CHAPTER 8:TIME POKÉMON

THE EAST CASTLE HAD BEEN SPLIT. BUT THE KINGDOM REMAINED INTACT THANKS TO A POKEMON.

POKÉMON:LET'S GET OUT OF HERE !.

POKÉMON:LOOK!

AND A POKÉMON SAW WHAT WAS HAPPENING.

POKÉMON:...ROSE.

ROSE:...

AND THE RIFT WAS COMING TOWARDS HER.

POKÉMON:WATCH OUT!

BUT ROSE, TAKING A STEP, MAKES SOME PLANTS APPEAR UNDER THE CRACK. AND HOLDING THE SIDES THEY PULL WITH FORCE, BRINGING THEM TOGETHER AGAIN.

ROSE:...REVERTER.

AND A SYMBOL APPEARS. AND THE MARK OF THE HALVES DISAPPEARS, FORMING A PART AND REPAIRING ALL THE DAMAGES.

POKEMONS:YEAH!.

ROSE:....

AND SHE SEES THE STORM IN THE CASTLE FADE SO SHE TELEPORTS TO THE CASTLE AND SEES THE WOUNDED QUEEN.

ROSE:MAJESTY?

AND SHE SEES DIAZ AND HIS FRIENDS.

DIAZ:...ISN'T IT?.

?:OF COURSE IT IS NOT.

AND THEY NOTICE SOMEONE NEXT TO THE QUEEN WOUND.

DIAZ:....ROSE?.

ROSE: SOMEONE, PLEASE EXPLAIN. WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED?!.

AND ARRIVING THE EVENING. ROSE USES HER POWER TO REBUILD THE CASTLE AND LOCKS THE FLYGON QUEEN IN A SPHERE, LEAVING HER IN A STATE OF SUSPENDED ANIMATION.

SKIPLOOM:....

ROSE:AND YOU SAY THAT SHE THREATENED MAXIMILIANO ?.

DIAZ:...SORRY.

ROSE:....THIS DOESN'T MAKE SENSE...I NEVER SAW HER ACT THAT WAY.

DIAZ:THAT WAS BECAUSE I HADN'T ARRIVED YET.

BRAIXEN:DIAZ. IT'S NOT YOUR FAULT.

DIAZ:....

MEWTWO:LUCKILY THERE WAS NO GREAT DAMAGE TO THE KINGDOM.

DITTO:HEY, AM I THE ONLY ONE WHO REMEMBERS THE FACT THAT, RIGHT NOW, BAD POKÉMON HAVE KIDNAPPED THE NORTHE INHABITANTS AND THE KING?

DIAZ:...WE NEED TO FIND THEM.

SKIPLOOM:IF THE QUEEN WAS PART OF THE KIDNAPPING. SHE WILL KNOW THE LOCATION.

ROSE:....

AND ROSE WAKES UP THE QUEEN.

FLYGON:...ROSE ?.

ROSE:WHY ARE YOU MAKING ME DO THIS, HER MAJESTY?

AND SHE GIVES WAY TO DIAZ.

FLYGON:...YOU.

DIAZ:WHERE IS MAXIMILIANO?.

FLYGON:....YOU MUST BE STUPID IF YOU THINK I'LL TELL YOU WHERE HE IS.

AND DIAZ, WITH A LOOK OF HATRED, GIVES HIM A BLOW.

FLYGON:OUCH! ROSE. THE MALE HIT ME!.

ROSE:TECHNICALLY YOU STARTED IT ALL, ACTING VIOLENTLY AND TRYING TO ELIMINATE A CHILD, SO I'LL LET IT GO.

DIAZ:MY PATIENCE IS RUNNING OUT, WHERE IS IT?!.

AND HE THROWS ANOTHER BLOW.

FLYGON:OUCH! IF YOU WANT ANSWERS SO MUCH. ASK THE OTHER KINGS!

DIAZ:...WHAT?

FLYGON:...HAHAHA YOU CAUGHT ME. ALL KINGS ARE INVOLVED IN THIS. MISMAGIUS AND SLOWKING WILL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO ELIMINATE YOU.

DIAZ: .....

DITTO:RELAX DIAZ. IT IS NOT THAT THEY ARE A GREAT CHALLENGE, TWO POKÉMON NOTHING MORE.

FLYGON:TELL THE SENT MESSAGE.

ROSE:WHAT MESSAGE?.

FLYGON:WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT DIAZ WAS IN THE KINGDOM. I MADE SURE THE OTHERS FOUND OUT.

(FLYGON: HOPEFULLY THEY DON'T FIND IT FIRST.

AND HIDDEN, LISTENING.

ALAKAZAM:.....

AND HE TELEPORTS FROM THERE.)

FLYGON:WHAT HAPPENED HERE IS ONLY KNOWN HERE. AND WHEN THEY RECEIVE THE MESSAGE, THE TWO OF THEM WILL MAKE SURE THEIR KINGDOMS ARE AGAINST THE SUCCESSOR TO THE NORTH.

MEWTWO:THAT'S MANIPULATION.

FLYGON:ANYWAY, EVEN IF DIAZ WANTS TO ENTER A KINGDOM PEACEFULLY, I DOUBT THAT OTHER POKÉMON WILL OPEN THEIR DOORS FOR HIM. HAHAHA SO GET READY DIAZ. BECAUSE SOON THE CRIMSON QUEEN WILL RISE AND TAKE WHAT IS HERS! HA HA HA HA HA HA!.

