The next morning, when Lowell woke up, he was happy to find that the guys were still fast asleep. Otherwise, they would've most likely woken him up with their fighting. Although he can see why they are always fighting. From what he witnessed yesterday, Natsu uses Fire Magic, and Gray uses Ice Magic. It is only natural that they are constantly fighting each other.
Lowell groaned as he sat up, rubbing his tired eyes. He has never been a morning person, even when he was younger. He always dreads waking up in the morning, because he would rather sleep in all day if possible, but he knows that there are important things that need to be done.
With a sigh, he stood up, stretching his whole body. A loud popping sound could be heard throughout the room, causing a sigh of relief to leave Lowell's mouth. The bed was comfortable, but Natsu wouldn't stop snoring, and it made him hard to fall asleep. For much of the night, he ended up tossing and turning, until he was finally too tired to stay awake, anymore.
"I swear, I am never sleeping in a room with Natsu, again." he thought as he made his way to the window. He opened the curtains, allowing the sun's rays to shine into the room, making it feel much warmer.
He looked down at the streets, and judging by how many people were out and about, he assumed that it was at least seven or eight in the morning. Lowell walked back to the foot of his bed and grabbed his jacket, before going to the bathroom to shower.
It didn't take him long to find the bathroom, since each room in the hotel has its own personal bathroom. He must admit, that is one thing he likes about hotels. Even in Kalos, the Pokémon Centers that he stayed at had a bathroom for each individual room, which he has always enjoyed.
He closed the door behind him, stripped off his clothes, and stepped into the shower. As soon as the warm water hit his face, he let out a sigh of relief. It has been almost three days since he last showered, since there was no bathroom on the train. He would've taken one last night, but he was too tired to bother.
For a couple minutes, he stood underneath the warm water, thinking about what he is going to say to the king of Fiore. He has spoken with people of a high standing, before, but he has never spoken to someone as important as a king. He needs to be very careful with what he says.
"Hopefully I will be able to convince him to give Pokémon a chance. Otherwise, this is going to cause a lot of trouble, and not just for us. Now that Fiore is a part of Earth, it is most likely going to stay like that, for quite some time. We need to be able to understand each other, if we want to coexist peacefully." he thought.
He knows that he shouldn't be overthinking things, but this is important. Diantha and the professor have entrusted him with this task, and he doesn't want to let them down. He has dealt with big problems, before. Heck, he managed to stop Team Flare before they could destroy most of the world. However, he has never dealt with something this big, before. If he messes this up, then everyone will pay for it, and he doesn't want that to happen. He will make sure that doesn't happen.
After he finished taking his shower, he changed into his clothes, and he made his way downstairs. He is hoping that the girls are up, at least, because otherwise they would have to wait forever to leave. They agreed to go to the castle, together, which Lowell doesn't find to be necessary, but they have apparently been there before, so at least they won't get lost on the way there.
He reached the bar on the bottom floor, and he noticed that Levy and Erza are both sitting at the bar. Levy has a drink, and Erza is…eating a cheesecake? Okay. He was not expecting that.
"Who eats cheesecake for breakfast?" he thought.
Lowell walked up to the bar, and he sat down in a seat next to Levy. Once she realized he was there, she gave him a smile.
"Good morning, Lowell." she greeted happily.
"Good morning." he responded tiredly. A bartender with long, brown hair walked up to him and asked him if he wanted anything, to which he declined. Once again, he has no money, and he isn't exactly hungry. The bartender walked away, and Greninja finally decided to appear from his Pokémon, startling Levy and Erza. Lowell, on the other hand, didn't seem phased by this, which is to be expected.
Greninja stretched his arms and legs before sitting down next to Greninja. "Man, those two sure do snore, don't they?" he asked irritated.
Lowell chuckled a bit with a small grin. "I guess you had difficulty sleeping, as well?" he assumed, to which Greninja nodded his head.
"Just because I am in my poke ball, it doesn't mean that I can't hear what happens outside it." he responded. Greninja then looked towards Levy and Erza. "How do you deal with them, all the time?" he asked.
Levy giggled. "You get used to it, after a while. Natsu and Gray are best friends, but you wouldn't guess that just by looking at them. Still, as childish as they may look, they are both powerful wizards, and they are also very kind."
Erza nodded her head in agreement. "Yes, they are very promising, but they let their destructiveness get the better of them."
Levy sweat-dropped. "You are just as destructive as them, you know?" she thought.
Lowell shrugged his shoulders. "Oh well. No one can be perfect. I, and my entire team, can attest to that statement." he responded. "In fact, Natsu and Gray's constant fighting kind of reminds me of Charizard and Dragonite, don't you think, Greninja?" he asked, turning towards his partner.
Greninja scoffed and shook his head. "Charizard and Dragonite are worse than the pyro and the ice stripper. If those two ever get at it in the middle of a big city, there would be no telling how much damage they would cause." he said with a small chuckle.
This statement caused Erza's eyes to widen in pure shock and amazement. "Are these…Pokémon of yours really that strong?" she asked incredulously.
He thought carefully for a moment. They have never gone up against a mage before, but his entire team managed to defeat Lysandre and Team Flare, as well as the Elite Four, and they also made their battle with Diantha a tie. The only way to find out how they stack up against a mage is for them to actually fight one.
"They can definitely cause a lot of destruction if they get careless, that's for sure. Although, I am not quite sure how strong they are, compared to a mage. We will have to find that out, sometime." he explained.
Levy and Erza nodded their heads. It would be an interesting event, that is for sure.
Footsteps could be heard coming closer. They all turned their heads, and they saw that Lucy was walking towards them with a small, tired smile on her face.
"Hey guys. I guess we're still waiting on Natsu, Happy, and Gray, right?" she asked.
