Chapter 1 The Truth Reveals
The sun hangs high in the sky, casting a warm glow over Pallet Town. Inside the Ketchum household, Ash and Pikachu are busy helping Delia with the housework. The kitchen is filled with the smell of freshly baked bread, and Pikachu is cheerfully running around, carrying small items to and fro, much to Delia's delight.
"Thanks, Pikachu," Delia says with a warm smile as the Pokémon hands her a dish. "You're such a big help!"
"Pika!" Pikachu responds with a bright grin, its ears twitching with happiness.
Ash wipes his forehead, glancing out the window. "I think that's the last of the laundry, Mom. After this, Pikachu and I were thinking of heading to Professor Oak's ranch. Maybe get some training in."
Delia nods, her heart swelling with pride at how much her son has grown. "That sounds like a great idea, Ash. Just don't overwork yourself—or Pikachu!"
Ash chuckles, "We won't, Mom."
As they finish up their chores, a sudden knock echoes through the house. Delia pauses, wiping her hands on her apron as she moves toward the door. "I wonder who that could be," she murmurs.
Pikachu's ears perk up, and it hops onto Ash's shoulder, curious about the visitor. Ash is about to follow his mother to the door, but something in her step makes him pause. Delia opens the door, and the sight before her makes her freeze in place.
Standing there is a young girl, around Ash's age, with strikingly familiar features. Her raven-black hair, her eyes—everything about her reminds Delia of her own son. The girl gazes at Delia with an expression that is a mix of nervousness and determination.
"Mom," the girl says softly, her voice trembling slightly.
Delia blinks, trying to process what she is hearing. "Who... who are you? And why are you calling me 'Mom'?" Her voice is laced with confusion, her heart beginning to race.
The girl takes a deep breath, standing a little straighter. "I'm here under Dad's orders. He sent me to bring back your memories."
Delia's confusion only deepens, her mind racing to make sense of this strange encounter. "Dad? Memories?" she repeats, her voice barely above a whisper. The words echo in her mind, but they feel foreign and out of place.
The girl reaches into her pocket and pulls out a small, glowing orb. The light it emits is soft yet powerful, pulsing gently in her hand. Delia's eyes are drawn to it, unable to look away.
As soon as Delia's gaze meets the orb, it suddenly floats out of the girl's hand and hovers in front of Delia. Before she can react, the orb shoots forward and enters her body, filling her with a warm, radiant light. Delia's entire being begins to glow, the light enveloping her in a brilliant aura.
In that instant, memories flood back to her—memories that had been buried deep within her mind. She remembers everything: the past, the connections, and the truths that had once been hidden from her. It's as if a veil has been lifted, revealing the full picture of her life.
As the glow fades, Delia's eyes brim with tears. She steps forward and pulls the girl into a tight embrace. "Golly, you've returned," she whispers, her voice filled with a mix of relief and joy.
At that moment, Ash and Pikachu emerge from the kitchen, drawn by the strange light and the commotion. "Mom, what happened?" Ash asks, concern etched on his face. His eyes then land on the girl, who looks eerily like him. "And... who is she?"
Delia pulls back from the hug, her eyes shining with a newfound clarity. She turns to Ash, her tone gentle yet filled with a firmness that he has never heard before. "Ash, there's something you need to know," she begins, her voice carrying a weight that makes him instinctively tense.
"This is Golly Ketchum," Delia continues, her gaze shifting to the girl beside her. "She is your twin sister."
Ash's mouth falls open, his mind reeling. "Twin sister?" he stammers, trying to process the sudden revelation. His heart races, not just because of the shocking news, but also because of the way his mother is speaking. Her tone, usually so soft and comforting, now holds an authority that he's never heard before.
Golly steps forward, offering him a warm smile. "It's nice to meet you, brother," she says, her voice carrying a sense of familiarity despite the years they've been apart. "And, by the way, you're not just meeting one sibling today."
Ash blinks, confusion deepening. "What do you mean?" he asks, struggling to keep up with the whirlwind of information.
Golly's smile widens slightly. "We have four more younger siblings," she explains. "And I've been with Dad the whole time."
Ash stares at her, his mind racing even faster now. Not only does he have a twin sister, but there are more siblings—and his father, whom he barely remembers, is somehow involved in all of this. The world he thought he knew is suddenly turned upside down, and he's left standing there, trying to make sense of it all.
Ash stares at Golly, the weight of her words pressing down on him. He turns to his mother, his voice tense. "Mom, what's going on? I need an explanation."
Delia nods, her expression serious. "Come with me," she says, turning towards the hallway. "Both of you."
Ash exchanges a confused glance with Pikachu before following his mother, Golly walking silently beside him. Delia leads them to a door at the far end of the hallway, one that Ash has rarely paid attention to. She opens it, revealing a staircase that leads down into the darkness.
"The basement?" Ash asks, his confusion growing. He had never been down there before—his mother had always said it was just for storage.
