I hate wearing this already, Ash thought bitterly looking at himself in a mirror. He was wearing a red suit with white pants and black shoes. Ash and Ben were at a cottage, owned by a doctor in training and his siblings. They arrived during the night (to avoid mobs who wanted to see the Prince of Kanto) and had stayed for most of the next day. They both helped out the residence with repairs of homes that a couple of thieves destroyed on their way through. Ash was happy to help with the repairs while Ben stayed to chat with the owner of the cottage.

"I must say that this town is filled with good people. The prince's parents would help anybody that were to be in danger, and afterword repairing the mess. They would be proud of their son if they could see him today." The butler told him somberly as he checks the time. "We have to go for now, but I have a proposal for you and your family before we go. Come with us, the royal family could use a doctor on their side. We have good pay too."

The raven-haired prince returns to his butler's side as the owner thought of it. He then looks at them with a kind smile. "I would love too, but my siblings have education here, so they can't come with. They would say the same thing. As for me, I'm in. But could you let me visit my family every couple day's? It doesn't have to be every month, but- "

"Brock," Ash stops him while patting the mans shoulder kindly. "Ben and I will work something out. So, no need to worry."

The dark-skinned man sighs in relief as he straightens up. "Thank you, your highness. My life is dedicated for your wellbeing. Plus, I will be around a lot of cute maids with short skirts and- "

"Brock, please act professional around the prince!" Ben scrambles to cover the prince's ears as the man smiles sheepishly at them.

"Sorry sire." Brock apologizes bowing his head at the pair.

"It's cool Brock, lets just leave before we draw unwanted attention." Ash suggested glancing at the towns folk who were already beginning their morning chores. They all agreed and went to fetch their things.

It has been a wild ride for both Ben and Ash as they embark on a journey towards the much-anticipated castle which the prince can't wait to see. Many people were muttering amongst them as the group leaves on the royal carriage on a path to Pallet Town or Pallet as Ben likes to say. They just left the town walls when a cloaked figure appeared wearing a mask this time.

"Hehe, time to play rough!" The hooded figure says pulling out a pokeball. It was a strange one with dark colors instead of the usual red and white color. It was black with yellow stripes on it.

Ben's instincts flared as he releases Poliwrath from its ball. Its eyes settled on the hooded figure before grunting and moving in front of Ash. He kept his eyes on the masked cloaked figure. The prince was frowning as Ben gives him a look as he digs for something in his pocket. He tosses something at him before the cloaked figure could react.

"He will protect you." He says as he hears the cloaked figure laugh. "What is your business coming here? Speak!"

The figure lifts their hands onto their chin and shrugs. "I don't have to answer you. Your nothing but a pathetic bunch of weak little royals." They tell them as he releases a Pokémon with a grin (or that's what Ash thought) "Darkai, use dark pulse!"

"Ria!"

"Poliwrath, bubble beam!" the butler commands as Brock adjusts his suit before smashing a window and leaping through, taking Ash by the arm as he does. Bubbles slam Darkai into its owner as they both fall onto the floor as the carriage makes a nasty stop. "Who sent you?! Were you sent here by Kalos?" Ben demands as he grabs the Darkai's pokeball from the cloaked figures hands. "Tell me and you might just be able to go free?"

"You liar! Your just like the pathetic royal family from Kalos!"

So they aren't from Kalos? That's at least a relief. The butler thought returning Darkai to its pokeball as he turns towards the person in the cloak. "Who are you?" He growls as the door shoots open, blinding the cloaked figure and Ben with sunlight.

"I am a Liam." The boy in the hood says scowling as Ben took off his mask. To his surprise the boy was young and had a face full of scars. No matter what age, they are dangerous when they meet the wrong people. Ben thought staring at the boy's face. "Can you please give me my mask back?"

"No."

"If I promise to turn myself in then can I have my mask back?"

Ben sighs as he rolls his eyes before nodding his head, "Yes, our prison is the most guarded prisons in the world. You won't be needing this." He said holding up the boys pokeball with a raised eyebrow. "Why do you have a Darkai?"

The boy scoffs as he gets into a sitting position on the carriage seat. "Does it matter? My boss will kill me if she finds out that I lost her Darkai. I'm as good as dead."

"Your boss?" Ben asks surprised by the boy's ability to be interrogated. Well at least he told me without having to interrogate him in the castle?

"Yes, she is the- AHHHH!" The boy screams as a sudden cry came out the boys mouth. He holds his heart as if he's having a heart attack. Ben's eyes widen as the boy takes out a knife. "Please don't let me die! She is hurting me!" He cries as the knife comes closer to his heart.

