Ever so after i will write down flashbacks to help you guys solve the many mysteries in this story. I'll try write what a call a "flashback chapter" every 4th chapter. They will be one of the chapters with less progress since i have to explain what events have happened in the last eight years. but i suggest you still read them. They still have very important moments in them!
~midnight
Chapter four: Breaking through the walls.
If we are to teach real peace in this world, and if we are to carry on a real war against war, we shall have to begin with the children.
Mahatma Gandhi
Flashback: Year Five:
"Damn, where are they?" Silver looked away from the binoculars with irritation. "They should have been here at least twenty minutes ago. Turning to the raven hair boy beside him. "Right Ash?"
Taking the binoculars off from Silver's grasp, Ash replied with a simple nod. "They can take as long they want just as long they come back safe."
"I guess." The red head rolled his eyes.
With the binoculars Ash watched through them, keeping his eyes glued on the only entrance that led back to camp. His eyes widen when he saw a woman with long brown hair running down the muddy path. Without hesitation Ash shoved the item at Silver's chest before jumping down from the tree and towards to the running brunette. Silver watched from above as Ash welcomed the scared teenager into his arms.
"May relax." Ash could tell his friend was over ventilating. "Breathe slowly."
Still in his best friend's arms May looked up. "It's Blue! She's stuck!" Both boys looked at one another. Silver jumped down from the tree and ran to the two. "We were getting food from one of the abandoned pokemarts then out of the blue the military started to attack us." May paused to calm down. "Our Pokémon were no match so we were forced to return them and just hide." May felt Ash patted her back to help her relax. "They shot the roof and it came falling. I missed the whole thing because I was running ahead but Blue got stuck behind."
"Well let's go. She needs us." Silver demanded.
"But the military could be still there. We could get caught." Ash explained. Trying to explain the risks to the boy.
"You would the same if May was stuck right?" Silver replied. He noticed how Ash looked away from his gaze.
"Alright let's go but if we get caught don't say I warned you."
With a nod Silver placed his hood over his head and buttoned his long coat that covered his body. May and Ash followed and did the same to their own. As they ran small snowflakes began to fall over them. After minutes of dragging each other into the nearest tree or shrub the trio reached the old collapsed pokemarts May had spoken to them earlier. Without looking Silver rushed in and began to pick each part off with his own hands. The two watched on with sadness, looking at each other if they should help.
"We have too, even if the result may not be what we want." May spoke. Ash replied with a nod.
Blue was the one companion that was with Silver at the lowest part of Ash's life. When the war just broke out he was in a state of panic. Fear ran his life. A simple pen dropping on the ground would make him flinch. The only way he would sleep was to cry. But when he met Blue and Silver on that day they both helped him to return to the boy he used to be. He saw that brunette girl as a sister. She and blue was his family.
"BLUE!" Ash screamed. Ash picked a piece and threw it roughly behind him. "Say something, knock or anything!"
With tears Silver fell to his knees, slamming the rubble of the roof with his fists. May walked over to Silver to pat his back and help him calm down but she was rejected. Getting onto his feet Silver yelled. "This is all your fault!" He snapped. "If you weren't so carless!"
May bit her bottom lip before replying him with a slap across the face. "Do you think I like what happened? To see another of my friends dead?" May clenched her fists but Ash held her back by placing both of his hands over it. "Do you want me to die instead?"
"I don't want anyone to die. Even you May." Silver looked back at the fallen shop. There was one gap where the edges were painted with blood. They knew that was where she laid.
Not far laid a small patch of glory of the snow flowers. They would always bloom even when the snow had come. They were always his sister's favourite. Silver remember them blooming right beside the poke mart. Silver moved his weak trembling body over the patch and snapped them both the stem and placed them near where the stained pieces of the roof laid. The flowers were star shaped and coated in blue with a white centre.
"Happy Birthday sis."
Current year: Year eight
Holding his wrist tightly Ash stared up at the sky. It was snowing once more. The teenager breath out hot air and watched it materialise before fading away. He ran his fingers through his hair before looking down where that small blue roofed shop laid. The place was cleared but the same flowers that Silver offered every year grew since that day. They had scattered and made it one of the places Ash loved to stay.
