Another chapter! *Beams* Yay Championshipping~!

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 9

 

            He lost count of the days he had lain here. There were Rattatas at night, but they didn’t bother him very much, and in any case, they kept a respectful distance from him. One night, one asked him if there was anything he wanted.

            Lance frowned. “Can you take a message?” He asked.

            Yes! That would be simple to do! Is it far?

            “No.” He said softly. “Not far enough.”

            The rat sat back on its haunches and stared at him. Are you going to write it?

            Lance laughed, as he lifted his hands, and the rat pokémon flinched.

            How cruel!

            “I’m currently unable to do so.” The Dragon Master said. “But tell him this – tell one of his pokémon, not the Pikachu.”

            Rattata nodded.

            “Tell him that,” Lance hesitated, “To keep my dragons safe, if they seek him.”

            I will. The Rattata promised. Is it the boy in Pallet Town with the red eyes?

            “You are sharp.”

            We hear many things in the walls. The pokemon said, and scampered off. Lance closed his eyes, and felt Viridian’s Power pool in his fingertips.

            No. He could not risk it. His powers were limited, and they didn’t work very well on humans…

            Besides, if he healed himself, they would just break him again, so really… it was much better to suffer in silence.

            Lugia…

            … When will it end?

 

            Red was quite surprised to find a Rattata waiting on his front step, chatting amiably with Vee. Rattatas were very common pokémon, but this one seemed to be waiting for him?

            The Rattata squeaked for a few minutes, and then Vee turned to him. < Master Red? >

            He was still surprised – upon evolution into Espeon, Vee had lost the ability to shift between stages, but it was better this way. Now there was no pain from Team Rocket’s forced transformations…

            “Oh, what is it, Vee?”

            < This Rattata brought a message for you. >

            Red blinked, twice. Although pokemon were often used as mail carriers, especially Pidgeots, this was unexpected. He had not expected any unusual forms of mail. “Who’s it from?”

            Please don’t be another challenge letter…

 

            < Master Lance. > Vee said. < He says to please protect his dragons, if they come back. > That wasn’t exactly what Lance had said, but Red got the gist of it as he frowned.

            There had been no news ever since Lance’s capture almost a week ago. At least he wasn’t dead.

            The Rattata squeaked. I have delivered my message. With that, it ran off into the tall grass. Vee and Red watched it leave.

            “I see…” Red said slowly. That was unexpected, but he’d heard it before, hadn’t he? When Lance…

           

            When Lance had kissed him, and everything that had followed. No! He would not think of that!

            There was nothing between them! Nothing!

            He didn’t even like Lance, really!

            Vee said nothing, lost in his own thoughts. Without another word, he returned to the house, and went to sleep.

            Red shook his head. Whatever happened to Lance was none of his business! After all, Lance had … hurt… pokémon, and that was unforgivable!

            He opened the door and let himself in, fixed himself a frozen chicken pot pie, and tried very hard not to remember.

 

            “You know, if you don’t cooperate, we have other… methods.” The man in charge of him said.

            Lance ignored him. It was always the same. He went limp as rough hands grabbed him, pushed him down, and forced his legs apart.

            It would be quick. It would be clean. His pokemon were safe now, and he had no regrets. So easy to do, all he had to do was keep his mouth closed, position his teeth correctly, and it would all be over…

            No more pain. What did this world need him for anyway?

           

            They’re hurting him… The fossil dragon trembled. They’re going to kill him…

            Aeroy put a wing around the other Aerodactyl sympathetically. The wilds outside Pallet provided plenty of game for both, so there had never been any competition.

            Lance’s Aerodactyl shivered. I … cannot let this happen…

            But the humans! They will see you!

            I do not care! My Master is about to die! Would you leave your Master to suffer?

            Well no, but…

            Ptera shrieked, taking to the skies in the direction of Viridian’s police station. I will not let him die!

 

            Aeroy contemplated following, but decided that perhaps he should tell Red this. It took no more than a few minutes to reach the house, and upon entry, he quickly relayed the information to Vee, who translated.

            Red stared at Aeroy, aghast. “They’re going to kill him?”

            Apparently. Aeroy shrugged.

            “We can’t let that happen!” Red didn’t think that Lance deserved to die, sure, some time in jail was probably a fair punishment, but… dying?

            No way!

            “Come on, Vee! Teleport!” Red commanded. Espeon rolled his eyes but obliged. If only Master would hurry up and understand his feelings!

            Then things would be simpler…

 

            They appeared in a burst of blue light, startling the guards in the room. Red gaped at the scene, before he reacted. A quick Disable attack froze the men in their tracks, as he rushed to the Dragon Master’s side and ordered another Teleport.

            Espeon calmly took them to the farthest place he could think of, Which happened to be Seafoam, deciding that home was probably not safe, as Red stared at Lance, horrified. His eyes traced over the multitude of injuries, wincing, as he tried to figure out what to do.

            Ptera licked his Master’s cheek, trying to wake him. He had managed to Hyper Beam the disgusting human, who dared hurt his Master, and he’d wanted to kill the others but then Red had come and interrupted him.

            Well, it was no matter. Master would be safe now, wouldn’t he? He nudged Master again, wanting him to wake.

            But Master wouldn’t open his eyes!

            Red shook the older teen, trying to get a response, but there was none.

            Was he … dead?

 

End Chapter

Completed 12/11/06

Why do the bunnies bite right before finals? And I have no explanation for how Aerodactyl knows Lance is hurt. ^_^() Oops. Well, Lance is a bit telepathic, right? So maybe his emotions would leak…