Hey Everybody! Well, most of you probably saw my latest "chapter" where I explained my being late, so I won't go into it again here. All I'll say is, at least I was only two days late this time instead of a week, right?...right? Anyway, I can't give anything away, but I do feel confident in saying that this chapter is definitely a good one, as was the last one. As I mentioned in my previous notes, chapters 46 and 47 did not impress me much and I'm actually going to re-edit those over the next few days so that they meet my expectations, but I don't think I'll ever need to do that with this chapter. Also, I'll mention again that this chapter is really just a continuation of last chapter (which had become too long to finish), so keep that in mind as you read it at the beginning.
Anyway, I truly appreciate your patience and commitment with this story, so thank you so much! I'm still getting back to all of your reviews (there are a lot!), but I know most of you have gotten replies by now, and so you know how committed I am to keeping you and your reviews throughout the remainder of this story. Again, thank you for your patronage, and when you finish here, REVIEW PLEASE!
Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon, or any of its affiliated companies including, but not limited to, 4Kids, The Pokemon Company, Game Freaks, or Cartoon Network. The characters written within this fic are soley based upon the fictional characters created by these companies, and the story is not meant to, nor will it, receive any monetary funding.
Characters' Ages:
Ash: 17
Brock: 22
Misty: 18
Delia: 41
Oak: 56
Ash ate and drank the bare minimum to keep himself alive and alert. He'd never felt his appetite so suppressed before, and Misty worried as she watched him continually pick at the food on his plate; deep in perpetual thought.
In fact, he appeared uninterested in almost everything. Besides waiting for further updates and visits, the only thing that still seemed to garner his attention was sleep. For the following two days in the Center, he'd get up at ten in the morning and then sit around until nine at night, when he'd hit the mattress hard for a solid twelve hours. He continued to ache from various bruises lining his body, and every time he closed his eyes, he felt exhaustion creep out from the corners of his mind. Misty explained it as his body still feeling stressed by all that had happened, but he couldn't shake the guilt he felt for being so tired while his Pokémon went on with their struggling.
Ultimately, Sceptile was left in Cerulean for the time being. There was little hope for his future as a battler, Nurse Joy informed, but little-by-little his chances of survival were growing. The same seemed true for Tauros, the surgeon later explained. The largest advantage of Tauros as a battle partner was his speed, and with his back leg shot up as it was, the idea that he'd ever be a valuable asset to the raven-haired trainer's team again was simply unwarranted. Fortunately, Noctowl appeared fine and didn't require any special attention, allowing Ash to send him back to the Professor's ranch.
Heracross was returned into a specialized medical pokéball that allowed for the conservation of his now-lifeless body.
All of this was hashed out in the succeeding forty-eight hours following their great escape, but to Misty it felt as if they'd been trapped in the pearly-white Pokémon Center waiting room for years.
After paying the extensive fees for the specialized operations, the pair decided that it was finally time to leave. Ash gave a lengthy goodbye to Sceptile, promising to see him again soon, and he rushed Tauros back to Professor Oak for observation and additional care.
Though it felt as if the world had come to a complete standstill as he awaited the recuperation of his friends, he was quickly reminded of the truth as he took his first step in days out of the Pokémon Center. The newsstand across the street was completely mired in headlines shouting out the "End of an Era for Hoenn, Kanto, and Johto". Apparently, news about the falling out of the longtime champions from the League had spread like wildfire without relent. From his vantage point, he also noticed several publications with his own picture on the front page, asking what had happened that caused Sinnoh's newest champion, and the most promising trainer to climb the ranks of the League in years, to quit?
Nothing about Team Rocket, he noted silently. This wasn't altogether that surprising to him. Lance had mentioned to Goodshow a few days earlier that the G-Men never released information unless it was full-proof and guaranteed to warrant arrest. Since only grunts had been captured or injured, and because Red had mysteriously allowed Giovanni to escape once again, Ash was sure they decided against telling the press.
Still, wouldn't someone have noticed a giant lab in the countryside blowing up?
He made a mental note to mention this to Steven later. For now, though, he simply pulled down the bill of his cap and followed behind his sunhat-adorned girlfriend as they quickly strode through the busy streets of midday Cerulean. There was plenty of congestion as people went on about their day, and Ash was relieved to find that no one seemed to recognize him or Misty amongst the throng.
In the distance, he saw construction underway as sizable chunks of building that had been cut off by the Rocket Tyranitar were moved by cranes off of the street and away from the public eye. Overhead, construction workers yelled obscenities as they went about the daily grind of restoring the large structure's appearance.
They walked for several minutes, taking a few turns and keeping chit-chat to an absolute minimum. To avoid detection, Pikachu walked next to his master, dodging pedestrians' feet, and allowing Ash to go down the sidewalk without garnering attention due to the electric type's unprecedented fame. He too was silent, strolling along quietly and feeling as depressed as ever.
