Chapter I

"Ash, wake up! We're here!"

Ash rose up in his seat, as the ship arrived at a dock in the Kanto. He blinked as he tried recall the owner of the voice who'd spoken; Ah! It was- Wait, who was it?

Ash glanced around and spotted a girl sitting in the seat next to him. She appeared slender and green-haired. Ash didn't recognize her, though she seemed to resemble Mallow, from the Alola. He wiped his hand across his eyes, which seemed a bit foggy, and glanced out of the window.

The rolling green landscape of the Kanto was spread out before them. Despite basically just being a big forest, the Kanto still seemed like a simply magnificent place, with a feel of originality and belonging. Though, Ash reflected, he might of been a little biased, considering this was his home region.

But what was he doing back here?

"It's great to be back!" The mysterious girl declared, standing up and gazing at the Kanto. "Isn't it?" Ash didn't reply.

"Something wrong?" She asked. "You're not as excited as I'd think you would be. . . Considering you're about to meet your long-lost father!"

Ash's eyes widened.

"What? My father?" Ash gasped. "Wait, who even are you?"

"Um. . ." She said. "You really aren't feeling alright, are you? Here, let me help you get out of the ship. . ." She took Ash's hand as the ship's horn sounded.

Ash stepped back, confused. "What's going on? And where's Pikachu?" His yellow friend didn't seem to be anywhere around.

Her face fell. "Pikachu's. . . Pikachu's dead, Ash." She said. "You know that. . ."

"What?" Ash said in horror. "No!"

"Yes, Ash. . ." She said quietly.

"NO!" He rushed towards the stairs that led to the top deck of the ship, eyes darting around wildly, trying to spot Pikachu. Of course he was around here! Pikachu couldn't be dead!

"Ash!" The girl with green hair grabbed Ash to restrain him. "Stop! We've been through this already! There's nothing you could have done to save him."

"He's- He's not dead!" Ash said. "Nothing happened to him. . ."

"Ash, listen to me." She said. "I don't know what happened to you, or why you can't remember this. . . But you're going to have to accept that Pikachu's gone. I thought you already had."

Ash slid out of her grasp, collapsing onto the floor, where he proceeded to sit. "Pikachu. . ." He whispered. "No. . ."

They were attracting some attention. "Excuse me," A man said, walking over. "I am a doctor. Do you need any assistance?"

"No, no, we're fine." The girl said, helping Ash to his feet. "Come on, Ash. We're going to Pallet Town." And she helped him out of the ship.

Is Pikachu really gone? Ash thought, staring at the sky. He couldn't imagine what his life would be like without his friend. It didn't feel like there was a point in living without him. . . What had happened to Pikachu, anyway?

As they made their way towards Ash's mother's car, Ash wondered helplessly what was going on.

End of Chapter I

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