Chapter 12

Ash was outside, tending the greenhouse when he heard his father calling 
him.

"Ashura! Get in here!" Pikachu jumped five feet at the sound of Mark's 
voice.

"Coming!" Ash got up off of the soft ground and walked over to his house. 
Ash picked up his bag on the porch but didn't notice how light it was. Ash 
walked in the door to see Mark with Psyduck.

"One of yours?" Mark growled. Ash took the dopey duck and shook his head.

"It's Misty's. It always comes out of its ball at the most peculiar times. 
Why? What did it do?" Mark's angry scowl made Ash pretty curious.

"Don't go into the laundry room. I'll hold its trainer responsible for what 
the pokemon did." That got Ash's attention.

'It must be totaled in there!' Ash thought to himself. Ash didn't have time 
to check it out, he had cadet training. Ash didn't notice that anyone was 
tagging along when Pikachu
jumped on his shoulder.

"Pika-chu!" Pikachu scowled and nudged Ash. Ash wondered what Pikachu nudged 
him about when he saw someone coming up the driveway. It was Ken!

"Ash!" Ken was once again tearing up the driveway on his bike. "Ash, 
youwon'tbelievewhathappenedtoday" Ken went silent when he noticed Pikachu. 
"A Pokemon?!?" Ash smiled at Ken's amazement.

"Yep, Pikachu, meet Ken. Pikachu was my starter pokemon when I went on a 
pokemon journey." Pikachu warily let Ken scratch behind an ear.

"He's magnificent! I don't think I've seen a healthier pokemon before," Ken 
said eyeing Pikachu.

"Chu!" Pikachu complained when Ken stopped scratching. Ken's mood went from 
amazed back to excited.

"Ash you won't believe who I ran into today! I came to warn you." Ash sweat 
dropped at Ken's smile. "Sasha's back in town." Ash froze. Pikachu had seen 
Ash nervous before but not like this. Ash had gone pale, he immediately 
began to sweat and he began to stutter.

"Y-y-you're k-kidding right?" Ash asked in a small voice. When Ken shook his 
head, Ash visibly paled again.

"Pikachu? Pikapi?" Pikachu waved a hand in Ash's face to see what was wrong.

*****

"Come on, it's not like I'm going to hurt you or anything," yelled a little 
girl underneath a huge tree. There was a pause. The green haired, 
violet-eyed girl simply leaned against the tree and smiled when she heard a 
whimper. "You know, one of these days I'm going to come up there after you."

"You wouldn't dare!" squeaked a voice in the treetop. Ash peered through the 
braches to see her smiling up at him.

"Oh yes I would," Sasha replied. Ever since Ash had gone to a birthday party 
for Sheri, Sasha was following him around and thoroughly embarrassing him. 
The only escape was to climb a tree.

"Why don't you just leave me alone?" Ash whimpered. Ash couldn't understand 
why she wanted to do all those things to him. It just didn't make sense that 
she wanted to hold his hand and kiss him all the time. What did he ever do 
to her!?!

"Because I still want that little kiss Little A," Sasha replied. Ash began 
to get comfortable; he was going to have to wait her out. An hour passed, 
then another hour, then on the third hour, Ash heard his father calling to 
him.

"Ashura!" Mark was calling from the flower shop. Ash began to climb down the 
tree.

"Coming!" Ash called back. About two branches from the ground, Ash looked 
around for Sasha. Ash didn't see her around the base of the tree or in the 
bushes nearby.

"Ashura!" Mark called again, closer this time.

'Dad must be in a hurry, he's coming to look for me,' Ash thought as he 
climbed down to the last branch.

"Over here!" Ash called out. As Ash jumped down onto the grass, he was 
tackled from the side. "What? Sasha!?!"

'What did my son do now?' Mark thought in a groan. Mark expected the two to 
start fighting when Mark saw the unexpected; the girl was kissing his son! 
The kiss lasted for about three seconds before Ash struggled. Ash rolled out 
from under the green haired girl in a jean dress and went up the tree. Mark 
had to struggle not to laugh.

