A/N: Prompt 6? yes! 6! So...I think it's self explanatory but left is Ash and right is Misty except is not letting me left justify so it might be centered. sorry. and the middle and italicized is both. Also memories should have been light and fluffy and then my brain was like, hey you know what is all about memories? PTSD so yeah...let's go there
Shiver
It's a warm night, it nearly always is on the islands. They set up camp as they always do. A fire pit in the middle and sleeping bags in a circle—Ash, Misty then Tracy. They rarely set up tents. It's stifling under them in the heat and besides, who wants to sleep under canvas when the stars can light the night. The air is sweet and the breeze is calm. Tracy falls asleep somewhere around midnight, cuddling into his sleeping bag as Ash and Misty poke the dying fire. Misty falls asleep next and Ash follows not too long after. They both huddle into sleeping bags which, if they are closer than they used to be after Shamouti, Tracy won't comment. The breeze cools.
Ash shivers. His eyes screw shut and he rolls.
He remembers the cold.
The wind rushes past him, frozen steel, but he holds—fingers wound tight to white feather that slice.
He can do this.
Just past the birds and onto the island and the orbs will be there.
He's got this.
He can do this.
He will do this.
It's freezing but she doesn't notice the cold.
Her eyes are locked on him.
He's flying. He can do this.
He can't do this. They're fighting and the weather…
It's dripping icicles, poring glass sharp shards of frozen.
The wind picks up and….oh no
He loses his grip with the wind and…
…and he falls
A REM movie of his descent play on her eyelids.
Scared, she whimpers but her feet are fast in the sand.
She can't move.
Can't stop it.
Can't help.
Her feet won't move and her eyes won't shut and someone is screaming,
It's her.
The rain cuts ice into flesh and he whimpers.
And falls.
And falls.
He braces but the water is ice.
Unyielding. His breath goes out of him.
He hits the water and doesn't come up.
Melody hands her the flute to go after him but…
Misty sticks out her hand.
He's her burden.
She hands Tracy Togepi and ties her jacket tighter.
It won't keep the water out and it won't keep her heat in but…
She has to try.
She braces-
this is going to suck
-and dives
Bubbles.
Air gurgles from his mouth and lungs in frozen orbs.
His muscles freeze His veins are molasses. He's stuck. Can't move. Can't breathe.
It's dark and the lights fade and he can't.
He won't.
He's sorry.
The water is colder than she'd imagined.
She moves amber slow.
Arm.
Kick.
Breath.
He's been under for a minute. She kicks harder.
Kick.
Breath.
Her body screams fire but she's almost there.
Two minutes.
His body spasms.
His arm kicks out and finds
She reaches down
Down
Down and finds
Something
Warm and solid and delicate and calloused.
Beating. A pulse, strong and solid and there.
Misty. He rolls towards her.
Ash.
She dives towards him.
Hauls him up out of the water and back to shore.
She pulls him to shore and he breathes and warms.
His brow unfurrows and eyes unclench.
The movie stops and credits roll.
Her pulse slows.
The winds stop and her breathing calms.
Tracy wakes up with the sun and stretches, glancing over to find Ash and Misty asleep. They're wrapped around one another in their sleeping bags as they have been near every morning since Shamouti. There'll be screaming when they wake. There was yesterday and the day before and the day before. He sighs and grabs his earplugs before waking Pikachu and Togepi. "How about breakfast on the other side of the island?" he asks, thinking it will be far enough to quiet the noise.
It's not.
