Chapter 3: A childhood friend.
Here is a list of all the characters who are there in the party:-
Boys: Ash, Gary, Brock, Tracey, Ritchie, Max, Drew, Paul, Barry, Trip, Cilan, Toya, Clemont, Sawyer, Tierno, Trevor, Alain, Kiawe, Sophocles, Gladion, Sorrel
Girls: Leaf, Misty, May, Dawn, Lyra, Zoey, Iris, Bianca, Touka, Bonnei, Miette, Korrina, Mallow, Lillie, Lana, Solitad, Shauna, Mairin, Casey, Verity
Professors: Professor Oak, professor Elm, professor, professor Birch, Professor Rowan, professor Junipher, professor Sycamore, Professor Burnet, professor Kukui.
Others: Delia, Lusamine, Gurkinn.
Ash: Finally! She is here! And luckily the author is not. She is so annoying.!
Gary: Who is here Ashy-Boy and who is not?
Ash: Gary!? When did you come here?
Gary: Just now. Why? Aren't you happy to see me?
Ash: No, it's just….
{Luna (me) enters}
Me: Hey boys! Had a happy reunion!?
Ash: (whispers to himself) It was far from happy.
Gary: Did you said something Ashy-Boy?
Ash: No! Nothing!... So Luna, why did you bring him here?
Me: Oh! I am so glad you asked me! Well… I needed his help in few parts of the story, so here he is!
Ash: Oh….
Me: Anyway boys! On with the disclaimer!
Ash: Oka- Wait! I have to say it with him!
Me: Why yes. You both are friends right? And not just friends but childhood friends! Right?
Ash: Right…..
(Meanwhile, during the conversation, unknown to Ash, Gary looks at him sadly with a guilty expression on his face.)
Me: Sooo… Disclaimer?
Ash & Gary: Yeah, yeah…. Luna Uzumaki 383 do not own pokemon but she do own the Oc's of this story.
"Hey! Are Ash and Gary here!?"
Dawn looked at the smiling girl standing in front of her and outside the Oak's Lab.
"Umm…yes they are here. But who are you? Am not sure I have seen you before."
'She can't be one the party inviters because Gary said he had called everyone and we even asked Ash if someone was missing and said everyone is here. So who is she?'
"Awesome! Oh well, I am a friend of theirs!" the girl told her excitedly and went inside the lab and disappeared somewhere.
"Wait!" Dawn shouted and ran towards her.
She stopped into the drawing room and saw that the girl was standing there and looking around.
"Where are they?" she asked her.
"Ranch. But-" Dawn started in irritation but was cut off when the girl dashed past her and went out of the room.
She internally groaned and ran towards her.
To her surprise, the girl new exactly where to go.
'Wow! She know where to go? Even I had problems in memorizing the place. Maybe, she really is there friend?'
The girl finally came to a halt when she came outside the lab and into the ranch.
Dawn came and stood next to her. She was angry.
"Hey! You can't just barge in without permission!"
The girl ignored her and looked around the ranch at all the decorations.
Before Dawn could say something, one of the Palletion said loudly in disbelief.
"Hey! Is that who I think she is?"
Everyone near them tuned to where he was looking and the Palletion gasped save for children 8 year old and younger and few others.
"It can't ….." one of the Palletion trailed off.
"Tell me this is not a dream." Another said
The girl grinned and took a step forward.
"This is not a dream Mrs. Cloud! Your one and only Leaf Hazel is back in Pallet! Hello everyone!"
As soon as she finished the statement, Delia had her arms wrapped around her as she took her into a bone crushing hug.
"Oh Leaf! I and everyone missed you so so soo much!" Delia said to the girl she was hugging.
Leaf wrapped her hands around her and leaned into the hug. "I missed you too Aunt Delia. I missed all of you!"
They stood like that for a few more seconds and finally braked the hug. Delia still had her hands on her shoulder as she looked at her from head to toe with unshed tears in her eyes.
"Look at you! All grown up!"
"Indeed! The last time we saw you, you were only six." Professor Oak said as he stepped forward and took her into a quick hug as Delia moved aside.
"Yeah! And you have gotten older!" she joked.
Professor Oak frowned and everyone laughed.
"Glad to know the little pipsqueak haven't changed!" one of the pallet boys said.
"I am not a pipsqueak Zach. And for that matter, I am not little! Not anymore!"
"Aww! c'mon Leaf. Do you really wanna act like this to me after 10 years?"
"I could say the same!" She said angrily while folding her hands near her chest.
"Alright! Alright! I am sorry! Sheesh..! Girls! Anyways…its great to see you again."
He said while shaking her hand.
"Yeah! Same here!" she nodded.
"Umm… sorry to interrupt everyone but who is she?" Misty asked as rest of Ash's friend stood behind her with confusion and watched the interaction between the girl and the Palletion.
"Oh! Right! You guys don't know!" professor Oak realized and then introduced her to them.
"This is Leaf. Leaf Hazel. She used live here ever since she was born. When she turned 6, due to business, she and her family left pallet and somehow we lost contact with them. So this is the first time in years, we are seeing her. "he explained.
