Chapter 30
Wednesday, January 18th
Giselle watched her Cubone intently as he practiced at the center of their usual clearing on Route 6. He swung his bone furiously, but with expert precision, as he envisioned his opponent as none other than Ash's Pikachu. It had been a while since Ash and Pikachu joined them on Route 6 for a practice session, though Giselle understood that Ash had other obligations to tend to.
With Ash absent, Giselle had the time to practice one on one with Cubone like she used to. Months of battling Pikachu proved to be a valuable experience for her Cubone, or rather, a humbling one. Of course, she wanted Cubone to have a measure of confidence in his ability, but she didn't want him to become overconfident. This was the just the case prior to them meeting Ash and Pikachu. Cubone picked up a bad habit of underestimating his opponents - not that this problem was exclusive to him. Giselle was also guilty of this, and it showed in her first few battles against Ash.
Cubone witnessed Pikachu transform from a blunt instrument in Ash's hands, to a hyper offensive monster whose onslaught of attacks could force anyone into submission. Watching Pikachu's growth, and also being on the receiving end of said growth, Cubone learned quickly not to look down on his opponents. The humility was important for Cubone's growth as a competitor. Respecting his competition would only make him work harder to surpass them, which Giselle observed in her Pokemon right this very moment.
Cubone froze mid-swing and he turned toward the entrance of the clearing. Several bushes rustled, which earned Giselle's attention before three old faces stepped into her practice ground.
Ash, Brock, and Pikachu.
Her lips curved upward at the sight of them. As irritating as the three of them could be, each in their own special way, Giselle missed their company. So, she welcomed them warmly in the only fashion she could.
"Cubone, you ready for a battle?" She asked of her partner. Cubone hit the field with his bone and gave a shout.
"That's exactly what we came here for!" Ash exclaimed as he took off his backpack and tossed it aside. "You ready, Pikachu?"
"Pika-pika!"
Ash gave a content sigh as he leaned back against a tree trunk, taking shelter in its shadow. It felt good to return to his old routine.
"I see you've gotten rusty since you last battled us." Giselle commented as she and Brock joined him beneath the shade of the tree. Ash scratched at the bridge of his nose with a grin.
"Maybe," He noted. "We took a few days off after our third match."
"You know, I wanted to talk to you about your last match." Giselle stated.
"Oh boy, I had a feeling you'd want to go back to it." Ash mumbled as he settled himself against the trunk again in preparation for her lecture.
His third match at the Hidden Cove stadium was like running into a brick wall. The usual style of battle that he would employ with Pikachu, the heart and soul of their offense, had been negated by Extrasensory. It wasn't the first move to achieve such a feat, but it reminded Ash that he could still be considered a shallow trainer. He had one strategy, and if that failed, he had no choice but to try and make a miracle happen.
Fortunately, such a thing did happen in his last match, which allowed them to secure a victory.
"I got exposed, I know," Ash admitted, shaking his head. "We're one trick phonies. There's so much Pikachu and I still need to learn…"
Brock pursed his lips, brow creased in response to Ash's statement. Even though his third victory was life-changing in the short term, Ash still had his eyes on the big picture. Rather than becoming absorbed in creating an easy-going life for himself, he focused squarely on what he and Pikachu still needed to improve.
"I'm glad you're not content with your performance even though you won," Giselle stated with a nod of approval, "You can't expect to keep winning battles once everyone knows you only have one method to attack."
"But where can we go from here?" Ash asked her. "I don't know what else Pikachu can work on."
"This is where the PokeHub can come in handy," Giselle said as she retrieved her phone. It was more than just a site dedicated to the underground circuit; it was a treasure trove of information about almost all Pokemon.
As she began to explore the research papers that had been left back over the years, she soon discovered that there was only a little information available concerning Pikachu. The page that had been created specifically for the small electric Pokemon was lackluster, providing the most basic details such as the average height and weight of a Pikachu. Giselle frowned and decided to broaden her search parameters. She looked through the documents about electric type Pokemon, something she never bothered to do, since her Cubone was immune to the effects of these Pokemon.
Like all types of Pokemon, electric types had their own strengths and weakness. As Giselle dove into the finer details, she soon realized that Pikachu was only just beginning to tap into his true potential. One paper, in particular, caught her attention - the findings of an older man from Hoenn who spent his life around electric type Pokemon.
These electric Pokemon are really quite interesting. Within each of them is a power source that could power a whole city block at any given moment, but in their youth, they can't control it at all. It's frightening for them because it causes overloads while they are young. They become afraid of their own power and subconsciously put up a barrier or threshold to stop these overloads. As they mature, their bodies adapt and reach a point where it can properly conduct all of this electricity, but some of them never overcome the initial fear of the overloads. – Wattson, Mauville City.
Giselle's brow was crooked, her head leaning to the side in deep thought.
According to this 'Wattson,' this was something all electric Pokemon experienced. So, did that mean Pikachu was afraid of his own power too? And if so, what would happen if Pikachu overcame that fear? Giselle returned her focus to her phone. Wattson still had more to say.
According to an old legend, there was a warrior princess named Ginchiyo. She once ascended to the highest mountain in the land and there she witnessed electric type Pokemon being struck by lightning! She said the intensity of their electrical storms increased tenfold! I believe this was a rite of passage for electric type Pokemon, a step toward adulthood, in which they gain mastery over their abilities. – Wattson, Mauville City.
"Wow, that's interesting…" Giselle noted.
"I'm not really sure I get it." Brock muttered as he stood beside her.
"Well it's a legend so, I guess it does sound pretty farfetched." Giselle commented.
"Huh?" Brock exclaimed as he finally looked at her. "What are you talking about?"
"What are you talking about?" Giselle asked in return. Brock motioned to the clearing where Ash and Pikachu were hard at work doing…dance steps?
"I'm trying to figure out what the heck they're doing," Brock explained. "Now what were you talking about?"
"I was reading and I started to talking out loud," Giselle responded, but she kept the focus on Ash. He and Pikachu were near the center of the clearing trying to mirror the steps of the other. "Ash, what are you doing?"
Ash straightened up from the ridiculous one-legged pose he had paused in. He approached them as he chuckled.
