DISCLAIMER: Many of the characters/settings depicted in this fanfic belong top GameFreak, Nintendo. I do not own them.
"N…I-I-"
"N. Everyone is ready. Prepare her." Ghetsis' voice on a speaker crackled.
N's face returned to its serene state, as if he forgot what she had told him only minutes before. He strode over to her, taking her hand as he passed. "I have to give you your ceremonial clothes. We don't want you dressed in those rags." He swung open a magenta-coloured painting to reveal a small wardrobe. Inside was a dress, pure white in colour, with black lace around the middle and bottom. He pulled it out to show her. "I designed it myself. I hope you like it." He said hopefully, handing it to Touko. Personally, Touko was flattered that someone would give her so much attention. Her thoughts disappeared when N started taking off her vest. She backed away, giving N a small push in the process. "What are you doing?"
"I'm dressing you. Isn't that what friends do?" He asked. He didn't wait for an answer, and tried to resume his work. Touko tried to stop him again, but he grasped her wrist tightly. "Friends. dress. each. other." His voice became dark and menacing.
He removed her singlet, her cap, shorts, bracelets and anything else not necessary for her to wear. Her curly hair cascaded down her back, while N adjusted the dress onto her. As a finishing touch, he removed his pendant and placed it around her neck; he was slightly blushing. "Consider it something old and something blue."
He also gave her a small golden ring. "This was my mother's. I don't think she'll mind you borrowing it." There were small tears in his eyes, which he quickly wiped them away.
His wild mood swings were definitely something to watch out for, Touko thought to herself.
"N. Is she ready?"
N pressed a small button on the wall and spoke into an even smaller microphone. "Yes, Father. We're coming straight away." N ducked into the closet, and brought out his own ceremonial cloak and crown. He was already impeccably dressed, so he draped the cloak over his shoulders and placed the crown on his head. He extended his hand to her, waiting for her to take it. "Come on, Touko-san. We'll be late." He said urgently, giving up on waiting and pulling her along with him as he navigated through the confusing corridors of the castle. He stopped in front of a large set of double doors. Two young women (one blonde and the other had pink hair) stood at each door, taking each of Touko's hands. With their remaining hands, they opened the doors and led Touko inside.
The room was massive, holding an equally large amount of people in it as well. All eyes were on her, and she let out a deep breath, following Concordia and Anthea. She stood by Ghetsis, and soon N was next to her. She looked down at the spellbound people, and she noticed her old friends. Bianca stared at her in anticipation, while Cheren was whispering to another boy, who was wearing blue jacket and black pants. Cheren noticed she was watching him and he gave her a sad look; he knew that she had lost the final battle. Her mother was also in the crowd, at the very front. She nodded at her encouragingly.
Ghetsis placed a small tiara on her head. "Do you accept all the responsibilities of being a queen to your ever-loyal nation and your king?"
Her breath hitched and she paused. From behind her, N took her hand and squeezed it reassuringly.
"Y-yes, I do."
"Then I hereby grant you the title of Queen Touko Harmonia."
The huge crowd cheered, and despite the celebration, she felt faint.
"N…I can't do this." She stumbled, only to be caught by Ghetsis and N.
"Touko-san!" N gasped. Ghetsis dropped her, but made it look accidental.
"Oh, I'm sorry, my queen." He made a mock gesture of apology. He gave her a glare of warning, as if to say: Screw up again, and you're dead. Some of the members of Team Plasma helped her up. The crowd went silent until they figured out that she was ok. "N, can I talk with my mother and friends?" She asked quietly. N looked at his father for approval. "Only if you want her to, N." Ghetsis replied.
N nodded, and Touko gestured for her mother, Cheren and Bianca to follow her. They moved from the hall to a vastly smaller sitting room. The sun was beginning to set, and its red light filled the room. Her mother hugged her first, followed by a big hug from Bianca. Cheren merely shook her hand. "How are all of you?" N asked jovially. He didn't notice the glare Cheren was giving him. "Well, besides losing all of our poké-" Cheren began, only to be elbowed by Bianca. "We're fine." He concluded. "I can't believe it! My little girl is a queen." Her mother swooned. "I wish you both the best of wishes." Touko remembered how her mother could never contain her excitement.
"I never thought I would have such a charming mother-in-law." N's smile didn't seem to lessen. He wrapped an arm around Touko, and squeezed her into a mini-hug. Cheren stood up in a rage. "HOW CAN YOU ACT OBLIVIOUSLY TO WHAT YOU'VE CAUSED, YOU GREEN-HAIRED IMBECILE! YOU'VE FORCED AN INNOCENT GIRL TO MARRY YOU AND SEPARATED HER FROM HER LOVING FAMILY AND FRIENDS. AND IF THAT'S NOT BAD ENOUGH, YOU'VE SEPAPRATED COUNTLESS PEOPLE FROM THEIR POKEMON! AND WHY? BECAUSE YOU SAID SO!" Cheren shouted furiously. Angry tears rolled down his cheeks. Cheren attempted to punch N, but his punch was effectively blocked by a member of the Shadow Triad. They pulled his arms behind his back, awaiting their next order. N walked over to Cheren, his smile never leaving his lips. "You can say whatever you want about Touko and me, but that's not going to change the feelings I have for Touko-chan. You seem disappointed in her. Were you planning for her to be yours?" N inquired. Cheren looked ready to scratch out N's eyes. He turned to Touko, with a melancholic expression. "You can't be with him, Touko! How can you stand to be near this emotionless monster?"His eyes begged her to say something, but her shock kept her lips sealed.
