P.S. - Trust me, I hate writing about tragic stories and whenever I read one, I always feel my heart ache.
P.S. #2 - I don't own pokemon and even if I did, this story never would've taken place…
Rated T for Teen.
Dedicated to a friend of a friend of mine, who died the same tragic way that Ash is about to in this story. Only difference is, he died in Jamaica. He was barely out of his twenties. I twisted the plot a little bit to make it fit in with the rest of the story but the climax of the story is a remake of what really happened to him.
. . .
5 years after "The Incident"
Dawn was sitting down on a chair at her house in Pallet Town taking out her journal from a shelf. She carefully opened her diary to the current date and began her entry:
Dear Ash,
It's been 5 long harsh years since… that…
Dawn couldn't stop a tear from falling down her cheek and onto the paper of her diary which she dedicated specially to Ash. She managed to wipe off the rest of the tears herself and continued on with her entry:
Don't worry about me Ash. I'll always be strong for you. The way you would've always wanted me to be…
She then tilted back on her chair and tried to remember the times she had with Ash, the good times…
Flashback – 5 (AND A HALF) years ago
"So Ash, where are you taking me to this time?"
Ash smirked before giving her girlfriend a reply.
"Well, can't I take my beautiful girlfriend out for a walk?" Ash asked.
Dawn simply giggled at this response and soon they came to a stop.
"Why did we stop here Ash?"
"Just look."
She observed her surroundings more carefully. They were just outside of Twinleaf town and right in front of them was a big grassy field.
"Dawn, do you remember where this is?"
Dawn took a moment to think.
"Hmm… Oh, I remember now! Isn't this the place where we first met?"
"Exactly, and that's why I wanted to ask you this at this specific place…" Ash then slowly fell onto one of his knees and pulled out a pokeball.
"Umm, Ash? Is something wrong?"
Just then, Ash opened up the pokeball and Dawn gasped in shock. Inside was a beautiful sapphire jewel placed neatly on top of a ring.
"Dawn Bertliz, will you marry me?"
Dawn's feelings right now were beyond describable. All she said was the following:
"YES!" she then leaped on top of Ash and they both fell on the ground kissing passionately.
5 months later…
Ash and Dawn Ketchum were finally a married couple. Their wedding took place a month ago at the Pallet Town Research Laboratory and every one of Ash's friend were invited. Since then, they have been preparing for a honeymoon which was to take place in the Sinnoh Region. They would first make a stop at Sunnyshore City, then move on to a resort at Lake Valour hence afterwards finally arriving in Veilstone City before departing on a plane back to Pallet Town via Vermilion City. They were going away on a short two week vacation before getting back to their daily lives back at home but only this time, as a married couple.
Today had been the departure date but neither Dawn nor Ash knew that this was their last 2 weeks being together…
1 week and 6 days later…
"Well sweetie, we're almost through with our honeymoon. Was there any place you specially wanted to go in Veilstone City?" Ash asked.
"Nah, I think I'm good. But then again, can we go inside a bar? I always wanted to see what it looked like."
Ash was flabbergasted by this request but didn't hesitate to answer her.
"Are you sure Dawn? I mean, Veilstone City isn't what you would call the safest place in Sinnoh…"
"Come on Ash, this is probably going to be our last time in Sinnoh for a long while. So please?" then Dawn gave Ash one of her puppy dog face requests.
Ash gave out a sigh before giving his reply. "Oh alright…"
They were walking down the moderately busy streets of Veilstone City until they came across a building with a sign that read, "BAR"
They walked in through the front doors and took a seat by a window. Ash went to the counter to get some drinks while Dawn decided that she would stay behind.
Leaving his wife unattended was her husband's fatal mistake.
While Ash was gone, a purple-haired man walked into the bar and took a seat opposite of Dawn's.
"Hey there beautiful, what's a sexy girl like you doing here all by yourself?" the purpled-haired man asked.
"Excuse me, but I'm engaged." Dawn replied as she calmly rested her hands on the table revealing her engagement ring.
"Well then, that guy must be damn good looking to match your looks." he said with a lustful smile.
Just then, Ash came back to the table with two drinks. One: a glass of water and two: a glass of Coke.
"Hey, could you leave us alone?" the purple-haired man asked rudely.
"Fuck off will yea'?"
Just then, the man who was talking to Dawn rose up and pulled out a handgun. He fired four shots at Ash's chest before Ash fell backwards onto the floor; barely alive. The purple-haired man stormed out of the bar while everyone else watched in horror as the scene unfolded right before them.
"NO!" screamed Dawn.
She came and knelt down next to her recently married husband.
"Dawn…" Ash said weakly.
"No Ash, you're going to be alright. Please don't leave me here by myself…" Dawn was just about to start crying.
Ash tried to lift his hand but was too weak to. Dawn helped him by lifting his hand up to her face and resting it gently on her cheek. Ash gave her a small smile before he slowly closed his eyes for the last time…
End of Flashback
Dawn couldn't stop the tears that were now falling from her eyes. She then got out of the chair and threw herself on top of her bed and started crying her heart out. She had missed him; she had missed Ash Ketchum: her love, her life…
Just then, a small boy barely four years of age ran up to Dawn and wrapped his arms around her. The boy had messy hair and z-marked cheeks. The only thing that made him look different from his father were his bright blue eyes.
"Mommy, why are you crying?"
Dawn finally noticed her son and started to wipe away her tears. She then slowly turned around to look at her son before returning the hug.
"It's ok dear, your mommy is just feeling a little bit sad right now."
"Is it about daddy? I miss him mommy, is he going to come back?"
"I hope so sweetie, I really do…"
She escorted her son back to his room and tucked him into bed. She gave him a kiss on the forehead before turning away and heading for the door. But just before closing the door, she said to her son while facing him, "Goodnight, Ash."
. . .
Dedicated to a friend of a friend of mine who died the same way that Ash did in this story. However, his wife didn't have a child; that part was made-up by me.
Some of the ideas in this story were NOT mine. I have listed all of the ideas that I have taken right here. If the authors of the stories don't feel comfortable about having their ideas posted up on my story, please feel free to tell me.
Story references:
Diary (in the beginning of the story) inspiration taken from - Regret by Leotah
Ash replying, "Well, can't I take my beautiful girlfriend out for a walk?" Idea taken from - Their Wedding by hollista
Marriage Proposal idea taken from - Ash's Question by LatiosFan
The idea of having Dawn's last name as, "Bertliz" – I have absolutely no idea. A whole bunch of different authors use it.
Dawn giving Ash a puppy-dog face request – Again, absolutely no idea; too many people use it.