"I'm not exactly sure," He revealed, causing Brock and Giselle to stare at him in a deadpan.
"So, you're just wasting time?" Giselle clarified causing Ash to raise his hands in his defense.
"No, I'm just…" He gave a sigh, trying to find a way to explain himself properly. "During our last match, this weird thing happened with Pikachu. I don't really know how to describe it, but it's kind of like we were connected during the battle."
Giselle perked up at this. Brock stroked at his chin, unable to think of a reasonable explanation.
"Whenever I moved, Pikachu would move with me. And if he moved, I did the same," Ash went on. "And…it's kind of felt I could see through his eyes, and he could see through mine. I don't know...like I said, it was weird. I don't really know how to explain it."
"That's completely fine, Ash," Giselle commented. "Pokemon are filled with all sorts of mysteries, and you might be on the cusp of discovering something new."
"Really?" Ash exclaimed, his eyes teeming with excitement. He looked to Pikachu. "Did you hear that buddy? If we figure out this out, we might be the first to do it."
As the duo beamed at each other, Giselle crossed her arms in front of her chest.
'…it's kind of like we were connected during the battle.'
Giselle wondered if such a thing was possible.
Ash waved to Brock as his friend disembarked to head back home. Ash gave a sigh as he glanced up at the darkened skies. He didn't mind coming back home late, especially since his time was well spent training with Pikachu and Giselle. Ash adjusted the straps of his backpack at the thought of Pikachu, his partner now resting within.
Even with the acquisition of a Pokeball for Pikachu, the two of them came to an agreement that it would only be used in emergencies. Pikachu wasn't a fan of accepting the Pokeball as his new residence, and Ash could live with that. There was something about having Pikachu on his shoulder that just felt…right.
Climbing the steps to his home, Ash unlocked the door and entered quietly. As soon as it was closed, Ash opened his backpack to release Pikachu who darted off into the living room to greet their company. Ash followed him in and waved to Serena, Casey, and Macy, who were watching television together. His stomach voiced its concern to him, and Ash bowed out to go to the kitchen in search of a snack.
Scavenging through the pantry for something quick, Ash settled on the small bags of pretzels that Macy loved. He took two for himself and made a mental note to buy some extra later this week to replace what he ate. As he pulled at the top of one bag to open it, Ash caught sight of a light flashing on their phone. Someone had left a message on the answering machine.
Hardly anyone called their landline, so he furrowed his brow as he approached.
Who would call them?
Ash let the message play.
"Good evening, this is Dr. Ethan Avertt calling from Lt. Surge Memorial Hospital. I'm calling on behalf of Cassidy with news for her family. Two days ago, she woke up from her coma, and I'm happy to say that she's made great progress since then. When you get this message, feel free to come by and visit. She's expecting you all."
Ash forgot about his hunger, to the point that he dropped the pretzels he held, dashing off into the living room.
Ash licked his lips and did his best to ignore the constant smell of disinfectant. He wondered how this smell pervaded even the lobby of Lt. Surge Memorial Hospital, but he had to toss the thought aside quickly as a familiar face in Ethan Avertt entered the lobby.
The doctor who had taken charge of monitoring Cassidy's coma.
A group consisting of Ash, Serena, Casey, and Macy sat in the waiting area, watching Ethan closely as he approached the receptionist's desk.
"There he is." Casey whispered to Serena.
"That's Cassidy's doctor?" She asked in return and Casey gave a nod.
"Yeah, he's been really nice and helpful whenever we stop by," Ash explained but he was silenced when Ethan began to make his way over to them. He approached with the warmest of smiles, and Ash knew why he was so cheery.
For the first time since their initial meeting, Ethan had some good news for them!
"It's good to see you guys, although I wasn't expecting you all to come tonight, so I hate to say this, but visiting hours are over," Ethan explained. He chuckled at the sight of the narrow glances he received and motioned for them to relax. "But…since you called in advance, I talked to a few people and they've made an exception for you all. Come on, let's go see Cassidy."
The trip to her room was long, and occupied by Ethan's explanation of her recovery process over the last two days. Her awakening had caught them off guard, and it took Cassidy some time to get through the momentary shock of waking up in a hospital room. Once she relaxed, they explained that nearly three months had passed since she fell into a coma.
Ethan related how he felt like he was in a movie explaining all this to Cassidy, earning a laugh from Serena. It certainly did sound more like a movie script than real life.
Ash's heart quivered as he saw Cassidy's nameplate on the door. Ethan gave a knock and there a voice the kids hadn't heard in a long time. As the door opened and they ventured in, they all saw a sight to behold.
Cassidy, sitting upright, eyes wide at the sudden appearance of her children.
"Mommy!" Macy exclaimed as she ran up to her bedside.
Serena was quick to help Macy up onto the bed where she embraced Cassidy, and her mother absorbed her in a hug. She kissed Macy over and over again as the small child held fistfuls of her hospital gown, clinging tightly to Cassidy.
"I missed you, mommy!" Macy announced as she finally pulled away, beaming at her mother. Cassidy brushed her at the corner of her eyes with her thumb, blinking rapidly as she did so. Then she caught sight of Casey coming up alongside her bed. Cassidy sniffled and smiled up at her. Casey may not have realized it, but her lips were parted ever so slightly, beads of tears now holding a position at the edge of her eyes.
Her hands shook, so she grasped the plastic railing on Cassidy's bedside to conceal it.
"Are you alright, sweetie?" Cassidy asked her softly. Casey bit down on her lower lip and lowered her head to conceal her expression. Her chest was uncomfortably tight and a lump resided in her throat that refused to budge. A sniffled escaped, and Cassidy placed her hand on Casey's, rubbing the top of her hand with her fingertips. "It's alright Casey, I'm here now."
A tear dropped onto Cassidy's hand, and she reached out to tug on Casey's shirt. Casey complied and leaned over the banister, lowering her head to rest it on Cassidy's shoulder. Her mother raised one hand to caress her cheek and placed her head against Casey's.
"I thought that…I thought that I might not ever see you again." Casey croaked out, her voice disappearing as she spoke. Cassidy merely shushed her.
"I know, you've been strong for a long time," Cassidy noted. Then she reiterated, "But it's okay, I'm here."
