Okay plotbunny don’t die!

Disclaimer: I don’t own pokemon; it belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. This is non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanwork written by me so it’s mine; all mine under international copyright laws!

Notes: <> for telepathy, ** for thoughts, italics if a pokemon talks

Chapter 2

“Wow…”

Ash looked at the beautiful black rose, sparkling on a bush by itself. “I’ve never seen these before…”

Me neither. Bulbasaur said, sniffing experimentally. A smile split her face. Well, it has a nice fragrance.

I wonder if it’s edible? Eevee asked.

“Eevee, its too pretty to eat!”

Eevee shrugged, it didn’t matter to him. Food was food no matter how pretty it was. Why were the others making such a big deal?

Pikachu grinned. Well, are you going to pick it?

But then it’ll die… Squirtle mentioned, sadly. He sprayed a fine mist over the flower, making the sunlight sparkle on the petals.

As if the earlier luster hadn’t been enough, this new action multiplied natural beauty by tenfold.

Ash smiled. “I’ll pick it later.”

The rose bloomed.

That night, Ash carefully took a pair of garden scissors with him as he knelt down next to the blossom, and snipped.

The rose fell into his hands, and he started to leave for home when all of a sudden, the only thing he could see was mist and he fainted.

Lance scooped up the unconscious child and smirked, silver-steel wings glinting brightly as he flew back to his realm.

Perfect. And he hadn’t even needed to hurt the poor child; it was all a matter of game plan and strategy after all.

Yes… the little one would be his in his way.

He brushed a kiss on a cheek and then faded completely into darkness, taking his captive with him.

Ash woke up, feeling disoriented as he looked around. “Where am I?” He was lying between dark blue silken sheets…

And this was definitely not home.

A slight movement startled him, quickly his eyes blazed with golden light and it froze, trapped in a bubble.

What? But that was…

A pikachu!?

A _black_ pikachu?

You’re awake! The pikachu gasped. Anger grated out in its voice though, making a perfectly normal statement sound… ugly?

Ash got up and walked over to the pokemon. Years of spreading peace and good cheer among mortals had endeared him to the little creatures.

The pikachu looked angry, but not angry enough to shock him. Ash picked up the pikachu, releasing the trap. “Where am I?”

You are in the realm of shadows, of course. The pikachu said, sounding irritated still, but not as much as earlier. Interesting.

The rest of the light had vanished somewhere, but to Ash’s surprise, it had been absorbed, not reflected.

“Why am I here?”

It is not my place to say. Pikachu hummed. But I shall go fetch him.

Ash nodded, and sat back down on the bed to wait for whatever may happen next. And if he had been beset, by some enemy… well… the sword of lightning was not just for decorative purposes.

The white blade glittered in his hands.

Seconds later, the Pikachu returned, someone in tow. Ash screwed up his eyes, but it was so very dark he could not really make out distinguishing features.

“You may go, Pikachu.”

The pikachu nodded and scampered off.

“Who are you?” Ash demanded; feeling irritated.

Lance smiled slightly, as he stepped closer, drawn to the glittering light around the little one, before he was finally in plain view.

Ash took an involuntary step backwards. “You’re!” He had heard rumors, but…

Wow…

Lance smirked, folding his steel wings back neatly as his fangs glittered. “Yes. I’m the prince of darkness.”

“I-… why am I here?”

Lance frowned. “That’s not exactly an easy question to answer.”

“I’m not dead am I?!”

“Oh, heavens no, if you were you wouldn’t be here. This realm leads to death, but it is not the resting place for spirits.”

“Then why _am_ I here?”

“I wanted company.” Lance said quite simply.

“WHAT?!”

Ash stared at the other fledgling as if he had grown another head. “You’re keeping me here because you want company?”
“Why not? You have no role to play either way.”

“But-!”

“But what?” Lance asked. “Don’t tell me you weren’t bored with the way life was running.”

Ash bit his lip. Lance’s words were true, but they seemed … twisted, somehow. No, they just felt kind of wrong…

But Lance wouldn’t lie, would he?

Would he?

Dragon’s can’t cry, is the second part of the rhyme applicable as well?

Ash sighed. “Well, so you kidnapped me.”

“In essence, I suppose.”

“I don’t trust you!”

“Understandable, but I assure you, people can grow used to anything.” Lance said, idly flicking an invisible speck of dust off his robe.

“Fine.” Ash muttered. “Since I’m your captive-.”
“Not really, you can leave if you find the exit.” Lance said helpfully.

“I’ll make the best of this situation, but don’t you dare feed me any water of Nepenthe.”

“You don’t have to eat, you just choose to. I’ll make dinner for us though, if you would like.”

Ash’s stomach grumbled, and he nodded, the offer of any food at this minute was quite inviting.

End Chapter

Nepenthe – I believe this is from the Scarlet Letter; it’s like the water from the river Styx, which takes away memory.

Created 5/10/04, completed 5/11/04