Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot.

Ash: 19

Dawn: 17

Misty: 20

Brock: 22

May: 17

Drew: 18

Paul: 18

Gary: 19

Jimmy: 20

Marina: 20

Rudy: 21

Lance: 25

Cissy: 23

Melody: 19

Orre, summer evening

It was a calm, peaceful, moon-filled night in the far off region of the deserted wasteland. All was calm until a roar and a burst of flame pierced the darkness. A large orange dragon, covered in numerous battle scars flew amongst the large boulders and blasted several to pieces. It soared up to a high cliff and landed. It was a Charizard, but was nearly twice as big as a normal human. It folded its wings inward as the fire-dragon encircled the campsite. One older teenaged boy, his bag and his longsword surrounded a campfire. The young man was wearing black fingerless gloves, a black t-shirt, dark blue jeans, black and white sneakers, and a black jean jacket. He was lean and muscular, at around 6'0", could hold his own in a fight. At his side was a somewhat large orange and white electric mouse, a Raichu. His ebony hair was spiked and much longer, Ash having put a good portion of it into a ponytail that went down to his neck. He bore a single, long scar across his right eye that ran from his hairline down to his chin, with another cutting across his left cheek from his nose to his jawbone. His brown eyes looked into the fire, a dark countenance housing his facial features. Glancing down at his old pal, he pet his first Pokemon and smiled sadly as he leaned back on his most powerful ally and closed his eyes. His name was Ash Ketchum.

5 years…has it really been that long? It's been 5 long, years since my life went to hell, and then some. I was right in the middle of the Sinnoh League when I heard what I feared most, only in my worst nightmares did I even dream of it. Team Rocket had gone to my hometown and wreaked havoc. Prof. Oak, Tracey, I don't know how many others were caught in the attack. The professor's lab was hardest hit, probably on account of it being the one place with the most Pokemon. So many people died, even my only family in the world, minus my friends. And it's my fault…all my fault. I couldn't let them get rid of me themselves, not when I was so weak. I still remember what Misty said to me…

"If you had just beat them from the very beginning, this wouldn't have happened!"

And then what Gary said…

"IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT HE'S GONE! IF IT WASN'T FOR YOU! DAMN YOU!!!"

Everyone had a reason to hate me for bringing THEM to Pallet. If I had known they were capable of that…still…I am strong now. My only purpose left now in this world…is one of revenge. And I WILL get what I have so longed for. I won't let ANYONE stand in my way. Death to all those who oppose me!

Ash smirked at this. If Dawn could see him now…if ANY of them could see him now. Charizard spoke up, Ash having learned the ability to communicate with any Pokemon.

(So…tomorrow we do it?) He asked.

"Yeah, tomorrow…" the trainer replied.

He looked down at Raichu. After Ash left everyone the night following the funerals for all the victims, Pikachu decided to change along with his trainer. Thus he did something he swore he'd never do, he evolved. Though he did swear he'd never change, secretly he made a promise that if Ash were to change, then so would he, even if there was no going back. Ash trained day and night for 3 years, gaining experience and one new Pokemon. He had snuck Totodile and Sceptile out with him, and Charizard followed after learning Ash was leaving. Together, all 4 came across Pidgeot, who was rejected from its clan by another, strong Pidgeot. All five, with the addition of one new member, trained until they learned all new moves, and 3 of them changing. Though some retained their old attitudes, others like Raichu adopted the cold sense of battle, following in their trainer's footsteps. Ash had learned how to use a sword, which he carried with him at all times. Suddenly, Pidgeot landed before Ash.

"What is it?" he inquired.

(It looks like some of our old allies are headed to Pallet Town, as are some of your rivals and enemies) the bird Pokemon chirped.

(Looks like we're gonna be fighting tomorrow, doesn't it?) Raichu spoke without opening his eyes.

"Looks like it. Let's get some sleep, Sceptile you're on guard duty," Ash commanded, flinging his Pokeball, releasing the grass-type.

(Understood) Sceptile replied, disappearing.

