Note to self – learn how to keep inspiration alive and write faster!
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
Chapter 8
“I choose you, Squirtle!”
“Raichu, could you?”
ZAP!
Now that people had somehow figured out they could directly challenge the Champion, he was being swarmed with junior trainers no matter where he went. It was annoying!
Lance was trying to hide his amusement, but failing to do so… seeing Ash’s frantic look, he relented…
Invisible threads of power swept through the crowd, indiscriminately injuring and pricking, warning them to stay away… he could almost see the razor-thin, sharp-edged threads with his inner eyes, shining dark and crimson, intricately woven through the air and looped around Lance’s body, lovely…
Nani? Where did that come from? Lovely?
Yes, but… he blushed uncomfortably as he continued to stare. Oh, this was wrong, but…
Lance turned back to Ash as the crowd dispersed, frowning. “Ash?”
“Yes?” He needed….
“What’s wrong?”
Ash did not give a verbal reply, as he stared at Lance for a split second, before teleporting… they vanished from Celadon department store with a flash.
Lance blinked. Something was up, it seemed.
“Ash? Wha-.” He didn’t exactly have time to say any more, as Ash kissed him, no refusal in that action… his hands slid to Ash’s hips as the kiss deepened, feeling smoky embers flare to life in his body…
Some part of his mind idly noted that they were now in his bed, in his room in Indigo Plateau…. Ash’s skills really had improved, but….
What was going on?
This wasn’t normal… something inside him was screaming that this was wrong, that they should stop, and it sounded like…
< Father? >
And one by one, the blocks shattered….
Ash stared in shock as Lance shoved him off, and then proceeded to try and stab himself. The problem was only that the blades refused to touch him.
Father… how could you? I trusted you! I trusted you…
I trusted you and you thrust me back into his embrace! I trusted you and you… hijacked my memories, wiped away my pain…
Why? I can take the hurt, I can stand the suffering…it is only my just reward for what I have done…
Oh Lugia…
Someone have mercy upon my soul…
< Lance! What’s wrong? > Ash was getting worried. Pain and fury were literally rolling off the trainer in waves, terror and disgust mixed in. < Are you angry with me? >
< No. > The answer sounded forced. He fell to the ground, tears beginning to form in his eyes… what did I do to deserve this?
Do the fates hate me thus? How could I have… and yet, I swear upon my soul, I never meant to hurt him…
It makes no difference now…
< I never meant to hurt you… >
< But you haven’t hurt me, Lance! > Something was wrong here. He hesitated, he knew it wasn’t a talent, and it probably wouldn’t work, but…
He had to try…
< Mind-link! >
Lance was in no frame of mind to throw off the attack, and as Ash connected, he saw what the Dragon Master had been hiding…
He pulled out of Lance’s mind with a shocked gasp, staring at – his father, no, it couldn’t be, it couldn’t!
Lance was… still alive, at least… his eyes were closed, and he was trying to drink something… wait, that was…
< NO! >
The vial of bitterflame clattered to the ground, contents spilling on the ground… one of the few things that could kill a dragon child...
< Don’t do this to yourself, Lance! Please! I don’t blame you at all! > My father, he’s my father! And…and I… I seduced him…
What kind of sick twisted person am I? But I didn’t know! Neither of us knew, so why is it his fault? It’s mine as much as his!
< It’s not your fault! >
< I should have known! Should have tried to prevent it! >
<You did, damn it Lance, you’ve treated me well and I couldn’t help falling in love with you! I’m the one who made the first move both times! >
Tortured gold slowly met eyes of the same hue. < Don’t you hate me? >
< Hate you? > He pulled Lance up off the floor and stared up into his eyes, easy to do since Lance was glancing downwards dejectedly. < You think me so fickle then, father? >
Lance shuddered at the remembrance, and also at Ash’s touch. < Please don’t… >
< Why? It’s true, isn’t it…? >
< Yes. > And this is why you should leave now, Ash…. Leave before I hurt you, before I break you, before I taint you with my twisted love….
Flee, Ash, fly… escape from here… I cannot control myself…
< But I need you! >
No, Lugia will take care of you, like I originally intended… you do not need my presence… I do not deserve mercy… I do not deserve happiness…
Father will take good care of you, for certain… all will be well… this illusion will end, and you will be fine without me…
< Lance! >
Don’t worry, child, I’ll make sure you forget all of this, it will be so easy… you’ll live on and be happy, I only want the best for you, and it will be so easy…forget my name and be happy… he focused his power…
“Mmph!”
Only to cut the alteration short as Ash’s lips collided violently with his.
< What are you doing? > He demanded, fury rising foremost in his heart as he jerked away. < Do you think I will continue to force my affections on you now that the truth is clear? Let me go! >
< Not until you promise me you won’t die or disappear. > Ash said firmly.
< What? >
< I know you must be hurting now, so much… > Tears glittered in his eyes as he wrapped his arms firmly around Lance’s chest. < But I don’t want you to leave me… please don’t leave me…and… it hurts me too… >
His telepathy broke at the end as a fresh wave of tears made their presence known. “I… I don’t have anyone else… please don’t leave me!”
< I… but… >
“Please?” His broken sobs could melt the hardest of hearts…
And the chains were holding them together, so closely, woven by fate, nowhere to run, how could he deny his love – his child, this?
It would be selfish…
He’d learn then, how to deal with this situation… as his penance… and for the sake of his child… for the rest of his life…
Slowly, he disentangled Ash’s arms from his waist and gave him a sad smile.
“Very well, Ash. I won’t leave.” But I will no longer love you in the same way, either… my heart has shattered once again, and I doubt I shall love again…
However, I promise… I shall not leave you. I shall protect you, care for you, do what a father should…
That is all…
He closed his eyes as Ash’s sobs quieted. There was nothing more to be done then…
End Chapter
I’m ending fic here too, too much trouble to write more. Hope you liked!
Completed 4/23/05
Phantomness: *Falls down dead and full of angst*
Shoyko: Mou… sighs more work for me again?
Pika-chan: Seems like it
Lance: At least it’s over
Ash: *nods*
Kairo: Decidedly unfunny piece, well, hope you readers liked it too, ja ne~!
Ash: *sniffles* You could have left it happy in chapter 7 and ended it there, but no… you mean authoress!