A/N: Well, you guys are gonna have to forgive me. Life got hectic as life tends to do. I apologize that this took so long for me to get out. I feel like I rushed this chapter a little. Anyways, Review and tell me what you thought, where I need to improve, etc. Criticism is always welcome.

Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon

Ash didn't bother with the ferry trip. He didn't want that much down time to simply brood over the mistakes he made throughout his journey. Despite that, as he sat in row 8 seat C of the airliner taking him directly to Viridian City, Ash found himself brooding over his mistakes.

Lost in his own thoughts, Ash barely paid any heed to the man who occupied the seat next to him. In fact, he didn't notice that there was a person there until said person spoke up, mentioning how he recognized Ash from the Sinnoh league. It would figure that, with the weight on his already heavy conscious, the man sitting next to him would find nothing more interesting to converse about than his recent loss. In other words, exactly what Ash was trying to avoid even touching on. Ash decided to tune the man out, instead opting to take in his appearance. Although he was sitting down Ash could tell the man was tall and well built, he obviously trained his body regularly. Ash noted the short, sand colored hair that rested on top of his head. It was as messy as hair cut as short as it was could be. And yet somehow, the haircut seemed to match well with this man's bright expression and equally radiant hazel eyes. Along with his messy hair, Ash also noted the stubble that grew. Ash couldn't tell if it had been cut like that on purpose, but he knew it accented the hairstyle well. Taking in his appearance and the way he spoke and acted, Ash came to a swift and definitive conclusion that this man was very laidback. Finishing his quick analysis of his temporary neighbor, Ash tuned back in to the man's rant only to be assailed by a continuation of what he had tuned out. The man was by no means being rude; in fact, he even attempted to console Ash. In spite of the man's reassuring words Ash found himself and his self-confidence slipping further into the black.

"So tell me something, Ash." The man's deep voice tearing Ash away from his musings.

"Of course" Ash responded politely, although his thoughts were elsewhere he felt obligated to at least respect this man.

"You don't plan to give up your career just because of this one loss do you?"

Ash sighed. He knew this question was coming. Even though he knew it was coming, and he had rehearsed his answer a thousand times in his head, when he opened his mouth:

"I don't know"

Ash jumped at his own answer. That wasn't what he intended to say. It looks like he had just wasted a few hours of psyching himself up.

The man's chocolate eyes softened, "Listen Ash, there's gonna be plenty of times in life when someone bigger than you knocks you down. But you know what you need to do?"

"Get up?" Ash tried dully

The man's eyes twinkled with mirth, "And become bigger than the guy who beat you ever was."

Ash vividly remembered looking up into Tobias's teal eyes as he knelt by his starter's side. He remembered the pain coursing through his veins, the absolute frustration of helplessness fighting to take control of his mind. He remembered not letting it. He remembered not allowing helplessness to take control as he and his starter stared up into the blue gaze of the victor, of the champion. He had held his ground against hopelessness then, he had thrown out fear and he had destroyed hesitation. He would grow strong. Ash jerked forward slightly as the plane touched down, beginning to slow as it approached the gate. The next time the pair met on the battlefield, Ash would stare down at Tobias with his victory in his eyes, and Tobias's holding defeat.

Just as the plane halted at its gate, Ash looked the man in his large hazel orbs for the first time since the beginning of the flight, his own eyes suddenly matching the strength and passion held in those hazel eyes.

"I know this probably won't sound like much." Ash breathed softly, "but thank you."

The man smiled warmly, pulling down his carry-on bag front he overhead compartment as he did so. "Like I said kid, be bigger than Tobias ever was."

"I will tower above him." Ash vowed, then his eyes widened as he remembering something. "Oh yeah, I never got your name."

"Ah, my name." The man chuckled absentmindedly, "How could I have forgotten to introduce myself. My name is Bobby Coleman, but everybody calls me Woods."

"Woods?" Ash raised a speculative eyebrow, "Can I ask why?"

"I specialize in Grass Pokémon." The man ran a hand through his close-cropped, sandy colored hair, messing it up further.

"Grass Pokémon…" Ash paused, "do you run a gym?"

The man let out a chuckle, his large hand falling from his hair to rest at his side.

"Something like that" Woods grinned widely, "I have a feeling you and I will see each other again, much sooner than I would like. And when we do meet once more, you will tower so high above Tobias that he will drown in your shadow."

Ash returned the man's wide grin, "I have no idea who you are or what you're talking about, but I'll play along with you. So until we meet again, Bobby."

"Woods" The sandy haired man corrected lightly

Ash chuckled sheepishly, his hand going to the back of his neck in embarrassment, "Right, my bad."