Lowell nodded his head. "Yeah. Although I highly doubt that they will wake up on their own accord." he responded with a playful smirk on his face.
She sighed and shook her head as she sat down next to the others. "They probably spent most of the night fighting each other." she said to herself before giving Lowell an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry you had to sleep with them. I doubt you got much sleep at all."
He and Greninja both shook their heads. "Thankfully, neither of them woke up the other Pokémon. If they did, they most likely wouldn't be in the city, anymore."
This comment got Levy thinking. "Hey. I have only met Greninja and Stunfisk, so far. When will we get to meet the others?" she asked.
Lowell shrugged his shoulders. "Whenever there is a decent opportunity to do so. I'd say that it would be best to save that meeting, until after we talk with the king." he answered.
The others nodded in understanding. Although they are also really curious to see what other Pokémon Lowell has trained. From what he told them last night, they know that there are all kinds of Pokémon. They don't know what to expect.
Suddenly, Greninja stood up, and he began to walk towards the staircase. "I'm going to wake up those three. I would rather get to the castle, as quickly as possible. We don't want to keep the king waiting." he said before disappearing up the stairs.
Lowell leaned back in his seat as he watched his partner leave. A small chuckle escaped his lips. "Hopefully they don't retaliate." he replied.
The others looked at him in confusion. "What do you mea-" Erza was interrupted by the sound of screaming coming from a higher floor. There a loud thud that caused the mages to flinch, and suddenly, Natsu, Gray, and Happy went tumbling down the stairs, landing hard on their faces.
Greninja came down shortly after that, dusting off his hands. He noticed the stairs he received from the mages, but he just shrugged his off and rejoined them. "They tried to hit me when I woke them up." he replied simply.
A low groan could be heard from the ground, and Natsu sat up, rubbing his head. He sent Greninja an angry glare. "What the heck, man! Why did you hit us so hard?!" he asked.
Gray sat up rubbing a bruise on his shoulder, giving Greninja an icy glare. "Yeah! What gives?!"
Happy lazily floated towards the others, and he landed on the counter they were sitting at. "Who knew a frog could pack that big of a punch?" he asked no one in particular.
Lowell sighed tiredly. "Did you really need to do that? Now they are going to be a pain all day." Lowell responded.
Once again, Greninja just shrugged it off. "Like I said, they tried to hit me."
Gray suddenly appeared in front of Greninja, ready to fight. "That wasn't me!" he yelled, pointing over to Natsu, who is still sitting on the ground. "It was flame brain, over there!"
This comment didn't sit well with Natsu, and he got right up in Gray's face. "Why are you blaming me, ya' stripper?!"
"Because it was your fault, pyro!" Gray responded angrily.
They were about to start another fight, but Greninja and Erza appeared behind them, hitting both of them on top the head, leaving another large bruise. Greninja looked to Lowell. "Maybe we should get going, before these two start fighting again." he suggested.
Knowing that it was their best option, Lowell agreed. He stood up from his seat and grabbed Gray, while Greninja grabbed Natsu. There was no way in hell Lowell was going to carry Natsu, knowing that as soon as he woke up, he would try to punch him. With Greninja carrying him, he would be able to knock him out again, if he started causing more trouble.
Lowell sighed. "More work." he muttered.
He and Greninja began to leave the hotel with Gray and Natsu on their shoulders, while the others followed closely behind.
On their way to Mercurius, the king's castle, Lowell and the others discussed what he would say in front of the king. Honestly, he has no idea. His plan is to just answer the king's questions truthfully, and do whatever he can to prove that humans and Pokémon can work together. He is hoping that the king is reasonable, at the very least.
Then he realized something. "Wait. You've been in the castle before, right?" he asked.
The mages nodded, including Natsu and Gray who regained consciousness minutes ago. Although Erza and Greninja already threatened to knock them out again if they did anything foolish, so they are staying a decent distance away from each other.
"Yes, that is correct. The king threw a part in the castle after the Grand Magic Games." Erza explained. She then raised her eyebrow at him. "Why?" she asked.
"Does that mean you have met the king, as well?" Lowell asked.
Lucy nodded her head. "Of course. Most people would think he would be intimidating, but he isn't all that scary. He is actually pretty nice, once you talk to him for a bit." she explained.
Lowell sighed in relief. "Thank goodness. I was worried that he would be completely unreasonable, and that he wouldn't even listen to what I have to say."
Erza smiled. "Don't worry about that. If you behave, then I am sure everything will be alright." she said, sending Natsu and Gray a scary look, making them look away from each other.
He and Greninja both scoffed at this, knowing that they won't have a problem with that. Their only problem will be getting Natsu and Gray to behave. It is only a matter of time before they decide to start up another fight.
Levy looked back at Lowell, with a slight frown on her face. Ever since they ran in with Erza and the others, she hasn't gotten much time to talk to him. Her mind then travelled to her conversation with Greninja on the train, and she began to blush. She quickly turned back around, so that Lowell wouldn't notice this.
She can't believe what she is thinking, right now. She shouldn't be upset about something like that. She can worry more about all that once the job is over.
Suddenly, she felt someone tap her on her shoulder, making her jump a little. She turned, and she smiled when she realized that it was just Lucy. "What's up, Lu?" she asked.
Lucy has a small frown on her face. "Are you alright, Levy? You've been acting strange, since we met up, yesterday. Is something wrong?" she asked with a concerned tone in her voice.
Levy mentally sighed. She didn't realize that her behavior was that obvious. Although she shouldn't be surprised that Lucy noticed it. She doesn't spend as much time with her as Natsu and the others, but they are still really good friends.
She didn't want Lucy to catch on to what is really bothering her, so she made herself smile. "Don't worry. Everything is alright. I am just thinking about a lot, right now. Ever since I met Lowell, I have been learning so much about Pokémon. I can't help but wonder more about them." she lied, hoping that Lucy would accept it.
