Argh! I hate it how Internet radio is so shaky… but hey, it’s a lot better than no radio at all…
Disclaimer: Pokemon belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. This non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfiction belongs to me under international copyright laws and taking it is plagiarism. Thank you. *Phantomness bows*
Notes: <> for telepathy, ** for thoughts, italics if a pokemon talks
Chapter 3
Red hesitated before he walked into Brock’s gym. Something nagged in the back of his mind, and it was almost as though he were missing something…
Ridiculous! He had done everything well! Besides, Pikachu were only a rumor. Surely no one expected him to find one in Viridian Forest.
In any case, with Mantine and Poli by his side, brushing through all the junior trainers was very easy. Even Brock’s Onix was not difficult to defeat. One good Water Pulse attack from Mantine left it blinking in dizzy confusion, and then a high-powered Bubblebeam sealed the deal.
One badge down, seven to go, and the League would not start for another four months. He had time.
Lance frowned as he and his dragons skimmed low over the forest canopy. “Nothing?”
Yes, Master. There are no Pikachu…
“Most excellent. Mythical pokémon indeed.” The Champion shook his head. “Now only Pichu exist, and few, in the hands of reliable breeders in Johto.”
His dragons laughed along with their Master.
There was no sense in taking superfluous risks!
No, he did not kill the little rats, but they had shifted time so that Pikachu and Raichu had never evolved. Playing with these things could be unpredictable, Agatha had warned, but there were no visible changes. Besides, there were a few Minun and Plusle that filled the same ecological niche nicely.
Pichu were new pokémon, created by breeding a female Plusle with a male Minun, and always, always, they were sterile.
They were baby pokémon after all, and could not breed, and best of all, would not give rise to Pikachu.
How fortuitous.
Agatha and Lorelei sipped their tea as they chatted.
“Do you think Red will be able to prove his worth?”
“I have no doubt that it will happen, Lorelei. What about you?”
Lorelei flushed. “I lost five hundred pokeyen betting that Green would win the last time around.”
“Did you?” Agatha looked amused. “Well, I am glad I chose not to wager on the outcome.”
“Green is a better technique trainer, true enough.” Lorelei took another sip of tea, “But Red is better in the field.”
“Indeed. Green is a very good fighter, but his true strength lies in teaching pokémon unexpected strategy. Red’s strength is in his adaptability and impulsiveness.”
“And what of ours?”
“Ours?” Agatha paused, raised a chocolate biscuit in her hand and studied it critically. “Lance’s power lies in his confidence. He’s a masterful actor.”
Lorelei laughed.
“And yours? You are cold and calculating, but overtly, the better to bedevil your opponents. Jynx’s special ability is also quite handy.”
“You are hidden… you can conduct an entire battle from the shadows.” Lorelei grinned. “So we are Elite.”
“Yes, a mix of fire and ice, dark and not-quite-light, what better?”
“What better indeed.”
They toasted with delicate porcelain, the setting sun outside the window staining white and pale beige into harsh planes of red and gold.
“Father!” Red cried out in surprise and pleasure as he spotted Lance in front of the Pewter Pokémon Center. “What are you doing here?”
“Waiting for you, of course.” Lance smiled, and Red felt his insides melt a little.
Father was perfect, all sharp silver and brilliant marble, but inside he was warm like melted chocolate. “Besides, Red, you forgot to bring this.”
Red accepted the package and swiftly opened it, holding back a gasp.
How could he have forgotten?
He necklace was pretty, a thin gold chain – not too girly, on the edge dangled a little black rock with a rough carved bird-like shape on the top.
It had been a birthday present five years ago.
He slipped it over his head and grinned.
“I brought you these too.”
Red flipped the book open, eyes widening. “Father…”
“You are old enough, and responsible enough, to be trusted with it now.” Lance smiled. “Be careful. It is the only copy we have.”
“I will be!”
“And this is congratulations for your first badge.”
“Yay! Chocolate-covered blueberries! Thanks!”
Lance paused and shot Red a bright smile, ruffling his hair a bit. “Good luck with the rest of the badges.”
“I know. Brock’s was the easiest… and I promise not to use Aeroy.”
“Good.”
Orange watched the man fly off on a magnificent Dragonair as she stood in line, waiting for Nurse Joy to heal her pokémon. “That’s your father?”
Red blinked. “Are you talking to me?”
“Yes.”
“Then yes.”
Orange sighed.
Red backed away from the strange girl, collecting his pokémon from Nurse Joy. An electric type or a grass type would serve him well against Misty, but if not, then… perhaps he could get by with Pidgeotto or Butterfree…
Orange eyed Red. Damn, he was cute, if a bit too young for her tastes…
But that man? Rawr!
She sighed. He was probably married too. Why were all the good ones married or gay?
End Chapter
Completed 7/10/06
Oh, the irony of that last sentence…
Stupid headaches! I hate being sick!