NorthernMage here! Firstly...

Yes. I know I haven't posted much recently, but I've been working on this for literally ages. Months, in fact. Secondly, for anyone watching for a Too Twisted To Be Home update, hopefully that story will be updated soon. Also, I've just started Ghost of the Gallows, so that will be updated as well, don't think that because I've started this story I'll just forget about it! The chapters for this story have already been written, so now it's just editing some of them.

I'll be including ages at the beginning of each chapter, but it will mainly only extend to Renina and N.

Betrayed: At first she thought it was what she said. But she realised it was what she was.

Age:
N: 1
Renina: 0

Lithana: NorthernMage doesn't own Pokemon or FTL.

Lithana's POV

I watched as my bag was loaded onto the ship. There was a conference of the Federation and Plasma Empire, which would discuss many topics, like FTL travel impact and laws needed by it and intergalactic alliances. With any luck, I would be able to ease the hatred that was directed at the separate united systems. I looked behind me, where Renina, N and Ghetsis were. Renina had been born a few months ago, and N had recently turned 1, just before Renina was born. This would be the first time I left either of them for longer than a few hours. I was going to be away for a week.

'I'll holoplate home each night to check on how you're managing them.' I told Ghetsis, who just sighed.

'I'll be fine. Just go.'

'Ok.' I looked at Renina and N for a second longer before walking over to the ship. As I walked on, the ship's door closed and I sat down as the last few pre-flight checks were done. They're going to be fine, they're going to be fine. Sure, Renina was only just born and N only got on solid food about a month ago, but they'll be fine. I took a deep breath and watched as the ship took off, taking me to the planet Artipali.

That night in my room, I looked at the pictures that had been taken over the last year on my holopad. N starting to walk, when I walked in on him and he had fallen out of bed and was hugging a soft toy, and then one time N hadn't exactly, well, held anything back after eating. I shuddered at the memory of that one. I can't wait until he can use the toilet. I clicked through a few more pictures of N, including one where he was trying to eat some of his hair (God knew why he'd attempted that), when I reached the more recent pictures of Renina. She was adorable, and in a picture she had fallen asleep against N, who was just staring at her like he'd never seen another human being before. The next one was a video. I pressed play and it began. Renina was asleep against N, her mouth wide open. N kept looking from her to the camera and back again, eyes wide and mouth open. It looked like he was silently asking "What is this strange creature? Why is it so chubby?" He poked a cheek, and Renina stayed sleeping. He stared at the camera then back at Renina, and poked her cheek again. Still no reaction. Then he tried poking her again, but missed and when Renina's mouth opened for her to yawn, his finger went in and her mouth closed, trapping his finger inside. Judging by the look on N's face, Renina was investigating the new item in her mouth with her tongue. He tried pulling it out, but for a newborn baby, Renina had a very strong hold. Eventually she giggled and N fell backwards, the finger now released. The video ended. They're so young, and practically best friends. I changed to the call program, and tapped Ghetsis's name at the top.

I waited. No answer. Probably couldn't get to it in time, I decided. I rang again. Still nothing. Now worried, I tapped the icon a third time and this time I got a very worrying message. 'The number you are calling is not available at this time. The number you are calling is not available at this time. The number you are calling is not available at this time...' I stared as the message repeated itself over and over. Come on Lithana, it's probably nothing. Slowly I put the holoplate down. I should go and eat. We'll be arriving tomorrow, and I need to be ready.

That night, as I ate, I heard some of the ship's crew talking.

'Did you hear about the new baby?'

'Are you kidding? Of course! The amount of media attention on it was borderline illegal.'
'Yeah, there was a lot. What did they end up naming her?'

'I don't know, but I hope it wasn't something strange again. They named their first kid N or something, didn't they?' There was laughter.

'Yeah. Kinda stupid, isn't it?'

'Who even does that? When he meets anyone else his age, it'll be like sending him into a shark den.'

'I have got to agree with you there. It's not our place to judge, though.' Obviously many people were curious about us. As far as I knew, we weren't very open. I never bothered to try and make us more open though. When I had become pregnant with N, Ghetsis had taken complete control of what people would know, and even later when I had Renina, I hadn't tried to interfere.

I smiled as I walked into my room on Artipali a day later. Atiris' allies-some my close friends-were all talking, waiting for me to arrive.

