Volume V's Winning Shipping: BootlegPearlshipping

One-Shot 5: A Christmas Salviation

Ash, Dawn, Brock and their Pokémon friends were on the search for a place from a map Brock had while wearing their winter gear in the snowy season. "The princess is certainly keeping her home as subtle as possible," Dawn muttered.

"Don't be so uptight about it," Brock eased. "This is a royal family that's inviting us." Ash and Pikachu nodded with Pikachu in Ash's jacket to stay warm.

"I should ask why you want me to wear green," he complained. "I look better in red. It goes better with my cap."

"Exactly," Dawn giggled. "It's perfect for Christmas." It took a minute for Ash to get Dawn's point. As they continued, Pikachu saw towers. They seemed to be indicating an arrival.

("Are we there?") the Mouse Pokémon guessed. They soon found a castle. They gasped to the size.

"This is where Salvia calls home!?" gawked Dawn.

"Can I say that being impressed is an understatement?" gulped Brock.

"If so, can I join?" irked Ash. The door to the castle opened where Freesia and Cynthia stood by the entrance. The trainers and Pokemon gasped to seeing the Sinnoh Champion.

"You guys made it!" greeted Cynthia.

"Welcome to the Gracidea Kingdom," Freesia greeted. Brock ran up to Freesia and clutched her hands.

"Freesia, it's been too long since I heard that maiden voice of yours!" he cooed. "I would offer my common life so that I may be part of the kingdom to full-AH!" Croagunk used Poison Jab on Brock's side. He started to fall, paralyzed from the shot. "Filled with heart… ache." Cynthia added to Brock's pain by dragging him inside by the ear.

"Ho ho ho boy, you have a problem," she groaned. Freesia giggled as she dusted her hands and Ash, Dawn and the Pokémon approached.

"Sir Ash and Lady Dawn," she welcomed. "I'm sure Princess Salvia can't wait to see you as well as the others." The information made Ash and Dawn curious.

"Others?" he repeated.

"Cynthia's one…" thought Dawn. They headed inside where Freesia took their coats. Ash wore a green sweatshirt and Dawn wore a red long sleeve dress, both having Christmas trees decorating them. They saw a crowd of young trainers that they had met, including Kenny. He saw the two and approached, wearing a green sweatshirt with Pokéball ornaments decorating it.

"Ash, Dee Dee, you arrived!" he called out. Dawn became irritated by the name calling.

"Don't call me 'Dee Dee,' Kenny!" she snapped. Ash shyly giggled. "And what brings you here!?"

"Oh, Princess Salvia invited a lot of coordinators and their friends to come by," Kenny briefed. "Heck, there were some that seemed to have come over from the Hoenn Region." Ash's eyes opened wide to the sound.

"From Hoenn!?" he repeated.

"He's not kidding," a young man voiced. Ash and Dawn turned around and found May, Drew and Harley.

"May!" he gasped. "Drew! Harley!" Pikachu leaped into May's arms while she wore a red dress and boots.

"Hi, Pikachu!" she greeted.

("I missed you!") cried Pikachu. They shared a laugh and nuzzle together.

"Ash, I see that you're doing okay," Drew greeted while wearing a green shirt with a wreath on it. Harley didn't appear any different.

"I'm still myself," Ash assured. "Though, it's pretty fascinating to see you guys after going through Kanto."

"I know, and I see that you found someone else to travel with," Harley pointed out.

"You mean me?" guessed Dawn.

"Who else would he be talking about, Dee Dee?" teased Kenny. Dawn swung a fist, but missed a giggling Kenny by a foot.

"I told you not to call me by that!" she snapped. May came over to Ash for an explanation.

"Why did he call Dawn… 'Dee Dee'?" she whispered.

"An incident where she got Thunder Shocked by a Plusle and Minum and her hair sparkled up," Ash whispered. "The 'Dee Dee' stood for Diamond Dust." May stifled a laugh, trying not to upset her friend.

"Your brother is someone to look out for," Zoey sounded. Everyone turned to see Zoey with Max approaching.

"Hey, Ash!" he greeted.

"Max!" laughed Ash. "What's up, bud?" The two bumped fist as Max wore a green sweatshirt. Zoey wore a red sweatshirt with candy canes printed on it.