AND ROSE, TIRED OF LISTENING TO HER, FREEZES HER AGAIN.

DIAZ:.....

BRAIXEN:....IT'S US AGAINST THE KINGDOM OF THE WEST AND THE SOUTH.

ROSE:....THE CRIMSON QUEEN.

AND GATHERED IN THE PLANNING ROOM. THEY WERE SKIPLOOM, DIAZ, BRAIXEN, DITTO, MEWTWO, FLOETTE AND ROSE.

ROSE:THANKS FOR COMING.

AND MEWTWO GIVES A BERRY TO FLOETTE. AND THIS ONE GRABS HER.

FLOETTE:(BITING AND CHEWING).

MEWTWO:....

DITTO:HMM?.

ROSE:AS WE KNOW. A GROUP OF POKÉMON HAVE KIDNAPPED MAXIMILIANO AND THE ENTIRE NORTHERN TOWN. AND ALL OF THEM ARE FOLLOWERS OF THAT CRIMSON QUEEN.

BRAIXEN:THEY ALSO SEEK TO ELIMINATE DIAZ FOR NOT BEING WORTHY OF THE THRONE.

DIAZ:CAN YOU NOT SAY THAT?.

BRAIXEN:..SORRY. I DID NOT WANTED TO HURT YOU.

DIAZ:...IT DOESN'T MATTER.

BRAIXEN:.....

ROSE:NOW THAT WE KNOW THAT THE OTHER KINGS WILL MAKE SURE THAT DIAZ'S NAME IS TAINTED, SO THAT NO ONE DEFENDS IT. WE MUST KNOW HOW TO DEFEAT THEM.

MEWTWO:KINGDOMS ARE DIVIDED INTO FOUR POSITIONS. NORTH, SOUTH, EAST AND WEST. THE NORTH IS LED BY MAXIMILIANO, THE SOUTH IS LED BY SLOWKING, THE EAST IS LED BY FLYGON AND THE WEST IS LED BY MISMAGIUS. THE NORTH IS THE KINGDOM IN DANGER, AND WE ALREADY DEFEATED THE QUEEN OF THE EAST.

DITTO:THE WEST AND THE SOUTH HAVE TO BE OVERCOME.

BRAIXEN:NOT TO MENTION THAT POSSIBLY, IN ONE OF THOSE KINGDOMS, WE COULD FIND MAXIMILIANO.

ROSE:MOST LIKELY IN THE SOUTH. THE LARGEST KINGDOM, AND AT THE SAME TIME, MORE PROTECTED.

SKIPLOOM:I WOULD LIKE TO HELP. BUT SOMEONE MUST TAKE CARE OF THE KINGDOM, NOW THAT THE QUEEN ... ALMOST DESTROYED IT.

DIAZ:...WHAT IF ROSE HELPS US?.

SKIPLOOM:...DO YOU AGREE?.

ROSE:....MY DUTY IS TO PROTECT ROYALTY, REGARDLESS OF THEIR OFFSPRING.

DITTO:PLUS WE HAVE FLOETTE AND HER ALMIGHTY FLOWER.

MEWTWO:...NOT EXACTLY.

AND NOTICE THAT THE PETALS OF HER FLOWER WERE SOMEWHAT FALLEN.

FLOETTE:.....

AND MAKES A SAD FACE.

MEWTWO:...IF WE DON'T DO SOMETHING. HER FLOWER WILL DIE...IT IS THE LAST OF HER KIND.

ROSE:DOES ANYONE KNOW HOW TO RESTORE A FLOWER?.

BRAIXEN:I AM A FIRE TYPE. PLANTS ARE NOT USUALLY MY THING.

SKIPLOOM:I TRAIN TO BE A QUEEN, NOT A GARDENER.

DITTO:I CAN BECOME PLANT TYPE POKEMON. BUT I'M STILL NOT A GARDENER.

DIAZ:.... WAIT.....MAYBE HE KNOWS SOMEONE.

DITTO:GARBODOR ?.

DIAZ: LILLIGANT, DO YOU REMEMBER HER? SHE WAS AT ONE OF OUR CAMPSITES AND SHE MENTIONED HAVING A GARDEN.

BRAIXEN:IT'S TRUE !.

ROSE:WHERE DOES SHE LIVE?.

DIAZ:THAT....I DON'T KNOW.

DITTO:IN A MANSION, IN A FOREST, SOMETHING NEAR THE WEST KINGDOM.

EVERYBODY:.....

DITTO:....WHAT? JUST BECAUSE I'M KINKY WITH WOMEN. DOES NOT MEAN THAT I AM NOT INTERESTED IN THEIR LIVES. MY MOTHER USED TO SAY "WOMEN APPRECIATE BEING HEARD."

BRAIXEN:WAS YOUR MOTHER A DITTO?.

DITTO: ACTUALLY I COME FROM MY DAD, I NEVER HAD A MOTHER, AS A FAILED ATTEMPT TO CREATE A CLONE OF HIM. BUT SO FAR THE ONLY SON WELL MADE WAS MEWTWO.

MEWTWO:HE IS NOT MY FATHER!.

