Back, and with a new chapter, rejoice! I am very much ashamed of not updating for so long. But I turned 17 last week so this is my gift to you guys. I hope this chapter is not too boring, it's sort of building the story.

I do not own Pokemon or the characters in any sort of way. Well I do own the characters you don't recognize.

Chapter 4: At the dawn of war,

THUCK!!

Drew felt a smack against the back of his head. "No dozing off, Hayden. You're on duty!" A soldier said.

Annoyed, Drew looked up at the man. Just because this was his first war, did not have anything to do with teasing him. Besides, to his opinion, he hadn't been dozing off.

He had just been thinking about...other things.

"Leave the boy!" Another mercenary yelled from behind. "He's probably with his mind with the girl he spent the night with," the man snickered.

They were marching through the abandoned stretched-out landscapes and mountain-paths. Surely the terrain wasn't easy but it was one of the few ways to reach the country's border. They wouldn't reach it within 4 days and the marching was to say the least, boring.

So naturally the men sought a way for spending their time and relief from boredom. Sadly enough, that meant teasing each-other. Or better said, teasing the youngest, and supposedly the weakest between them: assuming Drew.

He knew he could match up to any of these guys in terms of strength or technique, but he missed the experience from years.

So he was the one the men loved to tease.

"And, man. How was she then?" the man from before asked him with a wink.

Drew rolled his eyes, 'There they go again. Making the wrong assumptions again,' he thought exasperated

"Very good, must have kept him busy all night," the mercenary from the back called. Around him, they roared from laughing.

The man at Drew's side poked in Drew's ribs. It didn't hurt, that was never the intention, but Drew turned his eyes annoyed at him. "But seriously, was she that good to keep even you busy all night? You were gone early, kiddo," he said, implying on Drew's stamina.

Drew shrugged, "If her name's sleep, then yeah, she was very good. Kept me busy," he said nonchalantly.

The other men stared at him, each and every one, with their mouths dropped to the floor. "You last free night, and you spent it sleeping? Do you even call yourself a man?" one asked incredulously.

Drew smirked, "It's good for you. You should try it yourself one day," he said, hinting on the black circles each of them carried under their eyes.

They slapped their hands against their heads as Drew kept marching with a straight face. "We definitely need to get him a whore once we have a free night," they murmured.

An older man laughed, "But he got you there," he sniggered. The others retreated from annoying and bothering Drew after that, boasting about their own girls of that night.

Drew liked it this way the best. He didn't join the army because of chit-chat.

The thing that had in fact haunted him in his head, came bothering him once again. He was wondering if the princess had been alright when he left. Surely enough, she had trouble with those stuck-up landlords.

He sighed, he found it suddenly stupid of himself he had made the promise, by saying that he would stay alive to see her again.

Mentally he scolded himself over and over: 'Stupid, she's a princess and you are a lowly soldier,' he thought, mentally beating himself. Now he thought about it, it had surely been a once-in-a-lifetime thing to meet the real princess and he had even been lucky enough to be able to talk to her for a second time.

Only a fool would wish for a third time.

The problem was not staying alive, to be able to tell her he had not died was the real problem. And he didn't want her to cry as well, he had seen too many women cry already.

"Drew, what's bothering you?" the other man next to him asked. Drew looked up at him. The man was in his late fifties and was one of the only people in this army Drew could get along with.

"It's nothing, Roran," he replied.

Roran laughed, "You've been sighing all the way. That's not like you so if it's nothing I'll eat my hat," he said. Then suddenly he looked doubtfully, "It'd better be something. I doubt the metal would taste wonderful, let alone being able to digest it," Roran said, glancing up to his metal cap.

Drew grinned, "Scary, how you can see through people," he said.

Roran only shrugged at this. Drew sighed again, "Well, what would you do if you had made a promise to someone, of which you're almost sure you are unable to fulfill?" he asked.

Roran tapped his chin, "You certainly have a problem on your hands then," he said. The he shrugged: "Well, I'd try to fulfill it even so, just because I promised it. And if there really wasn't a way, I'd hope she would understand."

Drew glared at the man: "How did you know it was a she?" he asked.

Roran laughed, "If it wasn't, you wouldn't have bothered making such a pointless promise."

Drew frowned and directed his eyes on the road before them, "It really is a pointless promise then huh?" he said softly.

Roran glanced at Drew, "What did you promise then for making such a big deal out of it?" he asked.

Drew smirked mockingly, "I promised to stay alive and come back," he answered bitterly.

Roran laughed hard and long, and Drew looked up at him annoyed, "it's not funny you know," he said angrily.

Roran's laughter died, "It very much is, Drew. What it stopping you from fulfilling that promise?" he asked.

Drew kept silent, searching for the right words. "She is sort of a nobleman's daughter, and for one thing, I'm only a soldier," he said. He avoided saying he meant the princess.

Roran chuckled, "Let's start with staying alive," he said.

After two days of marching through the ragged land, the officers thought it was a wise idea to take a few day's rest. Naturally the men on foot thought it was an incredible idea. The groans of pain and mutterings about blisters were heard all over the place.

"No slacking off!!" Gar yelled. Drew rolled his eyes, the said man had been riding his horse all the time.

Groaning the men started setting up camp. They had heard thy would be there for about three nights and then leave at first down.

