Welcome back everyone. Last time, Brock managed to overcome his family issues and show his dad his true attitude towards his dreams. This time we're returning to Ash for a bit. After this we're going back to the school. Though, there's only this and one more chapter before we get to what I hope will be some exciting events.
Ch 17: An Encounter
The sun shined brightly as Ash followed the dirt path into the city, a few cars passing by as he closed the distance towards the large buildings. He wondered how Brock was doing, especially since they had to rush out of there so fast. The boy hoped that Brock would be able to handle whatever was happening especially since it pertained to the Gym. Off in the distance he could see the skyline of the city, the rather tall buildings towered over the few houses that were planted before them. Though he found it funny how the tallest of them was the Pokémon Center as the large, yellow "P" shined like a beacon as Ash continued towards it.
"How much longer will this take?" Giselle muttered. Ash took a gaze to his left, the girl looking rather bored of their expedition into the city. He wondered for a moment if he could perhaps ditch her at some point. Brock had told him to return with his mother, but he never made any mention of returning with Giselle as well.
"How would I know. You see the city in front of you, so it's gonna take a while," he retorted. Pikachu chirped up in agreement, the Electric-Type resting atop his head. Pikachu's body was plastered against his hat, the boy wondering if that was even comfortable as he picked the pace up slightly. The city grew closer as the sound of blaring horns roared into his eardrums, the engines to which the horns belonged likewise rolled off noise. Cars continued to pass them by as Ash and Giselle entered the city, billboards and advertisements everywhere. He could even see one for Brock's father, the man modeling some sort of line of winter hats.
A breeze passed through the area as for a moment Ash wished he had one of those hats. Giselle likewise felt the cold breeze wash over her body as she started to shake. Ash chose to ignore her as he walked across the street and towards the Pokémon Center. He figured that would be the best place to look first. Even if Brock's mother wasn't there, perhaps they could get a clue in regard to her. As they entered the area however, Ash noticed that it was practically empty as only a few traveling trainers were around. He made his way inside however only for Giselle to be sidetracked by a shop within the Pokémon Center.
The Pallet Town native rolled his eyes at that and instead approached the Nurse Joy who stood at the front counter. He could hear the television being played in the distance as some sort of news report was about to be made. Ash wondered if he had time to watch it as he was greeted by Nurse Joy.
"Welcome to the Pewter City Pokémon Center. How may I be of assistance?"
Ash broke his attention away from the television screen and faced Nurse Joy. But it was in that moment he realized that he didn't even know Brock's mother's name. He clammed up for a moment as his hand reached for his chin. No thoughts came to his mind as he instead decided to just describe it the best he could.
"Actually, have you seen the wife of the Pewter City Gym Leader? We were asked by her son to bring her home."
Nurse Joy's face lowered at that; her lips pressed tightly together as Ash realized the answer. The health care worker shook her head as the boy wondered where she could have been. Though with them at a Pokémon Center he figured he could afford the time to get his team checked up.
"Well, could I bother you to have my Pokémon inspected?"
"That I can help you with. Though, I haven't seen her today, but Lola likes to spend time around the shopping district," Nurse Joy stated. A metal tray was placed before him as Pikachu leapt from his head and onto the counter. The Electric-Type sat atop the tray while Ash deposited the remaining pokeballs onto it. Without a word Nurse Joy took the tray and handed it to her Chansey, the duo heading off for the backroom.
Now alone, Ash wandered over to the television as he sat on one of the nearby couches. The screen revealed a rather slim woman positioned at her own desk; a small smile shined from her face as the man sitting next to her spoke. He seemed to be an older gentleman, though his image was definitely one that Ash knew he saw before. Compared to the woman next to him, the older gentleman was only up to her chest and that was with both in chairs. His long gray beard reached down onto the table while his cap managed to cover up what Ash assumed was a balding area atop his head.
"As mentioned previously, the Indigo League figured it was time to give Johto their own League and Elite Four. And what better excuse to reshuffle things than with a retirement?" the man stated. An infectious laugh escaped from him as Ash watched his beard dance atop the desk. The woman merely nodded, her almost orange glasses shined for a moment while her pink hair was brushed away from her face.
The screen changed as the graphic displayed an image of what Ash knew was the previous Elite Four as Bruno, Lorelei, Agatha and Lance were on the screen, though it quickly had Agatha fade from the image and be replaced with a question mark. But that wasn't the only part, as Lance too vanished. The screen returned to the two people talking as Ash now noticed a few papers before the older gentleman.
"We decided to go back to how things were before, where a Champion will reside over his or her Elite Four. I know Kalos has adopted that format recently, haven't they Malva?"
"Yes, with Diantha being crowned Champion a few years back, Kalos agreed with the League Committee to move towards a Champion plus an Elite Four format. But, Mr. Goodshow, does this mean you've managed to create a balanced roster without weakening any areas?"
The older man (who Ash figured must have been Mr. Goodshow) nodded graciously as he waved the papers around. "In a sense, Kanto was losing two members, so I didn't want it to get much weaker. But I also couldn't leave Johto on its own.
"So with that, Bruno offered to help guide the Johto Elite Four as they build themselves up. Lorelei will stay in Kanto. Though as many know, we recently held a tournament at Cerulean City with many invited trainers. It was our way to gauge their talents to see who would be capable of being a member of the Elite Four. Unfortunately a few of our choices didn't show up."
"I remember that tournament. Lysandre's Holocaster Network hired me to cover a special broadcast for Kalos," Malva replied as the screen now switched to highlights of the battles. Ash remembered a few of them from his time in the hospital. Though, he had missed most of it as he was in and out of consciousness from fatigue.
Distracted by the television, Ash didn't even notice as Giselle approached him from behind. The boy felt a light tap on his shoulder but ignored it at first as highlights continued to pass by. Though, what interested him the most was how the graphic was changing and showed the two sets of newly named Elite Four. The first list that was mentioned for Johto seemed rather normal, as Bruno's name was quickly joined by three others. Ash had no clue who the first two were, but he figured that whoever Elsa and Will were must have been strong if they were chosen. The final name Ash understood as he saw Koga up on the list, though a harder tap from Giselle forced him to look away from the screen.
"Do you mind?"
"Don't you think these clothes are perfect? I picked them out from that little shop," Giselle stated as she did a small twirl. Ash cared little for the outfit as she showed off her new white turtleneck and jeans. She came to a stop in front of Ash, the boy merely pushing her away as his eyes remained glued on the television.
A small ding alerted the boy that his Pokémon were all rested now, but he decided to wait a few more minutes to see how the announcement would end. Pikachu scurried from the front desk however as he perched himself atop Ash's shoulder. Giselle however seemed upset by Ash ignoring her, a pout now glued onto her face. With her arms crossed over her chest the girl stood before Ash as the boy failed to move her out of the way.
