Twenty One
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The city was bursting with energy, citizens flooding the streets as they watched workers from the castle dress the streets with lanterns, banners, and signs.
Hundreds from across Johto, Hoenn, Kanto, and the Orange Isles flooded into the city of Petalburg for the event which would take place at noon on the following day.
For you see.
Tomorrow was the big day, the wedding which they've been waiting for since the arrangement that was made years ago.
Carriages and fabulously groomed mounts clip-clopped and rolled down the long streets in rows up towards the massive castle ahead. Citizens waved to the baronies and crowns who arrived, not tossing rice or flowers however.
For that would come once the Prince and Princess were wed, and the reception passed, where the newlyweds would go for their honeymoon in the tropics of the Orange Isles.
So the people of LaRousse were excited and waiting with overflowing enthusiasm for the joining of the Princess of Hoenn and their own Prince of Johto.
And the union formed between their two Kingdoms.
However, atop the highest tower of Johto Castle, with her blue cap pulled down over her eyes, Alyssa watched the horizon from the uppermost balcony for a sign.
Her blue eyes which were so accustomed to scouting environments, and pinpointing enemy positions, could not locate a single sign which led her to believe that Ash had made it back in time.
Or if he was even still alive...
No, she knew that if his life had ended she would have known.
She had a mothers intuition after all.
Hearing light footfalls behind her, she glanced over her shoulder and saw the brunette who she had taken in as a surrogate daughter approaching quietly. The Princess who had been so strong up until this point looked timider then a new born puppy.
The princess offered her a small, nervous smile, one in which she returned, and came up alongside her and leaned against the railing.
"The view is beautiful up here," May said softly, her own eyes searching the landscape below which seemed to have a life of its own.
"The openness of the hills are so much more dynamic then the trees of Petalburg," Alyssa responded lifting the brim of her hat so that May would be able to see her eyes, "I love open land like this, the freedom I feel it gives... But it would be impossible to live here,"
"Alyssa," The older woman caught the fear, which had begun seeping in as the days clocked down towards her big day, entering her voice once more, "I'm scared,"
Alyssa placed her hand atop the Princess' left, smiled and looked back out to the scenery, "I am to hon, more than you can believe,"
"Daddy was looking for you," She said despondently, "he want's to speak with you about..." The Princess swallowed thickly and Alyssa nodded in understanding.
"Don't say it May, not if it's to hard," The brides family had arrived the day before in the middle of the night, the night before, had greeted the LaRousse's and had gone straight to their chambers for the night, seeing as how they had come in after a weeks hard travel.
So Norman would want two things.
To know how the last month had been for May.
And for her.
After all, Ash had died.
"What are you up to today May?" She asked, "it's still early, but after I speak with your father how about we go out to the trails? One last moment of freedom before you're sucked into the final preparations?"
May let out a sigh, and she looked longingly towards the horizon which still had the last remnants of dawn in it's brightening color of the sky.
"I'd love to," She said, "but do you think Daddy will allow me to?"
Alyssa placed a hand on her shoulder, and smiled, "I can be quite persuasive when I need to be,"
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The two started their descent from the tower, moving slow enough to drag out their inevitable meeting with the King, and as May kept her eyes on the blond Aura Guardian who was a little shorter than herself, the questions which would come in regards to her Guardian.
She didn't want to, god she didn't, but she had accepted his... Death.
She had to, not because she wanted it, but because it was of what was required of the situation at hand. She had to be strong, if the woman who raised him could hold in her emotions, than so could his lover.
She had to, for if she didn't, she would disgrace not only herself, but those who had supported her through this entire ordeal.
Dawn, Paul, Johanna, Alyssa... And most of all Ash.
She'd fight through this until the vows were said, and the deal sealed by the inevitable kiss which signified her and Prince Drew LaRousse as husband and wife.
They came in, her, a foot in front of Alyssa as they stepped into the Alexanders throne room, which was lavished with banners, tapestries, and a disgusting amount of decor.
