A CHAMPIONS RISE

CHAPTER ONE: RELIVING THE BETRAYAL

On peak of the mysterious Mt. Silver, a man stood on the outside of a deep cave, looking out at the world below. He had black hair, and was just over 6' and he stood with a little yellow Pokemon on his right shoulder. This creature was a Pikachu and it had bright yellow fur, a lightening shaped tail and black tips on its ears. The man was wearing a blue jacket with a black undershirt and black jeans with a hat similar to the Aura Guardians. He wore a long cloak off his back hiding most of his face.

They were not alone however because by his side was a little girl up to the man's chest with blonde hair and a purple dress. She too was looking out at the world off the mountain for a while until she noticed the man had been completely silent the entire time. She turned her eyes to the man and found he was looking intently at the horizon. Seeing this she switched her gaze to the horizon and back to the man again when she couldn't see anything interesting before speaking.

"What are we looking at?" The girl asks, but before the man answers a purple bullet zips up to them both and onto the man's other shoulder, joining its trainer in its glazed over look at the world.

The man smiles a little scratching the newcomer under the chin. This Pokemon was an Aipom. It had bright purple fur, with a cream colored face and feet. Other than its large ears, the strange thing was its long tail with a fist matching its face in color. After the man decides to stop scratching Aipom he answers the girl.

"The smoke, Sarah. There's a forest fire somewhere." The man answered. At the mention of fire the Pikachu and Aipom's gaze hardened.

Not only that but a herd of Pokemon came from the mouth of the cave. Among them were a Charizard, Sceptile, Feraligatr, Venusaur, Blastoise, Swellow, Crawdaunt, Floatzel, Samurott, Serperior, Krookodile, Lucario, Espeon, Houndoom and Salamence. These were all the man's Pokemon and they all looked incredibly powerful. They came out of the cave to comfort the man at the mention of 'fire'. The man smiled at his Pokemon's loyalty and turned to the girl, Sarah, who was getting ready to speak.

"You haven't forgotten anything about that day, have you?" Sarah said with a sigh, knowing now exactly why the man had his gaze upon the fire, which was barely noticeable now, in the distance.

"Not a single detail. No matter how hard I try. They can't forget much either, am I right?" The man responded and asked his Pokemon. The Pikachu, Charizard, Sceptile, Feraligatr, Venusaur, Blastoise, Swellow, Crawdaunt, Floatzel, Samurott, Serperior and Krookodile nodded, showing they remembered too.

The other Pokemon all knew the story of that day, they just weren't there when it happened. They were found and caught later, but they all wished they could have been there to help their master at his weakest point, like he had for most of them. Sarah sighed and said,

"I know it's just sometimes I think we should go back. Prove them wrong or maybe get them back. What do you think?" She asked the man, who sighed and replied,

"Revenge will not make things right. While beating them might help it will not make me forget. Nothing will ever make me forget." He said, still staring off the mountain.

"I know. You've told me the stories and after hearing them I feel like I was there too. I'm glad I wasn't though, then you would've had to save me too, I would've just caused more trouble." Sarah said looking at her feet. The man sighed and put a hand on her shoulder.

"Sarah, everyday since that, I felt an emptiness. But after I met you and took you in a year later, I started to feel better. Other than my Pokemon, you are the only thing I have left and know if you were there, you would have been more help than you think. Don't ever think I regret adopting you as a sister." The man said strongly.

Sarah smiled happily and wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him from the side for a little bit. After a few seconds she let go and spoke, softer this time.

"Sometimes I think you're more like my family than my old one. Thanks Ash." Sarah said, turning her eyes back to the distance.

The man, now known as Ash, smiled and turned to his Pokemon for a second and then looked out at the horizon again, but this time the flames and smoke were completely gone and the only sign of a fire was the black wooded area where the fire used to be. Ash sighed and looked back at the cave and his Pokemon.

This cave had been his home for the past 4 years, ever since he was 14 and on his own with Sarah who was 10 at the time. Their Pokemon had been with them most of the time when they weren't in the back of the mountain training. Ash preferred to keep his Pokemon out and about, alert and ready while Sarah kept her Pokemon in there balls most of the time. After looking over his Pokemon he was again reminded of that day.

That one day he wished he could forget. But he couldn't. Too much happened that day to even consider it.

FLASHBACK TIME

Ash and Pikachu had just come home from running an errand for Prof. Oak. He had to go to Viridian City to pick up a Bulbasaur, Charmander and Squirtle for a new batch of starting trainers who start tomorrow.

