Parfum Palace: Morning…
Parfum Palace was as grand and regal as one may imagine. It was two stories tall with a large courtyard out front and well-kept hedges in the back. The interior was decorated with finery, red carpets, statues, and paintings.
At present, a shiny Honedge floated before one such painting, and it was one he came back to constantly. It depicted a knight in head-to-toe armor, which was as red as Honedge's own blade, fighting alongside a prince whose armor was less concealing by comparison.
The prince was a well-built young man with spikey black hair wind swept to the right, slightly tan skin, and brown eyes. Those very eyes were depicted as glowing blue in the heat of battle. He wore dark blue armor and wielded a blade, all of which having been created at the same time.
"Hone…" Honedge voiced wistfully.
He didn't quite understand what it was about this painting which drew him in like no other here could. Sometimes, if he closed his eyes, it was as though memories came to him of the fated battle depicted here.
Though such memories never lasted long enough to be cemented. Even without that, staring at this painting left Honedge feeling a need to serve; however, no trainer piqued his interest as someone he was willing to follow.
"Hone?" Honedge questioned.
Though he was genuinely confused, such thinking often led the sword pokemon to contemplate how long he's been waiting? How long would it be until the person he could serve, just as the red knight once served the prince, would arrive?
Honedge suddenly heard approaching feet. As he's done many times prior, the steel/ghost type moved behind a nearby suit of armor. He waited for the sounds to cease before coming out, his eye immediately looking to the painting once more.
"Edge…" Honedge sighed.
The sword pokemon then moved along the halls.
Camphrier Town
Ash, Clemont, and Bonnie walked through one of the entryways located around the stone wall surrounding Camphrier Town. Said settlement was ruffly the size of Santalune, though the buildings were older looking.
"So, this is Camphrier Town." Ash noted happily.
"The town map says it's a place where you can taste the ages." Clemont noted.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Bonnie asked.
"It means the town's been around a long time." A familiar voice answered.
The trio turned to see Gary had approached, likely having spotted them entering as he was out and about.
"Gary." Ash stated.
"Heh, Ashy-boy." Gary flashed a smug smirk his rival's way. "I can only assume by you being out this way, you're on the way to Cyllage Gym." He shrugged and shook his head. "Though, knowing you, Santalune probably proved too hard."
"I'll have you know I acquired the Bug Badge." Ash declared, showing off his badge case.
"Well, I bet you failed first try." Gary tried, feeling the need to showcase his own badge case containing the same bug badge within.
"Hey, it only took Ash one more try to get the badge." Bonnie voiced, attempting to defend him.
"Bonnie…" Ash whispered.
"Ha, I knew it!" Gary declared, vindicated. "Despite beating me when we started our journey, it seems I've taken the lead."
"You can't really say that just because one of you had more trouble with a gym than the other." Clemont pointed out.
"Yeah." Ash grinned at that. "You can't say you're actually ahead until we battle." He put his badge case away. "What do you say Gary? Let's battle."
"Fine, we'll battle." Gary put his badge case away as well. "Though, we'll do it somewhere grander than back on Route 5 or at the center's battlefield." He pointed to a nearby path. "I heard from some maid this road can take you to Route 6, and at the end of that lies Parfum Palace.
Among being some place filled with art, they got a battlefield." He started walking while waving back. "Ashy-boy, hit the pokemon center so you won't have an excuse when I win. I'll head out now and have everything set for your arrival."
"Come on guys." Ash started walking. "Let's find the pokemon center."
As Ash walked, Bonnie looked to her brother. "It's kind of strange how Gary acts when he lost the last battle, and Ash doesn't seem to mind it, even with what he says in response."
"Well, those two have known each other longer than we've known Ash." Clemont shrugged as the pair followed their friend. "It seems to me this is just how they are."
As they walked towards the pokemon center, the trio noted that the town was in a rather festive mood. People and pokemon were happily finishing their preparations for something while decorations were up. There was also a sleeping Snorlax in the center of the town.
"What's going on here?" Clemont asked.
"We're preparing for this evening's Harvest Festival." A female resident answered, having overheard the question.
