I don't own Pokemon.

It was 2 months after the betrayal, Ash was still alone. He was camping near Lake Valor in Sinnoh and was currently preparing dinner for himself. It was nothing fancy, just some Staravia cooked over a fire.

"Two months. Two fucking months." He mumbled as he stares at the cooking bird.

Flashback 2 months ago, after exiting the lab.

Ash exited the lab and looked out upon his Pokémon. He called them over, needing to ask them a question.

"Ok guys, my human friends have decided that I am a terrible trainer. Hell, even Pikachu thinks that. Now I'm leaving and I want to know if you'll join me?" Ash said hoping they would join him.

But it they all felt the same way as Pikachu, so the left. Even Ash's most loyal Pokémon such as Sceptie and Charizard left.

Ash looked at the ground and walked towards the edge of Pallet. No tears were shed, he felt far to broken.

End flash back

The smell that the roosting Staravia produced bought Ash from his thoughts. The smell was mouth-watering and this did not go unnoticed by one very hungry Pokémon. It sat in the shadows of a nearby bush watch the both the food and Ash. It was tempted to go up to the man but was also scared to get hurt. Hunger got the better of the Pokémon. It stepped out of the shadows and walked gingerly over to the sitting man.

Ash noticed the Pokémon and saw the look on its face. "Hey little guy, what's up? You look hungry, I have more than enough for me. Do you want some? He asked.

The Pokémon looked at the man before pretty much crying in joy well nodding and say its name, "Houndour 'dour".

"Ok, I think it's done." Ash said as he took the bird of the fire and cut a good sized chunk of meat off that would easily fill him before giving the rest to the Houndour. "Here you go little buddy."

Houndour simply stared at the amount of food in front of it. He got over it quickly as its stomach start to growl and quickly ate the bird. Once it finished, it looked over to see the man had already fallen asleep. Houndour sat there staring at him before walking over to the man and quietly curled up beside him and went to sleep.

A figure in the shadows of night stood watching the two. He had been following the young man for some time. The figure turned to a small yellow Pokémon beside him.

"It has been very rough on him. Not just the betrayal but since I was forced to leave." He spoke to his companion, "maybe it is time to introduce myself to him."

The man got a "pika" from his companion in response.

7 am the next morning

As the bright light of the sun hit Ash's face he slowly opened his eyes. What he saw surprized him. Curled up in a ball, pressed to his body was the Houndour he feed last night.

Houndour felt the movements of the man and looked up to meet his gaze. "Hound Houndour 'dour" the Pokémon happily said.

"Um, hey. I thought you would have left once you were done. What are you still doing here?" Ash asked curiously.

Before Houndour had a chance to reply, a man walked out from behind a tree followed by a Pikachu. "I thought that would be obvious. He likes you." The man said casually.

Both Ash and Houndour stared at the man. Ash asked what they were both thinking. "Who are you?"

"Before I answer that let me ask you two questions. 1, how much do you know of your father and 2, do you know of a trainer named Red?"

Ash was confused for a second, but eventually answered. "I don't know much about my dad, my mother never really talked to much about him" he spat out the word 'mother', "I have heard of a trainer named Red. I remember watching him beat Kanto's Elite Four 2 or 3 years ago."

The man just laughed. "I am not surprised your mother didn't tell you about me. Anyway listen, my name is Red and I am your father."

Ash just stared at him not knowing if he should believe the man. "Ok".

"Ok? I was forced to leave you and Pallet Town. I haven't seen you for 15 years and all you can say is, ok". It was now Reds turn to be confused.

"Well what do you expect me to say?" Ash asked.

"Ah um. I don't know". Red said still slightly confused.

"So, dad. What do you want?" Ash asked, looking out down at Houndour who was now asleep on Ash's lap.

"Oh, oh yes. I know what happened 2 months ago, I know you have been traveling with no one or Pokémon. I was going to offer you one of mine but it looks like you've found one" Red said as he pointed to Houndour.

"But I don't even have a Pokeball" Ash exclaimed.

"Here, I have an empty one right here." Red took out a Pokeball and gave it to Ash.

"Thanks".

"It's ok. Now what I have come to ask you is, whether you would be interested in joining my Elite Four in Kanto?"

"I would most definitely like that but I don't have any Pokémon."

"You have that Houndour there and once you get to the nearest town you can stock up on Pokeballs."

"I could do that".

"Good, now you don't have to join straight away. I want you to journey around the regions, catch and train a particular type of Pokémon".

"Particular type?"

"Yes. As you know the Elite Four is made up of 4 every strong trainers that specialise in one or maybe 2 Pokémon types. Only the Champ is allowed multiple types."

"Ok, so who else is on the Elite Four and what are their types?"

"Well if you were to go through them in order you would have, Santos, he is a master of grass types, then there is Gale, she is a master of ice types, then Alicia, master of the fighting type and formally Bob, master of normal types"

"Bob, seriously? He doesn't sound so tough."

"You're not any position to talk"

"I know."

"So any ideas for your type?"

"Well Houndour is a fire/dark type. I would choose fire but all my fire types turned on me, although so did my dark types. But dark types are something I haven't really tried so, I'm a dark type trainer now."

"Good. Come find me at the Indigo Plateau when you're ready."

With that Red walked off, flanked by his Pikachu.

Ash looked at the Pokeball in his hand and down to the sleeping pup on his lap. "Hey Houndour wake up".

With that Houndour's head popped up and he stared at the red and white Pokeball in Ash's hand. Houndour touched the ball with its nose and was sucked in with a red flash.

Ash stared at the ball in his right hand for a moment before releasing Houndour out. "So Houndour, it looks like were buddies." Ash said unable to mask the joy.

"'dour" the Pokémon confirmed with nod.

"Great. Let's get some food and pack up. You and me have got along journey ahead of us" Ash stated as the two started to look for some breakfast.

Now that is the end of this chapter. I don't know whether or not to have time jump straight to Ash being part of the elites or having brief overviews on events leading up to that. Still don't know if I'm gonna do a ship. And don't know whether or not to have him cold and closed off like other stories or slightly insane.