Whee! Another chapter! Phantomness is happy she caught another plotbunny! *Cheers*

Notes: <> for telepathy, ** for thoughts, italics if a pokemon talks

Disclaimer: I do not own pokemon. I wish I did, then I’d show championshipping series. This is non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfic that I wrote myself so I own it under international copyright laws.

There will be championshipping (Ash x Lance) of the shonen-ai version in case you haven’t noticed.

Started 7/20/01

Chapter 4

 

            A few days passed without any challengers, while Lance and Ash spent their time training together.

            Ash found that he liked it, even if he lost he still learned a lot. And learning was the important factor now, not wins and losses.

            He smiled as Pikachu downed Lance’s Aerodactyl.

            “Your speed is improving too. Did you feed them some vitamins?”

            “Well, only one or two. The rest is level improvement.”

            “That’s true.”

            Together, Poliwhirl and Squirtle and Bulbasaur and Charizard had successfully defeated both of Lance’s dragonair together.

            It wasn’t perfect, but he was getting better.

            Yes…

 

            Lance poured glasses of chilled strawberry lemonade for both of them. Ash hid a smile. He did wish Lance would stay.

            Living on ramen and canned foods and macaroni and cheese did not look appealing at all!
            The first night, he had tried to make dinner. The result could be termed loosely, inedible. Lance had laughed and said not to worry, and then he had whipped up this really excellent pasta.

            Ash’s stomach had been very happy. It was as good as Brock’s cooking, maybe even better.

            Maybe Lance practiced cooking at the Plateau?

 

            “It’s a hobby.”

            Ash didn’t realize he had voiced his thoughts aloud until an answer was given. “I have plenty of time.”

            “I see.”

            Ash sipped the lemonade slowly, smiling. It was very tasty.

            If only this moment could last forever in autumn twilight, and let time stand still…

 

            A loud, raucous cry shattered the silence. Vincent was back.

            Lance watched impassively.

 

            “Go, Fearow!”

            “Pikachu, Thundershock.”

            It was both swift and efficient, that was a good note. Battles that dragged on longer were sometimes very annoying.

            Vincent cursed for a few minutes before he fumbled another poke ball off his belt and the Togepi reappeared.

            Pikachu needed no encouragement, as Swift hit the egg the three times it managed to teleport. In the end, teleporting did not save the Togepi.

            Swift never missed after all.

            It was his luck, then.

 

            “Magmar! Jynx! Electabuzz! Attack together!”

            Ah, but all those were weak to fighting.

            Primeape most happily pummeled them with his fists. Poliwhirl noticed, stopped watering the flowers the windowsill, and dived in to help.

            Together, they won.

            It was teamwork’s goodwill.

            Lance clapped softly.

            Vincent stormed out again, angry again, so why did he keep coming here? Was it a tie to anger? Was it only to get angry?

            How confusing…

 

            “You did well.”

            “Aw, that was nothing.” Ash said. “He was drunk, so it wasn’t fair.”

            “… Was he?” Lance asked oddly.

            “You didn’t notice?”

            “I do not think he is drinking. I simply think he cares not whether he wins or loses.” Lance said simply.

            “…?”

            “You will learn to see these things when you have more experience. Now, what should we do next?”

           

            He was young, but he had potential. It didn’t hurt that the boy was quite… attractive as well.

            Lance smirked as Ash’s hero-worship shone right through those eyes. Really, the boy was as good as his.

            Poor Ash, didn’t know what the future held. Well, if he didn’t claim the boy than Taylor would.

            That could not be allowed to happen.

            She was nothing but a fat, overage woman who lusted after young boys and had become champion of the Ruby league only because she had caught three legendaries.

            Regice, Registeel, and Regirock.

            But Rayquaza-sama was still free. That was what mattered. And Lugia-san was safe as well…

            So everything would work out.

            It would…

            He didn’t care about the Regis, really.

            Besides, Indigo League was higher than all the others, and he was that champion there.

 

            “Can we take a break?” Ash pleaded.

            “Just be glad I’m not Bruno. Yes, we can.”

            “Yay!”

            He was a child at heart after all…

           

            They went mountain climbing, at it was quite fun, although he suspected Ash had tripped several times just to be held.

            Not that he minded.

            He helped the boy stand after the last fall. And the rocks were, quite slippery… maybe they were really accidents.

            “Are you all right?”

            “My ankle hurts a little.”

            “Well, you shouldn’t climb downhill so fast. How bad is it?”

            “It doesn’t hurt too much.”

            “Well, just in case…”

            He scanned with the dragon’s eyes and saw that there was a slight sprain that would keep Ash off his feet for a few days.

            “It’s not that bad, but you shouldn’t be walking on it.”

            Ash stared in disbelief as Lance hoisted him onto his back and quickly climbed down the mountain.

            This was more than he had hoped for… to actually touch him…

            It was lucky Lance wasn’t watching, or he would have seen the flames in Ash’s cheeks burning brightly.

 

End Chapter

Completed 9/20/01