Old Memories

It was a crisp autumn evening in Pallet Town. The streets were filled with the sounds of laughter, rustling leaves, and the excitement of children running door to door, gathering candy in their Halloween costumes. 8 year old Ash Ketchum, dressed as a pirate, gripped his candy bag with enthusiasm. His mom, Delia, walked a few steps behind, keeping an eye on him as he dashed to each house.

"Arr! More treasure for me!" Ash exclaimed, waving his foam sword in the air. His mind was completely consumed by candy and the thrill of trick-or-treating. Every house was another adventure, and every piece of candy was a reward.

Delia smiled warmly at her son's exuberance. "Don't forget to say 'thank you,' Ash," she called after him as he eagerly approached another house.

As Ash sprinted ahead, he collided with someone, and they both tumbled to the ground. Ash's candy spilled out onto the sidewalk. He quickly sat up, rubbing his head, and found himself face-to-face with a girl around his age. She was dressed as a fairy, complete with glittery wings and a silver tiara perched on top of her brown hair.

Hey, watch where you're go– he paused, staring at the person he ran into.

"Ow!" the girl groaned, brushing dirt off her pink dress. She looked up at Ash with wide, blue eyes that sparkled with surprise.

"Sorry!" Ash said quickly, scrambling to gather his spilled candy. "I didn't see you there."

The girl giggled softly, brushing her hair back. "It's okay. I wasn't paying attention either. I'm May, a fairy princess" she added, introducing herself as she helped him pick up the scattered candy.

"I'm Ash, a mighty Pirate" he replied, looking up at her as he gathered the last piece. "Thanks for the help. Hey, cool costume!" he said, smiling widely. "Are you here for the candy too?

May nodded. "Yeah, my family just moved here. We're staying with my dad's friend while we get settled. I didn't know anyone, so my mom took me trick-or-treating."

Ash's smile widened. "Well, now you know me! Want to go trick-or-treating together? It's way more fun with someone else."

May's eyes lit up with excitement. "Really? That sounds awesome!"

From that moment on, Ash and May became fast friends. They spent the rest of the evening running from house to house, laughing and sharing their candy. Ash found himself impressed by how fearless May was when it came to approaching the scarier houses, and May admired Ash's boundless energy and enthusiasm.

As the night wound down and the full moon hung high in the sky, Ash and May sat on the steps of Ash's house, sorting through their candy. Delia handed them each a cup of warm cocoa as they compared their "treasures."

"Tonight was so much fun," May said with a grin, popping a piece of chocolate into her mouth.

"Yeah, it was!" Ash agreed. "Maybe we can do this again next year?"

May nodded eagerly. "I'd like that."

Unfortunately that next year never came. May and her family had moved again, leaving Ash without his new friend. He didn't know where she'd gone or how to reach her, but he never forgot that Halloween night, the laughter they shared, and the friendship that bloomed so quickly.

Years passed. Ash went on countless adventures, traveling the world, catching Pokémon, and making new friends. Halloween came and went each year, but in the back of his mind, he always remembered that one night with a special fairy. He didn't know where she ended up, but the memory of that evening remained a fond one.

Now, Ash was older, taller, and more experienced. He'd achieved many of his dreams, though there were still more to reach for. He had returned to Pallet Town for a much-needed break after his latest journey, and it was nearing Halloween once again.

The air outside was cool, the leaves were turning, and the decorations for Halloween were set. He felt a sense of nostalgia as he watched the kids run around in their costumes, reminding him of that one Autumn night.

Ash adjusted the collar of his jacket and looked around. Professor Oak's lab had organized a Halloween party for all the trainers in the region. Word had spread, and people were traveling from all over to attend. Ash, never one to turn down a good party, decided to go with Brock and Misty. The lab was transformed into a haunted house, filled with decorations that reminded Ash of the fun he used to have as he wandered through the spooky hallway.

As Ash wandered through the crowd, he spotted Brock and Misty near a food cart, both dressed in costumes. Brock had gone as a detective, while Misty had donned a witch's costume.

