Triangle – Reshiram, A Maiden And Lugia

Prologue

Looking For Angels

Cold, fresh air glided over his skin.

His gaze wandered aimless through the dark.

It was still time, but boredom had already caught him.

This seemed to be the punishment, when he dared at least one time to be early enough...

If he could just learn someday, what a good timing was – as well as a true sense of time itself...

~ C ~

He waited alone, near to the Liberty Pier of Castelia City. Leaned cross-armed his upper part of the body against a balustrade, while his eyes observed mostly the black ocean as well as the starless sky. Now and then, he payed a bit attention to the pier – watched the yet busy scenery full of humans for a moment. Not, that he liked the presence of so many people... But this was something like a special place for him, which was just the reason why he stood here and nowhere else. And though, the night started to overtake the evening so that the air was a bit too fresh, the atmosphere was apart from the big company somehow pleasing thanks to a few lanterns in the distance. The lights from the great buildings behind the embankment created also an almost comfortable feeling. To wait here for his friend, protégé, partner or whatever she should be in his eyes, was in the end much better, than to waste time in a place, where he got even more bored as he currently was. After all, the Liberty Pier was... in a strange way fascinating for him, because only the outlook reminded him on every time of day, that he truly had a new life thanks to the person, who should better appear in the next minutes.

Ah, he was tired of waiting... Where was she...?

The people around him drew suddenly his attention.

A group of ten or eleven persons walked next to him into the direction of the pier – and created a lot of noise while stumping over the ground. He couldn't tell, if those figures were a family or just a bunch of friends, but they seemed to be very excited or rather giddy with pleasure. For a short moment, he wondered about the reason for that behavior, but he cared only a few seconds for that. Another thought overlaid his wonderment. Although, it was more a feeling: Relief. And he knew very well, why he felt that. Even against the fact, that he was no fraidy-cat. Not afraid of people, so that he shouldn't care about others in his near...

Luckily, the people around him were not interested into strangers – and walked away without recognizing him. Because... Well, he wouldn't like their curiosity for him. Only the opposite would happen. Moreover, THEY wouldn't be happy to meet HIM. It would be their greatest mistake to think, he could be perhaps a new buddy, who would join their little, dispensable parties. Even if he seemed to be physically more or less harmless: He was not. Absolutely not.

Standing there almost unremarkable for others in his black jacket, white shirt and dark trousers plus shoes near to the balustrade, no one here would – even with a supernatural sense – recognize the fact, that a creature was around, who was entirely not a human. On the first sight, he was just a young, probably attractive man around 18 years... But if normal people would know, that he was in truth a being who was already millenniums old, they would definitely become insane about that unexpected information.

When he grinned black-hearted about about this theoretical image in his mind, he uncovered his set of teeth. Showed for a short moment his fangs, which could never fit a conventional, human smile. Surely he knew this, but he never felt like 'fixing the problem' – though he could do that easily, if he just really wanted to. But since it wasn't necessary in this day and age to own normal teeth, he was not even forced to play with that kind of thought. However, he was aware of the disadvantage of his sharp fangs. Those – as well as his sea-blue eyes with oval pupils – could reveal his identity for creatures, who payed enough attention to doubt the young human he seemed to be in the opinion of naive persons. But well, humankind – and likewise Pokémon – considered him just as a freak. Nothing else. A simple, pretty freak. Because of his almost dark clothes, his white metal-collar plus -bracelets, those eyes, teeth, the odd as well as headstrong behavior he always had – and at last because of his noticeable fluffy, snow-white hair.

Not, that he cared about it. For him, it didn't matter in any way, what others thought – especially not about him as a personage... After all, he hated humans – as well as other Pokémon. In a cold, reserved way. That emotion was nothing personal, certainly. Nothing, which was still very important in his opinion. He felt no stronger aversion for those figures. It was just the fact, that he didn't like the majority of beings around him. Good, as a result, it was maybe exaggerated to call this feeling 'hate'... Pfft, 'maybe'. Others would say 'definitely exaggerated', since his true hatred was since a longer while gone. However, this word fitted his odd personality, to be volitional naughty or rather insulting, so he wouldn't correct himself.

~ C ~

Some Pidove flew suddenly through the air; in his direct near. Drew his attention, since the late evening was normally not a good time for them to be on their way. He watched them silently, because they were a much better entertainment, than all the antsy people around him... It was remarkable, how innocent those little birds played here with each other. They, too, had no sense for notedly, almost supernatural phenomena. He gazed doubting at their faces – wondering a bit, how blind other Pokémon today had to be, not to recognize his presence as a so-called 'higher being'. Was he really so good in hiding his true charisma, that not even the most afraid beings could realize the 'danger' around them...? As long as he didn't growl, which would create an animalistic sound in his throat thanks to his inhuman organs, nobody would even note that he was no human being... After all, his regular talking-voice seemed to appeal to them...

Sometimes he was irritated by his own ability, to hide his powers from the intuition of others. Surely his talent was not that strong, when he didn't separate some energy from his own body, but nevertheless it was obviously good enough to fool the majority around him. (Meanwhile, there were some people, who got it, but not until he had all of his energy in his entire body.) Another 'trick' of him seemed to be his 'knowledge of language', which allowed him instantly to play his role as a human creature perfectly. Even in his true form, he was able to talk directly, so that he wasn't forced to use telepathy and possessed above all independence in every body. A fact, which made him – and his two counterparts – unique in a world, where Legendaries only talked by using those ability.

Well... Even, when the blindness around him annoyed his personal logic, he was on the other hand glad for this luck. To be a shape-shifter was useful for him – though, he hated it normally to mime the harmless guy for the humans as well as the Pokémon in these days and time. It was not his favorite experience, to play a human, but it was good to walk around without causing commotions. Plus, he needed in this shape not as much food or sleep as normally, howbeit he insisted still on his routine naps. (He needed them.) Seriously, this body was a pain and an advantage rolled in one.

Watching the Pidove still, his mind switched back to the thought about the population nowadays. The only, really personal thing, which disappointed him about this generation, was one single fact. The fact, that many of them could as well as would never be able to tell, what an exhausting pest it was to outlive hundreds, even thousands of generations. The majority of Unovas inhabitants – no, of the whole world would never understand his annoying fate...

Uff, this period tired him out with it's indwellers. But the currently time itself – on the other hand – fascinated him. It was one of his reasons to be more or less glad, that his body was almost eternal. He could see, how things changed and how they became not only worse, but also better. Very open-minded, he would never be old-fashioned, which allowed him accordingly since the very beginning of his 'new life' to exist easily in this technological-propellent world. He didn't even miss the old times. Yet, he couldn't forget them. He wanted to – honestly. Nevertheless, it was impossible for him to erase the memories which lurked under the surface. Which hunted him...

Slowly, he dove into his memorization...

~ C ~

His awareness awakened suddenly. He was never able to remember, how he started to exist, since he was just from one moment to the other conscious – with a completely full-grown body. A large, rather dark-gray shape of a dragon; with purple scleras (instead of the common white of the eyes) and light-green irises. Back then, he was a single existence – had no counterparts. In the past, there was no Zekrom; no Kyurem by his side. The three of them were nothing else, but one being. One, with enormous powers of light, darkness and pure nothingness. They were an existence, which humans would describe as a deity. A being, which other creatures worshiped. But though the people around them adored and loved the 'three'... Though, they were the god-like guardian of thousands of humans and Pokémon... They had no outspoken name. Only a title: The Original Dragon.

(When his protégé refered nowadays to his former self, she called him misguided 'Zekyuresh'. Somehow, this name unsettled him, since the three of them were back then not... equal, so that this clear-cut term failed his well-intentioned ideology.)

As the Original Dragon, Kyurem formed the body, Zekrom the instincts and he, Reshiram, the spirit. This fact turned him into the true existence of the whilom ancient creature – the entire mind which prepossessed every bone and cell. IF one of them could be considered today as the real 'descendant' of this dragon, than he was it, since he owned every single memory and was moreover 'the keeper' of the ability of a final mergence back into the original entity. In addition, the other two became suppressed by his awareness whenever they came nowadays too close, since they engrossed already the spheres of body and feelings.

From the very beginning, Reshirams former self had a balanced personality. He was proud and self-conscious, but in the same time gentle and considerate. As an opposite of the few Pokémon, who were also worshiped by humans, the Original Dragon sought for the near of other beings. Never caring, what those so-called Legendaries thought about him, the dark-gray creature cherished the life with ordinary characters by his side. This behavior became nevertheless a reason for him, to prefer the land of Unova as his present home, even if he would love to travel through other places or rather regions. Arceus – the Pokémon, who humans considered as the highest god as well as creator of the whole universe – gazed in a subtle way from Sinnoh over the world, so that the Original Dragon would be watched by him whenever he would move one little claw outside of the region where he once started to exist. Not, that Arceus' accompaniment had a problem with him – those six Pokémon were very tolerate and visited him actually sometimes in Unova. But their 'leader' wasn't calmly, when it came to the Original Dragon. Since he was born from nothingness with powers equal to those of the pegasus-like being, the dragon was a thorn in Arceus' flesh, because he preferred no isolated life like the other Legendaries. His doing meant nothing else but pure inconsiderateness in the eyes of the 'god', who was – in contrast to the dragon – subjected to higher rules and accordingly forced to follow them. Partially, the Original Dragon was able to understand Arceus' point of view; felt even pity for the higher being in charge. But... He was almost as old as life itself and had a heart filled with strong feelings, so that he could never stay away from the creatures he loved in an innocent way. And so, he was 'caught' in Unova as his only place to life with other creatures, but felt back then never regret about his decision.

Time passed. The civilizations grew. While humans and Pokémon around the Original Dragon started over the years to develop more multifarious personalities, he stayed the same. He was pure – and naive, because he wasn't able to recognize the change in the heart of humankind. He missed, when two little brothers he loved especially became very soon blinded by their opinions while growing up into young adults. Those brothers – twins – believed into different things. The older was focused on the truth; the younger adapted to ideals themselves. Over and over, the brothers fought with each other about the right mental attitude. Argued without any regard. Reality versus wishes – again and again. Suffering under their conflict, the dragon tried to reason the misunderstanding between the siblings. He knew the falseness about the discussion, because both things – truth and ideals – were correct. It was just a matter of opinion, which one every single being should prefer. But the twins were deaf for his wise words and rejected his help. Instead, they demanded from him, to decide, which one he wanted to help – and which one would become abandon by him. There was no other chance to do something about the deadlocked situation.

