"I see it!" shouted Rarity as she leaned against the boat's railing and held onto her hat.
"That's Mt. Aries!" stated Twilight as she looked in the distance to see the tall mountain.
"So that's the site of my next gym, huh? I can't wait," remarked Sky, thinking about his fourth badge.
"Hey, where's Applejack?" asked Spike as he didn't see their country friend.
"She was here a second ago," explained Twilight.
"I'll go look for her," said Sky as he left to find their farmer companion as they were just moments away from docking.
"Aj, Aj!"
The boy looked all over the ship as the last he saw of the girl was when they got onboard. The teen had difficulty finding the blonde girl as he didn't know where she might be. He heard a sound as he passed some of the rooms on the lower dock. He put his hands on the door as it opened slightly; he peeked his head in as he looked at one of the many restrooms on the ship.
"Aj?"
"S-Sky," responded the girl as she emerged from a stall.
"There you are. Sorry to bother you. We're about to dock."
"G-Great, just… give me a moment," said the girl as she quickly entered the stall she had just exited.
"Applejack, you okay?"
The boy got his answer when he heard some retching sounds. He made a face because he knew exactly what that meant. The teen entered the stall and began to help the girl with her seasickness.
"Here," said Sky as he handed some pills to the girl.
"Thanks, sugar," said Applejack as she took the pills and swallowed them before taking a huge sip of water.
"Why didn't you tell us you had seasickness?"
"Well, it never happened until today. I guess I'm more of a land girl than a sailor," said Applejack, her stomach still churning as she rubbed it. "Thanks for also holding back my hair, sugar."
"Trust me, it's hard to get vomit out of strands. Especially ones like yours," said the boy as he scooted closer to Aj. The boy grabbed the girl's hair as he began to reapply and put it back into her signature ponytail.
As Sky fixed her hair, Applejack couldn't help but smile as she felt Sky's fingers running through her blonde locks. The girl felt her heart beat faster; before she knew it, the boy finished with her hair and stood up. He extended a hand to the country gal and helped her. The sound of the ship's horn blared as it served as the signal they had landed.
Up above, the ship had made port on the island. The ramp extended as all the passengers onboard began to get off. The two teens caught up with their friends as they exited the ship and landed on the pier. The group took a chance to look at the docks. They saw several sailboats in the harbor and spotted some out in the water. For Aj, she was relieved she no longer had to endure the constant wobbling, as she was never happier to be back on dry land.
The group walked along the docks as they first saw the town. They entered the villa's main square and saw many shops and stands lined up. The many people walked about as the vendors began to attract the latest set of tourists on the island.
"Pokémon fur. We have a wide selection from Dedenne fur to Azurill Fur!" shouted a vendor.
"Oh, I dare say," said Rarity as she was intrigued by the idea of using Pokémon fur for new designs.
"So, where's the gym?" asked Sky.
"I don't know, but I want to go to the Pokémon Center and see if they got something for my stomach," groaned Applejack, still feeling the effects of the seasickness.
"I'll help you, Applejack," said Twilight as she and Spike lent the country gal to the Center.
"Guess I'm on my own," said Sky as he began to locate the gym.
Meanwhile, at the royal palace, Queen Novo was walking among the halls of her great building with one of her trusty servants trailing behind.
"Is everything ready for the event?" asked the royal ruler.
"Just about, Your Highness. Not to mention, preparations for tonight's Gala are almost ready."
"And speaking of the Gala, where is my daughter? I assume she's doing what I asked of her," said Novo with a rather stern tone.
"I can't believe Mom is making me do this," said Princess Skystar as she was in town.
After the escapades from her little treasure hunt, her mother had grounded her and forbade her from going out on the water. And if that wasn't bad enough… that was a month ago. The princess had been grounded for a month without her mother saying so. It upset her as she didn't expect her mother to be this petty, and if that wasn't bad enough, tonight she was hosting a Gala where no doubt she would have to spend all night sitting beside her and not having fun.
"It's been a month already! What I wouldn't give to be a normal girl."
"Did you say something, princess?" asked a guard as he called from the ladder's base.
"No, all good. Just about done," smiled Skystar before turning her head and groaning.
The girl was putting the finishing touches on a billboard to promote the Gala to the public as her mother thought some hard labor would do her wonders.
"I hope almost no one shows up; at least then I have an excuse not to attend," muttered the girl as he put the paintbrush into the paint can.
