Here we go!
Timeline: Well, its beginning Indigo now.
Chapter 24: Indigo League: VS generic trainer
"Venus! Solarbeam!"
Hiker's Onix cracked and fainted, leaving a large imprint in the arena floor.
Red smiled, despite the pain his arm was in when Zubat had attacked earlier. "I win…"
"Break!" The referee said, leading Ash out. "Red wins!"
Ash grinned tiredly.
Lance was waiting behind the stadium. "How are you?"
"I'm okay…"
"No, you're not." Lance said, unnaturally blue eyes scrutinizing him. He laid his fingers on Ash's left arm and concentrated.
A pale blue glow surrounded them for a second, and then Lance pulled back.
"You could have torn the muscle in that arm."
"Gomen…" Ash said, looking down. "I shouldn't have you heal me after every battle…"
"If I don't, you'll be a wreck by the time the championships are over." Lance scolded. "Are you trying to kill yourself?"
"Of course not!"
"Then quit complaining."
Chastised, Red went quiet as he prepared for the next battle.
That was a bit harsh.
No, I think he needed it. Lapras said.
Really? I'd think that you of all people wouldn't advocate that.
But Lance isn't hurting him physically.
What about emotionally? Star queried.
Eevee raised an eyebrow. I'm not sure… his intention isn't to hurt Ash. I think he may be angry with himself.
Why?
Articuno looked around furtively. She was hiding behind Gyarados, so no trainers could see her. He wants to protect him from everything…
That's impossible!
Well, he's going to die trying.
I think that's definite devotion. Aeroy said.
His mate smiled. True, true, very true.
Huh? Zapdos looked confused.
You'll understand when you're older. Ninetails purred.
After twenty minutes, Ash was called in to the next battle.
"Let's begin!"
"Go! Pineco!"
Ash blinked at the strange pokemon. Maybe it's a bug… "Ninetails, go! Flamethrower!"
Pineco shrieked before it exploded, raining bits of hard shell over both combatants.
Bob looked frustrated. "Stop!"
Pineco was too far-gone… to listen.
Angrily, Bob released his Aerodactyl.
Ash's eyes widened slightly, as he and Ninetails used Fire Spin to temporarily contain the ancient bird.
"How'd he get one?"
I'd like to know too. Ninetails said, before she spat out a Confuse Ray.
Aerodactyl only teetered slightly; the attack hardly did anything. It used Supersonic in return.
Ninetails and Ash both jumped, leaping over Bob's head. Aerodactyl's attack hit his trainer instead.
"Ninetails, let's use a Hypnosis!"
Ninetails' eyes glowed brightly. Take that!
Aerodactyl was completely unprepared for such an attack and fell asleep.
By this time, Bob had awakened from his temporary confusion and sent out his next pokemon.
A Azumarill.
Ninetails immediately switched for Raichu.
Raichu fried the other mouse before it could attack.
Bob now called out a…Eevee.
"Well, why didn't you evolve it?" Ash asked, as he and Raichu shielded themselves from the Sand-Attack.
"None of your business." Bob spat, charging.
Eevee continued to throw sand.
"Raichu, if this keeps up much longer your electricity will all be neutralized. Mega Kick.'
Raichu landed on top of Eevee with a Body Slam and then Mega Kicked it out of the ring.
Bob was down to two pokemon.
"Damn! Dragonite, go!"
"Interesting.' Ash said. "Very interesting. I wonder where you caught that?"
"Shut up! Dragonite! Hyper Beam!"
Bob fully expected to win the match that way.
When the smoke died down, Red and Raichu were still standing.
"WHAT?!"
Raichu's cheeks sparked, as the electric dome of energy around the two went down. True, she had lost a lot of her power to protect them, but it was worth it.
"Now." Ash said cockily, as Raichu took advantage of Dragonite's charging state to use Thunderbolt.
Powered up by rage, the effect was dazzling.
Dragonite was black and crispy, even its immunity to electricity hadn't helped much.
Bob shakily released his last pokemon. It was another strange new pokemon. Looked like an ice type.
Piloswine roared, charging and intending to flatten them both under its weight.
Raichu used Thunderwave, but nothing happened.
"Must be part ground then." Ash said, swapping Raichu for Gyrados and jumping on its back. "Gyarados! Surf!"
The ring flooded with water, temporarily stalling Piloswine.
"Now! Dragon Rage!"
Being caught in a funnel cannot possibly be good for a pokemon's health. A dizzy Piloswine crashed next to its stunned trainer.
"And Red wins!" The announcer blared.
Lance clapped quietly. Not bad, not bad indeed…
End Chapter
Complete 3/26/04