This story will have blood, death, and mild gore. Nothing too descriptive, but if you don't want to read that kind of stuff then this story is not for you.

Chapter One

Day One

"Night Pikachu," Ash whispered to his buddy. Pikachu beamed up at his trainer, crawling onto the pillow next to Ash, curling up. Ash smiled as he laid down for bed. He was tired after a long day, and could only look forward to a night of sleep.

Hmm, content I see. A voice muttered to itself as it watched the duo doze off, Like most, proud of their accomplishments. It is disgusting. The voice chuckled to itself as they slept on, I hope you sleep well 'Chosen One', but like all Pariahs, you must face the consequences of your actions.

Ash turned over in his sleep, and a red glow enveloped him. Pikachu awoke, staring at Ash as he began to be lifted into the air, "Pikapi?"

Ash didn't awaken, and the red aura around him intensified. Pikachu's cries became more intense, "Pikapi!"

A starling rip filled the room, and a large swirling black hole appeared. Pikachu fired a Thunderbolt at it, but the attack was absorbed. Pikachu backed himself into a corner as the hole-like rift expanded. Pikachu's eyes widened as Ash was drawn towards it. The mouse sprang towards his sleeping trainer, but Ash was engulfed into the rift.

Pikachu was flung back as the rift released it's energy, sealing itself. Pikachu smacked into wall painfully, but he leaped back to his feet. The room was quiet, and the rift was gone. Everything was exactly how it was before. Except for one thing:

Ash was gone.

Ash awoke sitting in a chair, which was next to a cafe table. He sat up, yawning and stretching. He squinted eyes as the bright sun glared down on him. Ash looked around, sitting next to him was Serena, who was tapping her foot impatiently. Next to her was her rival Shauna, who was bouncing up and down excitedly. Serena looked over at Ash and gave him a dry smile- something he was not used to Serena doing.

"So the sleeper awakens," She said.

Ash blinked, "W-what happened?" He asked, yawning.

"Not much," She replied, "You haven't missed out on our Pokemon arriving, if that's what you're asking. I don't know what's taking Tierno and Trevor so long, it's not like them to be late. Well... Tierno, yes he can be... well, you'll see once you meet them."

Ash stared at her blankly, then glanced down, his Pokebelt was gone. Ash looked around, but saw no sign of Pikachu, "Where's my Pokemon?" He asked.

Serena rolled her eyes, "Weren't you listening? They haven't arrived yet. Our starters are with Tierno and Trevor. I know you're excited to get your Fennekin, but please stay calm. I've been dealing with Ms. Hyper here all morning while you've been napping!"

Shauna grinned, "Ijustcan'tbelieveit! I just can't wait to meet my little Chespin! Will it be a boy, or a girl? Will it like to fight or not? What should I nickname it! Eek~ I can't wait!" She gave Serena a hug, "Aren't you excited?"

Serena smiled slightly, "Of course I'm excited, I've been waiting a long time to be a trainer. But remember, we have assignment from Professor Sycamore as well. You and Trevor are suppose to complete the Pokedex, while me and Ash are suppose to collect gym badges. Our assignments are very important to the professor and his research, that is why he is giving us our Pokemon in the first place."

Ash leaned back, confusion filling his mind- Fennekin? Starter Pokemon? Professor Sycamore? What?

"I- um..." Ash fell silent as Serena glared at him. Ash felt unsettled, this most certainly wasn't the Serena he knew. Her sweet blue eyes were now gray and cold, and her smile was suppressed. Her blonde hair was swept back into a Ponytail, something the Serena he knew never did.

Shauna was different too, she seemed younger, more childish. She flashed a smile at Ash, "Aren't you excited to get your first Pokemon?"

"Um... yes?" Ash said, and Shauna stared at him. Well, that sounded stupid...

"Huff... huff..." Ash heard a loud panting, and the clomping of shoes, he turned, just in time to see two boys running towards them, obviously tired. They were covered in dirt and leaves, and spotted in some sort of dark liquid. A Corphish and a Flabebe were right behind the boys, stumbling to keep up with their trainers.

"Tierno, Trevor, finally!" Shauna cried happily.

