The next morning, the three Trainers were getting ready to start the day with work, except Ash, he was having a day off.

"How are you feeling Ash?" Bonnie asked.

"I'm feeling okay Bonnie." Ash said.

"We noticed that you didn't have any nightmares." Max said. "Did you stay up or something?"

"No Max." Ash answered. "I had a peaceful night, so far."

Ash knew that he really needed to talk to someone about Leaf, but he wasn't sure who.

"I'm gonna go walk around for a while." Ash said, getting his shoes on.

"Okay Ash." Bonnie said. "I think that's a perfect thing to do."

"Dennene."

And with that Ash walked away with Pikachu following him, thinking of someone who he can help him out with his dilemma.

Ritchie and Sparky were riding on a Ponyta towards Pallet Town, as Ash and Pikachu were leaving, they waved hello to Ash.

"Hi Ash!" Ritchie said.

"Pikachu!"

But Ash didn't answer nor did he wave hello back, Ritchie noticed his face, Ash was sad.

"That's strange, Sparky." Ritchie said. "Why's Ash so sad? Maybe I should as Bonnie and Max. They might know the answer."

"Pika."

And that's what he did, just as his Ponyta stopped right in front of Max.

"Hey guys." Ritchie greeted, hopping off Ponyta. "Do you know why Ash is so upset?"

Max and Bonnie eyed each other then back at Ritchie and explained to him and Sparky about the break-up between Ash and Leaf.

"And that's why he's so upset." Bonnie finished explaining the whole story.

"Oh I see." Ritchie said. "Well I hope he'll be okay soon."

"As do I, Ritchie." Max said.

"What are the jobs I have to do for Ash today Bonnie?" Ritchie asked.

"A local community litter picker team are waiting for you in Cerulean City." Bonnie said. "You're to help them collect any litter in the Safari Zone in Fuschia City."

"Okay, Sparky and I'll get right on it." Ritchie said.

Meanwhile with Ash, he had kept on thinking about Leaf's words, Calem's evil trick and the bad nightmare he had.

"What is happening to me, Pikachu?" Ash asked his yellow friend. "Is it because I'm scared of her, or I'm mad at what he did, or just hurt because of her words? What is it!"

"Pika, Pi."

"UGH!" Ash cried. "I can't think anymore!"

It was hard for him to think, Ash had many thoughts spinning around in his head. It started hurting, as Ash stopped on a bench outside of Orburge City.

Ash felt hopeless. Just then Dawn came right next to Ash on her Togekiss, she was taking a small delivery of clothes to one of the boutiques in Jubilife City, sent from Paris the Poké-Stylist.

"Hello Ash!" Dawn smiled, hopping off Togekiss. "How are you feeling?"

"Hello Dawn." Ash sighed. "I'm not feeling so well today."

"How come?" Dawn asked. "What's the matter?"

"It's Leaf." Ash said sadly. "She says that I'm the victim of our break-up." And Ash explained the situation about the break-up between him and Leaf.

Dawn couldn't believe what she heard, neither could Piplup.

"Oh my Ash!" Dawn gasped. "I'm sorry that happened to you."

"Pip, Piplup."

"I wish I could help, but Piplup and I have to get these clothes to Jubilife City." Dawn said, as she and Piplup got back on Togekiss and the Jubilee Pokémon prepared to fly again. "I'll see you around though. Goodbye Ash!" Dawn called as Togekiss took off.

"Goodbye Dawn." Ash said.

And with that Dawn's Togekiss took off into the sky and headed off to Jubilife City with the clothes, feeling upset and sorry for Ash.

Just as Dawn and Piplup left, there was Brock who wanted to see why Ash wasn't training with his Pokémon like he normally does.

"Good morning Ash." Brock greeted his friend. "Why aren't you training with your Pokémon?"

"I have a day off." Ash said. "Mr.Goodshow and my Mom told me to recover."

"Recover?" Brock asked. "Recover from what Ash?"

"From Leaf." Ash answered.

"Why?" Brock asked in concern. "What happened between you two?"

"Ever since the break-up, she's been a very terrible friend ever since Calem lied to her, saying I was bullying him." Ash said. "Now I've been having nightmares of an incident and she claims that I'm being the victim, when I really am the victim!"

"How rude of her!" Brock growled, clenching his fist. "I'm sorry that has to happen to you Ash."

"Thank you Brock." Ash sighed. "But now I just don't know what to do anymore. If she keeps this attitude up, I don't know what will happen the next time I see her. I could say or even do something that could really hurt her feelings!"

"Hmm, I see. " Brock said, thinking before having an idea. "Tell you what Ash. Why don't you, me and Leaf have a counselling meeting later today at the Pokémon Centre in Undella Town?"

"Counselling?" Ash asked. "What's that Brock?"

