-Four Years Later-
Four years… Four years can do a lot to a person, or it can barely affect the person overall. In the case of a certain Ashen haired boy it is the first option. Four years had changed the person who had been Ash Ketchum. Ash had changed both physically and mentally. Physically he had left his hair to grow out until it reached down to his neck. He had grown taller and became more built due to puberty. Mentally he had became more of a tactician when it came to battling. He had this aura about him that made him seem wise beyond his years. It's a wonder how four years could change someone this much. Ash was sitting on top of a mountain that gave a view of a luscious island. From his viewpoint he could see how far the island extended in each direction. As he stood there a familiar yellow mouse jumped onto his shoulder.
'Ash the next tournament is coming up, are we going to go?' Pikachu looked up at Ash with a questioning look.
Ash nodded in response then spoke. "Yes, I think it's time we came out of our self isolation and showed everyone the fruits of our labor." Ash put up his hood then released a familiar Charizard. Without a word Ash jumped onto Charizard's back and they flew into the air. Bound for a tournament, The tournament of Champions. This tournament was a invite only tournament that was going to have the greatest trainers from every region. Along with this it also has the gym leaders and elite four from every region. This means that the winner of this tournament can be considered one of the greatest Pokemon Master alive.
Ash traveled with speed to where the tournament was going to be held. To the Sinnoh region, with Charizards speed it didn't take long for Ash to reach his destination as he landed he could already see plenty of trainers arriving. Ash search and found the nearest Pokemon Center and entered. Walking up to the desk he looked at the nurse Joy and smiled. "Hello, I'm checking in for the tournament thats coming up."
Nurse Joy smiled, "Of course, your name and identification please." Ash slipped a hand into his pocket searching around for his Pokedex.
After a moment of searching he pulled it out. "Ash Ketchum, here's my Pokedex." Ash handed her his Pokedex so she could check his identification and after she was done she handed it back.
"Thank you and I hope you enjoy your stay in town for the duration of the tournament." Ash nodded a thanks and turned to walk out of the Pokemon Center, as he did so he ended up bumping into someone.
Ash quickly went to help the person up. "Sorry about that, I wasn't watching where I was walking, wait Flint is that you?!" Ash exclaimed surprised by this turn of event.
"Ash? Ash Ketchum, That's really you?! Wow it's been a while hasn't it." Flint laughed at this and grabbed Ash's hand, "It's really been too long how bout we go and get something to eat while we catch up." Ash nodded and followed Flint out the door where he led them to a restaurant. Flint lead them to a small cafe a short distance away from the Pokemon center.
"So what have you been up to? Last thing I heard about you was four years ago when you disappeared." Flint looked at him expecting answers.
Taking a deep breath Ash would explain why he disappeared that night. "After that I flew from place to place for a year, battling everyone that would and training my Pokemon with a new vigor." Flint nodded sympathetically feeling for Ash.
"Well that must have been some journey, now I'm guessing the reason your back in the land of the living is to win this tournament." Ash nodded to Flint's question giving a grin.
"Me and my Pokemon decided it was time to go show them what they get for deserting me, and I have a bit of a second agenda while here for the tournament besides payback." The way he said it left it clear he wasn't gonna answer what that second agenda was. They sat there in a companionable silence for a few minutes before the door to the cafe entered and a familiar cast came into the building. The group was lead by a familiar fiery redhead, coming in second was the tall rock type Pokemon user, they came in such a way that it was almost a chronological line of who he met first and who he met last. Entering last was Serena and he felt his heart pang a small bit. She hadn't been there for the betrayal but she was still there with the now enemies.
Deciding to make himself known he got out of his seat in a way that its legs scratched the floor causing a squealing and drawing everyone's eyes towards him. He looked towards his ex-friends and gave a bittersweet grin. "Hello guys, long time no see."
They would all freeze at seeing Ash growing instantly uncomfortable, Brock always the calm one in situations would clear his throat, "Hey Ash it's been sometime huh." Brock would reply with forced calmness.
Ash would only smile and reply, "Yeah, see you in the tournament." with that he would whip around his travelling cloak flaring up dramatically. He would exit with Flint following behind him.
"You know, I get that they weren't the nicest at your last meeting but that doesn't mean you have to cause a scene." Flint would try to scold Ash, but ash would just shrug it off.
"I don't have to but i got to warn them of the upcoming storm." Ash would say this without much thought. "I am going to have to let you go now, I need to find a place to make camp." Ash excused himself and went into the forest, deeper and deeper he went until he was a good ten minutes away from the Pokemon center, finding a good clear he would smile deciding this was a good place. The Ashen haired boy would then set his hand on his Pokeball belt whipping the balls off and throwing them into the air.
"Everyone come on out!" With that a white light flew out of the balls four Pokemon landing. There was of course his two most faithful Charizard and Oshawott who had evolved into a Dewott. But some the other two pokemon he had gotten on his four year journey would be his faithful aura companion Lucario and the dark type Umbreon. That brought his team to five members overall including Pikachu. There was one another Pokeball that Ash held on his person but it was carried on a necklace worn by him in shrunken form.
With all his Pokemon out he would pull his bag off his back and take out the things he needed to make camp. He would find a spot that was slightly shaded by a tree and set up his tent under there and then create a small fire pit. Smiling he would look at hsi cozy camp and his Pokemon, he was excited for this tournament and the chance to prove his strength to everyone. He had a day before the introductions and the first matches so until then he could relax… Just as he was about to relax he heard a twig snap near him. Turning quickly his eyes would glow? That glow would disappear as quick as it appeared as he saw what had made the noise.
He was surprised to see Serena standing there looking awkward and embarrassed that she had been caught. "Ahh… Ash umm this is, well this isn't what it looks like."
Ash would give her a skeptical look, "Well what it looks like to me is that you followed me here to see how strong I've gotten so you can warn everyone."
Serena hearing that got a angry look on her face, "Then this definitely isn't what it looks like! I followed you because I've been worried about you and I've missed you!" Her face would then flush red realizing what she said.
"Yeah sure you've missed me that's why you hang out with the rest of them, because care not because you want me to give up my dream." Ash didn't seem to realize the implications behind her words he was to far in his own mind to see that there was still people that actually cared for him and wanted the best even if it meant following his dreams.
Serena would tear up slightly at that, "I am with them because you disappeared, all they told me is that they thought you should give up on your dream. Well I don't believe they are right I think your were right to be angry because you are a good trainer, but I know your not going to listen so I'll just go for now." With that Serena stormed off leaving Ash to stew in his own thoughts.
As this was going on three black shadows would have appeared near the clearing, Ash would look in the direction not really surprised, "She's gone you three can come out now." As he said that they would come out to reveal…
-End of Chapter Two-
Annnndddd Cliffhanger, hope you enjoy this chapter even though it's been awhile since I even started the story, well with school started I'll have more time to use internet and I have basically one free period to work on writing. So see you next time.