RegiGod: So... not a lot of reviewers but a lot of people reading... so sad. Reviews are what makes me happy!
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of Pokemon but I do own Josh and the plot.
Warning: This story contains slash/shounen-ai which means boy x boy. If you don't like it, please leave and never come back here.
Pairing: Palletshipping / Ash/Gary / ShiShi
Note: Enjoy and I hope more reviews will come this time!
Turn Back Time
Josh's POV
"What kind of a pokemon was that!?" asked Meowth who could only stare at me from the easy victory I had just won. I wasn't too concerned on winning at all during that battle; to tell the truth, all I really wanted to do was to teach that Gary boy some sort of a lesson. I mean, he had such an ego saying he could beat me… me!
"I think he's out of it…" I was brought back to reality as soon as James had mentioned that I wasn't myself at the moment.
"Oh sorry about that. Um… well Meowth, to answer your question, that pokemon hails from the Hoenn region." I quickly took a look out of the basket this air balloon was carrying and saw that we were still in the same town. Hmm…
"I know that obviously! What's the name of that pokemon? Is it a legendary pokemon?" I decided to ignore Jessie's questions for the time being and looked down below and realized that we only moved a block down from where I was picked up. I sighed mentally to myself at how I was in here for about five minutes and haven't gone almost anywhere but as I looked down the block, I could see Ash and his friends sitting at a table in front of a restaurant with Gary sitting across from them. This could be interesting…
"WILL YOU ANSWER ME!?" The shout suddenly made me jump up from shock which in turn caused the trio to grab my clothes, making sure that I wasn't about to fall. As soon as I recovered from the scream, I slowly went backwards into the basket.
"Yeah maybe next time… you shouldn't shout at me when I'm looking down below hanging from an air balloon at least 500 feet up in the air." I was pulled into the safe confines of the basket as I laid my eyes on the trio and tried to calm myself from the shock.
"Then answer my question!" Boy, this girl really has an attitude… I wonder if that's the reason why they lose their battles to Ash all the time. Or maybe it's because of this hot air balloon… this thing is so last century for Mew's sake! Why don't they use a helicopter or something? These guys must be poor… so sad.
"Fine… geez. What was your question again?" I asked while rubbing the back of my head as I chuckled. Jessie annoyingly sighed but I didn't care if she was annoyed at me or not. I wanted to get down as soon as possible and eavesdrop on Ash's little conversation.
"I said what is the name of that pokemon and is that a legendary pokemon?" Jessie annoyingly asked once more as James and Meowth were looking in the direction of Ash and the others down below. Were they even going to listen to my answer?
"The name of my pokemon is Gardevoir and no, he's not a legendary pokemon." The girl in front of me seemed a bit disappointed at my last answer but she gave a smile. Maybe it's because my pokemon is strong but whatever the reason was, I suddenly took the ladder near my feet and threw it down below in the alley where Ash had defeated all those Rockets. My action was received by gasps as I started on my way down.
"What do you think you're going?" James peered down at me as I looked up at him from the ladder and stopped my descent.
"I'm going down… where do you think I'm going?" Abruptly, the cat pokemon laid himself on James's shoulder.
"I thought yous said yous was going to help us with the twerp?" I smiled as I continued on my way down.
"What do you think I'm doing?" This left the trio in the basket wordless as I had finally reached the bottom. Time for me to be stealthy!
Ash's POV
"Gary? Are you okay?" It's been a few minutes since the battle between him and Josh had ended and he hasn't said a word since then. I felt a bit worried for my old best friend.
"Ash, maybe now's not the best time you know?" I looked over to Brock who also looked concerned. I was confused at what he had said to me. "Gary just lost to Team Rocket's best member… can you imagine how that feels?" I looked over to Gary once more who did nothing but stare at the table in front of him. He didn't even move a step when Josh got picked up from those Team Rocket losers at the end… I had to help Gary move to this table we were currently sitting in. Ignoring what Brock had advised me, I tried once more.
"Gary, it's going to be all right. You did your best… I know you did." Finally, I got a response. I smiled when Gary lifted his eyes to meet with mine. Suddenly, his personality changed to that rival bitch that I've always hated. How did you change so much in such short a time Gary… and why did you break your promises to me?
"Pft whatever loser. I could have beaten him any day if it wasn't for you!" I was taken aback by this. Me?
