Well, another chapter… I will try to be nice to Misty in this fic, really. *Bows*

Chapter 8: Parachute

Misty reappeared a few hours later, looking slightly dusty but otherwise fine.

“Maybe you’d better not challenge me yet.” Lance told her from the hotel balcony.

Misty idly wondered if there was anything going on between Lance and Ash, but knocked the thought out of her head.

It was probably just teacher-student admiration.

Ash poked his head out. “Lance-chan, I made spaghetti.”

“I hope its edible.” Lance teased, as Ash pouted.

“I taste-tested it! Don’t worry.”
“Well then, let’s try.”

The two walked inside. Misty rented a room for the night at the front desk. After all, it wasn’t Cerulean City so she couldn’t crash at home.

Her sisters probably would not appreciate it either.

Not that Misty cared much. All three of them were airheads who thought of nothing but makeup and water ballet and the adoring male fans they had.

She was the only one who was trying to get better. That was why she wanted to be a water master.

Was it so hard to understand?

Yes, she had been able to focus after Ash had gone, but it had been somewhat boring. Learning on ones own is not nearly as fun as having another person experience it with you.

She wasn’t jealous, though.

Maybe Lorelei could give her some pointers if she lost… again.

Lance was powerful, that was for sure. And those claws… yikes.

Maybe you grew extra parts if you became a dragon master? Then she was glad she hadn’t chosen that.

Brock was nice though, and Gary seemed to have the arrogance drained out of him. Staying with Koga sure did him good.

However, Misty wasn’t sure if she liked either of them in a more-than-friends way. They were just…friends.

Ash, on the other hand…

They had been kids though, so she couldn’t count it as love. And they had argued, certainly, but over time, it had developed into a more playful bantering.

At least she didn’t mallet him anymore.

Wasn’t that a good thing?

“Lance-chan? Is it good?”

Lance paused in her eating and nodded. “It’s certainly an improvement.”
“Yay!”
Ash’s eyes sparkled happily as the two quickly finished the meal. The pokemon polished off the leftovers.

It was a good thing having cards after all.

“I didn’t cheat against Misty, if you’re annoyed that she lost.” Lance said, noticing Ash’s silence.

“Oh! No, it wasn’t that.” Ash paused. “Don’t they hurt?”

“No.”

Ash nodded, as Lance stretched.

So many hidden weapons…

“Nandeska?”

“Lance-chan… there’s a mouse!”
Lance blinked as Ash jumped behind her.

A blue rattata sat on the bed, chewing on the wood.

“Great.” Lance said. “Some weird mutation of a magic-type, and it probably has babies too.”

“What am I going to do?”

“This reminds me of a situation we encountered in the past.” Lance mused.

“Yes, but then we got a suite.”

“Well, you want to complain? Or, should we just leave it alone?”
“You take the bed. We still have our sleeping bags. I’ll be fine.”

“Well, all right.”

They both slept well until 2 A.M. when Misty ran into the room. “Ash! Wake up!”

Ash blinked, trying to get the fog away from his mind. “Huh?”

“There’s an earthquake!”

Ash jumped onto the bed where Lance was still asleep. “Lance-chan!” With another hand, he pulled out a poke ball and released Sandslash.

“Sandslash, could you stop this?”

Of course…

The pokemon dove into the ground to begin his duty.

After all, digging was fun.

Lance woke up and the two quickly escaped via flying pokemon. Misty surfed behind on Starmie.

The hotel collapsed.

“I hope Brock and Gary made it out too. I woke them up first.”
“Brock’s a rock master, he should be fine, while Gary has speed on his side.”

“True.” Misty said, before doing a double take as she looked at Lance. “Nani?!”

Lance blinked, before realizing that she was only wearing her Dratini-print pajamas and those did not disguise her figure.

“Kuso!”

“Don’t worry, Lance-chan, Misty won’t tell.” Ash reassured her, as Lance’s clothes shifted into the black she normally wore, hiding all evidence.

Misty stared at Lance. “You’re a girl.”

“Yes.”

“So why are you dressing like a boy?”
“Long story that I don’t have time to tell now since Brock and Gary are coming over.” Lance said helpfully.

“Well, I’ll get it out someday.” Misty said. * Now life is interesting. Lance is a girl? I never would have guessed. Well, if that’s her choice, it’s not my place to pry. Personal feelings and everything… *

Brock and Gary were quite glad that nobody had been harmed in the incident, so they didn’t press any awkward questions.

Ash and Lance sat in the tent, in each other’s arms.

“Lance-chan? I feel the storm on the horizon.”

“As do I.” Lance said, as she kissed him on the forehead. “We had best be careful.”

“Hai… duty calls.”

“And as Chosen, we rise to it.”

End Chapter