Chapter Seven
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The following week had been stress free for both the princess and apprentice guardian. Every day since the dinner, they had both spent their time in each other's company. Bonding and getting to know each other better.
They went riding together in the hills behind the Castle, wandered aimlessly around Petalburg Village doing nothing but enjoying each other's company, and Ash had even convinced the princess into going fishing along with him and Max, who was becoming like an apprentice or student to him.
Overall, the past week had been one of the best for both Ash and May. But as the old time saying goes, eventually all good things must come to an end, which had happened to be the day Drew LaRousse was scheduled to arrive at the castle.
"So Dawn have you gone to see Paul yet?" May asked her maid as Dawn, Ash, and herself walked over the drawbridge towards the castle.
The blunette sighed, "No I haven't yet," She turned to Ash who was scratching Pikachu behind the ear, "Do you think it's been long enough, I mean it has been a week right?"
Ash chuckled lightly, "Sure, I can almost guarantee you Paul will be wondering where you are. I wouldn't be surprised that if in his spare time his thoughts roamed around where you are and why you're not making your daily visits,"
"Great! I'll go tomorrow a little earlier than usual and surprise him!" She was grinning from ear to ear at the prospect of seeing the purple haired Knight in training.
"How about you May what's the uh, deal with LaRousse?" Ash asked curiously, he knew of the brunettes distaste for the prince, and heck he shared it.
She groaned and her shoulders slumped, "I don't know, right now all I can do is wait for him to show up. Once he's here I'm going to do my best to stay away from him, but that'll be tough because dad is determined to make me like him."
Ash nodded thoughtfully, "If you'd like you could always just come over to the cabin and kill a couple of hours over there. I mean, it's better than hanging out with the Prince right?"
May grinned and hugged Ashs arm as they continued through the courtyard, "Thanks Ash I'd love that," She turned her gaze away from the handsome Guardian to the blunette who was giggling quietly to herself, "And what may I ask is so funny?"
"You two look cute together," She giggled girlishly, with a cheeky grin across her face.
May quickly released his arm as if it was scalding, going quite red in the face. While Ashs expression was pure disbelief at what Dawn had said, his cheeks were cherry red, mouth slightly drooped open and a faraway stare.
"Whatever Dawn," She huffed crossing her arms over her chest. Over the past week she had come to terms that she did have feelings for Ash. He treated her special; he made her feel like just a regular girl instead of someone of higher nobility. He joked around with her, told her stories of some of the adventures he's had, complimented her without over doing it, her parents actually liked him, there was so much more, and she couldn't help but be attracted to him.
"Have you thought anymore about going to the festival?" The three sat down on a bench in the middle of the courtyards flower garden.
Ash rubbed the back of his neck, "It depends on how much I practice this week, if I get in more than say… Seventy-two hours then sure, but any less I'll have to keep back and practice."
Dawn frowned, but accepted the answer. She as well as May and Max had been informed on previous Final Assessments by Ash, and she didn't blame him for the hard work he was putting in. This was his final test before he was eligible to become a full-fledged Aura Guardian.
"Are you going to be going to the festival with Drew?" Ash asked the princess innocently.
She frowned, "I don't really have a choice, nobody else has asked me to go…" Dawn noticed the hint that was thrown towards Ash, but he didn't let himself show that he acknowledged it, after a brief pause to see his answer May continued, "Why?"
"Remember when you and I arrived back at camp once I got you out?" She nodded, "Well remember the story about Blaze?"
May pursed her lips in thought until a look of remembrance came across her face, "Yeah, how Drew told you that they were going to do away with Blaze?"
He nodded, "Yup that's the one, well over the-"
"Hang on a second, what story about Blaze?" Dawn piped in, she was feeling left out of the conversation.
"Well you see whe-"
"Ash!" A voice called from across the courtyard. Ash turned his gaze to the right and saw Alyssa seated on top of Flare gesturing for him to come over.
"Hang on a second," Ash got up and jogged over to his teacher looking up to meet her gaze, he had to shield his eyes from the sun, "Something wrong?"
"We have just been assigned to investigate a series of murders over in Rustboro,"
His face scrunched up in confusion, "What about Drake? Shouldn't he be the one to investigate this?" Drake was the Aura Guardian of the Rustboro Province and its neighbouring villages.
