Disclaimer: I do not claim ownership of Pokemon, its characters, locations, or names. All of them, with the exception of the original characters and ideas, belong to Nintendo.

Credits: Luna and "the wanderer" belongs to me. Paran belongs to The Elemental Sorceress and Fox belongs to Shadow Fox 05. "Lucia's Theme" is owned by Working Designs, and if from the game Lunar: Eternal Blue Complete.

AN: Yes, I now have Chapter two edited, rewrote, etc. A lot of the ending I left alone, as I liked how it was wrote originally. : No point fixing what's not broken, ya know? Seems silly.

It is turning out a lot better being rewrote. Seems less rushed now then the original chapters did. I like that. Seems less random too. I am slowly growing to like this fan fiction more and more : It feels more SLTish now.

As for the song...well, I'll go into that after the chapter.

Warning: This is going to turn out as having slash/shonen-ai/yaoi/etc.

- Chapter Two: The Song -

As the days passed, each one getting closer to the day of the contest, they started dragging on slowly and tensely, until Ash started wishing for nothing more then to use his valued Shadow Blade to chop his own head off. He regretted promising his only daughter that no matter what, she had full control of what song was to be used – which was starting to worry him, as she refused to give him any details of it, or even just the title – and of what they would be wearing.

The only thing saving them from the unpredictability of the ten-year-old was May, who was helping with all of the plans and arrangements. She could make sure the little imp of a child would not have him – or Lance or Fox – being humiliated in front of an audience. "I don't like this at all."

Turning to look at the Dragon Master curiously, Ash pushed the Shadow Blade down into the muck – which, had it still been a part of his only pokemon, Pikachu, he wouldn't have done – and made a sound resembling "hhmph?" Lance shook his head.

"This whole contest...I don't like it. We signed our lives away to a ten-year-old, dammit!" he whined. Ash laughed, earning an angry glare, before giving the older man a sympathetic look. "Why did you have to cave?"

"Why'd you have to agree to back me up?" Ash countered coolly, his gold eyes staring straight into Lance's darker ones, not quite glaring, nor giving any sense of warmth or humor. He held his calm, even though he started feeling uncomfortable, and cracked a smile in an attempt to get Ash to cease the staring.

"Shall we agree that the three of us are fools?" Lance suggested, his voice light. Ash tilted his head, smiling slightly, and nodded, "You never have given that up. Whenever you are out here playing swords and daggers, you act like an assassin, being all serious and deadly."

Fingering the hilt of the magnificent sword that was at that moment letting off little to no power for lack of need, Ash looked blankly at him, raising an eyebrow and turning to regard the trees that were at that moment swaying with the slight wind. "Could have to do with that I was, in fact, an assassin." the Shadow Master replied just as lightly, as the small form that was Luna appeared at the door, and started trotting toward them, "Good thing I'm not one now though, since I would have to run you through for knowing. Would be quite painful, don't you agree?"

Lance's eyes darted from the face of the smiling former killer, to the wicker blue-black blade that had started glowing, the sharp dagger-like crosspiece handle, with the cryptic words "When the darkness bleeds..." inscribed in it. He saw the idle threat as one used in jest, and laughed uneasily, letting the thought that it was most likely used seriously at one time or another slide from his mind.

"What'd you need?" Ash asked as Luna stepped across the ring that circled them. She gave him a sheaf of papers, and tapped on them. "What are these for, exactly?"

"That's the forms and stuff for the contest, and the music," was the reply he received from the child, who bounded off for the swing set as he shifted through the pile, biting his lip thoughtfully. Ash purposely ignored the glances he was getting from Lance.

"Well,"he said slowly, "at least now I know it's nothing that'll ruin my entire reputation."

- - -

All too soon, the day arrived unexpectedly, and the morning turned out to be nothing but mass confusion. "Get up! Come on! Today isn't a sleep-in day!" Misty said, shaking the mumbling girl as she rolled over and pulled the sheets up over her head. "You don't want to miss your dad's performance, do you?"

