Chapter 27
With Bryce joining the team, Arceus has decided to bless him with the Legendary Pokemon Kyurem, much to his surprise, now his team consists of Lapras, Kyurem, Avalugg, Abomasnow, Cryogonal, and Eiscue. Bryce also wants to set his gym on top of the mountain, known as Mount Iceat. Alice is surprised about his choice, but she agrees to let him do it. With Lillie's help, they also manage to get Bryce an Icium Z in Mount Lanakila.
Nighttime has approached, and Ash is standing at the balcony of the castle, Alice walks towards him with her pajamas, and she asks, "Can't sleep, Ash?"
"Yeah...I have a lot of things on my mind." Ash says.
"You can tell me what is bothering you, I want to help you out." Alice says in concern. "Are you thinking about the bad past again? I thought you promised you wouldn't try to hurt yourself again."
"I didn't hurt myself, Alice. You gave me a lot of therapy." Ash says. "I was just reflecting about what I was before the whole Team Rocket thing happened...Now I have won two Grand Festivals in a row...Hoenn, and then Alola..."
Ash remembers how he partakes in the Contests held in Alola, and how he manages to win the cup. The annoying part is that Mallow was also participating in the Grand Festival, but Ash manages to defeat her.
"I was just thinking...maybe I should try it again..." Ash says.
"Try what again?" Alice asks.
"Doing Gyms and challenge the Leagues." Ash says, much to Alice's shock. "But you've already become the Champion of Alola and also the World Champion, aren't you satisfied with your accomplishments?"
"That's why I couldn't sleep..." Ash frowns. "I was thinking the same thing as well. What do you think, Alice?"
Alice takes a breath and leans on Ash's shoulder, she says, "No matter what kind of choice you pick, I will always support you."
Ash smiles and he says, "Then how about we make it interesting?"
Alice is confused until Ash decides to tell her the plan.
The next day, Ash and Alice are now at PLA, and they are going to have a chat with Mr. Goodshow, who is the president. Alice says, "Are you nervous, Ash?"
"I mean, I am nervous since it has been a while since we have this serious discussion. Even though I hated that old man, I think it is time to do something."
When they enter the room, Mr. Goodshow greets them and he says, "Oh my if it isn't Ash Ketchum and his girlfriend? What is the matter that you want to meet me?"
Ash says, "Well, it is a good day, Mr. Goodshow. I am here because I want to do something. 3 years ago, everyone treated me as a public enemy. I lost everything: My friends, my Pokemon, and even my family abandoned me since I was a pathetic trainer. I was booed wherever I go and I almost drowned because of it. Since that day, I have been in a place known as hell, and all of you are the demons that live in this hell. But I also gain something from this hell, that is why I want to make a bet."
"What kind of bet?" Goodshow asks, starting to get a little concerned.
"As you know, I am the Alola Champion, but during the time I got booed because of Team Rocket's influence, all of them are talking about how I lost 6 Leagues in a row, how Alola League was just a fluke, and how I cheated to win against the Galar League Champion. That's why I am going to set this bet. I am going to challenge all the Leagues again, Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, Unova, Kalos, and Galar. If I manage to win all 7 Leagues in 7 years, I am going to purchase PLA Company."
This causes shock to the old man as he says, "You are going to buy PLA Company? What are you going to do with it?"
Ash says, "It is simple. The reason why I suffered a lot is because of Team Rocket, as they manage to do some tricks to control the whole world to get rid of me. Giovanni has been the Viridian City Gym Leader and yet a lot of people didn't notice. That is why if we brought the company, we will make sure that all the resources will be thoroughly checked and nothing like this will happen again."
"So you're saying that it is our fault that we were controlled by Team Rocket?" Goodshow wants to be mad at him, but with the glare from Ash, he couldn't do it. Ash says, "Calm down, I am not saying that it is your fault. My life turns to hell doesn't mean I want others to do the same thing. If you think your company really is as good as you thought to be, surely you won't decline this bet, right?"
Goodshow is now terrified of Ash right now, and he can only agree. "Very well. I agree with this bet."
"Good, now please inform Champions from Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, Unova, and Galar that they should bring their A game." Ash says. "I can deal with Kanto and Kalos myself."
After that, both of them leave the room, and Goodshow can only slump onto the floor as he knows that this is going to get worse.
"Guys, have you heard this?" Ash's former friends are gathered and they are shocked to learn the news of Ash's bet. "Ash is going to take part in the Leagues again!"
