Chapter 23: Wedding Planners

Embarrassed, bruised and exiled by Ash and Touya, former Prime Minister Wardack, former queen Dacia and fake Prince Zabune were rescued by Team Rocket. It was revealed to the Kingdom of Lihnea that Zabune was the son of Wardack, not King Schlaf, and they planned to launch a coup to kill Schlaf while also igniting a war with the Kingdom of Palouf. On top of that, Zabune's plans on Sushie were also brought to the limelight in such a disgusting matter. Now, instead of becoming slaves in Sandora, Team Rocket took the family to a secluded place. "She may be younger than me," Zabune scoffed. "But even she's got too much of what I seek."

"Excuse me!?" snapped Jessie.

"You knew I was talking about you?" gasped Zabune. "You got too much in the way of strength and figure. I'd rather have someone petite and easy to hold."

"Eh, many people have deir preferences," Meowth shrugged before they reached a cavern alight. Reaching inside, they found a stocky gray-haired man wearing a royal suit.

"It seems as though you succeeded in bringing over the family of Lihnea," he welcomed. "Well done, Team Rocket." Seeing the balding man, Dacia gasped.

"Count Balsa!" she realized. Zabune blinked to the name.

"Who is this man?" he asked,

"Balsa was an aristocrat of the Kingdom of Belfast," Wardack pointed out. "He was an opponent of Belfast forming an alliance with the Kingdom of Mismede."

"So you know that I have a bit of a grudge against King Tristwin and Mochizuki Touya," Balsa referred.

"We're also victims of Mochizuki Touya's overreach," Dacia argued. "Of course, my dearest son was dreadfully humilated by the Prince of the Duchy of Brunhild, Ash Ketchum." Balsa smiled.

"In other words, we have some common enemies," he assessed. Zabune punched the wall.

"Look, I don't care if we have these enemies or not!" he argued. "I want Sushie Ernea Ortlinde for myself!"

"Ease up, my son," Wardack mulled. "It's something that we've got someone who tried to assassinate King Tristwin to make the eldest matriarch of Mismede as the accused-"

"I DON'T CARE!" snapped Zabune. "I want payback!"

"If you listen," Jessie started. "We can offer an idea to get back at the twerps!" Zabune realized that Team Rocket would be helping in the revenge plot.

"Now, let's get down to business," Balsa started. They discussed throughout the night. The next day at the mansion, Ash and Linze had their Pokémon out. Jigglypuff began to spin like a wheel aimed at Cyndaquil.

"Remember, this is like how we battled Whitney's Miltank," Ash recalled. Cyndaquil prepared for the wheel to charge at him.

"Now, use Rollout!" ordered Linze. Jigglypuff sped at Cyndaquil, but he dodged the attack by mere inches.

"Nice move, Cyndaquil! Use Smokescreen!" Cyndaquil's back flared up before he breathed a heavy plume of smoke. Jigglypuff raced in and out, but it didn't sound like it made an impact.

"Keep using Rollout to gather the Smokescreen!" Jigglypuff continued to roll, but she did it in circles, causing the Smokescreen to gather and make a pillar instead of it spread out.

"Now, that's a unique move. We can make one of our own-"

"Ash!" a voice rang out. Ash, Linze and the Pokémon turned to see Yumina standing with Alfred and Ellen. Quickly, Ash had an idea about the visit.

"Take five, guys!" he ordered. Linze huddled the Pokémon before gathering them to play. This allowed Ash and Pikachu to reach the family. "Duke Alfred… Duchess Ellen… Nice to see you two again- OOF!" Ellen, tears flowing from her eyes, slammed into and hugged Ash hard. She squeezed him with her arms and the slam knocked the oxygen from his lungs.

"Oh, Ash!" she cried. "Thank you, oh, thank you! So happy!" She kissed Ash's face repeated while he struggled to breathe, his eyes almost leaving his head.

"D… D, Duch… ess!" he coughed. The others worried about Ash's health.

("That's not good!") gawked Pikachu as Alfred and Yumina reached for the two.

"Aunt Ellen!" called out Yumina. "You're suffocating him!"

"Easy, dear!" added Alfred. "Let the boy breathe!" Ellen gulped and softened her hold.

