Disclaimer: I do not own Pokespe or anything else.
Poppy felt like an invader.
After the man that she had shot—not the prince, definitely not the prince—was carted off the boat, it began sailing away. Poppy had planned to flee the boat by then, look for the real prince, but the emerald-eyed girl ducked into the storeroom and slumped against the door, dumbstruck and disbelieving. Poppy recognized her as one of Black's friends, but she didn't remember her name.
Poppy slid behind stacked crates and remained there as the ship slowly snaked across the sea. A few times she considered overpowering the girl, then running out and hiding somewhere else. Waiting until the ship reached Hoenn for its "stop" (technically it was not legal for a Unova ship to sail to Kanto and vise-versa) and then fleeing into the neutral kingdom. But for some reason, Poppy could not move, could not break the silence of the musty storeroom. She dozed off without realizing, but had woken when the boat shuddered to a stop. The girl held Poppy tight by the arm and led her off the vessel, hissing, "Act as though we're supposed to be here together." Then the girl brought her to another city—the capital city of Kanto.
ViridianCity was frigid, wintry, and very busy. Its labyrinthe streets were bustling with life. Against the white of the falling snow, a riot of colours attacked her. Being around so many people suddenly suffocated her. A few times she checked her cloak for her rifle, but soon remembered that she had ditched it in the storeroom.
Then they came upon a tiny, sloping house, squished on either side by others. Potted plants hugged the entrance. Pillars held up the overhang above the miniscule porch. They barely made it halfway up the walkway when people sprung out of the house and enveloped the emerald-eyed girl in a giant hug. For a moment Poppy felt very out of place, but her heart softened at the great big hug scene. Suddenly, she was full of longing for her own family, twisted as it was. But she could not help thinking warmly for a moment: This is what a real family looks like.
"You came back early," gasped the gruff voice of a boy who was shorter but obviously older than the emerald-eyed girl.
An older girl stood in the doorway, apart from the hug. "You've brought a friend." She said it in a bright, peppy manner rather than a confused one, and she gave Poppy a warm smile. Poppy's eyes widened slightly. Nobody even questioned why she was there or who she was.
The emerald-eyed girl sent Poppy an apprehensive glance, then turned round to introduce the crowd. "Poppy," she said, and the assassin silently cursed her for knowing and using her real name, "these are my older brothers, Emerald and Pearl," the younger brother was surprisingly taller, "and this is Gold, a family friend," she gestured to the tall man who was clearly not a biological part of the short blonde family.
The hug-gang flurried back inside like the frantic, falling snow, and before Poppy could be ushered in, she caught the emerald-eyed girl's arm. "I…I have a problem," she offered meekly when the girl stared at her.
"What is it?" the girl replied through gritted teeth.
"I don't know your name."
Clearly, that had not been what the girl was expecting. She looked fairly surprised—not because Poppy didn't know her name but that the assassin cared enough to ask—and answered, "It's Belle."
Poppy nodded and trouped in after her. She sat at the tiny house's kitchen table and was amused by the idle banter over tea, by the little conversations between the bundle of people. Though Poppy did not say anything, she rather enjoyed observing. She tried to remind herself that she was not supposed to be there, not at all, but one found it hard to stay stiff in a house so well-worn and full of life.
"I don't mean to be rude," Belle began at one point, looking to the older girl who had stayed apart from the big family embrace, "but I do not know who you are." She sent a sly glance to Gold. "Are you courting her? I'd never thought I'd see the day when a woman could bring you down."
Gold seemed rather embarrassed, but before he could get a word in, the girl responded in a laughing tone, "Yes, that much is true. Sorry to have shown up so suddenly. My name's Crystal." Gold seemed rather stunned that she had said she was involved with him, but he beamed like an idiot afterwards, which the pair of brothers certainly took note of and mocked him for.
"That's the name of the Johto princess," Belle remarked brightly. "I've always thought it was so pretty."
Crystal beamed. "Thank you."
Then, the joyful air instantly turned grim when Belle inquired, "So where is Yellow? Oh, and Tanzanite and Cheren?" Everyone else exchanged worried glances. Belle hastily added, "I mean, I know I'm only bothersome to Cheren, and I don't know Miss Tanzanite at all, but I just wanted to say hello since I just got back and all. Is Cheren busy?"
Gold shook his head rather sadly. "It's not that. We…didn't mention it to you because word would not have gotten to you in time, but Cheren actually went with Tanzanite to Unova. He wanted to surprise you, and to help with whatever issue you had been handling."
