Ash and Gary…You Can't Fight Fate.
Flashback (Age 12)
Ash sighed, he was on a boat to Cinnabar Island to earn his 7th badge.
"Look at the amazing view!" exclaimed Misty her eyes shining as she looked out at the sparkling sea.
"Yeah, no wonder Cinnabar Island is a tourist destination" Brock said as he thumbed through his trusty guide book.
"I can't wait to get to the gym!" Ash said, getting that fanatical gleam in his eyes again.
"HA! A gym? You don't know anything! Cinnabar Island is just a tourist paradise! There hasn't been a gym there for years!" a familiar voice said from behind them. This statement was followed by "Ooooh! Gary knows everything!" a chant from the gushing fangirls.
Ash whipped around. "Not you idiot again!" he snarled at Gary who was smirking
"Oh, an idiot am I?" Gary smirked "Then please explain why I have the time for a holiday and you don't!" He took a step towards Ash
Ash glared at him "Because you're a slacker and I'm gonna get to the Elite Four before you've even finished collecting your badges" he spat
"Oh but Ashy-Boy, I have 8 badges. That's why I'm taking a vacation…to celebrate!" He grinned around at his fangirls who chanted
"Gary,Gary got all the badges! What about Ash and his group of slackers!" Gary took another step towards Ash, they were now very close.
"Well, well Ash. Seems like I won." He said, his breath ghosting over Ash's face
"Not yet you havn't because I'm gonna become the Pokémon Master and…..holy hell" Ash's voice trailed off as he realised just how close he and Gary were. They were practically nose-to-nose
Ash found himself staring into Gary's emerald eyes, a weird sensation twisted in the pit of his stomach. "Wow Gary looks so….amazing..wait, WHAT THE HECK? WHY DID I JUST THINK THAT?" he though furiously
Gary meanwhile was staring straight into Ash's chocolate brown eyes "I never knew Ash could look so…hot! Waitaminute….what the hell? HE IS YOUR RIVAL…AND A GUY!" Gary thought, panicking slightly
Misty and Brock stood looking at the two of them "Is it just me or is this looking like….a little more than a staring contest?" Misty whispered to Brock
Brock swallowed hard "Yeah…who'd have thought it…" he mumbled, obviously in shock.
"Gary, Gary will always win! He'll chuck Ash Ketchum in the bin!" The loud cheering of the fangirls broke into their thoughts "Come on Gary! Win the staring contest!" one of them shrieked
"Staring contest..? OH HELLS BELLS! I WAS STARING INTO ASH'S EYES! OMG! SHOOT!" Gary's brain was pushing all the panic buttons and his head jerked away from Ash's like he'd been burned.
Ash was thinking along the same lines. He stumbled back into Misty and Brock, he would have fallen over the railing had he not been caught be them both.
"Sh*t!" he said to himself and then covered his mouth with his hand and glanced nervously around as if his mum (AN: or mom, whichever you use) might magically appear, then leap at him and ground him for 20 years for using a swear word.
Gary laughed, a genuine laugh. Not a Ha-ha-you-suck laugh but a happy, pure and joyful sound. "Nice one, Ashy-Boy! Didn't think you'd ever use such a word!" he said still smiling
Ash looked sheepish and muttered "Don't tell my mum!"
"WE HAVE ARRIVED AT CINNABAR ISLAND. PLEASE ENJOY YOUR STAY!" the captains voice came over the loudspeaker, startling everyone.
As Ash was walking down the gangplank he was so preoccupied thinking about Gary that he didn't watch where he was going. He stepped off the side of the gangplank and dropped about 10 metres into the ocean. He couldn't swim. He sank like a stone.
A splash sounded dully above his head. "I guess Gary will be Pokémon Master now…." He thought hazily as he floated towards the bottom. He blacked out. He felt vaguely like a pair of strong arms had wrapped around his waist and were pulling him upwards, he broke the surface and felt someone yelling his name.
He wanted to say "I'm fine but he couldn't move. A numbness was spreading throughout his body now, he heard a voice say "He's not breathing. He needs CPR." Then a pair of lips crashed down upon his own.
He heard people yell and gasp and Misty's voice "WHAT IN THE WORLD?" Someone was forcing air into his lungs. Air. AIR! Ash came back to full consciousness coughing up seawater and gasping for breath.
He looked up to see who had saved him, and saw…a pair of emerald green eyes staring back at him. "G..Gary?" he said incredulously "You gave me CPR?"
Gary closed his eyes as if in pain "Yeah…so what?" he demanded aggressively
"and..and….you pulled me out of the water as well!" Ash exclaimed, seeing that Gary was soaking wet.
