The Return of Betrayal One

Chapter XV

"Paul...guess I was right, no way in hell he would lose this early" Ash muttered to himself only to have been heard by the rookie trainer.

"Ash who is Paul?" Asked Bonnie.

"Paul is...a rival and friend of mine, we go back to when I was traveling through the Sinnoh Region." Ash said as he began to reminisce on his rivals cruelness towards others.

"Paul and I...we didn't exactly get along. We were always at each other, I actually beat him during the Sinnoh League Bonnie." Ash told the young girl.

"Yea and that's the only time you have beaten me" sad a man with dark gray hair who walked into the room.

" you and I both know that I hack kicked your ass more times than I can count"

"Whatever Paul" Ash said "how have you been?"

"Really Ketchum?" Paul said in a stern tone "after all this time, after disappearing off the face of the planet for four years the first thing you say is 'Paul how have you been doing'?"

"Yes. Yes I am"

"You haven't changed at all, you are still that stupid little kid from Kanto I met 5 years ago."

Bonnie was about to butt in and give Paul a piece of her mind but was surprised when both trainers began to laugh.

"Wha-what? Why the hell are you laughing Ash? He insulted you!" Bonnie growled hostilely.

"I assume that this one has a foul mouth" Paul said as he stopped laughing.

"We'll I wouldn't say a foul mouth" Ash chuckled while rolling his eyes. "Let's just say the she has a "unique" vocabulary"

"Anyways Ketchum, you disappear for four years and you come to me. What do you want?" Asked Paul.

"Always straight and to the point aren't you Paul" Ash said as he inwardly laughed at the Sinnoh natives predictability. "Can't I just drop in and say hi?"

"Ash you and I both know that is a giant load of Tauros Shit"

"I want it back"

Flashback- 4 years ago 5 hours after funeral

Ash ran through route one as rain continuously poured down on him as he ran.

"Gotta run, need to get away from Pallet, need to get away from them, need to get away from her" He said as anger began to consume his thoughts. He arrived at a large and dying tree and he stared at it in horror.

"No-" he began. "No, no, no, no ,NO! Pidgeot! Where are you?" Ash yelled out loud desperate for a response.

Suddenly a high pitch cry snapped a distressed Ash out of his thoughts. A large bird made itself visible to the boy. Its plumage wasbrown with a cream underbelly. On its head was a red and yellow crest and red tail feathers. It had black markings around its eyes and its wings were spread as it flapped them to stay afloat in the air.

"Pidgeot" it shrilled as it landed in front of Ash and nuzzled its head against his.

"Pidgeot it's been forever since I've seen you!" Ash cried as he stroked the birds head with care as tears of happiness began to fill his eyes. "I've missed you so much"

"Pidgeot pidg!" Pidgeot cooed as it nuzzled its trainer.

"Pidgeot...I'm going to be leaving for a very...long time. I don't know if I will...come back" Ash said as his tone began to grow serious.

Pidgeot began to wonder what was happening, sure his trainer left it to go on adventures numerous times but this time...this time was different and it didn't know why.

"Pidg?" Pidgeot asked in confusion.

"Pidgeot I'm going to give you one chance to come with me, now here is your pokeball, it's been with me this whole time and I want-no need to know if you want to come with me." Ash said as he began to grow more and more serious.

"Pidg? Pidg pidg Pidgeot!" It cried as it poked the center of the pokeball with its head and was sucked into it.

"Welcome back old friend" Ash whispered as he turned around and ran as fast as he could back to Pallet Town.

As Ash ran he came across a man who was at the funeral.

"Paul where are you going?" Asked the raven haired trainer.

"What does it matter to you?" He snapped back with aggravation obvious in his response.

"Paul I just lost my mother, my friends, and May! I'm not in the mood for your attitude!" Ash replied as he grew angered at Paul's attitude.

"I know Ash. What's your point?" Paul asked unfazed by his rivals anger.

Ash took a deep breath and calmed himself. "Paul where are you going now?"

"Why does it matter to you?" Paul asked as he began to go curious as to what Ash was thinking.

"Just answer the question" Ash said as his voice began to grow colder with each passing second.

"Sevi Islands" Paul said after a moments hesitation as to why Ash wanted this information.

"I have a request" Ash said but was cut off by Paul.

"I don't do favors " Paul cut in.

"Allow me to rephrase myself then. I have a job for you."

"Why should I help you?" Paul asked but was starting to grow interested in Ash's intentions.

"I need you to find an old friend of mine" Ash said while his eyes began to glow dilated.

"I don't do charity work Ketchum. What's in it for me?" Paul asked.

"Complete the task then you get your reward"

"I'll take my payment in advance" Paul said hoping for an immediate response. When he got none he turned around with his hands in his pockets and walked away until Ash spoke up.

"I can get you a battle with Brandon" Ash said knowing he had gotten Paul's attention. Paul turned around and glared at Ash with looks that could kill.

"I know you want a rematch with the pyramid king and being the champion of the Battle Frontier I can arrange that."

"What do you need me to do?"

"Find my Butterfree"

"Here" Paul said as he handed Ash a pokeball.

"When did you find him?" Ash asked asked in disbelief.

"About 2 years ago, it was being attacked by a group of Butterfree. I'm assuming its mate was a pink Butterfree wasn't it" Paul said as a grim look cast itself on his face.

"Yea why?"

"It was killed by the other Butterfree"

"Oh my god..." Ash said as his thoughts went to how much pain his old friend must have gone through.

"So when will my battle be" Paul asked

"After the tournament."

"Hey Terra!" Dawn yelled as she ran up to him as he exited the arena.

"What?" Ash asked.

"We're all going out to dinner tonight, you want to come?"

"Will Drew be there?"

"Of course" Dawn said with a smirk on her face.

"I'm in"