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 = Ashline, Ash is a nickname in case that wasn’t evident enough…

Started 11/18/04

Chapter 6

 

            Lance stirred the vegetable soup meditatively. Nearby, Ashline sat on her sleeping bag reading Sailor Moon manga.

            “Lance?”

            “What is it, Ashline?”

            “Don’t you think it would be cool if people really had magic powers?” She gushed. * I can just imagine it… *

            Ashline began to daydream, imagining herself in a leotard fighting monsters and Lance in a tuxedo there to save her.

            “Um…”

            What to say? * I have ‘magic’, and you used to also, Ash, but now… well, we’ve been reborn and I doubt you have yours yet… you’re too little right now! *

            “Well?” Ashline gushed.

            “I think magic would be nice to have, but not for everyone.”

            “Of course! If everyone had magic, it would be horrible!”

            Lance nodded.

 

            Ashline asked a few more pointless questions, and then asked Lance if dinner was ready – that was important!

            “Almost.” The trainer replied. He discreetly tipped a small packet of sleep powder in Ashline’s soup.

            Tonight was a new moon, and she couldn’t watch.

            It might be dangerous.

 

            Ashline fell asleep soon after. Lance covered her with an extra blanket, and stepped out into the night. He winced as his wings tore through tender skin. New moons were unpredictable, and anything could happen.

            But he wouldn’t hurt her! Never! Because underneath all that ditzy, glitzy stuff, it was still Ash that he loved…

            Had to be…

            Otherwise, why would he bother?

 

            Please… remember…

 

            Lance sighed.

            How much longer can I hold out? Oh, at least a few more months… yes. That I can do. It’s not that difficult.

            What will be difficult is trying to win.

            How hard is it to win?

            Very….

 

            *CRASH*

            Lance jumped.

            Ash looked up, blinking. It was still dark. What was that?

            Was… it danger?

            Ashline grabbed her oversized pink flashlight, ready to attack.

            A shadow moved!
            Ashline struck!
            Lance fell to the ground, dazed. What was that? He barely had time to make sure his wings were hidden under his cloak before he closed his eyes and pretended to faint.

            Ashline turned in her flashlight and gulped.

            “Oops…”

 

            Lance blearily opened his eyes as Ashline splashed him with cold water.

            “Iie!”
            “Ah! I’m sorry!” Ashline apologized gratuitously. “I didn’t know it was you!”

            “I would hope so…” Lance blinked. “Cold!”

            “Oops!”

            While Lance wondered if it were possibly for him to get hypothermia, Ashline resorted to more… er, active means.

            “Hey! Stop that!” He grabbed her just before she took off his pants. “What are you doing?”

            “But if you stay in these wet clothes, you’ll freeze!”

            “I can change just fine on my own Ashline…”

            Ashline colored and turned her back. “Sorry.”

 

            Lance grumbled slightly as he put on a pair of dusty but dry black long-sleeved shirt and pants. He wrung out his sopping wet cloak and hung it on a convenient rock.

            “I’m finished.”

            Luckily, his wings had vanished right before Ashline had, well, hit him with a blunt instrument of possible danger.

            Sigh… * I wonder… is that really Ash? *

            It was so hard to believe. But how could he doubt it, with that aura?

            “Um… Lance? Are you mad at me?”

            “No.”

            “Honto Ni?”

            “Hai, hai.”

            And… well, he hugged her.

 

            Ashline relaxed in Lance’s embrace, wondering why it felt so… right? Sure, he was cute, but this seemed to be more than that.

            Hmm…

            Ashline’s eyes began to shimmer. Maybe they were a destined couple, like Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Kamen! Foolish hope, maybe?

 

            But dreams never hurt anyone… right?

            Lance stroked her hair gently. * I miss you Ash… *

            Startled, Ashline blinked. “Lance? Did you say something?”

            “No.” * She’s reading my thoughts? *

            “I thought you did…” A perplexed frown made itself seen on Ash’s face. * Does he not like me? *

            That couldn’t’ be it!
            Everyone always said she was kawaii!

            What if Lance liked more ‘adult’ girls though? She should ask.

 

            “Lance?”

            “What is it, Ashline? I mean… well, do you mind if I call you Ash?”

            “No, it’s cute!” * He’s already found a nickname for me! I have hope! *

            She was twelve, but maybe that wasn’t too young? Who knew?

 

End Chapter

Completed 11/22/04