N opened his eyes slowly, staring up at the white ceiling. Running a hand through his bangs, he stopped midway. The prince wasn't truly pleased about his staying inside a guestroom. He wanted to be with Touko, not alone in a bed where he barely knew any hall or room. Letting his hand rest on his chest, N sighed. Was Touya arriving soon to his destiny? Was Touko truly safe now, or is she in trouble as Zekrom feared? N couldn't stand the pressure of worry anymore. He wanted to leave the castle, forget his days of imprisonment and search for the princess. If he had to stay longer in the dungeon, he wouldn't care.

Sitting up and letting the blanket fall to his waist, he looked down. I must stop all this worrying. Cheren is with Touko, and she has all her Pokémon friends. Is she truly in such terrible danger that even Reshiram is in fear? A legendary Pokémon such as Reshiram would never have fear unless death was upon them, or something like pain . . . pain. Does Touko know Reshiram is in pain? But why would it be in pain?

"S-sir, may I come in?"

He looked up. "You may."

The door opened slowly, and the guest's blonde head appeared, then her bright green eyes. Bowing in respect, the maid walked forward slightly before stopping halfway in the room. N straightened his back, lifting his leg so his knee barely pressed to his chest.

"What do you need?" he questioned softly. It was the same maid that served him for the past several weeks when the queen gave permission for him to sleep in an actual room. Maybe it was one of the maids that knew Touko?

"T-the Queen has said that she is ready to have breakfast w-with you," she stammered, hands clutching her apron.

N smiled kindly. "Thank you for the message. Um, may I have your name? I've never heard it before."

She grinned back. "My name is Bianca, one of Princess Touko's main maids."

Nodding in release, Bianca walked out quickly with a blushing face. She never saw another prince shirtless; it was rather odd, and not as formal as she was accustomed to. N lifted the covers up, letting his legs dangle off to the side. Looking out the large window from the side of his bed, he saw the sun rising over the faraway mountains, the village and fields of crops growing down below. Touko's home was truly beautiful. It was unique in its own way compared to his. Standing up, he walked towards the closet. He grabbed simple clothing before sliding his pants off, throwing them on his bed. He slid on long black pants and a white shirt to accompany it. It was loose and nice-fitting for the warm weather approaching.

"I guess it's time to head down," N hummed to himself, just finished combing his hair. Walking out of the room, he headed down the hallway, towards the door opposite his room. Row after row of windows stood tall beside him, the sun seeming to follow. He enjoyed how historical the castle seemed, how simple yet complicated the designs and construction was. It fascinated him. He stopped, looking over his shoulder. He never realized two large doors led to the outside to hover over the back of the castle. Curiosity overtook his mind, and he walked forward, opening a door to inspect the patio.

"Oh, you've found your way."

"Q-Queen, I didn't know you would be here for breakfast," gasped N delicately, moving forward so he could bow respectfully and fully. She smiled, looking over the railing. N lifted his head, observing that she sat on a chair at a small table for two, set with food. Walking forward, he sat on the available chair.

"It's beautiful today, isn't it?" she questioned, lifting her teacup. The prince nodded, clearing his throat.

"It is—your lands are beautiful with life and happiness."

She stayed silent, sipping her drink before placing it back on the saucer. He quietly filled his plate with the food, watching as the ruler made hers as well. They ate casually, enjoying the peacefulness of the early morning. Down far away from the castle grounds, homes became lively as another day began for work or enjoying life.

"It was the opposite when your father appeared. But once the people realized Touko and Touya were young children, they built up the village and the land around them, providing the best place for the youngsters to know what a castle should look like. They didn't want a place burned to ash and people terrified to be seen by the next ruler."

"Not rulers, correct?" N asked.

"Yes, not rulers, just ruler. Touya is already married and has decided to hand down my kingdom to Touko, so she would be the next ruler of these lands. It's . . . interesting, seeing as the entire kingdom is just one big family. Do you think that, N? I'm sorry if everything seems confusing from what I've said." She laughed, pressing a cloth to her lips.

