Hi everyone, SK here.

So, have I killed your ship?  It might seem like it... oops.

Also you've probably been noticing a lot of the chapters have been in Val's POV- this point of the story is focusing on her, but the twins will get more chapters in the future.  Promise.

I'm not gonna waste much time here, let's get right to the chapter.  Enjoy~!

Valerie

Imagine this.

You find yourself in a perfect dreamscape, a dreamscape that is better than any reality you came from.  Everything you could ever wish for is there, ready for you to reach out and take it.  It's a perfect world, a utopia, a place where everything can exist and not exist simultaneously but everything makes sense and it's beautiful.

What, you can't imagine it?

Fine... I'll give you my example.

My paradise is a world of blue.  A world where cerulean hues take over every person, every thing.  Except me.  I'm special.  The dewy, grassy hills that I roll down are all a wonderful shade of sapphire.  The sky is alight with blue rain, blue flame, blue oceans.  All at once.  I can reach up and touch droplets of cerulean water, droplets forming themselves into magnificent webs with unimaginable patterns.  Blue moons, indigo leaves, cerulean eyes...

Ahem.  You get it.

Now imagine you take one wrong step.  You do one wrong thing.  Take something you weren't suppose to.  All of a sudden, the world begins to crack and crumble apart, the world that you began to call home instead of the reality you originally came from.  The magnificent, perfect world, all falling apart because a single line was crossed.  The unthinkable happens.  You find yourself freefalling.  Gravity accelerates your fall, and as much as you try to reach up to the heaven that you're falling from, it doesn't want you, it doesn't want itself, it is destroying itself because you, yes you, did something wrong.

Then, you wake up in that cold reality you came from, my cold reality where there are no more blue moons, no more indigo leaves, and especially no more cerulean eyes for me to fall in love with.

I sigh, placing a hand on my foggy glass windowpane.  The sun has just risen, the sky filling up with pastel pinks and purples and everything in between.  The sun's rays will melt this fog soon, and soon I myself will need to get dressed to be ready to meet with the Queen this morning.

Last night was literal hell.  After I came back to the Colony, I stayed in my room for the entire night.  I didn't leave to do anything, not even eat.  I'm sure that August was looking for me, probably the Ministers too.  I know for a fact that Verity was, because she in fact knocked on my door and asked me what was wrong.  I'd told her I needed to be alone but to come back tomorrow morning- which is now- and I'm almost 99% sure that she's going to take me up on that offer.

August doesn't like me back.

Honestly, I don't know why I'm so surprised.  He hasn't been showing interest in me like I have for him.

I glance back at my window, watching the fog begin to dissipate.  Eventually, the fog melts, and you can see clearly again.

I need to melt this fog over my heart.  Only, what is the fog?  My love for August, or my thought that August doesn't love me back?

Obviously it's the first one, I point out to myself.  You need to start moving on.

Turning away from the window, I walk back to my bed and sit down.  "Maybe I do," I whisper to myself.  Why do I whisper even when I'm alone?  "I have to stop thinking about him."

Except I can't.  I've invested too many feelings in August, too much of myself in him.  I can't just give up on him, especially when the only thing he said to me was "Valerie, I'm sorry".

Or maybe I'm just in denial about everything.  Maybe August really does like me, despite his words yesterday?

I clutch my head, wishing my heart would just make up its mind already.  My brain is a mess of emotions right now, and sleeping did not help to cure them.  It has only multiplied the stress of my feelings for August, my stress dealing with my so-called parents, my grief of my friends and my fear of my father.  That man is still very much alive, what if he goes after my friends?

Great way to think, I sarcastically congratulate myself, not noticing the door clicking open.  Alerted by the noise I instantly turn to face its source, only to be put face to face with Verity.  "Hey," she says softly, clearly sensing the tension that's still within me.  "Are you feeling any better?"

"No," I spit out honestly.  "Not in the slightest."

She laughs dryly, clicking the door shut behind her and sits down on the edge of my bed.  She pats the spot beside her, gesturing for me to sit down which of course I do.  "I'm guessing this has something to do with my brother," Verity begins as I hang my head down.

"How'd you know?" I turn my head slightly to look at her.

She shrugs.  "It was a lot of things... but I knew because you two left the Colony together, you came back alone, and August came back later looking distraught."

"You saw us leave?" I check.  How many other fairies saw us leave together?

Verity nods her head up and down.  "I didn't see you leave per se, but I did see you both hand-in-hand walking toward the outskirts of the Colony.  This kinda confirmed it for me."  

