Title: Ides of War
Author: Shadow/Phantomness
Pairing: Championshipping (Lance x Ash/Red)
Fandom: Pokémon
Theme: #8, Once Again
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: Shonen-ai, insanity

“So we meet again, Champion Red.” Lance said softly. The Johto Champion did not glance up from his paperwork. “What brings you to my office?”

Red scowled. “You know very well.”

Lance stood, cape swishing behind him as he walked around the desk to face the younger Champion. “I take it that you did not enjoy the legislation I pushed through the Indigo Governing Council?”

“It’s… it’s horrible.” Red choked. “Lance, I…I thought you loved pokemon. Why are you doing this? Why are you letting them fight? Why must pokemon become weapons of war?”

“Because,” Lance’s eyes met his, and Red swallowed at the sight of the absolute emptiness in their depths. There was nothing there – no love, no fear, no horror… there was nothing but mirrored shields of glass left. “I had no other choice.”

“Lance…”

“Let the pokemon fight. Then you’ll see. Good day.” Without another word, he steered the dumbfounded Champion out of his office. The door clicked shut behind him.

Red stood out in the hall, and tried to put the pieces of his heart together.

Six months later, he had his answer.

The Dragon Master’s eyes were mad, and he laughed, high and shrill, as the sleek dragons tore through the ranks of massed men. But those were not enemy troops. Those were…!

Lance smirked as he descended, flanked by Articuno and Zapdos. Moltres was notably missing, but it mattered little. Against the combined forces of the legendary pokemon… who could stand?

The rank and file broke into chaos and burned away to ashes as Groudon burst from the ground beneath their feet and Honou soared overhead, heat beams destroying all in his path.

Dead, dead, dead…

Red felt numb.

Lance has pretty golden eyes and a brilliant smile, and no one questions him when he takes over the government with the rest of the Elite Four – Kanto’s Elite, Red notices. They must have planned this from the beginning.

But Johto’s Elite do not complain, and Red wonders how long it has been going on. The battlefields burn, and everyone is dead – almost.

Those that are not either have the same mad eyes, or they are frightened and of no use any more.

So Red joins Lance, and his lover holds him close as he ignores the screams coming from the dying, and after a few weeks, everything is fixed and he doesn’t have to worry anymore.

The pokemon… are alive.

They are safe.

They turned on their trainers at last, Kanto and Johto together, and no one lost. The war is over, civil war, isn’t that nice?

Tis.

End Fic

Completed 10/22/06

Creepy fic, ne? ^^