Chapter Six: Paranoia

*Author Note – This Chapter is pretty long… And to think that even the plot of Chapter Seven was written with Chapter Six… Yes, we wrote some things down on paper, when we were travelling with the car.

Disclaimer: We don't own Pokémon.*

And here is Chapter Six: Paranoia

Pichu's Point Of View

It was around midnight, and my problem? I could not sleep. I was in a comfortable bed, but my thoughts kept me from sleeping.

Maybe the Crew members were right. I would be bringing some peace to my country by marrying the Prince of another, but, at the same time, I would get my country in a bigger, more destructive war.

Not that I knew there was war raging through the whole world. I was protected from the outside in the palace - although they could not take the history books away - so I was not aware of the wars raging through the whole world.

Some might say that the treaties between countries would be better than no treaties, but I disagree.

The reason was easy. More countries would get involved with each other in a good way by treaties, until there were only two groups left, standing as enemies from different sides.

They would try to destroy each other, and the innocent followers would watch their world fall apart.

And the leaders would not even see it, leading the county to its end without a second thought.

I jumped out of bed. I had to think of something else, as long as it was not about the war.

At first, I only walked in circles. I could not go outside, because the door was locked, so I was forced to stay in the room. I got frustrated, and my eyes caught faint light. It came from the window.

I gave myself a facepalm for not seeing it earlier and made my way to the window.

I sat down at the round windowsill, my small form enabling it, and stared at the Moon. The Moon was in its First Quarter, but, since there were no clouds, it was very clear.

My hand felt wet. I looked at it, but it was bleary. Looks like I was crying, and still am. I leaned heavily against the window, trying to suppress my tears...

That was when I fell down.

I grabbed the ropes in a reflex. I held onto it with all my strength. I wanted to jump back in the room, but a loud 'Clunk' told me that was impossible.

I climbed up – using my apple tree experience in climbing – and landed on the deck. I walked for a bit, trying to find someone, but there was no one to be seen, so I went downstairs.

I was getting desperate. It was dark here, and I still could not find anyone. It was a pleasant temperature, but just seconds ago, the air turned ice-cold. I began to shiver.

I tried to see in the darkness, but could only see a reflection of… myself. I really need some sleep, because no one on this ship wore the exact same dress as I do. So it must be a reflection.

"What are you two doing here?" Was that Gengar? "Wait… Oh! You're supposed to be locked in the room!" Definitely Gengar. He said in a louder voice: "The Princess is trying to escape!"

Escape? Well, that would be great. Unfortunately, I cannot swim, so that is out of the question…

I sat up. Huh? When did I lie down? One moment, I was standing with Gengar and… me, and I was in bed the next. There were many question marks in my head. Did I have a black-out?

I looked around, and saw that I was back in my 'prison'. There was a hammock in the corner of the room… And Pikachu was staring at me – with dark bags under the eyes and bloodshot eyes – while tightening the ropes of the hammock.

Pikachu's stare became a glare. "You're not going to be able to escape again, Princess." This threat became a little useless, since it was followed by a loud and long yawn.

"Esca…" I started, but Pikachu began pointing towards me, and interrupted me.

"No! I wasn't finished! You are underestimating my Crew, and especially me! First, you infiltrated, by becoming 'friends' with the Squirtles," he said in a tone that made very clear that he did not like it. "I wouldn't be surprised if you would snatch away Blastoise, too!" I could see sparks coming from his cheeks. "But I'm not going to allow that to happen, no, no! I'm going to make sure that you're under watch, twenty-four seven, until the exchange takes place."

"B…" Maybe Pikachu's reflexes grew more with the less sleep he got. I only said one letter of the alphabet.

"Don't you have a reputation? Princesses need to wait for the other Pokémon to be finished. And, honestly, I wasn't finished. Your manipulating game won't work for me, and I will protect my Crew, my family, from you." The reflexes were better, but his ability to think clearly… Became zero.

Pikachu's eyes became unfocused. "Mmm… It was pretty smart to do it in the night. Either you wouldn't be caught and were free, or you would make sure I was woken up, worsening my sleeping condition. Well over thought, yes…" And with that, his eyes closed, and he fell on the floor.

The impact on the floor woke him up, yes, but he thought – of course – that it was I who made him fall asleep.

"What did you do? Can you make Pokémon asleep, too? I can't believe it," he whispered. He was unaware of his volume. He probably thought he was yelling at me. Next to that, he was getting paranoid.

His eyelids closed again, but snapped open when I started to speak. "With all do respect, sir, I was not the one that made you fall asleep. You simply fell asleep while standing. Apart from that, I fell out of the window, and could not climb back into the room. I was trying to find one of the Crew members. When I found one, I was back in this room, which I still do not understand."