"Hey, Ash!" Misty called, waving him over. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

Ash smiled sheepishly as he approached. "Just thinking about old times, I guess."

Brock handed him a caramel apple. "Nostalgia kicking in? It's that time of year."

"Yeah, something like that," Ash said with a small laugh. "I just keep thinking about this one Halloween from when I was a kid."

As they chatted, Ash couldn't shake the feeling that something, or someone was missing. The festival was as fun as ever, but he couldn't stop himself from scanning the crowd. And then, as if fate had decided to intervene, he spotted her.

A girl with auburn hair, dressed as a black cat, was standing near one of the stalls. Her blue eyes were as vibrant as he remembered, and even though she was older now, Ash recognized her immediately.

"May?" Ash whispered, his heart skipping a beat.

Without thinking, he walked over to her. She was laughing with a group of people, but as Ash got closer, her eyes met his. There was a moment of silence as they stared at each other, recognition dawning on May's face.

"Ash?" May asked, stepping forward. "Is it really you?"

Ash grinned, feeling like that same kid from all those years ago. "Yeah, it's me. I can't believe it's you! What are you doing here?"

May smiled, her eyes lighting up with the same excitement he remembered. "I'm here visiting family for Halloween. We moved away years ago, but we've been coming back to visit recently."

"That's amazing," Ash said, still a little in shock. "I was just thinking about the first and last time we hung out, you know trick-or-treating when we were kids."

"I remember that night," May said, her smile growing wider. "It was my first Halloween in Pallet Town. I was so nervous until I bumped into you. You were dressed as a pirate, right?"

Ash laughed. "Yeah, that's right! And you were a fairy."

"Seems like we've come full circle, huh?" May said, gesturing to her cat costume and his simple outfit of jeans and a jacket. "But no costumes this time?"

Ash chuckled. "Guess not. But it's still Halloween, so maybe we can pick up where we left off."

May raised an eyebrow. "You mean, go trick-or-treating? Aren't we a little old for that?"

"Maybe," Ash admitted, "but we could still have fun. Want to check out the haunted house with me?"

May hesitated for a moment, then grinned. "Why not? It'll be like old times."

The two of them walked toward the large haunted house that had been set up in the center of the lab. The line was long, but neither of them minded. They spent the time catching up, sharing stories about their adventures and what they'd been up to since that Halloween night years ago.

Ash found himself smiling more than usual. Talking with May felt easy and familiar, as if no time had passed at all. She was just as lively and adventurous as he remembered, and it felt like they were kids again, running through the streets of Pallet Town in search of candy.

When they finally entered the haunted house, they were met with eerie decorations, dim lighting, and actors dressed as ghosts and monsters, jumping out to scare them. Ash laughed as May shrieked in surprise at one of the scares, grabbing onto his arm.

"Okay, maybe I'm still a little jumpy," May admitted with a sheepish smile as they made their way through the maze of frights.

"I've got your back," Ash teased, holding her arm protectively as they continued through the haunted house.

By the time they emerged from the other side, both of them were laughing and out of breath. The haunted house had been a mix of fun and frights, but for Ash, the best part had been spending the time with May.

As they stepped out into the cool night air, May turned to him with a playful smile. "That was way more fun than I expected."

"Yeah, it was," Ash agreed. "I'm really glad we ran into each other tonight."

May nodded, her eyes softening. "Me too, Ash. It's funny how things work out sometimes."

The two of them stood there for a moment, looking at each other. There was a sense of connection, like the years apart hadn't mattered. They were still Ash and May, two friends who had shared a special Halloween night all those years ago.

"So," Ash began, rubbing the back of his neck, "maybe we can do this again sometime? I mean, not just on Halloween."

May's smile grew warm, and she nodded. "I'd like that."

As the party continued around them, Ash felt a sense of happiness he hadn't expected that night. He had come with a sense of nostalgia for a childhood memory, but he was leaving with something even better, a chance to reconnect with a special friend.