Chapter 7

The wedding of Ash and Alice is a monumental event, one that captivates people across the world. Though only invited guests are permitted to attend the ceremony in Rota, the news spreads like wildfire. Those without invitations desperately wish to be part of the celebration, but the queen orders the gates to be closed, keeping the eager crowds outside the kingdom, much to their disappointment.

Alice stands radiant in a flowing white wedding gown, while Ash looks sharp in a classic black suit. As they take their places on the stage, the air buzzes with anticipation. The moment arrives for them to share their stories.

"The day I first met Alice, we were just seven years old," Ash begins, his voice steady. "We were at the same Summer Camp, and during one of the activities, I found her injured. From that day on, we became best friends, always playing and exploring together."

Alice's voice is soft but filled with emotion as she continues, "My feelings for Ash grew stronger when he saved me from three sex traffickers who tried to abduct me and hurt my family. Without Ash, I wouldn't be here today, standing beside him as his wife."

The crowd is deeply moved by their words, touched by the courage and strength that have defined their relationship. Ash smiles warmly as he adds, "We crossed paths again in Kalos. She was always there, cheering me on, especially after my loss in the last Gym battle. She pulled me out of my depression when I needed it most."

Alice nods, her eyes shining with affection. "Without Ash, I wouldn't have found my dream of competing in Showcases and Contests. When I faced my first loss, he was the one who lifted me back up."

After they exchange vows and share their first kiss as husband and wife, the dance ball begins. Guests chat and dance, filling the room with laughter and joy. Ash and Alice mingle with their friends, who gather around to congratulate them.

"You did it, Alice! I knew you would," Lisia says, hugging her best friend tightly.

Alice smiles brightly. "Thanks, Lisia."

Eve grins mischievously and teases, "To think you got your wedding before any of us! But then again, we all knew how loyal you are to Ash, and how you've dreamed about this day for so long."

Alice's cheeks flush, and she playfully nudges Eve. "That's so embarrassing… Don't bring that up!"

Ash, ever the social butterfly at his own wedding, finds himself surrounded by his friends. Gary grins and claps him on the back. "Well done, Ashy Boy. You're one lucky guy to have Alice as your wife."

Ash smiles, glancing over at Alice. "Yeah, she's the best I could ever ask for."

Shade, leaning casually against a nearby pillar, smirks. "Still can't believe the day finally came when you, of all people, got married. You've always been so dense."

Ash narrows his eyes playfully. "Are you trying to insult me, Shade?"

"Relax, bro," Argo interjects with a chuckle. "We wouldn't want the star of the wedding getting angry, right?"

Giacomo nods with a grin. "Of course not. But I did think you'd invite more people to this event."

Alice approaches the group, catching the last part of the conversation. "If we invited too many people, they might uncover the truth about Team Alpha. Remember, the governments of the nine regions are out to get us."

Dawn crosses her arms, her brow furrowed in thought. "That's definitely a problem. But I can't help but wonder how they plan to deal with us, especially when six of the Champions are part of Team Alpha."

"Yeah, imagine the chaos," Luke adds, a mischievous glint in his eye.

Ash glances around the room, suddenly realizing someone is missing. "By the way, where's Mom?"

Golly looks up from her conversation and replies, "She's outside, chatting with Ms. Palermo, the founder of the showcases."

Alice stiffens slightly at the mention of Palermo. "Ms. Palermo is here? Why?"

Curiosity piqued, they all decide to head outside to see what's happening. As they step out, they're met with the sight of Aurora hugging Palermo warmly, the two women engaged in a heartfelt conversation.

"I'm sorry, Mother... I didn't realize it was such a burden for you too," Aurora says, her voice tinged with regret as she frowns.

Palermo sighs softly, placing a comforting hand on Aurora's shoulder. "It's alright, dear. I'm just grateful that we have this chance to meet again."

Just then, Ash and Alice step outside, catching the attention of the two adults. "Mom? What's going on?" Ash asks, concern in his voice.

Aurora turns to face them, surprised. "Ash, Alice? What are you doing out here?"

"We couldn't find you inside, so we came to see what you were up to," Ash explains, his gaze shifting to Palermo. "And it's nice to see you again, Ms. Palermo."

Alice bows respectfully to her mentor. "It's an honor to see you again."

Palermo offers a warm smile. "It's good to see you too, Alice. It's been years since we last met. And look at you now, getting married to my grandson."

The words hang in the air, and both Ash and Alice are stunned. "Wait, grandson?" they echo in disbelief.

Aurora sighs, her expression softening as she nods. "Yes, Ash. Palermo is my mother, which makes her your grandmother. After I escaped from Team Rocket with your father's help, I reconnected with her and learned the truth—I wasn't abandoned; I was kidnapped by Team Rocket."

