A short chapter, this one! Apologies!
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 3
“Did you sleep well?”
Lance blinked sleepily, feeling the gentle pulse of the Heart Amulet against her chest as her eyes opened. Red had breakfast ready, rice porridge with chopped diced apple pieces seasoned with cinnamon and a jug and mug of frothy milk were waiting.
Lance sighed in relief as she availed herself of the beverage. “I need that.”
“So did I.” Red returned. “Even with the Awakening potion, I still feel hung over. I’m going to take a bath now. “ He unfolded a folding screen, and stepped into the tub of heated water the bar wench had provided.
Afterwards, Lance took her bath and they dressed for the day. She dressed easily in the dark pants and tunic and slid her chain mail on with a happy expression, before covering it with a heavy cloak.
“You know, the innkeeper’s going to find it odd…”
“You can tell him that we’re traveling to the next city incognito, or home for that matter, since he man I was supposed to marry caught the plague.”
“That sounds reasonable.” Red grinned. “Makes sense.” He put on his helmet and waved a hand at the room, most of the boxes and bags vanished save for Lance’s backpack and his own, charmed to hold 5000 lbs and yet only weighing 1/50 of their weight. Very useful…
“I wonder what those thieves will think when they discover that they’ve run off with fool’s gold.”
Red shrugged. “I’m not too worried about that, but I had a hard time staying still, especially when Giovanni mentioned what he wanted to do.”
“We’ll have to keep an eye out for them in the future, ne? Just in case?”
“Sounds good.” Red grinned.
They left quietly, the innkeeper barely looked up from his ledgers as they left. They slipped into the streets and saw that to their surprise, a heavy rain was falling.
“Why didn’t we hear the storm outside?”
“Their windows are almost an inch thick.”
“Well, that’s odd. What a luxury. This inn has seen better days then.”
“Yes…”
Lance cast a hurried ‘Repel Water’ spell on their clothing and they began making their way towards the gates.
“You’re leaving in this weather, travelers?” A guard asked in surprise. “You’ll drown out there, tis a veritable ocean.”
“No use. We must deliver these scrolls to Magistrate Agatha in Indigo city.”
“Aye, her temper’s a fearful sight indeed.” The man saluted as they walked past. “But we must check your bags. You are not exporting alcohol, I hope.”
“None insofar, but if ‘twill relieve your mind…”
They unpacked their backpacks, and the guard found some foodstuffs and a few scrolls but that was it. They looked much like ordinary travelers. He thanked them for their patience as watched as they began walking down the world, wondering idly why no mules or horses accompanied them.
Perhaps they could not afford it.
“I’m glad they didn’t see past your illusion spell.”
Red gave a modest shrug. “It was not so difficult to copy it from the scroll.”
“I see…”
“You think too much of me.”
“Do I?” Lance inquired with a half-smile. “I suppose I am just surprised that things have worked out so well ever since we left Viridian Forest.”
Red nodded. Lance was from that forest, and he had met her there when he’d gotten lost. She’d almost shot him through the eyes before he had hastily explained that he didn’t know he was trespassing. As it were, he’d wound up saving her life from a bunch of harpies and they’d hung out together, traveling the land ever since.
“Well, I did save your life…”
“I spared yours first.” She retorted, moving her hair to cover her pointed ears. Lance was half-elven, and thus found it annoying at many times to pass for human. Red picked up his binoculars and took another look around.
“It does not look as though anyone is following us, but just in case...”
The rogue smirked as he drew a scroll out of his backpack and quickly rattled off the syllables of the Detect Invisibility spell. Nothing happened.
“I think you’re being a bit paranoid.”
“Well, Giovanni and his crew may have found out that the gold they stole from us was really no gold at all.”
“Yes, but does it matter? They’re the thieves.”
“Maybe I think they might want revenge.”
“That really makes no sense whatsoever…” Red murmured. “But I will never understand that type of mind.”
“Mm.”
“Are you plotting something, Lance? That’s quite an odd expression you have on your face, not that you look ugly or anything…”
The girl smiled. “No, not really, though I hope the rain stops soon. Tis difficult to hear anything in this storm.”
“I’ll agree with you most readily.” He rejoined.
She smiled. “Even with enhanced hearing, the storm is upon us and we might be drowned ere we reach our destination.”
“The city of Violet, is it not? Pretty name for a town.”
“Tis more than that, and you know it well, Red.”
“I know, I know.” Red shook his head. “Let me see the ones we have again.”
In response, Lance drew out a lovely little box of carved ebony. Inside, sitting atop a red velvet cushion, glittered four mysterious times.
There was a small, smoothly gray polished pebble, from the sacred Boulder in the town of Pewter. There was an innocuous, heart-shaped vial with three drops of Arbok Venom, that ninja master Koga had gifted them. There was a beautifully preserved flower in amber, a gift from Princess Erika, and finally, there was a flat piece of mirrored steel, a gift from Jasmine.
“Twelve left.” Red gave a sigh.
“You needn’t sound that disappointed.” Lance said. “It was only fortune we were able to acquire these. I still think that it’s extremely ambitious to try and acquire all sixteen in one go…”
“It’s our surest best and we both know it.”
“I just wish it weren’t so devilishly complicated…”
“At least if worst comes to worst, we’ll pilfer ad plunder in the name of glory, ne? And eventually, we’ll be hailed as the heroes who saved Houen…”
“Yes, if it comes to that…”
End Chapter
Completed 1/5/06
Lance: Well everyone? Any guesses?
Red: The blatant pokemon references are distracting me
Phantomness: Well, ye are getting the best of both worlds…
Lance: I must strongly disagree with you!
Phantomness: Fair enough, but I’m the author…