Misty peered out of the library window, and down at the garden. The queen was having her afternoon tea, and there was a special guest there. They were just arriving, and there were 2 of them. Two women, and they looked vaguely familiar. Misty, being on the third story, couldn't make out the faces very well, but, she knew that hair-and the way they both walked.
She stiffened, and Ash saw. He was watching her from his seat in the middle of the library. He set his Pikachu down, he was petting her, and he walked over to his love. "What is it?" He asked, wrapping his arm around her waist and looking at what she was looking at. "Oh, mother is having her tea…and she has guests…great." Ash said, not caring.
"Yes, she's having guests." Misty repeated quietly.
"What's wrong?" Ash asked her, seeing she was a little frightened.
"Oh, it's nothing…. let's just get away from the window. I-I must be afraid of the height, that's all…" She backed away, Ash's arm dropping, and went over to Pikachu. "She's very cute." Misty said, petting Pikachu behind her ears."
"Yeah, everyone loves Pikachu. She was my first Pokemon, and I got her as a present from my mother. For my eighth birthday."
"Really? That's so sweet. Do you battle her?" She asked, and Pikachu's ears perked up. She knew about how Ash wanted to join all of the local competitions, and how Misty had joined one.
"No. I always wanted to, and I train her, but my father won't allow it. He says that I'm the prince, so I have very strong Pokemon at my fingertips. The thing is-I've trained these Pokemon and raised them from the wild and on my own. Sure, I've been given Pokemon as gifts, but the only Pokemon I train that I've been given was Pikachu, and she was little when I got her…."
"Pikapi, Pikach Pika Pika chu chu pi chu pi." "Ash, she's been in a Pokemon Competition.)" Pikachu said, pointing to Misty.
"What'd she say?" Misty asked, confused.
"She said that you'd been in a Pokemon Competition before." Ash translated. Misty was internally shocked, but kept her face emotionless. "Have you?"
"I-I-I have to go." She said, standing up. She dashed out of the door, and down the hall. Ash tried to catch up, but Misty was terribly fast.
"Rose! Meet me at the old castle ruins in the forest tonight at 4!" He yelled after her. She froze and looked back at him. She gave a curt nod and sped off.
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"So, where is your son at, your Majesty?" Lily asked, taking a sip of her tea.
"Oh, call me Delilah. He's probably with the girl he just took a liking to. I haven't seen her, but his friends, Brock, told me about her. He's grown very fond of her lately." The queen said with a smile.
"Oh, who is the lucky lady?" Malena asked.
"Oh, I was told it was…hm…now what was it…ah, yes! Rose Williams. I know I've heard that name before, I just don't remember where." Delilah sighed, slouching slightly in her seat. She got over it very quickly, sitting back up and smiling again.
"Oh." Malena replied. I've heard that name, too! Where, where, where…Let's see…Rose-it couldn't be the same Rose who was Jonathan's first wife! Back home, he mentioned his late wife. Her last name was Williams! No-she's dead! "Where is she living?"
"Oh, out in the suburbs…I don't quite remember, though…" One of her handmaidens whispered something in her ear, and she nodded. "That's right-the Sketchit Residence. They live right outside the city."
"Oh, they live right near us." Malena said, meanwhile, thinking about whom would take the late Jonathan's late wife's name. Misty!! She is friends with that little twerp. And she would use her mother's name, seeing as her mother didn't come from here, she came from Pallet. I am going to give her such a whipping! "Oh, yes, we know her!" Malena said suddenly. Lily and the Queen looked at her funny.
"You do?!"
"We do?!" The Queen and Lily asked at the same time.
"Yes, you like to call her cindersoot…remember?!" Malena said, staring at Lily.
"Oh- ARGH!" Lily ran out from under the shade of the tree and started stomping, screaming, and fussing-mainly, throwing a temper tantrum. A couple of minutes later, she composed herself and walked back and sat down. Delilah looked at the blonde, scared, and Malena looked at her, furious.
"My goodness, child-are you all right?" She asked.
"Oh, yes...there…was…a…bee." Lily stumbled for an excuse.
"Yes…" Delilah said, not fooled, and sipped her tea. She decided to just forget about it, seeing as it wasn't important.
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Misty collapsed her back to the wall, out of breath. She slid down the wall and took a couple deep breaths.
"Are you all right, Misty?" Joyce said, walking up to the girl and bending down to have their faces even.
