Chapter 12

Chloe's parents had been successfully rescued, thanks to Ash and Lillie. Like Chloe, they were transformed into Aura users, specifically Electric Aura users. To help them adapt to their newfound abilities, Ash enlisted his uncle Paris and the former Kalos Champion Diantha to train the family.

Now, Chloe was sitting with Ash and Lillie at the Honey Café, enjoying a moment of calm over desserts. Despite the pleasant atmosphere, Chloe's unease lingered.

"Are you sure everyone in this region won't try to kill me if I just walk around like nothing happened?" Chloe asked, poking at her slice of cake with a fork.

Lillie smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry, Chloe. Everyone here can sense your Aura, which means they recognize you as one of us. But it's still dangerous for you to wander around on your own since you're new here. We'll need to keep an eye on you, at least for now. Aura users are like any other group of people—some are good, some are bad. If something happened to you because of the bad ones, it would reflect badly on all of us."

Chloe frowned, her thoughts swirling. After a moment, she hesitated before asking, "What about Goh? Did you… execute him already?"

Ash leaned back in his chair, his expression calm but tinged with a hint of disdain. "Oh, Goh's still locked up in the Dark Dungeon. He's probably spending all his time thinking about how to escape or find you."

Chloe blinked, surprised by his casual tone. "But why keep him alive? Didn't you two work together as partners? You should at least… care a little, right?"

Ash chuckled, though there was no humor in it. "Chloe, let me tell you the truth. Even when we worked together, I didn't like him at all."

His bluntness left Chloe staring at him in confusion. "Why not?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Ash sighed, leaning forward and resting his arms on the table. "You have no idea how many times I had to clean up his messes. He captured Pokémon left and right without training them, all to fill his Pokédex. And he made it worse when he… killed Alice, one of my Elite Four members."

Chloe's breath hitched. "He… killed Alice? How?"

Ash's jaw tightened. "It wasn't intentional," he admitted, though his tone remained cold. "But his reckless actions in battle caused a chain reaction that got her killed. That's something I'll never forgive. Alice was more than a member of my team—she was family. Losing her because of his carelessness…"

Insey walked into the Honey Café dressed in a maid outfit, her expression cheerful. "If you didn't know, Lillie is about to take on her role officially. And as a princess, I'm sure she'll do an amazing job."

Chloe blinked, glancing at Insey's outfit. "Wait… are you working here?"

Insey smiled and gave a small twirl. "That's right. The Honey Café is a maid café, and we sell the best desserts around. I'm the owner, though my siblings pitch in when they can."

Ash leaned back with a grin. "True. Meanwhile, Lillie and I run the biggest corporation in the region: the RPA Company. We provide resources to Aura users, and in return, they help us fight against our common enemy."

Chloe nodded, her curiosity piqued. "I see. You mentioned that Dawn and Serena are part of your group too. How do you manage to split your time between everything?"

Lillie's smile faded slightly, her gaze turning distant. "It's… not an easy story to tell. That time also marked my first kill."

Chloe froze, her voice hesitant. "Your… first kill? How old were you?"

"Seven," Lillie replied matter-of-factly. Then, glancing at Ash, she added, "Ash had his first kill when he was four."

Chloe's face turned pale, a shiver running through her.

"We don't like killing," Ash said, his tone firm yet resigned. "But this is the reality of the world we live in. Cruel, yet beautiful. In this world, it's simple: fight or die, win and live. That's what I've come to believe."

Lillie looked at Chloe, her expression softening but tinged with sorrow. "When I faced my first kill, I couldn't do it. My first target was strangling Ash, trying to take his life. I froze… but then I remembered all the times I had seen similar things. Over and over. That was the moment I realized…" She paused, her voice dropping to a whisper. "We live in a cruel world after all."

"Wow…" Chloe murmured, her voice trembling. "I don't think I'd ever have the courage to actually kill someone… even though I've seen so much death. I mean, I've even had blood sprayed on me before, but… taking a life? I just can't imagine it."

