Disclaimer and AN: Although the previous disclaimer in Chapter 1 still pertains, I felt I needed to add a few things to it. Another character added who belongs to me is Alex Dawson, Chad's brother. Even I do not care for new-trainer stories, but felt they were necessary for the way I wanted this fic to turn out. Besides, I thought Gary and Team Rocket were over-used as "the bad guys" so I added my own character. Which of the characters to be named the villain(s) is entirely up to you...
This chapter is also the most violent part of the fic and the PG-13 rating definitely comes into terms here.
Also, this fic has taken me a while to finish (over a year now) and I want to thank the people who chose not to badger me into finishing it as soon as possible. I wrote it not only for your entertainment, but for mine as well. I do appreciate the amount of encouragement and positive responses I received. If not for you I probably would have never been able to finish this. Thanks.
~Misty411~
P.S. There is a chance this may not be the end. An epilogue is very likely to follow...
6-1 "Secrets, secrets are no fun..."
Ash stared blankly at the two, a confused expression mixed with a worrisome gut feeling causing him to feel uneasy at what was about to be said.
"I'm listening," he said quietly as he sat down on one of the living-room chairs. Chad and Crystal also sat down, Chad with a pained expression and Crystal, her face contorted as if she were trying to find the right words to say.
"When I was a little girl," Crystal began, "my mom was in a terrible accident and was killed."
"I know." Ash paused at Crystal's shocked expression. "Chad told me all about the fire and I'm very sorry it happened. But what does this have to do with..."
"What you don't know, Ash, is that I started the fire." Crystal interrupted as she looked down in shame. Ash only stared wide-eyed.
"It was an accident. I...I didn't know she was even there. It was late and...Alex had asked me to meet him there. She must have heard me sneak out and followed me there 'cuz next thing I knew she startled me and I dropped the lantern in the hay stack...and...it...it happened so fast." She said as fresh tears streamed down her face. "She was like an angel. She made sure we made it out ok before she got herself out. She put us before herself and it killed her! There wasn't enough time...it collapsed on her," she sniffed, "Was an old barn after all. Wasn't much holdin' it up in the first place." Crystal wiped her eyes and looked up at Ash. He was in a state of shock. She took a deep breath and continued.
"Anyway, Alex and me had been secretly dating for sometime by then. We decided it would be best that way so as to not make things...weird between Chad and us. He was my best friend then, and I knew he wouldn't like me going out with his own brother. But then something happened...something I never expected to happen." She looked up at Chad, who had also been staring at the ground, and smiled.
"I fell in love."
He looked up at her quickly and stared intensely into her eyes.
"I was just too much of a fool to realize it until it was too late. I started getting edgy and I'd get angry at every little thing. Most the time I took it out on you, Chad, and I'm sorry. I was angry at myself for the fire, for starting a relationship I knew I shouldn't have, and for all the lies and names I put you through." She smiled disgustedly at herself. "I just couldn't take it anymore! All we ever did was fight, and it hurt too much to put up with, so...I ran. I ran as far away as I could. I wanted to get away from it all and put miles between me and...my past."
Chad only looked at her with tearful eyes. She turned to Ash. "Before I left, though, Alex caught me packing some of my stuff. He was angry. He got...violent and threatened to tell his parents and Chad everything that happened the night of the fire. I pleaded with him not to, but he wouldn't budge. He said I had to stay with him or else he'd make me sorry. So I stayed for the night. The next day when everyone woke up, I was gone. No goodbye or a note saying where I was going, too afraid Alex would find me."
"Crystal...what are you saying?" Ash whispered. He was now glaring daggers at her and she shivered.
"Remember...the day you found me and Alex in the park? He isn't one to let someone off easy...and I...I think Misty might be in danger..." Ash slammed his fist on the table and stood suddenly. Crystal bit her lip hard, tasting blood there, at the sight of the very angry boy.
"You mean to tell me that all this time, from the day in the park to your damn storytelling tonight about your screwed up life...you knew this entire time how dangerous he was!?" Ash screamed. Crystal only nodded, to scared and ashamed to do anything else. Ash winced at her repulsively and turned toward the door.
"Wait, Ash, please! I'm sorry!" Crystal wailed after him. Ash turned slowly toward her.
