I hope that the story will not be too bad. A few of the chapters seemed to lag, but I think it’s gotten better!

Disclaimer: Ah, I wish I owned pokemon! I do I do I do! *Looks around for a shooting star, but sees none* Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics own pokemon, along with a lot of other companies! This non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfiction belongs to me. Don’t steal or sue! *Phantomness bows*

Chapter 23

The next morning, Lance spoke quietly and told Red what had happened the night before. Red was understandably shocked. Duke Morty was not a particularly bad man, and if Milady was going to kill him….

If only they had some contacts in Houen to call, but there were none…

They talked quietly, in that strange realm that Lance could conjure up with a candle and few pinches of powder. It lasted perhaps half an hour this time, before they were forcibly ejected and the mist faded.

Red sighed. Poor Whitney…

Will said that if she was in a convent, surely she was safe, and that also, wasn’t the religious life rewarding? Brock simple mentioned in an underside that Will only thought so because he had not heard from his Mistress in a while.

Red hid his smile at that, though he did feel slightly jealous.

Still… what to do about Morty?

Leaving the front now would count as desertion, and none wanted to risk that. Monsieur Lugia had been quite kind of them, and to repay his hospitality with such a slight would be unthinkable.

It would make him lose face in front of Cardinal Oak, after all…

That was absolutely forbidden. No Musketeer would show his face after such an action. Especially as Lance…

Red nodded. Lance had been particularly adamant about that, even though his dragon form would have aided them greatly in their travels. Only Red could tame the dragon, but even so, he had refused to leave.

Were Lance and Lugia-sama…?

Red reddened. It could not be!

And why not, a small sly voice whispered in his thoughts. After all, you already have a woman who is devoted to you. Surely it would not be much of a stretch to…

He coughed and nearly spat out his wine. The other diners looked at him curiously, but no one commented.

If only he were sure how he felt!

Lance sighed as he watched the ocean waves break. He had found a relatively abandoned cliff, and now, he stood near the edge, watching the sunset. Footsteps sounded behind him, but he did not turn, already sure of the source.

< Child. >

< Father. > He acknowledged, and Lugia embraced him. It felt odd, but he accepted the gesture without question.

He wanted so badly to be a dragon full time, to not to deal with these messy human emotions. Dragons felt love, but it was powerful, and dragons did not betray one another.

He had loved Lorelei, but rather detachedly. He had been kind but she was ice and he was dragon, and those two elements did not mix well.

Besides, Lorelei was too cold for him. There was no love under her icy exterior. She was a cold-blooded woman.

Even dragons liked warmth, once in a while.

< You were not planning on leaving, were you? >

< No, Father. >

Warmth. < I expected as much. This war will soon end, Lance, and though I shall mourn Morty’s passing, his time has ended. They both know. >

< I understand, Father. >

He did not care much for Morty truly, but what if Lorelei did find some way to hurt Red? His fingers tensed. He would never forgive her if she did!

“You care about him, though you did have an odd way of showing it sometimes, child.” Lugia had switched back to English. < And now, I believe there is someone coming along. I had best make myself scarce. > With that, the white-haired Captain began walking down the grassy knoll, whistling a tune as he did so.

Red came up the hill and saw Lance watching the sunset. He hesitated, not knowing what to do or say.

If Lance had been here with Lugia-sama, all alone…

He looked down. He had come to tell Lance how he felt, but now…

He was about to sneak away when Lance turned and caught sight of him, flashing him a grin. “Red.”

“Are you in love with him?”

Lance blinked twice, before the statement registered. “You didn’t know? Lugia-sama is my father.”

Well, that took a load off his mind right away! Red smiled in relief as he closed the distance between them, and hugged Lance impulsively.

He was just so relieved…

Lance ran his fingers through Red’s dark hair as he whispered, “Were you jealous?”

“Only a little.” Red confessed.

“Shh.” Lance felt Red start to tense in his arms, but it was a positive tension. “Shh…”

Red’s crimson eyes were wide with a mix of fear and lust and love, and he knew exactly how to change it into flames. After all, he had done it before, so many times. He phrased his next sentence just right.

“Red… I do love you.”

Red’s eyes widened as Lance leaned down and kissed him. Behind him, he felt his wings emerge beneath his cloak, but Red could not see them so it mattered little.

His precious, precious one was now his.

Red gasped as the kiss broke but he was in no mood to stop Lance’s movements. He let out a shuddering breath as Lance brushed his fingers over heated cloth and skin, trembling.

“Trust me.” Lance coaxed, and Red was more than willing to fall.

The moon rose over two figures entwined in each other’s arms.

Somewhere in Houen, Duke Morty shivered. It was coming. Death was waiting in the wings, and there was no escape. He sighed as he finished composing his letter to Sabrina and whistled for his Fearow.

Fearow dropped in, and took the letter in its claws, flying away.

It was too late, but at least now, she would know for sure. Their fate had already been decided.

End Chapter

Completed 6/3/06

Gyah! I want lemon! I want it!

And I learned that html and text files could be copied to CD. I’m an idiot, but now I can back up my work!