"Wha?" I was confused at how Gary was blaming me for his loss.
"You heard me kid!" He suddenly stood up from his chair and glared at me with such hate in his eyes that I could feel a knife stabbing into my heart multiple stops without stopping to take a breath. "If it wasn't for your presence, I would have beaten him! I am sick of your childish behavior every time I see you! Can't you grow up for once!? You always act like a child!" By this time, droplets of tears were slowly dripping down my cheeks. "Oh look! Did I make you cry like the wittle baby you are? Please."
"Leave him alone Gary!" Misty shouted. I looked down as I grabbed my jeans and made a fist with them. I couldn't stop my tears from falling… not this time.
"Well if it isn't Ashy-boy's little girlfriend coming to the rescue! What's wrong baby? Can't defend yourself like a man?" I wiped the tears that came falling down like a waterfall but I just couldn't stop it. I soon heard Misty stand up from her seat and Brock did the same as well.
"I think you're going a little too far this time Gary. Ash deserves no blame for your loss!" Brock is such a good friend… and so was Misty.
"Oh you think do you? That's a surprise! I had no idea you had the capability to comprehend anything! But you're right about one thing… Ashy-boy doesn't deserve not only the blame for my loss but for everything wrong that has happened in my life! If I didn't meet him when we were little kids, I could have been the pokemon master by now! I so wish I hadn't even met the thickheaded little brat! I mean look at him! He's still crying! What a baby!" I couldn't take it anymore. I couldn't take the way Gary kept throwing insults at me like I'm not even human! Like… we didn't share a happy childhood together. I stood up and I looked at him straight in the eyes even though tears still kept falling from mine.
"Y-you wish you ha-ha-hadn't met me-me huh? Well f-fine! I'll gr-grant y-yo-you that wish of yours!" And that's when I ran. I didn't care where I was going but I ran. I soon saw the forest and I took the chance to run into this place and leave Gary behind. If he didn't care a single thing about me, then why should I care about him? I could feel Pikachu hanging on as hard as he could onto my clothing as I ran… ran from my one true love whom I'll never get in my lifetime.
A few hours later…
I don't know how many hours had passed… all I knew was that I was still crying from what Gary had said to me. He wished he had never met me… I could still feel my heart breaking into so many pieces right now.
"Pika… chu…" I sniffed and took a look at my best friend who sitting on the log besides me. He looked sad for me… I sometimes think that he was the only one who understood me in times like these.
"Don't worry P-pikachu… I'll be okay." I feigned a smile and I knew my loyal pokemon wasn't going to buy my excuse as he laid his head onto my side. At least I know this is a friend who will never leave my side.
"Well hello there Ash!" I looked up quickly at the happy voice that seemed like it had appeared in front of me… and it did. Josh was standing in front of me with his Gardevoir following right behind him. I stood up in defense as I grabbed a pokeball by my side and as I was about to throw it, Gardevoir's eyes had lit up and I was unable to move any longer. What the hell… "Gardevoir… he's not going to hurt me. Release him." A second later, I had regained the ability to move once more but in doing so, I fell over flat on my face. Forgot his pokemon was of the psychic type…
"Pika pi!" I could feel Pikachu tapping my head gently as I groaned from the pain.
"Sorry about that. Here, let me help you." I looked up and as I did so, I saw his hand stretched out and I took it. I stood up slowly with Josh's help and sat back down on the log I was sitting on a few moments ago. By this time, some tears were still falling.
"W-what do you want from me Josh? Do you want to steal my Pikachu t-too?" I cursed at myself for stuttering like that in front of Team Rocket's best member. He was probably going to make fun of me too like Gary did.
"No. Of course not." I stared at his face as I could tell that his words were sincere. I didn't know how I knew… but I felt as though I could trust him. It was as if, he was different from the others in some way. "I came here in case you wanted to talk you know. I saw that you had suddenly ran away with tears in your eyes so I figured I should help you out."
"And why is that?" I spat out defensively. And how the hell did he even see me run away? I thought he left in that balloon?
"Well when a friend sees his friend crying for some reason, that person is likely to help his friend out, isn't that right?" Friend? I blinked my eyes a couple of times to get that thought across. This guy… considered me as a friend? He suddenly sat next to me on the left as his Gardevoir followed suit. Pikachu decided to sit in my lap as I hugged him gently. He made a sound that meant that he was enjoying the hug which made me smile and my tears lessen.
