Chapter 2 ~ The Lost
""If we open a quarrel between past and present, we shall find that we have lost the future." Winston Churchill
"Where is he…?" J almost growled in frustration at the man who had given her the news. They had pulled down his hood and he was gulping visibly as he told her the boy had raced off. She glanced towards the door which blew opened and pushed past the man, slamming it shut.
The mysterious man who had been the one to ask Ash of his choice quivered under her glare, "We lost the signal just north of Kanto. The chip in the Riolu may have come loose or the dog could have even evolved, destroying it."
The silver haired woman shook her head annoyed at her prize escaping her. The boy had been a nuisance before and it appealed to her how her genius of a brain had come up with the idea to turn his alliances around. She had heard the rumours surrounding him and smirked at the idea of claiming him. She tapped her foot on the ground. For now they would just have to be patient.
"You may leave," she waved her hand in the air to dismiss the man, who scurried out of there, his shoulders relaxing visible as soon as he was out of the room, out of the gaze of those cold blue eyes.
J stared at the door, wishing her grunts would get to work with installing a new one. She detested this open and shut wooden board that swung open with the lightest wind and paint that peeled around the edges. He gaze trailed over it in disgrace and she turned away, back to her desk and fancy computer that recorded data for all their clients. She stopped as she saw the raven haired boy standing in front of it, his head slightly bowed as he examined the floor, unwilling to look up and meet her shocked gaze.
"J," he acknowledged her, nodding his head and in that instant telling the silver haired woman that her suspicions had been right, that the boy would come here to save his friends, to save their pitiful lives like the hero he was. She tried to hide the smirk as Ash studied the carpet, brown eyes hard and unreadable.
She tilted her head to one side as she looked at the boy, trying to work out why the thirteen year old boy looked different from before. Something about the posture, the tense muscles and dark eyes… he lacked the boyish expression he had once had, his mind hardened by the sudden death of his past life.
"Took you a while," her voice was disapproving and scathing as she sneered at him. She refused to look at him and walked past him to her desk. Fishing something out of a drawer she passed it to him and he stared at it resigned. "I'm impressed that you managed to get in here unknown to anyone but this is where everything you know ends."
Ash couldn't resist the urge to mutter, "It already has,"
His head was forced back as a hand whipped out, slapping him across the cheek. It was sharp and his eyes stung with tears. His whole body longed to fight back but he had already resigned himself to his fate. He turned back to look at her, meeting her gaze for only a moment before dropping his eyes.
"I will not see you for a while during which you will be in training. I expect you to try your hardest in everything and succeed. I expect your Pokémon to have fully evolved…including that yellow rat." She nodded her head to the stone in his hands. It was long and thin, a narrow shard of yellow green crystal with a thin yellow crack running though the centre. The faint crack for all its worth resembled a lightning bolt, stretching from the one tip to the other.
Ash winced and nodded, clenching his fists, wanting more than anything to slam them into J's smiling face. He forced himself not to, and stuck them in his pockets, eyes hard. His mind was fresh with sadness. His mother was dead and his friends had abandoned him. In his time of need he had nobody to turn to, nobody to save him from his troubles. His gaze was shadowed as he recalled all the times he had saved his friends lives yet they had failed to do the same for him, driving him to this limit.
J had waved her hand, calling up some men from the door. They looked surprised to see the young boy standing there, inside her office without having passed through the door but just nodded at her commands. Ash gave up as he followed them out of the door to where he would spend the next few months and weeks living. As the door slammed shut it once again occurred to J how she should get some grunts to change the door as some paint peeled off, flaking to the floor in silent, unshed tears.
Ash found four Pokéballs waiting on his bed. He pushed them aside, dumping his other balls next to them. He still had his Sinnoh Team, Gligar, Buizel, Turtwig, Chimchar, and Staravia. Lucario and Charizard also remained in their balls, despite the six Pokémon rule that he had given up following. He briefly let his mind wander over all his other Pokémon, who had been at Oak laboratory before it had been destroyed.
Bulbasaur, Bayleef, Cyndaquil, Totodile, Sceptile, Noctowl, Swellow, Donphan, Heracross, Snorlax, Muk, Tauros, Glalie, Torkoal, Corphish, and Kingler. He felt a flash of relief go through him that not all of his Pokémon had suffered the same fate. He had release a Lapras, a Pidgeot and Butterfree many years ago. A Primeape was in training and his Squirtle was safe in a firing fighting squad.
Or so he thought.
As he released Pikachu from his hated ball, a small lightning bolt on the seal his gaze fell to the four Pokéballs that had been left for him. He sighed and figuring it couldn't hurt he released the four Pokémon.
