Well, looks like we really are continuing with this one, huh? Fine by me, let's start with the review responses! (See, something else that's different here) Also, one thing I didn't like about the last Chapter 2 was that I just did the same expository dump that every second chapter of these betrayal stories has. It doesn't carry over or link to Ash's rage, or even the betrayal itself, it's just a 'this and that happened' slapping you in the face. Changing things up this time, hope you enjoy!
Review Responses:
zero fullbuster (Ch.1): Glad to hear that you loved it, hope you like this one just as much too!
TheDarkRising (Ch.1): Happy to hear the praise, not to toot my own horn, but it's true that there are tons of betrayal stories out there that can't seem to get basic grammar down. (Not to mention tons of them that insist on having Dawn betray Ash. Honestly, I might do a Galar version of this fic somewhere down the line and have Misty and May side with Ash to help even out the balance. They do happen to be on the traitors' side almost every time.) And if you liked the battle in the last one... I'm actually surprised, seeing as I'm not even warmed up yet ;)
Preston Ajax [Guest] (Ch.1): Nice, looks like rewriting this story wasn't just for nothing! Alain will definitely appear in either this chapter or the next, Sawyer will take a little longer, though. Both are definitely going to take part in the tournament, don't worry. How else could I treat Ash's best set of rivals? Although I said I'd add Galar elements, Dynamax/Gigantimax probably won't be any of them. Expect more on the lines of Galar characters interacting with the established ones, but that's about it. Keeping pairings a secret as far as the story goes, you'll have to PM me for more ;) Although I will say, I've never liked the harem stories.
Green Fox [Guest] (Ch.1): At the time when I had first started the concept for this story, Ash hadn't even had a Poipole, so Nagandel wasn't even really on my mind... huh. Well, since it's not something I was actively trying to keep secret, you're gonna see quite a bit of Naganadel this tournament!
Aareev [Guest] (Ch.1): I'm glad that you love the story! Also, one of your worries should be soothed, seeing as it definitely doesn't look like this'll be Pokéshipping. Amourshipping, though? I don't think so here either, I'm leaning a lot towards Pearlshipping this time around.
Guest [Guest] (Ch.1): By 'with' Ash, do you mean with him in Alola or in a relationship with him? Whatever you mean, you'll just have to wait and see. As for the Alola and Galar girls being in a relationship with Ash going forward... I'm going to have to stop you right there, as I said above, I don't like harems. Ash getting into a relationship with two girls is pushing it. Not knocking any harem stories out there, they're just not for me.
Reader [Guest] (Ch.1): Not too sure about Chloe (If I even include her, she'll be called Koharu, this is the price we pay for watching sub Pokémon) and Goh, but that's a maybe. As of now, his new Pokémon in the anime are Dragonite, Gengar, Lucario, and Galarian Farfetch'd, right? I'm going to say no on Farfetch'd, but maybe we'll be seeing the rest here.
Guest 2 [Guest] (Ch.1): Every time I see a review like yours, it makes me want to update even less, you know that? Here's your chapter, I guess.
Papa Cipher (Ch.1): You're right, it practically makes that confrontation in the backyard onesided, lol. Glad to hear you enjoyed it, and I hope you'll enjoy this one!
The N01 Master (Ch.1): You have no idea how good it feels to hear someone say that my writing pulled them in. Hope you continue to enjoy what's to come!
Guest 3 [Guest] (Ch.1): Hope you like this one then!
Guest 4 [Guest] (Ch.1): As for whether Delia's gonna die in this one again, you'll have to see, but I honestly forgot about Mimey. Got an idea for him later on, so look out for that as well.
TrioF (Ch.1): Glad I've got your interest, hope I keep it!^^
Recap: Last time we found our hero in a different situation than we remembered him coming off of Kalos. Not only has it been five years since his loss in the Kalos League, but he's now the Alola Champion? A lot seems to have happened to him in those five years, as we dive into his memories of the past, back to the day he arrived back in Kanto after coming back from the Kalos League.
Ash was surprised with a party by his mom and Professor Oak, with all of his friends, rivals, and Pokémon present to celebrate his return. Having already set his eyes on his next adventure, Ash spent some time catching up with his friends, only to be surprised when they began to call him out for being "weak" and not managing to win the Kalos League. Professor Oak seemed to lead those who went against him, demanding that he gave up his dream of becoming a Pokémon Master, lest they use force and lies to make him.
There were those among his friends that stuck by Ash's side, however, Dawn and Serena being among the ones that did so. With his friends encouraging him, Ash eventually stood up against the ones who betrayed him, engaging in a large scale battle between the two groups.
We come out of Ash's memories, but his resolve to get back at the traitors is telling, and he mentions the Isle of the Stars tournament to do so. What came of the battle between Ash and the traitors? Just how did he become the Champion of Alola? Read on to find out!
(5 Years Ago, Pallet Town, Remains of Ash Ketchum's House, Kanto Region)
Ash let out a groan as he laid on the charred remains of his backyard, disoriented from the massive explosion that had ensued from the colliding attacks on both sides. Disoriented at first, Ash was confused, wondering briefly why he was on the ground before remembering everything that had happened before.
Now wasn't the time to get upset, however, as he tried to push himself up, only to fail and lower himself back to the ground again. Looking around, Ash found Pikachu unconscious, nestled safely in between his arms. Charizard was standing over the two, although the orange dragon's breathing was labored, his wings spread wide, apparently having shielded the two from the explosion.
"Pikachu... Charizard..." Ash let out, his voice rough and hoarse. Even so, he was beyond touched that his two Pokémon were still doing their best to ensure his safety, even after everything that had happened.
"Ash! Ash, where are you?" He heard Serena's voice call out frantically, no doubt her smile had been replaced by a frantic worried look. It wasn't long before the honey blonde Performer made her way into his line of sight, Dawn close behind her as the two girls crouched down by Ash. "Oh my god, Ash, hang in there!"
The rest of Ash's friends were close behind, Paul and Barry starting to tend to Charizard while Bonnie got some medicine out of her pouch from Pikachu. Brock was the last to come in through Charizard's wings, pulling something out of his own medicine bag, crouching down beside Dawn and Serena, cupping what he had over Ash's face.
"Ash, Ash you gotta focus on the sound of my voice, alright?" The Rock-type Gym Leader let out, keeping his cool for Ash's sake. "Can you try to move?"
