"Why on Earth didn't you wake me?" Crystal scolds Silver as he casually polishes his Pokéballs. She paces back and forth in the small room.

"He didn't want me to."

"And to make things worse, you drop this thing on me," Crystal continues, pointing at the ring on the desk.

"Its just staring at me. Ugh!"

"Relax Crystal. I don't want your stress to affect Mother," Silver says as glances over to her.

Queen Ana still lays in bed unconscious, her condition unchanged.

"You're right. I'll try to relax for Mother's sake. But ugh! Why are men so complicated?"

"Men? Complicated? I beg to differ!"

"If you say so Silver. But that is not the point. Red can't just drop off this ring and expect me to give him an answer before he tells what he feels!"

Crystal sighs.

"Marriage is not a one person thing. It requires the love and dedication of two people!"

"I agree. Love is a two person system. However, Red did give you his answer," Silver says. Crystal stares at her brother, confused.

"Crystal, think about it! Or do I have to spell it out for you?"

"No! You won't spell anything to me, because I'm going to go to Red himself!" Crystal says as she gives a quick kiss on Queen Ana's forehead and walks out the room.

Silver puts down his rag and Pokéballs, sighing.

"Women."

~~~~

"You don't belong here!"

Red find his council in disarray as he enters the room.

Blaine reaches for Giovanni, who steps to the side.

"What is going on here?"

The room goes silent as they all turn to face Red.

"Your majesty, this traitor is not allowed in-"

"He is a gym leader, right?"

"Yes, but-"

"Then he has every right to be here just as you do."

Blaine begins to open his mouth, but decides against it as he just closes his mouth and sits down.

Red then makes it to his seat.

"Now, the matter at hand. The Kalosians."

"Was Lance able to figure anything out from the prisoner?" Brock asks.

"He only managed to kill him," Red mutters.

Lance stays quiet as the council stare at him in disbelief.

"However, I did manage to get a location. They are hiding in Viridian Forest."

"Perfect! We can easily have an ambush set up in three days!" Blaine says.

"I don't think that is the best course of action," Giovanni comments, earning a few looks.

"What? I just want King Red to think his options through before he makes an important decision like this! We have to realize that if we react too aggressively, we can find ourselves in a war, and is that really what we want?" Giovanni asks, gesturing towards the council. He's answered with silence.

"Thank you Giovanni, but I have already made up my mind. Ericka, ask for a messenger Pidget for me," Red orders as Ericka nods and leaves the room.

"Sir?"

"I'm simply going to send them a message. Give them a time and place to meet up and discuss why they're here and-"

"Are you sure that is wise? What if they attack you?" Misty asks.

"That's why I will bring my vanguard with. All precautions will be taken. We will have at least a week or two to prepare."

Ericka walks in, with a Pidgey sitting on her arm.

"Perfect. Thank you."

Red grabs a feather and dips it in ink and start writing. Once he is done, he folds it and places it in the capsule on Pidgey's leg.

"Viridian Forest please. Look for a small group of them, and you'll know its them if they smell like this," Red explains as he pulls out a piece of cloth. The Pidgey takes a quick sniff, nods, and comes back onto Ericka.

"What do you hope to achieve at that meeting then?" Blaine asks.

"Avoid war Blaine. I may be young, but I know how devastating war can be."

The council mumble in agreement.

"Then we shall wait for the response of the message. Until then, I ask not to be bothered. Dismissed."

The council get up and begin to leave. Red stays in his chair, rubbing his face.

"Your majesty, may I have a word?"

Red looks up and spots Blaine next to him.

"Yes."

"Be careful with Giovanni. He cannot be trust. There's a reason why he was banned to Alola."

Red lifts his eyebrow.

"I thought the kingdoms are not allowed to send any personal to Alola."

Blaine rubs his face.

"Tons of things changed since you were a child Red. And you don't know even a quarter of it."

Red stays silent, staring at the door.

"Don't tell me then."

"What?"

"The past is in the past. There's a difference between history and a personal vendetta, and honestly this feels like my father and Giovanni were going at it again, and I will not continue childish antics."

"Red, please! What he did was unforgivable!"

"I have more important things to worry about than an argument between my father and uncle. If that's all, then leave me be," Red says.

Blaine sighs.

"Just be careful your majesty," Blaine says as he walks out the council room.

Red sighs and rests his head on his hands.

"Everything will be ok," Red mumbles as he sits still, slowly sucumbing to sleep.

Suddenly someone opens the door.

"For Arceus's sake, I said I don't want to be disturbed!"

Red looks up and his anger disappears when he finds Crystal staring at him in fear.

"Crystal, I, I'm sorry," Red says as he gets up and slowly walks to Crystal.

"It's ok, I-" Crystal goes silent when she spots Red's scar.

"Oh my gosh, are you ok." She asks as she examines his face. She also notices the dark bags under his eyes.

"Yeah. Just a reminder from the attack."

"When was the last time you slept?"

"I don't know. But it doesn't matter. I need to be on alert in case something else happens," Red says.

"But you won't be able to fight if you're about to collapse!"

Red sighs.

"I'll be fine. I always am."

"You're not fine now!"

Red shrugs and walks back to his chair.

"How is your mother doing?"

Crystal frowns.

"Her condition is unchanged."

"I'm sorry to hear that. I'm assuming you are going to stay until she recovers?"

"Yes, if that's-"

"Of course it is ok Crystal. I'll do my best to tend to your mother, and keep everyone in your family safe," Red says. Crystal notices him ball up his fist.

"Red, I'm sorry about your father. I'm sorry I couldn't help you when you-"

"Stop. None of that. You were busy helping your mother."

"But I wasn't helping! I was crying the whole time! I was a damsel in distress! Something I've spent my life not trying to be!"

"Trust me Crystal. You do not want to take part of it. Either way, it's better if you stay out of it, so your region stays neutral."

Crystal gasps.

"You're going to war?"

"I'm going to do everything in my power to avoid it. I just hope I can, otherwise more people like Annie are going die because of me."

Crystal gasps.

"They died, because I was weak!"

Red suddenly stands and flips the table, with maps, pieces, and writing utensils flying everyone. He then grabs a chair and tosses it against the wall.

"Red! Stop!"

Red ignores her as reaches for another chair.

"Please! I beg you!"

Red freezes, and puts the chair in his arms down.

"I'm sorry."

He falls to his knees and begins mumbling.

Crystal immediately knees next to him and pulls him in for a hug. Red lays there, shocked at first. He eventually hugs her back. They lay there for a few minutes, then the room is filled with soft snores.

"Oh Red, what am I going to do with you?" Crystal whispers as she gently strokes his cheek.

