Disclaimer: I do not own the Pokémon games, anime or Pokémon Adventures/Special. Japan claims ownership of the franchise - especially Nintendo - with their copyright infringement issues and what not. Unfortunately I do not own the cover photos for either History nor Eventide. The things I do have ownership over are fanon material, the series I plan to publish on here and my OCs. No profit will be made when it comes to the For the Love of a King series.

History - History is the first fanfic novel in the For the Love of a King series, published here from 2011 - 2013 by myself. The plot follows White and N as they discover their parents' past and their connection to it and spiced with Ferriswheelshipping moments and Pokémon Battles. History takes precedence in the Unova region and all twenty six chapters had taken place in the span of one day.

Eventide - Eventide is the second fanfic novel in the For the Love of a King series, published from 2015 - present. The fight is not with Team Plasma but rather between the mysterious secret societies Furvum Imperium and the Order of the Acacia.

White Electra's plans of reconciliation are briefly halted when Furvum Imperium descends. The secret organization has notable members such as Emerald Birch (Ghetsis Harmonia Gropius), Rubeus "Ruby" Birch, Gorm, Giallo, the Obsidian Terror (Blake), and the Siren of Chaos (Ruri Valera Furukawa). After White and Cheren Kurosaki suffer a crushing defeat, Bianca Grace is whisked away by Ghetsis. Now White must deal with her best friend and mother's absences, bring Reshiram to its senses and learn more about her connection to the mysterious secret society founded by her father.

Red Electra is asked by his only daughter not to leave her side - a request which he grants impulsively. It's revealed that Red had almost lost White years ago, which is why he had dehumanized her and caused a rift between them. Furthermore Red has turned himself into a symbol over the years, detaching himself from reality. However, White's request has turned Red's twisted inner world upside down and now his reality consists of fear and insecurity. It seems as if the Obsidian Terror may not be Red's worst enemy after all.

After seeing Bianca's abduction with his own eyes, Cheren falls unconscious and wakes up in the presence of his estranged sister Jasmine Kurosaki, the Gym Leader of Olivine City. He promises to himself that he'll get stronger - much stronger. Though one must wonder if Cheren's reunion with Jasmine is perhaps a little too coincidental.

Natural Harmonia Gropius (N) has been approached by Silver Melinoe, who believes Natural might be his and Kris Yoruno's missing son Gray. Unfortunately there's one discrepancy with this working theory: Natural doesn't remember his mother. Even so, Natural considers Ghetsis and his foster sisters Concordia and Anthea to be his actual family. At any rate, he finds himself inexplicably drawn to Gray Melinoe's twin sister Artemisia "Artemis" Melinoe. Only one thing's for certain: Natural isn't romantically drawn to Artemisa.

Black Urania is driven by the rather intense desire to find his mother Green Urania. He is marked by an enigmatic gift called Eventide, given to his ancestress by Arceus long ago. Black sees this power as a curse because of his inability to drown out the Pokémon' voices echoing throughout the march of time. As a keeper of the balance, Black is forever condemned to the shadows like his mother Green before him. It seems, however, as if someone else might bear this accursed fate.

Platina Arellano Berlitz (Platinum Snow) and Perla Valera (Pearl) are sent to the Sevii Islands Archipelago and run into Xavier Salvador (X). Red assigns Pearl and Platina a mission: sway Xavier to the Order of the Acacia's cause at all costs. Pearl and Platina have their work cut out for them though; Ruby and Xavier are in cahoots. However it does look as though Ruby could have his own agenda; he invited Walter Ravenna (Wally) and the Jade Wyvern (Jayden de Arco Núñez) to Xavier's dinner in an unceremonious fashion.

Ruri meets an amnesiac Kris, who was found by Ruby. Even though X had a plan for Ruri, Ruby deviated from it in an attempt to reunite Kris and Silver. Now Kris and Ruri must flee the Furvum Imperium yacht before Ruri's true identity is unearthed by Ghetsis. Even so, the two females decide to rescue as many lost souls as possible (Bianca Grace included) before disembarking the yacht altogether.

Gold Kaneshiro is burdened with a thirteen year old secret: he's one of the inadvertent perpetrators to the deadliest fire in contemporary history, the Great Fire of the Under. The Obsidian Terror has somehow figured out the truth, which puts Gold between Charybdis and Scylla. Gold sends Silver to procure the Book of White before it falls into the wrong hands, although Silver must pass the Hearthstone contest first.

What is the Order of the Acacia's purpose? Why are they involved in a war against Furvum Imperium? Why are Platina, Sapphire and Green's Platinum Trinity statuses so imperative to the Grand Design? What does destiny have in store for our protagonists now?

The plot thickens . . .

A/N: Red, Blue, Green, Platina, Pearl, Diamond, Gold, Silver, Kris, Soul, X, Y, Ruby, Sapphire, Wally, White, Black, Albina, Blake, Selene and Gladion are their own distinct characters, even though their characterizations are loosely inspired by their counterparts (RBY/FRLG, DPP, GSC/HGSS, XY, RSE/ORAS, BW/B2W2, SM/USUM, Pokémon Adventures/Special, Pokémon Origins, Pokémon Generations). N, Bianca and Cheren are truer to their BW characterizations.

A/N: Reviews, feedback, constructive criticism and critique are strongly encouraged. I do not tolerate flamers or trolls.

A/N: I give you, "Time Part I".

"You think you know a story, but you only know how it ends. To get to the heart of a story, you have to go back to the beginning." - Henry VIII, The Tudors

"The moon flower opens its white, trumpet-like flowers at eventide." - Google definition

N's PoV. Three Hours Ago. Manor Kaneshiro.

Danaë decided to lend Artemisia, Leafa and I a hand after it became clear that Cheren and Black had bailed out on us. The first thing she did was pull out a neon orange safety whistle from her apron, much to my confusion. How exactly did Danaë intend to assist us with a plastic toy? Danaë must've sensed my skepticism because she flashed me a knowing smile before blowing into the safety whistle. The shrill whistling reverberated around the kitchen, carrying itself through the double doors and into the basement.

"What was that for?" I asked the ravenette.

Danaë slipped the safety whistle inside her apron as she sauntered past her Aipom, who was scraping fruit from the bottom of a translucent bowl with a ladle. She gave her friend a quick compliment before she focused her eyes on me.

"That whistle called for backup," Danaë answered. "It'd be downright foolish of us to presume Cheren and Black will return, Natural. But make no mistake; neither one is off the hook with me just yet."

My blood boiled immediately after hearing Black's name. How could anyone be willing to look after such an unreliable, mercurial idiot who wrecked havoc for his own entertainment? I couldn't even look at Black without wanting to punch him in the face; that was how much I couldn't stand the brunette.

"I don't understand how you could put up with him," I said disdainfully.

The Kaneshiro matriarch regarded me.

"I only met Cheren a few days ago," Danaë returned calmly. "Platina raved on about his punctiliousness while Jasmine vouched for it. Perhaps my expectations were too high for Cheren at this point in time."

I didn't need the use of Aurae to know that Danaë was referring to Bianca's abduction. Even though it was technically Ghetsis who had seized Bianca, I still felt responsible for her seizure.

"Maybe," I shrugged. "But I'm getting the impression you know I'm not talking about Cheren Kurosaki, Lady Kaneshiro. You know exactly who I'm talking about."

Artemisia, who had been leafing through a vivid purple cookbook, snapped her head up and shot me a look of caution. Meanwhile Danaë raised her eyebrows.

"What do you want me to say, Natural?" Danaë asked me. "There's nothing to talk about regarding Black."

Lady Kaneshiro's the last person you want to cross, Natural, Leafa warned me. I'm dead serious about that.

What I want to know is why everyone shows such favoritism toward that idiot! I thought furiously. Do you have any idea why, Leafa?

I - Leafa's voice died in her throat.

Faraway chattering tugged mercilessly at the corners of my mind just then. It was as if I'd stumbled across a television from the olden days in the middle of airing a program, indistinct voices whispering from the mechanical fossil. The voices were high enough to discern they were indeed voices yet low enough not to be able to make out their spoken words. Were the voices faint because of the dial? Were the fossil's speakers affected by the hands of Father Time? Maybe it was neither of those options but rather a bad signal. The faraway chattering became more and more audible in my mind with each passing second. The formerly indistinct voices were able to be differentiated now that the owners were in close proximity.

Those are Danaë's Aipom, Leafa informed me. They're what you humans call handymen. Oh, no! It looks as though they're already here!

Leafa wheeled around and darted over to Artemisia, hiding behind her Trainer. The double doors swung open just then, a cartload of Aipom scurrying into the kitchen. A few Aipom catapulted off the floor and latched themselves onto the pale conduits with their tails. An Aipom couple went over to where the articles of clothing were and clad tiny aprons. Some Aipom were chatting excitedly about what new adventures awaited them. Several of the Aipom leaped onto the counters and pulled down kitchenware from the cabinets to work with. The rest of them marched over to Danaë and her trusty Aipom, eagerness etched on their faces.

The Aipom' chattering began to evolve into a cacophony of unintelligible shrieking that sounded much worse than the sound of nails on a chalkboard. It was in that moment I knew what must be done. I closed my eyes and pretended my mind was an elastic rubber band. Inside the rubber band's boundary rested an array of semi-transparent balls, all stamped with musical clefts. I pictured my hand reaching for the rubber band and stretching it with a few fingers until the rubber band snapped. Then I aimed the rubber band at the nearest ball and sent it soaring through the air. I did the same technique again and again until there weren't any balls remaining. The balls represented the Aipom' voices. By knocking every single one of them out of sight, I was actually banishing their voices from my mind. Even though I truly enjoyed conversing with Pokémon via Aurae, there were times where I just wanted to be alone with my own thoughts. But I still couldn't help feeling regret every time I deactivated Aurae temporarily. What if a Pokémon had cried out for help during that time frame? I remembered leaving on Aurae at all times as a child because of that possibility.

A hand clutched my shoulder while I was brooding, jerking me to reality. I opened my eyes and saw Danaë studying me worriedly.

"Are you okay, kiddo?" she asked me. "You look as though you'd been hit by a truck or something."

I formed my mouth into a thin line and reminded myself that Danaë didn't know I had reservations about being touched out of the blue. Vertigo suddenly swept through me and threatened to knock me flat on my back - one of the side effects of detaching myself from the emotional realm after a long period of attachment.

"I'm fine," I lied. "You shouldn't be worrying about me, Lady Kaneshiro. I mean, the soirée is going to be upon us pretty soon, which means there's no time such as the present! So how about we get back to creating the last dishes on the menu? A successful soirée needs a memorable menu after all."

"Natural," Danaë started to say.

"May I have my shoulder back please?" I asked the ravenette. "If I am to cook, then the usage of my arm is important."

A concerned Danaë nodded as she withdrew her hand. She looked as if she wanted to say more, but a cackling Aipom vaulted past her waving a spatula. The Aipom hunkered near Danaë frowned and shot his tail at the conduit, pulling himself skyward so that he could pursue his fellow Aipom. Danaë also gave chase to the hyperactive Pokémon. I approached Artemisia, who was running one finger across the cookbook's creamy white pages.

"Uh, Artemisia?" I said. "You might want to look up."

"Is it Aoi?" Artemisia asked me, not taking her eyes off the cookbook.

"Who else would it be?" I said impatiently.

Artemisia unglued her eyes from the cookbook as she looked at me.

"In that case, you don't need to worry one bit," she assured me. "Danaë and Umehito have this under control. Now where did I leave off at? Ah, there we go!"

Artemisia resumed her reading out loud, raising her voice to drown out the din Danaë and her cartload of Aipom were creating. I would've admired Artemisia's determination to commit the recipe to memory under normal circumstances. Though seeing her consciously making an effort to block out the din made me rather vexed.

Should I shut the cookbook on Artemisia? I thought. Or should I preserve the fountain of chocolate?

My eyes darted to the right of Artemisia, spotting a metallic fountain venting cataracts of milk chocolate. Beside the fountain was a jet-black platter laden with strawberries dressed in chocolate. Suspended over the platter were bundles of bananas ready for the taking. I turned around and saw Aoi the Aipom jumping from conduit to conduit, Umehito right on his tail in the figurative sense. The Aipom suspended on the conduits dropped to the floor and melted into the surging crowd. Danaë lumbered over to the Aipom at the same time, extending her arms outward as if they were wings.

"Umehito has this under control," Danaë assured the Aipom. "In the meantime, how about we get back to our stations? The menu isn't going to create itself!"

The gathered Aipom nodded fervently at Danaë's words as they broke off into groups of four. Meanwhile Umehito flung the ladle he held at Aoi, missing the overactive monkey by a wide berth. The ladle hurtled to the floor with a clatter on an unrelated note. Aoi paused several yards away from Artemisia, Leafa's and my station, his mouth foaming at the edges. He twirled around the spatula in his hand before throwing it at the floor. Then Aoi gave the conduit one giant tug before swaying back and forth on it, his eyes fixed on the bundles of bananas parked above Artemisia. With every sway, Aoi drew closer and closer to the bananas. I zipped in front of Artemisia and Leafa, my arms outstretched. I wasn't going to entertain any more Aipom business tonight; Aoi needed to be stopped for everyone's sake.

"Could you maybe stop reading the cookbook and help me out here, Artemisia?" I begged Silver's daughter.

I half-turned toward Artemisia, seeing she still had her nose buried in that cookbook. For someone who had claimed to be attuned to others' emotions, she was acting otherwise. The teenager snapped her head up unexpectedly, her eyes filled with confidence.

"I think I've waited long enough!" Artemisia exclaimed. "Okay, Leafa! Stop Aoi dead in his tracks with your vines!"

Leafa bounded from behind Artemisia, a pair of vines protruding from her wreathed neck. She hurled them at Aoi so fast that they made the same cracking sounds as whips did. Aoi didn't realize Leafa planned to trap him until the vines hugged his waistline and ripped him from the conduit. Umehito shot his tail at Leafa's vines and guided them over to Aoi's own tail. Then Umehito disarmed Aoi and vaulted his way back to Danaë, hunkering himself on her shoulder. The greenheaded female came forward, sweeping her hand across her forehead and releasing an undisguised sigh of relief. She faced me, an apologetic smile replacing her winning one.

"I didn't mean to ignore Danaë and you," she said apologetically. "I was waiting for the right opportunity to launch my plan into action."

"How come you didn't say that, Artemisia?" I asked her. "Danaë and I would've helped you."

Artemisia wiped her hand on her dark apron.

