Heya all! I'm so happy with my new pen name

Sorry for the late update, but I have been going through a TREMENDOUS amount of hurtful shit in my personal life that has really affected, and been affecting me. There have been many changes going on in my life rather rapidly, and it has been extremely overwhelming at times.

I must say though, that whenever I saw someone has constructively favorite, followed, or reviewed my story or my profile, it always made me smile, and feel a little better. You've been helping me in a very dark time in my life. Thank you to all who have constructively favorite, followed, or reviewed. I very much appreciate it!

IMPORTANT: RETCON: The reason I said in the first chapter that Ash had lost to Sawyer was due to the fact that the Lumiose Conference arc had not yet aired, and therefore anything could have happened. Therefore, I went with the rival who seemed to be the best choice to defeat Ash, having NO idea that Alain would be the one to defeat him, if he was defeated at all. That was a bit disappointing in that department if I'm honest. Ah well.

Given that, and the events that happened during and after the Conference, I have decided to retcon the events as they were implied in the First Chapter, and just have them play out as they did in the anime, up until the group split up.

I didn't want to change the first chapter, and spring it on you all like that. And I don't plan on changing that in the first chapter either. It is a minor detail, but a detail nonetheless.

Ok now that everything important is out of the way, ONWARD!

Chapter 6: Timeskip

So time moved on, and the unchanging days began to change little by little. And over the next 10 years, many changes occurred…

The traitors continued their journeys, attempting at their own dreams. The reactions of all the people that knew Ash, and some who knew Ash through the traitors, varied.

Some of the gang's old rivals and friends agreed with the traitors, such as Barry, Zoey and Trip. Zoey had said that Ash was annoying, and had no clue what he was doing. Barry had said that he was impressed by Ash once, but had lost it after he had lost in the Kalos League. And Trip said that he knew Ash, or rather 'that dumb pun from the boonies' was always weak, exemplified by Trip's beginning Snivy beating Ash's much more leveled Starter Pikachu with little effort. After laughing at Ash's memory, those rivals became the traitors' on-off traveling companions.

Other rivals that agreed with the traitors' opinion included Georgia and Burgundy. Both who thought little of Ash from the start. Georgia claimed that Ash's victory over her and her Pawniard was simply a fluke due to the terrain, and that that the now-Bisharp would destroy that 'stupid Snivy of his.' Burgundy, of course, reasoned that Ash was incompatible with his Pokémon from the start, and that it was "pointless to keep working with Pokémon that would not work well with him from the start!" They kept on competing with their rivals Iris and Cilan as if nothing had changed.

One of the worst of the rivals was Paul, arguably Ash's greatest rival. With the knowledge that Ash's friends felt he was worthless, and they had not seen Ash since, he relapsed back into his callous old ways. To top it off, he began travelling with the traitors, essentially replacing Ash in the rapidly falling group of friends. The traitors began to learn and use Paul's methods, attitudes, and training regimes, and soon some of their Pokémon were regretting their decision to remain with their trainers.

But plenty of their old rivals were disgusted by what the traitors had done.

Upon learning of the traitors' actions, Stephan, Bianca, and Cameron had broken ties with the traitors, with Cameron going as far as calling them "disgusting excuses for Human beings." This caused a great deal of tension whenever the two groups ran into each other or competed against each other. Nothing major happened, thankfully.

Not only were the traitor's acquaintances affected, but other friends and rivals that the traitors did not meet were affected. Alain, after deciding to postpone his Elite 4 challenge to let Lumiose rebuild and recover, as well as wanting to go on a journey to cleanse his conscience of Team Flare's actions, was outraged, along with Mairin. The two spent great deal of time searching for Ash during their journey, growing closer together at the same time.

Sawyer, upset at the loss of his greatest rival and mentor figure, had taken some time off of his studies With Hoenn Champion Steven Stone, to look for Ash as well. Upon finding nothing, he returned to work with Steven, disappointed in himself, although he did improve about four years later, after receiving some great news from Steven.

