And another chapter… angst and darkness yay!

 

Disclaimer/Notes: See previous chapter

 

Chapter 5: A light in the dark

 

            The two sat in silence for a long time.

           

            Finally, Ash broke it again.

            “I don’t know…”

            “See?” Lance asked softly, crimson eyes staring up at him. “Why fight what is predestined?”

            Ash hugged her as he tried not to cry more than he was already. The tears formed a puddle underneath his cheeks as the inequitable nature of it all barreled into his mind again and again, almost driving it into his mentality with an iron spike.

            Lance stroked his hair almost timidly.

            “You’re going to fade…” Ash whispered.

            “That is a very strong possibility at the moment.’

            “Can’t we ask Serebii?”

            “I do not know if she would help.”

            “True.” Ash mused. “But she is less moody now.” He brusquely wiped the tears from his eyes and attempted a smile.

 

            “How long?”

            “You’re asking me how long I have left?” Lance questioned.

            “Something close to that.”

            “Well, the balance, perhaps a year, or two.”

            “And then I’d have to take the power, so I have to be ready.”

            “Correct.”

 

            Ash sighed.

            “Better go train then.” Lance whispered, getting up unsteadily.

            “Hai… I will, aniki.”

            Ash stood up and vanished in a flash of light.

            Lance sighed. * Perhaps… but no, I can’t even think of that. *

            She closed her eyes and rewove the normal illusion around herself, before getting back to her paperwork. There wasn’t much of it left. She sighed and pulled out the tax reports.

            “Yay…”

 

            Ash stood on Shadow Island as the clouds whirled around him. “Guess I’ll go dimension-hopping again. Charlotte did leave me her key.”

            He pulled out a silver key.

            It began to glow faintly. Ash smiled. “Take me to another dimension. Key of Infinite Dimensions, activate!”

            He vanished in a glow of red light.

 

            When Ash reappeared, he noticed that he was in the middle of a lake and sopping wet.

            “… That was different.” He mused, swimming to shore. He wrung out his sopping wet clothes and dressed in a dark blue jacket and black jeans instead. Then, he pulled out Mewtwo’s card.

            “Key that hides the power of the stars, reveal your true form before me! Your master under the seal of contract Ashura commands you, Release!”

            His staff reappeared, the blue moon flanked by wings with a star in the center. Smiling, Ash activated Mewtwo’s card.

            Mewtwo appeared, as per regulations.

            < Hello. >

            “Hello, Mewtwo. Do you know where we are?”
            The pokemon’s eyes glowed purple than white as it scanned. < We are in a world similar to our own. The difference is that only members of royalty and the aristocrats are allowed to possess battling pokemon. The normal people have one or two as pets, but that is about it. >

            “I see.” Ash said. “Very well then…”

            < We are in the equivalent of Houen. It is known as the Kingdom of Holies. >

            “Amusing,” Ash said to himself.

            < The king is old and weak. His general rules the country for him. He has six daughters, one of whom is betrothed to the neighboring kingdom. A treaty. >

            < Ah. >

            < Yes… I think that’s it. > Mewtwo said before he faded away.

 

            Ash nodded as his clothes shifted into golden armor over black robes. * Well then, I’ll just have to fake being royalty don’t I? *

            He smirked slightly to himself. * Let’s go. *

 

            Two days later…

 

            “Help me!” A beautiful girl with long, pink hair shouted as she was being carried off by a group of farmers.

            “No way, princess! Until your father lists the heavy taxes, you’re our prisoner!” The leader said.

            “Excuse me.” Ash interrupted pleasantly as he stepped in front of them. “But why are you taking this young lady against her will?”

            Garnet swooned at the man, obviously a prince. * He’s so handsome… *

 

            One of the men picked up his spade. “Stay out of our affairs, royal!” He spat.

            “So touchy.” Ash said, with a strange smile. “Are you sure?”

            The others grabbed rakes and hoes and charged. Garnet fainted dead away, leaving Ash alone.

            “I think…Venomoth! Sleep powder.” Ash smirked as the moth sprayed all the men, who began snoring. Bending down, he picked up the princess, mounted Spirita, and headed off to search for the king.

 

            “Oh! Garnet!” The king shouted when he saw Ash approaching. “Prepare a room for our honored guest immediately!”

            “Yes sir!” Several men saluted and ran off.

            As Ash crossed the drawbridge, the feeble old man tottered out, leaning on his gold scepter.

            “My thanks for bringing back my daughter safely.” He commended.

            “It is my honor to save her life.” Ash replied politely.

            The king nodded his approval. Well, what better way to snare a prince than to be rescued by him?
            This was obviously a match made in heaven.

 

            “May I inquire your kingdom?”

            “I hail from the far lands of the rising sun.” Ash explained, knowing that there were several islands.

            “Very good.” The man muttered into his long gray beard. “We could use allies there.”

            Ash caught that train of thought and hid a smile. The peasants would revolt soon, he would beat them back and rewrite the history of this place, and prove to Serebii that he was capable of being a guardian.

            The she would leave aniki and aneki alone.

 

End Chapter!