I don't own these characters nor did I create them they belong to Nintendo, Game Freak 4kids productions and anyone I do not know about.
This is in response to a challenge by Vidalark. I feel compelled to say this this is a work of fanfiction I do not know anyone who is blind so my portrayal is probably very inaccurate and I sincerely Hope that I don't offend anyone with this.
Mrs. Ketchum is not a ditz in this fic I wrote the first part before I saw Mr. Mimie so I will continue portraying her in the way I did in the first fic.
Pokemon: Test of Character
Chapter 2:
Ash set in his bed trying to figure out how to do this so far all his attempts had failed he couldn't even tell which pokemon was which without letting them out. 'Why did Brock have to unhook them from my belt if he hadn't I'd have known which was which.' Ash scowled as he remembered why 'They knew I was blind and didn't tell me how could they it's my life I deserved to know.' he thought angrily. Ash absentmindedly reached down and began to stroke pikachu's head he was glad that pikachu stuck by him threw this.
"Ash are you still awake?" his mother asked coming into his room.
"Yeah, mom I couldn't sleep." He turned toward the sound of her voice and remembered with a pang how he used to take for granted seeing the caring look on her face.
His mother walked over and set on the edge of the bed. "Ash, I know you still want to be a trainer but maybe you should try to find something easier." she said gently taking his hand..
"No way I'm not giving up so just like Misty you don't believe I can do it do you?" Ash asked bitterly. He heard his mother sigh heavily.
"No Ash I believe you can do it I just want you to understand that it won't be easy your going to have to really work at it and you might have to ask for help to at least come up with ways to do this." she said firmly but with the same gentle tone she had used before hand.
As she was about to leave Ash spoke up. "Who can I ask for help Misty doesn't believe I can do it and Brock is Leaving tomorrow to continue on to his goal of being a breeder."
Mrs. Ketchum turned to look at her son. "Well why not ask May she did tell you in the hospital to ask her for any help you may need." his mother said smiling as Ash's mood brightened.
"I hadn't thought of that I'll go see her tomorrow morning." Ash said
"Sorry Ash but Misty and I had already planned to do the grocery shopping so you'll have to wait till the afternoon." She said turning back to him.
"But mom can't I just go I have that cane the Dr. Gave me and Pikachu can tell me when to cross the streets." Ash said
"No, Ash you wouldn't be safe." Mrs. Ketchum said.
"Oh so you don't believe I can still do anything I put my mind to then?" Ash replied with a bitter tone.
His mother frowned 'He's got me there' she thinks 'If I say no It's like I'm saying he's helpless but I don't want to risk it; Ah ha I've got it.' she thought smiling "Alright Ash you can go." she said as she left the room.
"Pikachu," Ash said a puzzled look on his face "She gave in to easy I wonder what she's up to." he said before deciding he'd find out in the mourning and laying back down to go to sleep.
Mrs. Ketchum entered the living room where Brock and Misty sat very obviously trying to ignore each other. 'I wonder what happened between them and if it has anything to do with Brock leaving tomorrow.' she thought about it for a few more seconds before asking quietly. "Brock could you do me a favor tomorrow before you leave?"
Brock glad for the diversion answered "Of course, what do you want me to do?" Mrs. Ketchum glanced up the stairs. "Since me and Misty are going shopping tomorrow morning Ash is going to head to May's to ask her for some help."
Misty suddenly caught on to where this was going and said "You want Brock to put off his leaving to take Ash right?"
"No, Misty Ash wants to go alone and I've reluctantly said yes." Brock and Misty gasped at this "So I want Brock to leave before him and wait around the corner till Ash and Pikachu pass then follow them at a distance to make sure he makes it alright." Mrs. Ketchum finished and waited a bit nervously for Brock's answer.
"I'd be glad to Mrs. Ketchum" Brock said smiling as a look of relief passed over the woman's face.
The Next Morning.
Ash was sitting eating breakfast slowly still trying to figure out what his mother was up to. "Well I'll be going now." Brock said as he stood and headed toward the front door.
"Goodbye Brock come back and see us soon." Mrs. Ketchum said.
"See ya later" Ash said adding his on cheerful goodbye.
Misty however only said a very low "goodbye" and resumed eating.
"Well Misty when your finished we'll leave are you sure you don't want to wait for us to get back Ash?" His mother said as she looked up from making her shopping list.
"No, we'll be fine right Pikachu?" Ash asked "Pika!" the little electric mouse said happily.
