Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Nintendo owns pokemon. I own the characters I made up.
Summary: Chapter Four is mostly a flashback chapter. Some background stuff. In chapter five, the actual, main plot comes into play and Mewtwo makes a long awaited appearance. Yea! And chapter six will be MUCH better, so stick with me.....
Author's Note: ~~~~ denotes a flashback. In chapter five, I say that Lance knows all the gym leaders, but not Misty and Brock. The reason is is that he considers them not old enough. He does know Misty's oldest sister, though, and Flint. Why give away who he is more than he should?
~~~~
Lance stood in open mouthed horror as Ash ran out in front of the machine that Team Rocket had created, the flame of Moltres burning brightly...dangerously. Lance instinctively reached for his pokeball containing Dragonite and started towards the door. Lorelei was too fast for him though, and grabbed his arm.
"Lance! Wait! You can't go out there!"
Lance turned on her in a fury, disgusted that she could even think of that now.
"He's my son, Lorelei! They're going to kill him!"
"You can't go out there! They won't go that far!" Lorelei responded as Bruno and Agatha rose and reached for their pokemon, prepared if Lance's infamous temper got too hot. Lance opened his mouth to say something particularly nasty when he heard Ash's voice scream out a challenge.
"Take your best shot, Team Rocket!"
Lance turned to the glass window, horror on his face. Ash was standing defiantly, arms spread wide and his two most faithful pokemon at his side. The machine turned the flame to face Ash, and Lance pressed up against the window, fear flooding through him. The flame shot out and Lance had been sure that his world had just ended.
~~~~
"I can't tell you how relieved I was when Moltres refused to harm him," Lance said, staring into the fire that he had made a few hours earlier. Amanda watched him with intense curiosity and fascination. It was like seeing him in a whole new light. So the great and powerful Pokemon Master did have a weakness, and Giovanni was milking it for all it was worth. Suddenly Lance did not seem all powerful....he was....a person. Amanda decided to keep him talking. It was the only way to relieve the pain that he was feeling eating away at his insides like acid.
"Ash sounds like the adventurous type. He must have a lot of his father in him," Amanda said warmly. Lance smiled, still not taking his gaze away from the fire.
"I hope not. The world does not need another me running around, trust me. Of course, that wasn't the only time Ash behaved like that and scared me out of my skin," Lance said, his eyes starting to glaze over, the memory playing over in his head.
"What happened?"
"It was when I was still together with Delilah, and we were a family....he was four, and I had taken him to his first live pokemon battle, so he could experience it first hand, rather than just watch it on TV......"
~~~~
Ash bubbled with excitement, bouncing up and down in his little, still awkward, gait. He held tightly onto his father's hand, gripping it tighter by the moment.
"So, what is going on, Lance? I'm afraid I don't know that much about pokemon," Delilah said, looking around.
"This is a battle between Michael Trenta and Lalanie Williams. They are currently the two greatest masters, and are battling for the world's greatest title," Lance answered, looking for the special seats he had reserved. A rising star, he was getting more and more privileges.
"A title soon to be yours?" Delilah asked.
"You bet," Lance answered. "Unless Ash here is going to be me to it," he added. Ash looked up at the mention of his name.
"I'm gonna be the bestest in the world!" he stated, balling his free fist up. Lance laughed.
"I wouldn't be surprised," Lance said, kneeling down and putting his hands on Ash's arms.
"Daddy, are you going to battle me someday?"
"I don't doubt it," Lance answered, knowing that he wasn't talking about an everyday battle that involved teaching and sharpening the skills, but rather an intense, battle of the best battle.
"Daddy, I found a favorite pokemon," Ash randomly said, the thought just popping into his young brain.
"Really! What's that?"
"I like Pikachus," Ash replied, remembering the wild one he had seen the other day. He had not told anyone, thinking it to be a secret, special meeting.
"They are one of the world's cutest pokemon," Lance admitted.
"Let's go find the seats," Delilah spoke up, seeing that Lance and Ash were blocking the steps for other people.
"Alright. Up you go, champ," Lance said and hoisted Ash up onto his shoulders. Ash laughed brightly at the prospect of being up so high. Lance started towards their seats, but a voice stopped him.
"Lance! Delilah! Wait!"
Lance and Delilah turned as Ash scrambled off of his father. He jumped onto the ground and ran towards the man.
"'Fessor!" he cried out. Professor Oak knelt down and and opened his arms, where Ash was greeted with a hug.
"Hi, Ash!" Oak said brightly.
"I thought you said that you couldn't make it today," Lance said, putting one of his hands on his hip.
"Well, there was a change of plans," Oak answered, standing up with Ash in his arms. "Hello, Delilah. How are you?"
"I'm just great, Professor!"
"Call me Samuel."
"Want to sit with us?" Lance offered.
"I'd love to. Gary just told me off for wanting to sit with him and his family. High spirits," Oak said, shrugging. Ash's face darkened.
"Gary's mean to me," he stated softly.
"I know what you mean by those high spirits. Ash here is starting to get them," Lance replied.
"Is that so," Oak said and turned his gaze to the little boy he was holding. "You being trouble for your parents?"
"Sometimes," Ash answered, the smile returning on his face. The three adults laughed as Ash reached out for his dad, who took him.
"Come on, it's about to start," Lance said and they went to go sit down.
~~~~
"We were having the time of our lives....until Team Rocket decided to make an appearance...." Lance said, his pokeball rolling around in his hand.
