I think this is the last chapter

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

 

            “Lance?”

            His friend was spending a lot of time staring off into space. It wasn’t good for him. Lance turned to face Ash, as his name was called, almost sleepwalking, a dazed expression on his face.

            “I suppose I should tell you….”

            “Hmm?”

            He hesitated for a second, and then the sleeves were rolled up, off his arms, revealing pale skin married with pink, burned, horrible scars…

            Ash gasped. “How did this happen?”

            “I got attacked by... fire once.” That was enough.

            “A fire pokemon? Oh Lance, I never knew! Is this the reason why you don’t train pokemon?”

            “No, not really, at least I don’t think so… my… home was burned down.” It's a half lie. When they burned me, they burned everything of humanity I would ever wish.

            That’s why I couldn’t heal myself of these scars. These horrible scars…

            “Does it hurt?”

            “It doesn’t hurt anymore. All the nerves are dead.”

            “Oh…”

            “Don’t worry about me. I dealt with the pain a long time ago.”

            “But you seem so distant…”

            “I keep hearing things – it doesn’t make any sense. I don’t have psychic powers last time I checked-.” * All I have is… I can breathe underwater, and I can fly, but that’s all I got, which isn’t much… everything else is locked… I feel so worthless… *

            “Lance, I wish I could help…”

            “I don’t think you can, Ash…” Nothing can save me now… I’m immortal, but there’s nothing I can do…

            Ash watched as Lance walked out the front door.  He followed. He watched as Lance walked down to the beach – Pallet was on the ocean, after all, and…

            Lance was walking into the water! This did not look good!

            He ran after him but something weird was going on, because in a second, they were underwater but they weren’t drowning or choking and that just wasn’t physically possible!
            Then they were in a room made out of sparkly crystal and there was a man there, with white hair and blue eyes…

            Ash didn’t recognize him.

            Lance did – it was instinctive.

 

            “Father?”

            < Oh child, you’ve suffered in this life so much, and you don’t even remember… my poor child…>

            “I can’t do anything, father. I couldn’t even become a dragon like I thought I could. I feel so worthless!”

            Poor child, poor, poor child…

            Lugia hugged Lance – Ash watched, thinking he shouldn’t interrupt, and closed his eyes….

            < I’ll protect you from now on, don’t you worry… >

            “But what about Ash?”

            < He’ll be safe here too. Trust me. >

            “All right….”

 

            And before they knew what was happening, two cocoons had woven around their still forms – one yellow, one blue, and really, it wasn’t hard to put them into Sleep of Death…

            They’d remember in time, but for now, they could rest. At least they hadn’t screwed anything up this time…

            The timeline was still safe, so Serebii ought to be happy. That was all that was left… nothing else would come of letting them flounder around.

            Besides, their love was safe too.

 

End Fic

Completed 8/4/05

Not much romance in this fic

Contacts making eyes bloodshot… should I switch to soft contacts? But my eyes are tiny…