Chapter 28

"So how's your trip so far?" Danny's voice asked over Margaret's Pokegear. "You haven't told me how you've been."

"Oh, it's been...nice," Margaret answered as she looked over the sides of the tree she was hiding in.

"Can you be more specific?" Danny requested. "You say it's nice even though it's not."

"No, I'm being honest. Sky Blue has been very nice to me."

"Oh really? He didn't seem 'nice' yesterday."

"Well, I guess he didn't want to be put with Deborah, and White was planning on putting him with you..."

It was the day after they had all been separated into their groups. Margaret was having a little trouble fitting into hers. Both N and Sky Blue had been arguing with each other and were on the verge of an actual, physical fight. However, when addressing Margaret, the two boys were both polite and very well behaved. Sadly she couldn't tell Danny this because N was supposed to be a secret.

"I'd rather have him suffer with Deborah than let him stay with you by yourself," Margaret heard Danny mutter on the other end before saying a little more loudly, "Where is Sky Blue anyway?"

"He was training Petunia and Fletcher with his Squritle and Aerodactyl," Margaret answered. "And why don't you want me traveling with Sky Blue?"

"Because...because he's...older..."

"Danny, Sky Blue isn't like other boys. He is just as sweet as you are."

There was silence on the other end. Margaret was starting to get worried about the long pause. Then Danny spoke up, "Well, you can't stop me from worrying."

"I know, and I'm glad that you care so much about my well being," Margaret giggled. "But I still have Sowny, Petunia, and Fletcher with me."

"They are the only reason why I sleep well. If they slack off at a bad time-"

"Danny, I'm fine, really. White has been putting us in groups so we can get to know each other better. You get to learn about Mira and Amos, and I get to learn more about Sky Blue. It's only fair."

"Heh, guess you got a point. I should go, I think Deborah
is about to rip apart Mira's Dragonite. Call me later, ok?"

"I promise I will, bye bye for now!"

Margaret sighed as she hung up. She could understand why Danny was so protective of her, but she sometimes felt a little uneasy about it. It made her feel as if she was vulnerable.

"You think I'm sweet?"

The rookie trainer yelped and jerked her head up to see the branch above. The one eyed trainer was sitting on the branch that was a few feet above her.

"Sky Blue!" Margaret gasped, snapping her Pokegear shut while blushing deeply. "How did you get all the way up here?!"

"Well how do you think I got up here?" Sky asked with his cheerful and carefree tone.

"Um...you climbed...?"

"Goodness, no. I did what any other ingenious injured person would do!"

"A-and that is...?"

A loud pop came from above Margaret and a somewhat low voice said above her, "Sup."

Margaret let out a shrill scream at the sound of the voice. She even felt her wings try to spread out, but they were still wrapped together with bandages. Unfortunately, her scream startled Sky Blue so much that he jumped, and fell over the edge of the branch. With a loud yelp, he fell off the branch and landed on the forest floor. There was another pop and Shane the Gallade teleported next to his fallen trainer.

"Sky Blue!" Margaret squeaked as she quickly got up and leapt off the branch she was sitting on. She landed beside the older trainer, who was clutching his injured leg. She said fearfully, "I-I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to startle you so badly! Are you hurt?!"

"Nothing I can't handle," Sky winced as he tried sitting up, but then admitted, "Except I may need some assistance getting up..."

The rookie held out her shakey hand to the older trainer, who took it and slowly got up on his one uninjured leg. Sky winced and took hold of a drooping tree branch above them.

"I'm sorry," Margaret repeated shamefully as Shane handed Sky Blue the walking staff White had lent to him. "Shane just scared me, I-I've been very jumpy lately..."

"Yeah, that's all good and fine, but could you possibly turn down the volume down when screaming? Thanks. Anyway," Sky continued, his voice changing back to his usual cheery self. "I didn't come to listen to your private love life with Apprentice Danny. I thought you'd like to see your Wartortle's progress."

"Oh, yes, of course!" Margaret replied as Sky Blue began to limp back to the place where he had been training their pokemon, Shane close behind him. The young rookie put her Pokegear in her front coat pocket before following a little farther behind her group member so she didn't cause any more harm. So instead of trying to engage in conversation, Margaret looked around at the trees and nature.

Since N was a wanted fugitive and prevented him, Margaret, and Sky from going on the regular road to Cyllage City, they found a more sheltered path to their destination. Sky Blue had shown them a forest route hidden in between the narrow canyons and ravines from his previous visit to Kalos. It was like a regular forest, but they occasionally ran into some dead ends. However, whenever Sky Blue was asked about how he discovered this secret route, he would quickly change that subject.

Margaret was soon brought back to earth as several loud thuds echoed around the trees. It sounded like a huge sphere of water hitting against a tree. She gave a loud squeak and moved closer to the older trainer and his Gallade as a shrieky roar echoed around the area, followed by another thud.

"W-What is that?!" Margaret whimpered as the noises came from the area ahead.

"That, my dear, is the sound of lots of training and practice!" Sky Blue answered, gesturing for Margaret to enter the area before him.

The rookie looked nervously up at the one eyed boy before giving a shakey sigh and entering the clearing. Her imagination obviously ran away with itself because the clearing was filled with familiar, friendly pokemon and not an enormous Charizard. Alan was mending Pip the Empoleon's flipper while Aero and Fletcher argued with each other and Sowny watched Petunia and Scotty in the center of the clearing. The two blue turtle-like pokemon were making small roars while hurling pale blue and violet spheres at a large oak trees.

"Now they ain't so scary, are they?" Sky Blue said teasingly as he followed Margaret into the clear area and then adding, "But they are being louder than needed, I must admit..."

"W-Well in this kind of place, any pokemon could be here," Margaret said a little defensively. "Salamences, Rhydons, and other scary pokemon..."

"I didn't think a Wartortle and Squritle sounded like that, but ok then!"

A familiar high pitched voice called from the center, "Hey Margaret! Look what I can do!"

Petunia was waving at Margaret from the center of the clearing. Once making sure her trainer was watching, she got on all fours and threw her head back. She then gave another shrieky roar and a blueish green sphere formed in front of her mouth. She then brought her head forward and flung the beach ball sized sphere toward the oak tree. It immediately dissolved into misty fragments.

The female Wartortle then did a flip for added effect and landing into a pose. Scotty even gave a loud "Aye!" and leapt on top on Petunia's head while standing on one arm. Margaret personally thought that Petunia and Scotty would make good performing partners, though she knew his trainer wouldn't allow it.

