Disclaimer: Pokemon belongs to 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
Chapter 4
“Do you think I should be worried?” Ash asked carefully, not wanting to set Lance off again. “Because if you’re going to be this twitchy, it’s not a good idea for us to be alone in the forest, I mean jungle.”
Lance’s eyes snapped sparks as Ash gulped. Oops.
Why did he have to bring this up on the last day of their ‘camping trip’? Ash slapped himself on the forehead and began apologizing, fast.
Lance waved him off and didn’t say a word as the tent was packed up. This trip had been a total waste of time… he could still feel the toxins staining his fingers purple.
Life was so unfair. They gave their report and as a result all but a few acres were bulldozed over, the stream was dammed for agriculture… and that was all.
He watched it without saying anything, almost apathetic. Ash was quite surprised. Hadn’t Lance been passionate about protecting natural habitats? Where had that spark of life gone?
It was like it had vanished overnight…
He didn’t like it!
It was too weird for him, this life… he wanted to go back to his dream where he was just a clueless trainer who did not have to worry about this complication…
It was easier that way, so much easier…
Did Lance find it easier not to care, he wondered?
There was a knock at the door. Ash got up to open it – he found out that he and Lance were sharing an apartment, but they had bunk beds so it wasn’t like they were sleeping together or anything…
It was probably what college would be like, if he ever decided to go. But wait, hadn’t he already gone? Odd.
The woman had long white-blonde hair, plaited into a large bun on the back of her head, secured with a mass of hairpins, and severe-looking steel spectacles. Her eyes behind them were an impossibly bright shade of chocolate brown and she was wearing a dark green jacket and matching skirt over a starched white blouse clipped with a brooch of jade dragon.
“Um… hello?”
“Hello Ash. Is Lance home?”
“Do I know you?”
“Of course you do! Poor dear, that fever in the Emerald Jungle must still have some lingering effects. I’m Lance’s mother.”
“Oh! I’m sorry, what’s your name?”
“Mother.” Lance smiled as he caught sight of her. “I’m glad you’re home.” He hugged her in a rare display of affection that left Ash staring.
Lance could actually be… Wow, he actually seemed kind of human! It was not that he wasn’t polite and intelligent at other times, but this was one side Ash had not seen. Still, a few weeks in a Jungle proved nothing.
“I heard the reports, child. You must be distressed…”
“I couldn’t do anything, Mother. I’m sorry.”
“It’s all right, Child, we expected too much from you… too heavy a burden for one alone… you should rest.”
“I’ve been resting, Mother. My aunt made sure of that.” There was a slight bitterness in Lance’s tone as she pulled away. “Why did you not protect me?”
“It was her area child, not mine. If she wishes her home gone, it is not my concern…”
“I feel sorry, but she locked my pathways.”
“I understand. Do not fret, child. Everything will work out eventually…”
“Yes, Mother.”
Ash coughed, feeling left out but knowing better than to interrupt. Did he have parents in this alternate reality? He could not remember…
Surely his diary should have said something. He could search the Internet later, or actually, why not now? With a smile he left the room.
Viridian nodded as she placed a hand on Lance’s head. “Are you happy here, child? Truly happy?”
“As happy as I can be, mother, considering the circumstances.”
“I understand. My sister is foolish, but she is still one of us. I hope you will be happy. For soon, I will live through you…”
“I understand.” Lance said, though he hugged her closer. “I wish it did not have to be this way.”
“I also, child, but we cannot break from the shackles of fate that bind us all…”
“How much longer?”
“Weeks, days, not much time. Already the plans are underway to destroy your home... our home…”
“Pity.”
“Isn’t it? My hands are tied this time around, unfortunately.”
“Ah, we do not always wish to repeat history. That would be such a monotonous existence, don’t you agree…”
“I understand.”
“I always knew I could count on you Lance. You are the only one of my children that I trust.”
“Yes, mother.”
Ash came out just in time to see Lance’s mother leave, but she had left behind her a home cooked dinner that smelled delicious. His stomach grumbled, reminding him that he had been online searching for several hours and was quite hungry.
. Lance gasped as he felt a chill of power running through his body. His mother had given him her gift when he was but a child, but as he aged and she waned in power, more of it was in place…
He watched his fingers shift into long, sharp claws, tipped with silver for a second before he smiled and willed them away. Ash didn’t notice, busy lifting the covers off all of the dishes.
“Oh yummy~! She made pineapple dipped in chocolate for desert! White and dark!” Ash was practically salivating as he yanked off the last plates.
“Are you going to stare at it or eat it? I’ll get the plates.” Lance said as he opened a kitchen drawer and took out plates and cutlery for them both. The table was already set with plastic cloth like the kind used at picnics, so they could throw it away after a few uses. Red and white checks were not his style though.
Ash grinned happily as Lance set the table and they dug into shrimp in sweet and sour sauce and broccoli and cauliflower steamed with a sprinkling of pepper, chicken chunks smothered in cashews and peanuts and sweet fluffy basmati steamed rice. Yum…
He didn’t even mind doing the dishes after that gastronomic feast.
End Chapter
Completed 12/16/05
Started 12/14/05
Ash: I foresee reader complaints about this fic making them hungry
Phantomness: Who cares? I like food and haven’t used it in fic that much…