Chapter 80 Ace of Spades

Ash is now staring at Ace, as he can't believe he is also here and he seems to be the one to get the Sapphire Bracelets.

Ace: Little prince, I understand you have something for us!

Taka: Uh... About that.

Ace: Hmmmm?

Taka: I had the Bracelets for a bit, but...

Ace: Seeing as Ash is here, I can pretty much guess what happened! I, for one, see no need to keep the audience waiting! Let us see if we can't magic those Sapphire Bracelets away from Ash by the count of three!

Ace tries to stop Ash by battling him, his first Pokemon is Roserade, and Ash goes for Magcargo to battle this one. But Ash is surprised that Roserade can use Gear Grind, but Magcargo goes for Lava Plume to knock it out. The second Pokemon is Zoroark, and it defeats Magcargo with Night Daze, but Ash goes for Shiinotic, using Moonblast and Effect Spore combo to defeat the Pokemon.

The third Pokemon is Delphox, and it goes for Mystical Fire to defeat Shiinotic, but lost after Ash uses Greninja and using Water Shuriken.

Ace: Ah, so this is the famous Greninja that I've heard. I would like to see its form.

Ash rolls his eyes as the fourth Pokemon is Klinklang, and Greninja has taken damage from the Discharge and the field-effect, but Ash switches to Delphox and finishes with Heat Wave. The fifth Pokemon is Nidoqueen, and it goes for Earth Power to defeat Delphox, so Ash goes for Greninja again and uses Hydro Pump and Ice Beam to knock it out.

Ace: Ah, is it just me? Or does your heart not seem to really be in this? What are you hiding? (Sends out Metagross)

Ash decides to activate the Battle Bond, and Greninja has been dodging the attacks with Ash's help, and then Metagross is defeated by Night Slash.

Ace: (Recalls Pokemon) Little prince, what's going on here? Ash has only 1 Sapphire Bracelet, I've done enough sleights of hand that I can tell that, plain as day.

Taka: They were, uh, taken. By someone else. That Steel Leader. She held an Aegislash to my throat...

Ace: Forgive me, little prince, but something's still not matching up here. It seems to me that your team is entirely unscathed, and indeed, I look about, and I see no sign of a struggle. This place is exactly as sordid and disorderly as it is normally wont to be. Far be it for me to doubt the scion of the family, but I must wonder precisely what transpired here. (Realizes something) I see. No matter. 1, 2, and... (Snaps the fingers) Poof! Thanks to the magic of digital communication, the mistake has been mollified!

Taka: ...Does a pager count as digital communication?

Ace: Oh, come off it. The service down here is as shoddy as it could be, so this was the most reliable way to signal off. The point is, the team outside was ready for a setback like this. They'll be tying up the loose ends in a neat little bow any moment! If you'd like to do something about it, best you run along, little hero~

Ash can only look at them before leaving, but something is wrong with Ace as well, and Ash can't help but wonder.

Ace: And now that we don't have an audience, something is the matter with you, little prince. I need you to tell me what.

Taka: Ace, I- I don't know what to do.

Ace: Why don't you start by telling me exactly what it is that needs doing?

Taka: I- I don't know... If Father finds out- If she finds out... I- I shouldn't say anything. Forget it.

Ace: (Sighs) Little prince, might I remind you that one of my many magical talents includes mind-reading?

Taka: Oh, come on.

Ace: No, no, and I'll demonstrate again for you~ Right now, you're thinking... That you want to tell me everything, but you're not sure if you can. Including how you gave the others the Sapphire Bracelets freely, and asked Ash to fight you, but were refused, because you don't agree with your father's actions, but feel that you can't disappoint him, and worse- That someone is holding your back against the wall- Yes, I can see it clearly in your head! That is... Lin, isn't it?

Taka: Okay, you can't keep doing this... I'm not a kid anymore, Ace.

Ace: Ah, but you'll always be the little prince to me~ And you can't honestly tell me I'm wrong, can you?

