Warming Hearts

A/N: I'm in the home stretch for this story over on fanfiction.net, but I also decided to share it with you guys here. I think I tried about a year ago, but it didn't go great. Oh well, second time's the charm.

I hope y'all enjoy this first part, and see how this story all began. Roll it!

Prologue

Once upon a time, about six years ago, in an unknown realm, at least unknown to humans, all of the Legendary Pokémon from all over the world gathered for a most urgent meeting. Arceus himself was presiding over the meeting.

"Come, my fellow beings of legend." He said telepathically.

The legends all grew quiet as they listened to their superior. "I have called all of you here today to discuss a most troubling situation."

He summoned forth a golden orb of light in the middle of the meeting place, so that everyone could see. "In the land that the humans call Sinnoh, I've heard the prayers and pleas of many Pokémon for several weeks." Arceus said. "These particular Pokémon live in a mountainous area of the region where a young human princess lives. She treats them and her own human servants coldly and selfishly."

The Legendary Pokémon voiced out their anger and shock, their voices clamoring over one another. "Peace!" Arceus cried, quieting them again. "Before we should take any matters seriously, we need to examine her and her ways."

Just then, the Lake Trio floated up to Arceus. These triplets were very concise with their observations of humans. Azelf and his sisters, Mesprit and Uxie, spoke in young but wise voices.

"We will go and observe." Azelf said.

Arceus nodded in agreement. He trusted Azelf's judgement. The humans don't call him the Being of Willpower for nothing. Uxie is very wise beyond her years, earning her the title of the Being of Knowledge. Mesprit is kind, and if they must take drastic measures, she will show them mercy. That kindness gave her the name, the Being of Emotion.

"Very well." Arceus gave his consent. "Go."

With that, the Lake Trio disappeared from the anonymous realm and back to Earth in three flashes of light of their respective colors.

*************************************

In a matter of seconds, the Lake Trio had arrived at a tall, stone castle with three main towers, and dark blue flags at every high point of it. Over at one side of the building, it had a large and lovely field of Gracidea flowers. It looked like a lovely and regal place.

Azelf looked over at Mesprit and Uxie, and they all nodded as they spoke to each other telepathically. They will stay out of sight for a couple of days to examine this princess, and then, they'll decide what they need to do with her. They never like to punish anyone, but for both humanity and Pokémon, they will do what needs to be done.

During that time as they observed from out of sight, they saw that the princess was a lovely pre-teen girl, about eleven years old, with long, midnight blue hair, fair skin, and matching blue eyes, but they seemed as cold as stone; no light in them. Her name was Princess Dawn; talk about irony. They were shocked to see her servants tending to every single task that she asks of them, and yet, she doesn't give any credit for their work. The servants didn't dare talk back to her about this though, if they wanted to risk losing their jobs.

But what horrified them the most was that she treated the Pokémon living around the castle grounds just as cold as her servants. She wouldn't want any near her, not even her own. And she was spoiled, selfish, and ungrateful. They knew what they needed to do now.

**********************

One winter night, they revealed themselves to the princess in her chambers, when she was alone. Dawn was surprised that the Lake Trio appeared unto her.

"The Lake Trio of legend?" She asked. "In my castle?"

She was about to get excited at what fate had bestowed upon her, but then Azelf stunned her into silence by beginning to speak in his telepathic way. "Princess Dawn, we have been observing you for the past few days due to some complaints and pleas from the Pokémon who live around this area. In our observations, we have learned that your heart is as cold as stone, and that your soul is dark and ugly to match it."

Uxie then spoke up. "You treat the Pokémon who live here and around your castle grounds just as cruel as you do your own human servants." Now, Dawn was starting to get a little scared, learning that these Legends were angry with her.

Mesprit continued on sternly. "Because of your selfishness and ungratefulness towards your servants and the Pokémon, you will become as ugly on the outside as you are inside. And to add to this punishment, your servants will pay the same price as you, and you will no longer be remembered by those who have loved you before."

