Chapter I : Their Feelings

It has been almost 6 years since me, Red, Blue, Gary and Leaf started our adventure to become the greatest Pokémon Trainer of all time and 2 years since we parted ways to get stronger by our own.

Now, me and my buddy Pikachu are walking home after the loss at Vetress Conference, but at least we're in Top 8, although I wouldn't say that it's the highest one I achieved. Top 8 in Kanto, Johto and Unova League, Top 4 in Hoenn and Sinnoh League.

From defeating Brock with Pikachu, Butterfree and Pidgeotto, travelling with May and Max, helping Dawn in her Pokémon Contest, Iris calling me a kid, oh how time fly so fast. I'm still en route to route 1, closing the gap between us... and the home where our journey to become a Pokémon Master.

Alexa went back to Kalos since she got so many work to do, which left me and my Unova companions to visit Kanto for a tour. It has been 1 day where we went to our own ways. Thanks for another memorable journey, Iris, Cilan. Best wishes for all of you.

...

"I can see it, Pikachu." I said without looking at my trusty partner with a smile since I know that he's feeling the same as mine. I hear him squealing in excitement to go back home. Every step towards my home, bed of memories came to my vision.

Red choosing Charmander, Blue chose Squirtle, Leaf chose Bulbasaur while Gary got Eevee, saving Charmander from his trainer, capturing Squirtle and Bulbasaur, releasing Butterfree with his mate, my oh my.

I can't even count how many memories I've made with my friends, but I know those are the memories I won't cast away in my whole life. Seeing my home for few meters away, I look at Pikachu and gave him a look where we'll race towards our house.

...

"Hey, no fair Pikachu!" I complain since he got ahead of me by using Quick Attack. He crossed his arms and gave me a proud look on his face which makes me roll my eyes and shake my head. "Well, we're even since I got ahead in the first place. Don't worry, I'll give you your 5 ketchup reward later." He squealed again. How much does love does he have for a ketchup?

Oh well, I won't pry in their personal things. I take a deep breath as I open the door to our house. "I'm home! Mimey! Red! Mom!" But no one answered me. Weird.

I walk into my room and... "Surprise!" 2 figures lunged at me and gave me a hug. After few seconds, I realized that it was my twin and mom, hugging me. "Congrats for giving your best shot at the Unova League." "Wait, you watched me?" I asked my brother with disbelief as he nod, giving me his answer.

"Too bad that you lost, but take a look on the bright side. Every loss are your stepping stones for you to get closer to your goal." He said to me with his hand on my shoulder. "Thanks, bro." I said with a smile as we did our bro hug and fist.

"How are you, Mom?" "Doing well. Cleaning the house with Mimey, helping Professor Oak at his researches and talking to my friends while you two are gone. I'm proud to gave birth to my sons. Giving their best shot, having fun with friends, there's nothing more that makes me happy than seeing my children happy."

Moved with our mom's words, me and Red hug our mother with all our love to her. I can feel Pikachu climbed up on my body and went to Mom's shoulder, licking her face I guess. "Thanks Mom." We said in unison, almost in sync.

I don't know how many minutes have passed, but it feels like an hour. After we separate from our hug, Mom asked us with a smile. "Shall we hit the road before we go to Professor Oak's Lab?" After thinking what my Mom asked, an idea came to me and said to her, "Yes, Mom." We said it again, but this time in sync as we look at each other and chuckled from the chemistry we have.

Boy, it feels so happy to have a twin. We went to the dining room and waited for my family's special dish. While our Mom is cooking, I went to the kitchen and took out 5 ketchups from the refrigerator and gave it to Pikachu as I saw him slurping every ketchup he can slurp.

Seeing him slurping cause me and Red laugh at what we are watching. "Here it is!" We look at Mom and I saw her holding 2 dishes with our favorite food, spaghetti. I was about to eat it until I saw Mom glared at me.

Oh my Arceus, how can I forget to pray before eating?

...

"Feels nice to see new Pokemon you caught at Unova, Ash." My brother compliment. It has been 2 hours since we finish our meal and went to Professor Oak's Lab to see my whole Unova Pokémon. Even I saw what Pokemon my brother caught. Apparently, he and Blue went to a new region that's called Alola.

He said that there are Z-Rings which makes one move of Pokémon go stronger than normal one. They went there to see if there are Pokémon League around there and guess what? There isn't. I tell him to explain more, but he said that if we'll go there together with my friends and our mom.

Red won the Kanto League after we part ways and became a runner-up for the Unova League when I was in Hoenn. Now I know the reason why Alder, the Unova Champion, easily recognized me, because of my similar appearance of my twin.

Now, me and Red are going home with satisfaction on our faces.

...

