Whoops, would you look at that? It's time to advance the plot! (Just a bit.) So, sit back and enjoy!
...
[Greninja]
Clouds rolled over the sun as Chesnaught and I followed Delphox back on our way to the castle. A chillier gust blew through the tall green trees and swept down to the dirt and dust on the ground. I shivered as it passed through, and Chesnaught wrapped his arm around me to soften the amount that rushed against me. Trying to do the same for him, I wrapped my arm around his waist, but from his shiver, I realized that I didn't do as much.
Undeterred, Delphox continued to travel at a steady, quick pace, as he shifted the sack of our clothes around. We had tried to team up against him earlier, when we first caught up with him, but he quickly outwitted Chesnaught with two spells and used him to stop me. It was a game to the fox, and he enjoyed every second of it.
"Couldn't you just give us back our clothes?" I asked as we approached a more spacious opening. "Or warm us up with some fire or magic?"
"Oh, I could," shrugged Delphox.
"S-So why don't you?" demanded Chesnaught.
He turned back and grinned, "Because your personal torture is too enjoyable."
Chesnaught leaned closer into me and whispered, "He's lucky that his Types are superior to mine. Else, I'd knock him into the nearest tree and be done with it."
"Realize that I can hear you," snapped Delphox.
"Good," laughed Chesnaught.
The fox mage glared back at him, but shook his head. "Courtyard isn't much further, come on." He was right; in the distance, I noticed the castle coming into view.
"Uh, c-courtyard?" shivered Chesnaught, but no wind blew.
"Yes," nodded Delphox. "You usually practice in that place, remember?"
"Delphox, we should go around the back," I suggested. "It'll be more humiliating if we go through the front."
"Indeed it will!" sang Delphox. "Oh, I never get to have this much fun!"
"No, Delphox," I gently lowered Chesnaught's arm and ran up to the mage. "You don't understand. We really can't go to the courtyard, not like this."
"Come off it, Greninja," he grumbled and turned to me. "It's just a little fun—"
As he stared at me, I nudged my head back at Chesnaught, who held his arms close to his chest and fixed his attention to the ground. Delphox frowned and his shoulders dropped.
"Right, that nonsense," muttered Delphox. "Bunch of asinine…but it's nothing new to me, I'll tell you that." He picked his voice up again for Chesnaught to hear, "Ok, round the back it is. I'm sure the giant golem won't mind."
"Golurk? No, he's cheerful enough not to care," I smiled to Delphox and silently worded, "Thank you." He smirked and nodded before I dropped back by Chesnaught.
"Thanks," Chesnaught wrapped his arm back around me. "But, you don't have to act like I can't understand what you're going on about."
With a sigh, I nodded. "I know. It's just…I don't know." Quietly, I fixed my red swim shorts or whatever Chesnaught called it. "It's wrong and unfair," I suddenly voiced.
"Way of the world, unfortunately," answered Delphox.
"They just don't understand," whispered Chesnaught.
"Oh no, they damn well get it," I hissed. "They're just judgmental, chauvinistic cretins. They should be so lucky that we're serving the same king, or else I'd…well, you can use your imagination."
My knight looked away, his eyes lowered, but with a slight smile after my comment. I noticed a few twigs and leaves had caught onto us and rinsed us both off with a ball of water as we exited the forest.
We walked around the back of the castle, where Golurk sat and picked at a tree. He looked down and waved to us.
"Friends!" his voice boomed.
"Hi Golurk," I called up to the golem. "I still need to challenge you to hide and seek later, ok?"
"Kay," he rumbled as we strolled past him and into the yard.
Samurott walked around from behind the marble-encased fountain. "Hey Greninja," he greeted as he shifted his gaze from his sheathing his blade to us. "I heard you taaallk…" Samurott trailed off and his mouth hung open as he stared at me. "Uh…what…?" Chesnaught walked up behind me and rested a hand on my shoulder. "What?"
"What about what?" Chesnaught asked him.
"You're…neither of you are…uh…nothing," Samurott shook his head and quickly pivoted away from us. "I'll catch up with you two later."
"But, Samurott, are you sure you're ok?" I questioned with worry and tried to chase after him.
