Hmm…

Disclaimer: I don’t own pokemon. Pokemon belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. All I have are some GB and GBA games and this fanfic. Don’t steal.

Notes: <> for telepathy, ** for thoughts, italics if a pokemon talks

Chapter 8

 

            Hopeless.

            That was how Red felt it had been snowing nonstop for two weeks now. Life in Johto was dying out. Even if Team Rocket wanted the region, would they now? Nothing but death as far as the eye could see…

            Maybe it was because he was living with two ghost masters currently, but Red felt uneasy… for one reason.

            He had discovered that he could see spirits.

            It wasn’t anything really freaky; he would just see dead pokemon spirits, not ghost-types but transparent pokemon, looking as they had in life.

            It was quite unnerving.

            However, no matter how he hunted, he could still not see his Pikachu.

            Pikachu must not be dead then. What tortures his electric rat must be undergoing in Team Rocket’s grip! If only he knew where it was…

            Maybe he could save it…

 

            < I feel your pain, girl. >

            Claire looked Agatha in the eyes, nodding. “I believe you. You believed in my cousin. I only wish…”

            < Wishing won’t change the past, Claire. > Morty said sympathetically as he poured her a cup of oolong tea. < How is your grandfather taking it? >

            “He’s actually happy Lance died.” Claire shook her head. “Said that way he could find a new heir, a true heir, to the clan.”

            < Are you not a dragon master? >

            “Yes, but I’m only about half as powerful as Lance was…”

            Agatha patted her on the shoulder. “It’s not your fault child.” Some things had to be said out loud, not just thought.

            “If you like…” Morty hesitated. “There is a way to bring him back to life.”

            Agatha shot a sharp look at Morty. < Your powers are so advanced then? >

            “All I have is the sight.” Morty said, a hand under his chin. “However, Claire – you have his blood.”

            “Well, yes, we’re first cousins, almost sister and brother.”

            “What are you willing to give up to bring him back?”

            Claire hesitated here. What was she willing to give up? Her life?! No, she selfishly clung to life as… well, as she could. But… what was Morty asking?

            She didn’t’ know him that well yet… but they were both gym leaders and had often seen one another at official functions.

            Would Morty actually do her such a favor? And if so, why?

 

            “Not my life.”

            “I wasn’t going to ask that.” Morty half-smiled. “All I need is two drops of your blood…”

            “That’s it?”

            “That’s it.”

            Agatha shook her head as Morty pricked Claire’s finger with a needle, collecting the required amount but before vanishing into another room. * I hope he knows what he is doing… *

 

            Back in his room, Red suddenly felt very lightheaded…

           

            Morty continued his ritual, clouds of purple and green vapor collecting around him as he began channeling. This was turning out more difficult than he expected! Shouldn’t Lance be happy to experience life again?

 

            Back in his realm, Lance cursed.

            What was going on?

            If he were reincarnated he’d be a Magikarp! Hadn’t he told the four guardians he didn’t want that?!

            Where were they anyways?

 

            Lance cried out as he was forcibly torn from the realm, and darkness swallowed him.

            What’s happening? Aren’t I already dead?

            His golden eyes closed.

 

            Mew’s head snapped up. < What was that? >

            < I do not know. > Umbreon replied.

            Dragonair suddenly flew in. < He’s vanished! Lance is gone! >

            < WHAT? >

            < I know! It’s incomprehensible! He was… the ghosts said he was there when he suddenly just faded away! Like he was dying again! >

            < But he’s already dead, how can he die again? >

            < Who knows? >

            < I’ll go check. > Umbreon said, as it initiated teleport, following Lance’s soul…

 

            Lance blearily blinked his eyes open as he woke up several long hours later. However, his eyes wouldn’t focus. What was going on? All he could see was white!

            Voices registered in his ears…

            “He’s alive!”

            “Of course he’s alive! The ritual worked after all…”

            “Itai…”

            “Red! What happened to you – merciful mew! I think we have a problem!”

            …. Like that wasn’t evident…

            Lance wondered where he was. This certainly wasn’t the realm of the dead…

            “Where am I?”

 

            His voice came out crackly, but it was his voice… “And why can’t I see anything?”

            Panic was starting to register in the trainer’s mind. What was going on?

            “Don’t move!”

            that voice sounded familiar, but the name to go with it escaped his memory. “Who… are you?”

 

            Morty took Claire aside as he lowered his voice. “Claire.”

            “What is it?”

            “Lance may not retain his memories.”

            “Couldn’t you have told me earlier?”

            “You said yourself you would give a lot for him to be back…”

            Claire scowled. It was true though…

 

            Red faced Lance with a smile, though the other couldn’t see it. “Don’t worry, your eyes should adjust to the light soon.” He ignored the strange tiredness that had consumed him.

            Lance closed his eyes, taking deep breaths. Exactly what in Lugia’s name was going on here?!

            He wanted answers. Soon.

           

End Chapter

Completed 2/13/05