"Huh? Oh, yeah…I just ran from the palace-Malena was there, as was Lily. A-and the prince took me up to the library…It was so big! A-and then we started talking about Pokemon Competitions-I don't know how, but we did. Then-again, I don't know how-but, his Pikachu knew that I'd been in a Pokemon Competition. A-and then h-he asked me if I had been in one…I ran off…I mean-those are some great memories-but there are some bad ones, too!" She had tears coming down her face, remembering how her father had died only a few weeks after her battle.
Joyce sat down and wrapped her arms around the girl. "Oh, Misty." She sighed. "It's going to be all right! We all want the best for you-and that's what you'll get, ok?!" Joyce said, trying to calm the red head.
"I know-it's just-I'm afraid. Afraid he doesn't love me. Afraid the Baroness will find out." She spit out the Baroness like it was poison. "Afraid that it could never work out."
"Oh my, Misty…" She hugged the girl, till the tears calmed down.
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"Father!" Ash yelled, barging into the King's large study he used to go over paperwork and for meetings. He wasn't having a meeting, but had a large pile of paperwork on his desk about the prince's marriage. The papers ranged from the treaty to the rights of each side in case of divorce-which Delilah and Lance would never allow.
Ash stomped through the doorway, and shoved the doors open. "What is it, Ash?!" Lance asked, looking up from the papers.
"I want to build a huge library, where everyone can come and study. A-and I want to build a Pokemon park where everyone is allowed to come and play with tame Pokemon." He said, rushing up to the desk, grinning.
"What are you talking about?!" Lance asked, setting the paper he had to the side and looked up at his only son.
"I want to build a huge library, where everyone can come and study. And I want to build a Pokemon park where everyone is allowed to come and play with tame Pokemon." He repeated, slower.
"Who are you and what have you done with my son?!" The King asked himself with a chuckle. "Why?"
"I'm happy, and I want all of the people in the kingdom to be happy- gypsies, servants, lords, ladies- all of the people." He replied. "B-because I-I want everyone to be able to study and learn, and I want them to do it for free. And I want all people to love Pokemon as much as I do, and then some. I don't quite understand why-but I want to build them…" He trailed off, not quite sure why he wanted to build them, but he just knew he did. He loved being with Rose, and she loved both Pokemon and reading. Perhaps if he built the library and park…he'd impress her. And then if he impressed her, then she'd want to marry him. He loved her so much-he didn't want her to run out-and when she did…He knew it wasn't him, it was something else, but what? He also knew she liked him, perhaps love, but that was pretty far, and Ash figured she wasn't ready for that…marriage. He was already engaged, right?! "I also want to call off the engagement." He said, interrupting his father whom was talking to him about the cost and such-Ash wasn't listening.
"What?!" Lance said, straightening up.
"I-I want to call off the engagement to the woman from the Orange Islands! Please?!" He pleaded. At that time, Professor Oak walked in. He knew about Ash not wanting to marry the Prima girl, but he knew Lance wouldn't just call it off-it could enrage Drake, the King of the Orange Islands.
"No!" Lance screamed, standing up and slamming his hand on his strong, cherry wood desk.
"Perhaps I might help?" Oak asked, stepping next to Ash. The 2 men looked over at the professor.
"Huh?" Ash asked.
"What…" Lance sighed, knowing the professor would bore him.
"I was thinking about this, and, since Ash doesn't get much say in anything around here, why don't you strike a deal with him?" Oak asked.
"Ok, you have my attention." Lance said, looking Oak in the eye. Ash, though, was smiling and looking at the old man, with the look of thanks on his face.
"Why don't you give him a week to pick a wife, and, if he shouldn't find one, then he can marry the Orange Princess. You can throw a ball on the last day, and he can announce his new wife then!" Oak said persuasively.
"Yeah!" Ash yelled, agreeing with him.
"I don't see any harm in it, but not a week. 2 days. King Drake is wanting his daughter married before the end of this week, seeing as she'll turn 18 tomorrow. I will throw Ash a ball tomorrow, and he'll announce it then." Lance said, sitting down.
"Thank you, father!" Ash said, running around to hug his father. He gave him a loving embrace and ran out of the room, grinning from ear to ear.
"Do you think I did the right thing?" Lance asked once his son left, still looking out the doorway.
"Yes-you're letting your son love. That is the most precious gift you can give him now." He turned to look at the king. "Of coarse, with the maiden he loves, you could've given him a week." He said with a smirk.
The king shrugged. "I don't have a week to give him. Besides, why would someone not want to marry him?!"
"She's afraid."
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"Oh, no! The Baroness is coming! What am I going to do?!" Misty wailed. It was 3:30, and she needed to meet the prince in a half an hour, and that meant sneaking out to Nicole's and getting ready.
