Few Things Left Unsaid
Chapter 1
7 years hence...
A dimly lit room was being illuminated by one neon bulb at top right corner of the room. The walls were painted white but now the paint was chirping of the walls and was falling apart. Below the neon bulb was a speaker and a camera, but looked out of order. On the left corner of the room were some electric instruments and bluish-green light was flashing from it occasionally. The room was almost empty and devoid of any activity. Almost.
In the middle of the room was a brownish haired man, working profusely on a dead, or somewhat dead corpse. He cleaned the sweat on his forehead using his sleeve and let out a small breath. "Come on breathe," he said, giving up.
The body stirred a little before falling unconscious again. The man gave a frustrated groan and banged his fist on the table. Another man, wearing a white lab coat with stains of blood placed his gloved hand on his shoulder.
The former let out a groan,"Failure once again." The other man withdrew his hand and put it in his pocket. He pulled out a piece of paper and placed it on the table.
"Look at the picture, look at their smiling faces, it depends on us."
The former man took a glance at the picture and bit his lip,"I never thought things would get so messed up." He ran a finger over it and closed his eyes. With new determination running through his veins, he let out a sharp and deep breath. He placed the picture beside the coffee mug and said,"You're right, their smiling faces depend on us."
Present day, Sinnoh region
Ash, Dawn and Brock were making their way to the victory road. After gaining the Beacon Badge from Volkner and Dawn coming second in the Grand Festival, the only thing which was following was the Lily of the Valley Conference, The Sinnoh League.
Piplup's stomach growled loudly and the trio stopped to take a look at the hungry penguin.
"It is almost lunch time, of course you're hungry,'' Dawn said, picking up Piplup in her arms. Pikachu who was walking beside Piplup gave a small 'chaa' and climbed in its usual spot, Ash's shoulder.
"Since there is no pokemon centre anywhere close, I guess we have to make our own food," Brock suggested. Ash and Dawn nodded while Piplup and Pikachu gave each other a victory smile.
As planned, the group decided to take a break along a riverside and Brock immediately began preparing the food. He kept his bag on the ground and brought out his pan and other utensils. Dawn and Ash placed their bag near his.
Dawn signaled Piplup to follow her,"There is a new move I am thinking to give a shot. Let us try and see how it turns out!" Piplup chirped and ran beside his trainer.
Brock was busy cutting some vegetables and Happiny was helping Sudowoodo to set up the table.
"Hey Ash, can you get me some firewood?" Brock requested.
Ash nodded and placed his hat over his messy hair. He let out all his pokemon saying,''We are going to get some firewood, make sure you all stay over here and behave.'' His Pokémon nodded. Infernape gave him a thumbs up while Gliscor looked at him with teary eyes. Ash let out a nervous chuckle,"May be next time Gliscor, I can't carry you around." The other Pokémon immediately went to help Brock. Ash signalled at Pikachu,"Come on buddy, lets go!"
Seeing his enthusiasm, Dawn couldn't help but smile,''He is always this energetic, isn't he?" Brock smiled and got up, picking up the vegetables with his hands,''Whatever involves food and battles always tends to gives him some extra energy.''
"Did you find anything dry?" Ash asked Pikachu. Pikachu shook his head, giving a tired,'Pikachu' in response.
"I guess it is because of the rainfall last night,'' he said while going deeper into the forest. He noticed a clearing and sun rays peeping from the area.
"That place looks warm, we should go and check there," Ash pointed at the clearing. Pikachu nodded and ran in that direction.
"Wait Pikachu, I can't use quick attack you know!"
"It has been more than an hour, where could he have possibly gone?" asked a worried Dawn. Brock placed a assuring hand on her shoulder and said he will be fine.
"I know he will be but that doesn't stop me from worrying about him. You know how reckless he can be at times.''
"Come on Dawn, he will be here soon.'' Brock said, sure that Ash will return. He always did.
Dawn looked at her hands unsurely. She was fumbling with her fingers while her toe was drawing circles on the ground. Suddenly, a loud scream echoed throughout the forest.
"That was Ash,'' Dawn said, her eyes widening and Piplup instantly ran beside picked up Piplup and was about to run at the direction of source of sound, when Brock caught her arm." I will go too", he said.
"You gotta stay and take care of the Pokémon, I will be right back. If we don't return in half an hour, come for rescuing us."
Dawn smiled a little seeing Brock nod indicating he had understood. She ran towards the forest.
..
Once reaching at the periphery of the forest, she shouted,''Where are you Ash?"