"That's why she barged in like that! Well I can't blame her for that." Dawn thought to herself, smiling.
"Who are they?" Leaf asked.
"They are all Ash's friends that he made during his journey."
"Oh! Hey everyone! It's good to meet you!" Leaf smiled at them and waved.
They waved back and one by one introduced themselves.
"Well now that that's done….what do you say about a reunion!?" an old women said with enthusiasm.
Everyone laughed and then soon hugs and hellos started with the girl being the centre of attention as she was reunited with those she knew and introduced to those she didn't.
Ash and Gary were sitting along with few of there pokemon surrounding them under the shade of a tree which was right next to the one in which Snorlax and Pikachu were sleeping along with the few others who had joined them.
They had completed talking and catching up with there pokemon just a minute ago and then had made themselves comfortable under the shade of the tree.
As soon as the silence had came, it left as laughter filled the air.
Ash looked up towards the direction from where it was coming and saw everyone surrounding someone who's face he couldn't see due to the crowd and distance.
"Hey Gary! What's going on there?" he asked.
Gary who hadn't payed any attention to them thinking that they must be joking about something, turned around to see what Ash was talking about.
He blinked.
"I guess someone else has also came here. Wonder who?"
"Well, only one way to find out!" Ash said and started walking towards the crowd.
Sighing, Gary stood up and stared walking with Ash towards the entrance of the ranch where everyone stood.
After the reunion and introduction with the new faces was over for Leaf, she looked around at all the decorations and asked.
"so what's the special occasion?"
"Oh! You see Leaf! Ash just came back from Alola after-" professor Oak began but was cut off by Leaf.
"Oh! Yeah! Of course! It's a congratulation and Birthday party for Ash right!? He won the Manalo conference after all. I saw him win. And the exhibition match too!" she tells everyone excitedly.
"When did you saw him win?" one of the Palletion asked
"Well, you see, I was in Cinnabar Island pokemon centre after winning the gym badge there and there the match was being broadcasted."
" But Cinnabar is so far from Viridian, how did you came here so quickly?" someone else asked.
"Because I flew there with pidgeot and right after the match, I came running here and I was pretty sure that everyone would be here. And see I was right!"
"By the way, where's the party boy and Gary? I don't see them anywhere."
And just as on cue, Ash came with Gary at his side.
"Hey! Guys! What's going…" Ash trailed off the moment he saw Leaf.
The 2 boys just stood there and watched at there childhood friend.
Leaf grinned. "Hey boys? How have you been? Oh! And by the way Ashy-Boy, congrats and happy Birthday!"
Gary was the first one to snap out of his daze.
"It's really you…?" He asked
"In flesh and bone? And not in a dream? Yeah!"
After hearing this he slowly walked forward towards her and stopped in front of her, afraid that if he touched her she might vanish in thin air and then said," I missed you." Loudly enough for only her to hear.
"I missed you too Gare bear." She smiled warmly at him. And that was the cue. Those 2 words were all he needed to confirm that this was true. His eyes became glassy and within a blink of an eye, he was hugging leaf as if the moment he would leave her she would vanish.
Leaf smiled and hugged him back with the same force as him as a tear trickled down both of there faces.
"It's been far too long. And complete opposite of soon." Gary told her in a whisper.
Leaf did not reply but tightened her hold on him. The 2 friends stood there like that for a good few minutes and then hesitantly let go of each other.
Leaf then turned towards Ash who's mind was still trying to process that his best friend with whom he grew up from the moment she was born, is standing before him after 10 long years.
And then he finally said something
"It's a dream. I know it's a dream. There is no way that you would be here of all days"
He said softly but since everyone was so quiet, they all heard him.
She took a step forward towards him but stopped when she saw him take a step backwards and away from her.
"It's not a dream Ash. I really am here."
"Liar! There is no way in hell that you would be here!"
He shouted and ran back from where he came.
"Ash!" she called out but he didn't listen.
Then Leaf turned towards Gary with a sad and worried look in her face "Gary, is he…"
Gary nodded sadly, "Yeah."
Before anyone could ask what's going on, Leaf sprinted towards the direction where Ash went.
Once she was out of ear shot, Serena asked, " What's wrong with Ash?"
Gary looked down sadly and said, "Nothing you should be worried about."
With that said, he went inside the lab leaving a very unsatisfied and worried crowd of people with his answer.
Ash was sitting under a tree with his knees close to his chest and his arms wrapped around them as he rested his chin on top of his knees.
He was thinking to himself that it was impossible for her to be here.
And then another voice said in his head that nothing is impossible and he of all people should know this especially after what happened last night. And that was something he never imagined but this was something he did. So what's the big deal?
He retorted back to the voice saying that how could he think it's not a big deal? When others left, they didn't came back so why would she?
The voice quickly replied telling him that the others had died and the one who did not never made a promise to return.
Feeling annoyed he shouted at it asking him that how would he explain that paper.
The voice snorted at him and said that Leaf's promise was verbal and that one was written.
He started to argue but stopped and clutched his head and let out a frustrated growl.
'Great! Now I am having an argument with myself!'
