Another fanfic! Started 7/13/04
this takes place post-Only as Dark in the fic timeline

Disclaimer: Phantomness only owns this non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfic. Nintendo owns pokemon. So does Shogakukan Comics. Do not take my writings…

Timeline: Manga-verse, post-book 7, AU. Red is 13 years old

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

Lance is the guardian of the Johto legendaries in case you don’t want to read ‘Only as Dark’.

Right after book 7!

Shonen-ai championshipping (Red x Lance)

Chapter 1

< I’m sorry, Lugia-san. >

< Hush. This was only a test. But Chosen, you will spend six months in sleep of death before your body recovers. Sleep now. >

< Hai, Lugia-san. >

Lugia watched as Lance closed his eyes, before his pendant flashed and he was enclosed in a bubble of blue light.

He pushed himself too far this time.

We must be careful! Revealing too much could cause trouble, and yet… well, at least it proved that Yellow was not the Chosen one.

It nearly cost my Chosen his life though…

These are high stakes we play with for the world’s sake.

Suicune, Raikou, and Entei entered the underwater cave. They were protected form the oceans outside by barriers of energy.

It was very lucky.

Is he well?

< Do not worry, as he shall be recovered before the year is over. >

Good…

Two left, streaking across the land showing off their speed. One stayed.

< He will live, Suicune, Water’s Guardian. >

I know.

Still, they worried. After all, he was thier Chosen…

“Aeroy, Supersonic!” Red called, as the last hit took out his opponent’s Seadra. Aerodactyl flew back to him as the Junior Trainer ran off.

Smiling, he went to the Pokemon Center to heal his pokemon.

Life was good. He had caught almost two hundred pokemon for Professor Oak to study, had been the ninth League Champion for three years, and he had finally recovered from the Elite Four. Even though he still wore wrist braces under his black elbow-length, shockproof gloves, the ice damage had mostly healed.

He was happy.

“Hi, Red!”

“Hey, Blue.” He greeted her. “How are things?”

Blue grinned, as she and her Jigglypuff descended. “Oh, nothing really interesting.”

“Still looking for that giant bird pokemon?”

“Hai, I’m not giving up yet.”

“Well, good luck!”
“You too.” Blue lowered her voice conspirationally. “By the way, has Yellow told you yet?”

“Told me what?”

“Never mind!”

So Yellow hadn’t told Red she was a girl yet? Pity…

Pika hugged Blue as she grinned. She always had a way with pokemon…

“Are you doing anything?”

“Well, not really, why?”

“I’ve got tickets for the S.S. Anne in three weeks.”

“Cool!”

“Give me a call if you have time.” Blue said. “I’ll see you around.”

“Bye, Blue!”

Blue waved as she and Jigglypuff took off.

< It is time. >

Lance nodded, as Suicune stood before him. < I will find the other, Water Guardian. The one who holds the Kanto legendaries, is... >

< Take care and be swift. We have no time to lose. >

< I shall. >

For if Serebii fell to one who wanted to bend time to his will, then that spelled disaster…

Red – Ash, really – could not travel through time as he could, and one guardian did not guarantee victory, even if he wielded more power.

He rubbed the white stone pendant between his fingers as he scanned the area; his golden eyes alight. There.

Now how to do this?
Lance let a smile slip across his face for a second, before he shifted, closed his eyes, and fell.

It was lucky water was so versatile.

“Ow…”

“Oh! Are you okay?” Red asked in concern.

Soft golden eyes looked up at him in confusion.

“I’m sorry! My Aerodactyl hit yours by accident, and then you fell off! Are you okay? Where does it hurt?”

“I can’t feel anything…”

Red blushed. “Um… yes. Ah! Gomen nasai!”

So it _had_ worked.

That was good.

“My legs…”

Red frowned. “I’m not sure if they’re broken, I mean, they don’t look broken, but…”

He was silenced as Lance winced, trying to get up. “Oh! You shouldn’t do that! Something might be injured!”

Slight sprain, Lance decided. Would take maybe a week point five to heal at most. He enjoyed watching Red sweat as he took off his jacket and shirt, before putting ointment on his scratched arms, and well, it was most amusing to see him tomato red for the rest.

In any case, Red was still busy apologizing. It was kind of cute.

Maybe…

Lance began to spin his web silently.

This had to end soon.

They had to stop the one from capturing Serebii…

It would simply go much faster if he were willing.

End Chapter

Completed 7/13/04