Chapter 3: The Dauphin
Pikachu and Fennekin slept soundly beside each other on a furnished chair in Serena's bed chambers, or rather what had been her chambers. The princess slept soundly cuddled up beside Ash, and her arms wrapped tightly around his body and her head resting on his chest, both sleeping in just their bare skin.
Fennekin yawned after hearing a nearby Fletchling cry out from outside the citadel.
"Fenn" The fire fox stretched almost like a cat and accidentally brushed her tail against Pikachu's face.
"Pika." Pikachu yawned.
"Fen" Fennekin apologized, looking slightly embarrassed.
"Pika." Pikachu raised his paw, assuring her it was ok.
"Hmmm." Both pokemon turned when they heard Serena stir a little. Pikachu and Fennekin smiled at their respective trainers, immensely happy for them.
That was until they saw Serena open her eyes slightly with a vigorous look on her face as she looked at the love of her life, now her husband. Pikachu and Fennekin sweatdropped with frantic expressions when they saw her stroke the bottom of Ash's foot with her toe, making him stir slightly.
Terrified that they'd bear witness again, the two pokemon ran for the doorway and tried to get out but couldn't reach the knob.
"Fenn!"
"Pika!"
"Bonjour mon amour." Serena giggled when she saw Ash's eyes finally open.
"Toi aussi mon amour." Ash said back in a warm tone as he wrapped both arms tightly around Serena and pulled her into a long and passionate kiss.
Pikachu and Fennekin continued to watch, terrified that their trainers' actions might escalate into something more, again. However, both exhaled deeply when they saw Serena simply place her head back on Ash's chest.
"How many more days again?" She asked playfully.
"Just two more, Serena." He chuckled while stroking her long hair.
"Oui, once Calem is officially named Dauphin, we can begin our journey across Kalos. Where should we go first!?" Serena giggled in excitement.
"Well, I thought maybe Santalune City. I'm sure the admirers of the art there would love to see you perform. Plus, Red and I could challenge Countess Viola. She's supposed to be a renowned trainer of pokemon."
"Oui, I've heard that too! Plus, I wouldn't mind buying one of her pieces! We could put it in the Parfum Palace on our way to Cyllage City!"
The Parfum Palace was the biggest and most luxurious of the many royal estates owned by the house of Capet across Kalos. Serena had many fond memories of spending summers in the palace as a child and teenager. Much to Serena's delight, she learned that while Calem would inherit the throne, the Parfum Palace itself and all its income would be left to her.
"Definitely!"
"You've gotten your things packed, right?" Serena asked in a slightly stern tone. Ash sweatdropped slightly before glancing at an equally nervous Pikachu.
"Fenn." Fennkin growled, mirroring Serena's expression.
"Come on, Ash, we're leaving in two days!" Serena sat up slightly and placed both hands on his chest.
"Come on, I'm just a royal knight. I don't have that much-" Ash started.
"Ash, I've told you a dozen times, you're not just a knight anymore. You're a Prince consort!"
"...Ne me rappelle pas." Ash said, sweatdropping before hearing fletchling singing again.
"Speaking of which, the high-nobles will be here today. We should probably get ready."
Serena slowly nodded, earning sighs of relief from Pikachu and Fennekin, but for a moment only.
"It's not that late in the morning. We still have some time to ourselves." Serena narrowed her eyes and put on another vigorous expression while stroking the bottom of Ash's foot with her own again.
"Pika!"
"Fenn!" Pikachu and Fennekin yelped in terror.
Later that morning, after breakfast, Ash and Serena joined the rest of the royal household in the courtyard. Ash in his armor, and Serena in her best dress/tiara.
"Ahh, bonjour, your highness!" Lucas laughed with several other Royal knights as they saw Ash approach. The young knight grit his teeth in annoyance.
"Enough of that." He growled.
"No, he's right. We should be respectful of our new Prince Consort's wishes." Red added, earning more snickers from the other knights and squires.
Ash sighed before his Charizard and Lucario patted his back.
"Grauu."
"Grouuu." Both turned to Pikachu, who sweatdropped before admitting something to them.
Serena giggled slightly at Ash's newfound 'popularity' among the other royal knights before joining Shauna and her parents.
"Morning, Serena. Married life still treating you well?" She whispered into her ear.
"Oui! You could say that!" Serena's face turned red as she smiled.
"Bon. I have my things ready for our journey! I can't wait to see the looks on our audiences' faces!"
"Oui! I've been thinking of new routines and other pokemon we could catch along the way to make them work!"
Alexandre and Grace couldn't help but smile upon hearing the passion in their daughter's voice.
"She sounds like you before one of your rhyhorn races." Alexandre said.
"I still can't believe she turned away from that profession. She has such natural skill for it." Grace sighed.
"Perhaps, but I've accepted her passion lays elsewhere. I'm just grateful we could set things up so well." He said, looking over at Calem.
