Another chapter

Disclaimer: I don’t own pokemon, as it belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. This is non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfiction written by me. I own it under international copyright laws…

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

Chapter 6

A week passed.

Then, they returned to Quince’s lab.

Lance held the Chaos Dragon in his arms.

“It’s so cute!” Misty squealed, and tried to hug it. The dragon shied away from her immediately, sharp teeth extending to bite and claws to claw.

Lance shook his head sharply as he walked back a few steps. < Calm down, little one… >

< Dark! Evil! Make her leave! >

< I will try my best, little one; do not worry. >

Ash did look worried though.

What if Misty wanted it? Already one pokemon was clutched in her greedy fingers, baby turned spoiled brat.

Togepi.

Lance’s eyes narrowed mere slits, and then… ice? Flames? Magic? Well, it was certainly something.

A stuck pig noise ran through the air.

Misty was fried!

Well, more than fried. Perhaps burned was a better word.

Lance casually brushed a spray of dust off his outfit and smirked.

The Chaos Dragon smiled and rustled his scales cheerfully.

Ah, the Dragon Master took good care of him.

That was good.

He should repay him…

He had seen the way the Dragon Master looked at the Chosen One…

How cute!
They would make a good couple, wielding darkness and light respectively…

Ash blushed as Lance handed him the Chaos Dragon.

“So, it went well? That’s it.”

“It’s still a baby.” Lance explained. “Chaos dragons are not dangerous until they grow older and absorb the evil of the world.”

“Huh?”

“Never mind…”

“The trick is to keep them that way.” Lance said. < Come, little one. We are going to visit Lugia-san. >

They vanished.

Ash blinked.

Lugia was pleased and said he’d take good care of the Chaos Dragon.

< You did well, Chosen. >

< I only do my duty Lugia-san, for the world and for love. >

< Love… yes, does he know? >

< He knows not of the past but he loves me yet. How strange. >

< It’s not that strange, feelings tend not to change…. >

< What of Missingno? >

< Flukes, those are, flukes. >

< Hai, Lugia-san. > Lance said. < I shall leave you then. >

He focused and the silver armor he wore vanished, leaving him in his black bodysuit.

Time to go back…

Lance reappeared in a brilliant flash of sapphire-streaked agony. Well, it was agony for Misty since she got flattened.

Lance brushed himself off, smiled. “Finished.”

“Honestly?”

“I wouldn’t lie to you,” the unspoken ‘I don’t mind lying to _them_’ was there, but muted.

Ash smiled back, seeing truth shine at him in gold. “Hai.”

He trusted Lance, no Catelyn, but honestly, did it even matter since they were technically the same person?

No.

Besides, he loved her.

Loved her.

That was all that really mattered, he decided, when she hugged him. He heard Brock’s choked cry and Misty’s scream, but he didn’t care.

“Aishiteru.”

Hadn’t they already proved it? Just by being together, they glowed and spun and danced like stars in a web of night. They wouldn’t fall!

They were Chosen.

Chosen one and Chosen Dragon Master and chosen do not fail. No, they don’t fail and fall and crumble, they fly onwards no matter the cost.

Always.

So much had happened in a week…

**************************Flashback Mode********************************

“So what else happened?”

“Well, I did take the test for Dragon’s Mastery.”

“Was it hard?”

Lance chuckled. “Of course it would be.” He had shed the skirt and blouse he had worn on the first day, preferring his comfortable black outfit.

“I see…”

“I’ll show you what it’s like then, a little bit.”

His eyes clouded over as he toppled into her mind, maybe into her very being.

Black sparkled on red and white and glittered.

With a snarl, Lance stood up, as his Aerodactyl looked around worriedly. Who knew when the next batch of arrows would come shooting in?

Master Lance…

“Do not worry.”

But…

Lance’s eyes glowed pure gold for a second before a shield went up around them, bullets ricocheting off with a *clang*

I never thought Lugia would resort to these methods.

We have already beaten the elements once though…

< True. >

Lance’s eyes flared brighter as the shield absorbed all the bullets, melting them into particles.

There, that was Alchemy at its best. A useful skill he had picked up…

In an instant, the energy heated, broke into snarls and whorls of substance and destroyed the cave they were in.

A shocked-looking Lugia emerged.

< Well, Chosen, you have passed… >

< Hai, Lugia-san. >

< Are you annoyed with me? >

< Not that much. >

< I see… >

< Do not worry, Lugia-san, I do not lose my temper that easily… >

< That is well, Chosen. Accept my blessing then… >

And the familiar gold shone over his heart, but to his surprise silver circles of alchemy were added on his hands.

< There, an upgrade if you will. >

Lugia’s soft laughter still rang in his head before he vanished.

“Sugoi…”

“Well, that’s part of it.” Lance said, crossing his legs as he leaned back against a convenient boulder.

Ash blushed and looked away. Still…

He knew Lance was actually a girl and his fiancée, but still…

“You’re cute.”

“I know.”

“I mean cute as a boy.” Ash struggled to get the words out.

“Oh?” Lance gave him a coy look, as Ash blushed even more. “You’re so cute when you’re flustered.”

“Lance!”

“Just playing.” Lance grinned.

“Oh…”

“Get some rest, it’s getting late.” Lance advised with a glance at the star-strewn sky. He stood up, unfastened his cape, and then walked into his tent.

Ash nodded and went to bed as well, asleep before his head hit the sleeping bag.

******************End Flashback***************************************

Completed 7/7/04