Hey everyone! This is the next chapter in the series. I hope you like it. Thanks a million to everyone who reviewed the first chapter; you're so sweet! Thanks. Anyway, on to the fic!!
Easier Said Than Done.
Two Years Later:
Gravel scattered in every direction as the car screeched to a halt. Ash stepped out of the convertible and gingerly looked around. Pikachu roused itself and stretched.
Ash sighed as he removed his sunglasses. Pallet. He hadn't been back here since he and Misty…… He blinked rapidly as emotions he wished he'd forgotten threatened to bubble to the surface. Pikachu looked up at it's trainer, a worried expression marring it's cute face.
He turned and began walking in the direction of Prof. Oak's lab, Pikachu scurrying along after him. The old man had rung him two days ago and insisted he visit him immediately. He refused to tell Ash what for, so Ash had concluded it was either something very important or….Oak had finally snapped.
He was about to knock on the door when it suddenly swung open, startling him. Prof. Oak stood before him, a large grin on his wrinkled, old face.
"Well, Ash my boy, you finally made it, and Pikachu too! Only two more left! Come in, come in!" he exclaimed ushering Ash inside the house.
"You seem to have grown quiet with age! What happened to the perpetually hyper ten-year-old who came to my lab late demanding a pokémon?" Prof. Oak joked, watching Ash's altered behaviour.
"It was a long trip, that's all" Ash replied quietly "What's this all about, anyway?"
"All in good time! If I told you all individually, why, I'd be here all day! You rest in there and I'll keep an eye out for the last two." Prof. Oak explained, shoving Ash into the lounge and closing the door behind him.
Two other people occupied the spacious lounge. One a slender, young woman with shoulder length blue hair, the other a tall, broad man.
Ash did a double take on the man. "Brock?" Ash's face lit up upon seeing his old friend again.
"Ash?! Pikachu?! Hey man, it's great to see you two!" Brock exclaimed as he strode over to Ash. He looked over Ash's shoulder. "Isn't Misty with you?"
The smile fell from Ash's face and his eyes darkened.
"No…..mmm….we broke up" he remarked, flatly.
Tension filled the room. Brock cringed, Pikachu looked up at him silently pleading with him to help Ash. "Oh, uh…sorry, man" he said, apologetically.
Ash sighed deeply and sat in one of the chairs, staring at the floor.
Brock frantically looked for something to relieve the tension. His eyes fell on the girl.
"Ahh….Ash you remember Duplica, right?" He questioned, pushing her towards the depressed youth.
"Hey Ashy-boy! How you doin'?" she asked cheerfully.
Ash looked up at Brock, a look of shocked amusement on his face. He sighed again, and shaking his head, returned to staring at the invisible spot on the floor.
Brock elbowed Duplica, who mouthed "what?" back at him, as Pikachu supportively patted Ash's leg.
"So.." Ash queried "you guys know what we're all here for?"
"Nope" Duplica replied, breezily.
"No idea" Brock sighed "He rang me up two days ago and ordered me to come here"
Ash looked pensive for a moment. "No offence, but what are you doing here, Duplica? It's not like Prof. Oak knows you."
"Oaky was studding my Ditto" she explained, smiling at the jelly-like pokémon sitting on the chair next to Ash. "he asked me if I would help"
"Do you know what he needs us for?" Brock asked.
"Nope, he said he'll tell us once everyone arrives" she smiled at Ash.
"I guess we just wait here then" Brock slumped down in the chair adjacent to Ash's.
No sooner had he settled down than they heard a car pull up in front of the house. The three of them rushed to the window to see who had arrived.
A black jeep came to a halt next to Ash's convertible. Intrigued, the three waited to see whom else Prof. Oak had invited.
A young man, of perhaps Ash's age got of the driver's side.
"Hey" Brock remarked, puzzled, "that looks an awful lot like-"
"Gary" Ash cut him off.
"Who's Gary?" questioned Duplica.
Brock and Ash ignored her, as they continued to observe Gary.
He pushed his chestnut, spiky hair out of his face and confidently strode over to the passenger side of the car. He opened the door and stepped aside to allow some one to get out.
"I guess he brought a friend!" Duplica remarked.