"Are you sure he'll be alright?" Misty asked as she and Mrs. Ketchum walked the short distance to Pallet Market.
"Yes, I'm sure Brock and Pikachu will keep an eye on him Misty besides just because he's blind Ash isn't helpless." Mrs. Ketchum took notice of Misty flinching but decided she had better not pry.
"So Mrs. Ketchum what do you need?" Misty asked obviously trying to change the subject.
"Here is half the list that way we'll be done even quicker." Mrs. Ketchum said as she handed half a piece of paper.
"Alright." Misty said as she took her list and went off in search of the items.
Ash was getting used to using the cane since unlike his house he didn't know routes that avoided things he had already run into three mailboxes and was desperately trying to keep from hitting anything else.
"Pika" Pikachu said Ash stopped and heard the distinct noise of cars passing.
'I must be near Oak street' Ash thought 'it is the busiest street in Pallet but then of course it would be cause professor Oak lives on it.' Ash waited until Pikachu gave him the okay to cross and then hurried across the road.
"Yes we made it" he said happily as he stepped up onto the sidewalk. "Now maybe Mom won't keep me on such a short leash huh Pikachu?" He asked happily.
"Pika" Pikachu said he hadn't told Ash Brock was following them he had decided it was better if Ash didn't know.
Brock smiled as Ash went up to the door of the Oak family home. 'Well now to hit the road since I'm sure Misty and Mrs. Ketchum will be back to make sure he gets home okay.' Brock turned and headed in the direction of Pewter. "It's about time I get home and see how everyone is doing." he said to himself. As he was walking away he kept replaying the scene where Misty slapped him over and over in his mind.
May was surprised when she opened the door to see Ash standing there with his pikachu but she quickly got over it. "Ash, what a pleasant surprise come in come in." she said taking his hand and leading him to the living room and sitting him in a huge recliner. "So Ash what brings you here?"
"Well I was wondering if you could help me figure out how to keep going for my dream now that I'm blind?" Ash asked
"Well I think we can manage that but your going to have to accept something Ash?" She said gently Ash pictured how she used to smile when she used that tone of voice when he and Gary had gotten into a fight it meant she was about to depart some of her big sister wisdom usually telling Gary not to pick on Ash. "Your going to have to accept that it will take time you know the old saying You've got to learn to walk before you can run." Ash stared as it hit him she was right he was expecting to jump right back into pokemon training but like his mother and now may had told him it would take time and allot of hard work but he was could do it.
"I understand May and I'm glad your so honest about things." Ash once again pictured her smiling face and felt a pang of envy that others could still see it but he never would.
"Of course I'm honest what good would it do if I just babied you and said it'll be okay leave it to me you've got to stand on your own Ash not let anyone say or control what you can do." she said her tone implied that she believed that with all of her heart.
"So Ash shall we get started?" she said her voice once more soft and comforting.
"Yes, I'm having trouble telling my pokeballs apart if I can keep them in order it's okay but I have to open them to find out how to arrange them." He said.
She was quiet for a few moments and then said "I know I'll get Grandpa to print you a textured label of each so you can tell."
Ash smiled. "Yes that should work what else can we do today?" Ash asked excited he was finally on his way back.
"Now Ash I know your excited but lets wait till grandpa can print those labels before we move on." She looked at him and remembered what she had heard from Mrs. Ketchum about Ash not wanting to learn the things he needed to now. "I'll tell you what you spend five hours a day learning what you need to live with your blindness and I'll arrange for you to spend five hours a day on preparing to continue your dream."
"What things do I need to learn though no one will tell me?" Ash asked darkly.
"Ash Ketchum I find that hard to believe I just think you haven't been listening you should ask your mother and doctor." Ash nodded "Okay so I'll start tomorrow what are we going to do for the rest of the day?"
May smiled and said. "How about we eat a snack then I'll send you home so you can tell your mother about our agreement?" Ash nodded his head.
As Misty was putting away the groceries nervously hoping Ash was alright she nearly dropped the milk when Mrs. Ketchum entered the room. "Well I called May and she said she and Ash were eating a quick snack then she would have someone accompany him home."
Misty was incredibly relived to hear this. "So he made it there okay?"
"Yes and the fact May sounded so happy suggest their talk went well." Mrs. Ketchum began to help put the groceries away.
"That's good maybe she talked enough sense into him to get on with his life now that he can't be a trainer." Misty said to herself Mrs. Ketchum looked at her for a moment before deciding to ask a question that had been bugging her for awhile.
