Chapter 27 Kanto Leaders Gather

Ash and his companions step off the flight, the familiar sight of the Indigo Plateau coming into view. The towering spires of the League headquarters shimmer in the sunlight, and the grandeur of the place still fills Ash with a sense of awe despite how many times he's been here.

Pikachu, perched on Ash's shoulder, lets out an excited "Pika!" as they approach the entrance. Ash looks to Lillie, who nods in silent agreement, both knowing this meeting would be just as important as the one in Alola.

As they walk inside, they are greeted by the familiar faces of the Kanto Elite Four—Lorelei, Bruno, Agatha, and Solati. Lorelei, ever cool and composed, acknowledges Ash with a nod. Bruno stands tall and proud, his usual intensity softened by a welcoming grin. Agatha watches them closely, her sharp eyes gleaming with the wisdom of years. Noah, the youngest of the Elite Four, remains quiet, observing the group with curiosity.

Ash spots the Kanto Gym Leaders next. Brock and Misty, his oldest friends, wave with warm smiles. Lt. Surge stands at attention, his arms crossed, while Erika offers a polite nod. Janine, the new Fuchsia Gym Leader, stands confidently beside Sabrina, who remains as enigmatic as ever. Blaine, the Cinnabar Island Gym Leader, adjusts his glasses and gives Ash a knowing look. Finally, Gary Oak leans against the wall, arms folded, offering Ash a smirk as if to say, "About time you showed up."

Alongside the Gym Leaders stand the Elite Trainers—Mandy, Glinda, Akihabara, Reina, Doremi, Michael, Sandy, Ritchie, and Leaf—ready for whatever is to come.

As the group gathers, Misty steps forward, concern evident on her face. "Ash? I thought your mother was going to be here."

Ash sighs, shaking his head slightly. "I'm sorry to say that she won't be coming. She's got her duties as the leader of Team Alpha. Right now, she's in the United Region, preparing for the battle."

The room falls quiet at the mention of Delia's leadership role, the weight of the situation becoming clearer. Ash then turns toward Gary. "What about your grandfather? Is he coming?"

Gary smirks, his usual cocky demeanor shining through. "Old man's on his way, so don't worry about it."

Just as Gary finishes speaking, the doors open, and Professor Oak walks in, his face lighting up as he sees Ash and the gathered trainers. "Ash, my boy! And you must be Lillie," he says, turning to her with a warm smile. "I see you're here in place of Delia. Shall we begin?"

Ash nods, the seriousness returning to his expression. "Yeah, let's get started."

With that, the group gathers closer, the meeting about to begin.

Ash sighs, his voice steady but heavy with the weight of his words. "As I mentioned before, I am the Devil Prince, and I was supposed to be the heir to the United Region. But my ancestor was betrayed by the 18 kingdoms, and now they rule with an iron fist."

The room remains silent as Ash speaks, the gravity of his statement sinking in. Lillie steps forward and pulls out her Rotom Phone. "Here is what we've recorded," she says quietly.

Everyone watches as the video footage plays on the large screen, showing the harsh realities of life under the rule of the 18 kingdoms. The oppression, suffering, and brutality are all laid bare, and the tension in the room builds with each passing second.

As the video ends, a heavy silence lingers. The first to break it is Lt. Surge, his voice rough with anger. "Those scumbags… that's how they treat their people? It's like they don't even care about anyone but themselves!"

Misty shakes her head in disbelief. "I can't believe this is happening in a region we barely knew existed. All those innocent people… they've been living like this for so long?"

Erika speaks next, her voice calm but laced with sadness. "It's heartbreaking. We must help them. The people deserve peace, not to live under such tyranny."

Bruno, his fists clenched, adds with a growl, "This is an insult to everything we stand for as Trainers. We fight for honor, not oppression."

Sabrina, her eyes narrowed, speaks in a cold, measured tone. "If they think they can maintain control through fear and brutality, they're mistaken. They won't be able to stop what's coming."

Finally, Ritchie steps forward, determination shining in his eyes. "If you're taking them on, Ash, I'm with you. We can't let them keep getting away with this."

Ash nods solemnly, his eyes scanning the room as he addresses the group. "To fight against them, we need all the help we can get. Team Alpha, the team my mother currently leads, has been fighting for centuries. Both sides have suffered losses, but we have to end this tug of war. We need to save the people, and if they succeed in taking control, the danger won't just stop at the United Region—it will spread to the rest of the world."

Lillie steps forward, her voice steady but filled with concern. "Right now, their main target is Ash because of the prophecy—the Devil Prince and the heir to the United Region. But if they eliminate him, what happens next? We aren't sure. Their ambition could go far beyond Ash."

Brock, ever practical, steps in. "So, what do we do now?"

Ash looks at the group, his resolve clear. "What you need to do is train. Team Alpha will be helping all of you to get ready for what's coming."

Leaf, her arms folded, raises an eyebrow. "Are you sure Team Alpha's going to help us? Can we trust them?"

