Hey Everybody! Well, hopefully you read my statement from last chapter explaining my return. In any case, I'm back, and this is the first chapter of my return. I hope you enjoy it! Regardless, if you love it, hate it, or want to critique it, PLEASE REVIEW! If you have any questions ask in the comment and I'll write you back! Now go read and enjoy!
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
It was a conflagration of hormones and angst.
All the anger, sadness, relief, and joy of the past several weeks seemed to crescendo for the two teenagers as they snuck up the stairs and into the raven-haired trainer's bed.
There was murmuring, giggles, inside jokes, and even a whispered note of the irony that they waited until they came to the one place where they had no privacy - after traveling the world alone for months - to do what they were about to do.
But that wasn't going to stop either.
Everything was fire.
The clothes they wore; the sheets on the bed; the air; their throats and minds.
Everything was on fire, and they were burning up.
At first, Ash thought maybe it was his jacket. But that wasn't enough.
Misty thought it might be her blouse. That still wasn't enough.
Layer after layer hit the floor. All the while, the two kissed, breaking apart for less than a millisecond before rejoining in the passionate frenzy. Neither wanted to separate. Neither wanted to stop.
The air from the open window was cool, but it felt like a flame in the lungs of the two that breathed it.
It was hot and clumsy and nerves and newness and pain and it all culminated to a night neither teen would ever forget.
And as the last embers burned out, the teenagers fell asleep in each other's arms; their smiles ceaseless the whole night through.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
Ash suddenly awoke. The dewy morning air crept through his open window and filled his lungs with a dousing they so desperately needed after the night before. His nose was filled with the scent of her shampoo, and the last remaining sheet on the bed covered their forms in such a way that he thought he could lay there in peace forever.
A Pidgey chirped outside, but beyond that not a sound could be heard. He looked over the tangled mess of red hair to his nightstand where he saw it was half past five.
He was tired, and his body screamed at him, but he had no choice. Slowly, so as not to disturb the princess beside him, he climbed over and got off the bed. His feet hit the carpet in a dull thud and he tiptoed out the door and to the hall bathroom.
He brushed his teeth and, oddly, found himself listening to every swish of the brush. He got in the shower and felt every steaming drop hit his body and slowly work its way down into the spiraling drain. Everything felt new to him, and he smiled at the simplicity.
Going back to his room, he quickly prepared. He knew he needed to dress warmly for where he was going, but not so warmly that he couldn't cool off after all the exertion that he was bound to put forth in this leg of his journey. Pulling up his jeans and slipping on his now trademarked t-shirt, he followed by pulling out a hooded cape sent to him from Gary. It was black, light, and lined on the inside with Mamoswine fur. The leader had sent it to him via messenger Pidgeot the day before, knowing Ash would need it more than he.
"The mountains are pretty cold and getting worse this time of year. Smell ya later, Gary."
It wasn't the most sentimental gift, but he kept smiling all the same.
The cape would work well. If he was cold, he could use it as a blanket, and if it got too warm, he could pull it back. The hood would definitely be needed as he climbed higher up in the moist caverns of Mount Silver.
The way he estimated it, the journey would be two days with a possibility of a third. No one except the Master and a few select champions had ever been to the mountain, so it was highly plausible that he'd get lost a few times. On the other hand, he couldn't afford to weigh himself down too much. Though he knew Mount Silver wasn't a typical mountain to be scaled from the outside, he was sure there would be times when he'd need to climb the inner walls.
Red will probably be at the top. He wouldn't invite me there if he didn't expect me to go all the way up.
With that thought, he equipped his belt with a holster for his old Kanto Pokédex and another where he'd put some snacks, toiletries, and a special pokéball. He'd travel light, and his stomach already growled at the thought.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, he tightened his shoestrings before standing up. He'd get Pikachu and a big breakfast before heading out.
Kissing Misty lightly on the forehead, he silently walked to the door and began to open it when he heard the sheets behind him shuffle.
"You were just gonna leave me here?"
The whisper wasn't one of anger or resentment, but hurt. Ash turned, and in the glow of the lighting horizon, he could see the questioning look in her eyes.
Instinctively he shook his head, and his guilt hit him like a two-ton truck. "I-I didn't mean to. I was – you just looked so beautiful and peaceful there. I didn't wanna wake you up and ruin it."
She covered her chest with the sheet as her cheeks turned red. "You don't have to make excuses," she whispered, looking down at the blanket in shame.
