The Star Champion was standing in front of her, facing May. He was here to help Misty and Bea and now, he was also here to fight May. In her eyes, Ash was someone who came late when he was needed the most. May couldn't help but feel angry at him as a result, unable to hide her resentment.

She felt like if he was there back then, she would've had her home and wouldn't be here now, forced to be in the Auravale Empire. She had to suffer so much, so she couldn't help but hate Ash for not showing up back then.

"Why did you show up now?!" May questioned. "Why did you wait until now?!"

"It's...a long story." Ash replied. "There are a lot of reasons, and it's not easy to explain it all in one breath."

"Shut up!" May growled. "Blaziken, Flare Blitz!"

Blaziken charged forward, igniting itself with fiery aura. The Fire Pokemon was engulfed in flames before rushing towards Ash and Pikachu who were prepared for it.

"Hm. Use Quick Attack!" Ash commanded. Pikachu launched itself forward, rushing straight at Blaziken who was approaching them. Before the Flare Blitz could make contact, Pikachu ran across the flames, moving quickly across the ground, managing to avoid Blaziken's attack and running around it.

"Pika!" Pikachu then jumped onto Blaziken's back, jumping off it and hitting it with a Thunderbolt which struck its body. It caused Blaziken to cry out and fall back, falling to the ground. Ash followed up by having Pikachu unleash a powerful Electroweb which was shot down on Blaziken, trapping it inside the net.

"Gh...! No way...!" May gasped. "Blaziken! Flamethrower!"

"Use Iron Tail!" Ash commanded.

"Pika!" Pikachu launched itself into the air, using its tail to strike the flame and slicing it in half before then using Iron Tail against Blaziken's face. This caused the Fire-Fighting Type to recoil back and cry out in pain.

"Use Brick Break!" May countered.

"Use Volt Tackle!" Ash commanded.

Before Blaziken could swing its fist, Pikachu charged forward, striking Blaziken head-on. The electric force that followed after pushed Blaziken back as well, but it wasn't enough to defeat it. It still managed to land back on its feet, staring right at Ash and Pikachu.

"This strength is ludicrous...!" May grit her teeth. "I won't be defeated here! I'm not done yet! Blaze Kick!"

Blaziken's body would light up, igniting itself with a powerful flaming kick. Pikachu and Ash were left to dodge this attack as they jumped aside, getting away from Blaziken's incoming attack.

"Pikachu, use Iron Tail!" Ash commanded. Pikachu's tail glowed white, leaping into the air and bringing its tail down on Blaziken's head, pushing it into the ground. May gasped at this, seeing her Pokemon being overwhelmed by Ash and his Pikachu.

"No way..." May clenched her hands, gritting her teeth. She couldn't believe she was losing to someone like Ash, but he was far stronger than she imagined.

"We're not done yet! Use Quick Attack!" Pikachu rushed forward, running around Blaziken, hitting it rapidly with a flurry of blows before kicking it into the air. "Now! Use Thunderbolt!"

Pikachu fired a bolt of lightning, striking Blaziken while it was still in the air, causing it to crash down to the ground. Blaziken was left lying there, knocked out from the sheer force of the attack. Ash and Pikachu stood their ground, watching as Blaziken fell.

Blaziken groaned when getting back up, bewildered by the stellar strength Pikachu possessed. May clenched her teeth and hands at such strength that was easily overtaking her, however, she wasn't about to lose here. Not until she's let all of her anger out.

"Do you have any idea how long I've been praying for you to show up?! How many of my people back home have been praying for you to show up?!" May shouted. "You weren't there! You never came! I had no choice but to free myself and choose this path! Blaziken! Blaze Kick!"

Her rage burned brighter, prompting Blaziken's flames to increase dramatically. By smashing its foot on the ground with flames, it created an explosion which sent a massive wave of flames forward.

"Use Volt Tackle!" Ash commanded.

"Pika!" Pikachu rushed forward, using Volt Tackle as it charged through the flames, managing to break through them and get close to Blaziken. Pikachu would jump into the air, spinning around and slamming its tail against Blaziken's face.

Blaziken grunted, taking the hit before jumping back and unleashing another fiery kick. This time, it was a direct hit as the flames engulfed Pikachu's body. The Electric Mouse cried out a bit before sliding on the ground.