"Come on Ash! That wasn't much of a kiss," the girl begged up to Ash in the 
tree.

"Go away!" Ash growled in the treetops.  Mark had to really, REALLY struggle 
not to laugh. It was the most humorous sight Mark had ever seen! The girl 
had a large crush on Ash and Ash didn't know what to do so, to get away from 
her, he climbed trees! Mark regained his composure and called his son again.

"Ashura!" Mark called out, pretending to be annoyed. The girl quickly turned 
towards the voice and saw the most handsome man she had ever seen. Ash 
hearing his father's voice, decided that maybe his father would save him.

"Dad, over here!" Ash yelled. Sasha looked at Mark and then back to Ash.

"Excuse me, but have you seen my son, Ash?" Mark asked the girl. Sasha 
smiled knowingly and nodded. "Where is he then?" Mark asked. Sasha pointed 
up into the tree and saw Ash's red face and smiled "What're you doing up 
there boy? Come down and say goodbye to your little friend here, so we can 
go."

"I'd rather say goodbye from a safe distance," Ash mumbled. Ash began the 
long climb down reluctantly when his father got an idea. Before Ash could 
jump off the last branch his father went under him.

"Climb on sport. I'll give you a ride home." Ash eagerly climbed onto Mark's 
back. Ash quickly said his goodbye and was carried off by his dad.

'If that is what Ash is going to look like when he gets older, he's mine!' 
Sasha thought after Ash had left. Sasha began to plot how to get Ash's 
affections when they both got older. The chasing of Ash didn't stop until 
she left for the summer and returned in the winter. Then it came to an 
abrupt halt when Ash moved. Sasha was heartbroken.

*****

After successfully sneaking around town, Ash and Pikachu found their way to 
the training center.

"Pika-chu. Pikachu pika chu pika kachu." Pikachu didn't see why they had to 
sneak around like thieves.

"I know, but believe me, this is necessary!" Ash walked into the cadet 
training area to see Officer Jenny…alone?

'That's odd, where's everyone else?' Ash walked up to Officer Jenny. She 
seemed surprised to see Ash.

"Ash, what are you doing here? Graduation is two days away, you don't have 
to be here," Officer Jenny stated as soon as Ash was in range. Then Officer 
Jenny noticed Pikachu. "What?"

'Here we go again.' Ash made introductions, needless to say, Officer Jenny 
was impressed.

"I was just going to do a few laps around the track with Silvermane today 
anyway. I have company at home and…what's the matter?" Ash got worried when 
her features suddenly turned dark.

"I don't know how to tell you this. Once the graduation ceremony is over, 
Silvermane will be assigned a post with an officer of the law." The world 
around Ash seemed to crumble.

"What?" Ash asked quietly.

"I said…" Officer Jenny began to say. Ash interrupted her.

"I know what you said, it's just that … I wasn't expecting this. I thought 
that the pokemon stayed with the cadets that trained them."

"They do normally, because the cadets go right into an Officer job." Officer 
Jenny paused. "You're not going into an Officer job are you?" When Ash 
nodded, Officer Jenny's stomach did a flip-flop. "But, why? You're the best 
cadet I've seen in a long time!"

"I'm a pokemon trainer," Ash said interrupting Officer Jenny. "Not a cadet." 
Officer Jenny stood there dumbstruck. For some time now she had known Ash 
was different, from the start to the finish Ash was a cut above the rest of 
the cadets. "Even though it seems that I do both jobs at the same time." 
Officer Jenny was interested for a moment.

"What do you mean by that?" Officer Jenny asked, curious. Ash scratched 
Pikachu's chin while he answered the blue haired cop.

"Before I even came here three months ago, I was constantly fighting team 
rocket. For some reason they want Pikachu here and they wouldn't leave me 
alone. So, when going on pokemon journeys I would have to fight team rocket 
off too." Officer Jenny was struck with an idea.