ROSE:MMMM...IF WE CAN GET IN HIDDEN. WE CAN ASK LILLIGANT FOR HER HELP.

BRAIXEN:BUT THERE IS THE ISSUE THAT HER KINGDOM IS MORE FULL OF GHOSTS. SO IT WILL BE DIFFICULT TO AVOID THEM.

ROSE:FORTUNATELY I KNOW SOMEONE FROM THAT KINGDOM WHO COULD HELP US.

MEWTWO:LET'S DO THIS.

DITTO:BUT GUYS, WHAT DO WE DO WITH THE QUEEN?

ROSE:SKIPLOOM. I WILL LEAVE YOU IN CHARGE OF THE.....FORMER QUEEN.

SKIPLOOM:TO ORDER.

DIAZ:WHEN ARE WE GOING?.

ROSE:MORNING AT SUNRISE. IF WE GO WEST WE HAVE TO BE PREPARED. I WANT YOU ALL HERE TOMORROW MORNING. AND WHOEVER DOES NOT WAKE UP I WILL WAKE UP.

ALL:YES MA'AM!.

AND AT NIGHT. STAYING IN A BOARDING HOUSE NEAR THE BERRY SHOP.

DIAZ:OKAY GUYS, REMEMBER TO GET A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP. TOMORROW WE WILL GO FIND LILLIGANT.

DITTO:I ASK WITH BRAI-

BRAIXEN:DIAZ, DIAZ! I ASK WITH DIAZ.

DIAZ:HUH?.

BRAIXEN:sorry I did not trust ditto.

DIAZ:BUT-

AND GRABBING DIAZ. SHE ENTERS THE ROOM.

DITTO:...OKAY. THEN IT WILL BE BROTHER TIME.

AND MEWTWO CLOSES THE DOOR OF THE ROOM.

DITTO:...OKAY. I THINK SLEEPING NEAR THE STARS IS BETTER, REST.

AND EVERYONE IS GOING TO REST.

BRAIXEN:....

DIAZ:....WHAT A PITY WE CAN'T ALL SLEEP TOGETHER.

BRAIXEN:I KNOW. WE COULD HAVE HAD A SLEEPOVER.

DIAZ:HUH, I HAVEN'T HAD ONE FOR A LONG TIME.

BRAIXEN:DON'T YOU HAVE SLEEPOVERS WITH MAXIMILIANO?

DIAZ:HE USUALLY MUST WORK IN THE KINGDOM, EVEN AT NIGHT.

BRAIXEN:TOTAL DISGRACE.

DIAZ:YEP .....YOU CAN CHOOSES WHERE TO SLEEP FIRST.

BRAIXEN: NONO. YOU CHOOSE.

DIAZ:...WELL I TAKE THE BED ON THE RIGHT, I LIKE TO SEE THE WINDOW.

BRAIXEN:FINE.

DIAZ:....AND HOW IS YOUR MOTHER?.

BRAIXEN:...WELL. RIGHT NOW. I THINK NOTHING FINE.

DIAZ:OH YES, SORRY. KIDNAPPING AND STUFF.

BRAIXEN:...ALSO....

DIAZ:...WHAT?

BRAIXEN:.....MY MOM IS DYING.

MEANWHILE, WITH MEWTWO.

MEWTWO:.....

AND FLOETTE FLOATED AROUND HIM.

MEWTWO:....COULD YOU STOP DOING THAT ?.

AND HE LIES DOWN ON THE BED.

MEWTWO:....

AND FLOETTE FALLS ON HIS FOREHEAD.

MEWTWO:.....OKAY.

AND HOLDING IT, CAREFULLY.

MEWTWO:LISTEN...LITTLE GIRL. YOU MAY NOT HAVE REALIZED IT, ALTHOUGH IT IS RIDICULOUS THAT YOU DO NOT KNOW IT, BUT I AM MEWTWO, THE STRONGEST LEGENDARY POKÉMON...NOT AS MUCH AS ARCEUS OR OTHERS, BUT I AM QUITE COOL. AND AS LEGENDARY I MUST BE RESPECTED.

FLOETTE:....

MEWTWO:....YOU DON'T SPEAK OR WHAT?

FLOETTE:.....

MEWTWO:...MINIMUM MOVE YOUR HEAD, CAN YOU DO THAT?

AND NODS.

MEWTWO: ...WHAT THE HELL DID YOUR MOTHER DO TO YOU?

FLOETTE:.....

AND SHE JUST LOOKS AWAY

MEWTWO:....SO BAD PARENTS ..... OKAY. LET'S TRY TO SAY SOMETHING SIMPLE....SAY "BED".

FLOETTE:.....

MEWTWO:.....B-ED. SAY IT WITH YOUR WORDS, OPEN YOUR MOUTH AND GET THE WORDS OUT.

FLOETTE:....AAHAA.

MEWTWO:.....HEAVENS, IS IT SO SERIOUS?.....LET'S TRY SOMETHING SIMPLER. SAY "YOU".

FLOETTE:....AH.

MEWTWO:NONONO, "YOU". Y-O-U, IT'S SIMPLE.

FLOETTE:.....AAA....

MEWTWO:....HOW COME THEY DIDN'T TEACH YOU TO SPEAK?.

FLOETTE:....

AND SHE JUST MAKES A SAD FACE.

