Chapter 52
In Mauville City, Ash and Alice are surprised to see the major change in the city, and they also look around the area for a while before heading to the Gym. The Gym Leader Wattson is using Electrode, Magnezone, and Manectric to battle. Ash uses Camerupt to battle and he wins all of them with ease. Although Wattson is already used to Ash beating him with a clean sweep since it happened last time.
And they also find some time in the Sinnoh Region because of the variety of Ghost Type Pokemon living there. They capture a Drifloon at the Valley Windworks and evolve it into a Drifblim, and then a Misdreavus near the Lost Tower and evolve it using the Dusk Stone.
They stop in front of the Hallowed Tower. Ash says, "In this tower lies a Spiritomb. A Pokemon made of 108 evil souls."
Alice is shivering a little as Ash and Pikachu carefully get the Odd-Keystone out of the tower, and then the Spiritomb is about to attack them, so Ash and Pikachu quickly capture it before it can harm them. And the final Pokemon is a Duskull which is also nearby, and they use the Reaper Cloth and also the training to evolve it into a Dusknoir.
Drifblim: Ability: Flare Boost. Moves: Minimize, Strength Sap, Tailwind, Destiny Bond, Phantom Force, Shadow Ball
Mismagius: Ability: Levitate. Moves: Lucky Chant, Mystical Fire, Psywave, Astonish, Phantom Force, Spite
Spiritomb: Ability: Infiltrator. Moves: Frustration, Dream Eater, Curse, Shadow Ball, Dark Pulse, Memento
Dusknoir: Ability: Frisk. Moves: Disable, Future Sight, Curse, Shadow Ball, Shadow Punch, Payback
Giratina: Ability: Telepathy (Alter)/Levitate (Origin). Moves: Aura Sphere, Earth Power, Hex, Shadow Claw, Shadow Force, Dragon Claw
And with Golly accompanying them, they head to Hoenn's fourth gym location: Lavaridge Town. Golly wants to try the hot spring there, so they all share the same hot spring again. After a short amount of relaxing time, they head to the gym and challenge Flannery. Flannery is now a respectable Gym Leader and she uses Camerupt, Magcargo, and Torkoal to battle. Ash uses Water Type Pokemon like Milotic and Crawdaunt to win his fourth badge.
And they also go back to the Galar Region because of the remaining Ghost Type Pokemon that they need to capture. The first one is the Galarian Corsola at Giant's Bed. Golly says, "Those Corsola really look sad and white..."
"Yeah, because of environmental pollution, another reason why we should overthrow the governments." Ash says.
They capture one and also train it to evolve into a Cursola, and its Perish Body is a little terrifying to use. And their next location is the Glimwood Tangle, and much to their surprise, they find an antique Sinistea.
"Wow, Ash. This Sinistea is actually the antique form! That is actually rare since most of the Sinistea here are Phony forms." Alice says.
"But that means we have to evolve it using a Chipped Pot instead of a Cracked Pot." Golly says.
"Good thing we have that with us." Ash says as he uses the item on the Pokemon, evolving it into a Polteageist in the end.
And their final destination is the Crown Shrine in the Crown Tundra. Calyrex is already there in its Shadow Rider Form as he's waiting for them.
"I heard you have also captured one of my steed Glastrier. How is he doing?" Calyrex asks.
"He's doing fine. And I suppose that you're going to join our team as well?" Ash asks.
Calyrex nods and gives them two Pokeballs. One for himself and one for Spectrier.
Polteageist (Antique): Ability: Cursed Body. Moves: Shell Smash, Teatime, Strength Sap, Curse, Shadow Ball, Memento
Cursola: Ability: Perish Body. Moves: Disable, Mirror Coat, Power Gem, Curse, Grudge, Night Shade
Spectrier: Ability: Grim Neigh. Moves: Disable, Double-Edge, Agility, Hex, Shadow Ball, Nasty Plot
Once they're back in the Sevestar Region, Reisa is also discussing the Gym battles and she says, "If you're not comfortable facing the Petalburg Gym, then how about I ask my Mom to give you the Fortree City Gym battle?"
"That will be nice of you, but in my order, I have to face the Petalburg Gym next. I have to admit that Norman is really strong, and I'm prepared to fight him." Ash says.
"And what Ash is worried about was not the gym battle itself, but if May and Max are there." Serena says with a slight frown. "Mark and I should also come with you as well."
"That will be better." Alice says.
A few days later, Ash and Alice are accompanied by Mark and Serena to the Petalburg Gym, and much to Ash's depression, May and Max were also there since there aren't any Contests happening right now.
"Ash! Is that you?" May and Max are surprised to see both Ash and Alice at the doorway, Ash says with a cold tone, "Sorry, but I'm not here for you two, I'm here for Mr. Norman's Balance Badge."
Norman also comes and he says, "It is nice to see you again, Ash. I have heard the news about how you are making a bet with Goodshow, I won't be holding back in this battle."
