Chapter 6: The Pain of The Past

The morning sun failed to appear in the morning. The early birds remained silent and the sound of the wind gushed through the window giving out a silent tune of a song. It was truly a silent morning to remember, because there wasn't exactly any sun shining. Dark clouds loomed over the northern part of Kanto, making a blizzard so hard that it covered the once lush green plains of the region with a white blanket.

Anabel slowly wakes up from her sleep. She held onto the pillow (a real pillow!) the one that she brought last night and placed it gently on her back. Her eyes fluttered as she never felt more comfortable in her entire life. Her head was snuggling into something slightly hard but somewhat soft at the same time. A pair of arms wrapped around her body making her feel… safe as if those arms would protect her from any danger that the world would throw at her. By the time she managed to register the thought of… 'arms' her eyes widened and quickly looked at what she was sleeping on. Her heart stopped (literally) for a few seconds before it began pounding again. OMG she was sleeping on a half naked Ash! Her head was carefully placed on one his chest while her arms were wrapped his waist. She wanted to scream so badly but looking at his peaceful face was like looking at the face of a god.

Many young trainers would also think like her too. A year ago when Ash became an official Pokemon Master, many newbies practically worship Ash like a true living god. They idolized him, they praised him heck they would even give some sort of offerings to him like food or Pokemon of different species.

By the she came to realization she roughly got out of the bed with her hands on her mouth. The instant noise and sudden change of temperature in the room immediately woke Ash up. His eyes were barely in focus until he was able to see Anabel currently in shock. It took Anabel a few moments to finally realize that she wasn't in her room anymore, and with that she ran out of the room with a very confused thought popping in her mind.

Ash himself was confused too. He wasn't surprised on how Anabel reacted. He was actually surprised that he was able to sleep at all! The visions the nightmares… they didn't haunt him last night. At first he felt like he could take on the whole world, but when he remembered Anabel he sighed.

This definitely wasn't going to look good on her if this gets to the public. "Oh boy… what am I gonna do now?" he said quietly to himself.

(In the kitchen)

"I slept with him… oh god I really… slept with him" Anabel was choking out a sob out of her breath. She couldn't really conjure up a solution to the problem she was having. She was able to asked her Espeon telepathically and was told that she was the one who went to Ash's bed, not vice versa. She remembered having a sleep walking problem a few years back but she though that it was gone for good. "What am I gonna do? What should I say?" who would know what to say at a situation like that? She just slept with the greatest Pokemon Master alive (but without those lemon stuff) and she ran out crying thinking that he had defiled her.

After cooling down a bit, she decided to make breakfast. She didn't even bother to look at the clock. She was too confused, too worried and very sad to do that right now. Espeon just sat there on a corner, looking at its master as she continues to work effortlessly to make a big meal.

After about an hour later, Anabel began to noticed that she was really making a lot just for herself. At the beginning she just planned to have a bowl of cereal but with all those emotions and thoughts bottling inside her head she really needed to do something to take her mind off the problem. "This is really too much for me…" she sighed.

She placed all the plates on the tray and made her way to the dining room, but when she turned around the corner she encountered Ash.

They both stopped on their tracks and stared at each other with sadness in both of their eyes. They gaze at each other hoping that one of them would finally break that long silence between them. Ash clenched his fist and decided to speak first but the moment he opened his mouth, Anabel's legs were showing signs of weariness. He managed to catch her before all the food went to waste on the floor, "Anabel!" he yelled out to get her attention.

By the time she snapped back to reality she felt a pair of hands holding on to her arm and shoulder. She was feeling really weak for some strange reason and she couldn't explain why. By the time she noticed Ash holding on to her she shrugged them away in fear.

Ash couldn't help it if Anabel was afraid. But what was there to be afraid of? He wasn't going to hurt her, heck the boy never hurt anyone before in his life unless they hurt him or any of his friends first. Anabel got up on her own two feet, "B… breakfast is ready" she said not looking at the boy. Ash nodded and agreed to follow her into the dining table.

By the time the food was set, none of them had to appetite to eat anything at all. Anabel from her position to the other side of the table. She couldn't stand being next to Ash or even looking at him right in the face. Whenever he touched her, she would develop some sort of fear in her heart. Whenever he looked at her, it would feel like a knife was stabbing her right at her chest a hundred times a second.

