CHAPTER 2: Relating with royalty

The night had come in PokéPark and everyone was at home to go to sleep. The only Pokémon that was walking around Cove Town was Oshawott, who had a black bow tie under his head. Before going outside, he came back to the lighthouse and his tutor said to him about what have to do when he was going to meet the queen and her servants. He had to keep calm, be respectful and polite all the time and try to be the most formal possible. Samurott finally gave him a bow tie to make him more presentable at sight. He was going to do his best to go down well with the others.

He arrived to the intersection where the paths to the different areas were, and Krookodile was there watching over. When he came closer, he said:

"Good evening, Oshawott:"

"Good evening, Krookodile."

"What are you doing at this time of night?"

"I want to go to the Arbor Area to go with Queen Serperior."

"I see, so you're going on a date with the princess Snivy, right?"

"It's not a date, it'll just be a sleepover so that we understand better with each other."

"Uh-huh, I believe you. Cute bow tie, by the way. It combines very well with your eyes."

"Thanks, I have to be presentable if I want to meet the royal family of the Arbor Area. Can you let me pass, please?"

"Of course."

He later opened the entrance to go to the Arbor Area.

"Have a very good time on you da… I mean, sleepover."

"Thank you so much, Goodbye."

"Goodbye."

Oshawott finally passed walking to the Arbor Area. Krookodile couldn't help feeling pleasant by seeing how a romance started. He remembered like how he met Audino. Anyway, he hoped that everything would turn out as expected to Oshawott. The water type Pokémon continued walking through Windmill Way, the ambiance was relaxing and quiet, very nice. There was no Pokémon around, but the calmness was interrupted with the arrival of the Bisharp patrol with the Pawniard.

"Stop there! Who are you?!"

"Good evening, Bisharp and Pawniard. I'm Oshawott."

"And what have you come here?"

"I've come to have a sleepover with princess Snivy."

"Sleepover… sleepover… Ah, right! I remember now! She told me personally that I let you pass when the night came. As she thinks you aren't a threat to the princess Snivy and Queen Serperior, I'll let you enter."

"Thanks a lot."

"Have a good night."

The Sea Otter Pokémon went walking calmly until he reached the Verdant Court. It could be hear the relaxing sound of the waterfall. He continued walking until arrived at the chamber where Queen Serperior usually was. But he had to bump into her servants: Lilligant and Leavanny. He greeted them cordially with a formal tune:

"Good evening, miladies."

"Good evening, Oshawott." They said at the same time

"So you've come here to have a date… I mean sleepover with the princess Snivy, haven't you? Leavanny spoke."

"Yes, a sleepover with her. Remember that we do this so that we understand us better. Always keep it in mind, please."

"As you said," Lilligant said.

"Very well… and where is her Majesty and her royal Highness?"

"Do you mean Queen Serperior and princess Snivy?"

"Yes… that's what I wanted to said."

"They are in a secret passage that nobody from here knows where is, except they and us."

"Accompany us."

"As you said, miladies."

They giggled before walk. Lilligant and Leavanny took the Sea Otter Pokémon through a secret passage and hidden to others, which took where the queen and the princess of the Arbor Area lived. The servants had to be quiet about the residence of the high officials, for their complete security; but since Oshawott was an acquaintance of the princess, they let him pass, they trusted him. On the way two servants couldn't help to giggle, seeing the otter with a bow tie and trying to talk formally seemed to them adorable and funny. They still continued thinking that he and the princess made a cute couple. After a few minutes they arrive where there were two houses, one big and one small. They were like some very luxury chalets that were covered with leaves and plants. The door of each housing was made of branch combined. They also had windows, where a bit, or almost nothing, of moonlight passed through. In front on those two houses was the Queen Serperior with her daughter, princess Snivy. They were waiting for him. They greeted each other:

"Good evening, Queen Serperior."

"Good evening, Oshawott," Serperior said.

"Good evening, princess Snivy."

"Good evening." Snivy said.

The queen continued talking.

"So you came here to make a sleepover with my daughter, didn't you?"

"Yes, your Majesty. Her Highness and I did an agreement days before about we were going to do a private reunion in her house for one night, to improve our relationship and understand each other better.

"Yes, my daughter told me about your plans."

"And what do you think, your Majesty? Would you let me be one night with her Highness to talk about whatever until we go to sleep?"

"Yes, I am going to allow it for this time."

"Thank you so much, Queen Serperior."

She spoke to her daughter:

"Very good, behave well with our guest, darling. Don't make a mess or noise while I sleep. Understood?"

"Yes. I'm going to behave well with Oshawott."

"I like that, you two can enter my daughter's house, the little one to be exact. She tidied it up for this occasion."

Snivy couldn't help to feel embarrassment by the commentary of her mother.

"Good," said Oshawott, "but… what will happen to Leavanny and Lilligant? Where are they going to sleep?"

"They have their own houses outside here. They work here, but they live in another place of the Arbor Area."

"Right, I now understand. Very well," coming closer to Snivy, "let's enter in your house, yes, princess?"

"Yes."

The queen said before to say goodbye.

"Have a good quality time between you:"

"Understood. Goodnight, your Majesty."

