Chapter 62
"I really shouldn't be letting you do this," Alice murmurs, her cheeks flushed as she and Ash stand under the shower together.
"I understand, but I want to, and I'm certain you do too," Ash asserts, gently caressing a sensitive area, eliciting a soft moan from Alice. "Are you not enjoying what we're doing?"
Lost in the sensations Ash is creating, Alice remains speechless, her mind consumed by pleasure. Ash admires her physique and remarks, "The scars on your skin are hardly noticeable, and you have a truly beautiful body."
"Thank you," Alice responds with desire, emboldened by the moment. "But you're not the only one who gets to have all the fun. It's only fair if I reciprocate."
"Feel free to do as you wish," Ash concedes as they continue their intimate shower together.
After their shower, Ash and Alice settle into their pajamas, ready to finally get some rest. However, their quiet moment is interrupted by a sharp knock on the door. Ash, a hint of curiosity in his voice, calls out, "Who's there?"
"It's me, Drandon," comes the reply as the door opens, revealing the concerned face of their friend.
Ash's brows furrow in concern. "Drandon, what's wrong?" he asks, sensing the urgency in Drandon's demeanor.
Drandon steps into the room, his expression serious yet composed. "Sorry to disturb your alone time, but we needed to inform you that another Turtonator went on a rampage near the volcano. Lucine and I managed to handle it," he explains, his voice tinged with a hint of exhaustion from the recent ordeal.
"I understand," Alice responds, her tone filled with understanding. "We're sorry we couldn't assist you as the Dragon Prince and Dragon Princess."
Drandon waves off their apologies with a reassuring smile. "No need to apologize. We know that dealing with the Violet Depression has been draining your strength," he says before taking his leave, leaving Ash and Alice to finally find solace in their room and drift off to sleep, grateful for the bond of friendship that continues to support them through challenging times.
As Ash and Alice enter the dining area the next day, they find Gary, Eve, Lillie, Mark, Paul, and Golly already gathered around the table. They join their friends, and Golly, with a concerned expression, asks, "Are you feeling well enough to go out today?"
Ash offers a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, we're doing fine," he assures them.
Gary, ever observant, comments, "We've heard about the Infinity Gems and the resolution regarding Alice's bullies. You two have certainly been keeping busy lately."
Ash nods, a sense of determination in his eyes. "Indeed, but that won't deter us from our mission to gather the Champions and their chosen trainers for the next gym challenge. We just wrapped up the Dark Gym at RPA Academy."
Paul, always straightforward, remarks, "A Dark Type Gym is quite rare in our world. It's a shame I didn't get to battle there instead of Trip..."
Alice interjects, "Nevertheless, we're still heading there because of my position as Vice Principal of the School. We have some school-related tasks to attend to, and Eve will be meeting us there."
Lillie adds with a smile, "Speaking of which, I've been able to assist you thanks to Ash."
As Ash remains in the office, focused on his tasks, Alice takes a solitary stroll through the schoolyard of RPA Academy. Her peaceful walk is interrupted by the unexpected presence of Serena, who was supposed to be back in Otem Town with the other Champions.
Serena's accusing tone cuts through the air. "You did something to Champion Red," she asserts, her eyes narrowing in suspicion.
Alice meets Serena's gaze with a calm yet firm expression. "And what exactly do you think I did?" she counters. "Ash and I have been together for four years. Our relationship isn't something superficial or fleeting. Besides, have you considered that maybe Champion Red discovered your true intentions for wanting to be with him? That he saw through your facade?"
"What are you implying?" Serena demands, her voice tinged with defensiveness.
Alice doesn't mince her words. "I'm saying that it's evident you still harbor feelings for Ash. Yet, instead of being honest, you chose to manipulate the situation and pursue Champion Red. And now, you're behaving strangely around him, almost like you're on the rebound. If I were in Champion Red's shoes, I wouldn't want someone who prioritizes their public image over genuine feelings or someone who quickly moves on to another person after a breakup."
