Red PWNS Ash, hence I use a different name for this pairing. I only wanted my own derivative, Ashura, to like Lance, certainly not Ashton Ketchum.

Title: Petals and Thorns
Author: Shadow/Phantomness
Pairing: WataShi (Lance x Ash)
Fandom: Pokémon
Theme: #15, Rose

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, het, murder

 

His blood is rose-red, she thinks, as she licks bloody strings off her fingers. She’s not guilty – not at all. She knew that all he wanted was the treasure between her legs, and he was already lifting the skirt of every chambermaid he could get his hands on. She glances at his body, before she touches it with the wand from her fairy godmother, oh, wonderful witch-queen of the night who gave her this gift, and his body becomes a simple bead, as dull silver as his parentage.

 

            Lance shakes her head, because she is happy, and she slides the bead onto her magic cord, counting the fourth foolish suitor who dared claim her for his own. Her Father is old and ailing, and he will never recover from his latest wife’s death. The kingdom would be hers, if she could find a husband, but all those who have come so far are hardly suitable. The first was an upstart braggart, the second was a drunkard, and the third was old enough to be her grandfather. Wealth can hide a multitude of sins.

 

            She braids white roses in her hair, because she is a virgin still, and smiles at the stable boy. He works hard, and his hair is dark and his eyes are kind, even though his hands are roughened with work.  She would rather have him than a dozen of these foolish Kings, but tradition must be made and prices paid.

 

            Ash smiles as the Princess sits down on the hay bale next to him. She’s not stuck up – he had thought she might be, but she’s just lonely, and she cares for animals. She’s brought apples, and she tosses him one.

 

            “Where’s your fiancée?” He asks between bites.

            “Gone.” Lance shrugs.

            Ash raises an eyebrow as she leans over to pet Moonlight on the nose. The stallion whickers, and she grins, giving him an apple.

            “Sometimes, I wonder…”

            “You may wonder all you like.” Lance strokes her necklace.  “But I’ll none of him.”

            “What if you get tired of me and I vanish too?”

            He hopes that will never happen, but he does have a right to be worried, right?

            “Well,” Lance says thoughtfully, “I was never in love with any of them. And I hope I won’t get tired of you. But you’ve never betrayed me, so you’re safe.”

            He’s still not too sure.

            Lance just pulls a wisp of hay out of his hair and makes no other moves, and as she leaves, Ash thinks that she is like a rose. She has thorns, and he’s not sure if he can deal with them yet.  He’s just… confused.

 

End Fic

Completed 10/30/07

Poor Ash… but it’s hard to build a relationship without trust! So maybe this is one that is not going anywhere…