Chapter 79 Good and Bad News
After the ceremony concludes, Rodney and the others gather in the resting room. Rodney rushes over to Ash, his face glowing with excitement. "Wow, Ash! You did it! I knew you could!"
Keira follows closely behind, her eyes sparkling with happiness. "I'm so happy for you, Ash! This is incredible!"
Dawn chimes in, "Your battles are as amazing as always. Congratulations on winning the Rikoto League."
"That makes the second league you've won," Sophocles adds, a note of admiration in his voice.
Professor Pinewood, who has been observing from the sidelines, nods in approval. "Ash, this was an excellent tournament. I never imagined you would come this far, but you've proven yourself to be a truly exceptional trainer."
Rick approaches Ash, his tone respectful despite the frustration of his earlier loss. "Ash, thank you again for that great battle. I'm really proud that I got to face you in the final round."
He pauses, reflecting on his defeat. "I'm heading back to Lizzy's castle to train harder. Maybe one day, I'll win this league too, and then I'll get the chance to battle Rex."
Rick extends a friendly invitation, his earlier competitive edge softened. "You should visit me sometime. I'd really like to battle you again when I'm stronger."
As Rick turns to leave, he adds with a playful smile, "See you again, Rodney! And Ash... I hope we'll meet again soon, beauty!" He winks, causing Rodney to bristle slightly.
Rick continues, "My parents and Lizzy are waiting outside. See you at Rassic Castle, Ash." With that, he excuses himself politely.
After Rick leaves, Insey comments, "I guess he isn't as bad of a person as you said before?"
"Perhaps the loss in the League changed his heart. People do that a lot," Gina sighs, reflecting on the possibility.
Rodney, however, is fuming. "How did that brat dare call Keira 'beauty'?!"
Mark pats his shoulder and says, "Calm down, Rodney. I'm sure he didn't mean it that way."
Keira giggles, teasing Rodney, "He even got your name right, Rodney. Haha!"
Professor Pinewood, observing the exchange with amusement, sighs nostalgically. "Ah, to be young again, even just for a day... But never mind that! Keira, Rodney, and Ash, you all did an incredible job. You started this journey with just one Pokémon, and now look at you—competing in the Rikoto Pokémon League! And Ash, you went on to win it!"
He smiles warmly at the group. "For all your hard work filling the Pokédex, I have a special gift for you. But you'll have to come to my laboratory to receive it!"
"That's fine with us," Ash replies.
Just as they are about to celebrate, Alex and Beacon burst into the room, their expressions serious. "We have urgent news!" Beacon announces.
Delia, sensing the tension, quickly asks, "What's wrong?"
Beacon takes a deep breath before speaking. "First of all, congratulations on your win, Ash. I knew you could do it. But the problem is that those people have arrived in the Rikoto Region!"
"What?" The news causes everyone to gasp in shock and horror. Dawn and Ash's former travel companions begin to shiver, deeply concerned about the possibility of being hypnotized again. Meanwhile, Ash and Alice are visibly furious. For Ash, those nine individuals are the main reason why his Pokémon had to be reborn; for Alice, those same nine bullied her, leading her to drop out of school.
Red steps forward, his voice calm but filled with concern. "How did they get past the mist?"
Alex responds, his tone grave. "They must have been well-prepared, Red. They don't have anything to lose here, which means they survived the ocean by sheer luck."
Hearing this, Delia quickly takes charge. "We need to head back to Sevestar Island immediately," she instructs, her voice firm with urgency.
The group nods in agreement, the seriousness of the situation sinking in. There's no time to lose; they all know what's at stake.
Ash exchanges a determined look with Alice, both understanding the gravity of the situation. "Let's move," Ash says, his voice resolute.
Without another word, they gather their belongings and make their way out, the urgency of their mission driving them forward.
Ark, Belle, Kaito, Hito, Tokui, Ella, Yuri, Hanako, Corey, Misty, Brock, Tracey, May, Max, Kiawe, Mallow, Clemont, and Iris arrive in the Rikoto Region.
"I can't believe we're finally here..." Max says, looking around with a mix of excitement and relief. "Looks like nobody here knows what we've done."
"That's good," Belle replies, her eyes scanning the surroundings cautiously. "We can lay low here while we plan our next move."
As they make their way to a nearby café, a large TV screen catches their attention. Displayed prominently is a broadcast of a heated battle between Ash and Rick, featuring Ash's Greninja facing off against Rick's Dinopion.
"Th-There's no way Ash is here in this region, right?" Misty asks in shock, her eyes widening as she watches the screen.
The rest of the group exchanges uneasy glances, clearly unsettled by the unexpected sight.
"There's no mistaking it... that Greninja... so all this time, he's kept it by his side..." Ark mutters, a hint of anger creeping into his voice.
Curious and uneasy, Hanako approaches a nearby customer. "Hey, what was that on the screen?" she asks, trying to keep her voice casual.
The customer looks up and replies, "That? It's the Rikoto League finals."
"Who are the finalists?" Hanako presses, her heart beginning to race.