"Never expected you to be here."
Shoving his hands into his pockets Ash gazed at the blue and white centred flowers. "She is my sister as well, Silver."
"You never treated her like one."
"You know that's a lie Silver." Ash turned to face his brother. "You know how important you and Blue were to me. You saved me from the wreak I was that day."
Silver sighed and picked up a few of glory in the snow flowers. He held them in his palm and watched them fly away when the wind picked up. He watched them drift higher into the air and fall down a meter or two from where he was standing.
"You're still not blaming May for her death are you?" Ash asked with his back still facing his brother.
"No. Not anymore." The red head stood beside his brother. "I was upset and I blamed everything all on her. Didn't you do the same to me when May passed away?"
"Yes." Ash replied boldly. "And I'm sorry."
Flashback:
Year Three:
"Look what I got!" Blue cheered as she entered into camp carefree. "Sweets!" Blue had a giant grin across her face.
"Surly you could have robbed a supermarket than a sweet shop right?" Silver spoke. Blue looked up and saw the boy was up in his usual spot, the first tree that posed at the entrance to the camp.
"It's not like I couldn't stay there and shop vegetables while we are there!" Blue pointed at her younger brother. Her eyes showed they were on fire, showing anger.
"Um, I don't mind having sweets once and awhile." Ash interfered. "It will be a nice change." Blue saw the smile on Ash's face and threw her arm over his shoulders.
"You should be more like Ash over here Silver." Blue pointed. "Things would run more smoothly if you did." Silver waved his hand at his sister before climbing higher into the tree.
"Just like a mankey." Blue sighed before turning to Ash. "Well can you put this with the rest of the supplies? I'm going to take a look around for more stuff."
"Hey Blue." Ash called, interrupting Blue's plan to leave. "Thanks."
"For what?" The girl asked.
"For saving me the other day. I don't know how to thank you and Silver."
"You can thank me by calling me sis."
Current year:
"She would kill you if she knew what you were up too." Silver brushed his fringe away from his eyes.
"She would, wouldn't she?" Ash chuckled. The teenager kneeled down and picked up a bunch of Blue's favourite flowers and threw them into the air. "But that is what makes her so special. She would go in all harm's way to do anything she can to stray you off the wrong path."
"So you want to reconsider tonight's plans?" Silver glared at his younger brother. Silver waited for his brother to reply. "I guess that's a no."
Silver's coat fluttered as he turned his back and began to walk from his younger brother. He took one more glance over his shoulder and saw his expression had not changed. With a pitiful sigh Silver continued to make his own way. Ash waited until he could no longer hear the crunching footsteps of his brother's as he walked on the snow. Ash ran his fingers through his hair before finishing off with a sigh.
"He still hasn't changed all these years has he sis?" Ash grinned when his mind crossed to his older sister. "Anyway happy birthday sis, look after May until I get there."
Making his way Ash began to make his way into the city. All he could hear was his crunching footsteps against the snow until he reached the main road of Republic city. The busy lights and noises echoed in his mind. Ash stood by the traffic light pole and waited for the little green man to flash to give him the sign to walk across the busy streets of Republic City. He just stood among the crowds of a busy Friday night. In the corner of his eyes he could spot groups of teenagers having a great time or a couple or two not afraid to make-out in the cold snowy nights of winter.
Getting to the entrance of the local pub was a nightmare on Fridays. It was like every rebellious and crazy teenager came just to stand at the entrance trying to look cool. Ash shrugged his shoulders and made his way to the bar. There were a few people around as most were on seated on tables or dancing like drunks on the dance floor.
"This crazy music." Ash muttered in a bored and tried tone. "So loud and repetitive." Ash rested on the bar bench with his arms acting like a pillow.
"Yeah, it's pretty wild." Looking up, Ash nearly received a heart attack.
"YOU." Ash blurted. Ash wanted to yell louder but he was too tried.
"Well, well." The brunette repeated. "If it isn't the little bastard himself."
"You –oh never mind. I'm too tried to do this." Ash slammed his head on the bar.
"So what does this little cocky asshole want from me today?" the teenager bent down and glared at the boy. "Wine or beer?"
