Hey all! Just in case you didn’t know already, I don’t own pokemon! IT belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. This is non-profit fanwork, mine since I wrote it, and I’m not infringing on their copyright!

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

Timeline: only a couple of days later

Chapter 9: Know thine enemy

< Ne, Lance-chan, why do we have to go back? >

< Calm down, Ash. >

Ash put his hands on his hips and scowled. “It’s not fair!”

“Life’s not fair to anyone, least of all Chosen. At least we’ve got the magic powers to go with it.”

“H-hai…” He still didn’t sound mollified.

“What do you want me to do, kiss you and make it better?”

Ash brightened as Lance fulfilled his promise.

< Oh, go on, you two. > Lugia scolded. < Time’s a-wasting. >

< Lugia-san, why are we doing this again? >

< To check if any can actually take my tests for mastery against all odds. >

< Very well. >

< Let’s go! > Ash said, having suddenly shifted into a much better mood.

Was it love?

Not yet, most likely. Just affection. Lots of affection that most guys would not bother showing, still, who said these two were normal?

But it felt nice!
And he liked being hugged. So there!

The blue glow of teleport surrounded them and they reappeared in a familiar pseudo-city.

Misty looked up as her eyeballs nearly popped out of their sockets.

Woah…

Was that really Ash? He had certainly grown up. He looked kind of hot, actually.

To her surprise, Misty found herself blushing as he flashed a grin her way.

“Hi, Misty!”

Lance brushed some invisible dust specks off his dark red cloak and touched Lugia’s amulet, feeling the familiar flare of power.

< I’m scanning now… >

Lugia looked through lance’s eyes as they focused on Misty. Soon, the connection broke off.

< None. >

< A good trainer, but no mastery potential. >

< Very well. >

Lance’s eyes slid back to where Misty and Ash were actually not having a fight. Interesting.

Perhaps the little one could learn to fly now.

Let’s do a little experiment, shall we?

Lance’s lips curved up in a smirk, as a seal of silver shimmered around him in fire, shielded by the shadows.

Game start.

If you don’t want to play, you don’t have to play…

Wings of wind and water

One minute he had been complimenting Misty on how well she had trained her Dewgong, and the next…

He was bent over in pain, as pressure knifed through his chest.

What was going on!?

In a few seconds, the pain had faded, but Ash was still shaken. * What was that? *

I don’t know. Pika-chan reported dutifully.

< I know that! Let me check… >

Marill dropped from his poke ball and scanned.

Nothing was out of the ordinary.

There certainly weren’t any wild pokemon around…

How strange!

“Ash, you okay?”

His attention snapped back to the concerned redhead and he nodded.

“Well, just checking.”

She actually smiled at him. It looked like growing up had agreed with her.

Meanwhile, misty had begun to calculate.

Ash wasn’t too bad of a trainer, he was close to her age, and if he really were dense she could take advantage of it!
It was a pretty good deal, considering the others left.

Why not?

She’d ask her parents, but they would probably agree.

“Ash, will you date with me?”

“Date?” Ash blinked. “What is… a date?”

It didn’t’ sound familiar.

Was it playing games? He could do that.

Just spending time with the other person? Lance-chan was always there for him.

Did it involve coitus?

No, hopefully not! Lugia had looked uncomfortable when he had asked that… it must be something really, really painful.

Ugh…

Besides, Lance-chan had looked positively mortified at the question.

So it had to hurt, right?

It was probably dangerous too!

“Ash, you okay?”

Ash eeped.

Misty blinked. Ash had turned pale, then red, and was now… freaking out?

“What’s wrong?”

“W-what is a date?” Ash asked nervously.

Misty sweatdropped.

< You’ll be mine, little one… >

< You are acting this early, Chosen? >

< Lugia, it’s not that early. > Lance said; closing the silver-scrolled dark mirror he held for scrying.

< True, but if I’m correct, he’s suffering from some misconceptions. >

< Part of that is your fault, you know. >

< I admit I was surprised by that question! >

< Well, let’s see how this plays out. He’ll find me if he really wants me. > Lance grinned.

< Chosen… >

< And if he breaks me… > Lance trailed off into semi-hysterical giggles. < Then I’ll just have to make him mine another way. >

End Chapter

Complete 4/15/04