The Celestial Spirit Mage looked at her friend for a moment before smiling and nodding her head. "That makes sense. Maybe after he is done talking with the king, he will be willing to stick around, for a while. It would be nice to hear more of his stories. Who knows? Maybe it will even help me come up with an idea for a book?"
The two friends chuckled with each other. Although on the inside, Levy agrees with Lucy. She wants Lowell to stay for a while, but for her own reasons. As much as she enjoys learning about Pokémon, she wants to spend more time with him. He did say that he might stay in Fiore, for a while. However, that doesn't mean that he will stick around them. He may go off and explore on his own. She wants him to join Fairy Tail, but she doesn't want to just randomly ask, because she doesn't want to sound desperate.
Suddenly, a loud yell snapped Levy out of her thoughts. Natsu finally got tired of being quiet, and he lit one of his fists on fire.
"That's it! After this is said and done, I am going to have a battle with one of your Pokémon!" he declared with eyes full of determination.
None of the mages seemed surprised by Natsu's sudden declaration, and neither were Lowell and Greninja. In fact, they were hoping that he would say something like that.
Lowell smirked. "Alright then, Natsu. I have a proposal for you. If you can make it through the meeting with the king without destroying something or fighting someone, then I will give you the battle you want."
This only managed to make Natsu even more fired up than before. "Yeah! I am gonna prove that Pokémon stand no chance against a dragon!" he declared.
Gray smirked. "Didn't you lose to one that looked like a big fish?" he asked smugly.
"Aye, sir!" Happy replied with a paw in the air. "That fish came out of nowhere and started smacking Natsu with its tail. Although if he would've let me at it, it wouldn't have gotten away."
It took so much for Lowell to not burst out laughing in front of the others, and Greninja is in a similar state. The others noticed this.
"Hey, what's so funny?!" Natsu asked, fuming with rage.
Lowell took out his Pokedex and showed Natsu an image of the Pokémon he was talking about.
"Magikarp: The Fish Pokémon. It is virtually worthless in terms of both power and speed. It is the most weak and pathetic Pokémon in the world." the Pokedex stated.
After hearing that, no one could contain their laughter anymore. Even Erza couldn't suppress a small chuckle from escaping her lips.
Lucy had to wipe tears from her eyes. "Wow, Natsu. I didn't realize that the almighty Dragon Slayer would be beaten by something that is considered the weakest." she said while still laughing.
He turned around and glared at her. "S-shut up! It caught me off-guard, that's all! I'll show that thing who's boss, the next time around!"
Levy put a finger to her chin in thought. The name sounded familiar, but she wasn't sure where. Suddenly, it hit her, and her eyes widened in fear.
"W-wait a second. Isn't Magikarp…"
Lowell nodded his head with a grin, showing off his fang-like teeth. "That's right. When Magikarp evolves, it becomes a Gyarados, like the one we fought in Hargeon Port."
Remembering that giant serpent made Levy's spine shutter. They may have defeated it quite quickly, but the sheer power that it had was frightening. The encounter with Gyarados, as well as seeing Lowell's Pokémon in action makes her wonder how powerful the other Pokémon are.
Erza raised her brow. "Gyarados?" she asked.
Greninja nodded. "Yes. We briefly told you of what evolution was. When a Pokémon gains a certain amount of experience, or meets certain requirements, they go through evolution, which makes them stronger. For example: Magikarp evolves into Gyarados, which is an instance of a very weak Pokémon evolving into one that can wreak an insane amount of havoc." Greninja explained.
Once again, Gray chuckled. "So, that means Natsu has absolutely no chance at beating it, then." he commented. Of course, this made Natsu angry, and Gray received a flaming fist to the head.
"I'd like to see you try, stripper!" he yelled.
Gray got up in Natsu's face, an icy aura surrounding his body. "What did you call me, pyro?!"
Before another fight could fully break out, Greninja stepped in between them and punched them both in the face, sending them flying in opposite directions. He has a deadpanned expression on his face. "Those two will never learn, will they?" he asked rhetorically.
Everyone shook their heads. It is as clear as day that nothing will stop those two from fighting each other.
Lowell looked back at the two unconscious mages and sighed. If they weren't in a crowded city, he would have Charizard or Dragonite carry one of them, because he is getting tired of carrying them everywhere. Then he noticed that Greninja was already carrying Gray, which meant that he had to carry Natsu.
He scoffed before walking up to Natsu and dragging him by his arm. Lowell might be stronger than most people his age, but that doesn't mean that he doesn't get tired. There is no way that he is carrying Natsu on his shoulders, because he is a lot heavier than he looks.
"How much does this guy eat?" he asked to no one in particular.
"He eats out every buffet that he runs into." Lucy responded with a deadpanned expression on her face.
"Aye, sir! He is almost as heavy as Lucy!" Happy responded, earning a kick from the blonde-haired mage.
Lowell scoffed. "In that case…" he picked up Natsu and threw him at Happy. "You carry him. He is your best friend, after all." he said as he walked off, not giving Happy a chance to respond. "Hurry up. The longer we fool around like this, the longer the king will be kept waiting. I would rather not upset the leader of a kingdom full of wizards."
Levy and Lucy exchanged a look with each other. "Well, at least he has a better work ethic than Natsu." Lucy responded, to which Levy giggled.
"Well, from what Greninja told me, he also likes to nap a lot." Levy responded, earning a small glare from the ninja Pokémon.
"He doesn't sleep on the job." he said as he passed them. "Now hurry up. We'll be left behind if we stand around here, all day."
None of them could argue with that logic, so they all made their way towards Mercurius. Levy and Lucy caught up with Lowell quickly, because they knew that he has no idea where he is going. If they follow his lead, they will most likely end up getting lost.