"Mind moving? This is important."
"Mind complimenting my clothes? They're important."
"Yeah sure. They look good or whatever you want to hear. Now go fish for compliments elsewhere," Ash stated. Pikachu snickered at the remark as Giselle huffed off towards a couch in the Center. Ash merely shrugged at the girl's annoyance as the screen now started to reveal the Elite Four for Kanto.
Sitting on the list already was Lorelei who was quickly joined by Brent. Surge had mentioned something about the man the last time they spoke, but he hadn't expected him to be this good. Though he hardly had time to worry about it as the final two members were revealed to be some woman named Karen while the final one was no surprise. Giovanni's name sat atop the list as the announcement made Ash wonder what would happen to the Viridian Gym. In fact, he wondered what would happen to the Fuchsia City Gym as well since Koga would be relocating to Johto.
The broadcast continued though Ash cared little for it now. As he turned away from the screen the boy noticed that the Center was a bit more active now as trainers seemed to be passing through. Some stopped for lunch while others shopped. And in some extreme cases there were battles that took place at the indoor field. Ash felt the urge to take part in one rise inside him, but instead he returned to Nurse Joy. With a simple "thank you" the boy gathered up his pokeballs before clipping them onto his belt.
Now prepared to head off again he searched for Giselle only to be unable to find the girl. In fact, it seemed like she had wandered off after she had sat by herself. Ash looked to Pikachu as the Electric-Type sniffed at the air only to be unable to acquire her scent. He wondered if perhaps he should go search for her now, though his priority was to find Brock's mother. After that was finished then he could go look for Giselle, if he wanted to at least.
As he moved towards the front entrance the boy paused for a moment as Pikachu perked up. It appeared as though the Electric-Type had found a familiar scent as he scurried off towards the cafeteria. Ash raced after his partner; Pikachu much more agile as he swerved around the many trainers. Ash struggled to keep an eye on his partner, the only source for him to follow being the footsteps that echoed from the tiles. As he rounded a few tables Ash could make out his partner as he rested at the foot of a booth, the sight of a very unexpected individual seated there.
"Yo, Ash. Figured this Pikachu was yours," Cross spoke up as he handed a little of his food to Pikachu. Sitting opposite him was his Lycanroc as Ash wondered how Charmander was doing. With a small movement of his head, Cross motioned for Lycanroc to slide over as Ash slid into the booth. He felt a bit uncomfortable with Cross as the boy was too friendly after their last encounter.
"How'd you figure that out?"
"Lycanroc seems to recognize the scent from the last time we met," Cross answered. The young trainer stabbed his fork into the steak that rested atop his plate. His knife carved into it as a bit of blood spilled onto the tray. Cross didn't heed it any attention as the piece of meat was dropped into his mouth. Ash watched on as he pushed down the thoughts of hunger until Cross finally swallowed. A sigh of contentment escaped from his lips before he leaned in towards Ash.
"Speaking of our last encounter...you didn't forget our wager, did you?"
"I never agreed to that," Ash replied, the boy quickly zipped his jacket up as Pikachu leapt onto the table. A few sparks emerged from his cheeks but Cross merely raised his hands in self-defense.
"Relax you two. I have no intentions of winning my prize today. Just passing through," he explained before kicking back in the booth. His feet rested against the top of the table, chunks of mud displaced from his boots as it landed against the usually clean table. Ash relaxed a bit as did Pikachu, the latter moving to sit on Ash's lap. "Though I'm surprised you're here, don't you have school? I'm only in the city to drop off some deadweight from my team."
Ash was perplexed by the statement, his eyebrow arched as he wanted to know more. Cross smirked for a moment only for it to vanish, replaced with a serious expression. Ash could tell that whatever he had done wasn't an easy decision, his eyes appearing heavy as if he regretted whatever decision he made. The young boy reached for a pokeball as he recalled Lycanroc before looking at Ash. "There's this Pokémon Daycare that will find a better home for a Pokémon you don't want to raise any longer. I left Charmander there."
Ash didn't know what came over him, his fist sailed across the table before he could react as it connected with Cross' face. The boy winced for a moment, the pain surging through his cheek and just under his left eye. All eyes were on the duo as Ash reached across the table and grabbed ahold of his former classmate. His hands shook as he held tightly to Cross' jacket, his nails digging in deeply against the fabric.
"Go back and get him!"
Cross gulped as he smacked Ash's hands from his clothes. With a small dusting he wiped clean his jacket as Ash continued to stare him down. All his thoughts that were about finding Brock's mom were now gone, replaced with his anger towards the abandonment of a Pokémon. Not to mention Cross' nonchalant manner about it. To him, a trainer's Pokémon were family.
"Listen, it wasn't an easy decision. I just realized that we weren't compatible. Might as well let someone else raise the little runt."
"How do you know that if you never tried!?" Ash argued. Cross shrugged his shoulders at the question. The reaction made Ash want to reach across the table once more but he held back, especially with all the eyes that were now on them. Even a few members of security were present now as Ash counted backwards from ten to calm himself. His teeth were grit together now as he tried to lower his voice, his anger still present. "Go back and get him now!"
"Ash, you might not get it, but Charmander is too weak for my team. He couldn't even beat the Grass-Types near the outskirts of Cerulean City. It's best if we go our own ways."
"Does Charmander think that?"
Silence. Cross had no response for that question as Ash continued to stare him down. The boy figured that Cross had never taken Charmander's feelings into account when it came to the decision. Instead he most likely only used his own since it would make things easier. He wouldn't have to train a Pokémon beneath his standards instead of helping raise it up. Ash stood this time, his hands now planted at the collar of Cross' jacket as he raised the boy up. A small rainbow glow could be seen from his pocket, but Ash ignored it as Cross wore a blank expression. It was as if the boy questioned his choice now but was too stubborn to go back on it.
"Go. Get. Charmander."
Cross brushed the hands from his body as he stood up. The boy didn't answer Ash as he grabbed ahold of his tray. With his back now turned towards Ash he spoke up, his voice lacked emotion however as time seemed to stand still.
"Best I can do is bring you to the place. I refuse to take Charmander back."
Ash fought back the nerve the strike him once more, but instead he motioned for Pikachu to climb atop his shoulder. The two immediately followed Cross as they exited the cafeteria after the boy dropped his tray off. No words were spoken as they exited the Center and walked out onto the bustling streets.
In the distance Ash could have sworn he saw Giselle talking to some woman, two children alongside her. He figured it must have been Brock's family as the two children looked similar to his friend, but his annoyance at Cross made him wonder if he had merely seen things. They passed by a few vendors who seemed to be trying to make a quick buck, the cries of rare items such as a Rocky Helmet or a Rare Candy entered his ears but he wasn't to be distracted.
