I have been wanting to write an Ash betrayal fic for a while (I know, how original) but most of the ones I've read seem to be identical.
So I've tried to shuffle things around from the usual 'friends telling him to give up his dream' theme, as well as the 'Ash comes back for a big tournament and no one knows who he is' theme.
Instead, he will be evil muhahaha. There will still be elements from other betrayal fics since there are like literally thousands littered around , but I'm going to try and deviate from the main formula.
Important notes:
-This story is set after the events of Best Wishes (i.e. Ash never went to Kalos)
-After Unova, Ash comes back to Kanto and wins the league there.
-Stronger, more skilled version of Ash
-Romance isn't the main genre of this fic, but it will be a part of it.
~xXx~
Prologue
Gray felt a rough pair of hands grab his shoulders, and he was shoved into the dark room without warning. The mechanical doors slammed shut, and he heard the familiar click as a bolt was fastened into place. There was no turning back.
He examined his surroundings. The room was rectangular and dimly lit, with the only source of light coming from the large screen that sat behind the back wall. All around him, celestial figures gleamed — their faint light casting shadows which flickered onto the walls like dancing ghosts.
The sculptures themselves were contained within bell-shaped jars. They perched on top of wooden shelves, which were organised into neat rows and displayed like an antique collection.
Gray pressed his face against the jars, and a cold shudder trickled down his spine. They were just sculptures of pokemon, albeit sculptures that looked scarily realistic. Too realistic, in fact. Their facial expressions were carved with such vividness that had they not been bronze, he would have thought they were alive.
He spotted a Celebi, whose mouth was hanging open in shock, fear crafted into her delicate eyes. She seemed to shielding herself around something; her arms were draped around her head.
Next to it posed a Victini. This one looked like it was running away; his arms outstretched, one leg dangling in the air.
Gray breathed. It almost were as if they were alive. He reached out to touch one, but immediately recoiled in pain as a jolt ran down his nerves. The sculptures were defended by some sort of invisible barrier. Wincing, he put the sore thumb in his mouth.
"Fine collection, don't you think?" A voice boomed from across the hallway.
Gray looked up, and saw a man leaning casually against his chair. A shadow loomed over his face, shielding his features but not his mouth, where a sinister smile lingered.
"Master." He acknowledged.
"Few people know the true value of a legendary pokemon." The man swung off his chair and paced around the room, marvelling at his glittering collection of toys.
"Those who have the insight, who can see the bigger picture know that they are absolutely priceless. These have cost me a fortune, but that fortune was sacrificed for power. Here's a little secret: when one possesses enough power to bend the world to his will, everything — and by that I mean everything — will belong to him." The man smiled, satisfied with his explanation.
Gray shuffled his feet nervously. "I understand."
The man stroked his chin. "I assume the plan is all set in motion?"
"Yes, master. Ash Ketchum will fall, and rise again on our side."
"Be careful. He will not succumb to our wishes easily, so this has to achieved through deceit, and deceit alone. Make him believe he is doing the right thing."
"I know that," Gray rolled his eyes. "He won't know who he's working for at all."
"Excellent." A grin emerged on the man's face. "The champion will be an fine addition to our ranks indeed. With someone like him doing our bidding, no one will dare stand in our way." He boasted.
"Of course. He is a powerful trainer."
"Mhm." The man grunted. "Oh, and one last thing."
"Yes, master?"
"Don't let your emotions get in the way, will you? After all, he is your friend."
"Was." Gray corrected. "I hate him with a passion."
The man roared with laughter. "Oh, you're so petty, Gray. All you seek is revenge. Or should I call you by your real name? Mr—"
"Don't. Say. That. Name." Gray growled, his fists clenching in anger.
"Very well. You're dismissed." The man snapped his fingers, and the doors flew open again. Gray stalked out of the room, huffing in rage. He stormed past the two guards without a word.
End of Prologue
~xXx~
Humanity's Final Stand
Ash's fingers curled around the microphone. He scanned the audience below — a sea of faithful supporters from Pallet Town, celebrating his victory in the Indigo Plateau.
Amongst them stood familiar faces: Potter, the clumsy gardener who tended to the plants at the Xandu Greenhouse. Daisy Oak, who ran a grooming service for pokemon a few blocks down the street. Even Robert, the faithful assistant who had resided in Professor Oak's lab for the past decade came out in his worn lab coat to join the party.
There were his friends as well: Misty, Brock, May, Dawn, Iris and Cilan all had the privilege of experiencing first-hand VIP seats. Delia happily retreated to the second row, her puffy cheeks flushing pink with pride of her little boy. Next to her sat Gary, Drew and Paul. They were rivals that Ash had developed over the years, yet chose to attend out of mutual respect.
The crowd hushed as Ash lifted the microphone to his lips.
