Have I mentioned I hate Organic Chemistry?

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

Pairing: AU, het Championshipping (Lance x Red)

Title: Dragon’s Treasure

Author: Shadow/Phantomness

Rating: PG

Chapter 1

“It’s a girl.” The midwife said, as she exited the room. The king’s face fell as gloom settled in stormy clouds on his furrowed brow. His Queen had been frail in health, and they had not expected her to survive the pregnancy, but at the very least, he should have gotten a son…

“How is my Queen?”

One look was enough, and the man howled in anguish.

“What have I done to deserve this?” He wailed to the heavens, tears streaming down his ruddy cheeks. There was no reply.

Princess Red grew up alone and unloved, in her Father’s Castle in Johto. She was a young woman of lovely stature, with long dark hair and eyes like rubies, but what did it matter? She had no friends, and indeed, all she had were her good looks. She was wise enough to know those would fade in time, but as was expected, she only prepared herself for marriage, with embroidery and dances and elaborate fashions occupying her mind.

When she was sixteen, her Father got it into his head that she should marry. However, he was determined not to let any ordinary prince have her. He did have his pride, so he decided that the best order of business would be to hire a dragon.

It was a common practice in those days. After all, the Prince who slew the beast would be truly magnificent, and the Princess was guaranteed a good marriage.

So the preparations were made, the gold paid, and a dragon sent out to the castle.

Princess Red watched as the beast made a low, lazy spiral before it descended, settling its wings against her back. The dragon was not a large one, and instead of the dull bronze she had expected, it was a gleaming white so bright it could be mistaken for silver. However, she was surprised to note that as it landed, it blew a blast of flame through the castle, sending it up in flames.

… Well, why not?

She tied her bed linens together into a rope, and began letting herself down. She had not gotten more than a few feet down the rope before the dragon spotted her. It swooped over, picked her up in its claws, and flew off.

She screamed, but after a few minutes, began to relax. After all, the sensation of flying was quite pleasant, and she did not think she would be dropped. Also, even if she were going to die, it was best to get it over with quickly, right?

However, the dragon did not crush her ribs, though she guessed it could probably do so easily. They finally landed in the mouth of a cave, and it set her down gently, as if she were fragile and might break.

Red brushed her skirts off and looked around. It was too dark to see, and she turned back to look at the dragon, only to find him looking at her rather impatiently.

“What?”

The dragon nudged her, and Red reluctantly entered. As they walked down the path, torches lit up in crystal sconces. Finally, they reached a cavern that reminded her nothing so much of a beautiful bedroom.

Red gaped. “Is this for me?”

The dragon nodded.

“Wow… I don’t know what to say.” She said. The dragon huffed, before it butted her backwards. She landed on the bed while the dragon rested its head on her lap.

“You want me to pet you? All right…”

It was a really pretty dragon, with short white horns and pretty golden eyes, and she petted it on the head, as it purred, almost. After a few moments, it shook itself and padded off, motioning her to follow.

She followed, finding a sitting room and a kitchen. Then, they moved to a large treasure room and what resembled a library. Finally, there was a room with a huge sunken bath in the floor, made of golden tiles and studded with sapphires.

“Wow…”

The dragon steered her back to her room, and she got the hint that she was supposed to stay in there. Moments later, a tablecloth appeared in front of her, unfolding itself. She found a sumptuous banquet laid out for one, and smiled.

This wasn’t bad at all!

Lance sighed as he sank into water with a tired sigh. It was not his tendency to keep Princesses around – they were usually silly, giggly girls, but he had not wanted to die, especially not at the magic sword of some newly minted knight too big for his breeches.

He could have killed and eaten the Princess, or let her burn to death along with the rest of the humans in that castle, but he had not.

Why?

Perhaps she had a touch of dragon blood in her? Perhaps she was part fay? Whatever the case, it mattered little.

She would not die yet.

Red finished eating, and the magic tablecloth folded itself up, flying to sit on the little writing desk in her room. She sighed, feeling tired, and padded over to the closet. Finding a nightdress in her size, she changed, and collapsed into bed, asleep.

What a strange day this had turned out to be…

Meanwhile, Lance stretched as he felt the transformation take hold. His scales began to glitter as he shrank in on himself, leaving him as a handsome boy with long red hair and golden eyes. He sighed as he eyed his nude body for a second, before waving a hand irritably.

A wave of white light covered his form, solidifying into a white robe. He headed downstairs to find something to eat, and made himself a sandwich and tea.

The girl was a bit cute though; if he were interested in that sort of thing… and he might want a mate sometime.

With a shrug, he returned to his room and fell asleep.

End Chapter

Completed 8/6/06

Yes, I’m elaborating on something I already used for 101_themes. Those were mainly to fire up inspiration anyhow!

Dragon! Lance ^^