Title: Loving Embrace
Author: Shadow/Phantomness
Pairing: Championshipping (Lance x Red/Ash)
Fandom: Pokémon
Theme: #12, Loving Embrace
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: AU, shoujo-ai, Character Death

“I love you,” She whispered, petting her lover’s hair, running her fingers through jet-black night as she carefully closed the lids over those golden eyes. She carefully stepped back, clasping the Space Sword in her hands, and she watched as the air around her began to shimmer, crystal-blue glow, sealing her in a clear quartz tomb for all eternity. She would sleep now, free of duty unlike the rest of them.

Neptune did not allow herself to cry, though the wind and the waves howled outside the Palace, even as Ashline huddled with her Inner Court. She thought of Pluto, chained at the Gates, watching Time forever and a day, but unable to change a thing. She thought of Saturn, sleeping in forced sleep, her power of destruction locked and tied, and a slow smile curved her lips as she brought the blade up to her chest. Her silversteel armor was protection, but as she knew well, this Sword could cut through anything.

Wait for me, Red…

The janitor found her the next morning, and by that time, she was already in a quartz tomb of her own. Misty cried for them, for Lance and Red, the Outer soldiers. She cried, because the era of the Crystal was ending, though Ashline knew not. She cried, because she knew Pluto and Saturn would follow their family and the world would be left defenseless.

But in Elysium, where dreamers walked, Lance and Red knew none of this, as they kissed passionately once and again.

End Fic

Completed 12/28/06

Stupid temporary files taking up anywhere from one-third to eleven-twelfths of my disk space. Who knew?

And it is clichéd. Gomen!