Well, here is another Chapter.

I really didn’t mean to write the last chapter! It just popped out! Blame the plotbunny. *Holds up plotbunny*

Disclaimer: I don’t own pokemon; it belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. This is non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanwork written by me so I own it.

Chapter 10: Cleaning up

“You know,” Lance said, as she and Lorelei mopped up the floor. Pity they’d have to refreeze the ice. The red traces of blood remained. Oh well, lucky she had dragon types and Lorelei had ice types.

“Hmm?” Ash asked, Lugia having flown off.

“Monroe, being the idiot he is, couldn’t have known about the Ice Star on his own.”

“Who would tell him?”

“Oh, I know.” Lorelei sighed. “Pryce.”
“Why Pryce?”

‘Because, the old man has a crush on me.”

“Nani?! But you’re so much younger than he is!”

“I know! But as an ice master like me, he’s the only other person…”

“You’re right.” Lance mused. “Well then, I suppose we’ll have to find a way.”

“A way?”

“To pay back the old pervert. I could have lost my life.”

Ash stared at the Dragon Orb, which was floating around Lance’s body. “Nani?”

“Unfortunately, if the Dragon Orb is damaged, its my life on the line. Lugia made an agreement with Serebii.”
“Oh…” Ash said sadly. “About what?”

“This cute little thing keeps an eye on the world, alerting us guardians to trouble.” Lance tapped the ball of light.

“But if it gets hurt, you do.”

“Yep.”

“Sounds dangerous.”
“I’m putting protection spells on it now…”

“Smart…”

“Just wish I’d done it sooner, but I was out. It took a lot of my energy and Lugia’s.”

“Ah…”

“You think getting rid of Pryce is our goal in this lifetime?”

“It sounds easy enough.”

Ash beamed. “Well, I just want to not be stuck here forever.”

“Heard about the rule from Agatha?”

“How’d you know?”

Lance tapped her dark mirror. “Seeing as you were in serious danger of winding up as a soulless wreck, which would severely wreck the prophecy.”

“Oh.’

“Well, now what?”

“I believe we can wait. Pryce should show up soon enough.”

“Cool.”

Without another word, Ash followed Lance into the back of the Plateau. Lorelei sighed.

“Not that I’m jealous, but still… I’d like to have a real guy chasing me, and not Pryce. Ugh.”

“You give up a lot to be an Elite.”

Lorelei jumped, before seeing it was Agatha. “Oh hello, Auntie.”
Agatha smiled at the remark. “What happened here?”

“Well…it’s a long story. By the way, did you tell Gary that Lance was a girl?”
“Not yet, why?”
“Well, she definitely looks it now. Wouldn’t want to give your grandson a heart attack.”

Agatha laughed creakily. “Maybe it’ll get rid of his depression.”

A scream echoed through the plateau.

Both women looked up, to see Gary running out with a horrified look. “I DID NOT JUST SEE THAT!”

“Hmm?”
“So I heard Lance was back, and I went to check on him, just to say hi you know, and I saw Ash and this blonde girl-.”

Gary stopped, seeing the amused looks. “Huh?”

“Dear, maybe I should explain.” Agatha said placatingly.

“Ash has a girlfriend?”
“Actually, that was Lance.”

“NANI!?”

Gary stared at Agatha. “You aren’t pulling my leg, grandma? That blonde girl in there is the redhead Dragon Master who it took me seven times to beat?”
“Yes.”

“…Scary…”

Lance walked out, having changed out of the skirt despite Ash’s protests and back into the bodysuit and cape, hair neatly spiked and dyed vibrant red again.

“So what’s going on here?”

Gary jumped again. The voice change and the whole character shift… that was fast!

“How do you do it?”

“Two personalities? Well, its actually quite easy for me.”

“Oh.”

“We’re ordering pizza.” Ash said, waving his cell phone. “Anyone else want some?”
“Huh? Oh, sure…I don’t like Hawaiian though.”

Gary was still somewhat puzzled, but decided not to press farther. Whatever weird quirks Lance and Ash had in their relationship was not what he wanted to know.

Not at all…

“I think you scared him.” Ash said, as they lay together on Lance’s oversized fluffy bed.

“Me?”

“Well, you were kissing me senseless.”
Lance raised an eyebrow. “Who kissed who first?”
“Never mind…” Ash said, blushing pinkly.

“Well, at least I know you return my love.” Lance told him, as Ash cuddled her like an oversized teddy bear.

“Mm…”

End Chapter

Completed 3/15/04