Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon or any of the characters
"I'm sorry but I must break our engagement and you will be protected from the scandal since I am the one to break our engagement." Platina told Pearl as she was readying to return back to the Berlitz estate. She made a point to not meet Dia's eyes even he tried to speak with her, walking around him to the carriage. "Marry her for I saw how you stare at her and her to you. Even if the words were false, my feelings weren't and I hope that you will find love as well."
"Weren't? Past tense?" Dia paled but Platina didn't address it, hating that a part of her that was still connected to him. She would only have to throw herself into her study to forget him, she was sure. Like history, her pain would pass and fade until someone cared enough to uncover them again, something she wouldn't do. But by God did it have to hurt so much in the present?
"I wish you luck and even if we never speak again, I am glad to know the painful truth. I believe that man shall stay with you since he is certainly not welcome at the Berlitz estate." Platina turned sharply and Green helped her onto the carriage and she called over her shoulder. Dia could only watch the carriage ride away, feeling his heart leave with her.
And he had no one else to blame but him.
Blue studied her sister's face as the carriage road away. She noted that Platina had sat so that her back was to Dia and she kept her eyes to the floor. Blue moved to Platina's side even as Platina shook her head. She would've accepted her sister's comfort but her pride wouldn't let her when there was a man she didn't know. "I only need a moment's rest."
Blue nodded and Green watched the pair, waiting until Platina's eyes closed in sleep. "Do you think that he will respect her wishes and stay with Pearl?"
"I honestly cannot answer that," Blue said when Platina didn't wake at his words. She looked back even though she knew that they were too far enough from Pearl's estate to know where he stood. She was so concerned about her sister that she didn't bother studying the man that broke her heart. In fact, she regretted not being able to protect her sister from this deception. She should've known.
"How could you have known that he was the one to write those letters?" Blue was sure that she didn't speak her thoughts but his eyes were so earnest when he addressed her concerns. "You look tired yourself, you mustn't push yourself so. Go to sleep, I shall wake you once we arrive home."
"You have a strange way of voicing your concern." Blue said under her breath. Green noted that Blue had given Platina her own cloak so passed her his. She thanked him softly and pulled her legs closer to her to sleep more comfortably.
"You know that with this little trip," Green reminded her. "You missed your chance to capture the man that gave you that letter. What do you think will happen now?"
"He already gave me a letter before we left. I think that he's watching us. I'll tell you the contents of the letters when we return home, I'm much too tired right now." Blue parted the curtain slightly and scanned the area. Green wasn't surprised that she slept so quickly since he watched her push herself so much for her sister that she forgot her own health.
He knew someone had to care for her if she would do so for herself, it might as well be him.
The house was oddly quiet but it was a resigned quiet that would comfort him once upon a time. But he found himself listening for familiar footsteps that he knew he would not hear again and he didn't know if that saddened him or not. She lied to him, he reminded himself, and he could hire someone else for help.
He ran his hand over his desk and stopped when he touched the little bell tied onto a ribbon. Taking it between his fingers, he shook it gently and soft mewing answered the bell's ring. He felt the ribbon dance as Sneasel played with the bell. Sneasel soon got bored with the bell though and jumped onto his lap curling in a familiar pattern that told him that the cat want him to scratch his stomach.
As he did so, he heard someone knock on his door but he was in no mood to entertain anyone so ignored the knocks that became more persistent. He swore softly to himself when he heard the locks click in place, there was only one person who had the key.
"Silver? Is something wrong?" He heard Blue call him, "I saw you in your window so don't pretend that you're not home. Is Lyra out getting you some things, I wanted to speak with her about something. Will you answer me?"
Silver heard the door open and Sneasel jumped off his lap, most likely to Blue. His sister chatted to him but he only half listened to her, wanting to scream his rage at her for sending that girl to him. When she asked him about Lyra again, he snapped. "I don't know and don't care where she is! Don't be shock at my words, you should very well know why I feel this towards her."
"She told you?" It was more a statement than a question. She didn't even have to ask what he was referring to, she already knew. He knew that she was going to defend her sister but raised his hand to stop her. He had some choice words that sat with him since Lyra had told him the truth.
"Why must you meddle where it is not needed? You invited that girl to stay with me when you very well knew that she was the reason I am blind! She came in here with that laughter and made me happy when in truth she was mocking me. Was it enough that she took away my life, but must she give me hope to?"
"Silver, where is she?" Blue asked him more desperately. "She wasn't at the estate, I was just there and none of my sisters told me that she returned home. By God, she could be anywhere, anyone could've taken her. Please tell me that you at least sent her to the theater so we know where she is! You couldn't have just let her go during the night!"
"I don't know…" He trailed off solemnly. He closed his eyes and saw her that very first day, so happy and he couldn't see any dark intent in her eyes. But by God, it hurt to imagine her so when he wanted desperately to hate her. Why did hating her cause him such pain?
