ALTERNATE REALITY STORY 1 - WHAT LEGENDS ARE MADE OF
SAGA 1: THE LEGEND BEGINS
© Copyright 2000 by Flareon
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Pokémon. I wish I did, but I do not. I just write these fanfiction.
^These things^ - Means thought or psychic communication.
'Apostrophes' - Means Pokémon language deciphered into human language.
[Brackets] - Means author notes.
TheseStrangeThings - Means change of scene.
Narrator: "Last time, our heroes Ash and Misty had to fight each other. Ash ended up winning, and earned the Cascade Badge. Now, out hero is out relaxing, enjoying a week of battling various rival Trainers. Let's see what he's up to now..."
Brock: "Episode 8: AJ and Sandslash!"
We see a Pidgeotto battling a Raticate.
Ash: "Pidgeotto, use Drill Peck now!"
Pidgeotto whirled around and around then sped towards the ground, knocking the Raticate to the edge of the field, its eyes glazed in defeat. The opponent Trainer congratulated Ash as he recalled it.
Trainer, shaking Ash's hand: "You're a really great Pokémon Trainer."
Ash, cheerfully: "Thanks."
Trainer, with admiration: "I've watched your other battles around here. How many matches have you won, again?"
Ash, looking up, calculating: "Well, if you add my Gym matches, that would make, I think about it was thirty wins out of thirty-one."
Trainer, curious: "Who did you lose to?"
Ash, pointing at Brock, who was walking up to them: "Him. He was the Pewter City Gym Leader."
Misty, who was also walking up: "But those matches shouldn't count! I forced you to do something that made you lose."
Trainer, confused: "Huh?"
Ash, turning directly to Misty: "No, you just made a suggestion and I was too irrational, so I lost."
Misty: "But it wasn't fair!"
Ash: "Was too!"
They went on like this. Brock pulled the bemused Trainer aside.
Brock: "Don't worry, they argue about Ash's skill a lot. Anyway, even I think Ash has won now thirty battles out of thirty. That battle was a fluke. He may say I beat him, but he's just stubbornly against thinking he's better than anyone else. I think its because he failed in beating all others in the Game League, so he doesn't want to get his ego hurt again. Both Misty and I think he'll win in the Indigo League, which is why Misty tries to get Ash to be 'not so damn modest', I think it was."
Trainer, not seeming to follow Brock: "Huh?"
Brock, speaking slowly: "Ash is very good, okay?"
Trainer, stepping into the argument and nodding at Ash: "Man, you might even be able to stand a chance of beating AJ!"
Misty, a little angry that the argument was interrupted [when she thought she was winning]: "Who's AJ?"
Trainer: "AJ is a Pokémon Trainer who made himself a Gym and competed in the Pokémon League this last year. He collected all of his badges through his Sandslash. He just arrived back into town yesterday. He has now won one hundred and ten matches in all. His Sandslash only lost one match, after beating the Pokémon League Champion's five first Pokemon by itself, then being set against a really strong Venusaur that wiped out all of Aj's other Pokémon as well."
Misty, amazed: "Wow..."
Ash, awed: "Woahhh..."
Trainer, pointing east: "Anyway, he's facing challengers in his Gym, over in that direction. You might be able to beat him."
Ash, in an 'are you crazy' kind of way: "No way! But I can get the experience of how he handles it in battle."
They marched through some trees for awhile, until they found a large building, a Gym. They knew it was a Gym because it said, "AJ's Gym Wins: 110 Losses: 1". They knocked on the front gate and someone opened the door. He was riding on a Tauros and had opened the door, astride.
Ash: "Hello! Are you (pointing to the sign) AJ?"
AJ: "Yep. I suppose you, like all of the other Trainers, came here to battle me?"
Ash: "Actually that's only one reason. I know I could probably never take you on in this decade, but I might as well try. I also want to see your Gym, and your Sandslash."
AJ, puffing up: "Well, okay. Sandslash!"
The ground started rumbling and a large creature burst through the ground. It was an unusually huge Sandslash. Its eyes gleamed and its long spikes were shaking, as Sandslash tried to get the dirt out of its fur.
Sandslash: "Slash?" 'What's up?"
AJ: "Sandslash, now we're going to fight this Trainer,"
Ash: "Yeah."
Sandslash led them to an outside arena, which was chalked in yellow chalk.
AJ: "I choose Sandslash!"