"SO WHAT ASHY-BOY! Just because I saved your worthless life, doesn't mean we're friends! So long losers! Come on girls." He and his fangirls stalked off
Ash sat staring after him and the thing that was running through his mind as is on a broken record player was "I'm gay, I'm gay, Gary saved my life, I love him, I'm gay, I'm gay." Over and over again
"I am so screwed." He muttered under his breath
End Flashback
(Gary & Ash are now 16)
The roar of the crowd was enourmous "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, POKÉMON OF ALL AGES! MAY I PRESENT TO YOU MR. ASH KETCHUM! THE NEW POKÉMON MASTER!" the commentator yelled to the audience
Ash stood stunned hardly able to believe it, he had just beaten the Champion and had taken his role. But there in the crowd he saw a familiar face, framed by spiky brown hair. Gary. And oddly enough he found it a greater pleasure to see Gary cheering for him than it was to have actually won at all.
A few weeks later
"It's the Hello Kanto TV station and welcome to our exclusive interview with the new Champion, Mr Ash Ketchum! My name is Misty Waterflower (She is somehow 18, don't ask me how) and I am your reporter for today.
Misty: So Ash, I used to travel with you a while back and you've certainly come a long way since then!
Ash: *laughs* Yeah! I used to be a bit of a klutz and a bike-destroyer! But that was just a phase it seems
Misty: Yes indeed it was….a lot of girls have described you as "the hottest thing since the sun was invented" how do you feel about that?
Ash: Umm….? Well I'm not sure if I'm "hot" exactly
Misty: You are tanned, handsome, have abs I can see through that shirt. You're very nice and you have a masculine voice. Ash, you are the definition of hot! Not that I'm interested as I am engaged to my lovely partner Brock!"
Ash: Oh….well then yes I guess I am ok…..
Misty: *sighs* you still have no clue about this stuff do you?
Ash: What?
Misty: Nothing! Anyway, let's get down to what the public really want to know! Do you have a girlfriend? Do you like someone?
Ash: No to the first question but yes to the last one.
Misty: Ah-ha! So you, like someone! You are very calm with talking about this. Why is that?
Ash: I have liked this person for a while so I have had time to adjust myself to….the idea.
Misty: So who is the mystery girl?
Ash: *chokes* WHAT? I thought we were only gonna ask general questions!
Misty: Hmm…lost your composure very fast there "Ashy-Boy" *grins at him*
Ash: *whips head up to stare at her* Ok…moving on! What else do ya wanna know?
Misty: Don't change the subject! Why do you like this person?
Ash: They…they are kind to their Pokémon, they are smart, funny, witty, intelligent, can really come up with great comebacks…oh yes they also hate me *gives a sad smile*
Misty: Oh….well, I'm sure they don't hate you! They must be one lucky girl!
Ash: *takes a deep breath* Who said they were a girl?
Misty: *chokes* SAY WHAT?
Ash: I said. Who said they were a girl?
Misty: I KNEW IT! I mean….what a shocking revelation folks! And for those of you just tuning in Ash Ketchum the Pokémon Master has just admitted that he was gay! Wow!
Ash: *sighs* Yep, and I do believe my time is up! Goodbye Kanto and thanks for watching!"
Two days later
"This is nuts! I'm off back home! My phone is ringing 24/7 with hysterical girls screaming that they are the girl to turn a gay guy straight. Others say poor me they know it was publicity stunt so they haven't lost faith. Uggh!" Ash complained to Pikachu
"Pika pika! Pi pi CHU?" Pikachu replied (Why go back home?)
"Well, because Pallet is a low tech town! No phones and most important of all NO TELEVISION! No one knows over there!" Ash said happily
"Pikachu, chu…." (I think they do have a TV….)
Ash while being good at guessing what Pikachu was saying completely missed the mark this time
"Yeah, I'm sure mum will be happy to see you too! Lets go!" Ash said enthusiastically
"Pika Pika" (Oh dear)
Pigeotto flew them back to Ash's house
"Mum! I'm home! Ahhhh!" Ash yelled as his mum came charging out the door and crashed into him and hugged him so tightly it hurt to breathe
"Oh Ash! Well done you're finally the Pokémon Master! And why didn't you tell me about you being gay?" his mother gushed all in one breath as she ushered him inside
"Yeah! I made it finally….waitaminute! HOW DO YOU KNOW ABOUT ME BEING GAY?" Ash yelled
"We got a television last week! Every house got one, and we all watched your interview! You were great! I'm so proud!" Delilah said approvingly
Ash had gone very pale, "Mum…does the Pokémon Lab have one?"
"Yes…why?"
"and is Gary in town?"
"Why yes! He was here just the other….ASH!" screamed his mother. Ash had fainted.
1 week later
Ash was helping out in the garden when he heard the garden gate creak open, he pushed his hair back from his forehead and turned to face the newcomer. It was Gary Oak.
Ash stared at Gary, "Um…hi?" He said uncertainly
Gary grinned "Hi, well done at getting the title of Pokémon Master. Seems you beat me!'
"Uh…yeah….don't mean to be rude or anything but…..why are you here?" Ash said
Gary cleared his throat nervously "I was…umm wondering if we could go camping for a week…together. To let our Pokémon catch up and we could…I dunno….hang out? There is a lot of stuff I need to talk to you about"
Ash just stood dumbfounded "Gary! Didn't you see the interview with Misty?"
