Hello everyone! Welcome to my newest story: "From the Ashes". Now for those of you who have been following my other stories you might be asking "Hey! Does this mean that you are going to leave your other stories unfinished?" the answer is no. In other words, I'll be finishing my other main story soon, you might find a new chapter next weekend which will prompt me into finishing it.

¿Then… why don't I finish the others first? Simple, I have a lot of ideas and they would clash and mess up the whole scheme for those, so I'll flush this story out of my brain while finishing the "Rise"… and probably "The Mask".

Now then, it's been a while since I wrote an English story, for those of you who are not familiar with me or my stories then you must know, I've never studied English in any institution before nor is my mother tongue, so if you spot any mistake please be kind enough to point it out to me.

Finally, I own the world, so no disclaimer needed. (Joking)

A new beginning – Learn from Experience.

It had been some time since Ash departed from Unova to Kanto, on the way home he encountered a new friend, Alexa, a reporter from the Lumiose city in the Kalos region. Now they were on their way to Kanto, having parted ways with Iris and Cilan, they had been traveling by ship for 3 days and our young hero was getting bored and annoyed.

"This damned ship… how I wish this thing could move faster…" – he let escape a small sigh, remembering the outcome of his last tournament.

Pikachu just sweat dropped at his trainer desperation to move faster.

Ash had won de Valley of Lily tournament and was expected to win the Unova league, but luck was not by his side this time, or at least, that is what he wanted to believe… that it had been all a matter of luck, but as he thought more about it he couldn't deny that he had done things differently in Unova than in Sinnoh.

First, he had rotated his Pokémon a lot while traveling in Sinnoh, Brock had helped him by teaching him the right way to take care of his Pokémon and Dawn had supported him all the way to the conference.

He also took more seriously his travel, finding that if he mixed older and younger Pokémon the younglings would learn a lot, and it did pay off when Gible evolved into a Gabite after training one week under Charizard's tutelage, and finally into a Garchomp just one month after that.

His Snivy had also reached its final stage as a Serperior after training with Sceptile for three weeks, after that it seemed like Sceptile had just gotten a new excuse to train even harder.

For the first week after finding that his Pokémon trained the newbies under a harsh and special routine, Ash had feel that they were forcing themselves too much, and it wasn't until Charizard snapped at him, telling him that not only his dreams were at stake, but theirs too.

The younglings had a newfound respect for the veterans as they too wished to be regarded as the strongest of their own, and with a newfound resolution, they had gone through hell and became stronger.

That tournament had been the most memorable as he had defeated a full legendary team, it was an almost even match, but in the end, Charizard had stood victorious over Tobias Entei. He even remembered how some of the people that had watched the match had started calling him as the "Legend Slayer" and expected a lot of him.

But he got too confident, when he stepped into Unova, it was like he had forgotten everything he went through Sinnoh, making one mistake over the other. He had traveling companions, but they weren't as close to him like Brock and Dawn had been, or May and Max… or even Misty. The memories of their last goodbye was still fresh in his mind.

Flashback.

After losing the tournament, Ash had walked back to the Pokémon center, where Iris and Cilan were waiting for him.

The first one to notice him was Iris "Hey Ash! Too bad that you lost that match, but come on, don't be such a kid, is not the end of the world"

Cilan gave a light nod at his friend's words "Iris is right Ash, you learn a lot from losing, besides there will be other tournaments"

This had annoyed Ash a lot, he knew all that, but to rub salt on one wounds was just low, they didn't care that he had lost, they didn't care if he could get better, but…

"This journey was disappointing, I really expected too much from you Ash, I guess I'll just find another path…" Iris words made it clear, they weren't there to support him, and they just went along for their own gain.

"You are right guys, there will be another tournament waiting for me in another region" Said Ash while getting up and walking out the Pokémon center.

Cilan followed him to the entrance and asked "Well… what is our next destination?"

Ash looked at him and chuckled a little "Yours? I don't know, but mine is ahead, so far away from Unova where I can't see shams like you guys again" and with that he left them.

End Flashback.