"If anything happens to Misty tonight, I'll never forgive you...," he warned. Then he was gone.
6-2 "Secrets, secrets hurt someone..."
Ash ran as fast as his feet would carry him. Instinct told him where they were as he neared the entrance to the Pallet Town City Park.
****************
"So you're here by yourself then?" Alex grinned at the redhead standing before him. She looked at him strangely and nodded. "I don't want to talk about it..." She said as she turned to leave.
"Then lets not talk at all," he said as he grabbed her by the arm and threw her against the tree.
"What the..." Misty began but was silenced with a swift slap in the face. She tried to scream but his hand covered her mouth, allowing only a faint peep to escape her lips. No matter how much she tried to struggle out of his grasp, he was way to strong. He overpowered her easily and he knew it. Tears streamed down her face helplessly, as she felt the dress being literally torn to pieces. She new this was it and imagined herself leaving this world in such a degrading way. She closed her eyes and was just about to give up hope when she suddenly felt something knock Alex off of her at the speed of light and throw him to the ground. She opened her eyes and there before her eyes was her savor, towering above the fallen Alex with a menacing look in his eyes.
"Ash!" she cried out to him.
He turned toward her and looked at her with concerned eyes. Misty's eyes went wide.
"Ash look out!" she screamed. He heard movement behind him and turned just in time to see Alex coming at him with a knife, just missing his left shoulder and wounding his arm instead. Ash jumped back and clutched his arm painfully. Alex flipped the knife in his hand, glaring at Ash with eyes as dead as the Black Sea. He came at him again, but Ash was too quick for him and dodged out of the way. Again and again Alex ran toward Ash, getting dangerously closer each time. Ash was slowing more and more because of his arm and Misty new she had to do something quick. She looked around for something, anything to attract Alex's attention away from Ash. Just then she heard something running toward them and saw a bright yellow blur rush past her.
"This is it you little punk. You're gonna pay you little piece of..."
"PIKACHUUUUUUUUUU!" Came a cry beside them as a flash of lightning struck Alex frying him and blasting him sky high.
"Pikachu!" Ash smiled. "You followed me didn't you, old buddy?" he said as he slumped to his knees to pet his little friend.
"Pi Pikachu!" it smiled.
"Ash, your hurt bad." Misty said as she ran over and inspected his cut. Ash grimaced, "I'll be just fine."
Misty stopped and looked into his eyes.
"Thankyou," she whispered as a tear fell from her eye. Ash stared at her face for a moment, then took his hand and wiped the tear away. He took her in his arms, carefully, and she sobbed into his shoulder.
6-3 "Where we are..."
After the incident in the park, Misty walked Ash to the hospital to tend to the gash in his arm and to get herself checked out. She called Officer Jenny to let her know about Alex and charge him with attempted manslaughter and rape. She also called Chad and Crystal to let them know they were all right. They came by shortly after to take pikachu home and offer them their help if needed. She stayed the entire night with him until they were finished and released him to go home. It was nearing midnight when they left the hospital.
"Misty?" Ash stopped walking. She turned toward him.
"What? What's wrong?"
"I have a confession to make. I know it's late and everything, but, well, seeing you against that tree, pinned by Alex. It made me realize that life is too precious to waste a moment of, and I need to tell you before I might possibly lose my chance."
"Ash, you're scaring me..."
"It's nothing to be scared about, but I can't tell you here in the middle of the road. Come with me," he said as he took her hand and lead her to the field near his house. The place of their first kiss.
They both noticed the small, cool breeze and the warm air surrounding them. The night sky was clear of clouds and the moon and stars shone brightly.
Ash stopped and looked up at the sky.
"Remember when we danced tonight and you asked me that question?"
Misty's eyes fell as she sadly nodded. 'So this is what was going to happen? He was going to turn her down right here and now,' she thought bitterly.
"Look Ash, I made a mistake ok? I jumped to the wrong conclusions and I'm sorry," she said as she turned to leave toward the house.
"Wait Misty."
"I said I was sorry Ash, so can we please just forget it happened?" She said angrily as tears were forming in her eyes.
"But Misty..." Silent tears were streaming down her face now.
"I don't want to hear..."
