Three Musketeers
Disclaimer: The following is a fan-based parody. Pokemon Adventures (Special) is owned by Shogakukan, Ladybird Comics Special series, Nintendo, GameFreak, Hidenori Kusaka, Mato, Satoshi Yamamoto, Satoshi Taiji, Tsunekazu Ishihara, and Shigeru Miyamato.
Chapter 2: Royal Boubon Family
Across Paris in the section of Louvre, the Musketeers and Diamond had arrived at their headquarters as Diamond was about to meet Xavier De Treville, Captain of the Musketeers. Red knocks on the door. After a few moments the door opened, a woman with long blond hair came stumbling out rushing to fix her hair.
"Can I hope you, monsieurs?" Yvonne said as Red bow to her. She happens to be one of the Queen's Lady in waiting, Yvonne de Gabena. She has blue-gray eyes whom her mother is well-known as Grace De Gabena, widow of General Gabena whom killed in Battle of Tornaevnto by Spanish cannonball.
"Madamoislle, Yvonne, we are here to ask for Captain De Treville." Red asked to Yvonne as she directs them to De Treville's office. His office was deep while Diamond sees the training sessions of the musketeers are going though as older veterans are guiding the greenhorns to make sure they got the technique correctly. They reach to the door as to reveal the room where massive drawers are shown as Yvonne got herself out before taking look at De Treville.
"Ah Red! What can I help you with?" De Treville had appeared behind his desk with paperwork he has to do. De Treville was the mentor of the Three Musketeers. He appears with black hair and blue-gray eyes with a cold demeanor. He is experienced as commanding officer of King's Musketeers.
"Uhhh. I was wondering if you could have a look at Diamond here, he took on a horde of bandits just a few miles away and we all think he`d make a fine musketeer." Red suggest as De Treville wondering and amazed what he heard. However, he doubted on the emphasis on his bravery which doesn't constitute his poor quality to deal with deadly opponents.
"A horde, you say? All by himself. He`s either very brave or very stupid. Well then boy, let`s get a look at you" Xavier De Treville said as Diamond stepped forward as De Treville surveyed him closely. He has a stick in his hand as he scans Diamond's figure which he found that there are flaws in his body type.
"Hmmm. Muscles need some work." Xavier De Treville inspect on Diamond as to match the physical requirements to become a Musketeer. He turned to Red with a serious concern regarding his decision to let Diamond. He sees potential in the young boy and realizing that he might be a good musketeer in the future.
"I`m going to allow it, but on one condition. You three are to train and house him. I can`t afford another person under this roof not with the current economic problems" De Treville said as he sat down pointed out that he has some problems to handle financial issues since the French economy is trying to recover from recent warfare and rebellion it appears before.
"Of course, sir. We`ll begin as soon as possible" Red said as they left the training ground night was beginning to fall and as they began to mount up.
"I can't wait to become a musketeer" Diamond glees in joy, but training will come first as the first steps are needing to be taken to prepare for his debut.
"Well, you have to trained under us. It's not going to be easy." Gold said as he rode up to Diamond to pat him in the head.
"You may know the basics and the skills to be one." Red lectured as he knows that being a musketeer is not about heroics or reckless courage.
"Especially dealing with enemies in war if the King goes off to the main battlefront." Ruby replied with a sigh tone knowing that battlefields can be dangerous for musketeer in sieges and pitch battles. Nevertheless, they will teach Diamond the ways of the musketeer from rapier to musketeer training.
"I heard rumors that a knife can be plugged in to the musket's barrel as a spear or a short pike." Gold mentions to them which it was very odd to make a musket into a spear to deal with cavalry.
"That sounds nonsense, Gold. How will musket fire if it's plugged by a knife?" Ruby questions the valid of the said rumor. It will render the weapon useless in the heat of battle with inability to shoot the weapon.
"It could change the face of warfare. Pikes will be long gone, and I think that musket will dominate the battlefield later." Gold said as he knows that technology has been changing since his father was in observer and military attache to Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden. The last military action was battle of Rocroi.