"Oh!" she gasped. Ash dropped to his knees with his face covered in Ellen's saliva and lipstick, coughing to get air back in him. Yumina huddled over Ash before cleaning his face. "My deepest apologies, Ash!" A slight laugh came from Ash.

"That's alright, Duchess," Ash excused as Yumina helped Ash back to his feet. "And I have a feeling I know the reason. You must have heard about what happened in Lihnea, right?"

"That we did," Alfred confirmed. "Touya came to our estate the other day and explained everything. We were quite shocked to learn that that dreadful Zabune was the son of the Prime Minister and never a prince at all, and that the said man and his wife were secretly planning to assassinate King Schlaf… but that shock was absolutely nothing compared to the other one we had from viewing the other recording Touya showed us; the one you apparently did of Zabune's plans for my daughter." Ash remembered recording Zabune's plans to "rape and sodomize" Sue as the first against Touya's girls.

"Yup, I got him saying all of that," Ash nodded while his arms were folded in front of him. "As I've told Touya, it wasn't easy for me to hold myself back as I heard it all. I just wanted to tear him apart."

"You're not alone. I was absolutely furious as I've watched that recording… So much in fact, that I slammed my fist so hard on my table in a rage that it was destroyed, and my poor Ellen was driven to tears watching it all. Hearing that… that… demon planning to mentally and physically destroy our precious Sue upon marrying her was too much to bear." All Ash did was nod.

"Now you get how I felt… but at least it's over now."

"Yes, thanks to you," Ellen praised. "Touya also explained of how you utterly humiliated Zabune and gave him and his family the comeuppance they so rightfully deserved."

"Trust me," Ash agreed. "Like I told Touya about that, I'd personally feel a lot better if they executed that freak instead of just making him and his folks slaves in Sandora." Alfred agreed with nods.

"I wholeheartedly agree with you, my boy," he sided. "If it were up to me, I would even arrange a public execution for those three… but I suppose slavery is a rather fitting fate, nonetheless. Considering how they've never worked a day in their entire lives, slave labor is a much worse fate than death for them. In any case, Ash Ketchum… Ellen and I have come to personally thank you for keeping that monster away from our beloved daughter… so, thank you, Ash Ketchum."

"Yes," Ellen agreed. "Thank you, you dear, sweet, brave and wonderful boy. Thank you from the bottom of my heart." She resumed her hugs and kisses on Ash, but they were much gentler while still being tender. It left Ash smiling.

"It's my pleasure," he shrugged. "All for the girl I love." Alfred was all smiles.

"We were quite pleased when you personally came to ask for our daughter's hand the other week," he recalled. "In fact, Touya mentioned how you wanted to have her married so soon. Regardless, we're certainly prouder than ever now to have made the decision to betroth you to her." Ash smiled to the praise while Yumina approached.

"And Ash?" she spoke up. Ash turned to Touya's main fiancé. "I also want to thank you for what you did. Sue may be my cousin, but she's more like a real sister to me… and not only that, but the recording also showed that horrible Zabune planning to go after the rest of the girls after he's done with Sue… starting with me." Ash awed the admittance.

"Oh yeah…" he realized. "I nearly forgot about that bit." Yumina giggled to the lapse.

"I don't even want to think of what might've happened if you hadn't interfered. I never thought I'd actually say this, but I'd rather bathe in a tub full of Green Slimes and let them melt my clothes over Zabune's thoughts of fun." The idea of Yumina being naked made Ash shudder with his face becoming beet red.

"Yumina, please! Don't give me that image in my head!" The reaction made Yumina giggle.

"I still absolutely love that you're so preciously innocent… but it is true. In fact, that freak of a so-called 'prince' makes Slimes look about as cute as Pikachu as well as your and Touya's creatures in their smaller forms. All of the other girls would say the same thing. In any case, as my aunt and uncle have said… Thank you, Ash Ketchum… Thank you from the bottom of my heart." She finished it with a hug and a pair of kisses, one to each cheek. Ash blushed to the tenderness from Belfast's princess.

"Would you believe me if I said that I'd do the same thing if it was you? Don't take it the wrong way, you love Touya. I'm just-"

"I could imagine you doing that for anyone in danger."