"Ngh..." Ash let out, a strange smell filling his nose as he found renewed strength in his body. Still aching, Ash groaned as he got up, Bonnie gently taking Pikachu from his arms to treat it. Getting to his feet, the young Trainer found his senses suddenly widened, allowing him to fully take in his surroundings.
The air was full of smoke, the scent of burning wood filling the air. The sky was blood red in the aftermath of the explosion, flames rising up to the sky. When Ash's eyes wandered to where the flames were coming from, however, his eyes widened in shock. In front of him, his own house was in flames, giving caught fire from the battle.
"T-The house?" Ash croaked out, before remembering where his mom was right before the confrontation with the traitors. "M-Mom! She's still in there, we gotta get her out!"
"Ash, you idiot, hold on!" Paul called out from his spot by Charizard, but Ash had already started running for the house, putting some ground between him and his friends. Out of nowhere, however, a stray Hydro Cannon blasted the ground between them, Gary's cocky voice ringing out from across the battlefield.
"You didn't think we were done with you, did ya, Ashy-boy?" Ash heard the traitor say, feeling his body fill with rage before he heard Paul's voice ring out as well.
"Can't get enough of my power, can ya?" The purple-haired Trainer said as his Electivire made his way back to him, bringing out two more Pokéballs. "Hmph, allow me to give you a better taste. Honchkrow, Torterra, stand by for battle!"
His Torterra and Honchkrow came out, joining the other's Pokémon. Ash could see the battlefield clearing up, most of the traitors' and his friends' Pokémon scattered across the battlefield, engaging in battle with each other. Almost on instinct, Ash reached for his own Poké Balls, only to be painfully reminded that they weren't there, his Pokémon having been taken away by Professor Oak.
"The heck are you doing, Ash?" The raven-haired trainer heard Barry call out, seeing the blonde send out his Skarmory to help out, coordinating its attacks along with his Empoleon. "Get in there already! Paul and I will hold them off!"
Ash nodded at that, giving his two rivals a smirk despite everything that was going on before he rushed into the burning house, leaving the battle and his Pokémon in the hands of his real friends. Instantly met with flames and smoke, Ash coughed as he made his way through his now ruined house, smoke filling his eyes and lungs.
The heat was nearly unbearable, but Ash pushed onwards, making his to the laundry room, where his mom normally went about making his new clothes. Seeing the door to the room, Ash was relieved, picking up his pace as he burst through the door. His relief quickly faded, however, as he was greeted by the sight of his mother being crushed under a plank of wood, the object trapping her lower body.
"Mom!" Ash cried out, rushing to her, immediately trying to lift the wooden plank, his Kalos cap flying off of his head as he ran over to her. "D-Don't worry, I'll get you out!" He attempted to lift the plank off of her and upwards, but to no avail, the wooden plank staying right where it was. He tried again, and again, determined not to give up. Each time he failed, he found himself with cut fingers and more blisters than before.
"I-I won't leave you here!" The raven-haired boy let out, trying once more, his eyes clenched tight with rage and desperation. If it wasn't for his friends... those... those traitors... "I won't let them get away with this!"
"Ash..." Delia managed to get out, trying to talk to her son, coughing as she did so, the woman looking up at her son, putting on a brave face so he wouldn't see her fear. "I-It's okay Ash..."
"Save... save your energy, Mom!" Ash said, hissing in pain as he failed to lift the plank yet again, letting out a cry as he was forced to take his hands off of the plank, looking down at the burns that had started on them. "I'm gonna get you out of here!"
"Ash... just listen to me..." Delia said, drawing her son's attention as he momentarily stopped. "I need you to take... take what's in... my hand."
Ash bent down, knowing that those could've easily been his mother's last words, eyes widening when he saw what she held, tearing up a bit. "That's... that's for me?"
"I... made it for... the next step of your journey..." Delia said, managing to give her son a warm smile despite all that was happening. "I... want you to... take it... please..."
"Okay..." Ash said, wiping tears from his eyes as he took her last gift from his hands, managing to give her a smile of his own before going back to attempting to free his mother. "But I'm getting you out of here too!" In his attempts to free his mother, Ash became unaware of his surroundings, focusing only on the task he had set forward for himself. Unfortunately, that made him unaware of the creaking ceiling just above him, slowly breaking under the flames.
"Ash, move!" Delia cried, just as the floor caved in, pushing her son out of the way, the wood and furniture covering the rest of her body, as Ash landed just outside the laundry room.
Ash coughed, getting up slowly, disoriented from what had just happened. His vision fuzzy, he looked back to the laundry room, only to see it caved in. Tears began falling from his eyes as he realized that his mother was gone, her last act being to save him. "Mom..." He muttered, before looking once more at what she had made for him; a new variation of his very first trainer's hat, but the green check had been made into a rectangular shape, the color scheme remaining mostly the same.
Clutching it tightly in his hands, Ash quickly made his way outside before more of the house could cave in more, exhaustion wracking his body. As he made it outside, he looked over to how the battle was going, his friends had successfully driven the traitors back to the edge of the Ketchum's lawn, although they showed no signs of stopping.
Gritting his teeth as he caught sight of the traitors, Ash kept his anger in check, wiping the tears from his face as he called out to his Pokémon. "Charizard! Pikachu! We need to go, now!"
His friends looked at him as he said that, although they seemed ready to go with whatever he'd had planned. Inwardly thanking them for that, Ash continued, giving instruction in the heat of the moment. "We're splitting up right now, okay? Barry, take yourself and Bonnie somewhere safe!"
"But Ash-!" Bonnie tried to say before Ash cut her off, as Charizard and Pikachu quickly made their way to his side.
"We'll meet up in Vermilion City, I promise!" Ash called out from across the battlefield, doing his best to reassure her before casting his eyes over at Barry, who was already getting his Skarmory back to him so he could fly off. "Barry, hurry up and get her out of here!"
Giving a quick nod, Barry got Bonnie onto his Skarmory before getting on himself, quickly taking off into the air on the Steel-type Pokémon, recalling his Empoleon just before he got out of range, casting one last glance back at Ash. "You'd better be safe after this Ash, or you'd better believe both Bonnie and I will fine the heck out of you!"
"How noble of you," Paul called out as he ran across the field, sending out his Usaring and Drapion to pick up where Barry left off. The purple-haired boy stopped as he reached Ash's side, glancing off to where Barry currently was. "You've got something in mind, then?"
