Hello :P Once again, sorry for not uploading in quite a while. There's been a lot going on in my family that made me have no energy to write or upload but funnily enough, after I wrote this one, it started off everything in my brain and I haven't been unable to stop writing :P Recently a Pokemon Movie for the 20th anniversary got released in Japan and I know a lot of people including AAML-TAML and I were disappointed by the lack of OS characters and Misty in general. We felt like the first episode was being written over. So I wrote this. I hope you enjoy! This is for Shannon as a thanks for her kindness recently :3

Disclaimer: I own only Ben and Katie with Shannon :P

The sound of the clock ticking on the wall filled the room. There were various noises coming from the rest of the house. Far away chatter. Laughter. The water moving through the pipes. The birds outside the window. The room was virtually empty. But the room was Ash's office and not empty in a completely different sense. It was filled with mess but homely mess and photos on the wall and memories and the biggest home of all. My biggest home of all. Him.

I watched him pick up his pen for what seemed like the thousandth time that day before he let out a sigh and tapped his leg and dropped it again. I was about to drift into thought about how much I adored this human male and the precious memories we had shared for many years when this time, unlike all of the other times he thoughtfully picked up his pen, he looked at me. He looked me tiredly right in the eyes but still smiled that warm smile of his. He let out another sigh and rested his arms behind his head.

"I really don't know what I'm going to do, Pikachu." He murmured before moving his gloveless fingers to run through his thick raven locks messily. "I'm not even sure why I've taken this on."

I was quick to offer my best friend encouragement and carefully hopped from the window sill I was sitting on to perch on the edge of his desk, making sure not to invade his thoughtful area. As I gave his unoccupied hand a nuzzle, I gave him a positive beam right from my eyes.

Because you know it's a good thing to do. And you can do this.

I answered simply before shuffling nearer to Ash and expected a smile or a nuzzle back or a cuddle but for once I didn't receive any of those things. I know he was grateful for my support but he really wanted to do well at his task. He really did. And I and everyone could clearly see that by how he had been cooped up in his office for hours trying to write.

My best friend was amazing. He was a Pokémon Trainer at the age of ten. He took up the offer to become Pallet Town Frontier brain at the age if sixteen. By age eighteen he was already Pokémon Master – and the youngest ever to receive that title. Then just before his twentieth birthday last year he had become the father to stunning little twins with Misty. His life was filled with wonder and so many great achievements. And a lot of people saw his kindness and his perseverance and his go get attitude. They always wanted to hear him speak. He was a good and encouraging speaker. It wasn't new for him to get invited to talk or even assist with lessons at the Pokémon School he attended for a few years as a little kid. But this time was different. This time was bigger. Not for them or for anyone surrounding him. But for Ash. He had been asked to talk to the children about anything. Actually anything. Anything that was in his heart or his mind and was important to him. And that's why he was struggling. Sometimes he needs a little poke. A little nudge. A little guidance. But we all believed in him and I know deep down he believed in himself. This was going to be wonderful when he just figured out what exactly he wanted to share.

"I really don't know what I'm going to talk about, buddy." Ash said again in the same tired voice but a little more drained than before and I prayed he wasn't giving up. But then I remembered who he was. Ash didn't give up. On anyone or anything. He would get there in the end.

When I didn't respond for a few moments and drifted off into thought about how proud I was of him, Ash moved his hand in front of my face and waved his hand.

"Hello?" he asked with a slight attitude, proving he was still human despite his soft and encouraging personality and all his achievements. After I playfully rose an eyebrow at him, my raven haired best friend's lips formed into a pout and his eyes melted with guilt.

"I'm sorry." He groaned quietly with a loud exhaling breath before deciding to stand up in his hair and stretch. After that, his hands went back to his hair. "I just really don't know what I'm going to talk about, y'know? There's just so much in life that needs to be shared."

