I don't own them I never claimed to Please don't sue me.
Okay this is in response to a challenge by Vidalark, I also must say I have never met anyone who is blind so my portrayal will probably be inaccurate I sincerely hope I do not offend anyone with this.
Pokemon A Test of Character:
Chapter 6:
"So Pikachu how did it go?" Ash asked as he was standing waiting for his mother with Pikachu. He heard the little Rodent pokemon muttering. "I take it you don't like spending the time I'm in classes with the other guide pokemon?"
"Pika." Pikachu said seriously. To him they were all very snooty since he wasn't a professional trained guide pokemon. Ash couldn't help but chuckle at how indignant Pikachu sounded which earned him a light shock.
Ash heard a car pull up and heard Pikachu chirp very happily letting him know it was his mom. He heard the door open as his mother pushed open the passenger door for him. He heard Pikachu let him know he was getting close a fact that was confirmed by his cane striking the door. After buckling his seatbelt he heard his mother ask as always. "Did you have a good day?"
"It was all right didn't screw up as much." He replied back to her. He knew she was watching him since the car hadn't started yet. "I'm fine mom, really Your right I shouldn't listen to Misty." Ash said he'd had a talk with one of the teachers he hadn't even realized he was being taught by someone who was blind. She had told him about what some of her former students had gone on to do and some of that stuff he had realized was just as difficult as being a pokemon trainer if not more so.
Delia Ketchum was relieved she almost decided against confronting Misty that afternoon but she knew she had to. "By the way Ash you'll be practicing with only Gary today you don't mind do you?"
"No I don't mind." Ash said as he was thinking 'How the heck did he pull it off.' He heard Pikachu make some happy noise from his lap. He absent mindedly scratched the Pokemon between the ears.
Delia cast a glance at her son. 'He wasn't surprised those two are up to something?' she thought. She considered asking Ash but then thought better of it. 'Misty first then I'll deal with whatever those two are up to.' she told herself.
Once They arrived at the Oak family home and Gary and Ash had walked off. Delia and May said in unison. "They are up to something." at which point they looked at each other and laughed.
Professor Oak just looked at them with a puzzled expression. "Why do you think they are up to something?" He asked.
"Ash wasn't surprised when I said he would only be practicing with Gary today." Delia said as she continued to laugh it wasn't even that funny she just was so nervous about confronting Misty that she couldn't help but laugh.
May nodded "Yes, and just now they were in a hurry to get out of here." Professor Oak looked at his granddaughter and friend who seemed to be laughing for no reason at all.
He then turned his gaze to look past them down the road. "Here comes Brock with Misty?" he said pointing out Brock and Misty who were walking slowly towards them.
"How'd He know it was time?" May asked as she glanced over at Delia and her grandfather.
"I rode by there briefly under the pretense I had to get something from the house." Delia said. "Brock got the message that I'd be taking Ash over here at that he should wait a bit then get Misty to come over."
Meanwhile Ash and Gary were walking towards the shopping district of Pallet Town all five stores of it. "How did you ever convince her to let us do this?" Ash asked as he focused most of his attention on following Pikachu's directions.
"I told her I would not be seen anywhere near other people while helping you work on throwing pokeballs at a target." Gary said as he glanced back at Ash. 'He's getting better with that cane.' he thought to himself. "And that's the truth I just neglected to mention this errand we would do first."
Ash couldn't help but Laugh that was the same logic they had used to avoid telling his mother several things when they were younger. "What store are we going to?" Ash asked as he brushed by a telephone poll a bit to closely and heard Pikachu give a yelp as he was grazed by it.
"I was thinking of that new Department store that was built while we were away." Gary said turning to glance at Ash who just shook his head in agreement. "Quick Question when we get in here are you going need me to stay with you?"
"No Pikachu and I can manage just get me over to the section with figurines." Ash said remembering that May loved to collect them. "Though I may need you to help me count the money to pay for it Pikachu isn't good with human money." that statement had been more to himself than Gary so he had to stifle a yelp of surprise when Gary answered that he would show back up after getting what he had already picked out for May.