Just then she felt two strong arms encircle her waist and lovingly pull her into their grasp. Ash nestled his face close to her ear and gently whispered the words they had both been yearning to hear for so long.
"I love you."...
_______________________________________________________________________
Again, expect an epilogue soon. I hope you enjoyed this! Ta ta!
This chapter is also the most violent part of the fic and the PG-13 rating definitely comes into terms here.
Also, this fic has taken me a while to finish (over a year now) and I want to thank the people who chose not to badger me into finishing it as soon as possible. I wrote it not only for your entertainment, but for mine as well. I do appreciate the amount of encouragement and positive responses I received. If not for you I probably would have never been able to finish this. Thanks.
~Misty411~
P.S. There is a chance this may not be the end. An epilogue is very likely to follow...
6-1 "Secrets, secrets are no fun..."
Ash stared blankly at the two, a confused expression mixed with a worrisome gut feeling causing him to feel uneasy at what was about to be said.
"I'm listening," he said quietly as he sat down on one of the living-room chairs. Chad and Crystal also sat down, Chad with a pained expression and Crystal, her face contorted as if she were trying to find the right words to say.
"When I was a little girl," Crystal began, "my mom was in a terrible accident and was killed."
"I know." Ash paused at Crystal's shocked expression. "Chad told me all about the fire and I'm very sorry it happened. But what does this have to do with..."
"What you don't know, Ash, is that I started the fire." Crystal interrupted as she looked down in shame. Ash only stared wide-eyed.
"It was an accident. I...I didn't know she was even there. It was late and...Alex had asked me to meet him there. She must have heard me sneak out and followed me there 'cuz next thing I knew she startled me and I dropped the lantern in the hay stack...and...it...it happened so fast." She said as fresh tears streamed down her face. "She was like an angel. She made sure we made it out ok before she got herself out. She put us before herself and it killed her! There wasn't enough time...it collapsed on her," she sniffed, "Was an old barn after all. Wasn't much holdin' it up in the first place." Crystal wiped her eyes and looked up at Ash. He was in a state of shock. She took a deep breath and continued.
"Anyway, Alex and me had been secretly dating for sometime by then. We decided it would be best that way so as to not make things...weird between Chad and us. He was my best friend then, and I knew he wouldn't like me going out with his own brother. But then something happened...something I never expected to happen." She looked up at Chad, who had also been staring at the ground, and smiled.
"I fell in love."
He looked up at her quickly and stared intensely into her eyes.
"I was just too much of a fool to realize it until it was too late. I started getting edgy and I'd get angry at every little thing. Most the time I took it out on you, Chad, and I'm sorry. I was angry at myself for the fire, for starting a relationship I knew I shouldn't have, and for all the lies and names I put you through." She smiled disgustedly at herself. "I just couldn't take it anymore! All we ever did was fight, and it hurt too much to put up with, so...I ran. I ran as far away as I could. I wanted to get away from it all and put miles between me and...my past."
Chad only looked at her with tearful eyes. She turned to Ash. "Before I left, though, Alex caught me packing some of my stuff. He was angry. He got...violent and threatened to tell his parents and Chad everything that happened the night of the fire. I pleaded with him not to, but he wouldn't budge. He said I had to stay with him or else he'd make me sorry. So I stayed for the night. The next day when everyone woke up, I was gone. No goodbye or a note saying where I was going, too afraid Alex would find me."
"Crystal...what are you saying?" Ash whispered. He was now glaring daggers at her and she shivered.
"Remember...the day you found me and Alex in the park? He isn't one to let someone off easy...and I...I think Misty might be in danger..." Ash slammed his fist on the table and stood suddenly. Crystal bit her lip hard, tasting blood there, at the sight of the very angry boy.
"You mean to tell me that all this time, from the day in the park to your damn storytelling tonight about your screwed up life...you knew this entire time how dangerous he was!?" Ash screamed. Crystal only nodded, to scared and ashamed to do anything else. Ash winced at her repulsively and turned toward the door.
"Wait, Ash, please! I'm sorry!" Crystal wailed after him. Ash turned slowly toward her.
"If anything happens to Misty tonight, I'll never forgive you...," he warned. Then he was gone.
6-2 "Secrets, secrets hurt someone..."
Ash ran as fast as his feet would carry him. Instinct told him where they were as he neared the entrance to the Pallet Town City Park.
