Disclaimer: Pokemon belongs to Satoshi Tajiri, Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. This non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfiction belongs to me under international copyright laws and taking it is plagiarism. Thank you. *Phantomness bows*
Notes: <> for telepathy, ** for thoughts, italics if a pokemon talks
Warnings: Torture, character death
Chapter 6
“Giselle, do you know what’s going on?” Ash asked.
The girl guiltily blinked. She had fallen asleep while guarding the entrance to the nuclear weapons. Ash was holding a tray. “I thought you might be hungry, so I came to see you, but everyone’s so twitchy.”
Giselle took the tray from him, biting into an apple. “I don’t know, Ash.”
“I’m scared.” He said.
“Oh come on, Ash, it’ll be fine. It’s not like we’ll have to use these.” She waved a hand vaguely in the direction of the storage. “Just relax. It’s strange to see you not happy.”
Ash blinked. “Okay.”
She idly wondered where his Pikachu was, but shrugged. Ash didn’t seem to have eaten either, so they finished the tuna and turkey sandwiches on the tray together. The kitchen had sent up a lot.
When she was done, Ash left and Giselle went back to staring at the wall. This was so stupid…
“What?” Lance stared at the others in disbelief. “You think I’m leading the pokemon to fight the humans? This is ridiculous!”
Surge looked uncomfortable, Bruno was stony-faced, Pryce’s eyes were cold, and Paul was sneering. Erika and Flannery were conspicuously absent.
“It’s the truth, Lance.” Paul smirked. “You didn’t know that Duplica managed to tell us your identity before your pets killed her, did you?”
“What do you mean?”
“Quit playing innocent!” Bruno roared. “Now tell us! How have you been controlling the pokemon?”
“I haven’t!” He protested. “I have no idea what you’re talking about!”
A sudden, sharp pain registered in his stomach. He glanced down at the bleeding hole, almost in disbelief.
Pryce’s pistol was still smoking. “A stomach wound isn’t fatal, Lance. You’d better talk before your time runs out.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about…” Lance hissed.
“Duplica explicitly stated that our enemy was a man with red hair who wore black. Sound familiar?” Surge leered.
They crowed around him like vultures. Paul kicked him hard in the ribs. “Talk!”
He jerked upwards, coughing blood. “I-I don’t know!”
Bruno grabbed one of his hands and tugged. A scream came from the downed redhead as one of his fingers snapped.
“Well?”
Sullen silence was his answer.
The dull thumps and wet sounds continued for hours, as the furious men vented their anger, and other passions. Finally, Paul scowled, pulling his pants back on with a grimace. What a waste of time.
“He’s obviously being stubborn. Throw him out to die. He’s barely alive now, anyways. We’ll have disabled the pokemon enough with this.”
Bruno and Surge nodded, and went to dispose of the body. As they were passing through one of the back corridors, they saw Ash.
“Have you seen?” Ash’s face went white when he saw what they were carrying. “Lance! What happened?”
Those empty, bloody eye sockets tried to turn towards him. A low, rasping gurgle came from his throat. “A-Ash…”
“Lance!” Ash cried, horrified. “Lance!”
“Out of the way, kid.” Surge said gruffly. “We need to take him away.”
Tears ran down Ash’s face. “Lance…”
Bruno patted him on the back awkwardly. “He’s not a hero, Ash.”
The Pallet trainer was still a child at heart, and did not know the steps that had to be taken for peace. He’d been Lance’s friend too. It was a crying shame that he had to learn these lessons.
Peace did not come without sacrifice.
They dumped the broken corpse outside. One last, rattling breath came, and then there was silence.
Feeling satisfied, Bruno and Surge returned. Now that the mastermind behind the pokemon rebellion was dead, they would just wait.
Soon, the pokemon would be back to normal.
Day after day of celebration passed. Duties were ignored and alcohol ran freely. Ash alone seemed affected by the man’s death.
He had gone quiet, spending all his time holed up in Lance’s room.
Paul wondered if they had been lovers.
Maybe Ash needed a new distraction…
Unbeknownst to all, Lance’s death had not stopped the proceedings. Now, the Coliseum was complete. The pokemon had gathered within, waiting for the clock to strike. The reckoning was at hand.
It was a pity no one else had bothered to investigate.
Now, the metallic dome gleamed, reflecting setting sun’s rays. Red, like the blood that would soon soak this land…
The cloaked figure licked his lips in anticipation.
Master… A low voice hissed. Is it time?
“Soon,” The reply was quiet. “They will die. For their ignorance, for their sins, and for harming my Mate… they will die…”
Fingers stroked over soft fur, as the pokemon purred in pleasure.
“Soon…”
End Chapter
Completed 5/3/08
Grasping at straws isn’t good, no it isn’t…
And have I mentioned that I hate Paul? ^^ He’s really good
as a villain though! Paul makes an excellent
villain, better than
Besides, sometimes I get tired of using Yellow and Misty.
Is Lance two timing, or does Ash just have a crush? I leave you to ponder!
^_~