Chapter 87
Now Ash is facing the Sinnoh Champion Cynthia in the battle, and Pikachu is defeated by Cynthia's final Pokemon: Garchomp. She already loses Spiritomb, Roserade, Togekiss, Lucario, and Milotic. Ash sighs and says, "I see...I'm down to my last Pokemon..."
Everyone is surprised to see Ash sending out a Latias, and it has a Mega Stone on it. Cynthia gasps, "Ash? You have a Latias?"
"I have a Latias, now enough talking and start battling." Ash says.
As both Dragon Type Pokemon are battling with each other with their mega evolutions, Ash notices how Cynthia is having Garchomp go with Dragon Rush, but this Dragon Rush was started by charging into the air, much like how a Z Move is known as Supersonic Skystrike works. Ash wondered if Cynthia has studied the Dragon Duo for the moves, and he says, "Latias, cover the whole field with Mist Ball!"
When Latias does what he commands and she creates a fake Misty Terrain. Ash also has Latias go with Double Team so that Garchomp will hit the fake decoy. In the end, Garchomp misses the attack and it is slammed to the ground.
"This is it. Finish with Dragon Pulse." Ash says, and the attack knocks out Garchomp and reverts it back to its form.
"How...?" Cynthia is surprised as she thought she perfected the strategy. Ash sighs and says, "Did you really think I wouldn't have a counter against my own strategy?"
"Wait...your strategy?" Cynthia asks in confusion. "But that strategy was developed by the Dragon Duo."
"That's right. I developed it when I was Dragon Prince Shin." Ash says in a cold tone, causing everyone to be surprised.
At the stands, Serena asks, "Hold on, did Ash just reveal his true identity to the whole world?"
"But why is he doing this?" Mark asks. "Brother created the disguises because he didn't want to be recognized by the world..."
Alice is in deep thought, Ash has told her about revealing one of their disguises because he thought that Cynthia's Garchomp might be using one of their strategies. Alice agrees with Ash's plan, though she is still worried.
After Goodshow brings Ash to the Sinnoh Hall of Fame, Ash notices that Goodshow has already given up struggling, he really hopes that Ash takes the company and leaves him out of the mess, but Ash is not going to do that just yet. After all, he wants to beat Leon and his mother so that PLA will be right to be his.
After that's done, Cynthia decides to ask Ash some questions, and she asks, "Is it true that you're the Dragon Prince Shin? Then your wife..."
"Is the Dragon Princess Pauline, you're right about that." Ash says. "The fact that you're using our moves against us, means you really admire them, right?"
Cynthia nods, and she says, "But why would you do a disguise just like that? I mean, why create fake identities?"
Ash says, "Team Rocket still haunts me even though they are disbanded. Disguising myself gives me comfort, and we are asked by the Unova Dragon Clan Elder to become the new Dragon Duo as we inherited their weapons."
Cynthia sighs, "By the way, I heard from Lance that there is a strong blizzard that covers the whole of Blackthorn City. He told us that the Dragon Prince and Dragon Princess are responsible for them. Can you stop the blizzard if possible?"
"So Lance even asks you to talk to me, huh?" Ash says with a little anger. "I've already told him that the only way to stop the blizzard is that their whole clan admitted their mistakes. If the blizzard is still there, that means they are not regretful."
"I think Lance did tell me that..." Cynthia sighs. "But then again, he didn't tell me the whole details."
"Two of my students, Drandon and Lucine, are from the Johto Dragon Clan, because of their mother's sins, they have to pay for it and they have to be hurt because of it. Those two suffered a lot and they still didn't give up hope, that's why they tried to flee to the Unova's Dragon Clan. The reason why the elders of the Dragon Clan are dead and why the blizzard was there is because the Dragon Clan, minus Lance and Clair, tried to kill us for our weapons, they also try to steal our Latias and Latios. They also didn't think they are wrong by doing such harmful stuff to Drandon and Lucine." Ash says.
"I see...I can't believe they're really mean, I can understand why you've done this. You really changed a lot, Ash." Cynthia says.
"Let's say a lot of experiences made me become like this." Ash says. "You know, Cynthia. You're very interested in mythology and history and you spent all your time researching and exploring various sites associated with Legendary Pokémon."
"Um...what are you talking about right now?" Cynthia is a little confused.
"You know that I have Arceus helped me through the whole Team Rocket crisis, and he has shown the past Sinnoh Region, known as the Hisui Region." Ash says. "There is Dawn's ancestor, Professor Rowan's ancestor, Cyrus' ancestor, and your ancestor. However, your ancestor shares the same goal as you, he is very interested in mythology and history. But do you know what he did?"
