What Legends Are Made Of

by Talent Scout

An AU story of what might have happened if Ash had picked up his first pokemon on time

13. WLAMO13

ALTERNATE REALITY STORY 1 - WHAT LEGENDS ARE MADE OF

SAGA 1: THE LEGEND BEGINS

(c) Copyright 2000 by Flareon

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Pokémon. I wish I did, but I do not. I just write these lousy 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: "Well, Ash and his friends have reached the far north-eastern beach of Indigo Island. But Ash seems disappointed..."

Ash: "Episode 13: Mystery at the Lighthouse!"

Ash: "Man, a beach isn't exactly the best way to get Pokémon or a Badge."

Misty, peering at something: "Hold on a minute, Ash. What's that crawling out of the water?!"

Dexter: "Krabby, the Crab Pokémon. With its tiny legs, it is vulnerable out of the water. Note: This Krabby is twice as big as usual."

Ash, awed: "That is one BIG Krabby! Go, Beedrill!"

Beedrill: "Bzzzz!" 'I'm up for it!'

The Krabby got into a fighting stance and bubbles foamed up at its mouth.

Ash: "Beedrill, Twineedle attack, now!"

Beedrill swung its front stingers, hitting the Krabby multiple times. But this Krabby had a super-hard exoskeleton. It batted Beedrill away, like an insect.

Ash, eyes narrowing: "Darn, Beedrill's attacks aren't going to work on that shell. Nice try, Beedrill! Return. Go, Zubat! Supersonic!"

Zubat appeared and sonic waves shot out of its mouth, hurting everyone's ears and confusing Krabby.

Ash: "Now! Screech!"

Zubat screeched directly at Krabby, who covered its head with its claws.

Ash: "Pikachu, go! Thunderbolt!"

Pikachu hopped off of Ash's head and shocked Krabby with fierce intensity.

Ash: "Pokéball, go!"

The red and white ball hit Krabby and sucked it in. The ball swiveled, but Krabby hadn't enough strength, and Ash caught it. The ball flew back to the teen's hand.

Ash: "Yes! Excellent, Zubat! Good work, Pikachu!"

Zubat, joyfully: "Zubat!" 'Thanks!'

Pikachu, shrugging: "Pi ka." 'Always is.'

Misty, smiling: "That's not very modest of you, Pikachu."

Pikachu, protesting: "Pikachu, pika pika!" 'But Ash is so good, he never loses a Pokémon capture!'

Ash, smiling a little: "That may be, but that doesn't mean you can take it for granted."

Pikachu, smirking: "Pi." 'Okay.'

Ash: "Good. Zubat, return."

They wheeled their bikes across the edge of the beach.

Ash: "Man, I'm tired of camping! I hope someone let's us stay for the night, for once."

Misty: "You said it!"

Brock: "Ash, look!"

Ash, whipping out his Pokédex: "What is it?!"

Dexter: "Seel, the Seal Pokémon. Using its flippers, it often playfully slaps other Pokémon, starting fights."

There was a colony of Seel to the left.

Brock, after facefaulting: "Not that! There's a lighthouse up ahead."

Ash, falling over, then getting up and peering at the building off in the distance: "Oh, right. But I'm gonna catch me a Seel!"

Misty: "Me, too!"

They picked out two Seel, separated from the others. Misty went first.

Misty: "Seaking, go! Horn Drill!"

Seaking appeared in the water and attacked Seel with a spinning horn, automatically defeating it.

Ash, admiring her work: "That's a good Seaking!"

Misty, blushing a tiny bit: "Thanks. Pokéball, go!"

She caught the Seel. It was Ash's turn.

Ash: "Butterfree, go! Sleep Powder!"

Butterfree flew into the air and sprayed its Powder over the whole colony, making every one fall asleep.

Misty, smiling: "Your Butterfree isn't too bad, either."

Ash, smirking: "I know."

He picked the second-biggest one and caught it.

Misty: "Why didn't you catch the biggest one?"

Ash, scratching the back of his head: "Its probably the leader, and the colony might go into panic without its leader."

Brock: "Good thinking, Ash! C'mon, let's get to that lighthouse."

Misty: "Right."

They walked their bikes towards the lighthouse.

It was black outside when they finally reached it.

Brock: "Man, this place was a lot farther than it looked!"

Ash: "Look at the doors..."

They all stared at the doors. They were each huge, iron doors. The strange part was that both had pictures of Pokémon etched into them. Each door had pictures of Pokémon on them. There were pictures from Bulbasaur to Ho-oh, scattered everywhere.

Misty: "Woooww..."

Ash: "This guy must be a real Pokémaniac..."

Brock lifted the door-knocker and slammed it down three times. To the right of them, a voice spoke from a speaker.

Voice: "May I help you?"

Misty: "Um, we were wondering if we could sleep in any extra beds you might have, maybe?"

Brock: "And I would like to cook something for our group. And I'd be more than happy to cook you something as well."

Voice: "Well, that would be great! But I cannot eat right now. My name is Bill. Nice to meet you"

Ash: "Why can't you eat?"

Voice: "You'll see if you come in."

The doors slowly opened by some magical force, and they walked into a large dark room. Inside, all they could see was pillars and a videophone to the right.

