Chapter 4- The First Night.

"Hit the bag as if it were the bastard who slept with your girl!" James screamed. Ash was breathing heavy but released a fury of punches onto the punching bag. "That's it kid!" James screamed. The bag swung wildly as Ash continued punching it. James glanced down at his stop watch "Alright take a break." He said clicking it.

Ash wiped the sweat from his forehead and took a seat on a nearby bench. James handed him a water bottle "Thanks," He said taking a swig. "Alright here's the deal kid, you're fighting The Spider." "The who?" Ash asked. "The Spider, he's the number two contender in the arena." Ash shrugged his shoulders "I've never heard of him." He took another swig of his water.

"Well you're about to," James walked over to the monitor and turned it on, slowly it flickered to life. On the screen was an image of two fighters squaring off in the middle of an arena. The first man was dressed in fancy elaborate armor, and armed with two short swords and a Sandslash. The other fighter was dressed in silver scale armor covering his arms and chest. He wielded a long sword, with serrations on both sides, and a large square shield that covered the length of his body along with the addition of a large metallic spike protruding from the middle. One other feature Ash found odd was instead of one Pokémon he commanded two Ariados.

"Alright kid Mr. Simon gave me this footage after you left, I guess he wanted me to show you what you're up against." James pointed to the screen "The one with the two Ariados that's The Spider, now watch him closely." James played the tape.

The tape began with The Spider commanding his Ariados to spray the opposing trainer and his Sandsalsh with string shot. The opposite trainer reacted quickly by commanding his Pokémon to use dig, but was himself caught in the web.

As the trainer struggled to free himself from the webbing The Spider cautiously approached him preparing to make the final blow. In desperation the trainer yelled for his Sandslash to emerge and use sand attack. The Sandslash revealed itself from the ground and delivered a face full of sand onto The Spider, The Spider retreated back giving the other trainer enough time to cut through the webbing and free himself. Now back on his feet the two trainers squared off with one another.

The trainer wielding the two swords slashed down with one then lurched forward with the other. The Spider blocked the first slash with his shield then hit away the second with his sword. Then using his shield The Spider charged forward and rammed the metallic spike into the trainer's side. The trainer screamed out in pain as he held his torso. Ash watched as white foam began emerging from the trainers wound possibly due to some sort of poison that coated the shields spike. Enraged by this the Sandslash, without command, grabbed The Spiders shield and tore it away.

The Spider stabbed the Pokémon in the chest then kicked it away from him. Then turning to his Ariados The Spider commanded one to use string shot and the other to use poison sting. With extreme coordination the two Ariados began their assault by first wrapping the Sandslash in webbing then injecting it with its potent venom. The Spider again turned to the trainer who weakly rose to his feet. The trainer attempted to swing down at The Spider. The Spider laughed as he hit the blade out of the trainers hand then impaled him with his sword. The Spider twisted his sword inside the trainer before yanking it back and shoving his lifeless body to the floor. The Spider lifted his weapon in triumph turning to the crowd as they showered him with praise and applause.

The tape suddenly cut off. "So what'd you learn kid?" Ash ran a hand through his hair "Well he's brutal, I'll give him that." "No shit kid! I mean what'd you learn about how he fights?" Ash went back over the tape in his mind "Um, He's very talented at closing the distance very quickly." "Exactly, he subdues his enemies with his Pokémon's web then moves in for the kill." Ash shrugged his shoulder "So what's that supposed to tell me?"

James rolled his eyes "Stay away from him, you've gotta stay away from him." "James, I can't do that, the only way I can fight this guy is by getting in close." James pointed to Pikachu "You've got this little thing here, use him!" he said walking closer to Ash "You've got use his own tactic against him, paralyze him then take out his Pokémon, and don't let him get close to you."James turned back to the monitor and turned it off "Now let's practice with some thunderbolts." He said turning to Pikachu.

Inside a seemingly abandoned warehouse Mr. Simon silently walked down a long dark corridor that led to a small windowless room. In the middle of the room was a large round mahogany table with eleven faceless men seated in the shadows. He entered the room and took a seat next to a man drinking a glass of scotch. "Will he fight, Mr. Simon?" Mr. Simon looked across the table, and saw the red glow of a cigarette. Mr. Simon cleared his throat "Well of course he will, one look at him and you can tell he'd crawl on his belly for the most minimal amount of scraps."

The man was unamused "Then why would you pick him?" He asked Mr. Simon shifted nervously in his seat "Well, I looked at his record and in the five years he's fought he's never lost a fight." The man's cigarette glowed brighter as he took a long drag "Yes, but he's been fighting less than skilled opponents." Mr. Simon took out his red handkerchief and dabbed his sweaty forehead

"True, but the crowd doesn't know that, if we advertise this fight as two men who have never lost a fight in their entire careers, or better yet the scrappy underdog vs the talented well groomed athlete, we can certainly reel in a large crowd." The man sat silently, taking puffs of his cigarette and thought about what Mr. Simon said. "How much did you offer him?" "One hundred thousand dollars." The man chuckled "Only one hundred? The other fighter was ten times that." Mr. Simon shrugged his shoulders "Like I said, he'll fight for scraps." The man flicked away his cigarette leaving only the dim outline of his silhouette "This Ash Ketchum, do you think he'll live?" Mr. Simon grinned at him "Not a chance."

