AN:
Welcome to my first foray into the wonderful world of fanfiction. This story would not have been possible without the help of my wonderful pre-reader / editor, FineChyna. Seriously, go check her out. As always, as a first time writer, criticism would be very much appreciated. Without any further ado, let's get started.
*shoves Fox over* No you don't! Hey, everyone! Chyna here. Sorry, the story isn't starting yet, but I want to say some things. I'm helping Fox over here with this particular piece of fiction, but remember, everything was his idea! Give him all your credits! *leaves* Ok, you can start now. Have fun!
Diancie looked at herself in the mirror and frowned. Her reflection stared grumpily back, wrapped in what looked like a Jellicent bent on strangling her. Lace fluffed out in all directions, it was so tight, she could hardly breath, and the color-ugh! The worst, most lurid shade of pink possible. This dress was, truly, a disaster. But she would bear the shame of wearing it, because her father loved this dress, and she loved her father. Besides, it was the last year she had to put up with it. Next year, she was going to cut it up and hang it for target practice.
However, not even the shame of this terrible dress could hide her excitement. Today was her birthday, and not just any birthday. Her 14th birthday. Which meant today was the day she could finally go into town without a platoon of escorts insisting on watching her every move. Course, Charlie would still be there, but he wasn't as intimidating as the guards, and anyway, it was Charlie. He didn't count. Even better, she might be able to see Dee again!
"Charlie!" she called into the next room, while tugging on her dress in an attempt to make it easier to breath. "Are you almost ready?"
An older, refined voice spoke back stiffly from behind the closed door. "Yes, milady. And, might I ask that you please call me by my title when we are in town?"
Diancie sighed and rolled her eyes. "Of course, Sir Charlie," she said, her voice laden with sarcasm.
A heavy sigh echoed back. "I am nearly ready to depart, milady. Please, do be patient."
In about a minute, an old, towering Chesnaught emerged from the room dressed dressed in a stiff, pressed suit and green bowtie. He stood in front of Diancie, face expressionless. "Are you ready, milady?" He said.
Diancie giggled, before bounding towards the door. "I've been ready for ages, Charlie! No more waiting! Let's go!" In an instant, the princess was out the door. With a careworn sigh, the Chesnaught followed her, much less excitedly, closing the door behind him.
Diancie hopped all the way through the castle, out the gates, and into town. It was a beautiful day, with a bright blue sky, green grass, and a warm sun, and she was eager to enjoy her birthday to the fullest. Charlie plodded slowly after her. Every few minutes, Diancie would have to stop and wait, fidgeting impatiently, for him to catch up. Why did he have to be so slow?
"Can we go to Dee's house today?" She said, as the old Chesnaught caught up with her for the fifth time. "I haven't visited him in such a long time!"
"Of course, milady. But do not expect to be able to run off with him again. I won't fall for your pitfall trap a second time."
"Darn. I was hoping I'd able to use that at least one more time."
After about ten more minutes of on-and-off walking, the two arrived at the small, thatched-roof cottage that housed the Riolu they were looking for. Diancie went up to the door without hesitation and knocked. She waited only a moment before calling out.
"Dee! I'm here!"
No response on the other side.
"Wake up, you lazy Riolu!" She called, peeking through the window, but not seeing anything.
Nothing. Still silence.
"That's it! I'm coming in!"
She wrapped her hand around the door handle. Just as she prepared to open it, however, the door swung open, revealing a tiny Riolu wearing a huge grin and a party hat.
"Surprise!" sang Dee, handing a startled and pleased Diancie a small box, wrapped in shiny pink paper. She opened it. Inside was a slightly crushed cupcake, drowning in chocolate frosting.
"Come on, Dee, you know vanilla is my favorite," She joked, poking the cupcake.
"Well, excuse me, princess."
The two friends laughed at their running joke, hugged, and began to head toward the market with Charles the Chesnaught close behind, completely ignoring the stream of Pokemon heading to and from the busy area. After splitting the cupcake and getting chocolate frosting all over their faces, the two launched into conversations about their respective lives, and how the other was doing. They browsed through the market stalls, oohing and aahing over the fresh foods, toys, and shiny jewelry available, a weary, but amused Charlie close behind. They were both in the middle of laughing at a joke Dee had made when a panicked cry tore through the air.
"Attack! Attack! The town is under attack!"
The three Pokemon jumped and looked toward the source of the voice. High above, they saw a Chatot, flying as fast as it could over the town and screeching its warning. As it filled its lungs for the next yell, a volley of arrows soared through the air, whizzing right past the bird Pokémon and nicking its feathers. It squawked, made the smart decision, and flew towards the ground, out of sight.
"Under attack!?" Diancie cried, horror evident on her face. "We have to get back and warn my father!"
With that, she turned and began to fight her way back through the marketplace, Dee and Charlie close behind. The place had quickly become a madhouse, with Pokemon screaming and hurrying to escape. Attacks of all types flew through the air, stalls were overturned, and Pokemon fell under the force of the invading force: a team of bandits, made up of Scraggy and Sandile.
It wasn't long before the bandits caught sight of Diancie and her friends. "Look!" rasped a Scraggy, pointing a crooked sword at Diancie. "The princess!"
"Well, don't just stand there!" shouted the presumed leader of the bandits, a fearsome Krokorok with a battle-axe clamped in its claws. "Capture her! The boss might even pay us extra!"
The bandits wasted no time in charging toward the group's position. Dee lifted his fists, prepared to fight, and Charlie drew his weapon: a heavy, double-sided war hammer.
Diancie's heart pounded. She had trained relentlessly for a moment like this, and now, here it was. Concentrating with all her might, she drew her energy into the palm of her hand, until, with a blinding flash of light, a rapier appeared. It was a wickedly-sharp blade, formed of pink crystal as thin as a piece of glass. She leveled the weapon toward her enemies, who staggered, blinded by the flash, and shouted, "En garde!"
She hurtled toward the group of stunned bandits and began her attack. Her first target recovered and rushed to meet her: a Sandile, wielding a fearsome pair of battle-claws. It snarled at her and leaped, claws outstretched, set to rake across her chest. The princess's blade whirled through the air to meet him, meeting his claws with a clang! Faster than the Sandile's eyes could follow, Diancie whipped the blade around and, in one clean stroke, sliced across its muzzle, drawing a thin line of blood. The cowardly Pokemon howled and turned tail, running away as fast as its stubby legs could carry it. Diancie took a moment to celebrate her first real victory, not noticing the hatchet hurtling through the air, set on a course for her shoulder. She turned too late, unable to block or dodge the attack.
Ching!
She heard the sound of metal on metal, and looked up to see that Charlie had stepped in the way, blocking the attack with the armor covering his back.
"You must be more careful, milady," he said sternly, grabbing the offending Scraggy around the throat and hurtling it in the opposite direction. "In a real battle, you can never truly know when your enemies will strike."
"Thanks Charlie. I'll try to keep that in mind."
"Sorry to interrupt the teaching moment," Dee said pointedly, sending a trembling bandit flying with a well-placed kick. "But don't you two think we should try to get to the castle?"
Diancie nodded. "Of course! Come on, you two. We must warn my father!" She turned, rapier out, and began the difficult journey through the bandits, Charlie and Dee close behind.
