A.N. Content warning: Chapter contains scenes with torture and blood.

Over two years ago

No POV

Ash's head sleepily lifted, hearing muffled voices. He slowly opened his eyes and they landed on the lifeless body of Hanzo. He then noticed Iris and Cilan. Both of them were tied to a two separate trees. Iris even had cloth in her mouth.

He was about to lift his arm, but it was stopped by chain. He was chained up to steel beam. He had the chain over his chest, pinning his hands down to the ground.

"Look who is finally awake?" Ash's head turned up. There he saw one of the Shadow Triad. "Ash Ketchum. We have looked forward seeing you."

Ash groaned, his mind still shattered over Hanzo. "W-why are you doing this?"

"Why? He really asked 'why?' right?" Ash turned his head again. He almost had hearth attack fro,m another Shadow ninja.

"Because you ruined him." The one above him spoke. "You broke someone we believed was unbreakable."

Ash heard Iris muffled voice. Although he didn't understand, he had the same question. Ash looked between the two. "What do you mean?"

"After we heard about your so called win over our leader, we were already decided to break him out with his people." Ash couldn't get use to it. The third one was behind him. Ash only heard him behind that steel beam. "But when we finally got to his cell, we didn't see our leader."

"What we saw was broken man with no hope, shattered dream. A man that refused to continue in his destiny even with door opened. Shattered dream by a small boy that accomplished nothing meaningful in his life." Ash tried to ignore it, but there was nothing he could do. The ninja remembered, how they saw Ghetsis in trauma and ignoring their words. He wouldn't try to leave with them for freedom."All you did until now was to be a blockade for others to get over or be stopped by. That is what we think of you. A nothing other than blockade with meaningless dream."

Ash clenched his muscles, chains rattling. "You want to prove that you can do it. Well let us tell you."

In that moment, Ash felt their piercing stares. "You will never leave this place to accomplish anything." They all said in unision.

As Ash tried to look at them, his eyes noticed large cage. He saw his yellow buddy right next to his other pokemon he had with him. He could see some of them covered in scars, probably after trying to fight them off. He noticed Pignite and Snivy took it the hardest. They were all knocked out.

A.N.: The mentioned torture and blood start here.

Ash turned his head hearing Iris scream. He turned his head toward them. One of the ninja cut Iris over her jaw line. He purposely took out her cloth so her scream could be heard.

"Stop it!" Ash yelled, chains shaking over him trying to break out. "They did nothing to you!"

None of them could see reaction through their masks, but his hidden smile was happy.

"It's alright Ash. Whatever they want, don't let them have it." Iris said, clutching her teeth. She felt the blood flowing down her neck.

Cilan was about to try to calm both of them, but the ninja above him spoke. "Oh yeah. We did want something frkm you."

"But..." the third one spoke. "We are going to punish you for what you did. And when you are on your last breaths, then you will want to give us what we want."

Ash was about to ask, but he felt a piercing pain his torso. He looked down a saw a dagger stuck in him. He wanted to pull it out, but he heard Cilan.

"Don't try it Ash! You will bleed out if you pull it out!" Cilan yelled, the ninja closest to him nodded his head.

"Your friend is smart. You would bleed out faster if I pierced you anywhere, but the place where I stabbed you is your ascentint aorta. If you even try to pull it out, you will definitely bleed out." He said toying around with a dagger. "Your friends, I believe. Oh, I almost forgot." He said, pulling out two bloody scarfs and tying them over their mouths. "We wouldn't want interuption, right? That is why we covered the girl here."

Before Ash could even reply, he felt a pinch in his neck. From there he pulled out a needle.

"Don't mind me, just did a finishing touch." Said the ninja above him.

"D-did you poison me?" Ash asked, feeling something strange.

"Oh, we thought about it. The idea of seeing you bleed out from your eyes or chocking on your own vomit was tempting. But why leave your destiny to something we only started?" Asked the one circling Ash, slowly stepping closer. As he was getting closer, Ash felt his skin react to everything. Every slight breeze and even every drop of blood that was getting sucked into his shirt and jacket.

"W-what is this?" Ash asked, looking around seeing strange. He couldn't even look up as the sun was hurting his eyes even more. The one he approached him was now before him. He raised the chain only by a little.

"It looks like it is already working. And as to what, we made you cocktail of all sorts of drugs that makes you feel everything 3 times more. Now that you felt that dagger in your torso, I wonder how much it will hurt-" as he said that, he pulled out a dagger and slowly sunk it in Ash's chest, through Ash's scream of pain. "If I stab you in your abdominal aorta."

Iris and Cilan watched with hopeless looks. Iris tried to pull hard on the rope, but it did nothing. She looked up when she heard Ash scream again, she saw that ripped out his nail on hand.