As the figure stepped out of the car Ash noticed a flash of red. Pushing Brock and Duplica aside he leaned closer to the window.
"Misty?!" He exclaimed, in disbelief.
Brock pushed his way closer to the window.
Misty stepped out of the jeep and admired the view from Prof. Oak's drive. Gary, with his chest against her back, wrapped his arms around her waist. He rested his chin on her shoulder as he spoke to her. Misty smiled as she turned to look at him. He smiled down at her and kissed her.
"AGH!!! What the hell is going on?! Where are we? Bizarro World?! What's she doing with him?! I can't watch! I think I'm gonna be sick!" Ash finished, breathing heavily. He turned from the window and started pacing the room.
"Maybe its just some one who looks really, really like Misty?" Brock asked uncertainty.
Ash threw him a dirty look and continued pacing the room.
"Who's Gary? What's so big about him being with Missy?" Duplica asked, frustrated.
"Misty" Ash corrected her.
"Whatever!" Duplica threw her hands up in the air as she fell back into a chair.
Ash sighed as he slumped into a chair, cradling his head in his hands.
"Well this has gotten off to great start!" Brock added sarcastically, under his breath.
Prof. Oak burst into the room. "Well, now everyone's here! I'll go and get some tea and cake, ok?" He said as he shuffled down the hall.
Brock looked around the room. Ash sat in an armchair in the corner. Brock shook his head. Ash looked so defeated, so vulnerable. He couldn't fathom what had happened between Ash and Misty. The last time he had spoken to them they seemed so happy, sickeningly so. They had dropped by Pewter Gym on their way back to the Indigo Plateau, to announce their engagement. He had to admit he wasn't really surprised that they had been getting married. He had watched them for years "fighting" and "bickering"; it was so obvious they liked each other. Poor Ash.
He looked to the door to find Gary strolling into the room, a self-confident smirk plastered across his face. He acknowledged Brock with a nod.
Ash stood and turned to face the door just as Misty walked through it. Their eyes locked.
"…….Ash?" She questioned, barely above a whisper.
Ash looked her up and down, a look of disdain clouding his eyes.
"Misty" He stated emotionlessly. He turned, walked over to the window and remained motionless, staring at the town of Pallet below.
Misty lowered her head and blinked quickly. Brock looked around the room, searching for a way to break the tension.
"So……uh…………Gary, what have you been doing with yourself?" Brock asked, nervously.
"I've become a Pokémon professor. I'm lecturing in the Indigo University." Gary replied, confidently.
"Oh…..sounds…..uh……interesting" Brock answered, unconvincingly.
"Oh, it is! I've made many hundreds of new discoveries concerning pokémon. It's far more interesting and profitable than being a league champion or a pokémon master or something stupid like that. Any idiot can be a Pokémon master, it takes brains to be a professor!" Gary smirked at Ash as he answered Brock.
Ash ignored him and they once again fell into an uncomfortable silence.
Presently, Prof. Oak (Senior) arrived with tea and deserts for everyone.
"Now everyone, I'm sure you've all had long journeys so dig in and we'll get down to business!
Everyone, excluding Ash who remained at the window, sat around the coffee table.
"So, why are we all here, Prof.?" Brock asked, while chewing on a doughnut.
The Prof. inhaled deeply and sighed.
"I'm afraid we have a very serious matter to attend to"
Everybody grew silent and serious. The Prof. continued.
"A prophecy came to light a few years back. This prophecy predicts the end of the world"
Everyone tensed visibly, except Duplica who snickered.
Prof. Oak went on. "For years it was dismissed as ridicule but certain aspects of the prophecy have started to come true warranting further investigation. The earthquakes at Viridian City for example or that volcano in Cerulean.
"What is the prophecy about, Grandpa?" Gary asked, intrigued.
"I'm getting there! For many years there has been a theory going round that our world is merely part of an infinite set of worlds, a part of a parallel universe, so to speak. For example, each choice you make in life could spawn a different parallel world. Some of these parallel worlds may be almost identical to our own, others completely different. The prophecy speaks of one of these parallel worlds.
