Crystal swung her feet behind her to kick whoever grabbed her and threw her on the floor like a sack of potatoes. She was the one now sitting on top of the grunt with her legs crossed on top of the other and her back straight, sitting like the princess she was

"It's rude to touch a lady like that" she stood up and faced the old man who never took his eyes off her the entire time "I'm sorry for barging into your office without introducing myself" she curtsied "My name is Crystal Otashi. I am the strongest gym leader of Kannena and also known to everyone here as the reincarnation of the Princess of Ice, the only one who can handle the Ice orb in the palms of my hands."

"Y-You..?" The grunt she was on top of groaned to stand again but was flatted out by her foot pressing on his back "I see... No wonder I kept hearing so many things happening behind my doors while I was trying to get ready for the trip to the temple..."

"Let me guess, to summon the legendary Pokémon with something that was given to two individuals because they were recognized? Those orbs are not yours" Froslass handed her the Ice orb "They belong to us."

"The ice orb!"

"No shit... now if you don't want me to hurt you, you'll tell me where West is, now! I don't have a lot of time to be here. I have to save him... He's in trouble."

"You care that much about him..." the man closed his eyes "That's too bad... You don't have the guts to do it" her smirk made him freeze.

"I use to be the Princess of ice... Want to bet on that?" When taking a step further, he took a step back "I'm not going to ask you again. You'll tell me where West is, now!" He gulped, staring at the steaming coolness the orb gave off

"You dare to threaten me? The boss of the most dangerous organization in Kannena?"

"I don't care if you're the damn king" she giggled "At least he knew his limit... You're going to go too far, and you'll also know you're limit" she snorted, taking a step towards the door "If you don't tell me where he is, I'm going to look for him myself" she curtsied "If you'll excuse me" she ran out of the room with her Pokémon. This time, nobody bothered following her. Now that they know she was holding a very deadly weapon, they have no chance going up against her.

"How am I going to find West now?" She groaned, looking through as many places as possible. It felt like it's been a long while before noticing the building was too quiet... "huh? Where is everyone?" Froslass slowly created the mist to summon the princess

"Perhaps they left to the temple"

"What!?"

"We must leave quickly. We've been here too long. They already saw you as a threat and retreated. They have a hold of the Fiery orb... If anything, with the technology they have now in this... strange era, that orb may be the only thing they need to summon Glēgotãn."

"So it doesn't need both orbs to be summoned!?"

"It's mainly a theory. Those orbs were created by its own powers after the king had sacrificed himself to keep my warrior and me alive a bit longer to make a difference, to save the kingdom. That Pokémon is simply a Pokémon, it may come as it pleases, but the orbs are like a calling to it. After our passing, we soon knew of its true nature due to being a part of it for so long. Since it noticed us, it'll come to our aid and its why our spirits remained here" the princess reached to hold the orb "You are connected to the legendary. To make a wish, you must sacrifice something great. If you want to take away West's curse and keep your illness, you already know what you have to do" Crystal slowly nodded "It pains me to be apart from my love... but this is what we have to do in order to keep the ones we love happy."

"I understand... I know what I'm putting myself through. I'm leaving behind a lot of people who I became close to, but... it's going to happen" the mist gently held Crystal's cheek before disappearing. Froslass reopened her eyes and offered a hand to help escort her out the building after taking the Ice orb in hand and swallowed it safe.

The building after that felt abandoned and quiet. Lights were off from all around, and only a few receptionists stayed behind to secure the first floor. They eyed Crystal leaving the empty building but didn't think much of it

"Did they... really all leave?" Crystal asked, walking outside "That was fast, actually."

"They all came out running like some monster was trying to eat them alive... I think what they saw was right" Leah giggled from the side of the building with Emilia. Crystal walked over to see them next to Ryan pocketing his hands.

"What are you guys doing here?"

"We can't be worried about you? Wyatt told us what you were up to so we waited to see if there would be some action coming out these doors. So far, all we've seen were a bunch of office employees running like wild Pokémon and jump into dozens of vehicles that were parked up front not too long ago. There was so many that we couldn't even see if you were a part of them" Crystal bit her lips.

"So you didn't see if they took West..."

"No..." Ryan sighed "but I did see Kyle running through the group, even if he tried hiding his face. I know him when I see him"

"Even when he didn't seem all that bad in the end, he's still a part of them." Crystal said

"Don't get me wrong, Kyle may have been a bad kid, but he knows how far his actions go. I heard he was the one that saved you? Or at least found you and brought you to safety."

