Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

I cannot waste any more time. A month has passed since I was cursed, and I do not want to stay stuck in this life forever. The next morning, I immediately went to look for Y as soon as the broom stopped dragging me around. I swore I saw her this morning at breakfast.

I turned to Bianca, who was setting a plate of steaming soup out for her Serperior to bring to the table. “Bianca, have you seen Y?”

She nodded. “She just walked back inside.”

I went over to the reception room, where I saw her talking in solemn whispers with Red and Amarillo. When they saw me, Red and Amarillo quickly stepped away from Y. 

“Excuse us, Prince Xavier,” Amarillo said.

I watched curiously as she and Red left the room without another word to me. What were they talking about?

Y turned to me with a grin. “Good morning, Prince Xavier.” She bent down to put some puppets on the table back into a box underneath it. “Lovely morning, isn’t it?”

“Are those toys yours?” I asked.

“Yes, they’re for my show later,” she explained. “I wouldn’t be playing with them though at my age.”

“Your age?” I asked without thinking.

Y frowned. “I did tell you I’m eighteen this year, didn’t I?”

I nodded. “Yes...you did. But how exactly does your curse work?”

“I presume you don’t know the story of Peter Pan?” she asked with a raised eyebrow.

I looked down. It is not my fault that Mother removed all the books about Fairytales in the library. 

When I did not answer, Y only sighed and gave me a small smile. “That’s fine, I’ll tell you. Peter Pan is a boy who lives in Neverland. It’s a place where no one ever grows up.” She sighed sadly. “Thus, I’m stuck in this form until I can break my curse.”

I wonder what Y would look like in her true form. Perhaps not as different as this one?

“Anyway, I never like being treated like a child,” she admitted. “Even when I was one, I didn’t like it either.” She shot a glare at the door. “But it is much more annoying to be treated like a child by someone who’s younger than you, or not that much older.”

Is she talking about Karma?

Y straightened up with the box in her hands. “Now, if my prince will excuse me.”

As she left, I asked, “Where are you going?”

“I have a show to do today.”

Y does so many magic and puppet shows...how will she help me break my curse if she’s never around?

“I’ll go with you.”

Her eyes widened. “What?”

“I might accomplish a good deed if I come to one of your shows,” I explained. 

She nodded slowly. “That’s true, but…” She sighed. “There are bad witches out there.”

I raise an eyebrow. “There’s a wicked witch in this very tavern right now, but no one is protecting me from him.”

Y looked at me with a conflicted expression. “Do you mean Red?”

“Who else do you think I’m referring to?”

Y set the box onto the table and stared at me for a long time, the conflicted expression replaced by a thoughtful one. Finally, she said, “Stay here. I’ll go ask Amarillo.”

She then left the room. I leaned over to the box on the table and saw a pile of carefully detailed puppets. Everything looks handmade. A pang of nostalgia hit me. I used to make my own puppets before Mother forbade me...she said that a crown prince should not be sewing. 

“Interested?” 

I startled, turning to Y with wide eyes. She walked so quietly that I didn’t even hear her coming. How does she do that?

“Permission granted,” she giggled. “Come on. The show starts in an hour.”

I watched as Y, Croaky, and Veevee set up a puppet stage on the street where I’d first seen her with Trevor. Back then, I thought I’d never see her again…

“It’s nice to see you actively try to break your curse,” she remarked.

I shrugged. “I am not convinced that this would work, but Amarillo said that if I partner up with someone, I’d break my curse faster.”

Her expression strangely grew sad. “So you chose to partner with me?”

For some reason, I was startled at the tone of her voice. She sounded happy but she seemed upset for some reason. Was she lying that she wanted to help me earlier? That everyone in the Marchen was willing to help me?

“Would you rather I pick someone else?”

She frantically shook her head. “N-No!”

I jumped at her sudden reaction. Y awkwardly cleared her throat. “No. I’ll...I’ll do whatever I can to help you.”

Y returned to the back of the stage. I began to follow her, but was forced to stop when she held out her hand. “You haven’t had enough training to be my personal assistant yet, Your Highness.”

I narrowed my eyes. “What? I never said I wanted to be your personal assistant.”

And training? Why would anyone need training to assist with a children’s show?

“You might be able to get a good deed if you become my personal assistant you know,” she offered, a teasing twinkle in her eye. She then waved me off as she turned back to her stage. “But until you’re ready, you should watch with the rest of the audience.”

Even though they don’t remember me, I still feel uncomfortable being in a crowd.

Y smiled reassuringly. “It’ll be fine, Prince Xavier. The children won’t bite unless you bite them. And you can stay up in the front if you want! Less people around you, and you get a good view of the show.”

I wanted to refuse, I really did. But the excited pleading in her eyes somehow convinced me to agree with her.

“Fine.”

Y smiled brightly as she clapped cheerfully. “Thank you X!”

That nickname...why does she call me that?

Before I could ask, she disappeared into the back, leaving me alone. I sighed, going to the audience area. I looked up to see Fletchy letting out a piercing cry. Everyone looked up to see her circling around the plaza. Excited murmurings filled the air as they pointed at the stage, then flocked closer to it.

I looked at the group of the children that are clustered as close as possible to the front. They were all clearly excited for the show to start, sometimes bumping into me. Even though their closeness bothered me, strangely enough, a pang of nostalgia hit me again. I used to do puppet shows with my dolls when I was young with Lil’ Kanga. I felt less alone when I pretended she and my dolls could talk.

And I’m still alone. Nothing has changed.

“Excuse me sir, can you move a bit?”

I sighed as I sidestepped to allow someone else to stand next to me. I was astonished to see it was an adult. I looked out to the rest of the crowd, which had about an equal number of adults and children surprisingly enough. Why would adults watch something as childish as a puppet show?

Y appears in the front of the stage, which has a background of a sunny village behind her. An excited silence falls over the crowd.

“Hello everyone!” she greeted. “I, Y, am here once again to share another story with you again! I hope you enjoy it!”

She then raised her right hand, revealing finger puppets of people. “Once upon a time, there was a village whose people were always happy.” 

Her expression turned grim as she raised her left hand to reveal an angry woman in a black dress and with...Houndoom horns? “One day, an evil witch found the village. The evil witch carried darkness deep in her heart. She was jealous of the townsfolk who were filled with so much light and happiness.”

How can someone be happy all the time? I’d be a bit irritated as well.

“‘If I cannot be happy, then no one can!’ she declared,” Y narrated with a low, guttural voice, shaking her other right hand.

...How overly dramatic.

I almost jumped when I felt a tug on my pants. I looked down to see it was a little boy pulling at the side of it though his eyes remained focused on the puppets.

“I don’t like her…” he whimpered. “That witch. She’s bad.”

His grip on my pants tightened. He’s wrinkling it.

I tried to pry his hand off of my pants, but he was faster. The instant I pulled his hand away, he clutched onto my hand. 

I startled, trying to pull it away. “H-Hey–”

The boy does not let go or move away. In fact, his grip grew tighter, so much that I found it impossible to get it out. There’s no way I can make him let go without causing a scene...so I’m going to be stuck holding the hand of a boy I don’t know until the end of this show.  

I looked up to see that the background changed with the village now being dark and stormy, with Y’s right hand now below the stage and her left hand shaking as the witch’s arms raised up to the sky. “Darkness spread across the village. The people began to suffer. They forgot what happiness felt like.” 

Y then grinned, putting her left hand down and raising up her right hand to be the puppet of a blonde man. “But one brave villager set out to seek help and save everyone from the wicked witch.” She sighed, bending the puppet down as if scared. “This villager knew the trip would be dangerous, for if the evil witch found out, he and his family would certainly be killed by her.” She smiled again as she straightened the puppet up. “But the man knew that he had to try hard if he wanted to see everyone smile again.”

She moved the puppet across the stage until it disappeared. Then, she moved it and a new puppet from her left hand, a witch in a dark blue dress and with the horn of an Absol. “Many days later, the man finally returned with a good witch whose heart was as filled with light as the evil witch’s heart was filled with darkness.”

Y brought the hand of the man down, then soon raised it back up to have sad finger puppet people, all “looking” down at the ground. The “good” witch looked down at them. “The good witch, unable to bear the sight of the villagers’ suffering, decided to help them.”

Y brought her right hand down and raised the arms of the other one. She then raised her right hand to hold the evil witch. She then shook the other one vigorously as she dramatically blew the evil witch off the stage. “She cast a powerful spell that sent the witch away, but…” 

The “good” witch fell back down. “It was done so at the cost of her life.”

The sky slowly transitioned from dark and stormy to bright and sunny as Y narrated with a bright smile, “Once the evil witch was gone, darkness disappeared from the village. To this day, the people of the village are said to carry the good witch’s light within them. And everyone lived happily ever after.”

The audience broke out into applause. Soon after it died down, a boy nearby me asked, “But aren’t all witches evil?”

Y flinched for a fraction of a second, before she recovered with a smile. “That is simply not true. I’ve met a witch, one with a heart more light and loving than any fairy’s.”

More of the children began asking questions. I sighed, unable to do anything except wait until Y was finished answering all the questions bombarding her.

When they were done, I suddenly heard someone say, “Thank you!”

I looked down to see the boy next to me beaming. He squeezed my hand one last time before he ran off to join his friends. ...What did he thank me for?

Once the audience finally left, Y came out from her stage and grinned at me while her Pokemon dismantled the stage together.“The show was a success!”

Why does such a small gesture matter so much to him?

“Prince Xavier?”

I was startled out of my thoughts. “That boy...he thanked me even though I did not do anything for him.”

“The little boy who was with you?” she asked.

I nodded. Strangely, her grin grew. “But you did do something. You held his hand.”

“I did not want to,” I pointed out.

Y frowned. “I realized that when I saw the annoyed look on your face. It would have been good if you did it in an attempt to calm him.”

“What?”

“That boy was really frightened by that evil witch in the show.” She then smiled a little. “He thanked you because you held his hand and stayed with him the entire show. Sometimes just having someone beside you is enough.”

Having someone beside you? 

I thought about all the times that I was scared. Mother always told me to hide my fear and never cry because it made me appear weak. I could never ask for her help, and the king was never there for me. Only my Pokemon were, but even when they tried to comfort me, I never cried in front of them. I am their commander, after all. And even though they were there, I still felt alone.

I shook off the memories when I heard Y ask me a question. 

“What did you think of the show?”

“It was short,” I answered. “And simple.”

“That’s it?” Her eyes narrowed. “I created the entire show, you know. The story, the characters, everything.”

“It could’ve been better,” I simply replied.

Y bristled at my words, but suddenly, she calmed into a very strained smile. “Well, I would like to hear more detailed feedback from you about that. In fact, I would like you to help me make a puppet show in several weeks if you believe I could do better.”

I didn’t say anything more. I don’t have any other comments about the show, and I’m indifferent to the idea of helping her make a show.

Y sighed wistfully. “You know, you always complimented my stories even when you thought they were silly.”

I looked up, eyes widened. “What?”

Why does she act like we’ve known each other for a long time?

Y looked away from me, turning to her Pokemon who had finished dismantling the stage and collecting all of its parts and the props into three boxes. She played her flute, summoning her Rhyhorn. She then placed two of the boxes on his back and tied them down, the last one in Croaky’s hands. Soon after she did that, she played her flute again, sending all of her Pokemon but Fletchy back to the tavern. “Want to go to the toy shop before we head back?”

“Do I have much of a choice?” I muttered.

“Oh come on now, Prince Xavier!” She took my hand into hers, beaming at me. “It’ll be fun.”

Probably not, but I’m not going to argue with Y right now.

And with that, we went to the toyshop together.

Chapter Text

We entered the shop that I had visited the day before I was cursed. 

“Feel free to look around, Prince Xavier,” Y said. “I won’t be long.”

I nodded before I walked over to a Pokemon doll, a Sylveon, on display. I patted it. Its fur was long and soft, and the feelers are especially comforting to hold. It was rather well-crafted...but with the gold I have, I do not think I could afford it. Though it would be a good companion with my Eevee family dolls...

I sighed at the thought. I miss my dolls. I wished they were here right now.

“Papa, I want that one!”

The sound of a little girl’s voice caught my attention. I looked around the store until my eyes landed on a little girl pointing at a big Pancham. She looked expectantly at the man beside her. That must be her father…

The man shook his head sadly. “I’m sorry dear, but we can’t afford it. Can you please pick something else?”

The girl looked like she was on the verge of tears. I backed away, afraid she might throw a tantrum. But surprisingly, she rubbed her eyes and slowly smiled. “That’s okay.”

He patted her head with a smile. “Thank you for understanding honey. You’re being so grown-up.”

She giggled, hugging his leg. “I only need you and Mama to be happy. I love you, Papa.”

“I love you too, sweetheart.”

I watched as the two walked off to the next aisle, my heart growing heavy at the sight. The king never said he loved me...do I even belong to the palace anymore?

“Papa, look! The king!”

I startled, rushing out the door. A crowd was formed around the streets, clapping and cheering.

“All hail the king!”

“Long live the king!”

“Hail King Green!”

He was the first one to see, flying above the crowd with his Charizard as he waved at everyone. I spot Diantha, Shauna, and Trevor in the carriage behind him, also waving at the crowd. The king used to invite me to join him before, but I always refused. He always went alone. Once a month, he would come out to town and check the conditions of the kingdom. It was his way of bonding with the people. 

Sir Black flew behind on his Braviary, leading the knights of the Order of Volcanius. I expected to see Emma following after him, but instead, it was just other high-ranking knights. I wonder what happened to her. Is she all right? 

Either way, the parade was an impressive sight. The crowd grew denser and denser as every moment passed. I weaved around the crowd, trying to get closer to the king. 

“Thank you, everyone!” the king called, a small smile on his face. A true one. I have never seen him smile like that to me.

A heavy feeling began to weigh on my heart. Suddenly, it became suffocating. Please look this way. Please look at me.

“The king is happier these days, isn’t he?” I heard a woman say.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen him this joyful,” a man agreed. “It must be his family.”

Happier…? 

All I wanted was the king to look for me. To see me. But he did not glance in my way once. I looked down at the ground with bleary eyes. He was happier without me…

I quickly returned to the toyshop, not wanting to bear any more of this sight. The father and his daughter were at the door. He ruffled her hair, making her giggle. He then took her by the hand, and they walked off together. 

A hot feeling overwhelmed me. I forced myself to look away. Is this...jealousy? 

I placed my hand over my chest. My heartbeats were erratic and painful. 

“Prince Xavier?” 

I ignored Y. I do not want to talk with anyone right now.

“Xavier?”

I startled and whirled to see Y and her Talonflame, looking at me sadly. Why did she use my name without my title?

“Are you okay?”

Despite myself, I found my eyes trailing off to the father and his daughter as they stood just outside the toyshop.

“Prince Xavier?”

“I am fine,” I muttered.

She sighed, shaking her head as she went up to me. “You’re not fine at all.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the little girl and her father disappear into the crowd. “I am.”

“You still act tough even when you’re hurting inside,” she remarked. “It’s admirable, if it weren’t painful to see.”

“I am not–”

Y suddenly went up to me and took me by the hands. Her crimson eyes were worried and pleading, a strange sight for someone who seems so prideful and cheerful all the time. “Xavier, it is okay to admit you are not feeling all right. It is okay to cry.”

“I am not that weak to cry,” I snapped.

“Crying doesn’t make you weak.”

In this place? Right now?

I looked away from Y, anywhere so I don’t have to see her pleading. My eyes landed on the Teddiursas. My heart grew heavier at the memory from earlier. 

Y’s eyes followed mine, then said, “Your father’s affected by the curse. He can’t miss what he doesn’t remember.” She sighed, and said in a small voice, “But he cared for you, Prince Xavier. He really did.”

Why does Y pretend to know so much about my life? He did not and never will.

“Well, I’m presuming you were so down because of that, right?” she asked softly. “I was looking outside, and saw the way you were looking at him.”

“Don’t you know it’s rude to stare?” I snapped without thinking. 

Y’s eyes widened. I turned away from her again, the heavy feeling in my heart worsening. “Prince Xavier...I know you’re hurt. And I know that he loved you, more than you’ll ever know.”

“Stop trying to give me false comfort, Y,” I sighed. “You do not know him at all.”

Y went silent for several moments. She finally said, “I know that people have different ways to express love. He has his own ways.”

I turned back to her, glaring at her again. “By not being there for me when I needed him most? He has never acted like a father to me.”

She sighed. “Prince Xavier…”

“Don’t pretend to know what my life at the palace was like, Y.” I turned away from her and stormed out of the toyshop. “Come. We must return back to the Marchen.”

And with that, we left the shop in silence.

Chapter Text

“Look at what I drew!”

“Xavier, you know you’re not meant to be in here.”

“But I drew this picture of us! See? This is Mother and me. And you are holding Mother’s hand!”

“Go play somewhere else, Xavier. I am busy.”

“But you are always busy, father. I just want to–”

“Go to your mother. I am sure she’s looking for you.”

“...Okay.”

I woke up to moonlight in my room, my heartbeat beating painfully and erratically. I sat up, trying to process the dream. The king was there, but...why now? A few days had passed since I saw him. 

I fell back to bed, but sleep didn’t come easily. I can’t afford to lose sleep at this time...I have work tomorrow.

BANG!

I sat up, startled. What was that?

BANG!

Who could be making that noise at this time of night?

I stepped out of my room and went out to investigate. When I went down, it was completely dark, save for the light in the corner of the tavern area.

BANG!

I went over to the lit area, and saw the damned broom hopping to me. 

“Stay away!” I cried, backing away from it. “I am not sweeping at this time!”

The broom hopped past by me, cowering. What is it scared of?

“Red should have given this broom a calmer personality,” a familiar voice sighed.

I turned to see Y at a table with a box of puppets. “Y? What are you doing here?”

She sighed. “I couldn’t sleep so I decided to continue working on my puppets. But I accidentally stepped on the broom and it went berserk.” She glared at it. “I tried calming it down multiple times but it still keeps hopping around.”

I turned to Mr. Broom and grabbed it, leaning it against its designated spot on the wall. 

Y turned back to me. “Anyway, why are you up?”

“I heard a sound,” I answered.

“Being curious is good, but with everything happening right now, it may kill you,” she warned.

“I can defend myself just fine,” I snapped. “I don’t need to be lectured by you or protected like a child.”

Y clenched her jaw as she looked down. She then looked up to me with an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry for waking you up. But you should go to sleep.”

“I would not be here if I could sleep,” I pointed out, then took a seat at her table. “I will just stay here for a while.”

Y nodded then turned back to the puppets on the table. She leaned over, checking the seams. “Since you’re here, can you help me?”

I raised an eyebrow. “Help you?” 

She held up a puppet of a creature that resembled a Haxorus, but tuskless, with the horns of a Flygon, and a spiked tail. “What do you think of my newest puppet?”

I looked at Y with surprise. She was smiling at me expectantly, her eyes bright with excitement. Is she expecting a compliment?

I looked at the puppet closely. Even though it had an intimidating appearance, it was also...rather cute. But I did not think she wanted that compliment.

“It...looks evil?”

She beamed. “Oh, you think so? Thank you, Prince Xavier. You always had a good eye for those kinds of details.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Always?”

Y still smiled, but it was clear from her eyes that she was panicking.

“That’s it?” I asked.

She nodded a bit too frantically. “Yes.”

I only offered an opinion, but she seemed to be so happy from it...what a strange person. And once again, she acted like we’ve known each other for a long time. As much as I did have a strange sense of deja vu when I first met her, it makes no sense why she acts like this when I do not remember her at all.

I decided to watch her return to sewing another puppet. Y is very talented to be able to make such a complicated puppet. She probably has been doing this for a long time to be this skilled. Possibly longer, considering the nature of her curse. Just how long has she been like this?

“You look like you’ve got something on your mind, Prince Xavier,” Y said a bit hesitantly.

“Well...you never told me how you can break your curse,” I replied. 

Y sighed in relief. “Ah yes, I haven’t.” She went back to sewing, a pensive expression on her face. “I have to find Neverland and Tinkerbell.”

I stared at her, confused. 

“Ah right, you don’t know the fairy tale.”

I nodded. “Mother burned all the fairy tale books before I could read any.”

And nobody would tell me any of the stories. Mother would always forbid me from talking about them.

Y made a noise of discomfort. “Anyway, Peter Pan is a story about a boy who never grows up. He’s accompanied by a fairy named Tinkerbell, and the two of them live together in Neverland. In my case, Tinkerbell is the key and can open Neverland. Neverland is a box, a family heirloom.”

That is so simple of a method and yet so difficult. Where can the box even be found?

“My shadow, or my magic and shapeshifting ability, is being kept in there. Once I get it back, my curse will break.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Shapeshifting ability?”

I knew Y was a fae, but it slipped out of my mind that she could also turn into a Pokemon as well.

She nodded cheerfully, though her eyes were distant with nostalgia. “Yes, I can turn into both a Talonflame and Greninja.”

“But don’t fairies and witches have only one Pokemon form?” I questioned.

Y shook her head. “A few of them have two. But more commonly, fae are the ones who have two, drawing from the powers of their witch and fairy lineage. The bearers can choose any form they want with enough practice, but only get three.”

“So which form of yours came from which parent?” I asked.

“My Talonflame form came from my witch father,” she answered. “Funnily enough, my fairy's mother’s side had a Greninja there, but she was a Rhyperior.”

A headache started to creep up to me. “But aren’t fairies supposed to be Fairy and Psychic types?”

She shook her head. “They are a bit more common, but we can be almost anything really.”

I then remembered that witches and fairies are supposed to be immune to curse effects. Why is Y cursed despite being both of them?

“Y, if you are a fae, then why are you cursed?”

Y’s expression turned grim. “Only the Tenebrarum bearer can curse other witches. I’m limited to simple magic these days because of that. I can only do complex spells once I break my curse.”

Did Y do something that offended the previous bearer, or was she cursed for no real reason at all?

“Do you know where Neverland and Tinkerbell are?”

She shook her head. “I have ideas but...I can’t find them.”

I crossed my arms with a raised eyebrow. “So does that mean you’re stuck this way forever?”

Y sighed, running her hands through her hair. “...How about a story?”

Annoyance began to simmer within me. “Why do you do this? Why do you try to avoid answering my questions?”

She shook her head frantically. “No, no, Prince Xavier. A story is perhaps the best way I can explain this situation.” 

I fell silent as she placed the box of puppets down on the floor. She placed her palm out, creating a small, swirling vortex of water in one hand and a flurry of ice in another. “W-What are you doing?”

A small, sad smile crossed her face. “I think that this would be better explained if I can recreate the situation through water. Puppets, well...they don’t feel as personal as my own water abilities.” 

I nodded slowly. Even though this was such a strange way to go about it, I would finally get some answers, especially since Y is a terrible liar.

Y took a deep breath, then sighed. The vortex took the form of...a sitting boy? 

“Once upon a time, there lived a prince who was always alone. He spent most of his time inside his room as his mother, the queen, forbade him from leaving. The prince’s company were only his dolls and Pokemon.” 

Y placed the hand with ice down on the table, which created a small collection of buildings. “But the prince so badly wanted friends that he would always sneak out of the palace to play with the children in the town.”

I couldn’t help but gasp. It was as if she was narrating my childhood…

“How do you…”

Y continued as if she didn’t hear me. From her empty hand she created another vortex of swirling water, this time, taking in the form of a girl. “One day, the prince met a girl. The girl was around his age and the queen’s faithful servant. The prince could see how lonely the girl was and wanted to play with her.” 

She put the two hands together, with the two children running up to each other, holding hands. “They became friends, and every day, she would sneak into his room to play with him. They spent two years like this.”

The children suddenly froze into ice. They and the town then shattered onto the table like glass. “Until the queen found out. The girl was sent away and never saw him again. Until a short while ago.”

I stumbled back in my chair as I stared at Y, my mind whirling. She smiled at me sadly. “We have known each other for a long time, Xavier.”

This cannot be true. And yet...the melancholy in Y’s eyes, present when she looked at me then and now...I realized she still carried it, even when she seemed happy. 

“We were friends.”

“I never had any friends,” I insisted. “I would have remembered.”

“That’s what you remembered,” she replied darkly, almost with a growl. “Your memories have holes in them. Gaps you can’t explain.”

“How do you know that?” I demanded.

“Because I was there when the...the queen ordered that some of your memories be erased,” she answered, the fury in her voice now faded into sorrow.

M-Mother? But why?

I glared at her. “I don’t believe you. I don’t believe any of this.”

Y sighed in resignation. “I don’t expect you to.” She looked down, rubbing her forehead. “Maybe I shouldn’t have told you this. Maybe it was too early. Maybe I should have–”

“I’m going to leave now,” I snapped, pulling my chair out and almost running out of the tavern. This cannot be true. None of this can be true. Y has to be lying. 

I went into the reception room and sat down on the sofa. I looked behind me. She didn’t attempt to follow me. Good. I don’t want to talk with her right now.

I soon found myself too weary to sit up and laid down on it. So many thoughts whirled in my head, but Y’s words were louder than the rest of them:

“We were friends.” 

There is no way she was my friend. I would have remembered.

Suddenly, I heard the door open. I sat up straight instinctively.

“Oh? What is this?”

Karma. The last person I want to see right now.

I turned to her, trying to mask the irritation on my face. Why is she so chipper at this hour?

“While it is delightful to meet you, why are you not asleep?” she asked, looking at me worriedly. “Did you have an awful nightmare? You look terribly frightened right now.”

“No, I just could not sleep and now, I am thinking,” I sighed.

“Well, you better sleep soon,” Karma reminded grimly. “It’s another long day tomorrow.”

“You do not have to tell me that,” I sighed, then raised an eyebrow. “Wait, why are you awake?”

She shrugged. “Oh, I was feeling restless so I thought I should take a nighttime stroll.”

I nodded slowly. “Right.”

“Anyway, I know that the commoner's life is one difficult to adjust to,” Karma said. “You have ways to go before you can get used to it..” Her eyes suddenly became distant. “I certainly struggled with it.”

Karma barely works. I always see her slacking off and shoving as much stuff as she can on Y and her Lucario. Wait…

“Are you a noble, Karma?” I asked again.

She smiled. “Perhaps.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Perhaps?”

Karma winked, her smile sparkling...somehow. “Perhaps.”

This is going nowhere. This tavern is full of secretive people. I wonder if this lifestyle has to do with her curse.

“Well, I am not planning to get used to the commoner’s lifestyle,” I declared. “I am going to break my curse as soon as possible.”

I then stood up and walked away from her. As I went, I heard Karma let out a loud sigh. “Looks like we both have a long way to go before that happens, Prince Xavier.”

Chapter Text

“We don’t want to play with you anymore.”

“B-But why? We are friends, are we not?”

“Friends? Who said that?”

“You did…”

“We were friends until you stopped sharing your toys.”

“But...but that is because you still haven’t…”

“But what?”

“You still have not returned them.”

“Return them? You gave them to us.”

“No I did not!”

“Let’s go play with our real friends.”

“Yeah! Our real friends aren’t selfish!”

“I warned you, dearest one. Didn’t I tell you? People will only hurt you in the end. That is why I forbade you from playing with those children. I only want what is best for you.”

“I am sorry, Mother! I am so sorry!”

“Hush now, dearest one. Mother won’t let anyone hurt you anymore.”

It had been several days since Y told me we were friends. While she insisted that I still accompanied her on her puppet and magic shows so I could be trained as her “assistant”, I did not talk to her much at all. I still find it difficult to trust her words. I could not have been friends with Y when I was young. She was a witch, one that would not be trusted in the palace. Why would my mother employ her? And Y implied that she served her closely...if that is so, why do I not remember her? I certainly would have.

And yet, despite my doubts, I still trust her to help me break my curse somehow. I cannot understand why, but I still feel drawn to do so. While she didn’t let me lift heavy things, it was sometimes difficult to help set up her stage, and when the shows started, the children often clung onto me too much. But it was not as bothersome as I thought. 

After finishing a magic show today and packing up, Y asked cheerfully, “Hey X, want to go get some galettes?”

I startled, turning to her. “What?”

Her smile fell a little. “Well, I mean, you always wanted to try the galettes in the town, but you, well…”

That...was true. I sometimes see the servants’ children snacking on them ever since I was young. They smelled good, but I could never get them. I never thought of getting them now I am cursed because of work and accompanying Y. 

I nodded a little. “We can go.”

Y started beaming, clapping cheerfully. “Great! Let’s go!”

She suddenly grabbed my hand and started running. “H-Hey! Slow down!” I cried

“If we slow down, they might be sold out! Let’s get them while they’re still hot!”

I tried to keep up with Y, but she was too fast for me. Sometimes I was afraid I would let go of her hand and fall flat onto the ground, but surprisingly, her grip was strong. Eventually, we arrived at the plaza. She slowed down to a walk as she took me to a building with a wide order counter, a sloping canopy shielding it from the sun. A man walked out at the counter with a tray of something that resembled cookies when he smiled at the sight of Y.

“Good afternoon, Y!” the baker greeted as he placed it down. “Who’s this fellow with you?”

“This is my friend, Maurice!” she answered cheerfully. “He’s from outside of the kingdom, so he’s here to try out one of Zyleiss’s famous galettes!” 

The man’s grin grew. “Oh, he’s from outside? Well, have this tray of galettes on the house! Everyone should try a Zyleissian galette, especially mine!”

He took out a plate from underneath the counter and placed the desserts onto the plate. Y took the plate, then tipped him a few coins. “Thank you very much! Tell Matthew I said hi!”

Y then briskly walked over to a nearby table, taking a seat with me. I glanced at the baker, who was now talking with some children accompanied by their parents, then at Y. “Why did he give those galettes for free?”

“Well, I know him well because I play with his son sometimes,” she answered. “Also, he is very proud of his galettes, as they’re a family specialty and one of the most popular in the city. Giving them to someone who hasn’t been in Zyleiss is a necessity to him.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Why did you tell him I was from outside of the kingdom?”

“It is the truth,” Y pointed out. “You live in Zyleiss your entire life, and you never even ate a single galette from the town!” She then sighed, her cheerfulness suddenly gone. “You are Zyleissan, and yet you are not.”

I wanted to argue that is not true, because I know well of Zyleiss. I know how the people are like. I know their history and their culture well. 

But looking at these kinds of galettes now, the ones the children ate but I could not…was Y right?

“Um…but you can try them now,” she piped up awkwardly.

I took a piece of it. It was warm, and when I held it close up my nose, it smelled sweet and buttery, with a tinge of berries. I took a bite into it. The sweetness and strongness of the berry jam mixed well with the buttery bread. It was certainly different from the galettes de rois, but...it certainly was delicious.

I took another bite, and another, soon finishing it. I finished the galette soon, then grabbed another and another. Y giggled as I did so. “You really love them, do you?” 

“They are certainly excellent,” I agreed.

“I’ll certainly keep this galette shop in mind,” she said. “There are certainly more galette shops, but this one is one of the more popular ones.”

Soon, the plate was nothing but crumbs. I glanced over at the baker, but he was obscured by the long lines of people. My heart sank at the sight. 

“I get how you feel,” Y remarked with a sigh. “They’re always crowded until they’re all gone.” She cheered up. “But we’ll come back some other day.” 

Y picked up the plate and went over to the stall to return the plate. I saw her chat a bit with the baker, before waving at him and returning back to me. “Let’s go back to the Marchen now.”

I nodded and stood up, making our way back. As I went, I saw plenty of other performers playing music, vendors calling and gesturing for people to check out their wares, and open bakeries and restaurants that had patrons coming in and out. Before, I would have thought the streets were suffocating. While I still think it is rather too noisy, being forgotten thanks to my curse has made it more...enjoyable.

“You had many dreams to visit outside of the palace, and I promised to take you outside some day,” Y remarked. “I am really happy to be able to fulfill them with you, X.”

Even though I doubted her when she said we were childhood friends but I had my memories erased of it, hearing her speak about things I secretly wanted as a child started to convince me she was speaking the truth. 

“I...still have reservations in believing your story,” I admitted. “Even though those are things I wanted to experience. But Y...that was a long time ago.” I glanced away from her and onto the ground. “I am not the same child as I used to be.”

Heavy silence hung over us for several moments. I kept my eyes onto the ground. Suddenly, I felt something warm over her hand. I turned to see Y holding it, a small, sad smile on her face. “I know.” The smile turned cheerful. “But I believe that the same boy I knew all those years ago, that boy who got happy over the smallest of things...that kind, sincere boy...he is still you.”

How can that be when I do not think I ever truly know what happiness feels like?

“I was overjoyed when I saw you again that day,” Y continued, her voice very soft. “I thought that fate had brought you back to me.” She sighed. “But you still didn’t recognize me…”

There are still so many things Y is not telling me...what is she hiding?

“Anyway, I do not expect you to be what you cannot anymore, X,” Y said, solemn yet gentle. “I just want to bring something good in your life, because you need it.” She sighed. “I know that is hard to believe, especially with your circumstances.” She placed another hand over mine. “But trust that it will come, okay?”

I said nothing, looking away from her as we continued on our way back. To trust in something good in my life, to trust Y will bring that for me...how can I be so certain, when she hides so much? When I have forgotten to trust? 

Chapter Text

“ Xavier, I went out to town today.”

“...”

“I bought a Chespin figurine for you. It was made by one of the best pottery makers of the kingdom. I hope you like it.”

“...I would not refuse a gift from you.”

“I also bought a box of treats for your Pokemon. They were made by an excellent baker specializing in that.”

“I will give it to them.”

“The town has a lot more to offer, Xavier. I would like to visit them with you next month.”

“You know what the townspeople are like. No matter what you do, you will not convince me to go out there again.” 

“If you can step out and connect with them, they will soften their impressions of you.”

“Nothing you do or say will change my mind. Excuse me.”

“...”

It has been two weeks since Y had taken me to try out galettes. Since then, she had taken me to places I wanted to visit ever since I was a child. I have experienced many new things over these past two months, and while I had thought it was bad mainly because of the hard work at the Marchen, it became more pleasant now that I am with Y. 

Today was puppet show day. I finished setting up the stage, now standing next to the stage. I watched as two families approached each other, while their children ran up to the front to get a better glimpse of the show. While some of the children had shoes, the parents did not. All their clothes were dirty and torn. Their lives were clearly hard, but they still could smile.

I never have been in desperate need for food or clothes until I was cursed. I never had to work for anything. I should have been happier than these people when I was a prince. But now...I am starting to see that the material things I had could not buy me true happiness.

“Hello everyone!” Y greeted, cueing me to go to the audience. “Today I will tell you…”

Y weaved her stories seamlessly as she always does, captivating her audience. But I was not paying attention. Instead, my focus was on the two families near me. When I saw those people, I wondered...just what kind of life have I been living?

