Created 7/5/04

Disclaimer: Pokemon belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. This is non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfiction written by me. Don’t take it, that’s plagiarism.

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

Lance = Catelyn and she is female despite incorrect pronouns

Fic Timeline – post Dragon’s Love, Shelter in the Storm,

Chapter 3

“Lance!” Ash said excitedly, seeing his hero who had saved his life almost twice. He ran over to him.

Misty and Brock followed.

“It’s nice to see you again.” Lance said smoothly, not an iota of wavering.

Heh, especially Ash, right?

Lance sent Dragonite another look as he adjusted his cuffs. “So tell me, why are you here?”

Ash smiled. “To see you?”

“Wrong answer, dear.” Lance said, smirking. “I bet Professor Oak sent you.”

Ash deflated slightly and nodded. * He’s probably still mad at me, since I bungled his work at Lake of Rage… *

It wasn’t a nice feeling.

Professor Quince made a respectful greeting, and then showed Lance into the room where the scrolls were kept.

They were written with draconic symbols, excellent.

Well, I’m not Dragon Master for nothing, of course I can read them.

That was the gist of what he said, and Quince took Misty and Brock to the field where he had unearthed these valuable artifacts, leaving Lance alone.

In the night, the chaos dragon wakes from dreamless slumber,

He forces the master of all dragon pokemon to show his true colors,

He forces the Chosen One to save his beloved from certain death,

Together the Dragon Master and Chosen One shall defeat him, yet…

Should strife and life tear the two asunder,

The world will fall, to eternal slumber. Death, come…

“Interesting.” Lance commented. * But is this the real scroll? It also seems to be missing a piece… *

Even if it were written with the proper symbols, was it even the right prophecy? Uncertainty.

It was very uncertain.

On his palms, the faint symbols of mastery in silver glowed, as did the symbol over his heart in gold.

Testing…

Well, it rang true enough, but still…

He turned to the next scroll as Ash walked in.

“Hello Ash.” Lance said without looking up.

“Nani? How did you know it was me?”

“Lucky guess.” Lance said simply, throwing the scroll aside. * That one was definitely false… *

“No, really, how did you know, Catelyn?”

“Dragon’s eyes see quite a bit, Ash.” He said, before he frowned. “And how did you know about that?”

“Lucky guess.” Ash grinned.

Lance scanned the room for danger, but found only Pikachu, as she was walking in to join them.

“So you found out.”

“Hai, Catelyn.”

“You’re supposed to call me Lance…” He said as he closed his eyes and scanned. No, no danger outside either.

For all intents and purposes, Misty and Brock were far away. Good.

The less they knew of his secret, the better…

“It fell down.”

Lance looked down and saw the charm bracelet on his wrist, shining brightly in the noonday sun. “Ah…”

“And I guessed since you use the same pokemon.”

“What can I say, I’ve always loved dragons.” Lance shrugged.

“It kind of clicked…” Ash said, blushing. “And they you were really nice to me at Lake of Rage…”

“Oh?” Lance smirked again as Ash waved his hands around fruitlessly, trying to convey a set of feathery muffled thoughts, before with one swift motion he had the boy pinned against the desk and kissed him.

Pikachu’s eyes popped out.

That’s not studying!

Lance pulled back for air a few minutes later, as Ash continued to stay tomato in skin tone.

“You seem surprised.”

Ash eeped and continued to stammer as Lance pushed the charm bracelet back behind his long sleeves for cover.

It wouldn’t do to have the others ask nosy questions about it. “By the way, Pikachu, where are the others?”

…They are still at the dig site with Professor Quince.

“Excellent.”
Pikachu flipped an ear in confusion, before Ash finally got over his abrupt shyness attack and glomped onto Lance tightly.

“Kirei.” Lance said, running fingers through Ash’s hair as he relished the closeness.

Pikachu wisely decided to keep an eye out for intruders. After all, it wouldn’t do for them to walk in.

All sorts of unpleasant hypothesis might be hatched…

A few minutes later, Misty was within view, so Pikachu gave a chirp of warning.

Ash reluctantly let go.

When Misty walked in, Ash was looking out the window while Lance was studying another scroll with focused meticulousness.

“How’s the studying going?”

“I’m not sure, they are conflicting prophecies.” Lance said. “Unfortunately, we don’t know if Team Rocket got true or false ones…”

Misty looked confused, while Lance just shook his head. “Did you need something?”

“Let’s go get dinner.”

“… All right.” Lance said after some consideration. He stood up, and they all walked into Professor Quince’s dining room.

Sandwiches and punch had been laid out, thankfully. Lance took two sandwiches, devoured them swiftly but without a mess, and then went back to work.

In that way he was able to avoid possibly trap-loaded conversation.

Still…

Misty’s advances were annoying as well.

Ash felt worried though, after all, Catelyn was his fiancée…

I won’t let anything happen to you here, I promise!

End Chapter

Completed 7/6/04