Please plotbunny don’t die…

This one just kind of fell from heaven and hit me on the head.

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

Disclaimer: I do not own pokemon. I wish I did, because then I’d show championshipping series. This is non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfic that I wrote myself so I own it under international copyright laws.

This will most likely mutate into a championshipping later…

People I hate…

Hilly – I won’t give her real name. She writes nothing *but* overtly Mary-Sue fics. Yuck!

Timeline: 2 weeks later or so…

 

Chapter 2

 

            “I choose you, Cubone!”

            “How did you get a Cubone? Don’t you live underwater?”

            “Don’t underestimate me.” Giselle winked.

            “Don’t underestimate me either then,” Ash said, releasing a pokemon. Shadow was not visible due to Lance’s illusions.

            What looked like a perfectly normal Pikachu appeared in the arena.

            Giselle laughed. “Ground beats lightning!”

            “As you say…”

            “Cubone, let’s make this quick! Bonemerang!”

            “Not so fast! Pikachu, Double Team!”

            “Pika!”

            Sucker! The pikachu laughed as she sped in circles around the stunned cubone. Now take this!

            A tail whip sent Cubone reeling.

            Cubone’s eyes spun crazily as a Rollout smacked into him. Hey!

            What?

            You’re not supposed to know that move!

            Pikachu’s cheeks sparked angrily. Well, I do, and too bad for you! Let’s finish it!

            Poor Cubone…

 

            Giselle sighed. “I guess I lost the bet.”

            “You did! Now you have to take me underwater!”

            “Fine, eat this.”

            Ash swallowed the dry-looking piece of red seaweed with a disgusted look. It tasted like… sand. Eew! Oh well.

            If he could breathe underwater by it’s powers, he could deal with the taste.

            Once sure he was okay, Giselle took his arm as they swam into deeper water. Unfortunately, as Ash soon discovered, just because he could breathe underwater didn’t mean he was immune to temperature change and pressure changes.

            Giselle nearly had to give him CPR.

            Afterwards, having bid her farewell, Ash teleported back to his castle. * Maybe Lance was right. Air and water don’t mix… *

            But how had he known?

 

            That interesting thought made itself known to the boy. Could it be that Lance had once been a mermaid?

            Nah, too weird!

            Lance was waiting, as usual, with a towel, bath, meal, and dry clothes. He softly slipped outside when Ash entered.

            A strange thought suddenly occurred to Ash.

            Why _did_ Lance stay with him anyways? Was it because of loyalty? And if so, when had it occurred?

            How interesting!

            But then again, Lance had always been a fixture in his life since they had been children together… so…

            Perhaps friendship was the binding tie.

            No, he should ask!

 

            After having finished his meal and bath, Ash went downstairs to find Lance.

            “Lance!”
            “Yes, my lord?”

            “Why do you call me that?”

            “Because you’re the heir, my lord.” Lance intoned politely, keeping his eyes downcast as was proper.

            “Were you always here? And if so, why?”

            “As my lord wishes, I shall answer.”

            “I do want you to talk!”

            “Very well… I am your Protector, my lord.”

            Ash nearly choked. * Protector? I don’t need protection! *

            However, Lance seemed sincere. “Please continue.”

            “My only purpose in life is to keep you safe…” Lance trailed off at the horrified look on Ash’s face.

            “What? That’s impossible!”

            “I speak only the truth…”

 

            “Prove it.”

            “What?” Lance broke tradition and looked up. “My lord-.”

            “Come on, prove it!”

            “As you wish…”

            Ash looked as Lance closed his eyes and focused. His form began shifting, until with a sudden surge of power, sharp-tipped metallic wings forced themselves out of his back like a glittering spray of knives.

            Wait! There was a glittering spray of knives!
            Ash reluctantly stopped gaping. Lance looked really, really… well, tempting was the first word that came to mind.

            Power, though, that lovely power… was second.

            How nice.

 

            Lance suddenly turned, six pin-sharp daggers whizzing by, none hitting Ash though. Wind whistled through the air.

            A muffled shriek was heard.

            Lance whistled. “Well, well…” He lifted the curtain to find two mermen, impaled on the wall. “Trying to kill the heir again were we?”

            “Shimatta! You traitor!”

            “I, a traitor?”

            “Dragons owe loyalty to the Waterflower Kingdom!”

            “Ah, that is where you are mistaken. My clan has sworn itself to Shadow for eternity… besides, before we were allied with Aquarius!”

            “DIE!”

            “You’re in no position to be making demands of me.” Lance quoted as he nimbly jumped around, catching the last-ditch poisoned weapons the assassins were attempting to hit Ash with.

            Ash stared.

            Lance finished and then made a single slashing motion with his wings. Both men dropped down, dead.

            “You see?”

            And Ash did.

           

            Afterwards, Lance calmly disposed of the bodies, explaining that such assaults were common and usually occurred every few days.

            Then, he made Ash chocolate pudding and sent him to bed.

 

End Chapter

Completed 9/19/04