Ron the True Fan: Backlog holding as always. Never underestimate my ability to power through chapters. That SAID… I am going to be taking a while to plan out the sub-arcs. In the meantime… Take, say hi to Archive of Our Own.
Takeshi Yamato: Hi to Archive of Our Own.
Ron the True Fan: Wow. You could not be any less enthusiastic.
Takeshi Yamato: You said to say 'Hi to Archive of Our Own'. So I did.
Ron the True Fan: Funny.
Cameran Castle - Kingdom of Rota - 0819 hours local time - Day 277 of Ash Ketchum's Pokemon Journey
The fancy uniform was on again. Ash hated being put in this stiff uniform. No flex.
"Why do I need to wear this again?" he asked.
"Because, my lord, you're going to Galar to meet with Champion Leon." Taggard replied. "Galar's put a massive amount of effort into cleaning up their industrial mess JUST for your visit. Screwing up their natural balance to rebuild their infrastructure fast wasn't exactly the best idea they had."
Galar apparently industrialized HEAVILY shortly before the Cipher War and afterward, used those resources to rebuild their roads, communications, power grid and other important parts of their infrastructure.
At the cost of destroying the ecosystem. Galar became almost unlivable for 50 years. Only the new champion, Leon, started to undo the damage caused and it sped up GREATLY after the revelation of Ash being the Crown Prince of Rota.
At least he didn't ruin Belladonna's relationship with her girlfriend. If anything, they were closer then before. Professor Oak was complaining a LOT about being kicked out of his own home by hormone-charged children. His words, not Ash's.
Still, there was someone else about to give Ash… more issues.
"Hello, husband~" sang - or at least tried to, as she was a bit tone deaf - Tatsuki, who was wearing a kimono that clung tight to her body, but gave a good view of her neck, shoulders and a tease of her bust.
His new fiance. Arceus clearly hated him.
"Tatsuki." he replied flattly, not in the mood for the attempted seduction. Serena had been trying for a lot longer then she had and Ash hadn't given into her attempts.
"Oh, come now, Ash. Surely you want to-"
"Not deal with YOU." Taggard cut off, clearly still not happy about the situation that his own actions invited. Obviously he was regretting blackmailing the nobility into allowing Becca's betrothal now that it allowed the Duchess to do the same damn thing with a Ranseian.
Still, it spared Ash the whole obvious seduction thing.
"Oi, asshole." came the voice of his sister, dolled up in a black dress with frills at the base and wearing high heels. "Fuck off for two minutes. Consider that an order. I need to talk to my brother. ALONE."
Tatsuki pouted, but left, Taggard glaring at the princess before Bell did the same to him.
"I said ALONE." the unwilling princess said before her foot was lodged into his crotch, making him keel in pain before she withdrew it and roundhoused him in the back, sending him flying. "There."
"Not a fan of him?" Ash asked as Pikachu snickered at Taggard's pain.
"I'd rather be back at home, not in this goddamn castle." Bell groused. "Asuka and I should be cuddling in bed in private, not have a trio of overzealous girls staring at us like some adult actresses."
Ash decided to point out two reasons WHY they stared. "Bell… they're lesbians." he started. She stared at him for that in confusion. "And second, you're a very beautiful girl."
Bell blushed. "You're only saying that because you're my brother." she countered before arms wrapped around her waist from behind, making her yelp.
"Nope, he's absolutely right~" purred Asuka, her metallic arms on full display. Mostly because Bell insisted. "For a lab rat, you have the body of a track runner with the figure of a supermodel!" Her hands then went straight for her rack. "I just wish you had more to play with~"
Ash wanted nothing to do with this.
"Oooooh…" Bell moaned happily. "I'll hold down the fort if you take those perverted guardswomen with you…"
Ash decided to rain on the parade. "You're coming with me, Bell." he answered, Asuka stopping her ministrations.
"What." the kunoichi demanded.
Ash sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "She is my legal heir and I have to drag her along for this. Apparently, Leon insisted on seeing my sister." he explained. "Personally, I think he wants to make you his bride, but that's happening over my rotting, three-month old corpse."
Asuka had a confused face that spoke as to her feelings: to hate Ash for ruining her private time with her literal princess and to adore him for wanting to stab some stranger in the face just to keep her right to choose the ones she loved intact.
