Author's Notes:
Good morning everyone and welcome to another thrilling installment of Alpha and Omega. Starting today this story is really going to pick up, so get ready for some 'darker' or mature chapters. I say this, however the way you all probably are, this probably won't phase you at all.

So now as I desperately hunt for coffee to keep me awake, if you like my work please vote, feel free to comment, and please share this story with your friends. I now present to you chapter 8o, enjoy.

"What an amazing performance by these three amazing performers, let's give them another round of applause," Don Jose said as Shauna, Miette, Serena, and their Pokémon rushed off stage. As they made their way back to their dressing rooms event workers and competing performers praised them for their performance. When they arrived at their dressing rooms they gathered their belongings and left for the VIP area, where their boyfriends and everyone else was waiting , while still wearing their performance dresses. The girls were escorted up by one of the castle maids through halls that were closed off to anyone but the castle staff. They arrived at the room and were let in by an attendant, then dropped their bags by the door as they made their way to several couches set up for everyone.

"Excellent work ladies," M praised as he saw them getting closer. "I can see that Palermo was right to pick you three."

"Thank you," the girls said at the same time.

"Yes you three did very good. Now I expect you to bring that level of skill when you compete in the Kalos Master Class in three months," Palermo said without taking her eyes off the stage.

"Come on, hurry up and take a seat, the second group is about to start," Aria urged.

The girls sat down on the couches their boyfriends were already seated on, being warmly greeted as they sat down. Paul put an arm around Miette as she practically was sitting on his lap, while Trevor showed Shauna is first attempt at being a videographer as he recorded the whole performance with a new professional video camera he had purchased just for this occasion.

"So how did we do?" Serena asked Ash after a quick kiss.

"You were all great, Greninja and Lucario definitely enjoyed when you and your Pokémon took the stage," Ash replied with a small laugh.

"Really? How do you know?" Serena asked.

"Well first they both came out of there Pokéballs on their own, which they almost never do. Then after you were done they started arguing who was better, Delphox or Gardevoir. They actually seemed almost ready to come to blows," Ash replied.

"Well, I'm sure Gardevoir and Delphox will be pleased to hear that," Serena replied awkwardly, not sure if they actually would like hearing that.

As the performers showed their best, everyone was enjoying the performances. In the VIP area several were having small conversations about various things, but mostly the performers.

"So how's the competition looking? Have you picked out the fist Torrent Queen yet?" Aria asked Palermo.

"We still have several more groups of girls to go through, but so far Jessilee and Isla seem to be the only real competition," Palermo replied without taking her eyes off the current performers.

"Maybe, but do we really want a girl from Kalos to represent Torrent and be the first Torrent Queen?" Aria asked.

"Ultimately I agree, however as long as she is capable of being a symbol that inspires, nothing else really matters. And anyone who can't even do that will no doubt be replaced by another performer quickly enough," Palermo replied.

The performances continued in groups of three, the numbers quickly dwindling down as two girls were being knocked out of the showcase at a time. In the end it was between Jessilee, Isla, and a third performer, however to Palermo the only competition was between Jessilee and Isla. In the end Jessilee proved to be victorious, narrowly beating Isla, and both of them completely destroying the third girl. Afterwards was a celebratory party where sadly Jessilee showed that she was no modest winner, as it amazed many that the ball room could could contain her massive ego.

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It was morning now, still early enough that none of the performers from last night had even left the city yet, but Ash, Serena, and their friends were currently at the Pokémon Center waiting for Isla. Considering Ash and Serena's next stop was Madrid, Isla had asked to travel with them to give herself some time to clear her head and think about her next move. As for Ash and Serena's friends, Brendan and Calem were competing in the league. Trevor was also competing in the Torrent League, which meant Shauna was coming to cheer him on. Paul, Miette, Alain, and Aria however were not, but decided it would be fun to cheer on their friends who were competing.

"Hello Ash," William greeted warmly as he extended his hand.

