Chapter 3 The Gauntlet -
Beyond the large wall reveled a spectacular sight; in front of the group was a wide open flat rolling plain with a glimmering river flowing through the middle. A large stone bridge lay across it, it's perfectly carved marble pillars stood tall gleaming in the sunlight with a slab of sea green marble with a single word carved in it "Camelot."
"Whoa." Is all Ash could manage to say walking into the large field smelling the sweet scent of honey that a small breeze brought with it. "This place is amazing." May said in astonishment "Pika pi." Pikachu said in agreement "Well come on, this isn't even the best part." Riley added, the group eagerly followed Riley to the stone bridge as they walked towards it Ash felt May take his hand in hers looking over at her he saw her looking back smiling.
Approaching the bridge Ash looked up at the archway and read the word aloud "Camelot." He said quietly to himself. As the group progressed across the bridge they came to the rim of a large hill. Their they witnessed an even larger grassland decorated with large fields of wheat on the sides, at the end stood a large magnificent fort completed a wall that stood about twenty feet high and its corners curling upwards.
"What is this place?" Brock asked gazing at what lay before them; Riley turned to him and grinned "It's Camelot." Riley led them down the hill and straight to the large wooden doors that guarded the fort above the doors was a large wooden watch towers whose roof had its corners curved up similar to that of the wall that surrounded the rest of the fort.
"Who goes!?" The group heard a booming voice call out Riley stepped forward "Have no worry it is I Sir Riley, I have returned from my quest." Riley replied in a knightly voice. "Since when did you call yourself Sir Riley?" Ash asked, Riley was about to answer but was abruptly stopped when the large doors began to open, slowly the two large wooden doors opened up reveling two men standing there. Ash got an uneasy feeling inside of him and tensed up a little Riley sensing this turned to him "Relax Ash their friends." He assured him "Come now we must hurry inside." Riley said motioning to the group to follow.
Ash relaxed a little as they walked past the doors figuring if Riley trusts them he should too. As they approached the two men Ash glanced at both, the first man was extremely tall about six foot seven he wore a blue tunic going down past his knees with a red Ho-oh painted in the center. At his waist was a black belt with a very large sheathed sword hanging from it his most notable feature was his face which looked unforgiving with an almost permanent snarl on it.
The other man by comparison was much shorter standing at Ash's level he looked more like a boy than a man, he wore a similar attire except his tunic was black with a red Ho-oh painted in the center. On his side he had a sheathed sword, not nearly as long as the other man's but one that was appropriate for his size. Finally he had dirty blonde hair and a face much friendlier than that of the other mans. As the doors closed behind them Riley looked around "Where is everybody?" He asked curiously. The first man answered him "There all at the festival celebrating." He answered in a very deep voice, Riley looked at him confused "What could they possibly be celebrating right now?" Riley asked still confused "Why the Queen's birthday of course." He answered before taking a spat on the ground; Dawn made a look of disgust at the act. "Who are they?" The man asked turning to the group "These are friends who are in need of shelter." The man walked over closer to the group
"Greetings my name is Sir Kay at your service." He said with a slight bow "And mine is Sir Gareth also at your service." The boy said in a courteous tone as he bowed. "My names Ash Ketchum and this is Pikachu." Ash said letting go of May's hand and taking a step forward, the two men tilted there head's towards Ash in acknowledgement, suddenly May stepped forward "Hi I'm May." She said in her usual friendly voice, both knights knelt down on one knee and bowed their heads "My lady." They both said in unison, causing May to blush slightly.
Dawn upon seeing this steeped forward in front of Sir Gareth "My names Dawn." She said sweetly extending her hand, Sir Gareth looked up at her almost star struck and in a move that surprised even Dawn, gently taking her hand he turned it over and lightly kissed it "My lady it's a pleasure." He said softly. Dawn surprised by this just smiled and took a step back.
