The Annual Banquet is a celebration held by the Royal Family on the morning of the Autumn Equinox. Historically in years past, it was held to celebrate the harvest and honor the Pokemon that assist us. Nowadays the Banquet was essentially an excuse for all the wealthy in Galar to get together and flaunt their riches and accomplishments for the year. As daughter of the Duke and Duchess, I'm required to at least make an appearance.

Not to mention they offer to hold it every year in our family castle. The same one I ventured from to find Oracle that fateful day.

"Literally insufferable." I twirl in a floor length deep crimson gown that my Mother sent to my post office box. It was classy, I'd have to admit. I'm not against wearing dresses, it's just the dress isn't my usual style. I feel like there's an unspoken rule against Witches wearing anything but black. It goes against the vibe.

A vibe that my parents have absolutely no idea about.

You look like the sunset meeting the night sky. Brutus offered. I can't tell if he means to tease me, or means it sincerely.

"Thank you" I smile down at him.

He sends the feeling of smiling back.

So he meant it sincerely. What a charmer for an Umbreon.

"I feel like I need to add something to my hair. Something that screams spoiled heiress and gives off obnoxious tones."

I have just the thing. Oracle steps into the bathroom.

Our bedroom and bathroom aren't very big. There's enough room for a queen size bed and a nightstand in the bedroom, and the bathroom holds a shower, toilet, sink and cupboard combo, which Oracle reaches into.

The small space works out for now, since Oracle will usually sleep on the couch so she's closer to the door, which she claims is a security measure. Brutus will sleep snuggled up at my feet. Flick "sleeps" on the altar at night, and Missy doesn't sleep at all so she usually roams the forest. Valen sleeps on a cushion on the floor when she feels like it, other nights she'll sleep outside. But for Bit, I put him in his poke ball. It's safer for everyone that way, since he's so big he could knock everything in the hovel down.

Oracle comes back with a small box.

I thought about saving this for your Birthday, but I have something else in mind for that.

She pulls out a comb embellished with a triple moon surrounded by leaves, all in diamond and white gold.

"This is absolutely beautiful, Oracle. Thank you." I pick it up and hold it to the light. I smile from ear to ear. "This screams sophisticated Heiress."

Something you'll one day be. Or rather, a sophisticated Duchess.

I sigh. "Sophisticated Duchess doesn't mix well with Forest Witch."

The day will come. We'll figure it out as we go. She takes the comb and places it into the bun in my hair.

I don't know where I would be without her. And I can tell her encouragement has to do with her wanting what is best for me and my future. If I was being honest with myself, I'm not entirely against the idea of becoming Duchess. It's the people who my parents are obligated to associate with that bothers me. I don't want the politics of being Royalty.

"Well, that does it then. Shall we?" I offer an arm to Oracle, yes we shall, your royal obnoxious heiress.

We smile arm in arm into the living room, where Brutus and Valen wait for us.

Hopefully I'll be able to show someone up today, Valen says. She lives for the battle.

Not if I show them up first, Brutus quips back.

I grab my purse with enough room for my wallet and my poke belt, bring them both into their respective poke balls, and we're on our way.

Oracle and I set the enchantments over the hovel and the door and windows, to keep it out of sight of anyone who may get past Missy. We walk through the forest about a half mile, and call a flying taxi to the party that awaits us.


"Thank you again, Michael. We'll be looking forward to doing business with you again," I say, exaggeratedly, to our flying taxi driver. I give him tip.

"Yeah, yeah. Try not to have too much fun without me!" He quips back.

Michael is our usual driver, and we tip him extra to not let my parents know where we hide out at.

Oh we'll try our best, Oracle sends to me.

"I guess we better make our Grand entrance," I say as we step into the foyer of my Family's Castle.

We arrive with a grand welcoming, suited for an heiress of the crown. With Oracle at my side, it seemed much less, well, insufferable. Much to my embarrassment, however, the royal trumpets announced our arrival and my parents met us with the grace of the Duke and Duchess.

"Kat! We're so grateful that you've come." My Mom proclaimed, if a bit apprehensively. It's almost like my Mother knows me well. "And Oracle, we're happy to see you as well," as my Mother gives a curtsy.

Oracle gives a silent curtsy back.

"Mother, I wouldn't miss this for the WORLD," I say back a bit sarcastically, with Oracle linked in my arm, and a curtsy myself back to my Mom.

"Honestly, we know this isn't your thing, but we're glad you're here regardless," says my Father.

"Well come on, there are people I'd like you to meet. So put your best foot forward now." My Mother exclaims as she leads us into the grand room with the party guests.

"Your best foot, Katherine," my Mother quietly reminds me.

"I AM Mother, thank you," I quietly bite back, internally cringing at her using my full name. I send a pleading look to my Father, who has already turned to start introductions.