"Hello William," Ash replied as his eyes narrowed and didn't reach out to shake William's hand.

"I see, still angry at me," William deduced, but Ash didn't reply. "Ok I get that you're angry, but you need to understand my position here. As a leader sometimes you need to pick and choose what information to share. You have to give people just what they need to know, otherwise you risk the extra information could cloud their judgment."

"Who even elected you to be a leader?" Ash asked with a bit of attitude.

"Well no one but..." William started before being interrupted.

"But nothing. You keep giving me bits and pieces of information whenever you think it's necessary. I get it that the psychics are seeing you as the only potential leader for the Aura Guardians but here's the thing, if people can't trust you, they won't follow. So guess what, I don't trust you anymore, and will never follow you," Ash informed William sternly, releasing all the frustration that William has caused.

"Ok vent, tell me how you feel, and I'll put all my card on the table. I'm keeping all these things from you because you aren't ready. You might be legally an adult, but you still have some maturity of a child! Yes you have a right to know so much more than I tell you, and I am impressed at how well you are handling everything I've been telling you, but I can't risk telling you everything yet," William shot back angrily.

"And why's that?" Ash asked on the verge of yelling.

"Because by Aura Guardian tradition, you'll be our leader one day!" William said, a little quieter that Ash.

"What?" Ash replied sounding completely confused.

"Based on Aura Guardian tradition, the Chosen One becomes the leader of the Aura Guardians after his or her first quest upon completing their training," William said much more calmly. William sighed as he gestured for Ash to sit down as he did. "The Chosen One is usually identified shortly before their aura powers awaken, and are immediately groomed to be the leader. They were taught everything from diplomacy to the art of war, everything that was deemed necessary to be a great leader. You were never taught any of this, and I have no idea what your mental limits are to handle things. So I've been giving you bits and pieces of information, only what I felt you needed as I evaluated you."

"Ok I'm done," Ash said as he stood back up. "I take it back, you're the leader. But don't expect me to follow you."

"What?!" William replied not understanding why Ash just flipped his stance like that.

"I don't want to lead. All I want is to become a Pokémon Master, marry Serena, have a family, and live a happy life. No where in there do I have any desire to lead the aura guardians," Ash explained matter of factly.

"But Ash, it's tradition," William said in an almost panicked tone.

"Well maybe it's time for some new traditions. Maybe if I was raised as an aura guardian I'd care, but I wasn't. I have lived my own life as I followed my own dreams, and I'm not about to just become some leader just because I'm told I have to. So as far as I'm concerned you can keep that leadership all to yourself," Ash replied in a tone made it clear that his mind was set.

"Hey Ash," Serena said to announce herself as she, Isla, and Isla's mother arrived.

"Hey, are you two ready to go?" Ash asked as he walked closer to her and away from William.

"Yup. Everyone else is waiting outside," Serena replied.

Isla then said goodbye to her father and mother, and they all proceeded outside.

"Alright everyone, let's..." Ash started before he hunched over and grabbed his head with both hands with a look of extreme pain plastered on his face. But he wasn't alone, William, Isla, and Serena were all in the same condition. Their friends rushed to them as this was so sudden and they were concerned.

"Ash, Isla, use your aura to shield yourselves. Serena, create a psychic barrier around your mind," William forced out. A few seconds later the pain was gone and the four of them were on the ground breathing heavily.

"Are you all ok?" Aria asked with concern.

"What just happened," Miette asked.

"I don't know," Ash replied. "It felt like my skull was being ripped apart while it also felt like it was being crushed in a vice."

"Same," Serena replied

"We need to hurry," William said as he stood up. "There are only a few things in this world that can cause that, and none of them are good."

Just then the ground shook violently as the sky darkened. People fell to the ground as some ran out of the Pokémon center. Then it stopped just as quickly as it began.

"What in the world is going on?" Shauna asked. Then everyone's phone started ringing at once, and on every screen was the Team Rocket logo.

