You know, I never thought that I would be writing anything associated with Ash/Satoshi of Pokémon…guess I was wrong!
"How to Train Your Dragon" was the main inspiration for this story, so a majority of the credit goes to Dream Works for this. However, that doesn't mean that I'm going to follow the movie's plot exactly. As a fanfiction writer, I feel the need to add my own flare to the plot.
I hope you enjoy my little twist on How to Train Your Dragon! Oh, and before you all ask, Ash's father WILL make an appearance, and soon.
Facing a tyrant armed with only a sword and hope that he could prevail was not the adventure Ash pictured. Yet when he discovers that his Charizard is the Dragon of Legend, they are to challenge Nexus, the Dark King. Taken in by the Academy, where dragon riders are trained, he must rise up and prove to be the 'Rider of Legend'.
As Ash finds out, fighting for an almost hopeless cause when no one believes in you is not easy. With all odds stacked against them, Ash and his dragon must fight for their own lives as well as try to fulfill all expectations and free the Lands from the evil tyrant's rule once and for all.
Among The Clouds
One boy. One dragon. One kingdom. One destiny.
…
…
…
Prologue: The Orphan and the Queen.
…
…
…
Valemnia was prosperous—its people were joyous, and the wealth plentiful. However, not everyone shared in the happiness. There was one man, Nexus, who opposed everything Valemnia stood for and believed he should, in his opinion, fix it.
So he began. First, he started by destroying small villages, one by one. Then he became more ambitious and went higher in his destruction by destroying towns, major cities, and trade routes. One day, feeling immensely courageous, he imprisoned the king and the queen, and named himself the new ruler.
He became the self-proclaimed "Dark Lord Nexus" of Valemnia. Nexus banished all who opposed him, either openly or not, and began to 'fix' the country in his own image. He planned to make it so no one would be able to oppose him. The tyrant banished or imprisoned those with even a little strength and power. Those with large amounts of power were sentenced to death. The once great kingdom had crumbled into corruption and evil, and slowly, its inhabitants lost hope of ever returning to how they once lived…
During these events, a prophecy was written: It goes that one day, someone with the power Nexus tried to suppress, will use it to overcome the evil in the region. Despite the promise of the prophecy, many people thought it to be false and continued to live in the horrible conditions under the dark ruler. However, those who believed the prophecy had something to look forward to.
Unfortunately, Nexus also believed the prophecy. He spent countless hours searching any family with a child under the age of two and scanning for power and never found any. This caused the prophecy to lose its credibility, and soon, all hope from Valemnia had vanished…
Satisfied with his work, Nexus continued to rule the land with an iron fist, completely unaware that the imprisoned queen had escaped to a land that was untouched by his tyranny and evil.
Our story begins here with the young queen and the little glimmer hope she carried in her arms…
…
…
…
A frigid breeze swept across the rough brick road as Queen Delila held a mightyena's skin rug around her neck, concealing a small bundle.
She peered ever so slightly to the side, weary of the approaching danger. A blizzard was coming, she thought, her intuition a constant reminder that she had no escape. She had reached the entrance of the wood boarded building, its welcoming walls frozen rigid with an inch thick layer of ice. She hated what she had to do. Her unwilling arms lay down the bundle in a small corner of the entrance area, and she made sure that it was well protected from the fierce wind.
Her hair hid the sorrowful eyes that mourned the moment that was to come. Hearing the tiniest rustle of a leaf, she froze, her spine stiff, ears scanning the immense depth of forest around her. Her eyes slowly slid back down towards the bundle that was her most precious child. She was about to impart from herself, forever.
Now's not the time for grieving, she thought. She waved her hand above the baby's face, forehead scrunched up in fervent concentration.
After a moment, she stopped and gently placed her puckered lips onto her little one's head, whispering a spell. As her faced hardened, she readied herself for the next key moments of her chances of survival; the bundle disappeared into the mist.
By Arceus, I hope he lives… she plead holding back tears.
Her milky legs straightened, visible through warm black leggings. She was too young to die, too young to live in such a dangerous world. She unhooked her maple longbow, the varnish still unchanged from the first skirmish six whole years ago. She turned her body, and an instant later, the piercing howl of an enemy resonated through the air. Her eyes caught sight of three pairs of red eyes staring at her ferocious through the underbrush.
Instantly, the creatures took their position ready for her escape attempt. Delia's mind raced, scanning her memory for any knowledge that she may have to rescue her from their trap. Her left foot moved slowly to the side, as to not provoke the despicable creatures, but her killers matched her move, well trained to keep the best position for a clean kill. She could see the silky black and grey fur of the K9-like creatures, razor sharp teeth and claws that would soon end her life.
