4. A New Ash Ketchum

Chapter 4

After years of challenging various Pokémon Leagues, Ash finally stands victorious, having won both the Alola and Paldea Leagues. But his greatest triumph comes when he defeats Leon, securing his title as the World Champion. With this monumental achievement, Ash returns home, his heart swelling with pride and joy.

As he steps into his home, Ash is greeted by a wave of familiar faces—Brock, Misty, Tracy, May, Max, Dawn, Iris, Cilan, Clemont, Bonnie, Kiawe, Mallow, Lana, Sophocles, Lillie, Reisa, Luke, Goh, Chloe, and of course, Alice—all gathered to celebrate his incredible accomplishment. The atmosphere is electric with excitement, everyone eager to share in Ash's moment of glory.

"By the way, where's Mom? I haven't seen her anywhere," Ash asks, looking around the lively room.

Alice steps forward with a warm smile. "Ms. Ketchum is out buying groceries. She's planning to cook a big feast to celebrate your victory. She should be back any minute."

"Speaking of celebrating, congratulations on becoming the World Champion," Reisa chimes in, her voice full of admiration. "It's no small feat to defeat the Champions, especially Leon."

"Thanks, Reisa. Pikachu and all my other Pokémon worked hard to get us here," Ash replies, his smile growing wider as he thinks of the battles they fought together.

As the group begins to settle into the party, discussing old memories and sharing laughs, Max's curiosity gets the better of him. He notices a door in the hallway, locked and seemingly out of place amidst the cheerful surroundings. "Hey, Ash! What's this room about?" he asks, pointing to the door.

A sudden tension fills the room as Ash, Dawn, Lillie, Alice, Reisa, and Luke flinch, their expressions darkening slightly. They know all too well what lies behind that door—the secret base of Team Alpha, a place filled with memories that are anything but celebratory.

Ash takes a deep breath before responding, his voice subdued. "I'd rather not talk about that room, Max. It brings back bad memories."

Clemont, sensing the shift in mood, quickly steps in. "I'm sorry, Ash... We didn't mean to trigger any bad memories."

Ash shakes his head, offering a reassuring smile. "It's fine. Just... please, keep as far away from that room as possible."

The group falls silent for a moment, the weight of Ash's words lingering in the air. But the warmth and camaraderie of the gathering soon return, as they all respect Ash's wishes and shift their focus back to the celebration at hand.

Just then, the house begins to shake violently, causing everyone inside to scramble for cover. Chloe, her voice trembling with fear, asks, "What is that?"

Before anyone can respond, familiar voices echo through the chaos.

"Prepare for trouble!"
"And make it double!"

"To protect the world from devastation!"
"To unite all peoples within our nation!"

"To denounce the evils of truth and love!"
"To extend our reach to the stars above!"

"Jessie!"
"James!"

"Team Rocket blasts off at the speed of light!"
"Surrender now, or prepare to fight!"
"Meowth, dat's right!"
"Wobbuffet!"

Ash and the others rush outside, where they find Team Rocket standing proudly in front of the house. Ash's eyes narrow, a growl escaping his lips. "You three again?"

Brock, visibly frustrated, demands, "What are you up to now?" The rest of the group, equally weary of the constant harassment, collectively groans.

But before they can get an answer, more Team Rocket grunts emerge from the shadows, and to everyone's shock, Giovanni himself steps forward, a menacing smile on his face.