The past returns, but to haunt or heal?
A/N: Welcome, welcome one and all to the second addition to the "Jeweled By Day" series. Aren't you just so thrilled to be reading? Heh...Yeah right...Anyway, go ahead and read if you please. Hope you enjoy ^_~
Dragons; Supposedly the strongest of all Pokemon types. Mystical and powerful, mythical and hidden, yet so very real and glorious. They could stand up to nearly anything. Anything, that is, except ice.
Ice; The one thing Dragons feared. Sheer and deadly, slick and slippery, and the perfect cause for an accident one cold December morning. This one obstacle would change one boy's life forever.
*^~^**^~^*
It was raining...Again. Slow and steady drops of water plummeted from the sky, splashing down in the puddles already collected in the snow outside. Rain on snow; a somewhat rare but actually common occurrence in Blackthorn. But today it wasn't the only the sky shedding tears; it was three children. The eldest had never cried so hard before, sitting in a hard chair with his legs pulled up and his forehead rested on his knees. His two younger siblings were twins; one boy and one girl. Their older brother would be turning four in just a few weeks and Christmas was coming as well.
And then...This. Combine one car, one rainy night, one icy road, and one late midnight express careening down the tracks at full speed. Then you get this. Two parents dead and three orphaned children on December eighteenth. In the hallway stood one young woman (the temporary Blackthorn Gym Leader while her husband was in the Dragon's Den), and her daughter. The Gym Leader stepped over to the oldest and pushed his chin up.
"Don't cry. It'll be OK," she nodded, trying to reassure him as his brother and sister stopped crying to look on.
"Go away," he snapped, jerking his chin away and again dropping his head.
Upon seeing this, his brother and sister again began crying. Ryoko stepped away as she heard the door burst open and saw her soaking husband trip his way in the door. He slipped to a stop and hacked twice.
"What happened?" he rung his hat out, "Mariatu said Ryujin-" he stopped as Ryoko pointed off to the side at the bawling children, "They're not."
"They are. Both of them, Ryo," Ryoko pulled her husband's hat from his clenched fists, "San and Suki are both gone," she started choking, "And those poor children," she turned away and covered her eyes, "Ryo! What do we do?"
The little girl who had been standing quietly in the corner tugged her father's raincoat, "Daddy...What's wrong with Lance?"
"We'll talk about it later, Claire. Go to your room," her father waved her down the hall to their side.
*^~^**^~^*
"Lance?" Ryoko bent slowly to her knees behind San and Suki's oldest son, "You OK?"
"I'm fine," his pale brown eyes never once moved from the cloudy skies outside the window he was seated in front of.
"Are you sure?" he nodded slowly in return, "Do you want something to eat? Something to drink?"
"No thank you," he just sat there, watching the clouds slowly coast by.
"Ryoko," she turned at the sound of her name and Ryo motioned for her to leave Lance alone; it was all he wanted since three days before.
Ryoko stood and stepped back as Victor and Victoria wandered over to their brother and sat down at his sides. They leaned their heads on his shoulders and both made the focus of their eyes the same as his. Claire moved up behind her parents, carting around a stuffed Dratini. She couldn't have a real one yet, so she made the most of things. Never mind the fact one of its large ears was starting to fall off and its eyes were loose to kink left to right and turn upside-down. She pushed out and walked up beside Lance, looking up at the sky, where he was still staring. She didn't quite understand why he liked the sky so much these past few days and was trying to figure it out.
"How come you're looking at the sky again?" she asked finally, swinging the Dratini back and forth in her right hand by its tail.
"Because," Lance puffed, still not moving as his brother and sister glanced back at Claire, then looked right back ahead.
"That's not an answer," Claire contradicted, crossing her arms and thereby constricting her Dratini.
"It is for me," Lance hissed back, putting his legs out straight.
"Claire," Ryoko called, "Come away. Leave them alone."
"How come?" Claire whined, running back to her parents, "And where are their mommy and daddy?"
Ryo picked her up and walked slowly down the hall for a few moments before Claire came running back up it again and jumped for her mother's waist. She cried into her mother's side as the Dratini she'd been carrying lay on the hall floor, the ear finally having come off when she'd dropped it and both eyes pointed to either side. Ryo stood down the hall, rubbing his forehead as Ryoko tried to calm the wailing Claire. They looked off at the Ryujin children, two of which were crying and one who had not moved so much as one inch.
*^~^**^~^*
Lance jumped side to side, kicking a soccer ball up higher and higher with each slam he put it through. He banged it with his knee and sent it sailing upward, only to see it plummet back down and whack his brother right on the head. Vic laughed hysterically as V burst into tears and rubbed his now soar forehead. The youngest son had looked up when Vic had shouted for him to move, and he'd been pelted right between the eyes. Claire sat on the porch, now holding an Egg. A Pokemon Egg. A Dragonite's Egg. An Egg that would eventually hatch into a Dratini. Ryoko leaned out the door at the sound of the bawling Victor and saw the soccer ball sitting beside him on the grass and the large red mark on his face where it'd beaned him. She fought not to laugh as hard as his siblings were and called out.
"Lance! Victor! Victoria!" she waved as they all looked up at her, "Come here please!"
Lance took off for the door and his brother and sister ran along behind. Being only five, they weren't yet as fast as him. Claire was also five, but amazingly fast. Lance was only fast when he wanted to be or had to be, which was very seldom. He bounded up the front steps two at a time and ran in the front door. When Claire saw Vic and V coming, she sprang up and ran for the screen door, pulling it open and holding it as they sped forward. Had she not opened it, it would have been the same situation as a Pidgey smacking a newly washed window.
"Yes, Mrs. Karkota?" Lance stood obediently straight, nearly saluting her.
"Ryo wants you in the den," she motioned off to the side and watched all three fly forward.
Lance tackled the door with his side, then tipsily stepping back and actually turning the handle. He tripped his way down the steps and slid around the stairwell. He panted to a stop beside Ryo and proceeded to snap at his brother and sister being so slow.
Ryo walked away, and Lance immediately followed, "You know, you're a lot like your father."
"I know," Lance didn't even wince at the thought, "My mother told me that a lot. I always took it as a compliment."
"As well you should have," Ryo started walking backwards, bumping into a table behind him, "You're father was a very good man. And he asked me something about the three of you."
"What'd he ask?" Victor asked suddenly just before his sister slapped her hand over his mouth and pulled him back.
"Quiet!" she snapped.
"He asked me, when he first had you, that the next time Ryoko and my Dragonite had a clutch, to give you each an Egg," he crossed his arms and watched the reactions.
Vic's hand fell away from her brother's mouth and both arms dangled limp at her sides. Victor's jaw dropped, no longer having his sister's hand to keep it shut, and he toppled over backwards. Lance was frozen in giddy paralysis. He smiled wide and jumped a good four feet.