Several blocks later, they came to a stop in front of Cerulean Medical. Here, Chris had said, Lance was resting; still unconscious since the accident. Silently, the three stepped through the automatic glass doors.
They didn't go to the front desk, having already been informed of visiting hours and the room number by Steven. Instead, they walked directly past it with their heads down and quickly strode towards the elevators. Walking in, Ash pressed for the fifth floor and waited for the doors to open again.
When they did, the three hurriedly walked down the hallway. To their left and right various people came in and out of rooms. Some smiled and released great sighs of relief, and others seemed completely heartbroken as they sobbed into the bosoms of their friends and family.
Ash kept his head down and picked up a quicker pace down the corridor.
The last room on the left was Lance's. Slowly, Ash pushed the thick wooden door inward, and allowed Misty and Pikachu to walk in before releasing his grip on the spring-loaded entryway.
Misty decided to stay behind with Pikachu after they entered. She knew this wasn't her time to see Lance, though she owed him just as much as her boyfriend did. Ash had a lot going on in his mind, and she wanted to give him all the time he needed to process what had happened.
So, alone, Ash stepped up to the dragon trainer's bedside. Looking down, he was surprised to find Lance's head completely shaven. Cynthia had said that she and Chris had been told by the doctors - because she was one of his emergency contacts - that he had apparently rolled on his head several times after his violent fall, and that he'd bled quite a bit from the cuts and open wounds produced. Ash examined his scalp to find that there were indeed many scars running along the top of his cranium, though they all appeared closed now.
In fact, the young trainer realized, much of the damage didn't appear that bad any longer. Bill had said the former Kanto Champion had been almost unrecognizable when his Dragonite had brought his body to the Pokémon researcher's house. Now though, the only real change in his physical appearance seemed to be the lacerations that covered his bare arms and top of his head. His right cheek, too, bore a single deep tear in flesh. But after a moment of examination Ash felt himself tempted to shake his comrade awake.
It looks like he's just asleep, he thought. He appeared to be breathing regularly as tubes that ended in a mask on the redhead's face shot compressed oxygen through his lungs and kept him alive. Even the heart monitor seemed to indicate that everything was okay as it kept track of the former champion's steadily-beating arterial walls.
Ash shook his head. Yesterday, as he imagined what his visit to the hospital would be like, he imagined to find the dragon trainer on the bed, barely breathing, and severely bloodied up. That was the sight he expected from what many presumed to be a borderline dead man.
Despite his preconceived notions, though, here before him laid a slumbering figure. The slumbering figure of a true friend and partner. Resisting the urge once more to simply tap him on the shoulder, Ash took his hat off for a moment of respect.
All remained quiet in the small hospital room as Misty and Pikachu watched the back of their best friend. He was still, and for a moment she wondered if he needed her.
Before she could say a word, though, he spoke up and managed a single phrase that encompassed what they all wanted to utter, and what they prayed Lance knew.
"I'm so sorry."
His voice cracked, but he didn't cry. He didn't cry because he knew he didn't deserve to.
Lance should be the one crying here, he reminded himself fiercely. He risked his life to save me and Misty. I'm not gonna cry like some baby after all he did for us.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
Though it took about fifteen more minutes of walking, Ash was surprised how fast time seemed to pass when he looked up to find the Cerulean Gym in the distance. The city clutter thinned out progressively as the two neared the goofy-looking structure with a Dewgong sign stapled to the front, and as the quiet enwrapped the duo, both began feeling uneasy. Noise kept thoughts at bay, but silence allowed them back in without welcome.
They didn't bother going in. Misty had taken care of her stuff yesterday; or at least picked back up her suitcase. Honestly, there wasn't much to take care of, so she'd simply re-zipped her luggage and put it in the car.
Walking around the side of the old gym building, they made an immediate bee-line for the vehicle. Climbing in, the three remained quiet as the familiar roar of the engine filled the air. Within seconds, they were on their way back to Pallet.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
The birds and bird Pokémon chirped alike as the window pane cast its shadow along the wall of Ash's bedroom that morning. His room faced the east, so as a child he'd always been the first one awoken by the sun's early-morning luminescence.
Yawning, he looked down the foot of his bed to find Pikachu still fast asleep. All was quiet within the house.
Too quiet, he realized suddenly. He felt as if life had recently been put on mute, and he was growing sick of it.
He instantly had an urge. An urge to do something.
Kicking the covers off his body, he quickly pounced his dresser and found what he was looking for. With an air of urgency, he threw on a pair of basketball shorts, socks, and shoes, and left the room alone.
Taking a step outside, he was greeted by a rush of warm air. Though the day was just beginning, the September morning had apparently decided to devote itself to one last hurrah of summer before quietly allowing fall to take its place in the cycle. Already hot, Ash stepped out of his house and began running hard.