Time seemed to have passed in a blink. The show ended in a success, with Y eagerly counting the coins she received for her excellent performance as I dismantled the stage with her Pokemon.

“You look happier than usual,” I remarked.

“I am!” she agreed. “I have been saving money for a really pretty headband!”

I had to pause for a moment when she said that. Even though she talked fashion lively to Shauna before, it was still jarring to remember that Y was interested in those kinds of topics. She seemed to enjoy living a rougher life, so it is hard to imagine her liking the more dainty things.

I then heard a sound of laughter, and turned to see a group of children talking with each other and laughing as they went up Y and I. “Oh look! It’s an opportunity!”

“An opportunity?” I asked.

“Making those children happy can get you a good deed,” she answered.

“What?”

Y didn’t answer as she jogged up to the children. 

“Y!” one of the boys called.

The group of children swarmed to Y, chattering happily with her as they tried to cling on to her.

“We’ve been waiting for you to come back!” one of the girls whined.

Y laughed. “But I was here a couple of days ago.”

“But you didn’t have time to play!” the boy pouted.

“Can we play now?” a girl asked. 

“Please, please, please!?” many of the children begged.

“We’ve been good just like you told us!” one of the boys insisted.

The children nodded eagerly together right after he said that. 

Y chuckled. “Well, if you’ve been as good as you’ve said, how can I say no?”

“Yayyyy!” the children cheered. 

“I’m going to start counting now!” she announced. 

As she went over to the wall, the children giggled as they dispersed the area.

“Let’s get going!” 

“She won’t find us this time!” 

I watched them run and disappear in disinterest. 

“That’s your cue to go hide, Prince Xavier,” Y pointed out.

“What?” I asked. “Why do I need to take part in this?”

Y frowned. “You don’t want to play?” She smiled a little nostalgically. “But we used to play hide and seek all the time…”

I am fairly certain that I have never played a game like this with anyone before. ...Is this another memory taken from me?

“Big brother, play with us!” 

I looked down to see a little girl, taking my hand and attempting to pull me along. Of course, she couldn’t move me as I was much bigger, but it was rather sudden.

“H-Hey…” 

I glanced over at Y, who simply just smiled. I stifled a sigh. I have no choice, do I?”

Y turned to face a wall. She covered her eyes and began to count. Before I could react, the girl let go of me and ran off. What is going on? 

I turned and saw a boy hiding behind a barrel. “You have to hide before she finishes counting!” he whispered loudly.

No one even explained to me the rules of this game. How was I supposed to know what to do?

I wandered around the area, looking for a place to hide. Maybe behind the tree? Behind the fountain could work, or the wooden crates...where should I hide?

I went behind the crates and made myself as small as I could on the ground, digging my pants into the dirt. Soon after I hid, Y cried, “Ready or not, here I come!”

I could not help but wonder why I decided to do this. My pants are getting dusty for a children’s game.

“Found you!”

I froze. She found me. 

I peeked out of the crates, and let out a sigh of relief. She just found one of the children. ...Wait, why am I relieved about that?

Y went over to a tree, and tapped a child’s shoulder. “Got you!”

Every so often, Y announced she found someone, but she hasn’t found me yet. Do I get something if I win this game?

“You still haven’t found big brother yet,” the little girl who tried to pull me along said a little sadly.

Y nodded. “Indeed...where could he be hiding?”

“Do you think you can never find him?” a boy asked.

“Not fair!” another child cried. “He showed up to play for the first time today, and he won?”

Y laughed. “Now, now, I can never lose sight of anyone. I have eyes like a Talonflame, remember?”

I then watched Y walk away from my direction. This is quickly becoming boring.

“Found you!”

I jumped, rubbing my ear. “You do not have to shout so loudly.”

Y grinned as she offered her hand. “Congratulations, Xavier! You won!”

I pulled myself up, dusting the dirt off my pants. “I won?”

She nodded cheerfully. “Looks like you’re a natural expert of this game.”

“I am not,” I said. “You just did not look hard enough.”

“You still won, Xavier,” Y pointed out. “You should be happy. Great job.”

Y patted me on the back and smiled once again as she returned back to the children. Even though I thought this game was a little silly...she was right. Her praise oddly made me feel happy. But why?

I heard a loud clap. I turned to see Y announce, “All right everyone! That’s it!”

The children begin to whine, disappointed.

“We only played one round!” one of the boys pointed out.

“Now don’t be like that,” Y chided. “I promise to play another game with everyone soon. Now go back to your parents, okay? They’re waiting for you all.”

One of the children, a little girl, tugged at my sleeve. “Thank you for playing with us, big brother! Come play with us again!”

I looked down at her as she smiled up at me. She then went skipping away to join the rest of the children. They all returned to the residential area of the city.

“Awww, they like you,” Y commented.

“How do you know that?” I asked with a sigh.

“Didn’t you see how happy they were when you joined in?”

“Children are so easy to please,” I simply said.

She sighed. “That’s why I envy them. Adults aren’t like children. They worry too much and don’t appreciate the small things in life. As we grow up, we forget how to be happy.”

Forget how to be happy? Y...may be right about that. When I was younger, my dolls and my Pokemon playing brought me so much joy. But now…

“Anyway, since you’ve won, I am going to buy you a treat!” Y proclaimed.

I raised an eyebrow. “A treat?”

She nodded. “You’ll like it. I promise.”

I sat on a wooden bench, waiting for Y to return. She insisted that she would go alone, as she wanted to surprise me with something. I did not protest, as I was rather tired. Setting up the booth and the game has made me winded. Though I wonder what this ‘treat’ would be…

I watched as many people come and go. The plaza is always crowded, with most of the popular shops clustered in that area. I observed the town quietly, before my eyes landed on a statue of the king. He looked noble, mounted upon his Charizard with a sword in hand. The sight made my heart twist uncomfortably.

“OW!”

I turned to see a child had tripped, beginning to cry. ...Should I do something?

But before I could react, a man and women were there, pulling him up. The man picked up the child as the woman rubbed his back. “There, there sweetheart.”

“Mama and papa are here now,” the woman assured.

I watched as they slowly walked away, the woman still crooning to the boy. Mother would always get angry with me if I was about to cry. I wonder what it’s like to be comforted like that…

“Sorry to keep you waiting!”

I startled again, turning to see Y holding two apples on sticks. I sighed, then glanced at the family, watching them as they faded away from view. I then turned back to Y. “I am fine.”

Y looked at me thoughtfully for several moments. She then sat down next to me, giving me an apple. “Here, take a bite.”

I took the apple and examined it. It looked glossier than the usual one, but other than that, the only strange thing about it was it was on a stick. “What is this?”

“A candied apple,” she answered cheerfully. “You wanted to try this a long time ago too. I promised to get you one, but I couldn’t. Until now.”

I could not remember such a promise, but it did not matter now. I twirled the dessert, examining more of its shiny appearance. I did not know one could make an apple look like this.

“Don’t worry about it being poisoned,” Y remarked. “They’re all very sweet.”

I sniffed at the candy. It smelled like apple and syrup. I took a small bite. 

“Mmm…”

“Well?”

I barely paid any attention to Y, taking in the taste. It is nothing like I've ever tried before. This is good. 

I took another bigger bite, relishing in the flavor. Perhaps this is better than the galettes…

“Oh!” Y suddenly cried. “Is that a smile I see, X?”

I turned to her, confused. “What?”

I wasn’t smiling at all. Was I?

“It’s a lovely smile,” she remarked with a fond look on her face. “I’ll be sure to work harder and get more money to treat you to my favorite places.”

“That...would be nice,” I agreed, remembering when she said she’d take me to various places I wanted to go. 

When we finished, Y then stood up and threw away our finished apples at a garbage bin. “Come on Prince Xavier, we should return to the Marchen. It’s getting late.”

I nodded. “Of course.”

We were then off.

Chapter Text

Several weeks have passed since I had been dragged into playing with the children. I continue my routine of accompanying Y at her shows, sometimes playing with them. It was sometimes exhausting to keep up with them, having so much energy to quickly pursue one game for another. But...it was nice to see them cheerful.

Today’s show was of a tale describing the friendship of a Fletchinder and a Riolu, but it ended abruptly when while they were sleeping on a road, a well-to-do farmer riding a carriage approached them. The Fletchinder woke up and cried for him to stop, but he refused to listen, running over the poor Riolu. The Fletchinder, in rage, destroys the farmer’s livelihood, house, and his wife’s flower garden. Then, he captures the bird with his Pokemon, and he and his wife wonder what they should do with the bird. The man stupidly decided to swallow her whole. The bird survives and pops out of his mouth. In blind fury, he grabbed an axe to kill the bird, but he ended up killing her and himself.

His widow was left alone with a ruined home and only some Pokemon, but she persevered. She tried to repair it as much as she could, and got by day by day through various jobs. One day, she found an injured Floette in the middle of the road. She saw a carriage moving closer to it, and cried for it to stop. When the rider didn’t hear, she ordered her Gogoat to stop it by stopping it with vines. The Gogoat was successful and she was able to rescue the Floette and nurture it back to health. In gratitude, the Floette nurtured the woman’s destroyed flower garden back to life and made it expand further. It became a famous beauty, with many coming faraway to see the town and paying a meal or a drink from the woman as they gaze at the flowers. The woman, while enduring much grief and strife from her dead husband and his cruel actions, rose kinder and triumphant than him in the end. She and her Pokemon lived happily ever after.

Even though the first half of the story was rather horrifying and many of the children clung on to my arms, Y managed to uplift all of them by the end of the second part with her smooth storytelling and powerful gestures and voices. It seemed to be one that the audience enjoyed, as they applauded strongly. After the applause, Y announced, “Now, you are welcome to ask questions!”

The reception was rather silent. I expected for her to finish sooner, when a boy near me raised his hand and asked, “Where did the Fletchinder go? She was super mean to the farmer, but he killed her best friend. That’s a good reason to be mean, right?”

“Where did the Fletchinder go?” Y repeated, then thought for several moments. She looked back at him with a sad smile. “Well, I can tell you that the Fletchinder will not reunite with her best friend any time soon. But if she can feel very sorry for what she did to him and his wife, apologize to him, and let go of her hatred, then she will be able to play with the Riolu again.”

The boy looked at her thoughtfully, then slowly nodded. “I hope she says sorry soon. The Riolu must miss her a lot.”

Y nodded a little. “I hope so too.”

Several more children asked her questions, mainly about the Riolu. I waited until they dispersed to play and Y called me to dismantle the stage with me and her Pokemon.

As I brought down the stage, I asked, “Y, why did you tell that story?”

She raised an eyebrow. “Hm?”

“From the stories you have said before, you generally follow one character and they receive their happy ending,” I remarked. “Here, you made it seem like it was the Pokemon being the main characters but in reality, it was the farmer’s wife. It also went longer than usual.”

Y sighed heavily as she looked up to the sky. “The original story was actually a Fairytale written by Hans the bard.”

My eyes widened. “What?”

I always thought that Hans’ stories were whimsical and cheerful, giving happily ever afters to undeserving people who did not work for them. I never expected him to write something like that .

She nodded, a wry smile on her face. “Of course, humans liked to paint him as a martyr who only wanted to have fun with his own tales, but he also wrote tales that scared the lesson straight.” 

“I thought that Fairytales rewarded those who did little and punished the supposedly wicked,” I remarked.

Y nodded slowly. “Yes, there are stories where one is rewarded with good fortune, though generally, they didn’t do “little”. Their actions are very significant for those they helped, and the people they helped helped them out in return.”

I crossed my arms. “So the “heroes” were expecting something out of their kindness.”

She shook her head. “I am not going to deny that there are heroes who did that, but there are many who did good deeds just because they can. They did not think of the reward at all.”

Of course that is pure fiction. No one can be so kind and not expect any reward at all.

Her face darkened. “But there are Fairytales where nothing good is done for anyone. The characters there are made as examples of what to do and what to not do.”

“So I suppose that Hans is telling us that it is completely fine to take vengeance against those who wronged us by destroying everything they own?” I sarcastically asked.

If that is true, once I ascend the throne, I could cause chaos in this kingdom and justify it to be right if I had the will to. 

Y laughed a little. “It certainly is easy to take that interpretation since that bird never faces the consequences of her actions. She will be lonely and grieving, but she still gets to live.” She sighed wistfully. “I like that little bird for her loyalty, I have to admit. But she left behind a poor widow in the wake of her wrath, and I can’t help but think of that woman. She actually was the one who accidentally killed her husband.”

My eyes widened. “W-What?”

She nodded grimly. “Yep. When he tried to swallow the bird, the bird popped out of his mouth, so she tried to kill her with an axe. Not only has she lost everything, she will be haunted by that deed for the rest of her life, while the bird gets to fly freely.”

I narrowed my eyes on her. “This has certainly not improved my opinion on this bard.”

“Oh don’t worry, I don’t like him that much either,” she agreed. “But I have to respect the imagination he had to make so many stories in his unfortunately brief life.”

Even though he started the Witch Hunts, which she was undoubtedly affected by? What a strange girl.

“How can you still respect him?” 

Y went silent for several moments. “That...is a question I sometimes ask myself. But I suppose it’s not only respect, but sympathy.”

“Sympathy?”

For him?

Y nodded. “Hans wrote the Fairytales originally for his children as he traveled across Kalos. During his spare time, he also told stories to anyone who would listen, and well…” She sighed. “They spread like a wildfire. People have quickly come to see witches as evil, to which he denied. But no one believed him because they thought the witches threatened him.”

How foolish of them.

Y looked down, sympathy and sorrow etched on her face. “Hans tried his best to extinguish the flames, by telling different kinds of Fairytales and defending witches, but it was too late. The Witch Hunts and the corruption of witches have begun.”

“And so, the bard died for his foolishness,” I concluded.

She nodded slowly. “I cannot completely forgive him for the suffering he inflicted for my people. But I acknowledge he is not a man of pure good like humans tend to think of him as, or of pure evil like witches do. He is a man, a very flawed one. He is not completely dark or bright, simply just gray.”

A man of gray...Mother had said that people were not completely good or evil. But his “evil” was ignorance and carelessness instead of greed.

Y took a deep breath, then sighed. “Well, that was rather heavy. How about after we pack up everything, we go get something to eat? My treat.”

I nodded. “All right, Y. Lead the way.”

Chapter Text

A few weeks passed since Y and I had our conversation about Hans. Today, Y is staying at the tavern, saying that she needed a break from them and do some preparations for other shows. I thought that would have meant doing chores around the tavern, but as soon as I finished eating breakfast and went over to the broom, I was suddenly grabbed by the arm.

“Huh!?” I whirled around and saw Y glaring at me. “Y-Y!?”

Y grinned, though it looked more like a snarl. “Hello there, assistant. I believed you said that my puppet show was short and simple. That it could have been better.”

“I did?” I asked, confused. 

Y looked at me, unimpressed. “Anyway, since you said that it could be better, I am making you help me make up a story of a puppet show.”

Even though I despise sweeping with every fiber of my being, I had a feeling being subjected to the wrath of Y over a remark I didn't even remember would be worse. 

I turned to Mr. Broom, and whispered undignifiedly, “Help me.”

The broom hopped away, cowering behind a chair. 

I groaned. “Some broom you are.”

“You’d choose sweeping over training to be my assistant?” Y asked incredulously, then started dragging me across the floor. 

I glanced over at Bianca, who was serving the patrons at the bar their breakfast. “Bianca! Do you have any orders I should take care of?”

Bianca just smiled at me. “Have fun with Y, Prince Xavier!”

I could do nothing but struggle against Y as she continued to drag me over to the stairway and up the stairs. She then stalked down the hall before stopping at a door and opened it. 

The room was as simple and small as the others, but it felt rather cramped. Right next to me was a tall wooden wardrobe, and right next to it was a wooden vanity that had a make-up kit and two wooden chests, one looking like a typical box that revealed ribbons and bows and the other with closed small drawers, possibly holding jewelry. Just a few steps away was the well-made bed that had both a Froakie and a Fletchling doll. Across from the bed was a large, tall bookcase filled with many books. A small desk and chair stood next to it, a sewing kit stuffed with tools and cloth and a mat laid across it. A basket for scraps sat at the foot, and next to the basket were crates of puppets.

Y let go of me and went over to the bookcase, letting me shake my arm. Gods, her grip is strong...

“You didn’t have to drag me all the way up here,” I said as she pulled out some books from the shelves. 

“You would have escaped training as my assistant if I hadn’t!” she defended as she went over to the bed and set them down. “Also, I’d like to see you try to make a story.”

Why does that matter so much to her?

She plopped down, patting the empty space for me to sit on. I took my space next to her, looking at the book on top. It was a small book titled “The Noctowl.”

“What kind of book is this?” I asked.

“It’s a Fairytale,” she answered, picking the book up.

I glared at it. “Why would you use a book filled with lies for your puppet shows?”

“Prince Xavier, Fairytales aren’t just about heroes on quests and happily ever afters,” Y sighed. “This book has neither of those. It is simply about a town who never saw a Noctowl, and being so afraid of it, they mistaken her as a monster.”

“What an idiotic tale,” I simply replied.

She nodded. “Yeah, but it was meant as criticism by Hans towards how people were acting in the Witch Hunts. They did not know witches well because they never truly interacted with one, so they treated them like monsters when they heard of the Fairytales that painted them as evil.” Y then set it behind the book pile, pushing it to me. “I already had used the story before, but you’re welcome to read it. Maybe you can come up with a new story out of it!”

I merely glared at it with disdain. I see no use reading a story about humans’ foolishness.

“I know that your mother never allowed you to read Fairytales, but you should at least read some of them, Prince Xavier,” Y said. “They have inflamed ignorance and caused great strife, but they are of great importance to people as well.”

“Only because it gives them the false hope that they can live happily for as long as they live,” I scoffed. “Why bother telling such a deception when it will only leave you disappointed in the end?”

Y smiled sadly. “You are right, Prince Xavier.”

My eyes widened. “What?”

Whenever I say that of Fairytales, people usually disagree and give me disapproving looks. But...Y thinks I am right?

She sighed, a mournful expression on her face. “Life is full of disappointments. You will never be guaranteed to live happily ever after. A random stroke of bad luck may rob you of everything you have. The person you love may have a change of heart and become everything you hate.”

Y smiled a little. “But it is important to stay good and hopeful in spite of everything. Fairytales teach that being virtuous is the best path one can take, and one fruitful for everyone. It may be easy to become bitter and lash out against everything and everyone around you, but it will not ease your pain. You will only bring heartbreak and sorrow for everyone around you and sink deeper in your bitterness.”

“Merely being kind will not bring you riches and a comfortable life,” I replied. 

Y nodded. “You are right. Fairytales also teaches you other virtues, like cunning, determination, and wisdom that will guide you in life.”

Virtues…?

Y picked up the book from the top of the pile and handed to me, a wide smile on her face. “How about you read this one, Xavier?”

I glanced down at it. It was titled The Nixie of the Miller’s Pond By: Hans the Bard. “What is a nixie?” I asked.

“They’re the human names for fairies and witches who are Water-types, particularly those who live near or in water,” Y answered. “There’s a lot of legends about them over the years.”

“So I suppose you would count as one?”  

She shrugged. “I guess, but I don’t like the idea of living in water. I like the sky or the land better.”

I looked down at the book. “What is this about?”

Y shrugged again. “I don’t know. Bianca gave it to me and I didn't have the chance to read it.” 

I opened the book to see the title in an elegant cursive. I turned the page again, and saw a drawing of a beautiful woman coming out of the pond, talking with a worried looking peasant. 

“You can read it aloud to me if you want,” Y suggested.

I looked up at her curiously. “Why do you want me to do that?”

“I like to hear you read,” she simply answered with a wide smile on her face.

What a strange girl...but I see no harm doing it.

I glanced over to the next page, which had the actual story. “Once upon a time, there lived a miller and his wife. They had fallen in difficult times, and now struggled to get by. They were so poor that they were in danger of losing their mill.”

How could they be that unfortunate?

“One day, while the miller was walking by the mill pond from the woods, a beautiful woman with long silver hair rose out of the pond. She called, ‘Hello good sir!’”

I raised an eyebrow. How long has she been there?

“The man was startled, but asked, ‘Hello good lady of the pond. What brings you up here?’. She said, ‘I know trouble plagues your poor home. I will give you wealth that you rightfully deserved, but you must give me the youngest creature on your property.’”

This does not sound good…

I turned the page to see a picture of the man gasping in horror at his wife holding a swaddled baby in her arms. “The man agreed eagerly, believing that it was a young Pokemon. He returned home in a haste, but much to his horror, he saw the midwife and her Pokemon at his home. Apparently, his wife had suddenly given birth to a baby boy while he was gone.’”

I turned to Y. “Is that possible?”

Y nodded. “It is very rare in real life though.”

I returned back to the book. “The poor man realized that the nixie knew about the birth of his son, and told his wife of the deal he made with the fairy. The couple were scared but uncertain what to do. Still, they tenderly loved and cared for their son, who grew as did the wealth of his family. While they warned the son to never go near the mill pond, they would often lay in bed, wondering when the nixie would collect her payment.”

I turned to Y with a raised eyebrow. “Do fairies actually do this?”

Y nodded. “There are fairies who have grown attached to humans, or the idea of raising a human. Some pity the shortness of human life, and believe that they can extend their lives through magic, often resorting to extreme methods to get them.”

My eyes widened. “What?”

She sighed. “I only heard of these from Amarillo, but...witches were not the only magical beings that were feared.”

I shuddered, then turned the page, to which showed a picture of the nixie holding the horrified hunter by the arms. “The boy grew up to be a skilled hunter, and married a woman from a local village. One day, while out in the woods, he hunted and killed a Diggersby. After dressing it, he went to the mill pond, forgetting the warnings of his parents. As soon as he washed off the blood, the nixie suddenly appeared and pulled him down.”

I glanced at her. “This is not a very smart man.”

Y shrugged. “If I just killed a Bunnelby after a hunt, I’d try to clean off the blood as soon as possible too. It smells, sticks on my feathers, and can get me sick.”

I turned back to the book and turned the page, showing a picture of the woman calling to the pond. “When he did not return home, the hunter’s wife went searching for him. She was told by her parents-in-laws about the nixie, and thus went to the pond where she lived. She called for her husband and the nixie, but was met with silence.”

Even though her husband was foolish, a small, heavy feeling weighed down on my chest. Why is that so?

“After calling for them until her voice became hoarse, the woman laid by the shore of the pond, tears falling on her face as she drifted off to sleep. She dreamed that she climbed the perilous mountain that loomed her home village, facing slippery rocks, the thin, frigid air, and exhaustion that seemed to sink in her bones. But when she arrived at the peak, she came upon a cottage and an old witch in a black cloak standing in front of it. The old witch called to her, ‘Come child! I await you!’”

I raised an eyebrow. “I did not expect a witch to be the more “heroic” figure here.”

“While there were certainly tales of fairies kidnapping humans before Hans, Hans included good witches in some of his later stories here as proof that they were not completely evil,” Y explained. “Of course, that did not stop the Witch Hunts, but it was an effort by him to mitigate the damage.”

“Clearly, it did not work,” I scoffed.

I turned the page, which showed a picture of the woman climbing up the mountain, her brow creased in determination as pebbles fell upon her. “The woman, believing the dream was a sign from the merciful Xerneas, climbed up the treacherous mountain. Even though her hand nearly slipped several times and the air was so thin that she had felt faint, she reached the peak, the only thought in her mind of the safety of her husband. Just like in the dream, she found a cottage there. She knocked on the door, and called, ‘O wise woman! I am in need of your aid!’”

I turned the page again, which showed a picture of the woman entering the cottage and an old, hunched over woman beckoning to her, as the cauldron next to her boiled a strange liquid. “The old woman opened the door, and said in reply, ‘Of course my child! But please, make yourself comfortable in my humble home.’ She led the woman to a comfortable armchair and cooked her a hearty stew, before asking her her reasons to visit her. The woman started sobbing, and wailed ‘O good woman! My husband was meant to be a payment to a nixie, who tricked his father to make a deal with her that would grant him great wealth but in return for his poor son’s life! I miss him terribly, and I want to bring him back, no matter the cost!’”

“I like this woman,” Y commented sadly. “A normal human would not go to such lengths to attempt to revert a deal with a fairy.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Are deals that significant for fairies?”

She nodded. “And witches too. They also take oaths over Manaphy’s hearts seriously. If they feel that oath may have been breached, they will interrogate the dealer before punishing them for that. Sometimes, the punishment might be better than Manaphy’s wrath, sometimes worse.”

I turned back to the book with wide eyes. “What a brave woman.”

“Indeed.”

“The old woman consoled the woman as she sobbed. When she calmed, the old woman showed her a golden comb. ‘This comb may let you see your husband. You must go to the pond at the night of the full moon and comb your hair there. Once you are done, you must set the comb on the banks.’”

I turned to Y again. “How does that work?”

Y shrugged. “Hans takes a lot of artistic liberties in his works.”

I turned the page, which showed a picture of the woman peering down the pond, the face of her husband barely above the surface as the full moon hangs above them. “The woman thanked the witch graciously, and returned home the next morning. When the night of the full moon came, she did exactly as the witch told her. She managed to see a glimpse of her husband’s face, who only looked at her sadly before he was dragged down again.”

“Well, that was unsatisfying,” I remarked without thinking. But why would I be unsatisfied? There were a lot more pages in the book.

I continued reading, “Elated and yet more lonely, the woman climbed the treacherous mountain again. She asked the witch for help once again, and the witch gave her a golden flute. The witch then told her, ‘Play a beautiful song with this flute by the pond on the night of the full moon. Once you are done, set the flute in the sands. You may see your husband again.’”

I turned the page, showing a picture of the half-submerged man reaching out for her desperately from the pond as she tried to grab onto his hand, the full moon over them. “She thanked the witch graciously again, and returned home the next morning. When the night of full moon came once again, she went to the pond and played the most wondrous melody. When she finished and set her flute down, her husband rose, now half of his body submerged in water. They reached out for each other, but a wave pulled him down.”

“...How is this witch helpful for her?” I wondered. “She tells her to perform two tasks, and both of them are not completely successful at all.”

Y giggled. “Keep reading, Xavier.”

I turned the page, and saw the couple embracing under the full moon, and in front of a spinning wheel for some reason. “The woman, filled with so much hope and longing, climbed up the mountain again. She asked the witch for her help again, and the witch gave her a golden spinning wheel. The witch then told her, ‘Spin enough flax by the bank under the full moon until you have a full spool, and place that spool on the bank. Perhaps you may save your husband this time around.’”

“I sure hope so,” I muttered. 

When I heard Y laughing, I was confused until I glanced at the picture again. I flushed a little bit at my idiotic comment. “Uh, I mean, I knew that.”

I continued reading again, “When the night of the full moon came, the woman diligently spun the flax. Even though the darkness had made it difficult, she still persevered until finally, a full spool was made. She placed it down on the bank, and this time, her husband surfaced the pond. Quickly, she grabbed onto his arms and he held tightly onto her, together pulling him out of the pond. They embraced tenderly, then returned home together happily.”

I thumbed the remaining pages left. “There are some pages left, you said fairies take deals seriously, and it doesn’t say “Happily Ever After”. Something is going to happen, is it?”

Y shrugged with a smile. “Read and find out, Xavier. I’m interested as well.”

I turned the page to a picture of the enraged nixie looming above a large wave that swept through the village.The husband and wife reached for each other as their other arms turned into one of a Poliwrath and Politoed respectively. I groaned audibly at it. “Really? After three months of doing that, this happens?”

Y glanced over, then winced. “Oh no…”

Against my better judgement, I continued reading, “The next morning, the nixie created a flood from the pond swept through the village. The woman called for her witch friend to save her and her husband. The witch heard her pleas and turned her and her husband into a Politoed and Poliwrath respectively. The flood swept them across valleys and mountains, but they survived thanks to their new forms. When the flood was over, they returned to their human forms, but once again separated from each other.”

I slammed the book shut and glared at it. “What’s the point of everything she did then? Why would anyone write that kind of story? What kind of sick joke is it to make one hope and then slap them with this...this rubbish?”

“How many pages are there left?” Y asked tentatively.

I opened the book and flipped the pages to back where we were. When I flipped the page, I let out a sigh of relief when I saw the couple, while older, embracing and kissing as the husband wiped away her tears. “It ends happily!”

Y looked over, and also let out a sigh of relief. “Good thing it does. I don’t think my heart can bear such a terrible ending for them.”

I continued reading, “In a completely different land, they took up the jobs of shepherds for a living. For many years, they were often sorrowful, for they still longed for each other. One spring, they met while tending their flocks. While they did not recognize each other, they quickly became friends.”

“I would have thought they would recognize each other,” I remarked.

Y shrugged again. “Age and grief can do a number on someone.”

I continued to read again, “One night, the man asked, ‘May I play a song for you, good lady?’ The woman agreed, and he played the same song she played on that second night under the full moon by the lake. The woman started to cry, and the man asked, ‘What is wrong?’. The woman answered, ‘Oh, that was the same song I played to my husband the second to last time I saw him. He was taken by a nixie, you see, and I had tried to rescue him from his clutches with the help of magical items granted by a kind witch. We only reunited for one night, as the next day, the nixie flooded our village and separated us. I pray to the gods he is well.’”

“...He’s right there,” I said without thinking. 

Y laughed loudly and I returned to the book, trying to hide my flushed face. “The man realized the woman in front of him was his wife, and quickly embraced her. He then said to her as he wiped her tears, ‘I am here, my love. I am here and well.’ The woman suddenly recognized him as well, and kissed him. They then lived together again as husband and wife, happily ever after.”

I closed the book, setting it down. “Well...that was quite a Fairytale.”

“You must really love it!” Y said. “You’re smiling!”

I turned to her, startled. “I...did?” 

She nodded cheerfully. “It is a very pretty one, perhaps even more so than when you were a child.”

For some reason, that made me flush. I looked away and coughed awkwardly. “Well, I think this is an...enjoyable tale. Perhaps performing a show about it but shortened would be one the children would enjoy.”

Y nodded. “I agree! Though we could incorporate other stories into it to make it more unique. How about you read another one?” 

I eyed the book pile questioningly. How can I be sure if they are as good as this one? And what need is there to improve an already excellent story?

I glanced back at Y, who waited excitedly. For some reason, I did not want to disappoint her by rejecting her. “...Okay.”

We then spent the rest of the morning, and after lunch, much of the afternoon reading Fairytales. While there were some that I did not like and some I did not have strong feelings for, there were some that I enjoyed, such as The Thievul and the Manectric and Lord Giratina with the Three Golden Crystals. Regardless, they were completely different from my ideas of it. While many of them were about heroes gaining much for their kind deeds or cleverness, some of them were simply short moral tales. While some of them were ridiculous, they didn’t seem as awful as Mother made them out to be.

After some hours passed, I asked Y, “Why did my mother hate them so much?”

Y winced. “Well...they caused much strife in the past.”

“I know that, but why to the point of burning them?”

“I do not want to talk about that,” Y simply said.

I stared at her in shock. “Why?”

She sighed again, running her hand through her hair. “It’s...a long story. One that I’m not sure if I want to tell you right now.” She then forced a small smile, looking at the window. “Anyway, it’s getting late. We should help Bianca out now so we can get our dinners early.”

Even though her obvious topic change and uncomfortableness made me ask more questions, I nodded in agreement.  “All right, Y. Let us go.”

Chapter Text

After that day reading Fairytales, the next day, Y and I ironed out our own adaptation of the Nixie of the Miller’s Pond for the puppet show. It was much shorter, with the story starting out the same, and the wife going through the same trials as before and succeeded. While the large flood happened, its severity was mitigated by the witch, who also sealed the nixie away at the cost of her own life. Despite the loss of a dear friend, the woman and her husband remained together, forever grateful to her.

The show was well-received by the audience, despite the shock that a fairy could be capable of such acts. It was rather embarrassing having Y credit me for the help and the children and parents to give me their compliments. But it was...pleasant.

But when the day was done, I was dejected to find no new pieces to my necklace. I have been here for months, and I still have not gained one. While Y continues to take me out and teach me goodness, I still have yet achieved a single good deed. Even though I tried my best to be kind as the stories told me and Y showed me, I still could not get one. I slowly started to lose hope. Perhaps I could not do it. Perhaps I am too much of the Ice Prince to do so...

Today I was assigned to serve at the Marchen. I would rather sweep with Mr. Broom. People are exhausting to talk with. 

I had only just entered the tavern area when I froze at the sight of a familiar face.

“...Emma?”

She looked up to me in shock. I couldn’t help but gasp at how unkempt she looked. Her hair was now in a messy ponytail, more strands of hair falling off from the ribbon. She had heavy eye bags under her eyes, as if she hadn’t been sleeping well. 

“Prince Xavier?” she softly asked, seeming to not believe I was there. “Is that you?”

I ran up to her. “Emma, what are you doing here!? How did you find this place?”

“I...I don’t know,” she admitted. “Mimi wanted me to leave the house for a while and I found this strange place, with no building nearby it...she said it was abandoned, but I didn’t believe her.”

“Let’s go to another room,” I said.

“Not so fast,” a stern voice called.

I whirled around, realizing everyone was staring at me. Ruby and Sapphire walked up to me, both of them with stern expressions on their faces.

Emma’s eyes widened. “Sir Ruby? Dame Sapphire? What are you doing here? I thought you left Zyleiss after you were discharged.”

“I could ask you the same, Dame Emma,” Sapphire replied, looking at her suspiciously. “You had been identified as a person of interest, and yet you didn’t come here until now.”

Emma’s jaw clenched. “My duties and then Bl–my father were an unfortunate obstacle for that.”

Ruby raised an eyebrow. “I doubt Black piled on that much work on you.”

I sighed as the tensions between the knights grew. “Let me talk with her.”

Neither of them backed down. If anything, they all seemed ready to start fighting each other. I then remembered the story of their dismissal from the Order of Volcanius, with Sir Black doing so for grave disobedience. Do they hold a grudge against her for that?

“Tell us the truth, Emma,” Sapphire growled.

“That is the truth,” she insisted.

“Why do you not trust Emma?” I asked. “Is it because she is Sir Black’s daughter? She is a completely different person than him. She is my knight, and would never harm me.”

Ruby sighed, running his hand through his hair. “We have our reasons for doing this, Prince Xavier.”

I took a deep breath and sighed, rubbing my forehead to stave away the impending headache. Why must they insist on keeping secrets when they are acting so aggressively for no apparent reason?

I heard loud footsteps behind us, followed by a booming voice, “Calm down you all. Geez, you look like a bunch of Mightyenas ready to fight each other over the last piece of meat.”

Red stepped in between the senior knights and went up to Emma, a friendly smile on his face towards her. He then turned to the knights, the same smile on his face. “Now, if you insist on chaperoning the prince and his knight as we talk about this situation, you are free to do so. I’m sure the two of you can handle her if she tries to do something funny.”

