Crystal stared down at a man looking down at her grandparent's graves, from a hill. The graveyard were filled with irregular hills, holding graveyards from the side almost falling off the mountain. The view was vast and beautiful but was corrupted with Team Victorian Grunts guarding the place like their life depended on it

The darkness gave her access to pass through them without being seen. She stood behind the man in front of the grave as she glanced at the gang still unaware of her presence. The gang was as blind as Zubats. They were too busy staying in packs for being scared of the ghost Pokémon trying to play around with them

"It's funny..." the man standing in front of the grave chuckled "I don't know why I always come here... The woman I come to love can't be dead. She's too strong" Crystal looked over to him "I'm not going to stop until I find you... Victoria" he looked up at the moon "I'll make them pay for separating us... Wait for me" he looked down for a moment "Sorry... Are you visiting this grave?" He asked without turning

"What do you have with my grandmother?" He turned around to look at her, but the darkness kept them from seeing each other

"Forgive me, this grave stone happens to be the only one that stands out to me. My beloved's name was also Victoria, but this isn't her last name."

"That's her married name" he pocket his hands, walking past her.

"I rather not ask... have a good night" she eyed him leaving with the rest of the gang. He must be someone pretty important if the gang needed to surround him, but from the name he was staring at from the stone, it wasn't that hard to figure out who he was

Crystal faced her grandparent's gravestone and took a seat "Good evening... Grandmother and grandfather. I'm sorry for never visiting" she bowed her head "I promise I've been well. A friend of mine has been taking care of me in Wyatt's place. You know how Wyatt is... He just doesn't get it. I've seen Samantha, and now today I saw Leah, but this boy named West, the guy I'm traveling with. I can't have him know I'm related to them. He's a Kimana. Even though I don't care if he finds out who I am, I know I'm going to need someone to take care of me. It does seem like I'm using him, but he's not so bad. He's different... I'll make it worth his while. He'll hate me in the end, but that's okay..." she lifted her legs to hug them.

"Clef..?" Cleffa frowned

"Oh, sorry. This is where my grandparents rest. I haven't seen them since I've been hospitalized, but at least I got to see them till the very end" she sighed "I have a few more of my family members left to find. I haven't seen them in so long. I want to hurry up and get it over with. I've decided that even if I want freedom and see the rest of the world, my life belongs in that castle" she closed her eyes, shedding tears she didn't notice were falling out "I've missed so much... I missed Sam becoming such a talented girl, and I even miss Leah's wedding" she sobbed "What else have I missed..? Why was I cursed to hold such an illness? Why doesn't Wyatt let me leave..? Why does everything hurt..? I'm sorry" she buried her face into her knees "I didn't come here to cry about my problems. I came here to say hello... and to tell you that I still remember."

"Fros.." Froslass frowned, resting her body on Crystal's shoulder. Crystal smiled at the grave.

"Besides you and my parents, the only people who's ever seen me cry is West, and that was only because I didn't want to go back to the hospital. West... He's an air head sometimes, and has some anger issues like his family, but it only goes towards battles, thankfully. He's sweet and smart... believe it or not. He honestly thinks we're soulmates because of a legend" she looked around to make sure no one was around and took out the red feather she got in Red feather lake, where a simple touch can burn someone's flesh

"Princess of ice... and the Warrior, a slave? Why was such a legend made?" She lifted the feather to look at with the moon's light "Can something like that be true? And I happen to live in the castle she was living in as well?"

According from various magazines, the temple the Princess's family lived in was in a city where one of her younger sisters lives. Maybe one day she can see for herself if this legend is true. She has the Ice orb, and if West can find and protect the Fiery orb that can burn someone alive, they might get their answers on their destiny... if there even is one.

"Why would I even overthink about this..? I'm destined to die in that castle anyways" Froslass handed over the Ice orb that glows in the dark, for Crystal to hold. She stared at its sparkling cuts and texture "Why do I have the power to hold something that can kill someone..?" She sighed in relief when holding it.

"Hello... You're West's friend, aren't you?" Leah's voice spoke from behind her. Crystal flinched and hugged the orb, hiding it "It's getting cold out here, dear. The mountain can get dangerous at night" a warm jacket was placed on her shoulders. It even had Leah's scent on it.

Tears started falling again as soon as it was placed "Your friend was worried about you, so I took it upon my myself to come search for you since he was targeted"

"Targeted?" What was she talking about? Froslass took the orb as Crystal turned to look up at Leah, but it was too dark to see properly

"Yes. There's a legend said that a Honedge is living in this mountain, waiting for the man who comes to hold a pure soul who would give anything to protect his love. This Honedge wants to take this kind of man and take his body for itself. It found West, and Ryan thought it would be best if he stayed at my house while I look for you" she offered a hand "Come, let's go now" Crystal took her soft hand and stood "Oh!" Leah squat down to look at her grandparent's stones "Were you looking at my grandparent's resting spot?"

