Title: Sacrifice Knowing
Authors: Nephitari Champion and Shadow/Phantomness
Pairing: Championshipping/WataShi (Lance x Ash)
Fandom: Pokémon
Rating: NC-17
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: Fanon, shonen-ai, partner betrayal, anti-Leagueshipping (Richie/Ash), attempted suicide, dark

Lance narrowed his eyes, steepling his fingers on his desk. "I don't want a lot of drama, Ash." He said quietly. "I'm leaving. Our relationship is over. That's all there is to it."

"But, Lance..." Ash began.

He wanted Lance to yell at him, even to hit him! Anything would be better then that quiet tone! At least then he'd know that Lance still felt something... This lack of reaction was worse than either of those!

Lance ignored his protests, swept out past him into the hallway, and didn't look back as he strode away.

Richie peeked out from behind a bust of President Goodman. "Ash?"

Ash looked after Lance, he was shaking slightly and there were tears in his eyes. Then he blinked. "It's nothing, Richie..."

"All right." Richie smiled. "Come to bed?"

Ash nodded, not trusting his voice. Still... He looked back at where Lance had left and felt as if something had gone wrong.

If Lance were going to be such a prick, he'd be better with Richie! He shut the door behind them and blocked Lance out of his mind. Or at least, he tried to.

Nine months later, he saw the Dragon Master again.

"You said you had something of extreme import to the war effort against Team Rocket you needed me for." Lance said crisply. "Something about a magical weapon with directions written in draconic symbols only I can understand?"

Ash nodded. “We know where the place is, but we need help getting to them.”

"Very well." Lance inclined his head. "Lead the way."

Ash looked at Richie and then shot a discreet glance at Lance. This hurt... But... he had to do it... Ash led Lance to the ruins.

Lance stopped at the entrance, running his fingers over the silver symbols. He recognized this script. After all, he was the one who had written it ages ago, to seal the Sacred Sword and the Sacred Shield away from humanity's greedy hands. There were traps all over the place. It would take days to disable them all... Enough! There was no use dwelling on the past. He nodded.

"Before we proceed, I have a few questions. Do you have your pokemon and a good supply of cures?"

Ash pulled off his backpack and opened it to show that it was full of cures. "We spent a few days stocking up before finding you."

"That's good." Lance said. "What about flashlights?"

Ash opened another pocket. "And plenty of batteries."

"Great. We're ready then." Lance said. "We can get started right away."

"Do you know haw long it'll take?" asked Richie.

“A few days, perhaps more if the traps prove difficult.” Lance was already striding towards a broken pillar. Ash followed quickly. Richie picked his way over the rubble, eyes widening as Lance held his hands over the pillar. It started to glow, before the ground opened, revealing a set of thick marble doors, with more golden symbols written on them.

Lance shook his head. Sacrifices. There were always sacrifices. He knew exactly what waited inside and how to disable all the traps, but yes, it would take time. He placed his hands on the doors and they opened.

Richie, whom Ash had told to let Lance go, first, looked like he wanted to rush in.

A pale gray, chilly fog seeped out. Lance thought for a moment. He knew that he had installed torches inside, but they were too much trouble.

"Hand me a flashlight."

Ash pulled one from his pack and quickly checked the batteries. Then he handed it to Lance.

"Thank you." Lance's voice was as polite and uninterested as ever, though Ash could have sworn a spark flashed in his fingertips when they touched. He turned the flashlight on and shone it into the murky gloom.

"It's safe."

Richie and Ash followed. As they walked down through the long corridor, Richie was surprised. Although gloomy, the interior looked almost beautiful, done in shades of golden-white and silver-blue, with what looked like jeweled windows set at intervals along the hall.

"Wow..."

"Please step over that tile." Lance said suddenly. "Otherwise, you'll set off the spear trap."

Ash and Richie easily avoided it.

"How do you know?" Richie asked Lance.

"The traps are all written on the walls." was the quiet response. "Oh, duck there. It summons Zubats."

"...Oh." They ducked.

They made it through six more traps before they got to a more open area. In fact, it was a giant pit filled with spikes that they had no way of crossing, unless by pokemon.

Ash pulled out Bulbasaur. He looked down. "This kind of reminds me of when we were trapped on the S.S. Anne..."

Richie squeezed his hand.

Lance released his Ptera, flying across easily.

