Chapter 1

It was an isolated island, completely cut-off from the six regions. No one knew this place even existed. However, there stood a boy, who had grown into a man on the top of a small hill looking out at the ocean watching the sunrise. The 23 year old with raven hair just stood there in his blue shirt, blue jeans, black shoes and black jacket with hood to cover his face, watching the waves hit the land calmly along with a bipedal, humanoid pokemon by his side, until his most faithful friend climbed on his left shoulder.

"Morning Pikachu, slept well?" he asked his starter pokemon.

"Morning boss, you too Mewtwo, yeah it was peaceful. How you doing today?" the yellow mouse asked his trainer.

"Morning Pikachu" said the Psychic Legendary pokemon.

"Today is the day isn't it? Seven years since they took my mother away from me. I guess it is time for our visit to Pallet town. We should return before the others wake up. Let's go Mewtwo," said the boy with a sad smile on his face.

"Sure Ash" replied Mewtwo.

They teleported to a small town in the Kanto region named Pallet, home to the great Professor Oak, and walked to a small gravestone in the graveyard that had his mother's name engraved, Delia Ketchum. Never in these seven years had Ash cried. He always kept his emotions in check but every time he visited his mother, tears seemed to roll down from his eyes automatically. He just stood there for like fifteen minutes without saying anything, just letting his tears roll.

"I love you mom" was all he could say.

Suddenly he felt a hand interlock his own, and a head rest on his shoulder. He just sighed and smiled. There she was, the person he loved the most, apart from his mother of course, one of the very few people who believed in him, probably the only person who stuck with him through thick and thin and never gave up on him no matter what. She lifted her head from his shoulder, kissed his cheek and used her other hand to wipe his tears.

"I guess I owe you an apology again," he said to her.

"No, it's alright. I know you like to spend some alone time with her. I saw you teleport with Pikachu and Mewtwo, thought I would catch up with you after sometime." She told and thanked her Gardevoir before returning her to her pokeball. She understood Ash wanted to spend some time alone with his mother especially on this day.

"I don't know what I would do without you Serena," he said.

"Fortunately you don't have to find that out, Mr. Ketchum," she replied with a grin, which caused Ash to smile.

"I love you, Serena"

"I know you do. I love you too Mr. Pokemon Master." Ash smirked at her reply.

"I guess it is time to go. Mewtwo!" he looked at the legendary pokemon and nodded. Mewtwo nodded his head and teleported them back to the island, where all his pokemon had woken up and were waiting for his arrival.

Flashback (7 years ago)

Ash had lost the finals of the Kalos League to Alain. He was disheartened no doubt but again his optimism had lifted him up. His heart wanted to travel more and meet new people and pokemon until he became the greatest Pokemon Master in the world. Soon after his loss though, Team Flare had wreaked havoc on the Kalos region causing all the gym leaders, Elite four members and champion Diantha along with Ash, the gang and Alain to fight against them. With the help of the Legendary Zygarde, they were able to stop the evil intentions of Lysandre and Team Flare and bring peace back to Kalos.

Later, Serena parted ways with Ash, Clemont and Bonnie as she went to the Hoenn region to explore and try out Pokemon Contests. Ash stayed in Lumiose City for a few days to help Clemont and Bonnie repair the gym. After a week he was about to leave for Viridian City. He got a call from Serena the night before telling him she had a surprise and asking him to call her as soon as he reached Viridian city. Next day gave his mother a call as soon as he reached the airport and then called Serena who asked him to go to the Pokemon Centre for his surprise.

"Hey buddy, I don't know what surprise Serena has planned but I don't like just sitting here. One good thing though, all my pokemon are getting a check-up," said Ash to his yellow partner who was sitting on his left shoulder.

"Pika pi" Pikachu just shrugged off.

"Ash Ketchum your pokemon are now healed. You can collect them now" the announcement said. Ash went to the counter to collect the five pokeballs and thanked Nurse Joy. It was at this moment Ash felt a hand on his shoulder and turned. He stood there shocked but Pikachu jumped from his shoulder into the arms of the person happily.

"Seems like you are not happy to see me Ash." The person asked.

"I am very happy to see you Serena trust me, it's just that you surprised me" said Ash with a smile now.

"Well I guess it was a good surprise then," said Serena.

"Of course it was. However, do you mind telling me what are you doing here? I thought you were in the Hoenn region preparing for Pokemon Contests."

"Oh, you see I went to Littleroot town, met Professor Birch and even got a Mudkip from him. Then I thought why I had started to travel in the first place. It was to meet you Ash and I realised it is always better to travel with you than to travel alone. I want to travel Ash, I want to follow my dreams but I want them to be with you. I just ..."

