CHAPTER 14: Revelation from the past

In Cove Town, it was getting dark. The otter was sad, disappointed and desperate, and his partners were too. They had talked with all the possible suspects, and no one showed any sign of lying.

"Oshawott, what are we going to do now?" Tepig asked.

"I don't know Tepig. I've investigated, I've talked with the suspects, but at this moment there's no clue about Snivy's whereabouts."

"Don't feel bad, I'm sure that we'll find her sooner or later;" Piplup spoke.

"Yeah, cheer up at least," Timburr said.

"I can't be cheered, guys. I can't. Snivy is still missing. I did everything possible to find her, but everything was in vain. There're no more things to do, only considered her missing."

"Oshawott, don't give up now, I'm sure there'll be something that will let us find her." Tepig commented.

"The thing is I can't do anything. I did everything, but with no apparent results. No matter how much I search or interrogate, we're not going to find Snivy," he gave a loud sigh," We had no other option than tell Queen Serperior that we couldn't find her daughter. It's sad to accept that, but there no other alternative."

All of them showed sad expressions on their faces, it seems that there's no other way to find princess Snivy no matter how much they tried. They had to considered her missing. For Oshawott, it was a very hard reality that he had to face. Not seeing his Pal in his life never again. He did everything possible, but still, it wasn't enough. At least he would have his beloved as a memory that he was going to bless with for a long time; however, he would miss her so much. If he only knew something important that would help him in the investigation of the case.

"Oh! Here you are!"

Everyone turned around to see who was it. It was the matchmaker Xatu, that had returned from his trip to his house.

"Oh, Hi, Xatu…" Oshawott said depressed.

"Oshawott, who is he?" Tepig asked.

"Oh, right," changing his mood, "I haven't introduced him to you all. He is Xatu, he is a matchmaker that Queen Serperior hired to get a new boyfriend for princess Snivy."

"Are you talking seriously?" Piplup questioned.

"Yes, we met each other before Snivy disappeared."

"And what does a matchmaker do?" Timburr asked as well.

Xatu explained:

"Well, I'm like an adviser to get mates, what I do is to know them if its mate is more suitable. Queen Serperior hired me to know which prince that she invited was the perfect one for princess Snivy."

"Wow, and how did you go with them?" Piplup asked.

"Well, being honest with you all, it didn't go very well. Snivy's inappropriate attitude during the meetings was incredible for me. She complained and made fun of the guested royal families, as if she didn't want in the beginning. What a spoiled that young girl is."

"Don't say that to Snivy! She's not a spoiled girl." Oshawott shouted.

"Oshawott, why did you get angry and yell like that? It's just an opinion." Tepig said.

"I don't care! Snivy is perfect as she is!"

"Why are you that upset?"

"Well… the thing is… is… Umm…"

"If I remember correctly," Xatu spoke, "I think you told me that you and princess Snivy were boyfriend and girlfriend, isn't it right?"

Hearing that made everyone surprised, while Oshawott got complicated for knowing that his secret was told in front of his friends.

"Is that true, Oshawott? Do you like princess Snivy, the Pokémon that accompanied us to save the PokéPark?" Tepig asked shocked.

Oshawott gave a sigh before saying:

"Okay, yes. I like Snivy. I don't care if you all know it too."

"But how that happened?"

"Umm… Days ago we had a sleepover n our houses to solve some issues, since there I started to fall in love with her. I didn't accept that love at the beginning, but with the time I was accepting my love for her. I still remember my attempts to confess my feelings to her giving her a flower every day, because I failed that day and tried in the next one."

"What happened next?" Timburr asked.

"One day I was able to confess my love to her, it was very difficult to me doing that. I didn't know how she took it in that moment., until she would give her decision the next day. The next morning… umm… she said yes."

"Are you talking seriously?" Piplup asked surprised.