"Goodnight, Oshawott. Have a good time, sweetie."

"Sleep well, mom. Until morning."

And finally Oshawott and Snivy entered to the little house. They passed through the door made of branch and he saw the interior of the house. Inside was also made of branch and combined leaves. It looked very rustic and elegant. To the left side there was two beds, one for the princess and other to the guest. The first one was put against the wall and the other was separated from the first one. It had furniture like bedside tables and a closet. The place was illuminated by a spotlight above him. There was also a desk with some notebooks and some pencils. The house looked very nice in the inside.

"How beautiful is your house, Snivy," while he admired the place.

"Thank you so much."

He continued looking the inside of the house for a good while, it was very different to the room in the lighthouse where Oshawott commonly slept.

"This will be you bed for this night."

She showed the bed. Like Snivy's, it was a mattress with a pillow and a bed sheet on a wooden base. It was something very different that the bed made of straw where he usually slept. He jumped and got up the bed, sat down and lay down. It was very comfortable and soft, very different from his bed in the lighthouse. He felt very nice that even he thought he could sleep in that time, but since it was a sleepover between them, the ideal would be to wait until they were tired.

"It's very comfortable, I love it!" the otter said with happiness."

"Thanks," while she jumped to her own bed to talk with her Pal, "this house only has one bed, but since there was to put another to you. We took out it from my mom's house and entered it here."

"I never thought that your house would be very cool!"

"Yeah…"

"I suppose is because you're royalty, and royalty has privileges, didn't it?"

"That's right, I cannot deny it. Although I get bored and tired too much here."

"Why you said so? You have a better room than mine. How are you getting tired of this beautiful house?"

"Well, it has always been like this since I was born. One or another change of look, but it still looks the same. It's cool for you because it's the first time that you see."

"Oh, you're right. And your mother's house is the same like this one?"

"Not too much, it's older than this one, but it has the same construction, also it's bigger so that have more space. It also has different furniture and decoration there."

"I wonder now, why are the houses separated from one to another? Was there any argument or disagreement between you two? I don't want to bother you with the subject."

"No, the house was made like this to respect the privacy of each other."

"And they couldn't just make and enlargement of the first house?"

"For my mom's taste, no. But it has nothing to do with disputes and arguments."

"I see…"

They were in silence for a few seconds until the princess said:

"I never thought you'd come here so ridiculous."

"Why do you said that?"

"Well, with a black bow tie and speaking formally to my mom. You seemed like a clown, lucky that nobody else, apart from the servants, saw you like this."

"And Krookodile, BIsharp and the Pawniard?"

"Oh… well. What difference does it make?"

"Didn't you like how I look or how I spoke? Samurott prepared me to introduce myself to your mother formally. He thought it had to treat royalty like this."

"Well… partly yes. It may my mom liked how you behaved, but not me. You're other different Pokémon from the Oshawott I met when I went to your house."

"You mean, do you like me how I am usually."

"Mmm… yeah, so to speak."

Oshawott couldn't believe it, Did Snivy like the way he was? This made his heart flutter a little bit too hard, he tried to not blush. He saw the walls for a moment, there were some pictures, in one was her mother with her daughter, another was the two together with the servants, and another was Snivy with a dress; not only that, there were other pictures of her and other dresses of different colors. He asked:

"Do you wear dresses?"

"No… OK, yes. In especial occasions, like celebrations or meetings I wear a dress. It's a family custom. All of them are in the closet. I feel embarrassed that others see me like that. I'm sorry that you see those photos, you'll tell that I look dumb with those dresses."

"Dumb? No. I think you look beautiful with those dresses."

"Re… really?"

"Of course. Don't think you look stupid by using dresses, at least you know that I liked how you look with that kind of clothes. It looks very elegant and pretty on you."

"Umm… thanks, Oshawott."

Snivy didn't know what to think about him for his commentaries. She could think he had a terrible taste on fashion, but on the other hand, she felt nice that that somebody outside of the Arbor Area liked how she wore dresses. It was like a nice compliment that she gladly accepted. That raised a little her self-esteem.

"Hey…" said the Sea Otter Pokémon, "can you tell me something about your family."

"Like what?"

"Mmm… I don't know… for example… was there a king of the Arbor Area? Did you have a father? That type of things."

"That's quite delicate a matter to talk, but I'll try to be brief and without entering too much in the subject."

"I'm all ears."

"OK, to begin, all started when a Pokémon, a Serperior, wanted to recognizes this lands as his, and he auto-proclaimed as king. Starting like that the royal family of the Arbor Area, being the first royal family of the PokéPark."

"The first royal house of PokéPark… I haven't noticed there were other royal families."

"With the pass of time, more different royal families came to rule different zones of the park, and there was other that came from other places, to tour or know other families. The king of that time married with a queen, also a Serperior, and they had a child, which was a prince or princess, and he or she had another child and so on. Passing from generation to generation the royalty of the Arbor Area, being the Serperior linage characteristic of this area. 'Twas a tradition that the king and the queen were grass type Pokémon and that belonged to royalty. With the pass of generations, the royal families were disappearing."

"Why are there no other royal houses?"