"No, I mean, yes, I…fine. I'm fine!" he insisted and waved his hand as he zipped away from us. His last shout was, "See you later!"
"Bye," Golurk answered for us.
Chesnaught and I stared blankly as Samurott disappeared around the side of the castle. Delphox, meanwhile, snickered at the scene before he burst out laughing.
"Happy?" I muttered.
"Ha, oh, yes, yes that makes everything better," he laughed.
Once he finished, we made our way back inside of the castle. The back halls were narrower than the main hall, decorated with sculptures large and small. Pictures here were of scenes, instead of the past rulers in the front. We passed one of a coronation, though for what ruler I'm not certain. Another one was of the hokora in the Eventide Forest, with sunlight shining only upon it through the trees.
"Just how long has that shrine been in the forest?" I quietly asked Chesnaught.
"Honestly, I'm wondering the same thing now," he whispered back to me.
"Why are you two whispering about it?" Delphox mocked us with his own quiet tone.
Another door led us to a hallway that was lightly decorated, with just the green banners for the Grass Fields Kingdom itself. I eyed the four mythical creatures on it and slowed my pace a bit.
"Are you all right, Greninja?" Chesnaught asked as my slowed pace pulled him back.
"Oh, yes, sorry," I shook my head and hurried along. "Just admiring the banners."
Delphox opened the next door ahead and peeked out of it. Chesnaught and I watched his head move left and right before he turned back and waved us to follow him. We crept through the main hall and slipped into the throne room.
Nidoking sat on his throne, with one crown on his head and another in his hands. Even from a distance, it appeared that he was contemplating something about it, though that thought ended as he placed it back on the empty throne and he came to the center of the room to meet us.
"Ah, Greninja, Chesnaught, welcome…back…" Nidoking greeted before he trailed off and stared at us.
"Thank you, sire," Chesnaught bowed and I followed.
As we stood back up, Nidoking continued to stare. "…Huh. You two are, uh…well. Maybe you should have more personal time."
"That would be appreciated, sir," murmured Chesnaught, which I nudged him for.
"Perhaps next time, you'll fetch them yourself, sire?" joked Delphox, who curtseyed for the king.
"It's certainly tempting," mused Nidoking as he stroked his chin.
Chesnaught scratched the back of his head and blushed while I pulled my tongue further up on my face, hoping that it hid my own burning cheeks. The throne room doors opened again and the general, Rhydon, hurried in.
"Now what's all this about…" Rhydon started, but stopped as he caught sight of us. "What are you two boys even wearing?!"
"Swimsuits," answered Chesnaught. "They're new and for, uh, swimming."
"…You're just trying to make Nidoking drool, right?" he asked. "It's fine, but it's not that difficult, so you don't need to put that much effort in."
"General!" called Nidoking and I glanced over to see him blushing now.
"What?" asked Rhydon. "You're allowed to humiliate me left and right. I need to get my shots in now and again."
"And you've already had plenty since this morning!" Nidoking growled, but a smile broke out onto his face.
Rhydon grinned, "As you wish, sire. …For now."
"Begging both your pardons," interrupted Delphox, "but we're already aware of your love for one another. Or was there another reason you wanted Chesnaught and Greninja here, sire?"
"Ah, yes," coughed Nidoking and he cleared his throat. "You three understand that we're one of four major kingdoms that have been in conflict over the rumored seer, correct?"
"You mean the prophet that could bring about either great prosperity or destruction upon us all?" I recalled.
"Right," Nidoking nodded. Solemnly, he continued, "This morning, we received a report from the Iceberg Empire. While it was rather, uh, dubious, it's the first news in years that anyone has been able to connect it to this ancient mystic."
"Wait, why would the empire help us?" asked Chesnaught.
"They decided to make an alliance with us, since the other two are a little, ah, less favorable kingdoms to work with," clarified Rhydon. "On a certain condition."
"The deal was that we were allowed to send him three soldiers to assist with the search for the prophet," explained Nidoking, "but that it would be a more permanent trade until further notice. To keep things fair, he'll send me back three that he decides on, but if we ever get the chance to regain our original troops, I'm not certain."