After leaving the lab, he was attacked with a Leaf Storm. His first thoughts were Jessie and James but he was surprised when he turned and saw his friends from his travels. There stood Brock, Misty, May, Max, Dawn, Iris and Cilan but what really surprised him and Pikachu was Trip and his Serperior standing in front of them all, grinning for some reason. Ash already didn't like it.

"What's going on?" Ash asked uncertain. Pikachu also tilted his head to the side from Ash's shoulder, expressing his confusion and curiosity also. Like Ash, he had a bad feeling.

"We decided that you're bad luck." Trip said for everyone, and before Ash could question/protest further Trip spoke again, "Notice how all the legendries attack where you're at. They cause trouble where you're at. Rocket, Aqua, Magma, Galactic and Plasma all attacked and stole and operated in places you were in.

Face it, you're nothing but a trouble magnet." He finished strongly.

Ash opened his mouth to speak up for himself but Misty cut him off.

"We don't want to hear excuses, we want to hear you say you'll leave and not come back. As long as you're here there will always be trouble. Just go." She said angrily.

"Just because you don't want me here doesn't mean I'm leaving. I live here and you don't, so if you don't want to be around me fine, but I'm not leaving my home. You can all just go away." Ash said, as he and Pikachu walked back to their house.

Pikachu was mad, how dare they accuse them of being 'trouble magnets'? They might as well have stabbed him in the back. After all the help he gave them, they just shun them? That isn't right.

Like Pikachu, Ash was frustrated. He couldn't believe his friends bought Trip's stupid speech and turned on him. Ash decided to forget it and just go to sleep. He just hoped they would leave Pallet like he suggested and not talk to him again.

He couldn't believe how wrong he was.

Later that night Ash woke up at 3am to the smell of smoke. After he opened his eyes he saw blazing flames spreading around him and Pikachu. Ash and Pikachu hopped out the window for his bedroom, and when they got outside, they saw Trip and Ash's friends standing there with Blaziken, Darmanitan, Quilava and Dragonite spitting flames onto the house.

Ash and Pikachu gasped and ran back into the house, looking for his mother who Ash had noticed hadn't gotten out.

After getting back into the house, they went straight to Delia's room. After they broke the door down they looked straight at the bed and what they saw. There, on the bed was Ash's mother, Delia Ketchum, lying there, burned, still and lifeless.

Both of them would have broke down right then and there if they hadn't remembered they were inside a burning building. Ash and Pikachu, after realizing they couldn't help Delia, ran outside on the side of the house Trip and the others weren't on. Ash and Pikachu went straight for Oak's.

After reaching the ranch undetected by Trip and the others, Oak, Gary or Tracy, Ash called all the Pokemon at the Lab to come to him. However only a few came.

Ash looked at Sceptile for an answer. Sceptile just frowned and pointed over at the end of the corral, shaking his head in disapproval at their behavior. When Ash looked he saw all his Pokemon except Pikachu, Sceptile, Swellow, Totodile, Oshawott, Snivy, Krookodile, Buizel and Bulbasaur, standing over there glaring at him.

Ash knew what happened. They all believed Trip's loony idea. Ash sighed, knowing he couldn't force their choice so he collected the Pokeballs of his remaining loyal Pokemon and left Pallet. Forever.

Along the way to the port Ash got Squirtle back before heading to Johto. Also in Johto Charizard returned to Ash.

FLASHBACK TIME END

A week after the fire, Ash and Pikachu were already in Hoenn and saw the fire on the news channel. What shocked him most was they declared him dead, as nobody could find his body and nobody saw him escape. This was perfectly fine with the duo, as everyone would leave them alone. That's exactly what they wanted after being turned on by their best friends.

Sarah frowned, knowing Ash was reliving the whole experience in his mind.

Before anybody could say anything more, a woman walked out of the cave entrance. She was up to Ash's shoulders and she wore a white jacket with a pink undershirt and blue jeans. She had yellow shoes on and long socks. The most noticeable trait was her large pink hair worn in loops.

"I saw all the Pokemon come out, is something wrong?" She questioned them. Sarah answered before Ash could.

"Ursula we're fine, just watching the world." Sarah said, watching Ash carefully, knowing his trip down memory lane affected him more than he showed.

Ursula smiled. That was Ash's favorite thing to do with his sister.

"Alright, come eat dinner then. I just finished it." Ursula said, pointing to a cabin next to the cave.

Ash smiled at his wife. Yes, his wife. They met again within the year of Ash's disappearance and married 2 years ago.

