The next morning, Ash and Pikachu somehow ended up back in Pallet Town. But he was still asleep, just as Bonnie was getting Lapras ready for her day helping Lana with fishing. Suddenly Ash started to wake up with a yawn, when he realised where he and Pikachu were.

"Wait, Pikachu and I are back in Pallet Town?" Ash asked, confused. "How did we get here? And who was that Trainer? I remember her, but what was her name?" Ash then sighed. "Ah, oh well, I better get ready to work."

Then Ash got on his Sceptile and went over to his sisters, Hilda and Rosa. As Ash found Hilda and Rosa getting their Ponytas ready they started to ask him questions. They asked him where he was last night and how he got back, along with what happened with Leaf. But Ash didn't even know how to answer these questions, at least not on his own.

"At least tell us what happened." Hilda said.

"Yes please, Ash, tell us!" Rosa added.

"I really don't know Hilda and Rosa." Ash said, as they stopped in Silver Town. "All I remember was a Trainer with a mask and hood was there. She looked like she was raised without any family."

"A Trainer wearing a mask?" Hilda asked. "Who is that possible?"

"Maybe the Trainer was from a different Region?" Rosa asked.

"That's unlikely Rosa." Ash said. "Because even travelling and competing in all the Leagues and even in the World Coronation Series, I faced lots of strong Trainers and they all weren't wearing masks and they were all from different Regions. Even someone who was named Bea who I met in the Galar Region."

Ash started thinking more as Roark passed by on his Rampardos with a load of Pokémon Fossils.

"But the Trainer also said that I remembered seeing her before." Ash said. "20 years ago. But that's impossible, the only Trainers I remember from 20 years ago were Calem and Serena. Calem wasn't magical at all, he was just a big bully, and I know for a fact that Serena's not magical, she's just a normal girl. Maybe there's something I'm missing here, but what is it?"

Ash didn't know it, but the Trainer he was thinking about was right next to him on her Galarian Rapidash. But Ash was so busy thinking he didn't notice her, but Hilda and Rosa did.

"Um, Ash?" Hilda asked.

"Maybe she had a family." Ash said, still thinking. "No, she was raised by someone else I think."

"Ash!" Hilda said, louder this time.

"Sorry Hilda." Ash apologised, looking to his side. "Were you saying someth-" Ash then gasped at the Trainer on her Rapidash. "It's you!"

"Yes it is Ash." The Trainer said.

"So it wasn't a dream!" Ash gasped.

"Pika!"

"Sort of, I led you back to Pallet Town." The Trainer said.

"How?" Ash asked.

Before he asked, the mysterious Trainer's Galarian Rapidash sprinted away, so he followed her.

"Sceptile!" Ash shouted, hopping on his Forest Pokémon. "Follow that Rapidash!"

"Sceptile!"

"Hey! Wait! Please!" Ash cried, as he and Pikachu took off on Sceptile's back.

"Wait for us Ash!" Hilda and Rosa cried, hopping on their Ponytas and followed their brother.

With that, the chase was on, and Ash wasn't going to give up.

"I have to know who she is, and why she's here!" Ash said. "I must know!"

Sceptile began running faster than the wind, as Hilda and Rosa's Ponytas followed right behind him, to catch the new Trainer, Ash hoping to get some answers. But her Galarian Rapidash was fast and very far away from Ash and his sisters.

They chased her all the way through Sunyshore City, across the Village of Dragons and even through Alto Mare.

But as the new Trainer on her Rapidash entered Petalburg City, and into an alleyway, she disguised herself in pink sparkles, just as Ash and his sisters passed by.

"Oh bother!" Ash cursed. "We've lost her!"

Ash and his sisters on their Pokémon rode on to continue their jobs. Once they were out of sight, the new Trainer came out of the alley and hopped off her Rapidash. She looked around to make sure she was alone, once she was sure she was, she removed her mask and took off her hood.

With the mask and hood gone, her sapphire eyes and her brown hair were in the light, the Trainer was none other than the daughter of the Petalburg City Gym Leader, May Maple. She looked in the direction that Ash had passed by and was holding her hands to her heart.

"It's so good to see you again, Ash Ketchum, the World Coronation Series Champion." May said. "Soon your real true love will reunite with you!"

May then hopped back on her Rapidash and then went to find somewhere secluded to lay low until the time would come to show herself to Ash.

Though he wasn't successful in finding out the identity of the Trainer, Ash and his sisters had made it to Catalia City, where they were to pick up some supplies for Professor Rowan.

"Dang it!" Ash said. "I was so close to catching her! But how did she disappear like that?"

"Pika, Pi!"

Just then Leaf riding on her Magenium stopped on the other side of the street with her own load of pottery items.

"Oh Ash!" Leaf said, hoping he'd listen to her.

Ash just stared at Leaf angrily as did Pikachu.

"I'm not talking to you at all, Leaf!" Ash said, crossly. "I and my sisters have a job to do!"

"Pikachu!"

"Let's go Sceptile." And Sceptile ran away with Ash and Pikachu still on his back, as Hilda and Rosa followed on their Ponytas from Leaf.

After they left, Leaf's expression changed to sadness. "Ash, I'm sorry. I really am." Leaf cried, sadly. But Ash was already gone. Leaf sighed sadly. "Oh, now I've really messed up, haven't I Magenium?"

"Genium."

Leaf felt very hurt by what Ash had said to her yesterday and after Brock and Lucy's talk with her, she finally knew the truth of Ash's pain. Leaf felt her cheek still feeling the pain from Pikachu's light Iron Tail and she was planning to apologise to Ash.

Even Hilda and Rosa couldn't believe what they heard coming from their big brother.

"Ash, what was that about?" Hilda asked.

"She was probably going to say she was sorry." Rosa added.

"Well, I can't forgive her." Ash said, coldly before signing sadly. "At least not yet."

And Ash made his way to Anistar City without another word.

To be Continued…