[attr="class","ashley1body"]
He woke up today, seeing his own reflection. He'd grown bags under his eyes now. How old was he now? Forty-five, right? Huh. Twenty years ago, stress had torn him asunder. The stress of an era of war, the troubles of an oppressive Rocket attempting to be a mainstay. Years ago, he spoke with
Isaac Merlo about Rocket, and how little it mattered.[break][break]
"You were right, old friend."[break][break]
He dreamed a lot of those who he hadn't seen for a long, long time. He missed them. In a perfect world, his queen would have had
ana fell and
Naia Kayode as bridesmaids, a ringbearer in
Eris Halla, and his best man would have been Isaac. Hell, he'd have put
jayden cross as his best man if he were here too. Or
mint frost. He didn't care. He missed them. He remembered toasting to the people on the night of his wedding, and what should have been happiness left him in tears as he missed them more than anything.[break][break]
He remembered looking to the sunrise the following morning.[break][break]
"The rains have ceased, and we have been graced with another beautiful day." The morning sun would alone see the cascading waterfall from his silver eyes.[break][break]
But you are not here to see it.[break][break]
---[break][break]
With travel possible, King Ash of Hammerlocke would adorn himself in his attire and make travel.
kepler brueshaber was building a Kingsguard, a task he did incredibly well as his queen.
Selena Desmarais could handle things here while he made for travel. King Ash had his own travels to make. He had business to take care of. And hatchets to bury.[break][break]
While he holds no ill will towards
Remiel Calcifet or
Biscotti Kingsley, he does try to have some kind of raport with both. Though, he often times sides more with Selena. She was like a big sister to him, more so in these times than back in...[break][break]
Hoenn was it called? He was forgetting now. Born to Unova, moved to Kanto, and living in Hoenn for years before this.[break][break]
He visits royalty.[break][break]
To
ollie morales and
PENELOPE LIVY of Motostoke, where he would bend a knee. A couple he had once wronged greatly, in a life that was far past gone. He revealed his name to both as King Ash. To both, he would allow his name to be said as just Ash. They were all royalty. And he bore as many gifts as he could from Hammerlocke to Motostoke.
"I cannot make up for my youth. But I do hope, these gifts serve you well. I cannot ask you for forgiveness as a king. But I can ask for it as a man." He seems so much happier. So much more positive. And as he kneels, head against the stone of the floor, he would hope that is enough.[break][break]
And yet, King Ollie pulls him up. He yoinks him upwards, and with it... he feels light as a feather.[break][break]
... he likes this man. The sunshine yellow smile. Tells him to call him Ollie.
"We may be kings, but... you can both call me Ash."[break][break]
He wishes he invited King Ollie and Queen Penelope to the wedding now.[break][break]
He goes to see
THEO BECKETT in Motostoke too, and even buys him a drink, wanting to at least tell the man that he became something more. He wants to ask him about his life. He wants to thank him for being a best dad he ever had. Out of the long laundry list of them he had... Theo was at least two fours on the dice.[break][break]
To
Raziel Beckett and
Summer Atreides of Circhester, a beautiful place, where he visits a pub to enjoy drinks. He sees both of them, with intent to open up lines of communication, should either be needing to contact Hammerlocke.[break][break]
To
aaron faust and
illeana reyes of Ballonlea, another beautiful place, with a woman he swore he saw on an app a long time ago. He has wronged neither, and merely bows to both. Though the journey takes a lot out of him, he ensures all locations are open.[break][break]
But the journey to bury bad blood was even homeward bound.[break][break]
When he returns to Hammerlocke, he has a goal. He calls upon
paxton concordas. A grudge that he had still held, even now, and a number of bodies who had long since passed on come to his mind, and drag behind him still. Those lost, long since gone, but never forgotten. He would engage in a conversation with.[break][break]
It's hard, to confront someone who had been the bane of multiple nights in youth, but those woes had festered and healed. Scars. That's what they were to him.[break][break]
"I wish to dub you an elite guard of Hammerlocke."[break][break]
It's... painful. A conversation that Ashley once upon a time would never have made, but maturity forces him to take it on, and so he does. He holds Landon in contempt no longer.[break][break]