Ash, thinking: ^Now, I can't use Pikachu, and Charmander is weak against Sandslash too, so-^
Pikachu, psychically to Ash: ^Pick me!^
Ash, psychically to Pikachu: ^But you'd get creamed. I mean, maybe in two years when I'm a better Trainer, but Sandslash is a Ground-type who has been trained by the best Trainer for two years using Sandslash, who is good against Electric, and though you might be able to win if I were good enough, I wouldn't risk it.^
Pikachu, stubbornly and psychically to Ash: ^YOU are the best Trainer. Besides, it'd be an honor to face a fantastic Sandslash. If I lost, I'd still have the honor.^
Ash, sighing psychically to Pikachu: All right.^
Ash: "Go! Pikachu!"
AJ, Misty and Brock: "PIKACHU??!"
Ash, annoyed: "You heard me!"
AJ: "Um, okay. You get first move."
Ash: "Right. Go Pikachu! Try Agility!"
Pikachu started speeding around Sandslash.
AJ: "Sandslash! Try Comet Kick when Pikachu zooms around this time!"
The kicks hit Pikachu once, twice, three times. Then something strange happened. When Sandslash reached to kick Pikachu the fourth time, Pikachu grabbed onto the leg.
Ash: "Pikachu! Thunder attack!"
Misty, gasping: "Ash taught Pikachu Thunder!"
Brock, mouth open: "Wooww. And he's only been on his journey, what, almost a month? Doesn't Pikachu learn Thunder around level 50 or 60?"
AJ, shocked: "A MONTH?!"
This caught AJ off guard, taking his mind from combat. Ash smiled with satisfaction as a huge lightning bolt hit Pikachu and traveled through Sandslash's body. Sandslash wasn't used to electricity. Its armor always protected the attacks from hitting. But they couldn't miss now. Sandslash sparkled with electricity. Way, way, up above their heads, above the clouds, an Electric Pokémon God smiled in satisfaction.
Ash: "Pikachu! Now use Thunder Wave while still on Sandslash!"
AJ watched in horror as Sandslash was totally and completely paralyzed, flipping onto its back.
Ash, stunned: "I...I won?..."
AJ, grimly: "Yes. For the second time, Sandslash has been beaten. And this time by a Pikachu."
******
Three pairs of eyes watched from the undergrowth outside the Gym.
Two people and a Pokémon said their new motto: "Team Rocket will do what it has to do, to snatch that little Pikachu!"
One of the persons: "No, that just doesn't feel right!..."
******
Ash: "No, I didn't win. If Brock hadn't distracted you, you would've seen what was happening and parried my thrust."
AJ: "No, it was my fault. I shouldn't have even listened to your friends. It was my fault that did it. So I award you with my Badge. I call it the Chasm Badge."
AJ handed Ash a beige-colored paw-shaped badge.
Ash, marveling at the non-official Badge: "Thanks, AJ. You're being a real sport."
AJ, sighing: "This is just a preview of the next Poké League Games."
Ash: "No! You could win."
AJ, smiling: "No, I don't think so. Here, come inside."
He let them inside a dome. Inside were three Raticates, one Beedrill, and one Butterfree. They seemed to be taking a break.
Misty, looking around: "So, how do you train here?"
AJ, shaking his head: "I don't anymore. Now I just use it as an obstacle course for any of my Pokémon that want to."
Misty, looking up at a certain obstacle: "Woah, a high dive."
AJ: "Yep. Hey, wanna see what my Sandslash's secret is? I shouldn't tell, but I will."
Sandslash looked at him, at the diving board, and ran towards it. He got to it and climbed to the top. Then, it dived, doing three half-twists in the air.
Brock, stunned: "NO! That would hurt Sandslash badly!"
AJ, smirking: "Just watch."
Sandslash landed in the pool in dive-form. It made hardly any splash. After a moment, it spun out of the pool, drying off. Brock's mouth dropped open.
AJ, proudly: "Ya see? Mine is the only Sandslash in the world that can withstand water."
Ash: "WAY COOL!"
AJ toured the others around, talking about the infrastructure and bladdy-blah. Sandslash showed Pikachu his special Training equipment.
Poké Language Translator Activated
Sandslash: 'And this is the Strength Intensifier.'
Pikachu: 'What's it do?'
Sandslash: 'It pulls on your major muscles inwards, so you pull against yourself. The more you pull, the harder it is. AJ made them.'
Pikachu: 'Wow. Let me try one on the lowest setting.'
Sandslash: 'Sure.'
He put one on Pikachu, who handled it well.
Sandslash, shaking his head: 'Hey, Pikachu. I still can't believe you won. I've been wondering. Are you really a Pikachu? I think you could be the Redou instead.'
Pikachu: 'Onix said I looked like one back when I became magnetized. But I'm just a Pikachu with a good Trainer.'
Sandslash, seriously: 'Sometimes, a good Trainer is all you need. You beat me, probably the greatest Sandslash, one of the most powerful Ground types in the world.'
