What started as an AAMRN parody has spiraled off into this fic…

Disclaimer: NO, I don’t own Nintendo. So don’t sue. Because Nintendo owns pokemon.

Destiny and other new things are mine though, as is this piece of work by the International Copyright Law.

Notes: <> for telepathy, ** for thoughts, italics for pokemon talking to each other. ^-^

Chapter 8: Distilled emotion

“Yes, I’ll do it.”

Before Gregory had finished a long, eloquent, and basically senseless plea for Ash’s help, the annoyed thunder guardian cut him off.

“But. I am not going to marry Garnet. If you want me to be your champion, you will at once stop her futile schemes to catch me.”

Gregory nodded, already planning a way to do the opposite after the matches.

Ash made a short bow and backed out the door, before striding down the hall. “Bakayarou…”

There was a faint red glow from the yellow compact mirror in his pocket.

Nodding, Ash flipped it open. “Moshi moshi, Ash speaking.”

Charlotte’s face appeared, looking worried. “Ash, where are you?”
“What’s wrong, aneki?”
“Lance has unknowingly opened the portals of the dream realm! It’s merging with earth, and the pokemon are destroying the world…”

“WHAT?!”

“Yes! Sorry for whatever plans you have, but you have to hurry! I can only seal small portions off at a time!”

“Gomen nasai! I didn’t know leaving would cause that!” Ash said. “I’ll be back in a flash!”

His eyes glowed and he vanished, but not before temporarily stopping the flow of time in that dimension.

Charlotte was waiting at the portals of their home. “Let’s go!” She took his hand and they walked back in, to take a look.

The sky was eerily pink… and pokemon everywhere ran around. Many of them hailed the two guardians as they flew through the streets of Indigo Plateau.

“Are they killing indiscriminately?” Ash asked as they dashed into the doors and down the halls to Lance’s room.

“No. But most pokemon trainers treat their pokemon as slaves. And ours will not tolerate that.” Charlotte replied. “That is why blood flows red. The population has thinned out considerably. However, if they run out of villains to kill, they will fade. They were not meant to stay in this world permanently.”

“We must wake her up immediately then.” Ash said, as he threw open the silver doors inlaid with dragons.

Lance lay on the bed, illusions gone, having been dispersed as her energy waned, eyes closed, as ribbons of color snaked around her form in energy bands, barely keeping her alive.

Ash quickly dashed over to her.

“Nothing but darkness, my starlight will kill you, so I have to use my forbidden side of the power.” Ash said, almost aside as Charlotte nodded and sealed his light energy off, to prevent dangerous consequences.

Ash nodded as he placed his hands over her heart and began challenging his own energy into her. Slowly, the portal closed.

Finally, Ash fell asleep on top of her simply because he was too exhausted to do anything else.

The next morning, Ash was awakened when Lance gently shook him awake.

“You okay?” She asked softly.

“I should be asking you that.” Ash said, as he poured himself a glass of water from the jug on the nightstand.”

“Oh.”

“I’m okay.” Ash said. “But what about you?”

“I feel very exhilarated and full of energy.”
“I’m glad…”

Lance looked him over, noting his eyes. “You accepted full shadow.”
“I did, didn’t I.”

“To save me, would you have…”

“You’ve done the same for me. It’s only fair. But more than that, I love you.” Ash bent his head and leaned into her arms, sighing.

“This is a hard path to walk, and yet, we cannot turn away.”

“No.” Lance agreed solemnly.

“May I make a suggestion?” Charlotte queried, walking in. “I still have not used my Phoenix power… perhaps… it could buy us time?”

Lance’s eyes sparkled for a second with hope, before quickly being muted. “Are you sure?”

“Moltres’s gift should not go wasted. And it only takes a few seconds to try.”

“Then let’s do it.”

As Charlotte stood in the center of an empty room, a burst of flames surrounded her, and her body crumpled, covering the ground with a fine coating of white dust. Then, after a few minutes, she reformed, dressed in a robe of dark red and gold, but now, the kanji on her forehead read Wind.

“You never did use your first form, so…”

“I still had it hidden.” Charlotte replied. “Wind for the messenger.”

“Still, that does drain off some of your magic.”

Charlotte waved a hand in dismissal. “Ash carries most of it now, anyway. I can buy you a few years, but not much more.”

“That is enough.” Lance broke in. “Sleep of death must occur inevitably.”

“Of course. I will wait.”

Ash hugged his sister tightly, murmuring thank yous under his breath. She simply waved his thanks off and suddenly, flashed and effused out of the room in a flash of sparkling white lights.

I wish love, hope, and peace to you, guardians.

Ash and Lance sat there quietly, with their hands on each other. They would make the most of what they had been newly given.

A chance.

And then? In the future, perhaps more disaster would occur. Who knew? Even future sight was not accurate. but they had to live each new day to the last, and that was what they would do.

Checkmate, Serebii.

THE END

Don’t get the symbolism? Ah well

Completed 2/12/04