As the girl began to prepare to climb down, some paint dripped onto some rungs of the ladder. When the girl placed her foot on it, she felt it slip instantly and lost her balance. The teen let out a yelp as she fell off the ladder and proceeded to fall.
"Look out!" shouted the guards, who instantly moved out of the way because the ladder had fallen first and would've crushed them.
The ladder fell onto some wooden piles, cracking and breaking. At the same time, Skystar was still falling, about to fall on the debris of broken pieces of wood. It would undoubtedly be a dangerous spot with no cushioning and her falling height. The guards were starting to think of something to save the princess when something swung by at that moment. In the blink of an eye, a dark shadow grabbed the girl before it landed on a nearby roof. The figure who had caught the girl was Sky, as the boy happened to be nearby; he was still trying to find the gym when he heard the sound of the ladder cracking, followed by the scream of the princess. He noticed a nearby rope with a bucket at the end of it; he took the bucket off and swung it toward the girl. He caught her in his arms as he landed on a nearby fisherman's hut.
"You okay?"
Skystar opened her eyes expecting something tragic, but to her surprise, she was fine. Moreover, she was now looking at the identity of her savior and couldn't help but stare at him. The princess seemed a bit obsessed with the boy before her, as his actions made her heart beat quickly.
"You okay?" repeated Sky, concerned for the girl's well being.
"Oh, y-yes. Thanks," responded Skystar as she was set on her feet.
"Princess!" shouted some guards as they had found a different ladder.
The girl was helped down as the squad asked her if she was okay. Once she informed them that she was alright, she looked to thank her savior, but to her surprise, he was gone. She didn't have a chance to wonder where he went as the guards led her away. The event that her mother was planning was about to start, and she needed to be presented and prepped for it.
At the Pokémon Center, Applejack had gotten some medicine to quell her uneasy stomach as she was already feeling slightly better. The doors opened as Sky entered and saw the two near the counter, and Aj sat on nearby chairs.
"Did you find the gym?" asked Twilight as she patted Aj's back.
"No," said the boy, giving his Pokéballs to the Audino, and the Pokémon took the tray cart to the back. "How's her seasickness coming along?"
"Never better, sugar. That medicine is working wonders," said Applejack as her stomach had almost returned to normal.
The doors opened as Rarity barged in, carrying some bags as she had some news.
"Gees, Rarity. How much did you buy?" asked Sky as he saw the many bags hanging from her arms.
"Just a few things," said the fashionista, as she didn't think she had bought much stuff. "But anyways, I just heard the latest gossip in town. There's an event being held at the royal palace. Some sort of competition."
"Competition, eh?" said Sky as he seemed intrigued by the event.
"If my stomach were a bit more settled, I'd like to enter," stated the farm girl, as she didn't want to risk her health while trying to recover.
"Well, I'm in. Where do I sign up?" asked Sky.
"It's open to anybody. All we have to do is head to the palace in costume."
"Costume?" said Spike.
"That's the only dress code to enter the event."
"Well, I doubt you can create us costumes in time," said Twilight.
"Not to worry, darlings, apparently you can rent costumes at the palace itself," stated the fashionista.
"Then what are we waiting for!" stated Sky as, at that moment, the Pokémon Center's Audino reemerged and rolled out his Pokémon before grabbing them. "Let's go!"
After dropping off her bags, the group began to head toward the palace. Sure enough, a ton of people, both tourists and citizens of the island, were making their way toward the castle. From it stood a massive sight to behold. As the group entered the palace, they went to the wardrobe room, where tons of traditional attire were shown on racks. Even Rarity was amazed as there were so many designs she had never thought of and was already getting inspired.
"What do I wear?" wondered Rarity as she looked upon the many dresses. "They're all so gorgeous."
"I want something heroic," said Sky, looking for something cool rather than some boring old-school gentlemen's attire.
"Maybe I should wear a cape," said Spike as he tried to find something he liked.
"Come on out, everyone!" said Rarity as she brought out her Swaddle, Delcatty, and Galarian Ponyta. "Well, what do you think?"
The fashionista twirled before her Pokémon trio as she showed off the outfit she picked. It was a lilac and baby blue dress with an alternating-colored layered skirt covered with gems and lacy patterns on each layer. The top half was baby blue with lacy accents at the sleeves' end and a stylish purple scarf around her neck. She was also wearing a silver necklace with gems and gem dangle earrings.
"Rarity, is that you?" said Spike as he emerged with his attire.
The boy wore a purple, striped, puffy shirt with a matching hat, feather, and a fanned-out neckpiece.
"Tis, I indeed," responded the girl with her slightly elevated accent.
