Unexpected Twist
Okay, this must look like completely madness for my Dragon Ball fans. But to be honest, I've been watching and reading a lot of Pokemon recently so I just felt the need to go for it. It's not that I don't like Pokemon, I just have oftenly preferred Dragon Ball over other Mangas/Animes/Games/etcs.
Anyhow, for anyone interested in what's to come in here, we start just in the Orange Archipelago arc but Ash isn't heading for the League or because Professor Oak sent him to retrieve the GS Ball. He went there to train on his own and be ready for the Silver Conference in Johto. However, he will find some help he really didn't expect. Not that he will complain, now or later.
Ash is older here, fifteen at the time (he started his journey at fourteen because that's the legal age in the Kanto region) and does take things a bit more seriously after losing the League in Kanto. He trains physically regularly and will develop Aura power later on. His Pokemon will become stronger, learn new moves and he will also catch new ones. Specially some unexpected Legendaries that we all want to read about (Not all of them but I already have four Pokemon ready to go). He will also go through Johto on his own or with temporal people, don't know yet, and he will strategise before a Gym battle.
Pairings, well it's in the story' summary, isn't it? And it's rated M, you know why? What can I say? Lorelei was one of the hottest chicks in the series. The fact she was one of the few real bosom girls made it all the better for me.
Notes before reading: Pokemon Attacks and Abilities will be on Bold letters. Italics are for mind thoughts or Pokemon talking (Another topic for the following chapters thanks to Ash's Aura powers).
Now, let's enjoy this brand new story!
Chapter 1: A Day Like No Other
The ship sailed through the peaceful sea passing through the constant flowing waves before reaching the main harbor of Mandarin Island, one of the biggest of the archipelago located near the region of Kanto. Wild water creatures called Pokemon passed next to the boats, some inspecting the giant objects with curiosity, others just ignoring them and swimming forward without another glance back.
A young teenage boy with raven dark hair walked into port smiling to the new place he was visiting called Mandarin Island. He was dressed in a blue jacket a black t-shirt underneath, a red cap on his head and light blue trousers. His name was Ash Ketchum, a young boy and Pokemon trainer from Pallet Town, whose goal was to become a Pokemon Master.
There was a yellow rodent-like animal standing on Ash' shoulder with red spots on his cheeks and brown stripes on his back with a lightning-shaped tail. His name was Pikachu and had been alongside his trainer since the first day. They hadn't started their partnership well at all, but after so many battles and adventures together the two had became inseparable friends.
"Okay buddy, are you ready for some serious training?" The young trainer asked his yellow companion. The small rodent cheered happily towards his trainer. Ash smiled by his starter's enthusiasm. They had traveled all the way from Pallet Town to this region near Kanto so to properly train themselves. The Silver Conference circuit in Johto was only two months away and the teenager wanted to be properly ready to fight against experienced trainers and gym leaders. His failure at the Indigo League just three months ago had been the wake-up called he needed to speed up his training.
Granted, his lost was due to his own Pokemon not listening to him but a lost was still a lost. And now it was time to turn things up a notch for good. Many of the gym badges he got had been mostly by doing something that wasn't closely related to battling.
The young Pokemon Master was already walking away from the harbour, when a crowd of people, most of them teenagers of his own age almost run over him when they run towards port. Ash had to hastily get away from the mob of apparent crazy fans before they had trampled him. The crowd gathered around the port waiting for an incoming yacht. One which looked really luxurious.
Ash managed to look at who the people were cheering for. And he was left quite speechless. It was a tall beautiful woman in black two-inch high heels. The young trainer would say she was in her mid twenties at the least. Her crimson hair hanged from her back tied in a ponytail, a pair of glasses only engorging her pretty shinning sea blue eyes. She had a dark blue jacket and a red blouse beneath that showcased a lot more cleavage that Ash would have first thought possible. Her legs had a black skirt only reaching to her delicious middle thigh. The rookie trainer couldn't help but ogle a bit at her breath-taking beauty. Good thing he wasn't in the middle of the crowd. Otherwise, someone could have spotted him drooling a bit.