A small flicker of doubt leaked into her usually calm amber eyes, that maybe she would not make it and most likely die. At least my little one will live on, she thought. Though, it did not give her as much comfort as she had hoped.
It was then, when the creatures detected a slight wavering in her concentration that they charged. The one directly in front, its jaw twitching, was the one who gave the signal and snarled, its muscles tensing and releasing, their energy propelling its powerful body forward. Behind it, another of the leapt over it, its fangs glinting in the moonlight, ready to pierce the flesh that many a man had longed for.
Delia's arrow was fired, the enchanted oak piercing straight through the roof of the leaping creature's mouth, collapsing the back part of his skull. Its blue magic released itself from around the arrow, finding the creature's life source, and smothering.
Delia's ear twitched as the creature whaled, knowing by instinct that there was two more coming at her from behind. She readied her hand in that millisecond, power flowing into her palm. The creatures were within a foot from her as she ducked gracefully, her knees bent down revealing her smooth thighs to the night sky. Her charged hand flew up, the other hand pressing her bow down to the ground and providing her balance. The jaws of the creatures snapped the air where each vital point of hers had been, their claws swiping with precision where her kneecaps, groin, and ankles were. Her charged hand waved with graceful timing onto the shoulder joint of the creature behind her, a faint black glow emanating from its flesh. A sickening crack reverberated from its bone.
She kept her concentration in those few seconds, dodging each claw as it tore a path of darkness through the air. But as she wove out, a claw shredded her upper thigh deeply, the evil magic disintegrating her flesh. Her right leg threatened to collapse, but the momentum that she had swung her out of harm's way. One of the creatures was crippled, but so was she. And there was four of them, and only one of her.
She quickly muttered another spell, a cyan mist forming a ghostly muscle where hers was torn. As the creatures turned on their heels, their muscles tensing, she pounced off, fleeing for her life.
She ran through the forest branches lacerating her face, while blood ran freely from her side. She could hear now, there were others coming. A new enemy from the branches had started firing iron darts from their tails at her while flying through the air. Her mind and magic sought out each deadly spike, although it was hard to bear. She dodged gracefully, her fit form paying off after years of service to her kingdom.
The creatures sprinted right behind her, seeming to gain on every pounce. Their snarls filled her eardrums, piercing her being with the fear of pure evil. She was tiring, her mental and magical strength diminished from the past few days of her journey. The ghostly muscle at her thigh flickered, sending her a stabbing shot of pain, causing her to grind her teeth together. Salty tears broke the barrier that she had set up and overwhelmed her, tears of utter desperation and need.
She turned her body backwards while running, a movement that she suffered painfully for, agony coursing through her veins. Drawing her bow, she formed a mist-like fire arrow to the string and released it. A high-pitched grunt of escaped her lips as she did so. She kept running as the arrow burst mid-flight, the last of her magical energy turning into a solid wall of purple fire.
The creatures pounced through the barrier without hesitation, their own black shadows forming a protective ram surrounding their bodies, punching a hole to let them through. But the others had no chance They were struck down by the barrier, it's intense heat transforming the falling twigs from each tree into life seeking missiles, and with precision each of their corrupted hearts were pierced.
Delia gasped in horror as she sensed the creatures still pursuing her, knowing that she would probably die. Not many had ever defeated her magic of the highest degree with such ease. She knew she was desperately outmatched. Still, three creatures of the darkness, their glistening fur glinting in the moonlight, sprinted after her, each itching to take the kill.
After only a few minutes, her ghostly muscle faded out completely and her right leg gave out, her lithe body smashing to the ground. Blood seeped into the ground where her thigh was and she realized with horror that one of the claws had pierced her abdomen, its poison seeping into her body. Her whole body gushed with unbearable pain.
Arceus, please! I beg of thee! She pleads inwardly. However, she could feel a nauseating wave of intense agony about to flood her mind.
This is it… she thought as she shut her profoundly deep eyes. But through the incoming pain, a small glimpse of focus was apparent to her trained mind. The image of a gold and white creature was imprinted on the bloodstained canvas of her mind, his gentle eyes caressing her suffering soul.
A glowing aura emanated from him, as if he was from another realm. The aura seeped into her, giving her hope. Her focus flickered back to her surroundings. The creatures were now inches from her face, their putrid breath penetrating her once strong magical shield. Maniacal eyes hungered for her, savoring the moment of her helplessness. A claw tickled her neck, its sharp tip drawing a drop of crimson. She closed her eyes.
