Something of a Tragedy
Drew - Young Forever
"Just a picture perfect day that last a whole lifetime
And it never ends cause all we have to do is hit rewind
So let's just stay in the moment, smoke some weed, drink some wine
Reminisce, talk some shit, forever young is in your mind
Leave a mark they can't erase, neither space nor time"
Young Forever, Jay-Z feat. Mr. Hudson
Holy Mew. Ash Ketchum, the boy we assumed dead is alive. Here he is, sitting on a love seat, hands behind his head, staring at May and I in disbelief. Looks like he thought we were dead too. I smirked when he jumped up from his position; he had gotten taller. Ash's build did not change. Though he grew tall, his frame stayed the same. He was an awkward looking guy; his fringe covering half of his left eye, his tall and lanky build, and his out-of-place, tenor-like voice added to this fact. I could see May's surprise from the corner of my eye, her eyes wide with relief, her grin exploiting her happiness well. She ran up to the teen in shock, wrapping her arms around his thin frame. Obviously taken back from the sudden embrace, he returned the gesture. Smiling, I walked forward and stuck out my hand for him to shake. Releasing him from her tight hold, May stepped back, still smiling wider than ever.
"Aw, dude, why are you so civil? C'mon, Drew-boy, give me a hug!" Ash laughed at his statement, opening his arms out wide. Rolling my eyes, I went to hug the man I haven't seen in six years. Ash sure hasn't changed personality-wise.
After the hug, he slapped my back. Hard. Damn, that hurt. Is it just me, or has Ash finally elevated to an even higher state of immaturity? I looked to May, who looked to me in a way that I could only deem happy. She was excited to finally see someone other than bandits and passerby's. I've seen her this happy before. And if she was happy, I was happy. One less thing to worry about on our journey to find Max.
And it wasn't just Ash who was here in Harley's old house. No, there was Misty and Pikachu as well. The red-head, who's hair was extremely long now, was carrying a sleeping Pikachu, who, from the looks of it, gained a few pounds. Misty smiled at the sight of the us, her blue eyes sparkling with surprise. She set down the fluffy rodent and said, teasingly, "May, Drew, what are you two fools doing in Hoenn? Don't you know there's a war going on?"
I laughed at her humorous attempt at sarcasm. Misty was really happy, and not sarcastic and grumpy like the last time I saw her, so sarcasm was... awkward coming from her.. That's good. At least one of us was happy.
"Yes, but the two of us," I pulled May closer to me, making her blush, "just love adventure. Isn't that right, May?" She laughed, then pushed me away, smiling. She shook her head, then said in rebuttal, "Uh, Drew, I'm pretty sure that's just you. We're not sticking around Hoenn 'cause of adventure."
Ash immediately jumped into the conversation, something that was unexpected from the quiet man. His eyes glimmering in curiosity, he asked, "Then why are you in Hoenn?" I tensed. Should I tell him? Or...should May? Or...
"To find Max."
I looked to May in disbelief. She was still smiling, and her voice did not quiver like it usually did when Max was mentioned. Her eyes did not change, and she was not sad like she usually was. She was acting strange.
"Max?" Misty exclaimed. She walked up to May and shook her by the shoulders, desperate for details. Chicks. Only them would take a tragic fact into gossip. May looked at her as if Misty was crazy (a fact I am not denying; Misty is crazy, with her mallet and whatnot.) and laughed, mumbling between fits of giggles, "Misty, chill. I'll tell you guys right now about Max, if you want." Misty nodded quickly, beaming.
Without a word, Misty pulled May into the hallway, going on about Max and how she was worried and how she wished that we'd find him quickly...you know, normal girl talk. Arceus, Misty could ramble on and on. I miss her talkative antics.
Ash called out to the hallway in a teasing voice, "M'kay, Mist, you can tell me all about it later..." He rolled his eyes, then pointed to the love seat, as if asking if I wanted a seat. I did, and stretched. My back has never felt better.
"So Rosier, tell me, what's up with May. She's quiet. Well, quieter," he asked, taking a seat next to Pikachu, who rolled over in his sleepy daze. The pokemon stared directly at me, blinked, then smiled a sleepy smile. Chanting it's name, it slowly fell into a deep slumber, leaning onto Ash's leg. He chuckled, then added, "Pikachu's not as active anymore. Team Rocket blasted off and never came back...shame, I was starting to like them."
My eyes tore away from Pikachu and met Ash's wondering brown orbs. I arched an eyebrow, then thought about Jessie. It was Team Johto now, isn't it? "May and I found Jessie on the way to Rustboro. She said something about Giovanni, and how Team Rocket is now Team Johto. Strange, isn't it? And then bam! Jessie is shot seconds after telling us."
Ash's eyes widened at this, then leaned over and laughed. "Oh shit, really? Team Johto is an organization devoted to Kanto and Johto's wellbeing. It's not a crime thing, at least, it wasn't." He lifted his arm to reveal the tattoo of Johto's name, the curve of the J familiar now that I analyze it's shape and color. "Is the J like the one on my arm?"
