In the same night, the king and his loyal hunches were discussing about the summoning to take the Crown.

"The demon is developing well inside the Umbreon," told Echet. "It will be born as planned in the end of the week... and I already began to plan the best route to take the Elemental Plates to unlock the final door."

"That's awesome!" the king exclaimed. "And about its first meal?"

"We're feeding the Plusle well, Your majesty. It's growing fat like a Grumpig," Lionel the Lucario said.

"Excellent."

"If nothing unusual happens, it will be ready to be deployed in five weeks. Then it is only a matter of time before we have the plates, sire," smirked Echet. "But once you are a god... what about your family? There won't be any more risk of dying for you."

"Why should I care for my family anymore? Ramon will be the last king of this shit of land, while I'll rule the whole world!"

"Should I prepare an... accident for the queen and princess?"

"No, let them live until they can."

"As you wish, sire."

"After all, they've been a good family, I could even spare them."

"Even if a bastard is joining?"

"The bastard won't be part of my family. I already talked with Palette. Her sister will raise it as her own."

"I understand! And the father?"

"Speaking of which, are there information about that sick son of a whore?"

"None! Whoever the father is, he is good at hiding his role in the story," told Echet.

"Yeah... but as soon as nine months are gone, I'll pay a little surprise visit to my dear wife, and to see the new member of the family," the king said with a mad smirk as his claw ran around on the table."

"And kill the newborn?"

"Well, we'll see... if I'll be able to keep self-control, which I pretty doubt, I'll spare it and keep the promise with Palette. On the other hand..." here he paused as his claws scratched the wood deeply. "I'll rip piece after piece of that little freak and the bastard who dared to violate my queen, mine and only mine precious QUEEN!"

"Very well my King!" laughed the Mawile.

The king took a deep breath to calm his nerves down, "Very well... prepare a sharp any weapon you have my fellows, it's gonna be war."

"War? Against who mylord?" asked Echet.

The king sighed and face palmed, "Nevermind. Anyway get ready. The way towards immortality won't be a walk."

The Mawile bowed and began to leave for the preparations.

As well all the others went to their duties.

Raven had been walking for the majority of the night as he noticed that he grew tired. Knowing he would need all strength he could muster if he ran into trouble, he looked for a good place to rest for the night.

Then he noticed in the distance a light in the forest and curiosity made him follow it. With some luck it would be somebody who could use a mercanary and was traveling towards his same goal.

It took him a while to reach the source of the light and found a small camp and…

"Eve?" exclaimed Raven. "I thought you would be far away by now."

"Normally you would be right Raven," told Eve. "But after seeing how you and Soraya acting to each other, I thought to myself, why am I not trying again to learn why you was with the queen and the princes?"

"In short: got hired as a Guardian of the Royal Family," told Raven and Eve chuckled. "You, a Guardian? That is a big change for you! What next? King of a country?"

Raven only rolled his eyes and told, "Anyway… good thing I found you here. I need your help."

"Alright! What is it?" asked Eve.

Raven sat down and told, "First of all… the queen is sorry for what she did! Wasn't quite herself since she is expecting."

"The queen is conceiving a little baby?" asked Eve. "I wonder if it will be cute like her daughter! Though… I wish it wasn't the king who is father…"

Raven looked at her and had to hold back a laugh. After a few moments he told, "The queen gave me a mission which involves stopping the king in his plans."

"Oh! Conspiracy mission! Like that!" she murred. "What is our job?"

"First of all, learning about an object called Crown of Arceus," told Raven. "And for that I go to see Shaman Dozo in Apara."

"And how do I fit in?" asked Eve and Raven explains explained. "Simple: you help out to stop the king and you will be rewarded handsomely."

"So she is hiring me, even though she nearly killed me in her pregnancy rage?" asked Eve and then she laughed. "Deal!"

"Can I ever hear a 'no' from you?" asked Raven with slight amusement. And the Mesprit shrugged. "Only if you had asked me to kill Soraya."

"As I would!" told Raven, now offended while Eve continued. "Anyway… do you plan to ask others as well?"

"I thought of Simon. His aim might help us a lot," Raven nodded and Eve smirked. "And I know that he happens to be in Apara because of the Archery Tournament!"

