Arashi: This chapter I'm most happy about since it will have Gary being concern about his own best friend but more so since it will have the start of game/manga characters and one of their roles will be slightly revealed.

Disclaimer: Pokemon and its characters belong to Satoshi Tajiri and Nintendo Company. I just own the plot and original characters featured in the fic. There is no money being made on this fic.

Summary for Series: Teams Aqua and Magma have control of most of the regions expect for Johto is under Team Rocket's control much to Magma and Aqua's annoyance. Due to their controls it's harder and stricter for new trainers to begin their journeys. Only a very few dare fight against the system, Ash Ketchum is one of those trainers who wish to have life back to the times before the organizations' control. On this journey he'll learn who he truly his and hopefully bring balance to the Pokemon regions while on the road to become a Pokemon Master.
Warning for Series: Au, language, ooc, ocs, shouen-ai, yaoi, sexual tension, game/anime references, lime, lemon, character deaths, violence, abuse, hint of rape and past of it
Genres for Series: Drama, Adventure, Humor, Angst, Tragedy, Friendship, Family, Hurt/Comfort, Romance, Crime, Mystery
Rates for Series: Kt-M
Pairings for series: Eventual Palletshipping, Originalshipping, Rocketshipping, Neoshipping, Tracey/Misty, Past Giovanni/Delia and others

Rate: T/M

Genre: Drama/Family/Angst/Tragedy/Friendship

Characters: Ash K/Delia K

Pairings: None expect for hints of Oc/Madame Boss, Giovanni/Delia, and Originalshipping

Warnings: Au, language, violence, character deaths, hints of rape, and slight hints of shouen-ai

Summary: Ash, a normal-kind hearted boy, finds three Pokemon eggs which hatch revealing newborn Pokemon getting him to think of his future. Unsure which path to go upon, he stumbles into a sight that will haunt him for the rest of his life. He will understand the world isn't Black and White but also Grey.

Darken Days: A Boy's Dream

Chapter 3: Funeral

~Two weeks later~

It taken the two weeks to organize the funeral for Delia Ketchum. The whispers of the Bastard Boy slowly stop to change to condolence instead. For the first week, Ash barely said a word unless spoken to. He had to be force to eat but eats enough to live. Gary has been trouble by his friend's strange attitude that he develops the plan to drag Ash all over Pallet to at least get a twitch of a smile.

He got use to the little Vulpix, Dratini, and Abra when not sleeping follows Ash. He found out by his grandfather that Delia is gone but didn't know what happen. Other then Ash won't say what happen either. It must taken being closer to the funeral that Ash finally broken down and cried for the first time in almost two weeks to cry while the two boys fish at the near by river.

"She's gone," the soft monotone voice comes out of the shorter boy's mouth.

The brunette said nothing for a few minutes glancing at his companion from the corner of his eye not sure what he can say to reassure him. 'Is he going to open up?' he wonder feeling a bit of hope. He nods waiting for Ash to continue.

"She's dead because of Team Magma," Ash continues for the first time letting the sound of anger enter his voice, tightening his grip on the fishing pole to the point his knuckles turn white. His brown eyes losing the dullness to flash angrily and his lips turn into a snarl as the sound of self disgust rolls off his tongue sounding like acid in Gary's ears. "I'm such an idiot! I could have saved her if I didn't out!"

Gary drops his pole not wanting to hear such words coming out of his kind hearted friend that he tackles Ash to the ground pinning his hands over his head hissing, "Then you would be gone as well! Where I be without my best friend?"

The anger blazing in Ash's eyes dies turning back to the dullness once more as Gary gaze at him hoping to find the expressive orbs he knows all to well. Which usually gives the brunette a clue when something is bothering his friend? He nearly gasp out loud seeing the dullness in those brown orbs bordering to dead and blank. 'What did you see Ashy?' he wonder for the millionth time after learning of his friend's situation.

"I'm sorry," The soft monotone whisper from the boy underneath the brunette reaches his hears. "I didn't think of that."

"I'm sorry as well," Gary answers rolling off Ash a little confuse why he feels reluctant to do so.

"It's so damn hard," the harsh words slip out of the straight line lips as Ash stares up at the clear blue sky.

Thoughts been running in his mind ever since his mom's last words. She was going to tell him his father's name but all he knows now it starts with "G" which is still a clue none the less. He begin to think of all guy names start with the said letter but some don't seem to fit. He shakes his had in confusion not wanting to puzzle more then he has to on this matter. The ten year old close his eyes falling into a light doze. He could feel Gary watching him but shrugs it off.