"Yes," I breathed, not believing what I saw; the J on his arm was identical to the J marked on Jessie's shirt and the J now embedded into her back, "The J is the same. What does this mean?"
"It means Team Johto is not all that it is cracked up to be and I am technically entitled to Giovanni's rule," he said calmly, his eyes mocking the thought of obeying Team Ro—um, Johto. He was Ash-freaking-Ketchum after all. He's the sworn enemy of Giovanni.
"Why are you so calm about being part of the biggest crime organization in the world? I would be freaking out right now," I mentioned quietly, watching Ash's mouth quiver in laughter. Yep. He's still a freak.
"Because, young grasshopper," he jeered, "You're...you. And I'm me."
"No shit." Way to state the obvious, Ash-y boy.
"What I mean is, I've faced hardships—so many, in fact—that can't even match this one. Just because I'm entitled to it doesn't mean I have to follow it. Hey, apparently my mom had a summer fling with Giovanni, and ba-da-boom! They had sex and I was conceived and ba-da-bing! I was born. See how that works out?"
"Yeah, way to go Mrs. Ketchum. Bring life to the world's biggest idiot." I smiled. He threw a pillow at my head, obviously annoyed.
"I mean, technically I'm the heir to Team Johto's franchise! And I didn't do shit about it! You didn't see me freaking out and rushing to Kanto when my mother told me this!"
"Well, considering Giovanni's still alive and you're still eighteen, it's obvious you're not needed in Team Rocket—erm, Johto." Can't the pokemon champion figure this out?
"What do you mean?"
"Well, let's put it this way," I droned in a slow voice, "Once Giovanni goes bye-bye, Team Johto officials will hunt you down and crown you Mafia Boss. No way in avoiding that."
"Oh. But what if I don't want to be the boss?" he asked in a way that reminded me of when he was ten, voice laced with question and eyes full of curiosity. He obviously never grew up. Really, the only thing that matured was his voice.
"Really Ash?" I laughed at his confused expression, like he didn't hear the overly emphasized sarcasm, "Okay, look at it this way. You'll get used to the evilness. Like how Pikachu warmed up to your childish antics, you'll warm up to your new job."
"Shut up dude! I'm serious!"
"How old are you again Ash?" I rolled my eyes as he mentally counted in his head. Dear Arceus, please let him be joking...
"Eighteen."
M'kay, so he's eighteen right? And he has a loyal team of a Pikachu, Garchomp, Donphan, Charizard, Tauros, and Lapras. How does his pokemon obey him, with his immaturity and downright smart/dumbass-ness? If that's even a word? But that's why he's my friend, right? Arceus I miss these days, back in 2009, when we would hang out and talk...
"Ha, ha. Sorry Ash, just making sure dude. So yeah..."
"...So, pretty-boy. Tell me about Max."
Max? He's probably dead, Ash. No, he is dead. What ten-year old survives the harsh ways of the world? "He's been in better situations, that's for sure. He's probably dead, anyway."
"Way to be optimistic," he chuckled.
"Well I'm being realistic. Look, he was ten. He was blinded by some crazy idea that May was dead and set off on a delusional race to achieve vengeance. He had one freaking pokemon. It was him and his Ralts and the world. What ten year old would survive in that situation?"
"I did," he stated, his eyebrows arching.
Sighing, I added, "Look Ash, you're different."
"How so?"
My Arceus! Ash, think it through! "Don't be a dumbass, Ash."
"Don't be a smartass, Drew."
Again with the snappy comments. "Okay, back then the world wasn't crappy and dangerous! Max was pitted against people with strong-ass pokemon and huge guns! When you were ten, you were up against Pidgeys and Ratatas and weak pokemon! Not freaking Dragonites on steroids holding massive machine guns."
"Don't get pissy!" Ash screeched, cowering into Pikachu, who scooted away slightly.
"Well sorry," I waved off the topic. I didn't want this conversation to escalate into something violent. I didn't want to hurt the kid, not after I just met up with him after six years. Ash relaxed back into his regular position, his mouth formed into a straight line, his lips flat. He stared to the room where May and Misty ran off to—the red room, by the looks of it.
"So..." he trailed off, half-smiling. His eyes glinted, mocking me in a way I did not understand. He was trying to say something...but what? I frowned, unable to decipher his mysterious gaze. He leaned forward, his eyebrows arching, his lips tugged into a menacing smile.
"What?" I asked, confounded by his weird actions. He groaned, then said, "So why are you still with May?"
"What do you mean?" I honestly think this kid is strange, therefore proving my observation even more: that Ash has not grown up yet. And I don't think he ever will. But hey, things happen. "If you're all, Max is totally dead, why are you willing to help May?" he asked as if May and Misty weren't in the other room.