Those assembled; her parents, the King and Queen of Johto, and her brother stood speaking to one another in front of the high back throne.
As they approached, Norman turned at the sound of their feet and smiled warmly, "Thank you May," He said inclining his head, before his slate colored eyes turned to the Guardian, "Alyssa," He greeted.
Alyssa bowed lowly, her right hand in a fist over breast, "Your Majesty," she said politely looking back up, "I'm glad you arrived without harm," She looked to the Queen, smiled and bowed once more, "your highness,"
Caroline smiled, "No need for such formalities Alyssa," She said, cheery grin on her face, "thank you though for taking such good care of May,"
"It was my honor, she is a wonderful young woman,"
"Alyssa," She glanced away from the Queen and back to the King, "may I speak with you in private?" Norman asked, his voice becoming serious.
All but one in the room knew what was about to be discussed.
"Of course,"
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The King of Hoenn and the legendary Aura Guardian known as Alyssa Cloud moved away from the throne room, excusing themselves for a couple of minutes and walked alongside each other down the corridors.
"Alyssa," Norman started off, "about your apprentice,"
His eyes came to her, and he saw the hardness enter her own, "I'll grieve once this is over," She said simply enough, "However your Majesty, you should be more concerned with your daughters state more so than my own-"
Norman came to a stop, eyebrows drawn together, "May knows?" He asked surprised, "you told her about Ash?"
Alyssa scoffed bitterly, "I wish I had, but no. The Prince received word before I arrived in LaRousse and informed her. I've helped maintain her composure, as well as my own-"
"You must be exhausted-"
"Far from it really, I've been keeping busy, but not enough so to tire me out,"
She saw a shift in his stance, and the rearranging of his facial features, his usually complacent easy going manner replaced with that of a true King, "I'm glad to hear that, because I have a task for you,"
She blinked in surprise, "What?"
Norman reached into the pocket of his vest and pulled out an object concealed in a fist, "The trip wasn't completely without harm," He said in a low voice, and Alyssa straightened immediately, "We were attacked,"
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The two spacious carriages, pulled by Rapidash's, rolled along the road May herself had rode on herself a little over a month ago.
An armed guard comprised of the Royal Guard of Petalburg, clad in plated armor, with swords and shields on their back, surrounded the transport in a V shape in front and behind.
Inside, Caroline slept with her head leaning on her husbands shoulder, and he himself reading through some documents which had been sent to him by Alexander in advance of the trip to Johto Castle.
They were of nothing in particular, saying how and where their chambers would be located, how preparations had been going for Mays wedding, and an extensive list of odds and ends.
With a careless hand, he quietly moved aside the curtain which kept the sunlight out from the cabin, and looked to the passing greenery.
Being one day away from LaRousse, he was travel weary, much like Caroline.
Max however, was enjoying riding lead with the Guard Captain at the front of the escort, as he rarely left the outskirts of Petalburg.
His ears perked, as he heard a shout from up front. It could very well have been an order to change formation, but when he heard the sound of hoof beats drawing up alongside the carriage he felt the carriage gently roll to a stop.
There was a knock on the door, and it was quickly pulled open, the young guard said with a snarl, "Bandits,"
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"You were raided?" She asked in surprise, "but you... You lost no men correct?"
Norman nodded firmly, "We held them off once they learned that May was not with us,"
"They came after..." Alyssa frowned, "how can you be sure?"
Normans eyes darkened, "They broke our lines, and one broke into the carriage. But when I got there, Caroline was unharmed and the scum had already returned into the gang and called for a retreat,"
"Did you send anyone after them?"
"They managed to break our lines with the forces we had, so sending any out and carrying on towards the Castle would just lower our defenses should they return. So we moved on, and eventually we made it without any further sign of them,"
Alyssa pursed her lips and readjusted the quiver on her back, "And you want me to go after them?" She asked hesitantly, "We're a day away from the wedding your Majesty, can you really spare me to go after those men at this time? May has relied heavily on me since my arrival, and taking her source of comfort away at this time..."