My heart aches when I think about that moment, about all those blissful moments yesterday when I foolishly believed that life was going to go my way for once.  The Dark fairy must see a change in my facial expression because I suddenly feel her warm palm resting on my shoulder.  "What happened?" she asks me earnestly.  "I know we've not known each other for long, but you're my friend and if there's one person in this Colony that can keep a secret- other than Layra of course- it's me.  You can tell me anything, even the weird stuff," she adds with a tiny smile.  "I mean since it's with my brother you might want to spare me the details but-"

"I get your point," I return weakly before her rambling can continue.  "I... okay.  Please do not tell anyone else?"

"I swear by Zagan I will not tell anyone else."

Zagan was the first Dark Leader right?  Actually, now it makes sense why I've heard those names- Lita and Zagan- tossed around before... the fairies swear to them, like humans swear to Arceus.  Makes sense.  "I really like August.  Like... really really like him."

"I know," Verity says plainly, making me gape at her.

"How?" I demand, my voice getting a little pitchy.

She chuckles at my reaction.  "I'm sorry Val... but you made it painfully obvious.  Well, to me at least."

I internally wince at her words.  "Oh."  I pause for a moment, wondering how I'm supposed to continue the conversation.  "Anyway... August helped me with my magic yesterday, he helped me summon-" 

My eyes widen.  "Nombles!?  Where are you?" I call out, springing off of the bed and searching around the bedroom.  "Nombles!"

"Calm down, it's okay!" Verity shouts at me in what I think is her attempt at a reassuring tone.  I whip my head around to look at her as she continues.  "Mist Pokemon will return to your soul after a certain period of time.  If she was out when you went to sleep, she's safe in your soul now.  You don't have to worry."

I let out a sigh of relief and lean up against the bookshelf, albeit empty, in my room.  "Thank goodness," I breathe.

Verity just raises an eyebrow at me.  "You still didn't finish your story."

Oh, right.  "Oops, sorry."

"It's fine."

"Where was I- oh."  This story is going to start to get painful to remember very quickly.  "He helped me summon Nombles, and we did this spell so we could walk on water... and then we danced.  I was so caught up in everything and I..."  My ears are burning with shame.  "I kissed him."

Verity doesn't react at all, the tiniest shift in her expression nonexistent.  "And?" is the only thing she asks.

I feel like crying again.  "He just told me "Valerie, I'm sorry," after not kissing me back."  One of my legs starts to twitch from the painful memory, but I force it to stand still.

The Dark fairy's eyes harden.  "I can't believe he did that to you."

"It's fine," I choke out.  "I should've come to terms with it sooner.  He's barely been showing any romantic interest in me, so why would I think that he loves me?"

Verity shakes her head.  "He's barely showing interest in you because his brain, somehow, does not know how to comprehend romantic feelings.  It's like the part of his brain that is supposed to recognize romantic attraction is just turned off- he's dense, Val, really dense."

"Just because he's dense doesn't mean he has feelings for me," I point out, my words feeling like thorns against my skin.  

"Oh come on... holding your hand?  Dancing on water with you?  Those aren't things I'd initiate with someone who I'd deeply consider to be just a friend to me," she points out, crossing her arms as she watches me begin to pace back and forth.  "I think he likes you, he just hasn't realized it yet."

I stop my pacing just to make my point of turning toward her.  "You can't possibly think that."

"I can."  Verity stands up, the quilts shifting slightly as her weight is lifted, and she walks toward me.  "He's my brother and I know how he thinks... which, in this case, he doesn't."  Neither of us laugh at her attempt at a joke.  "You have to talk to him, ask him to straighten things out.  "I'm sorry" isn't the same as "I like you only as a friend"- you don't know what he was apologizing for, right?  If you want, I can come with you for emotional support and also someone who is ready to slap the hell out of him if he gets out of line at all.  Oka-" she breaks off, staring at me.  "You're crying."

I have not, in fact, realized that I am crying until she said so.  I'm suddenly made aware of the warm feeling on both of my cheeks, I'm suddenly made aware of the droplets landing on my Element-based brooch.  I just turn to the fairy girl, full of despair, and she knows exactly what I need.  She opens her arms wide and we both embrace each other, both of us hanging onto each other like the other one will fall off of a cliff if we let go.  At this moment, Verity reminds me so much of Leaf... and it only breaks my heart more.

After about a minute, Verity lets go of me.  A determine grin forms on her face, and she speaks up.  "Hey, I have an idea that can help you get your mind off of things.  When do you have to go see the Queen today?"

"In a few hours," I reason since it's only dawn.  My confusion grows.  "Why?"

