Chapter 13- "The Dream"

"No don't Ash" Misty said, tears in her eyes. "I am sorry, but I can't live like this anymore. "But... what about everything we went through, all the good times, all the bad, I love you Ash, please don't" "I have no choice." Looking away he lifts the small revolver and points it at Misty's body. "Please Ash, think abo-" Her sentence was never finished. The bullet went deep inside as her tears fell softly onto the floor.

Ash bolted upright, the sound of the gun shooting still in his head. Was it a dream? He looked next to him, sure enough, there was Misty, a smile on her face. What was that dream about? It was horrible to even to think of that! How could he dream of such a thing! He look around some more, noticing it was in the middle of the night. He found himself dripping sweat everywhere. "I need some fresh air" he said to himself, as he dressed himself heading to go outside alone. He was about to exit out of the house when he yawned. He was really tired, he moved over to a nearby couch as he flopped down upon it and fell into a restless sleep.

Ash was in a white room, four walls, but none that he could see, like standing in the void. The room started to fade black as Ash stood in his own dream, watching the same dream he had just a few moments ago. Hearing the gun bang he fell onto the ground, almost spiraling down into madness. What did he do to deserve this? He heard the shot echo once again, the same dream was repeating himself. What did he do? He felt an hand on his shoulder as he looked around to see Brock standing there. "Brock?" He managed to say out, both in fear and confusion. "No, I have only taken of the form you call Brock." "Who are you then?" "Now is not the time to ask such questions." Hearing the shot again he tries to close his ears, but only hear it once more, he screamed in horror, "Please! Make it stop!" The Brock figure nodded as he waved his hand, making the images disappear. Ash looked up, still quite confused and scared as he was crouching down in the same white room he appeared in. "Why am I dreaming this?" The Brock figure didn't make any motions to answer his question. "Is this trying to tell me something?" The Brock figure only nodded to his comment. Sitting down, his back facing the Brock figure, he looks into the void. The dream, it meant something. He just couldn't find what. "What you think and feel are two different things," Brock said, "your anger, your sadness, your fear, it can all alter your thoughts, forget the feelings, and your thoughts will be cleared." Ash didn't make any motions, he sat there, trying to clear his mind. Moments passed until his voice spoke out. "It's not the future I am looking for, it is my feelings towards Misty." "Is it? Or is it not? Are your thoughts clear from the pain?" Ash got up looking at the Brock figure, "Is that all you can say? Talk in riddles? Make more sense!" Brock looked at him, his face monotone, "This is something you have to solve by yourself. I can only give advice." Ash grumbled. How was this supposed to help, he was stuck in a dream with only a guy talking in riddles and a dream that made him mad. "Think Ash, what does that dream represent" Brock said, still having the same expression on his face.

Ash sat back down and looked at his hands. "Funny, when I met Misty, I fell in love with her, I never knew in only a few years that this would have happened. I love her with all my heart, but in that dream... it made me seem heartless..." "The pain. What about the pain..." "...it's... telling me guilt. Like out of my own lust I had to." Ash buried his head in his hands. He felt this before, he felt the pain, the suffering, it was horrible, but why? He knew where it was from... it was that night with Misty, the one where he defiled himself. But why so much pain? Why did he feel so angry within himself? Guilt. It was guilt. It washed over him like the surf, the pain once again. What did he do? He defiled himself and Misty, how could he? "out of...love?" Brock said, seeing as he read his thoughts. "Love?" Ash said, still his face being hidden by his hands. He did do it out of love. He didn't plan it, he had no preparations, he never even thought of it. Ash stood up and looked at Brock. "I did it out of love, not lust. The pain is guilt, and the dream is telling me of how heartless I am to her, not admitting my guilt. The Brock figure smiled. "I must leave you now Ash...Ash...Ash...Ash...Ash...ASH!"

Ash bolted upright and saw Misty, standing in a robe looking at him. "Ash are you ok? I found you asleep down here." Ash only smiled as he hugged Misty. "Misty... I am sorry..." "Sorry for what Ash?" "For...having sex with you... I know you weren't ready..." "Oh Ash..." Misty embraced Ash smiling, "I was ready ever since you came into my room that one night. I love you." "I do too."

And with that, they kept hugging each other, both in sorrow and happiness. Ash finally felt better, the guilt within him was gone.