Chapter 5: Rota Revisit

"So where are you going next? Ash? Alice?" Brock asks the two people, who are eating breakfast along with Brock's other siblings.

"According to what the Rotom Phone says, the next Gym is located in the Rota Kingdom." Alice says as she looks at the Rotom Phone.

"Oh, Rota. It sure brings back old memories, don't you think? Ash?" Brock asks.

"Yeah." Ash says with a weak smile, but then he starts to remember how Sir Aaron sacrifices himself to save the tree and Mew.

After that, they bid farewell to Brock and his siblings as the two of them head towards the kingdom. On their way, they see a group of Arbok passing by.

"Those are Arbok...I wonder what they are doing here." Alice says.

"But is it just me? Or does that Arbok seems to be familiar?" Pikachu asks Ash.

"You're right..." Ash says. Just then, the Arbok notices Ash and Alice as one of them says, "Hey, aren't you the twerp?"

"Twerp? What does he mean?" Alice asks Ash. Ash says, "The only ones that will call me twerp is Team Rocket. But Team Rocket is disbanded..."

Pikachu looks at the Arbok and he says, "Wait a second, didn't that Jessie have an Arbok before?"

"You are Jessie's Arbok?" Ash gasps in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

The Arbok just lowers his head and says, "Jessie released me back in Hoenn because I want to protect them from hunters. Where is she? Is she fine?"

Ash says, "Well, you see...Team Rocket is no more. From what I heard Jessie is training to be a movie star in the Unova Region."

Arbok is surprised to hear everything, then he turns to the Arbok team, finding an Arbok to become a new leader. "What is the meaning of this?" Ash asks.

"Ever since I was Jessie's partner, I met you and know how kind you are. If only our former masters weren't doing evil things, we could have been friends." Arbok says.

"We still can be friends." Ash says. "What are you talking about?"

"Can you capture me? I want to be as strong as that Pikachu over there." Arbok says.

"If that's what you want, then sure." Ash says as he takes out a Pokeball, capturing the Arbok. Alice says, "Can you explain everything? I don't think I understand the conversation."

"Sure." Ash says as he starts to tell her about Team Rocket, and the fact that the trio all become good after Team Rocket is disbanded. Alice finds it weird to learn that the trio follows him in every region just to steal his Pikachu, and both of them laugh at it.


They decide to take a rest until they spot a lot of Pikachu. Pikachu goes to greet the others, and a female one decides to share some berries with him. The action causes Eevee to get jealous, as she wants to get close to Pikachu as well.

"Why is there a lot of Pikachu?" Alice asks.

"Well, I start to remember this place, Go and I came because Goh wanted to capture a Pikachu, this place has a lot of Thunder Stone and Pikachu gather here to evolve."

Just as the female Pikachu tries to share the Thunder Stone with Ash's Pikachu, Ash's Pikachu immediately starts to run away. "Help, Ash!" Pikachu yells.

Alice asks, "But why is Pikachu running from the Thunder Stone? Doesn't he want to become a Raichu?"

"Nope." Ash says, "It all ties back to the Vermilion Gym. When the Gym Leader's Raichu underestimates him, he vows to become stronger as a Pikachu instead of Raichu. And I decide to respect his wishes."

Eevee decides to help Pikachu out after hearing the news, and she manages to stop the Female Pikachu to give Ash the Thunder Stone. And the female Pikachu uses the Thunder Stone on itself and asks Alice to capture her. Alice can only agree as she captures the Pokemon.

"That is very surprising." Alice says as she looks at her new capture.

"Well, that also saves the problem of capturing the Raichu in my Pokedex." Ash laughs as they continue to move forward.


They finally arrive at the Rota Kingdom, Alice and Eevee are amazed that the people are dressing royally. Ash says, "Well, Alice, you will get used to it, I was surprised when I came here last time. Since we are here, how about I take you to meet the queen?"

"You know the Queen herself?" Alice is surprised.

"Well, I know. I was the winner of the tournament 5 years ago, and here is where I found out about my ancestor Sir Aaron." Ash says.

"I have heard of him, he is the first Aura Guardian in existence, right? I also heard that he sacrificed himself to the tree in order to stop the war."

"Yeah..." Ash says as they arrive at the castle gate, the royal guard sees Ash and he immediately calls the queen. Queen Ilene agrees to let them in as they go to meet her.

"Your Highness, it is good to see you again." Ash bows at the queen, and Alice also does the same.

Queen Ilene says, "No need to be formal, Ash. You come at the right time as I have something to tell you."

"And what is it? Your Highness?" Ash asks in confusion.

"Please follow me." Queen Ilene says as she takes Ash and Alice to her room. Alice asks, "Your Highness. I know it is rude to ask, but why are we here in your room?"