Silence. Deciding to go deeper into the forest, she took a deep breath and ran.
"Tell me where are you?" she shouted again. a loud and strong thunderbolt shooting at the sky from her left got her attention. "It must be Pikachu."
''LUP!"
"Let us go there immediately Piplup!"
She kept running in the direction of the thunderbolt. After some time, she found light seeping out from a area. She went there.
"Use another thunderbolt! I heard Dawn calling for me!" Came a voice from the clearing. Dawn ran towards it faster.
She saw Ash sitting on the ground, Pikachu was looking at him in worry, his cheeks still sparkling due to the recent attack. Ash's jacket was missing and he was only in his undershirt. For a moment Dawn thought he was bleeding. She had hardly taken a step towards him, when Pikachu noticed her and gave a relieved cha. Ash turned back a little.
Seeing Dawn, he quickly said,''I need your clothes!"
"What the- what do you mean,'' Dawn said blushing but still shocked.
" I mean, your extra clothes," he clarified. Dawn let out a relieved sigh.
Ash signaled her to come closer,"Over here."
Dawn quickly went beside him to see a girl, covered in dust lying in Ash's arm. She had Ash's jacket over the upper half of her body, barely reaching the mid thigh. Her eyes went wide and she let out a small gasp. She quickly knelt beside her and placed her head on her lap.
"Who is she?" Dawn asked while staring at the girl. Ash shrugged,"No idea!"
"I will stay here, you must go back to the camp and bring my back pack here. We can't carry her to camp, it is a long way. Moreover she needs some.. proper clothes." Dawn almost ordered.
Seeing Ash hesitate, she said," Hurry up, you have some explaining to do later too."
Ash gave a small nod and ran back to the camp.
Seeing Ash return, Brock was relieved,'' I am glad you're fine.'' But seeing Dawn no where in sight and Ash picking up her bag, he asked,''Is something wrong?"
Before leaving Ash said,''We will explain as soon as we come back. Make some extra food too.''
Brock and the pokemon were looking at him in astonishment.
"I wonder what is going on!"
Ash handed Dawn her bag and she quickly pulled out her contest dress which she wore during the Grand Festival. She turned around and signalled Ash and Pikachu to leave. Ash agreed, but not before blushing a little. Pikachu and Piplup were looking at her with questioning eyes.
"PIP?"
"I am sorry but you and Pikachu must follow Ash, you both are boys after all."
Piplup made a face and didn't want to leave his trainer alone. Dawn sighed and said to Pikachu,'' Please take him with you.'' Pikachu smiled and dragged away Piplup with him. They found Ash, sitting a few feet away from the clearing, his face facing away from where he had come.'
"She made both of you leave too, ha" he said while petting Pikachu and scratching Piplup's chin with his hands.
..
"Ash?" Brock looked at him with questioning eyes,"Dawn?"
Seeing two of your best friends bringing a unconscious new girl back at the camp was not a usual sight. Brock asked again,''Guys?"
Piplup and Pikachu quickly went to their group of pokemon and began explaining what had happened.
"I found her unconscious in the middle of the forest." Ash said and placed the girl in his sleeping bag. Dawn continued,'' And when I reached there, she was still unconscious. There are no signs of physical injuries though.''
"And is that your contest dress?" Brock asked again, looking at the girl with questioning eyes. The girl had long brown hair, which was messed up and looked dirty. She was probably lying on the cold hard ground for a long time. Her skin was pale, almost creamy. She was almost as tall as Dawn was. He knew it since Ash and Dawn were carrying her with her hands over their shoulders. Moreover, the girl looked no younger than 15.
"She was naked when we found her,'' Dawn said seeing Ash hesitate. Brock understood and decided to let the matter slip, not wanting to make anyone unconformable.
"She needs some rest, lets go and give her some peace,'' Dawn suggested but not before giving the sleeping girl one last look. Seeing Ash and Brock gone, she ran back to where she was and placed a blanket on top of her. Something about this girl was strange, her body was colder than normal people.
Dawn placed a hand on her forehead and said,,''You will be fine. I promise. No need to worry."
The sleeping girl opened her eyes a little and looked at Dawn ,''Dawn?"
She fell back unconscious again.
Mysterious? Lame? Boring? Interesting? Intriguing?
Use any suitable adjective to describe what you all thought of the chapter! Let me make something clear, the girl who appeared is not a future self of Dawn. By her description, she may look like May but BOO! she is not May either, of course Ash would have recognized her if she was May. She is...umm.. Well read and find out! Till next time, peace out.
~ darkestlightofhope