Ash's classes seemed to fly by with congratulations every now and then. Finally it was lunch. He went into the cafeteria hoping to get some lunch. He was starving.

"Ash, what are doing? Aren't you supposed to be at gramps office?" Gary lectured Ash. Ash scratched the back of his head. "Oh yeah. Thanks Gary" He ran out of the cafeteria, heading to Oak's office.

"Glad you could meet with me Ash." Oak had said when Ash entered the room. "I've heard you defeated Paul."

"Yeah. He was tough to beat though. So why did you want to see me?" Ash sat down on a chair facing Professor Oak's desk.

"Ash,... what happened back in Kanto?" Ash was a bit surprised, but he knew he shouldn't be. Ash didn't say anything, he just stared at his shaking hands. There was a long moment of silence.

"It's okay Ash. No one can hear you in here." Oak said thinking that he didn't want to tell him because he was afraid someone might over hear. Still Ash said nothing. "What happened between you and team Rocket?" Ash felt a wave of gilt wash over him. He remembered everything that happened that night even though he tried hard to forget.

Professor. Oak heard a 'tink' as Ash's tears began to fall onto his hands. Oak then realized he said something that he shouldn't have. He sighed and scratched the back of his head. "Well if you're not going to say anything, then you can go back to lunch."

Ash looked up at the professor. Oak was surprised to see that he was showing him that he was crying. Ash wiped his tears away, stood up, bowed, and walked out the door.

When Ash go back to the cafeteria, the lunch ladies said that they're done serving food. "Oh man. I'm starving." Ash's stomach growled. "Ashy-boy!" Ash heard Gary yell behind him. He turned around to see Gary sitting at one of tables. He gestured him to sit next to him.

When Ash got there Gary noticed Ash's cheeks were still rosy from crying. 'Was Ash crying?' Gary didn't want to ask him right now because he knew Ash would be embarrassed.

"I knew you would hungry so I saved you a tray." Gary said when Ash sat down.

"Oh thanks man! I owe you one." Ash held up the back side of his hand in a fist, Gary did the same before they lightly bummed them together.

"Ash is it true?" Asked Misty who was sitting across from Ash at the table.

"What is?"

"About you beating Paul." Dawn interrupted.

"Yeah, but he was really strong."

"Don't be so modest Ashie-boy, Pikachu didn't get a single scratch on it. While my Pokémon get beat, bad, before Unsaring faints."

"Really your Pokémon didn't get a single scratch?" Said a dark green haired boy, with a green shirt, red shorts, and a light red headband around his head. Ash met him earlier, and his name is Tracey.

"Pika-pi!" Pikachu yelled in accomplishment. The whole table laughed. "Pika?" Pikachu looked around the table, then at it's trainer. Ash was laughing along with the rest. "Pika-pi!" Pikachu yelled in excitement before rubbing it's cheek on it's trainer's.

"Aw." Iris admired the bond she saw between Pikachu and Ash.

"Kawaii." Dawn said with sparkles in her eyes. Ash laughed at his Pokémon, then grabbed it in a hug.

After school Gary asked Ash if he could walk with him. They were about a block away from the school now, that's when Gary asked, "Ash, why were you crying?" This took Ash by surprised. He had no idea he was so obvious. 'Did other people think the same? I hope not.'

"I wasn't crying."

"Ashie-boy, you're the worst lair ever." Gary rolled eyes. "Don't worry I won't tell anyone that you were crying, but please tell me why you were. Maybe I could help you."

"I'm sorry Gary, it's too late to help. The damage is done." Ash looked up into the sky, and was wondering if she was watching him.

"Huh? What is that supposed to mean?" Ash wasn't sure how to respond to that. He didn't want to say anything to Gary. That memory haunted him every night when he went to sleep. Every time Ash even thought about, he would relive it, and it would torture him.

Ash gripped his sides, and clasped his teeth together.

"Hay dude are you all right?"

"Huh, oh, um yeah, just spaced out."

"About what?"

"Oh that's my house." Said Ash running to the door of his house. It was small, but Ash didn't need a big house, since he was by himself. "Oh okay, see you tomorrow Ash!" Yelled Gary as kept walking. "Bye."

Ash walked into his house. It seemed empty and cold to Ash. He began to feel sad again. "Pika-pi." Pikachu said in a soft tone wondering if it's trainer was alright. "I'm alright buddy. Just a little sad, that's all."

Ash went to his room, and sat on the blanket that called a bed. His room seemed more like a cell. With it's plain gray walls, and no window. The only thing that decorated the room was his cloths his mom made for his journeys, a blanket, and pillow.

"I lost everything that night,...and it's all my fault." Ash hugged his knees, while leaning on the wall. Pikachu walked over to Ash on all fours and rolled into ball by his side. Ash pet this little yellow mouse. "I don't know what I would do if I lost you buddy." Pikachu licked his hand as it fell asleep. 'Pikachu. You're the only thing I have left.' Ash soon felt weary as well, and fell asleep.

-The next day-

Professor Oak was on the phone clearly angry and upset about something. "What do you mean they're gone?!"

"They're gone! Every single one of them! But the strange thing is, it's just his." Came a male voice from the other line.

"Did you check the cameras?!"

"Yes."

"And?"

"That night was not there."

"Have you told her yet?"

"I left to, but their house was burned down."

"What?!" Professor Oak was getting very worried now. Where is she? He hung up his call and made an announcement for Ash to come to his office.

Ash was picking up some things from his locker when he heard the announcement. All the other kids stopped what they doing and stared at Ash.

Ash smiled, and waved his hand, and said "Hi." He made his way through the crowd that had resumed what they were doing, and to Oak's office.

When he got there Oak told Ash to take a seat. "Ash I'm afraid I have some bad news for you."

Ash sat there. He thought he knew what Professor was about to say. "Ash, your...your Pokémon...they um...they...-."

"Are gone. Yeah I know." Oak stared at Ash dumbfounded. "Wait how did you know?" Ash kept silent, keeping his head slightly down.

"Ash, also your mother she's...um...missing." Oak spit out that last part.

"She's not missing! She's still there! At the house!" He stood up, and slammed his hand on the desk.

"Ash." Oak said in a soft tone. Oak thought he refused to believe that his mom was missing.

"She's...she's still...there." Ash said getting quieter each word. He shook his head and sat back down.

"I know how you must feel, Ash, but your house was burned-"

"I know. I know it's gone. I know it's all gone. It all gone because some dumbass got too confident, and played with fire!" Ash couldn't hold back his anger anymore. He wasn't angry at Professor Oak, or anybody else. Ash was mad at himself. He believed that all of his pain, and other's pain were caused by his stupidity.

"Ash please calm down." Ash clenched his fist. He then took a deep breath, and calmed down.

"Can you please tell me what happened between you an team rocket."

"Can I tell you tomorrow?" Ash was hesitant.

"Uh, yeah. Come in anytime you would like."

"Okay." Ash got up and walked out of the office.

Ash started his journey 6 years ago. Along the way he's defeated almost every evil organization but team Rocket. His journey through the Kalos region was over, and he was the runner-up of the league. Ash then thought about what he was going to do now that the league was over. Then he remembered Team Rocket, who used to terrorize him and his town when he was young. Ash then thought he could go back to Kanto region to do the league, and try to take down team Rocket. Team Rocket soon caught wind that Ash was snooping around. They thought to teach him a lesson and gang up on him with there Pokémon when he wasn't paying attention. But Ash recovered, and started snooping again. That's when their leader got mad. He left to teach him a real lesson about life. One lesson that would stay with him for the rest of his life, like a scar.