Chapter 27: Will of the New Wizard
It's the new day as Miranda came to the Infirmary to find Ash up and about. "My goodness!" she awed. "You look like you made a full recovery." Ash chuckled as he looked over to Aaron's staff.
"I'm not one who likes to stay down for a long time," he confessed.
"Apparently not," she giggled as members of the Magic Council arrived with some balls in hand.
"Mr. Ketchum?" one of the members called. Ash turned to the members, finding the balls in their hands.
"Aren't those Team Rocket's Pokéballs?" he guessed.
"They are," the second member confirmed. "Frillish, Amoonguss, Yamask and Woobat are identified… and that we have confiscated everything from Team Rocket in lieu of their trials. As a Pokémon Trainer, we're willing to give them to you." Ash felt honored to have more Pokémon for what he would want before he returned, However, a thought came to mind.
"Actually, I think I can give Amoonguss to someone who likes mushrooms," he offered. The adults were curious to know who he had in mind.
"The other thing is that the Magic Council will present you a special reward," the first Council member informed. "Get your robe ready." Ash smiled before the Council members left with the balls on the table. Ash opened the balls, revealing Amoonguss, a shadowy legless figure holding a mask in the air, a cyan fuzzball with bat wings and a pink nose with a black heart, and a pink humanoid/jellyfish-like creature.
"I only wish Sucy was around so I can have her be your trainer," he admitted to Amoonguss. The Mushroom Pokémon wondered about Ash's suggestion. From a puff of smoke, Sucy appeared.
"Did you call for me, Master?" she teased. Everyone jumped at the sudden appearance.
"SUCY!" he gawked. Sucy snickered to the reactions.
"You should know me by now-" she reminded before she saw Amoonguss and awed it. "You're magnificent!" Amoonguss gulped to the witch's admiration. Ash reunited with Pikachu while Hannah and Barbara came to him.
"Hey, did you behave?" he asked.
("Why would I not?") squeaked Pikachu. Hannah and Barbara were happy to see Ash and Pikachu back together.
"We're happy to see you back on your feet," Hannah started.
"We're still concerned after that battle," Barbara added. Ash understood their worries.
"I'm tougher than I look," he shrugged. "Besides, I bet you're wanting to see what the Magic Council has to offer."
"Who wouldn't!?" chirped Hannah. "And Headmistress Holbrooke couldn't be any more excited if there was the location to the Fountain of Youth attached to it." Ash shuttered to Hannah's thought.
"I have no idea what that means," he shook. "Anyway, let's go!" Hannah and Barbara agreed before leading Ash to outside. Every student was outside to see the moment as Magic Council members came to stand by Luna Nova Academy's staff without Anne who was still relieved of teaching. Ellen came to see her fellow Council members as the Cooper rolled up. Daryl exited the Cooper with Merill and Maril following.
"Here comes trouble," Croix realized. Daryl came to Chariot and Croix first.
"What is this about the little brat getting special honours!?" she demanded. Chariot stood to stop Daryl and her daughters as Akko and Diana joined Ash with Miranda and the Magic Council in the front.
"This is a special reward for stopping Oboneron and saving all of England," Chariot advised. "Something you're too cowardly to perform." Daryl, Maril and Merill snarled to the accusation.
"We also heard about the wand our cousin got," Maril added. Chariot and Croix didn't move. Everyone gathered as Miranda prepared an announcement.
"We'll talk about this," Croix muttered. "Right now, your niece is getting honoured." The Cavendish women growled. Miranda stood in front of the three youths who stood in front of the Council members.
"Ash Ketchum," she started. "Atsuko Kagari… Diana Cavendish… Luna Nova Academy and the Council of Magic, Witchcraft and Wizardry have acknowledged the efforts and accomplishments in the crisis befallen England from the spirit of Oboneron. The Council's parliament have bequeath you Honourary Wizards of England." The students and staff cheered for the three as they were given new witch hats and robes that were aglow for a few seconds. Ash, Akko and Diana looked to each other, smiles abound. Students and staff clapped in applause. Daryl and her daughters looked disgusted to Diana's reward, but it could be that they saw Ash and Diana holding hands. That night, Ash was in his dorm with his Pokémon as he looked at his new hat and robe.
"I was told that this was made of stardust," he mentioned. "I don't want to say that I surpassed Mom in witchcraft…" Pignite and Krookodile weren't worried about what Ash possessed other than the hat and robe. Suddenly, a knock. Krookodile opened the door, finding Chariot breathing heavily in a panic. Ash looked to find Chariot, curious.
"Ash!" she gasped. Ash seemed perplexed to see Chariot by his dorm.
"Chariot?" he wondered. Chariot sprinted to and hugged Ash, her head covered in sweat.
