Chapter 10
During the year cooking and making clothes, Ash and Alice have been getting closer and closer, they also invite Helen to their island for the purpose of training, since Helen is also fond of training Pokemon especially Fire Types. But when he sees her Charizard, he can't help but frown since Charizard betrayed him.
Alice notices it and also tells him that there is no need to worry, and Ash understands. Much to their surprise, they encounter a male Pyroar when they are strolling Route 22 in Kalos. The Pyroar is the same one that Ash has helped back then, and it wants to join Ash after learning how he had suffered, much to his glee.
And with Helen being a good friend and also fond of Fire Types, Arceus also met her, and much to her surprise. Arceus not only blessed her with the good cooking, but he also gives her a replica of Moltres, Entei, Ho-Oh, Groudon, Heatran, Victini, Reshiram, Volcanion and Blacephlon. Helen thanks him and promises that she won't let him down. As for Alice, she is also given some Pokemon from Arceus as well, and she got an Articuno, Regice and Kyurem.
Right now Ash, Alice and Helen are sitting on the grass looking at both the beach and the starry skies, Ash frowns as he says, "It has been a year since that happened..."
Alice and Helen are looking at him with concern, as they know Ash couldn't forget what has happened, Helen turns to Alice and asks, "But Team Rocket has been destroyed... How is he still sad about this?"
Alice sighs, "It is not easy to just forgive and forget, the ones who badmouthed him are millions of people in the world, with that amount, even though they are controlled, Ash couldn't forget all of it. But just dwelling in the past isn't a good thing to Ash, we need to have him find his interest again."
"You are right." Helen nods, "But how would we do that?"
They turn around and see Ash already sending out Roserade and Pyroar as Pyroar continues to lick his trainer while Roserade is dancing around. Alice sees the dance and she has an idea. Then she stands up and walks towards him, after she is behind him she covers his eyes, "Guess who is it?"
"Alice, I know it was you. If Helen is the one did it you would already come and stop her." Ash smiles as he takes off her arms. Helen asks, "Is that an insult?"
"No offense to you, I am just talking about how jealous Alice would be." Ash says as Alice pouts. "But surely, what's up, Alice?"
Alice says, "Ash, by reading the diary, I find that your father was also a Top Coordinator in his first try."
Ash pales a little as he knows what Alice is talking about. Alice says, "So Ash, have you ever thought about entering the contests and eventually trying to become a Top Coordinator?"
Ash frowns and says, "I have read that part...don't get me wrong, I was proud of my father becoming a Top Coordinator. But...it is just that...two of my former friends say that I suck at Contests..."
"How could they say that?" Helen asks in shock. "Didn't you partake contests before?"
"I partook some of them, and I got a half ribbon because I tied with one of my friends, but it hurts...to see that ribbon burned into ashes..."
This causes shock to them as Alice says, "How could they do that? That is just plain rude."
"I know...It hurts to see a symbol of friendship to be burned into ashes just like that..." Ash frowns, and Alice knows why he doesn't want to do it, but that will be back at the start, so Alice decides to give him some motivation. "Don't worry about them, Ash. You are wonderful and I am sure you are not a failure in Contests. If they really said that to you, then you just have to prove them wrong, by winning the Grand Festival."
Ash looks at her, and he smiles back. "You're right, I am going to show them that I am not a failure in Contests. But I am not ready to face the world again..."
"Don't worry, we will have new disguises. I want to try out a disguise that is good for Water Types." Alice says.
"Water Type? That sure is unusual." Helen says. But Ash says, "Sure, let's try it out."
The two of them change into two blue haired people with water like themed, Alice still retains her hair style while Ash looks handsome.
"Wow...They sure look different on you, and I am sure your charm can woo a lot of people. But what are you going to name the disguise?" Helen asks.
"I am thinking of having a normal name...well, I have one. I can be Jude, and Alice, you can be Aoi." Ash says.
"I like the name." Alice says with a smile and she kisses Ash.
"Thanks." Ash says. "But which Contest should I partake?"
"Since the announcers are three siblings, which means that there are three of the regions that are having contests. And from what I saw, if you don't want to meet the traitors, I suggest that Hoenn is the best choice."
"Hoenn, huh? The only problem is that the Champion is also a Top Coordinator...it might be awful..." Alice and Helen frown, but Ash says, "But I will like to try it out."
This causes the two to sigh in relief. Ash turns to Roserade and Pyroar. "We are going to train with the contests, are you ready?"
The Pokemon nod as Ash start to train with the two Pokemon. With Helen and Alice's help, he manages to get a grasp at it. Then they go to the Hoenn Region as they start helping Ash win the contests. And much to their happiness, Ash won all 5 ribbons on the first try. And on the way, he meets a Feebas who has been watching his contests battle in Stootopolis City. He wants to shine just like Ash did. Ash notices it and decides to take her and train her.