"I can't stay here," Ash let out, getting on Charizard as he looked at Paul. "I'm gonna go try getting the rest of my Pokémon from Oak's ranch, Charizard making it here is proof that Professor Oak was lying about them giving up on me. I don't know if I'll be able to do it with all of those guys so close by, though... Maybe-"
"Say no more," Paul let out, putting his hands in his jacket as if the matter was settled. Turning away from Ash to look back at the battle, he opened his last Pokéball, sending out his Magmortar, the last of his 6 Pokémon. "I'll hold the line here, take the others and get your ass over to the ranch before I beat it there myself."
"What?!" Ash let out, starting at Paul as if he was crazy. "There's like 11 of them, and what happens if they send out multiple Pokémon like you? There's no way, we'll just have to run as fast as we-"
"I'll stay with him then," Brock let out, standing right beside Paul as he sent out his Swampert, Croagunk, and Forretress. "Don't worry Ash, it'll take more than them to get the better of us. You, Dawn, and Serena just head over to the ranch and get your Pokémon, got it?"
"But-" Ash let out, still not okay with the idea of leaving them behind before Paul turned back to look at him with a deadly glare, shutting the trainer up.
"Hey, I don't stick my neck out like this for just anyone, you know," He spat out, pushing Ash further into silence. Paul sighed after his outburst, his eyes softening somewhat as he turned back to the traitors and their Pokémon, who were getting confident after Serena returned her Pokémon and started making her way over them, while Dawn pulled back to get on Togekiss. "I told you before, didn't I? I'm grateful to you... and I'd be damned if a bunch of your half-assed rivals and their weakling friends brought my journey to an end here. Frankly, I'm insulted that you'd even think that."
Ash frowned after hearing that, closing his eyes as he realized Paul wouldn't change his mind. Letting out a sigh, he opened them again, looking towards the ranch instead of Paul. "Heh, guess I'll leave it to you both then. Just run if they get too close, got it?"
"Get going then," Paul retorted, letting out a smirk as Brock let out a Tropius for Serena to get on, the honey-blonde Performer letting out a thank you as she hopped on it. "The hell's taking you so long, Ketchum?
"Just your face distracting me," Ash shot back. Under other circumstances, he would've been smiling, but it was all he could do now to tap on Charizard's back, signaling for him to take off. "Come on, Charizard, let's go!"
With a loud roar, Charizard spread his wings, taking into the sky with both Ash and Pikachu on his back, making a beeline for the Pokémon Ranch. Dawn and Serena both followed, Togekiss and Tropius both trailing behind Charizard as Brock and Paul turned their attention back towards the battle, which had become much less chaotic now that most of their side had fled.
It wasn't long before Ash, Dawn, and Serena arrived at Oak's ranch, Ash quickly spotting a broken fence near the entrance. "Charizard, is that where you kept?" Ash asked, frowning slightly as the orange dragon gave a quick nod of his head, beginning to descend.
The three of them quickly landed, Ash quickly leaping off of Charizard as he ran to inspect the fence. He could feel his heart sink in his chest as he found the area inside the fence empty, not even a single Pokémon or Poké Ball left behind. "T-They're all gone? They took my Pokémon?"
Ash couldn't help but sink to the ground, letting out a cry as he punched the ground, his eyes threatening to shed tears once again. "First my mom... and now my Pokémon? How could this happen... M-Maybe I should've listened-" He didn't get to finish that sentence, however, before Serena and Dawn both crouched down beside him, both girls wrapping their arms tightly around him.
"Don't you dare say that this is your fault, Ash," Serena let out as she looked into his eyes, frowning as she finally saw the burns and blisters on Ash's hands, the girl running her hands gently over them. "This? All this is their fault, not yours. Don't you ever forget that."
"What happened to your mom can't be undone, and I'm sorry," Dawn let out, her eyes closed tightly to prevent her own tears from falling down her cheeks. "B-But your Pokemon are still alive. You have to believe that they would never give up on you like Charizard didn't... Even if it's not today, even if it won't be for a while, you have to-"
"Get them back," Ash let out, finishing Dawn's sentence for her, although neither Dawn nor Serena knew whether he was talking about his Pokémon or the traitors. His voice was steely, and his eyes were narrowed, laser-focused on the broken fence in front of him. "No matter what it takes... I'll get them back."
He remained in that spot for a good few seconds, Serena regretfully nudging from where she was crouched. "Ash, we need to get going... Paul and Brock won't be able to hold off those guys for much longer."
Ash's glare only sharpened at the mention of that group, although he made an attempt to relax his gaze somewhat after seeing Serena flinch. "S-Sorry..." He let out, turning to look at the honey-blonde for the first time since they'd arrived at the ranch, not noticing Pikachu scampering forward into the fence.
Both girls and Ash turned back to the fence upon hearing Pikachu's cry of joy, however, the Electric-type coming out of the fence with about 10 Poké Balls in his arms, setting them down in front of Ash. "Pika pi!" He tapped them with his paw, nudging one over to Ash in an attempt to make him feel better.
"Pikachu..." Ash let out, taking them into his hands, looking over each of them, knowing that there was a good chance that these could be the last of his Pokémon. Bulbasaur, Totodile, Heracross, Swellow, Sceptile, Donphan, Gible, Pignite, Snivy, and Noivern were all there in his arms, having been left behind for some reason. Ash didn't dwell on it for now, though, hugging them close to his chest before putting them on his belt once more. "... Thanks, buddy."
Pikachu smiled at that as Ash got up, both Dawn and Serena able to spot a burning resolve in his eyes. "You're right, Serena," Ash let out, turning to face their flying Pokémon as he spoke, allowing Pikachu to perch on his shoulder once more. "We can't stay here. First, we'll meet up with the others in Vermilion City. After that... we'll have to get some help."
"But where Ash?" Dawn couldn't help but question him, Oak's threat still ringing in her head. "Professor Oak said he was going to spread those lies about you... If he does that, there won't be anyone else in the world that'll want to help you out."
"We'll have to act fast, then," Ash replied, his voice solid with conviction as he got onto Charizard. He paused before he continued, his brow knit in concern for a few seconds. "... Luckily, I think I might know someone who can help us."
