Black for the woods, white for the snow, crimson for the blood that flows…

That chant’s been stuck in my head for days!

Disclaimer/Notes: Go see an earlier chapter

Chapter 5: As unorthodox as it may be…

It was the last day.

“So, how are you doing Red?”

“Pretty good.” Ash grinned. “You?”

Lance shrugged. “People keep challenging me. Why is that?”

‘No idea.”

“I see from the records that you’ll get one of the Master Champion spots this year. Congrats.”

Ash blushed slightly. “Thanks! Um…”

“Will I train you now that I’ve seen what a good Master you are?”

Goldfish was a very good impression of Ash at the moment. “How did you know?”

“You just gave it away, dear. I’ll think on it. Why not, I’ve got nothing to lose…” Lance’s reply was cut off as Ash glomped him.

“WAI!! Thank you Lance! You won’t regret this!”

… I already am, the Champion sighed inside his head. * What have I gotten myself into? He can’t be that hyper, can he? I thought he’d learned restraint. Maybe he’s just too excited right now. *

He hoped so.

Ash finally calmed down about half an hour later when the euphoria had finally worn off.

Wow…

Really? Was this a dream? Couldn’t be! He pinched himself just to make sure… no! It was real!
How nice! Yay! Lance had promised! Yay~!

“So what do you want in return?”

“I already made a deal with Blaine. However, it’d be nice if he fulfilled it faster.” Lance smiled. “Let me borrow the phoenix feather for a few minutes.”

The Phoenix feather was a family heirloom. Moltres herself had given it to the first Fire Master. Why did Lance want it?

Still… one couldn’t force the feather to do anything. Sometimes, it granted magic gifts to certain members of their clan, sometimes not.

It could only be used once, and the result was unpredictable. One cousin had gotten a magic staff in the past, another learned the new move, Overheat, a third could use flames to teleport…

Who knew what might occur?

“Are you sure?”

Lance nodded. “If I don’t get a gift, well, it’s no fault of your family.”

“Okay!” Ash released Charizard, flew off, and returned in a few minutes with the Phoenix feather protectively cupped in his hands.

It was a tiny scrap of red, but very precious!

“Ready?”

“Ready.”

Lance closed his eyes as he laid his fingertips on the feather. There were three great magic items the legendaries had granted.

Lugia had given his Clan the Dragon Fang.

Moltres had given Ash’s clan the Phoenix Feather.

Jirachi had given Jasmine’s clan the Steel Ring.

If a Master had the combined power of all three, they were a force to be reckoned with indeed, enough power to rival one of the weaker legendaries.

He wanted power to heal and power to destroy. The Dragon Fang had gifted him the ability to heal – with water, tears, and ice.

Now, he needed destruction.

The feather was warm in his hand. The familiar rush of new power flooded him, intoxicating in its essence.

Yes…

Ash looked surprised as the feather glowed, but shrugged. The mystical items had a mind of their own sometimes. * I wonder what gift Lance got? *

A few minutes later, he took it back.

Lance took a few unsteady steps, before smiling. * It worked… * Unclasping his hands, he revealed flames shimmering between his fingers. Destruction sang her siren song in his heart as he smiled.

Oh yes…

< Soon, Father, soon… > Lance said, feeling the familiar rush of warm energy in his body. While he was at it, though, maybe he should…

Catch a legendary child…

“Shall we begin training then?”

“Hai!” Ash cheered. “Let’s go!”

Lance’s training started with basic physical exercise for both trainer and the pokemon. Sufficed to say that by the end of day 1, Ash was panting.

“Is this really necessary?”

“Well, I believe that you need a strong body and a strong inner spirit to be powerful,” Lance said, taking a sip of Super Potion, “That way, you do not always have to depend on your pokemon partner. Situations may arise when he or she is inaccessible.”

Ash couldn’t fault Lance’s logic, but he was tired!

“There’s a hot spring that way.” They were currently training in Mount Silver, a wild, high-level pokemon infested area, which most trainers avoided like the plague. Therefore, interruptions were unlikely.

Legendaries were unpredictable though.

Honou and Lugia watched as the two fought.

I didn’t expect Lance to figure out the truth so quickly. Honou said, slightly irritated at his secret having been discovered.

< Well, Lance is good at sensing power. > Lugia said somewhat braggingly. After all, Lance was his Dragon Master.

< But how? Even Ash’s family didn’t know… >

< That you’re his father? >

Yes! Rainbow phoenix flapped his wings cantankerously. * He could wreak my plans! I need Ash to get stronger for the future, but… *

< Oh come off it, Honou. Surely you don’t see? >

See what?

< The eyes, you idiot! His eyes! Mastery doesn’t turn people’s eyes red! Even if Ninetails had red eyes, it wouldn’t be permanent! They’d be some mid range brownish red! But his eyes are pure crimson! You can hardly see the pupils! If that’s not a sign I don’t know what is! >

Ack! Careless! I didn’t even think about that!

< No, you didn’t. What if someone else notices, hmm? > Lugia asked. * Honou is _so_ careless… I’d better have Lance keep both eyes on Honou’s child; he definitely has the same lack of common sense and reckless abandon. *

Honou scowled. * I’ll think of something. *

“So… tired…” Ash gratefully sank into the heated mineral-enriched water. His sore muscles began relaxing as the healing properties of the spring began to work. * Ahh… * He closed his eyes and leaned back against a side of the pool.

This felt really good.

< So Lance just wanted the phoenix feather. >

< Yep. >

Relief blossomed in his heart, though. He had been thinking too much. There was no way in Mew’s name that Lance had a crush on him. They barely knew each other!

Tomorrow would be another day of training…

Ash sank deeper into the water, relaxing. Well, he’d face the day when it came. For now, though, rest burgeoned above all other needs.

End Chapter

Completed 11/4/04

Kairo: Interesting

Shoyko: Not too dark right now… *crosses fingers* please stay that way…

Ash: Where’s the romance?

Phantomness: I don’t like rushing those things… please wait. This may not be a romance.