Disclaimer: I do not own any part of WB™, 4Kids™, Nintendo™, or the copyrights to Pokémon. I may have some memorabilia from the show or TCG. I just enjoy the show like everyone else.
Author's Note: Welcome to my 2nd and/or 3rd fanfic. It is both because this story will be updated along with its counterpart, "The Five Months in Between: Misty's Diary". If you haven't already, please read "Keeping Memories".
On with the story…
The Five Months in Between: Ash's Journal
Prologue
She looked over the tattered book in her hands. It was crimson red and looked like it had seen better days. "Journal of Ashton Ketchum" stamped across the front in gold lettering.
"Hey Ashy boy!" she called tauntingly.
"Yes?" Ash called from his office.
She entered the room, Pikachu closely in tow, "Looky what found."
"What is it?" he asked, not looking up from his papers.
"It's your journal!" she jeered.
"That's impossible Misty," looking up at his wife, a mischievous grin plaster on his face, "mine is right here," he opened a drawer and pulled out the same book.
"How do I know that's not a decoy?" she asked suspiciously.
"Mist, do you honestly think that I'm that smart to think of a plan as elaborate as that?"
"If you can use words like 'elaborate' properly in a sentence, then I don't know what you're capable of."
"So you think I'm smart?"
"No, you just have the potential, you're not there yet."
"Aw, come on, you gota give me some credit."
"Maybe one-fourth."
Pikachu sweat dropped, "Cha"
"So who do you think has the real one?" asked Misty
"I do of course" retorted Ash
"Are you sure?"
He got up and walked over to Misty's side
"I've got an idea. We open up to the first page and the first few lines together"
"Okay, 1…2...3...go!"
"September 15, 1999," they started in unison, "Today I start my Pokémon journey…"
"Well that checks out," stated Misty.
"I don't get it… skip 20 pages ahead, ready? Go..."
"October 23, 1999," once again together, "Today my Metapod evolved into a Butterfree."
"This is just too creepy."
"But… go to date…" Ash started flipping through pages, "…March 19, 2001, I am half way to the Orange Island League…"
Misty started looking through the dates, "I've got the same thing here."
"I don't get it? Try… June 12, 2004"
"Yeah?"
"What does it say?
"Today I become a Pokémon Master… Wait! You were shot that day"
"Yeah," he placed his hand on a scar at back of his left shoulder, "I know, that one almost hit the heart, what's the date on the next page?"
"June 13, why?"
"June 13! That's impossible." Ash took the book from Misty, just then Brock walked in.
"Hey guys!" he was closely followed by May and Max.
They all chatted a bit; Max had earned his 8th badge in the Kanto League and was waiting for the opening ceremonies at the Indigo Plateau.
Curiosity overcame May and turned to Misty, "What's he doing?"
Misty explained what she found and what happed before they arrived.
Ash continued to pour over the two books, trying to make sense of it. Much of the writing in the book Misty found was in gold. Brock noticed Ash becoming more agitated, "Ash? What's up?"
"Guys," he gulped," this book says that Misty died that night I was shot."
Misty became very nervous, "Ash, are you sure it's yours?"
"Sure I'm sure, it's in my handwriting…most of it…" he trailed off.
"What do you mean mostly?" May but in.
"I mean that the journal entries are mine but the rest is in gold cursive."
Max was skeptical, "But how?"
"I don't know… maybe," he said softly, "Maybe something… happened"
"Maybe you should read it," Brock stated, his eyes closed (at least that's what they think they were) in thought.
"Alright…"
Chapter 1 – Gone
AN: Any thing that is written normally was written in gold according to the prologue.
June 13, 2004
She's gone, I don't believe it, I can't keep writing… I… Misty… gone… Just a few hours ago I was… then… I… I was going to tell her… tell her the truth… she deserved the truth… I was about to tell her… then it happened… I can't… I can't go on like this… I love her, oh god how I loved her… but now…
Water stains were splattered over the pages. Ash left his desk and sat himself in the corner of his room. Tears rolled down his cheeks in unchecked rivers. His white dress shirt still donned with browning red specks. Memories raced through his mind.
Downstairs Delia, Prof. Oak, Brock, Gary, Tracy, May, Max, Team Rocket, and Pikachu discussed what was to happen next.
"Alright," started Prof. Oak, "the person responsible has gotten away, that's all we know, the rain made it difficult for the police to track 'it'."
"I know they did their best," said Delia.
They talked and argued for almost 3 hours. There was a sudden uproar between Team Rocket and Gary. Max tried to settle everyone down. Brock waited until there was silence, "We've been dancing around this subject long enough… but we have to… we have to make the… um… final arrangements."
"I know a place"
Everyone turned to the stair case; they were shocked to see Ash on the landing.
"Oh. Hiya Ash. Didn't hear you come down," Gary said nervously.
"Pika - pika?"
"I'm fine Pikachu."
"You sure?" interrupted Meowth
Jessie and James piled on him.
"Shh! don't talk!"
"Yeah, Just be quiet!"
"Do you need anything Ash?"
"No thanks Tracy."
"You were about to say something?" pressed May
"I… I know a spot… f…for Misty…" he said slowly, "It looks out over the ocean…I know she'll… she would have… liked it…"
"Right," said Max, standing up, "Let's check it out."
The young trainers went out the door, leaving Delia to worry, "I hope Ash can do this."
"I'm sure he'll be fine," Prof. Oak said confidently.
Ash had not made eye contact with anybody since they left the house. He altered his vision to his feet. A pang went through his heart; she had given him this pair of dress shoes. It was a dark morning, drizzling lightly on the ensemble. He was leading them up to a grassy hilltop. A spectacular view could be seen by the group. On a clear sunny day you could see a blazing orange sun set below the horizon. Though Ash kept his eyes focused on the ground.
"Here," and that was all he said he turned, Ash raised his head and glanced over his shoulder, the clouds over the blue waters parted, the rays of the sun glimmering in the afternoon mist. He turned away slowly and started down the hill alone.