They turned down an avenue until a small building could be in view. Ash felt it wasn't much to write home about, the paint peeling from the side as the sign was also missing a letter or two. Though the line out the door seemed to imply the place was as busy as ever.
"There it is, the Pokémon Daycare where you can leave your Pokémon for someone to adopt," Cross stated. Ash still didn't like the concept as he watched one trainer exit the building without his Pokémon. The Pallet Town native wondered what adventures the duo had gone on and how the trainer could just abandon his partner so easily. Cross started to walk away, his arm grabbed by Ash as the orange haired boy nearly fell from the sudden momentum stopper.
"Aren't you coming?"
"It's better if I don't. Charmander will try to come with me."
"So take him back."
"I won't. I can't train him properly!"
"Did you even try!"
"Can you two shut it, we're trying to spy here," a new voice rose up as Ash and Cross looked to their left. Amidst the garbage were three individuals Ash knew rather well or rather wished he hadn't known. The one who had spoken stood up, her arms wrapped around a blue egg as it bounced slightly. The older woman moved one arm as she pulled a banana peel from her hair. "We've been here for hours waiting for this place to empty out."
"Really?" Ash asked, his eyes narrowed as he pointed weakly towards the three individuals. The other two individuals made themselves seen as the man emerged from a bag of garbage while a Meowth jumped out of a trash can, a diaper atop his head. "You've sunk so low you'll steal from a daycare?"
"Yes," James answered, his hands wiped down his uniform as coffee grinds fell from his shoulders. The man seemed rather distant however as he stared at the building, Ash almost worried for him. "But it's my Pokémon we're stealing back. So technically it's fair game."
Ash folded his arms at that statement. He found it a bit suspicious that they had left a Pokémon there and were unable to get it back. Especially since it was usually their group who stole Pokémon.
"It's true!" James shouted as he lunged for Ash. The man grabbed ahold of Ash's leg, tears streaming from his face as the tear producing cries bounced off the nearby walls. The Pallet Town native felt a bit uncomfortable of seeing a grown man cry in this manner, but he couldn't just leave without attempting to get Charmander. And it seemed that these three weren't going to leave him alone anytime soon. "Please help me get Weepinbell back. I'm begging! He must be so afraid in there, what with the cramped and cold cages. He needs sunlight."
Ash shook his leg free of the man, his pants now soaked with tears as James got onto his knees. His head was lowered onto the ground, sniffles being the only noise the man emitted as even his partners seemed a bit disturbed now. Though, if the man's claim of the Pokémon being held within cages was true, he was increasingly worried for the other Pokémon. They shouldn't have been trapped in cages if they were at a daycare.
"Come on, Twerp, do we seem like the kind of people to lie like this?" Jessie asked. She extended an arm forward as Pikachu leapt onto the ground. Meowth strolled up to the Electric-Type, his own paw extended with the claws retracted. Ash was hesitant to assist them but figured they would probably leave after that. "Besides, we aren't looking to steal anything today. Well, anything that wasn't ours to begin with. Partners?"
Ash looked over towards Cross, the boy appeared to be rather disinterested in the entire situation as he leaned against a wall. His foot tapped itself against the wall, Ash able to tell he was growing increasingly impatient. With a shrug of his shoulders Ash took her hand and shook it, his eyes remaining locked onto Jessie. Pikachu joined in the motion as he shook Meowth's paw, a surge electricity flying through the Normal-Type's body. James immediately jumped up, the older man hugging Ash out of gratitude and excitement.
The boy groaned out in annoyance as James got the message, the Team Rocket member pulling away. Ash adjusted his now messed up clothes as they stared at the daycare center. "So how do you know this place stole your Pokémon?"
"Because," James started. He paused for a moment, his sleeve turning into a tissue as he blew snot into it. With one look Ash took a step back from the man. He didn't want to get that on his body if James tried to hug him again.
"When we first got here, I brought them my newly caught Weepinbell. Oh he's just the cutest little thing, with how he smiles. His leaves are so pristine too, though that's thanks to me watering him daily."
A sudden cry broke up James' rambling as Meowth landed next to him, his claws extended. The older man reached for his face as a light chuckle escaped from Cross. Ash managed to put it all together as James' face was now red and all scratched up, Meowth merely picking at his claws out of boredom.
"Fast forward, Jimmy. I don't wanna waste one of my nine lives listening to da story."
James became annoyed by that, his cheeks puffed outwards as he softly stomped his foot. Ash felt this face droop for a moment, unable to believe that these three were somehow actual members of Team Rocket. They must have been kicked out at some point, no way a criminal organization would keep them around.
"Did that Meowth just talk?" Cross asked, his body nearly hunched over from the action. Ash nodded to assure the boy he hadn't mistaken the action, though the duo had little time to expand on the question.
A small breeze passed through the area as rubbish was knocked away. A can rattled down the road as James continued on. "Well before I was rudely interrupted... I saw a flier for a daycare, and I figured Weepinbell would enjoy being with other Pokémon. I would have sent Weezing too, but he only likes Arbok and Meowth.
"But when I tried to pick Weepinbell up after a week they wouldn't let me. They even threatened to call the police on me!"
"I believe the last part," Ash muttered. Pikachu nodded in agreement as the duo looked back at the building. With a sigh he pursed his lips together as he leaned against a nearby wall. "But how am I gonna help you?"
No one could answer that question, not even the supposedly incredible criminals. Pikachu shrugged at the lack of ideas while Cross seemed to not want any involvement at all. The boy was now looking through his Pokégear as Ash wondered what could have been so important. He still held no interest in picking up Charmander despite this news.
"Really, you're playing in trash?" the voice stated. Ash felt his body contort at the (as he would describe it) shrill voice. The sound of footsteps bounced off the walls as the young girl approached him. Her hands were rested upon her hips, a glare plastered on her face as it caused even Team Rocket to back up. "I'm off searching for his mother and you're playing in trash with garbage collectors?! Luckily I found Lola and had her head home, no thanks from you. Though she seemed confused by it all."
"Who's she callin' garbage collectors? Let me at her," Meowth cried. He stayed put however, Giselle giving him a simple glare. It led to his claws being retracted, Meowth now shutting up as a whistle played from his mouth. Giselle didn't even seem interested in a talking Meowth as she grabbed Ash's wrist.
"We're heading back. The sooner Brock deals with all this, the sooner we return to class."
Ash stood his ground as the girl was unable to drag him from his spot. Giselle struggled as her own feet seemed to slip until she finally let go. With a huff she stared down Ash, but the boy only returned the unwelcoming look. A laugh broke their stare down as Cross walked towards them. He easily swung an arm around Ash's shoulders as his laughter exploded down the alleyway.
