A/N: All credit for the idea of this AU goes to Kenitoh Menara. Check out his story, Rosa's New Perspective, which is the original. It is thanks to him I can write and publish this. And the idea for the rich couple was by Mr.B22, I only own the OCs in this chapter, not the idea.
"I called Britney and Harrold via the number on the invitation to RSVP last night, after we put Emily to bed." Oliver said. "And I also asked them why Emily was invited, no offense."
"None taken." I said through a mouthful of toast. Francine giggled.
"The butler of the house handed me over to Harrold and he said they had been interested in Emily since they signed up to adopt her. Since they didn't get her, they wanted to get to know her in another way."
Francine almost jumped out of her seat.
"That's where I recognise the names!" She cried. "I remember seeing their names on Emily's adoption sheet. They were one of the parents that wanted to use aggressive babying."
My smile dropped. Francine looked like she regretted what she had just said.
"I mean I'm sure they have changed their view now of course. And meeting you and getting to know you will help them to see that aggressive babying isn't the way." She reassured.
Another smile found its way on my face once again. Nothing was going to ruin this day.
"What did you tell him that for Harrold?!" Britney rebuked. Harrold rolled his eyes at his wife. "They might figure out we still want to adopt Emily!"
"There's no point in lying to them, Britney." The banette argued back. "If we gain their trust, they're more likely to actually like us."
"What do you mean by that?" The leavanny asked, with narrowed eyes.
"We were down to use aggressive babying towards Emily."
"So? Most families we know do that."
"Yes, families we know. But Francine and Oliver Aquaheart aren't pokemon that we know. They are commoners that use reason and trust within their family. Whatever that is." Harrold said, whispering the last sentence.
He folded up his newspaper and sipped his expensive coffee. Britney just sighed, feeling annoyed at her husband. But he did have a point. In just five more hours Emily, the baby of her dreams, was going to arrive at her home, and Britney was determined to make her family like them enough to come back. She had ordered all her servants to treat Emily like she was royalty, even if it meant ignoring the other guests.
Britney spotted one of the maids clearing up the other end of the table, and she clicked her leaf fingers. The beautifly immediately flew over.
"Yes, Ma'am?" She asked shyly.
"Is my gift for Emily ready? I told Mia at the boutique to make sure the outfit is done by today and if she hasn't I will personally go over there and sack her on the spot." She grumbled.
"Y-yes, Ma'am." The beautifly stuttered.
"Good." Sighed Britney. "Everything seems to be going alright. Take the rest of the day off until the guests arrive, Silvia."
The butterfly pokemon smiled. Britney was actually really nice, but since she had tried to adopt Emily, the leavanny had gone crazy trying to get her into their family.
Britney had so badly wanted a child for years, but she herself couldn't have one after an injury in the revolution. Then, when she discovered that she could adopt humans, she had jumped on the chance to have her own child. That had leaded her and Harold to start their own baby themed business. Nobody in the house, including Harrold himself, knew why she loved Emily so much, but they obeyed their mistress, even if what they were doing was questionable.
"Sir," The beautifly maid said to Harrold as he left the table. "There are some distressing rumours going around about how Mistress Britney plans to get Emily to be part of the household. I know it is not my place to ask but…"
"Well, no it isn't your place to ask but I guess you could help by not spreading such awful rumours which are probably not true. I do not know what they are, but I can have an educated guess and I'd be right. Please tell the other servants to not spread such slander with each other."
With that, Harrold left the pokemon alone. Silvia pondered for a bit, and then flew over to her closest friend, Leona. She, too, was a maid and often helped out with tasks she found difficult, being a beautifly. The azumaril smiled as she saw her friend approach.
"Hello, Silvia." She greeted. "How are the decorations for the baby party coming along?"
"Fine." Responded Silvia. "I have the rest of the day off until the guests arrive though, so if you want I can help you."
"Oh, Britney gave you the day off again?"
The beautifly nodded with an excited grin.