"Ash, how long are you sticking planning around here for?" If he would just 
stay in town until graduation, it would be perfect.

"Until I can convince my dad to let me go on a pokemon journey. It was 
interrupted when dad came and got me. So I'll be here for a while longer."

'Great! Now if I can just get all the other Officers to agree to this…' 
Officer Jenny was called on the radio by her deputy and had to run. Ash, 
excluding Pikachu, was left by himself, in the training center.

"Pikachu, Pikapi?" Pikachu jumped down from Ash's shoulder and pointed at 
the disassembled equipment.

"No Pikachu, I don't think we're allowed to use the cadet training gear. I 
guess I'm officially done cadet training. Too bad, I would've liked for you 
to meet Silvermane." Ash choked on his pokemon partner's mane. Pikachu 
sensed his trainer's grief and let himself be taken up in Ash's arms. The 
full shock that Ash had lost a friend finally hit Ash.

"Pikapi." Pikachu comforted Ash by licking his tears away. After a while, 
Ash wandered out of the cadet-training center with Pikachu in tow. To Ash's 
surprise, Ken was waiting outside for him.

"Got bored already? I thought you might get bored with no one watching you. 
What?" Ken asked innocently. Ash had given him an if-looks-could-kill glare.

"Are you implying I'm egotistical? If you are, I will have to kill you." Ash 
gave Ken a wink. "Just on general principle."

"Hah! You wish, Ashy-boy." Ken held up a ten spot and smiled. "Want to help 
me spend my allowance? I just got it yesterday." Pikachu gave another 
perplexed look at Ken.

"As long as I get to chose what I order," Ash said with a snicker. Ash 
remembered the last time Ken splurged with his allowance. Ash had a 
bellyache for three days! Ken laughed and slapped Ash's shoulder.

"Pika chuu!" Pikachu gave Ken a jolt of electricity for nearly knocking him 
off of Ash.

"Pikachu! Ken's a friend! Sorry about that Ken." Ash helped a smoldering Ken 
up off the ground. Ken let out a puff of smoke and moaned.

"Yep, really strong and healthy. I don't' believe that Pikachu is yours Ash, 
I mean with your father and all," Ken said as the pair walked to Candy's.

"Pikachu was my starter pokemon. Oh!" Ash suddenly remembered all of his 
other pokemon pals in his bag. "I have other pokemon, would you like to meet 
them?" Ash asked.

"Maybe later. Right now, I'm more interested in a double coca shake and…" 
Ken gave Ash a knowing look.

"Double cheeseburgers!" Ken and Ash said in unison.

"Pika!" Pikachu growled. Ash sweat dropped and sighed.

"We're going to have to add a bottle of ketchup for Pikachu here." Ash 
turned the corner and crashed into something, or rather someone. "Oh! I'm 
sorry," Ash apologized before he saw the violet eyes.

"No, it was my fau-" Sasha stopped mid-sentence. Brown eyes, black hair, and 
zigzag birthmarks. "Ash!" Sasha squealed. Ash shoved Pikachu to Ken and ran.

"I'll find you guys later!" Ash yelled as he ran down the street. Sasha got 
over he apparent shock and charged after him.

"Get back here, Ketchum!" Sasha yelled at Ash.

Pikachu was left with a giggling Ken. Pikachu gave Ken a questioning look 
that Ken understood.

"That, my little furry friend, was Sasha Ennean, the number one hopeful to 
become Mrs. Ash Ketchum." Pikachu lost his balance on Ken's forearm and fell 
over.

"Pika!?!" Ken leaned against the wall and began to laugh hard at Pikachu's 
reaction.

"T-th-the pooor guy!" Ken puffed. "S-sh-s-she's been chasing him f-for 
years.!" Ken had tears streaming down his cheeks. "Sasha has had a crush on 
Ash ever since she met him," Ken explained.

"Pikapi?!" Pikachu asked, disbelief written across his face. Ken began to 
walk towards the candy shop.