…Then again, he said 'had to', not 'WANT to', so he was about as willing as Bell was.
"…If-WHEN Bell and I have babies, you are going to be the godfather." Asuka declared, making Ash's face turn from righteous Sakai-fueled fury to bewilderment and confusion.
"What." said the trainer as Pikachu just LAUGHED.
6 hours later - Pallet Town Docks
Crown Princess/Empress-in-waiting Tatsuki Yamato happily held onto Ash's left arm, trying to wedge it between her boobs. Her outfit got in the way, though. Serena's formal pink ball gown was looser, meaning she had a better time of it with his right.
There was an unspoken hierarchy: Serena was his right-hand woman and she was literally declaring it. Tatsuki wasn't second-fiddle, but she was NOT on top.
"Could you two let go of my arms?"Ash asked exasperatedly. "I'm still not used to you… DOING this."
Serena smiled sweetly, a mix of all the personalities making an approximation of her old self. "I've been doing this for months. You should be used to it." the Kalosian baroness said.
"He's talking about me." Tatsuki replied. "I tried stabbing him a few weeks ago, remember?"
Ash nodded. "And now here you are, hanging off my arm like you've been my girlfriend for years." he said. He had a point.
Tatsuki gave him an answer. "You saved my region from my mom and brother, you called in something to deal with them for good because you didn't want to kill them and while they rejected it, you gave them a chance to redeem themselves and drove off the thing that did it." she said before smiling. "You brushed off my attempt to kill you and you really don't want to be a king. You're kind, you care for those you love and you'll do anything to protect them."
Serena smiled, a hint of Jade in her eyes. "You do know that girls want guys that do that, right?" she asked. "Oh, sure, the bad boy is interesting, but there's no COMMITMENT there."
Tatsuki then figuratively drove a stake into his head. "That will make him the perfect father."
Anabel winced from the loud mental SCREAM coming from Ash.
"I am going to make this clear." Taggard said to the three techicolor girls standing in front of him. "I have to stay here thanks to reconstituting the Guard, so YOU have to protect Ash WITH YOUR LIVES."
Hikaru grinned and saluted. "You got it, boss!" she declared.
"Why should we have to keep an eye on him?" Umi demanded. "We're assigned to LAdy Belladonna. His Majesty already has a guard."
Fuu sighed. "Because they're incompetent and the commander has to chaperone them to do their jobs?" the blonde answered.
"Well said." Taggard dryly commented. "Get moving. I have work to do."
The girls then turned to find Ash, their king, getting out of the grips of his wives-to-be.
Such a weird man. Normally most teenagers would be bragging about this.
At least they'd be enjoying the sights of Galar soon.
Galar. What a shithole.
"Why are you carrying so many Pokaballs?" asked the vision of beauty to her brother as he hefted a backpack filled with them onto his back as a carry-on. "A bit paranoid, aren't we?"
"Ransei happened." ash retorted simply. "It's not paranoia if there's precedent."
THe SS-2 flying boat had long range, a roomy cabin and comfortable seats. So why the hell did people have to sit on his lap?!
Ash sighed as Kyoji and Neesha snickered behind him, Sabrina dealing with gym business, while Misty snuggled on his lap.
"This CANNOT be safe." he said, keeping his head away from her assets as best he could.
"Why? Misty asked. "You're closeby. It's perfectly safe."
Ash groaned. "Not what I meant…" he said before Serena scowled at her.
"Let her have her turn, Serena." Becca said, smiling. "You hogged it during the flights to Ransei AND Salen."
The baroness then got up, walking towards the aisle seat.
A few seats away, Max and his psionic past self walked.
"Serena wasn't like this in the other timeline, right?" he asked 'himself'.
'Well, she didn't exactly advertise her more…mature tastes in Hoenn.' the 'ghost' said. 'Maybe she was like this, but just lacked the courage to do anything.'
All Max knew was this was going to be a long flight…for Ash.
Hulbury - Galar Region - 1902 hours local time
Leon Dende of Galar was trying not to be nervous. During his tenure as Galar's champion and unofficial monarch, he had numerous foreign visitors: Lance of Kanto, Diantha of Kalos, even that Paldian champion, Geeta. And beat the crap out of them.
