^_^ *waves hi*

Chapter 2: Follow

Ash gulped as the huge lightning bird fixed an eye on him. * EEK! What am I going to do now? *

He frowned. * Not good… *

“Pikachu, get ready to attack!”

Pikachu shook his head. I don’t think Zapdos wants to attack.

“What?”

True. Charizard added. Let’s see what it wants.

They flew down, landing next to the bird.

< I see you have awakened, Chosen. > A voice said inside Ash’s head. Ash jumped.

“Who’s talking to me?”

< Me, of course. >

Ash looked around, until Charizard coughed and pointed at Zapdos.

“You?”
< Yes, my Chosen. Little brother, are you safe? >
< ….>

Ash was stunned speechless. * What? *

< Oh dear… > Zapdos muttered. * I guess he didn’t have his memories when he was dragged here. I mean, the poor kid is only twelve in human years… oh dear… *

< I’m confused. >

< You spoke in telepathy! So that means at least some of the powers absorbed. > Zapdos said.

< What? >
That was when Lance and Articuno swooped down next to them.

“We got rid of them, Zapdos-san.” Lance said formally.

< Oh, quit the –san. Besides, you’re part of the family. >

< I shall be returning to the League now, if there is nothing else needed. >

< Wait. >

Lance turned, looking at Zapdos with a strange expression on her face. * Hmm? *

< I need you to take care of him. >

That was when Ash and Charizard and Pikachu all peered sheepishly from behind the bush they had all dove in when another legendary bird and a strange flying person had appeared.

Lance willed her wings away. < Why? >

< Lawrence III unlocked his power earlier, by trying to activate the Shamouti Island key and summon Lugia. But without his memories, and with the prophecy, it could be dangerous. He might wind up abusing that power. >

< True… how did it happen? >
< Chosen calls to Chosen, yes? >
< Ah… >

< You see? >
< I think I do. > Lance resisted the urge to sigh. * Very well… I’ll take care of him again. Maybe it will be nice. *

< Then this will just take a minute. >

Ash stared as Zapdos’s eyes glowed yellow and he was bathed in light. The next second, he felt warmth running through his body.

< Magic transfer, Chosen bond completed. > Zapdos looked at Ash. < Go with her. >

< Why? >
< The future. > Zapdos would not clarify, but Ash decided not to disobey and risk getting fried, so he walked up to Lance, Pikachu and Charizard following.

Lance whistled, as two Dragonair flew down. < Let’s go. >

Lugia, Ho-oh, and Serebii watched from their respective areas.

They all made the same wish.

Let the two Chosen grow in power to protect this realm…

Two hours later…

Ash looked at the two-story log cabin perched on an island and whistled. “Wow.”

“Like it?” Lance asked. “That’s home now.”

“What about mom?”
“You can contact her, let her know you are all right.” Lance said.

‘My friends?”
Here, the Dragon Master winced. “Well… that’s harder.”

“What do you mean?”
“Do you know what happened today?”

“Not really… I mean, I just felt a tugging, so I went to the islands, I didn’t even know where I was going, and suddenly I had all these weird powers, and…”

“And you’ve just become a very important key in the fate of the world.”

Ash blinked. “ME?”

“Yes, you… ah, little one, there is so much to learn, so little time. But we will begin now.”

It began to drizzle lightly, and ash quickly ran inside the house, to escape the freak weather.

Lance shot Dragonair a grateful look, before she followed him inside.

It would work.

She would make sure he would not think of his friends.

The next day, their training began…

“Lapras!”

“Dark Lapras.’ Lance countered, as the card flared to life in front of her. “Attack.”

Ash winced as his own Lapras card was defeated.

“You have to be careful, Ash. Sometimes, shadow, light, dark, and magic-types have an advantage.”

“Oh…”

“But don’t’ worry, you only re-learned how to call up the cards today. I don’t want to strain you yet. So just summon one normal pokemon at a time.”

“O-okay…”

Ash took a break and bit into one of the yummy chocolate-chip cookies Lance had made.

It wasn’t his mom’s food, but it was still pretty good.

Lance had let him sleep a bit later, and then woken him up with a nutritious breakfast, before teaching him how to summon.

It was shaky, and the cards only lasted a few seconds to a minute, but he was trying.

Wasn’t that what counted?

End Chapter