Note: I'd just like to thank the commentors for the positive feedback, as well as everyone that favourites/follows/kudos/bookmarks this. It's nice to know that people come to read this on a weekly basis.

I will admit that progress on the next arc has been a bit slower, so once the Hoenn arc is done, expect a bit of a hiatus. Alas, as I have said many times before, this work will not be abandoned.

Regardless, enjoy.

Hoenn chapter 4: That's a (Fairy) Tale Order!

He stopped crying, eventually.

May understood. The stress and uncertainty that had been building up in Ash for two years had come pouring out in a single moment. She had a feeling that he might have been feeling a bit sensitive, but not like… this.

He released her, raising his head with a smile. His eyes were a bit puffy now, and his hair had become even more dishevelled than usual, but he had a smile full of life. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath of the nightly air, slumping down against the railing.

"You feeling better?"

"It's funny. It's still there," He clutched his chest with his right hand, right above his heart. "Right here. It's like a weight that I've been carrying around with me for a while. I still feel it, but… it's a bit smaller now. I can finally breathe again."

"So that's a…"

"It's a yes," He chuckled. "Much better."

"Good," She felt like she could breathe easier too. That's also when she realized that the lights inside the homestead had intensified, and it was now full of chatter.

"Dinner must have started," she said, finally standing up. "Should we go inside?"

"Sure," Ash answered as she helped him up. He took a moment to straighten his coat. "How do I look? Presentable?"

Not in the slightest. "You look… great."

He smiled again. At least she didn't have to lie.

"Then let's get goin'!"

Neither Ash nor May remembered the main hall of the house being this large. It seemed like the entire village had managed to fit into this single room, and that was with a set of tables piled with food and drinks aligning every wall, sitting amongst murals showcasing various pokémon of legend. Festive decorations hung around the room alongside elegantly carved wooden chandeliers, their dim orange lights warmly illuminating the myriad of guests. Among the chit chatter they could hear the sound of music filling the hall. May noticed a band of Draconids on a makeshift 'stage' near the corner of the room, using a variety of folk instruments to play some cheery tunes that were easy on the ears. Next to them, near the front of the hall, sat a familiar old woman sitting on a small chair, watching over the party.

"Look, over there." May managed to spot Ruby, Sapphire and Zinnia in the crowd, next to one of the tables. She and Ash made their way down the steps and through the dense crowd to reach them. They realized that the other trainers were holding small wooden mugs.

"Zinnia? What kinda strange punch is this?" Sapphire asked, sniffing the cup, her sensitive nose easily detecting the alcohol.

"Made it myself. Family recipe."

Sapphire took a sip. It was strong.

"What y'all put in this?"

"A bit of fruit punch and some of Grannie's surplus. Finest vodka in all of Hoenn!"

"Not bad." She took another swig. Ruby eyed the concoction. He knew that Sapphire could easily hold her liquor. He couldn't.

"Grannies surplus?" He asked.

"There's a reason she's the village elder."

He placed the mug back on the table. Ash and May popped in from the crowd next to them.

"Hey Ash, nice to see ya here!" Sapphire said, raising a mug to him.

"Never left."

"That's so, huh…" She replied with a smirk. The boy definitely seemed livelier. Considering he was with May, she figured that her look-alike was either a really good talker or gave him some of the punch already.

"Pika!" Ash heard the sound of his most trusted pokémon right behind him. He turned around, seeing Serena and Yellow had also found them. Pikachu hopped off of Yellow's shoulder.

"Pika! Pikachu!"

"Glad you're havin' fun buddy."

"Looks like you are too," Serena said, her smile matching his. She guessed that May must have given him a good talk. His eyes were full of the indomitable spirit they were so familiar with.

The trainers suddenly realised that the mood in the room had become even livelier. The music began to quicken its pace as people danced around the centre of the room. The dances themselves were quite simple, consisting of a varied pool of mutual elbow locks and hand holding while spinning in small circles. There was no need for elegance, rigorous coordination or, most importantly, sobriety.

"Looks like they're having fun too," Serena said as she was about to fill a mug.

"Then why are we standing around here? Let's join em," Ash proclaimed as he held out his hand towards her. "Shall we."

The deja vu hit her like a runaway Boldore. It was quite ironic really. Last time it was at a party featuring Kalos' upper crust of society. Clean, elegant, and prestigious, she thought it was the most romantic setting one could conceive.

Circumstance and her own hesitation ensured that it wouldn't be so. And now she had the chance to take his hand again, in a crowded village hall where the air held the faint but notable scent of sweat and booze, and Ash himself looked like he just recovered from being paralyzed in a Magnemite attack.

She didn't know why, but this felt a lot better. She took his hand.

"We shall." They ran off into the crowd.

"How bout we join em?" Ruby asked Sapphire.

"Sure!" She answers as she chugged the last of her punch. They followed suit.

"Too bad our dates aren't here today," May said with a sigh to Yellow.

