Run of the Gauntlet--Chapter 3
PG-13
Disclaimer: Nintendo owns pokemon and all its characters. I own character neither in the show or in the game.
Summary: Ash heads to Indigo Plateau to look for clues on Lance's disappearance, and Lance is sent out on his first mission.
Chapter Three
Ash stood in front of the entrance to the Indigo Plateau, wondering how the heck he was going to start. The Plateau was huge, and Ash doubted that Officer Jenny would let him near the crime scene. The immensity of the task hit him at full force, making him to come to the conclusion: it was impossible. He could do nothing...but that bond in the back of his mind tugged at his heart, and the result being that Ash knowing only that he could not give up. Taking a deep breath, the young trainer braced himself for the obstacles that he would have to face.
****
Everything was revolving around Lance. The TV news reports, the headlines of the papers, the gossip on the lips of every person on the street. Ash was amazed by it all. It was just too bad that there were not any photos of the most famous person in the world. Officer Jenny (one of them) was trying to get information out of a girl who had battled the dragon master (she lost) for the League Championship, but she was as tight-lipped about it as a Cloyster using Withdraw. Ash was still clueless as to where to start searching. The city was crawling with Officer Jennys, accompanied by her assistants and teams of Growlithe.
"You there! You!" the Celadon City Jenny cried out, running towards Ash, who stopped dead in his tracks, knowing from experience that it was not wise to get on Jenny's bad side.
"Yes?" Ash asked.
"Pika?" Pikachu added in unison with his trainer. Celadon Jenny came up to them and Ash could see that her eyes were red with frustration, her demeanor slumped along with her shoulders in defeat and fatigue. It was also obvious that her nerves were being run raw, making her very edgy and crabby.
"I have not seen you around here, young man. What are you doing here?" she snapped, already pulling out her trusty handcuffs. Ash pulled out Dexter, ready to identify and prove himself.
"I just came to see if I could help in the search for Lance," Ash said. Jenny did not look like she believed him.
"Yeah, right. Listen, you have information about the disappearance and you will not reveal it to me," Jenny accused.
"No, I--"
"Don't lie to me! In fact, I bet you were one of the ones who kidnapped him!" Jenny yelled, her voice harsh and ragged.
"Sister, sister! Calm down. I know this boy, and he is fine. Trust me," the Viridian Jenny said in a soothing tone, appearing next to her flustered sister. The Celadon Jenny gave Ash one last look before walking off.
"You'll have to forgive my youngest sister. She's been working nonstop under very stressful conditions," Jenny said, one hand going to her chin and concern flashing in her brown eyes. To Ash and Pikachu, she looked just as tired as her sister. Her turquoise hair, usually thick and bouncy was hanging lifelessly, straggly, and tangles were growing. She had had no time to take care of her personal appearance. Her crisp demeanor and appearance was dulled, the brightness gone. Ash felt sorry for her.
"I understand," Ash said, his voice full of sympathy. Jenny smiled but closed her eyes, giving the impression that she did not have the strength to smile and keep her eyes open at the same time. She took off her hat and wiped her sweating forehead with the back of her hand. Her usually white glove was gray and grimy. Ash wondered how long it had been since she had gotten any rest.
"However, my sister does have a point. Everyone must be questioned. Do you have any knowledge? Even if you think that it is the most insignificant thing in the world, please tell me anyway," Jenny recited. She wondered how many times she had said that. Ash could tell that she was running on empty, but her determination to get the job done no matter what bought her more energy, even if it did not exist. Ash admired her for that.
As soon as Jenny said 'that is is the most insignificant thing in the world...' Ash once again felt that tug, only to forget it moments later, leaving just the feeling of protectiveness and a deep, faint, nameless emotion that traveled both ways across the bond that would later be defined as love.
"No. I know nothing," Ash said after a pause. Jenny sighed.
"No one ever does."
"Is there anything I can do to help?"
"I'm afraid not...wait. Maybe you can. You know Team Rocket. You've battled their agents before..." Jenny said, a faint glimmer of hope seeping through her fatigue. Ash shook his head.
"I've only battled Jessie and James. A few times with Butch and Cassidy, but none of them are exactly world class crooks," Ash said."Jessie and James couldn't steal a rock from an abandoned rock quarry, even if they tried."
"But they can still give us information. How do you usually find them?" Jenny said, her voice growing stronger by the second.
"They usually find me," Ash replied.
"Pika," Pikachu confirmed. Ash jumped. Pikachu had been so quiet he had almost forgotten that he was there.
