When I was Queen

by dragonrose8910

Humans are vile creatures. They deceive, they manipulate. They lie. My name is Touko Sharondale, sole heir to Unova's throne, and I can actually see when someone is lying. And everyone lies. Despite the beautiful masks they may wear. My entire life was full of people lying to me. When I finally grew too sick of it, I ran. I became White Albion. Little did I know what awaited me.

2. Chapter 2

The arrow whistled through the air, its fletching vibrating just slightly with the wind kissing it. It only soared for a split moment before the arrowhead dove into the red and cream target, just a tad askew from the six point ring. Which was relatively large in size, even as I rode 20 meters away on one of the royal stable's Zebstrika. My hand awkwardly reached back to my quiver to only find it was vacant of anymore arrows. Silently, with my open hand, I snapped up the reins and pulled the striped steed to a gradual halt from its trot. I save a silent glance over to where my Archery Instructor was coming from, clapping his hands enthusiastically with a wide grin across his face.

Despite the man's great façade, I could see the dark haze the emanated around the man when he spoke, "Exemplary work, Princess! Soon you will have the castle archers beat."

My stone expression never shifted a muscle, "I request more arrows for practice, atilliator." my voice hissed out the orders, referring to his position rather than his actual name.

The instructor twitched up an eyebrow, "Ah, but I think that is enough work for today. You must have such a busy schedule since your coronation is only two months away." The dark shadow persisted around him as he spoke further, "I cannot believe the young miss is finally turning eighteen! I am so excited to see that crown be passed down to you. Now go on."

I spared no words for the lying man as I began to dismount. My private guard came by and offered his hand carefully to me, and so I took it as I slipped onto the ground. My thin heels took a quick impact to the dry earth while my violet dress flopped into the settling dust. I sighed when I fruitlessly attempted to pat it out before the guard lead me away from the castle's archery ring. The sun that illuminated the courtyard disappeared as I stepped through the grand oak doors, into the marble corridors. Only gentle flames lit the way in the empty hall, leaving only the guard and I to walk. His metal armor creaking with each motion and my clacking heels to fill the corridor. Of course, the guard had a partner pokemon who clung to his shoulder.

A small Oshawott. Its snow white head slightly against the Guard's helmet as it drifted into its afternoon nap.

"You seemed like you were having fun out there," the man lied uneasily with his honey voice.

I scoffed to him, "hardly."

"Do ever you have any sort of fun when you participate in such events, Princess?"

"Touya, you may stop speaking to me so formally, we have known each other since we were children and I know this is not how you speak usually."

The man sighed as if I was supposed to understand after a few moments had passed. his helmet covering his face delicately as the subject slowly transitioned the topics, "Well, at least when you were riding Zebstrika you seemed moderately satisfied. Which is a rare sight of the Princess."

"Hmph. Zebstrika are so boring though, " I retorted with only my honest truth, "I would rather ride something of a more exciting caliber."

Touya's deep voice rumbled with a laugh, "Like what? My father's old Samuraut?"

Both he and I flinched as the man mentioned his father. My eyes squeezing tightly to repress the images. Touya balled up his silver-plated cloves as his cynical joke struck back at him. "I-I humbling apologize for bringing the former commander into discussion."

"Yes. Yes." I replied truthfully, "It was a mistake to bring him up."

It was almost ten years ago, when I experienced my first castle raid. It was almost ten years ago when the former guard captain surrendered his life to protect the royal family. Back then, I was just so confused. When I was eight, I didn't know the truth. And now that I'm almost eighteen, the truth still eludes me. No one would explain the raids. Not just that night, but the many that followed. Since that raid nearly ten years ago, the Palace Guard has had no captain until his son would be old enough to replace him. And very soon, Touya would have been taking his place. Though to ever bring up any event of that night around me was forbidden by the king.

To that day, I still experienced horrifying nightmares of the raid. Glinting emerald feline eyes. The fire crawling up gold tapestry. The beaten and bloodied bodies. Touya's dirtied face as he shut me away, the dark fog that engulfed him. It was a miracle we both survived that night. Now a days, I would be escorted to a royal safe room before I could see any damage.

"So what pokemon would you rather have as your steed, Princess?"

My lungs filled with a shaken breath. I cracked a slight smile with bitterness pulling it back to the cold expression I held so strong, "A Sawsbuck would be the only pokemon to ever fit my tastes. I request one immediately."

"A Sawsbuck? Those creatures are too feral to ever bring into the Palace, Touko!"

