Chapter II: Distorted Reminiscence

"Princess Rinne."

The scarlet-haired boy glanced up at a pair of ice-cold optics, kneeling down respectfully and staying silent after greeting the teenaged girl.

He awaited his judgement—one wrong move and the cruel princess would have him executed. He didn't think it would happen for a long time, however—he was the girl's favourite servant, and being an important part of the Legendary Armada, they couldn't afford to kill him.

Rinne tucked a stray lock of silky, pale cerulean hair behind her ear, her face masked and haughty and the spitting image of a cruel ruler.

Akoni was daring enough to look up at his master, admiring the way her glossy hair seemed almost glasslike under the golden luminescence that the lamp overhead provided.

The familiar arctic-hued eyes inspected him closely, the girl before him seeming to be deep in thought. She scrutinised him with the look a stranger would give, mastering a distant expression that showed no trace of bias nor emotion.

And then, she stepped forward, bending down and stretching her arms out. One cold finger was used to tilt his chin upwards with utmost precision; the other grabbed the back of his neck roughly, fingers threading through his crimson hair.

A smile formed on her face—one unbelievably sweet for the cold-hearted girl. It was more than genuine, not like the forced half-grins she had put on during gatherings. Her eyes, though a shade of icy lapis, seemed more like melted chocolate, and she released her grip on him, instead choosing to envelop the servant in a warm embrace.

"Akoni," she murmured happily, and she buried her face in the poorly-made fabric of his shirt. It warmed him to know that she was willing to call him by his name, not like the other servants whom she addressed as "You" or simply "Servant".

She clucked disapprovingly, squeezing the boy's sides and feeling his malnourished frame. "Did I not order the cooks to give you more food?" she asked. "Did they disobey me?"

"No, no," Akoni replied hastily. "They did give me the food, my Princess. But the other servants starve too, and thus, I split a portion of the excess food amongst them."

The teenager shook her head in disbelief. "You are stupid," she declared. "You know, you could stop being a servant. You are a part of the Legendary Armada too—why do you still remain as a servant? Why put yourself in such a humble position when you are worth so much more?"

The redhead smiled. "I do not mind being a servant—it has been my fate since I was born, and it is what Arceus has decided for me. I will follow Arceus and be a servant."

"Is this what a princess gets for falling in love with Xerneas' other half?" She sighed, extending a hand to her servant and pulling him up. "I must have been dumb."

"And do not call me Princess," she hissed vehemently. "I absolutely despise that title."

⚔ ∰ ⚔

He woke suddenly, every thought in ultra-high definition. His eyes took in every ray of moonlight that shone through the blinds and without a doubt, he knew that he'd slept too little.

Sachi had the grace to provide him with a watch, and he peered at the tiny electronic screen, the red glow of 2.43 AM staring at him from the darkness.

Akoni could feel the sweat trickling down his back so quickly, as if the beads of perspiration were condensed water droplets on a window pane. The liquid chilled him, freezing cold in nature and seeping all possible heat from his veins.

The thoughts accelerated inside the boy's head. He want them to slow so he could at least breath, but they wouldn't and the panic really was making him dizzy.

"Calm down", he muttered to himself. "It—was—just—a—dream."

He took deep breaths to calm himself, as if his lungs had been starved of oxygen. His breath seemed to stutter in his lungs before he let it go, feeling the tension drain from his body.

The redhead leant back in his bed, feeling the trembling in his shoulders slowly slide to a stop. Yes, it was a dream, and dreams were supposed to be surreal—but no matter how bizarre that fantasy had been, he couldn't shake off the feeling that there was more—much more—to it.

Maybe... a vision of sorts?

He startled as he realised that the voice in his head wasn't his, and that where his room once was stood an endless void, different colours sparkling like the rim of a galaxy before darknening to a pitch black.

He blinked, alarmed, and gazed at the silhouetted figure standing in front of him.

The stag-like creature was cloaked in a harsh cyan, and its almond-shaped eyes gazed at him kindly, barely visible through the pelt of blinding light that concealed every detail of its elegant form.

The crimson-tressed boy recognised the ethereal Legendary at once, and bowed respectfully, stammering out a greeting. "Xerneas."

