Chapter 4: The King of Galar
Author's note: At xxx play smells like teen spirit, Pan cover, yes from the movie Pan, don't judge me
"Charizard Dragon claw!" Ash roared
"Show him your Dragon claw, Charizard!"
Ash's Charizard huffed and flew straight into a slightly larger Charizard, who wore a silver necklace like Daniel Rian's Charizard. The two fire-lizards clashed hard enough to send out a small shockwave around them, quickly followed by a fierce melee of dragon claw blows against each other like sword duelists.
A vast crowd of knights, squires, and men-at-arms gathered around Ash and his opponent, including Red, Clemont, Lucas, Count Grant, and even Duke Daniel himself.
Charizard felt sweat trickle down his neck upon feeling the clearly superior strength of his foe and the immense skill. This Charizard's fighting style was clearly the same as Daniel's Charizard but much less refined.
"Not bad, monsieur, oh pardonne-moi, Prince consort." The Charizard's trainer was very tall, nearly reaching Duke Daniel's height. His black hair and blue eyes matched the sigil on his armor's breastplate, depicting a black and blue enhanced Charizard.
"I've heard of how powerful you and your Charizard are, Baron Alain. You don't disappoint!"
"Pika!"
"Merci." Alain said, nodding. Red noticed the young Baron glance over at Daniel once or twice during the battle. Similarly, the Duke watched him in a way that reminded Red of how Pierre would look at him and Ash.
"Do you think the rumors about Baron Alain being Duke Daniel's former protege are true?" Lucas whispered to Red and Clemont.
"Well, according to my father, he was once the Duke's squire when he was younger. So that would make sense." Clemont added, adjusting his glasses as he noted the similarities of Alain's gauntlet and Daniel's.
"Imagine learning directly from Duke Daniel." Red lost himself to the daydream of Daniel and his Pokemon training him. Though, that wasn't to say he didn't appreciate growing up in the royal household under Pierre and King Alexandre's mentorship.
"Charizard, now!" Ash's Charizard huffed and allowed himself to fall back slightly, ensuring the stronger Charizard overstepped and exposed himself.
"Dragon Claw!"
"Steel wing!" Alain's Charizard's wings turned to metal and shielded him, leaving Ash's Charizard open to attack.
"Dragon claw!"
"Fire blast!" The following attacks collided simultaneously. Alain's Charizard raked Ash's Charizard across his chest with relentless fury. However, Ash's Charizard managed to unleash a symbol-shaped eruption of fiery power into Alain's Charizard's wings.
Normally a fire-type move would only do limited damage to a Charizard. However, having just used Steel-Wing, Alain's Charizard's wings were now metal and, thus, incredibly weak to fire.
"Grauuu!" Both Charizards snarled in pain. Ash's tumbled onto his back with large claw marks on his chest while Alain's collapsed onto his stomach.
"Ça suffit!" Daniel barked, and the entire crowd nearly went to attention, even Count Grant.
"Very impressive, both of you, but let's leave it there. We may engage in battle tomorrow, and your Charizards must be ready."
Ash and Alain both nodded before helping their Charizards up and approaching to shake hands.
"I'm glad you're on our side, Lord Alain."
"Oui, Vous aussi. It's a shame we didn't get to finish our battle, though, or get into Mega Evolution." Alain said as he patted his Charizard.
Ash, Pikachu, and Charizard nodded. The prince's Charizard looked at the Charizardite now hanging around his neck in a necklace with a longing gaze, and soon Red's did the same.
Both Charizards desperately wanted to experience mega Evolution and now possessed the means to do so. Ash and Red similarly gazed at the keystones embedded into their metal gauntlets with similar yearning.
"Ash, Red. Remember what I told you! Mega Evolution is not something one rushes into! It often requires much training and trials, and the battlefield is not the time to try it out the first time." Daniel said in a particularly stern tone to the young men.
"Oui!" They shouted back, sweatdropping.
The two Charizards, Ash's Lucario and Red's Sceptile, kept staring at their mega evolution stones with dismissive expressions towards the Duke's warning. However, that changed when Daniel's Charizard and Lucario huffed at them, making the Pokemons' expressions mirror their trainers.
"Oui, Duke Daniel is right. It took Charizard and me several tries to get his mega Evolution under control. But now he's a master!"
