Chapter 1
Located within the heart of the Kanto Region, the imposing Team Rocket headquarters still stands tall. Giovanni, the enigmatic boss of the notorious organization, sits in his dimly lit office. On the screen, breaking news flashes, showcasing Ash's astonishing victory against the seemingly unbeatable Galar Champion, Leon.
"That boy even manages to defeat someone considered undefeatable... Team Rocket cannot allow someone like him to thwart our plans," Giovanni mutters to himself, his gaze never wavering from the screen.
Hounded by the relentless trio of Jessie, James, and Meowth, Giovanni has learned that Ash Ketchum now attends the prestigious Naranja Academy in the distant Paldea Region. Over the past year, he's gathered a team of brilliant scientists, all focused on devising a scheme to shatter Ash's seemingly charmed life.
Today marks Ash's graduation from the Academy, a significant moment in the young trainer's journey. A Team Rocket grunt rushes into Giovanni's office and bows respectfully. "Sir, the cannons are ready," he reports with an air of urgency.
Giovanni's lips curl into a sly grin. "Excellent. If the information from our agents is accurate, Ash Ketchum must have returned to Pallet Town by now. Inform the others to commence firing the cannons immediately. We cannot afford to waste any more time."
Inside the stasis tank, a girl growls in pain as she feels her aura being absorbed. The tubes wrapped around her limbs and torso pulse with an eerie purple glow, siphoning her energy and channeling it into the massive cannons stationed outside. Her breath comes in ragged gasps, her fingers twitching against the cold glass, but the restraints hold firm.
"Fire now!" the grunt commands. From the cannons stationed across Team Rocket's stronghold, eerie purple clouds emerge, slowly billowing into the sky. They thicken as they ascend, eventually shrouding the entire world in an ominous, suffocating haze.
Giovanni gazes out the window, satisfaction evident in his eyes. "It's a pity that Aura Guardians won't be affected by such tactics," he muses aloud, his voice dripping with sinister delight. "But it matters not. There are countless others who will feel the consequences of my actions. Ash Ketchum, consider this a lesson for meddling with me."
A wicked laugh escapes Giovanni's lips as he revels in the belief that his plan is unfolding flawlessly.
After a long and eventful journey, Ash Ketchum finally returns to his hometown of Pallet Town following his graduation from the Naranja Academy. As he steps off the bus, a sense of confusion washes over him when he notices the strange purple clouds looming in the sky. He mutters to himself, "Where did these clouds come from? I just hope it's not a sign of something terrible..."
Suddenly, Pikachu leaps off Ash's shoulder and darts ahead, its instincts guiding it. "Pikachu? What's going on?" Ash calls out, concern etching his features.
Pikachu remains silent, its demeanor unusually serious. Ash can't help but feel a pang of worry as he follows his faithful partner inside his childhood home.
The moment he steps into town, a shiver runs down his spine. A pair of Rattata lurking in the shadows narrow their eyes at him, their fur bristling with aggression. A flock of Pidgey perched on a nearby fence glare in his direction, their beady eyes sharp with hostility.
"What's wrong with everyone?" Ash murmurs, scanning the streets. The usual warmth of Pallet Town feels absent, replaced by an unsettling tension.
Then, without warning, a Growlithe lunges at him, its fangs bared and flames crackling in its throat. Ash barely sidesteps in time, stumbling backward. "Whoa! Hey, I didn't mean to startle you!" He throws his hands up defensively, trying to calm the Pokémon down, but its growl only deepens.
Before he can process what's happening, a Butterfree swoops down, releasing a cloud of Sleep Powder. Ash quickly covers his mouth and dives away, narrowly avoiding the spores. A sudden gust of wind forces him to roll to the side as a Fearow screeches and dives at him, talons outstretched.
"Pikachu, what's going on? Why are they attacking me?" Ash exclaims, his heart pounding.
His partner remains silent, keeping its body tense.
Realization dawns on Ash as he dodges another attack, this time from a furious Persian. Could they see him as an enemy? Had he unknowingly entered their territory?
"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to intrude!" he shouts, his voice laced with urgency. He takes a step back, careful not to provoke them further, before turning on his heel and dashing away. The air is thick with tension as he weaves through the town, avoiding hostile Pokémon at every turn.
Something was definitely wrong. This wasn't just a misunderstanding—something had changed in Pallet Town. Once he opens the door, to his astonishment, he finds all of his friends from various regions gathered in the living room.