"You look great, Rarity," said Twilight.
The bookworm had found her own piece of clothing. She wore a pastel yellow and ice blue dress with a matching headband and floral hairpin.
"Thank you, Twilight. You look lovely as well."
"Hey, check me out!" stated Sky.
The boy emerged wearing a stylish cowboy-inspired outfit. It consisted of a black cowboy vest over a gray button-up shirt and a white cravat. He completed the look with a black fedora with a red band around it.
"Awesome!" said Spike as he found Sky's outfit to be cool.
"I dare say you look dashing in that outfit, Sky!" remarked Rarity.
"Where's Aj?"
"I'm right here. Do I have to dress up? I'm not even competing!" stated the country gal as she spoke from behind one of the changing booths.
"Applejack, darling, it's essential that you look the part in such a highly important event as this."
"Fine!" groaned the girl as the door swung open.
The country gal stepped out and stood before her friends in her attire. The farmer wore a turquoise and pink dress as she kept her boots.
"Well?"
"It's nice!" said Spike.
"Not bad, Aj," said Sky.
"Although, we could do something about the hair," said Rarity as she approached her country friend.
The fashionista took hold of Aj's hair, curled it into an updo, and applied a double gem hairpin.
"Now you look like a lady. Don't you agree, boys?" asked the girl.
"I appreciate the help, Rarity, but I don't want to look like a lady," said Applejack as she reached up into her hair to undo the style the fashionista did. Instead, she grabbed the double gem hairpin and tied it into a ponytail, making it more modern and to her liking.
"Now that's more like it!" said the country gal as she was much more comfortable.
"Very well, suit yourself," scoffed Rarity, as there was no use in changing Aj's mind.
Trumpet sounds were heard as they blared throughout the courtyard where the Pokémon competition would occur. Many people were filed in the stands, looking forward to seeing the event their ruler promised. Queen Novo made her presence known as she stepped out on a balcony and sat down with a wave. Princess Skystar appeared and gave a quick wave before sitting beside her mother.
"There better be a good reason why you're late," said Novo as she kept her smile while speaking out of the corner of her mouth.
"There was a minor incident. I'm sorry, it won't happen again, Mom," said Skystar as she focused her attention on the competition about to take place.
"Presenting her royal majesty, the illustrious ruler of Mt. Aries, Queen Novo, and her beloved daughter, Princess Skystar!" said a guard from down below in the courtyard.
Queen Novo and Skystar stood up and waved before the girl took a seat while her mother spoke.
"And now… we will begin the Pokémon competition!" declared Queen Novo.
The doors opened, and Sky came running as he would kick off the festivities.
"It's him!" said Skystar as she saw the same boy who had rescued her earlier. His appearance in the competition took her aback.
"Let's do this! Turtwig!" shouted the boy as he ran out before leaping into the air and throwing his Pokéball.
I wanna be the very best
Like no one ever was
To catch them is my real test
To train them is my cause
The boy called upon his Pokémon as he appeared. At that moment, the boy's opponent rushed out as he threw his Pokéball to call upon his chosen partner. The two trainers began to engage in battle, and in no time, Sky and his Turtwig managed to defeat their opponents. The flagbearer raised his right flag in Sky's direction to signal him as the winner; the teen was ecstatic as Turtwig jumped into his arms, and he held his Pokémon up high while his friends and everyone else watching clapped. A montage then began to play as the rest of the tournament played out.
I will travel across the land
Searching far and wide
Teach Pokémon to understand
The power that's inside
The tournament raged on as several strong trainers proved their might. All the while, Skystar had eyes locked firmly on Sky as she was intrigued by the boy's battles. The boy was using all the Pokémon on his team to give them all a chance to showcase themselves. In one battle, Sky's opponent had blocked an attack as the force created by it picked up some dirt and sent it flying. Everyone had to cover their mouths and faces briefly while Spike lost his balance and fell off his seat before getting back up.
(Pokémon
Gotta catch 'em all) It's you and me
I know it's my destiny (Pokémon)
You teach me and I'll teach you (Ooh, ooh)
Pokémon! (Gotta catch 'em all)
Gotta catch 'em all (Pokémon)
Sky had made it to the competition finals while battling with Buizel. The sea weasel had jumped after avoiding a Slash attack by his foe before he fired a Sonic Boom attack. The Water Pokémon then fired a dead-on Water Gun attack, which allowed him to blind his foe temporarily, and he immediately rocketed in with an Aqua Jet. The crowd was on the edge of their seats as Buizel put his paws together to create its Water Pulse attack before it threw the orb on the ground, creating a massive tidal wave of water. The weasel's foe saw the attack coming, but it could do nothing, so the water swept it away. Once it died down, Buizel was standing tall before its foe.
