A.N/The stunning conclusion for the long put off pirate royale saga. For those who had faith that I would one day finish this, and end up reading this-I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Green:

The long abated moment was finally here. Green could vaguely hear the wedding bells as Crystal appeared at the door, her eyes scanning the ground and her long lashes hiding her frustration. She's wearing a snow white lace gown with a ridiculously long train, and all Green can think about is the number of Beautifly's that had been needlessly sacrificed for the matter. He sighs, and is rewarded by a knowing (not knowing) smile from King Oak, and a rough nudge to his side by Ruby, who understands his sigh, was not one of awe. "Smile." Ruby hisses, and Green realizes he's been clenching his teeth. He can only manage to relax his jaw.

Crystal could care less of the matter. She can't feel much, and she doesn't dare look up. She can see the edge of her veil, blurry by tears she is swallowing. She can vaguely feel King Elm's arm around hers as they take step after dreaded step.

"We gather here today in celebration of the matrimony between…."

Ruby wrings his handkerchief discreetly behind his back, fighting the urge to bite his cheek or worse: scream. Between Crystal staring at where her feet should be under that monster of a gown and Green staring at any blank space he can, Ruby can't imagine this wedding getting any more worse. Somebody just shoot them already…

And like a blessing, a shot rings through the air.

In a split second, King Oak is on the ground, blood pooling. People are screaming, ducking and running, and Green and Crystal are suddenly wide awake. Ruby is gaping, all of a sudden loathing himself for this improbable twist by the universe. It's nothing but chaos as pirates descend on the ceremony, and Ruby can't help but feel the déjà vu as he's grabbed and gagged by less than cleanly hands.

Green reaches for the sword in his garter, but he's stopped by the faint feeling of a barrel to the back of his head, the head of the pistol still warm and smoking from the shot that had his father lying dead. He watches Crystal grabbed, her screaming and kicking useless as they take her away.

"Congratulations Prince Green." Giovanni smiles mirthlessly, his yellow teeth grinding. "Not for the wedding or becoming the new heir or anything. That'll be me you see."

"Then to what do I owe your Congratulations" Green wants to laugh, but he's frozen. His father lays on the ground mere feet from him, and there is nothing he can do.

"It's time to say The End"

And then everything goes black.

12 HOURS EARLIER

Emerald:

Emerald sat in the dark of his cell, in worse shape after Ariana had whipped for him for his little "escape attempt" but Emerald couldn't help but smile. He had done it. He had done something.

"Godspeed little bird. If I can do it….so can you"

And then Emerald breathed his last, content in having fought for what he loved.

The bird flew.

Higher in the sky, it put Icarus to shame, it's small wings touching the setting sun. And whether it was the wind or the gods, somehow, magically, it found its destination. Exhausted, the bird fell from its lofty heavens, into the waiting hands of the cabin boy who quickly unwrapped the letter, heart torn between the health of the heroic messenger, and the alarming message he had brought.

The message was passed to the second mate. Gold eyes grew wide as they scanned and rescanned Latin words, the message becoming clearer and more terrifying by the second. She was in trouble, and something had to be done.

Tripping over his feet, Gold nears runs into his Captains door, his heart in his throat. It takes a long minute before Red appears with sleepy eyes and dark circles, still only in his undergarments. Words fail Gold as he thrusts the small slip of paper into Red's hands. His eyes darken quickly, all of a sudden fully awake, as he rushes back into his quarters, Gold following suit.

"Set the Ship to Portside immediately, we don't have much time." Red orders as he puts on his shirt. Gold nods as he helps him into his coat.

"Are we-?"

"Preparing for battle? Yes. This might be a suicide mission, but I'll take it dammit. I'm too personally invested." Red pauses before turning back to Gold. "Tell the crew that those who wish to volunteer to fight to protect the Castle are welcome by my side. I cannot expect my men to have to fight for such awful leaders. But if they believe in a rightful cause of peace, then by all means."

Gold can't help but smirk as he stops by the door.

"Rightful cause of peace? If you keep telling yourself that maybe you'll actually believe it." Gold stops, and then mutters under his breath- so quietly that Red almost misses it:

"They'll be ok. They have to be ok".

