At last! The final chapter! It's pretty short and to-the-point, but I feel that it contains everything. Hopefully it doesn't seem anti-climactic.. Please forgive any typos, I'm kind of tired and easily miss that sort of thing.. Otherwise, ENJOY!

It was a couple days after my second failure to free N. Yes, it was my failure. I was still not strong enough for him to believe in me, and that was why he did not come. Deep down, a part of me almost wanted to believe that something had happened to keep him away, but I knew better. N had chosen not to escape with me.

I cannot stop trying. But I feel so out of options. If I could not convince him to come with me willingly, and if I could not win him back by force, then what am I to do? Just wait and hope that the revolution is a success? That path only brings back my original worry: What if Ghetsis takes out his anger on N and kills him? I could resort to kidnapping N, but how wretched is that? To free him against his own will would do nothing but make the situation I am trying to mend worse.

Overcome with frustration, I picked up a nearby stick from where I had been sitting on a log. It might be foolish to put all my hopes into swordsmanship, but if I could just wield a blade, then I would be able to defeat the Triad and Ghetsis myself. Why did N have to be so smart to know exactly what to do to keep me away? Gripping the stick tightly in both hands, I swung it through the air with all my strength, striking the nearest tree. As usual, it went flying out of my damaged grasp, and I was left again with the feeling of uselessness clawing at my stomach. Without my fighting ability, I'm just another boy. A nobody unworthy of even looking at the king, let alone touching him as I have.

I am useless now.

"Black."

Startled, I turned around to see Alder approaching. So he had returned from the month-long mission he was on. I looked away quickly, feeling slightly ashamed to know he had seen my pathetic struggle.

"They tell me you haven't said a word since you came back. Alone." He continued, and I felt thankful that he was ignoring my pitiful state. "So he did not show up?"

"No."

"You think that was his decision?"

I stared down at my gloved hands. "He still thinks he has to protect me." At least, I hope that was his reasoning. The thought that he might truly not want to be with me was too painful to consider. Not after he had let me hold him again after so long.

"What are you going to do now?"

I shook my head, forcing back the angry, hot lump that had formed in my throat. "I don't know." I told him honestly. Hopelessly. "I just don't know."

Alder leaned against a tree and folded his arms. "Have you given up?"

"..No. I can't give up. I won't."

"Good. Because I think I might know the answer."

"What?"

"I was finally able to track down who I was looking for. I've brought them back with me, and as I had hoped, they have what we need. But if my suspicion is correct, we're going to need you more than I even originally thought."

I frowned, confused. "I don't understand."

Instead of elaborating, he jerked his head back towards the cabin where the exiled knights all hid out. "Come and talk to them. You'll try anything to save Lord N, right?"

For a moment I did not move, wondering just what kind of solution he might have, but then I nodded and followed him.

Yes. I would try anything.

Once we had returned to the cabin, Alder led me over to two unfamiliar men who were undoubtedly twins.

"Oh!" One exclaimed with a foreign accent. "So zhis is him? Za boy you told us vas promising?"

Alder nodded. "That's right. What do you think?"

I glanced at my predecessor in confusion as the twins circled me like I was some sort of product. "Um.. Who are these guys?"

"Emmet and Ingo. They run an underground black-market business that specializes in antiquities."

That barely explained anything, unless I was now considered to be an antiquity. The brother that had not yet spoken pulled off my gloves and examined my fingers with a stern expression.

"Hm." He grunted. "I suppose it is possible, ja."

"Is what possible? What's going on?"

"But zhat won't matter if he is not vorthy."

Now I was becoming frustrated. I pulled my hands away and stepped back, uncomfortable with people seeing my scarred and slightly crooked fingers. "Will someone tell me what this is about, already?"

Alder placed his hand on my shoulder. "Black, you've heard the story of Zekrom, right?"

Of course I had. Zekrom was the legendary sword beside Reshiram, twins and opposing forces all at once. Many years ago, however, Zekrom had vanished without a trace, presumably stolen. "Yes. What about it?"

