Started 6/14/04

Disclaimer: I don’t own pokemon. Pokemon belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics! This is non-profit, non-copyright infringing fan fiction written by me and it’s mine under the international copyright law! All mine!
Notes: <> for telepathy, ** for thoughts, italics if a pokemon talks

Chapter 13

It was so _hard_, living with the younger boy and hiding his true feelings behind that mask of ice.

Very hard…

However, he managed to play the role as teacher and instructor and lock everything else inside. After all, what was a guardian with a heart of ice to do?

It was easy, in hindsight, he took the medicine every morning and by the time it wore off it would be night, and he would be back in his room alone.

It worked very well.

Just… sometimes his emotions got the better of him and cracked the protective shield of power, and then he had to hide it.

Ash frowned, stirring his split pea soup meditatively as Pikachu and Corsola snoozed and Larvitar helped himself to a sausage.

Daddy?

“Does he really think of me as a nuisance?” Ash whispered. It had been two weeks since they had settled in, and Lance was teaching him the subtle effects of balancing and weaving, but…

The other Chosen was so distant… almost as if he were unreal. Yes, that was it. Too perfect to be real, he was patient, and took good care of Ash, and didn’t scold when he messed up his spells and transformations, but…

Was there any love?

If so, Ash couldn’t see it.

At the moment, Lance was by the water’s edge, conversing with the leader of a Tentacool swarm.

< Do you require my help? >

< Yes, Chosen. > The cnidarian said respectfully. < The factory that Vermillion Oil is building is destroying our breeding grounds. >

< The toxins are killing off our children and corrupting them as well. > The leader’s mate said.

Lance nodded. < Leave it to me. >

He spread his wings and flew towards the said culprits.

Oily, noxious black sludge covered the surface of the water. Lance’s eyes narrowed in disgust, as he noted the complete lack of any cleanup gear.

< So… temporary profits balanced against future generations. Let me teach you a lesson in economics then… >

With a twist of the violet yarn in his hands, he directed the poison to destroy the families of the workers, while leaving the pokemon unharmed. Switched the targets back to the perpetrators.

When they started seeing the effects of their work, maybe they would stop. If not, their blood was on their own hands and heads.

Lance tucked his skeins of yarn back into guardian subspace and then flew back to Ice Island.

He saw Ash on the sand, playing with his pokemon, and smiled in spite of himself. < So even though Destiny destroys, part of him is a child yet. Or, he truly wishes to make amends… >

Perhaps tainting by relationship failure was less severe than murder and death… or, he was more flexible.

In any case, that was fine.

“Lance? You’re back! Where were you?”

“Vermillion City.” Said trainer said confidently. “Why?”

“Um… no reason.” Ash blushed. * It’s not like he’d get hurt or anything… he’s too powerful for that! *

Lance raised an eyebrow. “Well… do you need help?”

“Hai!”

“Let’s get to work then.” And into the castle they went, to the room, and began weaving…

Outwards spun the thread of life.

So pretty…

Pretty, pretty, pretty!

“Ash? Ash!”

The trainer blearily opened his eyes. “Hai?”

“You’re falling asleep on the job. Get some rest.”

“I feel sick…”

Lance swore as he finished scanning. “Shimatta! Get to bed right now!”

Ash looked surprised as Lance dragged him upstairs to his room and tucked him into bed.

“A-ano, what’s going on?”

“You’re burning more energy than you have to spare! You shouldn’t have been weaving if you were feeling sick! If you had stayed there much longer you would have run out of energy and started draining your lifeforce to keep going! How can you be so careless!”

Ash fell asleep before Lance was done ranting.

Lance shook his head. * What is he thinking… *

He placed his hands on Ash’s chest as a blue glow began to swirl around them. Ten minutes later, Lance pulled back, and collapsed.

Lance!

“I’m fine, Kairyuu.”

Dragonite did not look convinced. No, you’re not! Get to bed now!

“Hai, hai…”

Both Chosen slept deeply.

The next morning, Ash woke up, feeling a fuzzy headache and dryness of the throat, but not as bad as it could have been.

Are you all right, Daddy? Corsola asked.

Ash nodded. “I’m fine.”

He’s sick.

“What? Who?”

He’s sick. Larvitar repeated.

Ash followed Larvitar down the hall to Lance’s room, where he found the Dragon Master fast asleep, guarded by his dragons.

It looked fine, but…

Ash’s breath caught in his throat as he watched the violet thread around Lance’s wrists slowly turning black. What?

He’s sick. Very sick. Larvitar continued.

End Chapter

Completed 6/15/04