The Return (The Return Series)

The Scorched City

"Hurry up Ash," Dawn whined, "don't you want to see your friend." "I do it's just been a while," Ash said quietly, "we haven't spoken since then." "Well I'm sure he misses you," Dawn said trying to make Ash feel better. But Ash couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to go horribly wrong. He glanced at Dawn. She looked amazing. She was wearing a loose White shirt, her classic pink skirt and her hair was tied in braids. Ever since they had taken a vacation to Alola she had them in, promising to only take them out on an important occasion. She was wearing knee length socks and Nike joggers. Ash wasn't wearing his hat. Ever since the incident 6 years ago he never really wore his hat anymore. Dawn never actually asked why he stopped wearing hats but she knew the reason. They never talked about what happened all those years ago. They never really talked about Ash's relatives either. They had gone to visit Pallet Town once after the fiasco at Lumiose City two years ago. It had not ended well. While everybody got along except Red and Ash. While Dawn and Yellow cooked dinner, (Red and Ash didn't know how to cook) Red and Ash glared at each other for an hour until dinner was made where they had a very heated argument, "I never thought I'd be willingly eating dinner with someone who chose to join Team Rocket," Red said. Ash was silent, his expression blank, his eyes cold. "Not gonna answer. That's fine. If I were you I'd be ashamed as well," Red continued, "ha," Ash laughed, "Team Rocket gave me people to care about that's more than you ever gave me." "What, you can't tell me you care about Giovanni," Red asked, "no. Other people. Not that you'd care anyway." "Well unlike you I joined for a reason," Red said, "yea, what was your reason, because you were too scared to be a father. Is that it," Ash yelled, "boys,"  Yellow shouted, "stop. Both of you." "No. We're finishing this," Red said, "did you join because you didn't want responsibility," Ash asked, "you were scared." "You joined because you were too scared to face your demons," Red yelled, "yea well I'm sure that if everyone you ever knew turned their back on you, you would feel the same way," Ash yelled. "Boys, please," Yellow cried, "no mother. Red is right. We are finishing this here now," Ash said, deadly calm, "that's father to you, boy," Red snarled, "my father left me, 17 years ago. All I see is a lost man looking for forgiveness," Ash yelled, "get out," Red shouted pointing to the door, "get out." "Red, please," Yellow cried. But Ash was already going for the door pulling Dawn along. "Thank you for the food mother," Ash said before slamming the door behind him. They visited Green and Blue a few times but it had only been when Gary was not there. Gary did not really forgive Ash for killing Trip even though Ash had saved the region. They visited May, Max, Ruby and Sapphire is Hoenn several times, with Ash, Sapphire and May often having eating contests that usually ended with Sapphire winning. Ash was never really close to Diamond, Pearl or Platinum so he never visited them. He visited White once, a few weeks after the whole fiasco at Lumiose City. Alone. They talked like old friends but the tension in the air could be cut with a butter knife. Ash could tell that his words to White still sort of lingered with her. He never visited again but she had told him that he was always welcome to stay with her. He denied her offer, saying that he liked to drift around place to place. He visited Paul once after visiting Blake in the international police hq. He visited Gold and Crystal several times when Jimmy wasn't there. He visited Silver to discuss some stuff with Green twice but they had been formal cases. "Hey," Dawn said, "are you ok?" "Yea," Ash said shallowly, "you're not really dressed for the occasion," Dawn giggled. Ash looked down and it was true. He was wearing faded jeans, with a white t-shirt and an old pair of vans. "I guess your right but it doesn't really matter. Gold and Crys won't care," Ash said. Ash stopped sensing something was wrong, Eevee and Pikachu who had been running along in front had also stopped. "What's wrong," Dawn asked, "we need to hurry up," Ash muttered before picking up his pace. Ash could smell smoke and fire. What was going on? Ash came to a stop in front of New Bark Town. Bodies littered the ground, fire was everywhere. But he could see a crouched figure in the middle of the death. It was Jimmy. And he was holding the limp bodies of Gold and Crystal.