"Did I do good or what?!" Petunia asked cheerfully as she hopped from foot to foot while Scotty leapt down and copied the Wartortle.

"It was beautiful, Petunia," Margaret told her starter encouragingly, but then she admitted, "Um...what move was it?"

"Dragon Pulse," Sky Blue answered as he sat down on a tree stump. "I taught my Aerodactyl Dragon Pulse a few weeks back and I discovered that the members of the Squritle family could learn it through tutoring. I thought I should just teach Petunia the move while I taught Scotty."

"Oh, well thank you so much for teaching her! It could be a good move to use in showcases!"

"I'm glad it will be useful. I tried teaching your Fletchinder and Leavanny something, but Aero and Fletcher don't seem to like each other, and Sowny beat up Pip without even trying. It's safe to say that most of your team doesn't need training."

"Sowny hurt Pip?" Margaret asked in a squeak, turning to face her partner pokemon. "Sowny, why would you do that?"

"He told me to battle his Empoleon and I did," Sowny told her with a hit of pride in his voice. "I even won."

"B-But you didn't have to hurt him that badly!"

"Like I said," Sky interrupted while Pip shot glares and sneers at Sowny. "Your Leavanny doesn't need training. Besides, there probably wasn't a whole lot I could've taught him anyway. I've never had a Grass Type pokemon and my only bug type is part Electric Type."

"Well thank you anyway, I'm sure Dragon Pulse will be very useful," the rookie assured him before adding, "By the way, where is N? Hasn't he come back?"

"Nope. I haven't seen him since he left, and forgive me but I'm glad he's been gone as long as he has."

Margaret frowned and looked toward a gap through the trees where N had vanished through an hour earlier. He had gone out to see how far they were through the route by climbing up to the top of the ravine. He insisted on going since Margaret wasn't capable of handling the stress and Sky was still too injured to make the hike. Margaret couldn't help but worry if he had been caught or if he had gotten hurt.

Sky Blue seemed to sense her worrying because he glanced at the place where she was looking at and told her a little seriously, "I don't understand why you worry about him."

"H-Huh?" Margaret stammered, turning back to look at Sky Blue. "W-What do you mean?"

"Don't get me wrong, but I just don't see why everyone worries about him," he restated. "He is more strong and resistant that everyone believes."

"A-Are you sure? I-I mean, how do you know he is as strong as you believe?"

Sky Blue raised an eyebrow in a skeptical manner before replying, "I don't see him losing his mind. He's closer to the breaking point then most people. Well, I guess I'm already past that point still."

"Sky, neither you nor N are insane!" Margaret argued forcefully. "I don't believe it!"

"Heh, you can be really naive and innocent. But there are things you don't know and will probably never understand about how things really are inside...inside our heads and minds..."

The conversation got very tense very quickly as Margaret stared at the older trainer. She had no idea what he meant by that, and frankly, she didn't really want to know. She didn't like the way Sky was talking. It was like he was suggesting that both he and N were madmen, but to her, they were two of sweetest boys on earth (they were only second to Danny, third was taken by Silver and John).

Thankfully, the conversation stopped abruptly as they heard something moving through the trees. Margaret was relieved to see that N had returned from his absence. He was walking beside his Rapidash, Rapi. Both trainer and pokemon looked exhausted, but they didn't seem to be harmed.

"Oh thank goodness," Margaret sighed as she ran over to N. "I was so worried! I thought you had gotten caught or something worse!"

"I'm fine," N assured her while scowling at Sky Blue, who had turned his back on N to scoff. "I just had some trouble getting back. The forest ends a few hours away, we should start moving now."

"N-Now? But you just got back, you should rest before we start walking again!"

"I'll survive. I don't want to be in this forest much longer. It's nothing personal, I just want to finish this part of the journey as soon as possible."

"What about Sky? H-He still has his leg injury, he may not be ready to move on!"

N sighed with a hint of irritation before telling Margaret, "If he says he isn't ready, then we can wait. If he is fine, we should really move on. Ok?"

"W-Well...I guess that will work..." Margaret agreed a little reluctantly before backing away from N and turning back to approach Sky Blue.

She was sure that N just wanted to leave the forest so he could no longer travel with Sky. Any other time Margaret would scold N for his behavior toward the one eyed trainer, but she felt as if it were best to drop the matter.

"U-Um, Sky," Margaret started as she stopped in front of the older trainer. "Do you think you're ready to move on? N would like to get started."

Sky Blue didn't answer right away, but he tapped his injured leg with the staff he was holding. He seemed to be checking how well his leg would hold up on the walk.

"I'm sure I'll be fine," he finally told her as he struggled to get back up. "But when I say I need a break, I really need a break."

"Oh, well, I'm sure we can make it work," Margaret promised as she watched Sky Blue return all his pokemon except for Alan, Scotty, and Shane.

The rookie did not return her own pokemon to their pokeballs since they had requested to stay out for the trip. Petunia, Sowny, and Fletcher were already getting up and running over to Rapi, who had turned and began trotting back through the woods.

Margaret was about to follow her group, but stopped when a loud rustling came from the bushes behind her. She turned swiftly and felt goosebumps rise on her body. For a second she thought she saw something black and orange in the leaves.

Before she could think what to make of it, a loud siren-like sound shattered through the air. Margaret gasped and covered her ears. It was the same noise, the exact same noise from Deborah's collar. But it had shattered, hadn't it?

Then words began drumming into her brain. The same words beating against her thoughts.

Hide, spy, inform, hide, spy, inform, hide, spy, inform...

"Margaret?"

The rookie yelped as someone put their hand on her shoulder. Sky Blue was still in the clearing and must have noticed Margaret's behavior before leaving.

"D-Didn't you hear it?" Margaret stammered, looking from the older trainer to the bushes. "T-That voice, didn't you hear it as well?"

"No," Sky replied, looking concerned. "What voice?"

Margaret didn't speak. She couldn't understand why she was the only one who could hear it. It was slowly dying down, but it was still audible. The last time she had heard the noise it was a sign that Team Flare was nearby. But they couldn't be in this part of the route, could they?

"N-Never mind," Margaret finally told him, turning away from the bushes and facing Sky Blue. "I-It was probably nothing..."

"You sure?"

"Uh-huh..."

