Hi Reader (^_^)
I'm going to warn you ahead of hand, the first two chapter of this story are going to be somewhat similar to my other story, Are Those Who Leave Us Truly Gone, but they are in no way related plot wise.
This story is purely Oldrivalshipping, but other pairings might be mentioned.
Anyway…
I don't own Pokémon.
"Talking" Thoughts "PokeSpeech"
On with the story….
Prologue: Accident
*Iris's POV, Nuvema Town, Unova*
I still don't understand why Ash would want to go all the way back to Nuvema Town just to talk to Professor Juniper.
It isn't that hard to just use a phone.
Also, if he wanted to change Pokémon he could have just had them sent through the Pokémon Transfer System.
I don't understand him.
He can be such a kid.
Ash, Cilan, and I were walking in the outskirts of Nuvema Town.
I asked, "Ash, why did we come all the way back here?"
Ash, who looked like he was deep in thought didn't hear me.
I sighed and looked at Cilan who only shrugged.
Seriously?
What could he possibly be thinking so deeply about?
Ash is never usually like this.
He's usually all cheery and dense, but for the past few days he's been all depressed and serious.
I remember he went to see a doctor a few days ago, complaining about always being tired.
After that, everything went downhill.
What happened while he was there to make him like this?
What changed?
We continued walking until we reached Professor Juniper's Lab.
Once we reached the doors, Ash finally snapped back into focus.
He knocked on the door and waited for someone to let us in.
Knocking on doors and waiting for someone to come, what the heck is going on?
After a few seconds, the door was opened by none other than professor Juniper.
Professor Juniper blinked rapidly upon seeing us, "Why are you here?"
Didn't Ash tell her we were coming here?
Ash cringed, "I'm sorry for not telling you that we were coming, but I need to ask you if you can send a letter to Kanto for me."
All this is about a letter?
Professor Juniper stared at Ash, "Can't you just video phone the person you're sending the letter to."
Ash nodded, "I can, but I need to send a letter. It's a long story that I don't really feel like saying."
Professor Juniper sighed, "Fine. Come inside while I have someone fetch the proper mailing authorization for your letter."
Ash smiled, "Thank you, Professor Juniper."
With that the three of us followed Professor Juniper into the Lab's living room and sat down on the couch.
Professor Juniper made sure we were all comfortable before walking out of the room.
Once she was gone, I turned towards Ash, "Why is this letter so important?"
Ash sighed and rubbed his temples, "I can't tell you that, it's too personal. If the wrong person read what the letter says then things will be bad. That's why I can't tell the person I'm sending it to by video phone."
What could possibly be that important?
Cilan opened his mouth to ask something, but then Professor Juniper walked in with a few papers.
She dropped the papers on the coffee table and turned towards Ash, "All the papers authorizing the sending of your letter are here, you just need to fill them out."
Ash nodded, grabbed the papers and a pen sitting in a cup holder on the table, and then began filling them out.
After a few minutes, Ash finished all of them and out the pen back.
Professor Juniper took the papers, but not before I could see Ash's handwriting.
Is it even possible for a boy to have such neat handwriting, let alone Ash?
Professor Juniper sorted the papers and walked out again.
Cilan asked, "Why is it so important that you send this letter now, Ash? Your flavor is really off."
Ash stared blackly at the wall, "I might not have the chance to if I don't send it now. The person I want to send it to travels a lot, so they might not be in the place that I'm sending the letter to by the time it gets there."
Is that the only reason why he has to send this letter?
Arceus, he isn't a kid he's an idiot.
He can just find out the person's location later and send them the letter later.
Sometimes I don't understand this kid…
After a few more minutes, Professor Juniper came back with a large white envelope with the Unova postal service's symbol on it.
She handed the envelope to Ash, "Put your letter in here, its procedure."
Ash nodded and pulled a letter out jean's pocket before placing it in the large white envelope.
Ash sealed the envelope and handed it back to Professor Juniper, along with some money.
Where the heck did he get that money from?