"Sometimes 'twas because the king or queen had no heirs, and others were because the other Pokémon thought it's not necessary that a monarch ruled the area, so they chose Area Keepers in change, that was a more modern mandate in that time, remaining our royal house like the only one standing in PokéPark."

"Very interesting, tell me more."

"My granny, when she was alive, was able to meet a king that belonged from distant lands. They got married and had a child, which was my mom. Years after, when she was a young Snivy, she met a Treecko that belonged to another royal family. Over time, they fell in love with each other and grew up together until becoming the king and queen of the Arbor Area."

"So, the king, your father, was a Sceptile."

"Yeah."

"But what happened to him?"

"There was a problem, they hadn't thought in having a child until they were very old, additionally that their relationship wasn't in a better time, there was several arguments between them. When they thought of having a child so that the Arbor Area's royalty continue, they decided that after the Pokémon is born, the king would abandon his charge and leave the Arbor Area and the PokéPark in general. So, after I was born, my mother was the only familiar member that took care of me since I was little. She took care of me for all these years with the help of her servants. Afterwards, when I was older, my mom told me about what happened with my dad. She still remembered him, more for his painful words when they argued than her cute love of childhood."

"So… you've never met your father."

"Right, my mom said that before he was a noble and kind, but with the time he got corrupted until being a despicable Pokémon to others."

"Wow… I wonder if he is still alive."

"I don´t know either, but there're rumors that he died a long time ago of natural causes."

"Was he so old?"

"Mm-hmm. Do you remember when we made a battle against the queen and her servants so that we can be friends with my mom?"

"A bit."

"Do you remember that the Queen Serperior was in a distant platform attacking from there?

"Yeah, I wonder why she wanted the battle were like that."

"Well, the reason, besides of the necessity of taking care all the time of the queen, it's that she was no longer in good shape to fight by herself. She has her years and couldn't do the things that did before."

"I understand now… So your mother was the only family member that took care of you during all of your life. At least she has gave you a good life."

"Yeah… a good life…"

Snivy gave a loud sigh.

"What's wrong, Snivy? Don't you like your life in royalty?"

"Mmm… the truth is that I don't like it."

"Why do you say so, if you have a better life than mine?"

"It's hard to explain. I don't know where I start."

"Tell me calmly. Let's see, what thing is that you like the least?"

"Well… The least thing that I like is… the fact of being a princess."

"Is seriously what you say?!"

"Yeah. I feel tired and bored of belonging to royalty. You don't know, but I said that they make me class of etiquette and good manners to be a princess. Having to stand with what to do what not to do. They teach me how to behave correctly, how to eat without being vulgar, being watched all the time so nothing wrong happen, trying to talk the most formal way, having to follow the rules and norms of royalty, and a bunch of more other things. It has me very exhausted."

"I can understand that until a certain point. And what type of life would you like to have?"

"I'd like to go on adventures everywhere, meet different Pokémon and several unique places. It sounds very fun to me."

"So, you joined us because you wanted to go on adventures, didn't you?"

"Right. I like that more than being bored and protected in the same place."

"I see."

"I even want to escape from all of my responsibilities and travel free around the world."

"And what happen with your servants and your mother? They are the ones who have taken care of you all your life."

"I don't know what to say to them. It's that I'm already tired that they treat me like if were something important to them."

"Snivy, don't say those stupid things."

"Why do you say so?"

"Your mother and your servants consider you like a treasure that must be protected for a long time. You're very important to them, to the guards, even to Pikachu, Tepig, and me; to every one of the Arbor Area in general."

"Hmm… I guess you're right, the problem is…"

"What will become of the Arbor Area without the princess that is going to govern after a while?"

"Well, that's the problem I have."

"About… you're going to govern?"

"Yeah, I'm not interested the fact of ruling the Arbor Area after my mom. I don't feel comfortable of doing that in the future."

"You aren't interested, you don't feel comfortable, or… because you're not ready for that?"

Snivy didn't answer that question. Oshawott could know by intuition that was what bothered to his Pal. He asked her after.

"Do you love your mother, right?"

"Yeah, I love her, but…"

"Buy you're not ready for her to inherit the throne, because it´s a great responsibility to you to lead the Arbor Area by yourself."

"How do you know that?"

"It's for nothing I'm a detective, or investigator, whatever you want to call it. The day when we met Queen Serperior you were there, and then you went outside to play in another place. What you didn't know was that your mother was worried about you, especially because the way you behave, because you were the successor of the throne, and your mother expected a better behavior from you for a so important charge like being the successor of the throne."

"Wow…"

"Yeah, your tomboyish and little formal behavior since the day where I met you, more the fact that your mother is worried about you, in addition to the conversations that we had yesterday and today, it made me believe that you don't want to be the successor of the Arbor Area, or am I wrong?"

"Yeah, everything you said is true. It seems I'm in a pickle. I love my mom for all the time she took care of me, but I cannot tell in her face that I don't wanna rule the area. She would be mean to me if I say that, even she would think that she would stop to loving me," she gave a loud sigh," What I can do?"

"Hmm… you don't want to govern the Arbor Area yet, right?"

"Yeah."

