Another chapter!
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 2
Red woke up the last morning, wondering why it was still dark. It took her a few minutes to remember what had happened the day before, and she sighed as she slid out of bed, she padded down the hall to the bathing chamber and found it empty, with fresh towels waiting, so she soaped herself, took a long soak in the water, and then went to find the dragon.
It was fast asleep in its room, and she marveled at the size for a moment, before she tiptoed out. However, the dragon awoke, fixing her with a look out of one beady golden eye.
It stood, before its tongue darted out and licked her face.
Red blinked, before she smiled. Who would have known it was so affectionate?
“I wish I knew why you were here.” She said. “Not that I don’t appreciate it, but it’s kind of lonely. If only there was someone for me to talk to.”
The dragon yawned, showing sharp teeth. “I can talk to you.”
That startled her. “You can talk?”
“Mm. I just didn’t feel like it earlier.”
“I’m sorry!”
“Don’t be.” The dragon said, and licked her face again. “My name’s Lance. What’s yours?”
“Red.” She sighed. “It’s a boy’s name, but Father wanted a boy. I suppose if he hadn’t, he would have named me Crimson or Scarlet or something prettier.”
“I think your name is pretty.” Lance purred. “Are you hungry?”
Now that he mentioned it, she was a bit peaked. She nodded.
Lance led her into a dining room. The tablecloth quivered as they entered, before food appeared.
So it was magic!
The dragon ate delicately, using long claws, to her surprise. It was not a dumb animal after all. She ate heartily, and then she asked the dragon what it wanted her to do.
Lance eyed her. “Well, some dragons have princesses who cook for them, but I don’t think you can cook.”
Red had to admit she could not.
“Well, are you any good with Latin? Or cleaning?”
They’d had maids back at the palace, and as Lance asked her questions, Red realized just how shut in she had been.
Finally, Lance just shook his head. “I like music.”
That she could do, and she vowed to learn the other things as much as possible. After all, she didn’t want Lance to get angry and eat her!
… Not that she thought he would. He was awfully polite, for a dragon.
She determined that at the very least, she would keep her own room clean. For the first week, everything passed by rather peacefully. She had some skill on the flute and harp, so while Lance rested in the evenings, she would play. It was pleasant, and during the day, her time was mostly her own.
Lance using spent his days outside, leaving Red to wonder what he was doing. What did dragons do? She consulted the library for answers, but found to her disappointment that most of the words were written in the draconic tongue and she could not understand them.
Still, there were a few books that she could read. The information contained therein was fascinating.
At the end of the second week, the first of the knights appeared. Red was on the floor of her room, scrubbing angrily at a grease spot. The enchanted tablecloth was folded neatly in the kitchen, but she had found a mop and bucket and decided she could clean this room herself. After all, here there were no maids to help.
When she heard shouts outside, she sighed and went out. The simple blue-and-white checked dress she was wearing was amazingly comfortable, and she could hardly scrub the floor in flowing skirts. Her hands were a bit scraped up, but she could ask Lance for help when he came home.
Outside, she found a knight in mismatched bronze armor shouting at the top of his lungs. The moment he saw her, he threw his spear.
Red ducked, feeling it whistle through her hair. “Hey!”
He peered at her through the visor of his helmet, before he frowned. “You aren’t the dragon, are you?”
‘Do I look like a dragon to you?” Red asked sarcastically.
The knight cleared his throat impressively. “Then, return at once and tell the dragon that I must fight him!”
“…. I’m not a maid.” Red muttered.
“You aren’t?”
“I’m Princess Red.”
“Oh! Excellent! I’m here to rescue you, you know.”
“… Wait, what?”
To tell the truth, the idea of rescue had scarcely crossed her mind. She found life here peaceful, if a bit toned down from court, and she had no home to return to anyway, as it had been burned to the ground, hadn’t it?
“But who sent you to find me? Aren’t my parents dead?”
The knight nodded somberly. “It is indeed a sad fact that that is so. However, now the kingdom of Pallet lies open to claim, and he who rescues you will become King.”
“WHAT?!” Even with her Father gone she was seen as nothing but a bride with land? Did no one care for her feelings?
She did not want to marry him! She didn’t even know him!
The knight grabbed her arm. “Let’s go before the dragon returns.”
“But I don’t want to leave.”
“Of course you do!”
“No! I like it here.”
His eyes flashed. “I knew it! You must have been enchanted! Don’t worry, I’ll find some way to break it! Let’s start with the basics!”
As he leaned in to kiss her, Red panicked. She swung her hand forwards, temporarily forgetting she was still clutching the mop.
The knight spluttered as she conked him in the head. He reached to grab her, and she fled back into the cave as fast as possible.
If only Lance was here!
The footsteps sounded behind her, but as he crossed the threshold of the cave, a loud noise rang out. Red clamped her hands over her ears and closed her eyes. Moments later, there was nothing but silence.
She peered behind her and saw nothing left, save a set of armor. With a sigh, she headed back to her room and went back to scrubbing, determined not to think about what had just transpired.
End Chapter
Completed 8/6/06
Yeah… Lance has a trapped cave… ^^
Red: *Hugs Lance*
Lance: *Grin*