It had been another rough day at school for Ash. They hurt him again. The proof was underneath his long sleave shirt and his jeans. The black and blue marks of where they struck him. He can't seem to recall him ever doing them wrong. He walked up to his home already making up excuses for if his mom saw it. He didn't want to upset his mom as he quietly opened the door and went to his room and locked the door. He walked into the bathroom and went into his bath. He layed down on the tubs floor and let the showerhead cover him. The warm water droplets falling on is fase and touching his bruises. He closed his eyes and then the water turned harsh and cold.

Opening his eyes he could see the fire burning, the wild pokemon fighting the Rockets. The sky was dark, only the stars illuminated its vast blackness and the embers of the fire. Ash trudged through the bloodstained floor and the hot sickening iron smell of blood from people and pokemon alike. Ash walked to his room and opened the door afraid of what he might slamming against his stomach as he twisted the door knob. As the door creaked open nothing but darkness emanated from its took a few steps in and felt the drastic temperature drop. The door slammed shut and he was left in the pitch black room. He heard a familiar soft painful groan. A bright spot light illuminates his mother's bloody body.

"Mom", Ash said while running toward her, but never getting closer. All of a sudden Delia started transforming, a black glow consumed her. Her face was almost completely decayed.

"Why didn't you save me.", a demonic howl resounded from Deliah.

"Mom I couldn't have known.", words fell on deaf ears. She started crawling unnaturally toward him. Eventually her body turned more smoke like.

""You are all alone now with no one to turn to. Nobody cares that you are gone little ashy-boy.", Her smoke like appearance had completely swallowed Ash's sobbing form.. The air had been disgustingly thick, suffocating ash. He struggled with all his strength to run from the dark cloud, but to no avail.

"I am so ashamed to call you my son.", The smoke hushed.

"This isn't happening!", Ash sputtered out.

His body fell to the ground. He had succumbed.

Ash bolted awake. gasping for air, koffing and weezing he tried to regain composure. No one else was in the cabin. Tears fall from his cheek to the ground. It wasn't a dream the wooden ceiling proved it.

'My mom is dead and it's all my fault', Ash thought. He wanted it all to end.

"She's right, I am alone. No one cares about me.", He said.

Openly crying in a way no other eight year old should know how to. His face pressed into the leaves hoping no one would hear his cries. He cried and wailed that Arceus would have mercy on him, that he would return his mother or take his life as well. But nobody came...

However, Latios silently hovered into the room. He wrapped his arm around him and pulled ash into a tight embrace. Ash returned the gesture wrapping his arms as much as he could around the Eon. The tears flowed out of him freely not holding back. Latios pet the younger boy's hair as the tears ran down his chest.

"Why did you save me? I don't think I was worth the extra effort.", Ash managed to ask between his sobs.

Latios was taken back by what the Human said. How could someone so pure not think of their self as worth it.

" I am in your debt forever. You saved a lot of pokemon, which included my sister. How could I not try to help our savior. We were headed to our doom when you appeared. You rescued us. I am so thankful to you.", Latios said while holding on to Ash afraid to let go..

"I am so lonely, Mom was the only one who ever loved me. I am alone now.", Ash spoke silently.

"We are here for you Ash. We care for you, and we are gonna stand by you.", Latios said.

Neither of them said any words. They felt the warm embrace of each other and were content. Ash cried tears of happiness and relief. He wasn't as alone as he thought.

Latios broke the embrace and floated back.

"Happy Birthday Ash.", Latios told him softly as he handed him a package. 'To Ash my beloved son.' it read..

His eyes opened wide in awe.

"How did you know? Where did you get this from?", questions pouring into his head.

"Don't worry about it. Open it up.", Latios told Ash.

Ash ripped open the wrapping paper to reveal a strange necklace. The charm was a circle shape with what looked like a marble on top of it. Ash pressed it and it opened to reveal a clock. Inside was a picture of him and his mom, Ash was only a few months old in the picture. He smiled and pulled in Latios for another hug.

"Thank you Latios.", Ash spoke.

"No problem.", Latios said. Ash let go and sat back down on the pile of leaves.

"Shall we meet the rest of the group?", Latios asked reaching his hand out to ash.