The Original Dragon loved both brothers. In the same way. It was impossible for him, to decide such a cruel thing like preferring one young man over the other. He was desperate and felt distress like never before in his entire life. This was the moment, when he started to think about something, which other 'deities' in this world would never do. He thought about giving up his god-like form – in a way, which would help him to stay by the side of both brothers. For this pair of twins, he would separate parts of his own existence and form them into new beings, who could – instead of him – accompany those determined siblings. Maybe this would be a sacrifice, but in his eyes, it was worth to 'die' for the people he truly loved. He wanted to be with them – no matter how.

~ C ~

When they 'came to life', the three of them broke soon up with each other, since they knew very well, why they existed and how impossible it was to stay together. Though, Kyurem was the former body, the ice-dragon possessed not more memories than Zekrom about their past as one being. Remembered barely things before the current generation. And so, Reshirams two companions felt not as much sadness as him, to be responsible for very different things. Zekrom, as the instincts, obtained the duty to help the younger brother – representing the ideals, while Kyurem was now linked with the nothingness as their balancing opposite. For Reshiram, as the former spirit, was his new function as the companion of the older brother perhaps not bad, since truth and logic fitted each other surely, but he couldn't be as confident as his 'brothers' to fulfill their fates. They were – even without their origin – something like friends. And he knew – other than his naive companions – that their lives could turn them easily into enemies. Especially him and Zekrom...

But there was something else, which drew his attention in the following weeks. While he started to accustom himself to the life with the older twin as well as his new existence as a white fire-dragon, Reshiram had to face the new situation about the relation with Arceus. Surely the 'great god' was never a friend for him, but with the grave decision to split the existence of the Original Dragon into three new beings, the pegasus-like creature started to refuse the Reshiram enormous. Even more, than he had refused his former self in the past. That was, because Arceus knew, that Zekrom and Kyurem were not the spirit, who decided to 'create an unacceptable form of life'. Or rather, who had destroyed himself, so that unnatural beings were created, who were never meant to exist.

Reshiram ignored Arceus' resentfulness – in the same way, like he ignored the bad feeling he had about the twins. The white dragon sensed another greater dispute of the stubborn siblings in the air, even before they could meet each other again with their dragons – but Reshiram swallowed down his inner unsettledness. He believed into their good hearts, still. This good faith even lasted, when he and Zekrom were forced by the twins to fight against each other. Both didn't want to do this – would never be able to despise each other – but they had no choice, since their protégés already used their swords to decide the conflict. It ended in a draw, yet the fight proceeded for weeks – whenever they met again, both young humans set their weapons and Pokémon on each other. Believing into the brothers, he and Zekrom endured the situation. Surely, the young men caused both dragons lots of emotional pain with their brother-fights, but still they waited. Hoped for peace between their most important friends. However, in contrary of his truly good will... Reshiram felt, how something dark crawled underneath his skin... Dark sides, which he never knew before... Scared by himself, he prayed that those sides would never awake. He didn't want to change... Even, if this meant, that his personality would stay too naive for the current human generation. He wished to exist still in the mental form, which he had as his former self.

Luckily, the twins stopped their doing in the gravest battle, when suddenly an enlightenment overcame them in the same intensity. Reshiram and Zekrom were not able to figure out, what it was, but perhaps the way they suffered had moved something in the hearts of the two humans. However, the brothers started to talk calmly with each other. Allowed the tired dragons to rest, while they had a talk in private. One day passed – then, they got finally again along with each other. They buried the hatchet and even decided to exist together in peace. The siblings suggested, that the dragons could now live however they wanted, but Reshiram and Zekrom negated that smiling. They wanted to be close to their beloved companions – no matter, what happened until now. Willing to forgive, both dragons stayed without regret furthermore by the brothers side.

~ C ~

Freedom lasted for one generation. Reshiram enjoyed this period, in which he was nothing more, than a regular Pokémon in the society of Unova. He loved the life with his human friends and Pokémon-buddies. Shared every second with them. Quickly, he forgot the dark feeling, which once had crawled through his subconscious. Now, he focused on caring for his friendships. Curios, like the naive dragon was, he even learned to do something, which wasn't easy for a being with claws. The twin-brother by his side taught him with a little bit effort how to play the lute alias the guitar – and Reshiram started to love this doing truly, when he became used to this plus got an instrument which fitted his large body. Somehow, creating music turned really out to be his special talent; allowed him to show his emotions in a brand new way.

But though, he was happy, he was – like Zekrom and Kyurem – forced, to realize, that they were still almost eternal beings. Reshirams body didn't grow old. He was yet the same, when the twins and everybody else around him became old, while they got children who also matured. When those kids became finally adults, the twin-brothers asked him and Zekrom to consider their children henceforth as their protégés. The dragons accepted because of their sense of responsibility and formed after that a strong bond with the two boys, even if it made them sad to know, that their time together was limited.

The children of the twins, however, were closed-minded and black-hearted. They started to argue with each other, like their fathers did in the past. Truth and ideals fought anew for rightness – and caused the two dragons again deep suffering. Zekrom became soon tired of battling each other, but the black dragon was loyal and afraid to leave the young man he had to protect. Reshiram felt so, too, even when he started slowly to doubt the whole situation. Unfortunately, there was no chance to escape his fate alone with the sacrificially heart he had, which was the reason why he endured with his allegiant 'enemy', instead of simply running away by himself. After all, both men had determined allies, who needed also the protection of the higher beings.

One day, everything changed. The two cousins forced the dragons to injure each other very deeply, so that him and Zekrom almost broke some bones and started to bleed. Seeing his buddy in pain – and watching the hatred of the cousins, caused Reshiram to lose his light personality completely. Emptiness erased his innocence and caring heart – and in lieu of them, disdain as well as wrath flowed undamped through his brain. Without any warning, he fled at once from the fight, while emitting black blast-waves with a white glimmer from his body. It didn't matter, if he could injure one of the young men on the ground – or hurt anyone, when he flew over the accompaniment of both young warlords. Reshiram even attacked randomly in his rage the beings – humans as well as Pokémon – who wanted to stop him, which ended perhaps in some deadly injuries. But he didn't care anymore for that. All of them were just traitors in his eyes.

He felt nothing, but animus.

Zekrom was the only one, who he allowed to follow him. After the final betrayal of their personal embodiments of humankind, even the loyal black dragon was for now sick of staying with humans, so that he got Reshirams permission to join the escape. However, Reshiram couldn't bear the near of another creature anymore, since the darkness in his mind nested not completely in his heart, which destroyed temporarily his self-control. He decided directly after the successful escape to seal not only his awakened dark sides, but his entire self, because he felt the irreversible change that forced him even refuse his own 'brother', so that he needed time to adapt his new self. Beyond that, he couldn't stay anymore in a world, where he saw no hope for humankind. He had lost his believe into the beings he once loved in the past completely – and had now no longer a reason for existing. Zekrom tried to change his mind, but the white dragon consisted on turning his back on this ill life. Apart from that, he advised his buddy, to leave this current generation behind, too, since the inhabitants of Unova wouldn't trust him easily from now on. After his blue-eyed counterpart already had lost control... When he finished his suggestion, Reshiram sealed himself.

Though, the seal was almost eternal, it wasn't exactly like death. His body turned into a special, sleep-like state. Obtained a form similar to an ordinary round, white stone. The dragon slept quasi, but his subconscious was aware of his environment. Scanned nonstop the atmosphere of Unova. From now on, he was waiting for a person, who was worth for becoming his new chosen one. Reshiram had no other reason than that – new hope for humankind – to return again to life itself. Otherwise, he would stay in this numb state forever. Because he needed a meaning in his existence – even with his darkened soul, he wasn't willing to resign hope. Hope, which was the only cure with the power to calm the wrath he felt underneath his ice-cold emotional surface.

~ C ~

Millenniums passed without awakening Reshirams consciousness from his sleep-like state. Though, he recognized the greater changes around the place where he hided. The majority of humans developed balanced, intelligent minds and hearts, so that many of them seemed to be alike the sort, which he preferred in consideration of humanity. But... This wasn't enough. He needed something... special – something, which outdid the chosen ones from his former life; the twins. A human facet, that was shining in a pure kindhearted form – strong enough, to warm his cold personality. It had to be a characteristic, which simply touched a Pokémon's heart. And allowed that heart, to develop even in the greatest darkness at least a little light...

~ C ~

Then, completely unexpected. He sensed someone, who could be the right person. Unfortunately... he didn't trust this feeling starry-eyed. He couldn't. Surely he was one of the oldest beings in the whole world, so that he had enough time for forgiving humankind, but still his distrust flowed unbroken through his mind. Bore down his heart and left it in iciness. Not even other Pokémon awoke in the last millenniums with their presence the almost dead heart he had. So... Why should he trust easily the presence of a human stranger...?

He needed a proof for his vague speculation. And for that, he was determined to use a fraud – even, when he as the embodiment of truth had to lie. Since he could sort his mind out from his body, Reshiram decided to use this ability for spying on the human he felt. To get to know this foreigner. The white dragon sent the core of his existence, his soul, with a part of his energy to the place where he sensed his eventually new chosen one. In this area; a large seaside city called Castelia, Reshiram searched in spirit-form for a quiet, lone corner. There, he took a physical form – equal to his currently 'target'. He materialized as a young human male.

To create clothes with his power was a child's play. The true problem was, how those stuff should look like, since he had not really an idea about modern style. But as a spirit, he had gathered casually some knowledge while flying over several hundreds of people, so that he decided for something simple, though he knew it looked also a little odd.

