(A/N. 2,600 + words. You're welcome. Also I said that if executed perfectly, this would be upsetting. It wasn't executed perfectly. So here. Feel free point out spelling errors so that I can fix them.)

"Man! This cake is good!" Rosa chirped, shoving a forkful of cake in her face.

Hilda chuckled, "Grandma's recipe. Woman's a whiz in the kitchen."

N nodded, "She is!" He confirmed, finishing his slice of cake.

Hilda frowned and wiped frosting from the corner of her boyfriend's mouth, "Well don't tell her that- she's got an even bigger ego than Cheren."

"Hey!" Cheren protested.

Bianca giggled and kissed Cheren's cheek, "She's right, you know."

Cheren nodded, "But still...cheap shot!"

An old woman strolled into the dining room, putting her long gray hair into a tight bun.

"Hilda, why don't you open your presents, darling. No one's getting any younger here!" The woman said.

Rosa clapped her hands together, "Ooo! Yeah! I got you the best present!"

Hilda stood up and ushered her friends into her living room, "Let's go then. No one's getting any younger!"

"Especially not you..." Hugh mumbled.

"Watch it, Qwilfish."

Hilda and her friends fled into her living room with her grandmother shuffling in behind her. Hilda, N, and Rosa took up seats on the couch, Hugh sitting at Rosa's feet. Bianca and Cheren sat in front of the unlit fireplace, underneath the TV. Hilda's grandmother sat in the arm chair.

Hilda looked around, "Where's Mom?" She asked.

Her grandmother frowned, "She's...looking for something. She'll be around."

Before Hilda could ask further questions, Rosa shoved her gift in Hilda's hands.

"Open it!" Rosa demanded.

Hilda rolled her eyes and tore open the paper. Her entire face lit up at the contents.

"What is it?" Cheren asked.

"It's all three 'Red Fog Of Terror' movies!" Hilda answered.

"You like those movies?" Cheren asked with disgust.

Rosa looked offended, "Hey! I starred in those movies, ya know!"

Cheren raised an eyebrow, "Yeah?"

Hilda chuckled, "When I was looking for N, I stopped at some city in Kalos. They were playing all three of these movies in a theatre there."

"And you watched them willingly?"

Rosa crosses her arms and glared at Cheren.

"Yeah..." Hilda sighed, staring at the cover, "That was when I realized that I had to come home. That I missed Unova. But more importantly," she said, grabbing one of the decorative couch pillows. She tossed it at Cheren's head, "That I missed my friends."

"Aw!" Bianca chirped, "That's so sweet!"

N glanced over Hilda to look at the DVD box, "I thought you just liked horror movies."

"That too." Hilda confirmed.

"Me next!" Bianca demanded, handing Hilda a long, thin box.

"Looks like clothes..." Hilda said, ripping the wrapping paper to reveal a white box. Hilda took the top off of the box and removed its contents.

It was a knee length dress with a black skirt and white top. Hilda ran her fingers over the soft fabric.

"Thanks B!" Hilda chirped, "I love it!"

"Me too!" Rosa gasped, "I'm gonna steal this from you one day."

"Over my dead body."

Hugh handed Hilda an envelope, "I didn't know what to get you."

Hilda took the envelope and opened it and took the card out. As she opened the card, a Pokemart gift card fell out. Hilda chuckled, "Thanks Hugh."

Finally, Cheren handed Hilda a small gift bag, "Here."

Inside the bag was a silver colored picture frame. Inside was a picture of Hilda, Cheren, Bianca, and all of their Pokémon, taken the day before Hilda and Cheren challenges the Pokémon League.

"Oh, Cherry!" Hilda cooed, "Look at you! Being all sentimental."

Cheren blushed, "Yeah yeah, well one of us should be!"

Hilda smiled wistfully at the photo and handed it to N, "Too bad Zekrom didn't wake up to take that picture."

N chuckled, "It's always been quite a lazy Pokémon."

Hilda giggled, "You're not wrong."

Rosa looked to N, "Where's your present?"

N smiled, "That's for me to know, and Hilda to find out."

"That's concerning..." Hilda said.

N smiled, wrapped his arms around Hilda, and kissed her cheek repeatedly, "Do not be concerned...There is nothing to be concerned about."

"Never trust a man who says that..." Hilda's grandmother said.

Hilda chuckled, "Gram!"

"What?"

Hugh nodded, "She's right, you know."

Rosa ruffled her boyfriend's hair.

Hilda's mother entered the room, clutching a VHS to her chest.

"Mom? What's that?" Hilda asked.

Her mother smiled sadly and, with a shaky hand, handed her daughter the tape. Confused, Hilda flipped the tape and saw written on it was, "Hilda's 1st birthday'.

Hilda's mother began explaining, "Your father and I recorded that at your first birthday party...We made it to show you on your eighteenth birthday."

Hilda stared down at the tape in shock, "You and...Dad?"

Her mother nodded.

"Well we gotta watch it!" Cheren said.

Hilda looked up at him, "What?"

"C'mon! This must be why your mom kept that old VCR!"

