Pokemon Fan Fiction ❯ Dragon's Series ❯ The last step ( Chapter 19 )

Part 17!

Yes, I know the last part was all about Lance. I like Lance!

Disclaimer: SHADOW DOES NOT OWN POKEMON. NEED I SAY MORE?

Notes: <> indicates telepathic communication, ** indicates thoughts, and italics indicates pokemon speech translated into English.

Tmp - Okay, let's see…Ash was levitating, not flying, but yeah, he has Hidden Power. Hey, it has to be hard to become a dragon master, or else anyone could do it. Yep, Lugia is the judge. The Viridian Power is, according to the manga, 'Every few years a child is born possessing mysterious powers of the Viridian Forest'. In the manga, this means the ability to read a pokemon's thoughts and heal their wounds. I added telepathy and some other stuff for my fic.

Lauren Black - Thank you! Hehe, if Lance didn't pass, would she be a dragon master in my sequels?

Ranma - Hehehehe, Darkness coming up!

Pikacar/Marle - Wow! I'm glad I made you laugh, thanx for all the reviews!

Thunderstorm - Thanks for your suggestion, maybe I'll use it in a different fic. But when Ash starts his journey… it won't turn out very well. Um… Ash is a bit young? But before the end, he does find out Lance is really a girl…

Nikki Wind and Crystal Wind - Hi! *Hands over some Full Restore* Thanx for reading even though you were tired!

Severus' Potions Mistress - The last one is actually not psychic, but you're thinking about the three legendary birds. Good! That was part of my intention.

Part 17: The last step

Three days of walking later…

< Do you think we'll ever figure out what the 3rd test is? > Dragonair asked a bit doubtfully. They had slept for six hours each night, and woken up the next morning to continue searching, but Lugia had proved very elusive.

< Is the second test even over? > Lance asked.

< I think so. > Aerodactyl said. < But… what if Lugia's giving us a break? >

< I don't think so. > Gyrados muttered.

< Well, it is. > The sudden presence of the legendary dragon pokemon startled them from their conversation.

< So what's next? > Gyrados asked feeling a bit mollified.

< The third test, of course. This time, you have twenty-four hours to rejuvenate. I suggest you use that time wisely. >
Then, Lugia left.

Lance and her pokemon all unanimously voted to take a nice, long nap.

Fourteen hours later…

< What do you think the third test is? It has to be the hardest one! >

< But the second test was easier than the first one… > Dragonair commented.

< That's strange. So the third test might actually be easy… right? >

< Right. >

< Wait, let me think. > Lance said. < Three legendary birds. Ice. Fire. Electric. We've already gone through all three elements. Ice is strong against dragon, while fire and lightning are weak to dragon. That means… the next test should be something that's good against dragon-types. >
< But nothing else is good to dragon. > Gyrados said.

< You're wrong. > Aerodactyl spoke with a feeling of dread. < There is. Another dragon. >

The group looked at each other in dismay.

Twenty-four hours later…

"Dragonair, Ice Beam!" There really hadn't been any warning when a gigantic bluish-black Dragonite had appeared and attacked their party. Gyrados and Aerodactyl had split up and dashed in opposite directions, leaving Lance and Dragonair to weaken the Dragonite before they attacked.

Dragonair nodded and blasted the Dragonite with its fierce ice attack.

The Dragonite roared in a fury and blasted them with a Hyper Beam.

Lance winced as the energy roared inches away from her body. Even the wind created by the blast was horrifyingly strong.

Dragonair looked pretty bad. < OW…. >

< Dragonair, come back. > Lance said, holding out the poke ball. < You'll get even more damaged if you stay out! >

< But I have to weaken it before Aerodactyl and Gyrados attack! Otherwise, we'll have no hope of defeating it! >
< I understand. Just let me heal you. > Lance said as she focused her healing power on Dragonair. The Dragonite roared again and bellowed loudly. This caused the cave to begin crumbling.

