Guys. I am so sorry I'm late with this. It's been weeks, I know. It just got busy, too busy. Life has a funny way of treating me.

Still, I'm here now with the new chapter so I hope you'll enjoy it.

Disclaimer: I do not own pokemon.

I apologize in advance for any grammar and spelling errors. I was in a hurry to get this up.


Chapter 3

Princess Sapphire stared wide-eyed at the floating ice pokemon.

The menacing look on his face was enough of an indication that his intentions were not good. How did he even get in here? Sapphire asked herself. She had been absolutely sure that her brother had left her alone in his private training arena. The sudden appearance of an intruder not only confused her but scared her half to death. Something about the air didn't feel right.

"W-What do you want?" she mumbled, her voice just barely audible. She could feel her heart beating fast against her chest and her legs quivering in fear.

"To spar," The Glalie replied, not amused. "I thought I was very clear on that."

"But I-" she stammered. "I-I j-just came to see my b-brother."

The Glalie sighed, frustrated with the princess's ignorance. He scanned the Eevee's body and smirked at all the signs of fear she was exhibiting so openly. His malicious smile broadened after taking in the sight of the helpless Eevee Princess. This should be a rather easy target. He thought. But I am not supposed to kill her. His words were clear. Fight till the evolution. The Glalie snapped out of his thoughts and realized the princess still hadn't moved an inch. She was rooted to one spot, her eyes wild with fright.

"Perhaps you need a little persuasion," Glalie chuckled. Then he floated up higher and shot an ice beam, aiming for her forehead.

Sapphire was not quick on her reflexes. Though she did make as attempt to move out of the way, she ended up being hit on the side and falling down. Gasping from the impact, she hurriedly stood back up and tried to make a run for the door.

Her legs were not quite so cooperative in this stressful situation but then again, the Princess barely had any previous experience with stress. She could hear the Glalie laughing at her as she ran up the door. She placed her forepaws on the handle and tried to push the door open with all her might.

"Huh!" She gasped, slamming her paws wildly on the wooden door. "It won't budge!"

"You cannot escape, Princess!" The Glalie yelled mockingly.

She turned around and saw the Glalie approaching fast, his mouth going in for the Ice Fang. She ducked just in time to dodge the attack and slid underneath his floating figure from where she dashed towards the center of the fighting pit. The Glalie slammed hard into the wooden door. He was quick to recover from the blow and was soon floating towards the Blitz Princess again.

"Why are you doing this?" she asked desperately, gasping for breath.

"I have no reason to answer to you!" The Glalie growled at her, then grinned.

She shrank back in fear, her ears drooping. His voice was hard with not an inkling of kindness. It sent chills running down her spine. Brother! Oh Brother, please hurry back!

The Glalie floated closer to her and stopped, blinking slowly at her. She understood. To him, chasing her around was a sport and an interesting one at that. He had no intentions of taking her down quickly but rather to prolong her suffering for his own amusement. Seeing as to how he was waiting for her to flee again, Sapphire used her quick attack and ran straight towards him, hoping to take him down with a surprise attack.

The Glalie blinked at the fast approaching pokemon before spinning a bit to the left to dodge and simultaneously using his ice beam to construct an ice structure for Princess Sapphire to crash into. Her fragile paws scraped against the sandy ground beneath as she tried to stop herself from slamming into the ice barricade. Succeeding, she quickly turned right and tried to scurry out of the way, her mind anticipating an immediate move, only to have her path blocked by another similar structure produced by her oppressor. She quickly turned left to run again but he was fast to respond and blocked her path once more. Unable to jump over due to her small size, she turned around to face him.

"I suppose I should end this now," The Glalie said, his smile never fading.

Her legs gave way and she slumped to the floor. Her eyes were still fixed on him, his full of spite and her hers reflecting fear. The Glalie took a deep breath and used one final move; ice beam. With that, he froze the frightening Princess into an ice encasing. The Glalie seized his ice move once the deed was done and took a full minute to observe the results of his actions.

"That should do it," He breathed, sighing to himself. "It should trigger the evolution."