"We love you, Lorelei!" Some fans enchanted towards the apparent famous woman with signboards raised. Now Ash could read what they said. 'Elite Kanto Four'. Ash's eyes almost escaped his sockets. Literally, one of the four best trainers of his birth region was standing just a couple of meters away from him saluting towards a crowd without appearing shallow or mean. That was a quality Ash appreciated. Many trainers reached fame and suddenly turned into bloated-headed assholes. He prayed to the high and mighty Arceus that he never turned him into another Gary Oak. That guy had the bloated head trophy for himself.
"Wow, one of the Elite Four. Can you imagine fighting her, buddy?" The trainer from Pallet Town asked with enthusiasm towards his yellow starter, who looked at the red-haired trainer with curiosity. Ash then chuckled slightly to himself. "She would definitely destroy me in a heart beat." Ash joked. Normally he would have gone straight through the crowd just to get a fight out from the beautiful and much-more experienced trainer without a second glance back. But after losing in the Indigo League, the trainer knew he had to be more level-headed and not act without thinking. That had given him troubles before. Like a lot more times that he would have liked to admit.
The trainer shook his head out of that topic.
"Enough self pity Ketchum, you came here to train." The blue-dressed trainer thought getting his mind back on the game. The teenager walked away from the enchanting crowd and shot two red-and-white Pokeballs from his waist. They opened and revealed two of his Pokemon. One was a blue-scaled red-shelled turtle called Squirtle. The other was a light-green black-spotted quadruped creature with a green bulb on its back. His name was Bulbasaur. The two Pokemon looked at their trainer with expectations. Ash knelt in front of his Grass and Water Pokemon.
"Okay guys. We came here to train. We can't slack one minute if we want to reach the Silver Conference. It's going to take a lot of hard work, but we have always gotten through anything and this is no different!" Ash explained towards his small-sized Pokemons their attention on him "Now, let's start our training and show everyone who is the best!" The three Pokemon cheered for their trainer, the three little animals already running to the nearby training grounds ready to prove their worth.
Ash smiled weakly, looking at his last attached Pokeball. While he would have liked Charizard to be a part of the team, it was plain obvious his Fire Pokemon didn't want anything to do with him. The fact that a member of his family hated him hurted more than losing any League.
While Ash didn't notice, a particular trainer did heard his speech. And it was quite a motivation she had never heard before from such a young trainer. That piked her interest a lot.
A couple of hours later and after some jogging around the city, the Pokemon trainer from Pallet Town watched his Pokemon train over a stone battlefield, now only wearing his black shirt and sweating a bit after the work-out. As a future Master, the young Ketchum knew that keeping not only his Pokemon but one self in shape was necessary. Pikachu was jumping from one stone to the other, keeping balance with each bounce and never loosing his stance. Squirtle was hardening his Head butt attack, banging his head against a giant boulder. And the boulder was slowly showing cracks on its surface. Bulbasaur was getting stronger, lifting a stone five times his size with his Vine Whips, lashing from one place to the other to gain physical strength on his extra limbs.
"Okay guys, I want to see how you do on your own," The trainer stated his team stopping and gathering around him. "Squirtle, you go first," The turtle Pokemon stepped forward ready for action. The Water turtle stared at the rock-filled arena "Start with Water Gun!" The Pokemon unleashed a powerful torrent of water from his mouth, hitting one of the biggest rocks of the training field and amazingly pushing it back a couple of feet by the concentrated pressure "Now Bubble Beam!" The water was replaced by a stream of bright bubbles. The attack left indentations in the boulder' surface "Finish with Rapid Spin!" The Water-Type Pokemon went inside his shell and started spinning like a rapid Frisbee through the air heading into the boulder, which finally shattered into rubble. The Water-type starter from Kanto panted slightly but gave his trainer a thumb up.
"Amazing job Squirtle," Ash patted his Pokemon's head affectionately "Now take a nice rest." The Water Pokemon returned to his ball.
"Bulbasaur, you are up!" Ash stated, his Grass/Poison Pokemon also ready to go. Instead of the arena though, Ash turned to the nearby forest "Start things with Poison Powder on the plants," The starter unleashed a purple mist from his bulb, the plants slowly decaying by the venomous effect.
"Now, Bulbasaur use Razor Leaf on that tree!" The trainer ordered, his Grass starter Pokemon unleashing a barrage of sharp leafs towards a nearby tree. It left cuts on its trunk. They weren't too deep but they would have been painful on another Pokemon or a human.
