Author's note: Thanks for the reviews! I hope somebody likes this slightly grim and dark chapter.
Far above the island, a Charizard swooped through the air, beating its massive wings. Perched on its back was Ash Ketchum. Tears were in his eyes, and it wasn't due to the high winds encountered at this altitude.
"Put me down on the far side of the island, please Charizard", Ash murmured.
Charizard looked over his shoulder at him, then shrugged and began a rapid descent towards a lonely, quiet beach. It landed a few seconds later on a pier that jutted out across the clear, still water.
Ash climbed off, wiped at his eyes, and said, "Thanks, Char. You better return".
Although he usually pretended to be insensitive, Charizard could tell something was wrong. He growled as softly as he could, sounding like a purr, and looked closely at Ash.
"I'll be fine. Here", Ash recalled Charizard to his Pokéball, and he was alone all of a sudden.
Only the boats roaming towards the distant horizon gave him any company. He sat down at the edge of the pier and held his head in his hands. He felt silly and foolish. Who on earth did he think he was? Misty's sisters were right.
He was a loser.
OoOoOoOoOo
"Ash! Where are you?" Misty and Pikachu were now running through the town streets, having given up any hope of finding him on the beach.
"How could he have gotten away so far so fast?" Misty wondered.
Pikachu frantically flapped his arms and mimed a mean face.
"Charizard? I guess so…that means he could be anywhere by now!"
"Pi pi pi".
"Oh…Ash, what's wrong?" Misty murmured to herself.
They heard footsteps behind them. They turned to see three familiar figures behind them.
"Hey look! It's one of da twerps and Pikachu!" Meowth pointed furiously.
Misty blinked, "Hey!"
Meowth grinned, "Sorry. Force of habit".
Jessie smiled, "What are you doing here, Misty?"
"Me and Ash came here for a vacation".
"Ah, that's nice", James said.
"What about you three?"
"Well, we're here for a vacation too. It's hard work owning a store".
Misty suppressed a smile. It was hard to believe how much these three former villains, members of Team Rocket, had managed to turn their lives around after their official pardon for past crimes. Now they had opened a huge mall in Celadon City, and it was a thriving business.
"Prepare For Double Savings" was one of the most successful stores there was, hosting café's, shops for Pokémon equipment, a Pokémon Centre and other general stores. Jessie, James and Meowth had proved quite the entrepreneurs.
They were good friends of Ash and Misty, and were always glad to see them.
"So, where's Lover Boy?" Jessie asked playfully.
Misty drooped, "I don't know".
"You don't know?" James stared.
"Wow, there's committed", Meowth teased.
"PI pika pika, pikachu!" Ash's friend interjected.
Meowth listened, "It's serious? He's run off because he was upset?"
"Pi!"
"Oh. Jess, James, is there anything we can do?"
"Well, I can never say no to lovers in strife", Jessie reached to her belt and pulled out a Pokéball and released a Pokémon.
"Tung! Licki!" the large, pink creature with its protruding tongue stood there with a slightly dumb expression on its face.
"Lickitung, use your supersonic to find Ash!2
"Liiickiii!"
Misty raised one eyebrow sceptically as Lickitung focused, and there was a slight humming as invisible supersonic waves were emitted.
For a full minute, they just stood there. Nothing seemed to be happening. Meowth tapped his foot impatiently.
Misty sighed, "Well, it was a worth a try. Thanks you guys…"
"Licki! Tung tung tun tung!" Jessie's Pokémon jumped into the air excitedly.
"You found something, Lickitung?" Jessie asked.
"Tung!" Lickitung took on a credible turn of speed and dashed off, and after a brief glance at each other, Misty, Pikachu, Jessie, James and Meowth ran after him.
They headed off down the city streets, ploughing through busy crowds who grumbled in protest. After a long journey involving racing across busy roads and stampeding through more crowds of people, they finally came to the beach on the opposing side of the island.
"Tung! Liiiiickiiiiii!" Lickitung pointed frantically at a pier.
His followers were exhausted and doubled over, panting for breath.
"How…can…that…lard bucket…run like that?" Meowth demanded to know.
"There's Ash!" Misty yelled.
Sitting on the end of the pier, just out of earshot, was Ash. He was alone, and looking away from them.
"Pikachu! Pika!" Pikachu was about to dash off to talk to Ash when Misty stuck out her foot to stop him.
"No, Pikachu. I think this might be to do with me. Let me speak to him. Please?"
