Chapter 10: Havo Good Time!
In Lashara's dorm, she and Chiaia received a holographic call from Maria's mother. "Please, don't act so distant, Lashara!" she pleaded. "I'm your aunt! You should feel more welcomed for my help at anytime necessary!"
"We would rather meet Babalun on the battlefield and die heroically than ask for your assistance," Lashara scoffed.
"Well, there's so much catching up to do! Please, come and spend your summer break with me! If not, my heart will break in two! Oh, and don't worry about money, I'll happily compensate travel costs to bring you and your friends along!" That stirred Lashara to have a second thought. Chiaia snickered to Lashara's quick attention.
"Looks like Aunt Flora can read the empress like an open book, too," she teased. Flora had more.
"And you can bring Chiaia, Wahanly and even Sir Dagmeyr," she offered. That got Chiaia's attention as well.
"She certainly pulled some strings for us, didn't she?" murmured Lashara.
"And you can even bring your two attendants that your cousin chimed in," Flora mentioned. "I look forward to seeing you all real soon!" The holograph finished, but Lashara suspected Flora's intention.
"In other words, she really wants to see Ash and Kenshi," she concluded. That's when the holograph switched back on.
"I almost forgot!" reminded Flora. "If you decide to be obstinate and refuse my generous offer, I'll be forced to tell your friends embarrassing stories about what you were when you were little… especially this picture of-" CRASH! Lashara smashed the device in anger to her blackmailing.
"THIS IS WHY WE CAN'T STAND HER!" she bellowed. She boarded a ferry-style ship that flew through the air with Ash, Kenshi, Chiaia, Wahanly, Lithia, Aura, Yukine, Dagmeyr and Ash's Pokémon on board. Lounging with a grumpy face, wearing a blue dress and having Buizel lounging by her deck chair, Lashara didn't feel like being on the same boat as… well, anyone. Pikachu's with Wahanly who wore a tan vest over a white button-down shirt and dress pants. Staraptor was by the roof with an energetic Kenshi bouncing around. Infernape was with Ash as he wore most of his Trainer Garb except for the black vest. They gazed at the canyon walls in awe. Dagmeyr turned to Ash and Infernape.
"I've been wanting to chat with Ash for sometime," he explained to Chiaia, She wore a rose-colored blouse and shorts. Infernape saw Dagmeyr and Chiaia approaching.
("Company!") the Fire Monkey Pokémon hooted. Ash heard Infernape and turned to see Dagmeyr and Chiaia.
"Hey!" he greeted.
"Hey, Ash," Dagmeyr welcomed. "I'm not disrupting anything, am I?"
"Nah, I'm just enjoying the view." Ash's response made Dagmeyr giggle.
"At least you seek a little peace and easement. Kenshi… Maybe Miss Lithia's got a point." While Ash and Dagmeyr engaged their conversation, Maria and Yukine approached Lashara. Maria wore a pale yellow dress while Yukine wore a black suit with her abdomen exposed.
"Honestly, now…" scoffed Maria. "How long are you going to sit out here like a baby and pout?" Looking up, Maria eyed Kenshi dancing on the top of the ship. "Take Kenshi for example: He's having a wonderful time."
"Of course, he's having a wonderful time!" snorted Lashara. "He wanted to come! We were dragged along kicking and screaming!" Maria teased Lashara with a laugh. "Though, you won't be laughing long if Aunt Flora gets a hold of Ash." Maria stopped laughing at the realization of Flora's intention.
"So, that's what you're worried about. Now that I think about it, Mother would take Ash away… and I dare not think of her intention proceeding."
"So we can agree that Ash is best warned about Aunt Flora?"
"Seems likely. Where is he, anyway?" They soon saw Chiaia coming as she heard the conversation.
"Ash's with Dagmeyr right now at the rear," she briefed. "It doesn't seem like there's anything wrong between them."
"We'll see for ourselves," Maria excused as she and Lashara journeyed to the rear. They eyed Ash and Dagmeyr talking and smiling together.
"I should say that you'd be better off with the empress and princess," Dagmeyr pointed out.
"Both of them?" questioned Ash. "Not one or the other?"
"Think of it like this: both of them have feelings for you."
