Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon or any of the characters except my OCs.

Crimson dug his feet into the dirt and almost ran into a man. The man turned sharply and Crimson thought if looks could kill, then he would've been dead on the spot. Refusing to show fear, Crimson matched the man's stare. He ventured a look behind the man and saw the bodies littering the floor. If Crimson wasn't used to the sight, he would've lost his lunch at the sight. The fact that it was dusk made it look even more dreaded.

Crimson had managed to arrive at the tower in less than a day but he wasn't prepared for the sight before him.

"I'm talking to you." The man shoved at Crimson's shoulder harshly. Crimson braced himself and looked into Green's eyes. Crimson didn't answer and looked over Green's shoulder. He saw Yellow bending over various pokedex owner. He heard that they were powerful trainers but he didn't know that they were at this level. If Amethysts was at this level, then their fight was going to be harder than he first thought.

The pokedex owners had defeated the elite fours, gym leaders and thousands of grunts that Team Dystopia had sent. They were badly hurt, though.

"Leave him to me Green! I don't care if you are my captain. I get to take him out first!" Sapphire jumped forward. "My little girl wouldn't lead us into a trap so you must've tricked her. I told you what will happen if you hurt my daughter already so you must know what's coming."

Crimson didn't even brace himself for her attack. Her punch sent him to the ground. Crimson sat up and rubbed his aching jaw. He looked up and saw Sapphire raised her fist to punch him again. To his surprise, it was Ruby who came to his rescue. He grabbed her hand and sent her a look that seemed to calm her.

Crimson got up, cupping his hand over his bruised chin. He faced Ruby since he thought it would be safer than facing Sapphire. "I'm sorry that I tricked you. I won't lie to you. I set out with the intension of leading you into this trap from the beginning. It was just another job for me. What have change is my feelings towards this mission. I'm truly sorry that I've hurt Amethyst and misuse her trust."

"Don't think that little speech will get you out of this!" Silver stormed over to them. This time, Crimson easily caught Silver's fist. It wouldn't have done much since he saw Silver lose his balance a little. Silver stepped back and clutched his wounded arm.

"You're hurt. You must have more sense than to throw a punch when you're wounded." Crimson said in a hard voice. Silver's face turned red with rage. "I let Sapphire hurt me because I deserved it for hurting Amethysts."

"Please, calm down Silver." Lyra hugged him around the waist. "Don't push yourself after a battle like we had."

Silver didn't say anything to her; instead he threw his hands into the air and stormed off. Lyra sighed and ran after him. She sighed, why was she in love with the most stubborn man in the world? She saw Silver's rigged silhouette against the night sky. She could see that he was shaking slightly. There was that other side to him, the one he kept secret from everyone else. He let her into the part of his world, trusted her with his insecurities. She loved him for what he was, the stubborn lovable man he is.

Silver didn't flinched when he felt two arms wrap around him. He knew it was her. Only she was foolish enough to walk after him or hug him when he was in a rage.

"I'm a horrible father. I let my daughter go into a situation that I know was too dangerous! What kind of father put his daughter through this? I should've at least investigated more on the crew!"

"You're a great father, a great father that believed in his daughter. I'm sure that Aries and Aqua already figured out their deception. Why else would Crimson be here? Anyways, you know that she can protect herself and Turquoise is there as well. He's a level headed man that will protect her. You know that."

"When you're right, you're right." Silver pulled her closer and kissed her forehead. Lyra giggled and brought him back to the group.

She wasn't surprised at the sight of Yellow fussing over their pokemon. Despite the perspiration collecting on Yellow's brows, she moved on to tend Red. He shook her head but she went on as if she didn't hear his protests. She ran her hand over the wound on his shoulder. She let her energy flow out of her hand and into his wound, speeding the healing process. Red sent her a worried look and grabbed her wrist. Since he knew words wouldn't stop her, he just pulled her onto his lap.

"I know how you feel Yellow. But you can't help any of your friends if you work yourself to death. Rest, go to sleep."

His voice soothed her. Too tired to argue, she laid her head on his shoulder and went straight to sleep. Red shifted so that he had a better hold on her. He softly kissed her forehead as he rocked her.

Red didn't even notice the small squeal from Blue. Crimson did hear her squeal and asked Green, "I guess I know where Aqua gets her meddling side. I can see why orange is able to put up with her meddling ways you must have gotten your ire to rise."