When Crystal opens her eyes, she is met with darkness. Her head is throbbing, and when she reaches up, she feels stickiness at her scalp that leaves a searing and sharp pain - causing her to inadvertently cry out.

"You're Highness? Are you awake?"

"Green?" She pauses, but a hand touches her arm, feather soft.

"Yes, are you ok? That's quite the nasty hit you took there." He says softly, "Best not touch it."

In the darkness, it further pronounces the raggedness of his voice, and the weight of their situation falls heavily on her shoulders.

"Pirates, that was-that was Giovanni, wasn't it? He's a wanted man in this hemisphere! Your father-the King-?"

"My father is dead." Green near spits, and Crystal's heart skips a beat. King Oak….dead? Her hand balls up into fists at the irony of the situation. How many times as a child had she prayed and wished to hear such news? And now, in the most inopportune time, it was the last thing she had ever thought would cause her eyes to sting.

"Oh Green…..I'm…..I'm so sorry." Crystal offers, voice wavering. Her hand is still sticky with blood, and the room is pitch black, but despite Green's silent demeanor, she somehow knows in her heart that his eyes no longer remain dry as well. Carefully she reaches out and finds his hand, squeezing it. Green doesn't squeeze back, but he doesn't jerk his hand away either. They sit in the silence, the cold, the dark- and await a fate similar in sleep to the one they were currently experiencing awake; hell.

Red and his crew are welcomed by the ghost of a widowed town. The streets are littered with hanging flowers and streamers, and soft breeze wafts through the streets, promising the onset of summer on a spring day. But as the group rushes to the castle (mysteriously un-impeded) through the streets, the ominous signs are clear. The streets that should have been littered with happy citizens, music, dance and drink, are empty- as if plucked from the scene, and leaving only a pretty backdrop. Stealing horses from the first stable they cross is not even an afterthought, and no one stops them as they ride to the castle, breaking out of a trot and into a gallop as soon as they hit the main road into the castle.

As the spires get higher and higher, Red's conviction grows stronger.

Please. Please let her be ok. Please let me get there in time….

Please. Don't be dead.

I am coming for you. I need to tell you, that I need you by my side-that you make me feel things I never have before.

That I think that I love you.

If one thing was clear, as they rushed through the town, the whispering behind quickly shutting doors and windows were all the same.

King Oak was dead.

The Captain brings his horse to a stop before the gates of the castle. Flowers and ribbons decorate the entrance-way, and the long strips of silk flutter delicately in the wind. In contrast, the mutilated bodies of the guards lay slumped against the wall. There's flowers woven into their hairs and chain mail and ribbons, now stained red, on the spears in celebration of a wedding that never happened. It humanizes them in a way that Blue hates and she can't help but look away.

"Alright Men. Giovanni is here, and it seems like we've missed the majority of the slaughter- but that doesn't mean we still can't fix this." Red says.

"Knowing Giovanni, he probably only brought a couple dozen men, and used the advantage of stealth to take the castle. I can't imagine he's expecting us so we should use that to our advantage." Blue responds, and Red nods, turning to Silver.

"Silver, you know Giovanni better than any of us- any idea of what his plan is?"

Silver grimaces. "He's really aimed high on this one. I never thought he would even dare something like this. But it makes sense I suppose. Using the confusion caused by us and then the last minute rush to have this wedding to attack while the Nobility were disorganized. I can't imagine he wants the kingdom or anything. He's probably currently raiding the castle before Kanto troops get here. I'm sure they've heard the news by now, and they certainly won't be far."

"Captain, give us orders-we need to get inside and do something, now. I can't stand just sitting here anymore!" Gold nearly growls in hostility, and Red can feel the similar anger just under the surface bubbling inside him. Red closes his eyes, takes a deep breath, turning back to Silver.

"Would Giovanni have killed the Royals? And if not, what we he do with them, take them hostage?"

Silver pauses, thinking. "Giovanni is ruthless, and knowing him- I don't think he wants to copy the hostage game you played. Honestly if I were him, I would kill them all and…Oh."

"Oh what" Blue looks over concerned as Silver's calm demeanor slips.