"Maybe in the future you can change your mind."

"What do you mean with change my mind? I don't think that's going to happen.

"That's why I said previously 'yet' before asking."

"What do you mean?"

"You're still young to take charge of a mandate. Over time you'll change, becoming more responsible of the things you do. When you grow up, you possibly can take charge of leading the Arbor Area. Just let the time pass and it'll tell if you're ready prepared."

"It could be, but I cannot do it anyway."

"Why?"

"I feel that it's a charge that I cannot do it by myself. I'm not able to put that huge weight on me."

"Who said that you had to do it by yourself?"

"Umm… Umm…"

"You have your Pals who have supporting you throughout the adventure to stop Darkrai. We always were there, in every challenge and battle you made, as in where you won as in where you lost. You shouldn't feel alone, because Pikachu, Tepig, and I of course, are to your side to support you in everything, in the good times and in the bad times. What do you think, Snivy? Do you think you can be a great queen like your mother someday, with help of your Pals?"

The grass snake thought for a moment carefully, and this was her answer:

"OK, I'll try it."

"Are you sure you want to do it?"

"Yeah, I'm going to fulfill with my role as a princess. And when the time come, I'm going to take the lead from my mom, and going to rule like her. Or I'm going to try it at least."

"I'm glad of you."

"Yeah, Thanks for opening my eyes."

"No problem. You know, it's not necessary that you change the behavior suddenly, you're still young. You can enjoy your life as you wish that stage of your life."

"Yeah."

"But remember that you're a princess, and you have to fulfill with you duty until the time comes."

"I'll keep it in mind. Thank you so much for being my Pal."

"You're welcome. And, by the way, I owe you an apology."

"An apology? Why?"

"Do you remember the first time we met?"

"I remember."

"Well, I'm sorry by having mistaken you with a boy."

"Just for that?"

"Yeah. It was rude of me having to yell it in that occasion."

"Am I so tomboy so you mistook me with a boy?"

"Well, I think so. It's not for offend you. I apologize for something."

"Whatever, I said in that moment I'd pretend I didn't hear that, but I forgive you anyway."

"Thanks, Snivy."

There was a while of silence in the grass type's little house until Oshawott yawned."

"You feel sleepy, Oshawott?"

"Yeah, but I can stay awake for another while. And you Snivy?"

"I also wanted to stay awake for a little bit."

"So let's search for something to have fun for a while."

Later the otter give another loud yawn, opening his mouth widely and closing his eyes. Without noticing, he felt a blow in his face. The force was such that he fell down of the bed a short distance. It seemed that had knocked him out, but he was still conscious. He felt the blow's mark in his face. It was a strong hit, but it felt soft for some reason; it didn't hurt him. Oshawott was with his face looking the ceiling of leaves and branches. When he wanted to straighten his head to see Snivy, he felt a pillow come over his face. Now all got dark and he couldn't breathe until he removes the object. With his arms he pushed aside the pillow and asked the grass Snivy.

"What are you doing, Snivy?"

Then she shouted with great encouragement:

"Pillow fight!"

Oshawott seemed to him that she wanted to play hitting each other with the pillows. She was very excited to do it. He said determined:

"Oh, so that it's what you want?! Well, here you have your fight!"

He stood up and grabbed his pillow with his paws, and head for his Pal, getting on the bed, to attack her with the pillow. He made a lot of force to deal a blow, and hit the target, but Snivy countered and gave a stronger blow than Oshawott's. It was an accurate hit, but he immediately attacked again. And so on they started to take a soft beating between them with the pillows for long an intense minutes. Some sounds of pain were heard, but mostly were happy laughs. In a moment of the fight Oshawott exclaimed:

"It's not fair, your pillow is harder than mine!"

"Don't complain about that! Try to beat me like this! I bet you don't beat me!"

"So be it! I'm gonna beat you no–!"

The water type received a hit full on the face that interrupted what he was going to say. He continued attacking her with his pillow and try to win. The friendly match took a while, until they finally ended up lying and exhausted on their beds, and with their bodies a little bit hurt. Only pants and tiredness noises.

"Are you… *pant* alright, Oshawott? 'twas fun… wasn't it?"

"I don't feel… my head… *pant* or my… *pant* body… ow."

"Sorry for… being very… rough with you… I always wanted… a pillow fight… with somebody."

"Boy… it was very fun… I can't move… anymore… ouch."

"Neither do I… huff… we better go… to sleep now.

"Yeah… I'm agreed… with you. But I need something… before that…

"What?"

"I want you to move the bed… next to the window."

"To the window? Why?"

"So that I'm not completely in the dark all night."

"Not that you had overcome your fear to the dark before?"

"Yes, but some of that persists in me to this day,"

"I cannot believe that you continue with that. I find even funny you're still a little bit afraid of the dark."

"I don't even know how that information got to where your mother. How embarrassing. For that I didn't wanted to come to the Arbor Area for the first time."

He tried to not feel embarrassed while she giggled.

"Well, as I'm you Pal, I'll do it for this time."

"Thank you, Snivy."

