"Are you certain it is a good idea to trust them?" Wally asked as they waited by the large fountain at the city's centre—the meeting point they'd designated with Tanzanite and Cheren.

Black said, "Why not? Cheren seems pretty dedicated to finding Belle, so he'll help us. And Tansy seems to be a kind enough person. Look, there she is now, all but running at us. Older than I and brimming with energy, that one."

"You speak as if she's ancient. She can't possibly be any older than me." Wally watched as she approached. "And besides, you were just shot. I would be concerned if you were that peppy."

Tanzanite rushed right up to them then, waving a piece of paper and panting. "I swear, the two of us shall still help you, but you must know something. This letter came to our inn this morning. It's from Emerald, Belle's older brother. He says that she's safe and sound in Kanto with him." When Cheren joined them and nodded, they started off, Black guiding them to his father's estate.

Black let out his breath as a sign of relief as they walked, and watched it puff in the chill air before him. "That's fantastic. I'm glad that she's alright."

"We all are," Wally said.

"Actually, we have a running theory that Belle might just be Bianca Haeres, former princess of Unova," Black added bluntly.

Wally elbowed him. "Why would you say that so suddenly?" Black shrugged. Honestly, did he spill these things just for the hell of it? Or maybe it was to irk Wally. It certainly felt like it.

"That's…quite a speculation," was all that Cheren said. Black then proceeded to tell the boy his many conspiracy theories—all from his scatterbrained writer's imagination and based on very few actual facts.

Wally took the opportunity to speak to the freckled girl trotting by his side. "Forgive me for asking this, Tansy, but why are you doing all of this? It hardly has a thing to do with you, and you don't exactly seem like the 'adventurous' type." He recalled how out of breath she'd gotten just from running through the city streets once she'd spotted them. She was all awkward angles and long, thin limbs. She was so willowy and wispy; he feared that a gust of wind might blow her over.

Tansy took a breath before she recited: "If I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain."

Wally asked, "How do you remember all of that?"

Tansy smiled sheepishly. "I like books of any and every kind. Information, fictions, poems; I'll read anything I can find. That poem is one of my favourites." She fiddled with her fingers, her cheeks tinted pink, as if this were something very private she was sharing with him. It made him flustered as well, somehow. "I'm not a particularly strong person. I tire easily and even simple allergies seem worse by tenfold for me. But that poem makes me feel that if I can do one good thing, it will all be worth it."

Wally was surprised at her words. Where had this lovely, shy girl been whenever he'd needed a friend before? "I was always a sickly child as well, so I understand just how you feel."

"That…I never was even aware of that, Your Highness."

"Few were. And Wally will do." When she stared only at her feet as they ambled along, he added, "And I like books as well." He chuckled. "But I'd really rather just read fiction."

Black began leading theme down a side path through a little grove. Wally didn't think he would ever even notice such a route and mentally tipped his hat.

"This is probably the only way to sneak into the Harmonia manor," Black explained. "Any other entrance or weak point is watched." The path ran up against the intimidating fence, which surrounded the manor and was hugged on either side by well-groomed hedges. "There's a break in the fence, but no one can tell because of these glorious shrubs here. I made a part in the bush, but since I couldn't let it show through, you'll still have to go through some brush. But as long as you keep your head low and stay in the shadows of this wooded area of the grounds, everything should be smooth sailing. After all, the only ones who even know of this entrance are me and…" he paused. Wally put a hand on his shoulder, giving him an empathetic look that Cheren and Tansy couldn't understand.

"Now then," Black went on after a moment, bright as ever, "Ladies first. Miss Tansy, step on up." Cheren couldn't help but feel a slight suspicion. It was only logical, though, that Black should go first; that way, he could show them all the way in.

Tansy was fully prepared to duck down and scamper through the bushes when she stopped abruptly, tensing like a dog who'd just spotted a rabbit.

"What's wrong?" Cheren asked.

"I hear something rustling somewhere down the path," she whispered back urgently. "Someone's coming!" And, in fact, somewhere down the trail they could here an actual dog, barking a low, rough sound coming closer. Tansy pushed the three boys behind her, a mother wolf protecting her pack.

She scarcely had the time to do this before six shadowy figures (and a dog) emerged from the brush beyond, making the narrow lane overcrowded. Both groups froze.

