So here's the bonus chapter. It does follow Lance and Dawn in Sinnoh as they explore the Temple. Just a tidbit of info, it runs concurrently with Chp. 17. That's not really for any important reason, just a fun fact :)
Anyway, without further ado, start reading!
The helicopter thundered over the side of a large mountain. The sun was setting, and snow was dropping heavily. Lance sat in the back of the chopper, glaring out the window as they searched for their destination.
"Master Lance" the pilot spoke from the front, "we've just been informed that this snow won't be letting up. A blizzard is on the way".
Lance ran a hand through his messy red hair, "thank you Kyle, but we're pressing on. I expect us to reach the camp by the time the sun is gone".
"Yes sir" Kyle acknowledged.
Lance hadn't removed his eyes from the falling snow outside. He really wasn't a fan of the cold.
They flew around a large cliff face, and Lance spotted their destination down below. A small campsite, with four large tents, tall spot lights to illuminate the area, and multiple vehicles ranging from Land Rovers to Sedans.
The camp was perched next to a rather tall cliff side, with the only trees being closer to the edge of the mountain continuing up. In the center of the patch of vegetation, was an excavated area, with massive four sided, stone pyramid looking structure.
"Land in the clearing between the camp and the trees" Lance commanded.
"Yes sir"!
As they flew lower, and neared the tents, Lance spotted extra wires connecting them to the ground. Guess Sinnoh people know how to prepare for blizzards. The sun was just about gone, and Lance could barely make out the two figures exiting the largest tent.
An older man, with spiky gray hair, and a same colored bushy mustache. He was in a dark trenchcoat, and had his hands shoved in his pockets. The other figure was a young woman, with long blue hair, and a blue and white hoodie, with a matching colored beanie.
The chopper touched down, crunching the snow underneath it. Kyle flipped off a switch, and the engine died down with a whirr. As the blades slowed, Lance slid open the side door, and was immediately blasted in the face with snow. He stepped out into the cold air, his signature cloak billowing sideways from the increasing winds.
The two figures he had spotted rushed up to him, shielding their faces from the blowing snow.
"Nice to see you made it Lance" the old man said cheerfully.
"You think a blizzard would keep me away Rowan" Lance returned, pushing his hair aside so it would blow a different direction from his face, "I presume this is Dawn"?
"You got it" Dawn smiled wide, "I can't believe I'm meeting Kanto's Elite Four Champion"!
She bounced up on her feet giddily, while Lance simply said, "Ash recommended you come along. Don't let him down".
Dawn's smile faltered, but she kept her cool, and nodded.
"I don't mean to interrupt" said Kyle as he slid the helicopter door shut, "but can we continue talking in the tent? I'm freezing my balls off out here"!
"He's right" Rowan nodded, "we have equipment set up to heat the interior of the tents. Follow me"!
Rowan turned and beckoned them along. Dawn spun on the spot, and proceeded after him.
"Hope they have some coffee made in there" Kyle remarked as him and Lance trudged through the the building snow after them.
It certainly was much warmer inside, and to Kyle's delight, coffee had been brewed. He quickly whipped off his winter clothes, revealing a muscular man with short blonde hair, and light blue eyes. Dawn giggled as he nearly ran over to the coffee table.
This was the first good look Lance had gotten of Dawn...and holy crap! She was beautiful! He had never seen anyone like her. She was the perfect shape of slender, and had soft, calming facial features that made her blue eyes stand out. And that smile...
Lance mentally slapped himself, 'don't go there'.
To start a new train of thoughts, he glanced around the tent. This must of been the base of operations, because close to two dozen people were working in there. Most at a computer, but some were hunched over small stones, or fragments of dirt, scribbling on a clipboard.
"Not to sound ungrateful" Rowan spoke up, pulling Lance out of his own mind, "but I was under the impression that we'd be getting a team of league officials instead of you?
Lance scowled, "there was supposed to be, but the other Elite Four members didn't see the necessity to send a team. So, here I am".
"Typical of any League" Rowan growled, "never can see the big picture at stake".
Lance nodded in agreement, and accidentally caught Dawn's eye. He looked away briskly, staring over towards a pair of archeologists working with a stone. Kyle returned at this moment, a cup of coffee in one hand, and a donut in the other.
