I think the plotbunny is dying. Oh dear. *Sighs*

Disclaimer: Do not own, you do not sue nor steal what I have come up with. Understood?

Notes: <> for telepathy, ** for thoughts, italics for pokemon talking.

Chapter 7: Secrets still kept

Ash stroked Lance’s head softly as he watched another girl’s pokemon faint. It was three battle trials later, and he was still doing fine. Skarmory was whipping the tar out of Linoone, and had already finished off the Shuckle and Graveler.

Gary wasn’t doing too badly himself, Arcanine flaming a Lombre. Umbreon had already KO’d a Gardevoir and was preening.

Oak had still not returned. Ash suspected he was still stuck in the Primeape Mountains. Maybe he wouldn’t come out alive.

One can hope. Lance purred.

True…

Soon, they would be ready.

Of course we’ll make a few exceptions. Lance told him. But most of the pokemon will go home to the dream realm. It’s where they belong, after all.

Ash nodded. Gary’s not bad…

I know. He can keep his.

Gary waved to Ash, who waved back with a grin.

I love shadow and dark and light, all of them…

True. That’s what is so perfect about you.

Black light surrounded Ash for a second, but only Lance noticed.

“Yes…”

I can kill him for you, Ash. I could do it very quickly and efficiently.

Oh, I know that. Ash smiled. Why not? My match is not until tomorrow, and we shall decide the champions soon.

Lance uncurled herself from around his waist and flew off.

Meanwhile…

Oak hacked through the underbrush with his Tangela, cursing venomously.

“Hello.” Lance said, dropping down in front of him. Her white scales gleamed with dark light.

“You!” Oak spat. “What do you want!”

“You tried to kill me, it’s only fair that I return the favor.” Lance replied. Extending her hands, silver claws slid from her scaled arms.

“Goodbye, Professor.” She crooned sweetly as she used the blades on the back of her wrists to disembowel him.

Not a splash of blood marred her skin, and with a content smile she flew off again.

Ash was waiting.

“It worked?”

Lance smiled as he stroked her neck. Hai…

“Excellent.”

Lance nodded and wound herself around his body again, waiting. She closed her eyes and purred as he brushed out her shiny scales.

Not one smidgen of imperfection.

Perfect. It was, of course.

Ash savored the rare moment of peace. Soon, the duties as guardian would come crowding thick and fast, and he was tired.

Strange.

Very strange, he mused, as he petted her kawaii little horns.

There were so many shadows in their eyes that the light there seemed fake… especially in hers. But he knew it to be true.

Sometimes, reality really depended on your point of view.

She was singing softly now, a tune of a lifetime ago, twisting the best parts and bits of the story together into a shimmery tapestry of music.

Ash snuggled into her warm embrace as he sleepily rubbed his eyes.

< Did you get any sleep? >

< Just tired… >
< You should be. Get some rest; I’ll keep watch. >
There was no arguing with that tone, slightly sharp even in the head. Ash obligingly closed his eyes and let his mind slip into the realm of dreams.

He wasn’t going to waste energy arguing.

About six days passed there before she called him out again. But in the real world, almost no time at all

After all, the guardians could control these things.

One high point of power that came with duty…

Ash smiled.

Trade offs. There had to be a balance in there. Otherwise, the prophecy would be completely unfair. Interesting to note that even in what seemed the bleakest winter, there was still hope.

He was hope, after all.

He could wait. Unlike the others, he had time. All the time in the world…

They would defeat this evil.

And then, everything would be all right, he reasoned, as a child.

End Chapter!

I regret to say this is the end of the fic… my bunny died a chapter ago. You can bug me for related fics if you want. No guarantee though.