It took some time for Casey to gain a semblance of her usual composure, but during this time she received several kisses from Cassidy and Macy. Watching the three from a distance, Ash leaned against the far wall with his hands tucked into his pockets. Serena stood alongside him, enjoying the discussion between the girls and their mother as they filled her in on all the events that she had missed.
He missed this, the exchange between the three of them.
Feeling Serena tap at his arm with her elbow, Ash glanced at her and saw that her brow was knit as she studied him.
"Are you okay?" She whispered to him. He looked back to the trio that was wedged together on Cassidy's bed.
"It's just a lot to take in," He replied after a few seconds passed.
Serena understood.
It wasn't just that Cassidy was waking up from a coma.
It all seemed like the ending of a fairy tale.
Through all of the struggle, Ash scraped and clawed at his only means to keep them together. Day and night, months of constant training, and finally he entered the underground circuit.
Each of his first three victories was special. Against all the odds placed against him, he overcame it all! His fortitude threatened to crumble beneath him so many times, and if not for his friends, Ash was certain that he wouldn't have made it through the last few months.
And then finally, when he looked into the account Malcolm had given him as payment for his matches…the tremendous weight he carried was finally gone.
He could pay for anything they needed, and that he did.
Cassidy's hospital bill was wiped clean, and within days of this, she woke up.
It was hard to grasp it all. Everything worked out.
Not everyone was so fortunate that they could make all their problems disappear in the span of a week, but somehow Ash made it happen. So of course, it felt more like a long dream than anything else…and he could live with that.
He was now a Pokemon trainer and his family was secure.
He did it.
Abandoning his thoughts, Ash focused on the discussion at hand.
The girls were bombarding Cassidy with questions: how was her recovery going? When would she get to come home?
She shared everything she knew with them. Ethan had already explained everything to her. The heart attack, on top of the time she spent in a coma left her physically week. They estimated about four weeks of rehabilitation in the hospital before she could go home. And even after she returned home, Ethan stressed that she should hire a home health aide for around the clock care to monitor her.
Most this went straight over Macy's head, so it was broken down into the simplest terms for her.
"I'll be home next month," Cassidy explained for her. "But until then, you can come to visit me whenever you want."
They talked for at least thirty minutes, until Macy dozed off on the bed beside Cassidy, curling up beside her mother's hip. It was at this time that Cassidy posed a question to everyone in the room.
"Do you girls mind if I speak with Ash privately for a little while?" Cassidy inquired.
"Do you want me to take Macy?" Serena asked with a gesture to the girl that slept beside Cassidy, curled against her mother's hips.
"No, she's fine here." Cassidy said in reply, smiling fondly at Macy.
Casey and Serena agreed without complaint and went on their way. Once the door shut, Cassidy looked to Ash, who was still against the far wall of the room. They hadn't said a word to each other so far, the girls receiving all of Cassidy's attention upon arriving.
"So, what should I ask you?" Cassidy began mildly as she made a gesture for him to come close. Ash came up alongside her bed where Casey stood previously, but he sat down on the windowsill.
"That's up to you. Is there anything you want to know?" Ash asked in return.
"Yeah. There are a few things," Cassidy answered. "Like, how are you?"
"I'm good." Ash said simply with a shrug of his shoulders.
"Are you sure? I know you must have been through a lot while I was gone." Cassidy pointed out. Ash gave a nod in agreement.
"It wasn't anything too crazy." Ash answered.
"That's not how it seems to me," Cassidy commented. "I heard from one of the financial advisors here, umm…ugh, I forgot her name already," Cassidy shook her head and focused on Ash, "She showed me the bill, it was practically a hundred thousand dollars. How in the world did you manage to cover that?"
Ash looked away from her.
"I did it." His voice was flat, causing Cassidy to raise a brow.
"What do you mean?" She pressed.
"I became a Pokemon trainer."
Cassidy needed a few moments, her eyes traveling around the room as she processed this. It was the only reasonable explanation for him to cover the hospital bill. He was still a minor so there was no job that could pay him that much. Cassidy placed a hand on her chest, exhaled, and then made eye contact with Ash.
"Why, Ash?" She asked him softly.
"It was the only way." He stated as he leaned back against the window. "I couldn't access the account you left me and the money I made at the craft store wasn't enough to live on. So, I quit that job and started training seriously with Pikachu."
"And what about school?" Cassidy asked him sharply. "I hope you're still going."
"I am," Ash assured her. "I had to, otherwise Casey would've quit too."
Cassidy gave a nod as she glanced at the doorway that Casey had left through earlier. She had always been a pain in the ass when it came to anything related to school. Cassidy thanked him softly, though Ash was quick to point out that he wasn't the only one who watched the girls. All of his friends had been helping him. This information left a smile on Cassidy's face. She wasn't the only one looking after her children, there were other people out there that were guarding them closely.
"You're really a trainer now?" Cassidy asked him with a straight face. She received a nod from Ash. "What did you have to do to get that money then?"
"It's not what you think," Ash interjected. "I didn't join any of the gangs or anything. I focused on practicing with Pikachu and joined the circuit."
Cassidy leaned forward, her eyes wide.
"You? Got into the circuit?" She exclaimed, careful to keep her voice low. "Well…I guess it's not that farfetched. Your father was an impressive trainer as well."
"Yeah, I saw him one night while I was at the Hidden Cove." Ash revealed.
Cassidy's expression darkened and the mood in the room became heavy.
"You did?"
"Yeah, I got a chance to talk to him too." Ash added.
"And…how did it go?"
"Mmmm, not really how I expected it to," He admitted with a snort. Ash recalled being trapped in the psychic grasp of his father's Kadabra. "But I wanted to know what happened back in Pallet Town when my mom died but…he told me I wasn't ready to know."
"Oh, I'm sorry about that Ash." Cassidy said, but Ash waved off her apology.
"Thanks, but it's no big deal now. In fact, I'm kind of glad I ran into him that night. It's because I ran into him that I found my sponsor for the circuit." Ash explained and Cassidy raised her brow with intrigue.
"Really, how did that happen?"