"Come with me, Ash. I don't want to talk here. There could be spies," Jenny said, her old strong self returning.
Jenny dragged Ash to the nearest pokemon center, where she and some of the other Jennys were staying. She brought Ash into a large room and sat him down at a table. Pikachu crackled a bit, ready to defend his friend if she got too harsh with him.
"Okay, Ash it's very important. Tell me what you know about Team Rocket," Jenny said softly. Ash, knowing that he should be uncomfortable, was actually fine and wanted to help.
"Okay, um.....I know that Jessie and James always travel with their Meowth, who can talk like us," Ash began. Jenny began writing all of his words down.
"Go on," Jenny encouraged.
"Um, well, Jessie and James are always after Pikachu, but we always defeat them anyways, don't we buddy?"
"Pika pika!"
"What about Butch and Cassidy?"
"They have a Raticate, but it stays in its pokeball."
"Can it talk, like Meowth?"
"No."
"Have they ever said who's in charge of them?"
"They only ever call him 'the Boss.' Nothing else."
"Have you ever seen him?"
"No."
"Ever heard him?"
"No."
"Where have you seen them the most?"
"They follow me everywhere. Even when they're lost they always manage to find me. I don't know why they want Pikachu so badly.....no offense! Pikachu!" Ash added quickly at the look that his friend gave him.
"Great...." Jenny sighed, leaning back in her chair. She looked like she was going to collapse.
"I did see them in the Viridian Gym though," Ash said, remembering the day he got his Earth Badge.
"The Viridian Gym? That's Giovanni's gym...why would they be there?" Jenny asked herself, her mind frantically trying to unravel the puzzle that Ash had set before her.
"Unless they were trying to steal the pokemon, but....they could never get past Giovanni. It just doesn't add up....Giovanni is a gym leader. He would never....it doesn't make sense," Jenny mumbled to herself. Ash also became confused. Why were they in the gym? Why did he have to battle them so that he could get the Earth Badge?
"Anything else, Ash?"
"No," Ash said. He felt like he had said that a lot.
"Okay....thanks Ash," Jenny said with a weak smile. She appeared grateful, but Ash had the ominous feeling that he had just made it more complicated.
Ash walked out of there feeling guilty a renewed sense of the task.It was impossible. If all these Jennys could not do anything...then what could he do....?
'Stop it! Stop leading me in circles!' Ash thought violently, mentally attacking that nagging, fierce doubt in the back of his mind. He shoved it into the far reaches of his consciousness, knowing that he would never get rid of it completely and walked on, have no clue as to where to go.
Ash entered the local Pokemon Center, looking for a telephone. He saw a very upset Nurse Joy, who was running around, consoling people who were looking for some sort of shelter and safe haven, and a friend to talk to.
This Lance thing has hit people harder than I thought...Ash said mentally and walked over to a phone. On the way, he heard snippets of conversation.
"...I'm afraid to let my children out at night now...."
"If Lance isn't safe, then no one is...."
"Who would do such a horrible thing....?"
Ash sat down at the vid phone, letting Pikachu comfort a small red headed boy who looked very helpless and scared.
Ringringring! Phone call! Phone call! Ringringring! the mechanical voice called out excitedly. A ragged looking Professor Oak got up from the table where he was having some coffee with Delilah Ketchum. Both looked like they had been crying, but Delilah looked worse off than Oak.
The professor sat down and turned on the vidphone. He jumped, his hope flaring instantly. Could it really be... But it only lasted a millisecond, for he immediately saw who it really was.
Why does he have to look like his father so much!? Oak thought bitterly. That anger too lasted shortly, for he really did like Ash, the boy feeling more like a grandson to him than Gary.
"Professor, is something wrong?" Ash asked, seeing the flash of emotions cross his mentor's face. Oak smiled weakly, reassuringly.
"No, Ash. I'm fine. Where are you calling from?"
"Indigo Plateau," Ash immediately answered. Oak's eyes widened and Delilah came over as quickly as her feet could carry her. At first, she did not really want to see Ash, no matter how much she loved him, because he would remind her too much of him....of course, he always reminded her of Lance, but now was not the best time....
"What are you doing at Indigo Plateau?" Delilah and Oak asked at the same time.
"Mom?"
"Yes, honey?"
"What are you doing at the Professor's?"
"Just having a cup of coffee," Delilah answered brightly. She could not let her son see how upset she was. It would cause too many awkward questions.