"Please escort him outside. And I do not wish for my queen to see him furthermore; he could hurt her." Ghetsis seemed to come out of nowhere, and led the young boy away. Soon after, Touko's mother and Bianca said their goodbye, apologizing for Cheren's behaviour earlier. That left N alone with Touko. The sun's remaining rays stained the room red and purple.
"Touko-san, would you choose me or Cheren-kun?" N broke the silence that had swept across the room after her guests' departure. N never seemed to be affected by what others said or did for too long, which, in a way was good for Cheren's sake. "Please tell me." His soft eyes radiated goodness.
"You."
"I'm so happy we're finally together. I don't know how I'd survive being without you." He embraced her; however, Touko felt that the Cheren thing wasn't over. She had to talk to him. N led her to her room, and sat down on her bed with her. He ran his hand down the side of her face and gave her a small peck on the cheek. "Good night, my queen." He picked her up bridal-style and lay her down. He lay down next to her, and held her hand. Touko lay awake for hours, flicking her gaze to a sleeping N every few minutes. Was this the person she was to spend the rest of her life with? She thought. She couldn't stand to be with him, despite the adoring way he treated her. The second he heard something he didn't like, she'd be in big trouble.
It was still early when she got up out of bed. She picked the lock on the room and got out, silently making her way to the toy room. She lifted up the painting, but to her dismay, there was a password needed to open it. It had to be something obvious like…Oh, god… She typed in her own name, only to have it click and give her access to its contents. A small machine sat neatly on a pile of her clothes. She took it into her grasp and turned it on. The machine flickered to life, and to her relief, Cheren's number was still on it. She rang, hoping that Cheren would pick up.
"Touko?" The dark-haired boy's image stared at her, mouth agape.
"Why did you say those things before, Cheren?" Tears pricked at her eyes, but she refused to cry.
"Because it's true. Ever since you lost the battle, Ghetsis ordered Team Plasma to steal and release everyone else's Pokémon. He destroyed all remaining Pokéballs, Great Balls and Ultra Balls, so no-one could get their Pokémon back. And everyone misses you. When we left, Ghetsis told us that didn't want anything to do with us anymore. He said that you told him that all you needed was N."
"But, I didn't… That bastard. I refuse to even look at him, but if I ever got my hands on him, I'd-"
"You'd what, Queen Harmonia?"
She dropped the X-transceiver, despite Cheren's sounds of confusion. "TOUKO! TOUKO! WHAT HAPPENED?"
The screen went blank as Ghetsis stepped on the machine, cracking it under pressure.
"Why aren't you sleeping, girl? It's far too early for you to be up." His voice was laced with more than a hint of venom.
"How could you…HOW COULD YOU TELL MY FAMILY, MY FRIENDS, THAT I DIDN'T WANT TO SEE THEM ANYMORE? THEY MEAN EVERYTHING TO ME!"
"Easily. N is completely smitten with you, and, with him out of the way, I can take over the control of this region. He's too oblivious to notice, and if were to tell him, he'd think that you're trying to kid him. My Father would never do anything like that." He made a mocking impression of his son.
He knew he had won the fight; there was no doubt about it. With a wave of his hand, the Shadow Triad appeared and returned Touko to the bedroom, while Ghetsis followed. N was sitting on the bed, looking sullen. "Touko-san, why did you run away again?"
"Oh, she didn't run. I found her with this." He showed N the broken X-transceiver. N made a shocked expression, and turned his gaze to Touko. "Touko-san. You told me we were friends. You're my only friend, and it seems I'll have to make extra care for me to be your only friend, Touko. Father, could you and the Shadow Triad please leave? I need to discuss something private with Touko."
"Of course, N." Ghetsis' cruel smirk couldn't be any more monstrous. The door closed quietly behind him.
Silence.
"Look at me, Touko."
He wasn't calling her -san anymore. That wasn't a good sign.
"Touko."
His voice sounded impatient, but not enough to get her to lift her head.
"TOUKO!"
She looked up at him, cowering and shaking slightly.
"Why did you lie to me, Touko? Why did you talk to him? YOU'RE MY FRIEND, NOT HIS! And you're my queen. Doesn't that mean anything to you? I was told that when a girl is married to someone, no other boy or man is allowed to speak to her."
"What about Ghetsis? He seems pretty content talking to me."
"My father is a different matter. He says that you are like a daughter to him, and he was most happy for you to join our family."
Damn it, Ghetsis, she thought. There was definitely no way to figure N out. With a simple question, Touko was able to change his mood. An idea took hold in her mind, and she stood up, giving N a quick little bow. "I'm so sorry, N. I didn't mean to upset you." She faked her sincerity. N's face softened, and a blush went across his face. "O-oh…t-that's ok, Touko-san."
Touko wrapped her arms around his neck, and buried her face into his shoulder. "And, you're right, N. I shouldn't really be talking to someone of such a low class as Cheren." She made her voice low, seductive. N's eyes filled with tears and he ran out of the room.
That wasn't exactly the reaction Touko had expected, but nevertheless, it was at least something.
*insert Ghetsis rage here* I just do not like that guy.
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