This was a turn from the Misty he normally knew. She wasn't mad or vengeful, he realized. She was vulnerable and hurt.
"No," he panicked, rushing back over and embracing the woman in his arms. "No, I promise," he whispered softly in her ear. His fingertips slowly ran up and down her spine, and she involuntarily shuddered at the touch. He allowed his hand to continue grazing her back and after a few more moments, felt her begin to mold back into his body. Without thinking about it, he kissed her neck and she involuntarily gasped. He pulled back and looked into her green eyes, and she involuntarily believed him.
The sheet fell, and though she felt completely defenseless, she didn't try to pick it back up.
"Never do that again," she answered, her soft lips begging with every syllable.
Ash shook his head again and gave her a reassuring smile. "I'm so sorry. I won't."
For a few minutes, both sat in silence. They stared and thought about everything that had happened the night before. Was it a dream? It felt like it as the sun rose on a new day.
However, they knew the truth. They knew they'd crossed a line. And after a few moments, the smiles reemerged upon both their lips.
It had been wrong. It had been messy. It had even been embarrassing to an extent. But neither seemed to care enough to allow it to dampen their spirits in the slightest. They were young and in love, and for the moment, that was all the justification they needed.
"You don't wanna say goodbye to Brock or your mom at least?" she finally asked, breaking the reminiscent quiet. "They shouldn't be in bed much longer."
He shook his head. "I've been enough trouble for Brock and Ma. I'll just let you tell them where I've gone, and when I get back we can all celebrate before Brock goes back home."
"I'm sure your mom would wanna know…"
"Mist, she's the mother of a Pokémon trainer," Ash reassured. "Me leaving suddenly is nothing new to her."
She gave a light chuckle. "I guess you're right." She paused, thoughtful for a moment, and then gave his arm a sharp slap.
"Ow!"
"But like I said, don't ever do that to me. I'm not as forgiving for you walking out on me as she is."
He nodded and gave his girlfriend a long, passionate kiss before standing again.
"I better get going before the sun rises. Me and Pikachu need to get to the mountain early if we wanna get to the top before tomorrow ends."
"Please be careful," she pleaded, giving the trainer her most concerned look. "I know you think you're hot stuff, but Mount Silver is legendary. No one is supposed to go there. They even moved all the Pokémon from the old Cerulean Cave there years ago after it collapsed, and you know how dangerous those Pokémon were said to be!"
He nodded again. "We all know about Mount Silver, Mist. Trust me, though. There's nothing those wild Pokémon could throw at me that I can't handle. They might be strong, but without a trainer Pokémon make bad decisions in battle."
"But if they're strong enough, even a bad decision can be dangerous."
He laughed and gave her forehead a small kiss. "I've never seen you like this before…I don't think I like it."
"You don't?"
He shook his head. "I prefer when you're a jerk to me and tell me to just do it already. When you act all worried, then I know the problem's serious."
"Good, because it is..." She paused for a moment before smiling. "Now go do it already! And when you get back, you have to make me one small promise."
"What's that?"
"You can't leave me behind while you go on some great adventure ever again. I'm tired of you getting to go battle Gary, and see the other champions, and going to Mount Silver without me!"
Ash blushed in slight embarrassment as he scratched the back of his head. "Oh yeah, I've kinda been leaving you out, huh?"
She scoffed. "No kidding. You'd think Pikachu was your girlfriend considering how much more time you spend with him than me."
"Are you seriously jealous of my Pikachu?" Ash asked, a smirk crossing his lips. "I never figured you were the jealous type!"
"Well can you blame me? I'm spending all my time sitting here worrying about you like some worthless damsel while you get to go out and do all this cool stuff. The next big adventure, I want a say in whether or not I go!"
Now it was Ash's turn to chuckle. "Alright, I'm sorry. You're right that you deserve to be by my side more often. You'll be an even bigger partner than Pikachu from now on, deal?" He stuck his hand out.
She paused and stared at his hand for a moment before surprising him. Jumping up, the sheets fell to her feet and she grabbed his head for another long, passionate kiss.
"Deal," she muttered in-between breaths. She pressed her body closer to his and the couple reluctantly pried themselves away after a few more moments.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
Since it was still early, Ash was able to eat breakfast at a small diner in Viridian in relative peace. The only recognition he'd received was from the waitress herself, who seemed less than enthused to see the former Sinnoh Champion in her eatery.
"Oh, you're the kid that got fired from the Pokémon League, right?"