"I was unsure if it'd work, N. In any case, please forgive me for my unprecedented rudeness."

She clasped her hands together and drilled her eyes into mine, wearing a cutesy, innocent facial expression. The air of refinement Artemisia gave off had been replaced by an air of naivety. Despite my best efforts, I found myself drawing a parallel between Anthea and Artemisia. Anthea used cutesy tactics on Concordia and I whenever she wanted something. My heart swelled faster than a balloon being pumped up with helium at the thought of Anthea and Concordia. There wasn't any point in lamenting about how much I missed my sisters; I knew it wouldn't change anything. Even so, I was rather reluctant to contact them despite knowing they'd implored White to save me. I guess I was hurt by the fact they did nothing to help White when they had the power to do so.

"You remind me of Anthea," I told Artemisia. "Just a little though."

Artemisia bowed her head, half-pleased, half-worried.

"I hope not in a bad way."

"Nope."

Leafa pulled Aoi closer to her and deposited him on her back. Umehito puttered over to Leafa, whispering words I couldn't hear. Leafa nodded vigorously as she bowed before Umehito, who climbed onto her back. As Leafa took off at breakneck speed toward Danaë and the Aipom, I pondered over my Aurae ability. I couldn't turn on Aurae for a certain amount of time without suffering major side effects. The vertigo I was experiencing right now happened to be one of the milder side effects caused by Aurae withdrawal.

Stay focused, I told myself firmly. Leafa brought Umehito and Aoi to Danaë and the others. That means we can finally finish the menu.

Danaë, Artemisia, the Aipom, Leafa and I went straight to work finishing the dessert spread three minutes later. Instead of mixing more cake batter, I decided to cut the remaining fruit. When I told Artemisia and Danaë about my plan, however, they snickered.

"Did I say something funny?" I wondered.

Danaë attempted to keep a straight face while Artemisia nudged me and gestured at something behind me. I whirled around, my jaw dropping open at the colossal pile of fruits and Berries leaning on top of the counter precariously. Aipom circled the fruity mountain, removing miscellaneous fruits and Berries and passing them to the Aipom nearest them. At the end of the line were Umehito and Aoi, both standing on a silvery-gray cart with plastic containers. The plastic containers were overflowing with an abundance of fruits and Berries mined from the multicolored mountain.

"I really shouldn't laugh," Artemisia admitted, "but you pretty much have your work cut out for you, N."

"I can handle it," I said stubbornly.

"Are you sure?" Artemisia asked me. "You've improved at mixing the cake batter and icing the pastries in case you haven't noticed. I know you'll get even better if you keep on doing it. Who knows? Maybe you'll be an even better baker than Danaë!"

Danaë wheeled around and surveyed a sweat-dropping Artemisia, her eyes narrowed.

"And just what is that supposed to mean, Artemisia?" Danaë challenged the greenhead.

Artemisia put her hand behind her head and laughed nervously.

"Nothing, nothing!" she said cheerfully. "I wanted to give encouragement and support to N, that's all. If I've caused you any offense, Danaë, please know that wasn't my intention. We came together to create a masterpiece for the soirée after all. That'll only happen if we collaborate."

I nodded in agreement. Working alongside Danaë, Artemisia and their friends had taught me the true meaning of teamwork. I was having all sorts of fun cooking and baking stuff, though they reminded me very much of the chemistry experiments Concordia and I had conducted as children.

"Maybe a rotation of stations would do," Danaë mused.

The Kaneshiro matriarch bent over the counter and pulled open the drawer, the knives clanging against each other noisily. She dug her hand into the drawer and fished out a large knife. I approached Danaë timidly as she closed the drawer and waved the knife in front of me. I pried it from her grip and turned the cutting tool around in my hands, seeing the steel was polished to the point where I could see my own reflection. I gazed, transfixed, at the melancholy silvery-white eyes of a regally handsome greenheaded teenager - my eyes.

"Rotating stations sounds good," I agreed absentmindedly.

I peeled my eyes from my reflection and walked over to the mountainous pile of fruits and Berries. I set down the knife on the counter while I plucked some pears and Aspear Berries from the pile. Some Aspear Berries rolled downward, but fell through the cracks I left behind. An Aipom placed a wooden cutting board in the shape of a heart next to the knife, which saved me the trouble of looking for one. I deposited one pear onto the cutting board and began shaving off its skin, the peels falling over the cutting board. Before I knew it, I was chopping the naked pear into slices the way Danaë had showed me.

Artemisia was right about one thing: I couldn't chop all these fruits and Berries by myself. It was lucky that I had the Aipom at my side. Some were helping me peel fruits and Berries while others were slicing them into even pieces. A few Aipom were using the knives to spar, which caused me great concern. I was halfway through slicing my one hundred and twenty third fruit when Umehito flounced past me to break up the Aipom' sparring matches. I sighed, rather glad the Aipom didn't injure themselves with the knives. These knives we were wielding happened to be pointy, which meant they also happened to be dangerously sharp. I'd never thought my friends would need some lecturing on knives - how surprising.

Almost an hour's worth of cutting fruits and Berries had passed before something eventful happened. It started off with shuffling footsteps echoing throughout the basement. These same echoing footsteps were drawing closer to the kitchen where we worked, eventually coming to a halt before the double doors and dying in silence. I looked at Danaë, who was staring at her Pokégear. She snapped her head up, appearing as if she'd won a ticket to a free three-day cruise on the Royal Unova.

Artemisia glanced at her Pokégear, her eyes widening.

"Oh, my!" she said surprisedly. "Is that really the time? Our next shift starts in an hour, but I can't leave you, Danaë; it just doesn't feel right."

I dropped the knife on the counter, confused. Did Artemisia sign me up for more work after we were done helping Danaë? I really hoped she didn't decide that that was best for me, but there was only one way to find out.

"Question: did you sign me up for more work, Artemisia?" I asked.

Artemisia nodded.

"I signed you up for volunteering," she answered. "I saw how troubled you were earlier and wanted to help take your mind off your troubles, N."

Though her intentions were pure, Artemisia had overstepped the boundaries I drew this time around. Now anger burned through me much like a forest fire would burn through a Unovan wooded area.

"By signing me up for volunteering without asking me first?" I said disbelievingly. "I'm not some Pidove in a cage, Artemisia. Stop treating me as such."

"I'm not treating you as if you're a Pidgey in a cage," Artemisia said. "I want you to feel right at home, N."

I bit my lip.

"What if I don't want to feel right at home? New Bark Town isn't my hometown, Artemisia, Lady Kaneshiro. Therefore I can't feel right at home. My home is . . . My hometown is . . . "

I set one hand over my forehead, racking my brain for the actual name of my hometown. No, the fires inside me hadn't been extinguished; magic had frozen them solid. The threshold between experiences and memories had met the same fate as my emotions. Now I couldn't cross over to the world of memories because it was sealed by a sheet of grayish-blue. I traced the icy barrier's thick snowy white veins with my fingers in response, the coldness seeping into my flesh and entering my bloodstream. Artemisia and Danaë called out my name, though I didn't respond. This feeling was the same cold feeling I'd gotten when Silver had asked for my mother's name. How could I have forgotten the names of my mother and hometown? I felt as if I were frozen solid, unable to move backward or forward. My memories were too important to forget yet here I was forgetting them.

I drew my hand from my forehead, put it inside my shirt and pulled out the Menger Sponge. I developed an interest with the cubic structure, admiring its sharply defined edges and its squarish patterns built within. This was the only memento I had of my mother - the nameless woman who had birthed me. I hoped that this comforting truth shall never be taken away from me. Artemisia and Danaë called out my name again, which brought me out of my brooding episode. I tore my eyes from the Menger Sponge and gazed at the two women.

"I'm alright," I assured them. "I've a bad habit of getting sentimental at the wrong time. Now what was I - ?"

An incredibly handsome pinkheaded male swung the double doors open just then, cutting off the rest of my sentence effectively. He walked into the kitchen, roving his eyes around to take everything in. Though the classic tuxedo he wore was ill-suited for this environment.

"Brass Sakurada?" Danaë asked.

The young man named Brass Sakurada swerved around and laid his eyes on Danaë.

"Danaë Kaneshiro," Brass acknowledged her. "It's been too long!"

Danaë smiled warmly.

"Yes, it has. Come here, you!"

Brass marched over to the woman and hugged her tightly, Danaë clapping him on the back. His voice, however, summoned a certain purplehead informant's face to the forefront of my mind. Could he be? I was positive he was.

"His name's not Brass," I said without thinking. "It's Aidan."

Brass let go of Danaë and eyeballed me.

"That was my name in Unova," Brass admitted. "I go by my real name in Johto: Brass Sakurada. It's good to see you again, Your Majesty."

He bowed before me respectfully. Meanwhile I felt as if tonight was going to be a night to remember. Again.

For the Love of a King: Eventide

Chapter 16: Time Part I

N's PoV. Present Day. Kinjō Gyoen.

Even though Danaë clearly needed help, she insisted that Artemisia, the newcomer and I should get ready for the Kinjō Yorugao Yakai. So Leafa, Artemisia and I said our farewells and thank yous to the Aipom before exiting the kitchen and scaling the stairs with the ex-Team Plasma grunt, who was now holding a large dark brown paper bag.

"An hour isn't enough time to get ready," Artemisia stated once we reached the dining room. "I still have to jump in the shower and all."

Aidan (I'm not calling him Brass) frowned.

"What is it with girls taking so long to get ready?" he sighed. "You're out of luck this time, Artemis. You only have forty five minutes to get dressed. Use your time wisely."

Artemisia made a face as she sighed loudly.

"Forty five minutes isn't enough time at all! But I'll make the most of it. Let's meet here in forty five then."

Artemisia turned around and darted into the hallway, her long hair flying behind her. Leafa gave me a little bow as she left the dining room, leaving Aidan and I behind. I looked down at my clothing, painful awareness settling in. How could I honestly expect to attend the soirée in this? I had to dress befitting my station. Otherwise I'd disrespect the Harmonias and those around me.

"I don't think I could go," I murmured. "All my formal attire is in Unova and I'm not about to borrow another tuxedo again."

Aidan came into the midst, digging through the large bag untidily. The sound of paper being crumpled carried throughout the dining room while the pinkhead rummaged up a marine blue tuxedo from the depths of the paper bag. The bag plummeted to the floor shortly afterward. Aidan cradled the tuxedo as if it were a newborn, showing it off to me. I dropped my mouth, recognizing the tuxedo.

"Is that - ? How did you - ?" I started to ask.

Aidan considered me.

"If you want to know the details of how the tuxedo came into my possession, then pay up," he advised me. "Your total is eighty hundred Poké Dollars."

Eight thousand Poké Dollars? That was a whole lot less than White had paid. Was Aidan giving me a discount? Or was this information really worth so little? I was on guard now.

"I admit, your offer is rather tempting," I shrugged. "But something tells me the information you're about to divulge isn't worth much, which means it's public knowledge. News perhaps? I didn't know you were a news reporter, Aidan."

Aidan draped my tuxedo over his forearm, expressionless.

"I'm a humble informational broker, Your Majesty," he said simply. "It's my duty to acquire any type of information regardless of its value. News, secrets, facts, the list goes on and on forever."

I laughed mirthlessly.

"Yet you're full of secrets yourself, Aidan," I pointed out. "You hid your name and background while posing as one of my grunts. Your last name is Sakurada, correct? That's the surname of the Goldenrod City Gym Leader. You look a great deal like her. Are you her son by any chance?"

Aidan's eyes flashed at my words, the frown on his face deeper than before. He curled one hand into a fist and bent his head.

"I'm her deviant son," he said quietly. "Could we talk about your tuxedo instead? That's a lot more interesting than my boring background."

Aidan brought his head up, wearing a convincing smile. However, his eyes were saddened - quite saddened. They had enough sadness to strike a chord in me, which they did.

"I'm not paying eight thousand Poké Dollars," I said quickly. "The castle's appearance obviously made headlines in the past month. Though I'm pretty sure that some members of Team Plasma have plundered the castle of its riches and goods upon hearing Ghetsis and I aren't in Unova anymore."

"That's exactly what happened," Aidan confirmed. "It looks as if I'm not getting eighty hundred Poké Dollars after all. In any event, this tuxedo deserves a night out with its rightful owner."

Aidan dangled the tuxedo in front of me. I reached out to take it although stopped dead in my tracks.

I can't take it, I thought. Every bone in my body tells me that I'd be no different from a common thief if I were to take the tuxedo. Even the knowledge that it's mine doesn't change how I feel about it.

"I can't take it," I told Aidan. "I won't take it and wear it; it doesn't feel right to do either. Stealing is wrong. Period."

Aidan looked confused.

"What are you talking about?" he wondered. "Taking the tuxedo doesn't count as stealing, Your Majesty. All you're really doing is reclaiming what's yours."

"Even so, reclaiming the tuxedo doesn't change the fact that it's stolen property," I said coldly. "How do I even know if it's mine, Aidan? The shape and color are roughly the same, though I doubt - I doubt it's the same tuxedo after everything it's been through."

Aidan heaved a sigh, all traces of his smile gone.

"Even if it has lost its sentimental value to Your Majesty, that doesn't make it any less of a tuxedo," he said wearily. "I didn't steal this from the castle if it makes you feel any better. Look, we could stand here and bicker about how unethical stealing is or you could suck it up and don the tuxedo. Either way Artemis will return fully dressed."

"I'm not yielding," I said stubbornly. "I'm sorry, Aidan, but I can't wear something that was stolen even if it happened to be mine originally."

Aidan face-palmed.

"What if I sold the tuxedo to you?" he asked tiredly. "Would you yield to your feelings then, Your Majesty?"

I noticed the emphasis Aidan drew on the plural word "feelings". That definitely caught my attention, though it was Aidan's offer that kept it. Purchasing a stolen tuxedo (even though it was technically my tuxedo) didn't have a sense of wrongness attached to it strangely enough; my conscience could handle it.

"Okay," I agreed. "I'll buy the tuxedo from you, Aidan."

Aidan stretched one hand toward me greedily.

"That would be twelve thousand Poké Dollars," he announced.

Is he really charging me that much for a tuxedo? I thought irritably. It's no wonder White wanted to broker a deal with him!

"Yeah, that's too much in Unovan Poké Dollars, Aidan," I said, annoyed.

Aidan chuckled, which took me aback.

"Whoever said I charged my customers in Unovan currency?" he said in an amused tone. "Although I appreciate the handsome sum of money White gives me every now and then, she assumes that I'm charging her in Unovan Poké Dollars too."

