Glory and the Gardevoir
By M. Forandret

PLEASE NOTE, THIS TAKES PLACE IN THE POKEMON WORLD.
….

A long time ago, in the region now known as Belldoun, there was a time when all but a few pokemon were gone. Only the wealthy could manage to keep any. But regardless, the town thrived. The place was a-buzz with the plans of a marriage, the groom a young Prince, the bride a beautiful Girl from a plain but noble family. The day before the wedding, a wizard came,  kidnapped the girl, and took her to the old castle at the town’s borders. As soon as the Prince heard of this, he grabbed his sword and made for the castle. When he burst the doors, he saw the extent of the wizards plan, for she had been changed into a Gardevoir. Upon seeing him, the wizard cast a spell, making him into a Gallade. But this was a mistake, for the Prince, already trained with a sword, was made even stronger. They both drew, but in the end the prince was victorious. But upon hearing him, the Prince saw that the wizard was not evil, but lonely, and longing for the pokemon’s return. So with their blessing, the wizard helped return the pokemon to the town of Belldoun. And the first was a baby Ralts.
….

“WHAAA! (Thud)”

Alphonse had always enjoyed travel by the sea, but not when trying to get sleep. And defiantly not on a bench. He was able to sleep pretty much anywhere but this craft was testing his abilities.

{Attention passengers, we will be arriving in Belldoun Harbor in approximately 15 minutes, please ready all baggage and make your way to the main deck at this time.}

“Next time spring for a room. Best make my way up.” He rubbed his eyes, trying to make up for his restless night. He grabbed his bags, and climbed up the steps to the bow of the ship. He went out as far as he could, and took a long look at the beautiful sight before him. It was as if time was taking a break over the past 100’s of years, no cars, no skyscrapers, no pollution. Belldoun was as beautiful as a town could be.


“So were ya headin? Hello?”

“Wha? Oh, sorry, I wasn’t paying attention. Seeing the coastline creep up outta the water, gets me every time.”

“I said, where ya headin once you get off the boat?”

“Oh, the old theater on the east side of town, I’m an actor, and I’m in a play tonight.”

“What play?”

“Glory and the Gardevoir.”

“Get out, I remember playing in that in high school!”

“So where you heading?”

“Well, I’m on a bit of vacation with my son, you know what they say, ya gotta see Belldoun at least once in your life. But I don’t really know what’s here to be honest.”

“I was born here, I could point out a few sights.”

“Really? That would be great!”

“Well, there’s the Royal forest, it’s this huge garden set aside by the Royal Family as a sanctuary for ralts and its evolutions. And there’s the harbor market, most visitors don’t bother with it but you can get anything there. And there’s the Old theater were the play is. And pretty much everything else is either a tourist trap or somebody’s house.

“Mmm-hm. Thanks! I’ll be sure to see your play. Well, see you around.
….

Alphonse stepped along the cobblestone street, taking a detour through the market. It was actually a little longer, but he loved the view of the sea and the sound of waves on the rocks that was on the other side. Truly this was a place frozen in time, it was like he had never left. As he walked out of the market to the academy campus, it was almost like his graduation ring warmed up on his finger. The sun shone in brightly from the west, he was sure class was about to be dismissed any minute. “Best see the professor before then.” He thought to himself.
….

    “Which leads us to believe that Prince Romano III of 1643 was the one referred to in the classic play. It should also be noted that the city’s name was officially changed to Belldoun about 200 to 150 years after his disappearance from the official record. Alright, your homework for tonight.” A collective groan issued from the class, and one person was faintly heard yelling “But its Friday!”  “Your homework is to attend the performance of G and G at the Old East Theater. I’ll be backstage watching the whole thing, so if your not there, I shall know. Class dismissed.”

“Trying to work my nerves into even more of a knot eh Mr. Busen?”

“Alphonse! Technically it’s supposed to be professor, a teacher never stops learning even if the students away.”

