Chapter 46: A Royal Audience

  Auri waited in the cold stone corridor, the weight of his own exhaustion pressing down on him harder than the carved mineral walls on either side. The air shimmered faintly with crystal dust, not dangerous, just ever-present in this part of Velari’s domain. It clung to his fur like glitter that refused to leave. He didn’t bother brushing it off. He barely had the strength to stay upright.

  He leaned back against the wall, letting his breath slow, though it still came shallow and uneven. Every muscle in his body felt carved out, hollowed. The ache from the [Imprison] seal pulsed like a bruise embedded under his skin, flaring whenever he so much as shifted. His paws trembled. His vision blurred then sharpened again. He had pushed himself far beyond his limit just to reach this place… and now all he could do was wait.

  Somewhere behind the large double doors in front of him sat the so-called heir of Velari, a figure he imagined as some ancient, stern-eyed rock-fairy noble, maybe carved from diamond itself. A descendant of the Lesser Legendary, titled, powerful, probably impatient with outsiders. Definitely unimpressed by stray, half-dead electric-types dragged to their doorstep.

  Not that he could change anything about that except make his plea. Even if they turned him away he would find a way to manage without them. Somehow.

  The Rhydon who had escorted him stood rigid beside the door. The Mawile on the other side, smaller but far more perceptive, kept glancing toward Auri as though expecting him to drop at any moment. He nearly did. Twice.

  Before he could slide down the wall entirely, the doors groaned open. A guard inside announced something, formal words probably, but the ringing in Auri’s head swallowed it whole. The Rhydon nudged him gently but insistently forward. Auri forced his paws to move.

  What seemed to be the throne room flooded into his view. Blue diamond veins ran across the walls like frozen rivers. The ceiling glittered with suspended shards that reflected pale light across everything. It felt colder inside than the corridor, though the air shimmered with magical density.

  And at the center, lounged across a massive throne carved from deep azure crystal, was… not what Auri expected.

  The Diancie perched on the throne was definitely a Diancie but she was... pink? She looked about his age and lounged with a sideways slouch that would’ve earned a scolding from any Elder with functioning eyes. Her body was thrown over one armrest, her back against another, crown slightly crooked as though she had just plopped down after sprinting across the entire kingdom.

  Her expression? Somewhere between bored, annoyed, and deeply entertained by her own irritation. Why was this Diancie pink? Velari was blue, like the Carbink were. Was this a mutation?

  Auri tiled his head in confusion and immediately regretted it as the room suddenly seemed to tilt. He stumbled forward, catching himself barely. The Mawile clicked her jaws anxiously behind him. Both escorts immediately dropped into a bow so deep it nearly scraped stone.

  "Heir Apparent Lira," the Rhydon rumbled with a voice that shook the crystal floor. "We present an outsider we found at the edge of Queen Velari's claimed territory. He's exhausted, severely injured, and his type energy reserve is seemingly sealed by [Imprison]."

  Lira snorted loud enough to echo. "Yes, I can see that," she drawled, lifting her head just enough to peer toward Auri as though examining a particularly unfortunate piece of moss stuck to her wall. "What exactly am I supposed to do with him? Wait a few minutes until he turns into a corpse so I can have him dragged back out?"

  Auri stiffened, a retort already on his tongue despite his physical state, but he swallowed it. It wouldn't help him in the current situation. The Mawile meanwhile winced at Lira's words. The Rhydon stayed perfectly still, either out of discipline or fear of any sudden movement accidentally offending royalty.

  Lira rolled her eyes dramatically and threw her arms up. "Seriously? You didn’t think to get a healer the moment you brought him in? What are you two made of, mud and disappointment?"

  The Mawile opened her mouth to apologize, but Lira cut her off with a flap of her hand. "No, no, don’t bother. Just go fetch healers before he actually dies on my floor. I can already hear Velari yelling at me in my sleep for letting strangers bleed over the furniture."

  Her muttering continued, clearly meant to be under her breath but absolutely not quiet enough. "Incompetent… honestly… do I have to do everything myself? I swear every day in this kingdom takes a year off my life…"

  The Rhydon and Mawile bolted out before she could finish the litany. Auri meanwhile stood awkwardly in the middle of the grand hall, trying his best not to sway. His paws shook anyway.