"This is some pretty damn good coffe Professor Ro-".
He cut himself off upon noticing Dawn giggling at him. His mouth fell open as he looked her over, and he swallowed briskly.
"And just what is so funny pretty lady" he worked out, giving Dawn a wide smile.
"You have some donut on your face" Dawn pointed out, motioning to the spot on her own.
Kyle's smile faltered and her turned away to brush the crumbs from his chin.
"We've got a few guest beds set up in the tent next door" Rowan said, shaking his head as Kyle turned back to them, "there should be places to shower, and clean up as well".
Lance's head snapped to Rowan, and he looked confused, "I thought we were going to explore the temple? That is why we're here is it not"?
Rowan was taken back by Lance's questions, "I assumed tomorrow would be ideal for the journey inside".
"No, it's not" Lance stated sternly, "Ash made it very clear, this Dominion threat could be catastrophic, and the longer we wait to find answers, the less of a chance we'll have".
Dawn looked between Lance and Professor Rowan with wide eyes. Lance was just as intimidating as Professor Rowan could be. The way he held himself tall, with confidence, like nothing would stop him. His piercing, dark eyes, and wild fiery red hair. Hmm...She found her mouth had opened, and she slowly shut it before anyone else noticed.
"I see your point" Rowan agreed after a moments thought, "I'll round up the exploration team, and we will be on our way within fifteen minutes"! Lance nodded his approval, and Rowan began to walk away. Dawn, unsure what she was supposed to do, caught Lance's strong eyes and quickly decided to follow Rowan.
Kyle walked up beside Lance, and leaned in close to speak only to Lance, "dude...that blue haired girl is hot! What do you think are my chances"?
Lance didn't turn his head toward Kyle, keeping his eyes on Dawn's retreating figure.
"No" he said flatly.
"Oh come on" Kyle began to protest, "give me a real estimate"?
"No".
"It's because you like her too huh" Kyle sighed, then muttered, "you always get the girl".
Lance turned to him this time, and stared right at him as he said, "we're here on important, life threatening, business. We have more important things to worry about".
Having said that, Lance swung around making his cloak flip, and headed out of the tent.
"That wasn't a denial" Kyle called after him.
Fifteen minutes later, Lance walked behind a team of twelve heading towards the Temple site. Kyle was behind him, complaining about walking through the snow in the dark. Ahead of them, Rowan and Dawn were leading the way, shining their flashlights through the falling white specks.
The eight archeologists trudged along next to them, their feet crunching the snow beneath their feet. Lance could hear them muttering insults about him, or the teeth chattering of the ones not complaining. He didn't care, he didn't get to become the Elite Four Champion by caring what others thought of him.
What he did care about, at least at this moment, was whether or not Ash and his friends were succeeding in Hoenn. He had no way of knowing at this present time, so he shoved that thought aside and looked ahead to the blunette trying to protect her face from the cold winds.
Before his mind could begin a train of thoughts about her, a particularly stronger gust of wind blasted by, whipping Lance's cloak into Kyle's face. He stuttered and waved his hands frantically, trying to fight of Lance's cape. In one smooth motion, Lance whipped his cloak back, and wrapped it around his arm.
"Thanks" Kyle grunted, "that thing was trying to kill me".
Lance didn't respond, he just rolled his eyes and continued on. He liked Kyle, dare he say it...he could probably consider him a good friend, but after years of his goofiness, it wasn't as amusing as it used to be.
"Here we are" Rowan shouted back, shining his light at the base of the Temple.
A circular stone crevice was illuminated, with jagged lines that had been carved into it for design. They ran from the top to bottom, and branched off to spiral outwards to the edge. Small symbols were scattered in seemingly random places. They resembled the sign for a female, but with sharp edges running down the main line. Right in the center of the door, Lance spotted a carving of what looked like the Dominion Ash had described.
He looked up towards the top, barely able to make out the towering structure in the dark.
"The thing is massive, isn't it" Dawn asked from right next to him, making him jump.
She hadn't noticed, and he recollected himself before she could.
"The size doesn't scare me" Lance replied grimly, "it's what we might find inside that does".