"Keep up the pressure, Blaziken! Crush him!" May roared as her blazing aura began showing itself again. Her flames were growing stronger, burning more intensely. The heat was becoming so intense that Ash could feel it from where he was standing.

May's power was increasing dramatically, forcing Ash to raise his hand. He was going to stop this before it got out of hand. "Pikachu, use Electroweb!"

Pikachu quickly fired a web of electricity from its mouth, trapping Blaziken in place. The Fire-Fighting Type was trapped in the net, unable to move. However, all it took was an eruption of flames to burn the web down. The ground would shake at the force of flames erupting from below.

The ground was scorched and burned, the fire spreading rapidly across the grass. Ash widened his eyes, seeing the flames rising from the ground. It was enough to make him take a step back. "Oh?"

"For hours and hours, months upon months, I tried having faith in you. I heard stories about how the Star Champion would come and save us all, but that never happened. It was so stupid of me to rely on something like that..." May clenched her hands while her blazing aura kept on rising, heating up the area. "I kept saying to myself and everyone who was scared, the Star Champion will come. He'll be here soon. But you never came! You were never there when we needed you!"

"That's..." Ash was about to speak.

"It was all just a lie! A big fat lie! I had to count on myself if I wanted to be saved!" May's rage burned bright as her flames grew more powerful. They were hotter than anything else, growing far too dangerous to ignore.

Ash narrowed his eyes as his Aura automatically shielded him and Pikachu from the intense heat. Even Pikachu was feeling the heat from May's flames as the nearby water was beginning to boil. The trees were set ablaze and the rocks were being melted by the sheer intensity of the heat.

"You're no hero in my eyes!" May would then put her hands together, channelling an intense amount of Aura into one space. She was going to unleash an extremely powerful attack. "Blaziken! Use Flare Blitz!"

"Pikachu! Use Volt Tackle!" Ash commanded.

Pikachu charged forward, using Volt Tackle as it clashed with Blaziken's own attack. The two attacks collided, creating a powerful blast that would send shockwaves across the entire area. Pikachu and Blaziken began trying to push each other back, their bodies glowing brightly from the immense power they were exerting.

The ground beneath them cracked and broke apart from the force of their combined strength. Ash and May both held their ground, keeping themselves steady. May's anger was still fueling her, causing her flames to grow stronger.

The flames were so intense that Ash could feel them even through his Aura Shield, which was something he had never felt before. It was so hot that it was melting the rocks around them, burning the grass, and setting the trees on fire.

May's emotions were so strong that she was able to channel it into her fire. It was clear that this girl had been holding a lot of pent up anger towards Ash and his lack of appearance, and now she was letting it all out.

Ash could tell that May wasn't going to give up anytime soon. Her anger was so great that it was almost blinding her from the truth. He knew he had to stop her before things got any worse. He saw how the force of these flames were spreading so fast that innocents from afar could easily be caught up.

"May..." Ash would speak to May who had tears forming on her face. He saw how she let out all of her anger, venting to her hearts content. "I'm sorry. Truth is, for everyone else out there that wished for me to show up, I wish I showed up way sooner."

"...?" May gasped once those words were said.

"All that faith you had in me to show up, I wish I could go back and do just that. But I can't. Even though I can't go back, I can focus on now and make right. That's why I'm here now. I don't want anyone else to suffer because of what happened in the past. You shouldn't have to suffer anymore. Not when you're with the Empire."

"What...?"

"But...I can't let you hurt others just because of what happened to you." His eyes would then intensify. "I swear that I'll save you, just like how I promise to save everyone else."

"You...!"

"Hm." Ash would then close his eyes before channelling his own Aura. But his was far more gentle and calm. Ash gathered a huge flow of Aura into one spot while raising his arms. The Aura would crackle around Pikachu and the surrounding area, causing May to look around her. "Pikachu! Use Thunderbolt!"

"Pika!" Pikachu unleashed a powerful bolt of lightning from its body, striking Blaziken with the attack. Blaziken was struck by the electric force of the attack, causing it to cry out, but that wasn't all. The force of the attack also let out an azure flash that rapidly spread across the surrounding area in seconds, engulfing everything including May and her Pokemon.