“Sorry Professor, old force of habit. But don’t be so surprised, after all you’re the one who got me into this.”

“The way you make it out it sounds like I dragged you kicking and screaming. Come on, I was just heading over to the theater, walk with me.”
….
400 years ago.

It’s late, the seen illuminated by the full moon on a cloudless night. We see two people walking along the shore, in no particular hurry to get anywhere.

“I had a wonderful time Romano. Must you go?”

“I wish I didn’t, but if I stay out to long the royal guard will think I’ve been kidnapped or something. I don’t see how your so easy about it Tania.”

“Heh, you speak nonsense. You may be a prince, but you’ll always be my Romano.”

“You mean it?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Well then” He took her hand in his, lightly kissed it like many times before. But as he pulled away to leave, he left something ever so gently in her grasp. Something small and metal. “Goodbye for tonight.”  

She couldn’t help but notice that he was shaking like a leaf. “What’s wrong? What did you-(gasp!)” The young prince froze in place, only able to pray for what those next words were going to be.

“Of course I will Romano!”
….
Present day.

“Alphonse I’d like you to meet Mr. Benjamin Forest, he’s the director of the theater. Forest, this is my old pupil, Alphonse.”

“A pleasure. Now, we have minimal rehearsal time, I hope you’re familiar with the script?”

“Yes, very.”

“Excellent! Now, this is a very important performance, we’ve been planning it for months. Now, as for your co-star, you’ll be with Mabel Smith”

“Mabel?”

The Professor backed up, smirking, things were going as planed.

“Ya. Hey Mabel!”

“Ya boss, what’s-Alphonse!?” The two ran towards each other in a hug as two friends who have been apart other often do. The director backed up towards the Professor, who was still smirking.

“I see you didn’t just recommend this lad for his talent. How do they…”

“They dated through most of their time at the academy. Alphonse had to leave to help with a family crisis, and couldn’t get away for a long time. Broke both their hearts. But if this performance is going to go how think it is, then it will all work out perfectly. You’ve still got Bartemus right?”

“Of course, we couldn’t do it right without Barty.”
….

“It’s been a long time Alphonse.”

“Ya, it has. I’m sorry I had to leave like that before, I didn’t want to leave you and-“

“You don’t have any thing to explain. Your family was in trouble, and they needed you for support.”

“Thanks. So, what’s been going on since then? Apparently you’ve got a good acting career going.”

“Oh ya! I’ve been working with Ben and the guys for a while; we’ve been all over doing all sorts of shows, but this is the first time I’ve done G and the G since school. What have you been up to?”

“Well, my Aunt was about to go bankrupt, but of course a year later she won the lottery, the lottery, can you believe it! Well, I tried to contact you, did a little pokemon training, and next thing I know Mr., sorry, Professor Busen calls me up and says to get down here. To be honest, I’m nervous as hell.”

“Don’t be. I’m sure you’ll be great. Hey, here our special effects guy Bartemus. Hey Barty!” The man apparently named Barty walked over; He was wearing a bright purple wizard hat and robes, and had a big round beard. He looked like a shiny Murkrow. “ Al, this is Barty, he’s the special effects guy. He’s also playing the wizard tonight.”

“A pleasure to meet you Alphonse, don’t worry a bit about tonight, I used to be a street magician.”

“Hm, a magician playing a wizard, makes sense.”

“Come on, we’ve got little time, lets work on the opening scene.”
….
400 years ago, months after the first.

“Prince Romano, Prince Romano!”

“What, what’s going on? Nicoli, do you have any idea what time it is?”

“Apologies sire, but it’s urgent! Your fiancé, she’s been kidnapped!”

“What!”

“We’ve begun to dispatch the Royal Guard, and-”

“To hell with the Royal Guard! I’ll go myself! Pass me my sword and tell me everything you know, we’re going to the stables.” The Prince soon learned that Tania was snatch from her bed about 20 minutes ago by a wizard- “Wait, a wizard?”

