Chapter 21: Alone
"Extraordinary!" Cynthia breathed when Sonic finished telling his story. They were on the Tornado once again. "You and Ash must have tapped into the Gaia energy to achieve a form of synchronization!"
"It was just like what happens with me and Greninja," Ash nodded. "It may take time to get experienced with this new form."
"Nothing I can't handle," Sonic smirked, folding his arms confidently.
"It was so cool!" Dawn squealed, barely staying still. "I didn't know what to think about those stories I heard about Ash and Greninja until I saw Sonic do the same thing!"
"Calm down, will ya?" Serena muttered. "You're going to knock this plane out of the air at this rate!"
"Relax, Serena," Iris grinned. "She's not even getting out of her seat."
"Hm," Serena hummed, eyeing Dawn warily.
"So with the emerald Ash got, that makes three," Tails said. "Our next stop is in Hoenn."
"Hoenn, hm?" Ash mused with a small smile. "Then I think I'll drop myself off at Petalburg City."
"You sure you want to do that, Ash?" Knuckles asked him. "The last time you could've gotten killed. We really don't know what we're up against, here. You could get hurt."
"I know," Ash nodded, a more serious expression on his face. "But I need to see Norman and Caroline. They're probably worried sick about May, so I'm going to let them know that she's okay."
"I doubt they need that reassurance," Serena muttered.
"What?"
"Er, I mean," Serena stammered when he glared lightly at her, "they probably know she's in safe hands with you. You're always putting your friends' safety above your own. Why should they worry?"
"May's their daughter," Ash replied. "If something were to happen to her, it wouldn't matter what I did. I need to let them know that May is safe."
"Aren't you worried you'll get hurt?" Serena asked.
"I'll be fine."
"But what about –?"
"No!" Ash said firmly. "My mind is made up. I'm going to Petalburg as soon as we fly over it. Don't try to stop me."
Serena blinked, surprised by his change in tone, then sat back. "Okay," she said quietly.
"Don't worry about Ash, Serena," Bonnie chimed in. "He's going to be a-okay! Right, Ash?"
"Right!" he grinned.
"Well, if you're going to go, then you'd better gear up," Sonic said. "We're coming up on Petalburg pretty quickly, now."
"Okay, then," Ash nodded, strapping himself up before going to the door. "Here I go. Come find me over here when you land, okay?"
"You know it!" Tails grinned.
"Great!" Ash mirrored his grin. With that, he leapt out and began falling towards Petalburg City.
"WHAAAAAT?!" Team Rocket said in unison.
"Do I need to repeat myself again?" Eggman growled.
"N-No," Jessie said, waving her hands in front of her. "We heard you the first time."
"We're just shocked, that's all," James followed suit.
"Great, just great!" Meowth grumbled. "As if it wasn't bad enough to deal with Twerp-Greninja, now we gotta deal with Twerp-Sonic, too! That's like twerp squared! How many twerps does that equal? Hm, let's see," he began counting on his paws. "Two twerps combine, and the twerpishness gets squared. The degree of twerpishness gets doubled for the main twerp, but not for Sonic, which means the final result –"
"What kind of math are you doing?" Eggman asked, staring at him blankly, as did Jessie and James.
"Quiet! I'm concentrating!" Meowth snapped. "Now let's see…"
"While Meowth provides 'help,'" Jessie muttered, "I think it would do us well to know the next step in our plan."
"Chill out, Jessie," Eggman sneered. "I've already got it underway. This time, Sonic won't stop me, twerpish or not."
"Anyone know calculus?" Meowth asked. Everyone sweatdropped.
Ash safely landed in Petalburg City, disconnected his parachute, and extended his arm out so Pikachu could land on his shoulder. Pikachu's parachute also disconnected.
"Whew!" Ash said. "So far, so good."
"Pikachu."
"All we gotta do now is find May's house. Any idea where it is?"
"Pika," Pikachu shrugged. Ash put his hand on his chin and started to think.
"Oh! I know!" he lit up. "We'll go to the gym! Their house isn't far from there."
"Pikachu," Pikachu agreed.
As they walked through town, Ash smiled. "You know, I love travelling with our friends, but sometimes it's nice to just be alone for a bit, you know?"
"Pikachu."
"Yeah," he said, scratching him behind the ears.
"Chaaaaaa!" Pikachu squealed in glee. Ash laughed.
"Just you and me, on our own," he said.
Alone. There is nowhere for you to go. Alone.
Ash froze. "Huh? Who's there?"
No father, no mother, no brother, no sister.
Ash shivered. "That voice...it's the same one I heard when we fought Zapdos."
"Pikachu?" Pikachu asked in concern.
"Can you hear it, Pikachu?" he asked his Pokemon. Pikachu shook his head. "Then that means it's just...me?"
Only you...all alone...lost...broken…
"W-Who are you?"
Betrayed.
"AUGH!" Ash screamed, suddenly clutching his head and collapsing onto his knees. He shuddered violently and involuntarily threw Pikachu off his shoulder. The Pokemon tumbled before getting up and rushing over to Ash.
"Pikapi!" Pikachu cried, shaking his trainer.
"Ungh," Ash grunted after a moment. "I'm...fine. Oh, man," he moaned, standing up while Pikachu hopped on his shoulder again. "That was terrifying. This voice started talking in my head, then this awful pain shot through my head, and then it all vanished like it didn't happen."
"Piiikaaaa," Pikachu shivered.
"I'll be fine," he said. "At least I'm pretty sure I will. Come on. We need to find that gym." With that, they set out to finish their task. A short time later, they found it.
"Well, here we are, Pikachu," he said. "I sure hope Norman and Caroline won't be too mad at me for what happened. You think they'll get mad?"
Pikachu shook his head and gave an affirmative thumbs-up.
"Thanks buddy," he said. "Okay, let's get – GUH!"
"Pika?!" Pikachu exclaimed. Ash was clutching his stomach, as though he'd been stabbed.
"What...no, not again!" he cried weakly.
All alone…
"Ugh, no!" he screamed. "Go away!"
Lost…
"Unnnneghhhh...Nnnnnnnggh!" Ash groaned as he fell to his knees again, still clutching his stomach.
"Pikapi!" Pikachu cried in fear.
Broken…
"Pikachu!" Ash said. "Go! Get Norman and Caroline! I...can't...move!"
The poor frightened Pokemon shook his head, insisting he would stay at Ash's side.
"Pikachu...go...now…"
Betrayed.
Ash completely collapsed as he fell unconscious. Horrified, Pikachu ran to the gym, crying out for help.