Chapter 26: Icy: VS Jon (1)

            While Ash was fighting Kate, Gary was doing the same to Jon.

            Arcanine had taken out three grass-types in a row, so Gary was feeling pretty confident.

            After all, Fire Blast before Jumpluff could cotton spore the area was certainly quick thinking. And then the Victreebel had tried to eat him, but a good Dragon Rage to free and then Flamethrower had done the trick.

            Finally, the Bulbasaur hadn't even gotten out of the ball fully before it was defeated.

            "Go! Starmie!"

            In self-preservation, Arcanine got in an Extreemespeed before Exeggutor replaced it. Gary waited.

            Leech seed activated and tied up the Starmie, and then a Solarbeam from Exeggutor's three heads completed the fainting.

            Strangely enough though, Jon didn't' look nervous yet.

            "Exeggutor, Hypnosis!" Gary called, pointing at Jon.

            Exeggutor nodded, drowsing the trainer, who managed to release a Magmar before falling asleep.

            This forced Gary to recall, but Kingler was more than happy to take care of the problem. It was about to finish off the trainer was well when Jon awoke.

            "Go!"

            From the last poke ball came a new pokemon.

            It was huge, and red. Scaly armor covered its body, and sharp sandslash-like claws stretched out.

            Gary frowned. Fire type? Ground? Either way…

            "Kingler, Surf!"

            As Kingler sped towards the pokemon, it stamped a foot. All of a sudden, a fissure opened in the ground and Kingler fell in.

            "No! Kingler!"

            Growling, Gary sent out Alakazam with an order to subdue the pokemon. However, Alakazam was hit by Fissure before he could attack. Starting to panic, Gary released his Pidgeot and climbed on.

            Jon simply laughed, as the pokemon slammed its body into the ground, sending up an eruption of incredible power, even hitting the airborne duo.

            The last thing Gary saw before he blacked out with Pidgeot was an Earth Badge.

            Now, back to Ash…

            "What?!"

            Jon won?!

            Gary looked terrible, lying in the hospital bed. His pokemon were all recuperating at the Center.

            "I was winning, until the last pokemon he used…" Gary coughed here. "It was too powerful…took out three of mine…even though flying shouldn't be affected by ground moves…"

            "What was it?" Lance interrupted.

            "Red…Scaly… kind of like a Tyranitar…"

            Lance's eyes widened, but Ash didn't notice. He was too busy fussing over Gary.

            "Ash, I'm fine. I just need a couple of day's rest." Gary told the other boy. "Don't worry about it."

            "But-!"

            "Let me take a look." Lance said, walking over. His eyes glowed bluely again, as the Viridian Power was activated.

            Gary panicked when he suddenly felt all the hurt draining out of him. "What are you doing?!"

            "Don't worry, it's healing." Ash quickly told his old friend.

            "I hope you're right Ash…"

            The light died down a few minutes later.

            "How are you feeling now?" Lance asked, stepping back.

            Gary tested his limbs, a surprised expression crossing his face. "Fine."

            "That means it worked. Good."

            Lance walked back to where Red was. "You must be careful tomorrow."

            Ash looked nervous, but nodded.

            They left the room after Ash had chatted with Gary for a few more minutes. Lance was making his own plans already.

            Lugia. He has Groudon.

            He must be eliminated. The child of light is in reach of his goal, we cannot stop it now.

            Shall I kill him?

            No. That man still has a part to play. Let him live until the finals are over. There is yet a revelation left.

            Lance nodded respectfully to the legendary. I will fulfill your command.

            You are doing admirably, my Chosen. And one last thing; under no circumstances is Red to use any of the legendaries in that battle. It would lead to disaster. Lock those poke balls tonight.

            Lugia then cut connections, leaving Lance with a sense of foreboding.

            Outside, Ash was training his Gengar against a group of wild Machoke.

            "Gengar, Dream Eater now!"

            Several of the already slumbering fight types collapsed, their HP being leeched out. Ash smiled as he soared on Gengar's back into the air, and then proceeded to take a down a couple of Pidgey.

            "Ash."

            Smiling, Red looked down at his friend. "What is it, Lance?"

            "I have something to tell you…"

            Red jumped off and after doing a midair flip, landed in front of Lance. "Honto ni?" His eyes sparkled.

            "Hai. It's very important." Lance opened his arms, and held Red, stroking his hair. The boy would need the physical comfort now, for what he was going to tell him.

            "You saw how Gary ended up after fighting Jon."

            Ash nodded, eyes saddening. "Terrible…"

            "And are you still going to fight, after that?"
            The silence jangled between them as Ash tried to think. "I don't want to give up on my dream, but I also don't want to- and my pokemon…"

            Lance nodded. "There is a way."

            "Honto ni? I'll do it!"

            "Yes." Lance said. "You will have to trust me. Will you take it?"

End Chapter

Complete 3/29/04