Green eyes snapping open at the question, Luna shook her head groggily, and clambered out of bed. "No, no, no! I wanna see it!" she cried out, fumbling around for an outfit in her closet, tossing anything she didn't want out of the way. Misty pulled a pair of socks out of the dresser, as the youngster stripped out her pajamas and pulled on a white shirt and a checkered skirt with overalls. "I don't want to outdo the others!"

"Where'd you get all of that arrogance and vanity, kiddo?" the redhead asked, grinning at the lightning child, as she hopped around the room, pulling on socks and shoes, before diving down to fetch her ribbons from under the bed. "You haven't been hanging around Giselle, have you?"

"Noooo, I haven't seen her in a while." The dark head appeared from under the bed, mussed up hair in her face. "I know Daddy is going to get some attention though! Mom said so."

Misty regarded the girl with mild amusement, before turning toward the door. She sighed, muttering under her breath. "That is just was he needs. More starry eyed fans to feed his already overinflated ego."

- - -

"Unless you want me to shove this pin somewhere you don't want it shoved, sit still!" May growled, slapping Ash across the side of the head with her free hand. Crossing him arms, he scowled at her; regardless of his irritation, he straightened his back and stopped wiggling around in his chair. Such a threat was one he knew not to take likely; he knew from past experience that she was not below going through with it!

Shaking her hair out of her face, May carefully placed the final pin in its place, pushing it in, and looked at her husband. She nodded in approval. "Are you finished yet?" he asked, shifting uncomfortably.

"Yes, Antsy, I'm finished. At least you don't have anything to worry about, you're all set." Ash leaned back as May gently put her arms around his neck, her cheek pressed against his. From how his jaw was moving, she could tell he was gritting his teeth nervously. "You'll do fine. You think Luna would have asked if she thought otherwise?"

Shaking his head, Ash closed his eyes. "No. I'm not a singer though! I'm a fighter, a warrior, swordsman, assassin, you name it...just not a singer!" he protested, getting a giggle in reply. He scowled, not appreciating the response.

"You'll do fine," May repeated firmly, planting a kiss on his forehead. He gave her a small smile. "Just think of it as talking to those people at the Pokemon League. You do that all the time, making announcements and everything."

"That's right. I guess it is basically the same, just with a few things different." It helped lower the unease that was building up.

"Exactly. Now come on, stop being so depressed! Go take a look at yourself!" Laughing quietly, Ash pushed himself up out of the chair to go find a mirror. This shall be an interesting day.

- - -

Workers scrambled about the stage and the hall to finish the final preparations, as the concert hall buzzed with the multiple conversations that were going on. The lights continued to be dimmed and brightened as they were tested, and all the remaining kinks being removed from the systems.

The chaos was only slightly higher backstage then it was outside. The dressing rooms were filled with contestants, and the shouts and called of different people nearly drowned out any possible conversation. "The competition will be starting in ten minutes!" came over the multiple loudspeaker.

As the judges were introduced, a hush fell over the large audience. Two of them were officials from the Pokemon League – which made Ash and Lance increasingly uncomfortable with being involved – while one was a singer herself, and the last was a field worker from a recording company.

"Didn't you just tell that guy off last month? The one to the left?" Fox asked, peering around the heavy curtain at the group of judges, all of which were talking quietly amongst themselves. Nodding, Ash picked at the charm connected to his shirt as the first name was rattled off.

"You better get to your seats before they start," Lance suggested, gaining a disappointed look from Luna. With a little prodding from Paran and Fox, she started in the direction of the stairs, followed by Misty and May.

- - -

Entrants came and went as the minutes ticked by, all of them being applauded for their efforts. More then an hour went by – the three men starting to get impatient the long they had to wait – before they were pulled out of their separate thoughts as a young boy ran up to them. "You're about to be called onto the stage."

Pinching the bridge of his nose, Ash shook his head. "That took long enough," he mumbled, hopping off the counter top he had been perched on for most of the contest. He had a mild headache that had been starting to form over the course of time. "Let's finish this so we can leave."