"In this case I think we have great luck!" told Raven. "But I warn you… we might have to deal with a demon on the way."

"I always wanted to fight demons, so… there is not a single problem with it," shrugged Eve.

Raven nodded and yawned, "Let's sleep. We have a long trip waiting for us tomorrow."

Eve nodded with him and laid down, the two resting for the night.

Three days later, Eve and Raven reached the town of Apara. Except for a few bandits they dealt with, it was a rather quiet and harmless walk. Though they agreed on getting horses for the further travels to be faster. Given that they took the belongings of the dead bandits, sold what they wouldn't need and took the rewards for dealing with them. They had more than enough money to buy some horses and supplies for a week or two.

Raven went to a random Pichu and asked, "Hey there! Do you know where the archers of the tournaments are staying?"

"You are a bit late mister" told the Pichu. "The tournament is over since yesterday! Only the victor, Simon Sharpeye is still here."

Raven tossed a coin over, "Where is he staying?"

"In the hotel 'Lost Aim', sir!" told the Pichu and ran off. Eve shook her head, "Sometimes the names of bars and hotels just confuse me… and I have already 186 years under my belt."

"And I thought you were already used to it," told Raven and they made their way to the 'Lost Aim'.

Entering the bar of the hotel, Raven looked around and spotted in a corner a Sneasel with one of his eyes being green and the red. Recognizing him as the one he was looking for, he and Eve moved to his table and sat down.

Simon looked at the two and told, "Raven and Eve! It has been a while!"

"Indeed!" agreed Raven. "It was since the Tyrunt hunt where we had been together like this."

"And still no magic eye," mused Simon. "Why don't you replace it like you did with your arm?"

"Cannot afford it," told Raven. "Anyway… we are here because of a job."

"A job which needs my qualities?" asked Simon. "Or the fact I am trustworthy?"

"Both," told Raven. "It's from the queen. Survive and you get a big reward."

"And what does the royal Pyroar want from me?" asked Simon and Raven just said. "Stopping the King and his demon."

"Seriously?" asked Simon. "Stopping this asshole is the mission? And he has a demon? Great! Always wanted to have a demon under my belt! And for the king… can I shoot him?"

"If we find a satisfying situation, I am sure," told Raven, deciding that the king's death would be an optional part of the mission… Palette deserves somebody much better than this Luxray!

"Count me in!" told Simon. "What's the plan?"

"First information and then we will see," told Eve. "The job description doesn't offer much of details due to the fact that the queen didn't know it better."

"About what?" asked Simon and Raven answered. "Crown of Arceus."

"Is he… seriously searching for the Crown?" asked Simon and Raven wondered. "What do you know about it?"

"Not much… only that it isn't supposed to be in the hands of anybody who isn't chosen by Arceus self," told Simon and Raven shook his head. "Since the great Legendaries left this world, there was no other contact with Arceus!"

" There was… one more time during the Demon Wars," told Simon. " Though I only know that Arceus gave the Crown to King Kahn who brought us the victory… after that I know nothing."

"That's why we go to Dozo," told Eve and Simon told. "I think we should go now then!"

Simon paid for his drink and they started walking to the exit of the bar … only to stop as they noticed somebody coming to them

"Aaaah! Finally I found you!" a Wingull squirmed, rushing to the table, and eventually tripping and falling like an idiot. But in few second he was on his feet and brushed his clothes before saluting. "Messenger Walter Wingull, 35th messenger of the Kingdom of White Course), expert in verbal messages, letters, and deliver of objects! My superior Sebastian the Honchkrow instructed me to find a Zangoose named Raven and to take his message about a secret mission," the Wingull gasped and breathed in, not pausing until then. "Have you the message already?"

"I got two of my friends recruited," told Raven. "We were just on our way to find out what we have to do in our mission. Best we take you with us to make it easier with the explaining... and planning!"

"You aren't the brightest around aren't you?" asked Eve with curiosity.

Walter pouted offended, "Hey! Not funny! And you're not the prettiest around huh?"

"Wow... you are the first one besides Simon and Raven who isn't calling for my death by seeing my face," countered Eve.

Walter scoffed and looked away, his wings crossed.

"Anyway... let's go waterbird" told Eve and stood up with the others.

