Hi, FanFiction Members! This is HollowKU reporting himself for the fifth chapter of this fic! I would like to thank everyone for your reviews and I'm glad you're enjoying how this story is going! Hope you all stay to see the end of the fic... with is not this chapter, of course XD. Anyway, hope you like this chapter!
Pokémon: The Parallel Challenger
Chapter 5: Despair
The sun was rising from the hills, illuminating the homes of all the people living in the noble Pallet Town. Families from the entire town were already heading for having breakfast with pleasure, ready to start the new day. However, in a certain house, there were opposite feelings residing.
The usually cheerful home of Ash Ketchum was surrounded by sadness instead. The events that happened in those few days were too much to handle for everyone. Especially for a certain brunette coordinator, who just woke up from a long rest.
She headed out of her room, and instantly headed to the room of Ash, the one she treasured the most. She entered slowly, hoping to find him, only to find the room as empty as she remembered it from last night.
"So...he hasn't come back yet..."
Flashback (Yesterday)
"I'm the one who holds the title of Champion in the Kanto region in my world. My full title is Kanto Champion Red."
Ash couldn't be more shocked after hearing Red's statement. He stood in his feet, with no reaction in his face other than completely surprised, still not believing what his counterpart said.
"K-Kanto Ch-Champion..." Those were the only words that Ash could pronounce.
"That's right, although I don't feel superior by having it. For me, it's just a title. That's why I prefer to go only as a Pokémon Trainer, because that's what I am."
"You became Champion...in your FIRST try!" This words were hitting Ash's pride really hard.
"That's why I told you from the beginning that this was going serious. I warned you that I could be difficult for you to handle, but you just ignored me."
Ash's friends ran from their spots to comfort Ash, who was now kneeling on the floor, still crying and not believing who Red truly was.
"You're the Champion?! Why didn't you tell us?" Misty yelled.
"I understand if you didn't want to tell us, but why didn't you tell Ash?!" Gary asked pissed off. "If he knew about this before he would have been really careful when battling you!"
"Neither him nor you asked. Also, even if he knew about this before, his reaction would be the same as it is right now."
"Although I don't like to admit it, Red's right." Brock told the rest of the group.
They all looked at Ash, who couldn't find the strength to look up. He just stayed there. Although they tried to comfort him, they knew one thing: just those two battles demonstrated the difference of power between the counterparts.
"Come on, Ash! Pull yourself together!" May kneeled and tried to cheer Ash up.
"Well, now that you know the truth..." Red grabbed another Pokéball from his bag. "Do you feel like battling right now?"
"N-no..." Ash finally found the strength to get up and looked directly at his counterpart. "Red...I'm s-sorry!"
After saying this, Ash ran away from the scene as fast as he could, with Pikachu following him, while his friends looked at him heading to a random direction. May tried to catch up with him, but was stopped by Brock, who thought that it would be best to give him time to think and trying to assimilate all the information. Red just turned back, and summoned his Charizard again and flown away, without saying a single word.
End of the Flashback
"After that, Brock had to declare a tie since both Ash and Red retired from the battle." May thought, still worrying where Ash could be.
She then went downstairs to enter the kitchen, since it was already breakfast time. As she entered, she found a completely different scenario from the other day.
Ms. Ketchum, who always had a cheerful smile in her face when working, had instead a really worried face. Her son was the only think she could think about. This worried her so much that she needed Brock and Misty's help to prepare breakfast, since she wasn't in the mood. Dawn was trying to calm down Gary, who was still shocked of how easily Red defeated two of Ash's Pokémon. Finally, Max, who was already sitting near the table, was only looking to it like if he was in some kind of trance.
"Good morning." May said calmly, even though she knew that things weren't alright. "Any news about Ash?"
"No." Brock was the one who replied, since the others were too shocked to reply.
"I see..." The coordinator sighed and started helping by setting the table for breakfast.
During breakfast, no one said a word. They all ate their respective plates unusually calmed and really slow. Ms. Ketchum didn't even touch her plate. Since she was not in the mood, she just ate two bites and put her dish on the sink, and then headed upstairs.
May, who ate really fast because she was really nervous, she left her plate in the sink and left the room, but not before she asked something that was expected, but at the same time, it wasn't.
"Then what about Red? Did he return?"
The sole mention of his name made everyone in the room get nervous. Brock just stayed still while both Misty and Dawn looked to each other, really worried. Gary was feeling helpless, making a fist after hearing Ash's counterpart name. Max, who had already relaxed and was eating his breakfast, stopped and went into trance again, completely ignoring everyone else.
"Yes, he did." Brock broke the awkward silence. "He's outside, training."
"Good." May replied, headed to the door and went outside, searching for the now-feared trainer.
As she reached the Ketchum garden, she found six Pokémon training on their own. She recognized this Pokémon as Charizard, Blastoise, Venusaur, Snorlax, and Pikachu.
"So, this is Red's team..." The young coordinator thought.