Two of them he recognised right off. A small bulb backed dinosaur and a hard shelled turtle that both gave happy shouts to see him and raced forward. Squirtle looked a bit disorientated and Bulbasaur had a charred back and Ash couldn't help but feel thankful that J and her minions had rescued him from the ashes. His gaze fell on the other two Pokémon, both looking around the room. One was a small brown fox, an Eevee, and the other was a dragon like creature that was made up of a large pair of jaws.
Gible. The name seemed familiar and Ash knelt down, smiling at his two new friends. The Eevee seemed friendly enough, moving forward and rubbing against his knees. It let out a small squeak.
"Vui Eevee!"
Ash smiled as his recently discovered aura ability allowed him to comprehend. He reached out a hand and scratched the small fox behind the ears, "I like you too," he smiled.
The Gible regarded him with beady eyes and when Ash reached out a hand towards him he back away. Ash was about to reassure him when the door opened, a grunt appearing with a pile of clothes and a note on the top.
"The Gible and Eevee are for your team – I expect them evolved and strong at the end of your training. I took the liberty of finding your old Squirtle after managing to rescue your Bulbasaur. Along with your Charizard you now have the full Kanto Starter trio. Start deciding on a new name because your old life ends here brat."
Ash could almost imagine J's scathing voice and crumbled the note in his hand as the grunt walked out, the door slamming shut with an audible click as they locked him in. He pushed the clothes aside and toyed with the Thunderstone in his hand. Pikachu have him a small chirp, reassuring him on his decision.
Ash sat down on the bed, as Pikachu hopped over. Ash bit his lip, holding up the stone. He couldn't bring himself to move it towards the small yellow rodent who chirped softly and moved his head forward to touch the stone.
Ash forced himself to watch as his best friend was enraptured in a bright white light. Pikachu's tail grew until it was whip like, a lightning bolt of yellow at the end. His ears shrunk and he grew in size. As the bright glow faded you could see the mouse was now orange, with brown paws and ear tips. His bright brown eyes blinked at Ash and his yellow cheek pouches crackled with electricity. He blinked again and then moved about a bit before chirping.
"RaiRaichu!"
Ash let out a sob, unable to hold in the emotion and embraced his friend in a hug. Raichu waved his tail around, still getting used to how long it was now. On the floor Squirtle and Bulbasaur stared up quietly at their newly evolved friend.
That was just the start.
Ash was allowed the rest of that day and night to sit there, making friends with the shy Gible. He fell asleep eventually, only to wake up when a burly grunt pushed open his door, dragging him awake and forcing him to rise. With great reluctance Ash pulled on his new clothes, black jeans, and a black hoodie with a white logo of sorts that he didn't pay too much attention to. Over his eyes he pulled on a pair of dark glasses like J's that hid his auburn brown eyes. There was some sort of cloak but he refused to pull it on and left it where it sat. Raichu was on his shoulder, Ash already accustomed to the extra weight. On his new belt he slotted all his Pokéballs.
"You're late,"
The voice that would haunt his waking hours – a big burly man with huge muscles and a black headband that made him look like he had walked out a ninja movie… He had dark brown hair that fell in front of his pale yellow eyes that examined Ash with a sharp scrutiny. He was taller than Ash and sneered at him as Raichu hopped down from his shoulder chirping softly.
"ChuRaiRai?"
Ash narrowed his eyes and shifted his weight, preparing himself for his training. It took half the morning and by the end he was bruised and battered. He had been tossed aside like a fly, narrowly dodging punches that would give him a black eye for weeks. His fighting had never been as viscous as he was thrown around from here to there.
That was why he was relieved to have the afternoon battling. He stood weakly at the podium as various grunts came in, large smirks across their face that he soon wiped off, along with the many Pokémon that they threw at him. Raichu couldn't help but enjoy the excess power that had come with his evolution and enjoyed showing off with his many electric attacks that were purposely aimed at normally immune ground types.
They fell down like bowling pins.
J smiled from an upper viewing station as she watched Ash command his new Eevee to dodge and spin to avoid an attack. Her eyes widened at the use of his Buizel's spinning tactic on the ground to create a counter shield. She knew she had made the right choice and would have to be patient to break this one – he was strong willed. He still showed too much compassion, too much care. It would be wiped out of him soon enough.
Four months later – Sinnoh – Unknown Area…
Ash couldn't help but let out a small smile as Gabite stood on the edge of the battlefield, a slight bored look on his face as he examined the fainted purple bat in front of him. He stood back on two legs now, his body covered in a layer of fine navy blue scales. His nostrils flared as he examined a large scythe that hung down from his short arms.
