Disclaimer/Notes: See previous chapter

Lance: …

Phantomness: What?
Lance: This story has no plot.

Ash: Hmm… it’s not a lemon though.

Phantomness: I’m working on it! Cut me some slack here, ok?

 

Chapter 3

 

            It was early the next morning when the trial began. He really didn’t care less.

            They convicted him of course.

            Life imprisonment.

            Did they actually think he could stay? He was surprised he was awake, after all that blood loss. But no matter, everything would be fine.

            Even now, he could feel the magic stirring.

            Bruno came to visit him.

 

            “Lance, I’m sorry, we used to be friends.”

            Lance smirked. “Oh, they’re awfully confident, aren’t they? I’d choose death over this. I hate being locked up.”

            “What?!”

            Bruno stared in shock as the cuffs dropped from Lance’s hands as he shrugged his shoulders casually.

            “It’s the curse of Dragon’s blood unwillingly shed… activate the rage and hidden power… burn… Chain Destruction!”

            He laughed.

            “Lance! What are you-?”

            “I’m more powerful than they think I am, do they really think I’m that weak? It’s so funny…”

 

            That was when everything burst into flames.

            The firemen rushed in and fought valiantly, but the unnatural fire burned, until everything had been destroyed.

            So pretty.

            He should kill a few more of them; it would probably make him feel better.

            Bruno could only stare.

            He followed Lance afterwards, a quick Dragonite flight to the middle of nowhere, before Lance picked up Ash.

            “Come on, it’s time to go home.”

            “I don’t know how I remembered, aniki.” Ash said, as they flew off again.

            “Shh… don’t fret over it. Everything will be fine…”

            “I hope so. You lost an awful lot of blood though, aniki, are you all right?”

            “No, but father will take care of it when we get back.”

            Bruno continued to stare.

            Now what?

            They reappeared in Whirl Islands soon enough.

 

            Lugia immediately rushed over to Lance and shooed him and Ash inside the suite of rooms. < Get some rest! >

            Then, he turned to Bruno.

            < Ah, nice seeing you again. >

            “Could you explain what’s going on?” Bruno asked. “Because I’m very confused…”

            Lugia laughed. “In simple terms, Lance is my child.”

            “WHAT?!”

            “Well, it’s true.” Lugia said. “And Ash isn’t really related to him, they’re just close.”

            “So…”

            “I’m a legendary pokemon, yes? Lance has my power and more. He doesn’t care about petty human laws, because he fights for our cause. The pokemon. His name is a weapon and truthfully, he is a living weapon, he deals death and destruction and our justice.”

            “But…”

            “I wouldn’t really let him get hurt.” Lugia said. “Any more questions?”

            “…” Bruno was silent.

           

            < You sure you’re okay? >

            < Hai. >

            Ash had gone into Mew form and was floating on invisible air currents. < Oh. >

            < Can I? >

            Ash nodded as Lance tilted his head back, letting his pearly-white fangs come into view.  < Thank you. >

            Blood was sweet.

            Sweet… pretty little sweetling, he seemed to have lost his shyness though. Ah well. Don’t worry, little one.

            I will protect you, even if you don’t need me to.

            He was careful not to drain the little one.

            Afterwards, he held Ash in his arms as the magic stabilized, smiling.

 

            Bruno was still staring while sitting on a block of ice.

            Lugia finally left him there, and dived back to the sea bottom. Ah, nice sleep… yes, sleep was good…

            When Bruno recovered from his shock, he saw Lance and Ash sitting cross-legged together on the couch eating chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream.

            “Lance, you sure look human to me.”

            “Thank you.” The Dragon Master said with a shrug. “I suppose that’s a dubious honor.”

            “You feel that way too.” Ash squirmed, as Bruno blushed, watching as Lance colored and tangled his fingers into Ash’s hair. “Ash…”

            “Play with me?”

            “Not until you finish all your weaving.”

            “Aw…” Ash sighed. “Oh well, I’ll go.”

            Picking up a skein of black and a skein of violet thread, he quickly consumed the rest of his ice cream in an eye blink and left.

            Lance smoothed down his white cloak and looked at Bruno. “So.”

            “You’re half human?”

            “I’m half pokemon and half spirit, actually.” Lance shrugged. “Vengeance can be a powerful force.”

            “…”

            “I’m not going to explain any farther.”

 

            “What am I supposed to do now?”

            “I don’t know. You can go train in the mountains like you used to.”

            “I need some time to think.”

“Do what you will, if needed, we can lock your memories so you don’t remember any of this. More convenient that way.” Lance shrugged.

Bruno watched as Lance leaned forwards and also vanished.

“Too freaky for me…”

 

End Chapter

Completed 6/19/04