After a short discussion, they were allowed to take Luna with them, as she was, in a sense, a member of their team. Meowth was very worried about his sister's safety, but still he decided to stay back on Joy's island.
"I can't simply abandon my duties here," he told Luna as he embraced her. "But at least I'll see you again when you come back for the Hidden Gate... so take care of yourself, okay?"
"I promise," Luna smiled.
Rei and Usagi quickly said goodbye to May and Lady Joy, who had packed them a few things that 'everyone needs on a journey', as she said. She also gave them some lunch boxes.
And then, the three of them followed Ash to the shore, where they saw his ship.
But not just any ship. It was a magnificent vessel, with three tall masts, and an elongated bow, which ended in the golden face of an unknown Pokémon. Dozens of oars were sticking out of its sides, and every single spot of the impressive hull was covered with thin plates of gold, which made the whole ship glitter like an enormous jewel.
"Wow!" Usagi said in awe. "What's that?"
"The Latias," Ash explained shortly. He lead them up a plank and they reached the ship's deck.
Here, they saw the tall, muscular Machamps again, together with several smaller creatures that were looking similarly and only had two arms. Ash called them 'Machokes' and 'Machops'. They were working all over the ship and sitting at its numerous oars.
"I hope you all are seaworthy," he smirked, and then the ship was casting off.
Rei and Usagi nearly lost their balance, as the powerful arms of the Machokes and Machamps was propelling the whole ship out to the open lake. The Latias was moving at an astounding speed, and Usagi doubted that the whole journey to the other side of the lake would take very long.
But as she stepped at the ship's rail and looked for the shore on the other side, she didn't found it.
Where the other shore was supposed to be, she only could see the vastness of the open sea.
Ash stepped up next to her. Usagi could see that he had put away his sword and helmet. "What are you looking for?" he asked.
"Um, nothing," Usagi replied. "I just didn't know the lake had an opening to the sea."
"He doesn't," Ash explained. "But there's always water under the Latias' keel."
That simple and yet so weird explanation confused Usagi for a while, so Rei stepped up to Ash and looked at him fiercely.
"Don't you think it's time for some explanations?" she shouted.
"I will," he said. "But after your nap."
"What are you talking about? I'm not... tired..." Suddenly, they felt woozy. "Wh-what's going on?" Rei muttered. "We just got up from bed before you came..." Usagi yawned.
"It's Lady Joy's magic," Ash explained. "Now that you have left her island, it's leaving your bodies."
"Her m-magic?" Luna muttered. "But why...? I thought she...?"
"She's not an evil person," Ash said. "Her spell keeps everyone happy, and the people who live on her island can live forever, as long as her spell is intact. What you are feeling are just the aftereffects of that spell. You just have to sleep for a while. I have prepared a cabin for you."
And while the two girls closed their eyes, the last thing they felt were the strong arms of the Machokes that caught them, as they fell asleep.
----
When Usagi woke up, she felt as if she had woken up from a very long dream. Somehow, she understood Ash's words much better... everything that happened on Lady Joy's island now just felt like a long dream to her.
She sat up and saw Luna lying on the blanket of her bed. She and Rei were lying in a small cabin that was just big enough for two people to sleep in.
Rei was starting to stir as Usagi looked upon her form. She blinked and rubbed her eyes.
"Good morning," Usagi grinned as Rei opened her mouth for a big yawn.
"Morning..." Rei muttered and looked around. "So, we're still aboard the ship?"
"Looks like it," Luna said. "Although I wonder where it is taking us..."
Usagi got out of bed and realized that someone had put down some new clothes for them, next to their beds. They were made of white leather and looked kinda archaic, but she appreciated the gesture after spending several days in the same old clothes she brought from home.
After they both got dressed, Rei went to open the door.
And a massive mountain of muscles stood in front of her.
Surprised, Rei took a step backwards, as the Machoke turned around. "Stay here," he grumbled in a deep voice. "I'll fetch the prince..."
And he turned around and left.
Rei looked at Usagi and Luna. "So, we wanna wait for him?"
Usagi sighed. "It's not like we can go anywhere..."
