Brock, Dawn, Professor Oak, Gary, Tracy, Mrs. Ketchum, and Mr. Ketchum sat in the stands watching battles unfold.

“Ash’s battle is up next,” Brock stated.

They all nodded.

“He’s against Paul,” Brock said.

They all nodded again. Each of them were extremely nervous. Ever since the hot springs, Ash had been training his butt off. He had never lost a single match. He never had to call out more than one pokemon. He’d defeat his opponent with one and only one pokemon. They knew that Ash was stronger, but they also knew that Paul would also be a lot stronger.

“Our next battle is between Paul from Veilstone City and Ash from Pallet Town!” the announcer called out.

They watched as Paul, looking as he always did, walked out onto the field. Then they saw Ash come out.

“Wow…Ash sure has changed over these past few months,” Misty’s voice spoke softly.

They all turned to see Misty standing there in the aisle with an ashamed face.

“May I sit here, guys?” she asked.

They nodded. Misty sat down and glued her eyes to Ash.

“He’s gotten taller…finally. But when did he dye that lock of hair white? And when did he start wearing all black? And where is Pikachu? All I see is that jet black Pikachu with white cheeks and white back stripes?” Misty thought aloud.

“That is Pikachu, Misty. It changed almost over night. It just looks different though. Its still the same Pikachu. Just like Ash is still Ash,” Brock stated.

But Misty was right. Ash changed his entire wardrobe after the hot springs. And just like Pikachu, that lock of hair changed color over night. He didn’t know why, but he was pretty sure that it had something to do with his family.

“You ready to fight, loser?” Paul asked Ash.

“Ladies first,” Ash responded coldly.

That hit a nerve, “Torterra go!”

“Buizel, let’s go!” Ash yelled.

“Paul has chosen his Torterra, a grass and ground type, and Ash has chosen his Buizel, a water type!” the announcer yelled out.

“What is Ash thinking?” Misty whispered to herself.

Misty stared at his face. He didn’t seem that different except one thing…His eyes. She always could tell what he was feeling through those eyes. Something was up. He looked so much older. He looked…ill. The moment that that thought appeared in her head, Ash coughed violently.

“Is he sick?!” Misty snapped.

Ash’s dad nodded and smiled.

“He’s sick but he’s perfectly healthy,” he stated.

“But-” Misty started.

“I think that it’s time to tell them, Richard. I mean we told Ash only yesterday. I don’t think that he’s told them yet,” Mrs. Ketchum said.

“Tell us what?” Brock asked.

“You see, all of these changes happening to Ash are actually quite normal for our family,” Mr. Ketchum said.

“Both sides of the family,” Delia added.

“You see, both of our families are psychics,” Richard stated.

“Actually, Ash’s cousin is Sabrina from the Saffron Gym. She used to be the strongest psychic in both families,” Delia smirked.

“That is until just recently,” Richard finished.

“What happened?” Dawn asked.

“Ash’s powers finally appeared,” Richard smirked.

“And he already has complete control over them. But he doesn’t use them,” Delia stated, “If he was, we could read his thoughts and then yell at him. But he’s being good and not using them at all.”

“Just when I thought that he couldn’t fool me any more…” Misty sighed, “What other secrets are you holding back from us, Ashy boy?”

At that moment, Buizel KO Torterra. Ash was smiling for a change. Ash recalled his pokemon and called out Turtwig. Paul called out Electibuzz. But Turtwig KO him too. This continued for each of Paul’s Pokemon. Ash would change his pokemon just to have it defeat him in one blow. Even Chimcar, the one that he thought was worthless, defeated him with ease. In the end, Ash just smiled at Paul, thanked him for the battle, and casually walked off the field. Misty never thought she’d see the day that Ash Ketchum wouldn’t celebrate a victory. Misty quickly stood up and ran down the aisle. She ran out of the stadium to see Ash staring at the sky up in a tree.

“Hey Ash!” Misty called to him.

He didn’t move. As Misty got closer, she could see that he was in a trace of some sort. She started to climb up the tree, not doing so well, so she could chat with him. She’d admit it. She still loved him with all her heart. But the real reason why she was there was because her dad was finally letting up on the whole no Ketchum’s thing. Finally, Misty made it to the branch that he was sitting on. But she came face to face with Pikachu…A very angry Pikachu for that matter.