  Lira glanced at him again, expression twisting somewhere between mild disgust and mild fascination. "Electric-type," she muttered, wrinkling her nose as if someone had placed a rotten oran berry on her throne. "How lovely. Truly my favorite scent." He wasn’t sure if that was sarcasm. It sounded like three different emotions mashed together.

  The healers arrived quickly, two Carbink and a Shuckle all moving with far more urgency than the heir they served. They circled Auri, propping him up, murmuring things he couldn’t track. The Carbink radiated stabilizing fairy energy, warm and soft like a blanket. The Shuckle worked some sort of salve into the cuts along his side. All of that were reasonable actions to take.

  But then the Shuckle tried to actually channel type energy into him. The seal from [Imprison] reacted like a kicked hornet nest.

  Pain exploded through him spiraling from the seal outward like jagged metal scraping across nerves. His knees buckled. The Carbink gasped. Someone shouted. A healer dropped their focus instinctively. Auri collapsed forward onto his paws, gasping as the flare ebbed back into its suffocating stillness.

  "There it is," Lira said dryly from her throne. "The part where everything gets worse the moment any of us try to be helpful. Though I have to question how some of our healers on standby are incompetent enough to try and use type energy on a sealed energey reserve."

  Her voice lacked sympathy but held a grudging note of… interest? Maybe?

  The Shuckle whispered something apologetic, clearly horrified, then continued tending to him without using type-energy, having apparently understood the mistake he had made. After several minutes the worst of hos injuries were treated. His legs still shook and his whole body felt carved from brittle stone. But he was somewhat confident he could now at least remain counious for a prolonged period of time.

  Lira clapped her hands sharply. "Alright that's it, healers out. If he passes out, I’ll yell for you. And I expect you to be faster and more competent next time." The healers fled out of the chamber with a collective bow and suddenly the hall feld all too quiet.

  Lira shifted upright in her throne, finally sitting properly, crown tilting again like it refused to behave. She rested her elbows on her lower body and leaned forward, chin on her hands, inspecting Auri with open curiosity. "So," she began, her tone airy and sharp all at once, "you’re still alive. That’s impressive. Or unfortunate. I haven’t decided yet."

  Auri tried to respond, but his voice cracked before any sound came out.

  "That’s fine," she said quickly, waving off his attempt. "Don’t rush. You look like me sneezing too loud is enough to finish you off."

  He swallowed, tasting dust. "I… came here in search for temporary safety."

  "Safety," she repeated, sounding equal parts amused and offended. "From what? A stiff leaf? A light drizzle? Because that’s honestly the level you’re giving off right now." Auri winced.

  Her voice softened only a fraction. "Look, outsider, whoever you are, I'm not Velari. I don’t give grand speeches or philosophical wisdom or whatever she supposedly did to impress Pokemon far and wide. I’m here because Velari is away saving the world, and her advisors think I could use some 'practical experience'. That's also the reason they are not here with me. They don't think you are worth their attention and they think themselves clever for getting me out of their hair for a few hours 'without me noticing' because they believe me oblicious to everything going on around me."

  She paused, then added without shame, "Still, I’m doing an amazing job, by the way." Auri couldn’t decide if she wanted validation or if she genuinely believed that.

  "Anyways." She flicked a hand. "You created a few questions for me and now I want answers. Then, depending on how boring you are, I decide what happens to you, for no one else here actually cares."

  Lira leaned back into her throne, giving him a look that was strangely thoughtful for someone who had spent most of the conversation alternating between insults and boredom. "Where exactly did you come from?" she asked. "Obviously from somewhere inside the crater. Care to elaborate from where exactly?"

  Auri hesitated. "Newleaf Village."

  Lira blinked once. Then twice. "Newleaf?" She clicked her tongue. "Should've expected that answer. Boring. But still that's quite a way from here..."

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  She tapped her fingers together, humming. "Well… congratulations, I suppose. You made it to the only place that won’t immediately eat you. I haven’t decided whether that’s lucky or just pathetic."

  Auri stared at her blankly. Lira grinned back.

  "Oh relax!. I’m not going to drop you back into the plains for a few hours at least, I promise! I want to know why you’re here. And the truth this time, yeah? Because no one would seal your type energy reserve for trying to find 'safety'. I'm not stupid enough to believe that."

