Disclaimer: I do not own the characters and story elements of the Pokémon franchise. I'm just using them for entertainment purposes. Game Freak, Nintendo and the Pokémon Company all own every aspect of the Pokémon franchise and I'm just borrowing it. EmperorDraco7 owns the OCs David and Rena Patterson and Lily Nadesico owns Jonathan and Abelia Seabright. With his and Lily's permission, I'm using them in my story. Looks like I beat everyone to punch this time. Lucas isn't here to do the disclaimer.
35: The Phantom Speed Run and Clash of Nobility
"I can't believe you guys changed your mind," Relena said to us as we decided to go to the next island instead of staying on Diamond Bay Island. "First, you wanted to stay and battle in the Trident Battle Palace and now you want to head to the next gym instead."
"Don't worry, it's not like we're gonna give up on battling against those people in the Trident Battle Palace," Ash reassured Relena. "We just need to at least get the next two gym badges and at least guarantee our place in the Suicune Valley Conference."
"Once we get those two badges, we'll return to battle some of those trainers," I added to the conversation.
"Same here," chimed in David.
'To be honest, Your Royal Highness, I think it's because David and Greninja are still sore about losing to me and Rena,' Rena's Delphox whispered to Relena with a grin on her face. 'Perhaps all the males are still sore about losing to their wives yesterday.'
"That might be the case, but it would be unwise to rub it in their faces," Relena said to Rena's shiny Delphox. "Who knows… they might come back at the next chance for a promotion battle and defeat the wives as payback."
"What's the name of the island we're going to?" Ash asked our guides as we needed to know where we were going.
"It's called Phantom Ninja Island," answered Richie. "And trust us when we tell you this. There's more to the gym then just doing a gym battle with Pokémon."
"What do you mean by that?" I asked Relena and Richie.
"Unfortunately, we can't share anything else," answered Relena. "You're gonna have to find out for yourself what it's like. By the way, is anyone needing to backtrack to any of the previous islands we've visited for certain supplies and/or specialty items?"
Rena looked pretty worn out as her baby seemed to be taking a lot out of her. I'm sorry, I meant her babies were taking a lot of energy out of her. After she and David had defeated Dr. Curie, she had fainted causing David to be alarmed. Apparently, Rena thought she was pregnant with only one child and Dr. Curie informed her that she was really carrying twins after he did an ultrasound. Plus they had gone to Amber Island to look for a home after the gym battle. Using part of their findings on Dark Candle Island, they bought a pretty nice house themselves. Rena said they bought a two level model home that was 5425 sq. ft. 6 bed, 6 ¾ bath with a detached 1300 sq. ft. in-law suite with 2 ¾ acres of land. They told us that they had to pay for any upgrades like getting stainless steel appliances, granite or quartz countertops, getting a covered pool room or any other upgrades. In the end, they paid extra for quartz countertops, bamboo flooring, stainless steel appliances, two separate courtyards to separate the in-law suite from the house and for the main entrance and they even paid extra for a metal roof as well.
"I forgot to ask Rena," I said to a worn out Rena, "how much did you and David end up paying for your house? I know you said the list price was $750,000, but how much did the additional upgrades end up costing you?"
"We paid… paid a million dollars even," answered Rena as she had to sit down for a moment, being helped by her Delphox. "Relena wasn't kidding when she said the cost of building materials could be high. But that was also with tax, title and the required insurance we had to buy too."
"Back to the question at hand," Relena said bringing focus back to her question. "Does anyone need to make a special trip back to any of the islands we've visited recently?"
"I'd like to go back to Ruby Island," answered Rena. "I ran out of that special shampoo yesterday and it works wonders for my fiery red hair."
'Oh yes,' agreed Rena's shiny Delphox. 'Rena's fiery red hair looks real glossy after she showers.'
"Come to think of it, I'm running out of that stuff too," I said as I recalled seeing my personal stock hair care. "It certainly prevents split ends."
"Ruby Island then?" Richie asked the group.
"Ugh, not that humid as heck island," complained my husband as he didn't like that we were heading back to Ruby Island.
"Deal with it, honey," I said stoically.
"Ruby Island then?" Relena asked us as she had her cellphone in her hand.
A few days later, we were back on Ruby Island waiting for Rena to heal and regain her strength. Why were we staying longer on Ruby Island you ask? The answer is quite simple; Rena had given birth to her twins a month and a half earlier then her scheduled due date. It was quite unexpected, but Relena said in a way it might be considered a good thing as Rena and David might not have been able to step foot in the fifth gym on Phantom Ninja Island because of Rena's pregnancy. I had to admit that they did a great job in making a pair of babies together. The first twin to be born to Rena was little Ruby. She was born with her mother's fiery red hair and her father's glistening silver eyes. The second was Joshua, as he had his mother's purple eyes and his father goldenrod hair. Both twins were also given their first Pokémon at the unexpected surprise of both Rena and David. Relena thought it would be a good idea that the twins have Pokémon at their side. This confused both new parents as Relena began to explain.
"Your children have been born with the power to use Tsunami Aura," began Relena. "They'll have the ability manipulate and even control water."
"That can't be," David said weakly and in disbelief as he and his shiny Greninja were still nursing their hands that Rena nearly crushed as she was giving birth in the ocean. "Neither Rena or I have any magic aura powers like some of you guys."
"Relena and Richie did say that this place pretty much has magic flowing throughout the region," Rena said to David as she was nursing Ruby and Joshua. "Maybe some of that magic flowed through us when you got me pregnant."
"This is going to have us staying here for at least a week and a half," Relena informed us. "Rena at least needs to stay put and rest a while before we make a direct flight to Phantom Ninja Island. Oh, I should tell you… I hope you're all physically ready to challenge the fifth gym."
"Are you absolutely sure that you want to challenge the gym on Phantom Ninja Island right now?" Relena asked Rena a few days later as the fiery red head was already up and moving about instead of resting and letting her body heal from giving birth to Ruby and Joshua. "You might be still be a little weak after giving birth."
"I appreciate the concern," began Rena, "but I know my own body and I'm ready to tackle the gym on this Phantom Ninja Island. Besides, I was going to ask you if you and May could watch Ruby and Joshua when it's David's and my turn to challenge the gym leader."
"Sure, we can watch them for you," I informed Rena with a smile on my face with Relena giving Rena a slight nod to confirm she was on board too. "It won't be a problem for us. Besides, Relena's not going into the gym… I don't think."
"By the way, do you know where I can find a shiny female Fennekin for little Ruby?" Rena asked Relena. "I want Ruby to have a Pokémon at her side and for the Fennekin to also to be her first Pokémon too."
"What about your son, Joshua?" Relena asked Rena.
Rena's wicked grin on her face was an indication that she wanted her firstborn son to have a Froakie like his father. Relena could only giggle at Rena's wicked grin as she apparently liked the idea. Fortunately for Rena, Relena was able to accommodate her request. But for Ruby getting the shiny female Fennekin, she was going to have to deal with the fact that the Fennekin was captured in a Dive Ball instead of a different Pokéball more suited towards a Fire-type Pokémon like Fennekin. As for newborn Joshua, his shiny male Froakie was captured in an Apricorn Fast Ball. Rena and I were confused as to why Ruby's Fennekin was in a Dive Ball and Relena explained that she had to use the Dive Ball to save the little newborn Fennekin from drowning in a costal flood on Tsunami Island about a week before she gave birth to Ren. As for the shiny Froakie, he was caught two weeks later, after Relena caught the shiny female Fennekin, on the grounds of Sol Palace.
'I must thank you again, Your Royal Highness, for saving me from that nasty flood,' the shiny female Fennekin said to Relena as she bowed to her. 'I shall pay my debt and become the protector of your friend's firstborn offspring.'
