Chapter 18 – Ash VS Lance
Lance guided May, Serena and Dawn to the Hotel's roof, where the helipad was. There was already a helicopter waiting for them and ready to go, in front of it there were stood Lorelei, Agatha and Bruno.
"Wow" said Dawn "Will everybody fit into that helicopter?"
"Don't worry" answered Lance "Only you three, Lorelei and I are going to Pluma Island?"
"Why?" asked Serena
"Agatha will stay here at Indigo Plateau to protect it in case Team Tenebris tries to attack again" Lance answered "Lorelei will come with us and Bruno will go to the beach where Pikachu woke up after his fleeing"
"What for?" asked May
"To find Ash's Poke balls" said Bruno
"What?" asked May
"Yes" said Lance "This morning we asked Pikachu about Ash's Poke Balls, since he said he ran away with it"
"What did he say?" asked Dawn
"According to Meowth's translation, he buried somewhere on that beach" said Lorelei
"But why would he do that?" asked Serena
"Probably for fear of being followed by Team Tenebris" said Lance
"Before we leave let's go over the plan once more" said Lorelei
"Good idea Lorelei" said Lance
"We are going to Pluma Island to rescue Ash. This is our objective" said Lorelei "We are not going to take Team Tenebris down and we will avoid fighting unless it is necessary"
"Once we get back here with Ash…" completed Lance "…then we'll start thinking about what to do with Team Tenebris"
Serena May and Dawn just nodded in agreement
"Let's go then" said Lance
Lance, Lorelei and the girls took off after a couple of minutes toward Pluma Island, where Team Tenebris headquarter was placed.
"It would be better if we enter the Island without being notice" said Lance "But I believe The Lady has installed some security mechanism against invaders, so they will probably be aware of our presence as soon as we arrive"
"And what do we do?" asked May
"Once they realize we are on the Island I believe they will come for us" said Lance "The most important is… you three do not leave my side"
"Why?" asked Dawn
"I will protect your minds in case The "Lady" try to enter them" said Lance
"I will stay on the helicopter waiting for your returning" said Lorelei
Pluma Island wasn't that far from Indigo Plateau, it took them only twenty minutes to arrive on it
"So…" said May getting off the helicopter "This is Pluma Island"
"Now we must find their headquarter" said Dawn
"Pikachu said it was underground" said Serena "But didn't say exactly how to enter it"
"They must be inside a caver or a tunnel" said Dawn
"Or maybe it is a hidden passage" said Serena
"Or by a waterfall" said May
"I think he will take us" said Lance entering in the middle of their conversation and pointing ahead
May, Dawn and Serena looked at Lance's pointing and saw Mascaro, standing up on the sand looking at them
"So you have finally arrived" said Mascaro " The Lady has been waiting for you"
"We're being expected?" asked Serena
"Of course" said Mascaro "I will take you to her. Please follow me"
"You have got to be kidding us?" asked Dawn "How are we going to believe you are not taking us to some kind of trap?"
"Don't worry Dawn" said Lance "If The Lady told him to take us to her… he won't be crazy enough to not follow her orders"
Lance, May, Serena and Dawn left Lorelei at the helicopter and followed Mascaro through the Island, it was amazing how there were no life around, the girls during all their walk hadn't seen one single Pokémon, even vegetation was scarce with tall leafless trees and no flowers at sight
"How could someone live in here?" asked Dawn "There are no life"
"It is as if the heart and soul of the island had been taken away by human hands themselves" said Serena
"So it does match Team Tenebris" said May "No life, heart or soul"
"You know how to be very delicate" said Mascaro
"You don't have to talk" said Lance "Just take us to The Lady"
"As you wish" said Mascaro
They walked for more ten minutes until they reach an open field
"Here we are" said Mascaro "The entering of Team Tenebris headquarter is here"
"There's nothing here" said May
"There's nothing we want you to see" answered Mascaro taking a radio from his pocket "Disable illusion field"
As Mascaro said his words, all open field disappeared and in its place arose a huge fortress
"Everybody thinks we hide underground, but The Lady uses her Psychic powers to deceive all who tries to find us in radars or maps" said Mascaro "That's the measure of The Lady's power"
The gates of the fortress opened allowing them in, Mascaro entered first, after him, Lance and then our heroines.
After they passed the gates they found themselves at a huge fancy living room with big chandeliers decorate the living room along with sofas, curtains and a grand staircase at the end of it, which lead to the upper floors
"This place is so beautiful" said Serena
"Yeah, just too bad it is used by mean people" said May
"As I said before…" said Mascaro "Delicate"
They all stopped at the center of the room and at the top of the staircase ther were stood two other members of Team Tenebris
"I would like to introduce you to the last two members of our Team" said Mascaro "Myers, The Lady's sword-arm, and our best battler… Naro"
They both took off their hoods revealing a half-aged man, with grey beard and… Ash
"Ash!" exclaimed Serena
"Ash?" said Mascaro with sarcasm "That's Naro, our best battler"
"You monster" said Dawn "Ash it's us"
"Dawn, Serena and May" said May "Now he will remember us"
But Ash remained in silence like he didn't even notice they were talking with him
"But…" started May "How come he didn't recognize us?"