The raven haired boy's eyes were covered by the pair of dark black glasses he wore. They hid his eyes; one was auburn, and the other pale blue. He was relieved that nobody had noticed the change, the skill he had been honing in private. He let the smile fall of his face as he recalled Gabite, the dragon growing in speed and endurance from day to day. The little Gible had been the hardest to train, his shy nature impending him and inducing fear. Ash had struggled to get him to battle but when he managed it seemed like something finally clicked, awakening a new brave and strong spirit.
Ash narrowed his eyes as he saw his next opponent. Hate was emitted from him and on the side lines a blue jackal gave him a warning growl. Ash clenched his fists instead, his black gloves closing over the faint grey patterns on the palm. One hand reached down to his belt, slipping Gabite's ball in place while slipping another red orb into his hand. His finger briefly pressed the white central button separating the two half spheres of red and white and the ball enlarged in his hands as he tossed it forward, silently.
J hissed as she saw his Pokémon. She had hated that his Eevee had chosen this form to evolve into. She could have dealt with the stone evolutions, having a large possession of them. Even if he wanted a Sinnoh region special rock evolution they could have dealt with it. An Umbreon would have been all right, it would have matched her apprentice's new look but instead it had to evolve into that!
That happened to be a purple fox, with large black pupil-less eyes. On the centre of its forehead a red gem sat, sparkling with psychic powers. Two large fox like ears centred blue pricked as the fox realised there was a battle. On the side of her narrow head her fur was fluffed out in two long spikes. Her lithe cat like body tensed and her long, forked tail flickered.
"Speon, Espe!" The purple fox called to Ash who gritted his teeth. He knew they had improved over the months, his Pokémon growing in strength from the endless battles. He too had changed, now able to hold his own against the burly training instructor whose name he would never know. The bruises had faded and his speed and skill had improved, actually managing to floor the man once in a tricky kick to the foot. He had hoped that this day wouldn't come and that J would never be his opponent.
Unfortunately for him J had seen his improvement and change, and patient for results she had bided her time. Now seeing no room for time wasting she was intervening in his training, tossing out a large sphere to reveal her Salamence, a large flat backed red and blue dragon. It let out a mighty roar, baring his fangs. The silver haired woman stared at the purple fox, hating that the small brown fox had evolved because of the happiness and trust she had in the raven haired boy who, while she was on the topic, was as obnoxious as ever and still managed to scorn her even when trapped in the middle of her ship.
He was doing that now by using the Pokémon whose evolution method she hated. He was doing it by following her commands obediently and to perfection, changing them around slightly so that he did nothing bad, helping and caring for their captures while shipping them around. J gritted her teeth in frustration, knowing that she would have to be a bit more patient. He would break. Sooner or later….
"Espeon! Use Psychic,"
"Salamence, Hyper Beam!"
"Dig and dodge,"
"Flamethrower in the hole!"
"Come up behind now and use Shadow Ball,"
"Behind you!"
"Hyper Beam!"
The defeated grunts who stood watching though the one sided wall stared in amassment at the quick maneuverers. The purple fox had started with a beam of purple energy that looked like it would hit the large dragon with a dream to fly straight on. The mighty beast had issued his own beam of orange light, destroying the psychic attack and heading towards the hole where Espeon had vanished.
Flames had scorched at the hole but too late. Behind the lizard the purple fox jumped out from nowhere, releasing a large purple orb glittering with black that hit the dragon in the centre of his large flat back. Whirling around with fury a beam of light was forming in the dragon's mouth. He never released it, a jet of orange light knocking him back.
J smirked as she withdrew her large dragon before the referee could comment. She gave the ball one scornful glance before pocketing it. She gave a nod of approval to the boy who had knelt down, congratulating his Pokémon. Raichu hopped down from his shoulder, chirping happily as he greeted the purple fox. Ash felt J's eyes on him and he straightened up, returning Espeon to her ball in a beam of red light.
"That wasn't half bad brat."
Ash didn't say anything, fishing out another ball and returning Lucario who was watching from the side-lines. He slipped it in his belt beside Venusaur, Charizard, Blastoise, Espeon, Gabite, Infernape, Floatzel, and Pikachu's Balls. The large turtle, the fang scorpion and predatory raptor's balls were still in his room, on a shelf. They had taken a beating the day before and he had left them there to rest. He gave a half-hearted shrug.
J considered him briefly before turning away, snapping her fingers, "One last test, we've got a mission. You're to keep our backs safe."
Ash sighed dejectedly and followed her, reaching up a hand to support Raichu who was on his shoulder again. The large orange mouse still managed to perch there and Ash no longer noticed the added weight. The long brown whip-like tail flickered as the gaze of several grunts gazes fell on J's new apprentice. Ash felt his hands curl into fists and forced himself to relax and take the first opportunity that presented it.
