Part 1: The Return of a Legend
The world of Pokémon training had seemed like a part of Issei Hyoudou's life that was miles away, locked behind the door of memories he had chosen to close years ago. He had never imagined that this would be the life he would end up living. The moment he decided to retire from being a professional Pokémon trainer and returned to his hometown, he thought he had finally put the past behind him.
Growing up, Issei was better known as Ash Ketchum, the legendary Pokémon trainer who eventually became the Pokémon World Champion. But after achieving his dream, he decided to start anew as an ordinary person, leaving the Pokémon world behind and returning to Pallet Town in the Kanto region under his real name, Issei Hyoudou.
However, not even becoming the Pokémon World Champion could erase the memories and experiences he had gained throughout his journey.
Issei and his family decided to return to Kuoh, a small Kyoto suburb where no one knew of his incredible past. However, his mother, Delilah, was the only one who knew his secret, and they both agreed to keep it hidden from the rest of their family and friends.
Despite leaving the world of Pokémon behind, Issei maintained a close bond with his beloved Pokémon. Throughout elementary, middle, and high school, he battled various low-level yokai, stray devils, and rogue magicians around Kuoh to help his Pokémon stay in shape. [1]
Part 2: Family Secrets
In this new chapter of his life, Issei found himself struggling to cope with a shocking revelation: Serena, his childhood friend and partner during his time in Unova, was actually his younger paternal half-sister. At first, Issei found the whole thing to be quite preposterous but was forced to retract his previous statement when word of a rather exquisite and fancy mansion being built in quite a short time started going around the neighborhood and he decided to investigate these rumors for himself, only to find himself glomped by a rather happy Serena who literally ran out of the mansion and through the driveway when she saw him through the window, sobbing tears of joy on his shoulder as they embraced each other.
/Flashback/
[Mysterious Mansion]
[Kuoh, Kyoto]
[Imperial State of Japan]
Issei let out a soft sigh, as he tugged at the lapel of his red bomber jacket while carefully observing the rather large and palatable manor in front of him. Rumor had it that a new mansion had just been built just a short distance away from the gated community where the Hyoudous lived, and Issei, being the curious boy that he was, just had to investigate to find out if these rumors were true. And here he was, observing the rather vast villa that now stood where an empty block had been before with the right hand in the pocket of his blue sweatbottoms.
His eyebrows were raised suspiciously as he took a closer look at the building. "Seriously? This was what all the fuss was about?" he mumbled under his breath, turning around to head back home. "From the way everybody was talking about it, you'd think that some major pop idol or even a member of the Imperial Family had moved in this neighborhood,"
But before he could even make a single step forward, a small, shrill voice pierced the dull silence that pervaded the area even after Issei's arrival. "ASH!" The cry was immediate, happy and relieved, and Issei found himself instantly recalling exactly who it belonged to.
So it seems like my current host won't be all that useless after all, and if my suspicions are right I'll be looking forward to quite an entertaining time while living inside this boy.
"S..seren..." He didn't even have time to finish or try and figure out what that mysterious voice inside his head was, when the sounds of a lock being open, a gate being swung open, the soft, quick steps of someone approaching and a small figure slamming on to his body took him by surprise. He didn't even try to move away or be indignated, as he knew who it was before he looked down to see the familar brown hair and small figure.
"I..is it really you Ash? W..when you left to g..go on vacation in Aloha I...I thought t..that I'..I'd n...never see you again...t...that was u...until y...you won the Pokemon World Championship i...in Aloha a...and then disappeared...everyone thought that you were dead! I...I missed you so much...I was so scared...that was until Professor Oak told me that he had gotten a call from your Mom stating that you guys had moved back to Kyoto in Nihon...I was so relieved...and now I finally have the chance to see you again,"
Issei remained silent as he ran a hand through his childhood friend's long sandy brown hair, letting her cry on his sleeve.