A strong voice startled her in her thoughts.
Your work here is done, my child…I shall take over from here.
The creatures staggered back slightly, feeling a power they had never witnessed, so powerful that their hearts almost stopped from fear.
A white blinding light emanated from the woman, searing the retinas of the creatures for their lifetimes, a force causing even their powerful muscles to collapse. The remaining leaves on the trees around them disintegrated into ash, a four meter radius of destruction.
An emolga emerged from a hole in his tree, where he had been keeping his berries and nuts for the winter. The bedrock below the soil that was now gone had turned to solid glass, a single gem beneath each of the creatures. Delia had disappeared, and in her place was a symbol engraved in silver onto the glass—two circles, the small one overlapping the larger one on its inside with a cross in the smaller circle.
The creatures were sleeping peacefully, persian-like on the perfect glass disc, not a muscle moving. The emolga turned back, ignorant of the power just performed. A mile behind, a wisp of the escaped queen's dark brown hair floated, finally finding its way back to the ground, before it too, flashed in blinding white, and disappeared into nothingness.
…
…
…
We now look into the future—fifteen years to be exact, of the life and times of a courageous young man.
What a great days work, this young fellow with black hair mused. As he trotted through a dingy alley way, his gait was lithe and his narrow shoulders bobbed with a natural inner confidence.
A velveteen pouch filled to the brim with gold jingled merrily by his side, in contrast to the filthy rags that he wore every day. In his pocket was a particularly shiny silver protector in which he had found in the village marketplace just hours ago.
His head turned backward, an instinctual measure to evade any unwanted pursuers or angry shopkeepers. Where's Gary? He thought. He should have here with a ton of gold by now… a frown creased his forehead as he walked with renewed vigor to check the other side of the rendezvous point.
"Boo!" A young voice shouted followed by a hand that clamped the boy's mouth, catching the gasp that was on the tip of his tongue. His raised eyebrows turned into a picture of amusement, exasperation clearly visible in his brown eyes.
"Classic Gary," He sighed seeing his friend, a young lad with mahogany colored hair and viridian eyes, and his brother in all but blood ever since he was a baby.
"Ha! You should see the look on your face Ash!" Gary held his sides as he laughed. "It's so priceless!"
Ash rolled his eyes playfully. "Whatever. I betcha I've got more gold than you!"
A grin swept across Gary's boyish face, his eyes glinting in the shallow light of the evening. "Heh…we'll see about that."
"67, 68, 69…how many do you have?" Ash asked, his fingers crossed so tightly he had restricted the blood flow.
"69…crap we tied!" Gary's face broke into a wide grin as he pulled his hand from behind Ash's ear.
"70! Ha! Looks like I win, sucker!" He smirked in triumph.
Ash grinned. "Not so fast," Gary's humungous smile vanished as Ash whipped out the fine silver protector he had been admiring earlier. He winked, hardily. "Not today, buddy. But good effort though."
Sighing, Gary replied, "Fine…you win Ashy-boy."
"It looks expensive, too expensive for the market there. That's why I didn't sell it for gold. Might sell it when the Royal Train comes tomorrow, since there's usually a fair maiden we can charm with our good looks, can't we?" Ash winked.
Gary's face relit with the initial liveliness as the two boys chatted on about the girls in the orphanage, and particularly, a beautiful young woman whom Gary had started showing an avid interest in.
The two lads gathered the coins back in their pockets, ready to dash back to the orphanage before midnight to give them to Lenora, the orphanage owner, to feed the rest of the children. It was enough to last the 60 children a week at least, on staple meals.
As the boys walked back home together, arms around shoulders, Ash couldn't help but thank Arceus for the thrilling life he had with the greatest of friends beside him.
The next morning, the first rays of light shone through Ash's messy bedroom window. He was brushing his teeth, with a small brush he had found in the waste. He had cleaned it of course.
A cracked mirror lay opposite him in the corner of the room that he and Gary shared. His black hair shone at him, a medium length, swept to his right side. He had tanned skin, and he was beginning to tone, as a result of the many testing manual chores he was set to do in the orphanage, such as gathering firewood from the forest, and chopping them into short more manageable pieces with his axe.
Ash looked closely at his eyes. They were…changing. He could swear they were lighter than yesterday, and he saw a tint of yellow in his irises.
