The sun hung low in the sky, casting a hazy orange glow over the forest path as Ash and his companions walked in heavy silence. None of them spoke much, their minds weighed down by the events of the past few days. Ash, in particular, seemed distant, his gaze fixed on the dirt path ahead. His hat was pulled low over his face, but his eyes were hollow, empty. Every step felt heavier than the last.
"Hey, Ash," Serena said gently, walking beside him. Her eyes searched his face, hoping for a sign that he would answer her. "How are you holding up?"
He didn't answer right away. His hands were jammed deep into his pockets, his head tilted forward as if it was too heavy to hold up. Finally, after several long seconds, he muttered, "I'm fine."
It was a lie, and everyone knew it.
"No, you're not," Serena said softly, reaching out to place a hand on his arm. He flinched but didn't pull away. "None of us are fine right now, Ash. You don't have to act like it's all on you."
"Yeah," Clemont added from behind them. He adjusted his glasses, his face lined with concern. "Pikachu meant a lot to all of us too, Ash. We all cared about him."
Ash stopped walking. His hands clenched into fists. His whole body trembled, and for a moment, everyone thought he might fall to his knees. But he didn't. He just stood there, shaking with barely controlled rage and grief.
"Pikachu wasn't just a Pokémon to me," Ash muttered through clenched teeth. "He was my best friend." His voice cracked, and he wiped at his face roughly. "He never gave up on me... not once. No matter how tough things got, he was always right there with me."
Misty placed a hand on his back, her eyes misty with sympathy. "We know, Ash. We all know. But Pikachu wouldn't want you to give up now."
Ash sucked in a sharp breath and let it out slowly. "I'm not giving up," he said, his voice firmer than before. He turned to face his friends, his eyes red but fierce. "We're going to finish what we started. For Pikachu. For everyone."
His companions nodded, each of them moved by his resolve. Serena squeezed his arm once more before letting him go. "Then let's keep moving. We're close to Viridian City."
The group resumed their journey, the sound of their footsteps crunching softly on the dirt path. Ash still didn't talk much, but at least he was walking with his head held a little higher than before.
By the time they reached the outskirts of Viridian City the following evening, the sun had fully set, and the city lights flickered like fireflies in the distance. The familiar skyline of the city brought a mix of relief and dread. After everything they had been through, just seeing buildings that were still standing was a small comfort. But the silence of the streets unnerved them.
"Where is everyone?" Dawn asked, scanning the empty streets. "It's too quiet."
"Probably sheltering inside," Clemont said. "If they've heard about what happened to Silver City, they're probably doing everything they can to stay safe."
"Let's get to the Pokémon Center," Serena suggested. "We all need rest, and we should check the news. We need to know what's going on in the other regions."
They hurried through the streets, keeping their eyes on every shadow and every alley. The recent attack had left them on edge, constantly glancing over their shoulders. By the time they reached the Pokémon Center, they were exhausted but relieved to see the soft glow of its red neon sign.
Nurse Joy greeted them at the front desk, her face more strained than usual. Her usual calm demeanor was gone, replaced by quiet anxiety. "Welcome. Are you all alright?" she asked, her eyes scanning each of them. "We've had a lot of refugees from other towns come through here lately."
"We're fine," Ash replied, his tone distant. "We just need a place to rest."
Nurse Joy nodded, motioning for them to follow her. "I'll get you set up with some rooms. But if you have time, you might want to check the news broadcast in the lounge. It's… it's not good."
Ash and the others exchanged glances before following her down the hallway. Once they were assigned their rooms, they made their way to the lounge, where several other trainers and townsfolk had gathered. All eyes were on the large TV screen mounted on the wall.
The news anchor, a young man with a somber face, was delivering a report on the situation in Hoenn. His voice was tense, each word carrying the weight of terrible news.
"...and reports confirm that Petalburg City has suffered catastrophic damage following a coordinated attack by the alien-controlled tripods. The Petalburg Gym has been completely destroyed, and many residents are unaccounted for. Emergency services are working to locate survivors, but hopes are fading."
May froze. Her eyes locked onto the screen, and her face drained of all color. Her breath hitched in her throat, and her hands began to tremble. Clemont noticed immediately and moved closer.
"May?" he asked gently, placing a hand on her shoulder.
She didn't respond. Her eyes remained glued to the screen as the camera showed aerial footage of the destruction. The Petalburg Gym was in ruins, nothing but rubble and scorched earth. Fires burned in the background, and search teams moved carefully through the wreckage. The news anchor's voice echoed like a distant hum in her ears.
"...unfortunately, there have been no sightings of the Gym Leader or his family. Authorities are asking anyone with information to come forward as search efforts continue…"
That was it. The last thread of hope snapped. May's knees buckled, and she collapsed to the ground. Her sobs came fast and hard, shaking her whole body. Dawn was at her side in an instant, wrapping her arms around May as she cried.
"No… no, it can't be," May whispered, her voice broken. "They're not gone. They can't be gone."
"Shh, it's okay, May," Dawn whispered, stroking her hair. "They might still be out there. They might have gotten away."
Ash clenched his fists at his sides, his nails digging into his palms so hard they nearly drew blood. "We're going to end this," he muttered, his voice low and dangerous. "No one else is going to lose their family. No one."