"Team Rocket?" Amanda asked. Lance nodded.
"Team Rocket then was bolder. Deadlier. Not like Jessie and James. Not like them at all...."
~~~~
Lance stood up and cheered as Michael's Venusaur fell. Ash did the same, mostly because he was copying his father.
"Did you see that? Did you see that attack power?!" Lance nearly yelled, turning to Delilah and Professor Oak. "What a fireblast!"
"I don't think he's having a good time," Delilah said, leaning to whisper to Oak, who laughed.
"Never seen him unhappier," Oak replied.
Ash grinned at the atmosphere and let his eyes wander. He stopped though, and his brown eyes darkened and narrowed when he saw a group of shadowmen in black trench coats come together and talk quietly. They were on the far side of the stadium, and as far as the four year old could tell, no one could see them. There was something wrong about them. Something....evil. Like a black widow spider waiting in the dead of night for its victim. And when the started pointing down at the famous pokemon, Ash knew that their intentions were not good. And deep within his soul, where beat a heart years more mature than the body it inhabited, instinct and morals told Ash that he needed to do something. Gazing back at his family and Oak to make sure that they were not looking, he quickly scrambled away into the crowds.
****
This was it. Down to the last pokemon. Each Master had only one left. Michael, a Gengar; and Lalanie, a Haunter, Ghost against ghost. It was going to be one heck of a showdown. Lance, as well as Delilah and Oak, sat tensely in their seats, waiting to see what happened.
Lalanie opened her mouth to shout a command when a smoke bomb went off. The crowd and the announcer gasped, checking to see if anyone was hurt. Everyone was on their feet within an instant, wanting to see what was going on.
"To infect the world with devastation!" a harsh female voice called out.
"To blight all peoples within our nation!" came the response. The smoke cleared to reveal a brown haired twenty year old girl and a blond twenty year old boy. Both in blood-colored uniforms with a black 'R' emblazoned on the front.
~~~~
"The Crimson Units?! The Boss terminated that squad seven years ago!" Amanda cut in. Lance looked at her. "He never told any of us why! They were the best of the best. Even the Grays kept their distance!"
"Maybe it was because they made a huge mistake that day," Lance offered quietly. "They ruined Team Rocket's image, probably. Too large a mistake."
Amanda looked severely interested.
"What was that?"
"They were beaten by a four year old..."
~~~~
Delilah grabbed Lance's arms and leaned in close, instinctively seeking safety. As Team Rocket continued their motto, Lance put his head nearer to Delilah's.
"I don't like this. Delilah, take Ash and go. I'll see what I can do," he said softly. Delilah reared back a little.
"Lance, I don't have him," she said worriedly. Lance turned to her, his black hair falling in his eyes.
"What?"
****
Ash climbed up the steep steps, his determination not allowing him to grow tired. He knew where to go, though he was not sure of what he would find. He only kept his eyes on the large cup that had been lit special for this match. A bright flame, dancing proudly in all its glory. If the rumors were true...if what his dad had said was true....then these horrible people would be finished in an instant. If only he could get the Flame-Keeper to agree....
"ASH! ASH! Where are you!" Lance yelled at the top of his lungs, the crowds swarming in panic all around him. Team Rocket was dropping bombs all over the place, wreaking havoc. A few of the stronger trainers in the stadium were trying to stop them, but Team Rocket's pokemon were just too strong. Lance and Delilah were trying to find Ash amidst the chaos, and Professor Oak was going to help just as soon as he made sure Gary was safe.
"Where could he have gone?" Lance said softly to himself. "ASH!!! ASH! WHERE ARE YOU!?!?!"
Ash reached the cup, panting from the long trip up. He heard none of the frantic cries of the people far below him. His mind made no connection with his father's yells. He could not feel the earth shake from the bombs, nor smell the acrid smoke that burned his nostrils and eyes. All that concerned him was the fire that stood majestically before him.
"Please," he began. "Please, Fire Keeper. Help them. You are the only one who can," Ash said. He thought he saw the flames falter a little, and Ash felt as though his insides were being probed. "Please, Moltres. Please help. You are strong. You can," Ash begged. "Don't let people get hurt. Just stop them and you can go back."
Ash watched for a few tense moments as the flames were silent. Then they disappeared. Like a candle blown out...they were gone. Despite this apparently discouraging act, Ash grinned. He knew the truth.
Lance pushed his way through the crowds, searching desperately for his son. If something happened to him....
"Fearow! I choose you!" Lance cried out, sending out his pokemon. He had nearly captured all hundred and thirty known pokemon, with the legendary ones remaining elusive. The great bird pokemon appeared in a flash of red light and hovered a few feet from its master and friend. "Fearow, fly up and see if you can find Ash!" Lance commanded. Fearow nodded and flew to the sky.
Lance went back to searching the panicked crowds. While Fearow was searching from above, he could look below.
When a wave of people nearly knocked him off of his feet, he looked up to see if Fearow was having any luck. But just as he did so, a huge blast of fire went soaring through the air, directed at Team Rocket. The huge explosion terrified some people even more, but most looked to see where such a huge blast could have come from. Lance was no exception, and what he saw both amazed and terrified him.
The titan of fire, Moltres, soared through the air, its flames seeming to light the whole sky on fire. It was enough to take even Team Rocket's breath away. But something else quickly caught Lance's attention.