(Present Day; Mount Lanikila, Home to the Alolan Pokemon League, Region of Alola)
"So, you got everything set up or the Isle of the Stars tournaments, yeah?" Professor Kukui let out smiling over at Alola's first Champion, noticing something different about him. The raven-haired trainer had gone and added a white scarf to his Champion's attire, although Kukui had a few guesses as to where he'd gotten it from. "The opening for the battle tournament is tomorrow, so you'd better not make Alola look bad, you hear?"
Ash smiled over at the Professor as the two walked along the peak of Mount Lanikila, headed up to the Pokémon League. It had only been 3 years since the League was established, yet Ash still couldn't believe it was his. "That's not just my job, you know," He let out, looking up as the League came into their line of sight. "The others have to keep face too, don't they?"
"But who's job is it to rein in the Elite 4, huh, son?" Kukui let out, wrapping an arm around Ash's neck, rubbing the raven-haired boy's hair with his knuckles. "Not saying names, but I think we both know who I'm talking about, yeah?"
Ash groaned as the older man put his hands around him, although he couldn't help but grin softly at the Professor's antics. It wasn't something Ash thought about often, but with the tournament approaching and him being almost certain that those traitors were coming, he couldn't help but think just how much his life had changed in the past five years.
In the five years since he'd been betrayed, Ash had been laser-focused on doing whatever it took to be able to get back at the ones who hurt him, landing him in the title of Champion as a result. As anyone could guess, he'd become much stronger as a result, in spite of Oak keeping his word about defaming and smearing Ash. After that campaign, it became quickly clear that any region with a respectable battle circuit would arrest for flat-out ban him on sight, forcing Ash to try and find a region that wasn't so strict with their battling.
Keeping that in mind, Ash eventually settled on the region of Alola, a region that didn't have a battling circuit altogether in favor of a trial system, heading there with Serena, Brock, and Dawn to set out on a new journey. Before he'd done so, however, Ash had been able to get most of the Pokémon he'd released or given away with the help of his friends, seeing as they weren't even mentioned in Oak's smear campaign and thus could roam the region rather freely.
Pidgeot was more than happy to come along once Barry had found it, and Paul had somehow managed to get Lapras to come with him as well, although no one could ever figure out how he was able to do it. Primeape didn't come, seeing as he and Ash didn't get along that well, to begin with. Brock was able to get Butterfree to come along as well (not to mention 20 other Caterpie and a shiny Butterfree) and Dawn and Serena were more than successful in getting both Gliscor and Goodra to join as well. And although it was risky, it was Ash himself who went to Kalos to retrieve Greninja, Zygarde graciously allowing him to forsake his mission.
With those Pokémon in hand along with the ten that were left behind, Ash went about his journey, making sure to train both his new and old Pokémon, evolving most of his Pokemon to their max. Of course, there were those that were perfectly fine with staying at their base level or a stage just short of their final evolution, and it was those that Ash trained extra hard, making sure they could be strong no matter what stage they were at.
Additionally, with the help of his friends, Ash had also gathered quite a number of Mega Stones, giving them to the Pokémon that could Mega Evolve as a symbol of the bonds that they shared. He gave some of them to Brock, Dawn, and Serena as well, the four of them figuring out the power of Mega Evolution together. And although he didn't want to feel like he was replacing the Pokémon he'd lost, Ash eventually caught new Pokémon as well.
Among these were his Umbreon, Incineroar, Rowlett, Lycanroc (who was actually a rare Dusk form), Gardevoir, Ampharos, Lucario, Dragonite, Gengar, and his Naganadel, which was actually a strange new kind of Pokémon called an Ultra Beast. Ash did his best to train all of these new Pokémon as well, and although they didn't know about the pain their trainer had suffered firsthand, they were ready to do anything to protect him.
Dawn had obtained some new Pokémon throughout her journey as well, opting not to fully evolve her Pokémon as Ash had. Well, she had with some, but she didn't have the same talent for battling that Ash did, although she still got strong enough to make sure no one would hurt her friend ever again. Along with Piplup, Pachirisu, Buneary, Mamoswine, Togekiss, and Quilava, there was Espeon (which was a twin of Ash's Umbreon), Froslass, Komala, Florges, Vaporeon, Mismagius, and an Alolan Raichu. She'd found that while Alola didn't have a League, they did have Contests, which allowed her to further pursue her Coordinator career, although it was difficult for her to be associated with Ash in the beginning. (Not that she would ever admit that)
Brock went along with them as well, managing to win over people in Alola despite being associated with Ash, which in turn helped improve their opinions of him before he eventually became the Champion. It definitely helped that he was continuing to study to become a Pokémon Doctor, healing and assisting people throughout the region. In addition to Steelix, Crobat, Sudowoodo, Geodude, Chansey, Forretress, Swampert, Ludicolo, and Croagunk, Brock managed to get Mudsdale, Venusaur, Sandslash, a Rockruff which would evolve into a Lycanroc (this one would become a Midnight Lycanroc), Flygon, and Comfey.
Also not wanting to leave Ash, Serena had decided to keep her team with her as well when she headed to Alola. Like Dawn, she found some difficulty getting into Alolan Pokémon Showcases due to her association with Ash, but even found it difficult to become the Alola Queen, seeing as she'd lose repeatedly to the person who held the title at the time, on top of her leaving Alola on multiple occasions. She trained her Pokémon to become stronger as well, adding Absol, Jellicent, Flareon, Delcatty, Leafeon, Spinda, and Masquerain to her team.
The four of them traveled across the Alola region, running into others who supported Ash as well such as Paul, Barry, Alain, Sawyer, and Marron, even running into Bonnie once she was old enough to become a Trainer and come to Alola on her own. Going through the region, Ash made friends in people like the Trial Captains and the Kahunas, not to mention others as he took on problems like Team Skull and the Aether Foundation. It wasn't until about when 3 years had gone by since the traitors' betrayal when Ash, Paul, Barry, Bonnie, Alain, Sawyer, Sun, Moon, Gladion, and Lillie all took part in the Alola League tournament that Professor Kukui himself had set up, while Dawn took her last shot at Alola's Grand Festival, Serena doing the same as she challenged the Alola Queen, Kahili.
The League tournament itself didn't garner much attention, but the battles that took place were certainly ones for the ages. Through the challenges his rivals put up, Ash emerged victoriously and challenged the Elite 4 that Kukui arranged as well, leading to him being crowned the Champion of Alola, a feat that went widely unrecognized by the other regions. Now one of the leaders of his region, Ash quickly set up his Elite 4, weighing his options before eventually choosing Lillie, Bonnie, Brock, and Paul.