  Auri exhaled slowly. "Fine. I'm from outside the Umbral Abyss and awoke a few months ago without memories. Newleaf Village took me in, but didn't really trust me. Now they found something that I can conveniently serve as scapegoat for so they first sealed my energy reserve and then imprisoned me. They held a trial for me and decided to shatter my type energy reserve. I ran because no way I'll let something like that happen to me. I'd rather court the wandering Dungeon Pokemon ten times over. Satisfied?"

  Even Lira looked shocked for a moment but then her eyes started sparkling. "Good!" she said, too brightly. "Finally something interesting! You do have a story to tell after all!"

  Auri just sighed. He had known her for less than half an hour and already he had expected exactly that reaction. Lira was an... interesting Pokemon.

  "But," she added, flicking her wrist as though dismissing everything he'd just said, "we’ll get to that later. For now, there are so many other things I want to ask you first! Oh, and you can stay of course!"

  She lounged back again, clearly prepared to interrogate him for entertainment as much as information. That she had decided he would be allowed to stay was something at least.

  "Anyways!" she said, not giving him a chance to answer. "Small talk! Let’s begin. I know you’re probably terrible at it, based on everything about you so far, but I’ll carry the conversation. Obviously."

  Auri opened his mouth to answer but Lira steamrolled it without remorse.

  "Why are you so small?" she demanded. "For an Electric-type, I mean. You’re tiny. Like...! She squinted, leaned forward, and held her paws barely apart. "Like this. Did something stunt your growth? Did Newleaf Village not feed you? Do outsiders just… come in miniature?"

  Auri stared. Then he gave a single, tired exhale. "I’m… quite sure I'm average-sized for a Pikachu.”

  She waved that off instantly. "No, no, no, don’t be ridiculous! I’ve met Pikachu before. Two, actually. Both taller than you. And fluffier. And less," she gestured vaguely at his entire being," whatever you’ve got going on."

  Auri didn’t know if he was supposed to feel offended at that. "I think I look normal-"

  "You look like someone dropped you, repeatedly," Lira said cheerfully. "Do you always look this pathetic, or is today special?"

  "Today is special," he muttered. "In all the wrong ways. And I already told you that."

  Lira clicked her claws together, ignoring his answer alltogether. "Anyways. Newleaf! Village! What’s that like? Does it even have culture? Or is it just… sticks and wood and whatever you people call 'tradition' while secretly meaning 'we don’t know what we’re doing'?"

  Auri reflexively winced. "It’s a normal village. And how do you expect me to know the answer to that after only a few months?"

  "That already tells me it'S boring." Lira nodded sagely, as if this confirmed some long-held theory of hers. "Do the villagers walk around telling stories about the wind and friendship and 'proper neighborly values'? Because that sounds exactly like the vibe."

  Auri tried to reply. He really did. "Some are like that, but most-"

  "Oh, stars above, you talk so slowly!" Lira groaned. "Do all outsiders drag their words through mud before speaking? Or is that a personal quirk? Wait, don’t answer, it’ll take too long."

  Auri’s jaw clicked shut. Lira of course didn’t miss it and flashed him a bright grin. "See, you’re learning! Good! Conversations are much easier when you let me handle the talking!"

  Yes, he'd already noticed that the Diancie was quite fond of hearing her own voice. If he didn't fear the consequences of doing so, Auri would've simply walked away and not bothered with her at all.

  Lira lounged sideways over the arm of the throne, looking entirely too comfortable for someone interrogating a half-dead stranger for fun. Every few seconds she tossed another question at him, never giving him time to answer.

  "Why do you keep twitching like that? Is it a medical condition? Should I be concerned you’ll faint on my floor?"

  "You’re very quiet, by the way. Painfully quiet. Are all outsiders this socially inept or just you?"

  Her questions went on with the same condescending tone and eventually Auri gave up on trying to respond at all. Which, apparently, delighted her.

  "Good outsider!" Lira praised, patting the air above him. "You are already more tolerable than half the advisors of Velari!"

  She shifted upright again, the movement making her crown tilt sideways. "Now your whole… tragic escape story." She rolled her wrist dismissively. “Newleaf Village wanting to shatter your type energy? Barbaric! Brutal! Weirdly creative. Honestly? They get points for commitment."

  Auri grimaced at that.