"What took you two so long?" Serena demanded.

"S-sorry!" Tierno panted as he reached them. He reached out with one hand to balance himself, then he lowered himself into a chair across from Ash, huffing. The other boy, Trevor, settled in the chair next to Tierno.

Both males looked exhausted, sweat and- was that blood?- rolled down their skin. An orange Flabebe laid down in front of Trevor, trembling. Trevor returned the small fairy type to a Pokeball. The Corphish layed down next to Tierno, shuddering and collapsing to the ground. Ash felt sorry for the small thing, it was tired and Tierno didn't even give it a glance.

Ash even saw small flecks of blood on its pincers... but there was no injuries on the pincers, it was like the Corphish had use its pincers to...

"We-were attacked on the way from Lumiose..." Trevor muttered, "In Santalune Forest, a group ambush."

"Did you guys get hurt?" Serena asked, worried, but not surprised.

"Nah..." Tierno said, "Not too badly, our Pokemon handled the wild ones quite well. The only problem was that there was too many, the startling thing was that it was a some-what organized attack... A bit weird for wild Pokemon..."

Wild Pokemon attacking? They don't even seem surprised about that!

"My parents said the wild ones have been getting more aggressive, and the death rate of trained Pokemon have been rising as well. Most trainers don't even bother keeping their Pokemon at high levels, they just catch new ones as replacement," Serena said, shrugging, "It's sloppy training. Yes, accidents happen, but it shouldn't be every other day."

W-what?!

"So!" Shauna cut in, "Can we have our Pokemon now~?"

"Um... yeah!" Tierno said, he looked a bit uneasy, "Of course... T-that's why we came!"

"You okay Tierny?" Shauna asked, frowning.

"Yep... of course I am!" Tierno replied, laughing uneasily. Next to him Trevor faced palmed.

Serena glared at the two boys, "What happened?" She asked- well, demanded.

Tierno paled a bit, "Well, when we were attacked... Our Pokemon couldn't hold off the wild ones, and we had to use the starter Pokemon..."

Serena sighed, rubbing her forehead, "Don't tell me you managed to kill one of the starters."

"No!" Tierno shouted, "She didn't die, she just got injured..."

"Just tell them what happened!" Trevor snapped at Tierno.

Tierno sighed, then looked at Ash, "Sorry man... We managed to scar your Fennekin. She was fighting, but being a fire type she had a huge advantage over the forest 'mon, so she did most of the fighting... so she was attacked the most. We ran her over to a healer near the forest, but she has some nasty scars."

Ash blinked.

"You know better than to use other people's Pokemon," Serena broke in, glaring at Tierno.

"Hey, we had no choice!" Tierno said, "If we didn't use them are Pokemon would be dead and maybe even use as well! The wild ones meant business."

"What about the other Pokemon?" Shauna asked timidly, "Are they...?"

Tierno glanced at Trevor, who pulled out three Pokeballs. He handed one to Serena and another to Shauna. He held onto the third one, "They are fine," Trevor said, "Just tired."

"Eep!" Shauna cried, cuddling her Pokeball, then released a Chespin. The small grass type looked around, and then Shauna struck. She wrapped her arms around the Chespin, which yelped. "Ohmygosh! You are so cute! I'm going to call you Chesa!" Shauna cried.

"Pin!" The female Chespin squeaked in surprise.

Serena released her Pokemon, a Froakie. The Froakie looked up at her, and Serena touched the top of his head, "Hello there," She said, "Thanks to you I'm finally trainer, Jet."

Trevor turned to Ash, holding out a Pokeball, "This is Fennekin's Pokeball. The healer said she's in battle shape right now, just to keep the bandages on for now," Ash took the Pokemon from him, "Oh, and we each get one of these," Trevor reached into his bag again, pulling out a familiar red device, "The Pokedex! Of course only me and Shauna have a license to complete them, but we all get one."

Ash took the Pokedex from Trevor, and Serena and Shauna followed suit. Ash glanced around, feeling off. He wasn't suppose to be here.