"I don't expect you to." Ash says as they go to the battlefield. May also notices Mark and she is confused. "Why are there two Ashs?"
Mark says, "Nice to meet you, my name is Mark. I am Ash's brother."
"Mark here is also my boyfriend." Serena says, causing both of them to be surprised. "And if you're asking me about my feelings for Ash, don't worry. I've already moved on."
"Is that so..." Max says. "Wait for a second...if you were with them, does that mean you found a way to let Ash forgive us?"
Alice glares at them and says, "If you think Ash can just forgive you as he did to Serena, then you're sorely mistaken."
"Why are you so mad at us?" May asks with a frown. "What have we ever done to you?"
Alice says, "You hurt my husband, that's why I am mad at you."
"How did we hurt him?" Max asks. "Can you tell us about it?"
"You have to find it yourself." Alice says. "And it is also up to Ash to determine if he should forgive you or not."
Max and May can only frown as they also see how Ash defeats Norman and get the badge. Norman is using a different team this time, as he has Slaking, Linoone, and Spinda. Ash has to admit that Spinda's Teeter Dance is frustrating, and also the move Encore causes Hariyama to keep using Detect is also testing his patience.
After giving the Balance Badge, Norman says, "Ash, I know I shouldn't say this, but can you tell us what exactly happened to you that you're unable to forgive May and Max?"
Ash says, "I want to say that Team Rocket controls everyone to hate me, but they don't have the power to determine what they should say to me or not. The words that come out of their mouths come from the bottom of their hearts. Max said that he used to look up to me, but he doesn't right now."
"I still look up to you!" Max says, "How could I not? You are the closest sibling to me like how May is...Without you, I wouldn't be able to explore the world and learn new things..."
Ash then turns to him, "Then let me ask you a serious question: What if I lost the bet with Goodshow? What if I am not the World Champion? Before I become the World Champion, I have lost 6 Leagues in a row. You used to mock me for my failed attempts at Johto and Hoenn League, how would it be different this time?"
Max remembers the old times, he frowns and says, "You also told me that you should never give up trying. No matter if you win the battle or not, you will still make all of us proud."
Mark checks his heart and says, "Brother, I think it is enough. I think Max is really sorry about what happened to you, and I can be sure that deep down inside, Max really admires you a lot."
Ash looks into Max's memories and nods, "I know. Now let's ignore Max for now." He turns to May, who flinches, "What May said to me and did really break my heart...just like how Serena and Lillie did. Recently I had partaken in four Grand Festivals in Hoenn, Alola, Unova, and Kanto, I won all four of them. All because I want to prove what May said to me is wrong."
Alice says, "Ash told me that May was the one that thinks Ash is bad at contests, while Dawn... she didn't actually say anything. To add salt to the wound, she burnt Ash's half of the Terracotta ribbon that was meant for their friendship. Even though all of Ash's badges except for Paldea are also burnt, the ribbon means more than that."
May widens her eyes as she takes out half of the ribbon, she weakly asks, "I...burnt the other half? I swear I don't know a thing! How can I be so horrible..."
Norman says, "I see...so this is the reason why you are mad at May...May told me that there is one time you tied with her in the Contest, and you shared half of the ribbon as friendship."
"Indeed." Ash says in a cold tone, "I have to see the thing that symbolizes our friendship be destroyed because you were humiliated to tie with me. My badges were burnt, that's true, but I could just get them by rechallenging the gyms like what I'm doing right now. And for the ribbons, I'm now trying to conquer all the region's grand festivals, so I already got a lot of ribbons with me."
May is now kneeling on the ground with tears. Alice says, "Ash...I think I know your pain...but I am sure that not even May wants to destroy the ribbon...it was Team Rocket's doing, remember?"
Ash turns to Alice and sighs, "You are right about that...but that just means our friendship was broken by Team Rocket as well."
May asks, "Then what should I do? I don't want our friendship to end like that..."
Ash frowns a little and he says, "Next year, I am going to Kalos for the Contests. I want you to take part in it. And when we face each other in the finals, you know what to do."
May has an idea about what Ash is implying, and he nods. Ash turns to Norman and says, "As for Max, if it is possible, can I take him in as one of my students?"
Norman says, "Not at all. Max really looks up to you as his teacher."
Max is confused, "Being your student? What are you going to do to me?"
Ash says, "We will explain the details once we go to our hideout. But sorry, May. I can't let you come with us."
May understands as they leave the gym, with Max following them. Alice asks, "What are you planning to do with Max?"
"The usual thing, after all." Ash says as Alice widens her eyes in shock.
Here is a new chapter, and as you can see, I have something planned for Max in the story. And for May, Ash won't be forgiving her until the Kalos Contests. Since he wants something from May when they face the finals. I think the answer should be obvious. I hope you like this chapter and we will be getting to the next disguise in the next chapter.