A/N: Felt terrible for not updating in forever, but high school graduation and enrollment for college blew things out of my mind. I'm very sorry for putting this chapter up very late! Hopefully this slightly-thicker episode will help~

Thank you for your continued support!

Questions and suggestions are welcomed in my Formspring, which has a link on my profile. :)

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Pokémon Special. :)

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Chapter 21: The Vow

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"She's in here," the nurse said, gently opening the door. "Hush now, she might be asleep. It is lucky that we were able to reach her quickly, or else hypothermia might have killed her."

The room was painted a faint sea foam, contrasting with the off-white linoleum flooring. It was pleasant enough, with neat curtains and a bedside table and a plushy couch, and at the same time unpleasant by the way it smelled of rubbing alcohol. The visiting boys wrinkled their noses at the clinical smell that bore ill meanings.

The freezing waters of Snowpoint endangered Platinum Berlitz so much that her skin was still bluish. Warm air was being blown into her lungs through her mask. There were hot pads pressed against her neck and sides, although they were obscured by her hospital gown. She looked like a delicate, battle worn, tiny mess. And she was awake just then, looking at her best friends with her chrome eyes.

"Lady…"

Pearl looked visibly stricken, and Diamond made shallow little gasps that meant to stop tears as they approached. She gripped their hands with such fervor despite her slowness, but her slurred speech only frustrated her, and she brought their palms to the Pokéball that rolled about in her lap.

The Empoleon inside was tapping the plastic sphere, as if eager to return to normal size and be a comfort to his beloved mistress. The hands trembled, before pushing the Pokéball towards the boys. There was nothing she could do now, Platinum decides, but ask of them. Her voice rasped through the plastic mask.

"Be...my knights...now."

And burying herself within their forlorn arms did the Lady allow herself tears.

There was a curse, and a sob.

A faint spluttering hiss of flesh pained Sird greatly, and she lay heaving against the psychic barrier that had enveloped her for so long. The Mewtwo had brought her someplace else, a place of warm earth and water and water all around.

The creature seemed to be completely subdued by the armor it was encased in, so obedient to her will it was that the Rocket Beast had to chuckle at this small success. However weakened they were (for to speak of one's state was to speak of the other), they survived.

The moment of respite was short-lived, however, when a deep growl came from the bushes. Mewtwo brandished the blade it held, and Sird braced herself within the force bubble.

There was no need, however, for the threat made itself known. The uniform was tattered and tarnished, the appearance bruised and in disarray, but the selfish gleam in her eyes made the obvious quite evident: Jupiter had not changed from her ousting from Team Galactic. The noxious purple creature stayed its ground, although its fur bristled from the presence of malicious intent.

"Heh...underhanded as always, eh...? You were never...quite as trustworthy, pinky..." And Sird managed to keep upright in her defensive barrier, fixing a wary eye at the former Team Galactic Commander. "I suppose...you'll try...to finish me off..."

The magenta-haired woman frowned at this statement, but kept cool. "What Galactic's goals are up to them. Mars has what she wants - the research you've done on the legendaries. She'll probably try to find Cyrus again." She crossed her arms and dug a silver-painted toe into the island's dirt. "And you'll probably wish to gain power for yourself."

Her stare became fixed and greedy, and the Skuntank beside her dug its claws into the earth. "I wish to make a deal with you."

Sird stared at the woman who had tried to kill her mere weeks ago. She knew the ways of traitors, as one looks at a mirror, and was wary but interested. A Seviper can bite with its fangs, she remembered, and can stab with its tail. One must be careful in treading its path.

"...Go on. I'm listening."

"Saturn and Mars have been trying to track you down to get to the Manaphy you seek, as well as take your new 'super-weapon'. I can tell you all the locations of the Galactic bases scattered all over the region, which you can shut down and thus cripple their efforts into robbing you of your newfound weapon."

The Rocket Beast tilted her head, the burns on her body already half-healed, coaxed by Mewtwo's telekinesis. She was waiting for the catch, which Jupiter supplied with a bitter spit:

"All I ask is that you let me kill Mars."

"Originally...Sird worked for me."

The words echoed faintly in the metallic room, as close to an interrogation room as any in the Battle Frontier. It was bare, save for a chair, a large table, and a bright fluorescent bulb on the ceiling. This space was reserved for Giovanni's meeting with the Champions later on, a room in the Battle Tower that Palmer had kept private.

The former crime boss continued, hands adjusting the collar of his black coat. "She helped gather the Phione to create a dew that would heal any ailment...this dew being produced only by such creatures. This helped me recover from my injuries from our last encounter."

A serious-looking pigtailed girl listened carefully, tapping at her computer. She was seated in a blue wheelchair, a soft blanket covering her legs. The computer was turned to face him, and the user spoke grimly. "Did you know about this?"

The images displayed on the screen were searing: shriveled blue bodies were photographed by the netful, dead little creatures floating in the water. There were hundreds of them, drifting like plastic bags along the waves.

He remembered the experiments, the extractions, but the details...seemed so insignificant. There was no way his disease needed that many Phione.