Palermo's face darkens with the memory, but she remains composed. "When Aurora was taken, I turned to Team Alpha to help me find her because I knew the government wouldn't lift a finger. It was thanks to Adam that I managed to keep track of the news surrounding my daughter."

"But if you already cleared up the misunderstanding, why didn't you tell me I still have a grandmother?" Ash asks, his voice tinged with a mix of curiosity and frustration.

Aurora looks at him, her expression softened by years of concealed pain. "I couldn't reach out to them, Ash. I was terrified that Team Rocket would target you, especially after we already lost Golly. And... there was a part of me that couldn't bear to return to my old home. My father died when I was young, and the memories there... they're too painful."

Palermo steps in, her voice calm yet firm. "I'm sure you're aware by now that your mother's family has a history filled with assassins. During her training, she accidentally killed her father, which triggered those dark memories. I respect her decision to stay away from her old life, and I didn't push her to return."

Ash's eyes widen, absorbing this revelation about his mother's past, a part of her life she had always kept hidden. "I'm sorry, Mom... I didn't mean to bring up something so painful."

Aurora gives him a gentle smile, her tone reassuring. "It's alright, Ash. Unlike you, I've had years to learn how to control my anger and dark thoughts. But this is supposed to be a happy day, so let's focus on that instead."

"Right," Ash agrees, turning his attention back to Palermo. "Anyway, it's nice to meet you, Grandma."

Palermo smiles warmly, her eyes shining with pride. "It's nice to finally meet you too, Ash. I'm glad to see you doing so well." She then turns to Alice, her gaze softening. "And Alice, it's wonderful to see how strong you've become. You're not the same girl who used to cry after her first Showcase."

Alice blushes, the memory of losing the Courmarine Showcase due to her Fennekin flashing in her mind. "You saw that?" she asks, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I happened to be passing by," Palermo admits with a knowing smile. "That's one of the reasons I asked Aria to mentor you."

Alice, embarrassed, buries her face in her scarf, trying to hide her blush. Aurora chuckles softly before addressing Ash again. "Ash, why don't you take Alice inside the castle? My mother and I have some things we need to discuss."

Ash nods, taking Alice's hand as they head into the castle. As they walk away, Aurora's expression shifts, becoming more serious. She turns back to Palermo. "Mother, we need to talk about the current governments."

Palermo's demeanor changes instantly, her face hardening with a stern resolve. "I agree," she says, her voice dropping to a serious tone as they prepare for the conversation ahead.

Back on the dance floor, Ash extends his hand toward Alice, a warm smile on his face. Alice blushes softly but doesn't hesitate to reach for his hand. Together, they begin a slow, graceful dance, the world around them fading into the background.

"I remember the last time we tried to dance, the song ended before we could really enjoy it," Ash says, his voice gentle as they move in sync.

Alice nods, her eyes shimmering with affection. "Yeah, I wished we could have danced longer back then. But now, we can dance as much as we want—because today, we're the stars of the wedding."

"That's right," Ash agrees, holding her close as they continue their dance, each step perfectly matched.

After a while, they decide to take a break, stepping off the dance floor just as Adam claps his hands to gather everyone's attention.

"Thank you all for being here to celebrate the wedding of my son and daughter-in-law," Adam begins, his voice echoing through the hall. "However, as the invitation hinted, this wedding is merely a decoy for the outside world. Today is the day we reveal our plans as members of Team Alpha."

The atmosphere in the room shifts instantly, the lightheartedness of the celebration giving way to a more serious tone. Faces turn grim as Adam activates a projector, displaying a map of the eight regions.

"Let's begin by discussing the corruption within each of the governments, starting with Kanto," Adam announces, his voice firm and resolute.

Kanto Government: The Kanto Government is under the control of William, a former member of Team Rocket who ascended to power after the organization's collapse. Although the government claims to tax heavily for the welfare of its citizens, the truth is far more sinister. The collected funds are funneled into the pockets of the ruling elite, with much of it previously supporting Team Rocket's illegal experiments. With Team Rocket disbanded, William and his cronies now hoard the wealth, leaving the rest of the region in crippling poverty.

Johto Government: Led by Ryan, another ex-Team Rocket member, the Johto Government has descended into a nightmare of corruption and exploitation. Under Ryan's rule, women are routinely abducted from their homes, forced into a life of slavery to satisfy the depraved desires of soldiers and government officials. The number of missing women has surged since Ryan took power, and countless families are left devastated, searching desperately for their lost loved ones.