"Sometimes destroying things can help your negative emotions vent out," she tells me evenly.  "You know my Element, right?  It's Destruction-"

"I don't want to destroy anything for no good reason," I interrupt, feeling a bit squeamish.  I don't want to hurt anyone just to make myself feel better.  

Verity pinches the bridge of her nose as she lets out a little sigh.  "No, you're not getting it.  You know how every fairy has daily tasks to do based off of their Elements?  Well, since mine is Destruction, I have to go about contrasting to the creation that August and Mom bring into the world.  It just so happens that there's a forest in the Kanto region- Viridian Forest I think it's called- that's due for a forest fire this morning."  

I begin to catch onto what she's trying to imply as she continues.  "May- her Element is Fire- and I agreed to take care of it this morning.  Wanna come watch?" she asks, extending me the invitation.

It doesn't take much to get me to cave in.  I'm not doing anything for the next couple hours, and staying cooped up in this room is only going to magnify the war that's going on inside my head.  "Sure," I tell her gratefully.  "Just as long as I'm not going to drag you guys down."

Verity chuckles at me, making my confusion swell up again.  Before I can question her actions, she says, "Valerie, you're supposed to be the next Queen for Zagan's sake.  I seriously doubt that you would do anything to quote-on-quote drag us down."

The wittiness in her tone makes my frown crack slightly, and I end up laughing with her.  "Okay," I say excitedly.  "It'll be interesting seeing what you guys do."

The Dark fairy responds with a glint in her eye.  "Just you wait."

We both head to the door- my hyperactive brain forced me to get dressed as soon as I woke up to distract myself from my loss of August- and exit my bedroom.  Since mine's on the first floor there are no stairs to take.  As we exit the building, a question comes to mind.  "Is May even awake yet?  It's very early."

"May's an early riser," Verity tells me.  "She's probably awake- let's go to Mallow's place.  Even if she's not there, Mallow should've seen her.  Besides, aren't you hungry?" she adds, turning toward me.

Not really.  "Not really, but I guess it's a good idea to get something to go?" I offer, my pitch hiking up near the end.  I should probably eat breakfast anyway before I go see the Queen, I reason with myself, or at least the part that's still sane enough to think properly.

"That's a good idea," she says cheerfully.  "Let's head over there then."

"Right."

Verity and I head over to Mallow's restaurant, a place that's still unfamiliar territory to me.  But, seeing as it's pretty much the only place that fairies go to eat, I'm sure that I'll become familiar with it... wait.

I'm going to become the Queen.  I have not seen the Queen in the Colony, not once... so does that mean when I get coronated or whatever happens when someone becomes the Queen I'll have to leave the Colony?  I glance at Verity, happily walking beside me.  I can't imagine leaving her, August- hell, even Heliux and Layra- to live in some foreign place far away.  A shiver runs up my spine as I think about it.  You becoming Queen won't happen for a while, I try to convince myself.  You've still got time with them.  Besides, even if you become Queen, it doesn't mean you have to alienate myself.

"Here we are," Verity says, opening the doors to the establishment and interrupting my train of thought at the same time.  Mallow's restaurant is virtually empty, spare for the owner herself wiping some glasses at the bar's counter.  When she hears the doors open, she gives us a little smile and waves us over.  

"Good morning," she greets when we're close enough.  "You're both up pretty early."

"We just wanted to get an early start," Verity says, thankfully answering for both of us.  "Could we get something to eat?"

"Well duh, that's what I'm here for," the cook answers warmly.  "To go I presume?"

Verity and I share a look.  "How did you know that?" I ask her, feeling a little shocked that she knows.

Mallow shrugs.  "You both just have that 'I gotta go places' air about you."  I don't understand what that means, but okay.

"I think I'll just have a sausage and egg sandwich, no cheese," Verity asks.  I just glance at her in slight dismay.  No cheese?  No cheese!?  How can someone simply not get cheese on a sandwich!?  Isn't that illegal?

Despite Verity's shocking dislike of cheese on a perfectly good meal that would be even better with cheese, I have to admit what she ordered does sound good.  "I'll have the same, but with cheese," I tell the cook.

Verity tosses me a weird look of her own.  "You like cheese on your sandwich?"

"And you don't?"

Sensing the incoming argument, Mallow pipes up again.  "So, Valerie, how does it feel to be next in line for the throne?"

I glance at the Light fairy, feeling a little shocked at her statement.  "How did you know?" I ask her curiously.

She lets out a little chuckle.  "Your wings make it a little obvious."