The one eyed trainer didn't looked entirely convinced, but he did not press the matter. He instead held out his arm for Margaret to take. While taken aback by this act of thoughtfulness, the rookie reached out and gently took a hold of his arm, allowing Sky Blue to lead her to the rest of the group.

The journey toward the end of the forest wasn't easy. Since the path was in a forest in the ditch of a ravine, the forest was very rocky and scattered with boulders. It was difficult for the group to maneuver around the obstacles because of both Sky Blue's injuries and Margaret's fear of even the smallest of heights. N had been patient with Margaret and helped her whenever he could, but he barely acknowledged Sky Blue's presence and didn't do much to help him. Instead, Margaret helped him move along if he needed assistance so they could avoid an argument.

"Um, N, d-don't you think we should stop for a bit?" Margaret finally panted as she climbed over another large rock while Shane the Gallade helped her up. "W-We've been walking for a few hours now..."

N, who was consulting a map of the area that he had borrowed from Sky, looked over at the rest of his group before replying, "I don't think we should, we still have at least another hour or two before we reach the end of the forest. It will be dark soon."

There was a loud pop as Alan teleported onto the small hill as he supported his trainer. They were probably sick of waiting for Margaret.

"New rule, no making plans without me while I remain in this band of merry men!" Sky Blue told them, sounding annoyed as he limped away from his Alakazam. "Second, I refuse to walk for another two hours, we've been walking for three hours without a break! It's two hours away, it won't kill us to take a short break! Besides I don't remember anointing you king of the merry men!"

N scowled and snapped, "So what, you think you can do a better job at leadership?! If I remember correctly, you lost your privilege to lead years ago!"

"U-Um, b-boys," Margaret stuttered, sensing that N was crossing an invisible border that shouldn't be crossed. "L-Let's just-"

"I don't remember knowing you at that time!" Sky snarled at N, ignoring Margaret's words. "It's not your place to order me around! You don't even care what I do!"

There was a loud thunk as Rapi the Rapidash, who had been watching from the sidelines while carrying Scotty and Margaret's exhausted pokemon on her back, trotted between the two young men and slammed her hoof against the rocky path. Her nostrils flared and her flaming mane grew wild as she eyed both the boys.

"That's enough!" She told them forcefully. "We're all just tired! Let's all just rest for fifteen minutes before moving again! We should begin moving soon since it will start getting dark shortly! Natural, I would like a word with you!"

Rapi deposited Petunia, Fletcher, Scotty, and Sowny off her back before walking a short distance away with N following her. Margaret saw Sky Blue scoff before sitting down on a fallen tree while Shane, Alan, and Scotty surrounded their trainer.

After feeling a tug on her cloak, Margaret looked down to see her Pokemon looking up at her pleadingly. It was their way of saying they were hungry and thirsty.

Margaret sighed and sat down on the same fallen tree as Sky, but she put a bit of distance between them. She took her bag off from around her shoulder and pulled out her water bottle. She unscrewed the lid and poured some of the water into it. The rookie then passed the lid of water to each of her pokemon till each of them got enough to drink.

As she took out some berries for her pokemon to eat, Margaret couldn't help but glance at Sky Blue. She was sitting on his right, which meant she had a clear view of his eye patch. She couldn't imagine what it would be like not being aware of what was happening on one side of her body. The idea of such an obvious weakness made her feel uncomfortable.

After a moment, Margaret asked quietly, "Does it hurt?"

"Huh?" Sky Blue replied as he lowered his own water bottle from his mouth. "Does what hurt?"

Margaret blushed and restated, "Y-Your eye, or your...um...eye socket...does it hurt at all?"

Sky thought for a moment at the question. Margaret was probably the first to ask such a thing.

"Honestly, I don't feel any pain," He answered thoughtfully. "Actually, I don't feel anything. I sometimes forget its gone. It's just like I'm blind in one eye. But when I lost my eye, I couldn't feel half of my face. It just went numb. All I could feel was agonizing pain."

"H-How long did it last...?"

"You mean the pain? That lasted quite awhile, a week at most, I was in the hospital for almost a month. The doctors wanted to make sure I wouldn't face any complications or infections. They kept giving me pain killers that made me a bit loopy. I don't remember much, but Mira said I drove White up the walls."

"But you couldn't help it...or were you doing it on purpose?"

"I can see why you would think that, but I honestly wasn't trying to. The doctors said it had a stronger effect on me than other patients for some reason."

Margaret nodded and drank some of her water. A minute later, she questioned, "Is...is it hard having one eye?"

"It's not as difficult before, but it's still a struggle," the older trainer admitted. "At first I just had a hard time adjusting to only seeing things on my left side. Mira helped by being my eyes for me the first few months after losing the right eye. Then again, she'd give vengeance on me for all the pranks I pulled on her, so she'd take advantage of my blind spot.

"People have used my blind spot to their advantage more than once, to tell you the truth. It's gotten me into trouble quite a few times, and it's gotten not only me into rough spots, but it's also dragged in the people I care about."

"If I remember correctly, you lost your eye protecting White, right?" Margaret asked, and after Sky Blue nodded she continued, "Well if you were faced with the same decision again, would you choose the same as last time? Losing, let's just say your remaining eye to keep White or Mira from dying. What would you choose?"

Without even batting his one eye, the older trainer replied immediately, "If I had to do it again, I would do it. I would rather struggle living as a blind man than live without White and Mira. They are my family."

A loud rustling noise suddenly broke through the silence, making the two trainers jump. The pokemon all stiffened at the noise. The pokemons' attention then turned to a small cluster of trees and bushes. Loud, rasping gasps were erupting from behind the trees.

"W-What's that?" Margaret stammered, the thought of a Salamence or a Tyranitar popping into her head.

Her question was answered as something leapt out of the bushes. She blushed as Sky Blue snorted with laughter after seeing what the pokemon was.

It was a Mareep. It had fluffy yellow wool while its skin was light navy blue. A crimson orb on the end of its striped tail. However, Margaret noticed that the Mareep was limping and was covered with scratches and bruises. Its wool was burnt, and it was also knotted with twigs, dirt, and blood.

"O-Oh my," the rookie started, standing up and edging over to the shaking Mareep. "I-Its hurt, its bleeding!"

"What's going on?"

N and Rapi had come back from the far side of the clearing. Both of them stopped after seeing the whimpering Mareep. Margaret ignored everyone else and knelt down in front of the little sheep-like pokemon. It yelped and backed away from her after she tried touching it.

