Chapter 10 – Burdens

The Journey

An Other Trainer Story by BenRG

Legal Disclaimer

Pokémon, the Pocket Monsters and all characters and institutions connected with them are the property of Nintendo Entertainment, Game Freak Software and 4Kids Entertainment. This is a non-profit work written for free distribution through the world-wide web. No infringement of any copyright or legal property intended.

Peter Croft and Lia McAlester are entirely my creations, as are all the other original characters. Keep your eyes open, for there could be an FF.NET author in there somewhere!

Karlie Chuchino Scott is based on FF.NET author Kaz-Ohki. Kaz, m'dear, this is my way of making up for all those times I've been mean to Tracey in my other fics. As promised, the mystery of Karlie's Togepi is (partially) explained in this chapter.

Author's Notes

Some New Trainer stories are good, some are not so good and some are just dire. I've never tried this genre before, so I'm going to try it now. If this is bad, then say so for pity's sake and I'll stop!

Okay, usual warnings apply. I don't know the continuity or the moves very well, so I'll be faking it most of the time.

Text in Italics is thought.

Text in "Quotes and Italics" is speech from some kind of loudspeaker, phone, etc.

Censor: PG – Because Pokémon fight, and fights can be unpleasant things.

Continuity Note: Ash is 17; Misty is 18, nearly 19; Brock is 25; Tracey is 23.

Chapter 10 – Burdens (Boulder Badge Part I)

Samuel Oak looked at the tall younger man standing before him suspiciously. He turned to his wife, his eyes narrowed with worry. This… Trainer had caused her a lot of pain in the past. "Are you sure about this Delilah?" he asked.

"For all the good times we shared, I owe him one last hearing," Delilah replied serenely.

Oak drew in a deep breath and decided that the time came to live up to that part in his wedding vows about 'honouring' his wife. If she had made the choice… He turned back to his visitor. "You have five minutes to say your piece, Master Trainer," he growled, "then I want you out of my house."

The visitor nodded once, a little nervously. In his day, Samuel Oak was a fine Trainer, and he was now the top researcher in Kanto. He was not to be taken lightly. Nor was it wise to underestimate the amount of damage he could do to a reputation with one angry complaint to the League Commissioners. Oak shot his visitor one last angry look and then left the small drawing room in his home, closing the door behind him.

There was a long drawn out pause before Delilah spoke. "Well," she said coldly, "why don't you say your piece and go Michael? No, sorry, it's 'Lance' now, isn't it? 'Lance Knight.'" Delilah laughed hollowly. "Now there's a case of misdescription if I've ever heard one!"

The former Pokémon Master visibly winced when he heard Delilah's dismissive comments. "I…" he stopped and caught his breath. He had to focus and refuse to be put off by her self-centred feelings of hurt. "Thank you for seeing me on such short notice, Delilah," he said at last. "I hope that we can put our bad history behind us and do what is best for our son."

There was another long pause. Delilah walked boldly over and looked Lance in the eye. "And what is that?" she asked quietly.

"Delilah, that boy needs his father," Lance said. "You've done a fine job raising Ash, he is a credit to you. But he's the Pokémon Master now, and he needs a man's example to follow. I want to help him, but he won't even see me!"

"And that surprises you?" Delilah asked. "Mike, you walked out on us when he was only four years old! Bonnie wasn't even born! In that time you have not contacted us once and you never gave us a hint of support! Now Ash has grown up and has achieved his lifelong goal, you suddenly want to know him again! Can't you figure out why he just might suspect your motives?"

"He is suspicious of me because you… poisoned him against me!" Lance Knight, once Michael Ketchum, shouted at his ex-wife. "He is my son, Delilah! You had no right to make him think that I am a monster!"

Delilah looked at her ex-husband levelly. "I told him that you were dead," she said at last.

Lance's jaw dropped open in horror. "Dead? My God, Delilah! Why?"

"Because you were dead!" Delilah growled. "You announced to me that you were going to be the Pokémon Master and that you were not going to let anything stand in your way. You walked out of our home without telling me where you were going or when… or even if you would be back!" Delilah started to cry as she recalled her heartbreak from thirteen long years ago. "Mike, I was four months pregnant! I had to pack boxes at a factory for ten hours a day to support Ash and myself! I… I almost miscarried Bonnie twice because of the stress! If it hadn't been for Sam's charity…" Delilah turned away and began to cry. She wasn't going to let Michael… no, Lance see that, though. She was damned if she was going to show him any weakness.

"Delilah, it was my destiny…" Lance said weakly. "It was something that I had to do! I thought you understood!"

"Understood?" Delilah said, her voice shrill with disbelief. She turned around and began to bear down on the former leader of the Elite Four. Lance backed up fast, terrified by what he could see in her eyes. "Understood? Oh yes, Lance, I understood all right. I understood that you decided that your wife and children weren't worthy of you and that your search for personal glory was more important to you than anything! I understood what it meant when you changed your name and even altered your appearance so that no one would connect you with Michael Ketchum and require that you live up to your responsibilities as a husband and a father. I understood what it meant when I saw you in the newspapers and on TV with that endless parade of sluts with whom you favoured with your attentions! I understood that being Pokémon Master was more important to you than ANYTHING!" Delilah's voice suddenly softened to a quiet, desolate tone. "I understood that your wife and children meant nothing to you. That you didn't care for us, and that you probably didn't even think of us anymore." Then she began to cry openly. For all it had been over a decade, the wounds were still fresh and only thinly covered with sensitive scar tissue.