"I guess so…" I was still going to be cautious around this guy now that I've found out he was with the evil organization Team Rocket. I looked past Josh and at his Gardevoir who looked pretty strong and well trained.
"So… want to talk about it?" I looked down at the grass laid out in front of me. "I'll take that gesture as a no." He chuckled to himself before speaking once more. "Do you want to look at some of the pokemon I brought with me from the Hoenn region?" That piqued my interest immediately as I looked at him again. "Well do you?" I nodded shyly as he took a pokeball from his waist and threw it carelessly in front of him revealing a small yellow pokemon. "This pokemon's name is Minun."
"Minun!" This pokemon looked a lot like Pikachu and it looked like this Minun also piqued Pikachu's interest as he jumped from my lap and started to play with the pokemon. I smiled once more and I felt as though I was getting better… but I wasn't. Gary still hated me… Suddenly, I felt a hand grab my shoulder as I glanced at Josh.
"You okay?" I nodded as he threw another pokeball revealing another pokemon. "This guy's name is Blaziken. A fire/fighting type pokemon." A fire and a fighting type pokemon? I've never seen a type combo like that before. "You seem confused."
"No… not at all. It's just that I'm surprised to see a type combo like that." Josh chuckled lightly as Minun began clapping for Pikachu who was trying to get an apple down from a nearby tree.
"When Minun claps his hands for a pokemon, do you know what that does?" I nodded. "Well it helps the pokemon for whom Minun is clapping for right now which is Pikachu become stronger in every way possible as long as Minun continues to clap. Pretty cool huh? Watch. Minun, stop clapping for a moment please." Minun looked a bit displeased with what Josh had said but stopped obediently. "Tell your Pikachu to do a Thundershock at one of the apples."
"All right. Pikachu, use Thundershock at an apple!" The apple fell to the ground quickly and it was half burnt I think.
"Now watch this. Minun, now you can clap." Minun looked pleased to do so and Pikachu seemed to be enjoying the clapping he was receiving. "Now tell your Pikachu to do another Thundershock."
"Pikachu, do it one more time!" Right before my very eyes, Pikachu's Thundershock looked like a Thunderbolt and it nearly burnt the apple to a crisp!
"Cool right?" I nodded slowly as Minun went over to Pikachu to try to go for an apple without using its attacks. That ability was amazing. "So… wanna talk now?" I looked down to the grass again thinking whether I should or not. Why does this guy want to help me out? And can I even trust him like he says I can?
Gary's POV
"Gary, if we don't find Ash soon, I will never forgive you for what you have done to him this time!" Ash's redhead friend was in my face screaming at me nonstop ever since Ash ran away. I didn't need her to tell me what I did wrong over and over again. I was crying myself on the inside already… why… why did I blame Ash for my loss? I shouldn't have done that to him… and this time, I've really pushed him over the edge.
"Don't worry Misty. He couldn't have gone far in this forest. We'll find him." I really hoped so… if something bad happens to Ash, I'll never forgive myself. This girl named Misty finally got off my nerves as she went to join Brock who was currently looking behind a bush. I looked up in the trees just in case he decided to climb up one but he wasn't in any of the trees that I've looked at. Where could he be? I sighed mentally by both the heartache and headache I was receiving.
As I walked past a couple of trees… I began to contemplate on my friendship with my old best friend. It's gone down the drain ever since I've pushed him away… all because I was too afraid of my feelings for him… too afraid of rejection. I thought that maybe if I could fill him up with hate that would make me feelings disappear but instead, every time I had hurt him, it only got worse. My heart felt a pang every time I threw an insult at his face and earlier today was the worst. All because I lost to a member of Team Rocket… I swear I'll make that guy pay. Now… I can only hope that Ash doesn't hate me but I know for a fact that he does… after today, of course he would. Anyone would be upset if they were in Ash's position. My train of thought was lost when I suddenly heard a couple of voices nearby. I approached the source of the voices very quietly as to not let them be aware of my presence.
"Ugh! Where did he go!?" There was some rustle in the leaves before another voice responded.
"How am I supposed to know? He just ran off without telling us where he was going! If we find him again, I'm going to kill him! Who does he think he is just leaving us like that?" I looked past a couple of trees to see Team Rocket, the ones who always try to get Ash's Pikachu, standing in a meadow. Hmm… maybe these three will lead me to Ash… this is the best lead I have so far.
