Chapter 3 Reunion of Broken Heart
Ash and Aurora are now at a house in front of Snowbelle City, Aurora knocks on the door and the person who opens it is no other than Valerie, the Gym Leader of Laverre City.
"Aurora? Is that you?" Valerie gasps in shock and Aurora smiles, "It has been a while, Valerie. I hope we aren't disturbing."
"Not at all, welcome in." Valerie says as Ash and Aurora enter the room. Ash is confused, since Valerie is supposed to be living in Laverre City, why is she here in Snowbelle City?
When they are sitting down, Valerie notices that Ash is hidden under a large trench coat and a hat, she asks, "Aurora, who is he and why is he wearing like that?"
Aurora sighs and says, "Before I can answer that, I want to know if you have watched the news about my son?"
Valerie says, "Wulfric and I have watched it, but my children haven't. We are surprised since your son is not the kind of person who will commit suicide."
Aurora nods and says, "Ash, we are indoors, you can take off your trench coat."
Valerie is shocked to see Ash in front of them, as he is alive and he looks like nothing happened. Ash says, "It sure has been a while, Ms. Valerie."
"Wait, if you are here, then whose body is that on TV?" Valerie asks.
Aurora says, "That is a fake body, it is easy to create one with the powers that we both have."
Valerie nods, she knows that Aurora and her family are Arceus, and as the Aura Guardians, they have vowed to protect Pokemon per their orders. Valerie says, "So what brings you here? May I ask about it?"
Aurora nods and says, "We want to know if your children are here at home."
Valerie says, "Flora is at my store in Laverre City as I have Kali teaches her everything about clothes and sewing, and Eve is at Professor Sycamore's lab, as she hopes to be a Professor."
"And what about Alice?" Ash asks, and this causes Valerie to be surprised at his outburst. Valerie frowns a little and says, "It has been half a year...Alice usually locks herself in her room..."
"What happened to her?" Aurora asks in confusion, and Valerie frowns, "You see, Alice has depression because of what happened in school. She has been abused..."
"Abused?" Ash and Aurora gasp in shock, and Valerie continues, "That's right. She has been verbally attacked or physically attacked by her classmates, just because she refuses a popular boy in the class...it has been worse since the main bully is also a favorite in school, he always gets what he wants. Alice suffers a lot to the extent that..."
"What? What happened?" Aurora continues to ask.
"Their home teacher decides to ask us to drop Alice out of school, it is for her sake. It turns out that the teachers there aren't able to discipline those students...ever since that day, Alice has been staying in her room, there are some times we see her trying to commit suicide, but we manage to stop her."
Ash feels like a knife stabbing in his heart after hearing what his best friend tries to do, Ash says, "Ms. Valerie, can I talk to her?"
Valerie nods as she brings Ash upstairs, when she knocks on the door, they hear a weak voice, "Mom...what is it..."
"We are entering the room." But just as Valerie opens the door, she is surprised to see Alice is using a utility knife to cut her arm.
"Alice! Stop what you are doing now!" Valerie suddenly becomes angry as she yells at her, Alice frowns and says, "Fine, Mom..."
She turns around and puts the utility knife on the table, and Valerie quickly grabs medicine and bandages for Alice.
"How many times do I need to tell you to stop hurt yourself?" Valerie says.
"And how many times do I need to tell you that I don't belong to this world?" Alice says back.
"Don't you say that again, what if he sees you like this?" Valerie asks while using a cotton stick to put medicine on her wound.
"Him? Why are you talking about Ash again? We haven't met for years, how are you sure that he remembers me and he will like a failure like me?" Alice groans with an angry tone.
"That's because I remember you and I don't think you are a failure!" Ash says, and Alice flinches as she recognizes the voice. When Ash and Alice's eyes meet, all of a sudden, Alice doesn't feel any pain as she mutters, "Ash...is that really you..."
Ash walks towards Alice and says, "It is me, remember this?" He takes out the locket and says, "We are blessed by the lucky goddess?"
"Ash! It really is you!" If it wasn't for the fact that Valerie is holding Alice's arm to heal her wounds, she would have rushed to hug him for so long. But now he sees her situation, she frowns as she might think that Ash is going to hate her.
"I have heard everything from Valerie. I know how you have suffered. But Alice, I know you and you are not a failure. Deep down inside, you are still the same girl that you are when we are young."
"But..." Alice tries to protest, but Ash just kisses her, much to their shock. Alice doesn't protest, as she melts into the kiss. After breaking it, he asks, "Are you feeling good now, Alice?"