The trio turned to see a woman with brown hair and cyan eyes, who was currently holding a broom. She wore pink and purple attire.
"The Harvest Festival?" Ash asked.
"See, this town and Snorlax have always had a symbiotic relationship." The resident began. "Every year, around this time, Snorlax comes down from the mountains to eat all the crop roots that are left after we've finished our harvest."
"Isn't that a bad thing?" Bonnie asked.
"Not at all." The resident answered. "In fact, Snorlax ends up plowing the fields as he digs up the roots which then gives us a good harvest next year. As he's already done that, he's now resting for this evening where we shall commence the festival.
It's our way of showing how appreciative we are to Snorlax for his help. At the close of the festival, the lord of Shabano Castle plays the poke flute while Snorlax finishes up the town's offerings. Then, he dances back up to his home."
"Wow." Bonnie marveled. "Clemont and Ash, can we stay to see the festival this evening?"
"It certainly sounds like fun." Clemont noted.
"I have no objections; however, that's this evening." Ash started walking to the pokemon center once more. "Right now, I got to get moving if I want to have my battle with Gary."
Parfum Palace: Later…
Once Ash had his pokemon checked over and back, he took the stroll down Route 6 with his friends. They soon came to the end of a path with trees whose branches hung over the path and ended up outside the gates of Parfum Palace where older man in butler attire stood.
"Hello there." He had moved before the trio and bowed to them. "How may I help you?"
"Gary Oak told me to come here for a battle." Ash replied.
"Ah, you must be Ash Ketchum and his companions." The man nodded as he turned to the gate and pulled out a key. "Gary has arranged everything." He unlocked the gate which swung open. "Follow along."
The trio followed the butler around the palace to the backyard. It contained a rather large garden with hedge mazes, flowers, statues of Unovan legendaries, and a battlefield in the center of the area. On said battlefield, Gary was already awaiting Ash's arrival.
"Didn't think you'd take this long, Ashy-boy." Gary smirked. "You must really be struggling along." He shrugged and shook his head. "Makes me wonder how you ever managed to catch up to me in Camphrier Town."
"Just as you always do, talk all you want." Ash returned. "In the end, I've caught some great pokemon and learned quite a bit."
"I suppose." Gary grinned. "As not to overwhelm you, what's say we make this a two-on-two?"
"Sounds good to me." Ash replied.
"With the terms decided between you two, I shall serve as the ref." The butler declared.
With that, Ash and Gary took to their respective trainer boxes while Clemont and Bonnie moved up the stairs to observe the coming battle, and the butler took his place off to the side.
"This shall be a gentlemen's duel between Ash Ketchum and Gary Oak." The butler declared. "Each side shall have the use of two pokemon, and the battle concludes when one trainer's pokemon are unable to continue. Additionally, neither side may substitute pokemon."
"Let's see how you handle my Fletchling." Gary declared, throwing out the tiny ting robin pokemon.
"Fletch!" Fletchling declared proudly as he took to the air above the field.
"A Fletchling, huh?" Ash asked, taking out his pokedex:
Fletchling, the Tiny Robin Pokémon. Although Fletchling's chirp is quite beautiful to hear, it is relentlessly tough with those who enter its territory.
"It's safe to assume that's a flying/normal type, and while I don't have any electric or rock types on hand, I do have someone with experience dealing with them." Ash selected just the pokemon for the job. "I choose you, Froakie!"
"Froa!" Froakie declared, eager for battle.
"The Froakie he received from Sycamore, the same one who had trainers prior to Ash." Gary noted, internally a little weary while externally as confident as ever. "Hate to break it to you Ashy-boy, but this battle will be over quickly."
"It probably well, though not for the reasons you think." Ash returned.
With both trainers ready, the butler commenced the match. "You may begin the battle…now!"
Ash vs Gary (P.I)
"Alright Froakie, time to put recent training with Sanpei to the test." Ash declared. "Get leaping and use water pulse."
Froakie began leaping around the battlefield while generating a sphere of water.
"Fletchling, show them no leaping frog will take away from your command of the sky." Gary declared. "Dodge!"
