It was eight o'clock, the night sky decorated with small yet bright stars. In Pallet Town, there sat a group of people, along with some of their children. Everyone huddled together, flinching when they hear a boom or a crash of the windows. They all sat in a bunker, a place that will protect them from nuclear attacks. You could guess why they were here… BOOM! The bunker shook with the aftershock of the explosion, children screamed in pure terror. Parents held their children tight, as they cried, "We are going to die! We are going to die!"
Two young men sat next to each other, Ash Ketchum and Gary Oak. Ash sat there, tears falling down his cheeks as Gary held him close. Ash and Gary have been dating for quite some time, and they had finally confessed their relationship to Professor Oak and Ash's mother, Delia. The day seemed as if it were going to be the best day of their lives, until Unovan planes started to fly over and dropped bombs of all kinds upon the small town.
Ash remembered, how his mother looked when he had found her. An arm missing, the other bent backwards. Both of her legs have been blown off as well. So much blood leaked onto the floor of their now blown kitchen. He remembered how he screamed in agony as he saw his dead mother's body sprawled on the floor. He remembered how he held her, before Gary came in and brought him here. His shirt covered in his mother's blood and his tears.
CRASH! BOOM! Glass broke as the Unovans kept dropping their abusive weaponry. About an hour later, the booms stopped. Professor Oak went up and opened the bunker door to look around. He saw nothing but rubble that once was the homes of many. Luckily, the Unovan planes had passed over and it was safe. He signaled everyone to follow, Gary helping Ash up. Ash shaking from the shock and fear, even with his boyfriend's support and strength, he lost all of his courage. Once everyone was out, they looked around their surroundings. Nothing was left, not even left over wood to make small huts. Ash hugged his boyfriend tighter, as he looked at his destroyed home, which happened to not be too far from the bunker.
Everyone was silent, mourning their losses within themselves. Children cried, adults worried for that their children are now unsafe… Professor Oak looked at Ash and Gary, and felt a pang in his heart. Ash looked terrible, his eyes bloodshot and his cheeks stained with tears. He stood, shaking on his feet as Gary held him up.
"Gary, do you have Ash alright?" Professor Oak asked, as he walked over to them. Gary nodded, "Yeah, he is really shaken up."
"Ash, you are going to stay with Gary and I. If that is okay with you?" Professor Oak offered, Ash looked back at the Professor, still shaking from the fear and from the weakness of the knees. Ash smiled, a small one and maybe forced, but still a smile, "Ok… thank you." The three walked into Viridian City, to stay in a pokecenter room. Ash and Gary shared a bed, as Professor Oak took the other. Gary hugged Ash as tight as he could, "Don't worry, Ash. Everything will work out."
"But how?" Ash asked, his hands around Gary's waist, his head on his shoulder. Ash choked on a sob, tears starting to flow again. Gary started to rub his hand along Ash's back in soothing circle patterns. Gary let him cry, knowing that Ash will eventually become stronger and happy again. Gary knew what Ash is going through, losing his own mother and father in a freak car accident. Of course, in spite of his depression he pushed Ash away in hopes of not losing him the same way. But he was wrong, he was losing Ash peice by peice. And before long, Ash would be gone. Gary, after finding his affections towards the raven haired boy, he did whatever he could to bring Ash back to him.
Losing his mother was a hard blow to Ash's psychi and it was luring him down onto his knees. Gary wasn't sure how long it will take for him to heal… hopefully not long. Eventually, Ash stopped and the grip that was holding Gary slacked. Ash was finally asleep, and Gary could feel his chest rising and falling in time with his breathing. Gary leaned down to kiss his partner on his forehead, pulling him in closer. And before he closed his eyes, he said, "I love you Ash, don't worry, you'll make it through."
When morning came, Gary; surprisingly, was the first to awaken. He reached over to grab the remote for the television, and clicked it on. The t.v. was already set on the Kanto news. They obviously knew about the attack yesterday, since they were talking about it non-stop.
"At six o'clock last night, a Unovan nuclear attack hit Pallet Town."
"Most of the people survived, but our teams had found many dead as well. Including the pokemon master's mother."
"Here are a list of people who died yesterday, those who knew anyone on this list is welcome to visit them at any point today:" Then a list of the people who died yesterday appeared:
Emanuel Kalajart
Liam Otto
Felix Prindo
Delia Ketchum
Tracey Sketchit
The list went on, Gary knew these weren't all of them, there are always the occasional few that are unable to be identified. He then heard a rustle from next to him. It was Ash, who finally woke up and placed his head on Gary's chest. Gary hugged him, holding him close, "Good morning, sunshine." Gary teased. But Ash acknowledged his statement with a grunt. Gary winced, Ash has never been this way before. He is unsure of what to do. But he did the only thing he knew he could do, "You know I will always be here for you, right?"
Ash nodded, "Yeah, I know…" He nuzzled his face into Gary's chest, trying to get comfortable.
"Did you sleep well?" Gary asked, trying to make small talk. Ash shrugged, "If you count getting nightmares almost all night a good night's sleep."
"Don't worry, Ash. All of this will go away."
"How do you know?"
"Remember, my parents? They died in a car accident. Of course, I wasn't there. I was with Gramps at the time. They were going out on a business trip, to study the Gyrados over by Cinnabar island, but a drunk driver hit them head on, instantly killing them." There was a moment of silence between the two. Ash looked down, his hair covering his eyes before saying, "I'm sorry."
"Don't be."
"No I should be. I shouldn't have said anything. And you are right, maybe it will all pass over."
"All you need to do is stay positive. I know it seems impossible, but that was what Gramps taught me and it worked like a charm." Gary said, nudging Ash on his shoulder with his fist, hoping that it will make him smile. It always did.
But when the smile didn't come, he sighed in defeat. He turned his attention back to the news cast, "Viridian City is being used for sanctuary for those who survived the bombing, but for those who are traveling by plane, the airports have been temporarily shut down." voiced the blonde lady on the screen who seemed cheery compared to the story she is reporting.
Gary felt the mattress shift. He looked at Ash, who was now getting out of bed. He was making his way to the door when the lady spoke again, "This is breaking news! Unovan aircrafts are on course to Kanto once more. It is recommended to stay in the bomb bunker with a working broadcasting radio. This is Susan McAfee of Saffron News signing out."
Gary and Ash shared an equal fearful expression. They are coming again, this time, to kill them all.