Strange…Hm, I'm probably seeing things, Ash told himself. His teeth were gleaming white after a good three minutes of brushing and he turned back to Gary, who had just started awoken, his hair in a complete mess, just like Ash's before he had roughly combed it down with his wet fingers.
"Hurry up, Gar! Today's the big day! The Royals are coming and we've got pockets to empty!"
Gary yawned. "And not our own pockets," He grinned, chucking on his shirt, and brushing his teeth with his toothbrush all at the same time.
Ash peeked through a convenient hole in one of the wooden bedroom walls. "Gar, look! She's changing!" Gary dropped his brush, hastily washing his mouth. He only brushed for a half a minute. Halfway through scrambling to reach where Ash was, he halted.
"Nah, that feels wrong…I'll have to wait until we're married." he shook his head, wondering where Ash had got all his moral values from.
The young lads, 15 summers old, ran past Lenora and Daisy, grabbing a loaf of bread to share as they headed to their work area. They could hear the band even from the orphanage, which was situated outside the city walls. The Royal Procession was about to make its entrance into South Town, to immediately start the Selection Ritual, an annual event to choose young men and women that would be taken in to be trained as a dragon riders, that was rumored to discipline in every form of mental, physical and spiritual combat.
Well, that's all Gary heard anyway…
The train was about to enter the city and the two boys just emerged from the forest on their way there when the gates opened, and Her Majesty, Queen Diantha, entered royally, standing on an expensive looking carriage, pulled by two rapidash.
As he ran, Ash could make out the silver tiara that she wore, reflecting the sun's rays in a million directions. He could see in the distance a hand, waving at the eager boisterous crowd.
Behind her, there were twenty royal guards, fully suited in shining armor, riding war zebstrika and rapidash of their own. Their helmets were off and by their sides, and they were obviously at ease, some of them ecstatic about returning to their home city, if only for a few days. Behind them were courtiers and some in chariots. And then there were the line of merchants who were making a whole lot of wealth through the Queen's fame.
Ash and Gary reached the back end of the procession, waiting in line for entrance into the massive city of Southtown. It was a busy day, every citizen roaming the streets to watch the Queen, or to make money of the people watching the Queen. The stone roads were weathered by the constant trampling of feet, and the air was filled with every type of aroma, some pleasant, like the roses and cosmos on the side of the Queen's carriage, but some dreadfully horrid, like the putrid smell of stale alcohol from the old men who had been at the bar the previous night.
Now that he was closer, Ash saw that the Queen was still young, in her early thirties possibly. Her features were striking, hair braid neatly into a star-shape. She carried a regal pose, yet not arrogant or superior, simply just elegant. Her smile lit up the hearts of every citizen of Southtown, they all knew they had a beautiful strong Queen that would sacrifice everything for them, and they were proud of that.
Ash and Gary was the portion of citizens who were taking advantage of Diantha's fame. While the citizens would gaze awestruck at the Queen, the boys would be busy sorting out their unknowing pockets and filling up the four buckets they had brought today, expecting a huge haul.
Ash grinned. He was about to have a lot of fun. He and Gary dropped off the buckets in a small corner of an alleyway, diving into the crowd of onlookers. Gary caught Ash's wink, and felt the inner competition within him again, his concentration now peaking.
His hands slipped deftly into bags and pockets, each movement resulting in something of value in his pocket, he weaved in and about the crowd, accidentally bumping into people and stealing away before they had an opportunity to find out what they had lost. He played the role of a lost young boy trying to find his mother, and it worked without fail, drawing the sympathy of the people he was robbing from.
It's not like they don't have more, and they aren't starving, Ash reasoned. But inwardly, he wish he didn't have to do what he was doing to live, and that was why he had been treating it all like a game with Gary all this while.
The procession was near the center of the city now, the carriage coming to a halt, and the guards resuming a circular formation around the carriage, protecting Diantha from the love of her people. She touched her hand to her throat, as if flicking a switch and her voice was heard to every person's mind in the city. Her power stunned the people. The voice that Ash heard was not shouting, it was soothing and gentle, loving and kind.
"Greetings my dear people of Southtown, I am so glad to return to your beautiful city, to experience your boisterous nature, to touch these ancient walls. As you all know, I am here for the annual selection, and of course, this will be done as custom by the judgment of Arceus. He lives and breathes, and he is our Ultimate King, much more powerful than I, and there will be a day, my people that he will return and lead this kingdom forever. He has given me three names, and I have no knowledge of these identities, but I shall call them out, and they must make their way here to be recognized as the Chosen. If they do not make their way forward, a search party will be sent, and he or she will be captured, as they owe a duty to the nation as much as I do, and I see it as a blessing."
