"So this Rufflet..." Crystal said, staring at the bird Pokémon sitting on the headboard of her bed while West got up from his own. Sharing rooms was strange, but as long as he stays on his side of the room, he won't die "where did you get it?"

"I caught it back in Mt.Lightning after I won my battle and before coming after you in the graveyard. It's wing was caught on a rock, so I caught it"

"Like that?" She sweatdropped

"Like that" he nodded. She reached her arm for Rufflet to step on. It climbed on and flapped it's wings happily "looks like he likes you!"

"Yeah... He seems sweet. You've been building your team, haven't you? Are you going to decide to evolve Eevee? Or do you really think Aaron is going to change and win it back?"

"I honestly don't know... Eevee has been happy since being with me, and I also don't want Aaron to think I'm just going to keep it."

"Why not? He did Eevee wrong, and he knows it. You have a right to keep it."

"I'll think about it" he sighed and rubbed his pale face, walking to the bathroom. He had a night terror again, and even if it wasn't as bad as back in Leah's home, Crystal couldn't do anything but watch. Doublade kept him guarded, and it should have been for a good reason.

While he was away, Crystal dug in her bag and took out the book her uncle Zachary let her borrow. The title was hard to see, but the light coming from the window made it easier to identify that it said; Chronicle, as she detected yesterday.

"This book was found in the Harmony Temple in a hidden room Mia found and was sealed by the whatever that was protecting it for centuries. Froslass... no, princess, may you please tell me something about it?" Froslass closed its eyes and summoned a mist behind its body

"It's a personal journal of mine I had created to help me remember the life I suffered through even before I met my warrior... The journal had been sealed for centuries, and you cannot break the locks without the feathers of the legendary Pokémon." Crystal took out the feather she kept safe and lifted it. "you must use that and the blue feather to break the seals. They will break with the hot and cold sensation within the bristles" Diane reached to point on the book "every question you have about the past is within this book... even the story of my warrior"

"R-really..?" Crystal lowered the feather "You're talking different"

"I have adjusted my speech for your better understanding. Forgive me for the sudden change" she nodded and looked back at the feather, then book

"So this book has the warrior's story as well?"

"Well... the story he told me" even if her face wasn't noticeable as much, she could see a frown on her face "my warrior lived an unfortunate life, so I know it was hard for him to tell me every bit of his detailed life."

"Tell me, do you know why that Doublade is guarding him even if he's in the middle of a night terror?"

"The heart of my warrior believes those terrors are showing him pieces of his past. He cannot see them all the way through, so it'll take him a while for him to see it all. His dreams are like reading this book, but this is my own personal memoir. Every 20 years is when the cycle restarts again. Of course, you already know you don't have a lot of time left to live... neither does your little warrior" Crystal looked down, wide-eyed "Every one of the family who holds the illness and curse will not live after a few years before 20, you and West found a loophole... keeping you living a bit longer. You can prevent this altogether."

"I can?" The loophole must come from Cresselia and Wyatt

"Every 20 years, my heart within Froslass that stayed within the forest barrier will move the location of the ice orb. It's the best method to keep others from finding it. You are the only one of my reincarnations to reunite with the reincarnation of the Warrior. I believe if you can put the pieces together and eventually ask Glēgotan for help... It can stop our suffering" the princess floated down to hold Crystal's hands, blowing a cool feeling on her skin "it's finally our time to stop this cycle... We can be free once again and leave this world together. Me and my love..." strangely feeling the saddened heart of the princess sinking into hers, she quickly nodded her head, not wanting either of them to feel such emotion. Crystal didn't know how to take it

"I... I'll do it!" The princess smiled and disappeared as West opened the door, freshly out the shower without a shirt and only a towel. Crystal flinched and threw Cleffa towards him.

"Clef!" It cheered and landed on his face, hugging him

"Hey!" He took off Cleffa "Cleffa is a child. Why are you throwing children like toys?"

"I-I thought it was a pillow! Regardless! It's fine, and you're without a shirt!" She stared at his toned body and soft muscles surrounding his slender shape. She noticed small black markings on the side of his hips, like a tattoo. He smirked when her eyes looked at him from head to toe.

"Shall I remove my towel as well?" This time, she did throw a pillow, hard "Ouch! Damn! I'm kidding!" He threw the pillow at his bed and removed the towel, actually wearing shorts.

Her face was red and angry, but took a deep breath to cool down and looked down at the book "What you got there?" He sat next to her

"It's a book my uncle let me borrow... He said he found it in the Harmony Temple in a secret room that was used to summon Glēgotan. It's in good shape for a book that's been written by the princess so many years ago... don't you think?"