In the final rounds of the Grand Festival, Ash is standing on the field and his opponent is a girl with green hair. The person makes him remind of Wallace, the Champion of Hoenn. But he doesn't think more as they hear the announcer saying.
"The final match between Jude and Reisa is about to begin, trainers, please send out your Pokemon."
The girl sends out a Feraligatr while Ash sends out the Feebas. Everyone is surprised at Ash's choice, but except his opponent, who is in deep thought. Ash notices the pressure on top of her, as he asks, "What's wrong?"
"Oh, it is nothing." Then the referee starts the timer as they start to battle. But in the end, Feraligatr has been making progress to damage Ash's contest bar while Feebas is struggling.
"Feebas, I know you can do it. Believe in yourself and become the star you admire." Ash says as Feebas evolve into a beautiful Milotic. This causes Reisa to become much worried, and like she knew, she lost against Ash after the battle due to the worry in her heart and making rash decisions.
"I am sorry, Feraligatr..." Reisa whispers to the Pokemon and she recalls it. Then she shows a forced smile as she walks towards Ash, saying while shaking hands with him. "That is a nice battle. I am glad that I had a match with you."
"Thanks, you're not bad as well." Ash says.
After having his first cup, Alice and Helen congratulates him. "You won the first time, Jude." Alice says.
"That is really spectacular. Who knows that Feebas evolve into a beautiful Milotic during the match." Helen says.
"I know, but the way to make Feebas evolved is related to Contests." Ash says, as they are walking past the changing room, they hear crying and they look at each other. "What's going on?" Helen asks.
"Someone is crying, but why?" Alice asks and Ash says, "We've better checked it out."
Once they enter the room, they find Reisa, who is crying on the table. Ash recognizes her as the opponent he faces in the final rounds, and he knows that ever since he wins against her, she has been forcing to smile on stage.
Ash puts his hand on her shoulder and asks with concern, "Reisa, right? Are you alright?"
Reisa looks at him with tears and says, "Oh, hey Jude. I wished to be alone for now."
"What's wrong? Why are you acting like this?" Ash asks. "Is it because you lost to me that you are this sad?"
Reisa quickly says, "No, it is not your fault. It's just...it's just..." She starts to break down again and says, "This is my seventh time entering the Grand Festival."
This causes surprise to the group as they didn't know that this girl in front of them are this skilled with the contests. Reisa continues to whimper, "I always come this close...but I fail in the finals every time... I failed my father...I failed my brother...I am a shame to my family..."
Ash and the two girls are surprised at her words. He says, "I am sorry, I didn't know that it means so much to you..."
"You don't need to apologize for what you wanted..." Reisa says. "Maybe I am not destined to be a Top Coordinator...like my cousin and my Dad Wallace..."
"You are Wallace's daughter?" Helen gasps in surprise. "No wonder, your hair looks the same..."
Ash frowns, as he remembers the words that Wallace said to the crowd back when they are controlled. But Reisa looked like the person he was last year, he also lost seven leagues and he understood the pain and the sadness she has to face. Ash knows that there is one thing to do to make her better.
"Reisa. Can you please come with us for a while?" Ash asks. "Huh?" Reisa asks.
Once they arrive back at Sevestar, Reisa asks, "Where are we?"
Ash shows himself to her and says, "You see, Jude was not my name. But my name is...Ash Ketchum."
Reisa gasps as she hears a lot about this person from his father. She says, "Ash Ketchum? The person who was badmouthed by the whole world? Dad has been finding you in the Hoenn Region..."
"I know, but I don't want them to find me, because of that badmouthing. The reason I approach you is because we have something in common. The pain of trying something but keeps failing. I just can't bear seeing someone suffer like me. So I want to help you."
Reisa is surprised as she stops crying, she asks with a sniffing voice, "You will?"
"Yes, besides, I am sure that the god wants to see you as well." Ash says, causing her to gasp. Arceus appears in front of her, and Reisa can't help but look at his beauty.
"Arceus..." Reisa gasps.
"No need to be surprised, my dear. I sense some greatness inside you. You'll be able to reach new heights."
Reisa nods and thanks her, and then as a Water Type user, she was offered a Suicune, Kyogre, Palkia, Phoine, Manaphy, Keldeo and Volcanion.
"Are these...for me? But can I take care of them?" Reisa asks, as she is doubting her ability. Alice says, "Don't worry. You can. Just believe in yourself." Reisa nods as they start to train together.
Reisa has appeared in this story, and her seventh loss of the Grand Festival is what Ash and Arceus decide to help her. I hope you like it.