'Lithana!' Kilna, who was part of Iriclul's democracy, hurried up to me. 'It's been ages since I've seen you!' We had known each other for years before I had married Ghetsis.

'Kilna, pregnancy isn't an ideal condition to be flying around space during. I couldn't even take one step outside the senate. Ghetsis decided he'd get the ships moved inside so I could leave if something else happens.'

'Are you sure he wasn't just sick of you?'

'I don't think so. He said it was a security risk or something.' Kilna looked at me.

'Lithana, I really don't think-'

'Mrs Harmonia.' One of Atiris' less close allies came up to me.

'Kudar.' I greeted simply. I knew very well they wanted nothing more than to take me down. After a poll I had had the deciding vote in went against them, they had become my enemy. 'You're here for the discussion on FTL travel, I assume.' Kudar's planet, Dulatin, manufactured FTL engines, so any impacts because of using them would be traced back to his planet in a heartbeat.

'Yes. As you know, it would be beneficial if the votes were in our favour.' There was a moment of silence. 'Also, congratulations on your children. Their names are N and...?'

'We haven't released our baby girl's name yet.' I told him, determined to make sure he knew at the same time the rest of the galaxy knew, and no earlier. With that, he walked off.

'I don't think Ghetsis is a good person for you, Lithana.' Kilna said quietly. I spun around to her.

'What do you mean? Kilna, Ghetsis cares for me.'

'Two years and two kids, Lithana! You weren't even going to have kids for a while yet! That's what you told me. I didn't even know you were pregnant until I heard on the news a baby boy had been born, and he was yours and Ghetsis's son!'

'Kilna, it's fine. I've just been so busy getting used to everything, I haven't had time to tell anyone anything!' Kilna still looked concerned, and just as she opened her mouth, a loud beep sounded. Instantly we all froze, and hurried to the hall where the speeches would begin.

As I sat in my chair later that week, my hands were shaking. It was the third last day of the trip, and I had to get this right. I had to make sure no one saw the Plasma Empire as a threat. 'Representing the separate united systems, Lithana Harmonia.' I stood and took a deep breath.

'Many people see the separate united systems as a warmonger, something that double crosses even allies. This, however, is not true. The Plasma Empire only wants acceptance. We respect the Federation, and simply want-' Suddenly, something slammed into my arm, and everything went hazy. The lights were suddenly too bright, the voices too loud. I fell to the ground, the pain and drug overwhelming me. Foggy faces, now just colours, crowded around me. Black shadows seemed to be slowly pulling everything I saw into their depths. 'No...' I murmured. 'Renina...N...' What was happening to me? I felt as though something was slowly shutting me down. Then, the black shadows stole the last light from me, and everything went dark.

I opened my eyes. Where am I? I looked around, and saw a scene I never thought I'd see. Not only was I in a cell, handcuffed, N was unsteadily walking with Renina, who was being held by Ghetsis. People were walking with him.

'We're so sorry for your loss.'

'If the children need anything, just tell us.'

'Lithana was a brilliant woman. It's so tragic she died only months after her daughter was born.'

Sluggishly, my mind started to put the pieces together. The drug...it was Alantis Moragan. A fake death. But, in the middle of my speech. The puzzle was almost complete, and as the clues slotted together, I saw a terrible answer forming. Someone wanted me out of the picture, and for good. As I thought this, Ghetsis, who I hadn't noticed had stopped, walked over to me. Everyone else had left, including Renina and N. 'Ghetsis?' My voice was half desperate.

'How dare you.' I flinched, and moved back.

'What are you talking about?'

'Don't play dumb. I know you are half Slug.' That was what this was about?

'Ghetsis, you've known I was half Slug ever since you met my parents!'

'That doesn't mean I accepted it.' What?

'But, you still proposed, and still married me.'

'You really don't get it Lithana. I was waiting for a chance to get rid of you.' With that, he walked off.

'What about Renina and N?' I yelled at him. 'Are you going to get rid of them too?'

'No.' He left the prison, and I looked at my hands. Kilna was right. I had never listened, but if I had, there was a chance I might not be stuck here. Then, the last piece of the puzzle clicked into place, one which sent a scream through me. I'd never see Renina or N again.