literature

Four Years: Chapter 3

Deviation Actions

CrystalLotus98's avatar
Published:
2.3K Views

Literature Text

Over the next two months White's attitude had improved dramatically. She didn't need those pills to deal with her depression as much anymore, and she could actually be seen skipping and humming throughout the castle in her euphoria. It was like she had suddenly turned into an entirely different girl. For N this was a remarkable improvement compared to how she acted previously. For the first time in their marriage they could have a conversation without White threatening to harm him in any sort of physical way- although she still kicked him out of her room whenever he said something that rubbed her the wrong way. They weren't quite friends yet, but they were so close to reaching that stage that N could practically taste it, and his soon-to-be best friend was White which made it all the more meaningful. She was different than the other girls that N had met- she was special. It was easy to understand why her Pokemon all loved her so much and were so protective of her.

If there one thing that irked N, it was that White had been exchanging letters with the Subway Masters. Despite everything that N had told her -or at least tried to tell her- she didn't want to believe that those two were evil. Apparently they were a sore spot for her, a very sore spot, since her temper always flared up whenever N said something negative about those two. While it was true that White had been friends with them for much, much longer than she had N, she didn't need them anymore. The only friends she needed were N and her Pokemon. Besides, what kind of Princess persisted in being friends with the bad guys? White's attitude towards the Subway Masters was just another facet of her personality that N just couldn't wrap his mind around and find the answer to. Regardless, at the most, White's (almost obsessive) desire to be friends with those two was just a phase, she would get over it eventually and see those two as the evil villains that they truly were. Ghetsis said so, and Ghetsis was always right.

White just needed some more convincing, she needed to spend some more time with someone who was actually her friend, which is what N had set out to do that afternoon. A large, hard-covered book held under his arm, he set off with long, confident stride towards White's room (giving a few grunts who passed him by a curt nod and a light smile -the females always blushed giggled uncontrollably when he did this, how odd), he didn't know any of White's hobbies outside of collecting Pokemon dolls and battling, something he swore he would never do again unless the situation was dire, but he figured that maybe they could bond over. There had to be something, and maybe some good stories would work. White was this generation's Hero of Truth, surely she could find some fascination and appreciation for the stories that revolved around the fate she had inherited. With a steady hand N knocked on White's door and waited,

"It's open," White called from the other side, and N pushed the door open and stepped through the threshold. There, laying on her bed with a napping Althea at her side -it must have been Minia's turn to watch the egg- White laid against her pillows. One hand was offhandedly petting the top of the nursing Pokemon's head while the majority of her attention was drawn to the letter she held in her other. "Oh. Hey." White acknowledged once she had diverted her attention from the letter long enough to notice her husband in the room. N felt a wave of joy wash over him at how normal her greeting was; not yelling, scathing and not threatening, just a normal human-to-human greeting.

"What are you reading? If you don't mind me asking." N added the end on quickly, not wanting to sound too much like he was prying into White's personal life. She always hated it when he "disrespected her privacy," but what did that even mean? Weren't married couples supposed to share everything with each other?

"This is the most recent letter from Nobori," N felt a scowl tug the corner of his lips at the mention of that name- his name. "It's short, sweet and overly formal as it always is, but there's this one line crossed out above his signature." She looked back to the paper in her hand quizzically. "I can't read it, and it's seriously starting to drive me nuts."

"It probably wasn't anything important," N dismissed with a shrug of one of his shoulders. "Probably a spelling error or a grammatical one. You said that he was German, correct? It wouldn't surprise me if his ability to write in English slipped a little."

"Nobori and Kudari have been living in this region, and learning the language, for almost thirteen years" White deadpanned, giving N a look that suddenly made him feel incredibly foolish. He quickly shook it off, readjusted the book under his arm and walked over to White's bedside.

"English is a hard language to learn for foreigners." N said as he sat on the bed and placed the book in his lap. "And they didn't sound like they had been speaking English for that long."

"They still speak German when they're at home or around each other. It's called an accent N. Just because it doesn't sound like mine or a Castelia or Driftveil City accent doesn't mean they're linguistically challenged."

"I never claimed that."

"You implied it."  White folded the letter in half, then in fourths and put it in her pocket, before glaring at N. "Is this 'hate on White's friends' hour? If it is kindly get the hell out of my room."

"That wasn't- I didn't!" N took a deep calming breath through his nose and let it out through his mouth. He couldn't blow up, not when he was so close to achieving his goals. "I just wanted to spend some time with you," he held the book out for White so she could see the title clearly, Myths and Legends of Unova. "Do you know much about Unova mythology?"

"I know the basics. Like the stuff that was told as fairytales or bedtime stories."  She shrugged, "other than that not really."

"Then I'm sure you'll love this." N smiled as he put the book back in his lap and opened it, licking a finger so he could flip through the pages easier (had had read this volume at least a hundred times, so he had no problem in finding the stories he wanted to read), "these stories are much more detailed than a fairytale or a bedtime story. Ah, here we go, this is one of my favorites." N spun the book around and shoved it in White's lap, the former Trainer rising an eyebrow in question.

"What, do you want me to read it to you or something?"

"If you wouldn't mind." N admitted, "I'm sure Althea would love to hear the story." He said, nodding to the pink Pokemon who was just now coming from the realms of sleep, stubby little hands rubbing the sleep from her eyes. White smiled at the creature and kissed her finger before tapping Althea's nose. The nursing Pokemon let out a happy-sound before snuggling up against her Trainer. White giggled before drawing her knees up and placing the book against her legs.

"Fine. But I'm not reading this for you –you're a grown man for Acreus' sake- I'm reading it for Althea." White said stubbornly.