Even though he was the Champion then, Ash still wanted to keep his title a secret, to not cause complications with the other regions. It helped that Alola wasn't really in the eye of the global public, so no one would bat much of an eye if they were told the region had finally gotten a Champion. Of course, there was one person who'd concern himself with Ash's role, and Ash had to quickly prepare for that event.
Lance, having gone back to being the Kanto Champion by this time, had heard that the region of Alola had gotten a new champion, and quickly found out that it was Ash. Although he was surely surprised and wary, Lance was willing to sit down in Alola and have a talk with Ash, an offer that the new Champion was happy to accept.
Lance took the initiative and interrogated Ash while using Psychic-type Pokémon as informational probers, also making sure to check that Ash's Pokémon were in perfect health. Seeing as Oak's allegations were of a high degree, the interrogation was tense and brief, Lance only seeking to verify or disprove them. He had no choice but to believe in Ash once he was satisfied and even offered to clear his name right then and there.
Having come too far to get his own revenge on the traitors, however, Ash declined, offering to allow Lance to oversee the installation of a new gym circuit in Alola in exchange for keeping quiet about his Champion status. Lance accepted, and successfully assisted Ash in keeping his title and whereabouts a secret from the other regions as well.
Under Ash's leadership, the Alola region prospered and ushered in two outstanding years of peace, their first champion ever turning out to be the best the region could hope for. Finishing his recollection, Ash looked back at Kukui. "Well, it won't matter much if we don't finish up preparations today. Which is why I'm going to get those guys out of there and head down to the Isle now."
"Speaking off, you might wanna ring up Lillie," Kukui let out, releasing Ash from his hold as they reached the peak of the mountain, standing just in front of the Pokémon League. "She didn't come in today, which is strange, seeing as she's always the first one to arrive at the League."
"Lillie, huh?" Ash let out, his cheeks warming up at the thought of the girl he'd helped to get over her fear of Pokémon. He adjusted his scarf so Kukui wouldn't see, opening the door to the League. "You're right, that is weird. Any idea where she got off to?"
(Present Day; Malie City, Region of Alola)
"Helloooo, Alola!" Max called out as loud as he could, the teenager grinning to himself as he and his friends walked out of the airport and into Malie City, carrying his Gallade's Poké Ball in his hand. He had opted to wear a green hoodie with yellow highlights along with blue jeans for Alola, although the warm weather was starting to make him think he made a mistake. "The best trainer in the world has arrived, and he's itching for a battle!"
"Geez, dial it back a bit, would'ya, Max?" May said, following him as she held hands with her boyfriend Drew, wearing a red and white ribbon in her hair while wearing a red crop top along with black shorts. "Still, this region is beautiful when you really look at it... maybe I could even get a tan while we're here!"
"You're fine just the way you are, May," Drew said, seemingly disinterested in his surroundings, although his focus on the steaming hot brunette that was his girlfriend (Most importantly, her larger than average breasts). His attire didn't change much over the years, only becoming more obnoxious as he added a silky lavender scarf. "Why would you need a tan when you're practically a supermodel already?"
"Hey, don't forget why we're here!" Max said, walking ahead of them, interrupting their conversation. "We're for that Isle of the Stars tournament, remember? Man, I can't wait, all the best trainers are going to be here for me to beat!"
"Yeah, yeah, calm down, Max, okay? I signed for the Contest part of the event, you know." May said, sighing at her little brother's antics. There were times when he was almost as annoying as Ash used to be to her... almost. Shaking off her thoughts of him, May continued. "Besides, what would you expect from a tournament that got an endorsement from the Kanto Champion himself? Everyone and their mom is going to want to come here, if not to battle or perform, then to watch."
"Your sister's right, you know," Cilan said, currently wearing a horrible pair of sunglasses, which he thought looked cool on him. They only served to make him look more ridiculous, however, with the horrendous accessory making his stupid waiter's uniform stand out even more. "Your constant eagerness for battle, combined with your childish, simplistic arrogance might lead to your downfall. And the ripe scent of so many ingredients mixing together in one pot truly makes for a spicy-"
"Shut up with that nonsense already!" Max said, turning back to face Cilan, an annoyed look on his face as he pointed a short finger at his green-haired friend. "No one even understands your gibberish anyway!"
"Anyway, I can't believe that the Alolan Champion invited us along with every single Gym leader, Elite 4, and Champion in the world to this tournament!" Iris said, sporting her own pair of sunglasses, although they certainly suited her better than Cilan's. She'd replaced Drayden as the Opelucid City Gym Leader over the past five years, and her outfit had remained the same for the most part, although she no longer kept her Axew in her hair. "Wonder why?"
"It's probably to show the strength of the Alola region," Misty let out, bringing a hand to her chin. The orange-haired girl was wearing a white top with light blue swim shorts, along with a light blue jacket with short sleeves. "Lance did help them establish an official gym circuit, so their Gym Leaders would probably be competing as well. Allowing others to register is probably just to draw attention."
"Who cares?" Gary said, dismissively as he began to eye Misty's chest and body, appreciating the fact that his girlfriend's body was available for him to admire. His attire hadn't changed much either, and his demeanor was just as cocky as ever. "This region has got to be the weakest out of all of them. Up until recently, they didn't even have any Gyms, just this weird thing called the 'island challenge'."
"Not to mention this Champion needed someone else's help to set up his own gym circuit, how weak can you be?" Trip let out, smirking as he snapped pictures of Malie with his camera. "Honestly, this tournament's the only reason anyone would consider coming to this region."
"The only reason, huh...?" Clemont let out, adjusting his glasses as they arrived in the center of the city. The blonde couldn't help but think about his little sister when Trip said that. Upon turning 10, she'd left Luminose City without so much as a word, leaving a note that she was going on a journey of her own. Bonnie hadn't written or come back since, so Clemont had spent his free time investigating into the other regions, although he'd had a sneaking suspicion she'd gone after Ash. "It's true that no one really knows about the Champion, do they?"
"Does it matter?" Max said, walking onwards triumphantly, twirling the Pokéball that held his Gallade inside, the prized Pokémon that he had trained up in the past five years. "Whoever their champion is, he's obviously gotta be the kind who can recognize my talent!"
"Just be cautious, Max," Professor Oak said, walking at the back of the group. The Pokémon Professor had only grown older over the years, his esteem only being bolstered for 'outing' Ash as a Pokémon abuser. "It's true that you win most of your battles, but that's no reason to get cocky."