As Froakie threw his water pulse, Fletchling deftly avoided it. This saw the move whiffing as the water type began to fall.
"Fletchling managed to dodge that." Clemont noted.
"He's fast." Bonnie voiced.
"Make it hard to fly." Ash instructed.
Froakie landed and lept before throwing frubbles.
"Fly in while avoiding those frubbles and peck." Gary commanded.
Fletchling flew swiftly through the oncoming frubbles as his beak glowed with flying type energy. The tiny robin then nailed home a peck on the falling bubble frog, sending him crashing down to the battlefield.
"Froakie, are you alright!?" Ash called out worriedly.
Froakie stood stubbornly. "Kie!"
"Alright, let's ramp things up!" Ash declared. "Use double team before leaping into the air."
Froakie suddenly became many before they all lept.
"Fletchling, aim for the Froakie closet to you and use razor wind." Gary instructed.
Fletchling produced crescents of normal energy before blowing them out at the nearest Froakie, only for them to pass harmlessly through it.
"Now, smack down." Ash ordered.
All the Froakie produced spheres of rock type energy.
"Fletchling, dodge now!" Gary tried.
Fletchling attempted to deftly fly as every Froakie hurled their sphere of rock type energy, with all but one of the bubble frogs vanishings. While the tiny robin succeeded in dodging most of the rock type spheres, it only took one of them nailing Fletchling in the back.
"Fletchling!" Gary called out, his tiny robin falling and reeling from the super effective blow as Froakie once again fell towards the ground. "Recover now and ascend!"
"Froakie, make sure Fletching hits the ground and can't leave it with your frubbles." Ash instructed.
As he fell, Froakie hurled his frubbles once more. While Fletchling managed to recover, he was a bit too slow to avoid the coming frubbles. They nailed the tiny robin pokemon, sending him crashing into the ground where he was now stuck.
"Fletchling, use steel wing to free yourself!" Gary commanded.
Fletchling's wings glowed with steel type energy.
"Er, Froakie use pound now!" Ash ordered.
Froakie had landed and now lunged forward with his hands coated in normal type energy. Just as Fletchling managed to cut away the frubbles with his steel covered wing, the bubble frog pokemon slammed home a pound which knocked the tiny robin back.
"Razor wind!" Gary called out.
"Froakie, wrap this up with a water pulse!" Ash ordered.
Fletchling managed to catch himself, flying just above the battlefield, and began beating his wings. Unfortunately for the tiny robin, his opponent was quicker on the draw. Froakie had already created and hurled the sphere of water before even one crescent was fired. The attack impacted with Fletchling, firmly planting him into the ground with swirls in his eyes.
Parfum Palace
"Fletchling is unable to battle, Froakie wins!" The butler declared.
"Froa…Froa…Froa." Froakie managed.
The bubble frog was panting from what attacks he did take, the attacks he used, and all the maneuvering he had to do to keep up with the flying pokemon. If not for his training with Sanpei and Frogadier, he'd likely be in far worse shape.
"That was great Froakie." Ash praised.
"Wasn't that amazing?" Bonnie marveled.
"Sure was." Clemont nodded happily. "Froakie's leaping has improved a lot."
"That Froakie is deceptively quick and can jump well." Gary retrieved his pokemon's pokeball. "Fletchling, return and rest up." He swapped it out for his next choice. "Even though it's two on one, I like my odds when you got to battle Chespin!"
The grass starter appeared with a similar, smug grin akin to what Gary could pull off.
Ash vs Gary ( )
"Given the circumstance, I'd worry if Gary didn't go for type advantage." Ash thought. "Froakie, get to leaping around."
Given the type disadvantage on their end, staying mobile would be their biggest asset in this battle. As such, Froakie began leaping around; however, his speed was far less than it had been in the first battle.
"Chespin, lock in and use vine whip to snag that Froakie." Gary instructed.
Chespin concentrated before sending out his vines and managing to ensnare the water type.
"Froakie!" Ash exclaimed.
"Now, drag Froakie in and use bite." Gary commanded.
Chespin dragged the restrained water type towards him.
"Don't resist and use pond." Ash ordered.
