Chapter 11 Ash had just finished eating when he felt-something touch his mind. Ash fell over onto his back in surprise. "Ash? What's wrong?" Misty asked. "He just tripped again." Brock said dismissively. Mew and Mewtwo knew what had happened. 'Quick! Get Pikachu over here! It's time to enter the other realm.' Mew called. Pikachu came running. 'Ash! Grab your bag! Where's my pokeball?" Ash did as told and put on his bag and dug out his pokeballs. 'You must return me.' Ash nodded and like usual. "Mew! Return!" In a stream of garnet, Mew was recalled into the pokeball. "Pikachu?" Ash turned and found his pokemon running toward his trainer. Ash stretched out his arms and caught Pikachu as the pokemon jumped. Ash then looked around to the pokemon present. "Now what?" Ash asked. 'Now say goodbye.' Mewtwo replied. "Wha? Goodby-" Before Ash could finish his sentence, an ashen light crept over his vision. Ash turned around to see no one there either. It was like he and Pikachu had just-disappeared. "Mew! What's going on?" Ash asked in a small voice. 'We are entering the second world. Hope you have seatbelts because, from what I remember, this is heck of a ride.' Ash groaned and looked out into the white that seemed endless. "How long do we stay like this?" 'Not long I'm afraid.' "What do you mean by that?" Ash asked. "Look Ash!" Ash was interrupted by Pikachu and he looked out into the white. Pikachu had seen it before Ash; a brighter light was heading his way. Ash stared in horror as the light began to pick up speed and it seemed to be directed in their direction. 'That is what I mean.' Mew sent telepathically as the yellowish light engulfed them. Krofost fortress. A figure emerged from the doorway. It was unlike the figure that had gone in. The old figure of a twisted decrepit old man was gone, the figure that emerged from the chamber was in total contrast. It was a young boy with red spiky hair that resembled Gary Oak. "I never thought that I would do this for anyone. Let alone a person who's supposed to be my greatest rival." Krofost picked up a bag in the armory and another in the kitchen. 'He should arrive any day now. I think it wise to look over in the forbidden regions first, most likely he'll show up there. Krofost picked up another bag from his keep and set out on the road. "Look out council! I go to find myself and my destiny once more!" Shouted the sorcerer to no one. Krofost chuckled when no answer came and continued walking. 'Just you wait council, I'll see your downfall yet.' Second World. "Ooooo! That hurt!" Ash moaned as he opened his eyes. Mew popped out of his pokeball and snickered. "Bet you wish you'd gone into a pokeball too." Ash blinked and then realized that Pikachu was in the same boat he was. "Next time, warn me." Moaned Pikachu. "I hate to think about the trip home." Pikachu moaned as Ash got up. Ash noticed that his cloths had changed. Not a big deal, he had expected something to that degree. He wore a white shirt, black pants, a simpler green backpack and white boots. His belt was a contrast because it was a gold colour and his cloak was a gold colour as well "Where are we Mew?" Mew flew up a little ways and took a quick look around. Mew floated back down to Ash and giggled. "We're in luck! I think that the nearest kingdom is two days walk from here." Ash and Pikachu fell over. "That's in luck! Geez! I wonder what bad luck would've been." Ash said in a whiney tone. Mew giggled and flew in Ash's personal space. 'You have Rapidash don't you? It won't even take half a day to ride there.' Ash laughed. Mew had thought of everything before they left. Ash looked down at his pokeballs and realized something. "I don't recall being able to hold eight pokeballs at one time! What's going on here!" Ash demanded at Mew. Mew looked a little sheepish and sighed. 'Lugia and Ho-oh wanted some extra protection for you so, they convinced Charizard and another pokemon to come along with us. I think it was a Dragonite or a Dragonair, anyway you're allowed to use them in emergencies only.' Ash smiled. Charizard was back and he would finally get to meet a Dragonite! This might not be so bad a trip after all. "So where to first?" Ash asked Mew. "You know this place best so I think you should be our guide for now." Mew landed on Ash's hat and pointed to the right. "Let's go to the water kingdom Cerulean. There we can ask for safe passage across the sea so we can go to the kingdom tournaments!" Ash smiled at his pokemon's enthusiasm. "Is that anything like a pokemon battle?" Pikachu asked. Mew nodded. "Alright! This place won't be so bad after all!" Ash pulled out Rapidash's pokeball and began a journey he was sure he would never forget. Meanwhile 'There is no way I'm going to get out of this alive!' Thought a red haired girl as she was running. A band of men cloaked in darkness ran after their prize. 'They can run longer than I can, my only hope is to run my fastest and try to lose them. I can't allow them to get my cargo.' "There's no use to run Princess." Yelled one of the men behind her. The girl pressed on, hoping against all odds that she would get away somehow. On throughout the forest they ran, pursuing the girl and her cargo of an unhatched poke egg. 'I can't go on like this, they'll get me sooner than later.' The girl was tired and badly hurt; scrapes and bruises marked her legs and arms. 'I swear I won't go back to being a prisoner, I won't!' The memories of her captivity for the last two days haunted her like a bad nightmare you remembered when you woke up. It was during her coronation that she and her egg had been kidnapped. "You won't get away!" Shouted another voice behind her. Mysterious shuddered inwardly and ran harder. Ash had recalled Mew when she said she needed to take a nap so Mew showed Rapidash the way mentally. Ash was enjoying the ride when someone suddenly came out of the bushes to his right. "Whoah! What the?" Ash said as soon as he realized he had company. It was a familiar face with fair red hair and blue eyes that almost matched his own now. 'I don't believe it! It's Misty's alternate self!' The Princess stood in mute shock as she stood before him; a prince, with two pokemon. 'I don't believe it! What would he be doing out here? A prince like this must be on his way to the tournaments but I've never heard of a prince having two pokemon before.' Before she could think about anything else, her pursuers caught up to her. "Now surrender! You will come back with us! WHAT THE BLAZES?!!!" The man was in total shock as soon as he realized that the princess was not alone. It was a prince and a very powerful one at that. "Who the devil are you?" Asked one of the four men that charged out of the bush after Misty's alternate. Even if she wasn't Misty, Ash felt he had to help her. "These guys bothering you?" Ash asked the girl before him. The girl could only shake her head in a yes under the gaze of her blue-eyed savior. "Pikachu! Thunderbolt now!" The prince ordered. Mysterious could only marvel as the pokemon did as he was told. "Pikachuuuu!" Electricity sparked from the pokemon that singed and knocked the four captors unconscious. Mysterious found herself alone with this prince now and felt something she had never felt before. "Are you lost or something?" Ash asked the girl in front of him. Mysterious came out of her mute stance and nodded. For some reason, she was having a difficult time speaking. Ash wasn't sure what to do so he decided on a course of action. " Here, you can come with me. I'm headed to Cerulean. Is that where you're from?" Ash asked. "Yes." Was all she could say. Ash got down off of Rapidash and she tensed. 