"Uncle Silvy!" Iri shrieked happily, immediately latching onto his favorite 'relative' as soon as he walked through the door. Soul was behind him, holding onto Raven's hand as Silver tried to pry himself from Iri's grasp. The youngest boy looked up at Silver with a bright grin. "Hi."
"Get off." he muttered gruffly. The boy complied, grinning happily.
"Uncle Silver," Aini said, crossing the room and glaring up at him. "Your son is like you. You both have the personality of a rock."
Silver glared at her.
"Say thank you!" Soul scolded lightly.
"That was an insult." Silver said. Raven didn't respond, simply walking past his mother and father and going around the corner.
"I'm sure it wasn't..." Soul trailed off, glancing from her son to Aini.
"I was." Aini spat rudely, then turned, abruptly walking away.
"I'm sorry." V sighed, finally coming around the corner. "She's hit the age where she thinks she's in charge. Six going on sixteen." she gestured for them to come in the kitchen so the children couldn't listen in.
"No worries." Soul laughed. "Raven just... doesn't really say much. I don't know why he's like that." she worriedly glanced at the boy. "He's always been very quiet and withdrawn. When I put him with other children, he just plays with them as if he feels obliged to do so, rather than because he wants to."
"If the boy likes being alone, then I say leave him be." Silver responded. He lowered his voice to a whisper, so Raven couldn't hear. "He's just quiet. Let him draw and write and whatever else he wants to do."
"I'm just worried." Soul murmured. "The insomnia isn't helping. He stays up till two doing something in his notebook or playing games or something. I'll wake up in the middle of the night and see him just wandering around sometimes." Soul sighed, shaking her head. "I don't know what to do. I at least want him to be sleeping at night." she glanced at Silver, who really didn't say much since the two women began talking. "I honestly was a bit surprised that you managed to get him to sleep before eight. How did you-?"
"MOOOOOOOOM!" the shrill shriek from Aini echoed throughout the house. There was the profound thumps of little feet stomping down stairs. Then the little six-year-old stormed in, ponytail swinging with each stomp, glaring up at her mother. "Raven was going through my stuff in my room! He threw things everywhere and pulled all my books off my shelf!"
"Uncle Silvy!" Iri rushed in, holding up his phanphy plush teary-eyed. "Raven came in my room and threw Phan and now he has a boo-boo!"
"Give that back!" they suddenly heard Celina shout. "That's my Dad's- Hey!"
Calm footsteps came down stairs followed by frantic one's, then Raven walked into the room with a large book under his arm. Celina followed after him, looking unsure what to do. Raven crossed the kitchen to V and held up the book.
"Finish." he demanded. V blinked, looking at the book.
"The fairy tale?" V asked. Raven nodded.
"Raven." the still hooded boy glanced at his father. "You don't go through other people's things and mess up their rooms without permission. Apologize to Celina, Aini, and Iri."
Raven huffed, then turned to the three children.
"Sorry I went through your rooms without permission." he said quite politely and expertly, as if he knew what the words meant and wasn't just repeating what Silver was saying.
"How do you ask to finish the story?" Silver responded. Raven turned back to V.
"Can you please finish the story about Mom and Dad?" he asked. V smiled.
"Well, since you asked so nicely-"
"Wait!" Iri suddenly exclaimed. The youngest boy walked up to Raven, holding up Phan.
"Phan still doesn't forgive you 'cause you never said sorry." Iri explained. "Give Phan a kiss and he'll forgive you." he stated simply. Raven blinked, then turned his attention to Soul and Silver, as if asking them if they understood the stupidity behind the request.
"If you want the story, Raven," Soul laughed. "Everyone has to forgive you. I mean, just imagine if someone threw Roar across the room."
Raven seemed embarrassed at the mention of his Todadial toy.
"Fine." he huffed, leaning down and pecking the plush on the trunk. At that very moment, a flash went off in the room. Raven snapped his attention to his mother, who was laughing, but trying to hide it behind her hand, along with the phone behind her back.
"Mom!" Raven cried as his father turned away, trying to hide his shaking shoulders. "Dad! It's not funny!" he turned to V. "You promised!" then he stomped out of the room with a satisfied Iri, a triumphant Aini, and a giggling Celina.
"Maybe he's just shy, rather than withdrawn." V said once their laughter died down.
o.0.o.0.o
A Lock of Trouble, Part Four
Silver woke with something heavy pressing onto his chest. Annoyed, he blinked his eyes open, only to be met with the furious glare of Gold. His hair was an unruly mess, his clothes ripped, and cuts littered his body. He pinning him down with one foot.
"Drowned." he hissed. "We nearly got drowned."
"And you're blaming me?" Silver responded. "Sorry, Carl and Will knocked down the post and broke the dam. If it makes you feel better, we almost drowned too." he glanced around. "Where's your boss?"
"Gold?!"
"Hey, Crys!" Gold shouted over his shoulder as Crystal came through the bushes. "I found-"
"MARA!" a shrill cry rang out. Silver smirked, shoving Gold off as the electric cotton ball electrocuted the both of them.
o.0.o.0.o
"I told you not to run ahead. But do you listen? Noooo."
"Well, he nearly killed us! I thought you wanted to find him!"
"Do you ever listen?"
"Yes!"
"No! No you do not! This is how we get into these situations!"
"Hey, you're the one deadset on catching him!"
"I want to arrest him for his crimes!"
"Well, we wouldn't be stuck like this if you listened to me when I said give up!"
"We wouldn't be dangling from a tree branch if you listened when I said don't run ahead!"
"How long has this been going on for?" Silver asked, finally coming back with some breakfast, only to see Crystal and Gold still bound back to back with Soul's hair, dangling from a tree branch and arguing.
"Since they woke up." Soul responded.
"And that was...?"
"Shortly after you left."
"Young lady!" Crystal suddenly exclaimed. "Let us go! The man you are with is very dangerous!"
"I don't think so!" Soul chirped back. "Silver's nice!"
"Ha! Like all criminals, right?" Gold shot back. Soul sighed.
"Listen, you two. Today is very important to me. Like..." she held out her arms wide. "This important! So I need you," she patted Silver on the shoulder. "To not arrest him, okay?"
"No!" Crystal shot back. "He must be arrested for his wrongdoing's against the kingdom!"