All boorish mannerisms aside, though, Ash enjoyed the quiet as he ate his stack of pancakes and syrup-soaked sausages. He used the time to think as he relaxed in the cushioned seat at the diner's bar. The ride on Charizard to Viridian had taken a little under two hours, but his body was already aching from the awkward posturing on the dragon creature's back necessary for such a long journey.
Paying the tab, he stood and walked back outside. A little after eight, and the city was now coming alive quickly. When he'd entered the restaurant just fifteen minutes before, only a few cars graced the roads as the morning dew lifted from the trees and streets to create a hazy early-morning fog.
Now, though, people bustled and jostled by him, on their way to work and school. School buses and taxis and cars crammed the streets in near-gridlock as the harried life of the big city set in on a new day.
Smiling to himself, he realized how glad he was he'd turned down Misty's offer to drive him to the base of the mount. He knew traffic would be bad at this time, and seeing all the pain of the current commuters helped him realize how right he was. Throwing his pokéball in the air, he quickly saddled atop his fire and flying type and headed west. He heard some pedestrians below suddenly recognize him or Charizard, but thankfully he was already out of reach for autographs or pictures by the time they noticed.
The wind struck his cheeks, and he reflexively pulled the cape around his waist, trying to keep himself warm in the chilly morning air – made all the colder by the altitude and ensuing wind shield.
As he, Charizard, and Pikachu continued on their journey, it suddenly struck him how quiet they all were being. Not that they had many deep conversations given the language barrier, but it was still surprising to him that the entire time at the diner Pikachu hadn't so much as uttered one syllable of his name.
Charizard hasn't let out a single roar, either.
And he himself hadn't spoken a word of encouragement or caution or exuberance since takeoff in Pallet. It was as if they were all so singularly focused on the journey ahead that they had no time for chitchat. They were all lost in their own worlds.
They're probably thinking about the speech, he realized.
The day before, Ash chose his team and assembled them on Oak's ranch. They were among the most elite and able of any Pokémon he possessed, and he knew they needed to know the mission beforehand if they were to stand a chance in the upcoming adventure.
"I'm choosing you six for a dangerous journey I'm taking tomorrow. The trip will probably take a few days, and there won't be a lot of time for rest outside of your pokéballs," he explained, looking each of them in the eye one-by-one. "I know you've all had your fair share of battles and adventures with me, but believe me when I say this will probably be the hardest thing any of us have done together. I'm hoping I'm wrong about that, but I don't think I am. Tomorrow we go to Mount Silver. It's a huge mountain with a lot of strong Pokémon. These Pokémon are so strong that only the Pokémon Master is even allowed there, and it's his job to make sure none of them escape. Wild Pokémon that are too dangerous to be left in the wild from all over Johto and Kanto are sent to Mount Silver, and while they're in there they battle and fight each other which only makes them tougher. It's going to be hard, but I'm gonna try to make it as easy as possible for you guys. I won't call you out unless I need you for battle, so the rest of the time you can be storing your energy in your pokéballs, and I won't keep any of you out in battle too long."
He paused, and allowed their minds to take in as much as they could of what he was saying.
"But, if I call you out, it means I need you. If I need you, then I need you to come out fighting! There won't be any time to question our moves!" From there, he worked with each and explained what move they should use the second after coming from their pokéballs to insure they didn't allow their wild opponents to get the first strike.
Though it had taken up most of the morning, by the end of the impromptu training session Ash felt adequately prepared, and thought that his Pokémon did too. Gripping his gloved fist tightly, he could feel the excitement emanating from his fighter's soul as he left Oak's.
Of course, now that he was actually flying there, excitement was quickly giving way to nerves; just like he felt before a big Pokémon battle.
It was true that he wasn't yet qualified for a match with the Master, but just as he told Misty, something in his gut – an indescribable connection – told him this would not be a simple meet-and-greet. Red wouldn't have called him all the way out here just for a chat. If he was expected to make the harrowing climb up Mount Silver, then there must be something at the end awaiting him.
But what?
If not a battle, as Misty insisted it couldn't be, then what else would make Red challenge his skills in such a formidable fashion before seeing him? Was Steven right? Maybe Red was working for Team Rocket, and this was his subtle way of getting rid of Giovanni's foil.
Ash shook his head. No, I won't believe that. Cynthia's right. He wouldn't have made it this far if he was a spy. He loves Pokémon just as much as I do. But if that's not it, then why does he want me to climb up there?
Whether or not it was a battle, Ash knew that something big awaited him upon the summit, and he intended to find out.