Lance tried to find something to say in reply, anything. But he could not, because every word was true, and that frustrated him.

"You had killed Michael Ketchum," Delilah said at last, sniffling occasionally, her voice stuttering around her sobs. "He had ceased to exist. So I told Ash the truth: That his father was a fine Trainer, who died somewhere out there on the roads." Delilah sucked in a deep, shuddering breath before continuing. "But I know you, 'Lance.' I knew that you would use any means necessary to keep your damnable title. I knew that you would use your biological relationship to my son to hurt him and distract him when he faced you for the Mastery. So I made sure that he knew everything, without any hypocrisy, untruth or subjective memory. I confessed to my lies and to my sins and let him make his own judgement."

Lance remembered that hellish moment on the arena floor of the Indigo Plateau Stadium only too well.

FLASHBACK – FOUR MONTHS PREVIOUSLY

Lance confidently strode forwards in his leather 'battle armour,' threw aside his velvet cape and smiled at Ash contemptuously. As if this kid could beat him! Even so, only an idiot didn't use every weapon at his disposal. "Just before we begin," Lance shouted, "there is something that you should know, Ash." Ash looked at him curiously. "I am your long-lost father," Lance announced and grinned, waiting for his revelation to have the desired effect by ruining the boy's concentration at this critical moment.

To Lance's surprise, there was no surprise and no mixed emotions in his son's eyes. Instead, nightmarishly, Ash smiled at Lance in a way that made the older man think of hungry Feragatyrs. "I know," the young challenger said jovially. "But no good trainer uses his Pokémon to settle personal scores, 'father.' I'm here for your title, not to punish you for your sins." Ash grinned ferociously. "That's just a bonus," he added.

FLASHBACK ENDS

The battle had been ferocious, and Lance had found himself doing things that, in retrospect, made him shudder with horror. He tried to get Dragonite to kill Ash's Raichu! If the kid hadn't evolved his Pikachu, increasing the Pokémon's speed by several times, the move might have even worked! Lance had been desperate, but nothing he could do would even slow Ash down.

Lance had finally got his bearings back and he focussed his attention on Delilah again. He had to make her understand! Ash's victory had ruined him, and it was only right that his son help him regain what he had lost. "Delilah, the past is past," he said at last. "I have been a bad person, and I know that. But Ash needs me. I have contacts in the League and I know how the job works. I could help him! I am willing to work with him to ensure that his reign as Pokémon Master is long and successful. If you'd only tell him to give me a chance…" Lance smiled and tried to look as sincere as possible. "You must understand that I am only trying to do what is right for him!"

"I understand that you still want prestige and the power that comes from being the Master," Delilah said coldly. She snorted. "If you can't get it yourself, you want to get it through my son. You want him as a prize you can show off!" Delilah's tone turned sarcastic. "Your brilliant son who has conquered all comers! Thanks to you, of course."

"Delilah, I…" Lance was startled by Delilah's attitude. Of course he wanted to show the boy off! Couldn't this stupid woman see that it was his right to have a share, the greatest share, of his son's glory? Ash would be nothing if it were not for his example!

"I'm not going to listen to your lies, Lance," Delilah said firmly. "Ash is his own master and he will make his own decisions. If he wants to forgive you, that is his business. However," here Delilah smiled dangerously, in a way so like the way Ash had smiled in the arena, "I think that he has already made his decision about you. He is a smart boy, Lance. I think that he knows what you want from him and I think he has decided how he is going to respond to that." Delilah looked at her watch. "Your five minutes are over, 'Lance.' All our debts are settled now. If you ever try to see me again, I will have a restraining order imposed on you. Get out."

Lance was about to say something, but he realised that it was futile. Delilah was so selfish in her feelings of hurt, that she would never understand him, or that the glory of being the Pokémon Master belonged to him and him alone. He turned away to leave. "Oh, and Lance?" he turned back. Delilah walked over with a malicious smile and ran her hand through his hair. "I would bleach my hair again if I were you," she said. "Your roots are showing. People might think that you have something to hide!"

***

Peter and Lia were still staring at the Pokémon Master and his allies when Nurse Joy walked out of the Treatment Rooms. "Novices Croft and McAlester?" she called. "Your Pokémon are all healed and… and… Brock!" Peter and Lia jumped back in amazement and even Joy's Chancey looked surprised as Joy vaulted over the main desk and ran towards Brock Slate.

"Joy!" Brock called out, opening his arms wide. Joy ran into the man's arms and the two of them hugged before exchanging a blisteringly passionate kiss.

Karlie looked at Tracey in a way that made her boyfriend come out in a cold sweat while Ash and Misty just smiled at each other in a supremely happy fashion. "Not so pathetic, Brock-o," Ash announced. "You are getting there."

"Oh shut up," Brock said as he came up for air. "I've waited long enough, Ash!"

Ash laughed. "That's right, man, you have," he agreed.

Suddenly a quiet cough echoed through the Pokémon Centre's atrium. Everyone froze and looked at Peter and Lia. Peter looked extremely embarrassed while Lia was looking on with a slightly sardonic smile on her face. "Could we have our Pokémon back, please?" she asked in a good-humoured tone.

Joy blushed bright red and self-consciously tried to adjust her uniform and hair, which Brock's embrace had left completely dishevelled. "Of course," she said. She walked back to the desk and passed the two Novices their Pokéballs. Peter immediately released Shock and Shadow.

Curious, who had been sleeping in her 'carrying sling' awoke at this moment and stuck her head out. She looked around at the various humans in the chamber. She was amazed. She had never seen so many humans in one place at the same time. [Wow!] she said. [Lots of humans! Where are we, Peter?]

