Warnings: Misty-bashing… shonen-ai Championshipping (Ash x Lance), twisted AAMRN, insanity, possible clichés, and I did try… blame the plotbunny…

Disclaimer: Don’t own pokemon! Wish I did! Own this fanfic! K?

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

Chapter 5

Alas, the dream had barely begun, when it fell apart.

To Ash’s horror, Misty was diagnosed with Herpes and according to the tests, she was more than three months pregnant.

Impossible! Wasn’t it?

The tests must be wrong, so he denied it.

In any case, the disease could be caused by means other than sex. He refused to believe she had been unfaithful.

He used the dragon amulet to cure her.

It worked.

So he was happy again.

Misty was carrying a baby girl, it would be wonderful!

He refused to let any rumors reach his ears. He refused to believe those that made it to him.

Misty would not lie to him. She loved him!

He bought her the prettiest jewelry, and it was wonderful. They were happy, for a time…

“Why didn’t you clean the bathroom!”

“I-I’m sorry…”

“Hmph! You know I’m pregnant, and yet, you’re so heartless!”

“I’m sorry…” Ash said, meekly, as he went about his chores.

It wasn’t Misty’s fault.

It took two to tango, after all… right? Of course right! So he would do his best to make her comfortable.

Yet, it only seemed to get worse.

She was so weak…

He applied the power of the necklace so she felt better…

“Ash, how dare you!”

He was sorry, he really was, he hadn’t meant to burn the pizza, but…

She wouldn’t hear it.

“You trying to make me mad?”

Of course he wasn’t! He only wanted to help…

Poor Misty.

He would take care of her though, he would! He used the dragon amulet to heal her, at least temporarily.

He was… tired.

“Why didn’t you mow the lawn?”

He didn’t, he… well, he had already mopped all the floors, but she would hear none of it.

He was… lazy. No he wasn’t! But it wasn’t Misty’s fault!

She was in pain, so much pain…

He had to help any way he could. This was nothing.

He sighed, feeling the pulse of the necklace he was wearing, smiling as more energy was released into his body. He could keep going…

He kept denying truth though, kept believing in her goodness of heart and her innocence and her love for him… but then, the child was born, only three months after their wedding, and…

It had no eyes.

That was when he knew.

Brock had barged in, he had not protested, he had simply cried to himself, wondering why he had been so blind.

Traded true love for a false imitation that had leeched off his life.

And… and…

What had happened to Lance?

He hadn’t seen him since the wedding, and yet, Lance had been quiet and not said a word, for or against it.

He was… just there.

He was crying, actually, he hadn’t known how it started, it had been right after the initial revelation, only a day or two…

He had gone to his parent’s graves, put down flowers…

“Why do you cry? I thought you were happy…”

He snapped his head up. Lance was sitting on a tombstone, looking at the sky, but… he was alive!

“Lance…”

“I gave my life for you, and you never appreciated it, not even now…” Lance said absentmindedly, tracing the letters cut into rock.

Ash’s eyes shot to the monument.

Same last name, so it was Lance’s grandfather… he sighed. Thank goodness! But at least Lance wasn’t dead…

“Lance, I’m glad to see you.”

“You are? I thought you hated me. I can vanish if you want me to, Ash. I will vanish if you say the word.”

Ash winced slightly. “That was my fault, I admit… I’m sorry…”

There was no reply.

“Lance?”

“Shh… don’t talk, if you don’t talk I’ll feel better…” Ash looked at Lance worriedly, this wasn’t like him at all.

“What are you talking about?”

“Perhaps… perhaps it’s better this way. Won’t you be happy when I leave?”

Ash blinked.

Something was seriously wrong here, but what?

“Lance, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“But…” Ash stood up. He had quit crying. “Lance, are you sick?”

“No, I never have to worry about being sick again.”

“Hmm? You made another one of those dragon charms?” Ash asked, pointing at his necklace.

“You could say that…I’m glad you came to visit me though…”

“What?”

“Ash, can’t you tell? I’m dead.”

