Chapter 2: The King's Decision
Ash and Serena returned to the royal citadel in time to join the Royal household as they stood in assembly within the citadel courtyard. Serena looked slightly sheepish at her, Ash, Shauna, and Red's appearances, along with most of the other royal knights/squires and their pokemon.
Typically the King's arrival would necessitate proper appearances for members of his household, including clean armor and baths. But King Alexandre's early return caught them off-guard, and most of the men-at-arms' suits of plate and pokemon still carried dust, dirt, and sweat stains from their intense training.
Serena and Shauna looked similarly fatigued from their performance earlier that day. Ash and Red, however, showed little angst at such things, nor did Monsieur Pierre. For all three knew that Alexandre preferred fierce knights to clean ones.
"Open the gates!" A guard roared, and moments later, a line of heralds blasted the air with a chorus of trumpets.
"His majesty, King Alexandre II and Queen Grace!" Dozens of mounted knights rode in on Rapidash or rhyhorn. Among them came King Alexandre himself. His once honey-blonde hair was now streaked with gray. Beside him rode a woman slightly younger than him with blue eyes and short brown hair housing a crown.
All in the courtyard, including Serena, bowed before Alexandre and Grace as they passed.
"Bien Pierre, I see you've kept my royal knights busy!" King Alexandre laughed upon seeing the rugged condition of Ash and the others.
"Oui! Just the way you like them, mon roi!" Pierre laughed back as Grace playfully shook her head before turning to Serena with a warm smile.
"Serena."
"Bonjour, mama." The Princess said back tenuously as she looked at the smirk on Grace's face.
"You don't look that different from the knights. Ma parole, you haven't been neglecting your responsibilities to perform again, have you?" Serena, Shauna, and their pokemon stiffened and sweatdropped while looking nervously over at Meyer, who glanced back at Serena for a moment.
"Non, she's been dutiful." Meyer said, though quietly.
"Oui! Blessings to you, mon roi!" Sycamore exclaimed as he bowed before the monarchs.
"Ahhh! Your excellency, merveilleux! There's an important matter we must speak on!"
"Bonjour, cousin." Serena looked up and only then realized who else rode with her father. A young man in his mid-twenties, adorned in a suit of armor while riding a Rapdiash among a few other knights bearing his coat of arms on their breastplates while one carried the same banner. This sigil was almost identical to the royal one but with a red outline around it.
"Calem!" Serena almost cried out in disbelief.
At twenty-five, Calem still possessed the flower of youth. His fair skin complemented his grey eyes and long black hair. In many ways, he resembled Ash, though with fairer skin and slightly taller, though with a similarly muscular frame.
He had a confident but friendly demeanor, as did his partner, a Greninja, which rested behind him on the Rapidash.
"Cousin, what are you doing here?"
"Quoi, you wound me, Serena? Does the Count of Kiloude need permission to visit the capital or his family?" Calem laughed, earning a sincere smile from Serena. The count then turned to Ash and Red, who gave him courteous nods and friendly smiles. Both knew Calem well and rather liked him.
His Greninja glanced over at the brothers' pokemon and exchanged a competitive look with them.
"Pika."
"Grouuu."
"Grauuu."
"Greninja."
"Pierre, is it true you do intend to retire, as the other Monsieurs in my retinue whisper in my ears?" Alexandre asked with a somewhat concerned look.
"Oui, I'm afraid it's time, mon roi. A younger man could serve as bannerman better than I. My place is here, training future knights."
"Ahhh, quelle tristesse. I will miss you on the battlefield, monsieur." Calem said with a heavy heart.
"Oui, but this means I must choose a new standard-bearer." Alexandre smiled at Pierre, who nodded. Ash and Red felt their hearts race, as did their pokemon.
Alexandre rode over to them and past the other royal knights, who each looked both proud of the brothers but also slightly disappointed.
"Hmp, you should've worked harder brother." Bonnie said.
"Bonnie." Clemont muttered.
Serena felt a twinge of angst watching her father approach Ash and Red but almost jumped upon seeing a smirking Grace over her.