/End Flashback/
No one could have predicted that Serena, his younger half-sister, would develop an intensely passionate crush on her own sibling. It was a secret she kept well hidden, but Issei couldn't help but see the glimmers of adoration in her eyes from time to time. [2]
Tsubasa Hanekawa, the Student Council President of Kuoh Academy, also had strong feelings for Issei which she tried to keep hidden under a mask of politeness and professionalism. Unbeknownst to most of the student population and even the teaching and auxiliary staff, Hanekawa was actually the heiress of the House of Sitri, one of the three Great Pillars of the Underworld along with the Gremory and Phenix Houses. The Student Council was in fact a front for Hanekawa's Peerage.
Part 3: An Unexpected Passionate Masquerade
Everything changed for Issei when his seductive English teacher, Rias Gremory, the heiress to the House of Gremory who went by the name Himekami Lizel in the human world, reincarnated him as her pawn. Yet, throughout this new life, Issei managed to keep his past a secret from everyone, including his fellow members of the Gremory peerage. [3]
The arrival of the bewitching Professor Himekami and her otherworldly beauty marked a new chapter in Issei's life. As a pawn of Lizel, the English teacher that his peers constantly fawned over, he would soon come to realize that the secrets he had held so closely were now in danger of being exposed.
As he stumbled through the halls of Kuoh Academy in the bustling town, Issei found it hard to resist the allure of his new life, navigating a world dominated by devils, yokai, angels, and magicians. Life in this new realm was no less exciting, where mythical characters ruled and young women appeared to pledge their undying fealty to him.
The life of a devil seemed so much more vibrant than his days battling other trainers and capturing Pokémon, although he never truly abandoned the latter. Throughout his journey in this new world, Issei continued to care for his beloved Pokémon and held secret battles with low-level yokai and stray devils. It was all in good fun and helped him keep his skills sharp and fine-tuned.
All was going well as Issei kept his secret hidden from everyone, including Rias Gremory, whom he had become the servant of. Despite keeping his past hidden, Issei continued to love and care for his Pokémon and his ever-growing circle of friends, even if it meant keeping his childhood accomplishments hidden forever.
Part 4: Hidden Secrets Exposed
Unfortunately for him, his secret would not remain hidden for long. Those secrets that Issei had tried so desperately to conceal were suddenly in the open when his friends from the Pokémon world, Lillie and Mallow, stormed into town with Professor Oak. Desperately searching the erstwhile Ash Ketchum, the two Hawaiian girls sought closure and wanted to express their gratitude for the help he had rendered during a family vacation to the Alolan region long ago.
The Kuoh art exhibition erupted as usual, with powerful beings disguised as humans drinking and flirting together, unaware that the true reason for their gathering was about to reveal itself. Lillie and Mallow, unaware of Issei's current status as a reincarnated piece, managed to gain access to the Kuoh Academy campus and bum-rush Issei when they saw him heading towards the ORC clubhouse, hugging him tightly and trying their best not to let go of him. [3]
/Flashback/
[Auditorium]
[Kuoh Academy, Kuoh]
[Kyoto, Imperial State of Japan]
The sun was setting on the horizon, casting an orange and pink hue over Kuoh City. The sky was becoming a canvas of colors for the small art exhibition hosted at Kuoh Academy's vast auditorium. People from all over came to see the display of works created by many talented students. As the cool air carried the calming scent of blossoming flowers and freshly cut grass, the exhibition served as an excellent beginning for the arrival of spring.
Hearing the soft murmur and laughter of the attendees, Lillie and Mallow's hearts raced with excitement as they stepped onto the lush greenery of Kuoh Academy's old campus. Despite their nervousness about attending such a prestigious event, the warmth of the setting sun on their faces and the companionship of each other and their beloved Pokémon filled them with courage.