When they arrived at the store they had a bit of trouble the store had a No loose pokemon Policy and wanted to refuse admittance to Ash unless Pikachu went in a pokeball. "Lets just go somewhere else Gary?" Ash said sadly.
"No way." Gary said as he glared at the manager. "Look you see the Cane my friend is blind and that pikachu is his guide what are you discriminating against the disabled." he raised his voice just enough so the customers in the line would over hear.
Ash was trying to hide his embarrassment as several older ladies crowed around and began to lay into the manager over it. The Manager finally relented and told them to go ahead in. "Thanks." he said to Gary as the other boy guided him threw the crowded store.
"Relax it was worth doing it just to see the look on his face." he regretted saying it as soon as felt Ash tense up. "Look Ash I'm sorry I shouldn't have said anything about it." he stopped when Ash shook his head.
"Don't worry about it." Ash said even though his light tone seeming forced. He knew pikachu was staring at him and he was about to reassure him when felt Gary realize his hand.
"Where here your right beside the Figurines I'll be back in a few minutes." he heard Gary's footsteps retreating in another direction.
The Sales clerk watched him from the nearby Jewelry stand as he lightly reached out and brushed his fingers against the display case. She glanced over at the other boy who had stopped to glance back at his friend. She waved him on letting him no she'd watch him she smiled at the grateful look.
"Pikachu do you see one you think May would like?" Ash said thankful May had shown Pikachu her collection one day while they were there. He heard Pikachu exclaim happily.
"May I help you?" A voice asked. "I work at the jewelry counter would you like to see one of them I can get it out so you can feel it?"
Ash got over his shock and nodded "Pikachu point to which one you think May would like." Ash said he heard a jingling of keys then Pikachu chirping an affirmative to he guessed the woman's questioning look.
"Here you can feel it while I describe it to you." the woman said holding it out Ash brushed his hands over it and smiled as he realized it was an angel figure. "She has raven hair, and crystal wings with gold trim." the sales woman said calmly. "Her dress is blue with white trim and a golden belt with a large red stone in the center."
Ash sort of tuned her out at that as he began to picture it with a very familiar face. 'In my head it looks like May.' he told himself with a big of a laugh. "It's perfect I'll take it." Ash said. "But I have to wait for Gary to get back."
"Okay I'll wrap it up and we can talk for a bit at my counter while we wait for your friend." she said curious to get to know the boy she hadn't been in town long and hadn't really had time to meet anyone.
"He's not my friend." Ash said with a hint of annoyance. "His sister is making him do this."
Gary arrived back carrying the present he had bought May already wrapped by the exceedingly perky sales clerk he had met. He rounded the corner to see Ash talking with the sales girl a wrapped package sitting near bye him.
"So Virginia your only here till next year when you'll be starting college?" Ash said and Pikachu who was currently sitting on the counter with his ears being scratched.
"Yeah I mean I have scholarships to cover the tuition but they don't cover everything else you need." She smiled "So I figured I'd take some time off and work abit while visiting my grandparents so I would have some spending money."
"I'm back so Looser ready to go." Gary asked. He noticed the sales lady glare at him but he ignored her.
"Yeah if you'll just pay for it for me." Ash said shoving some money in his direction. "It should be enough."
"It better be I'm not loaning you anything." Gary said as he took the money and turned to the Sales girl. "How much is it."
Virginia wanted to slap him but turned and calmly gestured to the display since she didn't think she could keep her voice civil if she spoke. She watched him glance down at the money in his hand then pull out his own wallet and handed her a fifty. Virginia was shocked and infuriated when he only smirked and gestured for her and the pikachu to keep quiet.
"Well Gary what's Taking so long?" Ash asked annoyed at the silence. He felt some money shoved back into his hand. "What's this?"
"Your change stupid." Gary said with a laugh. "Lets go we have to do some work or they'll get suspicious." As he was leaving he couldn't help but chuckle mentally at the looks the Pikachu and Sales girl had given him.