Taka: (Feels speechless for a second) They say I'm a liability. I guess I just proved them right. But Lin told me that if I failed one more time, she would make sure there wouldn't be a second.

Ace: And yet, surely your father will not abide by someone threatening his only heir.

Taka: Sometimes I think it would be easier for him if I disappeared...

Ace: To be plain, my dear, that's his problem, not yours. No, you of all people cannot be shooed off the stage. It is entirely anti-quintessential to the make-up of this family. I have thought for a spell already that Lin does not respect that. Have you seen the way Sirius acts around her now? And what of all this "New World" nonsense? Was our goal once not simply to safeguard the magic inherent to our own region? What good is that if we then toss out the script and write it anew? I believe trouble is afoot. Her foot, in particular. She has been making power plays ever since she replaced me with that literal clown. Come to think of it, no- Even before that, she was pressuring Borealis. I believe it's time we appraise your father for the situation and see that he takes decisive action on the matter.

Taka: (Shakes his head) He won't listen to anything I say. He'll just say I need to grow a spine or whatever. I get that a lot these days.

Ace: Then allow me to be the one to open the matter. I'll contact him at once and make it clear that Lin needs to be expunged from the team. She has no love or understanding of family anyway. She is only here for power, and I will neither stand nor sit for it. Rest yourself, tired scion. This will all be resolved soon. (Leaves)

Taka: Ace-(Ace stops his footing) I wanted to say- Um... I really...

Ace: Hmm?

Taka: Can you really read minds?

Ace: What do you think, little prince? (Leaves)


Ash is now running in the Water Treatment Center, and as he is about to get to the exit, he is surprised to see someone in front of him: The Ghost Type Leader, Shade.

Ash: Shade? (Realizes what he's here for) Oh no...Amaria wasn't dead, that's why you're here, right?

Shade: Forget not: Four screens foretold four souls' fortune forsaken, for, forsooth, from foreshadowed, only two will be taken.

Then Shade leaves, and Ash has been thinking about the words.

Ash: Two would be taken...that's Corey and Kiki...so that means Amaria's soul won't be taken, and so does Lin...

When Ash arrives, he finds Titania and the fainted Amaria by the side.

Titania: (Turns to Ash) Surely, Ash. You have a way to get us up there, right?

Ash: I got the Waterfall TMX. Lapras! Come on out!

As Lapras is sent out, Ash turns to Titania.

Ash: Titania, give me Amaria, I'll carry her.

Titania: Hold on, it is my mistake, I should be the one holding her.

Ash: But you have been tired because of staying here, I still have strength. Leave it to me.

Titania sighs as she let Ash holds Amaria, and then the three of them ride up the waterfall as they get back to Celestine Cascade.


Delia: I can't believe the water is back...

Delia, Ame, Julia, Florinia, Serena, and Lillie are now at the North Obsidia Ward, and they can't believe what they have seen, the water is blue again, and they are delighted.

Ame: Who was the one that did this? I should have thanked them for returning the water.

At the same time, they also notice Ash riding up the Waterfall with Titania on his back and Amaria in his hands.

Serena: That's Ash!

Julia: Amy and Tania as well! They must be the ones who solved the Water Problem!

Florinia: I think this should be a perfect time to pursue them in the Fiore Mansion.

Lillie: Can we come as well? It has been a while since we met Ash...

Julia: Of course, I can also introduce Tania and Amy to you!


After getting to the Fiore Mansion, Titania and Ash have put Amaria on the bed, and while Titania is going to wait for her to wake up on the bed, Ash is going outside to walk around.

Ash: I can't believe we have done all of that...Don't you think so, Pikachu?

Pikachu nods, and then he hears the voices calling out to him, when he turns around, he is surprised to see Serena, Lillie, Julia, and Florinia.

Ash: Julia? Florinia? Serena? Lillie? What are you guys doing here? (Being tackled to a hug by the girls)

Julia: Hi, how are you, it has been months since we saw you last! How have you been?

Florinia: Greetings.

Julia: We originally flew up here cuz we saw you, Amy, and Tania riding up the waterfall and we were filled with big question marks- but then we have a giant exclamation point so we HAD to come up!

