Previously…

You, my dear Touko, my dear hero, will swear your allegiance to Team Plasma and to N as his partner, as his bride, and as our Queen." Ghetsis sank into a fake low bow, letting the words sink in. Touko was to be N's bride. Her wings had been clipped, and she was chained to the ground.

Her mouth went dry. Queen? I try to destroy their entire team, and they make me theirQueen?Touko thought. She finally found her voice and asked, "Does N know about this…this…"

"Engagement?" Ghetsis snidely offered, straightening back up.

"Y…yeah, engagement. I know he knew that I was going to be part of team plasma, but I don't think he would have had this in mind."

Ghetsis laughed. "Of course N knew! But unlike you my dear, he does not know the full meaning of such an act. However, when I told him that this was a way to keep you by his side indefinitely…he more than approved of the proposal."

"Wait, you suggested the marriage?"

"Of course," Ghetsis scoffed, "N may be king, but it doesn't take a porygon to realize who really runs this group."

Touko was in shock. Then another thought came to her, one that sent her stomach through the floor. "If N approved of the marriage and keeping me here, did he agree to your threats against my pokemon. As far as I know, he's against this type of pokemon abuse?"

Ghetsis' face immediately switched from a grin to a frown. He glared at Touko, making her back up against the bed. "You know the answer to that you little bitch," he growled, "and any mention to N about our little… agreement, will lead to dire consequences for your Pokemon, for Reshiram, and for you. Understand?" Touko flinched. "Yes" she quietly replied.

Ghetsis reached down and gently tapped the un-bruised side of her face. "Smart girl." He suddenly grabbed her face in his hand, forcing it towards him. After studying it for a few seconds, he smirked, a look in his eyes sending cold chills down her spine. "Perhaps you can create a good heir after all. My old wife obviously failed with N didn't she? Not enough spine in the boy."

He released her and headed to the door. As he was about to open it he heard Touko whisper, no…squeak, "Heir?" He turned to the white faced girl, face full of demonic glee. "Of course. Isn't that the main duty of a Queen? Now get back in the bed" Before she could say anything else, Ghetsis opened the door and called N inside. Her head, now full of disturbing thoughts and fears, climbed back into bed.

"Touko!" N practically flew into the room. "Did you hear the ne…" He stopped as he saw the now swelling bruise on Touko's face. "What happened?" Ghetsis was standing in the doorway, and while N's back was toward him, he raised the everstone, directly staring at Touko, meeting her eyes. "...any mention to N about our little… agreement, will lead to dire consequences for your Pokemon, for Reshiram, and for you…"

Touko forced a small smile to her face. "Nothing happened N. I tried standing up and slipped. My face hit the frame of the bed. I guess I'm I little woozy." Ghetsis nodded in approval. Good girl his eyes seemed to say. "Now I have some business to attend to N," Ghetsis said. "I'll just leave you two here to catch up. Oh and N?"

"Yes Father?"

"Do be careful. Your little fiancé is a little rattled at the moment." So saying he left the room, leaving an empty and awkward silence between the green and blue eyed teens. "So…" N said, starting to rock back and forth on his feet, "Did fath… I mean, Ghetsis tell you the news?"

"Uh…Yeah he did"

"Great! Now we can start planning the wedd-"

"N" Touko interrupted

"Yes?"

Touko gave a small smile and gently tapped the bandage around her head. N immediately got the message. "Oh, I get it. You must be as tired as a snorlax about now. I'll leave. See you later then." He said with a sad little smile, obviously disappointed. He looked like a child who didn't get to play with the toy he really wanted - without the temper tantrum. His sad green-eyed face pulled at her heart strings. As N was opening the door she called, "N?"

"Yes?" he turned around immediately.

"See you in the morning?" she said tentatively, her face turning a bright red. "It's a promise!" N replied jovially. As he turned and walked out of the infirmary wing, a thought struck him. Did Touko seem to avoid looking me in the eyes or was it just me? Huh. Oh well, I'm sure that she'll feel better tomorrow. I can't wait to show her my special surprise!Content, N went back to work. He still was having issues with the rebel problem.