With his new appearance, Reshiram walked to the exactly place, where the person he sensed was. While he approached his target, he got used to his new shape – and to the feeling, what it meant to be one of those foreign creatures around him, so that nobody stared at him like he was inured to. Perhaps he started to come to terms with this feature... Near to the so-called Liberty Pier, the white dragon in disguise took finally a first look at 'his' human. But the view he got was a little surprising. Because... He didn't expect the soul he felt to be those of a young woman. A girl – around 16 years. The first met with his maybe new protégé was never planned to involve a female...

Reshiram was over-strained. Felt the need to leave this place... But then, he watched astonished, how this young human treated some Pokémon who accompanied her completely lovingly. And them, in return, smiled at this girl absolutely sunshiny – especially, when she shared with them her lunch. The little creatures cuddled her thankful and called her blissfully by her name, Melody.

Even in the distance, Reshiram could understand every word the small Pokémon said. Hear every single tone of joy they created. Hm, they made him curious. Curious about the girl they conducted. This human; Melody seemed to be interesting. Not only her sky-blue hair and eyes were fascinating, but also her charisma. Especially the last one...

Reshiram didn't know, how this happened exactly, but he came suddenly up to the little group. Stroke up a slackly conversation with the girl about her Pokémon. Then, both ended up talking about this city and the whole region, in which the young woman was a stranger since she came from another country. The dragon in disguise had maybe not as much to say as her, but in return Reshiram listened very well to every word the girl spoke. He analyzed her.

Melody was very friendly as well as self-confident and had obviously no problem with strangers. Though, he still doubted his feeling about a new chosen one, he needed to spend more time with her and those little Pokémon she had befriended... Since she was a so-called trainer, she seemed to be already experienced in this modern world. As she told him, it was her fifth time of traveling through a new region – on her way to defeat the eight local Gym Leaders. And that was the perfect chance for him, to obtain by fraud more time. Under the excuse, to need someone who could escort him to Opelucid City, he wanted to join the sky-blue-haired girl and her Pokémon.

They didn't mind, but the girl asked his name. Not willing to reveal his identity, he refused to tell Melody his actually name. Instead, he recommended cynically, that she should devise something if she consisted of calling him by an appellation. So, she gave him offhandedly the name 'Secenos'. Firstly, he devalued this word in secret, but when she called him for the first time with that phrase, he found taken aback out, that he liked it in truth. Because of the unique sound he adapted exceptionally a human naming for himself, even when he normally didn't accept nicknames.

However, the young woman was obviously fond of giving names. She had truly the habit to give all of her Pokémon inimitable names. This irritated him, but after he asked her about it, he started to comprehend her point of view. She told him, that nobody liked it to be called by his species-name. She, personally, would hate it to be called simply 'human' – and so, she didn't want to treat anybody in this rude way. With that information, he agreed to her ideology of giving personal appellation. (But not to her habit to call him now and then 'Ses' for short. This felt wrong, after 'Secenos' was already in the strict sense his nickname.)

~ C ~

In the following days he spent with Melody, he discovered quickly, that the girl was truly special. Like he did, she understood Pokémon – not only her own, but every single being. Even those of other humans as well as the wild creatures. This surprised him a lot. But on the other hand, astonishment wasn't right, when it came to this girl with sky-blue hair and eyes in the same color. Because Secenos felt something strange about her, which was in the meantime the prime reason why he chose her as a 'test-subject' of humankind for the current era. She had... something, which made her different from every other normal person. Sometimes he wondered because of that point, if she could maybe sense it, that the guy next to her wasn't human... He dismissed that idea always, of course, but nevertheless he couldn't block this feeling. Distracting himself from those thoughts, he spent occasionally time with other creatures – avoided Melody then for a few minutes.

As a Pokémon, Secenos felt naturally comfortable in the near of conspecifics. Even, when he had this deep hatred in his heart, which refused Pokémon in the same way like humans, since nobody freed him in the past from his cruel fate. Anyway, he developed a preference for Melodys Pokémon. At first, because they were always around thanks to the girls generosity to let them ramble freely, and second, because they really seemed to like him. They accepted him truly; like nobody else did. Asked never stupid questions about his personal story and enjoyed in return simply his presence. Especially Jyarohda the Snivy befriended him. The little snake was quasi a dark gentleman – courteous and friendly, but like Secenos fond of black humor as well as shifty and likewise bold.

After a while, the dragon in disguise recognized, that Melody and her Pokémon were very talented in music, when the young woman bought for her friends some instruments. She had already skills in singing and playing piano or keyboard – and her Pokémon learned quickly. Secenos was soon fascinated by this doing. The Pokémon; his buddies, to be honest, let him smile a little, whenever they played. It touched him kind of, to be with them in those moments. Eventually, he accompanied them after a few gigs in one song with his abilities as a guitarist. This made his companions happy – the Pokémon as well as their trainer smiled at him. Since then – when he felt like making music, he continued this musical support now and then.

Almost two weeks after he joined the group, something happened, which irritated him. Personally. It was a situation – when he played in the late evening just for himself the guitar. When he... dared for the first time, to test his singing-voice. This was odd – even for him, but even more strange was this moment, when another accident happened. When... he recognized Melody, who listened to him. Secenos didn't knew, how to react. He felt embarrassment like he never did before, because it was never his intent to sing in the near of another being. Melody, however, was truly fascinated and didn't care for his petrification, as if she knew how unwell he felt. Nevertheless she didn't spare him the fact, what she thought about his doing. In her opinion, he had a beautiful singing-voice – pleased her personal taste very well. The compliment let him feel unsettledness. Secenos felt a little pestered by her, since he wasn't used to be marveled by someone because of his personal talents. Realizing, that someone could like not his fighting-abilities, but something else about him so much, over-strained his thinking. The dragon in disguise wasn't even praised from his older chosen one, when it came to stuff like this, so he didn't know now, what to think about this girl in front of him. What to think about the fact, that a human treated him REALLY as an equal being. Not as a god; not as a property; only as an emancipated creature. He never realized this before, but now he saw, that the sky-blue-haired woman considered him completely as a friend. Even against his behavior. And this abrupt knowledge was too much for Secenos' understanding.

~ C ~

He had spent a lot of time with studying the beings around him, but after the 'accident' he adjusted his focus a little. His buddies had distracted him too much – and he was to blame for it, because he allowed himself to flee from his true intention. However, now he concentrated – even though unnoticeable for others – only on his target and himself. The dragon in human shape checked alert since that evening every oddness about the girl who 'escorted' him – and even more important, inspected if she had any effect on his darkened personality.

For the present, he seemed to have no success with his experiment. He didn't change his attitude in any way – even after four weeks of nonstop near to the lively group. Secenos stayed the reserved, naughty-cynical, sarcastic, stubborn and doubting being he was from the first moment on. Changing was still impossible for him. This annoyed him in secret, but he had no need to show that, after the girl and her Pokémon actually seemed to like him because of that. Obviously, he was no social and caring person, but they didn't mind, though he accompanied them already so long...

This fact wasn't normal. Not even in this crazy world, at his own option. Jyarohda and the others, naturally, were not to blame for their strangeness. The Snivy and his friends simply had this entire, odd nature to tolerate everybody without any disbelief. And so, Secenos questioned them not much. They accepted him kindhearted – he tried to do the same.

But in return, he allowed himself no carelessness, when it came to Melody. He didn't trust her in consideration of the easygoing personality she showed the whole time. The absence of any curiosity about his past made him skeptical. Sooner or later, people wanted to know stuff like that ALWAYS. He knew this already thanks to his experiences with humans as the Original Dragon... In addition, it wasn't normal for a member of the human race to be NOT very curious into an odd personality like he was. Not to ask about his past; not to annoy him in general with VERY personally questions. The dragon in human shape questioned her silently for this 'deficit' – and forgot because of that, why he couldn't allow himself to doubt his perhaps only hope.

Secenos was sure of Melodys nescience. After all, how should she know, that the calm-reserved guy next to her thought of her in a negative way...? But he didn't plan to inform her about this fact. Well, at least he tried to leave this undone. For an unknown reason, two days later he confronted her privately with his misgivings. The words just flowed out of his mouth. After he questioned Melody, she answered him – to his own surprise, that she sensed his malaise when it came to stuff like that from the first moment on. Because of that, she simply let him be and preferred talking with him about things he wanted to know or discuss. Perhaps he was currently her 'client', but also a friend. And so, she wanted him to feel well. Secenos became again speechless. Was stunned.

~ C ~

For now, it seemed to be impossible to find out, what it truly was, what bothered Secenos about Melodys entire presence. He had to accept, that he wasn't able to figure her out as soon as he had all the time planned in his mind. Not giving in, but needing a break from his experiment, he focused more on the things which were more obvious and comprehensible for him.

The sky-blue-haired girl was a good trainer. She and her friends lost no fight with the Gym Leaders they met on their way to Opelucid City. Above all, ordinary trainer had not even a little chance against them. Especially Jyarohda, Cygne the Ducklett and Ribbon the Gothita became thanks to Melodys talent as well as experience very strong. It seemed, as if the balanced personality of her granted the young woman an understanding for the powers of Pokémon, which no other human obtained in such an easygoing way. Secenos started to admire this a little bit. But... There was nevertheless one thing, which confused him. She called her Pokémon now and then 'Guardians' – instead of the regular word which was used for the entire species. He had no idea, why she did this. After all, her Pokémon protected nobody...

However, apart from his lack of understanding Secenos recognized, that a deeper meaning stood behind the word. This 'secret' was connected with a 'symbol', which was owned by just everyone. Jyarohda, Cygne, Ribbon – it didn't matter; all the Pokémon Melody befriended possessed a little, green-blue-shining sign on their right hands, wings or where-ever every single Pokémon it had. Formed like a italic G, the sign lit up sometimes in battles. Not long enough, that other humans or Pokémon recognized it, but Secenos with his skilled eyes noticed it. He wanted to found out everything about the phenomenon – from the Pokémon; from Melody. All, what prevented him from doing so, was his stubbornness, since he didn't want to be contingent on someone else, and the fact, that he somehow hesitated to ask. The second one was like a barrier he couldn't overcome...