Ash: "Hey, why don't I call Professor Oak and check on my other guys? My cell phone batteries have been dead for a while. Is that okay, Bill?"

Voice of Bill: "Sure, but hurry up. This is rather uncomfortable."

Ash: "We'd better help you first. Where are you?"

A light appeared and shined on 'Bill'. 'Bill' was a large extinct Kabuto.

Kabuto: "I am Bill."

Ash: "WAAH! But that's a Kabuto!"

Brock: "Kabutos died out over 10,000,000 years ago! This is impossible!"

Bill: "No! I am Bill, I'm a human!"

Misty: "What?"

Bill, waving his small appendages: "This is just a costume. Young man, please come up to me. You must help me!"

Ash, running up to Bill: "What do I do?"

Bill, pointing his little arm to a small button on his suit which the arm couldn't reach: "See this button? I put it there to get out of this costume. But these arms can't reach the button."

Brock, as Ash presses the button: "How long have you been trapped?"

Bill was a man who looked to be in he later tweens [twenties]. He was about Ash's height, and had green hair.

Bill: "About a day, I think. I'm pretty hungry, so if you would go through that door over there (pointing), you'll be able to cook a meal."

Brock: "Thank you."

Ash: "Now to call the Professor. I wonder if he's in?"

He dialed on the phone and Professor Oak answered.

Prof.: "Oh, hi Ash! How are you doing?"

Misty: "We're fine Professor."

Ash: "How's my new Krabby doing?"

Prof.: "Oh, Krabby? See for yourself."

He moved his videophone camera so that Ash could see his Krabby in a jar in the background.

Prof.: "Gary caught one too. It is about the same size as yours, actually."

Ash, a little irritated but curious: "Oh. So, how are Gary and May doing?"

Prof.: "Well, each of them have 2 Badges, May has 45 different types of Pokémon, and Gary has over 50."

Ash, crestfallen: "Great. I'm farther behind than I thought. I've only caught about 17."

Prof.: "Yes, I know. And I'm glad you have, because my laboratory is getting quite full already."

Ash: "How are Fearow, Pidgeotto, Bulbasaur, Venomoth, Mankey, Farfetch'd, Clefairy, Paras, Goldeen, and Seel?

Prof.: "They send you their best wishes. (Smiling) Your Bulbasaur has been quite a hit with some of the other Grass Pokémon in my laboratory."

Ash, smirking: "Cool."

Prof., curious: "By the way, Ash, where are you calling from?"

Ash: "We're in a lighthouse on the far northeast coast, and the owner is named Bill."

Prof., one eyebrow raising: "Really? That must be Bill, the famous Pokémon Researcher. He specializes in finding out what Pokémon think and feel, and why they act as they do. He knows much, much more than me in that area of expertise. Find out all you can from him. It'll be a good experience."

Bill, walking over, curious: "Is that the famous Professor Oak?"

Prof., turning to Bill and grinning: "Hi, Bill! I hope you'll give my friends a crash-course on Pokémon for me!"

Bill, grinning briefly: "Sure, Professor."

Prof., turning back to Ash: "Goodbye, Ash. Nice hearing from you."

Ash: "Bye."

He hung up. Bill scratched his chin thoughtfully, as Brock walked in.

Bill: "Well, I'm never a one to refuse a request from the famous Professor Oak."

Brock: "What?? I set our dinner up, so we can start eating anytime now.

Ash: "Cool. I'm starved."

Pikachu: "Pika." 'Me too.'

Misty, flashing a smile: "Me three."

Bill, perplexed: "Huh?"

Ash, Misty, Pikachu, and Brock sweatdropped as they remembered Bill doesn't know Ash and Misty could understand Poké Language.

Ash, sweatdropping: "It's a long story."

Bill, nodding: "That's fine, I have time. Tell me all about yourselves over dinner."

Ash: "Okay. Brock, what are we having?"

Brock: "Well, since we've been walking all day and are all tired, I cooked up my special 'Brock's Lazy Boy No-Chew Stew'..."



Jesse, James, and Meowth were close to Bill's Lighthouse, watching it.

Meowth: "The kids went in dere!"

Jesse: "So, how do we get in?"

James: "We can climb that vertical cliff and sneak through the back in a surprise attack..."

Meowth: "...Or enter the front door in a bold, uncharacteristic attack. So..."

Jesse: "...We climb the cliff!"

Meowth: "Cuz the bad guys always gotta sneak in..."

Jesse: "But it will be tough to reach the top!..."

Jesse and James: "...Because we're afraid of heights!"

Meowth fell over, embarrassed. They started to climb up the slanted outward cliff.



Bill, after swallowing a mouthful of stew: "Absolutely fascinating!! Pikachu has telepathic powers and can talk to you two only?!"

Ash: "Yep. Cool, huh?"

Bill, looking overwhelmed: "Can you, Ash, and you, Misty, talk together?!"

Misty, after taking a chug from her water: "Nope. We can only talk to Pikachu, and we can't hear his thoughts, but he can hear ours, I think."

Pikachu: "Pi." 'Yep.'

Ash: "Pikachu just said 'yep'."