Mallow held a neatly folded piece of paper in her hand. It was an invitation from Ash Ketchum, a dear friend she had met many years ago during the Ketchum family's vacation in Alola. Over the years, Ash and his family had helped Mallow and Lillie at various moments in their lives, and this visit to Kuoh City was their chance to express their gratitude. They had come a long way from Alola, and they were now eager to meet their friend once again.
As they walked hand in hand, Lillie's Snowy and Mallow's Tsareena followed closely behind them, displaying a sense of pride and loyalty. Unbeknownst to the girls, however, they were being watched by a pair of curious eyes. The mischievous Pikachu atop a nearby tree couldn't help but observe these two newcomers and their Pokémon. Its eyes widened when it recognized Ash's friends and their beloved Pokémon. Letting out a soft "Pika!" it scampered down and rushed off to find Ash to inform him about their arrival.
In the meantime, Lillie spotted someone who looked strikingly familiar to them from afar. Squinting her eyes, she gasped and clutched Mallow's arm tightly, pointing towards the figure. "Mallow, look! Is that…Ash?"
Mallow tilted her head and squinted at the figure. There, coming from the Occult Research Club (ORC) clubhouse, was a man seemingly about their age with a familiar air of determination and a friendly, charming smile. He looked remarkably similar to the Ash Ketchum they remembered from all those years ago, only now a bit taller and with a distinct sense of maturity.
Without a second thought, Lillie and Mallow rushed toward the young man. Emotions surged through their hearts as memories of their adventures with Ash in Alola came flooding back. With tears in their eyes, both girls bounded over and embraced the man tightly, speaking at the same time.
"Ash, it's so great to see you again!" exclaimed Lillie.
"Thank you so much for everything!" cried Mallow, her voice muffled by the man's chest.
Completely startled and almost knocked off balance by their sudden embrace, the man blinked in surprise. "Hey, wait a minute. I think there's a mix-up here. My name is Issei Hyoudou, not Ash Ketchum."
"We… we thought you were Ash," Mallow's face turned a deep shade of red in embarrassment, while Lillie nervously wrung her hands.
Issei, however, didn't seem offended. Instead, his eyes sparkled with curiosity and warmth. "I might not be Ash Ketchum, but I have a feeling we might have some connection to one other."
Sensing the girls' skepticism, Issei elaborated on his statement. "You see, when I was younger, I lived in Pallet Town in Kanto. My family and I moved there when I was about twelve or thirteen, after winning the Alola Pokémon League. Back then, I went by the alias of Ash Ketchum, and I remember spending many days with two wonderful girls who remind me a lot of you."
Lillie and Mallow's eyes widened as they realized the truth. Issei was the Ash Ketchum they had come to see all along! The man who once helped them in Alola stood before them, albeit with a different name and aura.
As the truth settled in, and the three friends were reunited, their initial surprise and confusion turned to joy and happiness. They had much to catch up on, many memories to share, and new bonds to forge. The sun continued to set over the picturesque Kuoh City as the three friends, reunited by the threads of fate, began a new chapter in their lives. Their journey was not about to end just yet, as the Kuoh art exhibition became a symbol of their rekindled friendship and the start of a beautiful future together.
/End Flashback/
This incident was the talk of the town at Kuoh for quite a while, as no one could believe the "nerd" who hung out with the two main members of the Perverted Trio could be lucky enough to have not only one, but two cute girlfriends, who to add fuel to the fire, came all the way to this sleepy neighborhood to show their appreciation to their beloved boyfriend.
The surprise visit left Issei scrambling to keep the truth about his childhood hidden. Desperate to keep his secret under wraps, Issei resorted to quick thinking and sly deception to keep the truth from coming out, never anticipating that the past would come back to haunt him in such an unusual form.
Though he managed to hide the past from the rest of Kuoh, both Hanekawa and Himekami managed to deduce the truth through careful observation and intelligent guessing. Together with Rias and her peerage, they confronted Issei in a closed-door meeting of the Occult Research Club (ORC).