Norman nodded slowly, hand on his chin, "I know, and I am grateful for what you've been doing for her during this time. With the wedding, and... Your apprentice. But the person who entered the carriage, he dropped this,"
Norman turned over the fist which held the object in his grasp, and opened his fingers.
At first she didn't recognize what it was, she stared at it until her eyes widened in surprise, "I see..." Alyssa took the small silver locket into her hand, ran her finger over the distinct engraving of a plant with a stalk, which looked suspiciously like an asparagus.
"You understand what this means?" Norman asked slowly, "we need to find these men for questioning before they put to much distance between us and them,"
Her thumb grazed over the engraving, and she inclined her head just enough, "If these men are from Kanto, they'll be making way back towards the border,"
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Before she departed from the castle, she spoke briefly with May, saying that she would return in a couple hours after she investigated the attack.
But oh no, this was no attack and she knew it.
The locket which Norman had, she had seen it before. Because it just so happened to be the one she gave Ash on his eleventh birthday. Like most boys his age, he was grateful for the gift, but did not wear it where it could be seen as it was said to be to girly for him. But she knew, as did he, that he loved it.
Which is why he kept it in his saddle bag each time they rode out, or when at home inside his drawer for safekeepings.
So the fact that this locket was in Johto itself, meant that he was nearby.
She rode Flare in a gallop through the front gate of the castle, the guards hurrying to move out of the way from the Aura Guardian, and was a blur of white, red, and blue going out of the city into the plains which surrounded LaRousse.
After she was fifteen minutes out of the city, she reined in Flare along the edge of the road, "What do you think Flare?" She asked running a hand down her mounts neck, "do you sense either of them?"
Flare raised her nose into the air and inhaled deeply, and Alyssa watched calmly, eyes shifting to the surroundings every few moments.
After a couple of seconds passed beneath the morning sun, Flare shook her head and she sighed, nudging Flare gently and starting off once more, "If you feel something girl, let me know and I'll see if I can locate them," However doing so would be a problem, she had no idea just where Ash would be in Johto.
Near the castle first and foremost, whether he was in the city, or-
"Wait..." She glanced back to the castle frowning in thought. "Bandits? Where would he..."
Where would he find help?
"So if there are more people than just himself... Looking east, of the city, just beneath the horizon she could spot the forest which separated the territory surrounding LaRousse and that of Violet Town...
Closing her eyes, ice filled her veins, and when they reopened the world pulsated blue and gray, and vibrated with life.
Looking to the dark horizon kilometers away, the land stretched out before her and came rushing towards her in an accelerated blur. Tugging lightly on Flares reins, they started east towards the forest.
As they made their way over, she scanned the forest for signs of life. Dashing through trees, under logs, and atop rocky outcrops, she continued on until Flare gave a snort and body tremble.
Immediately, she blinked, the dark blues and grays evaporating and replacing with the green fields before her, still a far distance away from the forest.
She halted Flare, and leaned to whisper in her ear, "Say again girl?"
Flare sniffed the air, and shook her head, the flames of her mane billowing higher into the air, "Is that so..." Alyssa looked around the field, where the grass would have reached the height of her boot if she were on the ground.
Watching intently, she spotted in the distance the rustling of the grass as it made a direct course towards them.
She didn't draw her bow, but waited until the rustling was meters in front of her, and heard the call out of the creature on the ground.
"Chupi!" A yellow blur shot out of the grass up over Flares head and into her chest, and she squeezed the small critter tightly.
"I'm glad to see you too Pika," She cooed softly stroking his head, "did everything go well? Is Ash safe? Just where is-"
"Kapi," He interrupted shaking his lightning bolt shaped tail, she noticed the envelope which was tied to it.
Untying the string, she took the envelope into her hands, and removed the lone sheet inside.
Alyssa
Everything is ready. Keep out of view tomorrow during the reception, and away from the stained glass window which is above the door. Have your knives ready, and stay concealed.