OoOoOoO

The door had closed, leaving Touko alone in the lonely hospital room, thoughts swirling around in her head. Marriage? I can't marry N! I'd be a traitor, a failure…well an even bigger failure. And what was Ghetsis talking about, creating an heir?Touko blushed and turned on her side, facing the wall. Stupid, that's what all these Plasma people are. Either that or insane. I wanted at least a few more years training my pokemon before settling down…my pokemon…The vision of her dream came back to her. ...her entire team, curled into a fetal position, all obviously in pain. Suddenly all the pokemon started to writhe in pain, many screaming out. They seemed to be crying out to her, "Make it stop! Make it stop! Please!"As tears flowed down her face and onto the pillow, Touko didn't even bother to wipe them away. Her team…no her family, were in the clutches of a madman, and it was all her fault. "I'm so, so, sorry" she whispered, and she silently cried herself to sleep.

OoOoOoO

Black. Everything was pitch black. There were no windows or doors, but this room was definitely a cell. She had thrown herself blindly against walls she couldn't even see, only to bounce back onto the cold floor. Finally she just pulled her knees to her face, and wrapped her arms around herself. She was cold, lonely, and tired, but she would not allow herself to cry. She would not give in…but she was so tired, and the darkness was so welcoming… a bright light. A bright light shone over her head. She lifted her head toward it, squinting. The light was so warm and comforting, and oh so familiar. Wait, in the middle of that light, is it? No, it can't be. But it was… Musharna! She slowly unraveled herself to study this pink-purple pokemon.

"Musharna," she whispered, "is that you?"

"Muuu…" it replied, its voice calm and soothing. It floated toward her.

"Oh Arceus, it really is you Musharna!" She wrapped her arms around its head, as it pushed its head further into her chest. Tears of joy flowed from her eyes as she hugged her dear friend. Musharna gently pulled away from her.

"Musharna?"

"Muuu…" it floated toward the wall. As it moved, she saw that its light had shed across the room. The pitch black room was the infirmary! She looked down; she was till in her hospital gown. "Muuu…" it called. She turned around and found Musharna floating in front of the door. As she saw the door, everything came back to her, the battle, the nightmare, Ghetsis, N… her marriage to N. She couldn't leave. Even if Musharna was here, she couldn't risk bringing the rest of her pokemon into harm's way. "I'm sorry Musharna, I can't…what about the others?" Musharna just floated there, patiently watching her. Behind it, the door opened on its own, and the hall was empty.

What the…She thought to herself. Then it struck her. Musharna was adreampokemon. She was asleep! "Muuu…" it called.

"Alright Musharna, I'm coming." She hurried over to the door. As she was about to step through it, Musharna gently grabbed the back of her gown. "Huh?" she turned toward Musharna, who lowered itself to her waist level. She had been on plenty of these dream journeys with Musharna as training, so she got the message. "Alright," she consented, and climbed onto Musharna's back. "Oh wait a second," she closed her eyes and focused. When she opened them, she was clothed in her normal outfit. "Much better" she said, satisfied, "Alright Musharna let's go!"

"Muuu…" it said in its mellow way. It rose back up, and into the hall. Musharna took her through the hall, making various twists and turns, until they arrived at two staircases. One was going higher into the castle, and the other was leading into its depths. From the lower staircase, a roar was heard. Touko recognized it immediately. "Reshiram!" she cried. "Musharna, go down there. Hurry!" the dream pokemon shook its head, "Muuu…" it said sadly and began to head up the other staircase. She tried to jump off Musharna, but she couldn't move. She could only listen to the fading roars, and do her best not to cry. She buried her face into Musharna's back for the rest of the journey. "Muuu…" it called. They had stopped in front of a door, decorated with the Team Plasma coat of arms and below that, a golden vine surrounding two orbs, one black and one white. The door opened and she and Musharna passed through. The room was extravagant, with a huge bed and large amounts of furniture. Musharna lowered itself to the ground, signaling for her to get off. As she stepped onto the floor, she heard some movement under the huge red, yellow, and gold bed. From under it floated out a huge gray iron chest, shackled shut with chains.

"Muuu…" She turned to Musharna, who was now glowing with a bright blue light. She recognized this move, it was Dream Eater. She had helped Musharna learn how to use this move to enter other people's (or pokemon's) dreams. She heard a rattle of chains and turned around. The chest was glowing the same blue as Musharna, and the chains surrounding it were falling and unraveling. When the final of the chains fell to the floor, she approached the great iron box, and lifted the lid. At first it looked empty, but then there was a flash of blue, and she fell to the floor. As she opened her eyes and what there stood before her was her team! Zebstrika,Braviary, Musharna, and even Beartic were there, looking a little tired and bruised, but otherwise fine. She was so happy as she saw her team before her, but then she realized something…no,someonewas missing. She turned to Musharna. "Where's Oshawott?"