"Lance! Have you found him?" Delilah asked, running up to him with Professor Oak. Lance pointed upwards at the great bird. Delilah and Oak looked up and Delilah nearly fainted.
"All right, Moltres! Try another Fire Blast, but this time combine it with Fly!" Ash shouted out from his sitting position on Moltres's neck. The crowd below slowly settled down, taken by the image they were presented. Lance felt his mouth drop open.
Ash grinned as Team Rocket looked panicked and he gripped tighter onto Moltres. The flames were not hurting him at all, and he felt a warm, soothing sensation in his calves as the fire gathered in Moltres's lungs and passed through the neck to come out the beak. Team Rocket began to scatter as Moltres totaled their equipment.
"Moltres! Take Down and destroy 'em!" Ash cried out, pointing towards Team Rocket's machines. Moltres complied and Team Rocket was blasted away. "All right, Moltres! You did it!"
Moltres flew down and landed. It bent its neck and let Ash slide off. It nuzzled Ash a little and flew off.
~~~~
"I couldn't believe it. I don't think anyone could. He handled a wild legendary bird! A four year old!" Lance exclaimed, shaking his head. "I would have thought it was a dream if he still didn't have his medal for bravery in the attic. Lalanie and Michael themselves presented it to him."
"Wow," was all Amanda could say.
"It was then I knew he was going to be a Master. The greatest of them all," Lance said truthfully. "I think Moltres recognized him at the Pokemon League. Had it been anyone else, and they would have been toasted."
"What I saw was that he was the only defending the League. No other trainer stood up against them," Amanda added. Lance smiled.
"Ash has always been my greatest joy."
"You must have been thrilled when you found out you were going to have a son."
"I was. Even though I was the last one to find out...."
~~~~
Delilah gathered up her coat and gloves, ready to head out. April Oak, Gary's and May's mother and Delilah's best friend, walked up to the door and knocked, and Delilah motioned for her to come in. April opened her mouth to greet Delilah, but she beat her to it.
"April, I'm glad you're here. Can you keep an eye on Lance's Growlithe for a little while? It's been sick and I'm heading out for a little bit," she said.
"Sure," April said.
"Thanks."
"Where are you headed?"
"To the doctor."
"Are you all right?"
"Yeah, I'm feeling a little under the weather, but I think it's just a flu or something," Delilah answered, checking to see if she had everything.
"Really? What are your symptoms?"
"They're kinda weird. I've just been feeling....icklesome," she answered.
"Icklesome?"
"Yeah, that's a word my cousin made up for when you just feel blah."
"Hm," April said, sitting down on the couch, her brow furrowed.
"You know, I think I have to go on a diet. I've been gaining a lot of weight. I could hardly get into my jeans this morning," Delilah said, heading towards the door. "And I woke up at two yesterday and threw up. I don't understand it."
April saw the red flag go up.
"Del?"
"Yeah?"
"You don't think you're going to have a baby, do you?"
"Don't be silly, April," Delilah said, waving her off and walked out the door. April shrugged and leaned back when Delilah burst back in.
"A baby!?!?!" she exclaimed. April sat back up.
"Yeah. That's a word my cousin made up for tiny little people," April responded.
"You can't be serious," Delilah said, walking over.
"Well, I had all those symptoms when I was pregnant with Gary and May. It fits the bill."
"I'm leaving now, April. The doctor'll prove me right. You'll see. Honestly. A baby..." Delilah said and walked back out the door.
****
Two hours later, Delilah drifted into the living room, a dream like expression on her face. April put down the magazine.
"Del?" she tried, but no response came forward. All there was was the grin on Delilah's face.
"Delilah?" she tried again. Delilah turned to her.
"Hm?"
"What'd the doctor say?"
"Oh, April...we're going to have a baby," Delilah said softly. April's face brightened.
"We are?!"
Delilah nodded.
"I can't believe Lance is going to be a father. And I'm going to be a mother," Delilah sighed, leaning back in her chair.
"And I'm going to be a....I am going to be something, aren't I?"
"Of course, April. You and Professor Oak will be the godparents!"
"Gee....I wonder what it's going to be...." April said softly. Delilah turned an amused expression on her.
"It's going to be a baby!"
"No! I wonder if it's going to be a boy or a girl," April explained.
"Oh. I never considered that...."
"I can't wait to see if I'm going to be a godmother or a godfather," April said absentmindedly. "I'll go tell dad!" she exclaimed and leapt towards the door.
"No! April, wait!" Delilah said, putting a hand up.
"What?"
"Wait until I tell Lance! He's the father. He'd feel terrible if Sam knew before him!"
"Oh...okay. How are you going to tell him?"
"I don't know..."
"Well, I'll see if I still have May's stuff around. I'm sure I do," April said and headed out the door. She turned in the doorway and she and Delilah clapped in excitement before April left.
****
Lance walked in, tossing his coat on the chair in the hallway. He sighed and loosened his tie (he hated getting dressed up, but this particular meeting at the Pokemon League required it). It had been a LONG day. A very long and tiring day. All he wanted at that moment was to lie on the couch and go to sleep. Well, he figured that he would have something to eat first. Delilah appeared at the top of the stairs, Lance walking past and into the kitchen. He was home. Taking a deep breath, she walked down the stairs.
Lance sat down in his chair with his sandwich, staring at the TV that was turned off. Delilah then came into his vision and he visibly brightened.