"Master?" Daniel and his Charizard smirked at the Baron and his Charizard, who sweatdropped.
"Well, we can do it fine." It was only then that Alain's Charizard noticed the Charizardite in Ash's Charizard's necklace and came closer for a better look.
"Grauu?" Ash's Charizard growled, slightly confused, particularly when Alain's Charizard looked at Red's Charizardite then his own. Alain also soon took notice, and Ash saw apparent surprise in his eyes as he looked back at Daniel, who nodded.
"Well, how about that."
"Eh?" Ash, Red, Clemont, and Lucas asked, clearly confused.
"You'll find out eventually. For now, we have the battle to prepare for." Daniel said.
"Montjoie! Saint-Denis!" The various knights, squires, and men-at-arms cried with similar cheers of enthusiasm from their pokemon.
"Montjoie. Saint-Denis." Clemont muttered, his face pale and legs wobbling.
"Come on, let's get our Charizards to the physicians." Ash said, earning a nod from Alain. He, Red, Clemont, and Alain walked through the vast Kalos Royal Army Camp. Every Count and Duke arrived with as many fighting men and pokemon from their domains as could be gathered in such a short time, as well those from the royal domains along the way.
Despite this, their host was massive, with their camp stretching over a mile in each direction along route 12. Not only that, but an incredible feeling of confidence and optimism filled the encampment, with soldiers laughing, sparring, singing to music, or engaging in pokemon battles.
"Do, do you really think they'll be here tomorrow?" Clemont's unmistakable fear became more apparent as he gazed across the fertile fields in front of their camp. Ash came back and placed a comforting hand on Clemont's trembling shoulders.
"Clemont, relax. Everything's going to be fine. You remember the last time the Galar invaded." Ash said as he thought back fondly to the battle near Anistar city where under King Alexandre's leadership, their army achieved a decisive victory over the Galar.
It was Ash and Red's first pitched battle, and they were among the knights on the right flank that overcame the Galar Knights and turned the tide of the fight in their favor.
"...What if I end up in the melee?" Clemont stuttered as he looked down at his scrawny body.
"Clemont, that won't happen." Red assured him. Squires on the cusp of adulthood could occasionally be expected to join a battle under the right circumstances, but Red and Ash now knew Clemont wasn't meant for such things.
"You should stay in the camp and use those brains to help fortify the camp." Ash said, earning an inspired look from Clemont.
"Oui! I already have some ideas!" Clemont cried as his Bunnelby, Chespin, and Luxray quickly fetched him a quill and parchment.
"Let's see, if we adjust these spikes here, and dig another trench on this flank."
"Save it for the King." Alain laughed as he guided Clemont on. Eventually, they arrived at one of the many physicians' tents and dropped off their pokemon.
"No worries, we'll have them as good as new in no time." The physician assured them.
"Merci." Alain said. They were about to leave when Red noticed a familiar Greninja among the pokemon inside.
"Hold on, isn't that Calem's Greninja-" A hooded figure leaped out and ensnared Red, slapping his hand over the knight's mouth.
"Shhhh!" The figure insisted, and it didn't take the others long to figure out who it was.
"Calem, what are you doing?" Clemont asked. The Dauphin sighed and lowered his hood to reveal an exhausted expression.
"Calem, are you ok!?" Ash asked.
"Pika!"
"No... Ever since I became Dauphin, ambitious nobles are swarming me like Beedrill! I've barely had a moment to myself and have gotten even less sleep! I managed to hide out here, but if they find me!"
"Relax, we won't tell anyone." Red assured him, earning an immense sigh from Calem and his Greninja.
"Merci."
"Congratulations on your engagement, by the way, mon roi." Alain said, making Calem blush slightly.
"I still can't believe I got pushed into a betrothal like that."
"You're not unhappy to be marrying Lady Aria, are you?" Red asked. Calem jumped with a red face and sweatdropped.
"No! I mean, we, she, gaah! It all just happened too fast!" Greninja got up and patted Calem's back before Red did the same.
"Calem, I understand how you feel. My rushed wedding certainly felt a bit overwhelming, but I'm more than happy with how things turned out."
Calem nodded but sighed.
