Fall

Ash competed in Pokemon battling tournaments of all kinds, where Pokemon trainers and their Pokemon tested their skills against others with the same ambitions. When Ash had come along, the rookie had blown away the rest of the competition with his tactics and sheer power, winning the title of Champion for three years running.

He felt that he needed that power now, as he sat in the lavishly decorated front lobby of the Evergrande City Pokemon League. Over the years, the building had been enlarged, rebuilt, and made over multiple times, until even Ash's friend, May, was disgusted at the vulgarity of the place.

"I don't see why they wanted to make it 'better'. It was fine as it was: plain, relaxing, comfortable. This--" May squirmed against the hard backing of her chair, "is not comfortable."

Drew, a green-haired Pokemon Coordinator and May's rival-slash-boyfriend, chuckled softly. "Want to sit on my lap?"

"Drew!" May whispered fiercely in reprimand, though with an irrepressible smile. Ash averted his eyes with a twinge of envy as she settled herself in his lap and let him wrap his arms around her.

After May and Drew had noticed him again, May asked, "Where's Misty?"

Ash's face clouded as he recalled the fresh memory of Misty's outburst of fury. "I... I don't know. She left. I went to tell her that I couldn't--"

"You mean that you -wouldn't- take her out." May rose to her feet, eyes blazing. "This was, what? The fourth time you've cancelled on her?"

Drew explained patiently, "The Gemstone Tournament's been here for decades, Ash. Misty won't wait forever."

"I know! I know!" The dark-haired trainer stood and paced, both May's and Drew's eyes on him. "But this--" he gestured to the mob of Pokemon and trainers: the excitement in their faces and buzzing of their voices, "--this is my dream. This is what I live for." He wheeled around with a defiant look in his eyes. "Right?" he demanded, fierce, unyielding. "I can't give this up. Ever since I first heard about Pokemon, I've been preparing for battles, contests, challenges..."

Ash trailed off as azure eyes and soft-spoken words entered his mind, a small hand in his. He shook himself rigorously from his dreams. Thinking of her would only distract him, and he needed all his concentration for the tests lying before him. Being a Pokemon Master meant continuing tirelessly toward his goal, despite all of the obstacles. He couldn't let this... this relationship get in the way. It would smooth over. Misty would forgive him, like she always did.

"Ash!" Brock, a dark-haired and dark-skinned young man several years Ash's senior, ran to the group of three and stopped, gasping for breath, his small eyes darting from one face to another. People startled by Brock's shouting soon resumed their conversations around them. Ash opened his mouth to ask Brock where he had been, but the look on Brock's face silenced his three listeners.

"Ash. Misty-- her sisters called-- she's had an accident." Brock continued, oblivious to Ash's horrified stare. "Gyarados attack, then Golduck... Amnesia. She was hit directly. She's unconscious, in the Cerulean City hospital."

"No," May whispered. Drew and Ash were silent, Ash frozen as he stood there and let the world crash down around him. Something that had smoldered inside of him from the time that Misty had left now seemed to burst into a brilliant, consuming flame, crackling and swallowing and burning.

At last he spoke hollowly. "What do they say?"

"She was in contact with the Golduck, and since she's human, she took it pretty badly. There's some chance of her waking up, but..." Brock lowered his voice. "She'll probably forget everything."

For a moment, the meaning did not register in Ash's mind. Then it hit him. Forget everything? How could-- but the Amnesia attack. She was human-- Pokemon were built to withstand these attacks. Misty was not. Ash let out a dry, brittle laugh. Then he laughed again. Forget everything. It was so funny.

"Ash. Ash! Stop it!" Brock shook his friend, who stopped laughing and began to cry. Every hidden emotion and every piece of broken frustration that had collected since the last day seemed to pour itself forward in a wave of hysteria. He sagged into a chair, sobbing for the second time in two days, spiraling into the place where even his closest friends in the world couldn't reach him.

Again, sorry for the delay. I'm letting my betas look over it, but I decided to upload it first because they're slow. Enjoy.