"Men are what their Mothers made them" - Ralph Waldo Emerson
"No one else will ever know the strength of my love for you. After all, you are the only one who knows what my heart sounds like from the inside"
Chapter III : Thank You
Ash Ketchum's P.O.V
I can't say it. Heart's beating so fast, eyes wide open... to what Leaf said...
I look at my older twin brother... and he's having the same expression just like at me. Desperate for air, I took out Charizard while Red took out his and we called out our Water Pokemon to come with us.
We rode on Charizard and told him to fly back to Mom's house as fast as he can.
Please be safe, Mom...
...
We can see our house. My body shivered. The whole house is on fire! "Totodile, Corphish, Buizel, help me put out those fire and fast!" I ordered my Pokémon and they all nod, even Totodile look determined for the first time.
As we land on ground, Red took out Lapras and Blastoise. Then me, Pikachu and Red ran towards our house. We know... that Rockruff, Mimey and Mom are there!
We bash at the door with full strength and there's fire everywhere. "Mom!" Red called out, but no answer. The roof tore apart and we evade it. Inhaling the smoke, I cough. There's no time! Need to find them quickly!
"Mom?! Where are you?!" No answer again. I cough and cough again, because I inhale more smoke and... my eyes... are getting blurry. Losing consciousness...
...
NO! I won't pass out until I found Mom.
"Mom!" I yell with all my voice, so that she can hear it. No answer again! I rush to the stairs and...
"Mom!" I saw her lying on the stairs with Mimey and Rockruff trying to wake her up. She's hurt badly. "Red! Mom's here!" I called out to my twin older brother and he ran towards me and his eyes grew wide.
"Let's get out of here with them." I nod at his response and try to drag Mom while Pikachu helped Rockruff. Fire spreads more as we cough often, need air to breathe. "Charizard!" I yell and I saw Red took out Charizard and help mine to bash through the walls.
The roof is falling fast that we use our arms to protect Mom and Rockruff. To no avail, it didn't fall on us. Red and my Charizard took the hit. I can see some water... coming from our Pokemon. Sirens wailing, looks like the fire fighters are here.
I see both Charizard use their wings to... darn it! I can't... breathe... need... air...
...
My eyes are groggily opening. I got blinded by the light. I rub my eyes slowly, so that I can see a better view and... I'm in a room? My legs are heavy. I look at where something is giving weight and... I saw Red sleeping and Pikachu sleeping on my legs.
I'm... in the Pokémon Center? But where? I look at the window and it's... day?!
Wait, where's Mom? I tried to get up, but I don't want to. Ah! Too late, Red slowly stood up, rubbing his eyes until we saw each other, woke up from a sleep. "Ash!" He threw his arms around me, carefully not to hurt me.
His yell cause Pikachu to slowly wake up. He saw me and ran to hug me. I return the hug. "Are you okay?" "Yeah, bro. I just woke up. Where's Mom?" I asked with a concern tone and his face...
...
Went dark?
...
No.
...
No, no, no, no...
...
"Mom's... gone." He said with tears slowly running down from his cheeks. No! I don't trust him. "No. I don't believe it! Please tell me Mom's here." I said with desperate tone. I know that Mom's here, right?
He didn't answer. No... I refuse to believe Mom's gone.
"You... were unconscious for 2 days." 2 DAYS?! "The night where we're saved, I tried to talk to the doctors after both of you are in the Pokémon Center in Viridian City. She... didn't make it... I'm sorry, lil' bro. I, too, refused to believe... But when the doctors told me the truth... I couldn't believe it."
...
Silence sneaks into the atmosphere as I look down, deep into my mind... a part of me was told that I should accept, but most... refuse.
...
"Can we go see Mom?" I silently asked with sadness in it. Big bro only nodded, but his expression shows sadness as well.
I try to stand up, but my legs are wobbly, I don't know why. Maybe from I'm so tired... or is it from the night where we tried to rescue Mom.