"The professor's right, Max," Tracy said, already sketching away on his pad, currently drawing the image of a nearby Pikipek. "All kinds of trainers are coming to this tournament, there may be some that you simply can't beat! Personally, I'm kinda worried about the Champions themselves!"
"Yeah, yeah, you make it sound like I'm going to turn out like that loser, Ash!" Max said, putting his Pokéball back on his belt, putting his arms behind his head. "That loser probably wouldn't even make it past the prelims!"
The group of traitors soon made it to the Pokémon Center, where the registration center was, Max still believing that he stood no chance of losing in this tournament. The others had given up all hope of convincing him otherwise, as they simply decided to register. Since there was a battling section, a performing section, and a coordinating section, each of the traitors signed up for what they wished to take part in.
"I can't wait to win this tournament, it'll be a cinch!" Max said to himself as the group walked out of the Pokémon Center after registering, having done so without much difficulty. "Soon, everyone in the world's going to know how strong I am!"
"Well, that's certainly a bold claim, now isn't it?" Max frowned as he heard that, looking around who see where the voice had come from. He didn't have to look far, however, seeing two girls standing by a fountain, reasoning that the one currently smirking at him must've been the one who'd said it.
The girl herself was surprisingly pale for living in the Alola region, having black hair with side-swept bangs to the left, gray eyes glinting from behind them. Her clothes consisted of a loose light cream-colored t-shirt with light pink and gold flower patterns spread across it. It was tied across the bottom, just below where her teal shorts began. "I mean, Gym Leaders, Elite 4, and Champions alike are gonna be aiming to win this thing. What makes you think you've got much of a chance?"
"At it again, huh, Moon?" Her friend let out, having started looking at the group as well, her green eyes widening for a second before setting on a look of disgust. Her pale blonde hair came down around her face in bangs, a ponytail tied with a braid coming down from the back of her head. She had on a white sailor-like shirt with a blue ribbon that was covered by a white vest with orange highlights and a short white miniskirt with a light blue line, and on top of all that she was clutching a Poké Ball of her own.
"Hmph, you can say what you want. but it doesn't change the fact that I'm gonna win this entire thing!" Max said indignantly, clutching his Poké Ball in his hand as he quickly stomped his way over to the two girls before his friends could stop him. "How about you just shut your mouth and-"
Before he could finish his sentence, someone stepped in, Max stumbling backward as a hand shoved him hard. "Whoa-!" The spectacled teen let out, narrowing his eyes at the person who'd shoved him, who was currently giving him a glare of his own.
"Keep your hands away from my sister, brat," He spat, just as the other traitors came running up to Max. He was young, yet still obviously older than all three present, his hair the same shade of blonde as one of the girls. It came down in front of his right eye in rectangular-shaped bangs, his eyes a brilliant jade green. He wore a white hoodie with orange highlights, one of his hands clutching a Poké Ball.
"Well, maybe you should have your dumb sister keep her mouth shut!" Max retorted, a smug smirk playing across his face once he saw the Poké Ball in his hand, assured that he was, at the very least, a better Pokémon Trainer than this guy.
"How 'bout you watch your own, before I shut it for you," The blonde huffed, holding his hand in front of his face before glancing back at the two girls. "Moon, Lillie, I thought I told you to meet me at the research lab?"
"Oh yes, we wanted to have you oversee the last of the preparations, Gladion," The blonde girl, Lillie, let out, obviously put out by the fact that she and Moon had run into this specific group of people. "But I wanted to make sure my Pokémon were all right before the tournament, and Moon was more than happy to go along..."
"Yeah, and after that, we kinda got sidetracked going 'round memory lane..." Moon trailed off, giving the blonde guy, Gladion, a sheepish grin with an apologetic look on her face.
Her expression shifted when she looked back towards Max, however, a mischievous smile playing across her face. "By the way, specs, I don't know if those glasses do anything for you, but it's obvious that I'm not the sister he's talking about. A+ for effort though!"
"Nngh, whatever, I'm challenging you to a Pokémon battle, right now!" Max let out, pointing a finger straight at Gladion. "My Pokémon and I have got a strong enough bond to wipe the floor with you!"
"Oh, so you know what bonds are?" Gladion let out, his voice full of scorn, although he hadn't yet denied Max's challenge yet. "That's surprising, coming from people like you."
"What do you mean by that?" Iris said, returning the three's glares with a nasty one of her own. "We're all friends here, so of course we know what bonds are!"
Gladion huffed, holding his hand up to his face. "I see, you're right. After all, in order to sever bonds, one must know of them, am I correct?"
"I've had enough of you and your cryptic bullshit!" Max said, taking a step forward towards the three once more, drawing attention from natives and tourists alike. As he noticed the attention on him, the spectacled boy couldn't help but smirk. He'd spent 5 years training his skills, and with this tournament, he'd finally have the attention of the whole world! "I, Max Maple, challenge you to a battle, right here and now! Better get your Pokémon ready, although no matter what you do, I'm wiping the floor with you!"
"You can't challenge someone to a battle without even knowing who they are, that's absurd!" Lillie said, but Gladion stepped forward as, a confident smirk on his face, though his eyes glinted with rage.
"Very well then, it's been a while since I've battled, and my partner and I could use the practice." He said, tossing his Poké Ball up before twirling it on his index finger. "The name's Gladion, it figures I should at least remind you, given the fact that you've shared yours."
"Doesn't matter to me what your name is, I'll beat you all the same!" Max let out, adjusting his glasses in what he thought to be a cool fashion, giving Gladion a smug smirk. "Remember that name, cause you're looking at the future winner of the Isle of the Stars tournament!"
"So you think you'll win, huh?" Gladion mused to himself, before turning to his female companion, his expression shifting almost instantly to a much kinder, gentler one. "Lillie, would you mind refereeing our match?"
"But, big brother..." Lillie grumbled, sending a disgusted glance at the traitors, before turning back to give him a pout. "We're gonna be late to help with the others!"
Gladion paid her and Moon no heed, however, as he and Max walked away from the group, standing right in front of the fountain. A crowd had begun to form, eager to see how this match played out. Gladion made a mental note to himself to keep the fight contained; he didn't want one of the Officer Jennies getting involved. Not to mention his mother scolding him about the image a CEO should present once more... "It'll be a one on one match, okay Lillie?" He said.
