The Ultimate Sacrifice
Chapter 1: An Unexpected Turn
"Ash! Honey, where are you?" Misty called through the house. She was looking for her missing husband.
"I'm in here, Mist. In the bedroom." Ash responded. He was lying on their bed resting. He had just about fallen asleep when he heard Misty calling him.
"Ash, are you all right? Why are you still in bed at 1:30 in the afternoon?" Misty was suddenly very concerned about her husband. Ash was usually up at the crack of dawn and didn't stop until late at night and it was unlike him to seem so lacking in energy.
"I don't really know. I've just been really tired lately. It's like all of my energy has just been drained."
"Well I'm worried about you. You really haven't been yourself the past couple of weeks." Misty stopped when she noticed that Ash had dozed off. She walked over to the bed and pulled the blanket up to his shoulders. "I love you, sweetheart. Get some rest so maybe you'll feel better." Misty walked to the door and slipped out of the bedroom and, taking a quick glance at Ash's sleeping form on the bed, closed the door behind her.
As she went about straightening things up in the house, which was what Misty did whenever she was worried or upset, she couldn't stop thinking about how tired and weak Ash had seemed lately. Misty was racking her brain trying to figure out a way that she could try to help Ash but she only frustrated herself when she came to be at a loss for ideas. Just then Misty heard someone knocking on the door.
When Misty opened the door she was happy to see Tracey and Carla standing there, having stopped by for a visit. Misty really needed a distraction right now and having visitors seemed to be a perfect one.
"Hi, Tracey. Hi, Carla. What brings you guys by?" Misty asked.
"Hey, Misty. We had to run an errand for Professor Oak and on the way back we thought we'd stop in for a few minutes if you guys aren't busy." Tracey said.
"I'm really glad you decided to. Would you like to come in?" Misty stepped out of the door to allow Tracey and Carla to enter and then closed the door back quietly. "We'll have to keep our voices down for now though because Ash is taking a nap in the bedroom."
"That's strange. From what I've seen of Ash and what Tracey has told me about him, he's very energetic. Not the kind of person who would be sleeping at this time in the afternoon." Carla observed.
"Yeah. I don't understand either. I remember back when we were traveling together helping Ash train for the Orange League, Misty. There were times when you and I both would be so tired that we'd be on the verge of collapsing and Ash was just determined to keep going for as long as possible." Tracey shook his head. "I hope Ash is okay. This isn't like him at all."
"Believe me, Tracey, nobody in the world hopes that more than I do." Misty sighed.
"Hey, Misty. I heard voices. Were you talking to someone? Oh, hi Tracey. When did you and Carla stop by?" Ash had awakened from his nap and was now standing in the living room, smiling at his wife and their friends.
"We just got here a few minutes ago. Misty said that you were asleep." Tracey said.
"I was asleep and I feel a little bit better after I took a nap. I really don't know why I've been so tired lately." Ash remarked.
"Well, I hope you're okay, Ash." Carla said quietly.
"Hey, Tracey. Why don't you and Carla stay and have lunch with us?" Misty suggested, changing the subject.
"That's a good idea! What do you guys think?" Ash asked, clearly happy about Misty's idea.
* * * * *
While Misty and Carla were in the kitchen working on making some sandwiches and things for them to have for lunch, Tracey and Ash were sitting on the couch in the living room watching television and talking.
"Hey, Trace. Can I talk to you about something?" Ash asked suddenly.
"Sure. You can always talk to me about anything." Tracey answered, caught totally off guard.
"Well, I didn't want to say anything about this in front of the girls because I didn't want to alarm Misty, but not only have I been tired lately but I haven't been feeling all that well. I feel okay now and I hope that it'll last awhile." Ash said quietly, sounding somewhat distracted.
Before Tracey could say anything in response to Ash's comment, they heard Misty and Carla come out of the kitchen with the food for lunch. They were both a little worried but had no idea of what was going on in the living room.
"Hey. Are we going to eat lunch or are you guys going to sit there and stare at the television all day?" Carla asked, trying to break the tension that she had noticed when she and Misty had entered the room.
"We were just waiting on you guys. I'm pretty hungry. Let's have some lunch." Ash smiled as he kissed Misty on the cheek.
