Even before Ash opened the door at the top of the stairs, Usagi, Rei and Luna already heard the voices of many people that had to be behind these doors. And this time, they were living people.
They entered, and looked into a room that was filled with people of various sizes and ages, from young people that were about Ash's age, up to old, wise-looking men and women. Only a few Pokémon were present, among them the yellow-furred rodent that the two girls had seen when Ash was in the ruined castle, back in their world.
He ran up to them and greeted the young prince with a wide smile. "Ash!" he shouted in a high, but clearly understandable voice. "You're back!"
"Hey, Pikachu!" Ash waved.
"So, I see you found them," his friend said excitedly. He then nodded towards the two Senshi and the mooncat. "We've never been properly introduced, right? I'm Pikachu."
"Nice to meet you," Usagi smiled and introduced herself and her friends.
"So, how come you and Pikachu spoke that weird language back in our world... and not now?" Rei asked.
Ash shrugged. "The bracelets I gave you also act as an all-purpose translator. Not everyone speaks your 'Japanese' as fluently as I do." He grinned. "In fact, I'm speaking Kantonese right now."
Rei and Usagi looked at each other and chuckled. Luna sweatdropped. "Cantonese...?"
"Kantonese," Ash grumbled, slightly offended. "That's a difference..."
At that moment, the door on the other side of the hall opened, and three more people entered. Usagi realized at once that the elderly man in the middle had to be Lord Oak, the ruler over all of Kanto.
He had this aura of authority around him, but at the same time, a face full of wisdom and kindness.
Rei also looked at the two companions of the regent. They were much younger than him, the red-haired girl didn't look one year older than Ash. She was wearing an azure blue robe with white markings that were resembling ocean waves. An elegant saber was strapped to her side.
Oak's male companion was a little bit older, wearing a bulky armor with broad shoulder guards and a helmet. He had very narrow eyes which made the impression as if he was always squinting. He was carrying an immense war hammer.
"Who are they?" Luna whispered.
"They are coming from two allied castles," Ash whispered back. "The one with the armor is Sir Brock from Pewter Castle, and the girl is Princess Misty from Cerulean." He shook his head. "The situation must be worse than I thought."
Before either of them could ask him what he meant, Lord Oak spoke up:
"My friends! Pokémon as well as humans! I'm glad you all came!"
Usagi expected him to say more than just that, but he simply nodded, and the others in the room nodded back and went on with their conversations.
Lord Oak looked over to where Ash and his guests were standing and gave them a welcoming smile, before he approached them. His companions kept their distance.
Rei gave her blonde friend a slight shove. She was standing here not only as a representative of the Earth Dimension, but also as the last princess of the Moon Kingdom.
"Welcome to Kanto!" Oak greeted them. "I hope you had a pleasant journey."
Usagi kept her composure and bowed. "Th-thank you for the invitation. This is, um... a nice castle!" She smiled sheepishly.
Rei groaned.
Lord Oak laughed. "Well, I'm sorry I couldn't welcome you in another port town, but as Ash probably told you already, Lavender castle is the safest place. But let me reassure you, the castle of Queen Deliah is not nearly as dark and gloomy as this one."
"If I may ask, who is Queen Deliah?" Luna spoke up.
"Um, she's my Mom..." Ash said with a blush.
"Oh..." Luna nodded, understanding.
Lord Oak seemed to notice how uncomfortable Usagi seemed to be, with all the unknown people standing around here, and speaking with a country's leader... he could tell that she wasn't used to this.
Therefore, he made an inviting gesture towards the door. "Miss Tsukino, I would like to go for a little stroll through the castle. Would you like to keep me company?"
Realizing that Lord Oak did this so they could talk in private, Usagi nodded gratefully. "That's fine with me."
----
Usagi still felt a little insecure around Lord Oak, but at least there was no one else around.
While the two of them were strolling along a corridor, bright sunlight shone in from the big windows.
Sunlight? Usagi blinked. It had already been dark when they had entered the castle.
Lord Oak noticed her confusion. "Don't worry, it's just an illusion." He stepped to the window. "Come and look!"