"Looks like it got into a fight with another pokemon," Sky Blue suggested as he stood up and leaned on his staff.

Then a stuttering, feminine voice came from the Mareep and squeaked, "N-No, you must let me flee!"

"Why do you want to run?" N asked the pokemon softly, also kneeling down next to the little sheep. "Who hurt you?"

The Mareep shuttered and whispered, "H-Humans...red humans...w-wolves..."

"Red humans?" Sky repeated, sounding puzzled. "What are red humans?"

Then memories came back to Margaret. She remembered when she first met N and Deborah. The people who wore flaming red uniforms. The organization that stole both pokemon and items in exchange for money. The cruel humans who abused the stolen pokemon and prisoners.

"Team Flare," Margaret whispered, making the Mareep turn her attention to her. "They're here, aren't they? People in red clothes, you saw them. I heard a Team Flare pokemon, but I thought I had imagined it."

"Yes, they looked like that!" the Mareep agreed. "But they are coming! Please, we must run! T-They are coming! They hurt me once, I don't want to be hurt agai-"

Dark howls erupted all around the forest before the Mareep could finish her sentence. Team Flare was obviously close at hand. The smaller pokemon all yelped and gathered together. Margaret also winced and shivered at the horrible noise.

She then saw Sky Blue turn to his Gallade and order, "Shane, try and sense where they're coming from!"

Shane gave a grunt of obedience and leapt into the center of the clearing. The Blade Pokemon closed his eyes and pressed his hand against the ground. A strange sensation seemed to fill the surrounding area as Shane checked how far Team Flare was.

"They're less than two minutes away, coming from almost all directions!" Shane informed them as he straightened up. "We'd have a small chance of out running them!"

"Then we'll have to act quickly," N interrupted while looking from Margaret to Sky Blue. "What pokemon do we have that can possibly be used to get us out of here?"

"Chatter, Aero, and Margaret's Fletchinder are the only Flying Types," Sky told him, beginning to sound panicked. "Aero is the only one who can carry anyone, and he can only carry up to two people!"

"That's about the same for me, I can't support all three of you," Rapi added sternly.

"W-What about Shane and Alan?" Margaret stammered as the howls became louder. "C-Can't they teleport us away?!"

"We can't teleport that great of a distance," Alan croaked. "We could if we knew the route well enough, but we've only traveled this way once."

"M-Margaret?" Petunia stammered, tugging on the rookie's cloak once more while looking up at her with tear filled eyes. "W-What's gonna happen to us?"

Margaret opened her mouth to speak but no words came out. She couldn't let Team Flare take her pokemon. They were her friends, her family.

"I guess that leaves us with one option," N finally said, his voice wavering slightly as he looked to Sky Blue and continued, "You will take Margaret and the pokemon away on your Aerodactyl. Get as far away from here as possible."

"You don't really think we'd agree to this plan, do you?!" Sky snapped furiously.

"W-What about you?!" Margaret gasped fearfully. "They'll find you and take you away! You'll go to prison!"

N looked straight into Margaret's eyes for the first time that day. He was dead serious as he told her quietly, "I've been running for three years, Margaret. My freedom isn't worth all this weariness I carry as a burden. I just want you safe."

Margaret wanted to argue, but Sky already said angrily, "I wouldn't be a good friend if I just let you stay here. I'll stay as well."

"We're not friends!"

"Maybe not, but I don't think White would ever forgive me if I let you get away with this."

The one eyed trainer then turned to Margaret and continued, "Margaret, you can take my Aerodactyl and get out of here. Take our pokemon with you. They'll be much safer away from here."

Margaret watched helplessly as Sky Blue took a pokeball off his belt and offered it to her. The rookie looked around at everyone else. N avoided looking at her while the smaller pokemon, including the little Mareep, watched her nervously. Rapi had opened her mouth to argue, but was silenced by a look from Alan. Shane and Sowny both looked like they would like to protest as well, but neither of them spoke.

After a small moment, Margaret finally came to a decision.

"Give me your pokemon," Margaret said stiffly, opening her bag and holding it out so the two older trainers could put their pokeballs in it.

After receiving all the pokeballs, Margaret closed her bag and put it around Rapi's neck. She then picked up Petunia, Fletcher, Scotty, and the Mareep one at a time, setting them on Rapi's back. But then instead of getting on herself, she told the larger pokemon firmly, "Go, get as far away from here as possible."

"But-" Sowny started angrily, but Margaret repeated more sternly and loudly, "Go!"

Rapi immediately bolted off with Petunia, Fletcher, and the others clinging to her back. Shane and Alan both teleported from spot to spot behind the Fire Type. Sowny stayed long enough to give his trainer a worried look before running after the rest of the pokemon.

"You should've gone with them!" N snapped at Margaret as she turned around. "It's too dangerous!"

"I couldn't leave you both here," Margaret retorted calmly. "Team Flare is capable of anything! Look what they did to Deborah!"

"That's why you should have left!"

"Frankly," Sky Blue started, moving to Margaret's side and scowling at N. "I have a little more faith in Margaret!"

"That's because you're careless and irresponsible!" N growled furiously. "You couldn't care less about anyone's safety!"

"Says the man who ditched his five year old sister in a forest!" the one eyed trainer spat, his voice beginning to rise. "At least I was there for her! At least I cared about her!"

"Then where were you when she needed you the most?! It's because of you that she is the way she is! Everything is your fault!"

Margaret looked fearfully at each boy. N had obviously hit a nerve with Sky Blue. Margaret thought she saw Sky's eye flash a different color, but maybe she merely imagined it. One thing for sure was that Sky was furious. He gritted his teeth and his grip on the staff tightened. He clearly wanted to hurt N.

"Boys, stop it!" Margaret scolded, stepping between them and looking from one boy to the other. "This isn't the time to fight over-"

"Margaret, no!" N shouted as a roar of absolute fury came from behind her.

She yelped as the fugitive suddenly grabbed her arm and yanked her away from something. Margaret looked around just in time to see Sky Blue lunge at her like a Pyroar. His eye was no longer sky blue, but blood red.

There was another howl and another creature leapt out from the trees. A blue and yellow canine-like pokemon tackled Sky in mid air and unleashed an electric charge from its body. Margaret watched in horror as the one eyed trainer yelled in pain and was thrown across the clearing. She saw him try to get up, but he collapsed, becoming motionless.