"There are rumors that war with Spain will come soon." Red mentions to the group as there are tensions between Spain and France since the Thirty years war.
"Isn't…." Ruby tries to suggest but halted by Red as he was about to speak.
"We know that Green is getting engaged with Princess of Spain whom is acting Queen. The talks have been delayed and things hasn't look good. Right now, it's a armistice for now." Red said as he describes that war between France and Spain is still going on since 1635. They fear that they will send to the frontlines as they saw battalions are heading to the battlefields of Spanish Flanders.
"But they haven't gotten married yet." Ruby said as he knew that marriage hasn't been formalized yet.
"We are aware of this, Ruby. Louis is still thinking about bringing peace for France. The question is will be worth in the end?" Gold questions that would the ordeal will be over.
"The English king is still living in Spanish Netherlands in exile since his father was killed since Protestant fools made Oliver Cornwell as Lord Protector." Ruby explaining about the English king was kicked out of France due to his idea to restore the English throne.
"Let's hope that war doesn't come too close." Red said as Pearl came staggering around the corner his face light up at the sight of his master only to immediately drop upon seeing his master mount up.
"Looks like I`m walking more" he said before following the horses as they galloped through the streets. After the musketeers and Diamond rode on to Paris, the carriage from earlier enters the city and was on its way to the Louvre, the palace of current French King, Louis XVI. Inside the carriage, there sat a fair maiden, with indigo-blue hair with gold-silver eyes, clutching the jewels whom her father entrusted to her. Her name is Platinum de Berlitz, Queen's seamstress and confidant, tasked with collecting the jewels and sown them to her majesty's new dress.
Yet now, something over than the jewels on her mind as remembering the young man. The young man, same age as she, had valiantly rushed in to defend her from those ruffians, she never saw his face and never caught his name, yet with mannerisms of a woman in love. She blushes thought of him in a quick glance, but quickly refrains herself to more ladylike appearance since she cannot be distracted by trivial things.
"We're here Madame Berlitz." Driver said as they stop the carriage front of the Louvre Palace and Platinum stepped down. She turned to see the driver as they arrived at the front gate where Musketeers open it for them to enter. Numerous activities is going on as Musketeers are guarding the entrances of the buildings and the grounds along with servants and merchants coming by outside of the gate where Parisan activity going on.
"Many thanks, good monsieur. I wish you a safe trip." she daintily descended from the carriage and made her way to the entrance of the Louvre. Once she enters the palace, servants running around carrying out their daily tasks. She made her way east towards the queen's quarters. As she passed the rooms containing the princess of France whom among related to Louis XIV. She heard cursing but chose to ignore it. she opened the queen`s room and almost immediately began work on adding the jewels to the dress.
As night fell within the Palace where Princess of France is looking at the window with a sigh. Crystal is the daughter of Duchess of Bourbon, the family that rules France with grand ambitions. She is weary of palace life and has desires to leave the palace to go the outside and see the common folk.
"Why I must endure this?" Crystal sighed as she looks at the stars to wonder why she is the member of the Bourbon family. Her cousin is Green which it is his nickname since he was a young child to those were close to him. He became King of France, but he became cold due to the events that killed his mother while Her mother is the Duchess of Bourbon is out to enjoy the parties with other nobles.
"It could be worse." A timid voice said as the Princess of Spain, Yellow appears whom is from Spain who was chosen to be future wife of Louis XIV. She was arranged by her parents which she was glad to marry into the Bourbon family, but the peace talks are not finalized. It would make Yellow as Crystal's Cousin in law by marriage. She is understandable to Crystal's plight, but their royal duties prohibit them to live as regular individuals.
"Could be. I wanted to do more things than being in parties and life of luxury. I want to venture into the market place." Crystal said as she looks at Paris skyline where the activity has quiet down, but she knows that the moment she is caught would result to be locked in the palace for good.