Princess Sapphire, inside the ice casing, was very much alive and conscious. Her heartbeat had slowed down from the sudden change in temperature and she found herself unable to move. Her body had gone numb from the cold. She couldn't even feel the cold ice against her fur. Death was imminent, to her at least. She wanted to break free and fight but she also knew how weak she really was against such a fearsome foe. She probably would be paralyzed in fear if not frozen in this ice case. Is this truly the end?

Just then, she felt a surge of energy flowing through her limbs and body, her heart at the origin. Surprisingly, it began beating fast and the energy began to course faster through her vein. Her instincts were kicking in. I want to live. I want to live. I want to live. She repeated the phrase several times in her mind, the energy growing stronger with every word. Suddenly, she felt her body beginning to change. It felt like her legs were growing longer and tail thinning out, taking a sharper more flat shape in contrast to their former soft and furry forms. A strange sensation on her head made her realize she was growing a crown-like structure over her head with two teal dangles growing down the side of her face along with it. This change made her feel empowered and stronger. With this power, she kicked back at the hard ice with all four, shattering the encasing as if it had been made of glass and landed easily on her paws.

A gasp escaped her lips as she realized her fur had transformed from its creamy brown and white to a light-blue and teal. She took a minute to study herself. I have evolved! The realization dawned on her as her eyes widened in shock.

"Ah, so the Princess has evolved," The Glalie snickered, grabbing her attention in the process. She turned sharply to look at him.

"I would applaud you, Your Highness," he continued, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "If I had any hands."

Princess Sapphire stared at the floating pokemon, still breathing hard. She slowly began to push herself up on her shaking legs, her eyes never leaving the black-horned beast. He was blinking slowly, his grin never leaving his face. Looking at him now, she could feel no fear, no danger and no threat. All of her previous feelings had now been overridden by a strange force of energy she could feel inside her. Her evolution had sharpened her senses. She could see better and hear better. Fight. Something inside her urged her.

The Glalie was still floating a good distance away from the newly evolved Blitz Princess, looking quite pleased with the outcome. I kept my end of the deal. The Princess has evolved into a Glaceon as was the objective. His Highness, Volt, will be most pleased.

The Glalie had failed to anticipate the move that hit him square in the nose and sent him rolling into the ground. Stuck upside down with his horns lodged firmly into the ground, he looked at the blue pokemon slowly walking towards him.

"Ah, it a fight that you desire," The Glalie said mockingly as he plucked his horns out of the ground and stood the right way up. "I shall grant you that wish."

The Glalie positioned himself for the next attack and then shot himself forth in the her direction, his Payback move hitting her underbelly and horns digging into her flesh.

Sapphire lay sprawled on the ground, bleeding. She raised her head up with little energy she had to look up at the pokemon and saw him smiling, his black horns stained with her blood. She had taken heavy damage from the battle before and even though the evolution had strengthened her from within, she was still no match for him. He was well aware of it. It was an effortless fight for him. The surprise attack may have caught him off guard but rest assured, it was something she could not repeat. Not with her luck.

"What h-had you h-hoped to gain?" Sapphire said, choking and coughing from the damage she had taken.

"That is not for you to know," The Glalie informed her.

He then began to channel all his energy into one final move to finish her off. Her mouth fell open and eyes widened as she realized he was preparing to use Gyro ball, a move that would be powerful against her ice element. Her vision was already beginning to blur. Her senses were fading fast and she wondered if she would feel the pain if she simply passed out before the attack hit.

"P-Please. Don't," she begged, whispering.

He was not going to stop. Her plea had gone on deaf ears. She closed her eyes and waited for the inevitable. The Glalie was about to unleash his move when a mighty force knocked the brute back and sent him flying over Sapphire's body and into the wall in the far corner of the arena.

The Glalie recovered his composure quickly and glared angrily into the direction of the princess, his eyes wide with rage. His eyes met with a more determined and infuriated look of the pokemon he had met a day before. The Glalie slowly floated closer, uncertain of where he stood against the golden furred Prince who was now standing defensively before his sister, his jaws showing off the dangerous fangs that could pierce through his ice-hard body.

"Your Highness," The Glalie attempted to speak to the prince.

"W-Who are you?" Prince Volt barked angrily at the ice pokemon. "How did you get inside my private chambers?"