“I have no intention of hurting the prince,” Emma affirmed.

The two knights reluctantly relaxed. “Fine,” they both said in unison. 

Red then led us all to the reception room, with me glaring at them the entire time. When we arrived, they thankfully stood at the far end of the room, enough to give me and Emma some privacy. As soon as I took my seat, Emma started talking.

“It has been four months since you've been gone, my prince,” she started.

I gasped. It has been that long already?

“Four months, and my father and Sir Silvus are still looking for you.”

My eyes widened. “What? Why are they looking for me?”

“He is up to something!” Sapphire cried.

“Quiet, Sapphire,” Red scolded.

She sighed, shaking her head. “I don’t know. I asked around about you the day you disappeared, and they heard about that. They claim that they want to find you in the kingdom’s best interests, but given the circumstances and my own lack of knowledge of your location, I did not tell them where you are. I have been forced on leave from my duties as a result. By next month, I will be permanently discharged if I do not give your location to them.”

Why would they go so far to do that?

“Are you going to give my location to them now that you know?” I asked worriedly.

“No,” she answered instantly.

I gasped. “Why?”

She smiled wryly. “I do not care about my duties as a knight as much as I care about my loyalty to you. I do not trust my father or Sir Silvus due to these suspicious circumstances.”

Loyalty…?

Her smile then turned more gentle. “Besides, I know you will break your curse.”

“But I have not gotten a single good deed yet…” I muttered, looking down on the ground.

Silence soon followed after. Finally, Emma said, “My prince, look at me.”

I looked up at her, surprised just how resolute she looked. “Ever since I started being your bodyguard, I knew I was not what you were expecting. I came from the streets of the city, and appeared small and weak. I did not have the blood of a noble or the manners of one. I’m certain I have disappointed you many times during my first year.”

She...was not wrong. To this day, I do not understand why the king would assign such a small and thin girl to protect me, even though she is an impeccable commander.

A small smile then formed on her face. “But you have not said a complaint about me. You respected me even despite my origins. I know there is kindness in you, my prince. That is a fact.”

I looked away from her after she said that. I did know what to say. Even though she did not say much, it still...overwhelmed me.

“Anyway, since you are now here, we can conclude that you are cursed,” Red announced. “Not even fairies and witches are allowed here, unless the fairy owner of this place trusts them.”

Emma glanced at Ruby and Sapphire. “Are they cursed?”

They shook their heads. “No, we were hired by the owner to protect this place. Unfortunately, we do not remember Prince Xavier as the crown prince until after he arrived here.”

Emma looked down, her brow furrowed in thought. “I see…”

“We should keep you here so we can figure out what your exact curse is,” Red continued. 

“I can’t stay,” she replied hurriedly. I thought I saw fear in her eyes. “I think my father wouldn’t want that.”

“Well, you may be cursed and not know it,” Red pointed out. 

“Or you’re hiding something,” Sapphire bristled.

“Sapphire, please,” Ruby sighed.

“I am certainly not cursed,” she insisted.

“Has anything in your life changed?” I asked.

Emma looked down. “Well, I have been a little forgetful. Being forced on leave has made me more disorganized and unfocused, but that was just a lack of not having anything interesting to do.”

Sapphire walked up to her, arms crossed and eyes ablaze. Emma’s shoulders squared as she looked at her calmly. “How did you find this place, Emma? Only the cursed can find it. Not even Pokemon can detect this place.”

“I was walking in town and found this tavern,” she answered simply. “Finding the prince here is a lucky coincidence. That is all.”

“How about you stay here for a while so we can investigate what is your curse?” Red suggested. “We can continue meeting for the next several days.”

She shook her head. “I can’t. I would like to, but I am expected back at my house before nightfall. I do not want to test Bl–my father’s wrath. I’ll try, but I make no promises.”

Red nodded. “I understand.”

Emma pulled herself up from her seat, nodding at me with a small smile. “Good luck on breaking your curse, my prince. I will be waiting for you.”

She then left the room, Ruby and Sapphire following after her. Red sighed, running his hand through his head. “Well, that was certainly a lot more anticlimactic than I anticipated. But that still leaves more questions than answers.”

I nodded. “I don’t think that Emma wants to hurt me, but...it’d give me peace of mind knowing what her curse is.”

Red nodded in agreement, a wry smile on his face. “Here’s hoping she’ll return soon.” 

I turned to leave, when he said, “Prince Xavier.”

I turned back to him. “What?”

His expression turned grave. “Be careful when you go out of the tavern. Emma is correct to think that Black and Silvus are up to something by looking for you.”

“Why do you think that?” I questioned.

Red glanced down, a conflicted expression on his face. “It’s...a long story. I’m not sure if now is the right time to tell you.”

I glared at him. “Why must you be keeping secrets at this time?”

Red sighed, rubbing his forehead. “All we have is speculation, Prince Xavier. Until we can figure out the details, we don’t want you to panic.” 

I said nothing and turned back to the tavern. Even though the tavern these past few months seemed to be more hospitable than I thought, the fact remains that there are so many secrets here. Will I ever learn them? And...can I still trust them despite that?

Chapter Text

It’s been a month since Emma’s visit to the tavern, and my luck still has not changed. I could not get a single good deed. I wanted to ask Amarillo more about Emma’s curse, but she had been absent from the tavern for weeks. When I asked Red why Amarillo was missing, all he said was that she was trying to contain the rapid spread of the Fairytale Curses.

Today I accompanied Y to get materials from the toy shop for her upcoming show. But she disappeared off somewhere...I swore I saw her by these shelves earlier. Where did she go?

I turned a corner, and saw the Pokemon dolls on display again. One doll caught my attention, the Sylveon. It looked so adorable...but I don’t have enough money to buy it. 

I noticed a man standing just to the right, in front of the teddy bear display shelf. I think I saw him before...was he the man I saw in the toy shop all those months ago?

I realized he was looking at the Pancham his daughter wanted, the one he did not have the money to buy. He opened his clenched palm, revealing some gold coins. I glanced over the price tag earlier, and I knew he could not buy that with the money he has.

“I thought I’d have saved up enough by now…” he sighed, running his hand through his hair. “Now what do I get for her birthday?”

He headed over the next shelf, still glum. As soon as he was gone, I went over to the shelf and picked up the Pancham. It was very soft...and somehow comforting to hold. I could see why the girl liked it very much. 

I began to move to the counter without realizing, reaching for my bag of coins in my pocket. The king gave me this money all those months ago, and I never used it. If I buy this Pancham, I will be completely broke. 

“Sir?” the clerk asked.

I was jolted out of my thoughts, and handed it to her. “Can you please wrap this?”

She smiled, taking it. “Of course.”

After she finished wrapping the bear up, I went to look for the father. But I could not find him. Had he left?

“That’s a big box you have there, Xavier,” Y remarked. 

I turned behind as she approached me, a bright smile on her face. She leaned forward to inspect the box. “There’s no time. I need to find him.”

She looked at me, confused. “Who?”

I turned to the door, striding quickly. He must have not gone far. 

“H-Hey! Wait!”

I went outside and looked around. Where is he?

“Xavier!” Y cried. “Where are you going!?”

“There’s someone I need to find,” I explained. “Did you see the man eyeing the large Pancham earlier?”

“Maybe? Why?”

I continued walking. “We need to find him. I need to give this gift to him.”

I was about to enter the crowd when Y suddenly grabbed my sleeve. I turned to her and was about to snap, but I stopped when I saw the sympathetic smile on her face. “Look, I’m not sure what’s going on, but I’ll help you.” She glanced around cautiously. “But you have to stay with me. We shouldn’t be getting separated, especially with Black and Silvus looking for you.”

I still don’t know why everyone thinks they’re a threat, but she has a point. I don’t know my way around the town as she does, and the witches are always lurking.

“Fine.”

Y kept her pace with me as I almost broke out into a run.

“It will be difficult to find this man with all the people around you know!” Y called.

“But we should at least try,” I pointed out.

Y stopped for several moments, looking at me thoughtfully. She then nodded. “Okay then. Let’s go.”

Y, Fletchy, and I searched for the man for hours, but to no avail. I didn't even know his name, so I couldn’t ask for him. 

“We should go back soon, Xavier,” Y said, Fletchy hovering above her. “It’s going to get dark soon.”

“But it’s her birthday…” I muttered.

“Who?”

I closed my eyes, and for a moment, I saw the man’s pained expression. I sighed, taking a seat down on the bench, clutching onto the box. He wanted to buy this bear for his daughter’s birthday. Because he loves her.

A familiar ache flared in my chest. All my life...all I wanted was the king to treat me the same way that this man does.

I felt a hand on my shoulder. “Xavier…”

I turned to Y, a reassuring smile on her face. “I promise you we will look for him first thing in the morning.”

I looked down at the box, the image of the girl’s disappointed face flashing in my mind. My heart grew heavier at that thought. She had been looking forward to this...and I can’t even bring it to her on her special day.

But Y was right. We had no idea who the man is, or where he lives.

With a heavy sigh, I nodded. “Let’s go back then.”

We then made our way back to the tavern, but the guilt in my chest slowed me down. 

“It’s not like you to be sad for a stranger,” Y remarked.

I turned to her, confused. “What?”

She smiled a little. “You’ve changed. For the better.”

Have I…?

“Welcome home, Papa!”

The girl’s voice was familiar. I whirled on my heels and turned to see the little girl at the doorway at one of the homes. I thought that we were too late, but…

“We found them!” I cried.

The little girl ran up and threw her arms around her father’s leg. He picked her up and pulled her in a tight hug. “I’m sorry for being late, sweetheart.”

“But you’re here now!” she said. “I don’t want to start my birthday without you!” She wiggled out of his embrace and ran back into the house. “Mama! Papa’s here!”

The man pulled a small, wrapped box from his pocket, and sighed. Before he could go inside, I went up to him and tapped him on the shoulder.

He turned to me, then jolted. “You were in the toyshop earlier.”

I nodded. “I was. We were looking everywhere for you.”

“For me?” He glanced down at the package in my hands, then up at me. “What can I help you with, sir?”

“I heard that it was your daughter’s birthday today,” I answered.

He smiled, nodding. “She’s turning seven today. But why?”

I held the box towards him. “Here. This is for your daughter.”

“What…?”

“It’s the bear she wanted.”

His eyes widened. “W-what!? No, I can’t possibly–”

I bit down a sigh. “Just take it.”

The man did not take the box, too much in shock to reach for it. He shook his head in wonder. “You don’t even know who we are. Why would you do something like this?”

I have been wondering the same…

I took a deep breath, and looked him in the eye. “You love your daughter very much, do you?”

He grinned, nodding. “She is my life. She and my wife.” He sighed. “But I can’t pay you for this…”

“Papa, why are you taking so long?” the girl asked.

The girl was at the door again, staring at me curiously as she clinged on her father’s leg. “Who are you?”

I…do not know what to say.

“This handsome man here is your fairy godfather, little one,” Y chirped in.

She gasped, while I turned to glare at Y. What is she trying to do?

“Fairy godfather?” she asked. “Like Cinderella?”

Y nodded cheerfully. “Yes.”

I shot Y another irritated look, but she was unfazed, still smiling cheerfully.

“He came to fulfill your birthday wish. Isn’t that correct, my lord?”

I wanted to insist that is all not true, but…it is her birthday. I should play along.

I nodded slowly. “Yes…I am.”

She beamed, going up to me. “Really?”

Y nudged me towards the girl. I shot another glare at Y until I kneeled down and held the wrapped box to her. What does Y say usually when she gives gifts? 

“You…have been a very good girl. This is for you.”

The girl reached out and took the box. She opened it carefully, placed the box down, and opened it. Her eyes lit up at the bear inside and pulled it out, seeming unable to believe the sight. “Is this…the Pancham I wanted?”

I nodded, and the little girl squealed, spinning around with it in her arms. Then suddenly, she placed the bear back in the box and threw her arms around my neck. “Thank you! Thank you for granting my wish, Mister Fairy Godfather!”

I was too shocked to react. The little girl let go of me and picked up the box, running back inside. “Mama! Mama! Look at what my fairy godfather brought me!”

I felt a hand placed on my shoulder. I looked up to see the man, smiling at me despite tears falling down his cheeks. “Thank you…I will never forget your kindness.”

He dipped into a short bow and then returned back to his home. I watched him leave, but suddenly, a bright flash of light blinded me. When it faded, I pulled the necklace chain around me up. A new piece hung next to the slipper.

“This is…”

“Your first good deed!” Y cheered, Fletchy flying down from a roof as she looked at me cheerfully.

I stared in disbelief at the piece, gingerly cupping the piece. It’s…it’s right there?

“I did it!” I cried, running up to Y. “Y! Y, look!”

But Y wasn’t looking at my necklace. She was looking at my face, her gaze enraptured. “What are you looking at?”

“You just smiled,” she said, a bright smile growing on her face. 

“I did before,” I muttered.

“Yes, but each one is its own treasure.”

My face flushed again and I instantly turned my head away.

“I’m glad that you played along with my story, Xavier. You made her birthday extra special by making her believe you’re her own fairy godmother. That no matter how difficult times can get, there will always be someone watching over them so long as they’re good.”

My eyes were still on the pendant, when suddenly, a cold, unfamiliar voice of a woman said, “Cinderella’s glass slipper, huh?”

We whirled around to stare at a woman standing in the darkness of the alleyway closest to us. She was cloaked in darkness, but I could make out her grin and a clouded, red eye towering above her.

“Hello, my prince.” 

Chapter Text

Y immediately stood in front of me, pointing at the woman. “Fletchy! Use Flamethrower!” 

I pulled my flute and was just about to play when suddenly, a rain of rocks fell on Fletchy. She squawked as she crashed onto the ground, groaning in pain.

“Fletchy!” Y cried, running over to her Talonflame, quickly removing the rocks. The bird chirped mournfully as she crawled out, groaning again. Y then pulled out some Sitrus berries, which Flecthy gobbled down as fast as she could.

The woman walked out, and I was surprised to see her be as tall as Y. Her white hair stood out even in the dark, and so did her outfit. A black mask obscured half her face, and her dress underneath her black tailcoat was the color of Zygarde. In her hand was an elaborate wolf-head cane, which I suspected to not be entirely ceremonial for it could have a sword in there. Clearly, this woman was a scheming, lowlife heretic.

“Good evening, Prince Xavier,” she greeted me. “And good evening to you too, Peter Pan.”

Y startled, then charged at her with Fletchy. Blades of wind hurled at them, slashing their faces. “AGH!”

“Y!” I cried, running to her side.

“I’m fine,” she muttered, holding her bleeding face.

The woman tsked at her. “Impertinent little girl, has no one taught you manners? At least let me introduce myself.” 

She dropped into an elegant bow. “I am Ylfa, and I am here to escort the prince to his rightful place.”

“Bullshit,” Y grunted. “You shouldn’t even know he exists!”

She cackled. “Oh? Perhaps you want to continue your passionate love affair without judging eyes? Reality is that you are much too young for him, dear girl.”

I stalked up to her as I glared daggers. “How dare you speak this to us–”

I was cut off when a torrent of water suddenly surged from the alleyway. Y and I were knocked down onto the ground. I then felt something yank my arms up, snatch my flute, and started running with me in its grasp.

“N-No!”

“Not on my fucking watch!” Y screamed. 

A flash of light appeared from the corner of my eye. I heard Y and Fletchy scream before they slammed into a wall. When I turned around, all I saw was a trunk of a tree…no, a Trevenant. Ylfa, a Dragalge, Hawlucha, and Honchkrow followed after me, a wolfish grin on their master’s face. 

I turned away and tried to break free from the Trevenant’s grasp. Almost immediately after, my mouth was covered .

“Weft mhm go!" I tried to cry.

“No can do prince boy,” Ylfa sneered, tauntingly waving my flute in her hand. “I let you go, and things will get messy. Especially for your little girl and her pet bird.”

I glared at her. “Youf not hurf Y!”

Ylfa cackled at my reply. “Oh don’t worry, my prince. She won’t be killed. She’s more useful being alive…as long as she still has her sense of self-preservation.”

“Grrrf…”

I did not know how long it was until we reached the forest, only that I tried to screamed, thrashed, and struggled in the Trevenant’s grasp to no avail. Even though the forest is the most advantageous terrain for a Trevenant, I cannot give up. I do not trust this Ylfa at all.

“Weft me go!” I cried once again. 

“Why are you so stubborn?” Ylfa groaned. “Don’t you want to be back at the palace? Isn’t that your home?”

I do want to return home, but…

"Let him answer, Trevenant."

Surprisingly, my mouth was free. I cried, “No one remembers me there!” Then, the realization of what she said dawned upon me. My blood started to freeze. “Are you…are you a witch?”

Ylfa bristled at my question. “I would rather be punched to death by your little girl than be one.”

“You just used magic,” I pointed out.

“I guess I did,” she shrugged.

I turned my attention back on the Trevenant. As it is a haunted tree, it wouldn’t feel pain on most of its body. Trying to be a nuisance and break from its grasp didn’t work. But…

I set my feet against its trunk and lurched upward. It tried to grab for my mouth but I was faster. I then elbowed it in the eye.

“AHHHHH!” it howled, grabbing it. I broke out into a run when suddenly, a gust of wind knocked me down.

“Ow!”

“You are such a godsdamned pain in the ass–WHAT THE FUCK!?”

“Release him, scoundrel!”

I pulled myself up. Much to my shock, my flute flew at me, sent by a telekinetic force. I caught it then looked further ahead. It was the stranger who rescued me and Y months ago, now locked in a sword-fight with Ylfa. The swordswoman had the obvious advantage. Her swift movements, almost like a dance, overwhelmed Ylfa, forcing her back as she frantically blocked the attacks. 

“Where the fuck did you come from!?” Ylfa cried.

“I could ask the same of you,” the blonde woman replied. Her Lucario jumped out of the trees and used Rock Slide on the three Pokemon with Ylfa. The Honchkrow let out a pained squawk, trapped under the rocks, while the other two managed to shake it off and fired their attacks. The Fighting type Pokemon dodged them nimbly before firing a Psychic attack at the Hawlucha.

I backed away from the fray, eyes on the stunned Trevenant. Instantly, I summoned Salame and Elec. “Salame! Elec! Use Flamethrower on the Trevenant!”

The Trevenant only had a moment to uncover its eye before it was barraged by two streams of flames. It grunted in pain before it backed away, clutching its torso.

“Again!”

The Trevenant tried to react, but it was too late. Immediately after their attacks landed, it bent over, panting heavily. It tried to dig its roots into the ground and heal.

“Salame! Dragon Tail!”

Salame charged and swung his tail against its trunk. The Trevenant was knocked back, and with a weary cry, fell onto the ground. I gestured for Elec to see if the Trevenant was actually unconscious, ready to attack if needed. He approached the Pokemon and sniffed it for a few moments. He then turned to me with an affirmative nod.

I let out a sigh of relief. “Thank you, you two. Now go help out the Lucario!”

The two nodded, charging into the Pokemon battle. I glanced back at the sword-fight between the two women. Ylfa was a safe distance away from the stranger to catch her breath. Surprisingly, she grinned at her opponent. “Impressive.”

“I can say the same for you too,” the stranger replied. 

The two were in a stand-off, both ready for the slightest hint of a move. I realized that with the stranger being still, she looked eerily like Karma. But how could it be?

“X, are you okay!?”

“Karma, be careful!”

First appearing in my view was Fletchy. She let out a battle cry before sending a Heat Wave at our enemies. The Honchkrow let out a pained cry before falling unconscious. The two were distracted by the attack as Elec and Salame launched their own attacks on them, swiftly defeating them.

I heard heavy footsteps approaching me. I turned to see Red in his Arcanine form, Y holding onto his neck. “Prince Xavier!”

“How did you find me?” I asked.

“Red tracked you down,” Y explained as she dismounted him. “Thank the gods the witches haven’t got to you first…”

We turned to Red, who stalked up to Ylfa with a lethal glare. “Now, who do we have here?”

Ylfa grinned at the Arcanine. “You’re Red, right? I have to say, you have done a pretty good job infiltrating the palace and hiding the prince. Made our jobs a lot harder.” Her grin then turned cruel and taunting. “But I can’t say the same for your luck.”

What did she mean by that?

Right after she said that, Karma attacked again. Ylfa blocked it again but was a second too late. She backed away, hissing as she clutched her bleeding arm. “You talk too much,” Karma taunted.

“I suppose I did,” she agreed. “Would be fatal, but I’m not here for a fight, unfortunately.”

She turned to me, somehow still smirking despite her injury. She held her other hand out gesturing towards her. “Come on, prince boy. You know you don’t belong here.”

I balled my fists as I shook my head. “I am not going back there. Not until I regained my rightful place by my own hands.”

Ylfa tsked at me. “As much as I hate to say it, your mother would not be pleased to see you acting like this. Especially all that “hard work” she did to make you the perfect heir.”

I gasped. “...Mother?” I then glared at her. “What are you talking about?”

“You know, it’s kinda disturbing referring to a dead woman as if she’s still alive,” Red remarked.

Ylfa glanced from me to our Pokemon standing above her defeated Pokemon. She sighed in exasperation. “Well, looks like I’ve lost this time.” She turned back to me, her eyes solemn. “But next time, you will be coming with me.”

“I’m not done with you!” Red roared. He lunged at her, but Ylfa already brought her cane down on the ground. 

BOOM!

“RED!” I screamed, running towards him. Thick smoke swiftly enveloped the area. My eyes watered as the Pokemon cried and tried to pursue her. I heard multiple melodies in the air, followed by the rustling of leaves and rapid footsteps.

When the smoke faded away, Ylfa and her Pokemon were gone. I let out a sigh of relief when I saw Red unharmed. He growled as he stomped his paw against the ground. “Damnit, she’s gone!”

“Can you track her again?” I asked.

Red bounded across the nearby area, then shook his head. “I can’t. The smoke is magical so it’s messing with my nose right now, and I can only magically track her if she uses magic.” He then growled, smoke flaring out of his nostrils. “But to think the witches are now using humans for their own dirty work…”

“What was that cane she was holding?” Karma asked as she went up to us with her Lucario, her sword sheathed.

“It’s an enchanted item,” Red explained. “Not only does it hold a sword, it has been infused with a spell that allows Ylfa to use magic temporarily, though it’s strongest when the sword’s sheathed. The magic wanes the more it’s used, but it’s still powerful at its peak.”

“Well, it is far easier for a human to explore the kingdom without getting anyone suspicious,” Karma pointed out.

Now with her so close, I could truly see for myself that was Karma. Her build, long lemon blonde hair, and light gray eyes were the exact same as Mister Karma’s.

“Karma…is that really you?”

Karma startled, then turned to me with a wry smile. “You have good eyes.”

“I called you by your name,” Red pointed out exasperatedly. 

So this is what Karma looks like as a woman. Why does she need to disguise herself as a man?

I opened my mouth to ask that question when I felt Y’s hand on my shoulder. “Are you hurt anywhere?”

I turned to her, and gasped in shock. Up close, I could see how severe her injuries were. Her face was marred by dried blood, and she was standing oddly, favoring one leg over the other. “I’m not, but you’re hurt!”

And it’s all my fault…

“I’ll be fine,” she quickly assured me. 

I sighed, shaking my head. Ylfa hurt her badly. Why would she not admit that? “You shouldn’t have come here. I could have taken care of myself, and Karma as well.”

Y’s gaze turned stormy with resolve. “I had to. It was my fault that Ylfa got to you in the first place.” She looked down sadly. “I couldn’t protect you at all. I’m sorry.”

“Why do you keep worrying about me? You know I can take care of myself!” I then gestured at her gashes and legs. “ You’re injured! You should have stayed out of the fray!” 

She forced a pained smile. “Thank you…for worrying about me X. But I’ll be happy…as long as you’re fine.”

“Don’t say that!” I insisted. 

If anything, I should have at least protected her and gotten hurt. I could better protect myself than she could for me.

Suddenly, Y doubled over. “Ugh…”

“Y!”

She fell over, quickly held up by Red with his head. “Xavier, Karma, help Y get on top of me.” Karma rushed over to my side, and together, we pushed her up and gently moved her leg over to the other side. “Thanks. We have to get her to Aurelia immediately.”

“Why Aurelia?” I asked

Red then broke into a trot, making us catch up after him. “I’ll explain once we get back.”

O

Chapter Text

As soon as we returned to the Marchen, Karma and I helped Y dismount Red and sit on a chair before Red transformed back to his human form. He immediately went up the stairs to fetch Aurelia. When she went down to the reception room with Red, she gasped at Y’s state.

“What happened to you?” she asked.

“Heal first, talk later,” Red ordered. 

I expected Aurelia to protest, but surprisingly, she just nodded and went over to Y’s side and helped her up. Y groaned and hissed as she limped as Aurelia guided her up the stairs. “It will be all right, Y,” she assured as they went up the stairs and disappeared from view.

Red looked up the stairs with a thoughtful expression. “We’re lucky that we have Aurelia here. Bianca is good with small wounds and herbs, but Aurelia has experience with more severe injuries.”

“Experience?” I asked.

Red turned to me. “Remember her curse? Aurelia is not the only person to remember who she is. None of the townsfolk remember her name either.”

“Shouldn’t the cursed also remember her name?” I asked.

Red shrugged, then sighed sadly. “It seems that Aurelia is the exception. In her case, not a single person can remember her name. Funny thing is that they can still recognize her. Earlier today, someone called her a doctor. While she is actually an apothecary, just hearing that brought a memory back for her.”

It was that easy for her?

“She has a new chapter in her journal now. It seemed that she was quite a proficient apothecary and healer.”

She collects journal pages by retrieving memories from others? What a strange curse.

My eyes wandered across the reception room, and I realized that someone was missing. 

“Where is Karma?”

Red smiled a little. “Don’t worry, she probably went up to change.”

I did not understand why Karma is so secretive about her reasons to be in disguise. I was about to ask Red if he knew the details of her curse when suddenly, the door to the reception area was thrown open.

“Prince Xavier!” Bianca cried. Suddenly, she threw her arms around me, pulling me into a tight hug. “I was so worried. Thank goodness that you’re safe…”

She then pulled away, lifting her glasses up as she wiped the tears forming in her eyes. I stared at her in shock. “Why are you crying?”

Surprisingly, Bianca smiled. “I was worried for you. I thought the worst happened…”

She was so worried that she would cry for me? Why…?

Even though it was very awkward, I still said, “Thank you…for worrying about me.”

Her eyes widened in shock, before she started crying again. I thought it would have assured her to stop crying, but it didn’t seem to work. “B-Bianca?”

“I’ll…I’ll get you something warm to drink!” 

She ran off, leaving me bewildered. “Did I say something wrong…?”

Red laughed a little. “Oh no, you actually made her very happy.”

I turned to Red with wide eyes. “I did? But she was crying.”

Red laughed again. “Oh no, princey, those are called tears of joy. I’d be overwhelmed too if you were suddenly nice to me. Miracles tend to bring people to tears.”

I glanced back at the doorway, then at Red. “But all I just said was ‘thank you’…”

Red nodded. “And that is kindness in of itself. She’d be happy from that.”

I was kind?

He then grinned triumphantly at me. “Also, congratulations on getting your first good deed, Prince Xavier. Y told me that while we were looking for you.”

My hand instinctively pulled my pendant from my shirt. The first piece was still there. Even though I already saw it, it still felt surreal.

“I knew you could do it.”

For some reason, Red’s proud smile made me feel happy and as proud as he was.

The door opened, and suddenly, Amarillo entered, startling us both. It had been a month since I last saw her. Her face was deathly pale.

“Amarillo…?” Red asked softly. He strode across the room to her, holding her by the arm. “You shouldn’t be using magic so much! You know what it does to your body!”

“I have no choice…” she croaked. “The witches…”

Her voice trailed off when her eyes met Red’s, their gazes solemn. The tension in the room grew as they continued to stare at each other without uttering a word. Eventually, Amarillo’s eyes wandered over to me.

“Keeping him in the dark won’t make this situation better, Red,” Amarillo said.

She left Red’s arms to go over to me, but her legs buckled. Fortunately, Red caught her before she fell. “Amarillo, you need to rest. I can take care of this.”

Amarillo turned to him, her eyes filled with steely resolve. “No. He needs to hear this from the both of us.”

Red sighed. I glanced at the two of them. “What is it?”

“We wanted to tell you this later, but we can no longer wait,” Amarillo explained.

Red helped Amarillo to a settee, taking a seat next to her. I took my seat in an armchair opposite of them.

“We’re going to tell you the whole truth of this situation,” Amarillo declared. 

The whole truth? The one I had been waiting for? 

Red sighed before he spoke. “Do you know why I cursed you, Prince Xavier?”

I narrowed my eyes on him. “Some twisted sense of mischief?”

Red shrugged his shoulders a little. “Wellll, that was not the whole reason.” His expression turned solemn. “We needed you to change your ways, Prince Xavier, to see the world as how it is. If we didn’t do anything, you would have ended up as cold and merciless as your mother.”

“What are you talking about?” I growled. My eyes went over to Amarillo, but she didn’t meet my gaze. Her eyes were watery, as if she almost wanted to cry.

“Blue–your mother, was not always cruel,” she sighed. 

“Why are you speaking as if you knew her?” 

Amarillo sighed heavily. “She was my friend, long before she was queen. Blue was like a sister to me.” Her face turned dark. “But she changed when the Witch Hunt started.”

“What does the Witch Hunt have to do with Mother?”

Amarillo still did not look at me, but Red was staring straight at me. “Your mother was a witch, Xavier. The most powerful in fact. Blue was the Tenebrarum Bearer.”

My heart dropped to the pit of my stomach. 

“ No! That’s impossible!” I cried. “I never saw her use magic! She cannot be a witch!”

Red sighed, running his hand in his hair. “Well, that was what she wanted you to believe.”

“You cannot keep something like that a secret,” I snarled.

The two of them looked uncomfortable at those words. “If you try hard enough, you can make anything a secret, even from your own family.”

“But how?”

Red paused for a while, deep in thought. He then took a deep breath, and sighed. “Xavier, your memories were erased by your mother.”

The air was knocked out of my lungs. I struggled to breathe, struggled to stay calm. Y said that Mother ordered my memories to be erased, but…are they saying that Mother erased them herself?

Yet, I cannot help but concede they were probably…right. Jagged pieces of memories and thoughts came together like a puzzle. Y’s insistence that we were friends, the gaps I ignored as time, why everyone thought so terribly of Mother while I thought she was the best person in the world…it all made sense.

“She took away your memories of disobedience whenever you did so,” Red explained. “It didn’t take long until she had the perfect, unquestioning little boy.”

I gripped my jacket without realizing. My hands were shaking. Y was right. Mother erased memories of her. How much of my childhood did I lose?

“Blue cherished humans before,” Amarillo continued. “She was kind and selfless. She was carefree, for she did not have the responsibilities of the Tenebrarum bearer at the time.” She looked down, guilt and shame written over her face. “But Hans…”

Red pulled her into a hug. “It’s not your fault.”

“I trusted him too much,” she muttered. “He swore that they would only be small stories he would tell to his children. The prior Tenebrarum bearer and Blue disagreed, but I allowed him to weave his tales about witches and fairies.”

“The Fairytales…?”

Red nodded. “Hans’ Fairytales became hugely popular, and in practically every single one of them, it was the witch who was always portrayed as evil and the fairy portrayed as good.”

“But I read Fairytales where that is not so, or no witches or fairies,” I pointed out.

“That came much later,” he explained with a grimace. “But at the time, it was widely known that Hans was welcomed by the Lucis Bearer and not the Tenebrarum Bearer, and witches and fairies have already been mostly isolated from human affairs. Because of human ignorance and those stories, their imaginations ran wild.”

“Blue and I begged him to tell the truth, and while he tried to do so, it was too late,” Amarillo sighed. “No matter what he said, it was believed that he was threatened by the witches. He never meant for those tales to get out of hand either.” She looked down, rubbing her forehead. “Things only escalated when the king at the time, your grandfather, voiced his negative opinions about witches. It was as if he was approving the massacre against the witches.”

Red sighed, running his hand through his hair. “And we couldn’t do anything either, as we were bound by our divine oath to not kill anyone. The Witch Hunts lasted for five years. Many of us, including the previous Tenebrarum bearer and her family, were killed. Blue was the sole surviving member and was thrust into that role suddenly. As witches are bound to the Tenebrarum itself, she felt each death as if it were her own.”

A tear fell from Amarillo’s eye, but she swiftly wiped away. “The Witch Hunts drove her mad, and she broke our divine oath.”

“She killed the king, your grandfather,” Red continued. 

Mother killed my grandfather…?

“As Blue’s power grew, more and more good witches have been corrupted through her influence of the Tenebrarum.”

Amarillo sighed again. “I tried to stop her, but she was lost to reason.”

Red nodded gravely. “Blue wanted to take Zyleiss for the witches, even when the Hunt had stopped. She wanted to take revenge against the humans for all they had done to us. So she killed the new queen, your aunt, and her husband.”

W-What? She also killed my aunt and uncle?

“That left your father, Green, as the only legitimate heir to the throne. She forced him to marry her, even though she knew he loved another woman. The very woman who sits on the throne today.”

“Diantha?”

Red nodded silently. So the king always loved…Diantha?

“Blue created the Fairytale Curse in order to punish the humans. She wanted to fuel the Tenebrarum with everyone’s hatred, anger, and grief.”

Amarillo looked up, her voice very soft. “The balance between dark and light was lost. While Blue ruled, Zyleiss became a place of sorrow and fear. Conflicts between the witches and humans were frequent, with humans vying for control of their homes and witches fending off rebellions.”

A headache that was growing burst into pure agony. I tried to rub it away the best I could. “Even if what you are saying is true, Mother has been dead for four years.”

Amarillo nodded. “She is…but the witches have been growing more active. Ruby and Sapphire’s patrols confirmed this.”

Patrols? Is that why they disappeared at night?

“I had to cast a glamour on you so that the witches cannot recognize you,” Amarillo explained, then sighed. “But it seems that they have seen through that.”

“The witches are not just wanting to keep those cursed.” Red’s gaze turned solemn and heavy on me. “They are looking for you, Prince Xavier.”

W-What!?

“Why?”

“The Tenebrarum needs a bearer,” Amarillo answered. “For the past few years, it has been in a state of hibernation. We believed that Blue infused her remaining life energy into the Tenebrarum to keep it stable and not choose another Bearer. But now, it is awakening again.”

“We believe that is the reason why a lot of people have been cursed lately,” Red added. “The witches are preparing for their new bearer.” His expression then turned into something unreadable. “They only have to wait until you’re eighteen to take over.”

The air disappeared from the room. In a month…I will become the Bearer?

