I hate writer’s block

Disclaimer: Pokemon belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. This non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfiction belongs to me. I don’t own pokemon…

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

Chapter 8: Heart to heart

“You’re not dead!”

“No, I don’t die that easily.” Lance said. “You, on the other hand, are much too emotional. What if you had died?”

“G-gomen…”

“No. It’s too serious. This is *not* a game.” Lance sighed. “Why don’t you understand?” * Despite this… child that you are, I don’t want to lose you… *

It wasn’t quite fair. Lance was barely a year older than Ash; he just acted more mature. Still, he felt protective, almost, towards the other trainer.

How odd…

“I… I can’t…”

“You can’t what, Ash? Merciful Mew, I thought you had sense! Why were you trying to die for something that wasn’t your fault? Are you insane?”

“Because… because I betrayed you.” Ash whispered.

“What?”

“You… you taught me how to control my fire magic, and now… and now… you … I… I hurt you!”

“Yes, you hurt me!” Lance snapped. “But it wasn’t what you did! It wasn’t because you told my location!”

“What?”

“I’m horrified you tried to commit suicide!”

Ash paled. “I… I didn’t think you’d care…”

“Does the meaning of ‘friends’ hold no meaning for you then?”

“Are we friends?”

“Ash,” Lance sighed. “I would be willing to offer you more than that, but yes, we are friends…and I care about you.”

Feeling reassured (and guilty), Ash nodded.

Lance hugged him, slightly wary. * Just to make him feel better… *

I’ll do this.

Yes… I won’t fail you.

I… I think I love you. Why?

They hid. It was the safest course to take while the Team Rocket menace burned itself out. It was so… hard though; hiding and not battling.

It wasn’t being sneaky though. It was… difficult.

I hate hiding. I don’t want to be weak. I’m _not_ weak!

But I have to do this. It’ll cost both our lives if I don’t stay.

So I have to stay. Have to.

It was raining the day the Rockets finally fell.

Cowards? Yes…

But we don’t want to give our lives for nothing! Never!

Despite the rage in our hearts and the urge to fight, we have to be careful, so we’ll hide…

“You hid?”

Her voice was full of outrage. It made sense, since she had lost one of her sisters to the Rockets.

“Yes.”

“Damn you, Ash! I thought you were a hero!”

Hero…

Yes. Father met mother and she conceived gave birth to me so I would be a hero. But I’ve already saved the world twice. Mewtwo’s island, Shamouti…

Why should you demand more of me?

What right do you have to do that?

None.

I refuse to let you control me…

It was snowing. Snow was pretty. Very pretty! He liked snow. It shimmered and glowed and was so pretty!
“I’m freezing.” Ash shivered.

“Are you?”

“You’re so warm…”

“I’m a dragon, I’m _not_ warm.” But I’m burning inside, and I’m falling, and the fire is warm but it’s killing me at the same time…

“Lance?”

“Lance?”

What is she doing here? She shouldn’t be here? Get out of father’s sanctuary – out! I don’t care if they’re related, I don’t want to talk to her…

“Ah! Lance! What are you doing?”
The fire burns and I’m burning and the flames are _so_ pretty! Pretty fire is burning in my eyes and in my heart and…

“Erika!”

Fire is so bright but I’ll never have it, no, never…

“Lance! Please! Quit it!”

Pain. Heat. Oblivion…

Why? Fire’s unhappy? Why?

Ash lowered his sword cautiously, making sure that Lance was definitely unconscious.

Erika brushed the soot off her clothes and sighed in relief. “Don’t worry, Ash. He’s ruined my cloak but that’s the only damage.”

“I’m so sorry! I didn’t know this would happen!”

“Neither did I, Ash… what’s with him? Is he ill?”

“I didn’t think so but now I think he is…”

Cold.

Dark and cold and freezing…

Where did the fires go?

I want the fires to come back!

< Chosen… >

Father! Yes, the light, pretty light, it’s coming for me…

< Come, child… >

Safe. Father will protect me.

I don’t need fires if I have him.

Yes…

“Lance?”

Gold meets crimson.

“What is it?”

“You hurt Erika, Lance. Don’t you remember?”

He can’t remember. The fires have eaten and consumed everything that isn’t flame and he can’t hold on… and the flames won’t stay with him now that they’ve burned everything into nothing…

“Iie!”

Why? Why? The… phoenix gift… no! It wasn’t a gift! He was…

“Lance!”

Ash stared in shocked disbelief as the rainbow flames consumed the Dragon Master. “No… No! It can’t be! It can’t-!”

Lugia shook his head. * He flew too high, tried to take the power, and now, it’s destroyed him. My poor child… *

“What…”

“Phoenix gift, or should I say, Phoenix _CURSE_…” Lugia shook his head. “I should have known, should have warned him, I should never have allowed this to happen.” * But why? Who would _dare_ harm my child… *

“He’s dead? He can’t be!”

“Fire killed him in the end. The power was too much to bear.” * Oh… absolute power only corrupts… it’s burned his sanity, his wisdom, now his very life… oh gods… why him? Why? *

There was no answer for either of them.

End Chapter

Completed 11/6/04, started 11/5/04

Lance: Why am I dead? *Growls*

Phantomness: I didn’t mean to kill you! And who said you were dead?

Shoyko: Lugia?

Phantomness: I’ll figure out a way around it…