"As I was talking with my dad, he told me the only way he'd tell me what happened to my mom is if I beat him in an official match. I told him that I didn't have anyone to sponsor my matches so I couldn't get in, but he recommended someone to me." Ash went on. "It turns out he's some business tycoon with enough money to retire his great-grandchildren."
Ash stifled a laugh at his comment, scratching at the back of his head.
"I don't know if you've ever heard of him before, his name is Malcolm Berlitz," Ash stated.
Cassidy froze.
"In fact, you've met his daughter, Dawn. I was really surprised that she was his daughter of all people, and their house is stinkin' huge, it's ridiculous,"
Cassidy raised a hand to stop him.
"Hold on Ash, your father…sent you…to Malcolm Berlitz?" Cassidy repeated.
"Yeah." Ash said with a nod.
For a brief moment, Ash saw something that he had never seen from her before. Her gaze became razor sharp, her jaws tight and nostrils flared. The malice he felt from her, it caused his heartbeat to thump against his ears and he saw her wings.
They stretched from her back daintily, but their elegance was short lived. As they took shape, Ash saw that they were folded and tightly bound by several dark chains.
"Why would your father send you to him?" She asked vehemently. Cassidy had forgotten where she was, her voice causing Macy to stir beside her. The darkness of Cassidy's expression faded immediately, along with her wings, as she looked to the small girl that rested beside her.
"What do you mean?"
Cassidy looked back at Ash after hearing his question. She took a few breaths to calm herself.
"I'm sorry Ash, I um…" She shook her head and then met his gaze. "It's not my place to tell. All I can do is give you is a warning."
Ash's jaw became tight as he stood up.
"A warning about what?"
"Malcolm…Don't trust that man, Ash." Cassidy said ominously.
"Why?" Ash exclaimed as he motioned to the room around them. "It was his money that paid for all of this."
Cassidy shushed him as Macy rolled over in her sleep.
"I understand that Ash," She answered softly. "This is just my input…do not trust Malcolm Berlitz."
Ash stood outside of Cassidy's room, leaning against the wall of the corridor. The halls were almost silent, though he could hear some soft conversation from within the room between Cassidy, Casey, and Serena. His mind was adrift, struggling to piece together his conversation with Cassidy.
She had always been against his activity with Pokemon trainers prior to her heart attack. But as he explained what he had to do, she seemed to be accepting what he accomplished so far as a trainer. Until he mentioned Malcolm Berlitz…
The man generously sponsored him as a circuit trainer and was the reason why they weren't swimming in debt right now. So why would Cassidy tell him not to trust him? It didn't make any sense!
Ash placed a hand on his chin, replaying the conversation in his mind.
It started with his explanation of why and how he became a circuit trainer. The chance encounter with his father resulted in him meeting with Malcolm Berlitz.
"Why would your father send you to him?"
Was it more than a coincidence that those events were chained together?
He had run into Darach by chance and received tickets to the Hidden Cove.
It was by chance that his father was battling that night which led to their reunion.
And it was by chance that Aaron recommended Malcolm as a sponsor…
Right?
But…what if it wasn't?
Was that possible? That someone was sitting in the background, pulling the strings to all this, like a marionette? He shook his head. No, that sounded too crazy. Who in their right mind would do something like that? And to him of all people?
He had never done anything to anyone. Ash was certain about that.
"Malcolm…Don't trust that man, Ash."
So, what could possibly cause Cassidy to make such a statement?
Ash ran a hand through his hair exasperatedly.
The questions that he had buried months ago were resurfacing.
What was his father doing?
What happened to his mother?
But now he felt like there was a new one. Malcolm had mentioned during their initial meeting that there was a connection between him and Aaron. Cassidy questioning why Aaron would recommend Malcolm as a sponsor left Ash to wonder: what was the relationship between Aaron and Malcolm?
Two winged individuals watched Ash closely.
"Oh my, his wings…he folded them."
"He's straying from his Path."
"He's distracted again…we need to help him regain his focus"
"Alright Bianca, I'll entrust him to you again."
"I spoke with him last time, it's definitely your turn, Volkner."
"…Fine. Do you have any suggestions?"
"Hmph, I'm not helping you. You're an adult, I'm sure you'll think of something."
"Alright, I'll get around to it soon."
Thursday, January 19th
Brock's car roared as he stepped on the accelerator, racing up the roadway into Route 6 en route to their usual training session with Giselle. Ash and Pikachu were in the passenger seat, sharing the great news from yesterday with Brock.
"Man, I can't believe Cassidy really woke up," Brock noted. "It's been a long time since I spoke to her. I was getting worried those might have been my last words to her."
Ash furrowed his brow.
"What was the last thing you said to her?" Ash inquired.
"Uh, I came over to hang out a while back and I burped really loud," Brock explained with a laugh. "She asked me if I burp like that at home and I said 'yeah.'"
Ash couldn't help but laugh, needing a few moments to compose himself.
"Wait, wait, so you didn't even say goodbye to her or anything when you were leaving that time?" Ash asked him incredulously.
"I didn't see her on my way out." Brock retorted desperately.
Ash shook his head, wondering how in the world he became such close friends with Brock. His phone began to buzz in his pocket, so Ash took it out to check who was calling.
"Miette?" Ash said through pursed lips. "She never calls me."
"Maybe she butt-dialed you." Brock suggested causing Ash and Pikachu to roll their eyes.
"You're just having a ball today, aren't cha?" Ash asked him, earning a snicker from Brock. Ash then focused on the call as he answered the phone. "Yeah Miette, what's up?"
"Did May call you at all in like the last half an hour?" Miette asked him, her tone urgent.
"No. Why? Is something wrong?" Ash asked her in return.
"I just got a call from her two minutes ago. There was a paramedic on her phone telling me she got into a car accident so she won't be able to watch the girls," Miette explained.
"Whoa, whoa!" Ash interjected, earning Brock and Pikachu's attention as well. "Back up, what happened?!"
"I said she got into a car accident on her way to your house. She's alright, just some minor injuries. The paramedic said she asked someone to call me with her phone to let us know she won't make it tonight," Miette went on. "I have to be at work in an hour, I don't know if you can get back here in time but I can't stay, sorry."