"Shouldn't this be something Hilda watches alone?" Rosa asked.

"Hell no!" Cheren and Bianca screeched.

Hilda's mother sat on the arm of the couch next to her daughter, "We made this video in the hopes you would be watching it with people you cared about."

Hilda thought it over for a bit. She tossed the tape to Cheren, since he was closest to the VCR, "Play it." She commanded.

"Hell yeah." He cheered, putting the VHS into the VCR. He and Bianca went and sat at Hilda's feet for a better view of the TV.

Hilda's grandmother took the TV remote and turned it on. She pressed play.

A picture appeared on the screen.

"Hey babe," a male voice said, zooming in on a younger version of Hilda's mom, "Watcha doing?"

Hilda held her breath at the sound of the voice. Her mother immediately began crying silent tears.

Hilda's mother rolled her eyes at the unseen camera man. She set a cake on the dining room table, "I'm setting up for the party! What are YOU doing?"

"Recording."

"Why?"

"We planned to?"

"Hilda's not even awake yet! The guests aren't here, either!"

The camera panned to the birthday cake, "How come we didn't force your mom to make the cake?"

"Gus!" Her mother hissed.

"What? It's a valid question."

"Why didn't you let me make the cake?" Hilda's grandmother asked, bitterly.

"You can just skip all this..." Hilda's mother said.

"No..." Hilda demanded, "I wanna see all of it."

Suddenly, the man behind the camera could be seen by pointing the camera at a mirror. He had shaggy chocolate brown hair and bright blue eyes. Stubble adorned his chin and jawline and slight bags hung under his eyes, since he probably hadn't slept in a year. His nose was a tad crooked, like it had been broken a few times. He had a warm smile and moved his free hand when he spoke.

Hilda finally exhaled, "Dad..."

Bianca and Cheren smiled sadly, remembering their friend's father dearly. Rosa and Hugh looked stunned at how similar Hilda seemed to be to her father. While she seemed to take physical characteristics from both parents, Hilda shared her father's warm smile and tone of voice.

Her father waved, "Hi Princess!"

N seemed taken aback by the nickname Hilda's father had given her. N, after all, called Hilda his Queen.

"So you're like, a year old today! That is crazy! It seems like just yesterday your mother went into labor!"

Hilda's mother's voice cut through the video, "It was the worst eight hours of my life!"

Gus chuckled, "Well you know your mother, Hilda. Always with the dramatics!"

"Ha!"

Gus glared at an unseen person, "Don't make me come over there, Harmony. I will hide ALL the cookies."

"I already hid them!"

The camera zoomed in on Gus' face, "Oh she's good."

Suddenly, the scene changed. One year old Hilda was stuffing her face full of chocolate cake, getting it all over her face.

"Aww!" Bianca and Rosa cooed, "Look how cute you were!"

Hilda blushed and crossed her arms, "Whatever!"

"Man you're really going to town on that cake!" Cheren exclaimed.

"What did that cake ever do to you?" Hugh asked.

Turning an even deeper red, Hilda turned to N to see his face lit up.

"Look how little you were!" He gasped, "You were so tiny!"

Hilda chuckled nervously, "Yeah...most babies are, N."

"Don't let that fool you," Harmony said, half laughing, "Hilda had the biggest set of lungs- she would cry for hours!"

"She still does that." Cheren teased. Hilda kicked him in the back.

A man similar to Hilda's Dad and a woman with short blonde hair appeared in the frame.

Gus' voice was heard once again, "So...What does Uncle Rus and Aunt Charlie wanna say to Hilda on her eighteenth birthday?"

Rus spoke first, "Don't be lame like your father!"

The camera zoomed in on Rus' face, "ExCUSE you."

The camera zoomed out as Charlie began talking, "Stay in school kiddo, or you'll end up like your father."

"I'm feeling attacked."

"That's because we're attacking you."

Rus laughed, "Aw come on Gus! Don't make that face! You know we love ya!"

The scene cut to a very younger version of Hilda's grandmother and her grandfather.

Harmony spoke this time, "What do you guys wanna say to Hilda on her eighteenth birthday?"

"If I don't make the cake that year, I'm suing your father." Hilda's grandmother said.

Harmony sighed, "Dad?"

"Unlike all these knuckleheads, I have some actual advice!" Her grandfather spat, "Hilda, darling, go on a journey. Find people that you connect with! Find friends that will last a lifetime, and find someone special to spend that lifetime with. But never forget this- the most important ones to keep close to you forever are your Pokémon! They'll always be there for you! And I know you'll be there for them, too."

Hilda smiled and intertwined her finger with N's. She rested her head on his shoulder and kissed her forehead.

Hilda's grandmother sniffled, "That old idiot loved Pokémon."

"Yeah..." Hilda and Harmony agreed.

This time, it was Gus and Harmony sitting alone on the couch.

"So Hilda, your first birthday has finally come to a close." Harmony said.

Gus nodded, "And thank Arceus you went to sleep! I didn't think you would with all that cake in you."

Hilda chuckled.

