Last time...
"NO!" Ash screamed, startling Dawn and Gary.
"Ash?"
A lone tear fell from Ash's eyes. Dread filled both Dawn and Gary. Both of them already knowing what Ash was about to say before he said it.
"Joe's dead..."
"What do we do?" Dawn asked.
"Carry on with the plan. That's what Joe would want us to do." Gary replied.
"There's nothing left of the mansion..." Ash trailed. "They're coming for us, but we have some time with the fake memory I gave Joe."
"Well, we're just on the outskirts...let's go." Gary muttered.
Ash and Gary had both became tense. Dawn knew it was being back in their hometown, but also because of the news of Joe's death. Joe had been their father since they had left their homes and now he was gone. Aversa, Damion, and William had taken both of their leaders now.
The three walked in silence, each lost in their own thoughts.
Dawn knew that this was going to be hard for Ash and Gary. Their past still haunted them to this day. Gary had accidentally murdered his parents in the house fire from losing control of his powers. Ash had ran away at a young age when his powers became too much for him to handle and following his uncle's instructions to leave.
She couldn't even begin to imagine the pain and hard memories that were being brought back up to surface.
... ...
They stopped on top of a hill that overlooked a small town.
"That far building is where we need to head." Gary said.
In the distance, Dawn saw a laboratory.
The air was now even more tense than before. Now being in their hometown, both Ash and Gary were fighting to keep control.
"I could teleport us." Ash offered, as he broke the silence.
"That's running from the problem. We need to face it. I also need some time..." Gary said, trailing off at the end of his sentence.
Ash nodded his head in understanding and the three began to walk down the hill.
... ...
They were now approaching the houses that led the way to the laboratory.
"Shit..." Ash muttered.
Gary looked to where Ash was looking.
"Keep walking, don't stop." he said.
Dawn looked at the house where both of the guys were looking. A middle aged woman was outside, gardening. From what she could see, the woman had reddish brown hair that was poking out from under the sunhat she wore.
The three were getting closer to the house where the woman was at. Dawn could feel Ash's aura in distress, and see how tense he was physically.
Hearing footsteps, the woman looked up. Ash quickly ducked his head, but Dawn could see that the woman recognized him.
She hurried over to the fence that surrounded her house.
"Ash?!"
Her voice was filled with joy, hurt, and astonishment.
Ash visibly flinched. Dawn could feel his pain from his aura.
"You're alive..." the woman said, barely above a whisper.
Ash grabbed Dawn's hand and teleported, leaving Gary alone, since Gary had previously said he needed time.
Gary looked at where Ash was just moments ago and then quickly realized the woman was staring at him.
"Gary...?"
Gary couldn't hold back the shocked look that came over his face. He hadn't known she would know who he was.
He ran. Even though he knew it wouldn't do any good. She would know where the three of them were going. She would know and she would more than likely show up.
"Looks like we're both going to have to face our past, Ashy Boy." he muttered as he ran up the stairs that would lead to the laboratory.
Ash and Dawn crashed to the ground outside of the laboratory.
"Ash, hey! Hey! Look at me." Dawn said, grabbing his hands.
He was close to losing control of his aura, because of his emotions.
If Dawn hadn't been able to piece things together before, she definitely could now. That woman was Ash's mother.
"Look at me." Dawn said, sternly.
Ash looked at her.
"Breathe. Everything will be okay."
"I haven't seen her in sixteen years..." he muttered.
"It's a lot to take in."
Ash nodded his head. "She thought I was dead..."
"She most likely-"
Dawn was cut off by Gary's arrival.
"We have a problem." he said.
"Great."
"She knew me. I didn't think she would know me. She's going to know where we are. She'll probably come here." Gary explained.
"Which means I'll have to face her." Ash said, as he sighed and ran his hand over his face.
"I'll...I'll see if...he can hold her off." Gary said, his voice rough.
Ash looked at him. Pain was in Gary's eyes.
"You ready?" Ash asked as he stood.
"Not really, but can't hold it off any longer."