"Attention world," a voice rang out from the phones, then Giovanni's face appeared. "My name is Giovanni, and I am the leader of Team Rocket." For Ash and William, the sudden pain they felt, then then the ground shaking, and now this, it was clear that Giovanni was behind it. "Many of you know Team Rocket as just a bunch of Pokémon thieves, well, the greatest trick any power can do, is to make themselves look weak. I am speaking to you all now, the leaders and citizens of this world, to demand your immediate and unconditional surrender."

"You've got to be kidding me. Does this guy honestly think he can take on the whole world?" Calem commented.

"Giovanni is no fool, if he's doing this then he clearly believes he can pull it off," William replied as his eyes remained glued to his phone.

"I know many of you are skeptical as to whether or not I can follow through with my demand," an evil smirk formed on Giovanni's face. "Well take a look at the source of this confidence." The camera panned up to show Acreus levitating above Giovanni. "Arceus, the alpha Pokémon, the god and creator of all Pokémon, is under my control now. Any who resist Team Rocket will be destroyed by this mighty Pokémon. There is no hope in resisting only death, that goes for you too Chosen One." At this moment Ash knew Giovanni was talking directly about I him. "I know you are in Segovia, well I'm here waiting." Giovanni then walked and the camera moved with him until it stopped on Red and Delia, who were being held by grunts. "We'll be waiting." The transformation then ended.

Ash's eyes were wide and still focused on the screen. Giovanni had his mother, and Ash knew it was up to him to save her.

"Ash," Serena said to get his attention, not sure what else to say. His name acted like a trigger for Ash, as he swung his backpack off of his back and pulled out his portable transfer machine.

"Ash what are you doing?" Paul asked.

"That bastard has my mother, I'm getting her back. I just need a little more fire power," Ash replied as he pulled a pokeball to send back. Ash looked over to his faithful starter, Pikachu, and without words they both nodded in agreement as to who Ash was sending back.

"Ash this is clearly a trap," William pleaded as Ash's Pokéball disappeared.

"I figured that much. I might still be a little dense, but I'm not stupid," Ash replied as he waited for the Pokémon her requested to arrive.

"Good, so what's your plan then?" William asked.

Ash's Pokéball had just arrived as he stood back up and looked at William. "My plan is that I'm going to find Giovanni, rescue my mother, and bring Team Rocket down once and for all."

"And how are you going to find them?" William asked confidently.

Ash was about to speak, but froze as he realized he had no idea where Giovanni was.

"That's what I thought," William replied, then sighed before continuing. "If you can be patient for just a few more minutes I'll help you. I already have some help that was already in town, they're on their way now."

Ash nodded. Explosions were heard in the distance as Nurse Joy came up on the Pokémon center intercom. "Attention everyone. By order of the Torrent Region Prime Minister, the city of Segovia is to be evacuated immediately. Please leave in an orderly fashion as quickly as possible."

"Well that makes things easier. With Acreus under Giovanni's control this will get messy. Atleast now we don't have to worry about innocent bystanders," William commented.

"You all should go. This isn't your fight," Ash informed his friends.

"Yeah, neither was the shit you dragged me into in Hoenn, but I didn't run then. So I'll be damned if I'm going to run now," Brendan stated.

"And there's no way I'm letting my man go into danger without me," Calem chimed in as he placed a hand on Brendan's shoulder.

"I don't run," Paul said coldly as he crossed his arms.

"Same," Miette added.

"I want to help in any way I can," Trevor said confidently.

"Me too," Shauna added.

"I'm staying too," Alain said, feeling he had to do this on his personal path of redemption.

"As am.." Aria started before being interrupted.

"You are pregnant, so you are evacuating. No argument," Alain told Aria sternly.

Aria looked away with a sad look upon her face. She knew he was right, it was irresponsible of her to stay and fight, but she didn't want their child to grow up without a father either.