"No no, don't even worry about it, Miette. We can get back there in like twenty minutes." Ash responded. He thanked her for watching the girls during the morning and ended the call. "We gotta head back, Brock."
"I figured. But what happened?" He asked curiously.
"May got into a car accident."
"Oh, crap," Brock muttered. "Did Miette say if she's alright?"
"Yeah, supposedly it was nothing serious. I mean, Miette said that May was telling the paramedics to call one of us to let us know, so she must be okay." Ash assumed and Brock nodded in agreement. "I'll call her myself later, but for now we got to head back. Training is canceled for today."
Friday, January 20th
Her heart jumped into her throat.
She slammed on the brakes.
The tires screeched…and she was too late.
A chilling crunch rang out.
White noise assaulted her eardrums.
Darkness consumed her.
"May?"
Her head throbbed as she lifted it from the steering wheel.
She squinted but her vision remained blurry.
Her chest ached and her arms trembled.
She reached for the door handle and tugged at it, but she couldn't muster the strength to throw the door open.
"May?"
The hazy accident scene disappeared with a snap of the fingers in front of her face. May looked up, finding none other than Dawn Berlitz at her bedside doing everything she could to get her attention. Rather than respond, May looked around the hospital room she had been in for a full day now and groaned at the sight of it.
"Are you okay?" Dawn inquired as May began to straighten out her bedspread.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Being cooped up in this room is starting to drive me crazy though." May explained.
"I'll bet. Did they say how long you'd have to stay?"
"I should be at home, but my mom wants me to spend the weekend for 'observation,'" May made air quotes and put on a poor imitation of her mother's voice as she said this. "Nothing serious happened to me, my neck and head just hurt a little bit."
"That's exactly why you should be observed." Dawn pointed out with a gesture to the neck brace May wore.
"Bah, I'm totally fine!" May retorted as she raised a hand to wave off Dawn's comment. This sudden movement caused her to wince visibly and she had to lower her arm slowly back to its original position. "Okay, maybe I'm not totally fine."
Dawn laughed as she dug into her bag, retrieving a notebook to show May the assignments she missed at school. As the two conversed, the door to her room burst open revealing her father, Norman, who came directly to her bedside. He needed a few moments to catch his breath before he started to speak.
"Dad, what are you doing here? I thought you had to be in Saffron City this week?" May asked him.
"Yes, I was. Until your mother sent me a picture of your car." He replied as he took out his phone. "I left as soon as I could this morning to get here. How are you feeling, are you okay?"
"Yeah, dad, I'm fine." She replied, perhaps with a sharper tone than she intended to. She had answered this question so many times in the past day that it was starting to get on her nerves.
"May, you can't tell me you're fine after something like this," Her father stated as he turned his phone to show her a picture of the condition of her car after the crash. May frowned at the sight of it, her memory of it still concealed behind the initial shock of the accident.
The front her car was totaled, the hood ajar, bumper missing, engine exposed. It was horrific, and that was after it had been separated from the car she had crashed into. Her father scrolled to the right to show her the other car. The passenger side had been smashed in, the windows shattered and one door having fallen off completely.
"Do you have any idea what it costs to fix this?" Her father asked.
May began to chew on her lower lip and averted her gaze.
"Thousands upon thousands of dollars, May," He answered for her.
"That's what insurance is for." She interjected and Norman needed a moment to breathe before he continued.
"That's not my point, May," He stressed her name, and she could sense that this was the introduction to one of his lectures. "Insurance is for accidents, not negligence. You ran a red light and could've killed somebody. Do you understand that?"
She remained silent, causing Norman to sigh as he looked at the pictures.
"You're very lucky to have walked away from this. You could've died," Norman pointed out. "How does that sound?"
May didn't answer.
"That's all you have to say?" Her father asked as he put away his phone. May wouldn't even make eye contact with him. "You can't act like this forever. You're almost an adult, May, it's time to start acting and thinking like one. You can't ignore problems and expect them to go away-"
Her father's voice faded as her mind drifted away from the discussion.
She returned to the scene of the accident.
When the door to her car was pried open, she slumped onto the firefighter as he reached in to help her out.
He, along with an assistant, transferred her to a gurney.
The world was spinning as far as May was concerned.
She could hear the sirens of the ambulance and faintly smell the scent of smoke.
"May?"
The snap of Dawn's fingers brought May back to the hospital room. Her focus returned as she looked at her friend, whose brow was creased with concern.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Dawn asked her and May smiled softly to reassure her.
"Dawn, you're going to get wrinkles by the time you're twenty if you keep looking at me like that." May pointed out, which earned a laugh from her friend.
"Yeah, I know…and I probably would've pulled out all of my gray hair at that point, too." Dawn added and they spent a few moments giggling at the thought.
"Don't worry, I'm fine Dawn," May answered as she looked around her room. Her father was missing. "What happened to my dad?"
"He left a little while ago. He brought the hammer down, but…you weren't listening, were you?" Dawn inquired. She could tell that May wasn't really there during her father's lecture.
"Not at all, did he say anything I needed to hear?"
Dawn pursed her lips.
"I kinda think you needed to hear all of it, May. He's upset for a reason." Dawn stated.
"Well yeah, that's obvious," She shrugged, "But it's not like it really matters to him. He's said this all to me before," She put on a poor imitation of her father's voice, "'You need to stop being so irresponsible. When you're an adult, all your bad decisions will come back to haunt you. You need to get your act together, now!'"
May laughed for a moment, but Dawn watched closely as her hands clutched at her bedspread.
"He thinks I'm not trying but," She shook her head. "I just keep messing up right now, it's driving me crazy. It's not like I wanted to crash into that guy, it just all happened so fast. And now, I keep seeing it all happen again and again in slow motion. Every single time, I try to do something different but I can't. I keep seeing that guy turn to look at me just before I hit him. It's freaking me out!"
Dawn opened her mouth to offer some comfort, but there was a knock at the door. The bluenette was tempted to ignore it, recognizing that May needed support at this particular moment, but May's demeanor changed immediately. She plastered a smile on a face, one that made Dawn cringe.
"It's okay Dawn, you can go see who it is." May said to her with a gesture to the doorway. Dawn sighed and rose from her seat to answer the door. She was prepared to turn away whoever it was, perhaps with the exception of Norman, but the person that stood before her left Dawn standing in silence.