"Now I would ask you what we want to know. Since if I were to rip out more nails, it would be for only my entertainment. Person is most likely to confess after a single ripped out nail. Pulling next and next is either for stupid people or for people who enjoyed it." As he said it, he ripped out another. "Pick a guess as to why I did this again."

Iris tried once again, but she stopped when she heard a roar that they heard before. Iris looked to the side and she saw the scientist. He was the same one that was controling the pokemon that roar belong to. She recognised the hair and glasses. He was holding a small electronic pad. She had a bad feeling about it.

"Now, let's make this more in the image we had." He said, after getting rid of the last nail. Ash wasn't even hearing properly. The pain from his hands was unbearable. "Hey!" Ash felt the slight slap on his face. His concentration was on the ninja before him. "Good." With that, he cut over Ash's muscles on his arms. "I want you to feel it all."

Presence

Ash felt inch on every muscle, every bone. Every part of his body they broke, cut, ripped out.

"They continued like that for god knows how long. I passed out many times and they would wake me up over and over." Ash continued.

Shinobu's raised her eyebrow over his choice of words, but that was all. Sanpei had an anger plastered over his face. Korrina was leaning against the wall, her hand covering her face. She let out sigh through her gritted teeth. Clemont was kneeling next to Bonnie, his one hand over her sister shoulder, the other over his mouth. He was deep in thoughts. Bonnie's eyes were wide, unconsciously holding tighter Dedenne. 

Serena already thought that hearing about his torture wouldn't horrify her. That finally knowing more about him would make her feel closer to him.

"Now that I think about it more again, I should still feel much more guilty about that whole thing." Ash looked at Serena. "I know what you told me about being at fault for what happened next, but what happened to Hanzo. That was my fault."

Serena was shocked before she could answer. Shinobu spoke first. "We will be deciding that. Now continue."

Ash sighed and took deep breath.

Past

Ash woke up, realising his arms were lying on the ground. He had them free. His eyes went to the knife next to him. He then noticed that one of the three ninja was leaning against him. Over the time he was tortured, he learned that he couldn't predict or learn what they would do next or how they would act. So him sleeping against him didn't surprise him. He saw the other two talking to the sciencetists.

But there was something that occured to him. All he had to do was reach for it. But what could he do next? The two knifes his chest made him think about it and it was something he never thought of doing. But the pain, the pain made him think about it more and more. The sight of dead Hanzo still before him, the pile of bodies of his friends that they hid somewhere.

Even before other part of him could stop him, he was reaching for the knife. Or at least he thought. No matter how hard he tried, it wouldn't move. He clenched his teeth, his arm hurting, but he ignored it. 

"Go on. You are so close." Ash's eyes widened. He looked at the sleeping ninja, who wasn't now and was looking at him interested. "I know what idea you had just now. You thought that we somehow forgot a knife in your reach. That you could reach for it with your arms that were more free now." Ash watched him shifting and looking him directly in the eyes. "And that you could stab a man, who tortured you up until now. That you could even get lucky to kill him."

Ash watched with pale face, maybe from the blood loss or maybe from his words. "I-I"

"Shshshsh." he said, picking up the knife and putting it through his palm. Ash yelled out. "All I wanted to know if you are monster just like us. That the psychological trauma of loosing someone because of your incompetence, the trauma of physical pain can change even such goody two shoe such as you. Thank you for proving my point. Now I can say with pride that we have broken the son of the world famous Red. Can't believe such a mistake is his son. Now for the final preparation." As he was walking away, he laughed out loud. "Funny! How tendons are important."

Ash looked up, but that was for nothing. He had a huge dirty cloth over his face. It almost fell down, but then- "Now, Hydro Pump." Ash was hit with a huge amount of water, the feeling of drowning was overwhelming. "You see, person can die after a few minutes of waterboarding. Although normaly that is done with a bucket of water, not with a move of a pokemon." said the second ninja.

He continued in his dialog, but he knew over the amount of water that it was impossible for Ash to hear anything.

Iris and Cilan on other hand could and they could even see the pokemon who was doing it. One Iris didn't know. Blue bipedal, scarf made out of its own tongue. Cilan only heard about it, but he couldn't remember its name.

"That should be the border line for the time right?" Asked the third one from tree.

"Hmm, maybe one more minute." said the one to whom the pokemon belonged to.

"I believe it is." All the ninja turned to the scientist.

"Ready Colress?"asked the second ninja, pulling out pokeball and recalling the pokemon. Altough it stopped, Ash was still covered with cloth.

"Yes. It finally charged enough. Now we can finish this." Colress said, walking up to large controling panel.