They tried to stand up, but were still dazed and done lost by the enormous quantity of consecutive blows with the pillows. Once they were able to stabilize a little, they continued to move Oshawott's bed near the window. When it was in position, Snivy turn off the light of the ceiling and both went to sleep. As Oshawott suspected, the room had almost no light, so he had the idea of moving the bed near the window. They lay down on the soft mattress, covered themselves with the warm sheets, put their heads on the smooth pillows and they said to each other:

"Goodnight, Snivy."

"Goodnight, Oshawott."

She noticed later he had his scalchop under his head. She asked:

"Do you get used to sleep with the head over your scalchop as a pillow?"

"Yeah, it's already a habit, and so I sleep well and calmly."

"It's not necessary you do that this night, just put in your belly as always. The pillow of the bed will do that work."

"Yeah, but I say that at night I…"

"I don't wanna hear any complain from you before sleep, is that clear? Do it just for this time, OK?"

Oshawott thought it a bit and said:

"Well, OK. Just this time."

"Alright, now goodnight."

"Night."

Snivy settled down on her little bed and snuggled up with the bed sheet. The otter was appreciating the grass snake sleep pleasantly. He wanted to tell her about his problem when he sleep without his scalchop under his head, but thought that it's not going to happen that night. So he put it in his belly and settled down to sleep like his Pal.

And they finally got carried away by sleep until they sleep deeply.

It was midnight in the Arbor Area and everybody was sleeping deeply, but one of them woke up in the middle of the night. Snivy opened her eyes in a moment because she felt a noise inside her house. They were like voices. She got up a little and saw her surroundings to see what it was. Her surprise was pleasant when she saw that the one who emitted the voices was Oshawott, who was still sleeping. She observed him for a moment, he seemed to talk in his dream. Not only that, he had his scalchop in one hand and moved his arm from one side to another like if he wanted to swing a sword. Not only that, the water type Pokémon seemed to say:

"Zzz… don't worry… zzz… I'm going to stop Darkrai by myself… zzz… just look at me…"

Just then his scalchop got activated and unfurled into a sword. Oshawott started to move it in different directions like if he wanted to cut or attack something. The grass snake was surprised, but she only observed the scene, she didn't want to talk or interrupt him.

"Zzz… Hiah… Hah… Huah… zzz… Take that, Darkrai… zzz…"

She had no idea what to do, she didn't want to come closer, because she would be hurt by the scalchop. If she woke him up she could be spook him too much until give him a heart attack. She thought it wouldn't be any problem if he was like that, he wouldn't cause any harm if he continued lying on the bed. As long as he doesn't get up from there and attack everything in front of him, everything would be fine. That strange behavior of her Pal seemed curious to her, even funny. Snivy thought that maybe he behaved like that because he had his scalchop in his paw, instead of being under his head when he sleeps. Who would it thought that Oshawott got like this while sleeping; to her, he battled in his sleep. It was funny seeing in that state, but it was midnight, she needed to sleep to wake up when the sun rises. The grass type settled down again in her bed and, trying to ignore the noise that the otter emitted, went back to sleep minutes later. What she didn't know was that, after a while, after she went into deep sleep, Oshawott said some words that, if she heard that, she possibly would get mad and give him a big beating to her Pal, it didn't know, it could even say that she liked what he said.

"Zzz… Snivy… zzz… zzz… I love you… zzz…"

The night passed and the morning came, the sun rising illuminating and warming the ambiance. The lights passed through the window of Snivy's house. She slowly was waking up, opening her eyes in first place. She regained consciousness later. When she saw her house illuminated, she got up of her bed, stretched and gave a loud yawn. It was one of the few times that she woke up earlier on her own, the other times her mother woke her up. She saw her Pal Oshawott, he was still sleeping. His arm with his scalchop was pointing up, to the wall where the window was. She observed he was smiling with his mouth open, and had a saliva trail falling down. He looked so funny and dopey, but also adorable. The snake wondered what he was dreaming about so that he was happy while he slept. It was morning, so it was best to wake him up gently.

"Oshawott… Oshawott… wake up, it's morning."

He just turned to the side. She supposed she had to move him with her pods, with her vines moved the water type Pokémon gently while she said:

"Oshawott, it's time to get up."

It seemed he didn't want to wake up, she moved a little bit harder, until he finally opened his eyes. He got up suddenly like he got a heavy scare. He asked very bewildered and quickly:

"Who, what, when, where?!"

Snivy startled by his sudden reaction.

"Uhh… Morning, Oshawott?"

"Oh, good…" he said calmly and giving a loud yawn, "morning, Snivy."

"How did you sleep?"

"I slept like if I was in a king's bed, or a prince's one, something like that."

Snivy seemed strange to her his comparison, something new that she didn't hear every day. Like a king, or like a prince. It was strange, thinking that Snivy was a princess. It must have been just a coincidence nothing more.

"And you, Snivy?"

"I slept well, although, so to speak, I liked your little gig that you made last night."

"What do you mean? Oh, that, of battling in sleeps."

"Does that happen to you often?"

"Only when I don't have my scalchop under my head, it happens rare times.

"OK."

Oshawott felt very embarrassed because Snivy knew what happened to him that kind of things, he even blushed quite enough. She indicated:

"You blushed."

