Chapter 452

"Needed Me"

Rihanna laid all her cards on the table.

Without a second thought, Rihanna tossed not one, but three pokeballs. In a silver glow three pokemon appeared, bisecting the space between Prince and Rihanna.

Prince, possibly exhausted from the long trek to the tower or maybe he didn't take Rihanna's seriously, partially ignored the summoned pokemon. He opened the Pokedex app and listened. The Pokedex app chimed:

*Primarina, the Soloist Pokemon, Its singing voice is its chief weapon in battle. This Pokémon's Trainer must prioritize the daily maintenance of its throat at all costs. To Primarina, every battle is a stage. It takes down its prey with beautiful singing and dancing.*

*Espeon, the Sun Pokemon, Espeon is extremely loyal to any trainer it considers to be worthy. It is said that this Pokémon developed its precognitive powers to protect its trainer from harm. It uses the fine hairs that cover its body to sense air currents and predict an opponent's movement.

*Aggron, the Iron Armor Pokemon, Aggron claims an entire mountain as its own territory. It mercilessly beats up anything that violates its environment. This Pokémon vigilantly patrols its territory at all times. Long ago, there was a king who wore a helmet meant to resemble the head of an Aggron. He was trying to channel the Pokémon's strength.

Prince eyed the three pokemon on along the lakefront. "Three-on-three at the same time?"

Rihanna shook her head, "No." She placed a supportive hand on the forehead of her Espeon. The violet feline nuzzled against her affectionately. Rihanna said, "I needed you to see that I wasn't bluffing." She motioned to her Aggron and Primarina, "I can battle anyone."

Prince had tried to call her bluff. In the end, it had been a fail. Rihanna's team of pokemon was more than enough proof that she had enough firepower to take on almost any trainer. She had weapons but did she know how to use them?

Before Prince could provoke a battle or lay down the gauntlet, Rihanna shook her head, "I'm not battling you."

Prince blinked, "Why not?"

"I'm not Sasha." Rihanna stated flatly. "Isn't that what you and Sasha do? Spar, train and battle together? That's you and Sasha's relationship. I don't want that."

Prince looked at each of the pokemon, then at Rihanna, "Then what do you want?"

Rihanna softly patted her Espeon's head, she withdrew her pokeballs and one-by-one she recalled the pokemon. Then, Rihanna strode past the pokemon and crossed the road. She stood within arms-reach of Prince. "All these years, since I was a girl all I've wanted is to be with you," under the starlight she carefully placed her hand gently over his heart.

Prince nearly shuddered from Rihanna's sudden display of emotion. "What do you mean by 'since you were a girl'?"

Rihanna shut her eyes, "You all died and were reincarnated into the present. I lived. I survived and endured so many years, centuries waiting for you to return."

Prince didn't want to believe a word she'd just said. But in between pharaohs, pokemon, global brainwashing, a mystical city resurfacing and the journey as a whole, learning that someone was immortal was the most normal thing he'd heard. "So how old are you?"

"I've lost count, to be honest." Rihanna admitted, "I'm older than the pyramids. This body, all that I've seen and done. Putting myself on a global stage, singing, dancing, all those songs were for one reason. I hoped one day while I was on stage that I'd look out into the crowd and you'd be there. Then, I could walk away from the music industry. But that didn't work, so I had to branch out and try new ways to catch your eye. Maybe the reincarnated you would be drawn to fashion since the world had changed so much and more men were becoming more into clothing. So Fenty came and I catered to men too. All just to catch your eye and draw you to me. None of that worked, then, the meteors fell. You battled, became one of the world's top trainers. You were ranked in the top 10 and I was able to find you." She explained.

"This is a lot you're asking me to believe." Prince sighed, "Beyond belief for real."

"Think about the songs I sang, Prince. Think about where you were in your life and what you were going through when you first heard them."

Prince thought for a moment then said, "I was late into high-school when Pon De Replay came out. At that age, everyone just wants to go to the club. Especially with Lil Jon and the music of that time."

Rihanna nodded. "What song came next for you?"

"Unfaithful, my favorite song." Prince admitted, "I was hurting from puppy love as a teenager. Then, the next one I remember was Umbrella. I was a bachelor and looking for that perfect girl to be my everything."

Rihanna smiled, "And, don't all those pieces fit?"

Prince retraced his life and where he was when he initially heard each of Rihanna's hits, "You were…singing to me?"

Rihanna nodded, "I didn't know where you were in the world. Just that you were somewhere in it. I had to become the biggest star, I had to become so big you had no choice but to see and hear me."

Prince meditated on her words, "So your song, 'Needed Me'. It came after the meteors fell. So that means…"

Rihanna's tattooed hand wrapped around his waist, guiding him closer to her, "You needed me. Then, when you were the pharaoh of eastern Africa, you needed me. Even now, you might not realize it yet but you need me, Prince. And I need you. I always have."

Prince turned away from her, "This destiny stuff again. Sometimes I wish I just had my memories so I'd understand everything more."

Rihanna gently pulled him closer to her, "You're here now. Those memories might help but would they really make you the man you are or the man you want to be?"

Prince faltered. He was no longer sure.

"Prince," Rihanna leaned against him, her head over his sternum, listening to his heartbeat. "You make your own destiny this time."

A sense of comfort and warmth washed over Prince. All Rihanna told him seemed farfetched. Once he connected the dots and pieced together everything she stated, it made sense. He'd spent years chasing finance and peace in life. He couldn't imagine what the mind-state of someone who'd spent centuries craving and waiting for a person they loved.

"I want you." Rihanna said, "That's all I've ever wanted was to be with you."

Prince glanced down at her. The starlight made her eyes sparkle and her tawny-skin glow violent. In his arms was a woman that millions of women dreamed of. A coveted prize on the arm of any man. A woman that, as a teenager, he himself had craved. The maverick-era of her had pushed him away as he preferred traditional women. However, was that where he'd failed? The traditional housewife that Eva symbolized wasn't strong enough to lead when he needed. The sassy, independent boss-bitch that Sasha symbolized was too strong and led when it wasn't needed. Was Rihanna a balance of both? A lady that could lead when needed. Could this maverick diva be the one he'd always needed?

"Needed Me?" Prince thought aloud. "The meteors inspired that song."

"Yeah," Rihanna revealed, "The meteors and losing you to time and destiny."

Prince stared at the beauty in his arms and for a moment, he couldn't help himself. The Swords had placed him on an island. His militarism had made him an outcast among the pacifistic mantra of civilians.

"Sithis-" Prince began.

"Has an army." Rihanna cut him off. "And so do I," she revealed. "Together, he'll be no match for us. Just for a second," she whispered, leaning up to him, "Let yourself go and don't think about that. Think about how much you needed me."

"I needed you?" Prince questioned as he kissed her soft lips.

(Did I always need her?)