Lance wears silversteel. It’s living armor. It also hides his, er, non-human nature, for now. And I hate organic chemistry!
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
Side pairings include Lugia/Articuno and Lorelei/Bruno
Chapter 3
< So what do you think of your betrothed, Child? >
Lance leaned backwards on his bed and sighed. < Nice enough, Father, if not a bit… childish. >
< Well, she is still a child. >
< That is most fortunate for us then. > Lance smirked. * For children do not know of lust and desire… *
< True, true… >
< Dear, this is for the best. > Articuno’s voice.
< I know Mother. I love you. >
It wasn’t a lie. Articuno nodded, and then began to dress for the day’s activities. Yes, she was glad there hadn’t been a morning feast. That would have been… irritating.
She watched as her dress shifted into a more serviceable, lavender outfit trimmed with white fur. Lovely…
Lugia was now wearing a dark suit with his medals to display. They exited the room and sought out Delia, and spent the day negotiating trade agreements.
“Princess,” He called.
“Eek!” Red let go of the vine and fell. Lance caught her, as she landed – no mere feat, she’d dropped almost thirty yards.
“You were climbing out your bedroom window?”
Red flushed. “Yes.”
“Why? Were you that eager to see me?”
She blushed in spite of herself; something in the back of her mind purred… well, no matter. She put her hands on her hips and pouted. “No.”
“Well, that is a pity. I was going to take you sightseeing.”
“Really,” She perked up.
Lance whistled and his Dragonair flew down. “Hop on.”
“In this dress?” White blossomed around her hips in miles of frothy lace trailing to her white sandals.
Lance sighed. “That won’t do at all…” And before Red knew what was happening, her dress had lost a good half of its weight – and now barely covered her knees. There was the barest glint as his sword was re-sheathed at his side. She hadn’t even felt anything!
“Much better, wouldn’t you say?”
And against her better judgment, she was starting to like this boy, and she hopped on Dragonair. She’d never seen a dragon up close before, much less ridden one…
And off they soared into the sky...
“Queen Delia! The princess is missing!”
Delia spat out a mouthful of caramel toffee cake as the maid came in. Articuno and Lugia both ducked. It sailed over their heads and hit the wall behind them with a wet-sounding smack.
“What?”
“It’s true, Majesty! We think she fell out her window!”
“…She fell out her window?” Delia blinked. Oh, that wasn’t good at all… her poor baby…
What if she was dead? What if she’d been kidnapped? Oh her poor child!
She valiantly suppressed the tears…
“Let me.” Lugia said. He concentrated and a small scrying sphere formed in his hands. < Lance… >
< Yes, Father? > The boy’s face appeared in the crystal.
< Please tell me Princess Red is with you. >
< Of course she is. I took her to Seafoam. >
< Ah, I’ll alleviate the queen’s concerns then. >
Lugia closed down the sphere.
“Do not worry, Majesty. Your daughter is quite safe. My son took her to see the mermaids in our kingdom.”
“Mermaids! How wonderful!” Delia gushed.
Articuno nodded. “I’m sure Princess Red will be fine, my lady.
”
“I’m just a little worried…. She’s my only heir after all…” Delia sighed. Behind the other two monarchs, several maids hastily mopped up the mess that had resulted earlier. “More wine?”
< Humans! I’ll never understand them. > Yes, worrying for one’s offspring was only natural, and yet, they were so extreme.
< Not even when we pretend to play them, > Articuno teased.
< Ah, my love… >
<This ought to be amusing… >
< It is so difficult remembering not to use telepathy, though. >
< I know, love, I know. >
“Wow! Real mermaids!” Red cheered. She was wrapped in Lance’s cloak, since she had gotten soaked underwater – but the Prince hadn’t seemed to have that problem. He looked perfectly dry.
Several of the mermaids were giggling and playing tag with her. Once Lance had given her his sapphire necklace so she could breathe underwater, it had been fun! This was so much better than swimming in their tiny indoor pool or paddling in her tub!
“So,” Lorelei said, as she pulled herself out of the water to talk to Lance, stifling a yawn. “Is she your new Mate?”
“Supposedly,” Lance said. * Though she is a human… *
“Supposedly! She seems nice enough.”
Lance laughed. “Well, true, but she is still a child, and I don’t bed children.”
Lorelei nodded. “She is quite undeveloped…”
“It’s not that – I don’t like sea cows.” He coughed.
Lorelei pouted.
“Not you, dear…”
Lorelei crossed her arms over her ample cleavage; glad her long purple hair covered a lot. “You’re not interested in me, anyways.”
“No.”
“Should you be?” She teased.
“Not if I want to remain faithful to my betrothed. Why?” He shot her a look.
“You’re cute.” Lorelei said speculatively.
He shrugged. ‘My dear, you know my secret. My line is not human.”
“So?”
“It changes nothing then?”
Lorelei flicked a bit of water at him. “No. I was wondering if your cousin Bruno was anything like you. He is cute, and Clair is just so wrong for him.”
Lance looked flabbergasted for a second, before his confident smirk came back. “I’ll ask him, then…”
Lorelei smirked.
“Devious.”
“I’m supposed to be…”
End Chapter
Completed 8/20/05
Edited 5/25/09
Phantomness *dances*