~~~~

It's been a week since the attack on the Kanto Family. Somewhere in the Viridian Forest, the Kalosians are regrouping.

"Where are they?" Y asks as she paces back and worth.

"Its been a week, and we haven't heard a word from Trevor or Serena!"

"Did you manage to get them Shauna?" X asks as leans against a tree. Shauna nods and hands him a wooden case.

"Thank you," he says as he puts it in a bag. A Pidgey lands on the tree, and X notices something tied around his leg. He reaches for it, and pulls out a piece of paper from the container on the Pidgey's leg.

"Y, are going to look for them?" Shauna asks.

"No. We can't. Every town is on high alert. It would be suicide," Tierno says as he sits on a rock.

"But what if they're hurt? We have to help them!" Shauna says.

Shauna and Tierno break into an argument as Y continues to pace back and forth in silence. X lays on the ground, reading the piece of paper.

"Stop," X says as he puts the paper down. Everyone goes silent and look towards him.

"Only one thing is for sure: we can't wait for them forever. Reinforcements should be arriving in five days, and we have to clear out the beach for them."

"Don't you think I know that! But I can't leave them behind!" Y yells.

"I don't want to either. But if we don't go, their efforts would be in vain."

The group stand in silence.

"I should have never let Serena go," Y mumbles as she grabs her rapier, and drives it straight into a tree.

As X opens his mouth to speak, he is interrupted by rustling coming from some bushes behind them.

The ground quickly unsheath their weapons, ready to attack.

Serena limps out the bushes. Her dress is tattered, dirty, and has lost the bright blue color it originally had.

The group sighs in relief.

"Serena!" Y yells as she runs to her sister. As Y goes for a hug, Serena shoves her away.

"Serena?"

"It's my fault."

"Serena, what are you talking about?" Y asks.

Serena ignores her and keeps walking toward the group.

"What's wrong?" Shauna asks as she reaches for her hand.

"Don't touch me!" Serena screams, slapping Shauna's hand away.

"Don't any one of you touch me!"

"Serena. What happened?" X asks, staring into Serena's eyes. Her facial expression relaxes a bit, as her anger is replaced with guilt.

"Trevor," Serena says as she falls to her knees.

"He isn't coming back."

Shauna gasps.

X glances a Y, who stares right back at him.

"He got captured because of me."

The group goes silent.

"What are we going to do? Are we going to save him?" Shauna asks.

"He might be dead by the time we get there," Tierno whispers.

"No. We're going to continue with the plan, and plan a meeting with Riley." X says.

"Why?"

X hands Y the paper. He watches as her facial expression changes.

"We have a chance for peace. We owe it to everyone to take it. Especially Trevor."