One of the twins picked up something slim and wrapped in cloth. Pulling the cover away, he revealed a beautiful black sword with radiant blue markings. "Zhis has been passed down in our family for generations since it came into our possession. Ve keep; for king's ransom, ja?"

The other took it and held it out to me as I stood there completely frozen in shock. "But Herr Alder convinced us to give it to you. If you are vorthy of unsheathing it, zhat is."

I looked between them and Alder, and then back to the sword. This was Zekrom? I was actually looking at one of my country's most priceless relics, which has been lost for so long? "But.. Give it to me..? I can't.. I'm not.."

"I believe that if anyone is capable of taming this sword, it's you, Black." Alder said. "You have the potential to be a hero that can stand beside the king."

I was shaking slightly, from nerves and a whole myriad of emotions. "But my hands.."

"Zhis is a magic sword. It vill compensate for your injury and even make you stronger. Go on, see if you can unsheathe it. You vill eizher die or be strengthened."

For a moment I hesitated, my mind swirling with frantic thoughts. Was this the answer? If I could wield this sword, that would mean that I will have the power to save N once and for all. That I would be worthy of being with him.

There was no room for doubt in my mind or thought of the danger. I would do this.

Reaching out, I took the sword, feeling it's weight and the strange storm-like energy it exuded. Then I gripped the handle and pulled.

Six Months Later

Third Person POV

N stood on his balcony, head tilted back as he let the rain wash over him. The evening air was cool, almost chill with the onset of rough wind and heavy storm clouds rolling with thunder, and the many large droplets that splashed down on his face hit with enough force to sting. But he did not mind any of that. The cold was numbing, and the mild pain was oddly soothing. The rain had always felt like a cleansing force to him, as though it could wash away all his thoughts and emotions and leave him empty.

He wanted to be empty.

But it was so hard to stop thinking, to block the memories. Every time it rained he recalled the night Black had brought him in from the storm and laid with him before the fireplace, warming him and loving him. That was something he would never feel again.

It's better this way.

"My Lord."

N turned and opened his eyes, blinking away the raindrops that clung to his long lashes. One of the Shadow Triad had appeared to kneel beside him. "What is it?"

"The revolutionaries have come to storm the castle. It would be safer if you went inside."

This surprised N slightly. Aside from what Black had told him, he had been kept very much in the dark about what was going on with the revolution that now seemed to have reached it's peak. "I understand." He said thoughtfully, but instead of remaining in his chambers, he headed towards the front of the palace, and it was there he found his father standing before the large windows.

Ghetsis glanced down at N as he walked over to look as well. Nothing much could be seen beyond the large stone wall surrounding the castle, but the wooden main gate was heaving with the force of the battering ram on the other side, and guards scrambled to hold it together.

"Hardly anything to worry about." The Sage said casually. "But I would rather you go deeper into the castle just to be safe."

"What do they want?" N asked, honestly perplexed.

"Why, they want you, of course."

"Me?"

A scarlet eye glanced down, seeming to pin N to the spot like an insect on a collector's board. "That boy didn't tell you? As the king, you are responsible for their discontent, and they won't be satisfied until they drag you out into the street and cut off your head." He smiled as he watched N shrink back in horror.

Quickly turning back to the window to escape the man's burning gaze, N wrapped his arms around himself. "Black.. Black wouldn't be a part of that sort of thing..."

Uncaring, Ghetsis shrugged. "Perhaps he thought he could get you out in time to save you. Although after the way you shunned him, I doubt he will even be here. ..Unless of course, he wants to kill you, himself."

N said nothing, and somehow the idea of Black taking his life was not an unpleasant one. To see hatred for him in Black's eyes just before the end might even give him at least some respite from the guilt.

"But as I said, you needn't worry." Ghetsis continued. "This little skirmish shall be quelled soon enough."

"What will happen to those people?" N did not resent them for their actions, nor their intentions towards him, and if dying could make it better, he would do so happily.