Bill, shaking his head in disbelief: "I get that sense. (Looking at Pikachu thoughtfully) Do you realize, Ash, that if I unlocked this power of Electric Pokémon, how it could change our whole way of living? Think of it! People able to talk to their Pokémon just by thinking!"

Ash, Misty, Brock, and Pikachu: "Wooow.../Piiika..."

Bill, flustered but with an intense light in his eyes Ash had never seen before: "I have been a Researcher most of my life, but you two could easily know more than me in a month or two, since you know what Pokémon say and would be able to communicate with them. I feel unneeded."

Ash, waving a hand in dismissal: "No, I only want to be a Trainer. You heard my story."

Bill, nodding: "You're a Poké Warrior. Even if you only want to be a Trainer. Let me see if I've got you straight. You are a Pokémon Trainer who has caught usually very powerful or extremely advanced Pokémon. You've only been on your Journey for less than two months. You first got Pikachu unknowingly, then officially received Charmander. The first day, you caught 5 Pokémon, which is pretty impressive. (Looking at Ash and Misty with a twinkling in his eyes) Then, you saved this young woman's life, and now she follows you. Then, you beat this young man, Brock, with two of your Pokémon that were least effective against him. He followed you, too. So all three of you are traveling on Ash's Journey."

Pikachu: "Pika pika." 'All FOUR of us.'

Ash: "Yeah."

Bill: "You've caught almost one fourth of the most you will capture on your Journey."

Ash, eyes widening: "I have? (Seeming to calculate) Oh. You're right. (Surprised) That was quick."

Bill: "You hope to enter the Pokémon League next year; Pikachu won't go into a Pokéball; You have 2 official and 1 unofficial Badges, though the unofficial one may be valid by the League Championships; you were Professor Oak's top pupil, so you must be quite smart."

Ash, blushing: "Thanks."

Misty: "Yeah, you should have seen him talk about Dragonair! Or seen him fight Mankey!"

Bill: "That's another amazing thing. The Mankey you described sounds like the h/w size ratio of the Krabby you caught."

Brock: "What?"

Ash, thinking: "Yeah, just about."

Bill: "Mankey is one of the Fighting types, yet you beat it. Usually, only master Warriors would be able to accomplish that."

Ash: "I guess I'm pretty good. I have been training myself in three martial arts for most of my life, and I am a black belt in two of three. But, my Pokémon helped defeat that Mankey too, so I can't take much credit."

Misty, sounding irritated: "That's another thing! Ash is always so damn modest! He pretends like he's average. He's not! I swear I've never seen anyone fight so good, except for maybe Bruce Lee or Jackie Chan, or train their Pokémon moves faster!"

Bill just looked at her with a smile.

Misty, annoyed: "What?"

Bill: "You remind me of a friend of mine."

Misty, curious: "Who?"

Bill, blushing a little: "Well, the truth is...I grew up in Pallet, and I knew Ash's mother."

Ash: "You did??!"

Bill: "Yes, and Ash's father. Deria said almost the exact same things about Ash's father, before they got married six years later."

[I'm keeping her name 'Deria', okay?!]

Misty: "Are you saying...that..."

Ash, confused: "...Misty...my mom...me...my dad-"

They both burned red and looked away from everyone. Brock and Pikachu snickered and looked at Bill.

Brock, whispering: "Good one, Bill!"

Bill, looking puzzled: "What? What did I say?"

Brock laughed and Bill took charge.

Bill: "I am a Pokémon Researcher. I find out mysteries about Pokémon, and I find out what Pokémon think. When I was in the Kabuto costume, I was dressing up like it to see what it must have been like to have that body, so I could see what Kabutos actually might have thought. But, now that you have arrived upon my house, I'll try to work with you on a mystery that has haunted me for a while now. I'd like it if you came to help me."

Ash, looking at Bill, blush fading: "What's that?"

Bill, looking out the window: "Come with me."

They went to the top of the lighthouse, where the light would shine. The air was cold.

Bill: "Four years ago, I recorded this music, sent across the ocean. Of course, only something very big could make such a big sound."

Recorder, blasting over ocean: "OOONNN? IAANNGGH?" 'HELLO? IS ANYONE THERE?'

Bill: "I knew it must mean a Pokémon was lonely and wanted to meet its own kind."

Ash, Pikachu, Misty, and Brock listened, mesmerized by the speech, singing like it was music.

Bill: "Then, a few months later, I played the music again, hoping to find that Pokémon."

He did now, and the music held the four travelers to the spot.

Bill: "To my great surprise, it came. And, I think it will come again."

A huge shape came out of the fog rolling off the ocean.

Ash: "Holy..."

Misty: "Good lord..."

Brock: "Oh, my-..."

Pikachu: "Pikaaa..." 'It's her...'

Ash, staring at Pikachu: "What?"