Looking up with his eyes half open. "Wine, strong and sweet."
"Alright." The brunette cheered. She turned as she prepared his drink.
Ash looked up with half his body lazily on the bench. He examined her body. Her hair was tied into a bun but some fell perfectly on her sides, giving her a formal but young look. Her figure was slim. The simple black top and black jeans with a white apron wrapped around her waist attracted him. She was simple not compared to the others girls that chase after with their revealing outfits. And he was under her spell when he saw the sapphire coloured eyes that seemed to shine bright at night, like stars under the night sky.
"I love you." Were the words that slipped from his lips by accident.
"Excuse me?" the girl stood in confusion.
"I mean I love that drink." Ash covered up. "Man that was close."
"Strange man you are." The teenager spoke as she handed his drink. With a grin Ash accepted and handed the cash. But the girl didn't walk away and instead watched Ash take his first sip. Noticing Ash quickly dropped his glass of wine and looked at her. "Maylene Maple or May for short."
"You just look like her." Ash spoke, still under her spell and acting dazed. "Simple yet beautiful."
"I'm sorry but I'm lost. Can you tell me who I look like?"
"Her name was May Maple. A girl I'm madly I'm love with."
His words hypnotised her. His wonderful auburn eyes were warm and gave him a handsome and gentle look. His hair was rough and messy but it seemed to match his personality. His overall outfit told her he was rich and fancy. May always loved a man as dashing as he.
"But she died two years ago."
Flashback:
Year six:
Sky was dark, humid and sticky. Not a single gust of wind came. Rain was heavy and the ground became muddy. The deserted streets were empty and eerie. It was another of those horrible summer days that where it rained more in summer than in the cold days of winter. The weather in Kanto never made any sense to him. But the weather wasn't what should matter first. It was running from the military that were after them after years of finally hiding in the forest were now forced to hide in abandoned city buildings.
Windows were shattered, doors slammed off their place. Walls cracked and empty boxes and paper were everywhere. Dust covered the floor and paper as two scared teenagers embraced one another in fear. It was the only thingy they could do was relay on hope. Something they had not done since they were children. Ash looked at May and noticed she was holding on his black shirt tightly with tears building in her eyes. Her body was shaking and ever his was from time to time.
"We will be okay, right?" May looked up. Ash could see the fear in her eyes. "Right?" She repeated.
"Y-Yeah." Ash stuttered. "Silver did a good job distracting them while we make a run for it. I just hope his alright."
"You think they'll come across us?" May asked. It was clear to Ash that there was a sense a fear in her voice.
"They have to give up on looking for us eventually." Ash spoke confidently but even a man such as himself was scared no matter how many times he would tell the others he wasn't.
The footsteps suddenly stopped with gave mixed feelings both. Then seconds later the sounds of marching footsteps echoed before fading away. May could only do but hold on Ash's shirt tighter. "We-we should check." Waiting for Ash to nod he helped her to let go of his shirt and guide her to her feet while he sat still. But just as May was going to look around something hard collided into the empty city building causing May to stumble and fall into her good friend. "This isn't good."
"Looks like they're going to kill us either way, if the find us or not the result is the same." Ash blushed afterwards when May ran into his arms.
"No, no, no, no, no." May spoke quickly in a terrified manner. "You told me we wouldn't die. I know this is true!"
"We are on the bottom floor May. Sooner or later this roof will fall on us and if we run we get captured by the military." Ash quickly embraced May. "Then they'll separate us both." Squeezing her tighter. "I don't want that to happen May."
"I don't want too either." Resting her head on his torso. "I guess this is it?" Closing her eyes. "I don't mind if everything ends like this. I'm with you after all."
More missiles and bombs crashed at the top of the building. More smokes and flames erupted as each bomb came closer to the bottom floor. The floor Ash and May both decided to stay in, but just as the one was being landed the building's structure had enough and decided to fall on its own. Both trainers looked up and felt the small dust falling onto their hair before huge piles of concrete started to fall onto them.
All they could hear was the screams both of them made as the building fell onto them. Opening his eyes Ash found himself trapped within piles of what once made the city building he and May were hiding in. Patting himself from the torso down he felt no pain but it was getting harder to breathe. May was not by his side but instead a huge concrete slab was in his face. Afterwards he could hear somebody breathing from the other end. He knew it was May.