Belle's face fell. "Oh…well, I suppose we can discuss that later. Is Yellow working? That sister of mine is just going to one day make herself ill if she pushes herself too hard. She's a small thing, and I know taking care of us takes its toll on her."
"She's not here either," replied Crystal sadly. "She…we haven't seen her in a very long while. She's gone missing, Belle."
Belle's eyes widened. "But why? Why would this happen to her?"
Gold stood sharply, rattling the whole table. "Emerald, Pearl, can you two be dears and get more eggs from the market? We could use a fresh batch. Crys, please chat with Belle, you two will have so much to talk about, I think. And it's probably about time I show our guest to her room."
The room, much like the rest of the house, was small and warm. It didn't have much furniture—just two beds, two nightstands, and a wardrobe. Still it felt homely, little trinkets and decorations sprinkled here and there. Gold explained quickly that the beds belonged to Belle and her sister, who had disappeared. The beams on the ceiling fascinated Poppy somehow. The house was so comforting, but she couldn't shake the foreign feeling that came with it. She was sitting up straight on the bed, imagining climbing onto the wardrobe and then onto the beams, when a knock sounded out.
The door had been ajar the whole time, so the knocker must have rapped the doorframe. Poppy discovered that it was Belle's brother, the taller one. His eyes were a strange shade and texture of orange; gleaming, not glinting. His hair stuck up on odd places, like he either meant it to look messy, or he slept on it strangely. He looked less grumpy than his older, smaller brother, which was at least a small bit reassuring.
"…Emerald, correct?" she asked quietly. He looked enough like an Emerald.
He shook his head. "Pearl."
"Oh…"
Silence.
Then, "What's your name? I didn't catch it before."
She was taken aback. Maybe he's suspicious of me, she thought. Or maybe just curious. I did turn up rather suddenly, but…Black always says to keep your guard up. Always.
"Poppy," she replied, annoyed that she had to say her real name because Belle knew it. Then she bit her lip. If Belle hadn't said it she probably would have lied to him.
Pearl nodded, then gave her a wry glance. "Travel light, do you?" He'd probably noticed how there was no bag sitting around the room. Just her, in her same dark grey cloak.
"I don't have much in the first place," she conjured, which wasn't a total lie. There wasn't much she felt she truly needed. Anyways, living on the streets had taught her that the easiest was to lie was to twist what was true.
He shrugged. "Fine then. Why did you come here with my sister?"
Poppy clawed at a story. "We're good friends."
"How do you know her?"
"We met through our friend Black." Not a complete fabrication. She knew Black was involved somehow.
Pearl did not seem convinced with her. His eyebrows knit together skeptically. "Why are you really here?"
"Look," she started, her monotone as even as ever, "my family lives in Unova. I came here with Belle because I do not feel that it's safe. It's too hostile, too much of a threat to stay there. Also, I am not the biggest supporter of democracy." She was mildly shocked to hear the words come from her own mouth. "I do not agree with it. If a region is going to have a government where they claim that every person has a say and all different social ranks have representation, then they would at least follow through. Nobody likes being neglected." The strength of her voice had dwindled until it was a whisper.
Either her act was not believable or Pearl was just rude—she suspected the latter—because he looked at her strangely and walked away with a grunt. Clearly, her answers had not satisfied him. That didn't concern Poppy too much.
She waited for his footsteps to recede before she began rifling through the nightstand nearest to her, silently apologizing to Belle's poor sister. Poppy was only trying to find something that might help her. She had already mostly ruled out sneaking out in the night; any person in the house could catch her and wonder what she was doing. She needed another way to get out.
But not much in the drawers could help her. She found only some old letters—all addressed to a Miss Yellow Nympharum, mostly from Gold or a man called Red—and some embroidery tools. And while it would not be much help for an escape, Poppy found some empty parchment and a fountain pen. She took up the pen and a scrap of the parchment and wrote. It calmed her down, writing pointless words. She wrote herself away, to a faraway land where she was safe. Where she had people who loved her and protected her. Where she lived in a house with little rooms like this one. Where there was no fire to grapple at her, no one who would ever betray her. But when she set the pen and remaining paper back in the nightstand for Yellow Nympharum, that world was gone, and she was still here in some strange place in some strange house with some strange people.
If things were different, she thought, this could be the place in my thoughts. If things were different I could stay in this kingdom and be safe. But I am not someone who can ever be safe or loved. I am a mistake. I am useless. I am a witch. All I do is cause havoc.
Poppy was even more alone and stranded than ever before.
