At this point in time, Lance and Ash are definitely not a couple, but they probably will be later…

Disclaimer: I don’t own pokemon. Pokemon belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. This is non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfic… I wrote it so don’t take it, that’s plagiarism.

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

Warnings: Incorrect gender pronouns and gender bending, later shonen-ai Championshipping (Ash x Lance)

Chapter 3

 

            “I’m going to fall!”

            Lance checked his watch. Anthony wasn’t going to show up until nine, so he had temporarily frozen time so Ash could practice playing a girl.

            The hairpin had granted him high heels instead of the clunky teal boots he had been wearing, and he was having… trouble, to put it mildly.

            Lance moved out of the way as he fell down the stairs again.

            “Are you sure you can’t change your clothes?”

            “How should I know?”

            “Well, I doubt anyone will believe you’re a real girl if you fall down the stairs in high heels…”

            “Urusei!”

            “And you can’t even cook…”

            “I never needed to before! There was a cafeteria at the palace!”

            “Nobody is going to believe you’re a girl…” Lance said, closing his eyes. “What can you actually do?”

            “I won’t need to do anything!”

            “You might have to…”

            “Like what?”

            Ash slowly backed away as Lance’s eyes began to shine. That usually meant anger…

            He decided not to press the issue farther, at least not at the current moment. “When can I stop?

            “When you’re done with the stairs give me a yell.”

            Lance went off elsewhere, probably to study his volumes of magic books. Ash sighed.

            How could it be so _hard_ to stay upright?

            It wasn’t fair…

 

            But after a few more tortuous hours, he managed to walk properly. And sit... and remember _not_ to curse. Yay.

            Now what else came next?

            Nothing, Lance said, seeing as he put on his most pathetic expression. It worked! Thank god…

            Combination 3: Puppy Dog Eyes + Fake Tears + Shimmer.

 

            Dinner was… subdued.

            Anthony didn’t talk much.

            Either that, or there was another reason for his protracted silence that Ash could not decipher nor comprehend.

            Lance made him were jewelry- yuck! Well, at least it wasn’t _too_ bad…

            The diamond necklace wasn’t too heavy, and the bracelet was okay… but he drew the line when Lance tried to pierce his ears.

            “I wear earrings.”

            “You’re not me! Plus, the snake fangs look cool…”

            “Thank you.” Lance said.

            Ash blinked, before realizing he had actually paid Lance a compliment.

            What was going on?

            It must be the stupid ‘disguise’s’ fault…

            “You look pretty.” Lance complimented.

            “What?”

            “Well, hopefully as a girl you will be more tolerant…” Lance shrugged. “But I doubt it… highly.”

            “Whatever.” Ash muttered.

            “Do try to be civil tonight, will you?”

            That had been last-minute instructions pre-dinner.

            “Fine.”

 

            So he tried.

            He took small bites of the food and ate very slowly, even though his stomach felt like it was trapped.

            Actually, that was a good thing.

            He was too nervous.

            What if Lance told? Or what if Anthony found out?

            He had to look pretty different as a girl then, if Lance didn’t recognize him, right? Right? They were enemies after all.

            Well… maybe not that much.

            He was jealous.

            Lance was also a spirit, but not bound by contract to any of the three kingdoms. He stood alone, his magic his shield and pride and life…

            He was powerful, that was obvious.

            That was why his magic was sealed. Seal of dragon on his chest, alchemy on the backs of his palms, rumor that he also held a seal of dark magic.

            He and Ash had clashed, once.

            It was a petty squabble, now that Ash thought of it.

            They had both been going after the same soul.

 

            It wasn’t even a really important person…

            Still, he had wanted to know _why_ Lance would bother.

            So he asked…

            Okay, maybe it wasn’t _asked_ as more like _threatened with sword pokes_… In any case, it was more his fault.

            How could he have known?

            He was the one who earned defeat.

 

            Lance left him lying there afterwards, laughing. “There’s one thing you should remember, Messenger. Do not attack dragons.”

            Because… Dragon’s blood was powerful.

            If given freely, it could protect the user from death. It could heal grievous wounds, and counter dark magic.

            If taken unwilling, it had horrible repercussions.

            “By the Dragon’s Blood unwillingly shed… Chain Destruction!”

            Which was what Lance was doing now.

            Ash blinked as Anthony cried out, turning to dust and smoke, definitely dead….

            “What happened?”

           

            “You weren’t listening to our conversation?”

            “No.” He fidgeted, uncomfortable with the way the dress showed… things that weren’t right.

            It was too low. Funny, he’d never thought of it before, but now, having to stay in a girls’ body…

            He could see why they disliked it.

            Definitely.

 

End Chapter

Completed 7/21/04