Switching Lives
PokemonFreak90: This chapter will make you cry...in more ways than one!
MDM: Well, we'll see. But there are scenes here that will cause some tears to be shed. Let's get on with Chapter 10! Roll it!
Chapter 10
Love Heals And Hurts
It had been several hours since the events of Queen Johanna's death. Dawn had spent the entire time in Salvia's room, unable to stop crying. Togekiss would try her best to comfort the distraught girl, but her efforts had proved to be futile. Dawn hardly ate anything and wouldn't let anyone come in to see her. Zoey and even Ash, who the former had told about the queen's passing, would try to coax her to come out, but to no avail. Dawn's long lost mother was gone and Dawn didn't have the chance to tell her who she was.
It had taken all of the day, far after the sun had gone down, and when the moon had passed its highest peak, Ash had had enough. He left Pikachu in his room and went over to the princess's own quarters. He slowly lifted his fist up to gently knock, but then he put it down. If he were to knock, the response would be the same as it had been all day.
For the first time in a long while, he disregarded all royal protocol and opened the door. At this point, it was not a prince wanting to speak to a fair princess. This was someone wanting to comfort his friend.
He saw her sitting on her bed, her face in her hands. She didn't seem to notice his presence in the room. But Togekiss did and she quietly stepped away, leaving the two of them alone. Ash carefully sat down next to her and wrapped his arms around her form.
Dawn quietly gasped as she removed her hands and briefly saw the familiar messy mop of hair that belonged to Ash. She felt a sense of warmth and security just by being in his embrace. Dawn felt the lump in her throat starting to build up again and she tightly returned the embrace as she cried into Ash's shoulder. The prince didn't say a word as he let her cry her heart out again.
"It's alright, I'm here for you. Just let it all out." Ash whispered as Dawn cried.
Finally, as her sobs were starting to lessen and become quiet, Ash began to speak softly. "I know it hurts. It feels like you've lost everything. But you're not alone. Not anymore. You'll always have me by your side. I'll never leave you."
Dawn softly gasped as she sniffed and wiped her eyes. She released her hold on Ash, but didn't push herself away from his embrace.
"Wh-What do you mean? Why won't you leave me?" She asked, looking up into his eyes.
Ash had a stray faint pink streak across his cheeks as he smiled gently at her. "Because I love you, Salvia."
Dawn felt her breath hitch at what came out of his mouth. He...loved her? Was this a dream? There was no way that someone like Ash, prince or not, could actually love someone like her, a simple servant who's only just learned that she's royalty. The thought was just too surreal. And also, she felt her spirit continue to sink when she realized that he said Salvia's name instead of her own. He came here to court her sister, but instead, fell for the wrong girl. This was yet another complication that had to be resolved when Salvia got back to the castle.
But her heart was also leaping for joy at Ash's confession. He had fallen in love with her, for who she truly was, despite the case of mistaken identity. And the warmth and comfort and friendship that she felt whenever she was around him only proved that she returned his affection.
A tearful smile came on her face as she smiled lovingly at him. "I love you too, Ash. I didn't even know what love felt like before I met you."
Ash beamed at her and Dawn couldn't help but return the smile. He gently placed a hand on her cheek, making her lean into his touch. Slowly, he inclined his face towards hers, but slow enough to where Dawn could make him stop if she wanted to. But Dawn didn't want him to stop. She met him halfway in a gentle but passionate first kiss that set off fireworks in her stomach. She thought that she was floating in the air when Ash had kissed her cheek before. But this time, she wasn't floating. She was soaring. She wished that this moment would last forever.
But it had to end all too soon for them, as they broke the kiss. Dawn still felt lightheaded from the rush of affection and passion that had just happened, so for once, she went with her gut and tried to lean in again. But her lips only touched his for a brief moment before Ash pulled away.
"I think I've overstayed my impromptu visit." He said, and stood up. "Will I see you tomorrow morning?"
Dawn just smiled at him and took hold of his hand. "I promise that you will." She said.
Ash returned the smile. "Well then, until tomorrow, my beloved princess." He said, and then lifted her hand up to his lips and lightly kissed the back of it before letting go. He gave her one last gentle smile before leaving the room.
Dawn lifted the hand that Ash had kissed and pressed it to her own, feeling the tingles there and a red blush came over her cheeks. Maybe this night wouldn't be as bad as she had thought. Not with Ash's declaration of love for her.
But it had only been a few minutes after Ash left when there was a knock on the bedroom door. Dawn had changed out of her dress and into a soft pink nightgown under a dark pink robe when she answered the door. Even though she was still on cloud nine after her kiss with Ash, she managed to hide most of the bliss from her face.
Zoey was standing by the door and she noticed Dawn's expression. "Your Highness, it seems you're feeling somewhat better."
Dawn nodded. "It still hurts, but I know that I can't shut myself away forever. It's not what th-" She paused before she corrected herself. "What my mother would want."
Zoey nodded. "True words. Then you must know that the preparations for your coronation have already begun."
Dawn felt her heart drop to her stomach. "My c-coronation?" She asked.
"Yes." Zoey said. "It will take place as soon as possible, which means tomorrow is to be a very busy day. I believe at this rate, we'll have you as our new queen the day after."
Dawn felt her hands become clammy. "I...see." She said.
"Well, I bid good night, Your Highness." Zoey said.
Dawn just nodded before closing the door. She numbly walked to the bed and plopped down, having lost the feeling in her legs.
This had gotten way out of hand! Impersonating a princess was one risky thing, but actually becoming queen?! This charade has to end. Clutching her fist over her heart, she fought back another lump in her throat at the thought of leaving Ash. She wished that they could be together, but the reality of the situation came crashing down on her. He was a prince, and came to the castle to court Salvia, not her.
