I don't own them never claimed to please don't sue me.

This is in response to a challenge by Vidalark and I really like this idea and it is set after Ash got the last badge.

Minor Language Warning on this fic the is also some Violence among humans.

Pokemon: A test of Character

Chapter 1:

"Yes, I'm going to compete in Pokemon League." Ash said as he jumped up and down on the path towards Pallet. Ash opened his vest to peer at his eight badges. "Aren't they pretty Pikachu." he asked his ever faithful companion who was for once walking along the trail rather than riding on his head.

"Ash can you please calm down your getting on my nerves." Misty said as she and Brock followed the still overly excited Ash.

Ash turned and stuck his tongue out at her. Misty went to clobber him when a flash bomb hit near them. They looked up to see a hot air balloon.

"Prepare for Trouble"

"And Make it Double"

"To Protect the World from Devastation"

"To Unite all people within our nation"

"To denouce the Evil's of Truth and Love"

"To extend our reach to the stars above"

"Jesse"

"James"

"Team Rocket Blast of at the Speed of Light"

"Surrender now or Prepare to fight"

"Meowth that's right."

"Oh great it's the looser patrol surprised your boss didn't throw you bums out." Ash said smiling. Brock and Misty exchanged worried glances it seemed Ash's ego had returned. Team Rocket was absolutely furious at this remark and what Ash said next crossed the line as far as one member was concerned. "Especially that worthless Meowth who never battles." Ash said calmly "Pikachu get rid of them" As Ash turned toward pikachu giving that command.

"Worthless Meowth I'll show you" Meowth threw a flash bomb at Ash Pikachu sent a thunder shock into it but it still exploded close to his trainer's face. "AAAAAAAAAAAH," Ash screamed as he fell holding his face to the ground.

"PIKA PI!!!" "Ash!!!" heard someone yelling as his world seemed to fade to black the only thought registering as he lost consciousness was he was laying face first in the dirt he should turn over.

Misty and Brock squatted down next to him while Pikachu looked up electricity crackling around his face. "PIKACHU" the bolt hit the hot air balloon sending it flying into a nearby mountain.

"Looks like Team Rocket is blasting off again." was heard driving back on the wind. Pikachu turned his attention back to his Trainer and the two friends who were looking at Ash's dirty blood stained face.

"Misty we have to get Ash to a hospital and quick" Brock said as he pulled cloth out of his bag and pressed it to Ash's face tightly.

"I know." Misty said "But how can we carry him." she seemed close to tears. Brock didn't know he was almost as distraught as she was.

"Pika pika chu" Pikachu said hitting Brock's waste. "Of course, Go Onix." Brock said he and Misty then carefully climbed on holding Ash.

"Onix get us to the nearest hospital as quick as you can." Onix roared an affirmative and headed toward the nearby town of Pewter.

A short while later.

Ash's Mom came running in knocking an orderly over. "Is he okay?" she asked of Misty and Brock who were in the waiting room.

"We don't know they've been in OR since we got here." Misty said as she fought to keep her tears at bay. She looked at the older woman who suddenly looked years older than she had the last time they had seen her.

Mrs. Ketchum seemed to shrivel back into a chair when she heard that. "Oh please God let him be alright he's all I have left in this world." she said as she began to cry. Misty reached out and hugged the older woman hoping that the Dr. would walk out any minute and tell them Ash would be alright.

Misty was curled up asleep in a chair when she heard Mrs. Ketchum get up and run yelling. "Is he okay?" Misty set up there was a Dr. standing there.

"Well Miss Ketchum it's hard to say he will live and we removed the shrapnel from his face and eyes but..." the doctor seemed to be searching for what to say the look on his face told anyone watching there was bad news to go with the good.

"Spit it out Dr. I'm a grown woman I can take it." Misty gaped at Ash's mother her earlier vulnerability seemed to have evaporated as her mother instincts seem to take over.

The doctor nodded solemnly before saying "He's blind the nerves were too badly damaged he will never see again." Misty gasped and Mrs. Ketchum who had seemed to strong a moment before began to cry again. Brock who was nearby tried to think up anyway to cheer the two up but he couldn't so he just set their and held the two hoping to lend them the strength they would need.

