Whee! Another chapter!
Disclaimer: Pokemon belongs to Nintendo. Angelic Layer belongs to CLAMP and Kodansha. This non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfic belongs to me!
Chapter 6

Dewgong. Rattata. Mawile. Bulbasaur. Luvdisc. Pinsir. Hitmonchan.

Ash took a deep breath. Did he really want to go today? He had done well, very well, yesterday.

But the battles were getting harder as newbies were weeded out. The tournament lasted a week before finals; surely missing a day couldn’t hurt?

Sure, he could battle and get to the finals, but… it was his birthday, wasn’t it? He should stay home with his mom.

With that thought in mind, he dressed Lance in the black jumpsuit with the white boots and put the three sets of armor back in Lance’s case, along with the miniature tub, the cleaning solution, the polishing solution, the brush, and the few other sets of clothes. Then, he ran downstairs.

“Happy birthday Ash!” Delia said brightly.

Ash smiled. “Hi mom. I’m not going to the tournament today.”

“Well dear, your cake’s in the oven, and your presents are on the table waiting for unwrapping.” Delia smiled. “Did you want to go somewhere?”

“Hai! Can we go to the amusement park? It should be pretty empty since everyone is at the tournament.”

“Of course.”

They had a wonderful time. They walked down the fairway together, eating cotton candy and playing the midway games. Bop the mole on the head, tossing baseballs into bushel baskets and rings over bottles, Delia had a fairly good eye and actually won Ash a stuffed alligator at the shooting game.

They chased each other around on the bumper cars, went through the house of the mirrors and the haunted house, although that wasn’t that scary, went up on the Ferris Wheel, and Ash even rode the Merry-go-Round at his mother’s insistence.

They rode all six roller coasters twice and the tilt-a-whirl, had pizza for lunch and were on their way home when Ash stopped by a tent.

“Can I take a quick look?”

“Sure, dear.” Delia said, absentmindedly eating caramel corn.

Inside, a man in a black suit and top hat waited.

“I am the Great Melvin!”

“I see…”

“What is your wish?’

“I thought you were a magician.” Ash replied.

“I am!” He looked indignant. “Tell you what, if you beat me I’ll give you a wish!”

“Really?”

“Sure!”

Ash shrugged. “Well then…” He followed Melvin deeper into the tent where a Layer was set up.

“I don’t lose easily though.” Melvin warned.

Ash shrugged, and took Lance out from his carrying case, gave him the customary kiss for good luck, and then the battle began.

Melvin used an Exeggutor.

“I’ve never seen that before.”

“It’s brand new. A better version of Execcute.” Melvin said proudly. “What do you think?”

Ash did not respond as Lance used Flamethrower – much like Charizard had against him – and finished off Exeggutor with two blows of his wings.

Luckily, even in ‘casual clothes’, he was still undamaged.

Ash thanked his lucky stars as he lifted Lance out, much to Melvin’s shock. “That fast?”

“What did you think?”

“I’ve never lost before, Exeggutor knows Hypnosis; so I can control the other Deus’s angel.”

Ash shrugged.

“So what’s your wish?”

Well, even if the man were a fraud at least he got angel points for his win. Ash smiled. “I wish that Lance was real.”

Melvin nodded, and waved goodbye to him, escorting him out. That night, Ash went to bed as usual, and did not expect anything strange.

Winning was good in its own way.

He woke up to feel warmth. It was odd, but so sweet. Kind of nice…

He snuggled closer, before his mind clicked.

There was someone in bed with him?
Almost hyperventilating, Ash jumped up, or at least attempted to, but the person was holding him fast.

Ash’s eyes widened as he looked into golden eyes. This person looked just like Lance, down to the outfit he had left him in!
“L-lance?”

A smile crossed the boy’s face.

“But that can’t be! You’re-!”

Ash stopped himself. * What? A doll? Of course Lance isn’t just a doll! But how could this happen? Is it because I treated him like a real person? Or did Melvin really grant my wish? *

“Ohayo gozaimasu.”

“Ohayo.” Ash replied, still in shock.

He was further taken aback when Lance kissed him gently. “So kawaii… good luck today.”

Ash blinked.

“You’re such a good Deus, and I’m so glad you gave me life. I love you.”

That was all the warning Ash got before Lance kissed him again. And it was so warm, that Ash didn’t care what happened next, as he kissed back.

So warm…

It couldn’t be wrong.

Besides, Lance was his angel, wasn’t he? It was just another step in the natural process of love.

“Ash!”

He was abruptly jolted out of his kissing and petting when his mom called up to him. “Breakfast is waiting! Didn’t your alarm go off?”

“Just a minute!” Ash said, running for the bathroom. Lance watched in amusement as Ash threw clothes on every which way.

“I’ll be back in a few minutes.” Ash said. Lance nodded, and settled down in a chair. Even if he looked human, he was still…

Lance concentrated, and was back in mini size. So he could switch back and forth. That would be useful.

He didn’t need to eat though, or anything like that. He waited patiently as Ash came back upstairs.
“Lance?”

“Down here.”

Ash picked him up. “So it wasn’t a dream…”

Lance smiled. “No, it wasn’t, but I’m going to have to act like a regular angel outside, or else…”

Ash nodded.

He wouldn’t lose his precious angel!

“Let’s work together to make it to the finals then.” Ash said, as he watched Lance dress himself in his black armor.

He tried not to blush. Sure, Lance was cute, very cute… but maybe he shouldn’t watch…it was impolite, wasn’t it?

Pale skin, or whatever the metal was, but Lance was flesh and blood now, not metal, right?

He looked hot.

Was he falling in love with his angel? Well, he had always loved him.

But… he was Deus.

He picked Lance up after the boy had finished, and together they went off to Viridian.

Ash found a booth and sat down to wait again. He ran his fingers over Lance’s body out of habit, when the doll squeaked.

“Oh, I’m sorry. Did I hurt you?” Ash asked in concern.

Lance shook his head, cheeks a brilliant shade of pink. Ash slapped his forehead inwardly. * He’s alive; of course he’ll feel it! And if someone did that to you… *

Ash blushed himself as he realized what he had done. * Oops. *

< Are you angry with me? > A little voice asked. Inside of his head! Ash panicked, and looked around.

< It’s me. >

Ash picked Lance up and kissed him to reassure him. < No, I’m not mad, just a little confused. It’s hard to remember you’re alive now. >

< I see. >

< Um… so, you? >

< I remember everything that has happened to me before. You were a very good Deus. > Lance told Ash.

Ash flushed himself. < Thank you. >

Lance looked human enough though, except for the wings, and those were just pretty. Very pretty…

However, he had seemed human when he and Ash had been in bed together. Maybe his body changed when he shrank.

Ash was cut off from musing when a challenger stomped in. He grinned. * Let’s go. *

End Chapter

Completed 6/7/04

Squeak! Too many yami/hikari fanfics… *laughs*