We're now at the door of our house and I heard some voices inside. Red open the door and... we met familiar faces along my journey.

"Blue? Gary? Leaf?" "Red! Ash!" They exclaim as they run towards us and gave us a hug which we return the favor. After few seconds of reunited again, we part ways from our hug and they asked us about our journey.

We explain everything after we part ways to become stronger on our own and they told us their stories. Leaf went to back to from Hoenn to Johto and Kanto, Blue went to Sinnoh and Alola, where he and Red went after they reunite in Kanto while Gary went back to Professor Oak's Lab and had a new goal; To become a researcher to help their grandfather.

After that, I heard knocking at our doorway as Red opened it and saw another faces. Brock, Misty, May, Max, Dawn and what surprised me is that Iris and Cilan are with them. Did they come here to visit me or congratulate me, even though I'm not the Unova League winner this year?

"Hey guys! How you've been?" I asked them with a smile on my face, happy to see my friends together again until Brock grab my arm and said to me, "Ash, we need to talk. Privately." And drag me outside with Pikachu on my shoulder.

My mind gets fuzzy. What's wrong with him? More importantly, what's wrong with them and where are they taking us? I look back at my childhood friends stared at me with confused look on their faces.

...

"Okay, so what do you want to talk about?" I asked Brock after dragging me to a tree that is a little bit far away from my house. They glared at me. I don't know if it's me or I have a bad feeling about this.

"Ash. Me, Misty, May, Max, Dawn, Iris and Cilan have talk about it... and..." Brock stopped at what he said until Misty start talking. "You should give up on your dream."

...

"What? Is this a joke?" I asked her with my eyebrows raised, don't even know if they're making fun of me or... what they're saying... is real.

"No, it's not a joke." This time it was Dawn who said to me that it's not a joke. "You should give up on being a Pokémon Trainer." "You involved us in getting dangerous situations that almost take our life. We even talk to ourselves of why did we join you and now... we know. We just wasted our time for travelling with a kid like you."

May and Iris insulted me with their words.

...

I'm loss.

I don't know what to say or even to think.

My mind... its flying with emotions.

Emotions... that hurts more... than swords or words.

Burning in my face, my vision got moisten.

Hit me like lightning strikes the deepest angle of my brain.

I can feel their glares, waiting for my answer or words.

Lungs burning, skin trembling.

I struggle to the surface, but I can't.

Their words caught me dead.

Inside I tried, but push me down they did.

...

"You really... want me to quit? And to never see myself again?" I asked them with monotone voice. They all nodded.

So... this the end for me. I can't even look at them. I can feel Pikachu's spark coming out of his cheeks. I whispered to him before saying something to those... 'friends'. "Leave them, Pikachu. They're not worth my life. Thanks for saying the feelings you have for me. You can leave me now. I won't do anything to become a Pokémon Master."

Then I ran away with Pikachu from them, going to deeper into the forest, but I don't care. Saying those words to me, why didn't they just leave me if they already know how weak I am? They should've go on their own way.

Brock joined me to help some Pokémon, Misty traveled with me so that she can become the strongest Water Pokémon Master, Tracey came with me, because he thought that we'll meet new ones. May and Max? I don't know what their reason is, but I know that May came to me so that I could pay the bike caused by Pikachu's Thunderbolt.

Dawn came to me, because... Ugh! I don't want to think about their reasons anymore! Why did I think about them if they just want me to give up on my dreams?!

My vision is... blurry. Am I waking up? Am I blind or what? I can't see a thing, except grasses and woods as I ran away from them.

Don't know how I go deeper and deeper into the forest, but all I know... is running from... my dreams. Maybe it is for the best... That I need to stop going further to get closer to become one of the best Pokémon Master of all time.

I stop and need some air to breathe. My left shoulder feels light, probably Pikachu left from my shoulder as I look at a fallen log for me to sit down and need to think much.

My vision is burning, I tried to rub it off, but I can't as tears from my eyes still lingering down to my cheeks. I saw Pikachu comforting me with the best of his abilities for me to go back to who I am.

"Thanks, Pikachu." I said to him with a sad smile with a little tears on my cheeks as I'm calm down a little from... their betrayal towards my dream... and myself.

I look up and flashes of memories came by again. Seeing myself being happy with my friends, battling my rivals, I guess... it's all a lie.

I stood up and look at where I am. I'm lost, but... it feels... good to be... forgotten. A smile grew from my face. I walk forward for few steps and I close my eyes to relax myself from my mental breakdown state.

I open my eyes and walk forward again. I trip on a rock and expected to fall flat on the dirt, but... I kept falling. Don't know how long, but I just keep on falling... until everything goes black and darkness...

...

Reign over my vision.