M-a-r-i-o-n-e-t-t-e

Summary: The battle ended in a tie. N told her to become his princess. She gave him the finger and told him to get lost. After going home, she came to a realization: Her every move was being controlled by N. She was his puppet, and he was her master. Who will win? N's desire? Or her heart?

Someone: N is 21, but Touko is 18-19ish, so there's no problem there. And why do you hate OCs? I don't have any in this fanfic...well, not really.

Does It Matter: I will go more in depth with the Harmonia family in a different Part of the story.

Alima: LOLZ. I just realized that. Thanks for pointing it out! Pretty neat. xD I haven't watched X-Men in like 8 years so I don't remember much; if you want to have it connect to X-Men, go right ahead. :)

~String 4~

It's been about three months since I'd come to Alder's house. Since then, I've gotten several X-transceiver messages from Bianca, and Cheren.

Each said something along the lines of: "Touko...come back home...N is waiting." Every time I got one of those, it creeped me out; luckily I never answered their calls. Who knew what they'd say then.

Of course, Alder had told me not to answer, and to keep my X-transceiver off as much as possible. Who knew who could track me with that thing.

Another problem that had arose a while back, was the fact my mother never called me once. It confused me. She's the person I'd think would've attempted calling me the most. Apparently not.

I'm spraying Samurott with a blue water hose to clean him off when Alder comes back; his appearance looks haggard, and tired for some reason...and I can't figure out why.

Not that he hasn't looked like this at all since I've been here...he started looking physically and mentally drained about three weeks ago. He keeps complaining about headaches, and has almost passed out several times…

"Hey Alder," I say as he walks by and towards the house. I only get a nod before he heads inside and shuts the door behind him. Samurott and I exchange glances, before I turn off the water.

Following Alder inside his thatched roof house, I pat my hands dry on my ridiculous looking green and yellow clown pants, and stop behind him as he makes another one of his signature berry stews. I still haven't gotten used to those yet.

"Are you feeling okay?" I ask him, feeling a bit worried. "Do you want to go lie down? I can take over the household chores while you rest."

He continues stirring the pot in mechanical circles. "No, Touko," he says. "I'm fine. Why don't you train your pokemon before dinner?"

I frown, but nod, "Alright…" I walk outside, feeling depressed by Alder's behavior. He used to be so lively...but now he won't even laugh at my temper…

Samurott trots over to me and nudges my leg. "Saaamm," he says. I stroke his head, and call out my other pokemon.

"We're gonna train," I say, trying to lighten the mood. "Who's with me!?" My team cheer in their loud pokemon voices, and we get to work.

I keep glancing inside to watch Alder in case he suddenly faints or something… He's cleaning out the fireplace...and I don't think he should be doing that now, but I can't tell him what to do...he won't listen anyway!

For some reason, he's been distancing himself from me, and not allowing me to help him with simple things, even if it is just dusting.

When I'd first got here, Alder never allowed a dull moment. He'd make me garden, clean the house, gather firewood, pick berries, help take care of the pokemon, and when I wasn't doing that, he'd train together with me. We even had to run through the forest and battle each other with our pokemon.

That was when I ran into a tree….

But now, we aren't doing any of that. He's becoming more and more secluded into his own mind, and I don't know what to do about it.

Perhaps he's having a midlife crisis? I facepalm, before shaking my head; my pokemon look at me funny as we head into the backyard.

Alder is not the type to have a mid-life crisis. He may be a little kooky, but that doesn't mean I can blame his problems on his age. No, there is some other element that is trying to tear Alder apart...and from the inside out.

I wish I could figure out what it was..

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

It's been two days, and Alder is looking even worse than before. I bite my lip as he walks around, as if dizzy. And he might be.

"Shit, Alder…" I mutter basically to myself with a sigh. "Let me at least help you…"

He's still never letting me help him, which is what I find to be the hardest thing of all. It's like I'm watching someone crumple up and fade away without being able to help. And that is bullshit!