"Whe- where am I?" asked a weak voice every one turned toward Lucario realizing the Team Rocket member had woken up "Lucario take our friend there to the dungeon we'll speak with him later." Riley commanded, Lucario obeyed and took off running down a small trail to the left of the group.
"You guys have a dungeon?" Ash asked surprised "We have a lot of things." Riley answered bluntly "Now about that staff you do have it correct?" Sir Kay asked, Riley pulled the staff out from behind him showing it to Sir Kay "Good Arthur will be happy to see this." Sir Kay said before taking another spat at the ground, Dawn and May both looked at each other with looks of disgust. "Who is this Arthur?" Brock asked, Sir Kay turned to Brock looking at him as if he were stupid "Why he's our King of course." He answered with a scoff "Well excuse me." Brock muttered under his breath
"So shall I present the staff at the festival to Arthur in front of the whole kingdom?" Riley asked, Sir Kay nodded "Yes that's not a problem is it? Don't tell me you get stage fright." "No I would be honored to do so." "Come on guy's follow me now." Riley said looking back at the group, following behind Riley Ash suddenly felt his stomach begin to growl "I hope they have food there." Ash said with a hand on his stomach, May just rolled her eyes smiling and once again took Ash's hand in hers.
"Goodbye my lady!" Sir Gareth called waving his hand at Dawn; turning around Dawn smiled at him and waved back. Sir Gareth watched as Dawn and the rest of the group disappeared from sight then spoke softly to himself "Have you ever seen a girl so beautiful that your heart skips a beat?" "Well I got bad news for you I saw her holding that one boy's hand, and by the looks of it they have no intentions of separating." Sir Kay replied putting his hand on Sir Gareth's shoulder, Sir Gareth looked up at Sir Kay "No not her!" He exclaimed "I'm talking about the girl with the beautiful blue hair…Dawn." Saying her name brought a smile to his face "Ha looks like little fair hands has fallen in love!" Sir Gareth turned to him angrily "Yea and what of it!?" Sir Kay shrugged his shoulders "Nothing I think it's great that you've finally found someone." Sir Kay said trying to keep a straight face; Sir Gareth took no notice of this though he just let out a sigh looking in the direction that Dawn had gone off in. Sir Kay must have felt some pity towards Gareth in that moment "Look I'll keep watch here…I um, I think you should go to the festival." Sir Kay said trying hard to sound nice, Gareth looked up at Sir Kay grinning ear to ear "Really you mean it!?" he said excitedly "Yea sure why not." Sir Kay said with a shrug, hearing this Sir Gareth nodded then took off down the trail on the right that Dawn had walked down "Hey thank you I'll owe you a debt!" Sir Gareth called to Sir Kay as he ran "I'm going to hold you to that!" Sir Kay yelled back before taking another spat at the ground.
"You never did answer my question." Ash said catching up to Riley, Riley glanced over at him "What question are you talking about?" he asked pretending not to know "Why did they call you Sir Riley back there? I mean are you guy's knights or something?" Riley grind a little at this "Ash you remember steel island right?" "Yea how could I forget?" "Remember how I told you I was training to be an Aura Guardian?" Ash thought back to what Riley had said that day on the island "So you mean to tell me that you've become a Guardian?" "Not yet but soon I will be." As Riley finished explaining they came to a large castle like structure where beyond the closed doors they could hear the cheering of people.
"Sounds like someone's having a good time." May observed "Well it is the Queen's birthday after all." Riley replied "And I guarantee that they setup the gauntlet for anyone brave enough to try." "As long as they have food I don't care what they have set up." Ash said with his stomach continuing to growl, Sir Riley turned back around facing everyone "Well when we get inside you are free to do as you please enjoy yourself have and have a good time." "Wait what should we do when the party's over?" Brock asked "Don't worry I'll come and find you and introduce you to the King then show you to your house." Riley answered "So what'll you be doing while where at the party." Ash questioned "Well I have to give the King the staff of course." "Now then go inside and enjoy yourselves after all you deserve it." Then without another word Riley took off down the path, leaving the still somewhat confused group in front of the doors.
