"I'm here to challenge you to a battle!" West shouted, barging into her garden with Emilia standing right in front of him with a basket of veggies, berries, and seeds

"Dear... I'm right here" she smiled nervously "I haven't had such an excited challenger in a long while. Very well!" She bowed with a kind smile that could make flowers grow "my name is Emilia Otashi. I am the gym leader of Zamia city who specializes in bug and grass types" her eyes glanced over at Leafeon looking at Crystal's legs worriedly. Emilia flinched, almost dropping her basket, and looked up to see even her arms were all scratched up.

"W-What is this!?" She gasped. Crystal looked down

"I-I... I got dragged across the concrete."

"By!?" Crystal turned away "D-Don't tell me..." Emilia cupped her mouth and looked at the wrap around West's head, handprints around his neck, and bandages around his arms "The spirits in Zamia are getting violent. I'm so worried."

"Don't be" Crystal said "I think they've calmed down" continuing to stare at her, Emilia held her heart in relief.

"In that case..." she smiled "Why don't you come in? I have some natural medicine that should help those nasty things so they won't leave scars" just like Crystal hoped for

"W-Well..." West looked to the side to think "I'm fine, anyway. I went to the hospital, so they took care of me. If you can help Crystal, that'll be nice of you" Emilia giggled, making him blush a little at her kindness

"I'll be happy too! You seem like a worthy opponent and a charming couple. I'll be happy to take care of you" Crystal smiled a little to where West couldn't see and walked in with her big sister. Rubbing the back of his head, West kept wondering why his family had a grudge on such nice people...

Walking into the home filled with different kinds of plants, West looked around to see dozens of pictures on the walls. It was the entire family in what seemed like years ago in family vacations, at the pool, and everything that made up a childhood.

He stopped at his tracks when seeing a family photo with a family member that wasn't in the other frames. It was a little girl with sky blue hair and beautiful blue eyes sitting on Leah's lap. It also looked a lot like the girl he had on his wall...

"Who's this?" He asked Emilia spreading medicine on Crystal's legs and arms

"Oh! That's my family! My parents and all my siblings" he looked back at the picture

"I think I met this girl a long time ago... and she kinda looks like Crystal" Emilia looked at Crystal flinching.

"D-Don't compare me to others! Idiot! I never met you when we were kids! I never once left my room when I was in the hospital" he slowly nodded

"I guess you're right... It's just so strange how you both look alike" her face went redder. Emilia giggled silently as West continued to look around the house "Oh! S-Sorry about that" he raised his hands "I just realized I was doing this without asking"

"Go ahead, sweetie. I have them there so I can express how important my family is to me" she said while wrapping the bandages. West smiled at her answer and continued to look around.

Not once has he seen the blue haired girl again in any more of the pictures. He froze when seeing an old black and white photo of Emilia in a wedding dress with a man

"This picture..." Emilia finished with the first-aid and walked over

"Oh! That's my grandmother! Victoria, she-" she cleared her throat, almost slipping something she wasn't supposed to say "She's 19 years old in this picture."

"Really?! But you look so much like her!" Crystal sighed, knowing it was just a family recognition

"Well, thank you!" Emilia giggled and stared at the picture "Aside from my mom's story, grandma's story was famous among the family. Want to hear it?"

"Oh! Uh..." she's really nice and calming... It  was so hard to even be serious or tough around her and her nice smelling house "Sure..." he walked to sit next to Crystal, noticing a violin on the coffee table "You play?"

"Oh yes, it's soothing to play for my Pokémon in the garden. Aside from being a gym leader, I'm a professor and a professional violinist" West's eyes widened in amazement while Crystal's eyes sparkled in admiration. She's a professional now?! Where have the days gone when she remembered back at the league of her and Emilia spending time in the auditorium and practicing their instruments together?

Emilia put the violin away and sat across from the couple on another couch "I'll be happy to play for you after our battle." Emilia offered with a big smile on her face

"Well... I-" West blushed.

"Sure!" Crystal smiled. He stared at the change in Crystal's behavior, noticing how she was always different when hanging with the leaders. He took a deep breath and sighed, looking back at Emilia and nodded. Emilia nodded and remained quiet for a moment before beginning the story.