~ C ~

Still not understanding his female experiment – and also not himself, Secenos became suddenly distracted from his personal mission. Until now, he had never cared about a group called 'Plasma', which proclaimed as well as did just brainless things in his opinion. But this changed lickety-split, when his sky-blue-haired escort became involved into the intrigue of Team Plasma.

In Chargestone Cave, they met a buddy of Melody again. Surely a nice guy on the first sight – muscular, polite and sympathetic. An older human with dark skin underneath his white-red clothes, short hair in gray-black-color and amber-eyes. But this man – Seonar – had decided in the last time for something, which shocked Melody obviously. (And to see her like that, alarmed Secenos, because she was normally so carefree.) This man had joined Team Plasma because he followed plus protected a young man called simply N, who acted as the leader of the insane group. Seonar wanted to stay by N's side, since he refused the second leader, Ghetsis, who was in the old mans eyes absolutely untrustworthy. A corrupt leader, who would betray his own child directly if necessary. Worrying about N, Seonar had because of that no choice but to support Team Plasma – and even, when he would never fight against Melody, he was from now on no longer on her side.

Secenos felt, that his sky-blue-haired experiment suffered under Seonars decision to broke up with their friendship. She couldn't even discuss with him. Only fighting silently with the Plasma Grunts, who appeared without any warning and demanded like always a battle... As a higher being – still as Reshiram under the human skin, Secenos couldn't help but feel something strange about Seonar, who avoided Melody obviously from the moment, when he teamed up with this boy named N. Something in the presence of this circa 50 years old man wasn't right. It awakened even more skepticism in Secenos' mind, than Melodys presence did. He couldn't describe it, but he just knew, that Team Plasma was truly dangerous, as long as Seonar played N's protector. And the fact, that he worried more about Seonar than Melody, alarmed him extremely, because he never expected to see another human than her with such an annoying, confusing presence.

~ C ~

He needed to know the reason, why Melody was in his eyes conspicuous. More pressure in his mind than ever before demanded this knowledge. Since the moment, when they had met this stupid man, who accompanied Team Plasma because he needed to baby-sit the wrong human, Secenos couldn't think about anything else. He didn't knew, if he would trust her after learning about the answer, but he would never again feel safe in this region, when more than one human unsettled him.

But how of all things should Melody know, what a higher being could sense...? Her Pokémon felt nothing strange about her – they didn't understand Secenos feeling, so how should she do this...? Moreover, how should he explain her, what he sensed...? They shared no bond, when it came to him, so he had no chance to connect his sentiment with her. In addition, he couldn't tell her, why he as a 'simple human' recognized supernatural phenomenon. Damned, his own fraud trapped him...

And it was not only that. His hidden identity... Another problem was, that Melodys Pokémon knew nevertheless much more about her, than he did. They were more social than him – and heard things, which he would never hear, since he was still a 'client who wanted to go to Opelucid City'. Befriending Melody like them was impossible, so he would never knew so much details about her and her past, like the Pokémon did... Surely, he could ask Jyarohda about details. The former Snivy – now a Serperior – was as her starter very close to her. But... It was hopeless.

Secenos was perhaps a friend for her, but as long as he wasn't able to answer her feelings honestly, this friendship would never help him to understand her odd soul straightforward.

~ C ~

Humans surprised him lately a bit too often. At first Melody; after this Seonar – and then... Well, people, who he personally would not even call anymore 'humans'. Rather 'pests in human shape'. Or 'human nightmares of every Pokémon'.

His escort-troop visited just the Celestial Tower, but got surprised by a group of humans, who were definitively not from this world. In the strict sense, Secenos was very sure of it. Because it was NOT normal for humans to fight in a way similar to Pokémon. To possess dark energy, which they could control like they wanted. They attacked and blocked with those power whenever they decide to. Shit, they could even float through the air per will...! And far the worst, they seemed to have an absurd, giant problem with Melody and everyone who accompanied her. The group attack them.

Wondering, in which world he was landed when he awoke partial from his seal, Secenos couldn't even take action against them, because a little energy-beam would reveal, that he wasn't human. Forced, to watch the hopeless try of his six buddies to beat the enemies, let him regret his behavior – his own lack of true courage. He finally considered to ignore his plans, but...

It almost hit him – his entire soul, when he felt something impossible.

And then, he could also see it. Watch it, when the power poured out of Melodys body. In form of a white wave of light, the sky-blue-haired girl created just with a single stare a barrier around him, herself and the Pokémon. The energy shielded them from the dark beams of the enemies. Though, Melody concentrated on the barrier, she was surprisingly able to talk completely normal with those renegade humans. She warned them with such an earnest voice, to leave this world, that it frightened Secenos. He didn't know her like that – nor, that she had such a... talent.

Ignoring her warning, the humans attacked together. The strength of their energy-blast was violent – Secenos expected, that she wouldn't take it. But then he noticed, that her Pokémon looked at her with such a faith in their eyes, that it was overwhelming. Suddenly, Secenos felt more power in Melodys body. So, as if she awakened more parts of herself...

She closed her eyes, before opening them – and creating with just that a giant wave full of blue, ice-cold energy which 'swept' through the enemies attack; destroying it completely. When her energy reached the foes, fast as lightning it materialized into large, spear-formed edges of ice. The foes got some injuries, but didn't leave until Melody defeated them with a beam directly from her hands – orange energy in the shape of an enormous sword-strike. The villains flew finally away.

While she sighed in relief, the Pokémon jubilated happily. They had obviously no problem with her. Elsewise, than Secenos... He was over-strained by the whole situation. Not knowing, how or why, he couldn't help but asking Melody, WHAT she was. Then, she gazed at him with her earnest eyes – with this look, which was completely foreign for him. These eyes were so deep and clear... As if she saw with them into his entire soul...

Who was this girl, who he had accompanied in the last weeks...?

~ C ~

'I am not from this world. In the same way, like my enemies are not from this world.'

Those were her first words, when she finally spoke to him after watching his face for minutes.

As a being, who was deeply hurt by humankind because of the enormous betrayal, Reshiram felt pure fear in front of her. Wanted to leave. But... As Secenos, who searched for answers, he wanted to stay – to listen to the girl who obtained even more secrets, than he had thought. He was still unsure about his future, but he knew, that currently only the present mattered...

In private, he and Melody went to Mistralton City. Sat there for talking about the previous event.

As long as she kept silent, he watched her frightened. One of her two long plaited pigtails covered together with her short strands of hair for a moment her face, because she looked at the ground, which made him even more nervous. Not used to such a feeling for another person in his chest, Secenos finally taped hesitant with his hand on her right shoulder.

'You fear me, don't you...? Because I am an Adept.'

Her voice echoed in his mind. This earnest, sad tone – the same dignity, which he had, when he felt in the past, that he developed those dark, sleeping sides in his subconscious, so that he would lose everything which hold him in this world. Her short demonstration of telepathy touched him.

Suddenly able, to talk with her about the skepticism he already had before, he informed her about the feeling that her presence gave him. He confessed, that he never had known, what it was, but that he had tried to find out her 'secret' all the time they spent together. Secenos expected her to become now very angry because of that, but instead, she smiled gentle at him. Gazed at him softly.

Then, she started to explain him everything.

She was not from this world. Nor this dimension. She came from a world called Weyard, which was situated in a dimension not far away from those of Pokémon. In her original world, some humans had elemental powers; similar to the powers of this place. People with those skills were called 'Adepts' and possessed in the majority of cases pure, benign hearts. Furthermore, Adepts were classified into the elements of Water (Mercury), Air (Jupiter), Earth (Venus) and Fire (Mars). Resembling their anent element usually in consideration of their appearance. Since Weyard was populated by humans, animals and monsters, the human race was dominant and subordinated only to the supernatural powers of Adepts as well as monsters and the nature itself. Causing Adepts sometimes to outdo themselves in order to protect the rest of the world.

It surprised Secenos, when he heard, that she was already a good Mercury-Adept with the age of 10 – and started since early childhood; because of her responsibility to enlarge the powers which were given to her thanks to some distantly related ancestors. He couldn't imagine, how a small child should become so strong, that only a little part of her power was able to frighten him at first. Melody explained, that this was partly possible because of her origin. She was a distantly related descendant of Weyard's eight heroes who rescued the whole world in a deadly crisis, which nearly destroyed the planet because of a lack of the elemental essence itself. And so, she gained even before her birth the talent to use all four elements – instead of just one perfectly and the others as minimalistic as possible; like the majority did.

~ C ~

He asked irritated, how Melody could be in this world. The answer wasn't clear – it confused him: Her direct ancestors traveled back in time in order to live in the former Weyard before changes after the worlds rescue turned their land into a different place, so that it felt unfamiliar for them. Not knowing anymore, how to declare something as his 'home', he asked skeptical, why her family dared to play with the flow of time just for that result. Plus, since Melody was actually parallel to the happenings after Weyard's great rescue – because of her ancestors, he had no understanding for those idiotic people, who forced her obviously to live in a world where she not belonged to.

Surprisingly, she negated his words. Her family stayed no longer in Weyard, but in worlds, which truly felt like a home. Like the dimension of Pokémon; a place where she and her grandfather loved to exist. Though, she lived as a little child temporarily in one of Weyard's towns, Imil – a place next to one of the four important elemental lighthouses – she preferred this world. It was her home – especially, because she wasn't alone here with her talents thanks to the Pokémon.

In Addition, she was too unique for a normal Adept. Not needing the help of Djinns – spirits with the power to support Adepts in every kind of element – for using greater powers, she wasn't 'bound' to Weyard anymore. Awakening her powers on her own; everlasting, she was maybe the strongest of the original generation her family came from. Blessed by lady luck, she had genes with connections to all four elements. And beyond that: Good conditions for other kinds of 'magic', so that she wasn't a real inhabitant of Weyard. Because of her talents, she chose her destiny already as a child.