"What? The princess wrote this!?" She nodded "Cool! Can we open it?" He looked at the cover "Chronicles... so it's a journal."

"Yes..." she turned it around "Look" she pointed at a text she can still see "He even told me this book might tell us the history of your family and the Otashi family" he gasped and leaned closer, making her realize he was still shirtless, but stayed quiet.

"That's amazing! To think the family holds a grudge on something that happened this long ago? No one really knows what happened, but yet we're still natural enemies" she rolled her eyes and turned the book back around "Why don't you open it?"

"It's sealed with these locks..." she showed him the red feather "This has the same color as this lock here... I was told- I mean I wonder if the red feather and blue feather will be able to break these" it'll be strange if she told him she actually spoke to the princess from Froslass.

"It doesn't hurt to try! Blue feather lake isn't even far from here! If we want to know more about ourselves, we better head there soon!" He paused and took the book to flip over "What's the princess got to do with the Otashis?" Crystal snatched the book away and stood up a little too fast and got dizzy, falling back on her pillow "Chris!"

"I'm fine. I shouldn't have got up like that" she sighed and looked at him looking down at her laying body. Her face turned bright red when he leaned close to her face and pressed his forehead on hers. He's so close... his hair was still wet, and his arms were flexed when leaning over her body to feel her temperature.

"How are you feeling?" He asked. She turned away

"I-I'm fine... I won't do that again" he sighed and moved her hair away from her face while staring at her eyes "W-West... What are you doing..?"

"Sorry. It's just that...I can't stop forgetting about what that Admin said yesterday, that I'm going to abandon you like in the legend." she looked away

"O-oh... Don't worry about that."

"How can I not worry about something like that? To think I would abandon you when you need me the most. Well..." he looked down "You don't necessarily need me to be the one to take care of you, but I like being the one by your side. I... I'm not going to abandon you. I swear" his eyes widened at her face, seeing tears falling from her eyes "Chris... Why are you crying..?"

"That's going to be too much from you... I don't need you to think too much about me. It'd be better if that thought went behind us. I promise to save you, West."

"What..?" She bit her lips, looking at his bare chest over her

"If it was destiny to find each other, that means we were meant to do something. With everything you've done for me, I will repay you dearly for the same amount of effort you gave to keep me healthy..." she shook her head "There's nothing in this world that can satisfy the payment of everything you've done, but in the end, no matter what happens, I want you to know that it wasn't so bad to have a friend. I didn't think it would be possible for me to open up to anyone who isn't in my family" she took his cheek "I'll understand, West... if that time comes if you decide to abandon me" more tears kept falling "because that's how things are going to be"

"No! Are you crazy!? Why are you talking like this is the last time we're going to see each other? I like you, Crystal! How many times do I have to tell you this?" His tears fell on her cheeks "I'm going to be there for you till the very end! Understand! Will you?!" He stared into her sad eyes filled with devastation and hopelessness

"West... What did you see in your dreams..?" Thinking it over, he shut his eyes and laid on her body, sobbing on her shoulder "oh!"

"I will protect you till the end... I will prevent Team Victoria from turning us into slaves, and I will protect you from them... You don't have to worry."

"What I'm worried about is you... Your mind is breaking you, and even Cresselia can't help ease your thoughts. It's going to be alright, okay?" He calmed down a little before leaning in to press his lips onto hers unexpectedly. Her eyes widened in shock, slowly softening them when taking in his soft lips and stare at the tears still falling. He's that sensitive... isn't he?

"You are the only one of my reincarnations to reunite with the reincarnation of the Warrior" she remembered the princess saying. The only one after every 20 years of a new reincarnation being born, her and West were the first to meet and is destined to change their fate. To finally put the ancient souls to rest and maybe end the family war and also the couple's misfortune. Even if the last part can't be accomplished, Crystal hopes for West's survival.

The kiss lasted for what felt like hours, but it only took a few seconds to feel his tender heart reaching hers as they connected. She couldn't help but relax her eyes and wrap her arms around his shoulder, keeping him close for a few seconds longer before separating and hold each other close

"Don't worry anymore... You hear me?" She asked. He sighed, nodding and held her closer than before. It's a shame the other reincarnations, or their ancestors, couldn't feel the love for each other like the ancient lovers did.

The legend felt more alive now that she felt how much her heart was throbbing. She fears that if she becomes closer to him, it'll hurt more at the end

"Got it..." she rubbed the back of his head for a few minutes before deciding to get up and take a shower herself.

She stared up at the ceiling while the water poured down her hair, letting out a long sigh and hugged herself.