"Miette, stay with Aria and make sure she gets out of town," Paul told her, not wanting her anywhere near this fight, and saw this as an acceptable excuse.

"What?! I'm not leaving you!" Miette yelled.

Alain put a hand on Miette's shoulder getting her attention. "Please, make sure Aria gets out of here safe for me." Alain could tell why Paul was doing this, and decided they could help each other in regards to keeping their girlfriends safe.

"Fine," Miette pouted as she looked away.

Just then a car exploded and screams were heard. Ash and the others ran to the street to see four Team Rocket soldiers, people wearing full body armor and masks, marching down the street with automatic weapons and an assorted group of Pokémon walking in front of them.

"So much for waiting for a surrender. Metagross attack with flash cannon," Alain called out as he threw a Pokéball.

"Pikachu thunderbolt!"

"Gallade psybeam!" Isla yelled

The three attacks were called out, and as if with the same mind, Ash and Isla both hurled an aura sphere at the soldiers. The Pokémon's attacks hit the Pokémon and knocked out two, while the aura spheres knocked out all but one soldier, and only knocked him to the ground. The remaining Team Rocket Pokémon were about to attack, but were stopped by a Lucario striking the Bisharp down with brick break, and a Gengar getting knocked out by Feraligatr using crunch. The remaining Team Rocket soldier was taken out by an aura sphere from above.

Ash and the others looked up and saw a Salamance and Pidgeot coming down for a landing. Once down three trainers climbed off to reveal Riley, Silver, and Kris as they started walking towards them.

"They, ladies and gentlemen are the help we were waiting for," William informed Ash and the others as he walked over to his back up and thanked them for their timing. "I don't know what's going on here, I thought Giovanni was going to wait at least for a little while before he started his attack," William said.

"The situation has changed," Riley said as he shook his head.

"Apparently some local cop decided to take a shot at Giovanni, and missed. Now he's decided to burn this city to the ground because of it," Silver explained.

"That's just fuck'n awesome," William groaned in frustration.

"Oh it just keeps getting better," Kris commented sarcastically. "I intercepted a message from the Torrent Prime Minister, he's ordered a military strike against Giovanni. Their Air Force is already scrambling fighter jets and the army is rolling heavy weapons and troops."

"What the fuck?! This city is still full of civilians! And they're up against Acreus, what do they expect to do?" William yelled in frustration.

"The army is setting up collection points outside the city to get civilians away from the city, and transporting any on foot. They're going to be sending in teams to try and minimize civilian loss, but that's only going to hold out for so long," Silver explained before gesturing to Riley, who was dragging two soldiers over to them.

"This situation is only getting worse," Riley commented as he removed the first ones mask to reveal Giovanni.

"What in the? Why is he here?" Ash asked in complete confusion as Riley removed the others mask to reveal another Giovanni. "What's going on here? How can there be multiple Giovanni's?"

"I think we learned how an Army sprang up over night hundreds of years ago," Riley commented to William.

"What does he mean by that?" Ash asked.

"Do you remember that brief history lesson you got about the ancient Aura Guardians?" William asked Ash.

"Where they fought against this huge army that was trying to conquer the world?" Ash asked in confirmation.

"That's right. The leader held the Acreus plate, and it seems now that he created his army by using the plate to build it. He, and now Giovanni, used the plate to literally create an army," William explained.

"So you're telling us that Team Rocket can essentially create a limitless army?" Paul asked as he shook, for the first time ever feeling fear.

"Yes and no. Technically he has the power to do so, but the human body isn't meant to wield that kind of power, it's got to be significantly taxing on his body, and I definitely don't see his handing the plate to anyone else to use for him. So he's probably going to have to rest between each time he uses it," William explained.

"Then if we can hit him hard enough early enough we might not have a big enough army and we could just beat them and take the plate?" Ash said as he formed his plan.

