Chapter 17: Comte de Shalour
Lady Bea trembled with an almost pale expression while standing before Earl Allister and Lady Celosia inside the Galar army's command tent.
"It was like nothing I've ever seen before! They had weapons that breathed fire and spit metal faster than any pokemon move!" Bea's hands shook as if suffering from frostbite, and she held her sweat-soaked head. Bea's pokemon looked no less traumatized and provided her no comfort.
"We couldn't even get close to them. They ripped our hulls apart and sunk almost half the fleet. It's over, we're doomed, doom-"
"Bea!" Celosia, who'd been listening with disinterest, almost jumped when she heard Earl Allister speak up with more enthusiasm than she'd ever heard from him before.
Bea looked equally surprised and soon felt his hands steady her quivering shoulders.
"Bea, be calm. You're safe." Bea didn't stop trembling but calmed down considerably upon feeling Allister's warm hands. Celosia rolled her eyes dismissively before taking a sip of wine.
"Yes, it was quite traumatizing, we get it. All the more reason we need to plan out our next attack."
Bea's mouth dropped in utter shock, and within moments, intense color returned to her face as she nearly stormed over to Celosia, just barely restrained by Allister.
"Are you daft!? Weren't you listening, stupid Sliggoo eater! Half our ships are sunk and their crews captured!"
"So we storm the walls."
"Impossible." Allister's usual ominous voice burned with a hint of fiery rage that almost frightened Bea.
"Excusez-moi?" Celosia asked, raising an eyebrow. She and Bea felt the heat in Allister's face, even behind his mask.
"The rumors were confirmed. The Catalan Company defends those walls. A two-pronged attack by land and sea or duel blockade was the only way to take the city. Their new weapon has doomed our shops, and we cannot hope to beat the Catalan Company in such a fortified position. Such would be suicide."
Celosia set the wine down and stroked her Manectric.
"So that's it. Are you just going to give up on taking such a vital city? Need I remind you that King Victor's efforts against the Dauphin and his forces are not going particularly well. Shalour City is one of the wealthiest in Kalos and still supports Calem's war efforts. Are you willing to go back to King Victor in failure? Especially now that the Dauphanist forces have retaken the western coast of Kalos?"
Bea slammed her fists into the table, knocking Celosia's wine over.
"You don't seem to get it! You damned wanker! We're buggered!"
Celosia raised her eyebrow again.
"Excusez-moi?"
"We can't withdraw." Allister sighed.
"Quoi?"
"Count Gurkinn not only has all his County's feudal troops at his disposal but two mercenary companies and another company under sir Arnaud! They outnumber us almost three-to-one now!"
"Meaning?" Celosia asked. Her tone was enough for Bea to flip the table over and try to strangle the Kalos lady.
"Meaning we can't withdraw!" Celosia blinked.
"Excusez-moi?"
"Think about it? What do you think they'll do if we move from our fortified position?" Allister asked. When Celosia didn't answer, he came closer and stared at her with ghostly eyes from behind his mask.
"They'll sally out and attack! We don't stand a chance against their knights without fortifications! We're also running low on supplies, and withdrawing by sea is now impossible!"
Celosia narrowed her eyes.
"Are you suggesting we surrender then?"
Bea's face turned bright red.
"No! I'm not surrendering to that stupid working girl Korrina! Never!" Bea cooled down slightly when Allister took her by the hand.
"So you'll die rather than lose some pride?"
Bea looked to be on the verge of tears, and Celosia appeared more annoyed than anything else.
"My Lady! My Lord!" A messenger cried as he and a Nickit ran inside with frantic expressions.
"This just arrived, from the city!" His hand trembled as he offered Lady Bea a letter carrying the Count of Shalour's seal.
Bea took a deep breath and opened the letter before reading it with Allister.
"Well?" Celosia asked.
"It's not from the Count himself. It seems we wounded him during the melee this morning, and he's handed command over to a Royal Knight. Sir Red." Bea said.
"Sir, Red. I've heard of him." Allister muttered.
"Yeah, he was the one who beat Earl Milo in single combat." Bea added with growing anxiety.
"Monsieur Red? Interesting." Celosia said with a growing smile.
"You know him?" Bea asked.
"Not personally, only that he was King Alexandre's Standard bearer. You've met him before."
Allister blinked behind his mask.
"I have?"
"The knight who rescued Count Gurkinn."
"That was him!" Allister frantically looked back at the letter.
"He knows our situation is untenable, but he also doesn't want any more lives lost on either side."
"How honorable." Celosia scoffed.
Bea and Allister ignored her before nearly dropping the letter.
"He wants the two of us to face him and his brother, sir Ash, in a pokemon tag battle!" Bea shouted in disbelief.
"To what end?" Celosia scoffed, louder this time.
"He says that if we can beat them, he'll let us withdraw safely. But if they win, we have to surrender." Bea bit her lip after finishing and turned back to Allister.
The Earl slowly reached up and removed his mask.
"We must accept this offer. Together, we can save our men's lives."
"Allister-"
"And your life." Allister placed both hands on Bea's shoulders and looked down at her with his deep violet eyes.
"I must save you, Bea. I will save you." The Earl cut off Bea with a long passionate kiss, and the lady closed her eyes, melting away into Allister's arms.
Celosia stroked her Manectric again and watched the two with keen interest.
"Intéressante."
Later that evening, Lady Celosia sat in her tent when one of her knights entered and gave proper courtesy.
"Bonne soirée, ma dame. You summoned me?"
"Oui, monsieur. We have a situation. It seems our Galar allies have proven less capable than we initially thought. Even after we practically gift-wrapped Kalos for these foul hedonists, they still blunder, pathétique." Celosia said while shaking her head in disdain.
"We're pulling back?!"
"That or surrendering." Celosia explained Red's offer.
"Ma dame! The Comte de Shalour will have us all executed as traitors!"
"Calm down, monsieur. That's not going to happen. We've scoured every royal estate in Kalos and still haven't found any trace of the key. However, if what we seek is within the Count's tower, the key may soon be ours."
"Oui, my men are ready at your command."
"Bien, that battle tomorrow morning will keep both sides occupied. However, should Monsieur Red and Ash succeed, we need to ensure our escape is covered."
"What did you have in mind?" Celosia gave an extremely malevolent smile and stroked Manectric again before explaining her plan to the knight.
"Oui, that could work, but it would require one of our men to give their life."
"Oui, it will." The knight took a deep breath and nodded.
"I know just the one."
The following morning's weather proved exceptionally calm despite both armies' deep angst.
Just beyond Shalour's eastern wall, Arnaud's company and hundreds of Shalour knights/men-at-arms gathered alongside their pokemon, with the Catalan Company manning the wall itself. Together, they unleashed a unified chant for Ash and Red, who stood fully armored alongside their pokemon.
