Another chapter! *Waves*

Disclaimer/Notes: See previous chapter, the most important thing is that I don’t own pokemon and Nintendo does.

Chapter 5

“Rattata, use Tail Whip!”

The school board had finally decided to add a class detailing pokemon training to Pallet Elementary, just to prepare their students for the real world out there. It was a pretty good idea.

They had provided one pokemon to each student, drawn from a random lottery. Oak had been glad to provide many common pokemon.

Students were encouraged to catch other pokemon, but not out in the wild. No, once every three weeks, they were taken to one of several breeding centers that gave each student two poke balls and let them have a try on new pokemon, not babies, but not adults either. The pokemon were young children, old enough to survive on their own, who could bond to their new trainers.

Besides, the benefit of volunteering, as the four breeding centers did, was that it counted as a huge tax write-off.

So both parties benefited.

That way, younger trainers could start their journeys without being hopelessly lost. That caused to many casualties and contributed to the high youth mortality rate in Indigo.

The government was trying to rectify the situation now. It also let the religious groups know that they weren’t murdering innocent children.

Right?

Still, Ash knew he was one of the lucky ones. It didn’t help that everyone hated him. Well, he hadn’t _wanted_ his father to die!

“Hey, loser.” Emily said, smirking at him. “Aren’t you going to make your move? You won’t get anywhere with those old pokemon.”

Beedrill buzzed angrily from Ash’s shoulder.

Ash looked at the array of pokemon running around in the gardens and at his two empty poke balls. “Not yet.”

“Pfft. Have it your way,” she taunted. “But when you lose at the tournament this June, don’t go crying to your mom! Hahaha!”

She was two years older, but she seemed like a kid. Ahs was reminded of a dog barking at an intruder behind a closed fence.

You want power?

His lips curved up in a smile. * Idiot. *

Let’s go, Ash.

Ash nodded as he and Beedrill took off.

Soon, he found a baby – no, not really – Magnemite that looked lonely.

Why are you hiding?

I don’t want to get caught, Magnemite said, before noticing that the voice was not coming from Beedrill, but Ash himself.

You can speak our language!

In a way, yes, why?

Oh! No one understands me. They all think I’m just an ugly magnet. The pokemon sighed.

Oh?

And no one wants me either, pikachu are much cuter… The poor little thing looked downcast.

Ash smiled. * Well, in that case, why not? *

Would you like to come with me?

R-really?

Yes, I’m sure the others won’t mind you joining our ranks.

Magnemite considered for a second, before a shy smile split its eye. I-I might like that. You seem okay. And if you can speak our language, that must mean something.

With a smile, it jumped into Ash’s backpack and hid.

Ash blinked, but nodded and went on to see if he could find anything else.

“Graveler, Rollout!”

“No!” Ash said, looking at the baby Eevee. “It’s already scared, don’t-.”

Emily glared. “Shut up!” Eevee went flying, crashing into a tree. Emily smirked and threw a poke ball. “Perfect! Now I’ve got four of them.”

“You…” Ash’s eyes widened. * What a horrible catching method… its HP bar was low enough and it wouldn’t have struggled against the poke ball, but she kept attacking… *

Poor eevee…

This would not bode well.

< Come on, Ash, we shouldn’t look. > Haunter said, steering him away. * They will all die in days because of no medical care, poor things… *

So cruel!

And it was all for power. But Ash wouldn’t turn out like that; he was too scared to. And they would help keep him on the right path.

Taillow perched on Ash’s other shoulder. It was interesting being back in this old section. She helped herself to the free berry bushes.

Ah… nice…

Yummy!

However, she got annoyed when a kid with a Squirtle tried to capture her. Hey! I’m trained!

He couldn’t understand and ordered another water gun.

She dodged and pecked him.

“OW!”

Leave me alone! The mood spoiled, she flew back to Ash. She had to bypass a trainer with a Charmander, who also looked interested.

Stupid idiots. Ash’s father had caught her four years ago. She was a trained pokemon, thank you very much!

Hmm…

Oh, that berry looked good!
Taillow smiled as she chewed through a peach, not knowing it wasn’t really, a ‘berry’. Ah well.

Tasted great!

Ash was leaving with his two poke balls, ready to go home, when Emily ran after him. “I challenge you to a match, loser!”

“If I’m beneath you why bother?” Ash remarked sardonically.

“Whatever! I’m gonna win!”

Ash sighed. * What a waste of time… * He shrugged his shoulders elegantly, feeling the beedrill wings pressing against the back of his jacket, he had wanted to fly home straight away but now that plan was shot, and waited.

End Chapter!

Started 3/27/04, completed 4/1/04