Oh right.  I forgot that my abnormal wings would tell of my future position.  My fingers find themselves twirling a strand of my hair as I get a little sheepish.  "I'm not Queen yet," I point out, that sheepishness sneaking into my tone.

Mallow turns her back toward the both of us to make our meals, but she stills keeps up the conversation.  "I know," she returns in a friendly tone.  "Still, since the fairies have started seeing you around they're starting to get excited.  A transfer of power from Queen to Queen happens very rarely- maybe once every billion years if I can remember what the Ministers have said correctly.  Everyone's very excited to see it happen."

"You're famous," Verity whispers, nudging me with her elbow.  I roll my eyes at her.

"Hey Mallow," the Dark fairy asks, speaking up, "have you by chance seen May this morning?  She and I have to go out and do something."  I start to wonder why Verity's being so vague about the forest fire, but I quickly put the pieces together.  From the way Mallow's dressed, it looks like her Element has something to do with plants and nature; she probably wouldn't like to hear that we're about to go set a forest on fire.

"I did," Mallow answers, wrapping up our sandwiches.  She turns around and slides them both on the counter toward us.  "She said she was going to the library to read up on some spells."

"Thank you," Verity replies, taking hold of her sandwich that is very clearly marked NO CHEESE.  "And thanks for the sandwich.  Val, let's get-"

"Hold on," I tell her, picking up my own breakfast.  "Have you seen Heliux and Layra this morning?"  After all, I still need to apologize to them.  That was really cruel of me to say such harsh things to them after they've been nothing but kind to me during these past couple days.

Mallow nods at me.  "They both came here about an hour ago, but I think they've left to take care of their work."

"Where could I find them?" I press.  I don't want this weighing down on me all day.

"Not sure," the cook confides, her shoulder sagging a little.  "Heliux usually has to go into space to do his daily tasks, taking into consideration his Element.  No one really knows what Layra does- all she tells us is that she goes to "retrieve spirits" or whatever that means.  No fairy, except Heliux probably, knows where she goes each day to do her work."

"Retrieve spirits?  So she's like some Grim Reaper?"  I still need to get to know the Ministers, but even I have to admit that having a Grim Reaper for a mom would be pretty cool.

Mallow shrugs.  "I guess?  Maybe you could ask her."

"Maybe.  Anyway, thanks Mallow," I tell her, giving her a wave as Verity and I exit the restaurant.  We both start to head toward the library- a familiar location now considering how many times I've been there in the past couple days- and I see my chance to engage in some casual chatter with Verity.

"Does Heliux really go into space?" I ask her.

She shrugs.  "He says he does anyway."

"Do you know what he does?"

Verity has to think to herself for a little bit.  "He's mentioned that he does some maintenance things- that's what he calls what he does anyway- like monitoring the bigger stars, checking on black holes and neutron stars- I think he monitors the dead stars too but I can't be sure.  He also does stuff with nebulas too.  Oh!" she exclaims suddenly.  "I'm 99% sure that he's stopped supernovas from happening before."

I widen my eyes at her.  "Woah, that's a big job."  That's also part of my job, since I also have the Element of Space.  How am I ever going to learn how to stop a freaking super nova!?

Verity chuckles at me.  "Yeah, I guess it is.  Maybe that's why Heliux acts like a grump all the time."

"Maybe," I agree with her, although with that context I don't really see Heliux as grumpy... more like stressed or plain bored, because how long has he been doing this?  "What about Layra?" I ask eagerly.  I want to hear what Verity thinks, because usually she's right on these types of things.  "I know you have your suspicions on what she does."

"Oh, I do," Verity says rather proudly.  "I was thinking the same thing as you- the Grim Reaper thing.  I mean have you heard the rumors that Layra used to be an assassin in her human life a gazillion years ago?  It wouldn't be too farfetched to say that she takes the lives of people in this life too- ah, we're here."  We both stop outside the library doors.  "Hold on, I'll go inside and get May," I hear her say, and watch her promptly disappear inside the building.  After a few minutes of me waiting, Verity returns with May in tow.

"Hello," May says cheerfully when she notices me, giving me a little wave.  After a second, she does a little double take- probably because of my wings.  "Am I supposed to call you Your Majesty or something?" she asks, sounding a little flustered.

I instantly shake my head as rapidly as I can.  "Heavens no."  Heavens no?  Who says that anymore?  "Just call me Valerie," I add to her, giving the Fire Elemental a smile.

May visibly relaxes.  "That works for me."  Turning to Verity, she adds, "Are we all ready to go?"

Verity nods back at the other fairy.  "Yeah, I know the perfect spot to open up our portal.  Just follow me."