Directly across from them stood most of the Galar army who similarly chanted for Lady Bea and Allister, the latter armored and masked.
Serena hugged Ash tightly and locked him in a passionate kiss.
"Do your best, mon amour! I know you, and Red can beat them!"
"Merci! We've got this, right guys!"
"Grawwww!"
"Grouuu!" Lucario and Tyrunt roared with bursting enthusiasm.
"Show them the might of Kalos!" Bonnie screamed before Clemont took her by the shoulder.
"Come on Bonnie, let's get back on the wall."
"Awww! Bonnie wants to stay close like Serena and Korrina!" Bonnie pouted.
Korrina mirrored Serena, refusing to let Red escape her fiery Kalos-style kiss.
"You really are something, mon amour! Challenging them to a battle like this!" Korrina beamed. However, her smile faded into frustration as she narrowed her eyes at the knight.
"Dis-moi ça, why didn't you want me beside you!?" She roared, making Red nervously sweatdrop.
"Uhhh, well-"
"We could've beaten Bea together! Look at that
chienne!" Korrina snarled. She and Bea locked eyes as a lightning bolt burst between them.
"Bea!"
"Korrina!" Red and Allister both restrained the ladies, who intended to fight each other without pokemon.
"Calmer! Korrina, there's a reason I want to do this with Ash. You're just going to have to trust me."
Korrina sighed before kissing Red's cheek.
"Fine, just beat her!"
Korrina and Serena watched the brothers bump fists before approaching their opponents. However, the princess and her pokemon became slightly uncomfortable when they saw Korrina's fiery hatred didn't dissipate as she and her Lucario stared at Bea.
"Korrina, why do you hate Lady Bea so much?" Serena asked with a nervous sweatdrop. Korrina's head shot to Serena, nearly making her jump.
"Why do I hate her!? Why do I hate her!?" Serena nearly shrunk in fright but nodded.
"Well! When we were sixteen, she and her father visited Shalour city and asked if we could have some miare galettes, but we were out!"
Serena and her pokemon gave crestfallen expressions.
"C'est ça?"
Korrina huffed out steam from her nostrils.
"C'est là que ça a commencé! After that, she spurred me by refusing to have a pokemon battle! But when Lady Olympia arrived, eagerly battled her! Lady Olympia, a psychic type trainer instead of me, a fellow fighting type trainer!" Korrina broke into a rant, detailing a series of back and forth contemptuous actions between her and Bea.
"Hmp, but that all changes today! When Ash and Red win, I'm going to lock her up in a dungeon and won't let her leave until she finally has a battle with me!" Korrina roared alongside Lucario.
"Bien, I'm glad you'll finally have peace." Serena muttered, still sweatdropping.
Back on the battlefield, Ash and Red approached the two Galar Lords.
"This is going to be passionné! Great idea, Red!" The chevalier smiled at his brother with perhaps more emotion than he intended and nodded.
"Merci, it just felt right. You and I, we haven't had a good tag battle in a while."
"Well, I wouldn't have it any other way!"
"Pika?" Ash didn't notice it, but Pikachu did. Red almost appeared ready to cry for a moment but regained his composure and mirrored Ash's confident demeanor.
"Pour Kalos!"
"Pour Kalos!"
Bea and Allister faced down the knight brothers with impassioned looks, or what they assumed was one from Allister, whose face remained hidden.
"So, the two royal knights who defeated Earl Milo and Lady Nessa. We meet again." Bea said. Ash and Red fought back a surge of rage when memories of the two Galar nobles just before the battle in the north returned to them.
"I'm surprised you offered us such generous terms after what happened in the north." Bea added.
"Hmp, unlike you, Galar, we have honor." Red growled.
"It was Kalos men that murdered your King and nobles." Allister corrected.
"So no Galar took part in the massacre?" Ash growled.
Bea and Allister went silent.
"Your army at Cyllage City broke their word when we offered them similar terms. Let's hope you two prove more honorable than sir Mercer." Red said.
Bea and Allister grit their teeth.
"Let's see just how skilled you are!"
A man-at-arms from Arnaud's company came up beside the two teams.
"The battle between Monsieurs Ash and Red versus Lady Bea and Earl Allister will now begin! Each trainer is allowed two pokemon! Whoever knocks out all of their opponents' pokemon wins!"
"Allons-y! Tyrunt!"
"Kirlia!"
"Runt!" Tyrunt snapped his jaws and ran out in front of Ash beside Kirlia.
"Tyrunt and Kirlia? Are you both daft?" Bea laughed in utter disbelief.
"Type matchups don't mean everything." Red countered.
"We'll see. Go Cursola."
"Grapploct!" The two Galar Pokemon came out with ferocious expressions.
"Démarrer!" The ref cried.
"Night Shade."
"Brick break!" Cursola and Grapploct unleashed their moves with excellent coordination. Night Shade came in front while Grapploct leaped up and over the brothers' pokemon before lashing out with all four tentacles.
"Look out!" Serena cried.
"Tyrunt, dragon tail!"
"Pychic!"
"Runt!" Tyrunt's tail glowed green, and he furiously lashed out at the incoming wave of ghost energy, forcing back any that would've hit him or Kirlia.
"Kirl." Kirlia's eyes glowed, and she aimed both hands. She held Grapploct in place while the fighting octopus's eyes widened.
"Oh no!" Bea yelped while Korrina screamed with zeal.
"Merveilleuse! You've got her, Red!"
"Not yet, Curse." Allister said while aiming his hand at Kirlia.
"Curse!" Ash and Red both cried together.
"Curse!" Bea joined in. Cursola willingly
took on the curse and endured immense pain. However, in doing so, Kirlia felt a dark power envelop her.
"Kirl?"
"Tile!" Sceptile frantically shouted before Kirlia wailed in agony. Curse's effect made Kirlia break her psychic before it could damage
Grapploct, freeing him.
"Cursola, Allister." Bea blushed intensely as she looked back at her partner.
"Merde! That's a dirty trick!" Korrina snarled while holding her head in frustration. Many Kalos and allied soldiers shouted out curse words in agreement with Korrina while the Galar forces cheered.
"Ash, Red, stay focused! Grapploct's free!" Serena shouted.
"Brick Break!"
"Grapp!"
"Dragon Tail! Protect her!"
"Runt!" Tyrunt leaped up and began fencing back each of Grapploct's tentacles but with incredible difficulty.
"Pika Pikachu!"
"FLetch!"
"Grauuu!"
"Grouuu!" Ash's pokemon cheered Tyrunt on, but none did so as loud as Bonnie.
"Night shade."
"Tyrunt, he's going for Kirlia, don't let it hit her!"
"Kirlia, you need to get up and use psychic!"
"Sceptile!" Hearing Sceptile and Red cheer her on gave Kirlia the boost she needed, and with a determined expression, she got up and held Grapploct in place.