'Thanks for giving me a new home, Princess,' the shiny Froakie said to Relena as he gave her a casual gesture. 'Should be fun.'
'Froakie, you should take your position seriously,' the Fennekin chided her Water-type companion. 'Our younger human siblings are frail right now and we need to be proper role models too.'
"Alright guys, here we are," Relena said as she and Richie guided us to the Phantom Ninja Island gym. "You guys got the ninja outfits from my sister, right?"
"Yeah, but I don't see why we have to have wear them when we go into the gym," huffed Ash as my husband rolled his eyes.
'Show some respect, Ash!' Pikachu exclaimed as he smacked his trainer upside his head with his Iron Tail for the insulting comment that was made.
"Because… only a ninja in training may enter the gym," Richie said to Ash before he and Relena snapped their fingers and having their clothes magically change into ninja outfits.
We were quite surprised to see that Richie could use magic. He never showed that he could use it at all and seeing him use it was a revelation. Despite the shocking revelation, we were impressed with their ninja outfits. For Relena, she had on sleeveless ocean blue tee with a crest of a white Pokéball outline and a Suicune in front of the Pokéball located on her left breast, royal blue fingerless gloves with silver metal padding on the gloves, her midriff was exposed and that really surprised me. The rest of her ninja outfit consisted of an emerald green skirt that stopped an inch above her knees and partially hid skintight cream colored shorts, cream colored ninja sandals, a kunai partially hid in the right ninja sandal and she had an ocean blue ninja mask covering the lower part of her face. As for Richie, his ninja outfit was a seafoam green sleeveless shirt with teal green armor over his shirt and seafoam green pants with yellow stripes running down his cargo shorts.
"Maybe you should be glad that you gave birth first before coming here," Relena said to Rena as she pointed to the sign indicating the guidelines for the gym. "You wouldn't have been able to enter the gym."
"Then would you guys mind if a new mother and her husband challenge the gym first?" Rena asked us as she got her ninja outfit ready.
"Oh no, not at all," Ash answered on behalf of the group. "You guys can go first and we'll follow behind you."
"Oh man, I'm so tired," whined David as he, his wife and their Pokémon were exhausted from the battle. "I never thought that gym would be so hardcore. There wasn't any mention of an obstacle course just to get up to the gym leader."
'You're not kidding,' agreed his shiny Ninja Pokémon. 'Not to mention that six against two in favor of the gym leader doesn't count as a fair fight.'
'I… I agree… agree with Lady Relena,' Delphox said to Rena as she was panting from their experience in the Phantom Ninja Island gym. 'It is… a good… good thing that you gave… gave birth before coming here and challenging… challenging the gym.'
"Now I just want to rest for a week," moaned Rena as she was on the ground heaving and sweating from the gym.
'Oh boy, we might be in over heads, Ash,' Pikachu said to his trainer and my husband. 'If the gym took that much out of your childhood friends, who knows what it'll do to us if we go in there.'
"Come on Pikachu," Ash said as he was finally in his ninja outfit. "Now's not the time to wimp out, buddy. Besides, I thought you wanted to use that ninja outfit Relena's sister made and gave you."
'R-Right, I forgot about that,' replied Pikachu before he dove in and dug out his own ninja outfit.
"Welcome to the Phantom Ninja Island gym, young warriors," the attendant at the front door said to Ash and I we finally took our turn after Jonathan and Abelia Seabright went in. "If you are looking to battle the Ninja Mistress, then you must glide down the Ninja Curtains, scale across a very deep chasm on the Jumping Spinarak, traverse the Unstable Bridge, soar across the Totodile filled pool on the Curtain Swing, use your stamina on the Wrapped Wall and finally ascend to the gym leader on climbing the Invisible Ladder."
"This'll be so easy," Ash said as he was ready to tackle the obstacle course.
"That's what they all say," replied Relena before she snapped her fingers causing her and Richie to disappear right before our eyes.
"Young warriors, please choose one of your Pokémon to go with you into battle against the Ninja mistress," the front attendant informed us.
"I'm taking Pikachu with me," Ash said with his youthful enthusiasm.
'Come on, let me at 'em!' exclaimed Pikachu as he was in his ninja outfit, ready to go.
"I'm calling my Blaziken to help me out," I said as I called my Fire/Fighting-type Blaze Pokémon.
I figured it would make perfect sense to bring a Fighting-type Pokémon into a gym of ninjas as I would need Blaziken's lightning quick speed and Speed Boost ability.
"Man, Pikachu's got an easier obstacle course then us," Ash complained as he and I were making our way across the Jumping Spinarak.
"That's because he's smaller than us," I said calmly as I was following right behind him. "Besides, my Blaziken is with us. Maybe you should've brought Lucario with you instead of Pikachu."
Ash didn't answer me as he dismounted the second obstacle and caught his breath for a moment before spotting a trampoline which lead to the next obstacle for us to challenge. As for Pikachu, he was happily making his way up to the gym leader as he was at least three obstacles ahead of us and then stopped to watch us advance further. Ash and I proceeded to advance through the Unstable Bridge, but I nearly lost my grip and fell had Blaziken not been behind me and helped me back up on the obstacle. Once I was back on track, I kept going as I followed right behind Ash with Blaziken in tow as we proceeded through past the next two obstacles which were really sapping our strength. Even though I had been working out during my pregnancy with Cynthia, nothing could've prepared me for this kind of gym. Calling the fifth gym a hard gym was a big understatement as it seemed that it required more than just skills in battling alongside Pokémon. I think at that point, I understood why it was considered to be an island for ninjas. An island that trained people who wanted to learn the silent and deadly arts of stealth and deception. The Pokémon gym was here to also train the challengers to become strong physically and mentally as well as learn a thing or two about ninjas.
"Oh Arceus, I don't think I can handle anymore," whined Ash as we both finally made it to the gym leader.
Our bodies were screaming at us to rest from all the punishment from the obstacle courses we had to clear just to get up to the gym leader. But in order for us to get the next badge, we had to proceed to the gym leader in order for us to get it. Picking ourselves up off the floor, we proceeded to the next room in hopes that there weren't any more obstacles to go through. What was waiting for us was an eerie silence, three cameras that were already on and an audience watching safely from a distance.
"Welcome challengers," a mysterious voice said from the black shadows. "I'm impressed you made it this far. And I also see you made here even though your body is screaming at you to go no further.
"I am Ash Ketchum and this is my wife…" Ash began to say before being cut off by the mysterious voice.
"Yes, I know who you are," the mysterious voice said plainly. "You are the Champion of Pallet Town hailing from Kanto and your wife is the Princess of Hoenn. I am honored that you, like the Hero of Truth and Heroine of Ideals, have come to grace this gym with your presence. I shall take pleasure in seeing how well you fair against my Pokémon ninjas. Like me, they specialize in the art of stealth and deception. You will confused and baffled by our stealth. Once you realize our strength, it will be far too late."
"The gym battle between the gym leader Tsukiyo 'Phantom' Yuy and the challengers, Ash and May Ketchum of Costa del Sol on Tsunami Island, will now commence," Relena said as she took the position as the referee. "The challengers will both use only one Pokémon each while the gym leader shall use all six of her Pokémon and there will be no substitutions on either side."
"What?" demanded a shocked Ash. "The gym leader gets to use all six of her Pokémon while we're stuck using only a Pokémon each? That's not fair!"
"Well, if that's the case," I began to say as I was about to recall Blaziken until Relena continued.
