Maybe I’ll just do a generic journey plot and forget about saving the world…

Disclaimer: I don’t own pokemon, as it belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. Please don’t take my non-profit and non-copyright infringing fanfic since I wrote it and its mine by international copyright laws.

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

Warning: Misty-bashing or the interpreted equivalent thereof in this chapter

BambookidX – thank you!

Pichu Star – hai, hai!
Akiko Koishii – thanks! *Bows*

Firehedgehog – just a question, are you ever updating ‘Return of Destiny’? It’s been a while…

Chapter 8

 

            Ash looked at the Cloyster bemusedly as he waited.

            Cloyster finished consuming the fresh seaweed Ash had bought at a market stall. I take it you’re a pokemon trainer.

            Ash nodded.

            Well, you caught me fair and square.

            Pichu grinned.

            So I will stay and fight for you.

            It was that simple.

            Ash trained Cloyster in the Diglett tunnel that day, and found that she was quite skilled. Not the best, but far from being a worthless pokemon.

            Excellent!
            Then, he went off to get Surge’s badge.

 

            Luckily, Surge was in the gym. Even luckier, someone earlier had deactivated the electric traps in the trashcans and Surge had not had time to put them back yet. All Ash had to do was to beat the junior trainers first.

            No problem!

 

            “Fearow, use Steel Wing!”

            Dillon stared in absolute shock as his Pikachu went a-flying. “No way! How?”

            “Well… teaching your pokemon moves outside its normal type improves its battling ability.” Ash said, quoting his father.

            “Oh? Does it. Try this for size then. Pikachu, go!”

            “You’re using another Pikachu?”

            “Yes! Pikachu, use Thundershock!”

            Ash rolled his eyes. Sure, it hit Fearow, but she had enough HP to stall a bit longer…

            “Drill Peck…”

            It was a good think Pikachu did not have good defense. Pichu wore a Metal Coat occasionally when she had to. That helped.

            With the level advantage as well, Ash moved past the junior trainer and into Surge’s room.

 

            “Well! You’re challenging me? You have guts then, kid!” Surge exclaimed. “I’ll show you how deadly paralysis can be!”

            “Bring it on.” Ash said, releasing Ankylosaur.

            “Huh? Raichu, use Thunderpunch!”

            “Red Eyes, Earthquake.”

            Red eyes jumped up and down, shattering the ground. Raichu fell through a crack and got stuck.

            “Raichu! Mega Punch!”

            The stuck Raichu wriggled but was unable to get free.

            “Iron Tail!”

            Raichu developed swirly eyes, fainting.

            Surge gaped for a few minutes. But he was an honorable gym leader and surrendered the Thunderbadge just the same.

            “You did great, Red Eyes.” Ash told the pokemon proudly.

            Ankylosaur yawned and ate another clump of grass.

            He was just a very slow pokemon.

 

            Are we going back to Cerulean now?

            Ash nodded. “Yes, before we can go to Celadon we have to hit Cerulean first. So I might as well see if the leader is back yet.”

            Sounds good to me. Cloyster yawned.

            Ash recalled her, since she couldn’t walk back and was too big to carry like Pichu and Ditto. Fearow flew overhead.

            Ankylosaur followed at his leisurely pace.

           

            “So now what?” A voice in the bushes asked.

            Ash jumped when an orange-haired girl jumped out. “I’m talking to you, Jack!”

            “Jack? My name is Ash.”
            “Don’t lie to me Jack! Why did you run out on our date!”

            Before Ash quite knew what was happening, he had been hit over the head with a mallet.

            Pichu glared and immediately shocked the person.

            What was that for?

            Misty screamed.

 

            That was when the real Jack came along the bend. Catching sight of him, Misty recovered immediately and dashed away.

            “JACK!!!”

            “EEK!” Jack yelled, running faster.

 

            Ash rubbed his aching noggin. “Sheesh, what’s wrong with that girl?”

            I have no idea! Fearow proclaimed.

            Maybe she’s crazy? Ditto asked.

            “I’ll bet on that.”

            Cloyster iced his head for half an hour, and then, once the bump had gone down in size, they continued down the path.

            Luckily, there were no trainers to fight this time so the road was much shorter.

 

            The blue roofs of Cerulean loomed ahead upon their return. Ash headed straight to the gym.

            To his horror, he saw the girl and guy from earlier making out on the couch.

            “YUCK!”

            Ash quickly ran out, but not before Misty noticed. Glaring angrily, the mood broken, she ran after him.

            “Hey you! You owe me an apology!”

            “What?” Ash declared incredulously. “You malleted me for no reason whatsoever! Why should I apologize to you?”

            “Well, you just ruined my make-up session with Jake!” Misty yelled, malleting him again.

            Pichu once again shocked her, and this time Red Eyes added a Flamethrower. Misty fainted.

            A cascade badge tumbled out of her jacket pocket. Deciding that this was fair exchange in return for her unprovoked attacks on him, Ash took the badge, and then swiftly exited the town and was well on his way to Celadon before Misty was none the wiser.

 

End Chapter

Completed 6/2/04

Whee!

And _that’s_ how Ash got the Cascade badge