Ash looked up at the two large doors then back at the group "Well I guess were going in." Ash said still a little unsure, turning back to the doors he approached them. Getting closer he could hear the sound of cheering grow louder and louder, then reaching his arm out to one of the large door handles he pulled it open. Beyond the doors was a large crowd of people all wearing clothing that belonged in the medieval century. All talking and laughing with each other, to distracted to even notice the presence of a foreigner.
Ash walked in with his friends close behind, the doors slammed shut behind him attracting the attention of some people. "This place is gigantic!" Max exclaimed looking around at large courtyard full of people. Ash looked around the courtyard in the middle stood a large gauntlet that had a wide array of lethal obstacles, Ash watched as a man padded from head to toe get nailed in the side of the head by a large wrecking ball knocking him off a twenty foot drop followed by a cheer from the crowd.
"I want to try!" Max exclaimed looking at the gauntlet "Max mom would kill me if she found out I let you do something dangerous like that." May said looking down at her brother "Then don't tell her." Max argued, May shook her head "Sorry Max I already told you no."
"Awe sweet food!" Ash happily exclaimed running to a table full of fruits and cake "Hey wait up!" Brock yelled running close behind followed by Dawn and May. Max though had no desire to eat; instead he looked at the gauntlet with determined eyes.
Ash's taste buds exploded with flavor ash he bit into the sweetest apple he had ever tasted "This is the most amazing apple I've ever tasted!" Ash said devouring the rest of the apple, as he reached for another apple he looked up and noticed that some people were staring and pointing at them "Hey May is there food stuck in my teeth or something?" Ash asked leaning over, May shook her head "No why?" "Cause those people over there are staring at me kind of weird." May looked over at the small crowd of people that were staring at them "Did we do something wrong, are we not supposed to sit here or something?" Before Ash could respond Sir Gareth stood before them at the table "So how's the food?" he asked taking a seat next to Dawn
"This is the most amazing food I've ever tasted." Ash said happily "Oh really best food you've ever tasted huh?" Brock said as if he were offended "Oh don't be so sensitive Brock we all love your food." "Pika!" Pikachu assured "Oh really, but you just said this was the best food you've ever tasted." "Come on you two are acting immature." May intervened.
As the three continued to bicker Gareth turned to Dawn "So how are you enjoying your stay so far?" He asked "It's not too bad actually it's kind of nice." She said politely "If you want I can show you around some more." Dawn smiled at him "Sure I think that would be great." Gareth nodded at her then turned back to the group who continued to bicker "If I'm not mistaken weren't there five of you before." Gareth examined. Everybody froze then looked around "Oh no where did Max go!" May frantically exclaimed Ash looked around "Hey I found him over there!" Ash exclaimed pointing to the Gauntlet.
Max stood there at the beginning of the course fully padded from head to toe "Max get down from there this instant!" May yelled though Max was too far away to hear her "Please calm down my lady, Max will be fine that suit will protect him from any harm the gauntlet offers." Sir Gareth said trying to reassure May who remained unconvinced
"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN GATHER ROUND AND WITNESS THIS BRAVE YOUNG MAN TAKE A RUN AT THE GAUNTLET DO YOU THINK HE CAN DO IT!?" The announcer roared from the podium, the crowd response was a loud cheer.