To say Ash was surprised was an understatement. He knew what she meant, what she wanted to tell him. It was evident from the kiss at the airport in Lumiose City. Ash was not that dense that he did not understand what Serena wanted to tell him. Therefore, he just put a finger on Serena's lips implying her to stop telling anything more.

"I know what you want to tell Serena, but I must tell you one thing. I like you a lot. You are my best friend. Honestly, out of all my travelling companions until now, I like and trust you the most. However, I just cannot replicate your feelings for me now. But look on the brighter side, now that we are travelling together again, maybe you will be able to reduce my denseness," Ash told her smiling. Serena grinned at Ash's self-loathing statement.

"You are the best Ash."

"You too Serena. Well it's already dark now, so, let's just stay in the pokemon centre tonight and we'll leave for Pallet tomorrow."

Next day they left for Pallet town early in the morning, as they wanted to get to Ash's home before it got dark. After walking for several hours and couple of breaks, they were able to see Pallet town from a distance. It looked the same every time he saw it, peaceful. Just a few houses scattered, his mother's restaurant near his house, a few shops and of course the famous Professor Oak ranch towards the end of the city. As usual, Ash and Pikachu raced to see who reached first and Serena running catch up with them. As they neared towards his house, Ash and Pikachu slowed down. They saw a huge crowd in front of his house, few police vans in the side, a couple of fire trucks and an ambulance on the other side of the road. Nevertheless, where was his house? He could only see a few pillars and a couple of walls. As he neared, he could see a heap of debris on the ground. He had already pictured the worst in his mind, so had Serena who was now walking beside him. Ash walked through the crowd into middle where he saw all his friends and professor Oak standing with sad expressions on their faces. He walked through the police perimeter into the house to see his worst nightmare had come true. His mother's body was on a stretcher on the ground almost burnt. At that moment, everything became black around him and he fell unconscious.

Ash slowly moved and opened his eyes to see a worried Serena looking at him. He got up and sat on the bed when he realised why he had fallen unconscious and panicked.

"Tell me Serena it was just a dream." He cried. Serena just shook her head with tears falling from her eyes. Ash then got out of the bed and ran outside with Serena and Pikachu running behind him. He realised he was in the house of one of their neighbours and started running towards his house. He reached there to see his mother's body was clothed for her burial. He looked around to see all his friends Gary, Misty, Brock, Tracey, May, Max, Dawn, Iris, Cilan and for some reason Drew, Paul, Trip and Alain.

"We were waiting for you my dear boy." Said professor Oak.

Ash could not speak anything; he just went to his mother's body, kneeled, held it and cried. Everyone just stood there helpless. Serena just could not stand there. She went to Ash and hugged him from behind. Ash just turned his head a bit and cried even more in her arms. After what seemed like an hour, Ash slowly tried to stop crying and let her mother back into the casket.

"I guess it's time to say goodbye to her." Ash said looking at her mother's face. Serena held him even tighter hearing this. Ash controlled himself and got up. Even though a part of her face was burnt, she still looked beautiful he thought.

Her body was taken to the grave in the casket and was buried. Slowly, everyone left the place until it was just Ash standing there with Serena and Pikachu a little away from him. In the end he just said, "I love you mom" slowly and turned to see both of them standing. All three of them left the place with Ash holding Serena's hand and Pikachu on her shoulder. When he reached his house, he saw professor Oak standing there.

"Who did this?" Ash asked. Anger was now taking over him.

"I don't know my dear boy, but Officer Jenny has assured they would get to the root of it in a few days. They have already found a few evidences; it is just a matter of time until they find out the reason. Well, you and Serena can stay at my place." Said the professor. Ash grunted.

"Ash, please keep calm, there is nothing you can do till they find out what happened here. Please don't let your anger take over you." Serena said looking at him. Ash realised she was right, there was nothing he could do until everything was sorted out. Ash wanted to go into the house but the police said he had permission to enter the house the next day, for now they were investigating and searching for more evidences. They went to professor Oak's ranch to see all of Ash's friends and pokemon looking sad. Some of his pokemon wanted to go to him but the others stopped them to give him space. Ash gave a sad smile to all of them and went inside the house where professor Oak showed him his bed and asked Serena to look after Ash and inform him if Ash needed anything. Ash's friends (except Serena) were outside discussing about something.

"It's not the right time to say anything to him," said Brock. Everyone nodded in agreement. They were here for a different purpose. None of them had imagined this was going to happen just before they arrived in Pallet town.

"We should wait for a week or so for him to settle down. Until then you all are welcome to stay at grandpa's place," said Gary.