2 arms flung and touched my shoulder, preventing me to fall down. "Thanks, big bro." "No problem, Ash." He said in a quiet tone that me and Pikachu can hear.
...
"Ash, you can't just waltz out without fully recovered." Nurse Joy said as I detect a concern tone in her voice, but I don't care.
"I don't care, Nurse Joy. Thanks for your concern, but I can move now. All I want to know..." I paused... trying my best to... ask her where... Mom is.
...
"Where is our Mom? Her name is Delia Ketchum." I finally asked what I need to know. She didn't... answer. Silence only told me what I want to know.
...
Her eyes... look at my brother and turn her glance back to me. "Follow me." Then she walk away as we followed her... to a room... that might be where Mom is.
...
Nurse Joy slowly opened the room's door. Me and Red waltz inside as we found a body... covered in white cloth.
I walk towards the body, shivering within every step I take. Internally desperate for air to breathe. Afraid... to see the whole... truth.
Hands shaking, I slowly grab the cloth covering the face and pulled it. Horror strike the deepest angle of my eyes, my heart, my soul and body...
...
As I found... Mom's face... eyes covered and clear skin. My vision is twitching fast, blurry vision as my jaw... slowly opened... to see... our Mom... lying in front us. She never move a muscle... as I quietly sobbed, but I can't.
I want to scream... I want to shout... but I cannot... I can only cry... as I hug Mom's face... to my chest...
...
Hoping...
...
She can hear my big brother's and my heartbeat in a fast state...
...
Before she left this world...
...
For...ever...
...
I don't know how many days have passed, but I don't care. All I want... is to let Mom return back to life.
But... that's impossible. How can even one dead person can come back to life? But why? Why Arceus? Why would you let Mom take away from us?
We're not yet ready to go on ourselves. Not ready live life by ourselves without her guidance. We still have so much to learn.
It was yesterday... where we, Blue, Leaf and Gary attend our Mom's funeral. So many people living in Pallet Town were invited, especially... Mom's friends who befriended her while we're on a journey.
They told us about how happy Mom is, even if her sons are far away from her. She even told her that boys... will leave home some day.
Hearing that boys will leave home some day... makes me... so immature. I should've spent more time with her while I can, but no... It's in the past.
Nothing breaks me more... than living in a world without Mom... or even...
...
her.
...
"Ash?" I was interrupted by my older twin brother. "Mom gave me something before she died." Huh? Red gave me... a letter? I open it slowly and quietly read what was written.
Dear Ash and Red,
By the time you both read this letter, I passed away. But don't worry, I'll always be in both of your hearts. Even if you can't see me, I'll be by side wherever you go. I prayed to Arceus that he'll always watch over your journeys. I know you'll blame yourself to never spend time with me, but like I said... Don't worry about me.
Worry about your future, your goals and your happiness. Just remember... that I'll always be by your side. Always. Don't forget... No matter what path you choose... I will always love you from the bottom of my heart. I will always be in your heart... just like you'll be in my heart... From this day on... now and forever more... I'm so proud to call you and raise both of you... as my loving children.
Your Forever Love and Guardian, Mom
...
Silence came in our tracks... as tears quickly came out of my heart. I tried to wipe away... but it can't. What surprise me the most... is my older twin brother, hugging me and whispered to me...
...
"Let it all go, lil' bro. Mom will always be in our heart. She'll be remembered as our great mother, who raised us." He said. I can feel water touching my shoulder as Red... silently sobbing while I... gave in and cried.
...
Thank you Mom. I'm really proud and glad... to have a twin, met Serena. If you haven't gave birth to us... then I didn't meet the girl whom I made a promise with and never had a sibling.
...
Smile grew on my face while I'm still crying. I can feel my left shoulder is heavy and I hear... Pikachu crying as well.
...
I don't care how much time passed... All I want... is to comfort each other from a lost while reminisce at the same time.
...
Thank you, Mom.
...
For teaching us how to live by ourselves, but most importantly...
...
Thank you... For teaching us... how to love.