"More times than I can count." Green admitted with a grunt as she watched his wife laugh with Lyra about some secret joke. She turned and sent him a radiant smile before wrapping Lyra's arm. "She likes to look on the bright side of life. She lived in darkness for years, she had to find a way to preserve her light and keep hope. She wants to bring that light into others' lives as well. She's my light and I love her for that. I have no choice but then again it's worth it in the end."

"I'm sorry." Crimson and Green turned and saw Sapphire. She looked nervous and she fiddled with her fingers, looking down at her feet. Ruby gave her shoulder a quick squeeze and she went on. "I'm sorry for punching you. We need to work together for Amethysts sake. Tell us everything you know about Team Dystopia and what they want with our pokedex."

Topaz lifted his hands, fighting the weights of the chains. The chains were long enough to allow him to stand and walk a little but the chains were too heavy for him to do much. When Amethysts had told them of their deception, they threw him into the ship's prison. He didn't put up much of a fight. It was over anyways.

Topaz ears twitched at the sound of footsteps. Topaz heart stopped when he saw he saw someone walked through the door.

It was his Beautifly.

Topaz wanted to run to her, take her into his arms but the chains held him back. "Moonstone, I'm so glad you're here. You're safe…"

Topaz didn't bother to go on when he saw that she wouldn't respond. She looked at him with dead eyes, as if she didn't have any feelings about this encounter. Not hope, not dread, not even hatred. He would take any of that over the cold look in her face.

She sat with her legs folded under her. It was then that he noticed that she was holding a tray of food. His stomach growled, reminding him that he hadn't eaten since the night before. He saw that she lifted one of the plats, revealing it to be cake. The memory of the time at the cottage flashed in his mind. He had told her that his only weakness, beside a pretty face, was cake.

As she spooned some of the cake, he grinned. "I never had someone feed me since my mother. No offence to my mom, but your so much more beautiful."

Topaz eyes widened when she ate the cake. She took several more bites and soon it was all gone. His Beautifly was going to have pay for that. Moonstone said nothing as she took out another slice of cake. Topaz waited for her to torture him again, instead, Moonstone spoke.

"I will only give you this piece of cake if you agree to corporate with me. I am going to ask you a few question and you are going to answer me truthfully. My Lucy will make sure that you are telling the truth."

She released her Lucario and it quickly jabbed Topaz in the stomach. "That's enough Lucy. We will not use brute force. You are to read his aura to make sure that he is not lying. Only when he does lie, are you to hurt him."

"Thanks Beautifly." Topaz groaned, clutching his ribs. Her pokemon weren't happy that he upset their trainer.

"How much of what you said was the truth?" Topaz grinned. His woman liked to get right to the point.

"Everything about my past is the truth. You've changed me. You made see that I didn't need to live in the past. I was working against Team Dystopia at first but they soon discovered me and offered me information about my parents' killers. All I had to do was gain the pokedex owners' trust and their pokedex. I met Crimson that same day and we made the plan. You know the rest."

"Did you start out with the intention of hurting my family?"

"No, we were only supposed to get the pokedex. I didn't even know you were the daughter of Gold and Crystal until you told me after we left on our journey."

Moonstone took a shaky breath before going on. "Why- While you were gone, have I ever cross your mind?"

Moonstone cursed herself. Why did she ask that? Did she even care if the man thought of her. She felt her heart tighten when he answered, "No."

"Was it all an act? Do you even like me? Do you at least want me?"

"No."

"What about all those times we made love? Did any of it mean nothing to you? You told me that you would do anything for me. Were you speaking the truth when you said that you said that you would live for me if I asked it of you?" At this point Moonstone was screaming and shaking from rage. She wouldn't cry though, she wouldn't give the sick bastard the satisfaction.

She didn't know what drive her to ask that one last question. "Choose… me or your life."

His answer was short and he said it so fast, as if he didn't even need to think about it. "Life."

The tears came then. The one and only man she ever loved used that love against her. She didn't cry out though she wanted dearly to do so. She turned and began to walk out the door, tears falling silently. She stopped when Topaz called out to her, "Don't I get my cake?"