"He was the one that stood in front of me in my cell, watching me slowly dying. He sounded scared" he nodded.

"I can tell you one thing... he's all talk, but no action. If you can at least get him on your side, you can save West" he shrugged "Maybe... I'm trying to give you a good starting point."

"You did well before mentioning that last part" Leah giggled "Crystal, we know how distant you are towards others, and if West means this much to you if you're willing to sacrifice a big part of your life for him, who are we to stop you? At least now, you won't leave us in bad terms" Emilia came to hug her softly

"You made it this far to see us... That alone did so much. The rivalry between the Otashis and Kimanas are over for the most part. Wyatt is part of the family again... All this happened because you wanted to see life one last time. You've been living, so go on living until you know it's your time to stop" Crystal's eyes watered "We're all going to be by your side, little sister" Leah joined in on the hug.

"Good luck. Come back to us safely" Crystal nodded and backed away, waving with a smile on her face.

"Yeah, I will! I'll come back! And I'll come back with West!" She ran off

❄️

West groaned when his body rolled around the floor in the truck he was thrown into and shipped off into some mysterious place he wasn't told where they were taking him after he handed over the Fiery Orb. Not too long after handing it over to protect Crystal and get her help, he was tied up and immediately taken to the vehicles.

After a large number of hours later in the truck with a built-in laboratory studying the Fiery orb, they then started moving to who knows where. Kyle jumped into the truck before they took off

"Finally decided to make a move?" West glared angrily. Kyle ignored him and sat against the seats he shared with a few Grunts who hurried in like they were in a panic "Not talking to me now?" As soon as the truck started moving, so did West's body "Where did you get your drivers license!? You idiot! You could kill someone before slamming on those damn brakes!" He shouted.

Kyle bit his lips at the behavior he'll never get used to. West so different now... angrier and even scary. His Doublade didn't even move an inch above his body after showing up when being summoned. Why is it free to roam around again?

"Please quiet down" Jared sighed, writing something on a clipboard while observing the Fiery orb in the middle of the truck "I had enough of you and your little girlfriend talking so carefree when you won't have such freedom in the end" he snorted "but it's fine. You should get it out your system."

"Fuck you, kid!" Kyle flinched, staring at the wall wide-eyed, hearing a mixture of West and another's voice. W-West... What had gotten into him? "You have sundered me from my beloved! The sole individual who didst rekindle the radiance within my heart!"

"I don't care how much you love that girl. What's there to love anyway? She's rude and a total bitch-" West groaned loudly, making Doublade vibrate with his reaction. A few Grunts ready their Pokéballs just in case.

"Utter it, proclaim it aloud, and I solemnly swear, you shall find yourself weeping in the comforting arms of your maternal figure!" Jared lifted his clipboard to hide his shaking lips. How is it that West and Crystal were the only ones who made Jared able to act his age again? He looked like he wanted to cry.

"S-shut up! Kyle, do something!" He ordered like a child crying to his parent. Kyle shakily looked at West's dark eyes.

"W-West... There's no need to be so-"

"his presence is not within these confines" Everyone got a chill down their spine

"W-What..?" Jared stuttered nervously. West smirked

"Art thou aware of the consequences that befell those who committed wrongdoing in the days of my era? Those who dared to consider themselves above royalty were met with retribution and duly humbled, their pride brought low..." he started laughing "I have dispatched hundreds, perhaps thousands, of souls in my own epoch, merely by wielding the flames as instruments of destruction. Among the casualties were my own comrades, as well as innocent passersby who chanced upon my path. As retribution for my deeds, I was condemned to the wretched existence of a slave, condemned to toil without recompense. Though I served my homeland dutifully, what recompense did fate bestow upon me?" He tilted his head sideways "I received naught but the cold steel of betrayal and the torment of my captors' cruelty! I am naught but a specter now, inhabiting the vessel of mine own great-grandchild... Though you all stand accused of crimes, I harbor no fear in perpetuating further transgressions"

"West! Snap out of it already-!" Kyle built up the courage to jump at West but got pointed with swords at both directions of his neck, stopping him. 

"Exercise caution" West giggled, speaking somewhat in his own voice, but kept bringing back another "Never approach an individual who has traversed the horrors of war with reckless abandon. You, in particular, were the one who inflicted betrayal upon him. Even as he grappled with his inner demons, you chose to propel him toward the precipice with your actions. It may have ultimately led to his transformation into the virtuous soul he is today, but do not underestimate the depths from which he emerged. You are well aware of the specific circumstances to which I allude" Kyle thought back at how West looked at him after he ran to inform him about Crystal's condition "Thou shalt not succeed in thy endeavors concerning Glēgotãn... is that clear? In fact, thou art destined to naught but humiliation"

"We'll see... about that" Jared huffed. West rested his head on the floor, letting out one last laugh.