Lillie gave her a small, understanding smile. "That's why you're a good person, Chloe. But being good can make you vulnerable in this world. It would be tragic if someone like you were killed because of that goodness."

Chloe bit her lip, processing Lillie's words. Then a thought struck her, and she looked up. "What about Leon? What are you planning to do with him?"

Ash leaned back, his expression contemplative. "Leon's been working with us to find a way to end this conflict without using the Rumbling. He's one of the rare people willing to sacrifice everything—even his own blood—for devils like us."

"Yeah…" Chloe frowned, her thoughts a tangle of confusion. She couldn't tell what was right or wrong anymore, who was an enemy, and who was an ally. After a moment of silence, she glanced at Ash. "And you mentioned something earlier… you said you used to be N and Alain. What did you mean by that?"

Ash nodded, his gaze distant as he recalled his past. "It's true. In a way, I've lived as both N and Alain. In the Kalos League, it felt like I was battling myself. But unlike N, who infiltrated Team Plasma to bring them down, Alain fully committed to Team Flare's cause—until the attack on Lumiose City made him see the truth."

Lillie reached out, placing a comforting hand on his arm. "I still remember how much you blamed yourself for everything that happened back then."

Ash sighed, a flicker of regret crossing his face. "It's something I'll never forget… or forgive myself for."

The three fell into a contemplative silence as they finished their desserts. Finally, Ash stood, his expression resolute. "I'm heading to the Dark Dungeon. I need to speak with Goh."

Chloe and Lillie exchanged glances, but neither said a word. Chloe watched as Ash walked out, his figure disappearing into the distance. She couldn't help but wonder what he planned to say—or do—to Goh.

Goh glared at Ash from behind the bars, his voice trembling with fury. "You! What have you done with Chloe?!"

Ash's eyes narrowed, his tone cold and unyielding. "Why do you care what happened to her?"

"You bastard!" Goh yelled, his knuckles whitening as he gripped the bars. "First, you showed up at our lab, pretending to be one of us. That got my parents killed and my Pokémon stolen! Then you reappeared at Wyndon Stadium, killing more of our friends! And now you've probably tortured or killed Chloe too!"

Ash's expression darkened, his voice sharp. "You're wrong. I would never kill Chloe. Her family took me in despite knowing I was an Aura user, and I owe them for that. I was too late to save Professor Kukui and his family, and I'm not making the same mistake again."

"Then what did you do to her?!" Goh demanded, his voice cracking with desperation.

Ash's reply was calm, but it cut like ice. "What do you think? I gave Chloe and her family protection from the governments that would have killed them. The only way to ensure their safety was to make them one of us."

Goh's eyes widened in shock, his voice faltering. "You… you made Chloe… an Aura user?"

"That's right," Ash said, his voice unyielding. "Chloe isn't the same girl you used to know. She's one of us now. Or, as you'd call it, a devil."

The horror on Goh's face was unmistakable. He stumbled back slightly, gripping the bars tightly as if to steady himself. Before he could say another word, the door behind Ash creaked open, and Lillie stepped in, guiding Chloe into the room.

Chloe stepped forward hesitantly, meeting Goh's stunned gaze. "It's true," she said softly.

"Chloe!" Goh shouted, his voice rising in panic. "What is he talking about? You… you've become an Aura user?!"

Chloe looked away, her voice tinged with guilt. "I'm sorry, Goh. But ever since Ash was exposed as an Aura user, I've started questioning everything. Is killing Aura users really the right choice? Is it really justice?"

"What are you talking about?!" Goh shouted, gripping the bars tightly. "Did you forget how many people they've killed—including my parents? And did you forget Ash stealing Suicune and Regieleki?!" His voice trembled with a mix of anger and betrayal. "And now you're joining their side! How could you do this?!"

Chloe's fists clenched at her sides, her voice rising in frustration. "Without them, my family would've been killed!" she snapped. "Ash was our lab partner for a year, and that alone was enough for the Kanto Government to target and condemn us."

"And that's why I've been fighting against them!" Goh shouted back. "I've been trying to protect you all this time! You're the only family I have left, Chloe. I can't let those Aura users get away with what they've done!"

