Sorry I didn't update the chapter like I do! I'm getting ready for college classes, and I'm trying to get better. I have a sinus infection so its not fun! I will try to post chapter 9 by Friday or Thursday because I'm off those days. But never mind that: enjoy Chapter 8!
Two months have passed since Calem seen his sister and since then their mother was growing ill. Grace had no choice but give the crown to Calem, as he was already fit to be king. More fit than Serena, as Grace puts it. They never told Serena that when mailing letters to her. Calem was guilty for doing this to his big sister, but he knew that she wouldn't come back.
"Mother, I'm going to see Aria- Oh Arceus no." Calem yells attracting a guard's attention and soon everyone else's, including Lysander and Alain. The boys face was enough to make the guard act quick.
"Sire, please find Lysander and Alain. They will keep you safe." She says and running inside the room where the body of Grace was found. The cause of death was unknown at the time but Calem knew it just had to be one of the assassins. Those cloak people were sneaking into the castle almost every hour of the day, creating havoc in their wake.
The boy nods and runs over to Lysander and prince Alain. The red headed man was eying him with pity, while the dark-haired prince just acted like he didn't care. What is going on with Alain?
"Calem, you will now be the king of Kalos, mainly because Princess Serena hasn't returned yet." A butler to the family, Cyrus, says sadly as the boy nods his head. "What is your first order as king?"
Calem shook his head to clear it and then smirks over at Lysander. "Prepare for war."
Liam sat upright in bed. He hasn't been sleeping well at all lately. The nightmares weren't helping either. Brock was no help at all. The doctor merely suggesting a message to help ease his mind. The thought made the boy shudder in fear.
"Liam," somebody calls him from behind a door with a faint knock. "breakfast is ready!"
He heard his stomach rumble and rolls his eyes. The boy was already set to redeem himself as Brock's assistant, and researcher. He promised himself that he would make Ines pay for his pain.
When the boy came out of the room, the older man turns around with a pink apron and smiles at him. "Good your up. Now eat your food! We are going on an exhibition!"
Liam arches an eyebrow, "An exhibition? Where?"
Brock giggles, barely containing his excitement. "To see if the rumors about gym battles starting up again are true!" He yells throwing a banana into the air and almost hitting a Beedrill by mistake. "My great grandfather had a gym for rock types around Kanto and I want to find it! You have no choice but to help me!"
Liam rolls his eyes and frowns at the man. If the rumors were true then he would have to help Brock with locating the gym that his great grandfather had. Not liking the idea of having a depressed Brock finding the rumors to be false and making Liam work boring doctor stuff, made the boy almost certain that the man is going insane.
Lucario, his faithful partner and best friend, was by his side as Liam ate his breakfast. Brock took out two backpacks, and gave one to the boy.
"This is for if we get lost. Lucario will be with you, as I already told him to be on guard in case the cloaked people come back." The doctor says before shouldering his pack with a grin. "Let's go, I want to be in the next town by sundown!"
"Fine." The white-haired boy huffs walking with his partner Pokémon close behind.
The butler sighs and brushes his hand over his green hair in frustration. Why can't he do this right? Why must it be so difficult? Ben looks down at his army and narrows his eyes. It just had to come to war?
"Sir, are you alright? We can raid the barrier some other time." The butler looks next to him at his guard with a pokeball in his hand.
"No, just-" Ben exhales before breathing out. "lets do this."
"You heard the orders! Time to go!" The guard suddenly yells out sending out a Charizard and jumping on it. "For the glory of Kanto!"
"For the glory of Kanto!" The army yells as they run into the forest.
Ben narrows his eyes as he turns and walks away. Ash must be worried sick about me? I promised him that I would be home by now, but that promise was shattered. He thought trying to keep the disappointment thoughts from entering his head.
You're a coward Ben!
You will never be a true butler!
You were never my friend or my brother.
Your nothing like Cyrus! The final thought made his head hurt as he tries to keep his hands from shaking. That was his mothers last words before committing suicide right in front of him as a child. Cyrus was his older brother. Who now works for the enemy, Kalos. Ben felt torn between believing those thoughts, or thinking of Ash.
You know you sound like a butler, Uncle Ben?
He will protect you!
Uncle Ben, are we safe to come back in now?
Someone you despise?
What does "Someone you despise mean?" even mean? It doesn't even make any sense? Ben couldn't figure it out, but he felt odd suddenly. Almost like having his heart taken from him.
"Cyrus." Ben mutters quietly.
"Alright Froakie, are you ready for your punishment?" A man in a black uniform asks taking the frog like Pokémon by its arm.