****************
"So you're here by yourself then?" Alex grinned at the redhead standing before him. She looked at him strangely and nodded. "I don't want to talk about it..." She said as she turned to leave.
"Then lets not talk at all," he said as he grabbed her by the arm and threw her against the tree.
"What the..." Misty began but was silenced with a swift slap in the face. She tried to scream but his hand covered her mouth, allowing only a faint peep to escape her lips. No matter how much she tried to struggle out of his grasp, he was way to strong. He overpowered her easily and he knew it. Tears streamed down her face helplessly, as she felt the dress being literally torn to pieces. She new this was it and imagined herself leaving this world in such a degrading way. She closed her eyes and was just about to give up hope when she suddenly felt something knock Alex off of her at the speed of light and throw him to the ground. She opened her eyes and there before her eyes was her savor, towering above the fallen Alex with a menacing look in his eyes.
"Ash!" she cried out to him.
He turned toward her and looked at her with concerned eyes. Misty's eyes went wide.
"Ash look out!" she screamed. He heard movement behind him and turned just in time to see Alex coming at him with a knife, just missing his left shoulder and wounding his arm instead. Ash jumped back and clutched his arm painfully. Alex flipped the knife in his hand, glaring at Ash with eyes as dead as the Black Sea. He came at him again, but Ash was too quick for him and dodged out of the way. Again and again Alex ran toward Ash, getting dangerously closer each time. Ash was slowing more and more because of his arm and Misty new she had to do something quick. She looked around for something, anything to attract Alex's attention away from Ash. Just then she heard something running toward them and saw a bright yellow blur rush past her.
"This is it you little punk. You're gonna pay you little piece of..."
"PIKACHUUUUUUUUUU!" Came a cry beside them as a flash of lightning struck Alex frying him and blasting him sky high.
"Pikachu!" Ash smiled. "You followed me didn't you, old buddy?" he said as he slumped to his knees to pet his little friend.
"Pi Pikachu!" it smiled.
"Ash, your hurt bad." Misty said as she ran over and inspected his cut. Ash grimaced, "I'll be just fine."
Misty stopped and looked into his eyes.
"Thankyou," she whispered as a tear fell from her eye. Ash stared at her face for a moment, then took his hand and wiped the tear away. He took her in his arms, carefully, and she sobbed into his shoulder.
6-3 "Where we are..."
After the incident in the park, Misty walked Ash to the hospital to tend to the gash in his arm and to get herself checked out. She called Officer Jenny to let her know about Alex and charge him with attempted manslaughter and rape. She also called Chad and Crystal to let them know they were all right. They came by shortly after to take pikachu home and offer them their help if needed. She stayed the entire night with him until they were finished and released him to go home. It was nearing midnight when they left the hospital.
"Misty?" Ash stopped walking. She turned toward him.
"What? What's wrong?"
"I have a confession to make. I know it's late and everything, but, well, seeing you against that tree, pinned by Alex. It made me realize that life is too precious to waste a moment of, and I need to tell you before I might possibly lose my chance."
"Ash, you're scaring me..."
"It's nothing to be scared about, but I can't tell you here in the middle of the road. Come with me," he said as he took her hand and lead her to the field near his house. The place of their first kiss.
They both noticed the small, cool breeze and the warm air surrounding them. The night sky was clear of clouds and the moon and stars shone brightly.
Ash stopped and looked up at the sky.
"Remember when we danced tonight and you asked me that question?"
Misty's eyes fell as she sadly nodded. 'So this is what was going to happen? He was going to turn her down right here and now,' she thought bitterly.
"Look Ash, I made a mistake ok? I jumped to the wrong conclusions and I'm sorry," she said as she turned to leave toward the house.
"Wait Misty."
"I said I was sorry Ash, so can we please just forget it happened?" She said angrily as tears were forming in her eyes.
"But Misty..." Silent tears were streaming down her face now.
"I don't want to hear..."
Just then she felt two strong arms encircle her waist and lovingly pull her into their grasp. Ash nestled his face close to her ear and gently whispered the words they had both been yearning to hear for so long.
"I love you."...
_______________________________________________________________________
Again, expect an epilogue soon. I hope you enjoyed this! Ta ta!