I'm sitting at the table, cutting Oran berries with a sharp knife when Alder walks inside, his huge hulking form blocking the sunset that strains to get in through the cracks of the doorframe.

"Hey," I say, looking up. "How are you feeling today?"

He doesn't answer and hobbles quietly over to his chair by the fireplace. "...an't…" I hear him murmur softly.

"What was that Alder?" I ask, as he curls up in his large chair. "I didn't catch it…"

"Can't...can't...can't…" he repeats, his eyes closed tightly, as if he were in serious pain.

Frowning, I set the knife down, push my chair out, and make my way over to him, "Alder," I say, "you're freaking me out. What is wrong?"

"It's too much…" he grunts, and holds his head tightly.

"What is?" I inquire, my voice rising as I begin to feel fear taking hold in my chest. "C"mon Alder...you're alright...right?"

He shakes his head almost immediately. "Get…..Touko...out…." he says brokenly, his sentence incomplete.

I frown, bending down and taking his hand in mine. "Alder…?" What did he mean I needed to get out? Was something wrong? My blood turns cold; could the shadowy figure be back? What could it have been!? My heart suddenly jumps into my throat and I can't breathe.

Alder suddenly stops moving, and removes his hands from his head before looking at me blankly. "Touko…" he says with an odd calmness to his composure. "He's coming."

"Huh?" I say stupidly, blinking at the redheaded man before me. "Who's coming?"

He just looks at me placidly. "He's coming for you...you need to wait...for him...wait…" the former champion murmurs, and begins repeating himself.

I shoot up into a standing position. No...it can't be. Alder is being affected by the same condition Bianca, Cheren, and I think my mom also went through.

"Is that so?" I ask, slowly backing away. "I'm going to go uh...stir the stew, alright?"

Alder's hand shoots out and grabs my wrist in a vice grip, "He won't be fooled again," he says robotically.

"'He'?" I say in confusion, my face scrunching up. "Who?"

"You must wait," Alder murmurs, then repeats it. "You must wait."

I try to pull my arm out of his grasp, but I can't. "O-ow!" I yelp, glaring in anger. "That hurts!"

"Saaaaaaaam!" I hear, and my Samurott charges through the front door, and knocks Alder backwards, causing the grip on my wrist to disappear.

That's when I bolt-running towards the door, grabbing my bag, and shoving my feet into the boots that are placed by the door. I'm outside in a flash, sending out Braviary, and slinging my bag over my shoulder.

"Hurry!" I shriek, as Alder and his Pokemon follow me like remote-controlled toys. Braviary snatches me up in her claws, and carries me away into the chilly air as Alder calls after me, spouting off nonsense about marrying N.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-

I stare at the horizon with bloodshot eyes. The sun is rising in red-stained rays of light; I was up all night. I can't believe Alder was messed up by...whoever messed him up.

Rubbing my dry, sleepy eyes, I blink as Braviary descends into a forest in the Western parts of Unova, where the trees are gnarled and twisted into intricate shapes that cause hand-like shadows to cover the dry earth.

"Thanks Brave," I tell her, and pat her head with my hand.

I feel numb; on the inside, and on the out.

I bury my face into Braviary's back. "Looks like it's just us again, eh?" I murmur. "Just like the old days…" I breathe in the scent of my pokemon, and try to keep myself awake. "I should just stay away from everyone...seems like the only one you can trust is yourself." I pull away from my pokemon and look up at it with tired eyes. "How about we go to a different region, Brave? Does that sound nice?"

My flying type caws loudly and nuzzles my face with its rough feathered head. I sit down, and lean against the mighty bird. "Let me...sleep a little first," I tell her quietly. "Then we can head..wherever we wanna go…"

-.-.-.-.-.-.-

The sound of whistling is what awakens me. My eyes slowly creep open, and I feel a slight wind ruffling my hair and Braviary's feathers.

Sitting up, I become more alert. There is something here, and I can feel it. Nudging Braviary, I push myself to my feet and look around warily.

What could it be?

And that's when my nightmare began.

Misty/Ms. Ketchum