Pikachu, psychically to Ash and Misty: {There are legends of the eight Poké Gods. Of the birds of prey and lightning-fast
dogs that were blessed with tremendous powers: Suikun and Articuno with Ice, Raikou and Zapdos with Thunder, Entei and Moltres with Fire, Lugia with Psychic, and Houou with Energy. Well, in Pokémon legend, there was another, greater God. Her name was Dragonight, a God with the representation of a Dragonite, only about 100 times bigger and blessed with powers of all Types and with the invulnerability to all Types as well. Now, banded together, the eight Poké Gods could easily wipe out Dragonight, but separated, one was no match. Granted, any Poké God could wipe out any regular Pokémon, and it is the greatest honor to serve under them. Well, they say about 2,000,000 years ago, Dragonight did something to anger the others. She made a near-identical of her, with one difference. He was male. The birds didn't want two of the same Poké Gods at a time, because they could mate and ruin the other Poké Gods' power. So, they banished him and put all of their might into diminishing her power. They succeeded, and she had just the amount of power a regular Dragonite would have, and the same disadvantages, though she hardly needs all of that, sense she can beat any Pokémon with regular power anyway. Now, she roams forever, looking for her mate, ever hopeful, but ever with sorrow.}

Ash, feeling insignificant: "Woah..."

Misty, pointing: "Look, its almost near the lighthouse!"

Jesse and James, climbing the cliff, saw it too.

Jesse: "Oh...my...god..."

James, nodding: "Poké God."

Meowth: "What?! (Looking at Dragonight) IT'S HER! RUN! RUN!!"

Jesse: "What are you jabbering about??"

Meowth: "It's Dragonight! Don't get her angry! We don't know how much power she has!"

Jesse, eyes glinting in anticipation: "Power??"

James, screaming in fear: "POWER!!"

Ash heard from up above and looked down at them.

Ash: "Don't you guys ever quit?!"

Jesse: "Quitting is not in our vocabulary! So prepare for trouble!"

James: "POWER!!"

Jesse, slapping him: "Oh, shut up."

Meowth, paler than ever and trembling: "Meowth, let's run! They say Dragonight hates bad guys!"

Bill, leaning over the parapet: "You people must get out of here!"

Jesse: "Why??"

Bill: "The Dragonite might leave!"

Meowth, eyebrow twitching: "Really?! That's good..."

James: "It's too big! I'm scared!"

Dragonight peered down at Team Rocket. She had sad eyes. Team Rocket suddenly went limp, falling into the cold waters below. Dragonight looked after them balefully.

Pikachu: "PIIKA, PIKACHU??" 'WHAT'S WRONG, YOUR HIGHNESS??"

Dragonight, voice soft and as if coming from deep inside the creature: "Aun? Dra, gon, rag, ooon drag." 'A Pikachu? Well small one, though it shouldn't be of your concern, I hate being so large, to be frank, compared to other Pokémon and the humans.'

Pikachu, still at the top of his lungs: "PIKA??" 'WHY??'

Dragonight: "Ooon drag, dragonigh, oooon." 'I have no reason to live without happiness, and in my cursed state, I can do little more than destroy things, rather than help heal our world.'

Ash, turning quickly to Bill: "Bill, is there a way you could make Dragonight shrink?"

Bill, eyes not straying from Dragonight, slowly: "There might be. I'd have to work with all of the other Professors to make it, though."

Dragonight, with a glimmer of hope and surprise: "Draag??" 'There's a way??'

Ash, shouting: "PROBABLY, DRAGONIGHT. IT MIGHT TAKE A WHILE, THOUGH. YOU'D HAVE TO STAY WITH BILL."

Dragonight: "Dra. Dragonite. Gonite drag." 'Maybe. He'd have to be worthy. He'd have to be able to capture me.'

Bill, quickly: "What did she say?!"

Ash: "You'll have to capture her."

Bill, dismayed: "I have no Pokémon!"

Ash, quickly: "Use mine."

Ash handed his Pokéballs to Bill.

Bill, looking at Ash: "Are you sure you don't want to try to capture her?"

Ash, hurried: "Just do it!"

Bill, uncertainly looking at the Pokéballs: "Are you sure they'll listen to me?"

Ash, nodding: "If I tell them to."

Bill: "Pokémon, go!"

Out popped Charmander, Butterfree, Beedrill, Zubat, and Wartortle. Pikachu jumped to Bill's side.

Ash: "Guys, you need to help this man. Please."

Pikachu: "Pi kapi!" 'Count me in!'

Charmander: "Charmander!" 'Me too, Ash!'

Butterfree: "Free, butterfree?" 'Why not, old chap?'

Beedrill: "Bzzzz!" 'Right on!'

Zubat: "Zub." 'Okay.'

Wartortle, crossing his arms across his chest glaring at Ash: "War! Wartortle war!" 'No! My first battle's by you!'

Ash: "Okay, Wartortle, I'll direct you."

Misty: "You might need these guys help as well. Go, Staryu, Charmander, Starmie, Goldeen, Seaking, Gyarados!"

Brock: "You guys, too! Graveler, Onix, Zubat, Zubat, Zubat, and Zubat, all go!"

Everyone but Brock sweatdropped as he released four Zubats in succession.

Dragonight: "Dragonite..." 'This might hurt...'

Ash: "Sorry, Dragonight! Wartortle, go! Surf into it!"

Bill: "Okay Pokémon, listen to me! Charmander, Flamethrower! Pikachu, Thunder! Butterfree, Tackle! Beedrill, Pin Missile! Zubat, team Supersonic with Brock's Zubats!"