He had tried to win the Unova league by using just the Pokémon that he caught there, a foolish decision as most of the members of his team were very young, but he understood a little too late, he was too absorbed into teaching Trip a lesson that he never rotated his team to let the veterans pass on their teachings.

"Dad would be disappointed in me" The black haired teenager tough to himself. His father had left one year before he started his Pokémon Journey, and every time he returned home his mother would tell him that he had missed his father for days, or even hours like when he returned from Jhoto, but she always reassured him that his father watched all his League battles with her at home, and that he always cheered for him the loudest of all the neighborhood.

It felt good knowing that he cared enough to go back home every time Ash assisted to a tournament.

Remembering back at the times when he traveled in Sinnoh, he knew there was something else to his victory. People always thought him to be dense about relationships, but the truth is that he knew about feelings and romance, his mother had actually taken her time to teach him about boys and girls… and that talk about the bees… well, he knew his way around feelings pretty well.

Dawn had been a great friend, a great companion, but there was something else every time he looked at her eyes. He didn't know what at the beginning, and after a few months he found his answer in the form of a pink ribbon, his most treasured memento of a girl he used to know and that was what drove him all the way into winning the league.

They say that children love is the purest form of love, there are no perversions, no malice behind actions, just love and the wanting of being with one another, and he had felt that way for a certain girl… "Serena… to think that I almost forgot about you."

While traveling on other regions, he had been searching for her, just in case that she had starter her journey 7 years ago like him.

When he was traveling Sinnoh he had forgotten about it for the first month, and as time went on, his resolution to find her only increased. Dawn had actually talked to him about the feelings she had developed to the end of their journey, but Ash had told her that he was grateful for those feelings, although he didn't feel the same way.

Dawn had been at the verge of crying when Ash told her that he, for just the spawn of a minute, had felt something towards her.

Flashback.

"Is there a reason you don't like me back? Is it because you are going away?" Dawn wanted to know why he couldn't feel the same way.

"Actually no, you see…" After taking a small sip of breath he looked at her eyes "… For a moment I felt something for you when I first looked into your eyes, but I understood that it was the reminiscence of the girl I love, and that she is still out there waiting for me to find her."

Dawn understood that he didn't return her feelings because he was already in love "So… this girl… is she pretty?"

Ash looked at her, he didn't want to hurt her feelings any more than he already had to. "If you ask me that, the answer is going to be a total yes, she is beautiful… at least from what I remember…"

Dawn couldn't help but let escape a soft giggle, even if she was being turned down, Ash clumsiness was just too cute for her. "Can I ask… can I ask more about her? Her name? How did you two met?"

Ash smiled at this, he knew she was hurting badly, but it was nice of her to be so understanding, it only meant that her feelings for him were real… and if he couldn't return them like she wanted, she would at least give her something similar.

"Dawn… you know, for some time I had this strange feeling about you, I knew I wasn't in love with you… but I assure you that I do love you…" At this Dawn eyes widened, what was he talking about? "… I do love you like a little sister, you are important to me, because you support me like no one else has ever done… and besides ¿Who doesn't want a cute girl as a little sister?"

Now that had done it, she instantly jumped from joy and hugged him because now she knew that even if he didn't love her like she did, he did indeed have a special place for her in his heart, a place that she would always cherish, protect and zeal.

Ash hugged her back after recovering from the shock, and caressed her hair softly while smiling slightly "Like a little sister indeed…" he thought to himself, he then remembered that he had yet to answer her questions.

"Well… you asked about her, right?"

Dawn gave a soft nod, taking a few steps away to sit under the tree they were currently talking, Ash sat down beside her after a moment. "Her name is Serena, she has those beautiful blue eyes that just take your breath away, I think that was the first thing that caught my attention… anyway, we were…"

Flashback End

He remembered how they spent almost every hour of every day he spent there before parting ways, but what made him really happy was that she had more than gladly taken the tittle of little sister to heart, at her own words "It has its perks" or at least that was what she said.

Everything was fine and dandy until the day his ship had to leave, just as he was about to board she had hugged him, now that wasn't the problem, the problem came afterwards.

"Take care… onii-chan!"

