"You'll be back with us soon?"

"Yes, Max," Ash said with a smile on his face. "I'll be around the regions more. I'll see you when I can. But for the time being, I have work to do."

Max nodded and turned to join May, Dawn, Brock and Gary stood outside the house, their faces barely illuminated by the light above the back door. The final member of the group was stood behind Ash, waiting.

"Thank you for hearing me out," Ash said, ignoring Misty for a moment. "It is now quite late so Alakazam will teleport you all back to Pallet Town. If you want to go anywhere else after that, tell him and he will get you there."

"Wait a moment," Gary said, as Alakazam stepped forwards. "Anywhere?"

Ash smiled. "When partnered with Espeon, Alakazam has incredible control and range in his teleports. Yes, he can get you anywhere."

Ash turned to Misty who was tapping her foot impatiently. "I'll be with you in a moment." He swung back around to his Pokémon as Espeon and Alakazam waited.

"Take them. Come back for Misty."

There was a small flash and the whole group vanished. Ash slowly faced Misty.

"I'm sure you're wondering why I asked you to stay behind?"

Misty nodded, not trusting herself to speak. She had been significantly more subdued since she had forced Ash into revealing the monument he had built to Sonia Rukan.

"I needed to talk to you about something." Ash continued, but Misty couldn't take it anymore.

"I'm sorry!" she burst out.

Ash looked at her with an expression of slight confusion. "You're sorry?"

"I shouldn't have forced you into showing us that memorial," Misty said, her words tripping over themselves as she rushed them out. "I shouldn't have accused you of lying. It's just…"

"Mist," Ash said softly, causing her to break off her tirade and stare at him. "I don't blame you. You wanted to know you could trust me. And after the times I've let you down over the years, I don't blame you."

"But…" Misty started, but Ash cut her off again.

"No. It is done. I understand why you did it."

Misty stepped forwards and threw her arms around Ash, hugging him tightly. Ash returned the gesture slightly surprised.

"Wow, Gary really has stamped the fire out of you Mist." Ash joked as he pulled away. He chuckled as he instinctively blocked the punch that Misty immediately threw at him, meeting her glare with an easy grin.

"Watch it, Ketchum," Misty said. "You've still got a long way to go until you can start making cracks like that."

"Then I'll make that a priority," Ash said, before gesturing back to the house. He led Misty inside and towards the living room once again. As she took a seat, Ash sat opposite her.

"I'll get to this quickly," Ash said. "Mellanie."

"What about her?" Misty asked slightly confused.

"She's now Pokémon Master," Ash said. "Which is a phenomenal achievement at her age. However, something is wrong with her. She is not the same person that I taught three years ago."

"We all change," Misty said. "And you should probably be asking Sam this."

"I already have," Ash said calmly. "But I need as much information as I can get. And it isn't that she has grown up. She has become far colder, destroying opponents without giving them any respect."

"Not unlike you when you took the title." Misty pointed out.

Ash smiled slightly.

"I understand where you are coming from, but I only beat people. I never humiliated them."

"You don't get what it is like to fight against you, do you?" Misty asked. "How it feels to be completely destroyed by a man who barely even talks during fights? It is pretty humiliating."

Ash cocked his head to the side, gazing at the red-head.

"You haven't seen her battle since she took the title have you?"

"What? No, I've been busy." Misty said. "I'm on the…"

"Kanto Elite Four. Yes, I know. And congratulations on that." Ash said before turning to a television across the room. "But if you had been watching, you would understand what I am talking about. Let me show you."

The screen flickered into life, showing Mellanie stood in a trainer's box, Totodile battling away on the field in front of her against an Azumarill.

"Totodile, Hydro Pump." Mellanie barked, the sound crackling out of the speakers on the television.

Totodiles attack smashed Azumarill off her feet, sending her skidding along the ground. As Azumarill struggled up to her feet, Ash held up a controller and paused the TV.

"Do you remember when you faced me?" Ash asked Misty.

"Eight years ago," Misty said flatly. "You humiliated me."

Ash cocked his head slightly. "I gave you plenty of opportunities to withdraw Golduck. The result of the match was never in doubt. Losing to me badly was not how you humiliated yourself."

"I didn't…" Misty started to protest, but Ash raised an eyebrow at her, cutting her off before she could get into her stride.

"Okay, fine." Misty snapped. "But what did you expect? You thrashed my team like Tobias thrashed yours years before."