"I ponder... merely ponder... What shall be the price of your sacrifice?" he closed his eyes and fell asleep. Doublade let go of his wrist behind him and vanished into thin air. Kyle fell back, stunned to know that... wasn't really West.

❄️

The journey to Nixa Town would take at least a few days by foot. Surely they can't get far into the temple where the journal was found. The doors to the throne room are heavily guarded by Pokémon who lived for as long as the temple had been made.

"This is going to be the death of me..." Crystal sighed

"Did anyone say death?" Olivia popped out of nowhere from a tree, making Crystal squeal surprise

"Olivia! What are you doing!?"

"What do you mean? Now that you put my friends to rest, I have to start making new friends!" She looked towards the forest they were close by "Although these spirits are not the same as I've known. I recommend not to go through here and just take the train."

"Why? I thought you only hear children voices."

"Though that is true, I can still feel how powerful they are. They are violent, I can feel it. I don't want you to go through there. Let's get out of here."

"A train will only take me to a different route. I'm going straight, and I'll be there in no time."

"I told you this forest is dangerous!"

"More dangerous than the forest of the dolls?"

"Well, the north side of Kannena is pretty haunted by itself. There are stories of this place holding evil spirits that can lure you to the edge of suicide."

"S-Suicide forest..?"

"Yeah, that's a good name for it! But it's actually called The Gateway to Hell" Crystal's face turned blue in horror "just kidding! This is Flora forest" Olivia pointed at all the white flowers up ahead in the path "It's filled with all kinds of flowers that are known for being poisonous, and the strong smells can really mess up your brain like drugs. There's a gate further down the road saying to keep out" She held her chin to think "I also heard that there's a haunted mansion out there too... but it's only a rumor- Crystal?" Crystal already walked past her while putting on the cloak she had stored in her bag, the same one she used to hide her identity "Wait a minute! Where do you think you're going!? You promised to come back to us!"

"I did, and I don't intend to break that promise... I'll be fine" Froslass shot Olivia a thumbs up "Froslass has my back" Castform floated around "and Castform... I'm sure I can find something for it to do" Castform nearly fell from embarrassment "for now, I need you to have a good rest" she returned her beloved Pokémon and faced Olivia "oh yeah, will yah do me a favor?"

"Sure, what is it?" She told her everything she saw back in the Victorian building of the photos of their grandmother "I see... You can count on me! I love sneaking into buildings!" She said all too excitedly.

"Yeah... don't be so weird about it. Later" Crystal walked away.

"Please be safe, big sister..."

"I will... I promise. It'll take more than some spirits to stop me" Froslass nodded confidently and followed her through the shadows of the forest ahead with glowing flowers

"Be safe..." Froslass led the way to keep them from getting lost. It seems that it was the princess that went through this place before... it was the forest that she went through to get to the temple in the first place. The area felt lonely and dark... The same way how Crystal last read it in the journal. There use to be villagers living in these parts and was once known as Flora Village, now it's a plain and haunted forest called Flora forest

"I... feel spirits around, but they don't feel as bad as how Olivia described them" she pointed out. Froslass shrugged and stopped in place to think of where to go next. Even if it was a straight path and still light out, the trees made it impossible to see where they were going.

"Princess?" some spirits whispered.

"The princess...?" Crystal looked around confused, not understanding why they sounded calm compared to how the ones sounded back in the city. 

This forest is closest to where the battlefield took place, thus, destroying the houses that use to remain here. These may be the innocent people that lost their homes, yet they sounded almost cheerful when they felt her walking through.

"Our princess...?"

"She returned..." Crystal frowned at Froslass looking around and smiling shyly.

"Bless you..."

"You've tried... your highness."

"Tried..." she frowned "you tried your best to give everything to your kingdom even after the king's passing, but you knew you didn't have enough time and handed the crown to..." Froslass nodded "You really did try your best, but thanks to you and the warrior, we have harmony" Crystal took out the flute from her bag and held it towards her lips

"These spirits must be put to rest..." Froslass nodded quickly, encouraging her to do so until it noticed a sudden house over to the side of their paths. About to play the Song of harmony, Crystal's body got wrapped in some kind of hairlike arms.

"La... la..." Crystal gasped loudly, feeling her body flying backwards to a place she couldn't see. Her screams were muffled, and not even Froslass could catch up to where she was being taken.