I’ll just put the rest of me bunnies on hold while I try to finish this fic! *Nods*
DISCLAIMER: Pokemon belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. This non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfic belongs to me!
Notes: <> for telepathy, ** for thoughts, italics if a pokemon talks
Recap: Last episode, Lance and Ash hooked up and decided to be friends. That’s about it.
Authoress is bored, so I play TIME JUMP!!!! 4 years later…
Originally Chapter 9… but decided to add chapters in between
It had been an exciting four years. He had completed both the Indigo and Johto Leagues, and was now registered as a Breeder! So… that was about it.
Now, though, things were a little complicated.
Learning from Mewtwo – who had first tried to bloody strangle him, causing all of his hive to attack, and then after defeating them, had realized who Ash was and _hugged_ him, telling him that Lance had killed his parents was not exactly the best thing in the world.
No.
Lance did not say a word.
“It can’t be…” Ash said, staring at Lance. From all that he had seen, Lance had never injured a pokemon…
Why would he be killing people?
Also, Lance was only what, four, five years older than Ash himself? So he would have had to kill Ash’s parents… as a toddler or something. Too improbable!
“No.”
< What? > Mewtwo did not look like he was paying attention.
“I don’t believe it! Lance wouldn’t do something like that!”
< Ash, it’s not an option. It’s _fact_. > Mewtwo argued through gritted teeth, despite the fact that he was using telepathy to talk.
Lance still wasn’t saying anything.
“It’s not true, is it?” Ash pleaded. * No it can’t be, can’t be… *
Lance was still not saying anything!
< Fine. I’ll do this the hard way. > Mewtwo said, before he forcibly _yanked_ Lance’s memories out and…
Lance snapped.
He had been so close to getting Ash to agree with him, the whole ‘destroy humanity except for the select few’ was working because of Ash’s bad experiences in the past, and now…
This false legendary was going to ruin it all!
Plus, it hurt too.
With a snarl, Lance released his pokemon. Ash gaped.
Now in order to explain the situation, it is to be noted that while Ash was journeying with Lance, Lance never battled, although Ash often saw him grooming and playing with his Charmander, Dratini, and Larvitar.
Lance had said he didn’t care about badges, after all, so he didn’t battle really, either.
It therefore came as a surprise when Lance released a _Suicune_.
Mewtwo stopped short, wondering what on earth that pokemon was.
Lance turned around and began walking off while Suicune attacked. In a few seconds, Mewtwo was… well, down would be putting it mildly.
Dark beats psychic after all, and Suicune knew Bite.
Ash threw a poke ball at Mewtwo and then ran after Lance. “Wait! Lance, please… don’t leave.”
Lance looked at him sideways. “Why not?”
“I-I… Lance, you didn’t really kill them did you?”
“Does it matter?”
“Of course it matters! I-!” Ash stopped as he stared at Lance. “You’re… you can’t possibly be… that’s…”
Lance shrugged, before he focused, letting his bodysuit shift into the normal white robes he wore. So much more comfortable.... His steel wings arched up as he released them. “A pokemon?”
Ash nodded mutely.
“It’s true.”
“But… but… Lance, did you kill them?”
He didn’t feel shame. He did feel pain though, because after this, he would never see Ash again. “Hai.”
“Why?”
“It was my duty.”
“I don’t understand!”
“Perhaps when you see why, you will.” Lance took Ash’s hands, seeing the boy wince as he began the memory feedback loop.
It was odd, staring out through eyes that were not his own and feeling what was happening. And yet… he couldn’t find it in his heart to blame the other.
His hive of pokemon had revived and they were now protectively sitting around him in a large circle. Ash smiled at them.
Yes, that was nice…
No anger though…
“Lance, are you using hypnosis on me?”
< Good heavens, no. I’m just showing you what I felt. > Lance told him telepathically. < I swear by Lugia that’s all I’m doing. >
Satisfied, Ash resumed. When the loop broke, he felt winded.
Odd…
So that was what Lance’s life had been like…
“So… um…” Well, he was blushing. There were some scenes he probably should not have seen.
Lance smirked. “What?”
“Do you really feel that way about me?”
“You taught me to feel.”
“Still…”
“I know, you’re still too young. Don’t worry; I can wait. I won’t demand you love me either.”
And… well, he didn’t know quite what else to do, so he nodded.
Strange. Very strange! He should hate Lance, shouldn’t he? But then, he hadn’t even known his parents! So what difference did it make?
Without a doubt, he had suffered… on the other hand; if his parents had lived he would never have met Birch, or most likely Lance for that matter. It was a trade-off. Was it worth it? He thought so.
“I don’t hate you…”
Lance looked at him sideways. “Are you certain?”
“Hai.”
“Then… what do we do now?”
Ash shrugged. “Continue on, I guess… we’ll face the future as it comes.”
End Chapter
End Fic for now
Completed 10/16/04
I should probably write about what happened during those 4 years, hmm? Anyways… just for fun, the statistics!
Trainer: Ash Ketchum
Title: Level 90 Trainer/ Level 46 Breeder
(I’m thinking of a sequel…)
Lance: Oh no
Ash: *grins* If Phantomness is thinking what I’m thinking, I can guess!
Lance: *sighs*
Phantomness: Hehehe…