Well, here goes!

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*

Chapter 8

Perhaps the Ice Blade was here, Lance thought optimistically. After all, what with the state of the waterfall, he would not be surprised. They had waded through icy water for perhaps an hour when they began to tire, only to see before them a waterfall – only it was not moving. It was a mass of solid ice glittering in crystalline formation. There were even some frozen droplets hanging in the air.

It was almost as though the ice had stopped the flow of time and the flow of water. They all stared at it, even Ash.

“Sugoi…”

“Do we have to climb up it?” Koga asked, already removing grappling hooks from his pack. Ash hesitated, almost hoping for another vision flash, but alas, one did not come. Morty hummed and concentrated, trying to see past the shell of ice.

“Do you see anything within?”

“Only a casket of black… I cannot see whether tis made of stone or wood.” Morty said.

Ash grinned. “Well, that has to be it! Now how do we get in the waterfall?”

“Perhaps if we climb up….” Koga suggested, as Lance efficiently built a fire to dry off their soaked clothing. “But a short meal and rest would benefit us first.”

They ate bread and dried fruits, and after a short rest, Koga threw up his grappling hooks and showed them three ropes strung tightly.

“I’m afraid that we’ll have to climb up separately.”

Morty frowned. “Then I will go first, with Aya and the Chosen One….”

“I am not sure that would be wise.” Lance said quietly. “Though your sight and Aya’s secrecy are of great value, if there is danger…”

“I understand. We would be ill-prepared.”

“Then I shall go instead of Aya.” Koga said. His Blade dancing gift would come in handy should combat arise.

Lance shrugged. “That seems a satisfactory solution.” He turned to Ash and cast a new set of the protection wards covering his body as the teen frowned slightly.

“Do not be hasty.”

“I won’t be.”

“And remember. This could be a trap.”

“I know.”

With that, the three climbers strapped themselves in well – Morty released two of his ghosts to help him climb, and Ash called out his Bulbasaur.

They began to climb.

Half an hour later, Ash’s arms were aching and he was wishing he’d practiced this while he was in the Dream Realm. Koga didn’t even look tired, while Morty had an expression of intense concentration on his face as Mysdreavus and Haunter pulled him along. Ash sighed inwardly and made a mental note to whip up a healing potion later.

They continued to climb.

Down below, Aya and Lance had begun to climb as well. Aya raised an eyebrow as she watched Lance drive thin steel blades into the ice to pull himself along. Whatever worked, she supposed, though wouldn’t such actions weaken the structure? Perhaps she ought to mention it to him.

Lance sheepishly admitted that he couldn’t climb ropes, and she made no further comment. They made it to the top to find the other three resting and passing around a gourd of orange juice.

Ash winced as he rubbed his arms. They had made it to the top of the waterfall, but where was the cave entrance? It had to be around here somewhere.

Morty concentrated, before suddenly he grabbed Aya’s arm and whispered to her. She nodded and cloaked the group in shadows. They scrunched up against one side of the glacier, wondering what was going on.

As they watched, a tall man dressed in a robe of smooth silver riding the back of a magnificent blue bird – a frost bird, was that the legendary Articuno? Dismounted without even a perfunctory glance in their direction and pressed his palms to the ice wall. There was a creaking noise, was metal gears shifted away and a small space, barely big enough for a tall man to pass through, opened. A moment later, it closed behind him.

The adventurers looked at each other.

“Perhaps we could blast the door down?” Ash suggested.

“You hold fire pocket monsters?”

“A few.”

“It may be wiser to sneak in.” Aya told him. “After all, he did not sense our presence earlier. We could do a bit of investigation instead of blindly charging into danger.”

Ash colored, but her suggestion was quite reasonable. It would be selfish to provoke an argument. Lance gave him the slightest fraction of a nod. Ash’s face glowed as he felt warmth well up inside of him.

It was nice to know he was making the right choices. Slowly, he would learn and grow more.

“That is probably a better idea. Morty, did you see how the mechanism was opened?”

The Priest shook his head. “I believe it is keyed only to him. Who knows what might happen if an intruder attempts to open the door?”

Lance stepped forwards. “I shall give it a try.”

“Your funeral.” Koga said, and the rest of the group stepped back several yards just in case a trap went off.

Lance nodded. Stepping forwards, he placed a gloved hand on the same place the man had. For seconds, the group waited with baited breath.

Nothing happened.

Then, there was a loud cracking sound. The door mechanism once again slid open, and footsteps sounded.

Lance drew his Dragon Blade and prepared for a battle. Behind him, he could hear the others drawing weapons as well.

It was dangerous, but they had to fight!

The man burst out, icicles in his wake. Was this man an ice master, or a mage? Well in that case…

“Entei! Raikou! Attack!”

The two dogs burst from their glass spheres, breathing out fire, which turned the man’s ice magic into water, followed by wave of static electricity, that left the man fried.

Ash smiled sweetly, and the five traipsed down the stairs into the frozen cavern below, in search of the Blade of Ice.

End Chapter

Completed 3/24/06

I hunt for apartments! Ah well, it’s important. ^^