A/N Thank you so much for all the wonderful reviews! I smiled every time I read one. Thank you so much!

And because of all those reviews, the next chapter was updated faster than expected! Yay! Also, I've upped the rating to T.

Disclaimer: Pokemon Adventures are not mine. Ditto for all its characters. The song, "In The End" is by Linkin Park.

Platina

Happiness.

It was the perfect word to describe the relationship between me and Diamond. Especially when we moved to Johto. Our seniors (Senior Blue in particular) usually stopped by to chat, asking how our life was going. Well, senior Gold only came because of Diamond's cakes, but that was alright.

At first, it was hard for us. Father hadn't been very pleased to find out that I had married a commoner, and to be honest, I wasn't very sure about it either. But we loved each other, and that was all that mattered.

Soon, we were happy and pleased with our life. Diamond asked me every day for a certain… Favor, but I politely declined every offer. We were pretty much strangers in the beginning, uncertain on how to act toward each other.

But then, let us just say that things happened.

We aren't ready for a child yet, because threat still looms over the world, and we just cannot risk to put an innocent child in the mess. Especially…

I hadn't told Diamond, or anyone else for that matter, about a strange dream I had. Uxie had come to me in a dream. Just standing there.

I had reached out to touch the pokemon, but it moved away. It kept on moving, and I kept on following. I had almost reached it…

When it busted into pieces. I screamed.

But there is was again, and Mesprit was there too. But… No Azelf.

And the world exploded around me.

I woke up screaming and my heart beating like a hyper Pikachu. I didn't tell anyone, for they would be worried.

I wish I had.

It starts with one

One thing I don't know why

Doesn't even matter how hard you try

Then there was the thing with Pearl.

He wasn't at home when we went to visit him for the first time in a year. He wasn't home, and but there were fresh foot prints on the ground, crushed grass and dirt. We stood outside for awhile, but left. We didn't call him… I guess that was a mistake.

I felt bad, because we didn't even bother to contact him after that. I guess both of us were busy, Diamond with his bakery and me with the students at the pokemon school I'd opened up.

It wasn't a few months later until both of us discovered that he was hardly seen, if seen at all. But at that time, it hadn't seemed important. Pearl had his own life, we had ours. But there was a tinge of doubt at the back of my mind the whole time, pulsing, desperately trying to tell me something.

Foolishly, I ignored it.

Keep that in mind I designed this rhyme

To explain in due time

All I know

Well, time was drifting away from us now, and we were growing up. All of us. Seniors Blue and Green had gotten married, and had invited us to the party. I admit that I was excited, not just for them, but for the prospect of meeting Pearl there as well.

But, as it turns out, he had never responded to their invitation. Senior Green looked worried, but Blue-senpai had waved him off, telling him, "There's nothing to worry about!" cheerfully. We had all laughed at her joyousness, since no one had known she could be so cheerful so genuinely.

I guess we were all fools for ignoring the signs.

When they said their vows, Diamond grabbed my hand and smiled while everyone else cheered. I cheered along and clutched his hand even tighter. With the other hand, I clutched the little ring around my neck that was held there with a golden chain. The ring that had pearls and diamonds etched into it. The ring Pearl had given me.

If I could change the future, just one thing, I would've gone back to that moment when I clutched the ring. Because when I touched the ring, it snapped. I would've told myself that there was something terribly, terribly wrong.

All the pearls had rolled away into the cracks and tremors of the floor, while the diamonds remained. If you thought about it, it would be perfectly reasonable that the diamonds remained while the pearls fell, and I had thought that way. Even though I was saddened that my gift was broken, I hadn't thought of it as an 'omen' of some sort.

Oh, how I wish I could turn back time. I heard senior Ruby had done it once.

Why couldn't I?

Time is a valuable thing

Watch it fly by as the pendulum swings

Watch it count down to the end of the day

The clock ticks life away

So, it was around sixteen months since we hadn't seen Pearl that I suggested that we should take a vacation to Lake Valor. I still had that dream in my mind, so I wanted to check on Azelf; make sure everything was okay.

And besides, I had heard from a colleague that Lake Valor was beautiful in the winter. Diamond agreed (but he agreed with mostly everything I say those days) and we packed our things and went.

I had rented a top notch wooden cabin perfect for two people. It was right by the lake, so it had a great view. I still remember eating the steaming pork buns as we sat together, shoulders touching, by the shimmering lake.

It looked milky blue, since the top was frozen over but the ice was transparent. The winter Starly chattered, adding more of a soothing effect along with the sound of the whispering wind. So beautiful. Like the calm before a storm. And that was just what it was.