"Just for twenty-four hours!" Soul exclaimed, slowly lowering the two to the ground. Silver watched with hidden humor as they shook themselves free of her hair, though all three were contemplating the offer. Honestly, Soul didn't want to give up Silver after twenty-four hours, but she needed to find some way to appease these two so the best day ever could commence onwards without a hitch. "Then you guys can chase each other to your hearts content, okay?"
Silver kept his steady glare on the two as Soul dragged him forward.
"Pinky promise. Please?"
Silver ignored this for a moment, then sighed under Soul's pleading gaze, and held up his hand for a handshake. Crystal, seemingly the one in charge, didn't make a move.
"It would be against knightly code to make a deal with and help a convict." Crystal stated, turning her gaze away.
"Just for today." Soul pleaded, grabbing her hand. Crystal wrenched it back with a cold glare. "And it's... also my birthday." she continued. "Just so you know."
"Oh, come on, Crys." Gold suddenly said, placing his hands on Soul's shoulders. "It's her birthday." Soul nodded enthusiastically. "And when was the last time you had a break, anyways? Give the guards the day off for the festival, and we'll enjoy it too."
Crystal contemplated this for a moment.
"You are not allowed to leave our sight." Crystal said, snapping her gaze to Silver. "And once this day is done, then you will be taken into custody by Gold and I, understood?"
Silver nodded and Soul smiled, practically squealing as the two shook hands.
o.0.o.0.o
Silver watched humorously as Soul squealed upon coming to the bridge to the kingdom.
"Arkee and I are going to send word to the guards." Crystal said, climbing onto her pokémon. "Gold, don't let him out of your sight. I'll meet back with you at the first fountain near the gates."
Gold saluted as the two sped off. Silver glanced to the side, and saw another horribly drawn wanted poster. He ripped it down and, in a fury, balled it up. When he turned back to Gold, he was smirking at him.
"Why would you take it down?" he teased. "You look like twins!"
Silver promptly shoved the ball of paper into the sketch artists mouth. Gold spat it out, allowing the spit-filled article to plaster to Silver's face. He howled with laughter as Silver peeled the disgusting thing from his face. Wiping away the excess saliva, Silver promptly punched Gold in the face. Gold hit back, and thus started the shoving match.
There was a sudden and loud whistle, and both men paused, Silver with Gold in a headlock, Gold's teeth digging into his wrist and Silver about to punch him in the face.
The both looked up, and saw Mara, resting comfortably on Soul's head, glaring at them. Both knowing what it was like to be shocked by the mareep, released each other. They glared at Mara, though when the pokémon turned her back, Gold elbowed him. Silver punched him in the face.
When he turned his attention back to Soul, she was at the gates, trying to take in everything at once. There were garlands of flowers hung across buildings, banners here and there, shop owners in stands trying to sell travelers items, and people everywhere, bustling and happy and excited and full of life.
A cart suddenly rolled by. Soul seemed startled by it's seemingly sudden appearance, stumbled back and bumped into a lady holding a crate.
"Sorry!" she exclaimed, only to bump into another person, then another, and another. Just as she managed to get out of the line of traffic, something yanked on her hair, causing her to jerk back. She looked over her shoulder, seeing people mercilessly walking over and stepping on the light brown locks.
Silver jogged up to her, gathering her hair in his arms in an attempt to keep it from being trampled over. Gold trailed behind him, holding the ends.
"I can fix this easy." Gold said, nodding towards a vendor selling swords and other sharp items. "Just cut it."
"No!" Silver and Soul exclaimed at the same time. Gold raised an eyebrow.
"Okay, then..." Gold trailed off. He looked around curiously, then smiling as he spotted a small group of girls sitting on the fountain. With a grin, he whistled loudly, catching their attention. He led Silver and Soul to them. "What do you say?"
The girls gasped in surprise and awe, then leapt at the chance to play with with hair. The girls pushed the two men aside, taking it upon themselves to spread out the hair. Forcing Soul to sit, they began to make a game of pulling the hair into a long braid while Sneasel and Mara stood protectively next to her. Out of respect for the girls game, the townsfolk began to walk around them.
Silver, on the other hand, leaned against the wall with Gold next to him, keeping a protective eye on the girl as she laughed along with the children. He widened his eyes as some uniformed guards walked by, but hardly seemed to notice him. In fact, they seemed rather excited to get the armor off.
"Seems the guards are even slacking today." Silver jolted at the female voice, spotting Blue with a mischievous smirk. "Hey, Silver. Am I interrupting your date?"
"It's not a date." Silver glowered, jerking his head to Gold. "I've got an idiot following me."
"Want me to get rid of him?"
"No." Silver was surprised to find his voice mingled with another. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw a taller male with green eyes, spiky light brown hair, and a serious expression on his face. Holding his hand was a happy, bouncing little two-year-old with long, light brown hair a turquoise eyes. On her arm was a basket of brightly colored flowers.
"Oh, you haven't met yet, have you?" Blue grinned. "Green, this is my younger brother, Silver, and Silver, this is my husband, Green."
"Uncle!" the girl suddenly grinned, shaking herself free of her father's arm and latching around his legs, loosing half her flowers in the process. Silver glowered at her as she looked up with a bright grin. "Hi."
"Uncle?" he repeated.
"Turquoise," Blue said, nodding to Soul and the girls, now nearly finished braiding her hair. "You wanted to play too, right?"
"Oh, yeah!" Turquoise bounded over to the girls, holding out her basket and talking with animated hand gestures. She circled to Soul, explaining her idea. Soul nodded, and the little girl latched her arms around her neck, the group, once again, getting to work, only pausing every once in a while to gather the fallen flowers from around their feet.
"That's your niece." Green crossed his arms. "Turquoise."
"Turquoise." Silver repeated.
"Her idea for a name, not mine." Green said, jerking his head towards Blue.
"It's a nice name!" Blue responded. "Regardless, it's nice to see you out and about, Silver. Finally outrun Mask."
"Not entirely." Silver responded. "But close enough."
"Oh, wow!" Silver brought his gaze back up to Soul. Her hair was not braided into a thick braid that reached her ankles, off the ground, with flowers tucked all around the braid. "Thank you!" she grinned, kneeling down and patting Turquoise on the head.
Silver wasn't entirely sure how the girls managed to get all her hair into a single braid, but he found himself smiling nonetheless.