Just as he felt his confidence rising and his nerves quelled, they took an instant spike when he realized how close the mountain loomed in the distance.
"Okay, we need to go down," he ordered, patting the fire type on the side.
Though they couldn't be seen, he knew psychic shields surrounded this area; Indigo Plateau's Elite Four.
Descending, Ash could see the guard gate awaiting him upon his descent.
Jumping off, Ash called back Charizard, and slowly approached the gate that separated the best Kanto trainers from Victory Road and the Elite Four. Outside, a guard in a plain blue officer's uniform stood at attention. At Ash's approach, he gave the former champion a slight nod.
"We were told about your arrival, Mister Ketchum."
Ash took out his old Pokédex and handed it to the guard who pushed a few buttons and verified his identity.
"You have authorization to clear the badge checkpoints. Give me a moment while I bring down the shields." Turning his face to the left, the guard pushed a button on the black walkie-talkie clipped to his shoulder and ordered the Alakazam team to reduce their Barriers and Light Screens.
"You may clear overhead on your Charizard. You have ten minutes to do so.
Nodding, Ash climbed back aboard and the three sailed through the skies, landing at the front of another guard gate.
This one, unlike its plain predecessor, held an air of distinction. The front doors were glass with two halves of a pokéball on each side that separated when the doors opened. Leading to the building were two large stone arcs with carvings of pokéballs engraved on the pillars.
With each step, Ash felt the presence of powerful trainers surrounding him and his Pokémon. The pure strength that had passed from Kanto's Badge Check to Victory Road over the centuries was beyond measure, and he almost felt inadequate walking in the steps as those same trainers.
I'm no different from them, though. I beat eight gyms. I won the regional tournament to face the Elite Four. Still, the air of distinction Kanto's Elite Four held – being the oldest and most revered of all the League's members – was impenetrable.
Before he could fully realize it, he was standing in front of the glass doors. Stepping through them, his eyes took in everything instantly, not sure what to expect. He knew nothing should be surprising. This was, after all, just the final roadblock. The last chance for trainers too intimidated – even after winning out at the Indigo Tournament – to make the final leg of their destiny through Victory Road. Nothing here to be excited about.
Still, his heart pounded as he looked around, anticipating anything while expecting nothing.
"You're here to see the Master?" another officer behind a desk quizzed, looking Ash over.
Quickly, he nodded. "Yeah, but which way do I go?" He noted that there were three exits from the lobby, not including the way he had just entered. Each exit to the left and right was guarded by another officer, while the one directly ahead was wide open.
"The north exit leads to Victory Road, and the east to Route twenty-two. You want the western exit."
"Thanks," Ash muttered, nodding to Charizard to follow him.
As he approached, the guard at the desk gave a motion to the guard in front of the western exit, and the man solemnly moved aside.
They're so serious here. The grave nature of the guards furthered the reverent nature of this Pokémon League in Ash's mind. Even at Sinnoh's Elite Four the officers seemed more relaxed, but these men were straight at attention and seemingly no-nonsense about their duties to protect the Kanto and Johto Elite Four.
Preparing to open the large, dark wooden door, Ash took a hard swallow. Looking to his right, he gave Pikachu a reassuring nod; looking to his left, he did the same to Charizard.
Here we go.
Hurriedly, he took a step out the door – hands already clutched to a pokéball on each side of his waist in nervous anticipation.
Overall, it should have been a calming experience. The view of the mountain was close, but the base was still a blur on the horizon, and the sun shone high in a clear blue sky. However, despite the peaceful surroundings, there was an eerie silence that permeated the area. Even the wind's low howl was blocked by the rising landscape before him, and some inexplicable feeling of unease instantly seized his heart. Looking down, Pikachu seemed lost in deep thought, apparently caught by the same odd grip.
Hesitating, he closed his eyes. His nerves were at a low simmer in the bottom of his stomach, and he took a careful, deep breath through his nose. He held it, and allowed his senses to regain hold before exhaling through his mouth.
His head cleared slightly. He still felt the unease, but now felt ready. He opened his eyes, and his fists took a familiar grip as his lips restored a lifelong smirk. Slowly, he took his first step down the brown dirt path.
On either side, bright green, cleanly manicured grass met his steps. To his right the rising rocky terrain of the mountains blocked his view just a few dozen feet away, and to his left the grass ran a few hundred feet longer, but eventually succumbed to the upward-sloping mountains as well.
He continued walking, and in the distance he saw something he figured had to be a mirage.
"Is that…is that a Pokémon Center?"