"Meowth, can't you smell for him?" asked the blue haired man.
"What do you think I am Jimmy? A filthy dog? Besides, I ain't got no nose." The red haired woman seemed to be getting more upset with every minute passing by.
"We're getting no where! Go Arbok!" A bright light appeared quickly as the pokemon appeared out of its pokeball. "Arbok, use dig and find Josh immediately! Once you have, come back to us and lead us to him." Arbok nodded as he dug into the ground and began on his search. Hopefully, Ash will be somewhere nearby.
Ash's POV
I felt a bit better after explaining to Josh about my dreams on becoming a pokemon master and about my friendship with Gary Oak while we were kids and how we became rivals soon after… but I still didn't tell him about my crush for Gary. And I don't think I will anytime soon. My heart was still aching up to this minute and as I looked up to see Pikachu and Minun playing with one another, I felt a smile creep up my face.
"Ash, I know this may seem abrupt since we just met but if you come with me and travel across the Johto region, I will bring you closer on obtaining your dream and perhaps, bring you closer to your crush." I was instantly shocked at what he had just said to me. My crush…?
"Wh-what do you mean, 'my crush?'" I felt Pikachu jump into my lap as Minun did the same to Josh.
"You will still be able to battle the gym leaders to obtain the badges and I'll make sure while you're with me, you will not join Team Rocket at all and make sure you're in good hands." Is he… ignoring my question? "But to answer your question… isn't your crush Gary Oak?" I could feel my cheeks become a bit warm as I heard him chuckle while Pikachu seemed to be confused. "Come on Ash. It's pretty obvious that you really like him with the way you were describing him." Was… it really? "I know that leaving your friends will be a tough decision but then again, to obtain your dreams, you will always have to make tough decisions along the way." He's right… but I can't just leave my friends just to go with him! I mean, they've traveled with me for so long that I don't think I should just leave them like that. "If you want Ash, you can send them a letter saying that you'll be leaving them." I groaned mentally… what should I do? Suddenly, a snake like pokemon appeared out of the ground and it looked like an Arbok.
"Arbok!" The pokemon said its own name before it went back into the hole it just made.
"Looks like you only have a few minutes to decide whether or not you'll be coming with me." I looked at him quizzically as he stared at me. "That was Jessie's Arbok and when they reach me, I'm going to have to leave." He quickly laid his hands on my shoulders and looked me straight in the eyes firmly. "Ash, I will make sure that Pikachu will not be taken away as well. And if you want to know why I want to help you, let's just say it's in my nature to do so." He gave a quick smile before he stood up and recalled his Minun and Blaziken back into their pokeballs. "I'll try to delay their arrival to give you more time to think on this and I'll leave my Gradevoir here to protect you okay?" I nodded slowly as he ran off into the direction where Arbok came out of.
"Pika… chu." I looked down to see Pikachu just as confused as I was.
"Pikachu… should I go with Josh or should I stay with my friends? I mean, if I travel with my friends, I know what's going to happen… I'll be challenging gym leaders like I did with them in the Kanto region but with Josh… anything could happen with him." Pikachu looked down and seemed to be thinking hard about this question just as I was doing. I suddenly felt Gardevoir laid its hand on me and I soon heard a voice come out of nowhere.
"If you ask me, I think you should travel with Josh." I looked at Gardevoir and began to wonder if this pokemon was talking to me. "Yes… I'm the one talking to you." I suddenly jumped out of my seat in shock.
"Pika!" I looked down to see Pikachu rubbing his head on the grass and quickly apologized to my friend as he gave me thumbs up. I picked up Pikachu as I sat down in my seat once more with caution of the pokemon sitting besides me.
"There's no reason to be afraid of me Ask Ketchum." If this pokemon can read my thoughts… then I should talk using my thoughts. Okay… here I go. How are you talking to me?
"I'm speaking to you through telepathy and only you can hear me. I can tell that you as a trainer care for your pokemon deeply and would do anything, even if meant sacrificing your life, to ensure their safety and that's a characteristic that both you and Josh share. You, as a person, are a kind, fun, childish, loving human being. I just can't comprehend how someone could have the ability to hate someone like you but then again, humans have different personalities that interact with one another differently and similarly." I smiled at all the compliments I was receiving… Thanks for the compliments. I have a question… why do you think I should go with Josh?
