Well, the shipping has to come later, they’re kids now.

Disclaimer: I really don’t own pokemon, ok?? It belongs to Nintendo. This is non-profit fanfic, so no copyright infringement is intended, and what I write is mine under international copyright laws.

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

 

Chapter 2: Drifting dreamer

 

            “Lance-chan?”
            The trainer paused, putting down the daggers he was holding. “What is it?”

            Ash held a baby Lapras in his arms. “Is she? I found her on the beach… is she all right?”

            Lance was by his side in an instant. “Let me check.”

            A dark blue glow surrounded him for a few minutes, before it faded. Lance looked relieved. “She’s just cold.”

            “Really?”

            “Yes, why don’t you go get a blanket and I’ll warm up some milk for her. No mother?”
            “N-no…”

            “Strange… could they have found the poke ball technology again?”

            Lance made a mental note to report to Lugia.

 

Indigo Mainland

 

            Misty Waterflower gasped as her dad handed her a poke ball. “Oh, it’s perfect!”

            “You always wanted a water type, kiddo.” Bruno laughed. “Now you have one.”
            “What about me?” Her brother Brock whined.

            “You’ll get yours too, I thought you wanted a rock-type. Don’t’ you already have Geodude?”

            “But I want an onix too!”

            “It’s difficult to capture pokemon nowadays, but it wasn’t always like this.” The small family lived in what had once been a poke mart, which was actually quite comfortable. They kept the exterior dilapidated-looking to disavow suspicion, however the interior was well stocked with pokemon items. It was probably the only one in the area though.

            A few other small families lived nearby, but it was nothing compared to the huge crowds that once filled Indigo.

            It was a sad fate.

            Bruno’s Hitmonchan and Hitmonlee were the only two pokemon he had left. Onix had died in the attack on his fighting gym, and Machamp had been stolen by Team rocket weeks before.

            Still… it was better than nothing.

            He had traveled for almost a month to get Misty that water pokemon. It was lucky they had four working water purifiers with them…otherwise they would be dehydrated. Indigo was a mess. Pollution had turned it into a wasteland, and without the technology to fix the problem…

            Survival was all that mattered.

            Hardly any pokemon lived in the once-lush forests.

 

            Bruno suspected it had something to do with the sky.

            The sky had simply turned sea-green one day, and had stayed that way. The color was definitely abnormal.

            Then there had been pokemon dropping out of it for a while, that that had disappeared, and when it was over, there was hardly a pokemon to be found in Indigo. What was going on?! He was just a small gym leader, he didn’t know!

            At least his wife Marina was still alive, and his two children.

            He sighed.

            Make the best with what you’ve got…

 

Whirl Islands

 

            < Lance. >

            < Hai, Lugia-san. > The boy asked, politely kneeling, pure white cape puddled behind him.

            < It seems that the mother Lapras is in the hands of a young girl. >

            < Do you want me to retrieve it, Lugia-san? >

            < No. I have a better idea, Chosen. >

            Lance waited politely while Lugia explained his plan. It made sense… if they passed the test, then harmony could slowly return.

            Yes…

            < Of course, you will not show them the true extent of your powers. Maybe one or two small ones won’t hurt, since it is recorded that some humans have a gift for magic. Caution should be exercised nonetheless.>

            < I understand. >

            < My brilliant Chosen. > Lugia smiled. < The stage is set. >

 

            The next day Ash and Lance teleported to Indigo Island disguised as siblings whose parents had been killed.

            Lance’s hair had been turned jet-black by magic, streaks of blue showing here and there. He was wearing jeans and a t-shirt like any normal child, Ash the same.

            Each one had a poke belt from which two poke balls dangled.

            Lugia had warned them that pokemon were rare and to carry as little as possible.

 

            “Can I call you aniki then?”

            “Certainly, Ash-chan.” Lance said, slipping into the role. “Or should I say, otouto?”

            Ash grinned, hugging Lance tightly.

            He wouldn’t make them fail this mission!
            “Now. Let’s practice.”

            Since they were in an empty clearing at the moment, Ash nodded.

 

            “Mother?”

            “Rosa Stone.”

            “Father?”

            “Joshua Patterson.”

            “Occupations?”

            “Dad was a trainer who was never home, mom was good at cooking. Standard housewife. I don’t remember much about them.”

            “Pokemon.”

            “Well, I have ‘dad’s’ Pikachu and Mom’s Marill…”

            “Yes, and I have two pokemon of my own since they were a birthday present.”

            “Likes/dislikes/other stuff?”

            “I can’t remember very much about my past…”

            “Good. I think we’re ready. Remember, since we have… psychological trauma induced by the fact that our mom died in a fire… we can explain any gaps that way.”

            Ash hugged Lance for reassurance, before they headed towards civilization.

           

End Chapter

Created 4/14/04, completed 4/15/04