Happy New Year! Since the holidays usually give more time, I get the chance to upload a chapter. Hope you enjoy it!

Q&A

Guest: Why suddenly pair Serena with ash and may? I was hoping it mainly be pure ash x may.

It's still an Advanceshipping story, but Serena's blatant crush on Ash will remain a challenge for them. It was already implied in Advanced Wishes that something stirred between the three, but Advanced Journeys will expand on what happened between Ash, May, and Serena during their Kalos adventure and beyond.

Guest: Hi, myself an hardcore fan of advanceshipping as u told another user that there will be love triangle in this chapter. Why?...Please don't make it harem

I'd rather die before this story became a harem lol. As I told the previous guest, it's still an Advanceshipping story. However, I've always tried to make Ash and May's relationship more realistic like a real-world relationship, which means not everything is sunshine and rainbows. Serena is Ash and May's friend, but her unresolved feelings for Ash will affect things. Nonetheless, it'll help them grow as a married couple. How? You'll have to keep reading to find out.

Leave your thoughts and questions, and I'll be happy to address them. I appreciate you for reading. That's it from me for now. On with the show!

Chapter 3: Hurt

He sat in silence. He stared at the erected stone. He let the light drizzle soak his back. Nothing mattered to him. It didn't matter how long he'd been there. It didn't matter how drenched his clothes got. It didn't matter how cold it was. Ash would remain by Pikachu's tomb as long as his body allowed.

From afar, a nosy trio observed him. They hid behind the bushes, but they couldn't hide their despair. "I see it, but I still don't believe it," James slid down in defeat against a tree.

"Wot's da wold come to?" Meowth lowered his binoculars.

"Wob," Wobbuffet mourned.

Jessie's eyes still focused on Ash. She clenched her fists as she watched him, "That poor twerp."

"The lad is taking it really hard," James joined her again.

Meowth shrugged, "Can you blame them? Pikachu was the twerp's best friend."

Jessie clenched her fist and shook it, "They took Pikachu away from us. How dare they?!" The woman slammed her fist on the grass. A tear trickled down her face.

"There, there," James put his hands on her arms. He gave her a soft smile.

"Wit Pikachu gone, wat do we do?" Meowth questioned.

James shook his head, "I don't know. After all these years, I can barely remember what my life was like before the twerp and Pikachu."

"We have nothing to show for all those years. We failed to capture Pikachu. We failed to protect Pikachu," Jessie lamented.

"We would've gotten creamed," the feline recalled the incident at Oak's lab.

"We're cowards," a shameful James admitted. Suddenly, Jessie turned to slap James. Meowth and Wobbuffet backed into a corner in fear of retribution. The whiny Rocket rubbed his cheek with a tear hanging. "What was that for?"

Jessie glared at him. "I'm tired of putting ourselves down! If we'd whine less, maybe Pikachu would still be alive, and the twerp wouldn't be glued to that tomb."

"So what should we do?" the fearful Meowth shied from Jessie.

Jessie wiped the tears from her eyes. "Pikachu was our purpose for years. He belonged with Team Rocket, but that's a pipe dream now." She raised her fist. "The best thing we can do is to avenge it."

"Avenge it?!" James and Meowth gasped.

Jessie nodded. "You heard me. We'll find the evil twerps and make them pay tenfold for taking Pikachu from us. Team Rocket will not stand for it!"

"Wobbuffet!" Wobbuffet saluted her.

"For Pikachu!" Jessie punched the air.

Meowth and James looked at each other. They knew better than to say no to Jessie, but they also refused to let the culprits walk away unpunished. The duo stood up to match Jessie's resolve. "For Pikachu," James balled his hand into a fist.

"For Pikachu," Meowth's claws extended.

"Good!" Jessie smirked at their determination.

James crossed his arms. "So, where do we begin?"

"I was hoping you'd figure that out," a sheepish Jessie lost her fire.

James, Meowth, and Wobbuffet nearly fell over in surprise. Meowth took a deep breath. "Wooks like we've got werk ta do."

"Then let's begin," James recomposed himself. The Rockets huddled together to find purpose beyond Pikachu.

However, they weren't the only ones staring at Ash from a distance. From the kitchen window, Delia watched her son stand remain as still as Pikachu's tombstone. He didn't even move a finger. She tried to focus on washing the dishes with May, but she'd look back every few seconds to see if her son would even move a muscle. Her lack of focus caused her to drop a plate. "Oh no!" The woman saw it shatter.

"Mime mime!" Mr. Mime panicked.

"I'll get it, don't worry," May fetched the broom.

Delia crouched to pick up the pieces. "I'm sorry, May."