"That's nice of her. You have been working pretty hard as of late. Did you hear what Liam from the kitchen has been saying?"
"No, I haven't. Do tell Leona."
"He is telling all the servants he heard Britney talking to some shifty people on the phone last night."
Silvia paused, remembering what her master had just told her. Well, she thought. He did say not to spread rumours, but he didn't say not to listen.
"Yes?" Pressed Silvia.
"He says she was saying some weird things. Stuff like, 'prepare your finest team' and 'we may have to take this to extreme measures' and even 'how long does it take you to kidnap someone?'"
Silvia's eyes widened. So the rumours I heard were true! Britney really is planning to kidnap Emily! No, wait. Maybe Liam is just stirring up some of the servants for a reaction.
"How do we know he actually heard that and he isn't just making it up?"
Leona sighed and crossed her arms.
"Well I don't know." She huffed. "I'm just telling you what I heard. It makes sense though, right? I mean ever since she applied to adopt Emily and didn't get her, she's gone gaga."
"Do you have any idea why she likes Emily?" Silvia asked.
"No. No one does, not even Harrold. But when people are crazy, they tend not to make sense."
"Keep your voice low, Leona." Pleaded the beautifly. "Someone could be listening. Harrold told me not to spread any rumours and I will not. I do hope you don't either. I really don't want either of us to lose our jobs."
"Relax." Leona smirked. "It's not like we're broadcasting this info to the entire household, unlike Liam. That crazy tentacruel is going to get fired, I guarantee it. Some of the other servants have placed bets on when he's going to get the sack and by who."
The azumaril giggled mischievously.
"Anyway, I should be getting back to clearing all the tables ready for the party. I'll see you around Sylvia." Leona said.
Sylvia smiled as best she could and flew to her quarters, preparing herself for the party.
I know one thing at least, she thought to herself. This party is going to end in something dangerous for poor little Emily.
"Do I look alright?" I asked Francine, twirling around in my new dress. The diaper I was wearing crinkled noisily at the movement, and I tried to tug at it to be more inconspicuous.
"It looks fine." Reassured Francine. She was trying to get me to stop so she could place the final bows in my hair.
I stood still after I felt comfortable, and she tied it tightly around my two pigtails. I looked in the mirror, and, seeing it was all done, contently twirled around in my new dress. Francine smiled and bent over to give me a kiss on the forehead.
"You look amazing, my little buneary." She commented. "No go show daddy how lovely you look."
I raced out of the room, leaving Francine laughing. I burst in the living room.
"Dad loo-"
I stopped when I saw him on the phone, an annoyed look evident on his face.
"Look," He said sternly to whoever he was talking to, his voice almost a growl. "Telling me that going after the parents of kids who are traumatised without them is pointless is one thing. But then pretending there are attacks from Team Rocket in Hoenn when there isn't just to distract me from that is on a whole other level! You are fired! You hear me?! Fired!"
He ended the call and slammed the phone down onto the table. I was in shock at how loud he shouted at the pokemon on the other end. Fear wracked my body and tears slid down my face. Would he ever shout like that at me?
Oliver turned round and the gruff look on his face turned to one of horrible surprise that I was standing right there. He rushed forward and I jerked back. He stopped, seeing I was scared.
"I'm sorry you had to hear that, princess. I would never shout at you like that ever." He said softly. "Someone from the office rubbed me the wrong way and did something incredibly wrong. I probably shouldn't have fired him."
I rubbed away my tears and smiled slightly.
"Okay daddy." I said. "Do you like my outfit?"
Oliver took a good look at what I was wearing and he beamed.
"You look like an actual princess." He exclaimed. He picked me up, and I squealed slightly as he spun me around. "You will be the most beautiful little girl at the party today."
He then placed my down on my highchair.
"But first we must eat." He declared. I giggled as he started to roam about clumsily in the cupboards.
"I already made some sandwiches, Oliver." I heard a voice say from behind me.