Ash woke up with something on his face. "What is this stuff he said feeling the bandages."

He began to unwrap it when a kind but firm voice said "Hold it young man leave those on."

Ash jumped "Who's there?" he asked. About this time he recognized the smell 'Smells like a hospital.' thought. His suspicions were confirmed by what the person in his room said next.

"I'm Nurse Sella and you've been hurt pretty bad we had to remove shrapnel don't mess with the bandages and maybe you want have too much scaring." she said as she grabbed his arm. "Come on now you probably have to go to the bathroom."

Ash laid in bed after the nurse had left trying to get over the embarrassment of having a nurse help him to the bathroom. "When can I see my friends?" he had asked.

"You will be able to see your mother and friends tomorrow for now get some sleep and don't touch those bandages." she said and Ash was reminded vaguely of the last time he'd been in a hospital when he had broken his leg doing something Gary had dared him to do.

The Next Day.

"Before you go in there is something I must tell you." the doctor said fidgeting nervously.

"What is it?" Mrs. Ketchum asked trying to swallow the panic that something had gone wrong in the night.

"Don't tell him he's blind if he finds out he will probably remove the bandages and that could lead to infection." The Dr. phrased it as a request but everyone there could tell he wouldn't let them see Ash unless they agreed.

Mrs. Ketchum nodded but Misty asked "Why he has the right to know that he can't see?" she said gravely. Misty watched him she wanted to scream at him to fix Ash she didn't want to see Ash helpless but she knew that he would be for the rest of his life.

"I know that young lady and he will be told but not while his knowing can cause a health risk that could kill him." Misty shrunk back and agreed not to tell Ash.

Ash perked up during their visit especially when Misty revealed she snuck Pikachu in to see him. "Hi Pikachu how are the other pokemon?" Ash asked as he scratched the pokemon behind the ears.

"Pika ka chu" the little electric mouse said happily.

"That's great when I get out of here will win the pokemon league right Pikachu." Ash asked.

"PIKA!!!" Misty smiled at the antics of the little mouse who was doing wonders for Ash's mood but at the same time she wondered what would Ash do when he found out he could no longer be a trainer.

She took a moment to take in the room it was pretty plain except for the vase of flowers his mom had brung in to sit on the small table next to him. She had to turn away when she saw his face it was wrapped in gauss but she could still see his wild black hair trying to escape the confining bandage. "Oh Ash why did this happen to you?" she asked in her head but she couldn't' answer her own question.

Ash laid in bed a bit more relaxed "I'll be glad when I can get back on my way to being pokemon master." Ash smiled and fell asleep dreaming of the look on Gary's face when he beat him.

During the first three weeks he got visits from everyone he knew in Pallet including Professor Oak who apologized for Gary's absence saying that Gary was busy trying to get the last badge before the start of the league. Ash of course didn't care one way or the other as far as he was concerned Gary was just a spoiled brat who ruined their friendship cause he thought he was better than him.

Ash began to wonder why after they had removed all of the other bandages they left the two on over his eyes. "It's just another two weeks your eyes take longer to recover than your face and considering what happened your very lucky scaring is virtually non existent." He could tell from her tone that she was smiling "OH you have a few light scars criss crossing your face but they are hardly noticeable and once you get your tan back they should be nearly invisible." Nurse Sella said as she exited his room. That made Ash even more suspicious he knew a dodge when he heard one.

Finally the big day arrived.

As Nurse Sella was taking off the bandages his doctor spoke up. "Now Ash please don't overreact but your blind" He said bracing himself for the worst reaction imaginable.

Ash suddenly yelled "What!!" and ripped the rest of the bandages off shoving Sella side. When he realized it was the truth his eyes were open and he couldn't see he screamed "Why the hell didn't you tell me?" he said as he began to cry.

"It was for your own good you would have ripped the bandages off and gotten your eyes and face infected." The Dr. said trying to place as much comfort into his voice.

"You arrogant bastard who are you to make that kind of a decision for me." Ash said as he grabbed a vase he had nearly knocked over several times so he knew were it was at and threw it towards the doctors voice. He was rewarded with a crash and the doctor cursing in pain.