"Okay Bulbasaur, finish with Solar Beam!" Ash ordered, Bulbasaur charging energy from the yellow star on the bulb of his back. After minutes, the powerful white beam fired off, the explosion a bright white color that outright destroyed two trees into cinder.
"Nice job Bulbasaur, you have more than enough power. But the attack still takes a lot of time to charge, though" The young trainer pondered. Maybe he could teach Bulbasaur Sunny Day. That would make Solar Beam charge in one turn alone. He recalled the Grass/Poison Pokemon for a nice rest. Ash then turned to his Electric starter.
"Now, Pikachu use Agility!" Ash ordered testing his starter' speed. Pikachu started sprinting, becoming a yellow streak by his increased velocity running wild over the place. Ash smiled "Now go faster with Quick Attack!" the enhanced-speed Pokemon attacked through the training field even faster, zigzagging all over the area in seconds. The trainer smiled, Pikachu was doing great "Now Thunder Shock!" Pikachu halted his tracks and surrounded himself in a yellow electricity produced from his cheeks, unleashing the paralysing technique "And Thunderbolt!" The small mouse unleashed a stronger voltaic discharge over the field, illuminating the place with a yellow hue for a couple of seconds. The small mouse Pokemon cheered happily and jumped to his trainer' shoulders. Ash rubbed his starter's head.
Ash had to give it to Pikachu, all of his moves were more than perfect. But aside from knowing helpful Normal and Electric moves, his starter would still be at a complete disadvantage against Ground types. Not that other Electric Pokemon were different from Pikachu but the fact was still there.
So far his three Pokemon were really powerful. Ash had wanted to bring some of other Pokemon to help him a bit. But Muk was just too comfortable in the lab so he couldn't really bring himself to take him away. And his overbearing personality was something Ash could do without. Pidgeot had to remain in Viridian Forest to take care of a flock of Pidgeys and protect them from Fearrows. And Ash didn't know how to properly train thirty Tauros. If he could have had the chance, the teenager would have traded a few of them. So Ash had decided to train the team he currently had as good as he could. And obviously catch any new Pokemon he were to find.
"That was an impressive display, young man." A sweat female voice said towards Ash, who turned his head around in surprise by the unexpected visit. His eyes widened, when he saw the Elite-level trainer Lorelei standing there in her full beautiful splendor looking back at him. He was lost at words in what to say back.
"Oh, um, thanks?" The younger trainer replied uncertain and with an obvious blush on his face. Now face to face, Ash could see he only reached up to her collarbone. That meant he had the trainer's bosom right in the front eye. The teenager avoided that particular area for the time being because he didn't want to start making things uncomfortable for the two of them. "You are Lorelei, right?"
"That's right. I'm sorry, I didn't get your name." Lorelei politely asked. The kid obviously knew about her but wasn't overreacting or fanboying like a lot of people did. That only amplified her interest a bit more.
"I'm Ash Ketchum, from Pallet Town." The youngster introduced himself to his trainer superior. "And he's my friend Pikachu." The Electric type exclaimed his name happily. Lorelei smiled. There were very few trainers, who properly cared for their Pokemon. A true bond was what allowed both Pokemon and trainer to reach into their full potential. And Ash was one of those exceptions she was looking for.
"I see your Pokemon are all nicely trained." The Elite trainer stated rubbing Pikachu's head. The small rodent nuzzled under the soft touch of the lady.
"I do my best to keep them sharp. I want to participate on the Silver Conference of Johto in a couple of months." Ash replied with great enthusiasm, pumping his fist. Pikachu looked as enthusiastic as his trainer.
"You are quite determined to that goal, aren't you?" The red-haired beauty asked, not accusing bur more like stating a fact that would eventually happen. Ash nodded affirmatively.
"I ended up in the sixteen best in the Indigo League in Kanto, but I lost to a friend when my Charizard refused to fight." The trainer from Pallet Town explained, a bit crestfallen. His fight with Ritchie had been his last one. It wasn't because of his trainer friend. His own Charizard had just refused to listen to him for a reason.
"Didn't you know that your Pokemon have quite the abilities?" Lorelei casually asked towards the young trainer earning a bewildered look from Ash.
"Really? How can you tell?" The teenager asked completely curious.