About half an hour later, they arrived in front of Mercurius, where Lowell and Greninja couldn't believe their eyes. Never during their travels have they come across something as big as this. The only things he can compare it to are the Tower of Mastery and the Pokémon League. Still, neither of those are as big as the castle in front of them.
"I was expecting a castle, but not one this big." Lowell replied with his mouth agape.
Greninja nodded his head in agreement, with wide eyes. "I guess it would only make sense. After all, it does belong to a royal family." he responded.
Lucy looked at the castle with a curious expression on her face. "I wonder how the princess is doing. It has been a while since we last saw her."
Erza nodded her head in agreement. "It has. Perhaps we will see her, as well." she responded, making Lucy smile. She truly hopes that she gets to see the princess. They don't know each other very well, but she still considers her a friend.
As they were about to walk through the gates, they were blocked by a pair of guards. They are both holding spears in their hands, pointing them towards the group.
"State your name and business." one of the guards stated.
Lowell walked forward, followed by Greninja. The two guards were a little unnerved by seeing Greninja, but they stood their ground. "My name is Lowell Falkov, and this is my partner, Greninja. I am with a group of mages from the Fairy Tail guild. I was sent here by a woman called Diantha, the champion of the Kalos Region. I am supposed to speak with the king." he explained.
At first, the guards had no clue what he was talking about, but then the other guard remembered, and his eyes widened in shock.
"Y-you mean that you are from the other world?!" he asked.
"I guess that means that some people know about Earth, well, at least those close to the king." Lowell thought. He nodded his head as confirmation. "Yes. Well, technically, you are currently in my world, but you haven't seen anything outside of Fiore, yet. Anyways, may we please speak with the king? I don't want to keep him waiting."
The guards looked at each other for a moment before nodding their heads and moving their spears away. "Follow us." the first guard said.
The two guards led the entire group through the castle, and Lowell and Greninja couldn't help but marvel at the sights. Everything is a pristine white, even the ceiling, and torches line the walls. There are occasional arches in the walls, as well as stone statues on pedestals. As they walked through the halls of the castle, they could hear their footsteps echo loudly.
Once they finally reached the end of the hall, they noticed a woman standing in front of a large door. She has short, gray hair, and she is wearing a white shirt and shorts, and a white cloak with wing-like adornments on her back.
Lowell smiled. He would recognize her anywhere.
Once they reached the doorway, the two guards left them, to return to their post.
The woman turned around, and her eyes widened in surprise when she saw Lowell. However, a smile than formed on her face. "It has been a while, Lowell, Greninja." she greeted.
He and Greninja both nodded their heads. "It definitely has. I was a little surprised when you requested for my help, but I wouldn't turn you down." he said with a grin the showed off his canines.
"How have you been, Diantha?" Greninja asked, causing Diantha to jump a bit.
"Sorry about that." she said with a small laugh. "I am still not used to hearing Pokémon speak English. I thought that it was only my team, but I guess I was wrong." she explained.
The mages from Fairy Tail looked at Diantha, shocked.
"S-she is Diantha?" Levy asked with wide eyes.
"She is beautiful." Lucy commented, earning a chuckle from Diantha.
"Thank you. Not only am I the champion of the Kalos Region, but I am also an actress. I am expected to keep up my appearance, even though that doesn't mean all that much to me, anyways." she explained.
Erza looked at her with admiration. "How inspiring. She is a powerful trainer, as well as a hardworking actress. That must take a lot of your time."
Diantha nodded her head with a small smile. "Yes. It is very time consuming, but I think that it is worth it. Not only am I able to battle alongside my Pokémon, but I am also able to inspire others and make them happy through my acting."
Gray crossed his arms underneath his chest and grinned. "That is pretty inspiring."
However, all of this went in one of Natsu's ears and out the other one. He rushed forwards, lighting his fist on fire. "Fight me!" he yelled.
Before Natsu could reach her, a blue glow came out of her pocket, and Gardevoir appeared in front of her. Her eyes glowed blue, and so did Natsu. Natsu began to float in the air, making him panic a little.
"W-what the heck is going on?! Put me down!" he demanded.
Gardevoir did as he asked, and her eyes stopped glowing, causing him to fall head first into the floor, giving him yet another bump on his head.
Lowell sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Sorry about that, Diantha. He wasn't originally supposed to be here, but he is a member of Levy's guild, and we just so happened to run into him and some of her other friends in the city." Lowell explained.
She shook her head, laughing a little. "It is quite fine, Lowell. Although, I am curious as to why he tried to attack me." she said putting a hand to her chin.
Lucy gave a sheepish laugh. "Natsu tends to challenge anyone who he thinks is strong to a fight. Since you are the champion, he thought that it would be a good idea to challenge you to a fight, which like normal, went terribly wrong for him." she explained.
Diantha chuckled and smiled towards Lowell. "Kind of reminds me of a certain electric-type that I once battled against." she responded.
Lowell's grin changed to a smirk. "Yeah. Stunfisk can be a handful, sometimes. Well, most of my Pokémon can be a handful, but I still consider each and every one of them to be a part of my family." he said, smiling down at Greninja, who smiled back.
The members of Fairy Tail smiled upon hearing Lowell's sentiment towards his Pokémon, even Natsu, who is still trying to nurse the bump on his head. His Pokémon are to him like Fairy Tail is to them. It is clear that they aren't just a means of power for him. He cares about them, and he would do anything for them, and vice versa.
Diantha smiled and let out a sigh. "That is precisely why I feel like you should've accepted my offer to become the champion. The battle ended in a draw, but I can tell that you have what it takes." she said. However, she took one look at Lowell's serious face, and she knew that she couldn't convince him to change his mind. "Alright. I might as well stop trying. No matter how many time I tell you this, you never change your mind."