"Alright. You heard that?" first one said, walking up to Ash. "You know, we had many more ideas. Like breaking half of your bones. We never tried that before. Well let's get to the main event." And when he finally finished, he rolled his eyes. "Don't be such a wuss." He said, taking off the cloth. Ash finaly took in the fresh air, gasping for it like never before. When he wanted to take in large calming one, the cloth was slapped over his face again. He almost sucked in part of it and choked on it. "Now, for the grand final." he pulled away the cloth.

After Ash stopped gasping for air, he saw Iris and Cilan both with wide eyes. He was confused for a moment until he the stomps and a deep, echoing, and powerful "ROOOAAAARRR!"

That was what Ash heard, Iris also heard the chaotic and painful part in it. But what got her attention the most that it was overflowing with its own energy. But she couldn't understand why.

Cilan and Iris exchanged glances. Iris started to pull again on her restrains. Cilan on other hand had different idea. So he started to move hands behind him up and down over the tree.

Ash watched as the familiar legendary pokemon approached. Large body covered in white fur with elegant, feathered wings, and it features a distinctive jet-like tail that emitted fire. It emitted more than he remembered.

"This is a new way to us as well. Now, continue Colress like we discussed." said the third ninja as they stood next to Colress.

"Of course." he pressed a few buttons, causing for Reshirams eyes to go red even more and started to charge its blue flames.

"W-What are you doing!" Ash asked as he saw that Reshirams flames were already leaking through its mouth.

"Getting rid of the things that stopped us the last time." Colress answered.

Ash's eyes widened as he saw that his pokemon were barely getting up from their exhaustion. He noticed Pikachu barely standing on its paws and Pignite was leaning against the cage. Snivy was trying to lift itself up with its vines, but it always slipped under. Ash noticed Unfezant had its wings broken so it wasn't able to get up. Leavanny and Scraggy were barely awake.

"No, don't! They don't deserve it! They did nothing wrong! They don't deserve to be hurt like this!" Ash yelled with heavy breaths, clutching the chains. He ignored the pain, but his fatigue due to the all the blood loss was too much for him.

"Oh we know, but how else you will learn that your goals, your dreams just pulls everybody down." first ninja said, pulling out the knife in Ash's palm. 

As Ash yelled pleads for them to stop, Colress continued. He his smile with his hand, pressing glasses to his face. With final touch, it happened. 

Reshiram let out a roar and with it the blue flames. Iris and Cilan watched with concern as to how Ash's pokemon would get through it. Ash watched with horror as he almost lost sight of them. They all watched how the blue flames almost covered them.

At the last moment, he saw his pokemon resist. Pignite stood in front of them acting like last line of defense. Although Pignite could barely stand, he still let out flamethrower. But it was like using squirt gun against a water pump of a fire truck.

And yet, Pignite wouldn't give up. He saw his trainer in pain. The same trainer that took him in. All of his strength in his attack. Luckily for him, his trainers first partner stood right behind him and pushed against him. To help him hold his stand. And with that, Pignite felt his lungs burning. That made him open his eyes which he didn't realise he closed. 

What he didn't know was that even with all the power, the flames already engulfed them. He managed to push the blue ones back. His flames got bigger, almost comparable to Reshirams. But it still wasn't enough as more Reshirams overpowered them and took them in. For the first time, Pignite felt the painful heat inside him. He tried to push every flame inside him out, but more were coming in.

Everyone heard as the pokemon inside the cage let out screams and cries of pain. The Shadow Triad noticed that the cage was melting. They were surprised as they believed it wouldn't. But instead of unpleasant, it was direct opposite. They all thought of same thing. A theory they heard about. They jumped back quickly as the flames started to get out of hand.

As Ash watched in despair, it grew in even bigger horror because he heard less. He didn't hear them anymore. "STOP! PLEASE!" he yelled once again.

One of the ninjas looked at Colress. He nodded and pressed a button. Reshiram let out a scream, finally stopping.

Ash watched with tears in his eyes, hoping to see his pokemon still there. To have a hope of overcoming this.

But not none of that was true.

The flames revealed melted cage with Pignite with burned skin through and steam coming out of his body. But Pignite fell back, without breathing. Pikachu was nowhere to be seen. The rest of his pokemon were falling apart into ashes just like burned wood. Between them were flying away glowing ones. 

Ash let out roar, letting out all the emotions and regret for his pokemon. He let out such roar and yet he couldn't hear himself at the same time. The pain numbed him. But not the physical one. He felt like hours passed by. He lost his pokemon that he cared about in mere seconds. He got them into this situation.

Iris and Cilan watched sadly as he faced his loss. Iris knew they had their differences, but this was something she couldn't know how to feel about. She looked at Cilan, but he hid his face by facing down.