"No, Margaret!" N warned her while holding onto Margaret's arm as she tried running over to Sky.

"We can't just leave him!" Margaret snapped, tugging her arm out of N's grip before rushing to Sky Blue's side.

However, she didn't get far before the Manectric that attacked him leapt between her and the collapsed trainer. Margaret tried to move around it but it wouldn't let her near him.

"Come on!" The rookie shouted with frustration after the Manectric blocked her attempt to reach Sky. "Move aside!"

"Well our information wasn't faulty after all!" A snide voice sneered from behind them. "Two out of four targets isn't bad! And what's this?"

Margaret turned around to see a woman wearing a flaming red and orange outfit come out from behind the trees. She wore a familiar visor as another Team Flare scientist Margaret had encountered, but this scientist's hair was a dull violet instead of orange. The woman had started to approach N, but the fugitive had immediately backed away to stand next to Margaret.

"It's true then," the woman started as a smirk crossed her face. "Aliana really did run into the famous N Harmonia of Team Plasma. We thought she was pulling our legs since the last known sighting was in Unova."

Margaret looked up at N as the woman said this. He looked immensely frustrated and angry, but she could also sense his fear. After running away for a year, his freedom had just ended.

She then realized that the Manectric had walked back to the woman's side. Margaret took her chance and ran over to Sky Blue. She huffed a bit as she rolled the one eyed trainer off his side and onto his back. She could tell Sky was still holding onto consciousness because one of his hands was clamped over his remaining eye. His breathing was sharp and panicked after every whimper he made.

"S-Sky?" Margaret stammered, putting her hand in his and holding it. "Sky, p-please speak to me! I-I need to know where you're hurt!"

"I wouldn't be worrying about psycho boy right now," the woman interrupted as a light snap came from behind Margaret. "You have far worse problems to deal with, like us."

Margaret slowly looked up to see Team Flare grunts come out of the trees with Houndours, Zubats, and several other types of pokemon. There were at least twelve grunts, all of them surrounding the three trainers.

What caught Margaret's attention was the collars around a few of the pokemon's necks. There were the same types of collars that Deborah had worn. The voice Margaret had heard earlier were undoubtedly from one of the pokemon.

"Now, before anything else, I have a few questions to ask," the woman scientist began calmly, continuing to approach the fugitive and two trainers. "I know at least you two, red head and psycho boy, have been hanging out with two of our most... precious members of our organization. I'd like to know where they are. If you tell us, we might be willing to make an agreement."

"Who are you talking about?" N snapped at the woman, but Margaret knew he was playing dumb. "None of us have been near one of you people!"

Margaret flinched as the woman hit N in the stomach, causing him to yelp and fall on his knees.

"Liar!" The scientist shouted furiously. "Where is our Gardevoir?! Where is our princess?!"

"You...you really think we'll tell you?" N huffed, glaring up at the woman. "The Gardevoir was never yours! She had a family or a trainer, and you took her by force! As for your princess, face it, she ran away! She was smart to do what I was too foolish to attempt! I for one will not tell you where they are!"

The woman gritted her teeth, but turned to face Margaret and Sky Blue instead.

"Very well," she snarled, striding over to Margaret and grabbing the rookie's hand. "We still have two more potential resources. Stand up, girl."

The rookie shivered, but she let go of Sky's hand and slowly stood up. She yelped as the woman pushed her toward N, who caught her and held her tightly. Margaret sniffed and shut her eyes as the woman stood over Sky Blue. He had still not removed his hand from over his eye and was breathing painfully.

Then without warning, the scientist kicked the one eyed trainer hard in the ribs and yelled, "Get up, you psychopath!"

"Stop it!" Margaret cried as Sky yelped and gasped in pain. "Please, don't hurt him!"

"You want me to stop, little girl?" The woman sneered while pressing her foot down on Sky Blue's injured leg as the Team Flare grunts laughed. "Then tell me where the Gardevoir and our princess are! Otherwise, psycho boy here will soon be unrecognizable."

Margaret's mind was racing. She couldn't betray Fiona and Deborah, but she couldn't let them hurt Sky. There was only one option.

"They're going back to Lumiose City," the rookie lied while praying that they'd believe her. "T-The police there said they had information about the Gardevoir's past! F-Fiona and one of the other's went too!"

Margaret held her breath as the woman considered her words. After a moment, she removed her foot from Sky's leg and chuckled.

"Thank you, little girl," she sneered, snapping her fingers once more at the grunts. "You saved us a great deal of trouble. However, you're unfortunately not dismissed. We have other plans for you and your two friends."

*~*~*

"Stop it, you're hurting me!"

"Quit your squirming, brat!"

But Margaret didn't stop struggling. She continued to struggle against the two grunts holding onto her by her arms. Her wings had been revealed after the scientist, Celosia, had removed her jacket and undid the bandages. They were currently flapping widely, though her broken one flapped more feebly.

The rookie could no longer see N and Sky Blue. The boys had been separated from her, but they were still in the clearing somewhere. The grunts had set some sort of equipment that looked like it had something to do with...

"Hold out her hand," Celosia instructed as she walked over to them, holding something behind her back.

Margaret winced at they yanked her right arm forward. She watched in horror as the scientist took a small knife out from behind her and drew it across Margaret's palm. The rookie gasped with pain as she felt her skin break and blood trickle out of the wound. She kept her eyes tightly shut and continued to whimper as Celosia took her hand roughly and forced her to squeeze her fist.

"That's enough," Celosia said after a minute. "We got what we need for now. Put her with the other."

Margaret yelped again as the grunts pushed her away from Celosia and took her to another part of the clearing. A few moments later the two grunts threw her to the ground before walking away with ease, ignoring the rookie's cry of pain.

Margaret coughed and straightened up. She then realized that she was kneeling beside N. He looked unconscious, and from the bruises and scratches on his face and arms, he had been difficult toward Celosia and the other Team Flare members.

"N!" the rookie whispered in a raspy voice, putting her hands on the fugitive's shoulders and shaking him. "N, please wake up! Wake up!"

Relief spread through her as N coughed heavily and opened his eyes. After seeing Margaret, a tiny smile spread across his face and he whispered back, "Glad to see your face again ."

Margaret bit her lip and hugged him tightly. She felt tears streaming down her own cheeks as N returned the embrace weakly. She was frightened out of her mind. She was scared for N and Sky Blue's safety, she was scared for their pokemon. She was scared of what else Team Flare would do to them.