"I get that… so much so that Jessie's now ringing in my ear about 'the opposite sex'. Seriously, if anyone likes me or loves me or hates me, I'll accept it." Dagmeyr nodded to Ash's meaning.
"So, you won't decide if Lashara and Maria like you equally? I got no reason to ask you for a different thought on making choices. Who knows, they may have better times in your world than here." Ash snickered to Dagmeyr's idea.
"Sir Dagmeyr?" voiced Maria. Ash and Dagmeyr turned to Lashara and Maria on their approach.
"Princess Maria!" awed Dagmeyr. "Empress Lashara! Did you need Ash for anything?"
"We did, as a matter of fact," Lashara answered. Dagmeyr acknowledged the royal children's need.
"Very well," he replied. "I'm gonna make sure Sir Masaki hasn't hurt himself." He departed as Infernape looked on, puzzled to the exchange between Ash and Ulyte's nephew. Maria noticed it.
"Infernape, did we disrupt something?" she asked.
("Not really,") he shrugged. Lashara confronted Ash about his time with Dagmeyr.
"What were you two talking about just now?" she questioned.
"Dagmeyr talked about his hardship being a Sacred Mecha Master," he explained. "I wanted to say that it sounds harder than being a Pokémon Trainer."
"Well, you're not wrong…" shrugged Lashara. "We can imagine having a Pokémon to own as a pet and train it for battle like you do."
"It's just that Sacred Mecha Masters have a strenuous experience which they need their entire mind and body to use Sacred Mechanoids," Maria added. As the ride continued, more ships were seen in the distance as Ash understood Dagmeyr's hardship.
"Look at all the ships!" an excited Kenshi squealed. Seeing them, Maria knew they had to be closing in on her home as they gathered port side.
"They're part of the Transport Service that deliver guests to and from resorts," she described. "But to prevent any potential accident with the twisting winds in the ravine, they travel one direction."
"So, it flies in circles, then?" guessed Ash. Suddenly, Kenshi eyed Ceres with a brunette girl around his age. Ash spotted the two as well. The ships arrived at the Transport Station where the ships connected. They proceeded into the next ship where they listened to someone. Ash and Kenshi spotted a redhead woman wearing a white cloak to Ceres and the brunette.
"I've set things up so you can spend some alone time without worrying about the guards and them discovering the villa," she promised.
"Are you sure, Cordyline?" wondered Ceres. "If so, all we have to do is get Hazuki pass the gates without notice."
"Not a problem," Cordyline smiled. "I've got you covered." Ash and Kenshi glanced to each other.
"So, she's Hazuki?" whispered Ash. "And what's she doing with Ceres?"
"What I wanna know is their plan," whispered Kenshi. Then, Cordyline began to walk away. Ash and Kenshi realized Cordyline came their way and Ash climbed quickly clear. Kenshi followed suit. Cordyline looked around, finding a Koro. In fact, a swarm of Koros covered Ash and Kenshi.
'Damn, they're everywhere!' she growled. She walked out as Ash and Kenshi jumped down from their hiding spot to confront Ceres and Hazuki. The Koros scattered.
"Ash?" he noticed. "Kenshi? You overheard us?"
"Yeah, what's going on?" asked Ash. "You two were talking about getting through the gate."
"Yes," Ceres confirmed. "Hazuki and I fell in love… and that's part of the problem."
"See, I'm a mere commoner as Ceres is a Sacred Mecha Master," Hazuki informed. "It's considered taboo for a relationship to happen."
"Hazuki has a strong resistance to Ahou, and we're both far from birth into royalty or affluence," Ceres continued. "To be a Sacred Mecha Master, it's a huge leap higher than a mere commoner… the privilege, the money… they began a divide between me and Hazuki despite the long road to resolving out differences."
"They even claimed that I was after Ceres' bloodline which isn't true at all… but I believe that's what his parents are thinking at this moment!" She began to cry. Ash and Kenshi felt sympathy for Ceres and Hazuki.
"There shouldn't be a reason that you two can't enjoy each other," Ash snorted. "I want to understand about how it is that Sacred Mecha Masters like you can't choose who to be with." Ceres nodded but had a retort.