"If he wins, he will be taking over PLA Company as the new president...and if he loses, he is going to forfeit the World Champion title and return it to Leon? What's going on here?" Dawn asks.
"Ash was never the type of person to bet something as big as this one!" Misty says. "What is he thinking?"
Serena, being the only one who still has a shred of feeling towards Ash, just hopes that he will be fine.
At the same time, on Sevestar Island, all of the members are there as Delia asks, "Ash, what were you thinking? Making a dangerous bet with the president of PLA?"
Ash says, "I have to do this. When the world was under Team Rocket's influence, my friends did say something bad at me, but what about the others? How I have become a public enemy No.1 back then? Why those strangers are trying to get rid of me? Because they think I was just a sore loser who lost six leagues in a row, a sore loser who cheats to win against Leon."
"But you won fair and square after all the battles Leon tried to take your title..." Lillie says.
"Yes, but that is just a one-on-one match." Ash says. "I never get to see his full team...no, I never get to fight other leaders, Elite four members, and even Champions with their own teams. I have been training hard than before during these years in Sevestar Island, and this is the only chance to get rid of my darkness once and for all."
The others can only sigh as they can't stop what Ash is thinking, Alice says, "Ash told me about the plan yesterday, and I agree with him. If we see how Ash battles against the other leaders, it will be a good reference to what kind of obstacles we need to face as a fellow Gym Leader, Elite Four member, and the Champion."
"I guess there is no stop to this..." Delia sighs. "But that means when you finish the Kanto League, you are going to face me in the end, right?"
"Yes, Mom. And I don't want you to hold back on me." Ash says as he turns to Valerie, Wulfric, Diantha, and Seibold. "The same goes to all of you as well."
"We won't be holding back on you." Valerie says. "I know you dislike battles just like that."
Ash nods and Rosa asks, "So Ash, if you are going to do this, then what kind of League are you going to do first?"
"Simple, I am going to do the Unova League." Ash says. "The current Champion of Unova is Iris, and she was my travel companion in the past. It will be fitting if I destroy her team first..."
Everyone is shocked at the tone Ash is giving out, and Alice sighs, "Ash, you're scaring them, please stop."
"I'm sorry." Ash says. "For some reason, I can't control myself for those bad thoughts in my mind."
"It is fine, Ash." Delia says as she hugs her son, trying to give him as much comfort as she can.
But just then, they notice a brown spot on the ocean and Alice says, "Ash? I think there is something over there."
"Really? Maybe it is just some bad people polluting the ocean by throwing the trash." Ash says, "But if you want, I'll check out what it is."
As they use their telescope, they notice that the brown spot is actually a coffin. "A Coffin? And it is shaking..."
"Does that mean somebody was trapped inside the coffin? We have to save whoever is in it." Ash says as he calls out Charizard to bring them to the coffin, they also send out Lapras and Greninja to help carry the coffin to the shore. Some people are terrified at whoever is in the coffin, Eve, being one of the bravest people, asks, "Should we open it?"
"We have to open it, I can feel whoever is in the coffin was still alive." Ash says as he opens the coffin, inside the coffin is a boy who is one year younger than Ash. Ash rushes towards the boy and they try to check his heart pulse and breathing. Ash says, "His breathing is a little weak. If we are able to save him in time, then he might be still alive."
"Quick, we have to bring him to the bed." Alice says as they rush into Ash's room so that they can put the boy on it.
As they all bring the unconscious boy to the bed, Ash is trying to do CPR on the boy, eventually, he starts to cough out ocean water and he slowly opens his eyes, much to everyone's relief.
"Calm down, you are still weak, just let us make sure you aren't in danger." Alice says as they continue to heal the boy, once it is over, Ash asks, "Are you feeling better?"
The boy nods as he looks around, he finds himself in some sort of hospital-like room. He asks, "How am I still alive?"
Ash says, "We noticed the coffin floating on the water from the beach, so we pick it up before it sinks into the ocean."
The boy can't believe that there are people who spot him inside the coffin and they are willing to save him. A lot of people in the room are looking at him with curiosity at his expression. "I am sorry, I didn't think that somebody will save a weakling like me..."
"Weakling? What are you talking about?" Delia asks as the others are also gasping in shock.
And here is a new chapter, I have decided to let Ash make a bet with Goodshow about the whole PLA, with the World Champion title on the line, and after this chapter is done, I think it is time to bring Ash's adopted siblings into the story. Of course, we are going to start with Mark, the first brother of Ash. I hope you like this chapter.