"That's what I was gonna say." The exchange made Alfred and Ellen giggle. The announcement of Ash and Sue getting married had brought Brunhild to their feet over the next couple of days. Businesses have come to the mansion to help with making the arrangements on where to hold it. Back at the courtyard, Ash and Pikachu were with the sisters and Treasure.

"You've been hard at work with your Null Magic," Linze mentioned. "Is there a special reason?" Elze placed a hand on Linze shoulder.

"Touya suggested that Ash find his world and bring his mother to join for the wedding," she briefed. Linze awed the idea. "I mean, we were with Touya when he learned how to use Gate."

"Boy, you two were with Touya for some epic moments, huh?" wondered Ash. Linze and Elze giggled. "I've tried a few times with Treasure's help. I think I got it." He closed his eyes before focusing. With two hands, he palmed the air. "DIMENSION GATE!" The magic circles appeared before a new Gate opened.

"I think it worked!" awed Linze.

"Let's see before we can determine," Elze eased. The three peered in where they viewed a diner with empty seats, empty tables and the smell of hot meat grilling. That's when Ash saw his mother working behind a divider with a gray-haired man in a white lab coat. By him was a giant beetle with a large horn.

"I'm actually rather envious that Ash's Heracross enjoys your flowers more than what the Pokémon back at my ranch have grown," the gray-haired mentioned.

"Why would you be envious when you didn't have any role in it?" the mother questioned.

"I've always thought Heracross would remain at the ranch until Ash needs him again. Just imagine him calling for Heracross and he's nowhere around." The mother snickered to the detail.

"Any of Ash's Pokémon are always welcomed to stop by, even Charizard if he wants. They're a part of the family." The beetle buzzed while itching his head when he spotted Ash. He buzzed over and tackled Ash through the Gate.

"WHOA!" gasped Linze and Elze. Pikachu, realizing Heracross, came through the Gate and cheered, leaping into the mother's arms.

("We're back, Mom!") he cheered. The mother and the gray-haired seemed surprised with just happened.

"Pikachu?" she awed. "What's going on?" Pikachu nuzzled the mother's face, much to her delight as Linze watching in some concern for Ash with Heracross on him, sucking his head.

"I know, you miss me as well, Heracross," Ash assured. Heracross allowed Ash to stand up with Linze's help.

"So, this giant beetle's yours?" she asked.

"Yeah, Heracross can do that to me sometimes," Ash confirmed. "But this also means that we found my world."

"And there better be an explanation, young man!" the mother briefed. Ash gulped and turned to the mother. "Like, why aren't you with Misty and Brock?"

"It's a really long story, Mom," he gulped. Elze peered around the place while the gray-haired seemed dumbfounded.

"Is this a restaurant?" she asked.

"It's Delia's diner that she acquired from her mother when she retired," the gray-haired mentioned. Elze stepped through to get a better look at this diner.

"It's smaller than the restaurants I've seen in Belfast," she judged as a clown-like creature emerged. The clown had stick-like limbs that attached to large hands and feet to an egg-like body.

("New customers?") it wondered. Elze heard the clown-like creature, curiosity filling her head.

"What the heck is that?" she gulped.

"That's Delia's Mr. Mime that she named Mimey," the gray-haired identified. Elze seemed a bit clued in to the idea.

"Okay, I didn't think that it was a Pokémon," she gulped. "Um, no offense." Mimey shook to the comment as Elze turned to the gray-haired. "And were you having lunch?"

"I was," he replied. "Of course, you're addressing Professor Oak." Linze gasped to the name.

"You're the Professor Oak that Ash talks about?" she believed. "The one who has Ash's other Pokémon in storage?"

"Yes, by his own request," Oak clarified. That's when a giant purple sentient pile of sludge emerged and tackled Oak. The sight of the sludge, not to mention the attack on Oak, made Linze and Elze gasp and tremble.

"What the heck!?" gasped Elze. Oak recovered and looked to the sludge that was moving.

"Muk, when did you get here!?" he snapped. The sludge garbled while smothering Oak some more.

