If you are reading this, it means I have failed.

I want to apologize for any mayhem I may have caused. I didn't mean for things to get out of hand. If it means anything, at least this letter can come as a warning for future reference.

Team Oblivion won't stop. There are three leaders that rank above us grunts. The first is Shade. She, like me, has a power that should've never gotten in her hands in the first place. Somehow, she is like a human Darkrai and can send people, even those at a distant from her, into a restless slumber.

Then there's the leader with the Darkrai, Dusk. She holds no power, but she's pretty smart. I've lost her trust giving you this warning, but please, understand, this is my choice. I'd rather risk my job than knowing I'm the cause of the destruction in Unova.

Finally, we have the leader of destruction himself: Shadow. Due to how low in ranks I am, I know of him, but I've never really met the guy. There was only one time I've met him, and that's all I need to know to give you all the warning that he's the worst of them all. Beware. Once he's gotten word on you, and which side you're on, he will send his Pokémon to destroy everything you love.

As of last night, I've found a way to help Joy escape the place. Whether she made it out safely is beyond me, but I must warn you, her cheerful demeanor has changed.

As to why you should even trust a word I say in this letter, I will have you know, I've always been on your side. Had I not, Swanna Girl would've froze to death that night the Unovan Heroes came to take back the White Kyurem. I just happened to be at the right place at the right time.

To whomever receives this note, I just want to get my name cleared. You don't have to believe a word that's in it. Just know I'm on your side.

~Lethe.

I sat on the bed in the room that Hilda and I were sharing. After what happened though, she refused to leave Hilbert's side. It was a good thing N didn't come back from visiting his so-called sisters. That was what I was told when I asked where he went. If he did, I'm not sure how the guy would react to having a girl in his room.

The only thing that bothered me was that Rudi didn't come back before Hilbert, Hilda, and me. Because of it, I assumed the worst, and I wanted to go search for him. The last time I let him go alone on a mission, things didn't go well. I didn't want that to happen again.

Had it not been for Landon and Wendy being here to stop me, I would've been at Rena's Widgets right now. They were about to go to their shop and warned me that I wasn't in good shape to help Rudi if I did. While Landon left to go to their Breeder shop in Nimbasa, Wendy stayed back to make sure I wouldn't leave. She was right in doing so because the second she'd leave, I'd go searching for Rudi.

Wendy told me to stay in the room, so I could get a few hours of sleep. I haven't slept a wink yet, and it was already nine in the morning.

If I did, I would have nightmares. Instead, I sat on the bed, with my knees pulled to my chest, waiting until I knew Rudi, Rena, and Nox got back safely.

To distract myself, I read the note over and over again. The first thing that struck me as odd was how willing Lethe was in giving me all that information. It wasn't much, but with our ways of tracking Team Oblivion's movements, we should be able to figure out more about them.

Then there was the part about me. I'd always wondered what happened that night when I had faced Taipan and Lantana. It was Lantana who left me on the ground to freeze to death that day. Had someone not come to get me, I would've died.

To think it was Lethe. This entire time I thought it was someone else, like maybe Hilbert or a Gym Leader that lived close by. Whoever saved me, I just assumed it was someone who I somewhat knew.

But Lethe?

That thought made me sick to my stomach.

I averted my eyes to the part about Joy. She was going to be alright. If there was anything that could be good news, it was hearing that she was now safe.

It made me wonder if Rena, Rudi, and Nox would make it back alright as well. My answer came the moment I thought of it.

"How careless can you get! You could've gotten us all killed back there!" I heard Rena scream.

A much calmer and more collected voice answered. "Like that would've happened, Blue. From what I've gathered, Oblivion wants me alive, along with Ms. Gray. I barely see the logic of them killing all of us off. They would've tried kidnapping your brother for bait and me for my brilliant brain."

"Are you joking?" Rudi's voice came through. "Where does that leave Rena in all this?"

There was a moment of silence, but I could almost visualize Nox shrugging at that moment. "I didn't say we'd all live. So what if Blue died. Casualties are made every day."

I leapt out of bed and ran to the door, pressing my ear against it. Every part of me wanted to burst through that door to make sure my ears weren't deceiving me, but I refrained myself only to catch what had just happened.

"Arceus! I can't believe you right now! You're a selfish jerk!" Rena screamed.

Nox chuckled. "Alright, Ms. Blue, tell me how you really feel."

On that note, Rena let out a blood-curdling scream. I flinched at the sound. The only times Rena let out a sound like that was if she was really angry about something. But knowing she was dealing with her most hated rival, it didn't really surprise me.

"Stay away from my sister," Rudi growled.

"Oh, I'm sorry, but the last I checked your sister is supposed to be watching over me. I hate to be such a bother, but if I'm to go out right now, and leave your sister alone, those freaks will force me to do something I'm sure that'll make your jobs a whole lot harder. So, what is it then? Do you want me to stay, or do you want me to go and get caught and possible end Unova as we know it just because those people got their hands on Unova's best inventor?" Nox schooled.

I could hear both men stopping right in front of my door. I held my breath and bit my tongue. If I could have my say, I would've given this man every reason why Rena should've won that title three years in a row rather than him. After all, last year, it was Rena who invented a device that could heal Pokémon a whole lot faster. Well, at least when it came to checkups that was. Did Nox ever did that? Nope.

Luckily for me, Rudi spoke on his sister's behalf. Well, more like showed him. As I leaned against the door to try and listen in, I felt the wall shook, as if Rudi had pinned Nox to the wall.