"Of course, considering that you have Empress Lashara and Princess Maria on you like moths to a flame," he snapped, causing Hazuki to giggle.
"Anyway, what's this gate that you two wanted to get across?" asked Kenshi.
"It's a gate to a ritzy resort," Ceres briefed. "But getting Hazuki pass it without being caught is incredibly difficult and with the laws that want to drive the two of us apart."
"I understand," Ash murmured. "Kenshi and I'll keep quiet about this. I wish there was more either of us can do." Ceres and Hazuki nodded to Ash's promise.
"Ash, Kenshi, thank you," Hazuki praised. Ash and Kenshi nodded before returning to the surface where everyone else was. They saw the greenery in the mountains with an enjoyable aroma wafting in the air.
"In ancient times, plants like these in the mountains allegedly covered the entire planet of Geminar," Maria informed. "However, due to drastic climate changes in the impact of advancing civilizations, most died off."
"In other words, population growth has led to these plants being removed for people to find places to call home," Ash guessed.
"Thus, a sad reality forced upon men who don't value nature enough," Lashara summarized. Maria pointed to a specific location.
"This is one of the rare parts of the world where they're still holding strong," Maria added.
"A chance for nature to return to its full strength," Ash smiled. To Lashara, hearing Ash's experience made her realize what he saw.
"No one told us you're a conservationist!" she cooed. Ash giggled out of confusion.
"I'm not sure what you mean," he muttered. "It's basically what Pikachu and I saw during our travels over our world. It can be heartbreaking to watch as people destroy Pokémon's homes for selfish reasons like Diglett's lands for a dam or a preservation site. There are places that have been ruined for Pokémon to live in."
"Now, we understand your world a little better," Yukine awed when Lashara and Maria looked up and gawked. Without a word in, they sprinted to the front of the ship with more dismay. Balloons and banners of Flora in a black swimsuit and pantyhose under a red robe.
"Maria, do those gigantic flags mean what we think they mean?" a scared Lashara shuttered.
"I'm afraid your educated guess is probably accurate!" an equally scared Maria gulped. Ash and Kenshi came to the front to see the occasion as they found Flora waiving over on a platform.
"That's… her!?" asked Ash. Quickly, Lashara and Maria dragged Ash away while Chiaia evacuated Kenshi.
"You won't see her!" demanded Lashara. After the stop, Flora was on board meeting with the girls and Pikachu who seemed comfortable in her arms.
"I know you must be tired from your long journey," she addressed. "So, once you've found your rooms, feel free to rest and relax until dinnertime or have a look around, get some sightseeing done-" That's when she noticed something not right. "Hold on… unless I'm mistaken, two of you are missing."
"Oh, Ash and Kenshi are occupied at the moment," scoffed Lashara. "We hate to disappoint but they're aiding Wahanly with our cargo." Flora gasped to the "news."
"Oh, my!" she whimpered. "That's too bad! I'm dying to see those boys Maria and Yukine are so fond of! And especially with this adorable mouse that I would be more than overjoyed to have as a pet!"
("Not that I'm upset, exactly,") Pikachu teased. In the cargo bay, Wahanly was in her MechaWorker as Ash and Kenshi carried a few crates around.
"Oh, I forgot to ask," she voiced. "Have either of you seen Ceres around?" Kenshi gasped, recalling the promise with Ceres and Hazuki. Luckily, Ash picked up on it.
"He's taking care of a few personal things," he replied. "Why, something in here of his?"
"Oh, I was just thinking how commoners who become Sacred Mecha Masters get separated from their peaceful lives and loved ones… it happens a lot! It's really sad, huh?"
"Not really," Ash denied. Wahanly blinked.
"What do you mean?"
"You can take the person from their commoner land, but the heart will remember if you keep it pure. Ceres can't lose sight despite him being a Sacred Mecha Master."
"Maybe… or maybe he's on a secret mission." Now, Ash gulped. "Now, if he is, I won't say anything about it." Ash and Kenshi felt appreciated, but Kenshi leaped into the cockpit and hugged Wahanly.
"THANK YOU SO MUCH!" he cheered. He released her and hopped off the MechaWorker. "Well, see ya!" Kenshi left the room and Ash and Wahanly as Flora arrived, now wearing a white dress with a pink torso section and lavender skirt.