MEWTWO:.....

AND WITH CARE. HE CARESSES HER HEAD WITH ONE OF HIS FINGERS.

FLOETTE:.....

MEWTWO:....OKAY...FOR SOME REASON THIS FEELS RELAXING.

FLOETTE:.....

AND SHE GRABS HER FINGER.

MEWTWO:.....(COUGHS) I SEEM TO BE TIRED. SO GOOD NIGHT.

AND BLOWING. MAKES FLOETTE RISE AND THIS, SETTLING DOWN, GOES TO SLEEP.

FLOETTE:....

AND SHE FALLS ON MEWTWO'S PILLOW.

FLOETTE:....

AND SETTLING DOWN. PUTS HIS FLOWER IN A SAFE PLACE AND FALLS ASLEEP NEAR MEWTWO. AND LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW.

DITTO:.....GUOU...THAT....OH MY. THE TEARS HAVE ALREADY COME.

AND ALL ALREADY SLEEPING. IN THE ROOM WHERE DIAZ AND BRAIXEN WERE. SHE HAD ALREADY FALLEN ASLEEP BUT ...

BRAIXEN:(SNORING).

DIAZ:...

(DIAZ:...DYING?

BRAIXEN:....THEY INFORMED HER THAT SHE HAD CONTRACTED A DISEASE....A FATAL ONE.

DIAZ:.....HOW MUCH DOES SHE HAVE LEFT?.

BRAIXEN:.....THEY STILL DON'T KNOW.

DIAZ:.....ARE YOU OKAY?.

BRAIXEN: YES .... I DON'T KNOW. I ALWAYS KNEW THAT ONE DAY SHE WOULD HAVE TO LIVE ALONE .....BUT I DIDN'T THINK SHE WOULD BE SOON... SHE EMBARRASSED ME MANY TIMES...BUT STILL I LOVED HER AND...I NEVER EXPECTED TO RECEIVE SUCH NEWS..

DIAZ:.....

BRAIXEN:....BUT LET'S TALK ABOUT SOMETHING MORE CHEERFUL, DON'T YOU THINK?)

DIAZ: .....

WAY BACK WHEN DIAZ WAS 10 YEARS OLD. HE AND FENNEKIN GOT ALONG REALLY WELL. EVEN FENNEKIN'S MOTHER APPROVED OF IT, ALTHOUGH DIAZ DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT SHE MEANT BY THAT.

DIAZ:.....

AND KNOCK ON THE DOOR.

?:WHO?.

DIAZ:...IT'S ME MRS. DELPHOX.

AND SHE SLAM THE DOOR OPEN.

DELPHOX:DIAZ!!.

AND SHE GRABS IT AND SHAKES IT.

DELPHOX:WHAT A TASTE! WHAT A TASTE! WHAT A TASTE! WHAT A TASTE!

DIAZ:NONONO, ENOUGH ALREADY, PLEASE, NO !!.

FENNEKIN:MOM, STOP !!.

DELPHOX:OH SORRY. IS THAT IT FASCINATES ME WHEN ROYALTY COMES TO THIS VERY HOUSE, OH! FOR! ARCEUS !.

AND SHE PUTS IT DOWN DIZZY.

DIAZ:OK....NOW I SEE TWO FENNEKINS....DO YOU HAVE A SISTER?.

AND HE FALLS TO THE GROUND DIZZY.

FENNEKIN:MAMA, PLEASE, COULD YOU NOT BE SO CHILDISH?

DELPHOX:MMMM, IT DEPENDS.

FENNEKIN:IT DEPENDS ON WHAT?

DELPHOX:EITHER YOU GIVE ME GRANDCHILDREN OR I GIVE YOU BROTHERS.

FENNEKIN:MOM!!

DELHOX: JUST KIDDING! OH, DAUGHTER, DON'T BE SO SERIOUS. IF WHEN YOU WERE 7 YEARS OLD YOU STILL DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO USE THE BATHROOM.

DIAZ:DON'T WORRY.....I AM.

AND STAGGERING TO HIS FEET.

DIAZ:I'M....HAHAHA! I AM, I AM HAHAHAHA! HE-DID HE LAUGH AT ME?!

FENNEKIN:MOM. COME WITH ME.

DELPHOX:OK.

AND THEY GO TO THE SIDE.

DELPHOX:WHAT'S UP DAUGHTER?.

FENNEKIN:MOM. MAYBE FORGET TO MENTION IT .... DIAZ WILL SLEEP HERE TODAY.

DELPHOX:AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!.

FENNEKIN:MOM!!....(INHALATION AND EXHALATION) I ASK YOU, PLEASE, NOT TO ACT....LIKE THIS.

DELPHOX:CALM DAUGHTER-

FENNEKIN:AND DON'T TAKE OUT THE PHOTO BOOK.

DELPHOX:I PROMISE.

AND AT NIGHT.

DELPHOX:AND IN THIS PHOTO IS FENNEKIN WHEN SHE LEARNED TO EAT, LOOKS AT HER FACE ALL SMUDGED.

DIAZ:WOW, HER WHOLE FACE IS DIRTY.

DELPHOX:IS THAT SHE EVEN DID NOT LEARN TO BATHE ALONE.

AND FENNEKIN COVERED HIS FACE AND EARS IN SHAME.