"This always happens with Ash's Muk," the mother sighed. Ash and Pikachu had their own flustered sighs. "Muk, how about you and Professor Oak come see this place?" Agreeing, Muk left Oak and slugged its way to the other side of the Gate before Oak and Mimey joined.

"It's still wonderful that we're the first of Touya's girls to meet Delia," Linze mentioned. The mother seemed confused.

"Of who?" she wondered.

"See, Linze and her twin sister Elze are two of the girls that fell for the Grand Duke of this city," Ash started as Touya arrived.

"Someone called for my moniker?" he voiced while he, Bajra and Kohaku approached.

"Touya!" greeted Elze. Seeing Delia and Oak, Touya believed that Ash accomplished his mission.

"You found your home, huh?" he assumed. "Hopefully, you don't go home without having your wedding." Ash irked at Touya's brazen reminder.

"Touya, let's not jump right into the fray without an explanation!" he snapped. Delia and Oak became curious to the news.

"What's this about a wedding, Ash?" asked Oak. Ash sighed to the discovery.

"Let's discuss this inside," Touya tried to ease the tension. "Besides, the queen and duchess are also here." He led as Ash, Delia, Oak and the Pokémon stood by.

"Okay, I am… utterly confused," Oak shrugged. Delia faced her son.

"Ash, what's going on?" she questioned. "And where's your cap? You never take that thing off of you!"

"The cap's in my room and cleaned," Ash replied. The Pokémon entered the mansion where Ash and Touya introduced everyone to each other. Muk body slammed Touya before Oak explained Muk's affection. Leen wasn't so keen on being near the Muck Pokémon. Renne had her apron straightened by Delia. Seeing Yuel, Delia awed the queen's labor progress. The same was apparent with Ellen's news of pregnancy. Delia gave the baby bumps a tender kiss. Sue came by to see the new people, though her main target was Ash.

"DARLING!" she cheered before jumping into Ash's arms.

"Here's my girl!" he chuckled. Delia awed Sue and came to the pair.

"So, you're my son's fiancé?" she figured. Sue turned to see Delia.

"I am!" she answered. "I saw you kiss my mom's stomach."

"Your mom is the duchess?" A nod from Sue made the Delia pet her head. "I see… and I can see why my Ash has fallen for you."

"Same with how I fell for him. I'm Sushie Ernea Ortlinde."

"I'm Delia, Ash's mother."

"I've wanted to meet you since I saw your picture." The two had a hug as Ash's beasts came out. Oak awed the creatures that emerged while Yumina held Kohaku.

"Who might these be?" he asked.

"These are the Divine Beasts that Ash resurrected," Yumina briefed as she named them.

"My stars…" hushed Oak.

"How do you think we felt after Master resurrected us after 5,000 years?" pointed out Duster.

"It is a lot to understand, especially with our true forms," Wukong added. Oak seemed perplexed with Wukong's claim.

"Your… true forms?" he repeated.

"Wukong can do it since his true form is the smallest among everyone else," Storm spoke, Wukong transformed for Oak, becoming his larger self.

"This is what I mean, mon," Wukong demonstrated. "Just imagine what the others would be like." Awed, Oak nodded to the claim.

"I see it now," he realized before there was a yelp. Everyone looked to see Charlotte being slammed by Muk with Hildegard and Renne watching.

"Can someone get this muck off of me!?" complained Charlotte. Oak and the beasts came over to see Leim struggle and help Charlotte up. Once freed, Charlotte sighed. "I heard this thing's pretty affectionate, but that's just ridiculous."

"I'm sorry, miss," Oak apologized as he itched his hair. "Muk will do that to anyone."

"So, I realize," Leim sighed. A door opened to where Linze, Delia, Sue, Lucia and Rosetta emerged as they had plans.

"I can't wait to tell Misty how I feel about what she said about Ash!" snapped Delia. "How could she say that!? If she had any feelings for Ash, she wouldn't have said those things!"

"Imagine how we all felt when we heard that," Linze mentioned. "However, she let herself lose to Sue."

"Still, what she said was incredibly immature," Delia acknowledged. Seeing the ladies, Oak and the servants were curious.

"Delia, what's going on?" asked Oak.

