Title: Secrets
Author: Shadow/Phantomness
Pairing: Championshipping (Lance x Red)
Fandom: Pokémon
Theme: #25, Secret
Rating: PG
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: <> for telepathy, ** for thoughts, italics if a pokemon talks

Warnings: AU, Shoujo-ai

She knew, of course, that eventually, eventually, Uranus would be reborn. She knew it. It was not something difficult to understand, though with Crystal Tokyo being peaceful, the danger of the Dark Moon family gone, there was no need for a full set of Senshi. Saturn still slept, wrapped in the sleep of force – she would not wake until it was time to chase destruction. Pluto brooded, chained at the Gates of Time. The Inner Court and their princess lived their happy lives…

What of her?

Lance sighed as she closed the book. It was easy, so easy to drown, so easy to forget. She never wore her fuku now, though she still kept the Mirror by her side. Sometimes, if it was in a good mood, it would show her the past, happy memories, when she and Red had both been alive and well. She hardly lived now – as a Senshi; she still had eternal life, for as much as it was worth, though that was no guarantee for immortality. And after the first disastrous incident when she had tried to kill herself with Uranus’s Space Sword, they had snapped the control bracelets around her wrists.

She would be unable to take her own life.

So now she drifted, and painted, and played music, and read, and messed not in the affairs of the Kingdom.

It was no longer her concern to do so.

Ashline – Princess, no Queen, now – had tried to draw her out of the shell, but she was different. She was different from the laughing Inner Court. She did not belong with them – they knew it, even as they averted their eyes from her silver armor and sharp-edged wings.

The Inner Court protected the Princess.

The Outer Court protected the Galaxy.

That was always the way things had been, and it held true still. There was little to protect their galaxy from, now, but just in case…

Pluto would see any danger before it came, and it was a simple matter to reach her castle, forewarned by the mirror in hand…

She would not fail.

She could wield them both now, the Space Sword with the memory of Red’s smile burned bright, and the Deep Aqua Mirror to reflect back any damage they might do. She was strong, with power almost unimaginable, and she could destroy so easily.

She just didn’t think about it any more.

“Lance?”

“What is it, Misty?” She asked.

The Senshi of Mars swallowed. “It’s… complicated.”

She narrowed her eyes, as the girl quickly shook her head. “No! It’s not another attack. It’s just that… well… Lance, you haven’t left the library in six months!”

“I did not know you were concerned.”

“And Queen Ashline is…” Misty swallowed. “She’s about to give birth again.”

“Oh?” Lance smiled. “I see.”

She silently followed Misty down the steps, into the chamber. By the time she had arrived, the new baby had been born.

Even though Princess Richie was the heir to the throne that did not mean the Queen could not have other children.

She murmured the appropriate blessings and greetings, and left.

The years continued to pass, slowly. Six years later, she had her first visitor.

“Hello, Lance.”

“Charlotte.” She smiled. “Did Ashline finally release you from the Gates?”

“As if.” The Senshi of Pluto shrugged elegantly. “It’s… complicated. Suffice to say I have two weeks of vacation.”

Lance nodded, slowly. “Well, come in.” She poured green tea for them both, set a plate of strawberry-filled biscuits on the table, and waited for the other woman to speak.

Charlotte smiled and helped herself to a biscuit. “It’s not difficult to not care any more, is it?”

“Mm.” Lance agreed. “I wish I could see her again, Charlotte. Hold her again…”

“I know.” Charlotte said. “I wish I could have saved her…”

“But you can’t.” Lance said pointedly. She knew that Charlotte wore control bracelets, just as she and Saturn did.

“She’s afraid of our power – she has always been afraid.” Charlotte sighed. “I doubt Queen Delia wished for this to happen. We are powerful, yes, but we need our power.”

“And what happens if…”

“What do you mean?”

“If,” Lance said, “The Queen died. The throne would just move to Richie. I doubt she would be more merciful – she’s a spoiled brat if I ever saw one.”

Charlotte chuckled. “Yes. And even the power of the Grail… would never be able to defeat the power of the Crystal.”

“Because the Silver Crystal is built on the lives of the senshi, whether they will it or not.”

“Correct.”

“So what do we do?”

Charlotte shook her head. “Wait and hope, Lance. That’s the only advice I can give you…” She lowered her voice. “Oh, and it might be good to leave for your Castle for a few years…”

Lance nodded.

Fifteen years later, she was surprised to find a woman in black knocking at her door. As Red lowered the hood, Lance gasped, and hugged her tightly.

“I missed you.”

“I missed you too.” Red murmured. “But I guess they finally thought I had suffered enough for my so-called crimes and let me return.”

Lance nodded, saying no more, and held her lover close.

Once again, their secret was safe.

End Fic

Completed 7/20/07

I’m not sure why I write Sailor Moon/Pokemon fic but I can’t write pure Sailor Moon stories even though I love Haruka/Michiru. *Sniffles*