"Later kid" Woods began to stride slowly down the isle, "Become strong."

Although he knew Woods wouldn't be able to see, Ash nodded resolutely.

'I have to get strong' He thought, determination leaking through every vein in his body, 'I owe it to those who have watched over my path, those who have guided me when there were bumps or forks, and those who have slept with me on a frozen peak because it was the fastest way to the next gym.'

"I will become strong, and the world won't have the chance to blink"

The plane's thick doors unhinged at Gate 25 without much issue, not there really was ever issue with transport these days, and the passengers funneled through the airport, all heading to their respective destinations whether that be their home or a connection flight.

Woods had a short layover so their goodbye was hasty, but Ash managed to squeeze out that the man was from outside the five regions, specifically he was from Holon. Woods explained to Ash the reasoning behind his specialization in Grass types, telling the young trainer that it was due to the many forests inhabiting Holon. Despite there being a chain of islands that lay just beyond the horizon, with indescribably strong dragon Pokémon forming the populations, Woods had chosen to specialize in Grass types over Dragon. He told Ash in a sheepish whisper that he couldn't give up his starter Pokémon, a Treeko, for a bunch of overpowered lizards.

Ash chose not to point out the fact that Treeko was also a happy resident of the Reptilian family tree.

With Woods behind them, probably twiddling antsy thumbs as he waited for his next flight, Ash and Pikachu raced out of the airport, eager to get away from the discomfort of the large, pushy crowds.

"Didn't like crowds before, don't like 'em now" Ash shook his head exasperatedly. His yellow friend's enlightening response, coming in the form of soft crunching resulting from Pikachu nibbling on a Poketreat, did nothing to comfort the young trainer.

Ash's feet moved on their own, having walked the route so many times his legs knew the way home better than his mind did. With muscle memory guiding him, Ash was able to take note of all the construction happening around Viridian. He spotted many new, high-rise buildings being erected towards the center of the city.

But that didn't surprise Ash.

Viridian was quickly becoming a proud business city, with many big name companies building their eastern headquarters in said city. He noted the sign that said a Silph building would be 'coming soon' in the back of his head, figuring he would stop by next time he was in Viridian if the building was finished.

Soon however, the building quickly faded into the familiar, comforting forests of Route 1. Ash's pace began to increase, the anticipation of being home for the first time in months pushing his body into a jog, then a run. It wasn't long before he challenged his yellow starter to a race as they left their Sinnoh troubles in the dusts of Route 1.

Pallet

"You know something, Pikachu?"

The little yellow mouse turned his russet gaze away from the pastel door and onto his trainer, tilting his head, prompting Ash to continue

"I never thought I'd say this, but I think I am actually dreading opening that door"

Pikachu's gaze turned forward, eyeing the offending piece of wood dully. Taking his partners silence for what it was, silence, Ash sighed deeply before continuing his explanation

"From the moment I walk through that door, I can predict every single thing that will happen. First, Mr. Mime will acknowledge my presence, and then Mom will poke her head around the corner between the foyer and the kitchen. From there she will congratulate me. I will be hugged, squeezed and overstuffed with my favorite food. After that I will go to Professor Oak's ranch to see all my Pokémon, most likely I will return home after a couple hours and go to sleep."

His trainer's rambling didn't faze Pikachu, who gave a small, "Pi?" as if asking, 'What's the matter with that?'

"I don't know ol' buddy. So many things have changed for me, I'm almost glad that everything here in Pallet is as stable and stagnant as it is. When I lived here in my childhood I remember cursing this town because nothing happened, because nothing ever changed. No one moves, no one leaves, there are occasional visitors and the windmills occasionally breakdown. It's stagnant alright, but it doesn't feel bogged down… it's home…"

Pikachu looked at his long time friend, clearly not amused by the continued rambling, although there was a sympathetic gleam making a temporary home in the mouse's eyes.

Ash chuckled weakly, "You're right, what the hell am I talking about! Why am I worried about walking into my own home?"

With that thought, Ash pushed open the door. He waved in greeting to a surprised Mr. Mime, and then strode to the kitchen just as his mother poked her head around the corner. He allowed himself to be hugged until he was blue in the face; she complimented his performance and ranted about the Sinnoh league over an enormous meal that Ash felt had clogged every single blood vessel in his body. After the meal he announced he was going to Oak's, departing soon after.