"Welcome, ladies and gentlemen." He spread his arms, reciting the speech that Brock had written him an hour ago. The piece of paper lay crumpled and enclosed within his fist.
"First of all, I want to thank the audience. Thank you for picking out precious hours of your time to celebrate my victory in the Indigo Plateau, and join me in this little parade."
An enthusiastic cheer erupted from the crowd.
Memories from the final match flashed across Ash's vision in fragments, popping up here and there like quantum molecules in and out of existence.
"CHUPI!"
The earth-shaking crunch as Pikachu brought his tail down in a blinding flash of white, slamming it full onto his opponent's skull.
The heart-pulsing thud as Trip's Serperior hit the ground, motionless, and the silence that swept the stadium afterwards.
The immortal words that escaped the umpire's lips— "Serperior is unable to battle, therefore Pikachu wins! And the winner of the Indigo Plateau is Ash Ketchum!"
The taste of victory tingling on his skin, the roar of the crowd chilling in his bones.
A blur of yellow — Pikachu racing across his vision, and the next moment he is in Ash's arms. The feeling of warmth as the rodent nuzzled against his chest, the sensation of ecstasy as fans chant his name.
A smile played on Ash's lips as the snippets of his victory replayed before his eyes. He looked at the audience, and newfound energy surged through him. Ash stuffed the crumpled piece of paper into his pocket and improvised.
"Every time I stand on the battlefield, the roar of the crowd is like music to my ears. Whether you were present in the stands, or watching from television at home, or simply supporting me in spirit — I just want to say thank you, because you gave me strength when I needed it. You gave me hope when I doubted myself."
Ash tried to inject energy into his voice. "It truly pushes me forwards, knowing that people all the way back in Pallet are out there rooting for me, watching every move I make. I've said it before, and I'll say it again.
Your support means the world to me, from the very moment I set foot on this journey until the very last time I walk out of a battlefield." The last remnants of the paper crumbled in his fist.
An infatuated 'awwwww' swept across the audience.
"I will never forget the support from my friends—" Ash paused, gesturing towards the front row where they sat. "Without your help, I would have never won the Indigo Plateau. I would be forever known as the rookie trainer from Pallet town who didn't know how to catch a Pokémon."
Ash locked eyes with each and every one of his friends. They were his family, and rightfully so. Together, they had been through so much — the highs and the lows, the good times and the bad times. Together, they had seen it all.
"Throughout my travels, I have learned from every single one of you — not just in battling, but other aspects of life as well. Your inspiration allows me to keep going, and your encouragements stop me from giving up."
More cheering. Ash's friends flashed flustered smiles in return.
"Oh, I couldn't forget about you guys — Gary, Drew, Paul." He added, motioning towards the trio who sat cross-legged in the middle. The audience chuckled.
"You may have been my rivals, but your role has been no less important than any of my friends."
Gary suppressed a smile, while Paul merely arched a brow.
"Without you, I would have never pushed myself beyond the limit. I would have never had the ambition… the motivation… the determination to become the very best. For that, I am grateful for the impact you've had on my life." Ash bowed his head, and a subconscious smirk flickered across Drew's face.
"Last but not least, I want to thank my mom for everything she has done for me."
The crowd erupted in applause, and Delia hid her face in blushes.
"Mom, you have been by my side since — I don't even know when. I know that even though I'm always away from home, always going on a journey — you have never stopped watching over me, making sure that I was all right. I cannot thank you enough for that."
Ash channeled his emotions into his voice, letting his heart do the talking. He freed all the thoughts on his mind: how his mom always sent him clean clothes, how she never cooked a bad meal, how she treated his friends with love and compassion.
The crowd responded with yet another round of applause, and Delia earned herself a couple of pats on the back.
Ash waited for the noise to die down, then took a deep breath. This was the hardest part — the tragedy.
It was the drop of toxic sludge that polluted a clear river, the unfortunate blip in an otherwise perfect party. Ash didn't want to ruin the mood more than anyone, but it had to be done sooner or later, and he preferred to get it over with.
"Finally, I want to thank my mentor." He said quietly.
The atmosphere turned dark, and smiles faded abruptly from the audiences' faces. Gary let out a slight grimace, and a few uncomfortable grunts echoed throughout the audience.
"It is of the utmost regret that Professor Oak is unable to join us today. He has experienced a, ah — most unfortunate accident, and as a result he is currently in a coma."
Silence. The swooshing noise as leaves rustled against the wind suddenly sounded distinct and clear in the crowded square. A few gasps broke out; there was bound to be someone who hadn't kept up with current affairs, but to everyone else this was old news.
Some closed their eyes and lowered their heads in respect. Others followed suit, and within seconds the entire crowd fell silent, forming a sea of heads bowed together in unison. Whatever chattering that remained was reduced to faint whispers in the wind.