"Low blow," Ash said curtly. "You chose to go up against the most powerful trainer in the world, I had entered a regional league. But…" Ash held up a hand before Misty could start arguing. "The important part is how I beat you. Nobody expected you to take out one of my Pokémon, but I did everything I could to ensure your Pokémon didn't endure lasting suffering or significant pain. Mellanie is different. Watch."

Ash raised the controller once more and the screen turned to life. Azumarill was clearly on her last legs, only hanging on through pure endurance. A small blow would be enough to end it.

"Hydro Pump again," Mellanie ordered.

As the attack raced in, Azumarill threw herself to one side desperately, fear giving her a speed that she didn't usually have. The attack rushed past and Ash heard an intake of breath from Misty as she realised what point he was making.

"Again Totodile." Mellanie barked.

Again and again, attacks raced in towards Azumarill who could only just stay ahead of them through sheer desperation. Eventually, even the adrenaline couldn't move her fast enough, and Totodile's powerful attack crashed into her. Azumarill was smashed into a wall, before sliding down to the ground, clearly knocked out. The television froze and Misty turned back to Ash who was putting the controller down on a table.

"Do you see the problem?" Ash asked.

Misty nodded. "She should have stopped a long time ago."

"Precisely," Ash said. "She is thrashing opponents just to humiliate them. It took Azumarill three days to recover from that. She has forgotten her responsibilities as an elite level trainer."

"But she is Pokémon Master," Misty said, slightly confused. "Surely she is meant to be this strong?"

"Strong, yes," Ash said. "But there is more to being Pokémon Master than strength. And more to battling than destroying your opponent. Strong trainers look to win without injuring the other side wherever possible. Few Pokémon spent time in intensive care after facing me, but several have after fighting Mellanie."

"So what are you going to do?" Misty asked.

Ash chuckled slightly. "I was hoping you'd be able to give me more insight into her, but clearly that isn't the case. I'm going to do the last thing she'd expect."

"Which is?"

"Challenge her. It will be my return to civilisation."

It was early afternoon by the time Ash completed his daily workout, made tougher by the poor sleep he had had after telling his friends his story. As Ash pulled his clothes back on after a post-exercise shower, he heard a knock at the door.

"Yes Mum?" he said, without looking up.

"You did well last night," Delia said as she held onto the door frame for support. "That can't have been easy."

"I didn't want to tell them about Sonia," Ash said quietly.

"I know. But it was the right thing to do." Delia sighed. "And to think that she might have been suitable as a girlfriend for you."

"Mum!" Ash exclaimed. "How long until you let that go?"

"Never," Delia said with a smile. "I live in hope Ash."

Ash shook his head in disbelief. "That ship has sailed."

"Don't be so hasty." Delia admonished. "Five years ago, the idea of having all of your old friends here would have been impossible for you. Things change as time passes."

Before Ash could answer, he saw Alakazam reappear behind his mother.

"You keep on hoping then," Ash said with a smile as he moved forwards. "Unfortunately, I have things to do now."

Delia smiled as her son strode past her and reached his scouting team as Espeon padded up to join them.

"Report," Ash said.

"Observation of Mellanie has been completed," Alakazam said, Espeon translating as usual. "Her training regime is comprehensive if severe."

"So is ours," Ash said. "What of it?"

"Throughout the duration of the observation, we were unable to contact any of the subjects Pokémon."

Ash sighed. "I admire your professionalism Alakazam, but this is Mellanie. She is one of us. And again, I ask the relevance?"

"The quandary that has arisen is twofold," Alakazam said. "Of primary concern is the demand that is placed on the subjects Pokémon. It speaks to a less compassionate regimen than anticipated."

Ash tapped his foot impatiently as Alakazam spoke. The leader of his scouts was a powerful Pokémon, but he could sometimes take a while to get to the point.

"However, we should also consider a secondary issue. Whilst the subject is excessive in the training applied to her Pokémon, they never leave her alone. They are loyal beyond reason."

Ash nodded and looked at Espeon.

"We should have been there for her."

"This wasn't our fault." Espeon immediately argued.

"She is where I once was," Ash said. "And I did it to her. She is completely isolated. All she has is her Pokémon. And in her love for them, she has forgotten what marked her out." Ash turned to Alakazam. "Take me to Indigo Plateau."

Mellanie looked up as she heard a knock on the door to her office.

