Chapter 1: Return To Pallet
I do not own Pokemon
A lone figure sat on the back of a lake in the dark forest. He had messy
black hair that looked like it hadn't been cut in months that poked out
from under his shirt, a ragged light gray sweatshirt, and fairly old black
pants with a matching black floor length cloak. The hood of the cloak was
drawn over his head so you couldn't see anything but his mouth. A yellow
mouse sat by him.
"That one day.." he murmured "That one day changed it all.." The mouse nodded
as it watched the moon's reflection on the water while recalling the
memory.
-Flashback-
Ash Ketchum smiled contently as he watched Cyndaquil and Pachirisu chase
each other around. He had a feeling though, that today would be eventful.
"Ash?" he looked up at the pick haired nurse "There's a call for you from
Pallet Town."
"Okay." he replied "Thanks Nurse Joy." Pikachu then jumped onto his shoulder
as he headed towards the video phones. On screen was a frazzled looking
Professor Oak with worry evident in his eyes "Professor, what is it?" he
asked
"Ash, thank goodness you're here." he sighed of relief "It's your mother"
"Huh? My mom? What about her?"
"She's- she's-" the Pokemon researcher took a deep breath and finished
"She's in a coma."
Ash choked on his breath as he heard the last three words. Coma? How could
the one who raised and supported him his whole life be in a coma?
"Professor, I'm coming over." he finally got out. He hung up before anymore
could be said
-End Flashback-
"That day changed everything." he sighed "Of course, it might've been
different if she hadn't been there." The mouse nodded in agreement "Well,
we can't hide forever. It's about time I visited Mom anyway.."
Ash sighed as he walked through the doors of Pallet Memorial Hospital
"Hello, can I help you?" the nurse asked
"Yes, I'm here to visit Delia Ketchum." he replied. The nurse fiddled with
the computer before responding
"I'm sorry, but at the moment, only family are allowed to visit her."
"I am family. I'm her son"
"Oh! May I have verification?" he held out his Sinnoh Pokedex to her "Well
then, her room is 502."
"Thank you" he then headed towards the elevator.
-Meanwhile-
In room 502, it was pure chaos. Delia Ketchum had woken up a month ago,
but was frantic for her son every time she was awake
"Where is he?!" she screamed "Where's my baby?!"
"I'm sorry ma'am!" one of the doctors yelped as he ducked under a flying
vase "He disappeared shortly after you first arrived. The last one
reported to have seen him is a Misty Waterflower."
"I don't care who last saw him!" she shrieked "I just want Ash here!"
-Outside-
"Are you sure this is safe?" Ash asked his friend "It doesn't sound pretty
in there" The mouse rolled its eyes and nodded "If you say so" he then
knocked on the door before entering. The doctors were too busy trying to
put his mother to sleep while dodging the various flying objects to notice
the newcomer
Ash's eyes widened. He had never known his mother to cause so much chaos.
He raised his hand to catch an oncoming medicine bottle, and finally the
doctors noticed him
"Excuse me," one of them said "It would be safer if you left the room."
Delia looked up and immediately stopped her tirade
"Ash!" she cried out. The doctors took a double take as Ash maneuvered
himself around the wreckage.
"Hi Mom." he carefully sidestepping a shattered bottle on the floor "Sorry
I couldn't come sooner. I just got news you woke up and I sort of had a
hard time getting here."
"Oh Ash, I was so worried! The doctors kept saying you were gone, exactly
where have you been?"
He shrugged "I've been hanging around Cameroon. I just got into town"
"Oh well then, you must be exhausted." she smiled weakly "Why don't you
head back to the house? Your friends are all staying there."
"No thanks." he said a little too quickly "I think I'll just... head to the
Lab. I'll come back tomorrow. Bye." He then left the room
"Pikachu pika?" the Pokemon asked once he closed the door
"I can't go back to them yet. Or at least not to her.." he replied as he
remembered the painful day. "Never mind, let's go up to the mountains and
find a cave." he then started walking into the woods
Professor Oak's eyes widened as he read some data on the computer.
"Tracey!" he shouted "Tracey come here!"
His assistant poked his head into the room "What is it Professor?"
"Look! The data, it says that there's been action involving Ash's Pokedex.
And right here in Pallet too!" the old man explained
"What?" Tracey exclaimed "I have to go tell the guys!" he then ran out the
door
"Tracey, I don't know why you dragged us here at 10 pm." Misty yawned as
she followed Brock and Tracey into the lab, May, Max, and Dawn following
"Guys, it's incredible!" he babbled excitedly "According to the sensors,
Ash's Pokedex is active again! He's been using it at the hospital just a
few minutes ago!"
"What?!" Misty's insides broke in two when she heard his name, but
brightened up when she heard that there might be a way of finding him.
"Tracey, tell us all you know"