Ash: ^-^
Phantomness: Yes, I put Lance in, but there shouldn’t be championshipping yet. That’ll take a while.

Ash: A brand new adventure awaits us! Let’s go!

Phantomness: You sound like my GBA…

Disclaimer: I don’t own pokemon. It belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. This is non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanwork written by me, and since I wrote it I own it under international copyright laws and taking it is plagiarism.

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

Chapter 9

Jenny’s eyes lit up as she spotted a new trainer to fight. Looked like a newbie too. Excellent! She could use some pocket money.

“I challenge you!”

The boy looked bored, or maybe he was just tired. “Sure…”

“Great!” Jenny said, leading him to her spot by the side of the road. “Let’s begin! I choose you, Charmander!”

The fire lizard smiled and clapped its paws cutely, jumping up and down.

“Seadra…” Ash said tiredly. “Water Gun.”

It was over before it had begun.

Ash, you okay?

< I wish I hadn’t tried using a Psychic attack so early on, it took a lot out of me… > Ash sent sleepily.

But it worked!

< Yes, it did… >

However, judging from the state of exhaustion he was in, he would definitely have to build up his speed and endurance.

Jenny frowned. “Go! Pidgeotto!”

Seadra spat out a smokescreen, before an Ice Beam slammed into Pidgeotto. Jenny was faced with the sight of a fainted Pidgeotto.

“Are we done now?” Ash asked in a whispery voice.

Jenny growled. “Electrode, Explosion!” As the area darkened and shards of metal fell everywhere, she inched over to the boy and grabbed his poke belt-

Only to scream in pain as an electric shock coursed through her system

“Don’t touch.” Ash hissed, face twisting into a scowl despite his still evident tiredness.

Magnemite hummed, before a shockwave threw Jenny back, and then a Sonicboom sent her flying.

“Finish.” Ash whispered.

With a grim smile, Magnemite obeyed.

Sizzling filled the air, and the two slowly walked away.

< Master Ash, I’ll just teleport us to Viridian. You really need your rest. > Espeon sent. < Don’t worry about a thing. >

< All right… arigato… >

Espeon’s jewel glowed, and they reappeared in the Center. Ash healed the few pokemon of his that did need healing, and then went to bed.

He slept until the next day. The pokemon, loyal friends and allies, kept watch over him of course.

Why tempt fate?

Still, Viridian Gym was closed and only open to trainers with all seven other badges. Ash wasn’t going to try and skip, anyways.

Let’s go off to Pewter!

He trained his team, caught a few more pokemon, did some more cleansing, and generally enjoyed himself on the three days’ trip.

He called his mom, just to let her know he was fine. Delia was glad for that. As always, more trainer battles loomed.

Trainers were everywhere, always eager for a fight.

Some were almost bloodthirsty in their pursuit of war.

“Go, Starmie!”

“Interesting.” Ash said, as Magnemite fried the starfish with Thunder. “Next.”

“I’m an advanced trainer!” Damien yelled. “I can’t lose!”

“Well, it’s only been one pokemon, maybe you have stronger ones.” Ash said deliberately.

Damien glared. “Six on six then!”

“As you wish…”

“Go! Charmeleon!”

The fire lizard swung his flaming tail at Magnemite, who responded with Thunderwave, paralyzing before it got close.

“Sonicboom.”

Charmeleon covered its ears in fear. Those high-pitched waves hurt!

< Finish. Zap Cannon. >

A paralyzed and almost HP-less Charmeleon refused to fight, so Damien recalled it with a grimace.

“Fine then! I’m not going easy on you any more! Go, Gyarados!”

Ash sweatdropped. < Thunder… it’ll be quick. >

Indeed. Why use water/flying against electric? Magnemite mused, downing the water serpent.

Damien’s jaw was on the floor.

“Do you want to trade pokemon!?”

“Not interested.” Ash said. “What’s your next pokemon?”

Damien scowled. “Fine then! Face my Primeape!”

“Nice…” Ash said with some feeling. “Magnemite, let’s play it safe, come back.” He smiled.

“Espeon, Psychic~!”

That was fast. Despite Primeape’s prowess, it still couldn’t fight type advantage/disadvantage. That was the way things were.

Damien glared. “Why you lil’ punk… Raichu! Thunder!”

Ash and Espeon both vanished, and Damien’s next feeling was a thudding noise and pain.

Ash frowned. “I knew it.”

< Sad, isn’t it? >

< Tell me… how does the world run after all of this? >

< With much difficulty, and because of the Chosen. > Espeon said. < It’s a long story. >

< Can you tell it to me? >

Espeon smiled. < Why not? Let’s begin… >

End Chapter

Started 4/9/04, completed 4/9/04