The Power of Love

A/N: Sorry this took a while. But, this is more of a short filler chapter. Some real excitement will happen next time.

Well, let's just get on with Chapter 6! Roll it!

Italics- Pokémon speech.

Chapter 6

Manipulation

Serena gently tugged on her wing that was stuck in between the two doors that Ash had slammed closed on. Finally, she had pulled it free, and it was unscathed, much to to her relief. After all, a wingless Trainee is a dead Trainee. But, then the door was slammed open and into her face. A laughing Braixen then came out.

"Man! Ash slammed her pretty good!" Braixen giggled loudly, putting her paws over her mouth to keep a bit quiet. "Well, so much for being queen."

Serena loudly slammed the door closed, making herself known to her Pokémon companion. The Fire type's laughter immediately died at being caught by her Trainee.

"You think I can't be queen?" She asked, firmly banging her fist against the door. "I've been planning this for ten years, since my father had told me about getting everything you want, and then was taken from me. And, I'm not going to end what he had started."

Braixen shuddered visibly. She remembered Serena's father, Lord Giovanni. She had overheard from Serena's rantings at night that he had wanted his family on the throne for a long time. He had intended to marry Queen Delia, who back then was just a princess. But instead, she had fell in love with a local Trainee boy from the village. They soon married, then had the twin princes. Sadly, after Ash and Ritchie turned eight years old, the king, their father, had died from an unknown illness.

Giovanni then had tried something else, since he had already attempted to persuade the widowed queen that the kingdom needs a king, but failed when she refused to remarry and decided to make sure that Ash was ready to accept the throne when he comes of age, since he is the elder twin. He then decided to prim up Serena into a most lovely and proper lady, along with a few secret skills, so that she would one day Ash's future queen.

At first, Serena didn't understand, but she did want to be Ash's future queen because she had a huge crush on him for a while. But then, after her father died while in a minor skirmish with the outlaws in the Shadow Forest, her innocence vanished. Also, her jealousy was another component; for the prince was mostly hanging out with another girl who also shared hidden affection for him, and a pretty one at that. She found a vial of the forbidden memory loss potion and used it to wipe the memories of Ash and the girl from each other.

After the girl and her family was banished to the Shadow Forest, taking the blame for the memory loss potion, Serena pretended to be a comforting friend to Ash, who was confused yet sad that the girl was banished. Apparently, one can truly never forget about someone special entirely.

"Still though, Serena." Braixen shuddered at the sight of her angry Trainee. "Now that you had really screwed this one up, the only way you can marry Ash is if you used a love potion on him."

Serena hissed through her teeth. "Just leave me." She said, trying to keep the little composure that she had. "Go and have some fun."

Braixen didn't argue as she quickly went back through the ballroom doors. Serena tried taking some deep breaths.

"Think happy thoughts." She quietly chanted to herself. Braixen did have a point. Ash didn't seem willing to forgive her, and or want her back. So, she needed a new plan.

Suddenly, she was knocked down to the floor by the door slamming open. As she regained her bearings and was about to yell at whoever opened the door, she stopped.

It was Chloe, and she seemed to be hiding. Serena quietly crept closer to her and saw that she seemed like she was smitten. Serena followed her gaze and saw that she was staring at Prince Ritchie, who was over at the buffet table and then flew up towards the balcony, where Ash was waiting. A smirk came on her face as a plan came into her head.

"You okay?" She asked Chloe innocently, snapping her out of her lovestruck daze and immediately slammed the doors closed.

"Who, me?" She asked, pretending to be clueless. "Am I okay? Yes, I am!" Her false confident deamnour then dropped. "No." She sighed.

Young unrequited love. How sweet. Serena thought with false sweetness. "Hey, Chloe, right?" She asked. The other Trainee girl nodded. "I know just how you feel." She said.

"Yeah." Chloe said. "Ash slammed you pretty good, though." She commented.

Serena scowled a bit. But then, she began fake sobbing.

"He was right, though." She said, sitting down on the steps. Chloe was confused and decided to sit down next to her. "I was such a liar. A cheat! He'll never forgive me!"

Chloe wasn't so sure on how to feel. She knew that Serena cheated on Ash because she never really loved him. And Ritchie had told her what he had learned from his brother, who had seen and heard everything. But, she sounded like she was actually feeling regretful of her sin.

"Well, I do know what it's like to 'love' someone and not them return your feelings." She eventually said. Well, in Serena's case, she doesn't really care about Ash, but for her, Chloe would do anything to let Ritchie know how she feels about him.

"If only there was a way to let both of them know how we really feel." Serena said, knowing that she almost had Chloe where she wanted her.

"Yeah." Chloe agreed with a heavy sigh.

"Something like a love potion, maybe." Serena suggested.

"Like a love potion!" Chloe realized.

"Great idea!" Serena said, placing her hand on Chloe's shoulder.

"It is a great idea." Chloe agreed. "Except only Diancie can make the potion. She's locked away in the Shadow Forest, and no one ever goes into the Shadow Forest!"

"But I know you can." Serena assured her.

"Why can't you?" Chloe asked suspiciously.

"You know that I am a lady of noble birth." Serena explained. "You know that those ruffians will do to someone like me."

"And why is it better for me to go there?" Chloe still questioned.

"You know how to handle yourself." Serena said. "You're good with your Pokémon, and you know how to use a weapon. I don't."

"I guess that's true." Chloe admitted.

"How about this?" Serena suggested. "You get the potion, and I'll help you with Prince Ritchie."

"Why are you so set on helping me with Ritchie?" Chloe asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Well, I had lost my chance of having true love. The least I can do to make up for it is to help someone else with their love life." Serena fibbed.

Chloe thought about it for a few moments. As much as she knew that she shouldn't even be listening to Serena, what she is offering is really tempting. Ritchie hasn't shown any signs that he likes her any more than a friend. And if Ash isn't willing to comply to the Queen's wishes that he finds another before he becomes king, then she might start to pressure Ritchie into marriage. And he is just as attractive as his brother, so he would most likely gather quite a few admirers. Her chances with him might grow even slimmer if that happens.

"Okay." She eventually complied. "But if I see any funny business from you, the deal's off."

"Got it." Serena shook on it with Chloe, smirking inwardly.

A/N: Okay, so some background info was revealed. And Serena had tricked Chloe into getting a love potion to use on Ritchie. What will happen next?

We'll find out in Chapter 7! Until then, I'll see y'all! Please leave a review about what you think.

Got to fly! ;)