"Open the gate!" All eyes turned to the courtyard gate, which opened to the sound of heralds blasting their horns.
"Presenting, the Comte de Coumarine , Count Ramos and his son Michael!" A retinue of knights, men-at-arms, and servants rode in behind a very short elderly man in a green tunic and a younger man with long blonde hair in armor carrying a green leaf banner. Unlike the knights around them, Count Ramos and Michael rode Goagoats.
"Mon roi!" Count Ramos cried out before bowing his head alongside Michael.
"Presenting the Comte de Cyllage and Comtess de Santalune, Count and Countess Grant and Viola!" Another party entered, led by Grant and Viola, whose standard-bearer carried a joint banner of an insect and rock.
"Bonjour, mon roi!" Grant and Viola bowed their heads together before joining Ramos.
"The Comte de Shalour, Count Gurrkin and his granddaughter, Korrina!" Another older lord rode in with his knights alongside a young woman with incredibly long blonde hair.
"We're here!" Korrina cried as she jumped up onto the top of her Rapidash's saddle while holding up their banner of a bladed knuckle.
"Oh Korrina." Clemont said, sweatdropping a little with the other royal knights, all except for Red. Ash glanced over at his brother's expression as Red's eyes met Korrina's. The noblewoman winked at Red, making his face mirror his name while she giggled.
"Happy to see lady Korrina again, are we?" Ash whispered to Red, who instantly gave a defensive look.
"It's just been a while, is all." He muttered before his Charizard and Sceptile patted his back.
"Presenting the Comte de Snowbelle, Comtess de Anistar, Count Wulfric and Countess Olympia, and their sons, Arnould and Godrey!" Another joint company entered with their joint banner of an iceberg and psychic power.
"Mon roi!"
"Presenting the Compte and Comptess de Laverre, Count Philip and Countess Valerie. In knight's armor, a tall black-haired nobleman led the next company alongside a young woman with incredibly long black hair. However, unlike the other noblewoman, she didn't wear a typical Kalos-style dress but instead a pink Kanto-style kimono.
"Mon roi." They said, bowing their heads.
"Now, presenting the Dukes!"
Ash and the others felt themselves instinctively straighten up, for the Dukes and Duchesses sat just below the King in the hierarchy of noble ranks. So much so that Kalos only had four couples recognized with these ranks.
"Presenting Duke Wikstrom, Duchess Drasna, their son Charles and daughter Aria!"
Charles looked much like a carbon copy of his father, but Aria contrasted her parents, possessing red hair and eyes.
"Mon Roi." Wikstrom spoke in a booming voice that fit his imposing body.
"Wikstrom, Drasna." Alexandre said back with immense respect.
"Presenting Duke Siebold, Duchess Isabella, and their son Geoffry!"
"Mon Roi."
"Seibold."
"Presenting Duke Lysandre and Duchess Malva!" Duke Lysandre was an imposing figure, much like Wikstrom, and his orange hair/beard made him almost resemble a lion.
"Mon roi." Lysandre bowed his head particularly low.
"Lysandre."
"Princess, Count Calem." Lysandre smiled with an unusual amount of sincerity towards Serena and Calem.
"And finally, Grand Duke Daniel and Grand Duchess Diantha!" Ash, Red, and every other fighting man nearly trembled in awe as they saw the two ride in together. Grand Duke Daniel looked roughly thirty and Diantha the same. Daniel had short brown hair with matching eyes, while Diantha had waist-length brown hair that almost appeared violet.
Both had very humble demeanors, but it couldn't hide quiet confidence hidden just beneath the surface. Just behind them came a black and green Charizard that stood nearly twice the size of Ash and Red's with enhanced features and a Gardevoir.
"Alexandre." Daniel and Diantha bowed their heads with friendly smiles towards Alexandre, who returned the gesture. Aside from being perhaps the most powerful nobles in Kalos besides Alexandre, Daniel and Diantha were widely recognized as pokemon champions of the Kingdom, both having won great honor for Kalos in tournaments against other Kingdoms' champions.
Diantha glanced back at Ash and Red, who quickly went to attention, doing their best not to tremble. The Grand Duchess smiled at them before returning to the King and Queen.
"Bonjour, Princess, please accept our sincerest apologies for missing your wedding. It's almost as if his majesty wished to have it as soon as possible." Daniel said, giving a playful glance at Alexandre.
"You know the game of politics. We did it for Kalos." Alexandre muttered, sweatdropping slightly as he glanced at the other nobles.
"Oui, he thinks we intended to abscond with the Princess and force her to marry Louis." Diantha chuckled as she emphasized a little boy, perhaps Bonnie's age sitting on the back of the titan-Charizard.
"Of course trusted you two, we just-" Grace nervously started.
"Enough, we only jest. We're happy to recognize Count Calem as Dauphin." Daniel said as he and Diantha turned to Calem and bowed their heads. The young man almost trembled as he saw the Grand Duke and Duchess bow before him.