Musharna and the other pokemon looked at each other sadly. Musharna looked to Zebstrika, who nodded. Zebstrika neighed to Beartic, who turned back to the iron chest. She knew that she wasn't going to like what she was going to see. Beartic was gently lifting something from the chest. It was small, and she saw a flash a blue and white little face. As Beartic turned around, her heart missed a beat, and her breath caught in her chest. In Beartic's arms was Oshawott, and it did not look well at all. Its face was covered in bloody scratches, its body was covered with fresh bruises and cuts,and along its back was a cut so large and deep, bone could be seen. Oshawott wasn't moving. It didn't move, it didn't hear her, and it faded away. "No. OSHAWOTT!" She rushed to the aid of her partner. She tenderly took it from Beartic and held it close to her chest, as a mother does to her newborn child. As she looked down the front of her little partner's body, she saw that the shell that was always on its belly had a huge crack down the middle, like it had been broken open.

The little pokemon reached up and patted her face. "Oshawott?" She whispered. The little water pokemon smiled and squeaked, "Osha!"Don't cry!She smiled and held her partner close. Her family was here, and they were safe...relatively anyway. At least they were alive. She motioned for the rest to come, and they huddled together, just like on those cold winter nights out in the open fields and snow. Touko knew that she couldn't just stay there feeling sorry for herself; she had to help her escape at the very least. And Oshawott didn't have much time left.

"Musharna" she said solemnly

"Muuu…"

"Where are you all?"

In answer, Musharna glowed blue again, and turned toward the chest. As she faced the iron box, it too glowed blue and something was floating out of it. It was small, about the size of a medium sized stone, and it floated to her. As it fell into her hands, she flipped it over and saw the carved inscription forfriendwritten in the ancient language.He turned over the stone, revealing a word, carved in an ancient script… that stone was supposed to be inside the oyster shell that Oshawott always had on its belly…

"Ghetsis" she hissed, his name earning angry growls and hisses from the pokemon. Musharna merely nodded.So this is Ghetsis' room. She thought to herself. She turned to face her pokemon. They were patiently waiting for her orders just like always. "Everyone," she declared, "Please hold on. I promise you, I'll get you all out of here and soon." She bowed her head, looking at Oshawott straight in the eyes. "I will not fail you all again." They all gathered around her huddling once again. Her tears fell, and she began to sob. "I'm so, so sorry I couldn't protect you before. I'll never lethim hurt you ever again."

They huddled closer and tighter to their distraught trainer. Through their hearts, minds, and embrace, they told her all the things they could not put into words: courage, encouragement, love, trust, and forgiveness.

"Touko! Touko!" Someone was calling her away, pulling her back to that harsh reality.Just go away, she thought. "Touko!" She sighed and looked up into the comforting faces of her pokemon. "Soon" She promised, "Soon".

OoOoOoO

Touko awoke being held at the shoulders by a panicked green eyed teen, who was shouting, "Touko! Touko! Are you alright?" She pushed his arms away and felt her face. It was wet, she had been crying in her sleep. She looked up to see a distressed N, and by his side, a very worried looking Audino. Touko sat up, and meant to give N a cheery hello, but at the sight of the little pink pokemon, her dream came back to her and more tears fell instead.

N was in a panic. He didn't know what to do in situations like this. Sure he'd comforted a ton of crying pokemon before, but he had no idea how to handle a crying girl. He didn't know what to do. Audino nudged N in the leg. Do what you do for crying pokemon N. It's the same thing, it said.It's the same thing? N thought. It sure didn't feel like it. But he did what Audino said. He wrapped his arms round Touko and pulled her close. Touko was surprised and stiffened at his touch at first, but soon was comforted by his gentle warmth and touch. She stopped crying and laid her head against his solid chest until the tears stopped flowing. This is wrong, she thought, but feels nice .

After she had calmed down, she pulled away from N, a feeling a little warmer than before, but definitely feeling better. She hiccupped and pressed her hands to her mouth causing N to laugh.

"Hey what's so funny? She demanded, as she hiccupped again. N laughed again, causing her to blush for some reason.

"Nothing" he replied, "Just glad you're feeling better."