"Ursaring is unable to battle. Buizel wins! The winner of today's competition is Sky!" said the official dressed in a court jester attire, raising the flag in the boy's direction.
"Yeah, we did it!" exclaimed the boy, ecstatic at his victory.
Everybody clapped and applauded the boy on his win. The teen's friends were happy for the boy as he managed to win the whole thing; however, the one person who clapped the most for the trainer was the princess, who almost wanted to shout. Her actions didn't go unnoticed by her mother, who made a face.
"Skystar! You need to act like a refined person!" stated Novo.
"Sorry, Mom… it's just… I know him."
"Who? That boy?" said the woman as she looked down at the Sky, waving to the crowd before he recalled his Buizel.
The queen eyed the teen who her daughter was talking about as she got all sorts of mixed interruptions.
"Tell me about him and how you know him," the queen asked sternly, looking at her daughter.
"Congratulations on winning, young man."
"Thanks."
"For winning the competition, you are cordially invited to the Gala later tonight as the Queen's esteemed guest."
"Awesome. I get to meet the Queen. Can I bring my friends?" asked Sky.
"Of course. The more, the merrier. See you tonight." said the jester person as he left.
"Alright, a Pokémon tournament and a party. Tonight's going to be a fun night!" exclaimed the boy.
Hours later, nighttime had fallen as Queen Novo's palace lights were on. In the ballroom, many guests stood before a set of thrones. Sky was currently on the stage where the thrones were as he awaited the arrival of the Queen; the others were among the guests in the crowd when they heard the sounds of trumpets blaring. The main doors to the ballroom opened as a red carpet rolled down the middle toward the thrones. A few guards entered before they stepped to the side and lined up as Queen Novo and her daughter entered. Immediately, the guests bowed their heads as Twilight and the others picked up on that and did the same to show their respect.
As the pair walked down the aisle, they were accompanied by some Pokémon. By Skystar's side was her trusty partner, who also so happened to be a Buizel, just like Sky's. As for Queen Novo, she had a weasel that looked similar to her daughter's, but it was much bigger. The two royal figures got on stage as they stood before their thrones. The guests raised their heads to look at the pair as they turned to look at the teen.
"Congratulations on your victory, Sir Sky. You fought with the bravery and courage of some of our most trusted knights. As such, per your win today, you will not only be given the title of honorary knight, but you'll be allowed one request from me, and if I can fulfill it, then I shall."
"Any request?" said Sky, shocked to hear that was his prize for winning.
"Indeed. Now then… tonight let us celebrate this young man!" declared Queen Novo as the guests agreed with her statement.
The party kicked off as some music began to play. As some asked the two, most guests were shown dancing on the dancefloor, including Rarity and Twilight. As for Spike, the boy stood on a chair while munching on some food. Applejack had decided to sit back and watch as she wasn't much for these formal social environments. And for Sky, the boy was on stage near the Queen and princess as he'd been given his own chair to watch the festivities. He noticed a few Pokémon were out and about, enjoying the party as he got an idea.
"You know, my Pokémon should also enjoy this victory. Come on out, guys!" said Sky as he tossed all his Pokémon, emerging one by one.
The boy's idea was caught on by the others as Applejack, Rarity, and Twilight all released their Pokémon, apart from the bookworm's Metagross. Eventually, the other guests did the same as the ballroom was filled with people and Pokémon. The boy saw his crew having fun as he looked to join them when a maid pulled him back.
"Sorry, but you can't leave this spot."
"What do you mean?" asked the boy.
"Per tonight, your responsibility is to look dignified."
"What?!" groaned the teen as he slumped in his chair.
Queen Novo took notice of the boy, but after hearing what her daughter had to say about him, she had doubts. She was grateful he had saved her from the incident earlier, but that wasn't enough to see why her daughter liked the boy. At that moment, Skystar got up from her chair and rushed toward Sky to grab his hand and pull him out.
"Skystar!"
"Your Highness!"
Queen Novo and the maid called out to the girl as she winked at them before pulling the boy with her onto the dance floor. Sky was taken aback as he didn't expect the princess of all people to disobey rules. Not that he was complaining, as he was finally out of the chair and could have some fun.
"You're welcome!" said the princess.
"Huh?"