'It's like something out of a fairy tale.' Thought Mysterious as she watched the prince before her. 'He comes in on a white horse and rescues the damsel in distress. Oh, don't look at me with those eyes of yours! They're so-enchanting.' Ash moved toward her and she felt her heart skip a beat. "Would you like to ride Rapidash for a while? You look like you're exhausted." Mysterious blinked. She was a princess that had been kidnapped for two days of course she was tired. 'DEAR LORD! I must look a mess to him! I'm dirty, bruised and slipshod. Why is he being so polite to me? Could it be that he likes me? Oh! Why am I thinking this way! Snap out of it girl!' Mysterious scolded herself mentally before she realized he was offering her a ride. "I would love to." Before she could say another word, Ash helped hoist her onto Rapidash's back by picking her up by the waist. 'That's odd. I shouldn't be that strong.' Ash thought to himself as he picked Mysterious up. 'Must be a side effect of sorts.' Ash motioned to Pikachu and the pokemon jumped from the road onto Ash's shoulders. It was going to be a long walk. Mysterious stared at the boy as he took the reigns and began to walk the horse. 'What a strong prince. He picked me up as if I weighed nothing at all. I wonder what he's doing here.' She watched him lead the pokemon she now knew as a Rapidash and sighed inwardly. 'He's as calm as a lake on moon festivals eve. Cute too.' Mysterious then realized what she was doing and shook her head. 'What am I thinking! Snap out of it girl! You are sworn to never marry a man if he was a prince. Find true love, remember? But still..' "Ash?" Pikachu said in a quiet tone. Ash turned his head towards Pikachu. "Hmm?" "She's fallen asleep." Ash turned around to see that Pikachu was right and that the girl he had saved earlier was fast asleep on Rapidash. "You should stop for the night." Pikachu said. Rapidash snorted. "There is plenty of time to ride left in this day. I'm not the least bit tired! You should ride with her on me Master. She'll slip off any other way." Ash thought about it for a minute and agreed. Ash slipped himself behind his Misty look alike and cradled her in-between his reigns and arms. Ash had his arms around her and she was sitting sidesaddle. "If we get too heavy, tell me and we'll stop." Ash ordered. Pikachu jumped into Ash's backpack and fell asleep too. "I will." Ash looked to the road ahead of him and sighed. This was going to be a long trip. Ash stared out at the sunset until it got dark and still they traveled on. Ash felt the girl shiver and blushed as she snuggled closer to him. "I think it's time we stopped for the night." Ash said as calmly as he could. Rapidash felt the shift in weight and realized his discomfort. Rapidash was a little tired too so he trotted over to the side of the road and stopped. "Mew? You awake." Ash asked. Mew popped out of the pokeball and smiled. "Yep. Have been for a while too. Need some help?" Ash nodded and Mew used her power to lift her up so Ash could slide out from under her. Ash set up his new sleeping bag and realized that there was only one. Before Ash could order Mew to put her in the sleeping bag, something happened. "What?" Ash gasped as the bag suddenly glowed and became two sleeping bags. Ash looked over his shoulder at Mew and she died down her psychic glow a bit. Ash put her to bed and snuggled in with Pikachu. Mew and Rapidash went into their pokeballs and all was silent. Morning came around and found Ash traveling the exact same way as the day before. 'I should stay in here. Another thing these people don't know about is pokeballs. All their pokemon are outside all the time.' "No kidding." Ash asked aloud. Ash had found the poke egg that his Misty look alike friend this morning and was shocked. Ash made Pikachu keep it warm for her in his pack while they were traveling so Pikachu was listening to the conversation. 'Another thing you should watch for is the way you talk to me. If you suddenly start talking to me aloud like this, people will think you mad. Talk telepathically.' 'But it gives me a headache.' Ash sent back. Mew dismissed the idea and continued. 'Also, if anyone asks what kingdom we're from, say "a kingdom no more.". Got it?' Ash was puzzled for a minute. 'What do you mean "A kingdom no more?" Does it mean I don't have a kingdom or something like that.' Ash asked. Mew hesitated in response. 'It means that you're a wandering prince without a kingdom. Nobility will assume without you saying anything more that your kingdom was either destroyed or that you are on a quest for a tournament. Princes that fight in tournaments usually are denounced by the kingdoms that born them so they can fight with no ties to a kingdom.' 'Makes sense in a twisted sort of way.' Ash thought to himself. Just then, his Misty look alike snuggled closer to him on Rapidash again. Ash was very uncomfortable with his arms around a girl that resembled Misty. He was expecting her to wake up any moment and give him a sever thrashing because he was holding her. 'How much longer to Cerulean?' Ash asked Mew a bit panicked. Mew giggled in her pokeball and replied. 'Not soon enough for you I'm afraid.' Mew could almost feel his discomfort and nervousness as his new friend snuggled closer. Mysterious awoke to an uncomfortable bump on the walk. She was aware that someone else was with her and then she remembered the last day's events and blushed a bit. 'I'm with that prince. Where are we?' Mysterious didn't move any other part of her body but opened an eye a bit. She saw trees that she recognized as the outer trees of the aqua forest. 'I'm almost home.' Mysterious blushed a bit when she realized the way they were traveling; he was holding her between the reigns so she wouldn't slip or fall off. Mysterious blushed even more when she realized that she liked it. Then she heard a voice that she dreaded hearing a second time. "Stop, you there!" It was General James, the one who she was sure had tried to kidnap her. Ash looked behind him and saw James look alike with about ten people charging toward him on foot. "Hand over that girl!" Ash didn't need to hear another word. "I think its time you woke up anyway. Rapidash! Agility!" Mysterious was clutching to the prince for dear life as the Rapidash bolted into a dead run. "Sorry to wake you like this but I think you had better explain to me why I have eleven people chasing me." Ash asked. "It's because they want my-" Mysterious froze. She felt for her poke egg in her front carrying case. "Stop! My poke egg is gone!" Ash sighed. "No it isn't. Pikachu is keeping it warm for you in my bag. Who are these people that are after you?" Ash asked. Mysterious looked up into his eyes and found herself entranced again. 