Red treats Lance like a pokemon. I have no idea why, but it seems to fit.

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 5

No, it wasn’t love. Bill decided the next day. Lance was quiet, but there was the slightest prickle of unease down his spine when he glanced in the direction of the other trainer. Dragon pokemon, Red had told him cheerfully when he asked at dinner. Lance trained dragons.

So far he only had three dragons – his faithful Hakuryuu, a Gyarados, and wonder of wonders, an Aerodactyl.

Bill dearly wished to know how Lance had gotten an Aerodactyl. They were extinct, after all. But he did not pry.

It would be quite disastrous for his health, should he choose to pursue the wind – to attain what was unattainable. He knew that warning at the very least.

It was affection.

They walked silently towards Celadon, though Lance slipped Red a note and then disappeared. Bill raised his eyebrows but did not comment. It seemed that Lance did things on his own schedule and followed his own timeline.

Erika was waiting, and she refused to explain about the Eevee until Red defeated her in a battle. It was a far cry from the polite, cultured woman he remembered, but Red did not give up easily, and he accepted.

Bulbasaur, Poliwrath, and Pikachu prepared to fight…

They were soundly defeated, and with his last energy, Pika positioned himself in front of his trainer, ready to guard Red.

Erika laughed as she placed a hand on Pika’s head. “What a brave child.”

Red and Bill both blinked at her, stupefied. Was she not going to attack?

Erika recalled her pokemon. “After hearing the rumors from Misty and Brock, I simply had to see if you were as good as they said.” She explained. “I am sorry if I caused you pain in any way.”

Well, it would be rude not to accept her apology, so Red nodded. “But what about Eevee? What happened to her?”

Erika stiffened. “We rescued Eevee from a hidden laboratory located under the Celadon Game Corner.”

“Under the… Game Corner?”

“Yes. It seemed that Team Rocket had been doing experiments there.”

Team Rocket! Red gaped. Poor Eevee! He could only imagine what Lance had seen. No wonder he had looked so worried after he healed Eevee!

Red might be an empath, but he could not read memories. Lance could, as he had proved with Red’s Poliwrath, once, when Red had asked him about it.

It was kind of nice not to know everything about your pokemon though.

“I suppose you’ll keep Eevee then?” Erika asked him.

“Of course!” Red declared. Leaving the pokemon out there in the wild, for Team Rocket to recapture would be cruel and heartless!
“I knew I could count on you,” She smiled, and handed him the Rainbow badge, pinning it to his shirt.

It felt good…

Bill bade farewell to Red after they left Celadon. Lance rejoined Red almost as soon as he was out of the gates.

Bill was starting to understand. Lance was afraid of people. It was an irrational fear, but it reminded him of some of the bullied Nidoran he had found.

Well, Red would be good for Lance. He was friendly enough to draw pokemon out of their shells, after all.

“Did you not like Bill?” Red asked, as they walked down the dusty road in the direction of Fuchsia.

Lance wrote quickly, and Red nodded. “You thought he was nice? Well, that’s good. Not all people are bad, Lance.”

No, but most of them are.

“Really? I thought most people were nice…”

Lance smiled. Red could be such a child at times! He said no more, and they walked on.

Sabrina and her Kadabra watched. So, Red had Eevee now. She would have to inform the Boss about this. She shook her head and teleported away with nary a whisper.

Lance and Red both felt cold for a moment, but it passed. Maybe it was nothing important.

He had defeated Koga in Mount Moon, and Surge on the S.S. Anne, Giovanni remembered. Yes, Red from Pallet was an interesting trainer.

They had not mentioned his companion though. Even Sabrina had not been able to penetrate the other boy’s mental barriers. She simply could not get a hold on his mind, which was odd.

She could control people and pokemon just fine. Was he something else? Was that even possible?

Eevee trotted along at Red’s heels as he and Lance walked. Lance was a bit uncomfortable when the pokemon jumped into his arms. She was Red’s pokemon, after all, but she was soft and cuddly.

Red was not the jealous type, and he did not mind one bit.

He wanted Lance to be happy, after all. He was nice like that.

Lance watched as Red fell asleep after another long day of training. He felt a presence close by, but it was a familiar one. < Agatha. >

< So, Lance, he’s your choice? > Agatha’s voice held approval.

< I have not yet had sufficient time to make my judgment. >

< It is true. We still have not found the energy source. > Agatha agreed. < How will you bring him to our side though? He seems too kind. >

Lance’s answering grin was vicious. < Then I will tear away his blinders. >

< You can be so cruel, Lance. He is only a child. >

< Am I not a child as well, Agatha? And what of your precious Lorelei? >

There was no reply from the Ghost Master.

Lance said no more, and curled up next to Red. For the barest instant, blue glittered in his eyes.

End Chapter

Completed 6/5/06

Aww, doesn’t the fluff just kill you? Sometimes I wonder why I even bother writing romance, since I am not in love, have never gone on a date, and generally have no clue as to what one is supposed to do when one is in love… ah well…