Disclaimer: I don't own these characters nor did I create them I'm just borrowing them for the amusement of myself and fellow fans please don't sue me.

X (Matrix to the list) here again with the third part of Fall From Grace. Note this series probably has characters way OOC compared to the normal show but then they are so one dimensional on the show this would never happen anyway. I have not seen Pokemon 2000 but Tiki said they said Ms. K's name was Delia so that's what I'm using.

Pokemon: Fall From Grace

Chapter 3: Living Arrangements

Ash groaned as he collapsed onto his bed. He would be glad when this whole Community service thing was over in a couple of weeks. So far things had calmed considerably in his home but he knew it couldn't last his dad still gave him dirty looks whenever they were alone. He also knew several rumors about how he got the bruise still visible on his face were running around town.

"Now not only am I criminal and a chat but I'm also a violent street brawler." he said with a bit of a laugh. One good thing about it was most folks had stopped insulting him to his face at least.

Ash rolled over onto his stomach so he could see out his rooms only window. He sighed as he saw a Pidgey fly by over head it brung up so many memories. He was lost in thought thinking of that day when the spearow had attacked him and pikachu he failed to hear his mother call him for dinner. He set up when he heard his door bang against the wall.

"Dinners ready." his father said flatly before turning and walking off. Ash sighed as he got to his feet and followed mentally preparing himself for another silent meal. He finally made it to the Kitchen to see Mr. Mimie and Pikachu eating silently at the far end of the table away from his mom and dad.

Ash quietly set down about midway between them. As expected the dinner atmosphere was tense and extremely quiet his mother having learned very early on that any attempt at conversation would end badly. Ash was relieved when the meal ended without incident and he managed to head upstairs.

"This can't go on Micheal." Delia said sadly. "Look at him our own son acts like a prisoner in his own home." she searched his face and sighed when she found no signs of compassion or understanding. "Micheal why are you treating him like a criminal?" she asked angrily.

"Because he is?" he said rising from the table. "All along you've been sending me letters telling me how proud I should be of him and I get back to find he's a criminal." Delia was taken aback at that. "No, he's worse than a criminal he's a cheater and I'll be damned if he's going to get away with dragging the Ketchum name threw the mud." he said angrily.

Ash ducked his head under the pillow and wished he could be over at Professor Oak's visiting his other pokemon. "It was nice of the professor taking them in." he said calmly to himself. Ash noticed feeling rather guilty that he still missed his hat which had been sold to a pokemon league merchandise collector to cover part of the legal fees.

Ash woke up some time later to find it dark outside. "Wonder what time it is?" he said to himself as he turned to look at the clock. He sighed when he saw it was 2 AM. "I guess I might as well try to get back to sleep since I have to work tomorrow." he turned over and began to attempt to get back to sleep.

Ash laid there for what to him seemed like hours yet when he looked over at the clock it continued to flash 2:30 AM at him. "I might as well go get something to eat maybe that would help me sleep." He knew it probably wouldn't but he didn't really care it was better than laying there doing nothing.

After getting a glass of some cheap generic drink his mom had started buying and a few leftovers from dinner earlier he set down. He hated how his life had turned out but he at least didn't blame anyone but himself. "How could I be so stupid." he said to himself bitterly.

Pikachu came down the steps carefully and stopped just outside the kitchen he could see Ash sitting there staring off into space with tears falling unheeded down his face. Pikachu hadn't seen Ash cry at all since this started. He knew his Trainer had cried he'd caught Ash cleaning the tear streaks from his face yet he'd not actually seen his trainer cry. Pikachu decided that Ash probably didn't want an audience and slipped back upstairs wishing he knew what to do to help.

Pikachu heard Ash enter the room quietly and decided not to let Ash know he was awake since he knew Ash would never have moved so carefully if he was in the mood to talk. Pikachu felt the bed shift as Ash got in. After what a few mins Pikachu heard Ash's breathing slip into a rather fitful sleep. Waiting a few more seconds to be sure Pikachu looked over and Ash and noticed that Ash was still crying in his sleep. "Pika pi?" Pikachu said softly not knowing what to do was terrible the small yellow rodent thought.