It was that same day in that same city that Blue came across Green standing in front of the castle, hefting his luggage and awaiting a carriage. She had been enjoying the view from a dusty window the maids had forgotten when she saw his familiar gate stride down the palace steps and to a coachman, who hurried off to gather a transport. Castle staffs were going about their business, all still jumpy since the bombing, and Blue found herself panicking. Did he really think he could leave her behind?
She flew out of the palace in a flurry and rushed him. "Where do you think you're going?"
"Johto," Green answered without hesitation. "I must go back. I have my people waiting for me."
"Yes, and one of your people would like you to at least wait for her!" She puffed her cheeks in annoyance. "My, for an almost-king, you certainly do not consider all of your citizens properly! Hold the carriage for me." She sprang back into the castle, surprising a few of the royal dairymaids who were just exiting out of a side entrance. They nearly spilled their milk. Green shook his head. That woman was simply impossible.
It didn't take her long to return with her own bags, but by then their carriage had arrived. Green supposed he could have gone alone, though Blue would probably follow him and he would get an earful once back in Johto. So instead, he only said to her, "As long as you don't mind a longer route. I refuse to be on a boat again."
Blue shrugged. "Fine. I like the scenery anyways." Her eyes slid to his as the carriage jerked forward. "Did you tell the king that you were leaving?"
"No. After all, he is not my king, and I am merely a guest in his castle, so I do not need his permission before I take my leave."
Blue snickered proudly, shaking her head. "You maddening man." Her expression darkened. "How in all of the seas are you going to rule that kingdom? They've lost your grandparents, and your parents are not exactly fit for ruling, and now the princess is gone…not that you will not be a fine ruler, I'm only thinking about the loss…"
"I think the nation must already know about Crystal," Green explained. "News travels fast, especially when it is something like this. Hell, all of the PaxSeas must certainly know by now; she was the bloody princess. But I shall not publicly discuss it. The nation will only take the confirmation badly, and this is a time with enough darkness already, as you so graciously pointed out."
Blue rolled her eyes and rubbed her arms. The carriage blocked the wind, but not the cold. She felt sorry for their driver, though he seemed fairly bundled. She wondered then about how Yellow was faring. Unova was southern, so perhaps it wasn't as frigid. Besides, Yellow was probably still on a boat.
Green seemed to notice her discomfort, for suddenly he was tossing his coat at her. She raised a skeptical eyebrow at him. "You're not cold? Are you simply made of ice?" Green grunted. Blue giggled softly and gratefully pulled the coat around herself. She turned her gaze to the snow gently falling out the window.
"You remember my grandmother, right?" Green asked.
"Queen Peridot? Of course. Not a soul could forget such a sweet woman."
"Yes, well she was kind because she worried an awful lot," Green went on. "She was always telling me to protect Crystal. Especially in her final days. She would look up at me, her eyes glazed, and tell me to take care of my sister. In those last days, she talked of things that didn't make sense, like tea parties and snowy nights on a hill, but she always found the sense to remind me of Crystal." He looked down. "And I've let her down."
Blue pressed a hand to her mouth in dismay. After a moment's hesitation, she used the momentum of the carriage to swing herself to sit beside Green. Ignoring the part of her that screamed how improper this was—that this was her king, not her friend, and a married man as well—she grasped his hand in hers and leaned her head on his shoulder, just as she had so long ago when she had fallen asleep the carriage on the way to Viridian City. She was just questioning whether she had gone too far in comforting him when she felt his head fall against hers, and his pulse beating fast against her hand. No words fractured the silence between them, and no movement jarred their connection.
It was in the dead of the night that King Ruby woke to the sound of distant gunshots.
His first instinct was to rouse his wife, lying on her side. He shook her, glancing out the window, wondering how far the danger was. It wouldn't stay far away for long. "Sapphire, you must wake, now. I'm afraid our worst suspicions have come true."
The queen of Hoenn heard her husband's urgent tone and sat. "They've come for us?"
"Unfortunately," he answered. But he and his wife were wise. There had been an escape plan for the Hoenn royal family since the war had started stewing. Since his father had taken throne, practically. Ruby continued these plans, and refused to die by assassination, rather in an honourable way like his father. The late King Norman had died after a long, hard fight with a stubborn disease. Though there had been no way to save his father, Ruby swore to keep his loved ones safe from then on.
He and Sapphire had already collected their emergency packs and had dressed decently when a panicked guard flew into the room like a flustered, lost pigeon. "Mighty mushrooms," the guard, one of their personal force, panted, "you two are fast." They had reviewed this plan even more often these past weeks. It was only a matter of time before mutineers from Sinnoh and Unova came to their beloved castle.
