Chapter 6

After Golly's revival, Ash, Golly, and Alice find themselves back in the Kalos Region, sitting across from Valerie and Wulfric in a cozy room. The atmosphere is tense but filled with determination. Valerie looks at Alice with a stern expression. "So, you want to join Team Alpha, Alice? Are you sure you can handle the missions they'll assign to you?"

Alice meets her mother's gaze with unwavering confidence. "I can. I'm strong. I'm very strong. I'm capable of handling anything, even if I have to do it alone."

Ash quickly interjects, his voice firm. "Who said you're going to do it alone? I'm not going to let you do something dangerous by yourself. I'll be there with you, whenever it's possible."

Wulfric watches the exchange, a thoughtful smile tugging at his lips. "I guess it can't be helped. It seems our daughter has been loyal to Ash all this time."

Valerie nods, her tone softening as she glances at Alice and Ash. "I can see that… So, when are we planning the wedding for you two? Maybe I can help with the wedding dress."

Both Ash and Alice blush deeply, caught off guard by the sudden shift in the conversation. Golly and Pikachu share a chuckle, amused by the situation. Ash stammers, "Well... we were thinking of doing it a month later... but that's if you both agree..."

Valerie and Wulfric exchange a look, their eyes full of warmth. "Why wouldn't we agree?" Wulfric says with a chuckle. "You've always been Alice's knight in shining armor. Without you, she might have been sold as a slave or worse in Kanto."

Alice's eyes well up with tears of gratitude as she rushes to hug both Wulfric and Valerie. "Thank you, Mom! Thank you, Dad!" she exclaims, her voice overflowing with happiness. Ash smiles at them, his heart swelling with pride and love as they all share the moment.

As they prepare to leave, they discuss their future plans, including the upcoming wedding. While traveling around the regions, Golly also takes the opportunity to catch some Pokémon, gravitating towards Poison, Ghost, and Dark Types because of her affinity for them.

As Ash, Golly, and Alice continue traveling and visiting families as part of their mission for Team Alpha, their journey takes an unexpected turn. Along the way, they manage to recruit five orphans, who soon become part of their growing family.

The first orphan is Mark, a boy who was treated as nothing more than garbage at a famous resort in the Hoenn Region. Unable to bear the cruelty he endured, Ash and Alice take matters into their own hands, murdering the resort owners in cold blood and adopting Mark as their own.

The second orphan is Minami, a young girl who was enslaved by Team Rocket, much like Ash's mother had been in the past. Seeing the parallels to his own family's suffering, Ash and Golly decide to take Minami in after Team Rocket's defeat. Aurora quickly grows fond of her, seeing a reflection of her past self in the girl.

The third orphan, Argo, is a survivor from the streets of Unova. Forced into a life of stealing and killing to survive, Argo's hardened exterior masks a deep pain. Recognizing his desperation, Ash and Alice offer him a home and a new chance at life.

The fourth orphan, Trenor, hails from the Alola Region. He struggled to get along with the other orphans, often causing trouble wherever he went. Despite his rough edges, Ash and Alice see potential in him and welcome him into their family.

Finally, there is Insey, a girl abandoned by her parents, who were hunters uninterested in raising a child. After helping to eliminate the hunters in cold blood, Ash, Alice, and Golly take Insey in, offering her the love and care she had been denied.

However, as Team Rocket disbands, the government of the nine regions shifts its focus to a new threat: Team Alpha. The authorities begin spreading propaganda through newspapers and reports, painting Team Alpha as an evil organization willing to do anything, even kill, to achieve their goals. The only challenge they face is that they have no idea who the members of Team Alpha are.

Team Alpha remains elusive, with each member secretly carrying a badge that serves as their means of communication. These badges are hidden within their clothes, ensuring their identities remain concealed.

Now, Ash and Alice find themselves in Helen's Kitchen, a quaint café located in Motostoke City. They are enjoying a quiet date, chatting with each other and savoring the rare moments of peace. Unbeknownst to them, however, they are being watched. Ash's former travel companions, who have spotted the pair, decide to gather around, curiosity and uncertainty mingling in their hearts.

