"Huh?" Ash sniffed as he turned towards the source of the voice, only to see a small, black/red cat like pokemon, "Was that you?" The small pokemon nodded its head as it sat down and looked up at Ash, its own eyes reflecting a lingering sadness, "So...your sad to, huh?" The pokemon nodded its head as Ash sat down besides the pokemon, raising a hand to wipe away the last of his tears.
Looking back over the lake, Ash took a deep breath as he began to speak to the pokemon, "I know trusting people isn't a bad thing - but i can't. I trusted so many people in the past, and they all let me down. Why can't people see that my life has been molded by past experiences?" The little pokemon looked at Ash, confusion plastered all over its black and red coloured face: Which made a watery smile cross Ash's face.
"The darkness of the past never goes away," Ash continued, looking away from the confused pokemon and back towards the lake, "Experiences and memories don't ever leave us - i know people come and go in life, nothing in life is ever permanent: but why can't it be? Why can't life just be a little easier on people? If Arceus is so great, why does he allow for so much suffering to occur? And then expect undenying loyalty in return?!" Ash continued, his voice getting louder and angrier as he spoke, the sadness in his eyes turning to anger.
"All i did for them - everything i did for this Arceus-forsaken world, everything i did for my pokemon. All the hope i had for this world, taken from me in a instant, and all over a stupid loss" Ash continued to shout, stopping when he noticed the small pokemon had got up and was backing away. Taking a few shaky breaths as he turned to face the pokemon, Ash let a rare, gentle smile cross his face, "I'm sorry for scaring you little one...i just have many demons on my back, and it makes me angry, because me, nor anyone deserves what i was put through"
The small pokemon nodded as it slowly made its way back over to Ash's side, "I saw the sadness in your eyes before...what is it that hurt's you deep to your core?" Ash finally asked after a few beats of silence. The little pokemon's look of fear/confusion turned to that of deep sadness as he stood up and walked away from Ash. Ash didn't stop the little pokemon - clearly whatever had upset the small pokemon had been recent, and it wasn't ready to talk.
"Ash! Ash were are you?!" Zack exclaimed as he, Nicole, Darwin and Pikachu walked down the river. Zack felt guilty for what he had said to the older boy - he knew he was just defending his sister, but he didn't think Ash would take it so personal.
"I think i see him!" Nicole pipped in, pointing across the river, were she could see Ash sitting by the side of the river, "Ash!" Nicole shouted, watching as Ash looked up to her, his eyes turning back to their normal coldness upon seeing her and the others.
"What? Here to kick me whilst i'm down?" Ash demanded coldly, his cold eyes hiding the deep sadness he truly felt. Zack and the other's all shook there heads as Ash stood up, allowing Pikachu to jump onto his shoulder, "'Kay then. Let's keep going. We have wasted enough time talking. I want to get this "adventure" over with" Ash stated, his numb and cold attitude confusing even Pikachu, who nuzzled the boys cheek in apology.
Zack frowned as Ash put his defences back up - but he decided not to push. He could tell it would just result in Ash getting either sad or EXTREMELY angry, and he didn't want to deal with that right now.
"Okay...l-lets go" Ash nodded as Zack once again took the lead, his siblings tailing him and Ash tailing them.