CHAPTER 7: A harsh announcement

One day Oshawott was patrolling in Cove Town looking for new mysteries and cases to solve. Everything seemed very calm at plain sight, but a Pokémon appeared from nowhere to greet him:

"Hello, Oshawott."

The little otter turned around to see who was it: it was about Dewott, his training master.

"Oh, hi, master Dewott."

He noticed that his student wasn't so happy that day.

"Is something wrong?"

"Oh, it's nothing. I'm just sad because I cannot see again my love of my life."

"Your love of your life? Who is it?"

"Umm… whatever… if you keep the secret, I'll tell you."

"Understood."

"I'm in love with princess Snivy."

"With princess Snivy, you say?"

"Yeah. Everything started when we had a sleepover in our houses, there it was when I realized my love for her. I even gave her flowers with hope to tell my feelings for her."

"And what did she say?!

"She also felt the same as I did."

"And what happened next?"

"Queen Serperior saw us kissing each other without we noticed that she was there. And she gave an order of not to get together again, and that I can't enter the Arbor Area."

"Ouch, that must have hurt a lot."

"Yeah, too much. Oh, I still miss so much my beloved Snivy."

"Don't worry, maybe it'll solve some time later."

"If only," giving a sigh.

"You know something? I doubt you two were going to be together for a long time, I mean, a common and ordinary Pokémon with a princess? It's difficult that someone approves that kind of relationship."

"Seriously?"

"Yeah, what if you leave the Cove Area to be with her? Samurott told me that when he wasn't with us, you'll have to replace him in his position of Area keeper of the Cove Area. Who would be in charge of that important task? It must be a… I don't know, someone capable and disciplined to have a big weight on its shoulders, that knows to battle well, a good teacher that educates its students. It could be anyone, even me. Even though I'm not so powerful, I can have some leadership qualities. What do you think, Oshawott? Could I be a good Area keeper of the Cove Area?

Those words echoed in in the Sea Otter Pokémon's head; it was true, Samurott gave him the charge of Area keeper of Cove Area when he wasn't there, it was an honor for him in the future, but what would he do if he had to abandon the area just to be with his girlfriend Snivy? It was complicated. On the one hand it was staying and take the charge after Samurott, he was like a father all this time that he took care of him, but on the other hand was to stay with Snivy and not being the Area keeper of the Cove Area. He had to look for a replacement, but he didn't know who would be the right one to that charge, he didn't have candidates that knew that can hold said task, and even less having next to him in that moment. What could he do?

Later a Pokémon appeared that collided with them.

"Oh, I'm really sorry," as it continued walking.

Oshawott and Dewott saw who it was, it was a Pokémon that had never seen around there. It was a kind of frog with long legs and arms and a lily pad on its head. Who was that Pokémon? They didn't have the slightest idea. They saw where that Pokémon was going. They didn't notice that there was several unknown Pokémon in the area. Some ones were talking in group with others, who were they? What are they talking about? Oshawott decided to investigate. He came closer to two of them. One was a kind of flower with a yellow hat and red hair, his body was likely a calyx of a flower and with tiny arms. Its face seemed to be covered by the ornaments. The other Pokémon was a plant with a curly hair of cotton, it seemed to had a yellow scarf. The otter wanted to start a conversation with them.

"Excuse me, ladies," said the water type.

"Oh, hi and good morning, mate. For your information, I'm a boy."

Oshawott got surprised, he thought he was girl by how he looked, he remembered that time that Oshawott mistook Snivy for a boy. How embarrassing that moment was.

"Oh, excuse me. I didn't notice. Heh, heh."

"Whatever. Do you want to talk with us?"

"Yes, who are you?"

"My name is Gossifleur, prince of the Meadow Area and this lady who is next to me is called Eldegoss, my grandmother."

"Pleased to meet you, young Oshawott," said the elder woman, "You're alright, love?"

"Why do you ask that, madam?"

"Well, I noticed that you mistook my grandson for a girl. Have you not dropped on your head or you haven't drunk your tea in the morning?"

"Uh… I don't drink tea."

"Seriously? I see you a little absent-minded today."

"No, no. I'm really alright, milady."

"I hope so."

"Well, wait a moment. Did I hear right? Are you a prince?" he asked to Gossifleur.

"That's right. I'm from the Meadow Area of a very far PokéPark. I came with my grandmother for this especial and unique occasion."

"And why did you two come here?" Are you visiting?"

"No, no, mate. We are here because there was a announce where we would meet in the Arbor Area of this PokéPark."

"And what did that announce say?"

"It said that the Arbor Area needed a candidate to be princess Snivy's mate."

"WHAAAAAAAAAT?!"

Oshawott was shocked, not only that, inside the Arbor Area Snivy was also shocked in the same way when her mother said about the announcement.

"What did you just do what, mom?!"

"I already told you, dear. I sent a announce to other PokéParks to look for a mate especially for you."

