Chapter 30: Celebration

Authors Notes: Okay I made a couple edits to the last chapter to have a brief fight directly between Harley and Ash as the way I had it before made Ash's sword training turn out to be for nothing. Hope you guys enjoy this one. Six more to go unless I decide to add more! We'll see. I did have one chapter kind of just cram a bunch of battles together to just breeze through them, maybe I'll change that and add a couple more chapters.

Ash brought back the Super Potion as well as his regular clothes on Rapidash while Dialga lay down outside the castle to recover. Ash took his borrowed Rapidash to the stables with the others, one of which whinnied happily as it saw the Rapidash he rode. It whinnied back in the same happy tone. Ash figured they must have been friends… or more. He put his Rapidash up and looked at it. This would probably be the last time he saw it, but it had served him well as a mount in the battle. That was one type of battle he hoped to never go through again though.

Ash headed to the front door and asked one of the soldiers standing guard where he could find the infirmary.

"Right this way Sir Ash!" the soldier said.

He led Ash through the hallways and up a few flights of stairs to the infirmary. May lay on one of the beds and Celebi on the other. May's Pokemon all stood beside her.

"May are you okay?" Ash asked in concern.

She nodded with a look of pain. "I'll be fine."

"She'll likely be sore for a couple weeks though at least. And I don't think the baby will be hurt badly either," Pisella said before turning to Celebi. "Have you brought the remedy for this one?"

"Yes, here it is!" Ash said handing her the potion.

She looked at in curiosity.

"Aim it at Celebi and pulled the lever to release it."

The alchemist did as instructed, aiming and pulling. Spray flew from the bottle nozzle and made contact with Celebi, whose skin healed from its injuries.

"Should be good after a bit more rest," Ash said.

"But it was responsible for Princess May being captured in the first place," Pisella reminded him.

Ash nodded. "I don't know the full story though. But its clear that something happened to make it do that."

Pisella nodded. "I've heard rumors. Its said that Duke Harley's family once saved that Celebi and it owed them a favor. Harley must have asked it to take him to find May."

"So that's it. It was a repaying a debt," Ash said. "And Harley later betrayed it by using that machine to subjugate it."

He looked at the legendary Pokemon with sympathy.

"Bi?"

It suddenly opened its eyes.

"Wow, you're awake already!" Ash exclaimed.

It looked at him and gave a look of remorse.

"Bi."

It then reached out with its mind.

'You weren't really a thief were you?' it asked in his head.

"No," Ash said. "Harley just wanted May back for himself. He didn't accept that she'd grown to love me."

'I'm… sorry'. Celebi said as it extended to its telepathy to May and the others in the room as well. 'Harley told me you had been stolen and brainwashed Princess. But I now see that he was just an evil madman. I should never have helped him. His family may have been good once but he is not.'

"Every family has a bad apple sooner or later," Ash said. "Its not your fault. You didn't know any better."

Celebi sat up and looked at May, noticing her bruises. 'Did Harley do that to you princess?' he asked in her head.

She nodded. Celebi then flapped its fairy-like wings and flew over. It struggled a bit but managed to get over to May's bed.

"Hey careful!" Ash said in worry.

Celebi then put a hand on May's head. It glowed green as energy spread over the princess whose face was healed of her bruises.

May gasped and felt her face before getting out of bed. "My injuries are gone!"

She stood up and walked a bit to test herself, feeling no pain. She then smiled. "Thank you Celebi!"

"Bi!" it said aloud before getting back down on its bed to rest.

Suddenly there was the sound of a trumpet blowing outside. A moment later a soldier came rushing in.

"Your highness! Sir Ash! Queen Caroline and Prince Max have returned! The sentries spotted their carriage in the distance!" the soldier said.

May grinned and looked at Ash. "Ready to meet my mother and brother?"

"Yeah," Ash said a little nervously.

They headed down to the front courtyard and got there just in time as the carriage with four knights guarding it made its way through the front gate. Norman stepped out, and May followed holding Ash's hand. Their Pokémon walked behind them. The carriage doors opened and May's mother, who bore a striking resemblance to her stepped out, quickly followed by a young man that looked around fifteen or sixteen with glasses.

"Oh Norman!" the queen said as she embraced her king.

"My love," Norman greeted as he returned the hug.

"Is it true that May-" Caroline broke off as she saw her daughter just behind Norman. "You're here!"

"Hey Mom!" May said. "Didn't expect to see you again!"

"Oh honey!" Caroline exclaimed.

"Sis!" Max said in the same tone. "I didn't believe it when I heard you'd returned! How did you-

"It's a long story!" May said before turning to Ash. "But before we get into it, I'd you to meet my fiancé, my new one that is! Not Duke Harley! Sir Ash Ketchum of Pallet Town in the future!"

Ash blushed and waved sheepishly. "Uh… hi!"