A promise was a promise. He answered her questions truthfully so he deserved the cake. She took it and walked towards him. Her hands shook as she held it out to him. Moonstone felt herself being pulled forward and into his arms. She saw that the chains that held him back were now resting on the floor and that the chains were undone. He had a key; it was his ship after all. Why didn't he try to escape sooner?

"You were always on my mind when we're apart. You were in my every waking thought, my every dream. I could see you everywhere! Why would you ask something as silly as 'do you like me'? I love you! You're my Beautifly. I need you in my life. I would do anything for you- I would even die, if it means protecting you. You are my life!"

The tears came in torrents now. "I thought your life was getting revenge and that you would never stop being a shameless flirt."

Topaz tightened his hold on her, holding her as the tears shook her body.

Orange wrapped his arms around Aqua's waist. "You know it's rude to watch people when they're having a private moment. You're so predictable at times."

She quickly shushed him and pulled him down. She opened the door a little so that he could see inside the room. He saw Moonstone on Topaz's lap, wrapped in his arms. They were talking. He would whisper in her ear and wipe a stray tear from time to time. He pressed his face into her neck and stroked her arms.

"Anything special happening here?" Orange asked.

"He has changed. In the past, with any other girl, he would've just taken her. He's content enough just to talk to her. He's a better man now."

"You're great at reading people." Orange kissed the top of her head.

"My mother taught me. She would take me on exploration where she would force my aunts and uncle into the most outrageous situation. So they'll remember that they love each other no matter how much they fight."

"Don't worry, they're safe. Our parents are too strong to be defeated so easily." Aqua didn't know how he was able to read her so easily. He ran his hand over her and she felt as if her anxiety was washed away. "It's going to be okay."

"You know you're good at reading people too." Aqua laughed lightly. Orange closed the door softly and ushered Aqua away. She giggled when he pulled her away with his arms around her waist. When he felt her shoulder tense, he redirected her energy so that only her positive aura flowed.

"Let's go. I'll make you some lunch and maybe we could find something to torture Turquoise with."

"Why won't this work?" Turquoise wanted to throw the damn thing against the wall. He was able to develop the voice box but now he was stumped with the scanner. The screen was blurry at best and it wouldn't recognize his Jolteon.

"You'll figure it out soon." Aries reassured her. She was surprise that Turquoise didn't snap at her for breaking his concentration. Then again, he probably didn't even hear her so she tried again. "You're a smart man but you need rest and food if you want to continue."

"I need to finish this. I'll eat and rest later." Turquoise insisted.

"Maybe I can help you with that, son." They both looked up to see Green. Turquoise went to hug his father. They both sat down around the bits and pieces of the pokedex. Aries smiled at the sight of the two working with the little wires. She left silently, not wanting to interrupt the father-son moment.

The next time Aries went to visit Turquoise, he was alone. "Where's your father?"

"He went to check up on my mother. He said he wanted to take a break from teaching me the ins and outs of the pokedex so he could make sure my mother and Aqua didn't get into too much trouble."

The room took a sickening turn and the world seemed to be tilted. She heard turquoise screamed but didn't understand why he was screaming. Everyone jumped at the sound of Turquoise's roar. They turned to see Turquoise run out with Aries in his arms. Stark fear was written on his face. Yellow saw the unconscious woman in Turquoise's arms and rushed forward. Aries's parents ran after them as well.

Aries didn't know how she got to Turquoise's room but when she woke, she was there. Her head felt as if it was spinning. She turned her head slightly and saw that Turquoise was sitting next to her on a chair. She groaned and the little sound seemed to wake Turquoise. As soon as he woke, he began to fuss about her. He took a cloth ran it over her forehead.

"You had the flu." Turquoise told her. He proceeded to explain the cause and effects of the flu. I'm sure you're smart enough to know when you're not feeling well. Why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't want to burden you." Aries said softly.

"You idiot! You're more of a burden if you're sick." Turquoise saw the sad look on her face and sat down on the edge of the bed. "What you did was reckless but your heart was in the right place. Now rest a little."

"Dad!" Amethysts ran forward and threw her arms around his neck. She was crying and laughing all at once. She gave her mother a quick hug as well. As they part, she saw Crimson walking towards them. She blushed deeply and walked up to him nervously. When she reached him, the tears were flowing out of her eyes, she threw herself into his arms and whispered words he couldn't decipher.