Misty: "Staryu, Starmie, and Goldeen! Surf with Wartortle! Gyarados, Hydro Pump! Charmander, help Ash's out with your own Flamethrower!"

Brock: "Zubat, team Supersonic! Onix, Rock Throw! Graveler, Tackle!"

A huge wave with Pokémon guiding it hit Dragonight, while a bunch of Zubats screeched in her ears, and two Flamethrowers burnt a few of her scales. The other attacks didn't do much, except Pikachu's Thunder, when he jumped on Butterfree's back, then into the water when all other Pokémon were clear, sending 10,000 volts into the current, which greatly shocked Dragonight.

Dragonight, fazed: "Drag. Dragonight." 'Ouch. My ears really hurt.'

Bill: "Okay, Charmander, Fire Spin! Pikachu, Thunderbolt! Butterfree, Sleep Powder into Dragonite's nose! Beedrill, Twineedle! Zubat, with the other Zubats, Screech!"

Ash: "Wartortle, Bubblebeam!"

Misty: "Charmander, Fire Spin! Stayu, Starmie, team Spinning Tackle! Goldeen, Horn Attack! Seaking, Waterfall! Gyarados, Wrap the legs!"

Brock: "Graveler, Rock Throw! Onix, Rock Slide! Zubat, team Screech!"

Dragonight was blasted back as Gyarados wrapped around its legs and the force of the other attacks knocked into it.

Ash: "Bill, use whatever Pokéball you have! Now!"

Bill, eyes widening, gripping his pocket: "Oh, right! Let's see, my most powerful prototype... (finding a Pokéball in his shirt pocket) okay, Hyperball, capture!"

A yellow ball, charged with electricity, sped through the air in an almost unbeholdable blur, almost at Mach 3. It hit the huge Dragonite, sucking it in. Furiously, the ball rocked back and forth, while all of the Poké Fans above watched, breathless. A normal Pokéball or custom ball would have split into a thousand pieces by now, but this was a Hyperball, the second most powerful ball in history, and the very fastest. For a full minute, the ball rocked. Then, finally, it stopped. It flew to Bill's hand.

Ash: "Congratulations!"

Misty: "You caught the most powerful Pokémon alive!"

Bill: "But I'm not a Trainer! I'm a researcher! I never wanted to catch Pokémon!"

Brock: "This one agreed. Its for scientifical reasons, and the better for Dragonite."

Ash: "By the way, its name is spelled D-R-A-G-O-N-I-G-H-T. Not D-R-A-G-O-N-I-T-E."

Bill, raising his eyebrows: "That's what Pikachu said?"

Misty: "Yeah."

Ash, calling all of his Pokémon back: "Okay guys, return."

Brock, copying Ash: "You too, guys. Great job."

Misty, copying Ash and Brock: "Time for a rest."

Bill: "We'd better get rest, too. There are beds upstairs, but..."

Misty, ignoring him: "BEDS?! Real beds?! All right!"

Bill: "Wait, there's-"

But Misty was already running up the long staircase.

Ash: "She's like that."

Brock, nudging Ash: "And you should know..."

Ash, fiercely: "What is that supposed to mean?!"

Bill chuckled and Brock laughed. They both went upstairs, leaving an amused Pikachu and a fiery Ash.

Ash, eyes narrowing after Brock: "That Brock...ooh..."

Pikachu, psychically to Ash: {Yes, you would know.}

Ash, watching where Misty had ascended the stairs, looking flustered: "Yeaaahh...anyway, time for bed."

He went upstairs, went into a bathroom he found, and brushed his teeth. After flossing, he went to the door into what he assumed to be a bedroom. Misty, Bill, and Brock were there, arguing with Misty. They didn't notice him listening in, curious.

Misty: "...Still, I think I should get the bed! Why is there only one, anyway?!"

Bill: "I tried to tell you, I don't get much company. But I do think that you should decide amongst yourselves logically, not just taking what you, personally, want."

Brock, irritated: "Yeah, stop acting like a spoiled brat, Misty! We should wait for Ash! He's probably the most tired anyway. He caught Krabby and Seel, and you only caught Seel. And I think he should get a reward for letting Bill use his Pokémon for capturing Dragonight."

Misty, looking at the lone bed: "Maybe you're right about something. But, if he doesn't want it, I get it!"

Brock: "Fine. (Turning to Ash with a smile, as if he had known Ash was there the whole time [he might have]) Oh, hi Ash. Didn't see you there."

Ash smiled at them. They finally noticed him standing in the doorway. He appeared to think.

Ash: "I say we decide this with a match."

Misty: "Not a Pokémon match."

Ash: "Nope. A rock-paper-scissors match. (Holding out some straws Pikachu mysteriously handed him) High straw doesn't go first. That would be...Misty. So its Brock or me versus Misty for the bed."

They rock-paper-scissored. A tie. A tie again. Then Ash won. When Ash and Misty faced off, Ash won again. Inwardly, he sweared. He didn't even want the bed. He was too used to sleeping without one. Bill left and Ash lay down on the bed, looking out the window towards the stars. It wasn't enough. The window wasn't big enough. So he stared around the room. There was Brock, snoring lightly; Pikachu, at the end of his bed, curled up in a blanket while breathing silently; and Misty, shivering. This old place was pretty drafty. Ash wasn't cold, the bed was comfortably warm. He stepped out of his bed and stood next to Misty. Then, though he didn't want too, he picked her up and set her in the bed, placing a still-sleeping Pikachu next to her. Then he set out his sleeping bag and left the room.

