Chapter 4- The Indigo Champion
Now it was suddenly clear before Ash's eyes and his imagination, which was confusing him for a long while to the day. Right at the very split second Misty had mentioned the name of the tropical island he had visited in his early years, Pumelo Island, his dreams were beginning to make sense to him. He could smell the unique aroma of the air and could see the coliseum before his eyes. But why after so long had they just sent out a message to him? Perhaps it was a mistake or they were misinformed about his whereabouts? Anyways, Ash was sitting cold and shocked.
"Well what if I just want to train alone?" He asked, gulping the last bit of food from his plate. Delia had her ears right in the middle to catch every little bit of detail.
Misty seemed to be quite suppressed at the moment. Pikachu was overly excited. "What do you mean? You will have your own island and home to battle and train upon!" Misty explained with a pitch.
"What if I don't want to train there huh? You can't make me…" he lipped, rolling his eyes and looked down on his plate.
Misty's eyes narrowed, she was now extremely maddened by Ash's ungratefulness. "Now you listen here— our government has been spending so much time trying to find your sorry ass. Once I heard you were returning home I was sent here to take you back to fight! The Orange Championships has been cancelled ever since you left because they felt you weren't strong enough, and now you are." She wailed. And right she was. Ever since Ash had finished fighting in the Orange League competitions, the Archipelagos Government had decided to call off the league for at least a three or four years, due to Ash's lack of training experience. Their plan was to recall him back to Pumelo Island just four years after his departure when he would celebrate his fifteenth birthday. But at that exact time, Ash had left his home, friends, and family behind in Pallet Town and his location was kept secret in Celadon City.
"So don't you dare—I mean it. Trainers have been waiting years to fight you!" She continued, pulling his head up to the surface. Ash gave her an awful grin nodding sarcastically to her command.
"Just let me think about it, alright?" He answered, stepping up from the table and cleared his plate off in the sink. Misty sunk her head knowing he would come around soon. Still, after the three years he was pig headed and more stubborn than ever. But his so-called female friend admired his rebellious ways. Misty loved the way he made his decisions all on his own, and how he could support himself in an argument, which was strongly against him.
Delia had a few questions of her own upon the matter. "I take it I will be staying here as usual," she said rolling her dark brown eyes.
Misty jumped up slightly from her seat, swallowed and rose from the table from Delia. "No—the plan was also to have you accompany Ash and remain living with him on Pumelo Island."
Delia's eyes widened, revealing the total whites of her eyes. She had always wanted to live on an island paradise with her son. She could see the thick splashing waves on the shore rubbing up against the sleek tan sands. It would be the perfect place to relocate her home and regroup a much bigger and more vegetated garden filled with tropical fruits and vegetables. She glanced over on Ash, his head low, his arms moving back and forth washing the plate below, she couldn't let him give up a perfect opportunity like this, just not under her roof that was. She flipped her chair backwards and growled at Ash. "You know, this would help you on your way to mastering…"
Ash rolled his eyes and threw the soapy cloth forcefully into the sink. He turned around and crunched his teeth, becoming tired of the irritating discussion. "MOM!" Delia jumped. "Just— let— me— figure— this— out!" He shook his head to the sides and rubbed his eyes.
It was last few weeks of October, then soon on into the middle of November. The days were becoming colder and soon enough shorter. The leaves on the trees were coloured and the whole lot had nearly fallen from the branches. Each morning a sleek blanket of frost had covered the brownish fields of Pallet Town. But something was wrong. Besides the unusually cool weather, something was missing in the quiet town. For over a month and a half, the town genius was away. Ever since Professor Oak had left early the last few months, Delia was sitting inside his lab and counting the days on the calendar from when he had left. For the time being, she cleaned the computers, dusted the books, and fed the Pokemon who were beginning to harvest food and preparing for a winter, which was not too far away. A cool chill had finally crept down through the main streets and brought in the first snowfall of the winter season. Ash was busy each day training Pikachu and the mother Pokemon, Magnium. Soon, her eggs would hatch and she would return to the wild to where she rightfully belonged.
"Alright Staryu, Swift!"
"Pikachu— Quick Attack!"
The two opposing Pokemon battled in a small town arena. Staryu shined its centred jewel and released hundreds of tiny stars; Pikachu was quick to the chase and evaded the attack, striking the star Pokemon to the ground. Its red ruby gave a shallow blink to Misty.
