It has been 3 long years since Machamp took the 10 year old as his apprentice although he will not admit it openly but Ash had improved a lot. Machamp had pushed his body and mind beyond the limits to train him how to use his Aura. He had first made Ash's body ready for the actual training by making him run laps around the town and exercise with weights in the first year. Then the actual training started from the second year, the training of martial arts. Machamp taught Ash how to fight in the second year and lastly in the third year Machamp taught him how to use his aura. Since aura is much similar to the raw fighting type energy in fighting pokemon he could atleast teach him the basics of using his aura at will.

Ash could talk to pokemon, and heal their injuries with aura to SOME extent and he could also manipulate it to attack any unfortunate pokemon that would sneak up on Ash.

Puberty hit Ash like a train and gave him the growth spurt required to endure Machamp's training regime. Now he stood at a respectable 5'5" with a swimmers build. Neither a muscle freak nor a petite one...just the swimmer's build with lean toned muscles.

Although the most enormous change was his hair...His aura came at a cost. His hair color. Before his hair was pitch black in color but now his pitch black color hair was highlighted with a bright silverish blue at his spikes of his hair. His hair was still mostly black but it was highlighted at several places in silver blue color.

And he discovered that not only Professor Oak but Delia too knew about his powers since the beginning. Ash had apologized for not trusting and telling her about his ability to talk to Pokemon. She didn't mind at all and told him that she knew his reasons for not telling them. Ash was scared that they would call him a freak or something like that so he hid the fact from them.

Anyway...Today was a VERY special day. Why? All the newbie trainers had finally hit the age of 13 and were ready to get their own Pokemon.

So...PRESENT TIME WITH ASH...

"Ashy have you packed and checked everything you need?" His mother asked with concern. Ash nodded, "Yes"

"Are you excited?" She asked hopefully. Ash smiled...these days his smiles were once in a blue moon, "Yes mum. I am. After all these years I and Ralts are going to start our journey. Of course I am excited..."

Ash wore a red and black jacket over his white full sleeved t shirt along with black pants. He had his belt attached to his waist and had a red backpack. His blue eyes and silver-blue streaked black hair gave Ash an exotic look.

His mother smiled...sadly.

"Ash...I have one last thing to give you..." Ash who was about to open the door stopped in his tracks and turned to Delia, "Yes mum?"

Delia wept one lone tear and turned on her heels to enter her room...She came back with...2 black gloves with ornate gold colored designs on them and 2 purple colored stones on the back of the gloves...

"Mum aren't those –" Ash was about to ask...Delia smiled, "Yes...they belonged to him. These are one of his last possessions. He would have wanted you to have them"

And then...Ash did something he hadn't for 6 years...He cried. In the first time in 6 years he cried...He hugged Delia and cried...

"Th-Th-Thank y-you...mum" Ash wept a few tears and took the gloves and wore them...They were a perfect fit. The gold colored designs and the purple stones gave them a magnificent look...

And then suddenly something strange happened...The necklace on Ash's neck...The one he received 3 years ago from the dying Salamence glowed...It started to glow a brilliant blue color...

"Mum...is this supposed to happen?" Ash asked with a raised eyebrow...Delia giggled, "Ashy you didn't know but...The stone along with the necklace that the Salamence gave you that day was actually a Mega Stone"

Ash's jaw hit the floor as he processed the new information...He was carrying a MEGA STONE, a SALAMENCITE nonetheless for 3 years without knowing? Then he looked at his gloves...

"Mum...are these Keystones?" Ash asked...Delia giggled, "Yes they are. I must both curse and thank your luck Ashy. It gave you a Salamencite 3 years ago and you have been carrying it without knowing..."

Ash smiled once again and wept away the few tears that were left on his face, He hugged Delia, "Thank you mum...For everything you have done for me. I will miss you..."

He said and without waiting for an answer he exited his house with his Bagon egg which had still not hatched.

Delia smiled as she watched her son go away, "He is just like you.......Red" She mumbled silently.

WITH ASH....

He ran towards Oak's lab with a smile when a familiar shrill shriek stopped him dead in his tracks, "AASSSHHHYYYY!" Once again a cyan colored blur wearing a red skirt with a white hat with a pokeball print over her light brown hair tackled him from behind.

Ash grit his teeth together as she went forward to grind her...rather developed for age...C cup...assets against him...

"Ashy~ did you miss me?" Leaf said in her usually flirty tone...Ash shook his head and spoke, "Leafy...get off" He deadpanned.

She pouted and let go of Ash and grinned, "Ashy why hasn't the egg hatched yet? I wanted to raise the baby Bagon with you..."

Ash's face went red and he coughed loudly, "*cough**cough*Excuse me? Aren't you a bit too young to think about such things?"

Leaf giggled, "I may be young but my freaky, little, overactive mind loves to wander around...I may have imagined a few things or two about us~" She purred...

Ash sighed and facepalmed...

"Hopeless..." He muttered before turning back and continuing on his path...

"HEY WAIT FOR ME!!" Leaf yelled before catching up to him. Leaf spotted his gloves and asked, "What are those gloves for?"

Ash grinned...actually grinned, "Nothing...nothing...just for decoration...I think"

Leaf huffed, "FINE! Keep your secrets! I will find out one day"...