He then heard footsteps from beside him and turned around to see that leaf was walking towards him.
He ignored her and turned his attention towards the pokemon who were playing but he was far from paying attention towards them.
When Leaf saw that Ash did not ran away like before she mentally thanked Arceus.
"Umm, hey!" she greeted and did not got a reply back but she continued anyway since she knew that he was listening "May I sit with you?"
Ash shrugged but shifted a bit to let her sit with him.
She smiled slightly and sat down beside him.
They sat there quietly but there minds were running per mile a second.
After a few minutes Leaf braked the silence and asked
"So? I know, I didn't exactly completed my promise and its been far too long if compared with soon but I am still back."
When she saw that Ash didn't reply, she begin again
" Y'know? Even I can't believe that I am back here."
"When I saw your match with Gladion and masked royal and saw you win-" she giggled as a pink blush appeared on her face " I began shouting in happiness and excitement in the pokemon centre. Telling them that the winner is my best friend. It irritated everyone so Nurse Joy quickly handed me my pokemon and kicked me out."
She smiled when she saw Ash smile.
"After then I didn't even wasted for a second and climbed up on pidgeot to take me to viridian city. I wanted to get my last badge before meeting you and everyone that's why I went there. And right after obtaining it, I came rushing back here."
And then she laughed again.
"You know why I flew on pidgeot? Right after your match against Gladion, I had a ship to catch but I didn't because I didn't wanted to miss your exhibition match. The next day, after your match was over, even though I had brought a new ticket for the next ship which would have departed just in a few hours, in all the excitement I forgot about it and took off. Half an hour later, I remembered that I had brought a new ticket. All the money went to waste." She sighed at the last part but then smiled when she heard the boy sitting next to her giggle a little.
"It's not funny! Mum's gonna kill me when she will learn about it . Heck! It is the only reason why I haven't told her yet that I am here."
At this Ash laughed a little.
"Ashlyn!"
"Don't call me that!"
"I would!"
"You wouldn't!"
" Would!"
"Wouldn't!"
"Yes! I will do!"
" You will not!"
"Do!"
"Not!"
"Do!"
"Not!"
…..
…
..
And then the 2 teenagers started to laugh.
"Just like old times, right?" Leaf asked after they had stopped laughing.
"Yeah…"
And once again an uneasy silence settled between the two.
The silence was interrupted when Ash spoke up "So you really are back?..."
Leaf touched his shoulder and nodded, "Yeah."
A minute passed and no one moved or said any thing but then suddenly Leaf was taken in a hug by surprise but she returned it nonetheless.
The 2 sat there in silence when Leaf felt Ash shake and right after that she felt something drop on her shoulder. She tightened her hold on him and started to rub his back when she realised that Ash was crying.
"You are back. You really are back!" he said in between his sobs.
"Yeah! And I am glad to be home." She said as she started to tear up as well.
The pokemon looked at there trainer sadly as he cried along with the brunette he was hugging.
Everything around them was silent and only the crying of the 16 year old boy's voice filled the air.
If one would ask Gary Oak about his worst day, he would tell 'em to be the day when his parents died.
But that was anything but the truth. The day his parents died was bad, yes. But it wasn't the worst.
His worst day was something he don't want to remember. Ever. But no matter how hard he tried, he was reminded of that day every single time he stepped foot in side pallet, every time he entered the ranch, every time he walked around pallet, every time he gazed at the hills surrounding pallet, every time he went fishing, every time he was at the sea side, every time he saw the house next to his, every time he saw a sunset or a sunrise, every time he saw at the broken half of a poke ball, every time he crossed paths with a certain black haired boy.
It all reminded him of that day when he lost his friend, the only person he could tell his secrets to, the only person he could trust, the only person who he knew would always be there for him when he would need a shoulder to cry, the only person who could read him like a book even though he hated reading, mind you, the only person he has always relied on... but that only lasted till that day. The day when he lost him. Because of his own stupidity, ignorance and what not. That day was a day that no matter how hard he tried to forget, he could not.
Everything around him reminded him of his friend, all the things they did together, because pallet was a place filled with memories, happy memories he doesn't want to remember because it hurts to know that he isn't there anymore to make more new memories with him.
He hated himself for what he did. His arrogance and stupidity caused him to lose that one friend who was a brother to him.
That day he lost his best friend, his brother: Ash Ketchum.
But then, he swore to himself, no matter what happens, he will win his trust back. He will start putting the pieces of their broken friendship together.
He was done with hurting him. He will mend their friendship. He will bring them together again at any cost. No matter what it takes.
He had started to do that the moment he met him again after the silver conference, during his research in Sinnoh with professor Rowan. But after the Galactic incident he didn't met him again until today. However, he was constantly updated of what he is doing by his grandfather. But what saddened him was that he never asked about him.
Then when he finally got the chance to meet him again, he decided to take full use of it. Knowing that he had won a league this time and b'day was near, he set to work.
He called each and every single person that Ash knew. His traveling companions, rivals, regional professors and what ever other friends he made to whom he was rather close.
