Peccatus Urbis
by Uenki

Pokemon does not belong to me. The plot, however, does.

CHAPTER 1 – Forest, forest

"I do not believe in how perfect my world was.
The pain that pierce my heart,
the loneliness that I was not supposed to bear.
I am tired, so tired.
Yet it is me, always me.
I forbade humans to open my heart, to envelop my space with light.
I would rather face it, the loneliness, and the darkness of it all."

There were no tall, majestic buildings, no loud and noisy cars, no firm built terrace houses, nothing. It had a looming silence that sent shivers down onto one's spine. However, inside the forest lived a teen. His name was Ash, Ash Ketchum and he was no older than sixteen.

He hid deep in the darkness from the light that binds him in chains. He was hiding from Giovanni who killed his mother right before his eyes. Giovanni's next target was him and so he escaped, far from Brock and Misty. He just wanted to cast them away from Death's clutches.

Every single day, his mother's scream, right before she died, would invade his ears and pierce his heart. His sweet, innocent mother. The smiles she had would always brighten up his day, whenever he went back home to visit her. She would always put her hands together and welcome him back with a big hug. However, his mother was here no more. His goddess, his only pillar of support died wile protecting him, shielding him from the hyperbeam of Giovanni's Pokemon.

The impact was too huge, those 'devil-Pokemon' of Giovanni's, had struck his mother's chest, right on the dot. He could still feel it, the warmth of his mother's blood when it came pouring onto his whole body. He was bathing in his mother's blood. Warm, crimson blood with a metallic taste. Giovanni warned, with a haughty smile, "Be prepared, Ash. My next target will be you. Your mother would not be there to protect you next time."

Ash stirred lightly, and the yellow electric mouse pounced onto his chest. When he opened his eyes, he saw Pikachu gazing at him worriedly. Ash smiled weakly, and caressed Pikachu's head. "I'm okay, Pikachu," he reassured. Without his mother, Pikachu and his other friends became his strength to go on. They were his pals, without them, he probably could not survive in this cruel world. Ash just thought that this city would be the best; no sign of human civilization, there's only nature.

There were flowing river and lush greenery with trees that had edible fruits on it. Without noticing the passing of time, Ash and his Pokemon friends lived here.

Five years passed and they were dependant on each other. They depended on Ash to fix their wounds and to train them, while Ash was dependant on them for food. A Delibird approached Ash, who were currently sitting on his sleeping bag, and placed the huge leaf, which was full of berries on the ground. Ash grinned and thanked the Delibird who nipped his hands, fondly, as an appreciation. Ash picked some of the red-colored berries up, placed them in his pocket, and shared the others equally among his Pokemon. Pikachu jumped up on Ash's right shoulder while Ash recalled the others back into the Pokeballs.

Ash was heading towards the Delibird who were feeding his birdies. The Delibird gave a hoot of surprise, most probably he hadn't notice Ash's entrance. Ash chuckled, as the birdies were chirping at him affectionately. Pikachu gave a quick leap and was standing by the edge of the nest while gazing upon the birdies. Ash stroked the birdies with his finger. A faint smile was evident on his lips as he remembered how those little darlings were when they had just been hatched from the egg. They were all grown up and lively now.

The mother of the little birds hooted softly at the young man. Years passed, yet he looked the same. With a face as pale as snow and the burdens of the past that seemed to haunt the child.

Ash smiled, politely at Delibird, before he went deeper into the forest. Inside the forest was the river that only a dozen Pokemon lived in. Ash sat by the side and called out Totodile, who did a little dance of joy. Totodile leap right into the water and fooled around for a moment, before he scampered back as a huge aqua-colored Gyarados swam towards Ash. Gyarados were known to be swollen with pride; however, on the contrary, this Gyarados was not. One of those who were being abandoned in the forest as a Magikrap, this special Gyarados was trained by Ash and evolved due to the passing of time.

Totodile gave a squeal as it scampered back to his owner, hiding behind his ankle. The Gyarados gave a growl, wanting to mean no harm. However, Totodile took it the wrong way. The hyperactive Pokemon clung onto Ash's legs. Ash chuckled, and Pikachu was laughing aloud. Ash knelt down and Pikachu jumped down from Ash's shoulders. Pikachu, joyfully, hopped on Gyarados. They were just like playmates. It was the Magikrap who fought Pikachu for countless times before it evolved. Not to mention that it took quite a while.