Chloe's anger boiled over. She raised her hand, placing it against the metal bars. A surge of electricity crackled from her fingers, zapping Goh and sending him stumbling backward to the ground. He looked up at her in shock.

"You need to calm down, Goh," Chloe said firmly, her voice steady but laced with frustration. "Ash has every right to hate us, just like we have every right to hate him. But if we keep feeding this hate, when will it ever end? Ash is capable of unleashing the Rumbling. Have you even considered what would happen if he decided to activate it right now?"

Goh sat up, wincing, his expression conflicted. He knew how devastating the Legendary and Mythical Pokémon could be, especially under Ash's control. His anger wavered, replaced by the grim reality of their situation.

Lillie stepped forward, her tone calm but pointed. "And let's not forget, Goh—your family wasn't killed by Aura users. They were victims of the corrupted people in your own government. As for Suicune and Regieleki, Ash didn't steal them. They joined him willingly because he's the Grand Aura User. If you hadn't betrayed him, he wouldn't have needed to take them in the first place. And yes," she added, her eyes narrowing, "he released them afterward."

"R-released?" Goh gasped. "You… released Suicune and Regieleki?"

Ash crossed his arms, his voice cold but deliberate. "Unless they want me to capture them, I release every Pokémon I've taken from bad or evil trainers. The moment you turned against me, Goh, you gave me every reason to take and release your Legendary Pokémon."

He stepped closer, his gaze piercing. "Enjoy your time here in this cell. Maybe you'll be saved. Maybe you won't. That depends entirely on you—on what you choose to do and how you choose to act."

Ash turned and began to walk away, Lillie following close behind. Before leaving, Chloe hesitated, looking back at Goh one last time. "I'm sorry, Goh," she said quietly. "But I've made my decision. I'm standing with Ash. Aura users aren't the real enemy—they're just trying to survive."

Her words cut deep, and as she walked out of the room, Goh scrambled to his feet, gripping the bars desperately. "Wait, Chloe! Don't leave me! Come back!"

But it was too late. The door slammed shut behind her, leaving Goh alone in the cold, dark cell, his cries echoing in the silence.

In the frozen Alola Region, Gary stepped into the Pokémon School, the cold air biting at his skin. He looked around, the landscape unrecognizable from the warm tropical paradise it once was. "I still can't believe Alola feels like an ice age," Gary muttered. "This place used to be a tropical haven."

Samson Oak, his grandfather's cousin, sighed heavily. "We were cursed by the Ice-Type Aura Users," he said, his voice tinged with bitterness. "That's why Alola has been frozen over."

"Ice-Type Aura Users…" Gary trailed off, a memory surfacing. He recalled Ash mentioning that Lillie, Dawn, and Serena were Ice-Type Aura Users. Samson frowned as if reading Gary's mind. "If I had to guess, it's probably Lillie's doing," Samson continued. "She always had a fondness for Ice-types. I remember how she chose the Alolan Vulpix over the Kantonian one back when she was in class."

Gary frowned deeply, memories of the Wyndon attack flashing in his mind. Ash's words from that fateful day echoed in his thoughts:

That's right. If anything, we are the bad guys here. We might destroy the world. You guys were taught that everyone capable of using Aura was a devil. You were children—what could you even do?

A heavy dread settled in Gary's chest. He hesitated before asking, "Grandpa Samson… do you think I made the right choice by helping the Kanto Government kill Ash's mother?"

Samson's expression hardened. "And why are you questioning it now? You helped the World Alliance by doing so. Isn't that what matters?"

Gary's shoulders slumped as guilt tugged at him. "But before I knew Ash was an Aura User… we were childhood friends," he admitted, his voice wavering. "We played together, laughed together. It's hard to reconcile that with what's happened. Maybe if I hadn't turned my back on him, Ash wouldn't have become so cold-blooded. Maybe he wouldn't have attacked Wyndon Stadium. Maybe Lillie wouldn't have turned the entire Alola Region into a frozen wasteland…"

Samson's frown deepened. He remembered Ash and Lillie from their days at the Pokémon School—bright, eager kids who were nothing like the hardened individuals they had become. Samson sighed. "Ash and Lillie… they were good kids once," he said softly. "But the world you grew up in, Gary, shaped all of you into what you are now."

