Chapter 12

Now in the Bugger City, Ash and Alice are now with a few of their friends and they notice a machine. Iono asks, "What is that machine?"

"Oh, this is the Paradox Machine, if you put in a Pokemon inside, it will be given the power to change into a Paradox Pokemon." Ash says. "There are a number of 18 Paradox Machines scattered in the Sevestar Region. This one is for Volcarona. If you put the Pokemon inside, it will become a Pokemon known as the Slither Wing."

"How was it scientifically possible?" The one asking is the Aspertia City Gym Leader Cheren, and Alice says, "When our scientists did the same thing, we were also suspicious about how it works, and since we are able to communicate with Pokemon, we heard their voices and we're glad that all they did was changing their DNA and there wasn't any mutation or other bad things happening."

"I see." Wattson says. "It will be interesting to look at the machines."

Then they separated as Ash and Alice are now in the Honey Cafe with Insey. Insey says, "By the way, they didn't know about RPA taking over PLA?"

"Of course, they don't, and we can't tell anyone about this since in their eyes, I'm still a criminal who supposedly killed my mother." Ash says. "Nobody found out about you being the Bug Witch, right?"

"That was already in the past, I'm sure that everyone has forgotten about the Bug Witch." Insey says while putting the cherry on top of the cupcake. "Alice, here are the cupcakes."

"Thanks." Alice says as she delivers the cupcakes outside. Insey says, "So what did you plan to do with the PLA now that you're the new president?"

"PLA will be abandoned and RPA will recruit the former PLA members, and we'll make sure to clean those corrupted people and forbid them from taking any money from innocent people again." Ash says. "I also plan to expand the gym circuit. There are some things I feel unfair about."

"I know what you mean." Alice comes back in and says, "I always wonder why there are so many Water Type Gyms while there are no Dark Type Gyms. Not to mention Poison Types only have two while Electric also has a lot."

"I won't cut off the gyms because they worked hard. But we're going to expand 10 more gyms and create the 8 gyms, 14 gyms, and 18 gyms circuit." Ash says.

"That sounds like a good idea." Insey says, "But it is not that easy to create 10 gyms out of nowhere, and I can see why there are only a few gyms. Sinnoh doesn't have that many Dragon Type Pokemon for the gym."

"They can use Pokemon from another region. I'm sure people can immigrate and why can't the Pokemon? I know there is the Regional Dex that limits the Pokemon from capturing in the region, but I will give the choice to the gym leaders to see if they want to use Pokemon that aren't listed on the Regional Dex." Ash says.

"Fair enough." Alice says with a shrug. She opens the fridge and notices the empty honey jars. "Looks like our honey is gone..."

"I guess you're right." Ash says. "That also reminds me. We also have Honey Trees around here just like the Sinnoh Region. I wonder if we can find a Combee in the trees."

They decide to go out, and they are noticed by Gardenia. Gardenia asks, "What are you guys up to?"

"The honey in our fridge is empty, so we're going to resupply." Ash says.

"So you get your own honey instead of buying from merchants?" Flannery asks.

"Yes. Like Hoenn, we have honey trees and sometimes we can find Pokemon there. And I know that Combee is one of them and he can help us get to the honey places." Alice says.

"But that tree didn't always spawn a Combee, there might be a Caterpie, a Ledyba, a Wurmple, or probably a Venipede. And Venipede is the last one that we want to encounter because they might poison the honey." Ash says.

"Well, I definitely want to take a picture of how the honey was taken, if you don't mind." Viola says.

"Not at all." Ash says as they get to see the honey trees in the Bugger Forest. After finding the Combee in one of the trees, the Combee uses its Honey Gather ability to lead them to Vespiquen's spot. They manage to pour some honey into jars and Insey says, "I think that's enough."

"Good. We can't take all the honey because the Vespiquen and the Combees need them." Ash says as the other Gym Leaders nod. At the same time, the traitors also come and they want to take honey, only to be attacked, Ash sighs and he talks to the Vespiquen that they don't need any harm. After that's done, he turns to the traitors and says, "As for you guys. If you want honey, you should ask us first. Taking them without their permission will get them to attack you."

The other Gym Leaders nod and it only causes the traitors to blush in anger and embarrassment.

Night time has come, Ash opens his eyes and finds that he is standing in a room filled with white lights and white spaces. He knows that it is a dream since Pikachu and Arceus aren't with him. As he walks closer, he notices a woman standing in front of him. He gasps as the woman is none other than his mother Delia Ketchum.

"Mom? Is that you?" Ash gasps as tears are forming in his eyes. Delia nods as Ash throws himself into her arms. Delia says, "I'm so proud of you, my baby boy. You not only created a region of paradise, but you've also found yourself a nice woman in your life."

"I'm sorry, Mom...you had to go through what they did... If I was strong enough I would be able to save you and also myself..." Ash frowns.

"No, Ash, it is not your fault, and it never was. Those who murdered me are the ones at fault for the crime, and I promise you that justice will be served." Delia says firmly.

"Dad, Mark, Minami, Golly, Insey, Trenor...they all miss you. They never got to say goodbye to you... and when I found them again, they learned the news of your death and they all felt grief and anger." Ash frowns.

"I know, and I'm sorry for all of them as well. However, my time is up, Ash. Promise me, no matter what happens, you must stay strong." Delia says.

"I will, Mom." Ash replies.

"And one more thing." Delia smiles, "Don't let go of the one who loves you the most."

