Well, poor Ash…

Leland Lancaster – thank you!

Pichu*Star – k!

Link Masters – thank you

Ranma – unfortunately, I don’t think it will be championshipping until later. Ah well…

Chapter 4: Initiation

Five weeks.

Lance healed Ash with the Viridian Power, bending over the sleeping trainer.

“You are being too hard on yourself… you think those long sleeves can hide all the scars? If I wasn’t healing you, how bad would it be?”

Lance sighed. “And if I approach you, Misty will hurt you more… how I wish she were dead… but that’s just my selfish musing.”

He watched as the last of the blue light faded away, clearing off the wounds.

“Sleep well…”

The vicious cycle spun onward. No matter how much Ash tried, Misty would not leave him.

And with the bike to tie them together, he could not leave.

It was a few days later when Pikachu broke the silence.

Ash… stop, please…

Ash looked at him, eyes blurred from sweat and blood. “I have… to keep… training…”

You’re killing yourself! Pidgeot yelled harshly, her anger in the wind.

Ash moaned. “But… I can’t let her down…”

He pushed himself to his feet again. “Let’s try again…”

NO. Squirtle refused point-blank. You’ve been dodging water gun all morning. This can’t continue.

You’re already injured! Bulbasaur scolded. Stop.

The pokemon surrounded Ash en masse and glared at him silently. Finally, they broke him down.

Ash slumped down, exhaustion visible in every line of his frame.

“But Misty…”

You need a good dunking. Squirtle said. The world does not revolve around her! You’re allowed to have your own life, you know/

“But her bike.’
Yes! That bike! Can’t you see she’s been using it to manipulate you?!

She’s hurting you to make herself fell better!
You really couldn’t tell, Master?

“But I really am weak… and…”

“And you are being lied to.” A voice cut in.

Lance stood there with Dragonite, looking angry. “I pulled a few strings at the league. Her bike only cost three hundred dollars, I’m sure you have more than covered the cost already.”

“N-no…” Ash stared at him in shock. “Misty wouldn’t lie to me!”

“She was perfectly able to and she did.”

“I don’t believe you!”

“Choose to believe what you will. But first, fight me now.” Lance said. “Dragonite! Attack!”

Ash dodged the Hyper Beam, and then stared in shock as Squirtle’s Blizzard froze Dragonite solid.

“Wh-what?”

Squirtle looked immensely proud of himself.

Lance’s eyes glowed, and the ice melted off, Dragonite emerging fully healed. “Again.”

This time, Pidgeot blinded him with Sand-Attack, charged up for Sky Attack, hit, and then dealt good damage with a final Steel Wing.

Lance healed Dragonite again, and repeated the process with Charizard and Bulbasaur.

“…. How?” Ash whispered in disbelief, as Lance handed him the Rising Badge. “I-I didn’t give any orders…”

“No, you didn’t. And it was better that way, because your orders were not your own.”

“What?”

“Misty has been controlling you all this time. Your pokemon will never fight for her, the witch she is.”

“You lost on purpose! I won’t stand for you saying that about Misty!”

“For someone who’s been on the receiving end of an abusive relationship, you really are blind.” Lance commented. “I’ll do this the hard way then.”

“… Huh?”

Ash was completely unnerved when Lance pulled a blade of ice out of midair and leapt at him.

His mind went on auto, avoiding the attacks, until finally, he managed to stop the blade with his bare hands.

“Very good…” Lance said, as the sparks between Ash’s fingers died down.

Ash looked in shock at himself. “What happened?”

“You needed to unlock the door yourself.”

“…”

“You have so much potential and yet, it’s all locked because of her. You had to take the first step to initiate your power.”

“I just didn’t want you to kill me!”

“Would I have?”

Ash stared as Lance made the sword vanished and placed his hands on Ash’s shoulders.

The next thing Ash knew, he was completely healed.

Just like the pokemon…

“I’d never hurt you, little one.” Lance whispered. “Please believe me.”

Ash hesitated.

Misty hated everyone but Brock who came near him…

Wouldn’t this be dangerous?

But Lance didn’t seem to be lying…

End Chapter