"You seem to have an interesting choice in women, Ash. First Leaf, then the ninja girl, now this one."
A slap was met by that statement, Cross' face red as he winced from it. Ash realized it had been the same location that he had struck the boy and wondered just how bruised it was going to be. He could already make out some bits of purple on his face. Cross' hands shot right for the spot, the boy holding back tears from the sudden hit.
"Don't even joke about that kind of stuff. I'd never lower my standards for someone like him," Giselle responded. Ash was a bit lost, the boy looking to Pikachu for an answer. He wondered just how bad of a person Giselle considered him to say something like that. However the Mouse Pokémon was also without a clue as he shrugged. Instead he turned away from Giselle, the action only pissing her off more. "What sort of thing is more important now?"
"It doesn't concern you, so leave us all alone. I gotta get in there and get Charmander."
"And my Weepinbell! Don't forget about him!"
Ash nodded at that statement as he shifted the weight of his backpack. He had never been much of a plan it out type of guy, but even now he couldn't figure out a single way that didn't involve waiting in line. But even if he did that, the place would be closed by the time he reached the front. He continued to watch the line as it moved slowly, a young boy who seemed to resemble Kai was helping trainers. Ash wondered if he could ask him for help, but he doubted that person even knew him.
"How do we get in there?"
"If it's sneaking and thieving, we're the best," Jessie claimed as she thumped her chest. Her two partners agreed with that though Ash had preferred to get in through legal measures.
"Just drop a Pokémon off. Then you'll be inside the building," Giselle stated. She started to pick at her nails, a bit of skin was flicked off her finger as Ash shook his head. Their egg sat carefully in her free hand.
"How's that gonna get all of us in? Besides, the line for that is so long," Ash replied. Giselle shrugged at that question as she now leaned against a wall. The group was now at a standstill in regard to their next move. Cross now stood up as he walked off towards the building. He motioned for the others to follow and they did as a large truck appeared to drive down the street parallel to them. The group came to a stop behind a few dumpsters as the truck soon pulled down their street.
Ash watched it for a moment as it pulled up to the back of the daycare building, a man getting out of the vehicle as he opened the back of his truck. Pikachu sniffed at the air for a moment as Ash felt a few drops of water land atop his shoulder. With a quick glance he noticed his partner was drooling.
"This place gets a delivery of Pokémon food each day, once they open the door all we have to do is sneak in."
"I like his thinking," Jessie remarked. James snapped his finger in agreement as the duo nodded. "Let's sign him up for Team Rocket!"
"Pass. I don't need to join some stupid club, especially if it lets idiots like you in."
Ash found himself chuckle at that statement, the words getting to Jessie as James tried to restrain her. It didn't work however as she broke free, the only thing that managed to stop the three bumbling idiots from blowing their cover was Pikachu shocking them.
No one spoke as the backdoor opened slowly as two individuals exited the building. They seemed to roll something out as food was rolled in. A noise came from the back of the truck as it sounded like a Pokémon, but Ash wasn't quite sure. He tried to move slightly but in doing so he kicked the dumpster, the metal trash container echoing from the movement as the noise alerted the two people.
They started to look over towards the dumpster, the first worker took a few steps only to collapse suddenly. The second joined them as a strange Pokémon emerged into view. Ash had never seen it before, its purple body only having what seemed to be gemstones for eyes along with a few others on its chest and back.
Wanting to know more, Ash pulled his pokedex out and scanned the creature. Though it proved futile as the device merely told him that there was no known information available. Instead, Cross walked up to the creature, a small pat on its head causing it to celebrate by clapping its hands. The creature seemed to chuckle from the praise as it poked at the two unconscious workers.
"Good job Sableye," Cross stated as he recalled it into a pokeball. Ash felt so confused as he stared around the area. He hadn't even seen Cross release a Pokémon and yet it showed right out of nowhere. On top of that, it seemed that all the Pokémon Cross had weren't native to Kanto. It made him wonder where the boy had encountered them.
Though, when Ash took a step back he found his foot stuck in a small hole. His eyes looked at the disturbed ground as he noticed a second hole right behind the now unconscious first worker.
"He's definitely better at this whole type of thing than you three," Ash muttered. Team Rocket didn't reply as they instead scurried along inside the building. Ash took his time however as he approached the truck and removed the blanket from whatever had been brought out here.
To his surprise and anger there were three cages as a Nidoran, a Kakuna and a Paras looked frightened. Without a word Ash grabbed ahold of a pokeball from his belt as it opened, Bulbasaur appearing beside him.
The Grass and Poison-Type stared at the cages before him, a grunt coming from his mouth as Ash nodded in agreement. Vines emerged from the back of his bulb, Ash pointing towards the cages as they shot right for them.
"Try to pick those locks, Bulbasaur," Ash muttered. The vines entered into the keyholes; one being used to prop the other vine as it wriggled around with no luck. Finally, a noise could be heard, but when Ash tried to open the lock nothing happened. With a sigh he realized that the cages wouldn't be opened without a key. With that in mind, he took a step towards the still opened door.
Cross however turned away as both Ash and Giselle were shocked by this. He paused for a moment, hands resting amidst his pockets as he looked back at Ash. "I'll go get the police. Just try not to do anything too stupid."
Ash called out to the boy, but Cross was already on the move. His feet raced against the ground as he broke into a sprint. The Pallet Town native sighed, he knew that Cross wouldn't be back. And yet he had hoped that the boy would have waited and reunited with Charmander before taking off. His thoughts were cut off, however, as an explosion erupted in his ear drums. Smoke came flowing out of the open door as a few workers rushed outside, each of them passing out as the smoke started to disperse.
The young boy stepped forward as he entered through the door. Giselle, surprisingly, by his side as they saw what was really happening in the back of the building. While the front appeared to look like an actual building, the back was nothing more than just a warehouse. Crates lined the walls as aisles were formed from the number of Pokémon they had trapped within the metal prisons. A feeding system was set up as Pokémon food would be dispersed across the different cages across the day, but many of the creatures were cramped and uncomfortable. A Slowbro looked to be in pain as the cage was too small for it.
Another explosion echoed outwards as Ash rushed towards it. He could hear voices talk but he couldn't make out who was speaking or what had been said. All he knew was that an argument had broken out as another explosion appeared to rock the area. A few of the cages slipped from their position as they began a descent towards the ground. However, Ash was faster as he called for Bulbasaur to catch them.
