I think chibi-Ash is cute!

Disclaimer: I don’t own pokemon. It belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics! This is non-profit fanwork, no copyright infringement is intended, and since it’s my work and I wrote it I own it by copyright law.

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

Chapter 3

Ash yawned as he woke up. It was another day, he’d go to school, come back and play with dad’s pokemon, go off to art class at night right after dinner, and go to sleep.

He didn’t like the kids at school.

They were just like Dewgong had warned him. Power-hungry.

People love control, she said.

Ash promised her he wouldn’t turn out like that.

“Even father?”

Your father is one of the better ones. Or, maybe it is because we are not his team… he doesn’t care about us.

“What?”

The six he caries with him everywhere are the real indicators.

“His team.”

Yes! Most trainers care only for their team. They want the most powerful team possible, and no matter what, they will get it.

Ash blinked. “So they catch strong pokemon only?”

Something like that…

Why?

Because. They want the power badges will bring them.

Badges…

Yes! Badges have great energy hidden in them, how else would pokemon listen to trainers they hated?

But that’s terrible!

There is nothing we can do about it. Beedrill told Ash. So don’t fret.

“I promise I won’t turn out like that!”

We will warn you on the way if you start down that path, don’t worry. Vulpix said, patting him with a paw.

Ash smiled as she sat in his lap. “Ok.” He hugged her warmly; she was as good as a heater on cold days.

“Ash! Put on another sweater, you’ll get sick!” Delia called from the doorway.

Ash obediently went in and put on a brown furry monstrosity from his Aunt Mildred. It was so ugly…

Why couldn’t she have sent him a useful birthday present?

His mom had gotten him new underwear, much to his embarrassment, a bright blue jacket, and a backpack that matched for school, two books, and a stuffed Bellsprout doll. That wasn’t too bad.

His dad had simply said that Ash could have his spare pokemon, plus anything else he caught, much to Delia’s chagrin and embarrassment.

They had had an argument over it.

“But Juniper, Ash is still a child!”

“He’s seven, Delia, that’s plenty old enough, and it’s a present he’ll appreciate.”

“Still!”

“Think about it. He’s been around them since birth practically, they won’t hurt him and I don’t need them.”

“Seems to me you were too busy to get him a proper birthday present.” Delia scolded. “You ought to come home more often.”

“Delia, the reason I’m so busy is that I’m earning money to support us! You know that!”

She sighed, conceding defeat. Yes, he was a faithful husband, but he spent so much time away. She couldn’t help wondering if he had a girlfriend.

He wouldn’t have an affair, would he?

Hopefully no, please god, no…

Still, she swallowed her suspicions. He was a good father to Ash, would play with him when he got home, and didn’t push too hard.

So maybe, she was just being too edgy. Delia went and took some more Ginger and Royal Jelly for relief.

Ah…

Ash went back outside, and happily played with the pokemon. Even though there weren’t many, he loved them just the same.

No matter what!

Pokemon didn’t betray people, but people betrayed pokemon all the time. Why was that?

Poor Gardevoir…

He hoped she was happy with her new master. But why did dad do that? Couldn’t he have just given him money?

Juniper always said his pokemon were his precious jewels.

Then…

Why give them away?

Was money what he really worshipped?

Ash wasn’t sure; he just knew it wasn’t right.

They said he was special, though.

Ash was growing faster than other kids, but his parents didn’t quite notice. They just were proud of his grades and the fact he was not failing. They liked watching him doing his homework obediently every night.

What a good child.

Why bother about him? He had remarkable self-control for one so young.

They were proud of him.

Sadly enough, that seemed to be it.

And art class? That was still fun.

He just didn’t talk.

It was fun to draw pokemon though, swish and swoosh and the black lines giving away to bright colors.

Outline and then paint!

Then, they did some other things too, that were fun. Like the paper mashie heads they made, by covering a balloon with strips of sticky paste-encrusted newspaper, layers and layers, until you got a ball.

Then, you popped the balloon inside, and pulled it out through a tiny hole in the bottom after it had dried for at least two days.

You were left with a ball you could decorate with poster paint and feathers. And so Ash applied himself diligently, to the work.

Big blue eyes, yellow and purple feathers, sequins stuck every which way in a red face….

Delia laughed when she saw it. How creative!

It was good of Ash to have a hobby, besides pokemon. Signing him up for class had been such a good idea.

End Chapter

Started 3/15/04, completed 3/20/04