Let’s get back to Ash now shall we? Yes, let’s do that…

DISCLAIMER: Pokemon belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. This non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfic belongs to me. Don’t take my work!

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

Chapter 4

‘Lance’ left the building, and then the two birds surrendered control.

Lance frowned. “Well, I guess I wasn’t just hearing voices.”

< Ah! >

< You knew? >

“I found out. I wasn’t asleep when you two took over. I wonder why father never told me?”

< He… didn’t want to pressure you. >

< We’re only here to protect you. >

“Really? That’s nice of him. So my hair and eyes really do change color?”

< You’re taking this rather well, and yes. >

Lance shrugged. < It’s a lot less stressful than many things in life, like being Champion. >

< Oh. Well, we can see you working hard. >

< Where to now? >

“Well, seeing as it’s Mewtwo, I probably shouldn’t bother him. I was trying to leave.” Lance concluded. “I can let Ash go now.”

< So why is he tied up? >

“Only way I could think of to keep him from interfering, since warning never works.” * Lake of Rage… sigh… *

He could never think back on that without feeling annoyed.

What did Ash have anyways?

Oh yes… the Chosen One. Right… well, it was lucky he had stopped the three birds from fighting to the death three years ago, but…

Shouldn’t they have given him some more brains as a reward? That would have helped… no, he was still naïve, incredibly clueless, and looked like a ten-year-old.

Why was the last part necessary?

Lance shrugged and went in the room, and untied Ash, who had woken up by then.

“Hey! What do you think you’re doing?!”

“Letting you go.” Lance said matter-of-factly as he cut the ropes, turned, and left, before Ash could get any hentai thoughts. Not that Ash would, being incredibly innocent in such matters.

Ash stared as he vanished in Teleport. “… Who was that?”

Pikachu frowned. He seemed familiar…

“Really, Pikachu? I didn’t recognize him.”

He wasn’t wearing that last time we saw him; you know I’d know that!

“So…”

I’m trying to think. Pikachu said as she flipped her ears. * But we met so many people on our journey… *

How could she remember one person?

Back in Indigo Plateau, Lance flopped down on his bed as he tried to figure out what to do next.

He highly doubted Mewtwo would just leave.

So what to do?

Maybe they could make a deal? After musing for an hour or so, Lance put down his chocolate milkshake and tuned in.

< Latios? Latias? What do you two think? >

< We couldn’t care less, really. > Latios said somewhat brashly.

< But on the other hand, we don’t want to make you get into trouble… > Latias demurred in her gentle voice.

< If you can’t decide we’ll offer suggestions… >

< But we won’t take control of you. That wouldn’t be fair. >

“Thank you.” Lance smiled. * But why do you need me? *

< We don’t want to get captured outside. >

< You’re the only human we can trust. Also, you’re only… I believe 1/16 human, so there’s plenty of pokemon in you for us to bond to. If we tried to bond with a normal human, they’d implode or something. >

< I see… >

< That’s all we have to say, really. >

Lance nodded. < All right. >

He flopped back down onto his bed after the conversation. What to do now?

He didn’t want to deal with it!

< Father? >

Lugia replied immediately. < Hello, Chosen. >

< What should I do? >

< Perhaps you could leave the problem for someone else to take care of? > Lugia asked flippantly. < After all, the world is not in your hands. >

< That’s true. I’m not the Chosen one. > Lance spared a smirk. * Let’s see how Ash handles things. I won’t rescue him again, certainly… *

Now he wouldn’t have to worry about the boy.

Lance put on the Moonlight Sonata in the background, changed back into his normal cloak and bodysuit attire, and went to work on tax reports.

A Champion’s work is never done.

Ash sneezed.

Are you sick? Pikachu solicitously inquired.

“Don’t think so… darn, he does seem a little familiar but I can’t remember him either!”

What if it’s a girl? Charizard asked.

“Huh?”

If it’s a girl disguised as a boy, then… Charizard trailed off. Ash got the picture.

“You think?”

So how many girls have you met?

“… Way too many to count unfortunately.” Ash looked put upon. “Well, there’s nothing to do but wait I guess…”

Why wait? Pikachu again.

“Well, er… weren’t we in the Mart?”

Pikachu nodded. And then when we woke up we were here!

“Someone rescued us. I don’t think its safe to go back immediately.”

Will wonders never cease. He’s using his brain for once! Charizard let out an incredulous breath.

Ash scowled.

It’s true, though. Pikachu smiled. Well, let’s wait a few days then.

Ash grabbed his pokédex, healed at the Center, and then went training. After all, you could never be too high-leveled, right?

Right!

He’d need all the help he could get fighting that mysterious pokemon… and all those weird-colored pokemon too.

Yes, he would work harder!

End Chapter

Completed 9/29/04

Lance: Hmm…

Ash: I was tied up?!

Lance: It was for a good cause

Phantomness: ^-^ Well, it could imply things, but there’s no shonen-ai as of now.

Shoyko: You have no romance muse?

Phantomness: Good point, I need one of those…

Kairo: Count me out! I like doing humor and getting breaks all the time!

Shoyko: I am overworked

Pika-chan: I’m fluff, but not romance. *Eating a giant slice of cinnamon cheesecake – yummy*