But Ash Ketchum wasn't here for a challenge, just diplomacy. That was the problem with being a quote-unquote 'warrior king' as Galar operated under a system where the victor of a major Pokemon battle would be the victor and any losses… well, it ended poorly.
And while Ash was a trainer, he was not a regional champion. He couldn't do that as Rota's monarchy was hereditary for a GODDAMN REASON. The same reason that most people in positions of authority, like Chairman Rose of the Macro Cosmos Consortium, just didn't care about the ecological damage done to Galar.
They were all going to die in 50 years anyway, so why should they give two fucks?
Fortunately, the news of Ash's existence torpedoed that line of thinking and all hands were on deck to unfuck the damage done as quickly as possible.
Still, outside of the heroics, he expected Ash to be somewhat spoiled and bratty, getting his way or he'd pout about it for hours.
He had experience with that.
Ash groaned as he spent a grand total of 10 hours in his chair, Misty sleeping on his lap like she belonged there… and Serena sitting beside them smiling to herself.
And misty was… moaning. Ash turned to look at Serena.
"You didn't." he pleaded.
"Well, I wanted to sit on your lap, but didn't get the chance, so…" the Kalosian noble replied, a hint of red in her eyes. The pervert took over.
WHY was she so prevalent?! Serena couldn't've been this… lewd back in the original timeline!
…Right?
Kyoji and Neesha slept behind him, the former still grinning at Ash's expense.
…He needed coffee. He'd been awake for almost 27 hours and really did not want to sleep.
Sanity was overrated as long as he avoided the things in his dreams.
Misty then stretched, opening her eyes before smiling, leaning forward to kiss him, surprising the young man before she broke it off.
"I hope you're ready for round three, my champion…" she said sleepily.
Ash's response was…understandable. "I'm sorry, WHAT?" he asked, making Misty blink, fully waking up and blushing up a storm.
Fortunately, there would be no angry whack from Misty. She slept on HIM and she knew DAMN well he wouldn't take advantage of her. Serena caused this and Misty knew she was sitting RIGHT THERE.
So she just got up and ran to the washroom. If your head is in the gutter as to what she's up to…for once, you're not mistaken.
"I'd say that was rude, but you didn't want to take advantage of her." came the voice of Bell, who sat just in front of him. "Get a good night's sleep?"
"I've been awake the entire time." Ash answered, the sound of a smacking palm meeting head entering his ears before Bell sighed loudly.
"…I know you're trying to be a gentleman and all… but evidence clearly shows that when you're listening to the heartbeat of one of your ladies, you get a good night's sleep." his sister said. "So what if your head's lodged between their boobs? THEY clearly don't mind. As long as you don't do anything they don't want, I don't think they'll CARE."
"I certainly won't." Serena said, giving him a flirty wink. "Consider me your personal pillow."
Ash raised an eyebrow. "You know I don't exactly trust you to NOT do anything in my sleep." he said honestly.
Serena pouted. "I know I tease a lot, but… we're not READY." she replied, sad. "I'm not 18. Under Kantoan law, I can't do all the things I WANT to do. Besides, mi amour… I want you to TELL ME I can do it. I want your PERMISSION to do all the things I want to do with you. I'll gladly do what you think I'd do in your sleep, but only when we're old enough and only if I have your permission. Until then, husband… I'm happy to just cuddle. But if you want something greater then my word…"
She then reached into her pack on the floor, containing a bundle of arrowheads before nicking her finger, blood leaking out of the cut.
"I, Serena Yvonne Gabena, do swear that I will not do anything to Ash Ktechum until we are of the age of consent in Kanto, which for you is April 1st and myself October 17th three years from now. I will never push beyond teasing and cuddling with you until and unless you say I am allowed." she vowed, seriously and solemnly, before cleaning the arrowhead and her finger of blood. "There. I break my vow in any way, outside of me being possessed or mentally manipulated, you can call off our engagement."
Holy shit. THAT… was a lot.
"However, my love, you cannot simply call it off. This is predicated on MY behavior." Serena added. "If I do anything you do not want me to do, unless I'm under the influence of some psychic or drugs, the fate of our marriage is in your hands. With these restrictions, do you accept my pledge, my husband?"
Ash nodded. "I… do." he said dumbly.
