Oh great… stupid page bugs, oh well… *sighs*

Disclaimer/Notes: See previous chapter

Chapter 4

 

            < So. I was sent out here to retrieve a magical item that’s used as a spoon-slash-fork for eating purposes? >

            < Unfortunately, that’s the case, Chosen. >

            < Lugia-san, Serebii must be laughing right now. >

            < Undoubtedly. >

            < Don’t _you_ feel sorry for me? >

            < Well, perhaps a little, but it was only… three days, right? >

            < No sympathy. > Lance said, miffed, as she tucked the Wriggler into her backpack. * So what do I do with this? No matter. First, I’m going back to the Plateau… I still owe someone. I’m going to hit him really hard… *

            Lance’s bright red eyes began to shine with maniacal glee.

            < Oh well. Have fun. > Lugia yawned, before going back to sleep.

            It wasn’t _his_ concern.

 

            In any case…

            “AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”

            “You sound just like the assassins you sent.” Lance said, as she thwacked Bruno with a giant spoon.

            Why a giant spoon? Well, apparently the Wiggler was a weapon in its own right! In any case, it was useful, to some extent.

            “Bruno, that was cruel of you.”

            “It was a giant Spork?” Lorelei sounded horrified and amused at the same time.

            “Pity, no?” Lance sighed. “Well, it’s over. Bruno, why _did_ you try to kill me? Was it because I wouldn’t date you?”

            “Who’d _want_ to date him?”

            “Beats me.”

            Agatha sighed. “Well, if he gets fired, I can bring Karen here…”

            “That would work Agatha.”

            “Well, get some sleep. You look exhausted.”

            “You have no idea…”

            Lance gave Bruno one last whack over the head with the spoon, before it shrank down to Spork size. She stuck it in her pocket and walked into her room, locking the door. Six steps to the bed, and then blessed slumber…

            Zzzzzz….

 

            “Giovanni.”

            “Hello, son.”

            Ash smiled wryly. “Well, how did I guess?”

            “Fortune-telling? Future-telling? I wouldn’t know. In any case, I will still battle you.”

            “Don’t go easy on me. That would just be cheap.”

            “As you will… Rhyhorn, go…”

            “Squirtle, Surf!”

            “Nice… now, what about Tangela?”

            Ash smirked. “Tentacruel.”

            No contest there either.

            Grass was weak to poison, and Tentacruel was powerful in her own right, especially with Toxic to help.

            Oh, maybe it was cheap, but that was the way things were. Ash smiled slightly, watching… would it appear in this line?

            Giovanni released Moltres, much to Ash’s surprise.

            “How did you catch her, father?”

            “It’s a girl? Well, you know. Same old, having some agents work…”

            “I’m afraid I won’t go easy though. Tentacruel… Sheer Cold.”

            It was against all laws, but sometimes, you get one or two cards to play, and you can use them…

            Desperation? No, not quite.

            Tentacruel smirked as ice filled the arena. There went Moltres….

            “Done!”

 

            “The Earthbadge is yours son. By the way, are the rumors true that you’re in love with Lance?”

            “Ack! Is nothing in my life private? It’s just a crush!”

            “Right, right… well, she’s close to your age, pretty… smart, the leader of the Elite Four. It wouldn’t be a bad match.”

            Ash blushed and quickly ran off while Giovanni laughed.

            Children.

            Ah, well! Teasing one’s son was fair, fair game!

            Ash ran off.

 

            “So there are five more months… before the Indigo League championships begin.” Lance closed her schedule and sighed.

            “What’s wrong now, lil’ cousin?”

            “I’m bored.”

            “You’re _always_ bored. Otherwise, you’re complaining.”

            Lance did not reply as she tossed a pen onto her desk. “I’m going out.”

            “Again? You know that Jacob Rush will not approve.”

            “Our esteemed League President should have thought before he made the ‘Elite four must stay in Indigo plateau nine months every year’ rule.”

            “Yes, yes, I know…”

            “I’m off.” Lance released Dragonite and away they flew.

           

            “Yikes!”

            “Ah, I’m sorry.” Lance brushed herself off, peering at Ash. “Did I scare you?”

            Ash blushed. “A little…” He had just been relaxing in Pallet, back home again for a few days, when…

            A Dragonite landed at his front door. That was not normal.

            “So sorry! I was just… oh, hello Ash. I didn’t think I’d be seeing you again.”

            “Can I have your autograph?”

            Lance spent a couple of seconds blinking before she nodded.

            “Arigato!”

            Lance took out a 4 x 4 glossy of her self, signed in dark blue ink on the back, and handed the photograph back to Ash. “Enjoy.”

            Ash grinned and hugged her tightly.

            Lance found herself blushing now. * What is he? *

            “Ah! I’m sorry!” Ash quickly let go, blushing himself. “I didn’t mean to…”

            Lance chuckled. “It’s fine…”

            “Honto Ni?”

            “Hai, hai, Destiny-chan!”

            Ash blinked for a few minutes, before the nickname clicked. “So you remember.”

            “I always remember. I’m surprised you do too…” Lance frowned for a second. “It must be the Spork.”

            “The spork?”
            Lance held up the cooking utensil. “Spork.”

            “Um…” Ash sighed. “So now what?”

            “Enjoy life? I don’t know…”

            …

           

End Chapter

Completed 8/17/04, started 8/16/04

Plotbunny just had a stroke and expired. Oh dear… well, maybe it’ll revive eventually…