"Is something on your mind, Serena?"
"Ehhh!? No! Of course not!" Serena cried while Shauna sweatdropped.
Alexandre looked down at the brothers with deep admiration and what could only be described as fatherly love.
"Red, I would be honored for you to carry the royal banner into battle from this point on."
Red caught his breath while Sceptile, Charizard, and Noibat gasped.
"Oui! Oui mon roi! I'm privileged! Before Reduka, I swear to uphold the honor and dignity of this position!" Red almost trembled while those around him applauded, including Ash and his pokemon. Though a little disappointed, Ash was happy for Red.
Serena felt a mixture of emotions. On the one hand, she was actually a little happy Ash didn't get the position, as standard-bearers were typically prime targets in battles, but she didn't want Red in such a dangerous position either, as by now he was like a brother to her.
"Congratulations, Red!" Calem cried, his Greninja begrudgingly nodding. However, the gesture earned a huff from Red's Charizard and Sceptile.
"Ahh, that sounds like a challenge to me!" Red cried. Calem narrowed his eyes but with a spirit of competition and rode over to Red, who returned his cocky smile.
"Are you sure?"
Grinning, Red removed his gauntlet and threw it down before Calem.
"Oui!"
"That's it, Red! Show him your strength!" Ash cried.
Alexandre playfully shook his head as Pierre came over.
"Ahh, the vigor of youth."
"Oui, mon roi. The future is in their hands."
"Oui." Alexandre muttered in a somber tone while looking at Ash and Calem in particular.
Alexandre and Sycamore went inside the citadel while Red and Calem faced off with Charizard and Greninja while a crowd formed around them. Ash, Serena, Clemont, Shauna, and most of the royal household behind Red with Calem's retinue behind him.
A squire took position on the sideline between them and raised a hand.
"Monsieur Red has challenged Count Calem de Kiloude to a duel! Victory shall be achieved by yield or submission!" Two more squires handed the young men blunted wooden swords as they placed their helmets on and lowered the visors.
"I'm just glad I'm not facing Ash." Calem jested, earning a smirk from Ash towards his brother and a few giggles from Serena.
"Hmp, we'll see."
"Grauuu!" Charizard roared, quickly backed up by Greninja and Noibat.
"Commencer!"
"Air Slash!"
"Water Shuriken!" Charizard flew straight for Greninja with incredible speed for his size. However, Greninja swiftly countered with watery blades and exchanged a series of ferocious blows with Charizard, neither able to gain an edge.
At the same time, Red and Calem clashed, both sparring swords crashing against each other with enough force to send splinters bouncing off their armor. Despite their similar size and strength, Red found himself pushed further and further back by Calem's assault.
"Merveilleux, my Lord!"
"That's it, keep it up!" His knights cried.
"Monsieur Red, do your best!" Bonnie shouted back.
"Come on, Red! Remember what Pierre taught us!" Ash added.
"Pika!"
"Grauuu!" Ash's Charizard roared.
Red grit his teeth after enduring several successful blows from Calem's blunted sword, which made his armor ring like a bell. He couldn't deny the Count's mastery of the sword, in fact, Calem might've been the best swordsman he knew. However, Red was well aware that swordsmanship wasn't everything, particularly when wearing armor.
Even so, he found himself completely on the defensive, barely managing to prevent Calem from guiding the tip of his wooden sword in between a gap in his plates or landing a murder stroke. Charizard found himself in a similar position, fighting tenaciously to keep Greninja's lightning fast water shurikens back.
"Double Team!" Calem roared, and just like that four more Greninjas appeared around Charizard who anxiously looked between each, unable to identify the true foe. All five Greninjas leaped up in unison and uneashed two water shurikens each.
"Charizard!" Serena gasped, before Ash placed a comforting hand on her's.
"He's got this." The knight assured Serena as she blushed. Serena continued to gaze at Ash before noticing her mother's eyes and quickly straightened up, earning a stern look on Shauna's face.