"Fro!" The Froakie shouted using bubbles on him and making the man let go. It rushed off as the man growls in frustration.
"Not today! Mightyena, after it!"
Froakie ran up a tree and just barely dodged an attack from it. He knows that it has to find help. Not for himself, but for his friends back there. That hunter was going to sell them for profit.
"Pikachu, iron tail on Mightyena to make time for Froakie to escape!" A voice shouted as the frog turns to see a boy running along a path with two girls running after him.
Froakie felt a rush of air as a yellow mouse jumps onto a branch and dives at the bite Pokémon with a already metal tail. It then slams into the dark type. Froakie took its chance and leaps into the boys arms.
"Froakie!" he thanks and then uses frubbles to make the Mightyena stay on the ground. Pikachu walks up to Froakie and nods.
"Froakie, my names Ash and this is my partner Pikachu! The girls over there are Serena and Bonnie." The boy says smiling a bit while setting the water type down. "Why was that Mightyena attacking you?"
The frog Pokémon looks at them and then leads them on the trail where the hunter was. Serena looks at the Froakie and notices it had a wound. She would have to take care of that later, because a man in a black ski mask and body suit leaps in front of the group. Ash frowns before pulling out a pokeball and throwing it up, releasing a Charmander. He and the fire type stood protectively in front of Serena and Bonnie as Froakie growls a little.
"Because he disobeyed orders kid." The man hissed throwing a pokeball out. It released a Marowak. "Punish them with rage!"
"Maro!" the bone crush Pokémon nod once and was gone leaping through the air while flinging its club around. It was heading towards something in the distance and Fraokie seems to have a interest in it, because it follows it.
"You're a hunter aren't you?" Serena shouted as she pulls out a pokeball herself and releasing her fire type starter, Braixen. "I won't let you hurt these Pokémon! Braixen, flamethrower!"
"Why aren't you a smart girl? Be careful or I'll just have to punish you instead." The man smirks pulling out a knife. "Mightyena, bite!"
The dark wolf attacked Charmander from behind, biting his neck with his powerful jaws. Ash swallows as he looks at his fire type in guilt. He then glares at the man who was walking up to their group.
"Braixen, now!"
The fire type jumps in front of the man and smacks the knife out of his hands before covering him with flames. Serena closes her eyes as the fox Pokémon took her place beside her. On the other side of them, Charmander was already blasting the Mightyena off with his own flamethrower.
"I-I am not done yet! Marowak, headbutt on the girl!"
"You don't touch her!" Ash suddenly screams as Pikachu intercepts the bone keeper Pokémon with a volt tackle. He stood in front of her as they give a deadly glare at the man who had burnt marks all over his body. "Who are you and who are you working for?"
The man smirks, "I am a hunter who loves money. I sell Pokémon to the rich. That's my job, little prince."
"How did you?"
"I knew your parents. What a pathedic excuse for a king and queen. Good thing they are gone now, aye?" the man says smirking as the prince clenches his teeth. "You know its- "
"Shut up!" Ash yelled while giving the man a punch in the face making the man fall on his back again. "You don't know me. My parents were good people!"
"Did you ever meet them face to face?" the man asks suddenly while spitting up blood. The raven haired boy glares at him but shakes his head. "Then you don't see reality. My people must go through with little cash, little food and water to get through a day. I sacrifice everything to find Pokémon and sell them! Your parents had to step in my way."
The man stood up quickly and pushed Ash to the ground. He smirks at the boy and leaves without another word. Froakie arrives wearing a sincere expression before rushing to the boy's side. Serena and Bonnie were already there.
"You okay, Ash?" Bonnie asks holding up a canteen for him to drink. The boy smiles at her and takes it.
"Yeah, that guy knew my parents. But we can worry about that later! We need to help Froakie." The prince says noticing the frogs wound. Serena kneels down and puts ointment on the wound to make it less painful and wraps it up with cloth made for Pokémon. "Feeling better Froakie?"
"Froakie!" It yells before eyeing a pokeball beside him. He then pushes it towards Ash with his head. "Fro Froakie!"
"I think Froakie wants to come with you Ash?" Bonnie asks as she and Serena helps him up. Serena nods in agreement while the water type agrees with a smile on its face.
The boy grins and taps the pokeball making Froakie go inside. He then holds the pokeball up and looks happily at Charmander and Pikachu. "Alright, I caught a Froakie!"
"Char!"
"Pika Pi!"
"Good job Ash!" Bonnie yells excitedly while Serena giggles at her.
"Another Pokémon to help us search for Clemont." She says happily as the group agrees with her.