"Hey Ash I heard your Charizard didn't obey you yet the other day it listened to you in our match?" Gary asked figuring Ash would notice the fact his pokemon was in a state of shock if he didn't start a conversation.
"Oh yeah he wouldn't listen to me at all but I guess he respects me now or at least that's what Brock says." Ash said as he was trying to figure out why pikachu was being silent. "So how are you going to help me learn to throw Pokeballs again?" He asked deciding Pikachu would tell him later if something was wrong.
"Oh yeah May made a Fuzzy vest and Velcro covered balls." Gary said calmly "She wants me to wear the vest and try to sneak up on you." He smirked "That's right loser basically it's up to you and the pikachu to figure out where I'm coming from and hit me with the ball."
Ash couldn't help but laugh. "It sounds like a children's game." Pikachu finally speaking chirped in agreement.
Gary started to protest then realized Ash was right. "Yep but then you've always been immature." He couldn't resist poking a bit of fun at Ash.
Meanwhile back at the Oak family home. Misty was Furious as she glared at the gathered people. "How dare you talk to me like that?" she said angrily.
"How dare you treat Ash like that?" May threw back in the other girls face and was glad when she seemed taken aback at that.
"Don't you dare say that I care about Ash and unlike you all I'm not setting him up to be disappointed." Misty retorted angry that this other girl was claiming she wrong about Ash.
Brock seeing this could turn really ugly intervened. "Misty why do you think a blind person can't be a Pokemon Trainer?" he asked phrasing that question that worried him a different way.
"Simple there has never been one before and Ash wasn't even that good a trainer before he went blind." Misty said darkly almost daring someone to disagree with her.
"Actually your wrong there have been several." Professor Oak spoke up at last. "I have been researching in my spare time." He said to the shocked faces of the others. "Some have even been blind since birth or were blinded even later in life than Ash." he got up with this and went into the house.
Everyone waited in Tense silence as he returned carrying something. "I was going to give show you and Delia this later May but I'm glad I had the forsight to bring it along now." He pulled out articles he had printed of the internet.
"Well Misty that proves you wrong there." May said and seeing the defiant glint in Misty's eyes she added "And you wrong about Ash true he wasn't the best at what he did but he was willing to try and getting better all the time your just refusing to see it."
Misty was furious at that "How dare you even imply I don't know Ash?" her tone demanding an answer.
"I didn't I said you refuse to see something ." May said slightly shocked. Misty was still glaring at her so finally May said "Look Misty it's obvious you don't like me and won't listen to anything we have to say so why not go visit your family for awhile?"
"Your not sending me away so you can ruin Ash's life." Misty said angrily. Ms. Ketchum stood and walked over to her Misty shrunk back slightly from the anger in the other woman's eyes.
"It's Ash's decision Misty and it's not for me you or anyone to interfere so I'm telling you once leave him alone." Delia was furious "I promised Ash I would not send you away for what you did yesterday but if you do it again I will see to it you leave Pallet."
"Oh so you'll send me away for telling the truth." Misty angrily retorted.
"No because so far all you've done is harm Ash with your on bias and prejudice so either act responsible and keep your negative views to yourself or leave." Delia said grimly she hated saying things like that to Misty she really liked the girl but she wouldn't let her hurt her son.
"Fine I'll let you lie to Ash." Misty said darkly and turned and walked off without another word.
"That didn't go well." Professor Oak said grimly. None of the others could think of anything else to say so they all stared after the retreating Red head.
Misty was furious as she approached the Ketchum's House she hoped those traitors as she was calling them were still at the Oak family home she wasn't in the mood to face them.
Misty opened the door and was surprised to find Pikachu run past stopping briefly to chirp a greeting then continuing on his way. "Ash are you back." Misty asked.
"Yeah do you know if Mom did the laundry I can't find a clean shirt?" Ash asked as he came down the stairs barefoot and in jeans. Misty gawked at his wet hair.
"You took a shower with no one here what if you'd fallen and gotten hurt?" Misty asked angrily.