"Geez, Serena, it's a miracle your parents haven't found out about you and Ash. You need to be more careful."
Serena sweatdropped but realized Shauna was right. She'd always had a crush on Ash since first meeting in the woods sixteen years prior, and the Princess's feelings for him only grew with age. However, it wasn't until a few years ago that she confessed her feelings, and Ash reciprocated them.
Since then, they hadn't given their relationship a formal title but acknowledged they had one. A secret and forbidden romance that both knew couldn't last but pretended otherwise for as long as possible.
Serena nervously examined the royal entourage and didn't see any other high-ranked noblemen among them, but she knew that didn't necessarily mean the Queen hadn't at last found her a suitor. Perhaps the one thing Serena feared the most.
"Smokescreen!"
"Grauu!" Charizard filled the air with a thick cloud of black soot, completely obscuring him from the greninjas. However, even as Ash and the others relaxed when they saw Charizard fly away from the encirclement, a sixth Greninja revealed himself behind the fire lizard.
"Charizard, look out!" Charizard only had time to turn his head and grunted in pain when two water shuriken's struck his back, forcing him down.
"Bon!"
"Gaaah! Come on, Red, you're the King's new standard bearer!" Another royal knight groaned.
At the same time this happened, Calem managed to knock Red's sword clean out of his hands, leaving the knight unarmed.
"Red!" Clemont, Serena, Shauna, and Bonnie yelped. Despite this, Ash and his pokemon remained sure of them.
"Hydro pump!" Calem shouted at the same time he came in for a half-sword blow. Red didn't move, but raised both hands in a fighting stance and watched both opponents closely.
"Fly!"
"Grauuu!" Charizard kicked off the ground with his immense leg-muscles, allowing him to smash into Greninja first, knocking his hydropump off-course. At the same time, Red lowered his shoulders and lunged forward, moving under Calem and tackling him.
The count didn't go down right away, and put up immense resistence, but eventually, Red's superior position allowed him to lock his foot behind Calem's just as Ash did to him earlier that day.
Ash nodded with a proud expression, his pokemon doing the same.
"Fire Blast and Air Slash!"
"Grauuu!" Charizard eruped a symbol-shaped fiery blast into Greninja at point-blank range, sending him flying down before slamming him into the ground with a successive air slash. Red himself managed to grapple Calem to the ground and pull a dagger.
The Count resisted fiercely, nearly disarming Red more than once, but eventually, he got the blade under Calem's visor while Charizard pinned Greninja beneath him.
Calem sighed before raising both hands up.
"I yield."
"Victory!" Red roared, earning great enthusiasm from the other royal knights, especially Ash.
"Alright, Red!" Serena cried.
"Fenn!"
Ash and Serena's cheers silenced when they felt a pair of strong hands on their shoulders, nearly making them jump.
"Serena, Ash. The King and Queen requests an audience with you both, regarding an important matter." Pierre said. Ash and Serena nervously glanced at each other and felt their hearts race like Rapidash.
"Pika." Pikachu muttered, trying to reassure them. Eventually, the two found themselves sitting in a chamber with just Alexandre, Grace, and Sycamore, though they didn't notice him at first. Instead, the two did their best not to tremble as they sat before the King and Queen.
"We weren't expecting you back so soon. Everything went well then?" Serena asked, nervously.
"Oui, we've settled the Kingdom's affairs much sooner than expected." Grace said, keeping a close eye on her daughter and Ash.
"Ash, I want you to know that I didn't choose Red because I think less of you." Alexandre said in a sincere tone.
"It's fine, mon roi, Red is-" Ash started.
"Ash! Come now, you don't need to be so formal, it's me!" Alexandre almost laughed. Despite their relaxed demeanors, Serena and Ash remained on edge between the King and Queen.
"However, you should both know that during our journey. Grace and I had a long talk about the future." Alexandre's voice hardened instantly, as did Grace's expression. Hearing this made Serena's skin crawl and heartbeat accelerate.
"We've denied it for a long time, but it's time to face the facts. At this rate, it's unlikely your mother and I will have a son." Serena gasped.
