Crimson Tears

Chapter Eleven: Confessions

Ash sat at a small wooden desk he had convinced Gary to get for him. It wasn't much. But it was a flat surface. So there he sat using a small source of light from his flash light. He worked on something, small clicks and scuffles for a new tool filled the air. Pikachu watched from a distance. He had been doing this for days.

Ash put down his little wrench and smiled, "There. All done."

Pikachu jumped onto his shoulder. He looked down at what ever he was working on.

'Does it work?'

Ash lifted the lid of the locket and a soft sound of music filled the air.

"Perfect," Ash smiled. "Wasn't in that bad of condition actually."

Pikachu smiled as its ears twitched to the music.

'What are you going to about-' Pikachu asked suddenly.

Ash shook his head, "It's inside a girl's heart."

He shut the locket.


Ash heard voices.

Did he die?

He gradually opened his eyes. The whole place was a blur. But slowly a face above him swam into view.

"Hiya Ash!"

Ash jumped up suddenly almost falling off the bed he was on, "Richie?! I thought… But you-"

Richie smiled, "I thought the same thing about you. Why didn't you keep in touch?"

Ash blinked again. The room before him sank in. He must have been in some kind of pokemon center. His gaze trailed back to Richie.

It was true that three years had been a long time. Richie was a whole lot taller now. He still had the goofy looking hat, although Ash had to admit he still had his. Richie's eyes were a deeper green now but his face had stayed pretty much the same. He still looked remarkably like Ash did. His brown hair was a bit shorter but not by much. And unlike Ash, he still had hat hair.

His clothing was simple. A green shirt with a dark green vest over it. A master ball was sewn on the right corner of the vest. He had baggy forest green pants and the same black tennis.

Ash bit his lip, "I'm sorry, Richie…"

He felt arms wrap about him. Richie hugged him.

"I don't care, Ash," Richie said as he pulled apart. "I just glad you didn't die for real."

Tears shown in his eyes. Ash tried hard to hide his own. They hugged again. Best friends reunited.


"To Butch."

The glasses rose. Cassidy kept her face hidden. She left the funeral and special awards ceremony.

Butch had died in honor of Team Rocket.

But Cassidy knew what had really happened. She couldn't bare the truth. She pushed past the people, running out of the head quarters for some fresh air. She let out a deep breath of sadness.

"I'm sorry."

Cassidy spun about to see Jessie, James, and Meowth standing a bit father away from her. All of them had looks of pity in their eyes.

"Cassidy, maybe… maybe this was a sign," Jessie tried again holding out her hand to her.

Cassidy pulled away.

"Please Cassidy. We are only trying to help."

Cassidy let out cold sneer.

"Traitors! You should be happy I don't turn you in like the low lives you are!" Cassidy screamed. "You talk of help? You are just as bad as him!"

"Cassidy, you know… and I know… Ash didn't hold that sword," James said somberly. "Ash wouldn't of let Butch die. Butch died protecting good. He only wanted to live the right way again. You can too, Cassidy. It isn't too late."

"DON'T YOU DARE TALK TO ME ABOUT WHAT BUTCH THOUGHT!" Cassidy wailed. "DON'T YOU DARE TELL ME WHAT BUTCH FELT. BUTCH AND ME HAD BIG PLANS!"

Jessie and James backed up while Meowth sat still watching.

"What plans?" Meowth asked bravely.

There was a cold silence lingering before the group. Cassidy turned away, "I am going to finish what we set out to do."

James grabbed her wrist, "Please Cassidy. Don't! Butch wouldn't want-"

She smacked him sharply in the face. James let go; rubbing his cheek sorely.

"Get away from me," Cassidy said, her face dangerously nearing his. "You are nothing more than Ash's pets. And I will be sure to strike that murderer down so hard that... no. I will kill his girl. That way, he'll be worse then dead."

She sent out Drowsee. They all flinched.

"Teleport."

And then she was gone.

James looked over at Jessie, "I suggest we warn the twerp."

"She wouldn't of told us if she didn't want Ash to know… She's gonna somehow lead the two of them into a trap," Jessie hissed.

"Or maybe… maybe she is gonna get dat red stone," Meowth pondered.

They both looked down at him.

"Well that was their plan at the beginning. She is probably force the location of the stone out of Ash…"

"With Misty?"

"Maybe…"


Ash walked slowly out into the lobby with Richie's help. He was immediately attacked by several people. Pikachu and Sparky leapt on top of him licking his cheek happily while Delia pulled him into a bear hug. Everyone else stood around him laughing and talking.

Ash smiled.

Ash sat down on the couch his mother still having his arms wrapped about him. Pikachu sat on his other side.

"You don't have to worry about any one knowing you are here Ash," Brock spoke up suddenly. "This is Pewter gym's pokemon center. Only the gym leader here can use it. And since that is my dad…"

Ash smiled, "Brock- I must of gave you a shock back there… What happened?"

Brock sighed, "Well, you are lucky I caught on so quickly. I almost ran over you and your mom. I managed to smuggle you in here and… then… Joy here had a bit of antidote."

A young pink haired girl behind him smiled and nodded, "Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Ketchum. A real honor."

Ash flushed.

He looked about at all the people around him. His Mom, Brock, Richie, Tracey, Sparky, Pikachu, Gary…

Ash flinched when he met his rival's eye.

"So Ashy Boy. We have something to discuss here, don't we?" Gary said through gritted teeth. "Like why you felt you could steal my car and leave it in Cerulean?"

