Okay, so I'm back with another chapter of this. So, so, SO sorry for taking a million years, but school got the better of me. Anyways, I finally found a spare minute to come back to this, so onto the chapter!

Disclaimer: Nope, I don't own Pokémon *Runs out of room sobbing*

Chapter 2- Forced

Gold's POV

I'm really not into all this fancy crap, especially not the fancy horse-drawn carriage. I pick at the gold-trimmed coat I'm wearing, complete with white shirt, gold tie, black pants and polished black shoes. My friends, Ruby, Red and Green, are wearing similar outfits, but they have different coloured ties and trimming, ruby for Ruby, red for Red and green for Green.

Duh.

I scan over my friends, taking in their expressions. Ruby is critically analysing his outfit, making comments about the fabric and the craftsmanship. He's such a girl. Green is looking out of the carriage window with a bored expression, but at least he seems comfortable in his outfit. Green is very serious and proper, so I suppose this is really second nature to him. Red looks really uncomfortable, shuffling about next to me and grimacing. He prefers casual, comfortable clothes.

And so do I.

For some reason, the outfits and the fancy carriage seem like a bad omen. I don't even want to be here, I was forced, sent here by my mom, who thought that it was about time I learnt some manners. Basically this fancy kingdom we're going to had put out an advertisement for some new personal servants to the Royal Highnesses, the new Princesses. The ad went out to all the regions, it was that important.

When mom saw it she immediately signed me up for it, and because my dad was out on business (he owns the bicycle company, miracle cycle), I had no other choice but to go.

Ruby was coming because his mom sent him too. She's a fashion designer, married to Norman, the gym leader, and she wanted him to go and study the clothes worn there, to keep him on top of fashion in every place.

Green had been sent by his Grandpa, Professor Oak of Kanto, to study the Pokémon here in Chika. The Prof wanted info on all the different species here, and the best way for Green to get that data (or so he said) was to work as a servant to a princess, as loads of Pokémon hung around in the royal gardens.

Red had been sent because his parents were two very busy people. His dad was a Pokémon Master and his mom was one of the Elite Four in Kanto (A/N: Let's pretend she replaced one of the Kanto Elite Four, sorry if you love the Elite Four the way they are),so they were hardly ever around for him. He'd been sent to several family members and boarding schools, until eventually they decided to send him here with the rest of us.

So that meant that we were all sitting in this cramped, hot carriage being dragged along to be the pack mules of some stuck up rich girls who were too lazy to do their own work.

I don't like princesses, or 'Lady's'. Sure, some of them are damn sexy, but they're all so full of themselves. They have numerous servants but then they go out and get a few more, maybe a specific servant just for bringing them a cookie. I honestly can't see the point, and it makes them look lazy and inconsiderate in my opinion.

This was going to be one hell of a time.

Hopefully, the princess I get stuck with will be easygoing or shy. At least that way I won't have to stop myself from strangling the girl.

Yeah, strangling the princess, now that would go down well.

Also, I wanted a sexy girl. No butt-ugly freak with disproportionate features, like a nose too big or a tiny mouth or hair on her chin. It went with my reputation to have a girl with some good-looks. I was the player of our group, the one who went around stealing hearts and going on a different date every day. It was the way I rolled.

And my reputation would drop dramatically if I got stuck with some prissy know-it-all who I couldn't have some fun with, or at least tease and get a good reaction from.

The carriage bumped over a large rock, and I glared at the back of the driver's head.

"This is like my worst nightmare." I muttered to the others. Ruby speared me with a glare.

"It's a wonderful opportunity. We're going to be living in a palace, Gold. Think of all the wonderful architecture and designs there'll be! Think of the antique fabr-"

"I don't care!" I cried exasperatedly. Green looked at me, bored expression still in place, and then to the driver. He didn't need to say it out loud. I knew he meant 'Shut up, he can hear you'.

Ruby glared at me again, but then his expression changed to curious.

"What do you think they'll be like?" He mused.

"For the last time Ruby, no one cares about fabric designs." Red said.

Ruby shook his head, rolling his eyes. "I meant the princesses."

Red's eyes opened a little wider, I leant forward in my seat and even Green turned around so that we had his full attention.

"Who knows?" Red said, nervously, like he really didn't want to know.

"I want my princess to be sexy," I said, grinning to myself.

"Pervert..." Ruby muttered. "But while we're on the subject, I hope mine is interested in fashion."

"What about you, Green?" I asked, turning to the eldest, spiky-haired boy.

"Hn. I honestly don't mind. Maybe someone who could help with my research, and not make this the most painful thing ever."

Ruby nodded thoughtfully. "And you, Red?"

