Sweet Disposition

Alder's words had more of an impact on me than I'd wanted. While he'd directed his speech to Lance and his relationship with his Pokémon, I couldn't help but feel they had a deeper meaning. And I hated to admit it, but it bothered me somehow.

The old, wandering Champion was right though. Given our place in the grand scheme of things, our time here was short. We needed to make the most of it.

I kicked at the water with the toe of my boot. A perfect, golden sunrise greeted a chilly, foggy valley as I sat alone on the edge of the dock that overlooked the lake. Once again, I held Lance's ring that had somehow found itself to the forefront of my mind. It was this and the old Unova Champion's words that had continued to haunt me throughout the night and well into the next morning, until eventually they brought me here, to sit and wallow some more.

"It's a beautiful sunrise, isn't it," I didn't even hear his approach until he was standing right behind me.

I jumped on the spot, twisting around to see non-other than Alder himself.

He cast me an apologetic look, "I didn't mean to sneak up on you like that."

"It's alright," I smirked and stuffed the ring back into my pocket though I knew he'd already seen it. "I'm not accustomed to being snuck up on like that."

Alder took a moment to sit down beside me, draping his legs over the side of the dock. "You must've been pretty deep in thought."

I nodded.

There was silence, though not the awkward sort as Alder simply took a moment to watch the sunrise before eventually he heaved in a deep breath.

"I just love it here," he sighed. "I've travelled all parts of Unova, but this has to be one of my favourite places. You know I spent time here in the Village of Dragons while I learnt how to properly train Druddigon. I always thought Dragon Trainers had a funny way about doing things."

I had to chuckle at this, all too aware of Lance's sometimes unusual antics.

"But Unova has quite a history when it comes to Dragon types. Our Legendary Guardians are Dragon types. It is said Unova is the root of the symbiotic relationship between Humans and Dragons. It's where Dragon Training started."

"If that's the case, then why is the Unova Champion not a Dragon Trainer?" I questioned.

Alder replied with a hearty laugh. "That would be because I defeated the previous Champion who was also a Dragon Trainer."

"Let me guess, with your Vanilluxe?"

Alder merely smiled, the look in his eyes changing as he recalled the events of a battle that no doubt had taken place a long time ago. "Partly. I had another companion back then. My first Pokémon. We fought together. We were a team, unbeatable."

And suddenly it all connected and I realised the reasons behind his sadness. "It's not with you anymore is it?"

The Unova Champion said nothing, his head merely falling into a sad nod. "Sometimes, even when you're on top of the world, things happen that can change everything. That's why life is so precious… while we still have each other."

"I'm sorry for your loss, Alder," there really wasn't anything else I could say.

But even so, he seemed to accept it, thanking me sincerely. "I have a feeling about you and Lance. You are connected souls, but yet you both seem so sad... so distant."

"I know," there was no denying it, not when it was so obvious even to someone I'd only met the day before. "There are... factors."

"Can I perhaps make a suggestion?" his gaze was not condescending as I'd expected it to be, rather it was sincere, as though he'd actually taken the time to invest a great deal of thought into our situation. "Don't let what you have with Lance slip through your fingers. Don't let another day pass with this rift. You may wake up to regret it one day."

"So like many other Dragon Clan members, do you dislike Ice Types too?"

"What?"

I raised an eyebrow in his general direction, though it was pointless since it was mostly covered by the blindfold wrapped around my face. The sounds of a waterfall filled most of my other senses, its mist making my clothes damp and the boardwalk we'd since discovered somewhat slippery.

"Ice types are a Dragon's weakness. Since you're into the whole 'connected with your Dragons thing' I was just wondering if you happen to dislike them."

I sensed Lance's shrug as he leaned on the rail and continued to munch on his apple. Twisting my body into a backbend, I did several back-flips down the rail, stopping only short of stepping on him. "Just a question, that's all."

"I don't dislike them. They're more of a challenge than anything," Lance admitted. "They don't hurt Dragons, they just make Dragons slow and sluggish and therefore more exposed to attacks."

"Ah," I replied. "I very much dislike Dark types," I said as a matter-of-factly. "They just don't agree with me for obvious reasons."

"Why?" I heard Lance's amusement. "It's not like you're completely defenceless against them... us…" he corrected. "Remember, we do have a weakness against fighting types which, while you're not exactly a fighting type per say, you do know several fighting moves through your martial arts training."

He did have a point.

"And besides, you know an attack that can counter a Dark type's resistance to Psychic moves."

Standing on one leg and arching the other over the back of my head, I cocked my head in his direction. "I do?"

"Mmhmm," Lance finished his apple and threw the core into the waterfall. "Miracle Eye."