I narrowed my eyes.

"Do you mean to tell me that you've been ripping off White this entire time?" I asked dangerously.

Aidan stopped chuckling, looking rather offended at my accusation.

"Hey, now! I wouldn't dream of overcharging White, Your Majesty!" he protested.

"But you just said -"

"I lied actually," Aidan interrupted me. "I've been selling her information in Johtonese Poké Dollars all along."

"Hmph."

I took out my leather wallet and opened it wide, rummaging through the pockets for coins or bills. I fished out a roll of Poké Dollar bills, converting Unovan Poké Dollars to Johtonese Poké Dollars mentally. If my mental math was correct, then one hundred and fourteen Unovan Poké Dollars equaled twelve thousand Johtonese Poké Dollars.

"Here."

I forked over the money to Aidan, who unrolled the Poké Dollars and started counting them. When he was finished counting, he rolled the money back up again and placed it inside his tuxedo breast pocket. Then he returned my tuxedo to me a moment later.

"It was a pleasure doing business with you," Aidan said cheerfully. "Now let me show you to the men's dressing room."

Aidan turned on his heel and walked over to the same hallway Artemisia and Leafa disappeared into just minutes before. I grabbed the crumpled bag and stored my tuxedo suit inside it, seeing Aidan leaning against the pastel orange wall. I ran across the dining room and straight into the hallway where Aidan waited. The pinkhead nodded as he wheeled around and led me to the men' dressing room. It didn't take me that long to shower, comb my hair and put on the tuxedo luckily.

We exited the dressing room with two minutes to spare and dashed over to the dining room, where an expectant Artemisia sat. Her choice of attire tonight consisted of a glittery, ombre sea green dress, grayish-gold stilettos and dangling rhinestone earrings. Her hairstyle was straightened hair rather than a ponytail. Artemisia brandished a rectangular purse that bulged in four different corners and I knew Leafa had been recalled into her Poké Ball. In any case, Artemisia looked nice.

"You . . . uh . . . you look nice, Artemisia," I said sincerely. "Sea green looks great on you."

"Ditto," Aidan agreed.

"We're both donning clothes dipped in seawater," Artemisia said happily. "You look good in marine blue, N."

"What about me, Artemis?" Aidan asked her.

Artemisia beamed.

"You rock the classic look," she complimented him. "Could you lead us to your lot on the fairgrounds, Brass? I'm looking forward to serving Angelic Breeze ice cream."

"We're . . . serving ice cream?" I said faintly. "I'm serving ice cream in my tuxedo."

Aidan chuckled again.

"Don't be ridiculous!" he chuckled. "I have uniforms you could choose from. How about we move this conversation to the fairgrounds?"

We did that as we crossed the vast backyard and entered the fairgrounds, wrapping up the conversation in front of the erected sea green tents. Aidan showed us around the lot Danaë had assigned him before ushering us inside the smaller sea green tent. Artemisia started shivering immediately due to the coldness and I loaned her my jacket instinctively. I examined my surroundings, noticing the large humming pale freezers lining the walls of the tent, locked tight with iron clasps. It didn't take a genius to figure out that the freezers were packed with ice cream boxes at a subzero temperature which matched the temperature inside the tent.

A magnificent pinniped Pokémon soared through the air right then and there, its streamlined fur as white as snow. Its dark eyes ranged over Artemisia, Aidan and I before settling onto Aidan. The Pokémon brought its flippers together and clapped excitedly, its tail twitching in delight. It performed a back flip and descended to the ground, sending several whitecaps toward the three of us.

"Is that Dewy?" Artemisia asked Aidan.

"That's Dewy," Aidan agreed. "He's the handsomest and happiest of Dewgong out there. Evade the whitecaps, you two!"

Aidan ducked for cover behind a nearby freezer while Artemisia and I hunkered ourselves against another freezer. The whitecaps washed over a row of freezers and hit the ground, which drank it thirstily. Artemisia regarded Brass, whose hair was striped with violet - the same shade of violet he had worn at the Temporal Festival.

"Did you streak your hair violet, Brass?" Artemisia wondered. "No, you can't have. I'm pretty sure I would've noticed streaks like that earlier. Are you wearing a wig?"

Aidan sighed in resignation.

"Please don't tell my mother, Artemis," he begged the greenhead. "She won't be happy if she learns I'd dyed my own hair."

Artemisia contemplated Aidan for a while before promising she wouldn't. Aidan sprang to his feet and tore off his wig. The pinkhead shook his shock of violet before slipping the disheveled wig back onto the crown of his head, concealing his dyed hair. Artemisia and I climbed to our feet, Artemisia pressing the long wallet against her torso. Meanwhile Aidan gestured at Dewy.

"As you can see, Dewy is responsible for keeping this tent at a freezing temperature," Aidan explained. "I brought an inflatable pool from Unova and set it up in the tent for Dewy to do his magic. So you know where the ice cream and Dewy are. Now let's go fit you in a uniform."

We lumbered to the back of the tent. Twin blue lockers were tucked in the corner, one of the doors ajar. Aidan lumbered past Dewy and gave him the thumbs-up while Artemisia waved at the pinniped Pokémon. I passed by the inflatable teal pool, seeing Dewy swim to the edge gracefully. The Pokémon flung its flippers over the rubbery rim, watching me with mild interest. I waved weakly at Dewy and smiled, Dewy crying out in happiness.

Aidan hurled a hairnet and apron at me to catch. I caught the apron albeit missed the hairnet by a wide berth. Dewy, however, caught the hairnet deftly and beckoned at me with his tail. I ambled over to Dewy, donning my apron quickly.

"Thank you," I said gratefully. "Your hard work won't go unacknowledged, Dewy. You deserve a reward."

Aidan snapped his fingers, inspiration etched onto his face.

"You're in charge of feeding Dewy every hour, Your Majesty," he told me.

I put on my hairnet and nodded eagerly. I didn't mind visiting such a friendly Pokémon hourly. In fact those visits might make this ice cream serving experience worthwhile. The three of us marched across the lot and entered the larger tent. Artemisia shook off the jacket I loaned her, though I insisted she hold on to it until our shift was over. Meanwhile Aidan went behind the counter, opening the window that protected the tubs of ice cream from mid-June humidity. Artemisia passed by mismatched chairs and tables scattered throughout the tent, setting napkin dispensers atop the table. I decided to go behind the counter and assist Aidan.

I was so busy helping Aidan pour toppings into containers that I didn't hear people coming until one of them rang the bell. Aidan snapped his head up and hurried over to the counter to take the peoples' orders. As I loaded the last of the containers onto the counter, Aidan barked orders at me. I stood upright and snatched a cone from the dispenser, rushing toward the ice chest and sweeping the scooper into my hand. I plopped a misshapen block of bubble gum ice cream onto the first cone. Then I handed the ice cream cone to Aidan before fixing a mint chocolate ice cream cone and a vanilla one after that. In any case, it was fortunate that I got quicker at serving ice cream because more and more people kept on surging through the tent. Eventually Aidan had to step from behind the counter and direct people into a single file line. Artemisia, who was helping me serve ice cream, raced over to the register with a smile plastered on her face.

The Angelic Breeze Creamery tent had a steady flow of customers henceforth. Steady might be a bit of an understatement; the stream of customers seemed never-ending. On an unrelated note, my soft-serve ice cream scooping skills improved exponentially with each order taken. I was beginning to set a block of green tea ice cream on top of a cone when Dewy's face popped into my mind.

"Artemisia?" I said. "I have to feed Dewy although I don't want to leave you here."

Artemisia turned around and took the ice cream cone from my hands and nodded encouragingly.

"Brass would want you to feed Dewy," she said. "If you're worried about me, fear not. I'll be fine."

My eyes darted over to the line, children and adults from different socioeconomic classes all lined up eagerly. Aidan drew away from the line and approached us, his eyes shifting over to the ice house tent. I gulped and nodded a series of nods as I booked across the lot and returned to the small tent. The temperature was still as cold as it was an hour ago. I lumbered across the ice house tent room, raking my eyes over the freezers dotting the artificial room. These freezers sang about the ice cream boxes locked inside, trapped by both congealed ice and clasps. I couldn't afford to listen to their mesmerizing lullabies; I must feed Dewy.

Wait a minute, I thought. How in the world does Aidan expect me to feed Dewy? I could always turn on my Aurae again, but there's no guarantee I'd be able to hold the connection long enough for me to ask Dewy.

Vertigo swept through me at the thought of using Aurae. I placed one hand over my forehead, nausea rolling up my throat at breakneck speed. I couldn't attempt to activate Aurae lest I wanted to add more side effects. The vertigo and nausea were enough to deal with already. When I reached the edge of the pool, Dewy's face brightened. Somehow I'd failed to miss Dewy's adorableness behind those massive tusks protruding from his mouth. Dewy, however, swam across the water and to the other side of the pool, pointing one flipper at several barrels pushed against the wall. With a nod, I maundered toward the barrels and removed one of the lids. The barrel was filled to the brim with dried-out Magikarp, their empty eyes piercing through my very soul. Even though they were dead, the empath in me felt rather upset at the fishermen who murdered them in cold blood. There wasn't a single moment in time where I'd wondered if Pokémon ever felt remorse about devouring each other.

"Are you absolutely sure you don't want to eat plants, Dewy?" I asked the Dewgong.

Dewy shook his head, wagging his tail energetically.

I sighed in defeat. I guessed I had no choice but to disturb the Magikarp' mass watery grave. I closed my eyes while I plunged my hand inside the barrel. Water sloshed around as I procured a Magikarp's body, its scales damp. I opened my eyes and saw the Magikarp limp in my hands, lifeless and as still as time. The Magikarp deserved a much better end than this. Then again Dewy the Dewgong and his ancestors have always been higher up on the food chain than the Magikarp and its ancestors. The laws of nature dictated that the strongest shall always survive and the weak shall always perish because that was how the circle of life worked. This law has been upheld for eons and there wasn't any way to overturn it. Therefore the Dewgong shall remain predators and Magikarp prey in the circle of life until time ended. This dead Magikarp, loathe as I was to admit it, had known this unwritten law and enforced it until the very end.

"So be it," I said in a small voice.

I tore my eyes off the carcass and held my head up high as I approached Dewy, who sat upright in the water. He opened his mouth wide as I flung the Magikarp at his tusks. Dewy lurched forward and pierced through the Magikarp before popping it inside his mouth and slurping it whole. I watched Dewy in his role as predator, half-fascinated, half-disgusted at the sight.

Predator.

The Obsidian Terror's face swam in my mind, licking his mouth zealously. I felt a surge of loathing while I recalled the way he tossed around the word "prey" in his cavalier tone of voice. I wanted nothing more than to track down the haughty vampire and strike him where he stood! I couldn't understand how he worshiped the circle of life as if it were a deity mightier than Arceus Itself. No, Arceus wasn't rooted in his black heart. Blake didn't know or value things such as humility, love, courage and kindness; he only answered to arrogance, hate, fear and cruelty. I heard the Obsidian Terror's fiendish peals of laughter while I saw Dewy wolfing down his meal, his voice adopting a rather condescending tone as he taunted me from the shadows.

Why must he borrow such despicable ideals from Furvum Imperium? I thought wrathfully. To hell with Blake; to hell with Furvum Imperium! I won't stand for a copycat ripping away an important person to me! I'll fight for Bianca just as hard as White and Cheren will be fighting for her. I owe it to her! I have my own ideals - ideals which must be stronger than Blake's false ones! That's why I must - I must . . .

"N!" Artemisia called out my name. "N, are you in here? N? N!"

I started. Then I looked at Dewy, who nudged me affectionately.

"I mustn't stray from my own cause no matter what, Dewy," I said softly. "Fighting alongside Cheren and White will bring me one step closer to redemption. Could you keep what happened here a secret between us?"

Dewy nodded in agreement.

"Then it's settled," I decided. "Thank you for being there, Dewy. Aidan's lucky to have a friend such as yourself in this life."

Artemisia came into the midst, looking very concerned. My insides froze over just then. Did she come here to lecture me about sharing a philosophical moment with Dewy? Then I recalled the hungry customers and cursed at myself. Artemisia had every right to moralize at me.

"There you are," Artemisia said, relieved. "What are you still doing here, N? It shouldn't take that long to feed Dewy, you know. You're - you're unhappy, I take it?"

I nodded, unsure of what was going on. It looked as if Artemisia wasn't going to moralize at me after all.

"I'm unhappy about a lot of things," I admitted. "I'm not unhappy about volunteering if that's what you're wondering. It's quite the feeling to give to the community and expect nothing in return, and to think I was grumpy earlier."

Artemisia sighed.

"You're brooding again," she guessed. "Don't you ever get sick of brooding, N? You're making yourself unhappy on purpose. You know what? I'm beginning to think you're a glutton for punishment."

"Should I not be punished?" I returned calmly. "I've done terrible things that weigh heavily on my conscience every day, Artemisia. What's worse, I even enacted justice to justify Team Plasma's actions."

Artemisia drifted over to me, an understanding smile on her face. Her smile was perhaps a little too understanding.

"Justice is a compelling ideal to defend," she admitted, "and everyone loves fighting in the name of justice. But I feel that justice is universally subjective."

I laughed humorlessly.

"Justice is fighting for what's right, Artemisia," I said. "Who cares if it's subjective? That doesn't make it wrong."

"That doesn't make it right, either," Artemisia said gently. "Justice is little more than an illusion, N. An illusion created by our forebears to determine what's right and what's wrong in the world."

I felt as if Artemisia threw something between my eyes. Was she attacking my ideal of justice by calling it an illusion? She was basically calling me an illusion by going that route. Though there might be a chance I misinterpreted her words.

"Are you saying my ideals of justice are illusory or that justice itself is illusory?" I asked Artemisia.

"That justice itself is illusory," she answered. "Forgive me if it seemed as if I was attacking your ideals, N. In any case, we have nothing to worry about regarding justice. Even if we lived without it, we would still exist."

"But then," I paused as I walked over to Artemisia, "but then we'll become illusions ourselves, Artemisia. I can't tolerate such a sad way to live truth be told. I'm not an illusion!"

Artemisia still wore that maddeningly understanding smile. Only Arceus knew how boundless Artemisia's patience was.

"We're all illusions, N," she said patiently. "Everything around us are illusions too. That doesn't stop Pokémon and humanity from living out their illusory lives though. Love. Community. Friendship. Loyalty. Family. I feel these things transform the illusions into reality."

