Chapter 27: Eve of a New Type of Battle

Authors Notes: Happy New Years Eve, everyone! Well, I didn't expect to be using Eve in the title of my chapter, what a coincidence. Well, we are back in the business of writing this story more often! Now that my story that I was focusing on has been completed I can once again get a chapter out for this story every week. Though I may have misspoken in my last notes when I said it could be done by February, March seems more likely. We'll see. Updates will now be occurring on Sunday night or Monday Morning.

Now to answer some reviews real quick:

Lady Arcanine: I'm very glad that this story has earned your approval.

Darkdrgon: Checking Chapter 22, it seems I didn't say exactly how many chapters I would be making altogether. Serena and Drew won't be able to help, as they have to focus on the Grand Festival, but it could be fun to have them link up with Ash and May later, plus one other.

hc94436: Yes, I will be having Ash and May have a daughter. Probably with the same name as one of Lady Arcanine's other stories, that or Ashley like in my first advanceshipping fic, Advancing Through the Ages. Feel free to check that out all of you.

Flurry (guest): Sorry but it was too good an opportunity to pass up to show Harley's cruelty.

Now without further ado, enjoy!

Ash entered through the portal and found himself in a completely different area. Pikachu and Glaceon followed with Dialga towering over them.

'King Norman's camp is just ahead,' Dialga spoke in Ash's mind.

"Alright," Ash said. "Let's go!"

He, Pikachu, and Glaceon all began walking ahead. However, they soon noticed a lack of giant footsteps next to them. They looked and saw Dialga not moving.

"You're not coming with us?" Ash asked.

'I'll be back,' the Time Pokemon assured them. 'I must examine the timelines in my dimension. I can still see what happened in this time before it was altered when Harley returned. I do not wish to cause any more damage then necessary. If I partake in the battle against the humans, I could cause untold destruction that could jeopardize the future. Any that were not meant to die in that battle could at my power, so any descendants they might have would not be born. I must come up with a plan to avoid that, and select the best time to intervene.'

Ash nodded. "See you soon then?"

Dialga returned the nod. He then opened his mouth and created another portal that he flew up into. He vanished from this time, for now. Ash meanwhile, continued walking forward until he reached the top of a hill. Looking down below he saw a large encampment with several soldiers in armor patrolling.

"Halt!" a voice called.

Ash looked and saw a soldier in chainmail armor holding a spear.

"Who are you?" the soldier asked. "You seem kind of suspicious!"

Suspicious? Ash then remembered what he had thought of May when he first met her. He'd thought she worked at a medieval carnival at first glance.

Ash took a breath and approached the soldier calmly. The man pointed his spear and Ash put his hands up.

"Easy, I'm a friend," he said. "A knight in fact."

Remembering his medallion, he held it out for the man to see.

The soldier wasn't quite convinced. "Where is your armor and sword, Sir Knight?"

"Uh," Ash wasn't sure how to respond to that. "That's something I'm going to have to speak to the king about. Please, take me to him."

The soldier shook his head. "You wear strange clothes, even if it does include a knight's medallion! And you travel with a pair of magical creatures. How do I know you're not a spy? Tell me your name and the part of the kingdom you hail from!"

"I'm not actually from Hoenn, or even this time! I'm Sir Ash of the future!" Ash said. "I am the man that Princess May fell in love with when she was taken to the future, my time!"

The soldier's shock intensified tenfold. But he drew back the spear after a moment then said, "Come with me! I will take you to the King."

He led Ash down into the camp. Many soldiers looked at Ash in suspicion but didn't approach. Ash was soon brought into the command tent. Inside were several knights, all in plate armor and bearing medallions like Ash's. He also saw a man that bore a striking resemblance to Norman V in the Petalburg City from his time. He wore gold lined armor and a sword at his hip.

"Sire!" the soldier who led Ash called. "I found this man outside our camp!"