"Alright, have it your way Ash. Just so you know, I wasn't giving it all I could and neither was my Staryu!" Misty announced from the opposite end, returning Staryu to its Poke Ball.
Ash laughed and congratulated Pikachu on her second victory of the match. Now Pikachu was stronger and much more faster than ever. When she used her Quick Attack, it was like witnessing an object moving faster than the speed of light— and that she was. "Is that so? Well, how about another go then?" He offered, Misty flicked back her long locks of hair and pulled out another Poke Ball form her belt.
Misty gave a soft chuckle and threw the ball into the cold air. The bright red light surfaced and a tall blue duck appeared on the field. It was her evolved Golduck. Still it was a bit absent minded, but it was now fully grown and finished learning its attacks.
"Okay Golduck, Endurance!" Misty called. Golduck took its stance with its two webbed feet and powered up itself to maximum strength.
Ash snapped his fingers and Pikachu entered the arena once again. It was just like old times, except they were both at the same power level of training now and nearly unstoppable against each other. "You know what to do Pikachu, just as we planned." Ash shouted. Pikachu took a stand on her jagged tail and stretched out her arms with her face looking up into the sky above. It was cloudy and nearly impossible to see through the morning mist, but Pikachu continued to focus and just before Golduck's endurance had finished, a tiny jolt of lightning fell into Pikachu's cheeks. Misty watched puzzled.
"And what attack is that?" She asked through the mist. Golduck kept its stance and watched for the tiny mouse Pokemon.
"Just one of my brilliant idea's. Why? Are you scared?" He taunted her, dancing on the tips of his toes. Misty scrunched her nose and took her mind off the fairy dancing on the arena.
"Golduck, use your Deep Frost." She said, calmly to the situation. Golduck's eyes shined a bright aura of red as it opened its mouth and with the wave of its fins, thick layers of foggy frost emerged to the field. Now the area was chilled like a freezer. The thick cement was layered with sheets of pure ice and laid beneath a thick cloud of fog. Pikachu began to shiver, but kept contact with the skies above. Large amounts of electric energy were now filtering like water into her two red cheeks.
"Good, just a few more minutes will do it. Golduck can't even see an inch from its eyes." Ash told himself keeping a constant contact on Pikachu. The lightning was beginning to flash within her cheeks and her bolted tail was beginning to emit sparks of silver light on the ends. He could hear Misty's voice from the separate end, commanding Golduck to strike. Two red glaring eyes were now seeping through the clouds of thick fog, and Pikachu's absorption was complete. Golduck leaped with its claws enforced and jaw stretched open. "Pikachu!" He cried. Golduck slid across the icy field. "Lightning Sphere!" Pikachu tucked in her arms and used her tail to jolt her body high above Golduck. She rolled herself into a ball and began to spin, letting out lightning strands by the thousands. Golduck slid back and forth, attempting to evade the spark, which its body was fragile to.
Misty was quick to the point as the fog cleared. Pikachu was now rolling rapidly across the battlefield, striving to hit the terrified Golduck with its mighty strands of electrified energy. Misty took off her robes and she was wearing a blue leather body suit, which was sucked tightly against her attractive feminine body. Ash's eyes jumped back and forth from the battle and onto Misty. She flipped back her bangs and could feel a deep power within her body. Perhaps it was just the intense rush of the battle? She took her mind off her own matters and gave the next command to her Pokemon. "My, you have become quiet strong Ash— as well as Pikachu I must say, but you are no match for me and my Golduck. (Pikachu was only inches from Golduck.) Golduck! Arctic Trap!" She screamed.
Golduck jumped onto all fours and slide away from the spiralling Pikachu. Placing its two webbed front legs into the ice, it concentrated and quickly defrosted a small hole within the ice. Ash questioned his foes last command intelligently. Just why would she tell Golduck to defrost the ice? Pikachu didn't hesitate to remain attacking. It curled up back into a sphere and slid straight towards Golduck. Misty smiled with her arms crossed. Her plan was working. Pikachu slid closer and Ash had figured out Misty's strategy. A sneaky one it was too.
"Pikachu! Stop!" He wailed. Pikachu stood on her feet but continued to slide without control directly in the path of the hole in the ice. A look of sudden fear was across the tiny Pokemon's face. She couldn't stop. Not even her jagged tail that was sharp as a knife could stop her. She was going to fall in the hole and trap herself within.
