AN: I felt like writing this, although my knowledge of this particular aspect of Pokémon is spotty at best. And when I said felt, It's more like the plunny staring me down in that creepy, creepy manner that reminds me of mimes. Staring mimes. Staaaaare~~~~ (o)_(o)
I know it isn't written all that well as a result: Partly because I'm that bad, and partly because I went into this with the intention of writing something confusing, which is not a good thing in most works.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything recognizable.
Ash didn't like mountains.
Now, that is not to say he had any real trouble crossing them, whether through caves or over the peaks, or that it was even the mountains themselves that were the problem, but standing there, at great heights, looking over the lands all the way to the horizon, always invoked a sense of fear in him.
No, while fear was entirely accurate a nominer, it was not the most accurate term available. Apprehension was more like it. He, entirely through instinct, grasped something, knew what others might only learn to late.
It is lonely at the top.
He would never admit these feelings out loud, or how badly they affected him, even if he knew deep down he couldn't deny it. The evidence of it in his life was all to plain to see for those who knew to look.
All these years he had gone forward, but he was never any closer to fulfilling his goal.
Many had commented on it. Whether it was a simple 'Grow up, Ash', or long frustrated lectures about how he seemed to ignore everything he learned until he was cornered. Of starting over every region, while he had perfectly workable teams he never seemed to use.
His Pokémon understood though, however reluctant. They knew he cared, they knew they were not forgotten, but however much it hurt, they also knew that he wasn't ready yet to take that step. To reach the point where he would frequently need them again, and would most likely never be. They would wait though, because ready or not, it was inevitable, and they would be there.
Sometimes he does wonder what it would have been like. If he allowed himself to grow at the full rate he was capable of. If he used his resources, if he planned ahead. He is not naive though, and knows roughly, that however the journey might have gone, the destination was set in stone.
Ash didn't like a cardboard-complex any better than he did mountains.
Those two sentiments were entirely related.
AN2: For those who noticed the larger leap of logic needed at the end, it was intentional. As was the last sentence that stated the somewhat obvious. Like I said before, it was meant to be at least a bit confusing. Trackable, and giving a bit of an insight, but confusing nevertheless.