Froakie stopped resisting, seeing him effectively being launched toward Chespin to deliver one powerful pound which sent the grass type tumbling away.
"Two can play this game." Gary smirked. "Move with the tumble and use it to pick up speed for rollout."
Chespin didn't fight the tumble, instead rolling into it until he was effectively a blurring pinwheel which came right at the bubble frog.
"Froakie, dodge it!" Ash tried.
Froakie was just too worn out to move that quickly, seeing him take Rollout head on and being knocked back to before Ash's feet. His eyes being swirls was the indication he'd fainted.
Parfum Palace
"Froakie is unable to battle, Chespin wins!" The butler declared.
"Return Froakie." Ash recalled his first Kalos pokemon with a smile. "You were great. Take a long rest and leave the rest to us."
"Aw, Froakie fought so hard to." Bonnie voiced sadly.
"It's precisely how hard he fought which saw Froakie fainting here." Clemont noted, catching his sister's attention. "Despite the fact Ash won their first battle, this match has clearly shown what I noted prior. Gary is no trainer you'd want to underestimate."
"Alright, bring on your last pokemon Ashy-boy." Gary declared cockily. "Chespin and I are prepared to end this."
"Chespin." Chespin agreed.
"If you want this battle to end, I'll oblige, but it's not concluding like you think it will." Ash selected his next pokemon. "I choose you, Riolu!"
Ash's starter appeared, ready to battle. The fact Chespin would now face the very pokemon he lost to in his first battle as Gary's pokemon did not escape the grass type. Trainer and pokemon were ready for this battle.
It was at this point the shiny Honedge drew near the battlefield, attracted to the sounds of pokemon battle. He kept as hidden as possible within the shadow of a nearby statue and gazed at the battlefield before instantly freezing.
"Hone…" Honedge managed.
His gaze fixed on Ash as the transparent image of the prince appeared over him. Though like any memory which cropped up, it instantly vanished. The sword pokemon was left with only his feelings, but this time it wasn't the feeling of longing. It was the need to serve.
This boy had piqued his interest. This boy was one he could commit himself to, unlike any other trainer he's observed over the years. While the urge was strong to approach him now, this boy was engaged in combat. He would not disgrace the art of combat with his interruption.
Ash vs Gary ( )
"Chespin, use vine whip." Gary ordered.
Chespin sent out his vines at the emanation pokemon.
"Riolu, use feint." Ash commanded.
Riolu rushed to meet the vines head on, only to deftly dodge at the last second and immediately leap at the grass starter. As Chespin attempted to close his vines, the emanation pokemon threw a strong punch right across the grass starter's face and sent him flying.
"You may have your fancy tricks, but I prepare for what my pokemon will become." Gary may not know everything, but he'd studied enough to learn what his pokemon's final form would be. "Chespin, hold strong."
Chespin's finale evolution was Chesnaught, and that was the bulkiest you could get when it came to the Kalos starters. While speed had its place in their training, starting to incline this pokemon to bulk was where most of their attention lied. That paid off as Chespin's eyes snapped open.
"Now, use roll out." Gary ordered.
The spiny nut pokemon rolled into the fall and kept going on the battlefield before beelining straight for the emanation pokemon. Rollout, for as long as Gary would have his pokemon keep it, was one part of their speed training.
"Riolu, let's show what's you've learned with quick attack." Ash commanded.
While naturally not as impressive as Frogadier's, the evolved bubble frog has trained with the move longer, Riolu still showcased the fruits of that training by rushing full force at Chespin. Gary was genuinely stunned by the sheer speed on display followed by the force behind it.
"Some quick attack…" Gary muttered in awe before recovering with a smirk. "Quick attack can only be as good as you make it through training while rollout is a whole other story. Chespin, show them what I'm talking about!"
Chespin toughed through the damage from quick attack before managing to once again roll into the fall. This time, the spiny nut pokemon was moving far faster along the field.
"What's going on?" Bonnie questioned.
"Roll out is a move that grows stronger and faster the more a trainer uses it in succession." Clemont answered. "Gary is now having Chespin utilize that to contend with Riolu's impressive quick attack."