DELPHOX:UH! HERE SHE IS ONE OF MY FAVORITES.

DIAZ:IS SHE WET?

DELPHOX:THE STORY IS FUNNY. YOU SEE, EVERYTHING HAPPENED WHEN-

FENNEKIN:HAVE DINNER! IT'S DINNER TIME, MOM! MOM, COULD YOU COOK SOMETHING DELICIOUS FOR DIAZ ?! PLEASE MOM!

DELPHOX:....OH, YES. I WILL MAKE YOU THE SPECIALTY OF THE HOUSE, THE MAJESTY OF IT.

AND SHE GOES TO THE KITCHEN.

DIAZ: .... I WILL NOT TELL ANYONE ABOUT THE PHOTOS.

FENNEKIN: DID I GIVE YOU THE OPTION TO COUNT THEM?

AND HE SEE A LITTLE FIRE IN FENNEKIN'S MOUTH.

DIAZ:...JUST WANTED TO CONFIRM.

AND WATCHING THEM.

DIAZ:...HEY, FENNEKIN, WHO IS THIS ?.

FENNEKIN:....

AND GRABBING THE BOOK. SHE CLOSES IT.

DIAZ:...ARE YOU-

FENNEKIN:LET'S GO EAT.

AND HAVING DINNER ALL.

DELPHOX:WELL, IT'S TIME TO SLEEP. I DID NOT KNOW THAT YOU WOULD STAY SO, IF YOU WANT, YOU CAN SLEEP WITH ME DIAZ.

DIAZ: I DON'T WANT TO DISTURB YOU.

DELPHOX: NO DISCOMFORT.

AND FENNEKIN, FINISHING EATING, GOES TO HER ROOM.

DELPHOX:...MY MATERNAL SENSES SAY SOMETHING IS BOTHERING HIM RIGHT NOW.

DIAZ:....I THINK I'M TO BLAME...I ASKED HIM ABOUT A SMEARGLE IN ONE OF THE PHOTOS.

DELPHOX:....OU....HE...HE IS MY HUSBAND.

DIAZ:...SORRY, I DON'T-

DELPHOX:DON'T WORRY, IT'S NOT YOUR FAULT....FENNEKIN IS STILL UPSET WITH HIM....A FATHER IS ALWAYS SUPPOSED TO BE THERE FOR HIS CHILDREN....AND THIS IDIOT DIDN'T EVEN TRY TO SUPPORT HER OR, AT LEAST, BE THERE FOR HER.....WHAT KIND OF FATHER ABANDONS HIS CHILDREN WHEN HE NEEDS IT MOST?

DIAZ:....THAT KIND OF PARENT MUST BE HORRIBLE.

DELPHOX:....I'M STILL GRATEFUL TO HAVE MET HIM....IF IT HADN'T BEEN LIKE THAT, MY LITTLE GIRL MIGHT NOT BE HERE.

DIAZ:...AND WHERE IS SHE NOW?

DELPHOX:I DON'T KNOW, I DON'T EVEN CARE, WHY WORRY ABOUT A FATHER LIKE HIM? HE'S LIKE SAMUROTT, BUT WITH LESS POWER AND THAT DOESN'T IMPRESS ME.

DIAZ:...SERIOUSLY YOU ADORES ROYALTY.

DELPHOX:SINCE SAMUROTT CAME TO POWER. I ALWAYS ENVISIONED MYSELF MARRYING ROYALTY, BUT THINGS DON'T ALWAYS GO OUR WAY.

DIAZ:....OH....WHAT A SHAME.

DELPHOX:YES....DO YOU WANT SOME ARANJA TEA ?.

DIAZ:...THANK YOU.

DELPHOX:I LOVE TEA AFTER DINNER, (COUGHING) SORRY.

DIAZ:....I'LL ASK FENNEKIN IF SHE WANTS.

DELPHOX:BUT FAST. I WANT TO HUG YOU LIKE A TEDDY AT NIGHT.

DIAZ:....YES....

AND REACHING HER ROOM. HE KNOCKS ON THE DOOR.

DIAZ:FENNEKIN. ARE YOU ASLEEP?

FENNEKIN:...COME ON.

AND SHE WALKS INTO HER ROOM. AND HE SEES HER IN HER BED.

DIAZ:....HEY. YOUR MOM MADE ARANJA TEA. WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO BRING YOU A CUP?

FENNEKIN:NO.

DIAZ:....YOU STILL ANGRY WITH ME?.

FENNEKIN:NO DIAZ.

DIAZ:...SORRY. I DIDN'T KNOW THAT...WELL...YOU KNOW-

FENNEKIN: AND FOR THAT ALONE YOU SHOULD FEEL SORRY?

DIAZ:I...IT'S NOT LIKE THAT.

FENNEKIN: ON'T HIDE IT. PITY COMES AFTER GUILT.

DIAZ: FENNEKIN, I DIDN'T MEAN TO SOUND BAD, I JUST DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE GUY WAS-

FENNEKIN:WASN'T IT? THE GUY WHO LEFT? THE ONE WHO DECIDED TO ABANDON MOM? THE ONE WHO NEVER TRIED TO HELP ME WITH MY THINGS?!