"This is a Pokémon Centre," Peter told the Pichu. "It is a place where Trainers live and where hurt Pokémon get better."

"Rai-chu-chu-ai-ra-chu-rai-ai!" Ash's Raichu said. He leapt down from his Trainer's back and scampered over to Peter. "Chu-raichu-rai?"

[My name is 'Curious,'] Curious replied. [This is my sister, Shock, and my Uncle Shadow.]

"Oh that Pichu is adorable!" Misty gasped out, walking over to Peter. Ash joined her and Peter immediately went into deep shock at being so very close to two such famous Trainers. "She reminds me of Raichu and Static's first youngsters!" Misty continued. She reached forwards, touched Curious on the scruff of the neck, and moved her finger around the Pichu's throat, waggling it slightly. Curious went into a far-off land of pleasure in response.

"She is pretty isn't she," Ash admitted. "I'll bet that she'll grow up strong like her big sister too."

[You understood her?] Shock was surprised.

"I can understand every Pokémon language," Ash replied. He knelt down and stroked Shadow. "You've got a nice strong Eevee too, kid."

"Gah," Peter said at last. What is that supposed to mean? Peter silently raged at himself. They will think you are an idiot!

Ash looked up. "I'm sorry?" he asked.

"Can I have your autographs, please?" Peter blurted. Lia rolled her eyes at her friend's hero-worshipping gaze. She was not easily impressed, and so far, she had seen nothing out-of-the-ordinary here.

"Sure," Ash said. "Got a pen and pad?"

***

"Can I have your autograph!" Lia hooted. "Peter, do you have any idea how stupid you looked this morning?"

Peter scowled at his friend. Lia didn't go in for hero worship. In fact, Peter doubted that she even believed in 'heroes' at all. "Lia, can you please get your head around the fact that Master Ash inspired me to be a Trainer?" he requested. "I have looked up to his example for years!"

Lia did relent a little. "Well," she said, "everyone needs an example to follow," she said. She shook her head. "But Peter, I mean… please! You were acting like an idiot around him and his friends! So what if they are famous?"

Peter just rolled his eyes. "They are national heroes, Lia," he said weakly. Lia snorted, obviously not impressed by the concept. "Isn't there anyone who you would react to strongly if you met them? What about if you ran into 4Boyz?" Lia's eyes immediately misted over as she imagined meeting the famous American boy-band. Peter grinned maliciously. Seeing this, Lia realised that she had been caught out. She stuck her tongue out at Peter and looked away in a sulky way.

Peter had swapped Avia for Hornet, his new Beedrill, and Buck for Lola, the female Nidoran. He was planning on doing some training on the grassy knoll just next to the Pokémon Centre. Lia, too, had swapped around her Pokémon team, withdrawing her Caterpie and her Weedle in favour of her two flying-types, and she was looking forward to getting to know their fighting styles.

"Of course, I have come out of this with one big prize," Peter said. Lia looked at him curiously. "Those Trainer cards are now worth about three times as much now they are autographed!"

As the two friends walked into the Atrium, they passed Nurse Joy, who seemed to have quite recovered from her glee at seeing her boyfriend again. "Peter?" she called quietly. Peter looked up. "Can I talk to you for a moment?"

Peter walked over to the front desk. "I'll see you outside, okay Peter?" Lia called. Peter nodded and waved as she walked out of the automatic doors.

"Peter, do you still have your Pichu with you?" Joy asked. Peter nodded and showed her Curious, who was currently fast asleep in her carrying sling. The Pichu slept and ate a lot, but Peter had enough vague memories of Katie's first year of life to expect that. "You know, technically you aren't allowed to have more than six Pokémon with you at any time," Joy said. "Even if one of them is only a baby."

"Well, that's okay," Peter said. "She isn't really 'mine.' She's just travelling with me."

Joy blinked. "So you are saying that she is a wild Pokémon?" she said in some surprise. "Why is she staying with you?"

"It's a long story," Peter said. "The short version is something like this: She's Shock's younger sister, and she sort of stowed away in my backpack after I captured her big sister." Peter smiled down at the cute Pichu and tickled her. Curious sighed delightedly in her sleep and rolled over slightly, further into the sling. "She just wants to see the world, but she is too young to fight. In any case, I don't want to capture her when she is so young."

"Peter," Joy sighed and shook her head. "I am sorry, but if you won't capture her, you will have to either release her into the wild or trade her to another Trainer who will train her." Peter looked at Joy in surprise. "You can't keep a wild Pokémon as a pet," Joy said sympathetically. "If you won't keep her as yours, you aren't allowed to keep her at all."

"But… she isn't a pet or anything," Peter protested. "She is a friend who is travelling around with me."

"I'm very sorry," Joy said. "The League's rules are clear. If you won't be her Trainer, then I will have to have her returned to her natural habitat."

"But…" Peter protested again. "Joy, she will try and find us if you do that! She couldn't possibly make it all the way here from Viridian Forest! She might die!"

"I don't want to sound heartless, but that is not your concern if you are not her Trainer," Joy said as gently as she could.

Suddenly, Shock leapt from Peter's shoulder and interposed herself in between Joy and Peter, her cheeks sparking. [Do not touch my sister, human,] she growled. [You will not do anything to her or to Peter if you value your life!]