Cilan is in charge of all the money!
Professor Juniper stared at money, "What's this for?"
Ash gave her an 'are you stupid' look, "It's to cover the price of sending the letter."
Professor Juniper laughed, "Pokémon Professors don't need to pay postal fees. Keep your money."
Ash put the money back into his pocket, "Okay… How long will it take for the letter to get there?"
Professor Juniper thought about it for a second, "Three Days, a week maximum."
Ash nodded, "Thanks, Professor Juniper."
Professor Juniper smiled, "Your welcome, Ash. Be careful on you journey."
Ash smiled and got up, "I will. Cilan, Iris, let's go. Bye, Professor Juniper!"
Cilan and I quickly got up and muttered, "Bye!"
Professor Juniper waved, "Be careful you three. I'll send out your letter before the end of the day Ash!"
Ash grinned, "Thanks again!"
With that we walked out of the Lab and into the open air of Nuvema Town.
I turned towards Ash, "Do you know how much time we wasted coming all the way back here?"
Ash ignored me, back into though mode already.
We just left Professor Juniper's Lab!
What could possibly be troubling him now?
Cilan sighed, "It's no use Iris; he isn't going to listen. There's no point in wasting your breath on him."
I groaned, "Out of all the times he decided to act a bit more mature, it's when I want him to act immature. If he was still being as immature as he usually is, he would have answered back already."
Cilan stared at Ash with a worried expression, "I wonder what that doctor told him… His flavor has become all depressing…"
I sneered, "It was probably something really stupid. I bet the doctor told him that because he's been struck by so many of Pikachu's thunder attacks, he's going to die."
Cilan laughed, "I doubt it could have been anything as senseless as that Iris. I guess we just have to wait and see what happens. Hopefully, Ash will return to normal by tomorrow."
I nodded, "Hopefully…"
I hope Ash doesn't stay like this forever, it's unnerving…
He needs to go back to being the annoying brat he was before…
I don't think I can stand depressing Ash!
*Cilan's POV, Route 1, Unova*
Ash's flavor has been getting more and more off over the past few days.
It's almost like he's lost himself.
Maybe what Iris said about what the doctor could have possible have said is true, but I doubt it's possible for someone to die from being struck by too many thunderbolts.
I sent a glance at Ash to see that he was once again lost in thought.
Ash has been only thinking these past few days, he hasn't done any training.
Maybe we should force him to do some…
I looked at the sky to see that the sun was about to set.
I sighed and turned towards Iris and Ash, "It's getting late, let's camp out here. Iris can you find some food?"
Iris nodded and jumped into the trees to get something to eat.
Ash just slumped down against a tree, Pikachu jumping off his shoulder and on to the ground.
Even Pikachu's flavor has been off, but he's not as depressed as Ash.
After a few minutes, Iris returned with an armful of fruits.
I smiled at her, "I can make fruit salad with these, thank you Iris."
Iris grinned and sat down on a log.
I started preparing the food, while Iris watched and Ash thought.
Before I was happy if Ash put even a small amount of thought into something, but now I would be happy if he just stopped thinking so much.
How the tables have turned.
After a few minutes, Iris got tired of watching me and got up to stretch.
She turned to Ash, "How about a Pokémon battle?"
Axew popped out of her hair, "Has anyone figured out why he's so thoughtful?"
Pikachu shook his head, "He won't even tell me what's wrong. That just tells me something is off."
When Ash didn't respond to Iris, Iris snapped, she walked over to Ash and stood in front of his face.
Then she yelled as loudly as she could, "Are you even paying the least bit of attention?"
Ash snapped out of his thoughts, "Did you want something, Iris?"
Irish glared at him, "Yes, I want you to get out of thought mode. I want to do some training; I'm sure your Pokémon want to as well. Now come on, I found a clearing next to a nearby cliff just perfect for battles."
A small smile formed on Ash's face, "Okay Iris. Although can you used Excadrill? I want to train with Roggenrola against a type he is weak to."
