewalk while Dragonair flew overhead.

“I challenge you!”

“Another junior trainer?” Lance asked. “Hakuryuu, do you want to battle again?”

The dragonair shook his head.

“Very well then. Ptera!”

This time, it was an Aerodactyl that appeared. Lance smirked. “So, who wanted to battle?”

A little girl with pink hair stood up defiantly. “I am Hannah and I won’t lose! Pikachu, use Thundershock!”

“Ptera… Earthquake.”

One-hit KO!

“Sugoi…” Ash breathed. “No wonder you’re so strong aniki!”

“Now, Ash…” Lance said, smiling. “I’m sure you’ll be as good as I am soon. I _am_ two years older than you are, you know. Plus, I have more experience than you do.”

“Hai!”

The two of them linked arms and walked back to the Center to avoid more mishaps. After all, Ash had probably already defeated every junior trainer in Viridian… not that that was a bad thing.

He patted Charmander happily.

Charmander responded by licking his face. She wagged her tail, even though that was more of a doglike action. Are you happy now?

“I’m very happy.” Ash smiled.

“That’s good.” Lance said, mostly to himself in an undertone. “Shall we get some ice cream?”

“Honto ni?”

“I’ll treat you. You did well, very well, even though Hakuryuu wasn’t your pokemon.”

Ash had the grace to look embarrassed. “Gomen nasai…”

“I forgive you.” Lance smiled.

They soon located an ice-cream stand and sat side-by-side munching ice cream and enjoying the fresh air.

“Aniki? Do you think I’ll be able to get the Boulder Badge?”

“Why not? I did it.”

“But you had a Dratini.”

“So? Even if your fire-type isn’t good against rock-types, neither was my dragon-type, except…”

“Except that she knew Surf.”

“Well, that helped…”

“Aniki!”

Lance chuckled. “Come on, have a little more faith. Didn’t you just beat all those junior trainers?”

Ash nodded. * Sou ka… he’s right! I won’t worry then! *

“Between Charmander and me, we can do it!”

“That’s the spirit.”

Charmander nodded, jumping up and down happily. Yes, yes! We’re invincible!

“And, since you might need some help, take this…”

Ash took the TM from Lance with surprise. “Aniki?”

“Try it on her.”

“It’s… Metal Claw?”

“Yes. Steel beats rock too.”

“Aniki, you’re the greatest!” Ash cried, jumping on Lance, which caused said trainer’s ice cream to go flying as Ash’s wound up splattered all over Lance’s chest.

The dragon trainer twitched. “Ash… I really liked this shirt…”

“Ah! Gomen, gomen!” Ash cried, switching back to his earlier state. Lance sighed as he took off his shirt. “It’s fine, I’ll just wash this later…”

Ash nodded as Charmander began attacking rocks to practice her new technique.

End Chapter

Apparently in Fire Red/Leaf Green Charmander can learn Metal Claw…

I made it a TM for convenience.