"Novice Croft, restrain your Pikachu!" Joy said firmly, her voice suddenly laden with authority. Peter jumped involuntarily. "Either call her off or recall her to her Pokéball if she will not obey you!" Joy realised that the situation was tumbling out of control. Peter was clearly disoriented and didn't know what to do. Shock, meanwhile, seemed likely to act on her own initiative if Peter didn't take charge of her immediately. "Novice Croft, I said, restrain her!" Joy said firmly. "You know the licence penalties that the League will impose if you let her assault a human."

Yes, Peter did know. His licence would be suspended for a year, and he might possibly lose all his Pokémon except his starter, Shadow. Certainly, Shock would be put to sleep if she seriously hurt a human in any circumstances other than defending herself or her Trainer. "Shock, please calm down. I won't let her hurt Curious," Peter said. Joy smiled slightly, noting how the young novice had termed his command to his Pikachu. The boy had obviously figured out the little electric-type's psychology. Shock looked strangely at Peter out of the corner of her eye. However, she did back away from Joy to stand right in front of him, still maintaining a very aggressive posture. Peter took a few seconds to think before saying anything. "I won't let you take Curious away from her friends and from Shock," he said at last.

"Peter," Joy said gently, "you don't have a choice! The League's rules…"

"SHUT UP!" Joy jumped at the way the ten-year-old had just shouted at her. "I'm trying to think!" He was crying! That broke Joy's heart. She was tough and loved fighting in the local Amateur Pokémon Trainer tournaments with her band of rescued Pokémon, but that didn't stop her from being caring. The poor kid was going through an emotional hell right now. He had obviously fallen in love with the little Pichu and did not want to capture her. It was strange, but he valued her wildness.

"If I put her in a Pokéball," Peter said at last, "she will go to the Research Centre in Pallet Town. I could teleport her back at once, but I would have to send one of my fighting Pokémon back to Pallet to make room." Peter closed his eyes for a moment before looking at Joy again. "I won't ask her to fight for me, Joy, she's only eight months old, and it would be cruel to send her to the Research Centre far from her friends! Isn't there anything you can do?"

Joy opened her mouth to say 'no,' but stopped. "There is one technicality," she said at last. "A Pokémon doesn't have to be in a Pokéball to be owned, you know. They only have to have an ID transponder."

Peter thought about that for a moment. [Peter,] Shock whispered. Peter looked at her. [Don't put her in a ball, please. She is too young to be… a… a slave.]

"Shock," Peter sighed. "Shock, don't you trust me yet? I won't see Curious as a slave, even if she were a fighting Pokémon like you!" Peter touched the Pikachu, heartbroken by her look of despondency. "Do you trust me?" he asked her.

[Yes,] Shock said. [I do. But this is my sister!]

"Trust me now," he said. With a deep sigh, he pulled a Pokéball out of his belt pouch and maximised it. Shock looked on in terror. To her utter surprise, Peter pushed a mechanical switch on the opposite side of the ball to the recall lens. The ball sprang open, but remained deactivated. "Nurse Joy, can you put this Pokéball's transponder into Curious for me?" he asked.

"Of course," the head nurse replied. "But Peter, you will still have one too many Pokémon…"

"I said that she isn't a fighting Pokémon," Peter said firmly. "I won't treat her as one either. She stays with me, as well as my six fighters, until she is old enough to start Training properly, which won't be in anything less than four months from now." Joy opened her mouth to protest, but Peter beat her to the punch. "That is my decision as her Trainer," Peter announced with considerable pomposity for a ten-year-old. "If the League Commissioners want, I will tell them so to their faces!"

"Do it," said another voice. "My authority."

Joy looked up in some surprise when Ash walked out of the shadows. Peter nearly jumped out of his skin. Who knew how long Master Ash had been observing this little drama? "Ash!" Joy protested. "There are rules…"

"Yes and the most sacred rule is that a Pokémon's Trainer is the final and absolute arbiter of where that Pokémon goes and what it does," Ash said, his expression cold.

Joy shivered involuntarily, not liking the sub-zero look Ash was aiming at her. It was as if three years of close friendship (through their respective relationships with Brock) had never happened. "Ash…" she protested hopelessly.

"Peter, as Curious' Trainer, has made his decision, and, as the Pokémon Master, I am hereby ordering you to comply with that decision, Head Nurse Burke." Joy opened and closed her mouth like a landed Magikarp for a few seconds at the harshly formal tone of Ash's voice. The hostile way that Ash's Raichu and Bayleef were staring at her made her feel very nervous. "The League wants Trainers to view Pokémon as friends rather than possessions," Ash said in a strangely gentle tone. "We have to decide whether we mean them to live by that policy or not. Peter will not see his friend separated from her friends and kin. We should respect that. So long as he does not use her as a fighting Pokémon, he is not violating any rules by keeping her with him." Ash smiled slightly, thinking of a certain egg-like Pokémon who was the seventh Pokémon accompanying a certain ginger-haired mermaid of his acquaintance for a while. "Please do it now," he said quietly.

"Y… Yes, Master," Joy said at last. She picked up Peter's open Pokéball and turned back to the young Pokémon Master again. "This is going to cost me my job, you know," she commented in a wry tone of voice. She realised that she had been outmanoeuvred. The Pokémon Master's word was law to all League personnel. She couldn't reject Peter's somewhat… irregular idea now that Ash had suddenly turned it into an order.

"No it won't," Ash said, "because Peter will be nice and discreet and won't mention this little misunderstanding. Will you?" Peter shook his head fiercely. "I didn't think so," Ash said with a smile.