"It's… it's just of embarrassment, that's all," while he showed a nervous smile.

"Yeah, I believe you."

At that very moment, Queen Serperior, Snivy's mother, appeared knocking on the door.

"Sweetie, are you awake?"

"Yes, mom. And Oshawott is just getting up."

"That is good! Wake up now because it is already time for breakfast."

"Breakfast?" Oshawott asked.

"Yeah, we have breakfast with our servants in a zone near the throne. Do you wanna accompany us?"

"Umm… yeah, sure. Why not?"

"Oshawott is going to have breakfast, too, mom," Snivy said to her mother.

"Perfect, our guest will come to eat. Come out when you are ready."

"We're coming, mom. Let's go, Oshawott, I'm sure that you're going to like what we eat for breakfast."

"Alright," while he rubbed his eyes with his arms.

After he got up and put his scalchop in his belly. They both exited the house through the door, outside was the queen waiting for them.

"Very well," said Seperior, "you are already awake. Let's go to the dining room with the servants."

And the three went to the dining room, which was in another site of the royal property. The queen was in front, while her daughter, together with her Pal, were behind. After some minutes, they arrived the royal dining room. It was an area surrounded by large ground projections, which seemed stone walls, with several vines around, with a wooden circular table in the middle with some seats around it. The table was very big, he suppose that was to have breakfast with more guests, especially with more royal families. Oshawott seemed to him interesting how the dining room looked like. It was nice, proper of some grass type Pokémon. Near the round table were Leavanny and Lilligant preparing breakfast. After see them, Leavanny said:

"Oh, Queen Serperior, good morning. You have come to eat."

"And you have brought the princess and the guest to eat breakfast. How good!" expressed Lilligant.

"Good morning to you." Queen Serperior said.

"Good morning," Snivy spoke.

"Morning, ladies," Oshawott greeted.

"You seem you want to eat, soon we serve the breakfast. Wait around the table meanwhile."

The three got on a part of the table, Oshawott and Snivy sat near each other in the seat, for the queen wasn't necessary, and waited. The otter and the grass snake were in the left side, while the queen was in the upper part, so the servants were going to eat breakfast in the right side. After a few minutes, the food arrived: it was about berries with a cup of tea with some herbs in its inside. They handed over on plates to each one. They passed a tray to the otter, he was surprised how the breakfast was from his Pal's acquaintance, the berries were very ripe and of a prominent color, more than the ones he had in the lighthouse. They looked very delicious. He wanted really bad to eat them, but the queen came to say to him:

"Oshawott, wait until they finish serving, all right?"

"Oh, you're right. Sorry for my manners, your Majesty."

He remembered he was meeting with the royalty, so he had to behave formally, he tried to not to be a brute, a brute with black bow tie. Once they handed over the trays with the berries and tea, in addition that the servants were placed in the table with their own plates, all of them started to eat. Oshawott only dedicated to observe his surroundings, he was a bit confused. Everyone was eating the berries or drinking the grass tea, all seemed elegant and formal, until he saw the princess eating quickly. The queen noticed that and said to her:

"My darling, eat moderately. You are next to the guest."

"Ok, sorry."

Snivy tried to eat slowly and formally. Oshawott suppose she eat commonly her food. He looked at the queen, she was using her vines to lift a piece of berry and eat it, she did it with grace and elegance. It was a quite evident contrast. He observed the servants, they also were eating formally. He thought he was a weirdo inside the royalty, it was strange to him. He felt bad, excluded; maybe it wasn't a good idea to go to have breakfast with Snivy's acquaintances. The otter saw the food that it had in front of him. He wanted to eat, but the feeling of being a misfit took away his appetite.

"Hey, Oshawott, what's wrong with you? You're gonna eat? Yes or not?" Snivy asked.

"Love, keep in mind that you must talk politely all the time, especially with a guest here," Serperior said.

"Oh, I'm sorry, mom."

The queen spoke to the water type.

"Oshawott, are you not hungry?"

"No, no, I am hungry, your Majesty. The thing is…"

"So eat, Lilligant and Leavanny made it especially to you with love."

Oshawott didn't want to tell them he didn't want to eat by feeling bad, but he either wanted to see them the same way, so decided to eat anyway.

"Umm… OK."

The otter ate a piece of berry, he couldn't believe it, it was very delicious and sweet, the taste was very intense, so intense that suddenly gradually harmed his mouth. It seemed that his mouth was burning. He tried to keep calm and don't lose restraint in front of the queen. Just then he saw the grass tea. He supposed that drinking the liquid would calm the intense sensation of the berries. He took the cup with his paw and drank the tea. It was hot and fresh enough so that the intense taste of the berries was gone. It was a relief. The tea was very sweet, too much for his taste. When he tried to slurp a bit more of the liquid, a leaf inside the tea reached his mouth. Oshawott stopped drinking, now he had a leaf between his teeth. He tasted it for a moment with his tongue, it was sweet like the tea he drank. He thought he would look ridiculous with a leaf in his lips, he looked like a fighting type Pokémon with black and white colors that he didn't remember well its name. He took out the leaf from his teeth with a paw and put it in the tea, there were two or three herbs inside that gave the water the sweet touch. It was a very strange experience to him, he never had breakfast like that, he wasn't used to it. He tried to ingest the food like they did. In that moment Serperior asked to her daughter and her Pal.