"Really?!" he shrieked in an astoundingly soprano tone that would have floored Victor, had he not already been on the ground, "And Claire has an Egg, and that means Gaikoi and Gaiyou had a clutch!"
Ryo nodded slowly with crossed arms, "Stop jumping around, son. You're giving me second thoughts. I don't want a trampoline to carry a Dragonite's Egg around," Lance froze in mid hop and calmed himself slowly, "Thank you. Come on. The Eggs are at the Pokemon Center."
*^~^**^~^*
Claire, though uninvited, tagged slowly along behind her father and the Ryujin children as they headed for the Pokemon Center. Her stuffed Dratini had been fixed sometime before and she now carried it again as she ran to keep up as Lance and his brother and sister made a break for the door. The Egg she was trying to hatch was in her backpack, slung over her shoulders. Her father paused and held the door for her, as the others had run in front of him.
"Hello, Master Karkota," Nurse Joy nodded once, "Come to check on the Eggs?"
"Come to get a few," he watched Joy's eyes count three, but raised four fingers silently.
"All right," she nodded, acknowledging she'd seen, and took a key from under the counter, "Follow me, please."
Lance bolted, flying up beside her. Vic and V bounded along, mimicking their brother as best they could. Claire trotted along behind her father, but veered off to the side and sat down beside the two boys and girl sitting by the wall.
"Hi," she murmured, sitting slowly next to the girl.
"Hi," the brown-haired boy repeated, staring at his own Egg.
"Hi," the other two nodded, both staring at their own Eggs.
Claire pulled hers out and sat it on the floor in front of her, staring directly at it to mimic her friends, "What's Lance doing?" the blue-haired boy asked.
"Getting an Egg," Claire answered simply.
"What about Vic and V?" the blue-haired girl asked.
"Getting an Egg," Claire answered again.
"Chansey! Chansey-chansey!" a large pink Pokemon strolled up behind them and tapped the brown-haired boy on the shoulder, dropping two Poke'Balls in his hands.
"Oh. Thank you, Chansey," he waved to the Pokemon as she walked away.
"Whatcha got?" Claire asked, glancing at him.
"A Ditto. And an Elekid," he shrugged.
"A Ditto?" the other boy snickered, "A Ditto! You expect to be a Master with a Ditto?!"
"Hey! Nothing's wrong with my Ditto!" he snapped, "I intend on going back to Pummello with more than just a Dratini Egg!"
"Yeah, well, we're going back to Cutter with more than just Eggs too!" Rei snapped, "Tell 'em, Ray!"
"We've got our own Horsea!" Ray spat out his tongue, "And they both have Dragon Scales! So there!"
"Leave Drake alone, guys," Claire glared at them, "You're upsetting the Eggs."
"Upsetting...The Eggs?" Drake and Rei and Ray went blank in the faces.
"Yeah. My daddy says that the things an Egg is exposed to can affect the baby," she grinned in satisfaction with herself, "You're gonna make yours turn out to be grumpy and lazy. Like you."
"Hey!"
*^~^**^~^*
"Here you are," Nurse Joy opened a door at the end of a hallway, "There's Gaikoi and Gaiyou's clutch," she pointed across the room.
Ryo pushed his way in first, "I'll let you decide which Egg you'll take, but if I see you mistreating it, I may have to take it back," he pointed to Vic, "Ladies first."
"Hah!" Vic grinned and hopped forward.
She examined the nest of Eggs carefully, seemingly studying each and every one. Her eyes flowed left, but returned to the center. Her eyes flowed right, but returned to the center. That mid-sized one in the center seemed to keep her attention...
"That one!" she pointed as much as she could, standing on her toes a bit.
"Chansey!" Nurse Joy called, "Could you please take Victoria and her Egg to the registration room?"
"Chan-sey!" Chansey agreed and took Vic's free hand as the girl held her Egg in the other.
As Chansey led their sister away, Victor and Lance stared at the table, "Sorry, Lance. Youngest first," Ryo shrugged.
"Yay! Me first!" V flew up to the table.
He did the same as his sister; scanned the whole clutch slow but sure. There was one on the left that he kept looking at, but it was smaller than the one of the right. Bigger usually meant stronger...But that one was just...
"There!" he cried, jumping and pointing.
"All right. Come on then to the registration room," Nurse Joy carried the Egg, allowing V to calm slightly, "Bring him down too when you're ready," she nodded to Ryo and headed out.
"Now?" Lance questioned.
"Now," Ryo nodded.
Which more restraint than Ryo expected, Lance took a slow step forward. He too looked the clutch over, leaning closer where he saw fit to inspect. Then, far in the back, between two much larger Eggs, was the runt Egg. Small and fragile, it was huddled in the shadowed back corner, nearly invisible beneath the shreds of grass and straw around it. He felt sorry for that Egg...So small and seemingly helpless. That was what he'd felt like...The day he'd lost his parts. So what if bigger usually meant stronger?
"The little one," he murmured, pointing over five or six much bigger Eggs, "The one in the back."
"Where?" Ryo looked closer, having not seen it himself, "That one? The little bitty one? But...It's the runt."
"I know," he persisted, "I want that one."
Ryo stared for a moment, amazed at what he'd heard, "All right..." he shrugged and picked it up carefully; it nearly fit in the palm of one hand.
Lance slowly took it and grinned. Heading for the door, he felt very pleased with himself. So what if his Dratini would be tiny? It'd be his. And he'd love it. And it'd love him. Good enough! Power wasn't everything, no matter what some of the goofy trainers out there thought.
"Lance," he paused and looked back on Ryo, who motioned for him to return to his side, "You know...That Egg is very small...Wouldn't you rather have one of the bigger ones?"
"No. I like this one just fine, thank you," he nodded quickly.
Ryo bit his bottom lip, ready to smack himself in the forehead, "That Dratini's going to be awfully little...And it won't be very strong," he scratched at the back of his head, debating with himself, "Ryoko and I...We were talking too...And your mother and father...They..." he choked, "Lance, please take a different Egg."
"No," his eyebrows kinked together in a scowl, "I want this one," he stated flatly.
"I told Ryoko I wouldn't..." Ryo tried to bite his tongue, "It's too much for a boy his age..." he started gritting his teeth, "But San...He wanted it..." he balled his fists, "Lance...If you won't take a different one...Take another."
"What?" Lance's head fell off to the side, "But you just said not to take a different one."
"No! That's not what I meant!" Ryo actually did smack is own forehead, "Take a second Egg!"
"A second?!" Lance's jaw fell, "What?!"
