I want to write about what happened to May and where she went AND what is is doing so far. So if it gets confusing, please forgive me.
~midnight
Shippings in this chapter: Advanceshipping, Slight Negaishipping.
Rating: PG (K+)
Chapter ten
"She's alive."
That's all I've been hearing since father saw mother again. I don't even have to enter his room to hear the shock in his voice. The door was slightly open and the only sound coming out of that room was my father's voice. Nobody has really spoken to him after his encounter with mother. Not even Maykel could come in and sit by father, like he would always do when he was down. Aunty Mimi and Uncle Alex have banned me from seeing him, but that couldn't stop my curiosity to see my dad. His hurt, his in pain and we know we can help but we decided to do nothing. But when we do help him it seems to make everything worse. That's what we did at mother's funeral. I glanced over my shoulder and looked through the gap of the door and looked at father. His back was still facing the door with his hands over his face.
The way father was acting and dealing it was much worse than the day mother died.
I wanted to understand my dad. But I couldn't because I had never fallen in love with somebody outside my family. Mother told me falling in love is confusing at first but during the process of falling in love is bittersweet. Father told me he didn't know how it happened, it just did. Both such different views yet they are similar at the same time. They love each other and that what seems to matter the most.
Does father hate mother now? Now that she is alive will he go after her?
"Ashlyn." Uncle spoke to me. "I told you not to go here." He crossed his arms. I was laying my back against the wall; I was only a few steps away from the door.
"Sorry Uncle." I replied. "I can't help it. I'm worried for father."
"I understand." Uncle walked up to me and patted my head. ""I need to talk to your father about your grandfather. His leaving soon and we need to see him."
"Is grandfather a nice person?" Uncle sighed.
"I don't know. People change over time. Only time can tell once we get there." And Uncle walked into father's room right after that. I knew I had to go but I couldn't. My mind forced my body to stay. "Ash." Uncle began. "There have been sightings of father in Nimbasa city. But these were at least a week ago. If we want to speak with him, we have to leave." Father still refused to say anything. "Ash." Uncle spoke in a more firm tone of voice. "Say something."
"I can't." father spoke. "I can't speak without stuttering over my words."
"I know seeing May again like that is a shock, but we didn't come here for her. We came for father." Alex took as seat next to my father.
"I can't understand why she's doing this to me. If I'm acting like this with May's sudden appearance, I don't think I can handle seeing father again."
"That's right." Uncle paused and soon added. "You were around eight years old when you last saw father. Your twenty three now. That's a huge difference."
"Took you long enough genius." Father spoke in an annoyed sarcastic manner. Uncle laughed.
"Sorry, I'm just not as smart as you." He patted father on the back. "Anyway." Uncle spoke in a serious tone once more. "So you ready to see father?" He asked.
"I…" Father stuttered. "Yeah." Father sighed afterwards. "It's been awhile."
"Nimbasa now eh?" Iris asked. "Sure, I can take you guys there." Iris spoke in her usual cheerful manner. "I can take you in any town in Unova."
"Alright." Aunty cheered. "It saves us the confusion." We all laughed.
We all decided to walk to Nimbasa city. But first we had to go through Pinwheel forest first. Father still was in his silent state. Raichu has been by father's side since we all saw mother was alive. Whenever Iris would come to father, he would snap out of his state and smile at her, talking to her for a few seconds because dying dull again. It was like only Iris could make him look human before dying again. Mother's reappearance really has shaken all of us here.
Few minutes in and we took our first few steps into Pinwheel forest before I noticed Iris was gone. I grabbed my father's arm and held it tight. He looked down at me with confusion.
"Lyn Lyn?" father asked. "You alright?" It was the first time in a few days he had talked too much without that sadness in his voice. I looked up to him.
"Iris is missing dad." I spoke. "Do you think she went back to get something?" Father thought to himself before adding.
"Yeah." He nodded. "You want to come with me to get her?" I nodded. Father looked back at his older brother and younger sister. "Alex, Amelia!" He called. They were in front of us with Maykel skipping behind them. "Can you stay here while Ashlyn and I go get Iris? I think she might of went back to get something!" Both of them nodded as father, me and Raichu went out of the forest to get Iris back.
