Started 9/16/03

I always wanted to do a series where Ash was abandoned as a child… the whole orphanage bit. But the plotbunny was very stubborn and refused to be written…

Disclaimer: I do not own pokemon or Shogakukan Comics! This is non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfic written by me, for me, and thus I own it.

Notes: <> for telepathy, **for thoughts, italics if a pokemon talks. New characters and pokemon and things are mine too.

Title: Not forgotten

Chapter 1

 

            Warm golden sunlight filtered in through the open windows, sending occasionally puffs of shine up from the dust motes dancing in the air. Ten beds were arranged in two rows facing each other, eight were occupied and two were not.

            One of the children sleeping in the beds was a boy with brownish-black hair, clutching a stuffed Psyduck to his chest in slumber. He was seven or eight years of age but could not have looked older than five.

            Around his neck a round silver circle, the size of his little fingernail perhaps, hung from an old silver chain.

            The kindly matron of the orphanage had told him that his mother had left it with him when he had been placed here.

            But… if he had a mother, why didn’t she take him? Why hadn’t she kept him? Why had she left him alone?
            He wasn’t quite sure. He wasn’t sure if he were angry with her either… everything was so confusing.

            But it wasn’t too bad here… he got along with the other boys mostly, and if he were really scared he could always hide.

            People didn’t notice quiet children.

            That way, you see and learn and grow more if you don’t make a sound.

            The only person that really bothered him was Larry. Larry had shining blonde hair and was very proud of it, declaring that he would be adopted because of it.

            Ash wasn’t sure what it meant, but he ignored the older boy.

            That was not always a good idea.

 

            The persistent shrill beeps of the alarm clock finally woke the child from his slumber, and he yawned before climbing off the bed and heading to the communal restroom with four shower stalls, to start a new day.

            Half an hour later he was washed and dressed in the standard dark blue pants and jackets they wore, and he walked down to the dining hall.

            “Morning, Ash.” Mrs. Parson greeted him. She taught mathematics to all the children.

            “Good morning, Mrs. Parson.” Ash said politely, as he sat down at his assigned seat next to Billy and Kenneth.

            Kenneth nodded, and Ash sighed, ignoring the urge to bolt. It wasn’t that Kenneth was mean. He really was just, well, born unfortunate. It was easy to see why his mother had dumped him here. The boy never stopped drooling and could never focus his eyes either.

           

            Spoons scraped against pink plastic bowls as the children finished their cheerios and milk and half grapefruits, before they filed off obediently to classes. Camus orphanage was not a large one, only thirty to forty children lived there at any given time. Some were placed there temporarily, only for a month or so. Ash had seen several, and he always felt a mixture of scorn and envy for them. The rest usually stayed, if not adopted after a certain period of time.

            Ash wasn’t quite sure why no one ever chose him. After all, Gwendolyn, with her big purple lips and horsy voice had been adopted, and so had Melvin, the shortsighted boy. He didn’t think there was anything wrong with him, so he couldn’t understand. Why was he so unlovable?

             Even Clarissa, the one with all her front teeth missing and an affinity for pinching younger kids had gone.

            It wasn’t fair!
            Still, complaining about it wouldn’t help.

            Ash rubbed his charm for luck; it was his good luck charm in a way. After all, without it, he wouldn’t have any company.

            He didn’t know why all the other kids ignored him.

            Was it because he had a Gastly and people thought they were evil? Maybe. But Gastly had saved him when he had gotten lost in Viridian Forest on their annual picnic…

            So it wasn’t evil!

 

            Gastly never stayed in a poke ball, Ash didn’t have any and either way the cost for pokemon items was sky-high at the moment.

            < You seem preoccupied, Ash. >

            Ash frowned. * What’s wrong with me? *

            < There is nothing wrong with you. >

            The boy stared into his cereal bowl morosely. * But if that’s the case, why won’t anyone adopt me? Am I too ugly? I’m not smart enough, that’s it! I can never answer all the math or science questions like Percy or Betty! *

            < No, no, no. > Gastly sighed. < I cannot pretend to understand you humans, but I do not believe there is anything wrong with you. It is just not your time yet. >

            < When will it be my time then? >

            Gastly sighed again. He didn’t know.

            There were so many questions without answers. Ash had slight psychic powers, telepathy and some empathy, but that was about it, so it was not like he could scry into the past and see why he was stuck here, or into the future and notice the possible hope.

            In any case, he would take care of the child for as long as it took. Heck, he was a ghost pokemon; it wasn’t as if he had any problems…

            He lived forever after all, even if his state wasn’t real life.

            That was just the way things were. Complaining would do no good. Besides, if the legends were true, and if his feelings were right, Ash wouldn’t be alone for much longer.

            Something had to happen. No, that wasn’t quite true. Something had already happened.

            Ash didn’t have a guardian angel, but it was pretty close. Another spirit, yes, but even spirits were powerful.

            Especially Chosen.

            It would be another few years until Ash had enough life energy to sustain two people, but that was fine. At least he wasn’t completely stuck by himself, and really, the orphanage life could have been a lot worse.

            He would not complain.

 

            < Lance-chan? >

            The winged guardian stretched, golden eyes blinking sleepily. < What is it? >

            Ash smiled, glad for the company. Between Lance-chan and Gastly, life really was fairly good. He should quit being so picky. It never boded well.

            Never!

            < Um… if I have time today, can you show me that magic trick again? >

            Lance chuckled. Magic tricks indeed, oh no, that wasn’t quite what his forte was, nor was it what Ash was learning, but no matter.

            If it kept the child amused and willing to study more, he would not complain either. < The waterfall? >

            < Hai! >

            < Of course I will… >

            Ash grinned. * So I don’t want to mope! I already have this much! I’ll be a good child, and maybe I’ll get adopted… but if I don’t… *

            “It won’t be so bad.”

            The two spirits smiled.

 

End Chapter

Completed 12/29/03