“Prince Xavier, on the day of your eighteenth birthday, your curse will break regardless if you accomplished your three good deeds or not,” Amarillo explained. “You will inherit the power and title of the Tenebrarum bearer from your mother.”

I narrowed my eyes on them. “Impossible.”

My heart was racing and I felt very faint. This cannot be true. It cannot be!

“Even if Mother was a witch, I cannot use magic at all!” I protested.

“Remember what we told you about halflings, Prince Xavier?” Red asked.

Even though it was months ago and about a dreadful topic, I still couldn’t forget it. A chill descended upon my heart. 

“That is still not possible!” I cried. “I am human!”

“Prince Xavier…” Amarillo murmured.

Red’s expression turned grim. “We’ve been watching you for a long time, Xavier. We knew what sort of influence Blue had on you. The curse was a test. We wanted to make sure that you wouldn’t turn Zyleiss to what it was under your mother’s reign.”

“We cannot allow another Great War to tear the kingdom apart,” Amarillo affirmed. “Red and I believe that there is still goodness in you, but we just needed a wake-up call for you. That was why we cursed you and required you to break it with three good deeds. We also wanted you to see the reality of the world, one you have been blind to for years.”

“And above all, prove that you are capable of goodness,” Red concluded.

My head was spinning with all these fragmented thoughts. This…this was the truth?

Red smiled sadly. “That’s it. That is the whole truth.”

“The future of the kingdom is in your hands, Prince Xavier,” Amarillo said gently, and yet it could not lighten the weight burdening me.

Red’s expression then turned solemn. “Now the question remains: will you follow in your mother’s footsteps? Or will you bring back the balance we had before?”

Chapter Text

After my conversation with Red and Amarillo, I immediately went up to bed, too tired to do anything else. But unfortunately, no matter how much I tried, I could not sleep. Mother was a wicked witch…wicked enough to plunge the kingdom into war…wicked enough to kill the king’s family…the family I didn't know. And I will inherit her role as the Tenebrarum Bearer. No wonder why everyone hated me all those years. They thought that I’d end up like her.

Even though it had been a few hours since I heard about this, the weight of the truth crashed down upon me. What am I supposed to do now?

I sat up and pulled my legs towards my chest, hugging them. I felt so weak and powerless…I cannot try to forget it, even for just a while. What is the truth? Are Amarillo and Red still lying to me? Was Mother right all along? 

Then, an idea occurred to me. There is one other person who might know the truth. 

Y…I wonder how she is doing.

I slipped out of my room and made my way towards Y’s room.

When I entered her room, Y was sound asleep. The strong smell of herbs and lavender filled the room. I glanced at the nightstand. There were a lot of herbs, ones that I remembered Bianca saying were for pain. Y’s injuries were worse than she tried to make it out to be.

I approached Y’s bedside quietly. Her forehead, nose bridge, cheeks, and right arm were bandaged. Asleep, she looked so small and helpless, words I would never associate with her. Thoughts of my conversation with Red and Amarillo retreated to the back of my mind as I remembered our encounter with Ylfa. I sighed, looking away from her. Y would never have gotten hurt if it wasn’t for me. I should have been better prepared, quicker, not fall for Ylfa’s stupid taunt –  

My eyes started to sting. My first thought was to stop them and leave, yet I remained rooted in place. I let the tears flow freely for the first time in years, and found myself talking aloud. “You said that crying doesn’t make a person weak…but it certainly makes me feel that way.”

“You’re not weak…Xavier…”

I was surprised to see Y up, smiling weakly at me. When did she wake up? 

“You are very strong…perhaps the strongest person I’ve ever known.”

Y’s voice was very soft and her words were slurred. She clearly was still under the influence of the medication she had been given, and yet she continued to speak. “Despite everything…you’re still standing on your own two feet. You still have your head up high.”

I could not lie anymore, especially to Y.

“I have only been pretending to be a strong person. But I…I can’t do this anymore, knowing that all this time, I have been living a life of lies. Even now, I don’t know if…if my mother ever loved me.”

Another dangerous, gloomy thought formed at the back of my mind. “If she did not care for me…then that means no one did at all.”

“I do, Xavier.”

Her voice grew weak as her eyes fluttered closed.

“You’re tired, Y,” I sighed. “You should sleep.”

“So X…”

Her voice was slurred and slow, but hearing her use my nickname felt…nostalgic, somehow. “Don’t…think that way…”

Y’s eyes closed, finally surrendering to sleep. I took a deep breath and left her room, closing the door quietly behind me.

“Again! Again!”

“Okay! Abra…Cadabra!”

“What a pretty flower! Teach me how to do it too!”

“A magician never reveals her secrets~”

“You always say that! Please, please, please? Just this one! Please, Y?”

“...On your birthday. I will teach you on your birthday.”

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

I woke up slowly, the dream somehow still clear in my mind. A dream about Y…or was it…a memory? I shook my head before glancing at the clock to check the time. How is it already this late? Why did no one wake me up earlier?

I heard knocking on the door. “Prince Xavier?”

“...Y?” I called.

The door opened and Y came in with a tray of steaming eggs, bread, and a bowl of berries in her hands. She set it down on my bedside as I stared at her in shock. “I hope you slept well.”

“You’re supposed to be in bed!” I cried, looking at her bandaged face and hand, then her foot. She’s still not standing properly…

Y frowned at me. “I’m only injured, Your Highness, not invalid.”

“But–”

“While I’m touched you are worried about me, you should eat, Prince Xavier,” she insisted. “You must be hungry.”

I let out an exasperated sigh. She’s never going to heal properly if she doesn’t stay in bed.

A small smile then formed on her face. “I also have something for you.” She put her hand behind her back, and as if by magic, she pulled out a gift box. What kinds of tricks was she using? She then handed it to me. 

“What’s this?” I asked.

Her smile grew. “You only need to open it to find out.”

I unwrapped and opened the box to see…a Sylveon doll. The one I had been looking at in the shop.

“This is…”

“You’ve been wanting this for a while, haven’t you?”

I stared at the doll in awe. “So the reason we went to the toyshop…was for you to buy this for me?”

Y nodded cheerfully. “Yep! I’m glad this didn’t get damaged last night.”

My chest tightened with an inexplicable emotion. These dolls were expensive. Y would have needed more than just his usual show tips to buy this.

“Why would you buy this for me?”

“I thought you might need some more company,” she answered. “Also, you always like Pokemon dolls, so I thought this one might cheer you up.”

I brought the doll up and pulled it into a hug. My heart felt full in my chest. “Thank you…”

I never received an unexpected gift like this before…

Y then cleared her throat. I turned to see that she was unexpectedly…sad. “I heard from Amarillo that she and Red told you the full story last night. And I’m sorry, Xavier.”

“For what?”

She looked down guiltily. “I…well, I just feel I need to say it. I didn’t want them to keep it a secret from you for this long. It may seem easier, since you don’t have to know the horrible truth. But…it’s still the truth.”

I wished it wasn’t…

She sighed, sitting down on my bed. “It pains me to see you being so distraught last night, and learning the fact that your mother was well…”

I clutched the doll tighter, unable to look at Y in the eye. I know the awful truth now. I know–

Y placed her hand on my shoulder. “I cannot say I know what she felt about you, Xavier.” She smiled gently. “But…what I know is that you are not alone. You are not unloved.”

“...Why?”

“Hm?” 

“Why do you still care for me?” I asked without thinking. “I’m the Ice Prince, who couldn’t even remember you until a few months ago. I am cold, I do not trust anyone, and people are the same to me. My mother was the Tenebrarum Bearer, she cursed you.”

I panted, my heart heavy from the words that had flowed freely from my mouth. Still, I could not make it stop.

“Even then, how do I know you actually care for me? Mother always said kindness is given in expectation for a reward, and my own experiences proved that. There are obvious advantages to feigning that to me.”

I turned away from her, shaking away from her touch. A long, awkward silence loomed over us for a while. Finally, I heard Y sigh, before she said, “The truth is Prince Xavier, you have to decide if I do care for you. The same applies to others’ actions in real life. No matter what their true intentions are, their actions are always up for interpretation. You must be the judge yourself. You can decide to believe in me…or not.”

“I find it hard to with what my mother did to you,” I muttered.

Y placed her hand on my shoulder again. “It was not your fault that my most of my magic was sealed away and I cannot transform anymore, Xavier. You are more than just Blue’s son.” I turned to her, a sweet smile on her face. “You are your own person, and you are more capable of goodness than Blue ever was.” She gently held up my necklace, pulling the pendant out to gaze at the new piece of a slipper. “You have accomplished your first good deed. You are now two more from breaking your curse.”

“I only did the first one because of your help,” I sighed. “And I still have not helped you break yours…”

My words trailed off as my thoughts came together. “Y, in order to break your curse, you need Neverland and Tinkerbell, right? What do they look like?”

“Neverland is a gold box with a carving of wings on the top, and Tinkerbell is a matching key,” she answered.

I sat up abruptly. “I know where it is. We have to go back to the palace.”

Y stared at me, clearly shocked. “What? Why?”

“Because I know where to find Neverland and Tinkerbell.”

Chapter Text

Y’s description of Neverland and Tinkerbell was enough to jog my memory. A long time ago, Mother gave me the box and key and instructed me to never open it and to never let anyone see it. I was too afraid to find out the consequences of not doing any of those, so I kept the box and key inside my drawer. I’d forgotten I had them if Y didn’t mention it.

The minute I remembered, Y immediately sent a letter to Shauna requesting her help to get us in the palace. Strangely enough, she didn’t reply until last week, arranging us to meet outside of the palace. Ruby and Sapphire and their Gardevoir and Gallade are here to protect us just in case the need arose, and Y and I brought Garma and Croaky with us.

I glanced at Y who was standing beside me, fidgeting. She had been against me coming with her ever since I told her I want to come. She cannot stop me. I will not change my mind.

“Are you sure you want to go, Prince Xavier?” Y questioned. “You almost got kidnapped weeks ago. It’s not safe for you here.”

“It’s not safe for me anywhere outside of the Marchen, Y,” I pointed out. “Besides, how do you plan to find Neverland without me here? I’m the only one who knows where it is.”

“You can just tell me and I’ll get it myself,” Y sighed. “There’s no need to risk yourself for this.”

“I am going and you cannot stop me, Y,” I affirmed.

Y sighed again, running her hand through her hair. “Prince Xavier…”

I turned to face her with a steely gaze. “This is my choice, Y. I want to do this.”

For a moment, silence hung above us as Y stared up at me with a mixture of frustration and concern. Eventually, she sighed and shook her head.

“Gods, you’re so stubborn,” she muttered. “But don’t do anything stupid and stick with me, okay?”

I nodded absently as I felt a vial in my pocket. It was something Amarillo gave to me before we left for the palace. She said to only use it when the need arises. Unfortunately, neither her nor Red could come with us due to an urgent meeting with the fairies.

Ruby and Sapphire finally arrived with Shauna. “Ready?” Ruby asked.

I only nodded in reply. Hopefully, nothing would go wrong.

We soon made our way through a secret passageway, already lit by torchlights. I never went in it myself, only heard it from the king. It was built in the event the royal family needed to evacuate. Only the commander of the Order of Volcanius and the king know about this place.

“Shauna, how do you even know this place?” I asked. “How did you get the key? I thought only the king and Sir Black had the copies.”

“It was Lady Amarillo who showed me the place and gave me a copy of the key,” she answered. “I can’t leave the palace unattended under normal circumstances, so she said I should go here whenever I needed to visit the Marchen.”

“Then…how was she able to get a copy of the key?”

Shauna shrugged. “You should ask her yourself.” She then turned to Y with a raised eyebrow. “What did you need to go to Xavier’s room for, Y-Ey?”

“I need to get the items to break my curse,” she replied.

Shauna glanced at me. “How did Xavier know where it was then?”

Y scratched the back of her neck awkwardly. “Well…it turns out his mother gave it to him.” 

Shauna blinked several times. “What.”

“I know,” Y sighed. “How anti-climatic.”

“I cannot say what my mother was thinking either,” I agreed.

We then continued walking in silence. Then Y asked, “What took you so long to reply? Did something happen?”

Shauna’s shoulders tensed. “The palace has been on high alert this past month.”

“Why?” I asked.

She stopped and looked at me then Y, the hesitation clear in her eyes. Finally, she said slowly, “Earlier last month, the king received a letter. It said that in two days, the king will be judged and convicted. His crown will be given to someone more worthy.”

I gasped. Then, an awful realization dawned upon me. “Two days would be…”

“Your eighteenth birthday,” Y finished quietly.

My stare then turned into one of disbelief. “This cannot be a coincidence. But a ruler? Do you think that someone is specifically targeting my father?”

“We always knew the royals were in danger,” Sapphire remarked.

“But this threat made the king especially nervous,” Shauna sighed.

“Are the witches involved in this?” I asked.

Silence crashed upon us like a suffocating weight. Shauna slowly replied, “They think there is a good chance they are. That’s why the Order of Volcanius tightened security.”

We then continued walking in silence. After a while, Shauna finally pointed at something up ahead. “Here we are.”

The dim light of the tunnels revealed the rusty door into the palace. Shauna went forward and opened the door, looking around. She gestured us to come out, and we immediately did so, with me and Y ducking in the shadow of one of the columns. “The guards will be doing their rounds at this side soon,” she whispered. “Hurry.”

“Right,” I murmured.

The hallways were thankfully quiet as we traversed them. Shauna did a good job of scoping out the times of the patrols. Eventually, we made our way to the door of my room. A wave of nostalgia overwhelmed me. It had been so long since I last saw it…

“Is this Trevor’s room now?” I asked.

Shauna shook her head. “No, but by the king’s orders, your room has been untouched since you’ve been cursed.”

“Then what happened to it?”

She looked at the door in contemplative thought. “Well…I heard that maids occasionally come in to dust it, but otherwise, it must be left unchanged as it was before.”

But why would the king keep this room as it is if he does not remember me?

I stared at the door in thought, then turned back to her. “We will take care of it from here. You should return to your room so you do not get caught.”

“Don’t worry, we’ll teleport back to the passageway with our Pokemon if the need arises,” Ruby assured.

Shauna’s eyes widened before she gave an odd look to Y. For some reason, Y seemed to be rather proud. She then turned to me, and said, “You’ve changed.”

“What do you mean by that?” I asked.

“You never would have cared for someone’s safety before.”

Before I could ask, Shauna turned to the direction of her room and said, “Be careful, okay?”

“Ruby and I will stand outside with the Pokemon,” Sapphire said once Shauna was out of sight. “Make it quick.”

I nodded at Sapphire and Garma, who rose from my shadow to hide in the shadows of the building, then turned the knob of the door. I glanced at Y and she nodded at me. I took a deep breath and opened the door.

I was not prepared for the sight in front of me. Shauna told me the room was left untouched but…everything was exactly the same as when I left it. While my desk was empty of books and papers, my dolls were still on my shelf, and my bed and the Pokemon area was still there, all neat and tidy as if someone didn’t live here. I cautiously took a few steps forward to look at the shelf more. No one was missing, and there was not a single speck of dust.

“Xavier?”

Why would everything be almost the same? The king would have done something to this by now. Why would he order maids to clean it and not do anything in here otherwise?

…Now’s not the time for questions. We need to find Neverland and Tinkerbell.

I nodded at Y. “We will start searching.”

Time passed but the only thing I could find was the key. The box was nowhere to be found, even in the drawer where I remembered I placed it in.

“To think that you had Neverland and Tinkerbell this whole time…” Y murmured. 

“Have you tried searching my room before?” I asked.

She sighed, nodding. “I have, but she used glamour magic to make it difficult to find for me. I would like to ask Amarillo for my help to retrieve it, but unfortunately, your mother made sure that no fairy, not even her, can help anyone cursed so easily.”

I stared at the key, clutching it. “I don’t understand. I swore I put it in that drawer.”

“Are you sure you didn’t throw it away?” Y asked worriedly.

I shook my head. “No, I would never throw away such a beautiful box.” I then looked around my room. “Besides, I keep most of my things. They are all valuable to me, even if they are not outwardly beautiful.”

Y giggled. “I would not have believed you if I hadn’t found this.”

She leaned down and plucked up a brown hand puppet with button eyes, a spiky yellow crown, and wobbly smile from one of my drawers. My cheeks heated in embarrassment at it.

“Oh that…that’s an exception,” I said. “I…just never remembered to throw it out.”

Y blinked at me several times, and I could not tell if she was sad or about to punch my face. “Is that…the only reason?”

I glanced at the puppet, and couldn’t help but tell the truth. “I never could not figure out why, but I have always liked that puppet.”

A smile spread across Y’s face. “Awww, you kept it even when I did such a bad job with the sewing.”

I almost choked on my saliva. “What? You made this?”

She nodded cheerfully. “Yep, this was the first puppet I made.”

Y turned the puppet in her hands, looking down at it fondly before her eyes met up to mine. “You were the one who taught me to sew.”

“What?” I asked. I was the one who taught her to do that? Well, that made sense…

I looked down at the doll again, and I couldn’t help but smile at it. “I probably kept it because you made it.”

“...Well, that’s just mean,” Y winced. “Well, I think it is…”

“Huh?”

“...You’re such a dumbass,” she muttered.

I narrowed my eyes. “Excuse me?”

Before Y could reply, the knob began to turn. We exchanged glances before we dart off to hide in different directions. I immediately slid underneath my bed while Y hid behind the curtains, which were large enough to hide her small body.

The door opened, revealing the king. When he stepped into the room, I realized in his hands was a box with gold wings in his hands. What is he doing here? And why does he have Neverland?

I glanced at Y, who nodded, confirming it was Neverland. His body tensed as he looked around the room. “Who’s there?”

Oh no!

“Show yourself if you do not want to get hurt,” he snarled, then unsheathed his sword.

What do we do?

I looked at Y, who gestured to me to stay put. She mouthed something, and I thought that she meant to say that she would find a way for us out. Is she going to sacrifice herself again? Is she going to be all right? Should I trust her?

…She seemed certain about this. I nodded at her. 

Y stepped out of the curtains, raising her hands up in surrender. “Forgive me, Your Majesty.”

The king gasped. “Y? Is that you?”

I remembered that Y used to work for Mother, so naturally, the king would know her.

She bowed. “Indeed I am. It has been a while.”

“You haven’t changed at all since I last saw you,” he commented. “It seems that Blue truly has cursed you for betraying her.”

Betray her? Betray her for what?

The king placed his sword back in his scabbard. “I have no idea what you are doing here, especially in a time like this, but…”

The king surprised us both by getting down on one knee and bowing down to Y.

“Y-Your Majesty, you shouldn’t–”

“I am forever grateful for you, Y,” he said. “You did so much for our kingdom, and no matter how much gold I can give or any titles I can grant you, it would not be enough to describe my gratitude. We owe you our lives…but unfortunately you cannot be properly honored as you should be.” The king then stood up, his posture stiff and straight again.

“You’re welcome, Your Majesty,” Y replied, dipping her head. “The gold you have given me and the Marchen was of good use. We are still doing our best to keep this kingdom safe and happy from the Fairytale Curses.”

I was lost. What were they talking about?

“But I do not deserve that honor as you say,” she admitted.

What?

“In truth, I didn't do it for the kingdom.” She suddenly turned to me, a small smile on her face. “I did it for him.”

The king looked at her, confused. “Him? Who are you talking about?”

Y nodded her head at me. “It’s safe to go out now, Xavier.”

I slowly slid out from under the bed and stood in front of the king. It has been months since I last saw him. The king’s eyes widened when he looked at me. “You’re that boy from the gates…”

I gasped. “You remembered me?” 

“It is more like I find it impossible to forget you,” he admitted. “It was not just your unusual flute...but something else.”

What?

He shook his head. “I have a lot of questions for the two of you, but the most important one is why you two are in this room.” He narrowed his eyes on Y. “Regardless of the fact that I know you, Y, you still have broken into the palace.”

“We would not have done it if we did not have to,” I said.

I steeled myself for further scolding when the king turned to look at me. “The box in your hands is what we need to break Y’s curse.”

“How did you have it, Your Majesty?” Y asked.

The king looked down at the box, his expression thoughtful. “I…was in this room the other day, and saw a chip on the side of this box. I took it to get it fixed.”

A chip…? I did drop it a while ago and intended to fix it, but I never remembered. 

“Why would you do that?” I asked carefully.

The king looked around the room, a faraway look in his eyes. “This room is special to me…but I do not know why. I feel like this room and I are waiting for someone to return, and everything must be perfect for them when they do.”

My chest tightened as I watched the king let out a derisive laugh. “It is silly and foolish…but I can never let go of that feeling.”

He can't miss me when he cannot remember me. Can he?

“But if this box is all you need, Y, you can have it,” the king said, holding the box out for her. “You should be free from your curse.”

Y reached out for the box and took it. She dipped her head with a grateful smile. “Thank you, Your Majesty–”

“Look what we have here…”

We all froze at the sound of a new but familiar voice. I turned around to see an unfortunately familiar face, leaning against the doorway as she twirled her wolf-head cane with a wicked smirk on her face. A Dragalge and Hawlucha hovered behind her.

“What a sweet little reunion.”

I glared at the woman as I reached out for my flute. “Ylfa.”

Chapter Text

“Where the hell did you come from!?” Y cried.

“I told you that I’d come back for you, prince boy,” Ylfa laughed. 

Before we could do anything, Ylfa tapped her cane on the floor. A shockwave of powerful energy blasted all of us away. I crashed into the wall then collapsed on my knees, my head throbbing. The king collapsed somewhere, and I heard a crack. I slowly turned my head to the flute in my hand, then let out a sigh of relief when I saw it was still intact. I quickly turned away from it, and realized it was the box, which had fallen a short distance away from us.

Y quickly ran in front of me and held out her hand. I took it and she helped me back on my feet. “Xavier, are you okay?”

“Y-Yeah…” I replied, shakily holding my flute again. Luckily, it didn’t crack from the crash…but it hurts too much to play it.

“Xavier?” the king asked, looking at me quizzically. Did he remember me…?

But his gaze did not linger. He swiftly pulled out his flute and played it, summoning his Golduck and Gourgeist. He pocketed it and unsheathed his sword, eyes narrowed on Ylfa.

“Your Majesty, are you all right?” Y asked worriedly. 

He shook his head, his focus back on Ylfa. “Tell me who you are right now, or face me in battle.”

“Your Majesty, this woman is working for the wicked witches,” Y explained, glaring at her.

Wait, what happened to Ruby and Sapphire and our Pokemon? Weren’t they supposed to be guarding the door? They must have hid when they saw the king, but they must have seen Ylfa. Though her two other Pokemon are missing…perhaps they are fighting them off?

“What did you do to them?” I demanded.

Ylfa looked at me, confused. “Who?”

“The guards outside the door.”

“There were no guards."

She seemed to be telling the truth…but I cannot trust her. Please gods…have them stay safe. 

I then saw Neverland, still laying in the same spot where it was. I can try to grab it or summon my Pokemon to get it, but Ylfa can thwart my attempt to do so. I have to wait for an opening.

“I’ll distract her,” Y whispered. “You and the king must get away from here.”

“What?”

I glanced at Ylfa, an amused smirk on her face. I turned back to Y, looking at her in frustration.

“Now is not the time to argue, Xavier.”

I narrowed my eyes on her as I clutched my flute. “No.”

“Xavier…” she growled.

“I can fight, and the king is my father as well,” I pointed out. “I will help you.”

“But–”

I looked her in the eye. “We are in this together, Y. I am not going to run away while you sacrifice yourself for us.”

Y glowered at me as several tense moments passed. Finally, she sighed. “You are too stubborn for your own good.”

“So I’ve been told.”

“I will not run away and let you two children defend me,” the king declared, stepping up to us as he glared at Ylfa. “I would be a pathetic king to do that.”

“She wants me, not you, father,” I pointed out.

I realized what I just said, and the king looked at me confused. “Father?”

“Uh…”

It had been a long time since I said that. I did not know what to say to him.

Much to my surprise, a small smile formed on his face, and he placed his hand on my shoulder. “You said that on the day at the palace gates, seeking an audience from me. I could never forget that day.” He turned to Ylfa, glaring at her. “And I will not let her whisk you away for her nefarious purpose.”

Ylfa cackled. “I’m not letting you get away, prince boy. It doesn’t matter who stands in my–AH!”

Ylfa was knocked down on the ground with a Surf from the king’s Golduck. Her Dragalge and Hawlucha charged, but his Gourgeist launched a Rock Slide on them, stopping both in their tracks. I swiftly played my flute and summoned Salame, then ordered him to use Flamethrower on the Hawlucha. Embers started to jump from it.

I turned to the Dragalge. “Salame, use Dragon Tail on the–”

“Hm, what is all the ruckus here?” a familiar voice asked.

We all looked up to see Sir Silvus, inspecting the room as he entered. He stepped over the fallen Ylfa, ignoring her growling as she pulled herself up.

“Silvus!” the king called with a relieved sigh. “There’s an intruder in the palace! Help me remove her–”

Sir Silvus raised an eyebrow. “An intruder?” He glanced back at Ylfa, who was glowering at him, then back at the king. “Why, that is my servant. A very rowdy and pathetic one, but still one.” 

I could only gape at Silvus in shock. “W-What!?”

If he knows Ylfa, he has to be affiliated with the witches!

He bowed mockingly. “I am sincerely sorry for the property damage she caused.”

The king glared icily at Silvus. “This woman works for you? Explain yourself, Silvus.”

A mad gleam suddenly appeared in Silvus’s cold silver eyes. I could not help but shudder from it.

I glanced over Silvus’s shoulder, and saw Ylfa was now up, panting as she raised her cane. “Ylfa, at ease.”

She lowered her cane and hunched over, glaring at the man hatefully.

“We are not after you, Your Majesty,” Silvus started, then turned to me, his eyes ablaze with a cruel light that made me back away. Even Salame growling at him as he lashed his tail could not ease my worries. “The prince is the one we need to escort.”

“Escort? Prince?” the king glanced at me, then went back glaring at him. “This boy is a prince?” 

He nodded. “That is correct. That boy near you is in fact, your son. What a shame that you cannot even remember him.”

The king gritted his teeth as he pointed his sword at Silvus. “Enough with your vagueness. Explain yourself!”

“You are an intelligent man,” Silvus dismissed with a wave of his hand. “You can figure it out yourself.”

“Silvus!” the king roared.

He ignored the king’s outburst and turned to Y, his eyes now suddenly a dark storm. “And look who we have here. The ungrateful, traitorous brat dares to show her face back in the palace.” A cruel smirk formed on his face. “Missing what could have been yours?”

Y stared at him in shock and confusion. “W-What?”

The storm eased to something that looked like a taunting smirk on Silvus’s face. “And it seems the only thing that has grown about you was your weakness, Yvonne.”

Yvonne? Is that Y’s real name? 

Y gasped with wide eyes. “Silvus…oh. Oh.” ”

Suddenly, Y’s expression contorted into rage as she took an aggressive stance. “ Silver .”

“Y?” I asked. “What’s going on?”

“This man’s real name is Silver, a half-witch,” she explained. “He may not be able to shapeshift but he can cast powerful magic. He used a strong glamour to hide his real identity.” She sighed. “If I hadn’t been cursed, I would have been able to tell right away.”

“Silver…?” the king asked softly. Much to my surprise, he seemed less angry and more…shocked.

“I would not give yourself that much credit, Yvonne,” Silvus snidely remarked.

“How do you know him?” I questioned.

“He secretly worked for your mother,” she continued. “Practically worshipped her. I was the only person who knew of his existence as a witch outside of the Tenebrarum Bearer.”

“He was not only a servant to her,” the king added, lowering his sword. “He was also her adoptive brother.”

Both Y and I gasped and turned to Silvus, who was glowering at the king. “What!?” we cried simultaneously.  

“But isn’t her brother dead?” Y asked.

“It looked like he was cunning enough to avoid such a fate,” the king sighed, then turned to him. “You were only a youth the last time we met. You were filled with so much potential…I’m sorry that your life has taken such a dark turn.”

“Silence with your meaningless babble!” Silvus snarled. “Where were you when our kind was hunted!? Where were you when our house burned down!? Where were you as we fled for our lives, praying that the gods would save us!?”

“No apology can make up for the tragedies that happened for witches,” the king agreed, then looked at him with solemn sadness. “Stand down, Silver. I do not want to hurt you.”

“I do not take orders from a traitor to my sister,” Silvus snarled. “And do not think that you will be spared from her wrath for long.”

“But Blue is dead,” Y pointed out.

“All because of you!” he screamed.

The king mentioned Y’s betrayal of Blue, and Silvus called her ungrateful and a traitor. What did she exactly do?

Silvus turned to me, making a beckoning gesture. “Prince Xavier, come with me if you don’t want any of these two to get hurt.”

Y moved to stand in front of me. “You are not taking the prince anywhere!”

“Deluding yourself will only kill you…” A cruel smirk then formed on Silvus’s face. “But I suppose that is convenient for me.”

“Godsdamnit, this whole thing was a trap!” Y hissed.

“I’m sorry Y, this is all my fault,” I said.

“No matter,” she sighed. “We need to get outta here.”

I looked down on the floor, my eyes trailing on the box that was still left forgotten. Neverland! 

Y noticed where I was looking, and whispered. “Get the box. I’ll distract him.”

I felt for the key in my pocket, then nodded. If we can break her curse, Y can bring us to victory. And Silvus and Ylfa did not seem to catch on that the box lying right at their feet is what will break Y’s curse.

“Okay,” I murmured.

I then heard footsteps, and turned to see the king was also standing in front of me with his Pokemon, his sword pointed at Silvus again, who was now flanked by a Kingdra and Weavile. “If you truly want to take away this boy, then you must go through me as well.”

“Your Majesty, you can’t do this!” I protested.

“I know that magic can make the impossible possible,” he replied. “You must truly be my son. From your name, to this room, and how you act…I am sorry I was not a good father to you. But I will gladly protect you to the end.”

“How touching, if you do not happen to be the worst family member for Xavier,” Silvus snarled, his hand raised.

“No!”

A battle broke out. The Pokemon rushed at each other, dodging and countering. I rushed towards the box the moment Silvus casted the spell. From the corner of my eye, I saw Ylfa’s Dragalge firing a Hydro Pump at me. 

But it was too late. Before it could land, I already inserted the key into Neverland and twisted it once. The box clicked as it popped open. White light flashed in the room, blinding me.

Suddenly, I was in a very warm and soft embrace, reminding me of a lit hearth on a cold winter night. When I opened my eyes, it was Y. Even though she was taller and several years older, I could still recognize her.

“Y…?” I asked softly. 

“Hello there, X,” she greeted back, then turned to glare at Silvus. “Looks like I’m not dead after all, Silver.”

Silvus’s eye twitched as Y grinned at him. Even though Y was always confident, right now, her expression seemed to have a different kind…one that I could not help but be mesmerized by.

“You insolent girl!” he roared. “I will put you in your place!”

“Be careful to not hurt the prince too much, Silvus,” Ylfa teased. “Or the witch either. He wouldn’t like it if the soft, warm, uncovered breasts underneath his hand become piles of ash, and I wouldn’t either.”

I realized that much to my embarrassment, Y’s dress did not fit her in her adult form, with it revealing much of her chest that I somehow had my hand on. I immediately pulled it away, face flushed as I looked away from her.

“Well, I don’t plan on it,” Silvus huffed. “But if even you would speak about that traitor that way, then I should utterly destroy her. I will not allow temptresses to lead my nephew astray from his righteous path.”

Silvus gestured his hand in a sweeping movement, the beginnings of a spell gathering at his fingertips. It then fired at us.

Y raised her hand out, red energy forming in her hand. “At least this temptress can protect him better than you can!”

An invisible barrier suddenly appeared in front of us, thwarting Silvus’s magic. “Well, looks like I’m not as rusty as I thought.”

Y stepped forward and snapped her fingers, effortlessly creating a strong gust of wind that pushed Silvus, Ylfa, and their Pokemon to the wall. 

“Ugh!” Silvus cried. 

“Fucking hell!” Ylfa cried.

“Let’s go!” Y yelled, breaking into a bolt. I, the king, and our Pokemon followed after her, not daring to look back.

Chapter Text

“What do we do now!?” I asked as we ran.

“The Order of Volcanius will arrest them,” the king answered.

Y glanced back down at the hallway then looked ahead with a grim expression. “Looks like they’re very slow.”

Y was right. There’s no way that the knights could not have been patrolling the area, or not hear the commotion. 

We arrived at the door of the dinning room to catch our breath. “Where do we go from here?” I asked. “The knights are clearly not going to do anything now.”

Before we could arrive, the dining hall’s room opened, revealing to be Sir Black and a group of knights. “Your Majesty!”

Y took a step back, bristling at him. The king let out a sigh of relief. “I am about to declare a state of emergency, Black. Where have you been?”

Sir Black’s eyes narrowed as he pointed at us. “Seize them.”

My eyes were still on the knights in front of us when I heard footsteps from behind us. A dozen of knights and their Pokemon appeared from the shadows and surrounded us. I looked for Emma amongst the knights, but she was not here.

I was about to order Salame to use an attack, until I realized just how many Pokemon are with the knights. While our Pokemon charged their attacks, it was clear that it would be for naught. We were hopelessly outnumbered.

The king stared around us, clearly baffled. “What is the meaning of this!?”

Is that…is that why the knights weren’t here? 

“What is happening!?”

That voice…

We all turned to watch a group of other knights surrounding Diantha, Trevor, Shauna, and their Pokemon, not leaving a single opening for them to flee. Shauna noticed me and stared in shock, but said nothing.

“Green!” Diantha cried.

She attempted to run for him, but was promptly blocked by the knights’ swords in front of her.

“I think that takes care of all of the intruders,” Black said, then glared at the knights. “But I am not pleased that two managed to escape.”

Two? Ruby and Sapphire? If they managed to escape, they might be able to get reinforcements.

“The king will be judged and convicted,” he declared, a proud smirk on his face. “His crown will be given to one more worthy.”

“...I see,” was all the king said. “You were the one who sent that letter, Black.”

Black nodded, the grin fading into a glower. “If you want your family to live, hand me the crown.”

The king trembled with rage. “Is that yours and Silvus’s plan all along? To take the kingdom down at its heart?”

Black snorted and crossed his arms. “I would not work with the weasel given the choice. I have my own goals, and he has his. But we both want you gone.”

The king clutched the hilt of his sword. “What?”

“You are a weak king, Green, and Lord Zygarde’s approval of your family is gone,” Black declared. “The kingdom of Zyleiss does not need a puppet cut from his strings, or his weak successors. It needs a strong king and family that can defeat anything that threatens it. You and your family have clearly failed to do so, while I succeeded.”

“We may have failed before, but I now strive to make up for that,” the king replied. “Trying to uproot this dynasty now will only cause more chaos and unrest within the kingdom, Black.”

