Soraya kept on running, through the streets and lanes, until she reached out from the town, in the nearby woods.
"It isn't safe out here for a little girl like you... especially for a princess," told Eve's voice from above her, sitting on a tree.
Soraya looked up at the voice, she didn't know what to do.
Eve floated down and asked, "Are you scared?"
Soraya just stared at her, her thoughts and emotions were too confused to answer or do anything.
"How about we wait here for Raven and have some ice cream together?" she asked, offering some to the princess.
Choosing to act like her father taught her, she just nodded and took the ice cream, swallowing back her feelings.
"And you can let out your feelings... I guess you are very confused and scared about what just happened, right?" was her reply while taking some ice cream of her own. "You know... I cry a lot when I see the reactions of people when they see me..." told Eve, having tears in her eye. "All I want is people who accept me as who am I... I want friends... not only Raven and two others but a real bunch of friends I can have fun with, not being the slightest scared of my appearance."
Soraya sniffled and took a piece of her ice cream, "I prefer to not cry. Strong people don't cry."
"Sometimes even strong ones cry... I saw Raven crying once... as his brother died."
"Mhm..." she just mumbled, focusing on her ice cream.
"SORAYA! WHERE ARE YOU?" was heard in the distance. It was Raven's voice and Eve chuckled. "Better you go to him. I bet he is worried about you... should I go with you?"
The little kid shook her head and stood up, leaving her snack to the Mesprit and walking towards her seeker.
"Soraya!" exclaims Raven as he went to her. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine Raven," she replied, her voice cracking as she held back the urge to cry.
"I hear that," told raven. "But I also hear your bodies urge to let the feelings out..."
"I mustn't!" she looked away. "I'm strong, I mustn't cry!"
Raven sighed loudly, "Forget the lesson of your father! Forget right now you are a princess! You are a child that just got scared deeply. You are a six year old girl! Your normal reaction should be crying loudly and let all these feelings out of you."
"But I'm a princess!"
"Who should watch you right now? This holding back your feelings is something you are only supposed to show others! Right now it's only you and me! I won't think different from you if you cry in my presence! I am encouraging you to let your feelings out," told Raven. "If you held everything back, you will only hurt yourself! You will reach a point were you will only break and then there is no chance to recover from this."
Soraya shivered, reaching the limit. Shortly after she burst in tears and screamed at the top of her lungs, feelings flowing like an ocean in storm.
Raven smiled in symphaty and embraced her, allowing her cry out on his shoulder. He patted her and told, "That's right... let all out... I am here... your older brother is here to comfort you."
Soraya gripped his clothes tightly while crying, for the first time she really felt free to show what she felt. Her crying kept on for a good time, until she dropped against Raven's body, exhausted and asleep.
Raven smiled to her and stood up, slowly returning to the city, to meet up with her mother.
In the town, everything was like nothing happened, everyone were at their duties and the previous accident was already forgotten. Raven looked around for the queen until he asked somebody if he knows where to find her. A Pignite blacksmith told him that the King came to in search for her, and went back with her to the castle.
Worried, the Zangoose went back to the castle.
In the castle, a doctor was checking on the queen, under the eyes of the king and Sebastian. After a last check, the Blissey could give a diagnosis, "The queen is expecting, your Majesty."
Shortly after Raven came in, "What happened?"
Sebastian crossed his way, "The Queen is expecting, Raven. Today she passed out during her stroll in the town and suddenly her sense came less."
"This must have happened after I went in search for Soraya... she got scared as she was acting strange and ran away. Took me a while to find her," explained Raven, knowing that he was the father... but would the king get suspecious or won't care about it?
"I see, but I'm a little afraid about that poor little unborn creature."
"Why?" asked Raven, now getting nervous, trying to hide it.
"Amadeus is already favoring Ramon. What will happen to the third child?"
"I would guess the same like the second," told Raven. "Or raise it for a role which where the younger sibling could be useful for Ramon."
Then the Zangoose mumbled to himself, "That would at least explain her behavior ealier..."
"Mh? What did you say? The last part." Wondered Sebastian and Raven explains "I just understand now why she acted strangely before I left... she nearly got a friend of mine killed."
"Oh... I see. Is your friend fine by the way?"
"She escaped," told Raven. "She just cannot show herself in this town anymore without getting a mob on her neck trying to kill her."
"I'm sorry to hear it. I wish your friend good luck."
"I think she would appreciate it. Soraya is sleeping in her room now. This event took quite a bit on her."
"I understand."
Raven turned, "I go to train for the moment... until Soraya wakes up."
Sebastian nodded and tipped his head, before turning and leaving.
Leaving as well, Raven went to the training field and began to train with a random mon the arts of blades. His mind thinking about the queen and their child.
"Hey you! Focus!" a Machoke said giving a fist.