"We're coming. Guys, go eat out back okay?" Ash told his Pokemon, who went out back the second the words left his mouth. All of them left except Pikachu, Aipom, Houndoom and Lucario who stayed still, waiting for Ash to come.

"Sarah you can eat with Ursula now. I'll be in soon, I just have some things to think over." He said nodding to Sarah as she walked to Ursula's side as the 2 ladies walked into the cabin.

"Ash, what are you thinkin'?" Pikachu questioned from his shoulder. Ash could use his aura to figure out what all his Pokemon were saying.

"Yea, tell us." Aipom added from the other shoulder. Houndoom and Lucario nodded, wanting to know what was troubling Ash.

"Remember how we said we'd never go back?" They nodded. "Know how Sarah and Ursula say we should go back?" They nodded. "You know, its time for the Sinnoh League again?" They nodded. "You know Max, Trip and Misty are competing?" They shook their heads. "Well they are. Revenge solves nothing, but how fun would to be to see the look on their faces when they see us, getting the trophy?" They grinned and nodded.

"Let's tell them. Tomorrow sound good? I don't know when it starts but I can still use my old badges." They nodded in approval of Ash's plan and then Ash took the 4 Pokemon to the cabin to eat dinner.

As they walked in, Ash sat in one of the 2 empty chairs in the kitchen. He sat with Ursula on his left and Sarah across from him as Pikachu and Aipom sat the table. Houndoom sat by a food bowl and Lucario sat in the other chair.

"Did you think about what you needed too?" Sarah asked, concerned. Ash nodded.

"Yea, and I have a to tell you both something important. You both want to go back right?" He asked them, double-checking. They both nodded, now really curious.

"How's tomorrow afternoon?" He asked suddenly. He was then tackled into 2 hugs at the same time and all he herd was muffles 'thank you' s. He smiled and let them finish their hugging attack then spoke.

"Who takes Salamence while I take Charizard?" Ash asked knowing Charizard wouldn't fly for anyone unless Ash was also flying with him.

"I'll take Salamence with Sarah and you and Pikachu go on Charizard." Ursula suggested.

Houndoom, Lucario and Aipom groaned knowing they had to be put back in their Pokeballs until they got to Sinnoh. They all hated them and refused anything to go with them, almost as much as Pikachu.

"Aipom you should be able to stay out. Houndoom and Lucario I promise I'll let you out the second we land." Ash informed them.

Aipom cheered and hi-fived Pikachu who was excited at his best Pokemon friend staying with him for the ride. While the other 2 groaned but nodded, knowing it was for a good reason.

"Alright guys, everyone dig in because we have to pack. We leave tomorrow at noon." Ash spoke again as everyone happily dug into his or her food, wanting to show a certain group of people what's what.

On a ferry heading to the Sinnoh region was a group of 8 kids getting ready for the Sinnoh League.

An squinty eyed man, a redheaded girl, a bandana wearing girl, a kid with glasses, an unusually perky blunette girl, a big haired hair, a man dressed like a waiter and a kid with a camera on his neck. What an odd bunch.

"Hey Trip, ready for the Sinnoh League?" The blunette asked the camera guy.

"You bet Dawn. And I'm going to win." Trip said confidently.

"What about Misty and Max?" The waiter man asked and the redhead and glasses kid nodded.

"What about them Cilan, Trip will probably win." Dawn said to Cilan.

"No, I'm going to win! Right Brock?" asked Max to the squinty eye man, who nodded.

"Too bad you aren't participating though, Iris. You would have done well." The bandana girl stated.

"Maybe, but too late now." Iris replied.

"Know who wouldn't have won?" Misty asked, changing the subject. Everyone knew whom she was talking about.

Ever since they 'killed' Ash and Delia, Misty Dawn Iris Cilan and Trip were the only ones who didn't feel bad. Trip was proud to be rid of him and Misty and Dawn agreed because they were crushing over him. Iris and Cilan just left and came back time-to-time not saying anything. Nobody knew how they felt but each other and they only spoke about it to one another.

Trip always said it was 'the perfect crime' because even Officer Jenny and her police force couldn't figure out what happened to the Ketchum house. Only they knew what happened and nobody would talk. Although everyone, including them, wondered what happened to Ash and Pikachu themselves. They were in the house that night, and gone the next morning but nobody saw them leave town. Weird?

