Lance: Phantomness doesn’t own pokemon, luckily!

Phantomness: So, what about this fic?

Ash: It has potential, but I won’t let my hopes up.

Kairo/Shoyko: *huggles Phantomness* we know you’re sick…

Pika-chan: *offers a muffin*

Phantomness: *coughs* Thanks, but my throat hurts so much I can’t eat…

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

After flying through the arid heat for a few spaces of time, he landed silently; letting his silversteel wings fade back into nothingness.

Interesting…

There were several people walking around, but… none of them had the pokemon carriers he remembered, which was to be expected, after all, unlike silversteel, the other armlets that ordinary people wore had been made out of living wood, which had decomposed…

Lance idly did some mind reading, leaving about six or seven trainers knocked out after their memories had been wiped, before he shifted. If he walked around in his current attire, he was bound to attract unwanted attention.

Groudon’s spies could be anywhere.

He _did_ like the red though, so he kept his new jacket that color, but underneath his bodysuit was black, to mourn for Lugia.

No, not quite…

Black for shadow and death and revenge…

Dragon’s don’t _cry_. They’re not that weak. Shrugging, he made his silversteel jewelry invisible, including the necklace embedded in his chest and the bracelets on his wrists. That was Lugia’s symbol, and showing it would just be careless.

Now, he just needed one other…

Well, he could wait.

Ash blinked, his bracelet had changed overnight. There was now a pretty white jewel on it.

Oh well.

That was a good thing, wasn’t it?

“Ash!”

Delia came running out, ushering him inside. “Ash, look at the clouds, it’s going to rain. Let’s go inside…”

Frowning, but nodding, Ash followed her.

Storm clouds descended and lightning flashed as rain fell over the area.

Ash stared out the window.

Somehow, it seemed that the lightning was forming a message.

Someone… needed help?

His pokemon looked around and shrugged.

It might really be a message!

Yes. Long ago, they used weather to send messages.

But who would remember?

Well…

Butterfree cleared his throat as he began to tell a story.

Once upon a time, humans and pokemon lived in harmony. The land was peaceful, and all was well.

Rayquaza, the great dragon of the air, kept the balance between air and water. Alas, as time passed, Groudon grew greedy, and desired to expand the landmass. He slew Rayquaza-sama and began his evil work.

Kyogre stood up to him, but he sealed the power of the water guardian. Lugia did also, but death claimed him. However…

It is also said that Lugia was not the last of his line… that in time of trouble, the child of the dragon will come, free Kyogre, and defeat Groudon, and bring peace back…

Butterfree stopped.

“That’s so sad…” Ash said. * So it’s all Groudon’s fault? Killing pokemon! *

However, the longer he stared at the lightning, the more it seemed to call to him. He just couldn’t shake that nagging feeling.

Ash quietly pulled on his bright green raincoat and rain boots.

Ash, you aren’t really going out there alone, are you?

We’re going too! Chikorita declared, her leaf shaking.

Ash smiled as they vanished into their poke balls. His bracelet began to emit a gleam…

The white jewel was glowing.

He followed the light, not noticing that the rain was completely avoiding him. That was fine.

Soon, he found a trainer playing a silver flute.

It sounded very pretty, but that wasn’t the reason he was here. Ash blinked, as he walked closer.

Golden eyes met brown, as the melody stopped.

Ash stared at the boy. He had… wings? The wings were the same shiny color as his bracelet.

“Hi…”

“You came…”

“Hm?” Ash blinked. “Oh… yes, maybe I’m just being stupid, but the clouds said you needed help…”

Lance looked at the boy oddly. “You could read them?”

“Y-yes…”

“Then you were meant to come.”

Ash blinked again. “Do I know you?”

“In a way, in a place, in one time, yes…”

“Are you a trainer?”

“Now, I would be considered one.”

“I-I’m confused…why me? You do want me here for some reason, right?”

“Yes, but you’re too young right now.” Lance sighed. “You’ve heard of the legend, haven’t you?”

Ash nodded. “You mean about Groudon?”

“Hai. Very well…”

Lance placed his hands on Ash’s shoulders. “And you wear the silversteel of the priests…”

“You mean my bracelet?”

“Yes… the silversteel of the holy ones.”

“I don’t know why… it just…” Lance cut him off.

“You are destined to wear it.”

“Huh?” Ash was pretty confused by now. “What are you talking about?”

His eyes clouded over as Lance completed the mind link. Memories – not his, but somehow there, flashed behind his eyes.

He felt… stronger, too.

“Shh… little one, don’t fret. This is an honor.” Lance said, cradling the boy. * And now that I have a helper, Groudon… *

The pokemon watched, in awe, but luckily not in fear.

Ash looked shaky, as Lance kissed him on the lips, but it was purely chaste. Calmly, Lance released the boy, letting him stand on his own.

“You are mine now…”

Ash stood, smiling. “Hai. I will help you defeat Groudon and bring peace back.”

“Good child…”

But he’s still a child… Butterfree whispered.

“Of course. I will wait until he is older.” Lance smiled. “Dragons are immortal after all…”

The pokemon looked relieved.

Ash quietly went home before his escape had gotten noticed. His life had just taken a turn for the bizarre…

End chapter

Completed 8/15/04