He went over to the room he had seen Bill enter. It was another bedroom, only much smaller, with one bed. Bill snored lightly in it. The Pokéball wasn't there, so he went downstairs.

[He is going to steal Dragonight, in case anyone was wondering. :')]

He turned on a light, and saw the yellow Hypeball by the videophone. He picked it up and went up to the lighthouse.



Misty woke up, still cold, when she felt someone lifting her. Biting back a cry of alarm, she squinted her eyes to see Ash's face. Then, she felt herself in a warm bed with Pikachu gently breathing beside her. Watching Ash leave, she followed, wanting to know what the deal was.

He was going downstairs. She saw him turn on the lights and grab the Hyperball.

Misty, thinking, horrified: {Ash is stealing Dragonight???!!!!}

She was relieved when he didn't leave the house, just went up the set of stairs to the lighthouse. She waited for 10 minutes, wondering what he was doing and making sure he hadn't seen her. Then, she got impatient and followed after as quietly as she could. As she walked up the round staircase, she heard Ash's voice, seemingly talking to Dragonight.

[Just kidding about the stealing thing. ^-^;;]

Ash: "...And how was it like, alone for a billion years?"

Dragonight: "Dragonight draag drag." 'You wouldn't believe how lonely it can get.'

Ash: "Why did you make a mate?"

Dragonight: "Dragonight, dra night." 'I wanted someone to speak to, and to love."

Ash: "Why love?"

Dragonight: "Dragonite, dragonite." 'We Poké Gods have no friends or family, and I wanted to know what it was like."

Ash: "I can understand that, I think. But I think you would get bored with your mate. I mean, you live for a long time."

Misty could see Ash on his back, with his black sweatpants on and shirt, staring up at the stars. Dragonight's head was laid upon the tower, and Ash was petting it.

Dragonight, sadly: "Drag dragonight. Dragonight?" 'I agree I have no experience in matters of love or such. Maybe you could tell me?'

Misty's ears cocked.

Ash, laughing: "I'm hardly experienced in those matters, Dragonight."

Dragonight: "Drago, dragonight..." 'But surely, there is someone you hold dear..."

Ash: "Well, there's my mom. My dad died and I have no other relatives. May Oak is one of my old friends. Brock's my best human male friend. Pikachu is my best friend. I guess I love my mom and Pikachu. But only as a son and a best friend. If you mean real male-female interaction, nonrelated..."

Dragonight: "Dra, dragonite drag..." 'Yes, someone you love as a friend, only different than friends, more...'

Ash, softly: "Intimate? Not yet."

Dragonight: "Dragonight, dragonight." 'I know not much of humans, but I think you may not be telling the whole truth.'

Ash, starting to flush: "Well, I'm a Pokémon Trainer. Much as I might like to, I can't go into those kind of relationships now."

Dragonight: "Dragonight? Drag dragonight?" 'Much as you might like to? What about the handsome female specimen of your species that battle against me?'

Misty blushed, but listened all the harder. Though she might have blushed either way, she was blushing more because Dragonight was asking Misty's silent question to Ash, not because Dragonight had said she was pretty.

Ash blushed too, and looked away from Dragonight, out over the sea.

Ash: "You mean Misty, right? Um, red-haired girl, about as tall as me?"

Misty's heart jumped into her throat.

Dragonight: "Dragonight." 'You're just trying to stall the answer.'

Ash: "Maybe. I don't want to talk about it."

Misty felt Pikachu beside her.

Pikachu, psychically to Misty: {Misty! You aren't spying on Ash?!}

Misty, psychically to Pikachu: {Um, well, I wanted to know where he was going, and now I don't want to interrupt, and...}

Pikachu, psychically to Misty, sternly: {Go to bed right this instant, young lady! (Lying) I'll tell you what Ash says, later.}

Misty, psychically to Pikachu: Okay, mommy.

Misty watched Ash playfully petting Dragonight, and almost sighed out loud. Then she fled, and Pikachu bounded up to Ash.
Pikachu: "Pika pika?" 'What's up?'

Ash: "Hi, Pikachu. I couldn't sleep, so I decided to give Dragonight some company."

Pikachu, teasing: "I saw that Misty was in your bed."

Ash, blushing: "OH, SHUT UP!"

Pikachu, shrugging: "Pi." 'Okay.'

Dragonight: "Dragonight drag?" 'And you say you're NOT in love with the 'girl'?'

Ash: "Okay. You win. I guess I do like her a little-"

Pikachu: "Pika! Pikachu pika pikachu!" 'Don't believe a word! He's head over heels in love with that young woman!"

Dragonight: "Dragonight drag nite, night drag o night." 'So you DO know what its like to not have a love of your life, and finding out you needed one.'

Ash, blushing and trying to avoid the subject: "How did you know you were missing something?"

Dragonight: "Drag, drag o nite dragonight. Dragonight drago." 'I once saw, about a thousand years ago, a couple of Dragonites, in love. Then I saw the affection some of you humans can have.'