In truth, Ruby doubted there were many true insurgents in Hoenn. King Ruby and Queen Sapphire, though both a bit odd, were adored by their subjects. Unusually young, the two were fair, firm regents. They may have lacked a certain refined air—what with Ruby's interest in the arts and Sapphire's in combat—but the people had instantly found that charming. It was a lucky thing, most said, but it was hardly luck at all; who could not instantly take to two pleasant misfits? No, the people of Hoenn were happy, in a time of peace. They did not want to enter the war. The force attacking was probably mostly comprised of foreigners.
The guard stumbled and fell against the doorframe as a great rumbling overtook the castle, as if a giant were stomping around somewhere in the distance. "Those Sinnohians and their bombs…" Ruby grumbled.
Another guard appeared, this one holding a torch, and more composed than the first. "Come now, Your Majesties, before it is too late!"
"Yes, yes," Sapphire grunted, "but can we not be in such a hurry?" She gave Ruby a you know why look and gestured to her bulging stomach.
Ruby rolled his eyes. His wife was plenty strong. Even seven and a half months pregnant she could easily clobber him. "Yes, Sapphire, that is exactly why we must hurry. We can't very well let you get hurt by those rebels."
He helped her hobble into the hall and follow the guards down the corridors, a snaky path that led them to a dead end. Of course, behind the green tapestry on the left wall was a narrow passage out of the castle and far enough away, where they would emerge at the ports. Ruby had never been so glad that his palace had an ocean view. Some guards assigned to journey with them were already assembled, and wasted no time in ushering the royals through the underground passage. Other courtiers or officials in the castle would have to be evacuated through another route. This was a shame, but the guards simply would not risk their king and queen.
With Hoenn under siege, soldiers caught off-guard and most definitely outnumbered, Ruby and Sapphire would have to run. This was an obstacle, but they would return. Never would those two abandon their people truly.
As the tunnel began to smell of sea air, Ruby laced his hand in Sapphire's. "My love, please do not argue with me. I believe it's best if your ship heads to Johto."
Sapphire recoiled. How Ruby wished he didn't have to worry for his unborn child as well, even though he doubted Sapphire would be any more forgiving had she not been pregnant. "I will not hide in Johto. I will not hide anywhere, in fact! I am Sapphire Berlitz and my flame cannot be smothered!"
"Yes, honey, but you'll be safer."
"Who needs safety?"
"Sapph, dear, just hear me out—"
"Yes, Ruby, we have been over the entire carrying-an-infant ordeal," Sapphire snapped. "That doesn't mean I am going to hide behind your sister. No, she can handle the situation there. I shall be going to Kanto. Surely, you find that more comforting than, say, Sinnoh. I have no such comfort, for you will all but vanish." He heard bitterness slip into her voice.
"I must go," Ruby said softly. "I won't be long, love. You and I shall reclaim our thrones in due time. Be glad we've escaped unscathed, see?" He managed a smile as they emerged from the tunnels behind a mess of buildings. As soon as everyone had left the passage, the guards sealed it again and were about to split apart and head for separate ships. Ruby kissed his wife. "Keep our child safe. Keep yourself safe."
"Yes, dear," she droned, but smirked slyly. "And the same for yourself. Don't you dare let yourself die."
"Oh, certainly not. I'll be back before you can even begin to miss me, beautiful." He winked and let go of her hand, moving on with his branch of guards. Sapphire's heart ached already, even as she forced herself up the ramp and onto a ship bound for Kanto. They both had missions to complete, whether they liked it or not, and they could not be accomplished in such short time unless they divided themselves.
Sapphire watched as her home, her glorious Hoenn turned to an inky spot on the dark horizon. The ship was already on its way when she turned ghostly pale and collapsed to the ground, her strong front long gone.
"Lady Queen!" her guards shouted, bolting to her side, but all she could hear was blood rushing in her ears.
Deleted:
"Could we perhaps seek assistance from nations outside the Pax Seas?" Sapphire asked her husband. "Kalos would defend us, I'm sure."
"But we ought not to trouble King Calem and Queen Serena," Ruby replied. "No, it is best if the battle stays within the bounds of the seas."
A/N: Aahh, so short...
Okay, well at least I have a plan for the chaos that is Part III now. Sort of.
GET READY FOR THE PLOT TWISTS, GUYS.
Rant over. Thanks for reading, as always (and biiig thanks to 8Hollysplash8 for reviewing literally every chapter thank you!)
-Silvia