"Well…" the other girl shrugged as Pikachu hopped on her shoulder. "Guess we'll have to make do." She offered her hand.

"Lucky me." May giggled as she saw Yellow's hazy eyes. The senior must have found the punch before they reunited.

The night carried on as the trainers lost themselves to the dance floor. Twirls and preppy steps were aplenty as the fiddles raged on, drowned out by cheers and laughs that could be heard across the entire village.

Eventually the music calmed, before suddenly stopping completely. The trainers noticed that everyone had turned their attention to Grannie, who was now standing at the front of the room. A little girl stood next to her.

"Welcome, welcome everyone to our great dragon festival!"

The room raptured in applause, before Grannie slowly placed her hand up, silencing the entire room.

"Come one and all and listen to the tale of how we humble Draconids came to be one of Hoenn's most long-standing tribes!"

Silence hung over the room, as she tapped her foot on the ground. Her tapping was matched by the beat of a drum emanating from one of the band members.

"It began long ago, before our recorded histories. It's said that we Draconids have lived for centuries in this very village."

Ash suddenly realised that Serena wasn't next to him. How did she disappear so quickly?

"One day, the great Raquaza came down to our humble village. Our lord demanded tribute, for we had committed a great misdeed in his name. He demanded that the village elder offer what he valued the most. It was with a heavy heart that the village leader offered his only heir to the Dragonlord. His daughter."

That's when he saw that Serena had snuck her way through the crowd and had now popped up beside Grannie.

"Oh, to be sacrificed to the great Dragonlord! What an honour it is!" Serena said with exuberance.

"Alas the young woman had accepted her fate. But alas, not everyone in the village would let her go so easily."

"What brave soul would dare challenge the great lord?"

"Such a soul lived in the village. A young man, a very brave and foolish man, who loved the women dearly. He sought to challenge Rayquaza and bring her back!" Grannie pointed towards Ash. The crowd around him dispersed, creating a direct path for him towards Grannie and Serena.

"Uummm… should I…?" Ash stuttered. He felt like he was missing something right now.

"Is this truly the one, Miss Serena?" Grannie asked loudly.

"Why that is the one! The bravest of them all." She replied.

"Then I don't see why he delays so! Come!"

"…." Ash shimmied quickly toward the stage, far too distracted to hear the subtle giggling around him.

"He travelled far and wide, until he reached the great Sky Pillar, where Rayquaza slept. He found himself seated at the foot of our lord!" She gestured towards the chair, prompting Ash to sit. He did so, nervously.

The little girl beside Grannie stepped forward. "Oh, who dares intrude upon my sacred home?"

"Why it is I! The great hero of the Draconids! I have come to retrieve my beloved!" Grannie responded.

"Then you shall have her, but I shall take 3 of your most valued possessions in return!" The little girl said, hovering over Ash.

Valued… possessions…?

"Very well. Name your price, and you shall have it!"

Wait… what price?! He hadn't even considered what they meant by "valued possessions".

"First, I take your glorious helm, worn through battle and hardship." the girl said as he felt his hat yanked off of him. He turned, seeing Serena holding it. She stuck out her tongue at him as he looked in disbelief.

"Next, I shall take your eyesight, that which has guided you throughout your journeys!"

With surprising speed Grannie tied a blindfold over his eyes. He couldn't see anything though the cloth.

"Um? Serena? Help…"

"Silence! You shall not object in the presence of our lord!" He nearly jumped out of the chair as Grannie chastised him. Best to keep his mouth shut. It couldn't get any stranger, right?

"And last…" she paused for a moment, as the audience hung onto every word. "Your hair! That glorious crown on top of your head!"

What?

"Then it shall be so!"

What?!

He suddenly felt someone grabbing the very back of his hair, pulling it slightly.

"Alright, this was funny guys, but I think it's…"

That's when he heard it. The distinctive buzz of a barber's shaver.

"Wait no! Hold on!"

"SILENCE!"

What do I do? I can't just let them shave off all my hair! But I can't disrespect these people at their own festival, right?! Maybe it'll be fine. It'll grow back. It can't be that bad, right? I just need to imagine…

….

….

Oh no no no no no no no no! Serena?! Yellow?! Someone?! Say something!

He didn't even realise that the buzzing had stopped as the blindfold was removed. He immediately went to feel his head, which he imagined must be unnervingly smooth. His hand brushed against his hair.

Brushed… against his… hair.

It was at that moment that he noticed that Serena had moved in very, very close to his ear.

"Gotcha."

And then she started to laugh. And laugh and laugh and laugh. Soon Grannie joined in, and suddenly, the entire hall was laughing. Laughing at him.

"What… I…" he was still somewhat traumatized by the experience. The little girl came up to his face, holding up a mirror.

"Turn your head to the side, mister. We didn't leave ya totally unscathed."

He did as was told. He now had a small tuft of hair tied back, a ponytail similar to Sapphires, though significantly smaller.