Ash carried the Totodile, and assured it. "It'll be okay, Totodile, get in," he spoke, gently. Totodile though scared and reluctant, trudged to the Gyarados and jumped into the lake. Noticing that the Gyarados did not attack, Totodile did a little dance of a newfound friendship as it jumped up from the water and landed in with a splash. "Ah, I am wet now, Totodile," Ash spoke, chidingly with his black cloak getting as wet as ever. He proceeded to take off his cloak but paused when he heard the soft rustle of the leaves.

The trees were getting very restless. "Pika pi?" Pikachu called, but Ash was turning towards the direction where the Delibird and her young were. The wind was slowing down, and the tree was rustling, though softly.

"No way," Ash murmured under his breath, taking a step backwards. The direction of the wind was changing. It could not be, it was impossible. Ash did not know it was possible, until he spotted a Persian who was walking gracefully towards the Delibird. Ash froze for a moment. He regained his composure and called upon Charlizard.

"Delibird! Fly off!" Ash screamed, and the Delibird gave a hoot, and flew into the air, but the gaze of the mother's was still fixed on her child. Ash knew, he was trying to think. Then he called out Bulbasaur.

"Listen Charlizard! Fly to where the nest is! Bulbasaur, use you vine whip and grab the nest! Charlizard, go by the air, attack ANYONE who is hostile against you! PROTECT THE NEST!" Ash cried, with Bulbasaur riding onto Charlizard, they headed for the nest. They managed to grab the nest successfully and Charlizard flew off, swift and quick while the birdies were chirping, with their mother flying side by side with Charlizard.

The Persian was getting closer and Ash knew that her master must be right behind her. They do not have much time. Ash recalled Totodile and jumped onto Gyarados. He held on to the water Pokemon, and spoke in a low voice. "Gyarados, surf to the east." The water Pokemon heeded, allowing Ash to take a deep breath, and surfed into the sea.

Pikachu and Ash gasped for air when they were on the surface with Gyarados. Then, Ash called out Pidgeot, who gave a shrill cry in the air. "Pidgeot, lead Charlizard here! We will meet by the east in the Pokemon Center ahead!" Ash commanded softly and the bird left with a flutter of her wings.

They finally landed on land. Ash, with Pikachu on his shoulders, thanked Gyarados who helped and wanted him to return to the river, to where he belonged. However, Gyarados thought otherwise. He wanted to tag along with Ash, as he knew that, if he went along with Ash, he would be more powerful than what he is now. Ash thought for a moment and smiled. He patted the water-Pokemon and nodded. "Thank you, old pal," Ash murmured and took out a Pokeball.

The red light enveloped the Gyarados and it formed into a ball like shaped and went into the Pokeball. The Pokeball shown no sign of struggle and Gyarados was 'caught' almost immediately. Ash smiled and slotted the sixth Pokeball in his stash. He then looked around. They were far from the forest, which were Ash's utopia.

Charlizard took a swift landing a few steps away from the Pokemon Center. The little birds were now Delibirds, and Ash was laughing. They seemed to evolve during the flight. Ash smiled to his Pokemon and recalled them back into their Pokeballs.

He then head towards the mother bird, which he could differentiate. After all, they have been together for five years. Ash stroked the mother's head fondly, as it perched onto his arm. "Goodbye Delibird, take care of yourself. Find a new home," Ash said and he swung his arm and the bird flew off. Noticing that their mother had took off, all the little ones took off, while circling around Ash for one last time.

The mother Delibird gave a mourning hoot as it took off with her young and never turned back. Ash laughed bitterly, there were no one who would be together forever. One always had to part. Ash clenched his fists. Giovanni has discovered him, he need to escape yet again.

Meanwhile, in the forest.

Giovanni glanced around with an arrogant smirk on his face. His sharp eyes narrowed. He brushed the wrinkles off from his red suit and strode away.

"Ah, it seemed that the little cockroach has escaped this time round, hm." Giovanni spoke, his voice low and deep. Persian purred as it strolled gracefully beside his master, and stepped up onto the helicopter, which had a huge red R on it.

A/N: This is my first Pokemon fanfiction. Please be gentle. I was just trying to thicken the plot. Moreover, for Ash's Pokemon, there are too many choices. Therefore, I just chose whichever Pokemon I deem fit.