Every person with royal ties is at this banquet, every family line, as well as every celebrity along with some of their Pokémon. I can only imagine what people my parents would like me to meet.

These people seem very absorbed within themselves, Oracle sends over.

I mean, this is what they live for. Making their fortunes and fame, and showing off what they've achieved, rather than do something like solve the poverty and hunger problem we have in this region. I send back.

Agreed. Oracle sends back as she rolls her eyes. We walk toward our parents first victim.

We meet and greet several wealthy businessmen, my parents equally trying to quietly convince me how good of a match we would make and how it would benefit the family.

To the second man I ask, "and what charities do you donate your surplus to?"

He looks at me incredulously, "what do you mean?"

"I mean what charities are you associated with, Mr. Johnson? Surely you have a few with the wealth you've amassed?"

"Katherine," my Mother calmly warns with a look much like the one Oracle usually gives me.

"Aha, well, you see. I'm not exactly in charge of my books, you see," he fumbles. "I typically feed the surplus into giving bonuses to employees."

"To all your employees, sir?"

"Well uh, no, your Highness. We typically only have enough to give bonuses to the corporate level employees."

Sure he does. I just smile at him and let him continue explaining how his company builds microchips for housing Rotom software.

You're a snobby Heiress, remember? Not a Social Justice Warrior of the people, Oracle teases me.

Ah yes. Time to pretend I've forgotten about the people beneath me, I sarcastically send back.

Oracle gives me that big sister look again. One day, when it's your time, I believe you'll do the people of this region justice.

I smile at her and say, I deeply appreciate that. I can only hope to.

After a few hours of meeting what felt like a dozen more different suitors and "business partners" as my Mother calls them, I send to Oracle, I can't take this any longer.

Let's go get a drink then, to at least help you through the rest of the party. She sends back.

"Excuse me, it's been pleasant, but I need to grab myself a drink," I say to the most recent gentleman and my Mother.

"Of course! The Lady must have a drink if she wishes!" Says the merchant we were speaking to, with a wink. It was evident he had a lot to drink himself already, after we listened to him drone on about how his thesis for reviving multiple ancient Pokémon fossils had brought himself into money. My Mother looks over to me already turning away, and gives me a stern look that says, I know you're trying to get out of this.

Thank the Goddess, I don't know how much more I can handle, I send to Oracle, as she leads the way to the drink table.

I believe it would be much more enjoyable if we were meeting people we actually got along with, she sends back.

A mimosa appears in front of me as we arrive at the table, extended by a chivalrous hand, "excuse me, your Highness, I believe you're in need of this."

I look over to the person holding the mimosa out to me, and see a very handsome man handing it to me with a wink.

Another wink, I internally roll my eyes.

He's already had a bit to drink as well, but at least he isn't creepy about it, Oracle sends back.

"Thank you, and you are?" I ask him, taking the drink. Although I could never in a million years miss those exaggerated canines, or that smile that wins over everyone in their final gym leader battle in the league and is posted all over social media fan groups. Not that my Mother would ever let me have a public social media account.

"Raihan, my lady," he says back, extending the hand formerly occupied by my drink.

"My pleasure, Raihan, I'm Kat." I take his hand with a sly smile. He looks different in person, and in a suit, I say to Oracle.

And he's not wearing his hat, she sends back.

I didn't think he was so tall either.

To my surprise, Raihan kisses the top of my hand. "Milady, you make me blush with your radiant beau-" Raihan begins to say, (and with the beginnings of a bow, at that) but the Champion himself interrupts.

"Raihan, we need to go speak with the Chairman about this year's league competition." He looks over to me and Oracle and I meet his gaze, those golden eyes looking like they're as uncomfortable as I am to be here. A part of me feels like those eyes are really seeing me, and I almost feel exposed.

"I don't believe we've met?" I recover, and I extend the hand that Rahian had kissed. He takes it gently.

"Leon, milady." He lets go of my hand, his soft touch almost feels like a caress and I feel my heart flutter. "I need to borrow Raihan here for some important league matters, so if you'll excuse us."

"I can't imagine the process changes much each year," I joke. I didn't expect to be so annoyed as I think back to all the consecutive Championships I've watched where Leon has won.

"Well in fact, there are plenty of details to be worked out. I don't expect you to understand the management of it all."

Ouch.

"What exactly does that mean?" I challenge, a little aggressively at that, earning the eyes of some of our surrounding patrons.

Kat, maybe we should just say our goodbyes-

Leon suddenly looks as if he's been backed into a corner, "I didn't mean any offense, I know the Royalty don't typically involve themselves in such matters-"

Raihan chuckles and throws his arm around Leon's shoulders, "excuse me, Leon here isn't the best with words, he truly doesn't mean anything by it." He smiles sheepishly.