Gary rang the doorbell to the laboratory.
After a few moments the door opened to reveal an elderly man. He was tall and slim with tanned skin. Gray hair and wise eyes behind glasses.
"I was wondering when you three were going to arrive." he said.
A gravelly voice, but kind.
He stepped aside and allowed the three to enter.
"It's been a long time, Gary, Ash. And it's a pleasure to meet you, Dawn."
"It's nice to meet you, sir." Dawn said.
"Nice to see you again, Professor." Ash added.
Gary remained silent and looked distressed. The flames were swirling in his eyes which held so much pain.
"I'm so sorry, Gramps..." Gary said, before the emotion he had been holding in took over.
Sobs wracked his body and the flames came. Dawn was quick to steal Gary's power, so it wouldn't harm his grandpa. Gary's grandpa hugged his sobbing grandson.
"It's alright, my boy. I don't blame you and I never did. You were scared and upset. I never once was angry at you."
"Your parents chose the wrong words and reacted poorly. They didn't accept you, my boy."
The three were now gathered upstairs. They were waiting for Professor Oak to tell them the next step of the plan.
Ash suddenly snapped his attention towards the door.
"Ash?" Dawn asked.
"What is it?" Gary asked.
"Someone's here." he replied.
"Where is he?!"
Ash flinched.
"No..."
"I saw him! And I saw your grandson, Gary! I know they're here!"
A lower reply from Gary's grandfather.
"Don't you lie to me, Samuel!"
"How am I suppose to face her?" Ash asked.
"You did what you had to do...to help yourself. Tell her that," Dawn said, taking his hand and squeezing it.
"Your mom was always more understanding." Gary added.
Ash looked at the door.
"It's okay to be scared." Dawn whispered and kissed his cheek.
Ash nodded his head and stood up.
... ...
"I'll tear this lab apart, Samuel. I know he's here and you better let me speak to him or so help me-"
She stopped and her eyes grew wide. Professor Oak glanced over his shoulder and saw Ash.
"Ash..." she trailed.
Ash stood in the doorway, unsure of what to do.
Professor Oak left the room, giving the two privacy.
"My baby boy...you're all grown up."
She was now in front of him and she raised her hand to his cheek.
"I can't believe you're here. I had feared the worst, and kept hoping I was wrong."
"Mom..." Ash trailed.
She pulled him into a hug, crying as she held him close.
"I can't believe you're here. And you're all grown up now. You were just a child and now you're a man!"
Ash hugged his mother back and blinked.
He pulled away and his mother looked at him confused.
"What is it?" she asked.
"I just need to make sure you're kept safe..." he said, frowning.
He gripped her hand and the two were back in her house.
"Wh-"
"I need you to look at me, mom and listen to me." Ash said.
"Ash, what-"
"It's the only way to make sure you're safe and that those after me won't hurt you. You've been safe all these years and I can't allow you to get caught up in this mess."
Ash's eyes glowed blue.
"Look at me, mom."
His mother's protests stopped as she looked at his eyes.
"You received a letter from my uncle years ago. A letter that revealed what had happened to me. Your son, Ashton, had been killed in an accident that left himself paralyzed, which is why he never showed up when the funeral came around. You still grieve over your child and whenever you see a boy with black hair, like you did today, you imagine it's your boy all grown up. Ash, died long ago, but he never stopped loving you. He knows you care about him and love him."
Tears had now filled his mother's eyes.
"I'm sorry, I mistook you for my son." she said.
Ash just nodded his head. "It's fine."
"Could you tell Samuel, sorry for me?"
"Of course,"
She walked out of the room and left. Ash sat down on the edge of a table and put his head in his hands.
"Ash?" Dawn asked.
He looked up and saw her and Gary in the doorway.
"What did you do?" Gary asked.
"I made her forget me. Her son died long ago with the story I told her." Ash replied.
"But why? You had a chance to have her in your life." Dawn asked.
"I need to keep her safe from the ones who are after us."
PleaseR&R