“Yes sire, his dress was like that of a wizard, and he appeared to fly.”

-and that he went to the abandoned castle on the outskirts of town by the cliffs. By now they were already in the stables, and the servant had readied the fastest rapidash.

“Good luck sire.”

“Well need more than luck Nicoli.”
….

The curtains closed as the act came to an end, they were about to begin the rescue scene. Prince barges in, sees the Gardevoir girl, meets wizard and then intermission. Couldn’t be simpler. “Ya, right, couldn’t be simpler.”  The curtain rose, and Alphonse ran out, sword drawn.

“Come out vile wizard, show yourself!”

“Prince, Prince!”

“(Ah, that would be Mabel. Man her costume looks good.)” The stage had been set with Mabel in a cage up some stairs. Al quickly ran up and said his line. “Fair lady, is that you? Stand back and I shall free you!” Then he whispered “Nice costume, almost looks like you’re an actual Gardevoir.”

“Just wait till you get yours.”

(BOOM!) Smoke and flashing light poured from the other side of the stage, And Barty flew in, in full garb, with a Murkrow on his shoulder.

“(Man, this guy’s good!) You show yourself at last!” He whammed his sword down, “breaking” the cages lock. “Draw fiend!”

“I’ve got a better idea!” He said, in an almost childish manner, then charged what seemed to be a ball of energy in his hand. He threw it, and Al froze for the 0.7 seconds it took to hit him. This wasn’t part of the act.

“Oof!” He flew back about five feet, landing by the feet of the stairs. He tried to say something, but something was stopping him, like some unseen force. “(What just happened, what’s going on, and WHAT THE HELL IS THAT!)”

A red horn was poking out of his shirt, with a similar one on his back. They were the horns from Gallade, used to sence emotions. He could feel the exitment of everyone in the building, enjoying the show. Before he could get used to these, his arms started to feel numb, and all the skin on them turned green. His elbows grew out into sword like extencions, destroying his sleeves. The numbness moved down his chest to his legs, making his skin green and later white.

“(No way, no way this can be real, it was just a story!)” He got a big headache, feeling like there was a tiny chiropractor in his head, poping bones into place. Finaly all the aches and numbness went away, and he got to his feet, a Gallade. His costume was pretty much destroyed, but before he could make any move the curtians fell just as the no talk force was lifted.

“What the Hell just happened!”

“Aw relax Al!” It was Mabel, still looking like a Gardevoir, grabbing him in a hug. “I told you you’d be great!” He could feel her emotions in those horns on his chest. It was… happiness. It felt nice, and calmed him down.

“Your not wearing a costume, are you?”

“Nope!”

“Care to explain how this is possible?”

“That’d be old Barty here!” The Professor, Director Benjamin, and Barty all showed up, Ben looking like he was just crowned king. Alphonse was suddenly painfully aware that he was naked.

“You see, Bartemus is actually a real Pokemon Wizard.”

“No lie?”

“He’s right. I may not be as strong as the original Wizard of Belldoun but I can pull a buneary out of a hat.”

“So what happens now?”

“Simple, we go on with the play, finish said play, you spend the night however you like and when you wake up you’ll be back to normal. We’ve got five minutes left in the intermision, think you can handel it?”

Al took a good look at his hands, unfamilier, yet comfortable. “Ya, I can handel it.”
….

“Romano!” Tania ran to the prince, still on the ground after that powerful spell. “Are you alright?”

“I’ve (cough) I’ve been worse. You’re not hurt are you?”

“No, just his enchantment, whatever it was. But he’s gone; we should run while we still can!”

“No, you go. I have to face him.”

“What! No, come on, the Royal Guard can-”

“The Royal Guard would kill him on sight! If he is dead then he can’t undo this. I promise, I’ll fix all this and return to you, and will get married, just like we planed.”