"A-ha!" she sounded as she hugged Ash tightly in her arms. "My goodness! I see why my daughter's got a huge admiration to you!" Pikachu crawled up the MechaWorker to Wahanly.
"You led Flora to your trainer?" she suspected.
("She was so nice!") whined Pikachu. ("I thought she deserved seeing Ash!") Flora pelted Ash's face with kisses.
"I can love you like a son, especially when you marry Maria," she cheered. "After all, you and Ash must be quite the pair for her to want a threesome!" Wahanly and Pikachu collapsed at the mistake.
"Queen Flora, that's Ash!" she corrected. Flora looked up to Wahanly and Pikachu hopping off the MechaWorker.
"Oh, Wahanly! It's good to see you after a long time!"
"It is!" Looking down, Flora faced Ash.
"So, this is Ash, the one with the cute creatures. Was the other one here just now?"
"You missed him." Flora seemed a little upset at missing Kenshi.
"But he was here so he couldn't have gone far." With the kisses overwhelming him, Ash fainted. Pikachu and the women made sure Ash would be okay. Seeing Ash stir a little while later, Flora had a suggestion. "Your MechaWorker… You've been working hard on it."
"You've noticed… I just made upgrades to improve its energy, speed and output." This made Flora sneer and Ash and Pikachu worried.
"Can you even drive this MechaWorker?" he asked. All Flora did was smile before taking the MechaWorker out for a spin outside in the beautiful wilderness with Pikachu onboard. Ash, Wahanly and two maids, a raven-haired and a blond, looked on.
"I can't believe this…" gulped Wahanly.
"I'll say…" nodded Ash. "The upgrades are showing!"
("I'm more impressed with her driving!") squeaked Pikachu. Flora parked the MechaWorker by the small crowd.
"She's very well made," she complimented as she jumped out of the cockpit. "Powerful, sturdy… and she doesn't make me nauseous at all!" The compliments made Wahanly grin.
"It can stand up against a high-ranking Sacred Mecha Master," she added to the detail. "Even if she's piloting a Sacred Mechanoid." Flora wondered to the MechaWorker's operation.
"How long can it remain operational outside the draft?" she questioned.
"By my calcuations, about ten minutes," Wahanly speculated.
"So a short stint?" guessed Ash.
"More or less," Wahanly shrugged. Flora smiled to the MechaWorker.
"It's wonderful," she praised. "I shouldn't have expected less from Naua's pupil." Wahanly had glee on her face. "Okay, let's join the others. Spending some time to know and be with Kenshi's the other thing I'm looking forward to. Ash shouldn't be the only boy I should know, let alone want as a son of mine." Nervous sweat flowed from Ash and Pikachu.
("She's something else…") shuttered Pikachu.
"I'm getting a sense to what Maria got from her," Ash whispered.
("Same here,") At a villa, Ash, Kenshi, Lashara and Pikachu spotted a room full of futons and pillows line up among each other. Besides Pikachu, each wore white bathrobes.
"Okay, what's this?" asked Kenshi.
"This is the traditional Havoniwa Welcoming Ceremony," Lashara titled.
"Welcoming Ceremony?" repeated Ash.
"I know, it looks more like a setup for a huge pillow fight," Kenshi believed. To Lashara, Kenshi had been involved in events like this.
"So, you've been in these before?" she guessed. Kenshi sighed, worried about the outcome. That's when the lights turned off. Ash braced for what's to come.
"Welcome all," Flora greeted as a spotlight flashed on her, also wearing a bathrobe. "I'd like to thank everyone for traveling so far to be here on this fine summer night. Never fear… I've prepared a more than modest party for your entertainment and enjoyment… but first… as is our tradition, we will now hold the Welcoming Ceremony!" Pikachu disembarked Ash's shoulder in an attempt to stay on the sideline. "Remember, in this battle of pillows, every single one of us stands here as equals, ready to fight! The rules are simple: dodge pillows, then throw them at others!" She approached the raven-haired maid, also in a white bathrobe. "Then, just grab your opponent's sash and give it a pull!" Demonstrating, Flora pulled the sash and spun her maid around like a top. While her robe stayed on, she became dizzy and fell. Ash gulped to the rules Flora set up. "If someone manages to steal your sash, you're out of the game!" Pikachu gulped to Flora's objectives.