"Ash enough calm down this instant." His mother commanded in her sternest voice she hoped the doctor wasn't hurt but she couldn't blame her son not really.

"Take me home I won't stay here any longer not with this lying no good pieces of..." Ash never got to finish as his mother clamped her hand over his mouth.

"Ash Ketchum if you say one more foul word so help me I'll ground you for life." his mother said "I'll let you get away with the first two because of the circumstances but I won't tolerate any more you should be thankful your still alive."

Ash pushed her hand of his mouth and turned away tears streaming from his unseeing eyes. "Take me home mom I don't want to stay here anymore." and that was the last thing he said for the rest of that day.

Once he was at home.

Ash's mood didn't improve he spent all of the first three days in bed and refused to talk about anything. On his fourth day at home Misty came in to see him she looked he was in his room as she had expected pokemon league merchandise was everywhere and there he was laying in bed with pikachu curled up next to him asleep. She was about to turn and leave when he asked "What do you want Misty?" Ash said as he turned over to face where she was.

"You can see?" she asked hopefully though seeing how he really didn't focus on her she knew he couldn't.

"No your just really noisy I had a month to get used to just getting by with my ears." he said bitterly.

"So Ash now that you can't be a pokemon master I thought I'd read you some information on the other career options how do you feel about research." she said hoping talking about pokemon would cheer him up.

"Listen Misty I don't want to do research I want to be a pokemon master but since there is no chance of that happening now I'm just useless." Ash said as he once more rolled over away from her.

"Come on Ash you can be a researcher I mean all you have to do is go to college and you can learn to read in Braille." she said helpfully.

"Misty lesson I'm not good at anything besides pokemon training look in the top draw if you want proof that report card is the best one I ever got." Misty looked in and frowned it was all C's with the exception of one A and that was in a special after school pre pokemon training course. "See Misty I'm an idiot and I don't like you butting into my life." He said.

"What I'm only trying to help Ash." Misty said and she added "since you can't help yourself anymore." silently in her head..

"Who says I want your help Misty now get out of my room." he was practically yelling by the end of this. Misty turned and ran out of his room tears coming to her eyes. After she left Ash felt kind of guilty but soon it was swallowed up by his depression and he fell back asleep.

Misty was sitting in the park crying when someone put a hand on her shoulder she looked up expecting to see Brock but gasped "Gary what are you doing here?"

"I was walking by and saw you crying what's up?" He asked a hint of concern in his voice.

"It's that jerk Ash he's just giving up." Misty said practically in tears.

'Ash giving up but then how will I prove I'm better than him.' Gary thought "I'll go talk to him." he said turning and heading toward the Ketchum residence.

"That was strange" Misty said to Togepi who had emerged from her backpack with a yawn. "I wonder if Gary thought I meant on being a pokemon master or if he knew I was talking about life in general." The Egg pokemon just giggled happily which made Misty laugh a bit.

Gary arrived to find Mrs. Ketchum out hanging clothes on the line. "Hey Mrs. Ketchum can I see Ash." to say she wasn't surprised would be an understatement but she nodded her accent.

"The door's open." she puzzled over the fact the last time Gary had been here he and Ash and had a huge fight and the two had never seemed to forgive the other.

Gary entered the room to see Ash facing the lone window absently stroking Pikachu's head. "Hello who's there your not Brock your steps are to loud and your not Misty cause you haven't said anything to me yet." Ash said calmly "let me guess you one of my old friends come to get me back on my feet."

"Wrong Loser I'm here to find out why your being such a coward and trying to deny my victory." Ash whirled around towards the voice.

"What are you doing here." Ash said anger clearly evident in his voice "Come to gloat over the fact you won your the best." Ash said bitterly as he turned back to the window.

"NO I'm here because I can't prove I'm the best unless I beat you fair and square in the league I'm not going to live my life listening to people say I only beat you cause you went blind now get up." Gary said as he crossed the room to stand over Ash blocking the sun.

"I don't have to listen to you get out." Ash practically yelled wish he could see so he could punch Gary.

