Chapter 25: Late Discovery
"Open the gates!" A powerful voice echoed from Laverre city's fortified walls. Directly below them, Ash and the others stood beside Tori and those she'd rescued from the Galar ambush. Navigating the marshes and avoiding Earl Bede's men over the last few days proved no easy task, but at last, they arrived.
"Bienvenue, to Laverre City!" Tori led the vast company inside, where they looked upon its beauty. Serena once visited Laverre, but this was years ago, and she'd forgotten how magnificent the city truly was.
Several hundred homes and other buildings rested in between farmlands and rivers. Unlike many other Kalos cities, Laverre had much greenery within the walls, including a colossal tree that stood taller than most castles.
"C'est beau!" Shauna cried with a smitten expression.
A trio of armored figures rode towards them on Rapidash. However, the two of them caught Ash and the others off-guard. A single knight led them, but his companions were both samurai.
"Mademoiselle Tori, welcome back. The countess will be pleased to see you succeeded."
"Bonjour, monsieur Robin. Oui, I saved as many as ai could, not nearly enough, though."
"I'm sure you did everything you could. Par ici, we have food and shelter prepared for you!" Monsieur Robin gestured to the column of soldiers and other refugees who followed him closer to the city center.
As they approached, Serena and the others saw Laverre City's architecture and lifestyle showed a heavy mixing of Kalos and Kanto/Johto culture. Dozens of settlers from both regions moved about while even more of mixed descent mingled with the Kalos majority. However, many of the Kalos inhabitants went as far as to adopt the Kanto/Johto fashion, with several women in kimonos.
"Aww, we should get some of those for our performances!" Shauna almost squealed as Serena eagerly nodded, imagining herself and her Pokemon in that style.
Ash, and Clemont, however, focused more on something noticeably missing from the city, a garrison. Occasionally they'd spot a man-at-arms patrolling about. However, not many, with knights appearing even sparser. Undoubtedly most of the fighting men were off with Count Philip. However, interestingly enough, several dozen samurai bolstered the city's defense and patrolled alongside the Kalos soldiers/knights.
"Why are there so many Samurai here?" Clemont wondered.
"They must have come as settlers alongside their families. I'm just glad they're here." Ash said, wary of Earl Bede's close proximity to the city.
"Bonjour! A soft and somewhat soothing voice carried from the manor built beneath the colossal tree.
Serena and the others looked closer to see none other than Countess Valerie in her pink kimono, a team of fairy-type Pokemon around her, and interestingly enough, a baby in her arms.
"This way!" Several of Valerie's ladies in waiting, both Kalos and Kanto/Johto began distributing various prepared food, drink, and blankets to the exhausted soldiers and their Pokemon, who graciously accepted them.
"Merci."
"Merci."
It was only then that Serena covered her mouth in horror.
"Non!"
"What's wrong?" Ash asked.
"Valerie will recognize me, even with my hair changed."
Ash and the others sweatdropped with crestfallen expressions, forgetting that particular detail.
"Merde, alright, that just means we can't stay with her. No big deal, we still have plenty of money. Let's just stay in an inn." Ash took Serena by the hand and led her away while the others and their Pokemon quickly followed.
"Madame." Tori said while giving proper courtesy to Valerie.
"Tori! Merci Reduka." The countess sighed in immense relief as she approached her lady.
"Wonderful job. This must be a few hundred men and Pokemon at least."
"Merci, I only wish to have saved more."
"I'm sure you did everything you could. Given our situation, we may need these men soon." Valerie said warily, turning back to the baby boy in her arms with growing angst.
"How is little Philip doing?" Tori smiled and stroked the baby's soft cheeks while Diancie, Rapidash, and Sylveon did the same, earning giggles from him.
"Bien assez, he'd be better if his father was here... If it's true, and Victor has the Dauphin cornered..." Valerie tightened her grip on the baby and came close to trembling.
"Take heart, madame, look at these men." Valerie glanced over and only then realized how unafraid and spirited the newly arrived soldiers looked. If anything, they almost appeared like men who'd won a battle rather than lost it.
"Quoi? What's got them in such good spirit?"
Tori giggled slightly with a beaming face.
"Well-" She was about to point towards Serena and Shauna, but they'd vanished alongside Ash and the others.
"Eh?"
"Tori?"
"Hmm, this looks promising." Ash said as he and the others arrived at a ryokan inn.
"Bonjour." A Kanto settler spoke with a heavy accent and respectfully bowed his head while a Mr. Mime did the same.
"Ohayō." Ash said, catching the man off-guard before he looked closer and recognized Ash's heritage. However, he appeared slightly bewildered upon seeing the spurs on his boots.
"Ohayō, monsieur?"
"We need two connected rooms. How much do you need?"