"For starters, Pikachus can learn some special attacks to fight Ground types. And Bulbasaur and Squirtle can also be taught more powerful moves. And for what you just told me, your Charizard has some... control issues," Ash rubbed his head sheepishly by that statement. "But if you can properly train him, then trust me, he will become a very powerful asset."
"Wow, thanks for the confident speech." The teenager stated now a bit cheered up and slightly blushed.
"You are more than welcome." The Elite trainer replied with a teasing wink. Then an idea came to her. A crazy one but if this kid was anything to go by, then she better took the claim first.
"Tell me Ash, do you have a place to stay?" Lorelei asked curious.
"I was planning to stay in the Pokemon Center for a couple of weeks and use the grounds for training," The raven-haired trainer answered, taking out his Pokedex and check if there were any moves for his Pokemon to learn in the following day. He had to only thank Professor Oak for giving the teenager a crash course to properly use the electronic device that scanned Pokemon. "Maybe I can get to teach my Pokemon new techniques like you said." The male trainer felt a hand on his shoulder while he inspected the Poke device.
"Then how about you come and stay with me?" Lorelei asked, her tone serious. Ash halted his search right away, his eyes drifting up to meet the mature trainer. Somehow, he knew she was telling the truth and wasn't trying to play him for a fool. Like if an inner energy could detect the woman's emotions and intentions towards him.
"Really? Why?" The raven-haired trainer asked completely out of the loop in why Lorelei, one of the Elite Four of Kanto, wanted him to stay with her. He wasn't complaining but it sounded a bit suspicious. He knew that even if a gift was awesome, it could always be waiting to blow up on his face.
"Unlike some of the disappointing trainers I had to face in my life, you seem to have far more potential than any other," The beautiful red-haired trainer explained. She saw that Ash was paying attention to nothing but her so she wasn't going to waste her chance. "That's why I want to teach you." The ensuing silent could have been cut with a blunt knife.
"You...want...to teach me?" Ash stammered in stupor. Maybe he had just had a stroke for certain. Because one of the Elite Four of Kanto had just offered to train him. He looked completely gobsmacked and also thrilled by the enticing prospect. He would learn a lot of moves and maybe see some rare Pokemon from the other five regions. While he had first thought that Unova was the last known region with an official League circuit, Professor Oak had informed him about another regions called Kalos and Alola, which expanded the Pokemon list quite a bit more. And also added more Pokemon for him to catch.
"That's right," The professional trainer stated. However, she continued. "Although, I have a condition." The young trainer didn't care whatever could be at this point.
"If I have to make you dinner, I'll do so," The young trainer quickly said amazingly not tripping his tongue in the way "My friend Brock taught me a lot about cooking and Pokemon food." As Ash knew that his friend would be returning to his Gym duties, then he had Brock taught him as many things as possible about cooking for oneself and for Pokemon. And how to add the unique berries that grew in the wilderness.
"The sentiment is appreciated but that wasn't my point, cutie," Lorelei replied with a playful smile by the youngster's enthusiasm. The last word did the job of blushing Ash and shut him for a couple of seconds. "I just want to tell you that you are my first student ever," Ash rose his eyebrows. "Sounds weird, but there haven't been so many promises like you," She got slightly closer to her new pupil. But Ash now didn't back down now. Something Lorelei was already coming to admire. "So when they are literally, right at my door, then it's better to take them when they are still green." The young trainer rose an eyebrow.
"That would be an insult, but considering you are right, I'll let slide for now." Ash joked back a bit.
"What do you say?" Lorelei asked, maybe sounding a bit more eager than she would have liked. In full honesty, Ash looked more than capable of winning the Indigo League. That and any other league he could came across in his life. He just needed a little push in the right direction and she could be the perfect pusher for him. The fact he was cute and easy in the eyes also added some points to Ash's advantage. She had met her fair share of muscle-heads without an ounce of tact, or snobs that thought themselves as Elites trainers like herself.
The Ice Mistress hadn't been chosen as an Elite because she thought herself better than other trainers. She was one because she knew that someone could eventually be better than her.
"Yes!" Ash responded his smile almost beaming. Lorelei tried not to smile like her now new young companion. But after two seconds of silence, a sudden tune started playing around the two trainers.
"Wait, do you hear that?" The elite trainer asked, looking around for that music. Ash recognized it right away.