"Yeah thanks." Thinking about the hug made her blush. Seeing N curiously staring at her quickly reddening face, Touko tried to change the subject. "So what are you doing here? Don't you have some kingly duties to attend to or something?" It came out a little harsher than she had intended but N seemed not to be bothered by it.

"I've been here for couple of hours, just watching you sleep. Oh, and to have my friend Audino here help finish healing you. The doctors didn't want to, but it said that using its powers to heal you would be alright. And as for your second question, I don't have anything to do today. I've arranged for the whole day to be just you and me."

Touko raised an eyebrow at N. "You were watching me sleep?"

"Yep"

"Why?" She asked

"I was waiting for you to wake up." He answered, as if that was the most obvious answer in the world.

"No I meant…oh never mind." All the awkwardness that they felt before had disappeared. She felt the top of her head. The bandages were gone and so was her headache. Whatever that Audino did, it did a good job. She turned to the pudgy pink pokemon and smiled. "Thank you" she said. The pokemon shyly hid behind N. Touko gave him a questioning look..

"It was abused before it came to me. Apparently, its last trainer abandoned it for being too weak." The little pokemon lowered its head, and N's face hardened. He had seen cases like this all his life, all his pokemon friends had been abused by cruel humans before they had been brought to his care. Their suffering is what made him know that what he was doing was right, even when Touko tried to put his very beliefs to the test. As nice as the thought that people and pokemon could live together was, N knew that it was impossible.

"N?"

N snapped out of his revere. Touko was looking at him curiously, her face full of concern. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." He replied, his face softening. He suddenly smiled, and brightened saying, "Come on, I have a surprise to show you!" He grabbed Touko and pulled her out the bed, half carrying, half dragging her to the door. As she finally got her bearings and tried to stand, the room spun, and her legs nearly crumbled under her. N caught her under the arms and gently lifted her up. "Sorry," his face red with embarrassment, "I shouldn't have rushed you so much." Seeing his bashfully adorable face, Touko laughed saying "That's alright. I'm fine now, so let's get going…wait"

"What?"

"I think a little change is in order, don't you?" Touko gestured to her hospital gown. It was the type with an open back, so she was thanking Arceus that N was facing her front and not…more private areas. Both their faces turned red with embarrassment. "Hold on a minuet," N finally mumbled, "I send Anthea up with some clothes. I guess I'll have her escort you to the surprise." His face was so full of childish disappointment, Touko couldn't help but laugh.

"What's so funny?"

"Nothing"

Confused N left, calling for Anthea to bring Touko up some clothes. "Something outdoors-ish" He said. The he and Audino head to prepare Touko's special surprise.

OoOoOoOo

"Cheren, we are ready to move out" a voice from the Xtransevier.

"Alright, wait for our signal." The blue haired teen replied.

"Roger."

"Cheren, are you sure this is alright. We're outnumbered, in both people and pokemon."

Cheren turned to the worried looking blond behind him. The sullen looking brunette boy beside her shifted impatiently.

"It'll be fine Bianca. We have the element of surprise on our side. They won't know what hit 'em."

"I hope your right."

"Come on Cheren, I'm sick of waiting." The boy snapped. He raised his head, matching Cheren's turquoise eyes with his own brown. Other than the eyes, he was the splitting image of his sister.

Cheren gripped the boy's shoulder. "Soon Touya. She won't have died in vain, I promise." The air around the three friends turned heavy thinking about their fallen comrade.

Touya finally shook himself and pushed past Cheren. They all pulled up their black hoods, completely hiding their faces. "It won't be Cheren," the Touya said, voice full of vengeance, "I'll make sure of it."

Bianca sadly looked away from her heart-broken and weary friends. She turned on her Xtranseiver. "Operation Death to the King is under way. On our signal" She whispered into the device. She shut it off, and with one single pokeball each, they marched toward an unsuspecting castle.

Ha! I made my deadline! Ok this chapter wasn't as good as I wanted it to be. For all those who are sick of all the emotional stuff, do not despair! Next chapter will be full of action. For all those who want ToukoXN, don't fear! There'll be plenty of that too. And because I'm sick of the seemingly nonstop tears from Touko, I'm going to force her to toughen up a bit *evil snicker*. Please read and review. Remember, the more people who review, the faster I tend to write. I might get another chapter up before next week if I get enough! So please criticisms and complements are all welcome. See you next time!