As Shock looked on in confusion, Peter gently lifted Curious from her carrying sling and laid her on the desk in front of Joy. Joy had pulled a microchip out of the Pokéball and inserted it into a device that looked like a fountain pen that she had pulled from a tray of medical instruments that her Chancey brought out to her. Joy touched the 'nib' of the device to Curious' scruff and pressed the top of the device. There was a quiet pneumatic hiss and then Joy put the device away. She pulled out a device that looked like a hand-held metal detector and waved it over the Pichu. The device bleeped and an LED display on its' back lit up with a serial number. 'IND-PAL66D-PHC-0011.'

"It's done," Joy announced, feeling a curious mix of exhilaration and chagrin about how Ash had manoeuvred her into breaking all kinds of rules to do the right thing. Maybe I could get used to this, she thought.

Peter gently resettled Curious back into her sling. [And she didn't even wake up once,] Shock said in a curious tone. She smiled and jumped back onto her Trainer's shoulder as he snapped the Pokéball closed and tucked it into one of the inside pockets of his jacket. [Thank you… Pokémon Master,] she added, nodding once to Ash.

"The pleasure's all mine," Ash said with a smile.

***

"So, what did Nurse Joy want?" Lia asked, looking up from where Caterpie and Weedle were glaring at each other.

"Oh, just some bureaucratic stuff about Curious," Peter replied easily. "She had to register her as one of my Pokémon because of some silly rule. Just routine." Lia accepted that without question and turned her attention back to her two bug-types.

***

"Well it was a hard decision," announced Flint Slate, Leader of the Boulder Gym. "However, I think that the young novice handled it as well as possible."

"I still think it was a bad idea," Joy said, the harsh tone of her voice completely at odds with the relaxed way she had snuggled against Brock's side. "If the League finds out…"

"If the League finds out, it will be my responsibility," Ash interrupted. "Don't worry, Joy. I think you'll find out that everything will work out just fine." The young Master leaned back, enjoying Misty's close proximity. "That little Pichu is so cute! I just have the feeling that she will solve the problem for her Trainer without him even having to ask."

"My hero," Misty whispered into Ash's ear. "Besides," she continued aloud, "baby Pokémon are exempt from a lot of rules. When I first got Togepi, I didn't keep her in a Pokéball for over four years."

"Yeah, well the Demon Eggs can get away with a lot because everyone is afraid to cross them," Karlie said tartly.

"I really thought that having a Togepi of your own would change your attitude, Kaz," Misty said with a sigh, rolling her eyes at Karlie's oft-stated mistrust of Togepis. "Can't you see they are just harmless babies?"

Karlie snorted. "My Togepi is one of my toughest fighters!" she said. "'Harmless' isn't a word that I would use to describe him!" She shook her head. "I still can't figure out how you persuaded me to adopt him!"

"It took about three seconds after you saw how powerful Togetic is now," Misty responded with a sly smile. "Togetics are the most powerful of the earth-type, and you love earth-types." The former Cerulean City gym leader grinned maliciously at her friend. "Unfortunately for you, you have to get Togepi to experience level 28 to evolve, and I bet you still have a long way to go!"

Flint grinned at Karlie's expression of disgust and anger. Having these young people around was always a refreshing experience. Even though his kids were fun, they were growing up and spending more time with their friends. The Gym Leader's residence was almost empty some evenings apart from himself and his wife of three years, the local Officer Jenny. Maybe he should suggest to her that they do something about that… Suddenly something caught his eye. As Misty settled back next to Ash, she reached forwards to twine hands with him. Both young people wore a gold ring with a solitaire diamond on their left ring finger. "Oho! What is this I see?" he asked. "Those aren't your 'Promise Rings!'"

Ash went bright red, and so did Misty. Joy leaned forward with a gasp of appreciation. With a delighted squeal, Karlie virtually jumped from Tracey's side and grabbed Misty's left hand, staring at her friend's new ring. "Oh Misty! Does this mean what I think?" Karlie asked.

Brock's mouth dropped open. "Wa!" he cried. "When did this happen?" he asked desperately. How could he have been so wrapped up in himself that he missed something like this?

"At the ball after Ash was declared the Pokémon Master," Misty said with a curious expression. "We kept it secret because we didn't want a media feeding frenzy." Everyone nodded wisely at that necessary precaution. Ash was a public figure, after all, and whatever he did was bound to attract tabloid scrutiny.

"So, when is the big day?" Tracey asked, recovering from his shock.

"Next spring," Ash said. "I'll be eighteen then, and legally free to marry. It isn't that I don't think that Mom would give her consent, but I don't want to put her on the spot like that." No one really doubted that Delilah would hesitate for a second before giving her son permission to wed, but it spoke well of Ash and Misty that they didn't want her to have to take the responsibility. Everyone in the room had been waiting for this moment. Ash and Misty had been a couple for two years now and nothing had come close to separating them.

"A spring wedding, that is sooo romantic," Karlie said, her eyes misting over.

Flint grinned to himself and waited for Joy and Karlie to stop 'oohing' and 'ahing' over Misty's ring. "Well, this is a day to remember," he said jovially. "I hope that you are paying close attention to this moment, son; you too Artist."

Brock blinked and looked up at his father. "Why, Dad?" he asked. Tracey was looking at the Gym Leader in a questioning way too.

"Because Ash is the youngest of you and yet his is still the first in this group to give his woman a ring," Flint said with a broad grin. "You two have a lot of catch-up to do." Karlie and Joy turned away from Misty and looked at their respective boyfriends in a strange way. Brock and Tracey began to sweat heavily.

***

"Okay, Chikorita, use Vine Whip!"

