Team Victoria spent hours during the late night looking for the entrance to the room where the summoning of the legendary Pokémon will take place.

So far it was hard enough to avoid security guarding the temple from every corner without getting caught with dozens of grunts trying to make their way around.

"If we want to get through this with progress, we have to find a way to get those people out that temple and find a way to open that entrance to the room" Ronaldo stared at a screen, watching one of his grunts using a camera to look through the temple while dodging security "There's no real evidence if the way to the entrance is guaranteed, but it's worth a shot..." he looked down at an old piece of paper protected within glass to prevent it from crumbling

"it says here if we want to open the entrance, we need the soul of the royal family, whatever that means..." he sighed "If only we had that girl..." he thought back at how powerful she looked and stood and how similar she looked to Victoria Jordan, the long love he never knew had moved on even if he's been searching for 40 years

"It'll be okay, boss" Britney said, standing beside him while Ashly navigated the grunt to safety from the computer in the build-in lab in the truck "The Fiery orb should be the only thing we need. Obviously, people from back then would never be able to observe the orbs due to their dangerous abilities" Ronaldo nodded.

"Yes..." he looked over at West sleeping on the floor "This boy is the only one who can hold that orb without burning. It's hot even when standing so close to it. He indeed has the spirit of that peasant" he narrowed his eyes, remembering Crystal holding the Ice orb and threatening his life with it. Those eyes of hers didn't look like they would hesitate.

"West... You have him, and I want him back!" She yelled out in his head with those angry eyes he'd never imagine on Victoria... Has that many years really passed by?

She married and had a child who married and had a child as well. His heart broke at the thought that Victoria didn't even think of him, but it's their fault... His parents didn't accept her because they didn't want to be embarrassed by his choice in women... Even if she was perfect, it was because of his status.

"What do you know about that boy?" He asked randomly. Britney looked at him, realizing he was talking about West.

"I did some research and found out he's the son of the champion of the Battle Tower, heir to be next in line once he's married" Ronaldo held his chin.

"Oh!" Ashly gasped amazed "Is that right? I heard that that girl with the blue hair was a gym leader, one of the daughters of the champion of the Pokémon League!" He nodded

"Yes... it seems that they're pretty much in the same class, yet different. Their families grew up with a hatred towards each other, and they manage to care this much about each other"

"They're pretty scary..." Ashly nervously laughed "They act like they want to murder. They're a perfect connection towards the princess and her lover" Rolando nodded, thinking it over.

"It's pretty much the same story... Their families didn't approve of one another, but how would a slave have a family, is my question" Kyle hid his yawn while listening to their conversation. His eyes gazed at West's uncomfortable face and his heavy breathing

"Don't worry, boss! We'll get our hands on that girl in no time! Even if she's a gym leader, she can't beat the dozens of grunts I send to find her" Britney said. West flinched and laid on his back, groaning and stirring in his sleep.

"Looks like he's having a nightmare" Ashly giggled. Ronaldo paid no attention and kept supervising and looking for clues to see how they can get through and even find the entrance.

❄️ dream ❄️

Fire and darkness surrounded his every corner. Bodies burned alive before his own eyes, even children... He couldn't take his eyes away. It was so horrific that it made him so weak in the knees.

The sight of seeing blood everywhere and blackened corpse before his eyes. He wanted to scream and cry. The war the warrior fought in was won thanks to his decision to use fire as a method to kill in the battle. Thousands of people and Pokémon lost their lives that day, as well as his sanity.

His mysterious illness took over his body and he was lost without knowing what else he could do. He was freed after the war and his insanity drove him to play with fire he was so passionate about. It began to spread and killed innocent people in his village

"The crime you committed will not go unnoticed. What you did was gruesome, and it won't be ignored" an unknown person of the court spoke while West stared down at a body resembling a lot like his, chained and on his knees, blindfolded, staring upward "killing you will be too simple. Death will be too nice for us to grant you. You will suffer here, where you will think of every terrible thing you did while you work and work until you slowly die from exhaustion" his whole world turned black.