"Counselling is when you give someone advice to another Trainer, or in this case, talking about how you're feeling to Leaf." Brock explained. "I understand that you're hurt and you probably feel sad or possibly mad, but keeping it inside hurts a whole lot more than sharing how you are feeling, and if you need any emotional support Ash, I'll come and join you. How does that sound to you Ash?"

"I think that'll be perfect, Brock. Thank you." Ash said. "But when should we start, and how will this work?"

"Quite simple actually." Brock said. "Later on today, I will first see her and talk to her about the situation you're in, and then I'll bring you into the lobby so you can express your feelings and tell her what's been bothering you, and then we can try to find a solution and make everything better again."

"All right then, Brock." Ash said. "Is there anything you want me to do while you're talking to Leaf?"

"Yes indeed." Brock said. "I need you to hide behind the videophones until I come and get you."

"Okay then Brock." Ash sighed. "I think I can do that for you."

"All right then, Ash." Brock said. "I'll see you in Undella Town."

And so it was arranged, Brock would go talk to Leaf, whilst Ash was going to stay hidden and listen to the conversation. As Brock hopped on his Steelix and headed over to see Leaf in Undella Town to start the meeting.

But Ash was still a little nervous, he didn't know if Leaf would listen to him or if Brock could help, but he decided to take a deep breath and take the leap of faith. Ash then made his own way to Undella Town.

Meanwhile in the Pokémon Centre in Undella Town with Leaf, she was waiting for her Pokémon to be healed and thinking about how special she was compared to the other Trainers.

"It's great to be a Top Coordinator as well as a Champion!" Leaf smiled to herself. "It makes me feel like the best there is."

Just then Brock entered the Pokémon Centre, and came to talk to Leaf. Lucy was also there and she was happy to see Brock.

"Oh Brocky!" Lucy smiled, and hugged him. "How's my Pokémon Doctor in training doing?"

"I'm fine babe." Brock said. "But I'd like to speak to Leaf, in private."

"Of course." Lucy said, before turning to the other Trainers. "There's about to be a counselling meeting here. Can you please exit the lobby for a few minutes."

The other Trainers, who knew better than to question a Frontier Brain, obliged and left the lobby leaving Lucy, Brock and Leaf alone.

"Good morning Leaf." Brock said, as he sat down facing her.

"Good morning Brock." Leaf greeted back.

Whilst the two were about to begin, Ash hid behind one of the videophones after entering from the back of the Pokémon Centre listening to the conversation.

"I wanted to talk to you about Ash and the-" Brock then cleared his throat. "-Break-up."

"About it?" Leaf asked cockingly. "Yeah, we broke up and that was that. What more would you wanna hear?"

"Well for starters, how you felt during the aftermath?" Brock wondered. "We can start with that."

"What?" Leaf asked before laughing. "Please, I'm perfectly fine! You don't have to worry."

Leaf secretly was hurting, but she didn't want to admit it.

"Leaf be serious." Brock said, with a stern look on his face. "I know you're not fine, because I know that you enjoy watching Ash suffer! This isn't like you at all! You're not the one to bully other Trainers. So let me ask you again, what's really hurting you?"

"But, I don't know what-" Leaf stuttered.

"Yes you do!" Brock said. "Tell me!"

"Come on Leaf, tell him already." Lucy said, as she approached her boyfriend. "You know he's not going to let up until you speak."

Leaf remained quiet for a while, but then she finally answered Brock's question in an angry outburst.

"Oh, you know what Brock!" Leaf shouted. "You're right! I'm not fine! I feel terrible, but at least I'm not whining, crying like a little clueless Pokémon Trainer, who's in his room instead of working because of some silly little nightmare! He's not being a good Trainer! He's being really useless! And I couldn't even care less than what he does anymore!"

It was at that moment Brock had lost his patience.

"All right! That's it!" Brock shouted. "I've had it with your attitude and so has Ash! It's been very difficult for him to keep his focus in his Pokémon Battles, because you were the reason he kept pushing on! Even in the darkest of times! You might or might not see it in that way, but he does use you as inspiration."

Then Brock began telling Leaf the events of different break-ups he'd witnessed himself.

"Many Trainers and Coordinators have experienced heartbreaks and break-ups every day of their lives!" Brock said.

"I'm sorry Paul, but we're officially over!" Zoey said, as she walked away from a heartbroken Paul, looking down at his feet.

"Some Trainers believe that it's their right choice-"

"I'm sorry Cilan, but I think it's best if you find a more mature girl than me." Iris said.

"I understand Iris." Cilan sighed sadly. "Goodbye." And he walked away.

"But then they soon instantly regret their choice, feeling that it isn't right to let your loved ones go."

But after Cilan left, Iris became saddened immediately.

"Oh, I'm such an idiot! Cilan and I are meant to be together!" Iris cursed herself, before looking from her feet and in the direction Cilan walked off in. "CILAN! WAIT!" Iris then went after him, hoping she could make amends.