He shook his head. "Of course, I won't. I said it many, and I will continue to say it. It doesn't matter if I am not the champion. All I care about is spending time with my family, and proving to ourselves that our bond is strong enough. I don't care what other people think. As far as I am concerned, the title of "Champion" is a symbol of your strength, and strength has never been something that I cared much about." he explained.
Greninja couldn't agree more. When he was first chosen as Lowell's partner, he wasn't very strong. Heck, it took weeks of training before he could finally hold his own in a fight. The other Pokémon that Lowell caught weren't very strong at first, either. However, he saw potential in all of them, and he wanted to give them a chance to prove themselves, as well as to give them a place they can call home.
Levy was shocked by his words. She knew how he felt, but she didn't realize that he felt this strongly about it. For some reason, hearing him talk like that, it made her feel warm inside. She isn't sure why, but it isn't a bad feeling. She looked up at him with curiosity. "Why are you making me feel this way?" she thought. She'll admit, she might've felt something similar for Gajeel, not too long ago, but that feeling is gone, now. It has been replaced with a new one for Lowell. For some reason, there is something about him that just naturally draws her to him, but she can't place her finger on what it is.
Levy jumped when she was snapped out of her thoughts by a raging Natsu. His body is surrounded in fire, and he ran straight towards Lowell.
"There is no way in hell that I am letting you get off with not fighting me, now!" he exclaimed.
Lowell sighed, shaking his head in disappointment. "Oh, Natsu." he muttered, with a small shadow casted over his eyes. When he looked up, he had an evil glint in his eyes. "Did you forget our deal?" he asked, dodging the fiery punches from the angry dragon slayer. Did Natsu forget that Lowell can't fight back? It isn't like he was going to fight him, anyways.
He let out another sigh, as he dodged a powerful blow aimed for his head. "I warned him, didn't I?" he thought. He gave Greninja a look, and his partner already knew what he wanted him to do. In an instant, Greninja disappeared from his spot, and he reappeared behind Natsu, grabbing him by the back of the vest and tossing him into a wall.
For a moment, Natsu was dazed, and he didn't even see Lowell's fist aiming straight for his face. He landed on the ground with a loud thud, sporting several new bruises, courtesy of Lowell and Greninja.
The others looked at them in pure shock, including Diantha and Gardevoir. They knew that he had a low tolerance for unnecessary foolishness, but they had never witnessed Lowell actually hit someone. He seemed to be lightening up a bit, as well. Although with these wizards, one might need to take a more drastic approach to get them to settle down.
"That was…quite unexpected." Gardevoir commented. Her voice is smooth and angelic.
Diantha nodded her head in agreement, her eyes wide in shock. "I never thought I would witness Lowell hit someone, and actually mean to hurt them." she said in disbelief.
Greninja just shrugged it off, while Lowell was seen cracking his knuckles and the muscles in his neck. "It has been a while since I let off some steam, despite how little it was. There is only so much of that boy's childish behavior that a person can take." he responded in irritation.
Lucy is shaking in slight fear while pointing at Lowell with a shaky finger. "I-I thought that he was normal!" she exclaimed.
Levy is just as shocked as she is, but she can't put it into words. She had only ever seen his serious side when they encountered Gyarados, and even then, he was relatively calm. Now, however, he had grown irritated with Natsu's constant fighting and yelling. It doesn't change how she sees him, but now she knows just a little bit more about him. Don't piss him off.
Gray is in the background, laughing away at what just occurred. He didn't realize it, but he had also stripped his shirt off, leaving him in only his black pants.
"Gray, your clothes." Happy stated, causing Gray to panic and start searching around for his missing shirt.
Erza simply watched with awe. She wasn't expecting him to be as strong as he is. He isn't a mage, but it is clear as day that he has done strenuous physical training. While it isn't very noticeable with his clothes covering them, she can tell that he has muscles.
"I am surprised that you have so much strength for someone who doesn't know how to use magic." she said, studying him for a moment. "Plus, when you explained that you commanded Pokémon in battle, I wasn't expecting you to know how to fight. "Clearly, I was wrong." she said with a slightly apologetic smile towards the end.
Lucy sighed. "Didn't I tell you not to think that?" she asked, slightly annoyed. "I get help from my spirits, but I still fight alongside them. Maybe he doesn't battle with his Pokémon, but I wouldn't be surprised if he trained with them."
He just shrugged his shoulders, not really giving it much importance. "Why should they do all the work? Sure, I come up with strategies and give the orders, but I wouldn't ask them to do something that I wouldn't be willing to at least attempt to do. I refuse to depend solely on them. If something happens, I want to be able to step in, and to not just be a helpless bystander." he explained.
Diantha's smile never faltered. "This is exactly why I entrusted you with this task, Lowell. Your bond with your team – your family – is what makes you the perfect person to prove that humans and Pokémon can trust each other and work together. You see them as more than just tools. If anyone can get this message across to the king, it is you."
Hearing Diantha say this made him happy. He respects her, and he sees her as a role-model. Hearing her give him praise such as this makes him even more confident. Normally, he wouldn't care what people think, but her opinion is one of the few that matters to him.
Everything was quiet for a moment, until Gardevoir cleared her throat. "I believe that we have wasted enough time, don't you?" she stated.
Everyone's gaze turned serious, minus Natsu, who, once again, is nearly unconscious. Maybe this will teach him to stop being so eager to get into a fight. He will still indulge Natsu in a battle, since technically, he said that he couldn't start a fight during their talk with the king. Besides, he still wanted to see how Dragonite faired against him. However, he won't tell Natsu that, until he feels like it. A small smirk appeared on his face at the thought. What's the rush?