"My wife leads too. And I wish... I hope, you can lead with us. I know your strength firsthand, and I would be honored."[break][break]
Finally. He learned the name Concord Hallas, the masked knight. He had him in his company. He didn't know if they could ever trust each other fully, but right now, for the times ahead, no matter the blood, it needed to be put aside.[break][break]
Kep's work bears fruit too. An elite guard, no less. A task that he knew his hand, his queen could make. He remembers coming home that day, and twirling with his wife in his arms, only to feel his back suffer from the exerted stress.[break][break]
Growing old is getting old... a sentiment he knows too well, as Haku the Dragonite hugs him one more time one night he was out in the stars. She curls up on the balcony, her favorite spot in her olden age.[break][break]
She never did wake back up.[break][break]
---[break][break]
There was still work to be done in Hammerlocke, though. Life could come back, could be fixed. The war took many lives, and inevitably when the end comes years down the line, it would take more. But for now, there was something he had to do.[break][break]
He established the Shepard Orphanage. He would order it built. And he designed it, he built the schematics for it. Sleepless nights trying to find a home for these children that lost so much. He would ensure it was readied. And then, in the building, he tossed his crown to the bed to assist it being built. He had the muscles, he was going to help the labor. Nacho, his Hawlucha, and Sunny, his Raboot, helped too. Santana would cut wood, and Ana? She would always be there, wiping off his face.[break][break]
I took a few months of hard work and dedication. But sitting in Hammerlocke now was a home for kids who lost everything. Something he wished he had on the streets of Unova. And with the happiness returning to those who lost everything in years of turmoil and war, to hear the giggling masses, the people of Galar smiling again.[break][break]
He felt liberated.[break][break]
It makes it worse, when he asks some of them their names. And he broke down crying that day. Kids named after those from the past. His heart shattered at Jaden. Izaak. Signe. Naya. Among others... the kids called him a crybaby, for just looking at them and bawling at just their names.[break][break]
That made him laugh.[break][break]
On the last visit though, when he and Kep both go... when he's busy teaching young Izaak how to ride a Mudsdale, he would see Queen Kepler excuse himself to go cry. And Ashley, old as he was, would just... stare in worry.[break][break]
"Is everything okay, Crybaby King?"[break][break]
He turned down to the blonde, and ruffled his hair.[break][break]
"It will be, little Izaak."[break][break]
He'd have to confront him later.[break][break]
---[break][break]
Summer Atreides's letter arrives one day. Kep takes him aside. In their many years of marriage, almost nineteen now, he could tell there was something Kep was hiding. It wasn't just the end of the world. But he doesn't press Kepler about it.[break][break]
Because Ashley didn't fear it at all.[break][break]
"End of the world is here now, huh? Good. I was waiting for it to get here." He smiles to Kepler, pulling him into a hug.[break][break]
But he takes a moment, and eyes him.
"I'll prepare the soldiers."[break][break]
It was time for war.
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@tag[break][break]
NOTES
-
WARDROBE,
VIBE MUSIC[break]
- HAMMERLOCKE - AGE 45
- Years go by. Ash realizes how old he is. He misses people who seem like a memory now. He cries for them in the sunrise.[break]
- The journey to Motostoke, Circhester, and Ballonlea to meet nobles, to see them in person.[break]
-- Kneels before Ollie and Penny, hoping he is forgiven for the past. In Hoenn. King Ollie is sweet.[break]
- Sees Theo in Motostoke. Visits the pub after seeing Summer and Razz in Circhester, and meets with Illeana and Aaron of Ballonlea.[break]
- Has a meeting with Paxton, and asks him to be an elite for him. To fight for Hammerlocke under his banner.[break]
-- Everyone has to bury the hatchet with what's to come.[break]
- Haku the Dragonite goes to sleep on the balcony by his bedroom in the castle. She does not wake up (death).[break]
- Creates the Shepard Orphanage in Hammerlocke, and is dubbed by the kids the Crybaby King when he hears their names.[break]
- Sees Kepler run off as he teaches Orphan Izaak how to ride a horse.[break]
- Letter arrives from Queen Summer of Circhester. Queen Kep approaches him, and he smiles at the supposed world's end.[break]
- Ash states he'll prepare the soldiers, though he knows that Kepler isn't telling him something important.