  "But also," she added with a breezy shrug, "it sounds incredibly stupid. Even for surface-dwellers."

  Auri inhaled slowly. "It wasn’t exactly-"

  "I mean what were they thinking? 'Oh, this tiny little scrap of a Pokemon scares us, let’s just rip out his ability to use electricity forever' or something? Please! If they wanted to be rid of you, they could’ve thrown you at a moderately angry Caterpie!"

  "…thanks," Auri murmured. Even with his type energy sealed he was quite sure he could at least deal with something like a Caterpie.

  "I’m saying they’re incompetent, not you," she clarified. "Mostly." Then she leaned back, eyes half-lidded in boredom. "Anyways, you’re a novelty. That whole story? Raises your value by at least five points."

  "Points?" Auri echoed tiredly, thoroughly done at that point.

  "In interest." She flicked her claws. "You’re a mildly interesting guest. Emphasis on mildly."

  Auri sighed at that and adjusted his scarf, more out of habit than anything. The scarf had obviously seen better days but it was incredibly durable and only slightly frayed and blackened at the edges after everything it went through. Of course it was also quite dirty by now, but that was true for him as well.

  "…Hold on." Lira sat up just slightly, pupils narrowing. "What is that tragic thing around your neck?"

  Auri froze. "My scarf? It's-?" he tried.

  "No, no, don’t explain! It’s hideous!" She circled her paw in the air. "Is that your idea of fashion? Did you lose a bet? Did someone force you to wear it as punishment? Did you steal it off a scarecrow?"

  "It's literally just a scarf that went through a few things. And it mean quite a lot to me," Auri said quietly, surpressing his anger at Lira's casual disregard of what was probably his most prized posession.

  "It’s a disaster," Lira corrected, either not noticing or not caring for his anger. "Now lift it."

  "What?" Auri asked caught off-guard.

  She made a sharp beckoning motion. "Lift it a bit. I want to see what you’re trying to hide under all that pathetic fabric. I swear I saw a glint earlier, some kind of hidden pouch?"

  Auri hesitated and Lira's eyes narrowed. "That wasn’t a request. Do as I say."

  Reluctantly, Auri raised the scarf and showed her the inside of the hidden pouch. Just enough for the yellow-golden stone he had gotten from Miu and that Vian had called incredibly valuable come to sight.

  Lira’s entire posture snapped rigid. Her crown slid off her head and hit the floor with a soft clink, but she didn’t even blink. Her eyes, those jewel-like pupils, went sharp as cut glass.

  "…You…" she breathed. Not mocking. Not even loud. Just stunned.

  Auri lowered the scarf halfway again, confused. "I know it's valuable somehow but it’s still just a stone-"

  "No..." Lira’s voice came out thin and reverent, almost electric. The words burst out of her in a rush, wildfire-fast, unstoppable. "Where did you get that!?"

  Auri opened his mouth, but she didn't even give him a chance to answer.

  "Do you have any idea what that is!?" she demanded, pacing in frantic little circles around the dais. "That’s not a stone! Well, it is, technically, but it’s not a normal one, and you’re telling me you just walked around with it in a scarf!? Are you insane!?"

  Auri took a step back, but Lira didn't even seem to notice. Her voice climbed, bright with disbelief. "Pokemon would wage wars for something like that! Legendaries would tear continents in half for it! And you’re wearing it like a neck ornament!?"

  Auri tried again. "Lira-"

  She spun, still talking over him. "Is that why Newleaf wanted to shatter your reserve? Did they know? Did a Lesser Legendary give this to you? Is that why you’re not dead yet? Oh stars, this makes so much sense!"

  "I never said-"

  "Be quiet! I'm thinking!" she barked, waving frantically at him. She resumed her muttering, now spiraling into wild theorizing.

  "Someone entrusted that to you. They must have! No way someone like you gets something like that without higher intervention. A mentor. Yes. A mentor. And definitely an electric-type. Probably a Raichu! One that somehow achieved the rank of Lesser Legendary. And if not a Raichu than an electric-type Greater Legendary." She jabbed at him accusingly. "You’re a prodigy!"

  Auri blinked at her. "What?"

  "You have to be!" Lira said triumphantly. "You survived the Umbral Abyss with something that should’ve drawn the greed of every single Mythial around. And you didn’t die. You made it out of Newleaf Village's barbaric nonsense alive. You’re clearly someone’s chosen student!"

