Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon. Unfortunately, Nintendo does.

A/N: I thank everyone for the feedback and constructive criticism. And the reviews.

A/N: I didn't realize White and N were talking so formally to each other, which should be left to the adults, and yes, the heroine from Generation IV is White's mother.

A/N: If you haven't voted yet, cast your vote please!

N's PoV.

My heart was skipping several beats while I was holding White. I didn't know why, but I felt content and frightened at the same time.

I had an iron-tight embrace around White, fiery and stubborn as usual. Now that I was starting to know her better, maybe I could drop my formal attitude and behave as a regular teen should.

Except I didn't know how.

White, on the other hand, did.

Did she speak to me in this way because she was educated? Or did it have to do with the fact she had mixed feelings toward me?

I positioned White on Zekrom's neck, overwhelmed by the smell of lavender once again. Seriously, I was going to be driven insane by this mouthwatering scent.

I felt nervous, because I knew women liked to be held in a different way. At least, the decent ones. If I wrapped my arms too high up, White would think we were friends with no connection between us. If I wrapped them a couple of inches below the waist, White would not only become mad, she'd think I was hitting on her sexually.

Well, she was guaranteed to flip out anyway, so why not?

As fast as thought, I held my arms in the air, neither high nor low. Because I touched her, White froze, making me confused. What was she thinking?

"When will we know Zekrom-?" she began to say.

Zekrom answered her question with a grumble. To show I understood, I nodded.

"He's fine like this, so," I paused, gathering the courage to wrap my arms around White's waist, pulling her closer to me. "Hang on tight, because I don't want to be held responsible for your death."

My throat tightened, beads of sweat developing profusely on my forehead. I couldn't wipe them off, because White would then be in a precarious stance. Don't think about that, I chided myself.

I thought about the Shadow Triad's warning of White being in danger. Were they telling the truth? Or was it a lie fed to me in order to bring me back to Unova without the use of force?

As I was beginning to mull over this, White said my name with a way too innocent tone of voice.

Irate she had the nerve to snap me back to the present, I said rudely, "What?"

She bowed her head down, her hat drooping a little. I waited for a response.

When she didn't answer, I repeated myself, unable to control my sudden anger.

White suddenly wheeled around, throwing me a dirty look.

I tried to remain calm, yet I was panicking at the same time. What did I do now? I was thinking, bemused.

I stared at her, trying not to recoil under the glare she was throwing at me.

Before I could ask her what she was up to, White took a deep breath before pulling back her arm, launching her closed hand right at my face.

A snapping noise rippled from White's fist, which opened up.

I was furious she had done that, because I didn't provoke her at all.

"Why in the hell did you do that?" I demanded, pinching the bridge of my nose and tracing my jawline to make sure White didn't cause my bones to cave in.

White didn't answer, nor did she look up. She had a horrified countenance, her eyes glued to her open palm, clouded with pain.

"OWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!" she screamed, clenching her hand back into a fist, pressing it against her torso, before letting loose a hissing noise.

White had broken her hand.

Chapter 7: Legend

N's PoV.

"You idiot!" White snapped, distraught.

I kicked Zekrom lightly, hearing a snort. A moment later, Zekrom stretched its wings, flapping them mechanically before flying off, gusts of wind issuing from the twin wings. "White, you okay?" I asked, concerned.

A hiss erupted from her mouth, the brunette attempting to fold her arms. Unfortunately, Zekrom made a sharp turn, almost knocking White off .

I grasped White by the waist, pressing her back against my flat-muscled chest. "I said, are you okay?" I repeated myself, raising my eyebrows so high they were in danger of disappearing into my hairline.

"Hell no!" she growled. "You sit there; acting as if everything's okay when you broke my hand!" Another hiss escaped from her lips, and I imagined the venomous expression on her face.

I smiled in spite of the situation. "No, no, no!" I disagreed. "You broke your hand, Snow White."

This time, she whirled around, scowling. "Don't. Call. Me. Snow. White," she said, carefully saying each word as slowly and viciously as she could, "and you deserved it, anyways." She tried to move again, except she cringed, biting back a scream. "Wait until Cheren hears about this!"

I made for her arm, hoping to ease her pain, whilst knowing White would rather jump off a bridge than allow me to examine her hand.

