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Chapter 10: Awkward
Ash was about twenty feet away when the about thirty small red lights bombarded the ground, causing a small earthquake and a large dust cloud to form. Ash had to put his arm up to block all the dust that was flying. When it was safe to look again, he saw that one of the silhouettes was lying on the ground, apparently unconscious. Ash made his way to the other person and upon reaching them, Ash recognized the face of Bill. "Bill, what happened here," Ash asked Bill.
"What, who's there," Bill asked as he looked around the area. His eyes eventually found Ash's location and immediately remembered him. "Ash, is that you. I haven't seen you in forever. How have you been?"
"I don't think this is the time for formalities."
"Oh, right. Now to answer your previous question, that monstrosity over there attack me and ate my lighthouse," said Bill as he pointed to a small dark blue shark-like creature. "I tried to stop him, but he was just too strong. My Pokémon was just too easily beaten. Maybe if I traveled more, I would be able to make it stronger. But alas I am stuck here."
"Hey Bill, who else was here," said Ash, ignoring Bill's emotional moment.
"Who else? Oh right, Misty had come here to stop that creature. Now where did she," Bill was searching the Cliffside for signs of life and eventually laid his eyes upon the felled Gym Leader, "oh my, Ash over there, she seems to have passed out," Bill pointed to the spot where Misty was lying.
"Alright Bill, I'll take care of this guy, you get Misty in the lighthouse," Ash said to Bill, who in return nodded and ran over to Misty. This action caught the eye of the blue beast, who charged at Bill full speed, jaws at the ready. "Not so fast, Pikachu use Quick Attack and cut him off." In a flash, Pikachu charged in between Bill and the beast. "Bill, take her inside, quick," Ash yelled. Bill nodded again, picked Misty up, and ran inside the lighthouse for however much cover it could give in its current state.
"Well at least we're alone now," Ash said to himself. Turning to the small blue creature, he said, "Alright Gible, that's enough. You need to stop this and come back with me. I'm sure we can sort this all out," Ash reasoned with his runaway Pokémon. Gible just called out its name and charged at Pikachu, fist back and ready for a Rock Smash. "Pikachu, dodge," Pikachu jumped out of the way just in time, and Gible smashed the ground right where Pikachu was standing. Ash just sighed, "I guess if you won't listen to reason, then I'll just have to take you back by force. You ready Pikachu," Ash received a nod from Pikachu and the battle was on.
Alright, Gible is Dragon and Ground type, which means that Pikachu is limited to only Quick Attack and Iron Tail. Man this would be so much simpler if I had Gible's pokéball with me. "Alright Pikachu, let's get this started with Quick Attack."
And with that Pikachu was off, running straight for Gible. Gible prepared a Rock Smash to counter Pikachu's attack, but Pikachu was too quick for him. Right when Gible swung his fist, Pikachu jumped to the right and rammed right into the Land Shark Pokémon. Gible was a bit angry at this and unleashed a powerful Dragon Pulse toward Pikachu. "Dodge and then use Quick Attack again." And then the cycle repeated, with Pikachu running full speed toward Gible, dodging his attack and landing Quick Attack.
At this, Gible was quite furious. It stomped the ground in fury and shouted its name a number of times. Good, everything is going just as planned. And if my calculations are correct, Gible will attempt Draco Meteor in three, two, one. And just like clockwork, Gible through his head back and began to charge his most devastating attack. "Perfect, now Pikachu, let's finish this with Iron Tail." Pikachu leapt into the air and began to charge his tail with as much energy as possible.
Gible was just about to launch his attack, when Pikachu's tail smashed into his face. Gible remained standing there, mouth wide open, though his attack did fade away. For about thirty seconds, Gible just stood there and Ash was beginning to wonder if he had really finished it, but sure enough, eventually Gible fell backwards defeated, but his body shape had yet to change. Ash sighed with relief that whole escapade was over with. He congratulated Pikachu on a job well done, and walked over to Gible.
After poking him a few times, Ash surmised that Gible would be out for a while, so he picked him up and carried him into the lighthouse. Once inside, Ash laid Gible down near the door and looked around for Bill. "Ash over here," the voice of Bill came from the right. Ash looked over in that direction to find a small alcove in the wall. Ash walked over to the alcove and looked around. It didn't have much, just a bed, a small fridge and a computer. Misty was lying in the bed.
"I don't remember this place the last time I was here."
"It was added just recently, I had it built for wayward travelers to get a nights rest. Anyway, were you able to subdue the beast?"
"Just look over there," Ash said point by the door.
"Well that's good, though I have no idea why you brought it inside."
"Heh, well you see, the beast is actually my Gible, a Pokémon I caught in the Sinnoh Region."
"Call him what you like, as long as he doesn't eat anymore of my lighthouse."