"What could be in there that could scare a Champion" Dawn asked, turning to him with wide eyes.
"A lot of things" Lance answered, looking straight at her, "if what Ash says about the Dominion's are true".
Dawn had flinched on the inside the minute Lance's eyes made contact with hers. They had a power behind them that was a little terrifying, and exhilarating.
She pulled herself together quickly, and said "Well Ash wouldn't mislead us, so dangerous Temple, here we come"!
"That's great and all" Rowan broke in, "but we still have to open the door".
"Oh..." Dawn's enthusiasm vanished, making her blush a little.
"You don't know how to open it" Lance asked irritated, his red hair was beginning to look white from all the snow in it.
"We could blow it open" Kyle suggested eagerly. He always did have a thing for explosives.
"No" Rowan declined flatly, "that could compromise the structure. We have the team here just for obstacles like this. They'll get us in".
The archeologists took this as their cue, and set to work examining the circular door. Five minutes went by, then ten, then fifteen, soon fourty-five minutes passed and Lance's cold tolerance had gone.
"Just blow the damn thing open" Lance ordered, scowling as snow fell across his face.
"That's not a wise idea" Rowan began to protest, but Lance had had enough of the cold, "we'll deal with the consequences later. We should have been in there fourty-five minutes ago"!
Rowan, hearing Lance's urgency, nodded and turned to the scientists, "better back away"!
Kyle, with the giddiness of a child, bounded over to the door. He whipped out dynamite from his bag and began to place it across the surface.
"You keep that stuff in your bag" Dawn asked incredulously.
"Yes ma'm" Kyle answered a little too proudly, "never leave home without it"!
"You keep that stuff at home too...".
"Ok" Kyle shouted, "everybody back"!
They retreated to a safe distance, and Kyle whipped out his detonator. This was when Profesoor Rowan noticed something...
"Uh, Kyle...is it necessary to use that much-".
"FIRE IN THE HOLE" Kyle bellowed, and pressed the button.
BOOM!
The mountain side rocked from the explosion, rippling the dirt and snow under their feet.
"HOLY SHIT" Dawn shouted as soon as the blast wave had passed.
Lance looked down at her in amazement. He didn't know if Dawn cursed a lot, or never, but it certainly didn't seem like foul language would come from such a petite body.
"And that door has been Kylenated" Kyle cheered, "who's ready to explore a creepy temple"?
He pointed over to the door...or rather the massive gaping hole where the circular door once was.
Rowan led the way carefully down the dark stone hall.
"Keep your eyes peeled" Rowan cautioned, "who knows what kind of traps have been set down here".
"Or what kind of monsters lurk around the corner" Kyle said mysteriously, giving Dawn a wide eyed stare to try and creep her out.
As if on cue, a chilling shriek echoed from ahead of them. The party stopped immediately, and all flashlights pointed straight down the hall.
"What the hell was that" Kyle asked seriously, sweat forming on his brow.
"Maybe it was one of your monsters" Dawn said eerily, giving Kyle the same wide eyed stare he had given her.
"That's not funny" Kyle said flatly.
"Look out Kyle" Dawn warned teasingly, "they're coming to get youuuuu".
"Knock it off little one" Kyle protested.
"Ooohhhh" Dawn mocked, "they're getting closer-".
"Shutup" Lance hissed, "both of you"!
Something was coming closer, scratching sounds drawing nearer and nearer. Dawn and Kyle both froze in fear, stepping closer to Lance. The eight archeologists stepped back, easing their way away from the sounds.
Then, a creature walked into Rowan's flashlight beam.
"Is that a Sandshrew" Kyle asked, unable to keep the squeak from his voice.
The thing in front of them resembled a Sandshrew, but instead of tan brick like designs, it had more jagged lines and was dull grey. It had a much lengthier tail, and sharp spikes running down along its spine. The eyes were solid white, and its teeth had the residue of dried blood.
It clicked its jaws together, swiveling its head side to side. The eyes never moved, but the mutant Sandshrew began to sniff the air.
"We need to backtrack, right now" Lance demanded as quietly as possible.
He had already began to take steps backwards, and the others followed his example.
"No need to worry" Dawn began to mutter in a frightened tone, "no need to worry".
