Chapter 1
Inside the dark room of what seems to be a Evil Team Base, a Team Rocket Grunt is rushing towards the man. That man is no other than the leader Giovanni. "Sir, the cannons are ready."
Giovanni gives a approving nod and says, "Excellent. Now he must be back to the Pallet Town, fire the cannons now."
"Fire now!" The grunt yells as the cannons are activate, out from those cannons are some sort of aura powers, which turns into black clouds that covers the whole world. Giovanni smirks and says, "It is a shame that Aura Guardians won't be affected by such tactics, but that is enough for me. I know that there is a great amount of people who will be affected. Now spread your hatred towards the Ketchum family!" He then laughs maliciously.
Ash Ketchum has returned from the Alola Region. He lost the league and it makes the seventh one. He starts to doubt about his abilities as a trainer and he goes to his home in Pallet Town.
As he sees the black clouds, he thinks, "Where do those black clouds come from?" But he didn't think about it, though Pikachu is acting otherwise. Just as he gets there, he is surprised to see that all his friends are there, including his Pokemon.
"Guys? What are you doing here?" Ash is confused, but then Professor Oak says, "Ash, we need to talk."
"About what?" Ash is confused, but Pikachu knows what's going on as he also walks towards the other Pokemon.
"After your seventh attempt, you still can't win the League, what are you doing?" Brock asks.
"Yeah, maybe you are just a sore loser who can't even become a Pokemon Master." Misty says.
Ash gasps, he didn't know that his friends will say that.
Max says, "I used to look up to you, but you failed everyone of us. How can you do that?"
"Hey, it is not my fault that I lose all of them! I also have to help you guys with Contests and showcases!" Ash retorts back.
"You said that you were teaching me contests, which is why you lose the league, but you also suck at it as well! So don't you blame me for your own weakness." May says.
"She is right. You just don't want to admit it." Dawn says.
"You are only a little kid. No wonder that most of your Pokemon can't evolve." Iris says.
"Your battling lacks flavor, and also bitter and spicy when it goes into my mouth." Cilan says.
"I can't believe after all these years, I am loving a loser who can't win a league. Maybe you are the reason I can't beat Aria after all! My life has ruined thanks to you." Serena says, which causes Ash to heartbreak.
"And maybe you are the reason why I can't make a perfect machine!" Clemont says.
"Yeah, and Squishy would have to leave us as well!" Bonnie yells. "Because you are weak!"
Kiawe says, "I thought you were a strong trainer, but in the end you are still nothing."
Mallow says, "I can't believe that I would let a weakling like you to be our classmates."
Lana says, "We are not joking, we are serious."
Sophocles says, "Maybe we can also beat you no problem."
Lillie says, "I can't believe that I was in the same class with you, and even let you stay at my home for a while."
"Maybe if you didn't show up, then there would be no Nihilego that took my mom away." Gladion yells.
"You are always a loser, I don't know why I would play with you in childhood, maybe it is better that you are gone." Gary says.
Ash can't believe what he is hearing. All of his friends are badmouthing him. He turns to Delia and Professor Oak. "Mom, Professor, you don't agree with them, right?"
"I agree with them." Delia says coldly.
"Mom, you can't be serious, right?" Ash says in a begging tone.
"You are a disgrace of the Ketchum family, If Red and I knew that we would have a weak son who can never win a league, we would have abort you." This causes Ash to break down in tears.
"I am disappointed in you, I don't know why I had put my faith in you, maybe you should give up your dream and do something else, after all, your Pokemon also lose faith in you as well."
Ash breaks down once again and says, "Don't tell me you too..."
And the Pokemon, including Pikachu also agrees with them. Ash feels anger inside of his mind and he says, "Even my Pokemon thinks that I'm weak as well...you didn't think that it is because of you that I lost everytime..."
Right now he feels nothing but anger and fury. "Is that what you all think of me, huh? Then screw you!" Ash yells as he rushes out of their sight.
As he is running on the streets, all the people are treating him as a public enemy and they start to attack him, also saying that he is such a loser. Ash feels like something is wrong, since he didn't anger the people and why are they doing this.
His questions are immediately answered as they see on the big screen, the Champions of each region are stating their opinions about Ash on screen.
"If Ash doesn't appear, maybe there won't be a lot of work for the International Police and the G-Man. He is a bad luck bringer." Lance says.
"I agree. Letting him join in the Wallace Cup back at Sinnoh is a bad choice, and he can't even beat a Meowth with his Pikachu." Wallace says.
"Not to mention that he also loses his Pignite to a Serperior, and even uses 4 Pokemon to beat a Darkrai." Cynthia says.
"He sure is a disgrace." Alder closes his eyes.
"And maybe he should disappear." Dinatha says, but unknown to Ash, Dinatha looks really sad.
