I hate being medicated, but the side effects are finally starting to go away…

Title: Destiny
Author: Shadow/Phantomness
Pairing: Championshipping (Lance x Ash/Red)
Fandom: Pokémon
Theme: #26, Fate
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: AU, Angst, shonen-ai, Phantomness’s fanon

Red’s voice was shaky as he addressed President Goodman, pale and trembling. “You are telling me that I was predestined to win the Indigo League? And that the Elite Four are programmed to behave the way they do, all because some crackpot scientist fifty years deemed it so?”

“Yes.” Goodman’s smile was meant to be fatherly, reassuring, but it fell far short of its mark. “You see, Red, there is a very special power inside of you. It is the only thing that can save the world now.”

Red looked around the room, seeing the Elite Four fallen, not dead, Goodman had reassured him, only in stasis until he completed his goal.
“S-So they…”

“You needed companions who would be near your strength level, but of course we could not allow such power to run unchecked. So we created the Elite Four. They’re magnificent puppets, aren’t they?”

“That’s so cruel of you.”

“Enough of this idle chatter.” Goodman spoke. “Command Alpha-Sharpedo-Three, Initiate!”

Red’s eyes glazed over, as he snapped to attention, speaking in monotone.

“What is your command, Master?”

“Release the three Legendary Birds of Kanto, to save the earth from the approaching meteor.”

“Yes, Master.” Red continued.

Goodman laughed as he watched Red released the legendary pokémon, before he climbed on Articuno’s back, streaking up into the sky. The lives of the pokémon were worth nothing, before humanity’s need.

Of course, Red would die as well, but what of it?

He was only a project.

He was trapped inside his mind, unable to move. Maybe Goodman was right – he was nothing more than a throwaway bag of flesh, but that didn’t mean he had to like it!

If only he could do something…

He did not want to die!

The legendary birds did not deserve to die either! Now if only he could do something, maybe expose Goodman’s agenda to the public…

He frowned mentally. No. Would that do any good?

People would be more than happy to sacrifice the legendary birds to save their lives. How selfish!

It was one thing to sacrifice willingly.

It was another to force someone else to make sacrifices for your benefit!

Still, as they flew nearer, and he began to have trouble breathing, he decided that if he made it back alive, well… then he’d see.

He blacked out seconds later, and the legendary birds continued to fly away. However, to Goodman’s astonishment, they were not heading for the meteor.

It continued to advance on earth, and for a long moment, there was nothing but silence, before stunned curses burst from the lips of all assembled.

“What’s wrong, sir? Is it because he’s unconscious and can’t command them?”

“Shut up, fool!” Goodman raged. “It must be a fluke!”

But it was not. The legendary birds vanished.

Moments later, the meteor slammed into the earth.

Red laughed triumphantly as he stood within the dome of lightning. He saw the others waiting already, the gates to the Dream Realm wide open.

It was foolish to try and control legendary pokémon – and legendary children as well. For Red’s power lay not in his training, but in his genetics. He was the child of Honou. Lance was the child of Lugia.

The others boasted minor pokémon, or simply blessings but no blood tie. It mattered not. The Elite and Champion would not be toys to play with.

Lance wrapped his arms around Red’s shoulders, pulling him into a hug. “Did it hurt?”

“Dying? Not as much as I feared. I was already out like a light, so I felt nothing.”

“Mm.”

Red smirked as he kissed Lance, causing a surprised expression to cross the Dragon Master’s face. “But now that we’re free, we can do all the things we wanted to do when we were still stuck.”

“True…” Lance purred. “And what do you have in mind?”

Red just grinned.

End Fic

Completed 9/13/06

I swear that some of these themes seem determined to make me angst. But I shall try my best!

… Well, I definitely fell off the canon boat! *Treading water*

Lance: *Laugh*

Red: ^^