Title: We all
fall down
Authors: Nephitari Champion and Shadow/Phantomness
Pairing: Championshipping (Lance x Red)
Fandom: Pokémon
Theme: #29, “Wait a Minute!”
Rating: R
Disclaimer: Pokemon belongs to Satoshi Tajiri, 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, fanon, het, angst, death
It had happened without warning. Red gasped as strangely dressed people broke into her house. She went for a Poke Ball, but one of them fired an electrical net, tangling her inside. She blacked out seconds later.
The Grunts were hauling her outside when a shadow dropped overhead.
“What do you think you're doing?” Her husband asked; his voice deceptively mild. He did not take kindly to attempted kidnapping of his wife.
They ran, still carrying their prisoner.
Lance's Aerodactyl spat out several Hyper Beam attacks at them. The Grunt carrying the sack was blown to bits, along with her companions. Red dropped onto the ground. The pain was enough to wake her up again with a groan.
“I don't know what was going on, but we need to find out what's wrong!” She sat up as she pulled the net off. “Lance, let’s check it out!”
The redhead nodded as Red climbed onto Dragonite's back after him.
She clung onto her husband tightly.
Half an hour later, they touched down in Orre. Red gasped as she climbed off of the Pokemon.
“Red-chan,” Lance raised an eyebrow. “What's wrong?”
Her eyes widened. “There are so many corrupted Shadows. L-Lance, we have to do something.” She looked up at him, almost pleading.
“Perhaps you should stay home.” He stated. “This will be difficult for you.”
“But, can you see those shadows?” She questioned.
He nodded, eyes dark.
“But I…” She frowned. “I think I should be here.”
“I do not want you to be in danger again.”
“I want to help you, Lance-chan! Please let me stay?” Red almost begged.
“The last time we were here, you couldn't leave my side without feeling overwhelmed.” He pointed out, quite reasonably.
“Still, I don't want you to be overwhelmed either.” The black-haired girl pleaded. “Please let me help you, Lance-chan.”
“Very well,” He shook his head. * Stubborn woman! *
Red hugged her Mate tightly. "Thank you."
“It’s nothing.” The Dragon Master replied curtly. Then, he glanced at the ruins of Pyrite Town around them.
Feeling the malicious atmosphere, Red glared. “We go this way.” She led him to the square. “Everyone in this town has one!”
Lance released his Pokemon, efficiently taking out all the Trainers in the Duel Square. It was little contest. Next, Red collected all the Shadow Pokemon.
That night, they stayed at the local motel.
She sighed. The Shadow Pokemon were gathered around her. Several nuzzled her to try and get her attention.
Lance was wrapped in his cloak and sitting on the other bed.
She tried to push them away so she could go to Lance.
The Houndour in her lap whined. She stood, hugging the Pokemon. Then she approached him again.
Those eyes slid towards her. “What is it?”
Red kissed her. “I love you…” She cuddled into his embrace.
The Houndour blinked. Master had a Mate?
Red closed her eyes and cuddled with Lance. Finally, he wrapped him arms around her. He felt strangely reluctant to do so.
Master…
She petted Houndour, before she leaned up for a kiss.
Obligingly, he gently kissed her.
The Champion smiled and put her arms around her lover. Frowning, Lance closed his eyes. * Why is she doing this? *
“Love you Lance-chan. I need you with me.”
There was no reply.
Red blinked. “Lance-chan, are you all right?”
Quietly, the Guardian sighed. He did not push her away, but he did not do anything else, either.
“Lance-chan, I…” She hesitated. “What’s wrong?”
“You don't need me.” He said quietly. “You don't.”
Red teared up. “I do need you.”
“No you don't.” The redheaded man stood. “You can take care of the Shadow Pokemon on your own.” He knew he was useless as a Guardian. No one needed him, no one. They just needed Red – precious, powerful, wonderful Red.
The naïve little girl who had more power than he did… Red was the one who everyone wanted. No one ever bothered with him.
He was unnecessary.
“I do need you.” She insisted. What would she do with out her Mate? Her powerful, wonderful Mate…
There was no point in being in Orre to begin with. It wasn’t his region. Lance got up and began to pack.
Red watched her Mate, stunned. “Damn it, Mate! Why are you doing this? Who will take care of me? Who will love me?”
“I’m sure many people would be
happy to.” He snapped. After all, Red had
There was a pause. “And with your power, you do not need protection.”
“I don’t want anyone else!” She snatched his suitcase and flung everything out of it. “Those freaks were going to kidnap me! They would have succeeded if you had not saved me!”