"For saving you from dying of boredom," winked the girl. "It's the least I could do to repay you for saving me."
"Saving you?" remarked Sky as he then had a realization.
He looked at the girl as his mind flashed back to what happened by the docks. He didn't recognize it because the girl's hair and clothes were messy because of her hard labor, but her voice and how well she cleaned up to look majestic… there was no doubt that the girl standing before him was not only the princess but also the one he saved from danger.
"You… you're the princess…?" stated the boy.
"Took you long enough. Now, come on, let's dance!" said Skystar as she grabbed his hands and began to rock to the music.
"Sorry… it's just… I'm not much of a dancer," said the boy, as he wasn't as gracefully on the dancefloor as he was when battling.
"It's easy. Watch," smiled Skystar as she flashed a wink at the teen. "First, put your hand on my hip."
The princess instructed the boy, placing his hand on her hip. Sky looked at her like someone had jumped him in a dark alley. He felt a tad bit nervous, touching a girl like this—a princess, no less.
"Now, take my hand with your other hand."
He did as he was told, taking her smaller hand as she placed her free hand on his shoulder.
"Now, just step where I step and keep in rhythm with the music."
"Easier said than done."
"It's not that bad. Okay, now step with me…"
The pair began to move as he did what he was told and followed the girl's lead. He reminded himself not to step on the princess' toes unless he wanted to be executed.
"You're doing great. Keep it up!"
The princess' voice pulled him out of his mental torture and allowed him to see how he was doing. Despite not thinking about it, his feet slowly followed hers. He looked at the other pairs and realized he was moving in sync with them and the music. The boy looked at the girl with an eager smile, as all his nervousness was gone from his body, and noticed that she was smiling back at him like a proud parent.
Seeing the boy's goofy grin rise on his face made Skystar feel warm inside as if everything would be okay if she closed her eyes and drifted into an endless sleep. The sway and motion of the dance put them both in a trance of sorts. In a state of utter euphoria for them. Watching the pair, Rarity couldn't help but smile at seeing her friend having fun and enjoying quality time with the princess. Spike had gotten his fill for the evening as his stomach was bloated, while Applejack shook her head.
From her throne, Queen Novo eyed her daughter and the boy as she shook her head in disapproval. She expected her daughter to uphold the standards she taught about events like these, but she completely ignored them and went off to have fun. If anything, she'd say the boy himself was the cause of all this, as not only could her daughter not stop talking about him, but he encouraged her. She feared her daughter might be getting a bad influence as she still couldn't make out Sky as a person. After about five minutes, the song ended, causing the dance partners to split apart and applaud in appreciation of the performance.
Sky eventually found himself outside the ballroom as he stood on a balcony, wanting some fresh air from the many dance partners he had received after his stellar performance with the princess. With an exhale of breath, he rested his elbows on the balcony's edge, taking in the beautiful view.
"Tired already?"
Sky jumped a little as he turned to see the source of the voice. It was none other than Applejack, as the country gal had decided to find some peace from the loudness of the party. The farmer approached her friend as she sat on the balcony's edge, with her back to the scenic view.
"I guess I must be if I didn't hear you," responded the boy, relaxing a bit more than he already was.
"You got some fancy moves there, cowboy. You ever tried square dancing?"
"Honestly, I didn't think I had it in me. Even I amazed myself. I guess it's a good thing I had a princess by my side to make me look good if I fumbled." joked the boy as the country gal did the same. "What about you? How's your evening going, cowgirl?"
"Eh, some guys asked for a dance; the food ain't half bad. But I could go for an apple pie instead of those fancy hors d'oeuvres."
"That's sound delicious right about now," remarked the boy.
"There you are."
The two teens turned as they saw Princess Skystar. The girl had tried to find the boy who saved her as she wanted to talk to him.
"Hope I'm not interrupting anything."
"No, Applejack, meet the princess."
"Howdy, your majesty," said the country gal.
"Nice to meet you. So, are you two enjoying yourselves?" asked the girl as she leaned against the balcony.
"It's a nice party, just it ain't my type. No offense, princess," explained Applejack.
"It's alright. I know what you mean. Honestly, it can be pretty tiresome, not to mention boring." sighed Skystar.
"Really? I thought being a princess would be everything," said Sky as he looked at the girl.
"It's more than just telling people what to do. I'm sure you two have responsibilities, and so do I. Like tonight. My mother wants me to sit and observe how these events go to know what to do when I'm queen. But I don't like to sit still; I want to get out there and have fun. Just last month, I went off treasure hunting with some friends, and when we arrived, my mother was disappointed that I didn't tell her I went to do something dangerous. She's kept me grounded since then by doing hard labor around the castle and in town."