"I'm just sorry things turned out this way for you all. Just when Serena was freed from her royal duties, your journey had to get put on hold for this."
Red and Ash shrugged.
"It's our duty to Kalos. Besides, once we're done here, we'll get to travel Kalos and achieve our dreams!" Ash shouted.
"Pika!"
Alain slowly began to smile as he looked at the two brothers.
"I'm interested to see where you'll end up at the end of this journey. Perhaps we could have a proper battle." Ash and Alain's eyes met with the spirit of competition before a shout rang through the camp like the crack of thunder.
"Galar army spotted! Aux armes! Aux armes!"
"Ehhhh!" Clemont yelped.
Ash, Red, and the others sprinted outside as Knights, lords, and officers barked out orders. Soldiers and pokemon alike dashed into position with squires hastily helping knights adorn their armor.
Luckily, Ash, Red, Calem, and Alain were already armed and armored. They joined a contingent of knights and men-at-arms from the country of Anistar as the unmistakable sound of marching soldiers approached them through the treeline across the field.
Ash gripped his sword-hilt as Pikachu sparked his cheeks, and Lucario took a fighting stance. However, as they listened closer, the Kalos Army heard more than just marching. They heard the distinct sound of chanting, no, singing in the distance.
Thousands of voices sang in the harsh and unsavory Galar language that sounded like sandpaper on bare flesh.
"What are they doing?" Red asked in confusion.
"Is that a war cry?" Alain asked, having never heard such a tune before, but it grew closer. Among the chanting, Ash and the others distinguished a word that they kept repeating four times.
xxx
"Hello, hello, hello, hello! Hello, hello, hello, hello!" Finally, they saw them, soldiers, and pokemon emerge from the treeline. At first, dozens, but soon hundreds, and then thousands.
The Kalos Army felt their jaws drop and eyes widen when they saw the demeanor of the Galar Army. They wore arms and armor typical for war but decorated most peculiarly. Soldiers and knights alike flew exotic banners of Galar pokemon done up with tattoos and haircuts.
The soldiers seemed to match these sigils, for their gambesons and metal armor lay painted with clashing colors, black and red, white and gray, blue and purple, and so many more. Additionally, the Galar warriors cut their hair in mohawks with spikes or left half-shaved and the other half long. Some wore no hair at all, but most covered their faces in white and black paint, with their pokemon looking much the same.
All and all, the host before them looked more like a circus than a proper army, and their strange chant joined by the clanging of weapons like drums didn't help.
Finally, they began singing again, bursting in terrible enthusiasm. Alexandre finally joined his army alongside Ash and the others but could only look on with a baffled expression.
"Quoi au nom de Dieu?" He muttered.
"Look!" A path began to clear among the Galar knights and men-at-arms as a louder voice joined in. Finally they saw him, a young man perhaps Calem's age in black armor with green pain across it, and a crowned Rillaboom Sigil moved about the host cheered on by the soldiers.
His head was cut into a mohawk and died green, contrasting the white paint covering his face and black shadow around his brown eyes. Yet all this couldn't wasn't enough.
Red gasped when he saw a crown upon his head, and a muscular Rillaboom following close behind, his fur and vegetation both painted white and black.
A browned-haired young woman with a Cinderace followed, eagerly cheering him on. Finally, he reached the head of his army where the Rillaboom lifted him up above all of the other Galar.
"With the lights out! It sustains us!"
The chant continued, with the King of Galar leading his army as they stuck their tongues out and made unsavory gestures at the defending army, who could only look back in contempt and shout back insults in Kalos.
"Is that!?" Ash started.
"King Victor of Galar." Alexandre muttered.
Ash and Red had heard stories about King Victor being a little eccentric, but this was beyond anything they imagined. Neither was sure if it made them feel better or worse about the upcoming battle.
That evening, Ash and Red stood beside Alexandre and the other high-nobles inside his war-tent around a table before Lucas entered and bowed.
"Mon Roi, Earl Allister, and Lady Bea." Lucas muttered as he ushered in a young man and woman. Oddly enough, the Lady Bea appeared more ready for battle than the man, wearing a gambeson-esk dress with a pair of daggers on her hilt and hair painted silver that gleamed in the candlelight.
Earl Allister wore a fine jacket dyed violet with a doll-esk white mask over his face making him look almost like a ghost.
