Disclaimer: I don’t own pokemon. Pokemon belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. This non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfiction belongs to me of course! Don’t take my work!

Notes: <> for telepathy, ** for thoughts, italics if a pokemon talks

Chapter 9: Many meetings

After the other guests had dispersed, Ash showed the count around his elegant suite of rooms, until finally they reached the drawing room of his father. The old general was waiting.

“Father, may I present M. le Comte de Monte Cristo, who saved my life in Rome?” Ash asked with a bow.

The general, Count de Morcerf, was a man of perhaps forty-five or fifty, with dark hair, dark eyes, and a wrinkled brow. Time had not been kind to diRocketti, it seemed... Monte Cristo bowed.

“It is an honor to meet the man who saved my son and heir.” Giovanni said, bowing deeply in return.

“Ah, Monsieur, you need not thank me. It was nothing.”

As they conversed lightly on the subject of nobility, a footman announced the arrival of the countess.

“Ah, Count, may I present, my wife, the Countess of Morcerf, the fair Delia?” Giovanni stated proudly.

Delia bowed slightly, dropping a delicate curtsey, but she looked paler than death. The count bowed and kissed her hand softly, before pulling back.

“Sir,” The countess said, with tears in her eyes. “Words cannot express the gratitude I feel, for saving my son’s life.”

“It is an honor, madame. Please, do not pour out your thanks upon this unworthy heart.”

Delia seemed distant for a minute, but smiled and dropped a second curtsey, before retreating to her room. Monte Cristo excused himself, and left in a whirlwind, as the Count and Viscount smiled.

“He is an admirable man.”

“Indeed. It was fortunate for you to have met him, my son.” Giovanni told him. “Friends in high places are very worthwhile.”

“Yes, father.” Ash said obediently.

“Now I must excuse myself, I have an appointment with the Council.” Giovanni finished, before he strode from the room.

“I will check on my mother then.” Ash said, and hastily traced his footsteps towards her apartment, intent on checking on her.

He found Delia lying on a divan, with a pale hand resting over her heart.

“Mother, are you unwell?” Ash asked. “You were quite pale when you came in. Father and I were both quite alarmed.”

“No, it is just a little swoon.” Delia replied. “I will be fine. The flowers – their fragrances were too strong.”

“Very well, mother, I shall have the servants remove them.” Ash said, and at once called for a maid and two footmen to replace the offending flowers with lilies, which had no strong overpowering scent.

Once he had left, Delia sighed. “It can’t be possible… he’s dead, I know he is…but… forget him, the appearance is wrong, it is only myself imagining his voice…”

“Even if he were alive, why did he not come sooner?”

“It is nothing. I am simply deluding myself.” With finality, she closed her eyes and lay down with her eyes closed, trying to shut out the vision.

Lance stood in front of a mirror, glaring at his reflection, golden eyes gleaming madly. Cracks began spreading across the smooth surface, finally the mirror shattered into a hail of glittering shards.

“Forget her, forget all of this.” A ghostly voice echoed.

“Ah, its you, come to check on me?”

“I’m just warning you to be careful. The most careful plots can be ruined by a woman’s smile.”

“Personal experience, Charlotte?” Lance asked, sounding slightly amused as he looked at the pale blue specter. After his deal, so long ago…

“Yes and no.”

“I’ll try to remember that.” Charlotte nodded and faded from view, before vanishing in a swirl of sparks. “Oh… and about the Lorelei situation…”

“I am prepared already.”

“Just checking in on my protégé…”

Lance sighed and called in a servant to clean up the mess. “I’m too close… I cannot let this destroy me…” A pale blue glow surrounded him, and then vanished, as the yellow flames in his eyes hardened to chips of golden ice. He swept his cloak around him and left.

“Because, really, why should I trust love? And she married Giovanni. She obviously loves him.”

Dragonite purred as Lance groomed his shiny scales.

“Pokemon are loyal, but people can be so fickle.” Lance said as he continued brushing. “I will carry this through to the bitter end.”

And deny my heart, he added in pokemon talk. Because that’s the only thing to do now…

Forget her, forget all of this, because it will only come back to destroy me. I cannot fail.

I didn’t think I’d see her again, at first. Why did she marry Giovanni?

She never loved me, perhaps…

It was all a fantastic illusion of fantasy I could not trust…

All I have now is honor. Power. Loyalty.

Is there even any more love left in me?

And why should I care?

Love only betrays…

A few days later, Ash dropped in to visit. He found the count talking with Zackie Danglers about opening an account. Zackie was stunned at the sheer amount of money Lance was depositing.

“Agreed?” Lance asked, carelessly crossing his legs as he signed the check.

Zackie bobbed his head up and down like a toy monkey, nodding frantically.

Lance smirked to himself.

“Ah, hello.” Ash said, bowing as he entered.

Lance gave a casual wave. “How nice of you to drop in, Viscount. Is your father well?”

“Excellent well, and my mother also.” Ash replied as Zackie beat a hasty retreat. “But you know Monsieur Danglers?”

“I have just opened a bank account with him.”

“I see.”

Ash looked at the nicely furnished rooms and whistled. “How did you manage to get this done so fast?”

“Time is money,” He replied.

Ash felt a surge of confusion but ignored it. “I see. Will you be coming to the Opera tonight?”
“Perhaps.” The Count said carelessly. “I have a box.”

Ash nodded his approval. To be seen and seen, the mode of the ‘in’ crowd. That was it.

That night the theatre performance was magnificent. Truly wonderful, but the crowd was busy surveying the eccentric visitor to pay attention.

Monte Cristo ignored them all, and was wholly focused on the singing. He wore elegant black attire and his cloak, but up his sleeves scrolled rich red and gold embroidery in flame patterns.

How lovely.

Ash wondered how he could be so calm with the crowd scrutinizing him through their opera glasses. It was most likely his nature. His father Giovanni soon joined him.

“How is the Count?”

“Well, when I checked on him.”

“Interesting.”

“What is it, father?”

“He must have made his fortune in India or Persia. Otherwise, such riches would be, most simply, a sign of thievery.”

“Father!” Ash looked shocked. “He saved my life!”
“He did indeed…”

Giovanni’s eyes settled on the Count. He certainly didn’t resemble any enemies he had ever had, but one could never be careless in the world of court.

No, one could never be too careful, and he had to trust his instincts. They were hinting that the Count might not be trustworthy…

What was his real name?

And… what did he really want?

Surely this friendship was just a ruse. Well, if not, then being friends with a rich entrepreneur was well indeed.

Still…

He had many secrets in his past that ought to stay hidden. If Monte Cristo proved dangerous, he had connections.

End Chapter!

Completed 12/12/03

It’s all about revenge…

Lance: …

Ash: … *gulp*