Return of the defeated (on hold)

/Part 1/

 I knew then and I definitely know now that you would be and are by far a more talented trainer and battler than I am, even if I didn't want admit it then, but, if you repeat that I'll kick your ass." He added with a laugh. "From how you are talking though it sounds like you've already made up your mind on your next move." Gary finished as he took a drink of water. Ash stood there for a moment letting everything Gary said sink in.

After a few moments of silence Gary looked at Ash and said, "I can tell you're planning something big Ash I can see it in your eyes." Ash thought for a moment of how to say what he was thinking. "Gary I've been thinking of this plan since I came home and I plan on following through with it no matter what. I'll tell you but you have to swear you wont tell a soul."

"Ash you have my word, unless its deadly or dangerous." Gary said with slightly stern tone.

"I plan on going out alone to train and find myself. I can feel something calling out to me but i can't explain what it is." he took a second before continuing. "I plan on taking all my pokemon to train in the harshest places to become the strongest team ever. I don't know how long it'll take but this is my plan no matter what."

To say Gary was shocked was understatement, "Ash it sounds like you plan on disappearing." Gary said.

"I know it seems brash but if I don't do it this way mom wont let me go and neither will everyone else. They'll say its too dangerous but I feel like this is what I need to do." Ash explained.

"When did you plan on leaving then?" Gary asked.

"Tonight, I have everything ready except my pokemon. I'm actually glad I'm telling you about this because I'm going to need your help to get them tonight while everyone is sleeping." Ash told his friend as he looked towards the setting sun.

"I'll help you on one condition Ash, you have to contact me once a month so I know that you're alive and that you're doing ok." Gary said.

"That sounds fair enough to me." Ash replied as the pair shook hands.

"I've written a letter to everyone explaining to everyone why I'm doing this and to not worry too much." Ash told him as he reached up to scratch Pikachu's ears earning a happy 'Chaaa' from the yellow mouse. "Well we better go back in so no one gets to suspicious of why we've missing." Gary said as they turned back towards the door, seeing everyone enjoying the party and the good company.

POV Change

May noticed Gary and Ash walk back in from the deck, she felt her heart give a small flutter seeing his warm chocolate brown eyes. 'Tomorrow I'll tell him what I've been feeling lately' she thought while looking at the raven haired trainer.

Time skip four hours

Ash gave one last look at his sleeping friends spread through the house with on last small sad smile placed a note on the kitchen table. He quietly walked past the living room where May slept soundly on the couch, before he walked out the front door he turned into the front room for an unknown reason to him he placed a light kiss on her forehead. As he walked to the door he muttered, "Goodbye May I'll see you agian, please don't hate me too much."

With that Ash and Pikachu quickly ran to the Professor's lab where Gary was waiting in the shadow of the door way. "You're sure about this Ash?" Gary asked once again.

"Yes this is something I have to do on my own." Ash stated.

"Ok then here are all your poke balls buddy, I noticed that you only have one Tarous left, where are the others?" Gary asked.

"I felt bad that I only used one of them to battle, so I talked with then and they agreed to be traded or loaned out to local farmers." Ash said as he put the bag of poke balls into his back pack.

"Well that does make sense then, you really have grown up Ash." Gary said with a quite laugh.

"I had to some time right," Ash said with a smile "Well Gary I guess this is goodbye for now, I can't thank you enough for your help. Keep an eye on everyone, they'll need as many friends as possible to help understand all this."

"No problem Ash, just remember to check in as often as you like so I can make sure you're still breathing." Gary said with a stern tone.

"You got it man." Ash said with one last hand shake, "Charizard come out buddy." As the light faded Ash's faithful red lizard stood before him, he lowered himself down so Ash could climb onto his back. Just as Charizard stretched his wings Gary told him and Pikachu, "Look after him you two he'll need it."

"Pi pika pika." replied Pikachu with a wave. Charizard gave a growl and nodded his head as they lifted off from the ground and flew into the night sky. "Well this is it guys lets give it everything we have, and lets go find some old friends." the young raven haired trainer said with a confident smile on his face.