Melody wanted to protect all dimensions from any kind of harm, which people like those he had met today caused for thousands of lives. Since these egocentrics only thought about conquering and gaining more power, they accepted to ruin the balance of the worlds and dimensions itself, so that somebody had to stop them before the worlds started to collide. Luckily, she wasn't alone. She had friends – regular humans as well as human-like ones, but also creatures like great ancient beasts. And, of course, her personally family – her Pokémon-friends, who fought with her.

~ C ~

He stated correctly, that her 'Guardians' must be something special, when she gave them this name. So, he asked her about the truth of her Pokémon – all of them; even those, who she caught in regions far away from Unova. Melody explained him, that her Pokémon possessed strong powers – more flexible and greater than regular. They were – like her – able to travel through the dimensions. Some of the Guardians could even travel through the periods. Whenever she caught new friends, she trained them as long as they needed to use their powers completely. And after that, they were able to do the same thing like her – protecting the worlds; helping the people. She forced of course nobody to do this job, but she experienced, that every Pokémon which turned out to be a Guardian had the strong need to fight for good. And so, she and her 'family' formed the 'Team Guardian' – worked together in perfect organization with the ambition to protect the worlds, their timelines and all of their inhabitants.

This fact earned Secenos' respect. Especially, when he realized because of her explanation, that she was something like the head of this private organization. No wonder, that Jyarohda and the others had so much faith into her... She was a kindhearted fighter with lots of experience.

However, he couldn't believe it, that this should be an accident. That truly all of Melodys Pokémon were gifted with hidden powers. Either, ALL Pokémon had those kind of abilities inside of them – OR it was Melodys pure presence which created within their bodies such talents. After all, a bond with her just must had an effect on others.

~ C ~

Secenos stayed with Melody, after he knew finally the reason why he sensed something strange about her presence. Somehow, he had the ability to sense her energy, even when she bore it down. This let him feel maybe not tranquilized, because he wasn't sure if she recognized HIS camouflage, but to accompany her was nevertheless an interesting thing. Reshiram or not: Currently, he just wanted to see how far she and her Unova-Guardians would come on their way to defeat all of the Gym Leaders in this region. And furthermore, he was willing to be with her while she searched for Seonar – and N, who was in her eyes in danger as long as he was a part of Team Plasma. Obviously, she felt sympathetic for this not-really-human guy – a fact, which frustrated Secenos in the same way like it impressed him. Surely it was great, that she cared for someone who needed definitely some lessons in humanity... Who needed help... But...

N was similar to him. Of course his body – his genes were human... Nevertheless, his mind wasn't really human. He could not feel, how all humans should. Couldn't feel, like his own species. A fact, which this boy shared with him. And Secenos hated that. Very much. And so, he hated it absolutely, that Melody cared for this strange foreigner.

~ C ~

The situation didn't get better. Only worse.

When they finally 'found' Seonar as well as N, it was in Secenos' eyes the pure disaster.

While Melody and her Pokémon fought against Team Plasma at the top of the Dragonspiral Tower, suddenly the young blond appeared with the old man in his company. Until now, Secenos hadn't recognized a little, inconspicuous stone laying in the middle of the large room. But when the simple, black-colored stone suddenly started to glow when Seonar neared, the dragon in disguise petrified. Though, he was the embodiment of truth, Secenos hadn't realized, WHY Seonar alarmed him.

Unfortunately, it was now too late for his enlightenment.

Seonar absorbed the black stone. And while he did, for a short moment his scleras became red instead of white. Above all, his presence gained such an energy, that not only Secenos, but also Melody and her Pokémon shivered... When the stone vanished into thin air, the old man asked N with a gentle smile, if he was ready to become Unovas new absolute hero. Ignoring the confusion around them, N nodded with a shy smile, which let the old man smirk with joy.

Secenos was forced to look on helplessly, when white light with a black shimmer surrounded Seonars body. Even, if he just wanted: He could do nothing against the release of the true identity of Melodys ex-buddy. To know, that it hurt her to watch the sympathetic man becoming nothing but a dangerous, eternal dragon, let Secenos feel a twitch in his chest. Though, his heart was ice-cold, strong pity hit him, when he saw her face while she gazed at Seonar. Alias Zekrom.

The trouble grew abruptly, when the black dragon did something which Reshiram couldn't expect: Seonar used the bond he and N owned, to lend the blond a part of his powers. Appalled and furious about that, Secenos watched how the young man became able to create a black armor and a sword full of Zekroms energy – as a sign of the connection their souls shared. Above all, it was disturbing, how good the dragons strength harmonized with N – Secenos felt it with every single cell.

The young man declared with the black, muscular dragon by his side, that he would split the world – after becoming Unovas admitted hero – into two halves, so that Pokémon would be no longer forced to endure the reckless control of humankind. Not believing into the majority of his own race, N had decided to prevent all humans from taking advantage from the innocent beings – and nobody would change his mind. Nobody, as long as Zekroms counterpart, Reshiram, would not interfere with another new hero; a new chosen one by the white dragons side.

Watching the almost unreal situation, Secenos felt the strong wish to interrupt this 'celebration' with harsh words or actions, but he couldn't. Revealing, who he was, wasn't his plan. Still, Reshiram didn't trust humankind enough for supporting them in such an awkward question of responsibility – he was not as loyal and naive as Zekrom, to follow a single human without questioning him or her. To abandon the fate of the whole world into the hands of one single creature.

And there was another fact, that prevented him from using these part of his entire power, which he took with himself when leaving his true body behind and starting to live in this little camouflage... Melodys reaction from before let him hesitate to release his true identity. He was... afraid? Afraid, to lose her trust...? He wasn't sure, what he felt, but after Melody showed him, who or better what she truly was, he understood the young Adept much better than ever before. It was so obviously, that it hurt her, when a friend in her eyes didn't tell her the truth about himself. When a friend preferred to lie instead of being open to her. She was not even able with that suffering in her heart, to prevent Seonar and N from leaving the Dragonspiral Tower, though she had the power... Talking; using her abilities as an Adept – she could do it in every way. But she let them go by choice...

Secenos didn't want to admit that to himself, but he felt pity for her... Too much pity...

~ C ~

Melody decided to search for Reshiram. Understanding, that Ghetsis as Team Plasmas true head wanted to erase every possibility to lose N's new position in Unova as Zekroms hero and the only chosen one by a Legendary of this region, she was determined to find the white dragon before anything or anyone could hurt him. And – what a 'surprise' – her Pokémon felt the same.

Secenos stayed with them under the excuse, that he couldn't leave his buddies alone in such a problematic situation, but in truth he wanted to see, how far the sky-blue-haired girl would come. Not telling her, where 'Reshiram' was, he accompanied her exploration of Unovas oldest places, since it was clear for her that her target had to be in such an ambiance.

Well, she found the place before Team Plasma, but only for seeing that the dragon was in a small, stone-like status like Zekroms majority of powers before. What meant, that the embodiment of truth wasn't useful for her wish to stop N plus to show him, that humans and Pokémon were able to live together in harmony. Melody reacted sad, but not disappointed – which over-strained Secenos. Realizing, that she cared only for 'Reshirams' health and didn't rely on his help, was strange, because he had secretly expected she would want to catch the dragon. But instead, she just kept this white stone in her hands back – determined to let it free, as soon as everything was over.

The young woman surprised him also in another way. She decided to face N in a essential battle, which irritated Secenos a lot. He couldn't understand her decision. As an Adept, she could destroy N if she just wanted, but nevertheless she accepted him as an equal being. Knowing, how important 'Reshirams' help would be in that case, he was taken aback by her believe into the blind blond.

~ C ~

As a preparation for her intent, Melody seized with her Pokémon the chance to obtain the yet missing badges from the Gym Leaders of Unova, since she wanted to make sure that her friends were strong enough for N's powerful Pokémon. Assuming, that the young leader of Team Plasma had still a few remaining animalistic creatures in his accompaniment – in spite of his plan to split the world – it was clear for her (as well as for Secenos), that not only Seonar as Zekrom would become an obstacle. Which exacted much additional training, as a precaution. However, as long as the young woman and her friends were busy with conducting this plan, the white dragon in disguise bore down his doubt about Melodys wish to change N's mind. Secenos didn't want to disturb them – at least he didn't want to ruin the concentration of his buddies. But when Melody got after a great battle with Gym Leader Drayden the last badge, he couldn't hold back anymore.

While they went to the place where N lived – a castle near to the Pokémon League, Secenos tried tireless to grasp Melodys way to look at the world. He wanted to know from her, why she couldn't simply beat N with her supernatural powers. Why she didn't spare herself with this stupid tragedy, to watch Seonar in the role of the opponents Pokémon. Secenos was sure, that the old man – even in his original identity – felt still sympathy for her and wouldn't attack her or her Pokémon, as long as the blond wouldn't dare to give him this order since the young Adept could be terrifying.

But Melody declined his suggestion. She wouldn't face N as an Adept.

Frustrated, Secenos accused her for being too starry-eyed – for believing, that she could handle this situation with nothing else but the experience she had as a trainer. He was almost aboil enough for forgetting his plan, to keep his identity a secret, but luckily Melody prevented him from this. Explaining, that she wanted to HELP this boy instead of losing every possibility to show him what he currently couldn't realize, she had no other option than battling him as an ordinary human with kindhearted Pokémon-friends by her side. Because she wanted to be a friend for N, she would never dominate him with those unusual powers she possessed.

Resigning, Secenos gave up to assure her of his ideology. In contrast to himself, she was still whole – not consumed by the darkness. She had faith into the world and could truly – other than himself – understand the hearts of other beings, so that this girl was able to detect even the tiniest light. Uff, not even 'Reshiram' would persuade Melody to ignore the hope she saw, so he could be very lucky that he hadn't revealed his secret in the heat of the moment for nothing.

~ C ~

When they arrived the castle, a few members of Team Plasma wanted to stop them, but suddenly Ghetsis' loyalest followers, the Shadow Triad, appeared. The three eldritch men escorted them because of N's order straight to the hall where the blond already waited, though Ghetsis wasn't delighted about the boys decision. Together with Seonar, who was currently in human form, N was willing to accept Melodys challenge, though she wasn't chosen by Reshiram and would only lose without the help of the embodiment of truth. But since she believed so much into this world, somehow these faith inspired him to behold her true strength.