He yelled in pain, asking for forgiveness for every punishment given to him, whether it be from a whip or knives, everything hurt the same.

It wasn't his fault and his illness grew worse. His body was weak. That's why he depended on fire to be his army, to shield him while he sits weakly.

After so, West caught himself watching at the warrior staring at the ocean from a cliff.

The warrior wanted to hide or run away, but that resulted in him getting his nails ripped off. When he finally escaped from the slave market, his first intention was to end his life, that was until he felt something warm walking towards him.

Never understanding the feeling of warmth due to his immunity to heat, the warrior flinched and turned towards a tall woman in a black kimono-like dress with flower print and amazing long blue hair, standing near him.

Her eyes gave out wonder of the man while he stared in shock and embarrassment, noticing she was staring at the scars on his body, his stiff arms and legs, his clothing filled with holes, and his bloody fingers.

"What are you doing, peasant?" She asked, tilting her head sideways, curious "shouldn't you be working?" The warrior spoke almost with the same voice West had

"I don't think they need someone who can't even do anything right. They won't miss a pair of hands like these... the pair that killed thousands of people, with a creation I thought would protect me. Don't try to stop me... there's no reason to live now" he looked down the crashing waters hitting the sharp rocks

"It's a shame how times are like this... Where you're looked down upon and expected to be someone you're not" he looked back at her closing her eyes, walking to the edge like him. He nearly panicked and held his arm out before she stopped on her own

"Our creator didn't make us and expected to be set in groups. We were made as one; humans. I can't imagine what they did to you. I can't imagine what drives you to kill, but don't you think you were made specifically to do something? Whether it was to kill or not, life goes on and we grow. Grow to become different because of the changes we were blessed with" her words were so inspiring, so strong, so confident, even if West has seen this dream before, they remind West so much of her...

The princess turned to meet the eyes of the one who listened to what her heart had to say. His heart throbbed at the words and made him think there was hope, even for a second, but once looking at her kind smile, his little faith became what his heart became, bigger and brighter. He instantly fell in love with the woman.

"A drive to suicide means ending a life you could have improved. I understand... If you want, I can jump with you" the Warrior and West were taken back "although, it doesn't have to be that way. When you have others that share a lot in common with you, what's the point in leaving the world that created that person? We help each other, and we help each other live. We don't have to be alone, because we're all humans... We have each other"

She turned his direction to stare into his wide misty green eyes before offering her clean hand to his bloody scratched up ones.

"I have heard of you... The peasant who guards the pits of hell, the slave who holds the burning darkness of the earth, and the Warrior of Fire. You have such a reputation, don't you?" She smiled for him.

His heart fluttered, as well as West. Her face and the shine on her eyes. West had never seen her smile like that. Her heart was cold, but she didn't mind smiling to the one who was a mess and covered in dirt. She didn't mind taking his hand, even if they didn't feel like they were worthy

Blinking once, West reopened his eyes to see the princess kneeling with the Warrior on the floor in what looked like a chapel room with a wall painting, holding the Ice Orb in her hand while the Warrior had the red and burning Fiery Orb in his

Her face was as white as paper and their skin looked lifeless "You're hurting..." she let down the scepter and reached to hold the Warrior's cheek "You've been hurting for this long, this isn't fair" tears fell from her eyes "You've been through so much. If only I could take the burden for you. For me, I am cursed, so it would have been alright for me to take it, and you'd live happy" West slowly blinked again.

"My pain doesn't matter now, because all I feel is the love I have for you. I love you, your highness. Never again will you have to worry" The warrior's body leaned for a kiss. West closed his eyes once to reopen them and see Diane begging to take away his illness and pass it on to her.

"Be happy... my love. In the next life, I hope you'll live longer than our love could have survived in our bodies" West shook his head, reaching to hold his head and pull his hair "I now hold your illness" she looked at her white hands in horror "but... where is my curse?"

