Chapter 3!
Disclaimer/Notes: <> for telepathy, ** for thoughts, italics if a pokémon talks! Pokemon belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. This is non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfiction written by me that I own under international copyright laws.
*Shonen-ai championshipping*
Ash and Lance met up that weekend and went hiking together. It was fun, and then the next weekend they went to the beach together.
“So, you haven’t seen your new stepbrother?”
“No, but I had dinner with my stepfather once. It wasn’t too bad…” Lance said. That was an understatement. He had the oddest feeling his stepfather didn’t like him right from the start.
“Oh. Well, my father showed me a picture of my stepmother, she has long, really long blond hair and she’s really skinny, like a model.”
“Is she a model?”
“No, I think she’s some kind of researcher.”
“That’s interesting.” Lance said, as he brushed some sand off Ash’s back. They had been thoroughly soaked in the salt spray, and now wet sand clung to every surface. He wasn’t sure it would help, but it couldn’t hurt.
Ash colored faintly. * No! Don’t think about that! You’re only ten, you shouldn’t be thinking about those things! *
It didn’t help much.
“Ash? You’ve gone quiet.” Lance noted. “Are you feeling all right?” He draped another towel around Ash’s shoulders.
“I-I’m fine, just thinking.” Ash whispered.
“All right. Remember, if you want to talk, I’m here for you.”
Ash nodded. * But I can’t tell you I think I feel affection for you… how would you react? *
He hadn’t even told his father.
He didn’t want to see that reaction either.
Lance’s cell phone rang, and he picked it up. “Yes, mother, I know… all right, I’ll be going home.”
“Sorry, Ash, I have to go.”
“It’s okay.” Ash said. “I ought to be going home too… it’s getting late.”
“Write me,” Lance chuckled, before he waved and Dragonite took off. Ash waved and then climbed on Murkrow’s back.
He was home soon as well.
“Where were you?!” Jacques demanded.
“At the beach with a friend.” Ash said coolly.
“Well, your stepmother came over! You should have been here!”
“You didn’t tell me in advance.”
“Why, you disobedient little brat! Up to your room now!”
Noting that his father seemed to be getting worse, Ash obeyed.
The next day…
“I don’t want to stay here.”
Lance nodded, and frowned. “Ash, how old are you?”
“Ten, but I’m almost eleven.”
“Good enough.”
“What?”
“We’re running away. Both of us.” Lance said firmly. “Obviously, neither of our parents is going to come to their senses anytime soon.”
“You too?”
“My mom’s becoming insanely unpredictable… she’ll be smiling one moment and shouting the next. It’s like perpetual PMS only worse.” Lance scowled. “She pushed me down the stairs this morning.”
Ash gasped. “Are you all right?”
“Mostly. It’s a good thing, well, I’ll tell you about it later. I’ll take you with me. Pack quickly, and meet me at the Saffron Pokemon Center.”
“Hai.”
In half an hour, Ash was there. Lance checked his watch, and then he took Ash’s hand. “Let’s go.”
“Lance? Where are we-.”
He didn’t exactly get to question since that was when teleport activated.
They were in some sort of crystal cave, but there were living quarters built in. “Lance? Where are we?”
Lance smirked. “This is Lugia’s home.”
“… Lugia?” Ash gasped. “But…”
< Welcome. > A psychic voice boomed. Ash jumped, and clung to Lance frightened.
< Do not be afraid. I mean you no harm. >
Ash’s eyes widened as Lugia appeared in his line of sight. * Holy… what am I supposed to do now? Is it safe? *
“Father, you’re scaring him.” Lance scolded.
“… Father?” Ash gasped.
Lance shrugged his shoulders. “What can I say? It’s true.”
“But why are you telling me this?”
“Because, if it changes anything in our friendship…” Lance trailed off. * I hope he passes the test. *
“I don’t care.” Ash said firmly.
He _felt_ his mind being searched, but abruptly, the pressure was gone as swiftly as it had come.
< Pass. > Lugia said simply, and then vanished.
Lance untangled Ash from his cloak. “Come on, I’ll show you to your room…”
Crystal was beautiful.
“Sugoi…”
“Nice, isn’t it?” Lance asked, flopping down on the bed.
“Lance, but if you’re a pokemon, why were you living with?”
“I’m only part-pokemon.” Lance said, not bothering to clarify.
“… Oh.”
Lance didn’t mention the rest. “Now just let me check… Ash where did that come from?”
Ash looked uncomfortable as Lance pointed to a bruise on his chest. “Um…”
“Your father hit you?”
“H-hai…”
“Why, that…” Lance bit off the rest of his sentence angrily and did not say more, as he placed his hands over it.
Instantly, the black and ugly purple began to fade into nothingness.
“You can heal?”
“How else would I have been here? My mom pushed me down the stairs, remember? She broke both my legs.”
“Why? What’s wrong with them?”
“I have no idea. I don’t understand humans well.” Lance said. “Still, you seemed fine.”
“?”
“Pure in heart enough to stay here.” Lance said, before he closed the door and left. “I’ll see you tomorrow, get some sleep.”
Shrugging, and still confused, Ash changed into his pajamas and climbed into bed, fast asleep in minutes.
End Chapter
Completed 6/16/04