Pikachu: 'Yes, but I was beaten pretty badly by your kicks at first. Then I got lucky when AJ's back was turned.'
Sandslash, eyes wide and looking like he really believed what he was saying: 'I'm serious! You could. Never mind, its behind us.'
Then, as a joke, Sandslash put it on his setting, the highest. Pikachu coiled into a tight ball. Sandslash laughed and became a ball himself.
Poké Language Translator Deactivated
******
Team Rocket was finishing making their ball and electricity-proof bag.
Jesse: "Let's go!"
The hopped in the ball and rolled into the Gym through the back door. They went up to Pikachu and Sandslash. They peeked out of a hatch in the ball. Seeing Sandslash first, they made false assumptions.
Jesse: "Could it be Pikachu?"
Meowth: "Yeah, that's it. Now hurry up! All this rolling is making me nauseous!"
They jammed Sandslash [with some difficulty they didn't notice because they were dizzy and disoriented] into the bag and rolled back out the door. Getting rid of the ball, they ran back the way they came.
******
AJ: "And these are my Strength Intensifiers. Hey, what's your Pikachu doin'?"
Ash: "Waahh!"
Ash tried to undo Pikachu's Intensifier, but didn't know how. AJ did, and Pikachu popped back into his regular form.
AJ: "Hey, Pikachu, have you seen Sandslash?"
Pikachu shook its head.
AJ: "Hey, SAAANNDDDSLAAASH!"
AJ called throughout the Gym, but couldn't find Sandslash.
Ash: "It couldn't have just left. (Throwing all of his Pokéballs) Go, everybody! Search for a Sandslash!"
AJ, waving at his other Pokémon: "You too, guys! Find Sandslash."
They searched for a while, but Sandslash was nowhere to be seen.
Misty: "Hey, if Sandslash isn't here..."
Brock: "...And he didn't just take off..."
Ash: "...Then Sandslash must've been stolen!"
AJ: "Hey, you're right! Who could've stolen Sandslash?"
Ash, Misty, and Brock: "Team Rocket!"
Ash: "Man, I thought after a couple of tries, they'd leave us alone!"
Misty, exasperated: "Ash, they ARE leaving us alone! They just aren't leaving AJ alone..."
AJ: "Anyway, we've got to find Sandslash, and we don't know where to look."
Ash: "You're right. Let's go to where Pikachu last saw Sandslash!"
They ran over to the Strength Intensifiers...
******
James: "Jesse, this bag is too heavy! Did Pikachu gain, say a hundred pounds?"
Jesse: "Oh, stop being a big baby!"
James: "You hold the bag, then!"
Jesse, blushing and backing away from the bag: "But the gentlemen always carry the bags!"
James: "Well, as you know, I'm no gentleman!"
[I thought about this phrase in the show at the episode "Holy Matrimony", and it suddenly made more sense.]
He pushed the bag at Jesse. Suddenly, it opened and a Sandslash jumped out, landing on Meowth.
Sandslash: "Slash!" 'What?!'
Not seeing its Trainer, Sandslash panicked and dug into the ground. Meowth was so surprised, he just hung on to one of Sandslash's quills with his teeth. Sandslash dug back to the Strength Intensifiers.
******
AJ: "...so, you put it on and at first it was fine, but then it became really hard to open, so you couldn't, and when we got here, Sandslash was gone."
Ash, sadly: "Then there is no hope of finding Sandslash, is th-"
Ground: "Rumble Rumble. Pow!"
Sandslash zinged out of the ground, onto the ground, with Meowth on its quill.
Sandslash: "San!" 'AJ!'
AJ, overjoyed: "Sandslash! You're back!"
Ash, curious: "What's this on its spike..."
Meowth woke up, saw Ash and swiped his claws twice.
Ash, covering his face: "Owowowow!"
Meowth: "Hey! Where's Jesse?! Where's James?!"
Parties of Ash and AJ come up on both sides of Meowth.
Parties of people and Pokémon: "Grrrrrr!"
A voice: "Hold it right there!"
Parties: "Hunh?!"
Another voice: "Prepare for trouble!"
They look towards the back door and there's Jesse and James. Meowth runs towards them.
James: "And make it double!"
Jesse: "To protect the world from devastation!"
James: "To unite all people within our nation!"
Jesse: "To denounce the evils of truth and love!"
James: "To extend our reach to the stars above!"
Jesse: "Jesse!"
James: "James!"
Jesse: "Team Rocket, blast of at the speed of light!"
James: "Surrender now, or prepare to fight!"
Meowth: "Meowth, that's right!"