A sudden elbow in his ribcage all but shattered the moment.
He glared at the offending person with the elbow, only to see Blue innocently whistling, though there was still a smirk on her face. He turned his attention to Gold, who smiled a smile he was not at all please with.
"Stop that." Silver said accusingly towards him. "You're creeping me out."
"Better pop the question." Gold said with a shrug. "Someone else might."
Silver narrowed his eyes.
"First off, I only knew her for a day. Secondly," his voice dropped to a menacing level. "What are you implying?"
"Now, now, hold onto your britches, cherry." Gold said. "I've got my sights set on another gal. I'm saying keep an eye on yours."
"I see you've actually followed instructions." Silver blinked as Crystal approached them. He almost didn't recognize her without her armor. Arkee stood faithfully next to her, though seemed more relaxed without his owners intense aura surrounding her.
"What can I say?" Gold responded. "I just can't resist a request from a lady."
"Silver!" Soul bounded up to them with Turquoise on her hip. "She says she's your niece! Is that true?!"
"I guess..." Silver responded.
"That's so cute!" she grinned. "Uncle Silvy!"
"Don't call me that." Silver hissed.
"Uncle Silvy! Uncle Silvy! Uncle Silvy!" Turquoise chanted with a smile.
"Silver." he corrected. "Silver."
"Turquoise is in that 'repeating' stage." Blue said as Turquoise repeated the name seven more times. "Seems like you're stuck with Silvy."
o.0.o.0.o
Somehow, Soul ended up dragging their misfit group around to everything. Silver wasn't entirely sure how, but he found his attention being torn between his niece, his companion, and the ever demanding Crystal, ordering Gold about to make sure he didn't run off. The third was quickly taken care of, however, when Gold shoved some cake into Crystal's mouth and told her to 'sweeten up'.
Silver finally caught up with Soul when he found her staring at a tile portrait of the king and queen, the queen holding an infant child with long brown hair and light brown eyes.
"What is it?" Soul asked, staring at the portrait as she gripped Turquoise's hand. Silver glanced at it.
"That's a portrait of the current royal family." Silver responded.
"Why are they leaving flowers?" Soul asked, glancing at the people leaving flowers, some with their heads bowed in prayer. "Did one of them die?"
"It's for the princess." Silver responded. "The princess disappeared a few days after she was born. They're praying for her safety."
He noticed Soul gripping Turquoise's hand tighter.
"That's so sad." she murmured.
"Do you want to leave something?" he offered. Soul seemed to perk up at this, turning to him with a grin.
"Can we?!"
"If you want to." Silver shrugged. Soul nodded vigorously. Silver glanced at the multiple stands around them. "I'll be right back."
"Okay!" Soul chirped, gaze transfixed on the portrait. It took Silver a little while, but he managed to get a nice sized garland of flowers. When he turned back to the portrait, he saw Soul and Turquoise gone.
"Soul?" he asked, quickly leaving the small garland on the steps in front of the portrait and scanning the crowd for her. "Soul?!"
Familiar giggling floated through the air, along with cheerful music. He turned, and saw Soul twirling Turquoise in a circle to the beat of a small band. Around them, he spotted Green and Blue.
"Found you!" Silver snapped his gaze to Crystal, who was panting. "Thought... you'd loose me in the-" her lecture was cut off as Soul suddenly tugged her into the ring of dancing. Silver blinked in surprise, seeing that she was pulling random commoners into the small square, all of them happily dancing to the tune the band was playing.
A crowd was beginning to form, people clapping along to the beat as Soul convinced more people into the circle with Soul leading the dance. She spun, gesturing towards him to join, but he politely decline. What would be more noticeable then a redheaded thief dancing in the town square?
Suddenly, he was shoved into the circle. Just as another girl grabbed onto his arm, he managed to shoot a glare to Blue, who waved at him with a teasing smile on her face, Turquoise happily spinning in front of her, and Green walking back to her side. Was he the one who shoved him into the circle?
Oddly enough, Silver found himself getting into the dancing, actually knowing the steps from all the times watching the silly dances from the sidelines. At a certain beat, they would switch partners if they wanted too, and Silver had his gaze set on Soul. Every time he seemed to get close enough to brush her fingers, though, someone else would tug him or her away, thus separating them again.
Quickly, the dancing was going from fun to frustrating. This giggling village girls were getting on his nerves and all he wanted to do was dance with the girl he brought to this festival!
Another switch, and he found himself dancing with Crystal.
Well, if this isn't awkward, he wasn't sure what was. He all but avoided eye contact, saying nary a word to the woman, who seemed focused on something else entirely.
"Switch." she suddenly muttered. Silver blinked as she separated and, due to her prediction, other people began to switch. He was suddenly spinning another girl around, seeing Crystal was with Gold. Gold glanced at him and mouthed 'you're welcome'.
Unsure what he was implying, and knowing of the sketch artists reputation, Silver dared to cast a glance to his partner.
And was surprised to see Soul happily grinning back up at him.
"Finally, huh, Silver?" she grinned. Silver blinked. So she was seeking him out too.
Needless to say, he spent the next three songs dancing with Soul.
o.0.o.0.o
Blue didn't care how much Silver denied it. He and Soul were totally on a date.
After they had danced for a significant amount of time, Blue pretty much stalked them. She watched her and Silver draw a magnificent lily in the middle of the square with the other children, enjoy cupcakes together, play multiple games, and he even bought her a gift. A small gift, true, just a tiny banner with the kingdoms symbol on it, but a gift nonetheless.
And he better not think that she didn't miss him leaning in closer, his chin practically on top her head as she held it up to compare it to the tiny triangles above them.
It was totally a date and they totally looked like a couple.
"Come on, Blue." Green said, holding onto a pouting Turquoise. "They're calling us to the boats."
"I wanna go with Uncle Silvy and Aunt Soul!" Turquoise pouted. Blue grinned. Even her daughter accepted them as a couple.
"Let's leave them alone, now." Blue said. "They want some alone time."
"Boo." she responded. Blue looked over her shoulder at Gold, who was supporting a giggling Crystal. She raised an eyebrow. When she told Gold to get Crystal drunk, she hadn't actually expected him to go through with it. He caught her glance and shrugged, then held up two fingers. Only two glasses? Crystal must be a lightweight.