“(Sniff) Ok.”

“My rapidash is outside, take him to the castle.” Tania made it safely out to the rapidash and rode, once he was sure she was safe, Prince Romano drew his blade and made his way up the dark stone tower.

“Wizard!” The wizard was hunched over a table filled with the oddest contraptions, lost in thought.

“Hmm? Be gone Gallade, I have no reason to fight you.”

“I’ll give you one!” The Prince charged at the Wizard, whom was only just able to doge the attack. The Prince was surprised as well, he had never been this fast.

“(Sigh) It seems I have no choice.” And at this he conjured a blade of shining steel, from what seemed to be an invisible sheath.

The two luged for each other, two shining rapiers, in a flury of deflections and counter attacks. The horns on the Princes shest felt odd, he was secening the wizards emotions. It started as anoyance, but was slowly moving to something else. Fear. In fact, when he took a look at more that the clashing blades, he relized how easily the fight was for him. He was moving the blade as naturally as breathing, while the wizard was giving everything he had to keep from being sliced. Seeing he had the advantage, he moved it, deflecting blows like a joke. In a final move, he stuck the blade in his swords guard, flicked his wrist, and disarmed his foe. The wizard fell to the ground, weeping.

“Please, no more, what is it I have done wrong!?”

“What have you done wrong!? You came into my kingdom, turned me into a pokemon, and worst of all, kidnaped my fiance!” Horns of a Gallade wouldn’t be needed to sence Romano’s anger.

“Please! I was trying to bring forth the pokemon’s return!”

“The pokemon? What madness is this!?”

“If the Royal family were to be a part, then it would bring forth a blessing.” The wizard continued to cower in fear.

“Wizard, there is no doubt in my mind that you are mad! But!” The wizard looked up at this. “You are most certainly not evil. Your cause is worthy. You simply need to work on your methods.” It was impossible to stay angry when he could see the truth about him. So they both left, and returned to the castle in that very hour.
….

Alphonse had been on pins and needles all night, and being changed into a Gallade didn’t help. But regardless, he had been able to go on through the performance, having just finished the swordfight seen.

“That was the most intense fight that wasn’t a fight I’ve ever been in.”

“Were back on in 20 seconds, the dance seen is up next, Al, Mabel, get ready.

The two took each others hands just as the curtain began to lift; the stage had been set; it was the shore by the market. As they danced, Alphonse couldn’t help but think how this night, everything that had happened, it was one of the most amazing he had ever had. He hadn’t felt this nervous about a play since he first acted in Glory and the Gardevoir in his freshman year. And here he was, dancing with the same person he had all those years ago. Truly this place was frozen in time. But, there was something here that wasn’t before. Was this what it was like to be a prince? Was this what it was like to be a great actor? Al looked down at Mabel. She was blushing, and though he couldn’t see it, so was he. And as the music playing began to slow down, he realized what this was. This wasn’t what it was like to be a prince, or a great actor. The two finally stopped dancing, and kissed. This was what it was like to be in love.
….

Prince Romano was sitting on a bit of shore, near the market place. The sun was setting, and he was remembering when he first met Alexander, or the wizard as you would call him. In the end the magic was permanent, but it hardly mattered, they were still married the next day, the whole town giving them congratulations. The wizard became an advisor, and while he hadn’t seen any pokemon return yet, a few weeks before they had found an egg, just sitting in the Garden behind the castle. He was stirred from his thoughts as he noticed his wife coming, holding something in her arms. Before he could ask she spoke. “Alexander really knows what he’s doing. She hatched fine.”

“She? It’s a girl!”

“Yup, come take a look!”

He walked over to her to find a baby Ralts, wrapped up in a blanket.

“She’s beautiful.”

“What should we name her?”

Romano picked up the baby pokemon and held her out, looking at her and the setting sun at the same time. He thought for a moment, then smiled. “Belldoun.”