Quote the Raven, “Nevermore!” – Edgar Allen Poe

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

WARNINGS: Shonen-ai, incest

Chapter 2

He ran blindly through wet grass, slipping several times, but sheer terror and an instinct for self-preservation drove him onwards until he collapsed, leaning against an Oak tree. He slumped against the trunk, sliding down until his legs met bare earth, feeling residual pain clog his mind. His damned uncle…

He fingered the carving knife. He would make the man pay one day, not only for what he had done, but also for the continuous abuse and humiliation…

Footsteps. He froze, clutching the knife in one hand. “Who’s there?”

There was a clicking noise as a bright flash lit the area, and he was face to face with a handsome man, who had long red hair tipped with gold and brilliant golden eyes. At his side was an Ampharos.

The man stared at him for a moment. “Ash?”

“How do you know my name?” Ash demanded warily.

“I’m your bloody father, I ought to know. Put the knife down or I’ll have Ampharos Thunderwave you.”

Ash slowly lowered his weapon. “Father?”

“Yes.”

This man was telling the truth, he felt it! Running forwards, he threw himself into his father’s arms, even as a name drifted up from the depths of his memory.

“You’re alive!”

“I was never dead, though I was working undercover in the Orre Region for many years bringing down Team Snagem.” Lance frowned. “What’s wrong with you, Ash? You’re hurt!”

He shivered and before he could stop himself, the events of the day rolled over and he was sobbing and shivering at the same time. Gentle hands wiped away his tears and he could feel fury singing through his father’s blood at what he endured.

“I’ll kill them.” Lance hissed. His fingers twitched, before there were sharp needles between them, like claws…

“Yes.” Ash whispered, liking the sound of that. “Yes.”

“Not yet, my love.” Lance whispered, and Ash shivered at the sound. “First, we need to heal you.”

“But…”

“I know you’re still sore, but it will hurt more if we don’t get you cleaned up. Trust me.” And he was too tired to fight, even as they teleported and he was led through ankle-deep plush, sinking into the warm depths of a hot tub as his father carefully washed him and bandaged him and fed him healing potions.

The anger still burned in his heart though, a slow, smoldering anger…

“I am sorry I did not come back.” Lance frowned. “I sent letters and I called every month. Did you never receive my messages?”

“No.” Ash could feel rage bubbling up again, not against his father, whom he knew was telling the truth, but against his aunt and uncle.

“I sent presents too. Pokemon dolls and mobiles and books…”

Ash’s anger grew as he remembered all of Dudley’s toys. “That…!”
“What happened?”

“They gave them to Dudley!”

Lance’s eyes flashed sparks. “What? They gave them to that tub of lard? Even at age four he was nothing but a pudding with no brains who would surely grow up to become the scum of society! And they gave my presents for you to that thing!”

In some way, Ash felt gratified that his father was as angry as he was. He was carefully lifted out of the tub and he dried himself with the large fluffy towel provided, marveling at it all.

This place was huge! It was like a mansion! And as he was led down the hallway to his room, he gasped. He had an entire suite down in shades of emerald green.

The walls were covered with paintings of pokemon, there were two tall bookshelves, and there were stuffed poke dolls and mobiles and action figures and…!

He threw his arms around his father in an earnest hug that intensified when Lance kissed him on the forehead.

“I see that you like it.” His father said, sending a delicious shiver through his body at the sound of that voice.

“Yes.” Ash whispered. “Why couldn’t I stay here though? Is mother truly dead?”

Lance nodded gravely. “Yes.”

“I’m sorry…”

“It is no fault of yours. I apologize for being unable to take care of you while I was on duty. How much you’ve suffered at their hands…”

Ash nodded mutely, overwhelmed. Lance tucked him into bed and almost immediately, he fell into deep sleep. Meanwhile, the Dragon Master went off to plot.

How dare they do this to his son! He was Kanto League Champion and he would do everything in his power to fix this!

Within moments, the Officer Jennies had been notified and there was medical proof to the neglect and abuse, Owen Jameson lost his job and his son was banned from entering the League, his wife was committed to an asylum and he himself was jailed for fifteen years.

Pity they couldn’t do anything about Dudley. And as a relative… hmm…

Now that both his parents were gone, there were… things. Yes. And so, the next day, Dudley showed up at the mansion in police custody.

Ash smirked as he took his father’s arm, dressed in black silk trousers and a shirt to match his father’s attire.

“What do you want to do with him?” Lance asked. “We should leave him at an orphanage, do you think?”

“If you wish, father.” Ash almost purred the words. Dudley paled, shaking a meaty fist the size of a ham at him.

“You little brat! After everything my parents did for you…!”

He glared at his sixteen-year-old cousin. “Your parents worked me like a slave. Your father raped and abused me. I owe your family nothing and they are getting off on lighter punishment than they deserve.”

“How dare you!”

Lance raised a hand, and to his horror, Dudley saw that his fingers were not tipped with nails but claws, shining inches of steel.

“Say another word against my son, and I promise you, your death will be neither swift nor painless.”

“You wouldn’t!”
“I own the League, little fool. I can do many things.”

“You’ll regret this one day!” Dudley cried, even as a pokedex and a single poke ball were shoved into his hands. The government had decided to send him off on his journey, he was old enough, and it would save money. He couldn’t get badges anyways, so he posed no threat.

As Dudley and his Rattata set off, he vowed revenge.

End Chapter

Completed 12/20/05

Ash: *hugs Lance*

Phantomness: Weird type of guardian fic. Charlotte was Ash’s mother before she drowned. Typical

Lance: Ah, so it will be incestuous Championshipping later on, ne?
Phantomness: *smirk* Maybe, or it’ll be Ash x Erika