"Use Horn Charge, Thumper!" Peter's male Nidoran dodged through Chikorita's flailing tendrils and struck the plant type clean in between the eyes with the bony horn in between his eyes. Chikorita squeaked in pain and fell over, his eyes crossed over.

"Ah… blast," Lia said, waving her hands in vexation. She recalled her fainted Pokémon to his Pokéball. "How did you do that, Peter? Poison-types are weak against plant-types and Chikorita is at a higher experience level than Thumper!"

"Yeah, but remember that plant-types are also weak against poison-types, and normal-type attacks are good against everything except ghost-types," Peter said with a grin. He knelt and held out his arms so Thumper could rush over and enjoy a congratulatory hug. "That gave Thumper an advantage."

Lia thought about that and nodded. "So, you should use non-native attacks in native battles," she said. "Even if the Pokémon is technically at a disadvantage, some of the attacks might still be good… Hmm… Interesting." Lia was looking inward and pulling at her lip as she thought about changes to her tactics.

"Let's get back to the Pokémon Centre," Peter suggested quietly. Lia jumped as her friend's words interrupted her introspection. When she saw that the sun was setting behind the Silver Mountains to the west, she realised that it was, indeed, late and that she was hungry.

If Nurse Joy seemed to be behaving oddly when she took their Pokémon, Lia thought nothing of it. What did surprise her was Peter suddenly pulling Pokéball from his jacket and recalling Curious to it. Peter coolly asked Joy to give the Pichu a full check-up. Joy seemed to be on the verge of laughter for some reason. Lia swore to herself that she would get the whole story out of Peter if it was the last thing that she did.

***

Peter looked up at the impressive gothic façade of the Boulder Gym a little uncertainly. 'Intimidated' wasn't a sufficient term for how he felt.

Lia, not easily impressed by anyone or anything, barged forwards through the entrance arch. Two huge statues of Rhydons were the supporting columns for the entrance. A small notice board was pinned up behind one. "Hey look at this, Peter!" Lia called.

Peter walked over. Lia was staring angrily at a notice up on the board headed 'Recent Winners of the Boulder Badge.' The most recent name was nauseously familiar. 'Adam Bryant.' "How did he get here before us?" Peter asked loudly. "We were a good half a day ahead of him when we left Viridian City!"

"Sorry?" asked another voice. A girl, about thirteen years old as far as Peter could tell, walked over. She was oriental looking like Lia, but her shoulder-length hair had touches of brown in it. A football-sized lump of rock with arms was hovering at her side: A Geodude. "Hi, I'm Ruby Slate, the Gym Leader's daughter," she said with an infectiously good-natured grin. "Can I help you?"

"Maybe," Peter said. "Do you remember this guy?" He pointed at Adam's name.

Ruby frowned. "European-looking boy?" she asked. "About your height with dark hair? Smiles a lot, but not in a nice way?" Peter nodded. "It's no secret," the girl said. "He arrived on the bus from Viridian City. He had lots of Pokémon though! Dad said that his Nidorans were really tough!" Ruby turned away and walked off, her Geodude sticking loyally to her side.

Peter and Lia stared at each other in disbelief and anger. "What…? How?" Lia blurted. "If he took the bus, he would have missed all the Pokémon on Route 2!"

Peter was thinking furiously. Among the notices and posters was the bus timetable for all the local routes. One route came from Viridian City and stopped at Viridian Forest's southern entrance. "I know," Peter groaned. "He must have stopped off at the forest, picked up all the Pokémon there were there and then took the bus on to Pewter City. That is how he has managed to get ahead of us!"

"Lousy cheating son of a…" Lia scowled and fell silent. Peter was surprised that Lia knew such language. Then again, from what his Dad had told him about Sean McAlester, her father, he wasn't that surprised.

"Well, we're playing catch up," Peter announced. "No more time to waste." With that, he led Lia into the interior of the Boulder Gym.

The fighting arena was much as Peter had heard it described by older Trainers. As well as the 200-metre by 50-metre fighting area, there were also high bleachers for spectators along the long sides of the fighting area. The Gym Leader's platform was slightly raised at the far end of the area and huge boulders littered the area, making it that bit harder to fight here.

As Peter and Lia entered, an oriental boy intercepted them. He was about sixteen, maybe, and wore glasses like Peter's. "Hi," the boy said. "I'm Shale, the Gym Leader's son," he said. "You two are new here! Are you looking to fight my Dad for the Boulder Badge?"

"Eventually," Peter said before Lia could announce the imminence of her victory. "We're looking to get our Pokémon ready first, though."

"Speak for yourself," Lia said with a laugh.

"It's no laughing matter," Shale said firmly. "Dad is tough, and his Pokémon aren't like any you've faced before, I'll bet." Both novices looked at the boy expectantly and waited for him to explain. "Rock- and ground-types have very high defence levels, even when they are at low experience levels," Shale explained. "You have to be cunning and have to know how to conserve your Pokémon's health in battle. Additionally, electric-type attacks just won't work, so your Pikachus won't be much use here."

Shock snorted and looked away in disgust. She clearly didn't think much of that prediction. Spark looked like he couldn't wait to prove Shale wrong. "No offence intended, Lady Pikachu" Shale said and bowed respectfully to Shock, which seemed to mollify her a little.

"I heard that Master Ash won using only his Pikachu," Peter said.

