Chapter 2

Authors Note: Okay, some of the flash backs may not have actually happened or the same way and the charcters will have pokemon they've never really caught, but again it's my story. So I hope you all enjoy this next Chapter. Also Gary is 19 too but still older than ash.

Disclaimer (I do not own anything, only the story)

…pidgey…pidgey…pidgey… the young adult grabbed a pillow or so he thought was a pillow and threw it at the alarm clock that was still going off. In his half dazed and sleep he didn't realize what he actually threw.

"pika!" he faintly heard the cry of his very first pokemon. But he didn't pay much attention because the alarm stoped. He rolled back over to finish his sleep.

"pi…ka…CHU!" the yellow mouse sent a shock wave at his trainer for what he did. Ash instantly jumped out of bed fried and black marks all over him.

"ahhhh, Pikachu, what in the world was that for?" he exclaimed but soon took notice of pikachu's angry look. He look on his bed only to find all the pillows still there and soon realized what just happened.

"Oh Pikachu, I'm so sorry!" he waved his hands in front of him hoping for not another shock.

"pika pi" he stated to his trainer with sparks coming from his cheek before they disappeared.

"Thanks buddy" ash smiled at his longtime friend, "come on, I'll get you some breakfast" he proceeded to the kitchen and whipped up a batch of Pokémon food for Pikachu.

Knowing one day he'd have to do all the cooking for himself and his Pokémon one day he asked Brock to teach him a lot about cooking and also a few things about taking care of the injured. Ash has matured a lot over the years and now he was living on his own which was still all new to him.

"Piiii ka!" the electric type yelped as he took the first bites in delight. Ash simply smiled at his Pokémon and went out the back door which led to the balcony.

Ash came to a stop at the edge of the railing overlooking the ocean. He couldn't help but think 'this is my house now.' His house was on the coast of Pallet Town up on a hill which overlooked the ocean. Several trees surrounded the house which made it almost impossible to see that there was even a house up there from the bottom of the hill. The house wasn't anything special, just a nice three bedroom two bathroom house. Not only that but he also had a ranch built close by for all of the Pokémon he's caught over the years. He was almost 18 when his journey was coming to an end. He became one of the most famous trainers during his travels and was known throughout each region, especially Kanto his home region. He wasn't exactly the best Pokémon master but he was most certainly at the top. Coming back he thought that it might be good to get out of his mother's way after so long. So he had a house built which he only recently moved into.

"Man… I've come a long way since that very first day when I was ten. It's hard to believe." he wondered out loud.

"Jolt" a yellow spiky Pokémon came up and jumped up on the railing to his trainer.

"Hey Jolteon, what brings you out here" ash questioned another one of his long time pals. Jolteon then began licking his face.

Haha "knock it off buddy" ash laughed "I'm alright, just thinking of the past, no need to worr…" ash stopped knowing what he was about to say.

"Dawn…" he whispered looking again back to the ocean before him.

Jolteon stared in confusion never knowing who dawn was but hearing several stories about her from ash. Pikachu then ran out to join his friends.

'It's weird, I've never missed one person so much in my life till me and her separated.' He thought to himself. But hearing his wrist watch going off snapped him back in reality. It read 'Gary'. He quickly clicked the button which reviled Gary's face on the wrist watch.

"Hey ash" he greeted

"Hey, it's been a few days hasn't it" re replied "so what news do you have for me"

"Well you know that masked cloaked man that's been traveling around Sinnoh and terrorizing Pokémon trainers."

"Yeah I remember you saying something about it"

"Well…" Gary paused "He's been spotted here in Kanto"

"What!" ash yelled with surprise, but then smirked. "Good, so he's brought himself hear. I'll take care of him"

"Ash I know you're a ranger now but your still not as experienced as some of the others, I only called to warn you to keep an eye open." Gary explained.

"Gary you and I are a team, I'm sure we can handle it, but don't worry. I won't do anything as of yet" ash said with a hint of arrogance. "Just keep me posted on the situation"

"Will do, Gary out" he then signed off.

Yes, ash was now a Pokémon Ranger, one of the youngest to be exact. But also the most gifted. And Gary was sort of his informant. While ash stayed in the field Gary not only continued his research but helped ash on several missions. Ash became a Ranger pretty soon after his journey was over. He's always been fascinated by the encounters with other rangers over the years. He spent time training with them and learned a lot of hand to hand combat for close encounters with criminal, not only that but his workout gave him a more built muscular body than the skinny kid he was back then.