Bringing all those people together who were in different regions was hard and it was even harder to bring them all together in just a few days. The professors were easy to contact and so were those trainers who kept in touch with them but the problem was people like Paul and Sawyer who did not kept in touch with them. Then there was Sophocles who wasn't even around at the time when he had called in Alola, so he was hard to find. But the hardest were Lillie, Gladion and their mother Lusamine. No one knew where they were, since they had left to find there father and husband respectively and weren't staying in touch. After a lot of phone calls he was able to find them, and luckily they were near Kanto and came here just in time. Serena was also hard to track.
Then there were introductions and setting everything right…which was a headache , not that he would mind right now but still…, but luckily everyone volunteered so not too much money was used and again not that he would not have minded.
It was a tough task. He would admit and it's not daily when Gary Oak would admit a task being tough for him. So you can imagine just how many problems he had to go through.
But in the end, it was worth it because it made Ash happy.
But what added to that happiness was when he met Leaf again. The last time he had seen her was when she was leaving Pallet at the age of six. He had seen her along with Ash as she sat on the car with her parents. They kept watching and waving at her until the car disappeared over the horizon.
The happy mood of his of being united by his childhood friend with whom he and Ash grew up ever since they were born soon disappeared when he saw Ash's reaction.
Time heal all wounds. That is what Gary told himself whenever he saw Ash smiling with all of his friends. But today he learned that he was wrong all along.
Today, he realized that the smile he gave was half of the time fake, the times when he laughed…he wasn't truly happy. Those 5 incidents, in those 4 years braked him. And his wounds haven't healed. Not at all. He kept that pain to himself, hidden. Under a fake mask of happiness and stupid activities.
Now he understood why Ash never spent too much time in pallet. Because of memories. Memories that hurts to remember. All this time, he was running away from them.
Gary hated himself for not realizing all this sooner. For not being there with him and leaving his side when he needed it the most. For not seeing the broken boy under the fake mask before. For not being there when he needed a shoulder to cry when he was always there for him no matter what.
But now, he will not make any more mistakes. He will make sure of it because he has made enough of them.
This time, he won't leave Ash's side. No matter what. And he will be ready to be there when he needs him and right now Ash needs someone. And that someone is going to be him.
With this new found reason and determination, Gary stood up from the couch of the drawing room. He wiped off his tears from his face and after making sure that he was looking fine he made his way outside, into the ranch and towards a certain raven haired boy.
The happy environment that once spread around the ranch, was replaced by an uneasy and worried feeling around everyone soon after Gary had left.
Right now, everyone was sitting around the ranch close to the lab entrance silently. Well, not everyone because some Palletion had left. Those who had work to do and those who didn't knew much about Leaf. Some were sitting on chairs while some were on the grassy ground.
Delia, professor Oak , Burnet and Kukui were sitting together and were talking softly to each other so that no one could hear them and no one did.
All of Ash's friends were sitting together.
"I wonder what's wrong with Ash. I've never seen him like that." May asked.
"Neither have I. He is usually very happy to see a friend after a long time even if it is someone like Gary." Misty said
"Yeah! Did you see his expression and how he ran away? It looked like he saw the impossible happen." Iris said.
"I don't think meeting her again caused this type of reaction from him." Brock told everyone.
"I agree. There're too many different spices in this dish." Cilan added.
The others stared at him in confusion.
Iris shook her head and sighed.
"He means to say that something different caused that reaction from him." Iris explained.
The others nodded.
"But what would have caused that reaction?" Mallow asked
"Maybe something bad happened when he was a kid?" Max suggested.
"And how can you say that it happened when he was a kid?" Serena asked.
" Because it looked like both Gary and Leaf knew what caused that reaction."
"Now, that you mention it, didn't Delia said that the 3 of them have always been together ever since they were born and there is only 1 to 2 month difference between them and since Leaf left when they were six, whatever happened must have happened before she left, it can be concluded from her reaction. So what Max said makes sense." Clemont elaborated Max's statement.
"And Gary didn't wanted us to know either." Bonnie reminded.
"It doesn't matter if he wants us to know or not. We are his friends and we should help him with whatever happened." Dawn tells them.
"She is right we should help him with whatever the problem is." Lillie agreed.
Before any one could say anything, the door to the ranch opened which had been previously closed and out came Gary.
Before anyone could say anything to him, he ran off towards the direction where Ash and Leaf were last seen running off to.
"I think we should leave them alone for today." Lillie commented.
"Yeah because I have never seen Gary act like that before." Misty added.
The 2 kids sat under the shade of the tree, holding each other as the boy continued to cry.
"Shhh. I promise. Everything will be alright. I know it hurts. It hurts me too. But I am sure everything will be fine soon." Leaf told the weeping boy after his sobbing had subsided into hiccups after 8 min or so later as a few tears rolled down her cheeks as well.
After a moment of silence, Ash said in between hiccups," Define soon."
And then more tears started to fall down from his eyes as Leaf tightened her hold on him and looked down sadly.
She ran a look around without moving as to not disturb the weeping boy and her eyes laid upon a certain brunette who was running towards them.