Tomorrow's gonna be one HELL of a day…

In Pallet Town

It was a star-filled night, brightly lit by a full moon. A raven haired girl, wearing a pink mini-skirt, a dark blue and white sleeveless top, pink boots was walking along the path, alongside her was her starter Pokemon, Prinplup. Sometime after the disappearance of her secret crush, her Piplup evolved. It was strong, which was why she had won the Grand Festival in both Kanto and Johto. She would have won in Sinnoh, but after Team Rocket attacked Sinnoh, she and her mother were forced to flee to Kanto. Since then, she had lived in a small village between Pewter City and Cerulean City, the two cities that his old friend's lived. She hadn't heard from neither Brock nor Misty in awhile and was starting to wonder.

Turning a corner, her eyes soon gazed upon an old, lonely house…the Ketchum residence. Walking closer to it, she noticed that Gary and some of the others still managed to keep it looking decent. Gone were the old occupants. Ash's mother was assumed dead in the attack 5 years ago, and the Mr. Mime that lived there was also gone. As for the young boy, she hadn't seen him in 5 years. In those 5 years, many things had changed. Brock had finally met a girl that didn't reject him and they had been going steady for at least 2 years now, though she was a few years younger than him. Misty was going out with some guy from the Orange Islands who had moved to Cerulean after a tsunami had caused massive death and destruction in the archipelago. There were a few she hadn't heard from in over 3 years, namely May Maple. The last Dawn heard, May was with some Drew character and they were traveling in the Fiore region. That is, until tomorrow.

Dawn had gotten word from Gary that he was calling any trainers that knew or met Ash Ketchum, to return to Pallet Town for a reunion. She was a bit excited, as there would be battles amid the partying and reunions. Gary Oak was one person she kept in contact with quite a lot. She knew that Gary was an old rival, and an old friend of Ash's. After Prof. Oak passed away, Gary rebuilt the lab and took over, majoring in Pokemon research just like his grandfather. Gary acquired a great deal more land than his grandfather did, a special area being built just for Ash's Pokemon. This was everyone's hope that he would return one day. As she gazed up at the stars, Dawn noticed a small black shape that was quickly moving across the night's sky.

"Hm? What's that?" she said aloud.

"Prin?"

"Looks like a Pokemon, but its too dark to see. Must be a Noctowl, maybe Ash's…" she said, trailing off at the end.

Ash…where in the WORLD are you? Please…come back to us…to me…she thought to herself.

The Pokemon quickly sped back from the direction it came, a faint boom heard in the distance as it went supersonic. It was in fact Pidgeot, and it flew off to the north to let Ash know about what it saw; a large group of rogue Shadow Trainers that were descending from the Orre region mountains, just to the north of Kanto.

Orre North Desert

"You're sure Pidge?" Ash asked.

(Yeah, there are at least 10 of them, maybe more. If it was even a little darker out, I might have seen them better. This whole moonlit night makes it too hard for me to see) Pidgeot replied.

Ash smiled slightly, stroking his wing feathers. "Don't worry about it buddy, it's not you're fault. By the sound of it, they're still 6 hours away and you made it back here in about 30 minutes. That means we have 4 hours to sleep and one hour to get ready, then another 30 minutes to get to Pallet and at least another 15 before those creeps bust up whatever they're going for, which you said was some kind of party?"

(That's right)

(Heh, looks like we ALL get some fun tomorrow.) Charizard grinned.

Ash nodded as he lay down. "Rai, make sure you wake me in about 4 hours."

Raichu nodded as it took over guard duty, letting Sceptile get some well-deserved rest. In addition to speed and power, Raichu had amazing endurance, able to use a bit of its electric energy to keep it going for up to 4 days straight, but on the downside it needed a full 24 hours to recharge to max power.

So she's still around…Dawn… Ash thought as he drifted off to sleep.

In Pallet Town

Dawn was in dark blue shorts and matching cami as she lay under the covers, looking at the moon through the window of the hotel that her and her mother were using. Most of everyone had checked into Pallet by this time, unaware of the danger, and surprise that was heading straight for them tomorrow.

Ash…please be ok…wherever you are…I miss you…She thought, her mind drifting off to sleep, but not before a single tear slid down her cheek.

Well, my first chapter went pretty well. I'll try to update soon, as I don't want this fic to die off like my past stories. Anyway, R&R please. Oh and don't bother flaming. Flames will be used to roast weenies. Thank you.