Redemption

Only Yellow would be kind enough - or foolish enough, some argued - to forgive the man who'd tried to summon a great Legendary and wipe out the human race - and almost succeeded.

Even Lance himself agreed on that point: while the blonde's kindness and purity knew no bounds, her foolish naivety was equally limitless. On some level, he knew that one day Yellow's innocence would be the fatal flaw that became her downfall. But for now…

He appreciated it.

What no one, not even Lance, seemed to get is that Yellow didn't forgive the man because of her endless sincerity. She forgave him because she understood him.

Sure, he'd tried to eliminate all humans (save himself, that is), but not without reason. He had been, in his own convoluted, confused, twisted way trying to save the Pokémon from the evils mankind inflicted upon them. Yellow understood these goals, and to some extent, agreed with them. Yes, there were many bad humans out there who did horrible things to Pokémon, such as poachers and that awful Team Rocket. But, there were also many good people who just didn't deserve to suffer for the faults of others.

So, while Yellow understood Lance's goals, she definitely didn't agree with his means of reaching said goals.

But Lance's intentions had been, in a strange sense, pure. Her friends all argued with her on that point - "He tried to wipe out all of us! How is that pure?" - but she firmly believed this.

That was why, when he wandered into Viridian one day, looking very much like a man lost and without a purpose, Yellow approached him.

Her beliefs led her to keep approaching him every day he stayed there, despite his constant rebuffs ("You're making a mistake, girl. After everything I did to you, you want to help me? How foolish.").

Eventually, he gave in and allowed her to keep him company.

It was a sometimes-awkward, sometimes-comfortable period of silence, those first few days he wearily tolerated her presence.

But Yellow had smiled and waited, because she knew he'd come around.

She was right, as he began to talk a few days into their companionship. And once he started talking, it was as if he couldn't stop.

He spoke of many things, ranging from politics to Pokémon to humankind. He'd finally met people whom had helped change his views ("Some people do treat Pokémon the way they want to be treated. I… would've felt bad, knowing that people like that were killed in my attack against the wrongdoers.). When Yellow had smiled and asked who these people were, he'd hesitated ("…Your friends. Gym leaders. Silver, in his own unique way. And… you.).

For a moment, he'd lost that hardened mask he hid himself under, and the blonde had been startled at the sheer, raw emotion and vulnerability hidden underneath. This was also the moment where, in addition to her heart rate increasing for some reason she refused to go into, she realized that Lance honestly regretted his actions.

So, she'd shoved the strange thoughts that came with her pounding heart into the farthest corner of her mind and focused on his guilt ("Lance… you've changed. You've changed for the better.). When he'd frowned, mask slipping back into place, and asked how so: ("You've learned the value of human life. And how being close with others is important. We would've never had this conversation if we both hadn't taken a chance and risked something, after all. I risked getting rejected - which I was, at first - and you… you risked something else. I don't know what it is, but the fact that you bothered to stick yourself out there in the first place is all that matters.")

In his shock, the man had again let his mask drop, and the pain and regret showed clearly on his face. Yellow hadn't even hesitated when she grabbed his hand - ignoring the sudden urge to blush - and said, ("You regret what you've done, Lance. I can see that. But you know… it's not too late to do real, honest good. I'll even help you, okay?"), in a rushed, hopeful breath.

For the first time since she'd met him, she glimpsed what he was like when he was happy - she liked it quite a lot.

His eyes were soft and warm, and his smile was small, but genuine. He seemed so… real and pure in that one moment.

He'd done something unexpected, then. He'd hugged her. And Yellow, well, she was speechless. But she blushingly returned his embrace, letting out a bit of her healer's touch in the process. She remembers thinking, Please heal what matters most: his heart.

And she, to this day, believes she must have done some good, because when they broke apart, Lance was still smiling. ("Thank you."), he'd whispered.

The very next day, he was gone. But he'd left a note for her, and the contents made her heart swell.

I'll come back when I've gained my redemption.