A few minutes later, the Machoke returned... alone.
"Follow me," he said. "Prince Ash wants to see you."
And they followed him through the lower deck of the Latias, until they went through a door. Behind it, they saw a big room with colored windows, through which they could see the ocean.
Ash was sitting at a big table that was covered with food and drinks. "Sit down," he said. "You three look like you're hungry."
Now that he mentioned it, the stomachs of both girls and the black cat started to rumble. Sitting down at the table, Usagi and Rei quickly put some meat, bread and vegetables on their plates and ate as fast as they could. Luna did the same with the dishes a Machop was giving her in multiple bowls.
After their appetite was sated, they sighed and slumped down in their chairs.
Ash smirked. "Had enough?" he asked.
"Yeah..." Usagi sighed. "It was delicious... and I was even more hungry than usually."
"Yeah, me too," Rei nodded. "Strange, huh?"
"It's not that strange," Ash said. "After all, you slept two days and two nights."
Luna gasped. "Two...? Why that long?"
"It's evening," Ash explained and gestured at the windows. "In about half an hour, we'll reach Lavender Castle." He stood up. "You wanna come up and watch how we enter port? It's really worthwhile!"
"Yeah, sure..." Usagi nodded. "But still, can't you tell us...?"
"I'll tell you outside, I promise," the black-haired boy assured them.
As they followed him upstairs, he sighed. "Look, I wanna apologize for what happened. Especially the rude way I spoke to you at Lady Joy's place. But you have to understand... not even I am immune against her spell. After staying there for too long, I probably won't want to leave again."
"But why?" Usagi asked in a puzzled voice. "Why is she doing all of this?"
"Lady Joy must be the kindest person in Kanto," Ash sighed. "But she doesn't understand that too much happiness can be a bad thing as well."
They reached the upper deck, where the Machops, Machokes and Machamps were busy preparing the ship for the landing.
In front of them, a big castle with black walls was situated on top of the steep cliffs that were rising out of the sea.
"Is that your castle?" Luna asked.
"No, but its people are our allies," Ash told her. "We'll stay here during the night, then the journey will continue on horseback."
Usagi couldn't bear it anymore. "Who are you, Ash?" she asked. "I mean, who are you really? Lady Joy called you a prince..."
Ash chuckled bashfully. "Well, that sounds more impressive as it is," he said. "You see, there are many castles in Kanto, and every lord of a castle is called king. That's all there is to it."
"And why did you bring us here?" Rei wanted to know.
"Did you want to stay on the island forever?" he asked back.
"No," Rei replied. "But that doesn't answer my question."
He sighed. "Well, okay... you're right, there's more. Our sovereign wants to see you two."
"You mean... that Lord Oak you mentioned at Lady Joy's place, right?" Luna asked. "Who is he?"
"The ruler of all of Kanto," Ash explained. "You see, he wants to ask a favor of you."
"Of us?" Usagi wondered. "But why? We didn't know anything about Kanto, a few days ago. We just met you when you and your friends were about to attack that construction site... and now we learn that you are a prince in a magical dimension, and your ruler wants to talk to us."
"That's right," Ash nodded. "I'm not allowed to tell you anything about that favor before he has talked to you, but there is something I wanna ask of you as well..."
"And what is that?"
Ash turned around to firmly look into their eyes.
"When he asks that favor of you... I want you... to decline!"
"WHAT??"
"Not right away," the young prince said. "But... at least wait with your decision until we reach my mother's castle... okay?"
"I don't think I really understand at all..." Usagi muttered.
"I can imagine, but you have to understand that this is very important for us all... and please, don't say yes until you heard all of it. Regardless of what it is. Okay?"
Luna and Rei were still confused, but when Usagi looked into Ash's eyes, she felt that she trusted this boy, even if he was a little rude sometimes.
"I promise!" she said, and Ash sighed in relief, then nodded.
For now, they didn't talk about it anymore and watched how the Latias approached the steep cliff and finally entered the harbor underneath the tall towers of Lavender castle.
See other episodes by Shritistrang
(Posted Wed, 14 Feb 2007 13:36)
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