Her face was composed, her porcelain white skin shining in the sun, lighting her up like an angel. "I will now announce the first name," A hushed silence enveloped the city as the people waited in anticipation.
Ash had filled up his pockets, and emptied them in one of the buckets that he had brought, and he was running back for a second round, a mischievous glint in his eyes. His arms were sore, but his enjoyment in the skill of thieving completely outmatched the pain. He couldn't believe how much wealth the people carried, particularly the courtiers. It was as if they had an organ that produced money, next to their hearts and lungs. He had winked at some of the younger attractive courtiers, most of who had either ignored him or blush furiously.
He had been stealing from them too. He did not discriminate. The Queen took out a scroll from one of her Guard, and unfolded it, the crowd leaning in. She opened her sculpted mouth. "Ashton James Ketchum."
Ash's hand stopped mid steal in an attractive woman's skirt, her purse in his hands. He let it go. No, it was a mistake. He took it back and was about to resume chatting to the woman innocently, when the Queens voice penetrated his thoughts again. "Is Ashton James Ketchum here? Ashton James Ketchum. A search party must be sent then."
Ash stopped. The woman beside him was confused. "Wait…you're Ashton Ketchum?" she asked with unmasked disbelief.
He turned to the Queen, his hand already placing the woman's purse into his pocket. His brain controlled his slow movements as he made his way to the entrance the guards had made for the Chosen. As his foot stepped onto the laid out turquoise carpet, he could hear every beat in his heart, thumping as if it was a time bomb, ready to explode.
His brain was on autopilot now, a mind of his own, as he heard himself stop in front of a guard. "I am he, Your Majesty." He replied with a gulp.
Diantha, having already unfolded her second letter, turned her head regally towards Ash, her deep blue eyes piercing him, as if analyzing him for worth. "Do not be afraid, Ashton, I am your queen, I do not bite." The probe penetrated his mind, filling the dark-haired boy with calm thoughts of reassurance.
He was slightly dazed, having no clue as to what the Queen had just done to him. He felt a cold iron glove to the small of his back and he was steered to just behind the Queen. Ash's thoughts whizzed, and his first inward comment was of all people, why would the great all-knowing Arceus pick a small thieving orphanage boy like him? It just didn't make any sense.
Ash suddenly froze, the unconscious playing with his hair stopped, as he realized with dread, that he would never be able to see Gary again!
In his mind, he mourned for the impending loss of their friendship, and their inevitable tragic separation from each other. He remembered the good times they had played together, charming beautiful girls, sneaking out past curfew, running from angry merchants…
A tear welled in his eye, threatening to break free. No, I will not cry. Gary was strong. So I will be for him. Ash searched the crowd for his best friend, his brown and yellowish eyes scanning each person's face. He wanted just one more glance.
While he was stuck in his silent agony, he did not notice the calling of a second name, and a short girl taking her place beside him. She was a sight to behold—her lilac hair framing a perfect face, with only a thin layer of makeup to accentuate her key features. She was lean and fit a body that most girls would die for. Her eyes were also lilac, like small gems that graced whoever she was talking to. She wore an expensive sparkling deep lavender and gold dress, revealing just enough, but not too much cleavage and thigh, a feature that hooked many young men.
But Ash was not one for glamour. For him, she would be just an upper class maiden whom he used to charm for money. But while part of his brain was mourning for Gary, the other sensible part told him it'd be wise to make a new friend.
The girl beside him looked like she was about to faint. So he decided to charm her. His hand moved to his left, slightly grazing hers, and after she noticed, he smiled warmly at her. She shyly blushed, but her face was grateful for the kind gesture. Ash was silently congratulating himself when he felt a sudden connection in his brain. He could see the girls face tense, as if in shock.
Ash quickly thought positive reassuring thoughts and he imagined them flying to the girl by his side. Slowly, he could see the girl calm herself, though still in disbelief. He wasn't sure what to believe either. He was once happily thieving away with his best friend Gary when now he was whisked away to some intensive training camp for superheroes.
He wasn't a hero, much less super…and Gary. He hated the thought of leaving him. Where would he find his friends now? There weren't many people his age back at the orphanage, and now that he was gone, Gary would no longer have a wingman to get him together with his crush.
Ah well, at least now he had this pretty girl with him, that was now smiling gently at his direction.