The Glalie understood instantly. The Prince was not going to let anything ruin his little scam. Panic began to overwhelm the icy brute. It was one thing to fight the rather inexperienced and clumsy Princess Sapphire. But Prince Volt was a different question. Famous for his war tactics and skills as a formidable warrior of Blitz, the Glalie had no chance. Am I sweating? Glalie thought to himself, alarmed. The pokemon believed that his frozen features would prevent such a display of fear.

"Answer me!" Volt shrieked as he charged forth towards the pokemon with a quick attack, his speed five times that of his sister in her pre-evolved form.

The Glalie didn't even have time to react. He took the hit and found himself slammed hard into the wall. Prince Volt didn't stop there. Volt dug his fangs into his body and the Glalie felt the bolts of electricity drop down his body as his outer structure shattered under the massively powerful bite of the Jolteon Prince. A shrill cry, unrecognizable from his standard roar, escaped his mouth.

Volt flung the pokemon away and towards the wooden gate where the onlookers stood, staring wide-eyed at the commotion going on. Some looking horrified at their ignorance and negligence of the Blitz princess while others looked on with concern.

Glalie managed to float back up in his weakened state but as soon as did, Volt was upon him. He was faster, much faster. Fast enough to put lightning to shame. Glalie had no time to react. His eyes widened as one final move, double kick, hit him in the jaws and knocked his lights out. Volt stood in his spot, glaring at the pokemon, not even out of breath. He then turned around to see his younger sister lying on the ground, making no efforts to move.

"Sapphire!" Prince Volt yelled as he ran to his sister's side and knelt down. "Speak to me, dear sister!"

"V-Volt," Sapphire whispered, trying to smile up at her brother.

"Save your strength," Volt spoke softly as he nuzzled his Glaceon sister, his voice full of concern. "My, you have evolved."

"Ah, so it would seem," she sounded happy even in her feeble state. Volt could not believe how gullible his sister was.

"Come," he spoke to her, helping to stand up against his side. "We must get you to a healer."

She managed a weak nod as she stood up on her shaky legs. She caught many sympathetic looks of her observers and realized what a mess she must have looked. Seeing the unconscious Glalie in the far corner reassured her that her brother had taken care of everything. I am going to be alright. She thought. She was about to find out how wrong she really was.

In Frere Kingdom:-

Prince Blaze threw the doors to the throne room open and barged in, Fennekin rushing right behind him, apologizing hastily to the simisears that had been posted to guard the door and keep the uninvited guests out. The hurriedly closed the doors behind them, shaking their heads as they did so.

Blaze quickly ran down the red carpet, taking no time to pay attention to the small army of Pyroar, Blaziken and Infernape standing to his left and right.

"Deepest apologies for being late, Your Majesty," Prince Blaze apologized as he took his place beside the brother. "I was-"

"Worry not, Blaze," His brother said calmly without glancing down at him. "You are here now. That is all that matters."

Having had his conscious cleared, he heaved a sigh of relief and smiled up at his brother. He noticed how well groomed his brother's coat looked with its orange pelt and black stripes and his head covered in beige fur. Blaze nearly jumped with sudden realization on how his own fur looked disorganized, a stark contrast to his brother, King Arcanine.

"It's starting," King Arcanine informed him as he began to kneel down.

Blaze quickly followed after and also kneeled, thanking his lucky star. With the Ceremony in motion, no one would be paying attention to him. Then he began to curse himself as he realized the Legendary Pokemon, Reshiram, will be observing in their place and this was a highly unacceptable way to present yourself before your deity. He wondered if she would take this as an insult and began to mentally run through all the excuses he could offer in the most respectable manner possible.

The room suddenly went dark as if something was blocking out all the light inside the throne room. Then slowly, the torches on the wall began to light up a brilliant red and orange flame. Arcanine closed his eyes and focused his mind. He was very familiar with this part of the Ceremony where Reshiram would make her godly entrance.

It was sudden. A small flame shot up in the far center of the room which instantly grew into a wild fire, its orange flames swirling and lashing out dangerously. The flames appeared to be moving around, circling a much larger entity that appeared to be at its heart. Reshiram emerged from the flame storm and spread her brilliant white wings, showing all her glory and power. As her feet landed on the throne room floor, the flames around her began to die down, revealing her feathery white body beneath. She slowly folded up her giant wings and craned her neck to bring her subordinates under her eyesight.