He didn't know where he was running or why, but he just kept going. Normally, he ran on certain days of the week with certain Pokémon to keep them trained. Each run was carefully recorded so that he could go back to it later and see how much he and his fighters had developed.
This morning, though, he wasn't running for fitness or higher speed stats. He was just running for running's sake.
He'd never run from a fight before, he realized. As he passed Oak's lab, where he'd yet to greet his old Pokémon, and continued on to the open countryside that led to Route One, he remembered growing up with Gary Oak. The two had been deep-seated rivals after a series of events that diverted what was originally a strong friendship, and the rivalry forced both participants to unseen heights of arrogance and determination.
"You can't climb that tree."
"Yes I can!"
"You can't run as fast as me!"
"I can run faster!"
"My Pokémon will be way better than yours!"
"Never!"
The arguing had never ceased. And though at the time it certainly appeared to their parents and grandparents that it was simply a boyhood competition for respect, Ash began to realize its impact on his life. He was never allowed to say "no", or run away from a challenge that Gary issued. He'd been forced and egged on to face his fears and prove his rival wrong no matter what; or otherwise face the impossible task of being labeled a "chicken" the rest of his life.
He'd never run away as a child, and that's why it was so easy for him to jump into Giovanni's challenge.
Had he been more careful, or more thoughtful upon receiving the news of Misty's capture, he probably wouldn't have lost those Pokémon, he realized. Instead of calling Oak and simply withdrawing every reliable battler he'd ever captured, he could have focused on the needs of the mission and prepared adequately. When Chris asked for his assistance, he could have asked what the job entailed before shaking his eager head. When his Pokémon refused to back down as they were surrounded, he could have - scratch that - should have withdrawn his team with or without their consent.
But instead, he'd remained headstrong and arrogant. He liked to think that he'd grown over the years; that he was infinitely more mature now than he was in the days of his early training. However, as he reflected back to his poor decision-making that led to the demise of two friends and the demise of another two friends' careers, he suddenly came to terms with how little maturity he possessed.
A real Pokémon Master would've thought the operation through, he scolded as he pumped his legs with even more ferocity up a hill. A true Pokémon Master would've never let anything happen to one of his first Pokémon.
He grit his teeth and continued the climb. He was still sore, and every step caused a new bead of sweat to break out upon his sun-beaten brow.
A real Pokémon Master would never have been so immature.
He reached the top of the hill, and as he did, he let out a growl of frustration at the barrage of self-inflicting thoughts that swam through his head. Looking around, he was surprised to find himself a few miles out of town now. At the rate he was going, he could hit Viridian by nightfall.
"I could just run away," he muttered to himself.
He certainly had the means to pull such an escape off. His bank account was loaded to the extent that most people could only dream of, and he could easily disappear into the crowd if he wanted.
The thought was surprisingly sweet. After all that had happened since he'd become Sinnoh Champion, the idea of just letting go of this life altogether and starting a new one was attractive.
But what about Misty?
Yes, what about Misty? And Pikachu? And Ma? They all needed him...though for varying reasons.
He ground his teeth hard against each other. How could he have just considered leaving them all? That wasn't the kind of man he wanted to be, was it? The old man that ended up regretting his entire life as he died alone? That wasn't the life he was destined to lead.
He shook his head. Everything was just overwhelming, and he was beginning to grow sick of it. Being continually confused and perplexed had to end, and he determined, as he stood atop that hill, that he was through with it. He was no longer going to feel angered or frustrated by his situation. Venusaur and Heracross were gone, yes. Lance was in the hospital, yes. Giovanni had gotten away...unfortunate, but yes.
Then what was the point in fighting it? Feeling sad was okay, of course. There was no way not to be upset by all that had happened. But that wasn't the problem. The conflict that tormented his soul laid in the fact that he wanted to go back and change what had happened. The words "time machine" had popped into his thoughts and dreams more times than he'd ever admit over the past seventy-two hours, and he knew that needed to stop.
There was no way he could keep living like this. Silent almost all the time, he just sat there thinking about what had happened and what he could have done different.
No, he couldn't run away from his problems; he needed to face them head-on.
...and now he realized the first problem he needed to deal with.
Off in the distance, Mount Silver loomed like a giant. Its peak was well-hidden by thick layers of clouds, and even from his distant vantage point, Ash could see the thick rolls of snow that thinned as they were distanced from the top.
It was a beautiful sight, and as he took in a deep breath of Pallet's clean country air, he slowly exhaled and allowed his stiffened shoulders to drop.
I can't change the past.
He needed to accept this fact. He knew that just because the realization had been made, it didn't mean all of his problems were going to instantly vanish. Over the next few months, his mind would surely wander back to what he could have done differently, but this was a first step.