"Mer, merci." He muttered.
Despite this, Ash and Red saw that many of the other high-nobles looked less than enthusiastic about the arrangement.
"Quite a surprise, to be sure." Viola said to Grant, who nodded.
"Oui, but at least Count Calem has a good claim to the throne."
"A count becoming the next King instead of a duke. Geoffry and I are both descendants of the royal bloodline too." Seibold scoffed as Isabella nodded.
"This is an unexpected turn, but one that can still work out well for us." Drasna said as she and Wikstrom looked at their daughter and then Calem.
"Hmp, I can't believe he made such a move without conferring with us first." Wulfric muttered.
"Oui, to marry the Princess to a household knight instead of Arnould, pure merde!" Olympia growled.
Ash pretended not to hear that last bit but saw the two nobles stare at him with near disgust as if he'd stolen something from them.
"Do you have something to say to the Prince consort?" Pierre asked as he stepped between them and Ash, a fierce expression on his face. Before long, Red and the other Royal Knights all stood behind Ash with matching looks.
"I do." Duke Lysandre caught the knights and Count off-guard as he rode over and stared down at Ash from his Rapidash.
"Mon Seigneur." Ash said firmly as Pikachu, Charizard, and Lucario growled.
"Why are you over here instead of beside your wife and family?" Lysandre's warm tone took Ash and the others by surprise.
"You are the Prince consort now. Surely you don't mean to neglect Princess Serena."
Ash sweatdropped, not expecting this response.
"Oui, I uh thought it would be best to ease the high nobles into the idea. I also didn't want to abandon my brothers in arms."
"I'm sure they understand. Besides, even a Prince will always be a knight."
Ash looked uneasily back at his brother and the other knights whose earlier taunting all but morphed into looks of encouragement.
"Go, we know you'll always be one of us." Red assured him.
"Oui, show those high nobles what a real knight is!" Lucas proclaimed.
At this, Ash and his pokemon followed Lysandre past the other high-nobles who gave him either curious or unsavory looks, as if he'd stolen something from them.
"Ignore them. They're just mad none of their sons will wear a crown." Lysandre said as he patted the young Prince Consort's shoulder.
"Merci, mon Seigneur. You're not disappointed, are you?"
Lysandre laughed.
"Non, my boy. Life is too short to get cross over such things. One must stop to enjoy the beauty of this world, beauty so often spoiled by ambitious humans."
Ash had almost forgotten that Duke Lysandre was an outspoken naturalist, insisting that expansion of towns, villages, and castles came at the expense of nature. Still, his dutchy was prosperous and didn't quarrel with the other nobles.
"You have a new beauty to appreciate now, Princess." Lysandre bowed his head low before Serena, who smiled back.
"Merci, duke Lysandre."
"Always the charmer, aren't you lucky, Malva." Grace chuckled to duchess Malva, who nodded, though without looking at her husband.
"I'm just glad we could be here to see our new Dauphin." Malva said cordially while bowing to Calem.
Despite this, Calem looked more than a little nervous as he looked back at his former peers, most of whom glared at him worse than Ash, save Wikstrom and Drasna, who looked more opportunistic.
"Don't let them get to you. They won't be complaining when you're a great King one day!" Ash proclaimed as he took Calem's shoulder. Calem smiled a little gave Ash an appreciative look.
Later that day, the high-nobles arrived in formal attire within the great cathedral. Ash and Serena stood together near the front and got a little distracted from the ceremony as they thought back to their wedding there just a few days earlier.
Calem knelt before Sycamore, who anointed his forehead with sacred oil.
"Before Reduka, Calem de Valois is hereby named Dauphin and heir to the throne of Kalos!" Calem still trembled slightly, but looking up at his uncle and cousin, he felt their unwavering support swell through him like a fire.
Alongside his Greninja, he stood up and faced the crowd.
"Kneel!" Alexandre roared.
Ash and Serena did so first, followed by Daniel, Diantha, Lysandre, and Malva. Before long, even the most reluctant of the high nobles joined in, including Aria, who gave Calem a warm smile that made him blush slightly.
Red and Pierre led the royal knights in a bow before getting a strange sensation that someone was standing over him.
"You call that a bow! Go lower!" A swift kick sent Red sprawling to the ground, much to the amusement of the other knights and his pokemon. The knight's eyes narrowed as he heard familiar giggling and looked up at Korrina, who stood over him with her Lucario.
"Bonjour, monsieur Red!" She beamed with an increasingly mischievous expression.
"Bonjour, lady Korrina." He growled.
"Say, why are you on the ground? Did you bow too low?" Red almost jumped up as a nerve started to twinge in his forehead.
"Seriously, Korrina, now isn't the time for mischief."
Korrina's grin widened, and she leaned in slightly closer.
