Disclaimer: Ch.1 people, you know the drill! ^_~

No Need For A Birthday!

Chapter 5

He had been walking for hours. The bright sunlight that had annoyed his eyes so much only an hour ago was gone as well, and with it had went the small bit of warmth it had brought that he hadn't been as grateful for as he should have been. He hadn't thought to bring more than a light jacket because they were expecting to make it over the snow-covered mountain in the first few hours. He never dreamed it would take them days.

His body temperature was going steadily down. He was wet from all of the snow, hungry, freezing, and tired beyond belief, but he had to keep going. It was necessary for him to trudge wearily on, mentally and physically exhausted, trying to accomplish the impossible task of finding his friends underneath a mountain of snow and ice. He was the only one left to help them. He HAD to help them. He knew he would find them, he wouldn't leave the mountain until he did, and he certainly wouldn't die until then, but he had to wonder...

Would it be too late when he found them?

At first his common sense had told him to go to Cerulean City, but he couldn't leave his friends behind. He just couldn't. Ash was probably still alive, he thought with a soft chuckle, that boy could live through just about anything, but Misty was, well... different. He had watched her go down under a wave of snow while her body crumpled like a soda can that had just been stepped on, and he knew she had to be hurt. Badly enough to need serious medical help, if not worse. His mind kept screaming at him, GO TO CERULEAN! YOU COULD GET HELP THERE!!! He listened to it, repeating on and on that very same phrase, until he couldn't take it anymore.

"BUT WHAT IF THEY'RE DEAD WHEN I GET BACK?!?!" He screamed to the unyielding mountain peak. Of course, it didn't answer.

He crumpled to his knees, his last burst of emotion taking the only remaining energy he had and tossing it carelessly away. As his face fell into the snow and he began to fall peacefully into the sleep he had hoped for, and yet dreaded the entire time he was searching, he could only grasp one of his thoughts, which were flying crazily around like confused butterflies at the moment.

Will I ever wake up again?

"Awww, who really cares," Brock whispered softly, just before falling blissfully into the sleep that he had been trying to keep himself away from for just a few hours too long.

So, how'd you like it? I know, I know, REALLY depressing, but I PROMISE, I'll get to the good part in the next chapter or two, o.k? Thanks for all the really great review guys and gals, and I'm REALLY glad you like my story!

Fanfictionally Yours,

Lady C.