"Yeah…but why do you ask?' Gary said looking confused
Ash's eyes widened "But didn't you used to be homophobic or something? You said some really…strong stuff against gay people."
Gary passed a hand over his face as if the memory pained him "I know. I was a jerk." There was harshness to his voice that Ash had only heard once before, when Gary had saved him from drowning.
Ash made his decision, he had a feeling that Gary had no peace within himself and even though he knew Gary could never love him, he wanted to help him find that peace with his conscience.
"Heck yeah I'm coming! I'll go get my Pokémon and my stuff, meet you back here in half an hour" Ash gave him a double thumbs up and rushed inside.
Gary stood looking after him and muttered "Damn, why does he have to look so darn sexy! Does he have any idea what he does to me?" He groaned and put his head in his hands, it was so hard for him not to just walk straight up to Ash and kiss the living daylights out of him, but Ash liked someone else who was kind, and smart. Definitely not him.
Deep in Viridian Forest
"We're here!" Gary sang out in a mock-motherly tone "Now did you pack your toothbrush Ashy-Boy?"
"Yes mother….lets set up the tents and then we can have a Pokémon battle!" Ash cried excitedly
They began setting up the tents, one for them and one for their Pokémon. Ash was in charge of raising the Pokémon's tent. Suddenly Gary heard an "AHHHH ****!" and a massive crash
He whipped around and saw a franticly wriggling pile of collapsed tent canvas, "Oh my! Such bad language…oh whats this? Where did Ash go?" he teased approaching what was left of the tent.
"Shut up and help me!" Ash growled from the middle of the pile
"Oh Ashy-Boy! You really haven't grown up much have you?" Gary chuckled as he disentangled Ash from the tent.
Ash jumped up eyes flashing "Haven't bloody grown up? I used to be a shy skinny, unpopular kid who couldn't battle to save his life! Now, I'm Pokémon Master, popular and not shy! And I didn't get here by bad battling neither! Oh and skinny? Look Gary! Do I look pale and skinny to you?"
Ash ripped his shirt off and stood there glaring at Gary whose jaw had dropped as he stared at Ash's torso. He was tanned, and had a six-pack, every muscle defined and taut. It was the most beautiful thing Gary had ever seen in his life. "No Ash…I take it back. That is "progress" that definitely is…"
Ash realised what he had done and blushed. He put his shirt back on hastily "Uh..sorry….I didn't mean to lose my temper! Can you help me with this tent, then we can begin our Pokémon battle!"
Gary shook his head at Ash and got the tent up in about three minutes. Ash grumbled but cheered up as he went and got Pikachu and all his other Pokémon from his bag.
Ash: Prepare to get your ass whipped Gary!
Gary: In your dreams Ashy-Boy! You have nothing on me!
Ash: We'll see about that! GO PIKACHU!
Pikachu: PIKA PIKA PIKACHU! (Hi-ya! Gonna knock all of ya out!)
Gary: That old thing? GO UMBREON!
Umbreon: BREON BREON UMBREON! (Gonna rough you up so bad you gonna wish you never hatched!)
Pikachu: PIKACHU? PIKAPIKA CHU CHU! (Umbreon? ITS YOU, MY LOVE!)
Umbreon: BREEEEOOOON! UMBRE! (PIKACHU! MY LOVE!)
Gary: Their both ready to fight each other! Listen to them argue…HOLY FREAKING HELL!
Ash: WHAT THE BEEDRILL?
Pikachu and Umbreon were dancing around in circles with each other. Pikachu was firing heart shaped Thuderbolts into the air and Umbreon was making Shadow Balls in the shape of a Pikachu and an Umbreon holding hands.
Gary: …..is your Pikachu a girl Ash?
Ash: Yes! Didn't you know? I know she seems very tomboyish but she is a girl!
Gary: Oh….um Ash? My Umbreon is a guy
Ash: SAY WHAT! I thought I was a girl... OUCH!
Umbreon shot a arrow shaped Shadow Ball at him
Gary: Yea…..lets uhh leave them to it….LUCARIO I CHOOSE YOU!
Ash: Good idea….FERALIGATER GO!
Gary: Its ooooon Ashy-Boy!
Ash: Use Hydro Pump! waitaminute…what the heck?
Gary: Umm…Ok…..maybe we should move away from Umbreon and Pikachu lets give them a little privacy…..DEAR LORD MY EYES!
Ash: AHHHHHH OHMIGOD! HELP!
They and their Pokémon all ran (very fast) back to camp and collapsed. "Maybe we should wait until tomorrow to battle…?" suggested Gary
"Yeah, I like that plan…" said Ash shakily
Ok! Next chapter should be up soon and I promise they will make a move with each other then
Please be awesome and review! Any flames will be used to toast marshmellows *drools* YUMMY!