Oh that had killed him alright, she was laughing her head out when she saw him blush madly and try to cover a little trickle of blood.

Pikachu had felt ashamed of his trainer for being so weak against a girl's cuteness… that is, until Buneary came out of her pokéball and ran to hug him… talk about awkward.

"Just… what kind of weapon have I unleashed?" He asked her while wiping his nose and clutching his chest trying to calm his heart.

"A very dangerous and powerful one it seems… onii-chan" she said again enjoying every minute of his reaction.

He would have to be careful around her, or his health could be in danger.

As he continued remembering his travels through Sinnoh, Alexa approached him with camera in hand, taking a few pictures of the islands on the horizon.

"Hey Ash, is kind of boring here, right?"

This snapped him out of his thoughts and looked at her with a smile "Yeah, the ship is going so slow that is almost as if we weren't moving at all"

Pikachu left a soft yawn and went into his trainer's backpack to sleep.

Just as Ash focused on another island, he saw something that caught his attention, it was a flock of birds, and although he couldn't make out what kind of Pokémon they were, he had a nice feeling about it.

"Unfezant come out!" The bird Pokémon let out a cry and looked at his trainer "Hey buddy, could you make me a favor?"

The bird nodded at his trainer and landed on the iron fence of the ship, waiting his orders.

Ash took out a Pokéball and showed it to Unfezant "I want you to approach that flock over there…" he pointed to the island "…and look for a Pokémon that looks like this" After pushing some buttons on his Pokedex he showed it to Unfezant, the bird nodded slightly at the image "…Show him this Pokéball and tell him that his trainer has come to fulfill his promise… or at least visit."

The bird nodded again and flew quickly at the flock of birds that were traveling to one of the islands, after a few minutes Unfezant reached his destination, but what he found intimidated him… this was definitely not what he expected from the leader, it was… well… big!

A giant Pidgeot looked at the tiny bird, or at least it was in comparison to him, trying to look friendly to the newcomer.

Unfezant then showed him the pokeball and told him what his trainer had (Greetings my friend, my trainer send me looking for one of you, he wanted me to tell you that, and I quote "Ash has returned to fulfill his promise… or at least visit")

Pidgeot eyes widened in surprise, so this Unfezant was one of his old friend's new partners. He turned around and talked to his flock (Well folks, this was fun, but now I have a promise to fulfill…) he approached another Pidgeot, bigger than average but still smaller than him.

(You will be their new leader, I've taught you everything I know, you will be fine) the flock started telling his former leader that they didn't want him to go, but he told them that they would be fine, they were stronger than before.

Pidgeot told Unfezant to lead the way, and both of them started flying back to the ship, the larger bird excited to see his friend again.

In the interest of time…

Alexa was wondering what Ash was doing, he had sent his Unfezant to meet a flock of bird Pokémon "Ash? Is Unfezant going to be alright?"

"Yeah, he is going to be fine, just wait a moment"

After some minutes he could see his Unfezant coming back, and to his greatest joy, a larger bird was following him.

Alexa watched in interest at the sky, noticing that the bird accompanying Unfezant seemed to grow larger and larger over the time, until a massive Pidgeot landed over Ash and started rubbing his head against his trainer's chest.

"I'm glad to see you again Pidgeot!" said the Trainer while trying to stand up, he looked at the flabbergasted expression on Alexa and smirked at this "Close your mouth Alexa, or flies might go in"

Alexa shook her head a few times and looked at Ash in amazement "Wow… Ash your Pidgeot is huge!" shouted the reporter.

A yell could be heard seemingly from nowhere "That's what she said!"

After realizing the double meaning behind her words, she quickly yelled "I didn't meant that!"

Ash tilted his head in confusion "Who said what?"

This gave Alexa some relief "Nothing Ash! Nothing!"

Ash started massaging Pidgeot's wings like Brock had taught him on their time in Sinnoh with Staraptor, Pidgeot enjoyed every moment of it while he ate the food that his trainer had given him a moment ago.

"So Alexa, what do you say if we just leave those Slowpokes behind and get to Kanto faster?"