"My thoughts exactly. I don't know his limits yet, but he hasn't had the plate for very long, and he would have had to break the seal on it, so I can't imagine his army is very big right now. Probably just big enough to hold this city at most," William deduced.

"That's still a lot of soldiers," Alain commented.

"But some of them are spreading out through the city, so we don't need to fight them all, just the ones between us and Giovanni," Calem answered, leaving Brendan proud of how clearly his boyfriend was thinking.

"Thats great and all, but aren't we forgetting something? Acreus is still there waiting for us. How are we supposed to handle that?" Paul reminded everyone.

"Acreus wouldn't just side with Giovanni, he has to be controlling him somehow," Ash added.

"So we need to find how he's controlling him and smash it," Shauna said with enthusiasm.

"It probably won't be that easy, but essentially yes," Ash replied with a chuckle.

"We still need to worry about the civilians, those creations are attacking anything that moves," Riley reminded.

Trevor looked to Shauna, they were closer than Shauna and Tierno every were, so with a simple look and a nod, they knew exactly what one another was thinking. "Shauna and I will help protect the people evacuating," Trevor stated.

"I'll go with you," Kris added.

"Same here," said Calem. Brendan immediately shot Calem a confused look, as the way Calem would talk he would have thought that Calem would have wanted to jump right in the middle of everything with him. Seeing this look, Calem looked to Brendan and explained himself. "Despite all my big talk, I don't think I can do this whole save the world thing like you guys are, I'm scared. But if I can get these people away so they don't get hurt or killed, then the rest of you can go all out and not worry about accidentally hurting someone."

"Isla go," William told his daughter.

"What? You guys are going to war! You are heavily out numbered, you need all the trained aura guardians you can get!" Isla argued.

"You're right, but you're not trained, at least not like me. Like you said this is war, which means people are going to die, and I'm probably going to be the cause of some them. I do not want you to have blood on your hands. I trained you to fight, not to kill. I trained you for a world better than this," William argued back, his tone softening as he continued.

"Only until the evacuating is done, then I'm coming back," Isla replied half accepting her father's instructions.

"Isla," William said in irritation.

"Just remember what you taught me, just because your opponent is trying to kill you that doesn't mean you need to kill them," Isla said, leaving her father at a loss for words.

"Serena, I want you to go with them, they could probably use some extra help," Ash told her, not wanting her to be anywhere close to the main fight.

"I don't think so. I wasn't strong enough to help you and Clemont in Kalos, but I am now and you know it. We've trained for this, and I'm not letting you push me out now," Serena told Ash with stern confidence as she kept her eyes locked on Ash's and showed this wasn't a negotiation.

Ash sighed as he relented. "You seven go, well catch up with you after this is over. The rest of us will go to Giovanni and bring this to an end," Ash instructed. The six of them nodded and ran off to help with the evacuation.

"Ok now we have half a plan, what about the other half? We need to figure out how to free Acreus," Paul said.

William was about to speak, but Ash started first. "Giovanni has my mother, and has clearly stated he wants me alive. I'll use that to my advantage to try and get close, hopefully I can get some information out of him. Serena, keep a psychic link to my mind so incase I can't get back to you all. At least then if I learn anything you can tell the others."

"And what about Acreus? What if he gets involved?" Alain asked.

"Hopefully I'll be able to break him free of Giovanni's control and Acreus won't be an issue. But if not, leave him to me," Ash replied.

"That's Acreus, do you honestly think you can beat him?" Paul asked ash while looking at him like he's an idiot.

"Of course not, but I can keep him distracted while you all break him free of Team Rockets control," Ash answered with the same grin he always wore before an impossible battle. "Listen I know its not the most detailed plan, but I think this is the best we can do with what we know." Everyone nodded in agreement, as they looked upon their leader.

William looked at Ash with a proud smile. Ash might not have wanted to be the Aura Guardian leader, but he was showing that he could be the leader when it was needed.

"Ok, let's go stop Team Rocket!" Ash cheered as they all walked off to battle.