His eyes narrowed with suspicion. "Why should I believe you? If you answer the next question, I might believe you. Why didn't you escape when you had the chance?"

I sighed at his question. To be honest, I was embarrassed about the reason, and remained silent.

"So you don't have an answer to that question, huh?" The huh became a loud yawn.

I had to answer him, so I told the truth. "I am unable to swim. So I could not escape, even if I wanted to. Are you happy with that?" I snapped at him. I could not keep my cool, so I decided to push my luck a bit further. "It was my first time at the sea, and I was abducted by pirates. One light point with the abduction, I became friends with Pokémon of my age, but a certain Captain thought it was dangerous for his whole Crew if two Pokémon became friends." Pikachu was silent. I continued. "And do you really think I am able to make you sleep? I am a Pichu! Pichu's cannot use Sing or Leaf Whistle!"

Pikachu gave an answer. "And you're unable to use Hypnosis?" Pikachu shook his head. "Just so you know, Gengar used Hypnosis on you. He knew how dangerous you could be, so he made sure you couldn't attack. That's what caused the black-out of yours."

It probably was true… I calmed down, and thought of the best possibility in our discussion. "I think it would be smart to get some sleep… I do not want to be accused again for making you fall asleep." I lied down, and tried to get some sleep.

Pikachu jumped in his hammock, and fell asleep immediately. I closed my eyes and drifted to The Land of Dreams…

Buneary

Before I joined Pikachirate's crew, I was an accountant at a castle.

I was a brilliant accountant. So brilliant that I also became the personal assistant of some important general soon after.

He treated me very badly. But I endured it. Until some day he came back from a mission. A mission where he murdered and robbed a whole town.

I was so mad, but I couldn't do anything against it. He needed me to embezzle the money. I began to panic. I knew that he knew, I knew too much. So, when the job was finished, he would kill me. He didn't suspect me from knowing that, but I knew.

I still embezzled the money. But then I packed my stuff and ran away - with the money, of course. I went to the woods.

There was a farmer who gave me a lift to a nearby Fishermen's town. I thought I was save there, and I relaxed...

But after a few days, some guards from the castle came to look for me. The whole town was surrounded. I ran towards the dock and saw a ship named "The Lightning Shadow" and stopped in my tracks. I knew the ship would sail today.

I also knew it was a pirate ship, but it was my only chance of escape. So I went aboard and hid there.

After a few hours the ship left off. I waited a few hours before I went to the deck to search for some food. I was certain that one of the Crew members would find me, eventually, but that was a fact.

I was glad that I took my notebooks with me; I wrote all the important details down – I had information about the Crew members and information about other countries in our world. I knew a lot about the secrets in our world.

I knew that this ship was not a pirate ship for one hundred percent. That detail saved my life that day. I took a life-lesson out of that.

Make notes of everything, because detailed information saves lives.

When they found me, they became mad at first. The Chansey was kind towards me, and persuaded the Pikachu. I gave them the money, knowing they would use it for the best.

And after I saw the Captain's handwriting and notes, I couldn't help but to promote myself to secretary of the ship.

Having done many good things for the wrong team blindly
A switch took place
She went to the right team, continueing her good work

Valuable for most Crew members, not only for the money
But most of all for her organisation and the warmth she radiated towards others

Seen by some as a traitor
Most saw her as the heroine

*Random Extra Author Note/Story! – Listen to 'Soundscape to Ardor'! It's a song that displays the emotion of Buneary's story... Oh... It's not extra... Sorry. Or is it? Here is an additional scène that belongs with the story. But the Chapter got a bit too long. And we wanted to give Buneary's story…*

Pikachirate's Point Of View

The light from the window was touching my face. I opened my eyes slowly and looked around. The bed was empty. I lay in a hammock.

Oh no! The Princess is gone! I jumped out of bed – I mean hammock – and started to run.

I saw the Pichu Princess skipping happily on the deck. Not what a Princess would do when she attempted to escape. Why was she skipping?

"Hey, Princess!" I yelled. She ignored me, and continued skipping. I grabbed the Princess by the arm so she would look at me.

She looked at me with a strange look. Why is she looking at me like that? Then she smiled and hugged me.

She hugged me. Why was she hugging me?

Suddenly, there was a blue glowing light and the Pichu Princess transformed into... Ditto?

"You... The Princess?" I asked in confusion.

"Ditto, Ditto." Ditto made weird movements. It really didn't make sense. So I went to lie down – on the floor – maybe I was dreaming.

It was a sign…Yes, I had to apologize to the Princess. Then, the Princess would hug me, like Ditto did…

Jeez, could the Paranoia just stop? I don't want the Princess to hug me!

Or do I…?

*Author Note – This was the extra long Chapter! We hope you enjoyed it!*