1. Ash's Story (Part 7: Kalos)

Chapter 18: Ironclad Palace

When we finally arrive at Parfum Palace, the first thing David notices is not the gate or the gold details. It is the hedge maze stretching across the grounds like someone tried to turn wealth into walls. The palace rises behind it, enormous and shining even under the cloudy sky, and for a moment everyone stops walking just to take in the size of it.

"That sure is one big place," David says.

"I know," I answer. "Let us go in."

We walk to the front gate, where a butler waits with the kind of perfect posture that makes the palace feel even richer than it already looks. Before we can explain why we are here, he holds out one hand.

"The entrance fee will be one thousand dollars per person," he says.

Shauna nearly drops her bag. "You have got to be kidding. It costs money to go inside?"

"The owner of this palace follows the school of thought that one can never have too much money," the butler says smoothly.

Elline crosses her arms. "Yeesh. This is how the rich get richer."

Since my family is wealthy enough that the fee is more annoying than impossible, I pay for everyone so we can avoid wasting time at the gate. Serena gives me a thankful look, while Pancham adjusts his red sunglasses like he thinks entering a palace is part of his Performer image.

Pancham's meaning reaches me with theatrical pride. "A palace is obviously a stage for important people. I should look impressive the moment I enter."

Fennekin flicks her ears beside Serena, and her meaning comes through with elegant caution. "Looking impressive is fine. Acting like the palace belongs to you is not."

The butler opens the gate and adds, "The proceeds from the entrance fee help pay for repairing and restoring the palace. Probably."

"Probably is not comforting," Clemont mutters.

We hurry inside because the Poké Flute is the only way to wake Snorlax and reopen Route 7. Instead of finding a proud princess calmly managing her palace, we find Princess Allie rushing through the entrance hall in a panic, her dress swishing behind her as several servants try and fail to calm her down.

"Where is it?" Allie cries. "Where could it be? My Furfrou, my beloved little Furfrou, has disappeared."

Shauna reacts immediately. "It disappeared? Guys, we should help look. If my Pokémon was missing, I would be sick with worry."

Clemont steps forward politely. "Excuse me."

Allie turns toward us with red eyes and a bratty glare that looks weaker because she has clearly been crying. "What now? I have no time to talk with passersby like you."

David speaks gently. "What happened here?"

"My Furfrou ran away because it did not want to take a bath," Allie says, her voice cracking with frustration. "Now I cannot find him anywhere."

I do not like her attitude, but I also know what it looks like when someone is scared for a Pokémon and does not know how to say it properly. "Why do we not help you find Furfrou?"

Allie blinks as if she did not expect strangers to offer help after she snapped at them. Then she sighs and points toward the garden. "The last time I saw him, he ran that way."

We start searching through the palace before heading outside. The entrance hall is filled with statues and polished floors, but the beauty feels heavy instead of welcoming. A guide plaque explains that Parfum Palace once belonged to the king of Kalos, and many rooms still display symbols of nobility, protection, and war.