"He remembered us last time" said Serena
"Oh didn't I tell you?" asked Mascaro "The Lady finished her mind sections with Naro"
"What does that mean?" asked Dawn
"It means now she has completely control of his mind" said Lance "He will no longer have flash memories"
"Exactly" said Mascaro "He belongs to The Lady now"
"He will never be part of you" said Serena "NEVER"
"Mascaro" said Myers "Come and join us"
"As you wish" said Mascaro leaving Lance and the girls before going up the staircase and joining them
"Now… Lance..." said Myers "The Lady is interested in you"
"So I've heard" said Lance "And where is she?"
"She allowed us to take care of this matter" said Myers
"Too bad" said Lance "I will only negotiate direct to her"
"We thought you'd say that" said Myers "We have authorization to take you down if necessary"
"So be it" said Lance "You may do your first move"
"Hahahaha" laughed Myers "I am not the one who is going to battle"
"And who is going to?" asked Lance
Just after Lance's response Ash stepped forward
"I am" Ash said
"Really?" asked Lance "Once more, I thought The Lady was going to save the best for the end"
"Get ready for me Lance" said Ash "Because I will defeat you"
"I actually would love seeing my apprentice finally beating me" said Lance "But under other circumstances. So I accept your challenge"
"They are battling here? Asked Dawn "In the middle of this fancy room?"
"Better this way" said May "I hope they crash everything"
Ash came down the staircases and took a Poke Ball out of his coat, Lance did the same
"So Ash" said Lance "It seems I will finally see how strong you are now"
Ash did not reply
"I see" said Lance "You are not Ash, you are Naro. So I will not feel bad by defeating you"
"You won't defeat me Lance" Ash said "I will destroy you and all your Pokémon"
"We shall see" said Lance "I choose you Dragonite"
Lance threw his Poke ball revealing his favorite Dragon type
"You starting with Dragonite already?" asked Dawn
"Dragonite is my best Pokémon" said Lance "If he cannot defeat Ash's Pokémon… Then there will be no reason of keeping fighting"
"Wise choice" said Ash "I shall be releasing my best Pokémon as well. GO" Alakazam"
Ash also threw his Poke ball, showing everybody his Psychic Pokémon
"Dragonite, use dragon breath" said Lance while his Pokémon blasted his attack into Ash's Alakazam
"Alakazam, use teleport" Ash said, making his Pokémon to disappear
For a couple of seconds they waited Alakazam reappear from its teleport attack... but...
"Where is it? Asked Serena "Normally a teleport attack makes you disappear but reappear instantly"
"It's because… he teleports again as soon as he reappears" said Lance "But it is so fast that we cannot see it"
"NOW ALAKAZAM! USE PSYBEAM" shouted Ash
Out of nowhere a colored beam came down from the sky by Dragonite's back and hit it strongly, making him falling down to the ground
"Dragonite" asked Dawn in support
"Don't worry Dawn" said Lance "He is fine"
Dragonite had no problem getting up and showing he was still on the battle
"Dragonite use hyper beam" said Lance "Aim it up high"
Dragonite did as Lance said and used his hyper beam up. Once it hit the ceiling it divided itself in many other small hyper beams and went everywhere. Obviously one of them hit Alakazam who was still teleporting all the time
"What happened?" asked Myers "Why that Hyper beam divided itself?"
"Isn't that obvious?" said Ash "Look up at the ceiling"
When everybody looked up, they saw the ceiling was made of mirror
"You are very clever Lance" said Ash "You used the mirror ceiling to reflect and divide your Dragonite's attack, so it would be easier to hit Alakazam while he was teleporting"
"Thank you Ash" said Lance smiling "I had to stop your Alakazam's movements"
"And so you did" said Ash "But even though you hit my Alakazam, the mirror divided not only them beam itself, but also its strength, so my Alakazam had no damage"
"True" said Lance "It would never defeat your Alakazam"
"However, your Dragonite must still recharge" said Ash "So that gives me the chance of attack"
Lance did not reply; he knew Dragonite was free to an open attack from Ash's Alakazam
"Now Alakazam, use Psychic" said Ash
Alakazam sent his attack direct to Dragonite, who nothing could do, causing him to be thrown on the wall
"Dragonite" shouted Lance to his Pokémon
"Don't be a drama queen Lance" said Ash "You know this attack also would never knock Dragonite down"
Lance just smiled at Ash while his Dragonite was getting up, apparently without any damage as well
"You are a very good trainer Naro" said Lance "It seems we have a very interesting situation here"
"We sure have" answered Ash
"What situation?" asked May
"I don't know" answered Dawn
"I think he means that… no one can win this battle" said Serena
"What?" asked Dawn "What do you mean?"
"Either Lance's Dragonite and Ash's Alakazam are on the same level" said Serena "This battle will keep going on until…."