It's so unreal

Didn't look out below

Watch the time go out the window

That night, when Diamond was softly snoring away, I went to the center of the lake where Azelf's home was. During the day, it had looked so innocent, but at night, it looked very frightening.

I went anyways, because I had no fear.

…Which is what I would like to say, but it didn't happen that way.

In fact, I only went because of a dream. It was back at my wedding, when Pearl had talked to me in the hallway. When he had that pained look in his face when I picked up the ring. It was gone quickly, but I hadn't missed it. But this time, in the dream, the ring turned into a giant dragon that started to set everything on fire. But Pearl just stood there, eyes blank as the dragon swept through the building, lighting everything on fire.

I begged Pearl to come with me, but he didn't move. Just stared at me. I reached out to grab his hand, but he was gone.

And Azelf, Azelf came out of the ceiling and started to battle the dragon. But it was weak and sick looking. It cried out over and over again, 'Pearl, Pearl, Pearl…'

It was sickening. So when I woke up, I just had to check on the lake guardian.

I tiptoed out the door, with my warmest winter coat. The moon felt like it was watching over me, like a guardian of some sort. I wish it was.

With Lopunny using ice beam on the lake, I was able to get to the lake center. Of course, my pokemon was wondering why it was called out in the middle of the night to cover ice with more ice, but it trusted me.

Trying to hold on

But didn't even know

Wasted it all

Just to watch you go

The cave was dark, with drops of shiny liquid falling onto the rocky floor. But the pool of water in the center was glowing, so I got there without any real trouble. (I hadn't brought a flashlight.)

"Azelf? Azelf? It's me, Platina!" No answer except the silence. Of course, that should've been a good enough answer, but I was stubborn.

I still wasn't convinced after I had looked this way and that, so I went into the deeper cracks of the cave. I couldn't see, so I was stumbling and falling, scraping various places in my skin with the sharp stones and pebbles rolling about.

There. A glimmer of hope. "Azelf?" I walked closer and closer…

It was a red stone.

Azelf's stone.

I screamed.

I kept everything inside

Even though I tried

It all fell apart

What it meant to me

Will eventually be a memory

Of a time I

Tried so hard

"Platina? Platina?"

Diamond's heavenly voice was calling. I had stumbled toward only to the sound of his voice, running blindly in the dark. His arms embraced me and I wailed, "Azelf's gone Diamond! Gone!"

"W-Wha?" Diamond blinked, trying to get the sleep out of his eyes.

"W-We have to go to Pearl's, quick!"

Diamond held my wrist. "Do you know what time it is?" I didn't answer. "I didn't think so. It's 6 AM. Let's at least get breakfast first, and then we'll talk."

I gulped my protests down, and followed.

Maybe… It could've made a difference if I had.

And got so far

But in the end

It doesn't even matter

I had to fall

To lose it all

But in the end

It doesn't even matter

It was the one day I didn't eat the food prepared by Diamond. He ate pretty fast, but it seemed like forever to me. When he had finished, I blurted out, "Are we-"but he covered my mouth, his usual joyous face looking serious.

"How do you know you're not making a fuss about nothing?" He asked. "What if Azelf is just out for a walk or something? Even legendaries have to get their exercise."

I didn't smile. Leaning in, I said, "I've been having dreams, Diamond. I'm sorry I did not tell you, but-"

"What kind of dreams?"

I looked away. "I would rather keep that to myself."

Diamond sighed, then looked out to the lake. After a moment of consideration, he turned back to me.

"I trust whatever you say, and you've never been wrong before,"

"Let's go."

One thing, I don't know why

It's doesn't even matter how hard you try

Keep that in mind

I designed this rhyme

To remind myself how

I tried so hard

It took about two hours on the fastest jet.

The forest seemed weirdly abandoned, even when loads of pokemon still bustled about, chatting to their families and friends. But it seemed… Different, in a way. More isolated.

The cabin. The paved road was cracked and dusty, with leaves scattered over it, blocking most of the destroyed walkway. Diamond stood behind me in horror.

"What happened to this place…."

The door was unlocked. I was almost afraid to open it, but the curiosity won me over. I grabbed the rusty handle and pushed it open.

"Hello…"

I stopped dead when I saw the inside. There were cobwebs on the furniture and walls, even small Bidoof were starting to move in. They scurried under the floorboards when the light streamed into the cabin. There was furniture, yes, but it looked old and broken. The only sign that life had ever been here was the few books on some of the bookshelves. A lot of things were knocked over, so that said the person left in a hurry.

