Whee!

Warnings: Bastard! Oak and possible abuse in this chapter

Chapter 7

How do you tell if you’re in love with someone?

Lance didn’t hurt him. Lance cuddled him and took care of him better than his mom did what was saying a lot! But Lance could be scary at times and there were so many things about Lance he didn’t know…

Ash sighed.

Lance turned another page in his book and didn’t say another word.

“You could say something, you know!”

“I’m not influencing your decision.”

“How did you know?”

“You just gave it away,” Lance laughed. “Honestly, Ash. I know these things. I’m not a Dragon Master of nothing.”

There it was again. Something about… something in the way Lance said Dragon Master, as though it was more than a title…

But what was the connection with Oak then?

It seemed he’d have to do research or something. He couldn’t just ask Professor Oak – but he could ask someone else for help. Like… Sabrina!

Sabrina would help him. He’d saved her sanity, after all, and never asked for anything in return. Surely…

“Lance? I’m going to Saffron.”

“Heading back to Kanto?”

“Not really.” Ash said, but he didn’t have time to explain. “I’ll be back soon!”

“Enjoy.” Lance turned another page in his book. Ash nodded as he dashed outside.

Lance closed the Book of the Dead after Ash had gone, watching as drops of red blood began to well up beneath the bindings, dripping onto his desk and then vanishing, as if they had never been.

He hurriedly pulled a vial of shiny white liquid out of his cloak and swallowed two drops, numbing himself before the pain hit and he fell to the ground, gasping.

Not again…

“Hello, Ash.” Sabrina said, as he walked into her gym. “I haven’t seen you in a while. How have you been?”

“Pretty good. What about you, Sabrina?”

“At least I’m sane now, ne?” She laughed. “I’m fine.”

“That’s good.” Ash grinned. “Um… I had a favor to ask of you…”

“All right. What did you want help with?”

Ash proceeded to explain the situation while Sabrina nodded occasionally… hmm… this would be interesting…

Professor Oak didn’t know what hit him. As it turned out, it was a Haunter, but he didn’t need to know that…

“Ready?”

< I’ll never be more ready than this. He’s unconscious… Ash, this could take a while, all right? >

Ash nodded as Sabrina’s eyes began to glow scarlet and Professor Oak began to glow blue…

He was looking at a scene from the past, obviously. He wasn’t sure how old Lance was – maybe ten, maybe younger, you couldn’t really tell with the Champion…

The boy was in the lab – Oak was there, looking younger, along with a woman in a dark purple dress – Agatha? Impossible! Her hair was still blonde…

“Professor Oak!”

“What is it, Lance?” The scientist asked.

“I… I found Dratini… and…” Lance’s voice sounded choked. In his arms was a baby Dratini literally coated with greenish sludge…

“Oh dear!” Agatha said. “I’ll take care of it, no need to be bothering him.”

“No, no, Agatha. I believe I am the authority on pokemon? I’ll just give it the standard Antidote. It’ll be fine.”

Agatha shook her head, but didn’t protest as Oak injected the Dratini with a homemade antidote he had concocted up.

Moments later, the Dratini was dead.

The scene seemed to skip, before he saw another. Agatha was watching as Lance scrubbed the Dratini clean of sludge with soap and baking soda. It deserved a decent burial at least…

“Lance, I’m sorry…”

“It’s not your fault, grandmother…”

Grandmother?

So Lance was related to Gary! Or… something. How weird.

“I could have had my ghosts siphon the poison out, like I did with Lorelei’s Seel, but no… I am a fool… he is too much of a scientist.”

“Why did he…?”

“He’s trying to develop an Universal Antidote… I’m afraid…”

“Dratini… didn’t have to die…” Lance whispered. “It’s only a baby…Dratini… doesn’t have to die…”
“Lance, you do realize that I can’t do that.”

“Grandmother… I’m sorry.” Lance said, before he began to hum. Ash shivered, even though he was only watching. The tone was haunting, not precisely scary, but almost… seductive…

Almost as if something were coming…

He watched in horror as Lance began to glow – he wasn’t too sure what color that was, but he finally identified it as black – and things really should not glow black!

Then there was a brilliant flash, and Lance was holding a clean – and alive – dratini in his arms…

And then Oak came out and there was blood and pain…

“That sick bastard!” Ash yelled, once he had come to. “I can’t believe he-!”

“It’s not just Lance, you know.” Sabrina said quietly. “There are so many he hurt, it’s amazing…”

“Are you all right, Sabrina?”

“I’ll be all right, but I don’t think he will be anymore.” Sabrina said, as she dialed the authorities.

Three days later, Samuel Oak was incarcerated for sixteen counts of child abuse and molestation. But was it enough?

Hopefully…

“I’ll take you home now.”

“Thanks, Sabrina.” Ash said, giving her a hug. “This means a lot to me.”
The psychic smiled. “I know.”

After Ash had left, she dialed Karen’s number. The Dark Master might want to know what had happened to her grandfather and half-brother…

End Chapter

Completed 8/8/05

I like Sabrina. ^^