Crimson Tears

A/N: Thanks for the corrections. I thought Ash's Mom's name was Delilah. I guess the website I looked off was wrong. Delia it is then. Oh…and just to warn everybody…This is gonna be a long chapter…

Chapter Ten: Screamless Death

Jessie and James wandered about the empty town of Pallet. Either everyone had fled or were laying dead before them. Meowth patrolled a little ways ahead. They didn't bother to see if anyone was alive. They just hoped to get this tour over and some proof that the twerp was dead.

"I don't like this place, Jessie," James shivered. "It's scary… and… and to think… all these people-"

Jessie smiled weakly and patted her friend's shoulder, "Yes. Yes. I know the feeling."

"Kind of feel sorry for dat twerp." Meowth hissed kicking a rock in front of himself careful to keep his eyes on the dusty road. "I mean… This was his home turf."

They were silent for a couple of more minutes. They all looked sadly at each other and muttered in unison.

"I hope the twerp and his pikachu made it."

A moan from not far away caught the group off guard. They looked at each other wondering if they should investigate. James was the first to run off.

There before them lay the ruins of a beautiful cottage and in the ruins they heard the moan again. James rushed over towards it before Meowth or Jessie could hold him back.

James dug through the broken boards and rubble reaching what looked like a young thirteen year old boy. James fell over in shock.

"It's the twerp," James whispered

Meowth and Jessie rushed over. Sure enough there lay Ash with another girl besides him. He was in worse shape then her. He was bleeding heavily from a gun shot wound in the arm.

"He is lucky that gun only nicked him. He must of dove from an angle," Jessie said wisely.

"Saving dat girl," Meowth snapped.

A huge board of some kind lay over Ash pinning him to the ground. Jessie looked at James sadly and brought out her gun.

"Better put them out their misery." She sighed cocking the gun.

James grabbed her wrist, "Wait!"

"James! It won't hurt them anymore… there is no way we will be able to save him anyway. He's too far gone," Jessie whispered.

James shook his head. He reached over her and tried lifting the huge log off Ash. Unfortunately, he was too weak alone.

"I can't just let him die. I know he never was every nice to us and all but… but… we can't just let him die! He… sort of does care what happens… to us," James grunted, sweat beading down his forehead.

"That was one time, James," Jessie hissed. "Once."

"But…dat's all we deserved." Meowth whispered.


"One…Two…Three…" They all shouted lifting the log off him at last. James leaned over and checked Ash's pulse when Ash's eyes suddenly opened. He looked blankly at James and muttered in all the strength he could muster, "Thank you…"

He blacked out once more…


"You will pay for all the pain you have caused us," Cassidy hissed.

"And you will pay for all those innocent people you slaughtered senselessly!" Ash hissed.

"They were not innocent…" Butch growled, "They were as guilty as you and me."

Ash backed away as Team Rocket continued to draw nearer. Ash and Pikachu were careful to keep Delia out of harm's way. They stood protectively in front of her.

Delia was in panic…

She reached into her purse that she had slung over her shoulder at this time and pulled out a small round ball. She placed this into Ash's opened palm. Ash blinked.

"Be careful, Ash. If you throw it hard enough it will unleash a powerful stun spore. Don't breath it in, okay?" She whispered.

Ash nodded and looked over to Pikachu. He flashed the ball in Pikachu's direction so Pikachu got the hint.

"Team Rocket, you need to get a life," Ash hissed.

"Sure… How about we take yours?" Cassidy hissed evilly making a lunge for Ash.

"Then come and catch me… if you can," Ash laughed avoiding Cassidy's strike. He lifted the ball and threw it with all his might to the ground. A greenish smoke rose about them. Ash and Pikachu covered their mouths running out the door while Delia had already out a handkerchief to cover her mouth. Both Team Rocket members fell to the ground in a heap.

"See ya! Wouldn't want to be ya." Ash snickered before running off with Delia and Pikachu at his heel.

"What is that stuff?" Cassidy groaned as she tried to move.

"I… don't know," Butch hissed. "But I think we could have been paralyzed."

Cassidy let out a evil grin fumbling for her back, "And it just so happens I have a paralyze heal."


"Ash, slow down." Delia chuckled as they left the lighted city. "They won't be bothering us for long."

They continued running; Pikachu sitting comfortably on Ash's shoulder.

Ash paused staring up at the tall Mt. Moon that loomed in front of them. He turned suddenly fixing his mother with a piercing golden stare.