'He's putting his life in danger for a perfect stranger.' Mysterious felt herself slip a bit more in the saddle and almost fell off. Ash let go of the reigns for a moment to grab her. Mysterious blushed as he held her closer so she wouldn't fall off again. "Well? Who are these people?" Ash asked again. Mysterious shook herself out of her daze and answered. "That was General James. He was the one that I think that had me kidnapped. He thinks that if I go missing, he can take control of our kingdom." Ash stopped for a minute. Our kingdom? Ash then mentally scolded himself. 'She's a princess dope! Only people with pokemon are kings and queens remember? How could I be so naive?!' Ash then saw it for the first time. "Is that your castle?" Ash asked. It loomed ahead like a mountain! It was a giant castle that looked like something out of a fairy tale and it was coming up on them fast. Ash guessed that it must've been three hundred years old just by looking at it. "Yes! The bridge is to your right. Hurry! I think they just strung their bows." Ash turned his head to see from the corner of his eye about three people standing still over a rise and others in the distance. Ash knew that arrows and probably more arrows were about to be launched at them. Ash ducked as one whizzed by his head. "I could use some help here." Ash muttered under his breath. Ash charged over the open drawbridge and into the courtyard. 'Uh oh.' Ash thought as Rapidash was forced to jump over some tables. That wouldn't have been a problem but there were people still on the tables. 'Some sort of celebration. Looks like we came at the wrong moment.' Ash thought as they knocked over a stall. "Slow down!" squeaked a voice. Ash turned around to see that the men had followed them into the city. "Speed up Rapidash! They're still after us!" Rapidash ran faster. "Tell us where to go!" Ash ordered his new friend. Mysterious gulped down her fear and cleared her throat. "Take a right here!" Rapidash stormed around a corner. "Left!" Rapidash did a left as an arrow hit the wall where Ash's head was going to be. "Keep going straight until you come to a gate!" Rapidash did as told and they continued until they saw the gate. 'I wonder why they followed us into the city. If they're truly responsible for kidnapping a princess, why would the people let them enter like that.' Ash saw the gate up ahead and grinned. "Now what?" Ash asked. "Hope your Rapidash knows how to jump." Ash realized she meant for them to jump the gate. It wasn't that high for a gate but Rapidash was carrying two people. 'Could use some help here Mew.' Ash sent to his psychic pokemon. 'What would you do without me.' Mew sent back. Ash readied himself and gave the order. "Jump Rapidash!" Ash felt his heart leap into his throat as the jump scaled the gate. Ash opened his eyes a few seconds later and found that they were in some kind of garden. Ash then let go of his death grip on the reigns and on the girl. Ash looked to see if the people had followed them and sure enough, they did. Ash was soon cornered in the garden with about ten people armed with long bows pointing at him. 'Now what?' Ash thought to himself. Mysterious smiled and looked at the fools that had followed into her mother's garden. "What do we do now?" Asked Ash. Mysterious looked at the prince and wasn't surprised at what she saw. A look of pure determination and defiance crossed his face. "Now you leave this to me. Oh Slowking!" She called in a sweet voice. Ash saw the men suddenly gasp in fear as a Slowking emerged from underbrush. "Would you mind getting my mother for me? Please?" The Slowking obeyed and turned off into the underbrush. The men grinned when the pokemon disappeared. "Not smart princess. You won't be breathing by the time that pokemon gets your mother back here." Said one of the ten men. Ash didn't want to become a pincushion so he decided to take action before they did. 'Mew! Keep those arrows away from us!' Ash ordered as he held out his arm. The men stopped for a minute to make sense of what Ash was doing. "Rapidash! Flamethrower! Pikachu! Thunderbolt!" Ash ordered. Pikachu sprang from Ash's backpack onto his outstretched arm and obeyed. "Pikachuuuuuu!" A bundle of electricity leapt from pokemon to people and after a sea of fire blew most of them off their feet. Mysterious still had trouble believing that she was with a prince that had two pokemon. Mysterious looked to the men, all unconscious and badly hurt. The prince's pokemon known as a Pikachu was in the middle of the grass calculating his victims. "Nice one Pikachu." Mysterious looked back to the prince that held her and was stunned. He was praising his Pikachu's work? His pokemon should be honoured to serve him and here he is complimenting his pokemon like-like- 'Like it was a human. Who is this prince?' Ash had let out a sigh of relief as he saw that no one was moving. That had been a little too close for comfort. Ash saw more people coming and called Pikachu back to him. They were dressed in blue garb and armor; Ash didn't like what he was seeing. In the lead was the Slowking that the princess had ordered to get her mother; Ash didn't see any mother with them. 'I don't like this.' Ash thought as soon as they had him surrounded. Ash had one hand on the reigns and another on the pokeballs that he hoped held either Dragonite or Charizard. 'I had better be prepared for the worst. My little Misty look alike might have a mother who is distrusting of me; she might think I tried to kidnap her girl.' Just then a woman appeared from out of the archway that the blue soldiers had come from. Ash was in for a great big shock, Misty's alternate mom looked like Jessie! "Mom!" Ash let go of the princess and she leapt off of Rapidash. The soldiers ignored her as she ran by them and leapt into the queen's arms. To Ash's surprise, it was a southern accent that replied to the princess. "Mah baby! Mah sweet little baby! Yah home at last! Were have ya'll been? Ah've been worried sick." Ash then remembered someone that looked a lot like Jessie but wasn't her. 'Jessiebelle. So in this reality, Misty's mom is James fiancée. That's almost funny as it is weird.' Ash let a big grin slowly creep onto his face. 