I nodded in agreement and smiled at him but didn't say anything so as to hopefully let him keep talking and let him stumble onto what he wanted to share with the school. I made sure to keep my eyes on him; however, to make sure he knew I was listening.

Like I thought, Ash continued.

"I could talk about Pokémon Journeys I guess." His eyes lit up comically before his shoulders slumped. "But everyone talks about that." He made his eyes light up again and I realised he was putting on a little comical and dramatic routine. "I could talk about the importance of family." I smirked fondly when he made his face fall again. "But who knows how much will really sink in, y'know? They're kids. They need to hear about something brand new and exciting and almost foreign but at the same time familiar so I grasp their attention. It has to be perfect."

I thought by Ash's words that he was getting somewhere but by the end of his mini speech he seemed to be losing even more motivation. But I knew he wouldn't lose it completely. And he moved over to the window for a change of scenery and to hopefully spark his mind. I saw him crinkle his nose when he looked outside.

"I'm not sure I like the city." He breathed out, resting his palm on the window and referring to how he and many fame lucky Pokémon Trainers shared this massive office building with a little room of their own to chart their next moves and goals. "It doesn't feel right to me."

I melted inwardly when his voice went soft and trailed off slightly and it reminded me of when he was just a little lad. We had really been through so much. Ups and downs. Down and ups. We had been together every single day for the past eleven years. But we still looked at each other like we saw the world and a future in each other's eyes. We did. He was my world and I hoped I was his. I needed him so badly and I hoped he needed me too. Not to make my ego bigger but because it was the best thing in the entire world to experience true and soulful connections.

It seemed that Ash and I were on the same train of deep thought when he next opened his mouth and turned to speak to me, his hand still on the window.

"The country is my home. Pallet Town is my home. It's where my mom raised me. It's where my childhood took place. It's where I hold many memories with Misty. It's sacred." He uttered wistfully but I saw his tanned cheeks were reddening with a light blush. But not an embarrassed one. It was that magical glow of love. That glow that I had experienced myself in family and platonic ways yet witnessed in every kind of way you could think of between the others I surrounded myself with. Love was amazing. And looking back, I beat myself up for not suggesting that prompt to Ash before. But that would have changed everything. And he needed to get there himself.

I moved closer to him by hopping on his shoulder and nuzzled his neck as I enjoyed the sound of his voice as he spoke to me.

"Sometimes I get those days where I just think about life too much. Life is deep and confusing but if you think about it too much it just messes with your head. There's so much balance to be found and be created. To take one day at a time yet plan a safe and secure future for my children. To live each day as if it's your last yet not put too much pressure on yourself. Life is crazy." He finished with a valid point and yet another thoughtful sign, his chubby fingers moving to massage my fur. I was happy when I heard his voice again.

"I get freaked out a lot." He suddenly added, a different quality to his voice. More vulnerable. More shy. More open. More Ash. The real Ash. "But I don't tell people or I don't know what to say. The universe is massive and I feel like I can change it then other days I feel like I'm just one tiny thing and person and insignificant."

I blinked slightly as I heard this words coming out of a suddenly mature Ash's mouth but I looked away, not wanting him to be deterred by my look and him think it means I think he should stop. I was surprised. But I was proud. And I was moved. He had become a man in front of my eyes and that was a little nudge of realisation.

"I feel as though we are completely whole on our own. We are made whole and can go through life living for ourselves and being good people. But at the same time, we need other people in our lives. I definitely do. I need people more than I can say. They give me hope in the world. Relationships with people make me respect life. I love seeing people succeed. I love seeing people happy. I love positivity. I love moving forward." He continued talking in that same soft and thoughtful voice of his before he suddenly cut off, turning to look at me. "What is that?"

I turned to look right at him myself as best I could from his shoulder, my own eyes wide and blinking.

What is what?

I asked my best friend and as he opened his mouth but before he could speak, I suddenly nodded and understood what he was asking me. What drives people to make connections? What makes people empathetic? What makes people wish the best for others? It all comes down to a simple answer. What makes it feel like our world are crumbling when we see other people cry?