My head snapped towards him, my long dark hair flipping to the sides as I stared to him in awe. I couldn't help but to feel a true smile creeping onto my lips.

"Ah! Ah! Princess! It was a mistake, I will not ever make such a fault again, Princess!" he began rambling like Touya would. He had so much to uphold, following in his father's footsteps. Sometimes it would be so much, he'd slip up. Like so. And I couldn't help but to begin giggling, my hand daintily gracing over my mouth to hold back a laugh. And my personal guard, Touya took no hesitation to notice, "Is that a laugh, Princess? Is the princess actually laughing?"

I spun around quickly and attempted to calm myself, and failing, "Why yes it is. You happen to be amusing when you are actually yourself, Sir Touya." And at my addressing of him so formally, he couldn't help to start laughing a long with me. It felt good for a moment.

Something true was between the both of us for those brief moments.

But soon it was all swept away as another man our age bustled around the corner, his sharp eyebrows pushed together behind his metal-rimmed classes. In his arms were stacks of organized files as he rounded to meet us, "There you are, Touko!" the man with midnight blue hair addressed me so casually as his silver eyes landed on Touya and me. "I have been searching this entire castle for you!"

"I was in the archery ring, Cheren."

His entire face scrunched together with anger, it was almost amusing as he seemed on the verge of a conniption. His voice began to roar like a Druddigon that only skilled people, like myself, could decipher, "Why weren't you following the schedule I gave you? Why do you never follow my schedules? They aren't suggestions. They are-"

"Boring." I answered plainly, my humored expression falling back like a feather slowly drowning in a still pond. "All you ever have me do is sit around through lessons and such, Cheren. I mean, my very own coronation is approaching very soon and I am not even allowed to choose the flowers used?"

My advisor exhaled, his reddened face slowly returned to its cream colored tint. "You are aware that your moth- the Queen makes all those decisions. Not I."

My nose cringed at her mention, "I am well aware. Why have you been looking for me." I demanded in a flat tone, not even posing it as a question.

"Well, your mother has finally bestowed you a task for something involving your coronation. So if you just come with me," he began hesitantly as a lying darkness took over, "I promise it will be fun."

My eyebrows shifted up just the slightest, I didn't need any special ability to see how he nervously pulled at the ruffled collar of his Shakespearian shirt. How his voice naturally rose and his eyes shifted off to his left. Liars look left. Or my right really. But I had no room to complain about fun, as it was a task given to me by the Queen.

"Fine, fine. Let us get this over with," I drawled. And so the three of us twisted around the palace, one my brain had created a perfect map of after all the years of exploring. Following. Running. Being scolded for running. It was after a few twists here and turns there when the three of us arrived at a pair of carven doors. Etched in was the iconic family crest which snapped in half as Cheren pushed the doors open. The illuminating crystal chandelier above throwing about the licking flame lights about the room brightly. As my eyes fell upon what awaited me, my head rolled over to hold a strong glare towards my advisor who flinched at my gaze.

"I already knew the plan wasn't going to be fun, but this?" my voice hissed angrily.

In all honesty, my advisor spoke, "My apologies, Touko. But Her Majesty ordered me to get you here and I must not disobey an order." a black smog enveloped him. One where I knew it wasn't just to follow orders, but one to selfishly aid himself. "I had not a clue about what awaited, honestly."

My thin fingers balled up, fine nails pressing into my skin. I hated it. I hated it when people lied and used the word "honestly" in such a disgusting form. "If you are now going to address that woman as Her Majesty now, then you should address me in such formalities also."

"Princess?"

"Her highness." I spat, finally shooting my glance to what was waiting me.

A line of well-dressed, and most probably, high-pedigree courters.

Five men with tailored suits of all array of colors, standing with pride pulled back in their tall statures. One was to be my husband, who would successes the throne and one who would I would be married to by my coronation.

You see, I had no true power in the court.

I was a handoff to another man to follow my father.

Carefully I walked down the line, examining each man for what he was worth. All seemed to follow a strict pattern. 5'9" with slicked dark-shaded hair. Their angled jaws ready to cut like a sword strongly similar to one another. The only possible difference were their eyes. It seems Mother had already weeded through the rest, giving me her pick.

I began at the very end of the line, nodding for him to begin his introduction. The boy's blood eyes glinted with readiness, "My name is Red Firedan, third son of Kanto's Firedan line," so far he was truthful about who he was, but that would not last as his lying began. And so did my detestation. "We met when we were just children at a ball your father threw eight years ago. You loved dancing back then with all who attended."

"I can't say I recall attending any ball of the sorts." And so thus I came down to the next one who waited in line with over-confident golden eyes.