Usagi followed him and looked outside. She looked upon a small village near the castle, could see the tiny forms of people and Pokémon that were walking along the streets, and even some ships on the lake. All of that was supposed to be an illusion?
"This is how the lands around the castle looked like before the Rocketeers came," Oak said in a quiet voice. "I think it's the Ghost Pokémon's subconscious memories that are causing this phenomenon."
He looked at Usagi. "Ash told you about the Rocketeers, right?"
"Yes," Usagi said in a small voice. "But not much."
"Well, we don't know much about them," the regent shrugged. "Only that they are coming from a cold land far north from here, beyond the sea. They are going to destroy us, princess!"
Usagi didn't know what shocked her more: The fact that Lord Oak seemed to know as her status as the moon princess or the sheer simplicity of his words. He seemed to be very certain of what he said.
"Th-that can't be," Usagi muttered. "I mean, this is such a beautiful world, and it can't possibly be destroyed. And I mean, from what Lady Joy told me, Pokémon are supposed to be powerful creatures, and then there are your soldiers..."
"And many more allies," Lord Oak nodded. "Oh yes, but all of them together won't be enough to stop the Rocketeers. We capture or kill one of them, and hundred new ones will come. And they have Pokémon allies as well, strange species of Pokémon we never saw before. We can hold our defenses, but not for very long."
"But how can we help you?" Usagi asked. "If there are that many of them, I doubt our powers will be enough..."
"That's not the reason why I asked Ash to bring you here," Oak told her. "You know, I called for a meeting, which will be hold at Pallet Castle, within four days. But I came to welcome you here, so I could see if you and your friends are the ones we have been waiting for. You are the ones!"
"And what can we do that you can't?" Usagi asked.
"There might be a way how we can save us all," Lord Oak explained. "There is a..." He hesitated. "There is something that could help us. A weapon to drive the Rocketeers off and to save our country. But... it's in a place we cannot enter."
He then gestured at the young moon princess. "You can, Princess Serenity of the Moon Kingdom!" He shook his head. "We have been looking for you for such a long time now..."
"B-but..." Usagi was confused. If they already knew that she and Rei were two of the sailor Senshi, then why...?
"Why did Ash and the others want to attack that construction site?" she suddenly asked.
Now Lord Oak seemed to be confused. But then he realized what she meant and laughed. "Ah yes, Ash told me about that... Well, you have to excuse him and my grandson Gary... they were the two that lead this operation. You know, it's actually pretty simple: They have been searching for a clue regarding you and your Senshi in that area, and the Alph Corridor was one of their passageways back into our world. And they simply wanted to hinder those workers from destroying one of the very few ways that could lead them back home. After I learned from their plan, I immediately ordered them to come back."
"So that labyrinth was just another passageway to Kanto?" Usagi asked. "Just like the Hidden Gate?"
"Yes!" the regent nodded. "And I can bring you and your friends back to Lady Joy's island if you like, anytime! If you decide not to help us, then I won't force you! No one is going to force you!"
Usagi wasn't too sure how she should react. What should she do? Stay here and help? Or go home with Rei and Luna?
"You don't have to decide right away," Oak said. "Just come along with us to Pallet Castle. You have time to decide until the meeting. If you decide you don't want to help us, we will escort you back to Lavender and take you to the Hidden Gate, aboard the Latias."
"I have to talk with the others..." Usagi murmured.
Oak nodded. "Of course! That's what I expected."
"But... if we decide to find this 'weapon'... would it be a long journey?"
"Oh yes!" he nodded. "It would take weeks, if not months. But don't worry: Thanks to the power of Celebi, no time will have passed in your world, when you return."
That was very important for Usagi, not only because of their friends and families. She somehow had the feeling that... something important was waiting for them, back home. She couldn't place a finger on it, but she got this strange feeling.
"We have four days to decide?" she asked.
Lord Oak nodded.
"Okay... I'll have to ask the others, but if you want my help alone, I'll help you as best as I can."
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See other episodes by Shritistrang
(Posted Mon, 19 Feb 2007 20:24)
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