Taking his place at the microphone, Ash took a deep, steadying breath to calm his nerves, the uproar from the crowd beyond the curtains dying down to a low buzz. He smiled, imagining the look on the younger man's face as he heard just who he had to hear sing next, right after being told off by the same person. Lance and Fox didn't seem so sure as their leader, standing farther back to stay out of the way.

They narrowed their eyes in pain, as the lights blinded them when the curtains were opened and the audience was put into their view. Damn idiots! Do I look like the freakin' Light Master to them?, Ash thought, blinking, his eyes adjusting to the flood of brightness that assaulted his vision. He vaguely heard Lance swearing behind him as he scanned over the room, locating the bouncing girl that was Luna.

The judges nodded in approval – and Ash noted the looks the two he had to work with had with satisfaction – as the first notes started playing, bringing back the sinking feeling as Ash pulled the microphone off its stand. Glaring toward the snickering Lance and Fox, he sighed, and delved into the song.

"When I was alone as one,

my eyes were as blind, I know.

Sky brilliant with blue elegance,

I couldn't behold."

Few of the eyes in the audience widened, recognizing the song from the first words, and nodded along with the soft beat of it. Luna sang along with it, earning a few stares from people sitting nearby, and received a scolding from May. "Quiet down, you're disturbing them!" On stage, the three companions smiled, catching sight of what was occurring with the energetic child.

"When I was alone as one,

My heart was as ice, so cold.

Wind whispering sweet melodies,

I could not behold."

"...so this is what I've been missing out on all this time? No wonder Luna always used to fall asleep quickly. This is worse then a Jigglypuff's song." the Fire Master remarked, to the amusement of the two other women, "I wonder if they'd mind at all if I took a nap here." Luna scowled at her, doing a perfect imitation of her father; it was apparent that she took after him.

"Sight to my eyes,

and warmth to my heart,

Your love has been such to me."

What little talking that had been going on stopped, as all eyes and ears turned to the stage, to the ongoing singing. Of what they had been expecting of the trio – or mainly the Shadow Master, as the other two were staying quiet, barely mouthing their parts - what they were hearing wasn't it.

"Pull closer now,

And strengthen my leaning,

Toward love to heal all my wounds."

Leaning back into her seat, May nodded her head, perfectly at ease listening to the mournful voice of her Bonded lover. Had she been anyone else, she would have thought that the feeling had been made up to be better suited to the words; however, she knew that it could be, and was, very real.

"When our hearts both beat in time,

There's magic in your smile,

It seems there's nothing we can't do."

Looking around, Misty stared in amazement at the hushed silence that had fallen over the people attending, their eyes wide and disbelieving. She spotted a few familiar faces – Giselle, Lieutenant Surge, Koga, and Destiny – all of which seemed more understanding of it then surprised. The Water Master smiled, and turned her glance back to the stage.

"And within your warm embrace,

My heart will find a place,

Even from afar,

Our love forever shall be…destiny."

As the final notes faded out, the song finished, there was a stifling silence throughout the hall, only broken by the odd cough or sneeze. Putting the microphone back in its holder, Ash glanced back at Lance and Fox, both of which shrugged. They were just as baffled as he was.

- - -

Just as the contest officially started, the door into the hall opened quietly, and a green-clad formed edged in slowly. Crossing his arms across his chest, he leaned back against the wall casually, hoping not to draw attention to himself. The blond-haired man looked about curiously, spotting the group that made up most of the household he had taken to watching near the front.

He stood bored through most of the entries, shaking his head as the few that a below average singer would consider horrendous took up the stage. They shouldn't quit their day jobs, he thought. He was, however, impressed with most of the others, with the choice of outfits and music complimenting each other nicely.

A smile came across his lips, as three names were called - "I give to you three of Kanto's most well known and most talked about adventurers and Masters, Ashura, Lance, and Fox!" - and he clapped along with the crowd. He crossed his arms once again as there was a moment of quiet before the song started.