'Now that wouldn't be something you see everyday back home; Misty being emotionally nice.' "Oh mother! I had the most terrible time! Four men in black kidnapped me and they took me into the woods! I managed to escape with my egg but they came after me. If it wasn't for this mans help, I would have been caught again." Ash felt the hairs on the back of his neck prick up under the queen's gaze. "Sugar dumpl'n! Where's y'all pretty egg now? Ah swear if it hatches before time…" Ash let out a nervous laugh when the queen left the threat hanging. "I have it. Pikachu was keeping it warm while we were traveling here." The queen gave Ash the once over. "Um-Pikachu? I think it's time to give her highness back her egg now." Ash pulled off his backpack and Pikachu came out first. Ash heard a gasp from the queen and looked up. "Why I declare! Two? My, my, dear girl. Y'all had an exceptional escort." Ash carefully extracted the egg from his back and got off of Rapidash. A soldier came up from the group to take the reigns when Ash was down. 'Let him take Rapidash, it's a custom.' Mew said quickly from her pokeball. 'They'll take good care of him I promise.' Ash let the guard take the reigns. "See you later. I'll check in on you." Ash said soothingly to Rapidash. Rapidash's reply left something to be desired. "You had better or I'll be coming back for you." Ash smiled and turned his attention back to the royals. Ash walked up to the pair and handed the princess back her pokemon egg. Ash could have sworn she blushed when their hands made contact but ignored it. 'Naah! Misty would never blush for just coming into contact with me. Wait! This isn't Misty. I've got to try and forget my world for a while and concentrate on this one.' The blush was unnoticed by all there but one; a queen learns to notice things overtime. Queen Jessica Neron the third was always on the lookout for suitors and this one had just passed the qualifications. 'My daughter likes him. This is good! We could use him and his pokemon as a way to tip the military back to our side. I must explore this option further.' Ash felt a tug on his pant leg and held out his arm. Pikachu bounded up Ash's arms and took his normal perch on his shoulders. The queen giggled about something that Ash didn't pick up on and took her daughter by the waist. "Ah find this amusing. Come, we must celebrate this. Ah'll have a manservant show ya'll to ah room. Ya'll must join us for the festival tonight prince." Ash blinked twice and then realized she was talking to him. They had already taken a corner around the hall when Ash answered. "Sure. See you." Ash said quietly. Ash was then left to his own devices and the mercy of the soldiers there. "So you saved the princess Mysterious did ya?" Laughed a burly soldier lifting up an unconscious man. "What a lucky break for you sire. It's rumoured that she-" Ash's attention was now on the soldier that was being walloped on the head by another soldier in blue. "Don't jinx it you noodle brain!" Growled the soldier that hit his comrade. The soldier rubbed his head where it was hit and went back to picking up unconscious men. "What do you mean by that?" Ash asked. All the soldiers stopped when Ash asked the question. The burly soldier was the one that answered. "Um-er. What he means by that is our princess isn't normally….friendly with princes. She seems to like you." Ash didn't understand what he meant by that so he ignored it. "Like is an understatement. You must've really impressed her." Ash then realized what they meant and adverted the topic. Mysterious or Misty's alternate would never think of Ash like that. Or would she? "What are you doing with those men?" Ash asked. Three of the soldiers stopped what they were doing and laughed. Ash didn't see what was so funny. "We're taking them to the rehabilitation center. They're to be treated and returned to active duty." Growled an older soldier. "Wish that there wasn't so many being rehabilitated lately. This is getting monotonous." Puffed a smaller soldier. Ash felt sorry for him, the soldier was having trouble because of his size. "I'd rather be rehabilitated then put in prison." said the soldier Ash recognized as the one that was hit over the head. "There's that as well, I would hate to go into that dungeon. Rats, real criminals and stale bread from what I heard." Added another new voice. "Here comes the Commander! Back to work!" Growled the older soldier. Ash and Pikachu turned to see another familiar face on this world. The so-called commander was none other than Tracey or rather, Tracey's alternate personality. 'Whoah! Tracey sure looks intimidating in armor. I wonder if he still like to draw in this reality.' Ash wondered as he watched him come closer. "Move it worms! The queen wants these men at the center by dusk! No goofing off or it'll be a half rationed week for all of you!" Ash gulped down a sweatdrop at his voice. 'Guess not. He sounds like an army drill sergeant! Geez! What do they have him on? Caffeine?' Ash had never seen so many people move so fast in his entire life before. The yard was clear in about a minute. "You must be the sire that saved our Mysterious. Come, I have orders to show you a room." Ash was surprised at the sudden change in his voice. "Ash, this is getting weird on us." Pikachu said in his ear. Ash nodded and then began to follow. "I didn't really do that much." Ash said as they walked along the castle. "What?" Asked Tracey. The prince before him was actually making conversation with him! This was a new one for the boys down at the pub. "I didn't really do that much to save Mysterious. I drove off her attackers and brought her home." Tracey liked this guy already; he wasn't one to gloat on and on like some other princes. "You're a bloody bloom'n hero if you got our princess to be silent for a moment. She was awake for most of the journey right?" The prince gave him a sideways look. "Not really, she was so exhausted that she slept most of the way. Why? Is she that bad on a trip?" Tracey laughed loudly and gave the prince a wallop on the back. "Bad? She complains about everything! If you make one wrong turn watch out! She'll bite your head off and then make you turn around." The prince smiled for some odd reason and returned the wallop on the back. "Guess I was lucky then." Tracey Skalump was shaking off the surprise that a royal was talking to him! Him! A lowly commander! Not only that, he was laughing with him and playfully shoving him around like an equal! "Guess you were." 'Who is this prince?' Tracey thought as he laughed at a mild attempt at a dig about women bossing men around. 