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?
~String 7~
I'm slammed to the ground the minute I open the door.
"Braaav!" my pokemon shrieks, so relieved to see me. I gasp for breath as it sits on me.
"Brave!" I yelp. "Don't crush me!" I laugh, stroking her rough feathers with the palm of my hand. "It's great to see you too!" I lean my face in and rest it against Brave's warm neck, closing my eyes. "I'm sorry to have worried you…"
After sitting there for a silent moment, I lean away from the great bird, and push myself up. Sighing, I scratch the back of my head as water droplets from my damp hair scatter across the floor in random spots.
I'd only found a baggy gray shirt and some beige shorts in the wardrobe behind the large canopy bed that stretched to the ceiling in a long flow of silken cloth.
If N had prepared for my arrival, he did a shitty job.
Brave looks up at me expectantly, her large gray eyes blinking at me with the will to stay awake. I smile and pat her head. "You can rest now," I say, padding over on bare feet to the pink bag next to the wooden rocking chair. Pulling out a pokeball, I point it at Brave. "Have a nice rest." She nods at me, and closes her eyes before disappearing in a red flash.
Pocketing the pokeball, I hold the bag in my hand loosely.
Now what?
Digging around in my bag, I freeze, and search around some more. There's no denying it...the rest of my Pokemon aren't in here!
I bite my lip, a frown etching across my face as agitation grips my being. Did N do this!? I clench my fist around the strap of my bag. HE'S SO GOING TO PAY!
Slipping my hand into my large pockets, I pull out the hair tie I'd somehow managed to salvage from the pockets of my filthy shorts. I snap my hair into my signature ponytail, and shake my head, before rolling my shoulders back, and glaring at the door.
N, I'm going to go and punch you now.
...Well...when I find you.
Pushing the heavy, metallic door aside, I step into the brightly lit hallway. That jerk N had told me I was allowed to roam this place, didn't he? So if any grunts try to stop me, I don't know what I'll do.
I glance back and forth, wondering which way I should go in search of my Pokemon. Brave is in my pocket...so that means that Zekrom, Samu, Vol, Gothi, and Amoo are missing. Or stolen...by N. The jerk.
Growling in irritation I tear down the hall, just simply running for the heck of it. No sirens go off, no grunts appear, and most of all, N is completely absent. I skid to a halt after coming upon several sets of doors.
Which way? There has to be something stating in big letters that "HERE IS KING N!" Or...at least you'd think….
If I'd known that N would be this hard to find, then I'd have definitely not let him leave earlier. I slam my palm into my forehead with a groan. I must be losing my mind. I never used to be this…stupid.
Grabbing the handle of one of the doors, I push it open, and look around. Inside, there is...oddly, a grand piano. I blink at the absurdity of its location, and push the door open a little more, my hands grasping the side gently.
It smells strongly of green tea in here. I almost plug my nose from the strength of the scent, but stop myself. I shouldn't be focusing on smells..I need to find my pokemon! Even though...I'm pretty sure N's scent is of the same caliber…
WHACK!
I slap my cheeks so hard I'm forced to squat down as I hold them in their stinging agony. No. I will not think about N like that. Stupid, stupid, stupid!
After a moment, I push myself to my feet and walk in five short strides to the piano. Reaching out, I brush my fingertips across its glossy side, and look around at the room itself.
The floors are plain wood, with the walls a surrounding box of white. Across from me, is a large panel of glass serving as a wall. Strangely, there is a balcony right outside with several potted plants that make it look like we're in Humilau instead of N's castle. If my assumption that we're in the castle is correct…
Smiling, I think about how I used to play as a child, and feel a great longing to tap the keys of this sleekly made piano.
I'm about to slide the piano bench out when my body straightens. Weird...for a second there, I thought I actually wanted to play the piano. Not anymore though…
Frowning to myself, I back away from the piano, my bare feet making soft noises against the smooth floorboards, and exit the room.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
I never did find N. My drive to punch him quickly faded after I left the piano room, and I wandered down several flights of stairs.
So here I am, in a more tech-y part of N's castle. Reminds me of Opelucid city..except...less blue. Running a hand through my hair, I push a random door open that had been slightly ajar when I noticed it. Inside, it's pretty basic in its interior design, but I see rows of racks filled with Pokeballs.
Maybe mine are here…?
Pushing myself into the room, I close the door behind me, and tiptoe over to the furthest rack. I facepalm. Why the heck should I be tiptoeing? I'm the Hero of Unova for Arceus' sakes!
Straightening my shoulders, I walk like any hero should, and firmly place my hand on the shelf at the back with a row of five Pokeballs.
These are definitely mine. They have little Tepig stickers attached to the bottom so I know they're mine.
Reaching out a hand, I try to grab a pokeball, but my hand stops. I frown. Trying again, I feel my arm jerk to the side, and I swerve, but somehow manage to keep myself from falling.
What? I blink several times. Why can't I…? I stare at my hand, and try to take the Pokeball again. My arm freezes in mid-movement, and I sigh in exasperation.
Okay… I let out a breath. I'll give it one more, super hard try.
Focusing my eyes on the ball I think Samu is in, I thrust my arm out as if I were going to punch something, and suddenly my arm starts swinging around, as if someone were pulling me back and forth. My left hand lashes out and I grab my wrist, steadying my arm as it shakes violently.
Grimacing, I back away from the Pokeballs, and the feeling in my right arm dissipates. Phew...
Turning on my heel, I growl in annoyance and punch one of the racks. It doesn't help me vent too much of my anger...and I only get a red fist as a reward.
What the actual fuck is wrong with my hand?
Sighing, I turn away from the Pokeballs on the shelves. Who knows how long I could just stand there, trying to pick up a freakin' ball. This is seriously stupid. DAMMIT!
-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Somehow, I ended up wandering down more stairs until I ran into two female grunts who took me to the cafeteria for some food. Apparently, I looked starving.
Stupid N.
I still can't get over the fact that I wasn't able to pick up a Pokeball. A fucking Pokeball. Babies could pick them up easier than what I just went through.
The cafeteria food isn't all that bad...it's better than Alder's cooking that's for sure. I still can't understand why he wouldn't let me cook though...it's bizarre...maybe he's too stubborn to admit he sucks.
My fork which had been hosting a scoop of green beans stops in mid air.
Alder… Oh Alder… I put a hand to my face. He's...well, who knows how he is at this point? Is he okay? I just left him there...spouting off nonsense about becoming N's princess...
Shaking my head, I finish the main course off before reaching over to eat the cherry gelatin. My hand freezes as I try to bring the spoonful to my eagerly awaiting mouth.
Again?
It feels as if my wrist is being squeezed tightly, and forced to stay absolutely still. I gasp, dropping the spoon in pain, closing my eyes as I try to push the unseen problem away. I accidentally send my gelatin flying with a backhand and it ends up on the floor. A few grunts rush over and tell me that they'll clean it up.
I don't really pay attention to them. My focus is on my right hand; I stare in frozen shock.
The feeling is gone. I'm pretty sure that I'm in control now.
Or...am I?
~Misty/Ms. Ketchum