"Tha kid's right, Pikamigo", Meowth said, "Let her go charm him back. We'll hang by here, buddy".
"Ka. Pika", Pikachu relented and sat back down with the former Team Rocket members on a bench.
Misty walked slowly down the pier, aware the noise her trainers were making on the wood. Ash didn't seem to hear. The waves were loud, crashing against the shore and the pier.
Misty could hear Ash sobbing. His shoulders were heaving and his breaths came in gasps.
"Ash?" Misty said as she got closer.
He stopped in mid-sob and there was a distinctly long pause.
"Hi, Misty", he murmured after a while.
She sat down next to him, and tried to look at his face. He looked the other way.
"Ash, what's wrong? Why did you run off like that?"
"I…I just wanted to be alone".
"Why? Is it because of what my sisters said? You don't need to listen to them. They're stupid jerks…"
"Maybe. But they have a point".
"What's that?"
"I'm not good for you".
Misty stared, "What? You're kidding!"
"No, I'm not. I always knew it would happen to me one day. It would catch up with me. You deserve the best, not a loser wannabe from Pallet Town".
"How can you say that? I've been with you for two years! Don't you think if I was unhappy with you I might have said something?"
"Well…um…"
"Ash, I've been in love with you for six years. You've been mine for two of those. I'm not losing you like this".
He looked at her, his eyes full of hurt and insecurity, "But I…I…"
"But nothing. I love you. I need you, Ash".
She showed him how much as she leaned forward and kissed him passionately. After a moment's hesitation, he returned the kiss, realizing with a start just how much he needed her too.
OoOoOoOoOo
Delia Ketchum was busy cooking in the kitchen for herself and Mr Mime, who was preparing the dinner table. Evening was setting in quickly, and already the sun was plunging below the horizon. The first stars were twinkling in the sky.
Mr Mime suddenly leapt up and yelled in panic, waving his arms around as if greatly alarmed. He chattered nervously and rushed to hide behind Delia, gripping onto her skirt tightly.
"What's wrong Mimey?" Delia asked.
Then she felt it too. A shadowy presence lingering in the house. They weren't alone.
"Oh…who is it? Who's there?" she murmured, feeling her skin crawl and terror lurch over her.
"Gengaaaaarrrrrr!"
She screamed and turned to see a ghoulish, fearsome being standing behind here, grinning with cruel pleasure and eyes glowing red. Mr Mime stepped in front of Delia and tried to block it off with a barrier attack, but not before a coil of black energy had smashed into him and hurled him aside.
"Mimey!" Delia wailed.
Gengar turned its attention to her and loomed closer, leering at her. The kitchen door swung open and a tall man entered. He was wearing a smart amber suit, his hair was dark and his face pitiless and harsh.
"Who are you?" Ash's mother gasped.
"Greetings, Mrs Ketchum. Perhaps you have heard of me. I am Giovanni".
"Giovanni! But…but…you're dead!"
He sneered, "Evidently reports of my death were exaggerated".
"What do you want with me and Mimey?"
"You're to be the bait in my trap. I'll have my revenge on young Ash Ketchum".
A deep rage born of fear for her son consumed Delia, "You'll never get Ash! He's far too clever for that!"
Giovanni merely raised one eyebrow, and Gengar seemed to laugh.
"Well, you've forgotten one thing, you coward!" she screamed desperately, "I'll never co-operate!"
Her anger got the better of her, and she dashed at Giovanni, trying to strike him, anything to stop him and his sick mind games.
As she approached, Giovanni seized her wrist with one huge hand. The crushing strength in his thick arm was unbearable. She flopped about helplessly in his grasp as he increased the pressure. With her free hand, she just about managed to smack him across the face. He didn't even flinch. He kept squeezing harder and harder.
There was a series of sharp cracks, and she shrieked in pain. He released her, and she fell to her knees, sobbing and cradling her damaged hand. He had broken her wrist.
"Mime Mime Mime!" her faithful companion leapt to its feet and rushed to help her, but Gengar merely aimed another Nightshade attack at it and it crumpled up again.
"I'll…die before I betray Ash", Delia managed to declare defiantly.
"That won't be necessary, Mrs Ketchum. Gengar, if you please".
"Gengar! Geng!"
Delia wept as she felt horrific supernatural powers crash through her body in waves, overpowering her crushed spirit and assuming control of her mind.
Giovanni grinned, "I am in control now!"