Chapter 12

Ash took another glance around the audience, this being at least his tenth check of his surroundings. There was quite a bit of chatter that filled the concert hall as the seats were quickly filled. Seated on the upper balcony, Ash peered over the edge and he saw that the ground floor was already packed and people in search of seats were now headed upstairs.

Ash and Dawn met outside the concert hall earlier, and Ash quickly discovered that he could be considered underdressed for the occasion. It wasn't a black-tie event, but he felt out of place as he wore a t-shirt and jeans. While Ash secured their seats, Dawn went off to meet with Nando before the event began. She wasn't gone for long, but the number of people that inquired about the empty seat beside him was starting to get on his nerves.

The people seated behind him chatted to pass the time, looking over the program and discussing some of the musicians. They even mentioned Nando's name. Ash was surprised when he heard it. He never would've imagined the soft-spoken Nando being so well known.

Ash took another glance back at the entrance to the balcony, and he was relieved at the sight of Dawn. He rose to his feet and waved to get her attention.

"Wow, you got us the perfect seats," She noted once she joined him.

Ash nodded and looked to the stage that was still concealed behind the red curtain. "When does Nando get on stage?" Ash asked her.

Dawn reached into her small purse for the pamphlet that she received on the way into the hall. Dawn quickly scanned its contents before she found the schedule. It would begin with the opening remarks from the gentleman that sponsored the event, and afterward, he would introduce the guest of honor. Dawn gasped as she saw the name that was listed.

Palermo.

"What's the matter?" Ash asked curiously when he heard Dawn's gasp.

"You won't believe who the guest of honor is," Dawn exclaimed as she turned the pamphlet for Ash to read himself. He looked back to Dawn and stared at her blankly.

He read the name and then stared at Dawn blankly. "Who's that?"

"Are you kidding me, Ash?" Dawn asked him but he shook his head. "You've never heard of the Lady Palermo? She was a famous producer from Kalos, the woman who discovered Aria and helped her become the megastar she is today?!" Dawn explained, but there was still no reaction from Ash, so she tried a different angle. "She's also the head of public relations with the Kalos High Court, one of their Magistrates."

"Sorry, I'm not familiar with her," Ash replied. He never paid much attention to celebrities or people who lived that sort of lifestyle. He took another glance around the audience to see if he could spot this Palermo. She must have been someone that could be picked out of the crowd based on how Dawn described her. "Do you see her?"

Dawn joined him in searching the audience, but neither of them could spot this woman. Ultimately, their search was cut short as the curtain was raised. The sponsor stepped out onto the stage with a microphone in hand, and the audience became quiet as the lights were dimmed and a spotlight was aimed down on him.

"Good afternoon," He began with a small bow to the audience. "I would like to start by thanking all of the young performers today who so graciously agreed to take part in this recital that I put together. All of them have worked incredibly hard on the pieces that you will be hearing today, so let's give them a big round of applause." He raised his hands in a gesture for the audience to do so. Once the applause stopped, he continued. "Now, I'd like to thank all of those in attendance. I imagine the majority of you are here to support the participants. Your support is appreciated and I sincerely hope that you are as amazed as I was after hearing some of these performances."

He paused and looked down to the front of the audience on the ground floor. Then he raised a hand to motion to a section of the audience.

"And last, but certainly not least, we have a special guest here today. An old friend of mine who happened to be visiting Vermilion City, a former performer, producer, and media manager, it's my pleasure to welcome Lady Palermo," He exclaimed and everyone's eyes were drawn to a woman in the front row. One of the spotlights was aimed down on her and she rose to her feet to wave to the audience. The audience clapped for her, but she didn't stay standing for long. Once she was seated, everyone's attention returned to the stage. "So now, without further ado, let's begin! Our first performance tonight is…"

Ash leaned back into his seat as the sixth performance concluded, and the audience burst into applause for a young woman. She rose from the stool in front of the grand piano and bowed, her white gown glittering under the spotlights. Then with a great smile, she strode off stage as the sponsor returned to announce the next performer. Ash missed the name was called; his mind adrift.

These musicians were considered amateurs, but as far as Ash could tell, all of them were outstanding! Each performance was better than the last. As he listened to each song, the music would lift him out of his seat and whisk him away to a faraway place that the composer envisioned as they developed their song. Every single one of them was superb at expressing themselves through their music.

Ash felt something nudge at his shoulder, and he looked to Dawn. She then directed his attention down to the stage where a familiar face was seated behind the piano.

Nando stretched his fingers, his back perfectly straight and his gaze fixated on the piano keys. He blocked out the stage lights, the audience, and the hundreds of eyes that were all focused on him. He was alone with the piano. Nando raised his right hand and began to play, commanding the attention of the entire audience with just a few simple notes. His tempo was just right, and each note resounded through the room.

Ash leaned forward in his seat, anxious for the moment that Nando would snatch him from his seat. But then, Nando slapped fingers down on three of the lower notes, and a pair of white wings sprouted from his back. His pace accelerated, as if he was a painter, hastily trying to capture an image as he hurled paint across his canvas. Ash took a breath and realized that Nando's composition was different from his peers. All of the previous performances showed Ash a place, but Nando's song didn't take him somewhere…rather, it showed him someone.

A beautiful girl, long eyes lashes that sparkled. Blue eyes that matched the freedom of the skies. Her cheeks were rosy as she seemed to be laughing too hard. She lowered her head for a moment, and few strands of hair fell in front of her face. Her…blue hair.

With that small detail, Ash recognized the girl that Nando was showing them.

It was Dawn.

She raised a hand to tuck the loose strands behind her ear, then she took him by the hand and beckoned for him to follow. The scene around them began to take a shape as Nando slowed his pace. The intensity and precision that he used to shape the time ago Dawn was abandoned. In its place was a tone that was light and carefree. Pink flower petals glided through the air around Dawn and a soft breeze tickled their skin. Her hair swayed behind her as she led them to the summit of a hill.