"Rise, my followers," Reshiram said, her voice soft and kind.

Arcanine stood up from his kneeling position and Blaze followed him.

"Arcanine," Reshiram said, addressing the King of Frere. "I see that you have done well as the king. In your short reign, you have already united the Frere Kingdom with Aerial Kingdom. Know that your alliance will serve our nation well in times of war. For that, I commend you."

Arcanine bowed his head in acceptance.

"I express my gratitude to you," Arcanine said. "For answering our prayers, for always watching over us and guiding us. You are the sole reason for our strength and endurance and the sole reason we strive with all our might."

Reshiram smiled down at the pokemon, her blue eyes fixed on him. She lowered her neck and brought her muzzle even closer so she could see him properly.

"We await your next command," Arcanine spoke boldly and clearly. "With the alliance formed, we are ready for the next course of action."

"Alas, that is not why I am here, my child," Reshiram said in a soft tone with a hint of grief. "I came here to warn you of what is to come. I foresee an attack. A conquering kingdom will soon set its course for the Frere volcano from the South. The army, it will march from dawn to dusk until it reaches the battlefield. You must march to war in defense if you are to protect the kingdom and its people."

Arcanine, taken aback, looked firmly at the Legendary. Then he bowed once.

"It was inevitable," Arcanine finally said. "And I am pleased to say that we have no lack of pokemon to fight our wars. We shall defend this kingdom till our last breath. I shall lead the army myself."

"I wish you luck," Reshiram said as she raised her head back up. "And may you live to see your nation prosper."

Flames began to encompass her colossal figure once more as she spread out her wings again. The flames appeared to consume her as they swirled around, cloaking her white body into its glorious shade of red and orange. With her final words, Reshiram was gone. The torches went out and daylight flooded into the throne room, marking the end of the Ceremony of the Ancients.

"I suppose we prepare for war," Arcanine mumbled to himself before turning to command his army.

"You have heard the deity," He spoke in a loud voice as he addressed the army. "Make haste. And make necessary preparations. Spread the word."

The gates were thrown open. The pokemon bowed before their ruler and then began to march out of the room. Prince Blaze simply observed as they walked out silently with only sounds being that of their marching feet.

"Blaze," Arcanine said, his voice grabbing his attention.

Blaze obediently walked up to his older brother, a smile on his muzzle.

"Worry not, Your Majesty," Blaze said reassuringly. "I have confidence and faith in your skills as a warrior and leader. You will do well."

"I need you," Arcanine said earnestly, looking his brother in the eyes. "I need you to accompany me in this battle."

His eyes widened as his mind registered what his brother had just asked of him. Bewildered, Blaze shook his head slowly in denial. This was not something he had expected of as a responsibility.

"Brother," Blaze said, addressing Arcanine as his brother for the first time in the day. "You are very well aware that I do not fight in war."

His statement unintentionally came off as a plea. Arcanine gave him a sympathetic smile. The older brother had always assumed that Blaze's deep-rooted hatred for war came for the fact that they had lost their family to it. The tragedy had struck both hard but Arcanine couldn't help but feel that his brother was being unnecessarily selfish in this regard. The real reason, of course was much simple. Blaze was the kind of pokemon who took pleasure in a more simplistic lifestyle and his carefree nature would not allow him to indulge in a mass killing of pokemon.

"Being controlled by your past will not take you far," Arcanine said, trying to reason with his brother. "I would greatly appreciate your contribution."

Blaze stared into his brother's eyes, pleading with all his might to be dismissed and not be burdened with this. Seeing no signs of defeat in his brother's eyes, he sighed.

"I apologize," He said, bowing. "I apologize for this. But I deny. In this case, I am useless to you. I too, like Reshiram, wish you luck. I shall not be accompanying you."

Excusing himself with another bow, he turned around and began to walk away. He had been half expecting his brother to use his authority as the king and command him into this. But Arcanine was not the one to enforce anything on his younger brother. Accepting his answer, the Frere King busied himself in preparations for the war.


That's it for now. I'll be back as soon as I can with the next chapter.

Leave a review guys. And tell me what you think.