Pikachu, Aipom and Espeon could feel the aura of uneasiness forming around their masters. It was really ruining their morning and their breakfast but can you blame them for feeling confused right now? These two are having a forbidden, denied relationship for crying out loud! Ash picked his spoon and fork and decided to forced the food into his mouth. There was a deathly silence in the air and only the sound of clanging dining utensals could be heard. The Pokemon that were eating their Pokechow dare not say a word. With both of them still at a lost on what to do next, it would be best just to keep your mouth closed and eat.

A few minutes later they picked up the plates and dropped them by the sink. They would clean in up later tomorrow or tonight. The two of them never said a word to each other on that day. However… with the blizzard still out there, none of them could leave the premises unless one of them had a death wish.

By the time it was noon Ash decided to play with his Pokemon in the living room for a few minutes. He needed some time to think, some time to sort this through his rock hard brain of his. Anabel was also doing the same thing. She was scrubbing the back of her Espeon for nearly an hour now and she had yet to say a word to him or her Pokemon. This was truly going to be a long day for both of them.

(Time skip 3 hours later)

After the snow storm stopped for a brief moment. Ash ran towards the kitchen to fix lunch for both himself and Anabel but along the way, he met the girl in question. They both stared at each other again, still in silence and not a word spoken between them. Right before Anabel was about to head the other way, Ash thought he couldn't stand the silence anymore. He grabbed her wrist and forced her to look at him, "Anabel!" his silence finally broke off leading up to a full conversation, "I… I… I'm really sorry… about what happened this morning and I uh…" great, just great, how the heck could he possibly apologize to her when there was nothing to apologize about? She was the one who came to his bed, it wasn't his fault that she was only wearing her PJs and IT was definitely not his fault that he was half naked… oh wait… yes it is…

"I don't really know what to say Anabel. It's just that I…I…" he was about to say something… something that might change the course of his destiny for the rest of eternal life, "No no no no no! I can't fall in love again. I can't… it's too painful…" his mind was seriously battling against his heart. A battle much more fiercer than the armies of maturity and virtue combined. Ash kept holding on to her wrist giving no chance to let go. He was gonna have to say something quick or risk losing a friend forever.

Anabel: "Ash… I"

In a move that would surprise even the gods themselves, Anabel's heart unleashed a wave of emotions that the whole region could've felt. She pried Ash hand off her and began heading the other way in tears. But Ash wasn't one who would give up so easily. He tried to reach for the girl's shirt but during the process, Anabel slipped over a bar of soap that appeared out of nowhere and tumbled against Ash. The two of them bounced down the stairs each step of the way. By the time they landed on the surface, Ash knocked over a basket of dirty laundry which tumbled down on his face. Once all the ruckus died down and both of them sitting up in pain, Anabel couldn't hold a laugh when she saw Ash with a pile of clothes on his face and the swurly eyes he made.

Ash felt relieved to see a positive mood, "Feeling better now?" he asked

Anabel nodded, "Yeah…" she said slightly happy.

It was then a moment of silence brewed up between them. They both looked down on the ground in another awkward silence. But soon enough they would both break the silence, "Hey Anabel/Ash" they said in unison.

Ash: "Uh… you go first"

Anabel: "No you go on ahead"

Ash: "Oh come on, ladies first"

Anabel: "No I insist, you go first"

Ash: "Oh don't worry, I can wait for ages"

Anabel: "Age before beauty…"

Ash: "Beauty before beast…"

They both kept telling the other to say what they want to say but to tell you the truth, they actually had the same thing in mind, "Why don't we just pretend it never happened?" they both said in unison again. When they realized that they had a common idea, they laughed and giggled with joy. "So do we agree?" Ash asked with his usual bright smile. Anabel nodded, "Yes I agree. Come on, I'll go and make lunch"

"I want salted pork please"

"You'll have to go the market later on, once this blizzard stops" Anabel yelled out as she made her way to the kitchen. A smile crept up onto Ash's face as he put back all the dirty laundry back into the basket. Pikachu and Espeon glared at their two masters as their friendship finally returned to normal status. They were both puzzled and could never figure out the basic principles of the human relationship. They both agreed to each other that Ash and Anabel, had to be the most confusing pair of humans this world has ever known.