N chuckled, shaking his head. "It's perfectly fine—I understand completely what you mean. Yes, it would have been terrible if Touko saw the lands the way you've described them."

The Queen leaned forward, tilting her head slightly. "You really do love my daughter, don't you?"

"Oh, with my entire heart and soul. I would give up my life just to save hers. Touko means the world to me," N whispered. He saw the queen smile, giving him an unfamiliar feeling in his stomach toward the Queen. Joy? Happiness? Forgiveness? Understanding?

"Did you know she turned down every single prince before meeting you?"

"No, not that I recall!" N laughed, taking a piece of his fruit.

"Yes, she said they did not give her 'completeness'. They didn't seem to be her preference, but when you appeared . . . Touko seemed to change. She wasn't . . ."

"Uptight?" he suggested.

"Technically. She was more of a butt. But now she seems to act like her old self when she was a child, more cheery and much more adventurous." The Queen sighed, smiling. N had to mirror her face, remembering how she teased him when he still was the masked man, the person who was masking his face. A masked heart.

Charizard kept to himself, ignoring Colress when he talked to him. Whenever he heard the man's voice, he bared his fangs with threatening growls. The male barely flinched. In fact, he could only smile at the Pokémon. It angered Charizard only more—a person who harmed Pokémon, treating them as if they had no souls. Maybe that was one of the reasons he disliked humans: They only kept to themselves; they didn't care if Pokémon got hurt or were being treated like toys.

Charizard was left alone; he kept his back to the world, his head resting on the opposite side of the glass. His tailed curled around him, the tip lit low in the center. He stared down at it, blinking into the light. His claws contracted in thought. The Pokémon only turned when Touko talked to him, and he stared at her intensely when she smiled. She had such a soothing and kind voice, something he hadn't heard in a long time. He was still questioning her, questioning why such a person was there, and why she was such a kind person in a terrible place.

"Hey, Charizard, I think today is the day."

He turned his head, keeping a single eye on the princess. She stared back with a small smile. The suggestion made him raise his head higher.

"Colress isn't here; we can try to do something, can't we? Try to escape this place—we've been here too long. Would you like to begin?" Touko asked, moving on the chair. He eyed her arms as they began to move more. The Pokémon stood up, bending his head low in the little space. He growled in response as Touko adjusted her position, gasping a bit. She hated sitting in such a place. Her neck and spine hurt from the odd sleeping angle.

She grabbed the tip of the rope with her finger, rolling it around before gradually grabbing it with the other hand. She tugged and tried to follow the looping. Touko moved her arms back more, wincing, but kept them in place. She arched her back, turning her head to the side to watch her progress. Mouth open slightly due to quickened breathing, a smile decorated her face. She could feel her wrists freeing. The rope finally fell off. As she moved them off quickly, beginning with the rope by her feet, Charizard grew more impatient. He began moving inside the glass cage, the fire on his tail growing.

"Yes, finally. Oh, thank you, Arcues," she breathed, standing up. After stretching for several moments, she quickly moved forward and turned on the device next to Charizard's cage. "All right, point out what I'm supposed to do!"

He pointed his claw around, growling a number of times for the code. Touko followed quickly, typing in the complicated numbers. Her heart quickened, mind racing in the entire time. She was finally free from the chair. The princess could try and escape. Finally, the keypad turned green and the glass lowered. Charizard quickly opened his wings, eyes closed as he shook himself. He hummed in happiness before glancing back at Touko, but his eyes traveled behind her. The other Pokémon were watching.

"Hrrr!"

She turned and pulled her attention back. "Right, break them free—I'll come back when I get my Pokémon!"

She rushed next to his cage, grabbing the box where her Poké Balls lay. Opening the desks drawers, she searched for the key. Papers scattered around the floor, but she could not find it. Hissing in anger, she rushed back to Charizard, keeping the box by her side. She would have to deal with them later. Punching in the same numbers—one by one—the cages were opened. Pokémon from all regions rushed out, stretching and cheering softly. Once all dozen cages were opened, Touko rushed towards the door and turned. They stared back at her.