"Kirlia!"
"Ty!" Tyrunt turned and resumed his efforts against Night Shade while Kirlia held Grapploct in place and readied herself to impact him with super-effective damage.
"Come on Grapploct! Break free! I know you can do it!" Bea cried.
"Grapp!"
"Kirl!"
"That's it Kirlia! You-" Red and Sceptile's faces turned pale when they saw Curse's mark appear on her chest again.
"Kirlia!"
"Kirl!" Curse hit her again, and Kirlia fell to her knees.
"Tyrunt behind you!"
"Pika Pikachu!" Tyrunt turned just in time to see
Grapploct's four tentacles slam across his body with Break Break.
"Runt!"
"Ahhhh!" Bonnie shrieked.
"Tyrunt, êtes-vous ok?"
"Runt!" Despite enduring the super-effective move, Tyrunt sprung back up and furiously snapped his jaws.
"Don't give up Tyrunt! Go for broke!" Serena cried.
"You're stronger than that Curse Kirlia!" Korrina added.
Clemont and his pokemon joined the cheer when Chespin noticed something odd.
"Ches?" Chespin looked over at Clemont's formation of hand cannoneers when he noticed that there was one more man than the day before.
"Ches?" Chespin poked Luray and Bunnelby before asking them.
"Lux?"
"By?" Bunnelby and Luxray both realized he was right.
Kirlia had just recovered from the Curse when an intense feeling of guilt overcame her for what happened to Tyrunt.
"Kirl."
"Runt!" Tyrunt roared, telling Kirlia he needed her beside him.
"Tile!" Sceptile cried, saying he believed in her.
"Kirlia, you can do it! I know you can!"
A fire lit inside Kirlia's stomach, and she stood up tall.
"Kirlia!"
"Runt!" Tyrunt bent over slightly, and Kirlia nodded before leaping onto his back like a mounted knight.
"What the?" Bea laughed, half amused, half impressed.
"Just you wait, Bea!" Korrina roared.
Serena similarly watched with intrigue.
"Night shade."
"Superpower!" Grapploct leaped forward, winding his tentacles back while Cursola unleashed another nightshade aimed more for Kirlia.
"Tyrunt, jump!"
"Psychic!"
"Runt!" Tyrunt leaped up but couldn't escape Night Shade, at least not on his own.
"Kirl!" Kirlia lifted Tyrunt up the rest of the way, bringing him over Night Shade.
"What!?"
"Crunch!"
"Teleport!"
Kirlia vanished and reappeared directly behind
Grapploct who jumped in fright.
"Psychic!" Kirlia ensnared Grapploct just as Kirlia hit, but this time, she fought through the pain and hit the fighting octopus with her full might at the same time Tyrunt snapped his jaws around Cursola.
"Cursola!"
"Grapploct!" Both Galar pokemon hit the ground with swirled eyes.
"Cursola and Grapploct are unable to battle!" The ref cheered.
"Oui!" Serena, Korrina, and Bonnie threw their hands up together alongside Arnaud and the entire allied army.
"Don't give up, my lady! My lord!"
"Show these Sliggoo eaters who you are!"
Bea grit her teeth with begrudging respect while Allister took a deep breath. Both recovered their pokemon and handed them off to medics.
"Rest up. You did well. Alright, I can see how you two beat Milo and Nessa. But you haven't seen anything yet, Machamp!"
Korrina's eyes widened, and moments later, an enormous Machamp leaped clear over Bea and flexed his muscles.
"Champ!"
"Gengar." A sinister grin appeared out of thin air in front of Allister, followed soon after by the rest of him.
"Gar!"
"Kirl!" Kirlia nearly collapsed after Curse returned.
"Kirlia c'est assez, come back."
"Vous aussi, Tyrunt." Tyrunt carried Kirlia back where a Wigglytuff quickly took them both in her arms. The brothers turned to the pokemon they intended to send in next.
"Lucario."
"Sceptile." Both pokemon looked at their mega evolution stone and hesitated for a moment. But upon looking Ash and Red in the eye, their fear vanished.
"Grouuu!"
"Tile!"
"Oui! Lucario!" Korrina screamed before Serena smirked a little.
"Don't forget about Sceptile!" Korrina looked slightly flustered.
"And you too, Sceptile!"
Bea smiled and turned to Allister, who nodded with her.
"Time to take this to the next level!"
"Indeed." The entire Kalos audience watched in awe and terror as Bea and Allister performed the necessary actions and gigantamax'd their pokemon.
"Hah! You're buggered now, Sliggoo eaters!"
"The match is ours!"
"Merde!"
"Grauu!"
"Grauuu!" Ash and Red's Charizards roared to Lucario and Sceptile.
Serena, Korrina, Bonnie, and Clemont held their breaths, but the brothers showed no fear.
"You can do this."
"I know you can." Without hesitation, Ash and Red touched their keystones and left the Kalos audience in a sense of wonder and anticipation as colorful spheres formed around the pokemon.
"Pika!" Ash and Red looked back to see them, Mega Lucario and Mega Sceptile. They looked back at their respective trainers, eyes meeting just as Charizards' had.
Years earlier, a small Treecko raced through the streets of Coumarine City covered in bruises and burn marks as a trio of Houndour pursued him.
"Get back here!" A portly man in merchant's attire roared while running behind his Houndour.
"Tree!" Treecko tried desperately to avoid the incoming embers, dodging two but stumbling to the ground when a third hit his back.
"Ko!" Treecko heard the terrible snarling as all three Houndour loomed over him with the merchant.
"Stupid Treecko, I didn't bring you all the way from Hoenn to rob me of the fortune you'll go for here! Now then!"
Just as he reached for Treecko, all five heard a distinct growl followed by a sword unsheathing.
"C'est assez." Treecko and the others turned to see a brown-haired teenage boy wearing a blue gambeson with a muscular Charmeleon beside him.
"Who are you supposed to be?"
"Red, squire of Monsieur Pierre, Standard Bearer for King Alexandre. Selling Pokemon on the market is illegal in Kalos."
The merchant scoffed and drew a sword.
"So you're going to enforce it then, boy?"
"I am." Red and Charmeleon charged into the attackers. Charmeleon overtook each Houndour within moments while Red easily knocked the merchant's sword from his hand.
"Gahhh!" The merchant yelped, backing up until bumping into something hard.
"Eh?" The merchant looked up at an imposing knight who stood almost a foot taller than him with Klefki beside his head.
"Going somewhere?" Pierre knocked the portly merchant out with a single punch while Red knelt down and picked up Treecko in his arms.
"It's ok, you're safe now."
"Cko."
Years earlier, young Ash stood with Red, Pichu, and Charmander as Pierre came in.
"We combed the wreck and found this." Pierre revealed a white pokemon egg with red spots.
