And…. Another chapter! *Drum roll sounds, along with a full brass band playing ‘Waltzing Matilda’.
Lance: You always were one for theatrics…
Ash: *hugs Lance*
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 6
“Lance?”
“What is it, Ash?” Surely the boy had not caused some trouble? But no, the dream Realm was peaceful enough to warrant a carefree life. Or perhaps he had managed to create another pokémon. In nay case, Lance gave his purring Dragonair a final pat and hopped off its back to see what the commotion was.
Ash was waiting for him with a beaming grin.
Lance studied the creature. A Pikachu, was it?
“Where did you find it?”
“Her! I found her living here!”
“Her?” Lance raised en eyebrow. He had not expected wild pokemon in the Realm of Dreams. For some reason, he felt as though he should have expected it. But why would he think that way? He had never been here before.
He banished the stray thought and scratched the little electric mouse on the head.
“Hi!” It squeaked.
That caused him to pause. “What? You speak English?”
“Of course I do! I’m a special Pikachu, after all!”
“I call her Pika-chan.” Ash cut in with a smile. “Aren’t her wings the cutest?”
Lance blinked. Wings? How could a pikachu have wings? But as he looked, he saw that indeed, there was a tiny pair of white feathery wings flat against the Pikachu’s back. They did look quite cute.
How had he missed it?
He prided himself on his investigation and alertness skills… and yet, such an obvious feature had skipped his notice.
It was an anomaly that would not be repeated….
“So where did she come from?” Lance asked, as he watched Pika-chan eat her way through a lemon meringue pie. She moved onto the cherry pie he had made next. Ash shrugged.
“I wasn’t lying to you earlier, Lance. I just found her here.”
Odd…
Still, he was quite sure Ash wasn’t mendacious, so he had to accept the explanation, as unfulfilling as it was.
But… did Ash’s creation powers come untapped? No, that was not quite the word he was seeking. Perhaps Ash’s powers were uncontrollable, an unconscious power.
That could be quite dangerous. He would have to ask the Priestess when he saw her again. Until then, he would take care of the child.
It was not like any one else would.
“Will you pledge him your allegiance?” The Priestess asked softly.
Koga nodded as he knelt in front of the statue of Moltres. “I promise to serve the Chosen One who holds the power of Creation loyally until breath has left my body.”
Charlotte nodded as she felt the slightest tinge of Phoenix fire manifest in his aura. “It is finished.”
Koga nodded. Next to him, Aya smiled and Morty shook his head.
They were sworn to the Chosen One now, but until he was of age and saw fit to command them, their lives were their own.
Honestly, Morty did not even know who the Chosen One was. He knew of the importance, and he knew that there would be guardians appointed to protect the Chosen One, but he had never seen him with his own eyes, or even in visions.
The Realm of Dreams did not permit scrying within its boundaries. And when one was within the Realm, one could not see what happened outside.
It was like a separate world across half an inverted mirror.
“I don’t know what to do.” Lance whispered. Ash was sleeping, wrapped warmly in several blankets and with his new Pika-chan cuddled in his arms. “I am not made for this world, and I know it…”
Dragonite gave him a sympathetic smile.
“It doesn’t matter.” He sighed.
All that mattered was keeping the Chosen Child safe… and relatively happy.
In all honesty, he could pride himself in a job well done.
< So tell me. >
Moltres looked at Lugia with a frown. < Does the situation displease you? >
< Not at all, and not yet, my dear phoenix. >
Moltres colored slightly, and said no more.
< I do worry. >
< For the Chosen Child? You have no reason to. >
< I have plenty of reason to. > Lugia sighed. < Neither of them remembers. This could so easily lead to tragedy. >
< They have passed before. > Moltres reminded him gently.
Lugia sighed. < I know. And yet, it is good that Ash is there for him, no matter how I may disapprove. He never was meant for ice. >
< I understand. >
< You are lucky. Yours always finds you. >
< How could she not? I am her bloodline. >
< You have more influence than I do, in this world. Promise me. Promise me you will take care of him. >
< I promise. >
“The time will come soon, won’t it?” She asked quietly, as she carefully poured scented oil into the altar, feeling flames bloom up greedily.
“Yes, it will.” He put his hands on her shoulders. “Why are you frightened?”
“I wish I knew, but all I have is a vague feeling of foreboding.”
“I feel that as well. There are dark clouds on the horizon.”
She sighed.
End Chapter
Completed 5/22/06
I hate, hate, and really hate chemistry. *Cries*