Title: Power
Author: Shadow/Phantomness
Pairing: None
Fandom: Pokémon
Theme: #9, Power
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: Fanon

“I don’t blame you,” Charlotte says, as she looks at her reflection in the mirror. “I really don’t, Lance.” Her black hair is streaked with red, but her eyes are still brilliant, blue-gold. She’s sitting quietly at her vanity, rows of foundation and blush neatly lined up, the golden hairpins in her hair winking and glinting. She reaches for the eyeliner, carefully makes the markings underneath her eyes, and walks outside to look at the sun.

The sun is setting, but tonight there will be no moon.

“It’s just hard, you know?” She says. She sits cross-legged on the throne, Champion of the Indigo League, as she watches the Elite Four shift, Lorelei and Agatha replaced by Will and Karen and Koga. They’re more reasonable, Psychic and Poison are dual-control, and as for Karen, well… she can deal with Karen now.

She uses Charizard and Kingdra and Dragonite, Arcanine and Flareon and Rapidash, Dragonair and Aerodactyl and Ninetales, and lets the gossips wonder what type of trainer she really is.

… She can’t answer the question herself anymore.

Sometimes, she’ll dream dreams not her own, and when she first saw the Sword in her cards, she was frightened, but it’s all right. She’ll be Sword and Shield for as long as it takes, until Ash is ready, for real, and Lance can come home.

She’s not angry, and she’s not jealous. She’s just sad, and sometimes, she’ll sit in the dark and cry, but the dark doesn’t even hurt any more and that’s just not right.

She misses him too.

End Fic

Completed 5/26/07

Takes place after Theme #58, Memories

… There are many ways to interpret this. However, the purpose I wrote it for is because since Charlotte’s the only guardian left, she got stuck with Lance’s power and responsibilities once he dissolved. And no, Charlotte is not in love with Lance! Or Ash!