Switching Lives
MDM: Holy smokes! Sorry for the long wait, you guys. We both had been pretty busy. But, we hope that this will be worth it.
PokemonFreak90: Time to see what's next for Dawn as finally meets Ash. Roll it!
Chapter 4
Meeting the Prince
Early sunlight streamed through the castle's huge window and onto Dawn's sleeping form, making her stir. In her consciousness, she had the thought that yesterday was only a dream, and that when she opened her eyes, she would see that she was still a lowly servant in her own drafty sleeping quarters, snoozing on her worn mattress.
Instead, when her eyes adjusted, she saw the magnificent setting of Salvia's room. She slowly sat up, a smile spreading across her face.
"I'm glad that yesterday wasn't all a dream." She whispered to herself.
A tired coo was then heard as Togekiss woke up and began stretching out her wings.
"Good morning, Togekiss." Dawn greeted, cheerfully.
The Fairy and Flying type chirped back in response with the same chipper tone and then waddled over to a spot in the room where the morning sunbeams were hitting the floor and began basking in it. While feeling the warmth of the sun, Togekiss began preening her periwinkle feathers to make sure that none were out of place. Like Salvia, Togekiss had to keep up her appearances.
Dawn smiled at the Jubilant Pokémon but then there was a knock on the door.
"Good morning, Princess. May I come in?" It was Zoey.
Remembering who she was pretending to be, the doppelganger princess quickly sat up straighter in the bed, checked her hair to see if it wasn't a mess (thankfully, it wasn't), and then answered, "Yes, come in."
The door opened and Zoey came in, carrying a silver tray full of food. She then placed it carefully on the bed. "Your breakfast, Your Highness."
Dawn looked gobsmacked for the second time as she looked at the large amount of food. There was a large bowl of oatmeal, an assortment of pastries; from biscuits to crepes, and a small bowl of fruit and berries. A small white porcelain tea cup was filled with creamy hot chocolate.
"Thank you," She said. "But this is too much food for me to eat. Would you like some, Zoey?"
The head servant was surprised by the kind offer. This had never happened before. The princess had never offered her own food to a servant! "Um, I-I couldn't, Your Highness."
But Dawn was persistent. "Please. There's maybe enough to feed the whole staff!" She took one of the biscuits. "Take one. I insist."
Hesitantly, Zoey took the biscuit and ate it. "Th-thank you, Princess."
The two of them ate together as they sat on the bed. Although she was confused, Zoey had to admit that she liked the way that the princess was treating her. Dawn also shared some fruit and berries with Togekiss.
As they finished breakfast, Zoey remembered something. "Oh, yes! Prince Ash will be arriving in a few hours. You'd best get ready soon."
"I will." The doppelganger princess assured her. "You may go now, Zoey."
"Thank you, Your Highness." Zoey curtsied and then left the bedroom.
After she was done eating, she cleaned herself up and put on the same pink gown, gloves, and tiara, having her hair in the style that she was wearing yesterday, with some difficulty in the beginning. As Dawn looked in the mirror, she took a deep breath.
What if this prince was just as awful as the many previous suitors that Salvia had told her about? Would she easily lose her temper and try to force him to leave? Maybe even risking her secret that she was really just Dawn and not Salvia? The thought of having her facade revealed caused her knees to get weak.
Togekiss saw that her fake mistress was getting a little nervous. She went over to her and nudged her side, giving her a reassuring trill. Dawn smiled and stroked the top feathers of the Fairy and Flying type.
Togekiss is right, she thought. I can do this. It's only for a while. What's the worst that can happen?
A couple of hours later, a royal carriage came up to the gates. Strangely, it seemed like just a normal carriage, only bearing the Kanto Kingdom flag. Whoever the prince was, he actually did keep to himself.
Dawn straightened herself with Togekiss by her side. She hoped that this would be easy.
The footman opened the carriage and a young man stepped out. Dawn felt frozen and her nervousness increased tenfold. The man was certainly attractive; with wild, raven black hair, chocolate brown eyes, and sandy tan skin, with little Z-marks on his cheeks. He wore a simple navy blue outfit with a cape, dark brown boots, and navy gloves with a matching floppy hat on his head instead of a crown. He seemed to be adventurous, due to his appearance. But Dawn was still on her guard.
A rustling sound was then heard as a female servant came from the other side of the carriage, carrying three large bags in her arms that seemed quite heavy. She had pale skin, green eyes, red hair that was tied into a ponytail, and she wore a simple yellow work dress. Dawn noticed that her work clothes were much nicer than the rags that she wore back at Cyrus' manor.