As soon as thy made eye contact with each other the brunette stopped and then looked at the weeping boy in her arms.
Gary looked down at his feet and clenched his fist so tight that his knuckles went white.
" He is crying….just like that day…" he thought to himself "This is all my fault!"
He bit his bottom lip and after taking a deep breath, started walking towards the 2 teens.
Leaf observed him silently and due to this she didn't noticed that Ash's hiccups had subsided again after he had started hiccupping.
When Ash felt another presence near him he finally but hesitantly break the hug and turned around to see who else had joined them and instantly froze when he saw Gary standing there.
He quickly wiped off his tears from his face.
"shit Oak! You did came here but what are you gonna say!?"
"What are you doing here?" Ash asked him.
"Uhh…well, I came to check out on you."
Ash looked shocked but nodded any way.
"May I sit?" he asked him.
"Sure." Ash replied
As Gary made himself comfortable, Leaf observed the boys interaction carefully and frowned.
"What's wrong between them?"
The 3 sat there silently with no one saying anything and the only voice was coming from the pokemon near them and from the rustling of trees.
Around 4 hours later, when it was sunset, Dawn along with pikachu and piplup by her side, were roaming around the ranch to find the 3 teens sleeping under a tree with some of there pokemon surrounding them.
She smiled at the sight before her.
She took a moment to observe the sweet and peaceful sight.
Ash was sitting in between with the tree bark supporting his back. Either side of his were Gary and Leaf. Gary's head was resting over Ash's shoulder along with Leaf while Ash's head rested atop Leaf's head. Leaf's hat had fallen down on Ash's lap while Ash's cap had fallen down over Gary's head and was covering half of his head.
Ash's Noctowl was sleeping on the tree's lowest branch, his Gible and Bulbasaur was sleeping on his lap while Bayleaf was sleeping near her foot with Rowlet over her.
Gary's Umbreon was sleeping on his lap while his Dodrio slept beside him while leaning on Arcanine.
Leaf's espeon was sleeping on her lap with a baby squirtel by her side. Beside her, her Wiglypuff was sleeping while leaning on her trainer and beside them her Venasaur was sleeping and Politoed was leaning on him.
Dawn wished that she had a camera right now and then suddenly she remembered that she do have her Rotom phone that she recently got from professor Rowan so she takes it out and clicks a pic of the adorable sight before her.
After seeing such an adorable sight Pikachu did not wanted to almost wake them up. Almost.
He went towards his trainer and nudged him to wake up. When he did not woke up. He tried waking Gary but neither did he. So after finally getting frustrated he gave them a thunder shock.
"Aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh!" they all shouted in pain and finally woke up along with there pokemon who were also hit by his shock and waked up after there own cry of pain.
Pikachu snickered.
When Umbreon saw this, he growled
"Umbre!" he shouted and ran after him to take revenge for waking him from his sweet, sweet dream.
Looking at the blood thirsty pokemon running after him, pikachu ran away and called out to his trainer for help and looked at him with pleading eyes.
"Don't give me that look Pikachu! I am not gonna help!" he shouted towards him while dusting of the ashes from his clothes.
Pikachu glared at him and then used a quick attack to run faster away from the dark type eveelution. Umbreon used his own quick attack and ran after the yellow electric type.
"Sooo…? Are you guys planning to sleep here for some more time? Or do you want to fill that stomach of yours first?" Dawn asked them while bringing there attention towards her.
At the name of food everyone started to move since they were all hungry.
The pokemon made there way towards the place where professor Oak feeds them but Rowlet and Espeon went with there trainers as they finally stood up and made there way towards the ranch entrance.
On reaching the entrance, they saw that a few rectangular shaped tables had been set in the middle, closely attached to each other making it look like one long table with table covers placed neatly over it. There were chairs placed around them for everyone, and everyone means all those friends of Ash who were invited from out of Pallet along with his mother and professor Oak. There wasn't any one from pallet town other than professor Oak and Delia along with the 3vteens Of course.
Everyone was busy in doing the tasks that was assigned to them.
The aroma of delicious food that was being cooked in the kitchen had occupied the air.
Ash took a deep breath and then let it go.
"Man! If I wasn't hungry before then I sure am now!"
Just then his stomach growled.
Gary, Leaf and Dawn started to laugh.
" Glad to know that you haven't changed at all Ashy-Boy!" Leaf commented.
The said boy rubbed his head sheepishly.
"Hey! You four! Don't just stand there! Help us out!" Gladion called out as he walked into the ranch along with Lana with plates in hand.
The said 4 nodded and started to help everyone.
Once the food was served and everyone had settled down around the table they began small conversations while eating.
In the middle of the conversation Ash spoke up," I am sorry."
"Why are you saying that?" Touka asked
"Well…. You guys came from all around after leaving your work just to see me while I just left and went asleep."
"There is nothing to be sorry about Ash." Bianca said.
"Yeah. You just came back and you were tired. We understand." Alain reassured.
" And same with Leaf. She just came today." Mairin added.
"Yup! And same goes for Gary. Bringing these many people together in a very short time is tough and tiring." Toya said.