Ash then looked down over the railing to see Jolteon and Pikachu playing together. He smiled at the sight. They were his most favorite team to use. They worked so well together. He then went back inside feeling himself becoming hungry. Yet he kept having this nagging feeling eating at him. The picture of a blue haired girl continued to creep into his mind. He couldn't help but to put a hand over his heart to make the pain go away.

Longing to see her again, He quickly ran to his room and opened up his drawers and shuffling through clothes until he found it, the picture of him and dawn that they took together. He looked at the picture with glossy eyes as he sat on his bed as a memory crept into his mind. The picture was the one thing that kept him going through his adventure even in the hardest of times. He never wanted to forget those sapphire eyes and that smile that lit his world up. The day they took this picture was the day he left…

Flashback

So this is it, it's all coming to an end, I shouldn't be too surprised, I knew it was coming one day' ash thought to himself. Not knowing the girl beside him was thinking the same thing.

The three were walking together for the last time to the ship that would take ash and brock home.

Dawn couldn't hide the disappointment that she felt. She even walked slower to prolong the end to come. But after some time they arrived.

"Hey Brock, can you get a picture of me and Dawn" ash blurted out surprising both brock and dawn and dawn instantly blushed at ash's forwardness.

"uhh yeah, sure ash" brock replied "just one sec" he started digging in his pack.

"Over here dawn" ash took her hand in his and lead her to the edge of the water overlooking the ocean before them.

"Do you mind?" ash question realizing he didn't even give her a chance to respond yet.

"No not at all ash!" she assured him with a slight blush still on her face.

"Okay I'm ready" brock said "now get close" brock smirked knowing that the two may have feelings for each other.

The two blushed but did as he said. Ash was on the left of her and she blushed deeply when she felt a hand on her right shoulder knowing ash's arm was around her. Even though it was just a friendly thing. Or so they both thought. Ash also had the same blush on his face. Dawn took her hat off letting her beautiful midnight blue hair show. Ash simply smiled at this also taking his hat off which he never did much.

"Okay smile!" brock yelled.

Ash and dawn focused and smiled whole heartedly just being so close their skin was touching. After the picture they stayed close but missed the feeling of being so close they touched.

The picture developed quickly with brock making two copies and handed it to ash. Dawn was overlooking the ocean with her arms on the railing.

"Is everything alright?" ash questioned leaning over the rail beside her.

"Yeah I suppose so" she replied feeling down.

"I know, I don't want us to be apart either" ash said showing concern

"How did you…"

"You're my best friend dawn, I know you" ash cut her off.

"Yeah" she blushed at is comment.

"This is for you" ash turned towards her holding out the picture.

"Thank you ash" she smiled "I'll always keep it close"

"Good, because I will too" he showed her that flashy smiled she loved so much. Then he added "just don't forget me"

"Ash I could never and will never forget you" they both blushed at this.

Out of know where dawn felt arms around her and soon realized it was ash's arms around her hugging her. Her face turned a bright red but returned the hug. Even brock was surprised at ash's action but soon smiled at the sight.

"I'll miss you" dawn said forming tears in her eyes.

"I'll miss you too dawn" ash replied his voice cracking.

He then let go and she did the same sadness in their faces but trying to keep up the smile. Ash took his hat still in his hands and placed it on dawns head. She looked at him surprised.

"It's yours" he smiled.

"But it's your hat ash, you've had it for so long" she said

"Yeah, but I want you to have it. To remember all the times we've traveled together."

"But" she tried but was cut off.

"Dawn I've never given my hat to anyone, so please take it for me" he smiled explaining. She was shocked but took it anyway.

"Thank you" she replied blushing.

"Ash come on, the boats about to leave" brock yelled to ash snapping ash back to what was going on.

"Will see each other again dawn, no need to worry right" he smiled saying his final goodbye along with her catch phrase.

"Right" she said, "will always be close" she said raising her hand.

Ash instantly knew and raised his own hand with their final high five.

*clap*

They smiled then ash turned away and headed towards brock.

"Piiiiipppluuupp!" piplup yelled to the three on the boat.

"Bye brock bye ash bye Pikachu!" she yelled and waved as they boarded the boat and they all returned the wave smiling. Hiding the sadness they really felt inside.

End of Flashback

Ash lifted off the bed with fresh tears at his eyes. He laid the picture beside his bed wanting to go check on his Pokémon at the ranch knowing they must be hungry. With that he set off out the door…