"Alright, let's see who comes out on top." Ash declared, already having an idea what to do. "Riolu, use quick attack."
Riolu sped forward once again, this time colliding with Chespin as the two pokemon met in the dead center of the battlefield. Both pushed against one another, neither willing to give an inch.
"We won't back down." Gary declared. "Chespin, pull back and use rollout once more!"
Chespin pulled back from Riolu, heading back towards Gary before then turning to speed off at Riolu faster than before.
"Neither will we." Ash returned. "Riolu, hold your ground and concentrate! Then, unleash your strongest vacuum wave!"
Riolu closed his eyes and firmed up his stance. Just as the grass type was about to roll over the fighting type, he thrust his hand forward. It appeared to be a direct vacuum wave until Riolu's fist uncurled at the last second, and his palm connected squarely with Chespin's stomach.
The spiny nut pokemon was stopped dead in his tracks, all his momentum halted with the palm of Riolu's hand indenting Chespin's stomach inward. The air was knocked clean out of the grass starter before he ultimately collapsed to the ground unconscious.
Parfum Palace
"Chespin is unable to battle, Riolu wins." The butler declared. "That means the winner of the match is Ash!"
"That didn't look like vacuum wave." Bonnie noted.
"That's because it wasn't." Clemont smiled as his sister looked to him. "In the heat of battle, it isn't uncommon for pokemon to learn a new move. Riolu, for instance, just learned force palm."
"Alright, that was great Riolu." Ash praised.
Riolu ended up crossing his arms, though he had a barely noticeable small smile on his face. While almost no one would notice it, Ash certainly did while choosing not to comment on it.
"Now, take a well-deserved rest." Ash stated, returning his starter.
"Take a rest Chespin." Gary returned his starter before smirking at Ash. "Stands to reason you'd luck out, Ashy-boy."
"Luck out?" Ash questioned. "I've beaten you twice now, and I don't remember a single new move in our first battle."
"Think whatever you want." Gary turned away from him, casually waving his rival off. "As for me, I'm on my way to the next gym." He started walking. "Heh, don't fall too far behind now because next time some new move won't end up bailing you out."
"That Gary." Ash commented, a bit frustrated.
Despite winning their first battle as trainers in Lumiose City, the joy he felt overriding what Gary had said at the time, Ash's fellow Kanto native had a real knack for souring any victory he seemed to take over him.
"With the battle concluded, my services end here." The butler declared as Clemont and Bonnie joined them. "You three are welcome at Parfum Palace until sunset." He walked away. "Please, use this time to peruse the gardens or palace to your leisure."
"That was an even better battle than the first!" Bonnie exclaimed, excited.
"Indeed." Clemont smiled. "Even among those who grew up together, you two had the ability to read one another and respond in ways I haven't seen."
At this point, Honedge decided it was time to approach.
"Gary and I have a lot of practice battling one another." Ash answered, fondly recalling their days learning under the same roof before shaking his head. "Anyways, with that out of the way, we have plenty of time before the Harvest Festival."
"Since we now have the opportunity, we might as well do as the butler said and peruse this place." Clemont voiced what Ash was thinking.
"I guess we can look at the paintings at statues." While Bonnie thought looking at the paintings and statues of pokemon could be cool, there wasn't much in her mind that said anything else would be of interest to her.
Before any further conversation could be had, Honedge finally made it to the field. While for a split second there was some apprehension at the sword pokemon appearing, the fact he began to move around Ash in circles began to put the trio at ease.
"Whoa, who's this pokemon?" Ash asked, taking out his pokedex:
Honedge, the Sword Pokémon. It is said Honedge is actually a spirit living inside a sword.
"That sounds like a ghost type." Ash noted. "Also, it's shiny."
"If I recall correctly, Honedge are steel/ghost type pokemon." Clemont informed.
"Whoa, that's a useful combination." Ash voiced, impressed.
"That's all well and good, but why is Honedge orbiting around Ash?" Bonnie asked.
At that, said sword pokemon took a chance by tapping one of the six pokeballs currently on Ash's waist. Honedge choose correctly, being sucked in. The pokeball then dinged immediately to signify an instant capture.