"Oh. Well, to answer your question...ah! Pikachu!" Ash exclaimed as Pikachu forced his way up onto Ash's lap so he could see too. Ash grinned and scratched Pikachu's ears.
"Chu!"
"Pikachu says hi," Ash said, laughing. Delilah's heart ached. They even had the same laugh....
Brock and Misty chose that moment to enter.
"Hi Professor! We fed the Tauros like you asked us to!" Brock said.
"Who's calling, Professor?" Misty asked, curiosity piqued. The two gym leaders walked over and peered into the screen. Delilah willingly moved away.
"Hi Ash!" Misty and Brock said at the same time.
"Prriiiii!" Togepi trilled.
"Pipipi!" Pikachu greeted the tiny egg pokemon.
"Hi, Pikachu," Misty said.
"Where are ya, Ash?" Brock asked.
"Indigo Plateau," Ash repeated.
"What are you doing there?"
"I heard about the disappearance of Lance, and I wanted to see if there was anything that I could do to help," Ash answered.
"Why?" Oak and Delilah demanded, a little more harshly than they intended. He couldn't possibly know... Ash looked surprised and both adults immediately regretted it.
"Well....I just....it seemed right....that's all. I wasn't supposed to?" Ash asked.
"No, honey, I'm sorry. That's very noble of you...." Delilah said softly. Ash smiled, relieved at his mother's approval.
"Be careful son, and don't forget to change your you know what," Delilah added, trying to sound as bright and as normal as possible. His father had made it very clear that if Ash ever found out, then he would be the one to tell him.
"I won't mom," Ash sighed, exasperated. Did his mother always have to humiliate him like this?
"Anything else, Ash?" Misty asked. She knew that long distance phone calls costed a lot, and while Professor Oak was not short on cash, she still hated to waste money.
"Not really. I just wanted to say hi," Ash said and gave them his victory pose. "And don't worry, mom! I'll be home soon!" he added and hung up.
'I wish his father could say the same,' Delilah thought miserably.
****
Amanda was amazed that Lance was still in one piece. No one...no one....confronted Giovanni like that and got through it without at least some serious injuries. For the next day she kept well enough away from him, for he looked like a very angry Gyarados that would explode at whoever approached him. Even the other Rocket members would give him a wide berth.
She was about to talk to Lance, to get him to tell her what had happened, but the Boss's voice interrupted that.
"Amanda, you and Lance please come to my office," the Boss said over the intercom that was in Amanda's room.
"Yes sir," she said and went to fetch Lance.
The partners entered timidly, or at least Amanda did. She noticed that Lance looked mad enough to chew a Graveler, but he behaved himself.
"Well, Lance, it's time that you went out on your first mission. Are you ready?"
"Do I have a choice?"
"Not really."
"Then I'll go," Lance replied. Amanda remained quiet. She did not understand why Giovanni was a little kinder with Lance. Not much, like microscopic improvement, but it was there. As if they knew each other before this......
"Amanda."
"Yes, sir?"
"You know what to do. Show Lance the ropes," Giovanni commanded.
"Yes sir," Amanda replied, saluting. She grabbed Lance's arms and pulled him out of there.
****
"I don't like doing this," Lance said forcefully, crossing his arms.
"I know you don't Lance, but we don't have a choice. We'll make it quick, and you get to find out what pokemon you have," Amanda replied.
"So we're just going to steal from some unsuspecting trainer who's probably a novice and won't be able to defend their pokemon?" Lance accused.
"You make it sound so....wait!"
"What?"
"You can't be seen!"
"I can't?"
"Of course not you dummy! You're Lance! World's most famous trainer! Don't you think that...."
"I'm the world's most famous trainer that's never been seen," Lance corrected. That made Amanda shut up. "The only people that have ever seen me are either in Indigo Plateau in the Elite Four mansion or taking a very long break from training. If we do what Team Rocket always does, in taking pokemon from novices to semi-advanced, then no one will recognize me. Other than my friends, only...um.........six people have seen me," Lance said, including Ash, Professor Oak, and Delilah in that number.
"Only six?"
"Yep. Even if they get past Lorelei and Bruno, Agatha stops them."
"What kind of pokemon did they have?"
"Um....last I heard, one had a Mr. Mime, one had a Charizard, Bulbasaur, Squirtle, Lapras, no wait....he got rid of the Lapras, um, a Pidgeot, Tauros, a Primeape, a Butterfree, he set those last three free too, except for Primeape who....oh, gee, I can't remember....oh yes, he was training to be a P1 Champion, a Kingler, and a Pikachu. The other guy has....just about every pokemon in existence, and one had a Rapidash, Electrode, a Kadabra; the other had a Dewgong, a Dratini, a Doduo, and a Machamp. The last one had a Venusaur, a Magmar, a Slowpoke, a Parasect, and a Jigglypuff."