Jesse, crying [with joy, I guess]: "That felt great! We don't need a new motto!"
James, crying as well: "It's a classic!"
AJ: "Are you the ones who stole my Sandslash?!"
Jesse, shaking her finger: "That was an unfortunate mix-up."
James: "We don't want your second-rate Sandslash."
AJ: "Second-rate?!"
Jesse: "All we want is that Pikachu!"
James: "We don't need or want wimps!"
AJ: "Wimps are they?!!"
Jesse: "Hand over Pikachu!"
Ash: "NO! (Stepping forward towards them) And this is for taking-"
He stopped as AJ laid a hand on his shoulder.
AJ, looking at Team Rocket with a glare in his eye: "No. They took MY Sandslash. I'm the one who makes them pay. (Raising his voice) Team Rocket has insulted our Gym! We will answer them with a Pokémon battle. It will be between one of each of their Pokémon against my 'second-rate' Sandslash!"
Jesse: "Fine. If we win, we get all of your Pokémon."
AJ: "Let's go outside."
Team Rocket and AJ marched outside to the arena. Ash and co. followed.
AJ: "Go Sandslash!"
Jesse: "Go Ekans!"
James: "Go Koffing!"
Jesse: "Ekans! Use your Wrap attack!"
Ekans tried to wrap around Sandslash, but it punctured its skin on the quills and let go. Sandslash spun up in the air in a tight ball, then landed on Ekans, scoring a good hit.
James: "Koffing, Sludge attack, now!"
Koffing squirted purple sludge at Sandslash, who tightened into a ball and spun around fast, clockwise, knocking the Sludge back against Koffing.
AJ: "Sandslash finish it! Fissure Strike!"
Sandslash flew up into the air, and it seemed like lightning bolts flashed to it. Then Sandslash flew towards the ground, spinning as fast as Pidgeotto does (doing Drill Peck) to the ground. It hit, sticking straight up into the air. For a long moment, it just held there. Then, the ground split outwards from its claw, making a huge earthquake. Team Rocket fell in. When they climbed out, they ran as fast as they could in the opposite direction of the Gym.
******
Ash: "Hey AJ, how about coming along with us? The next Pokémon League Games aren't until July. You could come with us for awhile and train."
AJ: "I appreciate the offer, but...Sandslash and I have our own path we must follow. We are going to a city where they need a Gym. I'm hoping I can build one there. You were one of the two best Trainers I have ever faced. I hope we meet again."
He extended his hand. Ash reached for it.
Ash, shaking the hand: "And you're the best I've faced. Granted I've only faced thirty-two. I hope we meet up and battle in the Poké League."
AJ: "Agreed. But if we do, you better be in good form, because I only want to lose to expert Trainers."
Ash, Pikachu, Brock, and Misty all set out on the path to Vermillion City. Walking away from them, AJ and Sandslash traveled on a different path, to a different adventure.
Narrator: "The future seems bright for our hero. But it may not be tomorrow. One thing's for sure. They'll never forget the Master Trainer with that great Pokémon Gym."
James, popping in: "Hey, oh original master of the fanfic, what's wrong? I mean, that was easily one of the least imaginative works you've done, basically the same except in the future. My part hardly changed at all! Get with it, man!"
Flareon, irritated: "I couldn't think of anything to change, except Ash winning. If anybodys ['anybodys'? That isn't a word!] out there wants me to change it, they should just tell me. [Hint, hint. Nudge, nudge.] Any other problems?"
James, whining: "I want some JAJRN!"
Flareon, crossing his mighty arms across his mighty chest: "Sorry, no can do. This is a strict AAMRN, Jimmy."
James, angry: "First of all, don't call me 'Jimmy'! I hate that name! Why won't you let me have some romance, huh? I'll be nice!"
Flareon, sighing and rolling his mighty eyes: "James, I don't have the time to deal with you and Jesse, 'kay? I'm a believer in JAJRN [though there isn't nearly a quarter as much evidence as AAMRN], but I don't know if anybodys [there that non-word is again] out there wants it. I mean, you and Jesse are mature enough not to be too awkward about it."
James, crossing his own arms: "Oh yeah? Try me!"
Flareon, annoyed: "That's enough! We'll continue this conversation later! End fic!"
Next, Ash displays some of his knowledge when facing Jazelle and her cronies at Pokémon Tech. And, will Misty win against Jazelle this time?
Anyway, as any readers have guessed, I'm going strictly by the book episode-wise, meaning there probably won't be any extra episodes other than on the TV show, unless I get an idea. I'm going to do a poll right now. Who is your favorite character? Answer in a review. Oh, and someone tell me how to make a fanfic in html format, because I'm not experienced enough to know.