Or he could be meaning twenty, thus her wobbly state now.
Crap. She didn't want to be the one to face lead guards wrath should anything happen. But then again, she was confident Gold would keep an eye on her.
"Blue, come on." Green insisted.
"Alright, alright." she said, trying to spot Soul and Silver, then smiled.
Silver was already paddling them out to the middle of the lake.
o.0.o.0.o
If Silver hadn't already scolded her three times, Soul was pretty sure they'd have been tipped over from her jumpy excitement. Sneasel and Mara were happily sitting off to the side, getting along tremendously, the latter having seemingly warmed up to her redheaded companion.
A sudden drop of fear suddenly fell into her stomach. What would happen after this? She had been dreaming for years to see these lights up close. What if it wasn't all that it was cracked up to be? And what if it was? She knew she'd have to go home after this, but what if...
What if she never got to see Silver ever again?
"You alright?" Silver suddenly asked. Soul blinked, looking down.
"I don't know." she shrugged. "I don't know if I'm more scared for this dream to come true or for what's going to happen after it does."
Silver was silent for a moment.
"I'm not all good with this 'dream' business," Silver responded, folding his hands. "But I suppose you always a new dream."
Marry Silver.
The thought popped into her head out of no where, and the more Soul thought about it, the more fun it sounded. She never really thought about getting married, what with her mind consumed by the lanterns, but the idea of marrying the redhead sitting next to her sounded more and more appealing with every passing minute. Then she began thinking about their children. What would they look like? What gender would they be? She could totally see a red-headed boy running rampant through their little house, where she would sell her healing abilities. Silver would never have to struggle or steal ever again. They would have fabulous get togethers with Blue and her family at the pub she owned, with all the thieves that came that day, and maybe even Gold and Crystal.
What would they name their little boy? Maybe after a color, like Turquoise? Or maybe after an item or color they first saw, like how Silver adopted his name. Probably a unisex name, in case it was a girl instead of a boy. Maybe something dark and serious, so Silver would agree with it. She was fairly certain he wouldn't want to have a kid named 'Magenta'.
"Raven." she murmured, glancing at the sky. Yes, raven. A black that glints blue or purple, given the light.
That sounded nice.
"Pardon?"
She jerked her head to Silver, face suddenly a furious scarlet. Hopefully, he couldn't see it in the darkness.
"Nothing!" she grinned, waving her hands in front of her. "Just talking to myself!"
Silver rolled his eyes with a smirk, turning his attention back to the castle. Soul focused on his profile for a moment. Yes, she decided. Their son would totally look like him, red hair and all, if not for his eyes. She could see him running around with light brown eyes.
Suddenly, his hand reached out, grasping hers. She blinked, glancing at him and hoping that he couldn't hear her heart pounding. His glaze flicked to hers, and then, with a small smile, he pointed. Slowly, she turned her gaze, and gasped.
A single lantern was floating in the air, and on the ground below it, the streets were lighting up with lanterns.
She ripped her hand free from his, nearly sending Silver and their pokémon toppling as she went to the front of the boat, gaze transfixed on the tiny lantern.
Suddenly, thousands of other lanterns lifted into the sky, illuminating it like stars, following their leader.
"Hey, Soul." she blinked, looking over her shoulder. Silver was sitting behind her, holding two glowing lanterns. "Happy birthday."
Soul beamed so brightly, she was sure her smile rivaled the sun. She sat back down across from him.
"I have something for you too." she smiled, reaching down beside her. Hopefully, if Blue followed her instructions...
Her and brushed leather and she grinned, yanking up the satchel.
"I was thinking about giving it to you sooner, but... I didn't want you to abandon me." she cast her glance down. "If you wanna leave after this, you can. I'm sure I can find my..." she trailed off, looking down. Suddenly, she felt the bag being pushed down, in between them. She glanced up, looking at the stern face Silver had.
"Soul, I'm going to ask again." he said. "Do you want to go back to that tower?"
The whimsical idea of getting married to Silver popped into her mind. Then with a bright grin and happy tears, she took the lantern in his left hand.
"No!" she exclaimed as the both released the lanterns into the air. She grabbed at his hands, grinning. "Lets run away and live in the city together, away from my mother and away from Mask and Carl and Will! We can sell my healing powers and you won't have to struggle ever again! Okay?"
He cupped her face, gently wiping away the tears.
"Are you sure?" he said teasingly. "There might be some rabid buneary's."
"I'm sure!" she grinned. When she glanced back at him, his hands had dropped from her face and he adopted his serious expression again. He was staring at something behind her. "Silver?" she asked, glancing over her shoulder, and seeing nothing. "Is everything okay?"
"It's fine." he said, glancing at the satchel. "I just have something I need to take care of real quick, okay?"
o.0.o.0.o
Silver paddled the boat to shore. He was sure, absolutely positive, that he had seen Will and Carl at the shore holding a lantern, staring specifically at him. Though he hardly liked the two, he had made up his mind.
He wanted to live out his days with Soul, and in order to do that, he had to tie up the loose end he had with these two. Once they were gone, hoped Mask would be out of his life forever, and he could continue on with his life.
"Wait here." he said. Sneasel tried to climb out after him, but he held up his hand. "You too." He wanted extra protection in case something happened and they went after Soul. He climbed out of the boat, dragging it to shore, then going around and grabbing the satchel.
"Silver?" Soul asked worriedly, clutching Mara to her chest.
"I'm sorry, everything if fine." he said, cupping her face with one hand. "There's something I need to take care of, then we can go back to the city."
Soul beamed.
"Okay, Silver!"
"I'll be right back." he responded, turning and going in the direction Will and Carl went. It was a short walk, but he came upon the two. Carl was sitting on a rock, glaring out at the water, a sailboat docked close to him.
"It's been a while, hasn't it, Silver?" Will snickered. Silver kept his glare steady.
"Here." he said, tossing the satchel to the two, the hood unhooking and the crown tumbling out. "I don't need it anymore. Sell it. Wear it. I don't really care. I'm through with you and Mask." he turned to make his departure, only to be faced with a snarling Houndoom. Silver took a step back.
"Holding out on us again?" Carl asked, coming down from his perch as Will came up to them.
"What?" Silver growled out, turning to look at them with a ferocious glare.