From this point forward, he determined, when he began to imagine what could have happened differently, he would force himself to stop and just let it go. Being sad was fine, but forever looking back and wondering what could have been would drive him insane.
No person can live like that.
Then, for the first time in what felt like forever, with his eyes still on the mountain ahead, he gave a small smile.
I'm going to be alright. The sun's glare suddenly intensified as some passing clouds drifted away, and Ash took the new lighting as a good sign.
Second, he realized, he needed to learn from what had happened.
Though it probably should have been more upsetting, or taken more time to realize, it didn't. The moment he tried to glean a lesson from what had taken place, the moral of the last few days seemed to hit him like a train.
I can't battle anymore.
Again, the thought brought a strange smile to his lips. Had the idea come to him four days ago, he wouldn't have been able to stop laughing at the prospect. Give up battling? It was his entire life!
But now, as he looked towards the mountain Red had specifically called him to, he knew in his heart this was the right choice. He felt at peace with the decision.
After all, battling is what put me and my Pokémon in such danger in the first place. If I learned anything from all of this, it has to be that nothing good comes from being a Pokémon trainer.
Sure, he was a little saddened and humbled by the prospect of divorcing himself from seven years' worth of work and toil, but that was insignificant compared to how elated he felt to be away from this mess.
No more having to worry about Team Rocket or saving the world, he realized gladly. Me and Misty can focus on our relationship and school, and I can have fun with my Pokémon without having to hurt them!
It seemed so obvious now. All of his pain had been due to his position as a champion of Pokémon battling. If he quit battling, then all problems related to it had to stop!
Smiling even broader, he shook his head at the mountain.
Red had given him special permission to enter Silver for a reason. No one other than Pokémon Masters were allowed inside the mountain. Not even champions. The ferocious creatures that dwelled within its walls were rumored far too powerful and numerous to be handled by anyone other than the most skilled of trainers.
Ash knew that in order to reach Red he would have to battle his way through the maze of rock and dirt; but now he couldn't.
It was true that his mind was still riddled with questions about what had happened, and why. But he refused to let those inquiries invade his mind as he watched the renowned natural structure. Those were simply nagging doubts and regrets hiding under the guise of curiosity. He wouldn't let them bug him any longer.
"I'm...free."
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
"Ash, there you are!" Delia cried, relief etched in her tone as she wrapped her baby boy up in a tight hug. He smelt strongly of dry sweat, but she didn't seem to care as she held onto him almost as long as she had the night before when they arrived. "I didn't know what had happened to you!"
He stood there quietly for another moment, feeling comforted by the presence of a woman who'd always managed to be there for him. As she pulled back to examine his sweat-stricken shirt and reddened face, she noticed something unexpected.
Her baby boy was smiling.
"Hey Ma," he greeted cheerfully. Walking out of her embrace, he went into the kitchen for a glass of water. "Sorry for not telling you where I was going. I just needed to grab some air, I guess."
Filling the glass at the tap, he looked over at his mother, who wore a smile of her own now.
"You seem to be in awfully good spirits today, honey," she remarked. Inside, she was relieved beyond words to see her son finally crack a smile after talking to Misty the night before. The redhead had explained how depressed he'd been, and Delia had prepared for the worst. She still remembered the goldfish incident, after all.
"It's a beautiful day," he remarked, pointing to the kitchen door's window. "I just noticed while I was out running, you know?"
She nodded, smiling even bigger now. "It really is."
They stood there in silence for a few seconds, taking in the scenery of the rising sun before them. It was a new day, filled with promise and hope for everyone in the Ketchum household.
"Are you hungry, dear?" Delia finally piped.
Grabbing his stomach, Ash nodded happily. "More than I've ever been."
She laughed, enjoying the warmth of his humor after his six month leave of absence. Walking to the stove, she reached for a high pantry.
"You go get showered, and I'll make some pancakes. Sound good?"
Ash answered with a happy "yeah!", and quickly ran out of the room. Bounding up the stairs, he ran into the bathroom and quickly turned on the hot water faucet.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
"Well it's no surprise Ash is taking this so hard. He loves his Pokémon more than anyone I've ever met."
Misty agreed, holding the cell phone close so she could keep her voice down. "I don't know how he'll be able to recover. I know it's only been a few days, but it's hard to believe he'll ever be the same again."
"I wouldn't worry too much about that, Misty. He's definitely taking this harder than many might, but you have to remember that people and Pokémon die everyday. Ash is just grieving right now, but he'll feel better...maybe not tomorrow, but soon, I'm sure."
Misty smiled. Her big brother always knew what to say.
"Thanks, Brock."
"No problem. I'm just so happy that you and Ash are okay! That story almost gave me a heart attack!"
She laughed. "Well, I'm sorry for scaring you so bad."
"Just promise you won't ever get in trouble again, and I'll feel a lot better."
The laughter continued. "As long as I'm with Ash, you know I can't keep that promise."