He grabs the fist, pulls him close and kicks the stomach.
The pokémon falls back then sits up, "Good."
"Want more?" asked Raven
"Bring it!"
And he rushed at him to fight fiercly.
In the meanwhile the Mawile came to the king and asked, "You called sire?"
"Yes. My wife is expecting, and I'm sure it's not mine. Discover who is the father of this bastard child."
"And kill him once I know it?" smirked the steel type. "Or feed him to the demon once it is born? After all... it will be hungry and will demand blood and souls"
"Ah perfect. Yeah, and it may be weird, but when it'll be in jail, feed the asshole a lot, so it'll be very chubby and tasty for the demon."
"Of course! And... what about your wife and the bastard?"
"I'll talk with her later."
"I understand sire! Any... suspects?"
"Mh... I don't know honestly. I mean, it could be anyone in my opinion. My wife is a beautiful pokémon, every male would like to be..."
"I understand! I go to find out who dared to make this bastard with your treacherous queen," replied the Mawile and began to leave, but paused. "In case I don't find him before the demon comes... who should I feed to the demon first?"
"You can feed the Umbreon."
"That's impossible sire... the demon would never kill the body which could help him to reincarnate once more if it dies."
"Mh. I see. Well then, I'll find someone. There's still 9 months after all."
"A week..." corrected the Mawile. "The pregnancy will only last one week and the demon grows into adulthood within a month."
"What!?" the king roared. "Ugh... and where do I find a victim?!..."
"Sire... I explained it from the beginning... before we even began the summoning" told the Mawile, fearing his life now.
"Heh... Echat? Y'know if recently someone in the castle tried and betrayed me?"
"Right now... I am only aware of a Plusle..." told the Mawile Echat
"Perfect! We'll feed that Plusle to the demon," the king said with a smirk.
"Yes Sire!" told Echet. "Anything else?"
"No. Not for now."
He bowed and left his ruler.
Hours later Raven checked on both the queen and the princess, worried deeply about Palette's safety... after all the king would have figured out the child is a bastard already.
"Bastard..." muttered Raven. "Such a nasty word."
The little princess woke up as soon as Raven came in her room, "Hi Raven.."
"Hi... feeling better?" asked the Zangoose, who sat down next to her, and stroked her head.
"Very much. I feel lighter," she said smiling and sitting up.
He smiled and hugged her, "Glad to hear that... and I think we know now what happened to your mother."
She hugged him back and looked up, "Oh? What happened? Is she sick?"
"It's... bit complicated. And it is better when your mother tells it herself. It's better for everybody"
"Oh. Can I go and see mom? Is she awake?"
"How about we look? Because last time I saw her, she was sleeping."
"Oh, ok," she smiled as she stood on her feet.
"Want to walk or to be carried?"
"Mh... can you carry me on your shoulders? Father used to do it until I was very little."
"Sure!" told Raven and got down. "Climb on! Just not to much pressure on my metal arm please... or it might fall off."
"Ok, I'll be careful," Soraya said, carefully climbing on his back. Arriving on his shoulders, she used all her attention to not harm Raven.
Once she was sitting on him, he raised up, holding her legs, "Now let's see your mother!"
"Yay!"
Raven chuckled and moved to Palette's room, opening the door carefully and entered it.
Palette was still asleep, turned on her side.
"Oh... she's still sleeping..."
"Looks like that," told Raven and moved with her to the queen's side. "And it looks like it will take a while."
"Let me go on the bed," she whispered close to his ear.
Raven nodded and went down to let her climb off and join her mother.
Soraya slowly crawled next to her mother and shook her shoulder, "Mother?" Palette mumbled and moved a little, then she opened her eyes and smiled. "Hi little one..."
Raven looked at them and decided to wait before letting her know he is here as well... and let her know about the situation.
The two snuggled for few seconds, before Palette asked, "Did you rest well?"
"Yes Mother. Raven told me he knows why you passed out."
"As well Sebastian, a Blissey and the king," told Raven. "I hope you had a good rest."
Palette sat up, holding Soraya on her lap, "I did. But... it happened what I think it happened?"
"It's offical," told Raven. "And now I kind of understand why you nearly got Eve killed."
"W-What?! Oh no, your friend! I'm so sorry I didn't use my mind..." Palette sighed covering her face. "I lost my mind... I'm so sorry... is your friend fine?"
"She escaped... wasn't the first time a mob was after her. And... if she learns about the reasons, we might still be able to ask for her help."
"Uff that's great."
"Mother, what's wrong?" Soraya asked.
"Oh my dear..." Palette began stroking her hair, then looking up at Raven.
Raven looked back and told, "I think she deserves to know the news."
"Mhf... Agreed. But not here, there may be too many spies."
"Then where?" asked Raven
"Let's go in the garden," Palette said.