"Whoever survives will be made an example of. This is the perfect opportunity to capture the traitorous knights who instigated this nonsense and educate them thoroughly."

Unconsciously, N's body tensed in anxiety and remembered pain, his mind flashing instantly to Black. Ghetsis noticed this, and smirked.

"I will continue to uphold our agreement. I won't lay a hand on the boy."

Relaxing slightly, N nodded. At that moment, the main gate was torn open with a loud groan of splintering wood, and in spilled a mob of people. They collided with the guards, and in an instant the front courtyard errupted with the sounds of shouting, screaming, metal clashing, and bodies hitting the soaked ground. Blood and sweat was washed away as quickly as it was shed, and still the rain came down.

"Oh, for pity's sake." Ghetsis muttered and looked over at the Shadow Triad hovering nearby. "Get down there and make sure those idiot soldiers keep the rats out of the castle. I don't want them dripping mud all over the place."

"Yes, Sir." The ninjas darted away.

N felt sick at the sight of such violence, and was about to turn away, to return to his room and wait for it to end, but then something caught his sight.

Striding through the large hole in the gate, seemingly oblivious to the torrential rains, was a swordsman clad in a long knight's tunic of black and blue. In his hand he held a sword as dark as the night sky which sparkled with brilliant azure lightning. With perfect ease, the knight joined the fray, striking his foes down like flies.

"Black..." N whispered, his blood feeling frozen with shock. "But how..."

To his surprise, Ghetsis chuckled. "So my suspicions were correct. That boy was able to find and tame Zekrom."

Of course. The legendary sword Zekrom. Just looking at the skill he wielded it with, it seemed to have become a part of Black's body. He was above everyone else, a being of inhuman grace and skill; untouchable. N could not help but think this was like a warped, grey-shaded fairytale- with the black knight storming a castle to save the king he loved.

In moments Black had cut a direct line through the battlefield towards the front doors. Pausing on the steps, he looked up and met N's wide eyes. Grinning, he pointed the sword at the two Harmonias, needing no words to communicate that he was coming for them. Then he entered the castle and disappeared from view.

But why. Why even now did Black not give up? Why did he risk his life to obtain that sword and overpower the damage done to him? N failed to understand why such a noble person would continually put himself in such grave danger for someone like him. A defective, broken, imperfect wretch who had taken away his one love's ability to fight did not deserve this kind of loyalty. Black was a fool for still loving him. For believing that this grey fairytale could have a happy ending.

Ghetsis watched his son carefully, the smirk never once having left his face. "So, my Lord N. What will you do?"

Slowly letting out the breath he had been holding, N closed his eyes for a moment, standing completely still. When he opened them again, the two green-blue pools were hard and cold as stone.

"This has to end." He whispered, then turned and walked away. "There should only be black and white in this world. Grey is but an imperfection." Pulling off his robe still soaking wet, he let it drop to the floor as he moved through the halls, stopping only to tie Reshiram to his waist. At last he reached the inner courtyard where he knew Black would meet him.

Once more standing in the tempest, his expression remained empty as Black appeared on the other side.

For a long moment they merely stared at each other, seeing the opposing resolve in their eyes and knowing what had to happen. At last N drew his white blade licked with flames that hissed and spat at the water, but did not go out. Black pulled Zekrom back out of it's sheath, the tiny bolts of blue electricity darting out to strike the raindrops that passed by.

To any onlooker, the scene might almost have seemed to progress in slow-motion as the lovers lunged forward, their cold serenity from before lost in a sudden blaze of passion. In that moment, time was insignificant, even non-existent. And then they clashed. With an echoing sound drowned out in the thunder that boomed above, the blades met with such ferocity that the collision sent a purple shock-wave out across the courtyard.

It was a battle to be made legendary. One not fought with skill or technique, but raw, unbridled emotion built up across their lifetimes. It was beautiful and carnal, every graceful movement filled with anguish and rage so powerful that each swing was almost enough to shatter bones as they pushed their bodies past their limits. The thick curtain of rain was slashed apart by the two blades that sent up sparks and steam alike as the nearly-blinding elements went unnoticed.