"My dear, Oshawott, how was it last night? Did you enjoy the sleepover you did?"

"It was so much fun," that was what she wanted to say, but still had her mouth fully with berries."

"Don't talk while you eat, my dear. Finish eating before talking."

Snivy swallow the food and continued talking.

"It was so much fun, mom."

"What did you do?"

"We talked a little, about me, our family, that type of things. And later we made a pillow fight until getting tired."

"Hmm… I see…"

Serperior didn't like that her daughter still behave like that, she still had a long way to go if she wanted to be the successor of the throne.

"What else did you do?"

"Nothing more, but I noticed that at night Oshawott sometimes battles in his sleep."

Hearing that made the otter choked with the tea. It went to the other path. He coughed forcefully to clear his throat. Everybody saw worried about what was happening to Oshawott.

"Oshawott, are you OK?" his Pal asked.

"Yes… cough… cough… I'm alright… cough… don't worry… cough…" he said choking out.

After he finished to cough, he continued consuming the food like it nothing had happened. Great, now they know my other nocturnal secret, he thought as he tried to not feel embarrassed again. Sadly he didn't wanted to be the contrary about what she said, or he would turn red explaining about what happened that night. For his bad fortune, the matter didn't finished there.

"What do you mean he battles in his sleep?"

"You see, Oshawott normally sleep with his scalchop under his head as a pillow, but I said it wasn't necessary, having the pillow of the bed. He put it in his belly and went to sleep. When it was midnight, I woke up and felt a noise, and it was about him, who moved his object from one side to another, like if he wanted to attack somebody."

What Snivy was telling didn't like to Oshawott. Every word she said made him cringe and he blushed little by little.

"Last night he dreamed he was fighting against Darkrai, as he moved his scalchop in different directions, which was transformed into a sword. He also was talking as he slept, saying that he was going to stop Darkrai by himself."

He blushed from embarrassment more and more, he closed his eyes to prevent them from looking at him and seeing his blushed face. He gritted his teeth, like if he was bearing a sharp pain.

"I didn't wanted to wake him up, so I returned to sleep. In the morning, when I wake up, I saw Oshawott with a wide and dopey smile, and with a trail of goo. I wonder what he was dreaming about in that instant. Oshawott, do you know what are you dreaming about before you woke up?"

He continued trying to hold the complete embarrassment, his eyes and teeth were much shut. He said in a falter and muffle way:

"I don't… remember… now… I'm sorry… Snivy."

"Oshawott, are you sure you're alright? I see you very red."

"Snivy… is it was… nece… ssary to… talk to the… others about… this?"

She didn't know what he meant with that, until she realized seconds later.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Oshawott. I didn't wanted that you were embarrassed. It's that my mother likes to know trivia about others."

"Do not worry, Oshawott," Snivy's mother said, "your secret is kept with us. Nobody out here is going to know it. Right?"

"Yes," Snivy said.

"I promise," swore Leavanny.

"I swear no one is going to know" expressed Lilligant.

With just hearing that it was a complete relief for the water type. He started to relax with the passing of the seconds. He hoped that everyone keep their oath. He breathed and exhaled loudly. Now he could be calm. Goodness, if they knew that he was dreaming that morning with Queen Serperior's daughter, everyone, including the princess, were going to look at him very bad. What a bad morning to him.

After a few minutes of eating the berries and drinking the tea. Everyone finished eating breakfast, included Oshawott, who was the last one in finish.

"Very well," the queen said, "we have already had breakfast. It is time that Oshawott go back to the Cove Area. Do you have something more to say, Oshawott?"

"No, nothing."

"Are you satisfied? Did you like the breakfast?"

"Mmm… yeah…"

"How good! I hope you two understand each other better after doing the agreement you did."

"Yes," Snivy affirmed, "It was interesting knowing a little bit of Oshawott, it even was fun spend the time with him."

"Mm-hmm… And you, Oshawott, do you feel the same as my daughter?"

"The truth is that it was very entertained what we did."

"I hope there will be more reunions like this in the future."

Oshawott and Snivy agreed what Serperior said, but thought that the next time wouldn't have breakfast in each other's house.

"Well," said the otter, "It's time for me to go."

"Good, my daughter will accompany you until the exit of the Arbor Area. All right?

"Yes, mom," saying happily.

"Thank you so much, Queen Serperior, for let me be here one night," said the water type.

"It was a pleasure. I hope you liked. Goodbye."

"Goodbye."

And that was how Snivy and Oshawott went to the exit of the Arbor Area. Before to say goodbye they exchanged words.

"And well… what did you think of being in my home? Did you like it?"

"Umm… I'd like to tell you the truth, the truth is I enjoyed being with you making a sleepover, but at breakfast time I felt… like a weirdo respect to others.

"Yeah, it's that we used to invite other royal families to our house, as you are my friend and for having saved the PokéPark with the others, my mother said yes so you came for one night. It's an unheard-of invite a Pokémon that it's not from royalty. I'm sorry that you have felt that during the breakfast."

