I just saw a post where someone cast Lance as Ash’s older brother, intriguing… actually, it’s kind of cool if the fic is not championshipping, I saw it once in a fic titled Psuedo Shigeru about Gary mostly and I liked it.

Disclaimer: If I owned pokemon, you’d be watching CCA instead of the series now. Pokemon belongs to Satoshi Tajiri and Nintendo. This is non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfic written by me and I own it, so don’t take it.

 

Pyr00tje – I ‘m trying, k?

Akiko Koishii – oh, well…

Spirit Hellfire – for you, this fic will have no romance! I know you requested something like that…

Pichu Star – thanx!

Dragi – kk

 

Chapter 5

 

            Needless to say, he had fought all the trainers, and was now deep in the heart of Mount Moon.

            It was cold, and dark, and miserable… all right, he was exaggerating. But it had been a day since he had seen sunlight and camping in a cave was no fun!

            He popped the vitamins in his mouth again, not wanting to develop a cave deficiency.

            Another Zubat flew towards him.

            Ditto transformed into a pikachu and shocked Zubat, sending it flying. Well, at least that was one less Zubat to fight again. It was scant comfort. Why did mount moon have so many tunnels?

            He climbed down another one. Was that light ahead? Maybe it was the exit!

            Two people in black clothes were talking.

            “We have to find the fossils!”

            “Calm down, Ryan. We still have two days.”

            “What if we don’t find them, Rachel?” The boy asked bitterly. “We won’t be able to go back.”

            “Sure we will! We’ll just get a pay cut.”

            Ash’s eyes widened at the Red ‘R’s on their shirts. Team rocket! They were trying to find fossils in mount moon?

            He accidentally dislodged a rock.

 

            “What was that?” Rachel jumped.

            Ryan sneered. “Well, he’ll be sorry he messed with us. Golbat, go! Supersonic!”

            Ash covered his ears, as Pichu did the same.

            After a few minutes, Ryan looked confused. No one had appeared. Maybe he was just being paranoid…

            “Rachel, quit being so jumpy. It was probably just a wild Geodude.”

            “I guess…” The girl replied, but she did not sound convinced.

            Ash quietly snuck out of that tunnel. It was too dangerous.

 

            He tried another tunnel, and this time, it was worse. There were six members of Team Rocket guarding a small sub-cavern.

            “Stop right there! We’re digging these fossils up right now!”

            “Since you trespassed, prepare to pay!”

            “Ditto, transform now! Something that can take down a lot of pokemon please?” Ash said, as Pichu, Kabuto, and Fearow attacked the fourteen rocket-owned pokemon.

            Ditto nodded, and shifted into a Nidoking, before using Earthquake.

            Fearow dispatched two Rattata and a Raticate quickly, before two Zubats teamed up against her.

            Pichu shocked one, but had trouble dealing with the Grimer.

            Kabuto used Slash on a Meowth and another Raticate, but found it hard to deal with the Koffing.

            Ditto next turned into a Drowzee, and used Hypnosis. That put the remaining pokemon to sleep.

            “_____!” A rocket cursed.

            “Retreat!” The other said. “We can get the fossils later! It’s not like the kid can do anything!”

            They all ran away.

            Ash took note of the direction, and decided that would be the exit. Going into the other ‘room’, he found a Super Nerd.

           

            “Now hold on a second, kid! I found these fossils they’re both mine!”

            Ash blinked. “I didn’t do anything.”

            “Shut up! I know you want them! But I’ll only give you one if you can beat me! Voltorb, attack!”

            Kabuto used Earthquake.

            Voltorb and the Magnemite following both fainted under that assault.

            The Super nerd cursed, but moved aside. “Here, take a fossil.”

 

            Ash recognized one that looked like Kabuto, but the others seemed to make no sense. Shrugging, he took one that looked like a fish somewhat.

            Then, he left the cave by the Rocket exit.

            There was no one there, luckily. Unfortunately, there was no pokemon center on this side of the mountain, and Cerulean was still at least a day’s journey ahead.

            “Well, might as well make the best of the situation…”

            Ash fixed soup and pokenosh for the whole group, and they ate and rested.

 

            It was getting dark when a flying pokemon landed in front of his tent.

            “… Catelyn?” Ash asked, after having shone his flashlight in her face. “What are you doing here?”

            “Hey Ash, I heard of Team rocket activity in this area, so I came to check.”

            “Oh, that? You’re a bit late. They left Mount Moon this afternoon.” Ash said. “They were digging up pokemon fossils.”

            “I see.” Catelyn said.

            “You didn’t’ come to see me?” He had to admit he felt a bit disappointed.

            “No, I heard you had gotten your Boulder badge so I came to offer congratulations too.” She said cheerfully. “Voila!”

            From behind her back she produced a plate with a dozen fresh-baked chocolate-chip cookies on it.

            “Cool!”

            “Enjoy, and good luck with the Cascade Badge.” Catelyn laughed. “On second thought, mind if I travel with you for a bit?”

            “Why?”

            “Well, I’m bored.”

 

            Ash blinked. He wouldn’t mind, human company would be nice and since she had saved his life she couldn’t be a bad person. And those cookies…

            He took a bite and sighed happily. * Heaven! *

            “Sure, I don’t mind.”

            Catelyn grinned. “Cool.”

            “But why are you interested in Team Rocket?”

            “Let’s just say I’m sort of an undercover agent for the government.” She said, flashing a peace sign.

            “Wow!”

            “Shall we go?”

            “Sure.” Ash replied, glad that he had found someone nice to travel with. That would make his mom less worried!

            His dad too, he’d have to remember to visit and ask about the fossil later.

 

End Chapter

Completed 6/1/04