I hope my readers like this chapter. Then again, some of us are selfish writers who write what we want for ourselves when we want it…

Disclaimer: Phantomness does not own pokemon. Pokemon belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. This non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfiction was written by Phantomness and belongs to her under international copyright laws. Stealing and archiving without permission is plagiarism. Thank you. *Phantomness bows*

Notes: This has a bit of Dungeons and Dragons in it, as the base world. I figure Red is a Fighter/Rogue with weapon specialization in Greatsword and Lance is…um… I’m not sure. Bard/Ranger? Cleric/Fighter? She knows how to use a bow and magic… but since she’s wearing armor, she isn’t a sorcerer. Maybe war-mage…

Chapter 7

“You’re pretty.” The guard at the Saffron gate said lecherously. Lance did not quite understand how she could look pretty to anyone. Her hair and cloak were matted with mud and dirt. The underground tunnel had been a convenient shortcut, infested by a few giant spiders, but those had been easily dispatched. Still, the idea that anyone found her current apparel cute was disturbing.

Also, as her armor handily hid the signs of her femininity, she did not like the idea of where the conversation was going…

Red flushed and put a hand on his sword.

The burly man stiffened at the gesture, but stood aside and allowed the duo to enter Saffron they were obviously bedraggled travelers that had been caught in the storm outside, no more, no less…

Lady Sabrina would not mind…

The atmosphere inside the town was not quite welcoming either. It reminded Red a bit of the necromancer’s tower, but surely his cousin would not dabble in such things. She was a lady, after all… perhaps she might wield a dagger or fighting fan, but that would be the limit of her abilities, or so he thought.

Lance kept a wary eye on the few other passerby; all muffled in wet clothing and with scarves wound tight about their cheeks. Any face would be difficult to recognize…

Up ahead, there was a small building of gray stone. However, the door was closed, and a knock produced no response. Several more knocks changed nothing. Red was getting irritated, he was soaked and his armor would rust under these conditions, so he was preparing to break down the door when Lance nudged him.

There, on the floor above, was an open window. He got the hint, unwound his grappling hook, tied it to Lance’s coil of silken rope, took aim, and threw.

The coil clattered along the sill. The two exchanged looks and than began climbing up quickly. Inside the house, they coiled up the rope and hid the hook, and began examining it.

There was a thick layer of dust covering all of the furniture, a clear sign of disuse.

“I wonder why no one lives here now?”

“Did you know the owner of this house, Red?”

“I did.”

“What was his name?”

“Well, we always called him Mr. Fuji. I’m pretty sure it was his family name though.” Red said after a moment of consideration.

“Mr. Fuji… well, let me do a quick check.”

Red watched as Lance took a pinch of gray powder from her traveling bag. He hurriedly lit a fire in the fireplace, watching as she threw the dust into the flames and they blazed a blue so bright he had to turn away.

After a moment, the fire went out spontaneously. Lance cursed. “No good. He’s definitely passed the gate.”

“So he really is dead…”

“Looks like it. I’m sorry. Was he a good friend of yours?”

“Well, not that much… but I’ll miss him.”

“I see…”

Red sighed. “Did you see how he died at least?”

“No, I am… that is not an area I venture into. All I can do is ask a few questions that is all. But he died far from here, I got a feeling of sweet grass.”

“And only Johto holds those rolling plains.”

“Exactly…”

“Why would anyone want to kill him?” Red pondered. “He was just an old carpenter who took in stray kittens.”

“If I knew why people killed, I would have the secret of life. The reasons are too numerous and too often just petty incidents.”

Red winced. “I see…”

“Would you like me to…?”

“No, don’t put me to sleep and make me forget with your Amnesia spell. I’d be doing him a disservice if I forgot his life.”

“For when a man is forgotten he is truly dead?”

“Exactly.”

“Tis a wise saying, that one.”

“Well why else would it be said that legends, that heroes never die?”

Red grinned and they began to put the house back in working order again. If the dead did not need it, there was no point in wasting precious resources…

Who would want to?

It took several cleaning spells and a good day’s labor, no, two days, the first night they just fell asleep on their feet but the next they spent beneath the warm woolen bedcovers.

The day after, when the house was finished and properly spelled, with traps to dissuade other intruders, they went to see Lady Sabrina. Having a home base was useful. Besides, they could store their treasure in a concrete station at last, instead of rifling through time and space, which was disturbing.

“Red?”

“Mm?” He asked sleepily, knowing he should get out of bed but the rain was still pouring outside and he wanted nothing more than to stay here, where it was nice and warm.

“Do you every wonder what might have happened if we hadn’t met?”

“No.” He said simply. “Those are negative thoughts!”

Lance grinned. “You enjoy having me around then, I’ll take it!”

“Yep!”

“I’m glad you’re accompanying me too. Can you imagine questing alone through the wilds for the sixteen sacred treasures?”

Red looked sick. “Don’t remind me, please.” His mind was still on bugs.

“All right, I will not… but tomorrow we really must go and see the lady.” And so it was, that bright and early, even before the chirpy songbirds had left their sodden nests, two brave adventurers headed to Lady Sabrina’s house. At the gate, the guard took note of Red’s relationship and dutifully conveyed it through the system until it reached the ears of the great lady herself.

Lady Sabrina was quite surprised to find her little cousin here to visit, so she allowed him to approach, even while she studied him.

He had grown from a scrawny runt, as the training and tramping much had improved his looks and stamina.

Interesting.

Oh, but he had a companion. Sabrina frowned behind her veil. That would not do…

If there was a way to wean that elf from her brother’s side… but an elf! They rarely ventured outside their sacred forests. It must be a mission of great importance, no doubt, to break all contrived mechanisms, and to create what was never meant to be, mixing blood…

She sighed.

The future would be a hard one for both… and for all, should these two fail in the assignment. Many before had fallen!

Sabrina set down her crystal ball and without a word, handed over a thin filament of spider silk, from which dangled a black pearl.

“Here.”

“Why?”

“Your minds were not clouded with guilt and shame. It was a test of your hearts I chose. My apologies if I found anything untoward.”

Lance nodded. Red looked irritated that Sabrina had read his mind, but had no choice but to accept it. The two thanked her and headed back to their house.

“I wonder how much time we have left…”

“If there was a way to figure it out magically, we’d have a solution already.”

“Well, I don’t doubt it…”

Lance paused, staring at the raw chicken in her hands for a long moment. Suddenly, she tipped forwards. Red ran over and grabbed her before she impaled herself on a kitchen tool.

“What’s the matter, Lance? Are you all right?”

“I had a sudden feeling of intense pain…”

“Maybe it was foresight. You’d better go lie down. I’ll cook tonight.”

“Are you certain about that offer, Red?”

“Yes, no go rest!”

Lance obeyed, and was soon fast asleep, but one thought could not be banished.

Why did the culmination of their quest fill her with such dread?

End Chapter

Completed 1/18/06

EPSM doesn’t seem too bad, and neither does biology…

I wish there were more hours in a day though, so I could write more.