"Looks like he's certainly ready to go!" Moon jeered over at the traitors, her grin still on her face as she watched Gladion walk off to the side with Max. "Relax, Lillie, we're gonna get to see Gladion battle! That's always fun, isn't it?"
Seeing that Gladion wasn't going to change his mind, Lillie let out a resigned sigh, giving Moon a small smile. "I guess we could enjoy this for a bit... As for you idiots, go over there and watch..." She said, changing her tone to the traitors, gesturing to an area about 20 feet from where Gladion and Max were about to fight.
"Hey, don't call us idiots!" May yelled out, her friends having to restrain her from launching herself at the blonde girl, the brunette's sight filled with red.
Lillie shrugged, as she got into a reasonable refereeing position, focusing on the match that was about to unfold. "Sorry, but I went to the Prometheus School of Calling it As I See it. So without further ado, let the one-on-one match between Max Maple and Gladion... begin!"
Max sent out his Pokémon first, confidence practically flowing off of him. "Gallade! Show this jerk what he's dealing with!"
In a flash of light, Gallade burst from his Pokéball, radiating the same confidence as his trainer as he let out a battle cry, experimentally swinging his arm blades.
"You've been by my side, along with him..." Gladion murmured as he let out his Pokémon. "Now it's time we stay by him! Silvally, stand by for battle!"
Silvally let out a roar as he exited his Pokéball, glaring fiercely at Gallade once he realized who he was up against. Gladion quickly tossed a disk to Silvally, a slot opening up on the side of his head to accept it. Instantly, the fins on his head and tail turned black, signifying his transformation into a dark type.
"Wow, what kind of Pokémon is that?" Tracy said in awe, instantly beginning to sketch it. "Are all Pokémon in Alola like that?"
"Shut your mouth, Tracey!" May said, whacking the artist upside the head, as she noticed Lillie's smug smile at their amazement. But the brown-haired trainer couldn't deny that Silvally definitely looked impressive.
"Aw, what's the matter? Meowth got your tongue?" Moon let out, having moved to a spot not too far away from Lillie, the raven-haired girl smirking at the traitors' amazement. 'Although, that Gallade doesn't look too weak either...'
"Silvally, let's start with Crush Claw!" Gladion called out, with a sweep of his arm. Silvally's claws on its front legs glowed a bright white, as the chimera leaped at Gallade with repeated strikes.
"Whoa, what speed!" Iris said, her eyes shining, her jaw practically falling to the floor at the sight of Silvally's speed. "That's gotta be a Dragon-type with that kind of attack speed! Where can I get one?"
Lillie sighed in exasperation as all Max could do was call for Gallade to dodge. She always enjoyed getting the opportunity to watch her brother battle, but she could do without the annoying side chat. "That's a Dark-type, as of now, anyway. Gladion's Pokémon is one of a kind, it can change its types by using Memory Disks like the one Gladion used before the battle."
"Are you serious?" Trip let out, taking out his camera to get a closer look at Silvally. "There's no Pokémon that can do that, you've gotta be lying!"
"Oh, that's rich," Moon let out under her breath, her grin fading for a second as she glared at Professor Oak, watching as the aged man watched the battle between Max and Gladion. The only reason she hadn't tried to throttle him with her Primarina right there and then was because Ash had explicitly asked her not to.
"Perhaps Alola houses some truly special Pokémon that the rest of the world is unaware of..." Professor Oak mused, thoroughly intrigued by the battle unfolding. "But it seems that Max's Gallade is simply better. A shame, really."
Hearing his last statement, Lillie turned back to the battle in worry, as Silvally soon began to tire, its attacks slowing down. Unfortunately, this was Max's hidden opportunity.
"Ha! You may talk big, but your Pokémon sure can't carry it out!" Max said, grinning as Silvally launched its last Crush Claw, resulting in another miss. "Gallade, use Close Combat, back to back!"
Gallade nodded as it dodged Silvally's last Crush Claw, then rushed at the chimera with amazing speed. As it got in range, it unleashed its fists in a rapid flurry, each hit connecting with Silvally. Silvally went flying back, only for Gallade to rush at it again and repeat the process.
"Silvally!" Gladion cried out as his partner was mercilessly beaten twice more by Close Combat, Max jeering from the other side of the battle. "Try to intercept with Crush Claw!"
Silvally nodded to show its acknowledgment, its claws glowing white once more. As Gallade unleashed Close Combat once again, Silvally swung its claws in a defensive manner, but Gallade simply overwhelmed Silvally, sending it flying once again, the chimera Pokémon slamming against the rim of the Malie Fountain.
"And that's the fifth time I've hit you with Close Combat!" Max jeered, calling off Gallade for a bit. Noticing that the crowd had grown in size, his confidence grew as well, the younger Maple was pleased that such a large amount of people would be able to see his battle skills before the tournament even started. "Gotta say, you make a pretty good punching bag if nothing else!"
"Hah, see?" May jeered from her spot, noticing the smug look disappearing from Lillie's face. "My brother's gonna win against that fake Pokémon, how bout that?"
"Big brother..." Lillie said, ignoring the Hoenn native's jeers, concerned for her brother instead, remembering the promise he had made to Ash and Silvally.
"My mother..." Gladion said, looking down at the hospital floor from the bench he sat on, Silvally nuzzling him as he talked to Ash. "They're saying that the poison is unlike that of which they've seen before, they've got no clue how to proceed. They're saying that the way she was released from the Nihilego largely contributed to her current condition."
Ash, 15 years old now, couldn't help but frown, recalling the large scale Z-Move he and Pikachu and pulled on Lusamine, effectively defeating her. Guilt overcoming him, he moved to sit next to the blonde boy. "Gladion, I-I'm-"
"Stop," Gladion said instantly, waving him away. "I went to see her, you know. I don't think Lillie has yet, but I hope she does soon. Anyway, I went to see her, expecting the worst. Expecting the Nihilego poison to still have some hold on her. Expecting a vengeful old hag who would despise me and my sister for her condition."
"Gladion..." Lillie murmured from behind a corner, watching the exchange between her brother and Ash, a concerned look on her face.
"I went into her room.." Gladion continued, his voice breaking as he continued. "A-and for the first time in a long time, I talked with my mother. As soon as I went in, she immediately asked me how I was doing, about my life, and what I hope to accomplish. Ash, she's my MOM again. None of that Nihilego parasite talking through her, it's finally just her."