"Ahhh! Papa's egg!" Ash cried.
"Quoi?"
"Our Papa's Lucario mated with a female who laid an egg. Papa's Lucario took the egg and hoped it would hatch. But papa said it would only hatch for the right person."
"Ahh, Oui, it is said that Riolu sometimes refuses to hatch until they meet someone with the desired aura. Well then, it's only right that you two should have it." Pierre handed both pages the egg.
"Merci! We'll make sure Riolu hatches and then take good care of him for Papa's Lucario!" Ash promised.
Ash and Red took turns caring for the egg, but each time Ash did so, he almost felt something reaching out to him, calling to his very essence. Then one knight, while asleep, he heard a voice.
"Satoshi."
"Eh?" Ash said as he and Pichu got up.
"Who's there?"
"Satoshi."
Ash looked down at the egg, which now began glowing.
"Ohh! Could it be!?"
"Chu!" Moments later, the egg hatched and a small red Riolu stared up at Ash.
"Rio."
"Riolu, you're here!"
"Pi!"
Riolu looked at Ash curiously before closing his eyes and reaching out towards the boy, feeling his aura.
"Rio!"
Ash and Red looked back at their pokemons' eyes, eyes they knew.
"Grouu!"
"Tile!" Mega Lucario and Sceptile took fighting stances.
"It worked!" Bonnie cried.
Serena touched her heart and beamed with emotion while Korrina leaped up and down.
"I knew it! You two salopards are doomed now!"
"Hmp, we'll see! Dai Steel!"
"Kyodai Phantom."
"Champ!" Gigantamax'd Machamp slammed his foot into the earth and sent up massive steel spikes through the ground towards Mega Lucario and Sceptile. At the same time, gigantamax'd Gengar projected multiple household items around him, each the size of Mega Sceptile, and hurled them strategically towards any area Dai Steel didn't go, cutting off the brothers' pokemon escape vectors.
"Power up punch!"
"Leaf Blade!"
"Grouu!" Mega Lucario's fists glowed red, and he smashed through the incoming dai steel, clearing a path for himself and Mega Sceptile to move. At the same time, Mega Sceptile drew his arm blades and slashed apart each ghostly projectile that came down upon them.
"Ahhh! Brilliant!" Korrina shouted.
"That's it Ash! Keep it up!" Serena cried. She and Korrina knew the longer they kept this going, the better, for with each power-up punch Mega Lucario grew stronger.
"No you don't! Dai Attack!" Gigantamax'd Machamp slammed his right foot into the ground again, but Mega Lucario sensed it.
"Grouuu!"
"Look out!" Both Mega Pokemon leaped to the side and barely avoided a geyser-esk burst of energy that flew from the ground beneath them.
"Kyodai Phantom."
"Dai attack!" Gigantamax'd Machamp almost caused an artificial earthquake with how many times he slammed the ground with his foot and caused a series of geysers to burst up beneath them.
Mega Lucario and Sceptile successfully dodged these attacks but became increasingly separated from each other, which put Lucario in increasing peril as his fighting moves couldn't do anything to the incoming Kyodai Phantom blows.
"Swords Dance!"
"Grouuu!" If he couldn't fight back, Lucario would at least ready himself for a blow on Machamp.
"Dai attack!"
"Champ!" Mega Lucario sensed where the geyser would come and leaped backward, but in doing so, left himself vulnerable to Kyodai Phantom and two of the ghostly projectiles struck his chest.
"Lucario!" Serena and Ash cried.
"Pika!"
"Grouuu!"
"Braix!" Braixen yelped in terror. Charla and Pancham noticed her tone with intrigue.
"Char?" Charla asked, making Braixen blush while nervously looking away.
"Got him! Now finish hi-"
"Double Team!" Mega Sceptile dashed across the battlefield, making a dozen copies of himself.
"Kyodai Phantom."
"Leaf Storm!"
"Tile!" Mega Sceptile unleashed a hurricane of leaves, which ripped apart the incoming Kyodai Phantom projectiles and slammed into gigantamax'd Gengar.
"Gar!"
"No you don't! Dai Steel!"
"Champ!" gigantamax'd Machamp jumped up and crashed both feet into the ground, causing metal spikes to encircle all twelves Mega Sceptile.
"Leaf Blade!"
"There you are, Kyodai Phantom." Red just realized that whatever Sceptile cut through the metal would reveal himself as the true Sceptile.
"Aura Sphere!"
"Grouuu!" Mega Sceptile threw two punches and a kick, unleashing an aura sphere with each motion and blowing three holes in the steel wall.
Gigantamax'd Gengar growled in frustration when he saw three Sceptile escape Machamp's encirclement.
"Merci! Leaf Blade!"
"Tile! The real Mega Sceptile leaped up and slashed apart all three ghostly projectiles, ensuring none hit Mega Lucario.
"Ha! They fight so well together!" Bonnie cried.
"Oui." Serena and Korrina said. Both touched when they saw the fiery enthusiasm in Ash and Red's faces.
Greninja similarly couldn't help but lose himself to Ash and Mega Lucario's incredible bond.
"Gre."
"Alright, you two are good, but now this ends! Ready darling?!"
Allister nodded, and the two Mega Pokemon saw gigantamax'd Machamp step in front of Gengar.
"Kyodai Phantom."
"Kyodai Charge!"
"Maaaaaaaaaa!" All four of gigantamax's Machamp's fists exploded with fiery energy around them while Gengar projected more ghostly objects around his partner's sides.
Ash and Red, however, merely smiled and turned to each other.
"Voler et recharger?" Ash sugged.
"Oui! After you!"
"Lucario, power up punch!"
"Sceptile, leaf blade!"
"Grouu!" Mega Sceptile leaped up at the same time Mega Lucario reached for his legs.
"Ahhh! Ash, what are you doing!" Bonnie shrieked. Many Kalos/allied soldiers agreed with her, but Serena, Clemont, and Korrina remained confident in the brothers.
"Grouuu!" Mega Lucario seized Mega Sceptile's ankles and, with his enhancing strength, hurled Sceptile far higher than he would've gone merely jumping.
"What the!?" Bea yelped when she saw Mega Sceptile fly clear over gigantamax'd Machamp and flung Mega Lucario forward.
Machamp came in with all four fists while the ghostly ordnance also flew in. However, Mega Lucario moved in fast enough to avoid both and came straight for gigantamax's Machamp's chest.
"Close Combat!"
"Leaf Blade!"
Mega Lucario reached out and unleashed his unrelenting fury on Machamp at the same time Mega Sceptile came down and sliced Gengar straight down the center of his body. Both sides went utterly silent as Mega Lucario and Sceptile landed beside each other.
Finally, the dust settled, and the Kalos forces erupted in a seemingly endless cheer when they saw both gigantamax'd pokemon on their backs, unconscious and reverted to normal form.