"Oh, for Arceus' sake!" The young trainer cursed, already too familiar with the damn music and the now floating Meowth-shaped balloon above them. After the tedious introduction anthem, the two trainers from Kanto could see the crimson-haired Jessie and the blue-haired James along with their Pokemon friend, a talking Meowth. The three were members of Team Rocket, an organisation that stole Pokemon for experiments or money. Problem was, these three were a lost cause because they had lost every time they'd tried to take his Pikachu away.
"Did that Meowth just talk?" The red-haired beauty asked in confusion towards Ash.
"Creepy at first, trust me." Ash answered though Lorelei didn't know if he was joking or not.
"Okay twerp, you know the drill. Hand over Pikachu and we won't hurt you... a lot" The purple-haired Jessie taunted, unleashing her Pokeball and her poisonous snake-like purple-scaled Arbok. Next to her James discovered his dual-headed smoke-releasing Weezing. Ash wasn't backing down from them any time soon. He never did before.
"Okay, Pikachu let's get them!" Ash exclaimed, his starter showing some sparks on his cheeks ready to beat some asses. But a hand on the teenager' shoulders stopped him.
"Actually, Ash, let me try it." The young trainer wanted to answer back but he instead kept silent. Maybe he could already learn a couple of things by watching Lorelei's fighting style. The Ice Mistress stepped forward bold like no one Ash had seen before. The way she carried herself told Ash she wasn't kidding.
"Let's go Dewgong!" The Elite fighter shot her Pokeball and revealed her fully-evolved Ice/Water Pokemon. It was a white seal with a horn on its forehead.
"Dewgong, use Signal Beam!" The white Pokemon unleashed a flashing beam of energy, causing Ash to cover his face. The attack had made the two poison Pokemon sway from side to side. The attack had confused them. Lorelei smiled. The battle was long over for them "Now Aqua Tail!" Dewgong's tail was covered in blue water and he lashed at full strength, sending the two Pokemon back to their trainers completely knocked out by Dewgong' superior strength.
"Pull back, people!" The talking Meowth yelled, trying to make the balloon fly away. Problem was, it was a balloon. Lorelei would have face-palmed but the idiots weren't worth a facepalm.
"Dewgong, freeze them in place with Ice Beam!" The Elite lady ordered one last move. The Pokemon unleashed a light-blue arc of power from his mouth, the freezing blast covering the Rocket-themed opponents inside an ice casket. They looked like living statues inside the freezing element.
The red-haired expert patted her Dewgong in the head before returning him to his ball after a quick job. The young trainer and his Pikachu were left gobsmacked once again. The fight had been one-sided and yet it gave Ash a small glimpse of what Lorelei truly was. Hell, Dewgong wasn't even out of breath after using three powerful attacks on a row. Lorelei was indeed an Elite, no doubt about that.
"Wow, that was just... wow." Ash commented speechless and mouth-agape towards Lorelei, who smiled by the praise. It wasn't the first time she left someone aghast by her performance. But this was the first time she enjoyed herself in doing so.
"I'll take that as a compliment." The red-haired beauty joked, playfully touching Ash's chin and closing his mouth. The teenager went red in the face by the action. And the fact Lorelei was smirking back at him only made things a bit more tense for him.
"But seriously, who are those losers?" The red-haired trainer asked, derogatorily pointing at the frozen enemies. The weather was slightly cloudy so they weren't going to get out off that frozen prison anytime soon.
"They call themselves Team Rocket," Ash responded towards his new teacher, his mood no longer cheerful or enthusiastic anymore. "They usually steal Pokemon, both in the wild or from trainers." The answer angered the Elite trainer beyond belief.
"What?!" Lorelei snapped in anger, her normally peaceful blue eyes now with an icy shade of wrath through her lenses. Ash looked a bit fearful for his life but couldn't deny she looked quite pretty. If it was even more possible than she already was. The Ice trainer sighed and calmed herself "I'm sorry, Ash. I didn't want snap at you. It's just that I hate when someone mistreats Pokemon!" Ash smiled to himself. His first impression was right. The woman could be gorgeous but she wasn't shallow. If maybe a little, but again, who was perfect? He wasn't for sure.
"You and me both." The teenager said with a nod. If Ash hated something was bullies to people and Pokemon. Living with Gary all of his childhood gave him a crystal-clear picture of who fell in that definition.
"Let's head to my home. I'll call Officer Jenny so she can take those idiots into custody." The beautiful trainer offered.