The Grass and Poison-Type launched his vines outwards as they managed to catch the few cages that fell. One slipped by however, Ash noticing a small flame emitted from within. Before Bulbasaur could try to launch his vines a second time, Ash dove out for the cage. The metal object bounced around in his arms as his body smashed against the concrete floor. The air was blasted out of his lungs, the boy gasping as his face contorted from the pain. For a moment he could have sworn Giselle actually looked concerned for him, but it had to have been caused by the pain. He figured she would never be concerned for him or anyone else.
"Char?" a voice emitted from the cage. Ash forced a smile onto his face as through one squinted eye he could make out Charmander. It was definitely the one that belonged to Cross as the creature recognized Ash. A smile contorted across Charmander's face as the creature tried to touch Ash's face through the cage.
"Long time since we last saw each other," he wheezed out. The boy planted a hand against the ground for support as he pushed against the surface. He could see an Arbok up ahead as Jessie seemed to be in the middle of skirmish with someone, though they were too far away to make out.
Pikachu and Bulbasaur rushed over to Ash, the boy assuring his two partners he was fine as Giselle joined them. Pikachu licked at Ash's arms while Bulbasaur made sure the other cages were secure. Though the girl honestly looked to be worried for the boy as she noticed his arms starting to bruise. He was surprised to see any real concern from her as she touched his arms slightly. Pain rushed through his arms for a moment as he pulled away. He figured the pain would go away once the bruising went away. Though, the cage had left slight imprints on his arms, but Ash figured those would be gone in a little.
"Alright, let's go guys."
"Are you insane?" Giselle asked as she reached for Ash's arm. The boy grimaced for a second only for Giselle to let go immediately. She seemed a bit upset at herself for her careless action. Charmander noticed this as well from its cage as the Fire-Type let out a small sound of concern. Ash ignored Giselle as he reached through a small opening in the cage to pat Charmander's head.
"Hey, we'll be back in a second. Have to find the keys first."
"Are you just going to ignore me?" Giselle stated. The girl stomped her foot down in annoyance as the egg in her arms bounced slightly. The Pallet Town native turned towards her for a second as he smirked.
"What's this? Are you actually worried for me?" Ash playfully asked. He poked a finger in her direction, but Giselle swatted it away. The girl however denied the claim as she instead told Ash to do whatever he wanted. She had just assumed that he'd rather live than get involved in some criminal skirmish. Those words caused Ash to laugh, the boy adjusting his hat for a moment. "How will I ever be able to call myself a Pokémon Master if I don't help every Pokémon who needs it? Stay with Charmander and keep it safe."
He didn't wait for a response as he raced forward. Pikachu followed him as he leapt up onto Ash's shoulder while Bulbasaur ran by his side. The group of three quickly approached a different section of the building where Jessie was in a standoff with a woman with orange hair that appeared to split into two ends. Her and Arbok seemed to have their hands full as the Poison-Type faced off against a Raticate.
His entrance was noticed immediately as Jessie turned towards him, Ash noticing that both Meowth and James were gone.
"See, Twerp, these losers are from Team Rocket too! James and I deserve an apology."
"Hold on, who're you calling a loser? At least Biff and I aren't put on trash duty," the other woman cried out. Ash wondered for a moment if there was a history between the duo as Jessie shook a fist at the woman. She then commanded for Arbok to use a Screech attack.
The soundwaves echoed across the building; their intensity doubled as they bounced off of the walls. Ash and his two partners were forced to cover their ears while even Jessie was harmed from it. The other woman dropped to a knee but managed to command her Raticate to use a Dig attack. The Normal-Type chewed away at the ground as concrete flew into the air. It was eventually joined by dirt as Ash watched Raticate burrow under the surface and vanish.
"Arbok, be ready for anything. We both know Cassidy fights dirty!"
"Like you don't!?" The other woman (who Ash assumed was Cassidy) growled at Jessie. The boy wondered if he was seeing things as it appeared like a vain was visible on her forehead.
Arbok stayed alert but was unprepared as the ground below it erupted outwards. Raticate slammed through the concrete as its entire body rammed against Arbok, bits of the concrete joined the assault as they too slammed into the Poison-Type. The Cobra Pokémon landed against the floor but was quick to get back up, a look of annoyance now plastered on its face.
Ash looked for an opening to join in, but the boy was forced onto the defensive when a Primeape lunged at him from the shadows. He jumped backwards; Pikachu being forced off his shoulder as they narrowly avoided the attack. The Fighting-Type's fist connected with the ground as it cracked outwards, shards of cement shattered as Ash felt a few strike him. A man with green hair emerged alongside the Primeape, a look of content on his face as he ordered his Pokémon to strike with a Thrash. Ash tried to counter, his voice asking Pikachu for a Thunderbolt but Primeape appeared before his partner as Pikachu was unprepared.
Primeape rammed its fist into Pikachu, a swift kick followed after it as the Electric-Type flew into a few empty cages. Ash looked back towards his partner, but the sound of Primeape charging brought him back to the battle. He saw a fist aimed right for himself, the boy covering his face as vines shot out to grab Primeape. The Pallet Town native looked on to see the Fighting-Type restrained by Bulbasaur before it was tossed away.
"Thanks, Bulbasaur. Now use your Razor Leaf attack!"
"Bulba!" the Grass and Poison-Type nodded in agreement as a barrage of leaves shot outwards from his bulb. They seemed to be little more than an annoyance to Primeape as the Pig Monkey Pokémon started to rush right through the attack.
"This brat was the best help you could get?" Butch asked Jessie. Though the woman ignored him as her Arbok dodged a Super Fang attack. Ash also ignored the question, knowing the actual reason he had teamed up with them. As Primeape approached them, the boy reached down and grabbed Bulbasaur as they avoided the blow once more. The Seed Pokémon launched a physical seed from its bulb, the attack striking against Primeape's hand only to be ripped off as vines started to emerge. Without any energy to drain they died off immediately.
"Please, Bill, the Twerp is nothing more than a temporary alliance. Arbok, Double-Edge!"
"Raticate, Skull Bash!"
The two Pokémon raced (or slithered in Arbok's case) across the ground as their bodies glowed with energy. Though, as the two collided Arbok swung its tail around. The tip, now glowing purple, jabbed itself into Raticate's side as it caused the Pokémon to lose its footing. Its face looked a bit disoriented as Ash saw a few streaks of purple under its eyes. Though he couldn't focus entirely on that fight as Primeape punched out and hit him.
"My name is Butch!" the man cried out. His feet stomped angrily against the ground as Ash wondered if this was a constant misconception with him. Though the boy wondered how people would forget his name was Buff.
The force sent him sliding across the floor until they landed against a wall. Pikachu scurried back over to them as he tried to join the fight, but Ash could tell he was a bit out of it from that one punch. Instead he sat his best friend off to the side as Bulbasaur raced back out there.