Serena eyesmiled. "Good. Now, I will go get you some coffee because you have an addiction to feed thanks to your nightmares." she said, getting up, adding some added swing to her rear as a tease… but no more.
"Believe her NOW?" Bell asked, amused.
Ash's head just thumped against the headrest, Bell getting a good look at the bags under his eyes.
"Fuck me with a ten foot pole. That takes MONTHS." she said, horrified. "When we land, you sleep in the arms of one of your girls. Understand?"
Ash didn't even respond. He was fighting sleep. The coffee would only help keep him awake for another three hours.
"Yeah, this is unacceptable." Bell said with finality. "You are going to sleep in Serena's arms - you know what, fuck ONE. ALL of them are going to make sure you get your nap!"
Keeping quiet, Kyoji, awake from the discussions, smirked. Fuck his vow.
Five minutes later
Leon watched as Ash got off the plane and all his expectations were shattered.
Instead of a spoiled brat, he found a young man who looked exhausted and not from a night of partying, but from things that would freeze your soul. There was a certain difference to be found with both. The former would have a grin on his face. Ash was not smiling and his harem - there was no other word for it, because they sure as shit weren't brainless groupees - looked like they were ready to rush him and get him to a seat.
He was wrong. Hopefully. He prided on being a good judge of character.
"Prince Ash! And Princess Belladonna!" he proclaimed. "Welcome to Galar!"
"Champion Leon, I presume?" Ash asked, sounding as tired as he looked. Yup, not a party animal.
"I hope you don't mind me saying this, but you look like crap." he said, deciding to be honest.
"I have some of the worst nightmares and let's leave it at that." the young man replied. Leon winced at whatever he saw. Probably Yveltal. ALWAYS Yveltal.
"So, I take it you haven't heard much of our region, though you DO have a Sirfetch'd. You got it in Orre, I presume?" he asked as they walked away from the port.
"Cipher was gonna turn him into a shadow Pokemon, what was I supposed to… do…" Ash trailed off as they heard yelling.
Heavily accented yelling that reminded Ash of Indigo as his head throbbed from the exhaustion-indused headache.
"Hold that thought." the Rotan prince said before walking towards a shop, his sister clearly resisting the urge to laugh.
"This is gonna be GREAT." she said. "Apparently this is a family tradition: a moment of pure RAGE that terrifies everyone into submission."
"Or arousal." said Serena Yeonne Gabena, his first wife in a tone that clearly showed what SHE wanted.
Leon snorted. "You're a bit of a pervert, aren't you, young lady?" he said, Serena giving him a glare.
"A bit?" she replied, sounding offended.
"700 Poke for a fookin' potion?!" exclaimed a woman with her brown hair in a ponytail as she raged against the man at the chas register. "I could get one three towns over for 200!"
"Not me goddamn problem, lady." the casheer replied. "I don't set the prices."
"Excuse me." came the voice of a young man who was trying to sound polite, making both turn their attention to him, his URN Pokemon league hat casting a shadow over his eyes. "Do you mind NOT yelling, please?"
"BUTT OUT, YA POSH PRICK!" both retorted. This… was a mistake.
"I asked NICELY." he said, before a Pikachu ran in behind them. THEN they noticed WHO it was. This was Ash Ketchum. Crown Prince of Rota, League Conference winner, destroyer of Cipher, the one that effectively destroyed the People's Republic of Ferrum and used XD-001 to assassinate the Ranseian Empress to put an end to her coup attempt."Now I'm TELLING. Quite your FUCKING YELLING now or I MAKE you stop yelling. PICK ONE!"
And now they were the sole object of his ire. Considering they knew what happened to those, they quickly changed their tunes.
"L-let's naw be hasty…" said the cashier, raising his hands in surrender.
Ash's scowl did not leave his face. "Now… what's the problem?" he asked, attempting to not lose his temper. "CALMLY."
The woman chuckled nervously. "Well, this…" she paused to pick the right word. "Guy…was ova-chargin' me fer a potion. 700! I need it for ma Wooloo ta tie her over until I can get to the Poke'center."
The guy didn't bother saying anything and just handed over a few coins to her.
"Thank you for settling it civilly." Ash said, Pikachu climbing onto his shoulder and giving him a look.
And this was Gloria's idol? The trainer she was hero-worshipping over?
