Over the next few days, Usagi and Rei got used to the lifestyle of Lady Joy and her guests. As it seems, many of them had stumbled upon the island by accident. Some only stay for a little while, others have decided to stay forever.
Lady Joy had been showing them around her island, which was completely covered by a lush forest that was brimming with life. Pokémon and animals were living next to each other in perfect harmony.
But as Lady Joy also had some obligations in regard to her other guests, she wasn't able to look after the two girls all the time. So she assigned a young girl about their age to be their guide.
May - that was the pretty, brown-haired girl's name - quickly became a good friend, and the three of them spent their days with exploring the island and having fun together. Sometimes, Luna and even her grumpy brother Meowth were joining them. For a while, Usagi almost forgot that they had to return back home.
On the second, day, May told the two of them that she was glad to finally have some friends she could hang out with.
"But we're all friends, here on the island," Lady Joy then said in a puzzled voice.
"Yeah, but that's not what I meant... and you know it, Joy! I mean, all of this celebrating and being happy can be kinda dull, you know?"
When Rei asked May about it once they were by themselves, the girl chuckled.
"Oh no, Lady Joy would never harm any living being. I don't think she would be able to. You see, everyone here on the island is free to leave whenever he wants. I only said that I had no real friends."
Once, when they were looking at the enormous castle situated on the other side of the lake, they asked May about it.
"It belongs to one of Kanto's kings," May explained. "They are the wise rulers of our realm... except for Lady Joy's island. I've been a resident of the Petalburg Kingdom before coming here... but let's not get into details," she quickly said.
Rei and Usagi exchanged a puzzled look. May always was like this when they were talking about her past. It seemed like she didn't want to talk about it, and so they respected her wish.
As the days went by, Usagi, Rei and Luna became more anxious for returning back home, as the date when the Hidden Gate would open up again drew closer and closer.
But then, almost two weeks after they first arrived on the island, the arrival of a special guest changed everything.
They were once again sitting in the big dining hall, together with May, Lady Joy and her other guests, when suddenly the big entrance door opened and a small bird with blue, red and white feathers came flying in. He seemed to be pretty upset, and he flew straightly towards Lady Joy and perched down on her shoulder.
Suddenly, everyone sitting at the table got very anxious. Usagi looked around in confusion.
"What's up?" she asked May, who was sitting next to her. "What's going on?"
May shrugged. "I dunno! Taillow normally heralds all of the new guests, but I don't believe it's someone Lady Joy is expecting."
Just then, Joy stood up. "My friends, you have to excuse me for a while... but I have to take care of something."
She walked around the table and headed for the door. But she only walked half the distance, when suddenly, a single person appeared in the entrance. Usagi couldn't see the person very clearly because of the bright sunlight coming from outside.
Joy came to a stop and gasped. "Prince Ash!" she sharply said. "Why are you here?"
"Ash?" Rei murmured. "Why is Ash here? And since when is he a prince?"
It was indeed Ash, but the black-haired boy had changed. He was still the same boy with the same face, but he wasn't dressed in those clothes they saw him wearing when they met him back in their own dimension.
He was dressed in red and white leather, and he was carrying a helmet under his right arm, which was also coated with leather. At his side, an impressive sword was hanging. At the same time, his whole stance had changed. He was walking as if he had something proud and regal about his figure.
He walked up to Lady Joy and smirked at her. She, on the other hand, didn't seem to be too amused.
"Are you always coming into other people's houses without an invitation?" she asked.
Ash shrugged. "Only if I know that you wouldn't let me in. And if it was important."
"What's so important to disturb the peace of this island?" she asked.
Ash looked past her, at the table. "Perhaps the fact that I want to protect this peace. Lord Oak is sending me. I'm looking for someone, someone who came through the Hidden Gate. You don't have some new guests here, by any chance?"
"You won't find any mercenaries among my guests, you hear me?" Joy said sternly. "Now leave! This place is under Celebi's protection!"
"I know that, and I respect that," Ash replied impatiently. "But now get out of my way. Not all people have all the time they need, unlike you."
And when Joy still didn't move, he simply raised his hand... and pushed her out of the way.
"How... how dare you?" Never before had Usagi seen Lady Joy as angry as now. "Meowth! Vigoroth!"
One of the backdoors opened, and Luna's brother came running out, showing his sharp claws. He was followed by a bigger Pokémon that looked like a wild, sloth-like creature.
Ash simply stared at the two advancing Pokémon... then he snapped his fingers.
And six giants came into the big hall.
Usagi almost gasped in shock when she saw the massive, muscled, four-armed behemoths that had entered. Meowth and Vigoroth stopped right in their tracks as if they had just run into an invisible wall.
"Machamps?" Lady Joy gasped. "You... how dare you bring your soldiers into my tower?"
"Just for your protection and that of your guests," Ash told her. "There have been Rocketeer sightings nearby, very close to your island."
Joy didn't seem to listen. "You've gone too far this time, Ash," she shouted. "Lord Oak will hear about this and..."
"I already told you," Ash sighed. "Lord Oak himself sent me... and besides, I also talked with Celebi. And he gave me his blessing to enter the island."
"You're lying." But Joy didn't sound too convinced.
"I never lie," Ash proclaimed. He then gestured at Rei and Usagi. "Lord Oak wishes to speak to those two girls. He has important things to tell them. Those Machamps are simply my escort. Lord Oak thought it would be safer for your home if a few of them stayed behind, here on the island, to protect you and your guests."
Joy thought about it, then she shook her head. "No. I respect Lord Oak's wish regarding Usagi Tsukino and Rei Hino. But I don't want those creatures on my island! Not even Celebi himself could order me to tolerate them."
Ash shrugged. "It's your decision." He raised his hand, and the Machamps turned around and left.
He then looked at Usagi and Rei. "Come with me!"
"Where to?" Rei asked. "And why should we come? You weren't very nice to us, the last time we met. And you still aren't!"
"Well, if it was just me, I would simply leave you behind, as I believe you to be nothing but irritating troublemakers. But other people wished to see you, and it looks like I don't have anything to say about it. And I would prefer you two to accompany me as my guests, not my prisoners."
"The nerve..." Rei grumbled.
"You should go with him," May whispered. "I've heard of that guy and if what people tell about him is true, he can be quite persistent. Save him the trouble and do what he wants, and I don't think he will harm you."
"But what about the time differences?" Usagi asked. "If we leave this island, we won't be protected by the time barrier anymore, right?"
"That won't be your biggest problem," Ash said, who had listened to her comment. "As I said, I talked to Celebi himself, and he will protect you two from the time differences in our dimension." He pulled out two light green bracelets out of his pocket. "Wear those and you are under Celebi's protection. Now, are you coming or do I have to tell one of my Machamps to tie you up and drag you aboard my ship?"
Rei sighed in defeat. "Well, whatever... Okay, but I warn you, buddy: One trick and you'll be sorry!"
Ash just smirked in response.
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(Posted Tue, 13 Feb 2007 09:34)
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