Alexa was not so thrilled about his idea, airplanes where one thing… but birds didn't come with safety belts nor were there any airbags "I don't know Ash… it might be dangerous"

"Nonsense! I trust in my Pidgeot to take us there fast and safetly, right pal?" he asked his Pidgeot for confirmation, the bird nodded and approved of his trainer eagerness for an aerial adventure "Well, you can stay if you want, but I want to take a shower sooner than later, so I'll go directly home"

At this Alexa realized that he was right, the ship had a shower but it didn't come with a washing machine, her clothes were dirty, and she didn't want to do it herself in the shower "Alright, just let me grab my things"

After a few moments she returned with a backpack, it was just enough for a reporter to move two sets of clothes and her camera´s accessories "Are you sure Pidgeot can take us all the way to Kanto?"

Pidgeot took offense, so he took the reporter with his beak and put her on his back, taking her stuff with his claw and taking off at great speed (Can I take them? I'll show her)

The screams of panic could be hear on the horizon as Pidgeot flew away with the scared woman and his laughing trainer.

One and a half hour later…

Pidgeot landed just outside Ash's house, stretching his wings to rest from the long journey while Pikachu talked to him.

"I told you we would be safe, you didn't have to yell in my ear you know?" Said Ash with an amusement.

"I was scared!" defended Alexa.

Ash just shook his head twice "For 1 hour!" he almost yelled.

Just then the front door opened revealing a young-looking woman, Delia was about to ask what the noise was about when she saw her son "Ash! Oh my god I can't believe it!" she ran to his son, hugging him tightly, just then a familiar voice to Ash sounded behind them.

"Come on honey, let him breath, I want to see my soon face before he dies" joked the man.

Delia turned around and glared at her husband "Anthony Red Ketchum! You won't stop me from showing my baby how much I love him!"

A Pikachu jumped over his shoulders and looked at him with a face that said (Oh she said your full name… she never says your full name unless…)

"Yes, I know I'm in problems, but that can wait for later" he then went over them and embraced his wife and son, who had been trying to say something all this time.

Alexa watched the scene from a distance beside Pidgeot and Ash's Pikachu, she couldn't believe that Ash was Red's son, the famous world champion, then her eyes widened.

Delia… that name sounded familiar… the only Delia that she knew from stories of some veteran reporters that had accompanied Red on many of his adventures was…

"By the way mom, this is a friend of mine, her name is Alexa…" he then turned to Alexa "…This is my mom"

"If you are friend of Ash the just call me Delia" said the woman with her familiar kindness.

Alexa couldn't contain her excitement, this was the second owner of a Pokedex! "No freaking way! You are Delia Yellow D' Bosque Verde!"

Now Ash was confused, He knew that his mom's last name used to be Bosque Verde, but she never told him what the Y. meant "Why didn't you tell me before that your second name was Yellow, mom?"

"It's a long story, maybe I'll tell you later…" she then turned to Alexa "…Please don't mention this to anyone."

Alexa was surprised by her request but accepted nonetheless.

Red just smiled at his son and motioned for everyone go inside the house "Well? Don't just stand there, come inside, we have some amazing news"

Ash returned his Pidgeot and called for Pikachu, who jumped to his shoulder, Pika spotted him and made a wave with his right paw, while Pikachu answered with a light nod.

It was good to be back home after all.

Meanwhile in a region faraway from there…

Kalos – Vaniville town.

"Come on Serena! Think like a Ryhorn, you already sleep like one! Be one with the Ryhorn!" A woman with brownish hair tried to encourage her daughter.

Serena tried to keep her grip on Ryhorn's leash but after a few moments she ended up in the floor "Easier for her to say than for me to do" muttered the girl while rubbing her arm.

"I hate this! Never mind, I'm going out into the forest, Fletching come on!" the bird Pokémon flew to her shoulder while the Honey-blond haired girl just walked inside her room and into her room to change her clothes.

Cursing her luck for having to put up with Ryhorn riding, she quickly changed into a red skirt with a black blouse and a red felt-hat, she was about to leave her room but remembered something, walking back to her night stand she took a small blue handkerchief with golden linings on the border.