Ash: "Yeah..."

Dragonight: "Drago drag?" 'So why don't you tell her?'

Ash: "It's complicated. She is my second-best friend, my best human friend. She was there the first day of my Journey. She will be with me until she saves my life and my Pokémon as many times as I've saved hers, or when I get to Indigo Plateau. I hate to brag, but that's a lot of rescues."

Dragonight: "Dragonight?" 'What's your young love like?'

Ash, licking his lips agitatedly: "Weird. It makes me think she is the most beautiful and caring girl in the world; it makes me want to protect her from harm; everything she does seems to be in the most stylish way anyone can do it. I can see her great heart when she cares for her Pokémon. She has a high station, as a certified Gym Leader. I always want to do my best when she is watching, to impress her, I guess. It also makes me feel like I should do whatever I can to make her comfortable."

Dragonight: "Dragonight drag?" 'So your initial attraction developed into a greater caring?'

Ash: "I guess you could say that. (Changing the subject) If you do shrink to regular size, wouldn't you miss your powers? You are one of the most powerful being in the world."

Dragonight: "Dragonight drag o." 'Power comes at the price of happiness.'

Ash: "So, you would search out other Dragonites and try to settle down into a family?"

Dragonight, with a dreamy expression: "Dragonight..." 'That is my dream...'

Ash: "How long would you wait?"

Dragonight: "Dragon dragonight. Dragonight. Drag." 'I wouldn't wait too long. But I kinda want to see the human world. So I'd say, about a century.'

Ash: "An entire century?! Did you know that that's about as long as humans live?!"

Dragonight: "Drag. Drago, night, dragonight drag!" 'Yeah. But by then, other Dragonights might have been captured, so I wouldn't have to look around for them!'

Ash: "So, with whomever you're Trainer is then, you'll go looking for other Trainers with Dragonites, and try to develop a relationship?"

Dragonight, eyes gleaming in anticipation: "Drag." 'Yeah.'

Ash: "Now, Bill, your Trainer, isn't a Pokémon Trainer, but a Pokémon Researcher. After he studies you, and make you seem like a normal Dragonite, he will want to set you free. I hate to impose, but I was wondering if, in about a year or so, you would, er...help me? You want to see the world, you could follow behind me, out of your ball. I don't know what I'll be doing then. But if there is the slimmest chance..."

Dragonight, a huge (only because Dragonight is huge) dragon smile on her face: "Dragonight dragon, dragonight." 'You would be pleased if I would come on your Journey, because I'd be a rare and powerful Pokémon that you could use in battle and against Team Rocket.'

Ash, blushing: "Well, yeah. I hate to seem so selfish."

Dragonight, playfully: "Dragonight, drag o night dragonight drag!" 'You humans are all the same, you just want another ally on your side, against your rival!'

Ash: "How did you know??"

Dragonight, smiling: "Dragonight drag dragonight." 'Contrary to popular belief, I didn't lose all of my powers, and over the years, my experience level has given me strange telepathic abilities.'

Ash, accusingly: "So you knew everything, all the time! You found out what love was like from my thoughts, and everything about me! That's why you knew I'm not helpless! You can read my mind! (Mind instantly changing the subject on whim) Hey, can you talk to me telepathically?"

Dragonight: "Drago." 'When I want to.'

Ash, grinning: "Cool! Like Pikachu!"

Dragonight: "Drago, drago. Dragonight drago." 'Go to sleep, young one. I want to talk to Pikachu in private.'

Ash: "Okay. Goodnight, Dragonight."

He left. Dragonight turned to Pikachu.

Dragonight, psychically to Pikachu: {You have not told them. Wise, for someone of your meager age.}

Pikachu, psychically to Dragonight: {Remember, I'm old for a Pikachu, young for a Raichu. Pokémon life cycles are the same as the human's. You just seem to have kept your immortality, my lady.}

Dragonight, psychically to Pikachu: {Even if I was regular size, my race dominates all others, even if they do not know it. But enough for now. I am not your lady, but a friend. I do not understand this love, my soon-to-be Trainer has for the Gym Leader girl.}

Pikachu, psychically to Dragonight: {Misty is his best human friend. He doesn't want to see her hurt or in any way discomforted because he cares so much about her. Since he does not know if she likes or even loves him, he doesn't want to risk losing their relationship as friends right now. If he does not now, he may never. It's the same with Misty.}

Dragonight, psychically to Pikachu: {So, they both are afraid. I heard Misty's thoughts echo from the inside of this tower. She watched. You are right in letting them solve it themselves, but as their love grows deeper, they may someday part, breaking both their hearts. I can sense that you would step in then, whether you would want to or not..}

Pikachu, sighing psychically to Dragonight: {Yes. They are my best friends. I can check how much they are in love with each other with our psychic link. I could not rend that link, or I might even go insane. I would have to reveal their emotions through me, though I do despise the prospect. They should discover their feelings the right way.}

Dragonight, psychically to Pikachu: {I trust you will do what is right. But, let us turn to other matters. I can read your mind, Pikachu. You know as well as I do that a change is taking place, slowly.}

