Author's Notes: This fic is promising, and I'll continue writing with as much speed as I can muster.
Summary: Ash Ketchum's life has taken a completely different direction, one that is seemingly leading to destruction. The years have taken him, leaving him nothing but an empty heart. But he gets some help from some very disturbing and surprising sources. But can he learn to trust the ones he has despised most for so many years before it is too late?
P.S.: In the part about Professor Oak helping giving birth to Gary, I'm referring to Oak helping giving birth to one of Gary's parents, which ultimately helped in Ash's rival's birth as well.
Ash had always been a bit disdainful about the idea. The concept of his mother dating, and then proceeding to marring the Professor he had known for so long, the same Professor who had helped in giving birth to his longtime rival, Gary Oak. But now that he saw the small, amber eyes reflecting off his own black ones, he was sure his mother had made the right decision.
Ash's hair was longer than it had used to be when he had first met the Professor, it now falling freely in his face, allowing his new baby sister to tug playfully on his long, charcoal black bangs. Ash had changed much since he had stopped traveling, the loss somewhat reflecting his own appearance, as well as his heart. The spark that had always been present in his eyes had given out, being replaced with a longing look, a longing that could never be filled. When he had lost his Pikachu, he seemed to have lost his world. Pikachu had disappeared from him a previous number of years ago, never returning to its owner. It had not been taken by Team Rocket, as Ash and his companions had first expected. Pikachu had seemed to leave on its own free will, leaving its trainer with nothing. Ash still denied the fact that his best friend had decided to leave him, often still using the lie that it had been stolen. After that, Ash had given most of his Pokemon away to promising young trainers, feeling as if each time he placed another Pokemon in a small trainer's hands, that he was giving away a piece of his dieing heart with it. He and his friends had gone separate ways as well, still sending the occasional birthday or Christmas card.
But even holding his new baby sister in his long, slender arms did not fill the emptiness in his heart. And it seemed nothing ever would. He stroked the smooth skin of her face, and then handed her back to his mother's outstretched arms. He told his feeble mother that he needed to get some fresh air, and promised to be back in the morning. With that being said, he left the hospital, making his way slowly down the streets of Viridian City, toward the small apartment he owned. He made his trek in the dark, the only lights coming from the flickering street lamps that surrounded the large city. He passed an old, abandoned jewelry store, and found himself staring at two very familiar faces. A tattered wanted poster had been placed on the cracked windows, blowing slightly in the cold wind. Jessie and James' faces were plastered on the poster, their features almost completely engulfed in shadow. Ash cracked a slight smile, seeing the way his old enemies put on a tough front. He continued to walk, his smile fading with the streetlights. He suddenly found himself wishing for the old days, the days where he saw his friends, and his enemies, everyday.
Ash finally got to his apartment door, fumbled with the rusted keys for a moment, turned the key swiftly, the door creaking slightly as it was pushed open. He entered his small apartment, and was quickly welcomed with the sound of his telephone ringing. He walked to the kitchen, the phone seeming to ring louder with every step he took. It sounded as if it was pleading for Ash to answer its cry. Ash swiftly picked up the phone, and put his pierced ear to the receiver. "Hello?" Ash said, and was soon answered with a familiar, and a much unwanted, voice.