"Your father...Had very high hopes for you. And that little thing isn't going to take you anywhere. It's-It's too small! I don't know why you want it, but any Dragonite evolved from that Egg's Dratini will end up half the size of any other. I told Ryoko I wouldn't give you another. She thinks you're too young. But your parents wanted this. And, honestly, I'll do what they wanted before I follow instinct. San and Suki had more than instinct," he looked downward, murmuring, "They had Raikou."
"They had what? I mean, excuse me, Ryo? I didn't hear you."
"N-Nothing," he looked up quickly, "Please. Pick a second."
Lance immediately grinned evilly, pointing to the largest Egg, "The big one!" he smirked, then thinking, "And there's nothing Vic or V or Drake or Rei or Ray or Claire can do about it! Heheheh..."
*^~^**^~^*
Victor and Victoria had already been registered with their Eggs and were now sitting beside Drake and Rei and Ray. All five stared intently at their Eggs as Claire stood to get a drink at the fountain. She carried her backpack with her and sat it down beside her stuffed Dratini to the side of the fountain. She finished drinking and reached for the bag, then suddenly screaming.
"Daddy!" she shrieked.
Drake, Victor, Victoria, Rei and Ray all sprang to their feet and ran to her as Lance and Ryo came bounding in from down the hall. Claire had fallen over backwards, staring forward. In front of her was her stuffed Dratini, and beside it was another Dratini. Everyone looked frantically side to side. Both were in the same position and both were the same size, but one was...Blinking.
"It...I...I just got a drink from the fountain," Claire shivered, "And when I looked back at my bag..."
"Your Egg hatched," Ryo reached out and pointed to the one that blinked.
"Baaw?" it cocked its head and hopped forward a few feet, leaning into Claire's face, "Baaawa?"
"Hehe..." Claire twitched, "H-H-Hi?"
"Baw!" the Dratini cried, bouncing around her suddenly, "Ba-ba-bawa!"
"Heh...I like you! I'll call you Draga!" Claire clapped as her Dratini jumped and curled up on her head.
"Oooh..." Rei grinned, staring at her Egg, "Hatchhatchhatchhatchhatch!" she cried.
Drake rolled his eyes and looked at Lance, "What's that?" he pointed to the smaller of the two Eggs he was carrying, "An over-sized pebble?"
"No!" Lance snapped, "It's one of my two Eggs," he boasted proudly.
"Two Eggs?!" everyone shouted.
*^~^**^~^*
Though Lance was happy with his runt Egg, he was constantly teased and nagged on about it. It was always for the same reason too; it was so small. Still, he kept it with him night and day, just as he did the other one. Soon, he was shown Drake's Dratini, called Drago. Then Rei and Ray's, sometimes called Dergo and Derga (Pronounced Darego and Darega). Then Victor's, Dargo. Then Vic's, Durga. And still, his remained unhatched. He was sitting beneath a tree, one Egg on either of his sides, and not paying attention to anything but the stream in front of him. He didn't see the three boys wandering up behind him.
"Hey, Ryujin," he turned quickly at his name, glaring at the boy with black hair.
Basically, this kid was the school bully, coming in from Viridian every day with his two stooges in step, "What do you want, Sakaki?" Lance hissed back, no matter how much older Giovanni may have been.
His eyes traveled to Giovanni's side, the teal-haired boy tossing something handheld up and down, "Let's play catch, shall we?" Daemeon Luminate's father grinned.
"Give that back!" Lance roared, shooting to his feet as Daemeon tossed his runt Egg to the other boy behind Giovanni.
"Why? It's just a stupid Egg," steel-blue eyes and sand-brown hair; Taylor Andiron, "Can't tell me you actually want it."
"Give it back!" Lance spat lowly, "I mean it!"
"Ooh...I'm so afraid," Giovanni shrugged and took the Egg from Taylor, ready to heave it into the stream.
"Don't do it!" came a series of yells from their side.
"Huh?" all four looked off to the left.
Victor and Drake jumped Daemeon, sending him flying to the ground as two more boys came running from behind. Both jumped Taylor as Claire and Vic and Rei and Ray all ran for Giovanni. The Egg went flying, sailing toward the water. Lance gasped and ran for the water, but Giovanni struggled out from under his captors and slammed him from behind. Two older boys, around the same age as Giovanni, ran from the school, followed by the teacher.
"Charles. Eric. Go and break them up," the teacher motioned.
Chuck and Surge nodded, "Yes, Mr. Windigo," they ran forward and pried Claire and the others off Daemeon and Taylor.
They turned to Lance and Giovanni, but couldn't get close enough. With the swinging fists and the kicking feet, there was no way to get near them to break them apart. The Egg landed right on the bank of the river, rolling toward the edge. Lance took one hefty swing and punched Giovanni right in the nose. The future leader of Team Rocket stood up and held his face, blood draining from his nose as Lance scrambled to his feet. The Egg rolled and rolled and rolled and Lance dove. He missed by but an inch.
"No! My Egg!" he cried, "Not my Egg!"
The two boys who had been on Taylor ran forward, "Falkner! Kestrel! Get back here!" Pryce snapped as they both ran at Giovanni.
Lance stomped his right foot as Chuck and Surge pulled the two future Flying-type Gym Leaders back. Behind him, the other Egg started twitching, then shaking, then fell over. He turned and saw it crack, then snap, then burst. A Dratini slightly larger than Claire's hopped over to the water and looked side to side. He then looked back at Lance and cried out.
"Uh...Um..." Lance stammered.
"Use the Dratini, Lance!" Claire called, "Have it get the Egg back!"
"Uh...Dratini. Go and get that Egg! Hurry up!" Lance pointed down the stream.
"Baw!" it agreed and sprang into the water.
Slinking along like a snake, the Dratini sped along the water. Everyone, including Pryce, ran after Lance as he took off down the stream, following his new Pokemon. The Egg tumbled for a group of rocks and the Dratini sped up. Wrapping around the Egg, he tried desperately to swim for the shore, but the current had gotten the best of him and time was running short.
"Pidgey!" Falkner cried.
"Zubat!" Kestrel shouted.
"Help that Dratini!" they both called.
Zubat flapped toward them and tried his best to pulled them up, but he didn't really have a way to hold on. Pidgey flew slowly down and caught Dratini, pulling both it and the Egg upward. Zubat made himself useful by carrying the Egg for the exhausted Dratini. Lance took his Pokemon in one hand and the Egg in the other and held them both tightly.
"Thank you so much, Dratini," he murmured, then looked up, "Thank you, Kestrel. Thank you, Falkner."
"Uh huh," they both nodded, "Good job, guys," they looked to their Pokemon.
"As for you three," Pryce shoved Taylor, Daemeon and Giovanni forward, "Get to Mr. Kratos's office. I have the strangest feeling he'll want to see you."