“The people already suffered that for almost twenty years now,” he snarled. “And they still do now. What’s a little more of what they already know compared to a glorious future ahead of them?”

I glared at the traitor in front of us. “I cannot believe you would do this, Sir Black.”

Black glanced at me in disinterest. “Ah Xavier. You know, you could have been spared from this had you stayed hidden. But I suppose I cannot let that happen since Silvus needs you.”

I looked around, a bead of sweat falling down the side of my head. We have no way to fight, and no way to go. What do we do?

I felt for my pocket, my hand touching the smooth surface of a vial. I had forgotten that Amarillo gave me a potion before we left. She told me to use this potion if we were ever in a difficult situation. It would give us time to escape. She did not even tell me what it does.

I glanced at Y, who was surveying the knights quietly. Y could also do something to get us out of here with her magic…but she could easily be attacked any moment.

I reached into my pocket and slipped the vial out. I open my fingers just wide enough for Y to see it. She gave a subtle nod before she turned back to Black, who was still speaking with the king.

I glared at him. I will make you regret your actions, Sir Black.

I threw the vial down on the floor. The moment it shattered, a blinding white light filled the hall, forcing my eyes to close. Y grabbed my hand and pulled me away. “DON’T LET THEM ESCAPE!” Black hollered.

I heard a few grunts and yelps as Y barreled her way through the knights. She then led me into the throne room. I turned behind me to see that, surprisingly, everyone else was here as well, with Diantha’s Gardevoir and Trevor’s Delphox in front of them. It seemed their senses were sharp enough to navigate all of them through the chaos.

“Good job there, X,” Y said with a grin. “I didn’t know you had a potion there.”

“Amarillo gave it to me before she left for her urgent meeting,” I explained.

“Good thing for her foresight. Using a more complicated spell would have been more draining to my energy.”

“W-Why is this happening?” Trevor asked, trembling terribly. 

Diantha pulled him and Shauna into an embrace. I realized as much as Shauna seemed to try to seem stoic in the situation, she couldn’t hide the tears welling up in her eyes.

“I am such a fool!” the king cried, rubbing his forehead. “How could I have not foreseen this!? Sapphire warned me. I should have listened to her.”

“This is not your fault, Your Majesty,” I tried to assure him.

“We need to escape, now ,” Diantha said, then glanced at her Gardevoir. “I know this is risky for you, and we don’t know if it will succeed, but…”

“Ruby and Sapphire were with us, and they escaped,” I added. “They can get reinforcements.”

“But that still leaves us stuck here!” Shauna pointed out.

Y paced the floor, her brow furrowed. “Your Majesty, there is no need to endanger Gardevoir…I think.”

“What’s your plan, Y?” Trevor asked frantically.

She looked up to all of us, a stern expression on her face. “I haven’t done this in a long time, but…I can try to open a portal to the Marchen.”

“Witches can do that?” I asked.

“Only a select, very well trained few can,” she answered. “It only works if they have a clear image of where they want to go.”

“So you can do that?”

Y nodded confidently. “I have been taught by your mother after all.”

Y started waving her hand in front of her as she conjured a spell to open a portal. But the portal disappeared as soon as it appeared, fading away.

“Godsdamnit,” she grumbled.

We heard loud marching just outside. “Hurry, Y!” the step-siblings and I cried.

“I’m doing my best!” she snapped, waving her hand again. This time, the portal appeared, and it stayed. Y let out a sigh of relief. “I did it! But this won’t open for long.” She then turned to the king. “Your Majesty, you must come in first.”

He shook his head. “No, let Diantha, the children, and the Pokemon go first.”

Y nodded as she and their Pokemon ushered Diantha and Trevor in, the Pokemon following after them. Shauna, even though she was trembling badly, her Pokemon were pulling her by the dress, and on the verge of tears, still seemed reluctant to enter. I helped them out by pushing her in there.

“I can’t keep the portal open much longer, Xavier,” Y warned. “This can only hold one more person before I have to recast it.”

“Your Majesty, you must go,” I insisted.

“No,” he replied sternly.

“What?”

“I have no intention of leaving,” he declared. “To leave this place is to abandon my kingdom. I will not flee like a coward. I will protect my throne to my very last breath.”

“But that would be suicide!” I cried.

“He will not kill me,” he tried to assure me. “He may have the order under his hand, but I have the people on my side. Killing me will cause an uprising, and that is the last thing he wants.”

But if the king escaped, he would be able to fight from the outside. The castle and his crown are his symbols, but he’s in danger if he stays here.

I glanced at Y, who was growing paler by the moment as sweat trailed down the side of her head. She is growing weaker from the magic. I balled my hands into fists. I cannot leave the king by himself. He is the king, and I am the crown prince. And I…I need to talk with him.

“Y…you will come back for me, right?”

Y’s eyes widened. “X, what are you–”

Before she could finish, I put my hands on her back and pushed her into the portal. “X!”

“I am sorry, Y,” I whispered.

Y soon disappeared completely out of sight. The portal then collapsed on itself, leaving me alone with the king and his Pokemon. Both my heart and mind were numb as the knights’ marching grew louder.

“Xavier, send your Charizard away,” the king ordered. “He will be safer at the Marchen.”

I mindlessly listened to him, sending him away quickly. The king sent away his Pokemon also.

As soon as the knights burst through the door, the king set his flute and sword down on the ground. Reluctantly, I did the same. He raised his hands in the air, and I did the same. 

“I surrender,” the king declared.

Almost soon after he said this, we were swarmed. They checked for any weapons on us before they tied us up and left us on the floor. The knights then left, leaving two to guard us at the door. I looked at the king, who was solemn and quiet. Does he have a plan? Is that why he surrendered so quickly and didn’t want to use his Pokemon?

“Why is it that you chose to stay with me?” the king asked.

I was surprised that he suddenly spoke. “Because there are questions I need answers to. I have so much to ask of you. And…I cannot just leave you here.”

King Green fell silent as he stared at me. The narrow shape of his eyes, his piercing gaze, and his thoughtful expression was almost like looking at a mirror. I never realized how similar our faces are.

“Is it true? Are you really my son?”

I nodded slowly. “...Yes. I was given the Fairytale Curse and turned into a peasant. My title was stripped from me and the people’s minds. No one remembers who I am anymore.”

“Cinderella…?”

I startled. “How did you know?”

He pointed at my pendant, which had been hanging outside of my shirt from the chaos. “I saw a glass slipper hanging from there. But the other one is missing a piece.”

“A piece…?”

I looked down and stared at the second slipper. My eyes widened when I realized the piece was bigger. But…when did this happen?

I thought for several moments. Could it be because I broke Y’s curse? 

“This means that I have one more good deed left to break my curse,” I explained. “But…”

My birthday is tomorrow…

“Are you all right?” he asked.

I nodded hurriedly. “Y-Yes, I am just…worried.”

“You have been through much today.” A small, gentle smile formed on his face. “Try to get some sleep. You must reserve your energy.”

I was unsure what he meant, but there was no way I could sleep now. Or at least, I thought that before minutes passed and I felt my eyelids getting heavier. Eventually, I drifted off into dreamless sleep.

Chapter Text

“Xavier, wake up.”

I blinked my eyes several times. When I fully woke up, I found myself leaning against the king’s shoulder. How did I manage to sleep?

The king glanced back at the door, his eyes narrowed slightly as he took a deep breath. “It is time to go.”

“What?”

I turned towards the front doors and realized the knights guarding them were gone. “They will be back soon,” he warned. “We must hurry.”

I was surprised when the king pulled out of the ropes that were binding him. He held a small knife in his hands. How long had he been out of his bindings?

“When did you free yourself?”

“I have been sorely underestimated,” he remarked, a hint of a proud grin on his face. “I was trained to be a knight of the Order of Volcanius, so it goes without saying that I can get myself out of these bindings. I am not so weak that I need to depend on others to protect me.”

…That sounded like something I would say.

“But where did you get the knife?” I asked. “They made sure we didn’t have any weapons on us.”

“No one would think to search in someone’s boots,” he answered, the grin growing. He then cut me out of his bindings and lowered himself to the ground, brushing his fingers over it.

“What are you doing?” 

“Finding the keyhole…” he murmured. “Ah!”

He pulled a small key from his pocket and fit into a crevice in the floor. The floor gave a gentle, audible rumble. The king then pulled the tile from the floor, revealing a hidden staircase. What…?

“There was a hidden staircase under the floor?” 

“Another way out, if one were to need it,” he explained. “Only I know of its existence. Now hurry. They will be returning soon.”

I nodded and followed him down the stairs. The king set the panel back in place as we descended down into the darkness. The floor rumbled once more as the hidden pathway closed behind us.

Both of us walked in silence for some time. The only sounds were our footsteps echoing through the dimly lit halls. I walked behind the king, staring at his back. He seemed to have recovered from his injury earlier. Or he could be just pretending that he’s all right…

“How is your back?” I asked.

“It doesn’t hurt as much now,” he answered.

Silence ensued again. This is getting awkward. I should say something.

A few moments passed. Afraid I would snap under the tension, I said the first thing that came to mind.

“I am sorry.”

He glanced at me, confused. “What are you apologizing for?”

“Because I have done nothing but caused you trouble.”

Shauna told me that once I disappeared, the king was the happiest he had ever been. Because I was not there.

“I am sure that if you had the choice to forget me or not, you would have chosen to forget me.”

He sighed, shaking his head. “...No. It seems like I have been the cause of your pain thanthe other way around.”

I looked down at the floor.

“I feel that I should be the one apologizing.” He looked up, his steps slowing. “I have been wondering for a while…why do you address me by my title? Do you not call me father?”

I stopped in my tracks, turning away. “...I did before, but that was years ago. You were never there for me, so I stopped considering you as one.”

Suffocating silence fell upon us. The king looked down at the ground in sorrow, then stopped in his tracks and turned to me with a remorseful expression. “I am sorry.”

“Can you tell me why you distanced yourself away from me?”

The king looked away, as if considering his next words. I wanted to slap myself for asking such a question. “I am sorry, I forgot you still do not remember me.” I sighed. “You know, I have learned many new things while I have been cursed. But the things I learned did not answer my questions. I had thought that by staying here, I might learn some answers.” I looked down sadly. “I always thought that only Mother loved me because you were never there for me.”

“I am sorry that I cannot give you the answers you seek,” he sighed.

“Well, I can understand why you would hate me.” It took a great amount of strength in me to say the next words, “I am a witch’s son, after all.”

“Blue…” the king murmured, then looked up to me. “Do you know what happened in the past?”

“You mean with Mother?” I took a deep breath, then sighed. “Yes…I…I know she killed…your family. And I know…she threatened Diantha as well, so you married her.”

He nodded, letting out a deep sigh. “I hated her for ruining my life and the kingdom. But…I had seen firsthand before that she was not all that terrible.”

My eyes widened. “You know her?”

He nodded solemnly. “I had accompanied Blue during my travels throughout the kingdom as a youth. She was more carefree without the burdens of being the Tenebrarum Bearer. I would not say she was my friend, but she was certainly dear to the Lucis Bearer Yellow and her companion, Red.” 

My eyes widened. “You know Red?”

And…is Yellow Lady Amarilllo?

The king nodded again. “Yes. He is a witch and my rival. We had to part ways when the Witch Hunt happened, but we met again to overthrow Blue.” He looked up at the ceiling. “I certainly hope he and Yellow are still doing well at this time. They worked hard to fight against Blue, and now the Fairytale Curses.”

We then started walking again, but much slower than before. I wanted to tell the king that Red was very much alive and annoyingly well, and ask how he could tolerate Red that much that he would even consider him as a rival. But I remembered when he gave his thanks to Y and how she had betrayed Blue for the benefit of the kingdom…or well, me.

“Can you tell me who Y is?”

“Y? She was Blue’s apprentice. She is powerful, considered blessed by both Lady Xerneas and Lord Death themselves.”

“Really?”

Y does not seem like the kind of person chosen by the gods themselves with how she acts.

“She was a child prodigy,” he continued. “That was why Blue ordered her family killed when they refused to give her away. Y did not find out about that until much later.”

Mother killed Y’s family? I could not believe this. Just how many lives did she take?

“When she found out, she betrayed Blue. She divulged her plans to me, Red, and the fairies, helping us to defeat her. I gave her two copies of the key to the secret passageway so she could have one herself and the Lucis Bearer as well.”

So that was how Amarillo had those two copies…

The king sighed. “Then…Blue cursed her for her betrayal. Until her curse broke, she had not changed a single bit since the day I met her, four years ago.” 

It was hard to believe that Y could change so much just in the span of a few moments. Admittedly, she looked rather adorable as a child but her true form is…no words can truly describe her beauty, but somehow, I felt very warm thinking about her.

“I do not know how you two met again, but it is fairly obvious that she is still loyal and cares for you all this time,” he remarked. “There is nothing as valuable on this earth as it is to have someone as loyal as her, who would stand by you until the bitter end.”

I did not know why the king would say such a thing, but my cheeks were suddenly very hot.

He glanced at me with a hint of a smile. “You care for her.”

I…feel that is not a good enough word to describe my feelings towards her.

“She is a good woman. Very strong and capable.”

How do we even get to this conversation?

The two of us were still walking when the king suddenly stopped and I nearly bumped into him. “Here we are,” he announced, turning to the rusty door next to us. “This should lead us to the passage that leads to the gardens.” He slowly approached the door, looking at me sternly. “Stay close to me.”

I nodded, and he turned the knob, opening the door. We both froze at the sight in front of us.

“That’s–”

We stared agape at the last thing we expected to see. A giant, crimson crystal rested in the center of the room…and in there was the body of…

“Mother?”

Chapter Text

I could not believe my eyes. Mother…she still looked the same as she had years ago. Like she was just asleep this entire time.

“What is Blue doing here?” the king asked, a hint of a snarl in his voice.

Is that…the Crystallum Tenebrarum?

“She looks like she’s trapped in there, but how?”

“No, she died four years ago,” the king murmured. “This is not possible.”

“Oh, but anything is possible with magic, isn’t it?”

We whirled around to see Silvus standing behind us, a proud smirk on his face. The king immediately moved to stand in front of me. He sauntered up to us, the smirk still on his face. “Isn’t it lovely, my nephew? She still is alive and well, even after all the wounds the fairies and traitors inflicted upon her.”

“Why is she still here, Silver?” the king demanded. 

Silvus stared at him impassively. The king reached out for his knife as he glared at him. “What are you and Black planning?”

Silvus frowned at him. “Why would you lump me in with that beast? We have different goals. He only wanted your throne. I only want to bring back my queen.”

“What are you going to do with Mother?” I demanded.

A maniacal gleam appeared in Silvus’s eyes. “I plan to revive her.”

“ What ?” 

I stared at him in shock. Did he actually just said that?

“You can’t revive her, Silvus,” the king warned in a low voice. “She’s dead, and the gods will certainly punish you for breaking that sacred law.”

“She is still alive, my dear nephew,” he replied. “She is merely asleep. Her link to the Tenebrarum allowed her to survive all these years. She infused the last of her power with the crystal and merged with it.” He sighed, shaking his head. “She was wise. Yet even as its light grows dimmer, so too does the light of her life come close to being extinguished. Once you have fully accepted your role as the new Bearer of the Crystallum Tenebrarum, her link will be severed and she will die. That is why I need your power, Prince Xavier, to bring her back to life.”

“W-What?”

“Tomorrow, on your eighteenth birthday, you will inherit the crystal’s full powers and the power to revive her.” He then smiled at me, which only sent a shiver down my spine. “Isn’t that what you always wanted? To have your beloved mother back?”

“I…”

It is true that I always wished Mother would return. But now knowing the truth… as much as it pained me to admit it, she must stay dead. Mother would bring ruin to the kingdom again.

“I will not let that happen,” the king declared. “I will not let my kingdom fall into darkness again.”

He charged at Silvus with his knife. But Silvus easily sent him flying with a flick of his wrist and a magic spell. The knife clattered onto the ground a few steps away.

“Your Majesty!” I cried, running to his side. Suddenly, a Trevenant blocked my path. I glanced around it to see Ylfa’s sword pointed at the king’s throat. Had she been here this entire time?

“Don’t move,” Ylfa warned with a cruel smirk. “Otherwise, my hand might slip.”

“Now Prince Xavier, you have an important decision to make,” Silvus said, his voice grave. “Help me revive the queen and save the king, or run away and let him die.”

“My life is nothing in comparison to the lives Blue will kill if she comes back,” the king hissed. “If I have to die and let Xavier go free, then I will.”

“Your life is no longer in your hands, King Green,” Silvus taunted. “Don’t think you would die as an honorable martyr.” He then turned to me with a crooked smile. “So, my nephew. Have you made your decision?”

“I…”

I cannot let Silvus kill the king, but I cannot let Mother return either. If I can just improvise, I might be able to hold them. Long enough for reinforcements to arrive. 

I looked around the room, then caught a glimpse of the king’s fallen knife. An idea struck me. Y, Amarillo, and Red…they have to come back for us.

“No.”

Silvus gasped, then glared at me. “ What?” 

The king let out a sigh of relief. 

Silvus’s expression grew stormier. “Well, I suppose you will bear the burden of patricide. Ylfa.”

I quickly leaned down, picked up the knife, and held it in front of my neck. 

“Holy shit,” Ylfa gasped. 

Silvus however, looked more annoyed and sighed in exasperation. “Xavier, put that knife down. You’re going to hurt yourself.”

“Let the king go, or I will kill myself,” I warned in a low voice. “If you need me to revive Mother, then I will do anything I can to make sure she will not.”

Silvus smirked, then let out a short laugh. “Ha! Do not try to fool me, my nephew. I know that neither you nor your father have the courage to die a martyr.”

“Are you just going to stand here and underestimate the desperation of the person you need for your batshit insane goal?” Ylfa asked snidely. “I would have thought you’d be wise, but it seems like you are just as foolish as the villains of Fairytales.”

Silvus shot a glare at Ylfa, who glared at him back. Even though I hated to admit it, Ylfa was right. Silvus’s arrogance is incredibly annoying right now.

I narrowed my eyes on Silvus. “Oh? Are you sure about that?”

I swallowed as I pressed the cold blade on my neck. The sharp edge cut through my skin, but it did not go deep enough to hit any vital parts. I winced as my body racked in pain, tears blurred my vision, and panic clouded my mind. Please let us go, please let us go, please let us go–  

Silvus’s face paled, before he stepped towards me. “You fool!” 

“I fucking told you so!” Ylfa cried.

“Now you see my resolve,” I said, trying to hide my fear. “Let the king go, Silvus.”

Silvus cursed under his breath, his outstretched hand clenching into a tight first before he drew back. It’s working!

I let myself relax, but my hope was short-lived and foolish. Silvus casted a spell, and the knife goes hot in my hand.

“AHH!” I cried, dropping the knife and clutching my hand. Gods, this hurts!

“You have been a very bad prince,” he said coldly. “Your mother would be very disappointed when she sees you again.”

I glared at Silvus, but he only clicked his tongue, his face stern. “This would have been so much easier if you agreed to work with me, my nephew. I will get what you want, even if I must break you utterly in pieces. I may have to pay the price later, but so be it. Blue will return, and that is all that matters.”

He then turned to Ylfa. “Take them to the cells, Ylfa.”

I took a few steps back as Ylfa’s Trevenant approached me. All I managed to do was back myself against the wall. Ylfa looked amused as she pulled the king up, her blade pressed against his neck. My attention is directed at the Trevenant again, but I did not see its next steps.

A bright light engulfed the area, making Silvus hiss. Ylfa and her Trevenant cried at the sudden brightness.

“Magic!? But how?”

When the light cleared, Ylfa and her Trevenant were still standing, but their eyes were now on something on the floor. I followed their gaze, and realized that in front of me now were two beautiful glass slippers. “I…I broke my curse!”

But what did I do?

The king looked at me, his eyes hazy. He opened his mouth to speak but then stopped when Silvus hovered above him, his expression fixed into a glare at me. “How charming, but a broken curse will not save you now. Now be a good boy and let Ylfa escort you to your cell.

Her Trevenenant suddenly grabbed my arms from behind. I tried to wrench free, but it pulled me back. “There is no use escaping, my nephew,” Silvus taunted. “You will fulfill your destiny, whether you like it or not.”

As her Trevenant dragged me forward, I continued to struggle against it. There is no way I can let Silvus succeed. But…can I truly stop him?

Chapter Text

Ylfa brought us to our prison cell then locked us up. She gave me a warning glare. “Not sure if this would get into your thick skull, but don’t try anything funny.”

I scowled at her. She only smirked in response. “Feisty as always.”

Ylfa then left, her footsteps echoing throughout the hall.

“Xavier…”

I turned to see the king already seated on the floor, raising his hand to mine. I took it and he pulled me down. He then took out a handkerchief. What is it for?

He moved closer, and I moved back in reflex. He pressed the cloth on my injured skin, making me hiss in pain. “I am very sorry, Xavier. Your injury is my fault.”

“You have nothing to apologize for,” I insisted. “I did it to save you, but here we are. I am the one who owes you an apology.”

I looked away from him, too ashamed to say any more. Suddenly, his hand cupped my cheek so that I was facing him. It was so warm and gentle that it moved me to tears. “A father should always be the one to protect his child. Always.”

He looked down, a melancholic expression on his face. I thought I saw tears in his eyes. He recognizes me…he finally remembers me. And being reunited with him like this…I realized I still care for him. 

He looked up to me again with a sad, pleading expression that I had never seen on him before. “Please forgive me.”

Had this been before I was cursed, I would never have thought I would hear him ask this to me. I never would have even considered forgiving him. He has done so little in the past, but now…

I took a deep breath, and exhaled. “I…already have.”

The words took a tremendous weight off my heart. It’s as if the ice that has been entrenched in it so long melted away into cool water. Without another word, my father threw his arms around me, pulling me into a warm embrace. This was the first time he ever hugged me…

I felt more tears brimming in my eyes, and soon, I was crying, burying my face into my father’s shoulders. “I am so sorry, Xavier. Please, forgive me, my son.”

We stayed like this for what seemed like a lifetime, leaning against each other and crying, silently asking for forgiveness. Even though it seemed like we had committed so many mistakes that could never be forgiven, even if we believed we were not worthy of it…it was better to be together again, without the burdens of the past. 

We then drifted off to sleep, still in each other’s embrace.

I did not know how long I had been asleep, but I woke up to the slamming of the prison door and on a hard bed. After rubbing my eyes a few times, I turned to see the king on the floor, eating a slice of bread, with a plate of more slices in front of him. Two cups of water stand in front of the plate.

“Father…” I croaked. “What time is it?”

He shook his head. “I do not know, but you must eat, Xavier. You must be hungry.”

My stomach growled when he brought that up. “I…I will.”

I slowly pushed myself out of the bed, then hobbled over to him. I took my seat next to him, picked up a slice, and bit into it. It was a bit dry, but I did not care. I devoured it, then ate more and more. 

When I was done, the only things left on the plate were crumbs. I drank down half of my cup, then asked, “Did anything happen?”

My father shook his head as he sipped his water. “Only Ylfa gave us food.” He then looked at me curiously. “But I do want to know what happened while you were cursed.”

I then explained to my father what happened, from when Red cursed me in my bedroom to what had transpired during my time cursed. He was furious when I started, but he kept quiet, letting me continue. As I went on, his expression grew darker and darker.

When I finished, he finally said, “I am going to punch Red when I see him again. He had put you through so much suffering and humiliation. He made me forget you, unable to ease your suffering at that time.”

I shook my head, holding his arm. “Do not hurt Red, father. My life as a commoner, while difficult at first, showed me things I would have never experienced and appreciated before. It was more fulfilling than my life at the palace. The moment I became cursed was perhaps the moment I truly started living.”

I took a deep breath, contemplating the question that has been deep within my heart. “Your Majesty…have you ever loved me?”

I was terrified, trembling so badly I thought I might collapse. Still, I forced myself to look him in the eye. 

But the trembling eased when he gave me a soft smile, and nodded. “I have always loved you, Xavier. I value you more than my own life. You are my everything, my son.”

I blinked at him as tears fell from my eyes. “I’ve waited so long to hear those words from you. If you loved me, why were you never there for me? Why did you let Mother do this to me? Was it because I was her son?”

 “It is true that you are her son.” The smile returned to his face. “But you are also mine.”

My father looked away, running his hand through his hair. “I…I can’t recall how…” He sighed again. “I must have been put under a spell. Months passed and you came along. I thought I could never bring myself to love you.” He turned to me, the smile back on his face. “But when I first laid my eyes on you…I realized how wrong I was. I named you with a name I always wanted for a son. And as you grew, I realized you were different. She was cruel and cold, but you were kind and warm.” 

His hand balled into a fist as he scowled down on the floor. “But then she corrupted you. Blue forbade me to come close to you. She was afraid I would influence you to betray her. She told me that she would steal you away from me forever if I ever approached you. I didn’t want to lose you, so I did what she demanded. I had to watch you grow up from afar. I had to push you away.”

So that was another of Mother’s lies…

He looked up to me, a melancholic smile on his face. “One of the only things I could do was to help you celebrate your birthday every year.”

W-What? Mother…didn’t do any of that?

“Those surprises…they were always the highlight of my birthdays. This whole time…it was you who planned those surprises?”

He nodded sadly. “I could not let you know I was the one who planned those surprises. The smile on your face when you saw all of your gifts were more than enough.”

If Mother was not the one to celebrate my birthdays…then…

“What about my Pokemon?” I asked. “Were they from you too?”

He nodded sadly again. “Yes. I brought your Kangaskhan, Manectric, and Chesnaught to the palace for you to find and befriend them. Your Gengar was a gift from the king of Yantraia, and your Charizard was an egg of my Charizard and his mate.”

I remembered well when I first met my Pokemon. Kanga, Elec, and Marisso were found in the palace gardens while I was playing there. Garma followed me around in my shadow for several days and played pranks on me whenever I wasn’t looking before I caught him and he decided to stay with me. Salame…Mother gave him as an egg and instructed me to take care of him. She said that she bought it from a foreign kingdom, but now, knowing this…the connection was so obvious. 

“Salame’s father…was your Charizard?” 

My father nodded as he gave me a small smile. “It was always wonderful to see you carry him around as much as you can and talk with him. Seeing you play with your Pokemon and train them in the gardens were always the best parts of my day, and I could never be more proud every time I heard or saw your Pokemon evolve. You clearly have trained and bonded with them so well that they gladly placed their trust in you, even in the face of adverse odds. Just like earlier in the fight in your bedroom.”

Even though it hurt to learn that Mother’s lies ran deep in my life…I still felt warm and light that my father truly cared and loved me. My Pokemon knew this, and perhaps they wanted to try to fill in that void that could not be filled in those lonely years.

My father sighed deeply. “But…that is not enough. That is never enough. I am truly sorry, Xavier, for not being a good father. For not being there for you, for pushing you away. After your mother died…” He shook his head. “After I thought that she died, I thought I might make it up to you. I wanted to build the kingdom better for you, to live a more peaceful life. I wanted to show you the beauty of Zyleiss. I wanted to bond over battling with you.” He looked up at the ceiling. “But I…I did not know how to take the first step. I did not know what to say, with the gulf so wide between us.” He sighed again, then turned to look at me mournfully. “And when I did…you were so far away. I tried to get close to you, but…”

“I drove you away,” I finished.

“I do not blame you,” he sighed. “I failed miserably as your father, after all.” 

I thought about all the times he approached me or tried to talk with me. I would always walk away or refuse to talk with him. Because I hated him. Because I was convinced he didn’t love me.

“I tried, but I tried too late and not hard enough. I should have tried better to understand you. I should have tried harder to see what your mother had done to you.” He closed his eyes as he dipped his head. “I…did not expect you to forgive me for all I had done, and I do not know what to do to make it up to you.”

“But you’re here now…right?”

I smiled at him hesitantly, and he smiled back, a rare, broad one. He leaned forward to place a kiss on my head. “I love you, Xavier.”

“I love you too, father.”

“Now, would you like to talk about how your life in the Marchen was?” he asked. “I am curious to learn what made you not want Red to be hurt.”

I then talked about the memorable moments at the Marchen, which my father noted that a lot had to do with Y. I did not understand why, but it made me flustered when he saisd that. When I finished, father said with a smile, “I am glad to hear that you have made new friends. I had hoped that you would find a friendship in Dame Emma or your stepsiblings, but to hear that you found them there pleases me.”

My eyes widened. “You wanted Emma to be my friend?”

He nodded. “I thought if you have a capable rival in battle, you might form a bond with her and have a human friend. Perhaps you might grow to love her and marry her.” 

Marry Emma? That idea…doesn’t sound right.

Father faintly smiled, a reminiscent look in his face. “That was how I fell for Diantha.”

Once, I would have felt bitter at that declaration. A part of me still does, but it also warmed my heart to see him this happy. 

“But I am happy for you and whoever you choose to marry.”

I thought of Y when he said that. He already likes her and she respects him. Maybe…

Suddenly, footsteps echoed through the halls. We moved away and sat up straight, looking ahead through our bars. Ylfa soon appeared at our door, unlocking it. “It’s almost time to go, Prince Xavier.”

I turned to look at my father, eyes wide with fear. What do I do, what do I do–

“You cannot bring her back, Xavier,” he warned. “The consequences would be grave.”

“But if I refuse to help them, they’ll kill you!” I protested.

Father shook his head. “If I must die so you and the kingdom can have a brighter future, so be it. A father must always protect his child, no matter the cost.” He then moved to stand in front of me. “I won’t let you take him.”

Ylfa didn’t answer. She tapped her cane down on the ground, sending my father into the wall with the same energy force as before.

Father staggered back to his feet, and glanced at me with gritted teeth. “You can’t do this, Xavier.”

I balled my hands into tight fists. I want to listen to him, I want to listen to him so bad…but I cannot let him die.

“I am sorry, father,” I sighed. “I don’t want you to die.”

I tried to smile reassuringly at him, before walking away with Ylfa. The last thing I heard was him calling my name, followed by silence in the dim hallway.

Chapter Text

I was once again standing in front of Mother’s crystalilized form.

“It is time, my nephew,” Silvus announced. “Put your hands over the crystal.”

I stared at Mother in silence. Even though she looked so peaceful, so gentle in there…all I could feel was how cold my body was. She cannot return. There is no way she can.

“Time is of the essence, my nephew,” Silvus warned.

I gulped, and placed my hands on the crystal. Moments later, the clock struck twelve. I felt my body grow heavier. A strange power flowed through my veins.

“W-What is happening!?”

I attempted to pull away from them, but to no avail. Not only were they heavy, but they were stuck against the crystal. Even as I struggled to move, I could feel my energy dimming as the crystal growed brighter and brighter.

“Yes…yes!” Silvus cried, grinning maniacally. “Blue! You will return!” 

I blinked a few times as tears began to sting my eyes. I bit my lip to keep myself from falling unconscious, the strong taste of iron growing on my tongue.

“Xavier!”

I turned to see a Greninja with piercing crimson eyes at the door, her hands glowing with dark energy. A little far off, I saw Ylfa lying face-flat on the floor, while her Trevenant and Silvus’s Weavile and Feraligatr fought against a familiar Talonflame, Sylveon, and Absol.

“Y…”

Y’s eyes met mine, her expression contorting to anger as she turned to glare at Silvus. “Silver, you delusional bastard!”

“You’re too late for that, Yvonne,” Silvus taunted. “Just a little more, and the transfer will be complete. The rightful queen will break free from her prison, and return to her true glory.”

“All of this, and for her!?” Y cried. “You’re the chief advisor of the king! You could have taken up the mantle as the true hero of the witches yourself with the power you have! Hell, you have your godsdamned nephew right here you could protect, guide, and serve for the rest of your life! And you’d give it all up for someone who could give less than two shits about you!?”

“Silence, traitor!” Silvus screamed, firing a spell at Y. Y suddenly disappeared, his spell flying into the air.

I tried to stay standing, but it was very difficult. My knees were shaking so badly that I thought I might fall unconscious against the crystal here.

I was jolted out of my fatigue when I heard a loud smack against the crystal, followed by a shriek from Silvus. Y then stood beside me, a dark, ethereal dagger in her hand. She drove the edge into the Tenebrarum’s surface, cracking it slightly.  And then, I was free.

Y caught me into her arms, just before my body hit the floor. She lifted my head up, then smacked my cheek slightly. Even though her hand was webbed and oddly smooth, it still hurt enough for me to stay conscious. “Xavier, stay with me!”

Even though this appearance of Y was strange to look at, I still felt relaxed in her arms. I squinted up to her face, but her features were blurry. I had to blink a few times to clear my vision. “I knew…you’d come back…”

Y grinned. “Of course I would. I always will, no matter the cost.”

I smiled. “Thank you…”

Her expression then turned stern. “Anyway, don’t speak. You need to save your strength.”

“How...did you get in here!?” Silvus demanded. 

I slowly glanced upward, and gasped at how ghastly he looked. His forehead was bleeding and he stumbled as he walked, using the crystal to steady himself. His teeth clenched and he clutched on his forehead tightly, his eyes wild with frenzy. I was too terrified to look at him any longer, but my exhaustion and fear left my eyes stuck on him.

BOOM!

I looked down to see that Amarillo stepped through the hole in the wall that her outburst of magic created, a grave expression on her face.

“ You! ” Silvus shrieked. “How dare you show your face here! You, who tried to kill my sister!”

Silvus tried to create a spell, but suddenly stopped. I slowly glanced up, and saw that Silvus was frozen in place, the only thing moving on him was the blood. I was surprised to see him like this, but then I realized that Amarillo was the Lucis Bearer. Even in her weak state, she was still a force to be reckoned with.

Amarillo turned to look at me with a weak smile. “As the Lucis Bearer, it is my duty to stop Blue. Such was my goal, even back then. Even when the two of us were best friends.”

While she was speaking, Ylfa slowly approached her, clutching her nose and using her cane to help her move. She seemed just ready to bring it down onto the ground when Amarillo turned in place and casted a spell. T he magic hit the cane head-on, shattering it on impact. Ylfa, however, seemed surprisingly calm. Suddenly, I saw a glint of silver in her sleeve. Without moving, Amarillo blasted Ylfa into the wall with another spell.

The knife in Ylfa’s sleeve clattered onto the ground. Ylfa staggered up to her feet. The mask on her face fell from her face as she stood. When she looked up, my blood turned cold. My heart wrenched at the sight. No…no. This cannot be happening…

“Emma…?”

Even though her nose was still bleeding, she had the audacity to smirk at me and wag a bloody finger. “Perhaps I look a little like her. But you seriously can’t think we’re the same person, hmm?”