Ash noticed immediately the flash of sadness in her blue eyes, "Drakes dead,"
Ash stepped back in shock; it was rare for a Guardian to be killed. They were the heroes of Hoenn, and every villager looked up to them during the time of war. They were the Guardians of the Kingdom.
"Was he murdered?" He breathed in disbelief.
She shook her head, "No, he and Lance had gone on some assignment that was more than they bargained for,"
"Two Guardians? What about Lance?"
"He was injured; he'll be out of action for weeks. His back and legs were torn up by whatever they went after…"
"My Arceus…" He ran a hand through his hair, "Did they even manage to stop whatever they were after?"
Alyssa shook her head, "We can talk about this on our way, but right now you need to get yourself back to the cabin. I've already packed for you, so you just need to pick up your gear."
Ash nodded, "Okay, if you go on now I'll catch up in a minute, I just need to say goodbye to the girls… "
"Alright don't take too long…" She reined Flare around and began galloping towards the drawbridge. Ash stood there another minute before slowly making his way back to the girls. How could a member of the Council be killed, and another severely injured. Most of the time it only required one Guardian per problem. But two? That must have been some issue.
"Hey Ash, what was that about?" May asked curiously.
He sighed, "I have to take off, there have been a series of murders in Rustboro so Alyssa and I have to investigate."
"Why are you going to Rustboro? Shouldn't the local Guardian take care of that?" As soon as Dawn asked, she immediately regretted it.
"The Guardian there has been killed, so we've got to go do his job for the time being."
"What happened to him?"
Ash sighed sadly, "I don't really know, he and another Guardian were sent off on an assignment. And only one made it back, even then he was severely hurt."
"Did you know him?"
"Yes I knew Drake; I was given my third Trial by him a few years ago. It's a damn shame he's gone, he was a good friend…"
Before either girl could respond, he let out an ear piercing whistle and turned at the sound of hoof beats quickly approaching. Blaze galloped alongside Ash before coming to a halt, "I'm not sure when I'll be back so I'll see you two later," He put a foot into the stirrup and climbed onto the saddle.
"Are you going to be back for the festival?" May asked quickly.
"I'm not sure, it is a two day trip from here to Rustboro so if everything goes smoothly I should be back the morning of the festival, and if not, then it's highly unlikely."
"Can you promise me you'll make it back?" She asked softly her blue eyes meeting brown.
He smiled, "I'll do my best, oh and Dawn?"
"Yeah?"
He smirked, "Good luck with Paul," She blushed and mumbled her thanks, "I'll see you in a couple of days, take care!" Ash tapped Blaze with the toe of his boot and leapt into a gallop.
"Be safe Ash!"
"We'll miss you!"
He raised his hand in farewell without taking a glance back as he vanished around the corner and onto the draw bridge.
"I hope he makes it back for the festival,"
Dawn grinned and shoved her playfully, "Were you looking forward to a dance under the moonlight with Sir Ash?" She asked cheekily.
Mays cheeks tinted pink, but she stood her ground, "And if I am?" That was all she needed to say for Dawn to let out an excited squeal.
"Well let's plan ahead and pick out what you'll wear!" She took the brunettes hand and together they dashed into the castle.
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A few hours passed, and eventually it was time. Drew LaRousse had officially arrived at the castle, and she along with Dawn were on their way to greet him.
"Kill me," May whispered quickly as they took their time going down the staircase.
"Just power through this, say hi, show him to his room and then tell him when dinner is so we can leave." Dawn stated seriously.
"Do you think Ash would mind if we actually went and used their cabin?"
Dawn snorted in amusement, "I doubt it, from what you have told me it sounds like Ash isn't too fond of LaRousse either."
The pair stopped at the bottom of the stairs and took a deep breath, forcing a smile onto her face May stepped out into the courtyard and headed over to where a large ensemble of soldiers and a carriage lay.
She walked over and stood next to her father who had come down as soon as he had heard the Royal Family from Johto had arrived in the village. A knight who wore a blue and white tunic over chainmail went over to the carriage door and opened it stating, "We have arrived your Majesty,"
Stepping out from the carriage was an older man around the same age as her father. He had short dark brown hair, a prominent noes, and green eyes. Following him out of the carriage was a young man about the same age as her with lime green hair, green eyes, and a solid posture. He wore a dark green tunic over a long-sleeved white shirt, with brown breeches and a sword on his hip.