Misty's nerves were tense. Veins from her arms and head popped out as Pikachu approached. Within seconds before she slid into the whole she gave her one last command. "NOW GOLDUCK! Slam the pest and trap it with your Ice Beam!" She screeched with her finger outstretched. Pikachu was now in the hand of Golduck. She whimpered as she felt her body being squished and slammed fiercely into the ice trap. She was practically paralysed from head to foot as the last draw of the battle was made. Golduck sealed the gap and Pikachu was trapped beneath. Ash ran to the location of his defeated Pokemon.
"Pikachu!" Ash panted, banging on the ice roof. Pikachu's face was plastered against it. "You idiot! How the HELL is Pikachu going to get out?" He barked at Misty who was so overjoyed upon her victory. She was jumping up and down until she noticed what she had just planned. Pikachu was trapped under the ice and unable to break loose because the impact of her body hitting the cement knocked her unconscious. If she wasn't removed, she could die within minutes. Ash punched the ice with his strong hands but could only manage to make a small crack in the ice.
Misty hesitated. "I-I-I…! There must be something we can use to get her out of there! I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking!" She stood back and watched Ash pound horrifically on the ice. The ice was way beyond freezing and nothing but fire would be able to unleash Pikachu from the cool depths below. Tears erupted from Ash's shocked eyes as he tried anything in his will to rescue Pikachu.
"Don't just fucking stand there, go get some help!" He cursed; Misty stared down on him with disbelief on how he was prompting her. She nodded her head and began tearing up. Recalling her Golduck she ran into the town and managed to find and small torch, which would hopefully defrost the thick layer of ice that Golduck could not remove.
When she returned to the arena she could still see Ash pounding all his might into the thick layers of ice. It was razor sharp and the blood from Ash's hands had stained the clear layer a cherry red. They only had a few minutes to release Pikachu before the worst unthinkable thing had happened. The air from Pikachu's lungs would soon turn to shards of thick ice. She handed Ash the torch. He was disappointed that all she managed to find was only a torch. He gave her a look of sheer anger.
He lit the torch and watched the ice slowly melt away. "You know what?" He asked, shaking his head. Misty quivered her lips and wiped away some small tears with her hand. "You're a lunatic! Just why in the HELL would the Orange Islands hire you— YOU, to be a Gym Leader?" He snarled, relighting the torch, which was not fully co-operating.
Misty finally took a step up to him and stood up for herself and also her identity. "Why did they hire me?" She answered, pointing her index finger in his face. "They hired me because of my unusual talent for my age. Unlike you I'm not a lunatic. Your the lunatic!" She continued with a very hoarse voice. She was obviously steamed by his remark and she had to get even with him. "Hell, you left your home, friends, and especially your Pokemon. And now that your back you expect people to just jump all over you? Get a grip. You suck— good luck at Genesis." She flipped her hair back and pulled over her training cloak around her body. With a dash she was out of sight and all Ash was left with was a big chunk of ice with a Pikachu inside.
After she was completely invisible to his eyes, he started hatching away at the ice shard with a Swiss Army pocketknife, which was stained with traces of blood. He had used this knife once before when he was out in the wild to catch a fish for his dinner. One jab after the other and the ice was beginning to melt away from Pikachu's body. He raised the knife over his head and then took one last swing right into the centre of the ice entrapment. Sharp pieces of ice flew and Pikachu was released. Her body was still and colder than the ice itself. Ash picked her up, looked for the nearby Pokemon Centre, and made a quick run for it. With his best friend in his hands he ran as fast as his legs could carry him. Past the corner store and down the main road through the new Pallet Town gold course, he could see the top peak of the Pokemon Centre's structure. He was now running faster than he could ever imagine; feeling the slight jittering of Pikachu's hind legs, he knew she would recover within time, or wouldn't she?
His legs were weak as he ran up the front entrance steps. The door slid open and he slowed down to catch his breathe. Nurse Joy approached him with a nervous look on her cute little face.
She cupped her right hand over her mouth as she observed how much of a beating Pikachu had taken. "How did this happen?"
"Pokemon battle," he panted giving Pikachu to the Nurse.
