Next Chapter! Started 6/1/01

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

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

Fic Timeline: Post-Final Test, ‘Only as Dark’, ‘Riding the Tempest’

Chapter 2

A crowd of pokemon surrounded them, various faces. Ash felt cowed in spite of himself at all the staring faces.

Who are you?

“Ash Ketchum.”

So… you are his nephew. The Arcanine growled. Yes?

Ash nodded.

That’s not all. A Mysdreavus piped up in a small voice.

Oh, you have something to add mystic?

He is the Chosen one!
Impossible! That can’t be!

He bears the sign though…

It is true; I am scanning him. That came from an Abra.

Well…

Ash blinked. “Chosen One? Well, I did fulfill the Shamouti Island prophecy, but I haven’t really done anything…”

The black amulet hung on a gold chain from his neck though. It was Destiny’s amulet. But all he could really remember was power, and all he could control at the moment was telepathy and a little teleportation…

Still, it was better than having nothing at all, wasn’t it? Wasn’t it?

After a few minutes of observation, the dark, the psychic, and the ghost verified his identity.

“Did my uncle run a psychic gym?”

No. The Arcanine said, as she stretched, completely unafraid. He used several different and often conflicting types. He was very difficult to beat. Only two every obtained his badge.

“I see…”

In any case, I am pleased to meet you. You may call me Sunspark.

I’m just Umbreon.

< Aster. > The Abra sent, smiling benevolently. He was asleep and yet not really asleep… still, he could be trusted.

An Espeon followed Mysdreavus, and also a Poliwhirl, but that was it.

So his uncle had only had five pokemon?

Well… better than none, right?

With a will, Ash found a broom and began sweeping the gym before he unpacked his boxes.

They had arrived safely at least.

However, he had scarcely cleaned out the living quarters when a loud, boisterous singing came from the door.

“Who is that?”

< Vincent Gray. > Abra sniffed. < He comes every few days, drunk and demanding a battle. >

“Should I comply then?”

If you will… Espeon and Umbreon had settled themselves in Ash’s suitcase, filled with clothes, and did not look like they would be moving anytime soon. They were twin sisters, cute pokemon.

Ash nodded as he walked outside silently.

He was scant in the arena before a Dragonair charged.

“Poliwhirl, Ice Beam!” He had judged correctly, it seemed. This one _did_ know ice and fighting moves. Excellent.

Dragonair fell down, frozen!

Vincent cursed and then sent out a Jynx. Ash instructed Poliwhirl to use Seismic Toss and then a Dynamicpunch, and that sealed the deal.

He looked immensely pleased with his work.

Ash smiled, then grinned as a Magmar appeared. That too was quickly finished. After all, Magmar was much too slow to dodge a Hydro Pump.

Perhaps it was overkill? No, Vincent needed some sobering up either way.

The last pokemon looked pathetic.

It was a Togepi.

Ash grimaced. He had never liked that particular species of pokemon much, and Misty’s efforts had only alienated him away from it.

Togepi used Teleport.

Poliwhirl was recalled and swapped for Mysdreavus. She took much pride in kicking it around.

“Now use Nightmare, Mystic.”

Hypnosis had already put the annoying egg to sleep. And there went the last of its HP. Ash smiled broadly.

All done.

Vincent stumbled out, tripped and knocked himself out. In any case, Mystic helpfully teleported him away.

He would wonder why he was in a river. Oh well, maybe that would reduce his drunken stupor.

Or was it wishful thinking?

In any case, the battle over, Ash went back to unpacking.

He spent several hours putting his books on the Mahogany bookshelves and his clothes in the closet and chest of drawers.

Lucas’s clothing and things had all been removed by the city for donation to the less fortunate.

You still have his computer though. And they didn’t take the gym machinery.

“That’s good to know, Arcanine.”

Well, it is important… as gym leader you can store two hundred pokemon…

“Wow.”

Most don’t have that many, of course, but it is handy. Did I show you where the healing machine was?

“Next to the shelves, right?”

Yes, you can heal four pokemon at once.

“Cool, thank you.”

No problem. She sniffed. By the way, in a few days a League official will be coming to check on you.

“I know.”

Good luck then!

Arcanine was an older pokemon, she didn’t battle as much but she was in some ways like a motherly figure.

Ash finished unpacking and went to shower.

End Chapter

Completed 6/4/01