Now it was Brock's turn. "He does seem to get into more than his fair share, doesn't he?"
"Yeah, but he's always been like that."
"...so you two are really together then, huh?"
The laughter died down on both ends. "Yeah. We have been since about the time Ash beat Paul."
"I'm really happy for the two of you...it just seems so weird."
"You think it's weird for you? Try being me!" Brock snickered a little, but Misty could tell the tone of the conversation had changed. "Is everything okay, Brock?"
"Yeah! Yeah, definitely..."
"You kinda got quieter."
Brock sighed. "It's just...we haven't talked much at all since I left. The last time I heard from Ash was almost a year ago after he won that Eevee, and you and I haven't spoken since his birthday when you asked me for Suzy's salon address."
"Oh, Brock, I'm so sorry!"
"No, don't be. I'm not trying to guilt you into calling more often. I mean, it just feels weird to have seen you guys last like a year ago, but now things have become so different. It seems like everyday I open the newspaper to find out about Ash and Dawn, or you and Ash, or Ash is fighting for the gym leaders, or you're competing for a scholarship. The tabloids really keep a close eye on you guys, but I guess I feel a little sad being away while all this happens."
"You know we miss you, right?" A sad smile crossed Misty's lips. She could hear the regret clear across the receiver. "Not a day goes by where we don't mention or think of you in some way."
Brock chuckled lightly on his end. "I don't need to be coddled, Misty, but thank you."
"Brock, you know I never coddle."
He chuckled even more. "Well, I guess that's true. Thanks."
"...hey Brock?"
"Yeah?"
"You said you've been working for that company for over a year now, didn't you?"
"Uh, yeah, sure have! In fact, it's been about fourteen months."
"Don't you have some time off stored away by now?"
He paused, considering the question. "Well, I have been given a full-time job here now that I'm certified, and they said it came with two weeks paid vacation. Why?"
"You know why. Why don't you come and visit us in Pallet Town?"
Another pause. "Do you think that's really for the best? I mean, with Ash feeling so down and all?"
"Are you kidding? I think seeing you could be the thing that helps break Ash out of this quiet streak he's been on! He'll need all the friends he's made to help him out of this funk."
"Well, I am done breeding his Eeveelution line, so I'd certainly have something to cheer him up with."
"You being here would cheer him up by itself."
"And there's not much going on right now besides basic maintenance. Contest season doesn't really pick up for a couple more months, so it's kinda quiet around here."
"See? C'mon, Brock!"
"...okay, I'll do it!" She could hear him stand as he made the declaration. "I'll be there-whoa!"
"What's the matter?"
"Nothing, nothing. I, uh, I just tripped over my new coffee table. Now that they're paying me full-time I've been able to buy furniture, but I keep forgetting it's here."
Misty laughed. "Thank you so much for this conversation."
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
Down at the breakfast table, Misty was astonished to find her boyfriend already working on his second helping of pancakes as she strode into the kitchen. Even more surprising, when he turned to face her, she saw him smile.
"Hey Mist! You're a little late, since I already finished the pancakes. Pikachu left some ketchup in the fridge if you want that, though."
Normally the small joke would not have gone unanswered, but for the moment, she was too surprised to think of some snarky remark.
"What? Nothing for that?"
"Um, I guess not," she replied, her eyebrows furrowing. "You, uh, you seem...different this morning."
"Isn't it wonderful?" Delia asked from the stove. She casually flipped another pancake while beaming at Misty. "He says he's feeling a lot better today!"
"It's true," he affirmed.
"Really?" It was hard to believe after how he'd been acting the last few days. "Are you sure you're not just, you know, pretending?"
He shook his head. "Ma asked the same thing, but I promise that I feel a lot better. I mean, I'm still really sad about what I've lost, and I think I always will be...I mean, Bulbasaur and Heracross were practically family to me. But, I guess I'm just starting to accept what happened. There's nothing we can do to change it, is there?"
Now it was Misty's turn to smile. "That's a healthy way of looking at it."
"And we're here if you need a shoulder to cry on," Delia reminded as she scooped up a hotcake. "Just because you feel better now doesn't mean you will tomorrow...or even a few hours from now. Grief is a difficult thing to get over."
"That's right," Misty nodded. "But if you're feeling better, even for just now, I'm happy to hear it." She sat down and Delia put a couple of pancakes on a plate before her.
"Thank you, Mrs. Ketchum." She drizzled syrup over the entree. "Since you're feeling better, you won't believe who I talked to this morning."
Ash raised an eyebrow. "Who?"
"Brock! We actually talked for a few hours this morning."
The trainer's eyes widened in surprise. "Wow! Really? How's he doing?"
"Really good, according to him. He said they hired him full-time, and he's making some money now. He even said they're considering him for higher positions already!"