Other friends, such as Casey, Luke, A.J., and Angie, among others, were distraught to learn of Ash's former friends actions. Many had resolved, as a result, to work and train even harder, to either honor Ash, or impress him if he returned. There were many unknowns at that time, you know?

Eventually, some of Ash's loyal friends and traveling companions began to reappear. Clemont returned periodically to run the Lumise Gym with the Clembot. Bonnie also reappeared, leaving for her own Pokémon Journey when she turned ten, and competing in the Lumiose and Ever Grande Conferences as well.

May and Drew reappeared as well, being prominently featured in the Coordinating circuit for several years as rivals. Luckily, or perhaps intentionally or fate determined, Drew and May never competed in a region Dawn and Zoey were competing in. Drew's family was also the subject of a good amount of attention…but no more can be said, or another story shall be spoiled!

What was most shocking was what happened at the end of the seventh year covered, and it's Hoenn Grand Festival…

….

The competitors in the Final Round were May Maple, age 23, with Blaziken and Beautifly, and Drew Hayden, age 24, with Roserade and Masquerain. The Contest Battle was intense, although Drew seemed to be doing things rather, for lack of better word, carefully. Eventually the timer stopped, and something that had never been seen in the happened in the History of Contest Grand Festivals. Both of the Coordinators' meters ran out at the same time.

The Hoenn Grand Festival Final had ended in a Draw.

May was stunned. Lillian Meridian was taken aback, the judges were unsure how to award the Ribbon Cup and declare a Top Coordinator. But Drew solved this in a rather touching way. Shaking away nervousness at what he was about to say, he asked Lillian for the microphone. And he gave a speech regarding him and May.

"May, when I first met you on the beach here in Slateport City, I'll admit I was thinking I would thinking you were probably another rookie who was doomed to loose and be crushed by their first Pokémon Contest, and when you learned my name, another fangirl. But I was utterly floored by how you acted instead. You got made, cutely I might add, at my remarks. You refused to give up, even after your first loss. You worked hard, and strived to be better than me. And for the first time in my life, I truly felt like an individual. Not a tool. Not a toy. I was a person; A PERSON. I must admit, I felt something, and through our Hoenn encounters, it grew into a crush. Alas, we were still rivals, so while you worked to surpass me, I likewise worked to surpass you. When we were in Kanto, you finally beat me, and I knew your full strength. But both you and I grew stronger, through traveling together, through Johto, and through these last few years. Ever since we started dating a year ago, I felt happy. I felt happier than I have ever felt in my entire life. I wasn't dragged down by my father's death or even my family anymore. Everyone changed me, you more than anyone. But we were still rivals, and still competing to be better than the other. So I have waited. I have waited for this day, when we stand at the top of the Grand Festival, together, in the city we met, not as competing rivals, but as equals."

May was stunned at Drew's words, so passionate ant well wound together so intricately. She couldn't move, and she had tears in her eyes, Sapphire orbs that she could not break off Drew's Emerald ones.

Drew was sweating a river due to the audience present for what he was about to ask her. (Most of the audience was in tears as well, mind you)

"May, I really like you, no no no, I Love You, and I would go to the Moon and back if it would make you happy. I hope you feel the same. I hope I make you happy. And I hope I do NOT mess this up. Because, here and now, as equals I ask you, May Maple…"

Time seemed to stop, and space seemed to slow. May could barely breathe, as Drew got down on one knee, and pulled out of his suit pocket, a small, deep red velvet box, opening it slowly to reveal…a beautiful gold ring.

"…will you marry me?"

The Contest Stadium was so quiet you could hear a pin drop, as everyone watching held their breath…

May, to try and steady her nerves, which were going supernova, took a deep breath…

And another…

And another…

"Yes!"

Drew shakily stood up, and slowly placed the ring on May's ring finger, stood up…

…and the two smashed their lips together in their most passionate and first public kiss.

