_X_ TIME SKIP
'Thoughts'
"Telepathy"
The Battle of Sinnoh, was one of the deadliest battles in the war. The Alliance navy pushed through the Shore defense fleet hard and were able to assist in landing troops in Sunyshore City and the Battle Zone, taking both instantly. But the push inland was brutal. Comet Empire forces were able to dig in during the battles of Unova, Kalos, and Alola. Sinnoh was going to be the Alliance Army's bloodiest engagement, but by god they were going to push through. Route 222 was laced with Anti-infantry and Anti-Tank mines.
Ash was determined to take Sinnoh as it was where his former friend turned Enemy Dawn lived and he wanted to take it personally. He wasn't going to sack it, he was saving that for his former home region of Kanto, where this whole ordeal started. Ash then visited the Medical tent and paid each wounded soldier a visit to tell them, "I am grateful for your sacrifice for a cause you believe in. I know I'm not in the fight myself, but my sub commanders insisted I stay out of it. But again men, thank you." Ash thanked each soldier and that earned him more respect. Better respect than John had anticipated. Soon they were on the Valor Lakefront and route 213. There Clemont supported another landing with Gary and Max. but the beach was a deathtrap, however with help from ground, rock, and Water type Pokémon, they were able to limit the number of casualties to 14.
That was when Azelf appeared in front of Ash. Ash smiled and said, "Good to see you're safe Azelf." Azelf nodded her head and said, "Same to you Ash, now I have a simple request for you" When Ash asked Azelf what the request was, she made an Ultra Ball appear and place it in his hand before she said, "To keep me safe, I wish for you to capture me. I want to be your Pokémon." Ash smiled and tapped the Ultra ball against Azelf's head, allowing the Willpower Pokémon to go into it. After three shakes and a ding, Azelf was caught by Ash Ketchum. John patted his back when Mesprit, the Emotion Pokémon, appeared before them and handed John an Ultra Ball as well.
Knowing what she wanted, John tapped the Ultra ball on Mesprit's head and like Azelf, Mesprit was caught by John. The two friends smiled when an explosion was heard. Running out of the medical tent, they saw smoke rising from Route 214 heading towards Veilstone City. John then said, "One of the companies needs back up. SARGEANT! TAKE YOUR TEAM AND REINFORCE THE PUSH ONTO VEILSTONE!" The soldier John was talking to saluted him and took his men to go assist the tanks pushing north. Ash looked at John and said, "Now onto other things. Take a team and push to Pastoria City, Crasher Wake is one of the other Gym Leaders who signed up with the Comet Empire." That was when the Sunyshore City Gym Leader, Volkner, joined them with his partner Pokémon Luxray.
"Volkner, report." Ash looked at the gym leader, and he said to him, "Roark and Candice reported in, their cities are fortified tightly and the Pokémon are set up to defend them. Hearthome City is still under occupation by the Comet Empire. Candice can push her Resistance cell down to Mount Coronet. Roark can push to Jubilife City, cutting off Canalave City and his dad from reinforcements." Ash nodded his head and said, "Good, but let's do that when we get closer to the city. Have Candice push to Mount Coronet."
Volkner nodded his head and walked off. Ash and John walked towards Pastoria City to deal with Crasher Wake. As the days went by the Comet Empire forces were making the Alliance forces pay for every inch of ground. Every step taken was soaked with blood. Veilstone City fell within a month of the landings. Maylene didn't go down without a fight, she fought until Chili shot her in her head to put her out of her misery. The skies above Sinnoh were filled with flying Pokémon, Jet fighters, and bombers. Jets get shot down and crash into the woods. Water Type Pokémon put the flames out as Pastoria City and the Safari Zone were taken over. Crasher Wake tried to run but Alliance Soldiers captured him.
_X_ 2 WEEKS LATER
Ash sat by the hospital bed of John as his comrade in arms was injured by a rocket launched at him by Paul's Brother in hearthome City. John coughed a bit as his robot arm was being worked on. Ash put a hand on John's shoulder and said, "Take it easy man, seriously." John looked at him and said, "I am, it's just that Paul's brother blamed us for his brother's death." Ash sighed and let John rest up more. Walking outside, Ash looked at the damaged vehicles and working doctors to take care of the injured men. He saw that the Alliance Army was being forced to take the most casualties out of every region liberation.
"Must have been better back in the day." Chili said as he and Trip walked up to Ash. Ash nodded his head and said, "Yeah it was. Anyway, what do you guys have to report?" Chili told Ash that the Unovain army fought hard at the base of Mount Coronet to allow Candice's resistance cell to link up with them. Then Trip said, "But we got word that Roark's forces are stuck in town. They can't get to Jubilife City." Ash nodded his head and said, "ok, well we can push on Jubilife after taking Eterna City, one of the gym leader traitors is there." Chili and Trip nodded their heads in agreement.
Meanwhile, Clemont was working on a new project when Alliance Soldiers grabbed him and pinned him to a tank. They were soldiers who lost friends when the Pikachu was sunk. They were going to hurt Clemont when Bonnie and Zygarde arrived and she said, "HEY!" The soldiers looked at her and saluted her before the head guy said, "Commander Bonnie, madam. We were just…" Bonnie stopped him and said, "Save it. I know what I see. It's clear that you men need discipline. Cause Champion Ketchum and commander Bertrand made it very clear that my brother was not to be harmed."
"But Commander Bonnie… this man helped make the missile that sank the Pikachu," said the lead soldier. Bonnie wasn't aware of that but she said, "So? He's going to face trial anyway. Let him go before I charge you all with insubordination." The soldiers looked at each other before letting Clemont go and walked off. As he rubbed his head, Clemont looked at Bonnie and said, "thanks for…" but she slapped him and said to him, "You cost John his arm. I only helped you because of what Ash and John said on the day you declared your defection. The sinking of the Pikachu was one of the most disastrous moments in the Alliance's history. I should have let them hurt you, but I choose to help you because of orders."
"I'll admit, I did things I regret now, and I'll accept any punishment given to me." Clemont said to his sister. He then bowed and begged for her forgiveness, to which she said, "You earned my forgiveness when you joined us." She then left him alone as she and Zygarde went back to what they were going to do. That night, Clemont sat in his bunk and sighed before John walked in and sat across from Clemont. John looked at him and said, "Bonnie told me what the other soldiers said… is it true?" Clemont looked at the floor and nodded his head. John looked at his hand and said, "You caused me to lose my arm and get this robotic arm. You cost the Alliance its first Carrier/battleship Hybrid."
John looked at the man sitting across from him as Clemont clenched his hands and said, "I wish I never betrayed Ash." John nodded his head in agreement and said, "yeah, you shouldn't have." Clemont sighed as he laid on his cot, back facing John. The next morning, John was at the firing range making sure his robotic arm was still accurate as Ash walked up to him and asked, "did he really make the missile?" John looked at him and nodded his head and said, "yeah… he made the missile that sank the Pikachu." Ash nodded his head and sighed before he said, "Damn, just… just damn." John nodded and shot the target of a Comet Empire tank, destroying it before he said, "But we know the real mastermind was Tracy… and I'm gonna enjoy taking him down." Ash smiled and agreed with him with his anger. They were going to get their revenge against the leader of the traitors, one way or another.