Love can happen in an instant, or it takes a long time to develop. I think this is a longer one!
Phantomness got a job! Yay!
Disclaimer: Don’t own pokemon, though I wish I did! 6/2/05
Chapter7
“Let me go!”
“Not until you promise not to fight any more.”
“It’s not my fault!”
Ash blinked. A girl with blue hair was arguing with a boy of the same hair color. He decided to ignore them and head on to class.
Remedial lessons with Lorelei were all right, but he was worried. Magikarp had evolved to Gyarados easily enough, but it got along badly with his Torchic…
How did other students deal with opposing elements?
“Lance?”
“Yes, Ashura?”
“Um… what elements are you?”
Lance laughed. “Too many to count, really.”
“How do you deal with it, though? If they’re opposite types.”
“Well… I had dragon first, then steel and dark, and those got along with each other well enough, so when I got ice, steel and dragon cancelled that out, and then after that, I got water and electric, fire and grass…”
“Sugoi!”
“Why? I thought you were fire and flying.”
“I just got ice two weeks ago, but… ice is a lot like water, and my Torchic doesn’t like my Gyarados, and…”
“Ah… well, normally, I’d suggest switching Torchic for Charmander – those get along surprisingly well with water-types, but if that’s not an option…”
“Yes?”
“Get them to talk to each other.”
“How?”
“I’m sure you’ll figure out a way. You are blood-bonded to both, correct?”
“Yes, why?”
“Don’t worry. I’ll help.”
He found out the next day that Lance’s version of ‘help’ involved putting him in life-threatening danger so all his pokémon could work together and save his life. After that, it was no longer a problem. They didn’t splash or flame or blow each other way…
And when the new additions came, the older ones kept them in line, and he was grateful, really, when he finally passed Level 10 and was given his Certificate.
Meanwhile, his father brought him candies and tried to coax him into a smile, suggested trips to far-off planets, but all of it was for naught.
He spent his time studying, learning, talking to Lance and his pokemon, and slowly, his father began to fade in his mind.
He became just the man he lived with. He was hardly home in any case…
He was fifteen when he received his Certificate, and then he realized he did not know what to do now.
He could become an Observer, go back to Earth and look, see how things were going now… live a normal life.
He could become a Wandering Trainer, and live the life he might have lived.
He could become a Teacher, or a Healer, or a Tech – one of the many who kept the System running…
He could become a Priest and take care of the legendary pokemon, or…
He could become one who could Call pokemon home. Earth was not the only experiment, after all…
Then again, he could find a nice, normal career and settle down here, keeping a few pokemon for company. That might be nice.
His Father… no longer mattered.
“I’m worried about him.”
“Why?” Natalie asked. “Surely you should be proud. He just graduated yesterday!”
“What do you think he’ll do now?”
“Oh, you’re worried that he won’t be able to find a job? He’s a tri-type, I’m sure there’s something he can do.”
“I suppose…”
“So they’re worried about me.”
“You shouldn’t be eavesdropping, Ashura.” He had finally, finally gone to meet Lance in person again, and found the teen bored out of his mind and embroidering dragon scales on every article of clothing he owned, not exactly what he had expected to find.
Ash shrugged. “It’s a magic mirror, we might as well use it. So you’re royalty. Is that why you never came to see me?”
Lance shook his head. “It’s because of these.” He indicated the silver bracelets on his wrists.
“They’re pretty. Are they tracking devices?”
“Not quite. They’re more like containment devices. I can’t leave this area of the System. I’m a living Battery.”
“Wait, what?”
“Why do you think Clair is a teacher? We of the Royal Family can’t ever leave the System Core, where Blackthorn Academy is located, because we feed the System on our lifeblood.”
Ash choked. “Oh my…”
“Yes. How else would it work? The System is sentient to a degree after all.”
“But then, how could you go to Earth?”
“I was only fifteen then, and the System doesn’t start feeding until age sixteen, unfortunately… and my birthday was days after I got back.”
“Oh….”
“Don’t worry about me.” Lance smiled. “I’m glad I had someone to talk to after all.”
“But you gave me your soul-stone! There are easier ways to talk, and we could have just used the System, aren’t there?”
“Yes, but I don’t need it.” Lance smiled oddly. “The System already took that part of me that matters, so it’s just a pretty rock we can communicate with now.”
“I see…”
“So… um, what do you think I should do?”
“You’re never too young to become a Teacher.”
“I don’t think I’m very good with children.”
“Point taken. I don’t think the priesthood is for you either. What about… well, what do you like doing?”
“I like pokemon, but I’m not sure I’d want it as a full-time position, so probably not a Wanderer.”
“Do you like to cook?”
Ash blushed. “I like to eat, but my cooking skills are limited to boiling water.”
“Ah… that won’t do at all…”
While they continued to discuss career choices and other topics, Jacques began to do some digging of his own.
End Chapter
Completed 6/2/05
Lance: You are a cruel, cruel author!
Phantomness: I know!