The Contest Stadium erupted in a deafening chorus of cheers, as May and Drew broke apart, and May, overcome by the surreal and nerve-novaing experience, proceeded to faint.

"That…that is the most beautiful thing I have heard a man propose to a women with!" Lillian bubbled out through the river of tears flowing down her face, s the Judges applauded. "Congratulations Drew, and Congratulations May! I guess the Ribbon Cup will be awarded to this new union!"

But Drew heard none of this as he, overcome by the surreal and nerve-novaing experience, proceeded to faint too.

….

One month later, Andrew Hayden and May Maple-Hayden were married, and a further nine months later, twins Ryan and Ruby Hayden were born.

Like all marriages, they were not ALLWAYS perfect, and they did get into their share of fights. But Drew and May would always make up, and worked hard to raise Ryan and Ruby with love and care.

Drew and May took a break from competing in Contests for a while, to start raising their family. They instead worked on setting up new Contests, and working to create a Doubles Contest.

But more on that later…

….

Things began to change for Pokémon Trainers of all specializations all around as well.

For many years, the Pokémon community as a whole had always had to keep an eye out for many criminal organizations that had risen over the years, particularly the elusive Team Rocket. While many had been stopped, and many conspirators in those organizations arrested and tried, mostly due to the past actions of Ash Ketchum and his groups, there were still many at large, and more managing to escape from custody.

Eventually, it was found out and proven that many officers in the several police forces around the regions had been corrupt. Their activities included anything from taking bribes to being in organization's pockets, to sometimes being members of these organizations outright. These discoveries shocked the world, and a series of both internal and external investigations were carried out, with many still going on.

Team Rocket, which had proven to be one of the most elusive organizations to track, was also a major thorn in the world's side. Eventually, however, with the gathering amount of evidence on the organization, and the diminishing of several corrupt law enforcement officers, things began to change.

Over time, more and more Team Rocket bases, labs and operations were exposed and taken down, mostly in part due to the operations of the International Agents, ,and the Pokémon G-Men. Not only was a majority of Team Rocket's forces taken down, but many of their corporate investors were discovered as well. These included corporations that funded the horrible organization for profit, rich people who thought the laws did not apply to them, and twisted people who wanted a piece of world domination. Eventually, Giovanni Vrocketts, well known CEO of Vwetoo-Vrocketts Industries, was discovered to be the head of Team Rocket. After a difficult campaign, authorities managed to finally capture the now-infamous Giovanni, and Vwetoo-Vrocketts Industries was shut down. However, while Vwetoo-Vrocketts had provided a cover and most of the funding for Team Rocket, records indicate a final major corporate sponsor that had yet to be identified…

Alas, things were changing in the world of Pokémon competitions as well.

Many tournaments and events revolving around Pokémon continued to be held and grow. Ten years is indeed a long time, and many faces on the circuits continued to come and go. In fact, a great many more appeared on the competition circuits, with sinister organizations and Pokémon thieves becoming increasingly less and less of an issue.

Alas, during these ten years, many of the old Champions remained, as of yet, unmatched:

Aria remained Kalos Queen.

Diantha remained Kalos Champion.

Alder was close to retirement, and if a victor over the Unova Elite 4 was not determined through the next Unova Champions League, he would have to start looking for a successor.

And speaking of Unova, as well as retirements, Opelucid City Gym Leader Drayden was in the process of selecting his successor as well.

Cynthia was uncontested as Sinnoh Chamion.

Steven Stone remained unbeaten as the Hoenn Champion. Although Steven was growing rather restless in his role as Champion, as he was increasingly wishing to get on the road again and follow his passion for collecting rare stones.

However, it was the Johto League and Kanto's Indigo League where most of the changes were occurring.

The President of the Pokémon League, President Charles Goodshow, was getting very old, and it was becoming apparent that he would need to step down at some point soon. He kept going for the ten years, but time was catching up to him, and the eventuality of his retirement, and the need to appoint a successor, were rapidly getting closer.