He grinned widely to me, "Ethan Goldrin, fifth son of Johto. A pleasure, Your highness." A dark cloud cast over him, "Must I say, you look so much more beautiful than what the wind told to my castle!"

"Hm." I hummed moving to the one beside Ethan Goldrin. A boy with dark brown hair, wearing an odd hat like white hair of a hood.

He politely bowed to me with a soft smile, "I am Brendan Enderruby, second son to the Hoenn crown, a pleasure."

"Keeping it simple?"

"Must I be extravagant?" and so the untruthful words began to pour, "It is already an honor to be in this castle, in the presence of a kindhearted lady as yourself." I rolled my eyes to the man who almost wasn't horrid in my eyes until he continued speaking. I moved to the next, his hair so black it was nearly blue like my advisor's.

"Greetings, your highness, my name is Lucas Diamondrich. From Sinnoh, seventh heir to the throne there." His clear eyes softened as he stared at me with a content smirk painted across his face. A smog hissing around him, "When I first heard you were of eligible age, I came immediately, believing it was the perfect time to unite our kingdoms."

"What a noble notion." I spoke in monotone, pacing to the fifth and final man standing in line.

I nodded for his introduction. The man with raven hair gave a seductive smirk, which hadn't amused me, before he suddenly fell onto one knee. With his left hand, he swept up my right and smooched it gently, "They call me Calem Legendrex, mademoiselle, " his low voice purred. I can not tell a lie, a vibrant heat flew across my face at the action as my heart flittered about my chest. But all those feelings were quickly sunk as the twisted words came, "I am extremely rich and would pamper you to your hearts desire if you were to be my bride."

My hand quickly snapped away from him, my nose trying not to wrinkle up in disgust at the man in front of me. At each one of men in front of me, I felt a bubbling disgust. But my face quickly fell into a stone expression, one that no one had ever been able to pass through. I held no formalities as I turned form the room, I dared not even utter a farewell to the courters as I strode out of the room. Touya quickly followed behind me in silence as we both heard my advisor calling out to us. Neither of us reacted as he continued to walk forward.

"They seemed," The guard started as we were far from earshot, "regal."

"They were all horrid."

We had no place to go, just wandering aimlessly as my stomach still bubbled up inside. "You are as blunt as usual. What was wrong with them?"

"They are liars."

I heard the man sigh heavily at my response, "They only said two things each. How could you already tell they were liars from something so short?"

My balled up fists trembled slightly as the golden tapestry seemed to whisk from the cutting wind I created by just walking. "They just lied. In short introductions. Doesn't that say anything about their characters? How could I ever imagine marrying a liar?" I questioned angrily, walking at a brisker pace that had Touya rushing close behind. "If someone lies, then they are not fit to rule a country. If someone ever lies, they are manipulating others in they're own advantage and turn themselves into monsters. I refuse to let a monster rule my home."

"Touko."

"What?"

"Look at me. Listen."

So I turned to face the man, his helmet removed to reveal his tousled chocolate hair slowly settling. His Oshawott stared intensely at me was the silence lurked in the cast shadows between us. Touya's dark, earthy eyes held everything together for just the ticking seconds.

"Everybody lies."

"I do not."

His eyes narrowed for a moment as he grasped my wrist, "Then you're lying to your self."

"Unhand me!" I swiftly tore my hand away from him with a snarl, "You are wrong, guard! So, so wrong."

"Then other than you, who else doesn't lie?" he retorted, pacing only closer. He didn't show a hint of the lying black cloud, but just staring at him made me feel angered. Like tearing something apart.

I took two steps back, curling my hands closer to my heart, "No one here, that is for sure. But out there. In the world. In the Land of Unova, the people have nothing to gain from lying. Their lives must be beautiful, simple. Because they do not lie."

"You've fooled yourself, Touko."

"You may not refer to me by that name anymore!" I snapped ironically. Just awhile ago, I had been almost ordering him to speak to me informally. He and I held a long lasting stare. As my eyes swam in his chocolate ones, the memories came back like lightning striking my heart. The explosions from the raids. All the dead. How he grabbed me so forcefully with that grim expression. The lasting blackness that engulfed him before he locked me away.

He was a liar too.

His lips began to part, to form more words. And I just saw the hint of a black smoke. Before his foul words could reach my ears, I took off down the halls. My ankles twisting with each stride, my heart beating with so much. One was a fear of my heels snapping at any moment. The lace of my royal gown would catch occasionally, slipping beneath my shoes as I started to stumble. I just kept running until I reached my room. The white-wood doors were easily thrown open as I shoved myself in, quick to slam the doors behind.