{:FLAREON:}
SAGA 1: THE LEGEND BEGINS
© Copyright 2000 by Flareon
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Pokémon. I wish I did, but I do not. I just write these fanfiction.
^These things^ - Means thought or psychic communication.
'Apostrophes' - Means Pokémon language deciphered into human language.
[Brackets] - Means author notes.
TheseStrangeThings - Means change of scene.
Narrator: "Last time, our heroes Ash and Misty had to fight each other. Ash ended up winning, and earned the Cascade Badge. Now, out hero is out relaxing, enjoying a week of battling various rival Trainers. Let's see what he's up to now..."
Brock: "Episode 8: AJ and Sandslash!"
We see a Pidgeotto battling a Raticate.
Ash: "Pidgeotto, use Drill Peck now!"
Pidgeotto whirled around and around then sped towards the ground, knocking the Raticate to the edge of the field, its eyes glazed in defeat. The opponent Trainer congratulated Ash as he recalled it.
Trainer, shaking Ash's hand: "You're a really great Pokémon Trainer."
Ash, cheerfully: "Thanks."
Trainer, with admiration: "I've watched your other battles around here. How many matches have you won, again?"
Ash, looking up, calculating: "Well, if you add my Gym matches, that would make, I think about it was thirty wins out of thirty-one."
Trainer, curious: "Who did you lose to?"
Ash, pointing at Brock, who was walking up to them: "Him. He was the Pewter City Gym Leader."
Misty, who was also walking up: "But those matches shouldn't count! I forced you to do something that made you lose."
Trainer, confused: "Huh?"
Ash, turning directly to Misty: "No, you just made a suggestion and I was too irrational, so I lost."
Misty: "But it wasn't fair!"
Ash: "Was too!"
They went on like this. Brock pulled the bemused Trainer aside.
Brock: "Don't worry, they argue about Ash's skill a lot. Anyway, even I think Ash has won now thirty battles out of thirty. That battle was a fluke. He may say I beat him, but he's just stubbornly against thinking he's better than anyone else. I think its because he failed in beating all others in the Game League, so he doesn't want to get his ego hurt again. Both Misty and I think he'll win in the Indigo League, which is why Misty tries to get Ash to be 'not so damn modest', I think it was."
Trainer, not seeming to follow Brock: "Huh?"
Brock, speaking slowly: "Ash is very good, okay?"
Trainer, stepping into the argument and nodding at Ash: "Man, you might even be able to stand a chance of beating AJ!"
Misty, a little angry that the argument was interrupted [when she thought she was winning]: "Who's AJ?"
Trainer: "AJ is a Pokémon Trainer who made himself a Gym and competed in the Pokémon League this last year. He collected all of his badges through his Sandslash. He just arrived back into town yesterday. He has now won one hundred and ten matches in all. His Sandslash only lost one match, after beating the Pokémon League Champion's five first Pokemon by itself, then being set against a really strong Venusaur that wiped out all of Aj's other Pokémon as well."
Misty, amazed: "Wow..."
Ash, awed: "Woahhh..."
Trainer, pointing east: "Anyway, he's facing challengers in his Gym, over in that direction. You might be able to beat him."
Ash, in an 'are you crazy' kind of way: "No way! But I can get the experience of how he handles it in battle."
They marched through some trees for awhile, until they found a large building, a Gym. They knew it was a Gym because it said, "AJ's Gym Wins: 110 Losses: 1". They knocked on the front gate and someone opened the door. He was riding on a Tauros and had opened the door, astride.
Ash: "Hello! Are you (pointing to the sign) AJ?"
AJ: "Yep. I suppose you, like all of the other Trainers, came here to battle me?"
Ash: "Actually that's only one reason. I know I could probably never take you on in this decade, but I might as well try. I also want to see your Gym, and your Sandslash."
AJ, puffing up: "Well, okay. Sandslash!"
The ground started rumbling and a large creature burst through the ground. It was an unusually huge Sandslash. Its eyes gleamed and its long spikes were shaking, as Sandslash tried to get the dirt out of its fur.
Sandslash: "Slash?" 'What's up?"
AJ: "Sandslash, now we're going to fight this Trainer,"
Ash: "Yeah."
Sandslash led them to an outside arena, which was chalked in yellow chalk.
AJ: "I choose Sandslash!"