The king looked up and saw Ash, his eyes widened along with his men at the sight of Ash's unusual clothes.

"He claims to be the man from the future your daughter fell in love with," the soldier said.

Ash approached the table and bowed, hoping to be respectful. "Your Majesty. I'm Sir Ash, your daughter's fiancé!"

Norman looked at him, seeing the medallion around Ash's neck, and the Pikachu that walked by Ash's side as well as the blue Pokémon. He immediately recalled May mentioning the yellow magical creature that served as the companion of the man she'd fallen in love with.

"Well, welcome I suppose," Norman said, shaking off his surprise. "But… why are you here? Where is May? She went back to your time."

Ash looked down. "I'm afraid, Duke Harley took her back here."

King Norman's eyes widened. "What?"

"I'm sorry!" Ash said.

The king took a set of deep breaths. "How did he get to your time?"

"He had a Celebi, a Pokémon… or magical creature that can travel through time like Dialga!" Ash said. "He tried to take her a few times but we managed to repel him! But he finally got her when all of my magical creatures were too weak to fight! I'm sorry."

Norman sighed. "It seems we have to not only retake my castle, but also save my daughter now. Can you fight?"

Ash hesitated. "With my Pokémon… er magical creatures… I can."

"And by yourself?" Norman asked.

"Not sure, but I'm willing to do whatever it takes to save May!" Ash said.

Norman smiled. "I like your spirit, Sir Ash! Well, we better get you some armor and a sword as well."

In Petalburg Castle, May lay on her bed, covered in bruises as well as tears from the pain. Harley had not broken anything at least. Akari was left with her, which was a slight relief, at least she had a familiar face to keep her company. Harley had beaten her badly once he learned that she'd slept with Ash. Akari did her best to help with the pain by using herbs and alcohol. It had a mild effect, but not much.

"Oh May," Akari said softly. "Now I wish I'd never gotten mad at you."

At least she hadn't been raped, but she'd suffered a worse beating then Akari ever got from Gregory.

"Just hang in the there your highness," Akari encouraged. "You said that your father will defeat Harley, we just have to wait until that time comes then."

Harley however, was making plans of his own. He sat in the throne room with the men loyal to him gathered.

"Have you sent letters to the other nobles who have pledged loyalty?" he asked his steward.

"Yes, your grace," the steward said. "Their armies will be here in a day or two."

"Good, let's just hope they're in time to bask in the glory," Harley said. "Norman might have been able to take back his home if not for the fact I have a legendary magical creature on my side!"

Celebi flew in from above.

"With this little darling's power, we'll be sure to have victory," Harley declared. "Sir Gregory, you will lead my cavalry in battle."

"Yes sir," Gregory said.

Harley spent a few more minutes giving out various orders and then…

"That concludes our meeting," he said before turning to one other person, a woman in a nurse outfit with pink hair and matching eyes. "Alchemist Peselle, you stay. I want a word with you in private."

The woman nodded reluctantly. She was an alchemist and healer here for the sick. The room soon cleared out and only she and Harley were left inside.

"How can I help you, your grace," she said as calmly as she could.

"I have a situation with my future wife," Harley said. "Seems she lay with that man who stole her from me and is now expecting his child. I want you to get rid of it."

Peselle's eyes widened. She'd done a similar service for Akari these past few months, giving her a potion to prevent pregnancy. But she knew that Princess May had fallen in love with the man whom Duke Harley saw as a thief. Anti-conception was one thing but this…

"Duke Harley I must object! The child is of no fault and-

"You will do as I say!" Harley snapped, his eyes flaring angrily. "Unless you want me to allow Sir Gregory to have a round with you!"

Peselle shuddered.

"Get me a potion that will get rid of that thief's child!" Harley said.

"I'm afraid I don't have one!" Pesselle answered honestly. "I used my last one up for Akari to prevent her from possibly getting pregnant!"

"You will go out there and gather the ingredients you need, and make another one for May!" Harley ordered after a moment's consideration.