  Auri stared. "…I’m really not-"

  "Oh, please." She scoffed. "You’re the lost prodigy of some Legendary, no doubt about that. That explains everything! Someone probably hunted you down and forced you into the Umbral Abyss! So you must have incredible levels of support out there somewhere!"

  Auri didn’t know whether to laugh or cry with how wrong Lira was. She was so convinced she had to be right that nothing he said could convince her. He and Yuki had gotten these stones from Miu, a Mythical. Based on what he knew by now, they had probably once belonged to Noah and Ray. Now he and Yuki had them, and apparently they were so invaluable that he and Yuki would be hunted down just for posessing them, even without knowing what they even were. Just great.

  Lira slowly, regally, lowered herself back onto the throne, but no trace of the earlier slouch returned. She sat tall and composed., looking almost formal. When she spoke again, her tone had shifted entirely. She was still arrogant, but she was no longer outright dismissing him.

  "Had I known," she said crisply, "I would not have wasted my breath insulting you."

  Auri shot her a flat stare. "That wasn’t exactly an apology."

  "Of course it wasn’t!" Lira scoffed. "But recalibration is important. You’re clearly not the average outsider idiot wandering into my court." Her gaze flicked to his scarf again. "And there is absolutely no scenario in which I can send you back into the Umbral Abyss. That would be catastrophically stupid. And potentially insulting to whoever is mentoring you."

  "I don’t have a mento-"

  "Wonderful!" she said brightly, talking over him again. "So! You’re staying."

  "What? No-"

  "Yes obviously! If word got out that I tossed out someone carrying that kind of valuable posession, I’d never hear the end of it from Velari." She grimaced at the thought. "Her advisors would nag me for years as well."

  "I only need a few days on your territory. I really don’t need to stay in your settlement," Auri tried weakly, really not looking forward to spending more time with that Diancie than strictly necessary.

  "You will stay!" she declared, pointing at him sharply. "At least until you're in good condition and your type energy reserve unseaals again! In the meantime I'll figure out who gave you that and what they intend for you!"

  Auri sagged. "I’d really like to sit down."

  "Oh! Yes, you still look like you might collapse." She clapped her paws. "Sit. Sit! Right there. Don’t fall over, it’d be embarrassing for both of us."

  Auri sank to the ground, head swimming. Lira didn’t seem to notice, she was already muttering to herself again.

  "I need to send word to the advisors," she grumbled. "I hate it. Hate it. But they’ll scream at me if I don’t. Ugh. Politics. Why do I have to bother with all that again?" She straightened suddenly. "Pikachu. Whatever your name."

  His head lifted with effort. "Yes?"

  "You are under my protection now," she said solemnly. "No one will harm you here. I can promise you this much."

  "Okay…" he breathed.

  "Good! Now, to my next question-"

  Auri groaned softly and simply passed out on the ground.

  Important characters in the chapter:

  Pikachu (Auri) – Level 16

  Ability: Lightning Rod

  Battle Nature: Lonely

  Stats:

  TE Pool (Health/AP): 75

  Attack: 49

  Ranged Attack: 44

  Defense: 52

  Speed: 58

  Total: 278 (Strength Level: Teenager)

  Moves:

  Close Combat Moves: [Nuzzle], [Tail Whip], [Quick Attack], [Brick Break], [Thunder Wave], [Feint]

  Ranged Combat Moves: [Thunder Shock], [Electro Ball], [Swift], [Thunderbolt], [Discharge]

  Utility Moves: [Nasty Plot], [Charm], [Double Team], [Growl], [Agility], [Dig]

  Diancie (Lira) – Level 21

  Ability: Clear Body

  Battle Nature: Sassy

  Stats:

  TE Pool (Health/AP): 119

  Attack: 66

  Ranged Attack: 66

  Defense: 135

  Speed: 40

  Total: 426 (Strength Level: Teenager)

  Moves:

  Close Combat Moves: [Tackle], [Smack Down], [Flail], [Draining Kiss]

  Ranged Combat Moves: [Diamond Storm], [Ancient Power], [Rock Throw]

  Utility Moves: [Harden], [Guard Split], [Amnesia], [Fake Tears]