Another chapter!

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

Chapter 5

The next day, Ashline woke up first. She snuggled against Lance, closing her eyes. It was so nice and warm!

“Morning sleepyhead.” A voice said.

Ashline blinked at Lance. “You were awake?”

“Hai.”

Ashline blushed slightly. * Oops. * “Um… well, I was cold…”

“I know. you’re not exactly attired for this weather.” Lance pulled a white cloak out of his backpack and handed it to her. “Here. It’s a bit long, but it’ll do.”

Ashline gratefully wrapped the warm garment round her shoulders. * He’s so nice. * “So what’s for breakfast?”

“I made dinner last night, it’s your turn.” Came the unhelpful reply. Lance slid back under the covers as Ashline nodded.

After splashing some cold water on her face and hands – well, washing her face and hands and the rest of those human things one must do, Ashline pulled two packets of instant maple-flavored oatmeal out of her backpack.

If Lance was expecting gourmet, she wasn’t making it. Ashline also took out a small pot and the paraffin stove she had picked up in pewter.

Five minutes later, the water was bubbling and boiling. Ashline stirred in the instant oatmeal, frowned, and added an extra package just in case.

Training was hard work!

A few minutes later, Ashline and Lance sat next to each other eating tin bowls of instant oatmeal.

“It’s good.” Lance smiled. * Pretty hard to ruin instant oatmeal, but then again, not everyone’s a talented cook. *

Ashline beamed back. Between the two of them, they consumed every molecule of the oatmeal.

“Well, off to train again!” Lance said, waving goodbye to her.

“Maybe we could train together sometime?” Ashline called after him.

“Sure!”

After Ashline had left, Lance walked to one part of the wall and placed his hand against it.

< Enter. >

< Articuno-san. > Lance said respectfully with a bow.

< Yes, Lugia’s chosen? >

< I wish to inquire if I have trespassed on the boundary by staying here. >

< You have not. > Articuno said. * So polite! *

< Then my stay endangers you not? >

< Correct. >

< That is all. > Lance said, before he left the room where Articuno hid.

He did not want to start a legendary war, especially not with Articuno. She was nice, unlike some people.

Ashline caught a Zubat. And… a Krabby… and another Zubat.

Oak was quite cheerful. Maybe she’d actually catch up to Gary! She’d make an ok girlfriend for him.

What should she do though?

“I’m running out of poke balls already? Only 4 left…”

Elsewhere…

Lance flicked his 144 dragon blades out, studying them. “Lovely.”

Dragon’s blades, made out of the silversteel of his wings, his new wings. Steel had replaced feathers after the initial incarnation.

He didn’t mind. Feathers were so weak!
Silversteel had been forged in dragon’s fire and dragon’s ice. Blood and tears...

As a child, barely six, his wings had grown out. Too early! His human parents had been horrified, and so had surgically removed them.

They hadn’t grown back again until his thirteenth birthday. By then, he was journeying and off on his own. Safe and free…

But Ah… from the blood and tears and broken steel feathers, had forged the pain and anger in his heart into weapons.

Lovely.

His weapons wouldn’t hurt him, they were part of him after all, flesh and blood. *Truly* real…

But that wasn’t the point.

Three more days passed while nothing of incident happened. Ashline did run out of poke balls though.

However, she also netted a Psyduck and a Tentacool, so it wasn’t a total loss.

Pidgey had evolved into Pidgeotto.

“So, can we end this exile now? I’m bored.”

“Sorry, but the point of this punishment is to make you suffer some.” Lance replied. Ashline sighed.

He’s still not paying attention to me! At least, not enough!

“I’m bored!”

“Find something to do, I don’t know.” Lance put down his solitaire cards. “Why are you asking me?”

“You brought me here!” Ashline wailed.

I will not kill her; I will not kill her… Lance repeated in his mind. * Why did Ash get reincarnated as… that thing? *

How disappointing…

He was brought out of his musings when Ashline glomped him.

The Dragon Master jumped straight up in the air, nearly missing the lovely collection of ice crystals above.

Ashline blinked.

“Sorry!”

Lance sighed. “Don’t think about it.”

“B-but… do you not like me?”

“I hardly *know* you, Ashline…”

“But…”

Lance sighed. * No social skills at all… what have her parents been teaching her? Or do I not want to know? *

“Ashline, couldn’t we try being friends first?”

“Oh!” Ash blushed. “I guess.”

“Excellent! So, what do you say to game of Gin Rummy?”
“I’d like that.” Ashline said, as they sat down next to each other and set out the cards.

Ashline thought to herself quickly. * Maybe I still have a chance to win him? It’ll take time, but I won’t lose! *

End Chapter

Completed 11/18/04

Ash: I’m such a ditz

Phantomness: Well, this fic is an experiment!

Lance: Of what?

Kairo: I don’t know, humor?

Pika-chan: Romantic fluff!
Shoyko: I’m just glad it isn’t darkfic…