"Those things enrich life, thus making it more real," I agreed. "Though I'm still touchy about being called an illusion."

Artemisia pirouetted around.

"I'm sorry," she apologized. "We shouldn't linger in the ice house tent any longer, N. Brass left the other tent earlier because he heard a loud noise. I don't know what caused that noise, but my gut tells me Brass might know what did. At any rate, people are in line for soft-serve ice cream. It's our duties to give exceptional customer service and make our customers smile! Come on!"

Artemisia stopped her pirouette, shrugged her shoulders and power-walked out of the tent, almost colliding into Danaë Kaneshiro. She bowed before the woman and apologized profusely. Danaë searched the room with her eyes while talking to Artemisia before nodding and excusing herself. I walked across the tented room briskly and caught up to Artemisia, who was as still as time.

"I thought we were going to serve the community," I said confusedly. "What happened there?"

Artemisia pulled the fold back to let in a breathtakingly beautiful brunette. Footsteps shuffled behind us as Danaë came into my line of vision, a hairnet wrapped over her odango braids and an apron covering the top half of her amber dress.

"If it isn't my future daughter-in-law," Danaë said happily. "Welcome back, Soul. This year's soirée won't have a potluck, but at least there will be a spread. And it's quite the spread indeed!"

Soul smiled.

"You didn't have to go through all that trouble for me," she said. "I'm very touched by your kindness nevertheless, Danaë. However, I think the spread should be shared with everybody, wouldn't you agree? Oh, how rude of me!" She turned to Artemisia. "Good evening, my darling niece. My, don't you look absolutely stunning!"

Artemisia flushed.

"Thank you, Aunt Soul."

Soul pulled Artemisia into an embrace, Artemisia throwing her arms around her. The brunette rocked her back and forth before eyeing me.

"You must be Natural Harmonia Gropius," she said. "I'm Soul Yoruno, Artemisia's aunt. So the rumors are really true: you do look just like Artemisia."

"Thank you," I said awkwardly. "Yoruno -"

"Soul," the brunette interrupted. "Just call me Soul. I know what you're about to say and it's okay. I'll try my best not to act as your aunt no matter how much I want to."

Artemisia extricated herself out of Soul's embrace.

"I'm sorry, Artemisia, Danaë and N," Soul said apologetically, "but Gold, Brass and I need to use the ice house tent for just a tiny bit. I'm sorry for the inconvenience."

"That's fine," Danaë said. "Artemisia, Natural and I were heading back to the Angelic Breeze Creamery tent anyway, Soul. You really shouldn't apologize."

Artemisia tore her eyes off Soul and raked the room with them.

"Is it for the Order of the Acacia?" she asked curiously.

"That's the secret society Red's a part of," I remembered.

Danaë grabbed Artemisia and I by the ears and dragged us out of the tent, the greenhead and I gasping in discomfort. The Kaneshiro matriarch let go of our ears seconds later.

"You didn't need to pull on their ears so hard, Danaë!" Soul chided her from within the tent. "Yes, Artemis, we need it for the Order. However you know the drill already."

Artemisia's face darkened.

"I'm tired of being kept in the dark," she said crossly. "'Relia is sick and tired of being kept in the dark. We've been of age for a while already. At any rate, I feel suffocated in this cage! I know you, Uncle Gold and Dad built this cage out of love, but I don't want to live trapped in here any longer! I want to see the world just as 'Relia and Al saw it!"

"I'm not having this discussion, Artemis," Soul said sternly. "If you want to join the Order of the Acacia, then ask your father."

Artemisia bowed her head, one hand curled into a fist.

"Dad thinks the world's too dangerous. I'm inclined to disagree with him."

Danaë grasped Artemisia by the shoulder, squeezing it reassuringly.

"We should get going, kiddo," she said.

Artemisia threw Danaë's hand off her shoulder, quaking uncontrollably.

"Go where exactly?" she asked of no one. "The estate isn't just my home; it's my prison. Dad won't even let me take the Chrysanthemum League challenge; I'm supposed to sit here and await his return. I'm more than happy to do that but - but how long would it be before enough is enough?"

Her voice cracked.

"Artemisia," I said.

The greenhead brought her head up, a frown stretched across her face. She rubbed her eyes with her fists and shook her head.

"I'm okay," she assured me. "I really am. And Danaë? I didn't mean to throw your hand off my shoulder. You were just trying to cheer me up. At any rate, we'll text you if we see 'Relia or Al, Aunt Soul."

"Thank you," Soul said gratefully. "Your father's scared to see history repeat itself, Artemis. That's why he doesn't want you to leave the estate."

Artemisia still wore that darkened face.

"I know," she said dully.

I decided it was time to steer the conversation to another subject.

"What about the customers, Artemisia?" I asked her. "They've been waiting for quite some time now."

Artemisia's face became less darkened at my words.

"You're right. I can't stand around here feeling sorry for myself - not when people need my help. Come on, Danaë and N! Let's save the day!"

Artemisia hurried over to the larger tent, Danaë following suit. In spite of myself, I was rather intrigued with Artemisia's backstory. Maybe we weren't so different underneath our exteriors after all. Gold and Aidan were coming toward the tent now, engaged deeply in conversation. I figured that was my cue to leave, which I did.

Everything will be revealed in time, I thought. I'm not sure what's going on, but I'll definitely be on guard from here on out.

There was only another hour until the Kinjō Yorugao Yakai started. I was actually looking forward to it.

Ruri's PoV.

If I'd known that admiring oceanic scenery counted as a crime in Gorm Acerbi's book, I would've done a lot more oceanic sightseeing for the hell of it. I was as every bit as rebellious as Papa himself. Then again I was a Valera; we were born renegades. However, openly defying Gorm would be an insane move on my part. Ruby's abrupt departure had left me unprotected in this forbiddingly austere environment, which meant I had to be cautious.

I crossed one hand over my bosom.

"I appreciate your constructive criticism, Lord Gorm," I said dishonestly, "but if you'll allow me to explain why I've been slacking off lately - "

Gorm adjusted his unbelievably large cloak over his equally as loose habit. Wouldn't it be practical to wear a habit and cloak that fit him? I had no idea why he'd don clothing several sizes too big for him.

"I know why your work has been less than stellar lately," he said dismissively. "Rubeus Birch's disappearance has affected you greatly."

Gorm swaggered over to the window, his cloak slithering behind him on the floor. I chanced a glance at Bianca, who was studying me with mild interest.

"You and Lord Gorm don't really see eye-to-eye," she noticed. "What are you going to do about this?"

"A girl's got to do what a girl's got to do," I shrugged. "Lord Gorm is somewhat biased towards female Furvum Imperium soldiers. Your gender renders you invisible unless you manage to impress him."

Bianca looked as if she swallowed a lemon.

"What a male chauvinist Tepig," she muttered. "But that explains why he's so lukewarm towards me. I thought for sure I'd offended him."

"I thought the same at first," I admitted, "but the only offenses we've committed are being of the opposite sex in Lord Gorm's eyes. There's one more thing you should know: he evaluates our lucidity as a whole. The ability to think clearly, especially in times of crisis," I added, seeing the confused look on Bianca's face.

"That's so-soooooo unfair!" Bianca fumed. "I can't always think clearly during times of crises; I'm not sure anybody can!"

The Ruri Valera Furukawa from four years ago would've agreed with Bianca completely. That Ruri could be swayed more easily by emotional appeals because she had worn her heart on her sleeve. She had been a rookie Pokémon Coordinator until Furvum Imperium had taken over Sinnoh. That Ruri Valera Furukawa had been pressured by her famous mother Sapphire Furukawa to abandon her promising Pokémon Coordination career for the good of Sinnoh.

My environment changed to reflect the memories from long ago - memories which made me homesick.

Ruri's PoV. Flashback. Sandgem Town.

When Mama had lost to Ruby, Papa, Diamond and I were apoplectic with indignation. The true Hoennian Pokémon Champion - my mother - had been defeated by the bogus Hoennian Pokémon Champion Rubeus Birch. Now Ruby held the thread to Mama's destiny in his monstrous hands, free to twist or cut it however he pleased.

Mama's legs shook as if they were jelly, her mouth agape. She looked as if she were self-destructing from the inside out. I ran over to my mother as she fell through the mist and onto her knees, her head bent over the barely visible iron gray grass. I couldn't bear to see my mother look so defeated and lost, especially when victory had been within her grasp. Ruby had ripped it away from her at the last minute, extinguishing the flames of hope burning in the brazier Mama kept inside her heart. Light footsteps tread across the misty earth just then. I craned my neck to see Ruby advancing towards us, his long hair rippling in the breeze.

"I'll take you on next, Ruby-Eyed Narcissus!" I vowed. "First Papa, now Mama! How many more do you plan to humiliate?"

Ruby raised his eyebrows and smirked, amused at my solemn vow. His amusement lit a spark inside my pounding heart. I felt as if molten lava flowed through my veins instead of blood. Though I knew deep down inside I was no match against the deus, I couldn't let my heart pretend as if it were blind any longer - Rubeus Birch had to be stopped. I pointed at Ruby, clenching my teeth.

"Well?" I demanded. "What's your answer, Ruby? GIVE ME YOUR ANSWER!"

Ruby kept advancing towards us, cackling at my demanding shout. His eyes glowed rather sinisterly in the sunless day, sending chills down my spine. My mother managed to bring her head up, her eyes staring into space emptily. The ombre gray sky emitted loud grumbles right then and there. A trio of forked thunderbolts danced on the horizon, flashing brightly. I glanced at the veins of water resting comfortably in the mud, left over by the Pokémon' hydrokinetic attacks. Hopefully the thunderclouds didn't eject rain; Sinnohan rainstorms got ugly fast. A cackling Ruby made to close the gap between us, although Papa came out of nowhere and shielded Mama from view with his body. Diamond sloshed into the midst moments later, sighing heavily.

"I don't think that's going to help much, Pearl," Diamond said. "Ruby can see Sapphire quite clearly."

Papa's eyes smoldered as he extended his arms outwards, digging his feet into the grass.

"I swore to protect Sapph with my life, Dia," he said stubbornly. "I swore the same vow to Ruri too. I'll protect Sapph; I'll protect Ruri; I'll protect Sinnoh, and I'll do this til the very end!"

I knelt next to my mother, who was still staring out into space.

"Mama?" I said meekly. "Mama? Say something, Mama! Please say something! Anything! If you can't find the strength to speak, then roll your eyes, make a face, blink, frown, smile or lick your mouth! Show me a reaction so I know you're okay, Mama. I may not be as smart as Dia, or as strong as Papa or even as brave as you, but that doesn't matter. I want to help you, Mama! Just let me in for once! That's all I'm asking! Let me in so I could ease your pain!"

Ruby snorted derisively.

"Whoever knew one flaming loss could have you falling to pieces, Sapphire?" he said disapprovingly. "I never would've expected such unsightly behavior from my rival of all people! You're pitiful! Pathetic, really."

Diamond shot his hands at Papa's wrists and crossed them over each other almost instantly. Papa squirmed in Diamond's grip, but to no avail.

"What the hell are you doing, Dia?" Papa said furiously. "Lemme go right now! Today! Now!"

Diamond ranged his eyes over Ruby and Papa, his mouth taut.

"Forgive me, Pearl," he said apologetically, "but this is for your own good."

Ruby stopped his cackling episode and regarded Diamond.

"Thank you, Diamond," Ruby smirked. "I knew you still cared about me deep down inside."

Diamond narrowed his eyes.

"You're under the wrong impression, Ruby," he said frostily. "I'm not a fan of needless violence, which is why I stopped Pearl from attacking you. You would do well not to confuse my fairness with kindness in the future."

A hand grabbed my shoulder just then, which made me flinch.

"Ruri," my mother's gravelly voice said.

I turned around slowly, smiling through my tears at the sight of my mom.

"Mama," I said tearfully. "You're okay! I'm g-glad you didn't white out on us. I knew you'd fight against it; I had faith in you the whole time. It makes me so happy to see you're better. Are you okay?"

Mama nodded characteristically. My face must've been really awash with tears because my mom sighed disapprovingly.

"What did I tell you about crying, Ruri?" she asked disapprovingly.

I wiped my eyes with my jacket sleeve.

Why wouldn't I cry? I thought sadly. I can't shut off my emotions no matter how hard I try. How Mama does it is beyond me.

"That it doesn't solve anything," I said shakily. "You said crying would never, ever solve the world's problems."

Repeating her sound yet cold advice caused my heart to constrict.

"Exactly," Mama agreed. "I know this because crying never helped your grandpapa or me in the slightest, Ruri. I doubt you'd solve anything by crying like this. If you must cry, then don't cry for yourself."

I locked eyes with my mother, thinking about Sinnoh. Sinnoh, the oldest and holiest of all the regions, had lost both her freedom and her spiritual connection to Arceus. I could almost hear her earsplitting wails echoing throughout Sandgem Town, her heart singing the most sorrowful of preludes. We, Arceus's descendants, had heard the prelude of our homeland Sinnoh and wept over it. Sinnoh's tears poured forth from our eyes and our eyes alone. Everything that had defined Sinnoh was essentially ripped away from her by Furvum Imperium.

"But I'm not crying for myself," I assured my mother. "I'm crying on behalf of Sinnoh, the Pokémon, my people and my family. These tears - these tears right now . . . they're for you, Mama. Your tears."

A mixture of sadness, guilt, courageousness, fear, indignation and other emotions showed on my mother's face.

"Ruri," Mama began. "I don't know what to say, except . . . DIA! PEARL!"

Diamond collapsed on his suitcase while Papa was running toward a gloating Ruby, swinging one fist at him. Ruby cocked his head while catching my father's fist, much to the latter's surprise. Another trio of lightning bolts struck the horizon behind them, thunder rumbling louder than before. Somehow the sky's crackling drowned out Papa's yelping.

"I'm going to kill that numbskull with my bare hands," Mr. Mystery muttered.

"Papa!" I screamed.

Mama sprang to her feet, clutching her shoulder. She started her advance on Ruby and Papa although staggered a little.

"Are you hurt?" I asked her.

"Never mind me, Ruri," my mother said through grounded teeth. "I must ensure the Primus Praetor's safety before my own."

Primus Praetor. With the exception of Red Electra, almost all the Pokémon Champions have held that title at one point in time. Three Pokémon Champions who have held the title of Primus Praetor once upon a time were Xavier, Platinum and my mother. My father had replaced Platinum as the Primus Praetor while Mama had been stripped of her praetorship years ago.