She then saw that they were paired to practice their battle skills. Charizard started attacking with Flamethrower at Venosaur, which dodged the attack by using Vine Whip. Snorlax used Giga Impact on Blastoise, which he replied with a powerful Hydro Pump, managing to hold back Snorlax. Finally, Pikachu used a Thunder attack on Espeon, which used Psychic to counter the attack and returned the attack to the electric-type Pokémon. Pikachu then used Iron Tail and managed to absorb the electricity with his tail and then proceded to attack Espeon with an electrified Iron Tail.
May was impressed to see such skills in those Pokémon. She knew already from the battle between Ash and Red that those Pokémon were really well-trained, but she never guessed that they managed to practice and come up with skills by their own. That led to a really interesting question: where was Red? Brock told her that he was training outside, but he was nowhere to be found.
"Do you need something?"
May heard a voice from her back. She jumped in fear and fell to the floor. The voice really took her by surprise. She then looked up to see who scared her. She recognized Red, but she noticed that he was shirtless and without his cap. She couldn't help but blush really hard when she looked at the well-built body of his crush's counterpart. Red noticed this but didn't say a thing.
"U-um..." May stuttered at first, but then returned to her senses and stood up firmly. "I need your help."
"My help? For what?" Red asked.
"In finding Ash." May replied, while looking directly at Red. "He hasn't returned home since yesterday, and everyone is really worried about where he is right now."
"..." Red just remained in silence.
"Come on! I know that you're mad at him for his performance yesterday, but I have to tell you that he's better than that!" May yelled at Red. "I had the opportunity to travel with him across the Hoenn and Kanto region, and I can assure you that he gives his all when it comes to Pokémon battling. You just happened to find him in his worse shape."
"..." Red just looked at her eyes, that showed a powerful determination. This made Red smile, as he grabbed his clothes and put them on. "Ok, I'll help you."
"Thanks. Now let's get going. I have an idea where he might be." May said as she went in one direction, but was stopped by a comment from Red.
"You know, it's ok to blush. After all, I am him."
This comment made May blush furiously as she walked away, with an annoyed face. Red chuckled, returned his Pokémon to its Pokéballs and followed May.
Ash's POV
WHY? WHY? WHY?!
What did I do wrong?
"I'm Red..."
I raised my Pokémon well! I raised them with love, and treated them as my partners!
"I've come from another world: a parallel world, to be exact."
Finally, when I had achieved to become the winner of a Pokémon League, the thing that I yearned for so long after travelling through FIVE regions, he appears!
"I only went through the Kanto region."
He, who is practically me, has become one of the most powerful trainers in his world during his FIRST journey!
"So you think you have more experience than me because I only travelled through Kanto? You're underestimating me..."
...Was he right?
"I will not be responsible for the condition of your Pokémon once this battle begins."
Was I getting full of myself?
"I told you from the beginning that this was going serious."
Was I blinded by my own pride?
"Battling you right now it's useless. I'm obviously not fighting Ash Ketchum right now, but an arrogant fool."
...By winning the League, I...became an arrogant fool?
"And that gives you the right to behave like an idiot?"
I failed to my Pokémon?
"Your Pokémon were defeated that easily not because they were bad trained, but due to your cockiness and foolishness. No wonder why you haven't managed to become Champion, after travelling for so long."
...He is...
"I think you have realized by now why I have the right of telling you what you're doing wrong..."
...I still can't believe it...
"I'm the one who holds the title of Champion in the Kanto region in my world. My full title is Kanto Champion Red."
...the Champion...
"My full title is Kanto Champion Red."
...No...
"Kanto Champion Red."
...Please...no...
"Champion Red."
...Please stop it...
"Champion."
...STOP IT!
"CHUUUUUUUUUUUUU!"
"ARGHHHHHH!" I felt a horrible yet familiar feeling as I screamed. It was a Thunderbolt.
When it stopped, I looked to where it come from, only to see my loyal and most dear friend, Pikachu, who was looking at me with such a worried face.
"That's funny. He noticed that I was still thinking about the Champion thing. He certainly is my first Pokémon."
"Thanks, Pikachu. I really needed it."
"Pikapi!" Pikachu replied the smile as he jumped to my shoulder and got itself comfortable as always.
Normal POV
"Ok. We're almost at the entrance of Pallet Town, so Ash must be somewhere here." May said.
"..." As usual, Red remained in silence.
"Ash told me some time ago that there was a hill outside Pallet Town that had a beautiful view of the whole town. I'm pretty sure he went there."
"And I still have no idea why I'm here..."
"It's the least you can do. We're searching Ash because you broke him."
"That doesn't mean that what I said wasn't true." Red looked at the brunette. "He was cocky and arrogant. That's why his Pokémon were badly damaged after the battle."
"Maybe that was true, but that doesn't mean that Ash is a weak trainer. I can actually talk about for him, since it's thanks to him that I'm here."
"...?" Red looked at May with a puzzled look.
"When I started my journey, I didn't like Pokémon at all. I just used my journey as an excuse to travel across the world. It wasn't until I met Ash that I realized I was wrong. He taught me how to battle, even though I preferred contests, and also taught me how wonderful it was to have Pokémon as your companions. With his help, I managed to overcome many difficult moments. I don't think I wouldn't have got this far without his help."