Ash felt a tap at his right shoulder. He slowly turned away from the young maiden, not realizing that the Queen had put her third letter away. He saw the dark hair and the twinkling grey eyes before the crinkled smile he had grown up with. He was wearing the same rags as Ash, failing to subtly hide the big pouches of gold by his side.
"Ash!"
"Gary!"
Their hands and fist clashed in a series of complicated movements as their smiles shone in the already bright and sunny day. It was all going to be alright, Ash thought. He and Gary were gonna do this together.
"Phew I thought I was never gonna-"
"Pssst…" Gary whispered urgently, "the crowd!"
Ash froze, realizing with dread what he had done. He imagined with horror that it must have been the most informal thing anyone had ever done in front of the Queen. The crowd had their mouths wide open in shock, though some of them were chuckling and smiling from the spontaneous display of affection.
Gary was holding in his sides, trying in vain to stop himself from laughing hysterically. Thankfully, the Queen was smiling royally, glad for the young lads. Ash overcame his initial shock and joined Gary in laughing like monkeys. The girl was also smiling at them, though jealousy on her face, as if she had never had a best friend.
As Gary half recovered, he said in a low voice, "Bro, that girl is cute! This is gonna be amazing!"
I know, Ash thought, but not just because of that girl.
…
…
…
Ash, Gary, and the girl from before sat in a small carriage, a stark contrast between the upbringings of each of them. After the initial reunion of the two boys, Ash turned to the girl and took her hand and said, "Sorry, I haven't caught your name yet, maiden."
She smiled shyly back at the two lads and said, "I'm Anabel. Ash and Gary right?"
Ash, tearing his eyes from her salient features, said sheepishly, "Yep, Ash would be me. Any idea where we are going anyway?"
Gary looked around at the plump turquoise cushions around him and decided he did not like royal living. "I have no clue, but I'm gonna ride a rapidash."
Anabel watched in disbelief as Ash dropped a shoulder to the door, and jumped out of the fast carriage. "Gary!" she exclaimed.
Ash put a hand on her shoulder as she rose, calming her and forcing her back in her seat, "Don't worry, the kid may be crazy, but he knows what he's doing." he closed the carriage door. "See?"
Anabel peeked out the front window, startled by a wide grin on the other side of the pane, so close to her face. Gary was hanging by the tip of his fingers and toes on the front of the carriage, and he kissed the glass where he had seen Anabel's lips. She blushed. Ash slapped his forehead.
Gary colored slightly too, and reprimanded Ash for being too forward. He jumped from his uncomfortable spot onto the back of the horse-like creature pulling the carriage, and sat there, content with no saddle of stirrups, to just ride naturally.
He loved riding, it made him feel powerful. But it was also a good break from the last few hours chatting to Ash, and he couldn't bear the beautiful gaze of Anabel. He needed to think, out here, by himself. And riding seemed the best way to do it.
Gary wondered about his future, about what Arceus had in store for him. About all the beautiful girls there might be where he was going. He was a boy. It was inevitable he would think of such things. A small whisper resounded in his thoughts.
"Gary, my son." The voice was magnificent, though it spoke very softly, almost too soft for him to hear. "What the hell?" Gary thought. A chuckle came by his side and he turned, only to see nothing but the air rushing past him. He must've been hearing things. It's the Queen, he thought, yes, I'll blame it on the Queen. He smiled.
"Halt!" the commanding guard shouted. A barrage of hundreds of rapidash and zebstrika stopped, and Gary was caught out of his revelry, narrowly avoiding steering his rapidash into the next merchant's cart.
Why are we stopping? He thought. They were caught in a dirt road, in what seemed like one of the many villages that surrounded Southtown. Beggared children lay on the street, pleading for just a few pieces of silver. Gary took out the pouch of gold he had stolen earlier in the day and threw out its contents to the poor children. Surprisingly, they didn't scramble for the gold, in fact, some of them just sat there and smiled amusingly at the young lad.
That was weird, he thought. But what came next was even stranger.
The Queen stepped off her carriage and struck her hand into the air, her eyes glowing lightning blue. She smiled. "Home, sweet home my friends!"
Her smile was infectious and soon Gary was smiling too, though for what he did not know. Ash cried out from inside the carriage, "Whoa! What the…"
There, in the small well next to Queen Diantha, a serpent-like creature, a dragonair shot out, it's magnificent body trailing through the air, and Gary could swear it turned and winked at him, before slamming into the ground on the other side of the Queen. Gary's mouth was still wide open, threatening to dislocate entirely, as the moving body from the well to the ground froze solid, and became an ornate golden arch above the Queen's head. If he had been watching, the beggars around him were rolling around the floor, laughing like little maniacs.
