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Disclaimer: Don’t own pokemon, okay?

Notes: <> for telepathy, ** for personal thoughts, and italics if a pokemon talks. Of course, references to other fics, so look for them. ^-^

Timeline: 4 months

Chapter 4: Open Pathways

Coffee

Ash watched as Gary’s Blastoise wiped out another junior trainer. He smiled. * Good for him… *

Smoke

The plateau had a sprinkler system, but it had obviously been shut down during that terrorist attack.

Insider information… there was a spy in their midst.

Lance was out of the question, as Ash knew that it wasn’t him. Besides, concerning those particulars… dragons can’t cry.

Tears… a sign of sorrow. At the same time, only a few drops of saltwater had done them in.

A crying spy, hmm?

So not only devious, but he… or she… was someone with access to the Plateau. Was it the janitor?

Mayhap it was the cleanup crew?

The Nurse Joy?

None of it made sense in any way, shape or form.

Ash huddled underneath the thick woolen blanket. It was snowing, early in the year, but snowflakes, fat and lumpy, fell nonetheless.

Who would plant the detonators and set them off so callously?

Lucky Agatha had teleported them all out.

Was it really lucky?

The flames crackled, but fewer in number they grew as the dragons and the ice and the water stifled them.

Sulfurous clouds of gas rose into the air.

There was more damage to the environment, willingly done. Perhaps insurance would cover the monetary cost, but…

What about the planet?

Lance vanished.

Ribbons of blue and blood red and black of the night skies, clashed with the spotless white and silver of the sea…

But to be a dragon you had to cross through the air and the sea, and sometimes through the land, to live.

His eyes closed.

The Call came, and was answered. Lugia studied his Chosen, waiting.

< You are unharmed? >

< Yes. >

< I want the truth. >

Golden eyes, flecked, studying… they studied. < Truth? I did not commit this heinous act, Lugia-san. You know. >

< Of course I know. You are mine, Chosen. Your thoughts… I can read them as I please. >

< Then why do you ask? >

< You amuse me. >

Chuckles. < Yes, for the Dragon Master dances the threads of life for the Guardian, the Dragon of the Sea and the Dragon of the Air. Yet the Dragon of the Air sleeps forever. >

< And the Dragon of the Seas calls. >

< So I will answer. >

< You stopped him from going to Mewtwo. Why? It could have been your own death. >

< Perhaps there is enough blood… I have killed for you before, you know. >

< No, no, Chosen. > Lugia shook his head. * That’s not it… don’t tell me… wait… *

He took a careful look.

Carefully blank eyes met his again, and if Lugia could have jumped back, despite being a dignified giant white bird-dragon thing with spikes…

He would have.

< SEREBII! What the hell have you done to my Chosen?! DAMN YOU! >

There was no reply.

Lugia started to seethe. * I cannot believe that bastard bird-brained freak miniature pixie of nature, wiped my Chosen’s memories! No wonder he’s acting so OOC! *

It was hard not to self-deform at the unfairness of it all.

Lance blinked. < Lugia-san? >

< Don’t worry, Chosen. If I confuse you I apologize. >

< … Hai. >

Lugia mercifully sent Lance home after that exchange, while scheming his own devices. * Of all the rotten luck… maybe I’ll have to contact Honou for help now. *

He sighed. * More schemes… he won’t like them, but I don’t want a depressed Chosen! That always screws up things. *

It was time to plot.

Hopefully, they could fix the problem before it became a problem.

Lance returned to find Ash still training. Gary was… on a date with Lorelei? Interesting.

He didn’t know Lorelei was interested in younger men.

Still… if that was the case, he would have Ash to himself – WHAT?! Where did that random thought come from?

Lance coughed. * Note to self. Sleep after meetings with Lugia so they don’t scramble my brain. *

Seriously, he didn’t like the kid.

He just didn’t want him to die for nothing.

That was all.

Little wet splats of rain pattered outside the plateau.

Ash smiled, satisfied. It had been another good day of training.

He found Lance watching him with a preoccupied expression.

“Lance?”
“It’s too dangerous to stay here.” Lance said abruptly. “Why don’t you come to my house?”

“Nani?!”

“It’s in Blackthorn City. You’ve never been in Johto before, you’ll like it. But since it will take weeks before the builders repair this… structure, we should leave. There are probably other… insurgents around.”

“H-hai…”

Surprised, Ash took Lance’s hand as the blue glow of teleport sent them away.

End Chapter!
Complete 4/9/04, started 4/6/04