"What is she reading?" Althea asked, craning her neck in an attempt to see the page White was on, blue eyes blinking in child-like curiosity.

Can Althea even read? N wondered. While it was true Audino were some of the most intelligent Pokemon in the region (that being the reason they were often employed as nurses), could one who was caught for the sole purpose of battling read a human language?

"She's reading one of the Unovan myths for us," N replied, unable to keep the childish enthusiasm out of his voice as he drew his feet up on the bed (taking off his shoes first, of course) and hugged his knees, looking at the brunette expectantly. "Go on, don't be shy."

"I'm not shy," White rolled her eyes. "I just haven't read aloud to anyone since I was in grade school." She cleared her throat and shifted her weight slightly before she started to read, her voice clear and strong. "Thousands of years ago, the War of Black and White began in the region that would later be known as 'Unova.' The conflict was sparked by two twin brothers; the elder seeking truth and the younger seeking ideals…"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"… after so many years of violence and bloodshed, and despite the valiant efforts of Reshiram's chosen hero and Reshiram itself, the Vast White Pokemon fell to its counterpart. With a roar of victory, Zekrom exclaimed its triumph for everyone in the region to hear; ushering in a new time where the region would be ruled and sculpted into the ideal world, as envisioned by Zekrom's new hero.  No one knows if another conflict will arise between the two legendary Pokemon, all we can do is hope that if another War of Black and White begins, the victor will lead Unova to a new age of prosperity and peace." White finished, shutting the book shut with a defining 'thump.'

"Wow, that was just like how the battle between you and N went, White." Althea addressed her Trainer –although to White's ears it was meaningless chatter- White rubbed her eyes and yawned lightly, rolling her shoulders to get some of the kinks out.

"Minus the bloodshed, thankfully." N murmured, now reclining across White's bed, his chin propped on top of his folded arms and his legs kicking idly somewhere near the foot of the bed.

"Were you trying to tell me something by having me read this story?" White asked suspiciously, raising a brow and looking over at the young man.

"What do you mean? I think it's a nice story and thought you would enjoy it."

"I don't believe you. I mean, the Hero of Ideals winning against the Hero of Truth, Unova being sculpted into the winning hero's vision of being governed by his ideals. It parallels our situation. Points to you for trying to be subtle with this, though." White set the book down on a free spot on her bed and stretched out her legs with a groan of effort.

"That wasn't my intention," N frowned and sat up on his knees, reaching for the book and moving so that his head was next to White's rather than at her hips. "But believe what you will," N dismissed as he flipped open the book again and rapidly flipped to another chapter. "Oh, this one is good too!" He said, pointing to the title,

"I'm not reading you another story."

"That's fine, I'll read it to you this time."

"Whatever," White replied, picking up Althea and laying her across her torso, wrapping her arms around the Pokemon like she was another one of her dolls.

"Good!" N nodded and began his own reading. The difference being that White and Althea didn't even get to the end of the story N was reading before they both fell asleep. White' head lolling onto his shoulder and Althea looking snug and content in White's arms. He couldn't have been reading that long, could he? Or was he just that boring to listen to? Regardless of the reason N shut the book –with much more care than White had- and slowly slid off the bed, placing his hand under White's head and carefully lowering her down onto the pillow. N gathered his shoes and tip-toed out of the room with a smile. He felt like he had made yet another step in developing his relationship with White. He just had to keep going at this pace, then White would finally accept him as a friend.

As N reached out to grab the knob, his hand stopped in mid-air when he heard White talk in her sleep,

"..Nobori…" she murmured, the sound of rustling fabric filling the room followed by a small, sleepy sound. Glancing back N noticed that White had turned his back to him, her knees being drawn up as her body curled lightly around the Pokemon in her arms. The King sighed and walked out of the room, closing the door behind him softly.
In which N and White actually interact with each other for more than few sentences. I'm actually really happy with how their interaction turned out, I think you actually get the feeling that White is starting to tolerate N; she doesn't quite see him as a friend, but he doesn't want to punch him in the face every time she sees him anymore.

And now for a small thing on accents: as you all know Unova was based off of New York, and I, being as addicted to accents as I am, figured that Unovans would have different accents based on where they lived in the region. For example, I think people living in Castelia City would have a Brooklyn accent (Skyarrow Bridge is based off of the Brooklyn Bridge, so I assume that Castelia is the Pokeuniverse equivalent to Brooklyn), and people living in Driftveil City would have a Bronx accent -because Clay speaking in a Bronx accent is kind of funny to me.

As for White's alluded to accent, I don't know why but I can picture her, along with other people living in Nimbasa, as having an accent similar to The Scout's from Team Fortress 2.

"But Crystal!" Some of you may argue, "The Scout has a Boston accent, Boston isn't in New York!" Ah, but the Scout's accent isn't genuine. He suffers from the "Almost there, but not quite" syndrome that most of the TF2 cast suffers from in terms of accents. Speaking as someone who has a Godmother/former next-door neighbor who was raised in Boston, I can tell you that Bostonian accents have a lot more "UNF" than the Scout's does. And according to comments on Youtube, Scout's accent is more like a cross between a Boston and New York City accent than a genuine Bostonian one.

Some of you might ask: "You write out Nobori and Kudari's accent, why not White's?" And the answer is simple: the generic "German accent" is easier to write out than the one I have in mind for White. It's laziness on my part, but what can you do?

Yeah, I thought way to much into this >.>
References for accents:
[link]
[link]
[link]
© 2011 - 2024 CrystalLotus98
Comments20
Join the community to add your comment. Already a deviant? Log In
thatgamergirl's avatar
thank u and i want cake