"Well, we will finish that Pignite later, as he will have no trainer. But now..." second ninja walked up to Ash, kneeling next to his ear. "Where. Is. N? Or those two of your friends are next."

Ash couldn't even think about anything anymore. The only thing he thought of was simple thing that popped up in his mind and pulling back his memories.

It was on the day he saw him last time. A conversation they had only between each other.

Flashback

"We will leave Unova for Kalos. I feel like it is too dangerous in Unova now. Anthea and Concordia wanted to visit Kalos for some time. So we will head there." N told him with smile.

"Kalos? Never heard of that." answered Ash back then with surprise.

"I only heard mention of it. Anyway, I am telling only you and I ask of you to not tell anyone else." N said seriously.

"Why do you say that to me then?" Ash asnwered back.

"Because I trust you and if you would need any help in the future, you would know where to reach me. And we are friends." N said with smile.

"To us as friends then!" Ash said, putting up his fist for bump. N chuckled, bumping with him.

End of Flashback

"Kalos..." second ninja smiled, as he heard him answer without any fight.

He stood up and walked up to Colress. "You can finish it."

Colress nodded and pressed the buttons again, with a smile on his face. Ash didn't even attempt to break free. He only looked up to controlled Reshiram. It was now aiming for him. 

The Shadow Triad didn't even look his way. To them, he didn't deserve this kind of death. But Colress asked them for this to be his choice.

Iris tried to yell, but she couldn't through the bloody scarf. She only heard myth about this sort of attack from her elder. If it killed his pokemon, it meant Ash would die definitely. But then eyes saw Cilan.

He ran. He wasn't bind anymore. She had no idea how he got out of the binds, but for moment she believed he would use his pokemon to stop Reshiram. But then it hit her. He didn't have his pokemon and he only ran at Ash.

Ash's numbness fell of when he saw Cilan running at him while taking out the bloody scarf. After his scream, he couldn't scream for now to stop him.

"HEY!" Colress yelled at Cilan. The Shadow Triad turned back seeing this new event. 

None of them could do anything to stop it. The flames were already coming in. Cilan stood with his back to the flames. He was standing before Ash, trying to block the flames. Ash ignored the burns he felt on his sides as the chains burned through and burning his arms.

He watched as Cilan for a moment stood, but after that had to hold with his arms on the beam Ash was bound to. Ash watched with absolute shock as Cilan clenched his teeth. Ash watched as his green hair burned away and clothes as well. 

Again, the flames stopped and Ash watched how his friend had last few seconds of life. The smell of burned flash invaded his nose, but Ash heard his friend. "Kalos... is... a beautiful region." words left his almost burned lips through strained and raspy voice.

Ash couldn't even ask him anything before he collapsed on the ground. Ash was almost like a statue. Ash's eye twitched until let out another louder cry.

The team Plasma watched with ignorance. Iris on other hand had tears streaming down her face and she collapsed on her knees.

"CILAAAAAAAAN!!!!!!"Ash scream, banging his head against the ground. He continued to scream and cry.

Ash's scream changed into roar. Iris looked up at him. He had face she only saw a chances of, but never like this. The face of pure rage, nothing but rage.

As Ash yelled, he felt his muscles moving again and he could move his arms again. He didn't ask why. The only thing he knew, he grabbed the chains and ripped them apart. His legs hurt, but he stood on them anyway. He didn't know they cut his tendons on his feet too. He pulled out the daggers in his stomach, his wounds healing slowly after he pulled them out.

As this was happening, nobody noticed a pokemon coming in fast from the forest. A green four leg pokemon with yellow chest piece on the front. As it dashed through the forest, a green lights followed behind and merged into the incoming pokemon. The green pokemon jumped up, transforming from four legged to large serpentite pokemon.

A few miles away, Tagato watched as the sky lit up with green beams aiming toward the place where team Plasma was located. At least from their intel. His son didn't return and he had bad feeling. And so, he gave the order.

A few miles closer to other way, a man with wild, spiky, reddish-orange hair were flowing free, was searching. He saw the green beams and he knew that this was what they were looking for. He looked down and saw the people, who asked for his help and mainly at man with short black hair in brown coat.

Meanwhile Shadow Triad expected for Reshiram to finish the Kanto trainer. But that didn't happen. What happened was that Reshiram was hit by Dragon Pulse in the head.

They looked up, seeing a large green pokemon that they haven't seen yet. One of them threw out Accelgor, ready to attack.

But the other one noticed blue glow in the direction of the melted cage. He looked the way and his eyes widened. What he thought for a moment would be Emboar from the surviving Pignite turnef out to be something else.