May swept what she could. "Don't be. It happens." The defeated brunette saw the mother place the plate's pieces on the counter and stop to look at Ash again. She didn't know what to say.

"It's been days," Delia's eyes glimmered with pain.

May joined Delia in her sorrowful staring. "He won't even come in to eat."

"He didn't want to see his friends off either," Ash's mother didn't know what to do.

"Yeah, he's not himself," May acknowledged. She stared at the sink water. In the reflection she saw her sleepless eyes and pale skin. The coordinator's cold fingers touched the window. "Ash."

Delia wiped the counter. "I've tried to comfort him, but I can't get through to him. I failed him as a mother." The woman stopped cleaning.

Mr. Mime reached for the rag. "Mr. Mime." The Psychic-type insisted that he'd take over.

"Thank you, Mr. Mime," Delia handed him the rag and took a seat.

"You're too hard on yourself," May sat with Delia. Ash's wife hid her hands in her arms to warm them. May tried to find the words, "I don't think any of us know how to deal with this."

Delia's eyes hid under her long hair. "Ever since he was a little boy, Ash cared about two things more than anything. The people in his life and Pokémon. For such a small child, he had an enormous love to share with the world. Whenever he'd see me cry, he'd be the one to rush over and make me smile. Whenever I felt lonely, Ash was my company. He's always had a gift for bringing out the best in others."

"He sure does," May's eyes shimmered.

"But now that it's my turn, I can't make him feel better. He's lost his best friend, and I feel powerless to help my son," Delia's quiet tears fell on the table.

May watched Delia with a lump in her throat. "You're not alone."

Delia took a deep breath. "My Ash never gives up. I don't want my son to give up." She gritted her teeth. "If Ash gives up, my world stops shining." May listened to the passionate mother. "When I gave birth to him, Ash became my whole world, and I promised that I'd always protect him. That he'd be happy and fed, but I realized something devastating when he turned 10 years old."

"What's that?" May raised her eyebrow.

A tearful Delia looked at May. "I realized that I could never protect Ash." May looked surprised to hear that. "I had to come to terms with my son wanting to venture out into the world. It's the reality I faced as a parent. Some days I would be out hanging the linens, and I'd look to the sky to think of my Ash. I'd wonder in what part of the world he was. I'd question who he was with and if he'd eaten. It's all I could do from far away. And every night I'd pray that he was safe because that was all I could do. Pray."

"I never knew," May confessed. She'd always seen Mrs. Ketchum as a stalwart pillar of strength and happiness, but she was human like the rest of them. More importantly, she was a mother.

Delia admitted, "We can't protect anybody. Nobody could protect Pikachu. We can't even protect ourselves, and that's probably the hardest truth I've ever had to accept in my life."

May was startled by her confession, "Delia, don't say that."

"I know it sounds awful to say, May, but when you have kids you'll understand that one day you have to let them go. If I fixated on protecting Ash my whole life, then he would've never gone on his journey. He'd stay home, and I wouldn't have allowed myself or Ash to live. Yet life is meant to be lived with all its risks and hurdles. He couldn't save Pikachu, but his life can't end with Pikachu," the older woman believed.

She heard May's chair creak and saw the coordinator stand up. There was a blaze in her eyes that dried up her tears. May made a fist, "I'll bring back Ash. I won't give up on him."

Delia's face brightened. The warm fire in May's sapphire gaze reminded her of the former spark in her son's eyes. She reached for the girl's hand, "Oh, May."

"He's your son, but he's also my husband, and I can't let him live this way either," May expressed. Delia nodded at her. The women's hearts were tied by Ash, and both of them would do anything to see him smile again. May said she'd return with her son soon enough and stepped out.

Mr. Mime watched the girl rise up with a confidence that filled the room with much-needed hope. "Mime, Mr. Mime," the Psychic Pokémon said when May left.

"I know she will," Delia sniffled with a hand over her heart. Ash, you're so lucky to have her.

Outside, May noticed the drizzle stopped and walked to the hill where Ash rested with Pikachu. What she would say wouldn't be easy, but she saw no choice. May refused to allow his despair to ruin his life. "Ash," she called to him when she reached the hilltop.

Ash looked back with a small smile. "Hey, May," the trainer made space for her to sit next to him. His wife sat with her legs crossed, but he noticed her eyes fixed on him. He tried to ignore her stare by keeping his sights on Pikachu's resting place.

"So, that's that?" May frowned.

"What do you mean?" Ash still didn't look at her.

May placed her hand on Ash's lap. "Are you going to give up? You're here all day. If I didn't come out to get you, you'd probably sleep out here. We miss you, Ash. I miss you."