Suddenly Ash understood. Our eyes locked. His eyes shone with enlightenment as did mine. His mouth opened and spoke the word that was on my mind.

"Love." He whispered, his eyes filling with a look I had never seen. A look that was the most beautiful look in the world. It was pure. It was genuine. It was moving.

We sat together for a few moments in silence before Ash showed off that endearing and warm smile of his. His eyes were so reflective and warm that I knew his words were going to send a shiver down my heart and positivity into my heart.

"Love is the reason for everything, buddy. I knew that before but suddenly I realise even more. It is the value of life. And not even romantic love. The love you have for yourself, for your friends, for your family and even for strangers. Love is what creates us. Love is what we have in our final moments on his earth and forever. Love is a gateway to everything. So it will be the gateway to these children's hearts and minds. Even if they stick out their tongues at the ideas of kisses and cooties, that's not the point. They too have love. For learning. For each other. And for being young. That can connect us. I can talk to them about that."

I needed a few moments if not eternity to comprehend the depth that was coming out of that little ten year old future self's mouth. I tingled with pride. I shivered with understanding. My heart swelled with love. I understood exactly what he was saying. I don't remember much if not anything before the memory of first seeing my best friend's face. Love for me was like the strongest pair of glasses ever. It helps me to see clearer. It helps me to think deeper. It helps me to be free. It helps me to be myself. I didn't know what to say. Words couldn't define it. I hoped my arms would. I held him tighter than ever. We held onto each other for a few moments before Ash spoke after letting out a slight sniff which proved we were feeling each other's emotion. His voice was shaking with emotion, making my heart thud even more with love for him.

"The universe is powerful and strong, Pikachu." He began, already sending a shiver down my spine at the introduction for his deep words. "It is complicated and sometimes cruel but my god there's such beauty. There's love. There's kindness. There's togetherness. There's love. My love. My family. My friends. You. Ben and Katie. Mist."

His heart and voice softened at the final word and I saw his eyes light up the room even more. It was so true what they say. Love makes people so beautiful.

"I have these thoughts late at night about if there are alternate universes out there. What if there's one where my dad stayed? What if there's one where I was somehow born to different parents? What if there's one where Pokémon don't exist?"

When I couldn't help but look down in slight shock and fear at Ash's words, he let out a slight chuckle and lifted my head back up with one finger and stroked my cheek with the other.

"I know." He uttered softly before staring out at the view – the beginning city sunset - and smiled. "It's scary that there's the idea of a world out there where we're not together. But I know that love finds a way. So I'm sure that in every single universe, we are together. And equally as important, in every single universe, I know that Misty and I are in love. Whether it's as lovers or best friends or work mates or strangers. Our love is there. Maybe we've discovered it. Maybe we're still searching. But it's there. No matter what the world is, Misty and I are in love. Our love is eternal. Our love is brilliant. Our love is true. It lives inside me. And because of that love – somehow – I know – I'll live on forever."

And then, Ash leaned forward to hold me tight and whisper emotionally into my ear some words that left me tingling and thinking for the rest of that day. I couldn't stop my thoughts. I couldn't stop my memories. I couldn't stop feeling so very alive. And it was all because of him.

"Happy Anniversary, Pikachu."

The End.

There you go! Thanks so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed :3 So yeah, Pikachu didn't realise it at first but Ash was brainstorming on the anniversary of the day they met. It was probably 11th anniversary rather than 20th though :P And I decided to write that whole thing based off Ash believing Alternate Universes exist and he and Misty are in love/have love in all of them because the Pokemon Movie 20 seems to be an AU. Sometimes the PokeShipping bias takes over :P Thanks again and I will be back on the 28th for the last chapter of Dear Darlings (I think) for a little bit. See you then!

AmyBieberKetchum signing out :3