Oh yes, I knew the one he was talking about. I'd all but forgotten I had it. It was the TM I'd taught myself in order to save Lance's life that eventful night when my father had almost killed him.

"You've forgotten half of your training haven't you?" Lance verified. "You've gotten sloppy and you're using the same, more reliable attacks over again."

Finishing my exercises, I pulled the blindfold off my face and sat down on the rail beside him. "You think I could have defeated that Liepard despite the type disadvantage?"

"It's possible. Granted neither of us have as much power as an actual Pokémon, but we do have the minds of trainers and that's half the battle right there."

I smirked at him as he stood to face me and I wrapped my legs around his waist, leaning my arms on each of his shoulders. "Alder was right. You do take these things too seriously."

"Its true," he nodded, his hands finding their way to my hips.

I took a moment to play with the chain on his cape before they fell on more interesting things, like tracing the lines of his chin and face with a finger.

"Do you know what this place reminds me of?" Lance whispered.

I gave him an inquiring rise of the eyebrow.

"Blackthorn falls. The place we officially met."

"Only hours before your Dragonite single-handedly destroyed my team," I chuckled, "and you sent me with my tail between my legs off to prison. Yes I remember."

Lance had to laugh, "And when you pledged to some day have my Dragonite."

"Which I successfully stole, might I add," I pushed.

"That's not the only thing you stole."

"Are you getting cheesy on me now?"

"Perhaps," he smirked, gently resting his lips on mine and kissing me with the tenderness of a lover.

I replied to his kiss in kind, wrapping my arms around his neck and allowing him to pull me down from the rail. We kissed for moments on end under the waterfall until finally it would prove simply not enough to quench our longings. His hands about my face and his breath hot on my head, he pressed his lips into my forehead before whispering, "I love you."

Legendaries, why did he have to make me feel this way? Why was it that every single part of me pined for him when he wasn't around? And how was it that even after all we'd been through, all that I had said and done to him, that he still wanted me? Even then I could already feel myself falling into him, longing to remain in his closeness and for us to never have to part.

"Lance," I finally said, forcing myself from his grasp so that I could look him in the eye. So that I could take in every detail of his face… his expressions that reminded me so much of our son. "I think..." I hesitated, the words feeling so alien on my tongue, but yet I couldn't have been surer of them. "I think we can do it."

I watched the Dragon Master swallow, his lips quivered though no words came out.

I pulled the ring that had seen so much of my pocket these past weeks. "I think we can go the whole way together."

"You mean to say you accepting my proposal?"

"I am," I nodded.

I felt his whole body go rigid and his eyes become like two, great moons before the wide smile made its way across his face. He cupped me by the chin, kissing me again before wrapping his whole body around me into a tight embrace.

"I love you too Lance," I smiled.

Our engagement was short lived, as choosing to elope we sought out the permission of the Dragon Clan Elders to marry us. And with Alder - the region's very own Champion - acting as a witness to our matrimony, under a full moon we exchanged vows and were married. There was no telling what the future had in store for us or this union. All we knew right then was that we needed this, to become united in mind and heart.

Needless to say, the village found itself abuzz with traditional Dragon Clan celebration with which we would not escape. Celebration lasted well into the morning hours until finally we were allowed to go back to our cabin and share what was left of the night alone together.

I went ahead of Lance to wash of the traditional symbols and patterns I'd since been painted in. Then as I carefully made my way back into the bedchamber, there he stood, partially hidden behind the curtain that separated bedroom from the rest of the cabin. His face was solemn and serene and his naked torso painted in the tribal Dragon markings. The Dragon Master had once again prevailed; he'd managed to tame one of the strongest spirits he'd come across. But then again, it had been me to allow him to do this.

I approached him slowly, pulling away at the curtains that partially covered him until there was nothing between us. And with a gentle hand, I took a moment to trace the painted lines of Dragons upon his chest. His hand came up to take mine, holding it to his heart; his silent pledge that there was where I would forever more remain.

It was then that I leaned my whole body into him, kissing him so that every other noise or distraction this world had to offer became null and obsolete. His hands came around my sides, pulling at the towel that was tightly wrapped around my body and discarding it to the floor. The backs of my knees touched the frame of his four post bed and without a second thought he followed me under the sheets, our bodies entwining so tight that it would take nothing short of a Legendary to break us apart.

Lance's kisses made their way from my mouth down my neck before embarking on a journey across my skin, making sure to carefully touch every single inch of me and sending tingles through every part of my body.

In a motion so natural, I wrapped my legs around his and heaved upwards, pressing myself into his firmness and evoking a fervent sigh from my new husband. My hands trailed his body, touching him and guiding him before he moved to nestle himself so comfortably into me. And together as husband and wife we exchanged our love until we beheld the first glimpses of dawn.