The man put aside his confusion at Ash speaking excellent Kanto and nodded.
"Hai, two livre per room. That includes meals and access to our baths."
"We'll take it!" Shauna and Serena almost shouted.
Ash and Clemont chuckled a little before they both set two gold coins down on the counter.
"Irasshaimase, monsieurs." He bowed to Clemont too upon noticing his spurs and motioned to his Mr. Mime.
"Mime!" Mr. Mime held his hands out to their baggage and lifted it up with psychic.
"Ahh, merci!"
"Mime!" The Ryokan keeper led them past a few occupied rooms before stopping at a fourth small house-like structure and opening two sliding doors revealing adjoining rooms layered in tatami flooring, vibrant furnishings, very low tables, and futons.
It was quite different than anything else in Kalos, but the group found it more than satisfying.
"Ahh! Look at this!" Shauna clasped her hands when she saw the fine nihonga paintings depicting colorful Pokemon and farmers.
"I hope you enjoy your stay. Dinner can be served on request but not too later if you please."
"Hai." Ash said, bowing his head back respectfully, earning a cordial smile from the innkeeper.
"I want to look around the city!" Bonnie cried.
"Me too! Serena, where should we go to first!?" Shauna continued to squeal.
As much as the Princess longed to do just that, fatigue hit her like a Focus Punch. Days of drudging through the marshes, continuously performing to keep the soldiers' morale up, and a recurrence of her upset stomach left Serena on the verge of collapse.
"I-"
"If you're feeling tired, I could carry you." Ash selflessly offered, nearly making her blush. However, she sighed again.
"Non, I need to sleep."
"Are you sure?" Shauna asked.
"Oui, go on without me."
"Alright, hopefully, you'll feel better tomorrow."
"Don't stay out too late." Ash told Clemont, who nodded before he followed his sister and girlfriend.
"Alright, let's get you some rest." Ash and Serena's Pokemon carefully laid her down on the futon. Once there, the chevalier removed his wife's shoes and started tenderly rubbing her feet.
"Ahhh, merci." Serena laid her head back and very nearly fell asleep. The couple's Pokemon, also quite tired, each found the most comfortable spot they could and rested, all except Greninja, who stood watch near the doorway.
"Serena, I'm starting to get a little worried about you. I think we should have a physician come and check on you while we're here."
"Oui. Maybe you're right." After a few minutes of rubbing, Ash took out a map of eastern Kalos and began reading it.
"Hmm." Ash felt himself get pulled back as Serena mustered the strength to sit up and wrap her arms around him.
"Serena, come on, I'm trying to plan out our next course." She ignored this and continued using her weight to try and bring him down beside her. Ash didn't want to say anything, but for some reason, Serena did feel slightly heavier than usual. Not that he minded, he merely found it strange, as she hadn't been eating any more than usual, nor had she trained any less.
Finally, he gave in and laid down beside his wife, who smiled warmly as she rested her head on his chest.
"We can plan later." Serena spoke softly, and Ash thought deeper about their situation. He still prayed to Reduka for Calem's safety, Red and Korrina's too. Perhaps Serena had a point. Right now, they needed to take a moment and gather themselves.
"Oui." Pikachu and the other Pokemon beamed a little hearing this and similarly allowed themselves to truly relax, save Greninja. After a few minutes, Serena pulled herself closer and started kissing Ash, releasing a few gentle sounds as she did so, particularly after feeling his hands staring to caress her backside.
"Ash!" She giggled.
"Quoi, the others are gone, aren't they." Serena gave him a more determined smile and pressed a finger against his chest.
"Are you attempting to seduce me, monsieur?" She giggled.
Pikachu and the others nearly sprung to their feet and raced into the adjoining room before shutting the sliding door behind them. All except for Charizard and Charla, who looked closer in anticipation, eager expressions on their faces.
"Grauu."
"Char!" The tails wagged slightly.
Greninja shook his head slightly but remained at his post. That was until he noticed something or rather someone of interest.
"Gre?" Greninja peered up at another Ryokan house where a very familiar samurai and Lucario stood vigilant.
"Felix!" Ash almost shouted, springing up and making Serena yelp.
"Felix?" She muttered. Ash saw the samurai through Greninja's vision and quickly raced over, leaving Serena with a pouty expression.
"Hmmmm." The Princess crossed her arms while glaring at her husband.
"AHhh! It is him! He's here!"
A part of Serena was slightly interested in Felix's presence, but a bigger part had other things on her mind.
"And I'm right here!" Serena angrily shouted. Charla and Charizard similarly growled at Ash before the larger Fire Lizard nearly slammed the door shut in front of Ash.
"Grauu!" Charizard snarled at Ash, making him sweatdrop, at least until he looked back where Charizard and Charla pointed. There, he saw Serena resting on her side, facing away from Ash though her head peered back at him with an incredibly mischievous expression.
