Title: Differences
Author: Shadow/Phantomness
Pairing: Championshipping (Lance x Red)
Fandom: Pokémon
Theme: #48, Differences (Theme Set #2)
Rating: PG
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, Shoujo-ai

“They’re different from us.” Whitney sighed, as she took another lick of her ice cream cone. “I can’t believe they attacked Princess Ashline!”

“I can.” Misty said slowly.

“Of course you would! You mallet her when she messes up!”

“That’s not it!” The senshi of Mars snapped. “I know because… I’ve seen things, in the sacred fire.”

“Really?” Venus spoke. Mercury and Jupiter and their Princess were still at cram school, but they were free.

“I’m not sure I should tell you though…”

“Aw come on, Misty! Quit being serious for once!”

Misty stuck her tongue out at Whitney, but sighed. “You know how Lance is Neptune and Red is Uranus, and how in the Silver Millennium, their duties were different from ours?”

“To guard the borders of the Solar System and not the Princess? Yes.” Whitney nodded. “They still stay aloof even now… and they refused to fight with us…”

“And they tried to kill Saturn.” Mars agreed. “But that was their duty.”

Whitney chewed on her lip for a second, pondering. “I suppose so.” She said grudgingly.

“I think the Outer Senshi are very devoted to what they must do… almost too much.” Misty sighed. “In any case, have you ever wondered about the wings?”

“Oh, yes, and the armor, but I thought it was just uniform variations.” Whitney grinned. “How do you think I’d look with wings?”

“Fluffy orange ones might be funny. But I’m getting off-topic. Red has wings because she was born with them. The other’s are all grafted.”

“All of them?” Janine had the cutest little dragonfly wings…

“Yes, and for Lance and Charlotte… they’re replacements. Lance is Neptune. It’s a watery planet, all underwater. What would she need with wings? She had fins once, but Ashline cut them off by accident.”

Whitney’s jaw dropped. “You’re kidding. No wonder she hates Princess Ashline.”

“I’m not. It’s the same reason Red hates her.”

“Well, I thought it was jealousy for a bit, but Red really loves Lance, ne?”

“Mm.”

“I wish someone would love me like that.” Whitney sighed. “And Charlotte?”

“Her original ones were torn off in the time stream long ago, when she was forced to kill someone.”

“Ouch!”

“So Queen Delia made her new wings of ruby, but they’re sealing magic, Whitney. I’m frightened that someday, we may gain their wings and be sealed too…”

“Ashline wouldn’t do that to us, would she?”

“I don’t know…” Misty sighed. “It’s my duty to guard her, and I am her friend, but sometimes, I wish I had never become Mars.”

“And I wish I had never been Venus.” Whitney hugged Misty. “It’s all right. Soon, the advent of Crystal Tokyo will be here, and everything will be perfect.”

Misty could only hope so.

Lance set down her Deep Aqua Mirror. “A schism in the Inner Court would be to our advantage.”

Janine laughed. “Did you use Amnesia on her, Father?”

Charlotte chuckled. “No. I simply… let Misty alone of all the others regain a few of her buried memories. A snake in the nest is very useful.”

Red winked as she hugged Lance. “I wish Crystal Tokyo would not come…”

“So do we all. We can only hope it is as pure and pristine as it seems… and hope that no one sees the torture underneath…”

The Outer Senshi had no illusions.

End Fic

Completed 11/25/06

Stupid computer crashes, stupid midterms…