As they were eating lunch, the friends talked about things that were going on in their lives and tried their best to pretend like nothing was wrong. This was extremely hard for Misty who just sat there quietly listening to the conversation, but said little of anything at all.
"Hey, Tracey. What's it like for you and Carla to have my mom around all the time?" Ash asked with innocent curiosity. Delia and Professor Oak had gotten married not long before Ash and Misty so Delia moved to the lab and let Ash and Misty have the house.
"I'll have to admit it was a little strange at first but we're getting adjusted to it. Professor Oak seems like a different person since he married your mom, Ash. He is definitely a whole lot happier." Tracey smiled.
"Yeah and we've all been eating really well too. You're mom is a fantastic cook." Carla cut in.
"That's my mom." Ash laughed.
"I've noticed when we've seen Ash's mom that she's a lot happier too. I know how she feels because I've felt the same way ever since I married Ash." Misty said quietly as she took Ash's hand.
* * * * *
A little while later as the girls were cleaning things up from lunch, Ash and Tracey were once again left to look for a way to amuse themselves. It was Ash who was the first to come up with an idea.
"Hey, Trace. I know what we can do. Why don't we have a Pokemon battle out in the backyard. What do you think?" Ash suggested eagerly.
"That's an idea. Why don't we have a two on two battle." Tracey said cautiously.
"You're on. Let's go out back and we can get down to it." Ash laughed and hurried out into the backyard with Tracey right behind him.
* * * * *
Out in the yard, Ash and Tracey were preparing to have a two on two battle. They had set up the terms of the battle and after taking a few minutes to ponder on their choice of Pokemon it was time for them to start their first battle. This battle was going to put Pikachu up against Tracey's Venonat.
"Okay, Pikachu. Even though this is a friendly battle you should still do your best to win." Ash said to the electric mouse Pokemon standing next to him.
"Pika." (Right.) Pikachu agreed confidently.
"Give it all you've got, Venonat." Tracey patted his Pokemon on the head as he spoke.
"Veno nat." (Sure thing.)
As soon as the two Pokemon were in their places, the battle started full out. Ash lead off with a confusing agility attack that left Tracey unable to make a move for a few moments. Then Tracey caught a chance and decided to take it.
"Okay, Venonat. Move in and try a tackle attack on Pikachu." Tracey called.
"Pikachu, jump out of Venonat's way!" Ash countered as Pikachu followed the command and caused Venonat to bounce off of the back of the house, defeating him.
"Nuts! Return, Venonat." Tracey cried as he recalled Venonat and pulled out another Pokeball. "Your turn, Scyther."
"Scyther!" (Let's go!) Scyther yelled as he landed on the grass and faced Pikachu.
"Here we go, Scyther. Let's make a comeback. Try a Swords Dance!" Tracey commanded his Pokemon as Scyther began slashing his claws and rapidly advancing on Pikachu.
The sudden move on Tracey's part left Ash with very little time to think. After a momentary panic Ash decided to make a move that was probably his only chance as he watched Scyther closing in on Pikachu.
"Pikachu! Duck under Scyther's claws and then come back up with a Thunderbolt!" Ash yelled as he ducked his friend's flying claws just in time and stood back to turn toward Scyther.
"Pi ka CHUUUUU!" Pikachu's victory call rang out as his attack connected and Scyther fainted, giving Ash and Pikachu the victory.
"Good job, Scyther. You gave a great effort." Tracey smiled as he recalled Scyther. "Nice job Ash.
Ash was busy congratulating Pikachu and smiled when he heard Tracey's comment. "Thanks. It was a good battle. We should do this type of thing a lot more often."
Then Ash and Tracey turned and headed back toward the house, motioning for Pikachu to follow them. They hadn't gotten very far when Tracey noticed that Ash was looking really pale and knew something was seriously wrong.
"Are you okay, Ash? What's the matter?" Tracey asked, his voice full of concern.
"Suddenly I just don't feel well at all." Ash whispered almost inaudibly as his eyes rolled back in his head and he collapsed on the ground. Pikachu immediately took off into the house to get Misty as Tracey stood there looking on in shock.