They walked through the door, and their attention immediately went to the far end of the room. There is a red carpet rolled out, leading all the way to a big, golden throne. Sitting on top the throne is a short, old man with wavy, white hair, and a mustache. He is wearing green overalls with vertical white stripes, underneath a red cape with golden tassels. He has a serious, yet friendly look in his eyes.
Standing on the left of him is a girl who seems around the same age as them. Much like Levy, she is petite. She has wavy, light-green hair reaching midway down her back, dark-green eyes, and fair skin. She is wearing a golden tiara with a red jewel in the center, a short, green dress with a flower-like pattern above her chest, and long gloves that reach up to her elbows, with frills near the ends. She is also wearing a large, silver necklace around her neck with a blue gem in it.
On the left of him is a man in a full suit of armor, minus a helmet. He has long, spiky black hair, and a beard reaching from the top of his head to his chin. His armor is much bigger than the other guards, meaning that he is probably of a high rank, which Lowell could frankly care less about.
The group of mages, plus the people and Pokémon from Earth stopped a few yards away from the king, and Lowell and Diantha kneeled in front of him, followed quickly by Greninja. Gardevoir simply curtsied, not wanting to be rude.
The members of Fairy Tail and the king seemed a little shocked by the display, but then they realized that they have never met royalty before, and they were trying to be polite. If Diantha is being honest with herself, she is a little nervous. She has spoken with the Magic Council, which she isn't a big fan of, but this is her first time meeting the king. She has a high standing in the Kalos Region, so she felt like it would reflect upon the region, if she didn't show manners.
After a moment of silence, the king merely chuckled, causing Lowell and Diantha to look at him in confusion, seeing a comforting smile on his face. They weren't expecting him to be so friendly, even though the group told Lowell the king wasn't so bad.
"There is no need to bow. Please, stand up." he said, which they did. They felt a little awkward after that, but they were relieved the king was so easygoing. "My name is Toma E. Fiore." he introduced, before bringing attention to the two beside him. "This is my daughter, Princess Hisui." he said, drawing attention to the beautiful girl beside him.
She smiled, and when she noticed Lucy, she gave her a small wave, which was quickly returned. They are happy to see each other, again. However, then she took a really good look at Lowell, and her face quickly flushed red. She turned her head and tried to fan herself off, but it wasn't working, very well.
Levy saw this, and she frowned. She didn't like the look that she was giving to Lowell. Fairy Tail may be in good terms with her, but that wouldn't stop her from teaching her a lesson if she tried to-
She blinked a couple of times, before she realized what was running through her head. She couldn't believe what had come over her. Was she really about to threaten the princess, all because she blushed after looking at Lowell? She shouldn't be surprised. He isn't drop-dead gorgeous, but by no means does that make him unattractive. She wouldn't be surprised if he had girls throwing themselves at him.
"Am I…jealous?" she thought. She mentally shook her head. That can't be right. Why should she be jealous? She highly doubts that Lowell would fall in love with the princess. She is nice, but she saw the way he looked at her. It may not be love, but he definitely feels something for her, and Greninja confirmed it on the train to Crocus. However, the question that is on her mind the most:
"What are my feelings towards him?" she thought.
Levy was so caught up in her thoughts that she didn't notice the king introducing the chief of the Cherry Blossom Holy Knights, Arcadios.
"My name is Diantha, and I am the champion of the Kalos Region. It is an honor to make your acquaintance" she greeted. "This is my partner, Gardevoir."
Gardevoir nodded her head towards the king, princess, and Arcadios. "It is a pleasure." she responded curtly.
"My name is Lowell Falkov. I'm no one special, really." he said, earning a slight slap on his shoulder from Diantha, which made him sigh and send her a small glare before continuing. "I am just a Pokémon Trainer who enjoys travelling with his family, AKA my team. Diantha and I, based on the last time we battled, are equal in terms of strength, but I don't care about any of that. I cherish my bonds more than any power in the world." he said, placing a hand on Greninja's shoulder. "Isn't that right, Greninja?" he asked.
Greninja nodded with a smile on his face. "Of course. Power means nothing if you don't have friends by your side, to share in the fun and laughter that you may experience."
Everyone in the room was moved. They could all see the history these two have with each other, and that made the king smile.
"I see. So, you two are Pokémon Trainers? I wasn't sure what to expect, really. The Magic Council explained to me the situation, and how we are no longer in Earthland. I also know of what Pokémon are, but I had no idea what you would be like." he explained.
Lowell just shrugged it off. That doesn't surprise him, much. According to what Levy told him, many people in Fairy Tail thought that trainers treated the Pokémon like slaves. That saddened him, but it is understandable, since they weren't familiar with how their world works.
"We understand, your majesty." Diantha responded with a kind and respectful smile. "I understand that everything that has happened is quite…unexpected, but we are hoping that this meeting will prove that we can all coexist, without fearing the other."
The king nodded in agreement. "Yes. I agree. Until we determine what sent us to your world, we are stuck here, which means that we need to do our best to cooperate with each other, and make an effort to understand each other." he said. However, a small frown than appeared on his face. "Unfortunately, many people are afraid of Pokémon, because they have been attacking, ever since we appeared in your world."
"That is because they are afraid and confused." Levy said, gaining the attention of the high-standing people in front of her.
"What do you mean?" Arcadios asked, genuinely confused. "Why would they be afraid, when they are the ones attacking us." he began to raise his voice a little, showing that he isn't the fondest of Pokémon, yet.
However, he hasn't let one piece of information sink in, yet.
"You are no longer in your world, Arcadios." Lowell stated, forgetting any form of formalities. "Fiore, as well as Ishgar, have become a part of Earth, which means that, where Ishgar resides now, was once home to many Pokémon." he explained, causing their eyes to widen. "What do you think happened to them, after they lost their homes?" he asked.
The princess' eyes are wide in shock. "They came to Fiore, to find new homes." she realized, to which Lowell nodded his head in confirmation.