Ben makes a dive to grab the boys wrist while Poliwrath keeps hold of him. The knife was close enough to touch and some force was making the boys hand move on its own. Something is wrong, the butler knew it, which means he has to get Ash to the castle as soon as possible. But the boy needed him, the knife was getting closer and closer to his chest.

"Poliwrath, bubble beam on the boy's wrist so he lets go of the weapon!" Ben screams as he watches Poliwrath spray them with a minor but powerful bubble beam. The knife flew out of the boy's grasps. Ben scrambles to get it before it was within reach of the boy's hands. The butler picks up the knife and lets Poliwrath break it with a punch.

The child was crying as he lays down on the seat. Ben recalls Poliwrath and kneels at the child's height. "Who did this to you?" he asks gently almost pitying the child.

Liam held his hand out as the butler looks at it for a moment before taking it. Without a second thought, he smiles at the man. "Someone you despise." He whispers before closing his eyes for the last time. Ben cursed as he felt the boy's wrist. No pulse. He must've had a heart attack?

What a pity. They were just about to find out who sent Liam. Why would they kill one of their own? It's a shame that Ben couldn't figure out who he would despise. He enjoys his friends company. Even Ash's. Who would want to kill Ben?

His thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. Ash peered his head through with wide eyes. Brock looked over from the broken window with a look of worry.

"Uncle Ben, are we safe to come back in now?" the prince wonders as the butler sighs out of grief.

"Yes, sire. Brock could you come with me for a moment?" Ben asks picking up Liam and putting him over his shoulder. Brock nodded before following the butler over to the edge of the forest. Ash raised an eyebrow before deciding to wait for them in the carriage.

"Come on out, Pikachu." The boy yells out suddenly as a yellow mouse emerges from the ball. Their eyes locked for a moment as the mouse looks at him for a moment. "Hello, my name is Ash, Prince of Kanto. Would you like to be my partner?"

The yellow mouse then smiles and leaps on the boy's shoulders while nuzzling his cheek a bit. It then gives him a thunderbolt as a welcome present. Surprisingly, Ash was okay with that as he laughs while the other two men come back in without the boy in the cloak. The prince waves it off, planning to ask him about it some other time.

"Looks like Pikachu likes you?" Ben asks the boy with a soft smile. Ash nodded rubbing the mouse behind the ears making him coo. "Let's go to the city by the bay, Viridian City!"

"Yeah, alright!"

"Pika!" The yellow mouse cheers waving a paw in the air.

"You said it, Pikachu!"

"Say it again, if you want to try?" A voice calls out without hesitation. Ben rolls his eyes. This three are the royal guards they sent to protect the prince?

"Come with us if you don't want to die?" a man in full amour appears upside down on top of the carriage.

"To protect the royals from devastation."

"To unite all people within our nation!"

"To- "the butler rolls his eyes as he flicks one of the guards in the shoulder to make him stop.

"Okay, can you just stop. Nobody wants to hear that motto of yours." Ben mutters covering Ash's ears. "Even the prince and his partner. You guys have a role?"

"Yes sir, we have urgent news!" One of them saluted Ben. A Meowth most likely.

"Someone sent an assassin to kill the prince. We think it's those Kalos maniacs!" A woman says looking a bit annoyed at the butler. Ben nods and walks over to Ash.

"We are taking an alternate route. Brock will go with you."

"Alright, but be careful Uncle Ben." Ash whispers as the butler nods and gives him a wink before stepping out of the carriage and facing the three. He then turns to the doctor and gives him a smile. "He will come find us. Let us go!" the boy said cheerfully as the carriage moves forward towards the forests.

Brock wasn't so sure about that. He shrugs it off and smiles at the teenager. He's so like King Ralph when he was his age. I wonder if he knows that? The doctor smiles brighter at the thought before releasing his Geodude. "Hey Ash, why don't you say about teaching Pikachu some moves! How about a battle when we get to the castle?"

"Sounds great!"

"Pika pika!" Pikachu squeaks as he jumps down to meet Geodude.

"That settles it then," Brock spoke with pride as the teenager grins back. "now let me check where we are." He says getting to the window and looking out for a second. He then yells at the driver, and a second later he was nodding. He sat back in his spot with a smile. "We are in the middle of the forest. We should be out by sundown."

Ash nodded as he stretches out on the seat. Pikachu, laying on his lap as they both start to doze off in a peaceful sleep. Brock looks at them and rolls his eyes as he finds their napping schedule amusing. Why would they pick to nap in a carriage? Only the prince knows that answer.

As the journey to Pallet continues!