"I'll come, too!" I said.

Mama swiveled her eyes onto me and shook her head.

"No," she refused. "Stay with Dia, Ruri. I've got this!"

She continued her advancing, gripping her shoulder tightly. Even though I wanted to accompany her, I knew better not to incur my mom's wrath. I was better off obeying her command. I sloshed across a vein of muddy water, the brownish liquid splashing beneath my shoes and the mist curling around my thighs. Diamond was straight ahead, using the suitcase to help him climb to his knees. I saw another trio of zigzagging thunderbolts hit the horizon behind the de Arco patriarch, the ombre gray sky turning blindingly white in the distance. A groan rippled from the ravenette's direction and I directed my eyes to him.

"Mr. Mystery!" I yelled. "I'm coming, Mr. Mystery!"

I waded through the last of the muddy water and mist, reaching the grassy, damp circle where Diamond crouched on. As I drew nearer, I noticed blades of iron gray clutching onto Mr. Mystery's hiking boots for dear life. Diamond noticed them too judging by the repulsed expression he wore. The sight was enough to make the ravenette dig inside his coat pocket for a handkerchief. I approached Diamond carefully, his once-kind, once-affectionate electric blue eyes colder than Never-Melt Ice. He whipped out an elaborate pale handkerchief from his pocket before setting his foot atop the suitcase.

"What's the point in cleaning your boots if you know they'll just get dirty again, Mr. Mystery?" I asked him. "Mama wanted me to remain at your side in case you're wondering why I'm here."

Diamond leaned over, wrapping the handkerchief around the vamp of his boot.

"I want to look my very best," the ravenette responded calmly. "Appearing less than my best will bring dishonor to the de Arco family name. I overheard you two, Ruri. Pardon me for my appalling lack of manners."

Diamond's eyes saddened while he scrubbed his boots' vamps vigorously.

"There's nothing for me to pardon," I informed Moneybags. "My only concern is if you're all right."

Diamond smiled a rather small smile.

"I've been through worse," he said nonchalantly. "Although I'm afraid my physical well being matters very little for the time being, Ruri. Your mother's physical well being should be at the forefront of your mind; I know it's on mine."

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw my mother drawing closer to Papa and Ruby. I glimpsed Papa pulling on Ruby's ponytail while Ruby had his hand over my dad's eyes.

"It is on my mind, Mr. Mystery," I promised him. "Can't you Defog the mist, though?"

Diamond's face fell.

"None of us were able to Defog it," he told me. "We must make do with our decreased visibility if we're to save your parents. I need your help in doing that, Ruri."

He withdrew the handkerchief and stuffed it into his coat pocket before picking up his suitcase. Meanwhile I blinked stupidly, having trouble wrapping my head around what Diamond said.

"I'm sorry," I said quickly. "Could you please repeat that?"

A hint of a smile crossed Diamond's tilted face. The Sandgem Town sea breeze blew through his Wellington coat just then and made it flap wildly. Diamond then turned his head and beckoned at me.

"You heard me."

I nodded hurriedly while I booked across the patch of grass and over to Diamond. The ravenette strutted into the mist, which tugged at the end of his flapping coat mischievously. I wandered after him, the mist hugging my own physique. A sound a lot like splashing water came from under Diamond's and my feet as our surroundings were cast in blinding white light. Thunderclaps crashed behind us.

"The time intervals between the thunder and lightning are getting narrower and narrower," Mr. Mystery said informatively. "We'll return to Twinleaf Town once the Ruby problem is resolved. You needn't worry; your best friend, my niece and my sister are there. But for now, we must put an end to your parents' recklessness."

"Right."

I scanned the misty horizon for Mama, spotting her in front of the shouting match/brawl between Papa and Ruby. She opened her mouth and shouted my dad's name, which made him freeze. Ruby exploited this window of opportunity by punching Papa square in the face.

"Papa!" I cried. "Please hurry, Dia!"

Diamond strutted through the mist at a measured pace, clenching the handle of the suitcase even tighter. I matched his stride to the best of my ability.

Mama tore Ruby off my father with a roar. Ruby glared at my mother, covering half his face with one hand. Then the deus whirled around and made eye contact with Diamond and I, his other hand extended towards us. Meanwhile Mama inched over to Ruby and put him in a headlock.

"It's about bloody time you two Slowpoke arrived!" he exclaimed. "And love? It's in your best interest to release me! Remember who you're dealing with, Sapphire! Things could turn ugly should you continue to displease me any further. I might, for example, escort you to my brother Emerald."

"That does it!" Papa snapped.

Mama glowered at Papa, who was cracking his knuckles noisily. I could literally feel the antagonism rolling off Papa and Ruby in voluminous waves. There was only one explanation for such intense antagonism: the two hated each other's guts a lot.

"Be careful, you two," Diamond cautioned my parents. "Ruby has always been notoriously unpredictable. Even so, I have a nagging feeling."

Mama released a gasping Ruby from his headlock, Ruby's hand still positioned over his face.

"Which is?" Papa asked unenthusiastically.

A purplish-black bruise was blossoming around my father's left eye, with a gash running across his jawline. His shock of golden blonde was more disheveled than ever. Last but not least, crimson stained my father's lips.

"When we head to Twinleaf Town, Mama and I will tend to your wounds, Papa," I said. "You have a black eye, and you're bleeding around your mouth and jawline."

Papa wiped his crimson-painted lips with the back of his hand, his amber orange eyes fixated on me.

"So what?" Papa shrugged. "I cleaned Ruby's clock and that's all that matters right now."

I stomped my foot and bristled.

"Well, it shouldn't!" I said angrily. "You shouldn't be so rash, Papa! Ruby could've seriously hurt you, you know? I don't know what your beef with him is, but I don't want any part in it."

Diamond face-palmed.

"I should've held on to you tighter, Pearl," he mumbled. "I might have caused you discomfort, though it'd only be temporary. A black eye and a cut, on the other hand, take some time to fade. I thought you would've learned by now that violence doesn't solve anything. It's my fault you won't reinforce this lesson."

My mother smiled kindly at a brooding Diamond. Meanwhile Papa wiped the blood on his jacket.

"Don't beat yourself up, Dia," Mama said. "They've a long history of being at each other's throats. In any case, Pearl, you should exercise more self-restraint around Ruby. You let him get you all riled up too easily!"

Papa glanced at Mama.

"Jeez, Sapph, you make it seem as if I have no self-control at all!" Papa moaned. "I have a lot more self-restraint than you give me credit for."

"Self-restraint, yes," Mama agreed. "But self-control? Not so much. Dia, that nagging feeling you had gotten. Is it telling you that Ruby won't lay a finger on me?"

Diamond nodded almost invisibly. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Ruby hissed ferally.

"You'll pay dearly for ruining my face!" he growled, patting his cheek.

My dad burst into gales of laughter.

"You don't look so handsome now, pretty boy!" Papa said triumphantly.

Ruby's visible eye blazed with anger.

"I won't have it!" he barked. "How could you make my face asymmetrical, Pearl? Anyone with a good eye could see just how flawed and imperfect my face looks!"

Papa sweat-dropped at Ruby's words. I wanted to take a brick and hit Ruby with it; his narcissism annoyed the hell out of me.

"You could always wear a mask or use cosmetics, Ruby," my mother said impatiently. "They'll make your damned face symmetrical again. In any case, I've no reason to fear you turning me in to your brother."

Has Mama completely lost her mind? I thought indignantly. Furvum Imperium snatches their victims' freedom upon defeat. Even if there's some good still left inside Ruby, he's in Furvum Imperium. Who's to say he won't tear the Sinnohan Order of the Acacia chapter apart the first chance he gets?

"Think it over, Mama," I implored her. "Ruby betrayed the Order of the Acacia Hoennian chapter right after the Trial of the Abattoir. Your Secundus Praetor betrayed you. Your rival, your childhood friend betrayed you, Mama! You -"

"You think I don't know that?" my mom cut across me. "At first I thought the Ruby I'd known was an illusion. Who am I kidding? His changeability is exactly the reason why he's such a great illusionist."

I frowned.

"That's all the more reason to distrust him in my opinion," I insisted. "Change is inevitable in this world, Mama. The only change worth trusting is the one performed by your own hands. At least you have control over your destiny and fate this way."

Mama patted me on the head, though the gesture didn't feel condescending.

"I'm inclined to disagree with you," she said for the umpteenth time. "Arceus controls our fates, not our destinies. That's what I've always believed anyway. At any rate, I'm off to see Ruby."

I grabbed her hand, staring deep into her sapphire-shaded eyes.

"Don't give yourself up," I pleaded. "You've taught me there's possibility within a impossibility, Mama. So I believe with all my heart your return is possible."

Mama withdrew her hand while curling it into a fist. Meanwhile three pairs of thunderbolts cris-crossed over each other while tap-dancing over the horizon. The sky itself flashed pure white for a second longer as rolling thunder issued the same cracking noise a firecracker would. My mother's physical features were bathed in a shaft of light, her sapphire blue eyes gleaming brightly.

"Such a tender mother-daughter reunion," Ruby commented. "A tad nauseating if you ask me. In any case, Sapphire, you promised me you'll do as I say if I win!"

Diamond and Papa snorted.

"She said no such thing!" Diamond protested. "You shouldn't feel obligated to fulfill a promise you didn't make, Sapphire. There are other methods to deal with Ruby."

"I agree," Papa said wholeheartedly. "We'll find another way, Sapph."

Mama's eyes roved around the ruins of Sandgem Town, crossing over Diamond, Papa, Ruby and I. The light shining in her face disappeared, her eyes no longer gleaming. My mother brushed aside her bangs as she stared down Ruby.

"Remove your hand and name your terms. What are you waiting for, New Year's? Do it now, Ruby!"

Ruby pulled his hand from his face, revealing he too wore a black eye. Dried blood hung from two cuts that decorated his cheek. Ruby licked his lips, which were laced in pebbles of blood. He made a face of disgust as he spat at the misty floor.

"I was wondering when you'd start bossing me around again, Sapphire," Ruby said. "I kept on cringing and cringing inside because I thought you living a life of peace and pleasure made you . . . lose your touch."

Mama half-smiled through her laugh.

"Me lazy and hedonistic? That's funny, coming from you! Why would I lose my touch while living a normal Sinnohan life? I could handle a life of peace. But pleasure? I don't think so!"

"There's nothing wrong with pleasure," Papa chimed in. "Though too much of a good thing makes you complacent, Ruby. You know, I've noticed people and Pokémon take things for granted a lot. As if I'm any different from my countrymen."

"I can't argue with you there," Diamond said truthfully.

Ruby waved his hand.

"You want my terms, Sapphire?" he asked Mama seriously. "Okay, then. My terms are quite straightforward actually: you and the Kusanagi no Tsurugi shall leave Sinnoh by week's end. While you say your goodbyes, we dei shall call an armistice."

Papa's face turned beet red.

"You're not handing yourself over to Ruby!" Papa snapped. "Are you seriously considering this, Sapph? I won't lose you to the likes of Furvum Imperium and the Moronic King of Symmetry!"

Mama hung her head, squaring her shoulders. Meanwhile I fell to the earth on one knee, my lips parted. I stared at the wispy mist, my hair shielding Sandgem Town from view. I gritted my teeth as I punched the ground. An invisible hand managed to lace its fingers around my throbbing heart, trying to rip it free from the veins holding it in place. My throat constricted, blocking all words from tumbling out of my mouth. I wanted to scream at the top of my lungs although it seemed as if I'd been robbed of my voice altogether.

Why? Why? Why did it have to be this way? Why couldn't my mother have seen through Ruby's bluff while the goddess of victory was still on her side? Why? I didn't want to lose her to the likes of Furvum Imperium! There had to be another way to placate Ruby. There had to be something he wanted just as much, if not more so than my mom. Mama wouldn't have been in this mess if she - if she . . . No. It wasn't Mama's fault she was born into the Parthenos bloodline - Parthenos, a heroine from the olden days beholden to nature and the first wielder of the Kusanagi no Tsurugi. It was Parthenos's fault that her godlike sword and godlike gift endangered her female descendants, namely Mama.

"What about the false sapphire?" Diamond asked Ruby. "I heard you came to Sinnoh to retrieve it. Unless Sapphire is the false sapphire."

Papa's mouth made a comical O as a look of horror appeared on his face.

"Why do you always have to make sense at the worst moments, Moneybags?" a wincing Papa asked emotionally. "If you give yourself over to this psycho, I can't promise Ruri and I won't pursue Ruby-Eyed Narcissus to the four corners of the earth. Don't you dare make me promise otherwise, Sapph!"

I uncurled my fists, my knuckles caked with mud.

"I can't promise, either," I sniffled. "You're my mother. I love you, Mama. Papa loves you. Dia cares deeply about you. Don't make those whom love you swear such an impossible promise! We won't keep it."

I snapped my head up, tears rolling down my cheeks. I brought my sleeve to my face and wiped away the tears. Ruby marched over to my mother, his gloved hand outstretched.

"Take my hand," he encouraged her smoothly.

I shot a glance in Papa's direction, noticing Diamond and he booking over to Mama and I. Then I redirected my eyes to Mama and Ruby.

"Don't, Mama," I said pleadingly. "Don't give up! Please don't, I beg of you! We'll find another way together!"

Mama looked at me, expressionless.

"What is that other way, my love?" she asked me. "Please tell me because I'm all ears, Ruri."

I opened my mouth and then closed it. I had to say something, anything! Something that would dissuade my mother from this disastrous choice! Mama was a genius who found possibilities within impossibilities! There was no way she couldn't find an alternative. Mama must've read my face because she rolled her eyes.

"I thought so," she said emotionlessly. "Don't lose your kind, loving nature, Ruri. Grow stronger, become braver. Love your Pokémon as if they're your family. Love your neighbors and enemies equally. Remember that you are love, Ruri. Never let your heart harden in this cruel world. You're my only daughter and child. I love you so much, you know that? I regret not saying that more often."

"Then start over while there's still time," I begged her. "Please don't leave us, Mama!"

"SAPPH!" Papa shrieked.

Mama tilted her head nostalgically.

"Remember when I'd declared how much I hated you, Pearl? Well, I never hated you personally," she reminisced. "What I hated was how rash and defiant you were. I hated how you were able to overcome insurmountable odds at great risk too. But underneath that impulsive and impertinent exterior lies a courageous, kind-hearted, funny man who knows the true meaning of loyalty and love. I've left my heart with that man and hope he looks after it. Look after our daughter, Pearl. I love you."