"Sure.", Ash said accepting Latios' hand. However instead of standing him up Latios pulled him onto his back.. They flew out of the cabin and into the illex forest. The thicc greenery of the trees surrounding them blocked out the sky. The smell of the grass and flowers were intoxicating. Latias and the others were in a river near by the shrine. As Latios and Ash came closer to the others riolu stopped her meditation. She felt Ash comin, she felt the sides of her mouth curve into a smile. Ash could see riolu running toward them. Riolu lunged on top of ash and hugged him.

"How are you today Ash?", Riolu said smiling. 'Her happiness is infectious', Ash thought to himself. Latios chuckled at how excited riolu was to see Ash.

"I am doing alright. How about yourself?", Ash said in a peppy tone..

"I am doing great! I am glad to see you awake.", riolu responded. She still holding on to Ash's hand jumped off Latios.

"You gotta meet our friends!", Riolu said while Ash barely landed on his feet.

Three pokemon with huge smiles were also rushing towards them. Dratini wrapped around Ash's neck like a scarf. Larvitar and bagon gently tackled him to the ground.

"How are you three doing?" Ash asked the giggly group.

"We are doing fine the dratini said. All of them are laying on their back watching the blue sky.

"What kind of pokemon are you guys?", Ash asked.

"I am a riolu, the blue snake is a dratini, the green one is a larvitar, and the other blue one is a bagon", riolu explained.

"Do you guys have names?", Ash inquired.

"My name is Lucky", bagon said.

"My name is aelina.", dratini informed.

"I am sand guardian, guardian of the sand. Just kidding just call me turk.", the larvitar smiled.

"My name is Eve", Riolu stated.

"I am glad to meet you guys.", Ash said while Latias and celebi floated to them.

"This is Celebi, the voice of this forest." Latias spoke.

"I is nice to properly meet you Ash.", Celebi grinned floating over to Ash.

"What is that thing around your neck?", Celebi asked pointing at Ash's lockette. Celebi thought she could remember something about the strange stone.

"It was a birthday gift from my mother that Latios found.", Ash opened it up showing the picture of him and his mom.

"When is your Birthday?", Latias asked Ash. Latios smiled because he knew what was gonna happen next.

""It is today. I am now Nine", Ash said. Latias froze almost as if the world stopped around her. Aelina quickly hopped off of his shoulders. Eyes wide She picked Ash up and flew high into the sky, to where no one could hear them.

"I wish I had known sooner. I usually arrange some sort of party or something.", Latias had sighed.

"It's alright, no one ever showed up for my birthday parties anyway. To me this day is just like any other day.", Ash said., but realising that this would be his first birthday without his mom. He held on tightly to the lockette.

"This day is important! A milestone in your life. We have to do something to celebrate! We are gonna throw you a birthday party tomorrow. Come on it is important to me that this day is a good one. Let's go she said as the came closer to the ground.

"Happy Birthday.", They told Ash when they descended to the grass. Latias dragged Celebi and Latios away.

"We will be back later!", Latias shouted as they disappeared into the distance.

"So Ash do you feel older?", Lucky asked. Eve could feel Ash's mood dampen a little.

"I honestly just feel lonely. I am glad you guys care about me, but this will be my first birthday without my mom. As soon as she was gone I missed her instantly.", Ash Gazed upon the photo.

"What was your mother like? Was whe nice?", Aelina asked.

"Ohh she was the most nicest person you would have ever met. She always tried to make me feel better. She was my best friend. She is no longer here with us, and I feel like it is my fault. Maybe if I had just moved a little faster she would still be here. Is it really all my fau-"

"No way Ash there is no way you could have known. Don't beat yourself up about it. Of course things could have played out differently. But if we always focus on the what ifs then we won't have time to focus on the things in front of us..", Turk interrupted Ash. Turk sat down between Ash's legs. Lucky and Eve sat on ash's sides leaning their heads on him. Aelina slithered onto Ash and snuggled his neck.

"I am sorry if I appear needy or annoying I really don't mean to be.", Ash apologized.

"C'mon let's go home.", Turk said he grabbed Ash's hand and headed to the cabin.

They all rested together on the pile of leaves. It was finally getting dark.

"You know, I have never had anyone I could call my friend. I am glad that you guys are with me.", Ash told the group.

"We are glad too, Ash goodnight.", Lucky said. They all drifted off.

When the three legendaries reached the cabin they saw the cutest sight. Ash was fully surrounded by the group of sleeping pokemon.

"They look so cute together. Don't they brother?", Latias whispered. He simply nodded in response

"Goodnight guys.", Latios whispered.

(AN: I am sorry for the wait)