"We heard you found something. Something much more valuable than a crown." as if to prove his point, Carl kicked the item over as he got closer. "We want her instead."
It took mere milliseconds for Silver to figure out what he was implying.
"No." he shook his head, getting into a fighting stance. "I won't let you touch her!"
"What was it you said earlier?" Will pondered. "'All for one and two for me'?"
"You leave her out of-!"
"Xatu, Hypnosis!"
o.0.o.0.o
Soul stood by the boat, eyes trained on the direction Silver went.
Suddenly, a figure appeared. She beamed.
"Thank goodness." she sighed, rubbing Mara behind her ears. "I was staring to think you ran off with the crown and left me."
Suddenly, Sneasel started growling. Soul blinked, looking at her, then watching as the single figure split into two. She widened her eyes, heart pounding as the two approached her.
"Bad news, sweetcheeks." the whimsically dressed one said. "He did."
"N-No..." Soul murmured, the idea of living in the cottage with little Raven, together, as a family, faltering. "He wouldn't!"
"See for yourself." the taller one held up his hand, pointing towards the shore. Soul slowly walked towards the shore, water lapping at her toes. Squinting, she could faintly make out Silver's silhouette steering a boat to shore.
"Silver!" she called out, voice on the verge of hysterics as the idea faltered again. "SILVER!"
"Fair enough trade." Carl said again, running his hand along her braid. "A crown for the girl with the magic hair."
She whipped around, eyes wide with terror. Silver wouldn't tell them. Silver wouldn't tell anyone. Silver... She... She loved...
"How much to you think someone would pay to remain young and healthy forever?" Carl mused.
"No..." she shook her head, clutching Mara and Sneasel to her chest. "Please, no...!"
In response, Carl stood at his full height, holding open a sack.
"Be a dear and get in the sack." Will grinned.
"No!" Soul screamed, turning around and bolting with tears streaming down her face. She didn't make it very far, however, as her hair got caught in a log. She began tugging at it in a panic, only to hear the cries of alarm and pain from Carl and Will.
"Soul?!"
"M-Mama...?" she trailed off, going around the corner and peeking around, only to see her mother standing there with a tree branch in one hand, panting, Carl and Will unconscious on the ground.
"Oh!" her mother folded her hands together, dropping the branch. "My precious girl!"
"M-Mama..." she trailed off, running into her arms.
"I followed you." Mckenzie explained. "I followed you because I felt guilty and I was so worried and I saw them attack you and... and... oh, my dear girl are you okay?" Soul felt herself tearing up.
"Mama... Silver... He and I... I thought..."
"Lets go." she said. "Lets go before they come to." she ran away into the forest, though Soul kept her focus on the boat Silver was in, as if hoping he would miraculously come to and turn the boat around to stop her.
No such thing happened.
Slowly, she turned back to her mother, who had a sad look on her face, as if sad for her. She held out her arms for an embrace.
Then she burst into tears, running to her mother's arms.
"You were right, Mama." she wailed. "You were right about everything."
And like that, the image of a little boy with red hair and light brown eyes shattered and floated away, much like the lanterns Soul so wanted to see.
o.0.o.0.o
Silver woke as he felt the world suddenly jerk. What...? Had he... been knocked out?
"Soul?" he snapped his gaze up as guards suddenly jumped onto the boat, ripping the ropes from him and dragging him to shore. "Soul! No! Wait! Soul! SOUL!"
Unbeknownst to him, four adults were watching him. A married couple, their little girl asleep in the mans arms, and a slightly hungover woman being supported by a man with black hair and gold eyes. Needless to say, their illnesses from seasickness, alcohol, over indulgence in food and what have you all vanished, replaced by a new feeling.
Fear.
Not just for that of the thief, but that of the girl that was was with them.
Slowly, the leader of the guards shared a glance with the former thief. Both women nodded, knowing exactly what they needed to do.
o.0.o.0.o
Soul stared at her lap as her mother plucked the last flower from her hair.
"There, like it never even happened." she said, throwing the flower into a basket with the others. "Now, wash up for dinner," she walked to the door, smiling. "I'm making pecha berry cake."
Soul knew her mother was frowning at her lack of cheering up at the sound of her favorite desert. But Soul didn't feel like eating. Every morsel of food that went in her mouth tasted vinegary and disgusting, making her even sicker and sadder than before. Everything she looked at reminded her of Silver, of the time they spent together, of the future she briefly dreamed of together. Mama wanted to snap her fingers and forget but Soul... Soul knew she's never forget.
"Oh, Soul." her mother said in the doorway. "I tried to warn you what was out there." she scowled at the floor. "The world is dark and selfish and cruel. If it finds even the slightest ray of sunshine... It destroys it."
Soul ignored her mother, just staring at her folded hands as her mother shut the door behind her. Slowly, Soul unclasped her hands, staring at the small banner Silver had gotten her. She heard Mareep squeak, climbing onto her lap in a form of comfort. Sneasel came out too, but Soul turned away from her. She didn't want to be reminded of Silver, of the heartbreak.
She stared up at the murals above her, of a baby in a cradle, surrounded by stars and such.
Suddenly, her eyes caught something.
The outline of a lily.
She blinked, holding up the small banner, seeing it again.
Soul stared, wide-eyed, suddenly spotting lilies across her bedroom, covering her ceiling, all in outlines.
"A... A cradle?" she wondered suddenly having a fuzzy outline of a cradle plaguing her mind. Suddenly, two faces flashed in her mind, reminding her of the king and queen in the portrait.
She let out a startled yelp, suddenly flashing back to the moment she placed the crown on her head, the familiarity of it. A man, placing the crown on the very crest of her bangs when she was young. To young. She... She was...!
"Soul?" she heard her mother call worriedly, no doubt from the crash. She heard footsteps, but all she could do was breath heavily, trying to remember. What was it? What was going on? "Soul, what's going on up there? Are you alright?"
Slowly, she opened her door, leaning against the doorframe.
"I'm the lost princess." she murmured.
"Oh, please speak up, Soul, you know I hate mumbling."
"I'm the lost princess." she said louder, standing up straight and turning towards her mother. Mckenzie widened her eyes. The surprised look on her face was all the confirmation Soul needed. Suddenly, she was filled with an amount of rage and hate that she had never felt before. Who was the woman standing before her then, if not her mother? "Did I mumble, Mama? Or should I even call you that?"
o.0.o.0.o
Silver paced back and forth in his cell, unsure what to do. He gripped the bars on his window, glaring to the outside world, suddenly wishing for a miracle.