/Start Flashback/
As Lillie, Mallow, and Issei shared laughter and fond memories, unbeknownst to them, the ever-watchful eyes of Rias Gremory and Tsubawa Hanekawa observed the interaction from afar. The two student council presidents were always attentive to the people and events happening at Kuoh Academy.
Rias, having been Issei's master for quite some time now, was able to quickly deduce the connection between him and the two girls. Standing close by, Hanekawa whispered to Rias, "It seems Issei once used the alias 'Ash Ketchum,' doesn't it?" [4]
Rias nodded in agreement. "Yes. Even though he usually tries to hide his past, I always had a feeling there was more to him than meets the eye."
Feeling the need to further unveil the truth, Rias strode purposefully toward Issei, Mallow, and Lille, with Hanekawa following closely. Upon their approach, Issei, sensing their presence, swallowed nervously and braced himself for what was sure to be a confrontation.
"Issei, could you join me in the ORC clubhouse? We need to have an emergency meeting. Hanekawa, Lillie, and Mallow, you're more than welcome to accompany us," Rias declared with an air of authority and concern.
As they all gathered in the ORC clubhouse, the air was thick with discomfort and tension. Some of the members of Rias' and Hanekawa's peerages cast questioning glances toward Issei, wondering what this meeting could possibly be about. But all remained quiet as Rias took a deep breath, her bright blue eyes locked on Issei as her bright scarlet locks swung from side to side.
"Issei, when you joined my peerage and became a pawn, I trusted you wholeheartedly. From everything we've been through, I considered you one of my most trusted companions, so tell me: why didn't you share your past with us?" Rias' voice was filled with hurt and disappointment.
Hanekawa also chimed in, her tone cold and strict, "As your friends, don't you think we deserved to know?"
Not wishing to lie any further, Issei's eyes filled with guilt and shame as he admitted the truth. He detailed not only his connection to Lillie and Mallow to his surprised master and future wife as well as the stunned peerages of Rias and Hanekawa, but also his recent past as a Pawn of Rias Gremory and his status as the wielder of the Red Dragon Emperor, Ddraig to his two friends from Aloha.
After his confession, Lillie stepped forward, her eyes unwavering. "Issei, Mallow and I forgive you, but on two conditions. One, that we join your harem, and two, that you keep no more secrets from us."
Rias and Hanekawa exchanged glances before they too decided to forgive Issei for hiding his past from them. However, Hanekawa declared, "As punishment, not only will you add Lillie and Mallow to your harem, but you will also add myself, along with the female members of my peerage. Additionally, you will marry all the girls in your harem and impregnate them on your honeymoon." [5]
The news sent a wave of shock and embarrassment throughout the room. Lillie and Mallow blushed heavily at the thought of Issei dominating them in the bedroom. In contrast, Genshirou Saji, Hanekawa's Pawn, scowled at Issei in apparent jealousy.
"Fine," Issei begrudgingly agreed, his voice barely a whisper. "I will do as you say. No more secrets."
In response, Rias stepped forward with a warm, forgiving smile, pulling Issei into a gentle embrace. "We'll always be here for one another, Issei. That's what being part of a peerage and family truly means."
As the meeting drew to a close, everyone in the room knew that despite their secrets and unspoken feelings, this newfound bond would only bring them closer. They were ready to forge the path of their intertwined destinies together, hand in hand, and standing tall against whatever trials may lay ahead.
/End Flashback/
Part 5: A Pledge of Eternal Loyalty
After Issei's admission of guilt, Himekami and Hanekawa began making arrangements for the harem, contacting members ranging from Indigo League Gym Leaders to the renowned Pokegirls themselves. They offered them the chance to meet Issei in person and provided each girl a daring proposition: join his ever-growing harem.