"Pika, pika..." Pikachu murmured, leaping onto Gladion's shoulder despite his resistance, giving him a cheek nuzzle.
"But you know what?" Gladion said, gathering himself as he looked at Silvally and then Ash. "If not for everything you did, I wouldn't have my mom back. Thanks to Silvally and you, my family could be just that, a family. The doctors don't know if Mom will make it through the year, but she and I are okay with that. I-If not for you..."
Seeing Gladion on the verge of tears, a rare sight to see, Ash sat beside him, giving him a comforting hug. Gladion reluctantly accepted, but pulled away for a sec, standing from the bench, putting distance between him and Ash, giving a grateful look to Ash. They shared eye contact for a while until Gladion spoke again.
"...Ash?" He finally asked, after a while of silence.
"Yeah?" Ash asked, curious to know what Gladion wanted. "What is it?"
"You've done a lot for me and Silvally in this past year..." Gladion said, a resolved look on his face. "If you ever, EVER need my help, I'll be right by your side. I swear on my life, Silvally and I will repay what you've done."
"I know you can do this..." Lillie murmured to herself, seeing the frustration on Gladion's face.
Unknown to her, Gladion was thinking of that very same conversation as well, wracking his brain desperately for a way out of this. His Dark-type Silvally wasn't the best for taking these kinds of attacks, but he didn't see an opening anywhere. "He's hit me 5 times... we can't take another one of those..." The blonde boy mused before it suddenly struck him. "That's it!"
"What's it?" Max questioned, before deciding he didn't care anyway. "Whatever, Gallade hit that freakish Pokémon with Close Combat one last time!"
Gladion grimaced, Silvally couldn't take another one of those, so he needed to tire Gallade out now. "Silvally, please, use Protect!"
The chimera nodded, a luminous green glow surrounding its body, just as Gallade closed in and unleashed its full power Close Combat. Silvally held up its Protect, although it inched back a bit due to the force Gallade was currently exerting on it, the Psychic/Fighting-type threatening to shove Silvally into the fountain. Lillie couldn't help clasping her hands, hoping that Silvally would manage to pull through.
"Stop hiding behind your shield already, or have you already recognized your defeat?" Max said, growing impatient with this battle, the thirteen-year-old certain that his skills were already established. "Gallade, keep using Close Combat, and don't let up!"
True to its trainer's command, Gallade unleashed more blows than before, putting all of its power into its attacks. The traitors watched on, honestly not sure how the battle would turn out, but one look at her brother's face was all that Lillie needed to know how this battle would end.
Max laughed out loud, thinking already of his victory, when, suddenly, his Gallade tired out, stumbling back a short distance. "What?! Gallade, keep going!" Max cried out, as astonished as the rest of his friends.
Gladion gave a short chuckle, a ghost of a smirk on his face as he shook his head at Max. "Close Combat is a move that allows the user to move at incredible speeds and deal massive damage." He explained to the spectacled boy. "Overuse of such a move will lead to burnout, much like the burnout a Pokémon can receive from using Hyper Beam. Of course, there's one other thing you may have forgotten about Close Combat."
"W-what?" Max asked, dreading Gladion's answer.
"Close Combat lowers your defenses immensely." Gladion continued, snapping his fingers, causing Silvally to charge up its Mutil Attack, its body taking on a dark sheen. "Both physical and special defenses are massively decreased, and after all those times you used it? Well, I'm sure that even an idiot like you could figure out what comes next."
"G-Gallade, get out of there!" Max cried, realizing his mistake, as the traitors watched on in horror and Lillie watched on in relief for her brother. "Get away from him!"
"Well, let's wrap this up," Gladion said, smirking as he readied to end the battle. "Silvally, finish Gallade off by using Multi Attack!"
"Vally!" Silvally cried, letting out a roar as it fired its Multi Attack, firing a darkly colored beam. It hit Gallade dead on, sending the Psychic and Fighting-type sprawling, Gallade skidding to a stop at Max's feet. For a second, Gallade stood strong, looking as if it could keep going, much to Gladion's and Lillie's surprise. Unfortunately for Max, it was just that; a second. It quickly fell backward, landing on the ground unconscious.
"G-Gallade..." Max stammered, his eyes widened with disbelief, as he feebly returned his Pokémon. The traitors all rushed to him, May being one of the first to comfort him on his first loss of the region. Gladion simply scoffed, they displayed this camaraderie for each other, but not for the man who brought them all together?
Lillie came up to Gladion, disrupting him from his thoughts, a pleased look on her face. "Okay, I have to admit, that was fun to watch!" She began, before tugging in her brother's arm. "But we're running late! We're late!"
"Yes, yes, I know," Gladion said, rolling his eyes at his sister's impatience. Sometimes he wished she had never discovered her "Z-Powered form". "It's hardly my fault, though." He cast a look at Moon after that, the girl sheepishly giggling once more as she came up to Gladion, trailing behind Lillie. "Just go ahead, all right? I'll catch up real soon."
Lillie let out a little huff, and continued on her way, not sparing a second glance for the traitors. She made her way through the crowd, apologizing to the people that she passed on her way. Of course, there was excitement throughout the crowd due to the fact that one of their Elite 4 was passing by, but the traitors barely heard their comments, their attention on the beaten Max. Moon followed quickly after Lillie as well, fist-bumping Gladion's shoulder before turning to the traitors and sticking her tongue out, disappearing into the crowd with a smirk.
Gladion found himself lingering for a bit, containing his anger as the traitors all gave Max words of encouragement, ensuring that he'd do better next time. After a few minutes, he spoke up.
"Hey," He said, drawing their attention, and some of their glares.
"What do you want?" May nearly hissed, sending a venomous glare at Gladion.
"I'll just tell you this one thing before I go," Gladion said dismissively as he began to head on his way, already turning his back on the traitors. "You should try to see if you really understand what bonds are. Cause during this tournament, I can promise you that you'll learn of them for sure."
And with that, the blonde boy walked away, his Silvally dutifully following him, their bond one of many in the region of Alola.
And as the traitors began to head for where they would be staying, they couldn't help but overhear the whispers of the people around them, now that their attention was off their spectacled friend.
"Man, that boy got schooled, didn't he?"
"Serves him right, that kind of arrogance never leads to greatness."
"But wasn't Gladion just a bit harsher than usual?"
"You don't think-"
"What else would you expect from the president of the Aether Foundation?"