Black broke the silence first. "White…?" He gasped in relief. "Great skies, you're alright…" For there she was, Whitlea Lupus, right before him. Battered and bruised, but, thank every high and mighty being, very much alive. He wanted more than to pull her into his arms and hold her tight, but he was certain that would only make her angry. He was done with being blind to emotions. He wanted to understand. So now he found himself tiptoeing around everything just to make sure he didn't cross a line. White only stared at him, not saying anything or even moving. The dog wore a rope collar that was tethered to her wrist.

It burned him to see her icy indifference. He was shattering right before her, and there she was, so polite, poised, and composed.

If only what was said could be taken back.

An older, golden girl stepped out from the shadows. Cheren blinked. "Nee-chan?"

"Yellow!" Tansy launched herself forward and threw her arms around the shorter girl. "You disappeared! We were so worried."

"I'm sorry," Yellow replied, "I just got into a bit of trouble, and…well, by chance I found Grimsley and when I heard about his family, I had to help. Why have you come?"

"We came looking for Belle, but she'd already returned to Kanto by the time we arrived," Cheren said. "And as much as I love chatting, we're trying to help some misunderstood kids escape this manor."

"Coincidence." Whitney emerged from the shadows. "So are we."

Falkner, Marlon, and Grimsley were just behind her. "We escaped from where N was keeping us, and we've been worried that he'll hurt Clemont and Burgh too," Falkner said. "We came to smuggle them out, and White knew the way in."

"You've got quite an impressive little fighter here," Whitney said to Black, gesturing at White.

"That's right," Marlon said. "I might just have to steal her from you!" He let out a laugh and tossed an arm round White's shoulders.

"Or I might," Falkner added, stepping just a bit closer to White. Black wasn't sure why that bothered him so much; he was the one that turned down White's feelings. But she was his best friend. It was all he could do not to rush over and club both boys over the heads. His only consolation was that White herself looked about as shocked as he felt.

Before he could really react, though, Yellow turned on him. "Have I ever seen you before? You look awful familiar."

"I don't believe we've met," he said, confused. "I've never been to Kanto or Johto, Miss."

"Right. And this is my first time in Unova…" She shook her head. "Sorry. I'm not sure why, but you remind me of someone. I can't quite put my figure on who it is, but your features are similar…"

Grimsley blinked. "Should this day not include more saving?"

"Ah, yes!" Yellow pointed to the hedge. "After you all."

Once inside, the group tried to inconspicuously dart through the wooded area, steadily inching towards the estate. Black finally worked up the courage to edge close enough to White to speak to her. She was striding on her own now—well, on her own, with her dog.

"Who's your friend?" he asked, pointing to the dog and unable to procure another topic. He winced at how lame he sounded.

Her back was rigid, her eyes forward. It was as if just being near him was requiring effort from her. He hadn't realised she was still that mad at him. "Musha."

"That's an interesting name."

"He's purposeful. He's our guard dog."

"You just wanted a puppy, didn't you?"

She scrunched up her nose at him, and he realised he'd missed that. She'd only been gone for some days, yet they'd bickered and spiraled apart long before that. And he had not only missed her being his best friend, but he also missed her, and each and every one of her little quirks; the nose-scrunching, the eye-rolling, the snappy remarks, everything.

How in all the skies was he supposed to tell her that?

They stopped just before they reached the massive building.

"So, we'll go in, find them, and get the hell out. What say you lot?" Marlon asked.

Falkner shrugged. "Fair plan."

"We should split up," Black suggested. "We'll find them faster, and I wanted to take some things with me. You should, too," he said to Falkner, Whitney, Marlon, and Grimsley.

"So long as we don't get caught," Tansy added. Black was a bit impressed with her; she was taking so much in stride. Then again, if she'd read as many books as she'd claimed to Wally (he hadn't been spying or anything! He'd just…overheard) she was no stranger to adventure. For while heroes may have few great journeys, readers can have as many as they wish.

Black slipped inside the manor, separated from the rest, expertly sliding through the hallways unseen. As quickly as he could, he plucked a bag from his quarters and began stuffing things in it. Most notably, his writing notebook, a hat, and his mother's ring.

As he was making his way out again, he couldn't help but pause when he heard his father conversing with war commanders. Black couldn't make out any words until he moved closer, peering cautiously into the room. Alarms blared in his mind—he knew better than to risk the mission like this, but his curiosity overwhelmed his concern. He could see a general mumble something, and Ghetsis Harmonia swore loudly. "Even after all these years, my rotten wife's actions continue to cripple me!"