"Guys? What's happening here?" Ash asks, his confusion deepening. However, the presence of Professor Oak and the somber expressions on his friends' faces convey that something significant is unfolding. Professor Oak steps forward, his voice laden with gravity. "Ash, we need to talk," he says firmly.
Ash furrows his brow, now fully aware that this is no ordinary visit. "About what?" he inquires, growing increasingly anxious. Pikachu, always attuned to Ash's emotions, quietly joins Delia's side, a subtle signal of the importance of the impending discussion.
Brock's voice trembles with a mix of disappointment and anger as he speaks his mind. "How could you do this, Ash? You've resorted to cheating your way to victory against the undefeatable Champion!"
Misty's frustration echoes Brock's sentiment. "Yeah, it's pretty low to use underhanded tactics just to win," she chimes in.
Ash gasps, caught off guard by his friends' accusations. He stammers, "Wait, that was over a year ago! I didn't..."
Max's voice is tinged with disillusionment as he shares his feelings. "I used to look up to you, Ash, but you've let us down. How could you do that?"
"I've let you down?" Ash responds incredulously. "I've always helped you with Contests, Showcases, and battles. How could I have let any of you down?"
May's words are sharp as she counters Ash's defense. "You claimed to be teaching me about Contests, but then you lose the League, and you're not even great at Contests yourself. Don't try to shift the blame onto me for your own shortcomings."
Dawn's tone is equally firm. "May's right. You need to face the truth, Ash. You're not as perfect as you think."
Iris, with a condescending tone, belittles Ash. "You're just a little kid, Ash. No wonder most of your Pokémon can't evolve."
Cilan adds his criticism, his culinary metaphors underscoring his point. "Your battling lacks flavor, Ash, and it leaves a bitter and spicy taste in my mouth."
Serena's words cut deep, her frustration palpable. "I can't believe it, after all these years, I've fallen for a loser who can't win a league. Maybe you're the reason I can't beat Aria after all. My life feels like it's been ruined thanks to you." Ash's heart aches at her harsh words.
Clemont joins the chorus of disappointment. "Maybe you're the reason I can't create the perfect machine!"
Bonnie, the youngest among them, doesn't hold back either. She raises her voice in anger, her eyes welling up with tears. "Yeah, and Squishy might have to leave us because of you! You're just too weak!"
Kiawe's voice drips with disappointment as he speaks. "I always thought you were a strong trainer, but in the end, you're nothing."
Mallow's frustration is evident as she lashes out at Ash. "I can't believe I have to call a weakling like you my classmate. Did you cheat your way through Naranja Academy too, just like you cheat in battles?"
Lana, usually calm and collected, speaks with genuine concern. "We're not joking, Ash. How did someone like you even graduate from the best school in Paldea?"
Sophocles, ever the analytical thinker, adds his critique. "Maybe we could defeat you without breaking a sweat."
Lillie's voice is tinged with regret. "I can't believe I shared a class with you and even allowed you to stay at my home for a while."
Gladion, his voice filled with anger, explodes with blame. "Maybe if you hadn't shown up, my mom wouldn't have been taken away by Nihilego!"
Goh's words are filled with frustration. "And maybe, without you, I would have already caught Mew."
Chloe's tone is stern as she adds her thoughts. "You're causing problems for Dad and all of us as well."
Gary's harsh words cut deep into Ash's heart. "You've always been a loser, Ash. I don't know why I wasted my time playing with you when we were kids. Maybe it's better that you're gone."
Ash, unable to comprehend the situation, turns to Delia and Professor Oak, seeking their support. "Mom, Professor, you don't agree with them, right?"
Delia's response is cold and unyielding. "I agree with them."
Ash's voice quivers with disbelief. "Mom, you can't be serious, right?"
Delia's words pierce his heart as she continues, "You're a disgrace to the Ketchum family. If Red and I had known we would have a weak son who resorts to cheating to win championships, we might have made different choices." Ash breaks down in tears, overwhelmed by the weight of his friends and family's condemnation.
"I'm deeply disappointed in you, Ash," Professor Oak utters with a heavy heart. "I'm not sure why I placed my faith in you. Perhaps it's time you consider giving up on your dream and exploring other paths. Even your Pokémon seem to have lost faith in you."
Professor Oak opens the door, revealing Ash's Pokémon gathered outside. Ash is devastated as he gazes at them and mutters, "Don't tell me even you guys..."