Their voices seemed a bit closer too, as if to prove my theory.

"We are trying to protect every Unovan citizen, which includes your sorry ass," Rudi growled. "If I had it my way, I would just let Team Oblivion have you, but unfortunately that would mean they would have you for whatever their next thing is. They already have your IB. Whatever they want you for, it can't be good, and I'm not letting his region go to shit.

"As for my sister, you leave her out of this. She may have lost to you in that inventor contest, but you can believe she is the best damn inventor Unova has ever seen. Rena's right. You're nothing but a selfish, arrogant asshole."

I froze. Hearing Rudi curse wasn't something that was fairly common. The last time he cursed, well, now that I think about it, I didn't think I'd ever heard him curse once. Rudi and I've had our handful of fights before, but not once has he resorted to using violence or profanity. Only Rena would be the kind of person to do both.

Then again, this was Nox that Rudi was dealing with.

"Guess it takes an arrogant one to know one," Nox sneered. "After all, wasn't it you who couldn't keep his mouth shut about how you saved Unova the first time? What makes you so sure you can do it again."

"I saved it because I had help from my friends," Rudi argued.

"Oh yes, the girl. Seems sweet, innocent almost. Wonder, how does it feel that you've been whipped? After all, Team Miasma is only gone because she came into play," Nox commented. "You did nothing."

That wasn't true. Rudi did everything he could to stop Team Miasma. The only reason we stopped them wasn't because of me. It was because we worked together. Between Rena, Rudi, and me, we stopped Team Miasma together.

There was a moment of silence. For a moment, I thought Rudi was done arguing with Nox, but I was greatly mistaken as I heard a gigantic whap. It was as if Rudi had punched the guy, which was a bit out of character for him.

Yet, I couldn't blame him.

The best thing to do right now was to stay out of it. I turned around and started to walk away from the door. If anything, I shouldn't get involved. The minute I would, I was sure the two men would try and lie about what just happened, keeping me in the dark.

Somehow, I had a feeling I'd be kept in the dark in anything I was involved. There was something Hilbert and his friends weren't telling us about this mission. I knew for a fact Rena kept quiet about why Nox left. It wouldn't surprise me if there was something Nox was hiding from all of us considering he shouldn't be involved in any of this.

Then there was Rudi. Granted, I knew his past was in the past. Seeing how he was now, Rudi didn't seem like the kind of person to hurt those closest to him. It wasn't my place to know what happened between him and Gila.

The past should stay in the past, right?

I was about ready to crawl back to bed when the door behind me cracked opened. I turned around to see Rudi standing there. His eyes widening when he saw me.

"You're up?" Rudi asked. "You heard everything, didn't you?"

Instead of answering, I just ran to him and grabbed his head to lower it to mine. The moment our lips touched, I felt Rudi wrap his arms around me, pulling me closer.

At that moment, nothing else mattered. As of right now we were safe. I could feel the warmth racing through my body as I started to deepen the kiss.

But nothing really happened as Rudi pulled away, laying his forehead on mine. "As much as I would love to continue, you need sleep. Mom told me you got back not long ago."

I dropped my eyes, realizing what sleep meant right now. Without Musharna's help, things wouldn't go well.

"I'll be just across the hall," Rudi assured as his hand brushed my cheek.

"Could you," I hated asking for help, but I also realized what what could've asked me as he'd hear my nightmares regardless, "Could you stay here?"

Rudi didn't answer. Instead, he let go of me, grabbed my hand, and lead me over to the bed. I crawled in, with Rudi not far behind. He wrapped his arm around me as I scooted beside him. The blanket somehow made its way over my shoulders, but I didn't even look at Rudi to see how he did it. Instead, I just cuddled towards his chest.

I could feel my eyes growing heavy, but at the same time, they refused to get any sleep all because Musharna was gone. I looked over my shoulder to see Rudi laying there, with his eyes already closed. Guess he had to be tired with all the flying and fighting he had done.

I snuggled into him a bit more as I looked at the wall in front of me, and tried closing my eyes for sleep.

But sleep was hard to come by.

(-o-)

When I woke, the alarm clock said that it was two-thirty in the afternoon. I looked back, seeing Rudi dead asleep. His back was turned against mine, but his snores let me know that there was no way I was going to wake him.

It took me a moment to replay the events that had happened earlier that day. I quickly sat on the side of the bed, pushing a few strands of black hair out of my face as I blinked a couple of times. My eyes were sore, and seeing as I had slept in my contacts, I realized why.

After blinking a few times, and gaining my vision back, I started noticing the tears stinging my eyes.

My Dad's Musharna was missing. How I fell asleep was a mystery, and yet, I had a night free of nightmares.

But that Pokémon could very well be in danger, especially if Team Oblivion had their hands on her. Not only that, but the more I thought about it, Joy could very well still be in danger. Lethe claimed she had escaped, but would she be safe on her own?

I placed my hand on my pocket, feeling the phone that was inside. An idea popped into mind. Granted, it was a reckless idea, but it was the only thing I had right now.

Slowly, I snuck out of the room, closing the door behind me. Once out, I opened my phone and scrolled through my recent contacts, until I found the one contact I've only ever called once. Even then, that phone call was only made because he called me.

Taking a deep breath, I clicked on Lethe's number.

Author's Note:

Heya! So we've been seeing a lot of Lethe in action, and he's going to be in some more future chapters, so it begs the question: should Lethe be trusted? Love to hear what you guys think about this character.

Until next time, take care!