Raven hair, cocoa-colored eyes, and his signature cap.
Ash Ketchum.
He raised his brow at the sight of Dawn, his voice caught in his throat.
All they could do was stare at each other.
It had been so long since they last spoke, almost two months, not that either of them had been keeping track.
Dawn found her cheeks becoming hot under Ash's gaze, a feeling that now felt foreign. She had grown accustomed to Ash's unyielding gaze as she got to know him, and it still amazed her how he had no problem maintaining eye contact with someone. Embarrassment never seemed to cross his mind, although, for the first time since they met, he was the first to look away in one of their staring matches.
Neither of them could find the words to speak, but May came to their rescue.
"Dawn?" She called out from her bed. "Who's at the door?"
"It's Ash," Dawn responded as she stepped aside, allowing him to enter.
He gave a nod to Dawn as he passed and came up to the end of May's bed before he greeted the brunette.
"Ashy, so good to see you!" May said cheerily, earning a narrow glance from Ash. "How are the girls doing?"
"They missed you yesterday, but don't stress over that," Ash replied. "So um, can I ask what happened? It's cool if you don't want to answer though, I understand."
"Uhh, yeah I'd rather just stay away from that subject right now. My dad just finished chewing me out like five minutes ago about all of this." May explained and Ash nodded to her.
"That's no problem," Ash said. "When I told Casey and Macy what happened, they wanted to know if you were alright. So, I just thought I'd drop by to see if you're okay."
"Ye-up. Totally fine here. The doctors told me I have a mild concussion and a…chest con-tu-sion," She explained with a giggle. "I thought that word was funny. But yeah, nothing to worry about."
"Okay, that's good to know," Ash noted with a nod. "Do you mind doing a video call with me for a little bit. I just want them to see that you're okay."
"Oh sure, I'd love to!" May exclaimed.
As Ash turned away, May noticed that Dawn had maintained a considerable distance from Ash since his arrival. The girls made eye contact and May made a gesture toward Ash.
"Talk to him." She mouthed to Dawn. The bluenette shook her head in reply, causing May to throw her head back with a groan. This sudden action sent a jolt of pain through her neck and she cried out in pain.
"May, what's the matter?" Ash asked immediately as he turned back to her.
"Ugh, it's…it's nothing." She groaned, raising one hand slowly to assure him that she was fine.
"Are you sure? I can get a nurse if you need one." Ash offered but May shook her head, careful to do so slowly this time.
"I'm sorry, May, but I'm going to head off." Dawn cut in suddenly as she gathered her belongings.
"Yeah, its no biggie. See you later." May said as Dawn gave her a wave. With her bag slung over her shoulder, Dawn dipped out of the room with her eyes locked to her feet.
May was tempted to make a comment about Dawn bailing on her, but a glance at Ash kept her mouth shut. He was frowning at the doorway, nibbling on his lower lip with a hand on the back of his neck.
"Did you want to talk to her?" May asked him and he aimed the same expression at her.
"I want to, I'm just not sure if…if I should take the initiative or not." Ash replied.
"Well, I don't know if my place to say this, but as much as Dawn may not show it, she really does want a chance to talk with you again," May revealed, not that it was much of a revelation for Ash. "I really hope you guys do patch things up."
"I want to, but I really screwed up. That's why I don't want to force her to do anything," Ash explained, his hands raised. May shot him a glance.
"Wasn't it you who told me that I can't sit around waiting for other people to make the first move?" May asked, looking at him expectantly.
"Did I?" Ash asked her in return, avoiding eye contact.
"Yes, you did," May said immediately. "Don't be a little hypocrite, Ash! You were the one that convinced me to make the first move with Drew. Now I'm telling you that you have to do the same thing with Dawn."
Ash smirked with a small laugh. The easiest way to blackmail him was with his own words, and May did so wonderfully.
"Alright, you got me there. I'll try to do something next time I see her." Ash informed her, so May poked at his side.
"No, you should go straight to her house after you're finished here." She demanded and Ash scrunched up his face at her.
"Heck no."
"…your relationship with her will not progress any further than what it presently is. Am I clear?"
The warning from Malcolm Berlitz came to Ash's mind. He knew better than to be so bold as to go knocking on the man's front door and ask for his daughter. If he wanted to speak with Dawn, that would have to happen exclusively at school. He thought of her expression when she opened the door to May's room. Her mouth had opened three times as if she wanted to start a conversation, but her voice failed her at every attempt. Ash breathed out a sigh and decided that he would give this a shot, for his sake and hers.
"Are you going to call your sisters now?" May asked, returning to the original reason for his visit.
"Oh yeah, let's do it."
Saturday, January 21st
"Her vitals are stable, she's just in shock."
"The impact with her steering wheel might have bruised her ribcage."
"And a concussion most likely."
Faintly, May could hear the voices of the paramedics, but the faces of these heroes were nothing but a blur in her peripheral vision.
A knock on her hospital door snapped May out her thoughts.
"Come in!" She called out.
As the door opened, a small child made her presence known immediately.
"May!" Macy shouted as she came running up to May's bedside.
"Macy!" May exclaimed in return. The small girl held a card in her hand, which she presented to May once Ash and Casey were with her at her bedside.
"We made this for you," Macy explained as Ash picked her up and sat her down at the edge of the bed.
"Really?" May said as she accepted the item. It was a handmade get well soon card. The cover art was illustrated by Ash, a pencil drawn portrait of May and Macy beaming for the camera. On the inside was a note from Casey on one side and Macy left her a little picture on the other side. She looked at the group of three, her eyes glistening. "You guys made this for me?"
"Yeah, of course, our mom is still in the hospital right now, so we know it sucks to be stuck here." Casey explained as she then offered up a plastic bag to May containing a variety of snacks and treats.
"Aww, you guys are awesome!" May declared as she gave Macy a bright smile. Then she looked to Ash to pose a question, "Don't you have a match today, Ash? Shouldn't you be out training?"
Ash shook his head, sporting a grin.
"Pikachu and I did so good that all our challengers chickened out, so the commissioner is still looking for another match for me," Ash explained for her. "So, I thought it would be a good idea to take it easy this weekend. We came to visit Cassidy, but I thought we'd stop by and check on you first."