"Toukie?"

I hadn't needed to look up to know that my maid was awaiting me in the room. A girl my age with unruly, cropped, blonde hair to her chin. She was most likely wearing a shapeless black dress to her ankles with a torn apron tied around the waist loosely.

My hands trembled against the back of my door, eyes set on my long dark-oak floors. "I'm sick of it," I whispered, not knowing if it was to her or myself. "I am so sick of this all the lies. All the people. All the liars. And I am sick of this castle which traps me within this drowning deception. I want it all to just stop." My rage strangled itself, as if I was too angry to even shout.

My body just collapsed. My head curling close to my shoulders as I shuttered. For all my life, I'd only seen people lie, due to my ability. People are disgusting. Horrid. Ugly. No matter how beautiful some may be on the outside, they would lie and become something I can not stand.

But it was only because I was in the castle. In the castle, everyone wanted power and money so they lie to achieve those twisted goals. They used others.

And I was the only one who knew. That's what I thought.

A clumsy stumbling girl flew to my side, her icy hands resting on my shoulders carefully, "Toukie, are you alright? What happened?" Her genuine voice of worry was only matched with the slightest hint of fear. I looked up to her carefully, trying not to show the welling tears behind my hands. Bianca, a girl I had known since we were just children, looked down with me with her jewel eyes. On her shoulder sat a Minccino that Bianca's mother gifted her when she was promoted to a maid within the castle from my royal playmate.

But we don't speak of her mother anymore.

She disappeared two years ago, when Bianca and I were just fifteen, in a large castle raid.

"No. I am not alright. I am sick. Very, very, very sick of everything." I confided to my assigned best friend. Though I knew Bianca was still shaken by her mother's disappearance. That she was handpicked by my mother to watch over me as a spy. Yes, that is her true position, I figured it out long ago. The peasant was still the closest thing I had to a friend in the entire castle. "I am sick of this life, Bianca."

Her hands slowly retracted, the grey-furred creature with large eyes blinked to me with caution. "What do you mean?" Bianca asked as if the words were poison in her mouth.

We were all silent in the royal bedroom. By body slowly moving to just be slumping over itself as the words began to slip towards her, "You remember how I used to talk of wanting to run away? Tonight. I want to run. And this time, I am."

The girl quickly retracted away from me, "Toukie, that's utterly crazy! I can't allow that. I must-"

"Bianca," my broken song crackled as I looked to her pathetically, "I've known for awhile that my mother hired you to report my actions and thoughts to her. And despite that horrid act, if you ever thought of me as a friend, please- just help me this once. I just want to run."

"But, Touko..." Her voice was confused, conflicted as she looked to me tiredly. Her teeth nibbled at her peach lips as she finally breathed, "Fine. But if you really want to make it out, you must change you're attire. And Touko would be too much of a giveaway to who you are- and, you're hair..."

"What about it?"

"... It must be cut."

My fingers instinctively flew to my head, interlocking with the many threads of hair, "No! I refuse to cut my hair!"

Bianca's face grew flat as she looked tiredly to me, "It will give you a few more months of hiding-"

"I do not care, Bianca! I will not!"

Her hands slowly rose in defense, her eyes beginning to tremble as I rose my voice. "Fine, fine. Let us prepare you for leaving."

It passed in such a blur after that. Bianca had first showed me through the hidden servant passages I had not ever had a clue about in my life. It only broke my heart further to know there were always more secrets and lies I had not known about for the entirety of my life. Soon, we arrived to her dismal quarters, dirt floors and a stiff seeming cot which I sat on as Bianca showed me an array of bland splotches of cloth called clothes.

By the end, we had a dark blue, nearly denim looking, skirt to my toes with white patches here and there that began to fray. A white peasants blouse with a scoop neck wrapped by tight black vest, held shut by wooden buttons. All the materials were scratchy and irritating, making me want to rip it all off, but I had to wear them if I truly wanted out.

Bianca put her final touch on my outfit, her lips piercing together as she settled a white biggin cap just perfectly fitting my head, "perfect..." She breathed, taking a subtle step back to admire her work. Her emerald eyes shot up to meet mine as she smiled truly, "Are you ready? We must get you to the stables, I have to let out the Zebstrika out to the pastures anyways. There, you will take a one and run, in whatever direction the wind is blowing. Once you reach a town, stop on the edge and release Zebstrika and find a new steed. Then keep running until you are far from the castle reach."