"…either of them get destroyed" said a voice from upstairs
Everybody looked at the voice direction to find nothing more nothing less than…
"The Lady" said Lance
"The only and one" said The Lady coming down the stairs while her subordinates knelt as she passed
"There is no need to use this hood anymore" said Lance "removed it. I want to see your face"
The Lady smiled at Lance and slowly removed her hood, making her face finally appears. It was a woman about thirty years old, purple short hair and green eyes. She had many visible tattoos along her neck, face and shoulders. She was… scaring
"Hello… Jennifer" said Lance looking to his sister for the first time in years
"Hi little brother" said Jennifer "It's been a while"
"Years… Actually" answered Lance
"You surprised me coming here" said Jennifer "I was already planning a new attack at Indigo Plateau… but instead of that you came to me"
"You know me… I like to surprise people" said Lance
"It wasn't quite a surprise really" said Jennifer "I felt your presence far from here"
"Since you are so clever…" said Lance "You already know what I'm here for"
"Of course I do" said Jennifer "But I must say that I will not let you take my best battler so easily"
"Your plan has failed Jennifer" said Lance "Your plan was to use Ash and your stupid subordinates to get me and force me to let you enter the Temple of Dragons"
"And where exactly have I failed?" asked Jennifer
"You can't defeat me, nobody can" said Lance "And you will never enter my mind either"
The Lady put on her hood again and angrily looked at lance
"I am the Dragon Master by right" said The Lady "And I will take my place. I've never been so close"
"Close?" asked Lance "How?"
"You don't fool me Lance. You try to make the no-heart serious type" said The Lady "But I know how you feel about Ketchum"
"What?" asked Lance
"You look at him with the same eyes our father once looked at us" said The Lady "With proud and concern"
Lance said nothing
"Your silence just makes me feel more sure" said The Lady "You don't see him only as a student. But also as a son"
Lance remained in silence
"During the time you two spent together you developed these feelings for him. That's why you feel so guilty about his arrestment by me"
"He… wasn't supposed to be passing through all this. After all, he's just a kid, and we want him back" said Lance looking at May, Serena and Dawn behind him
"How touching" said The Lady "I am willing to make a deal with you"
"A deal?" asked Lance "What kind of deal?"
"I will free the boy's mind… if you allow me to enter yours" said The Lady
Everybody looked at Lance, and everybody even Team's Tenebri's members were caught in surprise
"What?" asked Lance
"You heard me" said The Lady "Don't you want the boy back? I will give him to you, if you give your mind to me"
"That's ridiculous" said May "Lance, don't do it"
"She's right" said Serena "I want Ash back more than never… but if you do it…"
"…you will allow her into the Temple of Dragons" finished Dawn "And who knows the measure of her powers once she gets there"
Lance did not answer. He knew they were right…but still he could get Ash's mind free from The Lady. Tough choice
"I see that you have doubts" said The Lady "So I will help you to decide"
As The Lady said it, her eyes started to glow blue and at the same time Ash, who was in silence since The Lady arrived, started to scream in pain
"What are you doing?" asked Lance
"I will force his mind into the darkness until you give me an answer" said The Lady
"NO! STOP IT" shouted Lance "His mind can't take that much"
"So make up your mind Dragon Master" said The Lady
"Lance do something" said Dawn while Ash was still crying in pain on the floor
Lance closed his eyes in refutation, but he had no choice…
"OKAY" shouted Lance "I agree"
The Lady's eyes went back to normal as Ash stooped crying but remained at the ground.
Serena, May and Dawn ran into Ash to see if he was okay
"Is he alright?" asked Lance
"Yes" answered Serena "He just fainted"
Lance was relief, after all Ash had trained his mind a little, at least enough to stand that much pressure
"So Lance" said The Lady "Do we have deal?"
"First you promise me that Ash will be free from your mind control forever" said Lance
"Okay" answered The Lady
"And promise me that you will let the girls take him out of the Island safely back to Indigo Plateau" Lance continued
"Agreed" said The Lady
"Okay then" said Lance "Just give me a minute"
Lance went to the girls who were still taking care of Ash
"May, Serena, Dawn" said Lance "Take Ash back to the coast where Lorelei is. Tell her to take you back to Indigo Plateau and once you get there take Ash to the Elite Four Pokémon Center"
"Lance… don't this" said Serena "Let's find another way out this situation"
"We have no time now" said Lance "This last force of mind may leave sequels at Ash's brain. He needs medical care as soon as possible"
Saying that Lance hugged May, Dawn and then Serena, making them confused
"And the most important thing" said Lance "Do not come after me. Now go"
Serena, Dawn and May left the fortress. May, led the way as Serena and Dawn brought Ash by holding his arms
The way back to the coast seemed longer, maybe due to Ash's body weight. But May, Serena and Dawn finally managed to get to the coast, where Lorelei was waiting for them
"Lorelei…" started May
"No need to say a word" said Lorelei "Put him inside and let's get out of here"
Serena and Dawn laid Ash on the helicopter seat while Lorelei was starting it. Soon they were already flying heading back to Indigo Plateau.
The girls looked behind at the window as Pluma Island got smaller until it disappears completely. Although they had Ash back, the feeling of defeat was still on the air.
The Lady had won.