And… please let my inspiration flow like a river! *Hugs plotbunny*

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 6

 

            The next day, Red received an invitation, reminding her about the annual Kanto Championships. She stifled a yawn. She would have to go there, and defeat the one who made it to keep her title as Champion. It had been three years since she had won, but she still had no intention of losing.

            “It says I can bring a few guests. Would you like to come?”

            Lance paused, her hand halfway to her hair, hairbrush frozen. “You’re asking me to go out in public with you?”

            “Why not? You are my girlfriend after all.” Red said flippantly.

            “I’d love to go.”

            “Great!” Red cheered. “It’s in a week.”

            “I’m sure it will be most enlightening.” She would also be able to keep an eye out for any suspicious trainers. That thought cheered her greatly.

            That night, she made Red dinner as usual, and the next day, they went on a training trip, just to keep in shape.

 

            Being at Mount Moon was quite peaceful. Red had expected some residual fear, since she had been frozen in a block of ice here, but there was nothing except a sense of serenity pervading their senses.

            They released their pokémon, and spent four days throwing attacks at each other. Lance was pleasantly surprised to find that her pokémon were still in perfect condition. That was interesting.

            Red managed to catch a Clefairy for Oak. He was quite cheered. She wondered if the esteemed Professor would, once again, participate in disguise.

            Speaking of disguises…

 

            “Say Lance, are you going to enter?”

            “Why would I?” Lance asked, smirking as she back flipped, dodging a Hyper Beam neatly. Red clapped, admiration in her eyes.

            Yes, living with Lance was nice. She could cook a little bit now, but nothing like the fancy dishes Lance whipped up.

            Lance said those took hours of preparation though, and that was time she would rather spend training.

            They had different priorities. Not that that was a bad thing…

 

            Afterwards, Lance and Red soaked in a hot spring they located purely by accident, letting the aches and pains of a day of hard work fade away.

            “Why won’t you participate though?”

            “I think that the answer would be obvious Red.” Lance commented. “Think about it rationally. I have nothing but dragon pokémon.”

            Red flushed. “Oops. I hadn’t considered that.”

            “Dragon types are rare – well, you have three, but that’s not the point. A team of only dragon types would be really suspicious.”

            “Don’t you have any other pokémon? I could lend you mine.”

            “Red, it’s fine. I’m not really interested in competing.”

            “Oh, all right then.” Red stifled a yawn. “Are we going home tonight then?”

            “Unless you want to spend another day out here?”

            “Nah! Camping is all well and good, but having a home to return to is nice too.”

            “Mm….” Lance agreed, closing her eyes. Red frowned, seeing dark circles under her friend’s eyes.

            “Have you not been sleeping well?”

            “It is probably just stress. Don’t worry about it.”

            “But if you’re sick, then we really should go home!”

            Lance would have protested, but a cough tickled in the back of her throat and she sneezed twice in succession. “It feels chilly all of a sudden.”

            Red blinked. “What do you mean Lance? It’s very warm. Maybe you’ve caught a cold!”

            Did she have to sound so blasted cheerful?

            Lance would have snapped, but her eyes crossed and she fell forwards into the water with a splash.

 

            Red gaped for a moment before rational thinking caught up with her. “Lance!”

            She managed to fish her friend’s torso out of the water, and pulled her out of the hot spring, half-dragging.

            What was going on?

            Lance’s Dragonair raised an eyebrow as Red frowned. Did she have to give her CPR? She wasn’t very good at it, but if she had to…

            Lance might die again!

            It would be horrible to drown!

            With that thought, Red pressed down on Lance’s chest, trying not to look. They had both stripped down earlier, but now was no time to be squeamish!

 

            After several moments, Lance coughed up a lungful of water and her eyes opened fuzzily. “R-Red?” She slurred. “Whassamatter?”

            “Oh good.” Red panted. “You’re alive.”

            Lance did not reply for a few moments, and Red wondered if she was falling into unconsciousness again, but suddenly, her eyes cleared up.

            Dragonair nudged her twice.

            “Thanks, Hakuryuu dear…”

 

            “Lance, are you feeling better now?” Red hedged.

            Lance nodded. “Plenty. Though I think we will need to visit a Pokemon Center before we go home.”

            “Of course!”

            Red felt another point tick in her mind, but as usual, ignored it. They climbed on their Aerodactyls and flew back to Pallet.

            Sometimes, she wondered why no one got suspicious about Lance owning an Aerodactyl, but she did not go around and investigate.

            That would be too obvious.

            They dropped by Viridian, picking up their pokemon – and Pika. Red had left him there for a few extra days, just in case.

            Nurse Joy looked sad as she handed over the poké ball.

            “What’s wrong with Pika, Nurse Joy?”

            “Your Pikachu is suffering from some kind of disease… I suggest evolving him into a Raichu. It’s a rare virus that only infects the Pikachu stage…”

            “What?” Red gaped.

            “Yes. I have no idea, but I suspect that your Pikachu contracted it from an infected wild female… so it refuses to battle when infected.”

            That explained why Pika hadn’t fought, but still…

            She had to evolve Pika into a Raichu?

            Well, if it were the only way to save Pika’s life, she would do it.

 

End Chapter

Completed 7/14/06

Lance: So that’s how you’re solving the problem

Phantomness: Ee. ^^