"Enter?" she said, her voice slightly questioning. The door swung open and a figure that Mellanie recognized well stood there.

"Sam?" She asked in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

"May I come in?" Sam said.

"Yes," Mellanie said, rising from her chair and gesturing towards one opposite. "Come in, sit down."

Sam took his seat slightly nervously as Mellanie gazed at him from across the desk. She made a steeple with her hands before leaning towards her old friend.

"What can I do for you, Sam?" She asked politely.

"I wanted to congratulate you," Sam said. "On becoming Pokémon Master. You never answered any of my calls or texts."

"No," Mellanie said. "I did not."

An awkward silence spread between them for a long moment before Sam tried again.

"Why not?"

Mellanie fixed him with a pitying gaze.

"Do you really need me to answer that one?"

The silence spread again. It had been a long time since they had been alone together and Mellanie's cold attitude told him that she hadn't forgotten how they parted.

"Look Mel…" Sam started.

"It is Mellanie actually," Mellanie said sharply, cutting him off. "I dropped the abbreviation a year ago. Not that you would know."

"That's unfair." Sam protested.

"Is it?" Mellanie asked.

"I never wanted for us to stop being friends," Sam said, his voice dropping to a lower volume. "If I could go back and…"

"And what?" Mellanie interjected. "You'd change it? You wouldn't have humiliated me like that? Throwing me to one side like I was just another bimbo?!"

Sam winced as Mellanie's voice grew in pitch and fury. She had risen from her chair and her presence dominated the room despite her diminutive height.

"It wasn't just me…" Sam started but Mellanie's laugh cut him off once again.

"Oh, this is going to be good." She snorted. "Tell me, Sam, how is it not just you? You were the one who asked me out. I told you from the start I didn't want a media presence. You persuaded me that nothing bad would happen. And yet the leak came from your office. The dates were awful and then once the media got wind of them, you didn't even try to protect us from it. You didn't even give us a chance. You were more concerned with your ego and looking good to the world to even care about what I felt. What I wanted or what I needed. And then when it got difficult you turned it on me and then tossed me to one side like I didn't matter."

Mellanie took a deep breath as Sam took the abuse, the only sign of the damage it was doing being the hurt look on his face.

"So, tell me, Sam, how was it not just you? I didn't want anything in the public eye and you dragged me into it and then through the dirt. So please, explain."

Sam rose from his chair and turned for the door.

"Where are you going?" Mellanie hissed.

Sam turned back just enough to see the furious expression on her face.

"I came here to try to bring back the girl I once knew and cared about," Sam said sadly. "And now I'm not sure she still exists."

"Well, this is what happens when your closest friends abandon you." Mellanie retorted. "Take a good look Sam, whatever kind of person I am is the one that you helped create."

"Not all people become like this," Sam said softly. "Ash trained you to be much better."

For a moment Sam thought that Mellanie's expression was softening but then it hardened once again. "Get. Out."

Sam turned and fled before the fury of the new Pokémon Master could manifest itself once again. He didn't want to push his luck. He had tried, but there was only one man who could ever bring Mellanie back to him.

"Good morning." Ash said politely as he approached the receptionist's desk. "I was wondering when the next opportunity to battle the Pokémon Master is available?"

The receptionist smiled up at him. Ash was wearing the black that he had once been famous for, but there was no hat hiding the friendly expression on his face.

"There is a slot this afternoon." The receptionist said. "And we have only a few battles tomorrow."

"What about the day after, on Thursday?" Ash asked. "I'd like the chance to face her at her freshest."

"So, first thing in the morning?" the receptionist asked.

Ash nodded, with a warm smile on his face. "If it isn't too difficult for you to manage to arrange."

"Not at all," the woman said, pressing a few keys and clicking repeatedly. After a moment she looked back up.

"There are no fights yet scheduled for Thursday. Why do you want a morning fight?"

Ash chuckled. "There will be no excuses."

"Excuses?" the receptionist asked in surprise. "You do know she is the strongest trainer around right?"

Ash chuckled again. "Then I guess I will be beaten."

The receptionist shook her head in disbelief. "Well, I admire your confidence. May I take a name for your challenge?"

"Of course," Ash said. "My name is Satosh Kashum."

A few more keys were pressed, and the receptionist glanced back up at him.

"Well your name isn't on the system, but I have booked you in Mr Kashum. If you would like to register for any tournaments you will need to become a licensed trainer and be added to the system."