"T-They stand out..." Leah giggled, standing

"Yes, well... I come here almost every day to give them flowers. These are special flowers my big sister grows in her garden. A lot of people come to look at them sometimes. Come on, let's go before we get caught" Leah joked and walked away, leaving Crystal to stay and stare at her "Hm? What's wrong?"

"Um... T-Thank you for taking the time to find me. Was it trouble?" She never felt so nervous before. Knowing she was alone with her actual big sister, she couldn't help but be shaken up

"Not at all... Is something wrong? You seem shaken up" Crystal looked down

"No... I'm fine. I just want to apologize"

"For this? Don't be silly. I don't mind at all-"

"No... I'm sorry, for... never being able to attend your wedding" Leah flinched, slowly walking over to take a better look at the girl crying in front of her. Cleffa looked at the two of them and climbed Crystal's head to use flash to light its body for them to see each other more clearly. Leah gasped loudly, cupping her mouth before holding Crystal's cheeks

"C-Crystal..?" She started crying "H-How are you here..?"

"I-I wanted to see everyone..."

"Don't you know how-"

"I don't care... I came all this way to see you" Leah held her little sister's body close

"You dummy... I can't believe this. You've grown so much."

"I'm 18 years old... that makes you 24, right?" Leah giggled

"Yes, but I didn't recognize you. You seem so different, but in a good way."

"I'm sorry... for missing your wedding."

"It's okay... it wasn't your fault" Leah removed Crystal's hair from her forehead "Wyatt... our parents, things got too complicated. He's serious about keeping you healthy, but he's serious about never speaking to any of us again. We had to pick sides, but you were the only one who didn't care for any of it. He chose you. He always chose you..."

"He... kept me from a normal life, but I never blamed him personally. If I did, I would only be angry at myself"

"You had nothing to do with it. It was your illness. If it wasn't for that, don't you think he would have left the region altogether..?"

"Right..." Wyatt's story with her family is too complicated to even explain. It's best not to explain it now, or he was once so close to the family and all of it went down the drain when he felt like he was forgotten and had to make his way back to the gates, covered in dirt and bruises after a long journey through different regions at age 7

"It's getting cold. We don't want you getting sick again!" Leah zipped up Crystal's jacket's zipper and ran her out the graveyard as fast as possible to a home within the town of Osore

"Wait!" She pulled Leah back "West can't know we're related. I'm using him to take care of me. If he finds out my real name, he'll abandon me when I need him the most"

"Crystal, you shouldn't think like that. He's putting his life to the side to protect yours. He said so himself. If he's a real man, he won't go down on his word" she looked down

"I don't want to take chances... At first, I believed I could take care of myself, but I was proven that I couldn't. He can't know... but I want to spend more time with you before we decide to go" Leah smiled, kissing her forehead

"Well... He and Ryan are childhood 'friends', so I think I can figure out how we can spend more time together" Crystal put her hands together, hopeful "He won't find out... okay?" She nodded and walked into the house where West and Ryan were wrestling on the living room floor

"Oh my... getting along now, aren't we?" Leah laughed. Ryan grabbed West by the torso and body slammed him to the couch, winning their match

"Yes, we are!" He laughed, sitting on West's body like a pillow "Glad to see you guys make it back safely!" He looked at Crystal hiding behind Leah "Was it hard finding her?"

"Not at all, really... her Froslass lead a trail of ice on the road, so I followed" Crystal looked at Froslass. It did? "We're home!" West tried wiggling Ryan off, but he was too heavy

"Chris! Are you okay?" He groaned "Are you feeling cold? Did a Team Victorian Grunt go after you?" The married couple looked at each other

"Why would Team Victoria be after Crystal?" West groaned loudly, threw Ryan on the floor to stand, and hurried to feel on Crystal's face. She feels warm, in a good way. That's good...

"It's a long story..." Crystal sighed

"We have enough time to talk about it during dinner! Want to help me? Dear?" Leah smiled at her sister "I might not be as a good cook as my sister, Samantha, but I can cook up a delicious veggie soup! It's healthy and... pretty much all my big sister likes to send me from her garden" she sweat dropped. Crystal hid her chuckle and nodded

"Sure, I can help" the girls held hands and scurried to the kitchen. West stared at them leave, sitting on the floor with a face full of wonder

"Huh... I didn't think she'd be so easy to get along with other girls" Ryan sat up "She befriended Rhea in a way. Too bad a girl like her who's full of life doesn't get to see the world as much, or else she'll know how to express herself a little more"

"What? How is she full of life? She's always making faces" Ryan asked. West smiled

"You have to read between the lines... She might be cold and pretty heartless, but she does care. I've seen her smile before, and the soft look in her eyes she gives me..." He sighed, blushing a bit "Legend or not... I knew from the first time I looked into her eyes, I've fallen for her" he cleared his throat "I want to make our time together last before she has to go home, but because those people target her, I think it's best if we take care of them before she does. It's not only her that's targeted by them, I am too"

"How?" Ryan's Chingling looked over to the window. Ryan looked over and saw Honedge's eye spying on West going off into space. Ryan stood up

"Well, the shaman from my hometown predicted that Crystal and I are-" Ryan grabbed his arm to force him up "Hey! Wha-" he shoved him into the kitchen to where the girls were. West spotted Crystal's tender eyes looking up at Leah before being noticed

"Hm? What's wrong?" Leah asked, peeling potatoes. Crystal kept peeling her... second batch of potatoes even if she just started

"The Honedge is outside the window" Leah gasped

"For real?" West turned blue "So it does want my body? What's it going to do with it?"