(Time skip 2 days later)

When the morning sun finally came out for once in a very long time, Anabel stretched out to greet the warm rays of the morning glories. The birds were once again chirping their favorite tone just like before, and the Pokemon were now hanging around their usual spots. Just when she finished doing her stretches, she noticed Ash doing all the house hold chores again. She didn't mind it now though. Having some extra help around the house made her feel like a million bucks made out diamonds. She felt so revitalized that the event that took place a few days ago seemed like a dream.

There was still snow in the mountains but it wasn't as heavy as before. She could see some pedestrians and travelers coming up and down the mountain side. And just when the two of them were about to dig in on their breakfast, the phone rang. Anabel tore herself from the plate and answered the phone. "Hello, Anabel speaking. Who am talking to?" she asked politely on an indirect conversation. "Hey Anabel, how ya doing?" it was Scott on the other line. Anabel slightly gasped and told Ash to hide before the video phone opened up. The young master hid himself in the kitchen and hope not to make any noise along the process.

"Oh, sorry Scott. So what I can do for you?"

"Well I'm just here to tell you that the challenger seemed to have gotten himself really sick. He was out training all night during the snow and finally he was able to catch a cold… and a fever heh heh heh"

"I heard that!" said another voice beside Scott.

The chubby man just giggled in response, "Well anyway. I don't think he'll be doing any battles for awhile. I already put your paycheck in your account so why don't you take some time off?"

"Thanks Scott, I think I'll do that! By the way, how's that project coming along?"

"Project? Oh you mean the new battle facility? Well we've been working on the schematics but without another Frontier Brain, we won't be able to do anything until then (car honking) Oh, he's here. Well I gotta go Anabel. Stay safe and stay warm ya hear? Bye" and with that they both hung up. She sighed and told Ash that he could come out now.

By the time they finished breakfast, Anabel suddenly realized that her food storage was running dangerously low. "It looks like we're running out of food. I'll head to the market and get some supplies. Ash, can you watch the house while I'm away?" the boy happily nodded his head in reply. He wouldn't even mind if could live here. Anabel smiled back and quickly grabbed her winter coat and head off back into town.

She put on her knee length boots, mittens and a winter cap to top it all. "I'm going now" she said back to Ash and her Pokemon, "Have a safe trip" Ash replied. They both looked at each other and smiled like good friends. By the time Anabel was out of sight, Ash decided that it was time to clean the house.

The first room he went to was the master's bed room. He rearranged the medical equipments littered around the place and neatly placed them back into their respected cabinets. The next place he had to clean up was the living room. He then washed the dishes, clean the Pokemon bird house, dog kennels, and litter box. After all the indoor house works were done he noticed that the whole house and paved roads were covered with snow. He quickly grabbed a shovel, dressed himself for the cold winter and began plowing through the snow. He hoped to give Anabel a nice warm welcome when she comes back from the market.

Shovel, plow, shovel, plow

That was all he could register in that mind of his,

After getting half way through the house, a sudden voice crept up from behind him, "Hey there kid" Ash quickly turned around and when he saw Scott… he felt that his heart leaped so far that it almost reached his mouth. It was damn good that he was wearing his hat and a long collar jacket or else the Battle Frontier boss would've recognized him immediately, "Sorry if I scared you but may I asked what you are doing here?" there was a little suspicious tone behind the man's voice but Ash decided to play it cool for now, "I uh um… I'm shoveling the snow out of the way"

"I can see that" Scott said as his raised an eye brow, "But I don't think you should be wandering too far from town" Ash had to think quick or his secret would be blown in an instant, "I uh… I travel through the mountains a lot and I uh… I was thinking that maybe I could raise some money along the way. So the girl who lives here offered me some money to plow all the snow off her house ahehehe"

Scott didn't look too convinced by that statement but he bought it anyway, "Oh I see. Well is Anabel around?"

"Huh? Oh she went to the market a few minutes ago. She said something about getting her paycheck and food or something like that" Ash lowered his winter hat even further to block eye contacts from him. Scott thought for a moment before he said, "Well it's good that she's back to her old self again. Keep up the good work kid and I might see you later" he slowly made his way towards the Battle Tower, where the challenger remains sick.

When Scott was finally out of sight, Ash let out a huge sigh of relief, "Oh man, thank the man who invented these caps and long collared jackets!" he said out loud. After finally recomposing himself, he took the liberty of pulling out all of his Pokemon to help him with the works around the house. Totodile used hydro pump to blast away the water. Cyndaquil melted the snow while Bulbasaur, Noctowl and Swellow, Pikachu and Aipom brushed them all away with their other attacks. By the time it turned noon, the whole house was sparkled clean and there wasn't even a speck of dust in sight. "Well guys, I think that's all of it. Return!" he put all of his Pokemon back in his Pokeballs and tugged onto his Pokebelt.

