Disclaimer/Notes: Phantomness does not own pokemon. Pokemon belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. This non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfic belongs to me…

Notes: I use ** for thoughts, <> for telepathy, italics if pokemon talk

Recap: Ash knocked Lance out with some misplaced truth telling

Chapter 10

“Lance, are you all right?”

“Do you think he’s all right?” Nurse Joy asked as she finished putting the boy to bed. “He’s suffering from hypothermia! How in Mew’s name, did this happen?”

“I-I don’t know…”

“All right. Tell me what happened.”

Ash hesitated, but finally nodded. “I told him a secret, and I didn’t want him to tell anyone else, so I used my Abra to search his memories.”

“You did _WHAT_!” Nurse Joy’s look of horror was eloquently obvious. “You might have put him in a coma for life! You ought to be ashamed of yourself!”

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry, but what can I do now?”

“Out.” Joy shoved him into the waiting room. “I’ll see what I can do.” She hoped there was something, but in this case, who knew?

Hypothermia… Nurse Joy got a bundle of blankets and hot water bottles and covered Lance up as best as she could. There was nothing else she could do for now, she had pokemon to tend to, surgeries to do…

Lance did not stir.

< Child… Chosen… wake up… >

< Father? >

In the darkness, a child in white robes sat quietly. He was not afraid. There was nothing out there to get him.

Around him, the forest of silversteel blades grew up even tighter.

< Chosen, are you well? >

Lance saw Lugia’s mental avatar appear in his head, smiling. < Child? >

< I am well enough, father. >

< What happened? >

< He broke my trust. > The child flicked a blade up, caught it and studied the intricate carvings on the curved metal.

< Ah. >

< Humans are not to be trusted, hai? >

< Well, he is still a child like you are. Do not be too hard on him. They do not grow and learn as easily as pokemon do. >

< I will do my best, Father. >

< Good child… now perhaps you should wake up? You are frightening all the dragons. >

< Sorry. I will >

Surge looked at the crying boy whom he had just handed the Thunderbadge to. “What’s wrong, kid?”

“I-I… I shouldn’t be here.”

Sandshrew took the badge and then hugged Ash.

Flabbergasted, the man watched as Ash fled. * I left my only friend at the hospital while I went to get a badge! How selfish am I? *

“Nurse Joy!”

There was no pink-haired woman at the desk. However, Ash was surprised when Chansey led him upstairs.

“Is he okay? Is he dead?”

Full panic mode had set in, evidently.

Lance blinked open sleepy golden eyes before Ash pounced on him. “Lance! Are you all right?”

“?”

“You’re not dead!” Chansey sighed as the boy who was not in bed thereby proceeded to nearly asphyxiate the one who was.

Lance pried Ash’s hands off his neck and shook his head. “No, I’m just tired.” * although I would be dead if you hadn’t stopped choking me… *

“Thank Jirachi, thank Deoxys, you’re not dead…”

“Why would I be dead?”

“Um…” Quite predictably, a blank was drawn. Act now; think later was Ash’s policy on life, so it was not too surprising.

He broke away suddenly, blushing. * Oops. *

“Are you hurt?”

“I think so.”

“Oh no! I’m so sorry! Lance, can you ever forgive me?”

Mystified eyes met his. “For what?”

< I think he has Amnesia. > Abra said helpfully.

“Do you remember what happened?”

“Hai, you were going to get hit with a Blizzard attack so I pushed you out of the way. You’re not hurt, are you?”

“N-no…”

< Forget Amnesia. He’s got false memories. > Said the ever-present and amiable pokemon. Whatever worked! If this was so, so be it!

“That’s good.” Lance smiled.

Biting down on his confession, Ash nodded. “Thank you, Lance.”

“It’s nothing.”

Ash insisted they spend a few extra days in Vermillion, since Lance was sick, so the other trainer did not object.

Why should he?

The horrors of the present were all too near, so he locked them up in his mind and resolved never to look again.

It hurt.

Did love hurt then? Was it worth it?

“Celadon, here we come!”

“Flying again?” Lance raised his eyebrows but did not comment. Flying was quick and efficient after all.

Charizard yawned as the black dragon pokemon flew them to the city. Stretching his wings and being with Ash was nice.

He hadn’t enjoyed being rotated back to the lab in Houen very much. The process of data transfer made him feel queasy...

Still, it was necessary. Ash had caught more pokemon than he could hold, so it had to be done.

End Chapter

Completed 10/16/04

Lance: So how long a mini-series?

Phantomness: At least a few more chapters…