"The Pokémon that the challengers brought through the obstacle course is the only permitted Pokémon to be used in this Pokémon battle," continued Relena as she explained the rules of the gym. "Any attempt to switch them out will result in automatic disqualification. Challengers ready?"
"I guess so," answered Ash.
"I'm ready," I answered as I was ready as I ever was going to be
'Bring 'em on Lady Relena,' replied an eager Pikachu.
"As you wish," replied Relena before taking a deep sigh and then snapping her fingers causing the arena to be completely shrouded in darkness. "Let the gym battle begin!"
Cynthia Greyson's POV
"My hand… you nearly crushed it!" my husband, Lucas, exclaimed to me in pain after I had just given birth to our firstborn a month prematurely. "I didn't think being a human would be so… ow… painful."
Laying in the hospital bed after giving birth to my firstborn daughter, Isabella, I was curious as to how the mother and father of my goddaughter were doing. I had hoped that they were progressing at a nice pace. Using my newly developed psychic powers, I was able to get my cellphone over to me and turned it on to see that Pokénet was certainly buzzing with Ash and May's gym battle at the fifth gym in the Atlantica Islands. Rika hopped on the bed I was laying on as the nurse was bringing Isabella to me. The shiny female Constraint Pokémon looked to my husband he was still in pain from me holding his hand and maybe squeezing it hard enough to was considered crushing it. Rika just telepathically sighed and shook her head as she said to Lucas, 'I guess that's something you should've considered before making that decision to become a human forever.'
"I am sorry Lucas," I said to my husband. "But I guess you have somewhat of an idea of what it's like for us women when we give birth."
"Yes," Lucas said weakly. "I got the message."
'If I might interrupt you, the nurse is on her way here with little Isabella,' Rika informed Lucas and I as we saw the nurse coming with our firstborn.
"Here is your child," the nurse said to me and Lucas. "I must say that you two were blessed by Arceus to have such a beautiful baby girl. And I must say that Isabella is a strong name you gave her."
Rika took a look at Isabella herself and was pleased to see who she would be protecting. Isabella was certainly sleeping peacefully like an angel when I was able to finally hold her in arms. Looking to Lucas, I was hoping if he would know what I wanted him to do if he wasn't too busy nursing his left hand that I nearly crushed as I gave birth to our daughter. Lucas looked to me and gave a slight nod as he turned on the TV and flipped it over to Ash and May's gym battle. It seemed that we got on the channel just in time to see the start of their fifth gym battle. I was quite surprised to see Ash and May dressed as ninjas and was rather curious as to why they were dressed that way.
'Why are they dressed liked that?' Rika asked aloud, beating me to the punch. 'Are they looking to become ninjas? If so, then they're not doing a good job because they look worn out and tired.'
"I wonder why that's the case," I said as Isabella woke up and was hungry, crying to get my attention to feed her.
"For those of you who have just joined us, you're seeing how the Phantom Ninja Island gym works," a commentator said as a camera zoomed in on the already worn out and exhausted Ash and May Ketchum, "The trainers must climb their way to the gym leader in order to face Phantom Ninja Island's gym leader. The gym leader also tests the challengers' physical and mental abilities as well as battling with Pokémon. As you can see with the challengers, the Pokémon they have on the field are the exact same Pokémon that climbed up with them and both of them have to defeat three of gym leader's Pokémon each. The approach up to gym leader is not exactly easy in itself as those who don't have upper body strength, stamina or both are bound to fail."
"That looks crazy difficult," Lucas said to me as we watched the gym battle start. "But I wonder why Ash and May can't see the gym leader's Pokémon. Is this a challenge presented by the gym themselves?"
'Hmm… it seems that the humans are dealing with a ninja themed gym and their opponents have cloaked themselves in darkness to hide from the challengers,' observed Rika as we saw Pikachu start using Thunderbolt to light up the arena and hope for some form of damage or even a way to locate their opponents.
Pikachu's Thunderbolt seemed had connected with two of the gym leader's Pokémon. They were lit up by an electrical outline indicating a direct hit as well as the fact the Thunderbolt was also a super-effective move too. It seemed to Ash that he got lucky when the defeated Pokémon were revealed to be a shiny Noctowl and a Poliwrath. Ash seemed proud of himself as he and Pikachu had gotten lucky once again and were posed to take down their third and last opponent. As for his wife, May and Blaziken were having a difficult time in locating their opponents. The gym leader wasn't giving out any verbal commands to her Pokémon and the attacks seemed to come from the shadows, making it difficult for May and her Blaziken to track where they were coming from. It was tough to watch Ash and May struggle with the fifth gym leader, but it was also a good opportunity for me to see what I would be up against once Lucas, Rika, Isabella and I returned to the Atlantica Islands and challenge the remaining gym leaders for their badges. The gym battle looked one-sided in favor of the gym leader as they apparently had command of it, staying well hidden in the shadows like a true ninja would. Taking better part of a half hour, Ash decided to use his own skill of using Aura to help his wife in locating her and Blaziken's opponents after using his ability to use Aura to help Pikachu locate and defeat his final opponent.
"Gengar, Noctowl and Poliwrath are unable to battle," Relena announced as she was the special guest referee. "Pikachu wins!"
'Hmm… not bad,' Rika said telepathically as she took Isabella from me once Isabella was done feeding, 'for an Electric-type Pokémon from the Kanto region. Color me impressed.'
"We'll be making our way to the Lily of the Valley Conference site in about a week," I informed Rika and Lucas. "Once the doctors give me and Isabella a clean bill of health, we'll head home back to my grandmother's house. I want to at least rest up and heal after giving birth."
"I'm fine with that," replied Lucas as he tenderly held my right hand and kissed.
With a smile on my face, I eagerly kissed my husband passionately after he kissed my hand. Lucas would always be that adorable little Victini who stole my heart at the Palm Sun Oasis Resort back in Unova. As for Rika, she rolled her eyes and shook her head as Lucas and I were getting very comfortable and romantic around her and her human sibling.
'Young Isabella, I just hope you don't rush to find love at a young age,' Rika said to Isabella as she ignored me and Lucas having a little smooch fest.
"Zoroark, Spiritomb and Banette are unable to battle," Relena announced ending Lucas's and my tender romantic moment. "Blaziken wins! The challengers Ash and May Ketchum of Costa del Sol on Tsunami Island win this gym battle!"
May's POV
Once Relena had announced that we were victorious, Ash and I couldn't stand straight any longer and we collapsed to the ground. Throughout the gym battle, our legs were wobbly and just trying to stay focused on the gym battle was taxing enough for us as were constantly worried about one of the three Pokémon that our Pokémon had to face each separately instead of together as a team. It was then that the gym leader revealed themselves to us. She had long jet black hair, lavender eyes, skin tight dark purple shorts that went down to her knees, a purple sleeveless shirt, a fuchsia face mask and ninja sandals on her feet.
"I am Tsukiyo Yuy," the gym leader said me and my husband as we looked up to her from exhausted position. "I am known as the Phantom Lily. I commend you for your determination and pushing yourself, even though it meant going past your limits. I imagine it wouldn't be easy for you, Princess of Hoenn, since you've just given birth your firstborn child. But both of you have overcome overwhelming odds and that is the test that is set before every challenger once they've proven themselves physically capable to potentially become a ninja."
'It certainly didn't feel like it was an easy task to defeat your Pokémon,' an exhausted Pikachu said to Tsukiyo. 'We were literally in the dark about where our opponents were.'
"Yet you managed to prove yourselves worthy of being ninjas," replied Tsukiyo. "Here is the Phantom Ninja Badge for you. With this badge, you're one step closer to gaining automatic entry into the Suicune Valley Conference tournament. This badge also raises your Pokémon's evasion by 45%, rather than 30%."