("There's gotta be better ways to see girls,") he mulled.
"And for the record," Lashara spoke up. "It is considered good manners to say a certain phrase before you pull someone's sash." Ash saw Kenshi quiver.
"Hey, Kenshi, you good?" he asked.
"It's not 'Ready or Not,' is it?" he frightfully asked. Lashara gasped to Kenshi's knowledge.
"We didn't expect you to know this game!" she awed.
"I think he's played it before with his sisters," Ash pondered.
"That would make sense," Lashara sighed. Flora had more.
"Whoever's left standing will be able to marry whoever their heart desires!" she added. "Or other prizes like money, but they'll also receive a hug and a kiss… from yours truly!" 'Please, Goddess… let it be either Sir Dagmeyr, Kenshi or Ash.' Lashara and Maria realized their mission.
"We'll need to defeat that woman if we want to preserve Ash for ourselves," Lashara schemed.
"Agreed," Maria accepted. Flora brought out a giant confetti cannon.
"Let's begin!" Everyone wearing the bathrobes were part of the contest and pillows began to fly. Dagmeyr scoffed to the contest.
"This shall be mere child's play," he muttered before Chiaia clocked him on the side of the head, knocking him out. As soon as Chiaia saw this, she wanted to take back the throw.
"I-I'm sorry!" she cried before observing Dagmeyr's body. Infatuated, she began pulling the sash to Lashara's humor.
"So, that's why Chiaia's been looking forward to this!" she muttered. Maria got to her side.
"Lashara, winner shall be the one to be with Ash together," she declared.
"You're on!" snapped Lashara. Both squared off, ready to throw down. They charged with pillows in hand at each other… before pulling up, turning to Flora and flinging the pillows at her.
"Oh?" she noticed before ducking… and the pillows hitting Yukine, flooring her. Flora caught the pillows on the rebound. "You dare defy me, do you? Both of you are so naughty…" Lashara and Maria gasped to Flora's reflexes.
"Great, that old hag saw right through our plan!" complained Lashara.
"I guess those years were honed exceptionally well!" awed Maria.
"It's time for you two…" she grinned. "To be punished." The battle waged on and Kenshi snagged sashes left and right with Ash watching in awe. Lithia saw an opportunity.
"Time to take the little brother away!" she cheered before another pillow clipped her throwing arm. She threw and missed Ash by a foot… but it got Pikachu.
("AH!") he yelped. Ash heard his partner.
"Pikachu!" he cried out. Grabbing the pillow, Ash saw Pikachu shake the impact off. "Are you okay?"
("I think I…") Pikachu tried to speak before he began to sneeze. Ash growled before turning to the crowd, those who had their sashes removed watched helplessly.
"Payback time!" he roared before throwing pillows out. One pillow clipped Lithia on the chin and she fell. Before hitting the ground, Ash slipped in and swiped the sash. More girls came after Ash, but the speed he had was too much as he stripped their sashes. In about ten minutes, all but three people had their sashes removed. So, it's between Ash, Kenshi and Flora.
"Looks like it's just between you two and me," she sneered. "I'll admit, I'm truly impressed you two made it this far." Ash and Kenshi prepared for Flora's game. Aura and Lithia were a little concerned.
"Do Ash and Kenshi even stand a chance against her?" gulped Lithia.
"They may be strong," Aura started. "But Queen Flora has won the Holy Land tournament and is a master Martial Artist. It's likely she'll destroy those two." Flora grinned as Kenshi threw a pillow, but she batted it away with another pillow. When she looked again, Ash was gone as he sped passed her. In his hand was her sash. She was eliminated. The women gasped to how quick the two beat Flora that easily.
"No way!" gaped Lithia.
"Ash is faster than I wanted to believe!" awed Aura. "Those two can be unbeatable!" Flora let out a cry as she crumpled to her knees while holding her robe up. She looked back and saw Ash and Kenshi face each other, taking open-handed poses while holding pillows.
"Ash, don't lose to Kenshi!" pleaded Lashara.