The girl let out a deep sigh she didn't know she had in as it felt like a huge weight was lifted off her shoulders.
"That's why I disobeyed the standards and dragged you on the dance floor. Sorry if that upset you in any way. I should've asked."
"Like you said, you did me a favor from dying of boredom," remarked Sky as he chuckled, making the princess giggle and blush.
"To think my savior from earlier has a sense of humor. I knew there was a reason I liked you," smiled the girl.
"What do you?" asked Applejack.
"Well, Sky here saved me from a terrible fate. That's why I'm still standing here," said the princess as she leaned on his arm and grabbed it.
"I see," said the country gal.
"So, are you two traveling together?" asked Skystar.
"We both came here because we're entering the Equestrian League. We going for our fourth badge," explained Sky.
"I had a feeling. You know that Buizel of yours was very strong in today's competition. All your Pokémon are," said the girl as she was impressed by Sky's skills as a trainer.
"Thanks."
"Say, are you two up for a little hike? I know a place we can hide for a while. It's not too far, and no one knows about it but me."
The two trainers looked at each other and gave a nod. The princess smiled as she began to sneak all three past the guards and out of the castle. The hile through the nearby surrounding forest behind the castle wasn't as bad as both trainers thought. The scenario and abundant types of Pokémon that populated the trees around them were quite enjoyable. Princess Skystar had her arm hooked around Sky's the entire time. As for the girl, she was enjoying this night's stroll even more.
"Well, we're here."
The trio arrived in a small clearing with a patch of soft grass. A nearby waterfall flowed into a small stream next to the clearing. The trees gave way to allow a clear view of the night sky. The sounds of various Pokémon added just enough background noise to complete the scene.
"Wow… this is wonderful," said Applejack as she was astonished by the image she saw.
"Beautiful," commented Sky.
"Thanks. I knew you two would like it."
"Come on out, everyone!" said the boy as he tossed his Pokéballs.
Applejack did the same as the group looked around their surroundings. They all began to run about and enjoy themselves. Princess Skystar pulled out her Pokéball and called her Pokémon to join. The princess' sea weasel emerged and looked at her owner as it wore a ribbon on its head. The girl told her partner to have fun with the others, and she did just that.
"So, how did you find this place?" asked Sky as the teens sat on the grass and watched their Pokémon mingle.
"Oh, I stumbled upon this when I was little. I was even more reluctant to attend my mother's and tutors' lessons. So, I snuck off into the woods anytime I didn't want to study. I came across this place when I was with Buizel; it's been a calm spot since then. A place where I can relax from my duties and just have fun."
"Well, I definitely feel more relaxed," remarked Aj.
"Just wait another ten seconds. Trust me, it'll be worth it,"
"Why?" asked both trainers to the princess.
Before either could inquire further, at that moment, every Pokémon in the forest and their own went completely silent. The silence followed was eerie to the trainers; they had never heard of a whole forest going quite like this. They heard it just as they were about to ask the princess what was happening. It was like a low humming sound, Pokémon in origin, but neither couldn't tell what was making it. Soon, a slightly high-pitched hum joined the first one. Before the pair knew it, a symphony of sounds came around them. It was almost as if every creature in the forest was singing in perfect harmony. It was so harmonious and perfect.
The princess elbowed Sky lightly and drew his attention to a massive tree before them. The boy told the farmer as they looked at the thing. At first, the country gal thought she was seeing things, but after adjusting her vision for a few seconds, she saw the massive tree swaying a bit. Not much for something its size, but it was still noticeable by the three teens. As it moved back and forth, it began to emit rays of light. It was a calliope of colors, painting the night sky like a painter running his brush over the canvas of the night. The atmosphere of light and sound was giving them a high unlike anything they'd ever felt before.
"The Pokémon are singing to the tree in gratitude for providing a home and support for them. In return, the tree responds to the singing with this 'light show' of sorts," explained the princess.
"This is a beautiful sight, princess. Thanks for sharing this with us," said Sky.
The girl looked at the boy, and her heart dropped more. Seeing him in the light from the tree made her feel the best she'd felt all night. The girl scooted closer and gently laid her hand on Sky's; the boy didn't seem to notice it as he was distracted by the sounds and sights of the view.