Iris and I both stared at Ash in shock.
He's actually using a normal training strategy?
Something has really been thrown off with him!
Ash stared at us blankly, "Is something wrong?"
Iris and I both shook our heads, "No."
I turned back towards the food I had been preparing.
I can finish this later; I want to watch this battle.
Maybe Ash's battle strategy has also changed.
Ash started walking towards the cliff Iris had mentioned earlier, seeing it through the trees, "Let's go already. I have some training to do!"
The two of us followed Ash until we reached the cliff.
Iris was right this is a good battling spot.
Ash and Iris stood towards different sides of the clearing/cliff, while I refereed, "Start!"
Ash and Iris simultaneously tossed their Pokeballs into the air, "Excadrill! / Roggenrola, I choose you!"
Ash's Roggenrola and Iris's Excadrill came out and faced each other.
Iris smirked, "You aren't going to beat me Ash! Excadrill Drill Run!"
Ash smiled, "Roggenrola, Sand Storm!"
A powerful sandstorm came forth, stopped Excadrill from completing Drill Run.
Iris grit her teeth, "Be careful Excadrill, we don't know where Roggenrola's next attack is going to come from."
Excadrill nodded and went into a fighting stance.
Ash grinned, "Think you're still going to win Iris? Roggenrola use Stone Edge!"
Now this is the Ash I know.
A few of the rocks around the cliff came loose as Roggenrola used Stone Edge against Excadrill, sending him back.
Iris frowned, "Excadrill, dig underground and sense where Roggenrola is, that way you can hit him!"
Excadrill nodded and dug into the ground a small fissure forming where he dug.
Excadrill emerged a few seconds later with Roggenrola on its claws.
At least, Excadrill's attack got rid of the Sand Storm.
Iris grinned, "Seems like things are now back into my favor, Ash! Excadrill use dig again!"
Excadrill did as told and started digging, but suddenly Ash yelled, "Roggenrola, Flash Cannon!"
Roggenrola's Flash Cannon blinded Excadrill, allowing Ash to strike back; however, Excadrill started tunneling randomly, not able to see his target.
Multiple fissures and cracks started forming in the rock of the clearing.
Some of the rock at the edge of the cliff started crumbling.
Excadrill needs to stop!
Iris yelled, "Excadrill stop!"
Excadrill stopped tunneling, but the damage was already done.
Iris sighed, "I guess you win Ash, Excadrill will keep attacking randomly when he's blinded like this, Excadrill return."
Excadrill returned to his Pokeball and Iris accepted defeat.
Ash smiled and started walking over to Iris when suddenly the rock around him started collapsing.
Ash started running back towards solid ground, but in vain.
His weight caused more rock to crumble and he fell into a fissure.
Iris and I ran as carefully as we could to the fissure to see Ash gripping on a rock with one hand, losing his grip.
We need to get him out!
I grabbed Pansage's Pokeball to call him out when the ground rumble once again.
Iris and I managed to stay steady and calm, but once the rumbling stopped, we worriedly looked back down the fissure.
Neither of us was prepared for the sight that greeted us.
No…
The rumbling had caused the rock Ash was gripping to crumble and Ash to fall.
Ash fell to the bottom of the fissure and landed straight on his back, but not with enough force to kill him.
Everything should have been fine, but luck wasn't on our side.
Another crumbling rock fell had fallen onto Ash, skewering him straight through the chest.
This can't be happening.
Ash can't be dead.
Iris and I only stared at Ash's body in horror, not realizing that an Officer Jenny had arrived at the scene to evaluate the damage.
We didn't notice Officer Jenny calling backup to take us and Ash's body away.
We were both too numb to feel anything.
Ash couldn't have been killed.
There is no way that he could have died from such a normal accident.
It's impossible.
To Be Continued…
I feel cruel for killing of Ash, again, but he needs to be dead for the rest of the story to play out…
The first chapter of this story will be up on January 1st.
Anyway, Review. (*_*)