Cynthia is confused, and Ash says, "He wanted to meet Arceus, that's why he went to Giratina and tore open the Space-time Rift on top of Mt. Coronet back then. He causes a lot of Pokemon to be in a frenzy, even Dialga and Palkia. I was sent to the past by Arceus in order to stop him, and he also reveals that he wants to destroy the world using the power of Arceus' 18 plates."
"My ancestor...did that?" Cynthia asks in horror.
"That's why I want you to understand, that what you're doing is not wrong, but you shouldn't overdo it, or else maybe the greed to know everything changes you into a person like Cyrus or Giovanni." Ash says. "But if you want to know more about the ruins and Legendary Pokemon, I maybe can help you with that."
Cynthia nods as she sees Ash leave, and she is also taking Ash's words into her heart.
"What is taking you so long? I mean, you have been talking with Cynthia for a long time." David asks.
"Sorry about that, it is just that I have some things that I need to tell the Sinnoh Champion. After all, remember that time when Arceus asks me to travel back to ancient Sinnoh to stop a mess made by Cynthia's ancestor, I just want to share my experience with her so that she wouldn't be like the person." Ash says.
Lucine says, "But I would never think she would use the same trick you did back then. I mean, Cynthia really learned that move well."
"I know." Ash says as he turns to his wife. "But still, going to the Hisui Region is already 10 years ago. And at that time, I still don't know you guys."
"You're right, Arceus asked you to do it not only to help you get better with the stamina to fight Giovanni, but also to stop Cynthia's ancestor from destroying the Hisui Region." Alice says.
"At least I come back after a day, to me, it feels like I have been through three months." Ash chuckles a little.
"Yeah, thanks to Alexander, who goes to the Nintendo Company and offers to make a game known as "Legends of Arceus", or else I wouldn't be able to know how much damage you took by battling those Frenzied Pokemon."
Just then, the helicopter arrives, and Ash groans as he knows that the helicopter belongs to Lance. Drandon and Lucine are also worried as they see the said person out of the helicopter.
"What are you doing here again, Lance?" Ash asks.
Lance turns to Drandon and Lucine, "You must be Drandon and Lucine, right? The two people who came from our Dragon Clan?"
"I'm glad you weren't calling us the Cursed Children." Drandon says with a sigh, "But seriously, what do you want?"
Lance takes out an envelope, and says, "I have gone back to the Dragon Clan and gathered the apologies from each and every member of the clan about your suffering. The true criminals who hurt you are killed, but we are at fault for ignoring your pleas for help. I hope you would accept this letter."
Drandon takes the letter and reads it, and then he passes it to Lucine. He says, "As much as I hated what you guys did to us, all of it is in the past. You think that I have been living under the curse, but It is also a blessing. I am able to reach new heights with the help of my new friends, Ash, and others, and also from my sister, who has been with me through the whole journey."
Lance is surprised and he says, "So you don't hate us for doing this to you?"
Lucine says, "Hate is a strong word, but we don't hate you guys. We treat it as a lesson for us to pass on, a great obstacle for reaching the Dragon Masters."
"Being with Ash and Alice made me learn a lot about this world." Drandon says. "But even though we forgive them for what they have done to us in the past, that doesn't mean we will be returning to the village. After all, it is not our home anymore."
"I understand." Lance says as he turns to Ash, "And I'm also sorry as well...because of my own pride, I have never seen my errors with the G-men and the Dragon Clan, and thus making a lot of mistakes. I am no longer a member of the International Police, consider this as compensation."
Alice says, "I can tell that your feelings are real, and if everything in the letter is written in true feelings, then you can expect the blizzard to be gone after an hour."
Lance nods as he leaves them alone, Ash says, "I'm glad that everything turns out for the better."
"Indeed..." Delia walks toward him and says, "I assume that your next destination is going to be the Galar Region?"
"Yes." Ash says. "The only Ribbon Cup I haven't gotten is there, and I actually haven't tried out any of the gyms there. Maybe I did meet a few of them, like Leon, Raihan, Bea, Allister, Opal, and Piers..."
"I'm sure that you can win against them." Alice says.
"By the way, did Ash forgive all his friends for what happened to Team Rocket?" Lillie whispers to Delia, who replies, "From what I've heard, the only ones left are Misty, Goh, Chloe, Gary, Tracy, and Professor Oak...But seeing how he managed to forgive the others so easily, I think that it is a matter of time before they will also get Ash's forgiveness."
"I see." Lillie nods.
Ash says, "How about we have another party for my fifth continuous win? After all, two more and I'll be taking over PLA."
"That sounds like a good idea." Helen says, "Cilan decides to help me with the cooking as well. I wonder what will it happen when two different chefs work on the whole feast."
Everyone laughs as they all head towards AK151 and head back to Sevestar Island.
Here is a new chapter, and in this chapter, you can see the interactions with Ash and the other two Champions. I hope you like this chapter and we will be having another new member for the Gym Leaders in the next chapter.