Pokemon Fan Fiction ❯ Reel ❯ Chapter 3

Should I even continue this one? Ah Mew, angst! Argh.

Disclaimer: Pokemon belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. This non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfiction belongs to me under international copyright laws and taking it is plagiarism. Thank you. *Phantomness bows*

Notes: Angst. And Championshipping (Red x Lance), and… more angst and stuff, and the rest I've already said in earlier chapters.

Chapter 3

 

Despite one's brave words, truth is not fiction.

I'm so tired…

Red looked at Lance, noting the black shadows beneath golden eyes. “Lance, is something wrong?”

The Dragon Master shook his head; still busy petting the baby Dratini in his lap. “I'm fine, Red.”

It was December and school was out - thank Mew for that, at least for three weeks so they could go on holiday and actually do some training!

“You don't look fine.” Red spoke, worried. “You haven't been sleeping well, have you?”

“You're too observant for your own good.”

“And… well… are you sick?”

“Not really, no. Just have been having nightmares.” Lance said noncommittally. “It's all right. I'll take sleeping pills.”

“All right…”

 

Two days later, the shadows were gone. Red forgot about the incident and enjoyed winter break. He and Lance went skiing for a few days, and then celebrated Christmas together.

School started again.

One month, two, three… three months, mid-March, things began to fall apart.

 

“Lance?”

“He's sleeping,” Clair said, as Red walked in.

“Is something wrong?”

“I don't think so. He's just really sleepy.”

“Mm, I can understand. All this homework they throw at us second semester… we've all been cutting sleep. I guess it came to a point.” Red stopped. “I was going to ask him for help with my Chemistry homework, but if he's sleeping.”

“I'll help.”

“Oh right! You're in Chemistry AP! All right…”

 

They were busily working - nearing the finish, when they heard a thud from upstairs.

“Lance!” Clair dropped her pencil and shot upstairs, Red following.

Lance was sitting up in bed, his golden eyes flat and dull, a book dropped on the floor, proving the thud. “Clair?”

“What's wrong? What's wrong?”

“My eyes…”

“Your eyes?”

“I can't see…”

Clair gasped. * Oh no… it's beginning… * “Is everything dark or white?”

“White… a horrible blinding white… it's all I see…” Lance groped around the blankets for a moment, before he released his Aerodactyl, which immediately began steering him around the room.

“Lance…” Red gasped. “It just happened overnight?”

“Yes. Maybe it's a temporary thing, I don't know. Maybe it's from that Hyper Beam I did yesterday, I accidentally looked into the flash…”

“I… I'll leave now.”

 

Four months.

“Your voice is gone, aniki. How will you tell him now?”

< I don't need my voice to speak. >

“True, so it's not as bad, but still, if this continues…”

< If this continues to the point where I think it will, this form will be useless. >

< I know… but I worry about you. Isn't it painful? >

< My blood dulls the pain, so I don't feel anything, really, but I know what's happening better than you. >

< Lance… Dragon's Blood won't hold out forever. >

< Then I'll initiate the Phoenix Gift first. Don't worry. >

< All right… >

 

Five months.

“Lance? I know you've been missing school, but it's your senior year and it's not really important, but still….”

Red peered at the teenager who was sitting there listlessly, almost. He took a closer look.

“…” Lance was knitting?

Two needles flew clackity-clack over silvery yarn. How… interesting.

“Lance, come on, I know - I mean, no, I don't know. I haven't seen you in almost three months. Why - what's happened to you?”

“You really shouldn't ask.”

Red jumped, before seeing it was Clair. She sighed as she came in. < Still knitting? >

< It burns stress. I'm bored. Father's busy working since I can't really… not in this state… >

< Well, you shouldn't avoid him. It's not really his fault… well, not much. >

< I know… >

 

“Why shouldn't I ask?”

“I can't answer that question.”

“But you're being unfair! How can I help if I don't even know what I'm supposed to do?”

“There's something called instinct and empathy you can use… but I won't say any more.” She nodded at Lance. < You need to tell him though. >

< He can figure it out on his own. He's not that blind. >

 

“Are you sick?” Red asked. “Because I'd hate it if you were ignoring me…”

< You would? >

Red jumped. “And when were you psychic?”

< I've always been psychic…. It's one of the benefits that come with the bloodline… >

“Wait, wait. One thing at a time.” Red said. “Er… so how are you feeling?”
< Alive and breathing, for now. >

“I can see that, but why are you knitting?”

< It gives me something useful to do…>

“Lance, you're not making any sense. Are you angry with me? Did I do something stupid? Or…”

< I just didn't want you seeing me in this state. >

“What? So you are sick!”

< In a manner of speaking. > Lance said dryly. < My eyes and voice are already gone, and I'm not quite sure what leaves next… but it shouldn't be my psychic ability… knitting is one of the few things I can do without my eyes. >

Red froze. “… Lance, you're…. That sounds serious! Have you seen a doctor?”

< Nothing can be done; it's a degenerative disease… I think my ears will probably go next… it's genetic of a sort. >

“Then… then how long…”
< Mm, at least two more months, up to six years if I'm lucky… >

Red surprised himself as he ran up to the bed and hugged Lance tightly. “You can't die! You can't! There are so many things we haven't done yet… it's not fair! Why not some old man or something? Why do you have to die?”

< Because we can't cheat fate, Red. > Lance whispered in his mind.

 

End Chapter

Completed 7/2/05

Phantomness: Zzz… depressed authoress = depressing fics…