6. Prince Ash and Princess Lillie

Chapter 13 Venombre Kingdom

After leaving the oppressive shadows of Duskmire Kingdom behind, Ash, Lillie, and Golly make their way toward Venombre Kingdom. The journey is tense, but there's a sense of relief as they finally put Duskmire's dark influence behind them. However, as they approach Venombre, a new, unsettling atmosphere begins to settle over them.

The landscape changes abruptly. The air grows thicker, carrying a faint, acrid smell that stings the nose and throat. The ground underfoot becomes softer, almost spongy, with patches of strange, brightly colored fungi and plants dotting the terrain. The sky above takes on a sickly greenish hue, as if the very air is tainted.

"This place... it doesn't feel right," Lillie murmurs, covering her nose with her sleeve to block out the noxious fumes.

Golly nods, her expression serious. "We've entered Venombre Kingdom—the Poison Kingdom. This entire region was forged by Arceus' Toxic Plate. Everything here is infused with its power, from the soil to the plants to the very air we're breathing."

Ash glances at Pikachu, who's perched on his shoulder, its fur bristling in response to the toxic environment. "We need to be careful. This place could be dangerous, not just because of the Pokémon, but because of the environment itself."

As they move closer to the heart of Venombre Kingdom, the signs of life become more unsettling. Vileplume and Gloom release thick clouds of toxic spores as they move through the underbrush, while Seviper and Arbok slither through the dense vegetation, their scales glistening with venom. Even the trees appear twisted and unnatural, their bark seeping with a viscous, foul-smelling sap.

"There's no safe place here," Golly says, scanning the area warily. "The people of Venombre have learned to live with the constant presence of poison, but for outsiders like us, even a small mistake could be deadly."

Ash tightens his grip on his backpack straps, his expression resolute. "We'll have to stay on high alert. Let's find a place where we can get some information without drawing too much attention."

As Ash, Lillie, and Golly carefully navigate the toxic landscape of Venombre Kingdom, they find a relatively safer spot to rest. The air is thick with the scent of poison, and the twisted plants around them seem to pulse with a strange, otherworldly energy.

Lillie looks around, her curiosity piqued by the eerie atmosphere. "This place is so different from anywhere we've been... It almost feels like it has a story of its own."

Golly nods, glancing at Ash and Lillie before she begins to speak. "It does. This kingdom has a dark and fascinating history, centered around a girl named Cinderella Surudoi. She wasn't born into royalty; in fact, her life was filled with hardship."

Ash listens intently, intrigued by the story. "Cinderella... that name sounds familiar, but I'm guessing this isn't the story we all know."

Golly smiles slightly. "It's different, yet similar. Cinderella Surudoi was a young girl who lived with her cruel stepmother and two stepsisters. They treated her as little more than a servant, forcing her to do all the housework while they enjoyed a life of luxury."

Lillie's eyes widen slightly. "That sounds awful... so how did she end up connected to the kingdom?"

"The Multitype King," Golly explains, "was searching for a new leader for the Poison Region—someone to rule alongside his son. He decided to hold a grand ball, inviting all the eligible maidens in the kingdom, hoping the prince would find his future queen there. Of course, Cinderella's stepmother and stepsisters were eager to attend, seeing it as their chance to elevate their status. But they had no intention of letting Cinderella join them."

Ash frowns. "So they left her behind, right?"

Golly nods. "Exactly. They left her behind to do more housework, believing she was unworthy of attending. But Cinderella was heartbroken. That's when a mysterious figure—her godmother—appeared. She granted Cinderella a beautiful dress, glass slippers, and a pumpkin carriage to take her to the ball, with one condition: she had to leave by midnight, or everything would return to its original state."