"Pi?"
It was of normal size and color, yet felt completely out of place. Even more out of place, though, was the small wooden house that came into view beside the Center.
There was no path leading to the two entrances; no seeming activity from outside of either establishment. Both looked as if they'd simply been dropped in their respective locations by a tornado and left behind untouched.
Curiosity biting, Ash slowly walked off the path and across the grass toward the nearby mountainside, heading to the house. Walking up the steps to the large porch, he came to the door and gave a couple of hard knocks.
Is-is this Red's house? he wondered in silence. He couldn't resist the twinge of disappointment he felt at the thought. Had Red really caused all this excitement at his invitation to Mount Silver when he had a house outside the mountain the entire time?
"Hold your Rapidash," a man's voice hollered from inside. Ash could hear each slow step reverberating through the wooden boards as he approached.
Doesn't sound like him, he thought hopefully.
To his silent relief, it was an old man that came to the door. He was wearing a button-up plaid shirt, jeans, boots, a cowboy hat, and looked to be in his late sixties or early seventies. Despite his age, he had broad shoulders and height that suggested him to have been physically formidable in his younger years.
"Yes?" He didn't seem shocked to see someone on his doorstep, but his slight country accent did hold an air of pleasant surprise. "I'm not guessing you're here to sell Growlithe Scout cookies, are ya son?"
The tightness in Ash's stomach loosened a little at the man's disarming friendliness. He shook his head. "No sir. We're here to go see Red. I was…well, I was surprised to see a Pokémon Center and a house here, though, so I just had to check it out."
The old man smiled. "Well, come in for a sec. Red's been up that mountain for over fifteen years now, so I doubt he's goin' anywhere in the next few minutes."
Ash was hesitant, but something familiar about the older gentleman pushed him to resist his urge to make an excuse and run. "Okay, I do have a couple of minutes, I guess." He called back Charizard and let Pikachu on his shoulder.
Walking in, he admired the quaint beauty of the old man's home. The entire interior was also made from solid dark oak, and various books and antiquities lined the walls. They walked into the kitchen, where a dark, round dining table stood surrounded by chairs.
"Take a seat," he motioned, heading to the stove. "I was just making myself some coffee. You want any?"
Ash shook his head.
"Well, here," he went to a pantry and pulled out a glass. "I'm at least getting you some water. You'll need it if you plan on climbin' that mountain. It's a doozy."
Ash accepted the water and took a seat. The old man got a dish and poured some water in it for Pikachu too. After he got his coffee poured, he sat down across from the former Sinnoh Champion, taking a long sip.
"Um…" Though he'd accepted the invitation to go in without hesitation, he was starting to feel a little uncomfortable in the silence of a stranger's kitchen.
This is so random…
"Well, I know you're busy, and all, but since you were curious I thought I'd give you a chance to rest up for a while and give me time to explain," the man began, placing his coffee down. "First, though, I wanna say that is a good Pikachu you've got there. I haven't seen one that healthy in a long time. Have you ever considered evolving it?"
Ash shook his head again. "No. Me and Pikachu like him the way he is. I don't think evolving would do anything for him."
"I see…just like Red, huh?"
"Yeah, I guess so. That wasn't why I never evolved Pikachu, though. I actually gave him the choice a couple of times in the past, but he just never wanted it. I would let him if he ever wanted to, though."
He nodded. "I gotcha. I just ask because I got myself a Raichu I'm pretty fond of. Of course, he's gettin' on in years now, but back in the day we had some fun."
"Oh, you were a trainer?"
"For a little while, yeah. Tauros and Raichu were my best friends, but of course I had a whole team I operated and loved. We weren't half-bad in our prime, but now Tauros and the rest are gone, so it's just me and Raichu now."
Ash's face grew hard at that. "I know how sad you must've been to lose them." He looked down.
"Well, it was sad, of course, but the truth is it was their time. Some even went before it was their time, but as a trainer you can't let yourself get too hung up on those things."
"How do you not get hung up on losing a best friend?" Ash asked, feeling hurt at the comment.