"SCREEEEEEEE"!
With a terrifying howl the mutant Sandshrew charged forward.
"NEED TO WORRY! NEED TO WORRY" Dawn shouted, and bolted right past Lance in a flash of blue.
With screams from everyone else, they all turned and followed Dawn. The Sandshrew screeching behind them as it gave chase.
"LANCE" Kyle bellowed, "can't you just battle that thing with Dragonite"?!
"I will not put Dragonite in danger to whatever disease that thing may have" Lance yelled back.
"Well we gotta do something! It's not stopping"!
Lance looked over his shoulder to see the mutant Pokemon gaining on them. Swiping its claws ahead of itself as if it already had them.
"I've got an idea" Kyle shouted to himself, and whipped his backpack in front of him.
Kyle pulled out a stick of dynamite and his lighter.
"Don't you dare" Rowan roared, "that will surely collapse the tunnel we're in"!
Kyle was about to protest, but multiple screeching sounds echoed from behind them, and with a look back, they saw six more mutant Sandshrew's arriving.
"What are you waiting for" Rowan screamed in fear, "light the damn fuse already"!
Had this been a safer situation, Kyle would have had a retort, but he decided now was really not the time. The group rounded a corner as Kyle flung his bag back over his shoulder to free up his hands.
Dawn still led the fleeing team, feeling the burn begin in her legs. Oh of course Ash would have her sent to an ancient Temple filled with ravenous, mutant, flesh-eating Sandshrew! If she survived this, she was going to 'politely' ask her friend to NEVER reccomend her for anything ever again.
She heard the burning of the dynamite fuse spark to life, and Kyle say, "eat this you ugly ass freaks"!
Three seconds later, the boom shuddered the stone floor beneath her feet. The Sandshrew's cries of pain pierced her eardrums, but she still did not look back. Knowing her luck, she'd trip or something.
A massive crack rang out, followed by a series of smaller ones.
"Not good" Rowan shouted, and he had shouted something else, but his voice was drowned out by the growing sound of multiple cracks continuing.
Then the hall began to quake, and a thunderous roar from behind them urged them to sprint faster.
Rowan shouted so loud, Dawn was able to hear him this time, "IT'S CAVING IN! I KNEW THAT WAS A TERRIBLE IDEA"!
Kyle didn't answer him, he was pushing everything he had into staying ahead of the collapsing rubble now chasing them.
"Up there" Lance pointed to a branch off their hall, "duck into there"!
Dawn had barely heard him just in time. She turned sharply down that hall, and smacked into the wall on her left. Her momentum made her lose her balance and she began to fall forward. Strong arms gripped her left hand, and yanked her back straight.
Lance was now in the lead, pulling Dawn right behind him. The other ten members of their group turned into that hall just as the crushing rocks was about to catch them. Thankfully, the tunnel they had turned into had a solid structure, as the ceiling remained above their heads.
Dust blew past them, making them cough for fresh air.
"Everybody ok" Rowan asked, glancing between each of them. Once everyone had answered him, he added on, "unfortunately, there will be no going out the way we can in. Let's only hope there is another path out of here".
"And if there's not" one of the archeologists asked.
Rowan's expression turned even grimmer, "then we will be trapped here until the team outside the temple realizes we haven't come back, and then hopefully they can uncover us in time".
"Could I not blow a path way open" Kyle asked, motioning to his bag with his thumb.
"And risk bringing down the rest of this place" Rowan asked with a very rhetorical tone.
Kyle slumped his shoulders.
"Let's just press on for now" Lance spoke up, motioning down the hall they were standing in, "no use just sitting here".
"He's right" Dawn piped up, "we're getting out of here! One way or another"!
She looked at Lance confidently, surprising him as he looked down at her.
"Right" Lance agreed, "let's get a move on".
That tunnel seemed to go on forever! At least to Dawn. The longer they walked, the more her spirits sank. They had been walking for an hour now, with no other hallway branching off, or curve in the one they inhabited. At least they hadn't seen or heard anything from those mutant Sandshrew.
What exactly was up with those things anyway?
"Hey Professor Rowan" she asked.
He turned his head to her to indicate he was listening.