*^~^**^~^*
Lance sat on the couch later that day, examining every inch of his Dratini and his runt Egg, "You both look OK," he patted his Dratini's head and held the Egg up, "You were very good today, Dratini."
"Baw!" it cried, hopping to his side and rubbing his ear on his master's shoulder.
"Thanks, I think," Lance scratched his Pokemon's ear and stared at the Egg, sighing, "Why won't it hatch? I had that one with me longer than I had you," he looked at his Dratini who gave a shrug, "You don't know either, huh? I didn't think you would. Nobody does."
Ryoko stood silently in the hallway behind Lance's seat, "Why won't it hatch, Ryo?" she turned around.
"I honestly don't know. Nurse Joy's looked at it and finds it to be perfect," Ryo's shoulders fell, "We don't understand it anymore than he does. It just seems to be taking forever."
*^~^**^~^*
Lance's Dratini sqiggled along behind him, popping side to side as he followed his young master along through the slight woods leading behind the Blackthorn Gym. He finally came to the end and wound up beside the lake seperating the Dragon's Den from the Blackthorn shore. Adjusting his runt Egg in his backpack, he headed towards a woman in a boat a few yards away. Mariatu, young trainee to Ryo, was sitting in her boat, waiting for someone to ask to be taken across the lake. Today was her day off from training and she was now pondering whether to quit for the day. She laid there chewing a piece of grass and staring up at the clouds, her hat pulled down slightly. A sudden shadow over-took her view of the sky.
She bumped her hat up, "Hello, Lance," she grinned at him, "What're you doing way out here?"
"Escaping Claire and Liza," he shrugged, "And trying to hatch my Egg."
"Poor little thing still hasn't hatched, huh?" she frowned and adjusted her hat again.
"Not yet. But it will soon. I just know it," he smiled hopefully, "Can you take me across the water?"
"As long as you don't go in the Den," she nodded and helped him into the boat, "Your Dratini sure is a cutie. Is he strong?" she started paddling.
"He sure is," Lance let his Dratini curl up around his backpack, "He already knows Twister."
"Good for you two," she slowed by the shore, "There you go, kiddo. Be careful and remember what I said about the Den."
"Yes, ma'am," he nodded and waited for his Dratini to hop out before walking along.
He heard Mariatu's paddles swishing along the water as she headed back to the other side of the lake and he wandered along the slightly dense woods. His Dratini hopped to his shoulder, looking side to side and examining the surroundings with his large green-blue eyes. Lance kicked a rock along and cradled his Egg in his right arm, having removed it from his bag for a bit. He heard a quick rustle of bushes to his side and watched a few Sentret and Rattata scurry past his feet, running out of the bush as if something had startled them. His Dratini leaned off to that side and sniffed the air, then cocking his head.
"Do you smell something?" Lance asked quietly.
"Ba," Dratini whispered and nodded slowly.
Lance quickly replaced his Egg in his bag before standing erect and stepping slowly closer. He reached carefully out toward the bush and brushed the branches beside. Peeking in a bit, his eyes met deep brick-red pupils. He froze solid and shivered as an icy wind whirled by, rocks beside him crumbled, and thunder rumbled in the distance. He shot back as a yellow streak whipped out of the bushes. He shrieked a bit and spun around, seeing a bright yellow bolt of lightning flying through the forest. He couldn't control himself and ran after it, following the yellow Pokemon with the glowing red eyes and the jagged black tail. His Dratini clung to his shoulders, holding on for dear life. He tripped up a bit, but suddenly found himself out of the forest and to the mouth of a cave. He peered in the entrance to the Dragon's Den, knowing he'd told Mariatu he wouldn't go in. Still...He felt such an urge to follow that thing that he couldn't stop. He stepped in, looking about, and saw a slight yellow glow illuminate for a mere second from the ladder leading downwards. He got down on his knees and peeked down into the blackness of the ladder's tunnel. His Dratini looked down as well, tilting his head.
"Should we follow it?" he asked his Pokemon, who nodded, "OK then. Come on," he waited for his Pokemon to sit on his shoulder before hopping onto the ladder.
He slowly descended into the lower level of the Dragon's Den, watching his backpack to ensure the safety of his Egg and keeping a close eye on his Dratini. He finally hit the bottom rung and hopped off, searching slightly for any sign of the yellow thunderbolt he'd seen. He watched the flames burning in the lanterns to the sides of the ladder before looking out across the water at the Dragon Shrine. His Dratini looked left and Lance looked right, then Lance looked left and his Dratini looked right. They saw nothing at the moment, so he turned to the right and started walking. Walking right would have proved nothing but that he could find walls real well in the dark. He rounded a turn of the shore and looked down the long walk, seeing an opening in the wall glowing yellow. He made a break for it and found himself in a narrow passageway with Magikarp-shaped lanterns hanging from the ceiling. He continued walking and spotted a corner, the yellow glow bursting from around it. He kept going, his heart pounding, as it was at this moment that he realized he was claustrophobic. His Dratini looked about worriedly, whimpering and hugging his shoulders tighter. They finally reached the end of the hallway and stopped short. They looked about at the stalactites and stalagmites that grew on the ceilings and floor and the lamps that burned behind them, lighting them up every color of the rainbow. There was a circular pond in the middle of this round cavern and in the center of this was a small island with an almost tangled forest of the tree-like calcium pillars and a mess of the water-made calcium icicles. The slight drip of water was making him thirsty and there was no sign of that yellow glow...
"Let's rest a while," Lance suggested, sitting down and placing his Dratini to his side, "Want a snack?"
"Bawww!" his Dratini must have been about as piggish as his trainer was.
Lance poured a bit of sunflower seeds and peanuts onto a small paper plate and allowed his Dratini to feast as he dug for the water bottle he had in his bag. He put his Egg to his side and started guzzling water. His Dratini hiccuped and burped, excusing himself with a "Ba-baw" of an apology at his trainer's scowl. He curled up and rested his chin on his tail, looking out as the crystal clear water in front of them. Lance sat his water down and picked his runt Egg up, staring at it.
"How come you won't hatch?" he asked it out loud, "I've had you for almost a month. Is something wrong with you?" he crossed his legs and sat it in his lap, "Maybe Ryoko was right. Maybe two Eggs are too much for me," he looked it over a bit more, "I felt so sorry for you when you were all buried in the back of the nest. I still feel sorry for you now for not hatching. I just wish people would stop feeling sorry for me," he closed his eyes and sighed, "You're so little...And I felt so little...The day mom and dad died. But I don't need anyone to feel sorry for me now!" he looked up, eyes shooting open as he shouted, startling his Dratini, "I'll show them! I'll show everyone! I don't need sympathy!" he glared up at the ceiling, "I'll do everything I have to on my own! Do you hear me, dad?! I'll make you proud of me! I'll meet your highest hopes! And I'll do it alone!"