"Oh, thank god you're okay!" she whimpered as Croix entered after, her head also coated in sweat. She came to and hugged Ash as well. Ash seemed confused as did the Pokémon.
"We're sorry to come to you at this time," she sniffled. "We just had a nightmare that felt real and that you were getting pierced all over and… and…" Tears streaked down the faces of the adopting mothers. Ash patted them both, worried that the two teachers were scared beyond belief.
"You want to talk about it?" he suggested. Chariot and Croix agreed. They got on their brooms and took off to the moonlit night. "Did what happen with Oboneron get in your dreams?"
"Yeah," Croix mulled. "After all, we're worried as mothers to you. Neither one of us would want to tell Delia of what happened to her child under our watch." Ash nodded, knowing that the battle with Oboneron lingered within Luna Nova Academy.
"Sometimes, I wish I didn't want to be here," he admitted. "Then again, I wouldn't have found love… not just with you two, but with Diana."
"Seriously?" awed Chariot. Ash nodded.
"I had a lump in my throat when I saw Diana and her strength, not knowing about her family legacy. I just saw her as strong and wanted to know more. Then came finding Sir Aaron's book, then our date that wound up in the House. It's not that I didn't like Akko, but I'm happy that I accepted her love as well. It just feels surreal that two girls love me, and two teachers love me as well…"
"But we have reasons to love you," Chariot spoke. "It was that you grew with us and it felt unique to raise a child for once… and it ballooned from there." Ash smiled, sensing the comfort while feet away from Croix and Chariot. They flew for some time before going back to the tower, but not before Ash picked up Pikachu. The four slept in the same bed with Ash and Pikachu in between Ash's mothers. The next morning, Akko and Diana came to Ash's dorm. They knocked on the door, finding Krookodile and Oshawott answering.
"Is Ash inside?" asked Akko. Oshawott shook no and Krookodile pointed to the tower.
"He's with Chariot?" guessed Diana. Chariot made breakfast for Croix, Ash and Pikachu. As they ate, Diana knocked on the door. Croix answered, seeing Akko, Diana and Oshawott.
"Buongiorno," she welcomed.
"We heard that Ash is here," Diana started. Ash came to see the two girls he became attached to.
"Did Anna find the Will?" he guessed.
"She called about it," Diana reported. "Once you're done with breakfast, we're heading to the House." Ash nodded before Chariot came by.
"We've been involved with this so far," she sided. "We're coming along." Akko nodded, wishing for her idol to join in. They flew to the House of Cavendish and entered, finding Daryl and her daughters waiting for them at the top of the stairs. The shield of three caribous behind the apparent matriarch.
"Not one step further, niece," she warned. "Besides, you have something that belongs to the family." Diana knew Daryl was after the Wand of Beatrix. She revealed the wand to her aunt and cousins.
"Are you referring to this?" she flaunted. "The Wand of Beatrix?" Pikachu became worried about Diana exposing the Wand of Beatrix to her extended family. Daryl came down the stairs to confront her niece and the item.
"The same, you little wench!" she scolded. "That magical item is a relic and should be kept locked away!" She snatched the wand from Diana's hand. Ash, Akko, Chariot, Croix and Pikachu prepared themselves to defend Diana. Daryl studied and marveled at the wand used to vanquish Oboneron. "So, this is the Wand of Beatrix, named after the matriarch 1,500 years ago. A wand like this is worth a pretty penny." That's when a tingling feeling came from the wand. It was aglow, and Daryl felt stinging in her grip. She yelped and tried to hang on, but the pain to the palm won out and she fumbled the wand. It flew to Diana's hand. "DAMMIT!" She shook her hand to relieve the pain.
"Mother!" yelled Maril and Merill as they reached Daryl.
("That wand hates Daryl?") wondered Pikachu. Maril saw the wand and snatched it from Diana's hand.
"This shouldn't be yours!" she snapped. The wand reacted again by glowing, stinging Maril's hand. She felt and fought the pain, grabbing the wand with her other hand. The pain became too much and she dropped the wand back to Diana.
"Maril!" gasped Merill. She saw the wand as well, but didn't approach like the other two. "You did something to the wand!" Diana scoffed to Merill's accusation.
"If you had any sense of studying," she started. "You'd know that the Wand of Beatrix chooses its wielder. In her parchment, she feared the House's inheritance would become a factor in who would wield as other members that tried to hold it were painfully rejected. The key is knowing and acknowledging the House's Motto."
"You should know of that by now," Akko snapped. "Why else would the Wand of Beatrix not react to Diana, but you?" Daryl, gripping her injured hand, snarled.
"Everyone!" shouted Anna. Everyone looked up to the Cavendish Maid. "We shall gather in the gaming room! I have made the discovery!" Everyone looked to each other before they climbed into the new room where Anna presented a few items like a rolled-up paper. Maril and Merill looked to Croix with intriguing whispers.