"Never left him alone after that. Sasha is determined to get a piece of Ash 
had well…Ash doesn't want to be caught." Ken walked into the shop and was 
the immediate center of attention. It was rush hour and everyone was sitting 
down to eat. Ken spotted the little society with open mouths and headed 
towards the table.

"Ken, where did you get a Pikachu?" asked Sheri as soon as Ken was within 
earshot. "I didn't think you were interested in pokemon training." Ken 
didn't answer Sheri's query.

"Hey Candy, would you mind if I unlocked the back door?" Candy gave Ken a 
suspicious look.

"Why?"

"I'm expecting some company." Everyone at the table stood up. Ken was 
surrounded in a heartbeat.

'Uh-oh.' Ken thought once the questions started. 'Sorry Ash.'

Meanwhile.

"I'm going to-to flatten him with my mallet! I'll knock him into next week 
after I've turned him upside down and shaken enough money for my bike out of 
his pockets," Misty fumed. Togepi was in her arms, giggling at the new 
sights.

"Simmer down Misty," Brock said soothingly. Misty was angry with Ash because 
of the breakfast that morning and the fact he left them behind again. "I'm 
sure he'll show up sooner or la-" Brock was cut off by a blur zooming in 
front of them. Then Brock recalled another voice distinctly saying…

"Get back here Ketchum!" Sasha was in hot pursuit of the boy she hadn't seen 
in years when a foot suddenly shot out in her path. "Whoa" Sasha tripped and 
crashed into a garbage can. When Sasha jumped up to see a girl with flaming 
red hair, holding a strange pokemon and an older guy with squinty eyes and 
black hair. "What's the big idea?" Sasha growled. The red head spoke.

"What were you doing chasing after Ash like that?" Misty demanded, very 
annoyed. Sasha brushed herself off and fixed her hair.

"I don't think we've met. I'm Sasha." Sasha flipped here hair nonchalantly. 
"And I don't think it's any of your business why I'm chasing him." Sasha 
turned around to see no sign of Ash. "Excuse me." After she was out of sight 
Misty began to fume.

"Pssst!" Brock and Misty heard the distinct whisper of someone trying to get 
their attention. A face popped out from around a corner behind them and 
whispered, "Is she gone?"

"What in the world are you doing Ash?" Misty asked once Ash had joined them. 
Misty's face turned a little red when she asked the next question. "And who 
was that?" Ash shuddered as if cold and shook his head.

"Don't ask. There's a candy and sweet shop about three blocks down and two 
blocks to the right. I'll meet you guys there." Ash turned away and ran down 
the alley.

"What do you think that was all about?" Brock asked Misty. Misty stared 
blankly at where Ash had disappeared.

"I have not a clue," Misty said in a groan. "But why do I feel we're about 
to find out?" When Brock and Misty entered the sweet shop Ahs had told them 
about, it went dead silent. There was an uncomfortable pause for Brock and 
Misty as they entered and sat down on stools.

"Pika!" Pikachu suddenly bounded out of nowhere and sat on the stool next to 
Misty.

"Hi! You must be friends of Ash's." Misty and Brock focused their attention 
on the boy that had approached them. "I'm Ken, one of Ash's friends here."

"Hello." Brock greeted Ken uncertainly. Misty studied Ken's clothing. It was 
amazing how close it was to Ash's own; dark blue jeans, sneakers, a dark 
green t-shirt, a red and white jacket, and to top it all off, a black hat.

"My friends and I were wondering if you would like to join us." Ken put on a 
very wicked grin. "It would be great to know what little A has been up to 
for the last few years." Brock and Misty gave each other a glance.

'Little A?' They both thought at the same time. Misty and Brock shuffled 
over to the table and began to tell their stories of how the met Ash. A 
while later…

'That was close,' Ash thought as he slipped in the back way of the sweet 
shop. "Sasha and the terrible trio! What a day," Ash moaned. There was a 
round of laughter that sparked Ash's interest from the lounge. Ash snuck 
into the lounge and all his attention was on the little society's table.

