What is my plot? Started 6/19/04

Disclaimer/Notes: No, I don’t own pokemon… *nods* It belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. This is non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfic written by me and so it’s mine!

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

Timeline: During the last segment, Ash’s POV

Chapter 3

Frost covered the bare windowpanes. Gringy City was rather depressing though. Why were they there again?

Oh yes… it had meant to deter a tail, but unfortunately, any tactics were proving quite ineffective.

Pity.

“Would you quit following me?” Ash demanded in exasperation. * What is with her? I already beat her… what more does she want from me? Unless…? * Marie glared.

“Shut up!”

“This is coming from the person I’ve already defeated _three_ times.” Ash said, irritated. “I don’t think you have any right to demand anything from me.”

Squirtle nodded.

“So what? At least I’m not queer like you!”

“Excuse me?” Ash said softly, as his eyes began to dilate golden, hand moving up to touch Destiny’s amulet.

Even if he didn’t _need_ the power until he was twelve, it didn’t mean he couldn’t access it… and right now, he really wanted to, but…

No, I’m not going to lose control again.

Not this time. I won’t throw away my duty for revenge. I have to get better! He sighed inwardly, and calmed down.

Squirtle looked at Ash worriedly.

“Would you like to have another rematch, miss ‘I have one badge’?” Ash taunted. * I won’t let her anger me; my love’s not going to be wasted on someone like _her_. She’s not worth it. *

Marie spluttered like… a chicken? A frog? Some animal I can’t remember.

“Y-you!”

“Come on, I’ve got four badges and you only have one.” He said truthfully. “And the one you have isn’t higher than any of mine.”

“That’s it! Go, Vibrava! Sandstorm!”

“Squirtle – no, you need a rest…” Ash looked thoughtful. * She doesn’t know I have any others, does she? Well, I should give her a nasty shock then. *

“Umbreon… let’s go.”

A Sandstorm brewed!

Umbreon yawned, cancelled it out with Sunny Day, and then proceeded to use Solarbeam. It wasn’t that effective though.

“What is that? Vibrava, use Dragonbreath!”

Umbreon was, however, a special defense tank. Not that high, but high enough… he yawned and used Crunch.

Vibrava screeched.

Umbreon glared, spat out Toxic. Then, he waited.

Three more Dragonbreath attacks hit. Two were cured with Moonlight, the last one paralyzed him, but it didn’t matter.

Toxic finally knocked out Vibrava’s HP.

“I win.”

Umbreon smirked.

Boulder had been easy, Squirtle’s water moves washed away Brock’s absolute Defense. Then, the Cerulean City gym – type to type – had been won because Bite _was_ a dark move and dark beat psychic. Lt. Surge’s gym had been trickier, but he had just upgraded Squirtle with a Metal Coat, and Earthquake. That had done the trick. As for Erika, well, Ice…

He hadn’t needed to use other pokemon. He most definitely hadn’t showed them to Marie. Did she… god forbid, have a crush on him?

That would be crazy.

Why was she following him then? Bizarre… if she honestly and truthfully desired to improve herself, she really ought to leave and do some real training.

“Go! Bayleef!”

She had evolved hers, but would it help? Umbreon was recalled, Squirtle sent out, and Blizzard proved Ash the victor yet again.

“You’re annoying.” Ash said, as he walked away.

“Oh yeah? You’re just a freak!”

“My sexual preference has absolutely nothing to do with my training technique and style, a fact you should have realized if you were truly paying attention.” Ash said calmly. “Besides, I don’t have anyone.”

Marie stuck out her tongue at him.

“Also, your continued pursuing is quite disconcerting and in my opinion, useless.” Ash finished.

Squirtle smiled. That’s true.

I hope she leaves. Umbreon muttered from inside the poke ball.

“I as well…”

Without further ado, Ash kept walking away from her.

“CURSE YOU!”

“Yes, I wonder? Some people are so irrational.”

He walked off humming ‘Masquerade’.

“Why are people so annoying?”

I have no idea, really. Squirtle said, looking at Ash who was up in a tree picking… apples? Acorns? Peaches? It was some variety of food he could not identify at first glance.

It didn’t matter.

Food was food.

That was when… Marie showed up yet again. Wow, where did she get that Lairon? In any case, it attacked the tree.

Ash cursed inwardly as he did a few midair flips and landed on his feet, dropping most of the lemons. “Would you quit following me?”

“I’ll beat you this time! Lairon, Iron Tail!”

Ash took careful aim, and squirted lemon juice in Lairon’s eyes. Then, he proceeded to attack via Squirtle.

Lairon was washed away! Marie was soaked!
“I seriously need a better life…”

End Chapter

Completed 6/20/04