"Hey guys, I got a text from Cynthia and Lucas Greyson," Relena informed the group five hours later Ash and I won our fifth badge and after Jonathan and Abelia walked out of the Phantom Ninja Island battered and exhausted themselves. "They said they're coming back to the Atlantica Islands for a brief visit. They're going to meet us at Sapphire Island."
"I wonder what Sapphire Island is like," David said as he was curious to know about it.
"Is it another warm and extremely humid island like Ruby Island?" Ash asked sarcastically before I slapped him upside his head.
"No, Sapphire Island is a cold island governed by Kyurem that took it over during the Dark Times," Richie answered Ash. "Despite the fact that it's cold, there are many hot springs that dot the island and are known for their medicinal benefits.
"Remember when we told you to buy winter gear?" Relena asked us all, reflecting back to Diamond Bay Island.
"Yeah, what about it?" asked Jonathan.
"Relena and I sure hope that you listened to our advice," answered Richie. "Sapphire Island is cold and rarely gets up over 40 degrees."
"Plus there's one other thing that you need to know about the gym on Sapphire Island," added Relena.
"What's that?" I asked Relena as she got our attention. "I hope we won't be going through more physical tests like the last gym."
'No, it's nothing like that,' replied Michiru.
"The sixth gym requires you to have an Eevee or one of its many evolved forms," answered Relena. "This gym is a gym that deals in battling with Eevee and its evolved forms."
"Uh…" began Abelia as she was now nervous and didn't know what to do next. "That could be a problem."
"Abi doesn't own an Eevee or its evolved forms," explained Jonathan.
"That's fine, I've got a few Eevees and all of their evolved forms that you can borrow," Relena said to Abelia with a smile on her face. "Besides… you know them well and they do like you."
"That's true," agreed Abelia.
"Man, I didn't think that Sapphire was this cold," complained Jonathan as he was shivering from the cold winds that blew in our faces.
"We should hurry and get to the condos before the biting wind takes hold and drops the temperature even worse," suggested Relena as she and Richie lead the way. "Besides, it won't be good for our children either and we certainly don't need them to freeze to death."
"Are the condos going to be expensive?" Ash asked Relena as he was starting to become the penny pincher since I gave birth to baby Cynthia.
"No," answered Relena. "We own two four bedroom condos at the Ice Sapphire Condominiums. It's right next door to the Sapphire Island gym; plus it's got many amenities that you guys might like."
"Heated pools, access to relaxing hot springs and other things to make your stay there warm and comfortable," added Richie.
"I like the sound of that," Abelia said as we entered the grounds of the said condominiums.
"Ditto," I replied in agreement. "I move we have a girls-only day at the hot springs to relax away the day of traveling while our husbands take care of the children."
"I second the motion," Rena replied as she dumped Ruby and Joshua into David's arms quickly.
"Huh? But…" David began to protest before seeing Rena and her Delphox glaring at him and his shiny male Greninja with a dark aura behind them.
'Guess it's not up for debate then,' moaned David's shiny Greninja with his eyes widened like dinner plates.
'No… it's not up for debate,' said Rena's shiny Delphox in a sickly sweet tone.
As for Richie, he had Ren taken from his arms quickly by her older Pokémon sibling, Ronginku. The female shiny Feeling Pokémon had a big smile on her face as she took Ren and teleported away with Richie having a sweatdrop on his forehead in embarrassment. I think my husband was hoping that Victini would snatch baby Cynthia out of his hands, but he was disappointed as someone else took her out of his hands. We turned and saw that the Sinnoh League champion and her husband had just arrived. Cynthia had a big smile on her face as she held her goddaughter in her arms while Lucas had their firstborn daughter in his arms too. Cynthia and Lucas Greyson had a beautiful baby girl with them as she was bundled up in winter clothing and had the female Meowstic, Rika, accompanying them.
"I'm so happy you brought my goddaughter with you," Cynthia said happily as she held my firstborn in arms. "Luckily for you, I brought my firstborn with me and her Pokémon sibling too."
"Ah… it does feel good," said Cynthia as we occupied one of the hot springs. "So glad we could have a 'Wives' only' day today."
"Yeah, the husbands need to pull their weight in raising the children," I said as I relaxed in the hot spring. "I'm not raising baby Cynthia by myself while Ash goes out and travels the world to different regions. I'm sure we can all agree that we don't want things to be like the old days when the wives were expected to raise the children and take care of the house."
"Oh… I don't have to worry about Lucas doing that to me," Cynthia said with a smile. "He loves me and knows when I get upset with him. He promised that he was going to help raise Isabella and our other children… once we start having more children."
"Yeah, I don't have to worry about Jonathan either," Abelia said as she stretched her arms. "But Jonathan and I aren't going to have any more children for a little while. We agreed to raise Francesca and Marco up a little bit before we decide to have any more children."
"That was our plan before Ash accidentally got me pregnant," I said to the other wives and made a slight glance to Relena. "Unlike you, Relena, I didn't promise my husband that I would give him a son. We have any more children besides Cynthia and this next child, he'll have to put up with what I give birth to… like it or not."
'Ah… I never thought a hot spring would be this relaxing,' Rena's Delphox said as she and Michiru slowly slipped in to join us wives. 'And this is coming from a Fire-type Pokémon who supposed to be afraid of water.'
'Most likely because you're not like some of the other Fire-types whose life depends on the flames on their bodies,' Michiru said to Delphox.
'Yeah, you bring a valid point,' agreed Delphox.
"I heard you got pregnant again," Cynthia said to Relena as the Celestic Town-born champion looked to Relena.
"Yes," replied Relena as she closed her eyes to enjoy the warm and steamy waters of the hot spring. "Like May mentioned, I promised my husband that I would bear him a son. And that's a promise that I intend to keep."
"I'm sure that you didn't need to make Richie that promise," Cynthia offered to Relena. "I bet he'd be happy even if you gave birth to only daughters."
"Yeah, I heard Richie say that back on Amber Island before Lady Amelia told him that her promise was something that wouldn't be so easy to get her to drop," Abelia said as joined in the conversation. "To be honest, I really think that Relena didn't have to make that promise to her husband."
After we had relaxed in the hot springs for most of the day, we returned to the condos that Relena and Richie had bought and found our husbands sound asleep with our children in their arms or the arms of their Pokémon siblings. The next day we decided to figure out how best to tackle the problem that Abelia had while Cynthia and Lucas went for an all-day self-guided excursion to the Diamond Range. Relena had warned them to be extra careful, on guard, stay along the highlighted paths that were marked and hire a Pokémon guide who knew the Diamond Range like the back of hand or paw. Jonathan had a Vaporeon that he could use in the Sapphire Island gym, but that was the only Eeveelution that he had and couldn't spare his wife another Vaporeon or even an Eevee for that matter. I offered to loan Abelia some of my Eeveelutions so she could tackle the Sapphire Island Eeveelution gym and even Relena offered her some of her Eeveelutions as well. Abelia knew Relena's Eeveelutions and knew that they liked her a lot and Amethyst was the only Eeveelution on my team that she knew personally and was able to get along without any problems. It was quite a quandary for the Oblivia Islands-born Bug-type trainer, but she made her decision.
'Where have you two been?' Rika asked Cynthia and Lucas in a demanding telepathic tone after they had returned from the Diamond Range, 36 hours after they left from the condos. 'Isabella and I were worried sick about you! You should be grateful that Isabella's godmother was able to feed and care for my baby sister while you two went missing on your little… little excursion!'
"We're sorry Rika," Lucas said calmly and a bit dejected. "Cynthia and I couldn't help that we got trapped on our excursion."