Erza decided to step forward. "I don't agree with the actions the Pokémon have taken, but I do understand why they would feel afraid, confused, and most likely angry. We can't place all the blame on them."
Gray nodded his head in agreement. "Yeah. Besides, if we manage to make peace with them, then we won't have to keep fighting them. Even the smaller ones are pretty tough." he replied with a small scoff. He won't admit it, but he has gotten his butt handed to him by several Pokémon, and it may have made him just a little upset.
The king agrees with this. He can't blame them, when they are only trying to survive. "However, that doesn't change that they are causing problems for the citizens of Fiore. It may not be all their fault, but the people are scared, and they want action to be taken." the king explained.
Lowell stepped up. "Isn't that why we are here, to prove that they shouldn't be feared, and that you can coexist with them?" he asked.
Arcadios still doesn't seem to trust it, though. "Yes, but how can you do that?" he asked. "We may know that they can be trusted, at least the ones you have as companions, but how will we convince the people of Fiore? Very few people even know that we are in a different world, and most of those people are guards here in the capital, or people of high standing."
Lowell sighed and scratched his chin in thought. That is the real challenge. It will be hard to get them to warm up to Pokémon, especially after they have caused so much trouble. If they saw how they interacted with trainers, then they might not be so afraid. However, how would they do this?
After a brief moment of thought, his eyes widened. He has an idea.
He turned towards Diantha, a look of determination in his eyes. "I have an idea." he stated.
She smiled. She had a feeling he would. "What is it?" she asked curiously.
Lowell turned back to the king before he started speaking. "I've been told about the Grand Magic Games that took place in July. It was a tournament between the different mages guilds." he remembered. His tone is serious, as well as slightly hopeful.
The king nodded his head in confirmation, curious to see where this was going. "Yes, but what does that have to do with anything?" he asked.
"Since it was a tournament, it was broadcasted across Fiore." he said, earning another nod from the king. "What would happen, if we had another tournament, but this time, mages and Pokémon would work together in the games." he suggested with a hopeful smile on his face.
The mages of Fairy Tail agree with this, and as soon as Natsu heard the word "tournament", he jumped straight up, fire coating his hands.
"Alright! If there is another tournament, we have another chance of proving just how strong Fairy Tail is!" he announced proudly.
His sudden outburst shocked Lucy. They hadn't realized that he was conscious, yet. "N-natsu, c-calm down! They haven't even decided if it would happen, or not!" she said trying talking sense into him.
However, he didn't care. He was set on this tournament happening, because he wanted to prove he was stronger than the Pokémon. He was humiliated by them before, but not again.
"Come on! It is a great idea. Besides, if this does happen, then that means that we will be able to get Pokémon of our own." he said excitedly. He wants to prove himself, but he also wants to see more of what they can do.
"I wonder if there are more Pokémon that look like fish." Happy said to himself, drooling. Lucy and Levy sweat-dropped at this.
"He can't eat them." they both thought, simultaneously.
Gray kept quiet, but he has a small smirk on his face. If there is another tournament, then he will use it as a chance to beat Rufus from Sabertooth, again. They may have made up, but he still doesn't want to lose to him, again.
Erza thinks it is a wonderful idea. If the people of Fiore see their mages bonding with Pokémon, then they might stop fearing them. It isn't a guarantee, but it has at least a chance at working.
On the inside, Levy is excited. Lowell already said that he would teach her to catch a Pokémon, but now she knows that it will end up happening. It means that she will get to spend more time with him, as well as make some new friends. It will also give her a chance to do some more research on Pokémon.
The king thought silently. He thinks it is a good idea, but he isn't sure how they would make it happen. Only trainers from Earth know how to catch a Pokémon, and they also don't have the technology required to catch them. They also know close to nothing about them, so how would they be able to train them?
"Your majesty, I think that it is worth a try." Diantha stated. "If we work together, then we can make it happen. We can have poke balls sent to Fiore, so that mages can buy them. Also, if it is made possible to travel between lands, then trainers from across Earth could travel here. They could teach the mages about Pokémon, and the mages could teach them about magic. It can benefit both sides." she explained.
The king furrowed his brows in deep thought. It could work, but it will take some time to set up. He needs more time to think about it.
"I like your idea, but I will need time to think about it. This is a big decision to make." the king explained.
Lowell nodded his head in understanding. "I understand, your majesty. However, I would like to ask one question." he said, gaining the king's attention.
"What is it?" he asked.
"What it be possible for me to remain in Fiore, for a while? I would like to investigate some more, to find out what made Fiore a part of Earth, and I have a feeling the cause is somewhere in the kingdom." he explained.
This made Levy frown. He wasn't going to come back to Fairy Tail with them. He was going to travel, most likely without taking a break. It makes her sad, knowing that she won't get to spend more time with him like she thought, but he does have a point. They need to find out what caused all this to happen, and their best chance of doing that is by looking.
The king smiled. "I don't see why not. I don't see the harm in it." he responded.
A small grin formed on Lowell's lips. "Thank you, your majesty."
Their conversation didn't last much longer than that. The king wanted to discuss this matter with the Magic Council, and Diantha needed to get back to Kalos. She is starring in a new movie, and they need her on the set, in less than a day.
They stopped outside the castle, where Diantha's helicopter hovered, waiting for her to climb in.
She stood next to the rope, smiling at Lowell. "I wish you luck with everything here. I will contact the professor, so that he knows you won't be returning to Kalos, for a while. I am sure that he will tell your mom, as well."
He let out a tired sigh. "I won't be surprised if I get a call from her, later." he said to himself, which Greninja chuckled at. They both know that she is going to freak out, once she learns what is going on.