"Right, say Bill think I could borrow your phone, I need to contact Professor Oak."
"Sure thing, the phone is in the same place as last time."
Ash walked over to the phone and called up the professor. After a few rings, the professor answered his phone."Hello, Ash is that you, do you have any news on Gible?"
"Why yes professor I certainly do. I found him over by Bill's lighthouse."
"Oh good, I was getting worried that we wouldn't be able to find him. Well I'm glad you found him and I guess you would like his pokéball."
"Yep, and if you don't mind professor, I would like to keep Gible with me, just so this kind of thing doesn't happen again."
"Of course not, what you want to do with your Pokémon is completely up to you. Now if you could give me a moment and I will send the pokéball post haste. Good-bye."
"Thanks professor, and Goodbye," Ash hung up the phone and waited for the teleporter, located next to the phone, to materialize Gible's pokéball. It appeared in a matter of moments and Ash picked it up, turned around, and shot the small red laser at his Gible. After Gible had been returned Ash put the pokéball on his belt and walked back to alcove to see that Misty was beginning to wake up.
"W-Where am I, w-what happened," groaned Misty in a dazed stupor.
"Relax Misty, don't worry, just rest and everything will be okay, now what was the last thing that you remember," Bill asked.
"Well, the last I can remember is a bunch of bright red light crashing into the ground all around me," explained Misty. "Next thing I know, I'm waking up here."
"Good, then there is no need to worry," Bill said. "If you still remember everything that means that you haven't suffered any injury. I was worried you may have been struck on the head, but it seems you just fainted from shock is all. Now, do you feel good enough to stand up?"
"I think so," Misty said. She swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood up. She was a bit unstable at first, but she managed to get her balance rather quickly. "Alright, now I can head home. I'm sure to have some challenges waiting for me back there."
"Well, I know of at least two," said Ash, who at this point Misty had not noticed standing against the wall.
"Who said—Ash! Is that you Ash," exclaimed Misty. It had been a while since she had seen her close friend. "Why are you here Ash?"
Bill decided to answer that question. "He was here to get that thing back—what did you call it, a Gible, was it—turns out it belonged to him and he was just coming to get it back."
"Oh so that thing belongs to you, huh," said Misty. "Do you know what that thing did to my Gym?"
"Yes," Ash said sheepishly. "I really am sorry, but you really can't blame him. He was lost and afraid. He was acting on his instinct to survive."
"Fine, we'll settle this when we get back to Cerulean."
"Are you sure you want to go back tonight," Bill said. "There might be dangers out there."
"Don't worry Bill; we can handle anything thrown at us, right Misty."
"Right," Misty exclaimed confidently.
"Well if you insist," Bill said. "Say Ash, do you think I could have a word with you?"
"Uh, sure Bill," Ash said. The two of them walked out of the alcove and back to the very back of the lighthouse. "Okay Bill, what did you want to talk about?"
"Well Ash, as I said before, the Pokémon I have here is not getting much experience and I would like for it to grow more. But I am not supposed to leave the lighthouse. So Ash if you could do me a favor I would be most grateful. Please, if you could take my Pokémon and train it to be stronger. It needs to see the world to grow stronger."
Ash was a bit taken aback by this sudden request. "Uh, well I guess I could."
"Wonderful Ash, simply wonderful," Bill exclaimed. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a pokéball. "Here you go Ash, but please wait till Nurse Joy heals it up, it went through a lot today and I would like it to get the rest it needs. If you have any trouble getting it to trust you, just contact me and I will try and convince it."
"Sure thing Bill," said Ash. Ash studied the pokéball for a little while.
"Hey Ash, you ready to go yet," Misty said. Ash turned to see an impatient Misty standing by the door.
"Yep," said Ash. "Thanks Bill. See you around."
"Take care my friend." Ash ran over to Misty and the two of them walked out the door.
The Pokémon Center in Cerulean had finally quieted down. Everyone either left or got a room for the night. Brock, Anabel, and everyone else were no exception. Brock was in his own room, sleeping soundly. But in the girl's room, it would be a while till everyone was asleep. The room had two bunk beds. Dawn took the top bunk to the left and Zoey took the bottom bunk to the left. May took the top bunk to the right, leaving Anabel with the bottom bunk on the right. The room had one bathroom, which they took turns using to change into their nightwear.
When Anabel took her turn in the bathroom, May took this opportunity to talk with the others. "Alright girls, what do you think the reason Anabel is really traveling with Ash."
Dawn was the first to speak up. "Isn't it obvious? The same reason you and I traveled with him for as long as we did."
"Then I say we do a little interrogation. I want to confirm this."
"Yay, this is going to be fun," exclaimed Dawn.
"You're both crazy, you know that right," Zoey spoke up.