"Papa! Don't tell me!?"
"Alexandre!"
"Pika!" All three youths cried out in horror.
"Relax, your father is fine. We just had a frank discussion about the future of the Kingdom and the line of succession." Grace said. Hearing this only made Serena and Ash slightly less anxious.
Both nervously turned to each other again, terrified of where this might be going. Being Alexandre's only child, Serena was technically heir to the throne of Kalos. However, the Kingdom's succession laws required a Queen to have a King consort.
Serena suddently felt very cold, and held her heart with a pale expression. Fennekin and Pikachu both tried to comfort her but to no avail. This was what she feared, her parents had decided on a husband for her, someone they trusted to act as her King consort. She'd always known she couldn't marry Ash, but that always seemed like a lifetime away. Now-
Serena nearly teared up before feeling Ash's warm hand on hers.
"Your mother and I have decided that Calem will be designated as my successor."
"Eh!?"
"Pika!"
"Fenn!" Alexandre's words caught them completely off-guard, and the young couple nearly jumped out of their chairs. Alexandre and Grace both took a deep breath but kept smiling.
"Oui, Calem has the next best claim to the throne and has proven himself a capable lord. He's ideal for the throne."
The more Serena thought about it, the more she realized her father had a point. Calem was the son of her father's younger brother, the late Count Philip. Her grandfather, King Charles V, had set up Philip as Count of Kiloude where Philip began his own cadet branch of House Capet, the House of Valois.
"So that's why you brought Calem here!" Ash did his best not to shout.
"Oui, he was naturally very excited to hear the news. I intend to invite the rest of the high nobility here to have them formally recognize him as my heir. However, the fact that Calem is my nephew instead of my son is likely to cause some dissension among the nobles. Naturally, I've recieved many offers from Lord's wishing to marry you, Serena, including the new King of Galar, again." Alexandre growled with clear distain in his voice.
Galar was a Kingdom north of Kalos, but close enough for regular conflict. A few years earlier, the last King of Galar launched an invasion of northern Kalos. That had been Ash and Red's first taste of warfare outside of bandits and brigands and it didn't end quickly.
Alexandre raised a large army to meet the invaders, but did so perhaps too successfully. After an initial clash between the two forces, the Kalos army scattered their Galar opponents, and sent their King fleeing back to Galar.
However, most of his troops remained in Kalos and began pillaging the north as routiers, meaning Alexandre had to spend months tracking down and dealing with each company. However, none of that compared to the King of Galar's attempts to broker peace.
Ash still vividly remembered the poor Galar messenger who gave Alexandre the letter, which suggested a marriage between the King of Galar's son and Serena to ensure peace. Never in his entire life had Ash and Red seen Alexandre so mad, or been legitimately afraid of him.
Pierre and a few other knights had to restrain him from rushing to the coast in an attempt to swim to Galar and strangle their King. Alexandre placed his hand on Serena's cheek and gazed into her eyes with utter love and sincerity.
"Serena, you are the most precious thing in this world to me. I love you more than anything, mi amour. But I'm afraid, I can't let you marry any of the high nobles. I fear they'd use you as a means to claim the throne for themselves and plunge Kalos into a civil war."
Grace already knew that this wouldn't upset Serena, and as expected, her daughter actually looked quite relieved, as did Ash.
"Ahh, I understand, papa." Serena exhaled, trying not to sound too happy. However, Ash soon saw the severity return to Alexandre's expression.
"Serena, this does, however, leave us with a problem. As long as you remain unmarried, the high nobles or any other ambitious Lord may try and abscond with you as a way to challenge Calem. The only way I can ensure Calem's uncontested succession is to marry you to someone who cannot become King, someone I trust."
"Pika!" Pikachu almost yelped. Ash and Serena froze when they saw Alexandre and Grace turn to the young knight.
"Ash, you've been like a son to me these last sixteen years. You're one of the most dedicated, caring, and loyal young men I've ever seen." Alexandre placed a hand on his trembling shoulder.