In addition to, or perhaps unintentionally because of this, Kanto's Indigo League was suffering greatly. The Indigo League was famously known as the first of the major Pokémon Leagues, and having set the mold for all of the subsequent Regional Pokémon Leagues. The problem that the Indigo League was suffering from, however, was rooted in this as well: this League was the first; therefore, it was also the oldest. Few of the rules and guidelines for the Indigo Gym Challenge, The Indigo Plateau Conference, and even Official Battles themselves, among other things, had been changed or even updated. Subsequently, things like the conditions of the Gyms and other facilities, and Gym Leader requirements and restrictions, remained outdated.

Gym Leaders were often reported to be either too strong or too harsh in their battling performances, or underperforming under old and outdated criteria.

These performances (or lack thereof) led to the Pokémon Inspection Agency either reprimanding or downright closing many Pokémon Gyms in the Region. While the Indigo Plateau Conference Stadiums and Village were relatively well maintained, due to the lowering number of Gyms, and the difficulty presented by the remaining Gyms, fewer and fewer Pokémon Trainers felt they had a chance to take on the too difficult and too spread out Indigo Gyms. Therefore, fewer and fewer and fewer Trainers Competed in the Indigo Gym Challenge, Fewer and fewer made it to the Indigo Plateau Conference, and fewer and fewer competed. Public interest in the league was dropping, and the Elite 4 of Kanto was breaking up.

Lorelei wanted to return to her home in the Sevii Islands. Agatha was preparing to retire. Bruno served on the Elite 4 of Johto, with Lance being the Johto Champion as well. Most worryingly, a Champion of Kanto had not been decided through an Indigo Champion League in years; Goodshow himself having to serve as a fill-in Champion, should a Trainer defeat Kanto's Elite 4.

Eventually, serious talks began about hopefully restructuring the Indigo Pokémon League. And the unwanted, but rapidly becoming real alternative of closing the Kanto League altogether.

These were the problems plaguing the Indigo League of Kanto for nine of the past ten years.

At the beginning of the last of the ten years discussed, a mysterious Trainer appeared and registered for the Indigo League under a pseudonym. This Trainer dressed in a dark blue windbreaker, black jeans, and grey sneakers, with his eyes and upper face hidden by a dark grey fedora and, standing out most about his clothes, a gold mask in the shape of a Ho-Oh's beak and face. This individual, identified only as "Phoenix Guardna" arrived on the scene, and rapidly swept through many Kanto Gyms, earning the required 8 Indigo League Badges. Phoenix proceeded to sweep through the tough Indigo League Conference, and fought hard against the Elite 4, and Standing Champion Charles Goodshow. And Phoenix won…

As he was declared the Champion of Kanto, the world asked who was the identity behind the mask.

"Good things come to those who wait…" was Phoenix Guardna's response to the world.

And soon, things began to change for the better in Kanto, and the Indigo League was reborn from the ashes.

Meetings were held, plans were laid out, funding was given, and work started. Regulations were updated and facilities were repaired. New Gyms were opened, Reopened, and Gym Leaders were hired. Working with the Haydens, Pokémon Contests were revitalized, to give Trainers an alternative to battling.

Yes, during the last year of the ten, Kanto's Indigo League was on the road to recovery, with the hopeful turnout at that eleventh year's annual Indigo League Conference, ushering in a new beginning for Kanto.

A new beginning for the Pokémon World…

And that is it for now! Now that I review it, Drew's proposal seems a little out of place, but I didn't want to rush it or mention it in passing in a later chapter.

I am also planning to take a break in a few chapters to write a tie-in story about Drew and May during the ten-year time skip, going into Drew's background and family. It'll give me time to finalize a few ideas for the main story.

Thank you all again for the constructive support, and please leave constructive criticism, in the form of reviews, favorites and follows hopefully.

Peace out…dudes!