“You’re not making any sense!” Ash cried. Lance laughed again.

“Oh, you wouldn’t know. Energy drain is the most painful mode of death, but… oh, it leaves no marks, nothing at all.”

Ash blinked, as Lance touched the necklace. It broke, shattering into innumerable little pieces of silver and blue.

“Lance, what are you!” Shock tore through him, why would it break, why, it was magic, and he liked it, it was so pretty, but now… “Why?”

“I’m dead, Ash… do you think anything matters to me anymore?” Lance shifted slightly, smiled. “You can’t tell?”

Ash stared at him. “You can’t be dead!”

“Misty, Misty, oh yes, she may be your soulmate, but sun hides darkness, and darkness drains, and the darkness kills until there is no energy left, and magic and life are both sacrificed, but I didn’t care, because you were happy. You didn’t want me, so I faded. And now you’re happy, aren’t you?”
“I’m not happy…”

“I have nothing left to give you… go back to her. She will make you happy. At least she lives still.” Lance whispered. “I want you to be happy, you know?”

“But I!”

“Honor, yes, honor… you married her for honor, didn’t you? If you don’t have love at least you have that…”

Ash blushed. “Yes.” * I shouldn’t have had sex with her… *

“But trickery and deceit, well…”

“Don’t say anything! She wouldn’t lie to me about that!” Ash grabbed his arm, gasping as the chill of death settled into his veins. But Lance was solid, so he couldn’t be- he couldn’t!

“I told you I was dead. You don’t believe me, yet?” Lance said. “Relieved that you can feel me? Look back there.”

Despite his fear, Ash looked.

Sure enough, there was the simple gravestone. He wouldn’t even have noticed if Lance hadn’t pointed it out.

Lance Dragyn

2110 – 2128

Rest in Peace

“You-!”

“Do you believe me now? Well, no matter. My time is up.” Lance freed himself from Ash’s grip, smiled. “Let me go now…I only wanted to see you again, it’s nothing really, don’t be afraid, you’ll still have her, won’t you? Leave me… I promise you’ll be happier if you go home. You don’t need me. I’ll just fade and you’ll be happy with her and you’ll forget me in either, case, so it doesn’t matter.”

He was fading into mist now, and… and…

“I…”

“Why are you afraid?” Lance asked. “You can’t hurt me any more. She’ll love you… and it will be _fine_. Don’t you love her?”

“But…”

He had made the wrong choice, screwed up big time, abused magic powers, and now, there was no way to go back.

But… there was one thing he could do.

He couldn’t go back.

He wouldn’t.

But he wouldn’t walk forwards alone, either…

“I… don’t love her…Lance…”

Ash threw his arms around Lance, feeling the cold consume him, staring into shocked golden eyes, but it was too late, and his choice was made. * I won’t let you go alone, Lance… it’s true, you don’t appreciate what you have until it’s gone, and it’s too late for you, but I’ll make it too late for me as well… and maybe, maybe, we’ll fly together someday… *

THE END

Completed 8/9/04

Author’s notes: Yes, they are dead.

Lance: >.< I disliked the AAMRN

Phantomness: I’m sorry, but I needed it to satisfy my Misty-bashing bunny.

Shoyko: Well, it was _kind_ of dark and maybe a little angsty but it wasn’t that bad in my opinion.

Ash: I’m so naïve! But then, I guess that’s why I’m so confused. Remember that Lance and I didn’t actually, er, solidify or relationship or anything, and Misty kind of seduced me otherwise I wouldn’t have fallen for her! Oh! And no, I did not have sex with Misty… that was what Lance was trying to tell me, but I don’t think I got it…

Pika-chan: *eating a blueberry pie* is there anything else that needs to be said?

Kairo: _I_ hate Misty too…

Phantomness: For clarification, the child Misty was carrying was Brock’s, but Ash thought it was his… still, Brock has no eyes + baby has no eyes + way premature birth = Misty slept with Brock and then tried to pass it off as Ash’s even though they didn’t have sex!