Title: Keep Walking
Author: Shadow/Phantomness
Pairing: Championshipping (Lance x Red)
Fandom: Pokémon
Theme: #130, Tired
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, implied het

Sometimes, Charlotte becomes tired of life. When that happens, she leaves her Gym, ties up her hair, and goes flying with her bird Pokemon. They soar over the land from dawn to dusk, admiring the beauty of nature and the brilliant sky-fire, and at night, she’ll make strong, dark coffee and roast sausages, sitting by a campfire with her Vulpix, and feel strong enough to live another day.

Sometimes, Lance becomes tired of living. When the burdens press down upon her and the duties hang close, and the medicine she’s taking wears off, she will leave her Pokemon behind and swim deep, deep in the sea, and sink into the underwater cavern where Lugia will welcome her, and feed her powdered crystal pearl, so she can regain her strength, and sing lullabies. Then, Lance will sleep, sometimes for months on end, and when she wakes, she is able to begin her work once more.

Red never becomes tired of living. He races through the meadows with Charlotte, and they toast marshmallows over campfires while the Hoothoot sing, and he’ll cuddle and snuggle with Lance all the time, so he won’t be lonely.

With him around, Charlotte can see the beauty in life. She can see beyond duty, and actually take pleasure in living.

With him around, Lance can see what she needs to protect, and why she suffers what she does. She can finally see the light in her life, and not just the darkness.

No, Red thinks, he isn’t tired of living, and he’ll never be tired of helping his dear Aneki and Aniki out, so he’ll keep on walking and growing and becoming strong, and he knows that they love him in their own ways, so he is happy.

End Fic

Completed 7/22/07

Edited 12/4/09

5 minutes! I still love Red more…