That was why he was here now, standing on the banks of Lake Valor. He was standing at the forest edge, hidden in the shadows, his eyes focused on three people, two woman and a man who were standing there smirking as J's airship hovered above the centre. Ash blocked off his mind to the cry of pain as Azelf emerged from the lake, confronting the ship. That wasn't his worry.
"Stop it!"
Ash had already guessed what J had in plan. And when the multitude of voices that he both recognised and detested met his ears his attention was already focused on the six figures that came running forward towards the three galactic commanders. He sighed and nodded to Raichu who blinked sadly and leapt forward, surrounding himself in a veil of yellow aura.
Ash heard the shocked gasps as Raichu ploughed down the Gyrados, Sudowoodo, Blaziken, Kirlia, Piplup and Umbreon that had been sent forward. Bracing himself he emerged from the trees casting a sharp look at the Galactic Commanders.
"You were meant to wait at the rendezvous point," he found it too easy to let a sneer into his deep, cold voice. Mars glared at him, her red hair falling in her face as she glared angrily at him.
Jupiter spoke up, her purple hair tied up in a purple bun. "We can handle this!" she hissed and Saturn backed her up, a Pokéball in his hand.
"Piplup!" Ash let his gaze wander to where a blunette was cradling a small penguin. Just in front of her Raichu stood, his posture threatening and from behind a dark skinned, squint eyed man ran forward.
He pulled Dawn back and turned to where Ash was standing, his expression stony as he shouted at the unknown boy dressed all in black with his eyes hidden by a pair of dark glasses. "You can't capture the lake trio! Who are you anyway?"
Ash cast a glance to see Azelf entombed in stone and Saturn spoke up, his eyes dancing with malignant humour as he looked at Ash. "This is Hunter J's new apprentice – isn't that right Raven?"
Ash didn't look at him and turned instead to where his former friends were standing. He swallowed a lump in his throat as he saw them stare at him with hatred and anger, Misty standing next to Brock who was tending to Dawn's Piplup. Their respective Pokémon were no longer on the battlefield.
Misty let out a hiss of anger, glancing at Gary who was encouraging his Umbreon. "Then you're worse than her!" she hissed to Ash who forced himself not to react.
May and Max were standing behind their Pokémon and their mouths opened to give them another attack. Ash sighed and spoke one word, "Thunder,"
The siblings eyes widened as the small psychic type and the fire-fighting type were lit up by the electric blast. Their bodies sparked with static as they fell to the floor, just to be recalled in a beam of red light by their trainers.
Gary stood up and Ash wondered why all his old friends were here…together. His question was answered when the researcher turned to him, his face angry, "What did you and J do to Ash? We've all been searching and now we've found you, capturing the lake guardians."
As if on cue, Brock and Dawn collapsed, clutching their heads as above the lake Uxie and Mespirit appeared teleporting from their lake dimensions. Ash merely winced as Azelf's last plea ran through his head and he blocked it out, no matter how hard it pained him to do so.
Jupiter was observing the events above the lake with a kind of hunger that made Ash sick. Ash cursed as he saw Gary's Umbreon sneak up on her from behind, a Faint Attack in the waiting. Ash didn't hesitate as he fished another ball from his belt and flicked in forward.
"Espeon, Hyper Beam."
The purple fox darted to the side before releasing the beam of light at an angle that wouldn't hit his client. Umbreon was thrown backwards, the yellow rings on his body catching the sunlight as his soft black fur shone with rough elegance.
Misty let out a sneer at (in her opinion) evil Pokémon Hunter who didn't care for his Pokémon and used them as tools. "You're a coward – tell us what happened to Ash?"
Brock joined in, recovering from his migraine as unknowingly behind him above the lake Uxie was turned to stone. "You must have stolen that Espeon like the lying crook you are – it'd never evolve for someone like you!"
Ash was forcing himself not to snap something back at them and kept his attention focused on the lake, his Pokémon and the interfering people. He longed to pull off his glasses and race forward, embracing them in a hug and it pained him that such an action would end their lives.
Max joined in, tormenting his former friend, "You're cruel – forcing your Pikachu to evolve into a Raichu – people like you don't have any friends," It occurred to the raven haired boy how bad his friends were at choosing their insults.
Mars watched as the dark boy glared at them, his temper finally snapping as he ordered Espeon to use Protect on the ship still hovering above the lake. He had been counting the turns, waiting for the future sight attack to be seen falling from the sky before ordering the purple fox whose eyes glowed blue as a barrier appeared between the ship and the attack. He had been planning to let it hit, hoping to let the ship be destroyed.
All thoughts of this were pushed out of his mind by the hated comments still ringing in his ears. They hated him. They had left him. They had abandoned him. What did he have to do for them? His eyes darkened, losing any warmth that might have been visible within them. Inside the ship J let out a smirk as a small radio transmitted the conversation from down below. She was pleased that everything was turning out like she had planned.