"P-Platina…"

In spite of the way you were mocking me

Acting like I was part of your property

Remembering all the times you fought with me

I'm surprised it got so far

I walked over to Diamond, who had something clutched in his shaking fingers. He looked like he was about to cry, from the looks of it. I grabbed the square thing out of his hand.

It was a picture frame. Of Pearl, Diamond, and I, all smiling, Pearl making peace signs over our heads, while Diamond and I were laughing.

I looked down the row. It was filled with albums and photos, all lined up in a scattered row.

I flipped open a lot of them, scanning through the pages. There were no pictures of his personal life (baby pictures, family pictures, etc) but only us. But the weird thing was…

All of the pictures contained me or Diamond. Usually holding hands with each other. I couldn't even remember posing for some of these.

Did he take these in secret?

There wasn't an individual picture (excluding one of Diamond's pictures) and the only picture I could find without me in it was a picture of him and Diamond.

Why.. Hadn't he taken these with him?

Things aren't the way they were before

You wouldn't even recognize me anymore

There was a corner of a photo peeking out from under the cabinet all the pictures were lined up on. I reached down and attempt to pick it up, stabbing myself in the process. I held it up to the light. It was a shard of glass. 'Glass?'

The pictures itself was even more surprising. After removing the shards of glass and piecing it together (it was ripped into many pieces) while Diamond inspected the bedroom, it became clear.

It was a picture, some of it blocked with a part of a wall. It had Diamond on one knee, holding up something shiny while I smiled at him, reaching out toward the shiny thing. But, in the corner, there was a little ring.

I clutched at the ring that used to be at my neck. This was that ring. This was the proposal.

Was that 'gift'… A… Proposal?

Why had he ripped this? Why had he even taken this?

Not that you knew me back then

But it all comes back to me

In the end

"Platina! Y-You have to see this!"

I dashed outside, stuffing the pieces of the photo in my pocket. Tears were threatening to spill now, burning in my eyes and blocking my vision. I rubbed it out on my sleeve (so unladylike, I know) and the first thing I saw was Azelf. One of the gems on its tail, as I suspected, was missing. It looked weak, barely managing to hover above the ground.

"Azelf!" I shouted. "W-Why are you so weak?"

It looked at me dully. 'You three are our power sources now, ever since Palkia and Dialga were sucked into the dimensional void. When my power source detached itself from the world, detached itself from you two, I grew weak. I attempted to find him but…' She shook her head. 'He was gone. Gone from the face of the earth.' She stared into my eyes. 'You don't know why he left yet, do you?'

"Well," Diamond spoke up. "It looked like he was running from something when he left."

'Yes.' The blue guardian gestured towards the woods. 'But he was planning it, I'm guessing.'

"Wait!" Diamond said, a spark of defense for his friend burning in his eyes. "He wouldn't have left everything scattered around if he'd been planning it!"

'He was. I'm sure. Maybe… If you came sooner," She turned toward me again. 'I sent those dreams to you for a reason. My sister said you were smart… Too late now, I guess.'

"I don't believe you!" Diamond's voice was accusing.

Azelf looked pained. 'I didn't want to show you this, but I guess I have no choice. Come out!'

You kept everything inside

And even though I tried

It all fell apart

What it meant to me will eventually be a memory

A Diglett. A Buizel. A Tauros. They all came out of the woods. They were Pearl's pokemon.

'These pokemon were released.' Azelf's gaze pierced into ours. 'Why would that be?'

This time, Diamond didn't have anything to say. They were defiantly Pearl's pokemon. But, their eyes were filled with uncertainty when they looked at the house. One of them had a faint bruise mark on their face. My thoughts were filled with endless, horrible possibilities.

Apparently Diamond noticed this too. "No way… Pearl couldn't have…"

Azelf bowed her head. 'I wish different too. He was unstable ever since your wedding. Maybe, I shouldn't have sent him that dream… I have my own regrets. But,' She looked a bit more confident now. 'That was the past. We must find him.'

"Find him?" Diamond said. "Is it that important?"

'Uxie foretold some things. If Pearl doesn't regain his sanity soon…'

'The whole of Sinnoh will be engulfed in fire.'

We are back at where I am right now. What you have just seen… Were my thoughts during that time. I am leaving this behind now.

This is the present.

I tried so hard

And got so far

But in the end, it doesn't even matter

I had to fall

To lose it all

But in the end

It doesn't even matter…

A/N The plot is growing, isn't it?

I don't know when the next update will be. Hopefully soon. I hope the song fit for this chapter, since I picked it from random. I left out a verse, because I thought it wouldn't fit.

It's hard to write in Platina's POV, since she thinks so logically, it's challenging to write her in a panicked state. Reviews please! They give me motivation! :3