"Lady Bea and Earl Allister's pokemon are unable to battle! The winners are Monsieur Ash and Red!"
"La victoire! La victoire!" Arnaud roared.
Serena and Korrina both embraced each other, sharing an overwhelming sense of pride and joy for their respective love. Ash and Red, meanwhile, both raced forward to hug their pokemon.
"Grouu!"
"Tile!" The two teared up as they embraced their trainer.
"You did it, Mega Evolution." Ash said as Mega Lucario took a moment to look at himself.
"Gre." Greninja added while placing his webbed hand on Lucario's shoulder, offering him praise.
"You're in control now." Sceptile wiped away a tear from his eye before looking at the rest of Red's team, who offered him encouragement.
"Kirl!" Kirlia's eyes turned to hearts, and she leaped up into Sceptile's arms, making him sweatdrop, though he didn't let her down. Red continued smiling until he felt someone place a hand on his shoulder and turned to see Ash.
"We did it!"
"Oui." Red muttered.
"Ehhh? Êtes-vous OK?" Ash asked, utterly confused when he saw his brother now tearing up.
The Galar army went as silent as a graveyard, and both their leaders trembled.
"We, we lost?"
"That's right!" Korrina roared from the wall with utter triumph in her expression.
Allister stroked Gengar tenderly as Bea did the same with Machamp.
"It's alright, Gengar." He turned to Bea and approached the lady, intending to give her similar comfort when suddenly the world slowed down around him.
Both sides jumped when the sound of a hand cannon going off erupted from the wall.
"Quoi!?" Clemont almost jumped out of his armor and frantically turned to his cannoneers. One had indeed fired his weapon, only for the others to wrestle him to the ground furiously.
"Qu'est-ce que tu fais!?" They roared.
"Bea." Allister muttered in a terrified voice as he saw her look down at a hole in her waist, now soaked in blood.
"Eh?" Bea muttered.
"Ahhhh!" Serena screamed, and even Korrina found herself lost for words.
"Merde! Clemont, what have you done!?" Arnaud roared.
"I don't understand!" Clemont screamed, his legs wobbling.
"Bea! Bea!" Allister caught the noblewoman in his arms and visibly shook as she breathed heavily.
"Allister! Please, I don't want to die! I don't want to die!" Bea's eyes filled with tears, and moments later, her eyes closed.
"Bea! Bea!" Ash and Red felt their throats dry up and lost the ability to speak, especially when tears escaped Allister's mask.
Moments later, the covering fell off, and Allister stood up, revealing his face and a pair of now soulless eyes.
"Treachery, treachery, treachery!"
The other Galar began repeating him with similar fury.
"Wait! We didn't order this! Hold! We don't want any bloodshed!" Red cried.
"Please listen! This is a mistake we-" Ash started, but Allister drew his sword and charged straight for them with the entire Galar host close behind, but just the Galar host.
"Ash!"
"Red!"
"Ahhh!" Bonnie buried her head in Serena's legs to escape the carnage.
"Aux armes!" Red cried out, and Arnaud's men quickly formed up around Ash and himself. This happened just in time as the tide of Galar crashed into them and would've swept the Kalos away had they not taken up ranks.
"Princess! You must leave!" Monsieur Gefried roared as he lowered his visor and raced down to join the others.
"Ash!" Serena muttered before realizing the knight was right. She couldn't help Ash.
"Come on Bonnie. Korrina, are you staying or going?"
"Going, just one moment, Lucario extremespeed!"
"Eh?" Serena and Bonnie watched in disbelief as Korrina Lucario raced across the battlefield like a flash of lightning and returned with lady Bea in his arms.
"Bien!"
"Ahh! Lady Bea!?" Serena yelped.
Korrina placed her fingers against Bea's neck and then thrust up a victorious fist.
"Thank Reduka. She's still alive!"
"She is!" Serena and Bonnie yelped.
"Oui, she's just unconscious! Allez!" All three raced to a Noivern and Salamence nearby.
"Back to the tower!" Any sense of resentment Korrina felt towards Bea had now seemingly vanished.
Greninja had similarly leaped into action, drawing his hand blades and rushing beside Ash to help fortify their line. However, it was only then that the pokemon realized he'd abandoned Serena and frantically looked back to see her moving away from the battle.
"Gre." Greninja sighed before returning to the fight.
"Sal!" Both dragons took them and their pokemon to the tower of Mastery, where only a skeleton garrison remained, the rest having gone to see the battle.
"Physician! Physician!" Serena cried, and moments later, Gurkinn's physician came down.
"What's wrong- Dieu ait pitié!" The woman yelped as she sprinted over and took Bea from Lucario's arms.
"What happened to her!?"
"She was shot by a hand cannon!"
"Merde! Ok, I need to work fast! Come on, Wigglytuff!" Serena, Korrina, Bonnie, and their pokemon could only watch in angst as Bea disappeared into another chamber.
"She's gonna make it, right? Right?" Bonnie muttered before Serena knelt down and hugged her.
"I don't get it?! Ash and Red won. Why would that gunner take the shot!? Cela n'a aucun sens!" Korrina growled while clenching her fists. Serena thought back to sir Mercer. This kind of thing was right up his alley, but they had no indication he was among the Galar forces there.
It was just then that the Princess realized that she'd only seen Galar troops at the match and none of Lysandre's.
"Wait a minute, Korrina, did you see any of Lysandre's troops there?"
"Eh? No, I didn't." Both young women looked at each other in understanding before hearing a loud crashing noise and a few shouts.
"Les intrus!"
"Bonnie, find a safe place and hide."
"But-"
"Now!" Serena yelled before racing off with Korrina. Moments later, they arrived at the base of the Mega Lucario statue, where a cloud of dust settled to reveal none other than lady Celosia flanked by two of her knights.
"Te voilà!" She cried out while holding up what looked like a scroll.
"Hey! Qu'est ce que tu crois faire!?" Korrina roared while two Shalour knights raced up beside them.
"Ahh, Lady Korrina, and is that? Oui! Princess Serena!"
The noblewomen growled and felt their blood boil as they stared at the traitorous noble.
"You had leady Bea shot, didn't you!" Serena roared.
"Oui, she served her purpose." Korrina's eyes widened when she saw the scroll.
"Drop that, and we'll let you live, sale traître!"
"Afraid not. I have my orders. Unfortunately for you, Princess, that includes collecting another target of opportunity." Celosia's sinister grin returned as her Manectric and Drapion came beside her.
"Protect her majesty!" Korrina ordered her knights while similarly throwing herself in front of Serena.
"En garde!" Korrina's clashed with Celosia's while the noblewoman touched a mega evolution stone on her gauntlet.
"Eh?" Serena and Korrina muttered. Within moments Manectric mega evolved and roared.