Do not enter the forest. And I'll see you tomorrow.
Love Ash
Looking up from the letter to the forest, her eyebrows drew together in suspicion, "What are you and he planning Pika?" She asked glancing to the electric mouse.
Pikachu merely shook his head and tapped the back of the letter. Flipping it around, she blinked and saw a hastily scribbled note where the ink had yet to dry.
PS. Get Pika into the castle walls
"You have some work to do Pika?" She asked scratching him behind the ear. The nod which confirmed her words made her sigh, "is there a reason you can't tell me what's happening?"
"Pi Chupi," He replied crawling up her and onto her shoulder, much like he did for her son.
"Well than... Let's go then," Turning Flare around, they started their return to the castle.
She glanced hesitantly back to the forest wall, the desire to go see Ash and check up on him was excruciating. But she knew better than to go against his words in this situation and accepted it.
Although she missed him terribly.
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She found herself back on the balcony in the highest tower an hour after the dress rehearsal. Where she had been stuck in the same room for hours with the Prince as they did a run through of the ceremony with the priest and parents in the audience.
This took hours to complete, as Drew purposefully made minor mistakes so that they had to repeat action after action, sucking the little energy she had remaining away.
When Alyssa had canceled their ride out together, she had noticed something different about the woman. There was a new sense of energy with her, and when she whispered into her ear, she heard something she hadn't heard her sound like before.
Giddy.
That alone had her anxious, the blonds words repeating in her mind over and over.
I have to leave May, something urgent has come up. But keep your smile, things are about to get better for you real soon.
With that, she had bowed, and left the room in a mixed jog and sprint, something clutched in her hand.
But what did she mean things were about to get better? Did she have something which would end the wedding? Did she know something she didn't? Damn the woman who was like an aunt to her, making her itching to know what she wasn't telling her.
She trusted Alyssa, but the thought that there was a chance better than what she seemed to believe, that the wedding was going to be called off, had excited her.
But also worried that her hopes would be blown up to epic proportions only to have it killed in a flash.
And her married to Drew.
Down below, she spotted the blond hair Guardian wandering the courtyard, seemingly looking for something. Was Alyssa looking for her? Her eyebrows came together as Alyssa looked to have peered beneath a bench and than behind a few stacked barrels.
What did she lose?
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Pikachu had vanished once she had placed Flare back into the stable and rubbed her down.
The small mouse saying a few words she couldn't understand and than up and leaving through the stable doors.
Being a veteran Guardian, she knew better than to interfere with Ashs plan. But there was a side of her that few knew about since she kept it bottled down. But during the days where she was a pickpocket, and was forced to steal from markets to survive.
She had gotten an unstable curiosity.
Which tended to show itself in times where she felt a high amount of stress.
This was one of them.
So she wandered the castle corridors, looking inconspicuousness, while trying to locate Pikachu. She could easily do so if she summoned her Aura, but where was the fun in that.
She was 37 for Arceus sakes, she should have more self-control...
In the end, when the moon had risen, and those lodging at the castle for the wedding had retired for the night, she had still not located the small yellow mouse.
So returning to the room where she was staying, and readying for the following day, she prayed for the best.
And that Ash and May would have their happily ever after.
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Outside of the castle walls, on the streets of LaRousse she knew the thousands of citizens would be crowded outside the front gates of the castle. As the church bells chimed the 12th hour, the clear sound vibrating throughout the castle, and the orchestra beginning the sweet melodies which would lead up to her entrance where she would walk down the aisle.
Wetting her lips, which tasted of a sweet cherry, May rung her hands nervously together from the brides room.
Around her, the staff workers and Dawn moved with frantic movements to finish her preparations.
The final touches were being worked on her hair, where curls had been implemented hours before. Make up was applied to her cheeks, her eyelashes curled, and a light pink gloss applied to her lips.
For the ceremony she chose not a dress, but a pink half shirt with an embroidered heart in gold which traced along her collar and short sleeves which hugged her chest. A peach veil which reach the small of her back had an emerald on top.