"Where are we going?" he asked suddenly cheerful.

"To a shaman named Dozo... he has connections to the Spirits and I plan to use this connection to find out about the Crown of Arceus."

"Cool! Have I to refer the message now?"

"After the visit!" told Raven. " We have to clear where you can find us again."

"Alright."

They moved to a corner of the city where an old house with a large garden stood. Raven sighed, "How long was it since I was here?"

"60 years for me," told Eve, fiddling with her staff. "Was quite a time way back... and he was a good lover that night!"

Walter looked around with a not so impressed face, "Wow, your efforts to keep this place tidy were impressive."

"Thanks," told and old voice and a Xatu holding a staff stepped out of the building. "Raven... Eve... Simon... it has been a long time for each of you... the longest for Eve. And I know why you four are here. Come in... I prepared a fire to let you see what the Spirits know."

"Straight to the matter like last time," told Raven.

Walted screamed girly and hide behind Raven, "W-w-w-who is that!?"

"The Shaman Dozo," replied Raven while walking with the other two into the house. "And if his appearance makes you jump... get some papers on! It won't get better from here on"

"Ok..."

"And now come! Or do you prefer to stay here, near a forest which is known for bird hunters?"

Walter sweated and trembled in fear, imagining already what was going to happen to him, "F-Fine. I-I'll come."

Inside the house was a fire with four pillows surrounding it, giving space to sit on it while the Shaman put over a table different bottles with substances. The old bird-type told. "Sit down... I will share my acknowledge about the Crown soon."

Walter watched carefully around before to sit on a pillow, "What's this Crown about?" he asks to Raven.

"Last thing Arceus made and supposedly makes you a god," told Raven and Dozo told. "You are not far from this Raven... the Crown was indeed created by Arceus, as the Demon Seal was broken and the world was on the edge of destruction."

Dozo threw some powder into the fire and colored smoke began to form figures, showing Pokémons and Demons fighting, the Pokémons being the losing side.

"Arceus, unwilling to break his own rule and return to our world to help us, created the Crown of Arceus."

He put another powder into the fire and the smoke showed Arceus and a Crown being formed under his watch.

Walter watched amazed, but still frightened by the story.

"He chose a Champion," continued the Shaman. "The Lucario Kahn. With this mighty artifact, created by the Creator self, King Kahn was able to form a new alliance."

The smoke showed then how the Crown was placed on the Lucario, leading Pokémons into the battle.

"And this alliance drove the Demons away, renewed the seal and brought back peace to our world. He was the only King who was staged as ruler of the world."

The smoke showed then the Lucario sitting on a throne which sitted on the world, like it was a miniature.

"However... as the wise king grew older, he knew two things: he couldn't pass the world on to a single heir... or let one of his children have the Crown for themselves. For that he created 19 temples... one for Arceus self. It contains the Crown. The keys were shattered, brought to the other 18 Temples. The Elemental Temples! Still places visited by Pokemons who pray for the return of the great Legendaries."

The smoke showed the Crown placed into a temple, the keys moved to 18 other temples.

"The temples are all lead by direct descendants of King Kahn himself... each of them in the type of their temple," finished the Xatu the tale about the Crown.

"Before I continue to tell you what I want to tell... do you want some tea?"

"I do know where those temples are! Fire, Water, Fairy and Dark! I know where those are located!" Walter jumped up. "Maybe if we find these keys and the Crown, we could like create a kind of peace with Arceus and avoid the Crown to fall into wrong hands!"

"It won't be that easy! First the guardians of the Temples will attempt stopping everybody trying to steal their part of the key," warned Dozo. "Also the king summoned one of the worst kinds of demons into this world! In a month it will be ready to move, destroying everything in its path."

"Then we just slay it!" told Simon and Dozo shook his head. "That is not easy either..."

The shaman put the next powder into the fire, showing the body of an Umbreon and the demon coming out of her, "This kind of demon has a way to reincarnate... using a mother host. Each time you slay it, it will return to the body it is born from. The king only needs to fill her with seed once again and the demon will be back within five weeks... you have to kill the mother before destroying the demon."

"If we could show that we need those keys to avoid an apocalypse, maybe the guardians will let us borrow them, we don't have to steal them. And about the demo- What!?"

