Ash awoke in the middle of a Pokemon pile with Charizard at his back, Pikachu on his chest, Bulbasaur next to his right thigh but no sign of Squirtle anywhere. Ash sat up slowly so he wouldn't toss Pikachu to the cave floor or just drop Bulbasaur on the ground to roughly. Ash stood up and stretched out the kinks in his body from the night and being carried all day by Charizard who was awakened when Ash started moving he watched as Ash looked around frantically looking for his missing friend.

"Ash Squirtle went out earlier this morning to search for food and water so calm down before you hurt yourself I mean really what was you thinking taking on a Pokemon. That Mewtwo could have killed you and now he is waiting for you to get stronger for a rematch how do you plan to do that you humans take more time than a Pokemon to get stronger and this power he said you have do you even know how to train with it?' Charizard spoke softly, he knew Ash was at the moment both physically and mentally weak since only Pikachu, Bulbasaur, Squirtle and himself stayed with Ash after Mewtwo had crushed their Poke-balls and even though Ash was hiding it well Charizard knew Ash was hurting on the inside at what he sees as a betrayal but he couldn't hide it from his friends.

"I was thinking he might have been like all psychic Pokemon Charizard you know physically weaker than a normal type but mentally powerful like Alakazam, I did not expect him to hit harder than Mankey or Primeape." Ash said truthfully it was at this time a voice screeched from the cave entrance.

"Ash Ketchum when I get you home you have some explaining to do but thank goodness we found you, you are in big trouble mister." After the initial screaming startled Pikachu and Bulbasaur awake who jumped on instinct in front of Ash protectively causing the woman to calm down in mid-sentence.

"I agree with your mother on this one my young friend. When Misty and Brock came to me and told me what happened I didn't know what to think so how did you escape? And it is a good thing you kept your Pokedex with you or else finding you would have been much harder I fear." said a man standing next to the woman who first screamed at Ash.

"Mom, Professor Oak what are you two doing here and I didn't escape Professor he let me leave so I could train in some kind of power he called aura and said I used some in our fight he also said..."

"Pidgyeot ot ototo " came from the sky interrupting Ash and alerting them to the bird Pokemon coming in for a landing. The humans and Pokemon both looked up to see a Pidgeot with a strange blue hump on it's back but as it was coming closer to land everyone saw that it was Squirtle riding on the bird this confused Delia and the Professor but it cheered Ash up. Squirtle had left earlier for two reasons 1 Ash needed food and water which brings us to reason number 2 he was getting dry and needed to take a dip where he could get some water for Ash and soak himself to keep healthy and strong then he could go search for food, where he ran into an old friend. After catching up with what has happened since they last saw each other Pidgeot decided Ash needed him by his side to lend his support now more than ever.

"Pidgeot it is great to see you too, Squirtle where did you find him?" Ash said then asked.

"Well I was feeling dry and I knew you'd be hungry when you woke up and after taking a dip in a nearby stream I went to find food and ran into him he helped me find and pick some berries that should help heal your bruises well what is left of them."Squirtle said and handed over a small bag of woven leaves filled with berries, of course Ash's mom and Professor Oak only heard a series of squirts and squirtles completely unaware that Ash understood every word well his mother didn't but Professor Samuel Oak took immediate notice.

"I'm sorry I worried everybody I really am but I can't go back not until I fight Mewtwo again and even then there is a chance I won't be able to so I need to train and get stronger and learn how to use aura if I don't, I won't have a chance." Ash said looking at his mother he knew that he needed to get her to understand.

Delia was going to protest but looking at his eyes and how they burned with determination and she knew he wouldn't give an inch on the subject sighing she said "Fine but I want you to write at least once a week mister and try to find your friends and let them know what is going on maybe they can help and don't forget to bath regularly." After that Professor Oak and Delia turned to leave as they started walking the Professor said "Oh and Ash don't feel so upset about your other Pokemon they may return to you someday like your Pidgyeot so don't forget they will never forget you plus you have all the other Pokemon you sent to my lab."

"Thanks Professor I needed that and it was great to see you two again but now I need to go figure out how to use aura. But I don't know what I have to do to even begin."Ash said happy that his mother and the Professor would come to find him and the Professor's reassuring words but becoming depressed at the end as he realized he has no clue how he will train with something he doesn't even know how to use.

"Go to Sinnoh Ash I have heard of a Pokemon that can use aura there if you can find one maybe just maybe you can get it to teach you how to use your aura but Ash I don't think that learning such an ability will help from what Misty and Brock had said Mewtwo is a psychic Pokemon and aura world be weak against it." Professor Oak said

"Thanks Professor I'll do that. Pidgeot do you mind giving me a ride I'm sure Charizard will be more than happy to do it but he can't match your top speed for as long as you can." Ash said moving close to Pidgeot raising his right hand to stroke along the crest on his head. Pidgeot just nodded his head and crouched down to make it easier for Ash and Charizard stepped up behind the boy to lift him into place on the back of the large bird then he knelt down to scoop up Squirtle and Bulbasaur as Pikachu jumped up to join Ash on top of Pidgeot turning his heard Ash said "Bye and so long I'll get stronger and I will beat Mewtwo next time. So please don't worry about me mom and the next time you see me I'll be able to use aura at will."

(one week later)

It had taken Ash a few days to find Brock and Misty as they had split up and went back home to see their families they were going to meet back up with each other and continue their own journeys to honor their friend who they were sure Mewtwo had wiped his mind much like he had done to nurse Joy. They were just catching a fairy to get to another region when a Charizard with a Squirtle and Bulbasaur and a Pidgeot with Ash and Pikachu landed next to them.