"You need to get up into that mountain and hide…There are some people who live up there. They are good friends with Gary… There names are Joe and Tally. Just tell them I sent you." Ash said hurriedly.

"But Ash…What about you?" Delia asked softly.

"Don't worry, Mom. Me and Pikachu can handle ourselves…" Ash smiled rubbing the back of his neck, "You just have to get out of here."

"But Ash… I can't leave you…"

Ash froze.

"What is it?" Delia asked.

"Nothing good." Ash groaned.

There was a sudden blast of sand and wind blowing Ash and Delia off their feet. Ash managed to catch himself a few feet away while Delia fell roughly on her bum. Pikachu jumped off Ash's shoulder; its back arched and cheeks sparking.

They waited impatiently for the smoke to clear…


Misty sat on her blue mermaid cover bed staring absentmindedly at the ceiling. It finally dawned on her.

"Aj. He… he looks a lot like…"

She stared at the picture near her bed of two Pokemon Trainers outside the Orange League Stadium smiling and hugging.

"But no…it couldn't be…"


"Well, hello Ash." Cassidy smiled, "That was a pretty clever trick you pulled on us back there but…" She flung the empty bottle of paralyze heal at Ash's feet, "We were smarter then you thought."

Ash let out a deep growl.

"I think you deserved the break. You'll need it once Pikachu and me are through with you," Ash snarled.

Pikachu began to discharge a bit more electricity from his already sparking cheeks.

"Fine. If it's a battle you want. A battle is what you'll get," Cassidy hissed.

She flung her one pokeball at Ash's feet and out came nothing.

Cassidy blushed a deep crimson.

"Oops!" She blushed, "I forgot… Hakei."

She glared at Butch. He sighed and handed over Drowsee's pokeball.

"What? I thought you two had six pokemon… each," Ash snapped.

"That's just to fool people to think that we are tough," Butch sighed as Cassidy jabbed him in the stomach.

"Enough talk… Go Drowsee!" Cassidy flung another Pokeball. This time the same pokemon that had beaten Misty appeared.

"Drowsee… cut to the action. We end this now. Despair," Cassidy hissed.

Drowsee's eyes went a haunting blue and it pupils turned into slits. Ash took a step back just to find a aurora forming about him. He didn't resist it untill it was too late.

Ash buckled over in incredible pain screaming. Pikachu did as well. It may have only been a couple of seconds but Ash slowly felt the blackness forming from the corners of his sight. The pain was slowly fading.

Delia watched in horror as her son and his pikachu toppled over in pain. She had no idea what was going on. He eyes flashed in Team Rocket's direction.

"Hm, should be any moment now," Butch smiled watching them with amusement.

It was like a nightmare. She watched as her son eye lids began to drop. Their screaming stopped leaving a slight ringing in the air. They both lay on the ground, slowly dying by the ghastly glow covering them.

Before Delia could stop herself, she leapt to her feet and raced over to Team Rocket. They hadn't expected her. She gave a swift kick to the Drowsee cutting its connection from Ash and Pikachu.

But she didn't get away free. Butch punched her hard sending her hurling into a nearby tree. She let out a gasp of pain and laid limp.

Ash blinked open his eyes. It took him a minute to register all that had happened back into his mind. Pikachu lay a few feet from him obviously not conscious yet. He got his vision back just in time to see Butch hit his mother. Rage went bellowing through him.

Ash sat upright and held out his cupped hands in concentration. Electrical energy and wind swirled about like a small electric tornado above his palms. The tornado died and a long sliver sword fell in Ash's waiting hands. Ash grabbed the hilt of the blade and thrust it out in front of himself as he stood up. Blue electricity flowed from his fingertips and danced across the sword beautifully.

"BUTCH! CASSIDY!" He screamed.

They both turned in shock to see Ash standing there his whole body glowing with rage.

"YOU SHOULDN'T OF HURT MY MOM!" Ash shouted; tears shining down his cheeks, "YOU BETTER PRAY THAT SHE IS OKAY! WHICH IS THE LEAST I CAN SAY FOR YOU!"

Butch and Cassidy both smiled reaching behind their back. Ash hadn't noticed them before. They each pulled out a long sword from the sheath on their backs. Maybe they just got them.

Ash took off racing at them. He made a quick slash at Cassidy which she blocked quite effectively.

"You are fighting a losing battle, kid." She smiled as her sword clanged against his.

"And we all know you hate those." Butch shouted trying to attack Ash from behind. Ash kicked backwards hitting Butch in the stomach. He fell back a few paces trying to regain lost breath. Ash didn't have a clue what he was doing.

