Chapter 1: Coming Out From the Fortress

On the top of Mt. Silver in the Johto Region, Ash Ketchum stood staring restlessly at the sunset as the cool autumn breeze gently passed by. He had mastered the art of using aura to communicate with his pokémon as well as the ability to control it. His partner Pikachu sat on his shoulder and the rest of his pokémon surrounded him. Ash recounted all of the adventures he had with them. Venasaur, Charizard, Blastoise, Pidgeot, Muk, Kingler, Tauros, Lapras, Meganium, Typhlosion, Noctowl, Donphan, Feraligatr, Snorlax, Crawdaunt, Torkoal, Sceptile, Swellow, Glalie, Floatzel, Gliscor, Garchomp, Torterra, Staraptor, Infernape and Pikachu were all faithful friends that traveled with him for 6 years after he left his old life behind.

However his new team members proved to be just as good. Lucario, Salamence, Tyranitar, Porygon-Z, and Dusknoir all worked hard and maximized their battling ability. Latios and Latias had also followed him in debt for saving their city. (Yes Latios was resurrected because I have author powers) Mewtwo and Mew had also come to Mt. Silver with Ash.

"Ash, What are you going to do now?" Mewtwo telepathically asked. "You know I can't go back. They will never think of me as the same person I was. I will have to hide my identity. They can't know" Ash replied. " A true friend should always have another friend's back shouldn't they?" Mew asked. "I have changed too much for them to even recognize me" Ash solemnly stated.

"Stop running from the past. You're only creating excuses to keep hiding in your own shadow" Latios scolded. "Anyways, you'll meet them again someday" Latias added. Out loud Ash murmured "I have to run and live in my own shadow. It's the only thing left I can do." "Come on guys. Let's get back to the mountain for more training."

One by one, the pokémon made their way back into the mountain. Pikachu sadly gazed at his trainer wondering whether there was a chance of going back to what used to be normal. The cold and harsh winter passed and on Mt. Silver, Ash was still undiscovered. A letter flew in the wind and landed on the peak of Mt. Silver while Ash was in the mountain training. Mew noticed this and grabbed the letter using telekinetic powers.

The letter read:

To All Trainers Residing on Mt. Silver,

You are invited to the 193rd annual Inter-Regional Pokémon Tournament. You may enter any pokémon you wish as well as any number of pokémon. All battles in the preliminary rounds will be 1 on 1. Then in the secondary rounds the battles will switch to 3 on 3 and in the final rounds full scale 6 on 6 battles will take place. Thank you for reading this letter and participating in this tournament.

Mew handed the letter to Ash. "Now is my chance to prove myself that I am a Pokémon Master to the World. I must win this tournament" Ash exclaimed. "You know, your friends will be there too fighting for that same trophy" Latias mused. "So what? I will be the world's greatest pokémon master!" Ash exclaimed once more. "Pikachu, gather the team and lets fly." "The fire has been lit again" Mewtwo thought to himself, wondering what was going to happen. "Mewtwo, Mew, Latias, Latios, let's get going to Ever Grande City" Ash said, reminding them all they had to go. And with that they took off into the night sky shooting towards the Sinnoh Region.

Next Time: Why did he leave us all?