Disclaimer: I do not own the Pokémon Series, I do not have any rights to the Pokémon Series and I do not make any money from writing these fic's.
A/N: Written for Remi's Novel length challenge and different POV Challenge. The prompt for this chapter is Unbreakable and the POV for this chapter is Ash's.
Chapter 4
Excitement and happiness washed through Ash as a loud happy laugh overflowed from his lips as he ran out of Professor Oak's lab. With a quick check to make sure that Pikachu had not been left behind and was still running besides him alright Ash turned his attention to Red.
"I cannot believe that we are going to do this!" Ash said happy as he gave the elder and more experienced trainer a large silly grin.
"We are, I did give you my unbreakable promise after all," Red replied kindly, Ash found himself on the receiving end of Red's smile. "I cannot wait to get on that ship and get out of this region."
Worry washed though Ash as the pair continued to run down the road towards the small pier. Ash easily spotted the pleased but worried expression on his face, Red's earlier words echoed inside of Ash's mind. With a quick glance at his new partner Pokémon Ash found himself met with the same worried but understanding look.
'I am going to try and make sure that this journey around Johto as long as possible. Red is doing me just a big favour I have to find some way of thanking him.' Ash thought determinedly with a fire burning in his eyes.
"We are almost there! Thank Mew for Pallet Town being so small!" Red said with a playful laugh, causing Ash to find himself returning Red's happiness.
"Do you think we will make it in time to board the ship?" Ash asked as he and Red turned around a corner only to spot the sight of the familiar ferry.
"We should," Red replied as he mentally went over his experience of travelling on a ships over the years and compared it with what he could see. "It looks like the ship has just arrived, just a few minutes ago. They should also have a list of people who will be travelling on the ship so if they are missing a few people they will not set off."
Ash nodded his head, a few seconds later he found himself standing several yards away from the ship as his feet left the solid pavement and hit the soft ever shifting sand. A small frown full of concentration came to Ash's face as he concentrated on keeping up with Red and Pikachu while not falling face first into the sand.
"Oi! Wait for us! We have tickets for the ship to Johto too!" Red yelled out loudly surprising Ash. "Do not leave without us!"
Ash watched as two of the sailors who were helping several people onto the ship pause, look at them, nod their heads in understanding before going back to what they were doing before. Red let out a sigh of relief, though Ash once again found himself copying Red only for a second reason.
'Thank Mew, I am glad that they heard Red' Ash thought as he slowed down. 'Red might be used to this from all of his travels but I am not. I need to get used to it and fast, I do not want to slow Red down...though I might be able to make the journey last longer if I don't...'
Ash allowed his thoughts and feelings to fester as they finally came to where the sand finished and met the solid ground of the pier. Together the trio made their way towards the ship, this time Ash found it easier to navigate his way through the sands though that did not stop him from having to stop himself from laughing every time Pikachu landed in a soft patch of sand causing him to be buried.
"This is an exciting start to our journey," Ash said breathlessly with a grin, his checks bright red from their rush. "If this is how things start I wonder how things will develop. What sort of adventures do you think we will go on?"
"I do not know Ash but if it is anything like the other journey's I have been on I know that this one will be amazing," Red said happily, Ash nodded his head in response as he watched his new friend's eyes sparkle in excitement. "Is there anything beyond the normal gyms that you want to do Ash?"
"Well first I want to get on the boat," Ash responded playfully, he shared a look with Pikachu. "And I think that Pikachu feels the same way."
Ash watched as Pikachu let out a sound of agreement before quickly jumping up out of the sand and onto Red's hip. Laughter bubbled inside of him as Ash watched Red let out a shocked cry of surprise only for Pikachu to nimbly jump from the elder trainer's hip onto Ash's shoulder.
"Had enough of trying to cope with the evil sand, Pikachu?" Ash asked good naturally only to chuckle softly as Pikachu let out a soft coo in agreement and gently rubbed its check against Ash's. "I do not blame you, I remember when mum and I used to come here for the day when I was really small, I had the same problem."
