In the fanfiction, it could be that Ash's friends are influenced by an evil force. This force might cloud their judgment and make them turn against Ash. They might not even be fully aware of what they're doing. Also, it could be a long - built - up resentment. Ash might have unknowingly made decisions in the past that affected his friends negatively, and over time, this led to their betrayal. For instance, if he always got the best Pokemon training opportunities and his friends felt left out.
Well, in this fanfiction, his friends could betray him due to a prophecy or some ancient lore. Maybe there's a belief that Ash is going to bring destruction in the future, and his friends think they need to stop him before it's too late. Or it could be a case of false information. A rumor spreads that Ash is planning something bad, and his friends believe it without verifying. This could be a ploy by an antagonist who wants to break Ash's spirit by turning his friends against him.
One possible reason could be jealousy. Maybe Ash has achieved more in his Pokemon journey than his friends, and they can't handle it. Another reason might be some misunderstanding. For example, an enemy could trick Ash's friends into thinking Ash has done something bad. Or perhaps there's some sort of power struggle. If there's a powerful item or a rare Pokemon involved, and Ash is the main contender, his friends might be tempted to betray him for their own gain.
One possible reason could be a misunderstanding. For example, if his friends accidentally made a decision that cost Ash a big Pokemon battle or an important opportunity. Another reason might be if there was some sort of betrayal. Maybe one of his friends was secretly working with a rival and Ash found out. But again, these are very uncharacteristic scenarios for the Pokemon world.
One possible reason could be jealousy. Maybe his friends are jealous of Ash's success in his Pokemon journey. For example, if Ash wins a big tournament and gets all the fame, his friends might feel left out and betrayed. Another reason could be a misunderstanding. Ash might do something that his friends misinterpret. Say he makes a deal with an enemy in order to save his Pokemon, but his friends don't understand the situation and think he's turned on them.
Ash would probably be devastated. He would feel like his world has been turned upside down. At first, he might not believe it and think it's all a big mistake. As the reality sinks in, he could start to isolate himself from others, even from his Pokemon for a while. However, his strong will would eventually kick in. He would use this as motivation to become stronger, not just in his Pokemon battles but also in his ability to face challenges alone, without relying on his so - called friends.
Jealousy could be one reason. Maybe his friends are jealous of his achievements as a Pokémon trainer. Another reason could be that they are influenced by some external forces, like an evil organization that convinces them to betray Ash.
Some of the gym leaders could also be involved. Maybe they feel threatened by Ash's new - found power as a champion. They might think that Ash will change the way the Pokemon battling world works and in order to stop that, they betray him. They could spread lies about Ash misusing his Pokemon or something similar.
It could be his rivals. For instance, Tracey or Paul might see Ash's potential in the new region as a threat and decide to betray him. They could try to sabotage his battles by giving false tips to his opponents or stealing his battle strategies.
In such fanfiction, it can be a complex situation. Maybe Ash's friends were misled or had their own hidden motives.
Maybe in the fanfiction, his friends keep getting in the way of his goals. For example, if Ash is really focused on becoming a Pokémon master and his friends are constantly causing distractions or making him take detours from his training and battles.
Maybe they were jealous of Bell's success or popularity in the story.
One reason could be a power struggle. If there was a rare and powerful Pokémon at stake, Ash might be tempted to betray Korrina to get it for himself. In the Pokémon world, power and rare Pokémon are highly coveted.