Anabel shrieked as an intense burn started to mark the golden flank of the arch, spelling out, "Is atre domïni ré Arceus, guardione ré Ses avìe". Gary wondered what it meant, and was fascinated by the elegant sounds of each syllable as he twisted them around his tongue. Somehow, it felt like how he was pronouncing the words were the correct way. He didn't know how, but he knew he could speak the language.
Gary's attention returned as his rapidash moved through the arch way. He noticed the smile of the merchant in front of him before he too was overwhelmed by a loud cheerful noise of people dancing on the street, reuniting with their Queen. As he looked around, his eyes were filled with wonder. He had somehow been transported into a whole different place, the cobblestone floors, wooden ornate houses, the many merchants and markets and glowing street lamps now smiled at him.
The lamps weren't lit from gas; instead, Gary could just see orbs of slightly turquoise flame dance within them, probably celebrating the Queen, since her color was turquoise.
His eyes wandered to a group of young children, playing with figurines of dragon pokémon and royal knights. There was one toy knight in particular who magically stood up, raised an eyebrow quizzically, and shouted loudly, "You dare touch me! I, am Lance, Warrior of the Most High!".
This was the cue for the children to go nag their mothers to buy them the toy. The mothers themselves though, were almost subconsciously waving their hands around, making sure their kids stayed near them. Gary almost fell off his rapidash when he saw a small child run away from his mother and hit what seemed like an invisible cushioned wall, and the child then fell on his bottom, slightly dazed. Shopkeepers had protective barriers around their most prized possessions, which glimmered red when a customer accidentally stepped too close.
As Gary looked around he gasped again, as the sight in front of him was amazing. He saw, in the middle of this magical city, a tall castle, made of polished granite, turrets and everything, with defensive holes for archers, points to pour boiling oil and traps all in built in the design. But what blew Gary away was not that. In fact he barely noticed those features.
The castle was floating. In midair. He could see underneath was a golden force lifting the castle up, like a moat, except ten times cooler. As the Queen's train approached the castle, the golden shimmer frizzled and a wind pushed some of its magic towards Diantha, as if it were attracted to her power.
The golden mist then turned into clear gold glass, and those shards of glass pieced together, white light forming at every join to seal the pieces together. It was a bridge. The Queen, a massive smile on her face, took a step forward, and her heel connected with the bridge, a small ripple of concentric circles spread from her touch.
Ash shouted from behind, "You gotta be kidding me, all of us, on a piece of glass?"
Gary grinned, "Heh, yep!"
He turned back to the amazing sight in front of him, his face more excited than when he had first successfully pickpocketed a royal merchant at the age of 5.
As they entered the dark oak doors of the castle, Gary spotted some cloaked men on the turrets with their hands held up to the sky. Glowing purple emanated from their palms, shooting up into the air like fireworks and exploding, each one a resounding BOOM, disappearing into nothing.
Then suddenly, where each of them had exploded, the mist in the air condensed into sparkly letters: "ARCEUS THY QUEEN!" Gary was going to need to find the clinic soon, or his jaw would come off entirely.
They were finally in the middle of the giant castle, in a courtyard space roughly the size of a football field. The big stone tiles lay under their feet, shivering from the power under the castle. The Queen lifted herself up, standing on an invisible pedestal 5 feet up in the air, and addressed her train.
"Welcome home, my friends. I have always loved the vibrancy of this city." Her face lit up everyone else's. "Of course, now that we are back, we do need to stay productive, do not slumber, anyone of you. I do sense some great evil lurking. Where? I do not know. But, together, with Arceus' sovereignty, we will be victorious." A cheer. She waited patiently. "Lastly, I'd like to give a very warm welcome to our newcomers from Southtown."
Another resounding cheer with a sprinkle of whooping. "Please make yourselves at home, but first of all, please just make your way to the crown room, I've got some things to tell you."
Gary looked at Ash, the smile on his face clearly showing his excitement at meeting the person who could levitate in the air for a whole minute. The carriage holding Ash and Anabel patiently waited for the crowd to part, while Gary haphazardly jumped his rapidash over unwary merchants. He shot back one more mischievous smile before disappearing into the castle.
By the time all the newcomers had got to the foyer of the throne room, Gary was sitting in the corner of the area, dreamingly throwing a rock he had found at a wall. Ash was about to scare him when Anabel said, "Hey Gary, bit bored there?"