Black stiffened. What did his mother have to do with anything? He didn't even remember much about her. He remembered her soft navy curls and that she had the same deep brown eyes as him. He remembered how she used to love myths, since her first name was Cassiopeia. Though she didn't care for the ancient tale of her namesake, she did enjoy the story of Cassiopeia's daughter, Andromeda—a princess saved from a beastly death by the hero Perseus. "I actually tried to name you Perseus," his mother had said once with a laugh, "but your father wouldn't allow it."

And of course, he remembered the fight his mother had with Ghetsis Harmonia the night before her death. Black had heard none of their words, just shouting voices before a maid of the estate had scooped him up and hurried him away. The next morning, he was told that his mother had been disguising a deadly disease and it had suddenly overtaken her. He was too young at the time to recall much else, but he had always had the sneaking suspicion that it was his father that had truly killed her.

But she had been dead for so long. What could she have done that had gotten her killed? What could she have done that still troubled his father?

A second man tried to calm Ghetsis Harmonia inside the room. "Sir, we could always maneuver around—"

Ghetsis cut the councilman off sharply. "No, no, we shall not show mercy to Kanto or Johto, no matter who resides there." He removed his monocle. While most were unsettled by the thought that Ghetsis Harmonia had blaring red eyes, Black was more unnerved with the knowledge that his eyes were two different colours—his bright blue eye was more often than not hidden by his monocle. "Samuel Oak may have thought he defeated me so many years ago, but it is he who is dead now, and I will rise. He's stolen nothing, truly." He shuffled parchment and addressed the man on his left. "Now, General Clay. Just how many forces do we have?"

Black backed away while they spoke of statistics. Just what could have transpired so many years ago? It seemed that King Samuel Oak had known that the Harmonias and followers would poison Unova even before their men overthrew the monarchy and worked for Cedrick Juniper to be president.

He returned to where the others waited, Clemont and Burgh now in tow, with his mind spinning. They swiftly left the manor—the only home Black had ever known, even if it wasn't much of one.

By some strange means, Blue found herself in Green's office.

When the guards wouldn't let her in—on his orders! What sort of work could possibly be so important?!—she climbed in through the window, an old trick from her thieving days.

She sat in the open window and watched as snow drifted down on the courtyard below. Courtiers in their elaborate winter outfits passed by beneath her. Some even braved the cold and sat on benches, even when a breeze picked up. It sent her hair floating. She leaned against the frame of the window, at peace for the moment.

"You're going to catch something if you keep that window open any longer," Green said in a bored tone, not looking up from his papers.

"And what will you say if we both get sick?" she shot back. He didn't answer.

Minstrels gathered below, and, despite the chill, withdrew their instruments. Blue stood, stretching her legs, watching them assemble their quintet. As began to play their mellifluous, beautiful song, she swayed to the rhythm. The charming tintinnabulation of bells rang out, loud even so high above. She squeaked in surprise when she felt Green bring a hand around her waist and clasp one of her hands. "Dance with me," he whispered in her ear.

Struggling to remain calm, Blue placed her free hand on his shoulder and let him lead her. Away from the window, across the floor. Somehow, after a few measures, she found herself drifting closer to him. Hoping that they were concealed well enough, she laid her head against his shoulder and listen as he mumbled some nonsensical words to the music. The timbre of his voice was low and warm. She wasn't sure if he was just making up his silly tune or if there actually were words that were supposed to be paired with the song. It didn't even matter.

She'd been at the castle ever since Silver had gotten an apprenticeship to a craftsman and she had stowed away on a boat to reach Johto looking for anything that might lead her to a happier future. She hadn't expected to stay for too long at the palace, and she certainly hadn't expected her heart to be stolen by not only the young princess, but the prince as well.

Now, Green was king and no longer married. She knew it was unusual, yet was it so wrong to care for him so dearly?

She seemed to be frowning, for he halted their steps. "What's wrong?" he asked, still quiet. The music was a dull hum in the back of her mind.

"I really haven't a chance, do I?" She shook her head and averted her eyes. "Only now do I understand how Yellow was feeling. Even merely dancing with you, Green, would be enough to enrage society. Do you even accept who I am completely? I haven't a shot at any of it, no matter how my heart yearns. It's simply not fair."

Suddenly, his hand slipped from hers and lifted her chin so that her lips met his. When they broke apart, a rare glint was in his bright emerald eyes. "I think that if anyone were to have a chance, it would be you."

The music seemed to swell in her ears as he swept her up again and they danced.