"Hey, hey May." Ash began. "Stop crying."
"How can I?" She replied. "Were stuck and nobody is going to find us."
"Silver will. He knows what building we are hiding in."
"But what if he doesn't even try looking and just convinces himself were are dead?" May continue to shed tears.
"Don't think like that." Ash spoke calmly.
Ash raised his hand and knocked the wall in front of him. He knocked four times. He knocked twice quickly and the last two were separated by one-second intervals. May's mind began to wonder why Ash was repeating the same knocking pattern. She wondered if he wanted her to copy. She raised her hand and repeated the same knocking pattern.
"I knew you'd get it sooner or later." May could hear Ash's chuckle on the other side. "Now remember that."
"Why?"
"It means something." Ash paused. "It's going to mean a lot."
"I don't get you Ash." May's mind wondered into confusion. "Tell me."
Ash swallowed hard before summoning courage. He repeated the same knock. "It means I love you." Ash could feel his face heat up. "I'm sorry if I only got the nerve to say it now."
May was poured with joy. So much that the only way she could express was crying. Crying with a smile all over her face. She wished Ash could see the smile on her face. May knocked back and smiled. "I love you too."
"I really want to see that smile right now." Ash replied.
"And I really want to punch for saying you like me at the bad time." May could hear Ash, laughing at the other end.
Air was running thin and dusts from the rubble surrounding them started to fall on them both. Time was running out and even Ash, a man filled with hope and joy was starting to believe that there was no more hope and nobody would find them. He told Silver what building he would be in but not what floor. He would take hours or days to find him and May. It was time to surrender. Knocking on the wall once more, repeating the same pattern. With the last of his breathe he muttered the words he wanted to say so, so badly. And the woman on the other end could hear them and whispered them back.
Current Year:
"That is so tragic. I'm so sorry for bringing it up." May bent down as she apologized.
Taking a drink from his wine glass, he swirled the red liquid a few times. "No, it's fine. My doctor says I have to say these things so I can learn to move on." Ash took another sip.
"So you don't mind if I take a seat with you and keep asking?" Ash looked as May untied the white apron around her waist. "My shift is over anyway."
Taking a seat beside him May fixed her pop collar before turning to Ash. "Sorry for the way I've treated you before. I didn't know you would be this calm. In fact I don't know why I can talk to you so easy. I normally just ignore most boys that say things to me."
"I do the same with most girls but you're different." Placing his glass on the bar Ash turned to May. "Maybe because you share the same name as her."
"May you mean?"
"Yes." He nodded. "She even has the same surname is you Maylene." Ash's face flushed red. He quickly returned to his drink. "Oh God, I'm doing it again."
"I've never seen such a man so honest. These days their all so cocky and think they own the world but you," Ash turned after May paused. "You belong in those days right?"
"H-How." May placed her finger over Ash's lips.
"We are the same age right, even I remember those days." May looked away and began to lose herself into those happy moments she has as a child. "They seemed to go on forever. Everyone was so nice and always happy. If you had a problem you could go to nearly everyone and ask help but now," She spun in her bar stool and looked around her surroundings.
Teenagers were talking near the entrance with flirty glares on their faces, others making-out on chairs and even on the tables. Broken glass were scattered everyone on the carpet. Some even touched private places and trying to make a name for them. But there were always a few that would sit and talk normally without a fuss. May point to the troublemakers. "It's horrible." She turned back to Ash. "But those over there, talking like normal people, I can tell their great people." She smiled. "Don't get me wrong, not everyone in this era is bad people but can you blame me if I group them in the group of assholes?"
"I understand where you are coming from." Ash took his last sip from his remaining drink. "The same goes back in our era. Not every trainer was pure heart." Ash's mind slipped to Paul, an old rival of his. "I once had a rival. His training techniques were horrible. He would push his team to the max and if they didn't live to his standard he would release them. Every time he would put me down or his team my blood would boil." Ash played with the glass in his hands. "But in the end he changed slightly. Then the next thing I know he is caught in a detention centre."
"I can't believe this is the world we live now." May began to tense up. "So horrible."