"You have to kill the enslaved body and mind of the vessel which gives birth to the demon," repeated Dozo.

"Oh boy," Walter facepalmed. "Why there's always to be a murder in these plans!?... Anyway, I know a friend, he's a newbie herbalist, but he discovered a plant that poison you without pain, it makes you feel sleepy, and you die in your sleep, no pain, no signs of substances or else."

"For that we need to know the vessel first," told Raven.

Dozo nodded , "Uncomfortably, I cannot tell who the vessel is... and if poison could end her, given the powers of the demon. It has to be tried... also the Spirits say that Arceus will never return, unless a crises arrive anew that cannot be handled by us mortals."

Raven crossed his arms, "Then we make a more pragmatic solution. We try and destroy either the keys or the Crown itself!"

Then he turned to Walter, "And for your offer to talk it out: this might work for some but most of them are in this matter probably so stubborn that fighting or getting through a lethal trial is the only way."

"Look who's speaking, the fleabag who tried and get killed for 4 coins!" Walter replied harshly.

"Fleaback? Four coins?" asked Raven, offended. "What is the meaning of this?"

"Pokémons like you risk their lives for a fist of flies. They don't have the right to speak about life or death risks."

"I am not doing this for flies or money! I do that for the queen!" growled Raven grabbing his blade.

"Oh yeah sure! And now you're telling me you care for her so much that you deflowered after her husband!"

"Actually... Raven is telling the truth," told Zodo. "The Spirits told me about Ravens reasons for doing this..."

"WHAT!?" Raven sighed loudly "You know?... I wanted to keep this as secret," told Raven with a deep sigh while Eve and Simon were staring at him, not even remotely thought about the posibility.

"Ha! Stupid and perverted! I'm gonna warn the King! I'm out from this mess!" Walter shouted as he spread his wings to take fly.

"You know you will be killed by the king to keep this as secret?" asked Zodo.

"LIAR! SENILE AND LIAR XATU!" Walter kept on shouting as jumped and took the fly.

"Have fun for destroying the world's hope of surviving the king," told Zodo. "Because once he has the Crown... his madness will take over and will destroy this world until he releases the demons once more," Walter was now too far to hear him, he just looked forward, determinate to go back at the castle and refer to the king the bastard's father identity.

Raven sighs loudly, "We are screwed... now we have to write down the locations, move as fast as possible and hope that luck shines on us."

"Sometimes my age clouds my minds... I am sorry Raven. I thought Walter would stay with us but his ears are deaf to the truth," told the Shaman.

Walter kept on flying for awhile, but he felt wrong somehow. He was a mere messenger, he hadn't the right to say nothing, would the king ever believe him?

And here was also the warning of the shaman... and also he didn't know the reasons why the queen accepted Raven in the bed.

"Heh, who am I kidding?..." Walter sighed as he veered back at the basement.

And he found the four planning around. Raven turned and told, "Guess the old bird was right."

Walter landed a few steps away from them, not saying a word.

Raven looked at him, feeling awkward since... he didn't know what to tell. He didn't regret what he did and he wouldn't deny he had something for the queen... but on the other hand he wanted to be in peace with the flying type. At least for this mission.

"... I'm sorry," he said looking down.

Silence until Raven began to laugh loudly, "Man! Everybody would have expect I would say sorry for what I did! Apology accepted! However I won't lie in this. I didn't regret it a bit! And I care a lot for her! Or else I would have a pretty damm high bill in the end for her," Walter sighed and smiled. "It's okay. I won't expect you to apologize. But I'll leave everything behind."

He offered his wing for a handshake. Raven took it "Peace?"

"Peace," Walter smiled and shook his wing.

"Well... we have a massage which has to be delivered to Sebastian."

"Perfect. I'm all ears!"

"Tell him about the Crown of Arceus. And also about the demon. My team moves to a village which is near the closest Temple. The Dark Temple and we travel by horse. Also I request two more to help us out here. One healer and one defender. I have no mercenary contacts which could help us without the risk being sold to the king. Meeting point is the said village. Optionals are to bring along supplies and some money to cover the costs."

"Yes sir!" Walter saluted and turned with a jump to fly.

Raven turned to Simon and Eve, getting ready to leave as well.