Disclaimer/Notes: See previous chapter

Phantomness: Hi all!
Emerald, Kairo, Shoyko, and Lance all wave, some happily, others not.

Phantomness: Enjoy the fic! *bows*

Chapter 6: Turning Pages

“I cannot believe it!”
< What? > Lance asked. < The callousness? >

< Well, partly… > Ash fumed, frustrated. < But… killing all of those pokemon and polluting a river just to get more money! >
< It’s done all the time, Ash. Very few companies actually care. >

< But why? It’s not their earth to ruin. >
< If I knew the answer to that, Ash, I would not have had to resort to destruction. > Lance said, recalling when his dragon army had almost decimated all the major cities in Kanto.

<Right… >

Lance slipped out and put an arm around the trainer. < Why are you so surprised? >

< I don’t know… maybe its because part of me still keeps hoping. > Ash sighed.

< Little one, sometimes its time to put fantasy behind you and see the real world. > Lance whispered.

Red was silent after that. Lance just held him. Soon, he fell asleep.

Lance solidified as he and Dragonite flew Ash back to his house.

You do care for him. Dragonite said oddly.

“What do you mean?”

I think maybe you might consider him a friend.

“Why not? He never fought me.” Lance said. “Besides, my life is intertwined with his. I cannot leave.”
So, making the best of the situation, master?

“Yes…”

Dragonite landed and Lance recalled his pokemon, before carrying Ash upstairs and tucking him into bed.

“Sleep well, partner.” Lance told him, before disappearing into the necklace again.

Red woke up hours later feeling better, the pain had been reduced to a dull ache. He had no idea how it had happened.

< Um… Lance? >
< You have another question for me. >

< Yes. Did you heal me? > Ash thwacked himself mentally. What a stupid question!

< Actually, I did. >
< Nani? > Red looked interested. < How? >

< It’s something called the Viridian Power. Every few years, a child is born possessing the powers of that forest… >

< Hmm… > Ash nodded. < So is that how Yellow could control Pika? >

< Very good, Ash. >

Ash hugged the sleeping Pikachu to him for a few minutes, brushing his hands over Pika’s shimmery fur.

“I’m glad Pika still loves me the best…”

“I’m sure you are.” Lance said, taking transparent form next to him.

“Lance… do you hate me?”
Lance’s eyebrows shot up. “Why would I hate you?”
“Well… I fought against the Elite Four…”

“You are also the reason I exist right now.” The Dragon Master pointed out. “Isn’t that true?”
“…” Red had to ponder for a while before he nodded.

If he hadn’t found that Dratini guarding the necklace, he would never have found Lance.
It was kind of like having an older brother, he decided.

< I will never hate you, because you gave me life again… > Lance whispered into Ash’s mind, like the brush of feathers. < Never. >

Feeling reassured, Red went downstairs and made himself some hot chocolate as a cheering agent.

Feeling much drowsier and pleasantly happy, he slept well that night.

Lance spent a few hours sleeping next to the boy, but slipped back into the necklace before Red awoke.

Red was the only person he could touch… even when he was solid, he could not feel. It was like he was still a spirit, only not.

It hurt a lot… he could feel his dragon pokemon simply by virtue of being the Dragon Master, but…

The breeze did not touch him.

And even when he walked, it was more like floating. He could not feel the ground underneath his feet either.

It was very depressing oftentimes, but at least he was not completely dead.

Somehow, that thought did not cheer him up.

“Lance?”

Lance started. “I’m sorry, Ash. I didn’t mean to wake you up.”

The younger boy looked at the spirit. “You’re sad? Why?”

“How did you know?”

Ash sat up, drawing the covers up to his chest. “I felt it.”
That was unexpected. “You can feel my emotions?”
Ash shook his head. “Only the very strong ones, and its very faint… but you feel sad right now. It woke me up.”

“I… It’s nothing.” Lance told him. “Go back to sleep.”

“But if you’re hurt, maybe I can help.”

‘Ash, if you really want to help, all you need to do is to work harder at your pokemon training.” Lance said, his voice taking on an acrimonious tone.

The trainer looked startled by the sharp reply, but did not press further and obediently went back to sleep.

End Chapter!
Lance was kind of mean… but cut him some slack. Look at what the poor guy has to go through.

Phantomness: *waves*

Lance: *crosses arms* so I’m a male in this fic?
Phantomness: We already established that, didn’t we?

Lance: *rolls eyes* Why do I even put up with you…

Started 2/26/04, Completed 2/27/04