"Yeah, me and Ash have gym licenses, we're only allowed to catch one Pokemon per route. But we are also allowed to take on the gyms and league, unlike you guys," Serena said, looking at her Pokedex, "With a classifier license you are allowed to catch one of each Pokemon per route, that way you guys can help the professor know what Pokemon live where."

Ash glanced at her, slightly confused, but decided not to let it show. He just needed to get a Pokemon, get out of here, then figure out what is going on.

"I think it would be a good idea to give your trainer cards," Tierno said, "You and Ash will need them to challenge the gym," Tierno said, reaching into his own bag, searching.

"So... Tierno," Ash began, "What kind of license do you have?" Ash asked.

"Me?" Tierno pulled out three cards, "I have a D-class breeder's license. My class allows me to catch wild Pokemon to breed in controlled environments. All the offspring is released back into the wild to help keep the populations up. I later want to move up to a B-class, which is where you cross breed certain Pokemon in order to get different eggs moves. Those Pokemon go to gym trainers like you," He handed the trio each a trainer card.

Ash looked at his, shivering slightly. It had all his information on it, even though he had never been to... to this place before. There was a picture of him, but he couldn't recall ever getting his picture taken. What on earth is going on?

"What else are we forgetting...?" Tierno thought.

"The Pokeballs," Trevor prompted.

"Ah, yes!" Tierno said, "Five Pokeballs for each of you, so you can catch wild Pokemon. Remember, Ash and Serena, only one Pokemon per route. Shauna, Trevor, one of each species. Your Pokedex and PC will monitor your catches, so law enforcement will get involved if you go outside of what your licence permits. The only exception to this rule is if you see an alternately colored Pokemon," He began to hand out the Pokeballs.

"A shiny?" Ash asked, and Tierno nodded.

"If you catch one make sure you send it over to Professor Sycamore. He'll send it back, then you can do whatever you want with it, he only wants a quick look at it. 'Shinies' are pretty rare, so the professor is very interested in them, so all licenses allow any to be caught."

"Hey! Hey Ash!" Shauna cried, bouncing in her chair, "Let out your Fennekin, I want to see her!"

Ash looked at the Pokeball in his hands, and aimed it at the table, releasing a Pokemon. The Fennekin opened her eyes, looking around. Ash's heart sank, The poor thing, he thought. There was a large slash up her chest and by her neck, and many cuts and bruises covered her body.

Fennekin looked up at Ash, beaming as she looked at her new trainer, "Kin!" She yipped, tag wagging. Ash stroked her, and she pressed close to him.

"What are you going to call her?" Serena asked.

"Call her?" Ash asked, Serena nodded.

"Nicknaming Pokemon is like half the fun!" Shauna said excitedly. Ash then realized that both of them had given their Pokemon nicknames, something he had never done before with Pokemon.

"Er..." Ash said, looking at the Fennekin, "I don't know..."

Fennekin's ears fell back, disappointed.

"If you can't think of one, then I'll help you!" Shauna said, thinking, "About...Kinniekins?"

Serena made a half cough that Ash knew was covering up a laugh. Tierno smiled weakly and Trevor was looking anywhere by Shauna. Fennekin's ears drooped lower, and she looked at Ash with a pleading look. She clearly did not want to be called 'Kinniekins'.

"Um..." Ash said, glancing between Fennekin and Shauna, "While that's an... interesting name, I- er- think I have an idea for one..." Ash muttered.

"Really?" Shauna said with a smile, "What is it?"

"Er..." Fire type... Fennekin... "Um... Kin... Kindle. Yeah, Kindle," Ash said.

*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*

Introducing: Kindle

Fennekin: female

Level 5

Met at: Santalune City

Serious

Alert to sounds

*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*

"Okee-dokey!" Shauna said, bouncing up and down, "That's adorable!" She turned to the other boys, "Can we start our journey now?"

Tierno smiled, "Yep, you guys are all set!"

"Yes!" Shauna sprang to her feet, grabbing Serena's wrist, "Come on! You promised me that you'd show me how to catch a Pokemon!"

"I'm coming," Serena said, standing as well, returning her Froakie. Shauna did the same with her Chespin, then the two girls ran towards route two.

Ash looked at the Fennekin, "Your okay with 'Kindle'... right?" He asked.