"Bonjour, King Alexandre." Bea said in Kalos, though she spoke it in a thick accent.
Seibold narrowed his eyes at the Galar nobles.
"Is this how you come before a King? Perhaps in Galar, I suppose." He sneered, noting their outlandish attire, including white paint on Bea's face like King Victor wore. Lady Bea merely smiled and stroked her painted hair despite the Duke's comment.
"I suppose we're surprised you dared to face us in the field instead of hiding behind your castles." She boasted.
"Really? Are you surprised? I suppose you hadn't heard about how your previous King pleaded for mercy after we scattered his army and took him prisoner." Wikstrom countered, earning confident chuckles from the other leaders, save Daniel and Alexandre, who continued to watch the Galar ambassadors very carefully.
"Why have you come here?" Alexandre said calmly but to the point.
"We came to treat with you. I thought Kalos nobles were supposed to be cordial and have decent wine." Bea took a nearly full goblet of wine from in front of Lord Michael, who came in place of his elderly father.
The young man looked furious as he saw Bea drink his wine with clear disdain on her face.
"Hmp, overrated."
"Why have you come to Kalos?" Daniel added, just as firmly as Alexandre.
Allister slowly raised his lanky arm and pointed a finger accusingly at Calem.
"Moi?" Calem almost muttered before Allister turned his finger to the crown on Alexandre's head.
"King Victor...Disputes your succession." Allister spoke very coldly and ominously as if he wasn't entirely there. The entire tent went silent, almost as if in disbelief.
"Quoi?! He disputes the succession of our Kingdom!?" Ash couldn't contain himself and nearly roared, Pikachu growling and sparking his cheeks to back him up.
Bea nodded, finishing the wine and reaching for another glass before Grant swiped it away from her.
"Hmp, how rude." A nerve appeared on the Count's face, and Wulfric placed a restraining hand on his shoulder.
"But yes, for you see since King Alexandre has no male heir. King Victor feels that given the fact that his grandmother was a Kalos Princess, a marriage between himself and Princess Serena would be the optimal course of action for both Kingdoms."
"It will... Unite both Kingdoms."
"Are you mad!? Calem's father was King Alexandre's younger brother! He's clearly the most suitable heir to the throne!" Wikstrom roared.
"He is...Too closely related to princess Serena." Allister added.
Alexandre narrowed his eyes, and even his own nobles, including Ash and Red, felt their King's sheer presence as he bore down on the two Galar ambassadors.
"I'm afraid he's too late. Serena is already married." Bea and Allister both turned to Ash and Red with a malicious expression on Bea's face.
"Ahh, we heard you'd married him to one of your household knights. But which one?" Red and Ash both gave her equally ferocious gazes.
"I suppose it matters not. Widows can remarry." Such a bold threat to his brother's life and Serena's freedom was too much. Both had to be restrained by Alain and Lucas. Even Alexandre looked like he might flip the table over and attack, but Daniel got a hold of him.
However, Lysandre kept his calm and slowly stepped in front of the two Galar nobles.
"Surely, there is a better way to settle this dispute without needless bloodshed."
"Oui, you salopards could sail back to Galar before we bury you here!" Count Philip snarled.
"Actually, King Victor did have just such a proposition." Bea said as Allister took out a parchment and offered it to Alexandre, who almost didn't want to take it and regretted taking it upon reading what it entailed.
"Uncle?" Calem asked cautiously.
"King Victor hereby challenges the Dauphin Calem to single combat between himself and his Rillaboom versus the Dauphin and a pokemon of his choosing. The fight will be to the death or by yield. Should our King win, he will be given Princess Serena's hand and named heir to Kalos." Bea said, her eyes returning to a livid Ash and Red.
"You are mad!" Grant muttered.
"And if Calem wins, will you lot recognize him as King of Galar!?" Daniel growled.
"No." Allister said.
"I accept-" Calem started before Alexandre threw his hand in front of him.
"No!"
"Uncle, I'm not afraid of King Victor! I'm more than happy to fight for my Kingdom-"
"Absolutely not! I won't risk your life and the future of this Kingdom on something like this!" Alexandre snarled before turning back to Bea and Allister.
"Tell your King I give him this one chance to end this peacefully! Leave Kalos now!"