"Thunderbolt!"
"Attention!" Korrina and Serena jumped away from each other with only a moment to spare.
"No way you're beating me with Mega Evolution! Lucario! Allons-y!"
"Grouu!" Korrina pressed her keystone, and Mega evolved her Lucario, who took a position in front of her.
"Flamethrower!"
"Bone Rush!" The two Mega evolved pokemon clashed, but Celosia kept her eye on Serena.
"Poison jab!"
"Fais attention!" Serena yelped when Drapion came right for her.
"Braix!"
"Cham!" Braixen and Pancham tried to intervene, only to take the blows for her.
"Ahhh! Braixen! Pancham!" Her pokemon collapsed from Drapion's power and poison.
"Drap!" Drapion loomed over Serena, who trembled for a moment before mustering Ash's courage.
"Charla, Dragon Claw!"
"X-Scizzor!"
"Char!" The dragon Charmander leaped up and met Drapion's attack, but despite her best efforts, the larger pokemon steadily overpowered her.
"Be strong, Charla! I know you can beat him!"
"Char!" Charla grit her fangs and felt sweat trickle down her back.
"Fake out!" Serena, Charla, and Drapion all blinked in shock when Miette's Meowstic appeared over Charla and jabbed Drapion, making him flinch.
"Char!" Charla leaped up and slashed him across the face, causing the poison pokemon to stumble.
"Miette!?" Serena shouted in disbelief when she saw the noblewoman on the stairway.
"Hmp, we have a common enemy now, Princess." Serena and Miette shared competitive smiles and nodded before turning back to Celosia and Drapion.
"Hmp,très bien. Night slash."
"Dragon rage!"
"Char!" Charla blasted Drapion with her dragon move, forcing him to hold it back with Night slash as Meowstic lifted himself up and over Charla.
"Psychic." Rather than use it on Drapion, Meowstic lifted Charla up and away from Drapion, who successfully broke through Dragon Rage and lunged for her.
"Merci! Dragon claw!"
"Char!" Charla flew down and slashed Drapion onto his stomach.
Celosia growled in annoyance and turned back to Mega Manectric, who battled Mega Lucario's extreme speed with quick attack, neither able to gain a clear edge.
"Sword's dance!"
"Grouuu!" Mega Lucario acrobatically leaped over Mega Manectric's next rush and glowed blue as he spun in the air before landing behind him.
"Bone rush!"
"Grouu!"
Mega Manectric turned just in time to see Korrina's Lucario nearly shatter his bone club across his face multiple times.
"Drap!" Drapion came back in at Charla and Meowstic with poison jab.
"Disarming voice."
"Meow!"
Meowstic hit Drapion first, but it didn't stop the attack.
"Flamethrower!"
"Char!" Charla's tail flame burst, and she glowed white before growing larger.
"Charla!?"
"Eh!?" Miette muttered. Within moments, Charla completed her evolution and emerged a Charmeleon and even more dragon-esk than before.
"Char!" Emboldened by evolution, Charla unleashed a fiery inferno into Drapion, leaving him burnt to a crisp.
"Drap." The poison pokemon coughed out some smoke before collapsing. At the same time, Mega Lucario slammed Mega Manectric into the wall, reverting him to his normal form.
"Eh?" Celosia muttered upon seeing her pokemon knocked out. The noblewoman tried to draw a blade from her dress, but Korrina moved too fast.
"Traîtresse!" Korrina knocked the dagger from Celosia's hand with a well-timed swipe, then followed up with two punishing jabs to the noblewoman's upper body before sending her to the ground with a kick.
Celosia landed hard and spat up some blood.
"You filthy little hedonist!" Celosia growled only to see one of her knights go down and the other surrender after getting pinned down and placed at daggerpoint.
"Hmp, thank goodness for our new friends."
Serena's eyes widened when she saw Celosia take out a smoke ball.
"Non! Korrina stop her before-" Serena shouted, but too late. A cloud of smoke enveloped the area, making the young women and knights cough.
"Celosia! Celosia!" Korrina and Mega Lucario searched, but she'd vanished alongside her pokemon.
"Merde!" Korrina snarled while holding her head in frustration. Serena went to check on her pokemon alongside Charla before looking up at Miette.
"Merci."
Miette shrugged.
"Don't think anything of it, Princess." Miette stroked Meowstic before tossing Serena a pair of pecha berries.
"I never had a true rival back home. You, however, are truly something
especial. I plan on continuing my performances across Kalos alongside my Father's company, and it would be ashamed if you didn't do the same. Then I couldn't really test myself."
Serena couldn't help but exchange a competitive smile with Miette and fed her two poisoned pokemon the pecha berries.
"Braix."
"Cham." The two sighed in relief.
Serena turned back to Korrina and Lucario, who stared at an empty pedestal hidden inside the statue's base.
"Korrina, what did she take?"
The frightened look on the noblewoman's face sent a shiver down Serena, Charla, and Miette's spines.
"C'est ca le truc, I have no idea. I didn't even know there was anything in there. Pepe." Korrina looked back up at her grandfather's chamber.
Back at the wall, More troops funneled in to bolster Red's formation, which buckled under the sheer numbers and ferocity of the entire Galar host.
"Gre!" Greninja kept beside Ash and slashed away any Galar man-at-arms that tried to break through and complimented Ash's own sword strikes.
Pikachu and his other pokemon noticed this with intrigue.
"Pika."
"Grouuu."
"Grauuu."
Red grunted when Allister's sword hit his with enough force to nearly shatter both weapons.
"Die! Die!" Allister roared.
"Listen to me! You're making a mistake!" Red cried, but the fire in Allister's face deafened him to Red's pleas.
"Merde! Noibat, signal the line to move back on my command!"
"Noi!"
"Ash, can Fletchinder reach Miquel?!"
"Oui!"
"Bien! Fletchinder, tell him to charge out when I give the order!"
"Fletch!" Fletchinder flew off to Clemont, who understood his gestures and nodded.
"Oui!" The squire cried before racing off to Don Miquel and one of the Shalour knight captains.
"Faciliter!" Red roared after managing to knock Allister back.
"Noi!" Noibat led two Noivern in echoing Red's command across his formation, and within moments, they moved back as one, allowing the Galar to press in further and further.
"Faciliter!"
"Noi!" Allister and his men, so caught up in rage, didn't realize that as they came in, Catalan men-at-arms raced from the walls and arrived at their ever-shrinking flanks.
Red caught another of Allister's blows, nearly tacking a buckler to the face.
"Last chance!"
"Gaaahh!" Red sighed and, mustering his strength, pressed forward. The move caught Allister as he brought his arm back and pinned his sword arm down before Red bashed his head back.
Moving fast, the chevalier rushed forward and grappled the Earl onto the ground despite fierce resistance.