"Don't touch me," White warned me. "I'm a sixteen-year-old girl, brunette, and the Pokemon Champion of Unova -"

I murmured, "Who was defeated by socking me in the face, breaking her hand in the process, and being a drama queen." I sincerely hoped I had the teenage way of speaking down, because I felt self-conscious about it big time.

"What was that?" White gave me another one of her infamous glares, and this one scored a perfect ten out of ten. Noticing my advance, she retracted her arm, her countenance warping into agony. "As I said, don't touch me."

"What did I do to make you angry?" I wondered, clenching my fist. "Anyway, duck!" A spiked chandelier materialized out of the darkness, the light bulbs coated with dust, the lights inside them long dead.

When White didn't heed my warning, I pushed her down myself, bowing my head down while hearing White swear nonstop. I swore she called me selfish, obnoxious and a world-class jerk.

The spikes protruding out of the rim of the chandelier grazed my head, a couple of hairs ripping off. When the obstacle was out of the way, I returned to my original position, seeing White straightening up, trying her best to hold back a scream.

"For your information, you boss me around as if I am a servant! You open and close like a clam. You're rude, obnoxious and," she paused, her face returning back to its shade of light, light brown, "a world-class jerk!"

"I act this way for my own reasons," I told her icily. "When will you understand you can never, ever, ever understand me! What were you thinking? That my face was as soft as cotton or what?" I kept in mind White was in my arms, because I was on the thin line between irritation and anger, which was common these days.

When she didn't answer, I plowed on, "I promised I wouldn't hurt you, remember?"

White held her hand up, a faint shade of purple blossoming on the cuff of her hand. "I'm not taking the glove off." Looking at me, she said, "I hate you, N Harmonia!"

I must've looked crestfallen, because White had a guilty expression on her face. "I was -"

Fixing her with a cold stare, I snarled, "You hate me? That's good, because that's a passionate emotion." I tried not showing how hurt I was by White's words. "I'm not taking your apologies back until you mean it."

White's face drained of color. "Fine," she managed to say, "but you've lost me forever." At that, she turned back around, her back straight.

Tearing my eyes off White's frame, I directed them toward the Pokemon duel between "Dawn" and Ghetsis, Ghetsis kneeling down.

Ghetsis raised his head up high, throwing the Full Restore against my throne, the nozzle wildly spraying the liquid everywhere. Leaning over Seismitoad, he voiced, "Seismitoad, you've failed me. Return!" A jet of cherry red light shot out from the open Poke Ball, engulfing Seismitoad's limp frame. In a blink of an eye, Seismitoad disappeared, leaving nothing but uneven linoleum and a scarred carpet, rumpled like waves.

"Dawn" hoisted her hand into the air, saying softly, "You did an excellent job, Luxray! Now, get back and have some rest." The same action sequence happened with Luxray, leaving Ghetsis and "Dawn" defenseless.

Ghetsis stuffed the Poke Ball away in his robes while "Dawn" clipped it onto her belt. "Well played, Champion of Sinnoh," Ghetsis drawled, "but Luxray defeating Seismitoad was a fluke on your behalf."

"Dawn" blinked her eyes. "There you go with your arrogance, Ghetsis," she said tiredly. "Arrogance was the very reason Team Galactic made their last stand at Mount Coronet." Stepping forward, "Dawn" continued, "Since I'm feeling generous, how about you choose your second Pokemon, Ghetsis?"

Ghetsis cleared his throat, darting his blood red eyes toward where Zekrom, White and I were flying. "Very well," he said grudgingly, "but this time, you will choose a Pokemon with a type advantage over mine."

"Dawn" had a subtle devious look in her eyes. "I'm already bored," she remarked, "so hurry up, because I want my daughter back, no matter what I have to do!"

Ghetsis frowned. "Impatient as usual," he growled, "but White acts more like her father, which is a pity." Ghetsis produced another Poke Ball, already in its true form. "I choose Bouffalant!" With a casual throw, the Poke Ball clattered on to the linoleum, Bouffalant appearing moments later.

"Dawn" shook her head. "It reminds me of a Kanto Pokemon." Unclipping the Ultra Ball to the left of Luxray's Poke Ball, she tossed it up and down in her hand. Doing another pirouette, she flung the Poke Ball like a wicked curve ball, saying, "GO, WEAVILE!"