Red started, as though he hadn't seen the question coming, which was pretty stupid seeing as he was the only one who hadn't confessed what he wanted in his princess.

"Err..." He squirmed uncomfortably. "Probably someone...nice?"

Green rolled his eyes and I groaned. "They're all going to be nice," I said. "They're freakin' princesses!"

"Maybe someone smart." Red finished, slightly sharper than necessary.

I leant back in my seat, not completely satisfied with his answer but satisfied enough to let it drop.

"I was reading the guidebook," Ruby started, cleverly directing the subject away from the princesses and onto safer topics. "And it said that there are loads of beaches near town, and as we won't be working all the time I thought we could go down there sometimes, you know to-"

"Aha!" I cried, pointing an accusing finger at him and grinning knowingly. "We can go down there to meet some of the local hotties! I always knew you were just as perverted as me."

Ruby blushed a colour close to his name, and kicked me hard. "That wasn't what I meant!" He yelled, and the driver's steady riding beat faltered slightly. "I mean, I just meant that we could go down to chill sometimes." He finished in a quieter tone.

Green tipped his head thoughtfully. "There may be some interesting Pokémon down there. Sounds good."

Red sighed. "Do you ever think about anything but work, Green?"

Green frowned, but said nothing.

Just then, we rounded a corner and I caught sight of the biggest freakin' palace I have ever seen. Gold-that I liked- everywhere, huge towers, balconies, guards, lush green gardens. I hadn't even noticed we'd come so close to our destination.

So...this was my new home now.

I can hardly wait.

And I say that sarcastically.

The driver pulled up outside the huge wooden doors and comes around to let us all out. I climb out of the carriage and gaze up at the tall balcony above us, where guards look down on us all critically. I feel myself unconsciously draw myself up straighter. Maybe they were there to have that effect.

A young man with red hair and a stern expression opens the castle doors and beckons for us all to come towards him. We do so, and he looks us up and down critically, me in particular.

So what if my clothes are slightly scruffy? They make me look cool.

"Good afternoon gentlemen. I trust the journey was okay?"

The rest of us look desperately at Green, as he is best one to do the talking, considering he talks like this man naturally.

Green sighed slightly, but responded. "It was fine, thank you."

The man nods, extending a hand, which we each shake. "I'm Lance, personal servant to her Royal Highness. Of course, I already know who you lads are, as I helped the Queen pick out the perfect servants for the princesses."

Ah. So he's the reason I'm here.

Hmm...

"Anyway," Lance continues. "If you would follow me to the parlour, there are some things I must explain to you before you meet the princesses."

Some things he must explain to us?

We follow Lance through the castle, and even I'm speechless at how fancy it is. There must be enough jewels here to equal the weight of an elephant, and even then there's more precious metal used to construct the castle itself.

This is definitely going to be hard for me.

Lance leads us into a plush, velvet room, a rich purple in colour. He gestures for us to sit down on the large sofa, and we do, sinking down onto the soft cushions gratefully.

"Now then," Lance begins, looking at us sternly. "Before you begin work here there are a few things I have to explain to you."

None of us say anything.

"Namely, the rules of the island and this castle. Your working hours are not set, because as the personal servants to the princesses you will be expected to do whatever jobs they set you, and to always be available when they ask for your assistance."

Great. I can think of a million ways someone could use that against me.

"You will address the princesses as Your Highness or Mistress, or anything else they request you to address them by. You must always call the Queen Your Royal Highness, no questions asked."

Huh. Didn't he just call her 'the Queen'?

"On those occasions when the princesses are having some free time down in the town, you are free to do as you wish, unless of course, you are asked otherwise. If the princesses have no jobs for you, report to me for some household tasks. Naturally, you are free to stop the task if your princess requests your presence."

Yawn...

Oh, no way. Is Green taking notes?

...

Yes, he is.

"Finally, you are not permitted to leave the castle grounds after 10pm. Guards will be patrolling the borders making sure that no one leaves. Your quarters will be near to the quarters of the princesses, so that you can be available quickly should they need you. That is all. Do you understand?"

We all nodded, Ruby and Green earnestly, me and Red half-heartedly.

Lance clapped his hands. "Very good. Please stand and await the arrival of the princesses of Chika. Nadine!"

We stood as a tiny maid with jet black hair came into the room, practically jumping she was so excited. I suddenly realised that the castle had been waiting a long time for us to come.

"Please fetch the princesses, and tell them that their new servants are here," Lance says to her.

Nadine nods her little head in a spiky nod, staring at us appreciatively. Slowly, a smile appears on her face and her eyes light up, and then she's gone before I can even register her movements.

Lance walks around the sofa to stand outside the door, closing it softly. We look at each other, and we don't need words to know what we're all thinking.

'This is it'.