"And did you do it without telling me?!"

"Yes, I'm sorry. I thought you were going to like the surprise."

"But, mom, why did you do this?!"

"My dear, I saw you sad and alone these days, and that you needed someone to accompany you. I had no other better idea than make a call to other royalty Pokémon from other PokéParks so you choose your next love."

Snivy wanted to say a ton of things to her mother, but she only said:

"Mom, Oshawott is my love. He wasn't gonna be replaced by a prince that I don't care where he came from, did you hear me?"

"Yes, I heard everything that you said. I would like to tell you the truth: Oshawott is not the right Pokémon for you."

"Why do you believe that, mom?!"

"Those are really delicate subjects to tell you now. There is no going back, I was told that the royal families are here in Cove Town waiting for us. You have to be presentable and behave very well with the guests."

"Mom, I don't wanna do that! Oshawott is the only Pokémon that I really love!"

"Dear, I do it for your own sake. If you don't behave properly, I will have to ground you for a month again, but this time for real and without exceptions. Did you hear me?"

The princess was very disagreed with the measure that her mother took, Snivy only loved his beloved Oshawott and she wouldn't replace it for other Pokémon that came from royalty. After hearing the queen's threat, she had to agreed, although she hated the idea. Snivy didn't want to be deprived again from playing with her friend Deerling. That week that she was grounded was the most boring week that she had lived in her whole life. It was just be all the time in her house without doing anything. She didn't want to live that torment of boredom again, but for a whole month. The grass snake wouldn't bear being shut in for a month. She had suffered for a week, and didn't want to live that again. She had to pay attention to her mother this time if she didn't want to receive an eternal punishment, in her own words.

"Yes, mom…" she said beaten and depressed.

"Very well, my dear. Let's do the preparations for the royal meetings."

Snivy, without a lot of energy, followed Serperior to see what they could do in that moment. They had to prepare themselves well to meet with other royal families that came from other very far PokéParks that heard the announcement.

Meanwhile, in Cove Town, Oshawott was still in shock by the announce that Gossifleur gave.

"Are you talking seriously?!"

"Yes, the announcement from Queen Serperior was a week ago. She said that she needed candidates so a prince can win princess Snivy's heart."

"We came as fast as we could," the grandmother Eldegoss said, "it was a long trip, but I think it'll be worth it. My little grandson will be finally able to get a cute girl for him, and so that we have more territ… I mean, more family member to meet and befriend with us."

"Yes," said the Flowering Pokémon, "but it seems that we're not the only ones that received the announcement. I can see other Pokémon from other royal families that I've never seen here. It's an interesting congregation."

Oshawott saw his surroundings. It was true. There was like seven royal families walking around in Cove Town, including Gossifleur and his grandmother. Everyone came from different and far places. The otter felt that some were very powerful and imposing. He felt depressed. Just then, a Pokémon appeared that bumped with Oshawott, a different one from the one who collided him minutes ago.

"Oh, excuse me, young Oshawott. I didn't see you in my path."

The otter saw the Pokémon, it was a kind of bird with green colors with two red pigtails that came from its head, it had white wings and its feet had one finger, it had also several symbols in its body. That Pokémon seemed very exotic for Oshawott. He asked him a question:

"Hey… Who are you?"

"Oh, excuse me for not having introduced myself. I'm Xatu, I came from other PokéPark to come here."

"Are you a Pokémon from royalty that search to win Snivy's heart?"

"No, young Oshawott. I'm the matchmaker. Queen Serperior said that she needed someone that knows to make perfect pairings with her daughter. I'm also the manager to lead a marriage. I came here as soon as possible. I'm glad that I haven't been late, this time."

Oshawott was even sadder now. The otter realized that Queen Serperior needed a boyfriend to her daughter, and it wasn't him. It seems that Snivy had to forget Oshawott and look for another love for her whole life.

"Hmm…"

Oshawott was looking the floor, but he noticed that Xatu was staring at him.

"Uh… Is something wrong, Xatu?"

"Hmm… no, it's nothing. Sometimes I mistake other Pokémon for the ones that I've met. Because of being old I confuse and forget things."

"I understand…" he said sad.

"Well, it's time to go. I hope that let me enter first the Arbor Area."

And Xatu finally left the place to the intersection. Oshawott couldn't be sadder that day. The fact of he cannot see his girlfriend was desolating, but when he heard Serperior's call to get a boyfriend to Snivy, it was harsh for him. What would Oshawott do without her? She was his only love that he met. He still remembered those nice moments that both of them loved a long time ago, he had amassed the memories when they had a sleepover in their houses. That time when he gave her flowers with the attempt to tell her what he felt, and that moment that she felt the same as him. Oshawott gave a loud sigh. It seems that there no other option. Snivy had to forget about him to start a new love relationship with a prince from another place that he didn't know completely. He, sad, finally turned around and walked slowly to the lighthouse, to cry in silence in his bed.