As we start walking I get a little hungry, so I munch on my sandwich as we travel.  The good thing about sandwiches is that they are very convenient to eat while walking.  The good thing about having cheese in a sandwich is that it tastes better, which I guess Verity doesn't know.  Hmph, whatever, I tell myself.  It's my opinion I guess.

My sandwich has disappeared by the time we arrive at our destination.  "Here," Verity says, sounding a little breathless as she begins to open a portal.

"Wait," I say, halting her.  Both of the other fairies look at me confusedly.  "I just want to try practicing my magic to make a portal," I explain.  "If that's alright."

"Of course!" Verity says enthusiastically.  She turns to May.  "It's Viridian Forest, right?"

She nods, her voice filled with a little melancholy as she speaks.  "I remember travelling there once... so many young trainers have.  But, there's a time to say goodbye to everything.  I just hope all of those Caterpie and Weedle can get out of there quick enough."  She shakes her head, clearing it.  "Yes, it's Viridian Forest.  Valerie, have you ever been there or at least seen the place before?"

I went there once on a field trip I took the fairy club to search for fairy evidence.  "Yes, I have," I tell May, deciding not to go into detail.  "Let me guess: I just have to picture the place in my head and internally demand my magic to create a portal there?"

This earns a laugh from both May and Verity.  "You're a natural," the former tells me enthusiastically.  

I roll my eyes and promptly close them so I can retain my focus.  I picture the forest in my mind, willing my hands to make a portal there.  After I feel them start to burn slightly, I move them in a circle just like how I've seen A...August and Verity do before.  I open my eyes and I see the forest sitting in the portal in front of us.  

"Nice work," Verity compliments, stepping up.  May does as well.  The Dark fairy turns back and winks at me.  "Time to watch the show," she says.

Verity and May both move their hands in a peculiar motion, summoning two glowing- well, May's is glowing while Verity is emanating dark light- orbs.  I can vaguely recognize these as their Element Symbols, or at least the ones I saw floating above their heads during my Council. 

Holy hell, my Council.  That feels like eons ago. 

The two fairies combine their orbs into one, creating a flaming ball of black magic.  They're combining their Elements, I realize.  Together, they toss the ball through the portal and into the forest waiting below for it with open arms.  

As Verity and May gaze at their work, I begin to picture the forest.  The oak trees, the evergreens, the saplings, all of them victim to the roaring flames.  The shrubs and bushes, all the berries that grow there, scorched to ashes.  The Pokemon in there running or flying or however they move for their lives.  The humans, once they notice, trying to dispel the flames but (probably) failing to do so.

My hands begin to have that burning feeling again, and I look with shock to see small sparks of rich indigo light bouncing off my palms.  "Uh..." my voice alerts the attention of the other two fairies, who promptly turn around.

"Valerie, what are you doing?" Verity asks, pointing to my hands.

"I don't know!" I shout, sounding a little panicked.  "I was just thinking about what the forest was looking like right about now and-"

"You have the Space Element right?" May checks, and I nod.  "Heliux does this too- he has the power to create real-time visions of places that have the illusion of teleporting whoever is near into the vision, even though they are still where they originally were.  Your magic might be trying to do that.  Don't stop it, just let it through."

"Okay," I say uncertainly, the indigo getting brighter until it steals my vision away.  When I can see again, we're standing right in front of the flames.  The three of us quickly take action and fly high above everything, watching the fires consume everything below us.

"Less than a day into everything and you're already mastering your Elemental powers," Verity tells me with awe.  "I told you that you'd be great!"

"It's you guys that are doing great," I lament as I look at the fire below.  "Just... holy hell."

"This is probably one of our better fires," May admits, sounding a little sheepish.  "Do you remember that one fire we caused a few centuries back, Verity?  The one that nearly unintentionally burned a city?"

Verity laughs at the Light fairy.  "Yes, I do," she says between laughs.  She lets out a fond sigh.  "Ah, those were the days."  Who talks about a forest fire?  Oh right, these two apparently.  I've never really seen Verity's dark side before.

"Should we go?" May questions.

I shake my head.  "It's still early, let's stay a little longer," I urge them both.  They nod and begin to chat with each other, but all I can focus on are the roaring flames below, the ones destroying everything... and all I think about is how August used those exact same flames to work their destructive powers on my heart.

Well that was certainly a chapter... I hope you enjoyed it!

This chapter was a slight filler, I know, but the next chapter we'll be right back with the plot.  Just saying... big events are planned ahead for the near future... gigantic, world-changing events.

Anyway, stay tuned~!