When the trio returned to the palace, the guests started leaving. Princess Skystar was sure they could sneak back in undetected, but that didn't seem to be the case. The girl's mother was waiting for her daughter, as she felt she knew where and who she snuck off to. The girl approached her mother as Twilight, Rarity, and Spike were behind the queen, having been held back, knowing Applejack and Sky would return for them.
"I didn't think you enjoyed being grounded even more!" said Queen Novo as she crossed her arms. "Tonight, your responsibility was to observe and remain dignified so that you can know what it's like to host these events when you're queen. I think another month of being grounded is in order."
"Another month!? Come on, Mom. I'm sorry for what I did last month, but you can't keep me from having fun. I still have time before I have to take things seriously."
"Time that would be well worth spent preparing so that you would have an easy time transitioning into the royal crown!" countered the woman, as she wasn't going to be swayed by her daughter.
Seeing the girl being scolded by her mother, Sky wanted to jump in and see if he could save her again; given the queen's mood, he didn't want to risk possibly being executed before he could have a gym battle.
"And as for you…"
"Oh, shit," mumbled the boy as it seemed he was gonna feel the queen's wrath regardless.
"What is your business regarding my daughter?"
"Huh?"
"Don't play coy with me, young man. You may have won today's competition, but that doesn't mean you can have your way with my daughter!"
"Mom!"
"Pardon me, your Majesty, but I have no such intentions with your daughter. She's merely a friend."
"From the way she speaks of you, it seems you're more than just a friend to her," said Novo, looking at her daughter. "Now, again, I ask you, what is your intention regarding my daughter?"
"He's here to challenge for a gym badge!" yelled Skystar.
At that moment, silence filled the room. Novo turned to look at her daughter before shifting her gaze toward the boy standing there. She approached her child to look her in the eye.
"Sky and Applejack are here to challenge you."
"Huh?!" said all five kids.
"Hold on… you mean… the gym leader for Mt. Aries… is your mother the Queen?" stated Spike.
"Yeah. Everyone, meet my mother. She is the queen and ruler of Mt. Aries and the Gym Leader." said Princess Skystar as she gestured to her mother.
"So… you're here for a challenge, eh?" said Queen Novo as she approached the boy to look him in the eye.
"Y-Yes, your Highness," responded the boy, feeling slightly scared by the woman's presence.
"Well, if you think winning my badge will be as easy as swaying my daughter, you have another thing coming, young man!" said Queen Novo as the large orange weasel Pokémon next to her stepped forward. The queen then snapped her fingers as a nearby guard stood at attention. "Have the servants bring out the selections."
"At once, Your Majesty," said the guard as he left with the ones in the ballroom.
"Come!" gestured Queen Novo as she left with her Pokémon.
Princess Skystar grabbed Sky's hand and led the boy away with the others trailing behind. The group arrived at a balcony that oversaw a large pool down below. The kids looked about and saw some maids standing near a crank. Queen Novo raised her hand as the maids turned the crank. A gate opened in the pool before something swam out of it. Everyone saw something moving through the water before it emerged. The creature's body was light blue with a white ruff around its neck. It had cream-yellowish ears-like fins of webbing on both sides of its head and a third on the top. It had blue ridges that ran down the length of its spine and onto its tail-fin. The tail resembled that of a dolphin or whale.
"A Vaporeon," said Twilight as Sky pulled out his Pokédex.
"Vaporeon, the Bubble Jet Pokémon and an evolved form of Eevee. When Vaporeon's fins begin to vibrate, it is a sign that rain will come within a few hours. Its body's cellular structure is similar to the molecular composition of water. It can melt invisibly in water."
"So that's a Vaporeon," said the boy.
Another figure swam out of the gate as it emerged from the water. A dragon-like Pokémon that was serpentine in shape and covered in blue and yellow scales appeared. It had white fins on top of its body and a tan underbelly. It had fins on the side of its face, a large, blue crest on its forehead, and white whiskers.
"Gyarados, the Atrocious Pokémon and the evolved form of Magikarp. Brutally vicious and enormously destructive. It is known for destroying cities in ancient times."
"That thing is tall!" said Spike as if Gyarados leaned over it could touch the humans.
Another figure swam out and emerged. A light blue, bipedal, amphibious Pokémon appeared. Its head was broad and round, with a little neck to distinguish it from the rest of its body. It had a wide mouth and tiny, black eyes. A wavy, purple stripe ran down its back. The Pokémon's hands and feet had three digits, and its outer layer of skin was slimy and slippery.