Misty ran into the kitchen and finished helping Joyce with the soup she was making. She picked up the knife and finished cutting the potatoes. She heard a door open, footsteps, and a door slam shut. "Misty!!!" Malena screamed. "Get in here, now!!" Misty knew she was in trouble, and that she better hurry.
"Y-yes, m'lady?" Misty asked while she scurried into the room. She did a short curtsy, and looked at a spot in the ground near Malena's feet.
"How could you?!" She screamed, advancing towards the carrot top.
"How could I what?" Misty asked, confused.
"Don't play stupid with me, Misty! How could you?!" She scream again, making Misty flinch.
Tears started streaming down her face. "I don't understand what you're talking about!" She said through the tears.
"Go out with the prince!!" Malena screamed. "I repeat: How could you?!" Malena slapped Misty, so hard that she stumbled back. "Lily-get the whip.
Lily's smirk changed into a grin. "Yes, mother!" She said. She hurried off, and came back seconds later, with a very mean looking whip in her grasp. She handed it to her mother, and stepped back. She would enjoy every minute of this. Daisy, meanwhile, sat on the stairs, unseen, watching the whole scene.
She went out with the prince?! Oh my! This is amazing! Oh, I have to help! But, I could get in trouble… She debated with herself. She'll survive this, she's strong. She heard the crack of the whip hitting skin, and a scream.
"Ahh! Ugh…." Misty fell from her cat-like crouch and hit the ground. Malena kept hitting her, making large gashes down her back.
"May I try, mother?!" Lily asked, excited.
"Yes, my love." The Baroness handed the whip to Lily, giving the girl a smile as she stepped off to the side. Lily then went to work, mauling Misty with the lethal strip of leather. She hit bone plenty of times, and laughed evilly, too.
After a while, and Misty laying unconscious, Lily and Malena left. Of coarse, Malena threatened Misty. "If I find out you ever have gone near the prince, I will destroy you, and you Pokemon. They will suffer greatly, as will you." She then let the girl lay there, in the foyer, bleeding heavily, and went into the den.
Misty stumbled to get up. She looked at the clock-3:45. I need to see him, but I look horrible! As if to answer her call, Daisy slipped down the stairs and helped the other up. She helped Misty up and to the servant's quarter. Eevee was napping, and saw her mistress was hurt. She stood up and started growling at Daisy. "I didn't do it, Pokemon! Please, help!" Eevee, having Pokemon instincts, nodded and ran off to find Joyce.
Daisy laid Misty down on the poor excuse of a bed, and looked at her wounds. "Oh, those are bad. I hope you don't have any plans for this evening…" She said with a chuckle, trying to lighten the mood.
But, it made Misty jerk up. "Oh my god! I'm meeting with the prince in 15 minutes! I have to see him-to tell him that I can't see him anymore!" She wailed.
"You can't be serious! Mother will kill you!" Daisy screamed.
"If I don't show-he'll come looking. And that would make things worse-" Eevee came in with a bowl of water in her mouth and a towel on her back. Daisy bent down and took them from the Pokemon.
"Thank you." She said quietly, and then went to work on Misty's wounds. Misty flinched at the cold water, but grew used to it.
After a couple of minutes, the blood was cleared, but some was still oozing out. Eevee had left and gotten some bandages. Daisy wrapped Misty in them, they reached around her stomach and chest, but they covered the huge gashes. Once Daisy sat up, about to leave, Misty jumped out and dashed out of the room.
"I'll be back soon-I just need to say good-bye…" She ran off towards the Sketchit household, stopping for nothing-not even the pain she got from her back.
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After Misty had left, Daisy went back to the Manor. If her mother or sister asked, Misty was in her room, crying. When she got inside, she heard the front door close and Malena scream. "Lily! We're invited to a ball! Get down here!" Daisy ran over to her mother.
"Really?!" She asked.
"Yes, we are going there to get your sister together with the prince." Her eyes streamed through the invitation, reading out loud. "The prince is looking for a wife, and she'll be announced at midnight. It's a masquerade, and every woman in the kingdom is invited." She looked up. "And you are going for the food." She snarled, looking at her blonde daughter. She made her way to the stairs, where Lily was standing.
"Yes!" She screamed. She ran up to her room, Malena following. "Now, the perfect clothes…"
Daisy walked up to her room, her eyes watering from the insult.