A white light envelops Ash, and the next thing he knows, he is already sitting on his own bed. The sky is still dark outside, and he turns around at the clock, he finds that it says 3 a.m., and he still has a few more hours before everyone wakes up for breakfast. Without waking Pikachu and Arceus, Ash walks to the living room to clear his head, but much to his surprise, he finds Alice sitting on the sofa reading a book.

"Alice? What are you doing up late? It's only 3 o'clock..." Ash asks while raising his eyebrow.

Alice calmly puts a bookmark in the book and closes it, then she turns to Ash and says, "Can't sleep, and you?"

"Can't sleep either. I had a dream." Ash says.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Alice asks.

"Yeah, in my dream, I found my mother again... it felt so real, I thought I was in the afterlife..." Ash decides to tell her about his meeting with his mother in the dream, and what she has said to him. Ash asks, "Alice, now that you've heard my dream... I want to know if this really is a dream, or it is just my wishful thinking?"

"From what Golly told me while training Ghost Type Pokemon with her, she says that being a ghost has a lot of advantages, like going into dreams to give warnings or give encouragement, or otherworldly powers. Maybe your mother is not truly gone, and she decides to visit you in your dream."

"I hope so, or maybe I just miss my Mom too much." Ash sighs.

Alice decides to give Ash a hug, and she says, "Everyone here really misses your mother. But we have to stay strong. Just like she said, it's not your fault that she was killed, it was the traitors' fault, and we have to prove your innocence no matter what."

Ash says, "You really know how to cheer me up every time, Alice."

"I read a lot, and also, we are similar in some way." Alice says with a smile.

Ash nods as she is talking about how she was bullied when she was little, which gives her the cool personality she has right now. After getting back to sleep, all Ash has is disturbing dreams: He was back in Pallet Town, listening to his mother's screams ringing in his ears as someone stabbed her again and again. After that, he was arrested and given a trial, and he was found guilty. The traitors are cheering and mocking him, both Alice and his siblings didn't even bother to look at him. Alice also finds herself a new man and leaves with him. Ash cries and cries, then he starts to sing a song to express his sadness.

"I could hardly believe it
When I heard the news today
I had to come and get it straight from you
They said you were leavin'
Someone's swept your heart away
From that look upon your face, I see it's true.

So tell me all about it
Tell me 'bout the plans you're makin'
Oh, tell me one thing more before I go"

The walls start to break and then the images of Alice being with another man floods around him like a moat, Ash is trapped, but he doesn't seem to care as he sings.

"Tell me how am I supposed to live without you?
Now that I've been lovin' you so long
How am I supposed to live without you?
And how am I supposed to carry on?
When all that I've been livin' for is gone"

The images have disappeared, and Ash decides to move forward, but he trips on a rock that was made by his memories of his travels, and he tries to stand back up, but he fails as he can only sing.

"I'm too proud for cryin'
Didn't come here to break down
It's just a dream of mine is coming to an end
And how can I blame you
When I build my world around
The hope that one day
We'd be so much more than friends"

"I don't wanna know the price I'm gonna pay for dreaming
Oh, even now it's more than I can take"

Ash then sees pictures of Serena and then Alice together with him in front of the wall, but when he tries to reach it, a cage appears and then the pictures are trapped inside.

"Tell me how am supposed to live without you?
Now that I've been lovin' you so long
How am I supposed to live without you?
And how am I supposed to carry on?
When all that I've been livin' for is gone"

Ash laughs out loud and says, "Serena... even Alice...why do I always break their heart? Why do they love me at first, but then decide to throw me away like trash? Why?"

He kneels down and sobs, "Is it wrong for me to love? Why? Why should I have to suffer this nightmare? Why would I have to be a target for what I haven't done?"

At the same time, the song is getting emotional as Ash's roaring can be heard in it.

"Now I don't wanna know the price I'm gonna pay for dreaming
Oh, now that your dream has come true

Tell me how am supposed to live without you?
Now that I've been lovin' you so long
How am I supposed to live without you?
And how am I supposed to carry on?
When all that I've been livin' for is gone"

After the song ends, Ash is now lying on the ground as he seems not to care about anything from before, as if in this dream, he is not the prince that everyone loves, instead, he is a criminal that everyone hates.

"What's wrong, Ash?" Pikachu yawns, lifting his head to look at Ash, who opens his eyes and realizes that it is just a dream.

"Did something happen?" Arceus asks, showing concern while trying to rub his eyes.

"No, bad dream, that's all." Ash says while trying to wipe his tears, and he's glad that the dawn is breaking through the windows, he decides to take a shower and also clean himself, after formally dressed, he is joined by Golly, Mark, and Alice for some breakfast in the next street diner.

"You seem to be more sleepy than usual, Brother. Is there something wrong?" Mark asks.

"I had a nightmare... I just hope that it wasn't Darkrai who was trying to play pranks with me again." Ash sighs.

"Darkrai was in the ranch this whole time with Cresselia watching over him. No need to worry." Mark says. "But do you want to tell us about the nightmare?"

"I already told Alice about it. Right now I'm a little hungry." Ash says.

"Of course, you're always hungry. That's not surprising at all." Golly says as they chuckle a little.

Here is a new chapter, and for the region, I also plan to add Honey Trees from the Sinnoh Region. I have informed the Pokemon in the normal encounters. But if you want rare encounters, other than Venipede and Wurmple, you'll also get a Heracross, Pinsir, and an Aipom. I hope you like this chapter and we're going back to the daily lives of Ash and Alice in the next chapter.