"They hurt you too," N croaked, letting go of Margaret and taking her cut hand gently.

When Margaret nodded, N took a bit of his cloak and ripped the edge off it. He tore off a long strip of the cloth and then tied it around the rookie's palm. She noticed that N's left hand was dripping blood onto the cloth.

"Why are they c-cutting us?" Margaret whimpered after a moment, her voice quivering slightly.

"They're doing it to take DNA," N answered as he ripped off another strip for his own cut. "You, me, and Sky are all...unique, for regular humans."

"Where is Sky? W-What are they doing to him?"

"I...I believe they are interrogating him. I saw him on the other side of the area."

Margaret thought for a second before asking, "Why did he attack us earlier? He was doing just fine until..."

"It's complicated, Margaret. Let's just say that he has... emotional difficulties."

This information, however, made the rookie want to find Sky even more. He was hurt and was all by himself. She didn't want any of them to get hurt. They didn't deserve it.

Margaret felt N wrap his cloak around her before holding her close to him. She sniffed and began to cry into her friend's shoulder. She felt N stroke her head and whisper in her ear, "It's ok, everything will be ok. We'll all get through this together, and I will protect you."

None of the Team Flare grunts bothered the two of them for the next twenty minutes. The rookie and the fugitive were under a close eye, but neither of them did anything to make the grunts more agitated. They still did not hear of what was happening with Sky Blue, but Margaret believed she caught a glimpse of him across the clearing. He had been hugging his knees and his face hidden behind them. She wished that he was over with her and N, but Margaret was under the impression that the grunts were trying to keep them separate.

After awhile, Margaret began to hear a light rustling noise from the bushes behind them. She lifted her head off N's shoulder and looked toward the place where the movement was coming from. N, who had been dozing off lightly, looked up after feeling the weight lifted off his shoulder.

"Margaret?" he asked quietly as the rookie continued to stare at the trees. "Margaret, what are you doing?"

"I...I thought I heard something," she replied, feeling slightly disappointed. "But maybe I just imagined-"

She yelped as something darted out of the trees with a squeak and hid between the rookie and fugitive before any Team Flare members could notice. When looking more closely, Margaret realized that the creature was the Mareep from earlier. The sheep-like pokemon's eyes were tightly shut and it appeared to be making itself as tiny as possible by flattening its wool.

"Its just our little friend from earlier," N whispered quietly as he covered the Mareep with his cloak before asking the pokemon, "What are you doing here? We thought you were with the other pokemon."

The Mareep looked at the two humans before stammering in her high pitched voice, "I-I did, but the others didn't want to leave without their friends! W-We came to r-rescue you all!"

"But why are you here?" Margaret questioned. "This isn't your fight!"

The Electric Type looked confused and replied, "Y-You saved me, didn't you? You m-made sure I was s-safe, right? I-I wanted to repay you s-somehow!"

Margaret wanted to tell the Mareep to go back, to leave before she got hurt, but the rookie couldn't bring herself to do it. She instead looked to N, who appeared to be thinking the situation over.

After a moment, N finally asked, "What plan did you have in mind? I hope you all know that one member of our group isn't present."

"Mister Scotty should be with your friend," the Mareep told them. "I-I am supposed to give the signal when ready-"

"What are you two doing?"

Margaret's body tensed up at the sound of Celosia's cold voice. Both she and N looked up at the scowling woman. She seemed to be looking at where the Mareep was hiding, but it was hard to tell since she was wearing a visor.

"We weren't doing anything," N told the scientist coolly. "We just-"

"I know you're lying," Celosia interrupted. "Unlike the rest of the idiots, my visor was able to see this!"

The Team Flare member suddenly grabbed the back of N's cloak and yanked it off from around his neck. Margaret gasped as N choked and the little Mareep was revealed hiding between the two captives.

The Mareep yelped as Celosia tried grabbing her, but she ducked away and leapt into Margaret's lap. The rookie immediately hugged the little Electric Type tightly before the scientist could take her.

"Let go of it, girl!" Celosia snarled, taking her knife and putting it against N's throat. "Give it to me before I cut his throat open!"

"Margaret, don't!" N coughed desperately as Celosia pressed the knife a bit harder against his throat. "Don't do it!"

"I-I-" the rookie stuttered, but she never finished her sentence. The Mareep's whimper had quickly climbed up into a shriek. Electricity charged from its body, shocking the young trainer as the lightning swirled around and reached the sky. Margaret screamed with pain till the Mareep's attack subsided.

The young trainer panted loudly and fell back limply on the ground. Her arms fell away from around the Mareep, too weak to hold it. She heard the Electric Type gasp with worry and felt it nuzzle against her cheek.

Celosia laughed cruelly over her while pushing N aside and sneering, "Well that was easier than expected."

But before the scientist could pick up the shivering Mareep, a loud roar erupted from the distance. Everyone of the Team Flare grunts had looked up from their work after hearing the noise. Then distant thuds that made the earth tremble started moving toward them.

"What in the Distortion World is that?" Margaret heard Celosia mutter, forgetting about the Mareep and quickly returning to her colleagues.

Margaret winced as she pushed herself off the ground. She felt N help her straighten up while putting the Mareep in his lap. She was about to ask if he was hurt at all, but another roar broke out closer to them then before.

"W-What is that noise?" She stammered as another thud echoed through the canyon.

"It's...I think it may be..." N started, but he never finished his sentence and it was obvious why.

The creature that was making so much ruckus had appeared above the trees. The first sign was the shadow covering the clearing, causing all the Team Flare members to yell with fear. Margaret looked up at where everyone was looking and gasped. The pokemon was large and reptilian. It was grayish blue and had silver armor-like scales. In the center of its chest was hexagon shaped diamond.

"Um, what's t-that?!" The rookie gasped as the grunts and Celosia sent out their pokemon and began ordering them to attack.

"That would be Sky Blue's Dialga," N answered, slowly standing up with the Mareep and helping Margaret up. "But I believe this is our rescue team."

Just then the Dialga let out another furious roar and shot an indigo beam at the grunts. The air suddenly became distorted and everything froze. Everything besides the two trainers and the Mareep was frozen. Team Flare, their pokemon, and Dialga, all frozen in time.

"Oh my!" The Mareep gasped, jumping out of N's arms and running to the nearest frozen being, which was the Manectric. "I knew that Mister Dialga was powerful, but I never knew he could do this!"