Lillie: Ash, it sure has been a while, we've heard everything from Ms. Ketchum.

Serena: And Ash...I'm really sorry...

Ash: I know, you didn't want to betray me, I've heard this from Arceus himself. But I can't believe even you two are in this region.

Lillie: Arceus told us about the Harem thing, and we also brought seven other girls to the region as well, and they all have feelings for you!

Ash blushes at the comment, and he already knows that Arceus telling him that he will be loved by 18 girls, but he can't believe they manage to bring them here.

Julia: By the way, I'm really impressed you've made it this far to challenge our sisters cuz like- Almost nobody even GETS to challenge some of the higher up Leaders cuz so many of the other ones are off hiding in caves or getting chased by evil doctors! Like how is anybody SUPPOSED to handle challenging people like that in the first place? I'm lucky that I'm the first one for most new Trainers!

Florinia: Indeed. Although distant, Ame has been overseeing your endeavors and will be modifying procedures and policies as necessary. She has additionally permitted us to deliver this to you.

Ash is surprised as he gets the TMX for Fly, which means he can return to the Reborn Region right now.

Julia: You're super gonna need a badgeythingy for that, buuuut I think you can get it from beating Seel.

Florinia: Ciel.

Julia: Riniiii, that's what I said! Just go beat up wild Seel until one drops a Badge! Anyyyywayyy, once you have that, you can come back to the city and Say "Hi" sometime! You should SEE what we've done to the place! That old Fairy Gym Leader showed up and was able to rally everyone into helping renovate the city and it's practically EXPLODED with progress!

Lillie: The Aether Foundation is also asked to come here and help out, that's why we are here.

Florinia: While several explosions were indeed involved, they were not an intended reconstructional step.

Julia: Theywereme. Oops? But that's not important, because most of the people survived, probably!

Ash then hears the sounds of helicopters, and he turns around to see them hovering above the mansion.

Florinia: (Notice the helicopter) Pause.

Julia: Huh? What are we pausing for? Is it a commercial break?

Florinia: Helicopter detected. Team Meteor confirmed.

Julia: Whaaaat, they're here, too? No way! I'm gonna boomboom their faces off if they try and do anything to Amy and Tania! (Rushes away)

Florinia: This ordeal may not be easily resolved. Do ensure your preparation before attending to it. (Leaves)

Ash: (Turns to Lillie and Serena) Both of you, you have to stay close to me, because Team Meteor are dangerous and they will do anything to get what they wanted, even if he tries to kill you guys as well.

Serena and Lilllie can only nod as they all rush into the Fiore Manor.


On the balcony of the mansion, Solaris, Sirius, Blake, and Fern are there with the Meteor grunts.

Solaris: The aerial unit is in place.

Sirius: (Turns to Fern) Now will be your moment to prove yourself, boy.

Fern: Please. I don't need to prove anything. And don't call me "boy". The name's Fern. Remember it.

Blake: We'll remember it after you do something worth remembering, little bro.

Fern: Guess that means we should forget you after what happened in Ametrine.

Blake: Hah! Never mind, I like this kid.

Fern: Damn right, you do.

Solaris: Enough. Our objective is to recover the Sapphire Bracelets and withdraw them at once. Stop at nothing to achieve our goal. Is this clear?

Blake: Yeah, yeah, once again we're cleaning up your son's problems.

Solaris: You are not permitted to speak ill of him as such. His incompetence is my business, and no one else's. For now, we move. For the purification of our world. (Walks into the gym)

Sirius: For the creation of a new one. Old fool.

Blake: I dunno how you stand that guy, fam. I've seen rocks with more personality.

Sirius: It's no matter. Let's move. (Leaves with the grunts)


And here is a new chapter, it looks like Ace is going to help Taka to dethrone Lin, will he succeed or not, and not only that, Ash gets to see Serena and Lillie again, but they have bigger problems regarding Team Meteor, and this time Solaris and Sirius appear at the same time. I hope you like this chapter.