13.Ash's Rikoto Story

Chapter 71 Forgiveness

Ash and Alice find themselves in the Sevestar Region, the atmosphere thick with tension. They sit in a room surrounded by Ash's former travel companions—Dawn, Cilan, Serena, Lillie, Bonnie, Lana, and Sophocles. The silence is palpable, each person weighed down by memories and unspoken words. Ash's eyes flicker to Bonnie, who seems out of place among the others. She was too young, too innocent, to have been involved in the battle with Team Solar and Team Lunar. Yet here she is, adding another layer of complexity to an already complicated situation.

Ash's mind churns, trying to process the conflicting emotions he feels toward his old friends. They were hypnotized, forced into an attempt to murder Professor Oak and his Pokémon, yet the betrayal lingers, a thorn in his heart. How can he reconcile the memories of their friendship with the knowledge of what they almost did?

In an effort to break the silence and perhaps bridge the gap, Ash decides to introduce Alice, his voice steady despite the uncertainty in his heart. "This is Alice," he begins, his tone firm but warm. "She's from Kalos, the daughter of Valerie and Wulfric. She's also the Gym Leader of Subhail City and quite strong with her Ice-type Pokémon."

The group murmurs greetings, some of them hesitant, others more enthusiastic. "It's nice to meet you, Alice," Dawn offers with a small smile. "I've heard about your battles in Kalos."

Serena nods, her gaze lingering on Alice. "Yes, Valerie is a well-known Gym Leader. You must be really strong."

Alice returns the greetings with a polite nod, but her eyes remain sharp, observing the group with a hint of wariness. She decides to test the waters, to see if there's any truth behind the façade of friendliness. "Thank you," she replies calmly. "But I have to ask... why would you try to kill Ash's Pokémon?"

Her words hang in the air like a storm cloud, the atmosphere in the room suddenly shifting. It's a direct question, a probing one, meant to uncover their true feelings and motivations. The silence that follows is thick, each person processing the weight of the question.

"We didn't want to do it," Serena begins, her voice trembling as she looks at Ash and Alice. "We were hypnotized, and I know that sounds like an excuse, but the truth is... we still did it."

Dawn's eyes are filled with tears as she continues, "Watching those Pokémon suffer because of us was unbearable. We could see what was happening, but we were powerless to stop it. Their cries... those terrible laughs... they've become a part of our nightmares."

Lillie, barely able to lift her gaze, adds in a soft voice, "These past days, we've been tormented by the thought that you might hate us. Even though we weren't in control, it doesn't change the fact that we were a part of it."

Cilan sighs deeply, his hands shaking as he speaks. "We know we've lost your trust, Ash. Your mother brought us here, not to mend what's broken, but to give us a chance to see you one last time. To try to make some sense of it all before it's too late."

The room falls silent again, their words hanging heavy in the air. The guilt and pain in their voices are undeniable, and it's clear they've been haunted by the memories of what they did. They've all suffered, each bearing the weight of actions that weren't truly their own, but that doesn't erase the impact of those actions.

As Ash listens to their words, a flood of memories rushes through his mind. Before meeting Alice, his heart had been torn between Serena and Lillie. They had been close, and those feelings were real. But everything changed after what they had done, even if it was under hypnosis. The connection he once had with them felt distant, overshadowed by the betrayal that lingered in his heart.

But then Alice came into his life. She wasn't just another companion; she became his rock, his support in the darkest of times. Through her, he found the strength to keep going, even when everything seemed lost. Alice became more than just a friend—she became his girlfriend, someone who brought light back into his world. And now, with her by his side, things could never be the same with Serena and Lillie.