"Sounds like a perfect plan to me." Ash smiled, earning a smile from Lorelei. After a quick walk through the wild forest with only the two of them as company, the trainers finally walked into a glade, a house standing in the middle. It easily had two or three floors decorated with a snowy-white color and many Pokemon statues around. It could have been a bit cliche considering who the owner of the house was.
"You live hear?" Ash asked stunned. Pikachu jumped from his shoulder and started running around the grassy fields having fun by chasing a few wild Oddishs and Bellosoms, who were sunbathing until the electric type showed up.
"At least when I'm not in some official meeting in another region," The red-haired replied, getting closer to Ash and grabbing his hand. "Come on Ash, let me give you the tour." She didn't miss the small reddish color on Ash's face by the contact but she kind of enjoyed it.
The experienced trainer showed Ash around the house, the different rooms and even a plain ground arena behind the house. By the time they finished, Lorelei was showing Ash his bedroom, the Sun almost down over the horizon. But with the great emotions of the unexpected day, Ash didn't care if he now missed dinner.
"I... I don't know what to say," The trainer stated, sitting on the comfortable bed. "Thanks." Ash felt a sudden hot feeling in his cheek. The young trainer saw the smirk on Lorelei's lips after kissing him.
"No problem cuttie," The Elite trainer teased the teenager, getting him to blush. She wanted to laugh by how easily he was to rill up. Hopefully, he would soon get over it and open up to her. Her stance shifted though, her arms folding over her chest "But for the record, I don't accept slackers so you better don't let me down."
"Never." Ash confirmed sincerely. If he was certain of something, it was he was not going to give up. Not now, not never. The red-haired woman smiled by the determination Ash showed.
"Good. We start tomorrow after breakfast." The beautiful trainer replied towards her new pupil.
Ash rested on his bed, Pikachu showing up and resting next to him.
"Did you ever expect this to happen, Pikachu?" The future Master asked towards his starter, who looked back at his trainer curious "Because I certainly didn't expect one of the Elite Four to take me under her wing."
"And maybe, take me under something more." The trainer thought to himself with a rather naughty idea. Ash shook his head furiously by that mere thought. He sometimes hated being a teenager. So many hormones weren't keeping his head straight.
For the time being, however, the trainer decided to change into more comfortable clothes for the night. He had to wake up early if he wanted to make a good impression on his new teacher.
Dawn came quicker than expected, and the pretty red-haired Elite trainer walked outside her room. She was dressed in a rather tight black robe, which perfectly framed her nubile body. Lorelei casually walked into her kitchen and made herself a nice cup of coffee.
She looked outside through a window, the yellow Sun barely showing up over the distant skyline. But even on the enshrouded morning, The Ice Mistress could perfectly make out her new student's body going up and down with push ups. She could also see that Pikachu was casually sleeping between Ash' shoulder blades, unaffected by the up-and-down exercises.
"I think I'm going to enjoy this a bit more than I should." Lorelei smiled to herself playing with her crimson hair, while her eyes checked over her new pupil's body outline. And found it to be nothing bad for his age. One could say she was a bit of a pervert but something her close friend Cynthia taught her was to not give bullshit of what other thought.
But for now, she had her first student to shape up.
Notes from Chapter 1:
Lorelei wasn't like her Anime counterpart. She is more level-headed and isn't so dreamy. But she is still a kick ass trainer.
Okay, maybe Lorelei wasn't very specific with what moves Ash's Pokemon can learn. But do you really expect me to reveal that Pikachu will learn Iron Tail and other techniques much earlier in the series?
Team Rocket won't show up from now on. I really don't like them.
I don't know how old Lorelei is, but I put her at 22, maybe 23. And with legal age of trainers of Kanto been 14, that means she's been a trainer for 8 to 9 years.
Lorelei isn't a children cougar. She only teased Ash at first. But she does have some feelings for him. More physical at this point but you know Ash, caring for his friends and saving everyone by the skin of his teeth.
Ash's aura is slowly manifesting, if you could read between lines. One of the first powers is reading emotions and detecting truth from others.
Yes, Lorelei and Cynthia know each other. And I mean, 'know each other'. It saved them the trouble of dating loser trainers.
Ash has seen what his new teacher can do. But what other things will Lorelei teach him eventually?