May was the only one who didn't join in the complaints against the dark man as he observed the floating glass cages of the lake trio float down towards where Jupiter and Saturn had a truck waiting. Blocked of by the purple fox and electric mouse the six friends could not interfere.
"Do you want to know what happened to that boy?" Ash's tone was dark and emotionless as he looked around, his mind shattering as he spoke up. He considered them for a moment, taking in their hate filled glares and he found himself no longer caring. "I killed him. He was weak and I killed him,"
"No!" May let out a shriek and launched herself forwards only to by knocked aside by a psychic attack from Espeon. Max ran over to her and Gary moved forward, his face like stone.
The spiky haired researcher's voice was dark as he spoke up, "You don't have any friends and do you know why? You're evil – through and through. Nobody could ever like a person like you!" he sneered.
Ash smiled, not knowing why and his voice was sarcastic as he replied. "Looks like that makes you pretty stupid then Gary-boy… What do think Rai?" His tone was mocking as he converted Gary's old nickname for him. As the researcher's face became a mask of shock the orange mouse leapt onto his shoulder chirping darkly. The round brown eyes examined the people who had abandoned them and he blinked as Ash turned away, walking back into the forest, snatching the listening device from its place on his collar and muttering into it.
"You happy now J?" he hissed before crunching it between his gloved hands. He raised his voice, "Espeon!" he called and the purple fox cast one look at the six people before bounding after him. The truck containing the lake trio had vanished into the distance already, long gone from sight.
No sooner had he entered the forest than he recalled Espeon to her ball and broke into a run, wanting to separate as much distance from him and the world as possible. Tears tore at his face and he pulled the dark glasses off, stuffing them in a pocket. Raichu leapt of his shoulder, racing along beside him, eyes dark. He just kept running, ignoring the branches that tore at his cheeks and skin, ignoring the cuts and bruises.
He wasn't planning on stopping. He wanted to get as far away as possible from the world. He hated J. He hated his friends. He hated himself. He no longer knew what to do and so he kept running until his legs wouldn't let him and he slowed to a halt, falling to his knees. Raichu too slowed, sinking into a small huddle of orange fur.
He didn't know how long he sat there. He had plenty of time to consider his options. He could leave now and never be seen again – J wouldn't be able to threaten him… but she would kill them then – not that he found himself caring much. Then he was telling himself off, not to think so casually of such things. Raichu had his eyes closed and was breathing heavily, hating the situation they had been thrown into. His master had no choices and his life was being ruled for him.
A snapping twig made Ash look up, his eyes narrowing as J emerged from the trees ahead of him. He forced himself to wearily stand up, his fists clenching.
"Go away," he hissed and the silver haired woman shook her head at him mockingly. From around her the grunts appeared through the trees, sighing at having gone so far just for this boy.
Ash glared at her with a fierce hatred, "Just leave me alone already – what do you want with me?"
J smirked, "I want you – I know of what you've done, the Pokémon you've encountered. All of them… there must be something special about you..." she played over the last two words, enjoying it as Ash's eyes widened angrily, "Chosen One,"
Ash shook his head, angry that she was getting to him already with her snake-like words and sneaky tongue. "Why would there be anything special about me?" he asked quietly gritting his teeth.
J let out a small chuckle and motioned to the grunts to bring something forward. She smirked at him. "You see we hold all the trumps and I've saved the ace for last – in case you thought about running. You see we have some of your precious…" she mulled over the word, "friends,"
Ash gasped, "What?"
His gaze focussed on the large floating platform that was pushed forward. His gaze fell immediately on the front Pokémon, the three that he had left back on her ship. It took him a while to look at the others, their bodies were brown and grey stone statues as he looked over the Pokémon that he had thought perished.
"No!"
J smiled, "We could save them for later but then that wouldn't work would it? – You'd just try and save them. We need you to know that I'm not playing games anymore."
Her hand came into the air and Ash launched himself forward. He was pushed back by a multitude of grunts who were struggling to stop his flailing limbs. The rest of the men raised their guns to the stone statues. At that moment all the sound faded from his ears with the exception of one loud bang.
Crack, Crack, Crack…
With each shot Ash felt as though his heart was breaking into a million pieces, shattering and mending in time for the next shot. He counted them in his head, listing off the names as he struggled helplessly against the men, punching one before being forced back. His back was forced against a tree as he protested viciously, kicking them in places that you do not want to be kicked before they forced him back down.
