Hi! *Phantomness waves*

Disclaimer/Notes: I don’t own pokemon, only the plot and characters I have made up. Nintendo owns pokemon. Also, <> is for telepathy, ** for thoughts, and italics for pokemon talking.

Ash is in an alternate dimension that does not affect where he lives.

Chapter 6: Fractured Starlight

Ash had been in the alternate dimension for little over a week. The princess Garnet danced attendance on him, much to his eternal annoyance.

He didn’t’ want to marry her! He only wanted Lance-chan, which was why he was working.

However, he mused, as he gave Spirita a good brushing over and fed her some ice cubes, at least she wasn’t trying to jump him in a secluded hallway like a freaky maid had attempted to do.

There was one good point about being a guardian. He did not have to exist in another dimension. So there was no risk of running into a crazy doppelganger.

He adjusted the chocolate brown tunic with the gold-worked belt he was currently wearing at the moment, before going outside.

There, the king and his councilors were attempting to have a discreet meeting, but the stupidly obvious signs were too much for Ash to ignore, so he cloaked himself in the shadows and snuck over.

“My liege, yester night the peasants burnt down the summer palace.” A man in a yellow robe told the king.

“What?!”

“It is true.” A woman in a robe of green striped with purple put in. “The messenger pidgeys brought the news this morning.”

“But those – why, those ungrateful louts!” The king declared.

“Perhaps, sire, we should lighten the taxes?” A young man in a gray robe asked.

“No one asked for your opinion, Darryl.” The king said, upset.

“He does have a point though,” Glenn, the man who had spoken earlier concluded.

“Indeed,” Nora the woman put in.

Seven more counselors nodded.

King Gregory sighed to himself. “Well, I suppose 50% may be a bit high…”

Ash frowned. * Fifty percent?! *

Mewtwo shimmered next to him. < They will attack soon, Ash. >

I know.

If you want to show your true colors, then you know what you must do.

I understand what you are implying, and I will fulfill my duty to save the one I love. Ash declared.

< That’s the spirit! > Mewtwo said strongly.

Ash smiled, and went upstairs to find a practice room. He spent a good three hours in a mirrored chamber, practicing his weaponry.

Always be prepared, after all.

He sheathed his sword and two daggers, and tucked the assorted throwing objects back into subspace. There was still a bare half hour before dinner.

Remember he had not investigated the library yet, he made a mental note to go there and examine the books wherein, perhaps there were more magic spells, or maybe even psychology texts.

After a quick wash, pity showers had not been invented yet; Ash dressed himself in sapphire blue silk and headed downstairs for dinner.

The meal was almost finished, and Ash was finishing up his delicious baked apple tart, while the king was lifting a morsel of crumb cake to his lips, the doors of the castle burst open under the force of a battering ram.

Peasants swarmed in, followed by armed men dressed in the red and yellow garb of the Scarlet Kingdom.

Apparently, the peasants had cut a deal with the lord of that area. They would hand over the castle and king, and keep their land and money, as Scarlet Kingdom was, leagues away from the Kingdom of Holies and there was no real incentive to govern this barren patch.

The king panicked.

His advisors each released their pokemon, surrounding the king to protect him and his family.

Guards ran in and tried to fight, but the peasants swarmed like ants over everything, enraged. Blood lust ran high in the tense atmosphere.

Ash quit eating and touched his key. * Couldn’t they have waited until later? Ah well… *

“Key that hides the power of the stars, reveal your true form before me. Your master under the seal of contract Ash commandeth you, Release!”

Pulling out a handful of pokemon cards, Ash tossed them into the air to attack. Pandemonium struck as Primeape and the Machop chain joined the fray, followed by the ghost-types.

Haunter licked a good deal into paralysis, while Gastly used Hypnosis to wonderful effect, Gengar’s Confuse Ray struck down others, and Mysdreavus’ Curse so terrified a few men that they dropped the battering ram and fled.

Most of the peasants ran in full riot, however, the army still remained.

“Hah! He’s only a prince, we’ll just finish him off with this group.” A general called, as he charged in full armor.

To his horror, Ash’s eyes suddenly glowed red with fire energy before a flamethrower sent the man up in smoke.

Growling, the rest of the men charged in frenzy. Ash jumped onto Moltres’ back and soared into the air, before a Fire Blast knocked most of them out.

In terror, the others fled.

The king was in shock as Ash climbed down and recalled his pokemon.

The counselors were in shock as well.

“So powerful…” Darryl said in awe. “And all different types…”

“I’ve never seen some of those before!” Nora added.

“If he marries the princess…” Glenn mused.

Ash fixed a solemn expression in his face as he turned to King Gregory. “Are you unharmed, my lord?”

“Y-yes!” Gregory stuttered in shock.

Ash smiled. “I am glad to hear it.”

His staff shrunk back into a key and he placed it around his neck again.

Without another word, Ash retired to his quarters.

“He must marry Garnet.” Nora advised the king.

Gregory nodded to himself. That had to be the fail-proof solution.

Unfortunately, they forgot to factor in one thing.

Ash’s own feelings.

End Chapter!