After having a cup of hot coco and some bread, Anabel returned with eight large sacks of food supplies with her, "I'm home" she said in an exhausting tone. Ash moved up and helped her, "Welcome home" he said with a giant smile. Anabel had never felt so exhausted before in her life. Luckily Scott decided to add a little bonus in her paycheck so she went on to buy more food than she needed. It wasn't because this was her usual routine, it was because she feared that another snow storm might come and she that she might starve to death.

"Anything good on TV?" she asked while removing her jacket. "Nothing much. Just some old classics ahhhhh" his words were lost when he saw Anabel removing her jacket. She looked so beautiful and graceful that your eyes would just burn to a crisp if you weren't careful. "Hmm? What's wrong?" she saw him glaring at her strangely. Ash quickly flipped the channel to sports and made up some lame excuse to get him out of trouble. "Ehh… nothing. Just some sports"

By the time Anabel put all the vegetables, meat and pokechows in the fridge and cabinets, she joined Ash and watched TV together. She scrolled through the channels until it came to the Pokemon league that was being held at the Indigo plateau. She put down the remote and watched the match intensely. There were some new faces and some familiar faces in the league and many of them had potential talents to become great trainers. Anabel was giving out some compliments until she noticed the sad and painful expression on Ash's face. He looked as if he was hurt or something. Seeing that the boy didn't want to watch anymore, she decided to flip the channel to cartoons instead.

A few minutes later, the phone rang, which caught her off guard. She ran up and answered it, "Hello?"

Scott: "Oh hey Anabel, I'm glad to see you're back. I was there at your place a few hours ago"

The purples haired girl was a bit shock, "Oh… really? Did… you see any…one else?"

Scott: "What do you mean? Oh you mean that shovel kid? Yeah he was there. He scraped up all the snow. He's a hard working kid for his age"

Anabel let out a small sigh of relief, "At least he doesn't know it was Ash"

Scott: "Anyway, the trainer wants to issue another challenge tomorrow afternoon. Can you make it?"

Anabel: "I thought he was sick"

Scott: "He was. But now he's up and ready to run. He'll be training until tomorrow. So can you make it or not?"

Anabel: "Sure Scott, I'll be there. (thinks for a minute) Oh hey, do you mind if I bring an old friend by too?"

Scott: "An old friend? I guess it's ok. Sure, why not"

Anabel: "Thanks Scott, I'll be there tomorrow afternoon. Bye"

By the time she hung up she came up to Ash with a wide grin on her face, "Hey Ash, do want to come by the Battle Tower tomorrow?" the boy looked at him with a confused expression on his face, "I think you need a battle to help cheer you up. And maybe you might even be able to tell what the challenger is doing wrong. So what da ya say?" she smiled at him so charmingly that it would be illegal to say no. Ash nodded and smiled back, "Sure Anabel. I'd love to. But I thought you didn't want anyone to see me?"

"Oh that… we'll just tell them that you were dropping by and you're staying in a hotel"

"Hmm… ok sure!"

"Great! Come on, help me make lunch already"

(Back in Pallet town)

Delia K… I mean Oak, was watering the flowers in the back yard. Since It was only snowing at the northern part of Kanto, Pallet town was as warm as it was before. Just when she finished watering the plants with Mr. Mime, the door bell rang. "Coming!" she yelled out to the person at the main gate. The professor's lab was located at the top of the hill with a stair case leading to the main road. It was a common place for people to pass by and it was easily accessible to any restaurants and stores in just a few minute walk.

By the time she got there, she was surprised to see a pair of squinty eyes at the entrance, "Oh good afternoon Brock. What can I do for you?" she asked as she opened the main gate. The squinty eyed man was wearing his same Hoenn traveling outfit with a box in hand, "Hello Mrs. Ketchum. I have the package that the professor ordered" he said as he patted the box in his hand. "Oh my, it looks quite heavy. Please come right in. He should be in his lab right about now. I tell you, if it wasn't for me, he would be practically living in that room for the rest of his natural life" Brock gave out a slight chuckle before entering the house.

