Hey everyone, welcome to another one of my stories. This idea popped into my head and I thought about writing about it. In the original series, I didn't really like it when Ash's Charizard was being disobedient and lazy, so what if Ash actually released Charizard after the Indigo League? And he got replaced by another pokemon not very much later? A pokemon that he never knew about? Most people won't like this story since everyone thinks Ash's Charizard is so cool and powerful and he can NEVER be replaced. Well, if you are one of those people, then don't read this story, go away and mind your own business. This is just a story and it isn't canon.

However, if any of you do want to read this story and leave a comment, as long as it isn't bad, then go right ahead.

DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN POKEMON.

Chapter One: Down Memory Lane

It was a very peaceful day in the Kalos region. There were blue skies, some white Mareep-shaped clouds were floating high in the air and a bright yellow orb known as the Sun was shining brightly upon the warm Kalos summer noon.

There were lots of pokemon out and about in the meadows of the beautiul Kalos countryside. Pidgeys and Starlys were flying in flocks and chirping some lovely tunes, groups of Budews were bathing in the sunlight to warm themselves up, and Tympoles and Marill were swimming together in a nearby flowing river.

We now come to a very particular scene that was taking place on one of the hills on the countryside. A scene that would be seen commonly on a beautiful day such as this.

A peaceful family picnic.

A Ketchum family picnic.

We find a man named with slightly tanned skin and raven black hair, Ash Ketchum, Kalos Champion and Pokemon Master, along with a woman with honey blonde hair and fair skin, who is his beautiful wife and Kalos Queen, Serena Ketchum, and their eight-year old daughter who had brown hair and green eyes, June Ketchum.

Along with them were some of their pokemon partners. Serena had a male Swanna, who was eating some seed from a bowl. She had caught him during her Unova journey with Ash.

June had a male Fletchling that her parents had given to her on her eighth birthday, who was lying on June's lap and sipping water from a bowl. He was a brave and playful little pokemon who was also June's best friend.

And, finally, Ash had his trusty female Talonflame, who was laying down on the picnic carpet on her belly and eating some toasted breadcrumbs that Serena had prepared for her. Her son suddenly flew over to her, wanting some motherly love. She wrapped her wing around him in a motherly fashion and rubbed her beak against his head, giving it a little scratch.

"Your cooking never ceases to amaze me, Serena.", said Ash as he swallowed some spaghetti bolognese.

"I'm glad you like it, Ash.", said Serena with a blush on her face. A blush that never seems to go away when her childhood crush, then boyfriend, and now husband, compliments her on her cooking.

"Yeah, you make the best food, Mommy.", said June cheerfully as she wiped her face with a clean napkin.

"Oh, stop it, both of you two. You're embarrassing me.", said Serena, hiding her red face behind her long honey blonde hair.

"Don't worry, sweetheart. We're just saying the truth.", said Ash pulled away the hair from Serena's face like a curtain and kissed her on the cheek.

"Yeah, we love you, Mommy.", said June as she hugged her mother, "And we love your cooking too."

"That's great to hear, sweetie.", said Serena cheerfully.

"Mommy, Daddy, Fletchling and I are finished eating. Can we go and play with the other pokemon? Please?", asked June.

"Of course you can, June. Go have fun.", said Serena.

"Go right ahead, kiddo. Just remember to not wonder off too far away. We'll call you when it's time to go back home.", said Ash.

"Okay, Daddy. C'mon, Fletchling! Lets go to play with the other pokemon.", said June as she ran off into the green meadows.

"Fletch Feltchling!", chirped out Fletchling out in excitement as he spread his wings and took to the air after June.

Seeing their daughter with such energy and a happy smile, the two proud parents watch her as she and Fletchling played with the wild pokemon.

"She is quite energetic today, honey.", said Serena as she leaned on her husband's shoulder.

"Yeah. It's probably since we had a picnic together as a family, which is a rare occasion since I'm busy being the Kalos Champion, her going to school and and you as the Kalos Queen.", said Ash, "She must really cherish these occasions and want to make them last forever."

"I guess she does.", said Serena. The couple laid down on the grass on their backs and watched the skies together. Swanna and Talonflame got the same idea and the roosted side-by-side.

"Looks like they are trying to do what we are doing, Serena.", said Ash.

Serena giggled at this, "Yep, they take after their trainers, I guess."

But deep inside, Ash was feeling something come up again. It was like a long lost memory that he wanted to forget about, but it denied not being allowed in. He took a long stare at his Talonflame in wonder at what that memory could really be. He looked at his watch and checked the calendar on it.

It read a date.

17th July, 2015

Ash suddenly realised the date it was today. And why he couldn't stop looking at the dual fire and flying-type. For a split second, in Talonflame's place, he could have sworn he had seen a familiar orange dragon pokemon that he once knew.

It had been exactly been twenty years since Ash had last seen him.

Or to be more accurate, seen and released him.

He went back to looking at the clouds and saw an all too familiar shape being formed in the clouds.

A cloud in the shape of a Charizard.

"Charizard.", murmured Ash silently to himself. The name didn't go unheard by Serena.

"Ash, what was that you just said?", asked Serena with some confusion in her voice.

"It's nothing, Serena. There's nothing to worry about. It was just an old memory.", replied Ash.

"Ash, I'm your wife. You can tell me anything. Anything as long as it doesn't involve you cheating on me or dating another girl behind my back. You aren't doing that, are you, mister?", asked Serena with a hint of anger in her voice.

"No! No! Of course not, Serena. You are the best wife a man could ever have. I wouldn't ditch you for anyone else. Ever!", said Ash as he sat up in panic.

Serena just giggled and pecked his cheek. "Ash, don't worry. I'm just messing with you. I know you wouldn't do such a thing. But seriously. I heard you say the name Charizard. Would you mind telling me what that means?"

Ash looked at Talonflame. He was happy to see her with her beloved and smiled. He then looked back at Serena and the smile disappeared.

"Serena, do you know how I caught Talonflame twenty years ago? Did I ever tell you what happened?", asked Ash.

"Sort of. You told me that you caught her back in Kanto when you were journeying there as a kid. That's all you told me.", replied Serena.

"But I guess I never told you what happened all those years ago of how I truly met her in the first place. Before Talonflame, I had another pokemon. I had a Charizard. He was one of my friends in the past. Was.", said Ash, with a little more emphasis on the last word.

"You had a Charizard? I didn't know that. You never told me you had one during your travels. Why didn't you tell me about him?", asked Serena.

"I just don't like to talk about him that much anymore. He's just a distant memory now.", said Ash.

"Why? Did something wrong happen between you two? Did you get into a fight?", asked Serena.

"No, it wasn't a fight exactly, but it was an external conflict. Although he was the one doing most of the conflicting. He was one of my pokemon friends, he didn't reciprocate all the love and affection that I gave him.", said Ash.

"Can you tell me what happened between you two? Where is he now?", asked Serena as she sat closer to one of her husbands childhood stories.

"I have no idea where he is at the moment, but there's no doubt he's out there somewhere, trying to find ways to get stronger. Well, alright then. But at the same time, when I last saw Charizard, I first met my newest pokemon back in the Kanto region, Talonflame, who would also go to be his… replacement.", said Ash, "It all started back at the Kanto League, when I had lost and ended in the Top 16…"

Well, that's the first chapter. The chapters in this story aren't going to be long. 1000-2000 words each at the most. Will update on my other stories along the way, but I'm back at school now with lots of work, so I will be busy and dealing with school now.