Chapter 480: True Love Crosses Species—Same Species Are Just for Reproduction

For nearly a full minute, the Froslass Queen blazed like an ice-blue sun.

Brilliant light poured from her body and flooded the entire hall, forcing everyone to shield their eyes.

The glow was intense enough to make their vision swim even through closed lids, but it finally began to weaken, slowly revealing the figure lying on the ice bed.

Aaron lowered his arm just as the queen opened her icy-blue eyes.

Their gazes met.

She stared at him without saying a word, and for a few awkward seconds Aaron simply stared back, unable to figure out why she was looking at him like that. Eventually, he cleared his throat and broke whatever strange moment had settled between them.

"Ahem... You're awake. How do you feel? Anything still bothering you?"

"Fros...!"

The attendants beside the bed burst into tears of relief. The queen slowly sat up, then rose gracefully from the ice bed and floated above it, her crystalline crown gleaming under the pale light.

"Frosslass..."

Her soft cry carried throughout the castle.

The response was immediate. Hundreds of Froslass erupted into delighted cheers as the tension that had filled the hall vanished almost overnight. Their queen had returned.

Snow began drifting gently through the chamber as the celebration spread.

Froslass spun and danced across the frozen floor, and some of the bolder ones even grabbed members of the expedition by the hands and dragged them into it.

The humans were awkward at first, stumbling through steps they did not know, but before long they gave up trying to preserve their dignity and joined in properly.

Laughter, whistles, and Pokémon cries echoed through the castle.

For once, nobody was fighting over territory, resources, or survival. Humans and Pokémon were simply celebrating together.

Different species or not, they had long since become inseparable parts of each other's lives.

Grant and Ryan, however, seemed to have taken that message a little too much to heart.

Both had somehow ended up dancing with Froslass, wearing grins so shameless that Aaron could practically hear the dirty thoughts rattling around inside their heads.

He stared at them for two seconds before quietly taking out his phone.

Click.

Grant did not notice.

Click.

Ryan did not either.

Aaron smiled to himself.

Perfect.

He finally had something to hold over both of them.

...

Once the celebration calmed down slightly, the Froslass Queen turned her attention back to Aaron. Her beautiful icy-blue eyes settled on him, and a low, mature woman's voice suddenly sounded directly inside his mind.

Human... thank you for saving me.

Aaron jerked in surprise.

"Holy shit."

He stared at her.

"You can communicate telepathically?"

The queen smiled faintly and nodded.

Human, tell me what you desire. If it is something within my power, I will grant it. You saved my life, and I will repay that debt.

Her gaze lingered on him as she spoke.

Aaron's answer nearly slipped out immediately.

I want you.

He caught himself just before saying it aloud.

No. That sounded way too fucking direct.

If he scared her off after finally finding a Froslass with Champion Potential, he would hate himself for the rest of his life.

Aaron straightened his expression and tried again.

"What I want is for you to come with me."

The queen blinked.

Aaron held her gaze.

"Become my Pokémon. Travel with me."

A faint blush immediately appeared across her pale cheeks.

"Fros! Frosslass!"

One of the attendants beside her panicked and began protesting.

Corviknight's spirit, still invisible to everyone else, translated from Aaron's side.

"She says no. If their queen leaves, they'll miss her so much they won't be able to sleep."

Aaron's mouth twitched.

Yeah? Well, if I walk out of here without catching a Froslass like this, I'm the one who won't be sleeping.

He glanced at the attendants.

Sorry, ladies. Better you than me.

Before the Froslass could continue protesting, their queen calmly raised one hand. The surrounding Pokémon immediately quieted.

It is not impossible, she told Aaron.

His eyes lit up.

But first, you must defeat me. If you wish to take me away from this castle, prove that you possess the strength to do so.

Aaron's tension disappeared instantly.

That was it?

A Pokémon battle?

For him, that was practically the same as telling him to come collect his prize.

A grin slowly spread across his face.

"Deal. No backing out afterward."

He paused, then added with complete seriousness:

"Whoever breaks the promise is a Poochyena."

The Froslass Queen stared at him for a moment before the corner of her mouth curved upward.

Very well. It is a promise.

...

The center of the great hall was quickly cleared, with the Froslass gathering around the edges alongside the expedition members. Aaron and the queen took their places opposite each other on the frozen floor, and the festive atmosphere gradually shifted into anticipation.

It did not take long for Grant and the others to understand what Aaron was trying to do.

Grant looked from Aaron to the tall, elegant Froslass Queen, then gave him the kind of grin that immediately made Aaron regret having ears.

"Ohhh. So that's what this is about."

Aaron ignored him.

Ryan caught on a second later, and one of the technicians burst out laughing.

"Aaron, no need to explain. We understand."

Another voice called from the crowd.

"True love crosses species!"

Someone immediately shouted back:

"Same species are just for reproduction!"

The hall erupted in laughter.

Aaron's eye twitched.

Grant, now thoroughly enjoying himself, folded his arms. "So this is your type, huh? No wonder even my twin sisters couldn't get anywhere with you."

"Go get her, Aaron!" someone else yelled. "Beat the queen and you can be king!"

"Don't hold back! If you like her, take your shot!"

"Bring glory to humanity!"

Aaron slowly turned toward them.

The expression on his face said exactly what he was thinking.

I'm surrounded by fucking idiots.

Across from him, the Froslass Queen had heard every word.

A faint blush returned to her cheeks as her icy-blue eyes flicked toward Aaron. When she saw the sheer irritation on his face, she could no longer hold back a quiet laugh.

What an interesting human...

A small smile lingered on her lips as she floated into position.

Aaron exhaled, pushed the idiots behind him out of his mind, and focused on the opponent in front of him.

The surrounding Froslass gradually fell silent.

The battle for the Froslass Queen was about to begin.

...