Arriving at the ranch, Ash was greeted at the door by Tracy, who congratulated him on his final four run. Ash thanked the artist. Tracy told Ash that Oak wasn't present currently, and that he was, in fact, in Kalos with the resident professor discussing a new type of Pokémon evolution. Ash nodded and told Tracy he was off to see his Pokémon. Tracy showed him to the back door then left him to his thoughts. As expected, all his Pokémon, previous and current, gathered around him. Forming a half circle in front of him. Ash's gaze fell

"Listen guys…" Ash trailed off Pikachu patted him on the shoulder reassuringly, unconsciously reminding Ash that the yellow mouse had been through high and hell with him, and that this was just as difficult for the electric Pokémon as it was for his trainer. Ash steeled his resolve. "We didn't win."

Silence. Silence was all that greeted the statement. Ash began to fear the worst, and began to ramble for the second time that day.

"There are always more leagues, we will simply work harder the next year. We will do what we must in order to win once again."

Silence still reigned. Ash was drowning. Choking on the overwhelming, smothering silence that threatened to take over his entire being. Threatened to smash, crush and reduce him into nothingness. And just as he was about to let himself be smashed, crushed and reduced to nothing but a pile of lost cause, Ash was torched by his Charizard. Ash didn't cry out, the flames weren't meant to burn. They never were. Although this time the flames weren't warm in greeting, but frustrated. Frustrated as though they were attempting to guide a blind, deaf and anosmic mouse to a slice of cheese.

"Charizard…" Ash trailed off weakly

The dragon snorted, diminutive plumes of smoke erupting from his nostrils to exalt his temper. It wasn't just Charizard who had a reaction, although none were as rude or as exothermic.

"Ash, I thought you were beyond the idea that winning is everything." An elderly voice chidingly cut through the silence that still relatively remained.

Ash turned, shock beginning to write itself on the trainer's visage, "Professor Oak? What are you doing here? I thought you were in Kalos!"

The Elderly professor chuckled, "I haven't grown so old that you can't recognize me, have I?"

Ash didn't smile; his eyes didn't even twinkle at the professor's jibe.

"Tell me something Oak. Winning isn't everything, that I know for certain. It's something I accepted years ago, and something that I have maintained over the course of my time as a trainer. However, why is it that losing hurts so much? Why is it that losing feels hollow, I feel as though all the time, all the blood, sweat, and tears I poured into my training have all been for nothing?" Ash took a moment to calm himself down, inhaling a shaky breath which quickly steadied, and blinking rapidly to rid the tears in his eyes, "why do my efforts feel wasted?'

Oak's trademark grandfatherly smile broke out across his face, "Losing is simply the high road to victory. Without the fear of loss it is impossible to seek victory."

"Your far wiser than you let on, Old Man" Ash raised an eyebrow

Oak sighed, allowing the weathered gaze of one who has witnessed life and death, sacrifice and greed, work its way into his blue irises, "When you have lived as long as I have and have seen as much as I have you tend to learn a thing here and there."

Ash realized quickly that the friendly old professor had seen his fair share of calamity, and that he allowed it to affect him more than he would like to let on.

"Listen, Professor. I'm no expert, but I can tell you have clearly seen many things that you would rather forget."

Ash meant to continue, but was cut off by Oak

"You are, unfortunately, correct. I was a little beyond my prime during the Rocket hey day. Team Rocket was a full, international crime syndicate not 30 years ago. I had just moved into my 40s as the Rocket Organization declared war upon the EU (Eastern Union). Due to my dual citizenship, I was subject to the draft. Although anyone you ask would say a 41 year old retiring trainer has no place on the battlefield, the EU did not care for age. They were, after all, on the losing end of the war following secessions of many of their key buffer nations. With the satellite nations now under control of the Rocket Organization the EU was on the defensive, and now fully populated areas were in the path of the war. Ash, you will not believe the level of death and destruction I witnessed. Luckily I was able to get out of the war thanks to me becoming a professor here in the 5 Regions in conjunction with my dual citizenship. The EU war eventually fizzled out with no clear winner emerging, although the Rocket Organization had been severely weakened. And the EU? Well look at them now, they are still reeling. Entire cities still lay in rubble, the 'government' is still debating whether or not to revive the military or the government first."

Ash was awestruck. Never in a million years would he have pegged kind, old Professor Oak as a war veteran. Despite his very sturdy mask, there were still apparently chinks that still struck horror into Oak every time he reminisced about his younger days.

"Ash" Oak spoke up once more

"Yes?"

"I want you to promise me, promise me that you will never give up on your career. We've digressed far from our original topic but I feel as though you didn't truly need me here to 'open your eyes'. I feel your eyes were already open, and you are already on the right path. Never forget that loss is a part of life, for without loss there can be no victory."

A/N: Like I wrote above, criticism is welcome, especially with a new story. I am not sure if I'm out of the groove or not. If I am, tell me. If I'm not, tell me.