Chapter 28

Ash brings Mark to the outside of the castle, they are now in an open field with the others staying away from them through Valerie's request. Eve is confused about this whole thing and she asks, "Mother, why are we staying back from Ash? How hard is this test going to be?"

"All I can tell you is that It is very difficult. But as Ash said, those with a strong mind will endure the challenge quick." Valerie says.

Ash takes a breath and says to Mark, "Once you have started this, there is no way of turning back. Are you ready?"

"You don't need to ask me about it." Mark replies, and then Ash raises his hand and yells, "Aura Test appear!"

As white mist covers the field, Mark is swallowed inside the mist. Ash turns to the others who are watching and he says, "The test has started."

The others nod as they are about to see what the mist tries to tell them. Much to their shock, they see a resort in front of them.

Reisa says, "That's the DS Resort located near Dewford Town...I remembered that I have been there a lot of times since we really enjoy the place."

Then they see the owner yelling at Mark, saying that how he is weak and he can't do anything right. Mark is lowering his head in shame as this causes the others to be confused.

"Did he really do anything wrong?" Flora asks. "I mean...we did get scolded for making some mistakes...but I don't think that yelling at him will change anything."

"I don't know what happened, but what we can do is to see him entering the doors." Ash says.

As Mark opens the first door, they see that he is cleaning the table using a cloth. The table is shiny and bright, but a man rudely spills a cup of coffee on the table.

"Mark! Come over here!" The man yells as Mark rushes towards him. "Yes, Father?"

"I already told you that you have to clean the table! Why are there coffee stains!" Mark's father yells at him and this causes the ones who are watching very angry at the man.

"That is so rude! How could they do this?" Helen gasps. "He is the one that spills the coffee on purpose!"

"I think he is probably the worst father that I have ever seen..." Luke says while feeling angry for Mark.

Mark just doesn't do anything as he lets him yell at him, then he starts to clean the mess again. After that, Ash notices that the scene changes.

"What just happened?" Eve asks, and Ash replies, "He didn't attack his father on the spot, therefore he has passed the first of the three tasks."

Alice explains, "If you don't know, the Aura Test requires three bad memories in the person's heart. If the person does the right choice, then he will pass. But if he chooses the wrong choice, then the mist will reduce the person's aura and the person will die."

This causes the people right in front of them to fear for Mark. Ash says, "Don't worry. Eve, Flora. You are born with Aura, so you don't need to worry. The same goes to Elline and David."

The others nod as the second memory is when the performers aren't coming to the show, and the people are complaining, they see a woman yells at Mark, "Come over here and perform for the crowd, Mark!"

Mark nods at his mother's words as he goes to do his usual Swords Dance performance, the dance is so good that the audience has been cheering for him.

"He is born a good dancer." Reisa comments. "But how is it bad?"

Just then, the mother suddenly gets a bucket of water, and then she pours it on the floor, causing Mark to slip on the water and fall, and the sword also sliced a little on his skin on the arm.

"That sure is going to be hurt..." David mutters.

But what makes them angry is the fact that the crowd starts booing and then throws the food at him, causing him to be humiliated. After the crowd leaves, the woman starts to yell at Mark for his failed performance.

"How dare she lets him become humiliated..." Helen says. "That is so wrong..."

"I know... but it seems like Mark has been used to this..." Lucine says as they see how Mark passes the second test.

The group sees Mark just stands back up and then cleans the floor, after that, he walks towards the final door, which is the worst one of the test, Ash says, "Now time for the final one..."

Alice says, "The final one is the worst memory, and this time he has to focus the powers from the two memories into Aura Weapons."

Then they see that the couple takes out a coffin and Mark is being dragged by the father. "Mom? Dad? What is the meaning of this?"

"We are not your parents anymore, we have already disowned you." The father says with a cruel voice.

"You can't do anything right! There is no need for you to keep staying in this world!" The mother says as she tells the father to do it, and then Mark was being thrown into the coffin and Mark yells, "Let me out! I am sorry!"

But the parents ignore him as they use the tape to tie it up, much to everyone's horror.

"That's so cruel!" Eve says as Flora can't watch it anymore, as they hug their mother tightly.

Mark is banging on the coffin's lit, but it won't budge. "I don't want to be in this place...I want to live...I will show the world I am not a weakling!"

Suddenly, Mark's fist glows and then a glove appears, then he punches the coffin's lit, not only it breaks open, but then the fog also breaks apart. Mark is now on the floor, but his appearance changes into a similar face as Ash.

Ash rushes towards Mark and he checks his heart pulse, after that, he smiles and turns to others, "He has passed the test, now he is officially a member of the Ketchum."