"W-What is this?!" May gasped.

"This is my Aura." Ash answered. "Aura is a power that is held by every living being. It's the source of our life force, and it's something that binds us together as one. Everyone has a different Aura depending on their personality and emotions. Your emotions are what fuels your Aura, and it's what makes it so strong. However, it's not the only thing that gives you strength. It's not the only thing that keeps you going. There's something else that does that."

May widened her eyes, seeing Ash's aura slowly calming down as it began to surround her. She felt it gently touching her skin, giving her a warm feeling. She would then receive memories of her time as a captive slave of the Auravale Empire when they came to her town.

She remembered how she was forced to fight for them and how she had to kill people who didn't want to join them. She remembered how she had to endure so much pain and suffering that it broke her spirit.

May was broken after enduring all of that, but she managed to find a way to free herself. Her heart was filled with anger and hatred towards the Empire. Those feelings helped fuel her desire to get stronger and escape from their clutches.

She was able to use her own emotions to help her overcome the hardships that came with becoming a Commander. She used her anger as a means of motivation to grow stronger. Her hatred towards the Empire allowed her to become a powerful warrior capable of defeating anyone who opposed her.

She did what she could, especially for the children of Petalburg who she had a bond with. She could remember it now. The day they were also enslaved and how May promised them that the Star Champion would come. But he never came and thus, they were trapped. It wasn't until May became a soldier of the Auravale Empire, gradually rising up the ranks which ended up making her turn the children into soldiers as well.

They were given no choice, forced to do whatever May commanded them to do. They had no choice but to obey her, or else they'd be punished. May saw the fear in their eyes and how they looked at her with such sadness.

It made her feel horrible inside, yet she couldn't stop herself from doing this. She was still angry at Ash for not showing up and she wanted to take it out on him. But there was something else. A small part of her that felt guilty for doing this.

"I...didn't want to do this..." May said, holding her hands together. "But I had no choice...I had to do this in order to survive. I had to become strong enough to protect everyone."

"You're not alone." Ash stated. "There are others like you. People who suffered under the Empire's rule, just like you. They all have the same anger and hatred towards the Empire, but they don't let it consume them. Instead, they use it as a way to grow stronger and fight back against the Empire."

"The Empire...they took everything away from me." May clenched her teeth, tears falling down her face. She got on all fours, clenching the grass and looking up at Ash who would walk over to him. Blaziken had fallen over, turning its head to see its trainer in such a vulnerable state. "My home, my friends, and family...all gone! Because of them!"

"I know. And I'm sorry for not being there when you needed me." Ash apologized. "But I promise to make things right. I'll bring freedom to all those who are suffering under the Empire's rule. That's why I need your help, May. Will you join me?"

"What...?" May gasped.

"Join us and fight alongside us. We can stop the Empire together." Ash extended his hand out to May. "Will you help us save everyone from the Empire?"

May stared at Ash, looking at his hand. She couldn't believe what she was hearing, but she could tell that Ash was being sincere about it. He genuinely wanted to help her and the others who were suffering from the Empire's tyranny.

"Even so...they're far too powerful. I've seen it myself..." May would then get back up, looking away from Ash before returning Blaziken to its Poke Ball. "I can't leave it. Not with the kind of power they possess." Even after that talk, May couldn't bring herself to leave the Auravale Empire, however, she saw true honesty in Ash's words, no doubt.

Either way, she was defeated and lacked the strength to carry on. She finally got a chance to speak with the Star Champion and his words rang through her with great effectiveness.

"But if you believe you can defeat them...then I'll try and put my faith in your again." Once more, she put her faith in the Star Champion. May felt it to be rather foolish considering he took so long to show up last time, but now that he was here, perhaps she would have some faith in him once more.

"Thanks" Ash nodded. "You won't regret this. I promise I'll hep everyone and even get your parents back for sure."

"?!" She was stunned. How did he know about her missing parents? Perhaps it was his Aura that allowed him to see into her past and what troubled her. "...I'll tell you about the best way out of this place. There's a passageway here that leads to the Kanto Region. We've been secretly taken that passageway without Kanto even knowing. Use that."

