Well, if you think I’m sick and demented, kindly stop reading and get off my webpage!

Disclaimer: Pokemon belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. This non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfiction belongs to me under international copyright laws and taking it is plagiarism. Thank you. *Phantomness bows*

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

Chapter 8

He did not have Viridian’s Power. Lance was quite certain of that, but if he did not, then how… how could he link so closely to the other? What was so special about Red?

Aerodactyl’s eyes scanned the area, before he shook his head. < Nothing. >

< I thought so. It seems we must chase the legends all over Johto. >

< Will we be able to defeat the legends though? > Aerodactyl sounded worried. < If he has all of them… >

< I believe in our power. >

< I hope you’re right… >

Lance’s eyes glittered. < Besides… if Giovanni tried to turn the legendaries into glassy-eyed zombies, it would not be wise. >

< Yes. They would submerge and he would have nothing left but empty shells. Still, it is a cruel fate. >

< The world is cruel. >

Nothing more was said.

Meanwhile, Red and his Charizard circled over the Blackthorn region. Lance had refused to go there, so Red was keeping his eyes peeled just in case a legendary ran by – aha! There!

The Parasect in his arms let loose a barrage of spores. Red was not quite sure what attack it was using, but it mattered little. Raikou howled and tried to run, but its limbs froze up. Stun Spore then.

He took out an Ultra Ball and tossed it.

Raikou was caught!

Really, this was not so hard. He swooped down, clipped it onto his belt, and took his position up in the sky for future circling, giving the Parasect a hug. The Parasect grinned back.

They kept watch.

“Earth to Red…”

Red blinked. Lance was hovering behind him, an amused smile on his face, two Ultra Balls in hand.

“You caught them?”

“Yes.”

“You’re wonderful! I only got one.”

“I daresay it matters little. Giovanni will be pleased.”

Red nodded. Surely now, Giovanni would not mind giving back at least one of his pokémon. He wanted Poli. Poliwrath had been his first pokémon ever…

Would Poli hate him now?

Red wanted to cry but he was too old to cry, so he did not say anything. What if he was becoming cold inside?

He certainly felt cold, except that whenever Lance smiled, he felt better.

I don’t want to turn into an icicle!

Help me, please…

Lance and Red said nothing as they presented Giovanni with their catch. He gave them a smug smile, and said that they could have their pokémon back now. What good loyal rockets he had.

Lance and Red hid their true feelings, and nodded mutely.

Like dolls almost, Giovanni mused, as they walked out, perfectly in step. Like mechanical soldiers…

It was time. Red felt his pokémon purr in their poke balls under his hands. Lance would scan them to see if any damage was done, but that had to wait until their next assignment. It would not take long, he thought happily.

And Lance had his dragons back!

Everything would work out now.

Perhaps he was over-simplifying the way things were, but it mattered little. Lance smiled at him as they entered their quarters.

They had to take things slowly; otherwise their actions would give them away.

So Red carefully clipped his poke balls on, but did nothing else, and Lance did the same.

It was hard to act like they were just pokémon though, because they were alive! Even the Charizard and Parasect he had, it was hard not to get attached to them.

After all, hadn’t Parasect shown emotion? Or had Giovanni programmed that too?

He did not know for sure. He could not read pokemon’s minds like Lance could, and Lance would not display his power while they were being watched.

It was being cautious.

Giovanni watched as they fell on each other hungrily and snapped the monitor off. Honestly. They were excellent agents, but they were also nymphomaniacs to boot. He supposed that power corrupted.

Luckily, he himself had no such weaknesses!

Red could be rather attractive, he supposed, but his tastes did not run that way. He was honorable enough not to bed children.

Giovanni harrumphed and turned back to his paperwork.

“He’s gone.” Red whispered in Lance’s ear, as he flicked his tongue over the curve. Lance shuddered, and grinned. < Excellent. >

Red almost jumped. < W-What? >

This time, it was Lance’s turn to look surprised. < You can hear me? >

< I think so. >>

Lance shifted, and Red found himself cuddled against the other trainer, not that he minded one bit. < Well, that is an interesting development. >

< What do you mean? >

< I mean… you don’t have the Viridian Power. >

< I already know that! >

< And you aren’t one of my pokémon, so how can you speak to me? >

< I have no idea. >

Lance frowned as his fingers moved over the younger boy’s body. < We should research this, but there is little time to do so. >

< That’s okay. I don’t mind. We’ll have plenty of time to explore later. > Red promised, and Lance laughed.

< You’re so innocent, precious child… >

< Oh no, I don’t think so. You took that long ago. > Red shrugged. < But I think I like it better this way. >

And that was that.

End Chapter

Completed 6/25/06

At least I’m writing, hai? Yay for lemons!