A tear-stricken Papa skidded to a halt in front of us, almost knocking me flat on my back. Actually he would have had he not grabbed me by the wrist at the last minute. Papa reeled me in as if I were a Magikarp on an Old Rod and helped me to my feet.

"Thank you so much, Papa," I said gratefully.

Papa nodded dumbly, ungluing his eyes from Mama and I. Diamond developed an interest in his boots, his mouth drawn inwards.

Mama made to eye Diamond, but the ravenette said, "Complimenting others isn't your strong suit, Sapphire. Pearl and I are certain you have a plan in the works; you always do. We know you better than you think."

"Stubborn and loyal until the very end," Mama mused. "Though it's the norm for de Arco patriarchs to be distant with their children, upholding that tradition is eating you up from the inside, Dia. You deserve happiness, friend, though it'd only come if you're open to it. You'll have a chance to find love again too."

"Sapphire . . . ," Diamond trailed off.

Mama cast a smile at all of us, her ponytails flying in the breeze like wind chimes. Six thunderbolts aimed straight and true at the horizon, much closer than before. The sky growled dangerously while it glowed, illuminating the darkened town of Sandgem in pure whiteness. Shadows uncloaked themselves and elongated in the light, touching the shallow puddles of muddy water scattered across the town streets.

"Wait with Dia, Ruri," Papa said, letting go of me.

Ruby's cocky smile jumped out at us while Mama slipped one hand through his outstretched one, the breeze now carrying an ominous feel to it.

"You didn't put up much of a - that . . . hurts."

Ruby dropped to his knees, one hand covering his Adam's apple. The hand holding my mother's loosened its grip and my mother wrested hers free from it. Her other hand was a fist raised in midair. As Ruby gasped for air, my mom crouched beside him.

"I should've foreseen this," Ruby gasped. "Your heartlessness would never allow you to put your own life on the line for your friends, family, Pokémon and region."

My mother laughed humorlessly.

"Oh, I'm not heartless, Ruby," Mama said confidently. "I just use my heart less. At any rate, didn't this heartless woman save Hoenn from being wiped off the map years ago? Don't you dare rewrite history for your own selfish ends, Ruby! I won't stand for it!"

Papa leaped into the air and whistled approvingly. Diamond complimented Mama while I sprinted over to her. With all my might, I flung my body at Mama's and hugged her tightly.

"Thanks for the hug, my love," Mama said, "but I get the impression you won't hug me for that long."

She smelled so much like a sea breeze. I drew my arms from Mama and set them at my sides, palm trees, glistening greenish-blue water and pale sand seared into my mind now. I supposed it made sense Mama's scent would always remind me of the oceans and seas. Her Legendary Pokémon was the embodiment of the oceans and seas after all.

"You have your body back," I said. "What's the plan of attack, Mama?"

I stared at Papa and Diamond, both as much in the dark about Mama's plan as I was. They shrugged in unison, thoroughly confounded. Mama linked one arm around me suddenly, taking me aback. I gazed at my mom's vibrantly beautiful face, which was etched with worry. Why was she so worried? I had a gut feeling I wouldn't like the answer. She ushered me over to Ruby, whose breathing pattern became more and more even. His ruby red eyes lingered on me for a second before focusing on my mother.

"I won't leave Sinnoh," Mama told Ruby. "Besides, you're looking for lapis lazuli, not sapphires. Fun fact: the ancients mistook lapis lazuli for sapphires. Just as everyone mistakes Ruri for me. In other words, I'm not your false sapphire but rather a red herring."

I was confused about what my mother was getting at. I looked at my father, who shared my confusion. Diamond, however, dropped his mouth open, his eyes moving from Mama to me to Ruby.

"Ruri means 'lapis lazuli' in Johtonese," Diamond realized. "People mistake Ruri for you because she's virtually your spitting image, Sapphire. Are you saying what I think you're saying?"

I threw my mother's arm off me and stepped back a few steps, feeling as if I'd been locked in a birdcage on the verge of caving in. My heart became weighty and skipped several beats.

"If you're saying Ruri's the false sapphire, then you've officially lost your mind, Sapph," my dad said skeptically.

Mama frowned.

"Do you honestly think I like thinking that?" she challenged him. "I know Ruri's the false sapphire; everything suggests she is."

I had never noticed - or cared to acknowledge - that I might be considered a member of the Platinum Trinity until now. Parthenos wasn't just Mama's ancestress; she was mine too. The same coppery liquid coursed through my veins, the same heightened five senses (Kachou Fuugetsu) were inherited by Yours Truly. I raked my eyes towards a gloating Ruby, my worst fears confirmed.

"Bingo," he said. "Your daughter is indeed the false sapphire, Pearl and Sapphire."

I glanced at Papa, my heart being crushed by an anvil. Papa looked as if he wanted to tear Ruby apart with his bare hands.

"I would never allow you to escort my daughter to Furvum Imperium!" Papa shouted. "That will happen over my dead body!"

Mama whirled around to face Pearl, Diamond and I, wearing a grim countenance.

"He doesn't want to escort her to his brother," she said smartly. "Ruby would've faced her first if that were the case. What could you possibly want my daughter for, though?"

Ruby examined me.

"I want Ruri to join Furvum Imperium," he said simply.

My eyelashes fluttered sluggishly and my head spun in circles. I went back and forth as my body fell in a graceful curve and straight into my father's arms.

"I will never . . . ," I trailed off.

Join you, I thought as I fainted from the shock.

Ruri's PoV. Present Day. Furvum Imperium Yacht.

I swam in the sea of memories and broke through to the surface, noticing hints of a sandy beach in the distance. The sandy beach belonged to a land I wasn't terribly fond of. A land called Reality.

I rubbed my electronic eyes, taking note of the rather long hallway. Its bone white walls were imprinted with ovular windows that overlooked a dull gray carpeting. Glassy lights frosted white were suspended over my head. I saw an elegantly beautiful blonde girl leaned between two windows, clad in a dark habit attached to an equally as dark cloak with glowing silvery-blue trimming. To her left stood a stylishly handsome man with long strawberry blonde hair, also wearing the same habit/cloak the teenage girl wore. Unlike the blonde girl, the man wasn't glancing in my direction but rather at a window. I wondered for a split second how I had gotten there.

That's right, I remembered. Bianca had fetched me because Colress had issued a summons. Then we ran into Lord Gorm. I think Bianca and I were talking about the deus evaluating us based on our lucidity.

The memory of me fainting in Papa's protective arms definitely didn't make it into the "Top Ten Ruri Valera Furukawa Lucid Moments". I mean, I had whited out anticlimactically when Ruby had revealed his real intentions. The thought of me becoming a Furvum Imperium soldier had been ludicrous, almost inconceivable back then. Yet I could kill two Starly with one Everstone by infiltrating the evil secret society and saving my region from further deterioration. In order to defeat evil, I had to become an even greater evil.

"Are you all right, Ruri?" Bianca asked. "You've been really quiet."

I eyed Bianca and giggled unexpectedly. A pit developed in my stomach upon the realization at what I'd just done. What if Bianca thought I was laughing at her? I wasn't cruel enough not to take her feelings into account. At least I hoped I wasn't that cruel.

Wait. What if she thinks I'm a snob? I thought fearfully. I'm not the biggest fan of small talk although it'd have to do.

"If it seemed as if I was giggling at you, I apologize," I said sincerely. "I actually giggle when I'm nervous, Bianca. I feel kinda nervous right now because I don't really know what to say to fill the silence."

Bianca cocked her head to one side, a sunny smile plastered on her face. Her eyes gleamed under the frosty lights, shining like stars.

"You're not alone in that," she said sweetly. "I don't think there's a single person in the world who's not nervous when they strike up a conversation with somebody new. I take that back as a matter of fact; there are some who don't get nervous at all."

Bianca and I met each other's eyes, knowing what the other was thinking. Smooth talkers hardly got nervous during a conversation, which bred mistrust. Their true colors showed in the face of adversity fortunately. That was the reason why I'd chosen to Battle Black Urania.

"I don't trust silver-tongued humans," I said truthfully. "They spout pretty words as if tomorrow will never come. Regardless, the only day I live for is tomorrow."

Bianca's smile melted from her face. In spite of myself, I wondered if I had offended her somehow.

"Have I upset you in any way?" I asked tentatively.

Bianca's eyes widened with shock.

"Not at all," she said. "I'm only thinking about what you said, Ruri. While I understand where you're coming from, I can't help wondering how you feel about today."

Bianca took herself off the wall and approached me, her cloak trailing behind her.

"Other than making it through today, I don't hold today in high regard," I answered. "Today means very little in the long run. It's a fleeting moment that will fade away into living memory. It's meaningless compared to tomorrow."

"What if tomorrow never comes, Ruri?" an approaching Bianca wondered. "What if today's the last day? If I were you, I would look back on my life and wish I had acted whenever action was necessary. That way I'd have zero regrets."

Lord Emerald might think otherwise, but Bianca Grace bore a quiet inner strength that aligned with her convictions. Her eyes told me as such, and I'd be an imbecile not to listen to their songs.

"Today won't be my last day," I said confidently. "It won't be your last day or Furvum Imperium's either. And so long as the sun sets and rises, tomorrow shall come before we both know it. Why do you think we love the idea of tomorrow so much, Bianca?"

Bianca stopped dead in her tracks, unconvinced.

"I -" she began to say.

"I believe that this little philosophical discussion should be put on hold," Gorm interrupted. "As fascinating as discovering the meaning of life may be, it won't lead us to Colress."

I glanced at Bianca apologetically before rounding on the redhead.

"That was really rude of you, Lord Gorm!" I defended Bianca. "Eavesdropping on our conversation and interrupting Bianca like that! Have you no sense of decorum?"

Gorm snorted.

"Maintaining decorum isn't a hobby of mine," he said dismissively. "If you expect an apology, I suggest not holding your breath, Ruri. Apologizing makes one look weak, and I'm certainly not weak."

I gritted my teeth, shaking my head disbelievingly.

"Well, that's where our opinions differ," I said defiantly. "Apologizing when you're in the wrong takes a lot of courage and strength, Lord Gorm! Don't you want others to see you as benevolent, forgiving and humble?"

I drew myself up to my full height, my heart pounding furiously in my chest. I pulled in my lips while I glared at Gorm, who was throwing me a rather dirty look.

"You don't deserve to see my benevolence and humility after such insubordination, Siren of Chaos," Gorm spat. "I have the means to make life very difficult for you indeed."

Bianca grabbed me by the wrist gently, staring deep into my eyes. I wanted to wrench my wrist free albeit her touch was so soothing and warm.

"It's fine, Ruri," she said softly. "Thanks for defending me though. But I don't want you to get in trouble because of me. I'm not worth it."

My mouth parted as Bianca gave me back the usage of my wrist.

"Bianca . . . ," I trailed off.

I sighed, not liking the idea of bending to Gorm's will much. But if I were to hone my lucidity and emerge from Furvum Imperium intact, I must yield and compromise whenever possible. Compromising made everyone happy, right? I bowed before Lord Gorm on one knee. Gorm was a very proud man, and proud men loved having others grovel at their feet.

"I shouldn't question you, my lord, because I'm a common soldier and humble servant doing my god's bidding. Out of respect for you, I'll refrain from talking back and continue carrying out any and all orders given."

I lowered my eyes to the carpet, waiting for Gorm's response patiently. Gorm cleared his throat loudly and asked me to raise my head - an order I obeyed all too readily. Amber orange (behind the cornflower blue) and midnight blue eyes bored into each other, with me being the first to peel my eyes away.

Yield, Ruri, I told myself. Why must yielding be so difficult?

"And your place?" Gorm asked offhandedly.

"Remembered."

"Good," Gorm approved. "You may stand, Siren of Chaos."

I climbed to my feet just as Bianca rushed over to me.

"Just so you know, I feel you're worth it," I mumbled.

Before Bianca could respond, Gorm burst into speech:

"A soldier doesn't enact judgment, Ruri and Bianca. Their goal is to carry out orders, regardless of how they feel about them. The only way to ensure this will happen without fail is by having them commit wholly to a cause. What better way to fight for something than a cause?"

Bianca gulped.

"And what's your cause?" she pressed him. "What do you fight for, Lord Gorm?"

Gorm beckoned us forward, a reptilian smile planted on his face.

"All will be answered when we see Colress," he promised. "Follow me, children. Our resident mad scientist awaits."

Gorm turned and walked away, his cloak flying behind him. Bianca and I exchanged sheepish looks before chasing after our deus.

Cheren's PoV.

My friendship with White had originally been founded on the fact that we shared a common friend. Later on it had become apparent that we both shared the same dream - the dream of being crowned Unovan Pokémon Champion. Yes, I had gotten along rather swimmingly with White when we were children. Our childhoods had been rather normal, carefree and simple albeit amazing and exciting. Those were the days where White, Bianca and I had been as thick as thieves. However, White and I had begun going down separate paths three years ago, kept together only by Bianca.

I turned the truth Bianca had stuck to over and over again in my mind. Did Bianca see a truth that had went over our heads completely? Or did she see multiple truths? I found it much easier to believe she had seen multiple truths rather than a singular one; a single truth usually paved the way for other truths to emerge in my experience. But which one of these truths did Bianca see? Well, only Bianca knew the answer to that question, and she was gone.

"Are you all right, Cheren?" White asked me.

White and I were moseying through the corridor in absolute silence - a silence I normally filled with chit-chat however mindless it may be. Did my moment of introspection tell White that something was up with me? The last thing I wanted was White spending her energy worrying about me. Her energy was better directed toward retrieving Bianca from the clutches of Furvum Imperium.

I faked a smile.

"I'm doing great," I lied. "I honestly am, White. I managed to come up with a game plan to retrieve our best friend, I reconciled with my sister and now I'm going to an evening party with my childhood friend. I'm the definition of greatness if you ask me!"

White appeared half-anxious, half afraid. It was lucky that Jasmine and I had had a talk about White's feelings about Bianca's fate. The White I had known for eleven years put her friends and family above all else no matter what - always and forever until forevermore and evermore ends. It would pain me to see that she wasn't the same White I had grown up with.

"I see," White murmured. "You know, I wouldn't hold it against you if you blame me."

I didn't blame White at all. However, the long face she wore while we walked straight into the dining room sent a surge of compassion flowing right through me. I wanted to help my childhood friend in whichever way I could.