It is a world of pain and suffering, populated by demon pokémon. Some might go so far as to call it Hell! According to the prophecy sometime in the near future something will happen to merge our world and this demon world. I have reason to believe that there are individuals, a cult if you will, who wish to open a portal to this "Hell" world, allowing the demon pokémon to spill out and into our world"
"And this would cause the end of the world?" Gary remarked, unfazed.
"Well not exactly the end but it would be drastically altered! Humans would become an endangered species!" Prof. Oak added dramatically.
"Why would anyone want to do that? How stupid are they?" Duplica asked, sarcastically.
"Great riches and power are said to be bestowed upon whom ever are successful in opening the gateway. As usual, greed is a driving force behind these people's ambitions."
"So, you are asking us to stop them, then?" questioned Brock.
"Exactly! I urge you all to assist in destroying this cult, but you should understand this will be a very dangerous mission. These people are extremely dedicated and will stop at nothing to accomplish their goal. Please consider your answer carefully. I'll let you sleep on it. Please assemble here at twelve o'clock tomorrow morning to submit your answers. Until then you have free reign over the lab and grounds."
With that everyone got up and left the room, wandered around silently, digesting what they had just learned.
Brock and Duplica were strolling around close to the water pokémon reserve.
"Do you believe all this, Brocko? I mean it does sound a bit far fetched! Mad cults, demon pokémon, alternate universes! I mean, come on! It all sounds a bit nuts! Maybe Prof. Oak has finally lost it" Duplica finished her rant, breathing heavily.
Brock sighed. "I know what you mean, Duplica, but we can't take the chance that it isn't true. If it's all in Prof. Oak's head, we'll have wasted a few days but if not, I'd rather be out there doing something than to have one of these demon pokémon come up and bite me on the ass!"
"I suppose you're right" Duplica responded. "……………..what's up with Ash? He's so quiet, it's freaky! Did you see the look he gave Misty? If looks could kill, you know?"
"I was thinking about that myself. Ash sure has changed."
They walked on silently, drinking in the beauty of their surroundings. Suddenly Duplica stopped, halting Brock by yanking on his T-shirt.
"Hey Duplica! What the hell are-"
"Sush!" she silenced him. "Do you hear that?"
"Hear what?"
"Splashes! Its coming from over here!" she answered, grabbing Brock's wrist and dragging him in the direction of the disturbance.
"The sounds were coming from an area of the reserve on the banks of the lake. Lush trees covered most of the bank. In the dying light they could just make out a tall, lean man furiously flinging stones into the lake, a small shape scurried around his feet.
"I think its Ash" whispered Brock
"Huh! I think someone needs anger management classes! Come on." Duplica started off towards Ash.
"No" Brock took hold of her arm. "Let me talk to him. I doubt he's in a good mood"
"Is this over that Misty girl?"
"With Ash everything is either about pokémon or Misty." Brock added as he took off in Ash's direction.
Duplica shrugged turning as she returned to the house.
"Kachu!" The electric pokémon screamed as it became saturated.
"Sorry, Pikachu. I didn't realise you were so close to the shore." Ash apologised, picking up another rock and preparing to throw it.
Pikachu bounded away from the shore and sat on a boulder, charging up slightly to dry it's fur.
Brock observed Ash for a minute before slowly heading in his direction.
"Hey Ash" He said, neutrally.
Ash turned, surprised. "Oh, hey Brock. I didn't hear you" he turned back to the lake and resumed braking the smooth surface with a constant volley of stones.
Brock remained silent, observing Ash's behaviour, judging the best way to approach him. Eventually he broke the silence.
"You wanna talk about it?"
"Nope" Ash answered quickly, his voice strained.
Brock sat on a boulder behind Ash. Ash's head drooped low and he sighed heavily. He massaged the bridge of his nose with his left hand.
"I don't understand" he spoke without turning to Brock. He stared out over the broad expanse of the lake, eerily dark, yet for some reason comforting. "Why Gary? Is she purposely trying to hurt me?" he walked over to the boulder Brock was sitting on and slumped down in front of it. He leaned back, his back against the cold, hard stone, and shook his head. "I don't know what to do" he admitted, defeated.
Brock paused for a moment. "Have you spoken to her yet?"