Ash, thinking: ^Now, I can't use Pikachu, and Charmander is weak against Sandslash too, so-^
Pikachu, psychically to Ash: ^Pick me!^
Ash, psychically to Pikachu: ^But you'd get creamed. I mean, maybe in two years when I'm a better Trainer, but Sandslash is a Ground-type who has been trained by the best Trainer for two years using Sandslash, who is good against Electric, and though you might be able to win if I were good enough, I wouldn't risk it.^
Pikachu, stubbornly and psychically to Ash: ^YOU are the best Trainer. Besides, it'd be an honor to face a fantastic Sandslash. If I lost, I'd still have the honor.^
Ash, sighing psychically to Pikachu: All right.^
Ash: "Go! Pikachu!"
AJ, Misty and Brock: "PIKACHU??!"
Ash, annoyed: "You heard me!"
AJ: "Um, okay. You get first move."
Ash: "Right. Go Pikachu! Try Agility!"
Pikachu started speeding around Sandslash.
AJ: "Sandslash! Try Comet Kick when Pikachu zooms around this time!"
The kicks hit Pikachu once, twice, three times. Then something strange happened. When Sandslash reached to kick Pikachu the fourth time, Pikachu grabbed onto the leg.
Ash: "Pikachu! Thunder attack!"
Misty, gasping: "Ash taught Pikachu Thunder!"
Brock, mouth open: "Wooww. And he's only been on his journey, what, almost a month? Doesn't Pikachu learn Thunder around level 50 or 60?"
AJ, shocked: "A MONTH?!"
This caught AJ off guard, taking his mind from combat. Ash smiled with satisfaction as a huge lightning bolt hit Pikachu and traveled through Sandslash's body. Sandslash wasn't used to electricity. Its armor always protected the attacks from hitting. But they couldn't miss now. Sandslash sparkled with electricity. Way, way, up above their heads, above the clouds, an Electric Pokémon God smiled in satisfaction.
Ash: "Pikachu! Now use Thunder Wave while still on Sandslash!"
AJ watched in horror as Sandslash was totally and completely paralyzed, flipping onto its back.
Ash, stunned: "I...I won?..."
AJ, grimly: "Yes. For the second time, Sandslash has been beaten. And this time by a Pikachu."
******
Three pairs of eyes watched from the undergrowth outside the Gym.
Two people and a Pokémon said their new motto: "Team Rocket will do what it has to do, to snatch that little Pikachu!"
One of the persons: "No, that just doesn't feel right!..."
******
Ash: "No, I didn't win. If Brock hadn't distracted you, you would've seen what was happening and parried my thrust."
AJ: "No, it was my fault. I shouldn't have even listened to your friends. It was my fault that did it. So I award you with my Badge. I call it the Chasm Badge."
AJ handed Ash a beige-colored paw-shaped badge.
Ash, marveling at the non-official Badge: "Thanks, AJ. You're being a real sport."
AJ, sighing: "This is just a preview of the next Poké League Games."
Ash: "No! You could win."
AJ, smiling: "No, I don't think so. Here, come inside."
He let them inside a dome. Inside were three Raticates, one Beedrill, and one Butterfree. They seemed to be taking a break.
Misty, looking around: "So, how do you train here?"
AJ, shaking his head: "I don't anymore. Now I just use it as an obstacle course for any of my Pokémon that want to."
Misty, looking up at a certain obstacle: "Woah, a high dive."
AJ: "Yep. Hey, wanna see what my Sandslash's secret is? I shouldn't tell, but I will."
Sandslash looked at him, at the diving board, and ran towards it. He got to it and climbed to the top. Then, it dived, doing three half-twists in the air.
Brock, stunned: "NO! That would hurt Sandslash badly!"
AJ, smirking: "Just watch."
Sandslash landed in the pool in dive-form. It made hardly any splash. After a moment, it spun out of the pool, drying off. Brock's mouth dropped open.
AJ, proudly: "Ya see? Mine is the only Sandslash in the world that can withstand water."
Ash: "WAY COOL!"
AJ toured the others around, talking about the infrastructure and bladdy-blah. Sandslash showed Pikachu his special Training equipment.
Poké Language Translator Activated
Sandslash: 'And this is the Strength Intensifier.'
Pikachu: 'What's it do?'
Sandslash: 'It pulls on your major muscles inwards, so you pull against yourself. The more you pull, the harder it is. AJ made them.'
Pikachu: 'Wow. Let me try one on the lowest setting.'
Sandslash: 'Sure.'
He put one on Pikachu, who handled it well.
Sandslash, shaking his head: 'Hey, Pikachu. I still can't believe you won. I've been wondering. Are you really a Pikachu? I think you could be the Redou instead.'
Pikachu: 'Onix said I looked like one back when I became magnetized. But I'm just a Pikachu with a good Trainer.'
Sandslash, seriously: 'Sometimes, a good Trainer is all you need. You beat me, probably the greatest Sandslash, one of the most powerful Ground types in the world.'
