It was hard for him to forgive Leaf, as Ash and his sisters arrived at Anistar City he was still thinking about the bad things that she did to him.
"Why should I forgive someone who hurts me?" Ash scoffed crossly. "Especially someone like Leaf?"
As Ash was thinking and keeping to himself, Barry had arrived on his Empoleon with a load of Evolution Stones. Empoleon stopped and Barry hopped off him and smiled at Ash.
"Hello Ash." Barry greeted. "How are you today?"
"Why do you care you fine loving freak?" Ash snapped. "Just stay out of my business!"
Barry was shocked at hearing Ash's outburst. He knew that it wasn't like him to yell at anyone, even Barry.
"Whoa, geez Ash." Barry said. "I was only saying hello, and that's not like you at all. What happened to you?"
Ash sighed and stared down at his feet.
"I-I'm sorry Barry." Ash apologised. "I didn't mean to yell at you. I've just not been feeling like myself lately."
"Oh my Ash! What happened?" Barry asked.
Ash then sighed, and took a deep breath. "Well it started out like this."
And Ash explained everything that happened. Including the breakup with Leaf, the nightmares he had and how he even yelled at Leaf for saying that he was playing the victim and Pikachu slapping her cheek with Iron Tail. Barry was shocked after hearing this.
"And that's what happened." Ash concluded. "Now I just don't know what to do anymore."
"Oh dear!" Barry gasped. "Well honestly Ash I understand why you reacted that way."
"You do?" Ash asked.
Barry then smiled at Ash, to show support to his Pallet Town friend.
"Of course Ash." Barry said. "In my personal opinion, you should take a break and stay far away from Leaf and focus on yourself. It'll help heal your pain and keep you in good mental health. Now I know that task might sound difficult, but you would've done things that not even Trainers like Leon and Alder can do. Always remember you're a really great Pokémon Trainer, even when heartbreaks happen. And I know that somewhere down the line, you'll find someone that's even better for your soulmate."
Ash was silent, the words from Barry were keeping his thoughts running faster than anything in the world. He knew that Barry was right, somewhere down the line he could find someone new to love and support. But he didn't know who.
"Do you really think so Barry?" Ash asked. "Do you really think that I could find someone better?"
"I can't answer that Ash." Barry said, getting back on Empoleon's back. "Only you can answer that question yourself." And with that Barry on his Emperor Pokémon and Empoleon waddled away, carrying a load of Evolution Stones for the Pokéshops around the Regions.
Leaving Ash on his own to think more and more about what to do.
"Well, maybe Barry does have a point, Pikachu." Ash said.
"Pika?"
"What about Ash?" Hilda and Rosa asked.
"Maybe I can find someone better." Ash said. "Someone who I can look up to. I just gotta find the right person."
Ash then set off on Sceptile, and his sisters followed him making their way to Lily of the Valley Islands.
While making their way towards Lily of the Valley Islands, Ash was making his way towards an intersection. It was close to the kindergarten where Panelope teached so she could show her students any Pokémon Trainers that passed by. But the intersection was showing red on Ash's side, so another Trainer could pass by.
There waiting for the right of way, was Conway, a Pokémon Trainer who Ash had defeated in the Sinnoh League and he didn't look too happy to see Ash.
"Hello Conway." Ash said, trying to sound cheerful.
"What do you want?" Conway asked, crossly.
"Geez, I was only saying hello." Ash said.
"Hmph! I don't care!" Conway said, as he walked across the intersection. He was still groaning about losing so early in the Sinnoh League. "I still say that I should've been declared the winner. If I wasn't matched against Ash, I could've won the whole thing."
Ash sighed. "There's no point in arguing with that sore loser." Ash then made his way through the intersection once the light turned green.
"We do agree, he's definitely a sore loser! We do agree, he's definitely a sore loser!" Hilda and Rosa chimed in as they followed Ash.
And Ash and his sisters continued on their way to Lily of the Valley Islands.
Ash was now finished with his delivery of supplies, as Max would take Hilda and Rosa to Ever Grande City from Lily of the Valley Islands. Now Ash was riding on Staraptor as he was heading to Sandgem Town to see Charles Goodshow, he had an important job for him. There walking next to Ash was Charles Goodshow himself.
"Hello Ash." Charles Goodshow greeted. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm well Mr.Goodshow." Ash said. "Thank you."
"That's good." Charles Goodshow said. "I need you to work at the Oreburgh City Mine. Anabel needs your help urgently, Liza will be there to take a load of Fossils to Unova soon and she, Tate and Liza can't do it on their own."
"No problem Mr.Goodshow." Ash smiled. "I'll go and help them."
"That's a good Pokémon Trainer." Charles Goodshow said. "Now hurry and be on your way Ash, this is an urgent job."
"Yes, Mr.Goodshow!" Ash said, as he was about to hop back on Staraptor, he remembered about the mysterious new Pokémon Trainer. "Oh Mr.Goodshow, while you're here, do you know anything about a magical girl?"
"A magical girl?" Charles Goodshow asked, confused. "I don't think I have Ash, but I'll find some information if I know about them."
"Okay Mr.Goodshow." Ash said. "Thank you."
"You're welcome Ash. Now you better get going, the Fossils must be ready for delivery by tea time." Charles Goodshow said, as he walked into Professor Rowan's Lab to ask him to find some information about the magical Pokémon Trainer.
Ash's Staraptor then spread out its wings and set off for the Oreburgh City Mine.
Ash smiled as he hadn't been to Oreburgh City for a while and was looking forward to seeing Anabel again. He passed by Jessie, James and Meowth's restaurant, where the three former Team Rocket members were having their lunch break. Ash called hello to them and they waved back and called hello to him too.