Ash walked across on the vines watching the Aerodactyl sadly, knowing that if he hadn't chosen Richie he'd already be across the gap. Why was he thinking about this? He was over Lance! This was just a temporary ... thing! Because they needed help! Still, he almost couldn't stop the tears. They glistened in his eyes but he forced them away.

He made it to the other side without trouble.

Lance was glancing at the door in front of them. "We'll have to continue tomorrow."

Ash began to set up their camp. Lance wrapped himself in his cloak and chose a spot far from the others. Richie lit a fire and they had cup noodles.

Ash waited until he was sure the others were asleep, and then he moved a little ways away. He let the tears fall silently. He didn't know why he was crying though... he couldn't figure it out...

He was about to go back to sleep when he noticed that Lance was moving. Ash held very, very still, watching as Lance took a tiny vial of something out of his robes and swallowed. For a brief moment Ash wondered what it was.

That was when Lance began to shake uncontrollably. Ash watched; panicked, but a moment later, Lance stilled. He sighed.

"Forgive me..."

Ash blinked. What was Lance doing?

He kept watching, but Lance went back to sleep. Ash lay awake for a long time, wondering. Lance was asking who for...

The next day was much the same. More traps, more walking, except when Ash accidentally set off a second trap though he avoided the first, and they had to spend five minutes ducking falling rocks.

"Um... Lance? Do you want some cup noodles?" Ash offered, that night around the fire. He hadn't seen Lance eat anything yet. That couldn't be healthy.

Lance shook his head.

Richie shot him a glare. Lance didn't even blink.

Ash said nothing, and went back to eating. He wondered what would happen next. He had a bad feeling... And why had Richie been so rude?

He was pretending to be asleep when he saw Richie walk over to Lance.

“Listen, you bastard. Ash is mine. Don't you dare hurt him, or I’ll kill you!”

Ash froze. Why was Richie being so...? He kept listening.

"I understand." Lance said quietly. "He's all yours."

Richie gave a satisfied smile, and walked back. Soon, he was fast asleep.

The next morning was more of the same. This time Richie tripped a trap.

Lance swore as glittering dust filled the air. "Hold your breath! That's poison!"

Ash put his hand over his mouth.

Lance released his Dragonite. A quick Twister attack later, the poison dust was gone. Richie gave himself and Ash each an Antidote shot just in case.

Ash pulled out an antidote from his pack and gave it to Lance. Lance thanked him quietly, injecting himself.

They walked onwards, and soon were camping.

Ash stayed awake that night, wondering if Lance would talk. And he did.

"One more day..." Lance said quietly. "And then it will all be over." He swallowed another vial of whatever it was, and shivered for a good ten minutes straight, before stilling. "Charlotte... I'm sorry..."

Who was she? Did Lance have a girlfriend now? Ash didn’t like the thought of that at all.

"I'm too selfish...." Lance said no more after that. Ash fell asleep soon after.

The next morning, they soon reached a bridge with giant axe blades suspended on either side. Ash shivered.

"This is the last trap." Lance said. "It's quite simple to cross. Just don't step on any of the pink tiles."

Ash nodded. Richie wasn't really paying attention. They began to walk. Soon, they were at the end. Lance smiled, as the doors swung open. Inside, glittering on a flat marble slab, were the Sacred Sword and Shield, surrounded by eons of other glittering things.

Ash walked right to the sword and shield. "Thanks, Lance..."

"You're welcome." Lance said. "Please don't touch anything else. I think they're cursed."

Ash nodded.

Richie hmphed. "So we can leave now?"

“...Yeah…”

Lance watched them leave, one quick teleport. Then he fell to his knees in pain. The Sword... still called to him... no. He could resist this. He had to. It wasn't safe for him to be near Ash again. It wasn't! He stumbled back out of the room, and threw himself into the trap blades. It would be temporary, but it would give him the peace he needed. He was vaguely aware of the dragon pendant Ash had given him months ago falling onto the bridge, splattering blood across the tiles, but he was beyond caring. He just needed to get away, just for a little bit...

Miles away, Ash felt like something was wrong. He wasn't sure what though.

Several weeks passed. They were definitely winning against Team Rocket, but the casualties were mounting up, and Ash had heard another legend about the Wand of the Water Guardian. Perhaps that was in the ruins too? He had written down all the traps this time, so he was walking through the maze quite cheerfully when he stopped short, seeing something glittering on the ground.