"I thought you liked my mischief, beau." She whispered in a tone that made Red's face go bright.
"I do! I mean, no, I, gaaah! Not in the middle of Calem's ceremony! I have great respect for him."
"So do I! But I also need to show respect for my new Prince Consort." Korrina said while glancing over at Ash and Serena, who now saw her.
"Eh? Show respect for Ash, how?" Red said, utterly confused.
"By making a fool of his brother!" Korrina's Lucario grinned mischievously and unleashed a small burst of aura in front of Red that knocked him off balance. Without wasting a moment, Korrina moved behind Red and used her leg to trip him up.
"Red, are you ok?" Clemont asked as he rushed over. The squire was about to offer a hand when he saw Red's eyes ignite into a fiery blaze.
"Ehhh!" Clemont felt Charizard and Sceptile pull him away just in time to avoid Red as he flung himself up and virtually snarled at a giggling Korrina.
"Grauuu!" Red's Charizard growled at Korrina's Lucario, who shrugged. However, as he did so, Charizard, Sceptile, and Noibat all noticed he had a red bracer on his left paw with a stone embedded into it.
"Ohh, you'd best run, mademoiselle!" Lucas chuckled, and Korrina raced off towards one of the hallways with Red in hot pursuit. Korrina couldn't outrun him despite her best efforts and felt herself pinned against a pillar.
"It's a bad idea to antagonize a royal knight like that!"
"Oh no, is the fearsome monsieur Red going to punish the fair maiden?"
Red's expression instantly changed from rage to weariness.
"Since when have you been a fair maiden?"
Korrina's mischievous expression returned, and she leaned in closer.
"Only for you." Red suddenly noticed an odd gemstone embedded into her gauntlet but then almost yelped when he felt her lips press against his.
"Hmmmp!" Red's speech became muffled, and Korrina used the momentary distraction to push him into another pillar but didn't break her kiss.
"Ahhh! It's so beautiful! Are you taking notes, brother!?" Bonnie scolded Clemont. Ash, Serena, and Shauna also saw the exchange with some amusement.
"Awww, maybe we'll have another wedding here soon!" Serena giggled.
"Maybe someday, Red's too stubborn to admit his feelings for Korrina." Ash said as he placed a hand on the back of his head.
"It sure looks like it." Shauna giggled.
When Korrina finally withdrew, she giggled upon seeing the bashful look on Red's face.
"I hope I'm not interrupting, monsieur." A deeper voice said. Red and Korrina looked up and saw none other than Gurkinn gazing down at them with a frightening expression.
"Count Gurkinn!" Red yelped before Korrina placed a hand on her forehead and leaned against a pillar.
"Thanks, heavens you arrived, grandfather, this vigorous young knight intended to abscond with my virtue and lead me astray!"
"Quoi!?" Red yelped, nearly drawing the attention of the entire cathedral.
Later that evening, the high nobles transitioned to the citadel ballroom, where Ash did his best to take in the new atmosphere. The night dragged on as he, Serena, Calem, and their parents met face to face with counts, dukes, and other high-end dignitaries.
Despite spending so much time with the royal family, Ash and Red never possessed the same knowledge of politics as them. The young Prince Consort and his pokemon sweatdropped as they tried to take in and follow the conversations as if those around him spoke a different language.
Pikachu, Charizard, and Lucario didn't fare much better, as the count and dukes' pokemon did much the same.
"Pika."
"Grouuu."
"Grauuu." The three muttered, their expressions mirroring Ash's. It didn't help that many still gave Ash and Calem nasty looks.
"So what exactly do you have in mind for your new Prince Consort?" Wikstrom asked, with keen interest, undoubtedly to gain an edge over the others. Despite this, Ash was eager to finally take part in the conversations.
"We're leaving soon! Serena, Red, and I!" He proclaimed.
"Really." Drasna's expression soon mirrored her husband's.
"Oui! We're going to have a grand journey! Serena and Shauna are going to perform across Kalos, while Red and I hone our skills as pokemon trainers and hopefully challenge many of the counts to battles!"
"Hmp, that doesn't sound so bad. A chance to punish him for stealing the princess from under us." Olympia whispered as she stood nearby with Wulfric, a glass of wine in her hand.
Wulfric, however, was starting to look at Ash in a new light when he saw the passion and enthusiasm in him.
"You're going to perform! That's incredible! If you'd like, I could recommend the best places to get a good audience!" Aria said with genuine friendliness.
Serena and Shauna couldn't help but tremble a little as they talked to Aria. Despite having a higher feudal rank than Aria, the Duke's daughter was well renowned as perhaps the greatest performer in Kalos. Seeing her perform a few years earlier inspired them both to do the same.
"Merci! We'd appreciate that." Serena spoke in a shy tone before feeling Ash's arm around hers.
"You're going to have some real competition. Serena and Shauna gave captivated audiences here for years, and soon they'll take Kalos by storm!" Ash proclaimed, making Serena and Shauna blush intensely.