I tried to turn around, but the chair I was in had me facing one way only. However, I didn't need to anyway, as I knew from the cheeky tone that it was my mom.
"Oh yeah." Oliver said. He then pulled out some sandwiches from the bread bin. "A cheese toasty for you my princess."
He handed me a toasted panini filled with cheese, and I gratefully took it. I was about to take a bite, when Francine quickly placed a bib on me. It was a pink one with baby pokemon on it.
"Don't want to get your dress mucky." She said.
Oliver then handed her a cheese toasty too and he dove into one himself. Unfortunately for him, some of the melted cheese fell out of the panini and onto his red checked shirt. I started to laugh at him, as Francine rolled her eyes.
"Looks like Emily isn't the only one who needs a bib." Francine remarked. I only laughed harder and Oliver just smirked and took off his checked shirt. He had on a grey vest underneath.
"I'll go change." He said, leaving the table. I was still laughing when he had left, and Francine was just smirking.
Soon, Oliver had returned, wearing a different red checked shirt. He had resumed eating his sandwich and then we were ready to set off for the party.
The invitation said that the Spectre's house was north of Mauville Town, which Oliver guessed would take around 45 minutes to get there. I wasn't looking forward to being in the car that long, but Francine had brought a few books for me to read. They weren't by humans but I still nonetheless enjoyed reading them. By the time we reached the estate where the Spectre's house was, I had read three short books.
I looked out of the window, expecting to be parked in front of a large house. But instead, we were driving down a long drive and in view at the end, was a mansion. My eyes widened and my mouth fell open slightly.
"That's where they live?" I exclaimed.
"That's what is says on the invitation." Francine said, seemingly as shocked as I was.
We pulled up to a giant metal gate, with the words Spectre engraved in it. A little office was at the side, with a bored looking raticate reading a newspaper sat in it. He looked at us, and his eyebrows rose.
"Are you lost?" He said haughtily. "There is a party going on here today, so could you please move along to let the important pokemon through."
Oliver looked on amused as Francine scowled at the raticate.
"We are here for the party." She hissed. "I have the invitation right here."
She shuffled through her pursed and pulled out the crumpled piece of paper. She handed it to Oliver, who then handed to the raticate through the window. The pokemon snatched it from his hand and inspected it.
After a few seconds, his eyes widened. He looked over at me, and I gave him an uneasy smile. He fumbled over the controls.
"I am so sorry." He spluttered. "I'll get this gate opened right away."
Francine and Oliver smirked and I just looked at him confused. He appeared to tremble as he opened the gate. I couldn't understand why he was so scared. He made a mistake, and even if he was a bit rude, everyone makes mistakes.
The gates opened with a loud creaking noise, and we drove past the small office, the raticate trying his best to give us a wave and a smile. I smiled and waved back, but when I turned back to the front, my smile disappeared.
"What was that all about?" I asked. Oliver shrugged as he pulled up next to a long row of cars.
We definitely stood out, since all the other vehicles looked expensively posh. They were pristine and neatly parked next to each other, some even having a chauffeur sat inside, painstakingly waiting for their bosses to return. Our car looked decidedly like one that should be parked in the servants' car park.
Oliver and Francine didn't really seem to notice though, as they got out of the car happily and unbuckled me from my new car seat. I smoothed down my hair, and straightened my dress as I walked through the front doors. I heard happy music being played in all directions, and many pokemon in maid and butler outfits running around. Some spotted me, and started to whisper to themselves.
Besides that, my focus was centred on the extravagant décor surrounding me. The ceilings were decorated with paintings of flowers, trees and pokemon. But the only pokemon I could see, was shuppets, banettes, seawaddles, swadloons and leavanny's. I knew that they were the pokemon who lived here, but wouldn't they have friends at least that were different pokemon?
A beautifly in a maid outfit came floating over to us, a nervous smile on her face.
"H-hello, Mr and Mrs Aquaheart, it's nice to meet you. I'm Silvia, and Mrs Spectre has tasked me to be Emily's personal maid."