"No..." West sobbed "She tried taking his burden. It was all for him" he shook his head, falling on his knees "I won't let her go through that again! Crystal! I feel my body slowly dying. It won't matter if I take your illness, because it's my time to go. I'll save you, Crystal... I promise"

"Crystal... I promise..." West mumbled in his sleep. From a few steps away, Jared stayed on his spot staring at West stirring in his sleep about Crystal. Jared can't get those words out his head from when she said

"What's the point in having power if you're alone?" That stung his heart. He always tried to ignore it, but he was heartbroken and always alone after he lost his dad, never bothering to tell his mom what happened.

Not knowing what to do now, knowing if the plan goes through, he'll be even more alone... since he's the only child who would have the privilege to having everything, without getting to share anything, what will he think then?

Ashly stood on her seat for what felt like hours, finding it pointless to navigate the grunt randomly roaming around himself.

She picked up a bag of chips and started eating, not caring if her boss was right behind her with Britney trying to figure everything out.

Her eyes gazed at West still having a nightmare. His feet slammed into a wall, almost making her drop her food "What the..?" She stood up, not noticed by anyone else, and walked over to him having his moments. Tears ran from his face, sobbing.

"What's up with the tears?" She whispered

"I won't abandon my princess..." Ashly leaned back surprise "I'll put my life in front of hers..." already knowing how much he cared about Crystal, she thought back at the fight she and he had back in the forest of the dolls. He even got possess by the Warrior of Fire himself.

"I'm not going anywhere with you! I don't care if I become a slave again... I just want Crystal to be alright" his words showed the connection they had towards each other as their souls had waited so long to see one another again.

It's bittersweet to hear, but risk one's own life and become a slave just so the other can be happy? Huh...

"I didn't know such love could exist..." she frowned and peaked over at Kyle pretending to be asleep. Blushing, she walked back to her station and started working again.

"The Festival of Harmony is tomorrow... We spent this much time lacking work. We have to look for that room as soon as possible" Britney groaned "If that girl wasn't so difficult..."

"Now now... There's a reason we couldn't do this on time. It won't matter. We have another day to find the hidden room, and it'll be easier on us once we have young Westly show us the way" Ronaldo sighed, putting the papers away "Let's head to sleep now. We need our energy for the big day" Everyone awake in the vehicle stayed silent, not bothering to say anything.

❄️

"There's a lot of things going on in this festival!" Mia proudly walked Crystal around after parting from the Pokémon center to take care of Ralts, and also take the medicine she hasn't had in a while. She felt lucky to not have gotten another episode despite how much time passed.

The two looked around at the many booths setting up food stands, games, and activities for everyone to enjoy.

Multiple colors were splashed in every direction, making the place look like a walking rainbow "It's Nixa town's biggest event, and we're always full of tourist! It's an honorable event, and we always look forward to having it every ten years! We've been planning this for months, and everything is pretty much ready! We're going to have live music and fireworks! It's going to be so much fun!" Crystal giggled, knowing her little sister was open to meeting new people and love the idea of fun. She's organized and almost as loud as another one of her sisters she hasn't seen yet in years, Jade

"Live music and fireworks, huh? I don't think I can remember the last time I've seen fireworks."

"Really!? Then you're in for a treat! I might not have ever experienced the last festival since I'm only 17, but I heard they're always so amazing, especially for this festival! I loveeee festivals! It's my favorite thing since I was little! I always looked forward to going with my family until..." Mia went off into her own little world, remembering her whole family use to be so close back then.

Crystal could already tell what she was thinking about "Never mind that!" She came out her thoughts "That's all behind us!"

"What is?" Mia looked down

"Family problems... I don't want to talk about it" Mia stopped walking when noticing a stage with the band preparing their instruments.

Right on the edge of the stage sat Jade by the keyboard, playing with her phone with headphones bigger than her head. Jade is here too..?

"Why not?" Crystal asked Mia

"Because it's personal, you know?" Mia sighed, putting her hands together. Crystal smiled and leaned forward to look at her face, but she looked away "my sister over there is the pianist in the band who's playing tonight... There's a lot going on. This year is going to be the best out of the others."

"Why do you say that?" Mia smiled, holding Crystal's cold hands

"Because this year, we finally have someone worthy we can call our queen!"

ai Mia