Good people of Hoenn, this is the darkest day of my life... but it will bring a brighter tomorrow for you all. My wife has died. She was burned at Dragonspiral Tower for a crime she didn't commit. My son is dying. We may be sacred flesh but kings too are human. I hope that you all understand that my grief is too strong for me to perform my duties as king. From this day forward I discharge myself as king. And I want you all to know , as Arceus is my witness that it was by choice to abdicate. Nobody influenced or persuaded me to do this. It has been entirely my decision.
But I will serve and honour you all until my death. I lay down my burdens. I will be succeeded by my daughter May. She is betrothed to Prince Ash of Kanto. They will give you a bright promising future. I am sure that you all miss me as king, but due to tragic events I have had to make decisions based on what I believe is best for my country.
I will be looking forward to my daughter's coronation And I pray that you all share my enthusiasm and pray for our new queen. I wish her, and you, her people, happiness and prosperity with all my heart.
King Norman's sudden abdication came as a sudden shock to Iris. But at the same time she considered it a blessing. If this was a war, Iris was confident that she had won. Hoenn used to be on good terms with Unova until Iris divorced Lance. Queen Caroline was one of the first who showed her negative towards Iris' her marriage to Cilan. If Hoenn's prince dies, then Norman would die too of a broken heart. She would not blame May if she was angry at her over mother's decapitation.
Iris was petrified as she laid still in her bed. Weather Caroline was a witch or not, Hoenn had lost their beloved Queen. On top of that, Iris was partly responsible for the mental breakdown of a kind king. Ash and May's marriage would form a political alliance with Kanto and Hoenn. Ash was not only the duke of Pallet, but the cousin to Gary Oak: Kanto's handsome king. For Ash Ketchum it was the case of being in the right family tree, but the wrong branch.
There were many things that didn't make sense to Iris about Caroline's arrest. How could Caroline have stolen her sapphires if she had never stepped foot in Unova before? How could she even know where the secret location to the sapphires without any direct contact from her? Iris had a feeling there was a third party involved, but Marluxia found the sapphires around Caroline's neck. As his reward, he was allowed to keep the sapphires.
The thoughts of Caroline drove Iris up the wall. She just wanted to put everything behind her, but the memories and regrets haunted her. "Ash's dream will come true," Iris announced. She held onto Cilan's hand as she squirmed at the thoughts that May would seek revenge on the downfall of her family. Not only that, Caroline was in contact with Iris' enemies over at Orre who plot to overthrow Iris.
"What dream was that?" Cilan asked.
"To become king." Iris turned over and rolled herself on top of Cilan. She felt an urgent to desire to gaze into his eyes, it was the only sense of sanity she felt she had left. "King Norman of Hoenn has abdicated."
"Really?" Cilan gasped. "How and why?"
"All thanks to his wife," Iris whispered. "She was plotting with some enemies to overthrow me."
"Have you met their daughter?" Cilan asked. "May's getting married to Ash."
"I've heard many things about her through Ash," Iris replied. "But no, we have never met. At least... we've never communicated. She will be angry with me."
"Why?"
"With her mother dead, father quitting and fatally ill brother, and after what I said about Ash... She may want to start a war on me."
"But why can't we all just get along?" Cilan sighed. "I'm sure somebody will talk her out of a war." He was startled by her pale cheeks. "You look worried."
"I'm not."
With a smile, Cilan said: "Save your fears for another day. You've got me."
Prince Pagan appeared from behind the curtain and ran away as soon as his eyes met Cilan's churpy face. Cilan chased Pagan through the corridors of the castle and into Pagan's room.
"Pagan," Cilan said. Closing the door behind him. "Tell me what's wrong."
"I can't win." Pagan sobbed. He clutched onto his bagon with a mighty force. The bagon's eyes began to water as he growled with his trainer.
"What do you mean?" Cilan asked. He tried to hug Pagan, but the young boy rolled over to the other side of the room. Cilan couldn't help but notice an aching stretch in his heart. His own eyes began to tear up. "You're the future king of Unova and Johto." His words did nothing. Pagan's face turned red. His eyes were narrow and he leered at Cilan.
"My mother will declare me and my brother bastards," Pagan muttered. "All my preparations and upbringing will be wasted."
"She would never say such a thing."
"She said her marriage to father was wrong. Null and void. Which makes us bastards." He raised his fist in the air and seethed. "I know it's not true. Father loves Mother. He will do anything to make us happy."
"Listen to me Pagan." Cilan trapped Pagan and joined the hug. "I ask as you as your stepfather, and as king..."
Bagon crunched on Cilan's index finger whilst pagan found the opportunity to slap Cilan.
"You are no king to me," Pagan snarled. "By denying you I upset my mother. But if ever bow to you, I would be betraying my family. My father is the true king of Unova and my mother's husband. Your days as king will be cut short. I'm not the only one who despises you."
"I never meant to hurt anybody," Cilan vowed. "And I mean no harm to you and your paternal relatives."
"Regardless of your intentions," Pagan hissed. "I will bow to no king other than my father."
King Cilan left the room with a red finger.