Don't panic, I haven't forgotten about Shades of Red. This is just a quick story that popped into my head.
If the title didn't give it away, this story takes place in the Medieval era.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Pokemon and am in no way affiliated with the various parties who do.
Once upon a time, there was a peaceful kingdom in the land of Kanto. The kingdom was ruled by a kind, wise, and generous king, and the kingdom prospered. The common folk were quite happy with their lives, and happiness abounded throughout the land. Their kingdom was in a golden age: trade flourished, taxes were low, jobs were readily available, and everyone's morale was generally high. But as with all golden ages, this one also came to an end.
This 'end' took the form of the death of the king's beloved wife, who had died giving birth to their first child. Fortunately, the baby, a girl, had been saved, and the king vowed to protect her at all costs. But despite the happiness he felt from the birth of the child, the death of his wife was too great to bear, and he became deeply depressed and less connected with the affairs of his land. The kingdom's reign of prosperity ended, to be replaced with a time of hardship: trade floundered, taxes became unbelievably high, people were out of jobs, and everyone's morale dropped like a stone. For weeks, the king floundered about in his depressed state, and problems grew worse: crime began to run rampant, dissent for the king spread, and some citizens were even talking of revolution.
Fearing the unrest that had spread like a plague, the king's closest advisor summoned the kingdom's best comedians, jesters, and entertainers to try and bring the king out of his sad state. Unfortunately for them, they only succeeded in causing the king to become irritable, and most were promptly executed.
And now, the story truly begins, with the tale of Ash, the son of the most recent entertainer to executed, and May, the daughter of the melancholy king.
Ash gulped as the doors to the king's chamber opened. He, like his father before him, was a lowly peasant trying to make a living in these harsh times. Having tried his hand at many crafts and failing miserably, he finally found that his talents lay in cheering up crowds and making those around him laugh. He was a mildly successful entertainer, which he attributes to his father's skills rubbing off on him. But now his skills would be put the ultimate test, and should he fail, he could look forward to a swift death or life in prison.
He wore a simple outfit: a dull grey tunic, beige trousers, worn brown boots, and a plain black leather belt around his waist. To top it all off, he had a worn cloak, given to him by father shortly before his execution.
His faithful companion, Pikachu, was wearing a colorful jester's cap, which had bells that jangled when he moved about. Now sitting erect on Ash's shoulder, Pikachu was no less nervous. He had heard rumors that Ash's father's Ampharos was fed to the castle guards' Mightyena, and he had no wish to be their next meal.
After the doors of the chamber were opened, Ash slowly walked in, and kneeled before the king's throne. Seated upon a tall throne of pure gold, the king glowered down at him. On his right was his daughter, May. She was resting upon smaller throne of silver, and unlike the king, she was smiling encouragingly at Ash. She was thought to be one of the most beautiful maidens in the kingdom, and in happier times, she would've been asked by countless noblemen for her hand in marriage. But with the king's current state, they kept prudently away.
In less pressing times, Ash would have gawked openly at Princess May's beauty, but in the presence of the king he kept his emotions tightly locked away, allowing only an almost indiscernible blush to enter his face.
"Well, get on with it!" growled the king.
Ash stood up nervously, and Pikachu scrambled down from his shoulders, bell's jangling. From the deep folds of his cloak, Ash withdrew six torches, and Pikachu pulled out a match that was concealed under his hat. But before he could light the torches, the king intervened.
"A torch juggler?! We've seen one of them already," grumbled the king as his eyes flickered to his guards.
"But sire, my act is unique! There's nothing like it in the entire world!" pleaded Ash.
"That's what all of the others who came in here said, and they were all wrong! Send him to the guillotine, and feed his Pikachu to the Mightyena!" commanded the king, and the guards grabbed hold of Ash and Pikachu, and started to drag them away.
"Sire! Please give us a chance!" begged Ash.
"Pika Pi!" added Pikachu.
But the king ignored their pleas. Then May intervened, as she always did when the king ordered someone to be executed.
"Father, please spare them! You haven't even given them a fair chance!" May pleaded, her sapphire eyes watery as she stared mournfully at the king.
Fortunately for Ash and Pikachu, May's pleading seemed to have an effect on the king, and he ordered them to be cast into the dungeons instead.
"At least we're not dead," sighed Ash.
"Pi Pika Chu," agreed Pikachu resignedly.
They were sitting in a cell underneath the palace. Dirt, mold, and grime covered every available surface of the cold stone floor and walls, and it was nearly pitch black; the only light came from a torch in the outside hallway, and could barely manage to seep underneath the thick wooden door.
"It's so dark I can barely see my hands!" complained Ash. "If I have to stay in this blackness for much longer, I'll go insane!"
As he flailed his arms about in frustration, he heard something fall out of his cloak and hit the floor with a loud THUD.
"Wait a minute! The guards didn't take my torches when they shut us in here! Pikachu, do you still have some matches?"
Pikachu nodded, pulled out a concealed match, and lit the torch. Instantly light filled the cell.
"Well, we may starve to death, but at least we'll stay sane while we are dying," commented Ash bitterly.
"Pika Chu," agreed Pikachu quietly.
Then they looked up, and screamed in terror.
What did they see when they looked up? Oh, the suspense! Find out in the next chapter.