The growing anger was lighting his gray eyes afire, though he only growled. "...No." It was all for her benefit, his innards roiled. She took all that blood to obtain the imperfect immortality. "So she took the life of these Pokémon to perpetuate her own..."

His jaw clenched, and his pride flared. "I was unaware of the full extent of Sird's...experiments."

"I think taking in the blood of Phione had some side-effects that might have affected Sird. She was involved in the creation of Guile Hideout's armor, 'Eternity', because the energy he received from the Red Jewel filled him with power. This power may have weakened him to beyond human limit, and I suspect that this effect is plaguing Sird as well."

Words echoed in Giovanni's mind. I will take the world. I will find eternal death, as I did eternal life. And I shall rule.

"I see. I believe with this knowledge she will be guarding herself most carefully."

"She is. She has Mewtwo under control, under some strange armor. Green Oak tells me that this was not the first time."

"Correct. The first time was during my control over Deoxys - using the M2 Bind. I used it to restrain him."

"This new armor seems not only to restrain him, but to control him," Crystal frowned. "Another one of Sird's side projects under your hand. Precisely why I am here - I am requesting your assistance on behalf of the Pokédex Holders. Your knowledge will prove useful in defeating Sird and Team Galactic. We cannot ignore their plans for opening the Distortion World."

Distortion World. Eternal death.

"...I can't."

"Hmph. Very nice to think it can keep confidential, but I can't fight blind, Saturn." And the slightly grubby Courtney attempted to scoot away from the fire that her companion had built.

They had escaped the conflict (and the authorities, Courtney noticed) and were now laboring under a violent snowstorm, in some cave they had found as shelter for the night. Ninetales was enough to keep one of them warm, and being in the company of a woman nestled in golden tails of fur seemed strangely out of place.

If ever he found himself in the company of women in fur, Saturn once thought, he would be a hotshot in the toniest restaurant in town. Perhaps with wine and his own special table. Dreams were free, and all he could afford.

"Perhaps we should concentrate on surviving the night, shall we?" He scooted some more into the overflowing pile of toasty fur, pausing when Ninetales stared at him with its wary red eyes. Its trainer whispered something, and the nest of tails made way for him just a little bit. The Galactic Commander (former by now, Saturn supposed) already felt better, his lower half draped in coziness, his upper half in interesting proximity with a woman and a beast.

Hours passed, and small talk faded away. He was the only one awake then - the tawny fox and its owner were fast asleep, both draped in some way over Saturn's shoulders. The sensation was unfamiliar, yet nostalgic.

He once had a past like that, a past with hugs and warmth and company. There was nothing like that in his life now, except for this single golden moment.

For a moment he remembered power struggles and violence and the world. To tell or not to tell? There were so many implications, so many possibilities and problems. They swirled into the night's snow and became forgotten, as he sunk further into an embrace.

Sapphire was breathing deeply, which eased the worry had her skin been less pallid. Her hair's tawny tone seemed more pronounced against her white pillows, and her face was devoid of the spark that made people marvel at her energy. It was something so different, so sacred.

She struggled against sleep when her visitor entered the room. The morning sunlight was pale and translucent, a welcome relief from the dark and difficult night before. It felt good to breathe in air, although for now it was through a mask.

Now the brunette felt herself shrinking involuntarily into her bed as her guest's deep red eyes drilled into her half-closed blue ones. She remembered a time, years or maybe moments ago, when they were wild and glittering. The looker's expression was one of worry, however. She didn't like that.

"...Arceus...Sapph..." And Ruby intoned his words with great relief when her eyes fluttered fully open. "Don't scare me like that, you horrible girl." He moved to touch the girl's arm, only to find it recoil at the word "horrible".

"Oh...I didn't mean it like that, silly." Here Sapphire's eyes twinkled, and she weakly tried to flick his outstretched hand with her fingers. The boy sighed and rubbed his "hurt" hand. "You're so damn reckless."

Her chuckle was throaty and dry, and almost obscenely soft. It occurred to Ruby then that he had never heard her quite as soft as then, a sign that troubled him greatly. He averted his gaze and instead stared at the glass tank nearby.

It was incongruous with the room's curves and soft colors, yet fitting with its edges and angles. Inside was something that was once implausibly alive, and now truthfully so. The creature was not blue but bluer, all curves and gem-bright and pulsing with life. It was sleeping - eyes closed, fins and ribbony antennae twitching - and peacefully too.

Sapphire was looking at the newborn with a queer expression, one of awe and wonder and faith, all the while touching the spot where a gaping hole had once formed upon her abdomen. It had mysteriously regenerated, the nurses murmured to themselves, flesh filling flesh until nothing remained of the ordeal but a vaguely starburst-shaped discoloration on her stomach. Her whispers were quiet, little statements.

"I'm all...beaten up...you'll have to take care...of Manaphy for me..."

"You don't need to tell me that, honestly." And Ruby slipped his palm over the tank, feeling the creature that was to set everything right mere inches away from him. The new weight on his shoulders didn't aggravate him as much as Sapphire thought it would; his face actually seemed to light up in a way, and that made her cheerful.