Besides, if anyone should be acting strange around Ash, it should be her. After all, she's the one who saw him with his pants off, not Serena.
"I have a duty to uphold justice. My integrity matters more than my reputation," Serena asserts, her fists clenched in frustration. "And how dare you insult me?"
"Are you insinuating that I called you promiscuous? Because that's not an insult, Serena; that's the truth," Alice retorts, crossing her arms and smirking at Serena, who struggles to contain her anger. "Regardless, what makes you think I had any involvement?"
"You tried to monopolize Champion Red's attention by positioning yourself prominently in front of the crowd, seeking to draw his focus exclusively on you. And not just him, you also accosted the other girls, didn't you?" Serena accuses.
"As if I could have attacked them while I was sound asleep in bed," Alice shrugs nonchalantly. "They probably encountered the electrified fences surrounding our castle."
"Enough with the jokes. Medical professionals confirmed the girls didn't suffer any electric shocks; they couldn't determine the cause of their fainting spell. Was it your aura?" Serena presses.
"I'm already in a weakened state. Why would I harm them with my aura? Are you suggesting I have a death wish? That's rather insensitive of you," Alice retorts defensively.
"Aurora, there you are. We need to leave right away," Ash says as he enters the scene and swiftly pulls Alice away, leaving Serena standing alone. Once they are at a safe distance, Ash inquires, "What were you and Serena discussing?"
Alice's expression turns serious as she explains, "She wanted information on how to save the girls. When they wake up, they'll likely seek you out again, hoping to marry you and become Rota's Crown Princess in exchange for their freedom."
Ash raises an eyebrow, a hint of concern in his voice. "Should we be worried about that?"
Alice smirks confidently. "Not at all. When they regain consciousness, they'll realize that jail or worse is the only place they're headed."
"Fair point," Ash acknowledges with a nod. "I think we should check in with Minami to see if she's uncovered any more clues about the murderers. And then we can consult Calyrex regarding the locations of the Infinity Gems."
Alice agrees with a determined nod. "Sounds like a plan. Let's get moving."
As Ash, Alice, and Minami gather in the room at Pixetty City's Art Museum, which doubles as Minami's detective agency, Ash wastes no time getting to the point. "Minami, have you uncovered any new information?" he asks eagerly.
Minami lets out a sigh before responding, her expression serious. "I've been piecing together information from witnesses and evidence gathered at the crime scenes, and I've made some progress," she begins. "Firstly, while examining the garden where Trenton was killed, I noticed a withered flower on the ground."
"Trenton was murdered near the tree, likely hanged by the vines," Alice interjects, her tone tinged with bitterness. "It's ironic, considering he used those same vines to attack me."
Ash quickly redirects the conversation. "Let's focus on the flower. Do you know what type it was?" he asks, a hint of apprehension creeping into his voice.
"It appeared to be a pink flower, resembling a chrysanthemum," Minami explains. "However, based on its characteristics, I believe it was actually a Dahlia flower."
The mention of the Dahlia flower causes Ash's nerves to kick in. "A Dahlia flower... Is there any other information you've gathered?" he inquires, hoping for more clarity on the situation.
"When I inquired about a ranger who patrols near the Dragon's Den, where Livid met his end from a Gyarados attack, he provided me with footage showing a figure provoking the Gyarados into a frenzy," Minami reveals.
On the screen, they witness a cloaked figure standing before the dragon, seemingly unleashing a Dark Pulse that agitates the Gyarados into a fit of rage. Alice comments, "This aligns with what we've gathered about the culprit's actions."
"I still believe the dates are crucial evidence that will lead us to the true culprit. However, there are some aspects I need to decipher," Minami continues. "Firstly, in the first year, the culprit only struck during odd-numbered months. Secondly, all the dates fall between 27 and 31, suggesting they could be transformed into letters of the alphabet."
"Have you attempted to decode them?" Alice queries.
