Gotta Catch Em All In Ni No Kuni!

Chapter 4

"Autumnia? I don't think we're in Cantos anymore, guys." Ash said to his friends as the guards led them to a large, metal roofed building, the mechanical creatures around them running away as the guards approached.

"Pikachu?" Pikachu asked, cowering on Ash's shoulder. One of the guards, Romel, came over and stared at Pikachu.

"What is that creature? I've never seen one like it!" Ash lifted Pikachu into his arms protectively.

"Its a Pikachu." He told him. "An electric type of Pokémon."

"What are Pokémon? Are they like familiars in your world?" Romel asked.

"Familiars?" Misty asked him. "Like that Rhinosaur and that Minor Byrde that you were talking about?" Romel nodded as they reached the metal building.

"Excuse me a moment." He said. "The door might get stuck." Then he went to help the other guards pull down a lever, revealing a door that led to an underground city!

"Whoa!" Ash exclaimed.

"Wow!" Misty whispered in amazement.

"Check that out!" Brock remarked as they walked in.

"Pi, chu!" Pikachu cried out in excitement.

Soon, they were led into a huge palace, and brought before two thrones. Both looked to be made of bronze metal, with purple pillows attached to them, and a long teal rug that led up to them. Both thrones sat empty, however.

"Please excuse the absence of her Majesty." Ian told them. "She does not prefer to sit still in her throne while she could be out making life better for her subjects, or exploring with her younger brother."

"But there are two thrones." Misty said. "If there's an empress, then surely there is an emperor."

"Yes, but Emperor Marcassin is not here, as he is away." Ian explained. "Empress Harmony shall be here in a moment." Then he left, along with the other guards.

"Wow, they must really be trusting if they're going to just leave us alone like that." Brock remarked.

"Yeah, and I don't know if that's a good or a bad thing." Misty replied, then looked to see that Ash was gone! "Where's Ash?"

"Hey Misty! Brock! Check it out!" Ash called, and Misty and Brock looked to see him sitting in one of the thrones! "I'm the king, and you must to my bidding!"

"Pika pi!" Pikachu called from where he sat on Ash's head like a crown.

"Well now, I think that would make you queen, as you are in my seat.," they heard a melodic voice chuckle, and looked to see a woman with long black hair, a dark blue cloak, and no shoes, but a small, silver tiara on her head. "I must say, its rare that I get visitors to my throne. Especially on the days my husband convinces me to wear my crown." Ash and Pikachu jumped out of the throne, blushing up a storm, while Brock just goggled at the woman.

"Sorry! We didn't mean to sit in your throne!" Ash told her, looking at the ground. She laughed again, coming over to them, Brock and Misty coming over as well.

"You're alright." She told them. "My brother still does that sometimes when he thinks I don't see him, and he's sixteen years old!" Then she held out her hand. "My name is Harmony." Ash took her hand and shook it, feeling better about being in the presence of this woman.

"Hi, my name is Ash. And this is my partner, Pikachu."

"Pika!" Pikachu squeaked, making Harmony laughed.

"Oh, he's adorable!" She remarked, as Misty gave a wave.

"I'm Misty." Brock just let out a sigh as he stared at Harmony, Misty groaning. "And this is Brock. Ignore him." Harmony nodded, a little weirded out.

"That I can do. He reminds me of my brother in law, whom I ignore quite a bit of the time." Misty and Ash laughed, now at ease. "Now, is there anything I can help you with?" Ash nodded.

"Yeah, actually. You see... Its kind of weird what happened." Harmony chuckled.

"Trust me, I can take a little bit of weird." Ash sighed, then he began to tell her the whole story.

MO

"And, then we were here." Jessie finished telling them how they got there. Oliver, Swaine, Esther, and Rashaad had listened the whole time, their eyes wide, other than Rashaad, who looked like he was thinking.

"Interesting." He told her. "And you're positive you didn't make the Gateway?" James nodded.

"Yes, we're positive! None of us know any magic!"

"Alright, everyone!" Rema called as she came to the dining table, where they all sat on cushions, and she set down a steaming bowl of curry. "Another new recipe for you all to enjoy!" Esther groaned inwardly and Oliver and Swaine snickered. Esther's mother had been trying a lot of new recipes lately, most of them curry, and the majority of them had not been very good.

Rema paid no attention as she filled bowls with curry and set them before each person.

"Alright, everyone! Dig in!" Oliver took a bite, and forced himself to not grimace. Yep, another stinker. Was that broccoli? And a bit of babana? Gross! But he smiled at Rema, who looked hopeful.

"This is really good, Miss Rema." He said. Jessie took a bite, and looked like she was about to say something, but James nudged her and whispered something in her and Meowth's ears. Oliver wondered what they were whispering about.