That which was communicated in the electrified and heated air between them was as intimate and wordless as their long-lost nights spent tangled in each other's arms, caught up in a writhing dance of need and want. In perfect tandem they moved, loving and hating and yearning all at once. This was how it began with them, and this was how it would end.

Black's POV

I cannot really say how it happened. Everything had blurred together and was given over to instinct, but suddenly it was over. Reshiram went flying from N's hand, and the next thing I knew I was pinning him to the rain-flooded ground, hearing the clatter of his crown rolling away as I held the sharp tip of Zekrom to his throat.

For several beats we stayed like that, struggling to catch our breaths. Then his look of surprise faded, and he closed his eyes. I felt him relax beneath me as his expression became calm. Accepting.

"Kill me." He whispered, with the same needing tone he had used when he first asked me to touch him.

Shaking my dripping hair out of my face, I threw Zekrom aside, but remained where I was straddling his chest. "Do you really think that I would ever do that, N?"

He opened his eyes, and since I was shielding him from the storm, I saw clearly the difference between his tears and the rain. "But I-"

"No. It's over, N. I won. Now I'm going to take you away from here, and we will be happy." I was not about to budge again, because clearly I could not let him be the judge of what to do with his life.

Looking pained, he shook his head in denial. "It's impossible.."

I smiled and placed my hand on his cheek. "Nothing is impossible, and I think I might be the best example of that. Just trust me, N. Trust me and let me love you."

"I want to." He sobbed, clutching the fabric of my shirt desperately. "Oh, how I want to. But.. But I.."

"I know." I assured him gently. "And it's alright. But I am not leaving you ever again, so you might as well just accept that right now. I don't care what you try to do, I will chain us together if I have to."

N laughed through his tears. "Y-you really won't give up on me, will you.."

"Never."

That was when a sharp force drove agony between my shoulder blades. My hand went up to my chest as I tasted blood in the back of my throat. Beneath me N's eyes grew wide with concern and confusion.

"..Black?" He asked, but without answering, I twisted around to see Ghetsis standing at the entrance to the courtyard, a crossbow in his hands.

Oh no... No, please...

"Black!" N sat up, his arms coming around me as I swayed. At that point he noticed his father, and the long arrow in my back. Having taken those things in, he stared down at me as if time had stopped.

"I have had quite enough of you two foolish brats." Ghetsis spat as he loaded another arrow and walked out towards us. "You have nothing but trouble and disappointments! Your imperfections caused me to miscalculate, and now everything is ruined! Now I will dispose of both you worthless defects!" He raised the crossbow and aimed at N.

Just as he fired, I shoved us both to the ground and felt the arrow whiz over my head. Without wasting a moment, I dove towards where I had thrown Zekrom. If I could just reach it before he reloads..!

But it was farther away than I thought, and a burning numbness was spreading through my body, making it sluggish. Was it the rain making my vision blur? Just as my fingers touched the handle, I felt something sharp press against the side of my head and froze. Slowly looking up, I saw a bright scarlet gaze and a twisted grin of victory as Ghetsis held the crossbow ready.

"I should have done this the moment I laid eyes on you, boy." He said. "It's a pity to have to kill you here. I would so like to take you back down to the dungeon and make sure you are broken beyond all hope."

I wasn't listening, because behind him I saw N grab Reshiram and lunge at his father, an emotion in his eyes that I had never wanted to see there.

Distracted by N's cry, Ghetsis began to look away, and taking advantage of that, I quickly lurched forward and pushed him out of the way just in time.

"N, STOP IT!" I bellowed as he turned to take another swing. Forcing myself onto my feet, I wrapped my arms around him, using the last of my fading strength to hold him still.

N struggled wildly. "Let go! What are you doing?"

As he almost broke out of my grasp, I reached down and grabbed the blade of his sword, ignoring the way it burned my skin and cut into my fingers. His shock at my actions at last made him stop.