"Everyone, please follow me! We'll get out safely—I promise!"

They cheered with muzzles raised, paws and claws hitting the hard floor. Opening the door, Touko walked out slowly and searched around. The room was empty: only bookshelves filled the room. Touko moved to her right; the Pokémon followed eagerly. Room to room held books and notepads. Drawings of Pokémon were scattered around one room; some hung on the wall with lines pointing at certain parts of the body, a small summary at the end of each. The group soon entered a kitchen, and Touko growled. Where the hell was the front door? Every room had a window or two, but none big enough for the Pokémon to break free. She wanted Charizard to break the roof or wall, but she noticed the place was built in a mountainside of an island. If the roof was torn, dirt would surely come down on them. Off to the side, the Pokémon who could not fly wouldn't be able to run free.

She turned around; the Pokémon followed.

Charizard kept close, eyeing everything, growling and hissing. Touko stopped, going back in front of the room they were at. How could one guy own so much? Didn't anybody notice the suspicious ways he moved in and out of his home? Walking the other way, Touko clutched her box closer. It was shaking slightly. Reshiram was growing even more worried, or the legendary Pokémon had picked up something.

"Hrr."

"Yes, the door! Come on, everybody—let's be free!" Touko gasped, finally nearing the door. Before she could even place her fingers around the handle, it turned rapidly. The princess froze, and Charizard stiffened with anger. As it opened, Touko shuddered, a questionable sound coming from her throat. The one who stood before her was —surprisingly—her childhood friend: Cheren. He stared at her, wide-eyed, breathing heavily. A grass stain covered his white shirt; Liepard was battered up by his side. A young woman stood behind him, eyes full of worry.

"Cheren?"

"What kind of celebration is that? Of course it's me, stupid!" he snapped with a laugh. Touko lunged herself forward, wrapping her arms around his neck. She began crying with relief. The prince hugged back tightly, a shudder piercing his body. Cheren was trying hard not to cry, so he began laughing softly. He had found her. He had truly found her!

"I was so scared, Cheren! I thought you . . . Colress . . ."

"Yeah, he found us halfway here. We have to go now before he comes back angry that I kicked his ass," Cheren explained, grabbing her hand. The trio ran out of the place. Touko turned around, watching as some Pokémon ran and others flew away. They were going far away from the place, cheering loudly as they felt the sun beaming down on them again. All but Charizard, however: He was flying right behind the trio, his eyes keen on Touko.

"Touko, bring out Reshiram—we can escape quicker!" Cheren informed, stopping. Suzuki stopped a few feet away, her eyes widening slightly.

"She has Reshiram? You never told me!"

"Not now, Suzuki," Cheren murmured, giving the female a quick glance. Touko lifted the box and looked at her side when Charizard landed beside her. Grabbing the box, he squeezed it with his claws, leaving marks. It cracked, and Touko quickly grabbed the Poké Balls inside. After she tossed one up, it popped open with flames. The flames shot away from its body; Reshiram spread its wings wide, nose pointed to the sky. Looking down, Reshiram moved forward with a sharp cry.

"My master, I did not respond to your calls due to the force of the box."

"Force?" Touko questioned. Reshiram landed, moving forward to rub its muzzle against the princess's cheek. Cheren returned his Liepard, thanking it with a kiss on the Poké Ball. Reshiram lifted its head, staring down at the mountainside. Her lips pulled back in a snarl, Reshiram quickly took flight. Charizard followed, and the three turned as well. Colress was before them, walking in slow steps with a small limp to his right leg. He was smiling, staring at Cheren.

"I'm quite surprised you've figured out my home. This entire island is mine, further away from the others in the area. Most people avoid it, saying it holds the power to bring forth Lugia to save Pokémon— Shaymin, for example—from wild storms. Since I had money, I built my dwelling here and began my research to control Pokémon, to make them stronger. You, sir, have what I need—the Mega Ring. Hand it over, or else you'll regret it," Colress sneered. Cheren put his hand into his bag, glaring hard at the man. Touko held her hand up, keeping Reshiram back. It hissed.