…He might've been born in Kanto, but he was proper Southern Galaran with THAT temper.
Ash was not happy with losing his temper. Pikachu gave him a look of disapproval, but he knew Ash was even less happy with him then he was.
But Belladonna could not have looked more PROUD.
"I think that was the first time I saw you lose your temper like that. AND you used the outburst for a good cause!" she said. "Well done, little brother."
"I didn't like it. But I've got a headache the size of Mount Coronet and my head feels a hundred sizes too small." Ash said, before holding onto his head.
"Well, your sister told me you didn't sleep on the flight over and you'll have to adapt your sleep cycle to Galar's anyways." Leon said before gesturing to a trio of coaches, all hooked up to a Mudsdale, awaited.
"PRAISE ARCEUS!" exclaimed Kyoji. "We'll deal with that other problem later, but where are we going?"
"A hotel. I doubt all of you rested well on that flight over." Leon said, knowing that to be true for at least Ash. "So, one quick carriage ride and you have a hotel bed waiting for you. All of you."
And with that, they boarded the coaches, Ash, Serena, Tatsuki and Misty, Kyoji and Neesha going with Leon while Bell and her guard all crammed into another with Iris and Anabel while everyone else got in the last one.
The convoy started to move, Leon leaning back in his seat. "So… got any Pokemon plans while you're visiting?" he asked Ash.
"Not really. I've got enough Pokemon to take care of right now and I don't think they want me taking on any more partners." Ash said, though his real reason was because he didn't want to drag any more Pokemon into his war on Cyrus. They wouldn't be ready and he wasn't going to subject them to that.
The others knew what they were getting into. Even Dragonite.
"Pikapi." 'Ash… you might not have a say in the matter…' Pikachu said as Ash felt a weight on his head.
"Rook." 'Hello.' said a little black, blue and yellow bird with red eyes looking at him while hanging upside down on the brim of his hat.
"A Rookidee!" Leon said. "Our Region's version of Pidgey. Your mother has a Corviknight, so you should be familiar with the line. They tend to flock around those who have tragic pasts."
Ash wisely decided to not say all of them had that quality to them.
"Natu." 'He's NESTING ON ME,' Kyoji's parrot said as the blackbird nested on him while he nested on Kyoji's head.
"They're cute. Leave them alone." Kyoji said before seeing a LOT more surrounding the lead coach. "Ash mentioned a movie made by some guy named Hitchcock about this once…"
"That's a lot of birds." Leon said in shock as Ash was COVERED in birds. "Your temper aside, you must be one of the nicest people in the world. In spite of having a shit hand dealt to you."
"I like to think I TRY." Ash said, attempting not to get angry at the birds for being what they were.
"Rookidee!" 'What's this?' said a female, before pecking at a Pokeball's center button, triggering the capture function.
Ash's eye twitched. He did not want to catch another Pokemon! He had 60 plus! …He'd bring it up later with the bird.
He was too tired for this.
The coaches came to a stop, allowing them to exit… with all but Tatsuki having a Rookidee nesting on their heads.
Or in Kyoji and Anabel's cases, Natus nesting on their heads while Rookidees nested on them. And the Natus were not happy about being the ones being nested on.
"Oh, come on, Natu, it's not like you'll be replaced by another bird." Kyoji said as he pet the parrot.
"Natu!" 'I want this bird off me. I AM THE ONE WHO NESTS!' the parrot declared.
Kyoji chuckled before getting… an IDEA.
"What are you plotting NOW?" Neesha asked, but her smile indicated she wasn't mad.
"Oh… I hope you don't mind camping." he said, Neesha getting the idea.
While there would be no 'fun' of that kind going on in the hotel, the more sabotage to Ash's vow of celibacy the better.
His Pokemon had said it, Kyoji had said it, his sister had said it, even GIOVANNI had said it, though the last one helped about as much as a nuke blowing up Agate Village did.
Ash. Needed. To. Get. LAID.
And while Kyoji was not endorsing underage sex, he was all for getting him to go 'this isn't healthy and I need to rethink this'.
That was all he needed to do. Ash could be stupid, but he wasn't blind.
Also, a good night's sleep was a requirement. And as it was scientifically proven that Ash had no nightmares when sleeping with one of the girls, not to mention Serena took a freaking BLOOD OATH to make him more comfortable, Ash had no excuses.