The words, the feeling...the power behind it! He stepped forward, watching mesmerized as his obsession, the center of his attention and his life, let the pain of year gone by pour out in the words that came out. He knew he could never measure what exactly was put into the song, or why the Shadow Master would let himself put what he was into it to back it up. The Master was letting the audience hear for themselves what the League had caused him, what Kiall had caused, in the form of the innocent lyrics his ten-year-old daughter had chosen...

As it slowly ended, he noted the total silence that had fallen over the hall, as it held for quite a few minutes before there was a roar from the audience as they applauded, whistling and calling out. He clapped again, watching the dark form that was Ashura look back at the other two – the men he also lived with, Lance and Fox, the blond mused – and then back at his audience when they returned to life. With a pleased smile, he stole out the door, his reason for being in the area finished. He had plans to work on...

- - -

Ash couldn't believe the reactions they were getting. He had thought they had been loud when the other people finished, but their current volume topped it. They quieted down again as one of the judges smiled up at the trio, as she stood up with nods from the other three that sat next to her. "First off, I must say, you shocked me. From what I have been hearing, you were the last person anyone expected in this. And with you two!"

"Blame his daughter. He can't let that girl go without, and so had to drag us in with him," Lance said. The singer gave a bubbly laugh, smiling when Ash glared at Lance, his look menacing.

"Of course, this isn't about why you are here! You have a decent score on overall costume and outfit, with a 8 out of 10. It would seem you are going by Element, Shadow Master?" she asked. Ash nodded uneasily, looking at the slightly sheer black material of his sleeve and pulling on it gently to straighten out the wrinkles. "Yes, yes…Shadow, Dragon, and…what is yours, sir?"

"Dark-Ice and Psychic," Fox answered, as the crowd started whispering hurriedly. The judges looked at each other skeptically, discussing it amongst themselves, before finally accepting the answer. He rolled his eyes, knowing that they merely didn't understand the concept of Combination Elements because of its rarity.

"On choice of song, you've earned a 5 out of 10, though this one is pending. Why did you choose to sing that one? We wouldn't have seen you as choosing anything the likes of that." They answered at the same time.

"Luna." The woman's eyebrows shot up, glancing around questioningly. Before she could verbalize what was on her mind, the young girl climbed onto the stage and ran across to her father, her arms outstretched. As a knowing look came over her face, she nodded and jotted down a few notes.

"Your execution….needs work. Serious work. You weren't staying in tune, and a few times you went faster then the music would have allowed. Also at certain points, all three of you were going out of your singing range. You received a 5 out of 10." There was an outburst from the audience, many of them disappointed at the score and wanting it reconsidered. With a shake of his head, Ash walked off stage, followed by Luna, Fox, and Lance.

"That's an outrage! You shoulda gotta 10!" Luna pouted, looking sourly toward the stage as another group entered. She snapped her teeth. "She doesn't know what she's talking about!"

"Half of the judges wouldn't have known what they are talking about," Lance pointed out with a wry look, "those two from the Pokemon League? The last time I checked, we don't work with music."

"No matter," Fox said, "we didn't exactly sign up to win, did we?" Luna gave them an innocent look, when they turned their glances to her. Ash pulled the pins out as they walked, letting his black hair fall about his shoulders.

"We didn't. Remind me never to let May touch me with pins again," Ash said, wincing as he pulled another one out that had became tangled in his hair. They laughed, the tension from waiting gone.

- - -

AN: If any of you have read quite a few of my other fan fictions, you'll have noticed my love of the Lunar games...hell, if you talk to me at all you would know about my love of the Lunar games, and would probably never hear the end of it about them...anyway, for those that are new to my work or those that didn't notice it, Lunar is mentioned quite often.

It's here, in the Trainer's Heart series where character from the games show up...randomly. o.0; -regretting that- , then I have the Lunar series which is placed in that world and has a lot of the characters.

For the song itself...I swear, I looked everywhere but Lunar to find the song for Ash to sing. I swear I tried to stay away from Lunar. But when I failed to find a song anywhere else that suited him, I turned to it and decided Lucia's Theme would be a good one to go with. The two characters kinda remind me of each other, really. I might someday change the song...that is doubtful though.