He had never been in a sword fight…

Their swords clanged once more. Cassidy pushed him backwards slowly to a tree. Ash didn't realize it till he felt the bark against his back. She let out a stab at his chest. He moved a bit to the right. She stabbed again and he dodged to the left. Cassidy thrashed out at his middle when Ash ducked and rolled about her.

Butch came running at him his sword out but Ash merely flipped over him to grab onto a tree branch. He lifted himself up onto the low branch and up out of Butch's reach.

But unfortunately, as Ash spun about something hit him and hard. Ash went fling back into a nearby tree. His sword disappeared into thin air. He slid to the bottom. He ached everywhere and suddenly felt a sharp pain in his shoulder. He looked to find a golden dagger there. He yanked out to see yet another weapon covered in his blood. The handle of the blade had the carvings of the legendary animals in them.

"Don't you get tired of always hitting me in the shoulder!!" Ash shouted angrily.

Cassidy and Butch emerged from the shadows smiling.

"If it hits you, that is all that counts," Butch laughed.

"Game over, Ash. I'm afraid you lose," Cassidy smiled looking at the dagger as she spoke, "That dagger was dipped in a high poison from one of the most deadly beedrills in the world. You'll be dead in a matter of minutes without the antidote."

Ash could feel the white hot pain now leaking from the wound. It was turning his whole arm numb.

"Even if I die," Ash said bravely, "You wouldn't have your hands on the crystal. I will never… ever tell… you." Ash groaned as he began to lose his voice

"Hump," Butch sighed, "Oh pout. Like we really care."

Ash's vision began to fade. His eyes were losing the lively amber that had always been there.

"Why?" Ash whispered.

Butch looked a bit startled. But Cassidy merely yawned.

"You… don't you hear them… when you… sleep," Ash struggled with his words, "Don't you… hear… the screams… of those… children? Can't… you… hear them calling for… their mom and… dad? All those people you… killed. They never had… a… chance."

Butch's eyes went blank. Ash could sense the fear in them.

"You… could… change."

Cassidy let out another yawn, "Come on. Let's kill him now."

"But…wait."

"Don't tell me that lovey-dovey shit is getting to you, Butch," Cassidy hissed.

Butch lowered his head.

"Good then…"

Ash felt someone pulling him to his feet. His vision was terrible. It slid in and out of focus.

Butch was holding him while Cassidy held the sword.

"Goodbye." She hissed.

She thrust the blade forward but at the last second. Butch had pushed him out of the way.

It happened so suddenly Ash wasn't expecting it, neither was Cassidy.

Ash tumbled to the ground. Cassidy stood frozen the sword still through Butch's chest.

"I'm sorry Cass. I didn't want to hear the children's screams anymore," Butch smiled weakly. His eyes went blank.

She yanked the sword out of him and let him fall into her arms.

"Noooo!" She cried.

Butch lay lifeless him her arms. She sobbed uncontrollably hugging his chest close to hers.

"No. We were to rule the world together," Cassidy whispered. She looked down at the blood that soaked her hands and began to weep even more.

Ash was shocked. He crawled away as best as he could. Cassidy didn't notice him leaving. He managed as best of a run as he could. He reached his mom, first lifting her over his shoulder. Pikachu who was wake helped guide Ash out of the forest…

There were lights.

Bright white lights…

and then nothing.


Brock traveled down the road just to catch sight of a boy crossing in front of him. He slammed on the breaks just as the boy fell the ground. The boy was carrying a woman. He ran to their side and flipped lifted the woman up gently. In the car lights, Brock was surprised to find her as Delia.

He looked over at the boy. The pikachu managed to flip the boy over to stare at his face. The Pikachu flattened itself on the boy's chest and began to give of a mournful cry… Tears poured down its red cheeks… Brock knew it as a song that pokemon sang at a death of their loved ones.

Brock blinked.

He checked the boy's pulse to find none…

"Great…" Brock sighed.

Delia's eyes slowly opened. She took one look at Brock and then screamed, "What happened?! Where is Ash?"

"Ash. Mrs. Ketchum…" Brock began.

Suddenly he knew…

"Hurry. We need to get him to a hospital. Help me get him into the back. I have some blankets back there."


To Be Continued…

Please r + r!

Okay… Yes. yes. Sad. I know.

But…This didn't turn out like I meant it to.

Brock wasn't supposed to find out till later… but… I couldn't make Ash run all the way back to Cerulean. That would be cruel!

I wouldn't do that to Ash! And don't worry. Misty will find out soon! Kay?