A large beast. It had a big head with two blue eyes and a large snout. Below that, there was a big mouth with large tusks coming from its lower jaw. The tusks were so long they reached up to its eyes. It had a huge body covered in black, wild fur, with blue flames surrounding it and ending at the back. Its arms and legs were nearly the same size, though the legs were shorter and more muscular. It had big claws, sharp enough to cut through steel. Under the it was steam coming out as it burned through the ground just standing on it. The blue eyes were swirling with energy that one could get lost in.

And those eyes were looking directly at  them.

"Ooooaaaarrr!" The beast let out and charged at them.

"Watch out, we have incoming!" The ninja called to his colleagues. The second threw out the pokemon that he used to waterboard Ash. It let out without order to use Hydro pump on the beast.

As it contacted, a large steam came out. But it didn't stop Emboar from charging in. The Shadow Triad lept away with they pokemon. As they got away, they thought about how to deal with the chaos that was happening. But first, they had to deal with the raging beast.

Iris pulled on the ropes, hoping to get out. Suddenly, she lost all the energy and her head fell down. A small rock with the size of a golf ball hit her head.

Colress called for the grunts to deal with the green giant pokemon. It already knocked out half of their grunts and pokemon. He had to deal with it before it got out of hand. He had to keep the control over Reshiram.

What he didn't notice was the approaching figure. Blood dripping behind them. That person was limping, but faster.

Colress had to take deep breaths after yelling. His eyes widened when he finally noticed the person. He pulled out a pokeball. But before he could use it, his arm was stopped.

"Hey! Hey! Let me go you brat!" Colress said, but he felt stronger grip on his wrist. He swang his other arm, but Ash caught it too. "I said, let me goaaah!" He said that with scream.

Ash ignored the cracking sound of Colress's bones breaking. He let go of them and hit Colress in the face. Colress fell down on his back with a groan.

He looked up, but all he saw was the shadow of Ash over him. "W-wa-" but he couldn't even finish. Ash dropped on knees and pummeled his face. Last thing that Colress saw, was Ash's face with his teeth clutched and brown eyes with the touched of purple staring down at him with bloodlust and the darkness that lured in that and over the boy.

Ash after that completely ignored everything around and continued his rain of fists on Colress followed the sound of broken glass and drops of blood hitting  the ground.

As Shadow Triad avoided everything that Emboar threw at them and dropped on them, they noticed the evolving situation. One of them even spotted flash of reflect in the distance.

"The addults are coming here and cops as well." Said the first one, looking at other two. They nodded too. "Team Plasma, RETREAT!"

The remaining grunts looked around, but they had orders. They recalled all the pokemon and ran into the woods. The Shadows watched with anger, but they knew they would come back for him.

As Emboar was about to hit them with flamethrower, they used smokescreen to disappear.

The green pokemon noticed the control board, charging another Dragon Pulse. The control board exploded, causing for Reshiram to be finally free.

Reshiram looked around, seeing all the damage done and then seeing the green pokemon before him. Reshiram bowed its head slightly, showing its gratitude. Reshiram than spread its wings and flew away. 

The green serpent pokemon looked around, seeing the small spreading flames. It let out loud roar, raising sandstorm and after a few minutes let it down. The scorched plants and knocked out were covered in small amount of sand and dust.

It then looked at the rampaging Emboar, who was slowly starting to faint and slowly burn itself. There was no other way as the serpent like pokemon let out another powerful dragon pulse at the Emboar. It landed directly and instantly knocked out the target. Emboar finally let his eyes close and stopping from burning everything around him.

It then looked at the Kanto boy, who was still pounding the person below him. 

For some reason, Ash knew that the people behind his pain fled. But he didn't stop. All he could do in that moment was let out.

When he was about to make another hit, something hit him, sending him rolling. When he got back on his feet again, before him stood the green pokemon. But this time, smaller and on four legs and yellow chest piece.

"Stop this pointless bloodshed Ash Ketchum. Don't you see that you have already sent that man into the world beyond?" as it spoke, Ash's face turned slowly back to confused.

That was until he saw it all and it all came back to him. He looked at the bloody person behind the pokemon. The person who once was Colress, was now only a bloody corps. He looked down at his hands and saw them covered in blood. He started to have short of a breath. "I-I-I, Wh-What have I do-done?" Ash asked, feeling ready to barf. He grabbed his, spreading the blood on his face.

Hanzo and his friends died because of his recklesness. His pokemon died because of his weakness. Cilan died saving him and in fit of rage, he killed a man with his bare hands. All this blood was on his hands, his failure. He wanted to rip out his hair

"Don't fall into the panic. Take care of your fallen and your friends. It is what they deserve. You can't let yourself fall into the abyss. Your strength is still needed" before Ash could ask anything, the pokemon lept and ran through the forest away. Ash's mind raced with many thoughts. Train of thoughts replaced each other, but he stopped when he noticed Cilan.