The Johto King stepped forward to greet her father, "Norman, it is a pleasure to see you again. It's been too long,"
Norman held out his hand and they shook hands, "That it has Alexander, I'm sorry again for the inconvenience of having you come all the way out here at your expense,"
He waved it away, "It is no problem at all," he turned to May and smiled warmly, "Are you alright after your… Little adventure?" He asked kindly.
"Yes my Lord, thank you for asking," She replied with a warm smile. Now Alexander was a good king, and a nice person. She really didn't have anything against him, except for the arranged marriage part. While Drew, well…
Alexander gestured for Drew to step forward; he flicked his green hair out of his eyes and produced a rose from his tunic, "It's a pleasure to see you again May,"
Reluctantly she took one of the soon to be many roses and kept the smile plastered to her face as much as it pained her, "And I'm thrilled to see you again Drew, may I show you to your quarters?"
"That would be lovely Maybelle," Her eye visibly twitched as he used her full name, just by those five words, she knew he was going to be a pain. "After you," He swept an arm out gesturing for her to lead the way.
Taking the opportunity, she began walking swiftly back towards the castle doors with Drew quickly in tow. Once they entered the castle Drew spoke up, "So how are you feeling after your little abduction?"
She frowned, "I'm doing fine thanks,"
"I'm just thinking that the Knights here must be well undertrained to fall to a brigand of bandits. They can be considered child's play," He said nonchalantly looking around the hallways they strolled through.
"The Knights trained at the castle are the finest in the Kingdom; they were overwhelmed by force and fell to the enemy. And it would do you good to respect the fallen," May spoke calmly, but on the inside she was already seething. He had been there for less than ten minutes, and he had already mocked her by using her first name, insulted Hoenns Knights and those who were killed protecting her, and honestly she didn't want any of this.
They continued in momentary silence until Drew noticed something, "It's pretty bare in here, no tapestries, vases, and sculptures, nothing appealing to the eye. It's all just stone, doesn't it get boring?"
"Dad finds those sort of things unnecessary, we may have wealth, but that doesn't mean we spend it on useless art,"
Drew nodded thoughtfully, "It could still use some color though," The Prince turned his gaze to the princess and gave her a once over. "You look beautiful May, but there's something different about you that I can't quite put my finger on…"
She blushed ever so slightly at the compliment, she looked him in the eye and saw him analyzing her, "You're more, developed then before," He stated in a matter of factly tone. Mays eyes turned into saucers unbelieving that he had actually just said that.
"Excuse me!" She asked incredulously just to make sure she had heard properly.
"Well it's true Maybelle, you've grown up and so has your-" He didn't get any further as a smack sounded throughout the castle as Mays hand made contact with his cheek.
"You sick pervert!" She yelled furiously, "Your bloody room is down the hall and second on the left!" With that she stormed off the opposite way in search for Dawn.
How… How dare he say things like that to her! You don't speak like that to a girl, let alone a Princess for Mews sakes!
Going past the dining hall, May spotted Dawn walking towards the staircase that lead to her room, "Dawn!" May shouted firmly. Usually she never used her superior voice to the blunette, but right now she was furious.
Dawn spun around and rushed over the brunette, "May what happened?" She asked instantly, her eyes showing concern.
"Come with me, you and I are going to take Ash up on his offer and use his and Lady Clouds cabin for a while!" With that she grabbed Dawns wrist and pulled her towards the stables.
Half an hour later, the two were sitting on the couch in the Aura Guardians cabin drinking coffee. "Are you sure this isn't trespassing?" Dawn asked nervously.
The princess nodded, "He gave us the go ahead, so as long as we replace the coffee beans then we'll be alright." The following conversation that took place was about what the Prince had said to her, and that if he couldn't keep his mouth shut, there wouldn't be a wedding because he'd be six feet under.
Eventually, the girls knew they had to return to the castle for dinner, and reluctantly returned, knowing a rough few weeks were ahead of them. Especially for the Princess.
The next few chapters, are short. But they cover a lot. But I've got a deal for you guys, if I get five reviews on this chapter I'll upload the next chapter right away. I've been working on this none stop for the past few days to finish as many chapters as possible. So five+ reviews will get another chapter up right away.
As for righting Drew, I'm still a bit unsure as how to portray him. In the fics I read he is usually pretty cocky and douche-baggy so. What else... Not much, so thanks again for reading, your reviews really do mean a lot to me, and I'll see ya next time!
This is ThatOneDwarf Doin it Right!