DISCLAIMER: Some characters/settings, whatever...don't own them...something nintendo.

Get ready for Chapter 4 of 'Let's be Friends'


(Touko's POV)

I ran. And ran. And kept running, knocking over anyone in my path. I had to get away from this place; from that nightmarish N, and that manipulative son-of-a-bitch father of his. The long dress wasn't helping my escape, so I quickly tore it so I was able to move easier. I ran down a spiralling staircase, wishing that the guards hadn't been already alerted to my escape. To my relief, the bottom of the staircase was empty. I dived through a window and into the moat that surrounded the castle. The water blinded me for a few seconds before pushing my tired body upwards towards the surface. I hardly crawled out when I heard someone shouting behind me. Ignoring the fact that I was drenched, I continued running further and further away from the castle.

The night was cold and unpleasant upon my skin, and I was soaked to the bone. My wet garments dragged me down as my running slowed to a walk. The closest city was probably a mile or so away, and at this pace, I had no chance at outrunning what N could throw at me, let alone the Shadow Triad. I collapsed onto the ground, heaving. I let myself get into this mess. I could've decided to not catch Reshiram. I could've decided to go home the second N told me that he was the leader of Team Plasma. I could've decided to curl up in bed and not take that damned Pokéball that started this entire mess. Then some other unfortunate girl could've taken my place as N's queen. Large tears rolled down my cheeks, and I curled upon, still heaving and consuming as much oxygen as my lungs could bear. A shuffling noise alerted me. I froze, only daring to slightly turn around to see my pursuer. A small black and red furry thing launched itself at me. I stared at it until I processed what it was. "Zorua? What are you doing here?" I whispered.

He nuzzled my face, the soft wispy fur on his head tickling my nose.

"He-Hey! Stop it! Ha ha ha!" I laughed for the first time since everything happened. Zorua snuggled up to me, his aqua-blue eyes blinking up at me.

"You should go back to your home. I'm sure N's worried about where you could have gone."

Zorua tugged at the hem, or at least where the hem once was on my ripped dress, pulling me in the direction of the castle. I shook my head firmly. "I'm not going back, Zorua."

Zorua let out a quiet whine, but left, just as I had told him. I wonder what he had said.

By morning, I had dried off, but I had caught a bit of a cold. No matter. I knew I had to keep going forward. I'll probably hit Opelucid City in a few minutes. I was starting to get worried about the fact that N hadn't sent the Triad to track me down. Had he finally given up? Doubt it.

In contrast to last night, the sun beat down on my weak form. When was the last time I had drunk something? I was reduced to crawling rather than walking.

Is that a pavement? I dragged myself. I noticed a woman was looking at me, her mouth agape in some sort of shock. Black dots clouded any further vision. I saw a quick glimpse of feet coming towards me. "Water…I need water." I croaked. Was that what my voice sounded like?

I blacked out completely in the woman's hold.

(End POV)

The woman stared blankly at the unconscious girl in her arms. She lightly shook her. "Miss? Miss?"

The girl refused to wake up. A small black and blue pendant hung loosely around the girl's slender neck. She called over her husband to help her carry the girl to their home; she couldn't just leave the poor thing on the ground. They both placed her on a bed in one of their guest room. "Is that who I think it is, honey?" The woman asked her bearded husband in a hushed voice. "That necklace is unmistakable. It has to be her. I remember battling her; she was tough, and, of course, she won." Her husband replied.

Sunshine burnt Touko's eyelids, so she opened them, giving a 360 look around her surrounds. She didn't seem to be back at the castle, which was good. There was a small bedside table next the bed she was laying on, and on it, a heavenly glass of water. She greedily chugged it down, not caring if it spilt over her dress. Excited chatter came from beyond the door, and "Ah. It's great to see that you've awoken, your Majesty." The woman sighed in relief. The man next to her seemed familiar. "Drayden?"

