Another chapter!

I hope this plotbunny doesn’t die…
Disclaimer/Notes: See previous chapter

Chapter 7

< You admire him don’t you? >

< Hai, Mysdreavus. >

The ghost frowned, her smile gone. < Why don’t you tell him? >

< What difference would it make? >

< Well, I suppose… >

Lance’s eyes were closed as he flicked out a handful of poison darts. Ash jumped, teleporting out of the way. “What the-?”

A scream sounded.

It was a man in completely black, even his face.

“I was wondering when you’d show up…” Lance said quietly. “After all, Drake paid you a handsome sum, didn’t he?”

“You!”

“I hit six of you, there’s two left.” Lance said, as his two dragonair dropped down. “Now, unless you want these two to rip you apart, I want you all to come out.”

“Bastard!”

“That’s odd, considering you were the ones trying to assassinate me…”

Ash’s eyes widened. < Is he going to kill them? >

< Quite possibly. > The ghost said.

< But why? >

< Kill or be killed… Ash. >

He couldn’t stay a child forever….

That was not an option.

“No? Very well.” Lance said, smirking.

Hakuryuu reared up, using Dragon Rage.

All dead…

There were ten.

Lance sighed. “Miscounted again, didn’t I?”

< Hai, Master Lance. >

“Well, at least I was accurate enough…”

Lance closed his eyes again and the bodies all vanished. “No evidence, no proof…”

“Why did you kill them?” Ash whispered.

“They would have killed me if I hadn’t.”

“But!”

“But what?” Lance asked. “Life isn’t some fairy-tale.”

Ash looked like he had been slapped in the face, and he fled with Mysdreavus.

< He was only telling the truth. > Mew said in her gentle voice. < He cares for you… >

< No he doesn’t! >

< You can’t see but we can… >

“Shut up!”

Ash crawled under his covers and let himself cry.

No one deserved to die…

No… one…

“Such a pity.” Lance said, quietly.

< He’s too innocent Master Lance. >

“Fine.”

< You have a plan. > Aerodactyl said without preamble.

< Hai. >

< Then what are you going to do? >

“Let him see the results of his own folly…”

Master Lance, that’s!

“Gyarados, do you feel sorry for him?”

Perhaps… you can be cruel…

“So can all men, Gyarados… and it will hurt him less…”

The dragons were silent after that.

As long as Master Lance doesn’t miscalculate…

The chance came barely a week later.

Ash had only been Champion for a month, but he had almost called Indigo’s leading newspaper to tell Lance’s secret.

His pokemon had warned him though.

< How would you feel? > Skymew had asked.

Starmew had nodded and cut his phone wires just to make sure. Sheesh! Why were his pokemon taking that murderer’s side?
It wasn’t fair!

He could feel his anger level rising.

“Lance!”

The Dragon Master looked up, in the direction of Ash’s voice. “What is it?”

“What have you done to my pokemon?”

“Nothing.” Lance said truthfully.

“I don’t believe you!” Ash cried.

Before he quite knew what he was doing, his anger had taken over…

He snapped out of it about five minutes later.

Lance looked at him, not saying a word. He didn’t need to.

Ash bit his tongue to keep from crying out.

“Well?”

“I-! I’m sorry!”

Lance shrugged as he put his fingers over the scratches on his arms, respectively. The blue healing glow wove around him.

But still…

Those had been deep!
“Did I?” Ash stared at his hands, as if he had never seen them before. “How did I? How? I-I didn’t mean to hurt you!”

“Ash,” Lance said calmly. “If you don’t hate me and hurt me, how easy do you think it is for me to kill those I _hate_?”

Ash gulped.

“You can’t be a child forever, precious little one…” Lance said offhandedly. “Do you see now?”

Ash did not say another word, as he hugged Lance tightly, trying not to cry. He didn’t wholly succeed, but…

It was nice to be held…

End Chapter

Completed 7/31/04