Whee! Still waiting for a plotbunny! Started 6/18/04
Fic Timeline: This takes place after ‘Only as Dark’, and ‘Final Test’. References to CCA as well.

Disclaimer: Pokemon belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics this is non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfic written by me. I don’t own pokemon.

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

Ash is Destiny/Kanto guardian and Lance is Johto guardian

Chapter 1

He didn’t know if fate just liked making him repeat the same thing over and over.

That was Ash’s initial reaction, as he lay sprawled on his bed, running his fingers over the polished black stone of Destiny’s amulet, and staring at the alarm clock.

I’m a ten-year-old (again), and from the look of this room and what I’m wearing, it seems like history is about to repeat itself.

How annoying.

I mean… what _do_ I have? Let me check.

So he checked.

Dream Realm key… check! Amulet… check!

An irrational obsessive love or at least something pretty darn close to that for Lance? Check.

Why am I ten? He’ll never want to do anything with me at this rate! Eep! Bad thoughts!

Ash covered his face with a pillow. Well, it had been a nice, hundred years rest in Sleep of Death, and now he was apparently called back into duty. At least he hadn’t been reborn and memory-less.

So now what?

Elsewhere…

< Lugia-san? I do not see the purpose of our calling. >

< You will soon enough, guardian. > Lugia said wisely. < But first, there’s something I have to ask as a favor. >

Lance nodded.

< Close your eyes… >

Lance obeyed, not quite sure what was going on. He gave a startled gasp as energy flooded him in little bursts. < Lugia-san? >

< Chosen, I’m afraid that this time, the power you wield will be far greater than that in the past, and I apologize. In return, you will lose all your memories unrelated to performing your duty. >

< The realm must be in danger then. >

< Deoxys. They are attacking and multiplying and threatening our realm. You must destroy them all. >

Lance nodded, as the light cleared, dressing him in his normal silver armor. This time, black symbols ran up his arms and chest, powerful magic imbued, but deadly as well…

< Hai. >

< When that is over, I shall call you again. >

The Dragon Master nodded, and blue wings curved around him as he took off. Duty above all else personified.

The walls slid shut in his mind as he faced the first of the alien pokemon. < Let’s begin. >

Shrill screams rang out through the night.

Ash looked up, looked at the sky, and saw nothing of interest. But really, what was that horrible grating noise?

He couldn’t stand it.

Covering his ears didn’t help.

He finally stuffed his ears with cotton wool and went next door to Professor Oak’s lab to see what in the world was going on.

Professor Oak handed him a pokédex, a poke ball, and then shooed him out. Puzzled, Ash went back to his room, released his new pokemon, and waited.

…An squirtle popped out.

“… Now what?”

Squirtle yawned before he fell asleep.

Ash looked outside, still not seeing anything, and sighed. * What now? I might as well… *

He stopped abruptly, when there was a crash.

“Lance!”

The Dragon Master was fighting a bunch of strange-looking black and orange blobs, but there were an awful lot of them…

Dragon Dance was doing its work though, blades shimmering as several collapsed.

Ash watched from behind a bush while Lance finished, and sighed. “And that’s not even all of them…”

“Lance?”

The Dragon Master turned. “Oh, you can see me?”

“What do you mean, of course I can see you!” Ash said. “I missed you so much!”

Lance’s eyes widened in shock as Ash glomped him.

< This is _not_ good. >

< No really. > Zapdos said sarcastically. < Why did he chase the Deoxys to pallet? >

< It wasn’t his fault. > Lugia defended. < They’re all over the place. >

< I suppose… >

< Now let’s see what happens. He’d better not hurt my Chosen! >

< I don’t think that will happen. >

“What are you doing?”

Ash frowned. “Lance?”

“How do you know my name?” He looked panicked now, already the temperature as flaring colder as he got ready to attack.

“Don’t you remember me?” Ash asked.

“I can’t remember anything.” Lance replied, sighing. “My memories are locked until my mission is complete.”

“Sou ka…”

Ash frowned. “Well, now what?” He couldn’t deny he was quite disappointed with the current situation, but if that were the case he should help.

“Well?”
Ash jumped. “You’re going to leave now, right?” He felt a pang in his heart. After all, h e had just seen the other and Lance didn’t remember him at all…

He sighed.

“Take care of yourself, Lance…”

“I will.” The trainer promised, still feeling confused. “Good bye then.”

He was off in a flash of silver, as Ash sighed. He might as well go journeying then… and keep an eye on things on land at the same time.

And so he and Squirtle set off.

End Chapter

Completed 6/18/04