"W-What happened to them?" Margaret stuttered, staring at the frozen people.

"Dialga's Roar of Time," N replied, looking up at the frozen legendary. "It not only causes great damage but distorts time as well. Dialga must have created a barrier around itself and Team Flare so only they could become stuck in time."

"Margaret!"

Margaret whipped around to see Petunia, Sowny, and Fletcher running towards her. She yelped as the Wartortle, Leavanny, and Fletchinder leapt into her arms, causing her to fall backwards.

"We thought we'd never see you again!" Fletcher squawked desperately before Margaret could say anything.

"I see you didn't bother to stay safe," Sowny scolded as he observed Margaret's cut hand.

"Y-You're ok, right?" Petunia asked nervously, watching Margaret with wide eyes.

"I'm fine now," the rookie assured her three pokemon, hugging them. "But I'm glad you're all safe!"

The reunion was broken with a loud yell echoed through the frozen clearing as Alan the Alakazam and Shane the Gallade leapt over the bushes Margaret's pokemon had come from. Margaret noticed two things. One was that Alan had suddenly become faster and swifter than before while Shane looked more exhausted and weak. The other was that Scotty the Squritle was clinging to the top of Shane's head.

"No!" Alan shouted desperately, running around the perimeter of the clearing and bellowing. "NO! We're too late! We came too late!"

"What are you yelling about?" N asked as Rapi skidded into the clearing as well while panting widely.

"Where did you let him go?!" Alan shouted, running up to N and shaking him. "Where is my trainer?! WHERE IS HE?!"

Numbness filled Margaret's body. After the arrival of the Dialga, she had completely forgot about Sky Blue. After turning her head around, she realized that he was no longer in the area.

"I don't know where he went, Team Flare kept him separated from us!" N snapped furiously. "What are you so concerned about?!"

"W-Why would he leave us?!" Margaret stammered while staring at Alan, who had let go of N and was pacing around the clearing. "He would never leave us behind like this!"

"Dear, he never was in his right mind," Rapi told her sadly. "A minute after we left, Alan collapsed and claimed that he had suddenly...lost contact, with Sky Blue. He couldn't sense his presence. Apparently Alan still hasn't been able to regain connection."

At this, N turned to Shane and asked, "Shane, could you scan the area for him like before?"

The Gallade nodded weakly and pressed his hand against the ground. The same mystic feeling as before swept through the area. A few seconds later, Shane straightened up and told them, "He's moving fast, he is running east. He avoided the time barrier, but he's at least ten minutes ahead of us."

"I'll go!" Alan said immediately. "He is my responsibility! I'm the only one who can change this!"

"What about us?" N demanded angrily, glancing at the frozen people and legendary. "Time will restore to normal any minute!"

The Alakazam looked from the beings frozen in time to Shane. He approached his best friend and Margaret heard him whisper, "We may have to take refuge in the grotto. It's the closest place of safety. Do you remember the way?"

"I believe so, but White-"

"She didn't believe the barrier would spring a leak this soon, neither of us did. She might not agree with my decision, but we're still at least three hours from the city and its already turning dark. You must trust me!"

Shane opened his mouth to argue, but closed it and nodded, looking annoyed. The Alakazam then turned to the others and explained, "All of you will go with Shane, he knows a place where you can stay till morning. I'm going to search for Sky."

"I want to go with you," Margaret requested suddenly, standing up shakely. "I want to help look for him!"

"Margaret, no!" N disagreed angrily. "It's too dangerous!"

"Sky is our friend, or at least he's my friend!" Margaret retorted. "I want to help find him! I'm worried about him! The rest of you can go, but I want to stay with Alan!"

"But-" N started to protest, but Rapi interrupted and told him, "She's worried, N. Let her go with Alan. I'm sure he could use her help."

"What about us, Margaret?" Petunia asked nervously.

"You all will stay with N," Margaret told her pokemon. "I'd rather have you stay with him, you'll be safer this way."

Her pokemon didn't look convinced as the rookie walked over to the Alakazam. She glanced over at N, who looked her in the eyes and said quietly, "Stay safe."

"I will, I promise." she promised as Alan used his psychic powers to take Margaret's jacket and cloak off one of the equipment tables and handed it to her. He then took her hand and teleported.

They reappeared a second later in a darker area of the forest. Margaret shivered as she looked up at the darkening blue sky. She then watched the Alakazam get on all fours and press one hand against the ground.

A moment later, he opened his eyes and told her, "This is as far as I can teleport. We'll continue on foot, he's now two minutes ahead of us. It appears that he has stopped running. Come, climb onto my back."

"W-Won't I hurt you?" Margaret asked nervously, looking at Alan's fragile body.

"No, I am much stronger now," he replied, allowing Margaret to climb on his back. "I used Power Swap with Shane before engaging the rescue mission. I have his physical strength and endurance, but he has my frailty till we perform the Power Swap again."

After Margaret was safely on his back, the Alakazam crouched low and pelted through the trees. The rookie yelped as the wind blew in her face. It was getting colder. They had to find Sky Blue soon.

A few minutes later, Alan stopped running and froze. Margaret was about to ask why they, stopped but she then heard what Alan was listening for. There were strange noises from the area behind a few large bushes. They sounded like growls, whimpers, and...sobbing.

"Don't do anything unless I say so," Alan told Margaret while she slid off his back and he straightened up. "He will be disoriented, even a bit delusional."

"D-Delusional?" Margaret stammered nervously, but he had already went through the bushes. The rookie gulped before slowly trailing after him.

The small area that the noises were coming from was poorly lit. The leaves of the trees blocked any light from filtering in. There was a large, twisted tree in the middle, it's roots curled up on the ground. In its shadow was Sky Blue, crouched next to the bark and covering his face with his hands.

Alan approached his trainer cautiously and slowly while gesturing Margaret to stay back. Sky didn't move or notice either of the newcomers until the Alakazam stepped on a twig and snapped it. The older trainer's head snapped up like a jumpy animal. After seeing Alan and Margaret, Sky growled threateningly and backed behind the tree.

"Skyler, do you recognize me?" Alan asked quietly, moving around the tree slowly while keeping his distance. "It's me, Alan, your pokemon, your friend. I'm not going to hurt you. You are experiencing some unusual feelings, I'm sure. You felt so scared and angry that the mental block cracked, allowing some of these...feelings, to leak out. I need you to allow me to repair the-"

"Liar!" Sky Blue spat, swiping at his pokemon like an animal and causing Alan to back off. "You want to hurt me! You want to take me back! I won't let you! I won't go back!"