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She sped off on the borrowed Rapidash. Nicole was kind, and let her take their Rapidash, as long as she was nice to it. She was dressed in a light green dress, with a matching green bandanna with beads threaded through it keeping her hair out of her face. She races through the woods, heading towards the old castle. It was abandoned a long time back, and now it was left alone. She'd heard the chimes from the town ring about five minutes back, telling her she was late.
She made it there a couple minutes later, and hopped off the horse. She ran across the drawbridge; there was a moat, but it was drained, and the drawbridge was still intact. She dashed into the main courtyard, and looked around. Everything was covered in vines and overgrown shrubbery. She sighed. The prince must've left already. She turned to leave, when something tugged at her arm. She turned around and smiled.
"You made it." Ash said quietly, yet happily.
"Of coarse. I wouldn't miss it for the world." She replied, smiling a little more.
"Good. I want to show you something. Now, close your eyes." He ordered. She obeyed, and he took her hand. "You're going to love this." He said quietly. He directed her through the maze-like castle, through halls of gray and green. He stopped, and they slowly walked into a room. Misty still had her eyes closed.
Ash let go of her hand and walked behind her, slipping his arms around her waist, connecting over her stomach, and rested his chin on her head. "Ok, open your eyes."
She opened her right eye, and then the left. "Oh my god." She gasped. Ahead of her, not five meters was one of the most beautiful sights she'd ever seen. The room they were in used to be a study of some sort, but the trees pushed through the ceiling, making parts crumble and sunlight stream through. There were Mankeys swinging through the trees, and nests with little Mankeys lower to the ground then the adults. "It's…breathtaking." She finally said. Ash went back around to the side of her.
"You can pet them-they're half tame." She gave him a puzzled look. "My father released a few of his tame Mankeys into this castle. So, their descendents are still part tame-but they love humans. I come here from time to time to give them some special treats and to check up on them…" Misty cautiously walked over to the trees and stretched up, on her tip toes, to pet a Mankey. One of the babies got out of the nest and got into her hand.
She squealed. "They're so cute!" She said, petting the baby.
"That one's only a few weeks old." Ash told her, walking next to her and putting an arm around her waist. He brushed against her bandages, which moved around, making them rub against the, still open, wounds. Misty jumped up and stiffened her back. The Mankey hopped out of her hand and went back up the tree. Tears came to Misty's eyes, the wound made her think of Malena and the threat. She turned around to a confused Ash. "Are you alright?" He asked, putting his palms on her cheeks.
She shook her head violently, tears coming from her eyes. "I-I can't see you anymore." She started, more and more tears coming from her aquamarine eyes.
"Yes you can, Rose! I love you-and you love me. My father even said that he'll let me marry any woman I want, and I want-" He didn't get to finish. The whole time he was talking, she was shaking her head, holding her ears. She knew that he was going to say something that could, truly, kill her. She had a feeling, deep inside her soul, that told her he wanted her-forever. She didn't like that because Malena would kill her-really. Her stepmother would kill Misty just so her daughter would have a sliver of a chance with the prince.
"No!" She screamed, scaring the Mankeys. "No, you don't love me! And I can't love you! I want to-but I can't! So don't say you love me-it hurts! It hurts because I know that I'm going to hurt you! And I don't want to hurt you!" The dam holding back her tears broke, and they poured out. She was stomping around the large ruined room, but ended up in front of Ash.
"What are you talking about, Rose?!" Ash asked, taking her by the shoulders and shaking her.
The tears continued to go down her face. "I'm sorry." She whimpered, looking him in the eyes. She kissed him on the lips, scaring him. Before he could even react, she turned and fled. He was still dazed by the kiss, and, by the time he came to, she was gone.
"What just happened?" Ash asked no one, but his little friend piped in.
"Pikapi! Pika pik chu pi?!" (Ash! How can you be so dense?!) Pikachu ran off into the woods, back to the palace. Ash thought about what Pikachu said.
Sighing, he started back to the castle. "Oh well…"
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A/N-HAPPY EASTER!!! Ok, well, I'm at my cousin's house, and I finished up this chapter. It's about 7 pages long, so I figure that's enough for now ^_^. Well, please review. Hey-here's a question for ya- Should Pikachu tell Ash about who Misty really is?! Or-should Todd and Duplica tell Ash who Misty really is?! Or- should he find out by Misty herself the day of the ball?! Well, I want to know what you guys want, so please review!
I also noticed that I often called Tracey's mother, who's Nicole, Natalie, and I had Daisy as a blue-headed girl and Lily as the blonde, but it's the other way around. I changed a lot today, but if I missed some, please forgive me! I'm really tired….stayed up to late last night….