I couldn't believe my ears. My own personal maid? She flew lower to my level.
"Hello, Emily. It is nice to meet you too. And may I say you look gorgeous in your little dress."
I giggled, my face heating up slightly. She held out her white gloved hand, and I took it. Francine and Oliver followed us, as we made our way towards a room to the right.
"The party is in here, dearie." She said, guiding me along the hall. "It's in the ballroom."
"This mansion has a ballroom?" I asked excitedly, my pacifier, tumbling out of my mouth.
Silvia caught it and handed it back to me. I stuck it back in, my cheeks now bright red.
"Yes, it does. And I'm sure you'll enjoy meeting some new friends here."
We entered the room, and my pacifier almost fell out again. The room was filled with pokemon couples, holding humans in ridiculous outfits. Some were less so, and those children were talking to each other and dancing. But the ones in horrendous outfits were being cradled close to their mothers, sucking on bottles of milk and juice. If it weren't for their size, I would have been sure they were actually infants.
That sight wasn't pleasing to look at, but what was, was the giant buffet table, lined with savoury and sweet treats to die for. My mouth started to water at the sight of the mile long table. I heard my parents chuckle from behind me.
"Well this is certainly not what I was expecting." Mused Francine. She clutched her handbag tight at the sight of all these couples with their overdressed human children.
"I know their parenting ways are a little… different than yours, but if Emily feels too uncomfortable, she can always go to another room and play with the many toys we have. I hope it won't have to come to that though." Silvia said.
"I'll try my best to socialize." I said.
"Thank you, Emily." Francine said. She gave me a tight hug and kissed my forehead, as did Oliver.
I walked over to where the other children were playing. They seem to be happily chatting, playing with some toys strewn out about the floor or dancing to the pop music blasting from the speakers. Some of them had on dresses like me, some had on onesies or other baby themed clothing. They saw me and some smiled and waved. Others turned their nose up and continued what they were doing.
Great, snooty children to match snooty parents.
I approached a girl who had smiled and waved at me. She was playing with a toy train on a track laid on the floor with two other children. Her blonde hair was tightly plaited, and she had on a cute red dress to match her ruby red eyes.
"Hello." She greeted, cheerily. "What's your name?"
I pulled out my pacifier and clipped it to my dress.
"Emily, yours?"
Her eyes widened slightly, but then she replied.
"April. April Winters."
I giggled slightly.
"Ironic, I know." She smiled. "My parents are over there."
She pointed to the sea of parents, and I saw two pokemon that definitely stood out. There was a froslass and a male beartic conversing with another couple, whilst also glancing at the area April was stood. They grinned and waved at me, and I mirrored them.
"Where are your parents?" April asked me. I looked around, until my eyes fell on them at a table near the buffet, talking to each other rather than other couples.
"They don't know anyone here." I explained. April nodded.
"Yeah, all the pokemon couples here are snooty and posh." She giggled. My eyes were drawn to the other two children playing with the train.
"It's true." The girl said.
"Our parents are pretty arrogant." The boy said. They went back to playing as me and April talked.
"Hey, April?" I said.
"Yeah?" She smiled.
"Why is everyone so weird when I tell them my name? And why was I even invited to this party? I don't know anyone here."
She pondered.
"My mother is friends with Harrold and she helped him battle in the revolution, and a lot of other pokemon couples here know them through business or the revolution."
"That's the thing." I said. "The only reason my mother knew who they were because they own Puppet Strings Baby Items. And because Harrold and Britney applied to adopt me."
"Oh dear." April mumbled quietly.
"What?" I questioned.
"Nothing!" She exclaimed.
Before I could say anything else, the grand doors at the opposite end where I came in opened, and who I guessed was Britney and Harrold walked in. The leavanny had on a long purple dress, and the banette had on a navy casual suit. They both smiled at the crowd of pokemon and human children. But their smile only widened, when they saw me.
I suddenly felt very uncomfortable.