Hoenn Government: Evita, the head of the Hoenn Government, has made secret deals with both Team Magma and Team Aqua, leading to disastrous consequences for the region. Hoenn is suffering through a devastating famine, brought on by the harsh weather conditions manipulated by these villainous teams. Rather than providing relief, Evita's government refuses to distribute food locally, forcing people to purchase necessities from outside the region at exorbitant prices. The farmlands, once the pride of Hoenn, lie in ruins.

Sinnoh Government: Jolyne, who took control of the Sinnoh Government two years ago, is rumored to be a former member of Team Galactic. Since her rise to power, Sinnoh has become increasingly isolated. The government enforces strict bans on foreign goods and forbids its citizens from purchasing anything from outside the region. Travel restrictions are severe, and any foreign Pokémon or weapons are confiscated and often destroyed. Some whisper that the government has even taken to brutally exterminating non-native Pokémon.

Unova Government: Karl, the leader of the Unova Government, harbors a deep-seated belief that Pokémon and humans cannot coexist. Under his tyrannical rule, Pokémon are hunted, captured, and sold as mere commodities. The government oppresses and brutally punishes anyone who dares to resist, going so far as to execute Pokémon in cold blood for crimes committed by their human partners. The region is gripped by fear, with trust between humans and Pokémon shattered.

Kalos Government: The Kalos Government is led by Marie, who once funded Team Flare before its dissolution. Now, under her iron-fisted rule, the government has spiraled into a regime of terror, arbitrarily arresting innocent people without cause. The region's military forces have expanded dramatically, with every able-bodied male being conscripted into service. Those who resist or are deemed unfit are mercilessly executed. Kalos is on the brink of collapse, with fear and despair spreading like wildfire.

Alola Government: The once peaceful Alola Region is now in chaos, with the Kahunas—who traditionally led the islands—imprisoned by the military. The islands' militaries have turned against each other, waging brutal wars to determine which island reigns supreme. This senseless conflict has left countless people dead, impoverished, or stripped of their freedom. The spirit of unity that once defined Alola has been shattered, replaced by greed and bloodshed.

Galar Government: Galar is ruled by the two brothers, Swordward and Shielbert, whose leadership is marked by neglect and corruption. They turn a blind eye to the crimes that plague their region, allowing lawlessness to fester. The government's misuse of wishing stars has led to widespread trouble in Galar's gyms, further destabilizing the region. Under their rule, Galar teeters on the edge of chaos, with no end to the turmoil in sight.

Paldea Government: Wanda, the leader of Paldea, is driven by an insatiable curiosity to uncover the secrets of Area Zero. To achieve this, she forces citizens to undertake dangerous expeditions into the treacherous area. Many have perished in the depths of Area Zero, but the government spins their deaths as noble sacrifices for the greater good. In truth, Wanda's obsession with Area Zero has left the region in a state of fear and uncertainty, with no regard for the lives lost in her pursuit of knowledge.

"However, we have a way to overthrow these corrupt governments," Adam announces, his voice filled with determination. "And that way is through the help of the PLA, an organization that operates independently from the influence of any government. Mr. Goodshow, though a man of great integrity, is now in his old age. He lacks the strength to single-handedly stop the injustices being committed. Even with most of us being Champions, he needs time to persuade all the Gym Leaders to join our cause. Some of them might even be spies working for the government. That's why the responsibility falls on us—Team Alpha—to ensure we rally all the Champions, Gym Leaders, Elite Four members, and Professors to our side. Only then can we dismantle the corruption and fight for our freedom!"

The room erupts in cheers of agreement, but amidst the fervor, Ash's expression darkens with concern. "Just think about how many people are suffering under these governments' regulations and greedy rules... It's heartbreaking."

Alice nods, her voice steady but resolute. "To overthrow these governments, we need to plan carefully. And we might have to wage war against them as well..."

The group listens intently as Adam outlines the detailed plans and strategies they'll need to undertake. While some wonder if the plan will succeed, the majority—especially those who have been with Adam since the beginning—believe in his vision and are ready to act.

As the party winds down and the guests begin to depart, Ash and Alice decide to stay in Rota with Adam and Aurora, the weight of the day's events pressing heavily on their minds.

"Today was definitely eventful," Ash says, reflecting on everything that has transpired. "I've gained a loving wife, and we have a lot of exciting and challenging things ahead of us."

Alice smiles softly, her eyes filled with determination. "I know. I can't wait to help create a better, more peaceful world for all of us."

And here is a new chapter, and this chapter reveals the corruption of each of the government, and the wedding of Ash and Alice. I hope you like this chapter and the next chapter will begin the operation of Team Alpha's counterattack.