As Ash slowly dragged his feet over the ground, feeling the pain in them, he heard a silent cry. Ash's eyes widened and sped up to the melted cage. But he fell down, collapsing on his feet.

Ash looked up and saw Pikachu slowly crawling out of the cage. Ash's tears ran down his face. "Buddy. I-I thought I lost you too." Ash lifted himself up and picked him up. "I am so sorry Pikachu. I failed you all." he hugged him tightly. Pikachu let out weak "Pika"

Pikachu tried to appease his trainer, but he was too tired to even properly move and the weight of being one of the two pokemon that survived this didn't help. He thought of other pokemon his trainer owned as family. And now they were gone.

Ash slowly lifted himself with Pikachu in his arms and put him over his shoulder. Ash walked slowly to the person he feared to see, but it was what he had to do. 

Standing over the body of Cilan made him almost vomit. He wanted to claw his insides out. He wanted to replace his skin. He wanted to be the opposite.

Just so Cilan could be alive. He couldn't hear him breathing, even if it was possible through burned lips. So he did the only thing he could think of. He slowly knelt down and picked up Cilan, ignoring the pain in his entire body. He knew that the smell of his burned flesh would be forever in his mind.

As he walked up to Iris slowly, he saw that she was waking up. He couldn't find any strength to say anything. He couldn't look her in the eye. All he did was place Cilan down and walk behind the tree to untie her.

When was Iris free, she knelt to Cilan's body. She knelt into him, crying. Ash placed Pikachu next to her.

"Those motherfuckers! Look at what they did to you everyone here! So many dead! JUST FOR REVENGE!" Iris yelled out in the sky.

Ash meanwhile walked to Emboar. He couldn't believe what he saw. He had no idea what was happening to his pokemon. But a rest in pokeball should at least give him some rest. Ash looked around for his pokeballs and saw it with some of the grunts. He picked it up and let the red beam suck in Emboar.

He was about to put it away, but he burned his fingertips. "Ouch!" He dropped the pokeball and he had to look at it. How a steam was coming out of it.

But he couldn't think about it more cause he heard sirens coming in. He grabbed his already burned jacket and carried it with him to Iris. He sat next to her as she held Cilan silently.

As the cars arrived, the man inside looked out and saw the devastation before him and sighed. "Sorry Ash, I was too late it seems." He looked in the rearview mirror and saw Alder look at the devastation.

Alder looked through the window. For a moment, he thought he saw people in the trees. But when he looked more, he didn't see anybody.

Tagato looked at his right hand man and the body he was holding in his arms. He wished so much that he was wrong. That the bodies, they found near river, were the only ones. They had to get them before the cops arrived.

And yet, he looked at the body of his dead son.

Presence

"After everything, the champion Alder and the police arrested the grunts that were there at the moment and a manhunt was put out for the rest of them. They caught all the grunts, but they never caught The Shadow Triad. They disappeared without a trace. As for us, We were transported into a nearest pokemon center." Ash said. He once again smelled the burned flesh. Even though there wasn't one. Just the memory brought it back. The flames that were giving light to the prison gave him goose bumps. He still remembered the blue flames covering everything. He told them everything he learnt from Iris.

Serena clenched her fist hard and bit her lip hard, ignoring the blood she draw. She thought that she knew what Ash went through. But she only scrapped the surface when Iris told them.

"The same evening, I had a visitors." Ash continued.

Past

Ash lied awake. He couldn't sleep even if he wanted. The burns on his sides and the smell wouldn't leave him. Even with the bandages, the burns would never disappear.

He looked at the balcon door and there he saw a figure. Chill ran through his spine. He gripped the pillow, believing it was them. That they came back to finish what they started.

But then he saw the door open and through them he saw the grey eyes with blond-grey hair.

Ash sighed. He knew that he had to answer for them as well. He pulled out the tubes that lead in his arms. He grabbed his crutches and slowly walked up to the door.

From the door lept out arms. They roughly grabbed him and pulled out.

Ash felt the roughness of the wall behind him and the cold blade preasuring on his neck.

"You-you. Half our new generation died for your stupid cause. My son!" Tagato had to stop as he heard the silent footstep of police officer under them. "My son is dead because of you. Because you thought you knew better than all of us."

Ash knew he was suppose to feel sad. That he was suppose to be afraid for his life. But he couldn't make himself. He only felt anger. He couldn't look him in the eyes.

"I want to kill you right here, right now. The parents of their dead children want you dead too." Tagato said, clutching his teeth. "But than it would destroy the last thing my son did."

Ash looked him finally in the eyes. He could see that he was fighting himself for the conflict.

