Chapter 34: Vive l'amour

The northern gates of Lumiose slowly opened to the sound of ringing bells and cheering crowds.

"Vive le roi Calem! Vive Kalos! Vive le roi Calem! Vive Kalos!" Thousands of men, women, children, and Pokemon gathered along the streets, tossing blue irises into the air, using ranged moves, and cheering as Calem rode in on Rapidash with Greninja behind him.

Aria beamed brightly as she rode beside her husband and waved back at the crowds. Nearby, Victor tried to keep his head down while trailing close to the Kalos King.

Gloria placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. Calem offered similar reassurance and gestured the Galar King closer to him, showing his subjects their reconciliation.

The various Kalos Counts/Dukes similarly rode in alongside their knights/men-at-arms. Each one was joined by a Galar Earl/Lady, following the Kings' example.

Despite this, the cheers continued, particularly as Ash, Red, Serena, and the others came in.

"Princess!" They cried, and Serena waved back, her Pokemon doing much the same.

Lumiose City hadn't fully recovered from its sack, but Calem would soon remedy that.

Seeing the Kalos Flag and House of Valois Banner waving over the city walls filled Ash and his companions' hearts with pure joy, notably Meyer and Pierre.

Calem already promised them both their old positions back. Meyer would resume his duties as Mayor, and Pierre continue training future royal knights. Even with his sword hand gone, the chevalier's mind and skills remained.

Shauna rested her head against Clemont's shoulder while Bonnie beamed brightly staring at them. Meyer similarly patted his son's shoulder with an incredibly proud expression.

"I'm so happy they're getting married." Serena giggled.

"Proposing after our victory was pure genius." Red chuckled.

"Oui, I'm proud of him too." Ash said.

"Oui, everything is coming to a close, which means no more distractions from your duty to me, Red." Korrina spoke vigorously while wrapping both arms around his shoulders. Ash and Serena sweatdropped with their Pokemon, but Red merely nodded.

"Grouuu." Felix's Lucario walked between Ash's Lucario and Red. He and the others still mourned Felix but found the strength to continue.

By nightfall, all of Lumiose city erupted in celebration, with fireworks shooting off into the sky alongside spectacular moves. Nobles and commoners alike feasted, drank, and danced together with their former enemies.

Shauna performed with Tierno and a few others, Serena, Miette, and Aria longing to join them, but their pregnancies kept them sitting.

Red and Korrina joined Zinnia as they watched Rokusho finally have his battle with Duke Wikstrom near the cathedral. As their Steel-Pokemon clashed, the Count and Countess noticed a few familiar figures in front of the cathedral.

Bishop Sycamore stood over a kneeling Mercer. The former knight's head gleamed after its shaving, and he similarly donned a simple priest's robe, the only ornamentation being Hugo's Pendant which he still wore.

Red, Alakazam, and Lucario all smiled tenderly, but Korrina smirked when she saw who else took holy vows. Monsieur Lucas and several other royal knights held Lysandre down as a priest shaved his head clean.

Malva wasn't shaved, but her hair was cut short by a nun.

"You are both henceforth stripped of all lands and titles. You will dedicate your lives to serving Reduka and his children." Sycamore spoke sternly to the former Duke and Dutchess, who languished in defeat.

Mercer, by contrast, looked hopeful and rose to his feet before Sycamore embraced him.

"Welcome to the clergy, brother."

"Thank you."

Seeing this made Red's heart melt, and for the briefest moment, he thought he saw a silhouette watching Mercer from above.

"Eh?"

"Ala!" Alakazam saw him too, and the figure smiled warmly back at them both.

"Al." Alakazam wiped away tears from his eyes.

"Red?" Korrina asked before he hugged her.

Elsewhere, Ash and Serena continued to watch Shauna's performance with the monarchs, Clemont, Bonnie, Meyer, and Pierre, when Pikachu started to growl.

Soon, his other Pokemon and Serena's did the same before they noticed a familiar figure approaching them alongside several knights.

"Mama." Serena muttered.

Grace kept her head low and slowly bowed before Calem, who kept a watchful eye on his aunt.

"Serena." Grace muttered with tears in her eyes.

Greninja took a step towards Grace, but Ash held him back.

Serena exhaled deeply, and with Delphox's help, she stood up before facing her mother down.

A tense silence lingered between them before Serena made the first move and hugged Grace.

"Eh?" The move caught Grace off-guard, but in a good way.

"I'm sorry." The former Queen hugged her daughter back before someone incredibly powerful lifted them both up into his arms.

"Rhy!" Alexandre's Rhyperior, recently freed by Victor, sobbed as he held them.

Once back on the ground, Grace caressed Serena's stomach tenderly as Ash and his Pokemon watched. Pancham relaxed with Tyantrum, Talonflame, and Greninja while enjoying the show.

Charizard, by contrast, cuddled up beside Charla, who eagerly nuzzled and licked her new mate.

Lucario and Delphox doing much the same.

Ash continued looking around, eventually spotting Arnaud with Raymond, both celebrating with their soldiers.

"To Baron Arnaud!" Raymond laughed as he raised his drink. In recognition of his service, Calem elevated Arnaud to the rank of Baron, giving him Xerosic's former lands and titles.

Ash and Serena were both particularly happy about this since it meant they'd often see him. With Lysandre's lands and titles stripped away, Calem named Ash Duke in his place.

It also meant Ash would get to see Alain, Daniel, and Diantha regularly, too, as their dutchies bordered each other.

The new Duke smiled over at Daniel, who rested beside Diantha and their son, Alain, not far away.

"Pika, Pikachu."

Ash nodded.

"Oui, Pikachu. Things are finally going to get better."