The place was almost exactly the same except for some new furniture that was brought in from the Ketchum's residence. It now had a slightly family look which he didn't mind. "The lab is in there Brock. I have to go and feed the Pokemon now"

"Thanks Mrs. Ketchum… I mean Mrs. Oak!" Delia gave out a slight giggle as no one could ever get used of calling her that. With her off to feed the Pokemon, Brock entered the lab and noticed that nothing in that room had changed at all.

There were some old Pokemon relics on several cabinets. The Pokeball teleporter was still there and the Pokeballs of different kinds were lined up along the shelves. "Hey professor Oak" he said out to get the old man's attention. "Oh hello Brock! I see you haven't changed after all these years" Samuel Oak gave out one of his perfect smiles. Brock handed him the rather large square box and some documents, "I got your package here. Please sign here and here" the professor grabbed a pen and scribbled his signature onto the documents to confirm the delivery. "Thank you Brock. This should help me with my research greatly. Why don't you stay for lunch?"

"As tempting that may be professor…" to pass up on Delia's cooking was a very hard choice but Brock truly had his reasons. The professor knew them also but dare not to say it, "Its ok Brock. Ash is out doing a small errand for me and he won't be back in a couple of days" he said as he kept that smile on his face.

Brock: "I see…"

P. Oak: "you really shouldn't linger on the past Brock. It's not healthy"

Brock: "Well can you blame me? I mean…"

P. Oak: "Brock, I'm not sure if he's forgiven you or if ever forgave anyone at all. But you cannot change what happened on that day. If I knew anything better, Ash would look up to you as his big brother"

Brock: "He used to look at me that way. I was one of his best friends during his travels. If you said that to me a year earlier, I would've said yes… but after what happened then… I don't even think I can be a good big brother to him at all"

P. Oak: "He's still suffering from what happened. I mean… being in jail for a whole year isn't exactly a walk in the park. If it wasn't for Delia, I would've lost all respect from him"

Brock: "We all lost his respect professor. I just wished we could make it up to him"

P. Oak: "Tracey said the same thing. He wanted to find a way to make it up to Ash, that's why he left on his own Pokemon research journey"

Brock: "I don't blame him. But I… I was a big part of why he went to jail that time… and after that… I could never look at him in the eyes anymore"

Delia: "Don't be so hard on yourself Brock"

P. Oak: "Delia! I thought you were…"

Delia: "The door was left open so I thought you were still here. Want a cookie? (Brock and Mr. Oak took a bite off the cookie) Now listen you two. I know both of you are feeling guilty of what happened a year ago, but that doesn't mean you should feel down about it. Sure, my son might still hold a grudge and I don't blame him. I myself am still angry at all of you for not being there"

The two men felt like a sharp knife was on their throat. It was not like Delia to say those things but instead of provoking her, they just kept their silly mouth shut.

Delia: "BUT, that doesn't give you a reason not to move on. Why don't you take Ash for example? Even after what happened he was still able to take the role of becoming the greatest and youngest Pokemon Master. He moves on with his life and hopefully one day he would forget that none of that ever happened at all"

Mr. Oak and Brock could really feel the pained emotion that she was giving out. It was really hard for her to say those words but she meant every last one of them. Her heart was speaking out more than her mind. She let out some tears to fall down her cheek as her sunny side up smile stayed on her face.

Delia: "And to think… that the one to get him out of that prison would be his rival. Gary of all the people was the last I would expect (sob) hahaha"

Brock: "I… I'm sorry Mrs. Oak"

Delia: "That's ok dear. Why don't you stay for awhile? I'll be making lunch soon"

Brock: "… Yeah… I think I'll do that"

Delia left the room almost immediately after she got her reply. She hid her eyes under her long hair hoping that no one would notice her smile slowly slipped away to a sad frown. By the time she closed the door and head to the kitchen, the two men sat there feeling more guilty than before. Delia did have a point though. Ash had moved on while they remain behind in the shadows. Brock clenched his fist and in a rare sight of anger, he smacked the wall so hard that his knuckles would be numb for a few hours. It was then he noticed a picture dangling right next to the wall he just smacked. It was a picture of Ash, Misty and Brock when they came from the Pokemon league during the boy's first adventure. They were smiling so happily at that time. How could he not see it? Was he so blind that he couldn't see that his best friend had been falsely accused? The rage in him was building up so fast that he could barely control it. The boy that was now Pokemon Master would barely even look at him with any sense of respect.

