Here’s another Chapter…

Disclaimer: I don’t own pokemon, otherwise Misty would probably be dead and replaced with Charlotte. Or Lance… Nintendo owns pokemon, my own creations are mine though. I am making no profit from this work and can’t even afford college tuition, so don’t’ bother suing.

 

Chapter 5: Fissure

 

            Lance idly wondered how much longer Claire’s vacation would last as he stared into those haunting brown eyes.

            So much pain…

            And he could do nothing to help this little one…

 

            Ash stared back at him, trembling inside.

            “Shh…” Lance whispered, as trails of faint blue energy wound themselves around Ash. “Relax… I’ll never hurt you.”

            Ash’s first instinct was to bolt, this was getting too strange for comfort, but he managed to stay still.     

            He didn’t want Lance to get angry with him too…

            Strangely enough though, Lance simply stood there, holding him.

            It was kind of nice, he decided.

 

            The pokemon watched from a bush, formulating each his or her theories.

            I think Master Ash should go with him. Bulbasaur said smugly. He seems to care.

            We’re not sure yet though.

            Right! It might be Misty all over again!

            Oh, I hope not! Poor Master…

 

            After a while though, Lance pulled back. “You should be going. You have Claire’s badge now…”

            “Hai…” Ash whispered, sighing. * Of course he wouldn’t want me sticking around… I’m just another trainer, and not even the best… if only I hadn’t lost so badly at Indigo… *

            “I meant that Misty might not want you to be out this late.”

            “Oh. Well, as long as I’m training, she won’t care much.” Ash said truthfully. * But I have to keep getting better! I still have to get that bike! *

 

            Catching the train of thought, Lance resisted the urge to kill misty again.

            How dare she do this to the child of light…

            Breaking him, oh, she would pay, yes…

            But that could wait until later, after he saw her depraved ways for himself.

 

            “In that case, would you like to have dinner with me? You must be hungry.”

            “O-okay…” Ash said, surprised. * Why would he ask me? I try so hard but I’m just a bad trainer… *

            Lance smiled. “Follow me.”

 

            They flew to a small house in the outskirts of Blackthorn. Lance walked in, Ash following.

            They came face-to-face with a couple making out on the couch.

 

            “CLAIRE! DRAKE!”
            The two guiltily broke apart. “Oops… Lance! You’re back!”

            “I can’t believe it! I thought you two were still on that cruise!”

            “We got back the day before yesterday.”

            “And without telling me?” An anger spark began to grow on Lance’s head. “So how long was I supposed to play gym leader?”

            “Er… well…”

 

            Ash hid behind Lance, feeling scared.

            “Lance…”

            “Sorry.” Lance made a mental note not to scare Ash off. “Anyway, I’m just going to whip up some pasta, and if you two want some, be my guest. However, if you’ll continue to engage in that activity, this house does have four bedrooms.”

            Claire and Drake looked guilty again and quickly exited the room.

 

            Ash sat on the counter and watched while Lance cooked, glad that nothing bad was happening.

            And soon, the macaroni and cheese was ready, and it was very tasty, so he didn’t object when Lance let him stay the night in the spare bedroom.

            After all, it was quite late.

            He wasn’t crazy or depressed enough to train in pitch-black night yet.

            The next morning, he had breakfast with Lance. He never noticed when the dragon master placed a charm on him.

            Then, Ash went to find Misty. He did want an answer.

 

            “Misty, how much did your bike cost?”

            “How dare you ask me that question! You wrecked my dream!” Misty yelled. “I would have been independent!”
            “G-gomen…” Ash quickly said, backing away while Misty picked up her mallet and hefted it in one hand.

            “Humph! You should be helping me, not running off on your own.”

            “But I thought…” Ash looked down, ashamed. * I didn’t train that much yesterday. How can I help her if I’m weak? *

            “Well, make it happen!”

            Misty glared at him. “You do get all your badges out of pity, that hasn’t changed.”

            She flounced off without a backwards glance.

 

            Ash gulped. * What sort of hero am I, if I can’t even help a poor girl… *

            He quickly began training again.

            And that night, he reported the gain of the Rising Badge.

            For some reason, Misty wasn’t too happy.

 

            “About time! Now, we’re going to the League!”

            Ash nodded. “Okay.”

            “Now unlike _this_ gym, the league trainers won’t go easy on you.” Misty snapped. “So quit dawdling!”

            Ash was about to say something when the glint of something around his neck caught Misty’s eye.

            “So! You wasted a couple of hundred dollars buying jewelry instead of giving it to me as repayment!”

            “No!” Ash defended, but Misty reached over and yanked the chain off. It snapped.

            A white crystal between two steel dragon wings dangled there.

            “I’m taking this!”

 

            Something inside of Ash began to stir. How had he gotten that? He certainly hadn’t bought it…

            Unless it was a gift from Lance? But why…

            Whatever else he might have thought was abruptly curtailed when Misty screamed.

 

End Chapter