"I think you're lying."
He immediately silenced himself and looked around frantically. Nothing. No one. Not a soul to be seen. He looked at his Egg, sitting in his lap, and his Dratini, who was also searching for the source of that voice.
"Who-Who said that?" he asked quickly, standing and telling his Dratini to protect the Egg and wrap around it.
"I did," he kept looking, but didn't see anything.
"I...I don't see you," he stopped looking around and just plain looked puzzled.
The slight crackling of electricity caused him to look forward. A sphere of thunder sparked between the tips of the calcium deposits on the island in the water. It moved forward toward him and he backed up, as did his Dratini as he pulled the Egg with him. The lightning paused and dropped to the ground in front of him, growing and morphing into a tiger-like creature with long fangs, a kinked tail, and beat red eyes. Sparks flowed over him and slowly dissipated into his black and yellow fur.
"Who...What are you? Where did you come from and how did you do that?" Lance stared blankly, "And aren't you the thing I was following?"
The tiger laughed lightly, "Many questions from a boy your age," he started pacing menacingly around the boy in front of him, "I am Raikou. The Beast of Lightning. I come from lands to the west. I lead you here."
"Uh...OK," he kept turning around and around, following Raikou's every movement.
"There is no need to be alarmed, young Ryujin," he grinned slightly as Lance's jaw smacked the floor, "I am here to merely guide you, not to harm you."
"How did you...Know my name?"
"I know more than you'd think," Raikou stopped pacing and sat in front of the boy, "Like that your parents passed away two years ago on December eighteenth at 12:10 in the morning when their car hit ice and water when coming from a Christmas party and they hit the late midnight express heading into town."
"Don't...Talk about that..." he murmured slightly as his Dratini kept his eyes narrow as he glared at Raikou.
"But I'm afraid I have to. I knew your parents, young Lance," Lance just stared at him, "Your mother and father were San and Suki, second in line for the Blackthorn Gym if something was to happen to Ryo and Ryoko. Your father was good friends from childhood with Ryo. And the Karkotas know me as well," he sat slowly down and brought his tail around, forming a ball of electricity at the tip and bouncing it up and down, "You see, I come from an ancient city to the east, where I was resurrected by the Rainbow Winged Phoenix Ho-oh as his messenger and guardian. That was many a decades ago. Each century, I seek out the reincarnated souls of the most powerful Master and Mistress. This time, I believe the soul of our great Dragon of Legends has entered you."
"Hold up, cat boy!" Lance jumped back, "What makes you think your Dragon's spirit is inside me?! And how am I supposed to know I can trust you anyway?! How do I know you're not going to eat me or something?!"
Raikou sweatdropped a bit, "Eat you? My dear boy, I have no reason to eat a human. Unless, of course, they tried to harm or capture me. But that is beside the point. I believe the Dragon's soul lives in you because of your strong will and your compassionate nature. You are strong, yet gentle and fearless, yet caring. You are the perfect mirror for the Dragon of Legends. As for how you know to trust me...You don't. You merely must have as much faith in me as you do in that tiny Egg and as you do in the fact that you can survive and succeed alone."
Lance's Dratini was now calmly looking on from the side, holding the Egg steady, "Baaa..."
Lance looked from Dratini to Raikou, "If Dratini's not afraid...I suppose I shouldn't be either."
Raikou smiled, "Good boy," he nodded, "You are showing the true Master in you already. That Egg," he looked at it, "I sense mysterious energies in it."
"Is something wrong with it?" Lance questioned quickly, "It's all right, isn't it?"
"No, there's nothing wrong with it. It feels...Odd," he tilted his head, "I believe you have what we Legendary and Guardian Pokemon call an infusion."
"A wha?"
"An infusion is when some of a Legend or Guardian's power is infused into a Pokemon or a Poke'Egg. I sense the Dragon of Light in that Egg," his eyes narrowed, but returned to normal after a moment of thought, "In fact, I'm sure of it. If you can handle that Egg, you truly are the Master of whom I seek."
Lance looked at his runt Egg, "But...It won't hatch."
"Infusion Eggs always take longer to hatch. The infant must be properly bonded to the power before it can emerge. I'd say," he looked closer, nudging it with his nose, "Within the next two days."
"Really? Great!" Lance grinned wide and picked up his Egg and his Pokemon, "I finally get to have two Dratini!"
"Don't spring into orbit just yet," Raikou silenced him, "I see something in the very near future," he stared at Lance's forehead, "Yes...You have siblings."
"A brother and a sister. They're twins."
"I know. I see many Dragons in all your futures," he backed away, "I am no longer in doubt of your identity," he turned to face the water, "Remember what I said. We will meet again soon in coming days, but for now I must leave you with but a few words," he turned to face him, "Never forget what your parents taught you. Nor should you forget what you teach yourself. You are destined for greatness. Greatness far past what your father knew or even hoped you would someday achieve," his formed started lighting up a golden-yellow, "Ryoko and another young woman are calling for you on the surface. Go now and we shall meet again," he was overcome with electric force and disappeared in a blur of yellow.
*^~^**^~^*
Ryoko was calling for him on the surface when he reached the top, "Lance! What were you doing in the Dragon's Den?! Are you all right?!" she rushed over and checked every inch of his persona like his mother would have.
"I'm fine! You'll never guess what I just saw! It was a big yellow tiger Pokemon! He had a purple mane and a black spiky tail and big ol' fangs and red eye-"
"Don't speak such nonsense," Ryoko pushed him toward Mariatu's boat, "There's no such Pokemon. Not anymore..." she looked back and nodded at Raikou as he strolled quickly past.
*^~^**^~^*
Two days had passed since Lance's encounter with the Pokemon that called himself the Legendary Wandering Messenger Beast Raikou. He read dozens of books on the Rainbow Winged Phoenix and on the Wandering Beasts and every bit of text he laid his eyes on confirmed what the saber-toothed cat had said. Everything except the part about the Dragon. It was strange...The more he read, the more he believed, even though there was no mention of any Dragons.
His Dratini was asleep in the corner, the Egg in its coils. The Dratini stirred and looked around as he saw a black fog billowing about the room. Lance slapped his book shut and looked frantically about as well. The Egg started twitching and the Dratini jumped away. It started vibrating and slowly began glowing with an intense white light. The room darkened and the air stilled as the Egg stood erect and started cracking. It chipped and broke and fell away and the Pokemon that emerged was also lit with white. The glowing ceased and a tiny little Dratini looked about the room as the blackness faded. It looked at Lance with liquid blue eyes and cocked his head.
"Bawwa," it nodded quickly and gleamed white momentarily.