"Well that's not surprising. He got a lot of practice taking care of us when we were younger." Ash laughed, and Delia and Misty joined in. "We were definitely more difficult to feed and groom than any Pokémon."
"Well you were, anyway," Misty retorted, sticking her tongue out.
"Did you, uh, tell him about what happened to us?"
Misty nodded as Delia sat down with her own plate now. "That took up the first hour. He kept interrupting asking if we were okay...as if I could be talking to him if we didn't survive."
Ash gave his own nod and a sad smile formed on his lips. "He was probably really upset we got into all this trouble."
"Yeah, that's the feeling I got from him. I think he still kinda feels responsible for us. Every once in a while he'd start raising his voice like he was gonna yell or something, but then he dropped it."
"He always promised me he'd make sure you two stayed safe," Delia mentioned thoughtfully as she cut through her stack. "Every time you three would come home, we'd talk here in the kitchen about everything going on while you two were asleep upstairs...we'd even discuss how long it would take the two of you to realize your feelings for each other."
This caused both Ash and Misty to stare at each other in shock.
"And I'd always tell him how worried I was about you kids. I know we've got all these safety measures to keep children safe when they leave home, but that doesn't mean a lot to a mother when she watches her little boy head into a forest with a grumpy Pikachu. But every time I'd say how worried I felt, he'd reassure me. He promised he would never let anything happen to any of you or your Pokémon, and I trusted him completely."
"...wow, I didn't know you two were so close," Misty mentioned, still looking shocked. "You really talked about us?"
Delia laughed. "Of course! Ash and his friends are my whole life, and I needed constant assurance that he and you both were in good hands."
"Well, that explains why he always fed us and made sure we didn't do anything stupid," Ash said.
"Well, nothing too stupid, anyway."
"I imagine he must've been worried sick when you told him about what happened with Team Rocket."
"He said he was," Misty answered. "And he really sounded like he was. The only reason he didn't completely panic I think was because I was talking to him, so he knew they hadn't succeeded."
"Well, after you got through all that, what else did you talk about?"
"Like I said, we talked about his job and how everything's going. We also talked about my attempt to get the scholarship and how that...went. He told me not to worry and that I'd get it next time." She smiled, thinking back to the older man's helpful words. "He sounded a lot like you, Ash."
Ash smiled. "We're both right, you know. You'll definitely get it in the spring with a little training!"
"Well anyway," Misty continued, not wanting to focus on her latest failure, "we talked about that and the gym leader bill you got passed, and then he told me some great news!"
"What is it?" Ash asked excitedly at the change in her melancholy tone.
"He told me he's got some vacation time, so he's gonna come see us in a few days!"
"Really? That's awesome!" Ash exclaimed. "I haven't seen him since we talked last year!"
"And we haven't seen him in person since he left," Misty reminded. "We thought it might be good for him to come down so we can all kinda recover together. It'll be just like old times!"
Grinning from ear to ear, Ash agreed.
"That's a good idea, Misty," Delia said, smiling broadly too. "It's always easier to grieve when you're surrounded by loved ones than by yourself."
"So when does he come?"
Misty thought back for a moment. "He said he could make it out in two days, so he should be here Wednesday."
"That's perfect! I can't wait to see him."
"I get the feeling he can't wait to see us either. He sounded really excited on the phone after I prodded him a little."
Ash stood up from the table and stretched lazily. "Well if Brock's gonna be here in a couple days, that means we have a little time to relax together." He looked down at his girlfriend. "You wanna go for a walk or something?"
"Well, yeah, but let's help your mom with the dishes first."
Delia shook her head. "That's sweet, Misty, but don't worry about that. I'm going to give Ash a break from his dishes duty today...I think he deserves it." With a smile, she stacked Misty's and Ash's plates on top of her own and walked them to the sink.
"Do you wanna get Pikachu to come with us?"
Ash pointed to the couch. Pikachu was sleeping peacefully on the soft cushion. "He hasn't been sleeping very much, for obvious reasons. I think we'll just let him rest."
Misty nodded. "Let's go get our shoes on."
The two retrieved their sneakers from next to the front door, and after slipping into them, they bid Delia farewell before stepping out into the hot late-summer sun.
"Sure is warm, huh?"
Ash nodded. "When I was running this morning, it was already really hot."
For a few minutes, the two walked in silence down the sunny road. Behind them, Oak's lab rested with the windmill atop his tower peacefully turning in the light breeze. Before them, the road continued expanding until it reached the center of Pallet Town, where the shops and various offices of the townspeople were located. As they continued their walk, Misty noticed how quiet it was.
"Where are all the people?"
Ash looked at the large clock tower that loomed in the center of the town square. "Well, it's ten, so I guess they're all at work and school."
It was almost eery to Misty; save for a few busy mothers handling their toddlers, and the occasional car chugging down the street, all was quiet and deserted.