"My grandmother's name before the picture was Victoria Jordan, and she was said to be a descendant of a war general back in the war 3,000 years ago" West leaned closer to listen "Her side of the family always had members who were natural born leaders and were quite successful. She grew up in an abusive home and ran away to escape that life to find another. She fell in love, but the young man's family was rich and didn't accept them. Heartbroken, Victoria left for him to be happy and moved on... eventually marrying and had a child, my mother. My mom grew up strong and a leader, like the family, and she battled her way through the Pokémon gyms while talking to a guy who was the champion of the league, my dad. She battled in secret so he won't end up hating her. That's what she feared... She became engaged with him even if he never knew of her plans, and married. She participated in the league and wanted to become a champion. My family didn't approve of outsiders. If not blood related, they would never let them become part of the league, but my mom proved them wrong and stood alongside my dad. They are a duo couple, using double battles as their way to battle against those who challenge them. The family admires my mom and grandma for their bravery..." Crystal nodded, agreeing

"My grandmother died a little after my little sister was born... It was sad to see her leave, but at least she gets to be with the one she loved" Emilia looked down "one who died after the wedding."

"Oh no..." West frowned "I'm sorry."

"It's okay... none of us knew him... not even my mom. He was a gentleman, or how my grandmother described him. She tells us the story of how they met over and over, and the story of the rich lover slowly fades away as she tells the story sometimes, but her true story always remained"

"What came of the rich lover?" He asked. Emilia crossed her leg over the other and paused to think

"Where she is buried with my grandfather, Leah tells me of a suspicious man lurking around the graveyard very early in the morning or around sunset to come and see her... We've theorized that it might be the man from her stories, the ones whose family didn't accept her. He's always there" Crystal remembered the man. He told her that he always goes there, even if he knows that's not his love's grave... Because he probably didn't know she married, he didn't know her name changed.

"I think I've seen him as well when I was at the graveyard," Crystal said "He was talking about some things and told me he goes there even if he knows it's not his love's grave."

"Oh? Could it be that he doesn't know she's gone? Or was even married?" Emilia thought for a moment "How strange... if he doesn't know, why is he always at the same grave?" She shrugged and stood up "I should have asked you this before, but would you like some tea? Talking is so nice with tea when you're trying to get to know someone" West looked down, intimidated by her charm.

"N-No... I just want a battle, P-Please..."

"Are you nervous, dear?"

"N-no! I just don't get it!" She looked confused "Your family... The leaders I've battled were pretty nice, and my family comes to hate you guys! I've been thought to hate you, and it's in my nature to do so, but it hurts to see how kind all of you are. I've been so mean to the others, I'm sorry..." Emilia nodded

"Have you learned nothing from my little sister, Leah? Never judge a book by its cover. We need to let out the negative vibes and let in the positives... At least that's what I go by. Life's too short to hold a grudge. If you keep thinking about the past, you won't see a future" West looked down, having a hard time understanding. Crystal stared at him from the corner of her eye before standing.

"We don't have all day, West. Hurry up and battle so we can head to the temple"

"Oh, right" he stood after her "Let's battle!" Emilia nodded, glancing at Crystal, and walked to the garden with West following her. Crystal blushed and looked back at her grandma's wedding picture, wondering if that guy in the graveyard was her rich lover, then it could be the reason why the gang is called Team Victoria... there was a lot of Grunts around, so that was a big sign...

She remained staring at the picture, seeing how much Emilia did look like her grandmother. Wearing a wedding dress... holding hands with the man she loved. It's the sad reality that Crystal can never have something like that...

"You left such a horrible past to be happy... and that's exactly what you got. You're so lucky... I've always admired you for that. Tell me, grandma... Do you think I can be happy before I die? I want to take away West's curse and take it with me. I plan on leaving him happy, and even if I may not be able to set the princess free, West and the Warrior won't have to worry anymore" Froslass frowned deeply "I'll have to ask a lot from Glēgotan, but I'm not giving up."

"I understand..." the princess's voice spoke "We are more alike than we thought... I wanted to do the same thing. Now that you have the keys to break the seals, please read the journal" Crystal nodded and turned around to see only Froslass staring at her

"Let's get going..." walking to the back of the house where Emilia kept her garden, there was also a battlefield in the middle of everything. Emilia and West fought with her Scizor and his Houndoom. Even if he had the type advantage with Houndoom and Rufflet, the battle won't be so easy

Emilia battled in elegance. Not a single command sounded like she put force into anything. She was the oldest out her sisters and knew how to handle any dilemma without having to struggle to get her point across

West couldn't even be serious in the battle. He was hesitant and had a hard time trying to focus on the battle, but got relaxed at the moment. That was one way Emilia gets her opponents

"You're very good in battle, but I seem to notice that you put too much force into this. Please relax. Battling isn't about always winning. It's a way to inner connect with your Pokémon and become one with them. Once becoming one with them, you won't have to be so harsh on demands, and you're going to have an easier time going with the flow" West widened his eyes, remembering something Crystal said before

"Battles are about connections!" Is it just a coincidence..? His head was hurting. He took what Emilia said and tried using her advice, but it ended up losing at the end when he couldn't commit to her words.