"Rick from Rassic City and Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town," the customer answers nonchalantly. The group collectively takes a deep breath, processing the shock. "It's been all over the news. You didn't know about it?"
Another customer chimes in, "The Prince of Sevestar Kingdom, Ash Ketchum, is going to be the winner of the match after all!"
"Ash winning the league?" Ark mutters, his jealousy flaring even more intensely. The group's shared hatred for Ash stems from their failed plan to steal his Pokémon and grow stronger. They had killed Professor Oak, thinking it would give them control over Ash's Pokémon, but the Pokémon refused to obey, leading them to kill the creatures in a fit of rage.
As they watch Ash triumphantly holding the league trophy, their anger only deepens. But what catches their attention next is the girl who rushes to the stage and kisses Ash.
"Isn't that the Subhail City Gym Leader Alice? The Snow-loving beauty?" one customer exclaims in surprise.
"No way! Is she Prince Ash's girlfriend? The way she ran to kiss him—it's so cute!" another customer chimes in, clearly delighted by the scene.
Back with the group, Yuri frowns and asks, "That isn't the loser Alice, right?"
Ark clenches his fist, his anger intensifying. He had always been fond of Alice, largely because she was the only one who didn't fall for his charm. He had tried to force her into submission through bullying, but it backfired spectacularly. Not only did Alice stand strong, but she also played a key role in the school's closure after her family sued, costing Ark his chance at a degree.
The sight of Alice with Ash now, happy and successful, only fuels his resentment further. Belle, sensing the tension, cautiously asks, "So what's the plan for now?"
Ark's eyes narrow, his voice cold and filled with determination. "We'll finish what we haven't finished before... Ash Ketchum is going to pay for my father's death, and for taking Alice away from me..."
The intensity in Ark's expression sends a chill through the group, silencing any objections. Everyone is scared of Ark's terrifying resolve, but no one dares to speak up.
Meanwhile, the murderers among them—those who had previously targeted Ash—also take note of Serena, Lillie, and the others present at the scene. They can't help but wonder how Ash could have forgiven them after everything they'd done. But the realization soon hits them: if they managed to hypnotize those companions once, they might be able to do it again.
Their thoughts darken as they begin to contemplate their next move, the idea of regaining control over Ash's friends slowly taking root in their minds.
At Sevestar Island, Delia gathers everyone who attended the battle against Team Solar and Team Lunar. The room is filled with tension as Delia informs them about the current situation.
Elena, her voice firm, says, "They're basically looking for a death wish if they dare step onto this island."
"No doubt they've seen the news of Ash winning the Rikoto League," Damon replies, his tone grim. "They know Ash and Alice are here, so they'll likely search the region, determined to get what they want."
Alex furrows his brow, puzzled. "But I still don't understand why Ark and the rest of Alice's bullies are helping them? How did they even come to know each other in the first place?"
Alice, her voice trembling slightly, says, "If it was Ark... it might have been the case..."
Ash turns to her, concern etched on his face. "Alice, what do you mean by that?"
"Ark... his father... is none other than Lysandre," Alice reveals, her voice still shaken. Ash, Serena, and Bonnie all widen their eyes in shock.
"The Team Flare boss? The one who tried to control Squishy and his friend? The one who tried to destroy the world using that Megalith?" Bonnie exclaims in horror.
"I remember Lysandre was killed when Zygarde used Core Enforcer..." Serena says, her voice filled with disbelief. "Are you saying this might be an act of revenge?"
Ash nods, trying to piece everything together. "That might be the case, but I still don't understand why Misty, Brock, and the others would do such a thing. What kind of deal did they have with each other?"
The room falls silent as everyone grapples with this new revelation. The idea that Ark's vendetta could be fueled by a desire to avenge his father adds a sinister layer to their situation, and the involvement of Ash's former companions only deepens the mystery.
"It's obvious we can't just ask them directly," Gina says, her voice steady as she assesses the situation. "The main issue here is what we should do with them. Are we going to get them arrested? Or should we not even let them live?"
Delia, the weight of responsibility clear in her expression, responds, "They committed the crime of murdering Professor Oak and 63 Pokémon, hypnotizing others, and various other heinous acts. As the head of the International Police, the first course of action is to arrest them and have the judge determine their fates. However," she sighs deeply, "given the severity of their actions, it's likely they'll receive the death sentence."
Wade turns to Ash and Alice, his expression serious. "As the main victims of their assault, Ash and Alice, what do you think?"
Ash closes his eyes and sighs deeply. "I feel sorry for them, but on the other hand, I don't. They used to be my travel companions; we had a lot of fun during our journeys. It pains me to see them become monsters like this. I'll let the law decide their fate."
Alice, her voice steady but tinged with lingering anger, adds, "To be honest, I wanted nothing to do with them after dropping out of school. But if they continue to bother me or my boyfriend here, I'll also let the law decide their fate."
The room nods in agreement, respecting their decision to leave justice in the hands of the authorities, even as emotions run high.
I'll end the chapter right here, as you can see, the traitors are now in the Rikoto Region. The next chapter will begin the fun.