Disclaimer: Pokemon belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. This non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfiction belongs to me!

Notes: <> for telepathy, ** for thoughts, italics if a pokemon talks. Ash = Red

Chapter 15

“Talk.” Lance ordered, as he handed Ash a mug of hot cocoa. “That should warm you up.” He was still befuddled. Why on earth was Ash trying to commit suicide outside of his room? That was just… very bizarre.

“A-arigato.” Ash sipped the chocolate, deciding that Lance wouldn’t try to poison him. It tasted pretty good.

“Well? What were you doing?”

“I-I thought you were dead.”

“Please tell me why on earth you’d think that?”

Ash swallowed. “Well, um, after the battle, you kind of went crazy, and tried to kill me, but then you stopped, and then Lugia appeared and killed you, and you got stabbed! And-!”

“And that was an accident and Lugia healed me so no, I’m not dead, and really, it’s not your fault, Ash.”

“Yes it is! Mewtwo said I broke the prophecy! If only I’d never gone to the Orange Islands this wouldn’t have happened!”

“Well, you can’t change the past, so why angst over it?”

“B-but I’m-!”

“You’re what? I am *not* dead. The legendary birds were freed. The balance is back to normal. Just move on with your life.”

“I can’t!” Ash choked out. “I just feel so guilty!”

“Why? Don’t tell me you were actively trying to destroy the world.”

“I would never do that!”

“Then you simply made a mistake. Everyone makes mistakes. Quit kicking yourself over it. The future won’t collapse just because of this.”

“All right…”

“More hot chocolate?”

Red blinked. “Um… sure.” Lance poured him another cup as he sat there sipping quietly. It was… almost, nice, he was warm now. Lance had really nice cloaks.

Lance poured himself a mug and sipped slowly. At least it seemed the boy was more mentally stable now. Thank Lugia.

< Think nothing of it. >

< I didn’t mean it literally, Lugia-san. >

< Your words are true, Chosen. I acted irrationally. It was not this child’s fault. The legendaries use him without always informing him of the true nature of their manipulation. And I’m ashamed that…>

< Ah… >

< After all, he was the one who stole the dragon blades. >

< … What?! >

Ash blinked as Lance suddenly snapped his eyes to him, bloody murder glowing in gold. Uh-oh… was Lance going to go psycho again?

“You stole the dragon blades from Goldenrod?”

“Um… yes?” Ash squeaked.

“Why?”

“Er… Mew told me to.”

Lance sweatdropped. < I concede your point, Lugia-san. He is truly a busy child. I do not doubt he will be called again in the future. >

< Oh, most certainly. He’s an unlucky one. But they did give him the gift of pokemon catching, so he can catch pokemon much easier. >

< Trade-off, eh? >

< Yes. >

Lance got up. “Ash, do you need a ride home?”

“Oh! My mom doesn’t know I’m out here! Please don’t tell!”

Lance rolled his eyes. “I’ll fly you home.”

“But I can teleport!”

“It’s been a stressful day, and I know from personal experience that nothing works right when you’re stressed. You need to sleep.”

“I-I guess I do…”

“Come on then.” Lance said, as he released his Dragonite and climbed on. Red followed suit, blushing as Dragonite flew towards Saffron.

Why would he care about me? I almost killed him! But he wasn’t mad…

Red sighed, hiding his emotions behind a façade of collectedness. He did feel a lot better after that talk. Oh, and the hot chocolate was very good too.

They landed in Saffron ten minutes later. Ash thanked Lance and then levitated himself up and through his window. With a wave goodbye, he was inside.

Lance flew off, glad that the boy was safe. He must be important if the legendaries kept calling him.

Then again, Ash wasn’t a Master yet. Maybe he’d become one later, when he was slightly older… who knew?

The future was always in motion, and he thanked Mew for that.

The next morning, a much more cheerful Ash set out. He had lost the legendary birds, but in the process, he had gained valuable insight. True, the truth hurt, but he was glad he knew.

He was also glad no one hated him now.

Thank Mew…

“Come on guys, let’s go!”

With Abra and Pika on his shoulders, he headed back to Johto. Maybe some more badges would help…

< Rest, child, rest. > Mew watched as Ash battled a Dodrio. < Soon you shall be called again to aid us… >

Why is he so important?

< Because, Articuno, in his blood flows that of Honou. >

He is Honou’s child? Zapdos gasped.

< Yes, although he knows it not. Soon though, his blood will awaken… >

But that’s impossible! He has a twin sister! They were both born to the same father, weren’t they?

< Not quite. They were both born on the same day in the same hospital, but he and Sabrina are actually cousins. Their mothers were twin sisters. Red’s died in giving birth to him, so Cynthia raised Red as her own with Sabrina. By now I doubt she remembers… >

Does Red remember?

< How could he? It is no matter. Soon we shall need his aid again… >

End Chapter

Completed 2/23/05

Yay! Done!
Kairo: Soon the series will end?

Ash: Will it be romance?

Phantomness: Not in this fic…

Pika-chan: That was fluff in the beginning of this chapter, I swear it was!

END STORY. STORY COMPLETE! May have sequel with Championshipping!