The next day while Ash was out doing his comunity service Pikachu spent the day with Ash's mother. "Pika?" Pikachu asked seeing the forlorn look she had on her face. Not getting an answer Pikachu climbed up into her lap noticing that she was sitting in what he and Mr. Mimie had taken to calling the worry chair it was an old brown chair that looked like it had seen better days. "Pika?" he asked again this time more softly.

"I'm worried that we are on the road to trouble." she said finally from the raw sound of her voice it was evident that she had been crying recently. "I don't think things can go on this way much longer without something happening." she sighed Pikachu waited knowing like Ash she'd eventually continue. "I just feel caught in the middle I can't stand up for one without hurting the other Oh Pikachu what am I going to do." she said beginning to cry. Pikachu had no answer to give her and again he wondered what he should do.

Pikachu headed out to find Mr. Ketchum hoping seeing him would provide an answer. He had left Ash's mother with Mr. Mimie after the eternally devoted to her pokemon had returned from the market. He finally found Mr. Ketchum out in the yard apparently brooding while pretending to tune up the lawnmower. "Pika?" he asked as he approached the man.

"What do you want?" he asked harshly. Pikachu turned and left figuring it would gain nothing to stay. He headed around the corner and stopped listening to the rather resigned sigh. "I suppose you hate me don't you?" he asked. Pikachu noting with embarrassment his tail was still visible headed back out and shook his head no. "Go on back in the house I'm not in the mood to talk to anyone or anything." he said coolly. Pikachu realizing that question was all he would get from this man who seemed to not value pokemon as highly as his son.

Pikachu headed up to Ash's room and set down to think. "Pika Pika chu chu ka." he said rather angrily he just couldn't figure out what to do. His impression of Ash's father wasn't very good yet from the few conversation's he'd had with Micheal Ketchum's Pokemon he found they respected him and thought he was a good man. "Pika ka chu Pika pi kachu?" he knew said trying to figure out why the man his pokemon described would treat his own son so harshly.

Misty set there with her sister Violet as they watched some cheesy soap opera. "How can she fall for his lies he's a two bit snake." Misty said angrily. Violet just looked and her and smiled slyly.

"Is baby sister Misty projecting her own feelings onto things?" Violet knew she had crossed the line when Misty didn't make a snappy comeback just got up and left. "Misty Wait up I'm sorry." she said as she got up and followed Misty out of the room.

"It's just he was my first real friend and he turned out to be nothing like I thought." Misty said sadly to Violet who placed her arm comfortingly around her little sister. "Why Violet why did he do it?" Misty said a sob racking her throat.

"I don't know Misty you'll have to ask him that some day." Violet said. "All I can say is you can't let one mistake ruin your friendship without at least trying to find out what it happened."

Misty's sobs began to slow and she said "Your Right I'll leave for Pewter in the morning and from there on to Pallet the three of us have some things to talk about."

Violet considered telling her sister maybe she should wait but one look at Misty told her otherwise her sister for better or worse had to do this while she had the nerve. "Do you want me or one of the others to come with you?"

"No thanks for the offer but I need to go alone I have to do this myself." Misty said knowing that she may or may not be alone when she confronted Ash but she had to at least start this trip alone.

"Good Luck Little Sister." Violet said and silently added in her mind "Your going to need it because I don't think any answer you get is going to satisfy you little sister."

A day or two later Misty knocked on the door of the Pewter gym and asked for Brock. She stood there waiting until he came to the door. "Misty what are you doing here?" Brock asked in shock at seeing her.

"I'm on way to ask Ash why and wanted to know if you wanted to come find out too?" she said resolutely.

To Be Continued..

That's Right Next time Misty confronts Ash. Note some of you may take this chapter to imply that this is an Ash and Misty Romance Novel nothing of the sort whatever this fic eventually becomes is up in the air but I'd say the odds are good it won't be a AAMRN since I hate those.