Joy placed her hand over Pikachu's cold chest. Her heart rate was far spread, meaning she only had a few minutes to set the Pokemon up to a monitor before it was too late. "And it seems to be that it was a very intense battle —right?" She asked. Ash gave her a small nod. "Now, I will be directing Pikachu directly into the critical care unit, so another Nurse shall be here shortly to inform you of your Pokemon's condition." She lowered her face and ran off with a Chansey by her side. Pikachu was whimpering solemnly as the stretcher was wheeled rapidly through the E.R doors.
Ash stood quietly by the doors with his eyes transfixed on the small needle light up sign above the doors. He tightly folded his arms and paced back and forth in all ways possible. The last look the Nurse Joy had given didn't really look that all cheerful so Pikachu's sickness was more than he had thought of. All he could think now was Pikachu and also a tiny portion of what he had said earlier to Misty. How he had insulted her thoroughly. It was only a battle, and she didn't mean it he thought. After at least ten minutes of standing still on the spot was making his body feel like a jelly substance. His nerves were shot and all he wanted to do was sit down on the lounge chairs and wait for the next nurse to prompt him. He sat down on the large chair and put his feet up on the glass table. Ash breathed slowly and watched the clock tick a rather annoying tune.
Seconds had turned to minutes and minutes turned to hours. Time was passing by very slow as he sat in his lounge chair, anticipating the E.R doors to open with an informing Nurse. He checked back frequently, but still nothing was there, only the receptionist at the front desk of the centre. His head was trembling and he could feel his pupils closing before his eyes. He was very tired after the battle and run, and the comfort of the chair had helped him to fall into a deep slumber. It was like any other dream. It started off with a thick layer of white dusty clouds and then he found himself standing alone once again. Or was he alone? He rubbed his eyes and could see himself standing in a dark Pokemon arena. It was official because he could hear the cries of invisible fans from behind his ears. But why were they crying? He looked deeper into the field and could see something small lying in the centre. It was in fact a Pikachu— one much similar to his. The motionless Pikachu lied on its back with its face looking into the sky, although its eyes were darkened and closed. Ash looked down to his side and could see that his Pikachu wasn't there. A flashing spark of lightning ran through his body as the pieces of the dream were beginning to make logical sense.
"Pikachu!" He yelled to the centre of the arena. Still the Pokemon lied silently. Ash moved his foot but as he ran to the lifeless Pokemon, the centre was moving further away from him. He did everything in his power that he could do to reach his Pokemon. And just before he was beginning to come close to the Pokemon, he could feel something solid press into his chest. It knocked the wind out from his lungs and he fell hard onto the ground. He gasped for breath but nothing was flowing in. "PIKACHU!" He continued to call in his head, but nothing happened. No one from the background seemed to approach him, not one single person. His mind was screaming out his Pokemon's name, and just before he could feel his body shut down, the Pikachu rolled over and opened its eyes suddenly.
The Pokemon looked at him with an evil grin. As if a fiend of some sort possessed it, the Pikachu stood up and walked perfectly on two feet towards his dieing body. Its eyes flashed a cruel red as it began to foretell his fait. "It's over!" said the deep and scratchy voice of the Pikachu. It bent down and before whipping him violently with his tail, which was no longer a tail, but a long black sword, Ash could feel a nudge in his upper shoulder. Someone had come out from the stands. A woman with long, curly pink hair had called to him—
"ASH!" The Nurse called.
Ash's body flew from the chair and he could now see his real self-screaming in the Pokemon Centre waiting lobby. His body was trembling from head to foot and sweat was pouring faster than water down his forehead. He could still see the vicious glare of his Pikachu's cursed eyes. "WHAT?" He roared.
The Nurse stepped back quickly from the startling moment. "I have just come to inform you that Pikachu is slowly recovering." She announced, dropping her files from her hands. Her body was shaky because of Ash's uproar.
"Alright," he held his head and blinked his eyes. "Will she be coming home with me today?" He asked softly.
"No, I'm afraid not. Y-You should be getting home— it's half past seven." She answered, picking up her files and walking back towards the E.R doors.
Ash was puzzled. How could he have been sleeping that long? He could remember drifting off to sleep only a few minutes past four and now he wakes up three hours later? He scratched his head and stood up from the chair. "Nurse," he called, "When will Pikachu be fine to come home?"
Her eyes narrowed. "About five days— Pikachu has gone into shock and wont be awakening for a while, so I suggest you go home and be on alert for her recovery."