"I'm entrusting you with a task far more important than carrying my banner on the battlefield. I need you to become Serena's husband, and ensure her protection."
"Papa!" Serena yelped, her face bright red. She almost couldn't believe what she was hearing and Ash's expression soon matched hers.
"Oui! I sweat before Reduka that I'll protect Serena and treat her as she deserves!" Ash almost stumbled into a kneeling position before the King gave him a warm smile and hugged his royal knight.
"I know you will."
"Ash." Serena muttered, tears in her eyes. No longer carrying if her parents saw, she furiously ensnared Ash in a great embrace before kissing him.
Grace giggled a little while Alexandre smiled.
"At least we don't have to pretend we didn't know about them anymore." Grace whispered.
"You two will be married tonight." Alex said, making the young couple and their pokemon jump again.
"Tonight!"
"Pika!"
"Fenn!"
"Oui, I won't give the high nobles a chance to protest or contest this decision."
"Oui, I'm going to marry you both this evening and ensure that it can't be annuled." Sycamore said confidently.
"Ash!" Serena felt more tears of joy in her eyes as she continued to embrace him.
"One more thing, Ash. We expect a lot of grandchildren." Grace said in a firmer voice.
"Eh!" Ash's face turned redder than Serena's and earned snickers from Pikachu and Fennekin. Alexandre glanced over at his grinning wife for a moment before returning to Ash.
"Oui."
"Quoi!?" Red, Clemont, Bonnie, and Shauna all yelped so loud it almost shook the chamber.
"Ash! You lucky son of ah, ohh come here!" Red barely contained an eruption of laughter as he seized Ash in his strong arms and lifted him up into the air.
"Grauuu!"
"Grouuu!" Ash's Charizard and Lucario quickly joined in, nearly crushing Ash as they did so.
"Bonnie is so happy for you, Serena! Hmp, another failure brother!" Bonnie scolded Clemont.
"Eh? How did I fail?"
"Ash got knighted while you're still a squire, and now he's marrying a princess!"
Clemont turned crestfallen.
"Serena, this is so exciting! I can't believe it! We have to start making plans! Obviously, we'll invite as many high nobles as we can and let in commoners too, of course! Ohh, you and I will need to make a performance for the occassion and-" Shauna beamed while holding Serena's hands.
"We're getting married tonight." Serena muttered as she and Ash sweatdropped together. This news brought a momentary abrupt silence to the chamber.
"Quoi!?" Red, Clemont, Bonnie, and Shauna repeated their earlier outburst. Shauna almost turned red in the face.
"Are your parents mad!? This is going to be the happiest day of your life, and they're just going to slap something together! Serena, you have to-"
"Shauna, it's for political reasons...I really don't care that much." Serena said, not entirely truthfully. She would've loved a grand wedding carefully planned by herself and Shauna, but Serena spent so many years dreading who she might have to marry that such things weren't on the forefront of her mind.
"Uhhhg, fine. We have a few hours, and I'm making the most of them! Bonnie, come on, Serena needs a proper bath and then needs to be done up! Merde, I swear your parents are mad!" Shauna grabbed Serena by the hand and dragged her out of the chamber, with Bonnie eagerly following.
"I still can't believe you pulled this off!" Red laughed, leaving Ash with a somewhat bashful expression.
"I didn't pull anything off. Before today I didn't even think it was possible." Ash muttered. Still a little overwhelmed by the situation.
"You're happy, though, aren't you?" Clemont asked.
"Of course I am! I love her. I guess I just never thought much about it until now. I was only living in the moment."
"Well, I won't deny that Alexandre's plan makes sense. Marrying Serena to you not only prevents anyone else from using her as a means to the throne, but he knows you'll keep her safe." Ash nodded vehemently.
"Oui! I swore to that!"
"Pika!"
"Come on. We better do our best to make you look presentable too." Red said, leading Ash away. After a quick bath, a few royal aids helped Ash prepare for the wedding.
Ash gritted his teeth as the aids ruthlessly tried to comb his thick hair and dress him in a blue linen tunic far more extravagant than anything he would've owned.