"Charger!" The ground shook, and Red's trap ensnared the Galar. Four hundred mounted knights raced out, finishing the encirclement perfectly.
"It's over! Yield!" Allister trembled, the fight vanishing from his eyes while tears took their place.
"Ahhh!" Allister dropped his sword, and soon, the entire Galar host did the same.
"La victoire!" Ash roared.
"La victoire!" Arnaud echoed. Soon Kalos and Catalan forces alike repeated this cheer, joined by their pokemon.
Red exhaled deeper than he'd done in a long time and looked back over at Ash.
"Red! Ash!" Clemont cheered as he raced down and gave them news from the tower.
Lady Bea felt a lingering pain in her waist, dulled slightly by some form of herbs.
"Ahhh." She tried to get up before a strong hand shoved the noblewoman back down.
"Du repos! You need du repos, ma dame!" The physician growled. Bea slowly opened her eyes and saw the chamber around her.
"Ehhh? Where am I?"
"My home." Bea grit her teeth slightly upon hearing Korrina's voice and almost didn't turn to acknowledge her.
"Hmp, do what you want. But know I could've left you to die out there." Bea sighed and looked at the Kalos noblewoman who sat beside her, arms crossed.
"Thank you." Bea struggled to get the words out but earned a sigh from Korrina.
"It was the right thing to do. No one deserves to be betrayed like that."
"Betrayed?"
"Lady Celosia had you shot. Ash and my beloved Red already beat you and Allister. Why would they try to shoot you?"
Bea wanted to object, but Korrina's reasoning made perfect sense.
"Where is she?"
"Gone, alongside her troops. Once a traitor, always a traitor, it seems."
"It appears so." Bea stared up at the ceiling.
"Allister, he?" She stuttered, terrified of Korrina's answer.
"He's alive and on his way. Your welcome, again."
"What are you going to do with us?"
Korrina smirked before leaning in to whisper into Bea's ear.
"Don't worry. I'm not a cruel woman. We'll give you the same accommodations Count Grant gave Lady Nessa and her husband. That way, you and Allister can get up to similar business."
Bea's face shot red, and she yelped before groaning from the pain in her waist.
"Ha ha ha!" Korrina almost fell over from her laughter, earning a nerve twinge from Bea.
"You'll be treated properly. We still have a sense of courtesy in Kalos, even after everything you lot have done to us." Bea's rage subsided into shame, and she nervously looked away.
"Korrina, when we first met a few years ago. I refused to battle you." Korrina rolled her eyes.
"Oui, you did. Because-"
"Because I was afraid of losing."
"Quoi!" Korrina nearly fell out of her chair again, this time from shock.
"You, you were afraid of losing to me!?"
Bea sighed, deeper this time.
"I was trying to establish myself as the best fighting type trainer in Galar, and you were doing the same here in Kalos. If I'd lost to you, it would've undermined all my hopes and dreams, plus I'd bring shame to my Kingdom. After that, everything just spiralled out of control, and I-"
"Bea!" Korrina almost teared up and embraced the Galar noblewoman in a crushing embrace.
"Gaaah!" Bea yelped in agony.
"Ma dame!" The physician tried to pull Korrina off but to no avail.
"I forgive you! I forgive you!" Korrina wailed, causing the other two women to sweatdrop.
"Bea." Another voice muttered. All three turned to the doorway where a trembling Allister stood, Ash and Red behind him.
"Allister." The Earl fell upon Bea while tears streamed down his face.
"I thought I lost you." He sobbed before Bea pulled him into a warm embrace and passionate kiss.
Korrina continued crying herself even as Red pulled her aside.
"Allez, let's give them some privacy."
Shalour City erupted in celebrations at their victory over the Galar, and joy spread throughout the streets like wildfire. Inside the tower of Mastery, Gurkinn emerged from his chamber to join the festivities, sitting beside Don Miquel and Rollo with wine and cheese while the others danced.
Arnaud joined a young noblewoman in a dance while Miette did the same with Monsieur Gefried.
"Faster brother!" Bonnie giggled as she danced with Clemont, who struggled to keep up with her.
"Ahh! Ralentir!" Clemont cried, sweat trickling down his face. Nearby, Ash and Red both danced with Serena and Korrina. The Princess and Prince consort moved slowly, savoring each other's company, while Red and Korrina moved faster, though with no less passion.
Charla beamed brightly as she joined Charizard in a dance. The fire lizard was still a bit flustered but went along with it to congratulate Charla on her evolution.
Sceptile, by contrast, had no issues joining Kirlia in a slow waltz. As for Lucario, he stood near the wall with Greninja while watching the others, including Pikachu, Tyrunt, and Fletchinder.
"Grouu."
"Gre." Both pokemon smiled warmly as they stared at Ash and Serena.
"Gre." Greninja said, inquiring more about Ash.
"Grou!" Lucario eagerly went over his life story and close bond with Ash, causing Greninja to watch him with ever-growing interest.
"Gre."
"Braix." Braixen nervously approached Lucario and blushed intensely as she reached out and offered her paw.
"Grouu." Lucario smirked slightly but nodded and accepted her offer.
"Braix!" As the two left to dance, Greninja continued watching Ash.
Gurkinn, however, kept his eyes on Red with a mixture of pride and anticipation. Don Miquel had recounted Red's effectiveness as a commander with great admiration.
"Bien." Gurkinn said, still keeping his eyes fixed on Red. The chevalier, however, only looked at Korrina and her deep silver eyes. Even after everything that happened, the task before him filled Red with more angst than an entire Galar army. Yet, he knew what he had to do, what he was going to do.
"Korrina."
"Oui, mon amour!" She giggled.
"Je vous aime." Red said purely and without hesitation. However, Korrina merely giggled and gave him a quick kiss.
"Oui, I love you too!"
"No, you don't get what I'm saying. Je vous aime, meaning I want us to be more than what we are." Korrina froze, her smile instantly fading into a jittery mixture of anticipation.
"Oui, go on." She muttered. Gurkinn's eyes widened.
"Korrina, marry me." Red didn't speak loudly, but his words silenced the entire tower.
"Marry him!" Serena, Ash, Clemont, Arnaud, Raymond, and many others yelped.
"Ahhhh! So romantic!" Bonnie screamed with stars in her eyes.
"Grauuu!"
"Tile!" Red's pokemon jumped in surprise.
"Red, ahhhhh! Mon amour!" Korrina looked ready to explode and hugged Red tighter than ever before.
"Oui! Oui! I'll marry you!" Korrina screamed between passionate kisses.
"Well, how about that." Miquel laughed.
Gurkinn remained silent and merely smiled. Ash, Serena, Clemont, and Bonnie rushed over with the pokemon, but Korrina was relentless.
"Ahhh! I don't want to wait another moment! Let's get married right now!"
"Quoi!" Red, Serena, Clemont, and Gurkinn yelped.