He couldn't keep himself quiet. "Be-before he died, he wanted me tell you something." He felt Tagato 's grip grow stronger. "He couldn't finish those words. But I think he wanted to say that he loves you."

The blade from his neck was before his eyes. "Shut up." Ash noticed it. It was a slight shake in his hand. Tagato put away this blade and pulled out different one. One that is jagged. "You can never see the ninja from now on. You can never visit our village again. If you ever dare, with this mark will everyone know that you are a monster. The moment someone sees you from our village, you are dead man. If you ever mention to " Tagato turned him roughly around, pulled down his gown from his shoulder.

Ash felt the cuts, these ones hurt more that normal cut. But he couldn't let out any screams of pain. Either it was the pain killers or it was just another cut, but he just groaned silently.

When it stopped, Ash looked behind and Tagato was gone. Ash sighed and walked back inside, looking for bandages.

A few days later

Ash had hands over his face, watching through the screens with Linda, who he just met. Pikachu was on Ash's shoulder, seeing friend in this condition was tragic. With them in room was older woman. She had bald head, old burn on her neck and missing eye with scar over it. The other one was dark green. She wore white lab coat on which was nametag. 'Veronica'

He watched as Alder fought with Emboar in a test room using Druddigon. Even if it was fortfied room, the flames that hit the wall

Alder had to be very careful. The protective suit he had wasn't strong enough to prevent from heat. He was even a few meters higher from the battlefield for safety.

Emboar let out another roar and flames at Druddigon. Druddigon dodged and let out Dragon Pulse. Emboar let out a loud roar.

Veronica pressed the intercom. "That is enough Alder. We learned what we needed."

Alder pulled out his pokeball and recalled Druddigon. Emboar let out roar, angered. Steam started to go out of its fur.

Veronica pressed another button, releasing sleeping gas. Ash rubbed Pikachu's ear for both of their comfort.

"As I suspected. Pignite entered what we call hysterical strength. As it lost all energy and fire, it absorbed Reshiram's flames. That altered the look of his evolution and even typing. Normal Emboar is fire and fighting. But this one is fire AND dragon. And since Reshiram was forced into using its True Power. Now your Emboar is using it as well. But unlike the legendaries, Emboar is overheating with overusing it and caused the loss of most of his personality." Veronica finished, her explanation. Meanwhile Emboar was recalled into the new ball. It black ball with sed through tubes on top that were filled with the flame energy. "You are the only he won't burn down on contact, but we can't risk Emboar burning you in heat of the moment."

Ash looked through the screen, sadness going through him.

Presence

"After that, we had burial of Cilan here in Kalos. He visited Kalos once in the past from what his father told me. He loved it here... after that I recieved Cilan's pokemon to take care of. But I never used them. Even if I wanted to, his Crustle never comes out of his shell when I am around and the rest would, but I won't. They are still loyal to Cilan and I don't want to take that from them." Ash's body was burning from inside out. He took deep breath, slowing his hearth. But he finally got through the worst.

"That explains your mark. But what about your skills and the other person inside you." Ippei continued. Ash took a deep breath.

"You can take you time Ash. It must be a lot on you." Serena spoke in, hoping for him to feel more comfortable.

"Thanks, but I am almost done anyway." Ash took a deep breath. "I left Pallet town a few days later. I hoped to become stronger with my own body and so I seeked out the only people I knew in Kanto that were ninjas. He is also the leader of a gym in Kanto. Koga and his sister Aya. A small complication arised in which I found out the meaning of this symbol. But I told Koga shorter story of what happened and he took me in on training for a few months." Ash looked down, ashamed.

"What happened?" Ippei asked. His own brother didn't know why he left and he needed to know. Ninjas had all sort of opinions on Koga, but they knew he wasn't one to give up on anything.

"During one training with Aya, she said some things about how I killed the scientist and that made me snap." Serena thought that it was selfish of Aya to say something she wasn't part of. "I think she did it to try my temper and if I can control it... if she wanted to prove that, she succeeded. I beat her up hard. Koga had to stop me before I did more damage to her." That changed her mind. She only saw glimpses of Ash out of control and she didn't need to think hard to know that she didn't end up in the greatest state. "While he took her to hospital, I left. I couldn't stay there knowing I hurt her that much. I left behind only letter with apology. I didn't talk with them since. I heard only his daughter was taking over the gym." 

"And then you went to Mt. Silver?" Bonnie asked, trying to connect the dots.

"Not yet. During my travel, I went through Viridian City. There I met people you know." the group looked at each other confused until it hit them. "Jack got me involved in their heist in which they planned to steal from team Rocket. I never planned on helping them but he left me behind with multiple team Rocket grunts and leader. We were tired and not ready for it so we were defeated. After I woke up, I found out they took away Pikachu and were ready to sell him off." Ash clenched his teeth because he couldn't his fists. 

