Chapter 18: Shurifon! He's Our King!

The morning after their date, Ash and Maria slept to the morning sun. Ash didn't stay asleep for long as the warmth began to bother him. As he woke, he turned to his date from last night. Her head rested on his arm as her breasts sandwiched his wrist and hand. He smiled until he felt more from his other side, turning to find Flora back in bed with him and naked. He began going pale and he yelped, stirring Flora. "Good morning, son," she greeted. Hearing her mother, Maria snapped her eyes open and looked to find Flora.

"MOTHER!" she bellowed. "MUST YOU!?"

"Oh, come on, dear! I bet you two had the time of your lives last night!" In a fit of rage, Maria got up, got around the bed and dragged Flora away with the blanket wrapped around her. "Won't you tell me the size of his sword!?" Ash sighed to Flora's behavior and Maria's reaction as Aura emerged on the holographic image.

"Well, I'm not sure who I'm worried about more: you or Kenshi," she voiced. Ash sighed, flustered to the antics.

"Believe me, not even my own mom would sleep with me, let alone naked," he groaned. He saw his leg, which Maria had wrapper her leg around, soaking wet

"So I can imagine. By the way, I heard from Lashara about your new status as potential king with what is Excalibur. My father has been highly interested in seeing you and what you have to show." Ash sneered to the offer.

"I'll bet you've told him about my Pokémon, right?"

"I have, and especially your Torterra. Hopefully, you'll be here for my father's race with Kenshi." Ash blinked to Aura's briefing.

"A race… I'll see what I can do."

"Okay… we'll see you there." The holograph turned off. After breakfast, Ash was ready to leave. Ash wore a new gray shirt while donning his jeans once more.

"Ash, I hope you stay safe as you get back to the Swan," Flora promised. "And Ceres and Hazuki are joining you?"

"We are," Ceres confirmed. "It's been awhile since I've been with Kenshi."

"Hopefully, you guys stay safe," Hazuki wished, holding Pikachu. Flora and Maria smiled. Yukine didn't react.

"Don't worry so much," Maria cooed. "We have procedures to protect ourselves should Babalun do something." She leaned to Ash's ear and whispered something. After that, a confident Ash nodded.

"Okay," he allowed. "We'll be back." After that, Ash and Pikachu boarded with Yukine, Ceres and Hazuki into a large vessel. During the flight, Ash took note of Pikachu's comfort in Hazuki's arms. "Considering my new title, I may request to have you and Ceres join me and Pikachu back to the Pokémon World." Hazuki looked over to Ash with some awe.

"Can you?" she wondered.

"Yeah, you definitely fit better there than here." Hearing Ash's belief, Hazuki smiled. Before long, Yukine came on the speaker.

"We're approaching the Shurifon Village," she reported. Ash's Koro sensed something and squeaked relentlessly.

"Koro, what's up?" he asked. Yukine came over the system again.

"Hostile Sacred Mechanoids storming the Shurifon Kingdom!" she alerted. That made Ash stand up and picked up a receiver.

"Yukine," he called. "Ceres and I will confront the Sacred Mechanoids. You circle around and drop Hazuki with Pikachu and Koro."

"Understood," Yukine complied. The hostile Sacred Mechanoids, led by Dagmeyr, blasted away at a castle with rifles. After many shots, the castle exploded.

"Dagmeyr, the Shurifon Kingdom's destroyed!" one rogue Sacred MechaMaster reported.

"Good!" sneered Dagmeyr. "King Shurifon is gone and soon, the Holy Land will be father's!"

"Except you missed everyone!" grunted a man. All turned to see a few Sacred Mechanoids, including a brown Sacred Mechanoid with green on the shoulder guards and a long white plume from the head to the back.

"King Shurifon!?" gasped Dagmeyr. As the Sacred Mechanoids clashed, Excalibur and Ceres' Sacred Mechanoid, a yellowish-green frame, arrived. On a holographic screen inside Excalibur, Ceres appeared.

"Ash, King Shurifon is in the brown frame with the green shoulder guards," he informed.

"And I see he's battling Dagmeyr," Ash observed. That's when he found Kenshi with the girls. "Get your rifle on hand and remain on guard near the princess."

"You mean Princess Aura, right? If it's her home, why isn't she fighting for it?"

"I believe King Shurifon is competing for 'Dad of the Year'. Besides, those rogues should come after me."

"Alright… Good luck!" On that send off, Ash and Ceres split where Dagmeyr's Sacred Mechanoid shoved King Shurifon's Sacred Mechanoid into Excalibur. Ash used his shield to absorb the impact.

"You again!?" shrieked Dagmeyr. Inside King Shurifon's Sacred Mechanoid was a burly tanned man in a midriff and slacks with white hair from his head to his goatee.

