Well, here I am!
Disclaimer: Shadow does not, not own pokemon. It belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. This is non-profit fanwork, with all created characters/pokemon/items by me.
Notes: <> for telepathy, ** for thoughts, italics to see a pokemon talk.
Link masters – thanks!
SapphireDragon – really? Okay…
Pichu*Star – thanks! ^-^
Clueless97 – well, misty won’t die but I won’t let her off the hook that easily…
Chapter 9: Cocoon
Ash’s predictions were impeccable. Lugia waited as he walked in, before attacking.
Aeroblast.
He ducked, and released his pokemon instinctively.
There was no time to think, as a second Aeroblast hit the shield of electricity he began unconsciously projecting.
Was this what Lance had meant by potential?
Ash wasn’t sure, but he liked the feeling. Power…
Power is an addicting substance. But true power, not that which comes from putting down others, is more intoxicating.
Pikachu quickly slowed Lugia’s movements with Thunderwave, while Squirtle struck up a Blizzard.
Lugia’s shield crumbled ever so slowly, fifteen minutes into Blizzard. Luckily, Squirtle’s high level helped. He could have been a Blastoise long ago, but under-evolutions were always underestimated.
Divine justice? Maybe.
Charizard and Pidgeot and Bulbasaur restrained it as Ash readied the poke ball, took careful aim, and threw.
Lugia sent Pidgeot and bulbasaur flying, but Charizard clung on tightly, with sharp claws.
Lugia didn’t shake him off, thinking it unnecessary. Charizard was still quite tiny compared to Lugia. Bulbasaur was like an ant…
The ball hit Lugia in the head, and sucked it in.
Ash anxiously waited for the red light to stop blinking.
Finally…
It was over.
His quest complete, the boy put the poke ball on his belt, and then exited the cave.
It was time to report back to Lance.
At least… until suddenly a swarm of Tentacool did descend, like Claire had predicted.
“Shoot! Pikachu, Thunder!”
Some fell, others did, to various attacks from his other four.
Pidgeot stayed out of the way, picking off certain targets with Whirlwind.
Charizard’s flames were little help, so he used Dragon Rage and Seismic Toss against the larger Tentacruel.
Ash wasn’t sure he could control Lugia, so he did not try. His own powers manifested again, a wave of white light wiping out a good portion.
Squirtle and bulbasaur double-teamed, their attacks sending a third or so scurrying for cover.
The area cleared in seven minutes, and Ash climbed on Pidgeot, flying back to Indigo.
He didn’t notice the Magikarp swarm following, but it could only go so far. After all, fish could not travel on dry land.
So all in all, Ash returned to Indigo Plateau before a month was up.
Lance was waiting, and took him to the hospital. Misty’s condition had not improved.
Luckily, they were done testing, which reduced the price.
Ash looked at her, but was unable to call up the stifling feelings of blind love and sympathy.
Lance’s words echoed in his head again. * Would she do the same for you? *
Frankly, the answer was no.
Ash wasn’t sure if he deserved it, but he knew without a doubt she would never do this for him.
Hell, she’d probably fake his will just to get his money.
That malicious burst of thought shocked him, but there was a tinge of truth. All malice usually did…
Strange…
Did that mean he only deserved a little sadness and pain?
It might make sense.
And the green heart monitor lines went on.
“So about another month, and you can surely earn more money in this ‘spare time’.” Lance said, as he took Lugia’s poke ball.
“Hai.”
“Isn’t that better?” Lance queried.
Ash smiled brightly. “Thank you for everything, Lance.”
“Just helping a fellow trainer.”
< Liar. > Lugia sent into his mind. Lance ignored it, noting that Ash still wore the dragon pendant.
It was… pretty, but of course, the child of light didn’t know what it really held. So much the better…
“Why don’t you challenge the Elite Four then?”
“All right.”
“Who knows? That might be the qualification needed to obtain another opportunity.”
“You’re right… that would look good on an application.”
And so, Ash spent another week training before he started.
Lorelei was quite simple, no contest. After all, after weeks of training against water-types in the whirl islands, plus some ice-types, Pikachu and Bulbasaur were quite skilled.
Bruno was somewhat of a joke.
Two onix? No problem, Squirtle did the job swiftly. And Pidgeot had the type advantage against Hitmonlee and Machamp.
It was lucky that Bruno’s Hitmonchan was sick that day.
Still, it would not have made much difference, as Pidgeot’s speed was very high.
Yes… so it worked out.
Machamp didn’t even get to hit before a charged Sky Attack blasted him into the wall. And if that was Bruno’s best pokemon, it showed Ash’s increase.
Without Misty, he really was doing better.
Let us win and go forwards.
Looking back to the past and beating himself up over the bike was now pushed to the back of his head.
There was so much waiting in the future! Why angst?
End Chapter
Created 3/24/04, completed 4/15/04