Pikachu, psychically to Dragonight: {Yes, I feel it. I believe all Pikachu go through this stage, when they should evolve. But I do not want to evolve! I might forget Ash, my psychic link may be destroyed! I might forget their love and never take a step in! Help me.}

Dragonight, psychically to Pikachu: {Pikachu, your kind do not go through this stage when they get ready to evolve into Raichu. It is a stone-transformation, on the spot. You do not prepare for it. No, I know what you will be, and deep down, you know too.}

Pikachu, psychically to Dragonight: {But its impossible! Only 2 out of all the millions of Pikachu get that opportunity!}

Dragonight, psychically to Pikachu: {But the best Trainer's Pikachu does. Ash must be one of the best, to raise a Pikachu to become a Redou.}

Pikachu, psychically to Dragonight: {I don't remember that legend well, but you should, right? Could you tell me?}

Dragonight, psychically to Pikachu: {Its no legend. I have seen Redou. They are the evolved form of extraordinarily high-powered Pikachu that have been magnetized more than a half dozen times in their life. You have been at least twice now. You probably will again, then maybe a few more times. That, coupled with Ash's strategy, cunning, wisdom, and heart can make you the messenger of the Poké Gods, colleague of Zapdos. Though Redou is not a Poké God itself, when Pikachu become their ultimate form, they get the following powers...Telepathy: Redou can talk psychically to humans and Pokémon, the strength of which depends on the level of Redou; Immortality: unless killedy, Redou's body will live forever; Speed: Redou can fly on a summoned thundercloud as fast as Pidgeot can wing; Wisdom: Redou will know all of the history of all natural types of Pokémon, and all about each individual type of Pokémon, once it fully matures. Also, Redou can scan Pokémon to check which attacks, what level, and so on about the Pokémon scanned. Redou gains status as not only messenger of the Gods to the Pokémon and human race, but also as Chief of Security, meaning the Gods can call on Redou to stop a fight or war, instead of doing it themselves. Unless needed, Redou can go anywhere it pleases, with any Trainer, although another power is the capability to teleport out of normal Pokéballs. You will be more powerful than I am now, though not as powerful as any of the Poké Gods. Oh, and sometimes hundreds of Magnemites follow Redou everywhere.}

Pikachu, psychically to Dragonight: {Good. I can stick with Ash. I hope it doesn't start until a while from now. I'm tired, I'm going back to sleep on the bed.}

Dragonight, psychically to Pikachu: {Good idea, little one.}

Pikachu scampered off, leaving Dragonight to lay down in the water and watch the stars. She could sense great events would happen to Ash, greater than any other Trainer ever had or ever would have. If he survived.

Dragonight, thinking as she stares up at the stars: {Well, that's going to be my job.}



Bill, sheepishly: "Well, Ash, I'm sorry I didn't give you a lecture on Pokémon, but I daresay you don't really need one, right? Heh. I guess this is goodbye, for now. I hope you have a good Journey."

Ash, shaking Bill's hand: "I will. I won't be back until I have at least eight Indigo League Badges!"

Misty: "And we'll be with him..."

Brock: "Every step of the way. Goodbye, Pokémon Researcher!"

They rode off, waving at Bill, Dragonight, and the Lighthouse.

Ash, thinking as loud as he could: GOODBYE, DRAGONIGHT! I HOPE YOU LIVE A PEACEFUL YEAR UNTIL YOU'RE WHAT YOU WANT TO BE!

Someone thinking psychically to him: I will, Ash! See you in about a year!

Ash, shouting: "BYE, DRAGONIGHT!"

Misty and Brock looked at him strangely. Pikachu was just relieved Misty hadn't asked about the conversation last night.

Ash: "C'mon! I want to speed through this year over with as quickly as possible! We're almost to Vermillion City! Full speed ahead!"

Narrator: "Well, with the promise of an ultra-rare Pokémon at the end of his Indigo journey, Ash and friends set out for Vermillion City. What strange or magnificent battles, events, and/or Pokémon will our heroes (and heroines) find there?"

James, popping in, outraged: "What the heck?! Why the h*** did you make me such a WIMP in this fanfic?!"

Flareon, smirking: "'Cuz you are one?"

James, thinking hard: "Yeah, well...you are too!!"

Flareon, caught off-guard: "Huh??"

James, laughing: "You haven't posted a fic in so long because you're CHICKEN!"

Flareon, yelling: "Shut up! I don't have to take this! End this stupid fic already!"



Yeah, yeah. I haven't posted a fic in a long time. Wanna know the reason? Its because I don't have enough time to write down these long chapters and edit, reedit, and edit again. Not only that, but I'm trying to help me brother, Umbreon, make a start to his continuation of his own fanfiction 'Mythical Tale of Love and Loss'. And, its almost Christmas. My absolute FAVORITE time of the YEAR!! Don't you agree that Christmas is, like, totally, like, the, like, best?! That was Violet talking, not me. 0_0;;

Anyways, this was kind of a weird fic that my brother practically wrote by himself, at least the part about Dragonight. I'm sorry to say that he copied the name 'Dragonight' from Ace Sanchez's biggest and most popular fanfic series, 'Pokémon Master'.

Next fic is Lt. Surge!

{:FLAREON:}