White moaned, forcing me to turn around: She was trying to fish out the Pokedex from her vest pocket, while cringing in pain. "Let me help," I offered.

White gave me a look of defeat. "Okay, hurry up," she said.

Swiveling around, I spotted a pink device, close to her bosom. "Okay, maybe you should -" I felt my face growing hot, my arm feeling limp. "Forget it." Loosening my hold on her waist, my hand flew to her vest pocket, using the tips of my fingers to take the Pokedex out in one fluid motion.

It wasn't as bad as I thought.

White's PoV.

"Open it," I said briskly.

N was right: I didn't have a good reason to punch him at all. As usual, I was a slave to my impulses. If anyone deserved a punch under any circumstances, Ghetsis qualified.

The boy held out his hand, the Pokedex's polished sphere flickering emerald green. In a jiffy, the hinges swung open with a silent hiss, a computerized portrait of the Pokemon my mother sent out appearing on the screen.

The unknown Pokemon was bipedal, feline in appearance, its sleek body pale pink, glistening like jewels. Atop its head was a crown the color of yellowed pages in an old book, the same color as its collar, slapped on to its neck. The ears were a softer shade of yellow, reminding me of feathers, just like its two tails, also the same shade.

"Apparently, evolution makes it even more devious," N paraphrased. "It carves sign on boulders as a form of communication with its claws." N closed the Pokedex, closing his eyes. "This Weavile isn't like the average Weavile." He smoothly slid it into his seashell white slacks' pocket. "You aren't getting this back until we fix that hand of yours."

I froze, allowing him to wrap his arm around my waist again. As if I had any other choice. "What's different about this Weavile?" I said indifferently.

"Think about it," was his reply.

I glanced at the Weavile again. "It's shiny," I realized.

"Bingo," said N, mock surprise in his voice, "and for your information, this Shiny Weavile is a female."

"Will you stop being sarcastic?" I demanded. "To be honest, you suck at it. Can't you lighten up and be yourself for once, please?" I felt his breath hitting my neck, tickling me slightly. "C'mon, pretty please? With a cherry on top?"

"Here goes round two." N tore his eyes off my face, surveying the battle waging below us, both of our parents (I had to say parent for Ghetsis, because how can I deny it like N could?) contemplating their next move. That meant he was giving me the cold shoulder. Again.

Can't he give me a straight answer for once? I thought, inadvertently balling my broken hand into a fist. "My hand hurts," I whined, feeling the throbbing coursing through my gloved hand. It took every ounce of self-control I had to not scream.

Ghetsis was holding his prominent chin with one hand, staring at Bouffalant.

Bouffalant was snorting noisily, narrowing his eyes. He poised on one of his rear legs, using the other one to kick the dust off the floor with his hoof, a way of intimidation.

The Shiny Weavile, on the other hand, appeared calm, collected and emotionally detached, although a glimmer of hostility was in her eyes. She stared at my mother, who gave an encouraging nod.

Ghetsis swung his robes. "The last time I've checked, Normal-type Pokemon don't have a type advantage over dual-type Pokemon such as Weavile. Give me one good reason I should send a Pokemon who can triumph over it."

My mother smiled. "I can conquer any Pokemon you send against me, Ghetsis," she said confidently. "I always have." As Weavile tore her eyes off my mother, she sauntered over to Bouffalant, extracting her claws, sharp as knives.

Zekrom flew downward, its wings making no noise at all. My mind strayed to the theory about a tree falling in the forest, and making noise which no one could hear. "Next time, listen to me," I declared, my mouth curling, "but when will the next time be?"

Both my mother and Ghetsis glared at each other, neither one willing to accept defeat. They both hoisted their hands in the air, shouting, "GO!"

"BUFFALON, USE WILD CHARGE!" Ghetsis commanded over the clopping of hooves.

My mother balled one of her hands, yelling, "WEAVILE, GIVE IT ALL YOU GOT! USE FAINT ATTACK!"

Bouffalant lowered his head, snorting. The horns protruding out of its ugly head looked as if they could pierce the fragile-looking body of Weavile, who was pokerfaced.

"How can they be so confident?" I said to N, my hair fanning out behind me.

"Now you want to create conversation, White?" N said testily, although there was a faint trace of happiness intertwined with the testiness. "Well, wait until later, because I'm on a tight schedule."