I held onto Y tighter as I stared. Her olive skin dusted in dirt and stained with blood, her usually comforting face now marred by a crooked nose and cruel sneer, her gentle azure eyes now sharp and mocking…

I looked away. My head hurt, and everything became hazy. What is going on?

“Xavier…”

“Xavier!”

I heard my father before I saw him. When I turned, he was limping towards me, a pained expression on his face. I could only assume that he made it out of his cell, or that someone helped him out. Y’s arm was still there to support me as I hobbled towards my father. 

Father reached out to touch both of my cheeks. His warmth made me flinch away. “You’re so cold!”

“I will be fine…” I croaked.

He clenched his fist, then turned to Silvus. “It’s over, Silver.”

“Not quite.”

A bright, red light suddenly surrounded the Tenebrarum, engulfing the entire room. “I should have killed you a long time ago, dear Green.”

The sound of a spell cast echoed throughout the room. Following it was the sickening pierce of flesh and bone.

“Ugh!”

“Father!” 

I was unable to see what happened, but as soon as the light disappeared, I screamed at the horror in front of me. A large gash marred my father’s chest. Blood poured from a blade of light that slowly faded away. I caught my father into my arms as he stumbled back. Y quickly came to my side and helped me support him. “Father!”

“Now, this kingdom is mine once again.”

The voice was heartachingly familiar, but distantly so. Had I not known better, it would have seemed like a voice from my nightmares instead from a past that had long gone. 

I slowly looked up and suddenly, there she was. My mother stood before me, beautiful and regal. But her eyes were frigid as the merciless of winters, lacking any kind of love or warmth as she looked over me. “Xavier…”

“Welcome back, my sister.”

Somehow, Silvus had managed to escape from Amarillo’s spell, now bowing on one knee before Mother.

“Blue…” Amarillo rasped.

Mother smiled wickedly at her. “Hello, Yellow. It has been a while.”

Amarillo put a hand to her chest as she began to cough. She collapsed to her knees.

“You have grown weaker since we last fought, Yellow,” Blue remarked.

“Amarillo!” Y cried, her hand outreached towards her.

Mother’s gaze snapped towards Y. “I see that the traitor is here too and with my son again.”

She then started to cast a spell, aiming for Y. 

“Stay back!” Amarillo cried, stepping in front of us and casting an invisible barrier just as Mother conjured a horde of electric orbs. They crashed into the barrier and disappeared, but the ground still rumbled from the impact. 

“Ugh…”

“Amarillo!”

Amarillo fell on her knees again. I could see the blood on her lips. 

“Xavier…” father rasped.

I looked at my father, barely sitting up on the ground. His shirt was soaked in blood, and his eyes barely remained open. Somehow, I sensed that his life was fading away.

“Father…”

My eyes were brimming with tears. The room filled with light, this time from the floor. Slowly, our surroundings began to blur.

“Go on then, Yellow. Run away,” Mother taunted. “That’s all you ever have done.”

Amarillo’s voice was pressed and pained as she spoke. “We will stop you, Blue.”

The last thing I saw was Mother’s wicked smile. Then, the light swallowed us whole.

When the light dissipated, we were back at the Marchen. Amarillo was still on the ground, but she looked like she might sink into it.

“Lady Amarillo!” Bianca cried.

“I’ll be fine,” Amarillo croaked. “Call Aurelia, quick!”

Y darted from the room immediately. Veevee and Solsol gently tried to help Amarillo up and bring her to an armchair. I watched in horror at my father, his shirt dyed a thick crimson that stained my hands and coat. 

Aurelia soon came down the stairs, Y now in her human form. She rushed over to the king, placing him down on his back side, then immediately tore his shirt off. Bile crawled up my throat when I saw the deep wound. She tried to apply pressure on it, but the bleeding didn’t stop. 

“He lost too much blood,” she announced gravely.

“Can’t you do something!?”

“I will do my best, Your Highness, but…there is only so much I can do,” she sighed. “I am not a doctor nor am I a miracle worker.”

There was a faraway look in her eyes as she said this, an almost pained expression on her face. Her helpless expression made panic surge within me again.

“You call yourself an apothecary!?”

Aurelia glanced away from me, still trying to apply pressure. I felt a gentle hand on my shoulders. “Xavier, I know you’re scared, but please, calm down.”

“I cannot lose him, Y!” I snapped.

“I don’t…have much time left, Xavier,” the king rasped.

I turned to look down at my father, my eyes filling with tears. I could tell he was at death’s door, with his labored breathing and something quickly fading. “No, no, no! Don’t say that, father!”

“I wanted to see you become king, but it looks like it’s the end for me.”

I collapsed beside my father, and he reached up a shaking hand to touch my wet cheek.  “Protect…our kingdom.”

I could only nod.

“I will always…be with you. I love you, Xavier. I’m proud…to have you as my son.”

Father smiled at me, and it was so genuine and warm it brought fresh tears to my eyes. His eyes slowly closed, but the smile never left his lips.

“Father?”

I shook him, but he did not react. I could not sense anything from him. No breathing, no feeling of living .

“No… no! ”

For the first time in my life, I cried for my father.

Chapter Text

Ever since my father died, I had locked myself into my room. I laid in bed, filled with nothing but pain and sorrow. Yet, I still felt numb on the inside. No matter how much I wanted to, I could not cry.

I heard knocking on the door. I did not respond. Soon, Y entered, a tray with a bowl of soup and tea in her hands. 

I glanced at her, and looked away. “I am in no mood to eat.”

Y set the tray down on my nightstand and laid down beside me, pulling me into a hug. “Look, what happened wasn’t your fault, Xavier. The circumstances were out of your control.”

“He didn’t have to die like that,” I croaked.

By Mother’s hand.

“I know,” she sighed.

My fingers curled on the back of her dress. “I do not want to lose anyone anymore, Y.”

“We will prevail, Xavier,” she assured, a small smile on her face as she ran her fingers through my hair. “But you must eat and rest. I will be by your side until you have eaten well and fallen asleep.”

Y pulled herself off the bed, picked up the tray, and places it on the lap. Reluctantly, I pulled myself up and let Y place it down on my lap. I took a sip of the soup. It was warm and comforting, but even then, I did not feel hungry. Still, I ate as much as I could until I felt something close to full. After I set my tray aside, I laid down on bed. Y wrapped her arms around me, her warmth lulling me to a dreamless sleep.

Days later, the palace announced Father’s death and declared the royal family missing. Black was given the crown, and along with the announcement of his ascension was the claim that I killed the king and a wanted fugitive. We have all been in hiding since then.

Even though I felt like it was years, two weeks have passed since my father died. I had come to the gaping realization that Mother has not made a public appearance at all. What could she be planning? 

I placed my hand over my chest, trying to will the pain away. Every time I thought of Mother, I remembered the blade of light that went through my father’s heart. But I cannot stand idle. I have suffered losses, but I have promises to fulfill. I will protect our kingdom. For the sake of my father and our family’s oath to Lord Zygarde. 

I was about to head up to my room when I heard Amarillo call for me from the reception room. I went over there and saw Red standing beside her, both looking at me solemnly.

“Xavier, can we talk with you?” Amarillo asked.

I looked away, avoiding their eyes. “What do you want to discuss with me?”

“It’s about the Tenebrarum,” Red said. “Despite Blue’s revival, the crystal’s light is still dim. That can only mean one thing. Blue is still weak.”

“Still weak?” I asked, confused.

“Blue was absorbing your powers when we found you,” Amarillo explained. “We interrupted the process, so the crystal was unable to absorb most of your magic, that is why she is still weak. And…there is something else that bothered me about the crystal. Something strange.”

“Strange?”

“A bearer has a strong bond with their crystal, a mutual relationship of some sorts.” She shook her head. “That bond wasn’t there when Blue returned.”

“What are you saying?” I asked.

“It seems that the crystal is forsaking that bond,” Amarillo answered. “It has recognized that Blue’s time has come and gone, and is choosing you as its next bearer.”

“It’s a small blessing, but Blue’s still the strongest witch,” Red pointed out.

“...Or at least, she wants us to think that,” Amarillo added.

Red sighed, shaking his head. “Amarillo, you may be just as strong as her, but she’s still a formidable opponent. And who’s not to say that she has a contingency plan in her sleeve with Silver with her, or manipulating Black and the palace for her own gains?”

Amarillo ignored Red, then said to me, “Prince Xavier, you have just as much potential, if not more, to be a powerful bearer.”

Red nodded gravely, then looked me in the eye. “Are you ready to learn magic, Xavier? Magic that will potentially defeat your mother?”

I have never used magic before. I never knew I was a witch until a few months ago. And…using magic to defeat Mother…

“I do not know…” 

Both Red and Amarillo’s eyes were fixed in me, filled with worry and pity. Amarillo then said, “Well, regardless of what decision you make, we will all be here to support you. Red and I want you to know that.”

How is it that they are still willing to help me, when I started this entire mess?

“I…I need some fresh air.”

I began to walk toward the door when I saw Diantha walk in from the tavern. Our eyes briefly met and she opened her mouth to say something, but then stopped when I shook my head. I do not want to hear her blame me for my father’s death. That certainly must be what she was thinking. Diantha frowned but did not speak. I quickened my pace, almost running, as I headed out to the forest.

The night was silent and calm, the only sounds being the gentle sway of grass as I stepped through it. Mother is back because of me. Had I not revived her, father would still be alive. How am I supposed to face everyone, knowing that?

Y had been trying to talk with me and lift my spirits. While I appreciated her company and concern, even she cannot help me come to terms with my mistakes.

I heard footsteps behind me. I turned around to see Y approaching me with a frown on her face.

“Xavier…”

“I do not want to talk with you right now,” I snapped.

I realized with a pang of guilt that was too harsh to say to her. But I did not care. I do not understand why she would still stay by me, even after all of this. It is better she does not.

“Xavier, your father would not want to see you like this,” Y sighed.

“How do you know what my father would have wanted?”

“He’d want you to walk forward and not linger in the past,” she answered. 

The past…the past is all I had known for most of my life. And the future is terrifying. I do not know who will suddenly disappear from me. Even though I have responsibilities and obligations in the present…it still scares me more than the already awful past.

“You’ve been distancing yourself from us since the king died,” Y continued. “Don’t think no one has noticed. Why is that?”

Because this is the only way I can keep them safe. But Y would not understand that. Yet…I had no idea how to explain that to her without getting her upset.

We stayed there in awkward silence for several moments. Finally, Y said, “You know, I will always be by your side, Xavier. Shouldering the burdens by yourself will only crush you.”

“Crush?” I asked indignantly. “I already am feeling that with the loss of my father. I have brought nothing but suffering and misfortune to those around me. I do not want others to feel the same. I cannot get close to anyone again, or they’ll be in danger, or worse. I don’t want to lose them. I don’t want to lose anyone again. ...Especially you, Y.”

Only when I started panting did I realize I was out of breath from talking so fast. My chest grew tighter from the words that flew out of my mouth. 

Y blinked at me a few times in shock, before she frowned. “...Xavier, I am touched you care for me that way.” She sighed, shaking her head. “But that is no way to live.” 

‘Then how can I best protect you?’ I wanted to ask, but stopped when I saw Y raise her hand and create an orb of light.

“Please watch closely, Xavier,” she instructed. I could only nod in response.

She sent the light in her hand to the branch of a nearby tree. The light then took the form of a nest with a Fletchling in it. “When a Fletchling is first hatched, he, of course, cannot fly.” She opened her other hand and created a larger orb of light which morphed into a Talonflame. The Talonflame flew over to the nest, nuzzling its head against the Fletchling. “But he has his parent to watch over it and feed it. He cannot rely on his parent forever, though. So, he must start exploring outside of the nest.” 

The Fletchling cautiously stepped out of the nest and onto the branch. It hopped tentatively a few times, when suddenly, it slipped off the branch. I held my breath, hoping it wouldn’t fall. I let myself sigh when I saw the Talonflame catch the Fletchling with its beak, then bring it back to the nest. “It will be scary. Falling can mean death. But to never step out of that nest and fly will mean to never truly live.” 

The Talonflame then took off and circled around the tree, making majestic twists and turns as sparks of ember flew from it. The Fletchling watched it in amazement, frantically flapping its wings to mimic those movements. “The parent do all they can to teach them to fly. They watch over them as they explore the nest, sometimes saving them if needed. They fly around themselves, showing all the fun things they can do once they learn how to do so. And then, they will take their first flight.”

I gasped when the Fletchling hopped off the branch and started to fly as well. It was clumsy and panicked, almost dropping down several times, but it then made it to the next branch. The Talonflame flies over to the other branch, nuzzling it. “It will be exhausting and difficult, but the parent will be there to support it.” 

The Fletchling then hopped off the branch and flew to the next branch and the next, growing graceful as it went. “The Fletchling will practice flying again and again. Until finally…”

The Fletchling then started to circle around us. “He has mastered flying. A new world is open to him, to be able to hunt and fight. And when he has fought enough…”

Light morphed around it, fading away to reveal a Fletchinder. “He will evolve. He is stronger now, thanks to the help of his parent. And he will continue to do so, until he evolves into a Talonflame.”

The Fletchinder then morphed into a majestic Talonflame, who glided around the forest. The other Talonflame watched it with pride. “Now, he can fly freely through the skies, defeating any adversary in his way with his powerful wings and flames.”

The Talonflame then landed in front of us and bowed to the ground. It and the other Talonflame disappeared into orbs of light that faded away, leaving me alone in the dark with Y. She went up to me, pulling me into a hug. “Please Xavier, do not shut yourself out anymore. I love you, and it hurts me to see you suffer alone like this.”

My heart was pounding so hard that I feared it might escape from my chest. All the world seemed to have melted away in Y’s warm embrace, the only light in the darkness of the light. I…I love her. When did this happen?

After a few moments, I decided that did not matter. I lifted Y’s head to look at me, cupping her face. I moved before thinking, placing a light kiss on her lips. I felt an arm around me as Y pulled me closer. The kiss became more heated, my mind foggy as a gentle flame spread across my body. I felt her tongue on my lips, but when I parted, she suddenly drew away, her face red. Embers started sparking from her hands, before she clenched them into fists and willed them away. “S-Sorry, I need to catch my breath.”

I felt the heat in my cheeks and looked away, trying to relieve the embarrassment. I just kissed Y. 

I glanced at Y, and realized that she was holding on to me. I turned away, covering my face with my hand. Y laughed, her hair brushing against my neck. “You’re very cute.” I closed my eyes, running my hand through her feathery hair. “I love you very much, X. And I will stand by your side until the very end. So please…trust in me. Trust in us.”

Somehow, Y’s words made me feel very light, as if a weight had truly been lifted from my shoulders. And seeing her happy like this…I could not bear the thought of seeing her so sad.

“...I will. Thank you.”

She pulled away a little with a smile on her face. “We should return now, or else the others might get worried.” 

She then placed a soft kiss on my cheek and pulled away fully, offering her hand to me. “Let’s go, X.”

I smiled as I slowly took her hand. We walked back to the Marchen together, forgetting just a moment of all the bad things that had transpired.

Chapter Text

It has been almost three weeks since Mother returned, and she still has not shown herself, leaving everyone uneasy. Amarillo said that the Tenebrarum chose me as its next bearer…could that be why she is still hiding?

Either way, the burden of my responsibility weighs heavily on me. I have not yet fully accepted that role, but I cannot run away from it for long. The Tenebrarum Bearer’s duty is to work alongside the Lucis Bearer to bring a balance between light and darkness of the kingdom. The balance was on its way to mending before Mother suddenly returned. 

For nights, I wondered if there was any way to stop Mother without fighting her. A small part of me hoped that perhaps Mother can still change. But it was quickly quashed at the memory of father, and how she heartlessly killed him as soon as she was revived. She slumbered for four years, and it still had not changed her mind. It was clear she wanted to subject the kingdom to another reign of terror.

It felt as if my heart was twisting itself into a knot. I gasped when a bright spark fizzled to life in my hands. I clenched and unclenched my hands, taking deep breaths to calm myself. Ever since I started working with magic, it had been activating by itself. Whenever I felt any deep sort of emotion, some kind of magical water, electricity, or fire sparked in my hands. It was all I could do to try and keep my emotions in check. The last thing I want is to burn down the Marchen, or hurt anyone inside it.

Y and Red had agreed that they would teach me how to use magic. For the last few days, the forest near the Marchen has been used as our training grounds. Amarillo constantly cloaked the Marchen with powerful magic to keep our presence hidden from Mother and other witches. It allowed us to use magic without their notice.  But Amarillo’s constant spell has weakened her considerably. Y and Red tried to convince her to not cast it at all, but Amarillo refused. She insisted that we must stay as close as possible to the Tenebrarum instead of moving elsewhere. For as far as we know, the crystal is still in the palace, and she said I must be close to it as the next bearer. 

I know I will most likely face Mother in a battle of magic. While I have fought many battles, magic is a completely different field for me. Not only that, Mother was also my battle teacher and much more experienced than I am in magic. And while I do not want to hurt her…I fear she has no reservations to do the same to me.

But I cannot stall as time dwindles. I must decide what to do. I promised Amarillo last night I would make my decision and tell everyone the next day…and the next day has arrived. Everyone believes I am the only one who can stand up to Mother, even with so little practice and without my flute.

I took a deep breath, pulled myself out of bed, and smoothed out the tangles in my hair. I must tell them all what I want to do now.

When I stepped into the reception room, everyone was already waiting for me. I caught Y’s gaze first. She gave me a warm smile, and I smiled at her back. I then heard Shauna groan, eliciting some chuckles from the room, including Y and me.  I then took another deep breath, and exhaled. I turn to look at everyone in the room, all waiting eyes on me. This has been the first time since I properly spoke with everyone since father’s death.

“Before I tell you my decision, I must apologize for everything that I have done and for everything that has happened,” I started, trying to not look down on the ground. “Mother is back because I was a coward, and father died because I was weak.”

“Xavier…” Diantha said, her hand outstretched to me. “It wasn’t your fault.”

Despite that, I stared down at the ground, my hands clenched. I tried to will my anger away, but only managed a few deep, stilling breaths before I looked up again.

“I brought Mother back as I was afraid disobedience would kill my father. But in the end…”

The image of my father's smiling face flashed through my mind. I cleared my throat. “I promised that I would protect Zyleiss, and that is what I intend to do until my dying breath.”

“Spoken like a true king.”

I turned to Red, startled at his sad yet proud grin. Did he just…compliment me?

“Why do you look surprised, princey? You are next in line for the throne,” Red pointed out.

I hadn’t even thought about being the next ruler. I am not even sure if I have the right qualities? Can I even do this?

“ I wanted to see you become king…protect our kingdom.”

I cannot let Father down, for his sake. But the kingdom must come before the crown. I will only take the crown if I win it back. 

“I will need all of your help,” I continued. “I do not have my flute anymore, but that will not stop me from training every day until we face Mother. I beseech all of you: fight with me and protect the kingdom together.”

Everyone in the room nodded in approval, smiles slowly forming on their faces. 

“You do not need to ask us that, Xavier,” Y said.

“We would gladly do so,” Aurelia concurred.

“We will fight until the bitter end!” Karma declared, dramatically placing her hand on her chest.

“We’ve sworn an oath of knighthood, and will carry it to our dying breath!” Ruby agreed.

Sapphire crossed her arms with a proud grin. “What use of training would be if we didn’t apply it?” 

“I may not be a knight, but I will make sure you are all well-cared for!” Bianca piped up.

I was surprised to see even Shauna smiling. “Of course we’ll help.” 

“I may not be the best at fighting, but I will do all I can to help!” Trevor piped up.

“I may be a widowed queen, but I will not let that stop me from protecting the kingdom,” Diantha added. 

“We are all here by your side,” Red said, the sadness in his eyes now replaced with pride. “You are our princey! Or well, future king.” 

“We will all be here for you,” Amarillo assured.

I smiled at everyone gathered. “Thank you, you all.” My expression then turned solemn. “It will be a difficult battle, but we will stop Mother. Together, we will stand a chance against her.”

“Blue is strong, but not invulnerable,” Red added.

Amarillo looked at me with a furrowed brow. “Do you understand what you must do to stop Blue, Prince Xavier?”

I felt a tinge of pain in my chest, but forced myself to hold Amarillo’s gaze and look at her with determination. “I do.”

Later that same day, I resumed training with Y in the forest clearing while Red and Amarillo came up with a plan. Ruby and Sapphire returned to town to listen in on any new information about Mother and Black, or any recent happenings in the palace. I focused only on learning how to use magic as fast as I could. Today, Y was continuing her lessons on barriers. She had been teaching me the same spells for the past week, emphasizing my protection. It’s simple, with just using the Pokemon move Protect and then infusing it with more magic to stand against even strong magical attacks or deflect magic. But the amount of magic and concentration to make sure it would be effective was exhausting. 

“Do you know what kinds of barriers there are?” she quizzed me.

“One shields you from harm and the other deflects the spell back,” I answered. “Powerful spells cannot be deflected, so deciding which one is correct is critical in a battle.”

“Good. Now, let’s put that to use.”

My eyes widened. “That is quick.”

“Well, you’ve seen me cast my spells many times before,” she pointed out. “I think you can do it.”

That…is true.

Y then winked. “If you guessed correctly, I can give you a treat.”

I raised an eyebrow. “A treat in town? At this time?”

While she likes bringing me to places to eat, it’s certainly not safe for me to go out when people believe me to be a murderer.

She frowned. “Of course not.”

“Then what kind of treat is it then?”

Y pouted. “Indulge in me, X.”

I nodded slowly. “Okay Y…”

Y snapped her fingers, a fireball starting to form in her hands. It was just an ember at first, but it slowly became brighter as she moved her hands. Usually the effects of Y’s magic, but this spell is taking longer to cast. This must be a stronger one. Y did say it takes a lot of energy to cast a strong barrier, so it must apply the same to offensive spells.

“Which kind of barrier should you use?” 

“A shield.”

She looked at me solemnly. “Is that your final answer?”

I was taken aback by the sudden indecision. After a few moments, I nodded. 

Y grinned. “That is correct. Now cast your shield.”

I grimaced at the spell. I’m not sure if my shield can put up against it, since I have never shielded against something as powerful as that before.

“Trust in yourself, Xavier,” Y encouraged.

I did as instructed and stretched out my hands to cast Protect first. A shimmering white thin barrier appeared in front of me. I then infuse it with magic, making it a glimmering blue shield.

“Here I go.”

My hands shook as Y’s fireball collided with my barrier. I planted my feet to hold myself upright. This spell was surprisingly strong…

When the fireball disappeared, I looked up hesitantly. I smiled triumphantly when I saw that my barrier was still in one piece. I did it!

“Well done, X,” Y said with a proud smile.

I eyed the barrier again. My heart sank when I saw the barrier had cracks in it.

“My barrier…”

“Don’t worry, Xavier,” Y assured. “Even the strongest barriers will obtain cracks after you’ve been hit by a powerful spell. Unfortunately, you can’t make two of them at the same time, so that is when you need to get rid of it and set up your next barrier. Your opponent will usually make the mistake of assuming you have the same shield up and attack you with a weaker spell to try to break it.”

I nodded. “Understood.”

Y then went over to under the tree, where the stool that held our pitcher of water and cups stood. She poured some for both of us and offered one for me. “You know, it’s really nice to see you learn so fast over this past week.”

“Fighting with magic is not so different from Pokemon battles,” I remarked as I took the cup and downed it. “It’s certainly more exhausting, but the concepts are fairly simple.”

She picked up a cup and downed her drink as well. “Definitely. A Pokemon battle is tiring to the body as the Pokemon and sometimes the human, but it won’t knock you out like using magic will. At least you can expect a magical battle to end faster.”

I finished the rest of my cup and set it down. “You should teach me offensive spells.”

Y looked down, considering my request as she swirled the water in her cup. “You should focus on barriers first. The witches we will be up against will focus on offensive spells, so protecting yourself is your highest priority.”

“Y, my flute is not with me anymore and I cannot rely on my Pokemon to do everything for me,” I pointed out. “If I need to hurt someone to save another, I will do it.” I looked at Y straight in the eye. “I still need to learn, even if it’s just one offensive spell, Y. I cannot just help you by conjuring up barriers.” I sighed, looking down on the ground. “I cannot lose anyone anymore. Especially you, Y.”  I looked up at Y. My heart ached at the sight of her frown. “I don’t think I can live with myself if you are gone. I want to be as strong as possible to protect you.”

Y sighed, her eyes on mine. “X, you cannot let yourself be in the line of danger. A jack of trades may sound good, but being a master of a few skills is sometimes better.” She smiled a little sadly. “I will not let such a tragedy happen to you, X. Trust me to protect myself. Trust that you will not lose me.”

I sighed, pouring another cup of water for myself, drinking it down slower this time. I don’t doubt Y’s capabilities, but it makes me feel uneasy that I cannot do anything to help her.

“I should give you my treat now,” Y piped up, setting her cup down.

“What treat?” 

Y then pulled me into a soft kiss. It was a short-lived kiss, but still enough to make me breathless.

When I managed to gather myself, I asked, “Is that your treat?”

She giggled, placing a kiss on my cheek. “I could give you more if you call it a day right now.”

I looked away from her, rubbing my face to ease the heat. “I still want to learn how to use an offensive spell.”

Y frowned at me, very irritated at me for some reason. “Xavier, we’ve been practicing since this morning. It’s going to be dark soon. Overusing your magic will take a toll on your body, especially when you’re starting out.”

I shook my head and pulled away from her. While it was exhausting starting out, I have quickly gotten better at handling it. What kind of Bearer would I be if I couldn’t?

“Please Y?” I asked.

Y studied me for a few minutes, then sighed. “Okay, but just one spell.”

I smiled. “Thank you.”

Y stepped back into the clearing. “I will teach you the lightning spell. It is one of the more dangerous beginner magic, will inflict excruciating pain and possibly paralyze them.”

“Isn’t that risky for you?” I asked. I remembered that Y mentioned that besides the Bearers, fairies and witches have strengths and weaknesses to certain elemental magic based on their own Pokemon typings. In Y’s case, she is very weak to earth based and electric based magic.

“I’ll be fine,” she assured. “A little spark won’t hurt me.”

She then continued instructing how to make a spell. While I tried my best to conjure up electricity, I have only managed sparks at the end of the day.

I collapsed onto my bed, exhaustion quickly spreading over me like a heavy blanket. I could barely move my arms after the lightning spell over and over again, which made eating dinner difficult. But I need to learn that spell as soon as possible.

I yawned and then closed my eyes, soon falling asleep.

“Xavier…”

That voice…

“Come back to me, my sweet prince.”

“...No.”

“You have no choice, my son. You will come back to me, whether you like it or not. I will be waiting for you…”

I sat up in my bed, my heart pounding loudly in my chest and ears. “A dream?”  I wiped away beads of sweat from my forehead, calming myself with steady breaths. “No. I will never come back to you, Mother.”

Chapter Text

I woke up later than usual due to my training yesterday. When I entered the reception room, I saw Ruby and Sapphire speaking with Amarillo, Red, and Y. Heavy solemnity hung over the room. When they saw me, their expressions grew graver.

“Did something happen?” I asked.

“Prince Xavier, the palace, made an announcement today,” Sapphire explained. “They issued a higher bounty for your head for murder and treason.”

“It’s strange, since they haven’t been actively looking for you since that day,” Ruby remarked, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “It looks like something has happened to make them want to act now.”

Red soon gathered everyone into the room to discuss Ruby and Sapphire’s discovery. The only one who was not here was Bianca, who went into town to buy supplies for the tavern.

“But Xavier didn’t kill anyone,” Trevor said. “How can we convince them that?”

“Black is in power now, and the people favor him,” Shauna pointed out.

“And the royal family has already been perceived as being on a decline over the years,” Aurelia added. “Not even winning the Great War can dispel that notion. With such sudden misfortune on them that seems to be caused by the Demon Queen’s son, Black’s claim on Zygarde’s Mandate looks more legitimate.”

Now that everyone remembers me again, they were frightened of me. I cannot blame them.

“There has to be some way to convince them,” Trevor insisted with a resolved expression. “Xavier’s the most worthy bearer of that mandate. We need them to see that so they can help us overthrow Black and Blue.”

I stared at Trevor in surprise, then smiled at him. “Thank you for your kind words.”

I turned to everyone once again, a frown on my face. “I am sorry that I am putting you all in danger.”

If any one of them gets hurt, I can never forgive myself.

Y wrapped her hand around mine, squeezing it gently. I instantly felt more calm. “There is no need to apologize, Xavier. We’ve told you already. We would gladly help you. We’re in this together.”

“She’s right,” Diantha piped up. “Trevor, Shauna, and I will support you until the end.”

Before, I might have distrusted her words. But now…Diantha has nothing to gain by pretending.

Trevor nodded. “Mother is right. We are family, and we will not abandon you.”

Both Diantha and Trevor were smiling at me. Even Shauna has a ghost of a smile on her face. I smiled back at them. “Thank you very much.”

“I apologize for bringing this up, Karma, but can you call reinforcements from Yantraia?” Sapphire asked.

“Yantraia?”

Yantraia is one of our neighboring kingdoms, and one that we have a generally friendly relationship with. However, the queen and then the king, when he took the throne again, stayed away from our personal and political affairs in recent years due to the Great War.

We all looked at Karma, who stood there looking sullen. After a few moments, she let out an exasperated sigh. “You want me to ask the kingdom of Yantraia to help.”

I remembered Karma mentioning she was from a noble family, but I did not expect her to be from Yantraia. What is she doing here? And how can she ask help from the king and queen?

“The queen and king are unable to take part in the battle against Queen Blue, unfortunately,” she answered. “They may insist otherwise, but I know better than anyone that this is far beyond their capabilities.”

“So the queen wouldn’t send assistance…not even if her own daughter asked her?” Sapphire asked sadly.

My eyes widened. “Daughter? You mean…”

Karma crossed her arms and sighed. “I guess there’s no use hiding it anymore. Yes, I am the daughter of Queen Cornelia and granddaughter of King Gurkinn.”

Judging from the sudden quiet in the room, it seemed only Red, Amarillo, Y, and the knights knew this. 

“You’re the lost princess?” Diantha asked quietly.

“The lost princess?” I asked.

“I heard from King Gurkinn that his eldest granddaughter Korrina disappeared a year ago,” she continued. “It breaks my heart thinking he possibly outlived her.”

Korrina? That’s her real name?

“There were…circumstances,” Karma sighed. “My family never knew I had the Fairytale Curse, so I was forced to leave here and break it.”

She came to Zyleiss to break her curse?

Her eyes slowly wandered to me, but then she focused back on the conversation. “But to answer your question, no, I do not believe my mother nor my grandfather would send any help. Neither had heard from me since I left the kingdom over a year ago, and would think I am an imposter unless I show up at the palace. I would have to answer all their questions and prove my identity, which will take up too much time.”

“It looks like we can’t rely on them then,” Ruby sighed.

“Uh…hello.”

We all turned to see Bianca at the doorstep, holding a flyer in her hands.

“Bianca?” Aurelia asked. “What happened?”

She entered the room, her face solemn, almost furious. “There was an announcement.”

“An announcement?” I asked.

Bianca unfurled it and let Red and Amarillo see. “Four days from now, Black will be making his speech about the changes he will make to Zyleiss.”

Y rubbed her chin thoughtfully. “Changes? That doesn’t sound good.”

“Still, we should take a look,” Red pointed out. “We might know more about what's happening at the palace.”

“Blue is still in hiding, but it is very likely she’s involved in this somehow,” Amarillo warned. “They may be plotting something special that day.”

“Ruby and I can go to the event then,” Sapphire offered. “We’ll make sure to not stand out.”

“I am coming too,” I announced.

“Xavier…” Y said in a warning voice.

“I need to know what is happening,” I insisted. “I cannot hide forever, Y.” I looked at everyone in the room, all staring at me in shock and worry. “I am going, and no one can stop me.”

“Well…you are technically the next king,” Red agreed.

“Red, don’t encourage him,” Amarillo hissed.

“We both know how stubborn the princey is,” Red pointed out. “Even if we chain him up, he’ll still figure out a way to get out.” Red then grinned and winked at me. Amarillo let out a heavy sigh. “Y and Karma will accompany him, then.”

Y nodded. Karma looked startled, but then nodded as well.

Red looked at all of us grimly. “Now, we must prepare for the worst case scenario. There’s definitely a scheme in Blue’s sleeve, and it may pop up earlier. Be vigilant, everyone.”

Chapter Text

I had been practicing magic non-stop ever since we heard of Black’s speech. I continued to work on my barriers, while also practicing the electric spell Y tried to teach me.

“Remember what I told you,” Y said, a red barrier shimmering in front of her. “Focus your energy on the tips of your fingers until you feel the current flow through your veins.”

I stretched out my hand and imagined the energy gathering around my fingertips.

“Now, try to cast the spell at me again.”

I saw sparks as I began to cast the spell.

“Keep holding it…”

At the end of my casting time, I felt lightning running up and down my arms.

“Release it.”

I directed the spell at Y with as much strength as I could muster, but it barely touched the barrier before it faded away. I groaned.

“You’re getting there, Xavier,” she assured. “The magic may be weak, but it’s basically a Thunder Wave as long as there’s no barrier up.”

“I don’t want to be stuck with knowing that move when the speech is in two days,” I sighed. “I need to master it as much as I can.”

“Xavier, you are going to bring your Pokemon with you,” she pointed out. “So am I, Karma, and the knights. Even then, it’s just a speech. We don’t know if things will truly go bad.”

“I still want to master it the best I can,” I insisted. “A Thunder Wave is no use if I can’t truly hurt the opponent. Now, let's continue.”

The two of us continued to diligently practice, but after a few more rounds, my arms were sore and my mind was foggy. Y noticed that and said, “Xavier, how about we rest under the tree? We’ll go back for dinner in a few hours, so might as well enjoy some peace and quiet.”

Even though I was not satisfied, I had to admit Y was correct. I don’t think I could even drink water right now without spilling it on my clothes. 

I dragged my body over to the tree and plopped down. Y took a seat next to me, kissing me on the cheek. “You’ve done well today.”

I could not help but let my head rest on her shoulder. Her hair was very soft and smelled nice, a strange yet comforting mixture of both berries and hearth fire. “Hm.”

“I know you always want to strive to be better, Xavier, but the progress you have made is still impressive,” she continued, ruffling my hair with a smile. “Don’t let yourself down just because it’s slow. You only became a great Pokemon battle commander by a long time of practice.”

I then remembered all the training sessions with Mother when I was learning to battle with Pokemon. While I had been taught them extensively, it was also partly motivated by the shame of losing to her even when she was holding back, and fear that I would not be able to play in the gardens, the dolls, or my Pokemon. It…was strange to think Y was taught by Mother, and is a much more gentle teacher than she is.