Crack, Crack, Crack… Sceptile, Noctowl, Swellow…
Bang, Crack, Bang, Shatter… Donphan, Heracross, Snorlax, Muk…
Thud, Bang, Crack, Thud, Bang… Tauros, Glalie, Torkoal, Corphish, Kingler…
Shatter, Crack, Crack… Torterra, Gliscor, Staraptor…
Dead and gone and turned to rubble…
He opened his eyes his muscles limp as he saw J raise her hand. Three statues remained, but Ash couldn't find the will to move towards them. The henchmen were told to release him and he stood there, limply staring at the dust and cracked stone, all that remained of his friends. On the floor as the shots ceased Raichu gave up struggling under a large Houndoom and Drapion.
Dead, shattered and broken into a million pieces. No longer knowing where to turn or knowing what to do. Ash fell to his knees, his eyes refusing to cry as he stared at the rumble. His brain wasn't working and the thoughts swam in him mind around and round, forming un-coherent sentences. He stared blankly and slid down the tree, breathing heavily. Next to him Raichu let out a small sad chirp.
J smiled. It had had worked so perfectly. The boy had been shattered, broken, his spirit torn up and left in a million shattered pieces. She noticed how he barely blinked when the three remaining Pokémon statues, a trio of starters were un-frozen, the burns still evident on their tired bodies. Before they could catch their senses they were returned to a red and white sphere that had also been retrieved.
J smiled and walked forward, kneeling down in front of the boy who stared past her into some unseen dimension. "Are you coming now Raven?" she asked, using the new name that had been given to him, shown by the small white bird with outspread wings on his jacket.
Ash barely heard her but he understood and nodded, mutely. He no longer had the will to do anything and Raichu had picked up on this, his tail sinking in the dirt as he chirped sadly, trying to communicate with the boy.
"There's a new mission just come in Raven… are you going to take it?"
Ash finally managed to focus on her and he blinked slowly. J noticed with interest that one of his eyes was pale blue before he nodded. When he spoke his voice was hoarse and broken.
"I'm ready,"
On the outskirts of Lake Valor, that evening…
"I can't believe he's really gone…" A blue haired girl murmured to herself and her friends as sat at the lake side, staring out across the calm water, "Surely he was tougher than that,"
A small penguin sat at her side, blue flipper resting limply on the stone. A fluffy bunny sat next to him, fluffs of fur on her ears and tail. Her eyes were sad and her fur wet with tears. She sat slumped next to her friends, uncaring and lost in a land of dreams. The small fluffy ears were droopy, and unhappiness filled her, loss of one she held dear. The girl bit her lip to stop the tears from flowing as she stared out over the flat lake.
On her other side, a brunette sat, holding an ice fox close to her. The ice blue fox sat quietly, it's tail drooping and blue eyes sad, the ice crystals on her head were a faded washed out blue, reflecting off a dark aura of pain. The brunette girl sniffed and wiped her eye, looking up around the church. Her hair hung out either side of the green and orange emerald hat she wore, tied around her hair.
"May, you don't believe it do you?" The blue-haired girl sighed.
The brunette shook her head. "I don't think its possible Dawn – J is so vicious and that new guy – he was so…" she sought for a word to describe him, trying to understand why she thought he reminded her of someone dear.
Dawn blinked a tear from her eye, "You don't think he is though do you? Maybe they were lying…"
The other girl was silent for a second, "I want him to be alive – I really do. You say he vanished though… I don't think that boy was lying," she forced her mind away from that boy they had encountered at the lake. Raven.
A sob came from a red haired girl sitting across from them. Her frizzy red hair was tied in a side pony tail and her yellow outfit made it glow with fiery colours. A small blue mouse sat comforting her, with aqua blue fur and small round ears on its head. A small bubble of a tail lay over the stone bench, the zig-zag pattern flattened with sorrow. May made a move to comfort her but a dark skinned, squint eyed man moved over to the orange haired girl. He began conversing to her in low tones and May turned back to Dawn.
"I wish we had managed to stop Hunter J! She's just so evil…!"
The blue haired girl shook her head. "This shouldn't have happened. He was going to compete in the Sinnoh League. He was going to win! He had a Canalave Gym battle! He was going to help me in contests…He was going to…"
She trailed off the words cut short by a sob rising in her throat. May wrapped an arm around her friend. "I know. He was better than them all. But we have to face the facts."
"I can't believe I never stopped him leaving all those months ago – It's my entire fault!"
May curled her lip back in scorn. "The only one to blame is Hunter J!"
Dawn eyes darkened, "And her apprentice" she sighed.
May shook her head, "No… when he left…as soon as he was in the trees he started running. Didn't you see? It was as if he hated her too…"
Near them, the ginger haired girl raised her head at their raised voices. She could see her own expression of pain etched across their faces. Her eyes were stained with tears and her hand still clutched the dark skinned man's hand. Her small mouse whispered comforting words in her ear.