Zekrom came closer to ground level, colossal pillars flanking our left side. Smoothly, Zekrom descended onto the ground, saying something to N, who gave the usual nod.

"We get off here." N took his hands off my waist, scaled down Zekrom's back, eventually gripping its tail. I watched in wonder as N let go, landing on his knees, an arrogant expression on his face, as if this was the typical routine. "Follow my lead."

I raised my hand, very stiff and throbbing. "Ummm . . . why couldn't you sweep me off my feet and jump off Zekrom's back?" I said shyly, feeling a violent wind issuing from the Pokemon's wings, obviously folding.

N folded his arms. "Why are you so stubborn?"

"Why do you have constant mood swings?" I argued, probing N's face. As much as I hated to admit it – even to myself – he was the finest teenager I've ever laid eyes on. And to think Cheren was a heartthrob.

"Answer my question."

I shook my head. "Not until you answer mine," I insisted, determined to win this verbal war.

"See? You can't be reasoned with," N pointed out, "and I've always known that, from day one." He turned around, beginning to walk away. "For a Pokemon Champion, you're pretty immature."

"Fine, fine!" I conceded. "In fact, I was Pokemon Champion when I defeated you."

N unfolded his arms, advancing forward. "Look, I hate arguing with you." He seemed sincere about it. "But you're . . . ummm . . ."

As I reached Zekrom's tail, N switched to Zekrom's language. All the while, he wore a smirk on his face.

Zekrom launched me off his back, scaring the hell out of me.

"I'm gonna kill you!" I yelled, expecting to plummet to the ground, with N walking away, laughing evilly.

N's PoV.

I wasn't going to let her fall. No matter how much she seemed to dislike me, I'd made a promise not to harm her at all. But why did she sock me? Women, I thought, they're too much drama! White . . . she's nice and friendly one moment, and then there is a disagreement. She's too fiery for her own damn good.

I didn't understand why she was acting like this. Actually, why should I care? The only common goal we had was finding out what Ghetsis wanted to accomplish, and putting a stop to that before people and Pokemon got hurt.

As I ran forward, I opened my arms, hearing the younger girl yell her head off. As fast as thought, she fell down to the linoleum floor, terrified. "White!" I cried, leaping into the air just as White was saying she would kill me.

To my relief, she fell into my arms.

I thought it would be hilarious for Zekrom to hurl her off, although right away, I realized how cruel and mean that was of me. She could die of fright, and it would be my fault.

White was right: I had a different sense of humor than hers now.

Reaching into my shirt, I procured my pendant, similar to "Dawn's", except an Ultra Ball was dangling on a string, not a chain.

I raised the necklace over my head, the Ultra Ball bobbing up and down. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Zekrom advance forward, expectant. "I can't do that," I told it, bringing White closer to my chest with one arm. "You can fly away, free of human influence, far away from liberation."

Meanwhile, I heard shouting from the dais where Ghetsis and "Dawn" were battling.

Weavile had rolled into the air, just like one of those acrobats shot out of the cannon at Nimbasa City's Circus in the Amusement Park. Bouffalant, charging at Weavile, cried out in pain, his knees buckling.

I saw a distinct shadow slash away at Bouffalant ruthlessly, before it took on a corporeal form, revealing it to be Weavile. "That's how I like it," "Dawn" said cheerfully. "I knew Bouffalant was no match for you."

Ghetsis stormed over, his robes flying about. "I'm about to prevent him fainting," he vowed, waving a Full Restore in front of him.

Bending down over Bouffalant's weakened form, Ghetsis forced his mouth open, adjusting the nozzle on the Full Restore. "I will only restore you to your full strength once." His eyes flashed with anger. "Don't mess up." Ghetsis sprayed the liquid into Boufallant's mouth before standing up once more. "This isn't over yet," he promised.

"Dawn" glowered at him. "When did I say that?" she said, perplexed. "Unlike you, I fight fairly. That's how I was crowned Pokemon Champion of Sinnoh."

Ghetsis smiled. "Yet you thought of liberation," he said, taking a few steps backward from the weakly rising Bouffalant, who was snorting in anger. A deafening roar echoed through the chamber, meaning Ghetsis's Pokemon was one pissed off Bouffalant.