Daniel and Diantha smiled a little towards Alexandre and Grace.
"It's like I've told you, he and his brothers are good boys. I needed to make sure someone could take care of Serena when I'm gone."
"He's certainly passionate." Daniel and Diantha watched Ash with interest, but Red as well.
"Well, I can't wait to see what you've got!" Aria said.
"Don't be modest, Aria. In fact, you prepared a performance to celebrate our new Dauphin, if I'm correct." Drasna said, placing a hand on her daughter's shoulder.
"Really, a special performance. More special than my daughter's?" Grace asked as she came up and put a hand on Serena's shoulder.
"Mama." Serena muttered, feeling a bit overwhelmed by the situation.
"I think we should have a bit of a competition." Calem said, taking them all for a surprise.
"I think these three lovely mademoiselles should showcase their finest performances tonight, and then we let the audience decide the winner."
"Us, compete against, Aria!" Serena almost yelped before feeling Ash's hand envelop hers.
"Don't be afraid of losing. Now's your chance to show all of the high nobles what you can do and where you can go." Ash's confidence soon spread into Serena and gave her a look of fiery passion.
"Shauna." Another voice muttered, and she looked over at a trembling Clemont who adjusted his glasses.
"I'd also like to see you perform."
Shauna soon smiled again and beamed at Clemont.
"Merci!"
Both young women nodded vigorously at each other before facing Aria.
"We'll be your challengers!"
"Wonderful!" Aria proclaimed.
Daniel and Diantha saw the way Ash inspired Serena with ever-increasing interest.
"Oui, and if Aria wins, you'll take her as your bride and future queen." Wikstrom said with such speed that the others almost didn't hear him.
Alex, Grace, and Calem blinked as they turned to him.
"Quoi?!"
"Oui, I think it's fair terms!" Drasna swiftly added.
"Hold on!" Seibold shrieked alongside several other high nobles.
Calem opened his mouth only to feel a firm hand on his shoulder.
"I agree with Duke Wikstrom." Daniel said with a wide grin.
"Oui, so do I." Diantha added.
"Eh!?" Wikstrom and Drasna were taken aback by Daniel and Diantha's support. Grace chuckled slightly and whispered something to a slightly dubious Alexandre, who slowly came around.
"Very well, if Aria wins, she'll become Calem's betrothed."
Calem and Aria blushed immensely as they looked back at each other.
Serena and Shauna, giggled like crazy.
"Whose he going to root for now!?" Shauna asked.
"I have no idea!"
After a few minutes, the three stood atop a makeshift stage with the vast crowd shifting to get a good view. Pierre stood in front of them with his Klefki.
"Welcome one and all, today his majesty, King Alexandre II, is proud to host three beautiful young mademoiselles as they entice us all with their lovely performances in celebration of Count Calem's recognition as Dauphin! Princess Serena, Lady Shauna, and Lady Aria!"
"Let's go, Serena!" Ash cried.
"Pika!"
"Grauuu!"
"Show them who the true princess is!" Red added his support.
"Serena!" Korrina shouted.
"Let's get this show started, Lady Shauna!"
"Here we go, Delcatty!"
"Del!" Shauna lost none of her elegance performing without Serena and worked danced in tight formation with Delcatty, who mixed in her dance moves with Fury Swipes, Disarming Voice, and Covet.
"Shauna!" Bonnie cried, now waving a banner with her face embroidered on it. Many others joined in, including Clemont and Meyer.
"Truly lovely! Now, let us see the wonders of our Princess, Serena!"
Serena's nerves remained a little tight, but seeing Ash, and her parents', and Fennekin's unwavering support soon mirrored across her face.
"Let's go, Fennekin!"
"Fenn!" Serena quickly lost herself to the passion and nearly dreamlike state she entered upon beginning one of her performances. Such enthusiasm promptly became apparent to the audience, which almost felt it rub off onto them.
"Psybeam!"
"Fenn!" Fennekin blasted her heat wave into the shapes of fiery dancing Fennekins.
"Look at her go!" Korrina shouted, perhaps louder than she anticipated.
"This is what she was meant to do." Red added as Ash and his pokemon lost themselves to her performance, nor were they the only ones.
Olympia, Wulfric, and the other high nobles soon forgot why they even felt angry with Ash and Calem, each becoming enraptured by Serena's bursting excitement and enthusiasm, which quickly made each of them call back to their own passions.
Grace wiped a tear away from her eyes. A combination of seeing her daughter so happy and the performance's effect making the Queen think back to her days as a rhyhorn racer.
"She's just what the Kingdom needs, something to ease the people into Calem's rule." Alex said, mirroring his wife's expression.
Lysandre and Malva also watched Serena with particular interest, though not quite like the others.
"I didn't think such beauty could come from humans." Malva said.