"Ahhh no!" Clemont yelped as his own aids held him down while another removed a series of mechanical tools from his clothes.
"No! I need those! What if I have a sudden moment of inspiration and need to act on it!"
Red was already dressed and looked at himself in a mirror, a somewhat dubious look on his face.
"And high-nobles make it look so easy wearing something like this."
"Armor is more comfortable." Ash grunted as the aids guided him to another mirror. The young knight almost didn't recognize himself, particularly his now meticulously groomed hair.
"Pika." Pikachu sweat dropped as he stared at Ash while on his shoulders.
"Alright, that's good, leave us." Red said.
"But, monsieur." An aid started.
"Now!" Red's harsh voice put the aids to flight and left the young men alone.
"Tsk tsk tsk, what have they done to my little brother?" Red licked his right hand and ran it through Ash's hair. Much to his and Pikachu's relief, it instantly reverted back to its usual self.
"Merci."
Red gave his younger brother a proud look.
"Serena fell in love with the rough-in tumble household knight, not some fancy landed chevalier. I still can't believe how long it took you to figure out Serena had a crush on you."
"Right." Clemont muttered, looking just as embarrassed as Ash, for he was the last one among their group to find out.
Ash thought back fondly on all the years with Serena. Their first encounter in the woods, seeing her care for pokemon, countless times helping her train and watching her perform. Looking back, Ash realized he had been particularly dense not only in missing Serena's feelings for him but also his for her.
"I suppose we have old King Henry of Galar to thank for you finally getting a clue." Red chuckled, earning a slight nod from his brother. He remembered that day particularly well, too, the day he finally realized his feelings for Serena.
Eighteen years old, Ash and Red had just earned their spurs of knighthood and stood in their armor alongside the rest of the Royal Knights, accompanying Alexandre on their campaign against the Galar invasion.
"I can't believe it, our first time going to war as knights!" Red exclaimed while holding his sword up high.
"Grouuu!" His Charizard roared.
"Vyle!" Grovyle added.
Ash knelt down in front of his Riolu, who looked very disappointed.
"Rio!"
"I'm sorry, Riolu, you're not ready for war. I promise Serena will take good care of you."
"Oui!" Serena placed a warm hand on Riolu's shoulder and guided him over to her.
"I really appreciate you looking after him for me." Serena blushed slightly, much to the amusement of Shauna, Red, and Clemont, who stood nearby.
Even Pikachu, Grovyle, and the two Charizard chuckled slightly.
"It's no trouble. Just promise me you'll come back safely." She spoke in a soft and fearful tone that Ash didn't pick up on.
"Just him then, not me?" Red growled, though clearly in a playful tone.
"AHhh! If course I-"
"Come on, Red." Shauna shot him a stern look.
"AHhh forgive me, Serena. I was only joking. Don't worry. I'll make sure Ash comes back safe and sound, your father too. We're proper knights now, after all!" Red proclaimed as he emphasized the new silver-lined spurs on the end of their greaves, indicating them as knights instead of squires or simple men-at-arms.
"Red's right. We'll send those salopards swimming back to Galar!" Ash confidently proclaimed with his fist raised.
"Pika!"
"Grauuu!" Serena and Shauna almost yelped at his choice of words, making Ash sweatdrop.
"Ahh, forgive me. I shouldn't use such words around fine noblewomen." Ash said, quite embarrassed.
"Just be safe, and don't do anything reckless." Serena muttered.
"That's why I'm here." Red said giving Serena a reassuring look, and she nodded.
"Ash! Red! Come on. We're leaving!" Pierre roared as he and Alexandre began leading the retinue of royal knights out of the citadel.
"I guess this is it then. Keep us in your prayers." Ash said as Pikachu climbed back up onto his shoulder and Red climbed onto his Charizard's back.
However, just as Ash was about to do the same, he heard Serena cry out.
"Ash!"
"Eh?" He turned just in time to see Serena approaching the knight, and the world seemed to slow down as she leaned in and kissed him. Pikachu, Charizard, and Clemont all looked flabbergasted, but Red and Shauna merely smiled.