"Um...Hi?" Lance swallowed just before the Dratini hopped up and launched at him, slamming him down with little effort, "Wow! You're one little power-pack there, buddy!" he patted its head, "Um...What will I call you?" he looked at Dratini and Dratini looked at him, "Ooh! I know!" he grabbed a book off the floor from beside him, "I'll name you after the dragon constellation!" he held the book open and pointed, "Since you're so small, you need an intimidating nickname to match that hefty punch you're packing. I'll call you Draco!"
*^~^**^~^*
Draco was so incredibly small that even the other Dratini laughed at him. He was puny, per se. He was about half the size of Liza's newly hatched Charla Charmander and even she teased him. The humans got on Lance and the Pokemon on Draco. But there was something about Draco that none of them realized...Something our friend Giovanni was soon to come to realize...
Lance was by the stream, watching his newly evolved Dragonair and his Draco Dratini together when Giovanni's goons grabbed his shoulders and dragged him back. Draco and his brother looked up quickly, staring at their master's captors. They both slithered into the long grass, slinking along like snakes. Taylor and Daemeon pushed Lance toward Giovanni, who crossed his arms.
"You got me suspended," he puffed, scowling at Lance.
"So what?" Lance spat, "Not like you do anything in school anyway," he stood straight, "What do you want anyway?"
"I want to know what this yellow tiger thing you saw was," he narrowed his eyes, "Some of the other kids are saying it was Raikou; the Beast of Lightning."
"So what if it was?" he hissed.
"I want it. And you're going to get it for me," he grinned evilly, "Or I'll squash that weenie "Draco" of yours like the wiggly little inch worm he is."
"You leave my Pokemon alone! I'll never tell you a thing about Raikou!" he stomped forward, but was pulled away by Taylor.
Draco looked on quietly, then squiggling forward toward his master's side, his brother screeching for him to stay. He wound his way up Lance's leg and to his shoulders, hissing at Giovanni. He stepped back.
"Well, here's the little bugger now," he smirked as Daemeon grabbed Draco's neck and yanked him away.
"Hey! Leave him alone!" Lance shouted, pulling away from Taylor, "No! Don't hurt him!"
"I won't hurt him," Daemeon smirked, "I'll kill him."
"No!" Lance shoved and pulled and hit and pushed.
Daemeon started squeezing and Draco started to call out in pain. Dragonair jumped up from the grass and bit down on his arm, causing him to toss Draco away. Daemeon tossed Dragonair into the water, having grabbed him out of an awkward angle, and knocked him cold as Giovanni started to finish what his henchman had started. Lance screamed as Draco started going pale in Giovanni's grasp. Draco screeched suddenly, his form beaming an insane white. Giovanni froze, his grip loosening. Draco just barely doubled in size, a mini Dragonair dangling from Sakaki's hand. His eyes went wide and Lance kicked Taylor and Daemeon away. Draco looked at Giovanni, eyes burning white and swung his tail up, crashing him away. He back-flipped back and landed securely to his master's side. His brother came wobbling from the stream and stood beside him.
"What in the world?!" Taylor scrambled away.
"How'd it do that?!" Daemeon flailed backwards.
"I don't care!" Giovanni snorted, "Go, Hercules!" he tossed a Poke'Ball forward.
The Pokemon that broke from the Ball was large and rocky, made of pure stone. He crashed all four fists together and cried out loudly as Lance and both his Dragonair moved away. The Graveler pounded and stomped the ground, prepared to crush anyone or anything that opposed him in the slightest of fashions.
"Go, Hercules!" Giovanni ordered, "Attack the big Dragonair with RollOut!"
"Dragonair! Use Twister attack!" Lance called.
Dragonair shot forward, an immense whirlwind spiraling along behind him. He careened toward "Hercules" at full-speed as the Rock Pokemon rolled along with his arms and legs pulled in. Dragonair suddenly spread his ears out, changing them into long silky wings. He arced up, allowing the Twister to smash into Hercules and halt his rolling. The Graveler stopped and stood straight, snorting.
"Use Earthquake, Hercules!"
"Look out, Dragonair!"
Dragonair was inexperienced at flying with his immense wings, which meant he couldn't stay up long. He landed just as the Earthquake rolled forward. It slammed him into the air, sending him sailing away with a grunt and groan.
"AH! Dragonair, return!" Lance recalled him and looked at Draco, "Give it a shot, buddy."
"Berrra!" Draco bounced forward.
Giovanni laughed hysterically, as did Hercules, "You must be kidding me! Even their names clash!"
"I don't care! Go, Draco! Use Extremespeed!"
"Go, Hercules! Use Fissure!"
Draco took his shot and bashed into Hercules, but the Graveler merely shook off and jumped, hitting the ground as Draco landed. Lance knew Fissure was an immensely powerful attack and that Draco had no way to avoid it. The rumble of the Fissure tore forward and exploded around Draco. Giovanni laughed evilly, but the dirt cleared to reveal Draco standing calmly just where he had been.
"What?!" Giovanni sprang into the air, "Fissure will only be ineffective to Pokemon of a higher level! It's impossible!"
"Obviously not," Lance stared, then shaking himself straight and pointing forward, "Draco! Hyper Beam, now!"
*^~^**^~^*
"Ooh...What happened?" Taylor sat up holding the side of his head.
Daemeon shot up spiral-eyed beside him, "Ow...I dunno. But whatever it was, it hurts."
"Where's Sakaki?" they both asked at the same time, then looking about.
"Ohhhh..." came a moan from behind.
They both turned around and looked up. There was Giovanni, dangling over the branch of a tree, groaning and bruised to the degree that only a Hyper Beam shooting you to the forest north Mahogany could do.
*^~^**^~^*
Lance stood there, gaping as the three boys disappeared into the distance and Draco bobbed side to side in front of him. Raikou's eyes nearly bugged out of his head as he sat in a bush behind them. That power...It was immense! But that Pokemon...It was nearly microscopic! How...How did it do that?! That was exactly the question Lance asked the Pokemon himself.
"How did you just do that?" he murmured in a daze.
"Baa," Draco answered, turning to him and smiling.
"Um...Yeah."
*^~^**^~^*
As the days passed, so did the weeks...And so did the months...And the years. Draco and his brother got stronger and became more attached to their master. Lance got older, more mature, and spent more time with Raikou. Claire got haughtier, snobbish, and spent most of her time fawning over Lance. Their early teenage years brought more of an attraction of hers to him, which he ignored. On Lance's thirteenth birthday, Claire's friend Liza showed up on the doorstep.
"Hiya, Lance!" she beamed, stepping in and shoving a box into his arms, "Happy birthday!"
"Uh...Thanks," he wore a quizzical look as Claire peeked around the stairwell to watch him open the box, "Oh, wow!"