"Yeah, I was so happy to know that she felt the same as I. Since that day, I was giving her a flower every day, one prettier and rarer than the previous one. It came a moment where… we kissed for the first time, but… her mother saw us and broke us away. She prohibited me to enter the Arbor Area and I never saw Snivy again."

"Oh, how sad…" Piplup said compassionate.

"But is there a reason in special so Serperior separate you after the kiss?" Tepig, asked.

"At this moment I don't have the slightest idea. I never know why she did it. I'm still affected by that."

Xatu was all this time listening to the conversation, he said later:

"If you allow me, I think Queen Serperior didn't want that you were with her daughter."

"But why?!"

"I was seeing the meetings with the other royal families and I noticed something. The candidates to win Snivy's heart were grass-type Pokémon and were royalty. I think is because of that."

Hearing that made the otter feel a lot of discourage. So Serperior didn't allow that Snivy was with Oshawott because he wasn't a grass type nor much less to royalty. So there is no way that the water type was with her. Xatu continued talking.

"Oh, right! Speaking of royalty, I remembered why I came here."

He took out a book from his bag to show to Oshawott and his friends.

"And this book, Xatu?"

"This book, is an album of pictures of the weddings that I participated," Xatu opened the book and showed its pages, "I was involved of Pokémon marriages for many years. The quantity of the mates that I match in that time makes me difficult to count. They were innumerable."

The young Pokémon got amazed by every photo that the book showed. They didn't know the Pokémon, but they knew that some pictures were very old, they were taken even before that Oshawott, Tepig, Piplup, and Timburr were born. Each photo was older or newer than the other, and each one showed the newly-weds, and their love story. Even some ones showed with the child of the couple after the wedding. It was sensational to see how the years passed through the photos.

"You see," Xatu spoke, "I was since long time making pairings with a lot of Pokémon. Some would say that I had an obsession or strange fantasy, that I was a crazy Pokémon that made couples with anything that he saw. It only remains that I wrote stories about them. Anyway, I brought this book from my house to show you this."

Xatu showed some pages that had some specific pictures. The first ones showed a young couple of Dewott looking each other while they held hands, the next one was of two Samurott doing the same thing. The next photo showed the two Samurott being first married, and the last one showed them both with a baby Oshawott in the arms of one of them, possibly its mother.

"And these photos, Xatu? Who are they?"

"This couple are the King and Queen Samurott of the Bay Area. They lived in a PokéPark far away from here. They were the perfect couple, loyal, loved, honestly one of the best royalty Pokémon that I've seen in a long time. The two of them loved each other so much and their people loved them with a lot of happiness."

"Okay… what is the point of showing me this?"

"Now I come to that. They were from different PokéPark kingdoms, they met each other and wed later. And had a child. That child… is you."

"Wait a moment! What did you just say to me?! That the child of the two Samurott in the picture is really… me?!"

Oshawott's partners were in shock. Was Xatu telling the truth? That Oshawott was the child of that royal couple? How?!

"Oshawott, is that true?!" asked Tepig.

"Uh… I don't know either! Xatu, where did you jump to that conclusion?"

"The first time I saw you was very insecure if that child was you, I felt that I've seen your face before, much before, but I didn't know certainly. I brought the book to showed it to the Area Keeper to confirm it."

"Did you talk with Samurott?"

"That's right, young Oshawott."

The Formidable Pokémon came to them to say that phrase. Oshawott had a ton of doubts about it. He was so confused. What was happening?!

"Wait a minute," Oshawott said, "what the hell is happening here? Explain me please, and now!"

Samurott took a deep breath and said the truth that was hidden during all this time.

"Oshawott, it makes me difficult that you have to know now, but if you want to know the truth, I'll tell you. Before you were born, I was friend of the king of the Bay Area."

"What?! Was you friend of the king that shows in the picture?!"

