Chapter Two: The Queen's Father
Kei, the King Dowager of Unova had watched his daughter's rise to power with pride. He was a retired knight who spent his free time reading books and drinking tea. As her daughter walked into his room, followed by a group of geishas, he stood up and flicked his golden hair to his side. He opened his arms and hugged Iris. Kei was close friends with the Awayuki family for he helped protect their heiress, Himeno during the Leafe War. His dark skin, golden hair and dazzling eyes captured the attention of the late Queen.
Iris had learned of Lola and Kei's meeting from Drayden. He told her everything that Queen Iris felt that she needed to know. Drayden was Iris' guardian and mentor, she felt as if she could really look up to Drayden, whom she had given the title of The Elder Prince. It was Drayden's wisdom that gave Iris the positions she had. Her parents did little towards her upbringing compared to Drayden.
"Thank you ladies," Iris told them. "You may leave me alone with my father."
When Iris' servants left Kei's chamber, it was the first time in years that Iris had spent alone with her father. Kei went down on his knees and kissed his daughter's hand. "My little princess... or should I say Queen Iris. You must be happy."
"I've never been so delighted," Iris told her father. "And even better, I'm pregnant. I'm going to fulfill my duty as queen by bearing children."
"You and Lance are a great match," Kei admitted sternly. Vanity oozed from his deep voice as his clothes dripped in yellow gems. "You've got got power, glory and beauty. Nobody can take that away from you. But I've got something to tell you as well. It's very good news."
"What is it?"
"I'm getting married," Kei told his daughter. For someone who was about to be married, he spoke of it as if it wasn't a serious matter. Iris knew very well that marriage was a lifetime commitment. She had been preparing for the moment since she was ten, and to see her father talk be so laid-back about it was unusual to her.
"To who?"
"She comes from the digital islands."
"Does she have any children?"
"Two sons."
"What's her name?"
"Nancy Takaishi." Kei took out a small mirror from his pocket and opened the case, above the mirror was a portrait of a lady with blonde hair. "Her sons are digidestend."
"What do these digidestends do?" Iris asked.
"They own digimon and fight with them," Kei explained to his daughter. "Unlike pokemon, digimon were not made in Arceus' image. They are creatures conjoined together through emotion and data. You mainly find them in the digital islands."
"So they're essentially pokemon trainers but with digimon instead?"
"There are some differences," Kei replied. "For example you can have as many pokemon you wish, digidestends are only allowed one digimon."
"It sounds weird."
"What you must understand is not everyone lives with pokemon," Kei said. "There's all sort of people out there, beybladers, dueslists, witches, wizards, knights, ninjas, pirates, soilders, you name it. But that's what makes our world so interesting. There are not many dragons left in this world, but you have the power to save them all from extinction. I think your proposals for Dragonspiral Tower are brilliant."
"Thank you. So when will I see my new step-family? And when are you getting married."
"In seven days," Kei said.
"How long have you been engaged?"
"Since your mother died."
At that point, any excitement Iris had for Kei had stopped. "Did you cheat on mother?"
"No."
"Why did you rush into the marriage then?"
"Nancy hasn't been married for ten years," Kei responded in a cold voice. "I didn't want her to be known as a leftover. And in this day of age, it's not good to be unmarried at my age, so I took the logical reason and got engaged as soon as possible." Iris didn't believe Kei, but she kept it to herself. Kei tapped Iris' shoulder and said, "But enough me, focus on yourself and your regions. You are a very lucky girl for getting Drayden's help. Because of Drayden you've married into the most powerful pokemon regions in the world."
"I do like to think that I married for love as well," Iris admitted. "Didn't you marry my mother for love? And do you love Nancy?"
"It would be hard not to love Lance," Kei responded, carefully dodging any personal questions his daughter would give him. "He's handsome, powerful, stands for justice, he king, he's a dragon master and you're carrying his child; your great successor and heir. What else could you possible want?"
"There's not much I can ask for."