"This is a trap. We've played right into his hands."

"Any sign of him?"

"Not yet sir, but word is the Red captain's ship was spotted at port near an hour ago. He's close sir."

"And the Kanto Army? Surely they have heard of the death of their king."

"Enroute. I'd estimate their ships arriving in an hour or two."

Giovanni smiles, lifting up his sword to examine it in the light. "Petrel, Tell the others to prepare to engage in Battle."

"Yes sir"

"And let it be warned that anyone who gets in the way of the Red Captain will answer to me. That man is mine."

"Yes sir."

"So let me get this straight. Giovanni is going to use us taking back the castle as an excuse to kill whatever hostage's he has left, and then he's going to pin the entire take down of the wedding and the death of King Oak on us..?" Sapphire says hesitantly.

Silver nods. "Yes. At least-I think so? I mean with the Johto army on the way, and knowing we have stake in this, I bet he thinks he can delay us here just long enough before the Kanto army arrives. It'll be a blood bath" Silver shivers.

"But what about Giovanni's men?" Gold asks, "Won't they got caught in the fight too?"

Blue shakes her head. "Like Giovanni cares about his men. If Silver's right, I'll bet you anything Giovanni himself will quietly escape just at the right time."

A/N: The following are my personal notes that summarizes the rest of the story:

Despite the fact that this is a trap, Captain Red decides to go in any way to save the Prince and Princess, (and hopefully also Ruby and Yellow as well). Since Gold knows the castle (as he has been here before, and Red knows about his past) he is asked to lead a small group inside the Castle. Red, Blue, Gold, Silver and Sapphire, along the rest of the crew infiltrate the castle. They decide to split up. Blue and Gold go together to the Dungeons where they find Green and Crystal. It's initially awkward, but the four get into battle mode quickly (there's no time for a sweet reunion now). Green exclaims that he's surprised: they were 'the last people he was expecting to save them'. Blue glances away and says that "It's complicated." Green and Crystal are given pistols and knives that Blue and Gold were carrying extra of- and just in time too before they run into Petrel and 4 of Giovanni's men. They engage in battle.

Meanwhile, Red, Silver, and Sapphire begin looking for Giovanni. The run into Mars, who draws her pistol but Silver draws faster and shoots her with his pistol, proving to be a surprisingly good shot/fighter (considering all Sapphire's ever seen him do is make and read maps). Finally the arrive to the throne room (not inconspicuously, as they've slaughtered a handful of Giovanni's men on the way there.) The three face off with Giovanni, and Giovanni and Silver have a brief moment, were Giovanni regrets being Silver's father due to Silver's defection to the Red Captain's side. Sapphire is shocked to hear this secret, but cannot remain so for long as she notices Ruby and Yellow tied up near Giovanni's feet. They are both bloodied and mangled, and have clearly been tortured. Sapphire and Silver rush to their aid, engaging in battle with the handful of men Giovanni has posted with him. Red stares at Yellow, and their eyes meet for a brief second. Yellow takes note that she almost can't recognize Red, and that this is where the bloodthirsty Red Captain of Legend must come from. As the fight thickens around them, Red challenges Giovanni to a duel, one on one, sword. Giovanni happily agrees, and they draw their swords. Outside a commotion grows, it is the Kantonian army entering the castle.

Meanwhile, Green, Blue, and Gold are struggling to fight off their attackers, but they seem to have it under control. Princess Crystal is pushed behind Gold, as Gold actively tries to protect her due to her lack of fighting skills. It seems as if they are winning, but suddenly: Gold is stabbed in the stomach. Crystal is distraught as she catches him, cradling Gold in her arms as Blue and Green now fight back to back to pick up the slack. In this moment, Crystal confesses that she knows who Gold truly is, and that she's sorry. She doesn't know what for, but she feels as if Gold had been wronged, and that it was her fault. Gold smiles, and with small movements, beckons that she lean close so that he may whisper something in her ear. She does, and before she can turn, Gold kisses her gently on the mouth, a near brush of lips. "I've always wanted to do that." He says, and then promptly passes out. Blue and Green kill the last remaining Pirate before turning to Crystal and the wounded Gold, but Crystal beckons them that they go on, saying that she will stay with Gold and tend to his wounds. Reluctantly, they leave her and Gold in the dungeon, promising to return. Crystal waits quietly in the dark, tearing off bits of her dress to stopper the blood, and praying that they all make it out of here alive.