DIAZ: LOOK, I UNDERSTAND. YOU DIDN'T LIKE THAT THAT GUY LEFT YOU BUT AT LEAST YOU WERE BORN RIGHT? SO-SO, SOMETHING GOOD MUST HAVE COME OUT-

FENNEKIN:IT'S EASY FOR YOU TO TALK. YOU DON'T KNOW YOUR FATHER!

DIAZ:....

AND FENNEKIN'S ANGER TURNS TO REGRET.

DIAZ:....YES....YES, YOU ARE RIGHT.

FENNEKIN:...DIAZ. I DO NOT-

DIAZ:NONO, DON'T WORRY. I, UH...SORRY, I HAVE TO GO.

AND HE RUNS AWAY.

FENNEKIN:DIAZ!.

AND DOWN THE STEPS. HE IS CAUGHT.

DELPHOX: WELL, YOU FINALLY ARRIVED. GO TO SLEEP.

DIAZ: NONONO, I'M SORRY NO, I MUST GO, I-

DELPHOX: BABY. YOU SLEEP WITH ME.

DIAZ: NO, I'M SERIOUS, I-

FENNEKIN:DIAZ! DO NOT GO!.

DELPHOX:...YOU WILL LEAVE?

DIAZ:....CAN I AT LEAST SLEEP ON THE ROOF? THEY SAY IT WILL BE A GREAT STARRY NIGHT.

DELPHOX:...SURE.

AND RELEASING DIAZ. THIS GOES TO THE CEILING.

FENNEKIN:....

TIME AFTER. OUT ON THE ROOF, WATCHING THE SKY

DIAZ:.....

:(SNEEZE) BRRR.

DIAZ:...HELLO?.

: A O.

AND DÍAZ, LISTENING TO THE SOUND, GETS UP AND WALKS ACROSS THE ROOF.

DIAZ:IS THERE SOMEONE THERE?.

AND HE HEARS FOOTSTEPS.

DIAZ:...HELLO?!.

WHILE HE WALKED. DIAZ REALIZED THAT THE CEILING SEEMED LARGER THAN HE REMEMBERED.

DIAZ:....EH?.

AND LOOKING BACK. HE NO LONGER SAW THE EDGE.

DIAZ:....WHAT?

AND HE NOTICES THAT IT SEEMED THAT THE CEILING WAS BEGINNING TO RISE DIAGONALLY. CAUSING DIAZ TO PANIC A BIT.

DIAZNONONONO.

AND HE STARTS RUNNING TO THE SIDE THAT RISES, AFRAID OF FALLING.

DIAZ:HELP! HELP ME!.

AND THE CEILING TOO HUNCHED. DIAZ TRIES TO BREAK THE GROUND BUT WAS BEGINNING TO FALL.

DIAZ: NONONONO !.

AND VOICES BEGAN TO SPEAK.

𝒮ℒℰℰ𝒫 𝒟ℐ𝒜𝒵.

ℐ𝒯 𝒲ℐℒℒ 𝒢ℐ𝒱ℰ 𝒴𝒪𝒰 𝒜 𝒫ℒℰ𝒜𝒮𝒰ℛℰ 𝒯𝒪 𝒮ℒℰℰ𝒫, 𝒢𝒪 𝒯𝒪 𝒮ℒℰℰ𝒫 𝒟ℐ𝒜𝒵.

𝒯ℋℰ ℬℰ𝒮𝒯 𝒲𝒜𝒴 𝒯𝒪 𝒮ℒℰℰ𝒫 ℐ𝒮 ℬ𝒴 𝒞𝒪ℳℳℐ𝒯𝒯ℐ𝒩𝒢 𝒮𝒰ℐ𝒞ℐ𝒟ℰ.

DIAZ:ENOUGH! PLEASE! ENOUGH!! I DON'T WANT TO DIE, I DON'T WANT TO DIE!!

AND LOOKING BACK. SHE SAW THAT SHE WAS GOING TO THE EDGE.

DIAZ:PLEASE!.

𝒯ℋℐ𝒮 ℐ𝒮 𝒲ℋ𝒜𝒯 𝒴𝒪𝒰 𝒲𝒜𝒩𝒯.

𝒟ℰ𝒜𝒯ℋ ℐ𝒮 𝒮𝒪ℳℰ𝒯ℋℐ𝒩𝒢 𝒯ℋ𝒜𝒯 𝒲𝒪𝒰ℒ𝒟 ℱ𝒜𝒞ℐℒℐ𝒯𝒜𝒯ℰ ℰ𝒱ℰℛ𝒴𝒯ℋℐ𝒩𝒢.

𝒮ℒℰℰ𝒫 ℱ𝒪ℛℰ𝒱ℰℛ.

AND ARRIVING. DIAZ HOLDS ONTO THE EDGE. AND LOOKING DOWN, HE ONLY SAW INFINITE DARKNESS.

𝒯ℋℐ𝒩𝒦 𝒜ℬ𝒪𝒰𝒯 ℐ𝒯.

ℰ𝒱ℰℛ𝒴𝒪𝒩ℰ 𝒲ℐℒℒ ℬℰ ℱℐ𝒩ℰ 𝒲ℐ𝒯ℋ𝒪𝒰𝒯 𝒴𝒪𝒰.