Come to think of it, how could Y still be resistant to the corruption that consumed the witches, ones that Mother and Silvus fell prey to? They all lost people dear to them, and Mother would certainly not have tolerated Y’s demeanor today. And from the way Silvus and father talked about her, it seemed Mother was all Y had for years.

“Y…can you tell me about your time at the palace?” I asked.

Y looked at me in shock. “Why?”

“You’re…um, very different from her. I would not have expected to hear that she taught you.”

I suddenly realized that maybe she did not want to talk about that. Y never talked about her own past that did not relate to me before. I looked away, my cheeks heated in embarrassment. “I’m sorry if you don’t want to talk about it–”

“Oh no, I’m just surprised, that’s all,” she replied. “Though I think you would want to lie in my lap. It’s…a rather long story, and you are tired.”

I did as she told, and was instantly shocked at how hard her legs were. Even though I knew she had a Greninja form, it still surprised me that her legs were this strong. “Are you comfortable, X?” 

“I-I’m fine,” I stammered. Even though they were mostly hard, it was still soft and warm. It reminded me of times when Mother told me bedtime stories and sang to me as I laid in her lap.

My chest tightened from those memories. Mother…

Y’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts. “Good.” She then took a deep breath and sighed, starting to run her hand through my hair, putting me at ease. “Well…I can certainly tell you it was miserable. As a witch taken in by Blue, the human servants feared me and stayed away from me as much as possible. But they’re not as bad as the other young witches there.”

I had thought that the servants’ avoidance of me was very hurtful before I learned how to get used to it…what made her think that way?

“They were awful to be around,” she continued. “They were jealous of me as Blue favored me more for my dual forms and more powerful magic. I often dealt with them messing with my stuff and sabotaging me during demonstrations. Whenever they had a dispute, they were encouraged to fight it out by Blue, whether by magic or in their Pokemon forms, with the medical care not given to the loser. I refused to give them the attention they wanted or partake in those fights, and they hated me more for it.”

My heart pounded as my hands tightened into fists. “That’s terrible.”

Y sighed again. “And your mother…well, I thought when I was younger she was the kindest person in the palace, but looking back, she was crueler than all the rest. While she often treated me kindly, it was clear that if I stepped out of line, did not do well enough, or was seen near you, I would be punished.”

Just like me…

Then, realization hit me. “You said that the witches that were there sabotaged you during demonstrations. Why did Mother still favor you?”

She winced. “Well…when I did show my magic to her alone, she quickly realized it and trained me privately. However, she turned a blind eye to the bullying, insisting I should make them submit to me with force and grow stronger from it as a result. It only got worse when she started to trust me with important missions and flaunted that to the others.”

Important missions…?

I was about to ask her what she meant by that, but Y was not looking at me. Her gaze was fixed to the sky, yet did not seem to look at anything in particular. She murmured something I could not hear, the hand once in my hair now clenched into a fist that rested against my temple. I decided to ask her another question.

“Do you know what happened to the other students?”

Y grimaced. “I don’t know. They probably all died in the Great War. They were desperate to fight to the end to make their teacher and all of witchkind proud. I was fortunate enough to not fight against them because of my cursed state, but…it still pained me to hear them die for someone who couldn't care less if they lived or died.”

“Do you think those that are still alive will come to her side?” 

Y shrugged. “I don’t know.”

“Are you ready to fight them?” 

She looked down at me, a mournful expression on her face. “I have to.”

My heart broke at those words, uttered so calmly yet so bitterly. I want to be stronger, to be better so she would not suffer from such a fight, so I could fight them myself.

But I cannot. This is Y’s battle. My battle is for the kingdom and with Mother alone. 

Y took a deep breath and exhaled, as she ran her hand through my hair again. “But…I will get through it. As long as you are safe and happy, as long as we are free from Blue…it will all be worth it.”

The thought of a peaceful and happier life seemed so distant to me. I don’t know if someone will disappear from me. I don’t know if Mother will do something unexpected and ruin all our chances of defeating her. And even with her gone, I must learn how to rule the kingdom. 

But somehow, my worries melted away when Y planted a kiss on my forehead, ruffling through my hair. “And we get to be together.”

Even though it was a naive, childish question, I asked, “Forever?”

She smiled. “Forever.”

Chapter Text

I tossed and turned for what seemed to be like an hour, but sleep would not come. Tomorrow, I will go out into town and attend Black’s speech. It has been almost a month since I have gone to town, and I cannot help but feel nervous about what would happen. I probably would be awake until sunrise.

I turned to glance at the doll that Y gave to me a long time ago. She sat on my table, her beaded eyes staring at me back. I wonder if she’s still awake. Maybe she could calm me.

I pulled myself out of bed and went down the hall to Y’s room. I knocked on it. “Y?”

Silence. Maybe she’s already asleep. 

I was about to leave when the door suddenly opened. Y looked at me in surprise. “Xavier?”

I couldn’t help but smile at the sight of her. “Hello, Y…”

She smiled a little. “Couldn’t sleep? I can’t either.”

I nodded. “Yes…”

Y stepped aside, opening the door more. “Come on in then.”

I immediately took a seat on her bed and looked around. My eyes landed onto her desk, which now held a pile of sewing materials and an assortment of puppets. “You have been working on your puppets?”

She nodded. “I couldn’t sleep either. It’s been a while since I last did a show, but I still want to make sure my puppets and materials are ready to go once this is all over.”

“The children will certainly look forward to seeing your shows again,” I remarked.

She nodded again. “I hope so too…”

Y then took a seat next to me, looking at me worried. “Do you want to talk about it?”

I sighed. “Well…I am worried about what may happen tomorrow.”

“No amount of worrying will not change the future,” Y pointed out. “All we can do is prepare for the unknown.”

I nodded with a sigh. I should try to keep my mind off of it…

I glanced at the puppets on the desk. An idea came to me. “When this is all over…maybe I can try to perform a show?”

She smiled, holding my hand. “Of course. I would like to see you perform one. The children will love it as well.”

Talking about what happened afterward made me feel more…normal. It gave me some hope. Hope that eventually…everything will return to normal. 

I leaned against Y’s shoulder. “...Thank you, Y.”

Y raised an eyebrow. “For what?”

“Just…being here.”

She smiled, resting her head against mine. “Of course, X.”

“X…that nickname again.”

Y pulled away, eyes wide. “Do you not like it?”

I shook my head. “No, I was just wondering why you call me that.”

“Ah right, I didn’t tell you that story.” She sighed, a wistful smile on her face. “You always wanted to know my real name. I didn’t want to tell you so that we wouldn’t get in trouble and because you might fear it for being supposedly cursed. So you decided that in order to match with me, you will call yourself ‘X’.”

My face heated up at such an explanation. “Oh.”

“Do you think it’s embarrassing?” 

I shook my head. “No…I like that nickname a lot. I always did, even though I could not remember who called me that. Though I did not expect my reasons would be…silly.”

Y giggled. “I know it’s silly, but it’s cute.”

“Though I have no qualms calling you ‘Yvonne’,” I said. 

Her eyes widened. “Really?”

I nodded with a smile. “It’s a strong name. It suits you.”

A tinge of red enveloped Y’s cheeks. “Oh. Thank you.”

We then sat in comfortable silence. My eyes grew heavier as time passed, but I did not want to leave Y’s side. An idea then crossed my mind, making my cheeks tinge pink.

“Y…”

“Hm?”

“Can I, uh, stay with you tonight?”

“Oh!”

Y suddenly pulled me down next to her on the bed. “Ah!” 

“Of course you can!” she said, strangely with a rather red face and a wide smile. Why is she so happy about this? “I’ll go turn off the lights first.”

As she did so, I pulled the sheets from the bottom of the bed over my body. After the room went dark, Y went under the blanket, both of us shifting to get comfortable. She was soon snuggling against me, her bare leg wrapped around mine. I realized uncomfortably how short her nightgown is, with it barely covering her knee. 

Suddenly, my body grew incredibly hot. Even though Y’s embrace was usually comforting, I only felt stiff under it. I tried to move away from her, but it was hard with the size of her bed and her firm grip on me.

“You’re tense, X,” she remarked. “Are you okay?”

“I feel like I’m being punished,” I replied without thinking. 

“Oh?” She snuggled against me closer, her head against the crook of my neck. “How can I help you?” 

…Should I do something? I don’t know what, but I think I have to. But it’s hard to sleep, and I rather try to do that right now.

I took a deep breath and sighed. “Uh…don’t hug me. It’s too hot for me.”

I could feel Y deflate against me. “Oh. Okay.” She pulled away, letting me relax. “Tell me if you change your mind~”

I did not understand why she said that in the teasing tone, but I felt more comfortable now. I looked up at the ceiling, the thoughts of tomorrow flooding my mind. I felt myself more at ease when I felt a strand of Y’s hair on the pillow, twirling it around my finger.. “...Thank you for letting me stay. My room felt colder than normal tonight, and I can’t stop thinking about tomorrow and father…”

My words trailed off as I focused on Y’s worried eyes. “...Please don’t leave me, Yvonne.”

Y turned to me, her crimson eyes ablaze with an intensity that I could not pull away from. Her beautiful features were illuminated by the soft moonlight, making them stand out more. My heart skipped a beat.

“I am not going anywhere, Xavier. I will always be wherever you are. That is my promise.”

I reached out to touch her cheek. “Thank you.”

She smiled at me, kissing my cheek before pulling away and closing her eyes. I wrapped my arm around her back, pulling her closer. I eventually fell asleep in her embrace.

Today is the day. Everyone had been busy preparing for the speech. I was told to relax, so I decided to go out into the forest for fresh air with my Pokemon. Being able to spend much time with them after weeks of being unable to is refreshing, especially with my ability to understand them.

“I think I smell a Bunnelby,” Elec remarked, sniffing up in the air. 

“A Bunnelby!?” Salame exclaimed, looking around excitedly.

“You two are still hungry after breakfast?” Garma asked exasperatedly.

“It’s called letting out stress, Garma,” Elec replied irately. Salame nodded reluctantly. 

“You can chase after one if you want, Elec,” I assured.

“Xavier, I believe that is unwise,” Kanga interjected. “A hunt can take longer than expected.”

“I could find some berries for you,” Marisso offered. 

“Xavier?” 

We turned around to see Diantha, walking up to me slowly with a hesitant smile.

“Diantha…”

“I want to check on you,” she said, then sighed. “I know that everything must be difficult for you, and our relationship is not close. But I would like you to rely upon me.”

I nodded. “Yes…it has been difficult for me. But all I need to keep me at peace of mind is if you are alive and well with Trevor and Shauna.”

Diantha’s smile grew more cheerful. “You have truly changed.” She then went up to me, taking both of my hands. “Promise that you will return back to us. I hope that nothing bad will happen, but…” Her expression turned solemn. “Promise that if something bad happens, prioritize your safety.”

I looked down at her hands. “Diantha…”

She held my cheek. “I know I may not be your birth mother, but you were always my son.”

Guilt flooded through me. I had been cruel to her ever since she first came into the palace, and yet she still treated me warmly. 

“I do not deserve your kindness after all I have done to you, Trevor, and Shauna.” I looked at her in the eye. “I am so sorry.”

Diantha pulled me into a hug and smoothed down my hair. “That is all in the past, dear. I am happy to continue growing closer now and in the future.”

I nodded, closing my eyes. I missed out so much when I closed my heart up to everyone. I had always thought that I was alone, but I was wrong. “Thank you, Diantha.”

She sighed, and I looked up to her to see a solemn expression on her face. "When this is all over, I know that you have to prepare to become king. You have so little time for that, and I know how difficult it is to run a kingdom. I would like to offer to rule as regent while you prepare."

My eyes widened. "You...would do that?"

That's so much...especially for me.

She nodded. "I helped your father a lot with his duties, so I am up to the task. I regret that I cannot wait until you're fully prepared, but it is the best i can do for you."

I cannot refuse when she is right. But this is too overwhelming to accept...

Diantha frowned. "Ah,  I'm sorry, that was a bit too sudden and too soon. Blue and Black have not been dealt with yet. You do not need to give me an answer now. Just think about it when you can, okay?"

I nodded. "I will Diantha. Thank you, once again."

She smiled, placing a hand on my cheek. "Of course. You're family, after all."

Sir Black’s speech starts in an hour, and everyone is making last minute preparations before we head out to town. Diantha, Trevor, Shauna, Bianca, and Aurelia will stay behind to watch over the Marchen. Amarillo and Red left yesterday to attend a meeting with the fairies. Apparently they found someone who holds important information about Mother and her plans.

Trevor approached me in the reception room, his brow furrowed. “Xavier…what if you see your mother? What will you do?”

I looked down on the floor. “I…haven’t really thought about it.”

“We will face her, sooner or later,” Y sighed. I turned to see her at the doorway, looking at me worriedly. “I know she is your mother, Xavier, but are you truly prepared to face her?”

I was taken aback by her question. 

Y dipped her head. “I know this is a difficult question X, but we have to consider the worst possible scenario. I need to be absolutely certain you are ready.”

I looked down on the floor again, thinking about her words. Finally, I looked up to her with resolved determination. “Yes, I am. I will face her and stop her.”

Chapter Text

I stood in an alleyway with Y, Ruby, and Karma, accompanied by Kanga, Garma, Fletchy, Ruby’s Gardevoir and Karma’s Lucario, making sure to stay hidden in the shadows as we watched a sea of people moving toward the plaza. Sapphire was scouting around the plaza for knights’ positions and we have been waiting for her. 

I pulled my cloak’s hood over me more. There are so many people…I hope they don’t recognize me.

“Okay, this is where we split up,” Ruby whispered. “Remember, we are not looking for a fight. Flee at first opportunity.”

I narrowed my eyes on him. “I am not a fool. I would not pick a needless fight that would put others in danger.”

Ruby grinned. “I’m glad that you understand. Remember, we’re only here to watch and listen. So should anything go wrong, we need you to retreat, Prince Xavier.”

What? Ridiculous.

“I will not leave you all behind,” I insisted.

Y sighed. “Xavier, this is not the time to be stubborn.”

I turned to Y. “This is not about stubbornness. All I have been doing is run, and I will not do that anymore. I have people to protect and I will not let them down.”

“Running away isn’t always cowardice,” Y pointed out. “Especially with your position.”

“That may be true, but my position also demands me to face this head on.” My expression softened. “Please understand, Y.”

Y sighed again. “Xavier, I don’t want you to do anything that you may regret.”

I nodded. “I know.”

I looked at Y, who turned away from me to observe the crowd. No matter what I say, she will always want my safety first. 

“Look who I found.”

We all turned to see Sapphire and her Gallade both with a stiff frown. Next to her was…

“Emma?”

Sapphire stepped aside, unsheathing her sword as her Gallade prepared an attack. Emma stepped up to me, her nose bandaged and covered by a gray cloak and wearing shabby prisoner rags. She bent one knee down, bowing her head. “Prince Xavier…I’m so glad to see you all right.”

I twitched at the sight of her face. The Pokemon took an aggressive stance, growling at her. I could hear Y beating her fist against her palm and Karma and Ruby unsheathing their own swords. There is no sign of Ylfa’s wicked grin. The relief in her exhausted eyes seemed genuine, despite everyone’s aggression around her.

“Are you truly Emma? Or are you Ylfa?” I demanded. “Or…both?”

“I am the Emma you know, the one who served you loyally for three years,” she answered, pulling herself up. “Ylfa is only a being created by Silvus’s curse, a slave to his and Blue’s schemes.” 

“What?” both Y and I asked, shocked.

“I was cursed by Silvus in order to serve him and Black in their coup,” she explained, a disgusted expression on her face. “Given the opportunity, I would kill them both. My true loyalties only lie with you, Prince Xavier, and I would not hesitate to eradicate them for your safety.”

Kill her father? For me? 

I narrowed my eyes on her. “How do I know you are telling the truth?”

She pointed at Karma’s Lucario, then Ruby’s Gardevoir and Sapphire’s Gallade. “Tell me, Prince Xavier. Do they sense any ill will from me?”

I glanced at the three Pokemon. They shook their heads, but they still were in a battle ready stance. 

“ I sense this girl is not lying, but you can never be too careful, ” Ruby’s Gardevoir warned telepathically.

She then placed her hand on her chest. “If it makes you feel better, I promise on Manaphy’s good heart that whatever I will say about this situation is the truth.” 

I gasped. Emma never made those kinds of oaths. 

“...I hope you understand what kind of oath you are making, Dame Emma,” Y warned, a growl in her voice.

Emma nodded at Y. “I am aware.” She turned to me, her expression solemn. “I have been fighting for control for my body for weeks, and finally managed to do so a few days ago. I made my way to the Marchen to warn you about what’s happening in the palace, but it was more difficult to do so because of the high surveillance. While in hiding, I ran into a witch allied with the Lucis Bearer, and I told him I have crucial information regarding Blue.”

Mother!?

“Who is this witch?” Y interrogated. 

Emma furrowed her brow in thought. “I think Red? He was an Arcanine with red eyes and didn’t give his name, but he looked a lot like the doll the prince had.”

“So you’re the informant?” Karma questioned.

She nodded. “I do not know if I can keep Ylfa at bay for long, so we arranged for me to meet with her yesterday. But I was caught again by the palace guards. I only managed to escape again today.”

I glanced at Ruby and Sapphire, whose postures only eased a little. I then glanced at Y, Karma, and our Pokemon, clearly more conflicted than the other two. Emma must be telling the truth if she invoked a sacred oath…but it was difficult to trust her with everything that happened.

“Anyway, the guards are still looking for me, so I will make this as quick as I can,” Emma continued. “Blue is growing weaker.”

“What?” I asked, confused.

“I may not have been myself for several weeks, but I have some of Ylfa’s memories,” she explained. “Blue was bedridden, still recovering from the wounds she got from the Great War.”

So she is as sick as Amarillo, except in an even worse state than her. 

“I overheard Silvus say that the Tenebrarum no longer recognizes her as its sole bearer.”

Amarillo said something similar to that, but she only said she doesn't feel a connection between Mother and the Tenebrarum. Emma’s statement seems to contradict that.

Emma’s brow furrowed. “It seems the crystal recognizes both of you as bearers. It’s stretching both of its energy to you. That is probably the reason why Blue remains weak and not at her full power.”

“Two bearers?” Karma asked, flabbergasted. 

“Is that possible?” Sapphire questioned.

Y shrugged. “It’s been only one thousand years since magic existed…that may seem like a long time to you humans, but us fairies and witches are still a very young species.”

”That may be the reason why she hasn’t shown herself to the public yet,” Ruby commented.

Emma nodded. “Yes. The witches that were on her side have not attempted to communicate or help her due to her weak state of health.” Her fists clenched as a stormy expression clouded Emma’s usually calm demeanor. “Silvus figures that the only way to get the crystal to fully accept Blue is to drain the rest of your powers. That is why the palace issued a higher bounty for your head.”

“What is Black’s position in all of this?” Sapphire demanded. “He can’t just be a useful figurehead for them right now.”

Emma nodded again. “You are correct. Black refused to search for Prince Xavier to prevent Silvus from getting what he wants. And because of his animosity to witches and figurehead status, Silvus wants to kill him during his speech today and have Blue reveal herself to the public.”

“ What!? ” Karma and I exclaimed.

All I could do was stare at Emma in disbelief. A small part of me hoped she was just joking, but the grave expression on her face swiftly crushed it.

“They believe that by killing him in front of many people, it will cause enough fear and despair to fuel the Tenebrarum in hopes to strengthen her,” she continued, then sighed, shaking her head. “As much as I despise that man with every fiber of my being…that is a terrible way to die. The gallows’ death is a much more worthy one than that.”

How could she say that so calmly about her own father? Even if Black forced her to commit treason…I could not imagine thinking or speaking of that of my own, even on my worst days. 

“This just got worse than expected,” Ruby commented, glancing fearfully at Sapphire.

“This is not good,” Karma sighed, rubbing her temples. “The Tenebrarum will most certainly see a surge of power if that happens with this many people here.”

“...And a weakened Blue is still a formidable foe,” Y pointed out. “Fighting her without the Tenebrarum fueled and winning is more possible than this.”

Suddenly, Emma fell onto her knees, clutching her head. “UGH!”

“Emma!” I cried, running over to her side. I saw shadows creeping up her shoes. 

“No! Not now!” she hissed.

She suddenly fell onto my feet, holding onto my leg. Her eyes were desperate and pleading, her face suddenly pale and sweaty. “Please, Prince Xavier! Break my curse! I can’t…I can’t fight her off!”

I stared at her, terrified and bewildered. “What?”

“...I am sorry, Dame Emma, but he cannot do anything for you at this time,” Y said sadly.

“Then chain me up! Freeze me! Knock me out!” she howled, her eyes frenzied with madness. “I refuse to be a slave to this demon! I refuse to be a slave to Blue!” She pulled away, her forehead pressed against the ground. The shadows started to creep up to her knees. “Please…”

I could do nothing but watch with a heavy heart at her suffering. I forced myself to look at Y. “Y, please.”

She nodded solemnly, then raised her hand forward. Frost formed at her fingertips, before chains of ice rose from the ground and bind themselves against Emma’s wrists and ankles. Emma tugged at them several times, but they held steady. She let out a sigh of relief. “Thank you…now go. You don’t have much time. Please…deliver the message to the Lucis Bearer. Stop them from killing Black.”

I turned back to Emma, my heart growing heavier at her sorry state. “...Emma, I am so sorry.”

Emma smiled a little at me, before her expression turned solemn. “Keep this kingdom from Blue’s hands, my prince.”

Sapphire nodded at us. “We will keep an eye on her.”

Sapphire quickly informed us of the knights’ positions around the plaza, and gave us suggestions about where we may hide to avoid prying eyes. After she finished her briefing, Karma, Y, I, and our Pokemon hurry off.

Father…Lord Zygarde…any god that hears us…please watch over us today. 

Chapter Text

I tugged at my cloak as I watched the crowd in front of us shuffled and moved in front of us. There are so many people here…and they have no idea that this seemingly harmless speech will be the beginning of their nightmares.

Kanga rubbed my shoulder, trying to ease my nerves. I patted her arm, then looked around. The knights started to enter the plaza, making me pull my hood down further.

Suddenly, Y took my hand, leaning closer to me. “Don’t worry, I won’t let anything happen to you.”

“And so will I!” Karma interrupted, making both Y and I roll our eyes. “If any threat comes in our way, it will be swiftly vanquished by Lucario and I!”

I shook my head. “I am not worried about myself. I am more worried about other people’s safety…as well as our friends. I will not forgive myself if something bad happens to them.”

“You’re not the only one responsible for protecting everyone here,” Y assured. “Remember that I will always share your burden, Xavier.”

“A battle is best fought with comrades by your side,” Karma agreed. “So dispel that notion from your mind and trust us.”

I looked at the two of them, letting myself smile a little. “I know. Thank you.”

Y pulled me into a hug and kissed me on the cheek. My face instantly became hot when I heard Karma giggling and sigh, “Ah, young love.”

Suddenly, a woman announced, “The king is here!”

All of us quickly turn our attention to the stage in the center of the plaza. Y stepped away from me, her expression stoic. Black walked onto the center of the stage with a triumphant smile and arms spread magnanimously. “Good day, my loyal subjects!”

Everyone fell silent at his voice. Black’s expression then turned grave. “I know that much has happened since the late King Green has passed away, bringing an end to the Oak dynasty’s 200 year long reign. It is not often that such an esteemed dynasty dies out so suddenly on this land.” He sighed, shaking his head. “And it is not often that it would be ended by the king’s own child.”

Everyone started to murmur amongst themselves. Amongst them, I could hear:

“To think that he became exactly like the Demon Queen!”

“He must have killed the rest of the royal family as well!”

“Why had they not gotten rid of him after Prince Trevor and Princess Shauna joined the royal family!?”

I winced at those harsh remarks, but I could not blame them. Black used their own fears for his own gain. 

Black’s expression then contorted into rage. “Rest assured, we will find this hellspawn and bring justice for the late king and his family! Anyone who can find and surrender him to the palace will be handsomely rewarded.”

The people began to chatter again. It hurts to see them believe him, even knowing this is exactly what he wanted.

“As your king, I will do everything to make sure this kingdom prosper,” Black continued, a wide grin back on his face. “And when my time has come, I will make sure that Zyleiss will be forever protected by the proud Merlo family.”

“My, my, what a sight. Even after all these years, you humans never change.”

I froze. That voice!

I frantically looked around, but I could not find her. Where is she hiding?

The crowd grew restless at the sound of her voice. Many try to search for her with their eyes. The knights unsheathed their swords as some of their Pokemon adopted a battle ready stance. 

“You lot are nothing but manipulative, lying rodents. And yet you called us witches the wicked ones.”

A bright light faded into existence next to Black. A silhouette emerged from the light and suddenly, I could see her in all of her wicked glory.

My mother, the witch who killed my father. And beside her was Silvus, the witch who would serve and then destroy the kingdom in a heartbeat just to be with his sister again.

Mother’s sudden appearance caused the already restless crowd to break into a panic. 

“Silence!” she boomed. 

Not a single sound followed after. No one dared to move, their eyes fixed onto the witch in front of them. 

Black acted more quickly than I expected, drawing his sword and about to swing it at her neck. Silvus quickly casted a spell that sent him flying onto the other end of the stage.

“How the hell are you alive!?” Black roared, pulling himself up.

“You should be thankful that I let you play king for so long,” Mother said dismissively. “But playtime is over.” She maniacally grinned at Black. “That crown is mine.”

She turned back to the crowd with a smile, her arms spread wide in a gesture of grandness. “Zyleiss, your queen is back.”

Even though the shrieks and cries of the crowd made me tremble from her declaration, I was calmed a little when I realized just how sickly she looked. Her skin was paler than the last time  I saw her, contrasting the dark circles underneath her eyes. She looked worse than Amarillo. 

“I won’t let you steal my crown, demon!” Black howled, brandishing his sword. “Zygarde blesses me now!”

Mother turned to him, an amused smirk on her face. “Oh? But I wasn’t the one who stole in the first place.”

Black charged at Mother, but Silvus deftly stepped in front of her and casted a shield. The shield cracked a tiny bit from Black's strike, before Silvus sent him flying again with another spell. This time, it was stronger, sending Black out into the crowd.

Mother shot a glare at Black. “I have tolerated you for far too long, human.”

Sparkling icicle darts appeared midair as Mother raised her hand. They point outward, casting themselves in the direction of the townspeople, trying to flee with the knights guiding them. She used this spell before, but now there are even more of them. She appeared weak, and yet can still manage that much. 

“She can easily destroy this part of town with that spell,” Y muttered.

“I thought she was planning to kill Black?” I asked in a hushed voice.

“Looks like the plan changed,” Karma sighed.

“Farewell, my disloyal subjects!”

“She cannot do this!” 

“Xavier, no!” 

“Prince Xavier!”

“Xavier, don’t be stupid–”

I ignored Y, Karma, and Kanga, bolting over to the center of the crowd. This would be the most effective place to set up a barrier. My hood was knocked over by my running, but I did not care.

I stretched out my arms as I concentrated on casting a shield on the entirety of the crowd.

“Isn’t that the prince!?”

“Witch!”

I did the best to shut out everyone’s voices as I pushed all of my energy towards the palms of my hands, imagining an impenetrable glass arching in front of us. As soon as I cast my massive shield, the icicles shattered upon impact, falling away. I winced at the impact, but forced myself to stand steady even when I was pushed back. 

I dispel the shield around me, preparing to make another. “I will not let you hurt anyone anymore, Mother.”

The crowd began to murmur all around us. Mother smiled cruelly at me. 

“Ah, so you finally showed up, little one,” she greeted me.

I narrowed my eyes on her, watching for any little sign of an attack. 

“It’s good to see you again, my dear son. I knew I’d get you out of hiding if I opened my speech like this.”

She did this to draw me out…?

“Now, be a good boy and hand over what is rightfully mine,” she demanded.

“You won’t get away with this, you demon!” Black bellowed, sword poised at Mother as he charged up on the stage. He cannot defeat Mother with just a sword. What is he thinking!?

Mother flicked her hand and a blue light started to gather in her palm. That spell! She’s going to–  

I pushed myself forward, rushing towards Black. “Black, run!”

But I was too late. A second later, a sword of light appeared and impaled Black right through his chest.

“ No! ”

Mother sneered as Black clutched on his wound, stumbling back. “It looks like I already have.”

The crowd finally began to disperse. People pushed against each other, screaming and crying as the knights were trying to maintain order. Most of them were almost at the edges of the plaza before Mother casts another spell, creating a barrier that trapped everyone inside. 

A strange wave of energy surged through my body, making me stumble. “This is…”

“Feed me your fear!” Mother cried. “Give your queen what she wants!”

The people’s negative energy is fueling the Tenebrarum!

I glanced at Mother. I shivered at her wide, inhumane grin, her eyes gleaming madly. 

“Mother, stop all of this!” I pleaded.

In my moment of hesitation, Y rushed forward in her Talonflame form, casting a spell. Garma, Karma’s Lucario, and Fletchy all charged and launched attacks at her. A Sludge Bomb, Aura Sphere, Flamethrower, and a gale of sharp wind blades rushed towards Mother, but she did nothing to stop them. Silvus stepped in front of her, casting a shield. The Pokemon moves disappeared upon impact, but their force combined with Y’s spell made him stumble a little. I heard his shield crack. Silvus tried to keep it up, but soon stumbled back. The shield cracked as the blades pierced through Silvus’s chest.

“Ugh!” 

Mother glanced at Y, her lips pulled into an amused smile. “Impressive. You can still use your magic even after you have been separated from it for so long. I expected no less from my best apprentice.”

She turned to Silvus, giving him a disappointed look. “How pathetic, Silver. Even an unpracticed child could kill you. No wonder the Tenebrarum did not choose you.”

“Blue…” Silvus rasped. Those were the only words he could manage before he collapsed on the floor. He twitched for several moments, then went still.

“Black!”

Emma’s voice suddenly echoed throughout the eerily silent plaza. She rushed towards Black, who had managed to walk a good distance away from Mother before he collapsed on the ground. Soon, Emma was kneeling right beside Black’s bloody body. Ruby and Sapphire were right behind her. 

I was about to run over to her, but Karma suddenly grabbed my arm and pulled me back.

“Don’t,” she warned.

“But–”

“Trust me, Prince Xavier. You don’t want to see such a grisly sight up close.”

Mother watched Emma and the two knights with disinterest. “A rightful punishment for a threat to my queendom.”

Black brought his hand to his mouth and coughed. I saw blood on his hands. Father’s last moments flashed through my head. I forced the memory away as Mother turned her gaze to me. She gave me a warm smile as she held out her hand and beckoned me over.

“Join me, Xavier. We were meant to rule this kingdom from the start. These humans do not deserve your protection. They deserve to suffer for everything they did to our kind.”

I shook my head, glaring at her defiantly. “I’d rather die than join you.”

Mother gasped, before she narrowed her eyes on me. “You what?”

I drew back as she hunched forward, sparks flying from her hands. “You ungrateful brat! This is how you repay me after everything I’ve done for you!? I was the one who brought you into this world! I was the one who taught you everything you need to know! I was the one who loved you when no one did! And you dare spit back at me like that!?”

“You have done nothing but cause me heartbreak and misery,” I spat. 

Mother breathed heavily for several moments, before a deranged grin formed on her face. She raised her hands up in the air as sparks started to form in her hands. “If death is your wish, then I shall grant it. I have brought you into this world, and I am very much capable of taking you out.” 

I raised my hands, imagining another unbreakable barrier. “I will not let this kingdom fall into  your hands again!”

I readied myself for Mother’s attack, when she suddenly stepped away. I looked up to see Y above me, flapping her wings as she sent a barrage of air blades at her. Mother nimbly dodge the blades as they flew at her, but one of them cut into her sleeve. She yelped as she grabbed onto her arm, blood smearing her hand.

“You’ll have to get through me first,” Y snarled.

“Don’t fool yourself, traitor,” Mother panted. 

Mother extended her hands and in mere moments, lightning suddenly appeared and was winding up Y’s body. The lightning then formed into a chain that flew into her hands. 

Y’s flapping became panicked and erratic as Mother pulled her closer to her, trying to break free from her. “Oh shit, oh shit –” 

“Let her go!” I cried, dispelling my shield and running towards Mother.

“Xavier! Stay back!” Y cried.

“Mother, don’t hurt her!” I pleaded.

Mother looked at me and then at Y. Her lips slowly curled into a wicked grin.

“So is that how your relationship has become?” She glanced at Y and gave her a derisive laugh. “I must say, Yvonne, you have grown to be quite a charmer. What a shame that you used it to lead my son away from his rightful destiny.”

My heart was in my throat as I ran closer to where they were. Tears threatened to well up in my eyes, but I forced them down. “Let her go. I will do anything, just…just let her go!”

Mother glanced at me with sudden interest. “Anything?” she asked, her voice so sweet and so terrible to hear.

I could not bring myself to look at her. Instead, I kept my eyes on Y, terrified and pleading with me. “X, don’t.”

“If you wish to save her so much, then you must return what you have taken from me,” she said coldly. “Return to me the Crystallum Tenebrarum.” She smiled at me, a cruel, cold one that sent a shiver down my spine. “And you will become my wonderful, obedient son once more. Only then, I will let Yvonne go.”

The hope in Y’s eyes disappeared, turning into resignation. I am sorry Yvonne…I cannot lose you too.

“Time is ticking, my son,” she taunted. “The longer you wait, the more she suffers.”

There was a blinding flash of light, and then Mother and Y were gone.

“No!” I cried. 

Again…again, I could not do anything because I was weak. First father, and now Yvonne…how many more people will I lose? How many more, until…until when?

Chapter Text

“Prince Xavier.”

I felt a hand on my shoulder and whirled around. Much to my surprise, it was Sapphire, who gave me a solemn yet sympathetic look. Her Gallade, Fletchy, and Kanga went up to me, their gazes sorrowful. I felt Garma hug my leg. “Do not blame yourself. There is nothing you could have done.”

“I have to save her,” I croaked. “I…I can’t–”

Sapphire looked through me, and I followed her gaze. The people were starting to back away, their expression a mixture of fear and anger. The knights slowly approached us, swords and Pokemon stalking up to us. This was exactly like four years ago, after the war ended.

“What should we do now?” a man cried. “That witch just killed the new king!”

“Everyone, it is best for you to go home and stay there where you’ll be safe!” Sapphire called. 

“And what? Wait for the witch to kill us?” someone else called.

One pointed an accusing finger at me, her face white with fear. “That murderer is a witch as well! He’s exactly like his mother!”

“A wicked witch!” 

“A demon!”

“He will kill us all!”

The people began to curse me. I stood quietly and listened to their insults. I cannot blame them for thinking this way. 

Karma and our Pokemon moved to stand beside Sapphire, all of them shielding me from the angry masses. I doubt any of these people would listen to what I have to say.