"Umm okay." The said 3 friends said.
"And besides your sleep was worth it!" Dawn exclaimed.
"What do you mean?" Professor Burnet asked.
"This!" she said and took out her Rotom phone and showed the pic that she captured just an hour and half ago.
"Aww! You guys are looking soo cute!" Bonnie, Casey and Serena squeaked.
The 2 teens blushed.
"It's just like old times." Delia commented.
"Yeah! When they were 5." Professor Oak agreed.
"Really?" professor Burnet asked.
"They used play together all day long and when someone went to find them, some times they were either still playing or would fall asleep like this." Professor Oak told everyone.
"That's so sweet! Looks like you 3 were really close huh?" Miette said.
Before the said 3 could say anything, professor Oak said.
"They were! It was impossible to separate those 3. They used to play pranks all around Pallet. Trust me. You will find out how bad those pranks used to be by tomorrow."
"How so?"
"Because the palletians are still scared of them and their pranks and now that they know the pallet trio is back, they will….Nah! I am not going to tell you! You will see for yourself tomorrow."
"Pallet trio?"
"That's there nick name."
"Wow Ash! You have made a big name for yourself! Even I wasn't that big of a prankster when I was a kid!" Bonnie exclaimed
"Oh no Bonnie! You don't have the right to say that! You have done your fair share of pranks! I still wonder sometimes that how did I even allowed you to come with me and Ash back then." Clemont said.
"I wasn't that bad!" She pouted.
Everyone started to laugh.
In between all this, Ash said just loud enough for only Leaf and Gary to hear who were sitting on either side of him, "It's just like old times, huh? Actually, it's almost like old times. Almost." He said and looked down at his plate.
The 2 looked at him and then back at their plates sadly as well.
Then suddenly professor Oak said some thing which got everyone's interest.
"Have you all heard about the Masters tournament?"
"Oh! Yes! It's called the pokemon master league. Right?" Professor Birch said.
"Yes. And it will be held in that artificial island that the league has been making. What was it's name again?" professor Elm asked.
"Pasio if I remember correctly?" professor sycamore said.
"Pasio is it's name. Any other information on the tournament haven't been given yet." Professor Kukui said.
"Yes. The league said that the information will be given to the participated trainers at the same time." Professor Burnet added.
"Who can participate in it professor?" Drew asked.
"Any trainer, coordinator or performer who has entered in a league, grand festival or master class at least once, can enter." Professor Junipher answered.
After listening this Max and Bonnie slumped down sadly. But this went unnoticed by everyone.
"This tournament sounds fun." Ritchie said.
"Yeah!" everyone agreed.
"We do know this that who ever will win, would be titled as the pokemon master." As soon as those words came out of Professor Rowan's mouth Ash and Leaf stood up with adrenaline coursing through their body.
"I don't know about you guys, but am going to take part in it for sure!"Ash declares.
"Me too! When and where can we register for this tournament professor!?" Leaf asked with the same excitement as him.
Everyone sweat dropped.
"After a week in viridian city pokemon centre. All the trainers around the globe, after registering themselves will be told to go to the Indigo plateau because that is the place where the rules and the other information will be told." Professor Oak explained.
"And for the meanwhile, all the other league related programs will be put on hold." Professor Burnet said
"Then it's settled then! I am going to take part in it." May exclaimed.
"Yeah! And me too!" and slowly by slowly everyone told that they also wants to take part in the tournament.
"So what do we do till then?" Paul asked.
"I say we all stay here." Sophocles said.
"But won't that be a problem? There's so many of us!"
"Don't worry about that! I will make settlements. Besides there are enough of rooms in the lab which I made the workers clean yesterday." Gary said.
"Actually…. I was thinking that why don't we kids sleep out at the ranch. You know, like one big camp. The elders can sleep in the room inside the Lab. Besides professor Burnet and Kukui would be sleeping in my place so there should be more than enough space for the others. Only for tonight though. I have been thinking about this since morning. So what do you say?" Ash said.
"I think it's a good idea. We will be able to spend some more time with each other." Lillie said.
The others nodded.
"And by the way, we professors would be leaving tomorrow since we have work to do." Professor Junipher said.
"And so will I." Gurkinn added.
"Does that mean You will leave too Korrina?" Ash asked.
"Nah! Me and gramps already discussed this. I'll be staying here and take part in the tournament."
Everyone nodded in understanding.
After the dinner was done and everyone had settled down, the elders in there rooms that was given to them and the teens in the ranch with sleeping camps and tents laid across the field, not too far away from the lab but not too close either, the kids sat in the middle of the camp with a fire burning in the middle.
"Hey Verity! Sorrel! How did you 2 meet Ash?" Leaf asked.
"Well, I was traveling through Jhoto and that's when I met him. We 3 were chasing Entie and so that's how we crossed paths."
"But we never saw you in Jhoto." Misty said.
"Actually Mist, after you guys left, I was wandering around the same place where I had seen Ho-oh in the beginning and then I saw it again and this time A rainbow wing fell down. It felt like Ho- oh was calling me so I left to find him and went to Jhoto. That's how we met." Ash explained.