(Flashback a few months ago)

"Hey Ash…" Brock just arrived at professor Oak's lab when Ash and his mother were just moving in. Brock was holding an apology gift behind him to show how much he was sorry of what happened (I'll keep you guys in suspense) It took Ash a few minutes to finally notice Brock, "Oh… hello Brock" the tone of his voice was so shallow and cold that could freeze the deserts of Johto in nine years of winter. "Ash… I uh…" before he could even say anything Ash cut him off, "If you want to talk to my dad, he's in the house. Sorry, but I have to get my thinks now" he didn't even say a good bye or any farewells. A great reaction of hatred and sadness resonated from the boy's body making anyone who came near him feel utterly depressed.

"Ash… I'm… sorry…"

(End Flashback)

Professor Oak was also having the same reaction. To have Delia, the love of his life hating him was like dying… only it took a lot longer. A plague of guilt was embedded upon his soul like a dagger that could never be removed. How could he possibly forgive himself? He helped put the son of his love who was now also his son in prison. The mere thought made him hate himself ten folds and was truly disgusted on what he had thought of Ash when he was brought to court. Even though what had happened, Delia still agreed to his marriage proposal. Ash had no objection but he could see that the boy didn't look at him liked he used to. Thinking back on it now he was so ashamed that he thought that he doesn't deserve to be with his love.

(Flashback a few months after the marriage)

"Well Ash, how do you like your new room?" Samuel Oak was showing his new step son a giant guest room that hasn't been used ever since it was built. "I like it…" Ash said as he walked around the room silently. He turned back to see his new step father and gave him a smile. The professor would've died of a heart attack if he had one. A smile from him was truly unexpected. But as he looked closer, one would be able to see the fakeness of that smile and the pain that lingered behind his golden eyes. Ash had earned several scars during his time in prison and when he came out of that 'Hell on Earth' pit, he was truly a different person.

When the professor went to court, he expected that Ash was going to do a communal service or something. But when they heard that he was to be sentenced to prison, everyone was shocked.

"Ash… listen… I…"

Ash cut him off, "Don't worry dad, I'll still be calling you professor so don't worry" the boy was off the mark. Professor Oak couldn't really look at the boy in the eye. How could that boy still smile and laugh at him after all that he's been through? Professor Oak knew why Ash still held respect for him. It was because he was his father.

(Flashback end)

The professor was once again on the verge of crying. He was now asking himself why did he even proposed to Delia? Was it because he loved her? No… it was because he didn't want Ash to hate him. To lose the respect and attention from a noble spirit like Ash was like taking away his hopes and dreams of ever becoming a grand Pokemon researcher.

(Time skip the next day, at Anabel's house)

"Come on Anabel, you're going to be late!" Ash yelled out along with his Pikachu and Aipom. Anabel was still combing her hair, making every strain perfectly matching the other. "Coming!" she soon came out with her Pokeballs and Espeon beside her.

The trip to the Battle Tower was uneventful to say the least. There were a few Pokemon that only came out during the winter so it was kind of rare. Along the way they played a game of snowball and made a few snow angels to kept their spirits up.

By the time they reached the Battle Tower, Scott was already there drinking a hot cup of coffee. He wasn't wearing his usual Hawaiian tourist outfit anymore. Instead he was wearing a thick coat and baggy pants. He also had a brown scarf to keep his neck warm. "Hey Scott!" Anabel yelled out. She then whispered to Ash, "Ok Ash, remember the plan ok?" the boy silently nodded and smiled back acting naturally himself. "Hey Anabel… OH ASH! It's great to finally see you again!" the chubby man forgot his manners and shook the young boy's hand vigorously, "What are you doing here? And when did you get here?"

"Oh I was just passing by until I saw Anabel. She invited me to see the new Battle Frontier challenger" Ash made a great comeback with his act. I guess all that time in the drama club truly paid off.

Scott gave out a wide smile, "Well anyway. Why don't we talk inside? The challenger is probably getting bored of waiting" the other two nodded in agreement.

The Battle Tower was just exactly what it used to be when Ash came here. The stage was still big and the arena was still the same. Nothing much has changed except for the ceiling lights (giggle) the snack bar for the employees and Gary as the challenger and… wait a minute!

"Gary?"

"Ash?"