Chesnaught's eyes widened as he realized what this meant. "You're…sending me over there?"
Slowly, after exchanging a glance with Rhydon, Nidoking nodded.
"Sire, Chesnaught can't go," the words slipped from my mouth before I could shut it.
"Of my knights, he's the best option to send over," Nidoking frowned. "I've already decided upon this."
My heart sank as I stared at Chesnaught, who hung his head and couldn't even look at me.
Annoyed, I blurted out, "You'd bring Accelgor over here to be with her husband, but you'd send my boyfriend away from me?"
"Greninja," Chesnaught hissed at me and was about to add to it, but fell silent as Nidoking raised his hand.
"Did I not state that I needed to send three soldiers over?" questioned Nidoking. "Tell me, how many of you are in this room, not counting myself and the general?"
I felt my heart rise again as Chesnaught picked his head up, with a small smile on him. "You're…sending me too?" I asked.
"Unfortunately yes," laughed Nidoking. "I was quite enjoying both of you around here, but I wouldn't dare to separate you two at this point. Aside from that, a Water type would certainly be an ideal choice to send over, second only to Ice."
"H-Hang on a minute!" cried out Delphox. "You mentioned three and there are three of us here. Lord Nidoking, you couldn't possibly—"
Nidoking's smile faded as he nodded. "I'm sorry, Delphox, but you will be the third that I am sending over to the empire."
"Now that's not fair!" he snapped. "You won't separate couples, but you'll take me away from Gardevoir? We're best friends and we work well together!"
"Yes, I know," sighed Nidoking. "But the prophet is rumored to be a Psychic type and supposedly gifted in mystic arts. Not sending one of my two Psychic mages would be not only foolish, but could also be dangerous." He sadly gazed at Delphox, who wore an expression mixed of anger and sorrow. "Would you rather I send Gardevoir? I had considered her, but imagined that—"
"Absolutely not," Delphox voiced broke as his head dropped. "You chose me, and I'm going. She stays here."
The king nodded. "As I figured. The three of you will be leaving the day after the Parting Summer's Ball. I'm sure you've been counting the days down until then, and I refuse to send any of you away a day before." Nidoking eyed the crown on the empty throne before he added, "And, there will be an extra surprise that I want you three around to see."
"Extra surprise?" questioned Rhydon. "What's that about?"
"Oh, you'll see…no one else gets to hear about it before the ball itself," Nidoking mischievously beamed.
"…Am I going to like this surprise? Or should I prepare for the worst?" worriedly inquired Rhydon.
"Hmm…how about a little of both?" slyly answered Nidoking.
"Somehow, I just became more nervous than before you answered," murmured Rhydon.
The king laughed again, but slowly died back down to silence again. "I really wish I didn't have to send you three at all," he confessed. "But we need this alliance and we need to know if the reports are accurate. So…when you pack your bags, dress warm. And…well…my deepest apologies."
"We'll do what you need us to, sire," bowed Chesnaught. "Will that be all?"
"Unfortunately, yes," nodded Nidoking. "Please, resume your, ah…other activities."
He smirked and flashed a wink at us, to which Chesnaught and I blushed again. Rhydon nudged Nidoking as they walked back over to the thrones and Delphox rolled his eyes as he led us back out of the throne room. As if on cue, Gardevoir entered the main hall and zipped down the stairs, right over to us.
"Hello boys," greeted Gardevoir cheerfully. "Ooh, looking good, Chesnaught and Greninja! Those swimsuits show off your assets nicely!"
"That's one way to put it," muttered Delphox.
"Aw, don't be jealous, my delicate Delphox," Gardevoir tugged on the fox mage's cheek. "You're still cute in your own special way."
"Cute?!" Delphox smacked Gardevoir's hand away. "I'm outright adorable, and don't you forget it!"
"Oops, I think I fed your ego," deadpanned Gardevoir.
"Shut it!" Delphox snapped, with a bit more venom than usual.
"It's just a joke," grumbled Gardevoir. "No need to be grumpy about it."
"That's not what he's upset over," I intervened.
"Well then, what is it?" asked Gardevoir.