"Oh!"
"Hey Serena! Have we met before? I think I have seen you somewhere." Leaf asked.
"Now that you mentioned it leaf…Yeah, you do look familiar Serena." Gary added as well.
"Glad to know that at least someone remembers."
"Hey! It wasn't my fault that I didn't remember you! Its had been 9 years!" Ash argued.
"What are you 2 talking about?"
"Well, you see Leaf when I was Six, I came here to join professor Oak's summer camp and Ash had helped me so you-"
"Oh yeah! Now I remember! You are that straw hat girl that Ash helped! Right?"
"The one who had hurt her knee and was lost in the forest?" Gary asked.
Serena rubbed the back of her head in embarrassment and nodded, "Yeah…"
Leaf clapped her hands together and said. "Great! I never thought I would meet you again!"
"Uhh…."
"Poli needs to say sorry to you!"
"Oh Leaf! You are still dwelling over that!?" Ash said in exasperation.
"Yeah! Cut some slack to that poor pokemon!" Gary added.
"You had spend one whole day scolding him over it." Ash said.
"Yeah. Leave him alone."
"No! You 2 know this as much as I do that he had been going way out of hand back then. He seriously deserved that and besides he promised to apologise."
"Alright alright! Do what you want!" they replied in unison with there hand in the air in defence.
"POLI!" she called out.
"Hey! Hey! Leaf! It's okay! Really!" Serena told her but she didn't listen.
Few minutes later a Politoed came happily bouncing and stood beside his trainer and greeted Ash and Gary with whom he already had a reunion.
"Poli, do you remember that girl who had hurt her knees that day at the summer camp because of you?" Leaf asked.
Politoed bowed his head sadly as he remembered the day but still nodded.
"Well, Serena here is that girl. You promised to apologise right? So do it."
Once Poli apologised and Serena reassured him that its okay, he left.
"Well…. So Leaf, what have you been doing?" Zoey asked.
"Am a trainer. I wanna become a pokemon master. Yeah, I know I share the same dream as Ash. I have taken part in The Sinnoh league ( top 16 ), Sinnoh's Battle Frontier (won), Hoenn League (top 8), Unova league (top 8), Kalos League (top 4) , Kanto Battle frontier(won), Jhoto league (top 2) and I have all the 4 badges for the Orange League and 8 badges for the Indigo league in which I haven't taken part… yet."
"Why haven't you taken part in the Orange League yet?" Gladion asked.
"I wanted to do some more practice before before challenging the champion."
"Gotta say, a wise decision." Cilan complimented.
"Wise or not, you will loose. Trust me." Max declared with confidence.
"Well I wouldn't count on that max. She have won both the battle frontier challenges." Gary said.
"Yeah." Ash agreed.
"What makes you think I will loose any way?"
"Because after battling Drake, if you won, you will face another person who has already beaten him but since he is still too young to handle the work Drake is still in charge." Misty explained.
"So!? I will beat him too!"
"Do you know who it is?" Tracey asked.
"No?"
"The Orange league champion is sitting right beside you." May said happily.
"Right beside me?" She asked and turns her head to see Ash sitting next to her.
She looks at him and then at Max, Misty, Tracey, Brock only to find them grinning and then back at Ash who was sheepishly smiling while rubbing the back of his head.
"You are…Orange League Champion?" he nodded.
"Since when?"
"It's been 5 years Lef."(Yeah. That's not an error but a nick name.)
For a few minutes she just stares at him in shock and then squeals in delight and hug him.
"I can't wait to fight you Ashlyn! It's gonna be so much fun!" she squeals in joy.
"Yea- hey! Don't call me that!" but Leaf ignored him.
Everyone snickered.
"Ashlyn." Lana grins.
"Yeah! I missed hearing that word." Gary grins.
"Shut it Oak!" Ash growls. And everyone started laughing.
"A nice name you have got there Ketchum." Drew says.
" Yeah! A cute one." Solitad compliments.
"A perfect name for …you know…you could have used it in Caledon." Misty says.
"Caledon? Why? What happened?" Bonnie asks.
"Oh! You could use it during that drama we had to go through. Ashlyn sure sounds royal." Iris added.
"Or during that one time when we helped those girls in the restaurant back In Sinnoh!" Dawn added as well.
"And you could use it that one time also when….you know….the time we met Romeo and Julie." May adds.
"Also the time when we helped nurse joy back in Alola!" Lillie exclaims.
The Kanto to Unovan travelling companions of Ash excluding Verity and Surrel, all grinned.
The others excluding his travelling companion and Alolan classmates which does not include the Kalos trio along with Verity and Surrel looked at them in confusion.
"What are they talking about As- Ash?" Bianca began but stopped when she noticed that Ash had his face covered in his hands.
"Oh please! Give me the honour to explain!" May said royally.
"May please! You can't! None of you can! Please.." Ash begged.
"Don't listen to him! Just tell us! Whatever it is sure sound interesting!" Bonnie exclaims.
"It's really interesting." Cilan added.
"You were there too!" Ash exclaimed angrily.
"Right…. It's not interesting. Forget it."
