Zack had always hated Palmer. He might have even hated Palmer more than he hated Red. Palmer was an alcoholic, pill-popping womanizer. The biggest piece of trash the town had to offer. Even the hobos and the drunks were on a higher plane than him. But he was also rich and Zack's father best friend.

According to Zack's dad, Palmer was at one time one of the greatest Pokemon trainers of all time. They had apparently met at some league or conference. Back then, Palmer supposedly had class though Zack could never envision it. They have been at each others side ever since.

Zack was aggravated that guy was holding him down. Zack could smell the alcohol on the guy's breath. Zack struggled against the guy but he was incredibly strong for someone who was so lanky. Palmer was a tall guy and with blond hair. He had this green coat that he always kept unbuttoned with a white undershirt underneath. He also always wore gloves, as far as Zack could remember. He had some signs of aging on his face, as well as an unkempt stubble.

"I'm taking you out of here. There's nothing you can do now" Palmer said as he forced Zack away from the house and away from the danger.

"Let me go. They need me" Zack screamed as he desperately tries to race toward his family. Zack was crying and reaching his arms out as long as he could. He needed to get to them. He needed to help them. They might still be in there. They can't be gone. They can't.

"And what are you going to do, huh. Are you going to run in there and get yourself killed. I'm sorry to say this but if they didn't get out then they are gone. I'm not gonna risk losing the only remaining member of my family" Palmer screamed.

"They are not your family. They are mine. They are mine" Zack cried out as he started to lose consciousness. The smoke fumes or something was throwing him off. Probably the stress. He couldn't take it any more. He turned around and saw the red and blue police sirens drive up on top of the hill. He couldn't take it anymore. He passed out


Palmer was at the police station and was probably more tormented than ever before. Now Palmer had been through A LOT of crap through his life. Most of his pain had always been self inflicted though. But this was different. Ash and his family had always been the bright spots in his life. The people that got him out of that destructive lifestyle. But now they are gone. Just like that.

Officer Jenny came in with a large amount of papers in her hand.

"What's the report. Did anyone survive" Palmer asked inquisitively?

"I'm sorry to tell you this Palmer but no. We found six bodies all burnt to a crisp. We did DNA checks on all of them and I'm sorry to say it was confirmed. Ash and his entire family are dead."

Palmer sat down in the chair almost as if the words were an actually blow to the chest

"Wait. There were eight people living in the house. Who didn't you find the DNA match for. We know one got out. Who was the other."

"The only one we didn't find a match for was Draca, the youngest. Unfortunately, she was so small there weren't many chances she even left a sample for us."

"Oh my god. Poor Draca. She... she was always so cute. She would always go and call me Uncle Palmer." Palmer put his hands on his head and started rubbing his head. He looked like a sad figure, with his back hunched. "What am I going to tell Zack. That his whole family is dead? I can't do this. I need a drink."

"Palmer now is not the best time to start drinking. Now is the time to grieve."

"How do you think I grieve?"

Jenny shut up on this reply. She looked at Zack sleeping on the chair in her office. The poor kid must have lost everything. What was he going to do now?

"Do you know what happens to Zack now? Did Ash ever mention any plans for him" Jenny inquired?

"Well considering how today he went to go get his starter Pokemon today, maybe he could go on a Pokemon journey."

"Don't be stupid. The kid has no parents, no family. No one to look out for him. He's not going to go on a journey. He needs time to grieve."

"You're wrong."

"About what?"

"About no one to look out for him. He always has me" Palmer said as smiled at the boy.

"No offense Palmer, but you are not suitable to raise this child."

"I don't need to raise him. He is ten years old. By the law, if he wants to go become a Pokemon Trainer he can. By that, I mean in the law's eyes, he is old enough to take care of himself. Plus his parents did most of the raising. I'm here to keep an eye on him."

"But he needs to grieve. He is too emotionally unstable to leave."

"Really. Then why don't we go ask him" Palmer said as he got out of his chair and walked over to the sleeping child.

"Hey wake up" he yelled at the comfortable Zack. He hit him a couple times on the head to make sure the kid awoke.

Zack woke up to see Palmer staring right at him. Zack sneered a little and tried to sleep again when he remembered what had happened earlier that day. His Pokemon, his house, his family.

"Where are they" Zack asked. "Where is my family?"

Palmer's smile faded and he looked at Zack morosely. "I'm sorry to say this to you Zack but...your family... they uhhhh... they're gone" Palmer spit out. Tears formed in Palmer's eyes and Zack couldn't believe the sight.

"Why are you telling me this" Zack said as his eyes started to water. "Why? How could this happen? They can't just be gone. What happened?"

"I don't know kid. I don't know."

Zack looked at Palmer's eyes. The guy was heartbroken. Almost as if he lost his own family.

"Why are you crying. Your family isn't dead. They were mine" Zack is frantically yelling and sobbing.

"They were my family too. I wasn't related to them but they were my family. Especially your father."

Zack looked at Palmer again and he could see it. He could see the pain. The loss.

"It's okay Zack. We can get through this together" Palmer said as he put his arms around Zack for a big hug. Zack hesitated for a second and then hugged Palmer back. They hugged and cried with each other for at least ten minutes. Both in their thoughts of grief. No one bothered them. They were going through a tough time. They needed their space.

"So what are we going to do now" Zack asked Palmer.

"Well, Officer Jenny and most of Pallet Town believe you should stay here. Grieve and do all those things. But you don't listen to most of Pallet Town,do you?

"Not usually, no."

"Well, I think we should go on a little adventure. Just me and you. Let's make you a Pokemon Master. You will be the master, and I your trustworthy coach."

"I like that. I always told my family I would be the very best Trainer in the world. I think this is the way to remember them. To make my dreams come true."

The two of them got up and walked out of the police station. Zack looked all around him. The sun was still high enough to go and start their journey. That's when Officer Jenny came running out of the station.

"Zack, please. This isn't the right way to go about things. You need time to grieve and think things over."

"Oh, Jenny. Zack has thought this over" Palmer replied slyly.

"Zack, this isn't the right way" Jenny pleaded.

"I would always tell my family that I would be the very best Pokemon Trainer ever. So that is what I plan to do. I am not going to let you or anyone else stop me" Zack said confidently. He walked away towards his destiny. Palmer and Jenny stayed back.

"He doesn't know what way he is going, does he" Jenny asked Palmer?

"Not a clue. But you do have to love his zest." Palmer smiled. "Well I better go follow him. Oh and before I go I need to make something clear."

"What" Jenny asked?

"I told you so."