Ahh, look what we have here? It's angst. *Sighs*

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 3

For several long moments, the flames made no visible dent against the smooth wall of ice, but as Yellow was about to creep closer, they split down the middle, almost like a set of doors, and slid aside. Red walked in. they immediately closed behind him.

Yellow rushed forwards, but they had already closed, and though she beat on them with her fists for a few moments, nothing happened.

She shouted, but Red could not hear her. It reminded her of the force field she and Blaine had encountered in Cerise.

Cerise…

Was she doomed never to be able to help Red?

Red watched and as he reached out to touch Lance’s frozen form, saw a familiar bluish glint in her eyes – silver eyes?

Silver.

He looked again, and yes, there it was, a spark of blue eyes that did not belong to her, but to someone familiar.

“Articuno.” He breathed. “You merged with her. Why?”

There was no response.

Red shivered violently. Was she still drawn by that insatiable lust for power, or was she a helpless pawn of fate? He knew not, and until she woke, he would receive no answer.

With a sigh, he pitched his tent and lit his portable stove. He was glad he had packed it. It might take a while before she woke up.

Until then, he would wait for her.

He would always wait for her…

Yellow looked around. She had better go back home. It seemed that Red was quite prepared to camp out in Seafoam Islands… but who was that girl?

Why did he love her?

What had she done for him?

She was jealous, but she was still too young to recognize the full extent of its greedy claws, and Pika’s words did not make sense.

A tumble of images of soft fur and a smile were worthless.

She hugged Pika close and tried not to cry.

“Let me kiss you.” Red whispered. “It’s torture… you’re so close, and I cannot touch you at all…”

Her eyes were blank, but for a second he saw a flash of insight.

“I know you’re in there, Lance… but why are you doing this?”

There was no verbal reply. He turned to leave, but a blast of icy cold stopped him in his tracks.

Had she moved?

Or was he hallucinating?

He brushed drifts of ice off his clothing and grimaced. No, he had not imagined that, but Lance would not attack him, would she?

She was not that far gone into her mind yet… right?

Or had the merge done something?

The questions bubbled in his mind and buzzed like a swarm of angry Beedrills, but he kept them at bay as he heated chicken soup over his paraffin stove.

What was he to do? Why was this happening? So many questions and so few answers…

Sleep eluded him that night, even in his warm sleeping bag. Dawn found him staring at the statue.

How long could it possibly take?

He wanted to know….

However, his wait was not in vain. A week into his stay, he woke up to find that the ice was cracking. Excitedly, he stood by and waited as Lance freed herself from the shell, grimacing. Her eyes and hair were still strange to him, but who cared for such trivial matters?

She was alive!

And now he could talk to her and ask her all of his questions…

“Why did you choose to merge with Articuno, Lance?”

She laughed, and it was chilly, but he heard the tone of her voice underneath a veil of mist, and he bore it stoically. “I had to do it. Otherwise, someone would have found a way to capture her again.”

“By sealing her inside of you?”

“Yes.” Lance nodded. “Zapdos is next, and then Moltres.”

Red gripped her shoulders tightly, wishing he were taller. “But won’t you die that way? Humans and pokemon should not interbreed…. Or….”

“Or what, Red?”

“It just doesn’t work that way… and besides, you don’t have wings or a tail or anything!”

“Would you like me to?”

“Er…” Red colored, as he sheepishly scratched the back of his head. “I’m not quite sure what to say…”

Lance stretched, feeling energy returning to her body. It was quite strange, with all this icy energy racing through her body. But when she acquired Zapdos and Moltres, it would get easier.

That was what her Grandfather believed, in any case…

Well, even if the old man was a power-hungry maniac, he had researched his legends well. Also, she was sure there were others who would want this power. There had been rumors of a Collector named Lawrence…

It was far safer for the legendaries to stay with her.

“Red, if I were part pokemon, would you hate me?”

Red blinked, obviously stunned. He thought quickly. Would he be?

But Lance was… pretty, and sweet, and a good trainer, and he did not blame her for hiding such a shocking truth.

He didn’t want her to die after all!
“No.”

“Good.” Lance grinned. “Because I am now.”

“I guess you are.” Red laughed. “So, Zapdos next? Shall we head to the Power Plant? I’m pretty sure that’s where he is.”

“Lead the way.”

They both released their Aerodactyls and climbed on, and flew out of the caverns. Lance showed Red a hidden exit that normally would be too difficult for a person to traverse, but with the right flying type pokemon was a snap.

Yellow who was still fast asleep and far from Seafoam Islands, did not know of this development.

That was a pity indeed.

End Chapter

Completed 7/2/06

I very much dislike Yellow, kk?

Red: I think that’s obvious!
Lance: *Chuckles* you never did explain why Red and I are together, you know

Phantomness: *Blinks* Oops…