With the addition of Miette, Serena, May, Misty, Iris, Bea, Lillie, and Mallow, Issei's harem grew like no other. Witnessing his once-normal life turn into something extraordinary, he embraced this as his fate. In a twist of fate, Suruga Kanbaru—an accomplished college basketball player and older sister of Hanekawa—was revealed to be one of the Four Great Magic Kings of the Underworld, the legendary Serafell Levithan. [6]
Issei's vampire familiar, Shinobu Oshino, who was better known as Kiss-Shot-Under Blade or the Witch of Babylon to the magical world, also became a part of his thriving harem. [7]
As Issei's life began to settle into a new sense of normalcy, Kuoh soon found itself under the attack of Vali and the Khaos Brigade. Unaware of the repercussions, the Brigade's intentions sparked anger and resentment from the ladies in Issei's harem. It's goal of chaos and making a name for itself was cut short by the powerful and vengeful girls of Issei's harem, who chased them out of town.
With a unison of protective love, they fought back against Vali's advances, driving him and his motives away from Kuoh and forcing the Brigade into exile. United in their love for Issei, the girls vowed to never let anyone or anything harm him ever again. [8]
Hidden behind a corner, observing everything, was none other than Red, the legendary trainer from Ash's hometown of Pallet Town who had captured all 151 original Pokemon and become one of the world's youngest Pokemon champions. In the aftermath, Red continued watching from a distance—amused by the turn of events. He knew that his rival's life was about to change drastically—the only question was just how drastically.
Casually reminiscing about their past, he smirked, "Ash is going to father a lot of children soon." [9]
With a bemused smile and a fond comment on Issei's future, Red left the scene to take care of his own business, gone as stealthily as he appeared.
Unaware of the extra presence that had been observing the situation, Issei's harem settled back into their daily lives, ready to bear the children of the world's most famous Pokémon Master—a new, beautiful chapter waiting to be written together with the boy they vowed to love, cherish and protect till their dying days.
Lives may change, paths may diverge, but some things remain the same. Legends are united, and love across worlds blossoms in this tale of an ordinary boy with extraordinary abilities.
Issei Hyoudou's new life as a high school student, devil, and peerage leader not only lived up to the excitement of Pokémon training but also brought about unexpected love and friendships he would cherish forever.
Thus, the legend of Issei continued to grow, his incredible past as a Pokémon trainer now a part of his life again, as he found himself living a surprisingly fulfilling existence surrounded by love, power, and the best kind of chaos.
[1] Issei might be a naive nerd who LARPs as a pervert who likes women's mammary organs, but stupid is he not. Although he is out of the professional Pokemon battling game he would still view his Pokemon as his friends and pseudo-family and I really can't see him abandoning his Pokemon or leaving them in their Pokeballs doing nothing. So this is a good opportunity to him to both take care of his beloved pets and get rid of a local nuisance plaguing his town before it becomes a serious threat.
[2] Serena has rather strong feelings for Ash in the original XY and XYZ season of Pokemon: The Series.
[3] Guess which obscure light novel/manga by Kuji Masamune's main female character I used for Rias' human form. Hint: She's also a d...l in her canon incarnation.
[4] No matter what Issei/Ash does, the truth is going to come out.
[5] With how close the female members of the Gremory peerage are to Issei to the point where three of them [Rias, Xenovia and Koneko] are openly expressing their desire to have his children, I'm surprised something similar hasn't happened in canon DxD. And yes, the EX light novel is canon in this story.
[6] You thought that Levi-tan would be thousands of years of old in this story but instead, everyone's favorite basketball player takes her place and best of all, Kanbaru is Issei's senpai! Kono Author Da!
[7] You really weren't expecting that, were you?
[8] Love makes people do strange things. If you think this is impossible, remember that Issei's harem has its canonical members + the Pokegirls + Hanekawa + the female members of Sona's Peerage in canon/Hanekawa's Peerage in this story, so the girls have more than enough strength to defeat and push back the Khaos Brigade.
[9] You know, I'm really starting to feel sorry for Issei/Ash's pelvis and his wallet in this story, if ya know what I mean.