Pikachu: 'Yes, but I was beaten pretty badly by your kicks at first. Then I got lucky when AJ's back was turned.'
Sandslash, eyes wide and looking like he really believed what he was saying: 'I'm serious! You could. Never mind, its behind us.'
Then, as a joke, Sandslash put it on his setting, the highest. Pikachu coiled into a tight ball. Sandslash laughed and became a ball himself.
Poké Language Translator Deactivated
******
Team Rocket was finishing making their ball and electricity-proof bag.
Jesse: "Let's go!"
The hopped in the ball and rolled into the Gym through the back door. They went up to Pikachu and Sandslash. They peeked out of a hatch in the ball. Seeing Sandslash first, they made false assumptions.
Jesse: "Could it be Pikachu?"
Meowth: "Yeah, that's it. Now hurry up! All this rolling is making me nauseous!"
They jammed Sandslash [with some difficulty they didn't notice because they were dizzy and disoriented] into the bag and rolled back out the door. Getting rid of the ball, they ran back the way they came.
******
AJ: "And these are my Strength Intensifiers. Hey, what's your Pikachu doin'?"
Ash: "Waahh!"
Ash tried to undo Pikachu's Intensifier, but didn't know how. AJ did, and Pikachu popped back into his regular form.
AJ: "Hey, Pikachu, have you seen Sandslash?"
Pikachu shook its head.
AJ: "Hey, SAAANNDDDSLAAASH!"
AJ called throughout the Gym, but couldn't find Sandslash.
Ash: "It couldn't have just left. (Throwing all of his Pokéballs) Go, everybody! Search for a Sandslash!"
AJ, waving at his other Pokémon: "You too, guys! Find Sandslash."
They searched for a while, but Sandslash was nowhere to be seen.
Misty: "Hey, if Sandslash isn't here..."
Brock: "...And he didn't just take off..."
Ash: "...Then Sandslash must've been stolen!"
AJ: "Hey, you're right! Who could've stolen Sandslash?"
Ash, Misty, and Brock: "Team Rocket!"
Ash: "Man, I thought after a couple of tries, they'd leave us alone!"
Misty, exasperated: "Ash, they ARE leaving us alone! They just aren't leaving AJ alone..."
AJ: "Anyway, we've got to find Sandslash, and we don't know where to look."
Ash: "You're right. Let's go to where Pikachu last saw Sandslash!"
They ran over to the Strength Intensifiers...
******
James: "Jesse, this bag is too heavy! Did Pikachu gain, say a hundred pounds?"
Jesse: "Oh, stop being a big baby!"
James: "You hold the bag, then!"
Jesse, blushing and backing away from the bag: "But the gentlemen always carry the bags!"
James: "Well, as you know, I'm no gentleman!"
[I thought about this phrase in the show at the episode "Holy Matrimony", and it suddenly made more sense.]
He pushed the bag at Jesse. Suddenly, it opened and a Sandslash jumped out, landing on Meowth.
Sandslash: "Slash!" 'What?!'
Not seeing its Trainer, Sandslash panicked and dug into the ground. Meowth was so surprised, he just hung on to one of Sandslash's quills with his teeth. Sandslash dug back to the Strength Intensifiers.
******
AJ: "...so, you put it on and at first it was fine, but then it became really hard to open, so you couldn't, and when we got here, Sandslash was gone."
Ash, sadly: "Then there is no hope of finding Sandslash, is th-"
Ground: "Rumble Rumble. Pow!"
Sandslash zinged out of the ground, onto the ground, with Meowth on its quill.
Sandslash: "San!" 'AJ!'
AJ, overjoyed: "Sandslash! You're back!"
Ash, curious: "What's this on its spike..."
Meowth woke up, saw Ash and swiped his claws twice.
Ash, covering his face: "Owowowow!"
Meowth: "Hey! Where's Jesse?! Where's James?!"
Parties of Ash and AJ come up on both sides of Meowth.
Parties of people and Pokémon: "Grrrrrr!"
A voice: "Hold it right there!"
Parties: "Hunh?!"
Another voice: "Prepare for trouble!"
They look towards the back door and there's Jesse and James. Meowth runs towards them.
James: "And make it double!"
Jesse: "To protect the world from devastation!"
James: "To unite all people within our nation!"
Jesse: "To denounce the evils of truth and love!"
James: "To extend our reach to the stars above!"
Jesse: "Jesse!"
James: "James!"
Jesse: "Team Rocket, blast of at the speed of light!"
James: "Surrender now, or prepare to fight!"
Meowth: "Meowth, that's right!"
Jesse, crying [with joy, I guess]: "That felt great! We don't need a new motto!"