'He talks and moves like someone of great importance but he seems to be on our level. Could he be an imposter? No, he has the pokemon to prove he's a prince. Could it be we have a challenger? Yes! A challenger on his way to the tournaments! How about that..' Royal Chambers "MOTHER!" Mysterious screamed at the queen. She was thoroughly embarrassed about having this conversation with her mother. "Well? Ah know that y'all don't like discussing this matter." Mysterious stormed over to the other side of the room; her handmaid was having a grand time trying to keep up with her. "I won't dignify that with a response!" Mysterious growled. Jessica moved from her seat on the chair to her daughter's side. "Ah just want the truth. I know y'all like him n' all. Ah just want to know if he an you…." Mysterious was shaking in her dress. "Mother, I was a mess when he found me. I had messy hair, ripped up cloths, dirty and I looked like a beggar! He never even touched me that night." Mysterious sobbed. Jessica was in a little bit of shock. "And when he found the egg that morning, he took it with us! Mother, he practically threw away a chance to have another pokemon. I-I know it sounds crazy but-" Jessica ran up to her daughter and threw her arms around her. "I know, let it all out child." Mysterious sobbed and shook like a leaf in her mother's arms. "Ah never dreamed that someone would do anything like that. Mah poor baby! It must've been such a shock!" "What's wrong with me!" Mysterious wailed. "I had every other suitor eating out of my hand and I'm eating out of his! Why didn't he try something? He knew I was a princess! Why didn't he want me?! Why? Why…?" Jessica didn't know how to respond to her daughter's cries. 'Who is this prince that he has my daughter, Mysterious the ice princess, acting like a cast out doll? I will not have it! No one rejects my daughter like this. He will be begging for her affection after this night is through.' Jessica looked her daughter in her puffed up, red eyes. "Ah think that's enough crying for now. Sugar, we need tah fight this with some of y'all mothers old tricks." Mysterious stopped sobbing for a moment and listened to her mother. "Before this night is done, ah think y'all have a betrothed." Mysterious stopped crying and gave a whoop of delight. "You think so? He-he'll want me?" Mysterious saw her mother's eyes and the mischeivious gleam. "Ah know so. Now child, what shall y'all wear tah the festival?" Mysterious smiled and began the preparations to enslave a young man's heart. Ash's quarters "You've got to be kidding me! I'll look like a peacock in that thing!" Ash groaned as Tracey held up a blue and white outfit. There were too many ruffles around the neck and in the hip area. "It's the latest fashion!" Insisted Tracey. Tracey held the outfit up to Ash's neck. "Besides it suits you." Ash sighed. "It suits you if you're a peacock but, I'm not one. I will decide what to wear. Out!" Ash ordered. Tracey gave a bit of a pout and obeyed. "Another piece of advice when meeting the princess." Tracey said on his way out the door. "Try not to drool when you see her next. We have enough water out on the beach already." "Thanks a lot! I'm not going to go gaga like some guys. So little faith." Ash retorted. Tracey snickered outside the door. 'Oh, from what you told me, she will have you drooling. Don't mess this one up princess, he's a keeper. I think we'll do well under him.' Tracey began to hum a tune as soon as he was out of earshot from the room. It was an old melody, Poppy and the pin, a tune about a couple marrying and growing old. 'If we're lucky, he'll be a challenging prince renounced by a kingdom and king of ours within a month!' "It's alright to come out now Mew." Ash sighed now that he was alone. Ash flopped down on the feather bed and closed his eyes. "Finally! That pokeball was getting to me! So, which festival is it?" Ash opened one eye to look at Mew. "How should I know? I just got here." Ash mumbled. "I never thought I would have to wear anything like this ever. This is worse than the time I was asked to pretend that I was a Mr. Mime." "I'll say." Interrupted Pikachu. "They all look like something Brock would wear to a blind date." Ash laughed at Pikachu's disgust at the wardrobe. "That's another problem, what am I going to wear that I won't look totally ridiculous in?" Ash held up a red shirt with white ruffles. "Eyyuck! I don't know if this is girls clothes or not there's so many ruffles." "Ash I think we may have a problem." Mew said in a serious tone. Ash dropped the shirt on the bed. "Something wrong Mew." Ash asked. Mew was floating about three feet above the bed and then floated over to the mountain of discarded cloths on the bed. Mew didn't respond until she was finished rifling through the cloths. "By the look of these cloths, yes. Ash, in this world people are more dishonest then normal." Ash was stopped cold. "People here are untrustworthy? Should've told me that a bit sooner Mew. I don't see how that ties in with the cloths." Ash grumbled. Mew picked out a ruffled black shirt and white pants. "The cloths are just the first indication Ash. Your actions yesterday probably got you into trouble tonight." Mew giggled. Pikachu pulled off a green shirt off of its face and asked Mew a question that Ash was about to ask. "Why would he be in trouble tonight? All he did was save Princess Mysterious." Mew gave Pikachu a wink. "That's the problem. When Ash saved Mysterious, he showed his true nature and kindness in this world is almost as rare as pokemon are. The princess was undoubtedly impressed with Ash's actions and might decide to take it another step and in this world that means marriage vows." Ash fell over in fear. "W-What!!!!!!!" Ash roared. "That can't be true! I'm only twelve! I can't marry her!" Ash gasped in a hurry. Mew held up a hand …er paw for his silence. "I didn't say you would be married, what I said was marriage vows." Ash had a total look of confusion cross his face. "Um.. You would be betrothed." Ash's panic returned. "That's almost as bad! That means that one day I would have to marry her!" Ash squeaked in a high voice. "Mew!" "Alright! I should warn you though, even if you don't want to, she will." Ash let a small noise escape the back of his throat. "How can you be sure of that?" Ash asked hoping to be wrong. "Simple; you got rid of her attackers, brought her home and didn't try to steal her pokemon egg. In this world, that's like letting a Rocket member have a million dollars and asking them to deposit in the nearest bank for you. You're too good an offer to pass up on." Ash sat on the bed for a moment and thought about it. "I see your point. Question is what do I do about it?" Ash asked aloud. "Do I have any options open to me?" Mew copied Ash's thinking position in mid air and sighed. "The only options open to you are to go along with it and agree to marry her-" Ash quivered at that option. "-or you could disappear before anything happens." Ash didn't like that option either. "What if I could string her along? You know, talk my way out any such topics tonight and run off tomorrow." Mew sadly shook her head with a no. "Afraid it won't work. Unless something short of a miracle happens tonight, you may find yourself on the end of a promise stick." Mew said sadly. "So do you want to disappear before the party or what?" Ash sighed and picked up Pikachu. "I did promise to check on Rapidash. Maybe we can make our escape then." Ash decided that he would leave a note apologizing about his abrupt departure. Ash wrote out the note and left it on the bed. Ash peeked out the hall to see two guards at his doorway. 'Not this again!' Ash thought as he surveyed the two brutes. 