"It's good that you remembered me, Touko. A Gym Leader always loves being remembered by their best opponents. However, I have a question for you. What were you doing all the way here, especially in the state we found you in?" He asked, concern filling his usual commanding tone.

Touko thought about what she should say. She shouldn't burden the generous people with her problems, but she could keep a poker face, ever.

"I…escaped."

"You what?"

"You don't understand what goes on in that place. Ghetsis is a manipulative maniac, and if I try to tell N, he just won't listen. Ghetsis and N have forbidden me to speak with any of my friends or family, and have only once let me leave the castle."

Drayden looked deep in thought, while the woman tried to comfort Touko. "Well, I guess you did have a good reason to leave. Do you want us to take your home, your real home?"

"No, we shouldn't. That's the first place that Team Plasma would look for-"

"AN ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE KING! HER MAJESTY, THE QUEEN, HAS DISAPPEARED. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ON HER WHEREABOUTS WILL BE GREATLY REWARDED. END TRANSMISSION."

The speakers from outside halted. Drayden glanced outside, and to frown at what he saw. At least 30 members of Team Plasma had gathered in the centre of the town, and were beginning to search the houses.

"Damn. They're already here." He cursed.

Touko made a fearful face. An urgent rapping at the room's door made Touko jump.

"Who is it?" Drayden growled, signalling to Touko to hide under the bed.

"It's me, Dray! Have you seen what's happening outside?" A childish voice answered, barging into the room.

"Yes, Iris, dear. Queen Harmonia's right there." The wife pointed under the bed.

"What are you doing under there? Why aren't you at the castle?" The girl queried.

Touko crawled out from underneath the bed and put her hands on Iris' shoulders. "That doesn't matter right now. What matters is if you or Drayden just happen to have a Flying Pokémon that you could lend me. I have to get as far away from this place as I can."

"Sadly, no. However, here's an Ultra ball I saved before they got rid of the rest. We'll create a diversion, while you sneak out. Go to Route 11, and there should be a large flock of Braviary. Catch one and fly it to wherever you need to go. But hurry; we don't have much time."

Drayden gave Touko some of his adolescent clothes and Touko quickly got dressed in the bathroom connected to the guest room. The clothes were way too big, perfect for hiding Touko's chest. She plaited her twisted hair and hid it under a cap. Lastly, she took off N's necklace and placed it in a pocket. Drayden gave her a spare X-transceiver, his confident smile hidden by his beard. Drayden and his wife led her outside where Team Plasma were busy searching. Touko kept her head down. A Plasma member walked up to them, eyeing Touko suspicious. "Have any of you seen the Queen?" She asked.

"If we had, wouldn't we have told you already?" Drayden countered.

The Plasma member scowled, and, giving them a glare, stalked off.

Touko ran off, all the while hoping that the girl hadn't noticed who she really was.

Wind flowed through her hair as she flew on the friendly Braviary. She tapped in Cheren's number and rung. He answered. "Who are- Oh god. Touko? How did you get out?"

"No time to tell you. Meet me at the Dreamyard as soon as possible. We need to talk. Don't tell anyone!" She added. Cheren looked at something on the left, but quickly returned his gaze to her.

"Ok. See you there." 'Cheren' closed the X-tranceiver. In less than a second, the Cheren Touko had just spoken to returned to its original form. The small red and black creature made a noise of gratitude when a green-haired boy praised it for its help. "Thank you Cheren for leading me to my queen. I'll make sure you're properly rewarded." N leered at the other silenced boy. Cheren finally bit through the weak material that had been covering his mouth only moments ago. "DON'T YOU DARE HURT HER!" Cheren shouted, almost falling over in his bound state.

N's eyes narrowed, giving Cheren a cruel look. "We'll see."


Oh ho ho. Dark N is back in this chapter, and possibly the next. Sorry for making this chapter so dialogue heavy.

And a chapter without Ghetsis! What is this madness? I never gave Drayden's wife a name, did I? Ok, then I shall call her...Martha!

Reviews greatly appreciated. And I will update as soon as I can~