Title: Pet
Author: Shadow/Phantomness
Pairing: Championshipping (Lance x Ash/Red)
Fandom: Pokémon
Theme: #55, Pet
Rating: PG-13
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: Angst, AU, a bit of Master/slave or at least pets… Slash, implied sex, Special-verse

Red never wanted a pet.

In theory, the idea was a sound one, but then, all things usually looked better on paper than in actual life. The scientists on Cinnabar Island had come up with a brilliant idea – instead of killing the Elite Four, why not use them as experimental data to prove that prisoners could be converted into well-meaning or at least functioning members of society?

Of course, they wouldn’t be quite the same afterwards, and they wouldn’t be quite human either, but what of that?

Lance nudged his face into Red’s hand, and Red sighed as he ran his fingers through the former Elite’s long red hair. Lance didn’t look particularly human anymore – well, he did if one discounted the dragon wings and the cute little wing-shaped ears he had. Dragonair’s wings…

The ones on his back were from Dragonite, Red was reasonably certain, since they didn’t look like Aerodactyl’s – and Red would know, having Aeroy with him, and Aeroy liked Lance, though Pika still avoided him like the plague.

He had to be careful though, and remember the ridges on Lance’s arms – those were from his Gyarados, and Gyara always got a bit nervous when he saw them.

Red had tried without success to prove to his pokémon that he would never allow them to be butchered like that, but it wasn’t easy.

Honestly, the whole idea made him ill, since it was almost slavery… but what could he do?

It was all for propaganda purposes, and if he refused, he would lose his position as Ninth Kanto League Champion. Was it selfish of him to want to keep it?

Was it?

Besides, he wasn’t abusing Lance… he thought that what the Dragon Master had suffered was punishment enough.

Aeroy and Gyara watched as Red got up. Lance padded behind him, wings folded neatly against his back.

It is horrible, what they have done…

I know, brother, I know.

Without the Dragon Master, who will protect the wild dragons? The will hate their life even more, and they will destroy the cities of their own free will…

I know, but what can we do? If our Master rebels… he will, also…

Yes, I know well that the humans are capable of such cruelty.

I wish…

Wishing is for fools. We will watch and wait.

What else is there to do, after all?

“Lance, we really shouldn’t…” Red sighed, as Lance nuzzled his head into the crook of his shoulder. Affection, Blue had told him, was normal. She’d been creeped out the first time Lorelei followed her to bed, but seeing the hurt look despite those empty eyes had convinced her that not letting her stay would be cruel.

They were just like newborn children, almost. The Hypnosis following the Dream Eater had been very thorough, requiring months of work, but sure enough, there was no chance of reversion.

… But he couldn’t think of Lance as a pokémon! It just wouldn’t work!

Lance gave Red a happy smile and nuzzled him some more, as Red tried to ignore his hormones. It wasn’t fair to do this – he would be taking advantage – and – and…

But all his noble reasons went out the window, and finally, all he had left was the basic need to mate.

He finally sighed, when it was over. It had felt good, wonderfully good, and Lance was busy lapping at his spilled seed like a cat might, which was odd since he was a dragon, but no matter…

“What am I going to do with you?” The Champion sighed.

The Dragon Master did not answer. No recognition flickered in his golden eyes.

“I can’t let you go… so I suppose I have to keep you…”

Lance just stared at him.

“You don’t even understand what I’m saying, do you?”

No, of course Lance couldn’t. Red groaned.

Why was it so hard to do the right thing? What was the right thing? At this point, if he just slipped something in his food, and let him die peacefully, would that be better?

But… but it wasn’t really his choice to make, was it?

He wished he knew…

End Fic

Completed 8/24/06

Poor, poor Red…

Lance: Poor Red? I’m the one who’s stuck as a mindless slut!

Red: I don’t think you’re a mindless slut…

Phantomness: *Sighs*