"Hi, sweetheart!" he called, bits of sandwich flying out of his mouth. Delilah smiled and walked over. She sat down in his lap and he laughed in surprise. "Honey, what are you doing?" he asked. Delilah smiled warmly
"Lance, I...." her beginning statement was stopped by Lance's chewing. "What are you eating for?"
"I'm hungry! I haven't eaten all day!"
"Swallow," she ordered. Lance gulped a very large piece of sandwich, hurting his throat.
"Trying to kill me by choking?"
"No. Now listen. Lance...."
Ringringring! Ringringring! Phone call! Phone call! Ringringring!
Lance started to get up to answer, but Delilah held him down.
"What are you doing? Let me answer the phone," he said.
"Can't it wait?"
"Darling, I gotta answer this. It might be important," Lance answered and got up. Delilah frowned as she sat down on the couch.
"Hello? Ah, Andy. What's up?....Again?....They can't do it on their own?....No, I don't want to come in right now. Tell them I'll be in tomorrow," Lance said and hung up the phone, shaking his head.
"Rough day?" Delilah asked.
"You're telling me. You know, being part of the Pokemon League isn't easy. It's not all battling and stuff. It's hard work," Lance said, as if Delilah was contradicting him. She nodded her sympathy and agreement. "It's not easy," he repeated. "And you get to spend the day in your garden. Believe me, if you switched places with me, you'd be surprised."
"Believe me, Lance, if you switched places with me, you'd be surprised," Delilah answered. Lance sat back down and she sat in his lap again.
"I'm not allowed to eat my sandwiches, or something?"
"Lance, listen....there's something I have to tell you...."
Ringringring! Ringringri--
"Darn that phone!" Delilah cried out, taking the phone off the the receiver and throwing it down.
"What'd you do that for? It might have been someone important!"
"Lance...."
Bzzzzz
"I've got to tell you...."
"Darling, somebody's at the door."
"They are?"
"Yes! Now let me go answer it," Lance said, moving to get up again.
"No, I'll get it," Delilah said and stood up. Lance moved to pick up the phone and answered to see who it was, but they had hung up.
Delilah opened the door to see Professor Oak and April standing there, mouthing the question if she had told him yet.
"No!" Delilah whispered harshly and shut the door in their faces. She walked back to Lance who appeared in the hallway.
"Who was it?"
"Nobody," Delilah answered and tried to lead Lance back to the couch, but he stopped.
"And I suppose nobody's lab coat is caught in the doorway?" Lance asked and went to open the door. April and Oak were caught in the position of trying to get his coat unstuck, and they were whispering loudly. They stopped though as soon as they saw Lance. April grinned and laughed nervously.
"Hi, Lance!"
"Delilah, why'd you shut the door on them?"
"Oh, it's all right, Lance, we like having doors shut on us, don't we, dad?"
"Oh, yes, we love it. Do it every day. Go around to every person's house and have them shut doors on us," Professor Oak agreed. Lance shook his head.
"Why don't you guys come in?"
April and Oak saw Delilah vigorously shaking her head in the background.
"No, no, thanks though. We were just leaving," April said and turned away.
"No, come in. Besides, I want to talk with you, Professor," Lance said and ushered them inside. April threw an apologetic look at Delilah as they followed Lance.
"Sit down, guys. I'm telling you, professor, you got into the right business of the Pokemon League. It was horrible today. Everything went wrong...."
Delilah sighed as Lance went into detail about his day.
****
An hour and a half later, the conversation was finally slowing, Delilah sitting miserably in her chair, her cup of coffee sitting untouched in front of her. Just as Lance paused, Delilah caught her opportunity.
"Do you guys really have to go?" she asked, standing up. April and Professor Oak looked confused at first, but then they caught the hint.
"Oh, yes! We really must be going, shouldn't we, dad?"
"Yes, yes, we must go," he said.
"All right. I'll see you guys tomorrow," Lance said as they walked out the door.
"What has gotten into you tonight, Delilah?"
"Oh, Lance! I've been trying to tell you something!"
"Well, all right, tell me now."
"I...."
Ringringring! Ringringring! Phone call! Phone call! Ringringring!
"AARRGGH!" Delilah cried out. Lance gave a worried/puzzled/confused look and went to answer it.
"Hello? Andy? I told you...oh no. No no no no no no!....All right, all right. Tell them I'll be right in," Lance said and hung up the phone.
"But...." Delilah started.
"I'm sorry, sweetie, I really am. But I have to go in," Lance said, putting on his jacket and kissing her goodbye. "I'll be back by dinner tomorrow, all right?" he promised and headed out the door.
"But Lance! I need your help on something!"
"Listen, sweetheart. Whatever it is, use your own judgment," Lance advised. Delilah could only stare at him, lower jaw falling open. "If you think it's a good idea....go with it," Lance said and shut the door.
~~~~
"Oh brother. Men," Amanda sighed, shaking her head. Lance laughed.
"I know. I would've kept up like that too, had she not come to Viridian the next day and, well, tried to tell me...."
~~~~
Delilah walked slowly into the the building, knowing where to find Lance. She entered the room and saw that everything was a chaotic mess. Lance was hurrying around, trying to fix everything.
"Hi, Delilah," Andy greeted as she approached her husband. She nodded.
"Lance?" Delilah said timidly as Lance went past her.
"Delilah?"