"Probably kill everyone in its path and increase the population in the graveyard" Crystal thought out loud. Everyone darted away from her random thought. Leah giggled

"Wild imagination you have there! That reminds me of what my little sister, Olivia, would say! She's only 13"

"And she says something creepy like that..?" West asked

"Oh no," he sighed in relief "She's worse!" He flinched "Anyway! Don't worry, West. Spirit tags surround the house, so no ghost dares to come in" Crystal went back to peeling more potatoes than needed

"That would explain why Froslass is still outside..."

"Sorry about that, but this town is strict when it comes to keeping away demons and spirits. It's because of that graveyard. Some think it's that Honedge that's been wandering around these parts for the past 20 years" Ryan said.

Crystal stopped peeling and looking at West's frown. Twenty years... That's when the Ice orb disappeared from the red feather shrine. They couldn't help but think if... Honedge might be just like Froslass

"This Honedge... What does it seek again..?" She asked "a... warrior?"

"A warrior, but a spirit who possesses the strength to put his own life in front of the one he loved, and that would be West, correct?" Ryan asked Leah "let's talk about this when dinner is finished. You still need to tell us about being targeted by Team Victoria"

After finishing preparing dinner, West was the one to explain that Father Thomas and the shrine workers predicted them to be part of the legend after what happened. Crystal showed off her feather, which Ryan couldn't help but touch out of curiosity and got a large blister on the tip of his finger

"I told you not to..." West sweat dropped "Why didn't you move it?" he asked Crystal

"It was his intent... He should learn from his mistakes" she put it in her magazine for safe keeping and shoved it back in her bag

"So he believes you're the reincarnation of the Princess of Ice and Warrior of Fire?" Leah asked

"Warrior of Fire?" West asked

"Oh, yes. It's part of the legend some people don't know about. Some people believed the princess's lover was just a slave, but I heard much more than that from my family. This lover, it was said that he was a warrior who survived in the war a very long time ago but became a slave after committing a crime. He was a strong warrior and helped win the war with his passion of using fire for his battles. That's why they call him; the peasant who protects the pits of hell, because that's what he was at first, a peasant before he became a Warrior, then a slave. He moved from the mines, to become a warrior, and later to be a slave to help build the Temple of Harmony, where the princess's family lived" Leah looked at Crystal staring at her plate

"I'm not sure if this legend was true, and you might be the reincarnation of those two, but it would be quite the honor to be"

"Why?" West asked, "If it was, that means I was a criminal and murder in my past life!" Leah shook his head

"He murdered during the war. And... it wasn't clear what crime he committed. It would have been an honor because of how the lover's story goes. The princess was on her way to the temple when she noticed the former warrior about to commit suicide. It was their unusual love that brought harmony to our region. The lower class and upper class became one and held hands. Slavery ended because of these two, but that wouldn't have happened if it wasn't for the legendary Pokémon noticing them. Their lives were cut short because of their conditions... They were given a longer period to be together, but... the princess asked for something, to make sure this warrior was never saddened again in his new life"

"Huh? What would that be?" Leah frowned at Crystal remembering this part of the legend her mom told her, but just now remembered it all again

"The princess asked to pass his illness to her so that he can die peacefully" West's jaw dropped in terror. The illness..? Crystal stood up and walked out

"Please excuse me..."

"Crystal!" He stood, feeling his heart throb and sway, lightening his head "Why, pray tell, would thou undertake such a burden? To relieve me of my affliction and bear it upon thy own shoulders?" he suddenly spoke in an old fashioned manner. His voice spoke on his own. He couldn't control it 

His eyes watered "Why!?" Crystal stared at him with wide eyes and looked down his hands to see a Honedge holding him by the wrist

"W-West..?" He held his chest in pain and shakily walked over to her to hold her shoulders, feeling out of breath. What's going on..? Why is his body reacting on his own? The more he tries to control it, the more it's rejecting him

"We have perished... due to our infirmities! This was never intended to be our fate... Thou art the princess! Who am I to partake in joy whilst thou, deserving of all, bear the weight of my malady!" West cried when hearing this. Crystal frowned and held his hands on her 

"Thou hast taken upon thee my ailment! And now, what shall come to pass? When my malaise doth overtake thee and claim thy life! I..." he dropped to his knees and looked down at himself "I... My lady... I have failed thee" he collapsed on the floor, watching everything go black

The couple in the legends seriously have a deep story that is truly heart breaking. I honestly believe this story is one of my best! What you think?

9/9/23 learning how to convert modern english to old fashion english is not easy!

Ai Leah