…Except maybe Tatsuki. His half-sister was actually really perverted. But Serena was asserting her dominance in the pecking order.
…Why did Kyoji picture a black abyss with eyes laughing when he thought about that?
The human body could only stay awake without chemical stimulation for 48 hours at most. 72 with it.
Ash had been awake, on and off, for a grand total of 329 hours for the entire month with 31 hours of sleep. Only the use of coffee had kept him from collapsing under the weight.
He assumed Bell would stay in the same room. His hopes were dashed when she told him he was on his own before dragging Asuka into another room.
As stated last chapter, if your head's in the gutter in that regard, you are not WRONG… (WHACK!)
Blackness filled his vision before he slumped on a bed, face down. Serena moved quickly, jumping onto the bed herself to get his ear as close to her heart as possible. The fact her breasts would double as pillows for him was entirely incidental.
"…Didn't you cut yourself earlier to say you wouldn't do these things?" Anabel asked, slightly concerned.
"I said I wouldn't do anything more then tease, cuddle or kiss until we were both of the age of consent." Serena retorted, insulted for good reason, her eyes a deep red, darker then Jade's, meaning both her and her logical side, Rey, were in the driver's seat. "And hearing the heartbeat of any of the women he loves and knows love him gets rid of those nightmares we know he has. Now, would you mind undoing my dress' ties so I can get this thing off? The less things between his ears and my heart the better."
Fabric hit the floor before Tatsuki joined them, clad in only her undergarments, which were… very lacy, right before putting her chest up to his right ear, as if trying to challenge Serena for top billing.
Then Serena's dress was yanked off, Ash unconsciously cuddling towards Serena, Tatsuki discovering a slight…problem.
Serena's dress hid her assets VERY well. Tatsuki thought they were smaller then hers!
"Like I said to him on the plane, I'm happy to be his hug pillow~" she purred. "I've got the all-natural padding for it~"
Mei just walked to the window and sat down to meditate, not wanting to be involved and having her own thoughts to juggle. Misty gently laid behind Serena, Robin doing the same for Tatsuki, while Anabel and Iris laid on top of Tatsuki and Serena's legs respectively.
'Oh~ you want more, huh, my little violet playmate?' psionically called Jade to Anabel.
The purplette blushed. '…yes, mistress.' she said, not meekly, but quietly.
'No fear, sweety. If you say no, I stop.' came the reply from Serena's horny personality. 'You are in TOTAL control over what I do.'
Anabel wouldn't get any sleep that night and she didn't care.
Entry 122: Leon Dende
At 32, Leon is Galar's longest reigning champion and has guided the region through the twilight of its' darkest times.
His policies of ecological restoration in spite of the people's apathetic attitude were slow, but gained pace after the revelation of Ash Ketchum being the Crown Prince of Rota.
After all, if the world will live on, there's no point in apathy.
Entry 123: Rookidee
The Pidgey of Galar, Rookidee are known to flock around those who have suffered tragedy in their past or those of pure heart. They flock in greater numbers when both are in play.
They are also fond of nesting on peoples' heads, similar to Natus. There is something of a rivalry between the two species for who can claim one's head as a nest.
Ash Ketchum recently caught a Rookidee. It is entirely unknown if this tiny bird will become a nightmare for trainers in the future.
Ron the True Fan: You got to LOVE my work ethic. Take probably wants to shoot me right now-(sounds of phaser rifle fire)
Takeshi Yamato: YOU BET I DO! I HAVE SO MANY THINGS I'M WORKING ON - TTRPGS, VIDEO GAMES, OTHER STORIES, ETC! THIS ONE IS LOWER ON MY PRIORITY SCALE, BUT EVERY COUPLE WEEKS IT'S 'Take, Beta this", OR "Take, time for notes"!
Ron the True Fan: I got months of vid backlog and this is literally the only active solo fic I have! At least I wait until it's DONE to call you in! Any time you pop in on your own accord and start editing, that's not MY goddamn fault!
Takeshi Yamato (Grumbling): Still think you could slow it down a little bit.
Ron the True Fan: When I run out of vids, sure. (Take has dawning realization of terror) Backlog. I am an INDUSTRIOUS little land shark.
Ja Ne!