"Never! You'll only hurt them more!"

Colress kept quiet for a while, then chuckled, digging into his white coat pocket. "Fine, I guess I'll bring it out. A Pokémon with such power as this can make anyone bow to its command—a Pokémon the opposite of life, in some stories—the opposite of the other Legendary Pokémon of the Kalos region. I bring you forth, Yveltal!"

He flung a Poké Ball up; black sparks flew from it, and the group stepped back with worry. The Pokémon landed on the ground. Its large wings expanded on the mountain as if they acted like hands. Its tail raised slightly, the Pokémon turned its small head, dark blue eyes full of anger. Black horns extended above its beak-like mouth, the tips pointing with its jawline. The underside of its body was red, while the top was black. Black lines marked the underside of its wings and tail, meeting on the stomach. Large claws grew from the tips of its wings and tail, digging into the earth. A large puff of grey fur grew on the neck, thinning out on the back as the wind began to pick up. A diamond-shaped pattern formed along its back and wings.

It was like meeting death.

"Since I was born and raised in the Kalos region with Ghetsis, I already knew the history of my region—the people and its Pokémon. When Ghetsis was killed in that fire in your home, Touko, I took everything I could from our lab, my Pokémon by my side. For once, I felt scared. Scared to be caught doing illegal things, but scared to lose what we were working on for so long. I set up a lab opposite the castle and finally succeed in taking a Pokémon's mind. I found Yveltal and made it follow my every command. He can't even hear you, so don't you dare try to call out. Now, I'll give you one more chance—hand it over, now!"

Touko lifted her head, watching Reshiram size up the other legendary. Cheren clenched his jaw when Suzuki pressed her hand to his back. They had two choices: Let Colress take over with his evil power, or be beaten with his evil power.

"Reshiram, I command you—now!" Touko yelled. Reshiram cried a high-pitched shout, flying forward. Yveltal launched himself onward, wrapping its wings around Reshiram. They bared fangs, and Yveltal bit Reshiram on the wing. Reshiram growled in anger, wrapping its large wings against the other's body as they plummeted to the ground. After Reshiram slammed the Dark-type into the ground, Yveltal released its hold, and the dragon flew up. Fire grew in Reshiram's mouth, flying down to hit the Pokémon.

"You had your chance!" Colress scoffed. Cheren ran forward, his fist colliding with the man's jaw. Both began punching and kicking. Touko grabbed Suzuki by the shoulder, Charizard close by her side.

"Hey, we need to move to lower ground now," the princess informed. Suzuki nodded, watching as Cheren knocked the scientist to the rock wall, punching with fury. Both girls climbed on Charizard's back; the Pokémon took flight, but stayed close to the dirt path. Touko watched as Reshiram shouted, Yveltal scraping its claws down the dragon's back. Turning, Reshiram released purple fire into the other's face, Yveltal growling and lashing its wing forth. Ducking and missing the blow, Reshiram flew up and grabbed the Dark-type on the neck. Yveltal cried out in anger before it used a move within seconds, knocking Reshiram back to the ground. Reshiram stared up with its glowing blue eyes, claws clutching the earth. Yveltal stared back, flapping its wings with hisses and growls.

"Being in pain is no way to fight with me. Put your powers to good use, Yveltal. Become yourself—seek the truth you desire."

Yveltal shook its head, rushing forth to slam its body onto the other. They fought in the air and on the ground, destroying the land as they bit and slashed at each other. They became furious with each other, growing more gruesome as blood began to ooze from their wounds. Cheren kept Colress busy from commanding the beast, knocking him senseless into the earth. He straddled the older man's lap, grabbing his collar as he slammed the scientist's head into the ground.

"You and I are the same!"

Cheren stopped, breathing heavily. "What?"

"You and I seek more into Pokémon. You want to know everything about them, d-don't you?" Colress questioned. He spat out blood, tasting it from his inner cheek. Cheren continued to breathe, clutching the collar harder until his knuckles turned white. He bared his teeth, leaning down.