At last after travelling for some time Ash finally arrived at the Oreburgh City Mine, just as Anabel the Frontier Brain of the Battle Tower in Cremini Town sped down the path to meet Ash. She was glad he was here to help. She waited for Ash's Staraptor to land right beside her.
"Hello there Ash!" Anabel greeted. "I'm so glad that you're here to help us."
"Hello Anabel!" Ash smiled, hopping off Staraptor. "I heard from Charles Goodshow that you needed my help."
"Indeed we do." Ananbel said. "We need to get a delivery of Fossils ready for Liza. But we need your help."
"I'm ready to help out Anabel!" Ash said.
"Thank you Ash." Anabel said. "We could really use the extra help."
"I'm on it!" And with that Ash set off to start work.
Ash, Anabel, Tate and Liza set to work in the mine. Ash and Anabel dug for the Fossils, Ash had Infernape, Gible, Boldore and Donphan dig for where the Fossils were, Anabel had Alakazam, Metagross and Espeon move them out of the mine and cleaned them, and Tate and Liza had Lunatone and Solrock sort them into piles.
At last the work was done, and Liza arrived on Charla to take the Fossils all the way to the Unova Region. Everyone was glad that they had finished the delivery, but everyone was exhausted, even Tate and Liza.
"Great work everyone." Anabel said, returning her Pokémon to their PokéBalls. "We deserve a good rest." Anabel then walked over to the campsite underneath a rock ridge to have a rest.
"So what now?" Tate asked, as he and Liza returned Lunatone and Solrock to their PokéBalls.
"I'm gonna go have a drink." Ash said, after returning his Pokémon to their PokéBalls.
"Okay Ash, see you later." Liza said.
And Ash hopped on Pidgeot's back and Pidgeot flew away to find a water fountain.
As Ash made his way through the Routes he was still feeling tired from all the hard work he'd done in the mines. He was looking forward to having a well earned rest and a drink. Sadly, when he passed Jessie, James and Meowth's restaurant, all the tables were full, so he had to find a place to drink elsewhere.
At last Ash had made it to the Pokémon Centre in Accumula Town, he hopped off Pidgeot and was about to have a drink when something strange was about to happen.
Suddenly in a mighty flash the bright blue cloudless sky turned from blue and cloudless to magenta and cloudy with purple clouds.
"Whoa! What's happening?" Ash gasped. "Why's the sky darkening?"
"Pika, Pika!"
"GLACE!"
"Wait! That Pokémon! I've heard it before!" Ash gasped. "It's the Magical Pokémon Trainer!"
"Not just any Magical Pokémon Trainer." A voice came, before the Trainer appeared in front of Ash, but with her mask and veil back on.
"WHOA!" Ash gasped, falling backwards. "You're back! Why are you here? Please tell me!"
"Pikachu! Pika, Pika!"
"I know that you're suffering inside your mind Ash." The Trainer said. "But I know someone will truly care for you."
"Um, I'm sorry, I don't understand you." Ash said, confused.
Then the Trainer removed her veil and her mask, showing her face to Ash.
"I said, don't be afraid, Ash Ketchum, the World Coronation Series Champion." May said, with a smile on her face. "I know you're suffering inside your mind, but I know that someone will truly care for you. Someone like me."
"You mean you like me?" Ash asked.
"Pika?"
"Indeed Ash." May answered. "I know you need someone special to love, so I'll be your special someone."
"You really mean it?" Ash asked, before he looked down sadly. "Because Leaf expected so much from me, and when I couldn't give it, she would get cross and threaten that she'd leave me."
"Ash." May said, putting her hand on Ash's cheek making him blush. "All that I ask for is for you to just be yourself. You don't need to pretend to be something that you're not. You just have to be really useful and always stay true to yourself."
"Wow." Ash awed. "Thank you, um, what is your name? Sorry it's been a while."
"May." May answered. "My name is May."
"May, that's a beautiful name May." Ash complimented.
"Thank you, goodbye Ash." May said, before she disappeared.
Ash was left alone with his eyes closed, sleeping, but he wouldn't be for long.
"Ash! Ash! Ash!"
"Rizard!"
Ash's eyes shot open as well as Pikachu's.
"Huh?" Ash asked, waking up.
"Pika?"
Both of them woke to find they were lying down right in front of Alain.
"Get out of the way Ash!" Alain said, on his Charizard's back. "You're holding up my delivery of Mega Rings for Professor Sycamore and I need to get these to him by the end of the day!"
"Oh sorry Alain." Ash said, getting up. "I didn't mean to block the way." And Ash and Pikachu got out of the way.
"Thank you Ash." Alain said.
"Oh yeah, no problem." Ash said sheepishly, before turning to Alain again. "Hey Alain?"
"Yes Ash?" Alain asked.
"How do you know if a Trainer wants to be there for you?" Ash asked. "Even in the darkest of times?"
"Simple Champion Ash." Alain said. "When you're down and out they'll come and comfort you, even when you don't need it they'll want to be there for you and cherish you like a special Trainer." Alain then looked at Ash with curiosity. "Why do you ask anyway?"
Ash was too nervous to say that May, a Magical Girl from 20 years ago, liked him.
"Um, just wondering." Ash stuttered. "That's all."
With that said, Alain's Charizard took off so he and Alain could deliver the Mega Rings to Professor Sycamore's lab.
"I guess." Ash sighed.
Ash wasn't sure if any Trainer would believe him, so he didn't mention May at all. That day Ash had a lot to think about. He started questioning if he should tell his Mother or the other Trainers about May and how she liked him, but he was too scared.
"I'll wait til I'm ready, Pikachu." Ash said, as he and Pikachu riding on Krookodile passed Paul. "I just need time."
To be Continued…