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
Summary: I just set myself up for a sequel to Cuanto,
Cuando, didn’t I? So here it is
Title: Tanto Como, Para Siempre
The lovely title of this fic means, as much (as possible), for always
Warnings: Contains fanon, mentioned AAMRN, dark themes such as implied suicide, and a bit of shonen-ai too.
Pairing: Championshipping (Lance x Ash) (Once Ash gets out of his self-pity rut…)
Chapter 1
He watched the coffin being lowered into the ground, splashes of dirt as the shovels of the dour gravediggers covered the pristine white wood with layers of mud. It was over. She was dead.
It had been some of the happiest years of their life.
Now, he watched, as his children solemnly stood by, children no longer. They had grown up into fine young men and women, all of them, and now, they had their own families to raise.
He was alone.
He could go live with Amy and her husband, but he didn’t think that was the life for him. No, he had no doubt that he would die soon; he was getting on fifty after all…
But no, he still looked as young as a man could be, and the barest hint of silver touched his hair, and he felt sad, but he refused the offers of help and began to walk back home, trying not to cry.
It was lucky the cemetery was not that far.
He had no pokemon to help them after all. Pokemon had much shorter life spans… they had all died years and years ago.
No, he was truly alone.
He walked home slowly.
He was ready to die.
“Is it time?”
Charlotte looks at him and shakes her head. “His grief is still too fresh.”
“I understand, but soon, the changes will come.”
“Yes. Already they are questioning his so-called eternal youth. Fools. It is lucky that they do not know the true nature of a guardian. Even so…”
“His children may be suspicious.”
“Is that what you’re angry about? The children?”
“Heavens, no! At least they didn’t inherit any power, though I wonder how it worked. Guardians are suppose to be sterile…”
“How it worked? I do as well, but then again, we haven’t called the water demon faithless in the past for no reason.”
“I would pity him, if he deserved it.”
“But you do not think he deserves pity.”
“I suppose so…”
“He hurt you worse than you hurt him.”
“Perhaps, but I am not alone. He’s hurt you too. Even if your scars burn away in the flames of reincarnation, they still lie on your soul.”
“Nothing can be truly hidden in this Realm of Dreams, after all… I’m surprised you noticed.”
“I choose not to wallow in self-pity, though I must admit, it was cruel of me to force his hand… and yours.”
“You didn’t force my hand, nor did you your Father’s.”
“Perhaps, but your duty was longer than mine by almost half a life.”
“What of it?”
“Do you ever regret being the eldest?”
“I’m used to being alone, I suppose… I’m more of a Watcher than a Writer, in any case, we both know, Lance.”
“I understand.”
“Will you still go to him?”
“It is not a choice.” Lance finally spoke, after a caesura in which emotions sparked lighting. “If it were… I could almost wish I had never bound myself to him.”
“Do you… regret it?”
“No more
than you regret your life.”
“A question for a question.
That is only fair…”
A soft rain began to fall. Charlotte swore and dived underneath the nearest tree while Lance chuckled.
It was odd, that after so many lives, the fire could not wane, and waxed brighter each generation.
Perhaps that was why… she chose to stay Fire Guardian.
He had never seen her first form. It was supposedly just a toned down version, but without fire, she really was nothing. As the Mistress of Revealing Light, she was downright insane. Of course, Crystal was too, but there was a reason neither form was used carelessly.
Too much could happen.
All shackles of control broke upon a guardian’s third form, except for him…they had never managed to figure out why Ashura was so special.
Perhaps it was a parting gift from Serebii, before she decided to mess with their lives. Perhaps it was just the way the dice had fallen.
Who knew?
“Do you love me?”
“Not in that way!”
“I wasn’t talking about that. Do you remember the first time we met?”
“I believe we both insulted each other. But you’re good for Ash. He needs you. He doesn’t need me. You’re his aniki.”
“So? You’re his aneki.”
“Yes, but you two can manage admirably without me. Sometimes I just feel like a wall ornament – oh, I shouldn’t be taking this out on you!”
“No, but you do need to talk, and I’m willing to listen.”
Charlotte sighed. “I… just wish, almost, I could be normal. Have you ever wished that, Lance?”
“Of course! Who hasn’t! Sometimes I feel as if I could happily give up all this power for a chance not to know anything, for a chance just to forget it all….”
“But then duty calls.”
“And no one would take care of the dragons.”
“And the fire-types would lose their leader.”
“And Serebii would wreck things.”
“So really, it’s better that we’re here… even if we’re nothing but puppets.”
“Exactly.”
End Chapter
Completed 3/17/06
I am such an idiot! *Smacks forehead*
The guardians are morbid, aren’t they?
If you don’t like Charlotte, you might as well leave the fic. I like writing her.