Alice looks into his eyes and nods at him. "I'm sorry Ash..."
"You don't need to apologize, in fact, I really want to thank you. The reason you got hurt is because of your classmates, one of your classmates wants to date you, but you refused, is that right?"
Alice nods and she also takes out the locket from her neck. "I promised you that we are going to be together, I've been waiting for you this whole time..."
"I know, I am sorry that I haven't met you for years. A lot of things happened...especially since I had to fake my death..."
"Fake your death? What do you mean by that?" Alice asks in horror, and Valerie frowns and she shows her the news of what happened. Alice gasps as she can't believe that the PLA would do such a thing to Ash.
"Just by seeing those comments, it will be some time that the PLA will be over. Unless they try to revoke the rule of those who fail seven leagues in a row will have their trainer license revoked." Valerie says.
Ash says, "And that's why we are here...we are going to create our own paradise, we want you to help us out."
"Me? Why me?" Alice asks, "And what do you mean creating our own paradise?"
"It's simple. The reason I faked my death is that I don't want anyone to know about what we are doing. We have purchased an island and we are going to make it a region of our own. Even though we have enough Legendary Pokemon or people to help us, I was wondering if you want to come with us. After seeing what happened to you...I feel like I shouldn't leave you alone again..."
Alice is blushing as she says, "I love you, Ash, so I will come with you. With you by my side, I feel that all my worries are gone and you give me a lot of hope."
Ash smiles and he turns to Valerie, asking for her permission. Valerie also agrees as she knows that Ash is her prince that can save her from the darkness. She agrees to let her come with him to this new island.
After leaving to give them some time alone, Valerie and Aurora are now chatting downstairs. Valerie asks, "So is it true that you and your family are creating a region of your own?"
"It is true, but this is just the first month that we were working, I say it should take a year to complete this." Aurora says.
"And about Mr. Goodshow and PLA, right now a lot of places have been going on strike, I mean, Ash has been the one who stops every team and saves the world multiple times. People can't accept that a trainer like him will have his license revoked. But another problem is that we might lose our jobs as Gym Leaders."
Aurora says, "I know what you mean, Valerie. We Champions of all 7 regions are worried about it as well, we can just be like the Galar Region, as they have their own League system, but still..."
At the same time, Ash and Alice are also talking about the PLA, and Alice asks, "So what do you think we should do with them?"
Ash says, "I think I have a plan. After a year, whether the region we are creating is finished, I am going to travel around the regions once again, including the Galar Region, which hasn't been told in public due to their privacy."
"That sounds really ambitious. But how are you going to create another trainer license since your former one is revoked?" Alice asks.
"Do you think I can't do that? I'm an Arceus. I can get what I want with my power." Ash jokes and Alice chuckles a little.
After talking a while, it is time for them to leave, and Alice decides to go with Ash as they head to the Sevestar Island. After introducing Alice to his siblings, Alice is surprised to learn how many people and Pokemon are there. Her Pokemon are mainly Ice Type, which is good for them considering that it has been a hot day outside.
Back home, Eve and Flora are now at Snowbelle City, as they decide to go upstairs, they find that Alice is gone.
"Mom, where is Alice? She isn't in her room." Eve asks with a slight panic.
Valerie says, "Don't worry, girls. Alice didn't do the unthinkable, we have two visitors and Alice decides to go with them to find what she wants."
"Wait, for real? That Alice? Get out of the house?" Flora asks in shock. "Who has that power to bring Alice out of the house?"
"You probably won't believe it, but it is Ash Ketchum." This causes them to get surprised.
"Isn't he died a year ago?" Eve asks, and Valerie asks, "Who told you that he died?"
"It is basically on the news. I know that you don't want us to watch this kind of news, but we have also heard from other people about that." Flora says.
"We are not Alice, who just only contacts us and not others. We didn't mention because we know how Alice admires Ash a lot..." Eve says. "So the death news is fake right? Is it just a plot to ruin PLA?"
"Well, I won't say for sure that it is a plot to ruin PLA...but it has been a while since I see Alice that happy. Perhaps what Alice needs is Ash's company." Valerie says.
"I see...so Alice will be back at night, right? Maybe we can ask her about what they are doing." Flora says as Eve nods. Feeling relieved that Ash has opened Alice's locked heart.
Here is a new chapter, and in this chapter, Ash and Alice have reunited and Alice agrees to help Ash with creating the new region. What is going to happen and how will the love between to of them bloom? I hope you like this chapter and the next chapter will be about the next stage.