"Kin!" She yipped, leaping into his arms happily. Even scared, she was still a cute Pokemon.

He had a Pokemon now, so he wasn't defenseless, now to figure out what was going on and how he got here...

"Well, let's go catch up with those girls," Trevor said, "We're all heading to Santalune City anyways. That's where your first gym match will be Ash!"

"Right," Ash said.

"Race you to route two!" Tierno called, returning his Corphish, and they took off running. Ash looked around, and then sprinted after them.

"WOW! I can't believe that the Pokemon went inside the Pokeball!" Shauna's scream echoed through route two as Ash and the boys caught up to the girls. Serena shook her head.

"Really? You know your Chespin is in her Pokeball right?" Serena asked.

"Of course I do, but still, it's awesome!" She beamed, "I'm going to catch a ton of cute Pokemon!" She then noticed Ash and the others, "Oh! Looky, the boys are here now! Serena, why don't you show Ash how to catch a Pokemon?"

"That's fine," Ash said, "But I already know how to."

"Really?" Serena asked suprised by this. Ash nodded, stretching a bit. She frowned at him, eyes flashing, "Prove it."

Ash was taken back again at this attitude, like she didn't believe him.

"Kindle," Ash said, glancing around, "Use Scratch!" He pointed towards a Pidgey. Kindle leapt out of his arms, racing towards the small brown Pokemon, slashing with her claws. The Pidgey yelped, flying into the air. The Pidgey whipped up a Gust of wind, which slammed into Kindle, "Now Ember!"

Ash felt a bit woozy as he realized that the blood dripping from the Pidgey's wing was caused by him. The Ember hit the Pidgey in the chest, knocking it to the ground. Kindle stood, awaiting another command. Ash pulled out on the Pokeballs Trevor and Tierno had given him, throwing it at the Pidgey.

Serena stared at him as the Pidgey was sucked into the Pokeball, which shook only once, then dinged, capturing the Pidgey. Ash scooped up the Pokeball, looking at Kindle and tapping his shoulder. The Fennekin hopped up, glancing around uncertainly.

*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*

Introducing: ?

Pidgey: female

Level 3

Caught at: Route 2

Nature: Timid

Loves to fight

*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*

"Be my rival," Serena breathed quickly after a moment.

"What?" Ash said, a bit taken back by the look she was giving him. Earlier she'd treated him like he was a nobody, now her eyes had respect in them.

"That was a critical capture!" She cried.

"What's that?" Ash asked, looking down at the Pokeball in his hands.

"That's when a trainer attacks and captures a Pokemon so quickly that the Pokemon doesn't know what hit them," Serena explained, "The Pokemon had hardly anytime to attack back, which helps protect the trainer's Pokemon. The wild Pokemon is also absorbed into the Pokeball so quickly that they don't have proper time to react and try to break free, which is why it only shook once. Critical captures usually only happen with highly experienced trainers."

"So what if I captured a Pokemon quickly," Ash said, "Even if I had taken longer the result would have basically had the same result."

"Attacking and throwing the Pokeball at that speed and with skill, that results in a quick and clean capture like that! Usually it takes a while for a trainer to catch Pokemon like that, but this was your first time ever! Typically capturing a wild Pokemon is a bloody process, the wild Pokemon ends up injured pretty badly they put up such a fight!"

Ash didn't know how to reply, "Um... well... What's a point of battling a Pokemon to the point that they end up that injured if you're trying to capture it?" Ash asked, "I think if they put up a fight to the point they're half dead that shows that they don't want to be captured."

Serena scowled a bit, "I don't want a Pokemon that throws itself at me. While a critical capture is an exception, which shows the skills and talent of a trainer, when trying to capture a Pokemon you want to see how strong it is. How far you're able to push it, then once you train that Pokemon up it will be able to go much farther. Gym battles are to the death, you don't want a Pokemon that gives up or falls easily. You need a Pokemon that will hold on an inch from death."

Ash felt sickened by that, "Well, I don't see why a Pokemon would want listen to someone in battle when the first time they met the trainer put them on death's door!"

"It makes the Pokemon respect you!" Serena snapped, stepping forward, "It also shows them that you are capable of ending them if they don't listen in battle. It secures obedience!"