She wiped her eyes and spoke despite her hiccups, "I was so scared that something happened to you or that you wouldn't make it in time. I guessed I was also a little worried that you didn't love me and you didn't love me."

Crimson felt himself stiffen. He only helped them because he felt guilty for misusing her trust, he certainly didn't love her. He was too smart, wasn't he? It was a question for another time.

"I need to go over something. I took some records from the castle and want to go over them. Go spend some time with your family. I'm sure you have a lot to talk about."

She wasn't able to answer before he walked off. Crimson walked into his room and took out his satchel from under his bed. He spread out the papers and books out onto the ground before him. He had found these from the library and the Mastermind's private office. He didn't have much time so he just grabbed whatever looked as if it would give him more insight on Team Dystopia. He took out one book that seemed too light to be such a large book. He lifted the cover and found that it was hollowed out.

He took out the expensive looking engagement ring. It was pure gold and a diamond bigger than Kanto on it. Whoever it belonged to had a small hand since it was so small. He examined it and saw something surprising. There was no engraving. He remembered that Amethysts said her mom ring had the engraving, 'my blue gem, more beautiful than any combination I can make'. The ring was flashy but cold so it must have been a loveless engagement.

He pulled out the notebooks he took and saw that it were notes on how pokemon interact with humans and other pokemon. It was written in handwriting different from the note he got from the Mastermind. He saw that someone had erased the name at the bottom of the notes. Someone was trying to cover their tracks. He took out a charcoal and he ran the side of it over the smudge. He could make out some of the words. Professor… S…A… He couldn't work out the rest of the letters.

He moved on to the family tree he took from the wall. Hopefully the Mastermind only put it up for decoration and not of any importance. He saw that some of the names were marked with an 'x' next to him. The names matched the ones the Mastermind sent him to kill but he couldn't find any in relation to Topaz. At the end of the tree, he saw that a name was marked under the name. There wasn't an 'x' under it but it was erased. There was no mother listed so he must have been a bastard.

Was he the Mastermind or connected to him in some other way? Crimson knew he wasn't going to get any of his answers from the information he got here.

"Come out Khione." Crimson called out his Lapras. Just as he was going to jump over the edge, a voice called out to him. He sighed and turned to face Amethysts.

"Crimson! I was worried about you when I couldn't find you in your room. What are you doing out here?" She stopped in her track when she saw the satchel over his shoulder and how he was posed to jump over the rail. She ran next to him and saw Khione waiting below. "Where are you going?"

"I'm going to find some more information on the Mastermind. I'm going alone, I don't need anyone to work with, and I don't need anyone else to watch my back. I work better alone, always have."

"You just don't want me holding you back! You still see me as that weak little girl from when we first met!"

"If I thought you were in the least bit weak, I would've just left you on the first week of our journey. I don't want to see you hurt. You're my responsibility since I vowed to protect you the first day we met."

"Don't be so stubborn Crimson. You can't go off on your own. It's too dangerous!"

"You're right. It is dangerous to go alone." Crimson walked closer to her and kissed her forehead. "I'm sorry."

He reluctantly pressed his finger into her shoulder. She let out a little sound before going limp into his arms. He placed her so that she leaned against the mast. He threw his cloak over her. He couldn't leave her there alone, thinking that he had abandoned her so he left his notebook with her.

"I really am sorry Amethysts."

A cloak figure clung to his Galvantula as the ele-spider climbed up the steeped cliff. He let out the breath he was holding when he saw the trainers below walk away. He knew he owed Topaz but was risking his life like this worth it? Her smile appeared in his mind and the answer came to him. Yes, it was worth it. When they reached the top, the cloaked man threw the gagged man to the ground.

"Thanks Tula." He called back his pokemon. He turned his brown eyes towards the man he gaged and captured. "You're the Mastermind's errand boy so you must know some of his dirty little secret. Tell me everything you know and I'll consider letting you live."

When he saw the boy hesitate, the cloaked man called out his Buoh. The large pokemon got him the reaction he wanted. The boy gagged a few times but he told him the information he needed. He knocked the boy out and tied him to the tree.

"Shoot, I'm late. She's going to kill me!" The cloaked figure quickly called out his Valiant pokemon to fly home. He made a mental note to find some time to go give the information to Topaz.

I told you Topaz's spy was going to be important! I gave you so much hints on who he is so can anyone guess who it is.