In the center of the arena were three human shaped targets hammered into the sand. At the other end of the arena Pikachu dug its tiny paws into the sand and began sparking electricity from its cheeks "Alright Pikachu, Thunder Bolt!" Ash screamed. At those words the Pokémon leapt into the air and unleashed three rapid and ferocious thunderbolts. With extreme precision they made contact with the wooden targets and obliterated them into tiny pieces

"PIKACHU!" The little Pokémon said with defiance as it landed back on its feet. James slowly walked over clapping his hands "Damn, that Thunderbolt's getting more powerful every day." He said. Pikachu leapt onto Ash's shoulder "You did good Pikachu." Ash said petting his Pokémon's head.

"Alright get showered up and get out of here, you need your rest." After Ash took a long shower he returned to the liquor store and picked up another bottle of whiskey. The night air chilled him to the bone as he drove down the desolate road.

When he returned to his apartment he was surprised to find it cleaned up. He looked around in astonishment, his bed had been made, clothes washed, floor cleaned and the room didn't reek of whiskey. As he closed the door behind him May poked her head up above the couch. "May, did you do all this?" Ash asked amazed at the condition of his home.

She stood up from the couch she had changed into a white spaghetti strap nightgown that looked as if it were made from the finest silks in the region. "Force of habit," She said nervously. Ash went over to her and saw that she had laid out her blanket and pillow on the couch. Glancing back at her he noticed she was biting her lip nervously "Are you ok?" he asked May nodded. Ash looked back down at the couch "You know what," he said "I'll sleep on the couch, you can take my bed."

"Ash, I'm fine sleeping here, honestly." She said "May, I promise my bed is more comfortable than the couch." May reluctantly took the covers from the couch and moved them to the bed. Ash took a seat on the couch with Pikachu by his side. She finished laying out her blanket and pillow before joining him "So, how was training?" she asked "Good, I think I got a real shot at winning." He said. He pulled out the bottle of whiskey from its paper sack.

He held the bottle in his hands and looked down on it with almost doubtful eyes. He glanced over at May who was watching him nervously. He offered the bottle to her "Do you want to get drunk until the worlds not a bad place anymore?" he asked May gave him a sheepish smile "I don't think it works like that Ash." Ash looked back down at the bottle "You're probably right," he said pulling the cork off.

He took a big swig from the bottle before setting it on his lap. May reached over and took the bottle and tried some. To her the taste was so revolting that she could barely manage to keep it down. Ash was about to put the bottle away when to his surprise May grabbed it from him and took another swig. He quickly took the bottle from her "Easy," he said "We don't need two alcoholics living here."

Ash set the bottle aside and leaned back onto the couch, she snuggled up close to him and rested her head on his chest. Ash, exhausted from training, closed his eyes and slowly drifted off to sleep. May looked up and was disappointed to find Ash had already fallen asleep, letting out a sigh she returned to his bed.

Throughout the night May would periodically wake up to the sound of Ash waking from a nightmare. When she heard him waking from a nightmare she would peak her head above the covers and watch. It was always the same, he would wake up breathing heavy and quietly mumbling something to himself, then she could her the loud "Thunk!" from him yanking off the cork to his bottle and begin a bout of heavy drinking before finally collapsing back into his couch.

At one point during the night Ash was yelling in his sleep. Scared for him, she quietly got up and went over to him. She stood over him and watched as he tossed violently and screamed incoherent things. She reached out in an attempt to wake him, when she suddenly felt the tugging of Pikachu on her leg. She looked down at the little Pokémon who shook its head as if trying to warn her.

Ash screamed out again, May couldn't take it any more and shook him awake, what happened next terrified her. In a violent frenzy Ash grabbed her hand and pulled her onto the couch screaming madly, May shrieked in terror as Ash then threw her to the ground. He pounced on her in a blind rage the moonlight beamed through the window landing on Ash and gave May a clear view of Ash's crazed bloodshot eyes as he looked down at her.

May was frozen in terror as Ash pinned her to the floor, he was breathing heavily, almost bull like "Ash it's me," She managed to say with a quiver. Ash's breathing slowed and the color returned to his eyes. He looked around then suddenly realized where he was. His eyes widened when he looked down at May "Oh fuck," He said backing away from her.

May propped herself up and watched as Ash took a seat on the couch burying his head in his hands. "I'm sorry May, I-I didn't know, I didn't know it was you." May watched as Ash ran both his hands through his hair revealing his tears.

May timidly took a seat beside him and wrapped an arm around him. Ash reached down and grabbed his whiskey bottle. He pulled the cork off and tried taking a drink but found it to be empty, he tossed the bottle aside. He gently took May's arm off of him and stood up. "I need to go for a walk," he said putting his coat on. He quickly walked out the door not even bothering to close it as he left.