"Oui! Right now! Pepe! Let's fetch the bishop!"
"Korrina!" Gurkinn shouted back.
"Hmmm, well, Serena and I got married on the same day as our engagement," Ash said innocently, making his wife and the others save Korrina sweatdrop.
"Ash get's it! Come on! Let's get married tonight!"
Red turned back to Charizard and Ash, who both nodded.
"Oui, lets."
"Ahh, Korrina." Serena sighed in immense dissapointment. Having hoped to help her plan a spectacular wedding ceremony.
After a very bare-bones ceremony in the chapel, Red and Korrina celebrated back in the tower, including dinner and performances from Serena and Miette.
However, the real entertainment happened that night. Red lay in bed clotheless with Korrina's warm body wrapped tightly around his. His wife's incredibly long hair draped across her exposed back and hindquarters, though not covering them entirely.
Red, however, merely looked upon Korrina's beautiful face and stroked the back of her head as she slept soundly on his muscular chest.
"Red." He heard her whisper.
"Oui, mon amour." He said, smiling back.
"I want eight kids, minimum." Red half-laughed.
"I'm serious! I already have their names picked out!" Red reached down and kissed her cheek.
"I suppose we'll need to ensure there are future Counts of Shalour."
"Oui! After you!" Korrina beamed.
"Me." Red took a deep breath and stared out at the night sky.
"Korrina, we do need to talk about the future." The tone in Red's voice frightened Korrina a little, and she looked up.
"Red, Qu'est-ce qui ne va pas?" He fought back tears and explained.
"Ohhh, mon amour." Korrina embraced Red tightly and provided him with warm comfort.
The following morning Ash, Serena, Clemont, and Bonnie looked over a map of northern Kalos.
"So long as we stay on route 12, we should reach Coumarine City in no time." Serena's excitement spread to Ash and Bonnie, but not Clemont, who trembled.
"But what about the routiers?" Clemont stuttered.
"Ne t'inquiète pas. Arnaud said he and his company will be ahead of us." Ash assured Clemont, though not entirely successfully.
"Voir! It's the newlyweds!" Bonnie squealed when she saw Red and Korrina approaching.
"Ahh, bonjour! There you two are!" Ash shouted with an innocent expression. However, Serena quickly saw unmistakable sorrow in Red and Korrina's faces.
"Bonjour, Ash. Already planning your next move then."
"Oui! I think you mean our move! Serena talked to me last night, and I realized she was right. We can't stay here forever, not when her performances can inspire more people to stand up and give Kalos hope!"
"That's very brave of you, Serena." Korrina said.
"Merci." Serena, however, noticed the way Red spoke and his use of the word 'your'.
"We planned to leave in three days after Arnaud's company heads out. That will give them time to clear up any trouble on the road. Korrina, I hope you're fond of camping out!" Ash laughed, earning a somber smile from his new sister by law.
It was only when she and his Charizard placed their hands on Red's shoulders that he spoke.
"Ash, Serena, Clemont, Bonnie. We spoke with Gurkinn this morning, and he's decided to formally step down as Comte de Shalour."
"Quoi!?" They all cried in unison.
"Oui, he abdicated to me just now." Korrina said.
"That means you're the Countess of Shalour and Red-" Ash caught his breath as he stared at his brother.
"I'm the Comte de Shalour."
"Ahhh! Red, congratulations!" Ash wrapped his arms around him tightly but didn't see the pain on his face until he let go.
"Quoi? Why do you look so sad?" Serena, Pikachu, and Clemont, however, understood, and both nearly turned pale.
"Ash, we're not coming with you." The Prince-consort froze, almost as if he didn't hear what Red said.
"You, you're not coming with us?"
Red clenched his teeth and struggled to look at his brother.
"No, it's like you said. I'm the Comte de Shalour now, which means I have to lead the County's troops against the Galar."
Serena felt her heart break when she looked into her husband's eyes. Ash and Red felt their memories flood through them. From the earliest recollections back in Kanto, their childhoods in Kalos, numerous battlefields, the current journey, they'd always been together, two brothers.
"Non!" Bonnie screamed, tears filling her eyes as she ran up and grabbed Red's arm.
"Non! You're not leaving! I won't let you!"
"Bonnie." Clemont choked on his tears and pulled her away.
"Pika."
"Grauuu."
"Noi."
"Grouuu."
"Tile."
The brothers' pokemon gave each other sad expressions but couldn't match the pain on Ash and Red's faces.
"Ash-" He cut Red off with a bone-crushing hug, and both brothers went silent again.
"This isn't goodbye, you hear me! Once this war is over, we'll see each other again, if not sooner! Swear to me!" Ash roared even as tears flowed down his face.
"Je jure!" Red cried back. The Count wiped a few tears away before turning to a weeping Serena.
"Serena, take good care of Ash. He's helpless without either of us."
"Oui! I will!" Serena had come to think of Red as a brother too, and seeing him go was almost more than she could endure. However, she also recognized he was ultimately making the right choice.
Moving forward, she hugged him while Ash did the same for Korrina.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry it has to be this way." Korrina sobbed.
"Take good care of Red."
"I will!"
Red embraced Clemont and Bonnie before returning to Ash. With the initial shock gone, both brothers raised their fists with competitive smiles, each revealing a new badge from Bea and Allister.
"We both have two now." Ash said.
"Oui, but who will reach eight first?"
Serena and Korrina's sorrow faded as they joined in the competitive standoff.
"Us!" Korrina roared.
"You wish!" Serena retorted.
"Pika!"
Author's note
Yes, Red is officially leaving the party, since he's the Count of Shalour now, he has other responsibilities
I'm afraid the group is big enough already without Korrina and a few hundred Shalour knights/men-at-arms joining
However! Rest assured Red will appear again moving forward, I promise you.
And there was also Charla evolving that happened too.
Now we're down to the anime party, and I think that's for the best. I don't want to neglect Clemont, Bonnie, and Serena, besides there's one more character who could join the party eventually. Someone Clemont might rescue
Just three more things, one, I'm still accepting OCs, two, if you could please leave a review giving me your thoughts if you really like the story, I know this sounds needy but seeing feedback from you guys really helps keep me motivated, especially with everything else going on in my life.
Lastly, I've been doing some thinking about a potential future Amourshipping story based on how Journey's ends. I actually hope this is Ash's last season and that it ends with him and Serena riding off into the sunset as it were. However, if Journey's fails to include a Serena reunion, I might write a sort of sendoff movie for Ash where he finally faces off against Daniel Rian, though based more on the anime. For those who've read my stories, Daniel was my first OC and has consistently been the world champion, this would likely be my last Pokemon story as a sendoff to Amourshipping and Daniel. If this idea interests you, let me know.
So until next time,
Please review, comment suggest or ask (VIA PM)