A light purple skirt which reached an inch below her ankles hung from her hips, exposing her midriff, and a pair of what felt like pink ballet shoes rest on her feet.
She opted out of the frilly gowns, and poofy dresses which were shown to her over and over again. Most of which had her neckline revealing far to much for her tastes.
She blinked out of her trance as Dawn dabbed her forehead with a hanker-chief to remove the sweat which had not seemed to stop no matter what they tried.
The room was not very warm, so it must have been from the nerves the princess was expressing.
Dawn took a glass of water from beside her and held it out for May, "Please have a drink May," She said softly, "you'll dehydrate the way things are going right now,"
Taking the glass into her hands, she brought the water to her mouth with shaking hands and downed the drink in a single gulp.
"Better?" Her friend asked with a worried smile. Neither of them were happy, but brave faces were needed for both of them at the moment so they powered through it.
She grunted, not trusting her voice and clenched her sweaty hands into fists.
There were minutes, maybe even seconds before-
A knock repeated multiple times on their door, and a voice called out, "If we could have the bridesmaid please come to the alter,"
They cringed and Dawn stood, flattening out her pale blue dress which reached her ankles and grinned nervously, "This is it May, just..." She tried to find words, anything to comfort her friend who was being forced into this disaster, but no words of encouragement found her, "I'll be there with you. Don't forget!"
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The church hall was massive, and the benches which were in the hall were filled shoulder to shoulder with guests. In the second row back on each side of the isle, left the Maples sat, and right the LaRousses.
An alter beneath an archway which was currently occupied by a man in white robes with a balding head and bible in his hand, was on a raised step. Behind were the orchestra who played the quiet tunes, and awaited their orders for the song the princess would walk out to.
The doors where May would be entering were at the back of the hall, behind each of the guests where a long red carpet split down the center leading up to the alter. On either side of said door, two armed guards stood in full ceremonial armor looking like statues.
There were many stationed around the church along the back walls. Eight in total Alyssa counted from behind the back row, where she stood with her bow slung over her shoulder and quiver on her back.
And finally above the door, a couple meters up, was the stain glass window Ash must have been referring to.
A cross on a hill, was made of stained glass in a circle which was at least two and a half meters all of the way around. The light which snuck through lit the room, as the sun was aligned directly with the glass.
And as Ashs wish, she kept her distance from it, and had her heavy knives ready on her hip.
The positions of the guards were marked in her mind for when action was needed, as were each of the exits... There was only one, and that was through the door May would be entering within-
Her eyes fell to the front doors as soon as she heard the classic song begin, the one which played signaling that the procession was beginning.
Those sitting, a couple hundred turned in their seats to look at the the doors. As the song played, the groomsman, a strange lanky man with long purple hair which reached the small of his back escorted Dawn, the brides made, down to the alter.
Once they arrive, they separated to each side, something Dawn seemed relieved of, and waited as the music continued. Seconds ticked by, and when everyone stood, a hushed gasp of admiration and jealousy from those in the crowd, her eyes narrowed on the couple of the hour.
Drew, a polite grin on his lips which matched the one May was forcing on herself. From where Alyssa stood, she could tell the princess was pale, and had most likely gone without food that day.
They had spoken briefly early on in the morning, and she had reassured the princess that every thing would be alright.
But seeing the strain May had on her face, the worry was all to noticeable.
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She was sweating horribly, and she was using every ounce of strength she possessed and above to keep herself from shaking.
Adrenalin was surging through her, and her body was hot enough so that she began feeling light-headed.
Standing along side Drew, who wore ceremonial armor gilded with golden trim, and a silver sword given to him by her father for the occasion. She stared at the balding priest with a smile which was on the verge of breaking down.
To her his voice sounded like Satan counting down with every word until she was being sent directly into the depths of hell. In this case it was the marriage, but to her, that was the equivalent.
Beside her, Drew smiled, eyes not filled with maliciousness, or any hostile feelings. But she knew, she knew, that once the words 'you may now kiss your bride' were said.