Said boy in question turned around to catch Ash's discontented look at Anabel. He grinned. "Nah, I just love throwing rocks at walls. It's a hobby of mine."
The group of newcomers that were now gathered there halted their conversations as the Queen opened the door. "Hello dears, come in, there's a bit of room here." Ash looked around at the group of awed faces, too stunned by the Queen to move.
This is ridiculous, he thought. "What are you guys waiting for? Well, looks like I'm first then." He smiled at Diantha, and stepped in, oblivious to the face palm from Gary and nervous chuckle from Anabel. The group of adolescents was still awestruck, this time by the lad's blatant show of discourtesy.
"Fine, I'm second, then." Gary smiled, reveling in the surprise that seeped from the other newcomers. He knew the Queen was fine about it. Her gentle deep blue eyes said it all. A round of complicated handshakes followed, concluding in a fist pump explosion. Anabel chuckled, and filed in with the others.
When they were all cozy and settled on the floor, Diantha closed the door behind them, and sat on her throne, shepherding all her servants and advisors away from the room. "This will be a private conversation Wikstrom, yes you too, Siebold, not even you, Malva." She gave each one of her royal knights a world class stern look as they left the room as well.
"Alright, my dears. This here, she gestured around the room, is your family. You are all the Chosen, for this cycle anyway. You will not know this, but the Chosen ones are the most elite group of men and women in the Kingdom at all the fields: education, combat, magic, medicine, and etcetera. My blades, the closest guards to me, have all come from the Chosen, bar a few. Royal magicians, healers, they have all studied as a Chosen. Arceus has chosen you for a grand purpose, younglings, and whatever it is, remember this: to those who have been given much, much will be expected." She paused for effect. "Now, let me tell you about your mentors. The previous cycle of the Chosen, who are now three years into training, will receive a sign from Arceus that will tell them who they will take care of. Each of the signs they receive will be different, but they will know when it happens." Amusement showed on her face as she surveyed the confused faces of the newcomers. "It will happen in the next week, it always has."
"One more thing. Each of the Chosen has one specialty, and only one. You will be examined and tested over this next week—don't worry! It will just be observations, no actual exams."
Gary's face flooded with relief. "And by the end of this week, a branding will happen on the back of your hand, like mine" She lifted up her left hand, and the newcomers stared in awe at the glowing purple mark she wore. She pulled her arm back as quick as she had produced it. "That branding will tell you which knight to go to, and you will find out what to do from there. That is all I will inject into your surprised brains today, my dears. Your mentors, when you get them, will tell you much more."
With a wave of her hand, her advisors and servants walked back into her room, and she started discussing foreign affairs as if the group of newcomers were never there.
"I think… that was a good luck and bye." Ash whispered. Gary dragged him out of the room, muffling his squeals of protest, evidently trying to kill any risk of Ash making a fool out of himself in front of those important people.
"It's really late man. We need to go to sleep…" Gary's eyes drooped.
Ash slapped Gary's back. "Are serious?! How can you sleep at a time like this! We're going to be dragon riders!"
"You're right," Gary's eyes shined. "It's only 8:30. That was my bedtime when I was 6!"
Ash tried to change the subject. "So what did you think of the Queen?"
"Yeah she was pretty awesome. But it's crazy ay? We're gonna be doing something other than stealing… Hmmm… Or maybe we will be picked to get into the stealing guild or something."
A haunting realization gripped Ash. He felt his hand claw at Gary's shoulder as he staggered. "Uh, Gar? We're gonna be learning stuff aren't we?"
"Yeah! It's gonna be awes-"
Gary paused. "Crap…"
"Yeah…we're going to school." Ash tried to hold back tears as he forced those words out, chokingly. An impressive feat.
Gary staggered and his hand clawed at Ash's shoulder. And since both of them were leaning on each other, they both fell into a heap on the ground.
"Ash-boy?" Gary's eyes were blank.
Ash gulped.
"I think I've lost the will to live…"
Well, that does for the first chapter! This is pretty much a teaser to see if you guys want more. Aside from characters like Dawn and May (they're going to be included anyway) who else would you like to see as part of the harem? Any other couples you like for me to include? And who should pair Gary up with? Tell me! I'm open most ideas, so feel free to voice your opinions.
Our heroes are going to meet their dragons in the next chapter, so review, follow, and favorite, and I hope you all enjoy my little twist to the usual Pokémon fanfiction! Thank you for reading! - Rain