Couple of hours pass for the two friends on their little fishing trip even if either of them have no luck catching anything. If they been more alert of their surroundings and look in a distance they would have seen two figures in their mid to late teens.

"So this is the kid Oak called us about?" The taller of the two ask earning a cold glare from his companion.

"Yes Green," The cool yet silky voice of the second teen replies as his ember hue orbs leaves his companion to soften a margin on the ten year old raven hair boy.

"Fuck, Red can you lighten up a little," the one called Green inquires receiving once again a dark look.

"Sorry if I'm not in the happy mood after finding out the fact Team Magma put my older sister on their hit list!" Red snarls as the pokemon on his shoulder growls in agreement.

Glancing at the Pikachu warily not wanting to be shock, Green states raising a cool brow having the other to smack his forehead, "But you told me Delia and you are half-siblings."

"I did say that but it never matter, jack ass," Red hiss, glancing once more at his dozing nephew in the distance which Professor Oak call for him to help.

He can't tell the kid or reveal his presence just yet or what he is to him. In due time he will reveal he's his uncle and help him see past the darkness there is a light at the very end. He turns to his companion whacking him in the arm to signal to leave the two boys alone for now. The two kids he can see their poles finally catch something that will distract the child for the next couple of days until the funeral.

"Take care until we truly meet Ashura Sapphire," Red's parting words leaving the area as the two boys pull up an old golden color poke ball that split into that shows the signs of equality and a spark of rivalry slowly simmering within the two with out them noticing it.

~Two days later~

A sarcastic smirk tugs upon Ash Ketchum's lips seeing everyone from Pallet Town showing up for his mom's funeral. The same group of people excluding a small handful that ridicule his mother and him about the missing father. The priest words fall upon death ears which his brown eyes continue to gaze around a bit more before returning to the maple oak casket. He ignores the sting of tears at the corner of his eyes but holds it back the tears wanting to fall. He let the simple moments of his mother doing everyday chores around the house and times with him which he taken for granted. He bows his head letting his bangs fall into his eyes.

Ahs whispers softly which anyone close to him would think it's a murmur, "Mommy…I love you and miss you."

He jumps suddenly when a hand is place on his shoulder. He glance at the appendage then up to see it belongs to Professor Oak who is currently letting him stay in one of the spare rooms at the Pokemon Lab.

The old professor ask softly hoping to receive a reaction from the boy, "Would you like to become of my apprentices like your mother once did?"

Ash nearly drop his moth in shock thinking of the pros and cons. Pros he won't be alone and taken into foster care. He would learn more about pokemon and even be allowed to have his own for being a pokemon assistance until he's of age to receive a starter. It would also keep him very busy and let him forget he's now an orphan alone in the world with no other family he knows of. Con? What about Gary? Wouldn't he want to help his grandfather out as well? It wouldn't be right either to leave his friend behind.

"What about Garry?" The ten year old requires as a small hint of life enters his dead looking eyes.

"I have a friend who wants to take him on as an apprentice or assistant in the Johto regions for a couple of years before coming back to Pallet," Professor Oak explains nodding to the brunette boy besides him who grins.

"I'm taking it Ashy Boy," Garry replies then grins even more bigger. "I really want to learn more about pokemon. I know two years seem forever but we can call each other and send letters."

Ash nods in agreement with his friend's words seeing that can still work. He turns to the professor answering, "I would be honored to become your apprentice, sir."

The Pokemon Professor smiles at the boy already planning to have some help from a few old friends to deal with Ash. His hear warms seeing a small and genuine smile tug upon the boy's lips. It seem forever since he last seen it himself since his grandson admits Ash smiles but its not like the old carefree and happy smile but rather a cold, sarcastic, dead and even uncaring. The raven hair boy's eyes seem a bit warmer and not dead like despite the pain and sadness swimming deep in their depths. Even if the boy isn't ready or wanting to admit it, life must go on despite how hard it can be.

Arashi: Next in the series which will have Red and Green feature along with some others with Ash. Other then it will have more with aura which debating to work since not much on it expect for the movie Lucario and the Tree of Beginning. Besides the start of the favorite trio, Team Rocket will make their presences known as well. That will be in the next installment, Darken Days: Apprentice. Please read and review.