"Are you going to be okay, May?" Macy asked her, pointing at the neck brace she wore.
"Oh yeah, Macy, I'm going to be okay." May replied as she placed a hand on Macy's head to reassure her.
"Then um, can you sing for me?" Macy asked with pleading eyes. May melted at the sight of them.
"Of course, Macy, I owe you a song from Thursday anyway." May pointed out as she motioned for Macy to come close. The small girl leaned against May's side and Ash was certain that he saw May wince from the pressure on her torso, but she merely adjusted to it and wrapped her arms around Macy. She closed her eyes and started by humming the tune of her song, rocking back and forth ever so slightly. Ash found himself tapping his foot, setting the beat for her as May arrived at her lyrics.
May sang softly, but her rich voice filled the room with ease. No matter how many times he heard her sing, Ash was always amazed. He had been trying to think of the right word for May's voice, but none seemed to fit the bill.
Pleasant? That was obvious.
Sweet? Again, that was obvious.
Beautiful? Not enough.
Mellifluous? Too much…
He'd figure it out one day, but not today, because once she hit the chorus, she demanded his full attention.
"Don't you worry 'bout a thing~, don't you worry 'bout a thing, mama."
Ash raised his brow. Somehow, it felt like May's lyrics were directed at someone. That her words were more than a performance…that they were meant to be an assurance to someone.
Gradually, her song concluded, and May's eyes snapped open when a member of the staff began to clap. As she was singing, her voice had filled the corridor as well, drawing in a trio of nurses that had been passing by. When she realized she was the only one clapping, the nurse bashfully stopped with a chuckle. They praised May together, laughing as her cheeks turned a scarlet red and then they returned to their duties.
May turned scarlet red, thanking them robotically for listening to her. With time they filed out of her room, leaving her with just her original visitors.
"Oh god, that was awful." May muttered with a grateful sigh.
"What do you mean, you sounded great!" Casey said pointedly.
"But I hate singing in front of other people, especially total strangers." May grumbled out. Casey could sympathize with that. It reminded her of the presentation she had to give in her history class earlier this week.
"But you really have a gift, May," Ash said. "You can't keep that all to yourself."
"I shared it with you guys." She retorted, sticking out her tongue at Ash.
"It's not like you froze up in front of those people. Casey was right, you were great in front of them." Ash reasoned with her.
"I still don't like it."
"What did you think, Macy?" Ash asked his sister. "Do you think May should sing for everyone?"
"Yeah!" She declared proudly. "May is the best!"
"See?" Ash said as he shot May a smirk.
"Not doing it."
Ash rolled his eyes.
"Whatever. What you want to do with your voice is for you to decide," Ash said to her before he dropped the subject. "Macy, did you thank May for singing to you?"
"Thanks, May!" She chirped happily and May gave her one last hug before Ash took Macy up in his arms.
"We have to go see Cassidy now, see you later May." Ash said with a wave.
"Bye, May!" Macy called out as she and Casey gave May a wave.
Then May found herself all alone in her hospital room once again.
She gave a sigh as the smile she had put on for them faded. She leaned back against her pillow and allowed her gaze to become unfocused.
"You're almost an adult May, its time to start acting and thinking like one. You can't ignore problems and expect them to go away…" Norman, her father, berated her.
"I know your father can be overbearing at times, but just try to understand the way he sees this," Caroline, her mother, stated. "It's time to start seriously thinking about your future."
"May, I'm really worried about you," Max, her twelve-year-old brother, said softly, having seen through May's façade. "Why are you acting like this?"
"This is…who I am," She said softly. "A screw-up."
It was five o'clock in the afternoon when Ash opted to take the girls to the park again. The weather was clear all day, and the park was populated with parents and children from their neighborhood. Casey had run into a friend from school that was also there with a sibling and the two of them were yakking away on one of the benches. As always, Macy was among the kids in her own age group, racing around the playground in a game of tag.
Ash squatted at the edge of the playground under the shade of a tree, a soft smile on his face as he watched the activity of the children. He still wasn't quite sure why he was inclined to come to the park. The three of them were content spending the afternoon at home, but Ash suddenly got the urge to go outside.
Tracking Macy's movements, Ash let his mind drift back the rather bizarre week he just completed.
Exactly seven days ago, he had won his third match at the Hidden Cove and encountered Malcolm Berlitz, who paid him for his victories. Ash then 'tackled' his expenses, knocking out Cassidy's hospital bills, he provided Mr. Cheeves six months' worth of rent money and he restocked his supply of Potions for Pikachu.
On Wednesday, he received the amazing news that Cassidy had awakened from her coma. Seeing the girls with their mother struck his heart and validated all his work. It was all he needed to see to make the last three months' worth it.
But to follow such an uplifting event was May's car accident. She came away with only minor injuries, but after speaking with her on two occasions, Ash had a sneaking suspicion that the car accident had taken a greater toll on May than she was willing to show. Her usual free-spirited persona somehow felt…forced. He wasn't certain about it yet, but he would be sure to pay her another visit on Monday.
However, there were other subjects that were prodding the back of his mind. The conversation he had with Cassidy on Wednesday night. There was something strange about it all…but then again, strange couldn't even begin to describe that dream he had Saturday night.
Between flying on the back of a Pidgeot with Bianca the 'Bird Lady,' to Ninetales and that weird book, and then to top it all off there was that floating alphabet that was talking to him! That was definitely a dream.
A glint of light hit his eyes, causing Ash to squint as raised a hand to block the source. When he gained focus, he saw something across the park reflecting the sun's rays straight onto his face. Positioning his hand in a way for him to properly view the source, Ash blinked several times to see if his eyes were deceiving him.
Across the park from him, seated next to a tree trunk was…Ninetales. The lustrous sheen of her mane was impressive in the sunlight, yet she went unnoticed by everyone else. Ash straightened up, and Ninetales rustled her tails with a smirk of pride at having gained Ash's attention. She looked to her right, and her gaze remained there for some time, so Ash followed her line of sight. Ninetales was looking down the pathway that traveled through the park. There was a bench every so often, and as Ash looked down the pathway, a head of striking blonde hair caught his attention.