"Oh I am sure you will"

After some walking they reached Oak's lab to see...Gary coming out with a pokeball in his hand, "HEY LOSER! I got the best pokemon you couldn't hope to beat!! AHAHHAHA!!! And lookie, lookie the loser's egg still hasn't hatched yet! HAH! What a failure!!"

"Huh? Did you say something?" Ash asked innocently and turned to Gary to fell down on the ground face first...(AN : Kakashi-sensei would be so proud)

Leaf giggled, "That one always works on him"

Gary grit his teeth and dusted off his cloths, "Whatever! You bastards will never beat me anyway!" He said and jumped into his...red car full of cheerleaders wearing bikinis? And drove off.

Leaf huffed, "Hmph! What a showoff...And where did he get those....those....cheerleader wenches!"

Ash shook his head, "That's none of our business Leafy. Let's go in. Bulbasaur and Ralts must be waiting for us"

She nodded and entered Oak's laboratory with Ash...

Oak smiled at the duo, "Ahh it seems my junior worker and his girlfriend are here!"

Ash just coughed loudly and Leaf giggled, "I don't think you can say that yet Old Man"

"Come on I am not that old" Oak said but seeing Ash's deadpan look he remembered a few moments...

Flashback...
The old professor was trying to get a jar of cookies high up on the shelf. He was on a small chair to help him when...
CRACK!
He fell down on the floor clutching his waist, "OOOowwww my old bones..."
Another Flashback...
Oak was trying to climb a tree to get a Meowth to the ground which was stuck up the tree...he extended his hands towards the cat pokemon, "Come on kitty, kitty, kitty"
Suddenly....CRACK!
The branch below him gave up and he fell down on the ground clutching his aching body..."OOOowwww my precious old bones..."

Oak sweatdropped under the deadpan gaze that brought those memories...Oak coughed, "Ahem...Anyway. Ash this is from now rightfully yours" Oak handed Ash the Pokeball belonging to his friend Ralts which he took with a small smile...

"Come out Ralts" With a white glow the emotion Pokemon appeared. Ralts trilled happily, 'Finally! I have waited a long time for this Ash'...Ash nodded, 'So have I Ralts...'

Oak smiled at their interaction, "Ash now take these" Oak handed Ash a Pokedex and 5 Pokeballs.

"Now Ash the Pokedex is a very advanced device –"

"Professor...I have been working with you for 7 years" Ash deadpanned...Professor fell down on the floor anime style as Leaf sweatdropped...

Professor got up and dusted himself, "Ahh yes...but I would have preferred if you hadn't destroyed my super speech on the Pokedex"

Ash could only nod dumbly and said 'sorry' uncaringly. Leaf giggled to herself as she received her Pokedex and Pokeballs...Some things never change, Leaf thought to herself.

When Oak's 'super speech' was over Ash could be seen leaning against the wall snoring softly taking a 'power nap' and Ralts exactly copying Ash...and Leaf too with her head on Ash's shoulder taking a 'power nap' herself with Bulbasaur asleep by her feet...

Massive sweatdrop from Professor Oak...

"YOU LITTLE BRATS SLEPT THROUGH MY ENTIRE SUPER SPEECH!" Oak shouted as they jolted awake.

Ash rubbed his eyes and said, "Huh? Did you say something?" The old professor facepalmed.

Ash, Ralts, Leaf and Bulbasaur were going to exit the lab when Oak stopped them, "Ash, Leaf wait!"

They turned back to see Oak was smiling, "I have seen both of you grow up. And I couldn't be any prouder. It's time for you two to leave the sanctuary of Pallet town and explore the world for yourselves...I just have a final gift for you two..."

Oak handed Ash a...Dawn Stone and Leaf a Miracle Seed.

"Ralts would evolve into a Kirlia and since he is male I don't think he would ever appreciate being a Gardevoir so the Dawn stone to make him a Gallade. And the Miracle Seed for Leaf to make the grass type moves of Bulbasaur stronger" Professor smiled.

"Th-Thank you professor...I-It means a lot..." Ash said...he had to pull back a few tears that threatened to fall and walked out of Professor's lab, hand in hand with Leaf.

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Ash and Leaf stopped at the exit of Pallet town with grim smiles on their faces...They looked at each other before Ash spoke, "So this is it huh?"

Leaf smiled, "It seems so..." She leaned in as Ash caught her waist with one arm, she put both hands on his chest and leaned in even closer.

She engaged him into a short make-out session before she separated...She had a few tears in her eyes, "Bye Ash...We would meet again at some point of our journey...I hope...I...I...lo-" She choked on her words...

Ash hugged her, "You don't have to say it now...But maybe...maybe a long time after...you would be able to say it without any hitch...besides" Ash grinned...

"...The Leaf I know would like to say it at some cheesy, romantic place after a date or while proposing...not at the exit of Pallet town..."

Her tears stopped falling...A smile graced her lips then she giggled, "Right..."

Ash let go of her and walked forward. He set his first foot outside Pallet to start his journey...to become a legend.

I know this chapter was kinda short but...meh please don't mind. And obviously Read and Review so that I can improve the standard of the story.