I hope I don't get Writer's block on this
SS2 Megami-sama – thank you! And no, I'm not doing any killing in this version, at least not yet.
Someones – have never seen kingdom hearts, but I despise AAMRN
Link Masters – Ash n' Lance do not stay together when they reincarnate. They have to find each other, plus Ash is usually memory-less thanks to the prophecy.
Aragorn the Ranger – you think? *Raises eyebrow* True… but in all the AAMRN fics I've read (around two hundred fifty, I used to like AARMN, about 4 years ago), no matter how abusive or rude Misty is, Ash will take it and eat it up.
Chapter 3: Balancing Act
Ash and Meowth sat by a pool of water, eating ice cream cones.
"Well, it was hard, but you did great." Ash said, as the Boulder and Cascade badges sparkled brightly on his vest.
Meowth smiled, and purred.
"Of course, if I had known Misty was the gym leader I could have just gotten the badge when you beat her earlier."
True, true.
"Well, I guess it ends well." Ash said, looking at his shimmering cascade badge happily. "She shouldn't bug me any more."
We can only hope as much.
"Indeed."
Ash stared off into the distance again. Meowth looked at him quizzically.
Are you looking for someone?
"Kind of…"
More like two of them. Pidgeot said softly.
Meowth looked quite confused. Then why don't you go find them?
"I can't…"
It's complicated, Meowth. Persian replied, flicking his tail. There is much about Ash that you do not know.
Meowth looked kind of huffy. It can't be that bad. Are you in trouble? Running from the police? A pickpocket?
"Oh, nothing of that sort. They couldn't catch me anyways.' Ash said, a small smile flickering across his physiognomy.
In plain and simple terms, he can't be with his mate. Pidgeot said, enunciating the words clearly.
Ash flushed, a pale pink spreading across his cheekbones.
…Or his sibling Persian added.
But… Meowth still looked vaguely confused.
"Perhaps I'll tell you later." Ash said, standing up abruptly. A strange gleam filled his eyes.
"Maybe…"
Without another word, Ash walked a few paces away, heading for the stream.
Did I do something wrong? Meowth queried.
No. Master Ash has a difficult path to walk. And he does not like being reminded of it.
Meowth crinkled his brow. * What is going on? *
"I know I shouldn't let it effect me! I know." Ash said, staring at himself in the reflection of the pool. "But I can't help it!"
"I can't let you be hurt for my sake again…"
Two weeks later…
"Sandslash, Earthquake." Ash whispered, as Surge's Raichu fainted dead away. He took the proffered Thunder Badge and quickly exited the gym.
"Weird kid." Surge said, scratching his head in puzzlement. Raichu nodded.
There's something wrong with him, I think.
A bare two months later, Ash had all the Johto and Kanto badges. Meowth was starting to get quite worried about his master.
Why won't you tell me straight out what's wrong? What's his goal? What is he doing all this for?
Pidgeot ruffled her feathers. It's too dangerous.
And unless you can pass the sacred gates, it won't do you any good. Persian nodded, licking a spot on his paw.
But what is it? He persisted.
Meowth looked at Ash, who was staring into that little yellow compact mirror he carried around at all times.
The fate of the world, Ash muttered distractedly. "Aneki!"
The compact mirror fell from nerveless fingers as Ash pressed his head in his hands, trying to suppress shudders that wracked his form.
Meowth curiously went and looked in the mirror. There, a girl dressed in… flames? Was fighting a green pokemon he had never seen before.
It was a grass-type, but why was she losing?
The battle raged for almost an hour, before a final blast of flame sent the grass-type scurrying away for safety. She collapsed on the ground, the flames solidifying into a dark red robe.
Ash had finally stopped trembling and hurriedly picked up the mirror, staring into it anxiously. "Aneki!"
"I'm all right, Ash." Charlotte replied, although she didn't sound it. "At least I'm not dead…"
"I'm sorry!"
"Don't worry. Besides, I pain split, remember? That's why you were going through all that agony. I should be apologizing to you."
There was a flash of light and Charlotte appeared in front of him.
Meowth looked between them curiously. She's the sibling?
That would be correct. Pidgeot replied.
But…
That was Serebii. Persian said, a bit of stuffiness seeping into his voice. In case you didn't know, one of the legendary pokemon.
Meowth's eyes widened to saucer size.
"You don't have any Sunspark potion on you by any chance?" Charlotte asked. Ash wordlessly handed her a vial.
"Thanks, Ash." She said, tossing it back in a few seconds. "Wow, that certainly helps a lot."
"Are you sure you're okay?" Ash asked.
Charlotte stopped. "No, I almost died again. If I hadn't been using pain split then I would have definitely worn myself out with all the injuries. Serebii didn't give me any chance to heal, and she disabled my Recover and Morning Sun ability."
Meowth looked even more worried now.
"How is… she?" Ash asked.
"All right. The balance is still holding itself. I've been unceremoniously deprived of my job, but other than that, its no problem."
"Is she okay?" Ash asked. "I haven't been able to see anything."
"Well, her compact's broken." Charlotte said matter-of-factly. "And those magical objects take time to repair themselves."
"Serebii again?"
A curt nod. Ash sighed.
"What is up with her…. can't she see that we're meant to be together?"
"Apparently not."
End Chapter!