"She was sorrier than you can know Silver! She just wanted to help you and you sent her away with little though on her safety. Do you hate her so? What more can you ask her to do?" He could only imagine the silent tears that he heard in her voice that night. Blue let out a frustrated breath, "Where would she go?"
"I thought she would return home to you," He told her and she didn't know what to say to him. He closed his eyes and despite himself, he worried about her. Where was she if not at home? But even with those worries, he didn't know how he could help find her without his sight.
"You cannot tell me that you feel nothing for Lyra after everything she tried to give you? Stay if you wish but I am going to find her." He winced at the sound of the door slamming and at the same time he felt something pull at his pants. Little paws pushed at him for a moment before it moved away from him. He wondered what Sneasel was doing when his cane fell on his feet.
"Damn it," Silver took it and moved to where he knew his window was. He could hear Blue's voice below so he knew that she hadn't left yet. "Wait Blue, I shall help you find her but only for calm my conscious! She might be at the forest we first met, you told me she enjoyed writing there."
Lyra stayed at the tower long after she woke in the strange place. She was worried at first over its presence but when she saw that her home wasn't too far, she didn't worry as much. She didn't have the energy to walk home, let alone face Blue when she knew her sister was hoping that Silver had found happiness with her. But it seemed that she had done nothing for him…
She wanted to give him something that he wouldn't be forever pained by losing his sight. But she wasn't enough to make him smile. What more could she give him though? She had already given him all of her and her heart. How can she give him more than she had? God knew how hard she tried.
Lyra leaned her head against the broken wall and stared out the hole, looking at her home from so far away. She didn't want to continue hating herself and the pain she caused but only knew one world that allowed her to do so, a world of her own creation that would never turn its back to her in hatred. Lyra lay back on the bed and whispered to herself.
"This was a safe place," She imagined a little woman sitting where she was. She wondered how the large hole came to be, and allowed herself got lost in another world that was much happier than her reality. She walked around the small room for clues that might help develop her story. Finding the walls scarred, she imagined armoured men storm the small tower.
"War was brewing between the two regions but her father vowed to keep her safe by hiding her away. Lonely as she was, she knew that it was safest for her to be kept far from the war. She found moments of happiness though when a dear friend came upon the tower."
She thought for a moment and then shook away the story. That was much too simple so turned her thoughts to the reason why the tower might've been forgotten for so long. She sat on the rough bed and once again heard something crack and shift beneath her. It finally became a distraction enough for her, that she went to push the bed aside.
Her little love story was turned into a murder mystery as she looked down at the remains of human bones.
Dia had saddled his horse but then returned it several times already. Every time the instinct of returning to her came to him, her tearful eyes reminded him that he was not welcomed in her life anymore. There was so much he wanted to change but he had no way of doing so. Why had he been selfish and idiotic enough to think that he would be able to keep his true identity a secret?
He only wanted to run to her to apologize, tell her he loved her but didn't know if she would believe him. What could he do to win her back? Did he deserve to have her after being deceptive to her? He just wanted to run back to her and make her smile again. After you made her cry such?
Angry with himself, and how correct his conscious was, he kicked the stall. He wasn't one to let his rage show but he couldn't help but blame himself for hurting her. Why didn't he tell her the truth when he first met her? Would anything be different if he had done so? He knew that thinking about everything in the past wouldn't change anything but couldn't help doing so. Her laughter and tears haunted him.
"I feel that it is partly my fault for your pain." Dia looked back to see his friend, Pearl walk into the stable. He hadn't heard his friend walk in and hoped that he couldn't see his pain. "If I had the courage to tell her that I didn't want our marriage, you wouldn't have hurt each other like this."
"It was my own fault," Dia told his friend as he unsaddled his horse again. "I want to be enough for her so much that I lied about who I was. I don't expect her to forgive me, I don't know if I deserve it."
"She's hurt, we all hurt being deceived about the one we love." Pearl leaned against the stall next to his friend. "I hate to say that I know how she is feeling, thinking that the one you love might not be the person that you fell in love with."
"I didn't think that Poppy would be the one to lie."
"A lot had happened since you left. She's a wonderful woman but there was a time she walked the wrong path with the wrong people. We helped each other though, she did so much for me and I'm just happy that I was able to help her before it was too late. When she first came to me, I didn't have any darker intent and it hurt me when I found out the truth."
"I don't see how we have anything in common, our situation I mean."
"Two good people who did things that they regret." Pearl pointed out to his friend. "Poppy was manipulated by people she didn't know were evil but she was able to move beyond that and I saw that she was more than her mistake. Not saying what you did was right, just saying that you need to look at how to make it right rather than wallowing."
"Will she forgive me?" Dia's voice shook since he was afraid the answer would give him false hope.