Before Ash can answer, Erika steps forward, her usual calm demeanor in place. "Yes, they will help. Because I'm part of Team Alpha too."

A murmur ripples through the room, and Blaine raises an eyebrow in surprise. "You? Part of Team Alpha? Is that for real?"

Erika nods, her expression softening. "Yes, my parents, Ringo and Daphine, are currently in the United Region, fighting alongside Team Alpha. My mother is a flower arranger, and my father is a gardener. They've been preparing for this for years."

Ash's eyes widen slightly as he recalls the meeting with Team Alpha, the memory of meeting Ringo and Daphine flashing in his mind. He remembers them as gentle but determined people, their skills in the garden reflecting their care for life and their quiet strength.

After the meeting, Ash finds himself mingling with the Elite Trainers, eager to learn more about them. It isn't long before he gets a chance to hear about their backgrounds, and each one leaves a lasting impression.

Mandy, a calm and focused trainer, mentions that she lives in Viridian Forest and specializes in Bug-type Pokémon. "I grew up surrounded by the forest, so it only made sense to work with Bug-types. They're tough and resilient, just like the forest itself."

Glinda, with an air of elegance, tells Ash about her life in Hutber Port. "I own a hotel there, but my real passion is Flying-type Pokémon. They represent freedom, and that's what I strive for in everything I do."

Akihabara, more reserved and intellectual, explains that he's a scientist researching the Porygon evolution line. "Steel-types are my specialty, and I've devoted my life to studying their capabilities, particularly in how they adapt to technological advancements."

Reina, with a quiet intensity, reveals her unique background. "I'm Dr. Fuji's granddaughter. Dark-type Pokémon have always resonated with me, maybe because of the mysteries in my family's past. I'm determined to use them to protect others."

Ash then meets Solati and Doremi, a lively husband-and-wife duo with a passion for music. Solati smiles warmly. "I specialize in Normal-types. They might not have the flashy abilities of other types, but they're versatile and strong." Doremi adds with a soft chuckle, "I focus on Fairy-types. Their charm and grace in battle remind me of the power of harmony—both in music and life."

Finally, Ash speaks with Michael, a confident young trainer who mentions that he's Lance's student. "I'm all about Dragon-types. I've been learning from Lance for years, and I hope to one day surpass him."

Sandy, with an infectious enthusiasm, rounds out the group. "Ground-types are my specialty, and I love digging for fossils. It's like uncovering a piece of history every time I battle with them."

After chatting with the Elite Trainers, Ash and Lillie decide to reconnect with their old friends, Brock and Misty. It feels like a reunion long overdue, and there's a sense of comfort in being with familiar faces amid the chaos of their current situation.

Misty smirks, crossing her arms. "No matter when, trouble always seems to find you, huh, Ash?"

Ash sighs, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, tell me about it. Sometimes I wonder if I'm just that unlucky or if all of this was somehow set up for me from the start."

He then turns to Brock, raising an eyebrow. "By the way, Brock, I thought Forest would show up instead."

Brock chuckles, shaking his head. "Nah, since we're family, he asked me to attend on his behalf. Besides, I'm always up for a good chat with an old friend."

Misty turns to Lillie with a warm smile. "And long time no see, Lillie. How are you doing?"

Lillie smiles back, though there's a hint of weariness in her voice. "Well, things have been a roller coaster for me. But I'm managing, especially with Ash by my side."

Brock and Misty exchange a knowing look, clearly picking up on the bond between Ash and Lillie. Misty grins, unable to resist teasing a little. "So I assume there's a relationship between you two now?"

Ash blushes, scratching the back of his head as he answers. "Well, yeah... turns out that Lillie is actually my childhood friend, and she also has another name—Serena. She traveled with me back in Kalos."

Brock's eyebrows shoot up in surprise. "Serena? You mean the idol from Hoenn? I've heard of her, but I never thought you two were the same person."

Lillie—Serena—smiles softly, her eyes meeting Ash's. "Yeah, a lot has happened since then."

Ash nods, his expression growing more serious. "But anyway, I only learned about my destiny a few days ago, and there's still a lot to process. I'd like to introduce my siblings to you as well."

Misty and Brock both look surprised, and Brock chuckles. "You have siblings? Looks like you're more like me than I thought, Ash."

Ash grins, the lighthearted moment between friends helping to ease the tension of their situation, even if just for a moment.

"Anyway, where are you going next?" Misty asks, her curiosity evident.

"We're heading to Johto," Ash replies. "Specifically, Mt. Silver. Lance might want me at their own meeting as well."

Misty nods in understanding, while Brock offers a confident smile. "I see. Well, we'll be seeing you at the United Region soon enough."

With farewells exchanged, Ash and Lillie turn and make their way out of the Indigo Plateau, ready for the next step in their journey.

Here is a new chapter, and as you can see, Ash and Lillie have gone to the Kanto meeting instead of Delia. Like in other stories, Delia is the Champion of Kanto, and I did add some new trainers to make 18 types and also adding the player characters in the game. I hope you like this chapter and the next one is Johto.