Nando's pace quickened and he revitalized the song. The surroundings around Dawn changed from that a grassy hillside to a sandy beach. She ran out ahead of him, her flips flops in hand with complaints of the sand that was stuck between her toes. When she arrived at the shoreline, she stopped there and waited for the water to wash up on her feet. She looked back and laughed as her feet were submerged for a moment, and called for him to join her.

As he approached her, Nando's tone changed again. The melody was played slowly, each note distinct and powerful, and the scene changed as a result. They were now placed on a large orchard, surrounded by low fruit-bearing trees. Dawn reached out for an apple, but it was just out of her reach. She smiled warmly as he snatched the apple off of the lowest branch for her and placed it in her hands. She went onto her toes to deliver a kiss on the cheek as thanks. Then she went on his side and interlocked arms with him.

Nando ascended the musical scale, primarily using the high notes and his song became hushed. The crowd hung on every note as the surroundings changed for the last time. Together, they walked arm in arm down a city block that was recently cleared after a heavy snowfall. They were dressed to keep warm as they admired the snow that was still pure white. Dawn exhaled and watched as her breath took shape in the cold air. She giggled at the sight of it before she caught the gaze of her companion. With a wink, she leaned her head against his shoulder.

Ash blinked and the image faded. Then he looked down to the stage and saw the young man was seated with his hands on his lap. His song was complete, but it seemed as if the audience had yet to realize it. Ash looked to Dawn and he saw that her gaze was still unfocused, still waiting for an end to the vivid scenes that Nando displayed. Without much thought, Ash concluded that Nando didn't want those scenes to end.

After a few moments, the audience returned to reality and saw that the performance was over. It started with a few people clapping and it quickly grew into thunderous applause. Nando rose from his seat and bowed graciously to the audience. Once he straightened, he scanned the upper balcony in search of Dawn. She wasn't hard to spot as she stood, waving her arms wildly for him. He stifled a laugh as he saw her, but something else caught his attention. The young man seated beside her.

Ash Ketchum.

Nando felt his stomach twist. Why was Ash here? He forced himself to take a breath and smile for the audience before he left the stage for the recital to continue.

Up in the stands, Dawn fell back into her seat and took a few moments to recompose herself. Nando's performance was breathtaking! She could see why he was so confident backstage. That was easily his best performance to date. As she watched Nando walk of the stage, she thought back to the night that Ash took her to the subway station to see his friends perform.

The evidence of their hard work and practice was undeniable, and the same held true for Nando. He poured out his heart and soul. It oozed with love and it left her a little flushed but impressed nonetheless.

"Wasn't that great, Ash?" Dawn asked as she turned to the young man beside her.

Ash glanced at Dawn and felt his face grow hot. He averted his gaze and focused on the next performer as they took the stage. "Yeah," He mumbled in reply.

"What's the matter?" Dawn asked him as leaned forward to make eye contact.

"I'm fine, don't worry," Ash replied as he motioned to the stage. Anything to take Dawn's attention off of him.

He sighed inwardly as Dawn's focus shifted. Nando…opened his eyes with that performance. Ash took pride in his attention to detail, but Nando showed him things about Dawn that Ash had yet to notice. The way her eyelashes sparkled. The way she'd wink as she tried to tease someone. The way she would…

Ash shook his head and put those thoughts to rest. He knew now that Nando held this girl in the highest regard. She was clearly the inspiration behind this song and Ash could only hope that Dawn saw just how much Nando cherished her.

Ash and Dawn strolled through the corridors behind the concert stage. Dawn expertly navigated the hallways until she reached the entrance to the backstage area. Nando sent her a text, an invitation to join him there now that the recital was over. As they came around the corner, Dawn spotted Nando standing in the corridor. His bow tie was undone along with his shirt collar, and he smiled cheerily at the call of his name.

"Nando, you were incredible!" Dawn exclaimed as she embraced him in a hug. "The best one yet!"

His spine shivered from the contact, but he did his best to return to the embrace. Ash raised his brow, impressed that Nando could be so relaxed around Dawn right after that 'performance.'

"What did you think of it, Ash?" Dawn asked after she stepped away from Nando and looked at him. Ash caught a flash of a frown on Nando's face, but Nando quickly forced a smile as he too wanted to hear Ash's opinion.

Ash couldn't think of anything worth sharing in that moment and opted to give the safest answer. "…I really enjoyed it. I'm not really a fan of classical music, but you showed me how cool it can be," Ash stated, which earned a small but grateful bow from Nando.

"I told you, Nando never fails to impress," Dawn said with a glance toward the performer. As she did this, Dawn looked into the backstage area out of the corner of her eye, and there she saw none other than Palermo. The older woman was surrounded by a few of the performers that requested autographs from her. "Oh, no way, so this is where she went! I'll be right back, Nando!"

Dawn poked her head through the doorway to perform a quick check for any security. It was clear, so Dawn darted into the crowd around Palermo. Ash and Nando remained at the entrance and watched as Dawn fidgeted in line, hoping to spend just a few moments with Lady Palermo.

"So, Nando, do you mind if I ask you something?" Ash said.

Nando raised his brow. This was the first time that he and Ash talked without one of May or Dawn there to take part in the conversation. "Yes, anything Ash," Nando replied.

"You…" Ash hesitated, in search of the correct wording. However, he spent more time thinking about this than he wanted and ultimately decided that he didn't want to beat around the bush. "…You love Dawn, right?"

Ash wasn't sure what sort of response he would get from Nando. If he would sputter a few words as he tried to string together a sentence. Or if he would deny Ash's assumption in an attempt to keep it a secret…although it wasn't much of a secret at this point since Nando broadcasted his feelings to the entire audience.

Nando's gaze remained fixated on Dawn.

"Very much so," Nando answered, his voice firm. There wasn't an inkling of doubt about what he felt toward Dawn.

"Do you think she got the message in your song?" Ash asked him.

Nando looked toward Ash and the corner of his lips curved upward, but his forlorn smile was answer enough. "I've played many songs like this for her. She hasn't noticed," Nando remarked.

"Then…why do you keep playing for her?"

"I didn't take you for the inquisitive type," Nando noted.