"Quagsire, the Water Fish Pokémon, and the evolved form of Wooper. Quagsire hunts for food by leaving its mouth wide open in water and waiting for its prey to blunder in unawareness. Because the Pokémon does not move, it does not get very hungry."
A fourth figure appeared for the humans to look at. It was a bi-pedal otter-like Pokémon. It was mainly light cyan blue, with a navy blue apron-like fringe of fur around its thighs that bore two scalchops, which could be removed and used as swords when it battled. It had a black platypus-like tail and small black ears. Its feet and paws were black, with three digits on each. It had a tuft of blue fur sprouting from the back of its head. It had ovular black eyes, four white whiskers, and a round pink nose.
"Dewott, the Discipline Pokémon and the evolved form of Oshawott. Its exquisite double-scalchop technique is likely the result of daily training, and it can send even masters of the blade fleeing in defeat."
A fifth figure emerged to join the others as it made its presence known. It was a bulky, bipedal, crocodilian Pokémon with blue scales. It had large, powerful jaws lined with several sharp fangs. Three teeth were visible when its jaws were closed: two in its lower jaw and one in its upper. Its eyes were red with black markings around them and ridges above them, and its lower jaw was yellow. There were three red spines on its body, each with three points: one on top of its head, one between its shoulders, and one near the tip of its tail. There were also several large, rectangular scales on its arms, knees, tail, and waist. Its back was slightly hunched with ridges behind the shoulders and hips. On its lower body was a yellow, V-shaped marking that extended up to its thighs; there was a thin line through the center of the marking. Its arms had five clawed fingers, and its feet had three clawed toes.
"Feraligatr, the Big Jaw Pokémon, and the evolved form of Croconaw. Feraligatr intimidates its foes by opening its huge mouth. In battle, it will kick the ground with its thick and powerful hind legs to charge at the foe at an incredible speed."
All five Pokémon stood looking at their Queen as she turned to look at the two trainers.
"If you wish to beat me, select which Pokémon you want to fight. Three each."
"So, we pick?" said Applejack, amazed to learn that this was how Queen Novo handled her challengers.
The country gal and Sky looked at the selection of Pokémon before them as they were deciding which three Pokémon they would like to fight.
"Well," asked Princess Skystar.
"I take… Dewott!"
The small jumped out of the pool and stood with crossed arms.
"... Vaporeon…"
The Pokémon joined its comrade as it exited the pool and stood on all fours.
"And… Feraligatr."
The bipedal croc emerged as he stood tall behind the other two smaller comrades.
"Sky…" said the princess to her friend.
"I'll take Quagsire, Gyarados, and… that one!"
The boy pointed but wasn't pointing at any of the three Aj picked, but at the Pokémon by the queen's side. The teen's choice surprised everyone as he chose a Pokémon that wasn't part of the lineup.
"You want to battle… against my Floatzel," repeated Queen Novo as her trusty Pokémon had a fierce scowl.
"Sky, no!" said the princess, grabbing the boy's hand to lower it and look him in the eyes. "My mom's Floatzel is not to mess around it. It's strong."
"That's why. I want that badge, but I also want to defeat the strongest Pokémon possible to know that I rightfully earned it."
"I admire that, but trust me, you don't want to face my mother's Floatzel. As strong as your Pokémon are…"
"He's decided, sweetie!" stated Queen Novo sternly. "If he wants his funeral, I'll gladly give it to him."
Skystar looked at the boy, giving him a look of plea as if to convince him to rethink his choices, but the boy's mind was made up. She could only sigh as she released his hand and stepped back to join her mother, who stepped forward along with her Floatzel. The teen looked at the big weasel, who growled cocky as if telling the boy he made a mistake choosing to fight it.
"Prepare yourselves, you two. It will not be easy," said Queen Novo as she left with her Floatzel. "Prepare the guest rooms."
"Yes, Your Majesty," said the guard as he left to inform the maids.
Skystar looked at Sky and the others as her face told it all. The princess was concerned for the boy, and his decision to take on her mother's strongest Water-type Pokémon wasn't sitting well with her. The girl simply wished the boy good luck as she left. Sky and Applejack looked at each other before turning their attention down to their chosen opponents as it was clear the latest challenge on their road to the Equestrian League wouldn't be easy.
Author's Note: Well, it seems Sky has certainly made an impression on Princess Skystar, though it seems the Queen thinks otherwise. Regardless, the time has come for both Applejack and Sky's fourth Gym challenge. However, while in Sky's situation, he might live to regret on insisting on facing Queen Novo's royal pet as part of his battle. Time to see if both will be victorious.