The doors shut and Ash was left with little information regarding Pikachu's condition. So he decided it would be best to just go home and wait. He picked up his coat and walked through the exiting doors with a lost feeling of being alone, confused, and apprehensive. He walked down the main road and could see smoke from his living room chimney erupting into the frost bitten sky.
With the quick press of the door handle, Ash found himself inside of the quiet house; but a tiny sobbing noise had caught his attention. He paced slowly through the living room and behind the wall separating it from the kitchen where the noises were occurring. He slipped in cautiously and pressed his body against the wall with his ear to the entrance. He could hear two voices. One being his mother, and the other was someone sulking loudly on the kitchen table. He watched carefully as Misty raised her head and gripped her hands over Delia's.
"Why does he have to be so— so cruel?" She sobbed, wiping her noise with a hand tissue. Delia bit her lip.
"Well," she began, "Ash has always been a bit— you know, tempered."
Ash crunched his face and cursed his mother in his head.
Misty's head was shaking. "I DON'T CARE!" She hissed loudly, almost causing Ash to tip over. "He— doesn't— have— to— take— it— out— on— me!" She was now even more furious at the moment because whenever Ash was mad— ever since they were kids, he had taken out his problems on her. And yes, he had always had a harsh temper at times.
"Well just give it some time…I'm sure he'll come around," Delia sighed, giving Misty an assuring expression. She had also forgotten to tell Misty that Ash was always stubborn, and a pigheaded fool, but sayings that would just over do it, and that was the last thing Misty needed to hear.
Now Ash was fully total shame within himself. There was no need to verbally abuse her like that. She was a great and over qualified trainer for her age. He guessed it was just jealousy that was taking him over because seeing her three years later, with her own gym, her own identity, and in her last level of training before mastering, had overwhelmed him. The thought of being number one had slowly drifted away from his thoughts. Misty was now number one in his personal opinion.
Delia got up from her chair and walked into the living room, unaware that Ash was standing right behind the wall. As she walked through the pass she could see a tall and bold figure standing in the corner.
SLAM!
Delia throttled herself in a spin and jabbed her right fist directly into his chest, which was much like what had happened in his earlier daydream.
Once she noticed that it was only Ash, she choked. "ASH!" She shouted and came to his aid. "Don't sneak up on me like that! ("What did you do that for?" He groaned.)"
Ash was crumpled up into a ball in the corner of the wall, rolling from side to side to ease the pain that was pounding fiercely on his insides. Misty was now at the scene. She took one quick look at him, covered her face and ran up to the upstairs bathroom to hide her tears, or more likely, giggling.
Delia crunched her teeth and heard the door slam loudly upstairs; but now wasn't the time to start yelling at Ash— maybe later. "Are you alright? You gave me quiet a scare—" she panted. Ash gave her another little moan, speechless from the pain. "—Try to greet yourself next time you come in! And maybe I won't be forced to strike, mistaking you for an intruder!"
By the pitch of her voice, she was more in pain than Ash because she had felt so bad for hitting him with her hardest punch, knocking him to the ground. If Pallet Town heard about this, she could gain a reputation for abuse. Delia wrapped her thin arms around Ash's upper torso and lifted him onto the loveseat in the family room. Ash was still in great pain as he panted as he strived to ask for a glass of ice-cold water. Delia ran to the kitchen and returned with the glass of water. She looked around the room for something, but could not find whatever it was. She checked upstairs and in the kitchen with a worried look across her face.
"Where's Pikachu?" She asked, looking out the curtains on the window. "Misty told me you went to the Pokemon Centre… I hope its nothing serious!"
Ash sighed. "She'll be in there for a maximum of five days— she's in shock."
After catching an ounce of his breath he explained to Delia about the battle they had had earlier that day. Delia was intrigued to hear about how strong he and Misty had become over the years in training. But she was more amazed on how Misty used a great strategy to trap the spinning Pikachu during its attack. Then he came to the point where he told Misty off at the scene. He told her what he said and how Misty stood up to his words before running away from him once again.
"You do know that it was inappropriate?" Delia assured him, glaring him in the eye with disapproval.
Ash shrugged his shoulders and nodded his head shamefully. "I really didn't mean…" He answered, being interrupted by his mother's advice.
"Well you said it anyways, didn't you? Don't you see what you're getting yourself into?" She pressured him. Ash was becoming irritated.
"What?" He barked.