Chapter 1: An Unexpected Turn
"Ash! Honey, where are you?" Misty called through the house. She was looking for her missing husband.
"I'm in here, Mist. In the bedroom." Ash responded. He was lying on their bed resting. He had just about fallen asleep when he heard Misty calling him.
"Ash, are you all right? Why are you still in bed at 1:30 in the afternoon?" Misty was suddenly very concerned about her husband. Ash was usually up at the crack of dawn and didn't stop until late at night and it was unlike him to seem so lacking in energy.
"I don't really know. I've just been really tired lately. It's like all of my energy has just been drained."
"Well I'm worried about you. You really haven't been yourself the past couple of weeks." Misty stopped when she noticed that Ash had dozed off. She walked over to the bed and pulled the blanket up to his shoulders. "I love you, sweetheart. Get some rest so maybe you'll feel better." Misty walked to the door and slipped out of the bedroom and, taking a quick glance at Ash's sleeping form on the bed, closed the door behind her.
As she went about straightening things up in the house, which was what Misty did whenever she was worried or upset, she couldn't stop thinking about how tired and weak Ash had seemed lately. Misty was racking her brain trying to figure out a way that she could try to help Ash but she only frustrated herself when she came to be at a loss for ideas. Just then Misty heard someone knocking on the door.
When Misty opened the door she was happy to see Tracey and Carla standing there, having stopped by for a visit. Misty really needed a distraction right now and having visitors seemed to be a perfect one.
"Hi, Tracey. Hi, Carla. What brings you guys by?" Misty asked.
"Hey, Misty. We had to run an errand for Professor Oak and on the way back we thought we'd stop in for a few minutes if you guys aren't busy." Tracey said.
"I'm really glad you decided to. Would you like to come in?" Misty stepped out of the door to allow Tracey and Carla to enter and then closed the door back quietly. "We'll have to keep our voices down for now though because Ash is taking a nap in the bedroom."
"That's strange. From what I've seen of Ash and what Tracey has told me about him, he's very energetic. Not the kind of person who would be sleeping at this time in the afternoon." Carla observed.
"Yeah. I don't understand either. I remember back when we were traveling together helping Ash train for the Orange League, Misty. There were times when you and I both would be so tired that we'd be on the verge of collapsing and Ash was just determined to keep going for as long as possible." Tracey shook his head. "I hope Ash is okay. This isn't like him at all."
"Believe me, Tracey, nobody in the world hopes that more than I do." Misty sighed.
"Hey, Misty. I heard voices. Were you talking to someone? Oh, hi Tracey. When did you and Carla stop by?" Ash had awakened from his nap and was now standing in the living room, smiling at his wife and their friends.
"We just got here a few minutes ago. Misty said that you were asleep." Tracey said.
"I was asleep and I feel a little bit better after I took a nap. I really don't know why I've been so tired lately." Ash remarked.
"Well, I hope you're okay, Ash." Carla said quietly.
"Hey, Tracey. Why don't you and Carla stay and have lunch with us?" Misty suggested, changing the subject.
"That's a good idea! What do you guys think?" Ash asked, clearly happy about Misty's idea.
* * * * *
While Misty and Carla were in the kitchen working on making some sandwiches and things for them to have for lunch, Tracey and Ash were sitting on the couch in the living room watching television and talking.
"Hey, Trace. Can I talk to you about something?" Ash asked suddenly.
"Sure. You can always talk to me about anything." Tracey answered, caught totally off guard.
"Well, I didn't want to say anything about this in front of the girls because I didn't want to alarm Misty, but not only have I been tired lately but I haven't been feeling all that well. I feel okay now and I hope that it'll last awhile." Ash said quietly, sounding somewhat distracted.
Before Tracey could say anything in response to Ash's comment, they heard Misty and Carla come out of the kitchen with the food for lunch. They were both a little worried but had no idea of what was going on in the living room.
"Hey. Are we going to eat lunch or are you guys going to sit there and stare at the television all day?" Carla asked, trying to break the tension that she had noticed when she and Misty had entered the room.
"We were just waiting on you guys. I'm pretty hungry. Let's have some lunch." Ash smiled as he kissed Misty on the cheek.