They walked by some storefronts that surrounded the town square. Occasionally the pair would stop to admire something in the window displays, and at some point they clasped each others' hands while strolling.
"Do you wanna look at anything in particular?" Misty asked as they passed a jewelry store.
Ash shrugged. "I dunno. I was kinda just wanting to get out and look around some. It's been a while since I've come down here, even though it's so close to home."
"Has anything changed since you left on your journeys?"
"Not a thing," he laughed, amazed at the very fact. "It's like time has been standing still or something."
They walked a little longer, and after they'd successfully passed every office and store in the small square, Misty suggested they take a seat. There were several white benches in the middle of the shopping area surrounding the small clock tower, so, still hand-in-hand, the two sat.
"Do your sisters know what happened?"
"I don't think so. They're still at that island with Wallace. It's only been about a week, so they've got some work to do before they come back. Hopefully they'll never find out. I don't think I could deal with all the terrified looks. They'd probably try to stop me from traveling with you."
Ash laughed. "That might not be a bad idea."
"Yes it is," she assured. "What happened wasn't your fault. You know that, right?"
Ash looked over, taking a deep breath. "I guess it wasn't all of my fault, but you hafta admit that if it weren't for me you wouldn't have ever been kidnapped, and none of that stuff woulda happened."
"But you didn't expect or want it. Bad things happen in life...that's just how it is sometimes."
"It doesn't have to be, though...there's a way out of it. It came to me this morning when I was running."
Misty gave her boyfriend a concerned look. "What are you talking about?"
"Just think about what I'm about to say before you say no, okay?"
Hesitating at the preface, she reluctantly nodded. "Go ahead."
"What if I quit training?"
True to her word, she restrained the first words that came to mind. What if you quit training? What does that even mean?
"What if I just quit? I mean, I've already technically quit with Goodshow, and I could tell the others that I don't wanna do this stuff anymore. Cynthia could probably take my spot after I left and once Goodshow calmed down. What do you think?"
I think it's the stupidest thing I've ever heard!
She bit her tongue. "Um, why do you wanna do this?"
"You saw what being champion brings. As long as I hold onto that position, I'm a target for Team Rocket and the other syndicates, and so are you and my Pokémon. This is the way out, though. They won't want anything to do with me if I don't have any power!"
Misty contemplated his words for a moment. "But you'd be giving up all of this work that we've done! You do realize we've been traveling around the world over a year now just to fill out your pokédex, right?"
"So I'm gonna keep trying to be a Master even though I don't want to just because we've worked on it for a few months?" he asked incredulously.
"Well, no, but, uh-"
"The only real reason I'm worried about this is because I'm not sure you'll still want me if I quit. I mean, I know it'd be a huge disappointment to have a boyfriend who started as a regional champion, but ended up as just a normal guy."
She shook her head. "Of course I wouldn't care about that, Ash! I'll stay with you no matter what...this is just a lot to absorb. You're one of the most Pokémon-obsessed people I know, and here you're telling me you just wanna quit like it's nothing!"
"Just because I quit training doesn't mean I'll quit caring about Pokémon, you know. I still have plenty of money to get through college, and I think I wanna study Pokémon Biology. I'd still be with them...just not fighting 'em."
"Does your mom know about this plan of yours?"
"Not yet. I wanted to hear what you think first. If it really bothers you, then I'll stay, but...after seeing all the pain my Pokémon were put through there in Giovanni's hideout, I just don't think I have what it takes to send them into battle where they could be hurt again, you know? Every time I'd send Pikachu out to fight, I wouldn't be able to stop from thinking about what could happen if I don't give him the right command, or if he isn't fast enough."
Misty bit her lower lip, thinking. This was a really weird position for her to be in. On the one hand, she did love Ash no matter what, and she wanted him to be happy more than anything. On the other hand, this was such an absolute abrupt change in his personality, and she couldn't help but wonder if this is what he really wanted. His brown eyes, though always earnest when they met hers, betrayed a small glint of sadness that failed to appear in his voice.
"I think you need to give this some time before you tell anyone, Ash." She gripped his hand a little tighter in reassurance. "I don't think you're thinking completely clear right now after all that's happened."
In less than a second, Ash's mood turned from inquisitive to hostile. Narrowing his eyes, he glared at her. "So you don't want me quitting, then?"
She shook her head, refusing to take the bait. "Ash, I love you no matter what. I don't care if you ever battle again...and maybe you're right about it being safer for us if you don't. But I don't care about what's safer. I want you to be happy...and I just don't think making a rash decision like this is smart while you're still recovering from such a big loss in your Pokémon family."
His features softened, and he gripped her hand tighter in return. "You-you love me?"
Misty couldn't help but jolt a little as she relayed her small speech. Well, no taking it back now.
Smiling as a blush crossed her cheeks, she nodded in the affirmative.