"Marril Marr, Ril Marril"
The ginger haired girl nodded, guessing the words. Marril's words never made any sense but the tone gave her comfort and strength. She let go of the squint eyed man's hand and stood up, blinking her red rimmed eyes. She picked up Marril in her arms and hugged the aqua mouse to her and walked a few steps towards where May and Dawn sat. The ice fox and penguin jumped up and ran forward, leaving the bunny alone by Dawn.
"Glace eon Eon Gla"
"Pip Pip Lup ! Piplup Pip…"
"Marril Ril Marr Marr"
The three girls looked down in sadness at their friends sad tones. The blue haired girl gently lifted her rabbit from the soft grass and took her into her arms.
"Come on Buneary. It will be fine. No need to worry," Her voice shook as she spoke, her catch phrase fading as she sensed the glum, despairing attitude of her friends.
"Where are you heading now?" the man came up behind them, running a hand through his dark brown, spiky hair.
May shrugged, "I'm going back to Johto – I only need one more ribbon to compete in the grand Festival."
Dawn smiled, "Can I come with you? I don't want to keep wandering around Sinnoh alone… now that the Grand Festival here is over – I know what I need to do to improve. Maybe this time I can come higher than top eight!"
May nodded. "Sound good. It's just a shame…" the name stuck in her throat. The other three shifted uncomfortably.
"What about you Misty?" Dawn asked, lifting Piplup onto her shoulder.
The ginger haired girl shrugged. "I'm going back to the gym. Gary was going to help me with a few things…"
Brock sighed, "I'm going to go back to Pewter and start a breeding centre there. It's about time I suppose – I've been delaying it while I journeyed but now… I can treat Pokémon there to, just like always…" Brock shuffled his feet sadly, his shoes scraping the stone tiles. Misty too gave a sad smile.
Three weeks later – Johto – Olivine City…
Blaziken, Fire Punch! Show them your beauty!"
A humanoid bird brought a fiery fist flying down on its opponent, a small blue fur ball with three cotton spores. It fell down, tired and weak. The fire bird was standing strong, orange and yellow feathers glinting with the flicker of flames from his wrists and ankles.
"Jumpluff, No!" a small boy cried, his face falling as he saw his Pokémon fall. May gave a twirl of her peach coloured dress and she punched the air in joy as a buzzer sounded. Her friend gave a happy cry.
"Blaze Ken!"
"We did it!" the brunette shouted. Their skills of coordination proved to be one of elegance and beauty and they showed that with their performances. The fire bird raised its head proudly at their win, happy to assist her friend. The duo loved the performance, showing off to their utmost while maintaining standards of pride and happiness.
She gave a wide smile as she was handed a ribbon. A small intricately carved design was etched on a piece of metal; a purple ribbon etched in blue was attached to the back, plaited in a large elegant bow.
She stood there for a moment, basking in the limelight. Dawn smiled from the side-lines as she saw her friend win. She would love to be out there, with her friends but she would have started too late to achieve any ribbons. This was the last contest and she was glad that her friend had qualified.
She considered what a strange world it was they lived in as she watched a young boy walk away defeated, cradling his poor friend. Pokémon – creatures that filled the world with happiness and joy. They were all created by one single creature, hatched from an egg at the beginning in the chaos. It created time, space and distortion, brought willpower, emotion and knowledge into meaning. Another Pokémon came into being, containing the DNA of all Pokémon. It created three giants to form the land, oceans and sky. It created humans with legendary birds to watch over them and maintain peace. So it was that their world was born.
The blue haired girl smiled at her memories. Yes this world was an odd place.
An odd place indeed.
One day later – Johto – Olivine City…
A red headed girl sat on the beach, her head laid back to soak up the last glittering rays of sunlight. Around her, a ten pointed purple star stood, a bright red crystal orb at the centre blinking on and off slowly in joy. Her blue mouse ran around her feet, scuffling in the sand with pink coral Pokémon. The spikes on its back were wet and rough with sand.
"Corsola Cor So!" The spiked coral rolled over in the sun warmed sand, giving out happy noises of joy. The blue mouse ran up to her red headed friend, encouraging her to join in.
"Marril, Marr!"
Misty smiled, opening her eyes at the small aqua mouse. She was enjoying this kind of life, relaxing by the water she loved so much, far from anywhere. Unfortunately she was tied down by her duties to the gym but her sisters had taken it over to give her a holiday. A holiday that she had spent moping around thinking of him.
She blinked away the sadness that threatened to form in the corner of her eye. She tried to forget the wash of feelings that she had struggled to keep hidden from her friends. The blue mouse turned to her with its head on one side.
"Marril Ril Marril?"
Misty nodded her head. "I'm fine," she reassured her little blue mouse. She shook herself. "Why wouldn't I be?" she told herself, denying any feelings of pity or sorrow that sprang to mind. It didn't help to stop the image of a young raven haired boy that stayed, burned to her retina by the powers of memory.