"I deserve the blame," White went on guiltily. "This was my first trial as Unovan Pokémon Champion: to protect Unova, my family and friends from the forces of darkness. I don't know how I did it before. Maybe it was a fluke or dumb luck. Whatever the case may be, I failed epically the second time around. What a Pokémon Champion I turned out to be. What am I even saying? My reign ended the moment Ghetsis had whisked away Bianca. The title I had worked so hard to clench . . . it was torn from me. My dream shredded into a million pieces in the blink of an eye. The point is, Cheren, you wouldn't have made the same mistakes I did. You would've made . . . why are you laughing?"

I chortled despite the situation not being very funny. White looked at me weirdly as if I'd lost my marbles. That would be quite the bother if I had lost my marbles. I haven't by the way.

"I'm sorry," I wheezed. "I know I shouldn't be laughing, but I can't help it. Forgive me for asking, but what makes you think I wouldn't make any mistakes either?"

"Shouldn't it be obvious?" White asked me quietly. "You're a thousand times smarter than me, Cheren. The only reason I'm on your level is because my mother homeschooled me. The Sinnohan Pokémon Champion herself homeschooled me. Just let that sink in for a minute, okay?"

A throng of girls ambled past us just then, swinging their paper lanterns in lazy arcs. I greeted them in Johtonese politely, flashing my most agreeable smile. A couple of the girls turned pink and bowed their heads. The others, however, greeted me as politely as I greeted them. Out of the corner of my eye, I glimpsed White walking outside and I figured I'd follow suit. I said my goodbyes to the girls before crossing the dining room and threshold in order to step foot onto the patio. I inspected the surrounding area for a sign of White, who was nowhere to be found. That only meant one thing: White was hiding under the cover of night.

"How old are you? Nine?" I said impatiently. "I know why you're hiding by the way: you're embarrassed by what you told me. Look, I understand acting on the urge to hide at the age of nine, but not at the age of fifteen, White!"

Complete and utter silence followed my words, which meant White either ignored me or slipped back inside when wasn't looking. She did that whenever she sensed an incoming lecture although there have been times where White had just wanted to be left alone. Platina and Bianca were excellent at figuring out which one applied to the present situation. Whereas I failed at it big time.

I know White and I haven't been close in recent years, I thought, but I swore on the stars that l would always watch her back.

I looked skyward at the navy blue blanket decorated in quartz that twinkled faintly. There wasn't a trace of the luminous, waning milky white pearl in the horizon. Tonight was a moonless night in other words. Even so, I drew some comfort in the fact that the stars were as reliable as ever. I could shoot for the moon, knowing the stars would be there to cushion my rather long fall from the heavens.

"I know you're there, White," I said confidently. "If you think I'm going to lecture you, then you're sadly mistaken. I just want you to stop hiding and look up at the night sky. You used to spend hours staring at them with your telescope or eyes. I joined you in your stargazing episodes, remember?"

A younger version of White cropped into my mind, her hand grasping a platinum white telescope adorned with gilded stars. She adjusted the telescope as she examined the constellations and the moon through her telescope. The stargazing episodes we had shared during childhood were important memories of mine - made even more important after I had found out why White loved stargazing so much. I too had grown to love the stars from that point in time.

The nape of my neck prickled, which alerted me that I wasn't alone. I unglued my eyes from the wondrous starry night and turned around to face the country house. Then I directed my gaze toward one of the Juliet balconies, occupied by a brunette female clothed in a sequined ocean blue dress. White must've been up there the whole time I had spoken.

Now people are going to think I'm crazy for talking to myself, I thought unhappily. That wasn't anyone's fault but my own. Though it's kind of a bother to have White standing on a Juliet balcony. I guess I need to . . . I have to call on Unfezant!

I fished out a Poké Ball from my pocket and threw it at the patio floor.

"I choose you, Unfezant!" I said clearly.

Pale light coalesced, taking the form of an avian Pokémon. The glowing bird flew around in circles as the Poké Ball went back into my hand. Unfezant flew around circularly five more times before the light enshrouding him dissipated completely. Then the bird stretched his wings and sailed toward the patio, landing on top of it noiselessly. Unfezant crouched on his hindquarters, his bright yellow eyes regarding me intelligently. I sauntered over to Unfezant and positioned myself atop his arched back, digging my loafers into his hindquarters. I locked eyes with Unfezant while pointing at the Juliet balcony that had White on it. Unfezant nodded to show he understood and drew himself up to his full height. He dawdled over to the edge of the patio before leaping high into the sky and stretching his wings outward. Unfezant soared over to the Juliet balcony and plopped himself onto the railing. I jumped over both my Pokémon's back and the railing to land onto the platform where my childhood friend stood.

I inched over to White, who had her arms wrapped around the railing. When I walked into White's personal bubble, however, she turned to face me surprisingly.

"You haven't changed a bit," she noted. "You still find me no matter how well I hide myself. Sometimes you'd lecture me for misbehaving and other times you'd ask me what's wrong. I'll tell you what's wrong: Alder and the Elite Four had crowned me the Unovan Pokémon Champion because they knew about the truth about me all along, Cheren."

I shook my head, wondering how in the name of Arceus White arrived at such a baseless assumption.

"If you're saying that Alder and the Elite Four had crowned you the Pokémon Champion of Unova because you're related to three other Pokémon Champions, you're wrong," I said calmly. "You won the Unovan Pokémon Championship title through your own skill, merit and determination, not through your parents' or cousin's, White. Yes, you share their blood, but that's no reason to keep on comparing yourself to them!"

White regarded me, bewildered.

"Shouldn't you be telling me to follow in their footsteps?" she asked me curiously. "I've come this far because I'd followed their advice more or less, Cheren. I mean, you followed your dad's advice blindly and -"

"And I turned out to be a great Pokémon Trainer," I agreed. "I still want to become the Unovan Pokémon Champion, I won't deny that. Forget about us being Trainers and rivals right now; remember us as friends who are family to each other."

"How?" White wondered. "I don't remember what it's like being friends with you."

I drew closer to White, a smile fixed on my face. Her blunt words, however, pierced me through the heart and left a gaping wound behind. I knew White wasn't the nostalgic sort albeit hearing her admit that she didn't remember our beginnings hurt me nevertheless. White drew her arms from the railing, taking her eyes off a reclining Unfezant and resting them on me. Her bewildered facial expression was now a troubled one.

"I'm such an idiot," she said underneath her breath. "I know how much you value your memories, Cheren. You treasure them because they're important, and for me not to hold on to such things in return makes you feel unappreciated. I'm really sorry about that; I know I hurt you deeply."

"I'm okay," I lied. "I'm not hurt at all, White. Even if I was hurt, my feelings don't matter as much as salvaging our broken friendship."

I moved over to the Juliet balcony and looked heavenward at the navy blue blanket. The luminous quartz that were the stars twinkled in the distance reliably. A lone star seen by the naked eye can't shine half as bright as a collection of stars could. However, such a starry view at sea would make the countryside view pale in comparison. There was a sort of simplicity in the stars' beauty worth seeing nightly.

"We shouldn't salvage it if it's broken," White disagreed. "Let our old friendship die this night so that a newer and better one will take its place, Cheren."

I pushed my glasses further up my nose, breaking eye contact with the sky to survey White.

"No," I refused. "I want to save our old friendship, White. By you saying it's broken, you've given me hope - a hope that we'll be able to repair our friendship and continue where we had left off three years ago."

A straight-faced White studied me silently. She studied me for such a long time that I started to wonder if she'd disrupt the silence. Then she sighed deeply.

"How am I supposed to fix something that's broken, though?" she wondered. "I'm unable to fix something I see broken; my first instinct is to replace it with something unbroken. Can I ask you a question? Why fix our friendship now, Cheren? Is it because that's what Bianca would've wanted? If so, then you could just forget about it."

White made to turn around although I grabbed her by the shoulder and forced the brunette to look at me. Her ocean blue eyes were filled with disapproval, belying her expressionless face. I knew that Bianca had dreamed and dreamed about White's and my reconciliation for about three years already. She would've given anything to see this very moment with her own eyes. However, Bianca's dream had nothing to do with my reconciliation plan. I was reconciling with White because I wanted to; it was my choice and my choice alone.

"What Bianca wanted has absolutely nothing to do with what's going on right now," I said honestly. "I'm acting out of my own free will here. I'm choosing to set aside our differences because I need you, White."

White snorted disbelievingly.

"I know that doesn't sound believable," I admitted, "but I feel as if the world around me is crumbling; I want to find someplace not crumbling or in danger of crumbling, you know? Somewhere I remember as clear as day, even if I don't go there as often as I should."

"And that somewhere is me," White guessed.

I pulled my hand away from White's shoulder as I gestured at the navy blue blanket above us. The celestial bodies' glow had never looked so beautiful before tonight, or maybe I'd never truly appreciated the simplistic beauty of the universe until right now.

"'If something seems impossible, just look for the stars,'" I quoted. "'The stars are always there to give light and guidance. They know just about anything and see everything. Plus they remain constant. The stars see that I'll get through this, so that's how I know I'll be fine.'"

"Your memory recall never ceases to amaze me," White marveled. "I haven't stargazed in several months because of the Team Plasma drama and all that. Now I feel as though - as though . . ."

White breathed in and out, folding one hand over her bosom while her sentence died in her throat. She turned around though not before I noticed her eyes glistening with tears.

"White," I said, "I didn't mean to upset you or anything."

My childhood friend faced Unfezant with a small smile. She drew closer to the avian Pokémon, wiping her tears from her eyes. Then she wheeled around and lifted her head heavenward. I could see the starlight reflected in White's eyes - starlight that had traveled for millions of years from galaxies far away to see future events unfold. I wasn't sure what they wanted to see. However, I knew that I'd be okay because they were there. The stars were always there even if we couldn't see them.

"You didn't," she promised me. "I feel as though I should slow down and stargaze, but I don't think it's the time nor place to stargaze."

I smirked at her words. Somehow I knew White wouldn't stop to smell the roses; she wanted to pretend as if nothing was wrong. How could she honestly expect me to fall for her brave front? I understood her reasons albeit I couldn't bear to see White bottle up her feelings. Eventually she might explode.

"Oh, on the contrary," I disagreed. "Since when did you care about the time and place? You do whatever you want regardless of what other people may think. I might be used to that sort of misbehavior from you although that doesn't mean I approve of it. For once, tell me what you're feeling, White. Doesn't it hurt you to have such a big gap between you and I? I'm tired of pretending it doesn't exist! With Bianca out of the picture, I feel the distance between us now more than ever! I wish I could become cold again, but I will just feel empty inside. Don't you feel this way too, White?"

White tensed at my revelation although she said nothing. I bowed my head, wishing I hadn't said anything at all. Who was I kidding? Both White and Bianca didn't wear their hearts on their sleeves as I did. I couldn't exactly wear my own heart on my sleeve publicly; that sort of behavior was unmanly. Putting up a cold, aloof front was how I had managed to integrate into Unovan society. However my emotional nature resurfaced from time to time despite my best efforts. I was at war with my heart and mind constantly, much to my own dismay.

"Of course I do," White confessed. "I'm not repressing my feelings; I just don't like talking about them every five seconds. In any case, are you saying that I should stargaze right now?"

I sighed.

"That's exactly what I'm saying, White," I confirmed. "You're kind of stargazing right now, so you might as well carry on, right? You won't be alone, though; I'm here to stargaze with you, my old friend. I mean, if that's fine with you obviously."

White smiled.

"I'd love it if you stargazed with me," she said sincerely. "It's a shame we don't have a telescope; the experience would be a lot more exciting with one."

I lifted my head heavenward again.

"You know, you're right about that. A telescope would make this experience a lot more exciting. I feel as if not having one is a blessing in disguise for some reason. Do you know what this experience would be once it's over?"

"A memory," White said immediately. "The experience would be nothing more than a memory."

White sounded characteristically unenthusiastic. I, on the other hand, was brimming with excitement.

"Memories," I corrected. "You showed me the best kind of memories to create when we were kids. The best memories I've ever created had others in them. I know those kind of things seem unimportant to you, but they're not to me. Listen, White. I want to stargaze with our eyes - just our eyes. If we do this, then we're one step closer toward mending our friendship. I believe we could go back to the way we were, White. I know we can; I could feel it."

I shot one hand at the railing and laced my fingers around it. I opened my mouth slightly, surprised at how smooth the railing felt to the touch. Now I knew why Unfezant remained in a reclining position; he rather liked smooth surfaces. I was made aware of that fact when he was still a Pidove. At least that aspect of Unfezant would never change. I prayed to Arceus that it never would either.

I closed my mouth while brushing my bangs to the side. Whoever knitted the navy blue blanket and sewed quartz through it really knew how to cater to the five senses. Why else would the night itself look so magnificent? The moon had to revert to darkness knowing it couldn't shine as beautifully as the stars could. Then again, tonight was a new moon. I remembered reading an old book in Platina's library about what the new moon symbolized: the new moon symbolizes new beginnings and fresh starts.

"How does it feel to have your world on the verge of falling apart, Cheren?" White asked me. "You said that you felt as though your world was crumbling earlier. So if your world's crumbling and mine is about to fall apart, doesn't that mean we're experiencing the same feeling?"

I nodded.

"We feel Bianca's absence," I said simply. "It feels as if it were only yesterday that the three of us had left Nuvema Town together. You were wild and impulsive, Bianca was flighty and hyperactive, and I was cerebral and down-to-earth. I was hard on you two because I believed you could be more responsible if you tried. We returned from our adventures transformed, especially Bianca. Bianca came home a practical and responsible -"

"Bianca will always be impractical and irresponsible in a way," White cut across me. "I'm sorry I cut across you, but I don't think Bianca would give up those traits. I sure as hell wouldn't want her to, and neither do you. Admit it, Cheren: you've always been drawn to Bianca's impracticality."

White made an excellent observation. I might seem as if venturing into the unknown frightened a creature of habit such as myself, although that was untrue. Venturing into the unknown and exploring new possibilities exhilarated and frightened me at the same time.

"Even so, Bianca Grace infuriates me more than she fascinates me!" I denied. "I'm only getting her back because not having her here disrupts my routine!"

White laughed shrilly.

"That's kinda backwards thinking," she observed. "You want Bianca back so that she'll disrupt your daily traditions and routines as usual, right? Well, how is that any different from not having her here to disrupt your lifestyle? All you're doing is driving my point home, Cheren. Look, I know you're in love with Bianca, and I know that you know you are too. You can pretend you aren't, but I doubt the world would pretend you aren't in love with Bianca."