“Hi Pikachu!” Misty greeted, uneasy.

Either that snapped Ash out of it or he just read Pikachu’s thoughts because Ash turned his head to see Misty. He nodded in her presence.

“Hey Ash. Can I talk with you?” Misty asked.

The next thing see knew, she was floating down to the ground. Ash then jumped down and rushed Misty into the pokemon center. It was then that Team Rocket landed, explosively, on the very branch where they had been sitting. Ash stared coldly at them.

“You know, twerp, what’s the point of even planning these things when you somehow find out about them?!” Jessie complained.

“How do you do it?!” James whined.

Ash smiled and raised his finger to his lips and said, “It’s a secret.”

“You know, I hate dose tupid secrets of yours, twerp. We know what you do in da middle of da night. You’re always drawing dat red-” Meowth started to say.

But Ash had told Pikachu to use thunderbolt on the three. Misty had to admit. His psychic abilities was already amazing. Reading minds, lifting things, talking through telepathy, and predicting the future…Wait a minute.

“Hey Ash, I was wondering. Can you predict the future now?” Misty asked.

“Only up to a few minutes into the future. But it does come in handy,” Ash stated.

“I see,” Misty sighed.

Ash turned to face her and smiled.

“You lied to me at the hot springs, right?” he questioned.

“HOW’D YOU FIND OUT?!?!?!?!?” Misty screamed.

“Just simple mind reading. I wanted to know for sure that you didn’t love me once and for all. Now, I’m glad that I did have these strange and troublesome powers,” Ash said, taking her hand in his.

He gently pressed his lips against her hand. It was just as soft as he remembered it.

“I still love you, Misty. And I’m telling you, that no matter what you want me to do, I will forever love you,” Ash stated, smiling at her.

“Ash,” Misty whispered.

“And I’m not afraid of your father. I don’t care what he believes of my family. It isn’t something that my family is proud of. My uncle was the man who attacked your family. He was insane with power. But he’s no longer a threat. Grandfather took away his powers,” Ash basically begged, “So please Misty. Please go out with me again. Give me another chance. Don’t let your father rule your life. Please.”

Just when Misty would have send yes, her father appeared.

“MISTY KASUMI WATERFLOWER!!!! YOU GET AWAY FROM THAT MONSTER!!!!!” her father shouted.

“He’s not a monster, daddy! I love him!” Misty shouted back.

‘I can see where she gets her temper,’ Ash thought, startled that someone out did Misty in anger.

“I DON’T CARE!!!! HE’S A FREAK LIKE THE REST OF HIS FAMILY!!!!” her father shouted at his youngest.

“I don’t care what you say! I know Ash. He’s no freak nor would he ever hurt us!” Misty snapped.

Ash couldn’t take it. He needed Misty in his life. He truly did. But he knew what it might cost him. Ash stepped in-between Misty and her father. He dropped to his hands and knees in front of the angry man.

Mr. Waterflower was shocked. He’d never except a Ketchum to push away his/her pride. At that moment, the rest of Ash’s friends and family appeared.

“Please, Mr. Waterflower. Let me and Misty be together. I need her. I can’t imagine life without her,” Ash begged.

Misty stared at Ash. He’d never beg unless he really REALLY wanted something. Something that was worth more than his pride, one of his most prized things. She could feel her tears in her eyes.

“NEVER!!!” he father boomed, about to kick Ash.

“I’ll do anything! Please!” Ash shouted.

That stopped her father. A grin came across his features.

“Ok. Here,” he smirked, throwing a army knife in front of Ash, “ Cut yourself were ever I tell you to and not make a sound.”

“FATHER!!!!!!!!!” Misty snapped.

But Ash just picked up the knife and pulled out the blade, “Where, sir?”

“Your left cheek first,” Mr. Waterflower smirked.

Ash did so without a word nor grimace. Misty stared at him.

“What gives? You can grimace,” Mr. Waterflower stated.