She decided to reveal that secret to the Star Champion while looking away from him. May was still conflicted but she did want to have that faith and hope. Ash nodded, understanding May's decision as he watched the commander walk away.

It didn't take long for Misty and Bea to reunite with the others, safe and sound. Bea was being healed up at the moment by Nessa, who had wrapped a bandage around her injured arm for the time being. Returning here as well was Ash alongside his Pikachu as everyone had wide smiles on their fas seeing the Star Champion show up.

"Star Champion!" Nessa said with elation in her voice. "I assume you have succeeded in defeating her?!"

"Yeah. I did." Ash nodded. "But we'll be seeing her again, I bet. For now, we've got our ticket out of here. There's a passageway we can use."

Music to the people's ears, they were all ready to leave this place behind. But it wasn't going to be easy since there were still Masked Men out there. They were still in the camp, trying to find the others. However, they wouldn't be a problem anymore. Ash instructed them all on where to go before the Masked Men could show up. And even if they do show up, Ash could most definitely take care of them without an issue.

The people were led to the lower sections of this vast area, finding the passageway that would lead them to safety. It was a tunnel that was hidden beneath the ground. The entrance was sealed off with gigantic rocks, but with Ash's help, they would be able to move them aside.

Once they were gone, the passageway was revealed. Brock and Goh would lead the way, taking everyone down the passageway. And in that passageway, a bright light would show, revealing that this place did in fact lead to the Kanto Region as the rays of the Sun shined through.

The people would cheer with absolute glee once they finally reached the Kanto Region. A region that was free from the Auravale Empire. They rejoiced, feeling the beautiful lush grass beneath their feet. This was a feeling they hadn't felt in a long time, and it was truly something special.

"Finally...Freedom!" An old man said, sobbing with his knees on the ground as he was then hugged by his grandchildren. Everyone was celebrating their newfound freedom, crying tears of joy.

"We're free! We're free!" One of the children cried out happily. "We can finally live freely now!"

"Thank you! Thank you, Star Champion!" Another woman thanked him. "You saved us all!"

"We're no longer slaves!" A young man said, hugging his girlfriend. "I can't believe it!"

"Hm." A wonderful sight to behold indeed as Ash would not at it. But he was also thinking about May and how he wished for her to feel like this. Along with her town and region someday.

Now that they were free, the people would stay around here for a while, taking their time to relax and recollect themselves after those grueling and cruel moments beat them down for so long. They were free to do whatever they wanted, which meant they could go anywhere they wanted.

However, they weren't going to go far since they had nowhere to go. They were refugees without a home to call their own. That is until Brock and Misty, the two Pokemon Lords of Kanto offered that they stay here. Naturally, they accepted.

They couldn't return to their own region right now since it was under the control of the Auravale Empire, so in the meantime, the Kanto Region was their safe haven.

"They'll be safe here, no doubt." Misty winked at Ash and the others. "They'll get homes and all the food and water they can have to themselves. And now that we're back here, we can make a report to our superiors. The Pokemon Sovereign."

"Speaking of which, he'll probably like to see you, Star Champion." Brock added, bringing up the strong possibility of this region's Pokemon Sovereign wanting to see the Star Champion. News of him spread fast after all and with Kanto being one of the few regions untouched by the Auravale Empire's control, it was only natural that the Pokemon Sovereign would want to meet him.

"Well, I guess we better get going then." Ash said, ready to leave. Nessa and Bea would obviously come with him but then there was Goh, who already had his issues with being in the Kanto Region. "Goh."

"Um...You can all go on ahead." Goh scrunched his face, putting his hands together. "I'm gonna stay here for a while."

"What?" Brock questioned. "Why? What's wrong?"

"It's nothing. It's just..." Goh sighed. "I don't think I wanna go further into Kanto just yet. Not when I've got other things to take care of. So, I'll be staying here for a bit. I can stick around in this field for a while, no problem."

"Are you sure?" Nessa asked, wondering if her friend was alright.

"Mhm."

"If that's what you want, then so be it." Misty understood, knowing that Goh needed some time to himself. "We'll see you again soon."

"Yeah. See ya." Goh waved goodbye.

The group would then split up as Ash and the girls would head off while Goh stayed behind. Brock and Misty would stay with the people, making sure that they were safe and well taken care of.