"Misty why do you think Ash can't be a pokemon trainer?" Mrs. Ketchum asked calmly she really wanted to know why the other girl thought this.
"Because he's blind he's going to have a hard enough time just learning to get by not go chasing some crazy dream out of his reach." Misty said sadly. "He should just quit now before he gets his hopes up."
Mrs. Ketchum frowned "Misty many blind people go on to live perfectly normal lives and realize their dreams." She looked to see if she was having any effect on the younger girls opinion and sadly realized she wasn't. "If Ash is determined enough he will realize his dream and it's up to us his friends and family to give him support and encouragement not hold him back."
Misty sighed 'Why am I the only one who sees that he can't do it their just deluding themselves into believing he can.' but a nagging voice in her head said 'maybe your the one deluding yourself.' Misty turned back toward working on putting the groceries away while Mrs. Ketchum began to decide on what to make for lunch trying to figure out a way to resolve this current crisis.
On the road out side of Pallet Brock stopped to get a drink of water when a smoke bomb went off and he heard.
"Prepare for Trouble"
"and make it double"
"to protect the world from devastation"
"to unite all people within our nation"
"to denounce the evil's of truth and love"
"to extend our reach to the stars above"
"Jesse"
"James"
"Team Rocket Blast off at the speed of Light"
"Surrender now or prepare to fight"
"Meowth that's right."
"Team Rocket what are you doing go away." Brock yelled angrily as he advanced on the two of them.
"Not without that pikachu hey where is the twerp?" Jesse said as she James and Meowth started searching frantically for him under rocks and behind bushes.
"Alright you where is the kid and that Pikachu?" Jesse said grabbing the surprised Brock by the front of his shirt.
"Leave Ash alone you've already blinded him so just leave him alone you heartless goons." Brock said as he shoved Jesse back which normally would have gotten him beat to a pulp by her but Jesse's mind was on other things.
"You mean the twerp can't see James do you know what this means." Jessie said with a smile that ment trouble.
James just looked at her "We should send him a get well card?" he asked with a dazed expression.
Jesse hit him "No you idiot we can take the pikachu easily now."
Meowth and James looked at each other before they began to laugh "Your right we can take that pikachu with out him even knowing." James said you see a picture of Ash blindly feeling around while they take Pikachu.
"Meowth the kid will never know we are there." Meowth said before pointing toward Pallet. "Lets go get that Pikachu.
Brock seeing this gets up and says "No way stay away from them." as he goes to release a pokeball James throws Wheezing out
"Smoke Screen" James yells and as Brock is coughing he hears Team Rocket Laughing as the run toward Pallet.
"I've got to stop them." Brock said as he chased after them threw the smoke.
May smiled as she came back from the living room "That was your mother on the phone she wanted to know if you got here alright." May said as she began to clear the plates away.
"I guess I'd better get back home then before she gets worried again and comes after me." Ash said "Thanks for the food May."
"Pika pika chu" Pikachu said happily as May gave him a scratch behind the ears.
"Hang on Ash I have one more thing to discuss with you come with me ." she said taking his had and leading him threw the house a ways before stopping.
"Where are we?" Ash asked confused his memory of the layout of the Oak home was a bit fuzzy.
"The back door." May said before opening it and yelling out "Hey come on in." she yelled Ash heard a noise that sounded like a pokemon being recalled.
"What do you want Sis?" Gary asked as he came in from running his pokemon threw a workout. "What are you doing here loser?" he asked as he noticed Ash who was visibly trying to restrain himself.
"Now Ash calm down Gary I want you to take Ash home." May said sweetly.
"WHAT!, I got here by myself I don't need his help to get home." Ash said angrily.
"I'm aware of that but the two of you need to talk." May replied as she closed the door.
Ash was about to ask when Gary beat him to it. "Why do I need to talk to this loser?" Ash got ready to retort when he froze at hearing May's words.
May smiled and said sweetly "Because Gary your going to help me help Ash to still realize his dream."
"WHAT!!!!!!" Gary and Ash yelled at the top of their voices as they came out of shock realizing she had said what they thought she said.
To be continued.....
Authors Notes:
Okay in addition to the original Author notes which are below I want to add this chapter had less done to than the previous chapter.
I don't know why I decided to involve May in this but I wanted to have some freedom to play around a bit and she is one of the least defined characters in Pokemon only seen giving Ash a map in the game and manga so I have allot of freedom with her character.