Peselle grit her teeth at the thought of killing an innocent child, and one born of true love no less.

"Do it or I will allow my mad dog to sick you!" Harley ordered.

Peselle shuddered again and reluctantly headed to gather some supplies for the brief journey.

Ash was outfitted with a complete set of plate armor that covered him from head to toe. It was heavy, Ash had difficulty moving. His helmet had a red plume on top and he was also given a sword as well as a lance.

"There you go, all covered in the finest armor we had in camp," Norman said.

Ash lifted the visor of the helmet to be able to show his face. "Thank you, Sire."

Norman smiled. "I don't think it's necessary for you to call me that as my future son in law. Just Norman will do. Now, I think we better start training. We were planning to attack tomorrow."

Ash had already had a basic run through of the moves of sword fighting on Mossdeep Island. Though that had been several days ago now. Still, he had to do what he could. Norman led him to the front of the camp where a group of knights were training.

"My knights," Norman addressed as he approached. "This is Sir Ash! He is my daughter's love from the future!"

The knights didn't say anything but looked at Ash, their body language suggesting they were shocked.

"As you have likely heard by now, Duke Harley has returned and he has my daughter with him. Sir Ash has come to help us save her," Norman continued. "He has skill in battling with magical creatures. But we need to see what he can do with a sword. Sir Alex!"

One of the knights stepped forward. He had golden hair that reminded Ash of Robert, a highly skilled coordinator in the future… or present for him. Was this perhaps one of Robert's ancestors? The man had always seemed rather high class.

"Well Sir Ash let us see what you are made of!" Alex said.

He put on his helmet and drew his sword. Ash reluctantly did the same.

"You ever cut a man open before?" Alex asked.

"No," Ash answered honestly. "We don't really have that in my time."

"Hmm, does that mean its more peaceful?" Alex asked.

"I suppose so," Ash said.

"Good then," Alex said. "War is a terrible thing. We knights may earn glory in it through great deeds, but killing a man is never an easy thing. Still, evil must be brought down. Brave and strong men must do terrible things at times to prevent more terrible things from happening. I hear that servants left behind at the castle are suffering, and we must save them as well as the princess."

"Yes," Ash agreed.

"Well, come at me!" Alex said.

Ash swung as best he could with the strike he'd been taught. But Alex easily blocked it. He then hit Ash's armor with a quick counterstrike. Ash grunted and tried again, only to meet the same result.

"He is a novice level swordsman, your highness," Alex said after the seventh time. "He is not ready for war! He'll get killed first thing! We don't have enough time to make a master of him!"

Norman sighed. "You might be right, Sir Alex," he then turned to Ash. "Perhaps it would be best if you sit this one out. We'll get May back and then you two can return to the future."

Ash shook in his new armor. He wouldn't be able to fight with them? He sighed, looking down before walking off.

"How am I gonna help save her now?" Ash asked.

"Pika! Pikachu!" Pikachu said with determination.

"Gla! Glaceon!" Glaceon said in an affirmative tone.

Ash knew what his partner and Glaceon were saying. "Never give up huh? You're right."

He thought for a moment, then remembered what he'd said to King Norman just a little while ago.

"I may not be able to swordfight yet, but I have my Pokémon!" Ash said. "And May's!"

He made his way to his tent that Norman had given him in the campsite. His clothes had been stashed here, and those included his belt and May's fanny pack. His Poké Balls were easy to reach as they were attached to his belt while May's were inside her pack's pocket. His armored gloves would have a hard time fitting in there.

He looked at Pikachu and Glaceon then handed May's pack to them. "I guess I'll have to use you both as my squires! When we go into battle you can let May's other Pokémon out."

They nodded. Ash didn't normally have all his Pokemon out at once but this was a dire situation. They would need all their strength.

Ash looked out across the land, not knowing if May was in that particular direction, but wherever she was…

"I will save you May."