Oh yes, more and more chapters!

Disclaimer: I don’t own pokemon. This is non-profit fanwork, pokemon belongs to Nintendo, I’m not infringing on their copyright, and since it’s my writing don’t take it.

Ash shall be 14-15 in this chapter.

Chapter 11

Pryce was startled when a pissed off Dragon Master burst into his gym.

“To what do I owe this intrusion?”
Ash grabbed Lance’s arm. “Don’t hurt him yet, Lance-chan!”

“You told Monroe about the Ice Star!”

Pryce looked startled. * How did he know? *

“I suppose I did.”

“Well,” Lance said. “It wasn’t your secret to tell. Kairyuu!”

Dragonite was too fast to avoid. Pryce’s world went dark after that.

“Pity.” Lance sighed. “There aren’t many ice masters. Oh well, less competition that way. And he was getting old.”

“Whatever you say, Lance-chan.”

Lance wrapped Ash in her arms. “Don’t worry.”

“I know.” Ash stared up at her. “I trust you, only you…”
Lance smiled wryly. * Indeed… *

It’s a strange thing, that you trust me. but… that’s the way of the path we walk. So few choices, so many decisions to make, and never knowing if that is safe…

And the Guardian Pokemon let us live our lives, and make our mistakes.

That is the way things work.

Ash grew used to staying at the Plateau, although he doubted if it were not for his ventures into the dream realm, he would have snapped.

Staring at the same boring concrete walls every day, and the platforms carved into the bottom of the rooms… it was not pleasant.

Still, dreams changed and shifted and grew and matured.

Life went on.

A year passed.

Another, also…

Finally, something happened to relieve the boredom.

< Hello, Guardian. > Lance said respectfully as Lugia flew in. < Trouble brewing on the western front? >
< You could say that, my Chosen. >
“What is it?” Ash asked.

Lugia sighed out a mushroom cloud. < Well… someone is trying to capture Suicune. >

< That will tip the balance. > Lance glared.

< Suicune is your pokemon, too, Lance-chan. >

< Precisely. >

< So all we have to do is stop him, Lugia-san? >
< Close enough, you two. >

< Then we’ll do it! >

< Yes, this life is easier than others. >

< Then let’s go! > Ash cheered.

Lance threw on her silver armor quickly, while Ash did the same with his transformation into Destiny.

The two flew off, heading for Violet City, the last place Suicune had been spotted.

Sure enough, Suicune was being pursued. It was an angry girl via Rapidash, ugly brown hair flying in her face.

“Come back here!”
Suicune laughed and dashed off again.

Lucky he had found that pond to refresh himself, now he was fully healed and ready to attack again.

He roared and jumped over a mountain.

Eliza gaped.

< Her? She doesn’t seem like a threat. >

< Well, I think Charlotte would disagree. See for yourself. >
Eliza glared and swapped Rapidash for a moltres. Cloned, obviously, from the original.

“See?”
Ash glared. “Yes. Let’s go!”

They both swooped down after her.

Ash’s eyes sparkled, as the bits of lightning danced between his fingers, forming into a humming disk of Thunderwave.

The circular ring landed around her waist and tightened, causing paralysis as soon as it came in contact with her skin.

There.

Lance and Ash both landed, wings unfettered.

“Finish.” Lance said, without preamble. Ash nodded, as he held the guardian scales in one hand. For those were the Scales of Fate and Destiny.

The three golden plates bobbed on the black crossbar. Waiting, teetering, wavering, and falling…

One sank, pointing towards Eliza.

“It was your folly that did you in, and no fault of our own.” Ash said, before he knocked her out.

The next thing Eliza knew was mist, and finally silence. However, it could have been much worse.

I remember there was mist… swirling mist upon a vast, glassy lake… [1]

“You banished her to the dream realm?”

“I didn’t want to get blood all over me.”

Lance chuckled. “Well, you don’t need to kill. I can do it if you want.”
“No, I just didn’t feel like it.’ Ash told her truthfully.

Lance nodded. “You are still a child of light to me, though.”

Ash beamed. “I know.”

He didn’t really want to talk, though.

Lance blinked when Ash pounced on her, making her drop the scales in surprise. “Ash! What are you?”

Ash grinned. “Let’s just kiss and make up, ne?”

Lance sweatdropped, wondering if the pressure of being a guardian had finally snapped him.

Hopefully not…

No, she would ride the wave and make the best of whatever came. After all, she wasn’t ice-type and water-type for nothing.

Dragons soared overhead and life went on.

That was the way things were.

Make the best with what you have, and look for the blessings, that way life is so much better. Don’t think about disappointments, those are past and you can always learn from your mistakes. And if he loves me, so much the better!

Let’s fly.

END FIC

[1] this quote is from Phantom of the Opera musical, I love POTO

I end the fic here and leave the rest up to your imaginations

However… if you want to see more, please read Shadow’s other works. *bows* You are more than welcome to…

Created 3/15/04, completed 4/18/04