Not only was Professor Oak a world renowned researcher, he was also one of the most influential figures in Pallet Town. His name came with an air of respect that not even the most senior members of the council would dare cross. After all, he was Samuel Oak.
Ash's voice began to crack. "He gave me my Pikachu. He has watched over me from the start of my journey, like the father I never had. I owe this man my life, and wish him a speedy recovery."
He fought back a sob in his throat. Two days ago, Professor Oak had been found in his room, motionless as a rag doll. There were no visible scratches or cuts on his body, just an unconscious man lying on the floor, his breathing faint and his pulse almost nonexistent. The paramedics arrived to the scene within minutes, and concluded that he was alive and perfectly well — except that he had fallen into a coma.
Ash slowly lifted his head, and the crowd followed his lead. He shook angry tears out of his eyes. No, stop it. Ash thought. He mustn't dwell on the past when there was a future waiting ahead of him. All he could do right now was hope for the best and wait.
He still had a goal to fulfil, a dream to fight for. One day, Ash would challenge the mighty Elite Four — Lorelei, Bruno, Agatha and Koga. They would bow before his feet, then Ash would topple Lance from the throne himself. When he earned the title of Kanto Champion, other people would be challenging him, and he would defend the position with all his might.
After that, he would return to Pallet. Perhaps by then, the professor would have recovered from this coma. If he hadn't… Ash shuddered at the horrible thought. Well, at least he knew that he would have done the professor proud. Samuel Oak was one of the few who believed in him from day one.
Ash shuffled back to his senses. For a brief moment, no one knew what to do. Then a single clap emerged from the silence, and it escalated into thunderous applause.
The audience were still clapping when a screech pierced the air.
It sounded like a mechanical bird singing horribly out of tune, at a frequency which almost shattered eardrums. All around him, people dropped to their knees, jamming fingers into their ears to stop the incessant screeching.
Ash looked backwards, and realised that the screen was malfunctioning — a sea of black and white pixels flickered in and out of sight, swirling around to form a greyish square. The screech was replaced by a constant hum that filled the air, as if the computer itself was being hacked.
An uneasy sensation swept across Ash's gut. As if they had minds of their own, the pixels started to rearrange themselves to project a video onto the screen. A red dot blinked on the bottom corner, while the date was displayed on the top in bolded, white print. This was security camera footage.
The image strained to produce a room — Professor Oak's study. Oak slouched on his desk, a thick book in his hands as he trawled through pages and pages of literary text. It was getting late, and he stifled a yawn. In fact, it was three in the morning. Nevertheless, time was just a concept for the professor. There was no such thing as too much research.
Suddenly, the door creaked open. A glimmer of light shot through the crack, and a figure emerged from the shadows. A moment of uncertainty ensued as the figure hid his face from camera, his identity unknown to the audience — then he turned, and the crowd gasped.
It was Ash.
The footage was of rather poor quality, and the lack of colour was glaring, but there was no doubt about it. Ash's spiky hair protruded from his hood like a porcupine, ruffled and unorganised as always. The Z-marks on his cheeks gleamed in the dark like eternal battle scars. His skin was pale, his eyes sunken and bloodshot as if he hadn't slept for days.
The last shadow of doubt was eliminated by the tiny figure that trailed on his shoulder. Pikachu morphed into view, his red pouches pulsing with static electricity as his zig-zag shaped tail wagged in the dark.
Ash entered the room, and quietly closed the door behind him. Professor Oak didn't seem to notice; his eyes remain glued to the huge book that sprawled across his lap, straining to read the small text within. Whenever Oak was indulged in pokemon research, there was no stopping him. The outside world simply ceased to exist from his point of view.
The hooded figure crept along the wooden floor until he was hovering directly above the swivel chair. A plank creaked.
Oak swung around. A grin spread on his face upon seeing Ash, and he mouthed a greeting — probably something like "Howdy, Ash?".
Faster than a Ninjask, Ash's right arm darted around and clamped onto the professor's mouth. He muffled a scream, but the boy held on with a grip of steel. He twisted and pulled Professor Oak towards his chest, slamming him into the ground. The floorboard cracked, and a dozen books tumbled from their shelves. The boy glanced around, but no one seemed to be startled.
He continued his work. Ignoring the Professor's muffled protests, the hooded figure dragged him along the ground like a sack of garbage — straight into the toilet. No one knew what happened afterwards, for the two of them had disappeared from the screen completely.
Pikachu turned; he finally spotted the security camera. His amber eyes narrowed into slits, and a jolt of electricity surged from his cheeks. The screen illuminated with a crackling glow, then it went blank.
~xXx~
Hoped you enjoyed the chapter! :)