As they descend, the air becomes cooler, and the light from above fades into shadows. Delia's voice echoes softly in the narrow space. "This place is hidden. No one would ever find us here."
Her words send a shiver down Ash's spine. "Mom, what are you talking about?" he demands, his frustration bubbling to the surface. "Why all the secrecy? I need answers!"
Delia reaches the bottom of the stairs and turns to face him, her expression unreadable. "Ash," she begins, her voice steady, "I am the queen of the United Region."
Ash's eyes widen in shock, his heart pounding in his chest. "Queen? The United Region?" He can barely process what she's saying.
"And you," Delia continues, her gaze piercing, "are the Devil Prince—the chosen one who will save the United Region."
Ash feels the world tilt around him, the revelation hitting him like a tidal wave. "The Devil Prince?" he repeats, his voice barely above a whisper. He looks between his mother and Golly, searching for any sign that this is all some sort of joke, but the seriousness in their eyes tells him otherwise.
Delia takes a deep breath, her expression softening as she prepares to reveal the truth. "There is a prophecy," she begins, her voice steady and solemn. She recites the words that have haunted her for years:
"In times of darkness, when shadows rule,
Eighteen kingdoms shall rise, cruel and untrue.
The land shall weep, the people shall mourn,
Under the iron fist, all hope shall be torn.
But from the ashes, a savior shall ascend,
A prince of devils, the kingdoms' end.
Marked by fate, with power untold,
He shall break the chains, defy the cold.
The Devil Prince, with fire in his veins,
Shall bring the light, end the reigns.
The oppressed shall rise, their shackles undone,
And peace shall reign, when the battle is won."
Ash listens, his mind racing as he tries to comprehend the enormity of what his mother is saying. "And... you're saying that I'm this Devil Prince?"
Delia nods slowly. "Yes, Ash. Because of this prophecy, our family has been targeted by the rulers of the United Region for years. They fear the prophecy, and they fear you—the one destined to overthrow them."
Ash's heart pounds in his chest as Delia continues. "To ensure your safety, we fled to the Kanto Region. But simply moving wasn't enough. We had to set up a protection aura around us, a powerful barrier that would prevent the assassins from the kingdoms from finding and targeting us."
She pauses, her eyes filled with a mixture of sadness and determination. "To make the protection complete, I had to transfer all my memories of the United Region and our past into a light orb. Your father protected that orb with his life, ensuring that the protection remained intact. But now, with my memories restored, the protection is gone."
Ash feels a cold wave of realization wash over him. "So that's why we're in the basement," he murmurs, more to himself than anyone else.
Delia nods again, her expression grave. "Yes. Without the protection, we're vulnerable. The assassins could find us at any moment, which is why we need to stay hidden—at least for now."
As Delia finishes speaking, Golly steps forward, her expression serious. "The reason I brought the orb back, the reason I'm here now, is because the time has come. The time to fulfill the prophecy."
Ash turns to her, confusion and concern written all over his face. "What do you mean, the time has come?"
Golly takes a deep breath, steadying herself before delivering the news. "Ash... Mom... our father has perished."
The words hit Ash like a punch to the gut. He stares at Golly, his breath catching in his throat. "What? No... Dad...?" His voice falters, the reality of the situation crashing down on him.
Delia's eyes fill with tears. She had known this day would come, had prepared herself for it, but the pain is still unbearable. Silent tears begin to stream down her face as she struggles to maintain her composure.
Golly continues, her voice somber. "Before he died, his last wish was for me to bring you both back to the United Region. To fulfill the prophecy... as revenge for everything that's been done to us, to our people."
Ash feels his world spinning, grief mixing with the weight of the responsibility now thrust upon him. He looks to his mother, seeing her pain mirrored in his own heart, and he knows that their lives have changed forever.
Ash clenches his fists, anger and determination burning in his eyes. "If the United Region wants a fight, then they'll get one," he declares, his voice filled with resolve. "I'll go there as the Devil Prince, and I'll make them pay for everything they've done—to our family, to our people."
Delia watches her son, her heart aching with both pride and fear. She knows this path will be dangerous, but she also knows that Ash is ready.
"When do we leave?" Ash asks, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside him.
Golly steps forward, her expression calm but resolute. "We're leaving today," she replies. "The sooner we get to the United Region, the better. Do you have a Flying Pokémon that can carry us?"
Ash nods, determination hardening his resolve. "Yeah, I do."
Without another word, the three of them head out of the basement and make their way to Professor Oak's lab. As they walk through the familiar streets of Pallet Town, Ash knows that his life will never be the same again. The peaceful days of his past are behind him, and the future now holds a destiny he must fulfill.
As they approach the lab, Ash feels a mixture of emotions—grief, anger, determination—but above all, a fierce sense of purpose. Whatever lies ahead in the United Region, he's ready to face it.
Here is the first chapter, and for this chapter, we begin the story of the Prince Ash and Princess Lillie. I hope you like it and the next chapter will be the route to United Region.