"The same position you were in three years ago, that's what!" She replied, folding her arms. She removed her arms and held Ash's hands and came out with the truth Ash had feared. "Misty likes you— so stop it with the attitude because I know that you feel the same way as well, but you're just to plain to see it!" She said, revealing the truth her son had never wanted to admit.
Ash couldn't bear to hear anymore of his mothers annoying lectures so he stood up (holding his chest) and made way for his room on the next floor. He shot a rebellious look and walked calmly up the stairs and to his room on the end. As he passed her could still hear Misty sulking pathetically in the bathroom. She was always sensitive, he told himself, but why do I suddenly care now? His head was pounding and caused him to become slightly dizzy, so now wasn't a good time to make matters worse with Misty. He jumped onto his top bunk and strapped his disc-player headphones around his ears. The music blasted loudly into his eardrums as he shuffled to remove them instantly. He had nothing to do. Nothing was on TV, Pikachu was sick in the centre, and the rest of his Pokemon, except Magnium, hated him. Life was hell as he could see it, and the Genesis Battle was a weary thought at the tips of his brains. What else could possibly go wrong?
A squeaking noise rose into the hallway and footsteps approached his room. He watched the door handle twist and Misty entered quietly. She didn't even bother to look at him, so she just flopped onto the bottom bunk and exhaled. Ash waited her to make a snooty remark, but nothing happened. So it was up to him to make a possible conversation.
"Pikachu…she's going to be alright," he said, twirling his thumbs.
"HN!" Misty grunted tossing herself around in the covers.
Ash rolled his eyes. This wasn't going to be easy.
"I, ah, wanted to tell you— something." He continued, getting another groan out of Misty. She didn't seem to really care. He moved himself forwards and poked his head down into the bottom bunk. He smiled weakly and Misty rolled her eyes, turned over, and sunk her head into her pillow. He waited then carried on. "That was a pretty good battle we had today—you've become much stronger!" He said cheerfully, attempting to get at least a comment from Misty.
So she returned it, but with a very rude tone. "Yea…sure, whatever." Came her voice from deep within the feathered pillow. Still she lied motionless, and more careless to what Ash was telling her.
"You're an excellent trainer. You do know that!" He complemented her not expecting a reply.
Misty raised her head from the pillow and glanced at Ash. He was waving his head and was smiling, which was rather pathetic to Misty. If this were his form of an apology, she would rather kiss a dead horses ass. She narrowed her eyes and watched him shift repeatedly. "I thought I was a lunatic?" She answered sarcastically.
"Hey, at least I'm trying!" Ash rolled his eyes.
"Well here's some advice— don't try!" She hissed. Ash was becoming annoyed with her now.
Ash removed his head and brought himself back up to the top bunk, away and out of sight from Misty. He tried, but Misty was in another one of her stubborn moods where she wouldn't even try to forgive him, not even one bit. The bed shifted and Ash watched Misty get up from her bunk. She fixed her hair and rolled out her shirt with her hands and then walked over to the door and slipped out the hallway.
"Bitch." Ash whispered and followed behind a few minutes after.
As the week had slowly progressed further, the Ketchum household became quieter by the minute. Misty was still insulted and Ash was trying everything to make things normal again. He would complement her on her training in the backfields, eat everything she had made without fuss (even knowing it tasted like it was fresh off a pigs trough), and ever so often he would invite her to a rematch, which, as he had suspected, rejected. Misty would give hi ma small grunt and then would run off into another room or go into town and accompany Mrs. Ketchum with the groceries. His patients were going downhill by the hour. Each time he had received a rude or sarcastic remark from Misty, he could feel his nerves at the tips and he was about to lose it once again on her. But he held it in and just went on with the grief she was giving him day after day, 24/7.
The only thing Ash would look forward to during the day was dinner and most important, sleeping. Sleeping was the only time Misty would stop ranting about how disrespectful Ash was and how much of a good trainer she was; his life was hell, and without Pikachu by his side to comfort him, it just added more to his misery. Then came the next day. Friday. Everybody looked forward to a Friday. It was the last working day of the week and the next few days would be for relaxation, just excluding the fact that Ash didn't work. He trained. From the absence of Pikachu, and to the unreliable Pokemon back up at Professor Oak's Laboratory, Ash was studying his notes from the Celadon University that he had picked up and brought home for future use. In fact, it was the only thing that took his mind off of Misty and his life, which he called "hell".