As I swept up a dirtied, cream cloak that tore at the tail, I cocked my head to my friend, "how do you know so much about running?" I breathed to her lightly, a lace of sadness infecting the words.

She pushed the next servant's door open and kept her gaze straight into the darkness of the thick night, "Intuition." She lied so fluidly with the same, constant, dark air specific to her. My eyes carefully narrowed towards her back as I silently lurked in her shadow as the two of us raced through the ends of the castle, through the ever gardens. The tall peasant riding boots that fell concave to my narrow feet nearly flopped off, but there was something more comfortable about them than the thin heels from before. The crisp autumn night sent small trembles down my back as my maid easily threw open the stable doors, the moon's silver light casting across the Zebstrika. The creatures all swung their heads around to face us, their heads starting to swing about wildly.

The herd weren't tied down by anything as they all charged at us, my arms flying up in defense as they came with the thundering hooves to match their lightning manes. But they seemed to know our presence and formed around us, careful to make any wrong move. My head slowly turned up to watch the blonde easily reach up and snatch a Zebstrika by its halter.

the extravagant creature was so large, like a Girafagrig was painted with the stripes of a Zebstrika, it loomed over us two women. It reared up onto its back hooves and let out a sky-shattering neigh into the night. My maid was swift to pull the beast back down, hushing stern commands to it. She turned to me sharply, "You must ride bareback, will you be okay with this? You can just turn back now."

I shook my head, the loose curls from my high ponytail fell to shape around my face, "I shall ride bareback, if it is what I must do to escape."

The woman nodded, offering her hands for a way onto the steed. Though I gave a wave off as I tugged my fingers into the Zebstrika's mane, pulling with all my strength as I flung my right leg over the side the beast. It kicked in the back quickly with the sudden weight plopping down, but once I was on- I was on. My hands naturally formed to the creature, ready to pull on it's coarse mane in any direction I need to go. The steed rippled its muscles in a readiness to gallop, but not yet.

"Toukie- go by your middle name." the maid said quietly before we even left the stable.

"Go by Albion? But it is such a masculine name! How absurd for me to go by something so gruff."

Her face fell flat, "It will shelter you."

"Can't I go by something else?" I pressed, eyebrows furrowed together. "Like, by the name meaning. White. White Albion, yes I quite like that name."

"Fine, fine," the blonde quickly ushered, her eyes darting around as if time was of the essence. It was, but she seemed even further paranoid about it. "One last thing."

"Yes?"

"Take Minccino."

I felt taken aback, blinking to my old childhood friend owlishly, "But... You two have been together for years, I cannot take something so precious-"

Her head shoot sadly, the grey creature looking to me with a simpering smile, "she is not a something. She is a someone. Out there, it's going to be rougher than it seems from here and you'll need someone out there to protect you. I'll be fine, so take her along with you." despite any protest I would make, the creature with the largest ears I had ever seen silently leapt over onto my shoulder, snuggling close as if to reassure the decision I hadn't even made. When I was younger, looking at the little creature from afar, I always imagined its fur would be matted and grimy.

But I realized, it was like the silk of an angel's feather brushing against my cheek. I gave the little creature a small scratch under the chin, smiling just the slightest as the creature stuck its neck out even farther in enjoyment. And finally, I yanked my tattered hood over my head, stealing a glance to my maid one last time with a farewell smile painted to my cheeks, "Tell no one, okay?"

"Okay."

She was lying.

"At least wait three days, that is all I ask. And lie to protect yourself, I know you are good at that."

She genuinely shot me sad eyes, "alright."

She spoke the truth.

I turned to face the road ahead, not even able to hold a stare with my old friend. Fake or not. "And Bianca," my lip quivered as every possibility came to me. Being caught. Being found. Being free. My future was never going to be the same if I sent forward, "thank you," finally I was able to turn back to her, not a single tear in my eye as I hushed, "for everything."

She had no time to say anything, or I have myself not a second more to listen. My legs snapped against the Zebstrika who grunted loudly before breaking out into an immediate canter. It was a miracle that my hood stayed up as my fingers dug deeper into the steed's black mane. Into the night. Into my new future. Soon, the warm flames of the castle of lies was a distant echo into the embracing darkness ahead. My new traveling companion clung tightly to my cloak, small beads of water splashing against my cheek. Leaving its master must have been difficult.

But to me, nothing mattered anymore about what was in my past. Just what would come next.

As we rode into the direction that the wind was blowing that crystal night. The crystal that would glaze over the fantasy and nightmare I would live all at once soon.

But crystal shatters so easily.