She lunged at Lance. “You see, I do need someone to protect me!”
“You can take care of yourself!” And it was true. Red had enough power to control time and space, the entire world was at her fingertips. Lance had nothing. He bit back a snarl of rage.
For that matter, who was she fooling? Lightning was her element. Some weak, man-made electric net would never be able to keep her down!
Did she enjoy being a victim?
“Maybe, but I'd rather not have to!” Red snapped back. “If I don't have you, then who do I have to fight for?”
“The Pokemon, obviously,” Lance replied dryly. * Duty is all that matters. Love is unimportant. *
A thought struck Red. “Do… do you not l-love me anymore?”
“I never loved you.” Lance replied. His golden eyes were hard chips of ice. “Everything was a lie.”
He could not, would not, love someone who had broken him. He saw betrayal painted in his mind every moment, relationships breaking and sacrifices made for naught. All this bloodshed, with no recompense…
Yes, only the Pokemon mattered.
Red could take care of them. After all, Red was the Guardian who could Balance the Realm.
He didn’t matter.
Crimson eyes widened. “T-that aura... H-his heart has closed.” Her eyes hardened. Red didn’t know how it had happened, but!
Lance stood. “There's no reason for me to stay here, Champion.”
She had to fix this! Frantically, Red threw a Poke Ball at him. * Please work… * Once she restrained him, she could take him to Serebii’s Shrine in Agate Village and make him normal again!
He casually batted it away. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“I'm not letting you leave!” She pulled out a Master Ball.
Seeing this, the man immediately took a defensive stance, his silversteel claws shimmering on his fingertips.
* I won’t let her hurt me any more! *
Red smirked. “Do you even care about your precious dragons anymore? Without you they won't exist without you!”
“As if you couldn't take care of them,” He hissed. “After all, you're the precious Space-Time child!” For she had stolen Palkia and Dialga both, and that was an insult he could not forgive or forget.
“But I don't balance them, or have you forgotten that?”
He hissed at her, and pounced, digging his claws into Red's shoulders and drawing blood. “I hate you.”
Red reached deep inside. * I need him! I need my Lance-chan! *
“I hate you!” The crazed Guardian repeated, sinking his fangs into Red's throat. “How dare you…”
She smiled. “So, even if you deny it, you still mark me as yours. You can't hate me. I'm glad I'm still yours.” She smiled.
Lance bit harder. He was going to kill this girl.
Vaguely, she could sense something. He had blocked off their connection, but it was not perfect.
* I'll kill her, and then I'll suffer the ultimate Guardian punishment – the dissolving. And we'll never, ever have to see each other again. * Lance thought, as scene after scene of betrayal, despair, and misery flashed through his mind. * Our relationship was never meant to be. *
* He wants to dissolve? * Red kissed Lance hard. * They must have changed his Father, Lugia-san! The bond is making him suffer like this! I have to stop it! *
Frustrated, Lance tried to push her away.
Red clicked the Master Ball against Lance. He gave a cry as he was sucked inside.
“I'm sorry, Lance, but I can't let you do this. Don't worry though... I'll save your father, and mine.”
She scowled. Stupid Team Snagem and Cipher!
It was time to get rid of them. This was a job for Destiny.
The Guardian quickly transformed. A week later, she found the Headquarters where they were keeping Honou and Lugia.
Along the way, she had been forced to dispose of several other Snagem agents.
“It's time.” Red glared. “I have to get them back!”
She snuck through the compound. After some searching, she found the room where the Cipher Organization was storing their Shadow pokemon. She began packing all of the Poke Balls up quickly and efficiently. * I will have Serebii purify them later.*
By the time the Cipher Administration figured out what was going on, Red was gone with all of their Shadow Pokemon. Moments later, the entire complex exploded due to Dark Thunder Apocalypse.
Destiny glared. “How dare they do this?”
They all deserved to burn for what they had done.
Red called Serebii after she returned to Kanto. She could not believe what had happened! How could these disgusting desert-dwellers have done so much harm?
“Lugia-san…” She saw the dark purple color of his coat as he was released. The color horrified her.
The Pokemon bared his teeth.
Immediately, she changed to Hope. Red began to sing as healing green light flowed from her body. She let Lance out after a minute,
Hours later, Red surveyed the healed Pokemon proudly.
She went to check on Lance and her father.
Lugia was trying to comfort Lance.
“Lance-chan,” She approached them slowly.
The Dragon Master flinched.
“That wasn't you, Lance-chan.” She tried to reassure her Mate. “I don't hate you, you know.”
“You don't understand.” Lance looked at her. “I meant everything I said.” He couldn’t stop the despair in his heart.