"Why don't you get up and make me but then you'd probably trip over your feet loser can't even learn to deal with your blindness if I was blind I'd just figure a way around it." Gary said boasting with as much arrogance as he could manage under the circumstances.

Ash was practically fuming with rage how dare Gary come in to his house and tell him what to do. "Well loser since your such a pathetic coward I'll leave you to wallow in your self pity." he turned slightly back when he was nearly out the door "Hey pikachu if your interested in joining a real trainer come find me." Gary said he smiled as he heard Ash scramble to his feet the pikachu remark had worked like a charm. Gary walked calmly out the front door while Ash came banging into things after him with Pikachu yelling for him to stop.

Gary was just crossing the yard when Ash came out the door and said "Where are you, you arrogant prick?"

Gary smiled faintly "Over here loser." Ash following Gary's voice jumped him and soon the too were rolling around on the ground trying to beat the crap out of each other. Misty returned just in time to help Mrs. Ketchum and Brock pull the two apart by then Gary had a bloody nose several bruises and a black eye Ash seemed to have faired better but still had several bruises and a split lip.

"Gary go home now" Mrs. Ketchum said glaring at him. "Seeya looser." Gary said as he turned and walked out of the front gate. "Now as for you Ash back inside so I can clean these wounds." Ash set quietly while his mother worked she fussed the whole time about Gary having the nerve to pick a fight with her poor son.

'He's right I am a coward and worse everyone except the one person I hate seems to think I can't do it well I'll show them all including that arrogant self centered jerk.' Ash thought as his mother was finishing. "That's enough Mom I have work to do." Ash said standing up and heading toward where Brock had stuck his Pokedex and pokeballs luckily he only pumped into the cabinet and a chair before he got to the table. 'Good thing I made Brock tell me where they were.' Ash thought that was one of the few things he'd thought to do before going up to his room to as everyone said he realized Sulk.

"Ash what are you doing?" Brock asked echoing the stunned question Misty and his mother were thinking.

"I'm not going to let that jerk beat me." Ash said as he then feeling along the wall reached the back door and headed out.

Misty and the others watched in shock as he went out and sent out each of his pokemon. and told them what had happened and that they would have to work together if they were going to make it now.

Misty sighed as she watched Ash and Pikachu trying to work out some way for them to do this. She looked up as Brock came and set down beside her. "Why doesn't he just give up he should be focusing on finding a new career since he can't do this one now." she said expecting Brock to agree with her.

"Misty, Ash won't give up on his dream he's too stubborn and you know it." Brock said as though that should be obvious. He glanced at Misty and didn't like the look on her face.

"Yes, he would he was giving it up until that jerk Gary got him started again." Misty said fighting to keep her voice down so Ash wouldn't here them.

"Then you would rather Ash still be lying in bed depressed?" Brock asked.

"No, " Misty said reluctantly inside her head she was screaming about how Ash wouldn't get up for her but would get up for Gary.

"Misty the problem is you don't think Ash can do it." Misty turned toward him to object but his glare silenced her "Your seeing him as a hurt pokemon to take care of forever but sooner or later Ash is going to have to learn to live with his blindness." Brock watched her and could tell she still wanted to argue. "Rather or not he can be a pokemon master isn't the issue." Brock said

"What is the issue?" Misty asked curious at what Brock was getting at and also angry that he seemed to think he knew more than her.

"Misty you seem to be slightly prejudice, you think Ash will always be helpless now that he's blind and just like Togepi you see Ash as a new person to care for like a child and Misty Ash won't let you do that."

Misty got up angrily and slapped Brock. "How dare you accuse me of that." She said.

As Misty stormed off she heard Brock say under his breath "Despite what you say Misty you know it's the truth."

To be continued...

Authors Notes about the Revised Version:

1. This Fic has been cleaned up a bit. To Bring it up to speed with my new fics. Still not very good gramitcally but much better than anythign I could have done when I first wrote it. Thankfully this allready had most of it's detail intact.

2. I added only minor new details to the fic.

3. I do hope Those of you who liked the original fic will not be disapointed with this cleaned up version. I'll clean up the other parts soon.