"Now we have some things to say to you." Harmony explained.

"We hope you're watching this with some friends!"

"Or a boyfriend..." Harmony suggested

Gus didn't tolerate the suggestion, "No. She's not dating until she forty."

Hilda laughed and snuggled into N.

"But what we really hope," Gus said, taking his first serious tone throughout the video, "Is that you're happy. We hope you're happy with whatever life you've built for yourself, and are going to continue to build."

"We hope you've surrounded yourself with good people and good Pokémon that will always stand by your side." Harmony said.

Hilda lightly kicked Bianca and Cheren and sent a smile to Rosa and Hugh.

"And I pray that you'll always make good decisions. And I know you'll have the power and the drive to make your dreams come true. Happy birthday, Princess."

Tears streamed down Hilda's mother's face, while Hilda simply smiled, full of joy.

The video cut off momentarily, but started up again. This time, it began in a very clean white room, with all sorts of medical equipment around.

Hilda raised an eyebrow, "What's this?" She asked.

Harmony looked confused as well, "I-I don't know! I don't remember this..."

The camera panned to a man who somewhat resembled Hilda's father. The same crooked nose, same chocolate brown hair...same blue eyes, but this time, they were dull. No light entered those eyes.

He laid in a hospital bed, hooked up to a few machines and IVs.

"Hey Princess," he began, "I know this isn't how you expected this video to end..."

All of Hilda's friends and boyfriend turned to her in horror, but she and the two other White members had their eyes glued to the TV screen.

"Trust me when I say this isn't how I wanted it to end either," he said, half chuckling. He coughed, "But I just feel like I had to make this, because I know you may need some type of closure."

Hilda removed herself from N's embrace and leaned towards the TV, face concentrated on the man on the screen.

"I know I promised you I would live. But...the doctors say it's not looking like I will. And...and it kills me that I won't be around for you. It kills me that I'll never go to those father daughter dances. That I'll never coach the soccer team that I won't even want to coach but I'll have to because your mother will make me. That I'll never get to see you pick your starter Pokémon. That I'll never get to see you go off on a journey. That I won't be there for your first heartbreak or your first love. That I'll never get to walk you down the aisle."

Hilda's mother and grandmother were sobbing now, but Hilda remained frozen. Unmoving.

"I want you to know that I loved you with all of my heart, and that I KNOW you'll get through this. Even though you're stubborn and headstrong, I know you'll get through this. You've got your mother. And even if I'm not there, I'm still going to be with you. Take care of your mother. Be the strong girl and woman I know you'll become."

"I love you, Princess. Don't ever forget that."

The sound of a door opening and a little girl's voice were heard, "Daddy?"

The video cut off and the VCR spit out the VHS tape.

The room was silent. Swiftly, Hilda stood up, "I need a second..." she announced, running upstairs to her room.

Hilda's mother went over to her mother for comfort.

Cheren hit his head against the couch cushion, "Shit."

"He normally seemed so...happy. Even when he was sick." Bianca whispered.

"I knew her dad died but..." Rosa faltered.

N stood up and followed the familiar path to Hilda's room. He found her laying on her bed, facedown into a pillow. He could hear her cries from the doorway. He stepped inside and closed the door behind him.

Hilda looked up from her pillow, her face stained with tears, "Hi honey..."

Hilda sat up and clutched her pillow to her chest. N gave her a supportive smile and sat next to her on the bed.

"Everything okay?" He asked.

"Are you fucking joking?" Hilda hissed.

N sighed, "You know what I mean."

Hilda nodded and buried her face in her pillow.

"I know this is difficult for you, my love," N said, "And I know you don't like talking about your emotions...but..."

Hilda sighed at looked up from her pillow, "When I was little, my dad was always so happy and full of life. Even when he got really sick he seemed so happy. But just now he seemed...hopeless...like he was already gone."

N shifted his weight, "What...What was he sick with?"

Hilda shrugged and laughed with no humor, "No one ever told me. I guess I was too young to understand."

"So you still don't know?"

"No. I knew better than to ask."

"He called you 'Princess'?"

A stray tear streamed down Hilda's cheek, but she still gave a small laugh, "Yeah. You jealous?"

N crossed his arms, "No."

Hilda smiled sadly, put her pillow down, and shoved herself into N's arms. She began sobbing. N tightened his embrace, his heart aching at the distress of his girlfriend.

"It's going to be okay. I'm here for you, my Queen."

Hilda sniffled and smiled up at N, "Thank you..." She whispered.

Hilda pulled away and wiped her tears, composing herself, "So...where's my present?"

N chuckled and pulled a small black box from his pocket. He handed Hilda the box and pressed a kiss to her lips, "Happy birthday."

Hilda opened the box, "Oh!" She gasped.

The box contained a silver chain necklace with a Serperior charm hanging from it. Hilda removed it from the box and gazed lovingly at the Serperior.

Hilda put on the necklace and gave her boyfriend a kiss, "Thank you."

N took Hilda's hand and stood them both up, "Let's go downstairs. I think you and your mother need to talk."