Timeline: 7 weeks past

Disclaimer: I don’t own pokemon. So! Pokemon belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics, this is non-profit fanwork, I’m not infringing on their copyright, and since I wrote these fics they are mine, and my own work, so don’t steal.

 

Chapter 2: Silvered Filigree

 

            “Dragonite! Hyper Beam!”

            Lance stood atop Dragonite’s head as it blasted away the crowd of Grimer. “How did these get here?”

            “Water pollution.” Ash explained, as his Charizard breathed out a flamethrower and Pikachu shocked them left and right with Thunderbolt.

            “Ah.” Lance said, as Aerodactyl and his two Dragonair took care of the rest from the air. Soon, the Grimer had been driven away or destroyed.

            “Grimers are not natural pokemon.” Charlotte said, as her Arcanine scouted the beach for more. “They were born from toxic sludge.”

            “Hm…”

            Lance’s steel wings automatically flared at as he dodged a Muk. The muk bounced off the surface, and slid down, moaning.

            “Poison never hurt steel.” Ash added. “Skarmory, Scizor!” The two pokemon charged out and scattered the rest.

            Once their job was completed, the three guardians returned to the castle.

 

            A few more memories had filtered back, but Lance was still somewhat confused. There had been one particularly graphic representation that he did not care to dwell on.

            Not at all…

            He cast a sideways look at Ash. Ash had said they were just friends, and there was no lie in his tone, but… if that were the case, where were all of those other memories coming from.

 

            “Lance?”

            He snapped back to reality and turned to face the enigmatic chocolate-eyed boy.

            “I was just wondering if you wanted an ice cream?”

            “Sure.” He smiled. “Chocolate.”

            Ash nodded and ran off to fetch the sweets.

            Charlotte smiled at Lance, even though she wasn’t looking straight at him. Well, blindness did that.

           

            “You seem confused.”

            “How can you tell?”

            “Your breathing pattern shifted.” Charlotte explained. “Are you worried about something?”

            Lance shrugged. * It can’t hurt to ask… *

            ‘Is there such thing as reincarnation? It seems the pieces of memory I have don’t fit together…”

 

            “You’re quite observant.” Charlotte remarked. “Yes. As ice guardian, you have many lifetimes to live and many in the past that have been already written.”

            “Oh?”

            “You probably have fragments. But they will clear up sooner or later. Ask Ash about it.”

            “All right…”

 

            Lance sat next to Ash as they ate their individual ice cream cones.

            “Ash.”

            “Hmm?” Ash asked, stopping in mid-bite.

            “Can I ask you a question?”

            “Yep!” Ash said, taking another generous lick of his confection. “What is it?”

            “When we… ‘reincarnate’… is it normal to forget things?”

            “Absolutely.” Ash said, as he took another bite.

            “Ah…”

 

            “Do you feel sick?” Ash asked, instantly becoming worried at the tone.

            ‘No, no.” Lance waved him off. “Just a little… strained.”

            “K! But if you get sick, tell me!’

            “I promise I will.” Lance said blithely. That was when another fragment hit, and he had to sit quietly for a few minutes until the headache wore off. Ash rescued the fallen ice cream by catching and eating it himself.

            “Lance! You okay?”

 

            Ash rubbed Lance’s shoulders as he waited for the fit to abate. The Dragon Master was shaking, so Ash threw the first idea out of the window and just held him.

            It was almost a half hour later when Lance regained consciousness.

            Ash looked at him, concerned. “You sure you’re okay?”

            “N-no…”

            Lance refused to say anything else after that. All Ash could do was hold him and wait. Obviously, something had happened, but what?

            …Confusing things. But then, memories were always confusing.

 

            Lance closed his eyes as he felt Ash’s arms around him. how often had they been in reversed roles before?

            He wasn’t sure.

            But now, that he was so weak, what would happen to his light? That thought chilled him.

            I have to grow stronger, and activate my full power… or else I won’t be able to protect him…

            I have to. My duty…

            And my love…

 

            The next morning, when Ash woke up, he found to his horror that Lance had vanished.

            “Have you seen him?”

            Charlotte yawned as she sat up in bed. “What?”

            “Never mind.” Ash said. Without coffee in the mornings, Charlotte’s brain probably was not functioning yet.

            Talk about a coffee addict.

 

            Charlotte poured herself three steaming cups, added cream and honey, and then drank them. “Okay, what were you going to ask me?”

            “Have you seen Lance?”

            “Not since yesterday, why?”

            Ash froze. * I wonder which memories he got back… oh no… *

            “Give him a little time.” Charlotte advised. “Don’t pressure him too much yet, or he’ll crack.”

            Ash winced, but nodded.

            I’m afraid, but what can I do about it?

            He sighed and stared at his hands. Yes… he had to try his best.

 

End Chapter

Created 2/28/04, completed 3/4/04