Shale laughed. "Well, Uncle Ash is an exception to lots of rules," he said. "His Pikachu is pretty tough as it is and Dad helped a little by letting Ash boost his power from a generator he had in his pottery shop." Shale saw Peter and Lia's confusion, so he explained. "Brock was the Gym Leader then, as Dad had kinda disappeared a few years before. Anyway, Dad liked Ash so he helped him out. I think Ash would have won, if we kids hadn't interfered. Anyway, Brock liked Ash's style so much that he gave him the Boulder Badge anyway, for being a caring and kind Trainer." Shale shrugged. "Go figure."

Across the arena, something was happening and it caught Peter's attention. "Go Sandshrew!" someone shouted. It was someone who looked like a younger Brock, but with longer hair and more casual clothes. "Use Slash!" The sandy-coloured ground-type that the young man had just released leapt towards Master Ash's Raichu, who was glaring at him confidently.

"Raichu, use Agility," Ash shouted. Raichu turned into a blur and dodged the clumsy attack effortlessly. "Okay, now follow up with Tail Whip!" The Raichu's long tail struck the Sandshrew around the face and sent it sprawling onto its' back. "Yeah! Now use Swift!" Raichu, still an indistinct tan blur shot forwards and hit Sandshrew hard, just as it was struggling to his feet. The ground-type went sprawling again.

"Be careful, Sandshrew!" the Brock look-alike shouted, looking genuinely distressed at what was happening to his Pokémon. "Use Cut!"

"Use Growl!" Ash countered. Sandshrew slowed right down and stared fearfully at Raichu, completely flummoxed by the power of the sonic assault. The Cut attack, when it finally came, was almost half-hearted and Raichu barely seemed to notice it. "Okay, now use Body Slam!" Raichu slammed into the Sandshrew and knocked it down, this time for good.

"Poor Steel," Shale said quietly. "He's my oldest brother, next to Brock. He is pretty good, and was Brock's assistant for a while before Dad came home. He is a good Trainer, but he just can't get his head around the fact that Uncle Ash is a better Trainer than him, for all he is three years younger than him."

As the three watched, Steel released a Diglett and Ash responded by releasing a beautifully groomed Umbreon. The earth-type scored an opening strike with Quick Attack, but a Dig attack knocked it flying seconds later. Umbreon was clearly strong enough to handle one or two hits, even from such a formidable attack. Steel decided to try the same attack again. However, Ash responded with another Quick Attack and the impact sent the mole-like ground-type tumbling across the arena. Steel pleaded with Diglett to get up, but the small Pokémon was too stunned to respond before Umbreon finished the matter with a Hyper Beam.

Peter was astounded at seeing the Pokémon Master in action in real life. Ash was faster and more decisive than he ever had imagined. He watched, entranced, as Flint and Ash both commiserated with Steel. "He is incredible!" Peter breathed. "I mean… Umbreon shouldn't have stood a chance against such a strong Diglett!"

Lia was impressed too. "He really is a Master," she admitted quietly. "Beating two ground-types with an electric-type and an earth-type… That isn't supposed to be possible."

Shale grinned. "Uncle Ash is a great Trainer," the boy said with a broad smile. "We're lucky to have him come here! If Steel ever could admit that Ash could teach him something, he would be great too!"

Ash had noticed his audience when Misty elbowed him in the ribs and pointed them out. "Well, its' Peter and Lia!" he called out. "Nice to see you two kids. Do you think that you would do better than Steel here?"

"Jeez, Ash, give it a rest," Steel protested weakly.

"S… sir?" Peter stuttered nervously.

"Do you want to battle me?" Ash clarified. "Six on six, say the loser gets to buy the winner a dinner or something?"

Peter had to restrain his instinct to bolt. "NO!" he said firmly, almost fearfully. "No sir, I think I would like to train my Pokémon a little before trying something like that."

Oddly enough, Ash didn't seem flattered by Peter's caution but insulted. "Peter, you can't run away all your life," he said. "You must have faith in your Pokémon and in their abilities. They can do wonders, but only if you believe in them." Peter seemed confused by that. Surely there was nothing wrong in knowing your limits! Ash walked over and spoke in a way that made Peter wonder if the Pokémon Master could read minds. "You don't know your limits yet, Peter. You won't find them until you try. Never be afraid, just keep pushing forwards until you hit the wall."

"And when you hit the wall?" Lia asked in a curious tone.

"Then you keep beating your head against that wall until it falls down," Ash said with a grin.

"Which is easy when you have as hard a head as Ashy-boy here," Misty added.

"Misty," Ash protested weakly as his fiancée laughed at his pained expression. "She is such a tease," Ash explained to a startled Peter and Lia. "It helps her make up for the fact that she has never beaten me once."

"Luck is everything," Misty shot back tauntingly. Ash smirked at her, an eyebrow raised in a mocking fashion. Misty responded by sticking out her tongue and pulling down an eyelid.

***

Pretty soon, Peter was entranced as he listened to Ash explain his strategies, his methods and his many mistakes. Peter had Shadow, Shock, Avia, Thumper, Lola and Bugsy sitting around him while Ash had his Raichu, Umbreon, Gyarados, Espeon, his Nidorino (named 'Spike') and his Nidorina (named 'Azure').

Lia sneaked off after a few minutes. She was naturally curious and inquisitive and she had noticed Ruby telling her father something. The Gym Leader had scowled and walked out of one of the gym's side entrances. With Peter completely involved in his one-on-one tuition from Ash, Lia decided to check it out.

As she sneaked out into the loading dock behind the gym, she heard two masculine voices raised in argument. "Flint, you are a hypocrite," said the first. "For God's sake, you abandoned your family for four years while you were trying to become a League Trainer. What is the difference between you and me?"