"Ash… I wonder if you are looking for me… or if you at least remember me"

After putting the piece of cloth in her purse she walked out of her room, finding her mother in the front door "Where do you think you are going?"

"I want to take a walk through the forest, you already know that" answered Serena a bit annoyed at her mother's stubbornness at trying to make her do Ryhorn racing.

Grace just let a soft sigh scape and stepped aside "I really hope you can find your passion in life someday… I know what I did in the past is something I won't be able to fix no matter what… but I really want to do things right with my daughter"

"Then bring him back to me… is all I've ever wanted, help me find him, or see him again but please… is so painful to grow from a crush to love someone that is not even there for you, and is worse having to grow without friends, and without my mother"

Grace knew Serena was right, after moving to Kalos she had been so involved with Ryhorn racing that she didn't paid any attehtion to her daughter, often leaving her home because she wasn't feeling good.

I wasn't until a year later that a crying Serena had come home running straight to the kitchen and trying to stab herself with a knife. Luckily Grace was there to witness everything, she stopped her daughter, they had a fight but the mother had learned that Serena was being victim of bullying, that her so called "friends" always stole her money, punched her or just outright humiliated her for the fun of it.

Serena had made her first true friend just six months ago in the form of Shauna, a tanned girl with brownish hair and a hyperactive personality, after that Shauna's boyfriend Calem joined them, he was a nice guy, always protecting the girls.

There was this one time when a guy had confessed his feelings for Serena, but she turned him down.

"I'm grateful that you feel that way but, I already love someone else"

The guy had been so mad that he had almost slapped her, but Calem and Shauna had been nearby and successfully had stopped him before he could even do as much as lift a hand.

Grace knew that she had made a terrible choice when she put her career before her daughter. Yes she had money, and yes they didn't have economic problems, but that was also true when she was in Kanto; also she had also tried to spoil her daughter with toys and trips to amusement parks, but having her grow in a humble environment had made her ignore fancy things, Serena preferred activity was to walk in the forest while holding that handkerchief of hers.

Serena stepped out of her home and walked to the forest, just at the edge her friends where waiting for her, Shaun and Calem had made it a point to not hold hands in front of Serena to not make her feel uncomfortable.

There was this one time when they were walking together and Serena just walked behind them, trying to not be the third wheel of the group, Shauna noticed this and talked to Calem about it.

While the three friends where walking towards the forest, Grace was in the living room, remembering when her daughter used to come to her and hug her, telling her all about her day with Ash and how brave he had been while doing things.

Tears were about to spill when suddenly the phone started to ring.

"Maybe I'll never mend this rift between my daughter and I…"

She quickly composed herself and answered the call "Hello?"

"Oh Grace! I thought I wouldn't be able to find you!"

"Or maybe I can..."

Kanto Region – Pallet Town.

"You are kidding right?" Asked Ash with certain surprise and a hint of anger.

"I'm not, I want to spend more time with my family and this job is just the perfect way, besides, I think you might found interesting what this chance has to offer" answered Red in a playful but serious tone.

"And what is that? Why are you so sure?" asked the young trainer.

Delia entered the living room again, and with a big smile answered "Well… let's just say that I found a very good reason to take the house we are being offered, aside from having a big backyard there is also the chance to meeting her once again."

"Meeting her? Who?" Asked Ash not understanding at first, but after seeing his mother's sly smile realization just hit him in the face "No way!"

"Yes way! I just confirmed it and I can tell you that I'm one thousand percent sure, I actually talked with…" before she could answer Ash was dashing away and into his room.

"I need to pack as fast as I can!" the excited yell of the young Ketchum was answer enough for the family.

"It seems you were right, that was the right incentive" said Red with and amused smile.

Delia just giggled a little and then looked at Alexa who had watched from the sidelines " I want to talk to you about something, I thing you have so much questions regarding my name and why people never found out about me"

Alexa was gleaming at hearing this, she wouldn't make this public but had always wanted to know why the pokedex holder had just disappeared from earth.

Time skip – 4 days later.

Kalos – Vaniville town.