The Gauntlet was divided into three equally terrifying parts, the first being a group of large steel wrecking balls on the ends of two spinning wheels the first being at about knee level the second at about a torso's height with about a foot of space between the two. Next was another large wrecking ball that was suspend in the air on a chain swing forwards and backwards and a second one that was strung a little bit lower that swung from side to side. The third and final part was a set on a suspended platform that would wobble with the slightest movement above swung large double edged axe's with varying heights, at the end of the bridge was a ten foot long gap inside it were a few one foot square blocks separated far from each other leading to the end of the course. Max looked at all these factors and started to second guess himself "Hey kid you ready?" the announcer asked, Max nodded nervously "ALRIGHT YOUNG MAN…BEGIN!" the crowd began to cheer loudly at Max. Max looked at them then back at the course then taking a deep breath began. Quickly he ran forward, as the first wrecking ball swung around at him Max took advantage of being short and quickly laid down crawling underneath the obstacle once safely past it he stood back up. Coming to the second wheel he once again took advantage of his height by simply walked under it "Hey that's not fair!" a person from the crowd yelled "Yea he's cheating!" another yelled, then the rest of the crowd joined in yelling and booing at Max."Please people this is all in good fun there are no rules except do what you can to get across." The announcer said calming the crowd back down, a couple of people grumbled on feeling they had still been cheated.
"He's doing well who knows he might even be the first to make it across." Gareth acknowledged "Wait so no one's ever been able to make it across?" Ash asked in disbelief "Yep the closest anyone's ever come is about half way through the axes." "No one's ever died on this before have they?" May asked still worried, Gareth thought about this question "Yea maybe about three people but that's about it." Gareth said in a casual tone "Three people!" May exclaimed standing up "Relax May I'm sure Max will be fine." Dawn said rolling her eyes "Hey I wasn't talking to you!" May said clenching her fist.
Max watched closely as the wrecking ball swung back and forth trying to judge the correct moment when he should go, finally when the ball reached its peak at the far end of the chain Max ran forward, right as the wrecking ball was about to slam into him he threw himself onto the ground and out of its path. The crowd cheered wildly at this feat, Max himself felt proud also and standing up began to run forward again forgetting about the other wrecking ball. Looking out the corner of his eye saw the steel ball swinging down at him; he stopped just as it swung in front of him.
He breathed a sigh of relief, just as he began to start running he felt himself being picked up off his feet and thrown forward by the first wrecking ball. Landing on his face he quickly tried to pick himself back up, stumbling forward onto the suspended bridge he didn't have time to react to the axe, the sharpened blade of the axe cut through his padding swinging him up in the air.
The crowd gasped in shock at this "MAX NO!" May shrieked, as she watched her brother being swung by the axe. The blade of the axe had somehow managed to catch himself on the light chainmail armor Max wore beneath the pads leaving Max unharmed but still swinging on the axe "Somebody help me please!" Max cried out. The crowd was in shock standing there watching as this boy called for help.
"Ash do something please!" May pleaded frantically shaking his shoulders. Ash nodded "Pikachu stay here." He said taking his little yellow Pokémon off his shoulder, jumping over the table Ash pushed through the thick crowd of people and to the entrance of the Gauntlet.
High upon the second story looking down at Ash was a beautifully lady and her husband accompanied by five other knights "My lord should we help?" one of them asked, the man remained shook his head "No I'm curious to see what's about to happen." He answered looking down at Ash.
"Hey get down from there boy you'll get yourself killed!" The announcer commanded, Ash was too focused though to hear him and even if he had it would have made no difference. Ash sprinted down the bridge; diving above the first wheel he landed just below the second "Ash help me!" Max cried as he continued to swing from side to side "What do you think I'm trying to do." Ash said to himself as he crouched below the spinning wheel. As Ash approached the wrecking ball he decided he was too big to go under it so he would have to go over it or onto it. Just as the wrecking ball swung within arm's reach Ash leapt onto it grabbing it by the chain and riding it to the platform in front of the suspended bridge "Hey Max how you doing." Ash said as Max swung in front of him "Honestly I've had better day's Ash." "Yea me to…ok now then let's get you out of here." Ash watched as Max swung in front of him, reaching out he tried grab him but almost lost his balance causing the crowd to gasp a little and May to cringe.