"That's right. We were friends since we were children. He belonged to a royal house, while I was a common and ordinary Pokémon. Despite of that difference of social classes, we were the best partners that there was in that time. For being a friend of royalty, I had some privileges, but nothing important about it. He was a very kind and strong in battle, as well as being a very loved Pokémon by his people."

"So you were king of the Bay Area's friend, What happened next?"

"When we were young, the king, that in that time was the prince Dewott, met a princess of the same species. Her family was visiting the kingdom and by coincidence of life, they fell in love of each other. The princess was similar to him, kind, good for battle, loved by her people. The love was so big that they thought on getting married later. After the marriage, they went promoted to be the king and queen of the Bay Area. Since I was the king's friend, I could know that happened between them. What surprised me the most was the fact that they both had planned to have a child."

"And that child…?"

"It was you, you're prince Oshawott of the Bay Area."

"Wait… what?! Am I a prince?! Are you talking seriously?!"

"I'm telling the truth, Oshawott. I cannot lie about that subject, so I had to keep it until the time call for it."

"What happened to my parents?"

"Umm… do you remember the time that I tell you what happened to them?"

"A bit. You told me that they had deceased when I was a little bit grown up. I was crying in my bed for several days. Do you know how did I come here for some reason? Why am I not in the Bay Area now? Tell me what happened!"

Samurott was in silence for a few seconds until he finally spoke:

"A long time ago, after you were born. There was a strong conflict with another reign of that PokéPark. That king was fought with the king of the Bay Area, that tyrant wanted to have more lands and power all cost, even if it was by the force. The tensions were increasing more and more. And King Samurott's people was very worried by the possible existence of a war."

"A war?"

"Yes, it was such that I have to go to another PokéPark to avoid the danger. What a coward I am… Times later, that tyrant started an invasion to the Bay Area. His power was much greater than the reign of King and Queen Samurott. It reached a point where everyone, including the king and queen, had to enter to the war for their reign, your parents were formidable warriors, but they weren't for the battles anymore. Your father was the one who leaded the defense of the Bay Area, while your mother was taking care of you at home." Samurott suddenly gave a loud sigh.

"What happened next?"

"Sadly, your father died in middle of the war."

"What?! It can't be. It can't be!"

Oshawott started to remember that time when his tutor told him that what happened to his parent, it was painful to remember that moment again, but this time he knew how they died. He started to cry as if was the first time that Samurott told it to his pupil.

"Oshawott…" Tepig said.

"You aren't the only one either, I also suffered a lot when I knew the decease of a friend of mine. I couldn't do anything about it. A day came where I had to travel to the Bay Area for a meeting with the queen, who was your mother. She was very worried when I arrived there. Luckily, she was still alive."

'Oh, Samurott, my old friend, thank goodness you've come here.'

'I came as fast as I could, your Majesty. There have been a whole mess to reach here because of the war.'

'I know very well. I'm sorry to have called you so suddenly. I was so desperate so you came as quick as possible. I thought that you were dead during the trip towards here.'

'Well, that doesn't matter, why did you call me so urgently, your Majesty?'

'Oh, Samurott, my good friend, Samurott. I've never had a so loyal friend like you. You're one of the few living memories that I have of my love. You were his best friend of all the time.'

'Yes, that's true. What happens?'"

'It happens you are the only Pokémon that I can trust to give you this important task.'

'Do you ask me that go to the war? You'd have to know that I'm retired from that, now I'm an Area Keeper of another PokéPark.'

'No, it's not that, it's something more important. Here.'

She held the baby Oshawott to showed it to him.

'Why do you show me your child to me?'

'Samurott, I ask you a big favor: take care of my son for me.'

'That I take care of your son?! Are you talking seriously?!'

'Yes, I order that you take him to the Cove Area and take care of him if he was yours.'

'Are you mad?! Why would I have to do that?!'

'I'm sorry, Samurott, but it's the only alternative I have. There's no too much time. I want to participate in the war to avenge my husband. I was a daring warrior before.'

'But, your Majesty! You're not in shape to enter to the battlefield!'"