Seonar took his original form, when Melody decided to send Jyarohda the Serperior as number one into the battle. As a grass-type, the snake was perfect to endure Seonars enormous electric-attacks, which N ordered of course at the beginning of the fight. Above all, Jyarohda knew thanks to a tutor the move Dragon Pulse, so that he had truly a chance against Zekrom.

While Melody and Jyarohda gave their best, Secenos watched the battle silently. It annoyed him, how brain-sick his counterpart was, that he stayed here with N – instead of leaving Team Plasma; with or without the fair-haired boy. Zekrom could even before Reshiram realize, that Ghetsis as Plasmas true head meant for the whole world lots of trouble or even danger... So, it was a red rag for Secenos, that Seonar didn't even try to change N's mind in order to stop Ghetsis.

But even more exasperated Secenos the inhuman boy in the black armor, who resembled him a lot when it came to the incapability of escaping one's own psychical cages. Seeing, how unable N was to chose another path in spite of Melodys obvious wish to help him, made Secenos angry. Filled his ancient brain with wrath for N – as well as sorrow for the sky-blue-haired girl. Without thinking about the meaning of his doing, he started to distract Melodys opponent from the fight. Normally, he kept completely out of the girls business, but now he talked for the first time with her 'foe'. Wanted to know outright from the blond, what these stupid behavior he showed should accomplish. Questioning, like never before, Secenos overwhelmed N with his suddenly interference, so that nobody could continue with the battle, since they all waited (polite as they were) for the young man. But the dragon in disguise didn't care for the effect he had on N or the others. He was too busy with accusing the boy harshly for risking the worlds sake, so that a corrupt man like Ghetsis would have a walk-over. With questioning, why N didn't accept Melodys open hands, since she seemed to be the only human here, who wanted to help him. The only one, who was brave enough to ask him for giving the strange bond between humans and Pokémon a chance.

Though, Secenos didn't realize this while talking, he sided for the first time after millenniums with humankind and the Pokémon who lived with humans – because of the girl who he befriended.

~ C ~

After a last, but fierce provocation of Secenos, N lost abruptly control of himself. Forgetting, that he was now much stronger than normal humans, the blond attacked Secenos in the heat of the moment with the dark energy he possessed thanks to Zekrom. Hurling a small, but energetic wave at him, Secenos recognized too late that N wasn't able to bear greater critique. And now, he would have to pay for his mistake, if he still insisted on bearing up his camouflage.

But before Secenos could become hit – or think about using his powers, Melody protected him. Unfortunately, her action was unforeseeable, so that it over-strained him. He petrified, when he saw that her arms got injured, because she still refused to use her powers as an Adept against N. Thinking, that she shielded him even with her bare life – even in such a situation – was like a sword that carved deeply into his chest. Secenos never felt like being worth for her friendship, which was perhaps the reason why he couldn't change himself, but now he was forced to understand in a cruel, overwhelming way, that Melody would never ever care for his opinion about himself or his manner. She simply liked him. Liked him in the way, how he was. And so, she would always help him.

The Pokémon and N were – just like him – unable to do anything. They all stared at Melody while she rubbed cautious over her hurt skin, because she stood the injuries as if they were only scrapes. Unconfident, the blond apologized suddenly to her, which caused the sky-blue-haired girl to smile. Appeasing his guilt, she explained him, that she possessed the ability of healing. In an instant, Melody proved her statement, so that her injuries vanished.

But her doing was to early for N's (already disordered because of Secenos) psyche. Frightened by her surprising skill, the blond seemed to feel abruptly – because of the bond he had with Seonar, who possessed a keen sense for his environment – some of her hidden powers, which shined through while her self-healing. And these energy, which already alarmed Secenos before he had learned about Melodys origin, scared now N because of´the strength behind Melodys artless appearance. Stricken with fear, the blond ordered Seonar to attack her. The black dragon hesitated, but when N shouted in anxiety, Zekrom was abruptly overcome by his bestial instincts to shelter his protégé – regardless of his own mind and sympathy for Melody.

Seonar squinted his eyes and used Fusion Bolt.

~ C ~

He couldn't cede again the decision about reacting or not reacting to Melody.

Secenos couldn't stand anymore the fact, that he simply ran away from his responsibility for her.

In a millisecond, he reached out for the little white stone Melody carried. Absorbed quickly the part of his entire power, which he had left behind in order to spy on the foreign human being, who was perhaps worth to be his new chosen one. And now, with his full power, Secenos interfered with Seonars Fusion Bolt in order to protect this young woman, who symbolized his last hope.

He created a barrier of black-white energy, when he jumped amongst her and the strong electricity. Beyond that, Secenos emanated with closed eyes blue-white fire-storms, so that Seonars attack became negated. While he did so, he heard Melodys voice in his head. She asked him per telepathy, why he changed that abruptly his mind and acknowledged now the reason for his formerly request, to receive a name from her. With a little grin on his lips, so that his fangs became uncovered, Secenos answered her self-satisfied, that she gave him a reason to accept his darkened self.

~ C ~

Burning like a sun in his black-white energy, Secenos finally revealed his true identity as Reshiram. When everybody – including Ghetsis, who walked into the hall – gazed with wide eyes at the dragon who floated majestically in the air, he payed no attention to them. Because something distracted Secenos from his environment. A little, cursive G on his right 'hand' in black color with a gentle, white shimmer drew his attention. Inapprehensible, but HE was a Guardian... Obviously Melody had truly an effect on him, because he possessed never before the sign of her friends.

He landed next to his protégé. Allowed her, to fondle his right wing, before he explained everybody, that he decided to acknowledge Melody as his chosen one. This action restored the peace between the dragons of truth and ideals, because Seonar knew, that Reshiram as the disbeliever of them must be right when even he decided for giving humankind a second chance. And so, Seonar begged the astonished boy by his side, to chose the same path like Melody did.

Ghetsis laughed venomously about this plea. After insulting Seonar for being too naive as an ancient creature, the corrupt man held a speech about his plan and how well everything worked, before some idiots (Ghetsis looked at Melody and the Pokémon by her side) decided to interfere. And so, he would do everything to destroy those who disturbed his project to rule alone the world. But luckily... Taking the chance which Seonar and Melody – his friends gave him, N declared determined to stop his adopted father; no matter how. And so, they all teamed up against Ghetsis – and his following of corrupted Pokémon and humans.

~ C ~

While Secenos and Seonar had no trouble with the enemies, their Pokémon-companions had a lot. Unaccustomed to an almost army of foes, N's Pokémon as well as Jyarohda and the others were not strong enough to stand such a fight very long. But they had to, because the dragons were busy with fighting against some dangerous machines, which appeared when Ghetsis realized the strength of N's new comrades. Particularly, Melody and N themselves had to pay attention to the Shadow Triad and their mysterious dark powers, so that they couldn't help their friends. The three were stronger than the blond and already used to fighting with own skills, so that N as an amateur needed definitely Melodys help.

It surprised Secenos, when his protégé suddenly increased the 'level' of their fight. She sent N with some kind of teleportation on Seonars shoulders, while she mobilized more of her power. Until now, her energy was white before creating selected elemental power, but from one moment to the other, golden facets drew through it. Even her appearance changed – her two pigtails became one plait; her casual clothes were replaced by a white vest, a short, black top, trousers in the same color and beige-colored boots. Before he got used to that 'battle-costume', he had to accustom himself to another novelty: She could float through the air. Practically fly, because she had lots of speed. Efficient and flexible, like an assassin, she dealt by herself with the Shadow Triad. In addition, somehow she managed to share her energy with her six Pokémon, so that Jyarohda and friends faced the large fight with more stamina.

Unfortunately, Ghetsis – who stood offside while commanding his followers as well as machines – recognized like Secenos, that Melody turned out to be a key figure in this deciding combat. Something in the mans evil gaze, when he stared at her, alarmed the white dragon. Though, he was like Zekrom and N busy with destroying the machines which attacked them with electricity, he saw the imminent danger, when Ghetsis broke suddenly with a malign grin out a strangely scepter. Actually, it was Secenos' intent not to attack again humans who were obviously powerless, but now, he couldn't wait for the disaster to happen. He had to stop it – at once.

Using his black-white energy for an overload, Secenos attacked with a modified Dragon Pulse – but his plan, to destroy the scepter, failed. Instead of that, the 'weapon' absorbed his whole attack. Ghetsis laughed diabolical about it; shouted, that Reshiram would never again disturb his plans. Suddenly, the scepter created a black beam, which contained Secenos' power. Because he hadn't expect this, Secenos couldn't dodge the dark energy. It hit him. Injured his right wing entirely.

Screaming, he fell on the ground, but not without clawing into Ghetsis legs. While the evil man was instantly taken away by one member of the Shadow Triad, Melody rushed to Secenos' side and started to heal him. But it didn't work completely. The synthetic, negative energy was too special – it caused him a scar, that let practically rot his blood over the surface. It appeared in black color... Additionally, this leftover hurt like hell, which even the skilled Adept couldn't ease for Secenos. Realizing, that he was for the first time in his life in a deadly peril, perturbed him. Nevertheless... Ignoring his hurt as well as the worriedness of his protégé, he insisted on fighting the enemies. Sighing, Melody accepted, so that he continued to battle with his companions against Team Plasma. Together, they destroyed the machines, chased away the grunts plus their Pokémon – and finally, they defeated even Ghetsis as well as the Shadow Triad. Threatening, that this wasn't over, the head of this black-hearted organization left with his followers.

In the second, when Ghetsis swore revenge, suddenly the castle started to crumble because of all the pressure which the enormous fight had created. The friends fled from the falling detritus, but before Secenos could even leave the hall, his body stood the pain which flowed through it no longer. Bearing the agony no more, which seemed to disperse from his scar, he collapsed on the ground. When he started to lose his awareness already, so that his eyes slowly closed, he saw abruptly Melody kneeing next to his face. He couldn't understand the different feeling he had in her near, when a golden light seemed to surround her appearance, but he was no longer able to think about her changed look. The last thing, which he saw, was her upper part of the body – these white dress; her wonderful long, open hair with it's waves; and the resolute expression in her sky-blue eyes.