Iris snickered. She opened her mouth to say something but Cilan stopped her.
"Oh no Iris! You don't! You promised us!"
"Fine…" she grumbled.
Soon everyone started to ask that what they were talking about.
"GUYS! Calm down!" Leaf shouted.
"You know what? I am not telling you any thing." Dawn told them
"Yeah! And neither are we!" May, Max and Brock said.
"Yeah Ash doesn't want us to tell you so we won't. Its too private, you can say." Misty added.
Everyone grumbled a fine.
Ash sighed.
"Thank you guys."
"No need to worry."
"Hey! Why don't we all play a game? I was thinking about truth and dare." Bonnie said excitedly.
Some denied and some agreed so at last everyone decided to vote and since the majority of those who wanted to play the game was more, the teens now sat, to some people's dismay , to play truth and dare.
"I will start!" Casey said.
Others agreed.
"Ash, truth or dare?"
"Truth I guess."
Casey grinned and Leaf slapped her fore head with her hand.
"You should not have choosen that!" she told him.
"Why?"
But the answer to his question came as soon as Casey asked her question.
"Tell us what they were all talking about."
"What!? I can't tell you that!"
"A truth is a truth Ash! Either answer or you won't be able to continue. The choice is yours."
"Fine! I won't play!" with that he stood up went inside the tent which he was sharing with Gary and Sorrel and close it with a bang.
"You should not have asked that." Barry told her.
"Thank you Mister Obvious!" she spat.
….
"Sorry." Casey said and went inside her own tent.
"I am going to sleep too." Alain said and left.
"Me too." Sawyer stood up and left.
And then one by one every one left until only Ash's travelling companions were left along with Leaf and Gary.
….
…..
"Soo…Gary? What's with the sudden change in personality?" May asked.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, Its just that you used to act so different with him and now so different."
"Yeah! You really took me by surprise when I learned that you of all people planned this." Misty said.
"You used to act so rude to him." Max said.
"What!?" leaf asked in surprise.
"What are you all talking about? Ash and Gary have always been close like brothers! Why would he act rude to him!? You guys are saying the impossible! Right Gary?" He did not reply.
"Gary?" but again he didn't reply
"I said the wrong thing at the wrong time I guess." Max said quietly. "Sorry."
Gary stood up and walked away from the camp and somewhere away in the ranch.
"What did he do?" Leaf asked quietly but due to the silence around her every one heard.
No one answered.
"Answer me!" she shouted.
"Look Leaf, we get it that you want to know, but it's not our place to tell you." Brock told her and the others agreed. After that they all stood up and left leaving Leaf alone in her thoughts.
Sorrel had fallen asleep as soon as he went inside his sleeping bag leaving Ash wander his thoughts around.
That is what he has been doing for the past 10 minutes.
As he laid there and looked at the empty sleeping bag next to him, his mind wandered off and unlocked that part of his brain which no matter how hard he tries he can never keep it locked permanently. A part where he has stored all of his memories. Childhood memories. The memories he don't want to remember and want to completely forget. Memories of people he loved, people he cared, his family, his friends,…..his brother.
'What did he do?' he would always ask himself. 'fault was his fault?'
Is loving someone a mistake? Is caring about someone wrong? If not, then where did he go wrong that caused his friendship to break like that?
Wasn't he always there for him? Gave him his shoulder when he needed to cry? Was always ready to vanish the sadness from his face?
What happened to all those times when they played, ran, and laughed together?
Didn't they made a promise to always stick together? Did that promise meant nothing to him?
All those memories they made, all those times they spend together. Running down the streets, cycling together, all the pranks they did, all the games they played…was they all for nothing?
Did these memories means nothing to you?
Did their friendship meant nothing to you?
Why? Why did you left me when I needed you the most?
He thought all these questions to himself, what felt like the hundredth time, as he laid there and gazed at the ceiling of the tent and tears rolled down his cheeks. Silent tears.
After what felt like hours, he closed his eyes and went asleep.
Pallet brothers. That is what Ash and Gary were called in the days when Leaf was a kid.
Why you ask?
Because, they were close, not just close but very close. They did everything together.
They were like twins and yet they were not. There was not a single day when they would not play and by any chance there was, they would go Berserk.
It was hard to handle them.
If someone told Leaf that there will be a day when the 2 will be far apart from each other even when they were standing next to each other, she would laugh at 'em and tell them not to say the impossible.
But now that she sat here, in front of the burning fire in between the camp, she thought about all the things that has happened since she met the 2 boys all over again after 10 years.
She processed all of their interactions. The one they had under the tree and all the others. The Ash and Gary she knew would never act like that.
Then she thought about what Ash's friends had said. Gary had hurt him.
She didn't believe it. Not one bit. But then when the silence fell, she started doubting if it is true. Her fears came true when Gary left.
She didn't wanted to almost believe them. Almost.
Now, she wants to know what happened. What caused the 2 drift apart? What happened after she left.
And so, she stood up and made her way towards the direction where she saw Gary disappear.
The End!
Phew! That's a really long chapter! Hope you all enjoyed!
Please R & R