"I was just wondering" she continued, "do you have any idea what was up with those Sandshrew"?
Rowan stroked his mustache once before answering, "I only have a theory. As you should already know, those wern't normal Sandshrew. My first thought was maybe a prehistoric version of one, but they didn't fit with the prehistoric ones we've already found. I believe they've been altered in some way, changed to be the vicious creatures we saw. As to how, or why, I don't have an answer".
"As long as I never see them again I'll be a happy son of a bitch" Kyle muttered.
"You and me both" an archeologist agreed.
"What's up there" Lance spoke for the first time in the hour, "that light"?
Dawn looked ahead, and sure enough, there was a tiny blue light far ahead of them.
"One way to find out" Rowan said a little uneasily.
"It's not like we have a choice" Dawn said to herself, looking at the stone walls that only continued on forwards.
The light wasn't as far as it had seemed. Within the next minute, they had entered into a small, square room, with a rocky pedestal in the center. On the pedestal sat one of the strangest looking things, Dawn had ever seen.
It was rocky textured, shaped like an elongated diamond, and about as thin as Dawn's forearm. The light blue glow was being emitted from the rock, which as Dawn slowly inched closer, she could tell it was slightly see through. The nearer to it she got, the more it seemed to glow.
"Fascinating" Rowan exclaimed, examining his surroundings.
Dawn looked around as well, looking for what had Rowan's attention. It didn't take her long to figure it out. All along the stony walls were pictographs, and carvings of different sized shaped and symbols.
Dawn couldn't make heads or tails of the carvings, but apparently the archeologists could. Almost immediately they had set to work trying to decipher what the pictographs men't. Uninterested in the carvings, Dawn's attention seemed to be drawn back to the glowing rock.
"What do you suppose this is" she asked aloud to no one in particular.
Lance answered her first, "hopefully something that can be of use".
"You just might get your wish" Rowan called, his finger running along a certain line of pictographs.
Upon a closer look, Dawn saw carvings of people with shields and swords, and a few Pokemon she recognized. They were in a battle, fighting against creatures like the one that was carved on the entrance to the temple. Dominions.
Above the battle, another carving was showing different scenarios. Or at least that was Dawn's theory. A carving of the glowing rock was in the middle of two very different scenes. On its left was a paradise. People and Pokemon living and laughing under the sun. To the stone's right...was Hell. What looked like lightning raining down from the sky, burning everything away in giant fires. Then, or what Dawn presumed, was light being darkened into nothing.
"Any of you understand what this means" Lance asked aloud, looking at the same carving as Dawn.
"Hmmm" an archeologist examined it, "the text beneath these two pictographs are incredibly detailed, and complicated. But I can simplify their meanings. It seems that long ago, a great battle was fought for the freedom, or oppression of our world. These dark creatures appeared from nowhere and began destroying life as a whole. The ancient regions fell, one by one, until Sinnoh was the last still standing. The surviving people from the other regions banded together with the Sinnohans, and in a united effort, they stood their ground here on this mountainside. A great Sinnoh warrior, Jerome Junder, was able to wield the Darkin with a pure heart. His efforts banished the creatures of darkness from our universe, forever".
"Apparently not forever" Lance commented after a moment of silence, "the Darkin...any idea what that is"?
The archeologist studied the carvings some more, and then pointed to the stone carving between the paradise and Hell, "that I believe"!
"What was that about wielding it with a pure heart" Kyle asked, scratching his head.
The archeologists eyes skimmed over the carvings, "it doesn't clarify...oh but this is interesting! It does say something about a-".
"Mew" Lance finished for him, his eyes having caught a carving of a small Pokemon above the Darkin carving.
"Yes" the archeologist nodded, "apparently, the Darkin, and a Mew are two of three known keys to Paradise, or Hell".
"Three keys" Kyle repeated, scratching his head even harder.
Unfortunately, that was as far as the archeologist got. Dawn, who's attention had long since been pulled back by the glowing stone in the center of the room, screamed in agonizing fear.
While the scientist had been reading over the carvings, Dawn could have sworn she had heard Ash and Gary's voice come through the rock.
"The rest is a blur" Ash's voice had said, "I fought the three of them, taking fatal cuts, but I held them back. For the rest of the dream, no one else got injured".