"Regrettably, converting the numbers into letters results in 2 e, l, m, f, 2 p, 2 s, z, 2 d, o, y, 2 k, a, and b," Minami explains. "While I've managed to form words like 'Kalos,' the remaining 11 letters don't seem to form coherent words..."
"All of the victims were from Kalos, including Alice," Ash notes. "Could this indicate that the culprit is a native of Kalos?"
"I don't think so," Minami responds thoughtfully. "Additionally, the Pokémon that incited Druddigon's outrage is capable of using Dark Pulse. That narrows down the potential suspects to Pokémon capable of learning that move. However, since Dark Pulse is a TM move, it's accessible to a broader range of Pokémon..."
Ash lets out a sigh of frustration. "Which doesn't make our task any easier. But let's focus on narrowing down Dark-type Pokémon for now."
"Agreed," Alice chimes in. "That's the best lead we have at the moment. Thank you for your efforts, Minami. We appreciate all the information you've gathered so far."
Minami nods. "You're welcome. I've reached out to more officers and detectives to gather additional insights."
"Great. Now, our next step is to locate Calyrex and inquire about the locations of the Infinity Gems," Ash declares. With that, he and Alice bid Minami farewell and make their way back to the castle, determined to continue their investigation and unravel the mysteries that lie ahead.
They find Calyrex at the training grounds, and after explaining their purpose, Calyrex listens intently. "So you're seeking the locations of the Infinity Gems," Calyrex confirms. "I can tell you, but obtaining them won't be simple."
Alice, with determination in her voice, responds, "We must acquire the gems to cure our Violet Depression. Can you provide more details?"
Calyrex nods sagely. "Each of the 18 gems is scattered across the 18 regions, each guarded by its unique puzzle or challenge," Calyrex explains. "To give you an idea, there are 2 gems in Kanto, 2 in Johto, 2 in Hoenn, 2 in Sinnoh, 2 in Unova, 2 in Kalos, 1 in Alola, 1 in the Ultra Metropolis, 2 in Galar, and 2 in Paldea."
Alice is taken aback. "A gem in the Ultra Metropolis? How do we even access that?"
Ash remains undeterred. "We'll figure it out. Aside from the scattered locations and challenging puzzles, are there any other obstacles we should be aware of?"
Calyrex nods gravely. "There is one more challenge you must face. You're not alone in your quest for the gems. A group known as the Demons is also searching for them. You must retrieve the gems before they do, or all your efforts will be in vain."
As they digest Calyrex's warning about the Demons, Alice's curiosity piques. "The Demons? I've never heard of them before," she admits.
Ash shares her concern. "Neither have I. Based on what we know, they could pose a serious threat. We need to be cautious."
Calyrex, sensing their apprehension, offers a reassuring nod. "I have faith in your abilities," the legendary Pokémon assures them before departing.
Alice turns to Ash with a furrowed brow. "What's our next move?"
Ash suggests, "Let's head to the Rota Kingdom and seek an audience with Queen Ilene. I have important information about the upcoming ball that I need to share with you."
"That's a good idea," Alice agrees. "But how should we explain our absence to the other Champions?"
"We could use investigating my mother's murder as an excuse," Ash suggests. "It's a plausible reason that won't raise too many suspicions."
Alice nods in agreement. "That should work. What about your siblings? Shouldn't they accompany us, especially since they're also potential heirs to the throne?"
"I asked them, but they prefer not to attend," Ash explains. "They believe it will be less suspicious if we attend the ball as Ash and Alice, not as Red and Aurora."
"Got it," Alice acknowledges as they gather their belongings and prepare to depart for the Rota Kingdom, their minds buzzing with the mysteries and challenges that lie ahead.
And here is a new chapter, I decide to add another group known as the Demons who try to get the Infinity Gems as well. I hope you like this chapter and the next chapter will be going to the Rota Kingdom. Ash and Alice are going to attend the ball and I hope you like this chapter.