The chevalier's eyes went wide upon realizing that she'd stripped naked.
"Je suis en attente." Ash completely forgot that Felix was there and nearly ripped off his tunic, revealing his muscular chest.
"It couldn't be, could it?" Ash, Serena, and their Pokemon froze upon hearing a familiar voice.
"Eh?" Another door opened in front of Serena, revealing none other than Zinnia and her Salamence.
"Ahhh!" Serena yelped, frantically covering herself in the futon's covers while Ash similarly scrambled over, placing himself in front of her.
"Kon'nichiwa Ash, Serena."
"Zinnia, don't just go into someone else's room!" Rokusho shouted as he ran over, his Skarmory and other Steel-type Pokemon beside him.
"Our friends are here." She chuckled, and Rokusho nearly jumped.
"Ash! Serena!"
"Kon'nichiwa." Ash muttered, barely containing his fury. Charizard and Charla had no such restraint and snarled with feral expressions at the rude interruption of their entertainment.
"It looks like we might've interrupted something important. My apologies." Zinnia giggled, earning red nerve twinges from Ash and Serena. Rokusho looked extremely embarrassed and pulled Zinnia away.
"Sorry, we'll uh, be on our way."
"Would you mind joining us for dinner? I'd love to catch up and see how Charla's doing." Zinnia waved at the dragon Charmeleon, who furiously snapped her jaws at the dragon trainer.
"Alright, fine!"
"How long do you need, an hour?"
"Zinnia!" Rokusho scolded his wife, but Ash and Serena sweatdropped, the Princess slowly raising two fingers.
"Perfect! That gives us plenty of time to get up to similar things." Rokusho turned bright red when Zinnia wrapped both arms around him.
"Alright, come on!" The samurai's Pokemon sweatdropped, but Zinnia's Salamence looked just as excited as Charizard and Charla had been.
On that note, Charla sprinted over and slammed the door shut.
"Char!" Ash and Serena exhaled deeply.
"Do these doors have locks?" The Princess muttered.
"Char!"
"Grauu!" Charizard and Charla both stood guard and gave their trainers the thumbs up. Yet this only made them sweatdrop harder.
"Ahh, je m'en fiche." Serena wrapped her arms around Ash and started kissing him. Later that evening, they joined Shauna, Clmeont, Bonnie, Rokusho, and Zinnia for dinner, each now wearing a yukata kimono and kneeling around a table. After learning of Rokusho and Zinnia's presence, Clemont explained who they were to Shauna.
"Ahh, Bonnie loves Kanto cooking!" Bonnie cried as she ate a bowl of steaming noodles.
"This is actually a Johto dish." Rokusho chuckled.
"So what brings you two here? The Rocket Clan aren't involved are they?" Clemont nervously asked.
"No, we're just resting here amid the chaos." Zinnia said while Rokusho sighed.
"We heard what's happened to your Dauphin. I'm sorry, I wish we could help." The samurai said with utter sincerity.
"We appreciate that. But right now, there's nothing to be done but wait." Ash said. He looked back out the open door at Felix, who still sat vigilantly on the rooftop with Lucario, not having moved for hours.
"Don't worry about Felix. He's his usual self."
Ash sighed and returned to his meal while Zinnia watched Serena closely, a look of intrigue on her face.
"Hmmm."
"So, what's your plan then?" Ash asked.
"To be honest, I don't know. I was still hoping to face off against Duke Wikstrom, but the more I see here, the more I feel compelled to take action." Rokusho sounded genuinely conflicted, but Zinnie elbowed him.
"Stop being so modest. My brave husband and Felix have taken part in five skirmishes alongside Kalos troops since we got here. All of them victorious."
"You have!" Ash and the others shouted, making Rokusho look slightly bashful.
"I just did what I could. Your soldiers and chevaliers are some of the bravest warriors I've ever seen. Plus, Rocket clan members were aiding those Galar and Lysandre forces. It was only right we do our part."
"Arigatōgozaimashita."
"Pika!"
After dinner, Ash carefully approached Felix with Lucario, Pikachu, and Greninja. By then, the moon lit up a dark sky, nearly concealing the samurai who carefully drank tea.
Ash wasn't sure what to say to him, but the samurai knew much more about aura than him. If he wanted to master the bond with Greninja, Felix was the key.
"Konbanwa, Felix!" Ash cried.
"Grouu!"
"Pika!"
The samurai and his Lucario didn't respond.
"It's me, Ash. We've met a few times now. I don't mean to disturb you, but Rokusho says you're something of an aura master, and I was hoping you might be able to help us master it."
Felix's Lucario glanced down at the two with clear interest, but Felix did no such thing.
"Grouu." His Lucario nudged him, yet the samurai remained firm.