There were all kinds of legends and stories and sightings of the pair all over the Pokemon world. Some say they are watching over the world with Arceus (due to their involvement with Legends). Others say they still live today but under different profiles. One of the most popular is Ash and Pikachu showing up in places only when someone needs saving or when evil rises. People even reported sightings of the duo in places like Altomare, Alamos Town, Dewford Islands, Desert Resort (Unova) and more but nobody has confirmed a thing. The most confusing part is the fact the only a few of Ash's Pokemon disappeared. Some say they left looking for him and Pikachu. Others say poachers targeted them; they were some of his best Pokemon after all. People even saw they saw some of them, like his Charizard flying in the sky, or his Sceptile jumping through the forest; almost unseen. But again, none were proven true or false. It just seemed like nobody was in the right place at the right time anymore.

The Pokemon that remained at the lab felt almost no guilt about their former master, even going as far as becoming the Pokemon of his ex-friends. Heracross, Snorlax and Infernape trained under Trip now. Some of them such as, Glalie and Palpitoad trained with May hoping to help find him, regretting their decision like she did. Anybody his Pokemon went too were extremely grateful to have such powerful Pokemon under their command now and all the Pokemon who hadn't left with Ash that day found new trainers.

Only Brock, May and Max regret letting Trip turn them on Ash. Everyday they talk to each other and just hope that the one person who could always make everything better, would come back and make things better again.

"Who, Misty?" May asked, slightly annoyed at her.

"Ketchum." She answered plainly. Everyone but laughs hard but Brock, May and Max who only chuckled slightly to avoid suspicion.

"Yea. I still say that was the best move on our part." Dawn whispered.

All but the Brock and the Siblings nodded, saying they were happy with the Kanto pair gone. Not only them but Professor Oak and Gary also missed him. They were both there the next morning and were destroyed inside, learning they were both gone. In fact, Oak was in charge of the funerals. Although not there, Ash and Pikachu got stones side-by-side with Delia in the lot across from the house. The Oak's looked for the boy's non-stop for 2 weeks until, as Trip put it, 'facing the music'.

Despite all the legends and rumors going around, Brock the siblings and the Oak's knew the chance of living alone for so long was slim, but they never gave up. He wouldn't on them right? It's been 4 years and Brock, the siblings and the Oak's have been waiting for him to compete in a League of a gym or a tournament but nothing happened. Not the Kanto, Johto or Hoenn Leagues. No recent gym files or tournament registrations. No Pokedex GPS tracker. No recent purchases or changes in his trainer page. It was like the pair just fell off the face of the earth.

Just then the ferry pulled into Lily of the Valley Island, the place of the Sinnoh League, once again. They all walked ashore carrying their things looking around for familiar people.

They spotted only Tobias, who beat Ash in the same tournament before. They found Morrison, Ash's friend from Hoenn, who was deeply saddened by Ash's disappearance. Iris and Cilan recognized Burgundy and went up to her, and turns out she too was looking for Ash. The truth about what happened to Ash almost came out of Dawn when she was talking to Zoey and although suspicious she dropped it. Barry was trying to 'fine' people who didn't know who or where Ash was the entire time they saw him at the hotel lobby, same old Barry.

They all got to their suite, with enough rooms for the 8 of them and settled down in their rooms to go to bed for the night. Little did they know their last thoughts of the day were all on a certain raven-hair trainer and a yellow companion?

'Wait until the time is right.' That's what Oak said, but only Brock, May, Max and Gary really waited. The others completely faked caring and being mournful. Even though they didn't feel guilty that didn't mean they didn't THINK he was coming back, and that thought scared them. A lot.

They would all just have to wait and see.

DON'T OWN ANYTHING FROM THE POKEMON SERIES. CHECK OUT MY OTHER STORIES TOO!

SO, HOW THIS? DIFFERENT RIGHT? A LITTLE DARKER THAN MY LAST BETRAYAL FIC, BUT IT'S STILL GOOD, RIGHT? I LIKE WRITING ABOUT ASH MORE THAN HIS FRIENDS BUT I FELT LIKE I SHOULD AT LEAST TRY GOING TO A DIFFERENT PRESPECTIVE.

I DON'T KNOW WHEN I'LL GET BACK TO THIS. BETWEEN THIS, MY ASH x GEORGIA STORY AND SCHOOL STARTING AGAIN I WON'T UPDATE AS MUCH BUT I PROMISE I WON'T GO ON HATIUS OR JUST STOP FOR ANY REASON.

SAME AS ALWAYS, DON'T FORGET TO REVIEW AND IT'S OK TO CRITICIZE. NOT SURE IF YOU PURPOSEFULLY DON'T CRITICIZE TO SPARE MY FEELINGS OR I'M REALLY THAT GOOD. LEANING MORE TOWARDS THE FIRST BECAUSE I'M NOT ALL THAT GOOD.