He heard the loud clank of a lock, and turned, seeing Crystal in the doorway with two guards, both with their heads bowed.
"Let's get this over with." the woman said. Silver scowled at her. He knew this was coming, but he was still disgusted with the fact that this woman, whom he had celebrated a festival with yesterday, even danced with momentarily, still wanted to hang him. She avoided his gaze, so he assumed that was out of guilt.
But her guilt meant nothing to him if it meant she wouldn't release him to reunite with Soul.
So he kept his steady glare on her as the guards shackled him up, leading him into the hallway. He wanted to look her in the eye, to let her know just how much he hated her.
For the briefest of moments, he averted his gaze, catching sight of Will and Carl.
Suddenly, he narrowed his eyes, ramming his shoulder into the one guard and kicking the other. Jumping up and bringing his arms in front of him, he reached through the bars and grabbed Carl by his shirt.
"How did you know about her?!" he roared, voice echoing across the stone hallways as he yanked him so hard against the bars he was sure that would knock him out. "How did you know about Soul?!"
"It wasn't us, I swear!" Carl exclaimed, suddenly sounding very afraid. Good, Silver thought. He should be.
"Then who was it?!" Silver demanded, slamming him into the bars again.
"It was the old lady!"
"Old lady?" he murmured. Soul's... Soul's mother? He let out a roar as the guards pinned him again, pulling him up. "Let me go! She's in danger!" he knew he sounded like a madman, but he didn't care. "Crystal! Please! You know who I'm talking about! There's tower, Soul is there! She's in trouble! You have to find her!" He knew he resorted to begging, but he didn't care. Someone needed to find her. Someone needed to keep her safe. "Please! Crystal! Please send some guards to her! Please!"
"Keep moving, men." Crystal responded, acting oblivious. Silver clenched his fists.
"Soul!"
o.0.o.0.o
"It was you!" Soul exclaimed. "It was all you! You set up Will and Carl! And... And you set up Silver!"
Soul watched as Mckenzie narrowed her eyes.
"Everything I ever did for you, Soul, was to protect you."
In a rage, Soul shoved her out of the way, going down the stairs with Mara and Sneasel by her side.
"I can't believe this. I can't believe I spent my entire life hiding from people who would abuse me for my powers-"
"Soul!" her mother shouted at her.
"When I should have been hiding from you!"
"Where will you go?" Mckenzie spat back. "He won't be there for you."
Soul put on her fiercest glare.
"What did you do to him?"
"That criminal," Mckenzie spat the word out. "Will be hung for his crimes."
Soul felt her heart drop to the pit of her stomach. Here, her dreams were quickly reforming, only to be crushed again.
"No." she whispered, trying to stay calm. Trying not to panic. "Silver...!"
"Now, now, dear." she said, raising her hand to pat her head. "Everything is as it should be."
"No!" Soul shoved her back. Mckenzie stared up at her surprised.
"Why, you-!" Mckenzie raised her hand, but Soul grasped her wrist before she could strike her.
"You won't ever hit me again." Soul glared. "You were wrong about the world. And you were wrong about Silver. And you were wrong about me!" suddenly, Mckenzie was jerking back, trying to get her wrist back. "And I will never let you use my hair again!"
Suddenly, Mckenzie stumbled back, wrist free, only to fall into the mirror and send it crashing to the ground. She stared at the broken shards before she stared back at the determined look on Soul's face. The girl suddenly turned away, walking towards the secret trap door.
"You want me to be the bad guy?" Soul heard Mckenzie murmur. "Fine. Now I'm the bad guy."
o.0.o.0.o
Silver was still trying to plead his case to the guards, trying to get Crystal to send someone to Soul's tower, when suddenly, all the doors slammed closed with the two guards, plus Crystal, in the room with them.
The panel suddenly opened up.
"What's the password?" a familiar voice asked.
"What?" one of the guards exclaimed.
"Nope."
The panel shut.
"Open this door!"
The panel opened.
"Not even close~!"
"You have three seconds!" the guard said. Silver glanced at Crystal, who was smirking, the two guards also smirking. "One! Two!"
BONG.
Silver blinked as Topaz dropped from above, slamming a frying pan across the guards head. He fell unconscious with a silly, cross-eyed look on his face.
"Hot *bleep*!" Topaz grinned. "I'm keepin' this as a personal weapon!"
"Topaz." Silver nodded to the other two.
"No need." Crystal said. The two guards released him, pulling off their helmets, revealing Diamond and Pearl.
"Surprise! We're breaking you out!" Diamond grinned. There was suddenly a loud crashing noise, and suddenly, more guards were rushing into the room. Crystal dragged him down the hall as Blue and Green burst through the door, staying with Diamond and Pearl to fight the oncoming guards.
Momentarily, Silver wondered where everyone else was.
o.0.o.0.o
Back at the pub, Emerald was annoyingly letting Turquoise design odd shapes into his hair with his hair gel, wondering why he was always stuck babysitting other people's kids.
o.0.o.0.o
Silver rushed out into the courtyard, seeing that the rest of the thieves were already fighting off guards. Jade rushed up to him, working on the shackles. Within a few seconds, they clattered to the ground. Onyx suddenly shoved him back.
"Head down." he instructed. Silver mimicked him, slightly confused. "Arms in. Knees apart."
"Knees apart? Why would I-"
Black suddenly whistled, and a huge Braviary swooped down, clenching Silver's shoulders in his claws and picking him up. Silver exhaled in surprised, then gasped as he was falling. Surprisingly, he landed rather unharmed on top of a honchcrow. He blinked, glancing down at Gold.
"Gold?" he asked, staring at the man. He saluted.
"Yo."
"You brought them here." he said.
"Well, with the help of Blue, Green, and Crystal, yeah. We put this whole thing together."
"Why?"
"Well..." Gold shrugged. "I don't know what's goin' on with you and Soul, but I heard you when they nabbed ya last night. You really do care, don't you?"
Silver simply nodded.
"Then we both know what it's like." Gold grinned. "I know we started off on the wrong foot, but I figured we better let you reunite with your girl, okay?"