"No. What am I gonna say? Hey Myst, how are you? Gee, I really hope my back didn't hurt your poor knife!" Ash replied, sarcastically.
"Well, that probably wouldn't be a good opening, no. Is this the first time you've seen her since you broke up?"
Ash nodded
"Well its always hard." Brock took a deep breath. "Ash, I know you're not gonna want to hear this but…….it looks like Misty has moved on. I know it hurts to see it, but you're going to have to move on too, or else you might get hurt again. I know you feel betrayed, but no matter who she moved on to you would still feel the same. It would probably be best if we all concentrated on the mission at hand.
Ash inhaled shakily. "I suppose you're right…………….if you don't mind, I kinda wanna be on my own for a while."
"Sure Ash" Brock turned in the direction of the lab.
Ash remained motionless. His mind, though, was tossing violently. Conflicting emotions played havoc with his heart.
He looked up at the large silver moon. "Move on, Pikachu?" He put his hand in his pocket and removed a small object. He held the ring up so that the diamond twinkled in the lunar light. He stood up and raised his hand, preparing to throw the ring into the lake. "Easier said than done"
"So, what do you think of all this end of the world stuff, then?" Gary asked.
"I dunno" Misty responded, distracted. They sat in shadow on the porch swing, over looking the entire pokémon reserve.
Gary had his arm draped around Misty's shoulders. Togepi slept soundly in her lap.
Gary swallowed nervously. "Misty, you've been preoccupied ever since we came here. Is it to do with A-Ash? Do….do you still have feelings for him?"
Misty looked at him surprised. It was one of those rare moments when Gary looked vulnerable and insecure.
"Of course not, Gary. I love you. It just surprised me seeing him again, that's all."
"Ok, its just I know you two have a history. Ash is determined and stubborn when he sets his feeble mind on some thing or someone!" he laughed, playfully elbowing Misty in the ribs.
"Yeah, he reminds me of someone!" Misty laughed looking pointedly at Gary.
"Hey! Come on. You calling it a night?"
"I'll be up in a few minutes" Misty answered, quietly.
"Ok, don't be too long" Gary kissed her and headed into the house.
Misty stared after him for a minute. She was so confused. Of course she didn't have feelings for Ash…………..did she? Just when she thought her life was trouble free he had to return. Ash Ketchum. She didn't know how she felt about him anymore and she hadn't even spoken a full sentence to him.
The look he had given her hurt like a dagger through her chest. It was a look of pure hate and disgust, but what could she expect? She had left him without a word only to turn up again with his rival since childhood. Oh how she wished she hadn't come!
She looked out over the plain, wishing she could disappear into the darkness. Suddenly, she noticed a shape moving in the direction of the house. She recognised him instantly, Ash.
He didn't seem to notice her as he entered the porch. She hesitated a minute before, "Hello Ash"
He stopped abruptly and turned to face her, the look of disgust returning to his face. He took a moment to compose himself.
"Misty, long time, no see." He stated, emotionlessly.
Misty fidgeted, uncomfortable with his altered personality.
"How have you been?" she asked uncertainty.
"Good, you?"
"Ok………………what have you been up to the past two years?"
"Not much, what about you? Oh, besides jumping the bones of my life long rival, you know, the guy who made my life a living crap hole for years, that is?" Ash retorted venomously.
Misty gasped. Over all the years Ash had never been so mean. She couldn't believe it was the same guy. Her eyes twinkled as they filled with tears.
Ash rolled his eyes when he noticed the glistening tears. "Oh great, here comes the water works" He said sarcastically "If you'll excuse me?"
He turned and disappeared into the house slamming the door behind him.
Ok, what do you think? I'm not too impressed. I couldn't get this chapter to work at all!
I'm sorry if I've confused anyone with this chapter but all will become clear.
Please don't flame me about the Misty and Gary thing L (you know it's going somewhere!)
Oh and I know Ash is being a ******* but bear in mind he's hurting L L L L L L
Anyway, all comments are welcome! Please review!! And to anyone who did review, thanks for taking the time to do so! J
P.S. Sorry if this is like another fic out there! I haven't read that one some I'm not coping! I swear!
Oh and jelly = Jell-O in Ireland!