"Oh, I don't mean you don't hurt from it. I mean hung up – like, never allowing yourself to move on with life. The sad truth is Pokémon and Pokémon battling are dangerous business…sometimes more dangerous than we'd like. When I was a kid, it was still legal and pretty normal for trainers to attack each other just as much as each other's Pokémon. If you passed out before the end of the match, you lost no matter how close you coulda been to victory. It seems harsh now, with all the rules and regulations out there to keep everyone safe, but in some ways it was good. It taught you early on as a trainer the danger of the Pokémon world, and it separated the hobbyists from the true lovers of Pokémon. It also was good because you were just as likely to get hurt or worse out there in battle as your Pokémon, and so when I did lose a couple in some of the more intense battles I had, I was sad, but I at least knew that they died while I was out there with them; we were on the battlefield together, taking on the enemy. I wasn't just perched safely away givin' orders – I was in the trench with them, just as susceptible to the danger as they were, and when they were taken, they died knowing the risks and knowin' we were taking them together. They wanted to be out there regardless of the danger, and I wanted it just as much as they did."
Ash just sat there, staring in wide-eyed wonder at the man's comments. "So, you think those Pokémon you lost weren't sad about what happened to them?"
"Course not! They were sad they lost the battle, I'm sure, but I was the one sad about their dyin'. They died doing what they loved – helping their best friend in a battle – so they had no regrets. And honestly, if I hadn't captured them and sent them into battle, we never would've had that bond. How's the sayin' go? Better to have loved and lost, right? I wouldn't have traded a minute with those guys for nothin'."
Ash took a minute to process what the man had said as he continued to work on his coffee. Pikachu seemed to be in deep thought, too.
"Anyway," he interrupted brashly, his voice significantly lighter, "about the Pokémon Center. It's actually here for the Master. You must know about how dangerous Mount Silver can be, and even a Pokémon Master makes a mistake every once in a while, so if his Pokémon need emergency care, he's got his own Nurse Joy and Center here twenty-four, seven."
Ash's heart was still working through his previous words, but his mind was suddenly occupied with the new information. "There's actually a Joy there?"
"Yep. They transfer here every couple of years. They live there and just wait, pretty much. I've been friends with all of 'em over the years. Even married one of them!"
"You married a Joy?"
Suddenly the old man beamed with pride. "Uh-huh. Prettiest one of them all. I was hangin' around here back about forty years ago, and she was sittin' in there lookin' bored. I'd seen Joys all my life and hadn't really thought much of them, but when I saw her-" He took a moment to give a brief, ear-piercing whistle. "-I knew I needed that sweet girl with me."
Ash chuckled a little at how proud the old man seemed. "Are you still…well…"
"Oh, is she dead?" the old man asked nonchalantly. "Nah, she's just at the market in Viridian. Sometimes I'd wish she were with all the yellin' at me for whatever the Hell I apparently do wrong. Forty-somethin' years and she still gets mad when I wanna watch TV instead of talk. We're old! What else is there to talk about that we haven't already?" He seemed to stew for a second, and Ash resisted the desire to laugh again.
"Anyway, I actually wouldn't trade a second with her for anything. She can be clingy, but she's definitely the only thing in my life worth mentioning." Slowly, he stood up and pushed his chair back. "But I've bothered you for too long. Don't wanna keep you here all day when you have a mountain to climb. Just wanted to give you a rest."
Ash stood up and walked with him to the door. "Thank you for the story and the break. Me and Pikachu will remember what you said about Pokémon, and I definitely won't forget your story about your wife anytime soon. My girlfriend might appreciate how much you guys still fight."
The old man winked. "Just remember, fightin' keeps you young. And always know your Pokémon are doing what they love out there on the battlefield. As long as you're just as willin' as they are to take a shot for victory, they'll never quit on ya."
"Thanks again," Ash said with a smile, walking out the door and waving goodbye to the gentleman. Suddenly, he stopped himself, remembering an important question. "Wait, I meant to ask you for your name!"
The old man chuckled and waved his hand. "Ah, it's not important. I'm just the groundskeeper here, making sure the grass stays pretty and whatnot. But you can call me David."
Ash smiled. "Anyone who can cheer me up when I'm this nervous is important to me, David. Thank you for the talk, and I'm sure I'll see you again after I become the Master!"
"Good luck!" he called out after the trainer and his Pikachu as they turned back to the path.
Now smiling, the two walked past the Pokémon Center and were soon approaching the dark entrance to the mount.
Though it was sunny all throughout southern Kanto today, grey clouds swirled around the summit of Mount Silver. In the upper echelons, Ash could hear the faint cry of winds unrelentingly crashing into the rocks and dirt. From within the mountain itself, a low rumbling could be distinguished - as if the caverns themselves were beginning to awaken from an ancient slumber upon his arrival.
"Um, maybe we can take a shortcut," Ash thought aloud, realizing the challenges the caverns would present if he wasn't creative.