"You remembered all that?"
"Of course."
"How many of them beat you?"
"None," Lance said. It wasn't entirely false, as he hadn't battled all of them...., so he couldn't have lost any of the the battles....
"How do you remember all that?"
"I don't know. Just do, I guess. I also know, that Giovanni's favorite pokemon to battle with are Rhyhorn, Dugtrio, Nidoqueen, Nidoking, and Rhydon."
"How did you know that? Nobody knows that," Amanda asked.
"Lucky guess," Lance answered, shrugging.
"No it's not," Amanda said, but dropped it. They walked a little further down the dirt road before Amanda shoved Lance into the forest that bordered the road.
"Amanda! What are you doing?" Lance exclaimed.
"Shut up!" Amanda replied, covering his mouth. Lance soon saw what was happening.
A young female trainer was walking down the road, her smile indicating the kind of day she was having. Lance really did not want to steal from her. It was just plain wrong.
"Get ready," Amanda whispered.
"I can't do this, Amanda," Lance whispered back.
"You have to!"
"Let's not and say we did."
"He would find out! He wants the pokemon. Now get ready to say the motto."
"No."
"Stop being so difficult! It's not as if you don't know it! I already taught it to you."
"It's stupid."
"No it isn't! Now get ready. No ifs ands or buts!" Amanda said harshly and jumped out into the middle of the road.
"Prepare for trouble!" she said loudly. The young trainer stopped, surprised. There was no reply to Amanda's statement.
"L--Sean! It's your line!" Amanda hissed, her face turning red.
Lance remained in the vegetation, watching the conflict in his mind. He really did not want to steal from this trainer, yet if he didn't, Ash would get hurt...........
"And make it double," Lance said gloomily, shuffling out to the middle of the road.
"To protect the world from devastation!"
"To unite all peoples within our nation."
"Amanda!"
"Sean."
"Team Rocket blasts off at the speed of light!"
"Surrender now or prepare to fight," Lance finished, his head down.
"Who are you guys!?" the girl asked, on her guard.
"We're Team Rocket. Hand over your pokemon!"
"Never!"
'That's right. Fight. Run. Anything. Just don't give up....' Lance thought.
"You leave us with no choice."
'Us?'
"Amanda calls out...Jolteon!" Amanda cried out, throwing her pokeball.
"You have a Jolteon?" Lance said in awe. He preferred Flareons, but Jolteons were quite strong.
"Sean! Hurry up and call out your pokemon!" Amanda said as the young trainer called out her Squirtle.
"Fine. I choose you! Uh.......pokemon!" Lance said, having no idea what he had. What appeared in the flash of red light stunned him to his very core. A green bug, no more 2' 4" in height sat there, its sad looking eyes half closed.
"No...." Amanda groaned.
"He gave me a Metapod?" Lance said, staring at his new pokemon.
"I guess its up to me! Jolteon! Quick attack!" Amanda shouted.
"Jolt!"
"Squirtle! Withdraw!" the young trainer called out, but her Squirtle was not fast enough. It got hit at full force by the Jolteon.
"He gave me a Metapod?"
"Jolteon! Thunder!"
"Jolt jolt!"
"Oh no! Squirtle!" the girl cried out as her Squirtle fainted.
"Ha! Don't you know that electric types are strong against water types?"
"Maybe, but I do have Diglett! Slash!"
"Sean! Help me out here!"
"But he gave me a Metapod!"
"Jolteon! Combine Agility with Pin Missile!"
Even in his shock, Lance could see that Amanda was actually a good trainer and had quite the potential. If only she wasn't in Team Rocket....
"Do something! Sean!"
"Um....Harden," Lance said, depressed that Harden was the only attack that Metapod knew. Metapod did so, and its defense rose.
"This is exciting," Lance added sarcastically as all the focus was between Jolteon and Diglett. Neither seemed to be losing, but neither seemed to be winning either.
Diglett ended up the loser. It just was not strong enough.
"I'm counting on you.... Venonat!"
"Jolteon! Double Kick!"
Venonat did not even get a chance to retaliate.
"You can't have my pokemon!"
"Try and stop me," Amanda said and was prepared to make her final move when Lance jumped out in front of her. Metapod tried to follow, but it found itself once again incapable of motion.