Ash gave a weak chuckle and scratched at the back of his neck. "It's not one of my strongest points, but how else are supposed to get to know someone?"

Nando gave him a small nod before he answered. "I grew up in Sinnoh, and when I turned thirteen, I told my parents that I wanted to study music abroad. So, they made the arrangements and I came to Kanto – to Vermilion City. This city is renowned as a place of opportunities to launch a career in the performing arts. I saw this as a place to grow as a musician while I was young so that I would be prepared to follow through as a professional. You see, I came from a small place called Solaceon Town to this big city," Nando explained.

Ash gave a nod. He remembered the culture shock he went through when he first came to Vermilion City from Pallet Town. City life was a beast in its own right.

"It was overwhelming at first and I had a difficult time making friends. The kids I went to school with would make fun of my accent, so I didn't talk much and I became more withdrawn," Nando continued. "When I started high school, it was more or less the same. I kept to myself…that is, until I met Dawn," He admitted and his smile brightened. "She heard me playing after school one day. She didn't approach me until I was done and asked how I learned to play so well. I wanted to speak like how you all do here in Kanto, so I fumbled my words. But she sat there and waited for me to get my words right. She never stopped smiling and I was grateful for that. I'll never forget her kindness that day."

Nando sighed as he cherished that small memory. That was just the tip of the iceberg when it came to a certain bluenette. He reserved some time each day to observe her, and he admired the qualities that she displayed daily. He saw that her kindness wasn't selective, she was patient with any and everyone that she met. She worked hard all the time, no matter how small or insignificant the assignment might be. At first, Nando wanted to keep his distance from her, but his heart seemed to ache as he did so. So, he returned to the spot where he first met, and he played there after school every day with her on his mind.

They encountered each other again, and Dawn became his audience of one. This became their routine and in time, Nando found himself spending a portion of his time with Dawn each day. As they got to know each other, Dawn invited him into her small circle of friends, and Nando was proud to be a member of this esteemed group.

"You're around her all the time, why can't you tell her directly?" Ash asked him, though he kept his voice low.

"I've always wanted to, but at every opportunity, I think about what that would mean for her," Nando replied and Ash wrinkled his forehead.

"What do you mean?"

"You've been around Dawn enough to see that she is always working," Nando pointed out. "She's going to become a designer, and I don't want to do anything that might steal her time or change her priorities."

Ash bit down on his lower lip. He wished he took the time to talk with Nando more prior to today. He never imagined him to be such a noble person, placing the interests of others far above his own. Someone like that didn't come along too often.

"Are you really alright with not being able to…tell her how you feel?" Ash inquired tentatively. There was no way someone in Nando's position could be satisfied with just being friends. His feelings were far too intense.

Nando sighed inwardly and looked toward Dawn once again. She finally got a few moments to speak Palermo, offering the woman her personal planner as something to sign. Palermo flipped to the back of the planner and scribbled her name. When her planner was returned, a large grin broke out on Dawn's face as she looked at it, and she thanked Palermo repeatedly.

"I'll be fine with it...so long as she's happy."

Monday, October 24th

Seated behind the piano that graced Mr. Juan's classroom within North Vermilion High, Nando pulled his hands away from the keys, his expression contorted due to the frown on the face.

Juan took notice immediately. "What's the matter, Nando?" Juan asked as he leaned against the body of the large instrument.

"This…isn't how I played it yesterday," Nando muttered with a shake of his head.

Juan wasn't able to attend the recital yesterday, so Nando intended to perform his composition again, and achieve the same level of perfection showed at the event. However, after his third attempt, Nando was still unsatisfied with how he played and stopped partway through his song.

"Are you certain?" Juan asked in return. He could hear a notable difference between how Nando played today when compared to his practice of it last week. Juan concluded that with the recital behind him, there was no pressure on Nando so he lost his sharpness. But Nando seemed to think otherwise…

"No, something is wrong," Nando insisted as he looked at the piano keys. He shook his head again. He knew better than to blame his instrument. "It's something…with me."

"But you said you were perfect yesterday," Juan noted as he stroked his chin.

"I was," Nando said flatly. He heard every note that he played. His performance was flawless…so why couldn't he replicate that today?

"Are you still playing for your…special someone?" Juan asked with a playful smirk. However, that quickly faded as Nando's eyes grew wide.

"I'm not," Nando said slowly. Dawn was always on his mind as he played. But today, for the first time in a long time, Nando played without her as a source of inspiration.

"Did something happen between the two of you?" Juan poked at the subject. Clearly Nando's 'confession' didn't go as planned.

"I told myself that I didn't want to get in her way," Nando related. He could recall word for word what he told Ash.

That he didn't want to do anything that would disrupt Dawn from marching toward her goals.

That he was fine not being in an intimate relationship with her.

That he could settle for just being…friends.

Nando the tightness in his chest when he spotted Dawn in the audience yesterday, or rather, when he saw that she was accompanied by Ash Ketchum. The thought caused a lump to form in his throat, but he knew Dawn too well to deny it. Ash Ketchum was special to her. Nando wouldn't fight for her. He could bear the thought of her being tormented as she tried not to crush his feelings. Nando took a breath to relax and lowered his shoulders as he arrived at his conclusion.

The relationship he desired to have with Dawn…was not meant to be.

Juan watched as Nando seemed to shrink in his seat, and he sat down next to Nando and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Love is a very tricky thing, Nando, but it's a part of life," Juan began. His usual charisma was replaced by a firm and reassuring voice that matched his wisdom. "I believe the saying was…'tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all."

Nando didn't say anything.

"I believe this will be your next step as a musician, Nando," Juan stated as he picked out the positives from Nando's newest experience. "Music isn't always about love and happiness. Sometimes you have to express your pain and anguish…or tell a story to your audience about what you've been through and how you've overcome different challenges."

Nando raised his head as he realized what Juan was alluding to. That didn't stop Juan from reinforcing his point.

"Love may not always be there for you," Juan went on as he looked toward his desk across the room. On it was a wooden picture of a smiling woman, his wife whom he lost years prior. "But music will always be by your side. No one can take that from you."