Ash quickly called for a Vine Whip as they shot outwards. Within seconds the charging Primeape was snagged and unable to move. Jessie also seemed to have gained the upper hand in her own bout, Arbok now able to keep Raticate at bay with a combination of a Poison Sting barrage and the Normal-Type's current poisoning.
"Primeape, give it a good whirl. Then use Fire Punch!"
"Primmmmee!" the Pig Monkey Pokémon cried out in anger. Its fists were lit within seconds as it seemed its muscles tightened up. Ash could see Bulbasaur lose its footing, but the Seed Pokémon held strong. With a quick yank Bulbasaur flew across the air as Primeape reared back for a powerful punch.
"Now, Leech Seed!" Ash shouted.
"Saur!" Bulbasaur agreed. The Grass and Poison-Type twisted its body so that the bulb atop its back faced Primeape. With deadly accuracy a small seed shot outwards and imprinted itself around Primeape's chest. It dug deep into its fur; the Fighting-Type unable to grasp it as Bulbasaur used its momentum to avoid the punch. Now on the ground, Bulbasaur yanked on its vines as Primeape flew into the air. Its power was now drained, Bulbasaur appearing refreshed as he threw the Pig Monkey Pokémon into a few cages.
"Not bad, Twerp. It's nice to see you on our side for once," Jessie remarked as Arbok flew backwards. Raticate was still standing despite its poisoned state, though Ash could tell it wouldn't last much longer.
Beef recalled his Primeape before he joined ranks with Cassidy. The woman appeared pissed as Raticate stumbled for a moment before succumbing to its poison. She quickly recalled Raticate while biting down on her glove. "Why would you interfere with our plans, Jessie!? All these Pokémon would have joined Team Rocket!"
Sirens now echoed outwards; Ash curious if Cross had alerted the Police of if they had arrived from all the noise. It didn't matter as the three members of Team Rocket also heard it, though Jessie seemed to be the only one who looked calm. Cassidy and Butch each lifted a pokeball now, Ash a bit worried they would be ready to go for a round two.
"Please," Jessie stated. With a wave of her hand she taunted the duo as Ash could see Giselle further down the hallway now. She seemed worried as a rush of footsteps could be heard approaching them. "I'd rather see the two of you fail every time. It brings a smile to my face to know that the trash of Team Rocket stays as such."
Cassidy barked out at that, Ash not understanding what a few of the words she had said were, but just as it began, the tirade appeared to trail off. A dust of sorts seemed to fall around the duo as they slowly drifted off to sleep.
"Look, Jess, we found my Weepinbell! But now it's a Victreebel! Cassidy and Blip did something right for once," James cried out in joy. The Grass and Poison-Type rested comfortably among his arms; a powder continued to fall from it as Ash recognized it as Sleep Powder. Not taking a chance, Ash covered his face with his jacket only to be quite surprised when Victrebell jumped outwards.
"Viiiiiiii!" the Flycatcher Pokémon screamed out as it leapt atop James' head. The man cried out for a moment, a clamping sound heard as Ash wondered if he was alright. Though the laughter that followed made him think James enjoyed it.
"Oi vey," Meowth muttered out, a paw plastered to his forehead. He merely shook his head at the sight before them as James recalled his newest addition. "You sure that's your Victreebel, James?"
"Of course. I'd never forget that clamping power anywhere! It's only gotten stronger!"
"I really don't want to know what he means by that," Jessie remarked as the footsteps grew louder. She quickly turned to Arbok and recalled her partner before her eyes darted towards Ash. She clasped her egg tighter before moving towards Ash. "Alright, Twerp, one last favor. Blast us off!"
"Huh!? Why?"
"It's obvious, isn't it?" James asked as he sat up. Ash could see a few bites marks on the man's face but chose to not mention them. "Us plus the police don't add up. We'll go to jail and they'll make us wear stripes. I don't look good in stripes."
"He's right, they make him look bloated. And besides, we don't do well in prison. The other women will get jealous of my features," Jessie added in.
Ash sighed at their reasonings, but a part of him wanted to go through with their request. After all, they held up their end of the deal. Which in its own way was a shocker to Ash considering how many Pokémon they could have tried to steal. With a simple nod towards Pikachu, he told his best friend to do as they asked. Pikachu sighed out in confusion; his cheeks zapped with energy as he launched it at the three.
Electricity soared through their bodies before it all exploded outwards, the impact launched them through the roof and off to parts unknown. Ash watched with a light chuckle as their bodies appeared to twinkle off into the distance though he could have sworn they sounded happy.
His gaze was broken as an Officer Jenny emerged in the room, the woman joined by several other officers as they looked around. Ash could tell they were shocked at the operation that had been held here, though when they slapped a set of handcuffs on him he started to panic. The other officers made sure to apprehend Cassidy and Butch while also getting any of the other workers who were passed out across the building.
"Why am I being restrained?" Ash questioned. His voice cracked slightly from his nerves, the boy wondering what would happen to him if he had to spend time in a prison. Though, he thought he was too young to do actual jail time. Either way, he wanted to cry at this misunderstanding.
"You're an accomplice to the crime. Why else would you be here?" Officer Jenny asked as she faced him towards the entrance. Bulbasaur and Pikachu tried to explain the situation, but the woman couldn't understand what they were saying.
That was when a new set of footsteps entered the room. The officers who weren't removing the workers turned towards the noise as Ash noticed Giselle standing there. The girl huffed a little as she tried to compose her breathing as Charmander's cage sat in her arms. Ash could also see their egg atop the cage as he swore it glowed for a second.
"W-Wait!" Giselle managed to get out. Officer Jenny paused for a moment as Ash felt a few tears form in his eyes. He told himself that if Giselle could get him out of jail time, he would be a tiny bit nicer to her. The girl placed the cage down gently, though Ash could still hear Charmander cry out from the bumpy placement. Giselle stood there, hands rested upon her knees as she finally managed to compose her breathing.
"Ash was only here to help the Pokémon," she explained. Pikachu and Bulbasaur nodded at that assessment as Officer Jenny appeared to ponder the words. "We found out about how they weren't allowing anyone to get their Pokémon back, so he wanted to help. If you don't believe me just check the tapes. Plus, I can't let you take my partner, he needs to return to school immediately."
Ash sighed at that, the boy realizing that Giselle only cared about how it would look if they returned to school without him. Though he figured at least she was making an argument for him. That was when Ash realized he could prove his innocence.
"Ma'am, if you would allow me, I could prove I'm innocent."
Officer Jenny finally relented at that as she removed the handcuffs from his wrists. Though to make sure he wasn't going to pull a fast one she had her Growlithe stationed by the back hallway while a few officers stood by the other exit. Not taking for granted his one shot, Ash rubbed his wrists to get the slight pain out of them before he reached into his back pocket.