And then Gary's voice soon after, "so the green eyed Dominion was going to mutilate everyone you love right in front of you as a show of force...and I wasn't among them"?!
She inched closer to the stone, and the glow grew brighter with each step. When she was two feet from it, a low hum emitted from the rock, and Dawn found she wasn't in the Temple anymore.
She let out a gasp as she realized she was now floating over Pallet Town. Either she had been immobilized by fear, or some other unkown force was keeping her absolutely sill. Thunder boomed overhead, and she saw a flash of yellow lightning strike the town, igniting a fire. A horrendous screech forced her to look to her left.
Gasping once again, she saw Ash and Pikachu on Charizard's back. Dodging lightning strikes by only a few inches. Dawn tried to yell out to them, but her voice sounded distant and hollow.
The scene shifted in a glitch type fashion, and Dawn now watched as the Dominion emitted a pulse of yellow energy that knocked Gary off of Pidgeot's back. The glitches kept up, conveying different scenarios during the battle, until the massive combined attacks exploded into the Dominion and it crashed to the ground.
This was where Dawn screamed, after one more glitchy scene shift, she had a front row seat to Gary's chest being impaled by the Dominion. She could smell the iron in his blood, and hear Ash screaming. Dawn had not been aware she had screamed, not until Lance's voice echoed through her mind.
"DAWN! DAWN! She's starting to have a seizure! Rowan hold down her feet"!
Dawn's vision became split, or joined...mixed? She was seeing a combination of Lance shouting to the others, and the Dominion flying back high above Pallet.
"Is that damn rock vibrating" Kyle shouted, doing his best to keep Dawn's head from smacking against the stone floor.
When did she fall? The portal opened above Pallet, then there was a flash of light that resembled two glowing green eyes staring into her very soul, and then suddenly she was lying on her back against he cold rocky floor of the temple.
She was inhaling rapidly, and her eyes darted from person to person. She spotted Lance last, his cloak having been yanked off and tossed over the thin diamond shaped rock, blocking out the glow.
He turned back to her, and crouched down. Placing his hand on her forehead, and then over her heart next, he said, "no fever, but your heartbeat is a mile a minute. Take long slow breaths for a moment".
Dawn did as instructed, closing her eyes to help. Professor Rowan had let go of Dawn's feet, but Kyle remained with his hands holding her head off the floor.
When Dawn reopened her eyes, Lance spoke first, "what the hell just happened"?
He looked into her eyes, and in this moment, Dawn noticed his didn't seem as intimidating. More welcoming, and concerned.
"I heard Ash" Dawn began weakly, "coming from that rock. When I looked at it, it was like a trance. It was so alluring. And then I saw Ash fighting what I guess is the Dominion as it destroyed Pallet Town...".
Kyle looked up at Lance incredulously, but remained quiet. Lance didn't say anything, he just continued to stare at Dawn, his brain working furiously.
Deciding to speak her thoughts, Dawn added, "I think it was showing me what's going to happen".
"I was just thinking that myself" said Lance, "if that is the case, then we have to warn Ash. Right now".
"Then what are we waiting for" Dawn exclaimed, ignoring her weakened state, and jumping to her feet, "we need to hurry"!
Lance rose back to his feet, and turned to the rock covered by his cape.
"We should take that with us as well" Rowan spoke up, "the rock resembles the Darkin, and if I had to make an educated guess...that's exactly what it is".
Lance nodded his agreement, "we should keep it covered up though. Just in case it affects Dawn's again".
With that said, the team of archeologists moved forward, and began to carefully pull the covered Darkin from its resting place. After a few moments, it had been placed into one of their bags, and the group had continued on. Dawn being helped along by Kyle.
"I can walk just fine" she told him shortly.
"Don't care" Kyle argued, "that was one hell of a seizure so you're getting my help. Like it or not".
"Rowan" Lance interrupted before Dawn could argue back, "keep your senses peeled for any more of those mutant Sandshrew".
Dawn nearly froze. She had completely forgotten about those things!
Thankfully, they had walked on and on, with no sign of those creatures. As they walked though, Dawn could have sworn she had seen a flash of those green eyes from the end of her Darkin vision. She hadn't mentioned those to Lance because...well it could have just been a hallucination of some kind. She hoped that was the case...
