I stared out at the ocean swaying with the wind. My hair was moving with it towards the mainland, where I'm going to set off to now that I'm feeling better.

"You shouldn't rush your recovery" Riley said, walking up to the pier to me "Are you sure you're well enough?"

"I think I'm fine after a few days. I'm sorry I held up your time..." he sighed and looked at his phone "Still can't get reception?"

"No. I'm worried. I haven't heard from her in a few days" I was about to open my mouth before he stopped me "You don't have to apologize. My fiancée is a strong woman. I'm sure it's nothing"

"Riley... there's a reason why you're not able to get a hold of your fiancée. The same reason why I can't contact Leslie" I explained to him about what happened at the mainland before I left. I couldn't go into detail for the sake of confusing him, but he was already confused enough when I said that the mainland is stuck in time "Team Galactic is up to no good. They're individuals in space uniforms or whatever who steal Pokémon and commit crimes. They bombed a lake that the lake Pokémon sleeps under. That made time stop once we felt the ground shake"

"Team Galactic..." he held his chin. I nodded.

"My sister is a spy and gathering information about them"

"How do you know time stopped for them? Why didn't you freeze with everyone?" I rubbed the back of my head.

"Well... let's just say a birdie told me, but I don't know why I wasn't frozen" I lied. He'll be even more confused if I told him I learned most of these things from legendary and mythical Pokémon and I was blessed by some "If you see people like that around, I trust you to keep them from running into trouble"

"I often get trainers coming to my island to train" he told me he owns Iron island, which was why he chose to go into the business degree when he was in school "And I've seen two guys with space suits coming through here a day before you came"

"That had to be them!"

"Don't worry. I'll take care of it. If you're on your way to the lake, I'm sure time will go back to normal. I'm still a bit confused, but I trust you. Once my fiancée calls me, I'll know everything is alright"

"Thanks for taking care of me. I really appreciate it. Are you sure I can't pay you?" He looked behind him to his Lucario coming up to us with an egg in a blanket, in hand.

"No, but I actually wanted to give you something before you go" I looked at his Lucario confused as it came up to me to hand me the egg. I had already gotten use to the Lucario species thanks to Maylene, so I was able to take the egg it handed me "It's a Pokémon egg"

"Why are you giving me something like this?" He smiled and removed his hat.

"When we first met, I always noticed you hanging around my classmates outside of school. You were always quiet and followed Ashly or Aurora and Cheryl like a baby Pokémon. You were always helpful and made sure everyone was fair while you worked or helped everyone study. I admired that part of you. You were very giving and thought of others. I want to give you this egg so that you can continue to give. Not that you don't do it now, but I want to send the egg off to someone I admire. I seen a side of you I never knew you had. You cried because you were confused, and that's okay. I hope you can continue learning with what's inside that egg" I looked at the egg and softly hugged it.

"Thank you, Riley. You're so sweet. I can't apologize enough for not noticing your feelings before, but if it didn't turn out that way, you wouldn't have found your fiancée. Let me attend the wedding!" He chuckled.

"Of course! I'll send you the details. I look forward to meeting Leslie" I blushed and nodded before calling out to a Pokémon in the ocean who can swim me back to the mainland "Is that your..?"

"Oh! No" I chuckled "Pokémon just love me a bit too much, is all" I jumped on top of a Wailmer and sat down before facing Riley and Lucario "I trust you'll take care of Team Galactic! I look forward to hearing from you!" I waved.

"Take care!" He waved back and disappeared after we swam a good distance away. Now that he's gone into the cave to find Team Galactic, I need to get time going again as soon as I can. I don't want to worry him any longer than he already is. Even if he's quite calm, I could tell he was anxious.

"I can't believe he gave me an egg..." I looked at the egg I hung onto closely so it wouldn't fall "If you're anything like Lucario, I think we can learn to get along" I smiled and finally made it back to Canalave City to where time had stopped. It was the same as I left it.

"Come on, Bana" I told Banette on my shoulder "Let's go find the boys and hurry to the lake. I know once Lucas gets to Lake Verity, time will start again.

I jogged over to the library where I first left everyone and shook Lucas and Barry's shoulders first to wake them up, then Rowan and lastly Leslie with a hug.