Ash and his Pokemon sighed.
"Gre." Greninja said, placing a comforting hand on Ash's shoulder.
Elsewhere, Serena felt the pain in her feet and body fade away
in the soothing hot water. She rested beside Pancham and Braixen in one of the inn's baths, Zinnia, Shauna, and Bonnie joining them.
"This feels so good after days in a marsh." Shauna eased herself while Delcatty purred.
"Oui." Serena sighed deeply, laying her head against Charla, who rested on the edge.
Bonnie giggled as she and Dedenne splashed each other while Zinnia continued to watch Serena closely.
"So, how long will you be staying here?" She asked. Shauna and Serena gave each other unsure looks for a few moments.
"We're not sure. Maybe until I'm feeling better." Serena sighed.
"Really, that long? Still, I suppose it would be safer for you all, considering that there are worse places to stay. Serena and Shauna looked confused.
"Quoi?"
"I'm not sure if I'm going to wait until my due date yet, but-"
"Zinnia, what are you talking about?" Zinnia, her Salamence, and Altaria stared at Serena with blank expressions for a few moments before all three burst out into uncontrollable laughter.
"Ehhh?" Serena, Bonnie, and Shauna sweatdropped.
"What's so funny?" Shauna asked.
"Don't tell me you had no idea? Ohh, Serena, you're pregnant!" Zinnia laughed.
The little girl, two young women, and their Pokemon turned as white as snow and went still. Finally, Shauna burst out of the water and sprinted over, furiously grabbing Zinnia by the shoulders.
"Pregnant! What are you talking about!?"
"Well when a mommy and daddy love each other very much-"
"You know what I mean!?" Shauna's face turned red, and Serena trembled, her Pokemon doing their best to steady her.
"Serena's pregnant. I can see it in her mannerisms. Plus, you can call it intuition, considering I'm also pregnant, found out just this morning." Zinnia caressed her stomach tenderly while the two dragons did the same.
"Non! I'm not, I can't be, I-" Serena started.
"I'm assuming you've-"
"She's what?" Bonnie asked.
Shauna sprinted over and covered the little girl's ears.
"I swear if you say something inappropriate in front of her, I'll!"
"Relax. I'm assuming you and Ash have shared the marriage bed together regularly." Serena blushed intensely at that last bit and slowly nodded.
"You've probably been feeling tired, having an upset stomach, tender breasts, sore feet." Serena's trembling got worse.
"Also, when was the last time you bled?" Serena's face turned pale white again, and she looked down at her stomach, only then realizing it looked slightly swollen.
"Braix!"
"Cham!"
"Char!" Charla clasped her claws together and hugged Serena tightly with a look of pure joy on her face, contrasting Braixen and Pancham's shock.
"I'm, I'm pregnant." Serena shook as if shoulder-deep in snow despite the hot bath.
"Ash doesn't know, does he. That's fine. I haven't told Rokusho yet. Maybe we could tell them together-"
"You will keep this quiet!" Shauna roared, hurrying over to take Serena by the shoulders.
"Serena, it's going to be ok. Everything will be fine!"
That night, Serena lay wide awake beside Ash, who slept soundly, both arms wrapped around her.
"Pregnant, pregnant." Serena should've realized that this was bound to happen at some point. She and Ash hadn't thought that far ahead during their travels.
A thousand thoughts rushed through the Princess's head and even more emotions. Despite all the fear overtaking her, Serena couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and joy she never imagined possible. A new life grew inside her, part her, part Ash. The Princess felt a few tears form in her eyes as she held her stomach and smiled.
"My little gift from Reduka." She spoke out loud, not sure what else to say. After a minute or so, she turned back to Ash, who slept peacefully, completely unaware of his impending fatherhood. A fresh sense of angst overtook Serena as she now wondered how she'd break the news to him or what this meant for their Journey or the Kingdom.
Taking a deep breath, she leaned closer and kissed his lips.
"I'll tell you in the morning."
The morning came faster than Serena hoped and rather forcefully. She, Ash, and their Pokemon stirred to the sound of bells ringing in the distance.
"Monsieur! Monsieur!" The door slammed open, causing them both to jump up with their Pokemon.
A trio of men-at-arms with frantic expressions stood outside.
"Pardon us, monsieur, but we heard two chevaliers were staying here."
"Oui." Ash groaned as he sat up and rubbed his eyes.
"We need you! The Countess has ordered all fighting men in the city to arms! The Earl Bede has laid siege to our city!"
Ash and Serena went silent.
"Non!" The Princess muttered, instinctively holding her stomach.
Author's note
Yep, I'm sure a lot of you saw this coming,
What will happen next, stay tuned to find out,
So until next time,
Please review, comment, suggest, or ask (VIA PM)