'It's just like at the hospital. I'm becoming a regular Houdini! I can probably go out the window but we're up a little ways so….' Ash had an idea to make a rope out of bed sheets and escape out the window. Mew kyboshed the idea. "It's too dangerous! What if you slip?! I won't be responsible for your death!" Ash scratched his head. "I can get Bulbasaur to lower me down to the ground. How's that for an escape plan?" Mew sighed and looked at his master. 'Young and brave. Most would say foolish and stubborn but, I say that those are traits of a true hero.' Mew thought peacefully. "I say we go for it." Ash gave Mew a wink. "Don't worry! We'll get out of this alright. Mew return!" Mew was sucked back into the pokeball that Ash had enlarged and was placed back on his belt. Pikachu jumped from the bed and landed on Ash's back. "Come on Pikachu. We're-" Ash didn't get to finish his sentence. "Greetings Trainer." Ash turned to the voice at the door. "It is good to finally meet you in person." Ash gasped in horror. It was Gary's alternate but that wasn't the scary part. The scary part was that the voice was familiar. "We've met haven't we?" Ash growled. Pikachu saw his trainer tense and copied him. "Get lost!" Pikachu growled. "Now, that's no way to treat an old friend is it?" Ash made a fist with his right hand. "You're no friend of mine." Krofost laughed and walked into the room. "Whatever. I'm not here for the festival you know." Ash was prepared to run, hit or do both if necessary; he wasn't too fond of this guy. "Then what are you here for?" Ash asked with a growl. The answer hit him like a ton of bricks. "You of course. If I were still in my altered state, I would have tried to kill you or at the very least take control of your mind- " That was enough for Ash. "Pikachu-" "-But I'm not. So I've decided to join you on your quest to unite people and pokemon together." Ash stopped the order in mid sentence. "-thun-Pardon?" Ash asked disbelieving. Krofost laughed at Ash's confusion. "Wait a minute! You're the one that threatened my friends and me. Now you want to help me? What's going on? This has got to be some type of trick." "If you listened, I said altered state. Your real mission is not to only lead by example, but to take the first steps to unite this land. You see, everything here is controlled by a group called the council." Ash stood blankly staring at Krofost. "You may want to sit down peacemaker or you might find yourself sitting down anyway." "Huh? Peacemaker?" Ash asked dumbly. Krofost sighed. 'I think I'm going to have my work cut out for me. This kid isn't getting this.' Ash sat on the bed and looked at Krofost skeptically. Ash motioned for him to sit in a chair opposite to him. "Start at the beginning." Ash ordered. Krofost found himself compelled to obey. 'So it starts already.' Thought Krofost as he sat down. 'My but he's a strong one.' "Chosen one, this land is not ruled by the monarchs like it should be. There is a council that rules the entire world by controlling the monarch. They call themselves council because they are a select few people that decide everything. Pokemon are their tools to command because they control the egg selection. If a pokemon is selected to go to a monarch from the council, they alter the pokemon to listen to one voice and one voice other than the monarch." Ash looked at him skeptically. "So where do you fit in this?" Ash asked. Krofost adverted his eyes for the first time in a long time in shame. "I found out about this as a young child and wished to stop it. Needless to say, I was stopped." Ash felt a pang of sympathy for this Krofost. "I was a hero before they stopped me. A prince that defied the council, back then I was called Garnick, not Krofost. I had a wonderful companion Eevee. I learned of the egg selection the hard way." Ash could have cried for this Gary alternate. Krofost stopped talking. "What happened?" Ash asked eagerly. Krofost shook himself off and sighed. "I was changed into Krofost. I did unspeakable things under their control. You know the alternate version of me do you not?" Ash nodded. "Well the council decided to alter his personality using me because they thought him the chosen one. They still do but they could only change him a little at a time. It would not last forever though. I was too strong for their sorcerers to control and the rising power of the chosen one helped immensely." That got Ash's attention. "My power released you? How?" Ash asked out of curiosity. Gary's alternate laughed. "You really are from another world aren't you? There is a prophesy about the chosen one that is taught to our children before they can even walk. He will have passed the trails of psychic power, The titans and tower. To reach the goals of the pokemon master, He will have to go through a disaster. His life in danger all the way, But to no avail, will he always stay, The ultimate trainer of all in the world. The plan is now unfurled. Another world he will come from, To save our world say some." and then the words came out of Ash's mouth without thinking. It was something that had never had happened to Ash before and he was weirded out by it. It made his a bit disoriented. "With the resistance of the castles by his side, He will have no reason to hide. The frost will be first and then summer begins Victory is only in the eyes of those who wins. Chosen one will he be, Chosen to set both worlds free. One will be saved and another will be late, But that is the chosen ones fate." Ash finished for Krofost. "What?" Krofost asked in amazement as soon as Ash was done. "So you know the prophecy? A similarity between worlds! This is something new!" Krofost said in wonder. "I've never heard about it in my world, it just popped out." Ash said as soon as the dizzy spell passed. Krofost arched an eyebrow. 'Interesting, he doesn't truly control the power. It controls him.' Pikachu suddenly alerted ash. "Ash! There's someone coming down the hall!" Ash groaned. This meant that it was time for the party and that he had missed his chance to escape. Krofost noticed his behaviour and was curious. "I can't understand him." Krofost said. Ash replied with a questioning look. "I can't understand Pikachu's words. I'm a sorcerer as well as a prince, I should be able to understand your pokemon." Ash scratched the back of his neck. "I don't know why. I think it's a affect of my bond with my pokemon." Krofost sighed. It was going to be more difficult than he thought to win this boy over. "I think it's time for the party to begin. I think this would be the best time to announce your presence to the world." Krofost said simply. Ash sat up to look Krofost in the eye when he saw a silver cloth cover his face. Ash felt a bit funny as he fully sat up and saw that he had new cloths. "What?" Ash asked Krofost. Krofost put the silver cloth back in his pocket. "Think of it as a token of good faith. I am to be your servant from now on." Ash blinked in surprise. "Uh-thanks Krofost but, I really don't need a servant." Krofost was in shock at the trainer's words. "I would like a friend though. Even though you might have been on the other side for a while, you might be the closest person that understands my situation." Krofost smiled. 