Cynthia then explained that they had gotten separated from their guide and were forced to find shelter in a cave for the night. During the night, Cynthia had started to shiver and get cold from the plummeting temperatures and Lucas tried to keep his wife warm as best he could. However… during his attempt to keep Cynthia warm, Cynthia gave Lucas an idea of sorts on how they might best keep warm. As a result of Cynthia's idea she got pregnant and felt something strange going on as Lucas got her pregnant again. Once they were found by their guide, a shiny Froslass named Shirayuki, they returned with Shirayuki in tow after she had sensed something within Cynthia's body. Once Cynthia and Lucas were finished explaining what happened and why they returned with Shirayuki, Rika was satisfied and gave Isabella back to her mother for feeding… and the unmentionable thing to do with babies. I couldn't blame Rika for giving Isabella back to her mother, but it was something that she was going to have to get used to for the first two years of Isabella's life and the same could be said for the other parents and the Pokémon siblings of the children.
Once Cynthia and Lucas left Sapphire Island a few days later, the group began doing a mini training camp to ready ourselves for the Sapphire Island gym. Since the gym was an Eeveelution-only gym, Ash could only call Jade, his shiny female Espeon. And that was going to be a problem for my husband if he only had Jade with him. As for me… I was in possession of all the Eeveelutions and a baby shiny Eevee that Glaceon had given me after she gave birth to her second litter. However, even though I had all of the Eeveelutions and another Eevee, my decision on who to bring into the Eeveelution gym was going to be quite difficult to decide. Amethyst was still my team leader, but she had been a bit busy tending to my firstborn, Cynthia, as she helped Victini keep her safe. Lunar was still trying to goad Sun into bickering with her over who would become Neptune's mate. As for Flame, he and Yuki had finally got comfortable with each other and become mates with Lunar's blessing. But he and Yuki were ready to go as well as Neptune. I certainly wasn't going to make Blossom battle because she had just given birth to a litter of baby Eevees. However Zeus was ready to battle and Blossom had reassured him that she would be fine by herself tending to their litter.
"Well, I guess you're ready to train, huh?" Ash asked me as I had brought Zeus, Flame, Yuki, Neptune and my team leader, Amethyst. "I've only got Jade here to take into the Sapphire Island gym."
"Maybe you should've considered looking for more of the Eeveelutions on Safari Emerald Island," I said to Ash as I chided him for his lack of looking. "Besides, I got a text from Jeanette and both Hilda and Hilbert too. They're already going for their seventh and final badge.
"At any rate, I can loan you a couple of my Eeveelutions to help support Jade," I finished as I shook my head. "But next time, you think about finding the rest of the Eeveelutions."
"Well… I still have that one Eevee I caught on Emerald Cove Island too," remarked Ash as he dug into his memory to recount what Pokémon he had back at home. "Guess I could ask Mom to send him over here."
"Thanks for letting me borrow Noa, Tsunami and Petal," Abelia said as she returned three Apricorn Pokéballs to Relena after she and Jonathan had just earned their sixth badge from the gym leader.
'It was our pleasure to battle alongside you,' Relena's shiny female Leafeon, Petal said to Abelia.
'We're always happy to provide assistance whenever you need us,' added Tsunami, Relena's shiny male Vaporeon, with a big smile on his face. 'Never hesitate to call upon us, Lady Abelia.'
"At any rate, we're now able to enter the Suicune Valley Conference with the Sapphire Eevee Badge now," Jonathan said as he returned Emerald and Tourmaline to Relena after borrowing them to back up his Vaporeon.
"What do you think Jonathan, should we go after the seventh and final badge?" Abelia asked her husband as she had Francesca and Marco in her arms. "I think Relena mentioned that the seventh and final badges guarantees automatic entry into the Royal Cup competition."
"For that, you don't need to hang around us," Relena said to the Seabrights. "With the six badges you've obtained, you should now know where the seventh and final gym is. It's a place you've all been to, where I started my journey from and where you guys set out from."
"Wait, you're saying Sol Palace is where the last gym is located?" asked a dumbfounded Ash.
"Give the dense knucklehead a prize," Relena answered stoically as she mockingly applauded my husband.
"Dense? What do you mean I'm dense?" challenged Ash as he didn't like being called a 'dense knucklehead.' "What is 'dense' anyway?"
In some aspects, I agreed with Relena that my husband was dense and needed to stop being slow-witted, but he wasn't stupid or dull. Though I was hoping that baby Cynthia or her first sibling wouldn't be dense like their father. Jonathan and Abelia said they wanted to think about the option that Relena laid before them. I guess there was also the also the desire to return to the Trident Battle Palace too. Once Abelia and Jonathan had returned to the second condo Relena had them staying in, David and my husband decided to draw straws to see who would be challenging the gym leader next. David drew the short straw and he and his wife were going to be next in challenging the gym leader. As for Ash and I, we went back to the condo we were staying in with Jonathan and Abelia. It was time for baby Cynthia to be fed anyway and I certainly wasn't to drop the responsibility on her big brother, Victini. I was afraid of what he might feed her.
'Oh? Welcome back May and Ash,' Victini said as he bowed to me and my husband before his ears started to twitch. 'Seems that little Cynthia is about to wake and cry out for her mother.'
"Thanks," I said to Victini as I hurried to the crib where my firstborn daughter was sleeping so peacefully like an angel.
Sure enough, Victini was right on the money about baby Cynthia. As soon as I got into the bedroom she started to cry out for me. Manaphy got into the crib to be with his little sister and was trying to calm her down as he thought that she was sad. I cleared my throat to stop Manaphy from trying to calm his baby sister down and asked him to give me his sister so I could feed her.
"Man… despite having only Eeveelutions, she's a really tough customer," David said to us after he and Rena returned the Eeveelutions that they borrowed from Relena and I. "Her gym lieutenants were nothing to sneeze at either. I hope you two are ready to battle for your sixth badge."
'Plus I think she even switches her lineup after facing different challengers,' Rena's Delphox commented as she observed the gym battle along with Jonathan and Abelia's gym battle with the sixth gym leader. 'I noticed that she switched her lineup before facing Mistress Rena and her husband.'
'You might be in over your heads, guys,' David's Greninja said to me and Ash.
'You don't know my human and his wife very well,' Pikachu said to David's Greninja. 'I know they'll overcome what the gym leader will throw at them.'
Once I had fed my daughter and made sure she was clean, I asked Abelia to look after Cynthia while my husband and I went to the Sapphire Island gym to challenge the gym leader for our last badge to get entry into the Suicune Valley Conference. Relena and Richie had also mentioned that the sixth badge also would make sure that all Pokémon obeyed regardless of their level and if they were acquired by trade or capture. With a big smile on his face, Ash said that he didn't have to worry about his Pokémon disobeying him like his Charizard used to do during his first journey through Kanto and the Orange Islands.
Cynthia Greyson's POV
'You sure seem to be eager in wanting to be fruitful and have more offspring,' Isabella's Pokémon sibling, Rika, said to me and Lucas after we had returned to the Sinnoh region from our brief little visit with Ash, his wife and their friends. 'Though I am surprised that Shirayuki decided to follow and accompany us back to Sinnoh.'
'Their new offspring that is forming in the mother's womb was endowed with Blizzard Aura,' Shirayuki, the shiny Froslass that returned with us of her own free will and held an Apricorn Friend Ball on a necklace, explained to Rika. 'Blizzard Aura is a rare and dying form of the elemental Auras. I wish to help nurture and develop their talent and power once the offspring has been given life and breathes her first breath of life.'
'Unfortunately, you're gonna have to take a number and wait for like five years after she is birthed,' Rika informed Shirayuki. 'I plan on developing Isabella's Psychic-type powers, but I'll be waiting until she's old enough.'