Zoey stayed after school once a week. As a member of the photography club, Zoey met with them after school on Mondays to schedule club activities and projects. So, it wasn't often that she found herself on school property after hours. Today was one of those rare exceptions.

Once her meeting was over, Zoey made her way to her car when she passed a trio of seniors that she recognized. She heard them express some disappointment and they mentioned Nando's name. She perked up at the thought of visiting her friend before she went home.

Zoey rarely saw him now that they were both seniors, but if Nando's old habits held true, then she would find him outside of the cafeteria playing one of his many instruments. As she ventured through the halls, Zoey recalled the last conversation that she had with Nando. It was a few weeks ago, but she distinctly remembered advising him to act on his feelings for Dawn. Zoey knew that his hesitation to do this would one day be his undoing.

When she arrived at the cafeteria, Zoey went straight to the stairway that overlooked the seating area. She took a quick glance around the room and spotted Nando at one of the tables right outside, seated all by his lonesome. She furrowed her brow as she saw that his guitar case was closed and resting on the ground while Nando was leaning on the table, staring off into space.

Nando couldn't focus. The school day was over, but out of habit, he came to this spot. It was where he always played for Dawn after school. His little sessions became quite popular as a number of students would come to listen to him play after school. But today, Nando couldn't find it in himself to play.

A group of his regular spectators passed by earlier to listen to him, but when they saw that he wasn't playing, expressed their concern. Nando assured them that he was fine and that all he needed was…a break. No one questioned him any further and they told him to enjoy the rest of his day before they left. Nando was grateful that they didn't interrogate him.

After all, he just gave up on the love of his life, and the mere thought of that decision to his heart to shreds.

"Earth to Nando," Zoey said as she waved a hand in front of his face. Nando blinked and his eyes focused on the redhead that was seated across from him. His eyes shined briefly, and then his gloom returned.

"Hey…" He said flatly.

"Are you okay?" Zoey inquired as she placed her arms on the table.

"Mmm," Nando drawled with uncertainty. He felt numb. "I'm not really sure."

"Does it have to do with Dawn?" Zoey clarified and Nando stiffened in his seat. She nodded at the sight of that small action. "What happened?"

Nando lowered his shoulders and he kept his eyes on his hands. He grasped at the tip of his fingers and recalled the events that led up to this moment. Then he raised his eyes to meet Zoey's.

"I invited her to my piano recital," Nando began. "I was hoping that this time I could tell her how I feel."

Zoey held a neutral expression. She knew this was truly a struggle for Nando, but she was glad to see a measure of commitment on his part. However, his current demeanor didn't bode well for the results of his actions.

"Did she turn you down?" Zoey asked carefully.

"No, she didn't say it," Nando said as he shook his head. "She came with Ash, and when I saw her with him, I couldn't find it in myself to tell her directly."

Zoey softened as she saw Nando shrink in his seat. "I'm sorry, Nando," She said softly. For such a tall guy, he seemed so small now. His hands were together, clenched tightly beneath the table. "It's okay to be angry, you know."

"I shouldn't be," He said after a pause.

Zoey frowned at him. She knew him too well to brush that comment aside. He was always trying to be the good guy…

"Nando, stop that," She stated and he looked up to her, his brow knit.

"Stop what?"

"You don't have to pretend for me," Zoey continued as she leaned forward onto the table.

"I have to," Nando said after a few moments. "Otherwise, I'll…"

He did everything he could to suppress his negative thoughts since the recital. But the thought of Dawn and Ash pushed him closer to a threshold where his emotions threatened to overwhelm him. He hated the idea of Dawn staring dreamily at Ash, abandoning her pursuits to spend more time with him.

"Nando," Zoey began.

"She shouldn't be chasing after him," Nando said sharply as he raised one hand to conceal his eyes. "She should have chosen me."

His mouth hung open and he exhaled. Zoey thought that he was surprised with himself for saying that, but the floodgates just opened.

"What on earth fascinates her about Ash?" He asked, looking up at the sky. "He saved her life. I've come to terms with that and I'm grateful for it…that he saved the girl I love. But, why? Why did she choose him?" Nando shook his head and dragged his hand down the side of his face. "He knows nothing about her. He doesn't know that her work ethic is second to none. That her kindness is unfiltered. That her positivity is contagious. That someone who actually loves her, would drop everything to support her and make sure that she reaches her goals," Nando slapped his hand down on the table and Zoey flinched. He breathed out again and Zoey gave him some time to calm himself.

Nando never got upset. He was always the voice of reason, the doldrum to counter the stormy waters of young adulthood. To see him get swallowed into the sea of emotion was a first, but still a welcome life.

"You really did love her, huh?" Zoey asked him softly.

"Damn it," He muttered as he looked down. He didn't want her to see his face now, but he felt a hand was now placed on top of his own. It was Zoey's. "I shouldn't be angry at Ash. He even spoke to me after I performed yesterday. In fact, he was the one who understood the purpose of my song and he asked me why I couldn't tell her how I feel. You know what I said to him…? I told him that I would be happy as long as she was…why the hell would I say that?"

Nando wanted to slap himself. He gave up. He chose to put himself in this position. He had no right to be angry with Ash.

This was becoming his greatest regret. Giving up on the love of his life.

An arm was wrapped around his torso, and Nando discovered that Zoey was seated next to him now.

"You know, Nando…you're just too good sometimes," Zoey whisper to him. "But…are you sure that you would've been fine with that? Giving up your dreams for Dawn? Don't get me wrong, she's wonderful. But are you sure that you could give up on everything you to be that devoted to her?"

Nando opened his mouth to speak. That wasn't even a question! Dawn meant the world to him, and he would be perfectly content watching her succeed.

Zoey though, cut him off before he could make his declaration.

"Think about it for a sec," She interjected.

"Nando shut his mouth, and he went through his thoughts a second time. He would've been happy seeing Dawn happy. He was certain of that. Her happiness would more than suffice for his own. Right? It would be…enough?