"Others believe that it's for the best in their lives to separate and continue on with their lives."

"Steven, I really think it's best for us to separate our relationship and carry on with new lovers." Diantha said, as she walked away.

"Oh that's fine Diantha." Steven said, looking down at his feet heartbroken. "I understand."

"And then, there are those who just can't take it anymore."

"That's it!" Barry shouted. "I can't stand you any longer Ursula! We're over!" Barry then ran away with his eyes full of tears.

"Oh, I've really messed up now." Ursula sighed, looking away in shame.

"Even Ash, who was still heartbroken, wanted to change the way he looked."

Ash, who was then feeling sad, entered one of the Poké-Stylist shops. When he came out, he looked like a completely different Trainer, with his hair now blue instead of black was now straight and not spiky anymore. He had also had the z cheek markings covered up by paint on his cheeks and was wearing something much smarter than his travelling clothes.

"Because you expected so much from him, when he could only give you so little." Brock said, finishing his explanation.

Now Leaf soon felt very sorry for Ash, but then she remembered what he did and became cross once again.

"Well that may explain his heartbreak." Leaf said sadly, but then she became mad. "But that still doesn't give him the right to punch Calem and have Pikachu threaten him! I saw him punch him and he even said that Ash was bullying him! That's not the type of boyfriend that I want!"

This made Ash really cross after hearing Leaf say that, and he left his hiding place and he walked towards the entrance of the lobby, to give Leaf a piece of his angered mind.

Now Brock was starting to lose his patience even more, he was trying to keep his cool so he stayed silent.

"Ha! Exactly no comment!" Leaf snapped. "Just ask anyone else who was there when it happened. Oh wait! No one else was there when it happened, so that also proves my point!"

Brock was keeping his focus on Leaf, that he barely noticed Ash or Pikachu who were about to enter into the lobby and do something Ash had never done before. Right as he was about to enter the lobby.

"Well, this little talk left you speechless?" Leaf asked crossly. "Good! Now I'm gonna go get my Pokémon and be a really good Trainer- OW!"

Brock and Lucy were shocked and surprised.

Leaf was dizzy, but she felt a really big sting on her cheek and didn't see who pushed her. There was only one Trainer there who would push Leaf and it was Ash who was very cross.

"So what?" Ash shouted. "Because I'm hurt, it's okay to walk all over me or how you only saw that I punched him or that you're foolish enough to even believe him! He was playing a trick on you the entire time and you were dumb enough to believe him! I tried telling you my side of the story of what really happened, but you didn't even let me explain at all! You were only going on about how selfish I was or how you wanted someone who didn't push Trainers around! You once had someone special to go to and now you've lost him forever!"

"Pika! Pika, Pikachu, Pika, Pi, Pikachu!"

After hearing him raise his voice and seeing electricity spark out of Pikachu's cheeks, Ash was indeed very cross. Now Leaf was scared of Ash from his anger.

"Ash!" Leaf gasped. "You mean you were-"

"Yes! I have!" Ash answered for Leaf. "And do you know what?"

"What?" Leaf asked.

"Don't come crying to me anymore!" Ash shouted. "Because you've now lost your chances of being my girlfriend!"

Leaf could now see the fury in Ash's eyes. Brock and Lucy saw them too, and Brock noticed that this wasn't how Ash normally was when he was cross.

"Oh my!" Brock gasped quietly.

"What's wrong babe?" Lucy asked.

"I've seen Ash when he's cross before Lucy." Brock said. "But I've never seen him like this before."

Now Ash was ready to do something that he had never done before.

"All I've ever tried to do was help you be a great Pokémon Trainer!" Ash shouted. "And here you are being nothing but a useless Pokémon Trainer to me! You'll never, ever understand how I'm truly feeling nor will you ever understand! So goodbye! I'm finally done with you!"

And Ash ran away without another word, Pikachu followed but not before using a light Iron Tail on Leaf's cheek slapping it.

"ASH WAIT!" Leaf shouted, getting back on her feet. "I'm sorry." But it was too late, Ash was already gone. Leaf sighed before turning to Brock. "Brock! Please help me! What did I do wrong?"

Brock just sighed and explained what really hurt Ash and why he really was the victim.

"It seems you finally understand his pain, Leaf." Brock said. "When you told Ash that he was selfish and playing victim, it really hurt him in the same way it hurt losing someone you love the most."

"Brock's right, Ash was always helping you with many things in the past, but now you barely even remember them." Lucy said sadly.

"And you have also said some things that you shouldn't have said, and that's why Ash's cross." Brock said sadly. "Words really do hurt, Leaf. Once spoken you can't ever take them back, no matter how many times you've said sorry."

Leaf now knew what to do.

"Leaf, are you ready to officially know the truth?" Brock asked.

"Yes I am Brock." Leaf answered.

To be Continued…