Title: Set
Author: Shadow/Phantomness
Pairing: Championshipping (Lance x Red)
Fandom: Pokémon
Theme: #17, Prophecy, Rule
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: AU, het

The youngest child was always the most beautiful, the most talented, and the most special. The older children were doomed to become hags or witches, to squander their fortunes or make foolish deals, and if cruel, to suffer the most vicious and unyielding of punishments.

Red hated it.

He was the fifth prince in a line of seven. His father didn’t care about him – they were all waiting for the youngest to be born and inherit the kingdom, after all. So he simply turned a blind eye when Red began a relationship with the Court Magician.

Lance spoke powerful cantrips, and she had the power of prophecy, but Red cared not for that. He loved the older woman for her piercing golden eyes and long crimson hair. He loved her, because Lance saw past the glamour and glittering stars into the bleak emptiness of his life, and did not fault him for it.

He remembered his magic lessons, a child in velvet doublet and satin hose, pale blue, shyly peeking into the scrying glass while Lance held him up. All he had been able to see was clear water though. His parents had cared not for his studies, as long as he was well groomed, quiet, and well-trained in sword and bow.

He enjoyed reading, preferring the quiet of the atrium to the loud clash of arms.

That did not go over well, but as he was not the youngest Prince, they could write off his eccentricities.

He remembered cuddling against the teenager, poring over a thick tome of signs and symbols.

“What is this?”

“The Arrow Ward? It casts a shield around you to protect you from enemy arrows. Alas, it fails on enchanted ones.” She explained.

“Wow…”

She smiled at him. “It is difficult to keep going for more than a few minutes though, as it drains your magic quickly.”

Red nodded. He traced the runes, wondering if he could figure out how to cast that. It seemed like a useful spell.

All he could do at the moment was basic magic. He could create a small globe of light and warmth, and cast a simple sleep spell.

There was so much more work to do!

“Now then,” Lance smiled. “Shall we begin the next lesson?”

Red nodded.

“Creating food draws from the runes of Earth and Water…”

He giggled, and paid attention to his teacher. This was so exciting! Besides, what if he got lost in the forest? Food was very important!

He’d been twelve when he’d noticed the companionship deepening into attraction. However, he had managed to keep hormones at bay until age fifteen. What if she rejected him? Or, what if it destroyed the only friendship he had?

Finally, he had stammered out a confession of love and prepared for the worst.

Lance had simply kissed him, accepting his offer.

Now, at least he knew one person in the castle cared for his well-being. He was still lonely, but at least he was not alone.

It was easier to ignore the dictates this way.

She kissed him, and Red purred, as he lay intertwined with his clandestine spouse in their soft bed.

Yes. As long as he had love, he could cope. The rest would come in time.

End Fic

Completed 10/29/07

Edited 11/26/09

I hate plumbing! And when I figure out what idiot blocked up the pipes to cause the severe flooding in my apartment, I WILL KILL THEM!

And on a random note, according to my Academic Planner, ‘The word ‘set’ have more meanings than any other word in the English language.’