…

If he was going to support Dawn, it was likely that he wouldn't have the time to practice playing music enough to pursue it professionally. He could do with that though…right? Could he give up on his music? It was his music that brought him to Kanto. Music was the only thing that he came with. The lonely nights that he suffered through being so far from his family, wallowing in homesickness, Nando's best friend was his cello. Music was always with him, long before he met Dawn Berlitz.

"Love may not always be there for you, but music will always be by your side. No one can take that from you."

Juan's words rung in Nando's ears, and he blinked. Then he realized that for the first time in a long time, just as Juan said earlier, he was beginning to think without taking Dawn into consideration.

"If you love something, let it go," Nando muttered and Zoey squeezed his hand.

"You'll pull through, Nando," She assured him. "You will."

Friday, October 28th

Ash sat alone on a wooden bench, his hands in his pockets. The shouts of kids on the playground in the distance was dragged to him by the breeze. On the bench beside him was his backpack, the zipper was partially undone to provide some fresh air to its passenger. His bag wiggled a bit as Pikachu readjusted himself and Ash set his hand on top of the bag as a reminder to his partner.

"Not much longer, Pikachu," He whispered. There was some more movement from his bag, which he was certain Pikachu was doing out of spite. "I'll make it up to you, I promise."

Pikachu settled down and Ash leaned back into the bench. It was the last weekend of the month, and another request came to him from the Red Skulls for his help. For once, Ash was earlier than the trainer he was meeting with. This afforded him some time to sit back and recall the events of the past week at school.

Nando didn't join them for lunch at all this past week. Even when they were together during classes, he wasn't speaking that much. Ash was positive that this change in his behavior had to do with their discussion after the recital. Perhaps Nando wasn't ready to face Dawn, so he was keeping his distance for the time being.

Dawn and May had a different view of Nando's demeanor. When Ash brought it up to them, they explained that Nando would act like this whenever he was composing a new song. Ash shrugged at their explanation and wondered if he was thinking too deeply on the matter. They knew Nando far better than he did after all. Regardless of that, Ash hoped that Nando would regain his usual disposition soon. Their conversations weren't the same without Nando's calm and subdued input to offset May and Dawn's gushing over everything they talked about.

Ash blinked and returned his focus to the present. A silver-haired man approached him, and on his head was a black ivy cap. That was the detail he was looking for. When he arrived at Ash's bench, he dropped down next to Ash and looked straight at him. There was a moment of silence as he sized Ash up, and then he gave a nod of approval.

"Alright, so here's what's happening this weekend," He began and Ash raised his brow.

"Wait, don't you need to see my," Ash began as he pulled at the collar of his shirt to reveal the red neckerchief that he wore beneath it. However, the man raised a hand to cut Ash off.

"Kid, you've been coming to us for months now. Some of us are going to remember you," He pointed out. "We can skip the formalities and get straight down to business today.

Ash pursed his lips at this. He didn't think anyone in the Red Skulls would bother to remember him. A small part of him was glad that his reputation was growing but…

Was that good or bad?

Sunday, October 30th

"Are you sure you'll be alright, kid?" The question was posed by the man Ash met on Friday who introduced himself as Hun.

Ash inhaled sharply as the car jerked to a stop. He winced as the wound on his left arm stung, and he let out a labored gasp as the pain subsided. He looked out of the passenger window and saw that they arrived at their destination – the apartment building where Shauna lived.

Realizing that he had yet to answer Hun's question, Ash looked at him. "Yeah, I'll be fine. I have a friend who lives here that can patch me up."

Hun gave a nod of approval, the same nod Ash received throughout their weekend together. Their task this time around involved a trip into territory that belonged to the White Lotus, and it was just the two of them. Hun gave Ash all the details, something that was never done with his prior tasks.

A battle was arranged between Hun and one of the best trainers of the White Lotus a few weeks ago. However, with the recent activity of the Red Skulls, there was some tension between the two groups. So, Ash was assigned to be Hun's escort in the off chance that things took a turn for the worse.

It was an exciting weekend. On Saturday, Ash spent nearly the whole day with Hun as a sort of practice partner. Hun's Pokemon partner was a gnarly-looking Houndoom who did nothing but glare and spit fire. They held several practice battles during the day, giving Pikachu time to recover after each of the thorough beatings he received from Houndoom. Ash quickly learned that Hun was actually one of the most skilled trainers in the Red Skulls. In fact, he was so well regarded that he frequently worked in tandem with the King of the Red Skulls, although Hun refused to disclose the identity of this man.

During one of their breaks, Hun shared with Ash that the Red Skulls were watching him closely since his last job with them. The fact that they picked him to accompany Hun was proof that they saw some potential in him as a trainer. Hun even mentioned that there might have been a place among the Red Skulls for a trainer like him in the near future.

Then, when Sunday came around, they visited the site where Hun's battle would be held. It was an old parking garage where at least forty trainers gathered. Ash was certain that the majority of them were members of the White Lotus, and they held battles all over the place until the main event started. Everyone gathered to watch Hun's battle, and afterward, Ash had to get into a battle of his own. That was when things went awry…

"Don't forget what I said now. The Red Skulls are always looking for strong trainers. My boss has the final say, but if I put in a good word for you, I'm sure you'll get in," Hun reminded him.

"Eh…I'm not sure at the moment. I think I want some time to think about it," Ash replied as he looked to his left bicep. He tore off a portion of his t-shirt to wrap his arm and it was stained red as it functioned as a temporary bandage.

"No worries…but you know what, we should exchange contacts, that way you can give me an answer when you're ready," Hun suggested and Ash complied. They quickly exchanged this bit of information and Hun shot Ash a grin once this was complete.

"It was nice working with you," Ash commented as he opened the passenger door to step out of the car. "Maybe we'll see each other again sometime."

"Hopefully sooner than later," Hun remarked. "Maybe next time you won't get all banged up."

"I hope so," Ash said as he opened up the backdoor to retrieve his backpack which slung over his right shoulder. Then he reached in for the small duffle bag that he received as payment for his services and shut the door.

