Author's Note: Ash Ketchum was accused of something he never did. Most of his friends except Brock, Gary, Trip, and Paul turned their backs on him. Not wanting to do anything with them, Ash began training in seclusion, never heard from again.
Chapter 1: Accusation
Ash and his friends are at the Pokémon Lab having a party. Today is Gary's birthday and everyone is chatting animatedly. Everyone that Ash knew is invited, including Drew, Kenny, Trip, hell even Paul was invited to the party. Cilan couldn't make it due to a sick family member. Everything was going ok until something occurred. Drew walked up to where Ash was, sleeping under a tree. He kicked Ash in the gut. Groggily stirring, Ash's eyes met sneering green orbs. He glared at him. Ash always hated Drew and the feeling was mutual for Drew. They both like May and Ash was planning on confessing to her after the party but it seems Drew is becoming a problem for him even while Ash is sleeping. Resting his head on his arms, both pressing against his knees, he spoke to Drew.
"What do you want Drew?" he asked curtly. Drew snarled a little then smirked. "Fight me, so that one of us can have May," he requested. Ash raised an eyebrow up. "Whoa whoa whoa! What?! I just want some sleep I don't have time for this," Ash said with defiance. Drew knew that he would lose in a fight with Ash but he came up with a plan in case he is losing. Right now, his initial plan to get Ash provoked is not working so he started kicking him. Ash was blocking everything but now he is starting to get pissed off. He decided to get up and started swinging his fists at Drew. Drew couldn't dodge them all and received a bloody nose, busted lips, and a black eye. Drew called out his Roselia and commanded her to use Sleep Powder. "What are you… do… ing…?" Ash fainted, snoozing. Drew smirked in triumph. Now he has to go back and frame Ash so May will be all his!
Unbeknownst to them was that a certain purple-haired rival witnessed the scene. Paul gritted his teeth and immediately ran back to alert the group. However, he was too late when the moment he turned his back, Drew had his Roselia use Sleep Powder on him too. Drew returned his Pokémon and feigned a sloppy walk. Everyone gasped at Drew's 'severe' injury. May ran up to him and helped him 'stand' correctly.
"Drew! What happened?!" she exclaimed with concern. Drew urged a 'groan' and replied.
"Ash did this to me. He came up to me and wanted to fight me because he thought that getting rid of me would make you love him," he 'croaked' out. It was obvious Ash had feelings for May to everyone. But to think Ash would go this far. Most of everyone are beginning to doubt who Ash really is. Brock, if he could, narrowed his eyes at Drew. Before he could oppose Drew, Gary beat him to it.
"Ashy-Boy sometimes can get angry but I know that he wouldn't try to attack you unless you've done something to him first," he said angrily. He knew Ash when they were kids and there was no way in underworld that Ash would do something this heinous. Misty on the other hand, believes Drew.
"Yeah right. When I traveled with Ash, he always starts off arguing with anyone over anything childish. Who's to say he didn't start hitting Drew?" she snorted. Iris nodded in agreement. "Yeah, Ash has always been acting like a little kid. He's been jumping around and he's what? 15?" Iris added.
"Iris is right. Ash has been reckless especially when he tried to capture a Gible when we met some Johto region people. He obviously tried to attack Drew over bumping into him or something," Dawn piped in. Before anyone else could say their opinion about Ash, Brock did what was the most surprising from him. He snapped.
"How can ALL of you assume Ash would attack a person? This is the same Ash that gave you all the best adventures and experiences with Legendary Pokémon and this is what you repay him with?!" he scowled.
"Ash didn't do shit for me. I just came here to see Dee-Dee," Kenny sneered. Dawn gave a slight glare at Kenny but she knew he uses it playfully nowadays. Everyone turned their attention to May, the only one who decides if Ash was innocent or not.
"May do you believe Ash did this?" Brock asked in a tone that means don't lie.
"Come on, you know how Ash inspired us May," said Gary.
"You guys are pathetic to think Ash would be this violent," said a gruff voice only Brock and Dawn know. Everyone turned their heads to Paul, who was glaring at the traitors.
"I was wrong to think that Ash is a boonie. You guys are the real boonies for not believing Ash," sneered Trip.
"Yeah tell us May," said a voice that seemed cold and ruthless. Everyone turned to Ash, who just woke up and was mad at how they betrayed him just like that. "I appreciate your support guys," he said to his true loyal friends. Then he turned to his former friends. "To think I have called you all friends. It was me that gave you guys the best support and experience to become a good trainer no matter what career you choose. I guess I was wrong. And I'm holding back? I don't need to use my Elite Pokémon and I could have made them stronger during the time on the respective regions if you guys didn't come around asking for help. Now May, who are you going to believe? Me or Drew?" May looked back and forth from Ash to Drew. She finally decided who she thought was in the wrong.
"I'm sorry Ash, but I believe Drew because I… love him." That was the final straw. Ash looked down, the visor of his Pokémon Cap overshadowing his eyes. He looked up back at May, his eyes turning blue. He took out his Terracotta Ribbon half. "Charizard use Flamethrower." With a toss of his palm, all you could see was an orange blur and crisps of what was once something of Friendship. May's eyes prickled with tears that are threatening to fall off. Not wanting to even stay here anymore, Ash recalled all his Pokémon except Charizard, grabbed his bag, hopped on said Fire-Lizard Pokémon, and flew off. Paul immediately left after, apparently he got sick with traitor disease. Trip didn't want to see the boonie circus anymore so he left to the road. Brock just walked out, for once in a bad mood.
"Well, what are you waiting for? Get out of my house!" Gary yelled. The traitors immediately left, no remorse for their actions.
This was the day Ash stopped holding back.