"Alright! Should I help you up?"
"No I think I can do it," Palette replied, carefully placing Soraya next to her and then going on her feet.
Once she was up, he opened the door for them.
Palette smiled as she waited for Soraya to follow them.
Once in the garden...
Raven looked at Palette to know who should tell the truth to Soraya... about the child growing in the Pyroar.
Soraya looked back and forth to Raven and Palette, clueless about what they were going to say.
Palette at a point sighed and spoke, "Soraya... I know that you're a princess, and I'm the queen, and your dad is the king. But... I believe you and Raven, should leave from here."
"Why mother? This is our home."
"You are not coming?" asked Raven. "You are in the same danger like the rest of us."
"I am coming Raven, don't worry," Palette smiled.
"And where are we going?"
"In the Black Lotus kingdom. My younger sister lives there. I've already sent her a letter, maybe she's already waiting for us."
"Alright... when should I leave with her?" asked Raven. "Tonight?"
"Yes. I'll tell the king tonight I'll leave with you to visit her, and that I'll stay for awhile. He won't need me for sure. But Raven, I think I said wrong, you have to stay here, and be careful to Amadeus."
"Might get complicated with the mission," told Raven, reffering to the fact she wanted to build a team to prevent the king to gain the Crown of Arceus... whatever it is.
"I saw you've people you trust. I know you can do it I totally trust you, Raven. Please, keep my husband away from that crown."
"I will! Just need a good excuse to leave the palace, but I think I can find something."
"Can you tell me why all of this have to happen?!" Soraya protested pouting, not wanting to be out from the discussion.
Raven decided to help out at least by one part, "One of the reasons is that your father is about to do something that will hurt many people... and your mother thinks it is better you two are in safety while I go and try to prevent him achieving his goal."
Then he looked to the queen... not knowing if she wanted to share the other reason.
Palette looked at him, he used the right words, maybe they could keep their secret safe from that innocent ears and tongue. "He's right my dear. Your father is evil," Soraya looked down as her ears folded on her temples.
"Once it is safe again, you will be coming home," told Raven and nuzzled her head. "And believe me... I will miss you."
Soraya giggled and nuzzled his cheek purring. Palette smiled at the scene. Maybe, when all this madness is over, they could rule on this kingdom, together.
Raven hugged her once more before letting go and told, "You better go back with your mother and pack... I have to prepare for my part of the situation."
"Okay. See you tonight then," Soraya kissed his nose giggling and ran to her mother. "Wish your allies any luck from the queen. And apologise for me to your magician friend. I owe her a lot," Palette said picking Soraya up.
"I will!" told Raven and went back to his partners at the palace. Then he and decided to ask the Medicham if he was ready for a mission which either results as treacherous death or glorious victory.
"Are you insane?! Nonononono! I don't wanna risk my life and screw the glory!"
"Fine by me," told Raven and wetn to find Sebastian... he is the only one he can trust for the question about how to get out.
"Mh. I don't mind risky adventures, and if it's for the kingdom safety, then I'm in. And I know who else can help us. I got two friends to ask and it is for it's safety... though some people might see it otherwise... like our dear king. Tsk, the only ones are those who have their trunks full of money. Most of dudes here wouldn't give a shit and follow us."
"We only need a small group and... we might face a demon on the way," warned Raven. "I don't want to fight the whole army before at least getting a head start to knowing what in detail we have to do."
"I understand. Then I'll start and amass a little squad for this, you in the meantime try and find out some information."
"For that we need to go to Apara... a three days trip. So we have to move soon."
"You have to move! You're the only one expert enough of that town. I'll ask a messenger to follow you and report me and vice versa, so we'll keep close contacts."
"Good!" told Raven. "And cover up my leave... it would get suspicious if I went missing. I leave tonight."
"Count on me."
He nodded and went to his room to prepare for his leave .
That night, after few more plans, a carriage was ready to lead the queen and the princess in to the Black Lotus kingdom.
Raven used the little tumult to sneak himself out the castle by using the underside of the carriage as hideout. His plan was to let himself fall off in the forest and make his way over to Apara.
The queen and the princess reached shortly after, hoping to find Raven to be sure he was ready too.
They heard a knock from the underside of the carriage.
Soraya looked and smiled, "We came to tell you bye Raven."
"I know! But I think I ride a bit of the way... at least to the forest before our path splits," was his reply.
"Alright," the queen replied. "Please be safe Raven."
"Same to you!" told Raven.
Palette smiled and got on the carriage with Soraya. The carriage traveled in the night.
Once it reached the forest, Raven let go and fell on the ground, rolling off to prevent damage. Back on his feet he looked after the carriage until it wasn't seen anymore and began to make his way to Apara, hoping to solve this puzzle before the demon is even employed.