Ash grimaced as he shut the door and signaled Hun that he was done. Hun spared him a wave before went on his way, leaving Ash to turn to the entrance of the building. His left bicep burned and ached, protesting at the slightest movement. He only had a bit farther to go before he could be treated. He entered the double doors that led into the lobby, thankful there were no occupants in the room. With no one to see him, Ash went straight to the closest wall and leaned against it for support, dropping all his bags in the process.

He didn't want to look weak, not in front of Hun at least. If an opportunity to join the Red Skulls was on the table, Ash didn't want to give them any reason to think he wasn't capable. At least, not after his last few performances working with them. Joining the Red Skulls was a surefire path to improve as a trainer and he couldn't let this slip away from him.

As he slumped down to the floor, Ash bit down on his lower lip. Part of him was ecstatic that he took part in a battle this weekend, but the results of said battle left him regretting that decision to participate.

-X-X-

"Great work, Pikachu, keep it up!" Ash called out to his partner as Pikachu dashed around their concrete battlefield. They were given a small box to work with, but despite the limited area, Pikachu was a blur as he evaded the attacks from the opposing Murkrow.

The airborne Pokemon struggled to keep up with Pikachu, despite the advantage of viewing the battlefield from above. With no answer to Pikachu's speed, Murkrow's trainer seemed to be helpless, which gave Ash time to think of a way to strike Murkrow out of the air. So far, their Thunderbolt attack missed the mark twice, so the only option was to get Pikachu closer to the target to give Murkrow the shock of a lifetime.

"Murkrow, use Air Cutter!" Their opponent hollered. Murkrow gave a squawk as he flapped his wings rapidly. They glowed white before Murkrow began to create ripples in the air currents, firing away at Pikachu.

"Pikachu, dodge with your Agility!" Ash fired back. If Pikachu wasn't fast enough already, he climbed up another level. Murkrow continued to launch his attack haphazardly, unable to predict Pikachu's movements. In a desperate attempt to cut off Pikachu's movements, Murkrow began to fire Air Cutters two at a time, leaving gnashes all over the concreate to mark his misses.

Pikachu stormed around the battlefield and snickered as he dodged each attack with ease. He raced by Ash and changed direction on a dime to avoid another blade of wind, but this was followed immediately by a shout from Ash. Pikachu came skidding to a halt and turned to find Ash on his knees, grasping his left arm as he writhed in pain.

-X-X-

Hun's battle was incredible. It lit a fire in his chest, which was doubly effective since it did the same to Pikachu. As other battles resumed now that Hun's was over, Ash jumped at the first opportunity to get into a battle of his own. Unfortunately, Ash took more damage in the battle than Pikachu did. When that Air Cutter clipped his arm, it lacerated his bicep and the wound began to bleed immediately. That brought their weekend to an end as they left immediately to take Ash to Shauna's residence.

"Ash?" Shauna exclaimed as she stepped into the lobby. "I got your text, what happened?" The first she noticed as she approached was the blood-stained wrap around his arm. "How long has that wound been open?"

"Not long," Ash replied as Shauna grabbed his bags for him.

"Come on, let's get upstairs so I can check this properly. Plus, I don't want my neighbors seeing this," She muttered the last part as she took a glance at Ash. He was a mess, with the lower half of his shirt having been torn off to be used as a bandage.

They took the elevator up to the fourth floor, and Shauna was relieved to enter her apartment without anyone seeing Ash. She shut the door and locked it, then she ordered Ash to take a seat on the couch while she went to the bathroom to retrieve the needed supplies. Once she returned, she saw that Ash already removed his shirt and the wrap around his arm.

Shauna frowned as she sat down beside him. The first thought that came to mind was that Ash had no problem being shirtless in her home. He had his shirt off more than she did, and this was her house! Shauna kept that thought to herself as she took a look at his arm. There was still fresh blood oozing from the wounds, while his skin was stained from what dried against it.

"What did you do?" Shauna asked him. There was no response from Ash, so she pulled on a pair of plastic gloves and snapped them against her wrist as a warning. "Are you really going to sit here and say nothing?"

Ash took her question as an invitation to do so. Shauna rolled her eyes before she got to work. She brought a towel in hot water and pressed it against Ash's arm to clear away the blood. Once she had a proper view of the wound, she creased her brow. His skin was torn up as if the grooves of a jagged knife were run down his skin. Ash wrinkled his nose as he saw the current state of his skin.

"Still not talking?" Shauna asked him again. There was still no reply, so Shauna pursed her lips. "Alright then, have it your way. This is going to sting, but please, don't say anything."

She uncapped an ointment that she brought and applied it to his skin. He bit down on his lower lip as felt like his bicep was set ablaze. Then she began to massage it into his skin, and Ash balled up his free hand into a fist to keep himself from shouting. He shot a glare at Shauna at one point, and she stuck out her tongue and continued to work. Once she was finished, she showed him two pairs of gauze. One was white that was placed directly onto his skin. The other was tan, which was wrapped around his entire bicep twice. Then she embedded two pins into the stitching of the gauze to keep everything in place.

Ash began to move his arm, wincing as he did so. But at least everything was in order. "Thanks," He said simply.

"So, what happened?" Shauna wouldn't let this go. She spoke slowly, emphasizing each word.

Ash kept a neutral expression, unsure of what he wanted to do. His activity with the Red Skulls better off remaining a secret, but he knew for a fact that it must have tortured Shauna to treat him without any clue as to how all this happened. Maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea to fill Shauna in…

He broke eye contact with her and struggled to get past his hesitation. Instead, he looked for a way out. "I'm going to the bathroom," Ash said as he rose from the couch.

Shauna sighed after he disappeared into the corridor. She didn't know what to do with Ash most of the time! He could be such a stubborn pain in the butt when he was ready. She rolled her eyes and glanced at the ruined shirt and fabric on the floor. She snatched it up and found a plastic bag to tuck it into before she tossed it into the garbage along with her gloves. Shauna then went off into her bedroom where she dug through her dresser for one of her oversized t-shirts. From her bedroom, she could hear her doorknob of her front door being assaulted, followed closely by some persistent knocking. It was then that she realized Serena was going to drop by. She'd forgotten all about that once she got that text message from Ash earlier.