Ash walked aimlessly, outside the apartment complex, thinking to himself, mostly about how he felt like a piece of shit attacking for May. He leaned up against a brick wall and began to doubt whether or not he could stay with May or anybody for that matter. What just happened was part of the reason why he never let Serena move in with him. He wanted to stay with May, but he wasn't sure if he could risk another out burst like that.

After walking for an hour Ash returned to the apartment, he found May sound asleep again curled up in his bed with Pikachu in her arms. Ash returned to his couch and collapsing onto it fell asleep.

The next morning Ash awoke to the smell of bacon, he lifted his head up and saw May in the small kitchen cooking. She was dressed in her usual blue sleeveless shirt and her black shorts. Ash groggily got up and walked into the kitchen where he found a plate of eggs, toast, and a bowl of Pokémon food for Pikachu.

May turned around and was surprised to see Ash behind her. "Oh, you're up, I made you breakfast," she said Ash looked down at the table "I see that," he said looking down at the plate. May walked over and pulled out his seat for him. As Ash took a seat on the chair, he had never felt more uncomfortable or awkward in his entire life. He looked around the table "May, aren't you eating?" he asked as she piled the bacon on his plate.

"Oh, no I already ate some toast." She said walking over to the coffee maker. Ash stood up and began walking over towards May "I'm sorry about last night…May are you sure you're alright?"He asked "Yes of course." She said. May turned around with the coffee pot in her hand suddenly Pikachu ran in front of her, she tripped over the Pokémon tossing hot coffee onto Ash.

The coffee pot fell to the floor and shattered into a million pieces "DAMNIT!" Ash yelled holding his wrist in pain. May let out a gasp as her eyes filled with tears, instinctually she knelt to the floor and began picking up the glass pieces.

"I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry." She repeated "Please don't hit me, please don't hit me Ash," The pain in Ash's wrist subsided and he looked over at May. He knelt down next her and gently held her hand. She looked up at him with tears running down her face, he reached over and carefully wiped them away "May you're not my servant you don't have to clean my house, you don't have to cook me breakfast, and you don't have to please me." May nodded at him "And I promise," he continued "I will never hit you."

May embraced Ash in a hug and began sobbing "Ash last night I was more terrified than I'd ever been in my entire life, I thought you were going to kill me." Ash held her tight in his arms "I'm sorry, believe me I'm sorry." Ash got up and pulled out a chair for May he took seat next to her and ran a hand through his hair thinking of a way to explain himself.

"Last night, I was having one of those fucking, dreams were I was back in the arena. I was fighting somebody… and I guess I must have been losing because I remember screaming pretty loud." May nodded "That's why I woke you up, you were screaming in real life to." "Well anyways when you woke me up, I snapped. I just freaked out I was confused, I guess I thought I was still fighting and I can't say it enough but I'm sorry."

"It's ok Ash," May said wiping the last of her tears away. Ash glanced over at Pikachu who was watching the two happily "Look," Ash said turning back to May "If I ever do something like that again, tell Pikachu to hit me with an iron tail or something." Ash looked back over at Pikachu "You hear that Pikachu? If I ever do something like that again I want you to hit me with everything you got to protect May, ok?"

"Pika," the little Pokémon said hopping onto his shoulder. Ash reached over to his plate of food and slid it over to May "Now, I'll clean this up, you enjoy breakfast." "What about you?" She asked "I'll get something to eat later." After Ash finished cleaning the mess he prepared his own meal and took a seat next to May. After breakfast Ash and Pikachu left to go train at the gym.

During the days that followed May continued to endure Ash's night terrors, she had learned though, not to touch him if she was going to wake him. Instead she learned to put her lips close to his ear and whisper "Ash I'm right here," his eyes would snap open, but he would remain calm.

Finally Friday arrived the day before the fight was to take place; Ash had just finished a short last minute training session with James when suddenly Mr. Simon walked in the gym. He nodded at them "So gentlemen, how goes the training?" "Good, I think I got a good shot at winning." Mr. Simon chuckled at this "Yes well I guess we'll see about that soon enough." Ash and James traded looks "Any way, I just wanted to invite the both of you to a small dinner party I'm hosting, in your honor. If you have a wife or girlfriend you'd like to bring feel free to. Now this is a formal meal so I suggest you dress accordingly." Ash raised an eye brow "Mr. Simon, I know you're not a charitable man, so why are you throwing a dinner party for me at your expense?"

Mr. Simon grinned at Ash "There will be some wealthy patrons there eager to meet the man they'll be cheering for." Ash nodded "I see, well I wouldn't want to disappoint them." "Excellent the dinner will be held at the Antica Pesa, the meal starts at eight, also it's a nice restaurant so try and act civilized." Mr. Simon bowed his head towards them "Good day gentlemen," he said before exiting the gym. As Mr. Simon left Ash turned to James "So do you really think the people are eager to meet me?" James shook his head "No, their eager to meet the person they'll be cheering for," Ash stared at him blankly "Which is me right?" James shrugged his shoulders "Maybe."