"Then you and Platinum will be all better, and we can all have a proper vacation once in our busy lives. Ahh, think of all the fun times we'll have - more agreeable than all this fighting and mucking about is!"

"...Promise?"

Her hand was chilled and heavy, and the difference in temperature (among other things) made goose bumps riot on his skin. His hand, no matter how well-moisturized he tried to make it, was slightly rough and exceedingly warm, and comforted her by filling the gaps between her fingers. His show-smile softened.

"Yes. That's a promise."

"You have committed many grave crimes, Giovanni."

Red, Wallace, Steven, Cynthia, and a wild-looking man dressed in white robes sat at a table in front of the former Team Rocket leader. They were arrayed against him, called to judge the notorious crime boss that had finally surrendered for his son.

Cynthia was first to talk, and quickly pointed out the crimes he will be charged of: running a crime syndicate that thrived on black-market goods and illegal experimentation, as well as numerous money-earning rackets. "It would seem that the charges against you are overwhelming, and no doubt many regions have awaited your imprisonment." She leaned back into the black fur of her coat, serious as ever.

"That is true," Giovanni replied gruffly. "And I do not regret...trying to shape the world in the manner I see fit. However, I left all these ambitions...in the hope of being with my son again." A shadow crossed his eyes, and he stared down at the floor. "...No matter what the cost."

Wallace frowned mildly, brushing his aquamarine-blue bangs out of his eyes. "I'm afraid I will have to maintain a similar stance on this issue. These crimes cannot go unpunished. It is only right."

He looked over at Red, who sighed softly and carefully pieced together a grin. Despite the wrongs he had suffered under Giovanni, his expression was kind. "You already know what my view is on this matter, Wallace. I believe in his sincerity. You know me, I'm all for 'redemption'." And he laughed a short laugh.

"Any more thoughts?...Ah, yes, Alder."

"I feel that this young man is right," the strange man known as "Alder" admitted. The string of Pokéballs on his shoulders clashed with the starburst shock of hair over his head, yet his possibly comical appearance was serious. "The fact that this man had given up everything just to find his son again must merit something, right...? At least," and here he coughed, "in my view."

"Very well. We will see whether your words ring true, Red." Steven cleared his throat and rubbed the rings that made his hands cold upon the table. "For now, we reserve judgment until a more opportune time. For now we need your assistance."

"Crystal?"

"Oh, hi Em." Her troubles seemed to melt away at seeing her favorite ward, although the blonde boy was not blind to the eye bags. The wheelchair she had used were replaced by stiff crutches, leaning against the wall behind her. She had been transported to the Battle Frontier, she explained, to help in the planning of the operations concerning Manaphy.

Emerald was wearing a thick green sweater and his hair in a low ponytail, and stood at the doorway of the makeshift interrogation room. He was oddly subdued today, not sad but thoughtful. He had not been talking to her recently, and he found that the recent dangerous turn of events was putting everyone on edge. It was a difficult time.

"How are you? How was your watch with Green?"

"It was alright."

Which was half a truth, really. More Galactic Grunts had ambushed them, apparently coinciding with the similar attack at Snowpoint. There was a problem with this group however, for their leader had deserted them in the middle of battle. Emerald's Dusclops had sensed a dark intent fleeing the scene, but the sheer amount of opponents distracted further tracking. "Maybe one or two Grunts got away in the mess, but most are pointless without a leader." He rubbed his hands together, as if bracing himself, and continued talking. "You're overworking yourself. You should concentrate on getting better."

The indigo-haired girl only smiled and rubbed her palms over her blanketed lap. "I am getting better. Platinum and Sapphire are in worse shape, we have to take extra care of them. It's not too bad now that I'm on the mend these past few weeks." She was being selfless again, Emerald thought, and his chest throbbed at the thought. Years and years of selflessness seemed so effortless for her.

"I...I care for you, you know."

"I know. You and Gold and Silver and everyone want me back up on my feet."

Emerald stayed silent, and Crystal felt that he didn't really believe her.

"Don't worry, I'll be up and about again right away-"

"I-It's not that."

The falter in his voice made Crystal search his face. The blonde's bright green eyes were looking at her with a strange light, and this made her...nervous? His mouth was set firmly into a line, and his face was creased with worry, thought, and a new emotion that she had not seen in him before.

An emotion, Emerald knew, was unconsciously budding, suppressed no longer in his words.

"I care for you, you know."

A peculiar sensation bubbled in the pit of Emerald's stomach as he saw Crystal pause, then turn from pale to paler to red. His own cheeks burned, but he was a stubborn boy and remained quiet for a moment before continuing. "Please don't put yourself in unnecessary danger. I don't think I could bear it."

His face darkened back to that time at the Hoenn Battle Frontier. This change in tone did not go unnoticed, and his listener was made speechless at his repressed emotion.

He murmured an (apologetic?) "good night" and left her to sleep. She bid him the same with a quiet voice.

Neither one slept very deeply.

TBC...