"Neither did I."
"Truly spectacular! Now for our final performer, Lady Aria!"
"With me, Delphox!"
"Phox!"
When Aria and Delphox began their performance, the crowd lost their breath upon seeing them. Performer and pokemon worked together in synchronization as if one, complementing each other's movements perfectly.
Serena, Shauna, and their pokemon nearly trembled in awe at the skill of Aria and her Delphox.
"Hmmm, she's ok, I guess." Bonnie pouted.
"That's it Aria! Win yourself a crown!" Wikstrom cried as he tried to organize his retinue into a cheering section.
Even Ash, Red, and Korrina couldn't deny that Aria performed a level above Serena and Shauna. Not that Ash cared much. Even if she was the best performer in the world, he'd prefer watching Serena.
"I'm not much for performances, but she is good." Red admitted.
"What do you think, Calem?" Korrina asked mischievously as she looked over at the Dauphin, who seemed lost in her routine, like someone who watched a sunrise.
"Gre?" His Greninja asked, waving his webbed hand in front of his eyes.
"I guess we know who he's rooting for." Korrina giggled.
"Magnificent! All three of our performers have outdone themselves tonight! However, we can only have one winner! So, let's have the audience choose! Who thought Lady Shauna performed greatest!?" Pierre held his hand over Shauna as a good portion of the crowd cheered for her.
"Shauna!" Bonnie screamed at the top of her lungs.
"Hmm, hmm, hmm! I have just the thing!" Clemont cried, adjusting his glasses as he pulled the sheet off a new mechanical invention.
"Behold! The grand sound amplification horn!"
"Grand sound amplification horn?" Bonnie said, sweatdropping.
"With this, it will strengthen the applause for Shauna tenfold! Luxray, give it a jump!"
"Lux!" Luxray shocked the horn, which began to surge uncontrollably.
"Eh?" Clemont muttered before the device exploded, silencing the crowd and leaving him on the ground covered in soot.
"Ouch."
"Another failure brother!"
Meyer looked at his son with sympathy and tried to ignore the murmurs of those around him.
"Isn't that the Mayor's son?"
"Oui, I hear rumors he's a failed knight."
"Princess Serena!" Pierre shouted as he shifted to her.
"Serena!" Ash and his pokemon let out a bursting roar alongside much of the audience.
"And finally, Lady Aria!"
Despite their best efforts, Ash and the others already saw the writing on the wall when the applause for Aria nearly shook the citadel.
"We have our winner, lady Aria!" Serena sighed a little but kept up her spirits as she lifted up Fennekin.
"Aww, that's too bad." Red sighed.
"Well, she's got a rival now. Nothing helps you grow stronger than a rival!" Korrina shouted, matter of factly.
Shauna didn't seem to mind the results and went down beside Clemont, who was still on the ground.
"I think it was a nice idea." She giggled slightly while placing a hand on his shoulder, nearly making Clemont tremble.
"Ha! Oui!" Wikstrom stormed onto the stage and lifted his daughter into the air with his immense strength.
"I give you your future Kalos Queen!"
"Eh!?" Calem muttered.
"Ahh, that's right, cousin. I hope you're not disappointed by the results." Serena said with a sly smile as she and Ash came up beside him.
"What did you think?" She then asked her husband, blushing slightly before he kissed her cheek.
"I think you're going to inspire all of Kalos soon." Serena beamed brighter.
"So it's true, you two and Serena are finally leaving Lumiose." Korrina said as she approached with Red.
"Hey, the three of us have traveled plenty of times! In fact, I'd say we've probably left here more than you've left Shalour City!" Red said in a bold and cocky tone that made Korrina laugh.
"You wish, beau. Still, I'm excited for when you finally reach Shalour city. You and Ash might be strong enough to challenge Lucario and me by then."
"Grouu!" Her Lucario roared. Serena now looked slightly defensive and nearly jumped to their defense but soon found it wasn't necessary, as the two brothers merely smiled back with their usual confidence and spirit.
"Why wait?" Red asked.
"Eh?" Korrina muttered, a little surprised.
"Red's right. There's no need to go all the way to Shalour when you're already here! We'll challenge you now, right guys!"
"Pika!"
"Grauuu!"
"Grouuu!" Ash's Lucario snarled with particular enthusiasm as he stared down Korrina's.
The young woman and her Lucario quickly returned their grins.
"Hmp, you two have know idea what you're getting into. We've got a secret weapon." Red surprised Ash, Serena, and more than anyone, Korrina as he seized a white rose from a nearby vase and approached her with a charming demeanor.
"I don't know. I like challenges, even unexpected ones, mademoiselle." His's tone made Korrina tremble and turn bright red as he swooped in and placed the rose in her hands.
"Ahhh." Korrina's legs began to wobble, and her Lucario moved in to catch her, only to get seized by Red's Charizard and Grovyle.