"Pikachu's dead," Ash hid his eyes under the brim of his hat.

May struggled to respond, pitying him until she remembered the stakes. The brunette reached for his cold hand. Her fingers intertwined with his for the first time in days. "I know, Ash. Pikachu was special to all of us and it's been hard without him, but we can't lose you too. All of us need you to come back."

"How can I?" Ash questioned.

His wife sighed. "I'm not asking you to stop mourning Pikachu. Grief is natural and we all need to process it rather than ignore it, but that doesn't mean that you shut yourself off from everything. I'm asking you to carry on with that grief. Do you want to know why?"

Ash kept his head low. "Why?"

May squeezed her hand. "Because we can't let everyone else die, too." Her bluntness caused Ash's eyes to widen. "I don't know what's going on, but it can't be good. We need to stop her and save our friends." Despite the realization, Ash remained unresponsive to her. "Don't hide from this. Let's fight them. We've done it together so many times. I know we can do it again. It's what Pikachu would want and do."

"I-" Ash still sounded hesitant. He refused to even look at May.

May let go of his hand and stood up. "If Pikachu were here, he'd tell you to stop hiding and move forward. You're not acting like the Ash I know!" Her husband stayed still and quiet. May clenched her teeth. "Think about what will happen to our friends if we let them hurt us again. Look what she did to Iris and Alain. Remember what she almost did to Serena if Brock hadn't arrived!" Her remarks prompted Ash's head to perk up. She was right. They'd almost lost more than Pikachu. His heart weighed heavy when he pictured Serena. As Ash pondered, the coordinator continued, "If you won't help me stop her, what does that mean for the rest of us?! We can't change the past, but we can change now. Take that in. You think you have it so damn hard. We're all hurting, so let's share our hurt. I know you hate being alone, so let me back in and let our friends back in. It's the only way we can make things." She watched Ash stare at the horizon beyond the hill. They noticed the sun breaking through the clouds. May broke the silence again. "What's it going to be, Ash? Another loss or us?"

His gaze shifted to May, and their eyes met. He frowned at her. Ash stood up while May stepped back. "I choose us." He tackled May into a hug.

May's surprise turned into tears when she felt his warmth for the first time in days. "Ash." The coordinator cried into his chest after holding her pain in. "I knew you'd come back to me," May pulled out her half of the Terracotta Ribbon.

"It's always us," Ash also pulled out his half of the ribbon. The warmth returned to his auburn-colored eyes, but they also came with the resolve they needed to carry on. He looked at the world ahead as the sunlight poured over Pallet Town. "We'll get Iris and Alain back," Ash swore. He glared when he thought of the woman that resembled his wife. Whoever she was, she wouldn't get away with what she'd done to his friends or Pikachu.

Elsewhere, an explosion caused the wall of a facility to burst. The guards noticed a shadow break through using Aura Sphere. "Intruder!" the goons shouted. They had their Mightyena and Pyroar fire into the smoke. The squad leader smirked, "Keep firing!" The Flamethrower and Hyper Beam aimed at anything that moved until they were certain they'd gotten their target. The goons stopped when the squad leader raised his hand. "We got you," he was sure of it.

"Did you?" a voice answered. The squad leader got spooked when he saw a man leap out of the smoke with an Aura Sphere. The intruder moved so fast he had no time to dodge the Aura Sphere.

"It's Red!" the squad members panicked. A Lucario burst out of the smoke and knocked out the Pokémon alongside their trainers with Extreme Speed before they could ready another volley of attacks.

Red glared at the defeated grunts, "Only my friends and family can call me that."

We've got company, Lucario warned when he saw a door open ahead of them. The Aura Pokémon and his trainer stood side by side in anticipation.

"To think there was a splinter cell as far as Ryme City," Red gritted his teeth.

Lucario agreed, "They got your attention. Time to deal with the loose end."

When the doors stopped, a trio of squid-like Pokémon came out of the shadows. Their malevolent stares unsettled Red and Lucario. "Malamar," the leader smirked.

"I know you can use telepathy. Don't play dumb with me," Red threatened them.

The Malamar laughed at them. Roxas or Red, which is it these days? the leader questioned. He was amused by Red's tough demeanor.

"It's Red these days, but like I said, friends and family only. And as I recall, there are no Malamar in mine," Red stepped forward.

"Careful, they're not your average Pokémon," Lucario sensed their power.

Red crossed his arms, "I've faced plenty of evil humans in my lifetime that force Pokémon to do evil things, but to discover Pokémon that are inherently evil is a new one. Based on your power and intelligence, you're genetically enhanced."

One of the other Malamar nodded, "How astute. Your reputation precedes you."