Margaret stepped next to Alan so she could see Sky. He was still covering his remaining eye with his hand, but she could see he was peeking out from between his fingers. She could see his entire body shaking.

"Sky Blue, please," she whispered, holding out her hand to him. "Let us help you..."

She saw Sky stare at her hand. A moment later, he removed his hand, revealing his now blood red eye. He then looked into Margaret's face and stammered, "W-Whitney? I-Is that you?"

Startled, the rookie looked to Alan for help. The Alakazam leaned over and whispered, "Just go with it, he trusts White. It's the only way to gain his trust."

Margaret didn't like the idea of acting as White, but she did it anyway. She knelt down in front of him and took his hand gently.

"I'm right here, Sky," she whispered to him. "I won't leave you alone."

She then winced as Sky Blue suddenly hugged her tightly. He had begun to sob again, and his breathing had turned into short gasps. Margaret returned the embrace and hushed him quietly.

"I-I don't want to go back!" he sobbed. "Don't make me go back! Please! I don't want to go! I want to stay with you!"

"Don't worry," she assured him. "You don't have to go anywhere. You can stay with me. We just want to help you. Ok?"

Margaret held her breath as Sky considered this. A moment later, the older trainer agreed by nodding and allowed Alan to come near him. She felt Sky press closer to her as the Psychic Type put his long fingers against the right side of his face. She heard Alan murmuring something to himself while closing his eyes.

Alan removed his hands a minute later and opened his eyes.

"I was able to fix the damage," the Alakazam whispered to Margaret. "He should be back to normal in a few hours."

"Why is he acting like this?" Margaret asked as Sky Blue began to cry quietly into her shoulder. "I've never seen him act like this before...this is so unlike him..."

"I wish I could tell you, Margaret, but I can't. It's not my place to tell. Now, I think we should head back. It's dark and Team Flare has probably been restored to normal time."

"W-We're gonna walk back?"

"No, I'm confident that I can teleport us there. Just reassure Sky that we're going to a safe place. He'll still be paranoid for awhile."

Margaret nodded and nudged Sky Blue gently while saying quietly, "Hey, Sky, we're going to go to a safe place now. No one will hurt you there. Are you ready?"

"S-Safe place?" He stammered, looking up at Margaret. She noticed that his eye had turned from red to violet, like a purple substance dripping into a puddle of blood.

"Yeah, we're going to stay there till you feel better, ok?"

She waited a moment before Sky Blue nodded. After seeing his trainer's approval, Alan placed his hand on Margaret's shoulder and his other hand on Sky's. Margaret felt the strange energy surround them as the Alakazam teleported them away.

They reappeared a second later in a very dark place. It appeared to be a small clearing with trees tightly packed around the perimeter, and the leaves as the ceiling.

"Margaret!"

Margaret looked up to see N getting up from the corner of the clearing where he had been sitting. She saw Shane and the Mareep standing next to him, the other pokemon probably returned to their pokeballs. However, when N tried to move close to them, Sky Blue hissed threateningly, lashed out at N, and hissed, "Get away from her!"

"Back away!" Alan warned, gesturing for N to stay back. "He still isn't back to his normal self!"

"What is he doing?!" N snapped furiously as Sky hugged Margaret more tightly. "Get him away from her!"

"He thinks Margaret is White! It was the only way to gain his trust!"

Margaret saw the Mareep peeking out from behind the fugitive's leg. Ignoring Alan's warning, the Electric Type pokemon slowly approached Margaret and Sky. As the Mareep stood next to Sky, she nuzzled against his arm comfortingly.

"Y-You ok, mister?" The Mareep asked innocently. "You don't look well..."

The rookie held her breath as Sky looked down at the Mareep. He then let go of Margaret and instead hugged the little sheep-like pokemon. The Mareep squeaked with surprise but didn't struggle.

Margaret got up slowly in case Sky Blue still needed her. When he didn't object, she moved over to N and Alan.

"He's not dangerous, is he?" N asked Alan and Margaret quietly as Sky began rocking back and forth while holding the Mareep.

"No," Alan replied. "I fixed the damage. Whatever someone said to him made him angry enough to...lose control of his emotions."

The Alakazam ignored N, who looked away from guilt, and instead focused on Shane.

"We'll still need to watch him, Shane. It will take a few hours before he returns to his somewhat normal self. Until then, we all should try to be a little more patient and encouraging toward him. He is still a bit untrusting."

"Of course," Shane agreed, nodding with approval. "But I would like to speak to you in private, Alan."

As Alan and Shane went to talk a little ways away from the humans, Margaret turned to N and asked, "S-So...what's happened since we left? What is this place?"

"Shane brought us here," N answered. "It's a hidden grotto. They are common in Unova, this is the first grotto I've seen in a different region. Your pokemon are in their pokeballs, which I put in your bag, by the way."

"Thank you, but why is the Mareep here?"

"She wished to stay here. She wanted to see you again. I think she might want to stay permanently."

"But i-it's too dangerous!"

"I don't think she cares. You know, you and her aren't that different. You're both loving and caring. I think you're the most suitable person to be her trainer."

Margaret didn't reply. She was watching Sky Blue and the Mareep. Now that the rookie was gone, the Electric Type was the only one to comfort him.

"N, why is Sky acting this way?" Margaret questioned with concern. "This isn't like him, it's like he's been alone for years. Like he is five years old. It doesn't make sense! Please, what's wrong with him? Is it emotional damage? Psychological?"

N looked into Margaret's eyes. She could see that he was arguing with himself in his thoughts.

"I know Alan probably told you the same thing, but we can't answer that," N told her quietly. "I'm sorry. It's Sky Blue's choice. If he wishes you to know, he'll tell you. Actually, I think you're the only person he'd be willing to tell."

Beginning to feel increasingly irritated, Margaret said sternly, "I think I should be with Sky, he may need me."

As she began striding back over to the delusional boy, N told her softly, "Margaret, I'm sorry, I just can't explain it. But please...you should at least know to be careful around him. He is capable of so much more than what you witnessed."

Margaret stopped and stared at him. She was so confused. The entire day was like a rollercoaster ride. So much had happened. On top of all of it, however, was the mystery behind Sky Blue's unusual behavior and why everyone was so terrified of him.