Title: Shield
Author: Shadow/Phantomness
Pairing: Championshipping (Lance x Red)
Fandom: Pokémon
Theme: #35, Shield
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. Game-verse

Warnings: AU, het

“This will not hold long.” Lance warned, her eyes flickering over Dragonite’s Light Screen defense. “You had best get out of here quickly.

Red shook his head. “I’m not leaving you to face Mewtwo alone.”

“Red,” Lorelei’s voice sounded strained, even as she leaned against her Jynx for support, ordering Dewgong and Lapras to strike with another Blizzard attack against the incoming army. “You’re still young. You don’t deserve to be caught up in this.”

“But I can’t leave you alone!” Red cried. Bruno laid dead, the first of the Elite Four to fall, his Fighting-types shattered with one blast of Mewtwo’s power. Agatha and her ghosts clung to life with clenched teeth, but she was old and frail and the battle was taking its toll.

The Dragon Master sighed. “I suppose we shall face death together, then.”

Red nodded grimly, as he released his Pokémon. There had to be some way…! But what could they do? Even dark-types might not fare well against Mewtwo… and…

He clenched his teeth. He would not lose here! None of them were going to die! It was time to pull out all the stops, and hang what the public thought!

If it came down to a fight with legendary against legendary…

Then he would have to do it.

Lance hissed, frustrated beyond belief. Things were not going to plan, and at this rate they would all die. She sighed.

Lorelei did the same.

It was time to unleash the Elite Four’s most closely guarded secret. There was no point in faking now. Their lives were on the line.

And no clone, no imposter, was going to take it away from them.

“Articuno, I choose you!” Lorelei called, as she tossed the Ultra Ball into the air.

“Zapdos, you’re up!” Red cried throwing his Master Ball forwards.

“Moltres…” Lance hissed, releasing the Legendary in her possession.

The three Legendary Birds screamed, circled above the invaders, and began blasting the Pokemon left and right.

Mewtwo frowned, his attention caught. < You dare defy me? >

“Looks like it.” Red agreed, feeling oddly giddy. Perhaps the near-death adrenaline was making him high. Even if they died, it would be in a blaze of glory… and that was the best way to go, really.

The elements roared as they fought, and he was vaguely aware of pain, but pain was unimportant when lives were on the line.

It was dark by the time the tide had turned, and Red was vaguely aware of Lance cradling him. All his energy had faded in a rush, and he wobbled unsteadily.

“Is it over?”

“It’s over,” She reassured him.

“Oh good,” Red murmured sleepily. He cuddled against the Dragon Master tiredly, closing his eyes.

Lance half-smiled, bending down to kiss him, and Red allowed it. After all, compared to almost dying, this was nothing, and it wasn’t bad…

Besides, he was sure that she wouldn’t hurt him, and that was good.

End Fic

Completed 2/25/07

Edited 10/15/09

I am finding that putting a time limit on fic creation can actually spur my brain into working instead of staring blankly at a theme for several weeks… ^^ though it only seems to work for 15minuteficlets. Hmm… perhaps I need to try to adopt that mindset for these other themes… it’d save time at least!