"Yeah."
"What are you doing here?"
"Lance, I have to tell you something very important, and you will not listen to me!" Delilah said.
"What is it--"
"Lance! Hey Lance!"
"Lance! I need your help!"
Everybody started calling Lance's name and he raised his arms.
"All right, now everybody HUSH! Now I need absolute silence! My wife is here to tell me something very important...."
Delilah's eyes widened.
"And I need QUIET! Now FREEZE!" Lance shouted. They did so, and the whole place fell silent.
"All right now, dear, what is it?" Lance asked tenderly, putting his hands on Delilah's arms. Delilah opened her mouth, but nothing came out. She was distracted by the quiet and everyone staring at them. She looked around at each person, all pairs of eyes bearing harshly down into her. She felt the tears well up in her eyes.
"Do you have the right time?" she asked through her held back sobs.
"What? Darling, you couldn't have come all the way into Viridian just to ask me that," Lance said.
"Yes, yes, I did. Do you have the right time?" she asked another person standing nearby. He checked his watch, but Lance turned her to face him again.
"What's the matter, Delilah?"
"Nothing!" she said and ran out. Lance stood there confused for a few moments before running after her.
"Delilah! Delilah tell me what's wrong," he said after catching up to her. She looked down, but he put a finger under her chin and lifted her head up.Her eyes glittered with tears, and Lance could not help but worry,
"What's wrong?" he asked again.
"Lance, I...." Delilah paused as if she were expecting another interruption. When none came, she took a deep breath and continued.
"I...You...oh, Lance! You're going to be a daddy!" Delilah exclaimed, a smile appearing on her face.
"What?" Lance asked, hoping that what he had just heard was not a mistake.
"I'm pregnant," she rephrased and there was a moment of silence before Lance let out a whoop of joy and picked her up and spun her around. She laughed and he set her back down.
"Why didn't you tell me before?"
"You wouldn't listen!"
"Do April and the Professor know?"
"Mm hm."
"Delilah! I'm going to be a father!"
~~~~
Chapter Five
Kevin frowned as he followed the Ketchum kid around the Plateau. The bug that Wendy had slapped on him had worked well. Too well. He had heard every word that he had said to Officer Jenny. And it was a lot of information. They just had no idea how much. And he knew the Jennys too well to be as stupid to assume that they would not be able to put two and two together soon.
A scowl appeared on Kevin's already hard face as he thought of knowing the Jennys too well. The Pewter Jenny had not only broken his heart that he had so lovingly given out in a sweaty palm, but threw it on the ground and shattered it into a million pieces. And so if he could not be on their side, he went against them. Became part of the most feared group in Team Rocket.
Kevin violently pushed away those thoughts into the far recesses of his mind and took off after Ash, his gray uniform blending in perfectly with the shadows of Indigo Plateau.
****
"Very nice, Lance. There may be hope for you yet," Giovanni praised, being presented with a Squirtle and a Hoothoot. Lance had been surprised when he saw the Hoothoot wander into his camp after Amanda had gone to sleep. Usually, they did not appear this far east. They were usually only found in the region of Johto. Which made this one even more special. And Hoothoots weren't common....
"I'm glad you approve," Lance said sarcastically and Amanda elbowed him in the ribs. Giovanni didn't rise to the challenge, but rather shooed Amanda away.
"Leave for a moment," Giovanni ordered and Amanda did so, but not before saluting crisply.
Giovanni stood up and walked around his desk to stand in front of Lance and crossed his arms, leaning up against his desk.
"Having fun, Lance?"
"Biggest thrill of my life."
"I'm glad. Now, I have another assignment for you."
Lance raised an eyebrow.
"Oh, just me this time? I don't have to be embarrassed and and humiliated and humbled in front of anybody anymore?"
Giovanni ignored him.
"I assume you know Blaine, right?"
"Of course I do, Giovanni. You do to."
"Answer this: what kind of pokemon are good against fire?"
"That's easy. Water, psychic, rock and ghost."
Giovanni smiled, seeing that Lance had not yet made the connection. Since he figured that this game could go on all night, he decided to drop the bomb. He picked up a pokeball and rolled it around in his hands.
"You know, I've always liked Blaine's pokemon," he said nonchalantly. Lance's eyes widened, accompanying the horrified look and dropped jaw.
"NO! Giovanni, you CANNOT make me do that!" he exclaimed, backing a few steps away.
Giovanni's grin grew wider.
"I can't?"
"NO!! I WILL NOT!"
"I think that you will. Or I could easily call up Kevin. He's keeping an eye on young Ash there for me," Giovanni replied. He watched the (former?) leader of the Elite Four basically get torn apart from the inside out.
"You are so cruel," Lance whispered, his head falling to his chest and dropping into a chair. It was just as good as a white flag of surrender.
"You leave tomorrow," Giovanni said and left the room, leaving Lance alone. On the other side of the door, he looked down at his Persian, who was glaring at him. It had never liked the idea of risking holding Lance.
"He's cooperating, but not for long. We have to do something. Something that'll hit him hard. Keep him in check. He might call a bluff," Giovanni muttered to himself and walked off to his room, his ever faithful pokemon trotting at his heels.
****
Lance, fully cloaked, stood on the bow of the boat, watching as Cinnabar Island slowly came into view over the horizon. Lance felt absolutely miserable thinking about what he had been ordered to do.