I drew my bottom lip inward, licking my tongue over the upper lip. My hand developed sweat suddenly, which made the railing feel quite slippery. My heart hammered against my rib cage violently. Why did reality have to suck occasionally? Sure, the real world could be dark and cruel at times. The only reason I didn't hate reality was because Bianca had taught me there was a silver lining in everything and White had taught me never to give up no matter how hopeless and grim the future looked. Right now I wondered where the silver lining could be; I couldn't find it.

"Fine. So I am in love with Bianca. Knowing how I feel about her doesn't change anything, White. In fact, being in love with Bianca means I miss her greatly. I miss her smile, her flightiness, her optimism, her insane ideas and a lot more. I figured that as long as me seeing her was a given, I could hide my feelings and enjoy her company. I don't blame you for not having the power to save her, White. I blame myself."

"But why?" White wondered. "Ghetsis's grudge against me is the reason why Bianca was taken in the first place. Do you blame N? I know how much you dislike him."

I shook my head. N had always made it abundantly clear that he was against Ghetsis. I might not like N very much but I knew how fond he was of Bianca. Besides, wouldn't he have fled the scene if he was responsible for Bianca's abduction? N wasn't innocent by any means though it'd be unfair to condemn him for his dad's sins - of that he was innocent.

"I don't blame him," I said truthfully. "But even if I wanted to blame N, I just can't for some reason. The reason I blame myself is because I had promised myself years ago that I'd look out for Bianca and you. I failed to uphold that promise because I wasn't strong enough. I used to think being the strongest in all of Unova would make me the very best. Now I see that's not true at all. Being the strongest Pokémon Trainer in Unova would make me feel really lonely. Jazz somehow managed to become strong without getting lonely. If she were able to do that, then odds are that I would be able to do it, too."

I heard White's exasperated sigh ripple through the night.

"Why must it be another's way, Cheren?" White demanded. "If you don't wanna become strong for the sake of being strong, then you owe it to yourself to find a way that works for you and you alone! Don't live your life following tried and true methods, Cheren! You're no different than a fraud if you go that route! You said you loved exploring new possibilities, right? Well, try doing that more instead of playing it safe all the damn time! Don't you wanna die an original person and not a copy of somebody else?"

I tore my eyes off the starry sky and brought my head down, gritting my teeth. Did White have any idea that she was calling the kettle black?

"You don't have any room to talk, White," I said coldly. "You wanted to be like your mom if memory serves me right! There's a difference between aspiring to be like someone and actually becoming someone you admire! I know why you did it, White. You couldn't handle the Team Plasma and N drama as yourself. You thought confronting them under another front would help you handle the pressure better. In the end, you lost sight of who you were. Now you're nothing more than a copy of someone else."

I saw White bringing her head down, looking rather pale in the night. On further reflection, maybe I was a little bit too harsh with my wording. I needed to speak the truth tactfully.

"Even so," I continued in a calmer tone, "I know the White I know is still down there. I believe that with all my heart, but I can't wait for her any longer. Life goes on, which means I must go on too."

A disembodied hand clapped itself around my wrist and jerked me backward. I spun around and saw White studying me as if I were a recently discovered Pokémon. Her facial expression, however, took me aback: White appeared rather crestfallen.

"I understand that now," she said as she loosened her grip on me. "All I knew back then was that Team Plasma had to be stopped permanently. I wanted to take them down with my own bare hands, except I was so afraid. I didn't wanna be afraid, Cheren; I wanted to be seen as fearless. That's why I became more like my mother, the one person I saw as unassailable. But the truth is that I'm scared to this day. I can't control my fears no matter what I do; they're with me always."

I shook White's hand off my wrist and flicked it.

"You need fear to survive," I said flatly. "Fear helps us grow stronger from my experience. You're better off listening to fear rather than controlling it. Otherwise fear will rule over you. I'm dead serious about that, White."

White raised her eyebrows.

"Are you saying this from experience or because you read about it somewhere?" she questioned me. "You can't learn everything from books, you know. Isn't that why you traveled through Unova in the first place?"

"Hello? I learned this life lesson while I was travelling through Unova!" I said disbelievingly. "I know fear will become your enemy because it became mine briefly. Repressing it wouldn't do you any good; you have to conquer it somehow. I could teach you a few methods although I know how you feel about tried and true methods."

White heaved a sigh, skepticism flitting across her face. Yeah, she wasn't going to let me show her the ropes on conquering fear. I already knew what time it was.

"Thank you, Cheren," she said, "but your methods don't really suit me. I appreciate your offer though; it means a lot. You know what? I'm starting to share your hopes about us becoming as thick as thieves again. I have you to thank for that."

"How so?" I asked curiously.

White looked skyward, her muddy brown hair looking rather black in the darkness. She shot one hand at the railing and gripped it as she leaned forward.

"I've been ruled by my own fear for quite a while," she said truthfully. "I hadn't realized how badly it had gotten until now. I'm already making amends with Red as we speak. Speaking of Red, I think he might know fear better than we do. Didn't the stories say he had taken down Team Rocket by himself mostly? I know Green and Yellow had helped out towards the end, but it was Red who had disbanded Team Rocket. Now that I think about it, I wonder how much Black knows about his mother's exploits."

Black Urania materialized into my mind, sticking out his tongue and winking. His countenance might be mischievous but the air around him didn't give me the same feeling. Just thinking about Black made my skin crawl and my heart constrict. Now I was remembering how badly I had tarnished Jasmine's good name and that of Clan Kurosaki by failing to keep Black in line. I slumped my shoulders and face-palmed. White's eyes widened at the sight of me and she cocked her head.

"What's wrong, Cheren?" White asked worriedly. "You look as though you're remembering something unpleasant."

"That's because I am," I said grumpily. "How in the hell did you befriend Black Urania, White? Granted, I know you have a knack for befriending the unlikeliest of people and Pokémon. Black, however, makes your cousin Aurelia look normal!"

"Hey!" White warned me. "Black and 'Relia are good people, Cheren! Besides, normal's overrated. I like eccentric people because they're true to themselves any day of the week. You shouldn't underestimate either Black or 'Relia; they're formidable Pokémon Trainers in their own rights."

I had never faced Black while he posed as Touya Yagami. However I figured he must be pretty strong because White had encountered him on the Battle Subway. Therefore it came as no surprise that White would vouch for him. Aurelia, on the other hand, came as quite the surprise.

"The Unova Times never said anything about Aurelia Kaneshiro being a Pokémon Trainer," I said skeptically. "Did she become one recently?"

White stared at me as if I were an idiot.

"'Relia had collected all eight Johtonese Gym Badges and faced the Elite Four," she informed me. "Gold had allowed her to take the Indigo Plateau Pokémon League Challenge even after 'Relia had lost to him. I don't know how many Gym Badges she'd collected although I do know she had endured something traumatic at Cinnabar Island. Whatever it was, it was enough for 'Relia to retire as a Pokémon Trainer and fade into obscurity."

"Thus allowing her to make a comeback as a Pokéathlete," I guessed. "Does anyone know what traumatic event she endured?"

"Nobody does," White shrugged. "Al used to idolize 'Relia secretly, admiring her sister for her self-discipline and tactical mindset. When 'Relia had quit Pokémon Training, Al felt as though 'Relia had no pride, honor and ambition and stopped her idolization. That might be one of the reasons why Al became a Pokémon Trainer in the first place. I'm sure another reason has to do with Gold and Soul being world-famous Pokémon Trainers themselves."

I took my hand off the railing and roved my eyes around the country house's backyard. Jasmine and Platina both had told me never to judge a book by its cover. I already knew White's cousin was wickedly smart and socially awkward. The Unova Times had implied this to its readers while talking with Aurelia herself merely confirmed what I'd read about in the newspaper. Her backstory did leave somewhat of an impact on me though. I suppose it was because I had seen myself in Albina and Jasmine in Aurelia.

"I won't mention any of this to Aurelia," I vowed.

"I'd rather you didn't," a relieved White said. "She gets enough flack as it is. I'm pretty sure it affects her to an extent. I feel for her honestly."

"So do I," I concurred. "Anyhow, don't you think we've done enough stargazing? Or should we stargazers stay here a little while longer?"

White maundered past me to approach Unfezant, who lifted his wings and bowed before her deeply. She reached for Unfezant's beak and patted it affectionately. I marched over to White just as she pulled her hand away from Unfezant and climbed onto his back. Once she straightened out her dress and corrected her posture, White fixed her eyes on me.

"In case you haven't guessed it yet, I'm cool now," she said reassuringly. "You helped me remember to look at the stars if I feel something might be impossible. The stars are always there to give light and guidance. They know just about anything and see everything. Plus they remain constant. The stars see that I'll get through this, so that's how I know I'll be fine."

I looked at White for a split second before heading over to Unfezant. I flung both my arms over Unfezant, pulled myself upward and sat between Unfezant's neck and White. I placed one hand on the crown of Unfezant's head and breathed deeply.

"Okay, then, Unfezant," I said quietly. "How about getting us off this Juliet balcony?"

Unfezant returned to his original stance, cried loudly and brought out his wings. Huge stony gray feathers detached themselves from Unfezant's plumage and swirled around lazily as they descended to the patio. I drew my hand from Unfezant's head as he vaulted over the railing and took to the sky, the artificial wind blowing through my hair. White snaked her arms around my torso and scooted closer to me. I knew White was holding on to me because she didn't want to fall off Unfezant's back. Meanwhile Unfezant pulled himself into a dive as he flew toward the patio, using his talons to land on the floor safely. The bird Pokémon craned his neck, swiveling his eyes onto me. I gulped, understanding exactly what Unfezant was saying wordlessly.

"Uh, White? We arrived at our destination, so could you kindly let go of me?" I asked my childhood friend. "Please? Thank you!"

White withdrew her arms and scooted back so that I could jump off my Unfezant. I placed my hand on top of Unfezant's head again and thanked him. Then I pulled my hand back and slid off my Pokémon, landing on my feet shakily. I turned around and saw White climbing down my Pokémon's back carefully, her hands trembling.

"What's the matter?" I wondered. "I've never seen you shake while climbing down from someplace high! Did you develop acrophobia overnight or what?"

"No, not at all!" White disagreed. "This dress is a lot shorter than the one I had worn at the Temporal Festival. I don't want to climb down fast and have you look up my dress, Cheren. What are you doing? Hurry up and look down!"

I did what White asked me, feeling as if she struck me across the face. This was unacceptable.

"Are you serious?" I said incredulously. "Come on, White! It's me, Cheren Kurosaki! You know full well that I'd never do something as lewd as staring up a lady's dress for my own leisure. I was brought up properly for heaven's sake! Don't you see how much I respect my female friends?"

White laughed quietly.

"Really now?" she giggled. "I seem to recall you had gotten a nosebleed when you saw Bianca in lingerie a few days ago."

My mind dug up the memory of a sleeping Bianca clothed in sexy lingerie. I remembered fainting at the realization that Bianca was no longer the sweet, innocent girl from next door anymore. Though I was pretty sure my nose didn't bleed at the sight of Bianca. I was almost a hundred percent certain of that.

"Do you really think I'd fall for that?" I said, not amused. "We might not be as close as we used to be, but I can still tell when you're lying. Don't you dare say it happened while I was unconscious, either; you would've told me if that were the case. I'm pretty sure Bianca would've made a comment as well, White."

I couldn't take another second of looking down at the wooden floor; I snapped my head upward and glimpsed White dropping to the patio. She pirouetted around, grasping the folds of her dress. White raked her eyes over the dress, checking it for imperfections. There were none apparently because White started straightening her dress. Unfezant stared at my childhood friend as if she were a mildly interesting television program he was watching.

I approached White and Unfezant while producing a Poké Ball. I clicked open the capsule and sent a blast of scarlet light right at Unfezant. The avian Pokémon waved one wing at me as it absorbed the light and glowed. The Poké Ball pulled Unfezant into its depths and slammed shut. I stared at the Poké Ball and whispered thank you as I slid it into my slacks pocket.

"White? Cheren?" a vaguely familiar voice drifted through the night.

White and I jumped a few inches off the ground in unison, startled greatly. White was quicker to bounce back from being surprised than I was; thus it came as no surprise that White began looking through the gloom for the newcomer. Her eyes darted to a particular spot and widened. I was about to ask her what was up when a distinct slithering sound rippled from behind me. I turned around and eyed an incredibly beautiful pinkheaded woman drifting toward us, wearing a pink ballroom dress that trailed behind her. She held a whitish-gold paper lantern in the shape of a honeycomb aloft, the firelight casting a reddish light on the delicate golden bracelets hanging around her biceps. Her hopeful face was bathed in a shaft of firelight that basked the wooden panels before her.

"Thank Arceus it's you two," Whitney Sakurada said gratefully. "With everything that's been going on, I've been a bit on edge. Anyway, what happened to your paper lanterns? They're a big part of the Kinjō Yorugao Yakai soirée."

I exchanged glances with White and shrugged.

"I didn't get one," I said truthfully.

"Same here," White chimed in.

Whitney cocked her head and beamed.

"That's okay," she said brightly. "You could share the lantern's firelight with me."

I considered Whitney.

"What's so important about the paper lanterns, Whitney?" I asked her. "Do the paper lanterns have some historical significance?"

Whitney's beam somehow grew brighter in the light of the paper lantern.

"You could say that," she said mysteriously. "I feel it's more symbolic in nature but that's just me. I'll tell you what: let's track down Danaë so that she'll give you your own paper lanterns. Then you could form your own conclusions about the paper lanterns' significance, okay?"

I stared at White and then at Whitney before nodding in agreement.

"Then let's go find Danaë together," Whitney decided.

A/N: "Time Part I" is finished. I wanted to have N, Ruri, Cheren, Yvonne, Xavier and White's perspectives in this chapter, but I decided to move Yvonne, Xavier and White's perspectives to the next chapter. Drop a review on the way out if you wish. This is ExaltedLight signing out!

Note: I'd like to thank Grey Muji, Ai Star, Mistysong451, greenangel77, Pennate Marauder, thelittleglaceon, Madam Rodoshe, KsandraMallan, Archnila, 0silverphoenix, The Tainted Heart of Vegeta, PrincessBlaziken, Eeveemaster7, stiriah, SLEclipse, PositiveCharm416, Erika Elencia, neon-green-violin-27, shippofan2k, ImaginationisAwesome123, Alumina, MammonDaughter, TheLightEthereal, Haru-Artemis, korurin and foxchick1 for PMing me back.