As soon we reached the entrance we saw Iris talking to a man, I knew who it was. It was Cilan Efflorescence. They seemed to be in a middle of an argument.
"Iris, please. I told you it was an accident." The waiter begged.
"No." Iris yelled. "It was your entire fault. Your fault Cilan!"
"Do you think I liked what happened to you, to us?" Cilan spoke in a slightly higher tone of voice, but still remained calm and formal. "I didn't like it, not one bit."
"It won't bright her back, not matter how many times you say sorry Cilan." Iris wrapped her arms around herself.
"I still love you Iris. Even you keep throwing me on the sides like this." Cilan shoved his hands into his pockets. "I know you do to." Iris looked away from Cilan.
"I don't love you no more, not what after you did."
"At least you admitted you loved me. That makes me happy Iris." Cilan faintly smiled but it quickly faded away.
"Cilan." Iris looked at the waiter. "Please, go." Cilan shook his head.
"You've been avoiding me ever since the accident. We had never had a proper closure."
"We don't need it!" She glared at her old boyfriend. "Because I don't love you no more!" by now father decided it was time to enter into their discussion before they would cause attention.
"Excuse me but I think you should both stop." Father began.
"Ash Ketchum, Elite four member of the Sinnoh region. Next in line to become Pokémon Champion. What brings you here to Unova or yet to Iris and me?" Cilan asked.
"Well at least I don't have to introduce myself." Father chuckled. "Iris is taking me and my family to Nimbasa city. I have some family issues to deal over there. I would be really happy if you didn't add yourself onto that list." I hid behind father's back. Raichu began to show sparks about to release from his yellow cheeks.
"With all due respect Ash, this has nothing to do with you. It's just Iris and me."
"You said you love her right?" Father lifted an eyebrow. "So why are you hurting her so much like this? Can't you see she is already starting to feel uncomfortable talking about your past with her?"
"I don't mean to. Ever since Iris and I have broke up because of the accident. She has been avoiding me." He gazed back at Iris. "If we both want to move on, we need closure."
"There's no need for that." Iris softly muttered.
"If she isn't ready, then don't push her." Father spoke. "Maybe you two need to talk to one another again, get to know each other again. Perhaps come with us to Nimbasa and talk everything there?"
"As much as I want to Ash, I can't." Cilan paused and soon continued. "My presents near Iris will only hurt her more. I can't risk that but still, thank you for the invitation." He bowed in front of father as a sign of thanks and respect. "But I will see you in Nimbasa Iris. Please don't try to avoid me there." And he turned away from us. Making the group number from four to three. Father turned to Iris. She had sadness and slight regret all over her face.
"Hey." Father placed his right hand on her shoulder. "What's the matter?" He asked. Iris shook her head quickly without looking at father. "I was in love once; I think I can help you. Even if it's not much." Iris raised her head as tears were running down her cheeks. More ran down before she threw her arms over my father's shoulder and continued to cry there.
I watched in silence as I saw the two of them hug each other. I watched the way they hugged each other. Iris had her arms right around father and was holding him tightly, as if my father was now an important person to her, a person she can rely on. On the other hand father was holding her softly and in a weak manner. He face was concerned for her but he also felt nervous hugging her. It was like it wasn't right for another woman to hug him right after knowing that mother was alive.
"Dad." I interrupted. "Is Iris okay?" I asked, even though I knew the answer to my own silly question. Iris pushed herself away from father and wiped her tears away as father turned to talk to me.
"She's okay now." Father patted me on the shoulder. "So shall we head to Nimbasa now?" Father turned to Iris. He held his hand out and Iris softly nodded. "Come-on, I'm sure it won't be that bad Iris." Father grinned at her. Iris faintly smiled back at father and grabbed hold of his hand. Father turned back to me and offered his other hand to me. "Don't you want to see the Ferris wheel over there Lyn Lyn?" I nodded. I accepted his hand and held it tight. "Let go!" father spoke in a cheerful manner before the three of us began to walk into Pinwheel forest.
