The night had been kind to Ash, he had managed to fall asleep quickly, despite his plan, and then sleep like a log this was a change, yet something didn't feel right as he arose to birds chirping outside, why, after months of nightmares had they just stopped, was this a good thing, or were things only going to get worse. Shaking his head he stood up and splashed some cold water on his face, a face that seemed unfamiliar.
Misty and Brock sat facing one another on the train to Pallet from Pewter city, whilst this short trip would only take a few hours one of the travelers was already showing signs of lethargy; Misty had spent most of the previous night organising the trip from Cerulean to Pallet, and it was showing, there were dark bags hanging under her eyes and her body was slumped against the train's window. As the train rocketed towards the small town, Misty couldn't help but wonder whether something was seriously wrong with Ash, or whether it was just his mother getting concerned over little things, as she was well known for doing, hell thought Misty, she was still telling him to change his "you know what's" at the age of 15.
"Don't worry Misty" said Brock suddenly, causing the red headed water trainer to look up "I'm sure Ash is fine and his Mother just wants him to have some company for a while, you know he's been travelling alone for a fair amount of time"
This was true, Misty thought, Ash had been travelling alone for quite an extended period, even their phone calls had been getting less and less frequent, was Ash pulling away from her? Pssh, that was a silly thing to think, how could he be pulling away, they were only friends after all, nothing else.
"Yeah, I'm sure you're right, but what if…" "Well, if something is wrong, then we do what all good friends do, we'll drag him up out of the dirt and make sure that he's okay" and with a nod Misty knew that that was that, they would help Ash if there was something wrong, and if not, they would have a good time.
Ash, after some deliberation decided that it would be a good idea to go and visit his Pokemon at Professor Oak's laboratory, he hadn't seen many of them for months, and wondered whether the reception he was to receive would be a joyous one, or would the separation from his poke-pals cause friction. The walk to the lab wasn't far, and Ash managed it in twenty minutes. The good Professor Oak opened the door.
"Ah Ash, it's good to see you again" extending his hand as a way of a greeting, the grey haired professor looked disheveled, as though he had been up all night.
"Is everything alright Professor?" Ash asked, wanting to make sure that the old man was okay, this man had been like a father to him.
"Oh yes, everything's fine Ash, just a rather late night tending to an ill Pokemon" The older gentleman returned "everything should be okay. Anyway I suppose you want to see your Pokemon?"
"Yes, please!" As Ash stood in one of the many fields that the Professor used and owned for his research Ash couldn't help but wonder if anything ever changed in this small town, each time he returned from a journey that took him around the world, this place seemed to stay a constant, and for Ash, that was a good thing.
It took him nearly half the day to speak to, play with and reassure his Pokemon, many had just been happy to see their master, some had been upset due to his absence, but none seemed to troubled. It would easily be past lunch by the time Ash returned home, if Ash could eat that is. During the walk home Ash thought about what his next move would, whilst he didn't have any intentions to move from the small sleepy village any time soon, he'd seen his fair share of action to last him a decade, he couldn't help but feel that at some point danger would rear it's head.
Misty and Brock had arrived in the small town of Pallet, it was a beautiful day and the birds were chirping. As the pair walked along the main track that would lead them to Ash's house, Misty still couldn't shake the feeling that something was going to be seriously wrong with her friend when they met their destination. Shaking her head she resolved to just enjoy the light breeze and summer sun, it was an exceptional day after all.
As Ash was laying in bed upstairs, Delia knew that she had to prepare for the impending visitors, has she done the right thing she thought to herself. Yes, yes she had, something was wrong with Ash, and she had to find out what, he would never tell her she knew that much, but if there was someone he was going to tell it was going to be Misty and Brock, they were his best friends after all. I just hope their distance hasn't damaged their friendship, thinking about Ash and Misty. I wonder if they'll act like they used to, that would be funny to see, and with a small chuckle Delia returned to the house work. There was only a brief period before the front door of the Ketchum residence was being knocked by Misty and Brock, as Delia opened the door she knew that her time to talk to the pair was limited so she stepped outside.
"Hey Misty, Brock, how have you been?" starting with the pleasantries.
"Fine, thank you" the pair responded, then almost immediately
"How's Ash?" Misty blurted her hand immediately went to cover her face. Wow, smooth Mist, the young red haired trainer thought to herself.
"Oh, well, I don't know, there just seems to be something off at the moment, I was hoping that you two could talk to him for me. I know he won't open up, he doesn't want to hurt me." And with a small sigh, she opened the door, and the trio entered. "Ash, can you come downstairs for a minute, there's someone here to see you." Delia shouted from the base of the stairs.
Huh, thought Ash, that's odd, wasn't expecting anyone, "Who do you think it is Pikachu?" he said turning to the small mouse "Pika pika?" was the response "Well that's true, you aren't a mind reader. I suppose I had better go and look" and the raven-haired trainer lifted himself off of the bed and proceeded to head downstairs. Misty could feel her heart pounding through her chest; "stop that" she thought to herself, it's only Ash, you've literally spent years with him, you shouldn't be so anxious, but as she saw Ash step foot off of the last step the anxiety had lifted.