Serena had been awfully aware of her mother change of humor since a few days ago and she knew that, whatever it was, had actually made her believe that everything would be fine.

"In four days Serena... I'll make everything right in four days!" is what she had told her.

Taking a light blue Sunday dress out of her closet, she quickly changed into it, definitely taking a good shower after the torture from every morning could change her mood. Taking her straw hat and walking out of her room with her treasured handkerchief strapped to her wrist.

"I'll be going to the forest mom!" yelled Serena after dashing to the forest, not waiting for her mother's response.

After leaving her home she noticed a pair of trucks with people carrying boxes inside the next house, she didn't know there were going to be new neighbors "Have to remember to say hi" she mumbled to herself continuing her way to her favorite clearing in the forest.

Meanwhile from the house a Poliwag dashed out into the forest, followed by a Pikachu with a cap on his head "Hey! Come back here!"

A young boy ran after them, following them into the forest.

Serena was having a good time remembering the times in Pallet town when she would play with Ash… but the memory that always came to her was the day they met.

She left a soft sigh escape her lips, and was about to make her way back when suddenly a Poliwag came out of nowhere startling her.

"Kya!" in her panic she tried to turn away but ended tripping with some rocks, twisting her ankle in the process "oh god… this hurts so much! Help!"

"This hurts so much… Help!"

Memories suddenly came back to her, and a few rustlings from the bushes in front of her made her heart skip a beat… just for a Pikachu to jump out and look at her.

What caught her attention was that Pikachu was wearing a cap. "Poliwag! Pikachu! Where the heck are you!?"

Serena's attention went to the bushes again, seeing them rustling just like that day.

After a moment, a boy with tanned skin jumped into view and spotted the Pikachu, who was beside Serena, he then noticed the girl and was about to ask something when he looked into her eyes. "No way…" muttered the boy.

Serena recognized him immediately, with tears already spilling.

The boy smiled tenderly and asked "Hey… are you alright?"

"Are you alright?"

Both of them knew the next answer already, as it played along their minds at the same time.

The girl shook her head "A Poliwag came out of nowhere and scared me, I think I hurt my ankle"

The boy approached her and took the handkerchief in her wrist, using it to put pressure on her ankle "Now I'll just place a small spell… pain pain go away!"

She felt so silly right now, but at the same time those feelings of loneliness where fading away, it was as if they had never been separated. "It… It still hurts" she let a small giggle escape her lips and looked at him still in tears but with a big smile and an adoring blush on her cheeks.

He extended his arm to help her stand and smiled "Never give up until the end"

She reached for his hand and gripped it tightly, as if he were going to disappear if she didn't. Standing up, she lost her balance due to him using a little more force than anticipated, so she ended in his arms.

Just as she was about to move back a little, he put his arms around her waist, holding her close to him.

She was surprised by this, but then relaxed in his arms and rested her head in his chest, enjoying the sound of his racing heart.

"I thought I was never going to find you Serena… so many years and regions I've been through trying to find you… and now that I have you, I'm never letting you go away again"

"I've been waiting for so long Ash, I knew you would find me, I never gave up on you" answered Serena, lifting her head and looking into his eyes.

Right there and then Ash knew that what he felt all those years was mutual... he could see it in her eyes, what had grown from an innocent love had actually bloomed into more than that… but for the sake of having a name for this feeling he would call it love.

So without thinking twice he closed the gap between them, kissing her lips with so much tenderness.

Serena was shocked at first, but started to kiss him back after a few moments, placing her hands behind his neck, playing with his hair, not wanting to let go in fear of all this being just a dream.

Meanwhile in the new Ketchum residence, Grace walked out followed by Delia and Red.

"Do you think he will be able to find her?" asked the Ryhon racer.

Red just smirked at her and said "I bet my tittle that he has already found her… I'm as sure as a Poliwag about that"

So what do you think? I hope you liked this first chapter, also I have already something planned to work around the problem of Prof. Oak being far away from them.

Also, there will be an explanation about Delia's name, it will be part of the story, althought it won't have such a big impact, as its something that has already been solved.

Let me know your thoughts.

Read and Review please!