Wai~! Another chapter! Please bunny, don’t die!

Disclaimer/Notes: See previous chapter

Chapter 7

The three badges he had glittered as Ash studied them by lamplight. It was night, and he was lying in bed.

Tomorrow he would head to Ecruteak and ask Morty for help. Hopefully the man would believe him…

If he didn’t, Ash didn’t blame him. The whole story was crazy, and yet…

How much he had lost!
“I don’t want much, really… just Lance…” It sounded fake, but it was true. He could deal without all the fangirls and even the cash.

Friendship was worth more.

Why had he thrown it away for this dross? Why? Besides, now that he was so covered with evil, Lance would never want him back.

A dull revulsion filled Ash’s body as he realized that his Swiss Army Knife was in his backpack. A second shock hit him.

Surely… he wasn’t contemplating suicide! Mew, no! It couldn’t be!
Mother always said it was wrong… mother… I haven’t talked to her in forever, I don’t know how things are, am I … does she hate me? What if she’s dead! Oh no!

Dialing Lance’s phone, Ash prayed for the best and prepared for the worst.

Lance belted the bathrobe around her waist as she picked up, recognizing the number. “Ash, why are you calling me?”

“I’m sorry! I just remembered my mom! Is she dead?”

“Why no, not that I know of.”

“Thank Mew!”

“No problem…” Lance hung up and left Ash alone with his thoughts.

Lance looked really pretty though, with her hair down – ack! No! Don’t think that! You don’t deserve to, you playboy! Don’t dishonor your friendship by thinking about those things!”

Ash slapped his face a few times to take his mind off Lance and then went to bed. He’d call his mom tomorrow…

His dreams were untroubled.

“Snow…”

“Daydreaming again, Lance?” Lorelei chided her cousin.

“Not exactly, no.”

Lorelei sighed. “You’ve been staring out that window for an hour. Since I didn’t see anything interesting out there, I assumed you were thinking.”

“Close enough.”

“What is it?” Lorelei asked kindly. “One of your pokemon?”

“No…”

Lance did not do romance. It might blow her cover as a League Champion. From Lance’s own words, only three people outside of ‘family’ knew the secret, and two of them had been taken care of.

The bribery had been done, and then the memory wipe finished.

What was left?

Shrugging, Lorelei left Lance alone and went downstairs.

“Hello?” Delia asked, picking up the phone. “Who is this?”

‘M-mom?”

“Ash dear!”

She’s not dead! That was Ash’s first happy burst of thought. “Mom, I! I… can I come stay at home for a few days?”

‘Why of course dear!”

And he was so happy…

Several days passed. It was nice being home and being fussed over. Soon enough though, he continued on his way.

After all, he still had a championship to win!

Heading to Ecruteak next, Ash remembered that he had wanted to talk to Morty. Yes…

“Excuse me?”

“Come in.”

Morty walked out of his gym, seeing with surprise a face framed by silver hair. * Well, that’s certainly different… *

“You wanted to see me?”

“Yes.” Ash nodded.

“I assume you wish to challenge me for a fog badge.”

“Well, yes… but I also have a question.”

“Interesting...” Morty did a quick scan with his special ghost-type power, than nodded and let Ash in.

He hadn’t sensed any ill intent, only much confusion.

It was quite odd…

Ash followed Morty inside, seeing with surprise black fluffy cushions on the floor. Morty hadn’t seemed like the type…

“What did you want to ask me?”

“Um… do you believe in magic?”

“Magic and Power are often one and the same, so I’d say yes. Why?”

“It’s kind of complicated…”

“Try me.”

“I’m not really twenty years old.” Ash sighed. “I’m twelve. I mean; I was twelve! I really was! It was my twelfth birthday when I made a wish for fame and fortune… the next thing I knew, I was here and eight years older!”

“I assume the wish did not turn out the way you wanted it to then.”

Ash nodded. * It’s horrible… *

“Well, wishes are dangerous things.” Morty mentioned, a caesura later.

Perplexed expression met his eyes.

“You’re still twelve inside, right?”

“Yes! I mean… I think so.”

“So your wish was granted. I wonder…” Morty stopped. “Do you mind if I perform a spell on you?”

“Will it hurt?”

“Not in the slightest.”

Ash hesitated for a few seconds, but then he nodded.

“Very well…” Morty smiled. “Then we shall see!”

His eyes flared a brilliant violet light as Ash keened and fell over.

Morty’s eyes widened in shock. * This is! *

End Chapter

Completed 1/3/05

Ash: I’m not dead, am I?

Phantomness: Goodness, no!

Shoyko: If you were, this would be darkfic.

Kairo: Personally, I think it’s already kind of dark…