…

A celebration filled the castle at their victory as the sun set. Ash was garbed in a fine medieval tunic of blue and silver. May had put on a fresh red and gold dress as her usual favorite needed a clean after the beating Harley gave her. But they were both happy as they sat with her family for the feast and Ash told them all about his and May's adventures together since they were reunited.

"So we finished getting the last badge in Sootopolis City and then Harley ambushed us! All my Pokemon were injured but Swellow so I couldn't beat Harley and he got May," Ash told the.

"That is quite a tale. You certainly live an interesting life in your era," Queen Caroline said. "But it seems you have always done your best to protect my daughter."

"I try," Ash said.

"Though you did get her pregnant," Max said.

"Good thing you are to be married," Norman said with a dangerous look in his eyes. "Cause if you weren't I would probably have had to punish you severely."

Ash chuckled nervously as he thought of what kind of punishment he might get if he had lived in this time.

"I wish we could be there," Caroline said. "Your time sounds amazing Sir Ash! To think so many people work alongside magical creatures… or Pokemon… in your period."

"Yeah, it's a great era to live in," Ash said. "Of course, we don't really get to live in castles like you guys."

"Really? There isn't a monarchy anywhere?"

"Well, maybe. I've heard there's a princess in Sinnoh named Salvia. And I did meet one in Kalos as well. Though I don't know how much power they really have," Ash said. "Some places have limited it. Your descendant Norman V is a Gym Leader in my time"

Norman sighed. "Well, things change. As long my descendants and the people of Hoenn are happy, then I'm satisfied. Is this land a happy place in the future?"

"Yes," Ash said. "We have bad things happen now and then but trainers like me are there to make sure it always works out in the end."

Norman smiled. "I'm glad to here it. Now, why don't we all go and dance?"

"I agree, my fiancé Vivi is waiting for me!" Max said gesturing to a young woman standing in the middle of the hall.

May looked at her. Vivi? Norman V had talked about her, she was her brother's future wife that would give him a large family if she recalled right. Vivi had reddish brown hair with some spikes on the ends, brown eyes and wore a yellow floral themed dress. May smiled, glad to know that she and Max would have a happy life together and rule well.

Ash got up and offered her his hand. She took it and they rose, going out onto the dance floor. Hours passed and they were finally exhausted. They headed up to May's old room and got under the sheets together with Pikachu, Glaceon, Plusle, and Minun all laying on May's couch. They'd all danced too with the other Pokémon.

"You guys sure know how to throw a good dance party in this time," Ash said.

"Yours seem just as fun," May assured him. "Can't wait to get back. But I'll miss them."

"I know," Ash said as he fell asleep.

They woke the next morning, got up, and dressed in their modern clothes from Ash's time. Ash's armor was stored in a wooden crate that he could ship back home when they returned. He'd need help lifting it though, fortunately he had his Pokémon to help out with that when the time came, he thought.

They headed down to breakfast with May's family. The great hall was most empty this morning, many of the knights and others that fought had returned home, leaving Norman and his family with only their personal attendants in the castle.

"How's Dialga?" Ash asked.

"He says he's recovered enough to allow you to return home," Norman said.

"At least we'll have one last meal together," Caroline said.

They did so and Max continued asking Ash about his travels through the various regions.

"It is so cool that you get to do that all!" the prince exclaimed. "It sounds just as exciting as the journeys our knights go through, maybe even more so!"

"There's never a dull moment," Ash agreed.

"I agree," May said.

They finished their breakfast and headed outside to wear Dialga had rested for the night. He saw them coming and began to push himself up. Ash and May then faced her family.

"Ash, you take care of my daughter," the king said.

"I plan to," Ash said putting his arm around his fiancé.

"He always has," May assured him. "Nothing can keep us apart, and with Harley gone I don't think anything else can be coming after us!"

Norman smiled. "Before you go, I have a parting gift for you."

He waved his hand in a beckoning manner looking off to the side. A servant came forward, pulling a pair of Rapidash by the reins. One of them pulled a cart holding the crate containing Ash's armor.

"Is that the…

"The same Rapidash you rode into battle," Norman said. "And its mate. I'd like you both to have them."

Ash smiled lightly. "Thank you, your highness. I'm honored, but there might be a bit of a problem. I can only carry six Pokémon at a time and I already have that many. If I were to catch it with one of my Pokeballs here…"

He pulled out a Pokeball to demonstrate. "It would get to another place where my other Pokémon are cared for. That would separate mine from its mate, and I wouldn't want that."

The Rapidash looked at him thankfully.

Norman thought for a moment. "I'm sure they can take a little time away from each other. Maybe let them see each other at least once and a while if you can manage."

Ash recalled there was a system to exchange Pokemon that he could use for his new Rapidash. "I think that could work."

