Phantomness hates physics, her final’s this week. Eek!

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 7

“Who are you?”

“I suppose I can answer you truthfully, if your,” A pause, “Son is not here to witness the conversation.” Lance said. Catching Delia’s look she laughed. “Oh, don’t worry, I’m not about to rape you if that’s what you’re worried about. I hardly have the right equipment.”

That caught the mother off guard. “You’re a-?”

“Woman? Yes. Elite Four member? Also correct. Dragon Master? Champion?? Yes and yes to that. Was there anything else you wished to inquire of me?”

“You’ve… treated us well enough,” Delia said carefully, “But he-.”

“Ah, my little brother? You’ll have to excuse him. He’s rather shy around women, doesn’t see me as a girl you see...”

“I…I see…”

“As for you,” Lance locked eyes with her. “Delia Ketchum. Didn’t you have a son named Ashura?”

“You mean Ash Jacob Ketchum, my son?”

“No…” Lance leaned closer. “I mean Ashura Satoshi Ketchum. Who drowned on the S.S. Anne…?”

And the barriers of the mind shattered under the Dragon Master’s cold calculation. Lance didn’t bother to soften the blow. She owed it to her ‘little brother’ after all… so she’d strike.

Delia’s hands began to shake, and illusion was lost…

“No! Ash didn’t die! He’s right with me! He didn’t die! He couldn’t die! I’d – if he was dead I’d have no one left!”

She watched impassively as Delia broke down into horrified sobbing. Standing up, she left the room, hearing it lock behind her with a click. Delia would need some privacy to sort this all out….

< He doesn’t have you! >

Lance blinked as Ash hurtled down the hall and into her arms. < He’ll never have you! You’re mine, aniki; all mine…! >

Oh, interesting… playing the jealousy game, and who had more, indeed, who did? Lance smiled. < No, love, he’ll never have me. >

< And I’ll always be yours. > Ash whispered, pulling her down into a kiss, greedily demanding…. < You’ll always be mine. >

< Of course, my shadow child… >

< I love you aniki I love you so much it hurts, but that’s all right, because he’ll never feel – never notice a love like this. He’ll never burn with the flames and fly with the legendaries on golden wings… >

< No… >

There was a scream.

Lance resisted the urge to smack the kid since he had just interrupted a romantic moment but decided that he deserved more punishment. “You. If I hear another sound out of you, I’m sending you to Charlotte. Remember that flaming rope I hung you out of the window with? That’s hers. And trust me, she has more scary gear than you’ve ever dreamed off…”

Jacob twitched and fled.

Lance sighed. < Finally… >

< Aneki will kill him for us? >

< She might. >

< That’s good… >

Poor child… I should have foreseen it, but once again, you’ve fallen into my darkness. I’ll keep you here with me now.

I’ll keep you with me forever…

“Who are you?”

“Why do you care?” Lance asked, annoyed at another interruption. How had Delia gotten out of the room? Had she picked the lock?

The woman’s eyes were wide and terrified. “I think – I feel as if I know you, though I know not how…”

Ash stared at her blindly. “Who are you?”

“Do I know you?”

“Do I know you?”

Now this could be interesting. She tried to untangle Ash from her waist but he was being surprisingly clingy. “Ashura dear…”

“What is it, aniki?”

“Talk to her, all right?”

“All right…”

Delia looked closer. Pale skin, reddish hair, dark with black streaks, eyes spun gold, no, a strange reddish, and yet…

Why was this stranger so familiar?

Ash stared back at the woman. A forgotten spirit stirred briefly, almost a whisper but he didn’t hear it. He didn’t hear anything. He only knew that he needed his dear aniki to keep watch over him and love him…

< Not going well? >

< Kill Jacob, will you? >

< Already fed him to my Arcanine. Any pests left for me to dispose of? >

< No, not yet. >

< Not yet…? >

< We’ll see how it goes… >

< Lance, take care of him for me, all right? >

< You have my word of honor and duty. >

< And you never break it. Thank you. >

< Tis nothing. >

< Tis everything and you know it, Dragon Master. I’ll leave you two be now. >

< Very well. >

< Lance-aniki? >

< Yes? >

< Who-who is she? >

She walked back into the room and saw Delia still staring at Ash. Nothing had happened in her absence then…

< You don’t remember at all? >

< No >

< Then I will not remind you. Forget this. > She locked eyes with him and cast amnesia… another wave of her hand sent Delia away. It didn’t matter where. The woman was no longer necessary.

She held Ash in her arms and smiled.

Seems I’ve won again…

He’s mine, you know. He’ll be mine this time. And I don’t care if it’s unfair – screw what society thinks…

If even his mother can’t remember he exists… whom else will care?

End Chapter/END FIC

Completed 7/24/05

Lance is a selfish bastard. She’s also rather unscrupulous, Machiavellian, and very possessive. And even when she’s female I still refer to her as ‘he’. Mm. Oh well. I hope someone likes the fic!

Lance: Your writing is horrible

Phantomness: Hmm, I wonder why. Must be the heat killing me slowly…it’s sweltering in California right now…