ℐℱ 𝒴𝒪𝒰 𝒮ℒℰℰ𝒫 𝒜𝒩𝒪𝒯ℋℰℛ 𝒞𝒪𝒰ℒ𝒟 𝒯𝒜𝒦ℰ 𝒴𝒪𝒰ℛ 𝒫ℒ𝒜𝒞ℰ.

ℐ𝒮 𝒲ℋ𝒜𝒯 𝒴𝒪𝒰 𝒲𝒜𝒩𝒯.

DIAZ:.....NO....NO.....MAYBE?.

AND DIAZ WAS BEGINNING TO LOSE STRENGTH.

DIAZ:....WOULD THEY BE HAPPY?.....MAXIMILIANO, BELLI, FENNEKIN?..... IF I DIE, WILL EVERYONE BE HAPPY?.

AND DARK HANDS HELD DIAZ'S FEET.

𝒞𝒪ℳℰ ℋℰℛℰ 𝒟ℐ𝒜𝒵.

𝒴𝒪𝒰 𝒲ℐℒℒ 𝒮ℒℰℰ𝒫 𝒫ℰ𝒜𝒞ℰℱ𝒰ℒℒ𝒴.

ℱ𝒪ℛℰ𝒱ℰℛ.

AND DIAZ'S EYES WERE BEGINNING TO FEEL HEAVY, FEELING SLEEPY.

DIAZ:....I WANT....I WANT....I WANT TO DIE.

AND DIAZ, GIVING UP EFFORT, WAS GOING TO FALL INTO DARKNESS....BUT.

:¡¡D AZ!!.

AND SUDDENLY. SOMEONE HOLDS ONE OF DIAZ'S HANDS.

DIAZ:....HUH?.

𝒲ℋ𝒪'𝒮 𝒯ℋℰℛℰ?.

: I Z, Y H E O W K U . T IN OF T O E W O O E Y U.

DIAZ:...WHAT?

AND PULLING HARD. HE RETURNS HIM TO THE CEILING, TO A PLACE NOT SO HUNCHED OVER.

DIAZ:....WHO ....

BUT HE DIDN'T SEE ANYONE.

DIAZ:....THOSE WHO LOVE ME?.

𝕕𝕚𝕒𝕫, 𝕕𝕚𝕒𝕫, 𝕡𝕝𝕖𝕒𝕤𝕖.

DIAZ:...FE....FENNEKIN.

𝒞𝒰ℛ𝒮ℰ. 𝒟𝒪𝒩'𝒯 ℒℐ𝒮𝒯ℰ𝒩 𝒯𝒪 ℋℰℛ, 𝒴𝒪𝒰 ℳ𝒰𝒮𝒯 𝒢𝒪 𝒯𝒪 𝒮ℒℰℰ𝒫 𝒟ℐ𝒜𝒵.

DIAZ:....

AND SEEING THE STOOPED SIDE. HE REMEMBERED THE FIRST TIME HE WAS ON STOOPED GROUND.

DIAZ:....SLIDE....

AND DIAZ, WITHOUT GIVING UP. HE RUNS WITH EFFORT, CLIMBING THE SITE LITTLE BY LITTLE.

DIAZ:FENNEKIN!!.

𝒩𝒪!.

AND SUDDENLY. DIAZ WAKE UP.

DIAZ:.....

AND RAISING HIS HEAD. SEEING THAT THE EDGE WAS NORMAL AS WELL AS THE CEILING.

DIAZ:.....

AND LOOKING TO THE SIDE.

DIAZ:....FENNEKIN?.

AND, TEARS STREAMING DOWN HIS FACE, FENNEKIN HUGS HIM.

FENNEKIN:WHY WEREN'T YOU ANSWERING ?! YOU DIDN'T WAKE UP!

DIAZ: .....

FENNEKIN:FORGIVE ME, I DIDN'T MEAN TO HURT YOU, PLEASE.

DIAZ:...WHAT ARE YOU DOING ON THE ROOF?.

FENNEKIN:....IT WAS COLD. I BROUGHT YOU A BLANKET.

DIAZ:....THANK YOU....I THINK YOU SHOULD GO BACK INSIDE.

FENNEKIN:WHAT?

DIAZ:IT'S VERY COLD. I'LL BE FINE, I'M USED TO THE COLD.

FENNEKIN:....

AND THEY FEEL LIGHTS ON THEIR FACES. AND SEE THE SKY.

DIAZ AND FENNEKIN:.....WOW.

DIAZ:....THEY WASN'T LYING ABOUT THE STARRY THING.

FENNEKIN:....DIAZ. I WON'T GO IN UNLESS WE SLEEP TOGETHER.

DIAZ: WHAT ?.

FENNEKIN:...W-I MEAN.....I'LL FEEL BAD IF YOU DON'T SLEEP IN A WARM PLACE. AND IF YOU DON'T ACCEPT I'LL SLEEP ON THE ROOF TOO.

DIAZ:BUT-

FENNEKIN:IT IS NOT A DISCUSSION, IT IS A QUICK CHOICE.

DIAZ:....

THEN.

DIAZ:....HEY FENNEKIN. I DON'T NEED TO SLEEP IN YOUR BED.

FENNEKIN:....IT'S THE WARMEST PLACE IN MY ROOM...unfortunately...IT DOESN'T BOTHER YOU, RIGHT?

DIAZ:....I....GOOD NIGHT.

FENNEKIN:...REST.

