Chapter 8!
Disclaimer: If phantomness owned pokemon, she wouldn’t be writing fanfic now, would she?
Notes: <> for telepathy, ** for thoughts, italics if a pocket monster talks
Chapter 8
“Wait, you can’t walk?”
“No, not anymore. I use my wings to get around now.” Silversteel shimmered with the prince’s movements as he gave a wry smile.
“But why?”
“I don’t have the energy to spare, not really, so my body deemed movement unnecessary… at least below the waist.”
“That’s seriously – we never learn any of this in class!”
“Of course not. Who would care? Sacrifice a few dozen people for an entire planet – it’s common sense, and who would disagree?”
“I would…!”
“You’re my friend, Ash. That’s different.”
“So… um… you’re going to die soon?”
“Yes, most of the royal family dies young. I’ll have to produce a heir, I suppose…”
“And there’s no other way?”
“Well, the System will take volunteers, if the Royal Family is not enough…but people are selfish, Ash.”
“I… I don’t think it’s fair…”
“Life isn’t fair.”
“I know, but…”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ve still got a few years left. We don’t die that young.”
“That’s not what I meant!”
“How did we got on this topic, anyways? We were supposed to be discussing your future career.”
“This is more important, Lance! I… I wish there was something I could do!”
“Tis nothing. It’s my duty and my destiny, so I’ll fulfill it best as I can…”
Ash hugged Lance, surprising him. “That doesn’t make it all right!”
“…”
There was an uncomfortable silence, but a minute later, Ash started chattering again and it was forgotten.
“So, Ash, what are you going to do?”
Ash smiled. “I’m becoming a baker.” He said proudly.
There was a long silence.
“WHAT?!”
Ash continued eating quietly, ignoring his father’s rants. It was a perfectly reasonable occupation…
He went to culinary school for six months, and then, took his job.
Everything would be fine, right?
Except life is never that simple…
“You’re dying?”
“Nothing to be done. I
overestimated my own ability.”
“Demo, won’t anyone know?”
“They think it’s a genetic disease passed down in our bloodline…”
“I wish.”
“Hush, don’t! I’m glad I met you, I truly am.”
“Lance… if I’d offered to volunteer back then…”
“Don’t say that. The past is past.”
“Then…”
“Don’t let the past tie your life away, Ash… you came here for a reason, to escape, and now…”
“You think I should escape back to Earth?”
“It’s only a suggestion.”
“I can’t just leave you here alone! You’re my friend!”
“I’m glad you were my friend.”
Silence.
“Lance!”
There was silence.
He would cry, but Lance wouldn’t want him to cry, so he swallowed his tears and left and pretended nothing was wrong. And if his smile seemed a little forced when they crowned the new prince, well, who was to know?
Here were too many sad memories here. He was going back to Earth. It was all right… and he wouldn’t need to see the evidence of paradise’s true form any more. Better an imperfect world than Utopia broken on the lives of others…
End Chapter/END FIC
Completed 6/2/05
Eh, damn, angst again. No romance in this one unless you squint. Complete! Yes, although if you want to interpret it as championshipping, be my guest…