"At least I finally see you again after May visited," Max started. "I was jealous that May saw you and told me afterward." Dawn saw Max and knelt.

"You're May's brother," she awed. "I'm Dawn. I'm also a Pokémon Coordinator like May." The two shook hands.

"So, did Pikachu destroy your bike?"

"He did, but it was Team Rocket that made him destroy it."

"Same with May…" The two laughed as others watched on.

"By the way, wasn't there someone else with you?" asked Drew. Ash realized who Drew referred to before looking around.

"Yeah, what did Cynthia do to him?" he recalled. Brock soon came back with a green sweatshirt on like Ash. He rubbed his ear.

"Cynthia's fingers are strong," he winced. Max looked surprised, not by Brock's appearance.

"So, Cynthia's making sure you behave?" he teased.

"Actually, it's his Croagunk," Dawn corrected. Croagunk appeared and croaked by Max as he turned to the Poison Frog Pokémon.

"Now, that's funny," he smiled. Croagunk shrugged as Freesia emerged. The Pokémon saw the princess's maid.

"Welcome all to the Gracidea Castle," she greeted. "The princess has brought you Pokémon Coordinators and friends to a special Christmas holiday to share among each other and have a good party. Food and drinks are available for everyone, including the Pokémon. Now, allow me to introduce… Princess Salvia." Stepping out in a red ball gown and red ruby stiletto heels, Salvia emerged. She also wore a ruby tiara on her head. Ash, Brock, Dawn, Pikachu and Piplup smiled at the sight of Salvia. Kenny gawked, his priceless face distorting as he looked at Salvia, then quickly at Dawn, going back and forth for a handful of seconds. Others awed and welcomed Salvia while May irked to Salvia as she looked to Dawn, disbelief on her mind.

'No way!' minded Kenny. 'Dawn!? And Princess Salvia!? Twins!?' Regret painted his face. 'I can't believe that Dawn is a princess like this princess! If I knew, I'd be more respectful of her and maybe ask her out! I feel so stupid for making fun of her!' May turned to Dawn, believing that her BFF had a twin.

"You mean to tell me that you have a twin that's a princess!?" she voiced.

"No, she and I just look alike," Dawn informed. "We're not related." Kenny's face drooped. His belief that Salvia and Dawn were related ended.

"You could've fooled me," he complained.

"Trust me, I have one of my own," Ash admitted. Dawn sighed in relief, not feeling alone.

"You too, huh?" she whispered. Salvia had the floor.

"Thank you for coming tonight," she welcomed. "It's a wonderous time to see everyone as fellow performers and friends have a Christmas to remember. Tonight is a night where we can share and be merry. The music we have and the food we provide are plenty for you to stay happy. Enjoy, everyone!" The trainers cheered as Ash, May and Dawn came to Freesia and Salvia.

"Princess!" greeted Dawn. Salvia saw the girl who looked a lot like her and her friends.

"Lady Dawn, it's a pleasure to see you again!" awed Salvia. May and Max awed the comparison. "And who might your friends be?"

"This is May and her little brother, Max," Ash introduced. "They're from Petalburg City in the Hoenn Region." Salvia bowed to the siblings, who bowed back.

"This is the second princess we've come across," Max remembered.

("Princess Sara,") Pikachu giggled. Salvia seemed interested to the story.

"Who would be the first, may I ask?" she requested.

"Princess Sara from the Mirage Kingdom in the Hoenn Region," May replied. "We helped her find a Togepi to raise as being the heir to the kingdom." Salvia awed the briefing.

"Fascinating considering that Princess Salvia gave me her Togekiss," Dawn admitted as she released Togekiss. She bowed to Salvia as a greeting. May and Max awed the sight of Togekiss.

"You look to be having plenty of fun with Lady Dawn," Salvia studied. Togekiss hummed in agreement as May brought out her Dex.

"TOGEKISS, THE JUBILEE POKÉMON, AND THE FINAL EVOLVED FORM OF TOGEPI," the Dex computed. "TOGEKISS AVOIDS CONFLICT, BUT WHEN TOGEKISS APPEARS AROUND PEOPLE, GOOD FORTUNE IS IMMINENT." Max had a conclusion to the lineup.