"That way I can share some secrets with you." Ilene says as she takes off her tiara, but much to their shock, she takes off her contact lens, and her eyes are now brown colored. And then she takes off her wig, and Ash says, "Pikachu, can you give me a weak Iron Tail?"

Pikachu nods and he smacks his leg, Ash feels the pain and he says, "So it is not a dream. What are you doing here? Mom?"

It turns out that without the disguise, the woman in front of her is Delia. Delia says, "Do you like the surprise? Ash?"

"Wait, if you are Ms. Ketchum? Then where is the real Queen Ilene?" Alice asks. But the maid Jenny says, "Young Master Ash, young mistress Alice. Your Highness and your mother are the same person indeed."

"Seriously? Then why do you need to disguise?" Ash asks his mother. Delia says, "Ash, you have to understand, being royalty is not as great as it seems. Sometimes you have to behave and sometimes you aren't able to do what you want. That is why I decide to disguise as Ilene when I am here."

Ash says, "I think I can understand what you mean, last time I become the winner of the tournament, I couldn't leave my seat to join others for fun...it sure is kinda boring..."

"So does that mean Ash is royalty?" Pikachu asks.

"Why of course, Pikachu. After all, you do know that Sir Aaron is our ancestor." Delia smiles.

"Wait, you know what Pikachu is saying as well?" Ash asks in shock.

"We are aura guardians, Ash. We can talk to Pikachu and other Pokemon with no problem." Delia says. "Since it is almost noon, why don't you go change your clothes into the royal ones and then meet us at the dining hall?"

Ash and Alice nod as they are taken to their respective rooms to change their clothes. Ash comes out with the same attire as Sir Aaron. Alice's attire is a aqua blue dress, she also has a tiara on her head and heels on her feet. When the two look at each other, they immediately blush.

"Wow, Alice…you look like a real princess…" Ash says in a splutter tone.

"You too, Ash…a real prince…"

Then they lost their words since their faces are as red as Pikachu's favorite food. Due to Pikachu and Eevee's teasing, they manage to break out of their stare and quickly go to the dining room. There, they see another man talking to Delia there. He is wearing clothes that are just like a royal guard.

"There you are." Delia says to the two. "Let me introduce the captain of the royal guard, Sir Adam. This is my son Ash Ketchum and his girlfriend Alice."

"I have heard a lot from Your Highness. It is an honor to meet you in person." Adam says with a bow. Ash also bows at him, not knowing what to say.

Delia says, "Sir Adam has watched all your League competitions, and he knows what you lack to win a league. I know that you have a dream to go, but I want you to train this week under Adam's supervision."

"Do I really have to?" Ash asks in confusion. Adam says, "It depends on you, I am not forcing you. But it is for your own good if you do it."

Ash thinks for a second and then he turns to Alice, "What do you think, Alice? Should I do it?"

Alice smiles and says, "Ash, I can't help you decide this. But whatever you choose, I will follow you, that is for sure."

Ash smiles at how loyal Alice is to him, and he nods, "Then I will like to be trained. Sir Adam."

"Very well, we will do it after lunchtime is over, how's that sound?" Adam asks.

"Yes, sir." Ash says as Delia looks at them with a smile.


While Ash is going to train with Adam, Alice is walking in the garden with Delia by her side. Alice asks, "Ms. Ketchum? Can I ask you a question?"

"What is it, dear?" Delia asks.

"Can I ask about Sir Adam? Why is he wanting to help Ash out with the whole league business? Is it because he is a royal guard of yours, and you asked him to do it?" Alice asks.

Delia says, "Well, you are not absolutely right. You see, Adam did take part in the league when he was younger, and he did win some of them. When he lost a league, he is acting just like Ash, he thinks that he is not good enough. That is when he decides to train harder here."

"Even though I am just a beginner, how can a loss in the league affect him so much?" Alice asks in confusion.

"I know it may be hard to understand, but some people might think that he fails those who have high expectations of them. With the pressure of trying to achieve greatness, it is not easy to forget it and do it again." Delia says. "For example, do you know why Ash's father isn't around?"

Alice says, "I don't know, Ash didn't tell me about his father..."

"Well, he left Ash when he was little because the league loss is affecting him, he thinks that he isn't good enough to face him, so he decides to leave so that he can become a father that makes Ash proud." Delia says.

"But I still think it isn't right. He could have told Ash first, what if he is hating him for leaving out of his life?" Alice asks.

"I am thinking the same thing, but that is why he is trying to atone his mistake..." Delia says as they watch the training of Ash and Adam.


Here is a new chapter. I made some changes so that Delia and Queen Ilene are the same person with Ilene as just a disguise for Ash. And who do you think Sir Adam is and why he is trying to help Ash with the training? The next chapter is going to be the Gym Battle and I hope you like it.