< This looks bad. > Aerodactyl said, as he and Gyrados watched from a slightly safe spot.

< I think we should just attack now. >

They didn't really get much of a chance, because just then rocks and icicles started dropping.

Lance clutched her chest in pain as one of the icicles sank into her flesh. She could hear the roars of pain from her Dragon pokemon, and through bleary eyes, noticed that they had also been hit just as badly, if not worse. * Are we going to die now? At least we'll all be together… *

Just then, simultaneously, the chi of all four winked out.

Back in the cave…

Ash shuddered as a sudden sense of coldness invaded his soul. He couldn't stop shivering. Pain ripped through his body, as if someone was tearing out part of his heart.

"Stop!" Ash said, tears dripping from his eyes. * What is this? *

Two of the other pokemon in the room also felt the sudden icy chill. Charmander squeaked as he shivered. Seadra trembled along with Charmander.

Then, Ash remembered something Lance had told him before. "When a person dies, those closest to them will feel pain. And if the pain suddenly disappears and is replaced by a sense of emptiness, it means that they have passed on."

"What happened to Lance-chan?" Ash asked as the pain continued. "Is he hurt? I wish I could help! But I can't do anything! I'm so useless!" Unbeknownst to Ash, his eyes suddenly took a warm sea-green shade.

Charmander suddenly began to glow with the white light of evolution, as did Seadra. Ash stared in awed reverence as the light cleared, revealing a Charizard and a pokemon that he hadn't seen before, even in his pokemon encyclopedia.

As if understanding Ash's plea, Charizard lifted him onto its back and began flying towards Whirl Islands, guided by a golden thread of light that led into the distance. One end was coming out of Ash's body, while the other end of the beam shot off into the unknown.

When they arrived, they saw Lance and the other dragons, sprawled on the rocky floor of the cave, unmoving. The other beam of light was coming from Lance's chest.

"Lance-chan?" Ash asked nervously. He quickly rushed over to the dragon trainer. "Please open your eyes, Lance-chan."

There was no reply. Charizard and Kingdra were not successful in their attempts either.

"LANCE-CHAN!" Ash said, in disbelief and sadness as he glimpsed the terrible wound on the dragon master's chest. "NO! This didn't happen! Lance-chan can't die! I won't allow it!" He began to cry unashamedly, hugging the dragon trainer to his chest.

Softly, Charizard and Kingdra began to cry for their fallen teammates. Their tears splashed on the still bodies of their comrades and a pure silver light surrounded the group. Slowly, the dragons stirred, one by one, the terrible injuries on their bodies sealing up as if they had never been.

Lance's eyes fluttered open as she felt warmth entering her body. "Ash?"

At the soft voice, Ash jerked up and locked eyes with Lance. "Lance-chan! Oh, I was so worried about you, I'm so sorry!" He buried his face in Lance's chest and cried some more. Lance rubbed his back calmingly. Lance decided not to ponder Ash's new eye color just yet.

"It's okay, Ash." She whispered.

Just then, Dragonite reappeared. Lance quickly jumped up and prepared to attack. The other dragons also took fighting stances. However, Dragonite did not attack.

< I have seen the power of your heart. > Dragonite said, voice rumbling like thunder even in telepathy. < And you are worthy to become the Dragon Master. Only strong bonds between pokemon and trainers could have saved you from death, and the proof is before me. >

All the assembled people and pokemon gasped.

< Now accept my blessing. > Dragonite said. From his antennae came bright beams of multicolored light. Lance and her dragon types were bathed in its shining radiance. When the light cleared, Lance was still dressed in the same clothes, but upon her chest shone a golden symbol, visible even through the layers she wore.

On each of the dragon's hearts the same sigil shone with radiance. Dragonite nodded again, and they vanished from the island.

End part 17! Wow, this part was angsty, exciting, and basically quite emotionally draining to write. I hope you enjoyed it! Was it dark enough? *Pokes Ranma*