"Grouuu!" The Lucario's eyes widened when he saw Red wrap his arm around Korrina's waist and hold her up as steam shot out from her ears.
"Wow, I never knew Red had it in him." Serena giggled.
"I suppose we have a little charm in us." Ash said, placing a hand behind his head as Pikachu playfully shook his head.
"More than a little!" Serena giggled while hugging him.
"We'll battle you if you're interested." Ash and Red almost froze in place upon hearing this challenge. Along with their pokemon, they slowly turned to see Daniel and Diantha standing before them, leaving many in awe.
"Mmmmmmon Seigneur." Ash and Red stuttered.
"You both aspire to become master pokemon trainers, do you not? We'd like to see just how strong you are now." Diantha added with an interested smile.
"Duke Daniel and Duchess Diantha!" Clemont, Lucas, Shauna, and many others lost their breath, but Alex and Grace merely watched with intrigue.
"Ohh, this could be interesting." Alex said to Grace and Pierre.
"Oui." Pierre said.
"Oui! We'd be honored!" Red barely kept himself from exploding.
"Please!" Korrina sprinted over and fell to her knees before the champions.
"Please, mon seigneur! Let me battle you too! Please!"
Daniel and Diantha both smiled at each other before nodding.
"Why not?"
"Alright!"
"Pika!"
The ball room center cleared to make room as Ash, Korrina, and Red stood beside each other with Pikachu, Sceptile, both Lucarios, and Both Charizards in front of them.
"Noi!" Noibat pouted as he sat on Clemont's shoulder.
"You're still too young Noibat. These pokemon are supposed to be the strongest in Kalos and possibly the world." Clemont said while stroking his cheek.
"The battle between Duke Daniel and Duchess Diantha vs. Lady Korrina, monsieur Red, and Prince Consort Ash will now begin!"
"Do your best, Ash, Red!" Serena cried.
Daniel's titanic Charizard and the fiercest Lucario they'd ever seen stood in front of the Duke while an elegant Gardevoir stood before Diantha. As Red looked closer, he noticed all three opposing pokemon had a stone somewhere on them like Korrina's Lucario.
Additionally, the Due and Duchess also possessed the same stone as Korrina in their gauntlets.
"Let's go, Pikachu! Quick attack!"
"Leaf Blade!" Red added.
Pikachu and Sceptile moved from different directions with incredible speed and agility, honed from years of training and battling. However, at the last moment, Gardevior moved away from them so fast that it almost looked unnatural.
"Iron tail!"
"Double Team!" Sceptile tried to confuse Gardevoir by surrounding her with a dozen copies of himself, but she saw through the facade and brought both hands up, one to Pikachu, the other to Sceptile.
"Dazzling gleam."
With a flash of light, Pikachu and Sceptile flew backward and barely caught themselves.
"Pikachu!"
"Sceptile!" Both pokemon grunted as they tried to get up and felt the sheer power of Gardevoir's attack stilling rining them like a bell. Despite this, they refused to give up and faced her down without fear.
"My, what spirited Pokemon."
"They're chevaliers too!" Ash proclaimed.
"Pika!" Pikachu emphasized the point by sparking his cheeks.
"Bon." Diantha said with genuine admiration.
"Sceptile, use Earthquake!"
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!" Sceptile picked Pikachu up and tossed him into the air before slamming both feet into the ground with enough force to cause an artificial seismic movement.
"Pika chu!" Pikachu unleashed a barrage of lightning across the field in conjunction with the earthquake.
"Teleport." Gardevoir closed her eyes and vanished less than a moment before each bolt struck where she would've been. Additionally, her psychic powers let Gardevoir levitate over the earthquake.
"Psychic." Pikachu and Sceptile felt themselves seized in an iron-like vice of psychic power. When Gardevoir opened her eyes, the attack's full impact hit and slammed both pokemon into the ground.
"Pikachu!"
"Sceptile!"
"Pika."
"Scep." Pikachu and Sceptile lay beside each other with swirled eyes.
"Pikachu and Sceptile are unable to battle!"
Serena clasped her hands together but was relieved to see neither Ash nor Red seemed too upset.
"Pikachu, you were amazing."
"Pika." Pikachu said placing his paw behind his head.
"How did it feel fighting a champion?" Red asked Sceptile, who still seemed a little overwhelmed but excited.
"Is it our turn!" Korrina shouted impatiently.
"Not yet, I want to see what their Charizards can do." Daniel said as his partner stared down the younger Charizards. Despite what they'd just seen, the brothers' Charizard huffed and eagerly awaited their chance to face the strongest pokemon in the world.
"Alright, let's go, dragon claw!"
"Air slash!" Ash and Red's Charizards flew at Daniel's, mustering all their strength for a decisive blow.
"Dragon claw." Daniel said calmly. The colossal Charizard raised his claws and blocked both attacks, making the wielders feel like they'd struck a solid wall.