'I can wait that long to train the little female human that is forming in her mother's womb,' Shirayuki said Rika.
'I hate to break to you, but the father of Isabella and the new female offspring forming in the mother's womb was a Victini,' Rika informed Shirayuki about my husband. 'His blazing hot seed is that of a Victini and not a human male. Both Isabella and the forming offspring are hybrids. A cross between human and Pokémon alike.'
'Then training my training the new offspring and you training young Isabella will be easier for the both of us,' Shirayuki said to Rika as Ash and May's gym battle began to start.
"The gym battle between the challengers, Ash and May Ketchum of Costa del Sol on Tsunami Island and the gym leader, Naomi Weston is about to commence," the referee announced as we began to watch Ash and May battle for their sixth badge. "The challengers will use three Eeveelution Pokémon each while the gym leader uses six Eeveelution Pokémon. The challengers are allowed to substitute at any time only. Challengers ready?
After getting a slight nod from Ash and May, the referee finished, "Then let the Sapphire Island gym battle begin!"
The gym leader herself looked very pretty. She was few inches short of 6', weighed about 139 lbs., had bright orange hair, electric blue eyes, wore an electric blue sundress with a deep blue sash running from her left shoulder down to her right waist and had lime green sandals on her feet. It seemed like a nice outfit to wear, but after being on Sapphire Island I didn't think it was the right choice unless she had grown accustomed to the cold.
May's POV
"Alright Zeus! Take the stage!" I happily exclaimed as it felt like my husband's enthusiasm washed over me.
"Uh… let's go Lunar!" Ash exclaimed as he borrowed a couple of my Eeveelutions.
'You can do it Big Brother Zeus… and Lunar!' Sun cheered as she watched from the sidelines.
'I know that you'll be victorious, my love!' Blossom called to her mate.
"Interesting choices you have there," the gym leader, Naomi Weston said as she observed our choices. "No matter… Leafeon and Espeon, you're in the limelight!"
'Oh goodie, fresh meat for the grinder,' snickered the gym leader's Espeon.
'Please don't say it like that, brother,' the female Leafeon said to the opposing Espeon. 'This most certainly is not Ruby Island or anywhere near Fort Ruby Sword.'
"Espeon, use Dig on that Jolteon," Naomi Weston ordered her male Espeon before looking to her Leafeon. "Leafeon, Signal Beam directed at Umbreon!"
'Yes Mistress Naomi,' acknowledged the opposing Leafeon and Espeon as they got to their mentioned attacks.
"Zeus, be ready to dodge when Espeon comes up," I ordered Zeus.
"Lunar, dodge that Signal Beam and counter back with Hidden Power," my husband ordered my shiny female Umbreon.
'I understand,' replied Zeus as he began to twitch his ears and using his keen sense of hearing that made him famous among the young warriors of the Thunder Fang tribe.
'I'm going to love doing this,' Lunar began as she readied her Normal-type attack, 'though it will not be pleasant to use this attack against my fellow Eeveelution kin.'
Lunar's Hidden Power attack connected against her opponent as it did Bug-type damage to the opposing Leafeon, which it was weak against. As for the opposing Espeon, he came began to come up and zero in on Zeus. What he didn't account for was my shiny Jolteon's excellent hearing and quick evasion. The male Sun Pokémon was quite startled to see that his attack missed and the well-known 'God of Thunder' had a big grin on his face as he was ready to strike back.
"Zeus, counter back with Pin Missile!" I exclaimed as I was eager to make a successful counter attack.
'Just what I had in mind,' replied Zeus as he then fired the Bug-type attack. 'Have some of this!'
'Uh oh…' said a shocked Espeon as his eyes went wide like dinner plates. 'Oh Snorlax. Wah!'
Both of the gym leader's Eeveelution Pokémon were hit super-effective moves, but they remained standing if not a bit wobbly from the damage they took. They had taken direct hits, but they weren't going down without a fight.
"Espeon, damage them both with Dazzling Gleam," Naomi countered back. "Leafeon let them have it with your Seed Bomb!"
'On it,' acknowledged both opposing Eeveelutions.
'Have some of this DAZZLING GLEAM!' Espeon shouted as he inflicted damage on Zeus and Lunar together.
'Augh! Not good at all!' exclaimed Lunar as she took the brunt of the Fairy-type attack by stepping in front of Zeus and was then thrown back from the force of the attack.
With Lunar's weakness to Fairy-type attacks, we were at serious disadvantage and I was sure that the gym leader was most likely very affectionate with her Pokémon like Ash and I were with our Pokémon. But Lunar got back up on her feet and shook off the big hit from the Dazzling Gleam and both she and Zeus dodged the falling hardened shells from Leafeon's Seed Bomb.
'You missed,' Zeus said at Leafeon before he fired another Pin Missile at the female Leafeon. 'Here's MY response to you!'
'Oh Houndour!' cried out Leafeon as she was struck by the Bug-type move.
'My turn to strike back,' Lunar said as she used her Dark Pulse attack on Espeon. 'Take this!'
'Snorlax!' exclaimed Espeon as he was hit by the super-effective Dark-type attack and being knocking out. 'Mistress Naomi forgive me. They… got… me.'
"Espeon and Leafeon are unable to battle," announced the referee. "Jolteon and Umbreon win!"
Cynthia's POV
'Fascinating,' commented Rika as she had Isabella in her arms and we were still watching Ash and May's gym battle. 'It seems like both Ketchums are starting out strong. But how well they deal with the gym leader's other Pokémon?'
"Seems to me that you need to find the other Eeveelutions, my angel," Lucas said to me as we noticed that Ash and May were battling with only Eeveelutions.
"I do have my Glaceon," I told my adorable Victini as I winked at him.
"I know my love, but you may need more Eeveelutions," explained Lucas. "She uses only Eeveelution Pokémon and the challengers must use them as well… at least that's what I'm observing."
"Do you think that I can't get all of the badges?" I cutely asked Lucas with a worried look on my face.
"I know that you'll get all seven badges," Lucas answered me calmly as he used his Psychic attack to gently put me on his lap and wrap his arms around my waist. "And I know that you'll win the Royal Cup."
"And that's what I love about you, Lucas," I replied to my husband in a seductive tone as I was fishing for a kiss. "You're always loyal to your golden-haired angel."
"And I will always be loyal to my golden-haired angel," Lucas told me as he kissed me on my lips and much to the annoyance of Rika as the shiny female Constraint Pokémon rolled her eyes.
'For the love of Arceus… get a room,' telepathically huffed Rika as she shook her head while still holding on to Isabella.
Shirayuki shook her head as even she was a bit annoyed with Lucas and I being lovey-dovey with each other. I think she even wondered how we were able to be like this after she caught us… um… taking a creative approach to staying warm which lead to Lucas getting me pregnant again.
"Flareon and Sylveon are unable to battle," the referee announced on the television as we saw that the gym leader's two Eeveelutions were really banged up after a very fierce fight that left even Ash and May's Eeveelutions pretty beat up themselves. "Glaceon and Vaporeon win!"
'Hmm… Lady Naomi is hardly ever down 4 to 0 against opponents,' Shirayuki observed as she too was watching the gym battle like we were. 'The only time I've ever seen Lady Naomi backed into this kind of corner was when Princess Relena and the Emerald Prince went into her gym and shut her out. I recall Princess Jessica backing Lady Naomi into a 4 to 0 corner too, but Lady Naomi countered and struck back hard. It's not a pretty sight when Lady Naomi strikes back.'
