After losing in the Kalos Tournament, Ash returned home with the expectation that nothing would be out of the ordinary -it wasn't like this was the first time he had lost a major tournament, but at least he had come closer than ever before. Upon reaching his home town, Ash was shocked to see all his previous travelling companions gathered in his house, with some of his rivals like Paul and Trip being present as well - but this wasn't the only surprise Ash was in for.
Upon walking in to his house and noticing everyone gathered around, they all but instantly began to berate him: going so far as to saying that the interaction between him and his Greninja had clearly been the result of performance enhancing items - more or less they accused him of cheating the tournament.
Ash was beyond devastated - but this devastation was quickly replaced with an eerie calmness as he turned and just left his house, going to Oak's lab (who had been present at the belittling) to gather his pokemon.
But the former friends didn't give in, following him and shooting insults as he reached the lab, seeing his pokemon in what seemed to be a divided front: some of them we're closer to the lab in a group, whilst some we're closer to the fence
Ash quickly realised what was going on - his "friends" had somehow convinced over half his pokemon that he had cheated, and wasn't worthy of being their trainer: so with the same silence, he gathered the remaining pokemon who stood by him, collecting their poke'balls and leaving the area.
Walking down the icy slopes of mount silver, now 16-year-old Ash Ketchum walked silently, but with confidence. Having called the mountain slopes his home for the past 6 years, Ash had more than enough practice walking across the snowy landscape.
Over the 6-years in the mountains, Ash had changed in someways, but remained the same in others: His eyes were still a chocolate brown, but no long held happiness or innocence. His hair was still unruly, but now hung by his shoulders but was still hidden underneath his Kalos hat. He now wore black boots (ideal for the snowy mountain slopes) simple black jeans, a white top and a black, zip-up hoodie, the hood pulled up over his head and hat.
After 6-years of training himself, and his remaining pokemon, Ash had decided the night before that it was time to go back to society - he still had unawnsered questions, and he was adamant that he would get the answers he sought after.
Why did his "friends" betray him?
Why did over half his pokemon leave him?
Why would they think he cheated?
And his most wanted question...
Where the hell where Dawn and Max during that time?!