"You alright?" asked Ash.

"It's nothing… Sacred MechaMaster of Excalibur," the man grinned. "These Ronin need to pay for destroying my castle!"

"And you should be put out to pasture!" roared Dagmeyr. His Sacred Mechanoid rushed in to where King Shurifon made his choice with the shield in Excalibur's hand.

"Now!" he called. His Sacred Mechanoid flew up and Excalibur smashed his shield into Dagmeyr's head as Ash's Sacred Mechanoid flipped.

"How about you get a taste of that pasture!" he punned as he delivered an ax kick, flooring the opponent. Their leader on the ground, other rogue Sacred Mechanoids rushed in. Ceres began shooting his rifle to shoo away the Ronin… except for one shot that struck a giant black shield. The other Sacred Mechanoids looked up to see a black Sacred Mechanoid. Ash cringed at the sight.

"Is that the Black Sacred Mechanoid I've heard rumors about?" gulped King Shurifon.

"Well, it's not the Sacred MechaLord," Ash hushed. The Black Sacred Mechanoid charged in with the shield as a battering ram. Excalibur and King Shurifon's Sacred Mechanoid leaped back, allowing the Black Sacred Mechanoid to crash on the ground.

"Why did I have a feeling that you'd be here, Ash?" taunted Doll. Ash cringed to seeing the shield.

"So, that's the Shield of Gaia that I was told about?" he asked. King Shurifon gasped.

"The Shield of Gaia?" he repeated. With a pair of axes in hands, King Shurifon raced after Doll and swung, only for a purple wall to suddenly emerge. It absorbed the swings without doing much to the Sacred Mechanoid or her shield. She charged and tackled King Shurifon's Sacred Mechanoid where the shield opened its mouth. Excalibur bulldozed the Black Sacred Mechanoid from King Shurifon's Sacred Mechanoid and faced her.

"Doll, you know you can't beat me," Ash warned.

"You always sound certain of what you do," Doll sneered. "Besides, no one, not even the Sacred MechaLord, could penetrate the Shield of Gaia."

"Now listen to who's certain," Ash sneered. "Maybe I can test that with this." Bringing out the Ena Sword, Doll didn't flinch to Ash's new weapon.

"Oh, the Ena Sword? Nice…" As they charged at each other, one more wanted in on the scuffle.

"DIE!" screamed Dagmeyr. Ash, Doll and King Shurifon looked up to find Dagmeyr's Sacred Mechanoid charging in.

"IDIOT!" scowled Doll. Just as Dagmeyr was about to score a hit, Kenshi and the White Sacred Mechanoid swooped in, snatched Dagmeyr's Sacred Mechanoid with the tail, spun and flung the frame into Doll's Black Sacred Mechanoid. They crashed and fell into a heap. Excalibur looked to the White Sacred Mechanoid as he landed.

"Good save, Kenshi!" praised Ash.

"Yeah, glad I beat Sir Dagmeyr to you!" huffed Kenshi. Doll's Sacred Mechanoid began to get up while Aura was on the speakers of each.

"Father, return to the Swan!" she ordered. "The villagers have all evacuated! Our job is done! Kenshi, Ash, that goes for the two of you!" Kenshi turned to Ash, ready to return to the Swan.

"Well, you heard Princess Aura!" the teenager responded.

"Let's return and situate ourselves with the next move!" urged King Shurifon.

"Right!" agreed Ash. Kenshi and King Shurifon departed but Doll had some strength left in her frame.

"We're not done, Ash…" she groaned. Ash turned to Doll's Sacred Mechanoid while Dagmeyr started rolling out of his frame. "I can tell that you want to return me to the Swan and back to Chiaia." Ash didn't react but knew it was something to close in on bringing Mexiah back to her senses. "You miss her, don't you? The sweet pinkie woman, the woman who wanted to bathe with you all the time?"

"Some of it, yes…" admitted Ash.

"Well, good luck… since it's you can't destroy the frame without destroying me." This made Ash grin.

"Sounds like a challenge… but that'll be saved for another time. Besides, I'd rather do it at your full strength rather than interference to save yourself." Excalibur flew off as Doll's frame collapsed again. Regrouped, Ash reunited with those on the Swan. Reaching Kenshi, he and Ash gave high-fives. Ceres and Hazuki also joined where Wahanly had a chance to hold Pikachu. Ash showed King Shurifon his Pokémon.

"So, these are the creatures from your world," he awed as he reached Torterra. "Especially this behemoth… I can tell their loyalty's strong with you." Torterra grunted with a grin.

"That's what you have with his Pokémon," Kenshi assured.

"Indeed…" King Shurifon believed. "Even more is their trainer is the one with the legendary Excalibur at his command. That's quite the tale of amazement."