'Wait, what do you mean by 'Princess Relena'?' Rika asked Shirayuki as she looked to the shiny Snow Land Pokémon. 'I wasn't aware that the Atlantica Islands region was ruled by a royal family.'
"They've been ruled by a royal family for hundreds of years," Lucas explained to Rika. "The Kaiou Dynasty has ruled since the start of the Age of Restoration, 700 years ago."
May's POV
I had to admit that Naomi Weston, the Sapphire Island gym leader was certainly giving us a run for our money as four of my Eeveelutions could attest to after taking such a battering from her own Eeveelutions. Her Eeveelutions were certainly fierce battlers, but my husband and I were up 4 to 0 on her.
"Don't let your guard down on Naomi," Relena cautioned us as we were taking a short five minute spite. "She tends to be a bit more dangerous when you back her into a corner."
ooooooooooooooo
"Whew, that was a close call," Ash said as he grimaced after we collected our sixth badge which was shaped to be like a sapphire blue tail from an Eevee. "I didn't expect her to roar back like that."
"You should just be thankful I was there to save your hide and keep us from losing the gym battle," I retorted to my husband after he had Lunar, Neptune and his own Eeveelution, Jade, knocked out. "You should be thankful that my team leader, Amethyst was there to help."
'Yeah Ash,' agreed my shiny female Intertwining Pokémon as she too was upset with my husband. 'Next time I may not save your hide again.'
"Okay… okay, I'm sorry, alright?!" Ash shot back as he was getting upset with me and Amethyst.
Before I could snap at my husband, Relena hung up her cellphone and was shaking her head in disbelief. This got mine and Ash's attention as we heard her sigh. Apparently, the phone call she had with her sister, Jessica, and oldest half-sister, Samantha, didn't go so well. Ash and I could tell that her conversation wasn't a pleasant one.
'Is something wrong Lady Relena?' Ash's Pikachu asked Relena after she pinched her nose. 'You look troubled about something milady.'
Relena sighed as she took Pikachu in her arms and pet him as she said, "Oh Pikachu, you don't have to refer as 'Lady Relena' or 'milady.' I'm fine with you just calling me by my name. But yes, something is troubling me."
"I hope it's not a family emergency," Abelia said to Relena as she looked to our best friend.
"No," answered Relena as she was still petting Pikachu, much to his delight and enjoyment. "The Atlantica Islands Pokémon League commission found out that two members of our Elite Four have criminal records each."
"I'm sure it's not a big deal," offered Jonathan as he had a sweatdrop on his forehead. "Probably something small. Maybe a couple parking tickets?"
"The Atlantica Islands Elite Four are held to the highest standards," Richie said to Jonathan. "You can't have a criminal record here in the Atlantica Islands or any other region and expect to become a member of the Elite Four in this region."
'Normally criminal records disappear in 7 years in the other regions,' chimed in Thor. 'But here in the Atlantica Islands, it takes 15 years for the criminal records to disappear. Plus it's very rare to have a criminal record expunged.'
"I guess they did some nasty stuff," Ash said as he grimaced at the thought of having to face crooked members of the Atlantica Islands.
"Can't you simply just fire them?" Rena asked Relena and Richie.
"No," answered Relena. "They have to be defeated first before they can be fired. So that means someone's gonna have to step up to the plate and defeat them."
'And they can only be defeated during the Suicune Valley Conference,' added Michiru as Aurora remained silent, but noticed Naomi Weston approaching us.
Naomi appeared to be in some sort of trance-like state as we noticed that her eyes weren't electric blue, but pink instead. I was even surprised that Naomi wasn't even affected by the cold either. Her trance-like state either shielded her from feeling the effects of the cold, or she simply was ignoring the cold. Naomi was even looking to Abelia, more like approaching her with her shiny female Sylveon keeping pace with her and looking very concerned.
'Naomi!' her Sylveon called out to her before huffing and speaking to herself aloud. 'For the love of Arceus, not again. Fine time for Naomi to get a vision.'
"When the full moon turns pink, a special child shall be conceived and imbued the Aura of the Fairy-type," Naomi said to Abelia in her trance-like state. "This shall be a sign to you: The guardian of all Fairies shall be in the presence of the special child and unlock her powers as she, the Fairy Princess, shall take her first breath. The guardian of the Fairies shall also send a Sylveon to seek you out and remain at your side and become the protector of the Fairy Princess once she has been birthed."
"Uh… um…" Abelia said as she couldn't make heads or tails out of what the Sapphire Island gym leader said to her. "I guess I'll keep my eyes open for that pink moon."
Naomi gave no reply as her eyes returned to normal and she fell to knees and acquired quite a monster headache to which her Sylveon helped deal with. After coming back to her senses, Naomi stood up and then looked at us with Relena looking to her and asked, "You're a hybrid too, aren't you?"
Naomi gave Relena a slight nod as answered her, "Yes. Just like you, Princess Jessica, and Her Majesty, Queen Michiru. I also know about Amelia Skyforth being a Suicune with the ability to change between her human form and her original form as a Suicune."
"Wait… what?" the group asked as we were floored by the revelation that Naomi Weston was a hybrid like Relena, her sister Jessica and Her Majesty.
"Okay, I dunno wither to be creeped out or impressed," Rena said as we headed back towards Diamond Bay Island. "Just the thought of a human breeding with a Pokémon… it's just so revolting!"
"Just how many of these hybrids are there?" Abelia asked Relena and Richie. "You said that there were hybrids from the Dark Times and Age of Restoration. So how many of these hybrids are there?"
"We don't know how many more hybrids there are," Relena answered ours and Abelia's question. "We figure that most lived and died during the Age of Restoration."
"Plus, the Age of Restoration ended when Arceus visited the region and essentially ended the inbreeding," Richie added to the explanation. "Though we imagine there are tiny pockets within the region that still do inbreeding. Dr. Curie is looking to find all of the hybrids and has support and funding from the government."
"Do you know what the government will do with all of the identified hybrids?" I asked Relena as I was a bit concerned for her and her family's safety.
"Well, they can't discriminate hybrids or keep them from holding important positions," explained Relena. "Most likely they'll just keep tabs and try to keep the population of hybrids in check."
"So, they're just gonna try to keep the peace… right?" Ash asked Relena and Richie.
"Yeah, we don't want our region to be wracked with civil war between an increasing population of hybrids and normal humans," Richie answered his friend from Kanto.
"It seems that a rivalry has developed between spouses," a butler observed as David was hungry and eager to get promoted to Earl after Rena had been promoted to Marchioness. "Viscount David Patterson is challenging his wife, Marchioness Rena Patterson, for the chance to be promoted to the rank of Earl. I wish you luck Viscount David… you're going to need it."
"David, when are you going to realize that you can't beat me?" Rena asked her husband in an annoyed tone. "You've tried three times already to take me on and you still can't defeat me."
'You and Greninja should just try giving up against us,' added Rena's Delphox.
'We're like the Energizer Lopunny,' Greninja said with a slight grin. 'We keep going and going…'
"And we're the brick wall that keeps stonewalling you every time," Rena shot back as she and her shiny Delphox were getting tired of facing David and his shiny Greninja. "Back away David and Greninja."
'We know how to handle you every time,' Rena's Delphox added as she pointed her wand at David and Greninja.
"Dude, you might wanna consider stopping before you do something reckless," Jonathan said as he was waiting to battle himself. "Why not battle me instead? I chose to be smart and give up trying to get payback from losing to my wife… twice."
"Fine… I'll battle you instead," David replied to Jonathan after letting out a sigh of defeat and seeing his wife and her Delphox each with hefting a brick in their hand in perfect synch.