"Is that Ash and Alice? What the hell are those two doing here?" Iris whispers, her eyes narrowing as she spots them. The group decides not to make a scene, knowing that Ash might react violently if provoked. But their curiosity gets the better of them, and they quietly observe, wondering what Ash and Alice are up to.

At their table, Alice turns to Ash with a concerned expression. "So, Ash, how's Pikachu's training going? Is he going to be okay?"

Ash nods, a hint of pride in his voice. "Without Golly's soul inside him, Pikachu's power is now on par with Charizard and Sceptile. Those two are proud that they can give him a tough challenge, but Pikachu refuses to give up, as always."

Alice smiles at his response but then shakes her head. "And by the way, Ash, are you still thinking about trying the Kalos Showcases?"

Alice gently shakes her head. "Being a Kalos Queen was just a dream I discovered after traveling with you. I tried Contests, and even dabbled in becoming an idol with Lisia, but right now, I just want to spend my time with you."

Ash's smile softens as he looks at her. "I see. I'm really lucky to have someone like you by my side."

Their former companions, hidden nearby, are stunned by the exchange. They can't believe that Ash and Alice have finally confessed their feelings for each other, and now they all feel like they're intruding on a private moment.

Ash's gaze drifts to the scarf wrapped around Alice's neck. "Come to think of it, how long has it been since I gave you that scarf?"

Alice tenderly holds the scarf, her voice warm. "Twelve years. It keeps me warm in this cold and unforgiving world."

Ash nods, memories flooding back. "It really does bring back memories... Are you going to wear it at our wedding as well?"

"Of course," Alice replies with a playful wink. "And the blue ribbon you gave me when we were traveling through Kalos together."

Hidden in the background, the others are left in shock. "Ash and Alice are getting married?" they whisper in disbelief, struggling to process what they've just heard.

As they sit together, Alice looks at Ash thoughtfully. "By the way, Ash, did we send out all the wedding invitations?"

"Of course," Ash replies with a smile. "All 18 families are going to attend the royal wedding in the Rota Kingdom. They're planning to do it just like my mother and father's wedding. Lillie and Dawn seem really excited about it too."

Alice sighs, a mix of amusement and exhaustion in her voice. "Of course they are. Reisa, Lisia, and Rosa have been calling me all night long, buzzing with excitement about the news."

Ash chuckles, but Alice's next question brings a more serious tone to the conversation. "Can you tell me the story of how your father and mother fell in love?"

Ash pauses, his expression turning thoughtful. "Ah, because of certain things, I can't tell you everything. But here's the gist: My mom used to work with Team Rocket as an assassin. Giovanni ordered her to assassinate my father and gather information about his special powers. But she never found the chance to carry out the order, because my father was so kind to her. Over time, he persuaded her to leave Team Rocket, promising to protect her from them. That's how they ended up together."

Alice nods, understanding dawning on her. "So that's why Team Rocket kept stalking you and attacking your family... because of your mother, right?"

Ash sighs, his eyes darkening slightly. "Losing her was like losing their most valuable weapon. My mom once told me, 'If you win, you live. If you lose, you die. If you don't fight, you can't win.'"

Alice looks at him with a mixture of admiration and sadness. "That's why you saved me from those sex traffickers in Kanto and killed them without hesitation."

"Yeah," Ash says softly. "And that scarf... I'll wrap it around you again, as many times as you want. Now and forever. That's a promise."

Alice smiles warmly, touched by his words. "A promise... of course."

Meanwhile, Ash's former companions, still observing from a distance, are filled with conflicting emotions. They've always viewed Ash as a friend, but the revelation of his darker actions leaves them uncertain.

"Now, I don't know how to feel about Ash," Iris murmurs. "We've seen him as a friend, but hearing this…"

Max, who has been quiet until now, voices his concern. "But still... I don't think killing is the answer. He's acting just like those Team Alpha people."