"Is…that...?" He ran over and picked it up. "Lance's pendant... the one I gave him..." There was dried blood on it. Ash swallowed.

Now he knew what was wrong... He almost wanted to trip a trap...

Why? What had happened? Lance was careful! He didn't make stupid mistakes like this! W-was it because...?

"L-Lance..." Ash began to cry. "Why..."

I-if it was because of him, he didn’t know what he would do! Ash suddenly felt very bad. Lance had never been anything but nice and now he... he had...

"I-Is it my fault?" Ash asked, clutching the pendant. His legs were moving on their own, directing him into the room. There was a new object on the dais this time, a twisted bronze wand with a blue crystal at the tip. Ash took the Wand of the Water Guardian and fell to his knees.

Lance was…gone...?

For a moment, there was nothing. Then suddenly, glowing golden letters appeared across the stone. Ash blinked. He could read them.

There must always be a sacrifice.

Ash knew it to be true... But it didn't stop him from hating it.

He gave his life for peace. You should not mourn him.

Ash left. He couldn't stand it in there...

Richie was waiting when he returned. "You got it? Oh good!"

Ash tried to push the tears away, to mourn later but he couldn't.

"Ash?" Richie asked when Ash broke down. "What's wrong?"

"L-Lance.... committed suicide..."

"What? Why?" Richie frowned.

"... ‘There must always be a sacrifice’..." Ash began to sob. He was shaking badly.

"Y-You mean..." Richie glanced at the Sacred Sword and Shield glittering on the wall.

Ash nodded, before he looked away.

"Well," Richie said uncomfortably, "What's done is done."

How could Richie be so heartless...? Ash stared

"I mean it's not like you can bring him back." Richie said. "And we need to win, Ash."

"But..." Ash looked away.

"Ash, look. You'll get over it. Come on." Richie tugged at his arm. "We'll get a drink and get some rest."

Ash pulled away.

"Ash." Richie said. "Come to bed."

Ash pulled out a separate sleeping bag and set it up on the other side of the fire.

Richie frowned. "He's dead, Ash."

"If you can't let me mourn my friend, then leave me alone!"

"Why are you such a baby? I thought you loved me!"

Ash glared. "This has nothing to do with that Richie! How do you think I feel? Lance was never anything but nice to me!"

"So? He kept eying you even after you broke up with him!"

"He was my friend, Richie! I've known him longer then you!"

Richie stormed out, having nothing to say to that.

Ash began to cry again. Richie was just making it harder... He didn't understand that Ash felt it was his fault...

For a second, he thought he almost heard Lance's voice, and the brush of fingertips across his cheek, but he didn't see anything. His mind was probably playing tricks on him again...

They were fighting tomorrow morning. He should get some sleep...

He cried himself to sleep.

The battle the next morning was bloody and gory and he passed out in the middle of it. Perhaps he was dreaming, when he saw Lance take the Sword from him and cut Giovanni down, and then there was a brilliant golden light and everything, all of it, was gone... and Lance looked at him, and Ash saw the despair in his eyes as Lance kissed him chastely.

Ash woke up to find him self clutching the Sacred Sword and Richie slapping his face to wake him up. Ash pushed him away.

"Ash! We won!" Richie's voice was ecstatic.

"But at what cost?" Ash asked.

Richie shrugged. "It doesn't matter. We're free now. You were brilliant at the end, Ash! I'm not sure what that light was, but all the Rockets and their pokemon just vanished!"

Ash fell to his knees... Was it...? Had it been Lance?

He touched his lips, wondering why Lance hadn't stayed. Ash hadn't minded being kissed at all!

"Lance... Why...?" Ash whispered. He gripped the pendant tightly.

"You seem sad." A voice cut in. Ash jumped, seeing a girl with long black hair standing there, in a black and white school uniform. She looked like a trainer, but then there were the flaming wings on her back that were hard to ignore...

Ash looked away even though she seemed familiar. "I-I made a mistake and now I can't fix it..." He was ashamed and he didn't know why.

"Tell me." She sat down next to him, pulled a thermos of hot chocolate out of her backpack and handed it to him.

His hands were shaking. "I-I let go of something special and it's too late to get it back...."

Ash showed her the pendant.