Shaking its fine head, the Legendary of Life—rather, Life itself—walked up until it was almost standing above him, and he flinched as the Pokemon tenderly placed a hoof on his head. If it was a normal Sawsbuck or Stantler, he would have been hurt, but he felt strangely rejuvenated.

Foolish boy, the deer-like Pokemon spoke gently, and it was then that Akoni identified her as a female. Do not speak to me in such a subservient manner—I am not your master, nor are you my servant.

"O—Oh," he muttered, averting his eyes. "I'm sorry."

We only have a few minutes, Xerneas cursed. I am very sorry to rush straight to the point—I would want to catch up with you, but...

"Catch up with me?" Akoni tilted his head skeptically. "I don't know, but you're talking like you're familiar with me."

The Fairy-type Pokemon lowered its hoof, prancing about restlessly. Hmm, we used to be quite close, she replied vaguely. That was a slip-up, though, and I am afraid that I have to continue on.

This mysterious girl, Sachi—she is your employer. The cervine-like legendary looked as if she wanted to say something, but refrained from doing so. I have gained sight of the future. She will be departing on a rather important mission soon.

The artist blinked. "She's an assassin—she leaves on missions all the time."

That is not what I mean, the Legendary commented in frustration. This mission is dangerous, and she's messing with the wrong creatures. It's not just a mission; it's a...

"A what?"

The stag-like beast half-reared. I do not know how to put it into words. But our time is up, Akoni, and...just keep my words in mind.

With that, the teenaged boy's vision started to blur into thick stripes of colour, and the world of darkness around him started to break into tiny, tiny pieces.

Remember, Akoni, you—

⚔ ∰ ⚔

"Akoni?" Sachi's voice echoed from the basement. "I am coming up."

Absentmindedly, he nodded, his hands hovering above the mass of filaments on his wooden worktable. The waxy silicon of the mask's base stared up at him—a basic template that he used for every disguise.

The blue-haired girl entered—she had the code to his room, after all—and inspected his handiwork.

The assassin herself wasn't an artist, but she could certainly judge the accessory's practicality. She grabbed the mask from the table and tried it on, and her sharp features melted into someone unrecognisable, another girl with plainer features and a warm look.

That image, however, was destroyed by the icy hue of her eyes, but that could easily be changed by a pair of contacts and some slight modifications to the guise.

"Not bad," she nodded. "My normal clients would not be able to see through this."

"Furthermore," the girl continued, "You know that you are free to leave any time. You will be able to survive as an artist with your skills, and I am not forcing you to stay here any longer."

Akoni shook his head. "No, it's fine." He knew his skills, and it wasn't as if he had no confidence in his abilities, but he wanted to work for Sachi. The job seemed to stick, and for some unexplainable reason—

—he felt like he was supposed to work for the girl.

Whatever that feeling was, he felt some strange attraction to the assassin, and his heart had long sealed off any thoughts of leaving.

"Very well, then." Sachi sighed, taking off the disguise and setting it down in its original habitat once more. "If that is the way you feel, then I will comply. And about that mask you are working on...leave that for the moment."

"Stop working on it...?" The artist looked at her, forgetting how intimidating she had looked without the mask on.

The girl corrected herself in annoyance. "I mean, you can cancel that request. My client has cancelled his order, and there is no need for that disguise any longer. Meanwhile, I have a new requisition for you."

He accepted the folded slip of paper. "I know the drill—don't tell anyone, make sure the room is secure, and shred the paper after reading it, right?"

With a satisfied smile, his employer nodded, turning away to exit his room.

One final phrase escaped her pursed lips.

"Make it extravagant."

⚔ ∰ ⚔

Request: Celebi-themed mask

Details: There is none. I will leave this up to your imagination

Quantity: One

⚔ ∰ ⚔

Godammit. I screwed up ;-; I switched half the stuff that was supposed to be in this chapter and next chapter. Gah, this is what you get for thinking you remember the planning ;o;

Anyway, thank you guys so much for 340 reads and 56 votes! I really appreciate your support gais <3

Critiques are most certainly welcome, and don't forget to read, vote and give your thoughts in the comments! Please be 100% honest!

~ nyxia ☆