1. Ash's Story (Part 0: Prologue)

Chapter 11: A Wedding Gift

"Are you serious right now?" Ash asked.

His voice carried through the grand hall of Atem Castle as morning light spread across the polished stone floor. Everyone had gathered because Adam said he had news from Alola, but Ash had not expected the news to be anything like this.

Adam stood near the front of the hall with Aurora beside him, both of them far too calm after what they had just announced. Alice stood close to Ash, Serena leaned forward eagerly, and Lillie held her hands together as if she might burst if she spoke too soon.

"Marriage?" Eve gasped, staring at Adam. "Professor Burnet is going to marry Professor Kukui?"

"That is what they told us," Adam answered, his voice gentle but amused. "They are already certain about each other. They were only planning to sign the papers quietly and go straight back to their research."

For a moment, nobody in the hall said anything.

Then every child seemed to speak at once.

"No ceremony?" Serena cried, as though someone had just insulted every ribbon she owned.

"No flowers?" Reisa asked, already offended by decorations that had not even been planned.

"No cake?" Helen demanded, looking personally hurt by the idea.

"No music?" Lillie whispered, her disappointment quieter but just as clear.

Ash blinked at all of them, then turned back to Adam. "Wait, if they love each other and already want to get married, why wouldn't they have a wedding?"

Aurora folded her arms with a small, knowing smile. "Because Professor Kukui thinks everyone is busy. Professor Burnet thinks a ceremony would trouble people. So they decided that making their promise quietly would be enough."

Alice frowned slightly. "That sounds kind, but also sad."

"It does," Gina said, stepping forward before everyone could start complaining again. "That is why we had an idea."

Mark looked at her. "You mean we're doing something?"

Gina nodded, and Ash immediately knew where this was going. "We give them the ceremony they were willing to skip. They do not need one to be married, but that does not mean we cannot give them one as a present."

Lillie's face lit up so quickly that Ash almost laughed. "A surprise wedding?"

"A surprise wedding celebration," Aurora corrected softly. "Kukui and Burnet already chose to marry. We are only surprising them with how we celebrate it."

Ash looked around the hall. Alice already seemed to be planning. Serena looked ready to start arranging dances. Reisa was grinning like she had found a new game, while Helen was quietly muttering about cake layers under her breath.

Ash grinned. "Then let's make it so good they never forget it."

Professor Kukui had come from Alola with more energy than most adults Ash knew. He was a professor, a fighter, and a move researcher, but he was also willing to crouch down and explain something properly whenever one of the children asked him a question.

Kukui had challenged Aurora before, while still working toward his dream of giving Alola its own Pokémon League. Burnet was quieter, but just as dedicated. Her research into dreams, hidden worlds, and Ultra Wormholes had already connected her closely with Lusamine and Mohn before Mohn disappeared.

"They help everyone," Ash said later, sitting on the floor with the others around a long planning table. "So this time, everyone should help them."

The table was covered with ribbons, lists, sketches, and snack plates that kept getting emptier whenever Mark passed them. Alice arranged the guest list. Lillie copied names carefully while Serena and Reisa compared colors. Vincent sat with Adam, going over the plans for his brother.