*Waves* Hi!

Disclaimer: I don’t’ own pokemon, as it belongs to Nintendo. This is non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfic written by me so it’s mine!!!

Daisuke – there’s always more, but revenge isn’t always the best policy.

Link Masters – you know, I never thought of that. Unfortunately, Charlotte won’t show up in this fic, but she might in later fics if I get requests.

Clueless97 – hehehe, well, I do have more misty-bashing on my page, some of it’s not put on ff.net because people might flame me to death.

Pichu Star – yes, I like Agatha and Lorelei. They were the original elite 4.

Timeline: 3 weeks later

Chapter 11: Conspiracy

“So it all ended well?” Lance asked. He had been on vacation, off training Lugia.

Ash nodded, smiling brightly.

Lance was his light in the darkness.

Somehow, he wanted to pay the older boy back, but he wasn’t sure how.

What had Lance said?

Strangely enough, whenever he thought back to that conversation, it seemed blurred.

But that was okay.

He still had the necklace, and his title. The necklace was so pretty. He still wasn’t sure if it was from Lance, but he suspected it.

The little white gem pulsed as he put his fingers on it.

So warm…

Besides, the necklace reminded him of the Dragon Master.

“Misty lost her title, and the next day, the police found her drowned in her pool.”

“How sad…” Lance said with an ironical smile.

It was about time…

And there was no guilt on Ash’s part from his scan.

Ash nodded. “Yes, but… is it wrong of me to feel relieved?”

“Of course not!” Lance said, without missing a beat.

“I see…”

Lance smiled. “Well, instead of freaking out right now, how about this? I’ll treat you to an ice cream, and then we can talk.”

“O-okay!”

< You are a devious one, Chosen! >

< I know he likes ice cream. What’s wrong with using it to my advantage? >

< That’s not what I meant. >

Lance quickly shut down the psychic lines, not quite wanting to know what Lugia might be thinking.

After all…

Lugia was a very bored legendary who might not be averse to playing matchmaker. But one never knew about that!
Lance resolved to keep a closer eye on his chosen pokemon, later.

They sat at a stand together, double-scoop ice creams in hand. Not much talk was going on, since both were focused on the calorie-laden balls of frozen sugar in their hands.

Ash smiled, taking another lick of his chocolate-chip ice cream. * This is really good. I’m going to have to remember to frequent this place. *

Lance was staring at Ash, who was too preoccupied with his ice cream to notice.

< Chosen! >

< Now what, Lugia? >

< I know what you’re thinking. >

< Then you’re a hentai for reading my personal thoughts. >

Lance ignored Lugia’s somewhat-more-than-normal suggestions and tried to keep a hold of his iron self-control.

It worked, to an extent.

At least he wasn’t blushing crazily… yet.

Yet being the key word, when a bored Ho-oh peeked down from the clouds, spotted a perfect opportunity to get the two Chosen worked up, and had Ash get up, trip, and drop his ice cream. It went flying…

Lance’s eyes widened before a shield of ice energy flared into being. Another few seconds and his outfit would be ruined.

Glaring at the sky, and a too-innocent Lugia cloaked in invisibility behind him, Lance gritted his teeth.

< Lugia… I don’t’ need help in this area, thank you very much. >

< But he’d be glad to… well… >

< LUGIA! >

“Lance?” Ash asked. “Your ice cream is going to fall.”

Lance snapped back to reality. “Here, you can have it.”

“Honto ni?”

“Yes, of course.” Lance said, handing over the vanilla swirled through with caramel. “Enjoy.”

He hadn’t eaten much of it anyway.

“Arigato!”

Lance sat down next to Ash as the child happily consumed the treat. It was cute, very kawaii…

And he banished all ‘evil’ thoughts from his mind. It wouldn’t exactly be… helpful to profess his undying love in the middle of the street.

Lance made another effort to get his mind off the topic it had been brooding on, aided by Lugia’s not-so-subtle suggestions, and popped two pills into his mouth.

Thank goodness for ice drops.

They worked wonderfully to damp high emotions.

The fire seemed to fade from his body immediately, leaving him in a calmer, more contemplative state of mind.

Normally, Lance wouldn’t be close to flustered, but unfortunately, Lugia was being… insane?

Close enough.

< Aw, that’s no fun. > Lugia complained to Honou.

< I wholeheartedly agree! >

< Wait a second… > Lugia looked at Honou sideways. < If Ash is under your protection, why didn’t you help him earlier? I always help my Chosen! >

< I wanted to see what would happen. >

< Oh? >

< Besides, if Lance had taken him up on that offer… >

< Why Honou! You have a filthier mind than me! And my Chosen accuses me of being a hentai. >

< What Ash doesn’t know won’t hurt him. >

Lugia frowned. < How good are you at matchmaking? >
< Not very. >

< Then I’ll see if I can think of a plot. >

End Chapter

Created and completed 3/24/04

And since I’m nice, I’ll put up 2 chapters…