WARNING: SPOILERS!!! ~A Watty's 2019 Submission!

Saved for the Songstress's Son

"I don't understand!" Gascon cried out, staring at the great statue of Wifelma, Bonnie confused. "It should have worked! The Songstress's Test! Everyone faces it before their ceremony to prove that they're the Songstress!"

"Gascon... Maybe Bonnie isn't the one." Abyssa told him slowly, but Gascon looked to her, confused.

"She has to be! The Jewel of Song led us to her! We traveled all the way to the Pokémon Universe to find her!"

"Heh heh, the boy does not know, does he?" Gascon, Abyssa, Tiny, and Bonnie all turned to see Absolon standing there. Gascon pulled out his staff and aimed it at Absolon.

"I am not in the mood for your games, Absolon!" He growled. "Why didn't it work? The Jewel of Song led us to Bonnie!" Absolon shook his head.

"No, boy, it led you to the Songstress. The Jewel of Song now glows brighter than ever, does it not?" Gascon looked to the gem that swung from Abyssa's neck. Indeed, the necklace was so bright, it shone through her dark shirt.

"Because Bonnie's here!" He insisted, pointing at the blonde girl, who stood next to Abyssa. "She's the next Songstress!" Absolon shook his head, looking as though he was about to lose his temper.

"No, you fool boy! The Jewel of Song only leads to the Songstress of the now! That pendant, should she have been lost, would have led you to your mother!" He then took a deep breath, regaining composure. "The Jewel only glows otherwise as the Songstress grows more powerful. You, Prince Gascon Nicholas of Hamelin, have grown stronger on your journey to recover a false Songstress." Gascon furrowed his eyebrows, then scoffed, his frown growing into a small grin.

"That... It sounds like you're saying that I'm..." Absolon smiled, before holding his hands out as his sides, the Jewel of Song lifting from Abyssa's neck, it flying over to Gascon, and hitting Gascon in the chest, the string tying itself around his neck, shining brighter than ever before.

And as he did it, he sang.

He sang in a low pitch, long and deep and handsome. It was the voice that Gascon had heard in his dreams, the voice of the gods themselves.

"You, Prince Gascon Nicholas of Hamelin, are the true heir of the Power of Song." Absolon told him, before bringing his hands down in front of him, bowing his head. "You are the Songster, the first man in over a thousand years to retain the Power of Song." Gascon stared at the pendant around his neck, stunned.

"What...? The Songster? What do you mean? The Songstress..."

"Is normally a young woman, yes, that is true." Absolon told him. "But, even in a magical line, there can never be just a long line of women. There has only ever been one other Songster, and he stands before you now."

"You inherited the Power of Song?" Absolon nodded.

"Yes. I was the first child born from the Songstress Josephine, whom was unable to bear daughters, and she blessed me with the powers she withheld. And I have been waiting in this world to see how long I had to wait before my legacy was passed to another strong, confident, young man." Gascon stared at him in amazement.

"But... But my mother..."

"Already knows." He heard that familiar voice, and turned to see his mother walking up, looking proud.

"Mum?" Harmony walked closer and placed her hand on his shoulder, her blue cloak swishing around her ankles.

"I'm very proud of you, Gascon." She told him, putting her hand on his shoulder, looking around the room. "Its been years since I entered this room. I was quite a bit younger than you were." Gason's eyes went wide.

"You were?" She nodded, looking back down at him.

"Yes, and like you, I too was afraid." She said. "I was afraid for the longest time. And I'm sure I can speak for Absolon when I say that it gets easier with time." Gascon looked to Absolon, who nodded. "And I'm certain that he could use some rest, can't you Absolon?" Absolon nodded again.

"Indeed, I could." He told her, then looked to Gascon. "I have been waiting a thousand years for you, young Prince Gascon Nicholas." Gascon felt sweat run down the back of his neck. All this time, he thought that Absolon had been against them! "I know that it is not easy to become a Songster, and had to make sure that you were up for the challenge. I see now that I had no need to worry." Gascon looked to his mother again.

"And you knew about it?" She nodded. "Why didn't you tell me?" She smiled again.

"Because what fun would that be? Just to straight up tell you your destiny? No, I wanted you to learn about the world at your own pace, with your own opinions and thoughts and choices. After all, not many Songstresses were lucky enough to have that option."

"Your mother and I being some of the few exceptions." Absolon added, earning a sideways glance from Harmony, before she turned back to Gascon.

"Yes, that. And look what you've accomplished! You went to two new worlds, you've helped fairies, you fought your own battles! I think you've proved yourself, son." Then she turned him towards the door. "Now, come. Your father, uncle, aunt, and cousin are all waiting to see you outside. They thought that it would be disgraceful to enter." Gascon snickered, remembering how nervous he and Tiny had been when they first entered the temple.