She went out to answer the door and glared when she saw that it was indeed Serena outside her door. Shauna only opened it partway, barely enough for Serena to get a look into her apartment.

"Why was the door locked, Shauna? Did you forget I said I was coming over?" Serena inquired as she made an attempt to enter, but Shauna denied her entry. "What's the matter?"

"Uh…I'm kinda busy," Shauna whispered, unable to develop a decent story on the spot. Serena went up onto her tiptoes to peer over her shorter friend, and with a glance through the living room, Serena spotted some extra bags on the floor beside the couch. Serena donned a sly grin, her eyes filled with glee.

"Oh, you should've told me you were having company tonight," Serena remarked with a wink.

Shauna wrinkled her nose in reply and groaned at the conclusion Serena jumped to. "It's nothing like that," Shauna protested, but of course, Ash's timing couldn't be any worse. They both heard the door to the bathroom open and Serena gave the door a push to make some space for her to see Shauna's guest.

When she saw that it was Ash Ketchum, Serena's smile dropped hard enough to fall through the floorboards. As she caught sight of Ash's arm, her discussion with Brock last month came to mind, and her gaze steadily grew more intense. She pestered Brock for answers last time, but he was only willing to share so much about Ash's personal life. But Serena was going to get those answers now, no matter what.

Shauna recognized that look at Serena's face, and she knew there was no avoiding this from here. She stepped aside and allowed Serena to enter completely.

"Serena," Ash began, his eyes widened as he saw her in the doorway.

"What happened?" She interjected.

Shauna looked to Ash and she saw that his expression hardened once again. If he was close to sharing anything earlier, he certainly wasn't feeling the same way now. There was tension in the room, and for fear of it flooding out into the corridor, Shauna shut the door to her apartment.

"Why do you need to know?" Ash asked in return.

"What kind of question is that, Ash?" Serena asked sharply as she raised her voice. She motioned to his bandaged arm. "Just look at yourself! The last two times I've seen you…you've been hurt. I'm worried about you."

Ash opened his mouth, but he lacked an answer. In the mixed bag of emotions that he held, guilt weighed the most thanks in no small part to Serena's concern for him. Ash did his best to keep everything a secret to stop his friends from worrying about him, but that only accomplished the opposite. He took a breath and relaxed his shoulders.

"Okay…I've been working with the Red Skulls at the end of every month," He confessed.

It took Serena a moment to realize that he revealed this so easily. He could be so secretive in the past, not to mention Brock was so tight-lipped last time, that she wasn't prepared for the sudden honesty.

"Why?" Serena almost barked and Ash winced. "You know those guys are dangerous!"

He broke eye contact with her now. "Serena, I know what I'm getting into when I work with them," Ash stated in a grumble. "I'm not sitting here wondering why I keep getting hurt."

"You shouldn't be getting hurt in the first place," Serena pointed out, placing her fingertips against her temples. Her heart was beginning to race as she thought about tackling a subject that she and Ash hadn't touched in ages. "Why are you doing this to yourself, Ash? Why you do keep forcing to force this whole Pokemon trainer thing?"

Ash looked to her, his brow knit and nostrils flared.

He knew that he kept secrets from Serena, despite how close they were. She wasn't aware of why he would put himself through this. That wasn't her fault. Yet, that didn't stop him from snapping back at her.

"I'm not forcing anything. You don't know anything, so why are you butting in?"

"I'm butting in because you won't tell me anything!" Serena retorted as she pointed at him.

Ash bit down on his lower lip and allowed his conscience to work. Serena said it herself…that he kept her out of the loop. That her questions came as a result of that. But the faint voice of reason that had a grasp on the situation couldn't begin to compare to the booming voice of Ash's frustration. He couldn't believe that his friends still questioned his goals. Why couldn't they just support him? Why was everyone against him?

"I don't tell you anything because I already know what you're going to say," Ash barked at her. "'This is too dangerous, Ash.' 'You need to stop before you get hurt.' 'Why are doing this to yourself?'"

"How many times do I have to say this, Ash? We say all of those things because we've seen you get hurt, over and over again!" Serena shouted at him. "We care about you, and none of us want to see you get hurt!"

Ash laughed scornfully in response. "You all can be such a bunch of hypocrites when you're ready. If I wanted to be something else…anything else, I bet you wouldn't have a problem with it. But since I'm trying to become a trainer, if I get hurt, you all just say 'oh, it's too dangerous!'" Ash didn't mean to mock her, but his tone took things to the next level.

"That's because it is!" Serena screamed at him. Her temper reached its boiling point. "Don't you look at the news? One Pokemon could level the entire building we're standing! I don't care if you think you're some kind of Pokemon savant, but you're not! You're hurt because of them! How can you stand there and tell me that Pokemon are safe to be around?!"

Ash and Serena didn't realize it yet, but they had gotten very close as they shouted at each other. Ash was a full head and shoulders taller than Serena, but that didn't stop her from glaring holes into him.

"I know you're better than that, Serena…" Ash's voice lost all of the anger that previously fueled it. His fierce expression was gone as he finally got a sense of the situation. "You never let people tell you what you should think, so why are you letting them tell you how you should look at me?"

Serena's eyes widened for a moment, then she opened her mouth to speak. "I am not!" She protested. "Can't you see that I genuinely care about you? We have seen you get hurt. I hate seeing you get hurt. Are you really so thick-headed that you can't understand that?!"

Feeling a hand on her shoulder, Serena only needed a glance to know that it belonged to Shauna. She returned to her gaze to Ash and their staredown continued. Shauna followed up with a light nudge as she came between them.

"Let's stop this before someone says something that they can't take back," Shauna stated and their gaze drifted apart. "Here Ash, you can bring this back to me when you find some time."

Ash accepted the t-shirt that Shauna brought for him, and he took his time as he slipped it over his torso. Once he was comfortable, he collected his belongings and left without a word. Serena watched him silently the entire time. She hoped just once that their eyes would meet again, and the temptation to apologize grew with every passing moment. But his refusal to even look at her further irked Serena. He was just too hardheaded for his own good sometimes!