Dawn screamed out in terror as blue, yellow, and pink orbs of light began to surround her, swirling faster and faster until they were just blurs, making her vision white. Then, a huge wall of the same colored lights flooded throughout the entire castle. There were cries of surprise and fear throughout the entire building, but they were all soon silenced, as well as everything brightening up until everything was white.

When the light finally died down, Dawn looked around. Her wonderful and fashionable chambers were now dark and brooding, giving her chills down her spine, feeling like she was in a nightmare. But then, she got a feeling like there was something off about her. She frantically went over to her full length mirror and screamed out loud when she saw her reflection.

She wasn't human, nor was she a Pokémon, but a hideous mix of both! She still had her human face and eyes, but her stylist blue dress was replaced with a plain, Gardevoir-styled one. But the rest was almost all Zoroark. She had a Zoroark tail peeking from under her thin dress, the familiar red eye prints around her eyes along with stark black markings covering her skin, the sharp fangs in her mouth, the monstrous and sharp claws instead of hands, the large and powerful paws instead of feet, and her hair was much longer and styled like a Zoroark's mane, but still having its original blue color.

Terrified of her new beastly appearance, she cried out, sounding like a roar, and slashed at the mirror, shattering it into a million pieces as it fell to the floor. Dawn turned to the Lake Trio with fearful and distraught eyes, who returned her gaze sternly.

"Because we are merciful beings, we will give you a chance to redeem yourself." Azelf said to her, and she was tempted to perk up at the notion. "Come."

He and his sisters beckoned her over to her balcony. Mesprit gestured to the large field of Gracidea flowers that were beginning to wither because of the atmosphere around them rapidly growing colder as winter continued to make its mark.

"If you can learn kindness, generosity, and love, and find someone who will love you despite your appearance before those flowers bloom for the sixth time on the spring equinox, you will be back to your fair self." She said.

And just like that, Dawn's spirits sunk down, miserably low. "No one will love me like this!" She shouted at them tearfully.

Mesprit folded her tiny arms, looking over at the anguished princess. "Remember, you have six years. And, it's not just your fate that hangs in the balance. Your servants', as well. And we have a couple of gifts for you."

There was an orb of pink light, and a large hand mirror appeared on Dawn's nightstand. The gold trim circled around the circular glass, the reflection was so sharp, almost like it was made of crystal, and the handle was very intricate and beautiful.

"This mirror will show anything you wish to see. And it's unbreakable." The Being of Emotion added before she floated beside her brother and sister.

Uxie then made a golden orb of light appear, and a large book appeared, the leather cover blank and having gold embroidery on the edges. "This is a book that will take you to any place you wish to go, if you dare to use it." She said, with a warning tone in it.

The book then floated over to where the library was within the castle. "This world has no place for someone like you, who is both cruel-looking on the inside and outside."

Lastly, Azelf made a bright blue light orb appear, and it went over to a small table in the room. When it had faded, there stood a glass bell jar with a few gold trimmings on the sides. Under it, floating in the air, was a Gracidea flower, its petals soft and pink with a few dark red shrivels on them.

"This Gracidea flower is like your timer." Azelf explained to her. "Reminding you of your limited time to try and redeem yourself. But you must protect it at all costs. Never drop it or touch it. If you do, then you will have immediately sealed your fate for the rest of your life in this state, as well as the others who live here."

Then, the Being of Willpower, along with his sisters, moved out to hover over the edge of the balcony, their eyes on the beastly girl below them.

"Six years, Princess." Azelf reminded her, then he, Mesprit, and Uxie vanished with colorful beams of light of their respective colors.

Dawn finally collapsed on the floor, crying uncontrollably before slowly looking up at the Gracidea flower under the bell jar. One of its petals fell off the bloom and onto the table. Even with that small bit of hope given, who in the world could love a monster such as her?

A/N: How was that? Okay? Since this story is almost complete on fanfiction.net, I'll post a chapter here almost every other day, depending on what happens. Either way, expect pretty frequent updates until I'm all caught up.

Well, I'll see y'all in the next chapter! Please leave a comment about what you guys think.

Got to fly!