PMD: Burning Ashes

Chapter 1: New Beginnings

The world seemed to change over the years. For one, Ash was no longer the young naive Eevee he once was. He had a dream to chase and today was the day. Ash had already begun packing his belongings and taking what he thought was important. He had received a letter from his friend about some surprising news. He thought that was the perfect opportunity to leave his past behind.

He had everything packed. He carried a leather bag that rested on his back. It looked old as spider webs hung from the corners of the bag. The texture was withered and cracked. But it was good at carrying a lot of supplies. While it was heavy, it was the only thing his father left behind.

Before leaving the now-empty den, a lone picture frame sat on a dresser. It was covered in dust and its frame was cracked with age. It looked so fragile that a single touch could cause the frame to turn to dust if done so. Slowly approaching it, an image could be seen. It withered and the colors had mostly faded. As for the image, it was practically falling apart. With one quick look at the image. Ash's eyes tear for a short second. The picture of his parents was a reminder of a simpler time. He rested his paw on the image before tipping the picture frame on its face.

"There's no time for reminiscent of the past." He calmly spoke. He looked towards the open front door. "It's time to start a new story."

With one step at a time, he approached the door. He was ready to start living his life and chasing his dream. The light from the outside world was bright, becoming more visible the closer he got. It was begging Ash to leave. His heart pounded against his chest as he left the dark, cold den.

He was leaving the den behind. The smell of fresh air relieved the stress he carried, and the sun shone brightly across the sky; clouds moved slowly, appreciating the beautiful world below them. The dirt path seemed to travel beyond the horizon. But that didn't deter him. It boosted his determination and sheer will.

He grabbed the letter from his bag and reread it.

"What's up Ash!

Life has been going a lot better ever since I left that job. And in fact, I think I've got something that may surprise you! But you'll have to find me at the forest center for that!

See you soon!
Joshy!

Ash smiled at the letter. Now all he needed to do was find the forest center. Remembering the way teams would travel on the path. He headed north and began his long journey through the forest to reach his destination.

Throughout his walk on the path, he discovered a large clearing with a decently sized lake that shimmered under the sun's rays. Feeling a little dehydrated, he took a step off the path and took a sip from the lake. The water was fresh! So fresh that the water was clear to the bottom. You can even see the Magickarps and Goldeens that swam in the lake. Looking at the rest of the clearing. Some Pokémon have decided to nap beside the lake, basking in the sun. Ash smiled at the sight and took one last look at the clearing. Then, he continued his journey.

A couple of hours have passed since he left his home. And he finally arrived at the forest center. It was flooded with Pokémon working and shopping. The bustling sound of chatter and kids happily playing was a sudden adjustment to the calm quiet forest. There were a few stalls and shops built here. A noticeable one is a large building that stood higher than the rest. Ash smiled, knowing what building rested there.

"Welp, I'm here. The Forest Center!" He cheered, making his way deeper inside. Before Ash could even think of entering. A sudden call of his name caught him off guard.

"Ash! Over here!" A strong smooth voice yelled. Ash smiled widely knowing whose voice it belonged to. Ash twisted his body toward its direction, seeing a slim and tall Jolteon leaning on the center tower. His body rapidly pushed his legs as he strutted over to him.