Locked in her birdcage once again, Crystal was trying to distract herself by reading, when she heard a knock at her chamber door. Confused, she opened it. There had been no visitors other than workers who tended to her, and they never actually seemed to knock unless she was in her bedroom.

A maid with unusually long hair stood outside the door. "Hello, Your Highness," she said, timid but with purpose. "I am Caitlin—oh, well I suppose it matters not who I am. I knew Yellow Nympharum, and she would have wanted to keep you safe if she were here—and, oh, this is yet to have any relevance. But I thought you should want to know that…something awful is transpiring. The man in the dungeons that you had visited—" so people had seen Crystal race through the dungeons, then, "—he is being taken. I am not sure where, but the guards have put him in shackles, and I fear that he is upon his time of death."

Crystal's mouth dropped open. "Thank you," she said quickly to the maid, not wasting a moment before she slipped into her shoes and hopped down from her balcony again. Caitlin seemed to find this preposterous, but Crystal hardly threw a glance back at her.

Gold is going to die. He is really going to die. Well, not if she could help it. But something sick twisted in her stomach; she knew that there would be no way, no matter how much influence she had, that she could save Gold from his ill-met fate. This was Lance Corvus's kingdom, and while the cruel man himself had obviously not ordered Gold to meet his end, Crystal still hadn't any control over anything that happened in the Kingdom of Blood.

She stumbled outside of the castle, through the grounds and to the gallows just beyond. A cluster of dark figures were ahead; Crystal rushed to catch up with them. The air chilled her to the bone and was sharp in her lungs each time she took a breath, but she had to catch up. So long ago, she thought Gold was a nuisance. Now, she couldn't imagine what she would do without him by her side.

In the distance, she could see the forest and a hill that she recalled Red talking about. The gallows were in the shadow of the ViridianForest. She hadn't realised just how massive the woods were until she saw clearly how it swooped around the city, as if cradling the town close. She was nearly there.

Everything really was her fault. Why had she had to make things so complicated? Why had she and Gold become so star-crossed, so very unlucky? She had once been just the princess of Johto, fussy enough to despise her position. With the war and her journey to Kanto, everything had gone blitzkrieg. When would it stop? When would the denouement come? It beleaguered her immensely.

Without Gold, she would have to walk her troubled path alone. She would feel so very empty and utterly lost without him. Even as she approached the gallows, she knew this much.

As soon as they saw she was getting too close, the governor who was overseeing the execution ordered guards moved to hold her back. "Let me go!" she shrieked when they grabbed her arms, their steel grips like vices. Her screech had gotten the attention of Gold, though. He had been looking his death grimly in the face, but now he turned and saw her. His beautiful eyes widened.

"You shouldn't be here!" he called. "I don't want you to see this!"

He was breaking—she knew it. He was fully prepared to accept his death, to be with Yellow again and anyone else who had died or would die because of the awful war waging. But she had gotten through to him. Maybe now he would fight back. A scintilla of hope bloomed within her heart.

It was no use, though. The governor, Blaine, still ordered his men, and they still pushed Gold on to the gallows, tugged a hood over his head, and looped the noose round his neck. His hands were bound; there was no way he could break free and nothing that she could say to stop it.

Crystal could feel the tears gathering in her eyes. The dark grey clouds—stormy skies fit for Unova—and the ominous forest seemed a horribly fitting backdrop to her heartbreak. A guard was just about to shove Gold forward, so that his neck would catch on the rope and break, when a rough voice bellowed:

"GET YER ROTTEN MITTS OFF THAT INSUFFERABLE BUFFOON RIGHT NOW, OR I'LL RIP 'EM OFF, YA VERMIN!"

A/N:

*ambushes you with Oldrivalshipping*

Black, you did not help at all in this chapter, you lump.

HEY GUYS YELLOW'S NOT DEAD. She's never been dead. She was in chapters 18 and 21 and now she's here again. I thought I'd said she wasn't dead but I'm really sorry because I think I scared people because her situation was REALLY unclear. I'll explain it in my A/N at the end of next chapter (because there's a bit of a plot twist in the next chapter.)

Red should be back next chapter, don't worry. He's just been travelling, is all.
And I'm not even sure what this chapter is. More plot bunnies. And who has just shouted? Will it save Gold? Am I ever going to get less predictable?

Rant over! Thanks for reading. Happy 2-year-anniversary to this story (yup, this time last year is when I posted that awful first chapter...and then just sorta let it sit for a year...then returned...and yeah. Here we are now, nearly a year past that.)
-Silvia

Disclaimer: I do not own Pokespe or anything else.