Ash blushed a deeper red. He shifted uneasily in his seat.

"Sorry Gary." Ash muttered. He couldn't bring himself to look Gary in the eye.

"Well, explain," Gary sighed. "What happened tonight? Delia was able to fill us in for everything before she got knocked out. How did you get that poison in you? How did you escape?"

Ash was silent. He knew he would have force himself to tell them some time about Butch.

"I- I-" Ash muttered, "I just ran."

Tracey smiled, "Come on. I don't think it matters now, Gary. I mean he is alive and well. We can all go back to our normal-"

"Wait," Ash said pleadingly. "There is something you have to know."

All eyes fell back on Ash.

"I don't think we will ever be safe again… for two reasons."

Delia looked at her son sadly. She knew what one of the reasons were.

"In my family… we… I carry the crimson tear."

There were a few audible gasps. Joy dropped a tray of stuff to the floor.

Ash bit his lip before continuing, "Team Rocket attacked Pallet that day to get it... and me. I know they won't get the stone any time soon… but… more and more people are finding out I am alive. Soon everyone will know I am and then there will be problems." Ash muttered, "With you guys knowing I have brought you into danger. They can use you to get to me. They too don't want to news of me to slip out…"

There was a deadly silence till Tracey spoke, "What's the second reason."

"Butch is dead. He died protecting me… and now… no doubt… I am on several people's hit lists."


Ash found out later he had been out for several days. They wouldn't let him leave the center. They wanted to make sure he would be healthy before they put him back under Gary's protection.

Ash looked out the pokemon gym's window. It was cool in here. It reminded him of his training days. He gazed over at the gym's interior once more. It still looked like a rocky mountain side. He sighed. He looked out at the stars again.

"Hey. Twerp."

Ash spun around to addressed in such a fashion. Out of the ceiling , came three figures dressed all in black.

Ash smiled, "Hey Team Rocket."

Jessie and James pulled down their hoods to revel their faces. They looked exactly as the did before except a bit taller and James was a more built.

Meowth had trouble getting his hood off. He ran about in circles as the sock like mask suffocated him. James and Jessie rolled their eyes. They yanked it off him just as Meowth fell to the floor in exhaustion.

"Thanks." He gave weak reply.

Ash grinned and shook his head sadly, "I am sure you aren't just here to give me a good laugh."

"No. And we weren't here to make a fool of ourselves either," Jessie snarled giving Meowth the evil eye.

"Ash. We… We care about you," said James finally. "And we don't want you to get hurt."

"You are da only real friend we gots," Meowth whispered.

"And… we want warn you but…" Jessie looked over him sadly. "We can't."

"Cause we know what you will do," James sighed.

"You're like our pesky little brother," added Jessie. "And… as much as we hate to admit it, we really don't want you to die."

Ash looked at the suspiciously, "What is up?"

"Cassidy is gonna kill you Ash," Jessie moaned. "But she is one unhappy camper."

"She is after Misty," Meowth muttered weakly.

Ash blinked. His eyes a lit into angry flames.

"She what?!"


"Ash, you can't go alone," James shouted after Ash had grabbed his stuff and started heading up the trail towards Cerulean.

"I am not going alone. I have Pikachu," Ash called back.

Jessie and James caught up to him and pulled him back.

"Now listen, Ash," Jessie hissed. "We have seen what you and you pikachu can do. And we agree, you are far more powerful then before. But we have seen what Cassidy's rage can do. She will kill you and Misty. She will kill everyone you love."

"She has no powers," Ash laughed.

"She has the Golden Glove of Herutte," James said quietly. "She just needs the stone-"

"She won't trick me this time!" Ash hissed.

"You need to take someone with you. At least…"

"I'll go," A voice behind them called.

They all jumped and spun to face-

"Richie?"

"I'm a Master too." Richie smiled touching his two finger tips together. Electricity flowed through them.

"Unlike you, Ash. I really got the position of Lighting. Shortly after you left," Richie smiled. "There is a spot that you really deserve that they didn't let you have before. If we make it though this… I'll make sure they recognize you for who you are."

Ash blushed again, "Thanks Rich."


It took them awhile but they finally reached Cerulean. Ash stared sadly at the gym that loomed over them. It was night once more. No one was out. Ash stared at the door of the gym and then turned to Richie.

"I can't do this. I've changed my mind."

"Go," Richie smiled encouragingly. "You have to."


Misty walked downstairs just to run into Lily.

"Misty… I have something important to tell you."

Misty looked at Lily blankly, "What is it?"

"It's about Aj…"

"What?"

"Misty…"

Misty turned to see Aj standing by the door looking pale. Lily looked at him surprised and then turned back to Misty.

"What is this?" Misty asked; looking at Lily and then back to Aj. "Are you dating him?"

Ash and Lily both fell over.

"No." Lily barked, "Of course not."

"Then what is it?"

"Misty, Ash isn't dead," Aj whispered.

Misty looked over at him in surprise, "He isn't? Then were is he?"

Aj reached into his pocket and placed a red and white base ball cap on his head. He flipped it backwards casually. Aj smiled and waved,

"Hi Misty. I'm back."

Misty turned a pale ghostly white and then fainted…

To Be Continued…

Please r + r!

Yes! And so Misty found out. Everyone happy? Of course not. Misty fainted… The next chapter is a bit sad. I warn ya.