"Now that is something I would love to see," Red said playfully causing Ash to shot him a dark look. "What? Do not look at me like that, besides look where we are."
Blinking in confusion Ash turned his gaze in the same direction Red was looking in only to find that the small stone wall that he had spotted on the other side of the beach was no longer so small. At first Ash thought it would only be like walking up a step on a staircase though now he was only a few steps away from it he know knew he was wrong. Big time.
"I cannot climb up that!" Ash cried out fearfully as he gave the stone 'step' a nervous look. "It comes up to my knees!"
"So?" Red asked, Ash quickly spotted the look of genuine confusion on his face. "Why does that make s-oohhh..."
Ash folded his arms, while being careful of Pikachu and watched as an expression of understanding appeared on Red's face. Relief washed though Ash's body as he waited for Red to give him an answer, glad that the other realised just what the problem was.
"Do not worry Ash, these evil little things are the bane of every new trainer though with a little practice you will soon be climbing up and down them like a true expert," Red said kindly only for a loud whistle from the boat to come to his ears. "Ah, but it looks like now is not the time, just give me a moment Ash."
Staying silent Ash watched as Red carefully and skilfully jumped-skipped over the wall, which to him was only half the size it was to Ash. As Ash watched Red land without a stumble or unsure footing Ash soon found himself on the end of Red's gaze.
"Alright Ash, Pikachu, your turn," Red said with a grin as he bent down to Ash's height with his arms out stretched. "Just stay still and do not wiggle too much, 'kay?"
"Okay," Ash replied and watched carefully as Red's hands went under his arms and picked him up.
Staying stone still Ash allowed Red to pick him up and lift him up onto the pavement. As Red placed him back down on the grown Ash found himself taking a few shaky steps as he got used to being back on solid ground after running on the sand.
"Thank you," Ash said as Red removed his hands from Ash's body. "I do not think that I would of been able to get up that large step to get to here without your help."
"Do not worry about it, it is my fault as I have been dealing with these sorts of things for a long time now and it is like second nature to me," Red said with a smile, Ash blushed as Red reached out and playfully ruffled his hair like an older brother would. "You will find that they show up in all sorts of places but do not worry, you will be an old pro with them in no time. Now...let's catch our boat."
With one last shared smile with one another Ash and Red turned and ran towards the boat. Excitement bubbled within Ash and it grew with every single step he took, he was finally going to do it, he was really going on his first Pokémon journey...even if it was with a protector-bodyguard-big brother sort of person.
"This is going to be amazing Pikachu," Ash said happily as he watched Red reach into one of his pockets and pulled out the boat tickets. "I wonder what sort of people we are going to meet, I wonder what sort of Pokémon we are going to befriend."
"I have tickets," Red said quickly causing Ash to roll his eyes at the way Red had said it as Red held out the tickets to one of the sailors who had been waiting for them at the bottom of the boarding platform as they slowed down to a jog. "We are not too late are we?"
"No kid, you and your friend just made it in time," the sailor on the right replied as he took the tickets from Red with practiced ease. "Besides Professor Oak phoned the captain and told him what was going on so it would of not mattered. Get on board quick kids."
"Alright, thanks," Red replied with a relieved grin without stopping as he climbed the boarding platform up onto the boat. "We had some luck there, huh Ash?"
"We did, I am glad that we did not miss the boat," Ash replied only to pause half way up the boarding platform and look back behind him at Pallet Town. "Well...this is it Pikachu...We are finally leaving home and setting out on an adventure, I wonder what sorts of unbreakable bonds, rivals, and experiences we will come across."
"Chaaa," Pikachu said softly making Ash give his friend a small smile.
"Hey, hurry up Ash!" Red suddenly called out, making Ash realise that the other was now on the boat. "Hurry up and get the rest of the way up here before those sailors take away the boarding platform with you and Pikachu still on it!"
"Right, sorry!" Ash called back, his face going bright red. With one last look at his home town Ash turned and ran the rest of the way up the platform and clambered onto the boat where Red was waiting for him.
To Be Continued...
After playing one of my Pokémon games yesterday I could not resist putting in a mention of those strange little ledges.