Epilogue

Eighteen years passed since the end of the Kalos/Galar war, and Duke Ash stood with Serena just outside the royal palace in Lumiose city. Beside them rested their Pokemon as well as two teenagers, a girl with Ash's eyes and Serena's hair, and a slightly younger boy who had Ash's eyes and hair.

The girl had a Braixen standing with her and the young man a red Riolu.

"When is Alexandre coming, mama?" The girl asked impatiently.

"Bientôt, Yvonne, bientôt. He lives very far away." Serena said while stroking her daughter's head.

"Is this going to take long? I want to battle with Gurkinn!" The younger boy shouted while staring across the courtyard. There, Red and Korrina rested with their Pokemon, five boys and three girls. The oldest of them looked just like a young Felix, though with Korrina's eyes.

"Mama, when can I battle cousin Jean?" One of the younger boys moaned.

"Gurkinn, remember, three Kings are coming." His oldest brother scolded him.

"Felix is right, Gurkinn; behave yourself." Red said before Korrina giggled and kissed her son's cheek.

"Soon mon amour, soon."

The other Counts/Dukes stood with their families while Calem, Aria, and their two children patiently waited in the center.

Finally, the peace broke at the sound of several trumpet blasts.

"King Victor and Queen Gloria of Galar, along with their son, Prince Edward, and daughter Princess Eleanor!"

Victor and Gloria rode forward alongside two dozen Galar knights and a pair of teenagers. Eleanor looked perhaps seventeen with Gloria's long brown hair and victor's eyes. Edward, by contrast, resembled his father more and looked fifteen or so.

Calem smiled when his eyes met Victor's, and the two Kings embraced.

"Bonjour, mon ami."

"You too, Calem. You're looking well."

"Toi aussi. Edward and Eleanor as well. Philip, Isabella, come and say hello." Aria guided their son and daughter forward. Philip was Calem's spitting image and looked roughly eighteen with a Chesnaught and Blaziken beside him. Isabella was perhaps sixteen and had a mix of her parent's traits with a Frogadier at her side.

"Bonjour."

"Bonjour." They said respectfully to the Galar Prince and Princess.

"Tis a joyous day, your majesties. The Houses of Valois and Lancaster joined in marriage!" A Bishop who'd joined Victor exclaimed.

Red smiled at Bishop Mercer, who returned the gesture before shaking hands with Bishop Sycamore.

"The Prince and Princess are getting married?" A little blonde girl beside Clemont and Shauna asked.

"Non, Elena. Just Prince Philip and Princess Eleanor today. Princess Isabella and Prince Edward are simply being betrothed." Shauna corrected her and Clemont's daughter.

"I think it's beautiful." Bonnie beamed while Clemont nodded.

"Oui, it will ensure an everlasting peace between our Kingdoms."

Before anyone else could speak, another series of horn blasts overtook the courtyard, and another company of knights rode in. These knights weren't Kalos or Galar. Instead carrying a different banner.

This coat of arms consisted of gold chains on a red background, with an emerald in the center of the nexus between its eight arms of links and, above them, a Royal Crown.

"Presenting, King Alexandre de Navarre!" Ash and Serena looked up with Charizard and Charla as another Charizard descended towards them. On his back rode a young man, perhaps eighteen, with Ash's appearance, Serena's eyes, and a crown on his head.

Both sets of parents smiled warmly as he landed and joined the other monarchs.

"There you are, Alexandre." Calem chuckled.

"Pardonne-moi, the seas were rougher than expected."

"Well we're glad you made it." Victor added.

"Oui, I wouldn't miss this wedding!"

"Grauuu!"

As the parties began their way inside, Alexandre found himself jumped by Yvonne and Jean.

"Grand frère!" They cried together while embracing him.

"Ahhh, there you two are." Alexandre hugged them back before his Charizard was taken by Charla.

"Grauuu!" She eagerly roared while nuzzling him.

"Welcome home." Ash said.

"Papa, mama." Alexandre soon embraced them too.

"You're looking well for a King." Serena giggled, making Alexandre sweatdrop.

"Oui, it's not easy running a Kingdom, even a small one. I only did it because Grandmother insisted I take the throne!"

"Of course, you had to be guilted into take a crown." Ash said with narrowed eyes, Pikachu, Greninja, and the others chuckling. After the death of Serena's uncle without children, the Kingdom of Navarre was left without an heir save Grace.

The former Queen refused the crown and instead asked Alexandre to become King. After some initial hesitation from Alexandre and the Navarrese nobility alike, he was crowned and eventually accepted.

"You're still missing a queen, mon amour. But don't fret. I've found one for you."

"Quoi? Mama!" Alexandre pleaded before Serena pulled a young woman over.

"Bonjour, votre Majesté." Alexandre turned bright red and trembled when he saw the black-haired beauty standing before him.

"Meet Grand Duke Daniel and Grand Duchess Diantha's daughter, Sophia."

Alexandre nearly trembled while Sophia looked shy.

"Trust your mother, Alexandre." Ash chuckled while placing a hand on his son's shoulder.

Eventually, they headed inside with the others, Ash, Pikachu, and Serena watching their family closely.

With a warm smile, Serena held Ash's hand and kissed him on the lips.

"Merci."

Author's note

The end, I hope you guys enjoyed this story as it's probably the last super long one I'll write.

I've appreciated all the feedback and investment from you guys and hope you enjoy my upcoming short stories on Amourshipping

With that said, I've got the 'final' fic/movie almost entirely written and decided to do a more formal poll on whether you guys would like me to release it here now and update it based on any changes based on the anime or release it on wattpadd (Under FictionKnight2) and release it here later after Journey's ends.

I'll leave the Poll up until the end of next week so please vote

Until next story,

Please review, comment, suggest, or ask (VIA PM)