"I just took a shower it's no big deal and I was filthy and didn't feel like waiting for anyone to get home." Ash said. "Now do you know if Mom has done the laundry I need a clean shirt?"
Misty stared him. "No I don't Ash and I'm not in the mood to bother looking wait for your mother to get home or find it yourself." she snapped as her shock wore off and she remembered that she was supposed to be angry.
"Oh okay." Ash turned "Pikachu you found one yet." he heard Pikachu make a negative sound so Ash turned "I'm going to search my room again Maybe Mom put it in one of the other drawers by mistake." as he headed back up the stairs Misty felt a pang of sadness.
"He didn't even ask what was wrong." Misty said sadly then shuddered "Are they right have I hurt him so bad he wont' even ask." she said this quietly to herself not sure if she was sure about anything anymore.
Ash had heard her and nearly went back downstairs but instead just called down. "Misty I'm still your friend but I don't believe you." Misty jumped and then heard Ash's Door close.
"I've got allot to thank about." Misty said to herself as she decided to go help Pikachu find him a shirt at least while she thought.
Delia, May and Professor Oak had been going over the stuff Professor Oak had been researching when Brock said "There's Gary." They all turned and stared Gary was covered in dried mud.
"What happened?" May asked fearing the answer. She glanced to see Delia shared her concerned look and kept glancing around for Ash.
"We kind of got into a shoving match ended up in a mudpuddle." Gary said sheepishly as he faced the two glaring women. "Ash is back at your house Mrs. Ketchum." he said noticing the glare she was giving him. "He said something about going to take a shower."
Delia freaked and said "If you'll excuse us Brock and I need to go." she headed to the car waving a hasty good bye to May and her grandfather.
She and Brock arrived and found Ash Misty and Pikachu sitting calmly in the living room. "Oh Mom your back." Ash said turning toward the door.
"Why are you wearing your Pajama top as a shirt." She asked and then realized how stupid that sounded. "It was the only clean shirt we could find." Ash said sheepishly.
Delia Ketchum blushed. "I forgot today was laundry day." She glanced at Misty and noticed how out of sorts the girl looked. 'Maybe I should talk to her some more later and let her know we aren't really mad at her.' she thought but said aloud "Young man we need to talk in private."
Ash nodded and got up to head up the stairs to his room his mother following him. Once they were inside he asked her "What do we need to talk about?"
"What are you and Gary up to and why did you take a shower with no one here?" she asked today had been too stressful to beat around the bush about things.
"Simple I was filthy and We are planning a surprise party for May." Ash said simply and pulled out a wrapped box. "Today we went to get her gift then he shoved me in the mud so I'd have an excuse to come straight home instead of going back with him."
Delia was shocked "Then how did he end up in the mud?" she asked 'A Surprise Party for May?' she thought then tried to remember if it was near the other girls birthday and then felt ashamed that she didn't know it.
"I could take being shoved in the mud lying down so when he reached down to help me up I pulled him down." Ash said "And yes May's birthday is coming up and I had to ask you eventually since we want to have the party here."
Delia couldn't help but Laugh "You could have told me before hand and I could have taken you and Gary shopping."
"May would have figured it out then." He said "Even if she's suspicious now she won't think were planning a party she'll think were up to our old pranks."
Delia had to admit she had suspected them of pulling one of their old pranks. "I'll pick up some party favors and such next time your in class but I need to know one thing?"
"Yeah mom what is it?" Ash asked glad his mother seemed to have forgotten about the whole be mad at him for taking a shower with no one home thing.
"When is May's Birthday?" She smiled "I need to know how much time I have to get everything ready."
To Be Continued...
Authors Notes:
Well I finished another new chapter next time we skip ahead in time to May's Birthday party and a few other Events of relevance.
Note some of my friends have read way much into things in this chapter so before anyone lynches me over anything you think is going on that you disagree with just wait till the fics over. and Please don't send feedback kind or good about what you may think is happening cause I've noticed when one person mistakes something in a fic for something it's not their reviews tend to aggravate the problem and cause that view to spread.
Though I do greatly appreciate any feedback I get.