We all walked into the forest. Uncle and Aunty who had Maykel in her arms all waved at us. We all walked through the forest.
That was when it hit me.
Like a happy family but the only problem was there was one person was the odd one out in the group.
And the odd one out, was me.
"Big sister?" A young five year old Ashlyn asked her parents. "What's that?" Her parents both laughed. Her father picked his oldest child into his arms and showed his child her younger brother. The child's mother held her son close to her chest. Tapping him on the back softly to make him sleep a little longer.
The Ketchum family was in the hospital room, the room Ash's wife was staying at. The mother of two lied in her bed with her newborn in her arms, quietly sleeping away. As for her husband, Ash. He was looking after their oldest child. Sitting on a wooden chair with his daughter on his lap.
"I never expected another child Ash." May smiled as she ran her finger tips down her son's cheeks.
"At least this time I can be by you side to help you raise him. I'm not going to do the same mistake I did with Ashlyn." Ash looked at his daughter who was too busy gazing at the small infant in her mother's arms.
"Can he play with Raichu and me later on?" Ashlyn asked her mother. Her parents laughed once more.
"Not for a few years honey." May continue to giggle.
"But now that his here." Ashlyn pointed at her younger brother. "Will you not love me no more?" Ash turned his daughter to him.
"Of course not." Ash smiled at his child. "Mommy and Daddy will always love you and your brother the same. No more, no less."
"And no odd one outs?" May reached out her arms to place it on her daughter's cheek.
"Nobody is this family will be left out. Even if I or your father are not by your side, you will never be left out."
Ashlyn smiled cheerfully afterwards.
That's different now.
I can hear my whole family laughing and telling each other stories. Making funny faces or saying funny catchphrases. Everyone has some sort of smile on their faces. From giant goofy grins to the small shy ones. I on the other hand, lost in somehow in this forest or maybe even further back than that. And I really want to find it again but I'm too scared to go on my own to look for it.
As the others were talking I slowly slipped my hand away from my father's and watched them walk on a few steps ahead of me before stopping. They all turned to face me.
"Lyn Lyn?" Father asked. "What's wrong?"
"I saw an awesome bug type Pokémon over there that I really want to catch. I'll be right back!" I quickly ran into on the bushes that led off the footpath. When I was off I began to cry out loud.
I cried like I never did. I told myself I wouldn't cry about silly things like this. I didn't know where I was running and I had no interest anyway. I wanted to run away from my problems as fast as I can so I can have time to think about how I will face them. More and more leaves slapped me in the face and more wild or dead weeds tried to wrap themselves around me feet. My feet finally gave in and tripped over themselves as I landed face first onto the ground. I finally opened my eyes and saw that everything around me was dark. Trees were everywhere and the giant leaves of the trees covered the sky. I was scared, I wanted to run away but then I had to face my fear. I didn't know what to do. All I knew was to cry.
I heard footsteps behind me. I knew I should go hid but I didn't care.
I was the odd one out. The one that could never go along with the rest. The one ignored. The one that always needed help. The one that always had a different view from the others. The one that didn't like Iris and my father near each other. The one that refused from them to get any closer. The one that refused for father to forget mother. In other words.
I was different from the rest. The odd one out.
"Ashlyn." Father spoke from behind. "What on earth on you-' but I interrupted him when he heard me sniff and sob a little. "Lyn, are you crying?" He knelt down to me. "Lyn…" Father spoke under his breath. He soon picked me up and made me sit down. I continued not to look at him.
"Why dad?" I asked. "Why did you make me the odd one out?"
"Odd one out?" Father asked in confusion. There was silence between us before father added. "Ashlyn…" Father spoke in a sad manner towards me. "Please don't feel that way towards me."
"Well that's what you have been doing to me lately!" I yelled at him. "All you have been caring about is Iris!" I glared at father. I had never felt so irritated and frustrated towards my dad. "What about me dad? Why are you ignoring me?"
"I will never ignore you! I promise myself and to your mother I will never leave you again!" Father placed his hands on my shoulder and spoke to me in a higher tone of voice. "I missed out on raising you for the first five years of your life. I'm not doing that again. So don't you ever say I'm ignoring you Ashlyn." Father added.