In the box lay a small bundle of an orange and yellow Pokemon. A small flame burned at the tip of his tail and he looked up at Lance, eyes sparkling. Liza smiled wide.
"Isn't he a pretty one? He's my little Charla's newest brother," she beamed with pride, "I picked him out just for you. Do you like him?"
"Do I ever!" he pulled the Charmander out and held it up, "Wow! He's great!" he brought the Charmander down and leaned out, kissing Liza's cheek, "Thank you, Liza! This is my best present yet!"
Liza stepped back, flushed a deep red, "Oh. Thank you."
Claire spun to press her back against the stairwell wall. He face burned red, she bared her teeth, her eyes narrowed. He'd just kissed her! For a Charmander! That wasn't allowed! Lance was hers! He'd been hers from the very start! She balled her fists and stormed down the stairs. She had to give Lance something better. She grabbed a batch of Ultra Balls, her Dragonair, and her backpack. She marched out the front door and flew her Dragon to the entrance to the Dragon's Den.
*^~^**^~^*
Claire stomped back in the door, covered in mud and slightly soaking. She washed up, changed, wrapped her present and thundered up to Lance, who was gazing at his new Charmander.
"Um...Lance?" she tapped his shoulder, holding her present behind her back.
"Hi, Claire," was his only response while still staring at his Pokemon.
"Um...Happy birthday?" she partially questioned.
"Thanks."
She frowned and pulled the present around, "Uh...I-I-I got you something."
He turned slightly at that and took it from her, unwrapping what appeared to be an Ultra Ball, "A Pokemon?" he raised the Ball and released a darker-than-usual Dratini, "Ooh..."
"It's a girl, but it's the only one I saw. Do you like her?" she asked enthusiastically.
"Yeah! She's real nice, Claire. Thank you," he nodded and smiled at her, patting his new Dratini's head, "But you didn't have to go through all that trouble for me."
"Well, Liza gave you that Charmander and I wanted to give you something nice too," her face tinged red.
"Oh," he looked at the Dratini, "Well, still, you didn't have to, but thank you anyway" he pecked her cheek, picked up his Pokemon, and headed off to brag at his brother and sister.
Claire turned a bright red until giggling from behind caught her attention like a magnet, "Claire and Lance, sittin' in a tree."
"Don't even start, Drake," she puffed, turning around.
"But I'm not finished. Claire and Lance, sittin' in a tree! K-I-," he dodged a punch, "S-S-," he jumped away from a kick, "I-N-G!" he finished before she walloped him over the head with her backpack.
*^~^**^~^*
It wasn't long after this that Lance again met with Raikou. He was just sitting on the porch when storm clouds swirled into a black spiral and lightning irrupted from the center, crashing to the ground and forming the Beast he'd come to know so well. He patted his Dratini's head and stood up, wandering over to Raikou.
"Hi," he acknowledged simply, "What's up?"
"Nothing of any great importance. I just came to congratulate you on turning another year older," he shrugged, "And to tell you something."
"Well, thanks. And tell me what?" he looked about slightly as it started raining and his Charmander dashed under the porch.
"To the west, young Ryujin," he turned off to the western side and looked as if to be gazing through space, "To the west is a strange continent called Gertan Rin. It consists of two halves; Hokubu and Nanka."
"I know about Gertan Rin. Rei and Ray live in Hokubu in Cutter Town," Lance crossed his arms.
"Yes, well, also on this great isle is the city of Rainbow Metropolis. It's not only the capital of Gertan Rin, but is also the visitor's city for the Rainbow League. This League governs all other Leagues, both new and old, and consists of twelve Badges," he looked back at Lance briefly before looking to the west again and closing his eyes, "You will go there, and you will obtain these Badges."
"I...I will? But I don't know anything about this stuff and-"
"Calm yourself. This will only be after you conquer the Kanto, Orange, and Johto Leagues. Three years, Lance. But three years before you hit the shores of this new world and three years before you acquire the greatness you crave and that your parents so wanted you to achieve. But you must always believe in what you know is true and right. You must never let me down."
"I guess I could...Try that."
"You must not try anything!" he snapped, "You must do and succeed! I know you are the Master I sought, and I know that you will make your parents proud! You must do this. Head east, Ryujin. East to Pallet Town. Begin your journey there. Then head south to the Orange Archipelago. Then northwest to Johto. And then, only then will you head due-west to Gertan Rin, where you will become what is known today as the Elite Fourth and Divine Fifth!"
Lance stepped back as the tiger's form turned to pure electricity and flew upward. It shot out to the east, then veered to the west for a shot of speed. Behind the boy, a Dragonair cried out. Lance spun and saw an aqua Pokemon with long arms and small wings raising a hand to Draco. He started to call to it, but a white glow overtook his Dragonair and the aqua Pokemon was gone. He looked worriedly at his Pokemon, but suddenly was not afraid.
Draco lifted off the ground and stretched out with his head to the sky. His form doubled, then doubled again, then again, and again. He kept getting longer until wings stretched from his back and legs and arms emerged at his sides. His features changed and he acquired the body of a Dragonite. The glowing faded and the tiny and teased Draco Dragonair became the great and terrible Draco Dragonite. Even his brother and the other Dratini gaped, as Draco was now huge! He was nearly twice the size of Drake's Dragonite and almost reached the second story of the Karkota's house! Lance's eyes just about hit the ground as Draco flapped his wings and looked down at him. Charmander peeked out from under the porch to see if the rain had stopped, but shot back under with a shriek.
"Oh...My...Gawd," Ryoko leaned out the window of the second floor, "Where...Did that come from?"
"Um...Ryoko," Lance looked at her groggily, "Th-Th-This is Draco."
All that came thereafter was a thump as Ryoko collapsed backwards to the floor.
*^~^**^~^*
Draco was no longer mocked about his size, but sought out for it. Trainers and Pokemon alike wanted to see this supposed two-story Dragonite. And when the did see him, playing carefully with his master, they nearly toppled over. Draco was gentle with his brothers and sisters, with the other Pokemon in his roster, with his master, with his master's friends and family, and the occasional wild Pokemon. But strangers or people bothering his master were enemies of the lowliest kind. That was one reason why Giovanni, Taylor, and Daemeon made it a point from there on in never to cross Lance Ryujin. Claire, Drake, Rei, Ray, and even Liza were now Lance's rivals and they would stop at nothing to defeat him. Too bad they never did.