The next voice was the Gym Leader's. "Don't make the mistake of thinking we are anything alike," Flint said, calmly but angrily. "I have made my mistakes, but I am sorry for them. I have spent every moment of the last seven years trying to atone for them!" Making herself as small as possible, Lia edged around the corner to try and see whom he was talking to. To her utter shock, it was the former Pokémon Master, the one that Ash beat and claimed his title from, Lance Knight. The man was pacing up and down in front of Flint, looking very frustrated.

"Flint, I am trying to atone for my mistakes now," he said. "I want to help Ash in his new role. I have contacts and experience that he would find invaluable. Delilah is so bitter that she has poisoned his heart against me, but if you and Brock intervene, he will listen to you."

"Lance, you are not trying to atone for anything," Flint said contemptuously. "I know Ash, and, through Brock, I know a little of this story. I know enough to know that you don't feel sorry for one thing that you have done since you abandoned your family. You walked out on them and tried to edit them out of your life permanently. But now the tables are turned, and if you want to continue to live the life to which you have become accustomed, you will have to rely on your son's reputation and position." Flint laughed harshly. "You aren't trying to atone yourself to Ash, Lance," he said. "You are trying to use him to sustain your own position!"

Lance had stopped pacing and was staring Flint in the face, flexing his hands into fists and grinding his teeth. "Has it occurred to you," Lance growled, "that the only difference between you and me is that I succeeded and you failed?"

"You may be right," Flint said with a shrug. "What does it matter? What matters is this: I recognised that what I did was wrong. In true repentance, I came crawling back on my hands and knees to my family and they were willing to take me back, something for which I have never stopped thanking God." Flint sucked in a deep breath and looked Lance firmly in the eye. "You don't see anything wrong about anything you did to Ash and his family, Lance. Your only motive for trying to get close to Ash now is that you are jealous of his newfound status, and you want to use him for your own benefit."

"Are you so sure?" Lance rasped.

"Your actions prove it," Flint said. "You had a chance to tell Ash your real identity when he first won the Indigo League, but you didn't. You only revealed yourself to him when you thought it would win you an advantage in your battle with him earlier this year." Flint shook his head and laughed quietly before continuing. "Has it occurred to you to go to Ash and beg his forgiveness for abandoning him?" From the startled expression on Lance's face, it was obvious that it hadn't. "You have tried to sell yourself to him as if this was a business arrangement, Lance. In doing so, you have clearly exposed your selfish motives to your son. No amount of endorsements from Brock, myself or anyone else could change that." Lance looked down and turned away. "If you truly want his forgiveness," Flint added, "then Lance Knight must die. Only Michael Ketchum can ever earn his son's love again."

Lance turned and looked at Flint, his face void of expression. "Mike Ketchum was weak; a loser held back by his caring for anyone except himself." he said quietly. Flint could tell that these were words that the other man had said to himself many times. "I am Lance Knight, the rightful Pokémon Master, and Ash is going to help me retain the glory, fame and wealth that is mine by right one way or another. I am willing to let him profit by this, as he is my son. It is more than he deserves for stealing my title away." Lance whirled and pulled a Pokéball. "Go Aerodactyl!" A huge flying Pokémon materialised in the loading area. "Look, Flint, no matter what you think of my motives, I am willing to help Ash make the most of his little moment of fame," Lance said. "Tell him that, and tell him that I am not willing to wait forever. The next Pokémon Master might value my friendship far more."

"And with those words you show your true self," Flint said in a disgusted tone. Lance snorted contemptuously, jumped onto Aerodactyl's back and the Pokémon launched itself into the sky.

Lia sneaked back into the Gym, her mind whirling with what she had just heard. Lance was Master Ash's father! He had run away from his family and now wanted to come back! She had a lot to think about.

***

Two people in black paramilitary uniforms had paused at the entrance to Pewter City. Ned and Kelly were not in the best of moods. After a very hard landing, they had spent the last five days recovering from massive electrical burns. Ned still had his left lower arm in an inflatable cast. If it wasn't bad enough, the Twerps stealing away their loot for the second time, they managed to add injury to insult.

"This time, we've got them," Kelly said confidently. "Pewter City is the first badge on the circuit. If we wait at the entrance to Route 3, they will have to wander by eventually. Then we will have them!"

Ned looked at Kelly. He didn't like the way her eyes sparkled with glee. Frankly, she was beginning to make him nervous. "Whatever," he said. "So long as we get plenty of Pokémon to give to the Boss so that he forgives us."

"Ned, I promise you that nothing will go wrong this time," Kelly said with a broad smile. "Believe me, we cannot lose this time!"

***

"Lights out in fifteen minutes, that is lights out in fifteen minutes," the tannoy boomed.

"Well, I guess I'll see you tomorrow," Peter said, stretching tiredly. "It's going to be a big day. Our first Gym Badges."

"You really believe that?" Lia asked with a sly grin.

Peter laughed. "Yeah, I do," he said. "Master Ash is right about belief. I think I know how I am going to beat Flint too."

"I'm sure," Lia said kindly. She paused as if she was thinking about something. "You know," she said, "it's odd, but nothing is ever quite as it seems at first. I mean you would think that someone as famous as Master Ash would have no problems at all, but that isn't so."

"Are you okay, Lia?" Peter asked. She had been behaving oddly all day.

"Just a little tired," she said. "I'll see you in the morning, Peter. You too guys!"

There was a chorus of [Goodnight!] from Peter's Pokémon, Lia's responding in turn. Peter shook his head. As soon as Lia had left the room, he locked the door and changed into his pyjamas. As he had already said, tomorrow promised to be a big day.

To be continued _