The wind picked up, and Lance reached up to keep the hood from falling down. He had been given strict orders to not give away who he was....it would cause such an awkward situation...well. that was the way that Giovanni would have put it. Lance gripped the rail harder, his face receding further into the dark depths of the hood. He had been put in a no win situation. Even if he did go to Officer Jenny, Ash was being followed. His son would be down before he would know he had been hit. And Giovanni would order that Lance be kept alive, just so he could live out the rest of his life with his son's death on his conscience. Lance vowed to get Giovanni for this. No matter what.
****
Lance got some weird stares from the people of Cinnabar, but he paid no attention to it. He had become a machine. Erased of all moral thought. Just get the task over with. Quick and nearly painless. But he knew that he would suffer later. He would suffer big time.
Lance easily found the entrance into Blaine's hidden gym. He had always known where it was, since it was required for the leaders to tell him everything that happened in or with their gyms. Of course, Lance had to spend three days trying to figure out Blaine's riddles. Lance had made a mental note to make some sort of law that he had to be told straight out, rather than run around. Lance felt a small twitch at the corner of his mouth, a ghost of a smile, as he thought of what had happened to him after the other gym leaders took Blaine's example and made Lance suffer their tricks so that he could figure out what they were trying to tell him. He remembered that Flint (when he was leader of the Pewter Gym) actually made him battle for the facts. Flint had pretended to think that Lance was a nothing, green as grass trainer who had the audacity to try for the Boulder Badge. Lance had been taken by surprise, but took out Flint's pokemon with his Dragonair and Flint spent half an hour laughing at Lance, telling Lance about his expressions when Flint challenged him.
~~~~
Lance sighed as he stood out the Pewter Gym, hoping that Flint would give him a straight out answer, unlike Erika, who had just pretended that he was a customer and swarmed ontop of him, smothering him with perfume samples. And he still smelled like enhanced and sweetened Gloom nectar, come to think of it. Lance straightened out his black cloak and entered the gym. He walked out onto the battle area, and seeing that he was the only on there, called out.
"Flint! Are you there!"
No answer.
"Fli-int!!"
Silence.
"So, you have decided to challenge for the Boulder Badge, have you?" came a deep voice. Lance raised an eyebrow and looked behind him, to see if there was a trainer or something there. No one.
"Huh?"
"You are a little old to still be a beginner trainer, aren't you? No matter. No rule against it. Let the battle begin."
"What the...."
"Onix. Go."
A huge rock snake appeared out of no where, roaring and very dangerous looking.
"Oh, crap..." Lance breathed as Onix dived at him. He jumped out of the way (he had plenty of practice with Bruno's Onix, who found it fun to dive bomb Lance with rocks and bind him in the suffocating equivalent of a hug). He rolled and came to a stop behind a boulder and reached for his pokeballs.
"Dragonite, I choose you!" Lance shouted and threw the red and white ball. The 5'3" dragon pokemon appeared, ready for battle.
"Onix, bind."
"Dragonite! Hyperbeam!"
Onix was out before it got a chance to attack.
"Not bad. Where did you get that Dragonite anyway? Did you steal it from the best in the world, or something?"
"Flint! For pete's sake! It's me!"
"I've never seen you before in my life. Graveler. Go."
"Dragonite! End this with a Mega Punch!"
End of Graveler.
"Not bad. Not bad at all. Here's your Boulder Badge."
A small gray badge came sliding next to Lance.
"Thanks, I....hey wait! Flint! Stop it right now!" Lance growled. The voice started laughing hysterically and Flint appeared from out of the shadows, holding his stomach. He was crying he was laughing so hard. Lance scowled and brushed off his clothes and recalled Dragonite.
"Here you go, Lance. Here's the report," Flint said through his laughter, handing Lance a manila folder. Lance took it violently and tucked it under his arm.
"It isn't that funny."
"You should have seen your expression!"
"Hm."
Flint calmed down only enough to say,
"Is that Gloom I smell?"
~~~~
Lance made his way down through the volcano, the temperature rising dramatically with every step. Sweat beaded on his forehead, but Lance made no movement to wipe it away. He had a task to do.
He found Blaine in a small room, working on his computer. Lance was surprised that a computer could function in this intense heat (heck, he was surprised that Blaine could stand it day in and day out), but he focused on his task.
"Mag," Blaine's Magmar greeted warmly (no pun intended), smiling. Blaine turned to see Lance's ominous shape in the doorway. He too smiled, happy to see his friend.
"Lance! What are you doing here? It isn't time for the monthly reports," he commented, getting up from his chair. He took a few steps towards Lance, but Lance returned no such friendly gesture. Blaine noticed this, and frowned as he sensed something wrong.
"You okay, Lance?"
"No," was Lance's soft reply. At Blaine's confused and worried look, he decided to explain. In the harshest way possible. "Hand over your pokemon."
"What are you talking about, Lance?"
"Hand them over. They will become property of Team Rocket," Lance replied. Blaine backed away.
"Migod, Lance! What are you doing?!"
"Don't make this any harder than it has to be," Lance said, and pulling from the depths of his cloak, a pokeball.
"Go, Dragonair," Lance said, almost inaudibly. Panic rose up in Blaine.
"I'm gonna die..." Blaine stated in realization under his breath before Lance attacked.
****
Lance fingered the pokeball that contained Magmar, feeling the warm heat that seeped through the sturdy walls. He took one last sad look at the volcano before running off. Running away...from a lifelong friendship just destroyed.