"Huh...?"

"Your hair was getting too long, mister, so I cleaned it up a bit for ya." She too started laughing, and finally he gave in, bursting into a fit of belly laughter.

After a few seconds the fits became chuckles, which then became slight giggles, which then settled into quick rasps among the crowd. Finally, they stopped altogether, as Grannie walked over to Ash.

"My good man, you have been a fine sport on this night. In truth, we have many tales about our great lord on record, but this is not one of them. Simply a children's fantasy we like to tell visitors like yourself."

"You're saying this was all…"

"A prank? Yes dear."

"How did you set this all up?"

"Turns out Grannie here is actually the village elder. She thought this might help you relax a little," Serena chimed.

"You were in on this too?"

"So was Yellow, but she got a bit carried away with the punch, so we thought to leave her be," Grannie said. Ash realised that Yellow was still in the crowd, leaning against May for balance. "I had my granddaughter take her place. And I see she added her own little spin on things."

"What?! His hair was just so messy. And there's just so much of it."

"Hey, I appreciate it," Ash said with a genuine smile.

"I hope we didn't overdo it…" Serena said a bit shyly as she gave him back his hat. He grabbed it from her as he stood up, but instead of placing it back on himself, he placed it right on her head.

"Not at all. It was amazing." He took a deep breath. "You are amazing."

"Ash… I…" She could barely respond. Their eyes locked, mere inches away from each other. the crowd hinged on every word, their murmurings growing evermore fervent. They couldn't tell if the intense thumping sound they both heard was the band getting back to it or their own heartbeats.

"Hey…" The sound of a slurred Yellow rang above the whisperings of the crowd. "I thought we were gonna see a fight!"

"Well, we…" Serena stuttered. She wasn't sure exactly when they promised anything like that. She was about to protest, before Ash turned to the unruly crowd.

"Y'all want a show?!"

The crowd roared back. They were getting a show alright.

"Ash?!"

"Serena… do you trust me?"

She nodded. "Always."

Ash immediately backed away from her as Grannie and her granddaughter hopped off the stage. He grabbed a pokeball from his belt.

"To show that I am worthy of the great Dragonlord, I ask that my loyal companion showcase my battle skills!" He tossed the ball. "Come out, Tyranitar!"

The large Pokémon released with a massive thud on the wooden stage. Oohhs and aahhs rung from the crowd.

"We gotta put on a show, right Tyranitar?"

"Tyranitar!" The Pokémon stood firm.

Ash ran up to Tyranitar, whispering something in his ear. Tyranitar's eyes widened.

"Tyranitar?"

Ash simply nodded, facing the crowd again.

"Alright, now we…"

His speech was cut short as Tyranitar ran up to Serena, holding out his stubby but sizable hands.

"Tyranitar?!"

"Oh… ummm…" she took Tyranitar's hand before he abruptly picked her up, carrying her bridal style up towards the nearby staircase.

I told him to wait a second! "Oh no! Uummm… My loyal companion has betrayed me!" He yelled as he followed them up the stairs. The crowd became exceptionally hollered as they made their way up the staircase.

Tyranitar made his way towards the balcony, letting Serena down on her feet.

"This is… something?!"

"Tar!" Tyranitar pointed at his back, requesting that the girl climb on.

"Oh Ash, what are you planning this time?" She clambered onto Tyranitar's back as he leapt onto the rooftop on a single bound. He once again let her down, waiting for Ash to show up.

And show up he did, as he clambered up the tiles to the opposite end of the rooftop. Below them the crowd had gathered on to the platform, completely lost in the trainers' performance.

"Please Tyranitar, how could you do this to me?!"

"Tyranitar!"

"Then I must put you away!" Ash yelled as he held out Tyranitar's pokeball. Instead of initiating its return however, he began charging towards the Pokémon.

3… 2… now!

There was no hesitation. No second guesses. No distractions. In this moment he simply thought of all the people and pokémon he loved, the ones who would always be with him till the very end, the ones worth fighting for.

"Tyranitar! Use hyperbeam!"

"Ash?!" Serena yelled as Tyranitar fired a massive beam of energy directly at Ashs direction. Just before the beam could eviscerate him, he slid just under the path of the beam, emerging right up to Tyranitar's leg just as the blast subsided.

"Tyranitar, return!" And Tyranitar was returned to his pokeball, Ash unharmed and standing right next to Serena.

The crowd went ballistic. All of Hoenn was probably being kept awake by their furious whistling and applause. In the chaos they could hear a very slurred Yellow scream over the crowd.

"This a fairy tale, right? What good fairy tale doesn't end with a kiss, huh?!"

Somehow, they got even more fervent, as words of encouragement rang from the balcony. Serena didn't hear it. Their faces were merely inches away, and once he placed his hand on her cheek, she couldn't even feel the faint breeze of the Hoenn night sky.

"I'm ready. But only if you want to."

Serena only needed to nod, as the crowd got their fairy tale ending.