I look at Leon again, seeing a frustrated, but pleading look in his eyes that he's trying to be genuine. I may come to regret what I plan on saying next.

Here goes.

"Well as a matter of fact, I plan on entering the League challenge this year," I announce, loudly enough to attract the attention of more than half the room. I even hear a few muffled gasps.

Kat, are you sure about this?

I've never been more sure. I look to Oracle, she's sure about it too. Her resolve steadies me.

Until I look over at my parents and my stomach drops, seeing the shock written on their faces. Not wanting to make more of a scene, my Mother sends me a look as if to say, we'll talk about this later. Fine.

Leon and Raihan both look surprised, then to MY surprise, they seem pleased.

"Well isn't that wonderful! Can you believe it? Lady Kat herself will be joining the league challenge, and I can see the publicity now!" Chairman Rose himself steps in looking absolutely delighted. I'm sure he's looking forward to the media attention the league will garnish from my stunt I'm pulling.

"We will have to do a special interview and everything, we could gain more viewers from all over Galar!"

"Most importantly, I'm hoping it helps get trainers in Galar interested in becoming the best, " Leon states, still looking at me.

Was that a challenge?

I think you may just be reading into it.

A familiar red head finds us, her face being one I've seen before, but I can't quite place it. "I don't mean to interrupt this moment," she joked, elbowing Leon, "but I have a few questions for the Lady here."

"Perfect timing, Sonia," Raihan nearly exhales in relief and turns to Leon and Rose, "Leon and I need to discuss matters with the Chairman anyway, right?"

"That we do," Leon says, all but running away from the intensity filling the space.

Sonia and I watch them leave, and she yells after them, "try not to get lost!"

Leon looks back with a sheepish grin. Must be their inside joke.

I look back to Sonia and I suddenly have a flash of memory of where I might remember her from. "Did you go to Hammerlocke University?"

Sonia smiles, surprised, "I did! I thought you looked familiar too. I think we had a few classes together. Art History, I think was one of them?"

I dreaded going to that class. The homework was excruciating. "That would make sense, since I was majoring in Art."

"It was History for me, but I only did a few semesters," she shyly adds.

"Same, much to the disappointment of my parents," I replied with a smile.

"Ah, yeah my Grandmother wasn't too keen on me dropping out either." She smiles and extends her hand, "I'm Sonia."

"Nice to officially meet you, I'm Kat," I accept the handshake.

"Nice to officially meet you too! I um-" she stops herself and grabs a notepad from her bag, "speaking of history, that's the reason why I'm here. I had some questions for you if you don't mind."

"No, not at all," I say, a bit taken back by her forwardness.

"My Grandmother, Professor Magnolia, wanted me to look into some of the legends of the History of Galar. Probably to encourage me to go back to University and finish my History degree," she mumbles as looks at her shoes, then back to me. "But I can't find any solid written history on one of our most famous myths, about the Hero of Galar. I was wondering if you had any knowledge of how that myth came to be?"

The Myth of the Hero was actually my Mother's favorite, but I don't actually remember anything outside of what she told me growing up, and I never dug any further. I vaguely remember it had something to do with the Royal Family.

"I'm sorry, I can't remember anything other than the children's version of the story my Mother told me when I was younger. What I can do though, is grant you access to the Royal Archives." I grin, and Sonia lights up.

"I would be so grateful if you'd be willing to do that, thank you!" She reaches out for another handshake, and I feel like I just made a friend.

"Of course! It's a process, but with my clearance you should be able to access just about everything we have available." I offer, and in the background I see my parents making their way over to me.

"I'll notify you once everything has been cleared," I blurt, and immediately start fast walking toward the taxi landing for the castle.

"Okay, thank you again!" Sonia calls after me, and I turn to smile and wave as I see my parents getting stuck in the crowd.

You think you should say goodbye to your parents at least?

I would if I knew I wasn't going to get an earful. She gives me her look. Okay, I'll call Mom later. I don't want her to talk me out of the league challenge.

We step onto the platform. Oh good, Michael's already here.

"Michael! You never let us down," I say as I step into the cab seat with Oracle next to me.

"I figured it would be a short visit again, I couldn't abandon you two to the Mightyenas!" He laughs.

We take off and I see my parents in the crowd, who have both lost sight of us and are now preoccupied speaking with other nobles. I see Raihan, Chairman Rose, and Leon on one of the balconies, and notice that Leon is watching us leave.


Author's Note:

I personally love the idea of Raihan being a harmlessly flirtatious kind of drunk person. In the games, I feel like he exudes the energy of someone who has flair for a little bit of drama. And of course, the Leon being lost jokes never get old on me.

Let me know what y'all think in the comments!