Charlotte closed his fingers over it. “Lance would want you to be happy. To forget about him.” She said quietly.

"I can't..."

From his vantage point, Richie glared at her.

“I feel as if it's my fault and I really think it is... But I can't forget... I'm sorry Aneki... I just can't... I know it's what he wants…”

Charlotte's breath caught. "You're remembering." It was not a question.

Ash nodded. He sipped the drink slowly. He liked hot chocolate…

Charlotte frowned. "What do you remember?"

"Not much, but enough to not let anyone handle the Sword and Shield..." Ash sighed. “I wish I didn't forget... then stuff like this wouldn't happen..."

"I see." She said. "You couldn't have saved him, Ash. He was up to five times the normal dose of bitterflame already. It was only a matter of time."

"B-Bitterflame?" Ash did not ask why she knew. He knew what it was – it was poisonous to Guardians, and could kill them in large enough doses. If Lance was taking it! "And this is why I hate forgetting..."

Charlotte nodded. “The liquid ice quit working. So I gave him bitterflame.”

Ash remembered the vials. "Why did he do it?"

"Lance," Charlotte said, "Is a very emotional person, Ash. Keeping it locked down is hard for him."

"I would rather he yell and hit me then keep them suppressed... "

Richie fumed angrily, still behind a bush.

"But Lance doesn't want to hurt you. He'd die first."

"I know... but I'd rather he hurt me then himself..."

Charlotte nodded slowly. Ash suddenly burst into tears, throwing him self into her arms.

"It's my fault, Aneki! I shouldn't have cheated on him! I broke his heart!"

Charlotte let Ash hug her. "There's the problem..."

"I...I don't know how to fix it..." Ash sniffled.

"You could apologize to start."

"I...I guess... but he's dead, Aneki!"

"Do you really believe that?" Charlotte asked.

"A-all I found was the pendant I gave him... bloody... His blood..."

"You are such a fool," Charlotte said, before she kissed him, and then her appearance was shifting, to long crimson hair and golden eyes, jet-black clothing streaked with red.

"L-Lance...W-why did you...?" Ash hugged Lance tightly. "I-I'm so sorry..."

"It's not your fault."

Ash cried into the other's chest. Richie was gaping, completely stunned.

"I..."

"It's not your fault," Lance repeated. "You're still such a child..."

"I wish you'd yell if I deserve it..."

Lance did not answer, and Ash looked down, seeing Lance digging his nails into his palms, dripping red into the ground.

"L-Lance...?"

The Dragon Master looked terrified, ready to bolt. "This was a mistake... I only wanted to make you feel better..."

"No! I still love you!"

"I don't deserve your love!"

Ash shook his head. "I still love you..." He closed his eyes. "Have you ever thought that maybe, just maybe not having you with me hurts?"

Lance stared. "But you don't need me..."

"Yes I do. I really do need you Lance. It hurt when you weren't here!" Ash clung to him. "P-Please... don't leave me again..."

Lance stared down at Ash. "Ash, I'm a broken mess, and I don't even have a heart anymore. How could you possibly love me?"

"It doesn't matter!"

Richie was livid by this point.

"I still need you Lance."

Richie burst out of the bushes. "You bastard! Why couldn't you stay dead?" He yelled at Lance.

"Phoenix Gift. Charlotte gave me her life." Lance replied. “Nice of her.”

Ash stood in front of Lance. "Leave me alone, Richie!" Then he paused, his tone turning serious. "Leave us alone."

"You hurt my Chosen One." There was something deadly about Lance's voice, as he hissed.

Ash stepped out of the way. He wasn't going to stop Lance.

"The penalty for hurting a guardian is Death." Lance held out his hands, watching as the Sacred Sword materialized.

Ash smiled a small smile.

Richie paled. "H-How..." He didn't get to say anything else because that was when Lance slammed the blade into his chest.

Ash closed his eyes. "It seems I am doomed to repeat this mistake..."

Lance knelt down next to him. "I'm sorry."

"No, I'm sorry..." Ash hugged Lance. "I hurt you first... Please, Aniki… I know I don't deserve it... but... Lance, I don't want to be alone... any more..." Ash pleaded, leaning his head against Lance's chest.

Lance hugged Ash. "... All right..."

"Kiss me?"

Lance leaned down. He kissed Ash lightly.

Ash whimpered. It was nice, but he wanted more.