"Sean!? What the heck are you doing?"
"Hurry up and go. Don't worry. She won't come after your pokemon anymore," Lance said, turning towards the trainer. Confused, but immensely relieved, she ran away, her pokeballs safe in her arms.
"NO! Wait!" Amanda shouted and started after her, but Lance was ready for that. He grabbed her arms and wrestled her to the ground. Within seconds, he had her pinned. Jolteon just watched. It instinctively wanted to protect its master, but it had learned the hard way from Giovanni not to attack fellow Rockets.
"Stop it! Get off of me!" Amanda shouted into the dirt as Lance's knee pressed into her back, making her as unable to move as his Metapod. He had her wrists and twisted them painfully, while still restraining from going all the way and breaking them. He did not even sprain them. It was just enough so that she could not struggle.
Amanda gasped for air, feeling like her ribs were breaking. He was suffocating her!
"You're suffocating me!" Amanda gasped out.
"No I'm not. Now I'll let you up when you promise to stay calm and listen to what I have to say," Lance replied, tightening his grip, which was a painful reminder that he held all the power.
"Do you realize what you are doing?!"
"I know what I'm doing. Now, will you act like a civilized person?"
Amanda hated defeat. Always hated it. She hated being the underdog. The one that had to submit. But she had no choice.
"I promise," Amanda growled, voice dripping with as much venom as a Nidoran. Lance hesitated before he took her word and got up. Amanda was still for a moment before she too sat up. Lance stood, maintaining that aura of authority and power. He was the perfect picture of intimidation.
"I will not steal from a trainer. And neither will you," Lance ordered.
"I don't take orders from you, Lance. I take orders from the Boss. And whether you like it or not, you do to. We have to steal pokemon."
"I will not do it!"
"You have a better idea?"
"Actually, I do. You want to hear it?"
"I will not go against the Boss, Lance. I feel just as strongly about that as you do against stealing."
"Fine, then. I'll do it by myself, and I'll still get pokemon. Metapod! Return!" Lance said and walked off in the other direction. "Stay and wait for the next victim. I'm sure you're conscience will adore you."
Amanda watched Lance's retreating back for a few minutes, her eyes narrowed. Jolteon rubbed against her leg. She patted its head as her two halves battled........
"Hey! Wait! I'm coming!" Amanda finally shouted and ran after Lance, her Jolteon bouncing alongside her.
Lance didn't say anything as she caught up with him. Suspecting what he was thinking, Amanda spoke up.
"I'm not doing this for your reasons, you know. It's impossible to steal from a trainer without two people working together. It'd be futile," she explained.
Lance remained quiet.
"So, if that's what you were thinking...then you're wrong."
"That wasn't what I was thinking," Lance said softly, keeping his eyes forward.
"Then what were you thinking?" Amanda more demanded than asked. "As if I care."
"I was thinking about why I joined Team Rocket. What's keeping me here. But you're right. You wouldn't care," Lance answered, still not looking at her. Amanda's eyes fell forward and down. As angry as she was, her curiosity got the better of her.
"Why did you join? You never did tell me."
"Ash Ketchum."
"The Ketchum kid? I thought you said that you never heard of him."
"I lied."
"Well, why would he make you stay? What do you care about him? What's one more trainer down the drain? One less that you have to worry about taking your place..." Amanda said harshly. Lance turned on her.
"Because he is MY SON!!" Lance yelled, tears threatning to spill over. He was rapidly losing control. He felt so helpless. Amanda took a few steps backwards, the facts of what he just told her hitting her like a bag of bricks.
"Your son..." Amanda breathed. Lance turned away from her and knelt in the vegatation. He felt like he was going to throw up. And he did.
Amanda watched the sight before her. Lance convulsing, the disgusted look on his face as he tasted the bitter stomach acid. This really was bad for him. Humiliating...humbling....horrible. And now she felt like mud.
Metapod popped out of its pokeball and stared up at its new trainer. Feeling sorry for him, the Metapod actually forced itself to move and rubbed itself comfortingly against Lance's leg and hip.
"Lance, I.....I didn't know....." Amanda whispered, not approaching her partner. Lance's stomach paused for a second. Long enough for him regain his equilibrium and accept the nausea.
"It's all right..." he whispered, wiping his mouth with his sleeve.
"No. No, it isn't. Why didn't you tell me?"
"Would you trust a Team Rocket member?"
"I suppose not...."