"That's not respect!" Ash cried, "That's fear! You should earn trust, not demand it! Every Pokemon has potential to be a good battler, you need to work with them and lift them up, not beat them down!"

"You're humanizing them!" Serena snorted, "They are Pokemon, not people! Yes, they are living, but no, they are not like us! They lack our intelligence, their instinct is to fight, it's a natural process, we simply perfect it."

Ash stared at her, horrified and disgusted. "'Perfect it'? Perfect it!? Any fighting they do is to protect themselves, and I don't blame them for fighting back against a trainer! Not if that trainer is only going to put it's life at risk for only a battle! You say I'm humanizing them, well, I think they are certainly more 'human' than you," Ash growled cooly, "Because clearly you don't have a heart."

Shauna stepped forward, sensing the tension growing, "Um... guys... No need to fight..." She said uncertainly. Trevor and Tierno stood off some ways, not interrupting.

"Fighting?" Serena said, voice deathly cold, "No, I don't think we're fighting. I think he just said that I am lower than a Pokemon."

"No," Ash replied, "I just think I said that Pokemon were always higher than humans," He turned away from her and others, storming off towards the forest.

"You're Pokemon will take advantage of you!" Serena called after him, "If you act like you're somehow below them then they will treat you has such! You'll end up deader than a Pokemon after a gym match!"

"I'll take my chances!" Ash replied, the shadows of the forest swallowing him.

"...Kin?" Kindle asked uncertainly, "Fennefenna?"

Ash didn't understand her, but he got the gist. "Yes, I meant every word I said. You're not... you're not some tool for battle! Where I come from it isn't like this! Pokemon don't die in battle... They don't bleed out..." Ash trembled a bit, "They respect the idea of being captured... it's a test to see if you're a worthy trainer for them... Not to beat them into listening to you..."

"Kin?" She asked, flicking an ear. She sounded surprised and interested.

"Kindle, let's be straight right from the start. I shouldn't be here... wherever here is..." He looked around, "Well, I know this is Kalos, but it's not my Kalos. Pokemon shouldn't die..." Ash thought back... back to the time he went to Reflection Cave with Serena and the others... How he had ended up in a world with a timid him, a out of control Pikachu, and a good Team Rocket. That trip had shown them that there are multiple worlds out there. Had he somehow ended up in another one? In this horrible one?

Ash's fingers went to his chest, and he felt his heart hammering between his chest. This was real. His fingers brushed something cold.

Ash frowned, glancing down. His hand wrapped around a red leather cord on his neck, which had some sort of gem attached to the bottom of it. It was a pure black gem, it was smoothed and polished, and unfamiliar. Ash pulled hard, and it snapped off his neck. He stuffed it into his pocket, he would not be seen wearing jewelry, but he didn't want to just throw it away either. He'd look at it later.

"Fen?" Kindle still looked confused.

"Um... believe me or not... But I don't think I should be in this world," Ash said to her.

"Kin!" Kindle cried.

"Yes, it's not the first time it happened, me ending up in another world. But this time I don't know how I got here," He looked at Kindle, "Do you believe me?

The Fennekin sat on his shoulder, thinking. Her whole life she had been raised and prepared to listen to her trainer. Due to her nature and willingness to battle she had been chosen to be a starter rather than a breeding stock. She had always accepted the fact that she could one day die in battle and that she would kill other Pokemon in her time. That was her life. Now her trainer was telling her than that was just wrong. He did seem out of place in this world. She looked down at the scar on her chest and the Pidgey's blood on her claws. She whimpered a bit, then looked back up at Ash.

He had treated her like a human. He was talking to her like an equal. He had defended her, and all Pokemon. He had made it clear that if she died he would have a hard time taking it.

She nodded her head. She believed him.

And she would protect him.

"Thanks Kindle."

Already getting comfortable, Pariah? The voice chuckled darkly, Yes, get comfortable with your new partner, I did pick her myself for you. Run along to your first little gym battle, there will be no way around it. I'm excited to see how you react to my little game, 'Chosen One'. Let's hope this stays interesting.

Or else I'll just have to make it interesting myself.