~ C ~

When he woke up, he was again in human shape – lay in a sickbed of a Pokémon Center. Smiling, Melody looked at his disoriented face, as if it was nothing special that she had obviously the power to switch his original form back into his camouflage. After he calmed down from this little shock, Secenos wanted to know, what happened while he wasn't conscious. The young woman, who wore already again her casual clothes, explained, that she – when Secenos was safe – stabilized together with N and Seonar the castle by performing a great temporarily levitation, which allowed the walls to return in an intact state. Mostly, he listened attentive, but while she talked about the exhaustion to hold such a large building with nothing but her mind as well as those of her companions, Secenos drifted away with his thoughts. He knew, that she concealed, HOW she rescued him. Probably, Melody hoped that he couldn't remember the second time when her appearance changed, but unfortunately he saw this moment clear in his memorization. And he wondered a lot about it, because her entire presence was back then so... incomprehensible.

It surprised him, when she apologized suddenly for being unable to heal his scar. That it would be her fault, if this thing would never vanish completely. And if it would open again, so that he would have to bear again the pain it caused. Knowing, that this would surely happen because of his way to fight against enemies, he calmed her with the simple statement, that this was just the price for living from now on as her Pokémon. After he told her his opinion, she impressed him with her earnest, downright dominant side – because she answered with a grin, that she wouldn't be as soft as he was used from her, if he truly decided for being her Guardian. She adapted to the behavior of every single close friend she had – so, she wouldn't handle him easygoing, since he needed clearly someone who was strong-minded like him.

Not blenching, he confirmed his decision. (Even if he as an almost immortal being shouldn't decide for succumbing the flow of time, which would take away his friends some day, so that he would be left alone... Without his buddies – without Melody...) He WANTED to live again.

~ C ~

He sighed. Stared into the water below the place where he stood.

Until the moment, when he became officially her companion, he would love to erase everything which was happened before. Because only, when he, as Reshiram, found a new worthy chosen one, Zekrom alias Seonar and himself could finally live out their friendship. The old man, like Secenos called him furthermore, was the best buddy he could imagine, since he accepted his strange manner and didn't even complain about it. It wasn't even necessary, to show Seonar, that he was his friend – because the old man simply knew about the white dragons feelings. Additionally, their protégés formed a friendship, too, so that the dragons could truly found peace, since the bond of both humans had turned out like a big-sister-little-brother-relationship.

To be honest, the relationship of all of them had developed in a good way. Surely, N was in Secenos' eyes more a mascot than anything else, but because Melody truly accepted the naive, strange boy, Secenos appreciated every time they spent together. And even, when he didn't admit in some way, how glad he was about this, it relieved himself, that Seonar looked at Melody as his second favorite human being. Secenos never understand, how this was possible, but somehow his protégé wasn't bound to the chains of deciding for only one side – she simply preferred truth AND ideals.

Thinking about it, he dove again into his memorization...

~ C ~

After Melody and his buddies defeated the elite four, for him began the typical kind of living, too. But as a newbie of the young Adept, he wasn't ready for the true routine of her Guardians, so he had to experience for the first time, what it really meant to be quasi her student. Because his friends and also himself were strong enough for it, Melody increased the practice-level, which already reached a shape far from every ordinary expectation. More power; more speed; more self-thinking; more responsibility – and as the most important thing: More skills appeared on the training-plan. Telepathy and floating were today, when it came to the 'dimensional level', an indispensable base, which was why the sky-blue-haired girl trained her friends a lot before allowing them considered, to work and fight by themselves in other worlds or even dimensions for truthful peace.

They had to become coequal to the powerful abilities of their foes –

otherwise, they could never travel safe through the worlds.

~ C ~

While she trained them, Secenos started to think about a condign gift for her as his 'owned human', because it wasn't fair in his eyes when only N possessed something from his dragon-benefactor. However... He didn't know, what this present should be. Not even knowing the true degree of Melodys power, the white dragon had no idea, how he could confirm, that she belonged to him. After all, how could someone support an already balanced, elemental being like her...?

~ C ~

Since he was a 'club member', Melody told him much more stuff about her past as well as things, which happened outside of Unova. In this world – and in others plus all the dimensions she knew, so that these information allowed him to be more up-to-date after his long, Unova-focused 'sleep'. Not, that everything the girl had to explain made the white dragon happy... She was a friend for many creatures, who Reshiram would never trust thanks to his skepticism. Especially the beings, who belonged to the Legendaries these days, triggered discontent in his mind. Foreign existences like holy dragons or superior spirits from other dimensions didn't matter, but other Pokémon who were equal to him annoyed Secenos, because he had needed millenniums to trust one single human. So, it frustrated him to hear, that Melody didn't catch those beings, but was a friend of them, BEFORE he was ready to give humankind another chance.

However, there was an catching-exception... One, that over-strained him.

The very first legendary Pokémon, who she had met, was also a Guardian of her.

Secenos learned about this, when he recognized an ordinary blue, but special ocarina she owned. The instrument had not only a strange presence, but also the ability of creating multiple sounds in the same time. Above all, this kind of flute could imitate the sound of other instruments, so that he wanted to know, how Melody obtained that mysterious artefact. She told him, that this ocarina was the treasure of the heart of her best friend – the only Legendary she had caught before Secenos, because this Pokémon alias Guardian had chosen her by choice as his 'master'. (Her best friend believed paradoxically, that they were destiny-given companions, since he was once enchained by an inherited duty, from which only she – his true chosen one – was formerly able to free him.)

Astonished by those confusing facts, Secenos didn't knew, how to react. Not mentioning again Melodys other Legendary – not asking more questions, he couldn't stop nevertheless to think about her mysterious friend. Certainly he showed nobody his unsettledness and tried to ignore that topic for now, but... Even after three days, he wanted to know, who his rival was...

Was it an almost eternal being, like himself...?

~ C ~

A few days later, he got hustle into a surprising situation. For the first time, he met one of her experienced Guardians. Not anybody, but someone special – the Legendary. This guy appeared abruptly, while she and her Unova-Guardians trained near to Undella Town. Secenos was puzzled – since he didn't expect Melodys so-called best friend to be a Lugia. Knowing this species a little bit, he had trouble to imagine, why such a human-shy being wanted to stay with someone like her; someone like an Adept. So, he hold himself initially back, while his protégé and buddies talked excited with their 'commendable companion'.

Melodys Lugia bore the name Natit – and was not only her first legendary fellow in this world, but also the very first Guardian she had met (though she didn't caught him at once). Because of that, their connection was really strong, so that the dragonbird couldn't stay away from her any longer, which was the reason, why he took a little holiday from his duties as a leading Guardian. Questioning, if it was alright for the Unova-Guardians to share Melody slightly with him, Natit got because of that considerateness instantly the sympathy of Secenos' buddies. But Reshiram, however, was reserved as well as preferred to wait and see.

~ C ~

The first thing Secenos understood about this Lugia was the point, that the dragonbird had a soul, which was different from every other Pokémon. Natit had a human soul – and the ability, to switch into the shape of his soul-self. This turned him not only into a non-ordinary shape-shifter, but in a Pokémon that was equal to pure humans. Something, which was completely unknown for Secenos. The 100 years old dragonbird was like his personal opposite: Not eternal; blessed with a REAL second form. (As a human, he was a young man around 18 years – fitted the fact, that he was young for a Lugia, since the species reached normally an age of 200 years. Additionally, he possessed silver-white hair – and the same animalistic, nevertheless gentle caramel-colored eyes he already had in his original form. Plus, he wore clothes in a similar style to Melodys 'battle-clothes'.) Frustrated because of this news, it made Secenos secretly angry to recognize in the following night, that Melody allowed Natit to sleep next to her – while he was in human shape.

But well, he wasn't in the position to refuse the practiced Guardian, which was why he gave him exactly the same chance like he gave his buddies once. As a result of this attempt, Reshiram learned step by step about Natits personality in the following days. The Lugia was initially a little bit shy, but notedly gentle and very polite. Additionally, he was quite strong-minded if necessary. Above all, the dragonbird was an intelligent being. Constantly sensitive as well as empathic. However, truly noteworthy (in Secenos' eyes) was the fact, that Natit loved music in the same intensity like he did. The humanely Lugia possessed great abilities as a drummer – and also some skills as a singer, though Natit was too shy for singing in front of a larger audience. Well, as long as he liked to play the drums always, Secenos didn't mind since he favored a skilled drummer as a 'partner'.

The white dragon slowly started to tolerate the Lugia more and more in the same way, like he accepted Melodys Unova-Pokémon. After the first five days the dragonbird spent with all of them, Secenos got used to the thought, that he could 'share' Melody with the sensitive Lugia as soon as he and his buddies would become skilled enough for the true routine of Guardians, so that they would finally live together with their 'role models'.

~ C ~

But there was one thing – the most important thing about Natit – which wasn't easy to accept for Secenos as a doubtfully being with no real grasp for others. He could not even tolerate it, at first. Because it shocked Secenos too much to learn early; after the fifth day, that Melody and her Lugia shared an unusual bond. An almost abnormal bond. They owned a connection to each other, like only two humans OR two Pokémon had. They were together. Loved each other.

Reshiram reacted not, when he saw for the first time, that his protégé kissed Natit in human form, but the confusion inside of him was enormous. Secenos had never heard before, that a human loved a Pokémon – especially not a Legendary like a Lugia. As Pokémon were not as strict as humankind, the dragon had a lot of trouble with Melodys decision, to allow an animalistic being like this one to be her boyfriend. After all, it was obviously, that she was the reason why the overcareful Lugia dared to outlive his feelings for her. Without her volition, Natit had never accepted his emotions – this was for sure, because the Lugia was Reshirams opposite. He cared for the opinions of others. And so, Secenos didn't know, what he should think about this relationship with his protégé in charge for the final decision, to make it official. Perhaps he could tolerate it, since Natit wasn't that bad, but accepting was a completely different thing.