"..." Red just remained in silence, but a bit surprised of what May just said.
"Like you said, he may be cocky, but he's no bad person. I've see him lost battles due to that simple fact, but he eventually overcomes it and manage to win and succeed." After that, Red smiled. "What's with the smile?"
"It's nothing." Red replied, still with the smile in his face.
"Ok. Oh look! There he is!" May said as she pointed the hill she mentioned about, specifically in the center of it, where both could see the silhouette of the young trainer along with his Pikachu. Red stayed behind, seeing that maybe Ash seeing him right now was not the best idea.
After reaching the hill...
"May? What are you doing here?" Ash asked.
"I figured out you would be here after the events of yesterday." May replied.
"Oh, right..." Ash said with a sad voice.
"Oh, come on Ash!" May said while looking at the trainer. "You didn't even come to sleep. Everyone is worried about you!"
"..."
"I know that you're depressed, but you'll overcome this! Even Red himself recognized that you hadn't given your all at the battle!"
"May...do you think I'm a bad trainer?"
"...What?"
"It's just that...I recognize that every time I have a battle I'm really confident about me winning. But yesterday...it was different. Not only had I believed that I was going to win, but that I would also wipe out Red completely. That made me completely oblivious about the battle and ended up terribly."
"Of course you're not a bad trainer, Ash! In fact, I think that you're one of the most kind and powerful trainers I've ever seen!"
"But Leavanny and Krookodile ended really hurt just because me being so reckless... even if I won the Pokémon League, I don't feel like a winner anymore..."
"Ash..."
"I wonder what would have happened if thing would have gone differently to me..."
"What do you mean?" May wondered.
"I'm wondering what would have happened if I won the Pokémon League in the Indigo Plateau, just like Red. What would have happened?"
"Are you regretting the fact that you lost back there?" May asked with a confused look.
"Maybe a little...it's just that after seeing Red's power in battle..." Ash couldn't finish as he was interrupted.
"You're kidding right?!" May's voice was starting to show signs of anger.
"What...?" Ash scared after seeing May's sudden anger.
"So you're saying that you regret travelling through the other regions?"
"Well, it wouldn't have been necessary to travel through them if I won the League..." Ash replied camly.
"Then you're regretting all the adventures you had? Winning the League was more important to you than all your friends and rivals you met: than meeting Max, than meeting Dawn, than meeting ME?!" Ash then realized what he was saying. He tried to take it back.
"N-no, that's not what I meant..."
"Then tell me EXACTLY what you meant!" May yelled to Ash, with tears forming in her eyes.
"U-um..." Ash was trying to find an escape, with no good results.
"That's what I thought..." May then turned back and was starting to leave.
"May, wait! It's not what you think!" Ash said, trying to make May stay.
"I can't believe you chose that stupid title instead of your bonds with us!"
"...!"
After saying this, May left the scene running while tears coming down to her cheeks. Ash was starting to feel horrible.
"Is it true? I really cherish more the title than my bonds?" Ash kneeled, while having this question in his mind.
"I know what you're feeling." A voice could be heard from behind Ash. It was Red.
"W-What do you want, Red?" Ash asked while rising from the floor, a little bothered by the presence of his counterpart. Pikachu, who was in the floor, was releasing little sparks from its red cheeks.
"I used to think like you. Claiming the title of the strongest trainer was my primary goal. There was nothing more important." Red replied to his counterpart. "However, I experienced many things that changed my life during my journey. Many of them were horrible, like dealing with the Team Rocket of my world. Those things make me see that there were more important things than the title."
"But you're just saying that because you had managed to obtain the title." Ash replied to his counterpart.
"..." Red was starting to get pissed off for the first time in many years.
"I never meant what I said to May. I only said it without thinking. I only wished I could be more like you..." Ash couldn't finish, as he was grabbed from his shirt by Red, who pulled him really close.
"Now listen to me..." Red was really angry. "I'll only say this once..."
"..." Ash was looking really scared at the red eyes of his counterpart. Even Pikachu did nothing when it saw the eyes of the trainer.
"I AM I, AND YOU ARE YOU!" Red shouted with all his might. He hadn't been this angry before, not even with his rival Blue. After shouting, he pushed Ash to the floor and then returned to his usual calmed state. "Even if we're technically the same, we're completely different. Even if I defeated you easily yesterday, that doesn't make you a weak trainer. Try to think what makes you unique." After saying this he left the scene and returned to Pallet Town, leaving a really confused Ash, who was now looking at the Electric-type.
"What makes me...unique?"
In the next chapter...
Ash: What makes me unique? What could it be?
Red: It seems that you have finally come to your senses...
Ash: Thank you, Red. Now I see what makes me different from you.
May: Ash's Pokémon team... aren't they...?
Pokémon: The Parallel Challenger
Chapter 6: Resolve
Ash: Ok then, Red. It's time to show you what I'm TRULY made of!
Red: Show me your true strength... other me...
That's right! Now I post a little preview of the next chapter, including the title of it! Hope you liked this chapter! Remember to review. I have to say that this chapter didn't go the way I originally thought, but it went really good anyways. Let's see how Ash handle things the next chapter! See ya!