The boy pulled his pokedex out and opened the device as he scrolled through it for the information he needed. With a push of a button he turned the device towards the older woman as it played out some information.
"I'm Dexter, a pokedex programmed by Professor Oak for Pokémon Trainer Ash Ketchum of Pallet Town. The trainer currently has his junior license and is registered for attendance at Pokémon Academy," the device stated. It appeared to work as the officer lightened up around Ash.
The woman chuckled softly as her hand moved towards the back of her head. "Sorry about that. My sisters say I tend to jump the gun a little."
"A little?" Giselle asked as the officer went on her way. The two students were now alone as Ash recalled Bulbasaur into its pokeball.
He could see a few of the officers opening the cages with a key of sorts and called over to one of them. A man made his way to them and unlocked the cage as Charmander scurried out of it. The creature immediately ran up to Ash and hugged him, a few tears rolling out of its eyes as Ash merely patted its head.
"Char! Char, charmander!" it cried out. Ash noticed that the creature wasn't even looking for Cross, a fact that pained him. Ash then crouched down low to be eye level with the Fire-Type as he pulled a pokeball from his belt. With Cross gone and the daycare being a scam, Ash could only think of one possible option for Charmander. He didn't want the Fire-Type to be alone.
"Charmander, would you like to come with us? I'm sure we would make an excellent team," Ash asked. Charmander looked at him, the creature hesitant for a moment as Ash wondered if the Fire-Type finally noticed Cross wasn't here. Charmander appeared to understand the situation, but to Ash's curiosity the Fire-Type smiled. To his surprise, Charmander tapped the pokeball without a second thought as it rocked back and forth amidst his hand.
The capture device finally dinged as Ash felt the Fire-Type rest happily inside the pokeball. Though he wondered just what went down between it and Cross that it would choose to come with Ash. Yes, they had known each other for a while due to Ash's time at Professor Oak's lab, but Charmander was still Cross' Pokémon at one point and he figured they must have had some sort of connection. The boy shrugged as he placed Charmander's pokeball back onto his belt, the lack of celebration went noticed by Pikachu.
"Pikapi?" he asked, the Electric-Type tugging on his best friend's jacket. Ash shook his head at Pikachu's question as he struggled to put a smile on.
"Sorry, Pikachu, but I don't feel like celebrating this time."
Ash leaned down so that Pikachu could climb aboard his shoulder as the duo walked out of the building. Giselle was right behind them as Ash swore he saw the guy who looked like Kai. Though unsure if it was him. And yet he could hear the kid cry out to the police that he knew nothing about the whole operation, how today was his first day working there. Ash hoped things would work out for the kid as he looked about their age, but he didn't stop. He didn't want to as his mind questioned everything that must have gone down between Cross and Charmander.
It had been a few days since they first entered the town and yet the man appeared rather bored of it already. There was nothing to do within the place as he awaited his two companions to make it back from the police station. The one he had come to know as Kumo had been mixed up in a Pokémon smuggling operation and had been arrested for it. He had spent the past couple days in jail as Kai tried to explain the situation about his brother-friend thing. The man wasn't too sure what their relationship even was at this point.
The streets were packed with travelers now as he overheard a few of them wanting to challenge the Pewter City Gym while others talked about the Museum of Science. The man gripped at his head from the mention of both, an image of a younger person fighting at what he assumed was the Gym entered his mind. It was cloudy, but the voice he heard in the image sounded similar to his own, just higher pitched. As he turned down a street, he noticed a large building stick up straight into the sky.
The man decided to approach it as he still had time before he needed to meet up with the other members of his traveling squad. The sight of it brought another image to the forefront of his mind as the man saw a boy waiting at a desk of sorts as a woman brought him three pokeballs. Without the image showing him what were within them, the man knew they were his Pokémon. One had been a Poliwhirl, another a Bulbasaur and the last had been his Pikachu. He couldn't help but wonder if these images were just fabrications created by him to try and remember stuff or if they had occurred years ago. The wind had picked up now as his hood flew from his head. He could see clearly now as the sun shinned off the building and blinded him momentarily.
With an annoyed shrug he approached the building as it appeared slightly different than from the image in his mind. The doors opened on their own as a jingle appeared to play throughout the building. The man looked around as he noticed trainers of all ages taking part in different activities. That was when he saw her. The woman from the image inside his head. She stood behind the same desk he had envisioned, not looking a year older than the one in his mind. He immediately made his way towards the desk though he paid no attention to his surroundings. A few trainers made it difficult to maneuver as he struggled to get past them all.
With a slight bump he knocked into someone, the man turning to see a child who held many features similar to his own. Right down to his little birthmarks on his cheeks as the similarities caused him to step back out of fear. He quickly shook off the concerns as he reached down to help him up, but the boy appeared speechless. The individual struggled to form a sentence as random noises flew from his mouth. His mouth just flopped open and close, as if he wanted to say something but couldn't.
That was when the next words caught him by surprise. "Dad? Is that really you?"
The man was confused by the claim, no other emotion present on his face as the boy stood back up. Whoever this kid was, he had to be mistaken. He would have remembered if he had a son, right? And yet, he looked so similar to someone he had seen before. The Pokémon Center started to clear out as trainers gathered their belongings and yet this kid remained there, eyes wide with what seemed to be a mix of excitement and fear.
"Dad, it's me, Ash. Don't you remember me?"
The words brought an image to the man's mind, one of a small kid and yet he couldn't piece it all together. The name rung a bell for him as it echoed throughout his mind. His head started to hurt, the pain too much as he grasped at the sides of his head. A ringing sensation roared through his ears as he was forced to sit down at a nearby table. The boy followed him however as he sat down opposite him. With a good view of the kid he saw nearly identical features up close. No doubt now they were related in some form, but how? If he was truly the kid's father, he would remember such a detail. But then again, he couldn't even remember his own name.
"Ash?" the man spoke out, the words sounding unnatural to him as they rolled off his tongue. He found himself repeating the name as he wondered if he had pronounced it right. It seemed to elicit a reaction from the boy, but not much. "I'm sorry, but... are we like distant cousins or something?"
The words looked as if they tore a hole through the boy, the confused man looking sorry for whatever he had said as he removed his cloak for a moment. Luckily, he had used some money to buy a new set of clothes as his other set was all torn up. His black shirt fit snug against his body as it showed his fit form, covered by a red jacket. Though the sight of his one arm caused Ash massive confusion but he tried to hide it.
"Truthfully, Ash...it was Ash, right?" he asked as the boy nodded. He had no clue why, but he felt relaxed around the boy. Like he could talk easily with him unlike the other two he had been traveling with. He noticed a slight glow radiate from the boy's chest as he wondered what that was about. "I...I don't remember anything past these last few months. Bits and pieces have played in my head, but I don't know what they mean.