"Misty!"
She turned to see her friends running towards her across the sand. The dark skinned man with a squint was in the lead, an item clutched in his large, brown hand.
"Brock," she called out, her eyes focusing on the two figures behind him, "May, Dawn! What are you doing here?"
The two girls smiled and Dawn shook her blue hair a little sheepishly. "We're sorry, we know you wanted some time alone but…"
May took over, her green bandana sliding of her hair, "I was competing in my last contest and Brock turned up wanting to talk to us. He told us you were here so we all raced down here!"
She slowed to a halt, kicking up sand and blinking nervously, her voice dropping in volume. "They found something Mist, something of his,"
She let out an emphasis on the last word; although unnecessary it brought added stress to the topic. She spun around, scattering sand over her buried Corsola. "What? Where?"
Brock kneeled down on the sand next to her as he laid a ripped and scuffled bag on the sand. May and Dawn sat down beside him, their Pokémon milling back on the sandy stretch of coastline. Dawn leaned forward, pushing back a lock of blue hair as she stared at the green bag with a strange, half symbol on it. A circle enclosed by half of an arc, the faded blue corners of the stitching peeling up.
"Where was it Brock?" May asked, holding her ice fox close to her. The blue fox let out a plaintive cry.
The squint eyed man sighed. "An officer Jenny encountered J and her apprentice. This was thrown to her." His eyes flashed in indignation of the notion of anything being thrown towards one of the many loves of his life.
May shook her head, "I can't believe those thieves kept it…" She stared at the backpack.
Dawn shrugged, "Either way…"
"Jenny sent it to me and said we could split his belongings among us. Since we were his closest friends…"
Misty nodded, "It feels wrong but we can't just forget him. This way we'd have a little part of him with us always."
The tanned man nodded in agreement and opened the bag, pulling out a collection of, seemingly worthless items.
"The ribbon," May cried, reaching for half of a contest ribbon that fell out. She reached into her own pockets, pulling out the other half. She placed them together, her eyes sad as they fit perfectly together, yet forever apart, separated by a glowing leaf blade.
The ginger haired girl reached forward and picked up a scrupled hanky, a fishing lure wrapped inside.
"He kept them," she whispered in disbelief, "I can't believe he kept them,"
Brock let out a smirk as he saw a pair of expensive knives and forks, their blades and prongs bent the wrong way. "It looks like he kept these to take his anger out on!" he muttered, his face falling in disappointment.
May shook her head, "Didn't he tell you? They helped him escape once… from Team Rocket… He was trapped in a hole and he used them to climb out." The four friend's eyes met with sadness.
"What's this?" Dawn asked, reaching for a scrupled piece of paper. She laid it out flat on the sand and gasped as she saw a detailed portrait of the young, raven haired boy, laughing in joy with a small yellow rodent on his shoulders. Misty and Brock let out a gasp.
"Oh, that's what Latias drew for him, when we left Alto Mere!" Misty whispered.
Dawn let out a sob. She rocked back on her hips as a small blue penguin came to comfort her. She brought him to her, and buried her head in her knees, her shoulders shaking uncontrollably. Misty and May gave each other a sad smile and Brock lent an encouraging arm to his friend. The sat together in silence for a while as Brock packed the items back into the green bag silently.
"I'll put it away somewhere," he muttered, sweeping sand off it with his hand. Dawn nodded and Misty agreed. May kept her hand closed, concealing the ribbon half that she clutched within her gloved hand. Her mouth was set in a firm line; she was determined not to show any kind of sorrow in front of her friends. That was why she had gone straight back to contests – to keep her mind of more pressing matters.
Misty shook her red hair out of her face. "What now?" she questioned. "Now that we know he's…"
"Dead," Dawn whispered her eyes void of light. Her small brown rabbit had approached, its one ear drooping to match the other one.
"Buneary Bun Eary?"
Brock shrugged. "He always kept Pikachu with him. J would have turned him to stone and sold him or else he's dead too…"
The brown rabbit with cream ear tips seemed most annoyed by this. She sat down in the sand, complaining loudly. "Buneary Bun Bun Buneary!"
Dawn picked up her friend, "We all wish that, really, you're not the only one." Her mind was filled with images of a small yellow rodent, being chased by an overly excitable bunny.
The four friends were silent, sharing memories and experiences of times long gone. Their thought lingered over how precious time was, and how foolish it was to sit there thinking of lost time and things that could have been, if only they had had time to take back a few wrong words. May held the two pieces of the ribbon close to her heart, her eyes closed.
I'll never forget you, I promise.
She opened her eyes, preparing to move on and not to shed any more tears. After all, she figured it was about time to give up; time to give up on the lost.