As they were eating lunch, the friends talked about things that were going on in their lives and tried their best to pretend like nothing was wrong. This was extremely hard for Misty who just sat there quietly listening to the conversation, but said little of anything at all.
"Hey, Tracey. What's it like for you and Carla to have my mom around all the time?" Ash asked with innocent curiosity. Delia and Professor Oak had gotten married not long before Ash and Misty so Delia moved to the lab and let Ash and Misty have the house.
"I'll have to admit it was a little strange at first but we're getting adjusted to it. Professor Oak seems like a different person since he married your mom, Ash. He is definitely a whole lot happier." Tracey smiled.
"Yeah and we've all been eating really well too. You're mom is a fantastic cook." Carla cut in.
"That's my mom." Ash laughed.
"I've noticed when we've seen Ash's mom that she's a lot happier too. I know how she feels because I've felt the same way ever since I married Ash." Misty said quietly as she took Ash's hand.
* * * * *
A little while later as the girls were cleaning things up from lunch, Ash and Tracey were once again left to look for a way to amuse themselves. It was Ash who was the first to come up with an idea.
"Hey, Trace. I know what we can do. Why don't we have a Pokemon battle out in the backyard. What do you think?" Ash suggested eagerly.
"That's an idea. Why don't we have a two on two battle." Tracey said cautiously.
"You're on. Let's go out back and we can get down to it." Ash laughed and hurried out into the backyard with Tracey right behind him.
* * * * *
Out in the yard, Ash and Tracey were preparing to have a two on two battle. They had set up the terms of the battle and after taking a few minutes to ponder on their choice of Pokemon it was time for them to start their first battle. This battle was going to put Pikachu up against Tracey's Venonat.
"Okay, Pikachu. Even though this is a friendly battle you should still do your best to win." Ash said to the electric mouse Pokemon standing next to him.
"Pika." (Right.) Pikachu agreed confidently.
"Give it all you've got, Venonat." Tracey patted his Pokemon on the head as he spoke.
"Veno nat." (Sure thing.)
As soon as the two Pokemon were in their places, the battle started full out. Ash lead off with a confusing agility attack that left Tracey unable to make a move for a few moments. Then Tracey caught a chance and decided to take it.
"Okay, Venonat. Move in and try a tackle attack on Pikachu." Tracey called.
"Pikachu, jump out of Venonat's way!" Ash countered as Pikachu followed the command and caused Venonat to bounce off of the back of the house, defeating him.
"Nuts! Return, Venonat." Tracey cried as he recalled Venonat and pulled out another Pokeball. "Your turn, Scyther."
"Scyther!" (Let's go!) Scyther yelled as he landed on the grass and faced Pikachu.
"Here we go, Scyther. Let's make a comeback. Try a Swords Dance!" Tracey commanded his Pokemon as Scyther began slashing his claws and rapidly advancing on Pikachu.
The sudden move on Tracey's part left Ash with very little time to think. After a momentary panic Ash decided to make a move that was probably his only chance as he watched Scyther closing in on Pikachu.
"Pikachu! Duck under Scyther's claws and then come back up with a Thunderbolt!" Ash yelled as he ducked his friend's flying claws just in time and stood back to turn toward Scyther.
"Pi ka CHUUUUU!" Pikachu's victory call rang out as his attack connected and Scyther fainted, giving Ash and Pikachu the victory.
"Good job, Scyther. You gave a great effort." Tracey smiled as he recalled Scyther. "Nice job Ash.
Ash was busy congratulating Pikachu and smiled when he heard Tracey's comment. "Thanks. It was a good battle. We should do this type of thing a lot more often."
Then Ash and Tracey turned and headed back toward the house, motioning for Pikachu to follow them. They hadn't gotten very far when Tracey noticed that Ash was looking really pale and knew something was seriously wrong.
"Are you okay, Ash? What's the matter?" Tracey asked, his voice full of concern.
"Suddenly I just don't feel well at all." Ash whispered almost inaudibly as his eyes rolled back in his head and he collapsed on the ground. Pikachu immediately took off into the house to get Misty as Tracey stood there looking on in shock.