“Actually no. I can’t. Without Misty, I am literally numb to pain. Well at least to physical pain. It just doesn’t hurt. But for a few moments when I was holding her hand, I could feel some of my most recent injuries,” Ash smiled, “It just proves that I need Misty.”

Misty stared at Ash. Was he serious? He couldn’t feel any pain?

“It’s true. When the pain in his heart got to great, he’d take it out by cutting his arm once. Only once. But he would always watch it bleed, stop, clot, and close,” Brock stated.

Misty hit Ash upside the head.

“What I do?!” Ash cried.

“What’s wrong with you!? Why would you do something like that?!” she snapped.

“It distracted my heart from thinking of you,” Ash said, barely audible.

Mr. Waterflower stared at the young Ketchum. Perhaps he wasn’t so bad. To go that far just so that he wouldn’t feel as much pain. Pain that he himself had made his youngest to inflict upon him. All because something his uncle did. Then suddenly, Ash’s face paled. He grabbed Misty marriage style and ran off. Before Mr. Waterflower could do anything, the man that he feared appeared right where Misty had been standing.

“So it was your presence that I sensed, Leon,” Richard stated, scowling at the strange man.

“I just came to say hello to my nephew and my dear brother,” the man named Leon smirked.

“Lier!” Ash snapped, “I can sense that killing aura about you!”

“I see. So the rumors are true. You are the strongest of the family. Well, besides me. But they never count me. On the account that I’m, oh what’s the word,” Leon smiled in an insane matter.

He covered his eyes and then made his face to appear to pop off his head.

“Crazy?” he finished.

Ash held Misty closed, eyes never leaving Leon’s person.

“Oh, you’re no fun, Ashton,” Leon pouted.

“I know what you plan to do and I won’t let you!” Ash snapped.

Misty could feel Ash’s fear. She was close to him enough to know when he scared. And that was the time to panic. Ash’s eyes were trying to hold in place but she could see them shake a little.

“Come now Ashton. You can’t beat me. Don’t you remember what happened the last time you opposed me?” Leon smirked.

Brock didn’t like this. Not one bit. This Leon guy was bad news. He was no aura reader but he knew that he’d be blinded if he could see it. He just didn’t like the feeling this guy was sending out.

“Ash?” Misty tested the tension.

Ash stayed still. He never moved an inch. He seemed frustrated.

“Well, don’t you? Here, I’ll remind you!” Leon said.

The next thing they all knew, Ash was screaming bloody murder. He moved one hand to hold his hand while tighten his grip on Misty with his other. Ash tried to fight it off, but lost. Ash soon crumpled over into Misty’s arms. He was drenched in a cold sweat plus breathing like he just ran three marathons. What did that Leon man do to him?

“Leon! That’s enough! Isn’t once enough to put the boy through!?” Richard snapped.

“Shut your mouth, little brother!” Leon snapped back, “What authority gives you the right to tell me what to do?!”

In the blink of an eye, Ash had hit Leon with a huge mallet.

“HEY!!! MY MALLET!!!!” Misty yelled.

“Sorry, Mist! I kinda need it!” Ash exclaimed.

“You little brat. HOW DARE YOU!?!?!?!?! HOW DARE YOU DO THAT TO YOUR SUPRIOR!” Leon shouted, energy releasing.

It was like a huge gust of wind had blown through.

“Suprior? I don’t think so,” Ash said, smirking at him, “I just see a man who thinks that he’s better than everyone else.”

Leon lunged a psychic hand toward Ash but a barrier blocked him. When Leon decided to attack Misty, Ash’s weakness, there was a barrier around her.

“You can’t beat me, Uncle Leon. I while I may not be stronger than you, I know how to control my powers. You were so power hungry that you never took the time to learn how to fully control yours. So no matter how many times you try, you’ll never beat me,” Ash said, walking towards his uncle, “So call uncle. I don’t like hurting people.

“NEVER!!!” Leon screamed, releasing his last amount energy in a powerful blast.

But Ash was faster. He had grabbed Leon’s hands, where the energy was building up like a water pulse, and blocked it.

“I thought father took away your powers,” Delia stated.

“No, father just wanted us to think that. He loved Leon so much that he wanted to give him another chance,” Richard said.

“Well, I’ll make him take them away from him this time,” Ash hissed.