“Stop!”

A familiar man walked towards us with a gentle smile. “You are…”

He nodded. “Yes. Do you remember me? You made my daughter very happy on her birthday with your gift.”

I was surprised when he and his wife came to stand beside me. “What are you doing?” I asked.

His smile grew as he looked at me. “I can finally properly repay you for what you have done.” He turned back to the crowd with narrowed eyes. “We will not let you hurt the prince! Rumors may have spread that he is cold and wicked, but he is anything but! He is a truly kind person, and he protected us all from the wicked witch! Have you no shame!?”

The angry shouting began to fade into hushed accusations and aggressive whispering. 

A familiar man, Maurice the baker, and his son stepped up from the crowd. “I know the prince as well! He is not cold and wicked, but a kind-hearted young man!”

“That’s right!” the boy agreed.

A girl also joined us, away from her parents. “Big brother would never hurt anyone!”

These are the children that Y and I played with. The ones who watched her shows. 

“Big brother is a good person, and we won’t let you hurt him!”

I could only stare in shock at everyone around me. My vision blurred as tears came to my eyes. I wiped them away with the back of my hand. “Everyone…”

“A simple act of kindness can come a long way,” Karma remarked. 

I nodded, still in awe of what happened. These people believe in me…I have to live up to their hopes. 

I took a deep breath and started walking forward. Sapphire grabbed my hand, her brow creasing with worry. I shook my head. “I will be okay.”

Sapphire looked at me for a few moments before she finally released me. Now that I was directly in front of everyone, the area had quieted. I closed my eyes and took another deep breath. Slowly, I got down on one knee before them.

“I am sorry.”

The crowd began to murmur again. I could hear stifled gasps amongst them. 

“Your Highness, you shouldn’t–”

I raised my hand to silence Sapphire. I once again looked at the townspeople. “I know my words are meaningless, but I still want to apologize for everything my mother has done…and to the people I have hurt. I was blind and naive, ignorant to the reasons for the anxiety and fear of so many people. But I have grown since then, and now I see with clear eyes the hatred you have for me and my mother.”

The crowd remained silent. I continued on. 

“King Green was killed by my mother, and I was not strong enough to save him. But I made a promise to him, swearing to uphold our family’s oath to Zygarde. I will protect Zyleiss in his stead, and I hope that all of you will give me a chance to prove myself worthy as your prince and future king. I promise I will make things right again, no matter what it takes.”

I bowed my head once again then stood back up. I turned to Sapphire and Karma. I noticed that from where I could see, Emma and Ruby were absent and that Black was nowhere to be seen. “Where are Emma and Ruby?” I asked them quietly.

Sapphire sighed. “They took Black’s body from…all of this.”

I gasped. “Body? You mean–”

She nodded sadly. “He has passed.”

A heaviness began to sink in my chest. Black was a terrible man. And yet his death has done nothing but bring more terror and sorrow. I must stop this madness. Bloodshed will only beget more bloodshed…and I cannot let anyone die anymore.

“Please do your best, big brother!”

I was broken out of my thoughts by the voice of one of the little boys.

“Let’s play together when you come back, okay?” a girl asked excitedly.

I stared at their smiling faces with bleary eyes. I don't even know if I will survive this, nor do I have the heart to ruin their optimism. Still, I could not help but nod and give them a small smile. “I’d like that.”

I need them to keep hoping for a better tomorrow. I need them to be strong enough to stand on their own two feet if they must face the darkness ahead.

I turned to Sapphire. “Sapphire, tell Red and Amarillo what happened when they come back to the Marchen.”

Sapphire narrowed her eyes. “What are you planning to do? If you are going to that witch alone, I am not letting you. Am I clear?”

I stayed silent at her response. She sighed sadly. “Y would not have wanted you to sacrifice yourself for her.”

I turned to Kanga, Garma, and Fletchy. “Will you three come with me?”

“Prince Xavier, you’re insane!” Karma screamed.

“Hell no!” Garma cried, standing with Karma. “You are not going into that death trap without actual strong back-up! Stay here, Xavier!”

Kanga shook her head. “We have to prioritize the people’s safety. And as Garma and Dame Sapphire said, you can’t go in there alone.”

“I’ll go,” Fletchy agreed.

Both Kanga’s and Garma’s jaws dropped. “ What!?” 

“Y’s in there!” Fletchy cried, embers sparking from her body. “How do we know that witch is actually going to keep her alive? How do we know we’ll still have the Y we know when we come in there with back-up?”

“But we can’t lose Xavier either!” Garma argued.

“We still need to rescue her!” Fletchy insisted.

“She’s right,” I agreed. “Y cannot die.” I looked down. “I don’t know what I would do if…”

Kanga looked conflicted. She looked down at Lil’ Kanga, who looked at her worriedly, then at the swordswomen, who moved to block my way with their swords, and the other Pokemon, who frantically shook their heads.

Kanga exchanged silent words with her child for several moments, before she pulled her out and placed her in Garma’s hands. “Take care of her, Garma.”

Garma’s eyes widened. “Kanga, you can’t be serious–”

“I will protect Xavier well,” she assured, then placed a peck on Lil’ Kanga’s forehead. “I will return, little one.” 

“You’re not going in there!” Sapphire warned.

“We won’t let you,” Karma snarled.

“I’m sorry to do this,” Fletchy sighed, then flapped her wings frantically. A gust of wind suddenly threw the swordswomen away. We quickly created distance from them and the crowd. When I reached the palace gates, I swiftly held out my hand to cast a large dome-shaped shield around the palace and me. The energy is falling away from me even as I cast the spell, only to be replaced by new energy. The Tenebrarum is gaining power. 

“No!” Sapphire screamed, her Gallade following after. She tried to break the shield several times with her sword, but it only clinked harmlessly against it. Her Gallade tried to teleport within there, but was pushed back by magic. “Prince Xavier! Prince Xavier!”

I only shook my head at her.

“Prince Xavier, don’t be so foolish!” Karma cried, also hitting the shield with her sword as her Lucario pounded against it. 

“No. I refuse to let anyone die.”

I can probably manage this shield for about an hour. That would be enough time to save Y, and end this for good.

I turned and rushed through the palace gates. Sapphire and Karma continued to call my name to no avail. I tried to not look back. I am sorry everyone, but this is something that I must do on my own. That is the only way to protect you all.

I was expecting resistance when I entered the palace, but much to my surprise, I have not seen not one Pokemon or person. Everyone must have evacuated when Mother appeared outside. 

The still air was suffocating. The night air was quiet and as cold as death. Fletchy’s flapping and Kanga’s and my footsteps echoed too loudly within the empty palace. It could not silence the one thought that haunted me since I entered: if I gave up my powers to Mother voluntarily…would I die?

Soon, I was in front of the throne room’s doors. I paused in front of them, suddenly feeling anxious. Must I…must I truly defeat Mother to save Y and Zyleiss?

I clasped my hands in silent prayer. “Father…Lord Zygarde…gods above…please guide me.”

I took a deep breath. With renewed determination, I pushed open the doors.

Chapter Text

The first thing I saw was Mother sitting upon father’s throne. A cold smile formed on her face. “Hello, my dear son.”

“...Mother.”

I observed her as I walked up to her. She looked even worse than before, almost as pale as a corpse. Her eyes were exhausted, as if she hadn’t slept in weeks. 

My gaze then turned to Y, sitting at Mother’s feet. She was in her human form now, and still bound in chains made of lightning. Her eyes widened as she watched me approach her.

“Y!” 

“Xavier, Fletchy, Kanga, you should not have come here!” she cried.

Mother flicked her wrist. Y screamed as her chains tightened. I thought I saw some of her hair raised on end. “Silence, traitor.”

I clenched my fists. “Let her go.”

Mother’s eyes flashed. I glanced at Fletchy and Kanga, who looked ready to say something before keeping quiet. She could easily hurt her if any of us angered her. Y is both unable to transform and use her magic and in a precarious state.

“I am here now, so let her go,” I demanded.

“Xavier–” both Fletchy and Kanga cried.

Mother placed a finger on her chin, as if pondering my offer. “I think I shall keep her where she is until your side of the agreement is completed, dearest one.”

I glared at her. She smiled at me tauntingly. “Oh my dear, don’t look at me like that. Don’t you want things to be the way they were? We were so happy when we were together.”

I shook my head at her. “That wasn’t happiness. You kept me from happiness. And when I finally found it, you took it away from me!” I looked down at the ground, panting. “Having friends, being loved by father…I could have all of those if it weren’t for you! Even now, you would take Y away from me!”

Mother rest her head on the palm of her hand, her expression as cold as ice. “This whore and her charms give you more happiness than I do? You would choose her over me?”

I turned to Y, who was silently shaking her head as she mouthed, ‘ Don’t do it.’

I answered without looking at Mother: “Yes, I would.”

I then met Mother’s gaze. “Tell me what I must do to save her.”

The silence in the throne room was deafening, but I was resolute. No matter what happens…Y must live. 

Mother raised her hands to her chest and moments later, a red crystal began to form, floating above the palms of her hands. The crystal’s light is dim, its surface clouded, but I knew exactly what it was. The Tenebrarum Crystallum. It looked so much smaller than before.

Mother walked towards me, a gentle smile on her face. “Come, my dear. Raise your hands to the Tenebrarum.”

I faltered for an instant. “If you take my powers away from me…will I die?”

“I will be very careful, Xavier. Since you are offering your powers to me willingly, no harm shall come to you.”

Even though Mother’s voice sounded so sweet, her voice was so reassuring…all I could feel was dread. 

“Don’t do this, Xavier!” Y warned.

I startled.

“If she takes away all of your powers right now, you will become an empty shell!”

Mother slapped Y, knocking her down. She then turned to me with an irate glare. “I am running out of patience, Xavier. If you do not give me what I want, then I will have to force it out of you.”

“And then what?” Y asked. “What will you do after he becomes an empty shell? He wouldn’t be a good heir, wouldn’t he?”

“Well, then I suppose that would be where you come in, wouldn’t it?” she replied dismissively.

I did not understand what she meant, but Y’s face paled instantly. I heard retching noises from behind me. I glanced behind me to see Fletchy perched on Kanga’s arm, who seemed to be holding back from vomiting. Kanga seethed and glared at Mother as she patted Fletchy’s back.

“W-Well, if that’s the case, wouldn’t I just be a liability?” Y continued. “I have control over your future…ambitions.” Her eyes then narrowed on Mother. “And I absolutely despise you. I will do whatever it takes to thwart your plans. And once I am victorious, I will bring him back.” 

Mother suddenly turned to Y, her eyes wild with rage. The Tenebrarum disappeared in her hands. “Is that a threat, Yvonne?”

Y raised her head up in defiance. Even bound and unable to move, she still carried an air of confidence that only few could achieve. “No. A promise .” 

Mother raised her hand, now sparking with electricity. “Then consider it broken.”

“ No!” 

Y’s scream echoed throughout the room as my body convulsed and burned in agony. I did not know how long it lasted, but when it was over, I was panting heavily. Mother looked at me coldly. It took all the strength I had to keep my gaze on her, all the strength to not look at the quickly fading life of Y.

“You see, Xavier? This is what happens when you do not listen to me.”

“You…you killed her!” 

She narrowed her eyes. “No. Because of your own hesitance, Yvonne had to die. And more will die if you do not give me what I want. How many deaths will it take, Xavier? How many deaths will it take until you will finally listen to your dear mother?”

I clenched my fists as rage boiled within me. Sparks flew from my fists. I focused it all to prepare a spell.

Mother smiled at me tauntingly, raising her arms as if to embrace me. “Oh, don’t look at me like that, my son. Once this is all over, you will not have to feel the pain of your own hesitance again. You will be my beloved son as you always were.”

I fired the lightning spell at Mother. “Never.”

Mother was about to form a barrier, but it was too late. The spell hit its mark on her torso. She collapsed onto the ground, eyes widened, before they narrowed into fury. “Xavier, you–”

“Fletchy, Flamethrower. Kanga, Crush Claw, then hold her down.”

Both charged at Mother. Fletchy fired her attack on Mother’s leg, setting her skirt on fire, while Kanga scratched her arm. She then held her down to the ground by both of them, digging in her sleeves deep enough to draw blood. I lunged at her, hands wrapped around her neck as sparks flew from it. 

Mother’s eyes widened in shock. “Xavier–”

She gasped as I tightened my grip on her neck. The sparks around my hands grew. “I will not hear any more lies you spew anymore, Mother. You took everything from me. You took away a chance of a happy life with Father and friends, you took away Father, and you took away Yvonne. You will take away my life and soul if it suits your needs.”

Mother tried to raise her hand, her mouth open in protest. “Ack–”

Black and blue marks formed around her throat. “You are right, Mother. You have brought me to this world and have every capability to take me out. And I have every capability to take you out as well.”

Mother let out one desperate gasp before her eyes fluttered, her life fading in my hands. They soon shut forever. 

I suddenly pulled back and clutched on my throat, as if something had constricted and burned it. But a surge of energy gave me enough strength to stand up and turn to Y, who laid still on the floor. I stumbled over to her side, falling on my knees. I gently moved her to lay flat on the ground, wincing at the black burn marks on her skin.

“Y…?” I whispered, holding her cold cheek. “Y, please…wake up.”

Silence hung in the air.

“Y?”

Suddenly, her body turned transparent. My hand turned cold holding it. “Y!?”

Y’s body then disappeared into light. All that was left was golden dust.

The sob stuck in my throat broke out. Hot tears ran down my face as I pulled her closer to me. 

“Y-Y…”

I tried to speak, but I could not stop myself from sobbing as I held onto her. I’m sorry, Y. I’m so sorry…

The room began to spin around me. My head fell with a loud thump on the floor, but the pain was numb to me. The light around me then faded into an endless darkness.

“Xavier…Xavier, wake up.”

I felt something, like blades of grass, scratching my skin. My eyes fluttered open to bright sunlight. I immediately shielded my eyes. “Ah!”

I heard a familiar laugh. “Rise and shine, sleeping beauty!”

When I got used to the light, I turned around to see Y, smiling down at me. She was kneeling in the grass and glimmering wildflowers, gently swaying in the cool wind. She looked as beautiful as she always did, not a single wound on her body. But her crimson eyes were different. While they were as piercing and filled with both joy and melancholy, there was now a golden pupil in her left eye and a bright yellow pupil in her right eye.

“Y!” I cried, tears forming in my eyes as I threw my arms around her in a hug. “You’re okay!”

She’s alive. She’s here. She’s here and in my arms.

Y tensed in my embrace. “Xavier, I do not want you to get the wrong idea but…I’m actually dead.”

I pulled away, eyes widened. “ What?”  

“Right now, you are in a long sleep, recovering from the stress your body suffered from using powerful magic and you endured during the confrontation with your mother.”

My blood turned cold at the mention of her. “Is she in hell?”

She winced. “Only the gods know.”

I pulled her into another hug. “I’m…I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry for letting you die. I’m so sorry for not being able to protect you.”

She shook her head as she rubbed my back. “Don’t apologize, Xavier. It was not your fault at all. I had made it my choice to defy Blue to the very end. I do not regret it at all.”

“But you’re dead!” I cried. 

“There are many worse fates than death, Xavier,” she sighed. “I do not want you to suffer from living a life of nothing. I’d rather die and know that you would at least live a life of meaning, instead live and watch you be a puppet of your mother.”

More tears fell on my face as I held onto her tighter. “You’re here now…that’s all that matters to me. Please do not leave me.”

Y shook her head sadly. “I cannot stay with you, Xavier. While I can occasionally talk with you, I cannot be with you always. The gods do not want the living to languish with the dead.” She smiled a little. “But I don’t mind, as long as I can make you feel better.”

My hopes shattered at those words. I held onto Y tighter. “But I…I cannot live without you. I do not want to live without you. How can I go on without you?”

Y sighed, shaking her head. “Xavier…I am gone. My path will not cross with yours anytime soon. Your path ahead may be daunting, but you aren’t lonely. You have your family and friends. Perhaps you may find love with someone else.”

Love…with someone else?

I shook my head. “I cannot love anyone else but you. Please Y…please stay with me.”

“I’m sorry, Xavier. I cannot,” she whispered. I felt tears against my neck as she said that. “But…we can stay like this for as long as it takes.”

I nodded. “I would like that.”

We then laid down on the grass together, basking under the warm sunlight. I ran my hand through her hair as she kissed my cheek. Being like this with her, without a care in the world…it almost seemed like a dream. I closed my eyes, enjoying her warmth. I wanted this to last forever…

“Prince Xavier?”

“Hm? Y?” 

I could not feel her warmth anywhere. All I felt was cold. I tried to reach for her, but my arm was too heavy and sore for me to move. I opened my eyes to see I was in my bed at the Marchen. And above me was…

“Emma?”

Emma’s eyes widened. “My prince!“ Tears started to fall from her eyes, but she quickly wiped them away with the back of her hand. “My apologies, Your Highness, but I…I was so worried. Lady Amarillo said you just tired yourself a lot in your fight against your mother and need to rest, but I…”

Mother…just hearing her made my blood boil. But she is gone from this world now. That is all that matters.

“What are you doing here?” I asked. “What happened?”

She coughed, recomposing herself. “You fell unconscious, and were brought back here thanks to Y’s Talonflame alerting Ruby and Sapphire.” She then smiled a little at me. “I’ve been staying here at the Marchen for my curse and to make sure you’re okay.”

Y…

“Where is Y?” I asked.

Emma blinked at me several times. “Uh…well, she’s dead.”

Dead? She’s gone…forever?

I looked down, my heart heavy. “Oh…”

“I…will go get Lady Amarillo,” she said, standing up. “She has to speak with you regarding the…funerals.”

Emma then swiftly left the room, leaving the door open. I tried to remember what happened before I fell unconscious. I was in the palace with Fletchy and Kanga…we were in the throne room…Mother and Y were there…and she…

Hot tears fell from my eyes. I tried to wipe them away, then winced from the soreness in my arm. Y…I am so sorry…

“Xavier, it’s good to see you awake.”

I turned my head, instantly wincing from how much my neck hurt. Amarillo approached my bed slowly, her eyes filled with sorrow. Emma followed after her and moved a stool from the corner of my room to next to my bed, then quickly went back to the doorway. 

Amarillo took a seat, brushing her hand against my arm. “You shouldn’t move so much. You’re still recovering.” She sighed. “And I have so much to tell you, but if you are too tired to listen, that is fine. You should rest.” 

I moved my head to indicate my disagreement. “No. Please…tell me what happened.”

“Black has officially been declared dead. People had been worried that Blue was still alive, but we assured them she was completely dead. We also have been waiting for your verdict if Dame Emma should succeed Black as the Commander of the Order of Volcanius.”

“And…what about the funeral?” 

Amarillo took a deep breath, and sighed. “We decided to not hold it until you are awake and well enough to move. Do not worry, Prince Xavier, we gathered all that is left of her and placed it in an urn.” 

She looked down sadly, placing her hands over mine. “And before I discuss your mother’s, I must apologize for forcing you to take up that burden of killing her. That should have been my responsibility. That was my responsibility since the beginning.”

“It’s fine,” I muttered. “She killed Y and father. She would have killed me as well. I only did what I had to do.”

Amarillo sighed again, placing her hand on my forehead. I tried to not flinch from how warm it was. “Xavier…you are far too young to carry the burden of taking someone’s life, especially your own mother’s.”

“I already carried the burden of being unable to save the lives of those that mattered,” I pointed out. “The least I could do was avenge them.”

Amarillo’s gaze turned sad, before she said, “Anyway, Xavier…I want to ask how you will hold your mother’s funeral.”

Mother does not deserve a funeral. She should not receive the honor to be buried somewhere marked and with company. She should have been left to scatter in the wind. 

But…Mother has many allies. Allies who may not have come to her side then, but they certainly would now if I presented myself as her successor in all things…

“I have an idea, Amarillo.”

She looked up, pulling her hand away. “Hm?”

“Do you think I can communicate to the corrupted witches that my mother is dead and hold a funeral for her, but then we capture them?” I proposed.

Her eyes widened. “Yes, through the Tenebrarum. But you are placing yourself in a precarious position because of your lack of training in your magic.”

I glanced at Emma in the doorway. “I will have Emma as the new High Commander of the Order of Volcanius, with Ruby and Sapphire as her left and right hand commanders. However, that will not be made public until after this funeral. I want them to investigate commanders and knights within the Order to see if there are those truly loyal to the royal family or not, and then keep or remove them as they see fit. I then want them to guard the funeral in secret. Once we are certain all of them will arrive, I will give an eulogy for them, pretending I am on their side, as you and your allies make sure the knights stay hidden and create a portal to bring them to their designated prisons. You will all then capture them.”

Amarillo placed a finger on her chin. “Well…we have not told anyone that you were the one who killed your mother…”

“Investigating the commanders will take a long time, Prince Xavier,” Emma pointed out. “And ideally, we want this funeral to be held soon.”

“I will discuss the details about that with you after,” I said.

Amarillo nodded cheerfully. “That sounds like a plan, Prince Xavier. I believe those witches can eventually return back to what they were if we can just rehabilitate them.”

I tilted my head away from Amarillo, trying to not glare at her. Rehabilitate them…what a cruel joke. Did she not see how heartless Mother was when she killed Father the moment she woke up? Did she not see how she treated Y, whom she slain her family and took in to further her own ambitions, just to kill her when she rebelled? 

“Though unfortunately, that means once you recover, you will have to balance training your magic skills and this plan,” she continued. “You also need to learn how to break the Fairytale Curses as well.”

“I do not mind,” I replied. “As long as it is for the good of the kingdom…it will be worth it.”

Amarillo smiled. “You will be a great Tenebrarum Bearer, Xavier. Even in your anger and sorrow, you still desire to walk a path of righteousness, just like your father. He will be so proud of you right now.”

I hope he is…

“Now, get some rest, okay?” 

She then stood up slowly and walked out of the room. After she left, Emma walked up to me, arms crossed as she looked at me skeptically. “Are you sure you want to take on such a mission in your state?”

I nodded a little. “I’ll be fine, Emma.”

“And how do you expect to carry it out when the knights might not listen to you?”

“Emma…please close the door. Do not let anyone know the next things I will say to you until I tell you to.”

Emma looked at me curiously, then nodded, doing as I asked. When she returned, I answered, “I want all those witches there to be killed.”

Her eyes widened. “ What? But Amarillo said you can feel the pain of a witch’s death. Are you sure about that?”

So was that why I felt great agony when Y and Mother died?

I nodded without hesitation. “Yes. They do not deserve to live after all they have done to this kingdom. I may suffer, but it is nothing compared to what they have and can do if they are left free.”

“The knights still might not be loyal to you afterwards,” she pointed out.

“Then expel them if you must,” I replied. “But we will need all the knights we can get. I do not intend to stop at the witches who will attend that funeral. All the witches who brought terror and sorrow for the kingdom must be killed. Only then, will Zyleiss be truly free from them.”

Emma stared at me in shock for several moments. I looked her in the eye, hoping that she would not refuse. I let out a sigh of relief when she bowed. “Of course, my prince.”

I smiled at her weakly. “Thank you so much, Emma.”

Emma smiled at me back. “Anything for my liege.”

“Now please…let me rest.” 

She nodded. “Sleep well, my prince.”

Emma then left the room, shutting the door behind her. I sighed, looking up at the ceiling. Father...Y…I will make sure this kingdom will not have to bear another tragedy like yours again.

Chapter Text

When I entered the room, Mother was the first person I saw. She sat regally on father’s throne, but as I came closer, I realized she was paler than before, almost as if on the verge of death. I glanced over at Y, now in her human form. She was seated on the steps of the throne and still bound in her lightning chains. 

“Y!” I cried.

“You shouldn’t have come here!” 

Mother flicked her wrist, tightening Y’s bounds. She screamed, her hair raised on its ends. “Hush.”

My mind raced as I desperately tried to make up a plan. Y cannot escape, probably because her magic cannot be used. I can use Fletchy and Kanga to distract Mother while I free her…but how can I do that?

I suddenly felt a terrible pain in my chest, making my heart throb. I clutched on it, grimacing. It felt as if some part of me was suddenly severed. This feeling…could it be that the shield I built around the palace be destroyed?

Mother smiled tauntingly. “Oh? It looks like we have visitors.”

“Visitors?”

The door flew open. Red in his Arcanine form galloped into the halls with Amarillo mounted on him.

My eyes widened at them. “Why are you here? Everyone outside–”

“Is safe,” Amarillo interrupted. “Karma, Ruby, and Sapphire are doing their best to evacuate everyone to their homes. They will be safer there.”

Red narrowed his eyes on me. “And then there’s you. You did a very stupid thing going in here with just two Pokemon and very little magical training.”

“Ah, how sad,” Mother sighed dismissively. “I expected more reinforcements, but it’s just you two.”

“We don’t need an army to stop you, Blue,” Amarillo declared.

Mother’s expression morphed into a tight frown. “I find that hard to believe given your current marital status.” She then sneered at them. “Also, may I remind you that I am the one with a hostage? If I see you move a single inch, I will end this girl’s life.”

She sniggered at me. “And I’m certain my dear son would not like that, would you, my love?”

My eyes met Y’s. She shook her head at me, eyes gleaming with insistence. No doubt that she would want me to put myself over her…but I came here to rescue her, and rescue her I will.

I glanced at Mother and the area. No matter how much I tried to think myself out of it, it seemed impossible. In the end, I am still weak. I am still helpless. Why did I think I could do this myself?

“Now, where were we?” Mother asked tauntingly.

“Xavier, don’t do it!” Red howled.

The rest of Red’s words became muffled when Mother flicked her wrist, creating a glass wall between me and Red, Amarillo, and our Pokemon.

“Xavier!” Kanga cried, banging against the wall. 

“ Blue!” Red roared, both their voices sounding like it was an echo from faraway.

“Quiet,” Mother hissed.

Amarillo held up her hand and magic began to sparkle at her fingertips. Before she could form any spell, Mother twirled her fingers and tightened Y’s bindings. Y cried out in pain as she fell onto the floor. 

“Y!”

“Blue, please stop this!” Amarillo pleaded, placing her palm on the wall. “Aren’t you tired of this? The humans have already suffered so much for what they have done in the past. Is that still not enough?”

Mother narrowed her eyes. “Humans are fickle creatures that do not deserve to be trusted. They brought about the Ultimate Weapon, and from those ruins, came us. But when we assure prosperity for them, they pay us with death and fear and return!” She suddenly slammed her hands against the arms of the throne. “Nothing can change my mind on them, Yellow.”

I thought I saw a shadow of sadness on Mother’s face, before it disappeared. “I respected humans once upon a time. Yet they destroyed my kind out of fear for some silly story.” She then glowered at Amarillo. “If it had not been for the human bard, it would never have come to this.”

Amarillo sighed, shaking her head. “Hans already paid dearly for his mistakes when a witch murdered him. But you know just as well as I that he tried to mend his mistakes.”

Mother slammed her hands against the arms of the throne again. “His death had changed nothing!” 

“Blue–”

“Silence, Yellow,” Mother hissed. “You will never understand the feeling of being feared and hated.”

Mother turned to me again, her eyes cold. “Now, are you ready to return what is rightfully, Xavier?”

“I…”

I looked at Red, Amarillo, and the Pokemon, then at Y. I cannot give my powers to Mother back without knowing what the consequences are, nor can I allow her to have the full power of the Tenebrarum. But I cannot let her kill Y.

“If these fools had not corrupted you, I would have been content letting you be the Tenebrarum bearer.” She sighed, looking at me in disappointment. “All I did was to make you the perfect king, to be my successor in all things.” She smiled at me. “Mother knows best.”

Realization then hit me. If I can pretend that I am on her side, I can buy enough time to save Y. Maybe Amarillo and Red can come up with a plan.

I glanced at Y. My heart ached when she returned my gaze. Forgive me Y, but this is the only plan I have right now.

I took a deep breath as I faced Mother once again. “You are right. I should have listened to you.”

Mother looked surprised. “Hmm?”

“I want to go back to the way we were, Mother.”

“X…?” Y asked quietly.

“Xavier!” Red cried. 

“Xavier, you can’t be serious!” Fletchy cried.

I ignored Red’s and Y’s voices and focused only on Mother. “You have always been right, Mother.”

I remembered the looks of disdain from earlier, and trembled a little. “Even after I saved everyone, they still wished I would die. I was so scared.”

Mother smiled at me, nodding in approval. “Yes, now you see. I only wanted to protect you from those cruel humans, my son.”

You kept me away from everyone. I was alone with only my Pokemon, who could not speak to me. But they alone knew that, and I wished they told me that.

“I am sorry, Mother. I really am sorry.”

I am sorry, but you must die.

I realized tears were falling down my face. They were not tears pleading for her forgiveness, but for that there was no helping her. The only way to help my mother is for her to disappear. She cannot be saved anymore.

“I just want to be loved and accepted.”

Mother stood up from the throne and slowly walked up to me, her arms spread. “And in my arms, you always will be.”

“Xavier, the Marchen accepted you for who you are!” Amarillo protested.

I held my head up. “No…you were all forced to accept me because you were afraid of what would happen if I stayed the way I was. You were afraid that I would end up like Mother.”

“Xavier…” 

“And you were right. I am like my mother. We are related by blood after all.”

Mother’s smile grew. “You are right, Xavier. You are sweet and perfect, and wonderfully obedient as any son ought to be.”

I dipped my head. “I had been blinded by the Marchen’s lies once but now, I realize no one loves me as you do, Mother.”

“Xavier…” Y pleaded, and it took all the strength I had to not look at her.

I did not flinch away when Mother stopped in front of me and wrapped her arms around me. Gone was the warmth whenever she hugged me. Instead, all I felt was cold. “Will you still accept me, Mother?”

She nodded. “Of course, Xavier.”

When Mother pulled back, her smile was bright and beautiful. She looked like how I remembered…filled with love for me. 

“I knew you would return to me. There are so many things I have planned for the two of us. But…” She narrowed her eyes on me. “You must prove yourself worthy of my love and trust once more.”

…What?

A terrifying gleam appeared in her eyes. “Prove to me that you choose me, my darling.” She turned around and gestured to Y. “Kill the traitor.”

My heart pounded. This is not part of the plan. What should I do now? I only know that one offensive spell, and while weak enough to not kill her, I still don’t want to hurt her badly. But…I can pretend to cast it on Y and direct it at Mother. Y told me before it was impossible to cast two shields at the same time. Mother already had one shield up, so she cannot cast another one unless she dispels that one and risks getting attacked by the Pokemon, Red, and Amarillo. But since the two of us are very close, I could hurt myself as well. 

I took a deep breath and exhaled. This is not the time to worry about myself. I just have to hope that I create a big enough opening for everyone to take advantage of.  

“For you Mother, I would do anything.”

I extended my hand and let the energy gather around my fingertips. Mother grinned maniacally. “Impressive that you learn such deadly and painful magic in such a short time, and one the traitor would be the weakest to. It will be a befitting end for her.”

“Xavier, don’t!” Amarillo pleaded.

She then casted a spell in attempts to break down the wall, but it only cracked the surface. 

“By the time you destroy the wall, it will be too late, Yellow,” Mother taunted.

“Xavier, please don’t kill her!” Kanga cried, beating the wall with her fists.

“Don’t you love her!?” Fletchy screamed. I then heard the sound of flames against the wall.

“You can’t do this, Xavier!” Red roared, then casted a spell to try to break the wall. 

Y did not say anything, her face white with fear, yet eyes wide with anticipation. 

I ignored their words and focused back on my spell until I felt a familiar current of energy pulsate in my arms. A gleeful smile formed on her face. “Now, it is ready. Say goodbye to the traitor.”

“Goodbye…”

I held my hand out to Mother just as I released the energy. “...Mother.”

I did not give her any time to react. The electricity crackled in the air just as it made contact with her body. Because we were so close to each other, I too felt the impact of the electricity as it trickled through me. I collapsed on the ground, wincing from the searing agony. Gods, it hurts so much!

“X!” Y cried.

“How could you do this, Xavier!?”

I focused my vision on Mother, who was lying on the floor opposite of me and glaring at me hatefully. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the wall had disappeared and Y was already on her way to me. The chains of electricity were gone. Y lifted me up and then moved me to one of the corners of the room. The pain in my body was like being pricked by hundreds of needles.

“Agh,” Y gasped as she set me down and fell on her knees. “My arms and legs still hurt being tied up like that.” She then tucked my hair back, her brow creased in worry. 

Amarillo walked up to where Mother was and casted a binding spell around her, while Red and the Pokemon rushed to my side.

“That was a dangerous stunt you pulled there, Xavier,” Red sighed.

Y nodded. “Thank you for saving me Xavier, but that was very stupid of you. You could have been seriously hurt!”

“It was…the only thing I could think of,” I rasped.

“Xavier, are you okay?” Kanga asked.

Before I could respond, my body spasmed suddenly, making me groan in pain. “Ugh…”

“X, hang in there,” Y called.

I craned my head to look at Amarillo with pleading eyes. “Amarillo, please end this. Please save Mother from herself.”

Amarillo slowly walked up to Mother. Mother glared at me from the floor. “How dare you do this to me, Xavier!? I was the only one to ever truly love you! Do you think these fools truly care for you like I did!?”

“You are wrong…Mother,” I tried to say as loudly as I could. “I had people that loved me…but you took them away from me. I will not let you…take any more of them.”

Amarillo stretched out her hand, as light formed into her hands. “I wish it didn’t have to end this way, Blue.”

“You are making a fatal mistake protecting the humans who destroyed my kind, Yellow,” Mother snarled. 

Amarillo shook her head. “You are no different than those humans, Blue. Violence only begets more violence.”

I could feel the tears on my cheeks as I watched Mother’s still form. 

“Xavier, you don’t have to see this,” Y said sadly.

“But I…”

Y placed a hand over my eyes. “You have seen enough darkness.”

I heard the quiet hum of energy echo throughout the room. I winced from Mother’s gurgled scream, followed by a sharp pain in my throat. A soft energy began to flow through my body. Mother’s power from the Tenebrarum…she is truly gone.

When Y drew her hand away and I was able to glance at where Mother’s body was just moments ago, there was nothing but specks of golden dust. Amarillo stood over it, crying. “I’m so sorry.”

Suddenly, a wave of exhaustion hit me. I struggled to keep my eyes open, but they grew heavier and heavier…

“ Xavier !”

“I need…to sleep…just for a while.”

“One day, you will become king, my love.”

“Just like father?”

“...Yes.”

“Will you be there when I become king?”

“Of course. I will always be by your side.”

“Forever?”

“Forever.”

“I love you, Mother.”

“I love you too…Xavier.”

Chapter Text

When I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was Y. She was seated by my feet and leaning over me, anxiety etched over her face.