****
"Very, very good, Lance. Very good. You are one of the best agents I've ever had," Giovanni said as Lance brought out all of Blaine's pokemon. Lance felt drained of all emotion. He felt like an empty shell, and he was watching from a distance. Was this how Giovanni wanted it? For all his members to be machines, instead of people?
His blank eyes met Magmar's, who was glaring angrily. Rapidash flared brilliantly at Lance, using all its willpower to keep from attacking.
"Do I get the rest of my pokemon back?" Lance asked in a monotone voice.
"No," Giovanni responded quickly.
"Why not?"
"Not yet, anyway."
"What will I have to do?" Lance was beyond feeling pain. Pain both physically and emotionally. He was too far gone. All he wanted was his pokemon.
"First, Ash comes here," Giovanni said. This jerked Lance back to reality.
"WHAT!?" he yelled at the top of his lungs.
Giovanni, who had been expecting this, had posted guards (some Grays) outside the door and given them instructions to dart in immediately to restrain Lance. They did so, taking Lance by the arms and holding him fast. It took all of their strength, as Lance fought like a crazed demon.
Giovanni calmly picked up the phone and dialed.
"Yes, sir?" Lance could hear a male voice.
"Get him," Giovanni said and Lance struggled harder, fire in his eyes and spirit.
"NOOO! Giovanni! YOU PROMISED! WE HAD A DEALL!!!" Lance screamed, kicked and trying to break free of those horrible Grays.
"Put him in a holding cell until he calms down," Giovanni ordered. The Grays grabbed a hold of Lance tighter and started to move him towards the door. Lance put all of his strength into resisting, wanting only to kill the orange-suited man who sat calmly and smugly in front of him. But he was outnumbered. And they had been prepared.
Lance was dragged out into the dark hall, screaming the entire time.
"WE HAD A DEAL!!! GIOVANNI!! I'M GOING TO KILL YOU! I SWEAR IT! I'LL KILL YOU! WE HAD A DEAL!!!!!"
Amanda watched from far back in the hall, concealed in the shadows and seeing for the first time how far Giovanni was willing to go to get the job done.......
Giovanni looked down at his Persian, who was growling and very greatly agitated. Blaine's pokemon had been recalled, much to their great reluctance, and they sat on the desk.
"Perr...siian. Sian prr... (You know what could happen)" Persian said, the lips curling around dangerous looking teeth. Giovanni patted the cat pokemon's head.
"Don't worry. The blow has been delivered. He'll stay in line."
"Prrr. Siansian.(You think so? I think this has only fueled his anger. He'll destroy you once he gets a chance.)"
"I don't doubt it. But once he sees that Ash is mine and will do what I say, he will too. And he'll see that I'm still following the deal. Ash won't be harmed. He'll just be...completing his training in a different fashion."
"Sian. Perrsian (You better know what you are doing.)"
"Oh, I do, Persian. I do. However, if he does not cooperate, his son will suffer."
"Sian sian, perr (What are you going to do?)?"
"I have something interesting in mind for him. Something very interesting..."
****
Ash stared up at the silent stars, feeling guilty at the fact that he had not accomplished anything so far. His eyes fell down to the sleeping yellow ball of fur on his stomach, breathing contentedly. Ash smiled. What he would he do without Pikachu?
"Pika?" Pikachu said sleepily, looking up. Pikachu did this a lot. He always seemed to know when Ash was watching him. And vice versa.
"Hi, Pikachu," Ash said, smiling. The love he felt for his pokemon ran deeply, coursing through every vein.
"Pi (hi)," Pikachu responded. Ash patted Pikachu's head. He could understand Pikachu perfectly, though it had taken a while to learn the language.
Pikachu leaned into Ash's touch, almost purring in pleasure. Only when he heard a snap just outside the clearing did he pull away from Ash's hand. He pricked his ears and stared into the inky blackness of the forest.
"What is it, Pikachu?"
"Chu...(I don't know...)" Pikachu responded, his instincts screaming a warning at him.
Ash knew never to ignore Pikachu's instincts and sat up. All had fallen silent again, and now the young trainer's own instincts were growing agitated. Something was wrong. Very wrong. Like he had felt so long ago when he saw those shadow men....Ash, though confused at remembering something that he had never remembered before, backed away from the small fire and into the other end of the clearing and into the trees. Safety. All he sought, was safety....Ash turned to see a tall man dressed in a Team Rocet uniform. Usually, Ash saw that uniform with annoyance, but this one struck fear through his heart, and he did not know why. The classic red 'R' was there, but the background was gray. Gray as a stormy sky over the ocean. Gray as the morning mist. Gray as a stalking shadow...
"Hello," Kevin said dangerously, an evil smile creeping on face. Ash drew back in terror only to bump into another Gray. Scared out of his wits, Ash started running as fast as he could, Pikachu at his heels. He started hearing the gun shots, though they did not sound like regular gunshots, which were loud and angry. These were more muffled, more of a whistling sound. He heard/felt the bullets? whizz pas his head and body, while at the same time tripping over roots and trees and barging through very nasty pricker bushes. Pikachu's breathing grew labored, and Ash reached down and picked his friend up, his feet never missing a stride. He tucked Pikachu into his jacket, his sensitive ears telling him that they were in hot pursuit.
"Why are they doing this?!" Ash cried out as leaped over a log.
