Hey, all! Welcome back to Dragonsrule's Den! This new oneshot/drabble comes with an attached challenge Lately, I've seen a lot of betrayal stories(and have read several of them) and thought of doing a little introspection fic of what Ash might be feeling a few weeks after being betrayed. And it's vague on purpose to work with any betrayal story. I also thought of things I'd like to see in a betrayal fic and made my own betrayal fic challenge. Let me know if you want to do the challenge, and everyone, please let me know what you think and take a few minutes to review! I'd really appreciate feedback from all of you! Also, if you have any requests for a oneshot, please let me know!

Summary: What do you do with your life after betrayal? A still shell-shocked Ash contemplates.

Rating: T for safety

Genre: Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Friendship

Universe: Set in any where Ash is betrayed by his friends. No specific time frame, but likely between Johto and the end of Kalos.

Warnings: If you absolutely hate betrayal fics, don't read this.

Notice: This drabble is up for adoption if anyone wants it to use in their betrayal fic.

Life After Betrayal

I thought we would be friends forever. I cared so much for them and I thought they cared for me. But when I needed them most, they let me down, abandoned me and betrayed me and everything we shared together.

I don't know what to do. I don't even know what to think I don't know whether to hate them or myself. Was this all my fault? Did I do something to push them away? Or was it all them? One minute I feel angry, wanting to get revenge and pay them back for what they did to me. The next minute, I just want them back, to fix whatever went wrong and to have my friends by my side again. Is it normal to feel both ways at the same time?

At least I'm not alone. My loyal Pokémon stuck by my side and refused to abandon me. They've stuck extra close these last two weeks, comforting me and letting me know I'd never be alone. I don't know what I'd do without them. Probably crash and burn.

And there's been another friend beside me, a legendary I helped, who came to me as soon as they found out what happened. They've been an absolute godsend, defending me, staying by my side, offering advice without sugarcoating anything, and simply listening during my confused, angry, scared rants. They deserve a medal putting up with me like this. When I told them that though, they simply smiled and said that that's what friends were for. And they've been a true one.

I've been thinking back on my journey, both on my mistakes and my victories. I want to do things right this time, fix my mistakes and be the trainer my Pokémon deserve. We've been training hard and discussing what to do next, trying to figure out how to put our lives back together. I still don't know what to do yet, whether I want to get revenge, prove my former friends wrong, or simply move on with the rest of my life, but I'll figure it out, and I know I'm not alone.

Life after betrayal is never easy; it hurts like hell, and I'm not okay yet.

But in time, maybe I will be.

Life After Betrayal Fanfic Challenge

As you guys know, there is a lot of betrayal fics out there. Several are good like the ones from Knight Of Kanto, which are now discontinued, but many more either have horrible grammar/spelling, so much so that you can't really read it, and some are just plain terrible. I honestly do like some betrayal fics for some reason, I think it's a guilty pleasure type of thing and I want to see more really good ones written.

1.) As usual, the first rule is that Ash is betrayed by some of his friends for whatever reason(loss of a league and them thinking he's weak/holding them back, too much danger being with him, being bribed with vast riches, prestige, or some other reward or even a threat from a criminal organization, his friends were brainwashed or put under mind control, Ash was framed for a major crime, etc.)) Who betrays him and why is up to you. Also, please have at least the Pokemon he is closest to stay loyal to him.

2.) A legendary, one with a close personal relationship to Ash(Ex. Mewtwo, Azelf, Zexrom/Reshiram, Victini,, Keldeo, Latias) does help Ash, whether it's getting him out of a dangerous situation, helping clear his name in the case of a crime he's been framed for, helping him train, or simply being a good friend and giving him moral support.

3.) Unless he was framed for a major crime, in which case hiding out would be necessary, Ash CANNOT disappear off the map for training and plotting revenge. Have him do something like traveling in either a new region or an older region he wants to do better in and becoming the champion of that or becoming a Frontier Brain or a Pokemon Ranger or something he'd enjoy and that is fun and interesting. He can want to prove the ones that betrayed him wrong, but please don't have him waste his life on it or go into isolation because of some words. Sometimes the best revenge is living well, and I've rarely ever seen that showcased.