Everything would change.
He'd want her. And it scared her. He didn't care for her, or in some sick way maybe he did. If only for her body was the most likely reason...
She shivered in disgust and she blinked as stars began forming in her vision.
Shutting them briefly, she inhaled and exhaled to try and calm herself. This didn't help much.
And when she opened her eyes, she heard a whisper of, "Are you alright?" She glanced to her fiance as he looked at her skeptically.
She nodded her head just visibly, "I am," Her voice choked up and she wasn't sure she would be able to speak anymore. And if she did, it would be barely audible.
She was waiting for Alyssa's intervention, but as the priest slowly drew towards the vows she was dreading, it seemed like it was not going to happen.
"Now we shall hear the vows written by both the bride and groom," The priest said, his voice loud in the quiet church.
She went first, reading from the small book she had been given upon her arrival to the Castle a month before. She wrote it keeping it short, sweet and to the point.
Lying through her teeth with each word that was scribbled neatly down into it in jet black ink.
When she finished, her voice giving out on the final word, Drew followed.
The words he read sounded sincere, and would have girls swooning left and right if read to them. She was not one of these girls, and felt sick just hearing his words.
Once he finished, he grinned at her which showed his pearly whites, and returned focus to the priest, who was about to deliver the final few lines before declaring them husband and wife.
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"Come on Ash, where are you!" Alyssa whispered furiously under her breath. If he didn't appear within the next minute she would be the one to intervene.
When the priest asked those assembled if there was anyone who objected to this marriage, she would risk banishment from both Hoenn and Johto for declaring that Alexander and Drew were planning the take over of Hoenn and Kanto.
Norman would listen to her, but she didn't know how he would react.
It was his trusted adviser and who she believed thought of her as not just a Guardian but as a friend, against another Kingdoms ruler. Who formed a contract with him at the end of the war, for his daughter to marry his eldest son when she was of age.
These two had been in constant contact during the last eighteen, almost nineteen years since the wars end.
Did Norman consider Alexander a friend? Did he value his opinion over her own?
Did he value the Kingdom over his own daughter?
When she interfered, who her King really was would be shown.
Blinking the thoughts away, she swallowed and began to edge out from her cover.
"Now than!" The priest exclaimed, "are their any of those assembled who have any reason for these two to not be married.
Licking her lips, she started moving for the aisle as the silence drew on.
"No?" He called out, "Than-"
BANG!
The front doors of the church slammed back on their hinges startling everyone, and a knight sprinted into the hall.
"DRAGON!" He cried out, eyes searching desperately for the King, "DRAGON ATTACKING THE CITY!"
The silence which befell the church was stunned, and standing from their seats, Alexander and Norman faced the knight, "What are you doing!" Alexander shouted angrily, "Do you-"
"Your Majesty a dragon is attack the city!"
"A dragon son?" Norman asked lowly, his eyes drifting to Alyssa who had halted completely.
There was only one dragon they knew of, and that had been slain by Ashs hand.
"Massive! It's-"
Alexander cut him off, "Guards! Follow him out and take a look. Report back to me with your findings,"
Alyssa stepped aside as the guards moved passed her and out of the hall, and out the front doors which shut behind them.
Silence followed, and after a few moments, Alexander bowed to the priest, "My apologies, please continue," Sitting down calmly, Norman hesitantly followed his lead, with one glance back to where the guards had disappeared to.
It took several seconds for the priest to regain his barrings after the unexpected interruption, but when he did, "Oh, right where was I... Ah yes, are there any who have reason as to why these two should not be married?"
Drew was thrown from his feet and hurling off of the platform as a fist appeared out of the blue driving into his jaw and sending him flying into the first row of guests.
"Yeah, I've got one."
Thank you everyone for reading, next chapter is nearing completion, and I hope you all enjoyed this chapter!
Please drop in a review and let me know what you all thought! Love, hate, loathe? Anything let me know!
This tale is drawing to a close, so I'll see you all next time!