Part 2!

Disclaimer: *Winces as she sees a Nintendo Rep go by and hides under desk* Um, I don’t own pokemon… it belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan comics. This is non-profit fanwork, I’m not infringing on their copyright and, this is my writing so I own it.

Notes: <> indicates telepathy, ** indicates thoughts, italics indicates translated pokemon speech. Lance is a girl. *Sighs* I needed that.

Part 2: Swirls of change

Misty and Brock expected to be blasted to smithereens any second, but that didn’t happen. Instead, Will and Karen rifled through the memories of the two gym leaders to check things.

< I say we wipe Misty’s. > Will said. < She knows too much, plus…you know what I’m talking about… >
< Yes, I know. Ash, you don’t like her, do you? > Karen queried.

Ash looked horrified. < Mom, I’m only twelve! Of course not! I’d rather marry Xatu for crying out loud! Just because I travel with her doesn’t mean I love her! And she blames me for everything! >

< Very well. Gengar, use Dream Eater! > Misty shrieked as the ghost descended upon her. She fainted a second later.

Brock tried to run, but Karen’s Umbreon caught him with a Shadow Ball attack.

“Gengar, do the same to him.” Karen said. Gengar nodded and waved its hands. Brock joined Misty on the floor.

Sabrina watched this all without saying anything. She patted her doll absentmindedly as she stared blankly ahead.

Will and Karen each grabbed one of Ash’s arms and teleported out.

< So, tell me, what’s going on? > Ash asked. < An explanation would be nice. >

< That’s definitely from you. > Karen told Will, who shrugged.

< We’ll explain as soon as we’re back in Indigo Plateau. >

< Okay. >

In a flash, they were there. Both Karen and Will looked around for a second, before cloaking Ash with their powers and leading him into Karen’s room.

< What’s going on? > Ash asked a few minutes later.

< Ash, you know how you have psychic powers? >

< So what? > Ash asked. < Other people have psychic powers too. What’s so special about me? >

< Apparently there’s this old legend. The children of two opposing element masters are said to be exceedingly powerful. So far, you’re the only one, and Team Rocket would love to get their greasy mitts on you. >

< I see. > Ash said as he petted his Xatu.

< So we have to hide you somehow. Either we can reintroduce you as a novice or you have to go into hiding. >
Ash winced. < Neither option sounds nice, but I’d rather take the novice one. Hiding would really cramp… >
< Very well. I’ll tell Lance. >

< What is it? > Lance asked as he brushed his Ampharos’s fur.

< Lance, you’ve wanted to get away from the Plateau for a while. We have a deal for you to consider. >

< Really? What? >

< Here, let me explain… >

Ten minutes later…

< I’ll do it. >
< Really? > Will asked. < Karen and I will be forever in your debt. >

< No problem. Just let me get my disguise ready. If he’s playing a novice, I’d better play someone close to his age. Wait a few minutes, please. > Lance dashed into his closet and emerged five minutes later.

Her hair was now its original blonde color, with all of the crimson red dye washed out, plus it had been tamed into pigtail braids tied off with blue ribbons. Her eerie silver-blue eyes were covered with colored contacts to make them look a deep green. Her dragon master attire had been changed into a pair of blue jeans, a dark blue vest over a white short-sleeved blouse, and light blue fingerless gloves. Instead of the elaborate poke ball holding apparatus she had as League Champion, she now had a grey double-stranded poke belt.

< What do you think? >

< You’d better talk; Lance, or else we won’t be able to figure out how to disguise your voice. > Will said.

Lance pitched her voice higher than normal and adopted a lighter tone. “So what do you think?”

< Great job. > Karen said. < I wouldn’t have recognized you, as you’re playing a girl not a boy… But how did you lose like six inches of height? >

< Well, that’s probably because I’m not wearing my boots anymore, plus my spiked hair adds a few inches too. >

< Do you have a pokédex and stuff? >

In response, Lance produced a red standard pokédex. “Hello. I am Dexter. I am programmed for new trainer Catelyn from Viridian City. If lost or stolen, I cannot be replaced.” In it was picture of ‘Catelyn’. It wasn’t too far from the original.

(Okay: A/N: Here’s a quick rundown on Lance’s aliases. Lance’s original name was Catelyn Vongard. Taking the letters and rearranging them, plus subtracting the v, the t, and the o = Lance Dragyn, the name she took on. This is already mentioned in the Dragon Series I believe.)

“All right, so now we introduce you to Ash.” Will said as he led the Dragon Master down the hall. “But don’t you look a bit old to be a beginning trainer?”
Lance’s form blurred for a second and then she reappeared as a 14-year old. “Better?”
< Thanks for doing this again. >
< No problem. > * I’m only fifteen, anyways, but my illusion makes me look like I’m in my early twenties. That way, people don’t think about my prowess too much. It’s just one of the Dragon Master’s privileges. Psychic ties in with dragon, Lugia’s more than one type… *

They walked down the hall to Ash’s room.

When they opened the door, they found Ash and Xatu flying around playing tag. Ash’s other pokemon were sitting on the floor. Bulbasaur. Squirtle. Charmander. Pidgeotto.

“Hi!” Ash said, looking up. Then, he frowned. “Mom, who is she?”
“This is Catelyn, just call her Cat for short. She’ll be your companion on your pokemon journey.” Karen said pleasantly.

Ash frowned. * I hope she’s not like Misty. *

Lance smiled a little bit. “Hi.” She said shyly.

“Hi.” Ash said. “So, are you a novice too?”
Lance nodded and discreetly crossed her fingers.

“Cool!” Ash said a bit more enthusiastically. “What’s your starter pokemon?”

Lance smiled. “Want to see my pokemon?”

“Sure!” Ash said enthusiastically. Will and Karen shot each other worried looks.

< Are you sure this is all right, Lance? >

< Sure. > Lance opened several poke balls. From two came Dratinis, one with a gold spot on its head, one with a silver spot. From another one came a Larvitar. From yet another poke ball appeared a Kingdra. And finally, from the last poke ball, out popped a Charmander.

< Lance… are those two Dratini by any chance your two Dragonairs? > Will asked.

< Yes. They agreed to the devolution spray. I’m leaving Dragonite, Aerodactyl, Ampharos, and Gyrados here. They’re for protection. >

< I see. >

“Cool!” Ash said. He and ‘Cat’ chatted for a while before Will and Karen ordered them to bed.

“Tomorrow, you’re officially starting over again, Ash.”
“I know.” Ash sighed.

“We should change your name too. How about Mike?”
“No way!”

“I think…Silver.” Lance said after a few minutes of contemplation.

“Hey, that’s not too bad.” Ash said. “Okay, remember to call me Silver in public!”

Lance nodded. * I won’t forget… *

End part 2!

Started 12/2/02, completed 3/22/03