"The king is sending me away," mumbled Delphox.
"Huh?"
"I'm being sent away, ok?!" shouted Delphox, surprising even Gardevoir.
After a minute, Chesnaught continued, "All three of us are. The king needs us to help investigate rumors in the Iceberg Empire, as part of holding up an alliance with them." He paused, and quietly added, "It might be for a while."
"All three of you," repeated Gardevoir as her face fell.
"We're needed," I emphasized. "No one really wants us to go, not even the king."
"Of course not," Gardevoir murmured and lowered her head. "And you leave…?"
"The day after the ball," glumly informed Chesnaught.
"Gardevoir," Delphox weakly started, but looked away from her, perhaps from a loss of words.
However, Gardevoir brought her head back up with a smile. "Ok, then none of you can argue with me for the rest of the day! And that means we're going to go get Samurott, whether he's training or not."
"Wait, what?" Delphox blinked. "Why him?"
"Because all five of us are going to town and getting whatever else we need for this ball," directed Gardevoir. "And from now until the time you three leave, I'm enjoying whatever number of minutes we have together."
"No complaints from me," I smiled. "Chesnaught and I still need outfits."
"How could you not have bought those ages ago?!" cried Gardevoir.
"Well, we've been trying to go," Chesnaught scratched the back of his head. "We've just been busy."
"Oh no, no excuses," Gardevoir folded her arms. "Now we're definitely going. Let's go grab Samurott and head out immediately!"
She spun around and went for the door, but stopped as the other knights came in. Scizor, Armaldo, and Heracross chattered with one another, but stopped once they caught sight of us…specifically, of Chesnaught and myself.
"Naturally," Scizor huffed and led the other two away.
"Why don't you come back and say it to their faces?!" yelled Gardevoir as she fired a blast at the retreating bug knights.
Delphox had his staff drawn, but the trio disappeared behind the door to the basement. "Louts," he spat.
Escavalier and Accelgor appeared next, and waved as they passed, but mostly whispered giddily to one another.
"Relationship goals," chuckled Chesnaught as the couple disappeared upstairs.
Bisharp entered next and Chesnaught smiled and waved to him. The other knight raised his hand, but scratched the side of his head and retreated for the basement as well.
"I thought he was your friend," I snapped.
"I thought they all were," Chesnaught sadly mumbled.
The last knight, Typhlosion walked in, and smiled at us. Delphox folded his arms crossly while Gardevoir rested a hand on her hip.
"Well, most of them," Chesnaught corrected himself quietly.
"Hey guys," Typhlosion walked up to us. "Is this the fantastic four all assembled to go out somewhere?"
"Just keep your mouth shut and walk away," snarled Delphox as his wand lit up.
"Wow, first of all, rude," Typhlosion raised his hand. "Second, are you guys going to town or not?"
"It's no business of yours," Gardevoir waved him off. "So get."
"Unbelievable," Typhlosion shook his head. "The rest of them waltz by and either throw a nasty comment or outright ignore you, and yet I'm the villain for actually trying to be nice."
"He's…got a point," I shrugged.
"Greninja, you haven't been around him long enough to understand the pranks Typhlosion likes to pull," explained Delphox. "And some of the comments he delivers are just outright crass."
"Listen, ladies—"
"That was on purpose!" Delphox shot a spell at Typhlosion, who leaned away from it as it flew out the door.
"Ok, guilty," laughed Typhlosion. "But really, I'm not asking to go with you guys because I want to mess around with you." He sighed. "I just…know how it feels to be left out."
"You?! You know how it feels to be left out?" thundered Delphox. "Funny, because I don't recall any time where the knights picked on us and you suddenly came to our defense!"
"Easy, Delphox," soothed Chesnaught.
"No, this is Typhlosion, Chesnaught," accused Delphox. "He acts like he could be friendly, but there's always a catch, and—"
"Fine, I also need to get some shopping done and don't want to go alone," admitted Typhlosion. "There's my angle. If you don't want me to tag along, fine, but don't rattle off every insult you can come up with on me."
"Oh, that's rich!" snapped Delphox. "After all of the nasty things you've called Gardevoir and I?!"