"I don't know," Pearl answered honestly. "Show her that you didn't lie about loving her and more importantly, show her that you are sorry for doing so. Right now, she thinks the worst of you and she will continue to think so. Give her a moment of calm before speaking with her again."
"I don't know if she would speak with me," Dia said even as he saddled his horse again. "Thank you, you're my best friend."
"A carriage would be more comfortable, I shall take you." Pearl told his best friend and signaled for a stable boy to ready the carriage for them. Dia thanked his hand once again and noted that Pearl was much more calm which only made Pearl chuckle. "The one you love changes you, I like to think she keeps me grounded."
Pearl looked back once Dia was gone to gather some supplies and wasn't surprise to see Poppy. He held out his hand to her and see ran past it, into his arms. When she whispered that she was sorry again, he placed a finger over her lips. "It's okay Poppy I've forgiven you long before that. I love you, I know you love me. Don't doubt that."
"I want to come with you," She stated softly. He told her that he needed someone he trusted to take care of her estate and she frowned at that. He tilted his head up to his and saw the doubt in her eyes. He knew that she was protective of the ones she loved. "There is no one I trust more than you. I'll return soon, so you don't need to worry about me."
She sighed since she was worried for him and his rash behaviour. But as much as he trusts her, she trusts him in return that he would always come home to her. "Be careful."
"Always am," He kissed her nose. "It's just a short trip to England, what can happen between us?"
"Lyra, please answer me!" Crystal called, worried for her twin as she followed Winypon through the forest. She had given the dog her sister's bonnet hoping that he would be able to follow her scent to wherever her sister was. Gold and Platina were calling for her not to wonder too far but she went on. She didn't know how she knew, but she felt that Lyra needed her.
Platina knew the path that Winypon was leading them and wondered if it was possible that Lyra could be at the tower. She followed her sister despite the mix feelings concerning the tower, mostly due to the memory of Dia. She dashed a foolish tear from her eye as she continued after Crystal.
"I know this isn't the best time to ask," Gold started beside her and Platina wondered what he had to ask her. "I was in your study and found that you had a ring on your desk that I think would belong to my mother. Where did you find it? Do you know what might've happened to my mother?"
"Your mother?" Platina tilted a confused look at him. "I found it in a tower that I've dated back to the year 1145, well past the day your mother was born so I doubt that the ring could've belonged to her in any fashion. And how dare you go into my study and take something of mine without speaking to me directly after! I thought that I merely misplaced the ring but-"
"I have every right to ask question if it concerns my mother and what happened to me all those years ago." Gold whispered harshly to her, not wanting Crystal to worry over them. "Please tell me how you came to have her ring, that's all I ask."
"If we go where I think we are going, I shall show you." Platina told him. "But it seems that you are not one for patient so I shall tell you that I found it in a tower not far from this place. It was made, as I've said before, in 1145. From the articles I found, it must've been built during the Anarchy, the war between England and Normandy due to-"
"I don't want to know about that, I'm more concerned about my mother's ring." Gold interrupted her once again and she rolled her eyes.
"That tower was built as a safe house for my family so I don't know how your mother came upon it since my ancestor kept it a secret, removing it from all of our maps. I cannot tell you how the ring came to be there and I cannot hazard a guess to how either. But might I add that I cannot see how my sister was able to civilize you from your behaviour."
"Please you two," Crystal called back to them and they stopped their bickering. "We'll discuss your mother later but at this moment, I am more concern about my sister. We must find Lyra before the sun sets and the chances of us finding her thins. She never been gone for so long and I'm worried that some harm had come upon her!"
Gold quickened his step at the lingering tears in her eyes. He placed an arm around her for comfort and tilted her face up to his. "We'll find her. There's a chance that she had already returned home, Blue will come to get us if that's the case. I promise that we will find her."
His words gave her some comfort but she still couldn't shake the feeling in her stomach that something was terribly wrong. She didn't have Winypon's sure footing so had trouble keeping her balance climbing the rock hill. Gold kept an arm around her in case she fell and when they reached the top. Crystal reached out to Platina, to help her sister.
Winypon called out to them and she looked up to see a tower but Platina was not surprise by the sight. What shocked her was Lyra sitting outside, rocking back and forth, whispering stuttered words to herself. Crystal ran to her sister's side and tried to make out her stuttering. "Lyra, what's wrong?"
"B-b-body." She stuttered and Crystal stared at the tower in wonder. Her sister was her first concern though and helped her sister to her feet to lead her back their home where she would hopefully be able to calm herself. She kept going on about a body under the bed and Platina shuddered, distinctly remembering touching something when reaching under the bed.
Lyra stopped in her steps when she saw Silver sitting in the drawing room. He didn't turn to her even as Sneasel jumped off his lap and ran to her to rub itself against her leg. She bit her lower lip, not wanting to give herself away and face his rage once again. She lowered to take the cat in her arms and return it to his lap, careful not to touch him in any way.
