Okay so  HyperCartoonFan20 made a request for a ship they made called GrenjnjaShipping, which is Ash and Sanpei. I haven't watched the XYZ episode with Sanpei in it in a long time and since Netflix has so RUDELY taken Pokemon XYZ off, the events that happen here are going to be different than the ones in the episode. So, thank you for the idea and enjoy! (This is an AU)

Serena tried to run after Ash as he'd just jumped off of a balcony to follow Sanpei. Sanpei himself was worried seeing someone he admired fall 17 feet. However, he quickly hid his feelings when he saw Ash skid down quite a steep boulder and landing in the ground flawlessly while his cap blew off into the wind.

Ash followed him away from the village, leaving Serena, Clemont and Bonnie behind. They were safer that way. And, besides...there was something he needed to tell Sanpei...

They made it to a clearing where a tall man wearing completely black stood in front of them. He drew his sword, aiming it at Sanpei. The boy looked to his sides for his crush, but he was nowhere to be seen. Gulping, he braced for death as the sword made its way to his head...

Before a ninja wearing a blue and white hanfu, a bamboo hat and a black mask blocked his attack and stood defensively in front of Sanpei. The fugitive ninja pulled back, glaring with rage at his new opponent.

He charged at the younger boy, sword in front of his face. Sanpei grinned as he noticed his mistake.

'His sword is in front of his face...he's supposed to have it behind him so he can swing...'

It appeared his new friend noticed it too, seeing by how he elevated into a somersault mid air by using the sword to support his hands, then kicked the fugitive in the back of the head once he was behind him, making him pass out.

Sanpei didn't even have time to thank the mysterious swordsman when many other fugitives came their way. The blue fighter vanquished each and every one of them with both his word and body,  refusing to stop for even a second to catch a breath. He hadn't even yet there's a word, and already, he was replacing Ash in Sanpei's heart.

Once the clutter was over, Sanpei ran over to the ninja before he could make his escape.

"Who are you? And why do you fight so well?", he asked excitedly.

"Do you remember...when this village was a kingdom?", he answered.

"Yes, I do. I was very young, but I remember when we had a lot of land, and a king, a queen, and a prince. Before the fugitives took it away. Before they took away my precious prince"

The masked boy stayed still and quiet and he listened to Sanpei retell his memories.

"Oh, my precious prince. I loved him, you know? We spent so much time together, learning swordsmanship and archery together. He was a great fighter. But once our kingdom fell into peril by the fugitives, he and his family were forced to run away. I never saw him again. So I trained and trained and trained harder on my own from then on, hoping that one day, I'd see him"

Sanpei suddenly stopped running his mouth when the ninja gently lifted part of his hat. Having thought about Ash previously and the Prince now, it became clear. Those shining eyes belonged to one person only.

"Y-your highness? Is it really you, Ash?"

The boy removed his hanfu to show his blue jacket, ripped away the mask to show his pale face, and flicked off his hat to reveal his black hair. And the crown on his head.

"Xiao Zhi. I'm assuming you still remember my Mandarin name?"

"Yes...of course..."

Sanpei pulled the younger, shorter one into a hug, resting his chin on his head. The other clenched his back as fireworks emerged into the night sky. 

"Sanpei?"

"Yes?"

"I...um, I..."

"Love me?"

"Y-yes"

"I know. I love you too"

I really enjoyed writing this and I hope you all enjoyed. Feel free to request!