The young man turned to her. "Are you sure you don't need any help, Misty?"
The servant, now known as Misty, shook her head. "No need, Your Highness. I have it under control."
The prince rolled his eyes and went over to her. "No, you don't, Misty. Let me help you."
Misty once again shook her head. "No, Your Highness. You're the prince."
The prince still didn't listen and took one of the bags. "So what? I am also your friend, and I insist that you let me help you."
Misty sighed in defeat and allowed the prince to carry the bag.
Dawn and Zoey, who was beside her and Togekiss, shared a confused glance. This prince was definitely unique. He didn't exactly dress like royalty and he would rather get his hands dirty to help a servant whom he calls a friend. He seemed very selfless, unlike the other princes that Salvia had described to Dawn.
"May I announce Prince Ash of the neighboring Kanto Kingdom." A page that was already waiting outside proclaimed as the said prince and his servant climbed up the stairs and they both bowed to Dawn.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Princess." Ash said to her as he straightened up and looked at her.
Dawn felt an unfamiliar heat spread across her cheeks at the sight of Ash and her brain felt like it had stopped functioning. Zoey saw that the doppelganger princess was frozen in place and although she was surprised, since this had never happened before, she lightly tapped her shoulder, snapping her out of her daze.
Dawn cleared her throat and gave a curtsy. "And to you as well, Prince Ash." She then turned to Zoey. "This is the head servant of the household, Zoey."
Zoey curtsied as well. "Your Highness."
Ash smiled kindly at her. "Nice to meet you." He then looked over at his own servant. "This is my friend, Misty."
Misty quickly curtsied to Dawn before she turned over to him. "Your Highness, I am one of your mother's handmaidens, here to help you during your stay here." She corrected.
Ash sighed and said, "But you're also my oldest friend."
"Yes, I know." She answered.
"Pika-pi!" A cheerful cry came out. Everyone turned over to the direction of the cry and saw a cute little Pikachu jumping out of the carriage and leaping over to Ash. The prince laughed as the Electric type landed on his shoulder and began nuzzling his face.
"And this is Pikachu, my loyal Pokémon and my best friend." Ash added, petting the mouse with his free hand.
Dawn smiled at the strong bond that the prince and his Pikachu obviously shared. They definitely seemed close. She then felt a nudge from one of Togekiss' wings and remembered something.
"Uh, please come in. Zoey can show you to your rooms."
"Thank you." Ash said as he and Misty followed them into the castle.
Soon, after walking through marble-tiled hallways, all four arrived at Ash's room. There was a plush blue bed, a desk by the huge window, and a navy blue rug by the bed. A dark oak wardrobe was off in the corner.
"This is very nice." Ash said as he entered the room, looking around. He placed the luggage on the bed and Misty put the rest down.
"Your Highness, I can unpack your belongings while you spend some time with Princess Salvia." Misty said.
"Are you sure?" he asked. "You should find your own quarters first."
Misty smiled at him, brushing it off. "It's quite alright."
Zoey then spoke up. "I'll show her around, sire." She assured him. She and Misty unknowingly had the same goal to try and give the prince and princess some alone time to get to know each other.
Ash still was a little hesitant, but complied. "If you say so." He then turned over to Dawn. "So, what do you want to do first?" He asked.
Dawn quickly scrambled in her mind for an answer. "Well, how about we just head over to my room and talk for a little bit?" She suggested, hoping that it didn't sound weird.
Luckily for her, Ash smiled at her. "Sounds good to me."
The doppelganger princess breathed a silent sigh of relief. So far, so good. She thought as both of them left the room.
When they had entered Salvia's room, Dawn sat on the bed while Ash brought up a chair. Pikachu jumped off of Ash's shoulder and cheerfully introduced himself to Togekiss, who returned the greeting in the same manner. The two Pokémon then went over to the doors that led out to the balcony and began their own conversation.
Dawn giggled at how well the two seemed to be getting along. "Well, it seems that those two are already friends." She observed.
Ash chuckled. "That's Pikachu for you. He can make friends with almost any Pokémon."
Dawn smiled. It seemed to be a sign that if Togekiss and Pikachu are getting along so well, then maybe it could work just as well with her and Ash.
"You know, you don't always have to act royally around me." Ash suddenly said. Dawn looked over to him, confused. "When it's just the two of us, you can just be yourself."
"Why do you want me to be myself?" She asked, not that she minded his offer.
Ash looked over at the window. "To be honest, I was against this whole thing at first. But my mother, she wants me to at least be seeing someone before she passes the throne down to me. I hate disappointing her, so I made a deal with her. If I can't find someone who would like me for me and I return it by the time I become king, then she won't pressure me into marriage."