The wall television flashed bright with giant letters of ''news report'' flashing brightly. Some ignored while others tuned in. Both teenagers looked and were shock to see a masked man, dressed in a black coat from head to toe standing on one of the roofs of a building. Beside him was a pokemon all in black. Not even the colour of its eyes could be seen. Underneath the image words began to say ''pokemon master reveals himself once more'' the reporter's voice started to say what was happening before adding their own opinion. This angered Ash as he quickly stood out of his chair and towards the entrance.
"I have to go." Ash yelled. "I'll come back to get your number later." Ash added before turning to his phone.
May on the other hand gazed at Ash with amazement. "What a guy."
Ignoring the winter chilly night Ash reached for his phone he had been stuttering to reach in his bag. He stood in front of a television store and watched the news from there. Taking glances from the TV to his phone looking for a certain someone in his contacts. He cussed when he missed the name as he scrolled too far down.
"Shit I have no time for this." He tapped on the name and placed the phone against his ear. Tapping his feet on the ground. "For fuck sakes." He took a sigh of relief when the other end was picked up.
"Ash?"
"Dawn, thank God you answered." Ash kept his eyes glued on the television now. "Turn on the TV now. The Pokemon Master is showing himself."
Ash could hear Dawn dropping her phone before hearing her falling onto the floor. Dawn reached for her phone while searching for the remote. "WHAT?" Dawn finally responded. "But aren't you the-?"
"I am." Ash replied as he placed his hand on the glass. "I am because I want to change this world. Maybe I won't be able to return the world we once knew well but at least similar. I want a world without war or struggle. I want the pokemon to be free and I want our dreams to return. I'm tired of living a life like this." Ash sighed. "But isn't me on the TV right now, it's somebody else."
"I'm sure my team is going to the scene now. Shit, I have to get there as well."
"I'm going to."
"What. No Ash!" Dawn screamed. "You're going to get hurt. You might get blamed with the guy!"
"I have to go. Look at the building." Ash tried to keep himself calm.
Dawn's grip on her phone tightened as she covered her mouth with her hand. The man in black was on top of a certain building both of them knew well. Team Rocket's Corporations. Flames could be seen from one of the windows. The figure looked up to the helicopter that was shooting the scene from. The cameraman zoomed in hoping to see his face but he quickly slipped into one of the windows.
"I have to go Dawn. Join me if you can." Ash hung up and slipped the phone into his pocket as he ran towards the smoke that stood high in the night sky.
He wasted no time. He pushed through crowds of teenagers and ran across streets filled with busy cars. He could hear the drivers stopping at his feet and yelling at him. With a quick apologetic smile Ash continued to run. Ash knew he was closer to the scene when police cars and the yellow tape shown to surround the building. Ash ran to the tape and wanting to peel it off but since everyone knew his name, he had to act carful.
"Sir." A police man placed his hand on Ash's torso to stop him from entering. "It's dangerous for you to enter."
"My father is in there!" Ash snapped. "He needs me."
"Relax little bro." Silver teased as he placed his hand on his shoulder. Ash looked over and saw him moving his head away from the site. "Let's go." Silver looked back at the building. Ash soon caught on what his older brother was meaning.
"Alright." Ash muttered as both brother left the scene.
Where there was no media or police Silver finally handed over Ash's long black coat, the nearly same one shown on the television. "I thought that was you on earlier." Silver watched as Ash placed the black coat over himself. "Didn't you plan to do something like this tonight?"
"I was planning but I changed my mind. I wasn't going to cause chaos on my sister's birthday." Ash placed his hood over his head. "Coming?"
Silver revealed his coat and started to put it on. "Normally I don't play with your stupid games but father is involved this time and I know this isn't you this time. So I'll help." Silver threw a pokeball to his brother. "You'll need him."
"You know Pikachu is no condition to fight. After that incident-"
"I know." Silver placed his hood over his head. "I didn't just get one of your old team the other day. I took a few."
Ash gazed deeply at the pokeball in his hands. He could still hear his brother speaking to him. "If you're still the brother I remember you should know who is in that little machine." Ash looked up and saw his brother was ready to go. "Let's?"
"Let's."