It took Ash a moment to respond. Misty noted that his jaw was slightly ajar as he seemed to struggle for words.
"I-I love you too, Mist."
Hearing those words struck an unexpected chord in the young woman, and a huge grin replaced the embarrassed half-smile. Letting go of his hand, she reached around and pulled him into her embrace. Quickly reciprocating, the two let their words hang in the air for a few long moments.
"I guess I knew that, already, but I'm happy to hear you say it," Ash whispered, mindlessly stroking her back. "Thank you for saying it."
The smile remained. "No, thank you."
He pulled back. Slowly, he lifted his right hand from her mid-back until it reached the back of her neck. She shuddered slightly at the seemingly long-absent touch, and felt completely helpless as he pulled her into a deep kiss.
For several minutes the two teenagers sat there, exactly like that. Taking the minimum amount of time necessary to breath, they kissed repeatedly, softly whispering "I love you" variations back and forth.
"You're beautiful."
"I love you."
"I love you."
"I never wanna leave you."
"Me neither."
It went on and on, but neither teen cared. Some mothers and harried business people took brief glances at the couple. They were so entrenched in the pool of their own emotions and hormones, though, that Misty didn't even mind becoming, for only a brief time, the kind of teenage couple that normally sickened her.
The random passerby who muttered "get a room" or "no one wants to see that" didn't faze Ash in the least either as he cupped his girlfriend's face in his hands. Pulling away to catch another quick breath, he took in every feature of his love, running his thumb softly along her right cheek.
Then, like vipers, the two pulled back in with amazing speed.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
Hormones finally subdued after having waited so long, and the teenagers took deep breaths as they leaned against the tree they'd claimed as their own in the small Pallet park. No one was around here, and it allowed them the little privacy they desired.
The sun was still beating down all around them, but its withering blows were masked by the thick foliage above. Here it was cool, and they could talk without fear of being noticed or interrupted.
"That..." Ash took another breath. "Was very, very good."
Misty smiled and hummed a low "mmhmm".
The glow lasted a little longer, and the two allowed themselves a small break from talk as they recollected themselves there beneath the tree.
Finally, Misty turned back to Ash. "This isn't something we can ignore, you know. You quitting training, I mean."
"I know," he responded with a nod. "I've already told you what I think, though. This just isn't what I'm meant to do. It's sad, but it's not like I don't have a future or something. There's plenty of time to figure out what else I might wanna do."
It was still there, though, and she could see it. That small, almost microscopic hint of pain in his eyes. No matter how confident he sounded, she could tell something was holding him back.
"I stick by what I said earlier. You need to give yourself a little more time to grieve before you make any big decisions. After you think about this some more, if you still wanna quit, then I'll support your decision one hundred percent, okay?"
Nodding again, Ash gave locked eyes with the redhead. "Thanks, Misty. I'm glad I can count on ya."
"Well of course you can, dummy." She rolled her eyes. "What kinda girlfriend would I be if I didn't?"
He paused. "Well, yeah, I guess you're right."
Standing up, the two held hands again as they headed back to the Ketchum household.
"I've been thinking about a funeral...you know, for Venusaur and Heracross. What do you think?"
The smile fled Misty's lips as reality reared back in its ugly head. For a few moments, she'd been able to forget about all that had happened, but she was forced to again remember.
"Sorry, I shouldn't have brought it up," Ash muttered quietly, noticing the shift in countenance.
Perking up at the statement, she quickly shook her head. "No, no. I was just thinking about what happened again, but it's not your fault...yeah, I think a funeral's a good idea. It's definitely a good way to get some closure."
"I think the Pokémon might need it more than I do," he added thoughtfully. "I haven't been to the professor's yet to tell them, but when I do, I know it won't go well."
"You're right. A funeral is probably what everyone needs right now."
"Nothing fancy," he added, after a moment of thought. "I mean, I know there are real people who die everyday, and I don't want people thinking I think my Pokémon deserve nicer funerals than them, but I do want something nice. Maybe Oak will let me put a couple of headstones on his ranch."
"That'd be nice," Mist answered gently. "Some place where the Pokémon can visit their old friends anytime they want."
Ash's tone grew heavier. "Some place I can visit them too, when I need to."
The sun continued beating on the back of their necks as they walked towards the house. With every step, Ash felt his determination rise; he would never put his Pokémon in harm's way again. It was the least he could do.
Author's Notes: This one was another chapter that had begun to spiral out of control, so keep that in mind with the ending. Next chapter will basically pick up where this one left off, so if you have questions about why certain things weren't addressed in this one, just know that they will be next installment (Sunday after next!). Truthfully, I don't have much else to say down here except I'd really appreciate a review if you have the time, and if you left one for last chapter but never heard back from me, know that you WILL here back within the next day, so don't be discouraged from leaving your thoughts because of that.
Anyway, until two Sundays from now...later days!