"Why does my heart hurt so much..?" She felt her body shivering, yet the water was warm "What has he done to my cold heart..? It's better if I pretend like he doesn't matter, but how can I do that now?" She leaned on the wall, cupped her face to try and hold in her tears "If I would have just stayed at home and tell everyone where I lived without Wyatt knowing, they could have came and I could have avoided this... but I wanted to see this world, I wanted to see the sun, and I wanted to live. I didn't think living would hurt this much..." Froslass frowned up at Crystal crying by herself, unable to know what to do. Her body is growing weaker every day...

~

"So looks like the doctors still couldn't find Tonya's vocal cords" Scarlett told Crystal in the Pokémon center while West battled against Kayla and Danny in a double battle outside. Tonya sat on Crystal's lap while playing with Cleffa "I could have sworn I heard her talk... everyone witness this, no?"

"Yes, I heard her speak... but I'm not sure if I have the words to even say anything about this matter."

"Still... she talked to you. I would have thought that maybe she'll talk to you... again?" Crystal tilted her head to the side, confused

"You think I'm responsible for making her speak?"

"It's worth a try!" Crystal looked down at Tonya in her own little world

"I don't feel comfortable making her talk. It was her own choice to do it. Why would I make her?" Scarlett sighed and nodded

"I understand... I wish I can help her more. She's always waking up at night, scared and looking out the window. The window that points directly at the forest. Some say she can see ghost, like Olivia, but Olivia said she could only hear the spirits and speak to them. Tonya, so young... and she can't express herself like her. Olivia can't help. I wanted to see if you could be the one to help her" Crystal stared at Scarlett's sad face before sighing and turned Tonya around to face her

"Tonya... listen to me carefully. I know you don't know me as much, but I have the feeling you know something about my Froslass" trying not to confuse Scarlett too much, she was careful with her words "if there's a way I can help you ease your fears, please tell me" Tonya frowned and looked out the glass window toward the forest.

"The forest of the dolls..." her small voice spoke, making Scarlett gasp and cup her mouth "...are filled with not only kids, but the unfortunate souls that died under the hands of the Kingdom of Kannena" Crystal's eyes widened "these people were killed by the king, the princess, the aristocracy, and the warrior. I hear them talking to me, trying to explain their story" she pouted her lips.

"What story..?"

"how they died... because those people" Crystal gulped and looked at Froslass staring at nothing "they yelling, scared, crying... they say they see darkness" Tonya started tearing up "they tell me to help them 'cause I can see them. Olivia don't see them. Please... save them, princess!" Crystal held her heart

"Tonya... I-I don't think-"

"You have to! Help their spirits Rest In Peace!" She held Tonya's wet cheek

"Such a young girl... which such strong words. You've been through a lot, and you haven't had the chance to speak until now" she nodded "don't worry, I'll try my best."

"My voice... they steal it. It only safe when you around because they scared of you" Crystal flinched "they steal it..." she nodded and bowed to Scarlett

"I can't promise I'll help, but I'll try my best."

"This whole spirit thing... I think this is too dangerous. We can find another way to regain her voice, please don't do anything reckless."

"What's the point of living if you can't be a little reckless? I'll be on my way. I'll even give you a call when I leave the forest."

"If you can find a signal. It's best to take the train to get past the forest, or ask Olivia to walk you. She's going to go home with her parents, so I'd find her soon."

"I'll do that" she lied and walked out, waving to Tonya and her hopeful eyes "West!" She yelled at West in the middle of his battle "let's go!"

"But I'm-" she walked away without another word. Apologizing, he ran after Crystal walking towards the forest without showing any signs of stopping.

Before he could comment on this, he saw a dark shadow hiding behind a tree with her Sylveon and Mimikyu, later showing herself to Crystal continuing to stare ahead.

"So you're going to leave without saying goodbye to anyone?" The shadow said

"Looks that way... I have to keep going, Olivia." Crystal blurted out. Olivia hurried over to follow them

"You're seriously going to go through the forest by foot? Are you mad? You'll get lost."

"I'll be fine. I know it" Olivia frowned "not only do I want to see more of Kannena than from a train, but I also have to go through it so I can speak with the ancient souls who have yet to rest even after all these years. This is for Tonya... besides, we're on our way to Blue feather lake, so there are reasons why I decided to go by foot" Olivia stared at her

"Well then... if that's the way it is, I'll escort you through. I don't have to go home till later, so I have enough time" Cleffa jumped from Crystal's shoulder and landed on Olivia's face.

"Thanks" the girls walked step by step next to each other. West stared at them, becoming more and more bewildered on how close Crystal became to the gym leaders... not to mention why they look alike through the eyes.