Bea sighed.
"So be it then, King Victor will take what's his by force." Bea returned to Ash and Red with a sinister grin.
"We'll be sure to look for you both on the battlefield."
"Bon, we wouldn't mind fetching a hefty ransom from anyone who tries to get us." Ash growled.
Lucas escorted the two out, and a livid Seibold stabbed the table with his dagger while breathing heavily.
"How many men are in their army!?" He snarled to one of the scout captains.
"Best estimates are roughly ten-thousand, monseigneur. Including a significant number of archers."
"An army of mostly archers?! Ha!" Michael laughed alongside Grant, Philp, and Seibold.
"Longbowmen." Alexandre corrected them with a harsher expression.
"Does it matter? We have over fifteen-thousand men, including five-thousand mounted knights! Not to mention our numbers grow every day!" Michael boasted.
"Arrogance is never wise." Daniel reminded him.
"Oui, we must not take our enemies lightly." Lysandre said as he stroked his beard and turned to Alexandre.
"Mon Roi. You are the most accomplished commander among us. What is your decision?"
All eyes turned to Alexandre, and the two brothers felt a collective sense of anticipation as the King took a deep breath and stared back at the map.
"We're well-positioned to block their movements south or east. Should they try to move west, we could also easily catch them. We're also well provisioned and growing in numbers. Yes, we should hold position here and let them exhaust their supplies."
"Quoi!? We're not going on the offensive!? Forgive me, mon Roi, but we have every advantage!" Seibold cried.
"Oui! Let my contingent take the vanguard! We'll run them down!" Michael proclaimed.
"No! This isn't like their last invasion! They wouldn't have brought so many longbowmen unless they intended to use them to good effect!"
Daniel nodded.
"Oui, I've heard that this King Victor is no fool in military matters. He completely crushed a rebellion in the Crown Tundra province and extended his control to the region. My guess is he's planning on fortifying his camp with stakes and palisades. Attacking it directly would be foolish." Daniel said.
"Every day we wait, we grow stronger, and they'll grow weaker. This is wise, and we will do it!"
Each nobleman bowed their head, though some more reluctantly than others. Ash and Red saw a bit of disappointment on Calem's face, but he didn't protest. Red placed his hand on Calem's shoulder with a reassuring smile.
"You could've beaten him. Maybe you still could, after we take him prisoner!" Calem smiled and nodded.
"Actually, if we do take him, prisoner. You could challenge him, maybe become King of Galar."
"Ahh yes, King Red of Galar!" Alain laughed, soon joined by Ash, Calem, and a few others.
Lysandre bowed his head again with a large smile.
"Merci, mon roi. You are wise. I'll inform my contingent." Lysandre and the others left, but Ash hesitated for some reason. Never before had he felt so anxious while on campaign.
Pikachu noticed it and nudged his head against his.
"Eh? Oh, sorry Pikachu."
"Ash, are you ok?" Alexandre got to Ash before Red could and placed a hand on his empty shoulder.
"I, I'm fine. I just, ahhh." Ash held his head with an anxious expression that felt alien to him. Alexandre looked into his adopted son's eyes and slowly began to understand.
"Something's on your mind, or perhaps someone." Ash looked down but slowly nodded.
"Serena... What happens if I do die or get captured? I promised you I'd keep her safe." Alexandre couldn't help but give him a warm smile before pulling Ash into a hug.
"Ash, I am blessed to have you as a son. Perhaps I shouldn't have brought you along, but alas, you came because of your dedication. Life is risky and unpredictable. All you can do is your best. I know you'll find a way to get back to Serena and keep her safe."
"Pika!"
Ash tightened his fist and nodded.
"Oui! It's too bad I'll have to wait a bit longer to see her again, but saving lives is more important!"
"Pikachu!"
Author's note
No I didn't write this all in one day, I actually have a few chapters already written
Yep I decided to make the Galar a bit eccentric,
Also yes the Galar are ostensibly the "Bad guys" since this is inspired by the Hundred Years War and they're meant to represent England and Kalos France. I hope I haven't offended any British readers, if there are any, but I just wanted to have a little fun and make the Galar a bit unique and memorable
The battle will take place next chapter,
So until next time,
Please review, comment, suggest or ask (VIA PM)