Whee! Another chapter!
Notes: <> for telepathy, ** for thoughts, italics if a pokemon talks

Disclaimer: I don’t own pokemon. Pokemon belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. This non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfic belongs to me!

RECAP: Last chapter Ash traded a Snorlax for a Marill and Wooper and got a Cascade badge for nothing.

Chapter 4

Surge was unexpectedly easy once Wooper learned a few ground moves. The battle was quick and efficient. The fact that the Thunderbadge boosted speed was only situational irony. In any case, he didn’t know what to do with the Thunderbolt TM he had also received.

Maybe Magikarp could learn it upon evolution?

The fish was now only 2 levels away. Thank Mew… he wasn’t sure how much longer he could wait.

So he was impatient.

His mom said his dad had been impatient too, but Ash couldn’t really remember the man that much.

It was just so… hard. He wondered if the rumors about psychic pokemon putting blocks in people’s memory were true.

Maybe it was.

Well, in any case, he shouldn’t waste time thinking about that.

Ash called Professor Oak.

“Oh, hello, Ash. How are you doing?” Oak asked, even though he had ample evidence from the pokedex, which would record everything in the first 60 days of a trainer’s journey.

“Pretty good, Professor.” Ash smiled.

“That’s good! I see you’ve gotten three badges. Gary has four already.”

A frown marred Ash’s appearance, but he nodded curtly. Gary was always ahead. Still, he had a car, which cut down travel time.

It was also rumored that Oak had given Gary _three_ pokemon to start with. Unfair advantage!
No matter though! He would find a way to get better too! A small battle aura began to shimmer around Ash’s body at that thought.

Oak coughed.

“Sorry, Professor. What did you say?”

“I’ve noticed you’ve only caught water-type pokemon. Why is that?”

“Just turned out that way.”

“Remember, you must complete the pokedex!”

“Yes, Professor.” Ash hid his ire well. * Stupid old man… if Gary’s so good why doesn’t he do it? *

Oh well. Yelling at the old man would be no good.

At least he had a bike!

That was Ash’s thought as he used the Bike path to get from Celadon to Fuschia. It was so much better than taking the long way…

Erika’s badge he hadn’t gotten yet. He was going to try fighting Koga first. Grass beat water _and_ ground…

Maybe he could use Tentacool?

Ash nodded. Tentacool knew a few good poison moves, but most grass-types were part poison so that was no good.

Ice beat grass too… now where would he get an Ice Beam TM? Or Blizzard for that matter, they cost 4000 coins at the Game Corner if he remembered correctly.

Delia warned him never to gamble though…

If he had to buy all those coins it would cost 20000 dollars! No way was he that rich! Talk about overpriced items!

Grr…

When Ash got to the Fuschia Gym, it was locked.

Perplexed emotions filled his mind. Why was the gym locked? Weren’t gym leaders supposed to stay at their gyms 24-7-365?

Hmm…

Oh well. It looked like another badge wasn’t an option. Maybe he should check out the Safari Zone.

Great was Ash’s surprise when he found the Safari Zone also closed and locked. What was going on?

Seeing a man in a black coat passing by, Ash snagged a sleeve. “Um… excuse me sir? Where is everyone?”

“Don’t’ you know? Today is the annual Fuschia surfing contest. No one’s home.”

That sounded interesting. “Can I enter?”

“Sure, if you have any water pokemon. I’ll lend you my Surf HM.” The man said. Ash quickly taught all his pokemon surf.

The only one that looked sizeable enough was… well, none of them actually.

Ash was nearing the depths of despair when, to his astonishment, Magikarp evolved into Gyarados! Hooray!
Ash hugged his new Gyarados and then raced off to the contest.

“You’re almost too late to submit an application.” The kind receptionist said. Ash quickly filled out the form, and raced to the starting line.

The water was freezing!
Still, the prize money was five hundred dollars first prize. He hoped he won. He needed that money!

He had about 100 dollars so far, from battling trainers.

Still, items were expensive and he was running out of potions. He stuck close to cities and routes with Centers, since those were free.

Hmm…

It was raining when the contest finally started. Ash’s Gyarados was pretty speedy, but Jeanne’s Blastoise was much faster.

Pity.

Well, he was trying his best; he knew that! He hoped everyone else did too.

No, maybe he didn’t’. He might get robbed again! He wasn’t rich, so why did people think he was?

Ash jumped as someone put a hand on his shoulder.

“EEK!”

“Relax, will you?”

“Lance!”

“Hi kid.” The red-haired Dragonite trainer said. “How’s it going?”

Ash took several deep breaths to try and regain normal heart rate as he answered. “Not too good. I’m still pretty broke.”

“Really?”

“Yes…”

“Well, I’ve heard that Blaine on Cinnabar is looking for Junior Trainers. You could apply for a job there.”

“Thanks, Lance. I’ll try that.” Ash said gratefully. “Um… could you give me a lift?”

“Sure. Hop on.”

End Chapter

Completed 10/26/04