"She's a friend, and a close one at that. Why would you question that?" my voice became a little over a growl, even though I wasn't mad. Ash didn't see the inner content I held in me, and instead cringed at my almost "growl" if you wish to call it that. Sure, I knew I sounded mad, but Ash, dude, you've been in intense pokemon battles and deadly fist-fights, not to mention the hell you went through to end up here. And you're scared of a mere growl, My Arceus.
"Hey, don't get mad," he whispered, hiding behind his shirt, "I just want to say, if I truly believe Misty's sister was dead, and she asked me to search for her sister—who, in my hypothetical belief—was six feet under, I would politely decline. So what if she's my best friend? Hell, she's my girlfriend! I would not waste my time trying to find someone who's impossible to find."
"Well you're a douche." I smiled at this, a fit of laughter threatening to escape my sealed lips. He scowled, flipped me off, then said, "No, I'm being realistic. So I'm a non-romantic, douche-y guy, who wouldn't go on a journey to search for the impossible with one of the only people he loves? That's just me. I've been through a load of shit in my life and learned that love is not pretty rainbows and unicorns. It sucks, leads you to shit and hell and whatnot, and started this whole damn war. Love is what makes the world go 'round, but it also makes the world upside down. I'm not in it for the theoretical love, I'm in it for the following things," here, he held up his fingers as he counted off, "one: the sex. Two: the benefits you get. It builds fundamentals and morals. Misty got me started into some soul-searching that I find interesting. Three: Sex. Four: Misty is my equal, she's brave and funny and damn beautiful. Five: Sex. See? Get it now?"
"Get what? That you are a horny teen?" I smirked at my snarky comment. Ash slapped me. I frowned, "Kidding! Anyways...wait, wait one second. How did we get from May, you know, the tall, brunette in that room," I pointed to the room right across from ours, then continued, "to L. O. V. E. Love? May...love...May...love...I see no relation!"
Ash face-palmed, then said with his hand still attached to his forehead, "Drew. You cannot tell me that you're following May around out of courtesy. That is impossible."
"Well I'm doing the impossible, I believe."
"You don't love her? Not a little bit? You're not doing this because you care about her safety?"
"Well I certainly care about—" I started, but Ash suddenly jumped up and screamed, "Aha! That's love. L-O-V-E, LOVE! I knew it! Go Ash, it's your hypothetical birthday, uh huh—"
"Dude, I love her—" Arceus. Damn. It. Damn it all.
"AHA! Is that a confession I hear?" To make him shut the hell up, I slapped him. Pikachu, who was disturbed by our little outburst, stood (um, I don't think "stood"is the correct word. Rather, the fat ball of fluff wobbled.) and shocked the two of us. Needless to say, we left the pokemon in peace, quietly bickering.
"I meant to say I love her like a friend. A sister. A—"
"—Girlfriend?" he added eagerly. His not-so-subtle hints of a possible relationship between May and I were just hilarious. Me? May? I mean she's pretty, brave, smart, sure she's a bitch too but she's also caring...anyway, she's too close of a friend for me to be attracted to. I mean yes, she's absolutely gorgeous! Yes, she's a perfect match for me. But—wait, what was my point again?
"No. Dude, lay up on the enthusiasm. It's creepy," I remarked. Ash didn't reply, however he stared at me with an empty gaze and a mischievous smile.
"So Drew, you said you believe that Max is dead and this search of yours is technically a waste of time. What if I ask you this: can you stay with Misty and I? I need some dude time, you need some dude time. May's a big girl now. She doesn't need you for protection. Unless...unless of course you love May. Love, albeit it's secret evils and negativity it generates, is also a legitimate excuse for staying with someone for no absolute logical reason."
Who dropped this kid on planet pessimism and fed him crazy ideas that love is a no-no?
"Of course I love May...as a friend."
"A friend? A friend is someone like...Pikachu. He sticks around with me because we enjoy each other's company—"
"Uh, huh. You sure Pikachu agrees to that?" I snickered.
"—and though we will miss each other dearly if one of us dies, we can and will move on. From my understanding and knowledge—"
"Which is very, very limited."
"—Love, as in the romantic kind, is defined as an overpowering emotion that makes you care about the person you "love" immensely. Without your knowledge, you slowly succumb to a dependency on the said person. They become part of you. And if part of you is gone, dead, bye-bye, kaboom...how do you suppose you'll move on?"
"...What are you...trying to say..." I'm just...at a loss for words. Ash is now the love guru.
"You know exactly what I'm trying to say."
"Nope. Pretend I'm stupid."
"Oh, Drew. You make me laugh. I don't need to pretend to you're stupid."
"...Shut up. Just tell me."
"I...I think you're in love with May."
He smiled. I did not reply. Instead, my mind blanked out, my vision turned fuzzy, and my eye twitched.
Ash was touching a subject that I promised myself that I would never visit.
But now...now that I'm older...
Love is such a shiny thing. I want to hold it, touch it, feel it... It's a lantern, and I'm the Kricketune. I know its bad...its dangerous. But its so...so shiny.
A/n: no excuses. writer's block. can't even write essays... :/ next update might take a while. bear with me loves.