She laughed. "She is your mom. Of course, she is going to worry about you. It is a part of her job." she said before climbing up the rope and into the helicopter. She gave the group a small wave before the door to the helicopter closed, and they flew away, leaving the mages, Lowell, and Greninja.
They watched as she flew away, making the people below watch in awe. Lowell and Greninja are a little upset that Diantha had to go, but he knows that she is a busy woman. However, he would've liked to talk to her, for a little longer. The last real conversation they had was a couple months ago, and it was because the professor needed her help with something.
They all stood in silence, until Lucy spoke up and broke it. "So, what are you going to do, now?" she asked.
He sighed and shook his head. "I need to start looking for clues, but I have no idea where to begin. It would take forever, if I were to just wander around aimlessly, not really sure what to look for."
Greninja nodded his head in agreement. "Yes. We need somewhere to start. Once we have the first bit of information, then we should be able to find the source of all of this."
Levy wanted to ask them, but she was too embarrassed to do it. A blush formed on her face thinking about it. She doesn't want him to think she is desperate for him to stay, but it might benefit both of them. She would get to spend more time with him, and it may help him find information faster.
She took a deep breath before speaking. "Why don't you join Fairy Tail?" she suggested, hopefully.
He seemed a little surprised, to be honest. He wasn't expecting the offer, and he wasn't sure if he should take it. If he does, then there would be mages that could help him, but then he would also have to confront his feelings about Levy. Whenever he is around her, he can't help but blush, but he also feels happy. He gets a warm, yet comforting feeling in his chest. She is the first person to make him feel like this. He isn't sure if it is love or not, but if it is, he has no idea what to do about it. It could just make things more complicated.
Greninja saw the confliction in Lowell's eyes, and he sighed. He had a feeling that this would happen. He placed a hand on his trainer's shoulders, and he looked directly into his eyes. "Whatever you choose, know that I and the rest of the team will be there for you."
Lowell looked at him with a blank expression on his face, but his lips slowly curved into a small smile. He isn't sure why he is letting such a simple choice get him so tied up. He knows what he wants to do. He should just follow his heart, and hope for the best.
He looked at the others, his smile still on his face. "If it is alright, then I would love to be a part of Fairy Tail." he announced.
However, he wasn't expecting Levy to launch herself at him, wrapping her arms around him. He blushed at the sudden contact, but he wasn't complaining. It felt warm, and he liked it. It made him feel safe.
Levy doesn't know what compelled her to hug him, but she doesn't regret it. It feels so right, even though it is a little embarrassing. However, she was surprised when she felt him hug back. He let go of her, seconds later, but she could still feel his body pressed against her. The blush she has on her face threatens to remain for quite some time. She looked up, and she noticed that he was in a similar state. It made her happy that she wasn't the only one flustered by the hug. It means that he may have feelings for her, as well.
The other mages saw what happened, but they didn't say anything. They were all a bit surprised to see how close those two got within a few days, but they can tell that they care about each other, even though they probably won't admit it.
Lucy smiled at the sight. She suspected that she had feelings for Gajeel, but it is clear how she feels, now. If she wanted to ruin the moment, she would've teased them, but she knows that there will be time to do that, later.
After a moment passed, Erza finally spoke up. "We would have to ask Master Makarov, but I am sure that he won't mind." she said with a smile on her face.
Natsu appeared right next to Lowell, their shoulders bumping against each other. "Alright! This is going to be awesome! Welcome to the family!" he exclaimed.
This statement caught Lowell off-guard, and he looked at Natsu with widened eyes. "F-family?" he asked.
Levy nodded, still having a large blush on her face. "Yeah. Every member of Fairy Tail is considered family, no matter who they are or what they have done in the past. Family is there for each other, and while there are the occasional fights, what family doesn't fight? We all still care about each other, like real family would." she explained with a warm smile.
For some reason, that made Lowell happy. He has family of his own, and six members of his family go wherever he does. However, he won't get to see his mother or older sister, for quite some time. The thought of having even more family, despite how he doesn't like being crowded by people, makes him warm inside.
"That doesn't sound too bad." he said looking towards Greninja.
The ninja Pokémon nodded his head in agreement. He thinks that this may be good for a while. Making new friends could help him open up, a bit more. He is fine with Levy and the others, but he isn't sure how he will deal with an entire guild of people. Still, things are shaping up to make an interesting new journey, and it will include more than just Lowell and his team.
Levy grabbed his hand, and she began to run with him towards the train station. He didn't bother trying to escape her grip, not minding it much, anymore. Even though they are both blushing, they are smiling. They may not be too sure what to call their relationship right now, but they are just happy with being around the other.
As they ran towards the train station, they could hear the others running behind them, trying to catch up.
"I don't understand why you run, everywhere. It is why you are always out of breath." he said with a small chuckle in his voice.
She lightly hit him with her other hand, but she giggled anyways. "I can't believe that you actually agreed to join Fairy Tail." she said, to which he shrugged his shoulders.
"It could be beneficial. Besides, we did make a deal with each other." he said with a small smile, making her smile, as well. "I took a quick look at some of those books you got me, and I might need a little help understanding them. Although I think I know someone who can help with that."
Levy smiled. This is nice. She wasn't expecting to get along with him so well. Right now, her feelings are still confusing. She never believed in love at first sight, but she may have to change that, after meeting Lowell. Only time will tell, though.
As they run to the train station, they can't help but wonder what the future will bring. Will it be nice, or will it only bring confusion and pain? Either way, they won't be alone to face it. They have their friends and family to help them through it, and they wouldn't have it any other way.
A/N: I hope that you all enjoyed! I should be updating again, sometime within the next week. I have a lot to do for college, but I am trying to balance college and fanfiction. If you enjoyed, please leave a review, because it is greatly appreciated. It fills my heart with joy to see what people have to say about my writing.
Anyways, with that out the way, I hope that you all have a wonderful day!