After a hearty breakfast on the Friday morning, he kissed his mother goodbye and walked on over to the lab to check up on things. The temperature was a bit under zero and a cold win had brushed the thin layers of snow from the ground into the windowsills, and Ash's cold face. His teeth chattered as he tried to block himself from the freezing wind. Once or twice he slipped on the ice sheets of the path, and Professor Oak's lab was hidden behind a swirling guts of snowy wind.
"Winter— I hate it!" Ash stuttered and continued to wrap his jacket tighter around his body. He could still hear Misty's giggling voice in the back of his head. She was warning him not to slip on the ice, and if he did, it may knock some sense into his brain. His eyes narrowed at just the thought of her. She was cold hearted and impossible to bond with. "Misty…s-she t-t-thinks she k-knows everything! (He kicked the snow violently) I'd like to see her slip on the ice…" He said to himself, thrashing about the path and finally coming to the gate of the lab.
He pressed in the password and walked up the steep hill, which hadn't been shovelled for quite some time now. Delia had her own things to worry about at home with Ash and Misty. Besides that, Professor Oak was taking longer than a month to return. He didn't write, nor did he call, all he left was the same weather-beaten letter on the front door explaining his absence. Ash ripped it off and scrunched it in his palm with anger. As he slipped through the door he could feel the warm and cozy rush of the heating system. He removed his winter clothing and made way down into the greenhouse where Magnium rested with her eggs. He opened the door and all around where plant-type Pokemon. Each and every one of them rested under the heat and just took the time to eat, sleep, or drink on occasion. Ash looked around for Magnium. She was nestled away in a closed burrow under a few assorted potted trees.
"Hello!" Ash said, moving some of the branches away from him. "How're the eggs doing?"
Magnium gave him a dreamy look and stood up from the nest. Under her, were three larger eggs than Ash had expected. They were about almost twice the size of his head and had multi-colour speckles on them. The eggs had well succeeded into their third trimester of incubation, and now, they were moving and it was only a matter of a month when they would hatch into three tiny Chikoritas. For a few hours Ash had stayed by Magnium's side and talked to her (aware he was not going to get any reply) about how he and Misty were fighting and about the certain precautions he was training for when the Genesis Battle would shortly arrive. Magnium listened intently to her trainer and could feel that something was wrong with him. He was missing something and all she wanted to do was make it better. She knew that he wanted all of his Pokemon back on his team, but trying to convince them to forgive him was no easy task because over the years, they had become very stubborn and highly opinionated about their missing trainer.
Before Ash was about to check his watch he could hear the front door upstairs slam with a loud bang. Then footsteps emerged and the door at the top of the metal stairs opened. A tall figure disguised in silk-blue robes and long matching gloves with the wholes for fingers, stood and watched him. She removed her hood and to Ash's surprise, it was Misty. She had a look in her deep aqua eye that something was up and that she needed him immediately.
"What do you want?" Ash questioned her with a snarl.
"Pikachu…she's awake." She answered, folding her hair back evenly.
Magnium rose to her feet and nudged Ash out from the burrow. He understood the body language and ran up the stairs as fast as he could. Misty accompanied him to the front door, and unbelievably, all the way to the Pokemon Centre.
"Why did you come with me?" He asked, opening the door. Misty walked in front of him and blinked her eye.
"Because I want to be here for Pikachu, as well as you." She replied. Ash was now feeling much better than before. She had finally forgiven him and gave into her feelings.
Together, they walked into the Pokemon Centre and up to the front desk where they were greeted by one of the Nurse Joy's.
"Why hello," she began, taking out some file folders. "I trust you are here for Pikachu?"
Ash nodded rapidly.
The E.R doors slid wide open and a small figure from the light emerged through. Pikachu was standing on her hind legs and a large smile stretched across her face. He ears perked up and her cheeks started to emit few electric sparks. Ash didn't have to say anything because he was breathless at the moment when Pikachu jumped right up to him and gave him the biggest hug she could have possibly given him. A warm sensation in his boy erupted from within when he was finally back with his best friend, or two, including Misty who was standing by his side happily.
Suddenly Ash could feel a cold tingly feeling on the back of his neck. The Centre doors slid open and between them stood his one and only persistent rival, Gary Oak. He was standing proud and tall in the doorway. Misty turned her head and her eyes were beginning to become a bit cloudy, the way she first looked at Ash when they reunited themselves after the storm. Gary was a very attractive young man for his age. His hair was cut short, and spiked on ends. His body was much larger around the upper torso and gave him a look of an extreme athlete. Ash sneered and compared his body to his rival's. They weren't much different. Ash was a few inches taller and much more built than Gary was. But the thought that crossed his mind was how strong of a trainer he was.
