I hope my health doesn’t deteriorate more…

Disclaimer: Pokemon belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. This non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfic belongs to Phantomness. Do not take her work.

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

Chapter 4

Dinner was subdued. The Shepard’s pie was quite delicious, and he complimented Delia on it artlessly. However, Matthew seemed to be trying to interrogate him for some unknown reason.

Lance shrugged. He had no idea why, but he didn’t feel like wasting his energy reading the man’s mind. Could he suspect? No… Lance had been careful to wind his illusions when Ash was training, and…

He wasn’t wearing his own silversteel so it could be seen.

Lance shrugged, chalked it up to jealousy, since Ash spent almost all of his free time with Lance, and helped himself to another spoonful of green beans.

“So, how old are you?”

“Twelve.” Lance lied. He kept his features perfectly calm.

“Oh, so you’re a wandering trainer.”

“Yes, my father lives in the Orange Islands, but he sent me here.”

“All by yourself?” Delia looked shocked. “Where have you been staying?”

“In a tent.”

“In a tent! Well, I know that there are many young trainers, but this is simply outrageous! Please, our home will always been open to you.”

She was warm and motherly and he did appreciate her kindness. He knew he didn’t have a mother, really. After all, dragons don’t need a female to procreate. He was Lugia’s child and only his…

“Really?”

He turned on the shimmering puppy dog eyes technique.

Matthew looked away, almost... guilty. Interesting.

“Hai! You can stay in my room!” Ash grinned.

“Oh no, if he does that you two wouldn’t sleep at all.” Delia chuckled.

“Yes we would!”

“Why not a trial? Two weeks?” The father asked.

He was disappointed. Ash spent all his time with his new friend. While Matthew did like the fact that his son had gotten human company, Mew knew he needed it, he had looked forwards to maybe camping or something, get to know his child a little better.

He had to leave on another archeological excavation soon.

After dinner, Ash was watching Lance empty out his backpack. There wasn’t really anything interesting in it, just some pokemon supplies, clothing, and camping stuff.

Lance opened the last two drawers of Ash’s bureau and began putting his clothes in it. Afterwards, they both showered and got dressed in their pajamas. Ash looked interested, Lance was just wearing light blue while Ash, to his extreme embarrassment, sported pink with happily singing jigglypuffs. How embarrassing...

“Your mom?”

“Guessed right.” Ash said, as they brushed their teeth. “We’re going to bed this early?”

“Of course not.” Lance checked the wall clock. “It’s only eight thirty. But I doubt you want to train.”

Ash grinned and shook his head.

Soon, they were playing a rousing game of Spit on the floor. Ash quickly slapped the smaller pile, before Lance chuckled, and they kept playing. At nine-thirty, Delia told them to go to bed.

“Aw…” Ash said, looking up from his cards. “Just one more game?”

“Fine, Ash.” Delia chuckled. “But if I here a peep out of you…”

Ash stuck out his tongue mock pouting, but they quickly finished and went to bed. Pleasant dreams all around!

The next morning, there were fresh-baked blueberry muffins for breakfast.

“You cook really well, Mrs. Ketchum. Better than my mom.” Lance said, helping himself to a muffin.

Delia smiled. “I don’t think she’d like you saying that, Lance.”

“That’s why she’s not here!”

Matthew laughed, busy surveying his newspaper. “How interesting.”

“Hmm?” Ash paused from where he was spooning strawberry jelly onto his muffin and looked up.

“The Indigo League Council is increasing pokemon carrying capacity from five pokemon to seven. Lucky Ash, you’ll be able to have more pokemon with you when you go on your journey.”

“Why?”

“Well, I have no idea, but no matter. It’s a good thing.”

Lance looked up, and briefly scanned. What he saw made him stop short.

Why, that…

How dare he presume such a thing? However, Lance encased his emotions in a shell of ice and ate breakfast, laughing with Ash.

He’d keep his anger to himself.

After all, a death _now_ would be obvious. But on a desert expedition, or one in the frozen mountains, what could go wrong was endless…

After breakfast, Delia spent the morning teaching Ash. He was home-schooled, and she believed in efficiency. Afterwards, Ash and Lance went outside to practice.

“Can you do Ember?”

Ash nodded, his right hand suddenly engulfed in flames.

“Hmm… Ash, try using that on the Rattata over there.” Ash nodded, as flames shot from his hand. What surprised him was that it was in the shape of a fist.

“I thought so. You’re up to Fire Punch already. Excellent.”

“Fire’s easier than water.” Ash frowned.

“I know that; some types are just simpler than others. Ice?”

“I’m still trying Powder Snow, but it’s not working yet.”

“Well then, today you can practice that.”

Ash nodded and diligently began working.

His pokemon watched.

Do you think Ash likes him?

Perhaps, but neither of them know it.

But Ash is still a child in human terms. Butterfree flapped. Besides, Lance is…

They all fell silent.

Lance _looked_ human, but they weren’t pokemon for nothing. He was a dragon-type, like the dragons he carried, but they couldn’t tell what type of dragon he was.

Still…

Dragons were powerful. And he had taken interest in Ash. Could he be Lugia’s son?

Who knew?

End Chapter

Completed 8/15/04