James, crying as well: "It's a classic!"
AJ: "Are you the ones who stole my Sandslash?!"
Jesse, shaking her finger: "That was an unfortunate mix-up."
James: "We don't want your second-rate Sandslash."
AJ: "Second-rate?!"
Jesse: "All we want is that Pikachu!"
James: "We don't need or want wimps!"
AJ: "Wimps are they?!!"
Jesse: "Hand over Pikachu!"
Ash: "NO! (Stepping forward towards them) And this is for taking-"
He stopped as AJ laid a hand on his shoulder.
AJ, looking at Team Rocket with a glare in his eye: "No. They took MY Sandslash. I'm the one who makes them pay. (Raising his voice) Team Rocket has insulted our Gym! We will answer them with a Pokémon battle. It will be between one of each of their Pokémon against my 'second-rate' Sandslash!"
Jesse: "Fine. If we win, we get all of your Pokémon."
AJ: "Let's go outside."
Team Rocket and AJ marched outside to the arena. Ash and co. followed.
AJ: "Go Sandslash!"
Jesse: "Go Ekans!"
James: "Go Koffing!"
Jesse: "Ekans! Use your Wrap attack!"
Ekans tried to wrap around Sandslash, but it punctured its skin on the quills and let go. Sandslash spun up in the air in a tight ball, then landed on Ekans, scoring a good hit.
James: "Koffing, Sludge attack, now!"
Koffing squirted purple sludge at Sandslash, who tightened into a ball and spun around fast, clockwise, knocking the Sludge back against Koffing.
AJ: "Sandslash finish it! Fissure Strike!"
Sandslash flew up into the air, and it seemed like lightning bolts flashed to it. Then Sandslash flew towards the ground, spinning as fast as Pidgeotto does (doing Drill Peck) to the ground. It hit, sticking straight up into the air. For a long moment, it just held there. Then, the ground split outwards from its claw, making a huge earthquake. Team Rocket fell in. When they climbed out, they ran as fast as they could in the opposite direction of the Gym.
******
Ash: "Hey AJ, how about coming along with us? The next Pokémon League Games aren't until July. You could come with us for awhile and train."
AJ: "I appreciate the offer, but...Sandslash and I have our own path we must follow. We are going to a city where they need a Gym. I'm hoping I can build one there. You were one of the two best Trainers I have ever faced. I hope we meet again."
He extended his hand. Ash reached for it.
Ash, shaking the hand: "And you're the best I've faced. Granted I've only faced thirty-two. I hope we meet up and battle in the Poké League."
AJ: "Agreed. But if we do, you better be in good form, because I only want to lose to expert Trainers."
Ash, Pikachu, Brock, and Misty all set out on the path to Vermillion City. Walking away from them, AJ and Sandslash traveled on a different path, to a different adventure.
Narrator: "The future seems bright for our hero. But it may not be tomorrow. One thing's for sure. They'll never forget the Master Trainer with that great Pokémon Gym."
James, popping in: "Hey, oh original master of the fanfic, what's wrong? I mean, that was easily one of the least imaginative works you've done, basically the same except in the future. My part hardly changed at all! Get with it, man!"
Flareon, irritated: "I couldn't think of anything to change, except Ash winning. If anybodys ['anybodys'? That isn't a word!] out there wants me to change it, they should just tell me. [Hint, hint. Nudge, nudge.] Any other problems?"
James, whining: "I want some JAJRN!"
Flareon, crossing his mighty arms across his mighty chest: "Sorry, no can do. This is a strict AAMRN, Jimmy."
James, angry: "First of all, don't call me 'Jimmy'! I hate that name! Why won't you let me have some romance, huh? I'll be nice!"
Flareon, sighing and rolling his mighty eyes: "James, I don't have the time to deal with you and Jesse, 'kay? I'm a believer in JAJRN [though there isn't nearly a quarter as much evidence as AAMRN], but I don't know if anybodys [there that non-word is again] out there wants it. I mean, you and Jesse are mature enough not to be too awkward about it."
James, crossing his own arms: "Oh yeah? Try me!"
Flareon, annoyed: "That's enough! We'll continue this conversation later! End fic!"
Next, Ash displays some of his knowledge when facing Jazelle and her cronies at Pokémon Tech. And, will Misty win against Jazelle this time?
Anyway, as any readers have guessed, I'm going strictly by the book episode-wise, meaning there probably won't be any extra episodes other than on the TV show, unless I get an idea. I'm going to do a poll right now. Who is your favorite character? Answer in a review. Oh, and someone tell me how to make a fanfic in html format, because I'm not experienced enough to know.
{:FLAREON:}