Blue and Green rush through the halls, and out of one of the windows see the first of the Kantonian Army arriving. Blue tells Green he needs to go rally with the Army to explain what had happened (the last thing the nations need is a further misunderstanding), but before Green can leave, they are stopped by Arianna and two more pirate grunts. Green begins to draw his pistol but Blue stops him, yelling at him to run, and rendezvous with the incoming army. Blue claims she'll handle all three by herself-and before Green can object, Blue pushes him out the nearby door, and deadbolts the door. They take one long last look at each other through the glass, before Green mouths a "Thank You" and rushes away. Blue reveals that her Ditto is with her, masquerading as a dagger, and the two prepare for battle.

Meanwhile the Battle in the great hall is getting thicker. Red's men and Giovanni's men are clashing with swords and the occasional pistols. Sapphire and Silver are fighting with swords and Ruby and Yellow have somehow procured a curtain rod and a spear (respectfully). Meanwhile, Red and Giovanni are fighting as well, and seem to be equally matched. Their swords make loud clanging noises, and they are given a wide breadth in battle.

Green reaches the Kanto Army just as they reach the castle gate. They almost shoot him on accident, but they are stopped when the head of the charge orders it. Princess Daisy jumps off her horse, and rushes to her brother, colliding into a tight embrace with him. She asks him to confirm the death of the King, and Green does. Daisy becomes visibly upset, but rallies herself, telling her men to prepare for battle- but Green stops her, telling her that Johto didn't actually betray them, and that pirates played a hand in the cause of this mess. Green beckons the support of the militants into the castle, and as the burst into the great hall, they are just in time to witness Red use one last blow to take Captain Giovanni's life.

After that the Kantonian Army secures the castle quickly. The use of a mass stun spore during the initial attack by Giovanni had left almost all of the Johotoian castle guards, the small group of Kanto guards, and the rest of the noble assembly immobile. In this poisoned state, King Elm, Platina, Dia, Pearl, and many other such guards and nobles had been ted up, drugged, and thrown into the cellar. After the battle, these people are rescued.

Blue sustained a badly injured left leg due to her fight with Arianna before Green and Kanto soldiers came back for her.

Gold was in critical condition, but was being treated. Princess Crystal refused to leave his side until his eyes finally opened.

The following days were somber. The Red Captain and his crew remained in the castle as their comrades were treated. Their previous transgressions were ignored as Prince Green and Princess Crystal publicly recognized their bravery and heroic efforts in re-securing the castle.

Many meetings were held within the next couple days, involving the Kanto and Johto Nobles who were present, with the Red Captain mediating. King Oak's funeral was quiet and somber, and after such an event, neither side felt it in them to point fingers and blame.

The day after King Oak's funeral, Daisy visited her brother's makeshift chambers to discuss his future as the new King of Kanto, only to find an empty room and a formally signed will renouncing Green's claim to throne to his older sister, Daisy. It also gave his personal blessing and approval for Bill and Daisy's martial union. The castle and town were searched but Prince Green was long gone. Blue was missing too, but for some reason when asked about it, Red didn't seem worried. "Blue? I'm sure she's just fine" He would say. "Honestly, I picture her better than fine." That very week, Bill and Daisy were married and coronated as Kanto's reigning King and Queen. In the years to come, their reign would be looked back as the most kindest, peaceful, and prosperous the land had ever seen.

Days turned into weeks turned into months. Princess Crystal, Gold, and Red began working more closely with King Elm to attack the issues between the two nations. They decided to split up and personally go from village to village to serve the people, mend the actions of the nobility, and help those who had suffered for so long because of the war. Red and Yellow decided to go to Kanto, while Crystal, Gold, and Silver remained in Johto. Platina, Dia, and Pearl helped in Johto too of course!

