All stories must come to an end sometime… and I’m not sure if the end has come for this one.

 

Disclaimer: I don’t own pokemon; that belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. However, this work is my own under copyright law, no profit is being made, and I’m not infringing on their copyrights.

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

Chapter 13: Dreaming of you?

 

            Lance looked amused as Ash frolicked with his pokemon in the dream realm. She idly flicked the time to stall, so he could catch up.

            He did have a lot of catching up to do.

            With a sigh, the Dragon Master flopped down onto Lugia’s back. Lugia yawned and stretched his wings.

            < Well, Chosen, looks like it worked out. >
            < Hai, Lugia-san. >

            < Your patience is admirable. >

            < And who told me that it was a trait all dragons possessed? > Lance teased. Lugia had the grace to look slightly embarrassed.

            Well, that was the way things were.

           

            Serebii sighed. They were happy, at least. She didn’t want to bother them. Her pride still stung from the last defeat.

            It wasn’t _fair_.

            Chosen should be dedicated to their duty and nothing else! Yet, whenever she looked at them…

            She felt bad for breaking them up. That was wrong! Right?

            But then what was really correct?

            She sighed. Moltres and Zapdos sometimes raised hatches of chicks, and Articuno had her mate, Antarticuno.

            But… I have no one. Is it because I’m lonely?

            I don’t need anyone!

            Huffing, Serebii slammed the doors on the timeline shut.

 

            < My, someone is touchy.> Mewtwo remarked.

            < SHUT UP! >

            < Fine, fine. But I’m going to guess they’ll be fine. >

            < I don’t’ care what happens! > Serebii griped.

            And that was at least true.

 

           

            Snow fell from the high mountains, Rayquaza flew towards the safety of the Sky Tower, two passengers on his back.

            < Be careful. > He warned them.

            < Rayquaza-san, we will not fail you. > Lance promised, her eyes glittering with fury. < He will fall. >

            Ash nodded grimly, Scales of Fate and Destiny in his hands. “Let’s begin.”

 

            “Carroll, you are charged with stealing the scared orb of fire from the Shamouti islands.” Lance said, as she kept her hands on her staff, prepared for an attack. “We are here to mete out your punishment.”

            A Claydol attacked.

            Just as swiftly, a Surf attack from Blastoise blew it away. Ash grinned cockily, before the card pokemon vanished.

            “Next.” Ash teased.

 

            Now, they had to face a swarm of Altaria. Or, they might have… Lance pulled the dragon-summoning flute out and played, before the Altaria flew away, and the area filled with Kanto’s best.

            Dragonite. Dragonair. Aerodactyl. Gyarados.

            They did not disobey the Chosen call.

            While the dragons rooted out the pokemon, Carroll laid the traps inside his lair. Let those two foolish ones come and attack him…

            They’d fail.

 

            Thus, he was quite unpleasantly shocked when all his traps imploded as Lance walked across the barrier.

            “Baka…” Lance said, flipping her staff so the blade pointed at him. “Control over air is not to be underestimated.”

            “Fine then, I’ll do this the hard way!”

            Carroll would have said more, but that was when a Piano landed on his head. Lance quirked an eyebrow towards Ash, who was happily scribbling out a line of time in the Create card.

            Still a child…

 

            Next, the piano burst into flames as screams filled the air.

            “Did he ingest the Fire Orb?”

            “We have to wait and see.” Lance said, as she crossed her arms, waiting. Seeing as no one emerged, Machamp lifted up the piano to reveal a squashed human.

            “Really, its amazing how these small things can affect the fate of the world.” Ash commented, picking up the Fire Orb.

            “Yes…”

            They would bring it back to Shamouti and restore the balance. Luckily, moltres had been easy to subdue.

            Articuno and Zapdos had stayed sane, grounded to their Chosen.

 

            “Are you angry at me?”

            “Don’t always take my silence for that.” Lance retorted. Ash held the scales, watching as the spirit was judged.

            No hope.

            Carroll had transgressed and he would be paying for it, as long as the seals held, it was safer that way.

            Better safe than sorry, no one wanted a repeat of the Bob incident!

            But…

 

            “Lance-chan?”

            Lance paused, the gates already open behind her. “Yes?”

            “This is the end, isn’t it?”

            “I’m afraid so.”

            “Then…” Ash looked down, then up again, before tucking the scales into his backpack and walking up to her. “Before we enter sleep of death, can I do something?”

            A knowing light sparked in the Dragon Master’s eyes and she nodded.

            Ash blushed, and then kissed her.

            The next moment, the darkness enveloped them both and with a resounding *clang*, the gates closed.

            The end of an age. The end of an era. It was over.

 

End Chapter/END FIC!

Hehehehe… sorry, I couldn’t resist a touch of romance. I now that seemed clichéd, and I apologize.

Completed 5/11/04, created 5/6/04

 

Um… yes, I like leaving things incomplete because then people can speculate!