Whee!

Disclaimer: Pokemon belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. This non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfiction belongs to me under international copyright laws and taking it is plagiarism. Thank you. *Phantomness bows*

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

Chapter 5

“So, where are we going?”

“Pallet Town.”

“Why?”

“Because, my dear, it’s the beginning…”

“I don’t understand at all, Lance-aniki…”

“It’s all right. You don’t have to.”

“All right.” Ash smiled up at Lance. They jumped off the Dragonair as it landed in front of Oak’s lab.

“Are you ready?”

“Yes.”

“Then let’s begin…”

They linked hands and began the chant… and outside, the sky began to roil with silver and black…

“Oi! What are you two people doing?”

It seemed that Oak had noticed the commotion. Neither answered him. Their eyes stayed closed as they continued to chant…

And the waves continued to spread…

Oak decided that whatever this was, it didn’t look good, and in any case, he didn’t want any religious fanatics on his doorstep, so he released his Tauros and Magmar to drive them away.

Lance’s eyes remained closed, but a Hyper Beam blew the Tauros and Magmar into the wall of the lab, creating a rather large and impressive hole…

Oak paled, but wasn’t deterred. “Venusaur, go! Razor Leaf!”

The leaves halted about five feet away from the two of them. Ash smiled.

< Grass is under both of our control, isn’t it? >

< Well, yours, not mine, but that doesn’t matter… I’m a dragon and I don’t take much grass damage in any case. >

< I see. >

By now, Oak was starting to wonder what was up. Were they psychics or something?

This wasn’t normal that was for sure! Something was up….

< Song of Destruction… > Lance whispered, before her lips curved up in a smile-smirk and the rain began to fall. It wasn’t really rain of course, it was acid rain and hail and fireballs, and the random lightning bolt and blast of darkness mixed in, but no matter…

< We’re finished with this town, Father… >

< Wait for the waves to spread then. We may not need the song for every city. >

< Very well… >

They waited.

Pallet town was burning. He wasn’t sure if he cared anymore. Oh wait. That was his mom…

Perhaps he should do something…

Lance watched as Delia and her new child – what was his name? Bill or something, whatever, it wasn’t important, who cared for that child? Whatever it was, she watched them stumble out of the house, which had caught fire…

Did it matter?

She looked at Ash.

He shrugged.

“Shall we?”

“I suppose…”

Well, Ash’s mother was important, after all… if she was removed, he could slip and fall off the precipice of sanity quite easily…

Lance smiled as she released Ash’s hands. The song continued onwards, but they were no longer focused on maintaining it. They didn’t need to.

“Come on,” Ash said, as he grabbed Delia and Lance grabbed the random kid. A quick teleport warped them away.

He didn’t recognize the place they were in. it wasn’t Whirl Islands or Indigo Plateau…

< Aniki, where are we? >

< Well, we’re not in Mount Silver or any of the Hidden Preserves; so don’t worry! We’re in Slateport. Houen… >

< Oh! >

< Yes, if they want to stay here, they’ll be safe for a time… >

< I see. >

“Um… who are you?” Delia asked, after a pause. “Not that we aren’t grateful for your efforts, but…”

“It matters not.” Lance said coldly. “Stay here.”

“Now just one minute!” The kid said.

“And who might you be?”

“I’m Ash Jacob Ketchum! And I’m going to be the best pokemon trainer in the world! So there!”

“… I’m not interested in your false glory.” The frigid voice spoke. “You have no right to demand an answer of me.”

“Why you – that’s it! Pichu, go!”

A pichu?

His mom had gotten this imposter a Pichu?

It wasn’t fair at all…

< Ash! Calm down! >

< I can’t! > His hands were beginning to shake. < I… I’m so angry, aniki… >

< Let me help you then… I’ll purge you of all your anger, would that help? > A nod, so she placed her hands on his shoulders, and drew the darkness into herself…

And his eyes regained normal color, the red fading… but hers settled on solid crimson…

Jacob involuntarily took a step back.

Pichu shivered…

Lance smiled as the air around them began to darken, and then two Dragonair swarmed out of the shadows. “You don’t really think you can take me on, do you?”

End Chapter

Completed 7/22/05

Ash: …

Lance: …

Phantomness: What’s with the looks?

Lance: Why’d you name the kid Ash?

Phantomness: To complete the replacement deal, of course! But I’m calling him by his middle name so I don’t get confused.

Ash: Grr…