"That's different now dad." I spoke. "You rather help a stranger than me. Why?"
"Don't you understand what I just said?" Father spoke. "You remind me of your mother. I need you Ashlyn to help me move on from her."
"But she is alive dad!" I stood onto my own two feet. "You don't need to move on now that she's is alive dad!
"Ashlyn." Father placed his hands onto my shoulders. "Your mother is different now. She isn't the women I loved back then."
"How do you know that?" I pulled myself away from father. "You just saw her once and your making up lot of silly reasons!" I clutched my fists. "Mother wouldn't just come back to us if she didn't love us, if she still didn't love you!" I looked at him intensely. "Everything I say you seem to ignore now dad. You're the one that's changed. You always told me to fight for what you believe, in what you love for! So why aren't you doing it?"
"Because I'll just lose again and again Ashlyn." Father stood up. "That's what I've been ignoring lately, not you." He took a few steps towards me but I took a few more away from him. He soon stopped. "Ashlyn please don't do this to me."
"You caused this dad!" I yelled. "You can go to Nimbasa by yourself. I'm going to look for mother! And I don't care if you follow me or not! You care more for Iris than me dad! You know it!"
I ran away from my own father with only his echoing voice to remind me of him.
I can hear them calling for me. I can even see them walk right underneath me. I can't come back now. They will just ignore me again. I know I should go back but my reasons are holding me back. I'm only a few feet over them. Sitting on a thick tree branch as they all walk past me. Even now they are ignoring me. I'm in one of the easiest places to find yet they refuse to do it. I stood up and continued to move from tree to tree carefully. Trying not to return to them.
Their voices began to fade as I made my way to an entrance. It was different to the one that led to Nimbasa I made my way down the tree but to only quickly climb up when I saw people in uniforms. Trying to steal a Pokémon from a trainer.
"Set your Pokémon free! You are only causing them harm!" The man yelled.
"Never!" the boy with an orange cap, black shorts and orange vest yelled. "My Pokémon are happy with me!"
"Lies!" the woman yelled. "It can never truly be happy with you! Now set your Pokémon free!"
"Let the boy go." A woman stated. "If you keep on yelling we will only get attention, not liberation." Both of them nodded and let the boy go.
"We will get you!" The man yelled before turning to the woman who called off the attack. The woman's face was cover by the leaves I was hiding behind. I soon saw her hand movements telling them to head back. She continued to walk to the tree I was in. I was in the total shock of my life when I saw who it was. She turned around and was going to walk the other way from me. I quickly hopped off the tree and called out their name.
"Mom!" Mother quickly turned her attention to me.
"Ashlyn!" Mother asked in confusion. "What on earth-" but I stopped her when I went to embrace her. She pushed me off her and placed her hands on my shoulders and knelt down to my height. "Why aren't you with your father?" She asked.
"His ignoring me!" I replied back. "All he cares for is that Iris girl. I'm being left out because of her."
"I'm sure it isn't like that honey." Mother spoke.
Mother looked the same from the last time I saw her. She had the sky blue dress with a darker shade of blue ribbon wrapped around her waist. She had short blue heels on with a fancy white hat with a blue ribbon on the side.
"You shouldn't be here. You will only get in trouble dear."
"I want to come with you mom!" I begged. "Father doesn't care for me anymore or at least let me spend some time with you!" I cried as I wrapped my arms around her. "I missed you so much mom!" my mother wrapped her arms around me.
"Well, just up to Nimbasa City Ashlyn." Mother spoke. "After that please promise to return to your father. He still cares for you even if his not paying as much attention as he use to." I sighed.
"Alright." I nodded as mother wiped my tears away.
"But whatever you see here, doesn't tell your father or anyone else or I will get in big trouble. Promise?" I nodded quickly. Mother stood up and offered her hand to me. She smiled at me. "Come-on lets head to Nimbasa. I miss taking care of you." I grinned at her.
"I'm so happy to have my mother back." I softly mumbled to myself before accepting to hold my mother's hand.
After that, I finally felt like I had a place to belong again.
End of chapter ten