"Yeah, you're right, and I'm…sorry," Typhlosion shrugged. "I've been pretty nasty to you guys in the past and it's because I don't like spell casters. I'm ignorant on anything concerning them…but I'm trying to fix that, honest."
"Well…I think it's fine, as long as he doesn't pull any funny business," relented Chesnaught.
"Really? Because I'm with Delphox on this," Gardevoir contended.
"And I'm with Chesnaught," I spoke up. "So—"
"Need a tiebreaker?" rang out Samurott's voice.
We turned to see him come down the stairs. Once I caught his eyes though, he quickly shifted his attention to Typhlosion, who was quite…fixated on the samurai.
"I wanted to go shopping with everyone for the ball," explained Gardevoir. "But I thought it would be just us. Typhlosion wants to tag along, which Delphox and I are against for…obvious reasons."
"First, I think the happy couple needs to get their clothes on," he joked. "And second, so long as he stays in line, Typhlosion might as well come with us." He smirked. "After all, Lopunny will give him hell later at the ball, so he might as well try to enjoy his time before then."
"Don't remind me," muttered Typhlosion.
"…Fine, but he better not ruin our remaining time with my friends," Gardevoir threatened.
"Remaining time?" inquired Samurott.
"Delphox, Chesnaught, and I are being sent to the Iceberg Empire," I informed him.
"Oh…that's…really, it's a shame," Samurott caved as his shoulders dropped. "I enjoyed your company." He paused and added, "All three, of your company, I mean."
"Yeah, that is a bummer," agreed Typhlosion. Everyone stared quietly at him. "…What? Just because I'm not in your little clique, I don't get to agree?"
"No, it's fine, just unexpected," I confessed.
"For you, maybe," shrugged Typhlosion. "But I've known Chesnaught for a while, and even if I like to mess with him, I'm used to having him here." Quietly, he added, "I don't really want him to leave."
"It's out of our hands," reminded Chesnaught.
We stood in the main hall in the silence for a minute or two, and collectively sulked.
"Nope!" Gardevoir clapped her hands together. "This is a waste of our time, and I'm not standing for that." She grabbed Delphox, then me, and dragged us out the door. "Come on, boys! We're spending a night on the town!"
"It's barely past noon," noted Delphox.
"Technicalities," laughed Gardevoir as she surged forward and raced from the castle.
Delphox wailed and I laughed as Gardevoir flew forward, with Typhlosion speeding up after us, while Chesnaught and Samurott fell behind in the distance.
...
And there you have it, this cast and setting will be changing as the story progresses. (But not for another few chapters yet.)
So, uh, yeah, Chesnaught's fellow knights are kind of…not cool with his outed relationship. (Jerks.) But, at least not all of them are that bad! Typhlosion's…well, he wasn't exactly the sweetest of the group, but as it turns out, not the nastiest! (What.) Meanwhile, Gardevoir and Samurott are…none too thrilled about their friends leaving them. It's especially hard on the mages, who hardly ever separate as it is. (To be fair, Nidoking and Rhydon don't like it either.)
Oh, but before I forget, meet Golurk! He and Heracross were mentioned in the last story, but they didn't get any lines until this one. He's huge and doesn't speak much, but is pretty friendly and loves to play hide-and-seek! And yes, he should be genderless, but I'd forget that as I went along, and he won't be the only genderless Pokemon to gain a gender, so that will be a thing here. There will probably be other instances I go against the Pokedex and usual Pokemon facts, so fair warning in advance.
That'll be it for now. Next chapter is a shopping spree! …Ok, maybe not just shopping, but that will be involved for a good part of it. Also, Chesnaught and Greninja might finally get their pants back on! Somehow, I managed to leave them in just swimsuits for two chapters straight. …Totally planned and intentional, without a doubt, so enjoy your extra fan service! (Though, it was more for humor and drama this time around, surprise.)
And still to come are more characters, plot, and fluff to come, as is the royal ball, which I am over hyping. (Could you imagine if Sneakpast was separated? …Then it wouldn't be as good of a story.) Comments and criticisms are welcome, I'd love to hear them via message or review, which ever you prefer. Thank you for reading!