The king smiled. The servant boy led the pair of Rapidash over and Ash and May both got on their backs. They then took one last look at May's family.

"I know this will probably be the last time we see each other, but I love you May," Caroline said.

"Love you too Mom," May said with some tears forming in her eyes.

"Bye sis," Max said.

May walked forward and gave her family one last hug. They all wrapped their arms around her. Then she returned to Ash's side and they looked at him. "Thank for you everything Sir Ash!" Caroline said. "If not for you… and Dialga… we would have lost many more lives against Harley!"

"You're welcome, Queen Caroline," Ash said with a bow.

Caroline smiled and raised her hand. "You don't need to bow to me, Ash. You will be as my son one day. I was a fool to ever think that Duke Harley was worthy of my daughter. Perhaps your era's system of finding love is more effective than ours is."

Ash chuckled. "Well, don't think about replacing it just yet. We don't need any more damage done to the timeline then what Harley's done already."

They laughed. May then looked at another person who wasn't in her family but she considered her as such.

"Everything is okay now, Akari," she told her former lady in waiting.

Akari nodded, her memories would haunt her but justice had been done. Sir Gregory was to be executed soon for his treason.

"Maybe you'll meet one of my descendants someday!" Akari suggested

"I hope to!" May said as she hugged her best friend. "Goodbye."

"Goodbye."

"You go and win all your future battles in that tournament you were telling me you were gonna compete in!" Max said eagerly to Ash nearby.

"I will!" Ash promised.

"Pika!" Pikachu affirmed.

"Gla!" Glaceon echoed.

May walked back to his side and took one last look at her family, knowing this would probably be the last time she ever saw them. This time for sure. This had been one pleasant thing about being kidnapped and taken back to her time at least. Now hopefully everything back in Ash's time would be relatively the same. There might be a few fewer people there but hopefully nothing significant was changed.

Ash climbed onto his Rapidash and May did the same with her own. Dialga watched them patiently. They looked at him and nodded.

"We're ready Dialga," May told him.

He nodded back and created a portal yet again. Ash and May urged their steeds forward. The Rapidash stepped through with their new trainers on their backs. Pikachu was on Ash's shoulder, and Glaceon lay behind May on her Rapidash's back. They emerged back in Sootopolis City on an empty beach.

'Goodbye, princess, Sir Knight' Dialga said in their heads once he followed them through.

"Goodbye Dialga," Ash said before smiling at his former enemy. "I never thought I'd say this… but thank you."

"Thank you Dialga," May said as well.

"Pika pi!" Pikachu called with a wave. "Thank you!"

"Glaceon!" Glaceon finished. "Take care."

The giant Pokemon gave them one last smile and then vanished through a portal into the sky, returning to his home dimension. Ash and May then took breaths of relief. They got off their Rapidash and both drew Pokeballs.

"Rapidash, welcome to the family. Both of you," Ash said looking to his Rapidash and then May's.

They whinnied in response, Rapidash and Ponyta were one of the few Pokemon that didn't say their own name and emitted a more regular animal like cry.

Ash prepared to throw his pokeball then looked at his Rapidash. "I'll switch you out maybe sooner or later with another Pokémon now and then so you can see your mate."

"That or I'll send her to the same place you are," May told hers.

They whinnied again and thrashed their forelegs eagerly. Ash and May then threw their Pokéballs. Both Rapidash vanished inside and the balls fell to the ground, shaking a little. There was no resistance from the Pokemon and the buttons on the center of the balls stopped flashing red with a beep as the capture succeeded. Ash's ball absorbed the cart as well since it was like a held object that for the Pokémon.

"Alright, we got a pair of Rapidash!" Ash stated as he picked up the ball.

May did the same. Hers didn't react further, but Ash's started glowing white and then vanished.

"So, where does it go?" she asked.

"Back home to Pallet Town," he told her. "That will save me having to ship it I guess."

May looked at her Rapidash's Pokeball. "Guess I'll have to see about sending mine there. But maybe in a little while, I wouldn't want to keep them apart too long."

Ash nodded then smiled widely and said, "We're back together again,"

May nodded. "And this time, nothing can split us apart or threaten us ever again,"

She then embraced him.

"Now I just win the Hoenn League and then go home!" Ash said returning the hug. "Then we'll live happily ever after!"

He picked her up and she gasped before laughing and putting her arms around her neck. They kissed each other and Ash began to carry her toward the Pokemon Center.

"Hopefully we'll be able to catch the end of the Grand Festival on TV!" Ash said. "I should also call Serena and tell her you're okay!"

"She knew?" May asked in surprise.

"A missing person report went out for you. I guess we'll have to clear that up!" Ash said before adding, "Might be difficult to explain!"

But whatever happened, they'd make it through together. Them, their Pokemon and friends. Ash knew that there would still be some battles ahead and he had to train, but the worst was over.