"A score ago, Team Galactic raged through Sinnoh, stealing Pokemon, spouting nonsense that haunts me even now," "Dawn" began. "Cyrus's way of thinking was eerily similar to yours – twisted but brilliant." She looked at one of her Poke Balls, her expression pained. "When Dialga was chained by a mechanical rope Cyrus called the Red Chain, it enraged me. Why did Team Galactic and other malevolent trainers pushed their Pokemon to such limits, without even thinking about love and kindness toward their Pokemon?"

Ghetsis shook his head. "Your thoughts of liberation applied to the suffering of Pokemon being wrongfully treated – which they still do. Unlike you, I did something about it."

"Dawn's" eyes flashed. "You failed to understand my idea of liberation. When evil plagues a land, only a Hero can liberate the people and Pokemon by defeating the evil. In Cyrus's case, he plotted to rewind time with Dialga at his side, envisioning himself as the ultimate ruler. Unfortunately, he was not worthy of Dialga, because neither love nor kindness existed in his heart."

Weavile came to "Dawn's" side, her face composed. "There are two sides to every story – the good and the bad. When evil arises, a legend must come forth, forming allies fueled by goodness and purity, all determined to liberate Pokemon and humans from the evil. True liberation – you must fight for. You fail to understand this concept, Ghetsis." "Dawn" drew herself up to her full height. "I will prove whose idea of liberation is right with this battle! WEAVILE, NIGHT SLASH!"

At the same moment Weavile rocketed off, White looked up, unsure whether to be upset or grateful. "You confuse me," she said, making me jump. "If you drop me, I will break -" She stared behind me, bemused. "Zekrom has forgiven you, N. It wants to be with you once more."

She flashed a dazzling smile. "If you don't want it, then maybe -" White tried to pry the necklace dangling from the tip of my finger, but I pulled it backward. "Be that way, then."

Looking around me, I darted into the shadows, Zekrom whining. "What the hell are you thinking?" White said, using her unbroken hand to point at Zekrom, towering over us.

I didn't answer. Gently, I leaned White against the pillar, wondering if the shadows were enough to shield her from Ghetsis. "Keeping my promise," I said quickly, before dashing over to Zekrom, glancing at it.

It stared down at me. "I'm not a Hero." I lowered my head down, feeling crestfallen.

All I wanted was to be free of Ghetsis and Unova. I wanted to start a new life. But at the same time, I knew I would always return to Unova. It may be the place where evil lurked in the form of Ghetsis, who had a new plan.

It wasn't like me to run, but I couldn't handle living somewhere where I was manipulated, raised without love, being neglected, and ultimately disowned.

Zekrom – though I deeply cared about – was another painful reminder of my past. I mean, I didn't ask for a broken heart, trauma and devastation. No one understood my plight. If Ghetsis never loved me, maybe I wasn't capable of love, either.

But I knew my mother loved me.

Ripping the Ultra Ball free, I held it up, declaring, "I need you. I want you. You cared enough for me that you came back. I should be grateful, but I'm selfish." Throwing the Ultra Ball at Zekrom, I finished, "Ghetsis is wrong: Love and friendship are more than words. They exist." I looked at White, who was hunkered against the column, beaming.

White's PoV.

I knew he'd come through.

I wondered who was more interesting: My mother or N at this moment.

Her Weavile had taken advantage of Bouffalant's weakened state. From a distance, I heard her scream, "WEAVILE, FINISH BOUFFALANT OFF WITH NIGHT SLASH!"

Night Slash? I was unfamiliar with that move, because during my quest, I'd never seen a Pokemon Trainer use NIGHT SLASH.

Half of me wanted to rush out of the shadows and reunite with my mother, although the other half told me I was well-protected by N, the teen with a sick sense of humor aka King of Team Plasma.

Hunkered against the column N positioned me at, I witnessed Bouffalant roaring with pain, lying down on his stomach. Weavile was but a blur, her claws alight with purple smoke.

She bolted around Bouffalant, who was searching the area for Weavile. "ATTACK WITH WILD CHARGE!" Ghetsis screamed.

I hated the man even more for his disregard of his Pokemon. It was too risky for Bouffalant to use WILD CHARGE, because Weavile had turned all but invisible with speed. If Bouffalant attacked, it was a fat chance he would hit Weavile.

