A Second Chance

Chapter 15

It hadn't been long since Lance had last visited the Pokemon League, but it seemed so different now. Before, it had been drab and dull, decorated by Lorelei with dark walls, no electricity, and none of the comfortable couches the league now sported. He assumed Bruno had hired someone to redecorate, and Lance was grateful for it. 

The outside was the same weathered stone as it had been three years ago, when Lance had first come here. 

The wind whistled outside, biting at the young boy's face. He was only twelve, but he looked more like sixteen, with dark, cold eyes, and a weathered face. He looked up at the tall spirals of the Pokemon League, then lifted the iron knocker. Bruno met him at the door. 

"Your grandfather told us you'd be coming. We'll need to test you of course", Bruno had said once Lance introduced himself. 

"Of course. A battle?" he said. 

"Once you're rested. I'll show you to a room where you can rest up after your journey."

Lance had found himself in a rather inhospitable room, with no furniture other than a rough wooden platform. That suited him fine, however. Compared to his room, this was luxury. 

After a time, Bruno returned, Agatha and Lorelei in tow. 

"I'm ready", Lance said. 

"Then let's begin", Bruno said. 

He'd beaten all of them, of course. They had been no match for Dragonite and his other pokemon. That was when they named him leader of the Elite Four. 

Three years later, he met Yellow, and his life had changed drastically. He still didn't know how he had lived without her. 

Yellow now tapped his shoulder, snapping him out of his memories. 

"Are you okay?" she asked. He nodded, put his arm casually around her shoulder as they walked. 

Yellow waved as she saw Blue, running to her friend's side excitedly. 

"Red and Green are here, too", Blue told her as Lance walked over at a more sedate pace. "So are Clair and Silver."

"Are they all here. . . to watch me?" Lance wondered out loud. 

"Of course!" Yellow said. "They care about you, Lance."

"Why? After all I did, why would they care about me?" he muttered. 

Yellow looked into his eyes, and Lance saw the truth written in hers. "You changed. You're not the same person that did those things before. Now you're someone else. Someone I'm in love with", she said. She stood on her toes to kiss his cheek. "Now come on or we'll miss registration."

Blue wiggled her eyebrows at Yellow, and Lance couldn't help but chuckle as Yellow blushed. 

After registering, Lance sat down on one of the new couches to wait. Yellow settled herself beside him, and the two of them shared a companionable silence until the others showed up. 

"There's a lot of people here. Guess that means you'll have some competition, huh, Lance?" Red commented. 

"I guess so", he replied, still surprised at the openness everyone showed around him. 

A voice came on over the speakers newly installed around the league, telling them that the tournament was about to start. Yellow hugged Lance, wishing him good luck, before he left to go get ready. 

A flock of pidgy were released into the stadium, circling high over the heads of the lined up contestants, before flying free through the open roof made up of strategically balanced panes of glass. The crowd was awed, but Yellow had eyes for only one person in the huge stadium. 

She stood up, waving at Lance, and his eyes met hers. He smiled at her, and she felt her heart melt. Lance only ever smiled at her, and for some reason, knowing that she was the only one who could make him smile made her happy. 

A huge flat screen tv hung on the wall, and it displayed the pairings. Lance was going first, paired against a serious looking man with half-moon glasses. 

Lance won easily, his Dragonite defeating all of the opposing pokemon. The first matches were three on three, and after the first round, they would become full battles with all six pokemon participating. 

In the next round, Lance repeated his easy victory, hardly getting excited. He wondered if becoming the champion really would be as difficult as everyone had made it sound. He hadn't even bothered to heal Dragonite yet, let alone switch out. 

Sitting on a bench waiting for his next match, Lance sighed. Yellow sat down next to him. 

"I think this was a bad idea", Lance said. 

"Is this because of how easy everyone's been to beat?" she said. Yellow knew him too well. 

Lance nodded. 

"I think that's going to change", Yellow told him, gesturing toward the matchups screen. Lance's eyes widened in surprise as he saw his face next to Green's on the board. "You weren't watching the other matches, were you? Green decided to compete last minute. He said he couldn't let you win without at least one decent fight."

"Huh", Lance said, musing. 

"There are going to be stronger opponents, too. Once you're champion, I mean", Yellow assured him. "Everyone will have to go through the Elite Four, and eight gym leaders to reach you. Anyone with eight gym badges was allowed to compete in this tournament due to the unusual circumstances."

"Thank you", Lance said, leaning in close and whispering it in her ear. 

"F-for what?" she asked. She seemed a little flustered at his public display of affection. 

"Everything. But mainly your confidence. I'm sure now that I'll win, but I'm also sure I'll have fun doing it." 

"Oh", she breathed. "You're welcome." 

Lance leaned closer, his lips brushing against her neck before he pulled away, leaning his forehead on hers. "I guess I owe you one", he told her. 

"You're the one who keeps saving me! I think I owe you, not the other way around", Yellow replied. 

"I know how you can repay me, if that's the way you feel."

Yellow blushed deeply, wondering what it could be. 

"Yellow De Viridian Grove. . . " Lance said, testing out the name. He'd never called her by her full name before, he realized. "Would you do me the honor of accompanying me on a date?"

Yellow somehow managed to blush deeper. "Y-yes, of course", she stammered. What was this weird feeling in her heart? And why did it only happen when she was around Lance? She didn't have any time to ponder these questions, however, as Lance leaned in and kissed her. 

Oooh, a date! I wonder what happens next. . . You guys probably think I'm kidding, that I have this all planned out, or at least mostly planned, but I just sit here and let the story flow. That's why it kills me to not have time to update regularly sometimes. I'll try and do a better job of updating, though! Also, I have a short spinoff series (It'll only be a couple of chapters) called Raindrops celebrating getting 100 views on this story. Please read it and tell me what you think!