~ C ~

Although, he had no interest into Natits past, he wanted to know, how their love worked in a world, where such a kind of partnership was absolute not common. So, Secenos invested some attention into everything the sky-blue-haired girl and the humanely Lugia told his very curious buddies; including Jyarohda the Serperior who was eager to get to know the dragonbird. As a result, Reshiram discovered thanks to a few narrations betimes, that many people – even clients of this little organization in which Melody was – refused Natit starting from the moment they heard about his relationship with his trainer. Those people were not only from this world, so that it was clear, that the human species had mostly a problem with non-human partners and not with shape-shifters, so that the dragonbirds soul couldn't change anything about the factor of his true form. Above all, his soul as well as his personality made Natit more human than some members of the species itself, which was why his detractors disliked him even more. In their opinion, it was just a forbidden thing to allow someone like a Pokémon or general an animalistic being to love a human.

Those information irritated Secenos. Because probably nobody questioned Melody in this situation, though it was her decision to accept this bond. And to realize, that Natit was too soft for arguing with those stupid people, made it only worse. Made Reshiram privily irate thanks to the point, that the dragonbird – as the only one in charge for this relationship – had to protect his so-called love, if it was truly important for him. Surely, Secenos had no idea about those emotions which Melody and Natit shared – he didn't understand them, but even he could tell, that the Lugia had to be more self-confident and determined to confirm his feelings when people criticized him.

Because of Natits (too great) gentleness, Secenos started to feel torn with a decision, if he should support the dragonbird or not. After all, though he knew Natits place in Melodys life, Secenos didn't care really about him as her mate, as the Legendary was too sensitive and beyond that futile social when it came to other beings. Why, WHY should a strong being CARE about harmless humans...? Or creatures with the same, idiotic opinion...? With that question in his head, Reshiram wasn't able to adore the Lugia, like the other Unova-Guardians. Of course, Secenos might accept Natit as a high-ranking Guardian, but with that lack of pride or rather ego in the Lugias personality, he didn't look up to him as an equal personage. Couldn't respect Natits positive characteristics.

~ C ~

Natit left them after two weeks because of his duty as a leading Guardian. Despite his skepticism, Secenos got nevertheless so used to him in this shot period, that he had to realize now, how much someone as week as the Lugia could affect him, if they just spent a little time together. Because he – the proud dragon of truth – started truly to miss this sensitive guy, even when he negated that. Annoyed by himself, he started to wonder, what this girl he had chosen did with his way to look at others as well as the whole world. Because he was never before so mollycoddled, that he could begin to be fond of a (in character) weaker being.

However... Provoked by Natits status alias impressive powers as well as the fact, that he was Melodys closest friend and also partner, Reshiram wanted to become quickly as strong as him. ASAP, to be correctly. It was a matter of pride, not to stay behind, when his target or rather rival was such a soft and useless gentle person. Because of his decision, Secenos started to push himself much more in battles than ever before. The same in training, which caused his own body to reach it's limits very often. Doing so was hard, surely, but the results were in exchange formidable.

Besides of a little extra motivation, Natit had helped him in secret with something else. Inspired by the Lugias treasure of the heart – the magical ocarina, which the dragonbird had formed with energy of his own heart as a gift for his very own chosen one, Secenos developed an idea, what kind of present he could give Melody. And this would be even more useful, than Seonars gift for N. Similar to his dark counterpart, Reshiram created a weapon. But not, to allow his protégé to profit by the dragons regular power. What Secenos formed, was a treasure of his own heart – with energy, that came from his changeable spirit. Those energy fitted Melody in the same way, like the treasure of Natit, which supported the young woman's fondness for music. The only difference was, that Reshirams gift assisted or rather reflected her abilities as an Adept. Perfectly, it changed it's shape depending on the element she used. It became manifest in a long rapier for earth-, a scythe for fire-, a large staff for water- and a crossbow for wind-power. Though, the sky-blue-haired girl normally preferred to fight without weapons, she was – like he had expected – very grateful for this gift.

~ C ~

One day in Lacunosa Town, when they met N and Seonar again, something unexpected happened. Unsuspecting, the two dragons in human shape walked together with their protégés through Lacunosa's central, when suddenly the Shadow Triad appeared. One of them explained dismissive, that Ghetsis wanted to see N as well as his friends in the Giant Chasm – immediately.

In spite of a very bad feeling, the four friends did what the Shadow Triad relayed to them, because it was too dangerous to ignore an unpredictable like N's adoptive father. When they arrived shortly after the chasm, Ghetsis demanded revenge – as expected. But against expectation, he controlled nobody else but Kyurem, Secenos' second counterpart, with his strange scepter.

The ice-dragon tried instantly because of Ghetsis' order to absorb Seonar, but Secenos prevented him from doing so. Unfortunately, the white dragon sacrificed himself for Zekrom with that action, so that Kyurem took now his energy and almost entire soul. In order to reach a much stronger form; to become White-Kyurem. He attacked N, the weakened Seonar and Melody at once, who could only create a barrier to protect themselves, since she didn't want to hurt Kyurem.

Abruptly, a blond man in a lab coat appeared. Dodging the Shadow Triad, he told her breathless, that her dragon was still alive inside of Kyurem – and that both dragons could yet become rescued. Listening to him, Melody used her mental powers while praying. When her gentle energy infiltrated his body, the bond between her and Secenos reached Kyurems heart. Feeling this, Kyurem became with that strength able to destroy Ghetsis' control. He destroyed a few machines which attacked because of the Shadow Triad's order, before he set the weakened Secenos free.

Now, the three dragons fought together with Melody, N and the blond wearer of glasses against Ghetsis and his followers. Their new coat-companion turned out to be a skilled trainer – as well as a former acquaintance of N's 'father'. But he had stopped following him, when Kyurem became random his friend. And so, the scientist known as Colress was an enemy of the cruel man, too.

~ C ~

However, the final battle against Ghetsis ended up into the second deadly peril in Secenos' life. Though, he was the one who destroyed Ghetsis' scepter as well as sealed some parts of the man's maleficent mind, he had to pay for this. When he began to lose his awareness because of a strong backstroke, his subconscious mind was flood by his mysterious scar with painful sensations. Plus, that thing caused him to feel for the first time weak feelings like anxiety, despair and depression in a human way, so that his whole existence started pretended to expire by the mental damage.

Once again, Melody rescued him. Protected him from his pain – as well as the Shadow Triad, who wanted to destroy the being which ruined Ghetsis' mastermind. But this time, he was conscious, when she became different. Secenos experienced finally, that she was no ordinary Adept. Knowing meanwhile a lot about the world Weyard, he understand quick, who she was. And what that meant. While she healed him, he realized, that even when she belonged to a new plus much stronger generation of Adepts, she had to bear alone a heavy burden. The burden of the first person who must protect all innocent lives with her own existence. She was the current Sol-Adept. A powerful and responsible Adept – the keeper of the power of a spirit, who rested in the soul of his bearer. Named after the sun, Sol, this eternal spirit had a form similar to the four elemental stars – and possessed like them a pure essence of energy.

Blessed with this power, it was no wonder, that Melody could create almost miracles. Protected him – all of them, even when she was as exhausted as them. Not even the Shadow Triad could beat her with their mysterious negative energy, since her pure, golden energy was too strong for them. Cursing the young woman, the three man were forced to vanish together with their disabled leader. Indeed they promised her, that they would have revenge, but she ignored that while healing all of her tattered friends, who marveled her appearance with that white dress and open hair-strands. Colress and Kyurem alias Sephurne used the chance, to offer her the same relation like she and N already shared, which Melody accepted smiling.

~ C ~

In the next days, while he recovered from the fight, Secenos recognized, that Sephurne owned even a stronger connection to Melody, than Seonar did. With her help, he could become White-Kyurem per will. This seemed to be his special talent, since he couldn't switch into a human shape like his counterparts did all the time. However, the white dragon didn't like the possibility, a third being could choose her, which was why he had always an eye on Kyurem whenever he approached her. But luckily, Sephurne didn't dare to decide for her, so that Secenos could relax and enjoy the fact, that all of them – all parts of the Original Dragon – were reunited.

~ C ~

Maugre a few tries of his protégé, Melody couldn't heal Secenos' scar even with the use of her last remaining secret. And so – since this day, when they had defeated Ghetsis and his scar ran amok, some human feelings alias week sensations became an occasional returning punishment of him. Whenever his ego started to lose his mental strength and gave this 'sickness' space, his existence started to adapt temporarily human characteristics in an ill way. And this was for a higher, almost immortal being like him pure poison.

But he didn't care. Because he was too glad, to know finally, how she could save him back then in N's castle. And why she was mental even strong enough to switch his shape. As a Sol-Adept, surely, she wasn't like the others, which was the reason why she normally kept that secret, but apart from her special state, she was because of that a little more similar to him. She was truly different – which strengthened his decision to appoint her as his chosen one.

~ C ~

Secenos closed his eyes.

Gradually, he started to feel tired. Respectively sleepy.

Since a few weeks, he and his Unova-friends were finally true Guardians, who did the whole job. Protected others, helped them with lots of stuff and so on. They were even moved from this region to the place where Melody lived normally with her Guardian-friends. A small villa on a nameless, scenic island with only two buildings (this and a clinic) besides of a beautiful, natural landscape. Surely a wonderful place... if he could only ignore the stupid fact, that he had turned out to be the black sheep for the older members of 'Team Guardian'. While Natit liked him, everybody else didn't even accept him by Melodys side. Caring for the Lugia, his friends rejected Secenos completely, because he 'aspired in an unfair way to have Melody for his own'.

He grinned black-hearted. As if those Pokémon knew, what he really tried... After all, he-

"Secenos!"

Hearing the serene voice without any warning let him quiver a little, since he hadn't pay attention anymore to his environment.

He turned slowly around. His eyes confirmed, that she finally arrived his special place next to Liberty Pier. Wearing a common casual outfit and her hair plaited into two long braids, Melody approached him – brightly smiling at his motionless face.