Hi! *Waves*

I really hate school! *Cries*

Disclaimer: Pokemon belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. This non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfiction belongs to me under international copyright laws and taking it is plagiarism. Thank you. *Phantomness bows*

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

Link Masters – thanks!

SS2 Megami-sama – hi! Well, since you don’t like AAMRN, I’m updating this on the same day as that one. *Laughs*

Chapter 6: Lightning strikes

Diglett’s tunnel, Gary decided, was probably what deterred most people from going to Vermillion city.

It was long, grimy, infested with digletts, and very annoying.

He wasn’t complaining though. His Bellsprout and Oddish had both evolved by fighting against the nearly endless train of the little moles.

Ash was training his new Wingull. It was another water type. It wouldn’t be any good against Surge though. Gary wondered if Ash’s Elementeon knew ground moves.

That little bundle of brown fur was deadly!

As if sensing his thoughts, Elementeon peered over Ash’s shoulder where she was perched and flipped an ear.

Gary sighed. * I don’t understand pokemon at all… *

“I hope we get out of this tunnel soon. We had to camp here for two days already.” Ash spoke up quietly.

Gary agreed. “Ugh…”

“Wingull, do you know how far we are to Vermillion?” Ash asked.

Only a few more miles... The bird spoke. I can feel the ocean.

“Well, we should get there soon.”

Gary cheered and jumped up, bonking his head on the tunnel ceiling. “Ow…”

Ash handed him an instant cold pack.

“Thank you.” Gary mumbled, sticking it on his now-blazing red forehead. He nearly tripped over a diglett but Gloom sent it flying before he could.

“Wow, thank you, Gloom.”

My pleasure. I feel so strong!

Me too! Weepinbell burbled.

Wingull perched on Ash’s head and used Water Gun on a few more digletts in the way. I hope we get into the air as fast as possible.

Agreed! Vaporeon heartily mentioned.

Ash continued walking. “There must be a light at the end of this tunnel…”

Walking, walking, walking.

Their boots kicked up little puffs of dirt as they trudged on.

Breathing was difficult in this underground area.

Ash subtly shifted the air around them, purifying some of it to allow better oxygen, but he was tired.

The problem with the cards was that they fed off his energy.

And he was going to run out soon unless he thought of a solution. He could always latch onto the dream realm, but that was only temporary.

He’d have to become an angel… like her.

It wasn’t as if he minded. He loved her. He knew he did, even though he was little.

She was evil and she would kill without a thought, but he loved her just the same.

She was his light in the world of darkness, even though she clung to him claiming that it was his role.

Besides, it wasn’t her fault. She had no choice in the shifting. The power had been forced on her. And he loved her.

“Ash? Earth to Ash?” Gary said. “I see something!”

Ash came back to reality. “Really? I hope it’s the exit!”

“Me too!”

They both ran towards the light. Sure enough, the waves and beach of Vermillion beckoned invitingly.

Gary cheered.

Ash took a deep breath of fresh sea air. “That tunnel was sure annoying!”

The next day, they were stretched out on the beach.

Gary was flirting with a few girls, while Ash just slept. Gary couldn’t understand his friend. Fourteen and no teenage hormones? Impossible!

Ash must just be hiding it well, or…

Gary suddenly face-vaulted as he realized Ash might be interested in guys. “… Hope he doesn’t see me that way.”

A girl in a white bikini sat down next to him. “Want to play beach volleyball with me and my friends?”

“Yeah!” Gary cheered. She winked and giggled as Gary ran after her and her group of friends.

“I’m Opal,” She introduced. “I’m a cheerleader.”

“Cool.”

“You know,” Opal said, leaning in to his ear to whisper. “I’d love to find a strong trainer to cheer for…”

Gary blushed, before she ran off to the court. He followed obediently.

He was sunk, hook, line, and sinker.

Playing beach volleyball with her friends Garnet, Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, and Diamond turned out to be pretty fun.

It was good exercise too, Gary thought as he spiked a ball over the net to squeals on the other side.

Too bad Ash was busy sleeping.

Ash’s eyes opened slightly as they took on gold again.

< Are you sure? > Lance whispered in his mind.

Ash nodded as she materialized next to him, dressed in white robes trimmed with black.

< It’s dangerous, you know. >

< Of course I know. > Ash whispered back. < But if I had to spend eternity with anyone, it would be you. >

< So mote it be. > Lance whispered, before she kissed him.

He could feel the shadows twining around both of them now, as they eagerly fed on his light energy and leached it out of him. He could feel the wings growing, too. Real ones this time, lovely black silky feathers like she had. And he was getting taller, and the hair…

His eyes solidified with a golden color, as he felt her fangs slide into his throat, cutting him off from his mortal life.

The heat was bleeding out of him, and he shivered slightly at the feeling. He didn’t’ know how long it was before she pulled away.

And then the heat flooded through him again, as the dream realm accepted its second keeper and filled him with its power.

When it finally ended, she was still holding him in her arms, wings protectively around both of them, as the key glittered on his chest. His blue robes pooled around them both, like an angry sea.

“I love you.” He whispered.

< I know, > He heard her whisper back as her wings rustled slightly and she placed a kiss tenderly on his cheek.

^-^

End chapter! *Cheers*
completed 4/1/06

Oh well, people don’t review anyway. I might as well post the rest soon.