For Crystal and Gold, there was much to catch up on. Gold came clean to Crystal about his past, and over the course of their journey, the two fell in love. Upon returning, Crystal asked Gold if he would be willing to go back to his old life, and the old marriage plan for the symbolic sake of the two kingdoms. Gold laughed, and whined about how such a serious proposal fit such a serious gal. But Gold agreed. It was quite the scandal (Gold returning to life and all that), but the original plan (Gold and Crystal's reunion) was reinstated, and by the end of the year, Gold and Crystal were happily married. Silver and the Sinnoh trio stay in the castle, and serve the King and Queen happily for the rest of their lives. Soul and Silver end up becoming unlikely friends and more.

Now pardoned of his sins by both the Kanto and Johto region, Red found himself no longer wishing on himself the dangerous outlaw life. There was no reason to play vigilante either. The people were happier, and peace was becoming a promising thing over the horizon. Falling in love with Yellow happened slowly and gently-like falling asleep, but eventually the two found it in each other to confess. Five years later, you can find the once feared Red Captain, and a simple handmaiden named Yellow living together in a large house filled with children on the Kanto shoreline. Red and Yellow are known to take any and all orphans, and shower them with love and hope. They also have a quite curious number of Pikachu…

Ruby and Sapphire served King Gold and Queen Crystal for 5 years after they ascended the throne, but the fated day came when the two of them couldn't stay still anymore. As much as they hated to, the King and Queen happily granted their friends ships and supplies as they set out in search of a mystical beast, known only as a Milotic. Ruby and Sapphire embarked on many misadventures on their journey, finding new lands, new Pokemon, and making new friends. The continued to do so until they both grew old and grey.

And yes, those two oblivious geeks did end up together eventually, but you can imagine the frustrations of their crew at how long it took the two of them to figure it out.

10 years later

It's raining, and its late-but there is a knock on Red and Yellow's cottage door. Not unknown to a child being left at their doorstep at such a time, they rush to open it, only to find two vaguely familiar faces.

Red is met with arms thrown around his neck. Over the familiar brunette's shoulder he can just see the once heir to the Kanto throne holding a small sleeping child in his arms. Green smiles softly, as Blue pulls back, tears in her eyes as she apologizes profusely for leaving so suddenly so long ago.

Sitting by the fire, (Yellow now holding the child that she personally can't decide looks more like his mother or father), Blue and Green recount their elopement ("Why do you have to call it eloping?" Green mutters angrily as Blue giggles, nudging him. "Oh come now, you loved me then, and you love me now!" She exclaims, and Green can't stop the corners of his lips upturning).

Green and Blue explain that after Green decided he didn't want the throne, he had asked Blue to accompany him in disguise to the tour the countryside of both nations. "I was tired of the politics and just sitting around doing nothing, helping no one. I wanted to make a difference." Green explains. With the coronation looming so closely, they had no choice but to leave that very night, ("Which explains the sparse note you left me" Red tells Blue, chuckling). In the years that had past, they had traveled long and far, and in their own way, helped those who needed it-

"Well until Turquoise came along" Blue says, slipping a gentle hand into the sleeping child's hair to pet it gently. The child is small, Yellow guesses that he can't be more than 2.

"Our lifestyle. Well it's not meant for a child." Green says quietly.

"You can't mean you wish to leave the boy here before continuing on your journey?" Yellow says suddenly, the fear bubbling quickly at the thought of losing friends as soon as they'd arrived, but Blue quickly shakes her head.

"No! No, not at all! I guess…" Blue looks over at Green, "We thought, a quiet town like this, like Pallet would be as good as any place to just settle down, and just start...living." Their eyes meet, and through the dim light, Red sees Green squeeze Blue's hand. Red smiles.

"Yes. Yes, Pallet is indeed a lovely place."

And after that, you can imagine, that everyone lived happily ever after.

THE END

I'm sorry I took so long to finish this. But I promised that I would, didn't I? I doubt anyone follow this story anymore but even if one person reads this and finds enjoyment in the ending- that will make me happy. Thank you all for your support and kind words when I needed it.

If you have any questions about the end or would like to follow me on social media I'm more active on, feel free to comment here, or follow or ask me things at my tumblr: solidaduniverse