"Kenshi, you're better skilled!" shouted Wahanly. That's when Flora sprung back up, her robe open with nothing underneath it. No bra, no underwear, it's all in the open.
"We have our winners!" she judged as she rose arms of both Ash and Kenshi. "Put your hands together for our victors, Ash and Kenshi!" Instead of applauding, everyone collapsed. Lashara and Maria were not happy with the result.
"Hold up!" snapped Lashara. "What do you mean they're the winners!? They haven't had their sashes removed!"
"I was not a competitor in the game so they win," Flora weighed.
"Wait, doesn't that negate our disqualifications!?" protested Maria
"Well, obviously, I had to crush any potential threats," Flora sneered before hugging and kissing Ash and Kenshi. They felt humiliated. Later that night, Ash, Kenshi and Pikachu were in an open air bath where Ash and Pikachu relaxed and Kenshi swam.
"Flora's… definitely an interesting woman," he thought. "She can be a bit wild… but Mom was wild in her youth, so it kinda fits."
("Surprised you recovered so fast after that,") Pikachu awed. ("But, I see your point.") Suddenly, arms draped around Ash's shoulders. Ash gawked to the sight.
"Not again…" he muttered. The arms pulled Ash to Flora who wore a blue midriff.
"So, you come from a family of risk-takers, huh?" she cooed. "After all, you do seem to be one who doesn't take the mild route." Ash laughed to Flora's suspicion.
"It's hard to stay still in general with me," he admitted.
"Yep… I believe it!" she smiled as she brought out scrubbing gloves. "Don't worry, I see that you've got some discoloring in the back. I'm a mother, so you can understand." Lashara and Maria found the boys and Flora about to scrub Ash's back.
"That leech!" growled Lashara. "Trying to get on top of Ash like that! She should know her place!"
"Lashara, do you have Mexiah's whistle?" asked Maria. Lashara pulled out a whistle. "Let me clear Ash before you blow on it."
"Understood!" nodded Lashara. Maria came out where the bathers glanced.
"Ash, over here!" she called. "I got something to show you!" Ash became interested as he waded his way to the edge where Maria handed him a towel.
"Oh, come on!" complained Flora. "I was trying to be a mother like I was to you!"
"Yeah, right!" denied Maria. "Lashara and I know your scheme! Besides…" She snapped her fingers to which a high-pitched whistle was heard. Kenshi became entranced as Maria pulled Ash out while covering any unmentionables.
"What's going on?" he asked.
"Something between family," Maria assured as Lashara emerged with a laugh.
"Kenshi's massage is gonna paralyze you completely!" she warned as she flipped a bathrobe behind her back to Ash to wear. "This is payback for the Welcoming Ceremony that you cheated on!" Flora chuckled to Lashara's scheme.
"Oh, that would be a travesty!" she mocked. "I can't have that… not if I have anything to say!" Ash and Pikachu didn't look as a sudden shriek echoed throughout the area. The next morning, Ash and Pikachu were watching over Lashara and Maria who looked like they didn't get any sleep. Yukine and the maids also looked to have been up all night.
"We surrender… whined Lashara.
"It would seem our plan to get back at Mother has backfired incredibly," Maria murmured. "It was painful for our eyes to watch."
"If Kenshi was a virgin before, Aunt Flora has taken it away!" added Lashara. "She looked to have been in a land of pleasure and we've been forced to all watch."
"And to think, we've been wanting to do that with Ash all this time without thinking how scary one can be," Maria cried. Ash and Pikachu were sympathetic to the two royal girls.
"There's still time for us to grow," Ash reminded. "If I remember from my travels with Pikachu, things shouldn't be rushed. I can understand that you two like me and that I don't mind." Then, he saw bruises among Lashara's feet. "Here, let me get that for you." He lifted Lashara's foot to his knee and began rubbing the bruises down. Lashara's face became red.
"Th- Thank you, Ash," she shuttered in awe. He turned to Maria.
"Hey, lemme see your feet as well," he wanted. "After what happened, I think I can offer some comfort to you." Maria giggled before walking to Ash with a slight limp.
"Of course," she accepted. Yukine and the maids smiled at how Ash took care of Lashara and Maria. This trip already had highs and lows but the vacation was early. What else could go on?
TO BE CONTINUED…