6. Prince Ash and Princess Lillie

Chapter 10 Bramblethorn Kingdom

Ash, Lillie, and Golly step cautiously into Bramblethorn Kingdom, the air around them thick with the scent of earth and foliage. Unlike the blazing heat of Flamborough, this land is shrouded in a cool, damp atmosphere, where dense forests stretch as far as the eye can see. The canopy above is alive with movement, shadows flitting between the leaves as Bug-type Pokémon scuttle and soar, their presence felt more than seen.

The ground underfoot is soft, covered in a layer of moss and decaying leaves that muffles their steps. Gnarled trees with thick, twisted roots dominate the landscape, their trunks wrapped in vines that seem almost alive. The deeper they venture into the kingdom, the more it feels like they are walking into a living, breathing organism, with every rustle and chirp reminding them that they are not alone.

Lillie shivers slightly, pulling her cloak tighter around her shoulders. "This place feels... different," she whispers, her eyes scanning the shadows warily. "It's like the forest is watching us."

Golly nods, her expression serious. "Bramblethorn Kingdom is a place of great mystery and danger, made by Arceus' Insect Plate. The people here have lived in harmony with Bug-type Pokémon for generations, but outsiders are rarely welcomed. The forest itself is said to be alive, protecting its inhabitants from those who would do them harm."

Ash remains alert, his senses heightened as he listens to the myriad sounds surrounding them. "We'll have to be careful," he says quietly. "We're strangers here, and we don't know what to expect."

As they continue their journey, the trio comes across a narrow path, winding its way through the thick undergrowth. The path is lined with large brambles, their thorns glistening ominously in the dim light. The air grows even cooler, and the forest seems to close in around them, the trees leaning closer as if to listen to their every word.

Golly gestures for them to stop as they reach a small clearing. "We need to tread lightly from here on," she warns. "The people of Bramblethorn are fiercely protective of their land and their Pokémon. If we're not careful, we could find ourselves in serious trouble."

As the trio finds a quiet spot in the heart of the dense forest, Golly gestures for them to sit down. "Now that we're here, it's time you learn the story of this kingdom," she begins, her voice steady and filled with knowledge. "It's a tale that has been passed down through generations, shaping the very nature of Bramblethorn."

Golly takes a deep breath and starts the story. "Long ago, before this land was known as Bramblethorn Kingdom, there lived a princess named Snow White. Her beauty was unmatched, but it brought her nothing but trouble. Her stepmother, a powerful witch, was obsessed with being the fairest in the land and owned a magic mirror that always told her the truth. When the mirror revealed that Snow White was the fairest, the stepmother's jealousy consumed her. She ordered a huntsman to take Snow White into the forest and kill her, demanding that he bring back the girl's heart as proof."

Ash and Lillie listen intently, captivated by the story. "But the huntsman couldn't do it, could he?" Ash asks.

Golly shakes her head. "No, he couldn't. Snow White's innocence and beauty moved him, and he spared her life, bringing the queen the heart of an animal instead. Snow White fled deep into the forest, where she found refuge in a small cottage belonging to seven dwarfs. They took her in, and she lived with them, hiding from her stepmother."

"But the stepmother didn't give up," Golly continues. "When she discovered Snow White was still alive, she disguised herself and tried to kill her three times—first with a laced bodice, then with a poisoned comb, and finally with a poisoned apple. Each time, the dwarfs saved her, but the apple was different. Snow White fell into a deep sleep, and the dwarfs, believing her dead, placed her in a glass coffin."