Pokemon Fan Fiction ❯ Forged by Fire ❯ Chapter 2

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

I spent 3 hours cleaning my room today, it was a total mess and now I can actually see the floor! *Gasps*
Notes: <> for telepathy, ** for thoughts, italics if a pokemon talks
Disclaimer: I do not own pokemon only this non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfic that I wrote myself. Do not take my work. Pokemon belongs to Satoshi Tajiri.
Chapter 2
 
The next morning, he and his pokemon had breakfast, before setting out for the first match of Indigo.
Hmm… he was fighting a trainer on the Grass field first. All right then…
He waited quietly while Victoria brushed out her hair on public television.
Pikachu yawned.
 
“All right! This match will now begin! In the red corner, Ash Ketchum from the town of Pallet, and in the green corner, Victoria Allen from Celadon City!”
The referee brought down his flags with a waving motion.
From a box above the rest of the spectators, the four Elites watched.
“So, Lance,” Lorelei said with a wink, “Any plans?”
“No.” Lance endeavored to hide the blush threatening to form on her cheeks. “He's only _twelve_, Lorelei.”
“Right…”
“Huh?”
“It's none of your concern, Bruno.”
 
“Go, Gloom!”
The pokemon appeared, in red. Ash snapped his fingers, releasing Ponyta. Without a command, Ponyta set Gloom afire and also the Bellsprout that followed.
Ash smiled.
“That was quick! Now, what is Victoria's last pokemon? It may be her last hope!”
The announcer was forced to eat his words when a Rattata emerged. * Dear sweet lord… there ought to be laws prohibiting anyone from entering… *
 
“Ponyta… Stomp.”
One down.
“Good, good girl.” Ash praised, recalling ponyta. Afterwards, since his next match wasn't until the day after, Haunter quickly flew them to the Safari Zone.
Ponyta enjoyed the fresh grass.
 
What's next?
“After grass? Well, next match is rock field…”
I see!
“So, Bulbasaur, are you and Squirtle enjoying today too?”
Hai!
 
That was good.
Still, he could remember how hard… no, bizarre it had been to get Ponyta…
 
**************Flashback ************************************
 
“Ah, isn't it a nice day today?”
Brock yawned, face still half-buried in his Starbucks coffee mug. “Whatever you say…” It was clear he was not quite awake yet.
“I wonder if I'll catch any pokemon today?”
“You seem quite selective, any reason why? You could have caught a whole horde of pokémon by now.”
“If you're referring to the fact that I didn't bother to get Pidgey or Rattata, I'm not that interested in completing the pokédex.”
“Why not?”
“Psh. Let Gary do that, he enjoys catching pokemon. I'll just concentrate on battling for now.”
“I see…”
 
Pikachu snoozed in Ash's backpack.
“Say, where are we?”
Brock dug around for the map, for a few minutes, before pulling out the required document. “Aha! It says we are near the big P pokemon ranch!”
“Wow…”
“Yup! They're a great breeding ground too!”
On the hills, herds of trainers with one specialized type of pokemon roamed.
Ash's eyes lit up. “Oh! A ponyta!”
“Not just one,” Brock whistled. A herd of Ponyta led by a Rapidash galloped by, sending up flames.
“Do you think I can buy one?”
“Buy?” Brock grinned. “I don't see why not. Breeding centers sell most of their pokemon.”
“Cool.”
 
They walked towards the main building.
A heavyset man in faded green overalls looked up. “I'm Vance, how may I help you?”
“Are the Ponyta out there for sale?” Ash asked, getting straight to the point.
“Ponyta? Oh, no one ever wants those. We don't sell them.”
“You don't?” The trainer asked, drooping.
“Nope! But how `bout I'll make you a little deal?”
“… All right.”
“If you can capture one of them in five minutes, I'll give it to you for free!”
“Really?”
“'Course, but be careful, they're mostly wild!”
 
Ash and Pikachu quickly ran to the herd.
“Okay, Pikachu, Thunderwave!”
Most of the ponyta bolted off, but a few were struck by the paralyzing lighting. Ash nodded.
“Now, Squirtle go!”
Squirtle used Bubblebeam!
Two Ponyta fainted straight off.
Vance checked his stopwatch. “Two minutes forty-nine seconds, boy. You're pretty good. Pick one.”
Ash chose the smaller, faster Ponyta, and bid Vance goodbye.
 
He was about a mile away when a panting girl wearing purple overalls ran up to him. “Come back, thief!”
“Huh?”
“You just stole a Ponyta from the Big P Ranch!”
“Now wait a second here!” Ash protested. “I caught it fair and square!”
“I don't believe ya!”
“Well…”
 
“Ponyta, go!”
Ash couldn't very well use a still fainted pokemon. Glaring, Pikachu jumped off and fried the girl's Ponyta.
Alyssa gasped.
“I win.”
“Now, now, pretty lady,” Brock interrupted, “Ash meant no offence.”
 
Alyssa blushed. “You really think I'm pretty?”
This is interesting. Pikachu whispered to Ash. I think she actually likes Brock!
Ash grinned when the two walked off hand in hand a few minutes later, leaving him alone. Ah well, Brock would catch up to him later.
Besides, Ponyta was guaranteed his now.
 
*************End Flashback**********************************
 
End Chapter
Completed 7/26/04