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Sammy felt the fire lick his face, his hair, felt it dance along his skin like warm breath, but there was no pain.
Looking around, Sammy saw the red encasing them, could vaguely see the crowd through the haze around them, and watched as Pichu looked around curiously from his arms.
Why wasn't the fire burning them?
"Pipi!" exclaimed Pichu
In front of them deflecting the majority of the flame stood a boy not much taller than he was. He wore a cap to keep his spiky black hair down and looked no older than twelve, though Sammy knew that wasn't right.
"Mom?" whispered the boy on the ground. Ash Ketchum turned around, facing his son with a huge smile.
"Hi Sammy! Wow, you're so big!"
Large amber eyes greeted his own as the boy stood shakily. Ash reached out and touched his cheek, thumbing away the tears that had leaked onto the 'z' markings that they shared. Sammy stared into his mother's face, trying not to blink, trying to etch every touch, every scent, into memory forever. His mother's hands were callused, like his were, from throw pokeballs, but they were warm and real. He smelt of wood smoke and cinnamon, like he had just come back from a night in the woods, and Sammy leapt at him, throwing his arms around his mother and holding him tightly for the first time in his life. Ash seemed surprised at first, then hugged him back. When they pulled away, the older Ketchum tugged at a lock of his son's auburn hair, grinning.
"Gary's hair," the older boy said wistfully with a fond smile.
Sammy stiffened, and Ash's smile faded.
"He has a lot to answer for when I see him," Ash all but growled.
"Mom," asked Sammy, tasting the unfamiliar word on his tongue.
"Am I dead?"
Ash shook his head ruefully and stepped away from his son, leaving Sammy feeling suddenly cold.
"Don't leave me!" said Sammy shrilly. "All I ever wanted was to be like you; to make you proud. Please don't leave me alone again. I don't know what to do."
Ash stared at his son, and then held out his hand.
"Do you trust me?"
Sammy took it without thought.
It was the strangest feeling, like being in two places at once. Sammy felt his feet move without telling them to, felt Pichu in his arms distantly, like something from a dream. Sammy walked through the fire, saw people in the crowds standing, heard the muffled shouting, saw the trainer desperately try to control his Charzard that had become crazed enough to attack a trainer. Sammy felt Pichu jump from his arms into the arena, but the fire must have messed with his vision. Superimposed over the small Pichu's form was that of a larger Pokémon, the Pikachu standing determined and familiar. Sammy felt his arm raise, felt his mouth move, heard the command that wasn't said in his own voice, but one quite different.
"Pikachu, Iron Tail and Thunder bolt!"
But Sammy didn't have a Pikachu, he had a Pichu. Nonetheless, the rat-like Pokémon moved fluidly, no longer injured, darting at a speed Sammy hadn't before imagined. It jumped and flipped in mid-air, the Iron tail landing solidly on the Charzard's skull, cutting off the flame, and then white light filled the arena as the Thunder hit the dragon Pokémon, excess energy shooting straight up into the air and cracking open the sky.
Rain began to fall as the Charzard hit the ground, unconscious, and the Pikachu slumped to the arena floor, panting with exhaustion.
Sammy felt himself walk forward and pick up the small Pokémon, running one gloved hand through its bright yellow fur.
"You did good buddy. It's time for a nice, long rest."
The Pikachu smiled at its trainer licking his cheek once, before closing its eyes. When they opened, a Pichu sat in its place, eyes confused and sad.
Sammy's eyes rose to the jumbo screens, and heard his mother's voice as Ash Ketchum's face faded to be replaced by his own.
"I will always be with you, Sammy. Believe in yourself, and your Pokémon, and you will never be alone."
Nurse Joy's and medics began to rush onto the field, and Sammy could see his family battling the crowd to reach him. He heard the buzz of noise, exclamations of wonder and curiosity, felt the hundreds of eyes on him, but he didn't want any of them.
Sammy sank to his knees, his clothes still smelling of cinnamon and wood smoke, and wept.
Hey guys! I'm still kind of torn; does Ash get brought back, or doesn't he? I have two potential outcomes written down, but I just can't choose! Help me out?