"You're not a killer, N." I said firmly. "And don't you dare become one because of me when you never once lifted a finger to save yourself. He's not.. worth it.." Everything was spinning. Before my legs could give out completely, N dropped Reshiram and together we sank to our knees.

Any moment now another arrow would come sailing through the air, but I was between N and Ghetsis, so I could wait for it without worry. No, I should not think that. We both were going to die here. It was selfish of me to hope that I go first. Not after what he did to save my life.

"I'm so sorry, N." I whispered.

"No.. Don't apologize. ..At least we're together."

But the arrow never came, and at that moment we heard voices. Familiar voices.

"Black!"

Turning my face away from where it had been pressed against N's chest, I saw Cheren standing nearby, looking horrified.

I smiled. "It looks like I did something reckless after all. Sorry." But where was Ghetsis? Oh, Alder had him, and was dragging him away as he lost all pretense of elegance and screamed like a madman.

Letting out a sigh of relief, I relaxed against N. "Now it really is.. over." I said thankfully. Reaching up, I tilted N's face towards me. "You hear that, N? Saved just in time.. You're free now."

He shook his head and held me even tighter. "You can't die, Black..! You said.. you said you wouldn't leave me ever again..!"

"I did say that.. didn't I.." I'm so tired.. Every breath sends pain shooting through my chest.. "I meant it, too... You think I'll let.. a stupid arrow.. take me away from you..? How many times.. will I have to tell you.. to have some faith.. in me... Dammit.."

N was rocking back and forth, his whole body shaking as he sobbed. I pulled him closer and pressed his cheek against mine. "Hey, now.." I crooned, fighting to remain conscious. "Don't cry. You know how it hurts me.. to see you like this. Remember.. those mountains I told you.. about?"

"Y-yes.. You said that we would lay in the grass and sun together.. Just the two of us.."

"That's right.. We're still going.. Once this stupid.. rain lets.. up..."

N was screaming my name as I slipped into darkness.

One Month Later

Third Person POV

N took a deep breath of the fresh mountain air that was filled with the scent of wildflowers. The bright sun hanging in the pure blue sky shone down on him as he lay naked in the soft grass. Stretching languidly, he smiled and sighed.

"Yes.." He murmured. "You were right, Black.. It is so wonderful here. Can you see it like I do, I wonder?"

After a moment of silence, he turned his head and chuckled.

"Black, are you falling asleep, again?"

The dark-haired knight quickly opened his eyes. "No, I'm not!" He insisted from where he lay, also nude, next to the king. His cheeks flushed slightly when he received only a knowing look in return. "Oh, come on. I'm still recovering, you know! And you exhaust me.."

Sitting up, N straddled Black's waist and grinned coyly. "You are the one who insisted on coming out here to do this."

"It was a promise, after all."

N's gaze grew distant as his finger traced the bandages still wrapped around his lover's chest. "Yes. You kept your promise."

Black placed his hand over N's and squeezed gently. "I love you."

Beaming, the young king nodded. "I love you, too."

~And They Lived Happily Ever After~

THE END

FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF- This is but the second time I have had the pleasure of writing THE END and closing a story forever. It is still an extremely heady feeling. *~*

I hope everyone likes it and it meets your expectations! The "end battle" scene was actually the first thing I imagined for this story. Or rather, it came into my head and from it the "Grey Fairytale" was born. I don't often think of the ending before the beginning, but that's how it went this time.

I leave it up to you readers as to what happens to Ghetsis and the Triad. I figured an ambiguous fate would be most sensible.

What next? Well, I have a list of other Isshushipping fics that need to be written, so I'll start working on those. I'm also in the process of drawing older!Black, and I might include N and turn it into a little promo poster for this story or something. My art is horrible, though, so don't look forward to it too much.

ALSO I SHOULD MENTION that everyone here is now bound by magical contract and must read my novels once I get them published. Muahahahaha!