"Togepi evolve into Togetic and then Togekiss," he lined up. The sight made Jessie furious from afar and wearing a red dress while keeping her pigtails tied. She still wore the glasses from her contest as Jessilina

'You mean to tell me the twerpette and princess twerpette were connected?' she thought in anger. 'I feel tricked! I want to usurp that royal twerpette and become queen of this castle- no, the Sinnoh Region!' Suddenly, she realized that James and Meowth were not around. 'Oh no! James and Meowth aren't here! Where are they!?' She ran out while searching for her partners in crime.

"Jessilina?" one coordinator wondered. Jessie ignored the call and left. The coordinator shrugged her shoulders. Other coordinators played with the Pokémon and to the music as others shared Christmas snacks provided. That's when Salvia reached Ash from behind.

"Sir Ash?" she called. Ash turned to see Salvia while Pikachu rode on Togekiss. "Is it possible for me to ask for a… dance with you?" Ash seemd surprised to hear of the request, and from the princess.

"Really, princess?" he wondered. "You, uh… you sure that you want this?" Salvia reached Ash and did what Brock did to young women he admired: clasping his hands with hers.

"Please, Sir Ash," she wished. "I really, really want you to be the one to dance with me!" Ash smiled and clasped Salvia's hands.

"I'm not good with dancing, but I'll try to keep up," he promised. Salvia smiled before they trotted to the floor and began to dance to the music's soft melody. Ash soon understood the movements Salvia had him follow. The boys gasped to how coordinated Ash became with some jealous that he was dancing with the princess. The girls, including Dawn and May, were jealous of Ash dancing with the princess, wishing it was one of them instead of the young heir. As the dance ended, Ash and Salvia bowed to each other and the trainers and friends applauded.

"Thank you, Sir Ash. To be honest, I've eyed you for the longest time, even as you were with Lady Dawn. I felt as if Arceus wanted to show me a young trainer that was confident to have love me." This made Ash gasp.

"Princess?" Salvia came to and kissed Ash on the lips, exciting the crowd. Max giggled to Ash receiving love as Salvia kicked up a foot.

"Good work, Ash," he snickered. Salvia's slipper fell off. The dancing pair broke when Salvia nearly fell from her missing slipper. Ash held her up.

"Let me get that for you," he offered as he knelt and grabbed the slipper. Salvia's face blushed wildly as Ash saw red and green nail polish on her toenails. He smiled as he slipped the slipper back on. Salvia nodded her blushing head. They headed to a balcony where Santa was.

"Ho ho ho!" he laughed. "Ash, I see that you're with the princess." Ash nodded.

"Sir Santa, I wasn't aware that you were visiting," Salvia acknowledged.

"I heard a party was tonight, so I came on by to check it out," Santa explained. "Allow me a minute to see the party before I return to the sleigh and bear gifts." He entered into the castle, leaving Ash and Salvia together.

"I was truthful about my confession, Sir Ash," she started. "I wanted to tell you since it was such a moment to have feelings immediately when my eyes found you. To be fair, I would've wanted to trade places with Lady Dawn so that I could be with you and have a chance to ask you to be my prince." Ash smiled as he closed his eyes.

"It's a shock…" he sighed. "Hearing you say that, it's a reverse of what I heard in fairy tales. The boys want to show love to the princess, but here… I mean, it could've easily been Brock or Kenny or Drew for that matter."

"It was never them. It was you… which is why I had this in mind." She pulled out a ring case and presented it to Ash. "As my discovery of the Prince of Gracidea… Ash Ketchum… No, Sir Ash Ketchum, take this ring and when you have completed your quests, you can return to my side… as my husband." Ash gasped before he rose his hand. Salvia slipped the ring onto his finger.

"So, does this mean... I'm yours?"

"Yes… til death do us part." They had another kiss by the balcony as the Pokémon gasped and awe in delight. By the Gracidea of Arceus, Salvia has found and engaged with her prince as there was movement in the giant bag on Santa's sleigh.

"CURSE YOU, SANTA CLAUS!" shouted Jessie.

"Neva tought Santa would kidnap us!" snarled Meowth.

"And now we learn the princess twerpette and the Piplup twerpette were working in cahoots is leaving me hoodwinked!" whined James. There was a stock of mistletoe under the sleigh… and under the mistletoe were the pair still kissing… Royalty has never been a bigger impact than this.

END of VOLUME V