"It's a lot right now. Being told I've been in a medically induced coma for years, waking up and not even knowing my own name...it's fear inducing. I don't mean to hurt you, kid. It isn't just you I don't remember, it's everything. I don't even remember myself."
Ash remained silent at that, the man hoping he hadn't hurt him even more. Though the boy whipped his backpack onto the table as the sudden impact caused the man to move backwards. Ash seemed to rummage through his bag until he seemed to exclaim some sort of excitement. In his hand appeared to be a figurine of sorts though it appeared to be damaged slightly, one of its arms had been broken off and was glued back on, the substance having ran down the body of the figure slightly. Though it hadn't really worked as the arm looked ready to fall off once more.
"This figurine. Does it remind you of anything? You gave it to me before you left all those years ago," Ash said. His hands shook slowly as they held the figurine. He handed it over to the man as he inspected it closely. The figure looked similar, it looked just like him as he ran his fingers across it as if they were memorizing the features engraved. His head started to ring once more, the pain increasing as he couldn't look away from it. He definitely remembered it, the figure was him. His mind started to play another image, this one an actual memory as it played through his head as he suddenly found himself in a much less populated area. The man did his best to ignore the presence within the Center as he struggled to focus on the memory.
There was another guy with him as he held the figure in his hand. The voices echoed across his mind as he stared blankly towards Ash. He knew he was still in Pewter City, but his mind had brought him elsewhere as it replayed the memory.
"Blue, aren't these figures perfect. They look so lifelike," the man heard himself say in the memory. He recognized it, that was Pallet Town! And the man next to him was his rival and best friend, Blue Oak. He tried to piece everything together, but there was too much going on in the background of the Center to focus solely on the memory. Blue spoke some words, a bit of laughter escaping from his mouth but the man struggled to understand it.
He struggled to make the surroundings out, a banner hung in a yard of sorts as it read "Happy Birthday". The man knew it was at least a party that the memory took place at. He could hear Ash call out for him in the Center, but he fought against the voice as he tried to dig deeper. He had to dig deeper.
"I think he'll really like it, Delia. Besides, until I return, he'll still have me by his side in the form of that figurine," his memory self stated. He knew it now. The figure in his hand had been a gift for his son. Only his son would have it. The memory started to fade as the man wanted more answers. He had heard someone in the fading memory call him "Red" but that was the last he got as the memory faded away.
He blinked for a moment as he focused on the Center once more. Ash appeared nervous for his father as the man handed the figurine back to who he assumed was his son. The man leaned forward as he rested his face upon his open palm. Sweat pooled on his forehead for a moment before he wiped it away, a few tears rolling down his face instead.
"Ash? Who's Red? Am I Red?"
A smile came upon the boy's face as he nodded. The man, or Red as he figured he would now introduce himself as, lifted his head as he ran his hand through his hair. It tickled his fingers as he tried to understand everything that had occurred. Within the time he had been missing his son had grown up so much, and yet he couldn't even remember roughly ninety five percent of his own life.
"And if I'm Red, then you're my son. Since I gave that figurine to him before I left."
Ash didn't say a word, instead he only nodded. Red could tell the boy had questions, but he chose to hold them back instead. Red stood up as he walked around the table. Without knowing what had come over him, the man pulled his son into a hug as Ash was caught off-guard by it. It must have been the first time in forever in which he had contact with another person in such a manner. He could feel his missing arm want to wrap around as well, the stub touching the back of Ash's body as the boy just sat there.
"I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry." It was all he repeated as the man sniffled. He didn't know what was coming over him, he had never felt this way before. And yet here he was after just one small, huge, inconsequential, amazing memory having lost his composure. Ash likewise fought back tears but Red knew he had stopped that as his shirt became drenched. The boy buried his face into Red's jacket as neither said a word. They just remained motionless. A few eyes watched them, but Red didn't care. He finally pulled away from his son as the duo both rubbed at their eyes. He could see that Ash's face was red, mucus ran down the front as his eyes were puffy now.
And yet, Red couldn't stay here or with him. He couldn't return home until he had his memories restored and found out what happened to him all those years ago. The man placed a hand atop his son's shoulder as they stared at each other. What came next pained Red, the man wanting to give up on everything and just start life over and relearn everything about his son and wife. And yet he couldn't do that to them. He had to find things out.
"I have to go."
"Dad, we can help." Ash tried to grab ahold of his father, but Red sidestepped him as Ash lunged for nothing but the air before him. The boy nearly fell over but he caught himself on the edge of the table first. He looked defeated as Red wished he could have stayed.
Red shook his head in disappointment, the man pulling his hood back over his head as he turned his back towards Ash. "I need to do this my way, Ash. Just do me a favor.
"Next time you see your mother tell her I'm coming home soon. I just need answers first. To become the man she fell in love with and the one you lost for all these years."
He started to walk away, Red able to hear Ash call out for him but he ignored his son's cries. He knew if he didn't continue on he may have never recovered his memories. As it was, this alone killed him and he barely remembered his son. The Pokémon Center's doors slid open as he stepped back onto the streets. He could hear Ash's footsteps as the boy raced out for him and so he slipped amongst the crowd of trainers and vanished.
Red risked it as he turned back to get one last peak at his son. Though what surprised him was that Ash wasn't looking for him, but rather wishing him off. The boy's words echoed in his mind as he smiled while walking away.
"Good luck, Dad! Next time we meet I'll have so many stories to tell you and Pokémon to show you. And you can meet Pikachu. And...and…I... I'm sorry for how I used to feel towards you at times. I understand now!"
The man continued walking but gave him a signal to allow Ash to know he heard him. He raised took his index and middle fingers to his forehead before they struck outwards into the air. His cloak fluttered from that action. His fingers remained outstretched as if to say goodbye to Ash until he could no longer hear his son's cries any longer.
He now knew they couldn't just waste time endlessly exploring through Kanto. They had to make it to Cinnabar and help him regain his memories. Not just for him, but for his son and wife now. He just had to remember who he fully was.
And the chapter is done. I think this is the longest one of Master Quest: Lessons by far. But we had a lot that went down. And I also realized I never announced that we're past the halfway point. So next chapter we have stuff with Gary and then midterms and Spring Break before we get into the last few bits of Lessons.
Now, yes, Ash got Charmander but he still has questions about how it was so easy for the Fire-Type to join him and just why Cross gave him up so fast. Either way though, we'll see the two bond a bit more over time. And he also met his father while in Pewter City but it won't be the last time they meet. Even if it won't be for a while until Red shows back up.
Thank you to everyone who read the chapter and supports this story. Please leave a review letting me know what you enjoyed and how I can improve the story.