Days later, after walking in the dark and cold stony halls, daylight appeared in their vision. Once, they had heard the screeches of the Sandshrew's, but somehow they hadn't ran into them again.
Lance strode outside first, squinting his eyes at the harsh sunlight. The wind was just as cold as he remembered, and fresh snow covered the ground.
"There they are! Over here! The've found their way out"'
Voices rang out from all directions, and Lance could hear the snow crunching beneath multiple sets of feet. His eyesight returned in time to see the rest of Rowan's team, that did not go into the temple, rushing towards him.
"Professor Rowan! Master Lance"!
Lance was poked and prodded as a few of the research members checked his immediate vitals. Him and the search group were then hauled back to the tents. Lance didn't have much of a complaint, they had said something about food. Three Days with no food tends to have an effect...
Dawn had just been fully examined, and insisted on waiting to eat. She had to call Ash first, then she could worry about herself. The video phone rang, and rang, and she began to worry.
"Hello" Ash's face appeared onscreen.
"Oh thank God" Dawn immediately sighed in relief.
"Dawn" Ash said a little confused, "you ok? No offense but you look terrible".
"I know, but I had to call you right away" Dawn told him.
"Is everything ok"?
Before she could answer him, the door behind him onscreen opened up. A woman with bright orange hair, light blue eyes, and wearing a long dark purple dress, paused upon seeing Dawn.
"Misty" she exclaimed as some as she saw Misty enter the room, "I like dark purple on you"!
Misty looked down at herself and smiled onscreen, "thanks Dawn, how are things going in Sinnoh"?
She walked up behind Ash, and placed her hands on his shoulders. Ash's head turned back to Dawn, his expression clearly stating he was curious as to what was up.
"Well...that's what I called about" Dawn explained.
Lance sat back in his chair, sighing in bliss. Never before had he been starved like that. Sure he'd had to skip a meal or two in the past, but not for three days! He glanced around at the Temple group sitting at the table, Kyle being the only one still eating.
Lance's brow furrowed, Dawn had still not made it back. When she did not burst into the room yelling about Ash not answering, Lance had assumed he did. So what was taking so long? She needed to eat as well.
Grabbing a plate full of food away from Kyle, and a cup of water, Lance strode away. He exited the tent, and made his way across the campsite. In the distance he could see the top of the Temple, and he glared at it.
At least now they weren't in such a rush. They had the Darkin being examined, and they had the archeologists translations of the carvings. Next time they headed into the Temple, they could prepare for cave ins and mutant Sandshrew.
Lance ducked into the communications tent, and spotted Dawn sitting absent mindedly in front of one of the video phones.
"Please tell me he answered" Lance asked uncertainly.
Dawn, not expecting anyone to speak suddenly, jumped harshly. She twisted around in her chair and glared at him.
"Don't sneak up on me like that" she scolded, "and yes he did, I was just...is that for me"?
She had just noticed the plate of food in Lance's hand, and motioned to it. Lance nodded, and handed it over.
"You have to eat too" Lance instructed, "we all need to rebuild our strength".
Without waiting to be told twice, Dawn began to shovel heaps of mashed potatoes into her mouth. Lance couldn't help but chuckle, causing her to glare at him. Unthreatened, Lance set the cup of water next to her and said, "whenever the time is right...we'll need to experiment with that artifact. We'll need you to do that".
"I figured" Dawn said with her mouth full, "just give me a few days ok"?
Lance nodded, and then turned to leave the tent.
"Thank you".
Her voice stopped him at the exit, and he slowly turned back.
"You covered that thing up, and you brought me food" Dawn said quietly, not looking directly at Lance.
"Kyle carried you out" Lance pointed out.
"I'm not thanking Kyle" Dawn refused with a smile, "he'd let it go to his head".
Lance chuckled once again, "yes, yes he would".
After an awkward pause, and a moment of locked eyes, Lance quickly left the tent.
Welp, that officially wraps up all the story for Part 2. Woohoo! Part 3 will be on the way very, very soon. I'm ecstatic to start writing on it, so hopefully it won't be too long! See you all then.