Even though technically, Dawn was a princess herself, the kingdom had no knowledge of her and neither did Salvia herself. Even if the truth was to come clear, Dawn had still committed a crime and would be punished for it. And since she wasn't raised as a princess, she wouldn't be a good match for Ash. But at least she knew that he'd be a good match for Salvia. She should know, for she fell him practically when they had first met.
Swallowing heavily, Dawn stood up and pulled her robe closer around her. "Come on, Togekiss." she said to the Jubilant Pokemon. "We've got to find Salvia and get her back here fast."
"Toge!" Togekiss chirped in agreement. Then they both started to leave the room.
But before she could move towards the door, a knock was heard again. Dawn went over to it and opened it. When she saw who it was, her heart nearly stopped.
It was Cyrus, her master. He stood there stoically in front of her and Dawn felt her knees beginning to shake. However, she tried to maintain a royal composure.
"Lord Cyrus?" She said cordially. "I must say, this is an unexpected surprise."
"Good evening...Dawn." he said, with a cruel glint in his eyes.
Dawn now knew for sure that everything inside of her body had come to a screeching halt. Her heartbeat, breathing, it felt like everything stopped.
Cyrus took a step closer and Dawn instinctively backed away. This process repeated itself until Cyrus had fully entered the room and closed the door behind him.
"If you're here, impersonating the princess, then that means that the real princess, Salvia, was in your place back in my household." The cruel man said.
Dawn only gulped and remained silent. Togekiss noticed how frightened the doppelganger princess was and came over to her side, gently placing a steady wing on her back.
"I must say, this is an interesting turn of events. I never would've thought of something like that happening." Cyrus continued, a cruel smile on his face. "But then again, this could make things go much easier."
Finally, Dawn found her voice. "Wh-what do you mean?" She asked.
Cyrus's evil grin continued to grow. "Unless you want your Piplup and your friend, Princess Salvia, to suffer the consequences of your little facade, you will do exactly what I say." He threatened.
Dawn felt her heart rate pick up at the very thought of her beloved little Piplup and her sister getting hurt. Togekiss gave him a warning chirp, saying in her own language that he'd better not hurt her true mistress.
Due to someone else's orders, Cyrus couldn't kill Salvia, but Dawn didn't know that, so Cyrus had sad it to scare Dawn into submission.
"Here's what we'll do, if you want your friends unharmed." Cyrus said. "You will continue to impersonate Princess Salvia until the coronation. And then, at the ceremony, you will renounce the throne legally and hand it over to me."
Dawn gasped, and Togekiss chirped in shock. Hand the throne over to him?! But if she did, then the kingdom would really suffer under his tyrannical rule. It would be like everyone understanding how she and the other servants in his household would feel when he was just their master.
"Well, my dear?" Cyrus pressured. "What will it be? Remember, if you refuse, I could give the order to do away with them."
"You wouldn't!" Dawn exclaimed. Togekiss gave the man the most stern glare that she could give anyone who dared to threaten her mistress.
"Then you know that you have no say in the matter. You never did."
Dawn had never felt so helpless in her life. Her cruel master still had control over her, even now. What made her think that she could ever escape from him, even for a few days? If she refused, Piplup and Salvia would get badly hurt, or worse. And it would entirely be her fault! If she hadn't switched places with Salvia in the first place, none of this would've happened!
A whirlpool of emotions began churning inside of her as she recalled what had happened during the last couple of days of her little facade. Sadness over the loss of her mother, Queen Johanna, whom she had just reunited with during her final breaths. Happiness because of the love she'd found with Prince Ash. Regret and heartbreak because of the bitter truth that they would never actually be together. And fear because of the precious lives that Cyrus had threatened, the lives of her Piplup and her sister.
The loss of her mother was heartbreaking enough. She couldn't lose Piplup or Salvia, either. The pain would just be too much.
Finally, Dawn looked down at the floor, tears of defeat beginning to well up in her eyes, and slowly nodded her head. Cyrus grinned victoriously.
"I knew you would listen to reason, my dear. Oh, and don't tell anyone about this plan or else...you know what will happen." he said to her, and then turned to leave the room.
"Until the coronation in two days, servant girl." With that cruel comment, reminding Dawn who she truly was, he closed the door behind him.
Once the door was closed, Dawn collapsed to the floor, on her knees, feeling utterly helpless and defeated. Togekiss gently wrapped her wings around the doppelganger princess and held her in an embrace. Dawn returned it as she began to sob into the Fairy and Flying type's feathers.
"This is all my fault, Togekiss." she said, sniffling and wiping away her tears as more kept coming. This had to be the most that she had ever cried because of various reasons. "If Salvia and I hadn't traded places, none of this would've happened. And now, the kingdom will be lost."
Togekiss only chirped sadly as she turned to look out the window, the moon shining right over the village as it was starting to make its ascent. In a few short days, Cyrus's plans would come to light and the kingdom would suffer greatly.
PokemonFreak90: Ash and Dawn have confessed their love for each other and they couldn't be happier! But then...Cyrus shows up and reveals that he knows the truth about Dawn and Salvia switching places! The only way for Dawn to save her sister's life is to hand over the kingdom to Cyrus at her coronation! Even as a princess, Dawn can't escape her master's grasp and he's holding all of the cards!
Is this the end for Dawn and her sister? Is there nobody left who can help her now? (After all, she can't tell anybody about this...or else!)
MDM: I'm just hoping that there will be a plan back where Salvia is, before it's too late. Well, until then, we'll see y'all! Please leave a review about what you think.
Got to fly! ;)