Dawn's eyes slightly widened. He didn't want to come here in the beginning, either? Dawn then remembered that Salvia told her that this prince had not seen any other noble ladies before deciding to see her. So that explained why.
"So I want to know the real you, other than the princess that you are." He finished.
Dawn smiled softly. "I would really like that." She said.
This was great. He wanted to know the real her, so that meant that she won't have to act like Salvia all the time. Prince Ash was really something else after all.
"In that case, can I give you a quick tour of the castle?" She asked.
Ash grinned. "Yeah, I'd like that." They both stood up and started to leave the room. "That way, I won't get lost in here." He joked, making Dawn laugh.
Soon, the two were wandering through the halls again, admiring the many portraits and landscapes hanging on the beige walls.
Dawn then saw one landscape of a lush field filled with pink flowers. "This is one of my favorite paintings." She said. Luckily for her, she wasn't lying. The day before, she saw that painting and it truly was a work of art.
Ash took a long look at it. "Those are Gracidea flowers, right?" He asked.
"Yeah." Dawn said, but then quickly froze when she realized what she had said; indecent language for a princess. "I mean, yes, they are."
"Hey, what did I say about being yourself?" Ash teased with a smirk. That sly smile nearly made Dawn blush bright red. A prince was teasing her! He was a lot more easygoing than she had originally thought. But thankfully for her, she just rolled her eyes, returning the grin.
"I didn't forget." She answered.
Ash laughed, with Dawn joining in. When they stopped, he then asked, "So why are those flowers so well-known here in Sinnoh?"
Dawn raised an eyebrow, but then smirked. "I thought that they made royals learn almost a little bit of everything."
Ash rolled his eyes with a pout. "Hey, it's not my fault that they're actually pretty boring. I can't count how many times I fell asleep during those history lessons. If it was something much more exciting, then that would have kept me awake."
Dawn giggled, then began to explain. "Well, Gracideas are a symbol of gratitude for the people you care about. Also, they say that the Mythical Pokémon, Shaymin, uses the pollen from those flowers to change its form."
"Now that sounds familiar." Ash said, as they continued to walk down the hall. "If a lesson has something to do with Pokémon, then I can remember most of it."
Dawn laughed again, with Ash chuckling a bit as well.
Later that night, Zoey was walking down the hall when she heard laughing from behind the corner. Though it was against protocol, she couldn't help but feel curious. So she quickly snuck a peek and she was amazed by what she saw.
The prince and princess were actually talking and laughing with each other. And the princess seemed to be enjoying his company! From all of the previous suitors, she would just listen with a stoic face while the suitor tried to either make a move on her or try to draw her attention to him.
Soon, the two of them reached the bedroom door to the princess' room. "I've had a good time today, Ash." She said.
Zoey bit back her growing smile of ecstasy. Already on an informal first-name basis after one day? This was getting better and better.
"Me, too." Ash replied. "Will it be alright if Pikachu and I join you and Togekiss for breakfast tomorrow?"
"Salvia" returned the smile. "I'd love that, thank you."
"Good night, then."
With that, the two shook hands and she went into her room. Ash went further down the hall and into his own room.
Once the door shut, Zoey made a beeline to the queen's chambers and knocked. She would be most pleased to hear this.
"Enter." Johanna said from inside. Zoey entered into the suite and saw the ailing queen lying in her bed, getting ready to sleep.
"Zoey!" A faint but tired smile came on her face. "What brings you here this late, and with a smile on your face?"
"Your daughter, Princess Salvia, and Prince Ash seem to be off to a good start." She informed her, with her grin spreading from ear to ear.
Johanna blinked, thinking that she might've misheard. But then, her smile became more visible as she sighed happily, cuddling her head deep into the white plush pillow.
"At last." she quietly breathed, closing her eyes. "Hopefully, this keeps up."
"I agree." Zoey added. "May I now ask permission to leave?"
"Yes." Johanna said. "Good night Zoey."
Zoey then left the suite and the queen settled deep into her soft mattress with her smile still etched on her face. Finally, it seemed like things were looking up.
PokemonFreak90: Dawn and Ash meet and have really hit it off! Ash is completely different from the kind of prince that Dawn was expecting and they share a kindhearted nature towards their servants.
Is Salvia having an easy time living Dawn's life, since Dawn is having a wonderful time living hers? You'll have to wait and find out next time! (Dawn will also discover, for the first time, that being a princess isn't as easy as she thought!)
MDM: I agree with that. Hopefully, it won't be too long before we find out. Until then, please leave a review about what you guys think!
This is MDM; got to fly! ;)