"Huh? What?" Barry looked around, confused. I squeezed Leslie tightly while he held his hands on my back and stared at me.

"What's happened? Octavia?" Lucas asked me.

"Time stopped, it seems" Rowan said "Why is that?"

"The one close to god had stopped time when the explosion took place" I said, not letting go of Les "Dialga froze time so that we can get to the lakes as soon as we can. It's important that we go as quickly as we can. The closest lake is Lake Verity" I let go and looked around "Once Lucas gets there first, time will go back to normal"

"Is this what your blessing consist of?" Lucas asked.

"You have fucking legendary Pokémon look after you! And this happens so we can rescue the Pokémon of the lake?!" Barry asked, dumbfounded.

"You're spot on" I said and looked back at Les "I left Canalave City to look for the legendary Pokémon who could explain what's happening. After that I got sick and a friend of mine on iron island helped me recover"

"How long was this?" He asked.

"A few days for me. The mainland was frozen while his island was still normal"

"His?" Les blinked confused while Rowan came up to me.

"It's a bit overwhelming how we're learning just how special you are, Octavia. We will trust in your plan. Platina is already working as a spy, all we have to do is hear what you have to say" I nodded "To continue time, we need to get to the lakes as soon as possible"

"But the lake I'm going to is much farther than Lake Verity and Valor" Barry said "Do you think... Dialga will be upset?"

"Dialga gave us a chance. We all can't be perfect. Even if we fail, we're still going to keep going" I said and looked at Les still looking confused at nothing in particular.

"Some guy took care of her and I couldn't?" He asked himself. I poked his shoulder, getting his attention "hm?"

"Let's go to Lake Valor now, Les" I took his hand, confusing him "There's something I want to talk to you about" I turned to Lucas watching us "I'd say to take your time to head to Lake Verity. Reception doesn't work with time stopped, so give it a while before you reach there" He nodded. I nodded to everyone before we went our separate ways. I rushed away from everyone first so I could talk to Les, but I ended up finally speaking when we left the city.

"What's wrong, Via?" Les asked "Did this guy mess with you?" I flinched and looked at him observing me carefully.

"What? No! He's a good friend of mine from the resort area! He's a business major and his name is Riley. He's really nice!" Somehow Les looked like he wasn't pleased when I said that "I was stressed out about being on the back of a Gyarados and fell in the water. I ended up getting sick and he found me when I was done speaking to Cresselia. We were talking and I sort of understand something now, but not really..." I held my chest "I learned what unconditional love means" I blushed and stopped walking once we got to the route "I know how you feel about me, Les... I'm so sorry I can't understand yet. You've done so much for me and I can't figure out why you ended up liking me. But even if I learned what that kind of love means, I can't return those feelings yet. If you could..." I frowned up at him "Please be patient with me"

"There's no reason for you to rush. I just like being with you. I'll do all I have to do for you until you don't need me anymore" he took my hand to kiss "Take as long as you need. I'm not going anywhere"

"You said that before. Why would you think I don't need you anymore?" I looked down "I feel like I'll always need you. I don't know if I'm ever annoying to you, but..." he softly took my cheeks and stared down at my lips "What are you-?..!?" His lips pressed on mine, making me melt into his warmth. I didn't know what to do but stare at his eyes closed, not knowing what this fuzzy feeling was in my heart and stomach.

He let go, looking at my confused face "I love you just the way you are" I cupped my lips, shocked that he did that. I was speechless and couldn't come up with more words "Let's hurry so everyone isn't waiting" I slowly nodded and followed him to where we needed to go. I ended up forgetting where that was. He took the lead while I was spaced out and kept reimagining the moment he kissed me. He kissed me! Omg!

"Via" he called. I snapped out of it and looked at him, then his lips. I flinched and turned away while cupping my steaming face. I can't believe he did that to me! But for some reason I can't see myself getting mad about it... it sort of felt nice. I sort of want... "Via" Les poked my cheek, bring me back "Your face is red"

"And whose fault is that?!" I glared. He bit his lips and looked away, looking a bit pink. There was a awkward silence between us. It was something I haven't heard in a long time. It seemed like so long ago that we started traveling together.