He stood suddenly with Sneasel in his arms and she had to step back from him or find himself in his arms. He didn't say a word for a moment before he turned away from her to walk out the door, using his cane as a guide. "You're home safe now and my conscious is cleared, there is no reason for me to stay. Tell Blue that I said such."
She knew the words were for her though since Blue was in the room already and Silver must've known that even without his sight. Crystal put an arm around her sister and made her sit. "Forget about him and think about something else. You've been through a lot so I'll get you something to calm you down, maybe some tea."
"You might want to stay," Ruby stepped into the room. Yellow was shocked to Red beside him since Ruby had stated that he wouldn't allow Red near her. She held her breath as Red sat next to her and took her hand subtly in his. She was glad to see him again but she couldn't help but wonder why Ruby had brought him back to her. "Everyone should take a seat."
Blue noted that Ruby held out his hand to Sapphire and she stepped hesitantly into the room. "I know who that man was, at the pub."
"Who?" Red demanded and shot to his feet. Sapphire tilted her head up to him stubbornly when he would've shaken her, she pushed his hands away.
"Ya don't need to be angry with me," Sapphire yelled and Ruby glared at the man that was much icier than Yellow ever saw before. The others sat in awkward silence as Sapphire continued. "My father had a student that traveled with us, his name was N. He was an art dealer but Poppa didn't agree with how he came to have those paintings he sold in the towns we pass."
"N? He was at the theater," Blue told them and looked to Green, worried at why the man would be connected to the theater. "He wanted the theater but I don't think that it holds any art that he might wish to have. Why would he want me to take the theater from White for him?"
"We'll ask him once we find him." Red said simply. "Where does he live? At least now I know how he's connected to the Birches."
"My Poppa would never buy stolen art!" Sapphire yelled. "When Poppa found out that he stole a painting, he handed the man to the constable and ya have no reason to suggest my family help him! I thought he was still in jail. I don't know where he is or how to find him."
"I think I know how to," Blue took out a letter from her pocket. "He wanted to meet me at tomorrow's masquerade ball hosted by the Birches' home. We should be able to corner him easily there since there are a greater number of us than him. We shall have all the information needed to revenge your family and keep him from the theater and everyone's happy."
"Yes, everyone is happy." Gold repeated under his breath and Crystal squeezed his hand subtly. Blue noticed the pair shift toward each other, as if it was the most natural thing to do. Crystal whispered something to him and she wondered what it was they spoke about.
"I can't help thinking that body could be my mother," He said softly. "If it is, why was my mother in that tower? It's so far from Jhoto. I thought they said that my mother died drowning yet her ring and a body ends up in that tower."
"We'll find what happened." She told him.
"Gold, can we speak with you?" Ruby stood and gestured to Red and Green. "You two as well."
Sapphire looked in the mirror and tied her hair back into a messy bun. She closed her eyes, trying to remember the man that she would face again that night. She didn't know if she was more nervous about N or meeting her relatives again after they cast her out of her own home. She sighed and set the brush down just as she saw Ruby enter.
He was dressed in a wonderful jacket and a mask handing from his fingers. He had told her that he wanted to give her a fitting for her costume but she wondered why he was already in costume as a magician. "I thought we were going to leave at eight, the mascaraed won't start till long. Why are ya already dress?"
He walked until he was already in front of her and she wondered at the distant look in his eyes. "N already knows you, he saw you at the pub and we don't know how dangerous he is. What I do know is that he won't be happy to see you again."
"It's a masquerade, I'll be in costume. No one knows who is who at these things," She told him but he seemed adamant in his words when he stepped back to the door. She ran to keep it open but he had already slammed it shut, locking it from the outside.
"This is for your own safety Sapphire!" He called through the door and slammed her fist against the door, calling him every foul she knew. She ran to the window but found that someone had nailed it shut from the outside, trapping her in her room. She looked out the window to see Red arguing with Yellow until he turned away from her, screaming that he wanted her safe.
He took a couple steps before returning to her and taking her into his arms for a kiss then pushing her back into the home, closing the door between them. She couldn't see clearly when he leaned his head against the door, letting out a shaky breath but she thought that he might've been crying.
Sapphire slammed her fist against the window to gain Ruby's attention bellow and he looked up at her. He mouthed that he was sorry again but the last words caught her by surprise.
"I don't want him to hurt you so I'm going to protect you even if it ends up that you hate me."
Really rushed chapter so sorry if this isn't as good as my other chapters. This is originally supposed to be 25 chapters but wanted to shorten it to only twenty so that pacing is really messed up now.
Also, if anyone's interested in Poppy, she's actually a character by Silva (SilverMoonStone23) in her story Misunderstandings of Monarchy. We like to borrow each other's OC at times :P but we always give credit