Yatta! Another chapter!
Disclaimer: Pokemon belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. This non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfic belongs to me under international copyright laws…
Notes: <> for telepathy, ** for thoughts, italics if a pokemon talks
Ash is 11 or so in this part
Chapter 7
“Brock!”
“Hi, Sensei.” Brock said. “Am I late?”
“No, just in time.”
Their training began anew.
Bruno did not know why he bothered to teach this particular young man martial arts. He would have decided him too old to learn, but…
In some ways, Brock looked a lot like him. It couldn’t just be physical attraction though, could it?
He hoped not…
Brock was
only five or six years younger than him… Argh, mind out of the gutter! Out!
Out!
He wasn’t in love!
Wasn’t!
Agatha listened as Ash practiced with the spear. From the swishing sounds, he was using the correct technique. Good.
Now what to teach him next?
A staff? Well, maybe… but Aya was already teaching him trident. Bob… they should have kicked him out long ago, he was just useless… he would bring disgrace to their name… of the Seven Stars of Johto…
“Lance!”
“Hai, Agatha.”
“What have you been teaching him?”
“You mean besides the sai and literature and my thieving skills?”
“Yes.”
“Nothing yet, why?”
“You _did_ teach him how to orient himself with the celestial bodies, correct?”
“Hai.”
“So what are you teaching him at this moment?”
Lance paused. “We’re still working on the light fingered technique.”
Agatha nodded. “Call Koga.”
Koga came in a few minutes later. “You called?”
“Koga… how is he with the sword?”
“Quite good… I believe good enough to hold his own in a fight… of course, he still needs work…”
“Have you taught him all the exercises?”
“There is one left.”
“Good. Dismissed. Call Surge.”
Surge and his horse came in. Agatha coughed, before Surge quickly sent ‘Fierce Yellow’ back out to the field with the sheep.
“Is he doing well with the two-tailed whip?”
“He can break boulders… the small ones”
“Does he hit himself?”
“Nope, hasn’t done that for about two years.”
“Is he as good as you are?”
“If he’s not, he’s getting there. His horseback riding skills are pretty good too. I vote we start to teach him horseback fighting.”
“Interesting. I will consider your recommendation. Dismissed. Call Aya, would you?”
“I’m right here.” Aya said. She was helping Delia prepare the noon meal in the kitchen. “He has learned to wield the trident without wasting energy, but fluidity will still take time…”
Agatha nodded. “Where is Bruno?”
“Out training his other student.”
“When he comes back, I want to talk to him.”
“I’ll pass the message along.”
“No, no!”
Ash blushed. “I’m sorry, Lance.”
Lance sighed. “How hard can it be? It’s not even a coin that I’m carrying in my jacket; it’s a purse. Now, try again…”
He picked up a scroll and pretended to study it while Ash carefully inched around him quietly, before making a sudden grab.
“Ow!”
“Oops…”
“You don’t need that much force to steal something secretly! That would be enough to rob someone!”
“Oh…”
“Try again.”
Ash didn’t _need_ this skill, per se, but Lance thought it would come in handy. After all, they weren’t rich and you never knew when you might need cash…
“HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Several of the Stars stood up and looked outside. There, a girl was running from a… flock of white eagles?
What in the world?
Five and Seven ran out. Bruno began hurling rocks at the birds with his great strength, knocking them out of the sky, while Bob scooped up the girl and ran back towards the house.
“Brother!”
Koga nodded, he and Aya throwing their shuriken, hitting a wide swath of birds and sending them falling to the ground, scattered feathers falling every which way. The remaining four or five flew off.
“Are you injured?” Agatha asked gravely.
“No.” The girl smiled sweetly. “Thank you for saving me. My father will reward you well.”
She wore a hat from which trailed many strands of multicolored glass beads in hues of blue, and a richly embroidered pink dress.
“Where are you from?”
“Cerulean City.” She said proudly. “My father is one of the King’s advisors.”
She missed the covert looks that were being exchanged.
Delia offered the girl a glass of herbal tea, which she drank. A few minutes later, the sleeping drug she had added took effect.
“We can’t kill her, she’s an innocent child.” Bob said.
“However, if the word gets out that we saved someone like this, our entire reputation…” Koga trailed off.
Agatha sighed. “Someone will have to take her home.”
“I’ll do it then.” Lance said. “After all…”
“You’re the one best suited for this job.”
Ash looked sad. He would miss his sensei…
End Chapter
Completed 8/27/04