"I-I lost.." he gulped

"I'm sorry it turned out this way, but please do consider taking my advice and calm yourself while in battle. If you don't believe in your Pokémon enough to calm down, then there's no point in me battling someone like you" West's heart nearly crushed.

"W-Wait a minute... Are you banning me!?" She shook her head

"No, it's against the rules to do something like that. What I meant... someone like you, who's currently too rash for his own good to calm down. Once I see you have calmed your raging spirit, I will consider in battling you again" she bowed "There's an exit over at the corner between the trees. If you may excuse me, I must get to work" she stood back up and walked back into her home. West stood there, unable to move

"Was it really because I couldn't keep calm?" Crystal walked over and held his shoulder

"It must be that raging spirit of the Warrior you have..." he frowned at her "You might be the reincarnation of him, but remember you are you, West..." she held his hand "You don't have to be anyone else... battling doesn't have to be so serious."

"That's all I've ever known. My Pokémon had the advantage, and I still lost... because I wasn't calm?" They walked out of the garden and looked up at the sunset sky

"There's more to it than that... You have to focus and not just throw yourself in there."

"I guess I know what you're saying" he sighed and looked at her with a smile "Well, looks like I need some training, and not with my Pokémon either" she smiled as well "It's been a long day and I've been stuck in that hospital for a long time. How about we go get some Zamiacones?"

"Zamiacones?"

"Yeah! They're a specialty here in Zamia. The only thing I miss about this place beside my family is the Zamiacones."

"West... Remember when Brandy said about those spirits on the north side of Kannena? How exactly did you survive here?"

"I didn't... I didn't know angry spirits were after me at the time, but I would always wake up with bruises and scratch marks, even hand prints on my stomach I'd always hid. My terrors were out of hand, and they didn't start to calm down until I moved away to Hana Village with Aaron and his mom. There's a lot of reasons why I left..."

"Is one of the reasons... Your arrangements?" He chuckled half-heartedly

"Yeah... That's one of them. The last reason was simply Kyle. He told you about a list of girls waiting to marry me, huh?" She nodded slowly

"Is it true?" He nodded, lifting her chin when she looked down

"Those girls were only arranged to me in random order. It was just me that didn't want to even interact with anyone at the time. My parents wanted me to become friends with at least a few of them until I found the perfect one... but they didn't notice that I wanted to be alone. I was always scared because of those terrors. I became more and more distant growing up. I didn't care about being a champion in the place of my dad. It wouldn't get me anywhere. With being champion of the league, at least I can do much more things and express myself even more instead of being cooped up in that tower like some damsel in distress... So I ran away. It was the best decision I've ever made" he held her hands "Because I got to meet you"

"West..." he gently took her cheek and leaned in for a soft kiss. Her eyes fell naturally, feeling his warmth as he embraced her carefully in his arms. He's so sensitive... It's all because of the curse. He became distant towards everyone, and he never got the chance to have a childhood just like her.

"I like you, Crystal... I'll stay with you for as long as possible" he leaned on her shoulder, holding her closer "I knew from the moment I met you, I felt warmth in this cold heart of mine" she gasped silently and started shedding tears. W-West... No... Y-You're supposed to be happy without me... she thought to herself

"Crystal..." his eyes started getting blurry "I..." his body started swaying until it eventually fell into her body.

"West!?" She felt the presence of others coming near. Froslass was even asleep near her feet. Knowing she doesn't have time to react, she rested West down in a hurry and hurried to pound on her communicator, using the feature for emergencies.

"Hello? Who is this?" A confused voice answered when a hand grabbed her from behind and covered her mouth. Using force to get free to scream out, she yelled for the one she called.

"Wyatt!" She bent down to get the hands off of her to throw the communicator before she was taken by whoever got a hold of them to take them away

Things are getting serious! I'm so excited to edit the next part and read it!