To his dismay, even his loyal Pokémon nod in agreement, including Pikachu. Anger simmers within him, and he can't hold back his frustration any longer. "So even my Pokémon believe I'm weak? You don't think it's because of you that I've lost every time?"
Overwhelmed by a mix of anger and fury, Ash's voice trembles as he vents his frustration. "Is that what you all really think of me, huh? Then, to heck with all of you!" Ash yells before storming away, his emotions consuming him.
As Ash races through the streets, the once-supportive crowd turns hostile, treating him like a public enemy. People begin to attack him, hurling insults and calling him a loser. Ash's confusion mounts; he hasn't done anything to provoke such a reaction. Why are they all turning against him? His questions are swiftly answered when he sees a massive screen broadcasting the opinions of Champions from various regions.
"If Ash were to vanish, we might have less trouble for the International Police and the G-Man," Lance declares, his tone cold and unforgiving. "He's a harbinger of bad luck."
Wallace joins in, his disappointment evident. "I concur. Allowing him to participate in the Sinnoh Wallace Cup was a grave mistake. He couldn't even defeat a Meowth with Pikachu."
Cynthia adds her critique, her words cutting deep. "And let's not forget how he lost his Pignite to a Serperior, resorting to using four Pokémon to beat a Darkrai. He's become a disgrace."
Alder closes his eyes in disappointment, offering no words of comfort. Diantha, despite her harsh words, bears a look of sadness Ash can't comprehend. "Perhaps it's time for him to disappear," she says.
Leon, confident in his strength, voices his agreement. "My Charizard wouldn't lose any battle. Ash must have resorted to something unsavory to win."
Geeta, another Champion, adds to the condemnation. "He probably wouldn't have passed the Champion Assessment in the Paldea Region either."
The interview concludes, but the hostility lingers in the air like a storm waiting to break. Ash barely has time to process what just happened before the first can strikes his shoulder. The impact stings, and before he can react, another follows, bouncing off his chest. The metallic clang echoes in his ears as more objects—trash, bottles, whatever the crowd can find—are hurled in his direction.
"Get out of here!" someone shouts.
"Traitor!" another voice yells, full of venom.
Ash raises his arms to shield himself, but the verbal and physical assault does not cease. His breaths come in short, ragged bursts as he stumbles backward, his eyes darting around in search of an escape route. The faces surrounding him are twisted with anger and disgust, a far cry from the warmth he once knew in Pallet Town. These were the same people he had grown up with, the same ones who had once cheered him on in his journey. Now, they were united in their hatred.
And he was alone.
His Pokémon were gone. Pikachu, his partner, his best friend—the one who had been with him since the very beginning—was no longer by his side. The others had abandoned him too, their trust in him shattered. He was utterly defenseless.
A sharp pain jolts him back to reality as a rock strikes his leg. He grits his teeth, forcing his body to move. He breaks into a sprint, shoving past the mob. Every step feels heavier, the weight of his exhaustion and betrayal pressing down on him like an unbearable force.
But the crowd does not relent. Pokémon join the pursuit—wild and trained alike. A furious Arcanine bounds forward, its eyes filled with a rage Ash can't comprehend. A flock of Murkrow circles above, cawing in eerie unison, their sharp eyes locked onto him like prey. Even Pokémon he had once considered friends now saw him as an enemy.
His lungs burn as he races down the familiar streets, his mind screaming for answers. Why? Why was this happening? What had he done to deserve this?
His foot catches on a loose cobblestone, and he stumbles, barely managing to regain his balance before crashing into a fence. He turns a sharp corner, his only thought to escape, but the alley he enters is a dead end.
No.
He spins around, only to see the crowd closing in, their expressions unrelenting.
"You're not welcome here, Ketchum!"
His fists clench at his sides. Every fiber of his being screams at him to fight back, to demand answers, to make them listen. But deep down, he knows there is no reasoning with them. Not like this.
With no other option, Ash sprints toward the river. His legs ache, his vision blurs, but he keeps running. The mob is right behind him, their voices blending into a chaotic roar. Just a little further.
He reaches the riverbank, his chest rising and falling in frantic gasps. The water before him is deep and dark, but it offers his only chance of escape. He hesitates for just a second before steeling himself.
And then, without looking back, Ash plunges into the river. The cold rush swallows him whole, muffling the noise of the world above. For the first time since this nightmare began, there is silence.
But he is not safe yet.
This marks the beginning of "The Sevestar Prince." In this chapter, Giovanni employs the Control Clouds to manipulate people into saying things that confuse Ash and turn the world against him.