And… I do have another chapter!

Disclaimer: Pokemon belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. This non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfiction belongs to me under international copyright laws and taking it is plagiarism. Thank you. *Phantomness bows*

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

 

Chapter 2

 

Lance froze, blue eyes darkening almost to black. “What?” And before Ash knew what was happening, the Champion had pulled a knife out of somewhere and had it pressed to his throat.

            “I…” Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. He’d only meant to tease her. She wouldn’t kill him, would she?

            “What did you just call me?” Lance hissed.

            “I…I’m sorry, Lance. I didn’t mean to!” His heart hammered in his chest and he felt his life flash before his eyes. Even if he – she were cheerful on the outside, Lance did work for the government and she was powerful…

            The pressure let up and Lance climbed off him, liquid grace in every curve. She vanished the knife again with a frown.

            “Don’t call me that. Catelyn is dead! She drowned five years ago!”

            “But… why?”

            “Catelyn was too weak. She wasn’t a strong enough trainer. The only dragon she had was a Charmander. The Clan didn’t want her! No one wanted her. So I took over. I work with dragons. I’m the one who can tame them, who can use their power, bend them to my will. Now I am the way I am meant to be. Catelyn was just a step in that process. She. Is. Dead. Do not mention her name to me again!”

            “Sorry.” Ash whispered, still shaking. Scary…

            “Tell me.” Lance continued, as she sat down, flicking the light on. The entire room was done in red, Ash now realized, red and black, just like the outfit she wore as Champion. “What did you find out about Catelyn?”

            “Not much.” He said honestly. “She got all the Johto badges and than she was found drowned… but it said that you were her twin brother and that you took over her journey for her. It just sounded fishy, especially since the government let you use her badges…”

            “You’re sharp when you want to be.” Lance said dryly. “Pity you don’t use it more often. Running after Gyarados shouting about friendship for hours indeed.”

            Ash colored. “I…”

            “An admirable sentiment, you know, but I can’t accept. After all, I already have someone.”

            Ash felt his heart drop into his stomach. “Who?”

            “You’ll see.” Lance stood, and something seemed to shift.

 

            The door slid open, and for a moment, Ash thought he was looking into a mirror. But then things were different. This trainer’s vest was red and white and so were his sneakers, and his skin was paler and he was slightly taller… but then again…

            “Lance. I missed you.”

            “I missed you too Red, but I had to come here. You know why.”

            The older version of him, was it Red? Shot Ash a poisonous glare. “I don’t care. She’s my girlfriend and you had no right to fall in love.”

            “Now, now, Red, that’s cruel of you. He didn’t know I was taken. Though I must admit I’m quite angry he found out my secret. What should we do?”

            Red frowned. “What do you think?”

            “If you defeated him…”

            “I can do that.” The other version of him smiled. “I challenge you to a battle, Ash. Winner gets her.”

            “You’re on!” Ash’s competitive streak immediately reared its head. Lance shook her head. Boys would still be boys. Soon, soon as her work here was done, she would return to Cerise with the badges and shed her disguise, along with the rest of the Elite. Agatha’s mass hypnosis was scheduled to end in a few months…

           

            He beckoned his Pikachu forwards, and Red’s smile dropped. Thinking about Pika still hurt… he gasped and Lance was instantly at his side, her fingers covering his hand as he pressed his hands to his chest.

            “Red!”

            “I... I can’t help thinking of Pika… and what he did to you…!”

            “Shh, shh…” Lance whispered, as healing blue light trickled out of her fingers. “Calm down, Red. It’s all right.”

            Red took another shuddering breath, before he released a Poliwrath. Ash expected this to be an easy win, but was horribly shocked when Poliwrath defeated Pikachu in several minutes. Red didn’t even give orders!

            “One down.”

            Ash’s anger flared. “You’re psychic, aren’t you? That’s not fair!”

            “I am not psychic.” Red replied. “I have simply been a trainer longer than you have. Also, I’m ninth Kanto League Champion.”

            “He doesn’t remember, Red. Agatha wiped you and the others from public knowledge as well. Oak might the only one that remembers, maybe Elm and Birch as well… finish it.”

            “I understand.” Red smiled. Ash released his Bayleef next, but to his shock, Poliwrath soundly defeated her as well.

            “You can’t protect Lance. I’m the only one who can.” Red told Ash. “She’s not for you. You’ve just met her… how can you say that you love her?”

            “How can you?”

            Red’s temper flared and his ruby eyes narrowed. “I have to protect her! When they find out what the Elite really have been doing, there will be panic! They’ll all die!”

            “Then… why did… why are you still here?”

            Lance sighed. “We are Elite, and we must take care of the world the way we see fit. The others may never agree with us, but we are bound by contract. It’s complicated, Ash, and I wish I’d never met you. You should not be dragged into this mess.”

            “I…” Ash wasn’t sure what to say. “I guess I should leave.”

            So he did.

 

            “Did we do the right thing?”

            “I hope so.” Lance whispered, as she kissed Red. “Otherwise, there will be hell to pay. It will be all right, in the end.”

            “In the end, everything will be all right.” Red agreed, echoing her words.

 

            “How soon, Agatha?”

            The Ghost Master smiled wryly. “Not long at all, Lance. We had best begin to prepare our defenses.”

            Lance nodded. She and Red walked into the heart of the Plateau, where the machine whirred and hummed. From the original eight, they had added the eight badges of Johto and just recently, the final eight of Houen…

            “It will do no good to make them forget again. It would kill Agatha.”

            “I will help.” Red whispered. “I will bring water and grass to help you.”

            “I know, and I thank you for it…”

            “Karen and Will have brought the dark and psychic types, along with Sabrina and Morty. Bugsy pledged the bugs and Falkner those on wings…”

            “So tis Blaine and Misty and Brock and Erika we must worry about?”

            “At the moment, yes.”

            “And what of Pryce?”

            “Leave Pryce to me.” Agatha said quietly. “I’ll fix things.”

            “All right…”

 

End Fic

Completed 12/22/05

Argh, angst! So much for trying a humor… this needs a sequel or something. But I need a name…

Lance: I’m like a time bomb

Red: *glomps Lance*

Ash: *cries*