AND SETTLING DOWN. THEY FALL ASLEEP, TOGETHER.

DELPHOX:...HOW LUCKY MY LITTLE ONE...(COUGHING)

AND COUGHS INTO HIS HAND

DELPHOX.....BLOOD?

GOING BACK TO OUR PRESENT TIME.

DIAZ:.....

AND MAKING SURE BRAIXEN WAS ASLEEP. DIAZ LEAVES THERE AND GOES OUTSIDE.

DIAZ:....MY GOD.

AND SUDDENLY. HE TELEPORTS.

DIAZ:...HUH?.

AND HE NOTICES THAT HE WAS ON THE ROOF OF THE PLACE.

DIAZ:...HOW DID I GET HERE?.

?:WE NEED TO TALK.

DIAZ:...ROSE ?.

ROSE: I KNOW IT'S RUDE TO INTERRUPT ROYALTY WHEN THEY SLEEP. BUT I NEED YOU TO EXPLAIN SEVERAL THINGS TO ME.

DIAZ:....OKAY?.

ROSE:HOW DO YOU KNOW THE CRIMSON QUEEN? AND HOW DOES YOUR FATHER HAVE TO DO WITH HER?

DIAZ:...MY DAD?.

ROSE:....OK, I'LL ASK ANOTHER WAY, WHERE ARE SIMÓN AND ALVARO?!

DIAZ:.....I DON'T KNOW!.

ROSE:HOW YOU DON'T KNOW?!.

DIAZ:I NEVER MET THEM PERSONALLY!.

ROSE:....

DIAZ:MAXIMILIANO SAYS THAT MY FATHER LEFT ME WITH HIM AND ASKED IF HE HAD A CHANCE OF BEING PART OF ROYALTY.

ROSE:AND I ACCEPT?.

DIAZ:.....

ROSE:....WHAT'S WRONG DIAZ ?.

DIAZ:...IS THAT....MAXIMILIANO IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN KIDNAPPED FOR CHOOSING ME....AND THAT MAKES ME FEEL TOO GUILTY.

ROSE:....DON'T WORRY DIAZ, IT'S NOT YOUR FAULT, IT'S THIS WORLD'S FAULT.

DIAZ:WHAT?.

ROSE:I HAVE LIVED IN THIS WORLD LONG ENOUGH TO UNDERSTAND THE NATURE OF THINGS. TO BE KING, YES OR YES, YOU MUST HAVE ROYAL BLOOD RUNNING FOR YOU....THAT DAMN BLOOD YOU GET WHEN A MEMBER OF ROYALTY GETS AN EGG FROM HER HUSBAND OR WIFE, OR THE LEGENDARIES CHOOSE YOU. AND ONLY THOSE RELATIVES OF THAT ROYALTY ARE GIVEN THE HONOR OF BEING A KING OR QUEEN.

DIAZ:.....

ROSE:THOSE WHO DO NOT CARRY THAT CONNECTION ARE THOSE WHO LIVE IN THE VILLAGES. AND IN THOSE PLACES ARE THE WORKERS, THE MARGINALIZED AND THE POKÉMON WHO LIVE THEIR LIVES.

DIAZ:....AND THEN THERE IS ME.

ROSE:ROYALTY REJECTS WHAT THEY CANNOT APPRECIATE....I THOUGHT MY QUEEN APPRECIATED YOU.

DIAZ:....

ROSE:THE POINT IS THAT IT IS A TIME WHERE THOSE WITH A HIGHER RANK, THE KINGS, SURPASS THOSE OF LOWER RANK, THE PEOPLE...AND WHEN IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT A POKÉMON OF THE LOWER RANK WAS CHOSEN AS KING....I'M SORRY....I WAS ONE OF THOSE.

DIAZ:....AT LEAST YOU DON'T WANT TO KILL ME.....YOU DON'T WANT TO KILL ME, RIGHT?

ROSE:I DIDN'T BECOME A TIME KEEPER FOR SUPPORTING ROYALTY. IT WAS BECAUSE I DEFENDED ALL RACES.

DIAZ:I THOUGHT IT WAS TO SAVE TIME.

ROSE:IT DEPENDS ON WHO ANALYZES IT.

DIAZ:....

ROSE:....DO YOU REMEMBER ANYTHING ABOUT YOUR FATHER?

DIAZ:I ONLY KNOW HIM FROM THE STORIES OF BELLI AND MAXIMILIANO...THEY SAY THAT I MET HIM WHEN HE WAS STILL A NEWBORN ... I DON'T REMEMBER HIS FACE.

ROSE:....WE ALL SEEK TO DISCOVER WHAT WE FORGOT.

DIAZ:....IT'S A NICE MOON.

ROSE:YES....DIAZ....I KNOW YOU ARE AFRAID OF BECOMING KING....ESPECIALLY BECAUSE OF THE RUMOR OF THE "BLOODY KING".

DIAZ:....GOOD NIGHT.

AND DIAZ, WITHOUT LETTING HER SPEAK ANY MORE, HE LEAVES THERE.

ROSE:....TIME FLIES BY.

AND GOING BACK INSIDE. DIAZ LOOKS AT HIS HANDS. AND HE IMAGINES BLOOD ON THEM.

DIAZ:....WHY DON'T THEY FORGET ABOUT THAT?.