"Is that really why you let me escape?" Silver asked, not quite believing it. Gold blinked, the mumbled something about free drinks on Blue.
"Anyways!" Gold clapped his hands. "This is our fastest bird. He'll help you find Soul in no time, promise."
Silver nodded, nudging the birds sides as guards with crossbows came through the door, shooting at them. Expertly, the pokémon dodged. Down below, Silver saw Gold fighting the guards with Sapphire, Ruby, Red, and Yellow as backup. Everyone else was fighting the guards in the courtyard.
"Alright then, Honchcrow." Silver murmured, gripping his feathers. "Lets see how fast you can really go."
o.0.o.0.o
Silver wasn't entirely sure how fast they were going, but he assumed pretty fast. Silver didn't even bother to get Soul to let down her hair, he simply dove straight through the window, causing it to splinter and shatter under his weight.
He landed, groaning at his impulsive decision.
"Soul?" he asked, standing up. "You don't even know how scared I was. I thought I'd never-" he cut himself off as he glanced up widening his eyes upon seeing a chained and gagged Soul, screaming his name through the gag. "Soul!" he exclaimed, glancing around and seeing a shaking pot, assuming Mara and Sneasel were trapped inside.
He prepared to make a run across the room to rescue Soul, only to feel a piercing pain in his side. He winced, falling to his knees and then to the ground as he clutched his side, feeling something wet. He turned on his back, seeing an older woman above him, flicking a knife at him, splattering blood across his face.
His blood, he realized with horror.
"Now look what you've done, Soul." she said spitefully as Soul began to lunge forward, close to either dislocating her arms from their sockets or breaking the bannister to the staircase. She let out another horrified shriek as the woman stepped over him, walking across the room towards Soul. "Oh, don't you worry, dear." she undid the chains from the stairwell. "Our secret will die here, with him. And as for us," she gripped the chains, trying to drag Soul back. "We're going to a place where no one will ever find you again!"
Silver watched through half lidded eyes as Soul continued jerking about, trying to get free.
"Soul, really!" the woman exclaimed, jerking her back and grabbing her shoulder. "Stop it!" Soul elbowed her in the stomach and began kicking at her legs, unwilling to go down the trap door. "Stop fighting me!"
"No!" Soul gasped as the gag fell, throwing herself to the ground and looking up. "I will never stop! I will never stop fighting you, for every minute, second, moment of my life! I will never stop trying to get away from you, Mckenzie!"
Silver groaned, still holding his wound and flipping onto his stomach, trying to crawl forward.
"But if you let me save Silver," Soul said. "You let him live for the freedom he deserves, to see his sister, his little niece again..." she took a deep breath. "I'll go with you."
"No...!" he groaned out, shimmying forward. "Soul...!"
She looked over her shoulder, giving him a sad smile, before glancing back up at Mckenzie.
"I won't ever run, I won't try to escape, tell anyone else about the powers. You won't have to listen about the lanterns, the kingdom, I won't ask for Mara to come, I won't even paint on the walls anymore. Just let me heal him. Then we'll be together, forever!" he voice rose an octave at this, as if trying to sound optimistic. "Just like always. Just like you want."
o.0.o.0.o
Soul woefully rubbed the raw skin around her wrist as the shackles fell. She watched as Mckenzie harshly clamped on around Silver's hand, the other to a wooden post on the railing.
"In case you get any whimsical ideas about following us." she hissed, stepping back.
"Silver!" Soul exclaimed, lunging across the room towards him, cupping his face as he winced, trying to swallowed the blood bubbling up. It didn't work, as it dribbled down his chin anyways. Soul swallowed, pulling is shirt open to get a better look at the wound. She gasped at the grievous stab wound, certainly not used to such a wound and the amount of blood that came with it. "Silver, I am so sorry. This is all my fault. Everything is going to be okay though, I promise." she grabbed at a strand of hair.
"N-No!" Silver grunted out, trying to hold the wound shut and push her hands away.
"I promise, you have to trust me."
"I can't let you do this." Silver said.
"Silver, no-"
"Soul, look at me." Silver hissed, clasping her face in his hands, unintentionally smearing blood across her cheek. "I know... What it's like to be locked away from society. But I had Blue. You... won't have anyone. I don't care about my life. I'm not going to let the same thing happen to you."
"... But I'm not going to let you die." Soul said, bowing her head and holding his hand.
"But you'll... just wither. Break. Die." he turned his head and spat out more blood. "Like a flower."
"It's going to be okay." Soul promised. There was a pause. Silver cracked a small smile, and Soul responded with a beaming grin. Slowly, she draped her hair over his stomach, closed her eyes, and opened her mouth.
"Soul, wait." he gasped, voice sounding strained. Soul opened her eyes as his hand reached up, brushing some hair away from her face. She blinked, a soft smile on her face as his hand made it to her hair, going down past her shoulders.
Then a sudden weight left her shoulders and Silver's hand fell to the ground with a thud, a shard of the broken mirror clattering from his grasp.
"Silver, what...?" Soul exclaimed, feeling for her long hair, only to find it fell just to her shoulder blades.. She saw some golden orbs of light fall from her hair, blinking in surprise.
"No!" Soul whipped around at Mckenzie's exclamation. She was trying to gather up the hair, but already the power was leaving it, showing in bright golden orbs leaving it. "No!" her voice suddenly cracked as her hair grew gray, wrinkles forming on her hands. Soul watched with wide eyes as the woman who was once her mother shrieked as she aged hundreds of years in but a few minutes. "What have you done?! What have you done?!"
Soul stumbled back, bumping into Silver as Mckenzie grabbed for the mirror, only to see her true age and her shrieks intensified.
"No! No, no, no!" she pulled up the hood of her cloak, twisting around awkwardly as she suddenly hunched forward, trying to keep her straight, young posture. Suddenly, she tripped over something, and fell out the open window.
"Mama!" Soul cried out. She couldn't help herself, watching as the woman who essentially raised her fell out the window. Soul hurried to the window, only to see a cloak at the bottom, bits of dust filtering through the air. This only seemed to prove her mother was extremely old, as she must have died of old age, and her body was so old that it turned to dust before it hit the ground.
Soul slowly fell to her knees, turning to see Mara and Sneasel, holding the hair that Mckenzie tripped over.