"Maybe after the fight against the Pokémon Master," Ash said with an easy grin. "Let's see how I stack up first."

The receptionist found herself laughing. "Well good luck Mr Kashum. We shall see you in two days."

Professor Oak stirred, struggling to raise his head from his bed. As his vision came into focus once again he saw a man stood at the end of his bed, thumbing a Pokéball in his hand.

"Ash?" Oak croaked.

The man smiled down at him. "You say that with such surprise."

"Well…" Oak started before a coughing fit took him over. He felt strong hands raise him up, holding his body upright as the coughs shuddered their way through him. As the fit ended, he looked up into the concerned face of Pallet's lost son.

"What are you doing here?" Oak croaked, his voice hoarse from the coughing.

Silently Ash lifted a cup of water to Oak's lips, helping the researcher drink. As he put the cup back on the bedside table, Ash picked up the Pokéball that he had placed down once again.

"I am here to help you."

Oak looked confused. "Help me?"

"Yes," Ash said simply.

There was a long silence before Oak raised himself up onto his elbows to get a better look at Ash's face.

"How?" the elderly researcher asked.

"I once saved the life of one of your Pokémon," Ash said quietly. "I can do something similar to you, to give you more time."

Oak waved a hand dismissively. "I'm old. You can't cure that."

"Actually, I can," Ash said with a slight smile. "We are able to push the clock back on your body somewhat. It isn't easy, and it doesn't last forever but I hoped I could give you more time."

There was another long silence as Oak processed what Ash was saying.

"But there you can't, can you?" Oak asked.

Ash shook his head. "No. Your body is too far gone, Professor. I won't be able to save it."

Gently Oak lowered himself back onto the pillows with a groan.

"I appreciate the thought," Oak said. "But my time is here."

Ash froze for a moment. "You're not telling me something, Professor."

"Ash, I'm dying," Oak said with a low chuckle that turned into yet another cough. "Can you at least call me Samuel?"

Ash gently picked up a cloth and dabbed at Oak's brow. "Very well Samuel. Now how long do you have?"

Oak whitened slightly. "Very little time." He admitted. "I saw some of the scans."

Ash glanced around the surprisingly empty hospital room.

"You sent the machines away."

"Too damn right," Oak said, energy creeping into his voice. "They could keep me going a few more days but that's not what I want. I've accepted it is time."

Ash considered Oak's words for a moment.

"You want to die tonight," Ash said quietly. "You could have had your family here."

Oak shrugged a hand dismissively once again. "You'll learn one day. Sometimes you just want people to move on."

"I do know," Ash whispered before his voice gained in strength. "And yes, I once thought that. But you should give them a chance to say goodbye."

"And have them all sit around waiting for me to die?" Oak scoffed. "Not really how I want to go. Far too morbid. They said goodbye last time they were here, that's what matters."

Ash felt a laugh building inside him and he let it escape, filling the room with the sound.

"If that is how you feel."

"It is," Oak said.

Ash nodded. "Well, I have nothing left to do this evening. I've got a match in the morning though."

"A match?" Oak asked.

"I'm challenging Mellanie," Ash said with a slight smile.

Oak raised his eyebrows. "Teaching her a lesson?"

Ash chuckled. "I really could never slip anything past you. Yes, that is the plan."

"Good," Oak grunted. "She needs reminding of her roots. A good thrashing should cut her ego down."

"And I will do so," Ash said. "But that is tomorrow's job. For this evening and night, do you mind if I keep you company?"

Oak smiled for a moment before the worst coughing fit yet overtook him. As Ash held him upright to let the coughs run through him again he fought to draw breath. As he finally managed to get air back into his lungs he gestured for Ash to step back.

"It would be my pleasure." Oak wheezed.

"No," Ash said as he drew up a chair. "It would be my honour."

It was nearly five hours later that Ash drew away from the elderly man and moved to the back of the room. Oak's last few hours had been hard for him to sit through, but he never considered leaving. He had done what he could to reduce the pain but had stopped short of healing anything. It would have been disrespectful to disregard the old man's wishes.

Ash stayed and watched over the not-breathing body of Oak for a long time until he saw light start to creep through the curtains into the room. Listening carefully, Ash heard footsteps approaching.

"Espeon?" Ash asked quietly.

"Here." Came the instant response.

"Time to go. Take me to Indigo Plateau. And get Pikachu ready."