"Don't try to hide the truth. We know you feel the same as both of us," May said.
"Fine, Fine, but don't drag me down with you."
Then the bathroom door opened to reveal Anabel. She was wearing a simple nightgown. It was light purple with long sleeves and the bottom hem went to her ankles. And let the games begin, were the thoughts of both Dawn and May.
May was the first to strike up the conversation. "So Anabel, what was the reason you were traveling with Ash and Brock, I can't quite remember."
"Uh, well you know, I just thought would be fun that's all," Anabel said, again not trying to panic at the thought of being found out.
"Are you sure that's the reason," Dawn said. "I mean, is there maybe some other reason your traveling with them, Ash in particular."
"W-What do you mean, of course there's no other reason." Anabel was starting to get worried. The questions were so specific. Had she been found out so easily?
"Give it up Anabel," said May. "The reason is as clear as the nose on your face. You're only following Ash because you have a crush on him."
"W-What, that's ridiculous," said Anabel, frantically trying to evade the obvious.
"Don't worry about it Anabel," Dawn said. "You're among friends here."
"What does that mean," asked Anabel.
"Well you see, all of us have had our fair share with Ash, and let me tell you, he has this way of making every girl he meets fall for him. And Anabel, we three are no exception," explained May.
"Really, you mean it," Anabel said with hope in her voice.
"Yep, the only problem is that Ash is as oblivious as dying corn," May said angrily. After she calmed down, she said, "Now Anabel, why don't you just admit it: you have a crush on wonder boy, Ash Ketchum."
"Well maybe, but just a little," said Anabel bashfully.
"Now was that so hard," said Dawn.
"No, not really; but what I don't understand is if you all like him why don't you keep traveling with him."
"Well Anabel, it's like this. Sometimes you just have to know when someone isn't interested. For all of us, Ash showed no more than close friendship."
At this point Zoey decided to speak up. "He may be kind and chivalrous, but when I comes to romance, the boy fails."
"So even you fell for him Zoey," asked Anabel.
"Well I wouldn't say fell for. He's nice but I don't think anything more of him."
"Oh really," said Dawn. "Then did you blush when you saw him in the Pokémon Center. Yeah I saw that."
"Oh please, you ran to him the second you saw him."
"Girls, please, I think it's time to get some sleep," reasoned May.
"I guess you're right," said Dawn. Both Dawn and Zoey climbed into their respective beds and curled up to go to sleep. But before Anabel could get into her bed, May said one last thing to her.
"I think you have a good chance Anabel. You only have one real opponent left, in more ways than one," May said as she giggled. Anabel was confused at what May could mean but decided to wait until later to try and figure it out. Right now it was time for bed.
Ash and Misty had been walking for a while, both in silence. Ash kept his eyes focused on the road ahead, while Misty casually glanced toward Ash. They eventually came to a long bridge, the final stretch to Cerulean. Misty decided to try and start a conversation. "So Ash, what brought you back to Cerulean, any particular reason," she said with a sense of hopefulness in her voice.
"Yep, I came to challenge your Gym again. And so did a traveling companion of mine."
"Oh, well the Gym will be under repairs tomorrow, as we have a hole to patch up and we have to refill the pool. So who is this companion anyway?"
"Oh, well do you know about the Kanto Battle Frontier? Well it's none other than Anabel, the Salon Maiden."
"Really and how did it come to her accompanying you?"
"Well, I don't know really. I just asked and she said yes."
Misty could already guess the reason she said yes, and she wasn't happy about it. In her heart of hearts she believed that Ash should be hers. She would show this Salon Maiden what's what when she battled her in the next few days. "Hey Misty are you coming," Ash said. Misty had inadvertently stopped walking during her malevolent thoughts. "Come on, I can see the city lights from here."
"Coming," said Misty. The two of them walked onward. When they got to the end of the bridge the sun was starting to rise over the peaks of Mount Moon. Ash walked Misty back to the Gym and then headed to the Pokémon Center to meet with his friends and get some breakfast. What did the next few days hold in store for our little group? Stay tuned to find out.
To Be Continued
Merry Christmas everybody, have some hot chocolate and sit down to chapter 10.
So this chapter was a bit more delayed than I thought but not too bad (shame on me for think vacation meant free time). There really isn't much to say about this chapter in my opinion. I think it's a good one (better than chapter nine at least).
Oh and Ash got two more Pokémon, one you know of and one you don't (but you can probably guess). This brings Ash's total to five and Anabel's to three. The Gym match will be in chapter twelve. Chapter eleven is going to be a day in the city. Well I'm looking forward to it at least.
So anyway, thanks for reading. Please review this story, I love to hear what you have to say, be it good, bad, or just plain ugly (heheheh puns) I always read every review.
Sincerely yours,
The Twitch E. One