Before anything else happens, Lance opens the door again.

"Presenting Their Highnesses, Princesses Blue, Yellow, Crystal and Sapphire of Chika."

And then the princesses walk in.

They come in a fluid, straight line. First of all there's a tall brunette, waist-length hair swaying in time with her walk. She's wearing a knee-length dress in sky-blue, with huge, thin heels which seem deadly to walk in. Around her neck is a black choker, and her blue eyes shimmer with interest.

Next comes the smallest, not quite as small as the maid, Nadine, but still very small in comparison to the others. She has long blonde hair, cascading down slightly further than the brunette's. She's wearing a long summery ball gown, ankle-length, and little slip on shoes. On her head is the traditional tiara, encrusted with diamonds. She's watching us all out of cautious yellow eyes, similar in colour to my own.

After her is an entirely different princess. She has short, dark blue hair tied up into cute pigtails, and she'd wearing a knee-length skirt in black, along with a silvery blouse. She's wearing tiny grey heels and her crystal-coloured eyes take in my scruffy clothes with a slightly disapproving air.

Finally there's a very strange princess. She's wearing loose, faded blue jeans and a strappy, sapphire-coloured top. She goes barefoot. Her short brown hair is left loose and wild, yet she wears an intricate necklace with a sapphire the size of a golf ball around her neck. She looks at us out of piercing sapphire eyes, and a scowl appears on her face.

"Your Highnesses, these four young men are Green, Red, Gold and Ruby." Lance says. "Your new servants."

Nadine closes the door behind her to give us some privacy. The princesses say nothing, just looking us up and down slowly.

"Princess Blue?" Lance continues.

The long-haired brunette turns to him.

"Your servant is Green. I trust you can show him his new living quarters."

"Yes." Blue replies. Green blinks at her once before stepping forwards, and then the two of them walk out, Blue leading.

"Princess Yellow?" Lance says, and I notice how his voice softens slightly when he says her name.

The small blonde nods shyly.

"Your servant will be Red. You know what to do."

Yellow nods, and Red shoots me a 'Good Luck' look before following Yellow out of the room.

That leaves me, Ruby, the serious-looking princess and the scowling one.

Great.

"Princess Crystal, your servant is Gold," I raise my hand to show her who I am, "And therefore Princess Sapphire, your servant will be Ruby." Ruby smiles weakly at Sapphire, and she glares back at him. I feel sorry for him, but I have a feeling that if any of us could handle that girl, it's Ruby.

Crystal turns to me, gesturing for me to follow her, which I gladly do. This Crystal...she's quite cute, and her serious attitude...maybe it's just for show.

Crystal leads me through the castle, and somewhere in the back of my mind I'm telling myself to learn where I'm going so that I don't get lost. I ignore that part of my mind and focus instead on Crystal's ass.

I'm not a pervert! Just a normal teenage boy.

Crystal leads me along a corridor, and she pauses briefly outside a door labelled 'Crystal'.

"This is my room." She says. "You will report here at 9am, but you must be dressed appropriately and fed by that time."

I stare at her in disbelief. No way am I getting up that early! Although...I suppose I'll have to. I sigh.

"Okay..."

Crystal gives me a strange look. "Call me Crystal or Crys when we're alone." She says. "But whenever we're around any servants or especially Great-Aunt, call me 'Your Highness'."

I blink at her, surprised. I didn't expect her to say something like that. Maybe she's not as serious as she first appears.

Crys leads me around a corner and along another corridor, this time to a door labelled 'Gold'.

"This is your living quarters," she says. "I trust it will be suitable."

Wow, she's very good at going from casual to serious in almost no time at all. I lean against the door of my new room and smirk at her.

"You know..." I start, "Seeing as we're alone right now, you don't need to be so formal." Crystal looks surprised. "After all, we're gonna be together a lot, so it makes sense that we should treat each other like friends."

Crys blushes, and inside I'm thinking 'Result!'. Maybe I will be able to live up to my reputation. Teasing Crystal sounds like (and looks like) it might be a fun past time.

"I...you...it's in my nature to be formal!" She cries, folding her arms over her chest in a huff. "I'm a princess!"

I shrug, smirking again. "Yeah...but I get the feeling that you don't want to be."

Then I boldly tap her nose gently, before turning into my room and closing the door into her stunned, blushing face.

Okay, the ending was stupid, wasn't it? I just wanted to put some sort of ship in there. And I know it was shorter than the last chapter, but I just wanted to give you guys something, as it's been ages since I updated.

Please review and tell me what you think!

Also, did any of you notice the subtle hints I put in of another ship, not mentioned in the summary? Free cookies if you can tell me the name of the ship!

Till next time,

XBlazingVampire5X