Making Compromises
Matilda gave a worried glance at the mess in front of her; the kitchen was an absolute mess. Plates were shattered, food had been thrown all over the place, cups and utensils lay scattered about. Next to her, her Kirlia stood at attention as they both watched a couple of servants and their fellow Pokémon clean the floor.
"How…how did this happen?" the old maid asked one of the chefs nearby, who just shook his head.
"Don't know…the youngsters told me that the plates just started flyin' about. Then the food was thrown at their faces and a while later, everything just popped out of the furniture," he explained, shaking his head. "They say ghosts are to blame…but they should know that no one in Parfum Palace owns a ghost Pokémon…"
"How about those that appear in Route 6, boss?" one of the servants asked, as he picked up broken glass. "The gardeners have been saying that the Honedge are about."
"That's nonsense! Ever since those new trainers have been coming and going, the Honedge have moved on from the route," the chef told him. Matilda put a hand on her chin and looked at the servant boy who had spoken.
"Why is it that I'm hearing about this now?" The young man shrugged.
"Heard them talk about that weeks ago…when all that talk about a rare Pokémon was going on around the area."
Matilda nodded as she recalled a particular incident weeks back, after Princess Allie had met Master Clemont and his friends.
Trainers were on and about the area around the Palace. Lord Parfum had ordered them to leave the area, as they were not only disturbing the Pokémon but also the garden he paid so much to keep in mint condition. But seeing as Route 6 was a public place, the only area he could prohibit them to come to was the Palace itself and so the trainers just kept pouring in to find this rare Pokémon.
Eventually after a couple of days of no luck and numerous warnings from Camphrier Town officials, the trainers left disappointed about not being able to capture the rare Pokémon; a few of the already rare to find Pokémon, mainly Honedge, had left the area to escape the annoying trainers and no one had seen one in a while.
But, even if it had been a Honedge or any other ghost Pokémon…why make a mess out of the Parfum Palace kitchens? The Honedge would play pranks here and there, but they usually left the palace in peace, so even if it was them why were they doing it now.
"If it is those Honedge, though, why come here? They usually stayed in the gardens and scared the poor fellows over there," the chef wondered, passing a plastic bag to one of the young cooks.
"Pokémon don't usually need a reason for being mean," the young man that had spoken before told him. "Same could be said about humans."
True…when has a Pokémon or a human for that matter needed a reason for mischief? Matilda thought as she watched the servants continue to clean up the kitchen floor. "Have you informed Master Parfum of this…little prank?"
"Not at the moment, no…" the chef told her, shaking his grey head. "The security has been informed, though, and a few Bisharp were sent around the scout the place. Forced all the guests inside too after that battle between Lord Herault and the nephew of Lord Shabboneau…" Matilda frowned upon hearing about the fight between the 'boy' and young Lord Herault.
A feeling of guilt passed through her upon realizing the reason behind that fight; she had to thank the maids for that bit of information. But now, she could not concern herself with a few commoners. The problem at hand was much more important than a pair of kids that were out to steal the princess's date from under her—
"Matilda!"
The older maid and the chef quickly moved to close the doors of the kitchen, making sure that Allie did not see the damage within; Matilda and her Kirlia faced the young princess blocking the kitchen doors. "Yes, princess?"
"I finally found you! Good, I need your assistance once more," Allie began glancing behind her.
"Ah…about that…"
"I need you to make the other peasant think that she's a boy," the princess told her, with a glare. "I need to keep them both as far away from Clemont as possible before the dance begins." Both maid and her Pokémon looked at each other, before they shook their heads.
"I would love to aid you once more…but, you see…Kirlia here is only capable of manipulating a mind at a time," Matilda told her. Besides her, Kirlia nodded. "She's not much of a fighter, you see and well, her abilities have not extended beyond well…what she did to the boy…"
"What!? You have to be kidding me!" Allie cried, pouting.
"I'm afraid so…perhaps you can find a way to compromise…with the young lady…"
"Ha! Doubt it!" Allie told her, crossing her arms over her chest. "The only way they will agree to leave me be would be by letting Clemont go! And no way am I letting my dear Clemont go with those peasants!"
Matilda bit her lip as she heard a soft sigh from the Kirlia next to her.
The princess was being difficult again. This was no good. Matilda had to find a way to compromise with the girl in some way; if her father found out about all this business he would not only be disappointed in his daughter but also with Matilda for going along with such a crazy plan.
"We-well…why don't you give it a shot, princess?" the maid asked her. "Make them an offer that will benefit the both of you…umm…perhaps break that boy out of his trance in exchange for Master Clemont to stay…at least until the dance is over, maybe?" Allie gave a look to her maid and pouted.
"You cannot be serious," she said. "That peasant will not listen to reason! And besides why would she agree to that in the first place? They want to take my darling away from me!"
"Well…you could try…" Matilda told her, glancing at her Kirlia. "You really have nothing to lose…" Princess Allie was silent for a minute and then she sighed.
"Fine…we will do it your way, then…not that it will work!"
Matilda sighed mentally and bowed. "Perhaps I can provide aid on that front? And make the lass listen?"
"Fine then…" Allie began walking back towards the banquet hall, followed closely behind by Matilda and her Pokémon.
I hope this plan works…it will keep the princess busy…hopefully the guards and the Bisharp would take care of that other problem before it gets any worse…
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One of the young cooks leaned against the closed doors, trying to listen to what the head maid and the princess were talking about. The chef and a few of his colleagues frowned at him.
"What?" the cook asked, as his small Taillow chirped in annoyance. "I'm just curious what has the princess in such a fit…"
"That's not any of your business, man," another young man commented as he and a Smeargle cleaned the nearby table.
"Indeed is it not!" the chef cried, glaring. "Pick up that broom and start cleaning, boy! The maids can fill you all in after we finish here!"
"But, boss!"
"But nothing! Now pick up that broom and start cleaning!" the chef yelled again, watching as the cook and his Taillow sighed in unison and went to work. They turned to face the chef again only to stop and stare; the young cook opened and closed his mouth, as his skin grew a little pale. The other cooks in the room gave him a curious look, before following his stare. It didn't take long for the other cooks to look in shock and surprise, the Pokémon also looking frightened and hiding behind them.
The chef finally noticed their looks. "What in the world is wrong with you, youngsters?" he asked, turning around. "What is—"
The old man backed away from what he saw; the wall behind him stared back with multiple little eyes, blinking.
Schink! Schink!
Metal against metal clashed as the eyes began to take a different shape, that of a sword with a long garment trailing behind it. They separated themselves from the wall, surrounding the group of cooks and their Pokémon.
Schink! Schink! Schonk!
A different set of eyes appeared on thin air in the middle of the floating swords that faced them. Soon, it revealed itself taking form of two swords, each with a garment upon its hilt. Suddenly, the sword took off its covering, revealing a dark red blade as one of the garments grabbed the connected sheathe to hold it behind its back.
Schonk! Schink!
"…this is not…not good at all…"
Schink! Schink!
Not much to say about this chapter, but next chapter the after effects of the kiss from last chapter will be explored; hopefully nothing bad happens to our heroes. And maybe Clemont will finally untied from the chair!
See ya next chapter!
