Disclaimer: I don’t own pokemon. It belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics! This is non-profit fanwork, no copyright infringement is intended, and since I wrote it its mine…

Notes: <> for telepathy, ** for thoughts, italics if a pokemon talks

Chapter 12: Wonder of wonders, miracle of miracles

It’s so _annoying_.

That was what Ash thought, as he finished off the Moltres. Moltres? Yes, moltres. Over the last eight months there had been a rash of high-level wild pokemon attacks around the plateau. The league season was starting soon, and well, that could prove problematic…

Ash readied a poke ball and threw it…

Just in time to see the ball go _through_ the pokemon and bounce off, as the said pokemon dissolved into sparkles.

“WHAT?!”

< Ah! > Xatu gasped.

“_Very_ good.” Lance said, smiling.

“Cat! What’s going on?” Ash asked. “That’s not normal! Is it a ditto?”

Lance smiled. “Might want to try using this, Ash.” Pulling the key of hidden shadows and starlight out of her pocket, she tossed it to him.

Ash blinked.

Then, he blinked again.

< … >

< Trust me, it’ll work… >

< Nani!? I never knew you were psychic, Cat! >

< I’m not, as such. This is simply a kind of pokemon bond. >

<… I don’t see at all… >

< I KNEW IT! > A voice called out as Xatu began fluttering wildly like, er, a bird.

Well, he was a bird that that was beside the point.

Ash blinked. “But…”

“Don’t say anything. Just feel… reach out with your emotions.” Lance suggested. Unfortunately, it only succeeded in making her sound rather mystical and vague, but…

Having nothing better to do, Ash listened to the advice. He was completely unprepared when the key began to emit golden light and vibrate, before shifting into a staff…

Upswept wings flanked a moon with a star embedded in the center, trailing down into a body that shimmered white.

Ash’s eyes widened, as he staggered, the wave of memories breaking over him. The time had finally come.

Of course, you couldn’t dump all his memories on him at once, these were just the card years. That way, he’d know how to use them. surprisingly, Ash recovered after a few minutes and shot Lance a glare.

“Lance-chan! That was so mean of you!”

“You figured it out.” She stated, before the illusion melted away.

“I always wondered why you felt so…” Ash was about to continue, but at that moment, a stubborn flush spread up his neck and past his cheeks.

Lance grinned. “Well, let’s call it training. If I just dropped all this power on you, the results wouldn’t be good.”

“… I guess…”

“You don’t need to guess, the mirrors don’t lie.” Lance was going to elaborate, but decided not to.

Ash nodded, and decided not to press farther. “So now what?”
“Hmm?”

“What’s our duty in this life?”

“That’s still unclear, most unfortunately.” Lance sighed. “Things have never been laid out perfectly.”

“So I’m just going to ‘hang’ with you until something happens?”

“Most likely,” Lance shrugged. “I think you’d better reassure Xatu that you’re all right though.”

“…?”

Ash turned and noticed the psychic bird looking fried. < Eek! Xatu, what’s wrong! >

< Mental block… > Xatu ground out.

< Well, I couldn’t have you breaking the news to him before time was up. >

Xatu glared, but couldn’t do much. Pokemon against realm guardian was no fair fight…

Especially since Lance had psychic control too due to the guardianship and other life-changing… events.

She’d better take good care of his Master… actually, that might not be a problem, considering Ash’s reaction, it seemed she obviously wasn’t _mean_.

Was there a state of being too nice?

Nah.

Xatu flew off to find Pidgeot before his brain decided to take a vacation. He could deal with all of this later.

< You okay, Xatu? >

< Just off to spend some time with my lovely mate, why don’t you do the same? > The bird sent back smugly.

Lance looked amused as Ash turned even redder. < XATU! >

He didn’t feel uncomfortable around her, really, it was like Crystal.

It _was_ a lot like crystal!
But in any case, it was nice having a friend. Well, more like a built-in friend that might cross the line into stalker but still.

It was better than nothing.

Plus, he had both of his parents with him too…

Wasn’t that enough?

“I’ll deal with whatever scheme Serebii cooks up later.” Ash said resolutely. He was fourteen and that would be old enough!
Lance smiled. “Nice.”

“Um… I don’t mind if you hug me, but the kissing stuff, could we leave that until later?” Ash said, slightly on edge.

So he was nervous and uncomfortable…

“Of course,” Lance said, bemused. “I’m not cradle-robbing.”
“Okay then….” Ash paused. “Oh yes, um… how is everyone in the dream realm?”
“Take a look yourself,” Lance said, as she opened the portals and they stepped into the swirling mist.

End Chapter

Completed 5/6/04