"Well at least he's still in one peace" she thought to herself, waiting for her friends reaction. To say that Ash was shocked when he saw the two faces of Brock and Misty at the bottom of his stairs would be an understatement.
"Wha… What are you two doing here?" Ash asked, whilst shooting his mother an inquisitive look.
"Well, we heard you were back and wanted to say hi." Brock responded, before Misty or Delia could get a word in. So, thought Misty, Brock is going to lie to Ash, he obviously thinks somethings wrong, and as she looked over at her friend there did seem to be something off, he seemed sad, she quietly thought to herself.
"Oh, well, yeah, I got back yesterday, I meant to ring… But it must have slipped my mind" why are they here, I mean I'm happy to see them, but… no it just caught me off guard - Ash reassured himself, of course you're happy to see them, and with all his will, he pulled a massive grin and turned back to his friends "don't take it too personally, I've had a few things to do."
There was an obvious tension in the air, everyone could feel it, this wasn't how it was supposed to be, he thought, we're friends, I expected that when I got around to seeing them I would at least be happy, what's wrong with me? The tension in the air seemed to ease over the next few hours, Misty and Brock said hello to Pikachu and then the newly reunited trio went back down to the Professor's lab to see if he and Gary would like to have dinner at Ash's.
The invitation was gratefully accepted. Conversation was flowing naturally around the dinner table, Brock was helping Ash's Mom in the kitchen whilst the remaining four sat and spoke. Pikachu was eyeing up a bottle of ketchup that had been placed upon the table, but couldn't quite reach without everyone noticing.
"So Ash" Professor Oak piped up "have you any plans on what you're going to do now that you're back in Pallet, the local tournaments don't start for another few months.
Ash was unsure what he was going to say, he had given it some thought, but the only answer that sounded reasonable was waiting it and seeing what happened "Well, I think I'll get some training time in, and then go and challenge some of Kanto's gym leaders again and then take part in the League again." Ash lied to the table. Misty looked over at Ash, he's lying, I can tell that, but why? The redhead thought to herself, was there something he was hiding. No, that can't be it, there must be something else, I need to get him on his own, I'm going to get to the bottom of this. Misty's thought train was broken by Gary "Well, I think that's a good idea Ashy-boy, I mean, you can't not be training for a long time, if I wasn't so busy helping Gramps, I'd train with you"
"Gary's right Ash" Professor Oak chimed in "I think that that's a good idea".
As Brock and Delia say back down the conversation naturally progressed to what the other members of the party were doing, Brock was the first to pitch in. "Well, I'm actually helping Nurse Joy in Pewter City to run the Pokemon Centre" Said the former Gym leader "That's great Brock, I'm really proud of you!" replied Delia, genuinely happy that Brock had managed to find success in his chosen career. This conversation ran it's natural course until the Oaks declared that they would have to get back to the lab as they had a lot of work to finish in the morning, this left just the Ketchum's and Ash's two friends.
"Well, I had better be off to bed as well, don't stay up too late kids" said Delia, inwardly she wondered whether Misty and Brock were going to get to the problem with Ash, all she could do was silently wish.
"Well, I sure have had a lovely day, I think your Mom made the right decision calling us, what do you think Ash" Brock asked
"Yeah, I'd say so, how long do you two reckon you can stay?" Ash replied gesturing to the pair "and where is Pikachu?"
"I think I saw him run off with that ketchup" Misty responded, attempting to suppress a giggle at the sight of Pikachu holding a bottle of ketchup that was significantly bigger than him.
"I don't honestly know Ash, but I should think I can stay for a week or so, there's not much going on at the Centre to be honest"
"What about you Misty?" Ash asked his female counterpart
"Oh well, I haven't got a lot on at the moment, the Gym is closed until next week for renovations… So yeah about a week" she replied with a smile, internally she thought "however long it takes to work out what's wrong with you though, the Gym can wait"
"Well that sounds good to me, we have a lot of catching up to do" Ash responded, he meant it this time, the idea of being with Brock and Misty for a week was brilliant, maybe that would take his mind off of the nightmares, maybe he would feel better, he hoped.
"Well, I think I'll head off as well" stated Brock "Don't stay up too late, and I'll be in the spare room, I assume that you're sleeping on Ash's floor as usual Mist?"
"Yeah probably, if that's okay with you Ash?" "Yeah, of course" immediately Ash's heart sunk, why had he said yes? he knew he was running the risk of having night terrors, this couldn't end well "I mean, unless you wanna sleep in my bed and I'll crash on the sofa"
"Nah Ash, it's okay, I quite enjoy the floor" yep, there's definitely something wrong here, Ash is never this nice. She allowed a small smile to creep across her face, "I'm going to help you Ketchum, whether you like it or not".