Chapter 94

(Flashback)

After leaving the Johto League, Ash walks over to Alice, Lillie, Minami, Daniel, and Golly, who are all gathered to congratulate him on his victory. Minami, curious, asks, "Hey, big brother, what took you so long to get here? I saw you talking to the Johto Champion. What was that about?"

Ash lets out a sigh and explains, "Well, it turns out they have a problem. They want to find out who's responsible for the eternal blizzard in Blackthorn City and the murders of some Dragon Clan elders. He's asked me to speak to Alan, Elsa, and you to help bring the culprits to justice."

Alice questions, her tone skeptical, "Why should we help them? Those elders probably deserved their fate."

Golly chimes in, agreeing, "Indeed, don't forget what they did to Drandon and Lucine."

Ash takes a moment before responding, "I understand they've done terrible things, but they're still family to him. Remember, my own mother used to be part of Team Rocket, and she may have done awful things too. Even so, I wouldn't want her to be in danger or dead."

Alice counters, "But that's different. Your mother realized her mistakes, while these people didn't."

Nate raises an eyebrow and asks, "So, Ash, when do you plan to spill the whole truth to Lance? Or should I start drafting a novel about the Dragon Clan Massacre?"

Ash chuckles and shakes his head, replying, "Nate, your mind is always on writing novels. But the blizzard won't cease until all of Blackthorn City acknowledges their crimes. If it's still raging, it means not everyone has confessed."

"Admitting crimes? What do you mean?" As they turn around, they spot Lance approaching them, his expression tense as he seeks answers. "What crimes do you suggest our clan committed to warrant this blizzard?" he demands.

Ash sighs and turns to face Lance, saying, "Lance, how much do you know about the Dragon Duo and their actions?"

Lance appears puzzled, replying, "The Dragon Duo are revered as heroes among the Dragon Clans for their unmatched ability to tame even the fiercest dragons. But why are you asking me this, and what does it have to do with the blizzard?"

Minami steps in, explaining, "Not everyone views them as heroes, Lance. The victims of the Dragon Clan Massacre have a different perspective. Alan, Elsa, and I conducted an investigation at the request of the International Police, and we discovered that they had attacked the Dragon Prince and Dragon Princess, attempting to steal their weapons, the Dragon Sword and the Dragon Wand. They labeled them as fake Dragon tamers and plotted to take their weapons. When they brought out Latias and Latios, their intention was to steal them as well, so they could claim the title of the world's most powerful Dragon Tamers. To us, it was no different from Team Rocket."

Lance's anger flares, his family's honor questioned, and he retorts, "How dare you compare my family to Team Rocket?"

"Lance, I understand you're from the Dragon Clan of Blackthorn, but everything we've said is the truth," Alice says solemnly, producing a set of letters. "These letters detail child abuse, illegal trade, violence, and intentional harm. The head of the International Police sanctioned our mission to eliminate the elders responsible. Yes, we are the ones who ended their lives."

Lance is left in shock, his world unraveling before him. He can't believe what he's hearing—Ash, Alice, and Golly are the culprits behind the murders of the Dragon Clan elders. To make matters worse, they were acting on orders from the International Police, something he was unaware of until now.

"What?" Lance stammers, disbelief clouding his expression. "You're telling me that you three killed the elders? And the International Police approved of it? Why didn't Adam or any other members inform me of this?"

Ash's anger flares, his voice raised in frustration. "Because you had a close bond with those elders, Lance. They were your family. We were concerned that if you found out, you might react in ways we couldn't predict. You continued to let the G-men run rampant, without considering the harm they caused by enabling corrupt politicians!"

Alice draws the Dragon's Wand, her disappointment is evident as she adds, "Furthermore, the current Dragon Prince and Dragon Princess are Ash and me. We aren't mistaken about their intentions to harm us. Lance, we're merely trying to survive against those who you once considered family, people who wanted us dead for their own greed."

Lance is left utterly speechless, his world shattered by the revelation that Ash and Alice are the Dragon Prince Shin and Dragon Princess Pauline. He's also shocked to learn that the elders were targeting them for their weapons. Struggling to find words, he finally asks, "But why couldn't you have found another way? Why resort to killing them?"

"Lance, as I've said before, we were acting on orders from the International Police. We are trained as assassins, not conventional law enforcement officers who merely arrest criminals," Ash explains. "Moreover, it's not just about us. Two of our students share a connection with your Dragon Clan: Drandon and Lucine."

Lance's eyes widen upon hearing the names. Alice's tears reveal her deep emotions as she continues, "Do you remember them now? The Cursed Children of your Dragon Clan? Yes, their mother may have had her faults, but she doesn't define those two. Yet your elders subjected them to their twisted judgment, allowing them to be tormented by their own dragons every day. And you, you turned a blind eye to their suffering."

Ash adds, his voice filled with conviction, "Alice is right. Drandon and Lucine endured a painful past, but they never lost hope. That's why they worked tirelessly to escape Blackthorn City, the Johto Region and eventually found refuge in Unova. It was there that we discovered their story. Compared to your Dragon Clan, the Dragon Clan in Unova has shown them much more kindness."