"Well then it seems that both Viscount David Patterson and Viscount Jonathan Seabright wish to battle for promotion to Earl," the butler said after wiping away some sweat from his brow after the brief heating of tensions between David and Rena Patterson. "Now battle with honor. Let the battle begin!"
"Time to battle Greninja," David said as his shiny Ninja Pokémon leapt forward.
"I think I'll go with my biggest heavy hitter," Jonathan said as he produced the Cherish Ball that carried his strongest and most powerful Water-type Pokémon ever. "Volcanion, let's go!"
'Ready for battle Water Tamer,' Volcanion said to Jonathan as he readied himself for battle.
'Hmm… it looks like your childhood friend, David is bound to be quite a bit of trouble against Volcanion,' Victini observed as he watched the start of the battle before using his Psychic attack to take baby Cynthia from my arms. 'Come on little Cynthia, let's go see your other brothers and sisters. They eagerly await to see you.'
"Man, I bet the Imperial Duchesses made today, 'Beat Your Husband Day' here at the Trident Battle Palace," Richie said much to his wife's amusement as she hysterically laughed at Richie's comment.
"That… that might be the case," Relena replied as she was hooting with laughter like a Noctowl. "But the only spouse keeping a much better pace with his wife is Ash. And he's a couple ranks behind her."
'I agree,' replied Aurora as we were watching Jonathan's Volcanion duke it out with David's Greninja in the ultimate battle between two Water-type Pokémon.
I should probably explain what Relena meant when she said that my husband was a couple ranks behind me at the Trident Battle Palace. See, I had battled against Ash five times and won 3 of the 5 battles. Two victories were promotion battles for me to advance in rank. Ash's two victories against me were promotion battles for him to advance in rank himself and he was a rank behind me at Viscount while I was a Countess. Currently, my rank still stands at Duchess at the Trident Battle Palace… and even at the Battle Chateau in Kalos as they recognized my rank at the Trident Battle Palace. I was challenged by an Imperial Duchess who promised to promote me straight to Duchess if I could defeat three Dukes/Duchesses, two Imperial Dukes/Duchesses within four hours and then defeat her. Had I lost, I would've gone straight back down to Lady Knight and have to start all over again. I was certainly thankful that I could switch out my Pokémon who were back home on Tsunami Island instead of back in Hoenn. Amethyst remained as my team leader throughout the entire affair as she was eager to stay and lead her team in order to help me reach the rank of Duchess. Even Manaphy stayed with me as well to help his mama.
"Sheesh, you finally made it to Marquis," Ash said to David as we had stayed a couple more days on Diamond Bay Island so David could try and catch up to his wife.
"I've gotta say Rena, congrats to you on getting to the rank of Duchess," Abelia said to Rena as she had her twins in her arms, gently rocking them. "Now our group has two Duchesses. Duchess May Ketchum and Duchess Rena Patterson… kinda has a nice ring to them."
'I like hearing that about Mama too…' Manaphy said in agreement with Abelia.
Relena then cleared her throat as she got our attention. We were on the royal jet heading back to Tsunami Island for our final task before the Suicune Valley Conference was to start and we only had a week and a half to get the final badge that would punch our ticket into the Royal Cup. Relena looked to all of us as she reviewed us carefully as if she was sending us into battle. The co-champion and youngest princess then let out a sigh as she was ready to give us her speech.
"Alright guys… this is going to be your final challenge if you want to have an automatic entry into Royal Cup competition," began Relena as she looked us. "Once we land on Tsunami Island, you'll be on your own for the final gym. Neither Richie or I can help you in any fashion."
"The only we can tell you is that the gym leader of the Royal Gym is Her Majesty, Queen Michiru herself," added Richie. "Also you'll have three days to go through the Royal Gym with a mandatory respite as you push through the gym."
"We truly wish that we could accompany you," added Relena, "but unfortunately Her Majesty has forbidden Richie and me from entering the gym while family and/or close companions battle their way through the gym."
'We do wish you the best of luck as you battle your way to victory,' Aurora said to us. 'You may leave your offspring with my daughter or send them home.'
"Amber Island is quite a distance from here and I don't wanna leave them home alone, even if Ruby and Joshua are with their Pokémon siblings," David said as he looked to his and Rena's children and then looked to me and Ash. "If you're taking your daughter back home, could we leave Ruby and Joshua with your parents?"
"My mom will be more than happy to care to take care of them," Ash said with a confident smile on his face. "I'll call her and see if she can watch your kids while you're tackling the Royal Gym."
"I'd like to leave Francesca and Marco with you, if you don't mind, Relena," Abelia said as she handed her and Jonathan's children to Relena.
"It's not a problem at all," Relena said calmly. "Don't want Mrs. Ketchum to get stuck being the babysitter for all of us. Besides, I'm sure she wants to have her granddaughter in her arms and spoil her rotten."
'That is… if we, her Pokémon siblings have anything to say about that,' Victini said with a Cheshire grin on his face. 'We intend to raise her among the Pokémon. Get her to understand us… interact with us and even live among us once she gets older.'
"Ash, I need to speak to you before we enter Sol Palace," I said to my husband. "Can we speak privately?"
"What? Why can't we return to Unova?" Ash asked in a demanding tone. "I still want to compete in the Unova League!"
"I know, I know," I replied to Ash in calm tone. "But our home cannot and will not be your base camp for you to go and just travel while I'm stuck at home raising our children."
"But you know that I love to travel," protested my husband as he could tell the look in my eyes.
"And what about your family?" I asked him remaining calm. "I can't just spend of the rest of my life traveling the world and not have a home to return to. And I won't put our daughter Cynthia through that either."
"But," Ash continued to protest before seeing that even Pikachu was starting to get weary himself.
'I'm with your wife, Ash,' Pikachu said in agreement with me. 'I'm a father too and I have a family just like you.'
"Come on Pikachu!" exclaimed Ash as he saw that he was once again in a losing battle.
'You should really consider planting your roots before traveling again,' chimed in Jade. 'Little sister Cynthia does need to stay at home for a before you even consider traveling again.'
'Looks like you lose again, man,' Pikachu said to his human with a triumphant grin on his face.
In order to calm my husband down, I said to him, "I'll tell you what, if you stay at home for a year with your family, I'll consider letting you go to Kalos for your last journey. Sort of your last hurrah. But you have to promise me that you'll stay at home for a year first and really help out in raising our daughter and the next daughter I give birth to."
"Seriously, you think you're gonna have another daughter?" Ash asked with a slight chuckle in his tone.
"No Ash, I know that I'm going to have another daughter," I answered my husband in a stoic tone. "But you're missing the point here, Ash. I want us to stay and firmly plant our roots into the ground here."
"We already have a house," Ash tried to use as an excuse.
"Having a house isn't the same as planting our family's roots into the ground," I retorted to Ash.
'Ash, you really should give up trying to argue with your wife,' Pikachu said to Ash as he shook his head. 'It's not going to end well for you.'
"But…" Ash tried for a final time before letting out a final exasperated sigh of defeat. "Oh… alright. I'll give up on Unova.
Ash then looked to me warily as he said to me in a cautious tone, "But you better hold up your end of the agreement for that trip to Kalos."
"Alright then, let's return home and drop Cynthia off with her grandmother," I said to Ash. "We've got a large challenge ahead of us at Sol Palace."
Author's note: And cut! Wow, May told Ash they're not going to Unova. Frankly… I never liked the Unova region anyway. But this is the end of this chapter and I hope you all enjoyed it. Tune in next time for a titanic clash at Sol Palace. Be ready, cause it's gonna get epic. Please read and review this chapter and let me know if improvements can be made. Thanks to all of my loyal subscribers who have remained loyal throughout the whole fic.