Yay! All finals are over~! *Phantomness cheers*

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 5

“So what is going on now?” Ash asked. “I mean, we got paid well for that scientific expedition but…”

“You didn’t know? It’s how we make a living. Every few months we go off to explore and do research. We’re more fieldwork-oriented scientists…”

“I see?”

“You really haven’t recovered from your odd amnesia, have you, Ash?”

“I guess not.” But the dream was fading from his memory fast, leaving only this reality to cling to.

“Would you like me to help?”

“Help? You’re a psychiatrist?”

“Not exactly, but I think I can help. Just relax…”

Ash nodded and closed his eyes, even as Lance began to chant under his breath, soft whispered syllables of power… a wind began to whip around the room even though all windows were shut and there was the faintest hint of jasmine flower on the breeze…

When it ended, he felt curiously refreshed, though his mind was jumbled like a spilled over toy box. Without a word, Lance handed him a mug of hot milk with honey, and without a word in response, he smiled and drank it, tasting a sprig of mint.

Interesting.

They must know each other well, to predict routine like this. It was strange, no doubt, but being with Lance did help…

“You’re mother’s really nice, Lance.”

“I know,” Lance replied, but his eyes were sad.

He headed off to bed, after reading another chapter in his thick tome on pokemon biology. Lance waited until Ash was gone before he retreated outside to watch the stars.

Mother…

I wish you did not have to die… even if I gain power as you lose it, it doesn’t seem quite fair to either of us….

He watched as his Aerodactyl and twin Dragonair soared off into the night. His Gyarados and Dragonite were still brooding over their eggs, and he would rather they stay safe… safe at home.

They would not be going on the expedition with him. Dragon eggs took anywhere from six months to several years to hatch, and early birth often was a sign of defects in the children… they would understand, of course.

They always did.

He liked pokemon, pokemon were loyal, unlike the greedy bastards who cared for naught but profit and power. He wished to destroy them, but that was not the way.

He would simply hasten their running start towards annihilation…

Soon, they would all die without his interference.

“Lance?”

“Yes, Ash?”

“When are we leaving next, and where are we going?”

“Well, we have another month or so to relax and let the scientists analyze what they’ve found from our data before we’re sent somewhere else.”

“I see…”

“Your head still hurting?”

“Mmhmm.” Ash rubbed his head and nodded.

“That’s all right. The Motrin – actually, medicine cabinet is second shelf behind the mirror in the bathroom.”

“Thanks!”

While Ash went to scare up a headache cure, Lance returned to his brooding. Mother would not live much longer, but she did promise to come over every day until…

Until it was too late and on that day she would transfer the rest of her power to him. He was not looking forwards to that day, but what could he do?

He had little choice in the matter.

Sure enough, the next day, Viridian showed up again, and the day after, a full twenty-seven days, almost a month, before she kissed him farewell and vanished. Luckily, Ash had not seen.

He did not expect the boy to understand.

The day after, they heard the shocking news that Viridian Forest had been completely destroyed in a fire. Some careless camper had not bother to make his fire forest-safe, and now, there was nothing but ashes left. The stream was choked with filth and dust, and no water pokemon could be found within.

There was no life there.

“Where are we going next, Lance?”

“For all I know, Indigo intends to send us to the moon. Apparently there isn’t anything left for us here.”

“Not even an island study like Seafoam?”

“Ah, you remembered that? Well, the marine biologists loved it but the people who fund us, the Council won’t care about ice cores and fossils.”

“Oh…” Ash nodded. Money. Why did so much of the world seem to be run by money? It was not very fair.

According to the pokedex, he was seventeen, but he certainly did not feel that old! Still, he looked much the same, a few inches taller and more tanned, but that was the extent of the changes. Odd how his dream mirrored reality somewhat, but not enough…

“Then…”

“We may be required to pursue a different occupation in the future.” Lance said quietly, though his voice shook slightly at the end.

Ash winced and hugged Lance. It was odd, but he felt like he should. Lance certainly responded to the hug well enough, perhaps too well.

Ash gasped as he was kissed. It was his first kiss, after all, and he always thought he’d like girls, but Lance was different, all sharp planes and hard angles, but he could sense kindness and a horrible despair that made him want to comfort Lance and offer him anything and everything up to the world if only he’d smile, because when Lance smiled, he was magnificent.

Ash was breathless and wide-eyed as the kiss broke, his cheeks flushing pink. Lance smiled at him and than kissed him again.

He was melting into the man’s arms and he couldn’t help it! “Lance…”

“Yes, Ash?” A teasing thread had entered his partner’s voice. Oh Mew…

That voice seemed to go straight to one portion of his anatomy and he sagged bonelessly in Lance’s arms. “I want…”

“Shh, I know, Ash. I will but I think we’d best make it to bed first.” Ash nodded, and they both tumbled onto the sheets together…

Odd that he could still smile, now that his mother was gone, but with Ash as a suitable replacement, well… that helped.

He’d learn to cope, then, with the world, until it burned in the flames of retribution. After all, without his work to occupy him any more, he would need a distraction, and Ash was a pretty one.

End Chapter

Completed 12/16/05

Ash: What, no love?
Phantomness: It will develop in time. Quit being so impatient!

Lance: I do not wish to know how your convoluted mind functions, author. I will depart.

Ash: And how come Lance always sounds so sophisticated or stuck up and I’m so blunt!

Phantomness: That’s the way the dub crew made you; so quit complaining! I’m just following canon!

Ash: *Glare*

Phantomness: Keep that up and I will write a lemon with you and a Muk!
Ash: EEP!