To my horror, Bouffalant obeyed Ghetsis, kicking his heels once more, a plume of dust forming behind him. I knew it wasn't going to happen, but I wanted Bouffalant to turn around, ram Ghetsis with his horns and puncture his stomach, although they probably wouldn't make a dent.

Bouffalant charged, sprinting towards what appeared to be Weavile. If that was Weavile, then she swiftly dodged the powerful WILD CHARGE attack. Her shadow rippled in the air, before Weavile appeared into being, swaying slightly.

"BOUFFALANT, TURN AROUND AND USE WILD CHARGE!" Ghetsis roared, stomping one foot on the floor, raw fury on his face. Ghetsis knew he was going to lose Round Two as well, because he was sliding his hand into his robes, holding Bouffalant's Poke Ball.

Weavile twirled around, her face alight with happiness. She zipped toward my mother, curtsying before her in a cute way.

My mother jumped out of the way, allowing Bouffalant to bury his horns into the wall. "Your Pokemon seems to run in only one direction when using WILD CHARGE," she observed, gesturing over to Bouffalant.

Ghetsis moved over to Bouffalant, waving the loose arms of his robes wildly, reminding me of a bat desperately flapping its wings. "GET YOUR HORNS OUT AND -"

Bouffalant released an earsplitting bellow before slumping to the ground, his horns still embedded into the wall.

Ghetsis, out of rage, threw his Poke Ball at Bouffalant, where reddish light enveloped the Pokemon, pulling the fainted Bouffalant back into the Poke Ball. "Clever trick," he admitted, "but my next Pokemon won't be as easily fooled." The Poke Ball flew back to his hand, Ghetsis stashing it away roughly.

My mother looked down at Weavile, her eyes dancing with triumph. "You did it." My mother produced Weavile's Ultra Ball, casting a dazzling smile at her. "You need rest, my friend." Opening the Poke Ball, my mother recalled Weavile back into her Ultra Ball, clipping it to her belt. "Two down, four to go," she reminded Ghetsis, who snarled at her words. "The legend lives on, passing down from father to son, mother to daughter, when it comes to Pokemon." When my mother said the word daughter, her eyes were filled with tears.

"YOUR TURN, COFAGRIGUS!" Confagrigus sprung from the Poke Ball Ghetsis threw, the capsule boomeranging back to his outstretched hand. "Do not fail me, Confagrigus!" Ghetsis commanded.

My mother raised her eyebrows. "I guess I'll pick a Ghost-type Pokemon, then." Plucking a Great Ball from her belt (the furthest one from Luxray's Poke Ball), my mother did another pirouette, determination in her eyes.

Tearing my eyes off the battle for now, I surveyed N conversing with Zekrom, pouring his feelings out not only to Zekrom, but to me as well. I knew N wanted me to hear him in his moment of vulnerability, because he wasn't touching the crown of Zekrom's head.

He stared up at Zekrom, looking happier than I'd seen him today – or was it two days? "Ghetsis is wrong," he said, conviction diluting the uncertainty in his voice. "Love and friendship are more than words. They exist!" With one fluid motion, N tossed the Ultra Ball – once serving as a pendant – at Zekrom before wheeling around at me, his mouth twitching.

I beamed back, seeing the humanity emerge once again.

Both of us broke eye contact, for the Ultra Ball slammed against Zekrom, swinging open.

A jet of light protruded out of the Ultra Ball, sucking Zekrom inside it.

It descended on to the linoleum floor, making a clattering noise.

Holding my breath, I examined the Ultra Ball, which shook once.

Twice.

Thrice.

"The moment of truth." N turned around to look at me, shrugging his shoulder against his jaw.

I knew exactly what he meant.

As the Ultra Ball swayed back and forth, I put in, "Either it breaks free or it doesn't."

A/N: "Legend" is finished. Read and Review! I would love some feedback or constructive criticism. As a reminder, a poll is up until further notice. I'm taking the weekend off because it's Father's Day weekend, so I'll update either Monday or Tuesday when I come back from my father's :)

This chapter has been edited without being its plot being affected. Grammar errors have been fixed, resulting in a slight change in White's characterization. I emphasize slightly. The reason I am reediting, For the Love of a King: History, is to promote its upcoming sequel, For the Love of a King: Eventide.

Edited On: 11/01/15