"Lucas texted me earlier that he's close to Lake Verity and he won't get closer unless we're where we need to be" he said.

"He texted you?"

"Dialga probably gave us a way to make contact with others for now. Lucas had some other things to say. It's not much" he looked at his phone "Barry is still too far from Lake Acuity, but there's no telling if anything happened in the other lakes. Lake Valor is our main focus" I nodded.

"Yes! Let's go to the lake and make time continue again!" He took my hand. I stared at how soft he held me, as he always does "Let's go" I smiled at him. He smiled back and hurried to the lake, which had a devastating sight upon first glance.

The entire lake's water was gone. Many Magikarp were flapping in puddles of water while Team Galactic grunts roamed the area and rushed to a cave in the center of the lake.

"How could they do something like this..?" I glared "You mother fuckers! I'm going to kill every last one of you!" I shouted and sprung over to the nearest grunts to punch them out my way and hurry to the cave that was too far from my reach.

A gust of wind blew me off my feet and made me drop to my knees, scraping them as a result. I looked up and saw a grunt using his Pokémon against me. Instead of being scared of his scary Noctowl, I got more angry.

"Don't even think about getting closer!" He yelled at me.

"Fuck off!" I glared harder, feeling more angry that the ones who gave me my blessing are put in danger by these idiots.

My glare made the Pokémon stand down immediately. I send out Lopunny and Vulpix to attack them and help me pass every grunt who wants to get in my way. I eventually made it to the cave that Azulf should be in.

"Help!" A voice I heard before, shouted. I ran as quickly as I could and jumped back when a pick up truck with the team's logo drove out the cave. The back of the truck was open with some grunts starting to close the door with a tank with a Pokémon inside.

"Azulf!" I gasped and started to go after it, but was stopped by a bright blue color coming from the cave. I stared at the cave, thinking to myself that there was no way I can catch up to a truck, and I don't have a flying type to do it for me.

I decided to follow the blue light and saw a shard glowing in the middle of the cave with someone in a different kind of galactic uniform, staring at it.

"You!" I ran up to them. He turned around and was just as shocked as I was "huh? Sir Daiki?" He pocket his hands and observed me and my appearance. I blushed and hugged myself "W-What are you doing here?"

"I'd like to ask that as well, Lady Octavia" he smirked "It's surprising to see you after so long" Les came running to my side.

"Everything alright?" He asked me.

"Azulf has been captured..." I said and looked back at Daiki before slightly hiding behind Les, confusing him "I found this gentleman here when I arrived"

"Gentleman?" Les looked at Daiki still smiling smugly "Who are you?" Daiki shrugged.

"Oh Octavia. What is the meaning of this?" He said in a joking manner "Are you cheating on me?" Les quickly looked at me still hiding behind his arm.

"Les... He's the one my mom wanted to marry. He's my fiancé" I felt Les stiffen up "It's only on paper. I would never marry someone I don't want to marry"

"What do you mean on paper..?" Les asked.

"Our parents made an agreement for our engagement before it was discussed" Daiki said "They had us sign some papers to keep the engagement lasting until we were old enough to make it legal" he shrugged "They made us sign without telling us anything about what we were signing until the last second. It would've been a treasure to marry you, Octavia. You're perfect in every way. But this world is a mess and I long abandoned my family who are good for nothing losers who care about nobody but themselves. A new world is necessary. The mission is proceeding without a hitch. The boss should be pleased. Everything is for everyone, and for the good of Team Galactic!" he chuckled "and to be honest with you, I wouldn't mind bringing you into the new world as my wife" I didn't say anything and hid more behind Les, afraid if he may say something that will lead me to become a doll again.

"Do you really think she wants to marry someone who wants to bring ruin to this world?" Les glared. Daiki shook his head and shrugged.

"Well, it's under contract"

"It's illegal to trick someone to sign a contract!"

"Do you really think our parents cared about that? They written down our future for us. Now it's my choice if I want to keep this marriage or not. It's not up to her" Daiki interrupted Les before he spoke "Everything is on the contract. Octavia agreed to have no say in whatever goes"