Lance smiled and closed his eyes pulling Ash into a deeper kiss.

Ash moaned, tasting blood and feeling Lance's fangs cut into his lip. Oh Mew, but he had missed this!

Lance pulled back slowly.

"No." Ash said. "I won't break. Keep going..."

Lance leaned back in. "All right...You asked for it, remember..."

Ash nodded, and that was when Lance bit him, slicing apart his shoulder with his fangs. Ash winced. But it felt so wonderful...

Lance moved quickly, discarding his clothing and then one hard thrust and he was buried in Ash's body.

Ash cried out. So good...

"You want this." Lance growled, bucking his hips sharply.

Ash nodded. Yes... This was exactly what he wanted...

"You want me to dominate you." Lance's voice was low, sending shivers down Ash's spine as he shuddered, pearly cum spreading across his hips and stomach. "You want me to fuck you."

Ash nodded again.

"You're mine." Lance gave another punishing stroke, before Ash felt his lover's seed flood him. Ash loved it!

Lance pulled out, as Ash stared up at him. W-Was Lance going to leave him again? He bit his lip. He hoped not...

The Dragon Master placed his hands on Ash's temples, his fingertips faintly blue. "Forgive me."

Ash's eyes widened. No! He closed his eyes and concentrated on Lance's image.

"I shouldn't have done this... but I wanted to love you... one last time..." Lance's voice was bitter, as his Amnesia Wave attack began. "Though I suppose it was more making hate than making love... so if you remember this, please, hate me... hate me..."

Ash was determined not to forget. He could never hate Lance... He resisted the Amnesia Wave with all his might, shaking his head.

"I'm hurting you right now..." Lance spoke. "Why won't you hate me?"

"Because I wanted it to hurt..." Ash's quiet reply came.

"You shouldn't love me!" He cried. “What’s the point?”

"I don't care! I love you and refuse to forget!" When Ash's eyes opened, they were gold.

"Destiny..." Lance's voice dropped. "I see how it is."

"I love you, Lance..."

"Stop it..." The older trainer wrapped his arms around himself. "Please... stop it..."

"I will never stop loving you Lance..."

"Don't..." Lance was visibly trembling. Ash crawled over to him.

"No."

"I...I'm only going to hurt you, Ash... shouldn't have... called the Sword, but I was so... tired..."

"Then hurt me."

"I can't!" Lance cried.

"Why not?"

"I'm supposed to protect you... even if it's from me..."

"...Even if I want you to hurt me?"

"Th-That's different!"

"Did it ever occur to you that I like it when you hurt me?" Ash asked.

"I. Broke. Your. Heart." He hissed.

"And I broke yours." Ash – no, Destiny smiled sadly. "So we are even..."

"I don't have anything left." Lance said.

"No Lance, you have me." Destiny put his arms around Lance.

Lance kissed him, timidly.

Destiny smiled. "We only have nothing Lance, if we give up. I haven't. And you shouldn't either."

"Why?" Lance said. "Why won't you let go?"

"Because I found that I couldn't."

"You really think I'm worth this?" The Dragon Master asked incredulously.

"This and more..." Ash frowned. "I will never stop loving you..." He kissed Lance, trying to convey his emotions. He wanted them to stay together… he didn’t want to be alone again…

Lance sighed. "Then I'm a fool too," And kissed him back. "You won't leave me again?"

"No."

"If you do, I'm not coming back." Lance warned, but there was no heat in it. Ash leaned his head on Lance's shoulder.

"You've done it enough times..." Ash smiled.

"Mm." Lance agreed. "Stay with me?"

"Of course!" Ash looked up at Lance adoringly. "I'd promise lifetimes... but..."

"I'm not that selfish." Lance tightened his grip around Ash's waist. "I'd be happy with one lifetime."

"So would I..."

"You're mine." Lance's voice was soft. He kissed Ash again. "Only mine."

And Ash agreed.

End Story

Completed 9/3/07

*Bawls* I’m sorry, but this was so sad! I totally got a lot of angst vibes from it. *Sniffles*

Ash: *Cries* At least we got a happy ending…

Phantomness: Even if I don’t think you deserve one *shifty eyes*

Shoyko: More angst? *Sighs*

Lance: Destiny, by the way, is Ash’s mature guardian spirit that doesn’t always show up in time. It’s a fanon thing, of course.