"Well, they're gonna take me on a trip to see Brunhild while we bridal shop," Delia mentioned. "Mimey will be fine in the mansion." Oak awed the idea while Sue knelt to Muk.

"We'll be back, okay?" she promised. "At least you don't eat our clothes like slimes we've dealt with." Muk garbled something in agreement. The ladies left. A few hours later, Ash seemed to be in the dining hall alone.

'I was able to bring Professor Oak, Mom and some of my Pokémon here like Heracross and Muk,' he minded. 'And I heard from Linze that they are taking Mom to the city to see what's there. If I can bring Mom and Professor Oak here, Misty and Brock can't be that difficult to pull off.' His mind began to think about what else could happen. 'Still, the girls are still pretty upset with Misty's words. Heck, I was upset with what she said when she thought I wasn't paying attention. Brock... How would he handle the fact that I'm getting married before he does?' Suddenly, a yelp. Ash heard and leaped into action before he found Muk on top of another visitor. Ash gasped as Pikachu also arrived from elsewhere in the mansion.

("King Cloud?") he gasped.

"Your highness!?" gasped Ash. Cloud had a shy laugh.

"Prince, I wanted to come and see you," he admitted. "I wasn't expecting to see this, let alone be pinned." Ash sighed as Pikachu got Muk to squirm off. Ash helped Cloud to his feet. "Apparently, meeting the other leaders and this… pile of living goo wasn't exactly the best choice to make."

"Yeah, but he's meaningful," Ash assured before he and the Pokémon followed. "So, how's Lihnea?"

"The people there are showing plenty of patience and I've helped with the factions around the kingdom with Koupe's aid."

"And I heard that the Kingdom of Palouf sent their well-wishes."

"I wouldn't call Princess Lucienne a well-wish. When she heard about what you did to Zabune, she became eager to see you."

"I bet. She's always invited."

"It is much appreciated." They came to the main hall as they found Touya with Tristwin and Alfred.

"Prince Ash!" called out Tristwin. "Just the boy I was looking for." Ash, Cloud and the Pokémon gathered with the rest.

"Your highness, what's up?" called Ash.

"We were speaking with Grand Duke Touya about the future," Alfred mentioned. "We learned that preparations for the wedding will take two days. Hopefully, that will be enough time for you to hear of our proposal." Ash and Pikachu seemed interested to the King and Dukes' offer.

("Lay it out for us,") Pikachu wished.

"See, it regards the future and how we can establish new peace and prosperity," Tristwin started. "As you know, Touya and Yumina would be considered the king and queen of the Duchy of Brunhild or maybe Belfast should anything happen to Yuel, myself or our soon-to-arrive child. It would also be similar should Alfred, Ellen or the child end up in a dire situation."

"It could also be to me, though that might not happen for a very long time," Touya joked.

"Right…" sneered Ash. "So, what, are you suggesting that-"

"HELP!" squawked Tempest. Everyone looked up to find Tempest flying in. They watched as Tempest fell into Touya's arms.

"Tempest, what's up?" he asked. Tempest started to calm a little.

"IT'S THE GIRLS!" she snapped. "THEY'VE BEEN CAPTURED!" The patriarchs gasped to the news.

"Captured?" repeated Cloud. "By who?"

"There were a bunch, but I recognized the Team Rocket emblem!" cried Tempest. Now, Ash and Pikachu seemed mad.

"We need to act, now!" urged Ash. "Tempest, where did they go?"

"I don't know, I was caught up in a smog cloud and escaped!" irked Tempest. Ash, Touya and Pikachu suspected foul play.

"I don't like this," Cloud added.

"Right, let's go!" urged Touya. The younger royals left for Brunhild. It was in front of the boutique that Cloud found one of Delia's shoes.

"Here's a heel," he pointed out as he picked it up. Seeing the heel, Ash and Pikachu recognized it.

"That's mom's heel!" pointed out Ash. "Pikachu, see if you can't get a lead with that." Pikachu agreed before Cloud offered the heel. A few whiffs later, Pikachu sprinted off, picking up the scent.

"Let's go!" urged Touya. He, Cloud, Ash and Pikachu were entering a danger they couldn't predict. Was this Team Rocket's plan, and why go and kidnap Delia and the girls?

TO BE CONTINUED...