Lance traveled through Kanto that year and placed in the top five of the Indigo/Kanto League (Four, to be exact) and missed by one level to challenge the Elite. The next year, he worked his way through the Orange Archipelago and defeated Drake's father to win the Winner's Trophy. From here, he went into secluded training at the Dragon's Den, where he lived for over half a year before setting out to the south. He began in New Bark Town and continued through Johto, defeating Master Ryo Karkota with much praise. From there he went to the Golden Competition* and placed third in the over-all standings. He challenged the Elite then; Shuuken Sedna, Lorelei Nerrivik, Agatha Oak, and Bruno Boulder. He made it through Shuuken, but Lorelei destroyed him; Ice. He looked behind her at one point and there he saw a little girl. Blond with bright blue eyes. After the match, she wandered over to him and stuck out her arm.
"Hi," she stated, "My name's Lurianna Nerrivik. Everyone calls me Luri."
He never made it to the Champion, whose identity was left unstated. After this defeat, he made it to Gertan Rin. Claire was with him for a while and they had a brief relationship, but then he discovered how his old friend Rei had changed. Claire then went back to Blackthorn, but on a training break, Lance appeared at her door and things took a tire-screeching turn. He left her again and returned to Rei. Both women knew of each other and each other's escapades with Lance, but were determined to fight it out until one of them won. Then Lance defeated Ray and Rei at their new Gym in Cutter and broke the relationship with his winning. He then dumped Claire as well and defeated Elder Master Andiron as Taylor sat in the corner growling. Lance's Charmander finally evolved and defeated Andiron's Steelix. Taylor glared, Lance smirked, and walked down Lotus Lane, tossing his Platinum Badge up into the air. While passing number 213, he felt a strange sensation in his backbone. He just kept walking.
He entered the Rainbow League and placed number one in the standings, again facing the Elite, but the order had changed. It was now Lorelei, Bruno, Agatha, and Shuuken. He finally defeated Lorelei with his Charmeleon, Bruno with his Gyarados, Agatha with his Aerodactyl, and Shuuken with his Dragonite. When he fought the Champion, the name was stated as Bazan Kratos, who carried no specific type or species. He had a wide range, and Lance lost with grace. Kratos also revealed himself later on as being the President of the Rainbow League and requested that Lance become the Elite Fourth. Shuuken was not ashamed and left quietly. It was then Lance realized that Lorelei's last name had changed to Sedna, as had Luri's, but even with the "no outside relationships" law in place...This marriage was held strong.
A year later, a crimson haired man and a silver haired woman entered Prisma Hall, having ranked one and two in the standings of the League. William Logos and Karen Black battled well, but each ultimately lost at Lance's knees. Lance was pushed up to Champion, as Kratos was getting "too old for this", and Karen took his place as Elite Fourth. Agatha was dismissed and Will took her place as Elite Third. A few days later, Kratos spotted the Ryujin Twins training with their brother. They were pretty powerful, but never wanted amazing glory. So, in light of this, he offered them positions as the front gatekeepers. They accepted and took their job too seriously sometimes and not seriously enough most times.
Things jumbled about a bit during the next year or so. It went to Will, Bruno, Lorelei, then Karen, then Lorelei took temporary leave to visit Shuuken, which made it Will, Bruno, Koga as a replacement, and Karen. Then, Lorelei returned and Koga went back to his Gym. From there, Luri marched in, having placed second in the League, and defeated her mother. She watched her mother go, but remained strong. Now Kratos changed things again. He moved Karen to First, Luri to Second, Will to third, and Bruno to Fourth. Wow...These guys were busy!
Then a cinnamon haired man approached, using only Pokemon of an alternate color. Jason Peruwa III attacked with ease and defeated Karen easily. He lost, however, to Luri. But his Pokemon were rare and he was strong. So, Karen disappeared and Jason made First. All the while, Lance had not once been challenged. He was getting bored and requested to either be moved down or he was to leave. Bruno volunteered to leave, telling them he'd been Elite long enough and that the boy shouldn't leave simply for wanting a challenge or two. He left and Lance took position as Elite Fourth.
Kratos again became Champion, but it didn't last. A man with flame red eyes and hair stormed in, placing number one in the standings, and defeated Jason, Luri, Will, and even Lance with nothing but pure fire-power. He obliterated Kratos and took his stand as Champion Major Master of Fire. Peter Rubeus ruled for a year or less before he was dismissed by the Elite and Kratos. He was violent; a maniac for fire. He was more than a pyromaniac should have been. He loathed the League and swore, after watching his Magcargo figure crumble from the Elite Icon, that he would return to seek revenge on the Elite 4, Kratos, and whoever the Champion may have become.
It was then decided that they would seat no Champion and it was then that the three Wandering Beasts of Legends showed themselves to all four Elite at one time. They explained of a new Champion who would rise to the challenge of Rubeus and would not fail. They were strong in mind, body, heart, and soul, and there was no way to truly stop them. No one believed, or wanted to. Raikou caught Lance alone one day and told him of a girl somewhere close, but far away, that knew him, yet did not. She would seek him out, and he would seek her, and they would find not only each other, but true love. Yippee! Lance thought. A girl for me! But little did he know how hard it would be. Not until one day they saw a girl...A girl with eyes of blue and green and hair two tones of violet. She was fast, strong, and a newbie to the training biz. But she was powerful with Pokemon she bred herself. They watched her grow even stronger and watched her get closer to the League and to themselves, as they left the city one day and met her face-to-face. She fell for Lance, created a psychic link with Will, bonded sisterly with Luri, and used Jason as a confidant, but only under aliases did she know them.
What remains of this story is still unclear. Right now that girl, known as Raikou's Angel, has made her way to the League and is now battling her way along. Will she achieve what Raikou, Suicune, and Entei say she will? Is she truly the incarnation of the Angel of Faith, just as Lance is of the Dragon of Legends? Are the other Elite the same way; Reincarnates of spirits resurrected every century? Will Rubeus, the so called Devil of Flame, return to destroy whoever takes his place? Only time will tell...But if you look closely into the trees of Spectral Spirit Woods and nightfall, you may just seen an aqua Pokemon with long arms and small wings flitting about the leaves.
*^~^*End*^~^*
Coming Soon: Jeweled By Day #3: Amethyst Winds
A/N: Oh...My gawd. This last part was hard! I had to try and write up how the Elite got the way they're supposed to be! @_@ That's about a dozen different sets of Elite! BAH! And, as you can tell, when I started writing TAA, I had not yet reached Claire in Crystal, so she tain't related to Lance...And now I get to start on #3, which looks to be like it'll be fun to do. And, as you can see...This one's slightly longer than "Sapphire Rain", but that's because this one had longer to talk about and more to describe. Anyway...I must go work on the third Lost Episode as well, so...Onward!
*^~^*Pro_V*^~^*
-=O~Her Many Pokemon~O=-
* - The Golden Convention is what part of the Johto League is called in the Japanese version. I'm unsure what they call it in the dub, so we'll have to go with this for now.
No matter how many times you ask, my answer will never change; I do not own Pokemon.