"Apparently he wanted to be captured." Ash blinked as he took the pokeball off his belt and let the pokemon out, the sword pokemon appearing in front of him. "Is that what you wanted?" He smiled. "You want to come with me?"
Honedge gave an eye smile. "Hone!"
"Well, alright then." Ash grinned, with the siblings rendered speechless by the sudden turn of events. "Honedge is my new pokemon!"
"Honedge!" Honedge declared happily.
Ash used his pokedex to now get the rest of the information with the capture:
Honedge, the Sword Pokémon. It is said Honedge is actually a spirit living inside a sword.
Type: Steel/Ghost
Ability: No Guard
Sex: Male
Current Moves: Fury Cutter, Cut, Shadow Sneak, Gyro Ball
"Alright, return Honedge." Ash recalled his new pokemon before looking to his stunned friends. "Is something the matter?"
"How can you treat what just happened as normal?" Clemont asked.
"Professor Oak used to tell me pokemon are mysterious creatures, ones who to this day we still don't understand a lot about." Ash smiled. "At the end of the day, he's said I should put faith in what my heart is telling me. Right now, it's saying Honedge can come with."
The assuredness with which Ash spoke made the siblings smile.
"Well, alright then." Clemont nodded. "Unless another pokemon wants to pop out and join you, we should get to seeing what the Parfum Palace has to offer."
Later…
The trio had started with the rest of the garden, looking at the hedge mazes and flowers before then seeing all the statues. There were the legendary pokemon, Zekrom and Reshiram, as well as the statue of a knight with his Golurk.
Then they moved inside checking out the various statues of pokemon and numerous other expressions of art located along the wall. It all culminated with the final hallway on the second floor where Bonnie moved on ahead, eager to finally be done and get to the Harvest Festival.
She ended up stopping before that painting of the prince and his knight. "Hey, come check this out you two!"
"We know you want to leave already Bonnie." Clemont called out with a smile. "Don't worry, Ash and I are almost done."
"Actually, I kind of want to leave already too." Ash sighed. "I can only take so much of this stuff before I got to get out and do something."
Professor Oak might have increased Ash's tolerance for things like this, but that didn't mean he was a true enthusiast. Eventually, the novelty of seeing something new would wear off.
"Oh, that's not what this is about!" Bonnie exclaimed.
"Dede!" Dedenne agreed.
"Just come take a look." Bonnie stated, directing the pair's attention to the painting.
"That prince looks kind of like you, Ash." Clemont voiced, surprised.
"Huh, that is strange." Ash noted. "Reminds me of this other guy I saw in a different painting back in Kanto." He shrugged. "Though that was last year, so I don't recall much about it. Still cool to think I might be related to people important enough to be painted."
"Guess it would be kind of hard to prove." Clemont noted.
"Anyways, we should get back to town, or we might end up missing the Harvest Festival." Ash voiced.
Camphrier Town
The trio returned just in time as the festival was getting underway. Lord Shabano, an older yet smaller gentlemen, began to play the poke flute and produced quite the nice sound. Snorlax awoke and ate his fill to the delight of everyone before dancing his way back up the mountain.
Once he was gone, the festivities for the people kicked off with fireworks. There was food and fun to be had, which was a perfect way to close out the day for the trio. Come tomorrow, their journey would naturally continue.
Let's start with Honedge. I've essentially made Santalune to Cyllage this Ash's variation of Cerulean to Vermillion. Does this mean I'm going to have Ash catch as many pokemon as he did in Kanto proper or my variation of Kanto? Nah. In fact, I'm generally going to see about keeping this Ash's regional teams to six captures a region. There might be exceptions with more unique regions I have in mind, might be more or less with them.
An example of a more unique region might be if Ash wdnt to Almia since they don't have a gym equivalent. Beyond that, I might end up breaking this rule down the line if I really want him to catch more pokemon, but I'm going to try upholding a strict six captures. The exceptions listed above being the obvious exceptions. I will also say any legends, as well as pokemon from categories adjacent to legendaries, will not count towards this total...should Ash have the opportunity to catch them.
A