"Croix Meridies, the witch Diana admired," Merill pointed out. "I didn't think she'd show her face again after what happened all those years ago."
"And she's here with us," Maril whispered. Anna cleared her throat.
"It had been under speculation about the whereabouts of the Will was. Not only was I able to find it, but one other item." Daryl seethed at the news as Anna presented the Will to Chariot. "Miss du Nord, I offer you the chance to read it." Chariot took the Will and looked through it.
THIS IS THE WILL TO MY FAMILY AS THE HOUSE OF CAVENDISH IS WELL AWARE OF MY PASSING. AS THE AGREEMENTS WITH MY FAMILIES' ATTORNEYS; I, BERNADETTE CAVENDISH, OFFER 65% OF THE INHERITANCE TO MY SISTER, DARYL CAVENDISH. HOW SHE DISTRIBUTES THE MONEY TO MY NIECES, MARIL AND MERILL CAVENDISH, WILL BE PERFORMED TO HER DISCRETION. THE OTHER 35% WILL GO TO MY DAUGHTER, DIANA CAVENDISH, AS A MEANS TO ALLOW HER TO ATTEND SCHOOLING UNTIL HER GRADUATION.
Daryl twitched her eyebrow at the reading of the Will. "I bet the Will wasn't signed," she claimed. Ash looked to the Will with the blue eyes. The Will didn't have a signature on either line, but when Ash looked, names were on there. One of them was Bernadette's name. Ash closed his eyes.
"It's signed by Bernadette and two others who were witnesses," he confirmed. "It must have been signed with a form of magical ink, but the names are on there. This Will is real." Daryl gawked to being denied.
"There's more to the Will," Croix pointed out. Chariot looked further down.
TO DELIA KETCHUM, I WISH I COULD HAVE BEQUEATHED MY ONE BELONGING TO YOU BEFORE MY PASSING. IF BY ANY CHANCE THERE IS SOMEONE WHO CAN DELIVER IT TO YOU, IT WILL BE GIVEN.
Ash blinked to the offer. "For Mom?" he realized.
"Yes," Anna informed. She presented a long box. Ash opened it to find another wand, this one engraved with Bernadette's name. "This is Bernadette's wand. When you find your way back home, this can be given to her." Ash felt the honor of holding Bernadette's wand. That's when Pikachu found more from Akko's head.
("What's the small print?") he pointed. Chariot heard Pikachu and discovered more writing.
"This is interesting," she awed.
ANYONE WHO FORGES A NEW WILL UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL FORFEIT THEIR INHERITANCE GIVEN BY THIS AGREEMENT.
"That's right!" gawked Akko. "I heard about you forging a Will to strip Diana of more of her inheritance!" Daryl scoffed, not accepting the additional detail. "If this is legit, Diana owns the entire inheritance and leaving you with nothing!"
"Ha!" scoffed Daryl. "There's no way that the Will says that."
"But you heard what Ash confirmed," Diana disputed. "The Will is legit… and those forged Wills that you gave me, it means that 100% of the House of Cavendish is mine." Maril and Merill gasped to the realization of Daryl's greed.
"NOOOOOOO!" they cried. Undaunted, Daryl whipped out her wand.
"Over my dead body, you bitch!" she roared. "Incinerate!" Everyone braced for the magic… but nothing came out. Daryl tried again. "Incinerate!" Still nothing. Anna saw the Wand of Beatrix before noticing the injured hands of Daryl and Maril.
"The Wand of Beatrix," Anna repeated. "The chosen one can wield the wand to her heart's content as long as it stays along the motto. Anyone who tries to handle it that is not among the chosen will not only have injuries to their bodies where the wand touches, but their magic will be sealed for 24 hours." Daryl and Maril were powerless.
"So, when Daryl and Maril ripped the wand from Diana, the stinging sensation they felt sealed their witchcraft?" guessed Ash.
"That's what it sounds like," Croix believed. Daryl seemed determined to hold onto the inheritance.
"This means nothing!" she snapped as she lunged at Diana, rage urging Diana's death. Pikachu jumped up and shocked Daryl with his Thunderbolt. To Ash, protecting the ones he loved was important as he held Aaron's staff and tome. Daryl was too stunned to move. He began to perform a longing chant with a language that confused everyone. With a final shout, a wave of light cast through the aunt and cousins. He looked again, his blue eyes converting back to brown.
"That was a curse that I just discovered," he advised. "We'll be back for the final deal." They walked out, ready to retire for the night. As they left, Akko whispered something to Diana. The idea made Diana awe.
"Tonight," she suggested. Akko nodded in agreement. What do the girls have in mind?
TO BE CONTINUED...