"Pika, Pikapi (I'm scared, Ash!)!"
"Don't worry, Pikachu, I'll keep you safe!" Ash reassured. But at that moment, he tripped and fell down. Pikachu skidded a few feet, and Ash crawled towards him. Their chasers stopped a few feet away from them, breathing hard.
"Now, we have you," Kevin said and raised his gun. Ash turned away and shut his eyes, his body covering Pikachu. He braced for the sudden sting of death when two shots fired.
****
Nothing. Ash felt nothing happen. Nothing pierced his skin. In fact, he was blown back by a sudden blast of wind. He hit against a tree and looked up to see a large blue sphere causing the Grays to go flying.
He could tell there was shape inside that perfect sphere of light, but it was hard to make it out, it was so indistinct. The Grays smashed into trees with a sickening and fell to the ground, unconcious and bleeding lightly. Ash was breathing heavily and holding to Pikachu as if his life depended on it. Pikachu was pressing into Ash, getting as close as possible. The sphere fell to the ground a few feet in front of Ash.
For some reason that he could not name, Ash did not fear this light. It looked....almost....familiar.....
"You gotta stop this right now!" his voice echoed in his mind.
Shaking it away, Ash cleared his focus and the light disappeared to reveal its owner.
A large cat like pokemon that stood on two legs that was predominately purple, with deep purple eyes that had such depth that it was like staring into infinity.
"Are you all right?" it asked.
Ash could only stare at it, his mind chasing after a memory? that remained elusive. Ash was overcome with a wave of deja vu.
"Yeah...are you all right, Pikachu?" Ash responded after a minute. Pikachu nodded, snugling deeper into Ash's clothing.
"Good. We have to get you out of here, Ash. There will be more on the way, if I know Giovanni," it said.
"Mewtwo?" Ash tried out, the name randomly appearing in his head. He managed to voice it before it disappeared again.
The cat pokemon looked down at him, emotions flashing in its eyes, as though it were trying to decide something. It sounded male to Ash, though he could not be sure.
"That is my name," Mewtwo said.
"Why can't I remember?" Ash whispered, his arms wrapping tighter around Pikachu, who welcomed the added warmth and pulse.
"All will be explained later, Ash. Just come with me."
"How do you know my name?"
"How did you know mine?"
"I....don't know..."
"Come with me. It'll save you."
"All right," Ash said, standing up. Even standing, Mewtwo towered over him.
A white light surrounded Ash and Pikachu and moments later they were in a jungle overlooking a tall mountain in the distance.
"Where am I?" Ash immediately asked. Pikachu remained in Ash's arms, equally confused.
"You are in my forest," Mewtwo answered.
"Why did you save us?"
"Because you saved me. A while ago...."
Mewtwo released his mental hold on Ash and Pikachu and the memories came flooding back. Suddenly, it all made sense.
"Why did you not want me to remember?" Ash whispered. He had fallen to his knees and was staring at the moss covered ground.
"It was better for everyone..." Mewtwo answered, though suddenly sounding unsure of his answer.
"I would have kept it secret."
"Pika pika (Me too)."
"Maybe. But would you like to have remembered that you had died?"
"I don't know. Where's Mew?"
"She's off on the mountain. She doesn't like to be seen by humans. The...incident...on New Island was the exception. She had to save the world. As did you..."
"What's going on?" Ash whispered, feeling exhausted.
"You should be telling me. What were you doing in Indigo Plateau? You had no business there. And why was Team Rocket chasing you?"
"What, I'm not allowed to visit a city?"
"It is futile to try and lie to a psychic, Ash."
"Do you know Lance?"
"A little. I read what there is to read about him in the archives of my birthplace," Mewtwo answered, helping Ash up.
"Did you hear about what happened to him?"
"No."
"He was kidnapped by Team Rocket. And I think they were after me because of what had said about them to Officer Jenny," Ash said, picking up Pikachu.
"Kidnapped? Why?"
"I don't know. I guess they wanted the best in the world."
"And you were planning to save him?"
"Maybe."
"Ash, Giovanni is a dangerous man. You don't realize what he can do."
"Concerned about me?" Ash asked, amused.
"No. I'm just warning you. I owe you that."
"You seem to owe me a lot."
"My soul."
"What I don't get is, is why is Giovanni part of the League, if he is the leader of Team Rocket?"
"He is in a very good position. Very effective to get things done for Team Rocket."
"How do you know so much about Giovanni?"
"I was created for him. He wanted the world's strongest pokemon..."
"Man, when he wants something, he doesn't accept anything less, does he?"
"No, I suppose not."
"You gonna send me back?"
"If you want."
"Hey!"
"What?"
"I got an idea!"
"What would that be?"
"Why don't we work together?!"
"What?"
"Yeah! With you and your knowledge, I bet we could save Lance!"
"I don't know...I tend to stay away from you humans and your problems."
"Oh, come on, Mewtwo! I thought you had reformed to actually care about stuff! We can't just let him suffer!" Ash exclaimed, growing bolder.
"Why does it matter so much to you?" Mewtwo asked. Ash could not answer. He felt that tug again....
"I....I don't know. It just seems right."
"I do have a score to settle with Giovanni.......all right. I will help," Mewtwo agreed. Ash grinned, as did Pikachu.
"All right! Off to...to, uh...off to..."
"Viridian?"
"Off to Viridian!"