Volkner, the 'Golden Flash.'
He was seated on a bench in the distance, a pair of Pidgey accompanying him.
When Ash looked back to Ninetales, she was gone.
It sent a chill down his back as he thought that he might have been hallucinating. Whether he was or not, Volkner was still there, and Ash didn't want to pass on an opportunity to talk with him. After all, Volkner was one of the Five Kings. Perhaps he might know something about Aaron Ketchum, another member of that elite group.
Ash went onto the walkway and stopped at the bench where Casey and her friend were seated.
"Hey, can you watch your sister for a bit? I'll be right back." Ash said to his sister.
"Okay, but where are you going?" She asked in return.
"A friend of mine is down there, I'm just going to talk with him." Ash explained as she pointed out Volkner for her. Casey gave him a nod and Ash went on his way.
Volkner sat on his bench without a care in the world, enthralled with the Pidgey that rested on his hand. Pidgey had no problem being observed, even spreading her wings for him to examine. Volkner paid no mind to Ash as he stood beside the bench, watching him curiously.
"Doesn't flight fascinate you?" Volkner asked him. Ash didn't quite know what to say, so he remained silent to see if Volkner would continue. "What do you think these Pokemon see when they're flying? All we know is what it's like on the ground, but what do you think is waiting for us up there?"
Volkner looked skyward as he posed his question, and Ash joined him in doing so.
"I don't know." Ash said with a shrug of his shoulders. He looked back to Volkner who smiled at the sun gratefully.
"What we're all searching for…it's up there. We were given our wings for a reason." Volkner stated. "It's just a matter of figuring out how to spread them."
Ash gave him a narrow glance. The mention of 'wings' left him with an ominous weight on his shoulders. This was eerily similar to the discussion he had with Bianca. Was it possible that…that wasn't a dream?
"Can I ask you a few questions?"
Volkner finally made eye contact with him and motioned for Ash to take a seat beside him.
"Be my guest." Volkner said as Ash's invitation to proceed.
A test.
"How does someone spread their wings?" Ash inquired.
"I can't answer all your questions," Volkner replied. Ash frowned as he eyed the blonde cautiously.
It was the same answer that Bianca had given him.
Volkner shot him a crooked grin in return, as if he knew that he had confirmed Ash's suspicions.
"Okay then, how about this one," Ash continued, changing subjects and Volkner's smile faded. "What do you know about the Red Skulls?"
"Depends. What do you want to know?"
"Their King. Aaron Ketchum, what do you know about him?" Ash clarified carefully.
Volkner sat still as he studied Ash. His eyes seemed to travel around Ash. Volkner then raised a hand to point at Ash.
"There's your problem." Volkner proclaimed, causing Ash to furrow his brow.
"What you talking about?"
"Let's follow the law of equivalent exchange for a moment, Ash. A question for a question." Volkner stated and Ash gave a nod to comply. "What is your heart's desire?"
"My heart's desire?" Ash repeated as he looked away from Volkner.
"Yes. What do you want more than anything else in the world?" Volkner clarified.
"I…" Ash paused as he took a moment to consider his answer.
Volkner watched him closely, or rather he watched Ash's wings. They were partially folded when he arrived and at the mention of his father, they receded further into his back. But as Ash contemplated his answer, his wings emerged again and spread out valiantly behind him. The sight of them gave Volkner goosebumps as Ash suddenly looked less like a teenager beside him, and more like an intrepid young man destined for greatness.
"What I want? I've always dreamed of Pokemon and people living together," Ash wore a smile as he spoke. "I can't really explain it, but something just doesn't feel right about living separately. It just feels like we were meant to be together. I don't really know what happened to make everyone afraid of Pokemon, but I want to correct that…that's my dream."
"So, tell me, what part does your father play in that?" Volkner questioned.
"What happened to equal exchange?" Ash interjected.
"Well, you asked me two questions actually." Volkner pointed out, forcing Ash to lean back against the bench as he crossed his arms in front of his chest.
"Fine…" Ash grumbled. "He doesn't play a part in it."
"Exactly," Volkner stated. "So, forget about him. Focus on what matters."
Ash exhaled as he looked away. He had received advice like this from Volkner in their only other encounter.
"It's not that easy." Ash responded, drumming his fingertips against his thigh.
"You're making it, 'not easy.'" Volkner quoted him as he made another gesture toward Ash. "You have a big dream, one where you can't be sidetracked if you expect to accomplish it."
In his two meetings with Ash, Volkner had been very straightforward. He didn't beat around the bush and he wasn't afraid to make it apparent to Ash what was holding him back. But this wasn't like last time. Ash and Pikachu suffered their first major defeat because Ash allowed himself to get distracted during the battle. This time was different. It was far more personal, and Ash still found himself grasping tightly to the mystery surrounding his father.
"I'm not 'sidetracked,'" Ash quoted him in return, looking straight into his eyes. "This may not be relevant to my dream, but it's relevant to me."
The sharpness of Ash's eyes caused Volkner to frown. It wasn't going to be quite as easy to set Ash straight this time. The blonde man gave a sigh as he ran a hand through his hair.
"Alright then, let's try a different approach," Volkner muttered and Ash's brow became creased. "I want you to join me for some training starting next week."
"Wait, what?" Ash exclaimed at the sudden change in direction.
"I want you and your Pikachu to join me when I train." Volkner reiterated. "I think it'll be easier to speak with you through Pokemon than it be would with words."
A/N
Well, its been a long time, my deepest apologies for the delay throughout June. As I said, it was busy for me so my time to write was minimal at best, plus the writer's block was a pain in the butt. Thankfully, I've weathered the storm and I'm now back to meeting my usual goals each week.
This little sub-plot surrounding May was giving me fits and it took me a long time to work through it. You all will get a chance to look deeper into it in the next chapter.
As always, I have a lot of little gems tucked away in this chapter, feel free to search for them and don't be afraid to ask me any questions, I'm always happy to talk!
Not much else to say this time around. My thanks for your continued patience with me! I really do appreciate it!
Also, many thanks go out to MjrGenMatt for his consistent help and oversight of this project!
See you all next time!