"Spare me the compliments. A few days ago, your grunts attacked our base. Why?" Red cut to the chase.

Everything you wish to know lies beyond the door. You will have to kill us if you wish to get past us, the Malamar delighted in the challenge.

Red clenched his fists. "That can be managed," the trainer's stare hardened.

Red, Lucario stepped up. The jackal-like Pokémon nodded sideways. "You can't."

"Malamar's scum killed five of our people at base. That can't go unanswered," Red argued.

Lucario raised his paw, "They'll face justice but not revenge. Cool your head, and remember who we are."

Your anger gives you power. It festers. Good, Malamar eyed Red.

"Shut it," Red's sapphire eyes were cold. He closed his eyes and inhaled. When he exhaled, he opened them. "Alright, Lucario. Let's do this."

With pleasure, Lucario took its fighting stance.

"Malamar!" the leader ordered the other pair of Malamar to attack.

The pair of Malamar fired Dark Pulse. "Use Aura Sphere," Red commanded. Red's Lucario concentrated aura on both paths and fired at the double Dark Pulse. The Malamar used Hypnosis to immobilize the Aura Pokémon.

"Nice try," Lucario smirked. It used Extreme Speed to close the distance between itself and the Overturning Pokémon.

Red saw their opportunity. "Aura Sphere again!"

Lucario nodded, "I read your mind." The Fighting-type Pokémon fired a double Aura Sphere at close range.

Despite the close-range attack, the Malamar quickly recovered and hovered above Lucario. "The warm-up is over," the leader of the Malamar smirked. The pair of Malamar flew around the room, unleashing Dark Pulse across the battlefield.

Lucario readied to dodge but found itself paralyzed. "I can't move," he said. Its body found itself outlined in Psychic energy. The Fighting-type bore the brunt of the Dark Pulse.

"The third one is using Psychic," Red clenched his teeth. "I should've known you wouldn't fight fair," the trainer pulled down the brim of his hat.

"Naïve, indeed," the leader of the Malamar sent Lucario back with Psychic.

Red caught his friend in his arms, taking more damage than expected. "Are you alright?" Red asked his friend.

Lucario barked to assure it was fine. Red's Pokémon returned to the battlefield. "Use Calm Mind," Red instructed.

Lucario closed its eyes to focus. The appendages floated when it focused its energy. Unfortunately, Calm Mind appeared to fail, and Lucario winced in pain. "What happened?!" Red worried.

"That blasted Malamar's ability is Contrary," Lucario grunted.

"You're even weaker now," the Malamar laughed at their misfortune. Lucario became immobilized by Psychic again, and the pair of Malamar used Dark Pulse to weaken it. The leader of the Malamar smirked, "Let's have some fun." It used Psychic to toss Lucario around the field.

"Lucario!" Red's blood boiled. He charged the aura inside him.

"Don't!" Lucario stopped him. Red stopped when his Pokémon yelled at him.

"Your Lucario is mine now," the leader of the Malamar started to glow from Hypnosis. Lucario tried to look away, but Psychic forced him to.

Red raised his wrist, "Not if I have anything to say about it. Mega evolve!"

The room filled with a bright light that blinded the Malamar. Lucario's Mega Stone responded to the Key Stone and felt the power surge through its body. Now you've done it! Lucario growled after it transformed into Mega Lucario.

The Malamar gasped, "How?!"

"Not all Mega Evolution stones were destroyed," Red chuckled. "Extreme Speed!" Red's Lucario vanished into thin air and reappeared like teleportation. It knocked the air out of the Malamar and stepped back. "Aura Sphere!" Red ordered.

Mega Lucario leaped into the air. "Let's see how you like this!" The Aura Pokémon charged an Aura Sphere. When he threw the attack, it split into three Aura Spheres that targeted each Malamar. Still dazed from Lucario's Extreme Speed, the Malamar failed to dodge the powered-up move. The squid-like Pokémon were unconscious after the blast.

When Mega Lucario landed on its feet, it reverted to its regular form. "Well done," Lucario smiled at his friend.

"You did most of the work," Red gave him a thumbs up.

They walked toward the door that the Malamar came from until Red noticed the leader still drew breath. "Wait," Red stopped Lucario.

"Huh?" Lucario turned around.

Red lifted the Malamar. "How did you remain undetected for so long?"

The leader of the Malamar smirked. "The fire rises, and lightning to meet it. Its head fell back when it lost consciousness. A confused Red dropped the Malamar, wondering what it meant.

"Let's go. There's nothing here for us," Lucario signaled.

"Right," Red snapped out of it. He followed his Pokémon into the dark hallway. He was unsure of what to expect.