Note: Ash and May are both 17, Max and Dawn 10, Brock is 19 in the present tense of the chapters.
Silver light slipped through the dark branches of the towering trees. Leaves rustled softly as a gentle breeze blew over the quiet forest. Water slipped down gray-colored rocks into a sapphire pool and colorful lilies floating peacefully atop the pure water. It was an untouched piece of forest that was waiting for someone, anyone, to discover its blissful beauty. The lavish haven was untouched by both Pokemon and human—it hadn't had a soul enter in a thousand years.
A crack filled the air, followed by endless scream of desperation. The forest seemed to shudder at the sound, the branches pulling themselves closer together, though they strained their ears to hear more.
Something stumbled through the forest's wall of bushes, pushing through with a ragged breath. A girl tumbled into view, her eyes wild. Her eyes darted around wildly as her companion came into view—an abnormally small Torchic.
Both travelers bodies were covered in a disgusting mixture of blood, mud, and sweat. The clothes hung off the girl in strips and the Torchic's wing was bent at a strange girl's hands were bleeding badly as she picked up her companion.
Another gunshot rang through the air causing the girl to dart forward.
"Come on," she pressed the Torchic to her chest, eyeing the crystal pond. "We have to keep moving."
She rushed towards the pond slipping her body into the water. "Come on, girl," she whispered to the Torchic as another gunshot rang out. "We are so close." The girl held the Torchic in one arm as she swam forward, towards the waterfall.
"We can just-"
Suddenly, the Torchic jumped out of the the girl's arms with one mighty flip. The bird turned its head and locked eyes with her friend, a sorrowful look in the bird's dark blue eyes. Before the girl could cry out to call the Pokemon back to her, the fire starter darted into the nearby bushes as the intruders rushed into the natural haven.
The girl ducked her head under, swimming towards the waterfall and praying they did not see her or her companion.
A group of people dressed in black stopped in the center, eyeing the haven skeptically.
Breaking the surface behind the waterfall and keeping her head low, the girl was praying to the every god that they would turn away and leave. Her eyes scanned for her beloved Torchic. Her heart beat against her chest as she tried not to move, afraid she would give her position away. She had finally tasted freedom, something she had forgotten how it felt.
"She couldn't have gotten far," a deep voice growled, stepping towards the pool of water.
"Right," a female chimed, following the male. "She was too badly injured to make a decent escape."
The group chuckled darkly, their minds wandering back to the damage they had done.
"I wonder," the male raised a sleek gun and pointed it at the waterfall. May's eyes widened with fear as she saw the others members of the group mimic the motion.
The forest seemed to hold its breath and the girl's teeth tore into the flesh of her tongue. The girl turned her head, noting the wall of rocks behind her. She was trapped.
Before the deep-voice male could pull the trigger, Torchic rushed into the forest.
"Tor chic chic tor," the bird growled.
She locked eyes with the man before firing Ember at him. The fire colored seeds slammed into the man's face, the gun dropping out of his hands. The tired, sore, and nearly exhausted bird then darted off into the forest.
"Follow that bird!" the man bellowed as he picked up his gun with one fluid motion. "Catch it and you catch the girl."
The girl watched in horror as the group rushed away. Energy and anger pulsed through her as she swam under the waterfall and towards the pond's end. She dragged her bleeding body out and tried to push it onto its feet.
"No!" she whispered, her heart breaking as she tried to rush after her friend. "They'll kill her. They'll kill Torchic."
The girl's knees buckled the moment she stood straight and she fell to the ground, landing in a heap. Tears of frustration fell out of sapphire eyes. Her friend, her treasured friend, was sacrificing herself for her.
The girl knew she would never catch up, her body far too damaged to make the journey. Yet, she still pulled it forward desperate to, somehow, make it. Her arms collapsed, pain filling her system.
She tried to scream in anguish, yet not a sound would leave her lips. Her fist slammed feebly into the ground as sobs wracked her broken body. The girl's vision began to fade black as her body relaxed into the ground. She thought of one thing before she lost herself to total and complete exhalation:
Losing Torchic was like losing a piece of myself.
Golden light broke the horizon, bright strands flooding the shining streets of Petalburg City. People slowly trickled out onto the sparkling streets, smiles growing on faces. But one person darted down the street, a worried look on his sweat-covered face. Patrons gasped at the sight, quickly stepping aside to allow the panicked nine-year-old boy to pass.
The child's glasses slipped down the bridge of his nose as his hands swung wildly in the air, as though he could pull himself towards his destination.
Max Maple was running faster than he ever had before. His body was covered in a sleek layer of sweat as he rushed towards the Petalburg Gym. There was only one thought on his mind as he rushed forward.
She's back.
5 Months Later...
She was running. Baby blue and pink athletic shoes slapping the pale-colored sidewalk. Her black-colored hair was pulled into a high pony as she pushed herself to keep the fast pace.
Earphones were shoved roughly in her ears while her shining pink mp3 spurted off a hard-bass song. One hand was gripping a water bottle while it moved in perfect sync with the other while green eyes remained forward, watching her glossy landscape shift into rough nature. Tall trees replaced taller buildings while cement slowly morphed into dirt.
The girl didn't bother to slow her pace. She, on the other hand, pushed her tired body to go faster-ignoring any feelings of fatigue that filled her.
Stronger.
Her lips formed a small smile.
Faster.
Her mind began to wander.
Smarter.
Her thoughts turned to her mistakes. Mistakes that would never happen again.
Better-
Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted as her body collided with another, send a shock-wave of pain through her. She tumbled to the hard, rocky ground as earphones were roughly yanked out of her ears. She caught a glimpse of her mp3 as it flew away from her body.
Her eyes closed as her back shoulders dug into the dirt. A gasp escaped her lips as her head snapped back, colliding with the ground.
The gasp morphed into a groan as her eyes fluttered close.
Pain.
"Pika pika!"
"Yeah buddy," a deep voice responded. "I'm fine."
The girl's body tensed as she shot up, pushing herself away from the second. Her mind whirled as her eyes spotted the yellow electric mouse that stood beside its sitting trainer. Warning bells went off as she pushed herself to unsteady feet.
Her hands snatched the forgotten water bottle and the broken mp3 that lay in the dirt, its shatter screen sparkling in the bright noon sun.
Curses flew in her mind as she turned on her pink heel and took back the way she came, forcing her body to move faster and her mind to ignore the screams of unjust that left the lips of the trainer.
Her body was shaking, yet not a soul she passed noticed. The two cursed as her broken form pushed past them. After all, what was so important that she had to get to?
Neither guessed that she was running away from fear. Because she knew the moment it caught up with her-the nightmares would return.
Ash Ketchum sat on the dirt road, his head throbbing and his ego bruised. Annoyance filled his soul as he watched the retreating form of a teenage girl. No matter what he shouted, she ignored his cries and fell back into her rapid pace as if nothing had happened.
"Rude much?" Ash spoke, glancing at the yellow mouse beside him. Pikachu nodded, glaring where the girl had gone.
"Oh well, buddy," Ash pushed himself to his feet, dusting off his jeans in the process. "We won't let her ruin our day now will we?"
Pikachu nodded, "Chu!"
"Now come on," Ash held down his hand, allowing the mouse to climb up and place himself on his trainer's shoulder. "We gotta get back to the Poke-Center to pick up Brock and Dawn. Then we can go up to the Maple Residence to go see Max."
Pikachu nodded with excitement as the Pokemon trainer set his course towards town, a smile falling on his lips as the runner disappeared from his head. Who knew that she would reappear rather quickly?
this is my first fic and I would love any feedback. Please try to be kind though. Thanks :)