"It's about time." They both whispered to themselves.
Shaking himself back to attention, Charizard forced Ash into the saddle on his back and took off, leaving Ash to stare back at the Princess with an almost blank expression.
"Au revoir!" She cried back, her face bright red.
Back in the present, Ash stared back at himself in the mirror. Everything changed that day, and it was about to change again.
"Red, what kind of life can I provide Serena?" Ash asked in an uncharacteristically somber tone.
"Eh? Do you gest?" Red gave his brother an almost concerned expression.
"Red, I'm just a knight of the royal household. She's a princess, I have almost nothing to give-"
"Arrête ça, right now!" Red's face turned to steel as he held Ash in an iron grip.
"Don't talk like that! You'll provide her with someone no one else in this Kingdom can, genuine love and devotion! Ash that means more than the biggest land inheritance. Come on, you know Serena isn't interested in such vain ambitions either. She loves performing and making people happy. Besides, if you're really worried about that, I'm sure Calem will grant you both some land if Alexandre doesn't leave her anything to inherit-" Red started.
"Red, merci!" To his relief, Red saw life and joy return to Ash's face in what looked like a sudden burst of inspiration.
"Well I'm glad you're-" Ash cut Red off again. Unable to contain his excitement, he explained something to him and Clemont. Red and Clemont's expressions became lost in wonder, so much so that the squire's glasses nearly fell off.
"You, you really think we could do that!?" Clemont almost stuttered, his eyes glittering.
"Oui! I don't think Alexandre would object if we could convince him it's safe! Of course, you might have to give up being the standard-bearer-"
"Ha! And miss out on such a proposition! Besides, I could still act as the standard-bearer should the need arise!" Red proclaimed.
"Pikachu!"
Late in that afternoon, Ash stood near the alter within the great cathedral. Pikachu, Lucario, and Charizard stood alongside Red, Clemont, and Lucas, another royal knight roughly Ash's age.
The cathedral interior flowed with finely crafted woodworking that mixed perfectly with stone and marble. Stained glass lined the walls depicting xerneas, yveltal, zygarde and the figure, Reduka.
Grace sat in the front row on the bride's side along with Calem, Meyer, and the highest-ranked noblemen/noblewomen who happened to be in Lumiose at the time.
However, it wasn't just nobles and their pokemon who sat in attendance. Alexandre allowed as many commoners into the cathedral as would fit, all of them more than eager to see their beloved Princess get married.
A giddy Shauna also stood near the altar in matching blue dresses with Serena's other ladies in waiting. Clemont nervously glanced over at Bonnie every few moments, terrified she'd scold him in front of the whole cathedral about not getting married yet.
However, the little girl was much more excited as she went down the aisle tossing flower pedals. Finally, things got moving, and a choir began chanting a harmonious melody alongside a band and organ player.
Ash and all of the wedding guests turned to see Serena walking down the aisle, led by her father. Unlike her ladies in waiting, Serena wore a pure-white dress with a veil over her face, yet this wasn't enough to keep her from seeing the barely contained raw emotion on his face.
Pierre, who sat on the groom's side, had only ever seen his King shed a tear except for the death of those close to him. However, Alexandre looked ready to break down at any moment, yet he continued all the same.
Finally reaching the altar, he raised Serena's veil and kissed her cheek before sitting down beside Grace, who placed her hand on his. Smiling at each other tenderly, Ash and Serena also joined hands before kneeling down in front of Sycamore.
Red, Clemont, and Lucas took a large veil sheet and draped it over the two, Pikachu jumping down to give them room.
Sycamore started chanting in another language but didn't take his eyes off the couple. After what felt like hours, he finished and extended a hand to Red, who reached into his tunic and took out a pair of golden rings embedded with precious stones.
Sycamore anointed the rings with water and then knelt down beside them.
"Do you, Serena de Capet, take Monsieur Ash as your lawful husband. For richer and poor, sickness and health, in this world and the next. Do you swear to be faithful and committed to him, to bear children and live your lives as one?"