4.) There can be a "Master Tournament" if you want to, though it isn't at all necessary for this challenge, but please, unless Ash was framed for a crime or has a reason to fear for his safety or the safety of his friends and Pokemon, don't have him show up using an alias. Have him show up using his own name. It sends a much stronger message than Ash pretending to be someone else, especially if the betrayal was insults and abandonment. Honestly, if he shows up with a new name to a tournament just because they were assholes, it means they already won.

5.) Ash must get progressively more mature throughout the story, but DON'T God-mod him or make him a Gary Stu. If he has aura or psychic abilities, have him struggle to use or control them, at least at first, and make sure they have real weaknesses.

6.) Besides the helper legendary, one or two others can join him, but no more. And Arceus, Dialga, and Palkia cannot join him, both due to being so overpowered and their own responsibilities. And it would be good to see the less used legendaries get a chance to shine.

7.) No Evil!Ash. And please don't make him too much of an asshole, unless you want random people to treat him like he's an asshole because he's acting like one. Because that's how an audience would truly see someone if they're being too much of a jerk.

8.) No harems please, but you can use whatever pairing you want to, though I'd prefer it if you did something other than Rayshipping or Amourshipping as they're so overused and I hate Amourshipping(that doesn't mean you can't use it though.)). Slash is also an option. Also, remember no pairing at all is an option too.

9.) Really build your world. Make me feel for the characters. If Ash has a journey, go into it. Let me see what's in Ash's head. Let me see the bond progress between Ash and whatever Pokemon he has, with the helper legendary, and with whoever his love interest is if he has one. Don't just summarize. Add detail. Make the interactions between characters realistic.

10.) The last and one of the most important rules. MAKE THE "TRAITORS" PUNISHMENT ACTUALLY FIT THE CRIME! Many authors either go WAY overboard with the punishments or less likely, have Ash forgive too easily.

If they were brainwashed or put under mind control, they should be forgiven for what they did. You can't exactly control what you did under mind control. Ash can be a little unsure or wary around them at first as that's a natural response, especially if they physically hurt him, but he would likely forgive them in a case like that.

If they betrayed Ash because they were trying to protect him in some way, once he got the full story, Ash would likely cool off, but it would likely take him a while to fully trust them again.

If they betrayed Ash because they genuinely thought he committed a crime, especially if false evidence was planted to make it more believable. once Ash's name has been cleared, they should be ashamed of what they thought and attempt to make it up to him. He doesn't have to(and probably shouldn't) completely forgive them right away, but have them work to earn his trust back.

If they insulted Ash, said he was too weak and should give up his dream, or that he was holding them back, but didn't attack him or anything, Ash proving them wrong and humiliating them in battle will be enough. Them being disowned and losing their gyms or all their Pokemon is going way too far. If a Pokemon is more attached to Ash or one of the Pokemon loyal to him, they can leave their trainers, but actually give them a reason to. The ones that were closer to their trainers would likely side with them unless they did something really wrong. Honestly, when people are just jerks, the best thing to do is move on, make some new friends that won't treat you like that, and prove you can do whatever you set out to do, and have a good and happy life. After all, like I said before, the best revenge is living well. If they apologize to him and mean it, he can forgive them, but he likely would have problems trusting them for a long time.

If they betrayed Ash because a criminal organization threatened them or their families, have them take whatever punishment the law provides for whatever they did, if they were forced to commit a crime to him or frame him for one, though the punishment would likely be lighter if they were threatened into it. If they just insulted or abandoned him due to the threat, once the threat is removed by Ash, have them apologize and do anything they can to make it up to him. Again, he doesn't have to forgive them right away, and it should take him a while to trust them again.

If they betrayed Ash because of a reward from a criminal organization, jail time and losing their gyms and Pokemon might be necessary, again depending on what they did. Also, have Ash get their reward money, if they got money, as compensation.

If they betrayed Ash through insults, then attacked him or his Pokemon when the argument escalated, they can be charged for assault or attempted murder, depending on the severity of the attack and also lose their gyms and Pokemon.

If they purposely framed Ash for a crime, they should be sent to jail, either for the crime or as an accomplice, depending on what happened once the truth is proven. Also, they would lose their gyms and pokemon as well as possible disownment from their families or villages.

Good luck with this challenge if you decide to take it and I'd love to read your story!