'I know very well, but I order you to take care well of my son like we did.'

'Bu-bu-but…'

'Our people are dying quicker and quicker, we have to stop with this darn war as soon as possible. I don't have other option than participate and end with this.'

'But… you're going to die. Besides, you can't abandon you child to go to the war.'

'I understood that, Samurott. But… The opposites forces are going to arrive here in any moment. I'll inevitably have to die; the most probably thing is I die by a surprise attack in the castle, but I prefer to die battling, for my people, for my husband. I know that you know a lot about him, but he hasn't told you something. He promised me since we were young that I'd be with him every moment, if he had to fight, I'd fight with him until the end.'

'…'

'Sadly, we couldn't keep that promise, he told me that I stayed here to take care of Oshawott. It hurt me so much knowing that he had died in the battlefield. I regretted a lot by not being able to help him in that instant. If I want to return to be with him in a dignified way, I have to go to fight for him.'

'Your Majesty…'

'I want that the last thing that I love in this world now is safe and in good hands, can you grant me that petition?'

He was thinking on what to do, until he said:

'Okay, Your Majesty. I'll do it for you.'

'Thank you, Samurott.'

The queen said some words to her baby before going to the battlefield.

'Goodbye, my little Oshawott. Although I'm not at your side to see you anymore, I always going to take care of you from heaven. I'm really sorry, but it's for your security. Farewell.'

He gave a kiss in the forehead and gave him to Samurott. They two say goodbye, while she cried disconsolately.

"Days later that you mother passed you to me. I knew the news that her had died in the battlefield. I'm really sorry, Oshawott."

"*Sniff* Mother…"

He cried so hard. The sadness couldn't be deeper and painful for him. His partners tried to comfort him as they could, but nothing stopped Oshawott to cry.

"I'm really sorry, Oshawott. I know that is difficult to face this, but it's better to hold your tears. Your parents will break their hearts if they see you cry."

The otter was like that for a long time, until he was tired of crying a lot. He was still very sad by knowing his parents' death. He was a prince of a fallen kingdom, and the last one of his family that had survived. He didn't know how to feel after hearing all the truth come to light.

"Oshawott, uh…" said Tepig, "it's a pity hearing that, but… that's in the past. Now we're in the present, and we have to live it."

Those words echoed in the Sea Otter Pokémon's head. 'That's in the past.' That phrase sounded familiar to him. He remembered afterwards that time that he and Snivy made a sleepover in Oshawott's house. After she made a painful question about what happened to his parents, the water-type said to cheer himself up that was in the past, and that they had to enjoy the present. From the painful past to the painful present, he had the mission to find the missing princess Snivy. He didn't know where she was, and feared that some horrible things will happen to her as she was missing. Her life was in danger, and as a good Pal Oshawott was, he wasn't going to let that happen. He wiped away the tears from his eyes and cheer himself up to be able to find Snivy safe and sound.

"No! I don't want to be sorry by the past! Now I'm in the present and I'm going to find princess Snivy!"

Everyone was amazed by the sudden reaction of Oshawott. They were happy that he had returned to be encouraged at least for a moment. There was some way to find Snivy safe and sound, whatever it takes.

Oshawott tried to remember the thing that the princes said hours ago. He had to find some clue or answer with the things they said. He thought he had to investigate from the beginning to find something new, he guessed. That was what he did.

"Guys, come with me!" Oshawott said, "Let's investigate Snivy's house to see if we find something new!"

"Okay!" Tepig, Piplup and Timburr said.

The four Pokémon went to the Arbor Area to go to Snivy's house once again to investigate. Xatu and Samurott saw them go. Xatu asked:

"Do you think they are going to find the missing princess?"

"I don't know," Samurott answered, "but something tells me that my pupil won't fail to find her and the responsible of this."

"Hmm… Why not? If you were a great tutor, maybe he achieves it."

"We'll see."