"Pika?"
He looked down and elaborated. "Well, I was thinking that if Red's really on the top of the mountain like I think, maybe we could use Charizard to get higher. When we get as high as he can go, you can use a Thunderbolt to blast through the wall and we could start from there. It would save time and a lot of battling!"
"Pikachu!" the mouse exclaimed.
Calling Charizard back out, Ash explained the plan again.
"Just go as high as you can," he ordered, climbing the dragon's back. "When you've hit your highest, go straight forward and Pikachu will take care of the rocks."
Ash knew the inside of Mount Silver was actually very hollow due to all the Pokémon fights and dwellings within. He hoped it wouldn't be hard for Pikachu to guess a soft spot in the structure to break through with ease.
Taking off, the fire dragon quickly approached the mouth of the colossus.
"Up!" he shouted. At the order, Charizard instantly changed his trajectory to an almost perfect ninety degrees as Ash held onto his wings for dear life, and Pikachu grasped his master's shoulders.
Charizard gave a roar of fire and ascended at a steady pace. For the first five hundred or so feet, Ash felt fine beyond the fear of falling, which hung heavy in his gut. However, as their distance from the ground grew, so did an unexpected dizziness that suddenly permeated Ash's now-visible breath. He wrapped his left arm around Charizard's neck and grabbed the cape once again to warm himself.
Shivering, he looked up, but couldn't help but blink hard several times as small snowflakes began to drift towards his eyes. Looking down, all he could see now was an increasingly hazy grey.
"You're-you're doing good, Charizard. Straighten up some," he commanded, feeling his body flattening on top of the fire type's. "Do you think you can keep going?"
Charizard gave an affirmative nod and continued his ascent at a slower pace.
Being able to sit on his flying Pokémon rather than hang on was much easier, to be sure, but the slower climb was now taking its toll on the fire type. The snowfall rate was increasing at an exponential pace, and the wind all around them was beginning to pick up.
I can't let Charizard fly any faster, though. I'm not feeling too good, and I know I couldn't hang on for another trip like that.
Despite the ease the new position was giving his body, Ash still felt light-headed and even dizzier with every foot. The dizziness seemed to preclude some loss of warmth, because along with his nausea he was growing colder by the moment. He pressed his body closer to Charizard's for extra heat, but he could hear the winded exhaustion coming from his fire type as an all out blizzard began to berate their small party.
"Whoa!" Ash yelled, yanking Charizard's neck in the direction of a small opening he could barely make out through the sudden deluge of snow and ice. Hail began to pellet the two as they made their way through the darkness of the thick snow clouds. "Use Overheat, Charizard! We need to clear it of any wild Pokémon that might be waiting."
His body warming with a jerk, Charizard shot a powerful dose of flame through the coursing wind and snow and hit the opening with a direct hit.
"Pika?" Pikachu asked, peeking out of his master's cape and looking up with worried eyes.
"Don't worry Pikachu," Ash called out over the roars of nature and Pokémon. He blinked a few times, suddenly realizing his sight was growing faint. "Do you see that spot Charizard just hit? The black hole in the middle of all that snow? Give it the best Thunderbolt you've got!"
Jumping out from under the cape, Pikachu scrambled onto Charizard's head and grabbed onto the horns for steadiness as they approached the small crack. Charging his cheeks, the electric type waited until there was a clear view.
"Piiiii-kaaaa…"
Here it comes…
"Chuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!"
Through the haze and clouds, Ash could now clearly see a gaping entrance into the side of the mountain.
Blinking hard a few more times, he steadied himself. "Aim for the hole, Charizard!"
It was an obvious order, but as his voice sounded further and further away, and the entire world seemed to spin, he couldn't find anything more articulate to command.
"Pikachu!" his partner cried, seemingly in worry.
Huh? He reached to where Pikachu was pointing on his face and noticed a large blot of blood on his hand as he removed it from under his nose.
"Oh, great," he managed weakly, holding onto Charizard's neck with the remaining strength he had while taking his starter beneath the crook of his right arm. The entrance was fast approaching, and as he laid his head down on Charizard's neck in preparation for the landing, he could hear the fire Pokémon's wheezing growing harder by the second.
"Just…a little…more," he muttered, feeling very tired and not all that concerned anymore about the fatal height they found themselves at. "I'm counting on…you."
As the world turned to black, Charizard skidded onto the rocky plateau by his stomach and tumbled into the cave, allowing Ash and Pikachu to roll off and onto their backs.
