Note: One-sided championshippy from Lance’s POV, possible shonen-ai. But! The main romance is still AAMRN

And in case you wanted to know…

Shadow didn’t always hate AAMRN. In fact, when she first got into pokemon fanfic, it was her favorite genre and she read every single one. However, after a few months, the fandom got crowded, the area filled with horrible clichés, and plagiarized work ran rampant, so she quit. Occasionally, if she finds a good AAMRN, she’ll smile.

 

ANGRY AT FF.net, and I’m going to desist posting there.

 

Chapter 5: Butterfly feathers

 

            “The mirror never lies.” Lance repeated. “Truth is never a very pretty thing, Ash.”

            “Just get on with it. I-I… I’ll even give you Pikachu if you let Misty go safely.” Ash said, his voice breaking on the last word.

            “Ash!” Misty said. “Stop this! Don’t throw yourself away for me! I’m the one Giovanni wants!”

            “You’re quite right.” Lance said. “But what Giovanni doesn’t know won’t hurt him. Didn’t you always want to be blonde, Misty?”

            “What the hell are you talking about.” Ash said, not liking the twist in conversation yet again.

            Lance’s eyes glowed bluely once, as Misty’s hair lengthened and sparkled, turning itself silvery-blonde with a dark blue streak in it. “Just like a mermaid…”

            “He’ll never fall for that.” Misty said, annoyed at not knowing what was going on completely.

            “Oh yes he will.” Lance said. “Illusions, my dear, are a very powerful thing.”

 

            Something in Ash’s memory stirred at that tone, but he couldn’t remember.

 

            “Now… Misty, you may want to turn around. It will only take a second.” Lance said, still in that strange tone of voice.

            “I’d rather hear what you ask Ash, thank you.” Misty barked. “Don’t think I trust you for a second!”

            “I’m not really…” Lance stopped. “Fine. You can watch. It’s not pretty though. Kairyuu, if she starts panicking, restrain her.”

            The Dragonite nodded.

 

            Ash paled. * Sudden bad feeling… * “Um… I don’t have any information that you need, really! So…”

            “That’s not what I want.” Lance said, as he knelt down in front of Ash, who was still tied to the chair he had been in. “Gomen nasai, Ashura…”

            And with that, he reached up and kissed Ash full on the lips.

 

            “IIE!” Misty screamed, running towards him. “HENTAI!”

            She didn’t get even a foot towards them before Dragonite caught her and muffled her ranting with a large paw.

           

            Lance pulled away, and Misty was startled temporarily to see tears shining in his eyes. Without a word, he untied Ash and tossed Misty her poke belt back.

            “Go.” He said expressionlessly. “Straight down the hall. No one will question you, there’s no one there after all. You can hide out in Johto. I will try and send him to you when I can.”

            Misty stopped. “Can I say goodbye to him?”

            Lance walked out the door without a backwards glance. “Take all the time you want.”

 

            Ash was still staring…

            “Ash… Are you okay?” Misty asked, worried.

            “I-I just got kissed by a guy! Do you think I’m okay?” Ash burst out. “I didn’t think-!”

            “I didn’t either!” Misty exclaimed. “If I had known what he was asking!”

            “How could we have known?” Ash said. “It’s so… random!”

            “Random is right.” Misty sighed. “Ash, you didn’t like it did you?”

            “Huh? No way! I was in too much shock. And I was tied up.” Ash reminded her. Misty hugged him tightly and gave him a very long kiss.

            About six minutes later, they broke for air. Ash was flushed, but he hugged her back, smiling.

            “Misty, you’re free now. I will find a way to find you, I promise.” He said. “Without those circumstances.”

 

            “I believe you.” Misty confided. “You won’t lie to me barefaced. Take care of yourself, Ash. I’m not going to burst into tears and throw hysterics, it certainly won’t help the situation at hand.”

            “No.” Ash said. “Long touching scenes won’t do us any good in these circumstances. We have to act.”

            “Best of luck, Ash. Remember I love you.” Misty said. * Time is running out. I should leave. *

            She gave him one last kiss and took off before he could see her break down.

 

            Ash was left alone, pondering his fate. He was afraid of what would happen next. However, Lance did not return until the next week.

            Via the compact, Ash had seen Misty make it to Dragon’s Den safely, where Claire took her in to protect her. She was safe.

            Ash sighed in relief. She was safe. That was the most important thing. And she hadn’t cried…

            She surely, surely must be all right then.

            Reassured, Ash began plotting his own escape.

 

            “Giovanni is dead.” Lance said without preamble when he walked in.

            Ash looked startled. “What? And why are you telling me this?”

            “I just thought you would like to know.” The Dragon Master said simply. “It’s true. It seems he got indigestion while he was dining at Koga’s mansion. I can’t imagine how that happened, unless he was allergic to the food.”

            Something in Lance’s tone belied his glib reply, but Ash did not press further.

 

            “What of Team Rocket?”

            “It’s shattering.” Lance said calmly. “Once the tiger’s head is gone, its foot can not do much. The citizens have finally wound up the guts to rebel.”

            “You seem exceedingly calm about this.” Ash said suspiciously.

            “Ice does that to you.” Lance told him, again not elaborating. “I think I shall keep you as a guest for a little while longer, and then I’ll send you to rejoin your girlfriend.”

            “Wait!” Ash said. “I have one question.”

            “What?”

            “Why the hell did you kiss me?”

            “That’s for me to know, and you to think on.” Lance said, making his exit.

 

            “Come back here!” Ash yelled, but there was no reply.

 

End Chapter!