"Thanks, your highness," Ash praised. King Shurifon came to Ash and palmed his shoulder while the girls watched.

"If I had met you before Kenshi, I might have considered you has a potential husband to my daughter." King Shurifon's comment made Ash giggle.

"Well, she's the first to help me when Pikachu and I first arrived. Still, I've got Lashara and Maria who've wanted me the most." Hearing her name mentioned, Lashara nodded. That's when another Dark Elf approached.

"Your highness!" he alerted. Everyone turned to the Dark Elf that arrived, rather out of breath. "There's been an attack on the Church!" Gasps from all around.

"Headmistress!" gawked Chiaia. Lashara had to move.

"Let's return to the Swan and make a strategy," she declared. "We can discuss our next move there." She turned to King Shurifon. "Your highness, thank you for your hospitality." King Shurifon allowed the visitors and Aura to board the Swan and depart. After the Swan left the village, Ash was outside looking over the front of the vessel. Hazuki came out with Pikachu to see.

"Ash?" she called. Ash turned to see Hazuki as Pikachu leaped from Hazuki's arms to Ash's shoulder. Ash petted Pikachu, his Pokémon back in his possession.

"What's up?" he asked. Hazuki took a deep breath.

"Thank you for keeping Ceres safe. He wouldn't have survived without your guidance." Ash and Pikachu smiled to the compliment.

"Believe me, I'd rather keep everyone safe rather than engage in battle like that." Hazuki nodded to Ash's wish.

"Anyway, I was thinking about that offer… you know, to the Pokémon World?" Ash and Pikachu became interested as Kenshi's Sacred Mechanoid and a pink Sacred Mechanoid with a light pink plume emerged.

("What's up?") asked Pikachu. They wondered for a little while until Ceres appeared with the news.

"Sorry, but a church ship had been attack by Shitoreyu Forces!" he reported. Ash, Hazuki and Pikachu gasped. They saw Kenshi's Sacred Mechanoid return with a pod. Those outside rushed in to get the news. They reached the medical room where Kenshi and the girls observed a young redhead woman in bed. Reaching, Wahanly turned to Ash and the rest.

"We heard a church ship was attacked," he whispered.

"Yeah, and she's the only survivor," Wahanly replied. "We'll know more about it when she wakes up." Ash looked to the woman on the bed. A little while later, Ash and Pikachu was in the bridge and pondered what to do. Soon enough, Chiaia came in after and spotted the two.

"Ash?" she called out. Ash and Pikachu turned to find the girl after Dagmeyr.

"Hey, Chiaia," he replied. "What's up?" Chiaia approached Ash and Pikachu when she gave a hug to Excalibur's Sacred MechaMaster. Ash seemed surprised.

"I'm sorry!" she cried. Ash began to think it was a mistake she made that hurt her dearly. He hugged Chiaia back.

"Let it out." After a minute, Ash allowed Chiaia a chair while she whimpered. "Talk to me… what are you sorry for?" He leaned on a railing.

"I should've believed you. I knew you were hinting to me about Dagmeyr. He destroyed that church ship before we could get a chance to save it. I was such a fool!" To Ash, Chiaia didn't believe the young Sacred Mechamaster about Dagmeyr, but began to believe after Kenshi brought back the pod with the woman.

"Dagmeyr… To think, he warned me about going back home. I now believe he sensed who I was and wanted to leave with either Lashara or Maria… or both." Ash's sense made Chiaia nod.

"He sensed your power and knew you could be stronger than him… and now look… He's helping Babalun take over everything… and I was so foolish to think I could marry him!" Pikachu hopped over and patted Chiaia in the back.

"After all, he's a Sacred MechaMaster and you're following the Holy Land's guidelines."

"Speak for yourself… You're a Sacred MechaMaster and you've got Empress Lashara and Princess Maria after you." Chiaia's rebuttal made Ash scoff.

"Maybe they knew I was one before I knew I was one, like it was fate for it to happen."

"Yeah, maybe…" She took a deep breath to console herself. "Anyway, we need a way to free Mexiah and stop Babalun."

"Right, and if I see Dagmeyr again, I'll let him know how you feel." Chiaia knew what Ash had in mind.

"Thanks, Ash…" That's when Ash picked Pikachu up and placed him on Chiaia's lap, surprising the two.

"Besides, I think you need Pikachu tonight more than I do." Realizing Ash's idea, Chiaia smiled.

"After all we've been through… with Dagmeyr, with Mexiah, with Doll… Thanks… it'll be for tonight."

("I won't do anything bad,") promised Pikachu. Chiaia hugged the Mouse Pokémon.

"Pikachu's grown trustful of you," Ash explained as Lashara came to the bridge.