Her eyes widened at that, and she backed away. “Have you given up then?” She held in her tears.
“Why don’t you hate me for it?”
“I don’t hate you because I am Hope! That's why. I think that it can still work. Call me a fool all you like! But we only have nothing if we give up!”
“You don’t need me.” Lance repeated. “This proved it, didn't it? You don't need me.” He really was worthless. Red had taken care of the situation perfectly. He had been a hindrance and not a help.
“I'm sorry you feel that way." Red looked away. “Pokemon mate for life, Lance-chan.” What was wrong with her lover?
Had her husband truly decided to leave and end everything?
“Why would you want a useless Mate?”
She looked down and let a tear fall. “I don’t know. Maybe because he is everything I’m not? Everything I want to be? Maybe it’s because he is the other half of who I am?” She looked up at Lance. “Maybe it's simply because he means everything to me. He is my whole world.”
“You shouldn't feel this way.” He cupped her face in his hands. “You deserve better.”
“You can't change the way I feel, Lance-chan.” She whispered.
“I wish I could.” He whispered sadly. * I want you to be happy. I want you to be with someone as brilliant as you. *
“You are wonderful, Mate.” Red confessed. “I wouldn't want anyone else, ever.”
She hugged Lance tightly. The Elite Trainer looked frightened.
“I’m not mad.” She reiterated her words. * Please don’t leave me… *
“I’m jealous of you for crying out loud!” And he was. He couldn’t stop it. The pain threatened to overwhelm him.
“Why? Of me? Why?” Red blinked. “Why are you jealous of me?”
The older Guardian exhaled. “You have so much power. You can take care of yourself. You can Balance the Realm if need be. There is no point in keeping me around.”
“What about your dragons?” She pleaded.
“You have the power of the dragons now.” And Red had everything, didn’t she?
“I don’t really balance Dragons, or Ice, or Dark... Or Water! I may have their power, but I am not the Chosen Dragon Master, you are!”
Didn’t Red understand that it didn’t mean anything? “You can have my power!”
“I don't want your stupid Power! I. Want. You…”
She kissed Lance desperately. What was wrong with her Mate? She wished she knew, but he was still hiding away from her. She could not help him this way.
The Ice Guardian shoved her away, seeing scene after scene flash inside his mind. He shook his head, not listening to her cries.
“You don’t need me, you never needed me…” He clasped his hands in front of his chest, eyes flashing dangerously. “Please, Serebii... kill me.”
This was not going well. “Must you do this? If you do this now Lance-chan, I cannot promise to forgive you.”
That was exactly what the broken Guardian wanted to hear. “Then don't.” He hissed, and called the Sword.
Red fell to her knees in shock. “I'm sorry…” That had been the wrong thing to say, hadn’t it?
There was no response.
“I know what I said, but I still want to try…”
“There is no point in trying.” The whisper was faint. “Good-bye, Champion.”
The younger girl began to scream when she realized that Lance was, indeed, dissolving.
“You will forget me… forget everything that ever happened between us...”
“No!” She cried. "I can’t forget!”
< You will. > Serebii said. < This is what happens when a Guardian dissolves. They become part of the Realm itself and no longer exist. >
Red trembled. “What do I have to live for now then?”
Serebii watched as Red's expression became to change, the memory wipe taking a hold of her. < You will be happy. Lance never meant anything to you. >
The girl collapsed as her memories continued to vanish. Still, she shook her head. “I am nothing without him!”
< You won’t remember him. You will be fine. > Serebii reassured. She knew it was true. Why did they persist on making things so complicated?
Red drew out the earliest memories she had of Lance and trapped them with her new power, hoping that they would stay. “I will always feel like something is missing Serebii! But you wouldn't know!”
< Things will be better this way. > Serebii said. Red fainted seconds later.
* You are wrong...* that was her last thought.
Now that Lugia’s broken-hearted child was part of the Realm, he would be free. His injuries could not heal, as his heart was still locked, but he would not suffer either.
Things would be better this way.
End Fic
Completed 3/8/08
Edited 6/12/09
Lance’s heart was closed earlier, because of Lugia being turned into a Shadow Pokemon, but she is jealous. And he’s also disturbed, because he’s seeing every single terrible thing that ever happened between them, which is kind of bad for his fragile mental state! Especially since this is before Red/Ashura split from Slut! Ash, and you know how much he sleeps around…
Wow, there is a *lot* of angst in this one. Sorry, Lance!
Also, Red does have Sue-like powers in some fic where I wasn’t able to rein her in, so… Lance isn’t happy.