There are strange things in life, real life especially. ~ Phantomness

Disclaimer/Notes: See chapter 1 please

Timeline: 2 weeks

Chapter 2: Freedom’s price

“YES!”

Gary looked at Ash, who was jumping all over the room in excitement. “Calm down, Ash!”

“But I’m free! Free! Hahahaha! No more staying here and battling all day! I can finally go after Mewtwo!”

“I suppose.” Gary said, laughing. “Off to the unknown dungeon, right?”

“Yep!”

“Too bad I can’t go with you.’

That stopped Ash. “Honto ni? Demo…”

“I’m not the Champion, just the Champion Challenger. Second place. Only you can go into the cave where the psychic lies.”

“…Oh…” Ash said sadly.

“Would have gone before I lost to you, but it was only a day. Not that I mind, you always were better.” Gary said amiably. “So, where are you off to now?”

“Well, I’ll heal my pokemon and say goodbye to Mom first.’
“Have fun, Ash.”

Ash nodded. “I will!”

Raichu jumped up and down also, but her excitement was the result of the acorn cookies Ash had made her the day before.

Who knew?

Ash happily collected his pokemon, and then sprinted off to the entrance. Lorelei waved goodbye as he flew off on Charizard.

He stayed a week with his mom, and then the Unknown Dungeon beckoned him.

Back at the Plateau…

“He did WHAT?!”

“Calm down, Lance!” Agatha snapped. “The boy must pay for his mistake.”

“Your grandfather sent him on a wild goose chase to find Mewtwo?” The Dragon Master hissed through clenched teeth.

Gary blinked, surprised. “Yes.’

“Shimatta! He’ll die!”

“He’ll die? Lance, you’re overreacting.” Lorelei tried to placate him.

“You don’t understand.” Lance said. “Mewtwo kills without a thought. Ash is too kind hearted, and he won’t fight back. He’ll die.”

“… DIE?” This came from Gary.

“You know about this?” Lorelei asked.

Lance shot Agatha a withering glare. “Yes. When I first came here, Agatha sent me to capture Mewtwo…”

“You didn’t, though.”
“No, I almost died instead... that’s not quite true either.”

“You should not talk of this, Lance.” Agatha warned.

“I am Chosen, and I survived. But if he is not he will die. I would not send a child to his death!”

“You think you can stop him?”

“No, but I will try.”

Without another word, the Dragon Master released his Dragonite and flew off.

Gary and Lorelei looked at each other.

“You think Ash will be okay?”
“I doubt it now…”

Lance was furious…both furious with Ash for being so abysmally stupid and going after a human-created pokemon who would obviously hate humans, and angry with himself for not stopping Ash before he went. He had enough blood on his hands, and he didn’t kill innocent children…only the ones who weren’t.

He urged Dragonite to a slightly faster velocity as they neared the cave entrance. The stupid guard was gone, luckily.

Without an additional word, Lance recalled Dragonite and stalked into the cave. He still remembered the Route to the fiend, hopefully Ash would not meet it yet.

… Yet…

Setting his teeth, he tuned out the pain that reverberated as soon as he set foot inside and followed the waves until they grew stronger, knowing he was on the right path. He waited.

Ash smiled as Parasect, Venomoth, and Rhydon were all transferred to Oak. Making contributions to the pokédex was always fun.

But it was dark and gloomy here… ugh…

Raichu fried another Golbat, and they headed deeper into the mire…

It was getting gloomier, if that was possible…

Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.

No, no! You have to catch Mewtwo! A little voice said. Professor is counting on you to complete the pokédex!

Yes, yes!

Ash walked on.

It was four hours later when he literally ran into Lance.

The Dragon Master’s golden eyes bored into him. “Ash. You have to go back.”

“Nani?” Ash looked confused. “Why are you here?”
“Mewtwo…”

“You wanted to help me catch Mewtwo? Thanks, Lance!”

“That’s not what I meant.” Lance made hushing motions. < It will be easier if I just show you what happened.>

Ash’s eyes widened as his mind suddenly flooded with images.

Dragons fighting Mewtwo in a team and winning, but suddenly…

The weakest spot.

Gyarados roared in pain, before its eyes glazed over and it turned on its teammates. Lance barely managed to restrain it, and then Mewtwo attacked him directly…

Flashes of pain and darkness…

Pressure, inside and squeezing and breaking and…

Light?

Ash snapped back to reality. “T-this is what happened to you?” He trembled, still shocked with the aftermath of the sensations.

It was phantom pain, but it still hurt!

Lance looked grim. “Yes.” < If I had not been Lugia’s Chosen, I would have died. Mewtwo wouldn’t risk a legendary war. And as it turned out, Lugia healed me, since he needs me as Dragon Master but… >

Ash placed his hands against Lance’s chest, feeling the areas where it had re-knitted and scarred over.

< It never goes away completely. And every time I come here, it hurts more. Do you want this to happen to you? >

Terrified, although whether of the prospect of pain or simply at the flashbacks still circling in his head, Ash shook his head frantically.

< Let’s go, then. >

Ash followed the Dragon Master back into the outside world.

End Chapter

Completed 4/9/04, created 4/6/04