As he looked back up, he avoided Serena's eyes. She noticed it for a second. She didn't have anything to do with it. Why wouldn't he look at her. That was until it hit her. "My father.... he was that leader, wasn't he?" Ash finally looked her in the eyes, telling her exactly what she wanted to know. "Did you know?"

Ash's eyes widened. "No no no Serena! I had no idea who he was. I didn't even know his name. I just didn't know how to say it. I am sorry if it sounded somehow wrong." this changed Ash's mood completely. The girls except Serena noticed his change around the pokemon performer.

She then remembered what her father mentioned. "He tortured you too, didn't he? He mentioned something about regrowing back. What did he do to you?" Ash's silence gave her the answer and it made her blood boil. She thought her father was a bad person. But he was down horrible. He did all that to Ash without even properly knowing him. Just because he got in his way. "I am sorry Ash. If I knew it, I would give him peace of my mind. Not break down before him." Serena said angry.

This time, Korrina stepped in. "Don't go in there. It is always the same. If I knew then what I know now, I could make things different. You couldn't know it so stop blaming yourself Serena." She wanted to add that if Ash told them, they could know more. But after listening to everything, she could understand why.

"I know this is your moment, but can we finish so we can decide about your fate?" Shinobi interrupted them.

Ash nodded and continued. "Jack got me out and after that, I met Hrist and Alex..." after that, Ash continued explaining their heist through and their escape and their loss of Alex. Serena remembered back to her inside his nightmares. She saw him covered in blood and angry at Ash. She knew it must have hurt him deeply. Have a such young boy die in your arms.

"After all that, I left Jack. But I remained part of the organisation he is part of." Ash was about to continue, but Ippei stopped him.

"What sort of organisation is it?" Ash went silent. He thought about what he would say next. And then he felt overwhelming aura through the wall. Shinobi, Ippei and Sanpei felt it as well. Shinobi looked into the cell next to them. Inside was the same man with the stolen alcohol. He wasn't moving and had his eyes closed.

"Can't say much. But they are small criminal organisation. I only stayed part of them because I needed information available only in criminal underground." Ash finished it.

The group could protest, but they decided not to. They all saw that it was weird. 

"But during that time, I met him. He didn't call himself Slash at the time. He hates me and everything to do with me." Ash said with sigh. "He told me that he helped me out with killing the scientist. I suppressed him. Probably why he hates me even more now. After that, Jack helped me out getting to Mt. Silver. There I spent over a year. I trained myself and pokemon who wanted with me. I returned home after and only in a few days, I was in Kalos and you know the rest of the story." Ash finally finished.

Ippei and Shinobi looked each other in the eyes. She nodded and walked away to report to her master. Ippei stayed and spoke. "We will see what we will do with you."

Serena's eyes widened and she turned to Ippei and walked up to him. Sanpei stood before her and block her path. "You heard what he said. He didn't murder a town or anything worse. So let him go!"

Ippei looked calmly at her. "We still need to know the story of the otherside. Which means, we will wait for the reply of the village Ash was marked by. If their story says the truth Ash spoke, we will let him live. If it doesn't, you never knew him to begin with." Ippei simply said, walking out.

Serena looked at Sanpei. "I will try to talk to him." And he followed him out.

The group looked at each other and then at Ash.

"I told you the truth. The one that even Iris doesn't know." Ash said silently. "I am sorry everyone. I dragged you into this. I couldn't push myself to say out loud because it always rips me apart. I was also scared that if I ever told you, I would loose you all after seeing for my failure. And I can't live with that." he went silent.

The group went silent, but Serena spoke.

"You are not a failure Ash. Not to us. We are your friends and you should trust us the same as we trust you." Serena spoke. Ash looked at all of them. Korrina silently nodded, Bonnie gave him big grin with Clemont. He looked at Serena and she gave him her signature smile while Pikachu sat on her shoulder. Pikachu looked around, happy for the support his trainer had. Pikachu sat on Serena's shoulder and could feel her hearth beating fast.

Meanwhile outside, multiple people slowly followed the path to the village through the sunset. They all had masks over their faces. A few of them had blood dripping down. One of guards on the wall noticed and pulled out his pokeball to alarm the village.

A dagger flew out and went through his neck.

The people with dark clothes and ghostly white hair stood over the ninja as he crawled for the pokeball. One of them kicked it away.

"This gives us 4 minutes without alarm. Let the judgement begin."

A.N.: Finally done. My longest chapter yet. I hope you could everyone enjoy it. Let me know any opinion you have about the chapter.