"Ash Ketchum…" Gary announced with a very deep masculine voice. Misty moved her eyes down his body. "That Pikachu still hasn't evolved?" He laughed, and walked closer to his rival.
"Gary!" He barked.
The rival moved closer and stopped right before Misty. He took a lock of her curly hair and twirled it around his finger. "My, I see you have become— foxy!" He said, teasing Ash. Misty's cheeks reddened and she swallowed down every bit of saliva into her throat. She liked the attention she was receiving, but not exactly from the arrogant trainer Gary was.
Ash pulled Misty over softly and glared Gary in the eyes. "What are you doing here anyways?" He coughed. Gary was keen to the question.
"Just in the neighbourhood I guess— why Ash? Did you want another rematch so you can lose for the thousandth time over?" He snickered sarcastically.
Ash clenched his fists and was ready any time to strike his enemy down. Pikachu began to gather up its energy within her cheeks. She too was threatened by Gary's sudden presence.
"I've just got back from Celadon. Grandpa tells me your fighting for Genesis next month?" He continued with his arrogance.
"That's right!" Ash replied happily, Pikachu narrowed her dark brown eyes. Misty was beginning to lose interest in the handsome young trainer. "Why do you care anyways?"
Gary removed his cloak and draped it over the lounge chair Ash had slept in five days ago. He could still hear his Pikachu talking to him with a fiendish voice. But now his fully gained attention was with Gary and his snobbish attitudes towards him.
"Well," Gary said, running his fingers through his gelled hair. "I'm in the same boat as you."
Ash's eyes widened and his heart was beating faster than when Pikachu went into the hospital. Could it have meant that Gary would be his opponent at the Genesis Battle? It had to be something else— it just had to. Ash's mind began to give him the worst feelings now about the upcoming battle. Gary quivered his lips and his eyes narrowed. "What do you mean by that, Gary?" Ash questioned him quickly. He wanted to hear it and get it over with as soon as he possibly could.
Gary intensified his voice. "I mean, that I will be fighting as well soon."
"Where?" Misty shouted and sprung onto Ash, taking the words out from his mouth.
Gary waved his hand and stretched his neck to the fullest. He looked as if he was about to receive an award of honour or some sort. "As of now I am the Indigo League Champion amongst all competitors. At the beginning of the New Year I will be fighting against the Elite Four themselves at the Indigo Plateau." He scoffed and rubbed his power into Ash's face.
Ash had totally forgotten, as well as Misty, to tell Gary about returning and leading in the Orange Islands. His face was horror-struck and the words of his mouth were tarred directly from him. He didn't know what to say or how to reply. Gary. Out of all people, Gary was the champion? His ears were deceiving him as his rivals name flowed through his head, blocking any other thought. If he were to victor over the Elite, then he would be nominated for a future placing in the group. It was unimaginable, but sadly to Ash, it was true. His rival would be more powerful than he could ever be, which he had never expected that it was coming.
Gary read the expression that was obviously illustrated across Ash's face. "Surprising isn't it?" He continued to expand on it more to Ash. Gary walked past Ash and gave him a small grin of defeat. He took off his trainer's belt and handed the six vacated Poke Balls to the receptionist. He left them and returned to Ash, Misty, and Pikachu who were frozen with disbelief. "I must be going now— good luck for your battle because your are really going to need it!"
Ash had the largest urge to take a gun and shoot the man before he could gain his power. He viewed Gary as a wild creature who was a great harm to society and needed to be destroyed immediately. Misty too was overwhelmed by his constant arrogance and cockiness within him. She raced towards him but was stopped by the plunge of Ash's strong hand.
"Let me take care of it," Ash said, thinking of a quick come back. "Gary! I'm not the one who needs luck—you do because your constant ignorance to the power of the Elite will come crashing down on you. Even if you do win I'm sure your power will soon come to an end, and I will be there at your side…laughing!" Ash shouted with his fists clenched tightly.
Gary looked back once more and smiled viciously. With a sinister look upon his face, he threw his cloak over his shoulder, walked through the sliding doors and from then on, never returned back to the mountainous home of Pallet.
- End Of Chapter