Serena thought she might've trembled upon hearing the vows, but instead, she felt steady and said with complete confidence.
"I do!"
"Monsieur Ash, do you take Serena de Capet as your lawful wife. For richer and poor, sickness and health, in this world and the next. Do you swear to be faithful and committed to him, to raise children and live your lives as one?"
"I do!"
Sycamore smiled like a proud parent and offered them the rings. Slowly but surely, they placed the rings on each other's fingers.
"Now, I have the honor of pronouncing you, man and wife!" Together they rose, and without a moment's hesitation, Ash swept Serena off her feet and planted a fiery kiss on her lips to thunderous applause.
Alexandre's household staff managed to throw together a fabulous reception within the citadel even on short notice. Huge tables lined the hall and adjoining courtyard with sweet-smelling cakes, puddings, meat, fruits, bread, cheese, and wine.
"No Chespin!" Clemont cried when he saw his pokemon trying to abscond with an entire tray of macaroons. Despite it being her wedding, Serena, in fact, provided the entertainment and gave all her guests a breathtaking performance alongside Shauna and Fennekin.
Nobles, servants, commoners, knights, and soldiers lost themselves to food, drink, and routine. Red and Calem stood near the front with their pokemon, arms around each other and laughing with slightly red faces and almost empty wine glasses in their hands.
Red's Charizard and Calem's Greninja mirrored their trainers' demeanors and similarly had their arms around each other. Elsewhere, Clemont frantically seized Bonnie after she tried to propose to a noblewoman on his behalf.
However, Serena was more interested in where Ash had gotten off too. It wasn't until after she finished the routine that Serena finally saw him deep in conversation with her parents and Pierre, his pokemon with him.
Ash and all three of his pokemon looked quite excited about something, but her parents seemed somewhat dubious. Pierre spoke up, seemingly in support of Ash, and after a deep breath from the King and Queen, they appeared to concede.
"Ash?" Serena asked, slightly confused.
"Shauna, did you see that?"
"See what?" Shauna panted, wiping herself clean with a rag.
"Ash and my parents." Shauna glanced over at them and looked intrigued.
"Yeah, you're right. Hey, maybe he's arranging where you two will live!"
"Eh?" Serena muttered, sweatdropping slightly.
"Yeah, if Calem is going to be King, I'll bet your dad will set you two up with an estate somewhere close by!" Serena hadn't thought about that, of course only a few hours earlier, she never would've expected to be married that evening. Everything was happening so fast, and as exciting as it was, Serena almost wanted a moment to breathe.
However, that wasn't possible, for the music began to pick up again, and she saw Ash approaching her, Pikachu back on his shoulder. Offering his hand, Serena eagerly took it, and all eyes became fixed upon the newlyweds as they shared their first dance.
Ash wasn't a particularly good dancer, but Serena couldn't have cared less. The Princess merely savored the moment, and his warm presence, moving slowly with her head resting against his shoulder.
"So you've made living arrangements with my parents then?" Serena asked.
"Eh?" Ash asked, slightly confused.
"Shauna and I saw you talking with them."
Ash and Pikachu both grinned widely and shook their heads.
"Not exactly. However, I did propose something to them now that we are married." Serena gave a slightly puzzled look.
"Since you won't have to take up the position of Queen. I thought perhaps you might prefer traveling around Kalos and performing."
Serena almost yelped and began trembling again.
"You, you mean?" She stuttered.
"Oui! Your parents agreed. After Calem is recognized as dauphin, Red and I can escort you around Kalos to perform and for us to challenge others."
"Ash!" Serena almost teared up and didn't think she could've been happier. Tightening her grip around him, she pulled Ash in for another passionate kiss.
Author's note
Yep, they're married already! I decided not to play around with this story,
There will be travelling in this story, but how will the journey go? You'll have to wait and see!
If anyone wants to submit an OC, please do so soon so I can write them in.
So until next time,
Please review, comment, suggest, or ask (VIA PM)