Clemont, trying to make sense of everything, shakes his head. "Ash and his mother were the ones who stopped all the evil teams in the nine regions. I don't think he would be a member of Team Alpha... right?"

Alice glances around the busy café, then leans in closer to Ash, lowering her voice. "So, Ash, what do you think about the news regarding Team Alpha? I heard that all nine regions have put a bounty on them."

Ash, aware of the possibility that someone might overhear their conversation, chooses his words carefully. "Well, if I had to share my thoughts, it's strange that the government hasn't provided any real identities of Team Alpha members. Just from reading the articles, it seems like they're lumping every criminal together as part of Team Alpha."

Alice catches on to Ash's caution and plays along. "So, Ash, do you know anything about the members of Team Alpha?"

Ash shakes his head slightly. "Not exactly, but I've heard a rumor. Supposedly, each member of Team Alpha has a special badge sewn into their outfit that allows them to communicate. But no one knows what these badges look like, which is why the police haven't been able to identify any members."

Alice nods thoughtfully. "I also heard that their goal is to take over all nine governments, which is why the governments are spreading the news to keep them hidden. Is that right?"

Ash shrugs, maintaining a casual tone. "Why ask me? I might've picked up some information from my mother since she was with Team Rocket, but I don't know much more than that. Still, after destroying all those evil teams, I've wondered how they had the power to do what they did. I'm not sure Team Alpha is behind everything… maybe it's the government itself."

Alice raises an eyebrow, intrigued. "Why do you think that?"

Ash leans back in his chair, his eyes narrowing as he recalls past events. "Take Lysandre, for example. Where did he get the funds to pull off everything he did in Kalos? Sure, he was the head of Lysandre Labs, but the money from Holo Casters wouldn't have been enough to finance the whole Megalith project."

Alice frowns, considering his words. "That does sound suspicious. But we can worry about that later. Right now, we're here to relax and enjoy ourselves."

Ash smiles, nodding in agreement. "You're right." With that, they stand up and leave the restaurant, blending into the crowd as they head out to enjoy the rest of their day.

As they process what they've just overheard from Ash, Chloe speaks up, her voice thoughtful. "So Ash and Alice are aware of Team Alpha's existence, but it seems all they've found are just rumors."

Clemont, always analytical, furrows his brow. "And I can't help but wonder about the government's involvement with Team Flare. Do you think the other teams, like Team Rocket and Team Galactic, are also connected to the government?"

Goh, deep in thought, mutters, "So it means we can't trust anyone except ourselves. But still, they mentioned having a wedding in Rota... why didn't they send us wedding invitations?"

Brock sighs, his tone heavy with regret. "Are you serious? After what we said to them back in Kanto, do you really think Ash would want to see us again? We branded him a monster just because he kills, without considering why he does it."

Realizing they might still have a chance, they rush to find Ash and Alice, hoping they haven't left yet. When they finally spot them in an alleyway, a helicopter from Macro Cosmos arrives. The door opens, and to their shock, Chairman Rose steps out.

"Come in," Rose says, gesturing for them to board.

Ash and Alice nod, stepping into the helicopter before it lifts off the ground. Goh stares in disbelief. "How is that possible? That's Chairman Rose."

Brock looks confused. "Chairman Rose?"

Goh nods, still processing. "He was supposed to be evil. He summoned Eternatus and caused the Darkest Day... Why is Ash with him?"

Mallow chimes in, trying to make sense of it. "Maybe he had a change of heart? Though I really want to know what Ash's connection is with one of the wealthiest people in the world."

"Me too," Clemont agrees, his curiosity piqued. "Macro Cosmos is a powerful figure in the Galar Region."

The group can only sigh in frustration, realizing that they're not going to get any answers from Ash and Alice. All they can do is wonder what the connection between Ash, Alice, and Chairman Rose truly is, and what it means for their future.

And here is a new chapter, as you can see, some of you ask me about Alice, she will be the replacement for Serena in this story, Serena never exists in this story, but trust me, Alice has done the same thing as Serena during the journeys. I hope you like this chapter.