"Another drink, Andy?"
"No thanks, Ash. Mom wants me home before dark. That Weedle's back in the shed."
"She can't get it out?"
"She says it's a man's job. My sisters are scared stiff, and dad's got a phobia since he was stung as a kid. But last time it was pretty easy."
"Yeah? How?"
Andy downed the rest of his glass. "Just showed it who's boss. Chased it out with a broom. Wouldn't let it close enough to hurt me and gave it a good whack if it tried."
Their conversation was interrupted by a hush following someone's entry into the Soaring Spearow. Ash and Andy looked up. The town messenger was pinning a piece of paper to the noticeboard.
One of the functions of the pidgey mail was to send news between towns. It was courteous to wait until the messenger had left before those present huddle around the noticeboard. Usually the closest literate person would read it aloud.
Good news or bad, Ash didn't have long to wait before someone read out the notice:
There was a murmur among the listeners, but it did not last long. Most Pallettowners, especially the younger ones, were not concerned with political events at the opposite end of the Valley. Few of them were even likely to travel that far in their lifetime.
Ash, however, went up to read the notice for himself. Since hearing about the misfortunes of the Cerulean people, it continued to occupy his mind. He hoped that somehow, something would happen to improve their lot. This latest news only saddened him, a fact which also surprised him. Unlike others, he found himself caring about the welfare of people whoever they were.
"I wonder why a princess would try and overthrow her own father?" he muttered aloud.
His eyes moved to a poster on the noticeboard, a portrait of Misty, handmade copies of which where issued by her father throughout the Valley on the occasion of her coming of age. If she was anything like her portrait, she must have been very beautiful.
Ash felt a hand on his shoulder. "Sorry pal," said Andy, "she's not for you."
Ash sighed. He kept on looking.
"I don't know, Andy. There's something about her... that just... seems so right."
"Forget her Ash. There's dozens of girls in Pallet, many of them good-looking if that's what appeals to you. My parents say looks aren't everything—I suppose they know best. Anyway, I gotta go. See you tomorrow."
♦
Ash walked home slowly. He passed the fountain again and looked at his reflection in the water. He washed some dirt off his face and combed his hair with his fingers. He realized he needed a shave.
Ah! Who was he kidding? What was he even thinking? A princess, in another kingdom, locked up in jail. Any of those alone would be a reason to forget her. And even if those obstacles were overcome, who was to say she'd even want him? Maybe Andy was right—as he was about practically everything. Time to start looking seriously for a nice, homely Pallet girl who could work hard, run a house and raise kids.
The rest of they way home he dwelt on another matter: why would Misty commit treason against her own father? From what he was told, King Walter was way bad. She doesn't like him... or maybe she doesn't agree with what he does. Yes that must be it: her father's bad, but she's the opposite, she's good! A beautiful face and a good heart, what a perfect combination!
♦
The next day, Ash threw himself into his work. He had to dig up a fallow field. The boss gave him a couple of trainees to help, since he liked how well Ash took charge of them.
Originally, Andy was also going to help, but the guy showed up trailed by that Weedle!
"What's that thing doing here?" Ash had asked.
"Ash, it's so weird! When I got home to get it out of the shed, I hardly had to do anything. As soon as it understood, it did what I wanted—and it's been following me around ever since. 'Course mom and dad won't have it in the house, so it went back to the shed to sleep."
"Andy, the boss won't want it around."
And sure enough, the boss did not want it around. He sent Andy home and told him not to come back until he got rid of the monster. Andy came back very soon without it and was sent to help Ash.
"What did you do with it?" asked Ash.
"I just told it to stay near those trees over there and it did what I said."
Ash scratched his head, but it didn't help him figure it out, so he returned to his digging.
♦
"Ash, son, come over here please!"
It was his boss. Strange, he thought. Normally he'd send someone with a message. Ash hurried over. There was a well-dressed man standing next to his boss.
"Ash, a messenger from the king."
"Ash," said the messenger, "the king summons you. Please present yourself at the palace within the hour."
Ash knew better than to ask questions of the king's command, but his face betrayed his perplexity.
"No doubt you may wonder the reason for the summons. The king has need of your services, the exact nature of which he will explain personally."
The official bowed formally and left.
"Better get going, son," said his boss. "Andy'll take over for you."
"Yes, sir."
"Make sure you have a bath and put on clean clothes. It's no small matter appearing before the king."
"Yes, thank you sir," Ash replied and left.