Ash couldn't clearly so he went on instinct he leapt onto the top of the axe holding it by the wooden pole with Max below him. As the axe started to swing back Ash reached down grabbed Max's hand yanked him straight up cutting the rest of the padding. Ash pulled Max close to him, Max tightly hugged Ash. Ash looked around again trying to think of a way off, he considered jumping off the side but figured by the time they did the axe would already have swung back and chop them in half.
"Max were going to have to jump forward." Ash said looking down at the bridge "Are you crazy Ash I'm not going to jump!" Ash not in the mood to argue leaned against the pole then swept Max up in his arms, he waited until the axe was directly over the bridge then jumped forward. The crowd was on the edge of their seats watching as Ash leapt onto the bridge, landing on the bridge wasn't as bad as Ash had thought it still shook but not as violently as he thought it would. Now it was all a matter of patience and speed, every time an axe would swing past him Ash would take a small step forward and made sure to hold Max tightly.
Ash made it the rest of the way relative ease as he came to the final obstacle the small squares. Going on adrenaline and impulse he quickly jumped from one square to the other placing only a single foot on each one. Ash leapt to the finish and set Max back down, a sense of relief came over him. Ash looked over at the crowd, standing there in utter amazement it was dead silent suddenly Ash heard the sound of clapping above him then everyone joined in
"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN WE HAVE A WINNER!" The announcer exclaimed creating a pandemonium of excitement from the crowd, Ash looked around waved a little took a bow then turned his attention back to Max "Here let's get these pads off of you." Ash said taking off the torn armor "I'm sorry Ash." "Ah don't worry about it Max." Ash responded as he helped Max on his feet again "MAX MAPLE YOU'RE IN SO MUCH TROUBLE MISTER!" May roared storming up the stairs "On second thought you probably should worry about it." "DO REALIZE YOU COULD'VE GOTTEN KILLED!?" Max took a step behind Ash trying to hide from May's anger "I think we should all just take a deep breath and calm down." Ash said trying to calm May's aggression, May looked at Ash then back at Max "I'm really sorry May I just wanted to show you I could do it." Max said tearfully, May relented in here anger when she saw Max was genuinely sorry "Come here." She said with her arms open, Max ran into May's arm hugging her tightly. The crowd let out a collective "Awweee." Ash smiled a little as he watched Max and May quickly forgive each other
"Hey Ash!" A voice from the crowd called, Ash looked over and saw Gareth, Dawn with Pikachu on her shoulder, and Brock "Congratulations you're the first person to beat the gauntlet. That's absolutely amazing." Gareth said giving Ash a congratulatory handshake "Thanks man. Oh hey there Pikachu!" Ash exclaimed as his Pokémon jumped onto his shoulder "Pika Pika!" it happily cried "Ash you were moving pretty fast out there." Brock approved "Just trying to save a friend." Ash replied modestly, suddenly Ash felt a tap on his shoulder. Ash turned facing a man dressed similar to Gareth "Ash Ketchum I presume?" "Yes that's me." "I'm going to need you to come with me." He said sternly "Why? Did I do something wrong?" "No, but since you beat the gauntlet you get the reward of meeting the King." Ash didn't expect that response so he just stood there "Please come with me." "Alone." He said looking at the group, Ash turned around to Gareth who gave an approving nod
"Alright then, lead on." Ash said turning back to the man "Wait Ash!" May exclaimed running over to Ash, she threw her arms over him tightly then kissed him passionately on the lips. The crowd whistled and cheered at the sight of this cutting the kiss short "Thank You Ash." May said slowly letting him go. Ash smiled at her then turned back to the man who was waiting impatiently "Come on Romeo we haven't got all day."
Back up on the second floor the King watched as Ash followed one of the guards to the stair case "Very impressive for someone so young." He said admiringly "He's got a strong Aura I can sense it." Another man said, "Perhaps he's the one we've been waiting for." A third man intervened; the King glanced over at the man then back to Ash "Perhaps."