Lance stands there, his head lowered, unable to respond. Ash continues, his disappointment evident, "Lance, of all the Champions, it's you who has disappointed me the most."

With that, Ash, Alice, and their companions leave Lance to contemplate their words. His education within the Dragon Clan had a profound impact on him, but now he's confronted with the harsh reality of the clan's actions and their impact on others.

A few months later, the sound of a helicopter approaching draws their attention, and Ash's expression shifts to one of frustration. He recognizes the helicopter as Lance's, and Drandon and Lucine share his concern as they spot the figure stepping out of the aircraft.

"What brings you here again, Lance?" Ash questions with a hint of suspicion.

Lance turns his attention to Drandon and Lucine, addressing them with a solemn tone. "You must be Drandon and Lucine, am I correct? The two individuals who hail from our Dragon Clan?"

Drandon lets out a sigh of relief. "I'm glad you're not referring to us as the 'Cursed Children' anymore. But seriously, what's your purpose in coming here?"

Lance retrieves an envelope from his belongings and explains, "I returned to the Dragon Clan and collected apologies from every member regarding the suffering you endured. The true culprits responsible for harming you have met their fate, but we must acknowledge our fault in ignoring your pleas for help. I hope you'll accept this letter."

Drandon accepts the letter and reads it carefully before passing it to Lucine. He reflects, "As much as we resented the actions of the clan towards us, all of that lies in the past. Our journey has shown us that we can transform curses into blessings. We've reached new heights with the support of our new friends, including Ash and others, and with our sister by our side through it all."

Lance appears taken aback by their response. "So you don't hold hatred for us due to what we've done?"

Lucine replies, "Hatred is a strong word, and we've moved beyond that. We view it as a lesson to carry forward, a formidable challenge on our path to becoming Dragon Masters."

Drandon adds, "Being with Ash and Alice has taught us a great deal about this world. However, forgiving doesn't mean we'll return to the village. It's no longer our home."

"I understand," Lance acknowledges, his gaze shifting to Ash. "I'm also deeply sorry... My pride prevented me from recognizing my mistakes with the G-men and the Dragon Clan, leading to numerous errors. I've severed ties with the International Police as a form of compensation."

Alice offers a reassuring nod. "Your sincerity is evident, and if the sentiments in the letter match your true feelings, you can expect the blizzard to dissipate within an hour."

Lance nods and departs, leaving Ash and the others in a moment of reflection. Ash remarks, "I'm relieved that things have taken a positive turn."

Adam nods, "Indeed, Lance is one of the people who care more about justice and law. I am sure that this would be a valuable lesson to him."

(Another Flashback)

Delia is on her way to Blackthorn City, accompanied by Yveltal as she carries out her mission as an assassin. Their target this time is a girl named Livid, identified from a list provided by Arceus and Yveltal themselves. Livid is known for her fervent love of Dragon-types and a strong dislike for Ice and Fairy Pokemon. Her animosity towards Alice, daughter of Wulfric and Valerie, the Ice and Fairy Gym Leaders, has made Alice's life miserable due to constant bullying.

Upon reaching the Dragon's Den, Delia spots a Gyarados peacefully sleeping nearby. She turns to Yveltal and outlines her plan. "Yveltal, here's the plan. I need you to provoke that Gyarados into an outrage."

Yveltal, cautious, questions her decision. "Are you certain about this? Calming down a Gyarados in a rage is no easy task, especially with rangers patrolling the area."

"My father taught me that as an assassin, I must consider all factors and devise the best strategy to avoid detection," Delia responds coolly. "If you're not comfortable with it, that's fine. We'll find another way to deal with Livid."

After a moment of contemplation, Yveltal sighs but ultimately agrees to Delia's plan. With precision, it launches a Dark Pulse at the Gyarados, triggering its outrage and setting the stage for their next move.

As the Gyarados thrashes in outrage, the rangers rush in to confront it, but its sheer power, unleashed in a relentless stream of Hyper Beams, keeps them at bay. Meanwhile, a crowd gathers, including Livid and others drawn to the commotion, all attempting to quell the rampaging Gyarados.

In the chaos, the Gyarados abruptly shifts its focus, unleashing a vicious Crunch attack not aimed at any Pokemon but directly at Livid. Horror grips Livid as she realizes the imminent danger, but before she can react, the Gyarados clamps its jaws around her neck, shaking violently before flinging her lifeless body to the ground.

Shock and disbelief ripple through the onlookers as they witness the tragic turn of events. Despite their efforts to intervene and save Livid, it's too late; her life has been brutally taken by the enraged Gyarados. Now, the urgent task is to prevent further havoc and loss of life caused by the uncontrollable Pokemon.

As the chaos subsides and the authorities take control of the situation, Delia shows no remorse or concern for what has transpired. With a calculated indifference, she walks away alongside Yveltal, fully aware of the consequences that await the rampaging Gyarados. She knows that the Gyarados, now labeled as a dangerous threat by law enforcement, will eventually be subdued and dealt with accordingly.

And this might be the final bully dealing and the truth about the Blackthorn massacre. I hope you like this chapter.