"Knowing him, he'll help you become closer with your pokemon, how to make them stronger, how to make you stronger both as a person and as a trainer, and like he said, help you get closer to this person named Gary Oak." I smiled at the thought of that becoming true. Can he really do all that? The pokemon nodded as Pikachu snuggled his head into my lap. I have one more question before I make my decision… does anyone hate Josh at all?
"Of course people hate him. People hate him because of the way he's always helping others and how a lot of people like him. You're similar to him in this way but I think only a few people hate you." I looked down at Pikachu who seemed to be willing to back me up on whatever decision I make. Then I've made my decision.
Gary's POV
"You found him?" The red haired woman smiled as they all jumped gleefully. "Lead us to him then!"
"There's no need." Unexpectedly, Josh came out past some trees and stood near the trio. Ugh, I shouldn't be here waiting for Ash… I should be looking for him! I could have found him by now!
"There you are! We've been looking all over for you! Where in the pokemon world did you go off to? First we saw you eavesdropping on the twerp's conversation then we saw you run off chasing after the twerp into the forest!"
"Yeah! And that's where we lost you!" Wait… that guy eavesdropped on our conversation and followed Ash? Does that mean he knows where Ash could be?
"Uh well… I was talking to someone." Someone?
"Someone?" The trio asked the same question I was just thinking of.
"Yes… someone." Grr… this guy is avoiding the question. Could this someone be Ash?
"Well can you tell us who this someone is?" Josh nodded and that's when I got upset. This someone could be Ash and this guy isn't going to say who it was! I'll make him tell me who it is! I quickly jumped near the meadow and threw a pokeball revealing the pokemon Magmar.
"Who the…"
"What the…" I ignored the remarks the trio were making as I focused my attention on the so called best trainer of Team Rocket.
"Who is this someone that you were talking to?!" I yelled at Josh and he seemed to be smiling for some weird reason that I really didn't care much about.
"Do you think you three can take care of this nuisance for me?" Both of the rockets nodded as the blue haired man threw a pokeball out.
"Definitely! Go Weezing! Sludge attack now!"
"Arbok, use poison sting!"
"Magmar, use fire blast on Arbok and dodge that sludge!" My pokemon was able to get a fire blast off and obtain a direct hit off of Arbok and dodge the attack Weezing had used.
"Arbok! Snap out of it and use dig!"
"Weezing, use smokescreen!" Before I knew it, the entire area where we were in was all smoggy and I couldn't see a thing at all. I began coughing because of the gas I was inhaling and I was having a hard time keeping my eyes open.
"Arbok, come out and show that brat we mean business!" Before anything else could have happened, I recalled my pokemon leaving the snake pokemon to come out and hit a branch above. I could only squint at what was happening to the Rockets but I was able to see two figures appear in a second and seeing all of the figures disappear within the next. About a minute later, the smog had finally disappeared but the next thing I saw made me even more upset that made me clenched my fists. They were gone… shit!
"Gary! What happened?" I turned around to see Misty and Brock heading towards me.
"We saw a bunch of smog coming from over here and we thought there was a battle going on." said the would be pokemon breeder.
"There was…" I said spitefully. "I was facing Team Rocket because for some reason… I thought that they might have known where Ash could have been." I could feel blood start to come out from my fists… thankfully it was nighttime. I wouldn't want Ash's two friends to know about this.
"Wait… you battled Team Rocket again? AND you thought they knew where Ash was? Why would you think that?" asked the hot headed girl.
"Because I saw Josh and…" I was immediately cut off by the red headed girl.
"YOU FOUGHT THEM TO BATTLE JOSH JUST FOR REVENGE!?!?" My tolerance for his friends is diminishing very quickly. "HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN ABOUT ASH?!"
"SHUT UP! I am getting tired of you always getting on my nerves! How could I have forgotten about Ash!? I was battling Team Rocket because Josh came along and he said that he followed Ash into the forest and he said that he was talking to someone and I thought that could have been Ash and that's why I battled them. I wanted to know where he was!" I walked away quickly to continue my search for Ash. I didn't need those two to help me. Damn it Ash… where are you?
RegiGod: So how did you like this chapter? Tell me whether you liked it or not in a review!