"I would never work with someone like you, bastard! You've kidnapped someone I love for the sake of your damn fucking research! You took away my childhood friend whom I love like a sister—I will always hate you! You should just depart from this earth and go to hell!"

"Ha-ha, anger! Anger! Think of the good things!" Colress rushed, grabbing Cheren by the neck. He switched their positions, sitting on the prince while he grabbed the exposed neck. Cheren gasped, grabbing the scientist's wrists. His vision became blurry; his breaths become short and impossible to continue. Air, Cheren needed air, and fast. Cheren lifted his leg so his knee hit the man's crouch; Colress moved back in pain, falling onto the grass.

"B-bastard . . ."

"You're the bastard!" Cheren snarled, turning his head. But everything seemed to slow as something pressed against his shoulder. Cold metal pressed against his shirt. A loud bang was heard, and he yelled in pain. Colress quickly stood up, wiping blood from his mouth as he pointed a gun to Cheren's head. Gasping and clutching his arm, Cheren pressed his head into the ground. He yelled out again, shuddering.

"Now, I'll take what I need from you," Colress purred, grabbing the bag. But to his dismay, the gadget was not inside. Only a small Pokémon was inside, curled into a ball. A Shaymin peeked up at him with small green eyes. He kicked Cheren hard in the gut, eyes wide. After Colress dropped the bag haphazardly, the prince moved forward to keep it close to his stomach.

"Where is it?! Where's the Mega Stone? Where is it all?"

"Not with me, obviously . . . ah, l . . . left it behind . . . ooh, fu—ah . . ."

Shaking his head, Colress stopped as he noticed Charizard down the mountainside, Touko and Suzuki on its back. He smirked, letting the handgun click. He would do something about them escaping. . . .

As Colress walked away, Cheren curled up as blood began to pool around his arm, his shirt soaked dark red. He trembled more, wheezing with pain. Shaymin peeked from the bag, looking around until it saw the boy's face. Moving forward, it licked his nose. The prince gave a small chuckle, sitting up as he watched Colress.

"Come on, get back inside. We need to move n-now," he murmured. Shaymin scurried back inside quickly as he stood back up, slinging the bag over his shoulder so the Pokémon stayed against his back. Cheren began to run, Reshiram colliding with the earth behind him. Breathing heavily as blood trickled from his fingertips, he slammed his body against Colress. The man turned, raising the gun, but Cheren swiftly knocked it out of his hand.

"Who's l-losing now, b-bastard?" Cheren asked, grabbing the gun. He raised it so the tip pressed against the scientist's head. Colress stared up, eyes wide from the threat. But amusement rapidly showed in them, a smirk appearing on his lips.

"You, still? Reshiram is being defeated by my creation. No one is a match for the power of technology! Technology and Pokémon's power combined is the greatest upon this earth!"

"Crazy man, you should be imprisoned for the rest of your life!" Cheren snarled, aiming the gun at the man's leg. The prince pulled the trigger. He fired a hole into the man's leg, but he barely received a pained call, only growling as Colress grabbed the oozing wound. Cheren lifted his head, watching as Touko and Suzuki stared back. But instead of fear showing in the princess's eyes, something else showed: shock. The princess was shocked at his action. He threw the gun to the side, letting it fall off the edge. Moving forward as he held his arm, the prince came closer to the princess. He pressed his forehead against her shoulder.

"Touko . . ."

She stayed still, watching as Reshiram fell to the earth. Cheren lifted his head tiredly, watching the scene unfold, Suzuki standing beside him with horror. Yveltal was on Reshiram's tail, jaw opened wide, wings spread. It was as if the Pokémon was going to swallow Reshiram up with its entire body. Yveltal was terrifying in every way. Reshiram lifted its head, a small cry of pain showing in its voice. But something odd happened. A large black body collided with the Dark-type, knocking it down the mountain and into the trees below. Someone jumped off before it fell also. Touya stood in front of Reshiram, standing up as he dusted off his clothing. Lifting his head, his eyes met his sister's. He gave a smile.

"Need some help?"