C. Cowboy: If you think I'm done pickin' on ya, Angie, Ya'all got another thing comin'! Ya'all know I'm just playin with ya, don't ya? But back to the story, Pallet Town has been burnt to the ground and it looks like Ash blames himself. What will he do now? Will he return to the ruins of Pallet and help rebuild, or will he stay in the tournament? And what will Fate do next in mission to break Ash like a twig? Well here we go again. Enjoy!
Ash stood there, barely noticing Misty crying on his shoulder. He then suddenly pushed Misty away and turned toward the door. "I'm going for a walk. I need some time by myself." Ash said in tone of voice none of the others ever heard him use. Pikachu jumped to his shoulder but Ash picked him up and set him back down to the floor, "I SAID I WANT TO BE ALONE!" Ash snapped at his best friend. Pikachu stared at Ash with a heartbroken hearted look on his face. Ash then headed out the door and slammed it behind him. Misty started to follow but Brock grabbed her arm, "Give him sometime, he'll come back when he's ready." Misty stared at him and then turned away, "Just I've never seen him like that." Prof. Ivy stood up, "Me and Crystal will return to Pallet in the morning to help salvage what's left. Gary and Ash, if he's up to it, well stay and continue the tournament, they are in the semifinals. If one of you win the tournament, Pallet will receive a large sum of money from the Pokemon League." Gary looked up, "I'll stay, but Ash seems to be take the news worse of all of us." Prof. Ivy looked down, "that's a shame, he has some of the most powerful and well trained Pokemon I've ever seen, Lugia, Charizard, Pikachu just to name a few, and you and Ash are matched tomorrow in the tournament" Misty then jumped at them, "THAT'S ENOUGH! YOU GUYS ARE TALKING LIKE ASH HAS ALREADY QUIT! ASH HAS NEVER QUIT ANYTHING IN HIS LIFE!" Misty yelled with tears rolling down her face and her voice breaking, "He j-just can't quit…"
Ash walked toward the park, it was about eleven thirty so it was almost abandoned. He continued walking aimlessly with the image of his hometown in flames, and the dream of his friends dead all round him haunting him like a Ghastly. "AWWW! Did I make little Ash upset?" Ash spun around to see The Hand Of Fate staring him in the face, "YOU!!!" Ash yelled as he swung a punch at the ninja's face. Fate easily dodged the punch and returned with a punch to Ash's chest. Ash spit up blood but never stopped glaring at Fate, "What do you want." Ash growled. "Oh nothing, I just wanted to chit-chat. That's all." Fate laughed as he did a back flip and landed in a setting position on a large rock. "Ya know what, Ashy, you should have heard your Mom scream while I beat her with this bat." Fate said as he looked at an aluminum ball bat. "She even called out your name, hoping you would hear and 'come to the rescue'!" Ash anger continued to rise as he glared at Fate with his fists balled up. "I thought I would give you another chance to save your loved ones. I won't hurt anybody else in your 'family' if you… say… join Team Rocket." Ash temper finally took control as he yelled at the ninja, "I'LL DIE BEFORE I JOIN YOU!!!" Fate just laughed, "Heavens NO!! Ash I would never think of killing YOU! I'm only ordered to break you. But it's too bad I can't say the same for your friends. That weird guy, Brock, I'm sure that the women of the world wouldn't miss him that much. Then your prized Pikachu, I'd keep a closer eye on him if I were you! And lets not forget your beloved Misty. It's a real shame, but you know what they say, 'It's better to love and lost, then to never have loved at all'!" Ash jumped at Fate this time grabbed him by the shirt and pulled his face till it was inches away from his, "IF YOU SO MUCH AS TOUCH HER, I'LL…" Fate pushed Ash away and then punched him in the face, busting his lip, "YOU'LL DO NOTHING, KETCHUM!!!" Fate said angrily, "All you have to do is join Team Rocket, and I will personally make sure no harm comes to any of them. Harm from Team Rocket or anything else they come across." Then Fate sent a smoke bomb at the ground. When the smoke cleared he was gone with out a trace. "All you have to do is join us." Fate said one more time from the shadows. Ash just stood there staring at the ground and tasting the blood from his lip, "I won't let you touch her…"
A few hours later, Misty continued to walk circles around Prof. Ivy's room as Gary, Brock, and Prof. Ivy watched her, when Ash finally walked into the room. They all shrieked in terror as they saw Ash's bloody and bruised face, "Ash, are you OK?" Misty asked concerned as she run up and tried to rub his face but Ash caught her and gently pushed her back, "Yeah, I'm fine." Ash said coldly as he looked at them. "Gary, I'm want go to bed, you have the key, lets go." Ash said completely ignoring Misty. Gary nodded as Ash walked back out the door stopping only to look back at Pikachu, "You coming Pikachu?" Ash growled unnerving both Pikachu and Misty. Pikachu looked up at Misty and then followed his master. Misty stared at the now closed door with a confused look on her face, "Ash?"
TO BE CONTINUED…
C. Cowboy: Fate has given Ash something to think about, but does Ash have another idea on how to protect his friends. BTW, next time Ash and Gary will meet in the tournament. And a member from the elite four might just show up. That's about it. Until next time!