After the interview is over, Ash is being thrown with cans and glares are also sent to him. All he can do is cover himself and run, run as far as he can from the crowd and Pokemon who tried to attack him. He eventually stops as he bumps into a Pokemon, who says, "Ash Ketchum, please follow me." And Ash recognizes the Pokemon as the Alpha Pokemon Arceus, the god of the world.
"Arceus? Please don't tell me that you are here to give me judgement for being weak..." Ash is a little shaken, and Arceus is a little surprised.
"Don't worry, they are the wrong ones. Follow me, there are still people who believe in you." Arceus bends down to let Ash ride on him, and then they go to the Rota Kingdom, where Ilene is waiting for them.
Once they are gained entry and enters the castle, Ilene rushes from her throne and goes to Ash.
"Here you are, Ash. It sure has been a while." Ilene hugs him, much to his surprise.
"Your highness? Aren't you going to hate me just like what others did?" Ash asks.
"Why should I? You don't deserve hatred." Ilene says while trying to soothe the boy. "In fact, the reason I asked Arceus to bring you here is to tell you the truth."
"What truth?" Ash asks in confusion.
"The truth about your father Red Ketchum." Arceus says, "If you didn't notice, Queen Ilene is his sister, which means that she is your aunt."
"Wait, you're my aunt?" Ash gasps in shock. "It does make sense since we have similar auras according to Lucario..."
"I will tell you everything. But first, you have to clean yourself up." Ash nods as the guards takes him to clean himself. Once he is finished, he is wearing princely clothes.
"We are the Aura Guardians, and Sir Aaron Ketchum is our ancestor, I guess you know that, right?" Ash nods and Ilene continues, "There are three Aura families continuing to exist in the world. The first one is our Ketchum family. And then I will tell you the second one. The Masho Family."
"Masho?" Ash asks. "I remember that Valerie Masho from the Laverre Gym has this name..."
"Yes, Valerie Masho is a member of the family. You see, the family are usually females, and in fact, they were once our enemies since Queen Rin is considered a traitor."
"What?" Ash is surprised. "You mean the queen was a traitor? Why?"
"Rota Kingdom belonged to the Masho Family, but Queen Rin Masho decided to give away the kingdom to us Ketchums. Due to that, the two families have become nemesis in the past. And our conflict makes the third Aura family rise in the mean time. The Sakaki Family."
"Sakaki..." Ash feels a little strange. "Where did I hear this name before?"
"I know what you are thinking. It is independent from the Ketchum Family. Since Sir Aaron's brother, Arata Ketchum learns the Dark Aura, he wants to use the power to rule the whole world. Therefore, they declare a war towards the other two families. But thanks to Sir Aaron who sacrificed himself to the Tree of Beginning, the Sakaki Family is lost and Arata changed his name to Sakaki. But the family is secretly hiding until the descendant appears, which is the leader of Team Rocket."
"Giovanni..." Ash mutters. "So he is from the Sakaki Family?"
"That is correct." Arceus says. "The reason we talk about these three families is for the story we are going to tell. Please continue, Ilene."
Ilene nods and says, "To me, Red is a great brother. He should have been in the throne instead of me, but that event changed everything. When we are staying at the Kalos Region, he meets a member of the Masho Family. They fall in love in first sight, but they know that they are enemies in the past. Fearing of what their parents will say, they try to hide their relationship from them.
"So my Mother is a member of the Masho Family?" Ash asks.
"No, she isn't." Ilene says. "Their secret relationship is eventually found out, and the Ketchum family decide to return to Kanto to separate the both of them. Their love also ends after they can't meet each other again."
"That is so horrible." Ash says. "Did Dad meet the one he loved again?"
"Yes, it is after that their parents are dead, but unfortunate for them, Red already moved on and liked another person, which is your mother Delia. And the Masho member also moved on and find her husband as well."
"So before my Dad loves Mom, he loves another person?" Ash asks.
"Yes." Arceus says. "But they didn't regret a thing and they continue to be friends in the end. Until..."
"Until what?" Ash asks, not liking where the story goes."
"Until Giovanni came and killed your father." Ilene closes her eyes with a frown.
This causes Ash to be in a state of shock. Ash can't believe what he is hearing. He thought that Team Rocket is only nuisance for stealing his Pikachu, but not something this big and terrible. Eventually, his hatred goes higher and extreme, it takes Arceus and Ilene some time to calm his aura.
"Ash, we will get our revenge soon. But first, I want you to have this." Ilene says as he gives him a diary. "This is..." Ash asks in confusion.
"A diary, you need it to go to your father's secret hideout. There, Arceus will train you to become a better Aura Guardian and Aura Weapons."
Ash nods and Arceus says, "Well, the time is running short, so we need to train there now. I'll teleport you there."
Ash nods and bids farewell to Ilene, who wishes him good luck.
Here is the first chapter of the Prelude. And this is the story that tells the missing 10 years from the story Darker Version. I hope you like it and the next chapter will be going to how Ash meet Alice.