"Silver." she exclaimed, lunging back towards him and placing his head on his chest. "No. Nonononono. Come on, Silver, open your eyes. Stay with me, Silver, come on." In a last ditch effort, she took his hand and smacked it onto her head.
"Flower gleam and glow,
Let your power shine,
Make the clock reverse,
Bring back what once was mine...!"
She knew her voice was cracking hopelessly throughout the song, and she only stopped when Silver gripped her hair tightly.
"Soul. Soul!"
"What?" she asked, ducking her head down and trying to not cry.
"You... were my new dream. You and Moonlight."
"Moonlight?" Soul asked.
"Our daughter."
Soul let out a weak chuckle.
"You mean Raven."
"Raven?"
"Our son." tears suddenly streamed down her cheeks. "With red hair. And brown eyes."
"Really?" he responded with a dry chuckle. "I was thinking... Brown pigtails. And... a bright smile."
"Silver...!"
He simply sighed, head lolling into her chest. Soul let out a whimper as his hand fell limp.
"Heal what has been hurt
Change the fates' design
Save what has been lost
Bring back what once was mine…"
Soul could feel the words coming out in cracks and off key notes, what with her sobs as she mourned her first, and as of now, only love. Silver. Soul and Silver. Silver and Soul.
"What once was mine..."
Gone. He... That was gone...
Her tears dripped down onto his face, and she hardly cared. Suddenly, she felt an odd warmth. She blinked, opening her eyes as golden orbs suddenly surrounded them, looking almost like those which manifested from her hair. They were suddenly dancing around them, like fairies. They suddenly became tendrils, forming the shape of the lily that the kingdom so revered just over where Silver was stabbed.
Just as suddenly as they were there, however, they were gone.
"Silver?" Soul asked after a moment of awe. A small groan.
"Stop being so loud." he muttered. "I'm trying to sleep."
"Silver!" Soul shrieked happily, latching her arms around his neck
"Soul! Arms... to tight... can't... breath!" Silver grunted, sitting up. Soul didn't respond, sitting back and grinning, then pressing her lips to his.
o.0.o.0.o
"Your highness!" King Xavier and Queen Heart blinked, looking up a Crystal and Gold as they stormed into the room. "I know... I know you're probably not happy about what I did previously, but... but remember... When you asked this idiot to do a future sketch of the princess?"
"Of course." Xavier said. "We commission one every year."
"You've gotta see this." Gold said. "If you see what that thief just recovered, you'd understand and forgive us."
The king and queen exchanged a glance, then stood up, following Gold and Crystal. There were hurried footsteps as they approached a door leading to a balcony.
"Study the drawing," Gold said, holding up the sketch of a now adult princess Soul. "And tell me what you see on the other side."
Xavier and Heart exchanged a glance, and the two slowly opened the door, only to see a the notorious Silver and a young lady with light brown hair that went to her shoulder blades. The two turned to them, the girl with a Mareep in her arms and Silver with his Sneasel on his shoulder. Next to him, perched on the roof, was a honchcrow.
Heart was the first to step towards the girl, who took a few steps away from Silver, then smiled bashfully, fiddling with her hair. Behind her, she could tell her husband was glancing back and forth between the sketch, taking in the similarities, but she was focused on the eyes. Bright, light brown eyes, smiling happily and full of life, despite her initial shyness.
"Um, hi." she said. "Well, um. I'm... Soul, and... I think I... might be your daughter?" a pause. "Mama?" Heart suddenly crossed the room and yanked her into a hug.
"The resemblance is uncanny." murmured Xavier as he stepped forward. Soul looked up at him with big innocent eyes.
"Papa?" she asked. And with that, the king broke, wrapping Soul in a hug from behind, a big family group hug. Silver watched from the sidelines as Mara popped her head up between the arms. The queen opened her eyes, extending a hand to him, as if for a handshake. Silver grasped her hand, only to be yanked into the hug, Sneasel suddenly pressed uncomfortably against his shoulder as he was wedged between King Xavier and Soul.
A moment of silence.
Ah, what the heck.
o.0.o.0.o
"After that, there was a celebration that lasted a week!" V described. "And dreams came true all around. Red and his gaggle of merry thieves got jobs all throughout the castle as thanks for their part in the rescue of Silver, and ultimately, the princess. Yellow became a sketch artist to replace Gold, and Platinum became an advisor with Green. Diamond and Pearl became top notch and the most sought our comedians, and Ruby took up designing dresses for every royal event. White was in charge of every theatrical event to be held in the royal theatre, and Topaz became the new weapons tester.
"Red, Sapphire, Emerald, and Black became the best and most respected guards, and Crystal and Gold finally tied the knot, thus becoming a dynamic duo of crime-fighting, in which crime disappeared almost overnight due to Crystals reputation... if not for Gold's horribly embarrassing sketches that ruined reputations in an instant.
"Blue's pub was moved to the city, in which it flourished. She never truly gave up her cons, and Turquoise happily took after her mother in match-making the children in the city. Mara and Sneasel... Well, they never really changed."
She snapped the book shut with a smile.
"The end."
"Silver, look." Soul smiled, glancing at her son, who was slumped down, asleep. Soul crossed the room, shaking V's hand. "That was beautiful. Honestly."
"Heh, thanks." V said.
"To think, I'm researching childhood insomnia, and all I was missing was bedtime stories!" Soul exclaimed, shaking her head. "To think..."
"Sometimes it's the simplest things." Silver responded, lifting the boy up. "Lets get going before he wakes up."
"Mwah?" everyone jolted as a tired yawn echoed out. Silver stiffened as Raven lifted his head, rubbing his eyes sleepily and push his hood down, revealing a head of bright red hair with an odd spike similar to his fathers on his head. Blinking light brown eyes, he glanced around.
No one dared to move as Raven blinked.
"Tired..." he muttered, thumping his head back down and falling asleep.
o.0.o.0.o
So, wow. I love Soulsilvershipping.
Anyways, next is Mangaquest! I've decided to go on the whim and write Peter Pan or the Tale of Anastasia for our favorite pervert and super serious gal. They say the best years of your lives are your teenage years, so Gold and Crystal will roughly be sixteen at the time of the story. As for Anastasia, well, it;s kind of a backup plan.
The idea popped in my head a while back, and I thought it'd be a cute and fun challenge. If you have any other story suggestions, please leave a review!
Amy47101 signing off! ^.^