"Where the peasants and lower classes are?" Yellow wondering why Crystal wanted to go.
"I care for the people of France. I want to explore the outside walls of this palace." Crystal replied to see more of the common people do for a living since she yeans for understanding of them.
"Well, you can ask for a bodyguard. You can ask De Treville for an escort." Yellow suggest for her to travel during the day to handle any thugs who may lay a hand on her.
"But I want to go alone without an escort." Crystal demanded that she can manage on her own, but that didn't convince Yellow whom knows the danger lay ahead.
"Well, I don't want Green to find out that his lovely cousin will be kidnapped by rouge bandits." Yellow holds Crystal's with grave concern upon her face. It hasn't been well since the aftermath of the civil war occurred in France which resulted Green's mother death.
"Unless I can ask my servant…SILVER!" Yellow commands as the lone red hair figure appears before them.
"Yes, my lady?" Silver said as he bows to her. Silver happens to be Yellow's rake since she was in Spain, but he is related to her by adoption. Since he wasn't royal birth, he was given a special role to protect the Spanish royal family as spies/assassin.
"Will you take Crystal to the market place tomorrow while I enjoy the upcoming guests from Spain?" Yellow said as she points her finger to Crystal.
"Of course, your highness." Silver said as he stood up.
"Guests? I may ask?" Crystal wondered what Yellow meant by that. The only guest only come are from other countries such as Holy Roman Empire, England, Sweden, Papal states, Spain, and Portugal.
"My cousin will arrive in Paris about tomorrow. She has been travelling since last month. She's the niece of my father. Adoptive sister of Silver." Yellow said which Crystal understood what she meant by that. Crystal takes her leave as she left the room.
"Make sure that one of the Musketeers will protect Crystal while you spy on Cardinal Mazarin." Yellow hands the note to Silver.
"You sure about this?" Silver wondering on the objective of the mission could be dangerous if things can go wrong.
"Of course, It's just I don't trust Mazarin. There's been a report that Platinum was attacked by rouge swordsmen. Something is not right with this." Yellow theorized that normally robbers are not armed and carry simple weapons. The robbers were more armed than usual robbers.
"Are you sure to jump to conclusions?" Silver suggesting that pointing fingers can affect her standing in the court since Green trust Mazarin as his prime minister. She can feel that Mazarin is up to something, but she cannot allow her ill-fated judgement to be expose as a mad person. She needs proof to convince Green what Mazarin is up to.
"You're right. But we need more information before we can move." Yellow walks across the room as stops for a moment.
"What about Blue? She is coming here?" Silver askes which Yellow turns to him as she knows what he is asking.
"Yes. Do you miss her?" Yellow wondering that it's been years that Silver was away from Spain as Blue was his adoptive sister since he was adopted to the royal family. They were raised as siblings, but when the day came for Silver to become a rake that changed everything. He was given the duty to protect Yellow when she was arranged to marry Green.
"It's been 4 years as now. I wish I can see her again." Silver said as Yellow comes up to him to pat him in the shoulder.
"You will. Have patience." Yellow reassure that she will come, and he will get to see her soon. Although Silver is her rake, but Yellow has been older sister to him since both had arrive in France although Blue is older than Yellow. Yellow is very wise in her age, but, that she is still a princess until the marriage is finalized as the peace negotiations are over. She is here for diplomacy due to Mazarin's diplomat as good will to the Spanish.
"I hope so. Should I take my leave?" Silver requests if he can leave which Yellow nodded as he left already back to his main room hidden in the palace. She turns to the window wondering if war will resume between Spain and France as rumors that Spain will help exiled English king to restore his throne from Oliver Cromwell.
"War never changes." Yellow sighed as the moon shines to her face hoping that peace will come to France and Spain. Results of the resumed warfare will bring more pain and suffering as pike and shot battalions aiming at each other while wounded cry for help and hate consumes as the battles are up close and personal. She knows that politics has dominated as young men are getting killed for nothing.