'I should've know. Very well then, see how long our friendship lasts. You will be here a long time.' Krofost looked at the chosen one. The silver and white garb suited him; Silver gloves, boots, belt and cape. White pants that hung loosely and a shirt that showed off his young inexperienced build. They would have to do something about that. "Before we do anything big, I think it best that we train you in the ways of this world. You're about to become the popular guy. Also don't call me Krofost, I am not Krofost anymore, I am Garnick once more." Ash smiled and held out a hand. "Friends?" Ash asked. "Friends!" Confirmed Garnick. "Can we stop in on Rapidash before we go to the party? I promised to check in on my pokemon to let it know that everything's fine." Garnick nodded. Ball room. "This had better be good!" Growled Ruby of the fire kingdom. "I had to cancel an appointment with my father for this!" "I bet it's about Mysterious's choice for a husband." Laughed Danny of the Orange sea kingdom. "I knew she would see things my way." "Yeah right! She'll be mine before she's yours." Growled Nick of the new grass kingdom. The group of boys that were squabbling over the princess Mysterious was getting on the nerves of Pewter prince Flint Brock the third. He was listening to the conversation and was sitting on a windowsill staring out into the night. 'I should've stayed at home.' He thought bitterly. 'It's just going to be another one of those eat your heart out suitor bashes she gives. Father must be really desperate to get me out more.' "Helloooo" Purred a seductive voice. Brock recognized the voice that belonged to Rose of the Poison grass kingdom. He sighed, another night of putting up with her. "What do you want Rose?" He asked tiredly. Rose flipped her pink hair over her shoulder. Brock watched as her red dress swayed to an unheard beat as she approached him. "You, what else would a girl want?" She cooed. Brock sighed. He was not in the mood for politics tonight. "I heard from a reliable source that the princess had a promise stick with her tonight. Do you want to take the oath with me?" Rose asked as she slipped her arms around his neck. Brock unglued her arms gently and shook his head. "You don't give up do you? Sorry Rose, you know I'm not interested." Brock said soothingly. Rose pouted. "You'll see things my way one day. I'll wait for only so long you know." Rose said before she left. Brock looked back out into the night to see darkness. 'I can't commit. Ever since I lost my pokemon, I can't feel happy and I probably won't ever again. What the?' Brock saw a pokemon being lead out of the stables. 'Whose pokemon is that?!' "Hey guys! Check this out!" Brock called to his younger group of friends. "What's up Flint?" Asked Ruby. Brock hated that name and preferred to be called Brock. He ignored it just this once and pointed to the courtyard. Gasps were heard from around the room as more people were invited to the window. The pokemon was magnificent! It was a horse-fire type pokemon that looked very well taken care of. "Whoah! Check that out!" exclaimed Danny. "It looks like a Ponyta only.." "Different." Finished Brock for Danny. The servant was unnoticed by the group and they watched as the fire pokemon was lead to the other side of the courtyard. "I'm not interested in the horse," Said a familiar voice. Brock turned to see the younger sister of Ruby; Ember. "I like the rider better." The group looked and saw a teen walking over to the horse. Dressed in sliver and white garb he was undoubtedly a prince. The shock to the group was that there was another pokemon perched on his shoulder. "What's that?" Asked Nick. Brock had seen something close to that before the rebel's war had died out. The King called Turner was of the new electric kingdom had something called a Riachu. It was a powerful pokemon that evolved from a element stone. Brock remembered the name of it's un-evolved form. "It's a Pikachu! I've never seen one but that's what it is!" Exclaimed Brock. Then the trumpets blared signaling the arrival of the princess Mysterious. Courtyard "I'm back. Miss me?" Ash called out to Rapidash. The fire type pokemon noticed the voice of its master and trotted over to Ash without the help of the servant. Ash waved his arm to dismiss the boy. "I thought I was going to have to break the doors down on that barn to get you to come out." Rapidash snorted. "You want to leave now?" Ash shook his head. "Not yet. How'd they treat you?" Ash asked. Rapidash nudged Ash for a rubbing on his face. "They didn't spoil me like you do. I think that I prefer your rubs then theirs." Ash laughed and scratched Rapidash's ears. "I think we have lost our audience." Garnick interrupted. Ash looked over at him as if he was strange and Garnick motioned to the windows. Ash looked up to see a few faces gaping at the sight in the courtyard. "I'm really not used to this yet." Ash mumbled. Ash gave Rapidash a few oats to eat that Garnick gave to him. "Stay out of trouble. I'll be back in the morning." "So we are invited to the party I take it." Garnick said. Ash sighed and walked over to the barn to put Rapidash back into his stable. "I'm invited. I don't know about you though." Ash said as he combed Rapidash with a brush. Garnick laughed. "I'm a renowned sorcerer, I can get into anyplace. Besides I'm your servant remember? A prince like you needs a manservant of some kind." Garnick explained. "One problem with that. They won't believe me because you didn't come into town with me. They might be suspicious of you." Ash said simply. Garnick stopped for a moment. "Your right about that. I suppose we could tell them all the truth. Then I wouldn't have to hide my identity. Mysterious would be thinking twice about that promise stick and you would be an instant hero. I think it would be best if we introduced the world to our chosen one." Garnick said in a smooth tone. "I don't like the idea of me being a hero." Ash said as they made their way over to the courtyard again. "I mean, I understand that I'm special but, I don't think I'm better than anyone else." Garnick looked to the doorway to the party and stopped Ash. "That's exactly why we need you. You never give a second thought about someone being you r lesser. You respect that they tried their best against you and encourage them when they don't succeed. People usually give up here because they feel too ashamed to go on." Garnick smiled and patted Ash's back. "Now lets drop peoples jaws shall we?" Ash laughed and they entered the room. 'You have a kind heart and that is rare. We will do well under you.' Garnick thought as he followed Ash into the party. The party stopped as soon as they entered. 