Hi! *Waves*

Disclaimer: I do not own pokemon. It belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. This is non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfic written by me and I own it.

Notes: <> for telepathy, ** for thoughts, italics if a pokemon talks

Totally non-canon, kind of Lance-centric at this point…

Fic Timeline: This is also post- ‘Only as Dark’ and possibly any other series where Lance is Lugia’s child.

Chapter 2

It was pathetic.

The trained Charizard, Venusaur, and Blastoise… they all lost to Mewtwo’s clones. It was when Mewtwo announced he would claim their pokemon as his that he snapped back.

“I don’t think so.”

< You dare defy me, human? > Mewtwo rumbled.

“Why should I allow you to take my pokemon? I did not battle you.”

< You cannot defeat me in any case. > Mewtwo laughed. < Try if you wish. >

“Well now, that would be unfair. I’ll battle you myself.”

“Are you crazy?” Misty yelled.

“After what you’ve seen him do?”
Lance smirked as he took off his sunglasses and tossed the exceedingly ugly gray cape he had been wearing off, ignoring the startled gasps. On his wrists shimmered Lugia’s silver-steel bracelets, and over his chest, the white stone between steel dragon’s wings flanked.

He _was_ Lugia’s Chosen.

“Lance, what are you doing here?” Brock managed to gasp out.

“He sent an invitation to the Elite Four.” Lance replied. “What _I_ want to know is why you two are not at your gyms.”

“Now isn’t the time!” Misty said desperately.

Ash stared at Lance in disbelief. This couldn’t be happening! It was only a dream…

He’d die if he fought Mewtwo!

I…

“No, you can’t!”

Mewtwo shook his head. < Well, at least death will save you from seeing what lies afterwards. >

“Well, I suppose we should begin.” Lance said. He unbelted his poke balls and released his dragon-types. < Fly away. Now. >

We will. Kairyuu spoke for the rest. We shall await you in your father’s home.

With that, all five dragons took off.

“He’s insane.” Fergus muttered.

“Lance!” Ash cried. “Don’t do this!”

“You cannot stop me. No one can.”

It was not only a battle – oh, anyone could do that, but…

It did not matter.

He had promised his father. He would not fail. If he died, that was only life given in the course of duty.

He smiled as his wings appeared, unfurling themselves in a beautiful arc of knife-edged steel. < I’m ready when you are, Mewtwo> >

Mewtwo looked slightly shocked, it hadn’t thought he was psychic, but no matter.

Instantly, the battle was joined as psybeams flew everywhere. Lance kept his eyes closed as he dodged, which was not too difficult, and waited.

Mewtwo expended more than plenty of energy trying to hit him… but somehow, could not.

< Lance. >

< Lugia-san. > Lance acknowledged, golden eyes ablaze as he countered a Disable attack with Barrier.

< Take care, my Chosen. >

Lance did not bother replying as he twisted his body sideways, avoiding another Psychic blast, before Hyper Beams streaked towards Mewtwo, quite a lot of them as well. He watched as Mewtwo shielded, then smiled…

Dragon master can control the weather, can he not?

He split his conscious, as the storm clouds hid their vengeance, continuing to fight. It wasn’t that hard…

But then, he had more knowledge than this Mewtwo.

Newly created and knowing only vengeance and manipulation, ah, there were always ways around that…

Nurse Joy knew nothing of all the ancient pokemon secrets.

Mewtwo was taken aback when huge lightning bolts and icicle spikes came shooting out of the sky at him, he couldn’t possibly dodge them all.

< What trickery is this?! >

< No trickery, dragons can naturally control the weather. > Lance sent back, smiling.

He kept smiling even as Mewtwo caught him across the chest with a Slash attack and he went falling.

“Lance!” Ash cried, feeling worried… more than worried. Something hovered on the edge of his mind, warning death if Lance died… what?

Impossible!
What was it?

Something was desperately wrong, he could feel it but he had no idea _why_… unless… unless…

In the back of his mind, something clicked.

Of course! That would make perfect sense, would it not?

Still…

He let himself fall as Mewtwo laughed. < Such a foolish human. It was fun playing with you though. >

Dipped fingers in blood, drew the circle… now…

< You forgot one thing Mewtwo, > He said, before he let himself fall into unconsciousness. < By the power of the Dragon’s blood unwillingly shed, activate Chain Destruction! >

It was such a pity he would not be awake to see it.

Ash stared in awe as Mewtwo seemed to shrink in on himself, before vanishing. What the?

Still, first things first! He quickly ran over to the fallen Champion, wondering why in the universe he even _cared_…

Blood continued to ooze out slowly in a steady stream.

“Don’t die… you can’t die…” He whispered, even though he didn’t know what he could do to stop it. To his surprise, as his tears fell, the wounds slowly closed up and…

And…

With a gasp, he realized that he did know, to some small extent.

It was quite a clever trick.

When Ice fell, Thunder had to reign. But Thunder never kept his memories. Therefore, it would be an instant wash of remembrance, a flood…

Right now there were only a few trickles, but that was fine.

< Lance-chan? >

There was no answer. Still, it made sense. It wasn’t Sleep of Death, luckily, but that still had to hurt very badly…

He came out of his reverie when Misty and Brock asked if he was all right.

End Chapter

Completed 7/14/04