Lance's stomach started again, but it was a tad more gentler. Amanda walked over and rubbed his back, trying to calm him. Lance stopped again, and Amanda knew that it was over. He leaned up against the tree, cradling his Metapod. Jolteon even layed its head in his lap, understanding the problem.
"I understand, Lance. I'll help you for now, but we can't do this all the time."
"Okay, but don't you want to know my plan?"
"Do I want to?"
Lance grinned at her.
****
"I'm right in saying that most trainers start off with Charmander, Squirtle, or Bulbasaur, aren't I?" Lance said as they approached the river.
"Yeah...." Amanda answered, not seeing where this was going.
"Good," Lance said and took off the top of his Team Rocket uniform.
'Wow...' Amanda thought. 'No! Bad girl! He's married!! He has a son!' she reminded herself.
Lance dived into the river, leaving a very confused Amanda on the bank.
Lance, once he had gained his bearings, quickly headed down towards the bottom of the river. It was very murky, the current carrying the sand and silt downstream. The current was on the strong side, but he could handle it.
He grabbed a hold of a dead tree root and waited. He saw several Magikarp, but that was not what he wanted. When he began to run out of breath, he let go of the root and surfaced.
"Lance, what in the world are you doing?" Amanda asked, putting her hands on her hips.
"Just a minute..." Lance said and with another deep breath, dived again.
He went back to the root and waited...
'Ah ha!' Lance mentally cheered and let go of the root to swim after his target.
The Squirtle, not expecting any sort of attack in a river full of Magikarp, certainly did not expect a human to come up from behind and grab it.
Lance grabbed a hold of its shell, his grasp firm and tight. The Squirtle was immensely surprised, but once that had worn off, it began to struggle. Lance recieved a couple of skull bashes in the gut, but he held on. His plan was to hold on until the Squirtle was too tired to struggle anymore and then capture it. The logic was flawless. Nearly all trainers start off with either a Charmander, a Bulbasaur, or a Squirtle (Ash being the exception), and so Giovanni would not question that. The trainer would have not gotten far enough to evolve it into a Wartortle, so that too would go unquestioned. The Squirtle he caught would be tired, indicating a battle. Well, it sort of was a battle...and plus, it would not have belonged to anyone else, so it was not stealing. To the Squirtle, it would be like a trade, while to Giovanni, it would be a stolen pokemon. It worked.
The Squirtle swam down to the bottom, with Lance beneath it, pressing the human down into the sand. A bubble of air was forced out of Lance's lungs, but he held on.
'I wonder if this is how the very first trainer got his very first pokemon,' Lance thought as the Squirtle tried to bash him against a rock. Lance kicked off the bottom and the two surfaced, allowing him to catch a breath of air. It was shortlived, and Lance was brought down under water again. The Squirtle also had a plan: Lance would have to come up for air sometime, so if it stayed underwater....he would have to eventually let go.
Lance had not intention of letting go.
'If I can get it up on land....' Lance thought and kicked for the surface again. The silt was stinging his eyes, but he was too involved in the match to care.
With a powerful surge in his muscles, courtesy his adrenaline rush, he dragged the Squirtle into shallow water and pulled it ashore, but it was no easy task. The Squirtle was fighting the entire time, and the water weighted his clothes and pulled him down. The Squirtle was noticably weakening, and so Lance pulled out his pokeball. The red light surrounded the pokemon and the Squirtle disappeared. Lance felt the pokeball squirm in his hands, it being so violent a shake that he almost dropped it...the shaking stopped and Lance sighed in relief. He caught Squirtle.
"Lance! Lance!" Amanda's voice cried out. Lance fell to the ground next to the pokeball, exhausted. He had gotten some water in his lungs (which he violently coughed out) and stomach, which wasn't the most pleasant of experiences. He turned to see Amanda, who was on the other side of the bank, running from where Lance had dived in. The current had carried them far...he wished that he could have used Jolteon, but it had become sort of an unspoken taboo to use other people's pokemon. No harm came to it, but humans highly prized their companions, and well....
"Lance! Are you crazy!? You could have been killed!" Amanda said, kneeling down next to him. She had crossed the bridge.
"Really," Lance said.
"Really! You could have been dragged down by an undertow and drowned!"
"Worried about me?" Lance asked, grinning.
"Dream on," Amanda replied, but Lance saw that smile she tried to hide.
"I caught Squirtle though," he said, holding up the pokeball.
"What? Why would you catch a wi--oh. I get it," Amanda said, realizing his plan.
"And?"
"And I think you're an idiot. But it's worth a try," Amanda answered and helped her partner up.