Gary looked away, the weight of his choices bearing down on him. For the first time, he truly began to question whether the world they were trying to protect was worth the sacrifices they had made—and the people they had lost. Samson sighed and leaned back in his chair, the weight of the years showing on his face. "Then let me ask you a question, Gary. Do you really think Aura users are devils, as we've always been taught?"

Gary hesitated, his gaze falling to the ground. "Some of them might be devils," he admitted, "but… there are good people too. Even though they have special powers, they're still like us in many ways." He paused, his voice dropping to a whisper. "I don't know what's right or wrong anymore. Sometimes… I just want to escape all of this, even if it means killing myself."

Samson's expression softened. "Gary…" He paused, then spoke carefully. "Did Samuel ever tell you about my father? Do you know how he died?"

Gary blinked, confused. "No… What happened to him?"

Samson sighed heavily. "My father… he was a teacher. One day, he was teaching a history class, covering the Great Kalos War from 3,000 years ago and the great escape of the Aura Users 2,000 years ago. I had doubts even then, and I asked him a question in class. He avoided answering it, ending the lesson as if nothing had happened."

Gary tilted his head, curiosity piqued. "What was the question?"

Samson looked at him, his voice solemn. "I asked him, Are all Aura users really the enemies of humanity?"

Gary stayed silent, waiting for him to continue.

Samson's gaze turned distant as he recounted the memory. "When we got home, he answered me in private. He told me the history books provided by the government were full of contradictions and mysteries. He believed that Aura users might not be enemies at all—if we took the time to understand them. He shared stories about how Aura users had saved lives. Stories like Sir Aaron, who sacrificed himself to save the Rota Kingdom. It was incredible. Even as a child, I was astounded by what he told me."

Samson paused, his face clouded with regret. "But there was a reason he didn't share those stories with the whole class. I didn't realize it at the time, and being a foolish child, I started repeating those stories to other kids at school. Eventually, a member of the Kanto military came to question me."

Samson clenched his fists. "My father didn't come home that day. He was killed in what the government called an 'accident' in Vermilion City. But I knew the truth. He was murdered—for daring to question the narrative."

Gary's eyes widened, the revelation hitting him like a punch to the gut. "He… he was killed? By the government?"

Samson nodded, his voice heavy with sorrow. "Ever since that day, I've wondered—why did my father have to die for the simple act of seeking the truth? The people in power claim they're protecting humanity, but they're really just protecting their gardens, their houses, their lands. Anyone who threatens their authority, whether it's an Aura user or an ordinary man, is treated the same. In the end, my father's death wasn't about justice or righteousness. It was about greed and fear. And it was caused, in part, by the foolishness of his own son."

Gary stared at his granduncle, his heart pounding. "But… why does my grandfather—Professor Oak—believe the lies of the Kanto Government? He hates Aura users too. Is it because of greed?"

Samson shook his head. "Let me ask you this: before Ash was exposed, did Samuel ever treat him poorly? Did he do anything to harm him?"

Gary thought for a moment, then shook his head. "No… He treated Ash like family. Like his own grandson, even."

Samson nodded knowingly. "That's because he knows better than to argue with the government. He saw what happened to my father and refused to make the same mistake. He didn't want to lose more family to their corruption. That's why he lied to you. To protect you—and Ash—as best as he could."

Gary fell silent, his mind racing with conflicting emotions. He nodded slowly, absorbing Samson's words. For the first time, he began to see the depth of the lies he'd grown up with—and the sacrifices others had made to shield him from the truth.

Here is a new chapter, and in this chapter, it is the calm before the storm. Chloe sees Goh and tells him the truth of her thoughts, and so is Ash. I hope you like this chapter and the next chapter will begin the war.