'Interesting, he hold command of attention rather easily.' "Is that the guy?" Asked an unknown voice. "Yeah! He has two pokemon." Answered another voice. "I heard he's the one that saved Mysterious." Said another voice. "No kidding! No wonder she looks this way tonight." Laughed another voice from the crowd. "Wonder who the other guy is." Said another voice. Ash ignored the questions around him and looked for a familiar face. There were people he had never met before on his adventures and some he could sworn he had. 'That guy looks like Richie. And I could have sworn I battled that one over there before. I wish I was on my world." Ash sighed. This was going to be a long night. Then a movement caught Ash's eye. The royal colour of purple moved in his direction, it was the queen. "Ah am so happy that yah decided tah join us tonight. Ah never quite caught yah name last time we met." Ash smiled. "My name is Ash, your highness." Ash replied. "Ah see another new face. Who would ya'll be?" Ash saw that she was addressing Garnick. Garnick had a mischievous look on his face that momentarily scared Ash. 'What are you going to do now?' Ash thought uncomfortably as Garnick cleared his voice. "Perhaps you have heard of me. I am Lord Garnick from the War of the Rebels. I am also known in my altered form as King Krofost of Fortress Field." The gasp in the room was instantiations and surprising. It was nothing compared to the gasp that echoed after Garnick finished his introduction. "And I am in the service of the chosen one, the Ultimate Trainer Ash Ketchum." "Im-impossible!" Yelled someone from the audience listening. "Are y'all trying tah tell us now that the Ultimate Trainer is somewhere in this world?" Gasped the Queen. Garnick smiled and motioned with his head toward Ash. 'I should've known. Thanks Garnick!' Ash could only gat more and more uncomfortable under the gaze of everyone in the room. "Ah don't believe it! Are y'all tell'n the truth? Is he the Chosen One?" The queen asked Garnick. In response, Garnick laughed. "You don't believe me? Ash, I think a little proof is in order." Ash moaned. This meant trouble. "I think in order to prove that you're the Ultimate trainer, I think the councils Taker is in order." Taker? "Prove it!" Chanted the people in the room. "Yes! Prove it!" Voiced one above the rest. Ash looked and saw the princess walking towards him. Ash would have sat down on account of her beauty but the look on her face was one that made her look extremely unattractive; she was angry. Ash met her angry gaze like he would Misty's sometimes. "What would you have me do?" Ash asked coolly. Mysterious motioned and one of the servants went running. While that happened, Ash gave Garnick a look that said what did you get me into? While they were waiting for the Taker a buzz started among the people there. "You sent for me Princess?" Asked a man in a black hood that covered his features. Ash could see that he was someone of importance because of the jewelry on his fingers. "I want you to take this Prince's pokemon for a minute." Ash sighed. If he didn't know better he would have thought that it was Misty he was talking to. "For what purpose? I must know how strong to weave my voice." Said the faceless voice. Ash wasn't liking the talk of weave; it was too closely related to magic. "Just to get that pokemon from his shoulder to come to you. Show us that and I will see what I can do about that raise you want so badly. "It will be done!" Said the man eagerly. Ash felt Pikachu tense on his shoulder. 'Mew! What do I do? Is he going to come and grab Pikachu off of my shoulder or what?' Ash sent telepathically to Mew. A telepathic response was sent in a laugh. 'He plans on using his voice to get Pikachu to come to him. It won't work on account of two reasons. One, your pokemon aren't from this world so they couldn't cast the spell on them at birth. Two, you're the Ultimate Trainer; your pokemon will only obey you unless instructed to do so by you.' 'That's a relief.' Ash could almost feel something in the air hovering over him as the man began to glow. Ash was physically relaxed to everyone's surprise. The man removed his hood to reveal his eyes glowing a green colour, other than that, he was a bald, faceless man. "Come here!" Pikachu looked at Ash and Ash looked at Pikachu. They both began to laugh hard, much to the amazement of the man and the audience. Garnick smiled at the surprise of the people around him. "Wait a minute!" Roared a voice in the crowd. Ash stopped laughing with Pikachu when he recognized the roar. It was the deep throaty voice of Brock. Ash turned into the crowd to see a squinting person stepping forward. "Something wrong?" Ash asked. Brock stopped in front of Ash and pointed at Garnick. "You're the sorcerer Garnick? Am I right?" Garnick nodded. "Is it possible for you to be interfering with the Takers magic." Garnick shook his head. "Nope, I can't interfere with a Takers magic. Try using the magic on another pokemon if you don't believe me." Garnick challenged. Brock or rather Brocks alternate motioned to the queen and she nodded. "Slowking dear. Come here for a moment." Ash saw the slow, lumbering pokemon make his way into the room. The Taker began to glow again. "Come here." Ash saw the pokemon go ridged and alter course to the Taker. "Slowking!" Yelled the Queen. As if oblivious to her calls, Slowking went to the Taker and sat down by his feet. "I will try again. I might have not used enough power." The man began to glow brighter and then his eyes began to glow a red colour instead of green. "Come here!" He almost shouted. Pikachu yawned and began to play with Ash's cloak; smoothing it out and bunching it up under him. "Can this guy be anymore boring?" Pikachu said. Ash laughed as the rest of the court was silent. "Can I get some sleep? I'm pretty tired." "Don't go to sleep yet, Pikachu. I think you might offend someone who's trying to get you to come to him." Pikachu yawned again and stared at the man. "I would if he had some ketchup on him." Pikachu said dreamily. Ash shook his head as soon as Pikachu shut his eyes. "I said COME HERE!" yelled the man again. Pikachu opened one eye and stuck out his tongue in a rasp. Ash and the entire court were in an uproar of laughing. "Pikachu, that's not polite." Ash scolded in a mock tone. Pikachu closed his eye and fell asleep for real this time. The man was in a trance as if he had been paralyzed. Ash turned to Garnick and smiled. "That good enough for you?" "I think you might have overdone it a bit. I think you hurt his pride." Garnick laughed. Ash turned to see that the entire room was cleared out. There was himself, Garnick, Princess Mysterious, Prince Brock, and the Taker still in the room. "Something I said?" Ash asked. Mysterious sat down abruptly on her throne and Brock did the same on a chair. "More like something you did." Replied Garnick. Disclaimer: I do not own pokemon or anything related to pokemon. Pokemon and its associated characters are copyrighted by Nintendo/Game Freak. This is a pokemon fanfic created by my mind only.