Everyone at present is happy for Mark, and then with Tox's help, the three of them manage to heal Mark. After an hour of waiting, Mark finally wakes up and he asks, "Did I..."

Ash pats his shoulder and says, "Yes. You have passed the Aura Test. Right now you can manipulate Aura just like us."

Mark sighs in relief, as he proves himself that he is not a weakling. Then Ash says, "Now you are a member of the Ketchum, from now on, you are now Mark Ketchum."

Mark nods and they share a sibling hug, then he also hugs Delia as well. After the hug, Alice says, "Mark. There is something that you have to know. Do you know that the mess you have to endure, they were made by your parents?"

Mark says, "I know. But they are right, I was a weakling. I couldn't prevent them from doing that to me..."

Ash says, "Don't say yourself like that, Mark. They have been breaking the law and it is time to give them justice. Mom, you will need to come as well. Since you are the Kanto Champion, you can use your power to arrest them."

Delia says, "You don't need to tell me again, I won't tolerate anyone who hurt my new son."

Then as they go to the resort, Mark stays invisible with Alice as Ash and Delia go into the resort. Then they see the couple, who recognizes Delia and says, "Oh my, I can't believe we have the Kanto Champion here. What can I do for you?"

Delia tries not to punch the woman in front of her, she says, "Hello there. My son and I will like to stay here a night."

The woman says, "Okay. Mark!" But then she realizes something as she stops.

"Mark?" Ash asks as he tries to pretend that he doesn't know anything. "Who is he?"

"Oh, never mind that name, let me take you to your rooms." The man says. Delia says, "There is no need about it. In fact, I have something to ask you two about it. Do you have any workers? Or it is just the two of you run this resort?"

"Yes, there are only two of us, me and my wife have been working so hard to run this place."

"They're lying..." Ash and Delia can hear Mark seething his teeth in anger. Ash says, "What about the third person? I remembered that the last time I stay here, there is a boy who can dance very well..."

"Um...he left, he didn't tell us where to go." The wife says. Delia slams her fist at the table and this causes a lot of people to look at them. "Stop messing with me! I want you to tell me the truth!"

At the same time, Ash also walks outside and he brings Mark into the resort, and the couple is shocked to see him alive.

"Care to explain?" Delia asks coldly, but the parents ignore her as they rush towards Mark.

"There you are, Mark, where have you been, we are very worried about you." The man says.

"Quit acting. You disowned me and you tried to kill me by throwing me into a coffin and send me off to the ocean!" Mark yells.

Ash says, "We found the said coffin floating at Dewford Island outskirts. And we are relieved that he is still alive and the coffin didn't break. Now what you have to say for yourselves?"

The couple realizes that the Kanto Champion is here to arrest them, and they decide not to play nice as the man yells, "Then we'll just have to do what we haven't finished!"

Much to the crowd's horror, he takes out the knife as he tries to kill Mark, but Mark grabs his arm and says, "Thank you for doing that to me, I know how to build some resistance."

He tosses the knife away and punches the man, the wife rushes to the man and says, "You little..."

"You can swear if you want, but it won't help that you two are under arrest." Delia says as the International Police has charged into the building. The couple knows that they are doomed as they surrender.

Looker then gives them the handcuffs and they are taken away. Anabel tells Delia. "Thank you for telling me about this, Ms. Ketchum. They have been the biggest dishonest resort owners in the whole world."

"No problem." Delia says. Anabel and Looker notice Ash is present and Looker says, "Ash, is that you?"

Ash knows that he can't hide forever and he says, "Yes. It is me...I know I can't hide forever."

Anabel says, "If you are worried about the badmouthing, don't worry. The headquarters aren't affected by that."

"Really?" Delia asks in shock.

Looker says, "But when we get outside, we will be controlled, except our boss, since she is a talented Psychic."

"I see. I knew that Psychics weren't also affected by Dark Aura." Ash says. "I'll tell you everything tomorrow in the International Police. But I will only talk to you and Looker. Anabel."

Then they nod as they being the couple away. Then Delia says, "Since they are gone, Mark. You are now the rightful owner of this resort."

Mark says, "Thank you, mother. But I don't think I can do it alone. I will need some help."

Ash says, "Alice and I can help you if you want." Then they change their forms again. "When we are helping you with the resort, we are called Kim and Felix."

"What's with the disguise?" Mark asks.

Ash then tells him about the badmouthing incident, and Mark is shocked to learn that his brother endured that pain. Then he agrees to let them do the disguise. Then the first thing they do is to know how the resort works.

Here is a new chapter. And this is the process of how Mark is adopted into the family in the Sevestar Prince stories. I hope you like it. And the next chapter will be the talk with the International Police.