"So, you're offering yourself to Cousin and Chiaia your Pikachu?" she urged. Everyone turned to the empress as she came to Ash. "You may have received the Ena Sword and the Shield of Hikari from Aunt Flora but what did you have to sacrifice?" Ash sighed, knowing Lashara wouldn't let him go without an explanation.

"Nearly my virginity, but not to Maria," Ash confessed. Lashara's eyes widened… and she growled.

"AUNT FLORRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" she bellowed. "Why must you be on our new king like that!? It's only a blessing that you're gone! Maria, that's somewhat a different story. It's such a shame that they died in Lord Babalun's attack." Ash twitched his eye.

"Are you saying that-" he started before the redhead from the bed came to the bridge.

"I'm afraid so," she confirmed while Wahanly and Kenshi entered. Aura and Ceres entered as well. "Havoniwa's been destroyed." Ash groaned as he bowed his head. "Aside from that, it's an honor to meet the Sacred MechaMaster who controls Excalibur. Kenshi told me about it." Ash nodded when his ears picked something up.

"Didn't you warn me about the storm back at the Academy?" he pondered. The redhead shook her head.

"I have an older sister and who knows what she saw to warn you," she denied. Kenshi stood forth.

"Ash, this is Rea Second," he identified. "She was on the church ship that was shot down. It's kinda funny how she shares the name of my mother." Ash and Pikachu awed the connection.

("That's interesting,") Pikachu studied.

"At least she's not related to Jessie," Ash pointed out. "Anyway, the queen and princess are alive. It's too soon to write them off." Lashara gawked to the news. "Of course, this was after I dried my leg. I don't know if maybe Maria being with me in bed made her wet herself on my leg or she's that anxious to marry me to take my virginity… I-I'd rather not ask." Wahanly, Rea and Aura laughed to Ash's curiosity.

"Sounds to me like the latter," Aura giggled. "My father may have ordered the engagement with Kenshi and myself, but I'm reserving my desire until… it's just the two of us… alone-"

"Okay, Aura," Rea urged. "Let's save bedtime stories for another time. We're near Havoniwa." The Swan began to enter through the river canals. Wahanly sensed something off.

"Where's the Meteor Fall?" she wondered. Ash and Kenshi looked to each other before turning to Wahanly.

"What's Meteor Fall?" asked Kenshi.

"Meteor Fall is a security fortress that floats over canal entrances and drops giant boulders to invaders," Wahanly described. "So, where is it?" Everyone looked up as the Swan journeyed through the canal. After a while, the canal ended and they reached a new area. The structures, including the castle, was in rubble. Ash, Kenshi and the girls gasped to the destruction.

"Havoniwa's… gone!" hushed Chiaia. Rea and Wahanly nodded.

"But if Ash is correct, Aunt Flora and Maria are safe," Lashara groaned. To Ash, the danger hadn't passed.

"We'll need to make sure the area's abandoned," he plotted.

"I'll go, Ash," Aura spoke up. "I may be a princess to the Shurifon Kingdom, but I'm also a Sacred MechaMaster." Ash nodded before Chiaia chimed in.

"I'll go too," she offered. Kenshi also voiced up.

"I'll go, and make sure these two remain safe," he suggested.

"Alright, I'll stay inside to make sure Lashara's okay," Ash promised. Lashara sensed that Ash was there to stay with her.

"Lovely," she sneered. "It seems we were right and that you'll be the emperor to the repertoire that is the Holy Land." Ash ignored her as Kenshi and Aura boarded their Sacred Mechanoids, Aura's being a purple frame. Chiaia was entering the pink frame while wearing a bodysuit and Pikachu close by.

"I'm sorry, Pikachu, but I don't wanna risk you suffocating in the Ahou," she apologized. "Just stay with Ash and the empress. I'll be back for you." Accepting, Pikachu returned to the bridge as they took off. Another green frame joined the action.

"Hey, don't leave me out of the act!" spoke Wahanly. Kenshi turned to find the extra Sacred Mechanoid entering.

"Wahan?" he gulped.

"It's not often that I try being a Sacred MechaMaster," Wahanly said. The group set themselves where Kenshi and Chiaia were above the Swan and Aura and Wahanly stayed below. "You know, I bet Ash wanted to stay with Lashara since his time with Queen Flora."

"Yeah, now's not a good time to discuss that matter," Chiaia brushed off. That's when Pikachu's ears perked and looked up. What came to the Swan was a massive Lookout Tower-like structure It floated above the ground upon rocky stalactites. The Sacred Mechanoids and the Swan faced a beast in the sky.

"Is that… Meteor Fall?" shuttered Kenshi. Now, everyone wondered how to approach the tower that floated toward the group. Ash's leadership was about to be tested.

TO BE CONTINUED…