"Drew was your name, isn't it?" Drew suddenly heard next to him, when he was pulling a rope of a particuarly large tent. Surprised he found a boy about his age, or a little older. He though that everybody called young around here was exept for him, in about his late twenties.

'Yeah, why?" he responded.

The boy stuck out it his hand, "Pleasure to meet you, I'm Ash," he said.

Drew shook his hand, "Why are you here, from the looks of it, you aren't a mercenary?" Drew asked.

Ash shrugged, "I'm here because someone needs to watch the horses and devide them," he said.

Drew raised his brow, "You're a stable-boy?" he said.

Ash grinned, "Yep!". He helped Drew with setting up the tent. "Did you know the king and his men will be coming tomorrow?" he asked.

Drew shook his head, "No I didn't, why so?" he asked.

Ash shrugged, "Inspection or something as ridiculous as that." He pulled a face, "Well, it has been fun talking to you. I got to go take care of the horses, preferably before one of the others messes up," he said.

Drew nodded and the boy skipped off. He shook his head, 'Weird boy,' he thought and continued settinng up.

MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

"But I want to go with you," May whined.

Norman crossed, "No and that's my final decision".

May pouted, "But I really want to see the army. Why can't I go with you and Max can?" she asked.

Norman sighed and rubbed his forhead. "Because you are a young lady and Max needs to know how to organise and that way use an army," he said.

May turned around, "but I just want to go. Lift the spirits and such," she said stubbornly.

Norman slammed his fist on the table, "And that's what I'm afraid of. It's a no, May and that's it," he said dangerously low.

May stormed out of the room, "Only because I'm a girl," she muttered. But then she got a wonderful idea and ran to the mess hall. Now that the soldiers were gone, it was a huge empty space. There by the fire, she found Misty, how strange it may seem, stitching some clothes.

"Misty! There you are!" she yelled.

Misty looked up disturbed. "Sheesh, May, do you have to need to be that loud?" she complained.

May grabbed a chair quickly and ushered the other servants away, who had been trying to pick something up. "You've got to listen to this," she said hastily. In a few words she had explained her plan. Misty seemed resistant at first.

"I could get badly punished for this," she said, but May waved it away.

"Then i take the blame and say it was an order from me."

Misty rubbed her head, "You know where to find all that stuff?" she asked.

May cracked a smile, "You'll it? Thanks Misty. Yeah, I know where to find everything."

"Everybody in line for the king!" was called over the camp. The soldiers hurried to their places and they formed a line. With great dignity, the king passed on his horse to the captain's tent. There he got off. "Please be ready to leave the army by noon tomorrow," he said before entering the tent with Max. The other riders of his following headed each to the places with their friends.

"And what now?" Misty whispered nervously.

May shrugged, "I don't know really," she said. Misty was about to scold her when something else got her attention.

"Misty? Is that you?" Ash whispered.

"Eh...no..." she suddenly realized she had forgotten to lower her voice.

Ash grinned densely, "It is you," he said softly, careful not to be heard.

Misty rolled her eyes and got off her horse, "How'd you know it was me," she hissed. "I'm dressed up as a normal escort of the king."

Ash shrugged, "The way you sat on your horse," he said.

Misty narrowed her eyes, "Is there something wrong with how I sit on my horse?" she asked dangerously.

Ash seemed to ponder about that for a while but then he grinned cheekily, "No, not at all, you just ride like a girl that's all," he said.

May drove her horse a few steps away from Misty, as the girl seemed to explode, "How...!" she started but Ash laughed.

"I never said it was a bad thing," he said.

Misty calmed down. May sweatdropped, 'unbelieveble, how fast that girl can change moods,' she thought.

Then Ash jumped up, "Hey Mist, why don't you come with me to Pikachu, I'm sure he would be thrilled to see you," he said enthausiastic.

Misty turned to May, "Can I go?" she asked.

Ash rose a brow, "You broke the rules and you took the princess with you?" he asked.

Misty looked back at Ash, annoyed.

"Ah, sorry, this was my idea actually. It's fine Misty, you just go," May smiled as she came off her horse as well.

Misty smiled gratefull before she was pulled away by the blackhaired boy. "Did you know that Pikachu has a new friend? The horse Roserade..." he chattered cheerfully as May saw them disappear.

May sighed, she had said it was okay but now that she was alone, it suddenly was a big camp. She was glad the royal riders wore helmet so people didn't keep staring at her for long. But then her preppy mood reappeared as she remembered her reason for being here. Her freedom.

'Let's go see around here,' she thought.

Me: "Wowy, I didn't expect to finish this!"

Drew: "It did take you ages, alright,"

Me: "I know, but I've been soooooooo busy!"

Drew: "Like hell, you've been writing your Naruto story for some time now,"

Naruto: "BELIEVE IT!!!"

Drew: "Where did you come from?!"

Me: "NARUTO!!!!" *glomps*

Drew: "Since the authoress is currently busy being in her fangirl state, I shall ask you to kindly review,"

Me: "Be glad it wasn't Neji here right now! *glare*"

Naruto: "Dear lord safe us!!!! Wait! You are a Neji fangirl!??"

Me: "Well, not particularly, but I want to see his face when I hug him :D"

Drew: "Indeed, dear lord safe us..."

Me: "Drew! Shut up!"