"Then there was that time when Ash got dressed up as a Mt. Mime," Brock was 
saying with tears in his eyes.

"We were helping out a circus leader by trying to make a real Mr. Mime 
jealous," Misty added. "Oh, you wouldn't believe the time it took to 
convince Ash to get into that costume."

"Was he convincing?" Gizmo asked, interested. Brock and Misty roared in 
laughter.

"Convincing? Ash was more than convincing! He was stolen by Jessie, James 
and Meowth!" Another roar of laughter echoed in the building.

"That's almost as funny as Ash's garbage drop!" laughed Robert. Misty and 
Brock leaned in to hear the story when Ash interrupted.

"What's almost as funny as my garbage drop?" Ash asked suddenly. The whole 
room seemed to jump.

"Pikapi!" Pikachu ran up to Ash and jumped on his shoulders. Pikachu gave 
Ash a pat on his eat and smiled. The room was dead silent.

"Yesh! You'd think that someone had just died in here," Ash said jokingly.

"Someone is about to die. You!" Ash's face went blue in fear when he was 
Sheri moving towards him.

"Uh, hi Sheri." Ash said, his voice quivering. Sheri stopped, getting in his 
personal space.

"Don't you 'Hi Sheri' me you idiot. If you were back in town three months 
ago, why didn't you phone me? Or stop by to see the gang? Or at least let 
your presence be known!?!" Ash was backed up into the counter and let out a 
nervous laugh.

"Well, I've kinda been busy," Ash said nervously. "And dad has me on a 
curfew," he added when flames seemed to appear miraculously behind her.

"What did you do now?" Sheri growled. Ash was relieved that she calmed down 
after the curfew explanation.

"Pika- chu" Ash saw the sparks coming out of Pikachu's cheeks and clamped a 
hand over his mouth. Ash was fried. A few minutes later a smoldering Ash sat 
down at a table. Gizmo didn't know if it really was Ash or not so he divided 
to test him.

"Arboc, Spinerack, Hitmonlee?" Gizmo said right out of the blue. The replied 
answer was instantaneous and correct.

"Geodude, Ivysaur, Zapdos, Moltres, Omanite. Golduck?" The entire store was 
confused.

"Golduck!" Gizmo stated, teary eyed. "It really is you! I've missed you so 
much little A." Ash's smile warmed everyone's heart.

"I've missed you guys too. I have so much to tell you guys. I don't know 
where to begin." Ken gave Ash a wink.

"Just start from the beginning," Ken said simply. The crowd left the table 
as Ash began to recite the same conversation he had with his father not too 
long ago. Misty and Brock added their two cents in now and the. When Ash was 
done Misty and Brock gave him an unbelieving look.

"You aren't done yet Ash. You still haven't told them about your adventures 
with
Lu-phia?" Ash shoved a bread stick into her mouth before she could say 
another word.

"I would love to stay and chat but we've really got to go. Curfew's still in 
effect you know." Ash shushed Misty and Brock out of the door. Once they got 
outside, Misty jumped down Ash's throat.

"What did you do that for!?! U almost suffocated! Next time I'll bite your 
hand!"

"Calm down," Ash said in a soothing tone. "I just didn't want them to know 
about my adventures with the legendary pokemon."

"Why not?" Brock asked. Ash looked around just in case someone was within 
earshot. Ash's tome changed from normal to ultra serious.

"I'm already the official town super boy. I don't want to add to it." Misty 
and Brock gave the glance to each other and laughed. Hard. "I'm serious!" 
Ash growled.

"That's not the Ash I know," Misty giggled. Ash began to turn red.

"The Ash we know wouldn't hesitate for a second to tell someone about his 
adventures. Especially to show off his training skills," added Brock. Ash 
had steam drifting off of his head.

"Pi-ka, pi Pikachu," Pikachu agreed. Ash went totally silent.

"I'm not the Ash you knew anymore," Ash said darkly. Ash turned and ran down 
the street, not caring who saw him.

Disclaimer: Yah yah