Busy, busy, dreadfully busy *sings*

YATTA! I’m happy because I won a prestigious band award! ^-^

Disclaimer: See previous chapter

Raven and Januarye – ah…

Akiko Koishii – you’re right, I should….

Firehedgehog – odd, from your fics I thought you were quite fond of Misty. Oh well.

Chapter 9

It had been quite easy getting through Rock Tunnel actually. At least it was a straight path with only one detour unlike Mount Moon’s maze.

Now, Ash and his pokemon happily inhaled fresh, sweet air in Lavender town. The only thing that detracted from a pristine landscape was the creepily boring tower that jutted up into the sky like a prometery.

Ash healed his pokemon at the Center again. He remembered to call his mom this time, luckily.

It was a shock when he found out that his dad was actually home on a weekday. Maybe he did mean it about spending more time with his family?

“Dad?”

“Hey, Ash, how many pokemon have you caught?” Jacques Ketchum inquired.

“Well, only six, but I did get three badges.”

“Good for you!”

Ash grinned and gave a peace sign.

“Just be careful though, don’t go into the Pokemon Tower in Lavender.”

“Why not?”

“Because. That’s the only place where wild ghost pokemon live, but you can’t see them without a Silph Scope. So save up your cash when you get to Saffron!”

“Okay dad.”

“How’s Pichu? Did she evolve yet?”

“Um, actually, Pichu doesn’t want to evolve.”

“Really! How intriguing!” Jacques spent fifteen minutes giving Ash a lecture on pokemon evolution, which he paid attention to, and then hung up.

Ash sighed. * Dad’s still a teacher at heart, isn’t he? *

He left the Center and began walking the dirt road – really, why didn’t they just use cement, it would be more convenient – and…

That was when some strange kid jumped out of a tree and demanded a battle.

“You have _got_ to be kidding me!” Ash said. “Why, nailing a few boards to a tree to make a tree house does not make your residence a gym!”

A.J. scowled. “Well, I know it’s not that impressive, but that’s no reason to disbelieve my words!”

“Look,” Ash said. “I have three badges already.”

“Great! Then battle me!”

“… Well, if you insist…” Ash said, waiting for A.J. to release his pokemon since he was the challenger.

“Go! Sandshrew!”

Ash thought Sandshrew were cute, but he hadn’t caught one yet. They always hid when people came around.

Oh well…

He’d catch one someday! But completing the pokédex could wait until after he got the badges.

And hopefully became a Pokemon Master! That dream seemed a lot closer now, as he fondly touched the badges pinned to the inside of his blue jacket. Apparently his vest had attachable sleeves, so he wore them to cover his arms from sunburn.

Too bad he had run out of suntan lotion, he had to remember to buy some when he got to Celadon.

Sunburns were no fun!

“Cloyster, use Water Gun!”

Ash was surprised when Sandshrew shook the attack off.

“Hah!” A.J. proclaimed. “Do you see now? My Sandshrew is completely resistant to water attacks! It can’t lose!”

“That’s quite special.” Ash agreed. “But… is it fast enough?”

Cloyster immediately shot off a barrage of Spike Cannon.

Sandshrew dodged some, but not all, having only expected ice and water attacks from the ice/water type.

Cloyster snickered inside her shell. Suckers…

One large spike sent Sandshrew flying through the air as A.J. stared in plenty of shock. “No way!”

“Well, I seem to be getting that…” Ash remarked. “Thanks for the money by the way.” A.J. spluttered, but fair was fair.

Ash walked off the victor.

He next had to deal with a picnicker who thought he was leaving trash over the grass. Luckily, all she had was an Oddish.

It was fast work with Ankylosaur.

Really, why was everyone trying to attack him for no reason? Last time, some one had been angry that he hadn’t been wearing shorts!

Stupid junior trainers…

“All I did was walk by.” Ash complained to Pichu.

Pichu shrugged.

I don’t pretend to understand humans.

Nor I. Red Eyes added.

A Spearow flew out of the grass towards them.

Cloyster sent an Aurora beam its way and Spearow fell.

Didn’t you buy repel? Fearow queried.

“I used two bottles already.” Ash sighed. “I’m running out again.”

Yes, it is rather annoying tripping over every single pokemon in the wild…especially when most are Rattatas!

Pichu nodded.

Hmm… Ditto mused. I don’t know how to turn into Repel.

“It’s okay, Ditto, that might be dangerous.”

Ditto laughed, and switched into a Butterfree. He liked flying. It was such a nice feeling.

If he hadn’t been a ditto, he would have liked being a bird.

Fearow was awfully pretty though…

Ditto suddenly blushed. * Where did that come from? * Sure, he knew that as a Ditto he could pick just about any pokemon as his mate, but…

Maybe?

…

Who knows what might or might not work?

Completed 6/3/04

^_^ Finals are over

I think I failed Spanish though…

Lance: So I’m not here?

Phantomness: Not quite sure yet…

Kairo: *eats a lollipop* She’s still busy nurturing plotbunny embryos.

Lance: O.O

Phantomness: How else would I get plotbunnies? It’s not polite to steal them…