Please dear plotbunny don’t die on me…

Ash: Where am I?

Phantomness: I’m getting to that…

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

Disclaimer: Pokemon belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. This non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfic belongs to Phantomness. Do not take her work!

Lance: This series will be me-centric, right?

Kairo: Oh, most likely

Started 10/17/04

Chapter 3

 

            It shouldn’t have happened way.

            Lugia stared at the sight that met his large, blue eyes in openmouthed shock. Shock was quickly replaced by anger.

            You have not seen a Dragon Rage until you have seen an irate guardian of the sea making the entire sea angry. Storms railed, wind lashed the few ships on the sea to splinters, jagged lightning bolts fell all over along with hail, and…

            < DIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! >

            The cause was rather simple.

            Threatening Lugia’s only ‘child’ is never considered a smart move. Nearly killing the child is even less.

            Needless to say, even all those Rocket agents Madame Boss had sent to capture Lugia hadn’t helped at _all_…

            By the time it was over, Articuno was ready to swear she saw a faint red tinge on the waves.

 

            Lance blearily blinked open his eyes, feeling tired, but warm. When he finally focused, he noticed that he was being used as Lugia’s ‘teddy’ bear and lying on his Father’s stomach, protectively tucked under a wing.

            < Chosen, are you all right? >

            Frowning, Lance looked at himself, expecting blood and pain, but there was nothing but smooth, unbroken skin.

            < Father? What happened? >

            < Team Rocket attacked. You tried to hold them off while I was busy scouting the ocean. I presume they didn’t like that and attacked. >

            < Oh… >

            Yes, he remembered agony and darkness and trying _hard_ to win but all he had were a few Tentacool who had been hanging around the caves with him.

            Team Rocket had lots of men, lots of trained water pokemon, and stun guns and nets. It wasn’t a fair match.

            Still, all that equipment had done them no good against Dragon Rage.

           

            < Chosen, as soon as you are healed I will start training you in dragon magic. It is essential that you must be able to defend yourself. >

            Lance nodded.

            He did not want a repeat of what had happened.

 

            “Dragon Rage!”

            “Very good.” Lugia nodded. He was taking human form currently, since it was easier to observe that way.

            Lance narrowed his eyes and then attempted a Hyper Beam. It worked wonderfully… for about two seconds.

            Then he blacked out.

            “Shouldn’t have tried that high level an attack this early.” Lugia said, as he carried Lance to bed.

            Seeing as Lance was unconscious, he wasn’t really in a mood to complain.

            He was only twelve after all.

            Lugia kept an eye out for Team Rocket by means of a network of Tentacruel spies, but no further attacks had yet been noted.

            Good.

            So Lance’s training continued…

 

            “Hyper Beam!”

            “That’s better.” Lugia said, nodding, “But you still lack enough power to keep it going.” The attack had crumpled into particulate chaos only five seconds after the initial energy was released. “Maybe you should practice on channeling and creating more energy?” At least it had improved a bit…

            Lance nodded grimly. * I won’t lose! *

            He had absolutely no desire to wind up losing and damaged again!

            Not an option.

 

            A few weeks later, Lance was busy walking through the pouring rain outside of Whirl Islands, listening to the cries of the Wingulls, when…

            What was that?

Lance looked at the boy, confused, but also wondering just why he was in Whirl Islands. He wasn’t wearing a life jacket, so he couldn’t have possibly washed up on shore. Was it a trap? He didn’t want to get hurt again.

Besides, his powers weren’t quite up to snuff yet! Better play it safe…

            Lance took out the Blue Flute and played it to wake the boy up, as he charged for a Dragon Rage attack. That was much easier to control and use than Hyper Beam.

            Ash yawned as he blinked the salt spray from his eyes. Nice melody… hmm?

 

            “Where am I?”

            “I was hoping you could answer that. How did you get here?” Lance inquired.

            “I want to go home!” Ash cried, bursting into tears.

            “Please, stop…I’ll try and take you home. Where do you live?”

            “Pallet.” Ash choked out.

            Pallet?! That was miles and miles away! How had the boy wound up here?!

            “Do you know how you got here?” Lance asked as he gave Ash a candy bar to distract him. At least it made him stop crying.

            “N-no…”

            Well great.

 

            < Father? Is it dangerous? >

            < My scan shows nothing out of the ordinary. He truly is just a lost child. >

            < Interesting that he got here. > Lance said. < I’ll take him home. >

            < Take care then, and I’ll see you tonight. >

 

            “Kairyuu, go!” Lance tossed out his Dragonite, and Ash stared in awe.

            “Wow!”

            “Come on, I’ll take you home. Climb on.” Ash hesitantly did so, as he was still busy gawking at the semi-legendary dragon.

            Motor skills returned in a few minutes and he quickly clambered onwards, clumsily. Dragonite hid a wince.

            I hope that doesn’t bruise…

 

            Lance climbed on after Ash, wrapped his arms around the boy’s waist, and Dragonite took off. It was a long flight to Pallet, about an hour and a half.

            “So where’s your house?”

            Ash snapped out of his trance. He had been busy watching the sun sparkle on the water and the occasional glimpses of seel and staryu.

            “There,” He told Lance, pointing to the one with the red roof.

            Lance nodded as he guided Dragonite in that direction. Then, he dropped Ash off and waved goodbye.

            Ash did the same, although he did wonder… why was that boy?

 

End Chapter

Completed 10/18/04