Disclaimer: I really don’t own pokemon. It belongs to Nintendo, Shogakukan comics, etcetera. This is non-profit fanwork, no copyright infringement is intended, and I own my writing and ideas.
Notes: <> for telepathy, ** for thoughts, italics if a pokemon talks.
Emerald: *smiles* Yay! I finally get to inspire.
Phantomness: Yes, we do have a tidbit of humor in this section.
Lance: Finally! I’ve gone through so much angst in fics lately!
Ash: Well, I’ve had more…
Lance: And when did you become one of Phantomness’s muses?
Ash: Just now, I believe. She was going to use Hope but he’s too cheerful and Destiny is…
Lance: Say no more.
Phantomness: So I’ve kidnapped Ash as another muse. *cackles*
Ash: *sweatdrops*
Kairo: *eats another lollipop* No seriousness yet?
Phantomness: I’m working on it!
Shoyko: *sleeping* Looks like the poor dear had too much darkfic to narrate…
Chapter 7: Profiled Sketch
After much searching, Vivian could still not be found, so Ash ignored the badge idea temporarily.
Lance was peering out over the cliff with a pair of binoculars, searching for wild dragon pokemon, while Charlotte was sunbathing.
Yes, sunbathing, in the middle of a blizzard. In full winter gear!
“Will wonders never cease,” Ash remarked. He popped a bottle of peach-flavored soda open and took several healthy gulps.
“What? I like sunlight.”
“Never said anything.” Ash defended.
“Six Dratini, all healthy…” Lance said, putting down her binoculars. “So nothing I need to worry about yet.”
“Wouldn’t you know instantly?”
“Yes, I would be able to feel them as Dragon Master, but then I’d have to search.”
“…I don’t get it…”
“You will, in time.” Lance promised.
“Must be more guardian duties…”
Sure, being a guardian gave one a power boost, but you had so much to handle!
Ash put on another scarf, feeling slightly cold. At least he wasn’t a huge ball of clothing like Charlotte was. How could she breathe in that?
It was a _rhetorical_ question, of course.
The real answer was probably long, complicated, and involved chemical reactions dealing with combustion.
Ah, chemistry…
“HELP!”
Ash winced. “Please do not tell me that is a beautiful girl in distress.”
“Sorry.” Lance said, putting down her binoculars. “It is. And guess what? She has a Mew.”
“I knew it!” Ash sobbed.
“Now, now.” Lance said reassuringly, giving him a hug. “It’s just your luck to be popular with the ladies.”
“I never wanted it!”
“True… never mind though, I’ll- no, scratch that idea.”
Lance smoothed down her cloak and dark clothing. “She might fall for me.”
“But you’re a girl.”
“Can you tell when I’m wearing this?”
“Not really.”
“My point exactly.” Lance said. “Still, we shouldn’t just leave her there to die.” Even though she might be competition, a little voice needled?
Shut up. Lance mentioned, eyes flashing. * I’m not worried at all, I can always pull Attract. *
“If she has a Mew, why isn’t it saving her?”
“Beats me.”
“It could be a trap!” Ash announced at long last.
“Well, I’m not doing it.” Charlotte said, adding to the conversation. * Hn. If wearing boy’s clothing is so inconvenient, why does Lance bother? Oh well… *
Ash coughed.
Lance blinked. “Oh, am I hugging you too tightly?”
“N-no… I think she’s looking in our direction.”
“What?!”
Charlotte grabbed Lance’s binoculars. “That’s a camera!”
“It is?” Lance asked. “Bother.”
Her eyes flashed and then the mountain collapsed. One final cry was heard, and then silence.
“Pity Ditto’s just a copy.”
“Indeed.”
“So it wasn’t a Mew!” Ash said in some relief. “I was right! It was just a way to get me to go closer!”
“No, it wasn’t. Good deduction skills, little one.”
“I’m _not_ that little!”
After that, a few more days passed, where they waited. But still, Vivian did not show up. So, in the end, they left.
It was tiring, just waiting.
Guardians are usually not patient people. Then again, most people in the world are quite impatient.
So it’s not
that abnormal!
Still, why was Ash going after
the badges? Was it to prove something that was already proven? Well, the mind
of a child is strange.
Very strange…
Time went on. Sure, he gained the badges easily enough, but there was always something missing.
Was it an elusive goal? What was it? All he had to do was keep the peace as a Guardian, right? So why was he so wound up?
“Was it romance?”
Ash jumped.
Charlotte was talking to a thick book of classical novels. Why did she read them? He couldn’t care less. Oh well. That was absolutely none of his business.
“No! I bet it’s fake romance!”
Oh no, she’s going to rant again…
Ash and Lance left her while they went and purchased some drinks and French fries. Thank Lugia for hamburger stands everywhere. Besides, Charlotte was snapped, in her own unique way. Why deny her some peace?
Everyone wants some quiet time eventually.
Pikachu chirped.
“Hungry, Pika-chan?” Ash said, as the disguise melted away.
“You bet!” The guardian said, enthusiastically helping herself to his milkshake and fries.
Ash chuckled.
“I don’t want revenge on Misty.”
“You said that already…”
“Well, it’s like what you said, true and false strength.”
“So now you are just looking to the future and seeing the stars?”
Ash nodded.
“You may meet her again.”
“I don’t care. She has what she want, and well…” Ash paused as he looked at Lance. “I have what I want.”
“And what brought up this change of heart?”
“I don’t know, it’s just been evolving.” Ash said. “And now, I’m finally old enough to accept it.”
“Truly?”
“Truly, really, clearly, and without holding back.”
Lance smiled before she kissed him. “Well then, if the future waits, let’s build it.”
The future stretched before them as a blank page and still endless. Yes, they would find out how things went.
Serebii’s games were past, and it was time to move on.
They all had burdens to lie down, and things to pass. It was time.
It was time.
Time rang the clarion call, as the final barrier crumpled, and time went on.
Do you know why weeds endure?
It is because their roots grow deep, and thus, even though the tender stem and leaves are torn asunder, they can start over.
They bear no malice to their lot in life, and continue growing. Thus, they endure when the stubborn oaks are chopped down and left dead.
For the way of the crawling weed, the Dandelion, even, insignificant as it may seem, is the way of the Chosen that is to be walked in such a manner.
Try, fail, and try again. You will fly on the wings of power in the end. Anger and revenge will only tear you apart, and it’s always harder to put the pieces back together. But learning to start newly, without burdens of the past…
That is true renaissance. And dandelions will grow forever.
End Chapter
Vague? Sorry! Well, that’s the end of this fic! ^-^
Created 2/29/04, completed 5/1/04