"Grauuu." Both Charizards grunted.
"Don't give up, Charizard, Dragon Pulse!"
"Pika!"
"Fly!" Neither Charizard could land a hit on Daniel's Charizard, who effortlessly blocked the attacks and tossed the younger pokemon away despite their best attempts.
"Dragon rush." Shauna, Bonnie, Serena, and Clemont almost yelped when they saw the titanic Charizard move faster than the swiftest racing pokemon and appear in front of the younger Charizards.
Both pokemons' eyes widened and less than a moment later, they lay sprawled before their trainers.
"Charizard!"
"Both Charizards are unable to battle!"
"Mon Dieu!" Several cried.
"Oh my, I almost forgot." Grace muttered.
"Oui, that Charizard is without a doubt the strongest pokemon in the world." Alex said.
"Are you two ok?" Ash asked as he and Red helped their Charizards up.
"Grauu." They nodded, dazed but alright. The two Charizard looked back at Daniel's in awe, never imaging such power was even possible.
"Pretty good. What do you think?" Daniel asked his Charizard, who huffed before nodding.
"Alright, now it's our turn!" Korrina cried as her and Ash's Lucario took fighting stances before Daniel's.
"Let's go!" Ash and Korrina's Lucarios both came in fast and unleashed a series of power-up punches, bone rushes, and force palms. However, not a single attack connected as the Champion Lucario's eyes flashed blue a the same time Daniel's did.
The Lucario moved as if he knew his entire life where each attack would come, dodging and blocking them effortlessly.
"Aura sphere!" Ash Lucario threw himself in front of Korrina's and took the blow, lifting him through the air and onto the ground in front of Ash.
"Lucario!" Ash rushed down and helped his pokemon sit up.
"You fought well."
"Grouuu."
"Thank you, Ash! Now it's time for our secret weapon!" Korrina shouted as she held her fist up with Lucario. Red's eyes widened when he saw her touch the stone on her gauntlet. The gemstone on Lucario's now lit up and enveloped him in a colorful sphere.
"Ahhhh!"
"What the!?"
"Could it be!?"
Red, Ash, and their pokemon watched in awe when they saw Korrina's Lucario complete his mega evolution.
"Grouuu!"
"Mega Evolution! You mastered Mega Evolution!" Red almost blushed, and Korrina winked at him.
"That's right! Now we'll show them our real skill! Lucario, close combat!" Mega Lucario surged ahead and unleashed a continuous barrage of thunderous strikes that sent shock waves through the air around them, causing several women's long hair to lift up.
However, Daniel and Diantha remained calm and collective. As did Daniel's Lucario, who dodged or blocked the incoming attacks with the same ease as before, frustrating Korrina and her Mega Lucario to now end.
"Come on! Come on!"
"Focus Punch." Daniel's Lucario slammed his right fist into the Mega Lucario and instantly reverted him back to a normal Lucario, who now lay sprawled on his back unconscious.
"Lucario!" Korrina frantically sprinted over to him.
"Lucario, are you hurt!?"
"Grouuuu." He muttered.
"He'll be alright." Daniel said as his Lucario helped the younger one up.
"I must say, you three are quite skilled. You still have much to learn, but I can see bright futures for you all." Diantha said. Her words filled all three with immense joy. Even if they'd been soundly defeated, hearing Duchess Diantha say such things meant so much.
"I look forward to seeing just how much you grow. But in the meantime, you should have these." Daniel handed Ash and Red two stones, Ash's black and green just like Daniel's Charizard's, and Red's orange and red.
"Give them to your Charizards." Ash and Red quickly understood and their Charizards almost yelped when they realized what it meant.
"Princess!" Diantha said as Serena almost froze.
"Duchess?" She stuttered.
"You should have one too." Diantha said as she handed her a light blue variant with a blue center.
"Huh?"
"You'll know when you find the right pokemon." Lucario and Sceptile looked slightly jealous watching the others, and Pikachu patted their backs.
"We didn't forget you." Daniel chuckled as his Lucario reached out with similar stones for them.
Ash, Red, and Serena stared at their stones before looking at each other.
"This is it, our journey begins now-"
"Mon Roi! Mon Roi!" A herald sprinted inside, covered in sweat and looking terrified.
"Mon Roi, news from the north, King Victor of Galar has just landed near Coumarine City with an invasion army!" The entire ballroom went as silent as a crypt. Serena looked back at Ash with horror.
"Ash." She muttered.
Alexandre, however, showed no hesitation and tightened his fist.
"Send out the Arrière-ban! My Lords, ready your knights, and men-at-arms! We go to war!"
Author's note
Yep a lot happened,
Unfortunately, before their journey can get underway, Ash and Red must help fight off the Galar invasion,
But can they defeat them?
If you want to submit an OC there are still plenty of opportunities
So until next time,
Please review, comment, suggest, or ask (VIA PM)