As the door to the hospital room started to open, Ash gave a final glance in the direction of the man who had been more of a father to him than anybody else he could remember as he was teleported out.

"Ladies and Gentleman, it is another day and another round of battles for the Pokémon Master! Mellanie Rigger has been undefeated since she defeated Cynthia Shirona to claim the title and after resting many of her big hitters yesterday, today promises to be when they get a chance to show their strength. It is rumoured that it will be her main team that battle in today's first match as she strives to defeat the challenger. And now, ladies and gentlemen, please welcome to the field, today's first challenger, Satosh Kashum!"

"It is weird to be sat here watching Ash again," Misty said to Gary. They were high in the surprisingly full stands, watching with the whole group of friends. Ash had invited them all to the match and the chance to watch the Pokémon Master go up against the strongest trainer they knew was not something anybody felt they could reject.

"I know what you mean," Gary said. "It's been a long time since we were sat here for a fight like this."

"Even weirder for you." Misty teased. "You used to be the guy on the other side of the field."

Before Gary could say anything, Dawn leaned across.

"Hey guys," she said quietly. "What's up with Sam?"

All eyes were drawn to the young Kanto Champion. He was sat a short way away from the group, gripping the edge of his seat so hard that the knuckles were showing on his hands.

"I don't know," Gary said. "It can't be easy for him to see his mentor go up against his best friend."

"Ex." Misty corrected. "They aren't friends anymore."

"They still are aren't they?" Dawn asked. "Not close, but at least sort of friends?"

Misty turned so her back was to Sam so that he couldn't hear her. "He went to see her a couple of days ago. She threw him out of her office."

"Oh," Dawn said, taken aback. "Then I guess they aren't friends."

Before anybody else could say anything their attention was drawn to the field where Ash was waving at the crowd as he strode towards the centre of the field. His trousers and jacket were of his usual style but they were green and white. His hat was nowhere to be seen. His face looked very different, making him almost unrecognisable.

"Who is that?" Gary asked, distracted.

"Ash?" Dawn asked confusedly.

Misty leaned back in her chair with a strange look on her face.

"He's hiding who he is."

"How?" Gary demanded, before flinching at a glare from his wife. "Okay, fine, you don't know. Why though?"

"Maybe because…" Dawn started but the stadium announcer cut across her.

"And please show your appreciation for the mysterious, the powerful, the beautiful Queen of Johto. It is the Pokémon Master, Mellanie Rigger!"

A huge roar came from the crowd, blocking any attempts at conversation as Mellanie strode out into the centre of the field. Unlike her opponent she didn't wave, instead, she focused her attention on the man waiting for her at the centre. As she reached him the volume of the crowd dropped slightly.

"You requested to fight me fresh," Mellanie said, not making any attempt at an introduction. "I don't know who you are to ask for something like that, but you've got it. My team will destroy you."

Ash cocked his head. "I don't remember this kind of arrogance in you."

"You don't know me." Mellanie snapped.

Ash raised an eyebrow. "Actually, that isn't quite true."

He turned towards the referee who had begun to step forward from his position at the edge of the field.

"I apologise for my deception," Ash said, his voice growing in volume until it echoed around the stadium, silencing the crowd. "But I did not want to tip anybody off as to my return until it was necessary. If you will indulge me for a moment?"

The stunned referee could only nod as Mellanie whitened. She knew of only one man could magnify his voice without a microphone.

"It has been some time since I was last in this stadium," Ash said as the illusion that had been covering his face fell away. The crowd which had begun to murmur once again fell completely silent. "But unlike last time I returned from exile, I do not intend to hide my identity. My name is Ash Satoshi Ketchum."

Ash reached under his jacket and pulled out a hat that he firmly placed over his head. As it descended, his clothes changed colour to black. As he turned slowly back to face Mellanie, his once iconic image was played on every screen in the stadium. Mellanie felt her heart drop straight to the pit of her stomach. In front of her was a figure that had destroyed every opponent he had ever faced. The figure that for so long didn't have a name attached to it. He was just known as Champion because that is what he was.

When Ash spoke again, his voice had returned to the normal volume so that only Mellanie could hear him.

"I'm here to remind you where you came from," Ash said quietly. "You have built a career on foolish principles. You no longer respect those who train hard to face you. You have lost your way. And that ends here."

He turned and strode towards his trainer's box, leaving Mellanie to quietly trail towards her own.