"Yeah… no problem with that, it's over now."

"Good."

"And did you like being one night in the lighthouse?"

"Being honest with you, I liked the time we spent there, but the place and how the breakfast was it wasn't to my liking."

"Yeah, I notice that the berries from you home had a very intense taste for me. And the tea… was very sweet, sincerely speaking."

"And the berries from you house aren't very fresh, I even noticed some rotten parts there."

"It's because we recollect berries no matter their state. No food is to be wasted after all."

"That or here there is better soil to farm than near the sand."

"That may be that as well."

"Our ways to live are very different, don't you think?"

"Right, but there's no denying that it was a new experience to us."

"You're right."

Both were in silence for a moment, until Oshawott said:

"I have to go to my house, so goodbye, Snivy."

"Bye, Oshawott."

The Sea Otter Pokémon went to the lighthouse, Samurott was waiting for him. Snivy was observing him until he was out of sight. Now she could return to the Arbor Area. She wondered if making a sleepover in each other's house gave some result, about both understood better and stuff. She hoped so. Meanwhile Oshawott headed home, on the way some Pokémon saw him and noticed in the black bow tie he had. They talked to each other without raising too much the voice that the otter had a date, possibly with the princess of the Arbor Area, they weren't so sure. He was able to hear a bit about they said and he started to get worried, rather, to get embarrassed. He speeded up the pace until he finally arrived to the lighthouse. He said out loud after entering:

"Samurott, I'm back from the Arbor Area!"

"It's good that you came back!"

The Formidable Pokémon went down from the second floor to see his pupil.

"How it went there? Did you have a good time with Snivy and company?

"Yeah… at the beginning yes, until I had to go to have breakfast there.

"It's for that you got late. And how was it?"

"It's too much refined for me, I felt like a weirdo, a misfit or something like that."

"Hmm… well, that happens when you're with royalty. There has different custom than ours and you feel like a Pokémon who doesn't fit there."

"You're right."

"But everything else went well for you?"

"Yeah, we talked and we had fun at night."

"What did you talk about?"

"I prefer not to say it, it's rather private."

"I understand. Was there other thing interesting when you were there?"

"Besides the disastrous breakfast I had, after exiting the Arbor Area, I felt some Pokémon were talking in a low voice about me. I felt uncomfortable with that."

"From what you heard, what did they say?"

"Something like… that I had a date with the princess of the Arbor Area."

"I see…"

Oshawott started to blush little by little.

"I'd like to say them that it wasn't a date, and that I'm not really fell in love with Snivy."

"Hmm… do you remember what we talked yesterday?"

"Umm… not too much."

"I told you yesterday you're in a phase where you deny you love for someone else, in this case, Snivy."

"It that I don't want to be in love for her, she's too… elegant and… pretty for me. We're very different from each other, we are not compatibles for love to be born."

"Oshawott, what you are going through is normal, but with over time you may come to accept your love for her."

"But… how is possible that this happened? How could a plebeian Pokémon that works like a detective be in love with a princess? With a princess!"

"Calm down first, Oshawott, and have you found any clue that she feel the same as you."

"Umm… no, nothing. I didn't see her behaving strange when I was with her. I think it means that she isn't be in love with me."

"It might be, or might she didn't realize of her own feeling for you."

"Do you believe that?"

"Yes."

"Umm… I'm not very convinced."

"You're not?"

"The thing is I don't know, what if Snivy don't feel the same way as me?"

"Hmm… I think I know what your problem is."

"What?"

"You're afraid."

"Afraid of what?"

"Afraid for being rejected by her."

"Really?"

"Yes, you long that Snivy accept you like a boyfriend, but how is she, you think she isn't going to accept you, and you deny accept your love, because you're going to be disappointed if she doesn't fell the same for you."

"Oh…"

"Oshawott, love is more complicated than what it seems, but I tell you one thing: over time you'll accept your love for Snivy, you slowly you will be showing signs of love that could like her."

"And if she doesn't feel the same for me?"

"Other opportunities exist for something, let pass a good time and try again."

"The thing is… is… is I feel Snivy is going to stop being my friend."

"That isn't going to happen."

"You think?"

"I assure you, for something you made with her a sleepover in each other's house: to understand better between you two. Even if she rejects you as a boyfriend, at least she'll look you as her best friend."

The otter knew his tutor was very wise, with the years he gained experience and lived many moments to know all of that.

"Thank you, Samurott. This improved my mood."

"You're welcome. Remember, over time you'll become braver and face your fear of being rejected. Just take some days or week to see what happen to you. Someday you'll be prepare to tell her about what you really feel."

"I understand, thank you so much."

"No problem, why don't you relax resting in the sand or swimming in the sea?"

"Yes, I'll do that. Until night, Samurott."

"Until then, Oshawott."

The Sea Otter Pokémon went outside of the lighthouse to relax with the first thing he found. Samurott couldn't help to be proud of his pupil. He thought that someday he was going to gain the enough courage to tell her about what he feels to Snivy. The problem is that it was a very difficult task. Because of how he is, he eventually is going to fail, but love is like that. You don't know what awaits you.