"Pika? Pikachu?" The mouse Pokémon quickly jumped up and ran over to his master, who appeared to be out cold.
Charizard, glad to be out of the snow, hail, clouds, and done with flying for a while, walked over to join Pikachu; his breathing still haggard, but immediately regaining health as he grew his flame to warm the inside of his body and resume equilibrium.
"Pika?" the mouse Pokémon asked, looking up.
The dragon Pokémon gave a slight shrug and a low growl. Opening his jaw, he prepared a Flamethrower to wake Ash up.
"Pika! Pikachu pika pi!" Pikachu shouted, shaking his head madly and tugging on Charizard's wing, causing the fire and flying type to turn and narrowly avoid roasting him instead.
Charizard gave his friend a puzzled look. If they weren't gonna burn him, how else could they wake him up?
"Pikachu," the mouse sighed in exasperation. Charizard wasn't the most sensitive Pokémon Ash had mastered. "Pika!" He slowly charged his cheeks to a low voltage and gave Ash a jolt, but to no avail. His best friend gave a small exhale through the nose, as if caught in a pleasant dream, but did not wake up.
Now it was Pikachu's turn to shrug. Maybe it was time to sleep?
Charizard shook his head, reminding Pikachu of how important Ash made this mission seem. He wouldn't just go to sleep at a time like this!
Regardless, their trainer did seem exhausted as he lay there shivering and passed out.
"Chu," Pikachu whispered to Ash as he pulled the cape's hood over his master's ears and yanked the cape around until it covered him as a blanket.
Nodding, Charizard backed up and fired up his flame further. This forced a tranquil sigh from their master, and the shivering soon stopped.
"Pika, chu," the mouse explained as he wandered back towards the high entrance. He remembered many times when they were camping he and Ash would get the things trees were made of to burn. If he could find some, they could make a fire that wouldn't wear Charizard out!
Outside, the wind howled, and the bitter cold instantly nipped through the yellow Pokémon's fur coat. Gritting his teeth, he searched all over the relatively narrow plateau for any sign of sticks or wood, but the clouds were too thick and the snow too high to find any kind of plant life.
After a few minutes of fruitless searching, the electric type returned to the cave and gave Charizard a disappointed shake of his head.
In response, Charizard simply shrugged and flexed his arms. He was more than strong enough to keep Ash warm throughout the night if need be.
And so the two sat there together, waiting on their master to wake up and tell them what to do next. Until he did, it was up to them to keep him safe from whatever this grumbling, dark mountain hid from sight.
Although Pikachu didn't worry much, he knew rest wasn't going to come to him until Ash awoke and those vicious noises above and below went away.
Author's Notes: First, I want to say something important. It has been brought to my attention that several of my loyal readers and I share a cause: we're Christians. Many have written me and told me over the years that they enjoy this story because of the good values and morals it espouses that these fans and I know originate from God. The main characters are all relatively well-behaved, and beside the occasional curse, this story has mainly attracted its T rating for violence and dark themes – not crudeness or displays of sexual immorality.
However, as I have maintained since the first chapter of this story, ANJ is meant to be more than AAML fanservice. I've always dreamt of this story surpassing its source material in its grittiness and realism, and thus far I truly believe I've done that. The Pokémon world I have created is a bridge between the anime and our world – it's a world where the magnificent is possible, but darkness remains a constant threat.
That being said, this world – this universe – could not achieve its mission if I had not done what I thought most realistic. I have essentially made all the main characters of this story of Christian virtue, and throughout most of the story they have maintained said virtue. But, the real world is more complicated than that. People are fallible. Heroes, even, make mistakes.
So for those of you who have written me thanking me for this story and its moral premise, I hope what happened between Ash and Misty in this chapter doesn't turn you off of it. I didn't make any narrative comments justifying their action, and I won't. As the author, I'm simply allowing my characters to find their own way. While I don't in any way condone premarital sex, it does exist…and that's the purpose of this story…to shower the Pokémon world in the bright light of reality.
They shouldn't have done that, but they did.
How will this affect them in the long run? I don't know. I just know that they're human and capable of mistakes.
Okay! Other than that, there's not much else to say other than it FEELS GREAT TO BE BACK, and to REVIEW PLEASE! I will have the NEXT CHAPTER UP IN TWO WEEKS, so please come back for more if you enjoyed!
If you have questions, comments, critiques, praise, or flames, please let me have them so I can respond accordingly! Anything and everything (including my beliefs) are up for scrutinizing!
Until then, see you in two weeks! Later days!