"I'll be right back," Shauna said as she followed Ash out into the corridor. He was waiting in the hall for them to speak privately.

"Sorry, you had to hear all that," Ash apologized in a low voice as he dug through the duffle back that hung from his shoulder.

"Don't fuss over that," Shauna said. There was no use berating him or Serena right now. They just needed to let their heads cool off. Shauna raised her brow as she studied Ash's face. It was so rare to see him become visibly upset, but she never imagined him getting like that with Serena.

Ash pulled a sizeable stack of dollar bills out of the bag that was bound together by a rubber band. The money he received from the Red Skulls, no doubt. Shauna could only imagine how they acquired this much money to pay trainers like Ash, but that was something to consider on another day. Ash pulled off the rubber band and counted through the bills quickly for Shauna's payment. Eight hundred dollars.

"Thanks for patching me up tonight," Ash replied as he placed the money in her hands. "I'm sorry if I ruined your night."

Shauna caught him looking at the entrance to her apartment. "Don't worry," She assured him. "We always find something to talk about," Shauna's face grew serious. "But please Ash, for her sake, be safe."

Ash looked away now. He didn't want to make that promise.

He gave Shauna a wave before he left. Shauna waited until he stepped into the elevator before she tucked away the money she received and returned to her apartment. Serena was on the sofa, aimlessly flipping through the different networks on Shauna's cable package in search of something to watch. She wore a frown, unable to conceal what she felt.

"Serena, are you okay?" Shauna asked as she took a seat beside her friend.

"Yeah, I'm good," Serena replied as she shook her head. Then she repeated herself. "I'm good. If Ash doesn't want to be good, that's complete on him now."

"Casey, Macy, come on," Cassidy said as she clapped her hands. "Go get washed up for bed."

The three of them sat together in the living room, watching a few cartoons to wrap up their Sunday evening. There was a groan from Casey, but she had school the following day so the expectation was that she would go to bed early. Plus, with a glance at Macy, Cassidy could see that drowsiness was starting to conquer the small girl. Following Cassidy's instruction, both girls rose from the couch and Casey led Macy by the hand to the upstairs bathroom.

It was awfully quiet during the weekend due to Ash's absence. While Cassidy and Casey were already accustomed to it, Macy would ask about Ash frequently. She knew the weekend was when her 'Ashy' would be around for the whole day. So, his disappearance fueled her questions of 'where is he?' and 'when is he coming home?' Cassidy hoped that Macy would've still been awake by the time Ash returned tonight, but that didn't seem to be the case.

With the girls gone, Cassidy was glad that she could switch to something that she actually wanted to watch. She could barely feign interest in their cartoons, unable to see what the girls found so humorous about them. As she searched for something to watch, Cassidy winced as she felt a sharp pain flash across her chest. Cassidy took a labored breath as she placed a hand above her bust, and she leaned back into the couch for a more comfortable position.

She breathed slowly and shut her eyes for a silent prayer. The pain eased up, but she was still short of breath. She hoped that Ash would arrive soon. This pain was unsettling, and she would prefer if Ash was here.

With a thought of Ash on her mind, Cassidy perked up as she heard the lock on the front door rattle. Then the door opened and a voice she knew too well announced that he was back. Ash was back early!

He came straight to the living room once he took off his shoes and greeted Cassidy with a wave. "How've you been?"

"I think I should be asking you that," Cassidy retorted as she eyed the large brown bag of groceries in his arms. He ventured off into the kitchen to set the bag down on the counter for Cassidy and as he began to head back to the staircase, they crossed paths in the hallway. Ash noticed that Cassidy was moving slowly, her balance unsteady. He stopped to look at her and furrowed his brow. She was pale…

He quickly shot up the staircase to let Pikachu out of his backpack. The poor little guy was cooped up in there for the last few hours, and Ash didn't want to make him wait any longer.

Cassidy proceeded into the kitchen and smiled faintly as she saw everything that he returned with once again. She knew Ash was trying to keep her in the dark about his activities at the end of each month, but Cassidy wasn't clueless. She put the pieces together during the summer.

Whenever Ash disappeared, so did Pikachu. As if that didn't make it obvious that he was going out to street battles. She didn't see why Ash needed to act like it was some big secret, but she would let him have this.

Ash wasn't her son. She only had so much authority over him, especially as he approached the age of eighteen. Not to mention, his efforts did relieve some of the stress Cassidy went through after her funds were exhausted each month. For the time being, she would leave things as they were and trust Ash to take care of himself.

She began to separate the fruits and vegetables on the counter, but Cassidy winced as she raised her arm too high. The pain sat in her armpit for a few moments and her chest seized up. It hit her like a brick and she leaned against the counter for support. White noise was ringing in her ears and she blinked back hot tears. She couldn't breathe!

She tried to scream, but her voice faltered in her throat along with her strength. She hunched over and went down to the floor.

"Cassidy?" Ash called out as he came back down the staircase. As he reached the base of the stairs and turned to look down the hall into the kitchen, he saw Cassidy resting on the kitchen floor. "Cassidy!"

A/N

That concludes a supercharged chapter, one that I'm super proud of. I got to say, this is my second favorite chapter, a really close second. Right up there with chapter five.

I really enjoyed getting to focus on Nando for these last two chapters. It was inspired by one of my high school experiences. There was a girl I absolutely adored…like, I had it bad. I was one of those puppy dogs that was desperate for any kind of attention from her. Unfortunately, nothing I did meant that much to her, and I could tell. It was something I could live with. We parted ways after graduation, and I haven't seen her since. But that's just life, eh. What can you do? :P

As I've said before, and I'll say it again, I've been setting the stage for the meaty part of this story. I'll remind everyone that this is a Pokemon AU, and I was taking the time to establish how things work rather than just dump all of the information in a note at the beginning of the first chapter. I will say that we are definitely diving into some of the heavier stuff now, so look forward to it.

Much respect to my beta-reader MjrGenMatt. He was banging out these chapters left and right to get ready for this upload spree we've started. Thanks for all of the support everyone and I'll see you at the end of the next chapter!